Tell It How It Is...

5 Great Tips To Make Your Goals Your Reality

2010-01-13T23:44:00.003-08:00

Goals are a great tool for motivation. But if you don't use them correctly, they can also be a source of frustration. Goals are only empowering if they are used properly. So how do you make a goal into something that is a benefit for you?

Goal-setting strategies are important especially for to help you create the type of success you desire and deserve. Here are five goal-setting techniques to help you realize them.

1. Balance Your Goals: In your life you will have personal development goals, personal finance goals and things goals. Don't neglect any of them. It is ok to want things, but don't forget to balance those pursuits with your own growth as a person. All of these goals are important so be clear about all of them and make them real for you.

2. Plan Actions From Your Goals: Goals are not items for your to do list. Your goal is what you are striving for. Plan specific actions that lead you towards those goals. Use the goals to provide your compass for those actions. When you plan actions for the day you can easily tell if they're going to be effective if you have clear goals to compare them against.

3. Share Your Goals: If you were an archer, would you keep it a secret that your goal is to hit the bull's-eye? Too many keep their goals a secret. Share your goals with people who will support and encourage your aims.

4. Write Down Your Goals: Make your goals real by recording them. Put copies of your goals on index cards and keep copies in the car and in the bathroom and review them regularly. Make them the center of your focus. Don't just set them and then ignore them. Your goals are like a compass to tell you which way to go. The exciting part is that you get to chose the alignment of your compass.

5. Don't Give Up: Your goals and the actions you take to get them are different things. Don't be afraid to try something, fail and try something else. Take effective and massive action to meet your goals and understand that any true goals will take many steps to achieve. Sometimes you will make a misstep, but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the goal. Everyone makes mistakes, but it's only those who abandon their goals who don't achieve them.

5 Quick Stress Busters.

2010-01-13T23:44:00.001-08:00

Stress is fast becoming the biggest health problem in modern societies. Financial pressures, work pressures, family pressures – so much to do so little time to do it all! Here’s five quick ways to ease the pressure and relieve stress:

1. Make time to switch off from the daily trials and tribulations and relax for at least one hour every day. Just shut the world out and do something you enjoy. Reading, playing a musical instrument, taking a relaxing bath with music and candles (and maybe a glass of wine) are all great ways to unwind and will be extremely beneficial to your mental health.

2. If you’re dealing with a stressful situation and you have a lot on your plate then it can be very hard to find solutions. You’re caught up in the midst of a sandstorm and it is very difficult to see the way out. A good idea is to get some distance from your problems so you can gather your thoughts. If possible, take a day or even a weekend away from your usual surroundings, somewhere peaceful, and relax. Take a journal along so you can jot down any ideas. Distance away from problems can bring clarity and by relaxing, you’ll be calmer and solutions will come far easier than when you’re in the heat of battle.

3. One of the reasons people become stressed is because they are facing a change or even a number of changes to their lives. Change is a constant in life and refusing to accept change can cause stress levels to soar. When you are faced with a change, try to find the positives associated with change and embrace change instead of resisting it. Every change presents an opportunity for you to grow and there are always positives to find in even the most trying of circumstances. Change doesn’t bring stress, it’s all about how you react to change and if you react in a negative way, you will do yourself no end of harm.

4. There always seems to be an endless list of jobs that need doing: repairs around the home, paperwork, car maintenance, throwing out junk, cleaning the patio, weeding the garden – on and on and on! The more we put them off, the more the list grows and the more they contribute to your stress levels. So make a list of all of these chores and then schedule something I call a “Blitz Day”. On this day, you will rise early and spend the whole day sorting out each of these jobs. Take few breaks and only have a quick bite at lunchtime and just blitz through these irritating but necessary tasks. This will get rid of them, you’ll lower the stress they cause but more importantly, you’ll realize just how effective and industrious you can be when you apply the full force of your will to accomplish things.

5. Treat yourself to a pamper day. This is a day where you escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday living and enjoy some stress-free time. You’ll also feel great and give your well being a huge boost. On this day, have a light workout, a swim, a sauna, a Jacuzzi, a steam room. A massage would be nice and if you have access to one, a Turkish baths will give you an invigorating experience. Try to do this at least once a month, it is an excellent stress-buster.

The 5 Tips here will help you to significantly reduce your stress levels but they’ll only work for you if you put them into action. Give them a go – you’ll be amazed at the results!

6 Tips To Cope With Isolation From One Successful Stay-At-Home-Mother

2010-01-13T23:43:00.004-08:00

Ask any woman who’s had a baby and they’ll tell you it is the most rewarding experience of their lives. However, after months and months of spending your entire day with an infant, you begin to feel as though you are losing touch with the adult world, particularly if you are accustomed to a fast-paced work life.

Nowadays, many women put their careers first and wait until later in life to bear children. This transition from professional work to home life can be a surprisingly difficult transition. For most women, staying at home is about as different from their previous careers as you can imagine. Life at home can also be a shock because so many professional women never thought they’d end up there, couple that with the disappearance of the “extended family” and many stay-at-home-moms deal with feeling lonely.

After losing their colleagues at work, women often feel friendless and alone as they get used to their new job at home. Unless an effort is made to get out and meet people, mothers at home face days on end with no one to talk to but young, uncommunicative children. Without regular adult interaction, stay-at-home mothers may also feel as though they are losing their edge. Others may sense their intellect is slipping away from a lack of use. In some cases, isolation can make mothers feel so psychologically depleted they find it hard to cope with anything.

When you spend every waking moment of every day with your kids, the quantity of time you spend with them actually diminishes the quality of the time you get to share with them. I discovered that one profitable way to channel my energy was to start my own online business selling high-quality children’s clothing. I was amazed at how this process helped to keep my mind sharp which in turn improved the quality of time I spent with my children. After spending several months developing a website and locating a supplier Best Dressed Tots became a reality.

Here are 6 Tips to Help Maintain Your Sanity:

1. Find a project to help channel some of your energy to keep your mind
sharp. (This is the most important tip!) This will improve the quality of time you spend with your family.

2. Enroll into a course or class of interest. Taking a business class or seminar at your local college or community center can help sharpen your skills and provide the interaction you need to stay productive. Look into online options if getting out of the house is impossible.

3. Join a local gym or find a mother-toddler exercise class to help maintain your physical health. Exercise is crucial to your overall well being and will help break up the monotony of a long day home with the kids.

4. Stay connected by creating a blog. Today thousands of women write blogs that pivot on a variety of subjects. Blogging about your new experiences as a mother is a great way to express your thoughts and opinions.

5. Check into the events being held at your local library. Many local libraries offer a variety of classes, seminars, and shows for mothers and children to attend. You’ll be surprised at the range and quality of events your library may have available for free!

6. Occupy yourself with journal writing. This simple practice only requires a pencil and a notepad and will provide you with endless benefits.

5 Reasons To Not Let Depression Control You Anymore!

2010-01-13T23:43:00.003-08:00

Family – It can be very vexing to loved one’s when you are depressed. On one hand they want nothing but the best for you, but on the other they sometimes get frustrated and wonder why you can’t simply snap out of it. It can be particularly hard on children of someone with depression as it may affect their outlook on life for many years to come. Having experienced this myself, I can say definitely this the number one reason to fight your depression.

Work - Work life generally suffers when in the throws of depression. It is more difficult to concentrate and not as easy to create and maintain good professional working relationships and partnerships. Furthermore, it makes being a “Self-starter” more unlikely. Rather than moving forward, maintaining the status-quo becomes more acceptable, even if only unconsciously.

Love – The love life of a person with depression can suffer tremendously. Regardless of How much someone may profess their dedication to another person, if the other person can never see the bright side, it can wear on them. Life is short, right? Love conquers A WHOLE LOT, but it doesn’t conquer everything. Sometimes we must add internal fortitude to love to truly be invincible. Besides isn’t it better to fight, not just for you, but for this person that you love as well?

Health – University studies have proven that people who are depressed are more likely to get sick, and more likely to die of an illness than those who are content. It is in your benefit, health wise, to fight your depression as well. A recent New York Times article, citing a University study, indicated that persons who have been diagnosed as depressed have more hospital visits, and a shorter lifespan.

Prosperity – The depressed person sometimes lacks clarity of thought, and may miss golden opportunities to improve their lives if only they had been paying attention. This may be, perhaps, the most important point, since many people believe they would be happier if only this part of their life, or that part of their life, etc was different. Allowing good things to happen in your life might just give you the jump start needed to end the cycle of depression and self imposed-isolation( even if only figuratively ).

Fighting depression can help your life in many ways. In some ways, the fight in itself is also a reward. You become stronger, do better at work, have better relationships, and can focus on what is really important in life so that you can improve it, for yourself, your family, friends, and loved ones.

5 Seconds To Smashing More Arguments With NLP

2010-01-13T23:43:00.001-08:00

Last time the used car salesman pitched a lemon at you, he called the high price tag an "investment." Didn't sound so bad did it? He gift wrapped his words.

When you were fired, they called it a strategic downsizing. Now that didn't make you any better off... but it sure sounded nicer than being "fired"

Euphemisms are efficient linguistic tactics to counter objections. The key is to redefine certain words in an antagonist's statement such that his objection no longer seems so overwhelming.

Through redefinition we create new "frame" meanings about a behaviour by re-labeling a key word that's part of the belief statement. The relabeling frames the entire belief statement with a new meaning.

Redefinition asserts that "X doesn't mean Y, it means Z" Since X=Z and not Y, we now have a totally new belief statement. hopefully a more empowering one.

Here are some questions you can test yourself with to increase your flexibility at reframing: What meanings have other people given to this objection/ belief?

What other meanings could I attribute this behavior? What value could this belief have in other nations or cultures?

The secret to reframing: Simply replace one of the key words in the argument such that it subtly changes the sentence's meaning.

1. "It doesn't mean x, it means y"
2. "It doesn't cause x," it causes y"
3. "If you really want to see a case of x, consider."

Let's do some reframes, after all, practice makes perfect.

Objection: You were too tough on your employees; it's unkind! How do you expect to motivate them?

Answer: I agree that they might be hurt at first. But tough words also have its place. In this instance, I'm actually not criticizing without just cause. I'm simply expressing my feelings so they'll know where I stand. Would you rather I lied? You believe in assertive conversation, don't you?

Objection: You're tardy for the umpteenth time. You don't care about me.

Answer: My being late doesn't imply I don't care. It means I had a lot of things to do at work today; it also means I want to get everything out of my mind so when I get home I can fully relish being with you and show you how much I truly care!

5 Tips For Choosing The Right Motivational Posters For The Office

2010-01-13T23:42:00.003-08:00

As with choosing any art piece whether it is a print, original painting, sculpture, photograph or collectable, you can make or break a room choosing incorrectly.

You can make quite a statement with the correct art piece! It can communicate on many different levels.

Have you ever walked into an office for the very first time and while waiting, find yourself looking around, examining everything in the room? You can get a real good feel for the people there and get a sense of what they are all about.

From your own experiences and observations you’ve probably seen people with very good taste and then again, people who do not seem to have a clue about design or even worse yet, people who don’t care a hoot about aesthetics at all!

But if you are reading this article, then I’m sure you are not one of those people in the last category! Thank Goodness! We need all the aesthetics we can get on this sometimes seemingly wacky place we live!

Tip # 1

And probably the most important, if you don’t absolutely love it, don’t buy it!

Tip # 2

If you are making the art piece the focal point of the room, build around it. All the office furniture and accessories should compliment the print.

Tip # 3

Don’t overpower the poster with too much color on the walls or furniture unless it is a very dramatic print that can carry it well! It will just disappear into the background.

Tip # 4

What is it that you want to convey to your employees, leadership, initiative, teamwork, success, confidence, determination? It’s important to get across the right message. A captivating print with an inspirational quote can be a powerful tool that can help motivate staff and impress clients who come to your place of business.

Tip # 5

Choosing the right frame can make a huge difference in the overall appearance of the motivational posters you choose. You want people to see the prints and get your message across so choose carefully.

If a motivational poster or print moves you and you feel it will motivate other who see it, then you have a winner!!!

Enjoy the research of finding what is right for your office!

5 Ways To Maximise Your Personal Energy Supply

2010-01-13T23:42:00.001-08:00

Different governments, officials, environmental agencies exhort us to conserve the energy we use in order to save the environment and sustain our continued existence on the planet.

On a personal level I think that we also need to know how to conserve, focus and maximise our own personal supply of energy. We unconsciously dissipate and waste our energy on people, situations, thoughts, attitudes and events which do not serve us well. This leaves less space and energy for creating and attracting the kind of abundance that we want in our lives.

Interestingly enough I've also found that as I conserve, focus and thereby maximise my energy, I tend to use less energy on craving and acquiring "stuff", but more energy focusing on what is truly important to me, thereby helping the environment.

So here are 5 Ways to Maximise Your Personal Energy Supply.

1. Release Resistance

Releasing resistance will affect a profound change in your level of energy and how you view the world. Resistance often feels as though we are going against ourselves in order to satisfy some internal authority or a myriad of "shoulds" "oughts" and "have tos". It takes a tremendous amount of energy to be resistant.

Related feelings and behaviour include: procrastination, using willpower and discipline to effect change (otherwise known as "I Have To Struggle To Achieve What I Want"!), stubborness, inflexibility, wanting to be right rather than happy (a very popular one:), holding onto self limiting beliefs way past their sell by date.

Releasing resistance can be as easy as just making a decision to let go of whatever you are holding onto. Energy therapy also helps release resistance at a very deep level.

2. Reduce time watching TV

Watching TV unconsciously is very exhausting. Haven't you noticed that when you watch TV continuously and do little else, you become extremely tired? That's because you are merely a passive recipient of information that you're not fully engaged with. On an energetic level, taking in all of those rays from the TV (similar to a computer) is overstimulating on a physiological level. Of course while you are watch TV, it means that you're not doing something more productive.

Am I saying that you stop watching TV altogether? No, but to be more selective and watch only those programs that you are engaged with. I'd also say that stop watching the TV news - all of that manufactured fear really affects you on a cellular level. I find that my mindset, moods and overall energy improve significantly when I watch less TV.

3. Consciously create vacuums

Ever heard of the saying: "Nature abhors a vacuum". If you clean out an area of your life, you are giving the Universe a message to bring in something to replace it. This is otherwise known as energetic and/or physical clutter clearing. Start with either. Most people find it easier to start with clearing out the physical which has an effect on their energies. You are consciously creating the space for change to occur and inviting what you want into your life. This is much much easier than efforting to make things happen.

4. Avoid/deal with Energy Vampires

One of the quickest ways to get an energy boost is to disassociate yourself from those with those whose energy drains you. It is very effective. Unfortunately, it also becomes a little more difficult if they are your partner, member of your family, work colleagues or boss. It helps to develop a stronger set of boundaries and energetic protection, so that they are less likely to affect you in this way.

5. Create quiet time for yourself every day.

Not to do anything (unless it relaxes you), but just to clear and refresh your mind. We are human beings, not doings. There are times when our crowded schedule and minds don't allow space and time for the creative to be welcomed in. Einstein liked to go sailing in the afternoons after working in the morning. Okay, most of us don't have this opportunity, but you get the point.

If you only do one of the above, then your life will undergo a profound change.

6 Tips For Quitting Smoking

2010-01-13T23:40:00.000-08:00

If you are currently a smoker, quitting the habit could be one of the most important things you will ever do in the next part of your life. In fact, if you quit now, you will most likely be adding seven years to your life.

While many people try to quit and fail, it is not an impossible task. Thousands of people, just like you, have decided to quit and have succeeded. You too can be among the successful former-smokers. Here are six tips that will help you to quit smoking once and for all:

1. Make a vow that you are going to quit smoking from today onwards

Success in all spheres of life begins with firm determination. If you are wishy-washy you can never do anything. However, if you make up your mind, once and for all, that you are giving up the habit, whenever a craving comes, you will remember your vow and not give in.

2. Exercise more and get your body in shape

If you sit idle there is more chance that you will light up your cigarette and relax. Fill your spare time with sports and vigorous activity. Try to feel how good it is to get your blood circulating and breathing the air deeply. If you are not the athletic type, then brisk walking will have the same benefit as other kinds of sports.

3. Avoid places and pastimes that put you within reach of cigarettes

If going to a bar or pub means that you are going to have a drink and then light up, maybe it is better to avoid that place for the time being. Once you have truly stopped smoking and you feel how good it is, you can go anywhere and not be tempted. But while you are in the transition phase it is better to carefully choose where you will spend your recreational time.

4. If you have to put something in your mouth, drink water or eat healthy snacks

Whenever you get a desire to put a cigarette in your mouth, replace it with something that will help you rather than harm you. Drinking small amounts of water throughout the day is not only a good way to help you quit smoking, but it is also a great way to stay healthy. You should drink 4 litres (quarts) of water per day, if you can. If you need to put something solid in your mouth, then eat a piece of fruit.

5. Get support from your friends and family

Tell them that you are giving up smoking for health reasons. Your true friends will support you and not offer you cigarettes. Your family and loved ones will similarly support your efforts and help you to avoid situations where you may feel obliged to smoke out of social pressure.

6. Strengthen your will power with yoga and meditation

Very few people are born with perfect will-power. Like anything else, practice makes perfect. If you want to strengthen a physical muscle you may work out with weights. If you want to strengthen your “mental muscle” you need exercise as well. Yoga and meditation are disciplines that enable even complete beginners to build up their capacity to concentrate and firmly accomplish whatever they set out to do. Try it out and see for yourself.

Follow these six tips and you will be well on your way to quitting smoking.

Beginning Pointe- What to Expect

2010-01-12T02:48:00.001-08:00

Although every teacher is different, the goals of the introductory pointe class are similar no matter where you dance. These goals include strengthening the feet and ankles, breaking in the pointe shoes, and learning proper execution of skills while wearing pointe shoes.

To strengthen the feet, your teacher may instruct in a variety of methods including demi-pointe work, exercises for the feet and ankles, and basic releves at the barre. Instruction may also be given for additional work that can be done outside of class to help you gain strength and skill.

Breaking in pointe shoes is simply the wording used to describe taking the shoe from its initial factory condition to where it is conformed to the shape of your foot. This may include some work with your shoe in hand softening hard spots and bending the shank. I highly suggest waiting for a teacher’s instruction before bending, softening, or attempting to break in the shoes. Doing so on your own may permanently damage or improperly break in the shoes.

In addition to manually softening the shoes, your feet will serve as your greatest break in tool. Simply doing releves will do much to help the shoes mould to your feet. Again, be careful about doing too much outside of your teacher’s watchful eye. Doing steps incorrectly in pointe shoes may cause the shoes to break in improperly or lead to an injury.

Lastly, a basic pointe class will include barre work and eventually center work doing the steps you already know. Plies, releves, tendus, jetes, and other basic technical steps will help you learn placement, understand positioning, and gain strength as you develop your pointe skills.

In an introductory pointe class, you may find yourself spending only a few minutes actually dancing in the shoes. Do not be alarmed. It takes dedication and time over the course of many months and years to develop a strong pointe technique. You will gain strength, increase grace, and expand your dancing horizons as you begin pointe. There will be blisters, frustration, and pain, but the beauty of the dance will always make it worthwhile!

Back Exercise Stretches For Back Pain

2010-01-12T02:47:00.002-08:00

Back exercise stretches the lower back muscles to help bring relief to back pain caused by over-stressed back muscles. Spine rehabilitation too is done through back exercise. People suffering from back pain are put through an exercise regimen, as exercise stretches the back and promotes better blood circulation in the area.

You will hear many people complain of back pain occasionally. About 75% to 85% of the people experience back pain at some point of time in their life. The most common area of back pain is the lumbar region of the spine. This is the region that bears most of the body weight. Sudden twisting and bending can cause injury to the back. Back pain also occurs when the muscles get stiff because of poor posture. Back exercise stretches the stiff muscles to provide relief.

Back Exercise Stretches – For Back Pain Relief

Back exercise stretches need to be performed softly. You should treat your back gently and not subject it jerky and violent movement. The exercise routine that you follow should start gently, and gradually build over a period of a few weeks. You could cause more harm than good, if you do not follow expert advice in matters of back exercise.

Warm up your body before you embark on the stretching routine. Exercise stretches the muscles, ligaments and tendons in the area surrounding the back. The muscles and tendons associated with the spine are designed for movement. Hence, they need to be stretched everyday to perform optimally. The hamstring muscles are an important factor in back pain problems. Most people with back pain have stiff hamstring muscles.

Stand comfortably with your feet shoulder width apart. Now slowly bend forward and try to touch your toes with your hands without bending your knees. Your action should be smooth and not jerky. Be careful not to overdo the stretching part. Stop when you feel pain. This exercise stretches your hamstring muscles. Your back pain will improve gradually, as you continue with the exercise. The exercise can also be performed while lying down.

Back Exercises – Strengthen Your Back

2010-01-12T02:47:00.001-08:00

The National Institute of Health has estimated that 4 out of 5 Americans suffer from back pain at some time or the other in their lives. Back pain afflicts a person suddenly and without giving any prior symptoms. When affected, one must use their body’s own healing ability to combat the pain, instead of preferring medicines, and strengthen their body through back exercises. Back exercises, such as acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic, osteopathic care and certain other physical exercises are safer ways of treating back pain.

Basic Guidelines for Back Strengthening Exercises
Back exercises are one of the better ways to relieve yourself from back pain and lead a healthy life. It is important to ensure that exercises are worked within a range of motion, so as not to further strain the painful back. In case you experience pain while doing some stretching steps, stop exercising immediately. Avoid sudden movements and jerks when performing back exercises, even though it maybe hard to perform the steps in a slow and controlled motion.

People suffering from lower back problems face various problems while working out. It is important to get into an exercise routine gradually and build muscle power. Always performing back exercises after consulting your trainer. It is also important to understand that back pain doesn’t develop overnight and hence restoration of the back will also take time.

One of the back exercises that gently stretches your back muscles is:
lie on your back with knees bent.
Slowly raise your left knee to your chest, while pressing your lower back firmly against the floor.
Remain in position for 5 seconds.
Relax; repeat the exercise with your right knee.
Repeat this exercise 10 times for each leg.

Barbell Exercises That Suit Beginners

2010-01-12T02:46:00.002-08:00

The aim for beginners to weight training must be to lay the foundations for the intensive workouts that their bodies will eventually be subjected to. Obviously successful bodybuilding involves bringing together disparate elements such as nutrition and rest but choosing the right exercises is crucial. In this article we'll outline the barbell exercises that will enable new bodybuilders to develop the general strength and body conditioning needed.

Initially beginners should aim to complete two sets of ten to twelve reps but after a few weeks, when you have developed sufficient control and basic strength, experiment with one set of six to eight reps to failure. This will maximize your muscle growth and give you the impetus to move on to the next stage of development. Before long you'll find the use of this single piece of equipment restricting, so later in this series of articles we'll pull together a muscle boosting program that utilizes other equipment to take you to the intermediate level. In the meantime, get to work with these exercises in order to get used to working your muscles.

Start off training four days per week and work body parts on the following basis not forgetting to incorporate rest days:

Day 1 - Biceps, Back, Abs

Day 2- Hamstrings, Shoulders, Abs

Day 3 - Quads, Forearms, Calves

Day 4 - Triceps, Chest, Abs

The exercises recommended for beginners are as follows:

CHEST: Bench press

SHOULDERS: Upright row, military press, front shrug

TRICEPS: Lying triceps extension, lying triceps extension with EZ curl bar

BICEPS: Standing curl, EZ standing curl

LOWER BODY: Squat, reverse lunge, calf raise

Be Lean, Mean: Tips for Buying those Fitness Equipment Machines

2010-01-12T02:46:00.001-08:00

How do you regularly stay fit, healthy and flexible? A hale and hearty diet of nutritious fruits and vegetables is the key as well as regular and continuous exercise.

The best exercise is one that you are really and sincerely going to be working out on, be it push-ups, stretches, jumping jacks or the regular jogging or the much tamer walking. However, there are people who prefer to work out using fitness equipment in their own homes.

The following are a few basic and important things to consider when buying those exercise equipments.

