Todays Hottest Trends

New Revolutionizing Products for the Internet Marketer

2010-01-18T22:36:00.007-05:00

It has been so long since I have blogged that I hope these will work finally again.

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I felt I could release them here.

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I know how hard it is to make money online. Why not give yourself a chance by being paid
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Here is a site that you won't get paid top dollar for but you will make some money online:

click here

Satire: 2012 apocalypse a likely occurrence

2009-11-13T08:17:00.000-05:00

Read this story....HERE

It is about time someone accurately depicts the end of the world.
Today, the long anticipated movie "2012" hits theaters and will
tell the story of how the world will come to an end in a little more
than two years.

But how could that be fair at all? Society won't get to witness the
2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics.
What will our next president accomplish? Freshmen, we won't even
be able to graduate.

Well, that is too bad. The 13th cycle of the Maya Long Count
calendar - each cycle has 394 years - will end during the winter
solstice of the year 2012. Of course, there have been many
inaccurate apocalyptic predictions in the past, but this event has
got to be true.

Reason No. 1 - John Cusack has prioritized this ominous date
enough to make a movie about it.

Appearing in "Sixteen Candles," "1408" and "Igor," it is apparent that
Cusack only participates in movies that parallel his strong convictions.
For example, in "Must Love Dogs," his character demonstrates the
importance of dating, dogs and decision-making (Is he the right one?)
Obviously, such pressing societal issues need to be addressed and
Cusack is the man for the job.

Secondly, we must believe the Mayas. There is no doubt that this
ancient civilization was far more advanced than any other group on
Earth at the time. Extremely well-developed irrigation systems,
quizzically modern astronomical discoveries and complex
architectural achievements are great reasons to agree with the Mayas
on this "end of the world" issue. After all, who could argue with a
population that used chocolate as currency?

Disregard the accusations of Mayan culture experts who say that the
apocalyptic association with the date has no Mayan origin. What do
they have besides a decade or two of concentrated Mayan research
under their belts? They even go on to say that this "end of time" the
Mayas bring up represents a fresh start, rather than a disastrous end.
Such rational thinking could only deter the world from all-out chaos
by Dec. 21, 2012.

Although NASA has debunked this "myth," and one too many people
are skeptical of the association between the apocalypse and the
Mayan calendar, it might be in everyone's best interest to review this
issue more thoroughly. Look at it from both sides - The New York
Times may have an article questioning the Mayan apocalypse, but
The National Enquirer fully supports the Doomsday date.

At the very least, try looking into selling your car or home
(the real estate market may be doing well by then), but if that doesn't
sound appealing, you might have more luck befriending John Cusack.

Written by:
Judith Schomp is a freshman political science major from Lindale.

Now I wonder how many people actually believe this.....
There have been many people that believe in the end of the world
scenarios that they all miss the point..

From Nostradamus to Mayans and everything in between....
the world isn't in good shape and needs to change....
hence the end of this time of life...

You can judge how things are going now...
but I will still believe that we make the world what we like it to be.

Yours Truly
mediamerlin

Celebrate Yankee's Victory Online

2009-11-06T12:29:00.002-05:00

Read the story @ Examiner!!!

traveling to New York to see the parade honoring the Bronx
Bombers would be quite cool. However, not all fans will be able to
do that. So as usual, the best place to watch the parade, the
presentation of the trophy, and the rest of the celebration will be online.

Lets start with the obvious; the New York Yankees Website, is the
best entry point to find the action. This is also including any Yankees
official regular season and World Series
merchandise and paraphernalia.

Boston's former Captain Caveman, Johnny Damon, NY Yankees
outfielder was classy enough to pay homage to the the team that
gave him his first World Series ring.

From Sports News out of The Gaea Times;

The Yankees parade 2009 will start at the Battery Place in

Broadway and will continue to the Chambers Street. The

heroes of the day, Derek Jetter, Alex Rodriguez and the rest

of the team will be treated to showers of confetti all along the

route. The procession will lead up to the City Plaza. There, the

team will be presented the key to the city, a great honor, by

Michael R. Bloomberg, the mayor of New York

The Parade Route will be through New York City's Canyon of Heros
and will start tomorrow, Friday the 6th at 1100 AM
You can watch it on MyFox in New York as well as MyFox Online;
both being live.

This should be an intense scene ...for those
who love baseball and fans of N.Y. it should
be the biggest thing online....

Yours Truly
mediamerlin

Watch Live Here

Hurricane Ida hits Nicaragua coast

2009-11-05T11:10:00.000-05:00

Read this story...Here!

By FILADELFO ALEMAN (AP) – 53 minutes ago

MANAGUA, Nicaragua — Newly born Hurricane Ida ripped into
Nicaragua's Atlantic coast on Thursday after forcing more than 2,000
people to flee their homes and knocking out power to some parts
of the impoverished region.

The hurricane struck land about 75 miles (125 kilometers) north of
Bluefields. It was forecast to weaken while cutting across Honduras
before possibly emerging over open water on Saturday — a still-
tentative path that could carry it near Mexico's resort of Cancun by
midweek.

Ida had winds of 75 mph (120 kph), according to the U.S. National
Hurricane Center, and it was moving to the northwest at 6 mph
(9 kph).

It could dump as much as 20 inches (500 millimeters) of rain in parts
as it crosses eastern Nicaragua, with the risk of flash floods and
mudslides, according to the Miami-based center.

The storm could also raise coastal water levels by as much as 3 feet
(nearly 1 meter) above ground level, with dangerous waves.

There were no immediate reports of deaths, but Nicaragua's National
Civil Defense director Mario Perez said more than 2,000 people had
been evacuated — 800 of those from flimsy, makeshift homes on
Corn Island and nearby Little Corn Island, where strong winds
damaged about 45 homes, toppled trees and knocked out power.
Residents were taken to the port authority building and concrete hotels.

About 2,500 people live on the two islands, which are popular
tourist destinations.

"There is no electricity on the island and telephone is out and there
is little water," Perez said.
About 1,100 people had been evacuated in Bluefields, Perez said.

Heavy rains and winds kept officials from evacuating about 80 people
on Cayos Perla, but authorities said they planned to used speedboats
to get them out.

I just feel humbled by the massive energy that nature can produce..
we should all be living in respect of the awesome powers.

Yours Truly..
mediamerlin

What Recession: AO Safety 99014 Blockade Noise Isolating Earbuds

2009-11-03T08:29:00.001-05:00

Story found Here

The AO Safety 99014 Blockade Noise Isolating Earbuds have a
patented triple flange ear bud design and delivers optimal noise
protection and excellent ear fit to reduce noise.

The AO Safety 99014 Blockade Noise Isolating Earbuds have
integrated volume control and a 24 decibel Noise Reduction Rating,
and an ultra-comfortable design, and is compatible with any device
with a 3.5mm jack including MP3 players and iPod.

The AO Safety 99014 Blockade Noise Isolating Earbuds meet
ANSI/OSHA standards, comes complete with 6 extra ear buds
and 2 carrying bags and can be purchased via Woot for a price
of $14.99.

At least they are taking into consideration that if you where earbuds
for too long you could develop hearing loss...now you can rest assure
that our ears are a little more protected now.

Yours Truly
mediamerlin

Droid cell phone becomes Motorola MILESTONE

2009-11-02T09:10:00.000-05:00

Read on
>product reviews website

The Motorola Droid is to be named the MILESTONE in Germany
when it is released on the O2 network. According to BGR, Germany’s
O2 website released some details on this new handset; the biggest
detail is the €404.20 retail price of the MILESTONE for corporate
customers.

Vodafone will also be getting the Motorola MILESTONE in Europe
and the latest information tells us that the handset comes with pinch
and zoom, something that is not seen on the US version Motorola
Droid, for more information on this, visit Engadget.

We have also learned that the Milestone will come packed with
MOTONAV turn-by-turn directions; this is strange as we would
have assumed that this Android smartphone would have come
with Google’s Maps Navigation.

Does the Motorola Droid / Milestone offer enough for you to
consider getting one, do you think that the handset is a match for
the Apple iPhone 3GS?

The more technology advances the more gadgets that come out.
Maybe we should learn how to use our Minds as much as the
latest gadgets then we could develop devices that increase our
intelligence too.

Yours Truly
mediamerlin

Vampire Diaries episode 7 full episode and Vampire Diaries episode 8 preview

2009-10-30T07:42:00.000-04:00

More info Here

Last nights episode was a really good Halloween episode....it is a shame that Vicki was staked?
Is she really gone? Watching on to find out.................................

Fans really wish for more of this show....two hour episodes might be a good idea.

The Vampire Diaries is based on a novel series penned by L.J. Smith where you are given the insight into the diary of Elena Gilbert. Elena had always been a star student; beautiful, popular and involved with school and friends.

As the fall semester begins, Elena becomes fascinated with the mysterious new boy in school, Stefan Salvatore, and she has no way of knowing he is a centuries-old vampire.

While Stefan struggles to live peacefully among humans, his brother Damon is the embodiment of violence and brutality. Now these two vampire brothers-one good, the other evil-are at war for Elena's soul in the small town of Mystic Falls, Virginia.

Produced by Scream screenwriter Kevin Williamson, the show has a pair of ageless vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. In the TVD they are shown making efforts to integrate into the lives of humans in present-day Virginia.

Reality show watchers feel that the extension may help show’s network CW to improve its ratings. To date the show premiered on September 10 attracted 4.8 million viewers. This was the network’s highest-rated series debut in its history. Surprisingly, some 3.9 million views tuned in to their popular show to watch the October 15 episode.

The show takes an interesting twist after Paul Wesley analyzes his 'Vampire Diaries' character traits. Declaring about his and Ian Somerhalder's roles in the CW series, he said: “I don't think I am a good vampire ... I think Damon is a sociopath.”

Making the show spicy, Wesley thinks that Damon just really loves being a bloodsucker. "He's consumed in being a vampire and power and he really believes that feeding on humans ... it's just as simple and natural as breathing. He doesn't understand," he said. "There's no guilt, which is fascinating." More blood will be spilled soon. Keep on watching the show.

The episode with Vicki wanting more blood is truly eerie.
I just thought her character added a little...chaos.

Yours Truly
mediamerlin

Swine Flu: A Danger to Your Rights as Well as Your Health?

2009-10-29T09:39:00.003-04:00

I read the story...Here.

Earlier today, the Constitution Project and the University of Maryland
Center for Health and Homeland Security brought together a group
of expert panelists at the National Press Club to discuss the civil
liberties implications of the government's response to the H1N1 flu,
more commonly known as swine flu.

Moderator Sharon Bradford Franklin, Senior Policy Counsel at the
Constitution Project, opened the event with a brief overview of
recent news developments in the H1N1 outbreak. The panel
featured Professor Michael Greenberger, Director of the University
of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, Professor
Wendy Mariner of the Boston University School of Public health,
and Dr. Marita Mike, the Health Director at the University of
Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security.

Dr. Mike began the conversation by offering a medical perspective
on the unique health risks posed by the H1N1 flu, comparing the
most recent outbreak with past public health crises in the United
States. Professor Greenberger built on the doctor's introduction by
outlining the remarkably broad executive powers that may be
leveraged at the state and federal levels to combat the flu. Finally,
Professor Mariner rejected the notion that emergency preparedness
laws can prevent disease, and critiqued the post-9/11 focus on coer-
cive public health tools that threaten individual civil liberties. Instead,
she argued that the focus of the government's response to the H1N1
flu should be on creating a healthy, educated population that has
plentiful access to information, vaccines, and other medical care.

The discussion featured vigorous exchanges on the constitutional
concerns raised by quarantines, mandatory vaccinations, and
interstate travel restrictions. The panelists agreed that the federal
government's response to the H1N1 flu has been timely and
proportionate to the real dangers posed by the disease, but voiced
concerns about how state and federal governments may employ
existing executive powers if more virulent strands of the flu merge.
The panelists encouraged members of the public to take appropriate
health precautions, and urged a rational public dialogue on the tools
state and federal governments need, or think they need, to
effectively combat public health risks like the H1N1 flu.

Today's event drew a diverse and engaged audience to the National
Press Club's Murrow Room, including attendees from various print
and radio news outlets, the Department of Homeland Security,
the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, congressional staff,
as well as numerous other advocacy and health organizations.

To see photos from this afternoon's event, please click here. A video
of the discussion will be posted as soon as it's available.

Follow Ginny Sloan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ConPro

You always here about threats of this disease but everything in
life can be threatening I think we need to take everything with
a grain of salt...and eat healthy and learn to deal with life's
stresses before everything is controlled for us.

Yours Truly
mediamerlin

Trust drug companies and officials?

2009-10-28T10:09:00.009-04:00

ADHD Ritalin child 500% greater sudden death risk but FDA silent

October 16, 12:01 PM Human Rights
Examiner Dupre'

Read this story @examiner

An example of why parents today distrust drug makers and officials is FDA's silence about the new study revealing that healthy children taking Ritalin have a 500 percent greater risk of sudden death.

"These aren’t kids with pre-existing heart conditions. The results would have been worse if they were included," stated Dr. Al Sears, M.D. today.

Thousands of children have suddenly died as direct result of using psychotropic drugs used for ADD and ADHD according to Heather Smith, Executive Director of the National Alliance against Mandated Health Screening and Psychotropic Drugging of Children. (Smith, H. What Drugmakers Don't Want You to Know, Thousands of children have suddenly died over the years, as a direct result of using psychotropic drugs used for ADD and ADHD, RitalinDeath.com)

ADD and ADHD are the most common child diagnoses.