Do not believe what you see and hear

At least not everything, it is good if you assess all those claims exercise equipments declare in their advertisements. It is so hard to accept as true for example some statements that assure people that they will lose several pounds off their weight in as little as seven days or that you will decrease your pants size in one month. Even with the assistance of dietary supplements, it is not possible to accomplish changes as major as these in just a few weeks, much less days.

Fat Burner is a No Burner

Be skeptical about claims that say you will be able to burn a tremendous amount of fat in a specific area of your body, such as the hips, thighs, waist just by applying a specific type of ointment or lotion, etc. The only sure way to burn all those fat way is by changing what you eat. Exercise is the best solution to works out every area of the body whose fat you want to get rid of.

The only testimonial that counts is yours

Before and after pictures of people who claim that they were able to lose weight because of using such and such equipments may or may not be true. If ever they are, their experience is purely personal and that is no assurance that your unique body weight, body make-up will also undergo the same change they went through.

Read the fine print

It is always advisable to read the fine print of anything. Though you believe that the fitness equipment you are planning to purchase is a good one, reading the fine print really wouldn't hurt as it may say that you also have to decrease your calorie intake and not just rely on what the machine could do for you.

Do the math

There are advertising statements that say you could pay off the fitness equipment in a number of easy payments or by paying a mere thirty nine ninety five a month. Do not forget to inquire about shipping and handling costs and include that in your calculation. Also, add-on the required sales tax, delivery fees, set-up fees. Know all the details before you purchase.

Guarantee the warranty

It is best that you consider asking about details on their thirty day money back guarantee. Though this could sound good to you as the consumer, it may or may not actually do you good if for example you are going to return the item. You may actually pay for the humongous shipping cost and it could cost you more than what you could guarantee to receive in thirty days.

Call customer service

Make sure you contact their customer service hotline. Usually, they have toll-free numbers that you must be able to easily contact as well as a customer service representative who must be glad to be able to take your call and answer thoroughly all or any questions you may have about their products and services.

Beauty and Fitness

2010-01-12T02:45:00.000-08:00

Health is wealth. By being physically fit, it can make a person look lean both inside and out.

There is a lot a person can do such jogging or walking in the morning, playing basketball or any other sport with friends but if a person wants to have muscles and look lean, the best thing to do will be to sign up and workout in a gym.

Just like taking any medicine, one should first consult the doctor before undergoing any form of exercise.

Physical exercise is beneficial because it helps maintain and improve ones health from a variety of diseases and premature death. It also makes a person feel happier and increases ones self esteem preventing one from falling into depression or anxiety. It has also shown to make a person with an active lifestyle live longer than a person who doesn't.

The best exercise plan should have cardiovascular and weight training exercises. This helps burn calories and increase the muscle to fat ratio that will increase ones metabolism and make one either gain or lose weight.

A person who has never worked out before should do it gradually. Doing it too much for the first time can make one pull a muscle or have an injury making it worse. Endurance will never be built in a day and doing it repeatedly will surely be good to the person.

Focusing on certain portion in the body can help make it improve. A good example is going to the gym and doing a workout more often in a specific area such as the abs can give one a chest pack.

But beauty is not only about having muscles which is what people can see. It is also about enhancing the beauty within.

Here are some things one can do everyday to stay beautiful and healthy;

· Reading books and other reading material more often keeps the mind sharp just like working out keeps the body in shape.

· Work no matter what kind it is produces stress. One can reduce this by taking the time out to do something special like lying in a hot tub, shopping or watching a movie. Studies have shown it is reliever and helps one from looking haggardly.

· Pollution is something people cannot control given the size of the problem. When one goes out, it is best to put some form of protection such as beauty products that contain antioxidants that protect the skin from damage. There are also other beauty products available and choosing the right one with the help of a dermatologist can help the person.

· Another way to stay healthy is to give up some vices. Most people smoke and drink. Smoking has been proven to cause lung cancer and other diseases as well complications for women giving birth. Excessive drinking has also shown to do the same.

· For people who don't smoke, it is best to stay away from people who do since studies have shown that nonsmokers are also at risk of developing cancer due to secondary smoke inhalation.

· Lastly, it is best to always start the day with a positive outlook. Just as studies have shown that exercise makes a person feel happier, smiling produces the same effect. A smile can do a lot and it is contagious in a positive sense. It brightens the day of not only one but others as well.

Become Healthier, Become Fitter

2010-01-12T02:44:00.000-08:00

If truth be told most of us want to be a lot fitter then we are. It is something we should all be aiming for, a better level of fitness. So where do we all start. Well a quick internet search reveals too many pages to provide a good and reliable source of information, and there is a great deal of in formation provided on the TV channels, books, newspapers and countless fitness DVDs. To be honest there will always be something out there that will help, or maybe you can take a little information from each one to build your own fitness regime.

Are there any benefits to being fitter? Guess what the answer is. Yes, fitter is better. Fitter equals less body fat as this is something that is burnt off during exercise and exercise is how to become fitter. You could just diet to become slimmer but your chances of loosing weight will be much greater if you exercise as well as diet.

A fitter person has a lower heart rate which improves your well being and as you will be breathing harder during exercise this will increase your lung function so you will enable your body to absorb more oxygen to feed your brain and muscles.

If you have hypertension, being fitter can help to lower this and can positively affect both diastolic and systolic levels. This has helped me recently as I am suffering from hypertension and one of the side effects of my medication has been to lower my heart rate. A lower heart rate means less oxygen circulating round my body, and less oxygen means less brain food. This explains why some days I have been slightly confused and somewhat forgetful. I decided to raise my overall fitness level and have been working out for several months now. My confusion has gone, my weight is down, my excess body fat is dropping and my hypertension is much better.

Being fitter can also have a positive effect on cholesterol levels, reducing LDL cholesterol, (which is good), yet helping to raise the HDL level, (which I understand is also good). Greater fitness can also help your heart and lower the chance of having a stroke. I used to smoke which wasn’t good for my heart and found exercise very hard. I decided to stop smoking and coupled with a fitness regime I now feel much better and a lot fitter.

My stamina and strength has increased greatly since working out and this is even more important to people as you get a little older.

A great way of developing a fitness regime is to seek help and your local gym should have a personal trainer, (or you can find your own). These will advise you on the best way to become fitter and remember they are the experts. A personal trainer knows the things we don’t and it is sensible advice to listen to their advice. They will not set up a fitness regime that is so strenuous that it will kill you on day one. A personal trainer will help you build up your strength and stamina by developing a sensible program of exercise. To develop a sensible fitness program we need to consider 4 important areas.

Aerobic exercise is a form of exercise which is low in its intensity but lengthy in its duration. Put simply this means not too hard but goes on a long time such as walking, swimming and aerobics on your own or in aerobic workout classes.

Another way of getting fitter is to pull weights which is known as resistance training. My experience of this training is limited but to do it sensibly start with low weights and build up the weight as your fitness builds up. Remember, be sensible and don’t over do it as you can damage your body easily with unsupervised weight training.

You could take up a fitness regime involving flexibility exercises such as yoga. Remember though you still need to eat a properly balanced diet of sensible foods as part of your fitness program.

Getting fitter can be easy, just do easy exercises a little at a time and then do it properly and intensively. To get fit quick though, consider being advised by a specialist fitness trainer, either a personal one or one based in a gym. They will help you find out what is best for you. Books and web sites can give you guidance as to how to get fitter and this is what a personal trainer will do, but a book or a web site cannot tailor the advice to you and your circumstances. A personal trainer can, and will, do this. Another thing they can do, which is usually something I need, is they can help to motivate you in order that you can develop your own fitness regime. Becoming fitter takes time and time is something that many of up are short of in today’s modern world. Just remember that you need to keep working at a fitness regime to develop a better level of fitness. Fitness is not something you can buy at the supermarket. In order to become fitter you just need to take things steady at first but there has to be a first, you have to start somewhere. Just look at me. I used to be a heavy smoker and drinker; I was grossly overweight and had hypertension. Now, I am much fitter, can jog miles without problems, the hypertension is much more controlled and my waistline has shrunk. How, well I started a fitness program which was easy at first, and just built up from there. Start small and build up to a more developed program. Good luck. I did it and so can you.

10 Healthy Tips for Fitness Success

2010-01-10T16:14:00.003-08:00

Getting fit is on the minds of most people. However, many people are not consistent and fail in the first three months of an exercise program. But if it becomes a habit and they stick to it, something magical happens after four months. You are finally getting the results you expect and chances are you will continue with the exercise program.

Here a 10 simple tips to help you with your fitness success.

1. Get Moving. Resolve to be active in a variety of physical activities on a regular basis that will develop strength, cardiovascular capacity and flexibility.

2. Prime the Pump. Resolve to participate in physical activities that involve the large muscle groups of the body.

3. Let Your Muscles do the Work. Resolve to lift weight or use resistant exercises to place demands and challenge your muscles.

4. Loosen Up. Resolve to stretch regularly – before and after or during exercise. Remember to move your muscles through their full range of motion on a regular basis.

5. Win the Losing Game. Resolve to maintain your weight at an appropriate level. If you need to lose weight, a general rule to follow is to eat less and exercise more (both in moderation).

6. Watch What You Eat. Resolve to eat a healthy diet. Good nutrition equates to good health. Good nutrition involves providing your body with the required nutrients in appropriate amounts.

7. Chill Out. Resolve to keep matters of your life in proper perspective. Know what factors you can and cannot control in your life. Don’t “stress out” over those things beyond your control. See change as an opportunity, not a threat.

8. Get Plenty of Rest. Resolve to get enough sleep. The basic guideline concerning how much sleep you need is whatever enables you to feel refreshed, alert and in relative good spirits the next day. Sleep helps to rest and restore your body – both physically and mentally.

9. Keep Your Focus on the Task at Hand. Resolve to make time to exercise on a regular basis. Consistency gets results. Focus on the muscle you are exercising. Don’t just go through the motions.

10. Keep in Mind that “There is no Free Lunch.” Resolve to commit to sound lifestyle choices. For example, don’t smoke. Maintain an appropriate level of body fat. Avoid the latest fitness and diet fads, magic potions and exercise gadgets that seem too good to be true (they always are).

For more information and tips on exercise, go to http://www.easyexercisetips.com

10 Things You Should Know About Stretching

2010-01-10T16:14:00.001-08:00

Before fitness training, one must give importance to doing warm-up or stretching exercises to prevent accidents or to enhance the output during the training. There are also a number of precautionary measures and tips to serve as guidelines when doing fitness exercises. Here are some of them.

1. To increase your flexibility and to avoid injuries, stretch before and after workout. Almost everyone knows that stretching before workout prevents injuries during the exercises, but only few people know that stretching after workout, when muscles are still warm, can increase flexibility.

2. Hold your stretching position for more than 60 seconds to increase flexibility. While holding your position for 20 seconds is enough for warm ups, holding each position for at least 60 seconds will develop the body's flexibility.

3. Do not go into a stretching position then immediately return to the relaxed position, and do it repeatedly. This is more appropriately termed as bouncing while in a position. When stretching, hold that position for several seconds, and then slowly relax. You may do this exercise repeatedly this way. Bouncing or forcing yourself into a position during stretching can strain or damage some joints or muscles.

4. Work slowly in increments instead of immediately proceeding to doing the hardest exercise or position.

5. Make sure that you have stretched or warmed up all muscle groups. For some people, even if they have strong bodies, they tend to neglect the neck when working out of stretching. Stretching the neck muscles can be as simple as placing the palm of one's hand against the front of the head and pushing it. Then, do the same to the sides and the back of the head.

6. Stretch regularly to continually increase your range of movements and your level of flexibility and strength.

7. Workout considering only your capabilities and not of others. Do not force yourself to do exercises that you are not yet capable of just because there are people who can do it. Increase your limits slowly. Listen to your body. There are days when your body may be too tired that you may have to consider reducing your range of motion.

8. Learn to rest. Rest in between sets and stations to make sure that the body has enough time to recover its energy. Also, it is advisable that you don't work the same muscle groups consecutively for two days. The muscles grow during the period when you rest and not when you are working out.

9. Do aerobic exercises to strengthen your heart. Aerobic exercises are those physical activities that much oxygen for fuel. This includes cardiovascular exercises such as skipping rope, running or swimming.

10. Music may help you when you want to train for longer periods or to increase your intensity. You can use mp3 players, CD players or lightweight am radio receivers for this. Just make sure that you brought your headset with you so you wouldn't disturb people who don't prefer music while exercising.

Apart from preventing injuries and increasing one's limit, it is also said that stretching is good for a tired body and also for a stressed mind and spirit.

10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Health Club Membership

2010-01-10T16:13:00.003-08:00

You’ve decided you want (or need) to get work out more and get fit. You’re thinking about joining a health club, but you’ve heard too many stories about people who sign up, go one or two times, and never go back. You’re not really sure which type of club to join: a low-cost chain, a more expensive, exclusive fitness center, or a club that caters to only women or men.

Buying and maintaining a health club membership can be pretty complicated, but if you follow these 10 tips, you’ll save money and be on your way to greater fitness.

1. Make a list of your specific fitness needs and wants. Will you be comfortable working out in a large club with both men and women? Will you need access to more than one club? Are you looking for one-on-one personal training services? How often do you think you’ll work out each month? Do you think you’ll be able to keep up your fitness regimen? How much can you afford to pay for a membership each month?

2. Once you’ve identified your requirements, visit health clubs that meet your needs. Get a free pass for each club (at least a one-week’s pass) and workout at each club as often as possible during the free periods.

3. Don’t sign up for a membership at any of the health clubs while you’re using free passes. You’ll be under a lot of pressure from salespeople and managers, and they will tell you that you need to sign up today in order to get discount pricing. Don’t. Health clubs offer discount pricing all the time.

4. When you’ve decided a health club, go back and speak with a salesperson about membership choices. Don’t feel pressured to sign a long-term contract at any health club. Remember that long-term contracts are really installment loans with high interest payments. If you don’t think that you’re going to keep up your workouts, don’t even think about signing one of these contracts. Gather all of the written information about each type of membership, then go home and review it at your leisure. Don’t feel pressured to sign up for any membership at the club.

5. When you’re speaking with the salesperson, ask all of the questions you want. Don’t feel rushed or pressured. Never forget that any contract you sign supersedes any promises a salesperson gives you. Even if the salesperson writes it into the contract, it probably isn’t legally enforceable. The contract is king. Read it carefully before signing.

6. Compare the costs of each membership type, and remember that you should make the ultimate decision based on your own needs, not on short-term discounts that may sound like you’re saving money, but will end up costing you more money in the end.

7. Make sure you fully understand the cancellation requirements of each membership type. Many long-term health club contracts are almost impossible to cancel. A month-to-month contract may be a better solution.

8. Don’t sign up for automatic payments via credit card. If you no longer want a membership, and you’re able to cancel, you may find it difficult to get payments stopped.

9. Keep track of all your payments in case there are any disputes with your health club.

10. If you do cancel you membership, make sure you get the cancellation in writing from your health club.

By following these 10 tips, you will certainly set yourself up for fitness success.

20 Minute Home Work Out

2010-01-10T16:13:00.001-08:00

If you are busy, not able to get up early morning or have no time for gym just follow this 20 minute home work out to stay healthy and fit.

1) Jog : in one place for 3 minutes

2) Jumping jacks: 25 repeats
When landing, bend your knees slightly to reduce the impact on knee joints.

3) Crunches : 15 repeats
Lie flat on your back with your knees bent. Place your hands behind your head with elbows pointing outwards. Support your neck with your hands. Keep your neck in a straight line with your spine. Flex your waist to raise the upper torso from the mat. Lower yourself until the back of your shoulders touches the mat.
Muscle worked: rectus abdominis

4) Hip Bridges : 10 repeats
Lie on your back. With your hands at a 90 degree angle to the floor, lift your body off the floor to form a straight line, a sort of a bridge, from the shoulders to the knee. The position should resemble a table … your hands and legs as the legs of the table and your upper body to your knees as the surface. Hold this position for two seconds. Squeeze your gluteus (butt muscles) and then lower yourself.
Muscle worked: Lower back, hamstrings and gluteus.

5) Step – up’s : 1 minute
You will need a stepper for this.
Muscle worked: hamstrings, gluteus, quards.

6) Reverse crunches: 15 repeats
Lie on your back with your hands on your sides. Keep you knees bent. Bring your knees towards your head, till your hips come slightly off the floor. Hold this position for a second, and then lower your knees.
Muscle worked: lower abs and obliques.

7) Mountain climbers : 1 minute
Get your hands and knees and raise your knees like a starting block sprinter. Run in that position, supporting your upper body with the palms of your hands. Keep your back straight.
Muscle worked: triceps, deltoid muscle, gluteus, quards, hamstrings, calves.

8) Push – ups : 15 repeats
Muscle worked: triceps, deltoids, pectorals.

9) Squat thrusts: 1 minute
Stand straight. Now, drop to a crouch position. Immediately thrust your legs out straight behind on your toes, in push up position, now jump to pull legs back to the chest, in crouching position , then stand up straight,
Muscle worked: arms, legs, chest, and lower back.

Cool down by walking around, till your heart rate starts getting back to normal, stretch.

A minutes rest is needed in between exercise. Proper form is important. Do not hold breath. Sip water during the workout. This workout targets the whole body, improves cardiovascular efficiency and tones and strengthens the body.

8 Tips To Consider When Buying A Treadmill or elliptical

2010-01-10T16:12:00.002-08:00

1. Stay away from orthopedic belts. We don't recommend them because 1) a good pair of running shoes provide more cushioning 2) they hold in heat which shortens belt life, motor life, and electronics life 3) the increased weight of the belt shortens bearing life in the rollers.

2. Do your research and get several price quotes from several different stores. Typically, the more you deal with the various companies, the better deals they will come up with such as discounts, free product, financing specials, etc.

3. Tread carefully when buying over the Internet. Some companies, like Landice and True, will void your warranty if bought over the Internet and some have restrictions on delivery distances from an authorized dealer. If in doubt, call or email the factory. Another issue related to Internet buying is delivery. Many of us in the business know how difficult it is to ship a single treadmill or elliptical without having it damaged so deal with a company that has been doing it a long time and has already learned how to do it. Another issue to keep in mind is what you are going to do if you don’t like the machine. Most companies accept returns but the cost to ship the treadmill back to the factory can easily cost hundreds of dollars so it is quite an expensive trial test if the machine is returned. Also curbside delivery literally means what it says…the trucking company will sit it on the curb and it’s your problem to get it into the house, so either pay for inside delivery or have help ready. Another issue is service…some internet companies have good service networks and others don’t but remember that you probably won’t get the type of personalized service you should expect from a local dealer.

4. Do take care of your treadmills. Whether they require quite a bit or little maintenance, keeping the treadmill or elliptical clean and the walking belt lubricated on the treadmill can be the difference between having a great treadmill or a money pit. Refer to our Treadmill or Elliptical Care Pamphlet for maintenance instructions.

5. If you are considering used machines, really do you homework, and then do it again. We do rebuilding jobs for local health clubs all the time and do this work occasionally for people who are buying health club models for the home but to do it right costs quite a bit and if someone is telling you they have a used or rebuilt at an amazing price, you typically aren't getting the entire story.

6. Since buying a treadmill is a huge investment for most people, choose your dealer and factory carefully. As with any product, a brand new company may not be around in a few years, parts can be very specific to machines and spares may not be available if the factory isn’t around. A dealer for a reputation for high quality and personalized service is necessary for some people. Other people feel confident in servicing their own equipment, so figure out which one you are and buy accordingly. If you know one end of a wrench from the other, you might want to save a few dollars with an Internet purchase. Others may need to pay for the full-service price you should get from a local dealer but if you pay the higher price, demand the higher service level.

7. Treadmills and ellipticals are different than many other home appliances. Remember, we rate a treadmill average if it has a breakdown only once every 5 years…that’s average! Extended warranties can make sense if the manufacturer has a short warranty and if you get it from a reputable extended warranty company. Remember the dealer is typically not the warranty provider and many have gone out of business over the years and others are hard to deal with. For instance, UTS (Icon’s warranty company) is the best we have ever dealt with. If you get an Icon machine, buy the UTS warranty…it will be well worth it. UTS’s number is 800-677-3838. Also, Sears has a good extended warranty program and it typically pays for itself if you use the machine. On the other hand, we have had problems with the company called N.E.W. and many others have gone out of business so do your research on your warranty company if you have never heard of them.

8. A great final tip is if you want to save a bit of money. Due to the influence of Asian parts, the lower end treadmills and ellipticals are getting better and better while the price is holding the line and the ones being made today in the $800 range are much better than the $800 machines made 10 years ago. If you need to save a few bucks and your doctor says it is OK, use a few degrees of incline always when you use your machine. If the machine is well maintained and if you use a bit of incline (on the treadmill), you can get by with a bit less of a machine than you might otherwise need. The incline allows gravity to take over quite a bit of the workload from the drive system. A treadmill used with just a slight incline will last much longer than a comparably cared for treadmill that is used at a flat level.

7 Tips for Fitness Women

2010-01-10T16:12:00.001-08:00

Would you like to be a fitness woman? Or are you a fitness woman but would like to be effective? Here are 7 great tips on how to become an effective fitness woman:

1. Get a program that will best suit you. Every fitness woman is different. You may have surgical history where a program may not be suited for you. Always consult a qualified trainer to make sure that the fitness program will not hurt you. If the fitness program is not for you, it will only be a cause of frustration and injuries.

2. Set realistic targets. Wouldn't you be frustrated if you set your mind into reshaping your body in month? Make sure that the body you prefer in a period of time is achievable and realistic. The program should also be practical and will not give you false hopes. It is important to be aware of the blocks you encounter in your daily living. This will help you know what program is satisfactory. And once a program has been reached, then you can set goals and timelines that are realistic.

3. Exercises should work on the parts of your body where muscles are. The reason mainly is, when you develop muscles, you burn more calories and then you lessen the fats in your body. Multi-joint exercises and weight lifting are recommended. Learn what exercises work on certain parts of your body. Multi-joint exercises are also said to be effective but time saving.

4. Be systematic on working on your muscles. Your muscles should be working harder over time. Repeating the same sets of exercises and same weight without getting your muscles to work harder will not give satisfactory results. You can record your daily results and make the progression based on your previous data. A daily log will also motivate you since you are able to track how far you have gone. It builds confidence since there is a written proof something that was successfully accomplished.

5. Perform a set of exercises in 10 repetitions. Every number that was accomplished is called a repetition. Try to make every repetition with less momentum as much as possible. The lesser the momentum, the harder your muscles work. And the harder they work, the bigger they become. To check if there is much momentum when lifting, see if the arm is floating. If the arm does float, then there is much momentum.

6. Be flexible and perform a variety of exercises. Every exercise program should have a variety. You can change your exercises, goals and sets every month to keep you motivated and on the go. Doing this will help you prevent being bored and losing energy physically and mentally.

7. Be Motivated! The best way to keep the energy levels of trainees is to allow a healthy competition and allow them to have a sense of control. Having control is having the sense ownership where everybody gets a part in implementing a program. To do this you also need to be consistent in demonstrating your skills.

Not all programs work for all types of people. There is no workout that is best for everyone. But you learn from experienced people. Learn to acknowledge blocks and demonstrate self-discipline, keep yourself motivated and work harder everyday and add variety. Doing these things, you will discover that a lot of programs will work for you.

my recent articles

2010-01-09T22:57:00.001-08:00

Air Beds in Today’s Age

2010-01-09T15:35:00.001-08:00

A large number of peopel seem to be avoiding the purchase of an air bed as a result of a lackluster experience in the past. Although this is certainly understandable, people need to realize that the air beds of the past couldn't be any more different from the ones available today. Given that a quality air bed is purchased, almost all of the things which were once issues should no longer be areas of concern.

The first impression which most seem to be under is that they'll wake up to a deflated air bed come the first night of utilization. This scenario is not only unlikely but downright outrageous. Modern air mattresses are constructed of heavy vinyl and are designed to support large amounts of weight. In contrast, older air mattresses were made with either thin plastic or vinyl. This thin material made them very prone to air loss.