Sears provides the following alert that what parents have been told for decades – "Ritalin is safe for children" – could not be further from truth:

Ritalin is a stimulant. It causes the heart to beat faster. This can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

Ritalin acts exactly like amphetamines such as crystal meth and cocaine.

In spite of evidence that it could stunt their growth1, and cause irreversible brain damage2 and that it is linked to serious cardiovascular events, the FDA remains silent.

Still, the FDA refuses to take action.

No new warnings are planned and prescriptions for Ritalin continue to spiral upward.

Objections to the FDA’s sluggishness are even starting to appear in conservative medical journals like JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association. In a recent editorial, they criticized the FDA by saying the FDA is “interpreting the results cautiously.”

Plus, JAMA notes that the FDA funded and approved the design of the study. Only when results came out did they have a problem with the design of the study. I guess the FDA didn’t like the results their own design produced.

This is the big point for all of us: Doctors hand out Ritalin prescriptions every day. And too often you aren’t told of the dangers.

ADHD is still the most commonly diagnosed disorder in children.

What’s more, studies show that the drugs don’t work. The same study that found Ritalin stunts kids’ growth also found that it has no beneficial effect on behavior over a three-year period.

So what do you do for children who have trouble concentrating, focusing, or calming down? Here are a few easy, safe, and natural ways to bring kids “to attention” without endangering their mental and physical health.

1. Ramp up the amount of omega-3 in their diet.

Studies show that many children with ADHD don’t get enough omega-3. Cod liver oil and fish-oil capsules deliver the two kinds of omega-3s the body needs.

You can also get them to eat more lean meats, eggs, and nuts, preferably free-range, grass-fed and organic. These are all great sources of omega-3. I recommend 1,000 mg of omega-3s daily.

2. Pine bark extract is another natural supplement that works.

One European study using pycnogenol, an organic compound found in the bark of the French maritime pine tree, showed that after only one month, children’s behavior improved significantly on as little as 1 mg per day.3

3. Finally, certain naturally occurring amino acids can treat ADHD.

One of them is 5-HTP, a precursor to serotonin and one of the chemicals in the brain that relieves anxiety and depression (popular antidepressants like Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro all boost serotonin levels).

I recommend 50 to 100 mg three times per day with meals.

Another is tyrosine. It works like 5-HTP, increasing levels of various chemicals in the brain connected to mood and the ability to concentrate. The optimal dose is 5,000 mg per day for children and up to 10,000 mg per day for adults.

These are natural and safe alternatives that I use in my medical practice every day. They aren’t harmful or addictive, and unlike all those ADHD drugs, they actually work. They are easy to find at health food stores.

1 Jensen et al, “3-Year Follow-up of the NIMH MTA Study.” Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 2007. 46(8):989-1002.
2 Gray et al, “Methylphenidate Administration to Juvenile Rats Alters Brain Areas Involved in Cognition, Motivated Behaviors, Appetite, and Stress,” Journal of Neuroscience, 2007, 27(27):7196-7207.
3 Trebatická et al, “Treatment of ADHD with French maritime pine bark extract, Pycnogenol.” European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2006. 15(6):329-35.

To learn more about Dr. Sears' Wellness Research and Consulting, call (866) 792-1035 or visit:

http://www.alsearsmd.com

Do you know that this makes me upset that some people just try to say that a child is a certain
way when they fail to communicate to that child. We just need to learn to communicate better
and properly feed our children then the use of certain psychotropic drugs in children will go
down.

Yours Truly,

mediamerlin

TRIBOELECTRIFICATION-Static electric charge can pose flight risk — Ares I-X launch

2009-10-27T10:01:00.010-04:00

Found the story Here

By William Neff, The Plain Dealer

October 25, 2009, 11:39AM

The Ares I-X is ready to fly.

Lightning Strikes Apollo 12 as it lifts off from Launch Pad
39A on Nov.14,1969. Ares I-X will lift off from the pad
next door, 39B.

The Ares I-X mission's launch weather officer, Kathy Winters, dropped a tongue-twister in Sunday's press briefing that had even some veteran aerospace reporters in the auditorium scratching their heads.
The word -- remember this for future spelling bees -- was

triboelectrification.

Simply put,

triboelectrification

is a static electric charge that can build up on flying vehicles, aircraft as well as spacecraft, as they move through particles in the atmosphere. That usually means
precipitation, as in rain. But clouds, even light ones,
can contain enough particles to deliver the charge.

And while

triboelectrification's

effects are not as dangerous to a spacecraft as a direct lightning strike -- a pair of which nearly caused the 1969 Apollo 12 moon mission to abort just after liftoff -- it can still cause enough static to garble telemetry between the rocket and ground contollers and threaten the Ares I-X flight.
This phenomenon affects some vehicles more than others, depending on the materials used to build them. Over nearly 30 years of space shuttle flights, NASA has seen that these bulky vehicles are not very susceptible to triboelectric effects. And indeed, it may develop that the tall, slender Ares rockets aren't either. But until they're tested to find out, NASA engineers will take any serious cloud cover as their signal to keep Ares I-X on the launch pad.

Whenever a word comes out that I haven't used. I always like to figure out what they mean.When I came across triboelectrification I thought that I must find out more.
Even though lightning isn't around static electicity can be generated.

Yours Truly,

mediamerlin

Daylight Savings Time 2009 Fall Back Deadly for London Roads?

2009-10-26T13:57:00.001-04:00

Story from Associated Content

The Daylight Savings Time 2009 fall back has happened most everywhere. But the Daylight Savings Time 2009 fall back is still a week away here. But the Daylight Savings Time 2009 fall back is still a week away here. In the past, theDaylight Savings Time 2009 fall back would have already happened in America. However, since 2007, the U.S. has literally alerted time so that the Daylight Savings Time 2009 fall back will happen a week later. The benefits of moving Daylight Savings Time back are still to be determined, but the idea may catch on in other countries.

In 2007, Congress moved the Daylight Savings Time fall back to the first Sunday of November, rather than the last Sunday of October. They also moved the "spring ahead" part of Daylight Savings Time to the beginning of March, not April. Energy concerns and conservation were factors in the decision, but another country may want to do it for other reasons.

The Daylight Savings Time 2009 fall back has already arrived in Britain, and in most other countries this morning. But as it arrives, some in London are calling for a review in when the clocks are moved back, according to the Metro. In their case, protestors want the Daylight Savings Time fall back reviewed because the extra hour of darkness is deadly.

According to the Metro, once the evenings have gotten longer and darker, under the current Daylight Savings Time format, more pedestrians have gotten run over or killed on the roads. With darker evenings, it is harder for people on the road to see pedestrians, many of which could be playing children.

Campaigners called "Living Streets" have been lobbying for changes in the Daylight Savings Time fall back time, to improve road safety. But they will not get their wish this year, at the least. Therefore, they will likely keep an eye on the road to see how many more people are struck and killed this time after Daylight Savings.

America and the European Union are clearly not shy about altering time, in regards to Daylight Savings - or "summer time" as Europe calls it. Still, in the United States, people have to wait an extra week to get an extra hour of sleep, and lose an hour of sleep a lot sooner in spring. Here, they would probably not be too eager to change that rule after just a few years, even if America had the same problems with road safety as Britain.

With the change of time coming later in the North America continent...I can see that problems
with time changing could make global trading more difficult..
Everyone should be on the same time.

Yours Truly

mediamerlin

Meteor Shower part two

2009-10-22T08:40:00.001-04:00

This story can be found @earthsky.org

The object in the picture isn’t a meteor. It’s the most famous of all comets, Comet Halley. This comet last visited Earth in 1986. As the comet moves through space, it leaves debris in its wake that strikes Earth’s atmosphere most fully around October 20-22, while Earth intersects the comet’s orbit, as it does every year at this time.
This cometary debris – bits of ice, dust and rubble – create a meteor shower.
This is the annual Orionid meteor shower. It’s expected to rain down the greatest number of meteors before dawn on Wednesday October 21, 2009. As usual, the best time to watch this shower will be between the hours of midnight and dawn. You can try watching Tuesday morning, but Wednesday and Thursday mornings are likely to offer more meteors.
This isn’t the year’s richest meteor shower, or even the second-richest, but try watching this shower from midnight to dawn, when the most meteors will be flying. So if you’re hankering to see some meteors, the total absence of moonlight makes 2009 an opportune year for the Orionids. Just be aware that this shower is expected to produce only about 15-20 meteors per hour, or one every few minutes.
If the meteors originate in Comet Halley, why are they called the Orionids? The answer is that meteors in annual showers are named for the point in our sky from which they appear to radiate. The radiant point for the Orionids is in the direction of the constellation Orion the Hunter. Hence the name Orionids.
For me … even one meteor can be a thrill. But you might want to observe for an hour or more, and in that case the trick is to find a place to observe in the country. Bring along a blanket or lawn chair – after midnight or before dawn – and lie back comfortably while gazing upward.

I am always amazed a celestial bodies...In 1986 when Halley's Comet came through I was
a little over twenty years old...what memories...
I am fascinated by astronomy and other space item.

Yours Truly

mediamerlin

Orionid Meteor Shower Tonight: Halley's Comet Debris

2009-10-21T08:48:00.001-04:00

Read this story @onlykent

The Orionid Meteor Shower has already begun and observers from the International Meteor Organization have been counting 25 Orionids per hour, this rate is set to reach its peak in the early hours of Wednesday morning, October 21, 2009.

To see the Orionid Meteor Shower, which was left over by debris from Halley's Comet, you need to be up at 3 am, then watch the sky at dawn, only then will you be treated to a spectacular show. If you cannot manage to crawl out of bed, I am sure that a few videos will find their way on YouTube.

The Orionids happen each year, and is located near the constellation Orion, and are created by the debris left over from the orbit of Halley's Comet. The Comet can be seen from the naked eye as it passing by every 76 years.

According to National Geographic News, the most famous comet is made up of dirt and ice with a fifty-fifty combination; this was left over from when the planets were first formed 4.5 billion years ago.

Don't you just love seeing meteor showers LIKE I DO.

Yours Truly,
mediamerlin

Ayn Rand's celebration of Individuality

2009-10-16T10:05:00.000-04:00

Ayn Rand's philosophy which she termed as 'objectivism' celebrates individualism and rational thinking, the role of man's rational mind in existence. She says that man's highest moral duty is toward oneself.

Story found HERE

EVERY WRITER'S ideas, perspective and philosophy shapes up the thinking of an individual who reads his/her books and further influences the reader’s attitude and ideology in the long run, to eventually becoming a source for defining oneself , an individual’s identity and a driving force for restricting authority .

Ayn Rand, the author of books like the Anthem, We The Living, Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged,brings out her philosophy of life in her writings. Almost all her works are fictional, where she introduces her philosophy, ideology which she neatly weaves with the fictional element.

Rand is very vocal when it comes to expressing her ideology and perspectives to the outside world. Her philosophy is very unique and different from the conventional thought or say - a mindset which most people in general has. And she is indeed very bold and courageous in penning down her thoughts on various subjects and strongly advocating her philosophy.

Many of her readers have picked up her cues on sometimes resisting authority. This philosophy and ideology gives an individual the power to challenge authority or any idea that is contradictory. Sometimes, it also helps to challenge conventional thought process or a collective thinking in favour of an individual’s mind.

Ayn Rand’s philosophy which she termed as ‘objectivism’ celebrates individualism and rational thinking, the role of man’s rational mind in existence. She says that man’s highest moral duty is toward oneself. One should pursue one’s own happiness and should never sacrifice one’s rational self interest for a greater good, as it doesn’t make sense to sacrifice one’s soul for others. An individual’s duty should be towards one’s own spirit and soul.

Her book Atlas shrugged talks about how producer’s (thinkers) of the world refused to be exploited by the state, the government and went on a strike where they eventually left their work, put their mind to an abrupt halt to prevent the state (parasite) from further exploitation.

In the book ‘Fountainhead’, she brings out how an individual had to struggle for what he believes in when he took non-compromised path. In general, people are usually conditioned to think or act in a particular manner, which is accepted by one and all. An individual is not allowed to think independently or stand by what he believes is right. One is supposed to follow a norm, be a conformist.

There are some people who couldn’t stand by their own thinking, believes and ideas because of fear of rejection by the society and hence abandon their original thinking, forcing themselves to think or act according to the norm which is accepted by the society.

The book also talks about how people in a position of power, try to suppress an individual with original ideas and great intellect because it threatens or challenges their position of power. The latter is condemned if he dares to go against collective thinking in favour of one’s own thinking.

The book centred on Howard Roark, an individualistic, architecture student, unusually bright with a unique and different architectural sense of design who comes up with his own original and unique style for which he was ultimately thrown out of the college. His great mind became his worst enemy when it came to his profession. He was not allowed to work according to his architectural sense and was instead pressurized to follow the normal rules. As a result, he was always out of work, jobless as he was not ready to compromise.

At the end, Roark’s great mind broke all barriers after challenging the collective thinkers and men who existed on the ideas of others whom Ayn Ryan termed as ‘Parasite’ and ‘Second Handers’.

The novels talks about the triumph of original ideas and of men who dare to think and stand by their thoughts and ideology no matter what. The book is a celebration of courage and guts to go through difficult period in life just to uphold one’s own spirit , ideas and thinking (which is the highest moral duty toward oneself ) without compromising on integrity, individuality and in the process, fighting and challenging authority.

We should all strive to think on our own...society tries to dictate

how we should act, feel, think...but compliance is just an nice

way of saying manipulated.

We should treat each other with respect though when thinking

for ourselves and not take individuality to the extreme.

We can't act violently to each other...that is a fear based action.

We should act out of love for ourselves and others.

Yours Truly,

mediamerlin

McDonald's Monopoly Game Board 2009: free codes and links to rare Monopoly pieces

2009-10-15T11:46:00.001-04:00

October 12, 2:25 PM Haight-Ashbury Budget Living Examiner Carol Hilker

Story from EXAMINER

Free code for the Monopoly McDonald's Board Game.

Every year like clockwork, we supersize, hoping for Park Place or Monopoly. Most of us are happy enough with a free quarter pounder with cheese. So if you are into the yearly Monopoly Game Piece extravaganze, read on and find out how to get free codes.

To win, you either need to find an instant win piece, or collect all of one group of streets or railroads. There's one piece in each group that's hard to find. If you get that piece, finding the other two will be easy. The hard to find pieces are on this page.
http://www.amazing-bargains.com/mcdonald…

You can also go online to http://playatmcd.com and play there using that little code at the bottom of the piece for an extra chance to win.

How to Enter Online: Visit monopoly.promotions.com/monopoly09/front.do and setup an account. Then input your codes.

Free McDonald's Monopoly Codes:

I6L6V4N4T09 (From Rules)
UONLYRICHER (From Facebook)
ONLYPLYRSWN

How to use the McDonald's Facebook code:

You must have a Facebook account. Sign up free or login.
Go here to access the McDonald's page on Facebook.
Click Go.
Click Allow.
Click Let's Play.
Click Publish or Okay (pick one).
Click Okay.
You will be taken to the McDonald's Monopoly page.
Click Let's Play.
Sign in.
Click to Roll.

The FREE Code can be used only once per person and/or email address or mobile phone and will not count against your daily play limit of ten (10) Codes per day. FREE Codes can be used by multiple participants.

Rare Online Collect and Win Properties:

Short Line
Pennsylvania Ave
Mediterranean Ave

Rare Code List:

Mediterranean (#101) for $50
Vermont (#104) for $1,000
Tennessee (#110) for $5,000
Boardwalk (#122) for $1,000,000

$100,000 Online Jackpot Sweepstakes: Each valid Game Stamp Code entry (limit 10 per day) during the Online Game Period (October 6, 2009 through November 16, 2009) will earn the participant one (1) entry into the random Drawing for the chance to win $100,000. FREE Codes are not eligible for Sweepstakes entry. On or about November 17, 2009, one (1) winner will be randomly selected to receive the $100,000 prize, subject to verification and compliance with the Official Rules.

Daily and quarter hourly prizes may be available at any time during the applicable Day, or quarter hour and, once won, will not be available again until the next Day (for Daily prizes) or Quarter hour (for Quarter Hourly prizes).

Before you move on, make sure that you read a summary of the official rules for prize list and further details. The Monopoly game board is available online and on the side of the bags.

Online Pre-Promotion Sweepstakes: Obtain an entry by using a FREE Code to register for the Online Game taking place in the U.S. and Canada
Collect & Win: Win by collecting Game Stamps to form "Winning Combinations" as part of the In-Store Game
Instant Win: Win instantly with "Instant Win Game Stamps" as part of the In-Store Game
Online Game: Use the 11-digit Code found on MONOPOLY Game Stamps to play MONOPOLY Online for more chances to win instantly and/or by collecting "Online Winning Combinations" as part of the Online Game taking place in the U.S. (See Canadian Rules for Online Game in Canada.)

Eligibility: You will need Internet access and a valid email address to participate in the Online Game. Open to residents of U.S., Guam, Saipan & Canada. Void in Puerto Rico, Am. Samoa & where prohibited. Must be 13 or older (ME residents must be 18 or older) to play Online. Online Game not available in Guam & Saipan; text play not available in Canada.

Twenty-eight (28) $1 Million daily opportunities, one per day (U.S. & Canada combined) Online 10/6/09 - 11/2/09 (12:00:00 midnight ET to 11:59:59 pm ET). Each day, one player will land on Chance Online and receive as a prize a next-day Monopoly Dice Roll. A roll of two (2) sixes (6&6) results in $1 Million prize, payable $50,000/year for 20 years w/o interest. Other rolls receive $10,000. See roll results at PlayatMcD.com.

Entry Dates: Game begins 10/6/09. In-Store Game ends 11/2/09, or while supplies last; Online Game ends 11/16/09 at 11:59:59 pm ET.

To participate without making a purchase, mail a legibly handwritten, self-addressed, stamped envelope ("SASE") with sufficient postage and a return address (first and last name, street address, city, state, and zip or postal code) to:

2009 MONOPOLY at McDonald's Free Game Piece Request
P.O. Box 49189
Strongsville, OH 44149-0189

DO NOT SEND POTENTIAL WINNING GAME STAMPS, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO THIS ADDRESS. Two (2) Game Pieces will be mailed in response to each request that complies with the requirements of the Official Rules, while supplies last. Mail-in requests, including both outer envelope and SASE, must be handwritten and must be postmarked no sooner than September 22, 2009 and must be postmarked by November 2, 2009 and received by Sponsor no later than November 6, 2009. If the In-Store Game runs long, these dates are subject to a corresponding extension. Requests from Vermont residents that are postmarked in VT may omit return postage.

I always enjoy the thrill of seeing if I can win anything here.

Yours Truly,

mediamerlin

Underlining 'Free' in 'Free Credit Report'

2009-10-14T12:24:00.000-04:00

Story from Washington Post.

By Michelle Singletary

Sunday, October 11, 2009

I've been meaning to pull my credit reports for some time.
I, like so many others, am concerned about identity theft or uncorrected errors in my credit files that might ding my credit scores.
When I finally got around to it, I knew to go to AnnualCreditReport.com or call 877-322-8228. I haven't been fooled by those ubiquitous commercials for FreeCreditReport.com with the goofy guy playing a guitar and complaining about how his life is messed up because he didn't check his credit report.
But the Federal Trade Commission has received many complaints from consumers who were misdirected from the official centralized site. Every person is entitled to a free credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
In an effort to help keep people from ending up on impostor sites or falling for promotions for free credit reports that aren't really free, the FTC is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to the free-report rule. The credit card legislation passed this spring requires the agency to create amendments to the law by Feb. 22, 2010, to prevent deceptive marketing of these reports.

Over the next two months, you'll have a chance to weigh in on the FTC's rulemaking effort. Do take the time to comment, especially if you feel you've been deceived. This isn't a trivial matter. These rules will dictate how you get your credit reports. Most of what the FTC is proposing will make things better, but the agency needs to be tougher.
"We are encouraging consumers and anybody else to comment," said Katherine Armstrong, an FTC lawyer. "We want to know if we got it right."
On one important rule, the FTC has it only partly right.
The agency wants to prevent the credit bureaus from offering any product or service until after consumers get their free reports. The law currently permits the credit reporting agencies to advertise their proprietary products and services through the centralized source, in this case AnnualCreditReport.com.
Once you've followed directions and entered personal information intended to make sure you are who you say you are, you will encounter advertising for credit scores and credit monitoring services. Then you have to decline the offers before obtaining your truly free credit report. I had to click through two Web pages of such marketing before getting to my report for one bureau.
Although the FTC said it recognized the potential for confusion from such marketing, it initially chose not to restrict it. Now the agency is trying to rectify that mistake.

The FTC is proposing that any advertising or marketing for products or services through the centralized source be delayed until after consumers have obtained their reports through telephone, mail or Internet requests.

The agency is also proposing that the credit bureaus remove the hyperlinks to their specific Web sites from AnnualCreditReport.com.

On the official site, there is bold red lettering that says "Start Here to view and print your credit report now." But some people assume they should click on the credit bureau links below that wording. If they do, they are navigated away from the free site. Consumers who mistakenly click on the links then see a page with products and services offered by the bureaus.

Another proposed rule would require that companies prominently inform consumers they haven't landed on the official free-report site. For example, the FTC says that if a Web site advertises a free credit report, the other site must send the consumer to a separate landing page with the required disclosure: "This is not the free credit report provided for by federal law."

One amendment would require audio disclosures about the official free reports to be delivered in a slow and deliberate manner.

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

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

The FTC should remove all advertising and marketing by the credit bureaus before, during and even after the process of getting a free credit report. It's a pain to have to worry about identity theft or mistakes when checking your credit report. People should be able to get their reports and exit the Web site without having to go through a gantlet of sales pitches. Why give the bureaus a commercial crack at all?

If the FTC really wants to end consumer confusion, AnnualCreditReport.com should be commercial-free. Right?
If you're with me, let the FTC know.
-- By mail: Readers can write to Michelle Singletary at The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.
-- By e-mail: singletarym@washpost.com.

We should all be aware of where we end up when we sign up for these "FREE" services.
So many times...scammers end up with a similiar likeness..site to the original..I always
make sure that the https is there with the secure sites.

Yours Truly,

mediamerlin

Degos Disease

2009-10-13T08:41:00.000-04:00

Original story Speak Easy

'House' Season 6, Episode 4: TV Recap

By Melinda Beck

: Fox; Omar Epps as Foreman

In many ways, it was back to the same old “House” this week, with a mysterious illness, tangled interpersonal relationships, even a fleeting diagnosis of lupus–before House’s brilliance saved the day.
The medical mystery involved a billionaire dad with the Midas touch – everything he encountered turned to gold, except his family. “It’s karma,” he said. “First my wife, then my son.” We never did learn what happened to his wife, but it must have been bad. Now his son had a life-threatening illness, and he insisted that House figure out what’s wrong.
Cuddy told him House was unavailable, but ended up conceding that House could advise (read: continue to drive Foreman crazy.) There was the usual merry-go-round of possible diagnoses: impacted bowel due to weakened colon nerves (does that really mean constipation?) . . . no, brain cancer… no, abdominal cancer … no, abdominal epilepsy, with severe malnutrition.. . no, wait, what are all those spots appearing right before the commercial?
Meanwhile, Chase and Foreman were preoccupied trying to figure out how to present President Dibala’s case at the upcoming M&M conference (that stands for Morbidity and Mortality, when the highly suspicious deaths are discussed).
You’ll recall from last week that the visiting African dictator, who was planning to murder half a million of his people once he was discharged from Princeton-Plainsboro, died of a rare misdiagnosis, which occurred after blood from a corpse in the morgue was – oddly enough – misplaced for his, leading the usually infallible doctors to think he had scleroderma, and give him the wrong treatment, which is what really killed him. That was Chase’s moralistic handiwork, but Foreman helped cover it up, and that put Foreman on the hot seat. They had covered their tracks … except for a telltale 20% discrepancy between the corpse’s cholesterol and the dictator’s, and Cameron’s growing suspicions that her new husband is keeping something from her…
The third plot involved Thirteen’s departure – from Princeton-Plainsboro and the U.S. She was heading to Thailand, only to find her plane reservation cancelled. Was it Foreman desperately wanting her back, after firing her last week? Was it House, desperately needing her on the team? She decided it was Wilson, who conceded, “you’re the only one House hasn’t been able to suck into his crazy vortex.”
Back to the sick kid, whom the doctors decided had Degos’ disease (good thing I have a medical dictionary handy). It causes the micro blood vessels in the brain, skin and GI tract to break down, and causes papules on the penis. There’s no treatment. It’s incurable.
House: “I’m sorry. I wish there was something we could do.”
Dad: “How long?”
House: “Not much longer.. a day at the most.”
The billionaire then took matters into his own hands and summoned his lawyers to get rid of his assets, reasoning that God will treat him better, and cure his son, if he’s broke. The suits told him he was insane, irrational, and will destroy his company and all those who depend on him. But he signed the papers and his son promptly flatlined, with the long beeeeeep of impending death, prompting the doctors to work furiously to bring him back..
Apparently Wilson hadn’t cancelled Thirteen’s plane reservation after all. “Why don’t you just admit you like having her around?” he asked House.
“Because I was born with a heart three sizes too small,” House said.
Wait – that’s it! With five minutes left, House, as usual, got the inspiration he needed all along.
It was primary antiphospholipid syndrome – (an autoimmune disorder that causes blood clots in arteries and veins, according to Merck.) Start the boy on heparin and prednisone and he’ll be fine, House said.
And so will Chase and Foreman, thanks to the mysterious appearance of lab reports showing that President Dibala’s former doctors were prescribing high doses of a drug to boost his HDL cholesterol, which could easily explain some unusual blood test results. Chase hadn’t requested the lab reports. Foreman hadn’t either, which means it could only have been…. ..
Chase confronted House and asked him how he’d thought of it. “He was an old black guy… I knew he had to be taking something for his cholesterol,” House said.
Chase: “You don’t think I should be fired?”
House: “Better a murderer than a misdiagnosis.”
Chase: “Whether you want to be in charge or not, you are, and you always will be.”

Viewers: Have we seen the last of Thirteen? Can Chase and Cameron’s marriage be saved? And can the fascinating House-is-crazy plot detour really be over so fast?

These are all good questions but my main one would be can Foreman really be a leader?

Yours Truly,

mediamerlin

Mystery Google: Surprise Yourself With Someone Else's Search Engine

2009-10-12T22:13:00.003-04:00

Story found HERE!

Mystery Google is a bit spooky, a bit social, and all in all a strange search engine full of surprises.
What does it do? Type in a search term on Mystery Google, and you get back "what the people before you searched for."
For example, we tried typing in "Huff Post" and got back the search results for a different user's query for "thank you."
It's a nifty way to know what other people are exploring on the web, and a cool spin of the online roulette.
We also learned a thing or two that we wouldn't have gone looking for otherwise (did you know "barak llahu fik" means thank you in Moroccan Arabic? We didn't).
Give it a try, let us know what you think.

I think it might be interesting to see how this looks....