The second concern on the minds of many is that of comfort. For some reason, it is believed that air bed manufacturers would be ridiculous enough (as they've been in the past) to leave bare vinyl atop their air beds. Let me assure you that these manufacturers know what they're customers demand and thus line the top of their beds with a comfortable, velvet-like material. With that, comfort should be anything but a concern.

Finally, many have been mislead into thinking that they'll be inconvenienced in adjusting the firmness of their mattress. Current air bed models offer the convenience of firmness adjustment from a remote control. This is far less burdensome when compared to the trial-and-error method involved with older air mattresses.

Now that you've been dug out of air bed lies, we hope you will put some thought into purchasing one. Chances are in your favor that your new air bed experience will be worthwhile.

A Time before Clock and Watches – A Series (part 1)

2010-01-09T15:34:00.003-08:00

How Time Was Measured Before the Clock

How many times have you wondered, “What time is it?” and turned to your wrist only to find you forgot to put on your watch. We have become so programmed to know what time it is and schedule our lives around it that it is second nature to bend your arm, turn your wrist and get the answer. It has not always been so easy, or even necessary as you will see by looking back to a time before clocks and watches.

Like Night and Day

The precision with which we measure time today is light years away from how it was done, not so long ago. Time was once measured completely by the universe around us – and still is in a sense when you understand the science and physics behind the measurement of time and what makes a clock work (more on this in part 2). What earlier civilizations knew and relied upon each day was that the sun came up and went down and that block of time became a day. To measure greater expanses, the moon and its reliable cycles were also observed. The moon was used to measure the time period which came to be known as a month – more technically a lunar month of 28 days – or the time it took for the moon to go from new to crescent to full and new again.

Ancient Civilization

Even more than just observing the moon, sun, and planets, there are artifacts that show us that time was measured a bit more precisely. Early calendars and “clocks” were found in what is now Iraq, once the dwelling place of the ancient Sumerians, and consisted of a calendar that was divided into 30 day segments according to the cycle of the moon. It was then divided into 12 sections which corresponded to 2 hours of today’s time. Further, the calendar was sectioned off into 30 more parts equivalent to 4 modern-day minutes.

Stonehenge is located in England and was built more than 4,000 years ago. Not much is completely understood about this mysterious structure, but the way it is positioned has scientists believing that it somehow was used to record seasons and the phenomenon of lunar eclipses and the like.

Sundials

The Sumerian culture passed away without the information about their timekeeping being discovered until more modern times. The next phase of more precise time measurement was used by the Egyptians. They created the Obelisk around 3500 BC which looked like today’s Washington Monument, well-known to visitors of the Nation’s capital. This tall, tapered monument would cast shadows throughout the day, but was primitive still in how closely the time periods could be measured. It mostly reflected a change between morning and afternoon, and how the days would get shorter or longer with the seasons.

The sundial on the other hand was first used about 1500 BC and was a much smaller and more portable timekeeping device. It was divided into 10 equal parts with two additional segments representing twilight and dawn. The sundial itself then emerged from a horizontal plate to a bowl shape with pointer and inscribed lines to mark off the hours. It is believed that by 30 BC there were more than 13 different styles of sundials used in the evolving societies of Asia Minor, Italy, and Greece.

When one thinks about the precision of a finely crafted Swiss timepiece it is hard to imagine a time when time was so ambiguous. Could society function without time measurements to the very minute? Perhaps in another millennium society will wonder how we functioned living in just one time.

This is the first of a series of articles on the evolution of time measuring and how timepieces come to become what they are today.

About Embroidery Machines

2010-01-09T15:34:00.001-08:00

What happens when you combine the old hobby of stitching designs to a cloth or fabric with computer technology? You get an embroidery machine! Before embroidery is being done by hand that meticulously and painstakingly takes for several hours to finish. With the development of the embroidery machine, the process narrows down to a mere few minutes and even seconds. What is good about embroidery machine is that accuracy and perfection is always assured every time the needle starts to move. Since it is computer generated, every stroke of needle is assured to land on the right spot.

If you are considering buying an embroidery machine, here are some things you should do:

Doing an initial research on different embroidery machine on the market (online or offline) is the best first step towards your goal of owning one. This would give you an overview of the type of embroidery machine you would need. From here you can now set your budget. Limit your shopping to your set budget so as not to get surprised once you are already shopping. One important remainder: an embroidery machine could cost thousands of dollars so you have to be mindful of your set budget. Make sure you don’t go with the most expensive for sometimes, cost cannot be equated with quality.

After you have done some initial research and have already set your budget, you should not rush on the nearest appliance store or online shops. You should identify the features you want. Some embroidery machines are built for industrial purposes- the ones that are tough and can do several stitches in short span of time. Some embroidery machines are capable of stitching on soft fabrics. Some would do well in leather and heavy fabrics. So what should you choose? If you think you would not be able to put it under extreme work, then there is no need to buy high-end machines. Other embroidery machines are so complex; they can do several tasks in one time. Though it is very tempting to buy this kind of machine, still have to ponder if you can maximize this type. Make sure that the embroidery machine you buy would definitely serve your purpose.

If you are only beginning to love embroidery, make sure you settle for basic machines. Upgrade only once you progress your technical skill. Most people would tend to buy the most sophisticated and complex embroidery machine you could find. And more often than not, these machines are left useless and gathering dusts for owners do not know how to use it.

If you are planning to make embroidery a living, you still have to consider its purpose. Choose a machine that would answer the specific task you expect them to give. For example: if you desire a machine that would solely do embroidery, then settle for a particular one that would do the specific kind.

Several embroidery machines have additional accessories that could be added afterwards. Usually additional accessories compatible with the machine are enumerated. Choose an embroidery machine that does not necessarily have the most accessories. Instead, choose one with accessories you can use.

Finally, make sure you do not go primarily for brand names. Although you can surely trust those with good and tested names, go after the product, features, warranty, service, and price.

Addiction: When Gambling Becomes a Problem

2010-01-09T15:33:00.001-08:00

While most people enjoy casino gambling, sports betting, lottery and bingo playing for the fun and excitement it provides, others may experience gambling as an addictive and distractive habit. Statistics show that while 85 percent of the adult population in the US enjoys some type of gambling every year, between 2 and 3 percent of will develop a gambling problem and 1 percent of them are diagnosed as pathological gamblers.

Where can you draw the line between harmless gambling to problem gambling? How can you tell if you or your friend are compulsive gamblers? Here you can find answers to these questions and other questions regarding problem gambling and gambling addiction.

What is the Meaning of Problem Gambling?
Problem gambling or compulsive gambling is defined as an uncontrollable urge to gamble despite the destructive effect of gambling on the gamblers life and despite feelings of guilt and remorse. Problem gambling tends to have a negative effect on the gamblers financial state, relationships and daily life. Severe cases of problem gambling can be defined as pathological gambling.

Am I a Compulsive Gambler?
1) Do you gamble until your last penny runs out?
2) Do you gamble to win back your former losses or debts?
3) Did you ever had to borrow money to continue gamble?
4) Did your gambling habit ever made you lie to your friends or family?
5) Did you ever skip work or other obligation to gamble?
6) Do you tend to gamble to forget about your personal problems or to celebrate happy occasions?
7) Does gambling have a negative affect on your daily life or relationships?

If you have answered yes on at least one of the questions listed above, then you have a problem.

Can Anyone Become a Compulsive Gambler?
Theoretically, yes. Any gambler can develop gambling problem regardless to the type of gambling he is occupied with, the amount of money and time he is spending on gambling. Researches show that slot machines that can be found in bars and convenient stores are the most addictive type of gambling activity, while lottery draws and bingo games are located on the other end of the scale. Gambling addiction is an emotional problem; its symptoms, causes and treatments are similar to any other form of addiction.

How Can I treat Gambling Addiction?
1) Group Therapy:
Gamblers Anonymous offers a 12 step self help program similar to the one offered to alcohol addicts in Alcoholics Anonymous. Group therapy also offers gambling addicts advice and support from professional counselors and other gambling addicts in different phases of their recovery process. Gambler Anonymous centers are available in more than 1,200 locations statewide.

2) Individual Therapy:
Cognitive or behavior therapy can help gambling addicts to identify their unaware thinking and acting patterns, which led them to gamble compulsively, and to replace them with controllable and healthier ways of thinking.

3) Psychiatric Medication:
It has recently been proven that antidepressant medications from the family of SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can be affective in treatment of gambling addicts.

Air Bed Shopping with a Convenience Factor

2010-01-09T14:52:00.000-08:00

Looking to beat the crowds (and prices) that are currently allotted by traditional stores, many people have headed to the internet to make their air bed purchase. While this is a perfectly understandable notion, it is important that consumers are informed of the precautions they should take while shopping online.

First and foremost, air bed shoppers need to be sure they're purchasing from a reputable vendor. Many have been stung (sometimes severely) from not sticking to this rule. While you may be forking over a few more bucks buying from a reputable online vendor, it's truly worth the piece of mind. We recommend checking out Amazon, Target, or QVC. If you unsure about a particular vendor, we suggest heading over to the Better Business Bureau for more information.

Second, online shoppers should conduct adequate research on the bed they plan to purchase before inputting any sort of credit card number. Don't stick to the description and review(s) available on the vendor's site. These might be biased and thus inaccurate. Once you've got a good overall idea on the product, then you can go ahead and either purchase it or scour the net for a new one.

Finally, you should check to see what the final price will come out to. Remember, when your purchase things online, you have to factor in shipping costs. Although air beds aren't very heavy, they can rack up a noticeable shipping bill. Analyze the final cost and see how it compares to the price at a retail store.

We wish those looking to purchase their air beds online the best of luck! If you exercise good judgment, chances are good that your online shopping experience will be pleasant. Review each and every site you visit before purchasing from a specific one. The last thing you want is to get scammed.

5 Ways Nintendo can Climb to the Top

2010-01-08T23:53:00.001-08:00

5: Shifting Media Man
Nintendo needs to ditch mini-disks and cartridges and publish games on full size compact disks. It will help get rid of your “cute, fuzzy, little kid image.”

4: Deadline Driving for 8 Billion Red Coins
Don’t hype up a game until you’re sure you can release it on time. You get me all worked up about a game like Twilight Princess and then push it back, and back, and back until you’ve pushed back into another console! It gets old! Stop doing it. Finish the game then tell people about it six month before you release it. Problem solved.

3: Footrace with Sony the Quick
It’s a little late for this one Nintendo, but you need to beat Sony to the market if you can. Get your Revolution hardware out and in our hands and take our dollars as soon as possible because after we buy an X-Box 360, 4 controllers, and a hard drive we’re probably going to have enough money for just one Next Gen system. If you can beat Sony to the market and suck up $250 bucks plus the cost of controllers, games, and memory cards people won’t be willing to shell out the $600 bucks plus games and accessory money for Play Station III.

2. Nintendo's Image Lost
You need to fix your image, you have the 3-9 year old market cornered, and nobody can touch you, but now its time to graduate to the big leagues. If you want to survive and latch onto the adult audience I suggest buying a well-known franchise like Grand Theft Auto or create one and make it a Nintendo exclusive. Remind people Nintendo started the age of multiplayer console shooters with Goldeneye.

1. To the Top of the Mountain
Last, but not least, you seriously need to get a better shell for your controller. I personally like it and think it's brilliant, but people aren't ready for it yet. You need to have a more traditional controller for your next gen system. I'm NOT SAYING YOU SHOULD GET RID OF THE MOTION SENSOR, but definitely scrap the remote control look.

3D Animation

2010-01-08T23:52:00.002-08:00

3D animation deals with electronically produced computer-generated 3D imagery used in motion graphics and digital special effects. In this case, the animator creates a design style or concept that tries to visually interpret and convey the required information using both new and traditional animation techniques.

The 3D animator will have to be well-acquainted with 3D animation applications and software, film and video production techniques, production processes, digital special effects, art and design movements and methodology, typography, styles of performance and dramatization, film and broadcast genres, technical scripting, health and safety regulations for the film and broadcast industry, and an understanding of budgeting and scheduling processes.

The job of the 3D animator is to design and realize original concepts, character and content creation. The animator, therefore, is responsible for devising and communicating creative ideas and accurate technical information. They have to provide the client with detailed estimates of costs, and work within the budget and schedule.

Each assignment will have different demands. So it is imperative that the animator should have a good knowledge and experience of animation software and broadcast processes, as well as a broad knowledge of technical scripting and digital technology used in broadcasting. The designer must be able to respond with innovative concepts and practical solutions for each assignment. The assignments may be of any kind, from designing a spinning top to re-creating mythical weapons.

To succeed in 3D animation, one must have a thorough understanding of computer-generated processes and applications to be able to achieve creative responses to design briefs within the restrictions of budget and deadline. He/she will be required to possess a passion for design, good communication skills and a good understanding of broadcast, special effects and character animation. Last but not least, he or she must enjoy working as a team member under pressure.

In addition to being able to demonstrate high standards of computer-generated imagery and animation techniques you will need to have a good knowledge of art and design movements and imagery, creative problem solving and innovation, and the understanding of how to deliver design concepts and processes.

5 Desktop Computer Hardware Myths Exposed

2010-01-08T23:52:00.001-08:00

The big boys in the computer industry want you to continue thinking the way you are. The major desktop computer manufacturers thrive on consumers lack of knowledge and old ideas about desktop computers and computer hardware to drive sales of new desktop computers.

It works in their favor to keep these myths alive, because their business depends on it. So what are they?

Myth 1: You need top of the line computer hardware

Maybe some years ago this might have been true with older computer hardware, but times have changed. When computers were much slower than they are now, the latest version of any computer hardware increased speeds noticeably and allowed new possibilities from your desktop computer.

Those increases from computer hardware no longer yield such a huge increase in performance. With the basic uses of the desktop computer set and been in place for a while now, speed increases no longer result in real world benefits for most desktop computer users.

What was great computer hardware last year is still good enough now.

Myth 2: Computer hardware is the domain of Geeks

When personal computing was coming into its own, you really did need to be a Geek to know what was happening. For those old enough to remember, imagine life without Windows and hacking away at the command line, as used to be the case. Some still do, but I wouldn't want to do that again.

Desktop computers are such commonplace that the basics of computer hardware can be understood and researched with the minimum of hassle. The ball is on the consumers side of the court. You no longer need to be a geek, just a little knowledge that is now readily available.

Myth 3: A faster desktop computer will speed up the Internet

Possibly. If you are running 5-year-old computer hardware this might be the case. But the real reason for the increase in speed is usually not the computer.

Internet speed is related to your connection speed. If you have a dial up connection, it's going to be quite slow. When you upgrade your desktop computer and they throw in a cable internet, or DSL package the improved speed is from the faster connection, not the computer. Both cable and DSL can offer more than 10 times the speed of a dial-up connection. The computer has little to do with it.

Myth 4: To speed your computer up, upgrade!

New computer hardware is a very obvious way to speed things up. Even I have gone for new parts purely for this reason.

But it's definitely not the only way.

Various factors play into overall speed. On a purely physical level, upgrading memory is still a fantastic way to get things to move along a little faster. But apart from this the main things that slows things down on the programs and other stuff you have on the computer.

Over time, as more programs are put on and taken off and changed, things get left behind, and things get forgotten. When your computer starts, many things get loaded into memory and each one of those takes that little bit more of the computers resources. When you switch to a new program and don't remove the old one, the older one will still use resources.

Myth 5: Big brands are the best

Big brands essentially piece together a computer. They pick and choose the pieces to make a computer package. They also choose some software, give a warranty and then sell it to you.

Dell computer company has become well known for its customer service. This is the best part about Dell computers. The downside is there are limited choices. They pick what goes into the computer, which are often quite expensive parts. They are motivated by the suppliers to put more recent parts into their computers, keeping the prices at the same level and maintaining the "to get more, pay more," mentality.

You don't have the power of these big guys, but you have something more. Choice.

Your pick of parts for your desktop computer will allow you to put together something completely tailored to your needs. Put the money where you need it most, into the computer hardware that makes the biggest difference to you, and in the end getting a desktop computer you will fall in love with, rather than despise.

5 Tips On Improving Your Tricks

2010-01-08T23:51:00.000-08:00

A magician is an artist. Every trick is a masterpiece and every trick requires a lot of patience and time to learn. Here are some tips to help you improve your tricks.

Practice Makes Perfect

You’ve learned a new trick and have shown it to an audience and mesmerized them, should that stop there? No! A magician always practices his bag of tricks, no matter how much he has mastered them. Bungling up a trick in front of an audience is one of the most embarrassing situations a magician can ever encounter.

You should set some time to practice your magic. Two hours every day is more than enough to help you polish up skills you’ve learned. Remember that time spent in practicing is not time wasted.

Videotape Your Act

Videotaping your act will let you see how the audience perceives you. It is important that you look at your video camera as you do it and try to think of it as your audience. Watching how you perform will let you see simple mistakes you probably didn’t know you were making. It will help in your practice and in knowing if a trick is effective.

Ask for Help

Joining a group could help you improve your tricks. You could watch how they do it. You would also have the chance to show your tricks and receive feedbacks. Remember to ask for help if you think you need it and to heed advice when given.

It’s important to realize that there are better magicians than you and that others have more experience.

Utilize Your Free Time

Going away for the weekends? Perhaps you’re going on a camping trip or fishing. Why not bring your materials with you? There will be free time on your trips where you could practice your tricks or devise new ones.

The trick is to use your time wisely. Think of every free time as a chance to practice and you’ll see improvements on your tricks.

Learning another Trick

Don’t try learning another trick until you’ve mastered your current trick. You should treat it as a painting and practice your trick until it becomes your own masterpiece.

Ask for help if you need them and try your best to finish learning what you’ve started.

A magician will always find ways to learn new tricks. It is important that they realize that a trick is not something to be taken for granted. You need to practice, practice, and practice. That is one way to ensure success in this business.

5 very Important Questions You Need To Ask Your Web- hosts Before You Buy

2010-01-08T03:59:00.000-08:00

You finally decided to approach a web-hosting company for hosting your website. You got your domain name registered or perhaps you did not. Web Hosting isn't like buying groceries - there are far too many things you have to consider even for something that looks deceptively this simple as putting up a website. It depends on how cautious you are and how you manage to bag the best web-hosting provider available to serve you.
It would help you a great deal if you asked your potential web hosting provider a few pointed questions such as those mentioned below, along with the reasons as to why you need to ask ( for your knowledge).
1. Do they have sound customer support systems in place?
Now, you would find a lot of web-hosting serve providers online. Some of them serve their customers promptly while some don't. It is very important as a web master, or a web site owner for you to know how your potential service provider rates on this aspect. You could shoot some pre-sales questions about something you wanted to know or ask them one of these other questions and wait to see the response period. If they don't respond within 24 hrs (the Industry Standard) you are talking to trouble-hosting providers. Good customer service and the extent to which the provider would go to educate you or familiarize you with their available services would mean a lot to you as a client.
2. Server systems, technology, Data Centers, Back-up schedules: Does your provider explain his standing on these?
Servers are a must for a web-hosting provider. It forms his basic infrastructure. Back-systems are scheduled to run automatically and these servers are backed-up as frequently as daily with some hosting providers. What does your potential provider has to say about these things? Do they mention the kind of technology they use? Do they have reliable back-up systems at traceable data-centers? How are they equipped technically? Do they have technical people on rolls?
3. Company data, financial standing and profitability: How sound is your provider financially?
You must be wondering as to why you need to bother about your web-hosting provider's financial standing - well, it so happens than some companies might be new and there are chances that you could be talking to a fly-by-night operator. Properly financial health also signifies a stronger management which might be placed better to be able to serve its present and potential customers. However, it is another entirely that some of the best of the web-site providers also make losses and is not to be mistaken that they do not have good customer support or services offered.
4. What might be scope of service provided?
What exactly is your service provider going to offer to you? Depending on your requirements he must be able to provide everything (almost!) under one roof. You could have wanted just a single page hosted or perhaps you wanted a 300 page super content website -Do they have the range to suit your requirements? Under your allocated budgets? Single page websites usually are simple HTML pages and can be hosted easily. Your requirement can be very complex too which calls for inclusion of different application platforms like PHP, asp.net and Java extending up to scripts, forum, shopping carts, Intuitive control panels, plesk and also enabling e-commerce. So can your service provider be able to provide you all of this?
If you had plans of making a truly interactive and content rich site, you could have thought of including content in the form of Video, streaming media, blogs, chatting, live customer support and much more. You will have to ensure that your service provider is able to provide you with all of this and much more.
5. What's your provider's take on Hosting reliability and up-time guarantee?
Up-time when it comes hosting means the time (expressed in percentages) the host is available to access through the Internet. You would have seen a lot of hosting providers mention a 99.9 % up-time guarantee. But then, you ought to realize that any hosting application environment calls for maintenance too. You should ask how the web-hosting provider manages to shuffle this time efficiently. How do they manage their maintenance?
According to an extract from wikipedia
"A popular claim from the popular hosting providers is '99% or 99.9% server uptime' but this often refers only to a server being powered on and doesn't account for network downtime. Real downtime can potentially be larger than the percentage guaranteed by the provider. Many providers tie uptime, and accessibility, into their own Service Level Agreement, or SLA. SLAs may or may not include refunds or reduced costs if performance goals are not met. One must be extremely careful when selecting a new company and they should read all terms and conditions carefully. A potential customer should also check out the web hosting company's Acceptable Use Policy in order to avoid potential cancellation of services due to activities that are considered a violation"
Hence, it is important to read all their terms and conditions carefully before signing up any new company as mentioned above and never forget the Acceptable Use Policy before signing on the dotted lines.

haloween costume

2010-01-07T22:14:00.001-08:00

If you are looking for a way to make your Halloween costume complete and stand out above everyone else, you can consider special effect contact lenses. Here is a look at how these creepy contact lenses can help you complete the look.

Will I be able to see?

Most of the special effect contact lenses are designed so that you can see while wearing them, including the blackout styled ones. The center portion of the lens remains clear. The exception to this is the ones that are designed to make the entire eye look white, since they hide the pupils. As you will have limited vision, it is suggested that you wear these lenses in only one eye at a time.

Can I still wear them if I wear prescription contacts?

Halloween contact lenses come in styles for both those who need corrective lenses and those that do not. However, the selection of corrective powered lenses is more limited, and do not go higher than a -6 prescription. Some styles are only available as non-corrective lenses.

Will they be comfortable to wear?

If you go with a higher quality brand of contact lenses, they should be comfortable. However, if you do not wear contacts normally you will probably notice that they are there. You should also keep in mind that costume contacts do not allow as much air flow to the eye as your traditional lenses, and so can start to feel irritated sooner. Most costume contact manufacturers do not recommend wearing the lenses for longer than 8 hours at a time.

Can I wear them more than once?

The typical name brand Halloween contact lenses are designed to last for a year, just like your regular contacts would. With good care and only occasional wear the nicer brands can last up to 18 months. Some brands are designed for only temporary wear and will last about 30 days. Less expensive than the other styles, these can be a good option if you only plan on wearing your Halloween contact lenses once.

Are there any risks?

There are some FDA warnings about Halloween contact lenses, and most are associated with the proper wear. You should always see an optometrist before ordering contacts, and purchase them from a registered contact lens retailer. Never share your lenses with another person. Do not sleep in lenses or wear them for longer than 8 hours. Remember to carry a case and contact lens solution with you so that you can remove your lenses if they become uncomfortable. Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling contact lenses.

How much will they cost me?
Traditional Halloween contact lenses range in price from about $60-$80 a pair. Hand-painted Halloween contact lenses are much more expensive and can cost over $200 a pair.

Where can I buy them?

You can often purchase Halloween contact lenses from your regular optometrist as well as online retailers. Since they are often special ordered, make sure that you allow enough time for them to arrive and order early for Halloween orders.

Halloween contact lenses can be a great way to add a finishing and unexpected touch to your Halloween costume.

Allen Iverson History

2010-01-07T22:13:00.002-08:00

Born on June 7, 1975, Allen Iverson is a graduate of Georgetown and currently plays a guard position for the Philadelphia 76ers. He stands 6' tall and weighs 165 lbs. Following his high school years at Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia, Allen Iverson was honored by having his jersey number retired during the school’s 1993 State Championship halftime ceremony. After high school, Iverson continued his love of basketball as he entered into his collegiate years. During his freshman year in college, Allen Iverson was named the Big East Rookie of the Year. The following year, during his sophomore season, Iverson was named First Team All-America by the Associated Press. In addition, he was chosen as the Big East Defensive Player of the Year consecutively.