Yours Truly

mediamerlin

Some Analysts Warn Obama's Nobel Peace Prize

2009-10-09T14:24:00.001-04:00

President Barack Obama speaks about winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington.

(AP)

This story I read at Fox News.

It remains to be seen what impact President Obama's stunning capture of the Nobel Peace Prize, with a citation praising him for promoting diplomacy, will have on foreign policy matters, though some of Obama's critics are warning that it presents a new challenge to his war deliberations and other issues.
In particular, some foreign policy analysts say the prize announced Friday may complicate his efforts to wind down the war in Iraq and his decision on whether to ramp up the war in Afghanistan.
John Bolton, a U.N. ambassador in the Bush administration, told FOX News that the award will give leverage to Obama advisers opposed to sending more troops Afghanistan at the request of commanders.
"I think those who don't want a massive increase in troops will now be saying, 'But Mr. President, you just won the Nobel Peace Prize, how can you agree to 40,000 more troops on the ground,'" he said.
For others, the award reinforces conservative criticism that Obama's hesitation to wield the threat of greater military force in Afghanistan demonstrates weakness, said John Wobenstein, a senior fellow for international diplomacy at the American Foreign Policy Council and a national security official in the Reagan and first Bush administrations.
"I think that when there is weakness, that encourages war and encourages operations that the Iranians are doing," he said, referring to Iran's nuclear program and perceived meddling in Iraq. "I think it will embolden them to do more. It's going to embolden lots of other terrorists."
The Taliban, which is waging a fierce battle with U.S. troops in Afghanistan as part of its mission to regain power,immediately condemned the selection of Obama, saying the president had only escalated the war by sending more troops.
"Why are they giving this prize to Obama, who has sent more troops to Afghanistan, who is bombing and killing innocent people?" Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi said from an undisclosed location in a telephone interview Friday with the Associated Press.
He accused Obama "of having the blood of the Afghan people on his hands."
Others say Obama simply has yet to produce a record worthy of the prize.
"Barack Obama's campaign may have changed the tone in international diplomacy, and that might have been a good thing," said John Tate, president of the Campaign for Liberty, a conservative group. "However, his actions fail to match his campaign rhetoric."
"He is ramping up Afghanistan, expanding the war in Pakistan and his administration is making plans to bomb Iran," he said in a written statement. "At the same time, he has failed to make major troop withdrawals in Iraq, or anywhere else in the world."
But some analysts don't believe the award will make much difference.
"I don't expect that we'll see any major changes in the negotiations over how to deal with the Afghanistan war," said Kristin Lord, an expert on international diplomacy at the Center for a New American Security, a left-leaning think tank.
She added that difficulties on the ground, not America's reputation, are preventing the U.S. from achieving its solution.
"Domestically, it's not going to help him because people are beginning to form strong opinions about him," she said. "Internationally, it's hard to see how the president could have a higher profile."
The award, she added, is a "validation of his approach" by the Nobel committee, "but I'm not sure we'll see any tangible changes" in his ability to carry out foreign policy.
Aaron David Miller, a former Clinton administration official involved in U.S. peacemaking efforts, told FOXNews.com that the award shows "the international community is in love with this man" and is a "collective sigh of relief that George Bush is gone."
But he added that the award, like Obama's failure last week to get the Olympics sent to Chicago, "will have absolutely no impact" on U.S. foreign policy.

It is interesting how some people win the Nobel Peace Prize....Should a president actually
have a chance to win this...shouldn't all leaders strive to make the whole earth more peaceful
something to think about.....hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Yours Truly
"mediamerlin"

Another Love Boat

2009-10-08T11:34:00.000-04:00

Story about another type of love boat.
Found Here.

Meet the man who is really running the ship!

Mitchell Smyth, North Shore News

Published: Sunday, September 20, 2009

It's 10 minutes to midnight in the Crow's Nest lounge of the MV Ryndam, somewhere between Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan on Mexico's Pacific coast.

Michael Rowland takes the microphone and announces that Chuck and Eloise, on their third Holland America cruise, are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary that day.

He calls them forward, hands them a gift and tells them that they're being treated to lunch next day in the Pinnacle Grill, the ship's upscale restaurant, which passengers usually pay a premium to eat in.

Then Rowland moves around the room, greeting people here and there, often remembering names and hometowns. He's such a bundle of energy it's hard to believe that he has been on the job since 7:30 this morning, without a break.

Rowland is the cruise director, the person who, probably more than any other, is the public face of a cruise ship. Before the end of the voyage pretty well everyone aboard -- in this case more than 1,200 passengers -- will recognize him.

Many of them "know" the job from the TV series The Love Boat (1977-86), in which actress Lauren Tewes played perky Julie McCoy, cruise director on the fictional Pacific Princess. Julie always greeted guests, and before the cruise was over you could be sure she'd have kindled at least one romance and maybe solved some minor mystery or family drama along the way.

"That's not what it's really like," says Rowland. "No, I don't get involved in people's lives and loves."

For one thing, he doesn't have time to. On a typical day he'll be in his office before 8 a.m., going through the day's activities with his staff. By 8:30 he'll be on the PA, telling the early risers what to expect.

After grabbing a coffee and chatting to breakfast patrons in the Lido Restaurant it's off to the atrium to introduce, and putt the first ball, in an indoor golf contest.

At this time he's wearing a sports shirt and chinos. Before the day's out he'll probably have half-a-dozen costume changes.

"I have three full suitcases," he says. "I need tuxes, sportswear, chinos, pumps, ducks. The right clothes for every occasion."

On an average day Rowland will probably be supervising or moderating such diverse events as wine tasting, bingo, basketball, pool games, bocce and cake decorating, plus a dozen more.

Sea days -- that is, days on which the ship doesn't make a port call -- are busiest, for everyone is aboard all day, meaning more activities are expected.

"Stamina. That's what's needed," he says, glancing at his watch before bounding upstairs to host the afternoon trivia competition, one event he looks after personally. "It's my favourite of the day."

Rowland, a native Californian, began his career as a writer and animator for the Hanna-Barbera studios. When animation work began to be sent overseas, he joined Holland America, working his way up to head the cruise-activities team. He works a seven-day week for up to two months at a time, then takes a month's break at home in Laguna Hills, Calif.

IF YOU GO:

For information on major cruise lines visit the Cruise Lines International Association website, www.cruising.org.

For more information on Holland America visit www.hollandamerica.com.

© North Shore News 2009

I always loved the show when it first came out....I was a hopeless romantic and wanted
to see Lauren Tewes in person...but I loved all of the characters of the show....Doc, captain stubing,
Isaac the bartender, and all of the wacky guest stars...
It was a great series.

Yours Truly,

"mediamerlin"

Make your own barcode, just like Google

2009-10-07T17:35:00.003-04:00

Story found on Christian Science Monitor.

Google devoted its home page to the humble barcode today – and now you can too.
By Andrew Heining | 10.07.09

What’s black and white and read all over? Barcodes. And boy do you people like them.

The Web was buzzing about barcodes today because Google decided to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the first ever patent on them with one of their popular doodles.

Many commenters on Amy Farnsworth’s post talked of trying to scan the Google logo rendered in “Code 128″ with limited degrees of success – using everything from commercial barcode scanners to cellphone cameras. Others jumped in with conspiracy theories – that barcodes are somehow related to the devil, or would in some future time be used to catalog a society overrun by machines. It’s all pretty fantastic.

That got us thinking – how do you make your own barcode? A quick search (it doesn’t even have to be done on Google) brought us to this free online barcode generator. It’s running a bit slow after today’s miniature barcode renaissance, but visitors can use it to create barcodes in any of five formats to share with friends, post on a cubicle wall, or just generally geek-out with.

Told of the barcode’s humble origin – and that the original design was composed of concentric circles – many have asked about the more complex versions of barcodes now in use. You may have seen them on mail, retail packaging, or, more recently, in the pages of Golf Digest magazine.

UPS uses a two-dimensional barcode called MaxiCode. They include “offset rows of hexagonal modules arranged around a unique finder pattern,” and are capable of storing not only shipping class information, but the package’s intended address as well. The square codes even include error-detection technologies, so they may be read even when the bumps of a long journey obscure the image.

Those who pick up the November issue of Golf Digest magazine will see similar two-dimensional barcodes accompanying certain articles. These, when scanned with a smartphone equipped with the Microsoft Tag app, take readers to video tutorials related to the article they accompany. Some might say it’s surprising to see such innovation from a golf magazine, but the move makes sense – golf is one sport dominated by ever-changing technology. Why wouldn’t a publication committed to following it be the same?

–

What are your thoughts on barcodes? What other oft-overlooked technology are you fascinated by? Leave a comment or drop us a line on Twitter – we’re @CSMHorizonsBlog.

Oh, and for those readers with access to a scanner (some mobile phones work, too) take a crack at decoding the image above!
<< Google bar code logo latest in ‘doodle’ line | Main

This is just one more way for us to really make us like machines....
Now we just have to have that barcode on our necks like that tv show
Jessica Alba was in years ago....maybe with a GPS locator in it too.

Yours Truly,
Brian
"mediamerlin"
Woodbridge

People unsure if H1N1 vaccine risk worth it to prevent Swine Flu symptoms

2009-10-06T11:52:00.006-04:00

As More and More Come Down with H1N1 Symptoms, People are
Still Unsure About the Swine Flu Vaccine

Story brought to you from the examiner.

With only days left before the arrival of the first shipments of H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine, Americans are divided about whether or not they will receive the vaccinations, not to mention whether they will allow their children to receive it. But how many will or won't seems to vary widely depending on who's asking.
Different H1N1 Vaccine Surveys Receiving Vastly Different Results
There have been at least four major surveys conducted on the matter in the last few days, and each of them found widely different results. One, released on October 2nd, conducted by Harvard School of Public Health, indicated that as many as half of adults intend to get the vaccine, and nearly three quarters of parents will get it for their children.
This is a sharp contrast to a survey released earlier in the week, which showed only about a third of people intending to get the vaccine themselves, and about the same number intending to have their children have it. Yet a third survey's results fell squarely between the two. Another said that some 87 percent of people thought healthcare workers should be required to take the vaccine, while among those same healthcare workers, only a little over a third intend to do so.
Why do So Many Intend to Avoid the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccinations?
The top reason people intend to not get the vaccine themselves appears to be worries about side effects from the vaccine itself. This is most likely due to how quickly the vaccines have been rushed through development and testing. Close behind that worry, is the belief they would be unlikely to come down with a serious illness from swine flu, and finally because they feel they would be able to treat the H1N1 virus with medication if they did become ill.
Among parents, worries were slightly different. Although the top concern – side effects of the H1N1 vaccine – is the same, it is followed instead by a fear their children might get some other illness because of it, and then by a distrust of health officials to provide accurate information about the risks involved.
Should People be Getting the Vaccine?
Although only a doctor can say for sure how high each individuals' risk is of catching the Swine Flu, or how severe the illness might be if they do catch it, statements from the CDC have indicated that "it is expected that most people will recover without needing medical care." Each person must decide for themselves; but, save for those who are at high risk for complications, there is little, despite urgings to the contrary, that gives any really compelling reason to get it — or, for that matter, not to get it.

For more on the possible risks and side effects of the swine flu vaccine, be sure to read What are the possible side effects of the H1N1 Swine Flu vaccinations?

Life has enough problems as it is. They don't need to be complicated because
of the treatment of disease. Optimal health can be reached I think through
the proper diet and exercise.

Yours Truly,
Brian
"mediamerlin"
Woodbridge

P.S.
The natural ways to prevent swine flu:HERE.

Upstart Wireless Charger Breaks Big With $15 Million Push

2009-10-05T11:00:00.005-04:00

News from ADAGE.

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- If you're sick of all those messy cords to your electronic devices and having to remember your cellphone charger everywhere you go, there's a new marketer in town who's after your heart: Powermat, a self-proclaimed pioneer in wireless charging.

Tech geeks have been buzzing about the wireless charging concept for a few years, but it's been largely foreign to mainstream consumers.
That's likely to change next month when Powermat,

OPENING THE DOORS: Device is the first wireless charger to market to mainstream.

a privately held marketer in the Detroit suburbs, unveils a global campaign -- just in time for the holiday season

-- to promote its namesake product, a sleek black mat that works via a technology called magnetic induction.

Powermat was created via a joint venture with Homedics (a company known for foot spas, pillows and massagers) and received a lot of attention when it showed off its mats at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Soon after, Beth Harrison Meyer, Powermat's director of product development and the lead on all marketing efforts, set about finding agencies to handle a broad launch for the device, choosing WPP's Maxus to handle media duties after a review and New York indie shop Woods Witt Dealy & Sons for creative.
Broad push
The push breaks in the U.S., U.K. and Italy on Oct. 5, with an integrated campaign that includes everything from airport signage and installations to a four-page insert in Wired magazine and full-page print ads in other publications, and a series of humorous 15- and 30-second commercials intended to show people's reactions to the new technology.
Ms. Meyer declined to discuss spending for the launch, but industry executives estimate it at $10 million to $15 million for the first phase.
The campaign will coincide with Powermat hitting shelves next month at two mega retailers, Best Buy and Target, which will also provide significant in-store marketing support. "You will not be able to walk into these retailers and miss Powermat," said Ms. Meyer, noting it bypassed specialty shops such as Brookstone, as the device aims to have broad appeal among consumers. It will also sell on Amazon.
Powermat is a two-part system made up of an ultra-thin mat and a receiver. Both a portable and folding home version are launching at the same price point, $99.99. The Powermat's "powercube" receiver charges hundreds of devices, including iPhones, iPods, BlackBerrys, e-readers and a host of other electronics. Powermat also offers custom receivers for $29.99 to $39.99, such as a built-in iPod case and specially made battery doors that let consumers drop their devices directly on the mat to begin charging. It charges up to six devices at a time.
"If you think about how much money we spend on accessories for phones and other devices, it is a small amount," Ms. Meyer said. "We expect to see it on a lot of wish lists."
Simplicity
One feature that's sure to be a hit among greenies is that Powermat is energy-efficient, halting charging once a battery is full. "So many of the smartphones are battery hogs, so you can charge them at a useable level for you, " Ms. Meyer said.
The concept behind the work, said Harry Woods of Woods Witt Dealy & Sons, is to show there's no need to fight that big bunch of cords sitting in your kitchen or crawling under your desk to plug something in. "A simple statement is key, especially with technology," said Mr. Woods.
The Powermat launch is the first global campaign for Woods Witt, a shop of only a dozen full-time staffers. Mr. Woods and his partner in the agency, Gill Witt, worked together for 12 years at BBDO, New York, before hanging their own shingle in 2005. In addition to Powermat, clients include Hickory Farms, CNBC and Butternuts Beer & Ale.
Messrs. Wood and Witt are also known in ad circles for being outspoken critics of industry award shows and are the creators of the anti-award show the "Wrath of Cannes."

Technology keeps changing we need better ways to keep things simple.
We should strive to make life more simple not more complicated.

Yours Truly,

Brian
"mediamerlin"
Woodbridge

David Letterman extortion plot just latest drama in comic's life

2009-10-02T08:20:00.001-04:00

Read the story HERE!at nydailynews.

BY Leo Standora
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Friday, October 2nd 2009, 6:42 AM

Above, Letterman announces he was the victim of an attempted extortion plot. This isn't his first run-in with crazies and loons.
CBS

Behind the laughs, David Letterman's life has been peppered with a scary collection of loonies and criminals.

Perhaps one of the darkest times in the talk show host's private life came in 2005 when cops uncovered a plot to kidnap Letterman's then 22-month-old son, Harry.

                               Above, Letterman holds a picture AP

They arrested 43-year-old Montana handyman Kelly Allen Frank and charged him with plotting to break into the "Late Show" host's isolated 2,700-acre ranch and snatch Harry and the child's au pair. Frank wanted $5 million for their return.

Frank, who previously had served time for stalking and intimidating a woman, pleaded innocent at first but later cut a deal and copped to felony theft and other lesser charges. He was sent away for 10 years in July 2005.

Five months later, two weeks before Christmas, another wacko came out of the woodwork, this one in New Mexico.

Colleen Nestler went to a Santa Fe district judge with a complaint that sounded like a bad joke. She said Letterman was somehow expressing his desire for her through code words such as "Marry me, Oprah," signals, and eye gestures.

Dave's influence forced her to go bankrupt and caused her "mental cruelty" and "sleep deprivation," she claimed. The judge bought Nestler's complaint and granted her request to order Letterman to stay 9 feet away from her and "no longer think of her."

Letterman's lawyer quickly had the "absurd and frivolous" action rescinded.

The first and perhaps best known trouble-maker in Dave's life was Margaret Ray, a Connecticut woman who drew national attention in the late 1980s when she stole Dave's Porsche sports car and then claimed she was his wife when stopped at a New York tollbooth.

In 1993 Ray trespassed at Dave's New Canaan home and camped out on his tennis courts. She spent seven months behind bars for that violation.

A few years later Ray was arrested in Westfield, Ind., - near the Carmel home of Dave's mom, Dorothy - for allegedly trying to steal vitamins and a backpack from a store.

In 1998, the 46-year-old Ray knelt in front of a 100-car freight train near a small Colorado train and was killed. Letterman called her death "a sad end to a confused life."

lstandora@nydailynews.com

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/10/02/2009-10-02_david_letterman_extortion_plot_just_latest_drama_for_comic_including_plot_to_kid.html#ixzz0SmR4rWv3

All I can say is life can be difficult when you are a celebrity.

Yours truly,
Brian
"mediamerlin"
Woodbridge

Diller: Humbug on 'Internet is free' mythology

2009-10-01T09:03:00.003-04:00

Story found on on cnet

In Barry Diller's paleontological view of the Internet, we're still just coming out of the primordial ooze and slouching toward the "click to buy" button.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

The IAC/InterActiveCorp CEO and self-professed opportunist, rather impatiently told CBS News' Katie Couric earlier this week that the day is coming when people will regularly pay for content. As he has before, he trotted out the example of Apple, which has managed turn its iTunes store into a "multimillion-dollar business" based on the once-heretical notion of asking people to spend money on digital music and video.
"We're still so young at this," Diller said of where the world is on the Internet timeline. "We don't even have, really, a first real generation. We're just kinda getting one."
In due time, he said, content companies will be unburdened of "this mythology of 'the Internet is free,'" which was perpetrated by a seemingly prehistoric tribe that cared only about bandwidth and availability.
"The Internet, you have to remember, was started by tech people," Diller said.
For more from Couric's joint interview of Diller and Tina Brown, who is editor in chief of IAC's The Daily Beast, see "@KatieCouric: Tina Brown and Barry Diller."

Jonathan Skillings is managing editor of CNET News, based in the Boston bureau. He's been with CNET since 2000, after a decade in tech journalism at the IDG News Service, PC Week, and an AS/400 magazine. He's also been a soldier and a schoolteacher. E-mail Jon.

Just think what would life be like if the entertainment and education were provided 'free' on the net.

Yours Truly,
Brian
"mediamerlin"
Woodbridge

Pink Toed Tarantula

2009-09-30T07:27:00.000-04:00

I saw this article here.

The Pink Toed Tarantula also known as Pink-toed Tree Spider and they are found in Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, Venezuela, Brazil, Trinidad, Martinique, and throughout the Amazon Basin.Guyana also exports pink toed spiders.
They are small size tarantula with long dense hairs. Females reach about 13 cm but male reaches only 9 cm. They are beautiful and furry species and they are available in dark black to metallic gray. Their most distinguishing feature is that they have beautiful pink tip to each foot. They live between 4 to 8 years but it will take 2 to 3 years to become fully mature. They are aggressive feeder and they eat variety of insect. Their most favorite insects are grasshoppers, roaches, crickets and wax moths. They can easily survive in human make environment. Temperature should be between 78? to 82? F with a humidity level of 65 to 75%. It?s fun to keep them as a pet. They are funny and they like to stay in groups. They don?t strike like other tarantula species. They lay 45 to 200 eggs and eggs hatches in six to eight weeks.
Pink Toed Tarantula can easily jump from your hand so whenever you keep them in hands handle them with care. Humidity level is important for their growth and adjusting in the human made environment. You can spray water after 5 to 10 days to maintain Humidity level. Put some plants in the cage to give them a natural environment.
pink toed tarantula

pink toed tarantula

These spiders really do jump because my buddy used to have one and it jumped right out

of its glass aquarium.

I don't know about you but I think these big spiders are freaky.

Yours Truly,

Brian

"mediamerlin"

Woodbridge

Conan O'Brien reveals concussion, injury video

2009-09-29T08:29:00.002-04:00

Read this story @examiner.com

Tonight Show host Conan O'Brien

Last night on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, the beloved funny man returned to late night TV after suffering a concussion during last Friday's show taping.

O'Brien opened up about the incident on Monday night's broadcast.

Revealing for all to see, O'Brien shared the actual video footage (no skit here, ladies and gentlemen) of the accident, which took place during a segment featuring Desperate Houswives star Teri Hatcher.

O'Brien, however, is probably not the first guy to fall for Hatcher. But he may be the first to have gotten a concussion over her.

If you missed last night's show and the raw footage of O'Brien's injury as it took place, check out the video below.

Welcome back, Conan!

More About: Conan O'Brien ? The Tonight Show

As they say I guess a few guys have fallen for Terri Hatcher....

Do you remember when she was in "Lois and Clark"?

She also did some cheesy horror movies.

Yours Truly,

Brian
"mediamerlin"
Woodbridge

So Why Does Google have two L's

2009-09-27T20:39:00.001-04:00

The original article on this is HERE

To the surprise of everyone, the September 27th homepage of Google as what looks like a type-o in the Google doodle. The extra L as it first appears has created a buzz and the question; so why does Google have two Ls?

Actually the two L's is the number 11. Google is doing this as part of its celebration of its 11th birthday. The special birthday Google doodle is apparently showing up when each time zone officially becomes September 27th.

Google must like keeping us guessing on when exactly its birthday is. Last year they celebrated their 10th birthday on September 2nd.

September is a big month for Google. The domain was registered on September 15h and their incorporation papers were filed on September 4th.

Regardless when their birthday is, Google sure knows how to have fun with us. Now that we know why Google has two Ls, all that is left to do is sing Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday, Googlle!

Written by Denise Clay
Hickory, NC
Exclusive to HULIQ
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Denise Clay's picture

Posted September 27th, 2009 by Denise Clay

Smallville season 9 episode 1 Smallville savior full episode

2009-09-26T12:19:00.000-04:00

I can't believe I missed another Season Premiere....First Biggest Loser now Smallville season 9.

I saw this story----->Here!

Smallville season 9 episode 1 Smallville savior full episode. Going into the fall, it was widely assumed that Smallville would likely be ending at the conclusion of its current eighth season. After all, two of the central characters – Lana Lang and Lex Luthor – were gone, as the actors who portrayed them, Kristin Kreuk and Michael Rosenbaum, had left the series. Plus, eight seasons is a pretty long run for a show focusing on Clark Kent's pre-Superman days, and a number of fans felt the show's quality had dipped drastically by Season 7.

I think that the show has still got some potential...

Now however, EW.com's Michael Ausiello says the TV version of the Man of Steel could be sticking around for at least another year. Many feel the series has improved this season, and asked by one such excited fan if the show could return for Season 9, Ausiello replies, "I hear The CW will likely take the don't-fix-if-not-broke approach and keep its Thursday line-up intact next season," implying both Smallville and Supernatural will return for the 2009-2010 season.

The CW may be more keen on keeping Smallville now because The Graysons project they had in development has been scrapped. That potential series – about a young Dick Grayson before he becomes Robin – was perceived as a potential replacement for Smallville. However, with Smallville still performing for the network and The Graysons no longer happening, The CW may be thinking it's best to just stick with their proven series.

Ausiello says that a recent rumor that The CW had already renewed Supernatural for a fifth season is not true. However, considering the very respectable numbers that show is pulling in this season, it would be a surprise if it didn't come back next fall.

I think they should keep it going. Smallville has potential to reach right into Man of Steel....spinoff.

Now I think if you want to change something bring back more shows like Listener...and any other

special powers show...

Yours Truly,

Brian
"mediamerlin"
Woodbridge

Watch Vampire Diaries Episode 3 Online:The Vampire Diaries S01E03 CW

2009-09-25T21:00:00.000-04:00

Story viewed HERE

Watch Vampire Diaries Episode 3 Online:The Vampire Diaries S01E03 CW – Vampire Diaries episode 3 named “Friday Night Bites” aired tonight on The CW network.

The episode was written by John Dahl and directed by Barbie Kligman and Bryan M. Holdman.Nina Dobrev really shined through tonight.Here is a brief recap of what occurred.

I Watched it airing on another network...

Elena tries to ignore Bonnie’s warnings about the disturbing vibes she got from Stefan. Tyler tries to embarrass Stefan by throwing a football at him, but Stefan effortlessly catches and passes the ball back, impressing everyone with his skill. Mr. Tanner reluctantly lets Stefan join the football team. Elena invites Stefan and Bonnie to dinner, hoping that the two will bond, but the evening is disrupted by the unexpected and unwelcome arrival of Damon and Caroline. Finally, the town is shocked by an act of violence.

My own input on the subject is that Tyler and Damon have words about each other....
specifically about Damon's humanity or not?

Yours Truly,
.
Brian"mediamerlin"Woodbridge

P.S.--->If you want to watch the Vampire Diaries Episode 3 Online,please visit the CW website,it is free.

Official Torture----Corpus Delicti

2009-09-24T06:41:00.000-04:00

When sheldon whitehouse wrote HERE.
about
'Corpus Delicti' - a bullet-riddled body in the street, for instance.

When prosecutors are presented with it....see above.