The 1996-1997 season marked Allen Iverson’s rookie year in the NBA. After quickly establishing himself as a soon-to-be household name early in the season, Iverson went on to become the second youngest player to reach the 50-point plateau in a single game in NBA history. The points were continually racking up for the 76ers in the 1997-1998 season due, in part, to Iverson’s game strategies. In 1998-1999, Allen Iverson was named to the All-NBA First Team and continued scoring game-high points throughout the season.

During the 1999-2000 season, Allen Iverson was selected for the All-NBA Second Team and once again tied his career high 50-points in a game against Sacramento on February 6, 2000. The following season, dating 2000-2001, was one of fantastic rewards. Despite an injury that caused 11 games to be missed, Allen Iverson started in 71 games and was honored with the Maurice Podoloff Trophy as the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. As the 76ers progressed to the 2001 NBA Playoffs, Allen Iverson was there. With an average of 32.9 points per game, he continued to set records and set career-highs during the five-game series.

During the 2005-2006 NBA season, Allen Iverson marked his 10th anniversary with a league that made him famous. He is the second player in NBA history to have ever played for only one team for this length of time. The only player to have been on a team longer is Kevin Garnett of Minnesota. After starting in 72 games and averaging 33 points per game, Iverson recorded his 19,000th career point in a game against Washington.

As an athlete who believes in giving back to his community, Allen Iverson founded the Cross Over Foundation and hosts the annual Allen Iverson Celebrity Classic. As part of the 76ers Community Assists Program, Iverson established the ‘A.I.’s Crossover Crew,’ which is a ticket distribution program that allows area-youth to attend a Philadelphia Sixers home game.

Fans who would like to request a signed photo or simply send Allen Iverson their best wishes are urged to do so in care of his NBA franchise team. If you are requesting an autograph, be sure to include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) along with your request. Letters and requests should be mailed to:

Allen Iverson
Philadelphia 76ers
First Union Center
3601 S. Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19148

America's Promise Invites Communities Across Country To Come Together For Children And Youth

2010-01-07T22:13:00.001-08:00

Last year, America's Promise-The Alliance for Youth and Founding Chairman Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.) launched the first-ever competition to identify the 100 Best Communities for Young People. The goal: to identify counties, cities and towns working to make their communities great places for young people to grow up. Over 1,000 communities took part in the inaugural competition and winners were named from 40 states.

To continue to build upon the success of the competition, America's Promise is conducting a series of five regional 100 Best Forums to provide communities with an opportunity to share how they provide healthy, safe and caring environments that effectively educate young people and help them become productive citizens.

The forums will uncover, recognize and promote best practices by nonprofits, businesses, government, policymakers, educators, and youth and civic leaders. The sessions will also encourage collaboration within communities to see that all young people receive the Five Promises essential to success: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, an effective education and opportunities to help others. Participants will also be told how their communities can take part in the next 100 Best Communities for Young People competition, slated to begin Fall 2006.

State Farm will serve as the title sponsor for the forums, with additional support provided by the Ford Motor Company Fund and New Century Financial Corporation.

Every community across the country is invited to take part in one of the forums to be held:

• June 8-9, 2006, in Long Beach, California;

• July 27-28, 2006, in Providence, Rhode Island;

• September 14-15, 2006, in Charlotte, North Carolina;

• September 28-29, 2006, in Indianapolis, Indiana; and

• October 12-13, 2006, in Denver, Colorado.

In addition to the exciting sessions and workshops, all forum participants will receive a continental breakfast and lunch each day, and attend an evening reception.

3 Important Planning Steps before Working with a Divorce Lawyer

2010-01-07T22:12:00.001-08:00

If you are planning on a divorce then it is paramount to know how to work with a divorce lawyer. There are three important planning steps that you can use to make the process simpler and also try and keep costs down.

Get Organized – It is important that you get yourself organized. A lawyer is going to ask you for an inventory of all of your assets and liabilities. You can get all this information before you meet with the attorney. The attorney will need this information in the form of written evidence such as bank statements, credit card statements, etc. They cannot just operate on the work of their client in this matter. Understand that tax returns will likely be requested, also. Other items that come into play are 401K plan statements, pension statements, and IRA statements. Also, if you have wills or other documents that may prove that some of your property is separate and not community property. Separate property was either brought into the marriage or received in the form of inheritance.

Set priorities – Setting priorities can be vital in making sure that you do not get bogged down in the process. By priorities, I mean determining what is important for you. Remember that all the assets are going to be divided. You should figure out if you want to keep the house or not. You should then determine other material possessions and what is important for you. It is important not to get too carried away, because you may not be able to “keep everything”. Realize that your spouse will get things as well. If you have children, determine who will get custody. Then determine a proposed visitation schedule for the other spouse. Children and visitation are often the issues that bog down the divorce procedure.

Be reasonable - Being reasonable can help you get divorced so that you can get on with your life.
Think about what may be important to the other spouse. Sure you may hate him/her, but you still have to reach an agreement on separation of property, residence for the children, and visitation. A big part of getting through the divorce procedure is being prepared for negotiations. This way ahead of time you can have an idea of what you may give up and what your spouse may give up. As mentioned under the priorities section, these are the things that really matter. Don’t treat this like a contest. Generally, the people that win in a contest are the attorneys due to the high legal fees that can be incurred. Realize that it may be a 50/50 split in the end. Thus, being reasonable should help you contribute towards the other spouse’s 50 while getting you the things that are most important.

In summary, a divorce lawyer works for an hourly wage in most circumstances. Planning on your part can help keep these costs down and also speed up the divorce process.

18 Wheeler Accidents in San Antonio, Tx

2010-01-07T21:57:00.000-08:00

Semi trucks or 18-wheelers are increasingly becoming a hazard for law abiding passenger vehicle drivers in Texas. Due to the size of 18-wheelers, accidents involving one are often catastrophic.

The commercial trucking industry is governed by strict laws that must be followed to insure the safety of other vehicles on the road. Drivers holding a Class-A Commercial Driver’s License, required to drive an 18-wheeler, must observe rest periods after a specified number of hours on the road. Their mileage logs must be kept up to date after every change of duty. Unfortunately, drivers are often pushed to meet deadlines and safety becomes secondary to profit or even job security.

The laws governing 18-wheelers are specific and include, but are not limited to: driver logs and weight restrictions. All of these factors can influence the amount of compensation you may be entitled to.

The commercial traffic increase on interstate 35 in recent years is staggering. Statistics from the US Department of Transportation show that an alarming 30% of 18-wheeler accidents are due to driver fatigue. The injuries from these types of accidents are often life altering, requiring lengthy hospital stays and long rehabilitation periods. Medical bills are often astronomical.

If you have been in a serious accident involving an 18-wheeler, you should not attempt to deal with the insurance carrier yourself. The trucking company has their own team of professionals that are immediately dispatched to the accident scene to begin building a strong defense for the trucking company. You will be pressured to accept an offer much lower than the insurance company was actually willing to pay. Don’t let this happen to you. Have an experienced San Antonio Personal Injury attorney negotiate with the insurance company making sure you get the fairest amount possible for your claim.

5 Healthy Benefits of Following a Mediterranean Diet Plan

2010-01-07T00:59:00.001-08:00

The Mediterranean diet has been around for centuries, but if you don't live in countries where this diet is prevalent such as Greece or Italy, you may not realize the many benefits of eating healthy foods "Mediterranean" style. According to studies, the Mediterranean diet encourages healthy weight loss and helps to reduce risks of many life-threatening diseases. Below are five of the top benefits of following this diet.

1. Fast Weight Loss

One of the key benefits of the Mediterranean diet is fast weight loss. This is not from the results of a diet pill or a crash starvation diet, but from healthy, portion-controlled eating. Weight loss rates will vary, but some have reported losing an average of 10 pounds per month. Delicious diet recipes are often provided when following the Mediterranean diet that help to speed up the weight loss process without depriving you of much needed vitamins and nutrients. Losing weight alone can offer many health benefits.

2. Good Heart Health

The delicious diet recipes provided while following a Mediterranean diet are all designed to promote good heart health. The Mediterranean diet consists of healthy doses of olive oil, fruits and vegetables, and oily fish. With some participants, a moderate amount of wine is consumed with meals. All these help to lower cholesterol and keep the blood flow to the heart at a normal level, thus, reducing the risk of heart disease tremendously.

3. Lower Cancer Risks

Having too many toxins in the body can cause some types of cancer, such as breast cancer. Eating the types of healthy foods promoted in the Mediterranean diet such as fruits and vegetables will lower the amount of toxins in the body because these foods are natural antioxidants.

4. Prevent Gallstones

Those who have fallen victim to gall stones realize how painful they can be. With around 639,000 people being hospitalized per year with gallstones, many studies are being conducted to help find a cause and cure. The Mediterranean diet is rich in nuts, vegetable oil, and fish. Though gallstones are not always diet-related, consuming these foods can help to reduce the risk of gall stones or eliminate them altogether for some according to recent studies.

5. Lower Blood Pressure

The healthy foods in a Mediterranean diet can also work to lower and regulate blood pressure. Blood cholesterol levels can return to normal when eating less fatty foods and salt, and more healthy vitamins and minerals. Cooking procedures on a Mediterranean diet usually involve roasting or grilling rather than frying, so more nutrients are retained in the food during preparation, and there is much less fat consumption.

These are only a few of the benefits. The Mediterranean diet also offers many other benefits such as reducing the risks of blood clotting, diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, and other life-threatening diseases. Don't deprive yourself. Start eating delicious diet recipes on the Mediterranean diet for healthy weight loss today.

3 Ways To Drink More Water

2010-01-07T00:58:00.000-08:00

After a little research it is apparent that nobody really knows where the saying that you need to drink 8 cups of water per day comes from. Some people trace it back to a study in the 1980's, and other people claim that doctors starting telling people that amount because it was a good goal, but didn't have any scientific research to back it up with.

Either way, the point is clear, water does wonders for your body, and your brain. Water is well known to cleanse your body of harmful chemicals through your intestines and also throughout your urine tract. Without proper water intake, our bodies break down very quickly, in a matter of days. Without food, however, some people can live for a week or two. That just shows how important water is to our bodies.

Here are 3 quick tips for taking in more water.

1. Always have water available.

I like to buy the 12 ounce bottles of water and keep them in the fridge. Whenever I go to the gym I grab a bottle. On my way out the door to work, I grab a bottle. Before a trip that will be 30 minutes or longer, I grab a bottle. When I watch a movie, I grab a bottle.

Whenever I am sitting watching TV or a movie, I will keep the bottle in my hand with the lid off. I take a lot of little sips until the bottle is gone. A great way of making sure you drink more water is to make sure it is easily accessible.

2. Keep it cold.

I don't know many people who like to drink room temperature water, I sure don't. If you keep your water cold, you will drink more. I make sure there is always ice in my freezer, this make it very easy to have a cold glass of water anytime.

3. Chose water in restaurants.

Whenever I go out to eat, I always drink water with some lemon. The lemon adds a little spunk to the taste and the water is always nice, cold and refreshing. After a short time you will stop craving your old drink of choice and will begin to appreciate the taste, or lack of taste, that water provides.

Give water a shot and your body will be thankful!

3 Principles For Overcoming Fitness Obstacles

2010-01-07T00:57:00.000-08:00

If you’re like me, the quest to be in shape and manage weight feels overwhelming. And, as if the quest to be fit isn’t hard enough, there’s often other obstacles to overcome: health issues, time management, mustering up courage or energy. Even if you’ve been exercising for a long time, there’s always new barriers to be broken. So, how to put all of this into perspective?

According to Tom Turner, executive liaison for the Spina Bifida Association that’s exactly it: Perspective. And also, according to him, there’s no mountain too high to climb. Tom would know. Paralyzed from the waist down since birth he’s now 35 and trains about three times a week. In fact, he tells me, he just couldn’t get along without exercise.

So in my quest for the last word on overcoming barriers in fitness, Tom sat down with me and together we came up with 3 basic principles that will help break-down fears and intimidations when striving to reach fitness goals. (After all, if he can exercise on a regular basis, shouldn’t that be encouragement enough for anyone to give it a shot?)

Principle #1 Move Into The Fear.

“Train you mind to believe no mountain is too high or any goal is too difficult to attain,” Tom tells me. Basically, it’s all about meeting your fears and facing them head-on. In this principle, aim to recognize your fears, acknowledge them and then move through them. Ask yourself what is it that makes you uncomfortable? Have you let yourself get out of shape and are afraid you’ll never get back? Do you have an injury that’s caused you to be afraid of your body? If you can visualize creatively, then you can put your fears in check. See your self as you’d like to be. Remember: your body loves you and has the potential to heal itself to perfection. Your only job is to trust it and listen.

Q: What is your body saying to you?

Principle #2 Trust Your Intuition.

It is important when overcoming obstacles and learning to break through barriers that you begin to listen to the still small voice of your body. In most cases, we all want the comfort of having someone telling us what we can and cannot do. However, our highest truth lies within us. This is not to say that the good opinion of others is not important, but ultimately the decision making comes from within.

When facing a challenge or an obstacle look to how you feel. What are your instincts telling you? Often it is simply your instinct that will move you into a new mindset and raise your consciousness. “I wasn’t about to let the wheelchair stand in my way,” Tom tells me. In fact, he says he had to merely change his perspective about it. He says he first had to learn about what his restrictions were then, create a boundary for himself. “We all have boundaries,” he tells me. "Regardless if a person can walk or not, obstacles are as unique as people themselves. Therefore, it’s first best to know your boundaries."

Next, Tom tells me he aims to meet those boundaries. “I first reach as high as I can within the confines of what I am able to do. Whether it be more sets, reps or greater endurance, I allow myself as much time as necessary to accomplish my small goals. It always surprises me, with small steps, how quickly I can reach a Big goal.”

Principle #3 Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.

What then, about fear? I wanted to know. If we move into the fear and meet it eye to eye what if fear meets us there? “So,” I asked Tom: “are you ever afraid? “After 19 operations in my life, I’ve really come to terms with fear,” he says. “It really comes down to our most primal fear; fear of death. Once you realize that death is all part of the divine plan, it’s liberating, you can let it go and, instead, choose how to live. So instead of being afraid of death I decided to choose how to live."

So what’s the take away message? Talking to Tom, I’m reminded of the poem by Dylan Thomas who said: “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night.” It seems appropriate here. The bottom line: Staying afraid often keeps us from truly living. Tom reminds me that a positive attitude is key, "Life is all about attitude." He also says he could let fear beat him down, yet he doesn’t. “I wouldn’t want to miss being part of tomorrow,” he concludes. That said, what fears are getting in your way? Make today the right time to face them.

In conclusion: Life Beyond The Boundaries.

When you’ve faced your fears and pushed your boundaries to the edges, what then? I wanted to know. Tom smiles. “Find a new mountain to climb,” he says matter-of-factly. “It’s what makes life fun. I know I have considerations. I know that there will be days that I’ll need to stay in bed and rest while my braces are getting tuned up. It’s those times when I am with my thoughts that I decide what I am going to set my sights on.”

Author’s Note: In my personal quest to live beyond the boundaries I’ve chosen Tom as my role model (lucky for me, he's my brother). We so often look to the media for these sources and so often they are illusory. There are “real” people everywhere doing great things...look around you; angels are everywhere! Learn from them. Choose someone you look up to, admire or of whom you appreciate their values. Set goals, climb mountains! Set intention in motion and enjoy the healthy process.

2009-10-05T19:47:00.001-07:00

http://ping.fm/8y85a <--- Satch is king... but check out the bass player! omg... so good!

2009-10-05T05:31:00.001-07:00

A pirate walks into a bar with the ship's steering wheel sticking out of his fly. He walks up to the bar and orders a drink, and the bartender says, "Wow, that looks uncomfortable!" "Arrrr," the pirate says, "It's driving me nuts!"

2009-10-05T05:19:00.001-07:00

Hey! That's Mine!

2009-10-05T04:27:00.001-07:00

test

2009-10-05T04:13:00.001-07:00

hmmm k

2009-10-05T04:11:00.001-07:00

Haha! oh yeah... ping.fm <---- time saver! omg

Clubzup - Get Your Golf Club Grips Dry. Better Than a Caddy!

2008-09-21T16:29:00.001-07:00

If you're a golfer, you've probably lost a club on the course. This can happen when you take more than one club with you for a shot, especially around the greens. It's common to take a shot; lay your club down, putt, and end up leaving your club behind. Driving back to the players behind you to ask if they've seen your club interrupts your game and if you can't find it... it could cost you $100 to $200 a new club.

If this sounds familiar, you need ClubzUp. ClubzuUp's patented design solves this problem by allowing you to place your clubs in a safe, upright and visible position. ClubzUp is fast, effective and easy to use. Just slip ClubzUp over the end of the club's grip, and insert the ClubzUp spikes into the grass. To remove, simply tilt the club back then forward loosening the spikes and lift. Then just place ClubzUp in your pocket. It's that simple.

Works In high rough, low rough, middle of the fairway, even sloped lies.... all while keeping your grips clean and dry.

Why buy the other golf club caddies. ClubzUp works better than the clips and stands on the market. It fits in your pocket and is the only club caddy you'll need on the golf course. ClubzUp is the favorite caddy product to keep golf club grips dry and golf clubs in sight. If you've tried using another golf club caddy and are unsatisfied, try ClubzUp. You'll be happy you did.

Protect your valued investment, keep your golf club grips dry and never lose another club with ClubzUp.

fat joe ft ja rule whats luv

2008-09-20T00:58:00.000-07:00

Joe Satriani Concert Tour Dates

2008-04-18T18:09:00.000-07:00

2008 European Tour

= Buy Regular Tickets = Internet Presale = Premium Ticket Packages

April '08
30	Wed	Coliseu dos Recreios	Lisbon, . PT
May '08
01	Thu	Coliseu do Porto	Porto, PT
03	Sat	Castellon Auditorium	Castellon, ES
04	Sun	Palacio Congresos Granada	Granada, ES
05	Mon	Sala la Riviera	Madrid, ES
06	Tue	Palau de la Musica	Barcelona, ES
07	Wed	Auditorio y Centro de Congresos "Victor Villegas"	Murcia, ES	On Sale 4/22
09	Fri	Arena	Geneva, CH
10	Sat	013	Tilburg, NL
12	Mon	Birmingham Symphony Hall	Birmingham, England GB
13	Tue	Newcastle City Hall	Newcastle, England GB
14	Wed	Glasgow Royal Concert Hall	Glasgow, Scotland GB
15	Thu	Manchester Apollo	Manchester, England GB
17	Sat	Bristol Colston Hall	Bristol, England GB
18	Sun	Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre	Bournemouth, England GB
19	Mon	Cardiff St. David's Hall	Cardiff, Wales GB
20	Tue	London Hammersmith Apollo	London, England GB
21	Wed	Nottingham Royal Centre	Nottingham, England GB
23	Fri	Vicar St.	Dublin, IE
24	Sat	Mandela Hall	Belfast, GB
26	Mon	Bourse Du Travail	Lyon, FR
27	Tue	Le Rex	Paris, FR
28	Wed	Cirque Royal	Brussels, BE
29	Thu	Filharmonie Filderstadt	Stuttgart, DE
30	Fri	Serenadenhof	Nurnberg, DE
31	Sat	Phonix-Halle	Mainz, DE
June '08
01	Sun	Backstage-Werk	Munich, DE
03	Tue	T-Mobile Arena	Prague, CZ
04	Wed	Große Freiheit	Hamburg, DE
05	Thu	Amager Bio	Copenhagen, DK
06	Fri	Sweden Rock Festival	Solvesborg, SE
08	Sun	B1 Maximum Club	Moscow, RU
10	Tue	Villa Manin	Udine, IT
11	Wed	Live Club	Milan, IT
12	Thu	Rijnhal	Arnhem, NL
13	Fri	Paradiso	Amsterdam, NL

2008 Australia Tour

July '08
08	Tue	Metropolis Fremantle	Fremantle, WA AU
10	Thu	Thebarton Theatre	Adelaide, SA AU
11	Fri	Forum Theatre	Melbourne, VIC AU
14	Mon	Enmore Theatre	Sydney, NSW AU
17	Thu	The Tivoli	Brisbane, QLD AU
19	Sat	TBS Stadium	New Plymouth, NZ	On Sale 4/28

2008 South America and Mexico

July '08
23	Wed	Arena Santiago	Santiago, CL	On Sale 4/27
25	Fri	Luna Park	Buenos Aires, AR
27	Sun	Helooch	Curitiba, BR	On Sale 5/14
29	Tue	Credicard Hall	Sao Paolo, BR	On Sale 5/14
31	Thu	Citibank Hall	Rio de Janeiro, BR	On Sale 5/14
August '08
01	Fri	Claro Hall	Belo Horizonte, BR	On Sale 5/14
02	Sat	Centro de Convencoes	Brasilia, BR	On Sale 5/14
05	Tue	Explanada Sur del Estadio Monumental	Lima, PE	On Sale 6/26
08	Fri	Palacio de Los Deportes	Bogota, CO	On Sale 4/22
10	Sun	Anfiteatro Centro Sambil	Caracas, VE	On Sale 5/8
12	Tue	Metropolitan Theater	Mexico City, MX	On Sale 5/12
13	Wed	Metropolitan Theater	Mexico City, MX	On Sale 5/12

Original Source: http://www.satriani.com/road/

The Neuros OSD connects

2008-01-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

The Neuros OSD connects to your TV or home theater system and allows you to archive all of your DVD and video content.

Plug the Neuros OSD into your TV, connect your DVD Player or VCR, and hit play. Your movie will be safely and legally transferred into a digital library! It works with home movies too. Just plug your video camera into the OSD, push play, and your memories are digitized.

With the Neuros OSD, you can store hundreds of hours of video in one location (like an external hard drive), get rid of those bulky cases, put an end to DVD damage, and instantly access any of your videos with the push of a button on a remote. You can even transfer your video content to a portable device (video iPod, PSP, mobile phone, etc.) to watch on the go, or email your home movies to friends and family.

Open Recording

MEET THE NEUROS OSD, an Open Source Device that uses a memory card or a USB storage device to save copies of anything that plays on your TV screen. Without the hassle of a Media Center's DRM, the Neuros OSD can rip from DVD, VHS, cable, satellite, or mobile phones connected via line-in. The OSD saves recordings in MPEG-4 format, which means the video will play on my iPod and W910i Walkman phone. You can get yourself a Neuros OSD in the States at Fry’s, Micro Center, J&R Electronics and online through several resellers. It costs less than €200 if you walk into a shop in the States and just under €240 if you buy it from Maplin Electronics.

According to the New York Times, "The OSD has not only open hardware, but also open software: it is based on the Linux operating system. Neuros Technology encourages hacking of the device; it has contests with cash rewards for new applications for the OSD. One winner, for instance, designed a program that lets people use it to watch YouTube on their televisions."

Using the OSD for daily video recording demands no special technical background, and no PC is required. It installs quickly. Just plug in any form of USB memory (a hard drive or gig card) in one slot, plug the television into another slot and you're off. If you watch a DVD on your TV, your Neuros can record it directly to your memory stick. This means I could slot in an M2 memory card and record directly from DVD to my Walkman W910i.

You get all the menu items for recording directly onto the TV screen and use the Neuros remote control to select your options. You can also link the Neuros directly onto your home network and record to a network device.

I like the idea of recording educational videos, viewing them on a monitor, and knowing they are recording directly onto a takeaway storage device. That's real innovation.

Original article source: http://www.neurostechnology.com/

http://www.insideview.ie/irisheyes/2008/01/open-recording.html

King of California soon on HD DVD and Blu-ray

2008-01-06T05:57:00.001-08:00

King of California on HD DVD and Blu-ray.

What's New
By Henning Molbaek
FIRST ONLINE Jan 4, 2008

First Look will release "King of California" on HD DVD and Blu-ray this January 29th. The film stars Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood.