That ordinarily is enough to justify investigation. Through investigation, the evidence may prove that there was not in fact a crime (it was a suicide or an accident) or that the fatal acts were privileged or enjoy a legal defense (self-defense or justifiable shooting by an officer of the law). But one begins by investigation.
The judicial branch (which, under Marbury v. Madison, has the ultimate duty to determine "what the law is") has determined that waterboarding is torture (see U.S. v. Lee, decided in 1984 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit). The Bush administration has admitted to waterboarding captives. The corpus delicti of that crime exists. For there to be investigation now is unexceptional.
The only exceptional thing is the parties involved: the former vice president of the United States, his counsel David Addington, Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) lawyer John Yoo and their private contractors Bruce Jessen and Jim Mitchell, psychologists who designed the torture program. But in America, high office does not put one outside the law. Indeed, it borders on unethical for a prosecutor to refuse to investigate the corpus delicti of a crime because of concern as to where the evidence may lead.
With the corpus delicti present, a prosecutor looks to see whether theories of criminal liability can be eliminated by evidence the investigation reveals (a suicide note in the pocket, a police officer's convincing description of a "clean shoot"). But as long as a viable theory of criminal liability remains, the investigation continues.
Hence the question: Looking only at the evidence that has become public so far, is there a viable theory of criminal liability arising out of this corpus delicti, the torture of America's captives?
There is substantial evidence of legal malpractice by lawyer Yoo. His opinions were even withdrawn under the Bush administration, and they are the subject of an unprecedented internal investigation by the Department of Justice. For one thing, the precise case on point was overlooked. The analysis is bad enough that it could be a sham. Investigation would reveal whether this was the result of incompetence, ideology or instruction.
There is substantial evidence of a back channel between Addington and Yoo. It is not yet clear what information or instructions passed along that back channel. It does appear to have sidelined regular chains of reporting, including the attorney general. Investigation would determine whether this was communication or conspiracy.
There is substantial public evidence of exceptional access provided to the private contractors. They were allowed to repeatedly interrupt and ultimately compromise one of the most productive interrogations in our fight against terrorism. As contractors, they were outside the military and government chains of command and reporting and thus were potentially a means of direct secret access between the White House and the torture chamber. Investigation would reveal whether this was abused.
There is substantial evidence that the waterboarding went outside what was approved by the OLC opinions. The opinions themselves disclosed this fact. A Senate Armed Services Committee investigation disclosed evidence of abusive interrogation techniques being used to establish a link between al-Queda and Saddam Hussein in the run-up to the 2004 presidential election. That purpose is not one for which abusive techniques were allowed. A recent Washington Post article reported that, after 83 waterboardings over four or five days, a detainee "was broken" and the team unanimously concluded that "he was cooperating," yet headquarters insisted that waterboarding continue for 30 more days. If true, this would appear to violate the OLC legal requirement "that a terrorist attack is imminent" and "the subject has actionable intelligence that can prevent, disrupt, or delay this attack," before waterboarding can take place. Investigation would determine whether these apparent violations of OLC's restrictions were in fact culpable.
None of this evidence creates a complete case, yet. But it suggests theories of criminal liability that are not foreclosed by the evidence so far. Put these elements together: actual torture under our existing laws, the possibility of actual knowledge that the OLC opinions were phony, conduct outside the restrictions even of those opinions and a possible improper motive outside of legitimate national security concerns. That's a theory of criminal liability, and it has not yet been eliminated by the evidence. From a prosecutor's perspective, the stonewalling we have seen — aggressive assertions of executive privilege, refusals to cooperate with inspectors general, cover stories that don't withstand scrutiny — raises suspicions further.
When the evidence is all in, it may prove that all the conduct surrounding American's descent into torture was proper, protected by good-faith legal defenses. But it's too early to responsibly reach that conclusion. Investigation is what allows such a conclusion to be reached.
U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) is a former U.S. attorney.

When you read this you may wonder what they are actually doing...

Words can be twisted to make sense but how?

You determine what is really going on or are they trying to blind you?

Yours Truly,

Brian"mediamerlin"Woodbridge

The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Hi-Def Event

2009-09-23T16:25:00.000-04:00

This is amazing ...I watched wizard of OZ the first time I believe at the 40th Anniversary....or 35th?

This blog I read The la weekly.

IT REALLY WAS NO MIRACLE. WHAT HAPPENED WAS JUST THIS ..

By LIbby Molyneaux

The Seattle Times also had a story...

It's been 70 years since the release of The Wizard of Oz. Many of us have never seen the classic on the big screen — and here's the chance we've been waiting for. The AMC Century City 15 screens "The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Hi-Def Event." Warning: The Wicked Witch of the East may cause hi-def nightmares.

Having trouble with the photos but do you all remember what it felt like to watch that movie growing up?

Yours truly,

Brian"mediamerlin"Woodbridge

Biography of Her Majesty Queen Noor

2009-09-22T17:33:00.000-04:00

This story about the wife of Late King Hussein of Jordan found HERE.

Her Majesty Queen Noor is an international public servant and an outspoken voice on issues of world peace and justice.

She plays an active role in promoting international exchange and understanding of Arab and Muslim culture and politics, Arab-Western relations, and conflict prevention and recovery issues such as refugees, missing persons, poverty and disarmament. She has also helped found media programs to highlight these issues. Her conflict recovery and peacebuilding work over the past decade has focused on the Middle East, the Balkans, Central and Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa.

As President and Honorary President of United World Colleges, Queen Noor and Nelson Mandela unite to foster peace and international understanding through the global education initiative.

Queen Noor’s work in Jordan and the larger Middle East has focused on national needs in the areas of education, conservation, sustainable development, human rights and cross-cultural understanding. She is also actively involved with international and UN organizations that address global challenges in these fields.

Since 1979, the initiatives of the Noor Al Hussein Foundation (NHF) which she chairs have transformed development thinking in Jordan and the Middle East through pioneering programs in the areas of poverty eradication and sustainable development, women’s empowerment, microfinance, health, environmental conservation, and arts as a medium for social development and cross-cultural exchange, many of which are internationally acclaimed models for the developing world. NHF provides training and assistance in implementing these best practice programs in the broader Arab and Asian regions through the Jubilee Institute, the Institute for Family Health, the Community Development Program, Tamweelcom—the Jordan Micro Credit Company (ranked the regional MFI leader and eighth best performing in the world), the Information and Research Center, the National Center for Culture and Performing Arts, and the National Music Conservatory.

Queen Noor also chairs the King Hussein Foundation and the King Hussein Foundation International (KHFI), which she founded in 1999 to build on King Hussein’s humanitarian vision and legacy in Jordan and abroad through national, regional and international programs that promote education and leadership, economic empowerment, tolerance, and cross cultural dialogue and media that enhance mutual understanding and respect among different cultures and across conflict lines.

As chair of the King Hussein Foundation, Queen Noor dedicates the Sun Microsystems Center at the Foundation’s Jubilee School for exceptional students, a pioneer in distance and computer-assisted learning.

KHFI awards the annual King Hussein Leadership Prize to individuals, groups or institutions that demonstrate inspiring and courageous leadership in their efforts to promote sustainable development, human rights, tolerance, equity and peace. Past recipients of the Prize are Professor Muhammed Yunus (2000), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) (2001), Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (2002), Mary Robinson (2003), Médecins Sans Frontières (2004), The Arab Human Development Reports, Dr. Rola Dashti, Saliha Djuderija, and OneVoice (2005), Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Seeds of Peace (2006), and green energy entrepreneur Robert Freling (2008).

In May 2007, KHFI launched its Media and Humanity Program during New York City’s Tribeca Film Festival to promote film and media projects that highlight shared values, rights and aspirations across social, economic, political and cultural divides with special emphasis on the Middle East and Muslim world. Her Majesty is also co-founder of The Alliance of Civilizations Media Fund, an unprecedented, not-for-profit initiative formed out of a partnership between private media, the United Nations, and global philanthropists to promote and support media content that enhances mutual understanding and respect within and among different societies and cultures.

Queen Noor has traveled extensively throughout the Balkans since her first humanitarian mission in 1996 after the fall of Srebrenica. She is a Commissioner of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) created through the Dayton Accords to promote reconciliation and conflict resolution through the search for, recovery, and identification of missing persons from the armed conflicts in the Balkans and more recently southeast Europe, southeast Asia, the Middle East and South America. She has supported and overseen the ICMP's groundbreaking forensic DNA identification and families/community reconciliation programs and advocated with the leaders of BiH to finalize the establishment of The Missing Persons Institute, critical to resolution of the tragedy of tens of thousands of missing and murdered in the 1990s Balkans conflicts.

She has assumed an advocacy role in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, and has traveled to Central and Southeast Asia, the Balkans, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America to advocate with governments, support NGOs, and visit with landmine survivors struggling to recover and reclaim their lives. She has testified before the U.S. Congressional Human Rights Caucus appealing for humanitarian assistance and justice for hundreds of thousands of landmine victims worldwide.

Queen Noor meets with Iraqi refugees and volunteers at a healthcare services program run by the Noor Al Hussein Foundation and Jordanian Red Crescent for thousands of displaced Iraqis living in Jordan.

At the invitation of President Andres Pastrana and President Alvaro Uribe Velez, Queen Noor has undertaken several humanitarian missions to Colombia to try to negotiate a series of humanitarian accords with the leaders of the country’s guerilla insurgency on landmines, child soldiers and kidnappings, to promote mine awareness programs in rural and conflict areas with UNDP, to advocate against the use of anti-personnel mines especially in civilian areas, and to oversee the destruction of Columbia’s last arsenal of anti-personnel mines.

In 2004 and 2005, as an expert advisor to the United Nations, Queen Noor traveled to Central Asia to advocate for adoption and implementation of the Ottawa Treaty throughout the region and for multi-sectoral commitment to the Millennium Development Goals in Tajikistan, one of the world’s poorest countries.

A long-time advocate for a just Arab-Israeli peace and for Palestinian refugees, she is a board member of Refugees International and an outspoken voice for the protection of civilians in conflict and for displaced persons around the world. She has visited Pakistan to assess and promote support for Afghan refugees during the war, and is advocating for international support for more than 2.5 million Pakistanis forced to flee government-militant clashes in the northwest region, as well as nearly 5 million Iraqis displaced in Iraq and in Jordan, Syria and other countries after the 2003 Iraq conflict.

During a four day visit to Liberia, Queen Noor paid a moral-boosting visit to Jordanian peacekeeping troops and joined President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson in groundbreaking ceremonies for several new schools.

Queen Noor is actively involved in a number of international organizations advancing global peace-building and conflict recovery. She is a founding leader of Global Zero, an international effort to eliminate nuclear weapons worldwide, an Advisor to the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Seeds of Peace, Council of Women World Leaders, Women Waging Peace, and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, and Honorary Chair of Survivor Corps.

She is also President of the United World Colleges, Trustee of the Aspen Institute, Refugees International, America Near East Refugee Aid, and Conservation International, Patron of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and Founding President and Honorary President Emeritus of BirdLife International.

At the invitation of President Alvaro Uribe Velez, Queen Noor has undertaken several humanitarian missions to Colombia to negotiate various peace accords and de-mining agreements with rebels.

In recognition of her efforts to advance development, democracy and peace, Queen Noor has been awarded numerous awards and honorary doctorates in international relations, law and humane letters.

She has published two books, Hussein of Jordan (KHF Publishing, 2000) and Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life (Miramax Books, 2003), a New York Times best seller published in 15 languages.

This women is remarkable...she has done a lot for human interests and for making life more bearable.

I commend her.

Brian"mediamerlin"Woodbridge

Emmy Awards get boost from Neil Patrick Harris

2009-09-21T07:53:00.005-04:00

Story read at REUTERS
By Frank Scheck

By Frank Scheck
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Proving that he could well succeed as a critic should his current gig not work out, Jeff Probst summed up it nicely.
"Neil Patrick Harris ... this is how you host the Emmys," said the "Survivor" maven as he accepted his award for best reality host.
Jon Stewart later echoed the sentiment, noting that "these shows, they usually suck."

To see more visit the link labelled Reuters...if the following link don't work..

1 of 4Full Size

Jon Stewart later echoed the sentiment, noting that "these shows, they usually suck."

Of course, as Probst well knows, the bar wasn't set too high after last year's reality show-star-hosted debacle. But Harris, in his third awards show gig in the past year, demonstrated yet again that he's the perfect man for the gig. The star of "How I Met Your Mother" did a standout job -- starting with the hilarious opening number, during which he showed his musical talent, and continuing with his mock outrage over losing to Jon Cryer. Harris was affable, charming and simultaneously self-deprecating and comically self-aggrandizing.

But it wasn't just him. Everything about the show seemed sharper, faster, punchier: the amusing introductions of the presenters, who mentioned their most embarrassing credits; John Hodgman's witty, deadpan commentary accompanying the winners on their way to the podium; even the acceptance speeches, which for the most part were amusing, moving and mercifully brief. The speech highlight probably was that of Ken Howard, who won for "Grey Gardens."

"This is very encouraging," the never-nominated veteran actor noted, before hoping that he wouldn't be "interrupted by congressmen or rappers" and thanking both his wife (celebrating her birthday) and the woman who donated him a kidney.

The evening was divided into segments according to genre (comedy, reality, movie/miniseries, variety, drama), which lent the normally random proceedings a welcome cohesiveness. Each section was prefaced by well-edited clip montages, though, thankfully unlike last year, there weren't so many as to give the show the air of a DVR on crack. Despite being forced to acknowledge on-air the contributions of such apparently minor aspects of the medium as writers, directors, movies, miniseries and cable networks, the producers still managed to keep the show at a well-paced clip; it ended a mere three minutes late. If they really had wanted to cut the running time, they should have banned all shout-outs to Lorne Michaels. Perhaps as a mea culpa, the nominated writers and directors were spotlighted via taped, generally amusing comments about the process.

Normally painful moments, such as the dreaded appearance of the accountants, were flat-out funny -- in this case thanks to a taped bit in which Harris reprised his Internet character Dr. Horrible.

The writing for the presenters was at best pedestrian. The ad-libbers were much better, among them Ricky Gervais. As he did last year, Gervais again brought down the house, this time with a bit about the comparative beauty of film and television stars. "In this room, I'm above average," he noted, taking shots at several of the stars of "The Office" in the process.

Another comic winner was Bob Newhart, scoring big laughs before awarding the drama series award. Inexplicably, the cameras cut away from Tina Fey fulfilling Newhart's claim of a promised kiss should she win.

Only a few bits fell flat, such as a strained, quickly abandoned recurring gag involving a "contest winner" repeatedly spotlighted in the worst seats in the house.

(Editing by DGoodman at Reuters)

I should have watched this but I had my mind on learning how to build my websites.

See my other blog on the links list.

Brian"mediamerlin"Woodbridge

Kepler and the Search for Life in Our Galaxy

2009-09-18T08:46:00.004-04:00

Article found at PHYSORG

September 15th, 2009 by Yoji Kondo and Bill Steigerwald

This is an artist's impression of a Jupiter-sized planet passing in front of its parent star. Such events are called transits. When the planet transits the star, the star's apparent brightness drops slightly for a short period. Through this technique, astronomers can use Kepler to search for planets across the galaxy by measuring periodic changes in a star's luminosity. Credit: NASA/ESA/G. Bacon (STScI)

(PhysOrg.com) -- There are so many stars in our galaxy that even if planets with complex life (animals and plants) are rare - say one for every billion stars - there could still be dozens here in the Milky Way. But we are just beginning to learn about worlds beyond our solar system, called exoplanets, so we really don't have a good idea of what the chances are for advanced life. That's where NASA's Kepler mission comes in.

Currently, we have only one example of complex life -- our own. So we have to use conditions that give rise to this kind of life when we go looking for it elsewhere in the Universe. Essential ingredients in the recipe for life as we know it include liquid water; an energy source, such as sunlight or chemicals from volcanic activity; and a supply of raw materials in the form of critical elements like carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen, to name just a few. The most likely places where all the ingredients will be present are rocky planets, like Earth, that are within the habitable zone of their parent stars.

The habitable zone is where the temperature is just right for liquid water to exist on the surface of an exoplanet. If the planet is too close to its star, it will be too hot, and you'll end up with a world like Venus, where the oceans have boiled away. Too far away, however, and you get something like Mars, where most, if not all, of the water on the surface is frozen.

The Kepler mission seeks to detect Earth-like, i.e., rocky planets in our galaxy within the habitable zone of their parent stars, by looking for planetary transit events. These are situations where the planet passes in front of its star as seen from our point of view, slightly dimming the star's brightness. Since planetary transit events are fleeting, and it is unknown how common they may be, Kepler will continuously observe some 100,000 sun-like stars (in about 100 square degrees of the sky in the Cygnus region) for four years.

Observing planetary transits is challenging, because the brightness changes are exceedingly small. For example, Earth is about one-hundredth the diameter of the sun, so from an alien point of view, when Earth passes in front of the sun, it obscures only a tiny area on the solar disk -- just one ten-thousandth. An alien watching Earth transit the sun would see our star's brightness drop by just one part in ten thousand. We expect similar faint eclipses when searching for Earth-like planets around sun-like stars. To detect such tiny changes in brightness, Kepler will be able to observe a brightness change as small as one part in one hundred thousand.

Other challenges for Kepler are brightness changes that arise from a natural variation within the star itself, rather than from a transiting planet. If a brightness change repeats at regular intervals, it's more likely to be from an exoplanet, since its orbit will make it transit at the same periods. Scientists with the mission will need to see the same change at least twice before it's considered a possible exoplanet. Since the mission has a limited time to make its observations, if a transit takes more than a year to repeat, it will be difficult to confirm as an exoplanet.

Enlarge

NASA's TRACE satellite captured this image of Venus (black disk) crossing the face of the Sun in 2004 as seen from Earth orbit. Before that, the last event occurred in 1882. The next Venus transit will be visible in 2012. Credit: NASA

We can analyze a planetary transit event to discover basic characteristics of the planet. A large planet will block more starlight than a small one, so the size of the planet can be estimated by how much the star dims during the transit. A planet close to its star zips around it faster than one farther away, so the time between transits will give us an approximate distance of the planet from its star. The planet will also tug at the star with its gravity. Much as the siren of a speeding ambulance changes pitch as it passes by - higher when it's moving closer, and lower when it's moving away -- this gravitational pull will cause the colors (spectrum) of the star's light to shift slightly - more blue if the star is moving toward us, more red if the star is moving away. Astronomers can observe this color shift with instruments that separate the star's light into its component colors, called its spectrum. By observing the amount of color shift in the star's spectrum, astronomers can get the mass of the planet relative to its parent star - more massive planets have a greater pull and will cause a larger color shift.

Most exoplanet detections so far have been made using this spectral shift. Such detections, however, tend to favor massive planets (about Jupiter’s size or larger). With current technology, it's extremely difficult to detect Earth-sized planets using this technique.

Kepler will also be used to make discoveries about the stars themselves. There are many stars that are binaries (double stars). These binaries may exhibit eclipses. The Kepler mission data analysis program has a pipeline data processing that can discriminate the eclipsing binaries among the stars observed and will be analyzed accordingly. Binary stars, including cataclysmic variables (e.g., exploding stars such as novae) and intrinsic variable stars, including pulsating variables, that are observed with the Kepler satellite will present unprecedented opportunities to further astrophysical research.

The Kepler observatory was placed in an Earth-following orbit March 6, 2009. This mission has been conceived by William Borucki and Dave Koch of NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., and developed at NASA Ames.

Provided by JPL/NASA (news : web)

This makes me wonder when will we ever find what we are looking for.

Yours truly,

Brian"mediamerlin"Woodbridge

Constitution Day to be observed Sept. 17

2009-09-17T12:20:00.001-04:00

This story I read HERE.

Moberly Monitor-Index

Wed Sep 16, 2009, 02:22 PM CDT

Moberly, Mo. - Congress, since 1956, has authorized the designation of the week beginning September 17 of each year as “Constitution Week,” a time for study and observance of the acts that resulted in the formation of the Constitution. And since February 1952, Congress authorized the designation of September 17 of each year as “Citizenship Day” in commemoration of the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787.
On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention held their final meeting. Only one item of business occupied the agenda that day, to sign the Constitution of the United States of America. No matter how much we argue about the details of its meaning today, in the opinion of many, the Constitution signed in Philadelphia on that day represents the greatest expression of statesmanship and compromise ever written. In just four hand-written pages, the Constitution gives us no less than the owners’ manual to the greatest form of government the world has ever known.
The major objectives of “Citizenship Day” are to prepare young people coming of voting age and naturalized citizens to accept the responsibilities of citizenship and to acquaint them with the rights and privileges, the duties and obligations of citizenship.
Through the years, in many localities, the observance of Constitution Week has been an important and impressive part of Americanism programs. The Constitution is a living document, a basic charter protecting every American, which has, since its adoption, served as the beacon light of free men. It is to the maintenance of its principles of sound government that The American Legion is constantly alert. Foes of our form of government, foes of liberty within and without our country around the world are continuously making insidious attacks on the fundamental principles embodied in the Constitution.
Today there are groups, and even governments, which are denying the unalienable rights of men and are advocating the imposition of their ideologies by force and violence on democrat governments and free peoples. The preservation of the American system of government demands the vigorous support of all citizens. The guarantees of liberty, evolved from history and the experience of people, will continue to be maintained only by active vigilance of the people.
The American Legion holds the deepest respect for every fundamental principle expressed in the Constitution. It is our responsibility to instill these basic American concepts in the minds and hearts of the youth of this nation and to reeducate our citizens concerning the Constitution. Our annual High School Oratorical Contest goes a long way in doing this.
Every Legionnaire, and each American citizen, is challenged to join in building better citizenship in our communities through an increased interest in the Constitution of the United States. Every community in our nation should observe Citizenship Day, September 17, and where possible extend their observance into Constitution Week in order that more people may be impressed to rededicate themselves to the fundamental precepts of liberty and freedom under constitutional law.
For more information or copies of the Constitution of the United States or the Declaration of Independence you may contact your local American Legion Post and they will secure it for you.
Another event occurred on September 17 that does not need to be celebrated but perhaps should be remembered. On all the days on all the battlefields where American soldiers have fought, the most terrible by almost any measure was September 17, 1862. The battle that day close to Antietam Creek at Sharpsburg in western Maryland took a human toll never exceeded on any other single day in our nation’s history. Over 23,000 men were killed, wounded or missing in action. So intense and sustained was the violence, a man recalled, that for a moment in his mind’s eye the very landscape around him turned red. A terrible price to pay for freedom.
This information and our wish for your continued freedom has been presented by The American Legion in conjunction with your local American Legion Post.

This story I read made me think
that to reach independence takes a lot of blood shed.

Why?

Yours Truly

Brian"mediamerlin"Woodbridge

Brainbox 500 Electronic Learning Kit

2009-09-16T11:10:00.000-04:00

Benjamin Franklin. Adored by scientists. Loved by ladies everywhere.

Suspected mason leader,

And known, mostly, for two things. Electricity… and farting.

The following article can be found HERE

That’s right. The classy guy on the hundred dollar bill. The founding father. He’s the dude who wrote a nice little pamphlet called Fart Proudly. And then he went out and flew a kite in a thunderstorm. No wonder everyone remembers him fondly!
Unfortunately, we have no product that will help your little one learn to control his or her farts. But what we can offer is a Brainbox 500 Electronic Learning Kit, to help your special boy or girl ages eight and up learn about the mysteries of electricity.
With no tools at all, your child will begin to learn the basics of circuit design, maybe even while farting. Just like a real engineer! All the wires are secure within the components, so everything is safe. Younger kids might enjoy making the Burglar Alarm and Traffic Light. Older kids might enjoy making the Voice Recorder and AM Radio. Up to 500 projects are possible with the easy-to-handle snap-together components. You can even make a motorized fan to clear the air! Especially after the little ones fart.
Maybe the other founding fathers did cool stuff as well, but who seems more like a real American: the guy who writes about philosophy and signs his name real big or the guy who smelt it, dealt it, and recorded it in an almanac? Put your kids on the path that’s all about the Benjamins with a Brainbox 500 Electronic Learning Kit.

And to think that this device sold out on most sites but dealsucker.com is the cheapest .

I remember something similar that I learnt science on when I was a kid and I know making the radio
was a lot of fun.

Brian "mediamerlin" Woodbridge

Patrick Swayze died at 57

2009-09-15T09:11:00.001-04:00

THE EXAMINER story below.

This news was upsetting. I remember Dirty Dancing and Roadhouse.

Who could forget the dynamic job he did in GHOST.

Those are the three movies that stand out in my head the most. He was a great

actor and played his roles very well.

Patrick Swayze died of pancreatic cancer.

The news as it first came over the AP wire was "Patrick Swayze at 57": they'd forgotten to put the "died" part in the headline. Given that we all know that Swayze had been battling with pancreatic cancer for a couple of years (when the prognosis is usually less than 6 months) there wasn't that much surprise when the headline in its next incarnation was "Patrick Swayze died at 57".

The British newspapers have been giving huge coverage to this news of Patrick Swayze's death from pancreatic cancer. The Telegraph collected quotes from those who knew him:

Demi Moore, who played Swayze's fiancee in Ghost, wrote: "Patrick you are loved by so many and your light will forever shine in all of our lives."

Moore's husband, Ashton Kutcher, tweeted: "RIP P Swayze".

(One might want to make a note about Demi Moore's Twitter there. We usually use the past tense about those, like Swayze, who have died, not the present. And, err, that particular sentiment, shouldn't it have been said to Patrick Swayze while he was alive? As for Ashton Kuchner's Twitter: are there really a million people signed up to follow such pearls of wisdom as might come from a bookend?)

The Telegraph also collects facts and figures about Patrick Swayze's life:

Swayze's movie characters had some lines that became cultural catch phrases, such as, "Pain don't hurt" from his role in "Road House." Author Marcus Eder compiled Swayze's movie lines and compared them to the words of Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu in "Nobody Puts Swayze in a Corner: The Tao of Swayze." The title refers to his often-cited line "Nobody puts Baby in a corner!" from "Dirty Dancing." Proceeds from the book went to the American Cancer Society.

The Guardian goes with a more traditional retelling of the highpoints of Swayze's life:

The Hollywood actor Patrick Swayze died last night after living with pancreatic cancer for almost two years. The star of Dirty Dancing and Ghost was 57.

Swayze went public with his illness in the spring last year, and worked while he underwent treatment. He was writing a memoir and recently made The Beast, a well-received cable TV series about a veteran FBI agent.

Days ago it was reported he had left hospital to be at home with his wife, Lisa Niemi, his childhood sweetheart from Houston.

The Times gives him a full obituary:

Patrick Swayze was in his mid-thirties when he became an overnight sensation in 1987 with the romantic dance movie Dirty Dancing, in which he played the dance instructor Johnny Castle, and Jennifer Grey was his pupil Baby. The film cost $5 million and was intended primarily for video, but it grossed more than $200 million worldwide and was one of the biggest hits of the year.

Plus a series of tributes from those who knew him:

Patrick Swayze’s Dirty Dancing co-star Jennifer Grey led tributes to the actor who died last night, describing the former dancer as a “real cowboy with a tender heart”.

Grey, 49, played the naive teenager who falls in love with Swayze’s sultry dance instructor in the hit movie which became a cult classic after its release in 1987. The pair’s on-screen chemistry – best highlighted in their sizzling dance moves and the famous lift scene in a lake – helped turn both actors into Hollywood stars.

"When I think of him, I think of being in his arms when we were kids, dancing, practising the lift in the freezing lake, having a blast doing this tiny little movie we thought no one would ever see," Grey, who played Frances 'Baby' Houseman, told People magazine.

Plus a straight news report of Swayze's death:

The American actor Patrick Swayze died last night after almost two years battling pancreatic cancer.

The Mail offers a combination of all three types of story, the obituary (including some wonderful photos and pictures of a young Patrick Swayze), the celebrity quotes and the news story:

Off-screen, he was an avid conservationist who was moved by his time in Africa to shine a light on 'man's greed and absolute unwillingness to operate according to Mother Nature's laws,' he said in 2004.

The Express notes his anger at the reports from last year that he was about to die imminently:

In May 2008, Swayze slammed the media for spreading the false information, stating, "Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease and from the moment I was diagnosed, I knew I was in for the fight of my life. It's a battle, and so far, I've been winning. I'm one of the lucky few that responds well to treatment.