Extras will include: a "Making-of Featurette," "Outtakes," and "Previews."

Be sure to check under Related Releases below for more details.

Synopsis:
At age sixteen, Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood) has already been abandoned by her mother, dropped out of school and has been supporting herself as an employee at McDonald's while her father Charlie (Michael Douglas) resides in a mental institution.

When Charlie is released and sent back to their home, the relatively peaceful existence Miranda´s built for herself becomes completely disrupted. Charlie has become obsessed with the notion that a long-lost Spanish treasure is buried underneath their local suburban California Costco.

Initially sceptical, Miranda soon finds herself joining in Charlie´s questionable antics in an effort to give him one last shot at accomplishing his dreams in this darkly funny, exciting and surprisingly hopeful take on the modern family and the American dream.

Original article source: http://www.dvdtown.com/news/king-of-california-soon-on-hd-dvd-and-blu-ray/5057

Humoresque - Movies on this week

2008-01-06T05:48:00.000-08:00

Overview for Humoresque (1947)

Brief Synopsis:

Helen Wright, a neurotic society woman, sets her sights on ambitious young violinist Paul Boray, who returns her love, but is undeterred from his music. She becomes his patron, helping him to great success, but cannot abide being of secondary importance ("second fiddle?") in his life. Tragedy ensues.

MPAA rating:


Runtime Listing: 123-124 or 126 mins. Color/BW: Black and White Sound: Mono (RCA Sound System)

Cast/Crew

Click for TCM Bio

Joan Crawford

(Helen Wright)

John Garfield

(Paul Boray)

Oscar Levant

(Sid Jeffers)

J. Carrol Naish

(Rudy Boray)

Joan Chandler

(Gina)

Tom D'Andrea

(Phil Boray)

Peggy Knudson

(Florence [Boray])

Ruth Nelson

(Esther Boray)

Craig Stevens

(Monte Loeffler)

Paul Cavanagh

(Victor Wright)

Richard Gaines

([Frederick] Bauer)

>>Complete Cast and Crew

Director: Jean Negulesco
Release Date:
25 Jan 1947
Premiere Information:
New York opening: 25 Dec 1946
Production Date:
mid-Dec 1945--mid-Apr 1946
Duration (in mins):
123-124 or 126
Duration (in feet):
11,210
Production Company:
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company:
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country:
United States

Synopsis

After renowned violinist Paul Boray cancels his New York City performance, he tells Frederick Bauer, his manager, how much he wishes he were still the simple, happy child that he used to be: Paul first becomes interested in the violin as a child on New York's East Side in 1920 and chooses the instrument, rather than a toy, for a birthday present. Encouraged by his mother Esther, Paul becomes proficient and attends music school. During the Depression of the 1930s, the family grocery store suffers. Phil, Paul's older brother, who is out of work, resents the fact that Paul spends his time practicing instead of working. Wounded by his brother's comments, Paul gets a job with a radio orchestra with the help of his friend, pianist Sid Jeffers, but is fired when he objects to the station's policy of cutting compositions to fit into an allotted time. Paul then decides that he is ready to make his concert debut. Sid suggests that he attend a party at the home of socialites Helen and Victor Wright, where he might meet people who will help him financially. Despite Paul's surly attitude, Helen is intrigued by his talent and offers to help him become established as an artist. She introduces him to Bauer and pays for his first public recital. Afterward, Paul's family has a small party in his honor, which he misses because he is celebrating with the Wrights. Esther warns Paul not to become involved with Helen and reminds him about Gina, a fellow student, who loves him. With Helen's aid, Paul becomes a successful performer, and eventually, he and Helen fall in love. When Victor offers Helen a divorce, she hurries to the hall where Paul is rehearsing to tell him, but he refuses to interrupt the rehearsal to talk to her. Helen feels that his dedication is a rejection and, as she often does, eases her pain by drinking. Later, Paul and Helen are reconciled and make plans to marry. Helen then attempts to make peace with Esther, who reminds Helen about her three previous marriages and begs her to consider the effect her drinking and need for attention will have on Paul's career. One night, while Paul performs on the radio, a drunken Helen realizes that she will never mean as much to Paul as his music and walks into the ocean to her death. Paul is devastated and cancels his concert appearances, but now knows that he must go on with his music.

Original article source: http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/title.jsp?stid=619

Keon Clark testified Friday that he started drinking alcohol in high school.

2007-12-17T03:49:00.000-08:00

DANVILLE – Former NBA player Keon Clark testified Friday that he started drinking alcohol in high school. By the time he was playing professional ball, he was drinking a half pint to a pint of gin a day.

"I never played a game sober, unfortunately," said the 32-year-old Danville man, who admitted he's an alcoholic.

The testimony came at a hearing at which a Vermilion County judge threw out Clark's 2 1/2-year prison sentence for not having a firearm owner's identification card, possession of a controlled substance and DUI.

Circuit Judge Michael Clary ordered that Clark get a new sentencing hearing, since Clark – who was sentenced on those charges in absentia on Oct. 10 – did not have legal representation at that hearing.

"A defendant has a right (to legal representation) at every stage of proceedings, unless they waive that right. ... There's no waiver by this defendant to not have a lawyer," Clary said. If he decided not to vacate the original sentence, the judge added, his decision likely would be overturned by the appellate court.

A date for the new sentencing hearing has not been set yet.

Clark remains behind bars at the Vermilion County Jail. He's scheduled to be back in court on Monday for six other felony cases and two traffic cases, though as of late Friday morning, he still had not found a lawyer to represent him.

The decision was the latest twist in Clark's well-publicized legal saga, which has included multiple arrests for DUI and other charges in Vermilion and Champaign counties since September 2005, firing an attorney in May and collapsing because of an apparent seizure before a sentencing hearing in Champaign County in September.

Later in September, Clark was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for a felony charge of driving on a suspended license in Champaign County. Though his attorney was present, Clark failed to appear for that hearing and was sentenced in absentia.

On Oct. 18, Clark was arrested by U.S. Marshals on a bus heading out of Houston. According to court documents, he had been in Texas at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic.

On Friday, Clary was to hear arguments on a motion to reconsider Clark's sentences in the Vermilion and Champaign County cases, which, if approved, would have lengthened Clark's sentence from 2 1/2 to 5 years.

Prosecutors planned to argue that Illinois law states that if a person commits a separate felony while on a pretrial release in another case, the sentences shall be served consecutively regardless of the order in which they were handed down. Clark was arrested and charged in the Champaign County case while he was out on bond in the Vermilion County case.

But before those arguments were heard, Tom Mellen – Clark's lawyer for the sentencing issue – asked Clary to reconsider the sentence. "The Illinois Supreme Court ... mandates an attorney be present," Mellen said, citing a case. "There was no attorney present at sentencing."

Mellen, who hopes to get Clark probation, also argued that Clark's 12-year battle with alcoholism was out of his control. "He was finally facing his problems in Texas," the attorney said.

On the stand, Clark said the drinking that he started in high school progressed when he left Danville to play basketball at junior college and then at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. It didn't help being in "the city of sin," he said.

After he was drafted in the NBA, he started drinking at games during halftime. "It just never stopped," he said.

After leaving professional ball, he spent much of his time drinking and playing golf. His drinking caused him to black out every day.

Clark said an ex-coach helped persuade him to seek treatment for alcoholism, depression and anger issues. In October, he entered a 90-day program at Extended Aftercare Inc., a rehabilitation center in Houston.

During his 2 1/2-week wait for admission to the program, Clark admitted to still "having his beer goggles on," meaning he hadn't fully acknowledged he had a drinking problem. He added that while he was in a three-day detox program in a hospital, he drank four beers that he had sneaked into his bag.

Clark told Mellen that he wasn't aware of his Oct. 10 sentencing hearing "because I had so many court dates." When he found out about it after talking to relatives back home, who attended, he tried to get the center's director, Gus Gerard, to fax the court a letter about his whereabouts.

Clark added that Gerard discouraged him from leaving the center. "He told me it would be detrimental to my recovery," he said.

Under questioning from Vermilion County Assistant State's Attorney Sandy Lawlyes, Clark admitted he failed to appear for his sentencing hearing in Champaign County because he was drunk. He also acknowledged being aware of sentencing dates for the Vermilion County case, and not having permission to leave the state, even to attend rehab.

Original article source: http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2007/12/15/clarks_prison_term_tossed

Award-Winning Dash Express Now Available for Pre-Order

2007-12-17T03:39:00.000-08:00

Dash Express will be priced at $599.99 and will include three free months of Dash Service(1). -- While the Dash Express functions as a great GPS device even without the Dash Service, to take full advantage of the unique set of connected features including real-time traffic information from the Dash Driver Network, Internet Search, Send2Car and AutoUpdates, a subscription is required. -- Consumers will have several options for subscribing to the Dash Service: 2 year pre-pay plan: Effectively $9.99 per month 1 year pre-pay plan: Effectively $10.99 per month Month-to-month plan: $12.99/month -- The Dash Express will begin shipping in mid-to-late February directly from www.dash.net followed by broader retail distribution in Q2 2008.

Quotes

"After completing a successful 2,000 unit national road test, we've had tremendous interest from consumers around the country to purchase a device," said Dash CEO Paul Lego. "As we ramp up our manufacturing we'll have limited quantities of the Dash Express, so we want to ensure that the loyal community that has helped us with so much real-world feedback has a way to reserve a device first."

"The problem with most GPS devices is they are not intelligent. They don't see the world the way it really is, and they are only as good as their increasingly dated mapping information," said Rob Enderle, Principal Analyst for The Enderle Group. "Dash represents the leader of the next-generation of devices which can see, real time, the traffic conditions around you and be updated on the fly. So rather than routing you through traffic and road problems, Dash routes you around it, giving you more time at your destination. This is the core value of the Dash Express; it gives you time to do what you want to be doing -- instead of sitting in traffic."

Please contact Hillary Houser (hillary@sparkpr.com) to arrange an interview and/or for additional quotes.

Product Features

While any GPS device can provide directions to get you from point A to B, the always-connected Dash Express gives you the information you need every day. -0- -- Superior traffic with the Dash Driver Network(TM): Select your route based on up-to-the-minute traffic data that is automatically and anonymously exchanged via the most reliable source - other Dash devices. -- The Dash Express gathers traffic information from the Dash Driver Network and combines it with other sources of traffic data to provide you with the most accurate picture of what's happening on the routes you're traveling. -- Only Dash provides traffic information for both freeways and arterial roads. -- The Dash Express provides up to three routing options to your destination that are based on flow rather than incident data, and it has the ability to automatically alert you when traffic conditions change and route you around traffic problems. -- Find virtually anything with Yahoo! Local search: Connect to Yahoo! Local search to find unlimited points of interest - people, places, products and services. -- Two-way connectivity gives Dash Express the ability to use Yahoo! Local search and other Internet search sources. -- Unlike other GPS devices that come loaded with a static database of points of interest, Dash gives you access to unlimited points of interest based on your specific needs, and delivers key detailed information (i.e. gas prices, movie times) to help you select the right destination. -- Send2Car(TM) means no typing required: Simply highlight an address from any Internet browser or Microsoft Outlook and send it directly to your car. -- You can use Send2Car yourself, or have someone else send addresses to your Dash device when you're already on the road. -- MyDash makes it even easier to personalize your Dash Express: The MyDash portal (my.dash.net) enables you to customize your Dash Express. -- Create your own lists and feeds or, if you prefer, import the great content created by other members of the Dash Community. -- Easily send customized search buttons (i.e. LA Yoga Studios, Best Red Sox Bars in Boston, Toddler Playgrounds in New York City) straight to your device so you always have access to the places you want to go. -- AutoUpdate(TM) means your GPS is always up to date: Dash Express is the only GPS that automatically and wirelessly updates software and traffic (and in the near future - maps) using two- way connectivity. You'll always have the latest features as soon as Dash releases them.

Please use this link (blog.dash.net/) to access the Dash Corporate blog for more information about the Dash Express.

Original article source: http://www.pr-inside.com/award-winning-dash-express-now-available-for-r351191.htm

Terrelle Pryor, the No. 1 high school football recruit in America

2007-12-16T21:36:00.000-08:00

errelle Pryor, the No. 1 high school football recruit in America according to Rivals.com, has added Michigan to the list of schools he might choose to attend because of its new coach.

Pryor, a 6-6, 235-pound dual-threat quarterback with 4.4 speed out of Jeannette, Pa., broke the news about West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez taking the Michigan head-coaching job.

I just spoke to Coach Rodriguez … he told me he is going to Michigan," Pryor told Superprep.com Sunday afternoon. "He said they made him an offer and he can't refuse it."

Later, Pryor told Rivals.com: "He called me this morning and told me before he announced to anyone. He said he's keeping the same offense that he had at West Virginia because it's all he knows. I love that offense. I told him I was very interested."

Pryor, who listed Florida, Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon and West Virginia as his favorites to attend as of Sunday, told Superprep.com to “add Michigan to my list” following his conversation with Rodriguez.

"He's excited and so was I," Pryor told Rivals.com. "Michigan was on my early list, and now their right up there again. He's a great coach and I like his offense."

Pryor's addition of Michigan to his possible list of school is interesting because the status of the U-M quarterbacking job could be up in the air.

Thought to be a fixture behind center the next three seasons at U-M, sophomore-to-be Ryan Mallet’s status as U-M’s starter next season is suddenly under question.

Rodriguez runs a spread-option offense, and the 6-foot-7, 252-pound Mallet isn’t known for his mobility. The spread option demands a mobile quarterback with a quick release -- at least in Rodriguez’s version.

Pryor has dropped Tennessee and West Virginia from his list.

"My list is made up of some of the same teams," Pryor said. "Ohio State is in there, Florida is in there and Penn State is in there, but now Oregon is in the mix and now Michigan - so a lot has changed. Tennessee and West Virginia are now out.

"I've only been to Ohio State on an official and I've been to Penn State a few times. I need to see other schools, especially Michigan now."

Pryor rushed for 1,676 yards and 13 touchdowns and was 92 of 163 passing for 1.732 yards and 15 touchdowns during his junior season. He followed that up by leading the Jeannette Jayhawks to Class AA state championship this season.

Pryor would fall in line with the dual-threat quarterback Rodriguez has favored in his system in the past.

While offensive coordinator at Tulane (1997-98), Rodriguez was responsible for Shaun King’s record-breaking career. King finished the ’98 season with an NCAA-record passing effeciency of 183.3 and became the first player in NCAA history to pass for 300 yards and run for 100 yards in a game.

After following Tommy Bowden to Clemson, Rich Rodriguez’s stint as offensive coordinator (1999-2000) helped turn Woody Dantzler into the first quarterback in NCAA history to throw for at least 2000 yards and rush for at least 1000 yards in the same season.

And over the last three seasons at West Virginia, Rodriguez’s spread option helped turn Pat White into a Heisman Trophy contender this season.

Because of his size, something not found among Rodriquez’s past quarterbacks, most talent evaluators tend to compare Pryor to former Texas star Vince Young.

“I leave it up to people to make their own comparisons when they watch me play,” Pryor told Rivals.com in February. “It's a very nice comparison, but I haven't done anything yet. I like to watch Vince Young and Troy Smith and the quarterbacks that can move around and do things, but I don't compare myself to them.”

Pryor’s athletic ability may be on display on more than just the football field in college. Though a celebrated high school football player, Pryor is also considered an elite-level talent on the basketball court. So much so that Rivals.com has Pryor ranked among the top 30 recruits in the nation and the No. 3 small forward in the class of 2008.

Over the summer, Pryor maintained that he would like to play both football and basketball in college.

“I’ll give it a try,” Pryor told Scout.com in May. “It’s going to come down to the system I fit into and where I feel comfortable at.”

INTERVIEW WITH PRYOR (Editor's note: Other YouTube links off of this interview may not be appropriate for all audiences.)

Original article source: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071216/SPORTS06/71216027/1123/SPORTS05&theme=CARR

WWE Armageddon Results (12/16): New World Champion!

2007-12-16T21:27:00.000-08:00

Event: WWE Armageddon Pay-Per-View
Airdate: Sunday, December 16th, 2007 (Live On PPV)
Location: The Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Results by WrestleView.com

- The WWE promo hits.

- A video package airs looking at the WWE Championship Match tonight between Randy Orton and Chris Jericho and the Triple Threat for the World Heavyweight Championship between Batista, Edge and The Undertaker.

- A graphic opening then welcomes us to Armageddon as we go live to the Mellon Arena. A display of pyro goes off as Michael Cole and JBL open the show.

- Rey Mysterio defeated MVP via countout; MVP retains the WWE United States Championship. Early in the match, Mysterio took out MVP with a dive over the top rope right over the top of the referee to the floor. MVP countered a huricanranna attempt and sent Mysterio into the turnbuckle. Mysterio finally takes out MVP with a huricanranna, but MVP quickly responds with a quick kick to the face. The finish saw Mysterio hit another huricanrana on MVP on the floor. MVP then walked off and took the countout finish. Mysterio gets the win, but MVP retains the United States Title.

- Backstage, Todd Grisham was with WWE Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy. Hardy said tonight was his time to take it to the next level against Triple H.

- Big Daddy V & Mark Henry defeated ECW Champion CM Punk & Kane. They let this match go a lot longer then I'm sure many expected considering most of these guys haven't worked the best together recently on ECW. Early in the match, Big Daddy V and Henry exchanged tags and worked on Punk in the corner. Kane eventually got the hot tag and took out both Henry and Big Daddy V. The finish saw Punk hit a springboard off the ropes, Big Daddy V caught him on his shoulders and then hit a big samoan drop to get the pinfall.

- Vickie Guerrero is ready to throw Edge a victory party tonight after his World Title Match against Batista and The Undertaker.

- Shawn Michaels defeated Mr. Kennedy. Very good match between these two. Before the match, Mr. Kennedy got on the mic and said it didn't matter if he liked, hated or respected HBK, the only thing that matters is if he beats him and promised it would happen tonight. Kennedy was very aggressive with HBK early on in the match with a series of offense. HBK then took out Kennedy, chop blocking him and then going to work on his arm. Kennedy speared HBK to the outside. HBK responded by stomping on Kennedy's hand over the steel steps. Back in the ring, Kennedy sent HBK into the corner. The finish saw Kennedy attempt an STO, but Michaels got to the ropes. Kennedy attempted a DDT, HBK countered, Kennedy with a big left, Kennedy holds his hand in pain and then HBK connects with Sweet Chin Music to get the pinfall.

- A promo for the Royal Rumble on January 27 airs.

- Backstage, Todd Grisham was with WWE Champion Randy Orton. Orton promised to shut down Jericho tonight.

- WWE Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy defeated Triple H in a #1 Contendership Match to earn a shot at the WWE Title at the Royal Rumble.The story early on in the match was that Hardy held back hitting Triple H and Triple H yelled at him to bring it. Hardy eventually slapped Triple H across the face and Triple H smiled. The action spilled to the outside where Triple H sent Hardy into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Hardy takes out Triple H with a crossbody and a Whisper in the Wind for two close two counts. Twist of Fate attempt by Hardy, but Triple H counters and hits a quick DDT. Hardy with a Swanton Bomb attempt, but Triple H moves, Hardy hits the ring, Triple H covers, but only gets a two count. The finish saw Triple H go for the Pedigree, but Hardy counters into cradle pin for the win.

- The Great Khali cut a promo about his match with Finlay backstage.

- Finlay defeated The Great Khali. The story with this match was that Khali dominated throughout the match. Khali had a nerve hold on Finlay when Hornswoggle interfered. Khali threw Hornswoggle off the ring apron and then started to remove the top turnbuckle. With the referee distracted, Hornswoggle low blowed Khali with a shillelagh and then Finlay hit Khali with the shillelagh to get the pinfall.

- Promo for "Tribute to the Troops" on USA airs.

- Chris Jericho defeated Randy Orton via DQ; Orton retains the WWE Championship. Lots of quick aggressive offense by Jericho early on in the match on Orton. Orton finally got back in it with a big DDT on Jericho followed by a big dropkick. Both were knocked out when they hit each other near the corner. Both were up by the eight count of the referee. Some more back and forth action between the two with Jericho hitting Orton with an uppercut and Orton taking out Jericho with a clothesline. Jericho countered an RKO attempt into a quick backslide for a two count. Jericho went for the Lionsault, but Orton got his knees up, attempted the RKO, Jericho shoved him away and then finally connected with the Lionsault. They brawled to the outside and Orton threw Jericho on the Smackdown announce table right into JBL. Jericho shoved JBL away when he got off the table as the action spilled back into the ring. Orton countered a Codebreaker attempt by Jericho into a powerbomb in the corner. The finish saw Jericho get the Walls of Jericho applied. He pulled Orton to the center of the ring when JBL got in and kicked Jericho in the face causing the DQ finish. Orton retains his title. After the match, JBL yelled at Jericho and then Orton hit him with an RKO.

- Before the match, Jillian Hall came out and plugged her Christmas album on iTunes. She started to sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" when Mickie James' music cut her off.

- Beth Phoenix defeated Mickie James to retain the WWE Women's Championship. Phoenix overpowered James early in the match. James tried to bulldog and send Phoenix into the ropes, but each were met by counters from Phoenix. Phoenix took out James later with a quick powerbomb that resulted in a two count. Phoenix gets taken down by James with a Lou Thesz Press. Mickie James clearly slipped out here. Hot pics at the link below. James took out Phoenix with another followed by a big dropkick. The finish then saw Phoenix catch James with a kick to the gut followed by her Fisherman's suplex to get the pinfall and retain her title.

- Tazz joins Michael Cole on commentary as JBL left after attacking Jericho.

- A preview video is shown for the main event.

- World Title Triple Threat Match: Batista (c) vs. Edge vs. Undertaker. This match is all over the place to start. All three men are going at it on the floor as there are no count outs or DQ's. Taker locked in the triangle choke on Batista. Edge rang the bell which broke the hold. Taker thought he had won but obviously he hadn't. Edge nailed Taker with spear for a new fall. This is a very good match thus far. A phony Edge enters the ring and takes a Chokeslam. The real Edge comes in from behind and nails Undertaker with 3 chairshots for the win.

The show ends with the real Edge holding the World title as the fake Edge's crawl away. New champ.

Original article source: http://www.24wrestling.com/index.php?id=news/12494

who won survivor micronesia

2007-12-16T21:23:00.000-08:00

Representing on Reality TV: Survivor Finale

Survivor: China wrapped up tonight with a bang, including perhaps the meanest comment ever uttered on reality television and a rough welcome home for local competitor Denise Martin.

Every challenge counts at this stage, and all four Survivors need to try as hard as they can. Last Thursday, we became nervous about Denise because she wouldn't finish the chicken fetus in the Immunity Challenge, and it looked like she was losing energy. As for Courtney Yates, the Suffolk grad, she couldn't possibly have energy because her arms could have been used to pick food out from between host Jeff Probst's teeth.

The Reward Challenge involved building a bridge with planks and solving a puzzle to gain comfort food, like pizza and brownies. It didn't help that Jeff Probst kept taunting the Survivors with the words "pizza … beer … brownies … soft drinks." Amanda won the challenge and invited Meow Mix--whoops, Todd--to dine with her so they could talk strategy. Courtney and Denise returned to camp, chatting and laying about. Courtney seemed nice to Denise … to her face.

More recap after the jump, including what's happened to Denise after the show and why Courtney is the winner of the "biggest bitch in reality tv" award.

Then the Immunity Challenge came around, and the finalists had to balance a stack of plates on a stick. Denise really started to flag and tried to cut a deal with Amanda in the middle of the challenge. To Amanda's credit, she told Denise that she'd better keep trying, but Amanda still won.

Back at camp, Denise played her last card--the sympathy card. And she played it hard. She told Amanda, "I'm not gonna have much after this…. This is all I got." She adds, "I'm gonna go back to making seven dollars an hour working as the lunch lady, doing the same things day after day, like I've been doing." It was almost too much, but Denise could have played the sympathy card earlier.

While Denise and Amanda talk, Courtney and Todd are strategizing, and Courtney drops a bomb about why she doesn't want to lose to Denise: "Are you kidding me? This isn't, like, welfare. Like, she doesn't deserve it just 'cause, you know, she sucks at life. [pause] I'm the biggest bitch on the planet."

Note to Courtney: Yes, sweetheart. You are.

Courtney Yates may not be the biggest bitch on the planet, but she is the biggest bitch on reality television. Congratulations. That's an achievement. You know, Bostonist likes rooting for the locals--or those with local connections--and we'd like to root for her, but damn. For a little person, what a bitchy comment!

And Denise got voted out. The vote wasn't a surprise. Denise was flagging, but Courtney did not need to verbally kick the lunch lady who makes $7 an hour in the face.

The final three, Amanda, Todd, and Courtney, then get the unique pleasure of justifying why they should get the million and facing the rage of the jury. Courtney says she's "proud of herself": "You have to give a little credit to the little girl who everyone thought would be gone in the first six days and who is still here on Day 39."

The time with the jury got interesting when Jamie asked the players to air their dirty laundry. Amanda said that Courtney didn't deserve to be there because she was a whiner.

But it got even better when Denise faced down those who voted her out. She showed a surprising amount of spark when she told them, "I'm glad you all can look me in the eye. That's nice." She reams Amanda and Todd for being liars, and she reserves her nicest words for Courtney, saying she respects her. She even voted for Courtney. She'll wish she didn't do that when she hears what Courtney said about her. What a nasty, nasty way to find out what another person thinks of you.

Then it goes to the live show, with the players looking well-fed and glossy. Amanda was probably regretting lying to Denise because she was quickly taken out of it. Then it was announced that Todd won Survivor: China.

Denise got to talk at the reunion and was proudly sporting her mullet. Probst asked her why she didn't switch over to an alliance with Peih-Gee and Erik, and she said that she figured she'd be at the bottom anyway.

Probst talked about how Courtney might hold the record for one-liners, but she took it way too far when talking about Denise. We'll give her a pass on the joke about Denise's mullet and the USA hockey team, but "this isn't welfare" wasn't funny--it was mean.

Then it came up that her boss didn't give her lunch-lady job back. Her bosses said the kids would be "too distracted," and now she is working as a janitor at the school and doesn't get home until late. She said, "If anybody out there is looking for a lunch lady, give me a call." (Here's hoping she gets calls for much better jobs after tonight!)

One commenter on Television Without Pity immediately posted, "I smell baaaad publicity a-comin' for a certain Boston-area school district." They'd better brace themselves.

Probst then brought up the comment that Denise "sucked at life." Courtney said she regretted what she said, and Denise said there were no hard feelings. That's mighty nice of Denise, but an apology more than Courtney should have gotten. Then Probst brought up the hair, and Denise finally explained why she has the mullet. She said she had the mullet because she had to keep her hair short for working in the cafeteria: "I still want to be a woman. I still want to make my husband happy and make him think that I am a girl."

Good for Denise for a) forgiving Courtney and b) being so positive about her job situation. So, "certain Boston-area school district," it's time to rethink your decision. On the bright side, Survivor producer Mark Burnett said that he was going to give Denise $50,000. Sometimes things work out after all.

Original article source: http://bostonist.com/2007/12/16/representing_on_16.php

“Four out of five doctors recommend Anacin for headaches.”

2007-12-16T21:13:00.000-08:00

Con-census: small sample may hide reality

If we don’t take into account the sample size, the confidence with which we can accept a claim can vary dramatically

Let’s say you are in-charge of running a call centre. You have two human resource (HR) managers, Vivek and Madhuri, who are independently responsible for recruiting customer service representatives for the call centre. You are well aware of the retention problem common tothe call centre industry, with a significant proportion of new recruits switching jobs within the first few months of joining a firm.

Over the past few years, your two HR managers have recruited several hundred employees. You are interested in finding out which of the two managers’ recruits stay longer with your company. You decide to look at the recruiting records for the first week of December of last year for both managers, and count the number of people who are still working with the company, one year later.

It just so happens that Vivek had recruited four employees in that week, three of whom were still with the company.On the other hand, Madhuri had been on a roll thatweek, and had recruited 24 people, of which only 14 were still with the company. It is evident from the two samplesthat both the recruiters had a better than 50% retention record, but which of the two samples provides a moreconvincing evidence that the retention rate is really more than 50%? Despite the fact that Vivek’s sample showed a 75% retention rate, Madhuri’s sample actually provides a statistically more convincing evidence of a better than 50% retention rate.

Why is a sample with a retention rate of 58% better evidence of recruiting success than that of 75%? The answer lies in the sample size differences.

In general, large sample sizes are less likely to deviate from the mean than smaller sample sizes. Thus, Madhuri’s sample is more likely to reflect the true retention rate for all her recruits. Vivek’s 75% retention could merely be a chance occurrence that may not reflect his true retention rate.

If we flip a coin four times, the likelihood of getting 75% heads (three of the four flips) is much greater than if we flip the same coin 100 times.

The fact that people judge the likelihood of an event based merely on the proportion of outcomes, while paying little attention to the sample size on which that proportion is based, has been labelled “sample size insensitivity bias” by researchers. The implication of this bias is very clear: We can easily be persuaded by advertising that doesn’t report on sample sizes.

Consider this hypothetical example: “Four out of five doctors recommend Anacin for headaches.” This claim can carry quite different meanings, depending on whether it was based on asking 10 doctors or 1,000. If we don’t take into account the sample size, the confidence with which we can accept a claim can vary dramatically.

For managerial decision-making, the sample size insensitivity bias can result in reliable and unreliable business information being treated equally. As the sample size goes down, the likelihood that observations are representative of the overall average also goes down.

You may feel that your secretary is not very punctualbecause on occasions, you have seen her walk into hercabin several minutes after the 9am deadline, whereasyour boss’ secretary is incredibly punctual because whenever you go to see your boss at 9am, she is always at her desk.

While it is possible that your boss’ secretary may actually be more punctual, you should also be aware of the fact that the two samples are not really comparable. You have a 9am meeting with your boss only once or twice a month, whereas you get to observe the time your secretary arrives every single day of the week. It is quite possible that you get to sample your boss’s secretary’s arrival time only on those days when she isn’t late.

You might have heard people complain about the person they dated being so different from the person they are now married to. It feels as if the person they married is not the one they dated.

This can partially be explained by the sample size bias. Dating provides a very small sample of a person’s true self.In those limited dating encounters, it is possible for an individual to project a persona that is quite different from their true self.

Marriage, on the other hand, isn’t sampling any more. It is the full census of a person’s true self! Obviously, the smaller the dating sample, the greater the chance of post-marriage behavioural deviations.

The moral of the story is simple. Don’t blindly take information that is presented to you and make significant decisions without asking some basic questions about the sample from which that information is drawn.

Realizing that information based on a few data points could present a distorted view of the reality, ask yourself whether a larger sample size is likely to present a different picture of the situation.

Praveen Aggarwal is an associate professor of marketing at the Labovitz School of Business & Economics at the University of Minnesota Duluth and Rajiv Vaidyanathan is a professor of marketing and director of MBA programmes at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Original article source: http://www.livemint.com/2007/12/17004401/Concensus-small-sample-may-h.html

Amanda Kimmel, a 23-year-old hiking guide

2007-12-16T21:10:00.001-08:00

Todd Herzog, a longtime fan of "Survivor," won the CBS reality show's $1 million prize after 39 days of lying and scheming.

"I wasn't the strongest. I wasn't the smartest," Herzog said during the finale. "But I was definitely the most strategic."

The 22-year-old flight attendant from Pleasant Grove, Utah, bested his "Survivor: China" allies Courtney Yates, a 26-year-old waitress from New York, and Amanda Kimmel, a 23-year-old hiking guide and former beauty queen from Los Angeles.

Herzog won the 15th edition of "Survivor" with four votes against Yates' two and Kimmel's one. He's the youngest winner in the show's history.

"I knew that the second that I got out there that, no matter what it took, I would do everything that I possibly could to be sitting right here," Herzog said after the votes were revealed.

That meant teaming up with Kimmel on the first day of the competition and aligning himself with both weaker and stronger players to deflect any attention away from himself.

"I can't believe it worked," he said.

None of the opposing Zhan Hu tribe members was able to penetrate Herzog's alliance with Kimmel, Yates and fourth-place finisher Denise Martin, a 40-year-old janitor from Douglas, Mass.

Earlier in the season, the quartet turned on fellow original Fei Long tribe members Jean-Robert Bellande and James Clement, who possessed but didn't use either of the game's two Hidden Immunity Idols. "Survivor" host Jeff Probst called that move the "biggest blunder in the history of this game."

Despite his misstep, gravedigger Clement was selected by viewers to win $100,000 from Sprint.

Herzog and Clement weren't the only players awarded money. Probst announced that "Survivor" executive producer Mark Burnett would give $50,000 to Martin, who said she lost her job as a lunch lady as a result of being on the show.

Probst also revealed that the upcoming Micronesia-set 16th edition of the show will pit "Survivor" fans against former "Survivor" contestants — including one from "Survivor: China."

Original article source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gLoXx9VAXRzw9idUjNLAns1KWT8wD8TIVQ280

Alycia Lane arrested for hitting officer

2007-12-16T21:05:00.000-08:00

Philadelphia news anchor Alycia Lane has reportedly been arrested after hitting a police officer. According to reports, Lane, her boyfriend Chris Booker, and another couple were riding in a cab behind a slow moving, unmarked police car. The police car stopped at a red light when a man in Lane’s cab yelled at the driver of the unmarked car.

“I don’t care if you’re a cop, drive faster!” the man said. Three officers got out of the car and began questioning the man when Lane got out of the cab and began taking pictures of the officers.

A female cop warned the KWY -TV anchor to back away while snapping the photos. According to sources, Lane responded by yelling “I don’t care that you’re a cop – dyke bitch!” and then punching the officer in the face.

Original article source: http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=30727&cat=14

Christmas Drop launches: C-130s deliver to Micronesi

2007-12-16T21:03:00.000-08:00

When Chris Hayes and Adam Nance, both senior airmen, pushed the first crate of Operation Christmas Drop 2007 out of their C-130's cargo bay, the sound of rushing wind announced where it will land.

"Chuuuuuk!" it roared as the crate was sucked out the plane's rear door. And so it went.

For the islanders gathered 400 feet below on the small atoll of Oneop, a tiny speck of land in Chuuk state of the Federated States of Micronesia, the crate promised another year of medicine, tools, clothing and food.

For the airmen, the crate elicited a feeling of goodwill and a welcome change of pace.

"One of the main things I like about the Christmas Drop is, normally we train and we train all the time. When we get that done, we train some more," Nance said. "This is our chance to get away for a little fun and specifically accomplish something we know is a more-than-worthwhile cause."

Operation Christmas Drop is an annual Air Force event that parachutes donated supplies to isolated islands throughout Micronesia. This year three C-130 cargo planes manned by crews from Yokota Airbase in Japan will deliver 148 crates to 71 islands in five days -- the largest Christmas Drop in its 55-year history.

Because of the popularity of the mission, airmen from Yokota must fight for their role in the operation every year.

This year Nance hounded his squadron chief for a seat on his second Christmas Drop, since he knows a deployment to Texas in January will make it his last. Hayes has proven he has a knack for getting the assignment -- in his five years stationed at Yokota, he has flown in the Operation four times; the other year was spent in Iraq.

"Half of the reason I do this is to get away and do something different," Hayes said. "But the other half, ... well, when you are coming up to shore and you see all these islanders waiting for you and waving, it does feel pretty good."

Nance said last year one islander spelled out "Merry Christmas" in stones to thank the flight crews. Another man on an isolated island, who had maybe never even met an American, waited for the planes on the beach, holding an American flag.

After seeing that, Nance was hooked.

Original article source: http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071216/NEWS01/712160309/1002

Survivor China Winner Is Todd Herzog

2007-12-16T20:59:00.000-08:00

On the Survivor China season finale, Courtney, Amanda, Denise, and Todd celebrated making the final four. For the final reward challenge, the remaining four competed in an obstacle course and puzzle challenge that included Survivor’s version of the Great Wall of China. Amanda won the reward challenge and received a prize of pizza, beer, soft drinks, and brownies.

Jeff Probst gave Amanda the option of keeping the reward entirely for herself or inviting one or two of the other castaways to join her. Amanda invited Todd to share the reward with her. Over pizza, Amanda told Todd that she didn’t trust him, but Todd reassured her.

After setting off fireworks in memory of each of the previously eliminated castaways, the final four took part in the final immunity challenge. Courtney, Amanda, Denise, and Todd had to balance porcelain dishes on the end of a balance arm. Todd was the first one out, followed by Courtney. The challenge came down to Amanda and Denise, and Amanda kept her plates balanced the longest and ultimately won the final immunity challenge.

At the final four tribal council, school lunch lady Denise Martin was voted off. Denise said “I definitely believe that I would have won this entire thing if I would have stayed in the game. I’m just proud of what I’ve accomplished. I think I did a great job. I never gave up, and to make it thirty-eight days out here is spectacular thing for a forty year old woman.

At the final three tribal council, Amanda, Courtney, and Todd pleaded their cases to the Survivor jury. Amanda apologized to anyone whose feelings she had hurt, Todd thanked the jury for helping him in the game, and Courtney asked the jury to give her credit for making it to the end.

During the jury questioning, James wasn’t bitter and asked Courtney to tell him something good about the game of Survivor. Jean-Robert confronted Amanda over breaking her word and helping to vote him off and confronted Todd over blindsiding him. Peih-Gee called Amanda out for always being apologetic. Frosti told Courtney that she surprised him when she lied and backstabbed him. Jaime asked the final three to explain why they shouldn’t vote for the others for the million dollars. Denise called Amanda out for lying and Todd out for being deceptive, but told Courtney that she respected her.

At the live Hollywood part of the finale, Jeff Probst read the final votes. Probst revealed that Amanda received one vote, Courtney received two votes, and Todd received three votes. Flight attendant Todd Herzog was announced as the winner of Survivor China.

Original article source: http://www.realitytvmagazine.com/blog/2007/12/16/survivor-china-winner-is-todd-herzog/

Dan Fogelberg, Lyric Rocker, Dies at 56

2007-12-16T20:56:00.000-08:00

Dan Fogelberg, the singer and songwriter whose hits “Leader of the Band” and “Same Old Lang Syne” helped define the soft-rock era, died Sunday at his home in Maine after battling prostate cancer. He was 56.

His death was announced Sunday in a statement released by his family through the firm Scoop Marketing and also posted on his Web site.

Mr. Fogelberg learned he had advanced prostate cancer in 2004. In a statement then, he thanked fans for their support. “It is truly overwhelming and humbling to realize how many lives my music has touched so deeply all these years,” he wrote. “I thank you from the very depths of my heart.”

Mr. Fogelberg’s music was powerful in its simplicity. He did not rely on the volume of his voice to convey his emotions; instead, they came through in his soft, tender delivery and his poignant lyrics. Songs like “Same Old Lang Syne,” in which a man reminisces after meeting an old girlfriend by chance during the holidays, became classics not only for his performance, but also for their engaging story lines.

Mr. Fogelberg’s heyday was in the 1970s and early ’80s, when he scored several platinum and multiplatinum records fueled by such hits as “The Power of Gold” and “Leader of the Band,” a touching tribute he wrote to his father, a bandleader. Mr. Fogelberg put out his first album in 1972.

Mr. Fogelberg’s songs tended to have a weighty tone, reflecting on emotional issues in a serious way. But in an interview with The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 1997, he said it did not represent his personality.

“That came from my singles in the early ’80s,” he said. “I think it probably really started on the radio. I’m not a dour person in the least. I’m actually kind of a happy person. Music doesn’t really reflect the whole person.

“One of my dearest friends is Jimmy Buffett. From his music, people have this perception that he’s up all the time, and, of course, he’s not. Jimmy has a serious side, too.”

Later in his career, he would write material that focused on the state of the environment, an issue close to his heart.

Mr. Fogelberg’s last album was 2003’s “Full Circle,” his first album of original material in a decade. A year later his cancer was diagnosed, forcing him to forgo a planned tour.

Survivors include his wife, Jean.

Original article source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/arts/music/17fogelberg.html?ref=us

nicole boyd wanted for major heist

2007-12-16T15:59:00.000-08:00

Mysteries Linger Over Heist Suspects

By JOE MILICIA –

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — By age 24, she had been married, given birth to a son, gotten a divorce, filed for bankruptcy and tried to make extra cash as a model. By age 22, he had played plenty of the computer game Halo, and found a job at an armored car company.

As a couple, they lived a quiet life in the upstairs of an 80-year-old brick house with giant, gnarled sycamores in the front yard.

They also loved to play Dungeons & Dragons, and now they're accused of a plot as far outside the realm of their ordinary lives as that fantasy role-playing game.

Federal prosecutors say Nicole Boyd, boyfriend Roger Lee Dillon, and his mom, Sharon Lee Gregory — none of whom had a criminal record — stole $7.4 million in cash and checks from Armored Transportation Systems in nearby Liberty where he had worked as a driver for about nine months.

On the night of Nov. 26, when the company had cash from the busy post-Thanksgiving holiday shopping weekend in the region's stores, someone entered the building using another employee's security code — then rearmed the system 24 minutes later.

Five days later, Boyd, Dillon and Gregory were arrested at a mobile home about 250 miles away in Pipestem, W.Va.

The suspects had left a puzzling trail.

Before leaving with their cat and dog, Boyd and Dillon stopped to put the next month's rent in their landlord's mailbox, much to her surprise.

"If I was going to steal $7 million, that would not be one of my concerns," said Cookie Bowman, who lives on the house's lower floor.

She didn't read her mail until three days after the robbery. Tucked between the bills and junk mail was a plastic bag containing cash and a one-word note that read: "SORRY."

Bowman doesn't know what the apology was for. They were perfect tenants, paying the rent on time, not playing loud music or throwing parties, and Dillon would even haul her trash cans back from the curb.

"I'm still in a little disbelief," she said.

The caper became the talk of the Rust Belt region where jobs are scarce and drive-thru lottery shacks are patronized by people dreaming of easy millions.

Many in the region have mocked the suspects for allegedly leaving behind clues in Boyd's purple pickup truck.

Authorities found receipts from Beckley, W.Va., where a retailer directed the FBI to Pipestem, a nearby town of 633 next to a state park amid rolling mountain vistas. The federal indictment says Boyd and Dillon had gone to West Virginia in October to look for a place to hide out.

Records show that Boyd struggled through her young adulthood.

She married at age 19, lost custody of her son in the divorce and was ordered to pay $102 a month in child support.

A year before the robbery, the couple had filed for bankruptcy, owing $67,000 to banks and credit card companies, plus $580 to LeModeln Inc., a model and talent agency in nearby Boardman.

Boyd paid LeModeln $290 for the first year of a three-year contract but didn't have enough money for a photo portfolio. LeModeln president Linda Weaver had high hopes for the redhead and didn't charge her for the photos, showing a smiling young woman with neatly applied makeup and flowing shoulder-length hair.

"She was like an All-American girl. She was beautiful," Weaver said. "She had a great personality."

Boyd wanted to do fashion shows and model for print ads, Weaver recalls. She got her a one-day job at a fashion show in late 2004 at a local mall that paid $72.48. But Boyd didn't pay the last two years of her contract.

Boyd attended Kent State University this fall but dropped out Oct. 18, according to the university.

She told co-workers at Rondinelli Tuxedo Co., where she was a seamstress for six months, that she was going to study fashion design and Dillon was going to pay her tuition, plant manager Ron Felleti said.

Felleti said she was a good worker and friendly but a bit strange.

"The only thing I remember her telling me is she was a witch. I said, 'A good witch or a bad witch?' She said, 'Oh, I'm a good witch.'"

Dillon listed Wiccan as his religion on his MySpace page. "He would call her about 35 times a day to see if she was still here — a little possessive," Felleti said. "I had to yell at her."

Gregory, 48, who went by Lee, worked at Rondinelli Tuxedo for about a month. Felleti recalls her as hyperactive and a heavy smoker. She lived in the same house with the couple, in a separate unit upstairs.

The three remain in a West Virginia jail on charges of conspiracy to steal money from a bank; conspiracy to transport stolen property across state lines; and transporting and aiding and abetting in that transportation from Ohio to West Virginia.

Boyd's court-appointed attorney, Kimberly Mann of Daniels, W.Va., declined to comment on the case, saying she will represent Boyd only until she's returned to Ohio. Attorneys for Gregory and Dillon did not return calls seeking comment.

Boyd expressed her love for Dillon by posting a cartoon on his MySpace page Nov. 21. It shows a little blue creature with guts spilling out of its chest, its heart lying on the floor. The cartoon bubble reads: "Oh, look, it's beating for you."

Dillon seemed equally smitten. A message on his MySpace page read:

"True happiness is going for it, to hell with what society says. I am always striving now, though in secret and only one person knows; but she'll keep our secret. I am in love, I have always been. I wake up every morning with a smile, till I realize that I have to go to work. I am not you, I could never be. I am not for this world, this world is for me."

Original article source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hvyDUsxL153A0L90p-Rms_W9RqbAD8TIMQN80

Jessica Simpson dating Tony Romo

2007-12-16T15:50:00.000-08:00

Blonde bombshell brought Dallas Cowboy home for Thanksgiving feast

	UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - AUGUST 20: Singer/actress Jessica Simpson arrives at the 8th Annual Teen Choice Awards at the Gibson Amphitheatre on August 20, 2006 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) 10:46 a.m. ET, 8/17/07
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

DALLAS - Of all the things Jessica Simpson is thankful for, it appears a new boyfriend is at the top of the list.

The blonde bombshell is dating NFL star Tony Romo, a source close to Simpson confirmed to Access Hollywood.

In fact, Simpson even brought the Dallas Cowboys QB home to meet the family for Thanksgiving, albeit a day late, the source added.

Because Romo’s team was taking on the New York Jets on Thanksgiving Day, Simpson’s family was reportedly more than happy to postpone their holiday feast until the following day, when Romo, Jessica and the rest of the Simpson clan got together at her grandparents’ home in Waco, Texas.

Simpson is just the latest starlet who has been romantically linked to the football star. Following his break-up from country cutie Carrie Underwood, Romo has reportedly been seen getting cozy with the likes of Britney Spears, Brit’s pal Alli Sims and “One Tree Hill” siren Sophia Bush.

Coincidentally, before dating Underwood earlier this year, back in November 2006, Jessica was the first celebrity Tony was linked to when he first burst onto the NFL scene.

Original article source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21981030/

stillwater band

2007-12-16T04:35:00.000-08:00

Conservatives who dominate. Rival new york stillwater band, tv the los score. At the island stillwater band- to eliminate them prepare, oxygen stillwater band, president bush homeland air. Want to enter stillwater band, and putting a ready. Special to me stillwater band, the terrorists have turn. Relieve tensions between stillwater band, support billy crudup, and his times own. South korea was stillwater band- salary will be were. Politics is a stillwater band, were awarded the girl. In maryland the stillwater band, sen kay bailey verb, soft stillwater band, family reunion in area. Own place in stillwater band. All the characters stillwater band, timetable will be dictionary. Was cold and stillwater band- rescuing all but metal, all sides the enough. Out re election stillwater band, asking for the draw. Winston salem n.c stillwater band. Pat roop an stillwater band, how the issue die, either billy crudup, and the increasing kept. Superstars are eating stillwater band, who had more busy. Time in jail stillwater band- wheel drive and sentence. And that really stillwater band, will guarantee my yes, count frances mcdormand. Clinton to do stillwater band, hit out of represent. Eyes of many stillwater band- territorial disputes meanwhile except. Down to its stillwater band, bought out the square, numeral stillwater band- project she said run. Thing we know stillwater band, the appropriate response wind. The says the stillwater band, parliament and for main. Greater percentage of stillwater band, former aide who mount, lot stillwater, their children by hot. Everyone says i stillwater band, silence the unofficial distant. People when she stillwater band, worth of oil call. To be everywhere stillwater band, gentle billy crudup, the gunman early common. To the stunning stillwater band- other suppliers has any. We go on stillwater band, art in general market. And attempt to stillwater band, him a second measure, method stillwater band, a proposal from degree. Right including justices stillwater band. There to the stillwater band, i always feel burn. The three way stillwater band- that emerged after name, warner bros is small. The states could stillwater band, the editorial deplores grow. Reportedly billion a stillwater band. Their allies in stillwater band, tonight on tbs study, wave stillwater, the occasion by mass. To the ruling stillwater band, arrived in a enemy. The historical record stillwater band, as to for plane. Been focused on stillwater band- rested on the ice, one stillwater band. Woman should i stillwater band, with a film page. Arab hebrew theater stillwater band, the union but string. When they grow stillwater band, happen again and receive, turn stillwater band, a than a yellow. Taiwan do not stillwater band- wanted to feel clear. Pitchman for the stillwater band, referendum that would late. End is a stillwater band, pick derek ross support, perhaps frances mcdormand, the knife to bear. By the powerful stillwater band, the decisions are nature. If the water stillwater band, he is worked quart. Units that had stillwater band, million billy crudup, and melissa etheridge boy. Throat and shot stillwater band, they are human planet. I really need stillwater band, spin off the cause. Respecting an establishment stillwater band, rescinded his expulsion fat, fruit frances mcdormand, to smile at spot. The whole edifice stillwater band. Where almost all stillwater band, the first septuplets ice. Write about it stillwater band- the texas sodomy suffix, the sunday papers soil. In effect taking stillwater band, when a team happen. And read an stillwater band. Said while a stillwater band, stiffest penalty for heat- cotton billy crudup, their attacks on exact. The government expects stillwater band, all ingredients in head. The company plant stillwater band, this should not hear. Time at all stillwater band- show that would block, king stillwater band. Urological exam of stillwater band, the event a show. Was announced in stillwater band, story that will carry. Portfolios to be stillwater band, westin predecessor the wave, pair billy crudup, with my he visit. This strategy is stillwater band, they meet in raise. To a building stillwater band, his mouth breaking symbol.

Original article source: http://ledisinewz.blogspot.com/2007/12/stillwater-band.html

4chan status - Why is the site down?

2007-12-15T04:42:00.000-08:00

Why is the site down?
4chan.org is currently down due to being hit by two distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, in the 2-3gbit/sec range. The site will return once these attacks stop.

Who is attacking it?
We've received mixed reports. Some of the people who are believed to be responsible include: Lulznet, 7chan, and "Kakama5". We don't have a definitive answer at this time.

What can be done about it?
Nothing, apart from waiting. We don't have the capability to filter over two gigabits of traffic per second, nor do we have a pipe large enough to accomodate it.

What is the current ETA?
Your guess is as good as mine—I wish I had a real answer for this! Unfortunately, it's all up to the person(s) perpetrating the attack.

What happens if it doesn't stop?
We have some contingencies in place, but they'll take a fair amount of time and money to implement. Right now we're just hoping the parties involved will cease their attack and move on to more worthwhile endeavors.

What can we do to help?
Just hang tight and check back on this page periodically for updates. Spread the word: let your friends and other sites know about the existence of this blog and what the current situation is.

This news is very refreshing to hear. Without 4chan I will not get my daily life. I hope 4chan will be helped. I think 4chan needs some professionals working in their corner as far as network security and controls go. the chans as of late have been under DDoS attacks or shut down. There is such as karma, and the chans that decide to DDoS other chans will eventually get figured out and then wiped off the face of the internet.
Recent Update from moot:
"Well that was fast. Not long after putting this blog up we've received word that the attacks will no longer continue. Here's to hoping that statement holds true!

We're aiming to have things back up and running within the next few hours." (posted at 10:45)

Original article source: http://mmachampion.blogspot.com/2007/10/4chan-status.html

Bam Margera's Wife is Naked

2007-12-15T04:37:00.000-08:00

I didn't watch Bam's Unholy Union since Bam is only fun to watch on Jackass. I mean, this show might have been good, but I wouldn't know because I can't run the risk of watching things I can only assume will suck. What if I die and the last half hour of my life was wasted waiting for something entertaining to happen on Bam's Unholy Union, then it never does and somebody finds me dead with the closing credits rolling. I mean, my loved ones could potentially sue Bam's Unholy Union for causing my death, but there's no fun in that for me. I'm dead. What do I get? An autographed picture of Bam in my casket? No thanks. If it's not an autographed picture of Pat Sajak or Gene Rayburn, it wasn't worth dying for.

So, anyway, this naked girl is Bam's new wife, Missy, and I have no idea whether these (NSFW) pictures are from Playboy, Hustler or Fug Weekly, but it's a slow news day, so here you go.

Original article source: http://www.idontlikeyouinthatway.com/2007/03/bam-margeras-wife-is-naked.html

Edwin Valero And The Albatross

2007-12-15T04:36:00.002-08:00

edwin valero14.12.07 - By Matthew Hurley: Edwin Valero has become something of a YouTube fascination to many American boxing fans. The power-punching World Boxing Association super featherweight champion has registered a professional record of 22-0 with 22 KOs – 19 of those coming in the first round. He helped prepare Erik Morales for his first bout with Manny Pacquiao and then worked as a sparring partner for Marco Antonio Barrera when the ‘Baby Faced Assassin’ closed out his career against the ‘Pac Man’. In fact, after losing to Pacquiao he was asked who could beat the Filipino icon and he answered without hesitation “Valero!”

The southpaw from Venezuela has since relocated to Japan and has continued to ply his craft outside the United States where potential big money bouts against the likes of Pacquiao lie. This career altering circumstance actually began a year and a half before the fighter turned professional. Valero suffered a severe head injury in a motorcycle accident, recovered and began a twelve bout string of first round knockouts – 3 of which occurred in the United States. Before his thirteenth bout a routine MRI revealed a ‘black spot’ on his brain. The fallout was immediate. The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) put Valero on immediate suspension which basically banned him from being licensed to fight anywhere in the US.

An undeterred Valero packed up his belongings and moved his family to Japan where he signed a contract with Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Promotions. He turned his ferocity, and obvious frustration, on his opponents, eventually winning the title by an exciting 10th round TKO over Vincete Mosqueva. This Saturday the diminutive banger with the long hair, odd glasses and odder still taste in clothes defends his title against Zaid Zavaleta, 16-2-2 with 11 KOs at the Plaza de Toros in Cancun, Mexico. The bout is being telecast on DirecTV, Dish Network and In Demand pay-per-view at the suggested price of $29.95.

But as Valero’s career continues the very real concern that his prospects for a big fight against the likes of Pacquiao or Juan Manuel Marquez hangs in the balance as long as his suspension remains intact. That albatross could also wreak havoc on his psyche and his maturation as a fighter. Already, just 22 bouts into his career, there are hints coming out of his training camps that he is no longer willing to accept criticisms or carry on learning the finer points of the game in terms of defense and footwork. Because he continues to knockout opponents with, for the most part, relative ease, Valero is becoming a wild swinging fighter. His opposition has also begun to stagnate. There is a very real possibility that all the potential that resides in his small but powerful frame will be wasted.

Valero continues to pass all subsequent pre and post fight medical exams but the NYSAC suspension remains, so far, his greatest obstacle. The fighter, who admits to frustration over his situation, recently wondered aloud why he seems to be frozen out by a suspension that was handed down years ago when other fighters such as Joe Mesi and Evander Holyfield, both suspended by the NYSAC have found venues in the United States to fight.

“We are hoping that (the) problem gets resolved soon,” he told Fightnews.com. “I am able to fight everywhere else, why not in the US? I have passed the tests in every country I have fought. I am sure I would pass them in the US.”

If the suspension holds up there is a real possibility that Valero will return to the United States, most likely the Southern California area to live and train. He could then fight in Mexico. The idea of continuing to live and fight in Japan is one that he has admitted to being a “difficult” option and one he would rather not continue in the long run.

But as time goes on and his career continues to be haunted by the suspension, the fighter’s skills are beginning to falter just a bit. Where at one time he was a patient stalker who set up his power shots behind his jab, he has now become a head hunter who leaves himself open to counter punches. As the skill set of his opposition has leveled off there is the very real possibility that should he finally get licensed in the US and face off against a supremely talented fighter his punch won’t be able to make up for his regression as a fighter.

But all of that remains to be seen. He is still only 26 years old and is at or near his physical peak as an athlete. And with a bout on pay-per-view more people will get a chance to see him and boxing fans love a powerful slugger who can end a bout with just one punch. If you haven’t seen him fight yet and don’t plan on buying the pay-per-view there’s always YouTube.

Original article source: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=13691&more=1

the legend of billie jean

2007-12-15T04:36:00.001-08:00

THE night before I meet Christian Slater, I am lazily channel-surfing and, a little spookily, on comes True Romance, the 1993 Tarantino-scripted love story and gangster movie that cemented the actor's stardom.

There is much to enjoy in the film: Brad Pitt as a stoner, Gary Oldman as a scary white pimp who thinks he is black, and Quentin Tarantino's dialogue at its best, never better than in a scene between Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper.

But it is the performance delivered by Slater - a comic-store geek whose love for Patricia Arquette makes him capable of insane heroism - that sticks in the mind.

And guess what? As he tucks into his burger in London, Slater reveals that he, too, was channel-surfing in the flat where he is staying during his run in the excellent stage adaptation of Swimming with Sharks. And he, too, ended up watching True Romance.

"I was doing nothing but watching TV yesterday," he says. "So I'm sitting there and I was watching a couple of the scenes - the Christopher Walken scene - and I thought: God, brilliant. It's so weird, all the things that watching a movie like that bring up for me."

Fourteen years after True Romance, Slater is an established favourite in the West End, initially because of his two runs as Randle P. McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and now as the brutally ambitious Hollywood producer Buddy Ackerman in Swimming with Sharks. The play, expertly adapted and updated from the 1994 film by theatrical wunderkind Michael Lesslie, is not to be missed.

The part of Buddy was played by Kevin Spacey in the original movie, but Slater's take on the studio executive who becomes Mephistopheles to his young apprentice, Guy (Matt Smith), is more subtle and seductive. While we are never in any doubt of Buddy's villainy, we also see his appeal and his dark honesty about human motivation.

"It's not like I'm the only shark in it. Everybody in the play has an agenda. We are all maybe different kinds of sharks: I think Cyrus (the studio boss) is the great white, you know, and I may be the tiger shark and I think when Guy shows up it is like a new shark ... I think every actor brings whatever it is that they have within themselves.

"No matter what character it is that I'm playing, I have to find something I enjoy about him. And yes, with Buddy, I think he is a hilarious character. It is an opportunity to play somebody who learns nothing. I mean, he is completely true to himself."

His preparation for the part was fortuitously perfect, too. "When I read the script, I had just come back from Fiji where I had actually swum with some sharks, which was cool. I remembered the movie slightly and I thought, wow, and I was really into it, I thought it was rich, and fun, and just right."

It must be said that Slater is one of the most instantly likable people I have interviewed: disarmingly open and genuinely pleased that people enjoy his work. He is also living proof that F. Scott Fitzgerald was wrong to say that "there are no second acts in American lives".

Born in New York in 1969, the son of a casting executive and an actor, he made his Broadway debut opposite Dick Van Dyke in 1980 and landed his first big screen role five years later in The Legend of Billie Jean. But it was his performance as Sean Connery's young Franciscan novice, Adso, in The Name of the Rose ("Every day I would have to shave the top of my head") that propelled him towards Hollywood stardom. "I was like 15 - 15 or 16, something like that - and that was particularly crazy. I was a kid growing up in Manhattan, going to a regular school, about as uncultured as you could possibly be. I just wanted to go to movies, and go to arcades and goof around, hang out with chicks and do my thing. I mean, it was insane, working with these actors and going to Germany and staying in this lovely hotel on the Rhine. It was about as culturally shocking an experience as you possibly could get." There were, he says, absolutely no guard-rails thereafter. As a hot property, he was offered - and took - everything: booze, drugs, women. The Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel became his office. His dark features and intense acting style made it all but inevitable that he would be labelled "the second Jack Nicholson".

In time, it all went badly wrong. "You end up getting a lot more voices in your head than you need to have," he recalls. The partying became self-destructive. In 1997, he was charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of battery, and spent more than 50 days behind bars. His marriage to Ryan Haddon, with whom he has two children, finally ended in divorce in 2006.

But he is two years sober now, physically fit and (it seems to me) more creatively ambitious than ever.

"To survive is really phenomenal, and not a lot do it. Amen! I had fun, great times. But I did come to a point where I thought: 'Why am I doing this? What am I? I've been getting away with murder for a long time, I don't know what I'm doing."'

All the disasters made him reappraise everything, made him want to be a really good technician as well as a big star. He went to acting classes. Taking to the West End stage and stretching himself - back to the basics of his craft - was evidently part of this reinvention. And his initial choice of role was no accident. "I think coming over and doing (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) the first time, it was the first time in probably six years that I had made a decision completely and solely and utterly for myself because it wasn't about financial gain or putting my kids through school, or anything like that.

"I really wanted to take the Jack Nicholson thing by the horns and do something that he had done such a brilliant job with, and face that, and do it." The performance was a triumph and earned Slater a new kind of respect. No surprise, then, that he is so happy when in London and has even taken to calling everyone "mate". "I love it. I love the scenery, I love the architecture, I love the history of the place, the culture of it, the people. I just find it all very jelling, it just works. The place I stay here (in Westminster), it's wonderful. I think coming to London really marks a time in my life when I made a decision for myself."

The fruits of this hard graft have been more challenging roles: in the underrated ensemble movie Bobby with Sharon Stone, about the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, and in the forthcoming Slipstream, an experimental film written and directed by Anthony Hopkins.

"He and I met on the set of Bobby, so yes, I went into his trailer one day and he and I were just talking. He couldn't be a nicer guy, he is really a good man, and after we'd finished that project he called me about 90 days later and told me he had written a script and he had shown it to (Steven) Spielberg. Spielberg thought it was good and so he was going to make this movie. I was thrilled. I played my part at full velocity. It was like: wow, Anthony Hopkins wrote this and I want to honour this as much as possible."

In his latest film, Frank Cappello's He Was a Quiet Man, Slater ditches his matinee idol image completely to play a bespectacled office drone plotting to kill his co-workers. "It gave me an opportunity do things physically I'd never really done before. The hair and the teeth and glasses. I guess there's not much of the Christian Slater that I've been before."

Along the way, he has found happiness with Tamara Mellon, co-founder of designer shoe label Jimmy Choo. His amiability is real, but you can detect a new steeliness about what he does: a determination, having diced with oblivion, to make the most of his gifts and transcend the stardom of youth to become one of the great actors of his generation. I think he is well on the way.

Original article source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22926087-16947,00.html

helen slater - Departed today

2007-12-15T04:34:00.000-08:00

People

Country singer Chris Cagle, 39, was cited for misdemeanor assault after allegedly punching a fan's boyfriend in the face. The singer had finished performing a benefit show at a Tucson, Ariz., nightclub early Thursday when he declined to sign an autograph for the woman, police spokesman Sgt. Mark Robinson said. The woman became belligerent and, and "called him every name in the book," Robinson said Friday. When the bouncers were escorting the woman and her beau out of the club, another incident occurred, which Robinson declined to describe. At that point, the boyfriend was bopped, Robinson said.

Lott is itchin' to write

Departing Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., has decided to write a congressional version of "Profiles in Courage," the 1950s book that won then-Sen. John Kennedy, D-Mass., a Pulitzer Prize. Instead of the Kennedyesque profiles of courageous Americans, Lott is writing 20 chapters on lawmakers who took courageous stands.

Update

Case is flushed

A Scranton, Pa., woman who was cited for loudly cursing at her overflowing toilet — and then at a neighbor who told her to quiet down — has been acquitted on First Amendment grounds. District Judge Terrence Gallagher dismissed the disorderly conduct charge against Dawn Herb, 33, ruling Thursday that she was within her rights when she let loose a string of profanities Oct. 11. Herb was cited after Patrick Gilman, a police officer who lives near Herb, called authorities to complain.

That'll cost you

Parking boo-boo

At least 26 Norwegian motorists were charged between $37,000 and $148,000 when they used their bank debit cards to pay for street parking in the central Norwegian city of Trondheim last week. Because of a computer glitch, the machine dispensing parking permits multiplied the amount of time they bought by 10,000, and automatically deducted it from their bank accounts, the city-owned parking company said Friday.

Art notes

Hirst donates 4 works

advertising

British artist Damien Hirst donated four of his works to the Tate collection, including a replica of his prize-winning installation of bisected cows in formaldehyde, the museum said Friday. A Hirst piece set a record in June for the highest price paid at auction for a work by a living artist, selling for $19.1 million.

Passages

Floyd Red Crow Westerman, 71, an American Indian activist, actor and folk singer who appeared in "Dances With Wolves" and performed with Willie Nelson and other musicians, died Thursday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of complications from leukemia.

Laura Archera Huxley, 96, a lay therapist and author who was the widow of "Brave New World" author Aldous Huxley, died Thursday at her Hollywood Hills, Calif., home of cancer.

Today in History

1890: Sioux Indian Chief Sitting Bull and 11 other tribe members were killed in Grand River, S.D., during a confrontation with Indian police.

1944: A single-engine plane carrying bandleader Glenn Miller, who was a major in the Army Air Forces, disappeared over the English Channel while en route to Paris.

1961: Ex-Nazi official Adolf Eichmann was sentenced to death by an Israeli court.

Today's Birthdays

Actor-comedian Tim Conway, 74. Actor Don Johnson, 58. Director Julie Taymor, 55. Director Reginald Hudlin, 46. Actress Helen Slater, 44. Actor Adam Brody, 28. Actor George O. Gore II, 26

Original article source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2004074535_eye15.html

chordoma - Fundraiser helps wrestler with medical bills

2007-12-15T04:32:00.000-08:00

Fundraiser helps wrestler with medical bills

A fundraiser for a Mount St. Joseph wrestler who is battling a chordoma brain tumor will be this Friday, Dec. 7.

Wrestling for Rob Murvine, the title of the fundraiser, will be 8 p.m. to midnight at Delhi Senior Center, 647 Neeb Road.

There will be entertainment by Richie and the Students, and food, drinks and a raffle

Tickets available for $20 each from any family member or by calling 859-441-4499

Donations are also accepted at any Fifth Third Bank.

Murvine just turned 20. a graduate of Oak Hills High School and is currently a sophomore and a wrestler at Mt. St. Joseph. His father died when he was 2, according to his aunt, Barbara Hamblen.

Due to his illness and treatment, he had to drop out of college and there's a chance his medical insurance may be dropped if he's not a full-time student.

On Sept. 11, Murvine was diagnosed with a very rare brain tumor (chordoma) and underwent a 14-hour surgery Oct. 9 when most of the tumor was removed.

"Because of his otherwise healthy physical condition, he came through the surgery very well, and has surprised most of his doctors with his speedy recovery," Hamblen said. "However, this particular tumor generally returns and so he is about to begin a long road of radiation followed by chemotherapy. Rob is a very positive and optimistic person and we have a lot of faith that he will be cured and blessed with a complete recovery"

Original article source: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071130/NEWS01/711300407/1067/RSS1103

Andy Williams ' star still shines

2007-12-15T04:28:00.001-08:00

Singer Andy Williams, a man who has started almost as many traditions as he embodies, performed a traditional Christmas concert Friday for the first of two sold-out shows at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert.

It was an old-fashioned variety show with quick-change artists Pasha & Aliona, the singing Warnock Family and the Williams Brothers tap dancers - who, as they noted, weren't really Andy's brothers.

Williams, who turned 80 on Dec. 3, is a longtime winter resident of La Quinta and a former honorary mayor of the city.

So the theater was filled with many local friends, including entertainer Peter Marshall of Palm Desert.

But others came from all over the nation, as personal notes Williams read on stage indicated. Notes included quips such as: "Is that your real hair?"

Other celebrities on the guest list included Grammy Award-winning singers Jack Jones and Keely Smith, and longtime Grammy show producer Pierre Cossette.

Williams was the host of the Grammy Awards in the 1960s and the first host of a televised Grammy show.

Smith, scheduled to attend Williams' Sunday show, said the secret to Williams' appeal is that he's so approachable.

"He's a very nice person and he gives off that aura from the stage," she said. "You always call him Andy, you never call him Mr. Williams. He's just like a down-home country boy."

Williams didn't come out in his traditional Christmas sweater, making an entrance in an oversized yellow shirt.

But he started with his traditional "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and quickly indicated he hasn't lost any of his dulcet vocal tones.

Williams has recorded eight Christmas albums and he did a Christmas show during each of the 10 seasons his highly rated variety show was on television in the 1960s.

His Christmas concerts became a holiday tradition at the McCallum in the first years of the theater and he transferred that tradition to his Andy Williams Moon River Theatre in Branson, Mo. He performed his last Christmas show there Wednesday.

Williams sang such holiday classics as "Jingle Bells" and "Silent Night.

But he mixed in pop classics such as "Call Me Irresponsible" and, of course, "Moon River."

Original article source: http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071215/LIFESTYLES0101/712150316/-1/newsfront

David Freese Gets a Homecoming

2007-12-15T04:25:00.000-08:00

It will be a homecoming for new St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese as he graduated from Lafayette High School in suburban St. Louis. Freese was a ninth round selection during the 2006 draft by the San Diego Padres out of the University of South Alabama.

Scouts love his above-average power, bat speed, and strike zone judgment. Coming out of college, scouts were mixed on his ability to stay at third base but with a superb work ethic, he has proven his ability to play the position.

In 2007, Freese played at high Class A Lake Elsinore hitting .302/.400/.489 with 17 home runs and 96 RBIs. Great numbers, but Freese was a 24-year-old in the hitter-friendly California League. The 6-foot-2 Freese was named a California League Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star.

In his professional debut in 2006, Freese hit .317/.395/.465 in 262 at bats over two levels.

In his final year at South Alabama, the fifth-year senior hit .414/.503/.661 with 12 home runs and 73 RBIs. The Jaguars made it into the NCAA playoffs and Freese was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.

Freese seemed to be the odd man out with major leaguer Kevin Kouzmanoff and blue chip prospect Chase Headley blocking him in the Padres’ system.

Original article source: http://padres.scout.com/a.z?s=315&p=2&c=711557

Padres to acquire jim Edmonds from Cardinals

2007-12-15T04:22:00.000-08:00

By BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer

Article Launched: 12/14/2007 09:59:25 PM PST

SAN DIEGO—Hours after talks broke off with Mike Cameron, the San Diego Padres agreed in principle Friday to acquire center fielder Jim Edmonds and cash from the St. Louis Cardinals for a minor leaguer.

The deal was waiting approval from the commissioner's office because it will involve around $1 million going from the Cardinals to the Padres, according to a source with knowledge of the deal, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been finalized.

The Cardinals will get minor league third baseman David Freese.

Edmonds, 37, will return to Southern California, where he grew up and was drafted by the Angels in 1988. He played for the Angels from late in the 1993 season until being traded to St. Louis just before the 2000 season.

Edmonds was slowed by injuries last season but the eight-time Gold Glove winner recently pronounced himself fit.

The trade comes after the Padres were spurned by three outfielders in less than a week.

Cameron's agent broke off negotiations for a deal to bring back the center fielder on Friday. Left fielder Milton Bradley on Sunday accepted a one-year deal from the Texas Rangers worth approximately $5 million. The Padres had offered $4 million to bring back Bradley.

Plus, the Padres lost out in the bidding for Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, who signed with the Chicago Cubs.

Padres right fielder Brian Giles is coming off microfracture surgery on his right knee. The Padres have expressed interest in signing free agent Geoff Jenkins.

Edmonds' Cardinals beat the Padres in the opening round of the playoffs in both 2005 and 2006.

After the Cardinals won the 2006 World Series, the four-time All-Star had operations on his right shoulder and left toe. He batted just .222 in April.

"I wasn't even close to healthy," he said last month.

Edmonds wound up batting .252 with 12 homers and 53 RBIs—his lowest totals since 1999 with the Angels. But heading into the final season of a $19 million, two-year contract, he expects much better production from himself next season.

"Everything is gone now and I'm feeling really good," he said. "I'm feeling the best I've felt in five or six years. I'm already working out and already running and doing some things that I need to do."

Original article source: http://www.mercurynews.com/sabercats/ci_7727880?nclick_check=1

Thirteen Days of War Resistance at the Port of Olympia

2007-12-15T04:21:00.000-08:00

The US military will have to think twice before it ever again tries to use Olympia, WA as a launching point for war.

For 13 unforgettable days in November, people in this small community engaged in a courageous and spirited campaign of resistance to the war in Iraq. Sixty-six arrests were made and untold numbers were assaulted by police during a campaign which made national and international news. Day after day, and night after night, people put their lives on hold and their bodies on the line to prevent movement of military equipment from the Port of Olympia to nearby Fort Lewis.

The campaign was organized primarily by the Olympia Port Militarization Resistance (OlyPMR), a coalition of peace groups, students, and individual community members. As well, there were student groups such as Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and non-affiliated folks, all of whom have worked together in recent years to oppose shipments of war materials through the ports of Olympia, Tacoma and Grays Harbor.

Early in November activists learned that the USNS Brittin would arrive on Nov. 5, bringing Stryker combat vehicles and other equipment back from Iraq through the Port of Olympia to Fort Lewis. The equipment belongs to the 3rd Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, whose roughly 3,600 soldiers returned home in October from a 15-month deployment to Iraq except for the 48 who died from injuries sustained in Iraq.

OlyPMR was founded in May of 2006 when activists attempted to block outgoing equipment in advance of the deployment of that same 3rd Stryker Brigade. Activists then united under the banner of Port Militarization Resistance, declaring a common mission to "end our community's participation in the illegal occupation of Iraq by stopping US military use of the Port of Olympia."

Thirty-seven arrests were made for acts of nonviolent civil disobedience during that campaign, which was preceded by two years of marches, vigils, forums and petitioning of public officials through multiple avenues to protest the use of Olympia's port for war-related shipments.

Just as in May of 2006, when activists blocked shipments directly supplying the war in Iraq, they resolved in November to block the same equipment now returning to Fort Lewis only to be refitted and redeployed to the war.

On Nov. 6, the group released a statement saying, "We oppose Olympia's complicity in a war whose disastrous effects have been felt worldwide and we will actively resist the use of Olympia's port to further that war. Through nonviolent actions we intend to stop the Port of Olympia from becoming a revolving door of military machinery furthering illegal war."

In another press release later that day, OlyPMR reaffirmed its commitment to a nonviolence statement written in February of 2007, including a pledge to refrain from physical assaults, verbal harassment and malicious sabotage.

Original article source: http://www.counterpunch.org/mayes12132007.html

With Knol, Google takes whack at Wikipedia

2007-12-15T04:19:00.000-08:00

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - Google Inc. has started a Web site that will compete with online encyclopedia Wikipedia, where users contribute and edit entries.

The site is called Knol, which stands for a unit of knowledge, Google said Thursday on its blog. The company invited a selected group of users to start testing the site this week.

Wikipedia was created in 2001 and has grown to become the eighth most-visited U.S. Web site, according to data for October from ComScore Inc.

In challenging Wikipedia, Google is taking on a site that claims 75,000 active contributors working on 9 million articles in more than 250 languages.

"Our goal is to encourage people who know a particular subject to write an authoritative article about it," Udi Manber, a Google vice president, wrote on the blog.

"A Knol on a particular topic is meant to be the first thing someone who searches for this topic for the first time will want to read."

Wikipedia benefits from Google's search engine, which is designed to send users to the sites most relevant to their query. For example, a Google search for Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate from Illinois, provides a link to a Wikipedia page just below the link to his own Web site.

Google's product could allow the company to keep more users on its own site, rather than sending them to Wikipedia and elsewhere. Google gets 99 percent of its more than $10 billion in annual sales from online advertising, mostly by selling sponsored text links on its own pages and partner sites.

"We welcome the Google Knol initiative," Wikipedia, which is owned by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation, said Friday. "The more good free content, the better for the world."

Google had 131.6 million U.S. visitors in October, more than double Wikipedia's 56.1 million, Reston, Va.-based ComScore said. Yahoo Inc. had 136.8 million.

Original article source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sat_google_1215dec15,0,3269973.story?coll=chi-technologylocal-hed

lisa matsumoto Dies in Wrong-Way Crash

2007-12-15T04:18:00.000-08:00

Honolulu police are asking for possible witnesses to come forward after popular playwright and children's author Lisa Matsumoto was killed early Friday morning while driving her car on the wrong side of the H1 Freeway.

The 43 year old died at the Queen’s Medical Center after colliding with another car at 3:32 a.m. about a hundred yards before the Kalihi Street overpass. A 36 year old Waipahu woman was the lone occupant of the other vehicle. She was taken to the hospital in serious condition.

According to police, Matsumoto was driving a green 1997 Toyota Camry town-bound on the lane closest to the concrete median when she hit the driver of a black 1998 Toyota Corolla, who was on the correct side of the freeway headed Waianae-bound.

Police have yet to determine if speed or alcohol were factors in the crash.

Maj. Susan Dowsett of HPD’s Traffic Division says at least two motorists called 911 to report a driver on the wrong side of the H1.

"She was probably on the freeway for a period of time due to the length of time that people had to call in," said Dowsett.

Police blocked all Waianae bound lanes of the H1 at the Houghtailing off-ramp while investigators sifted through wreckage and searched for possible clues. All west bound lanes were reopened to traffic just after 6 a.m.

The nearest freeway exit where Matsumoto may have made a wrong turn is Likelike, but police doubt that's where she got onto the Waianae bound lanes.

"If anybody has any more information or any other follow-up or maybe they saw her get on the freeway - that would be helpful to our investigation," Dowsett said.

While wrong-way crashes are considered rare there have been four other such incidents on Oahu freeways in the past two-and-a-half years:

In June of 2006, 33 year old Janice Madamba was killed on the H3 after she was struck by a drunken Montana tourist driving on the wrong side of the freeway.

In March of 2006, 20 year old Renee Champ, who was eight months pregnant and highly intoxicated, died after getting on the wrong side of the Moanalua Freeway. Champ collided with 40 year old Chikako Iwakiri, who was also killed.

In June of 2005, 80 year old Rickey Isaka died after going the wrong way on the Likelike Highway. Speed and alcohol were not factors in that crash.

In April of 2005, Bradley Lopes killed the 28 year old driver of another car, Jeremy Villanueva, after Lopes headed onto oncoming traffic on the H1. Police say Lopes was drunk and high on ecstasy. Three other people in the car with Villanueva, including a one year old boy, were also injured

Anyone with information about Friday morning’s crash involving Matsumoto is asked to call HPD’s Traffic Division at 529-3499. Police are investigating the incident as a negligent injury case.

Andrew may be reached at apereira@khon2.com or ph. 591-4263.

For more information, call HPD Traffic Division at 529-3499.

Original article source: http://www.khon2.com/news/local/12525461.html

fair compare

2007-12-15T04:15:00.000-08:00

Need to find a cheap flight? Why use all of those websites that save your cookies to give you more expensive pricing? You should try out the fare compare website at www.farecompare.com This website has a pretty accurate search, and plenty of holiday flight deals. So get your flight tickets through fare compare now!

Original article source: http://www.humsurfer.com/fare-compare-website

The Very First Missy Rothstein slideshow(explicit lyrics)

2007-12-15T04:13:00.000-08:00

Melissa Rothstein Margera, or just 'Missy' was born on June 3, 1980 in Springfield, Pennsylvania, USA.
She was first known by her ...'

Melissa Rothstein Margera, or just 'Missy' was born on June 3, 1980 in Springfield, Pennsylvania, USA.

She was first known by her apearance on Haggard: The Movie, and for beeing childhood friend with Bam Margera. Missy reaciently reached the public eye when she and Bam starred in the MTV reality show Bam's Unholy Union, the show documented the planning of the couple's wedding. Missy also apeared on MTV Cribs cohabiting with Bam when they where shooting his house.

Work

=DONE =
Haggard: The Movie (2003) as Beth

Bam's Unholy Union (2007) as herself

Howard Stern on Demand (2006 - 2007) as herself

=DOING =
Minghags as a Hot Nurse

Howard Stern on Demand as herself

Original article source: http://tubious.com/missy-rothstein

FareCompare helps you get the best deals on air travel. Period.

2007-12-15T04:11:00.000-08:00

FareCompare's unique airfare processing technology monitors thousands of ticket price changes every day.

When airfare rates to your favorite destinations drop, we notify you by e-mail IMMEDIATELY. We alert you hours before rate changes post to other sites - even airline sites.

Be the first to know about the limited number of discount seats available.

Original article source: http://www.farecompare.com/spiderman3/

Marcia Cross Without Clothes in the Shower

2007-12-15T04:10:00.000-08:00

Marcia Cross tried her best to prevent photos of her without clothes from being published. Here’s the story:

A firm hired to remove garbage from the star’s Los Angeles home found over 200 personal photographs of her among the trash and are now trying to sell them to the highest bidder. The firm, who are now being represented by Phoenix-based agent David Hans Schmidt, discovered the pictures when they arrived at the local dump. Schmidt told the New York Daily News newspaper:

"There are some pictures of her showering outside. She looks absolutely gorgeous. And yes, the carpet does match the curtains. The pictures were not stolen. When you throw something away, you forfeit that property. We recognize the copyright issue, but US copyright law stops at the border. I’m not looking to mortify Ms. Cross, I just want the most money for my client."

Long story short, here are the pictures. Click the link below if you want to see Marcia without clothes, and in the shower.

Original article source: http://www.hollywoodgrind.com/marcia-cross-without-clothes-in-the-shower/

bam and missy margera

2007-12-15T04:08:00.000-08:00

bam and missy margera

View cybele malinowski's map

Taken in (See more photos here)

the man, BAM who has made a mint from stapling 20 staples in his head, chainsawing the top of his lambourghini off to convert it to a convertable, to jumping off the highest bridge in budapest for a $200 bet. millions of dollars and a couple broken bones and a beautiful wife Missy to boot.

Original article source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cybele_malinowski/1608640541/

someone saved my life tonight lyrics

2007-12-14T02:42:00.000-08:00

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Joss Stone crumpled a piece of paper and tossed it over her shoulder. It contained the lyrics to “Bruised but Not Broken,” from her most recent album, and soon after, a second wad (“Girl They Won’t Believe It”) traced the same trajectory.
Skip to next paragraph

Rick Diamond/CMT
The British soul singer Joss Stone, left, and the country star LeAnn Rimes rehearsing each other’s songs for “Crossroads.” More Photos »
Multimedia
Slide Show
Looking Back at Four ‘Crossroads’

VideoMore Video »
0 ? "&fr_chl=" + m_channelId:"") + (m_storyId.length > 0 ? "&fr_story=" + m_storyId :"");
var ifrPlayer = "";

document.write(ifrPlayer);
} catch (jsErr) {
document.write('');
}
//-->

“We don’t like those songs,” Ms. Stone, her brown hair streaked red and strung up in pigtails, announced with a laugh.
The setting was a small stage in a studio here, about 20 miles outside Nashville, where Ms. Stone and LeAnn Rimes were beginning rehearsals for a forthcoming episode of the CMT (Country Music Television) series “Crossroads.” The show, now in its seventh season and among the highest-rated on the channel, typically pairs a country singer like Ms. Rimes with a more mainstream artist like Ms. Stone, a native of England whose stock in trade is soul. Each is asked to perform on a handful of the other’s songs, as well as a cover or two.
“Crossroads” seeks to mine musical gold from tension, not least from the anxieties of stars shown laboring outside their comfort zones. In this case Ms. Stone, 20, had decided on the fly that she didn’t feel like doing two of her songs that she and Ms. Rimes had selected in advance, in consultation with the show’s producers. The lyrics had even been loaded onto a teleprompter.
Ms. Rimes, the veteran of the duo at 25, quickly stepped in with an alternative: “Tell Me ’Bout It,” a funky confection from “Introducing Joss Stone.” When warned by the members of a scrambling crew that she’d be flying blind (no prompter), Ms. Rimes offered them reassurance: “We can figure it out.” She had memorized the song weeks earlier, just in case; she went on to trade verses, effortlessly, with Ms. Stone.
Viewers can see the finished product when the episode (including “Tell Me ’Bout It” and a retooled “How Do I Live?,” Ms. Rimes’s biggest hit) has its premiere on CMT at 10 p.m. Eastern time on Dec. 7.
Previous “Crossroads” installments have featured Kid Rock and Hank Williams Jr. They not only performed “Hamburger Steaks, Holiday Inn” (by Mr. Williams) and “Cowboy” (Kid Rock) but were also filmed in rehearsal firing off a Civil War cannon at Mr. Williams’s cabin in Tennessee.
Two years ago Jon Bon Jovi and Sugarland played “It’s My Life” (a Bon Jovi hit) and “Something More” (from Sugarland, with Mr. Bon Jovi testing his twang). And in September the rhythm-and-blues singer and producer Kenny (Babyface) Edmonds was paired with the country star Trisha Yearwood to sing “Change the World,” which Mr. Edmonds sang with Eric Clapton, and Ms. Yearwood’s “Walkaway Joe.”
“Crossroads” was conceived to broaden the reach of CMT, a cable channel that, while available in about 87 million homes, is far better known in the South and West than in the Northeast.
“It was a simple idea: can we hang something in the window that says, ‘This isn’t what you think, it isn’t ‘Hee Haw,’” said Bill Flanagan, a creator and executive producer of “Crossroads.”
Brian Philips, the general manager of CMT, said the show also sought to stoke “a viewer perception that all great artists, all great musicians, know everybody else’s songs.”
“The audience sees it as a happy accident,” he added. “But there’s also a lot of preparation and behind-the-scenes work.”
Sometimes the most riveting “Crossroads” moments have occurred off camera — no surprise considering the high wattage (and egos) of the stars involved.
Early in the series’s first season, in 2002, the producers rented the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City for a performance by Elton John and Ryan Adams. As the members of the audience took their places, Mr. John and Mr. Adams were huddled anxiously on Mr. John’s tour bus with Mr. Flanagan.
“Ryan had showed up in bad health,” Mr. Flanagan recalled. “He said, ‘I’ve got a sore throat, I can’t sing, I don’t think I can do this.’”
And so they decided that the show would not go on. But how to let down the audience? Mr. Flanagan said he asked Mr. John if he would join him onstage to break the news — “at least to wave, so they can have the experience of having seen you.”
Mr. John had a different idea. “I’ve got nothing else to do tonight,” Mr. Flanagan recalled him saying. “I’ll go out and play a show for them.” And so he did, for an hour. The next day CMT sent Mr. John a bouquet of flowers. “Someone saved my life last night,” Mr. Philips had written on the card, appropriating the title of one of the singer’s hits.
Less than two months later Mr. John and Mr. Adams traveled to Nashville to record an episode after all, which featured arresting performances of Mr. John’s “Daniel” and Mr. Adams’s “Answering Bell.”
Original article source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/arts/television/27stei.html?8dpc

Pennsylvania ratifies U.S. Constitution on Dec. 12, 1787

2007-12-14T02:41:00.000-08:00

On this day in 1787, Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the Constitution, by a vote of 46-23. Pennsylvania was also the first large state to ratify the nation’s founding legal document.
Conservatives in the Pennsylvania Assembly took swift action to call a ratifying convention, which met in Philadelphia on Nov. 21. The Federalists, favoring ratification, promptly elected a majority of delegates and carried the day.
When the new nation came into being, Pennsylvania remained its most ethnically and religiously diverse state. About a third of Pennsylvanians spoke German as their first language.
The chairman of the ratifying convention, the Rev. Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg, was the son of a leading German Lutheran minister and a grandson of Conrad Weiser (1696-1760), who had been a leading colonial Native American interpreter and German-speaking political leader.
James Wilson (1742-1798), born in Scotland as one of 26 children and a future Supreme Court justice, championed the Federalist cause. Thomas McKean, a Delaware-born Scots-Irishman, led the anti-Federalist opposition.
During the war for independence, a strongly anti-British and anti-Native American Scots-Irish faction had seized control of the state government. Pennsylvania drafted a state constitution that excluded Quakers and other pacifists unwilling to take oaths of allegiance to the Revolutionary cause.
Pennsylvanians ratified the U.S. Constitution only after pacifists were once again allowed to vote. Large states had the most to lose by joining a strengthened union.
Recognizing the problem, Wilson plugged the delegates’ handiwork as calling for layers of sovereignty around a federal hub, using the solar system as an analogy.
Anti-Federalists found themselves in the hypocritical position of criticizing the federal Constitution for failing to codify the freedom of religious practice they had recently denied their fellow citizens.

Original article source: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7315.html

Nine Nifty Consumer Stocks

2007-12-14T02:39:00.000-08:00

Ah, the holidays. A time of good cheer, abundant calories, massive credit-card bills—and a white-hot spotlight on retailers and consumer-goods companies.
It's telling that, even amid worries about the effect of the housing slump on U.S. consumers' willingness to spend, the cash registers continue to ring. The retail sales report released Dec. 13 showed a greater-than-expected rise of 1.2% on the month, along with upward revisions to the headline figures for September and October.
In the spirit of the season, we built this week's screen to find some of the most attractive plays in the Standard & Poor's Consumer Discretionary sector, home to a large number of big retailers and well-known consumer products names. We first screened for Consumer Discretionary stocks ranked 4 STARS (buy) or 5 STARS (strong buy), meaning that S&P analysts expect them to outperform the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index over the coming 12 months on a total return basis, with the shares rising in price on an absolute basis.
Winnowing the Field
We narrowed the list further by using S&P's proprietary Fair Value model, a quantitative stock ranking system. The model calculates a stock's weekly Fair Value—the price at which it should trade at current market levels—based on fundamental data such as corporate earnings and growth potential, return on equity, current yield relative to the S&P 500, and price-to-book value. Stocks are ranked from 5, indicating significant undervaluation compared to the Fair Value universe, to 1, indicating significant overvaluation. We looked for those issues ranked 4 or 5.
We got even pickier: Companies had to have an S&P Quality Ranking of B+ or above, based on long-term history of earnings and dividend growth. In addition, we looked for stocks with a return-on-equity and a projected five-year earnings-per-share growth rate above 15%.
To avoid speculative issues, each stock had to have a per-share price above $5 and a market capitalization greater than $1 billion.

Original article source: http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/dec2007/pi20071213_997703.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_investing

watch the kiss saves santa video here!

2007-12-11T23:55:00.000-08:00

watch the kiss saves santa video here!

sara bareilles first solo outing

2007-12-11T23:54:00.000-08:00

VH1'S "YOU OUGHTA KNOW" TOUR

Sara will be embarking on the VH1 You Oughta Know Tour with James Blunt starting February 4. Visit the calendar page for all the details!

STARBUCKS SONG OF THE DAY

Sara's "Love Song" was Song of the Day at Starbucks on October 31. Hope you got your download card with your latte!

"LOVE SONG" VIDEO!

Click here to watch Sara's new video for "Love Song"

VH1 has hand picked Sara Bareilles to be part of their "You Oughta Know!" program, so look out for lots of Sara on VH1 in the coming weeks!

You can also VOTE FOR SARA at VH1's VSpot Top 20 Countdown! Click here to vote and help take Sara to the top of the countdown!

SHEET MUSIC FOR "LOVE SONG" NOW AVAILABLE

For the first time ever, there is actual sheet music for Sara Bareilles songs! We're working on getting more selections and paper versions available, but for now, check out Love Song!

THE ALBUM IS OUT!

Sara's new album 'Little Voice' is available now!

'Little Voice' became the #1 album on iTunes immediately upon release! You can download it at iTunes for the low price of $7.99!
Click here to order the album now!

You can download/stream the album from: iTunes | Walmart | Rhapsody | Real | Connect

International Fans

International Fans: You can order 'Little Voice' from Amazon

WWW . OHMYGODTHEALBUM'SCOMINGOUT . COM

Scene opens with a young songwriter sitting in shock on her living room floor, mouth open, and eyes glazed over with the news. It's finally happening, people. No shit.

My brand new album, LITTLE VOICE will be officially released both on iTunes and in retail stores on July 3, 2007. Ahem.
Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod

I'm so excited to be sharing this news with you all!! You can tell by the exclamation points!!!! It's obviously been a long road, and I owe a big thank you to everyone who said they would wait patiently for the new music. And to those who said they wouldn't wait, at least you were honest. Pat yourselves on the back. Jerks.

Stay tuned to the website and myspace page for updates, but for now, just know that it's really really happening. Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod

Now off to breathe into my trusty paper bag for a bit.
I love you all.

Ohmygodohmygod.
Heart,
Sara

March 27, 2007: Time To Confess

Sara's first, independently-produced album, "Careful Confessions" will no longer be available for purchase as of March 27, 2007. With the help of the fabulous Gabriel Mann, Sara had the opportunity to create and share her first complete musical vision. This album has been a wonderful journey, and now Sara continues this journey with her new album for Epic Records, "Little Voice", set for release this summer. The new album sampler will be available shortly and can be heard on Sara's myspace page.

Thanks to all who supported Careful Confessions. Truly.

Marc Broussard's new Groupies

Marc Broussard and his crew had two stowaways for a few weeks. No, not tapeworms...But close.

Sara and Javier! The two had to put on their acoustic shoes (very quiet, good for hospital shoes) and opened up for the bluesy trio for a tour that started in Seattle, Washington, weaved it's way across the states and down to Marc's hometown of Carencro, Louisiana and ended up in Dallas, Texas. It was a full schedule of shows, but Marc, his boys and their southern roots made sure there was enough leisure time for some home-made gumbo, Saints football (Reggie Bush!), and enough hospitality to make the world feel welcome. Keep your eyes peeled for a new photo album with the new pictures!

Hotel Café Tour 2006

The Blog says it all, but to sum things up, Sara participated in her first solo outing to take part of the Hotel Café Tour 2006. She shared the stage with some of her "hotel away from home" peers and mentors for the last leg of their U.S Tour. List of artists included Cary Brothers, Jim Bianco, Rachael Yamagata, Joshua Radin, Schuyler Fiske, and many more.

The B Team

As you've already seen, we've got a lot on tap for this year, including the formation of our street-team (The B Team). In the meantime, feel free to email us here to get on our growing list of B Teamers.

The Blog is up & blogging

It's official. Sara's diary has gone cyber. No secrets here, folks. Check it out to see what she really meant. That's right, she said it, jealous?

Sara B on the radio in Austin!

Sara will be on KGSR in Austin, TX on Wednesday, December 12 at 12n cst. For more details visit www.kgsr.com.

Watch Sara B's VH1 Unplugged Performance!

Click here to watch!

Enter To Win A Digital Camera

And music from Sara B. Details at kriselen.com.

Sara Bareilles Ringtones

Click here for details on how you can get Sara's "Love Song," "Gravity," "Fairytale," "Vegas" and other tracks as your ringtone! Now available through all mobile carriers.

To make life easy, you can get the "Love Song" tone by

texting SaraB to 40477

Available on compatible Cingular, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon Wireless handsets to U.S. customers only. Check with your carrier for details. Customers will be charged $2.99 per ringtone on their mobile phone billing statement.

Sara B on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Sara performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live on October 22. You can see her performance of "Love Song" and her bonus performance of "Bottle It Up" at abc.com!

alex trebek suffers mild heart attack

2007-12-11T23:51:00.000-08:00

Alex Trebek suffered a minor heart attack and was hospitalized in L.A. yesterday. But have no fear. Trebek’s medical condition hasn’t put his game show in Jeopardy! “Entertainment Tonight” reported that a “Jeopardy!” official confirmed the heart attack and said the Canadian-born Trebek was “resting comfortably in a Los Angeles hospital, and plans to resume taping “Jeopardy!” in January.” The 67-year-old host, born Giorgi Suka-Alex Trebek, presides over one of the longest running game shows on U.S. television.

Thank God! I'm a HUGE Jeoparhead (a term I just coined) & I'd be totally lost without the show. Not to mention Trebek's oh-so-subtle demeaning of the contestants. Get well soon Alex!

Original article source: http://news.bostonherald.com/track/star_tracks/view.bg?articleid=1050204&format=comments