"It's upsetting that the shoddy and reckless reporting from these publications cast a negative shadow on the positive and good fight I'm fighting. For me, my family, and those close to me, it amounts to downright emotional cruelty. That makes me angry when hope is so precious."

And The Sun gives us this quotation:

Actor Rob Lowe - who co-starred with Swayze in '80s flicks The Outsiders and Young Blood - said he had "lost a brother".

Speaking in Toronto, Lowe said: "Patrick lived a thousand lifetimes in one lifetime.

"He was an expert dancer, he wrote hit songs, he starred in hit movies, he was an amazing horseman.

"But the thing I will remember him most for was his amazing love affair with his wife Lisa."

Patrick Swayze: a talented man who used his talent, a loving man who loved his wife. There has to be a suspicion that most of us would be happy to be remembered that way.

New Moon Trailer Premieres at MTV VMA's

2009-09-14T12:17:00.002-04:00

The original movie was great. I hope this one lives up to the hype.
I read this story on
Hollyscoop.com
September 14, 2009 by: Ani Esmailian

New Moon
Twilight fans got a special treat Sunday night when MTV debuted the official trailer for New Moon during the MTV VMA awards in New York.

Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural twist in the flick, and fans cannot wait for the premire in November!

Check out the official trailer for 'New Moon' below and you tell us...does it measure it up?

Movie below courtesy of MTV.

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

I think that we should all have a watch and comment here on how you like it.

Brian"mediamerlin"Woodbridge

This Date in History......Sept.11th,2001 will always be remembered!

2009-09-11T10:51:00.006-04:00

DesktopLightning - Click Here For Free Traffic

As everyone is aware of this date since the twin towers were demolished. I am filled with both

anger that it happen and sadness. The other emotions that come to mind is the courage of all

those that fought to save everyone and the dedication of the support workers.

Let's never forget......

As I read this headline in USA TODAY

Moment of silence marks key moments of 9/11

Ignoring the rain and dreary skies, tearful families carrying photos of lost loved ones have gathered at a plaza near Ground Zero today to observe the eighth anniversary of the World Trade Center attack.

Bagpipers lend a somber mood to the morning.

The crowds have fallen silent at 8:46 a.m. ET to mark the moment when the first plane crashed into the World Trade Center.

Thousands are also expected at the Pentagon and at the crash site of United Airlines Flight 93 in a Shanksville, Pa., field.

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama also bowed their heads and paused to mark the moment.

Update at 8:49 a.m. ET: Bells toll in lower Manhattan as the crowds stand in silence.

Update at 8:51 a.m. ET: Vice President Biden, with his wife, Jill, are attending the Manhattan ceremonies and have laid flowers in a reflecting pool at Ground Zero just before the ceremony.

The ceremony is taking place at the edge of the World Trade Center site and overlooks ongoing construction. A giant crane hovers over a park where the victims’ names are being read.

Update at 8:54 a.m. ET: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the city will “safeguard the memory of those who died” by rekindling a spirit of volunteerism.

Volunteers who cleaned debris or worked near Ground Zero along with family members have begun to read more than 2,700 names of victims who died at the Trade Center.

Update at 9:04 a.m. ET: Bells have also fallen silent at 9:03 a.m. ET to mark when the second plane hit the towers.

Update at 9:09 am. ET: The Associated Press says the smaller-than-usual crowd in New York numbers in the hundreds in the rainy, windy weather. Many family members came holding photographs of their loved ones who died.

Update at 9:21 a.m. ET: USA TODAY's David Jackson reports that President Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and some 200 members of the White House staff stood in silence on the south driveway of the White House to remember the victims of 9/11. A bell tolled three times as the Obamas stood with their heads bowed. They then put their hands on their hearts as a military trumpeter played Taps.

Update at 9:35 a.m. ET: Former president George W. Bush issued this statement:

Eight years ago, our nation and our freedom came under attack. On this solemn anniversary, Laura and I hold the victims and their families in our thoughts and prayers. We honor those who volunteer to keep us safe and extend the reach of freedom – including members of the armed forces, law enforcement officers, and intelligence and homeland security professionals. Their courage, service, and sacrifice is a fitting tribute to all those who gave their lives on September 11, 2001. On this day, let us renew our determination to prevent evil from returning to our shores.

Update at 9:37 a.m. ET: USA TODAY's Rick Hampson in New York says wind and rain have kept crowd sizes down on the streets around the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan, but relatives of those killed on 9/11 turned out in numbers. Wearing rain jackets and transparent plastic ponchos and holding golf umbrellas against the elements, they are gathered at a park near the Trade Center site as the names of the fallen were read.

In an interview, Jay Winuk, whose brother Glenn died when the Trade Center’s South Tower collapsed, praised the day’s declaration as a National Day of Service and Remembrance: “It’s a way to honor those who died, and to preserve the day’s meaning.’’ In addition to remembering the attacks themselves, he said, “future generations must learn of the compassionate response. When the chips were as down as they could possibly be, people stepped forward to help.’’

Winuk was one of three family members who made brief speeches during the ceremony. In his remarks, he called his late brother “my hero,’’ because when others ran from danger, “he ran toward those in peril’’ as an EMT and volunteer fire fighter. Glenn Winuk died after leaving his law office in lower Manhattan to try to help emergency responders at the Trade Center.

Update at 9:38 a.m. ET: President Obama is speaking at ceremonies at the Pentagon.

Update at 9:43 a.m. ET: Obama says at "this scared hour, once more we pause, once more we pray, as a nation, as a people." To the families of the victims, Obama says, "on this day and all that follow, you may take solace in the memory of those you love and that you have the unending support of the American people."

President Obama urged the nation today "to renew our resolve" against the terrorists who perpetrated the "barbaric act" of eight years ago.
"We remember with reverence the lives we lost," Obama said during the memorial ceremony at the Pentagon. Their sacrifice "still shines brightly in the darkness -- it calls on all of us to be firm, strong, and united."

Update at 9:55 a.m. ET: Obama says “in pursuit of al-Qaeda and its extremist allies we will never falter.”

(Photo of family member at reflecting pool at Ground Zero by Chang W. Lee, Reuters)

Posted by Doug Stanglin at 08:48 AM/ET, September 11, 2009

We all should remember this incident and how we can help our fellow man rise above this sort

of thing..

Also remember the courageous firefighters and police that help those in need...May the relatives

of those that died have peace ...

Yours truly,

Brian"mediamerlin"Woodbridge

Investigate ACORN, Now!

2009-09-10T13:38:00.000-04:00

Article provided by FoxNews

If a new videotape is genuine, then it shows extremely serious criminal activity perpetrated by some ACORN individuals. Law enforcement needs to investigate this matter and Congress needs to de-fund ACORN and exclude it from all government programs until investigation is complete.

A new video recording and transcript have surfaced that raise deeply troubling questions about the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). Law enforcement authorities must investigate this matter immediately, and Congress needs to de-fund ACORN and exclude it from all government programs until this investigation is complete.
On September 10, the news Web site Big Government broke a story that could be a turning point for ACORN. A video recording has surfaced in which two people go undercover, posing as a prostitute and a "friend" looking for housing.
The people they go to see identify themselves in the recording as being affiliated with ACORN in Baltimore. These undercover persons slowly reveal that they're involved in prostitution and are seeking ACORN's help in obtaining a house in which to put thirteen underage El Salvadoran girls, and turn the house into a brothel. Shockingly, the individuals who say they are from ACORN go on to explain how to go about doing these things, even advising the "prostitute" that she could claim three of these girls as "family members" on her taxes to claim a deduction.
Over the past few years, individuals associated with ACORN have been charged or convicted of commiting various voter-fraud crimes. If this tape is authentic, then depending on the applicable law in Maryland, these ACORN individuals could be charged with conspiracy counts for tax evasion, housing fraud, and even exploiting underage children.
The ACORN high command always denies any knowledge of wrongdoing; it's always some "rogue element" (though there seem to be a lot of rogues in ACORN). But crimes of this nature are so serious that an investigation is needed to find out who knew what about this situation.
First, there needs to be an investigation by the local prosecutor and the Maryland attorney general. Although the underage prostitutes in this situation did not exist, the video shows the housing workers appearing to be quite nonchalant, considering the information (and telling the undercover reporters that they do not "judge" them and that the nineteen-year-old who claimed to be a prostitute should feel good about making something out of herself), so much so that you have to wonder what other situations they've been involved with in the past.
Second, there needs to be a federal criminal investigation. The tape shows people who are willing to work with this undercover couple in a possible (depending on the applicable law in that jurisdiction) conspiracy to commit tax fraud, to defraud federal housing programs, and possibly violate the Mann Act in transporting minors across state lines for sexual purposes.
Finally, there should be a congressional investigation. House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers had earlier expressed an interest in holding hearings about ACORN. It would seem that the time has come to hold those hearings.
This is needed both because of the role ACORN currently plays with the federal government, and also with the future role that they are being considered for.
Right now ACORN is heavily involved in voter-registration programs, especially in inner cities. ACORN is also involved in federal programs to find housing for low-income people and receives federal taxpayer money for this public service.
(As an aside, they were also, perhaps, the foremost actors in coercing banks to make housing loans under the Community Reinvestment Act to people who could not qualify for those loans. The cascading defaults on those mortgages are what burst the housing bubble, dragging down the financial stocks and causing the stock market crash.)
But, most importantly, heavy lobbying is going on in Washington to give ACORN a leading role in the 2010 national census. ACORN workers would be going door-to-door, collecting information on people within their homes and reporting the number of people in each home.
Those numbers are used to redraw every congressional and state legislative race across the country. If certain heavily Democratic urban areas were over-counted because of fraudulent numbers, it would eliminate some Republican elected seats and replace them with Democratic seats.
ACORN's current role is unacceptable if they are involved in any of the things shown by this video recording --to say nothing of expanding their role to entrust the census to them!
And this is just one incident in Baltimore. Are there other incidents that have been unfolding across the country? Does ACORN's senior leadership have knowledge of any such incidents?
Again, we need investigations.
ACORN has gotten away with too much for too long. If this tape is genuine, then it shows extremely serious criminal activity perpetrated by some ACORN individuals. It's time to get to the bottom of this.
Ken Klukowski is a fellow and senior legal analyst with the American Civil Rights Union. Ken Blackwell served as the Ohio Secretary of State and Co-Chairman of the Year 2000 Census Monitoring Board.
To view the videotape of the incident in Baltimore on the big government.com Web site and for more on this story, click here.

When I read about things like this I always wonder if some shouldn't have
the power to do things.

Yours truly,

Brian "mediamerlin" Woodbridge

'Death Star' Galaxy Black Hole Fires at Neighboring Galaxy

2009-09-09T09:19:00.002-04:00

A black hole jet at the center of a galaxy strikes the edge of another galaxy.
Image Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/ CfA/D.Evans et al.; Optical/UV: NASA/ STScI; Radio: NSF/VLA/CfA/D.Evans et al., STFC/JBO/MERLIN
^
Pictured at right-------------------------------I

Today's excerpt found here; WWW.NASA.GOV

WASHINGTON - A powerful jet from a super massive black hole is blasting a nearby galaxy, according to new findings from NASA observatories. This never-before witnessed galactic violence may have a profound effect on planets in the jet's path and trigger a burst of star formation in its destructive wake.

Known as 3C321, the system contains two galaxies in orbit around each other. Data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory show both galaxies contain super massive black holes at their centers, but the larger galaxy has a jet emanating from the vicinity of its black hole. The smaller galaxy apparently has swung into the path of this jet.

This "death star" galaxy was discovered through the combined efforts of both space and ground-based telescopes. NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope, and Spitzer Space Telescope were part of the effort. The Very Large Array telescope, Socorro, N.M., and the Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) telescopes in the United Kingdom also were needed for the finding.

"We've seen many jets produced by black holes, but this is the first time we've seen one punch into another galaxy like we're seeing here," said Dan Evans, a scientist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and leader of the study. "This jet could be causing all sorts of problems for the smaller galaxy it is pummeling."

Jets from super massive black holes produce high amounts of radiation, especially high-energy X-rays and gamma-rays, which can be lethal in large quantities. The combined effects of this radiation and particles traveling at almost the speed of light could severely damage the atmospheres of planets lying in the path of the jet. For example, protective layers of ozone in the upper atmosphere of planets could be destroyed.

Jets produced by super massive black holes transport enormous amounts of energy far from black holes and enable them to affect matter on scales vastly larger than the size of the black hole. Learning more about jets is a key goal for astrophysical research.

"We see jets all over the universe, but we're still struggling to understand some of their basic properties," said co-investigator Martin Hardcastle of the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom. "This system of 3C321 gives us a chance to learn how they're affected when they slam into something like a galaxy and what they do after that."

The effect of the jet on the companion galaxy is likely to be substantial, because the galaxies in 3C321 are extremely close at a distance of only about 20,000 light years apart. They lie approximately the same distance as Earth is from the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

A bright spot in the Very Large Array and MERLIN images shows where the jet has struck the side of the galaxy, dissipating some of the jet's energy. The collision disrupted and deflected the jet.

Another unique aspect of the discovery in 3C321 is how relatively short-lived this event is on a cosmic time scale. Features seen in the Very Large Array and Chandra images indicate that the jet began impacting the galaxy about one million years ago, a small fraction of the system's lifetime. This means such an alignment is quite rare in the nearby universe, making 3C321 an important opportunity to study such a phenomenon.

It is possible the event is not all bad news for the galaxy being struck by the jet. The massive influx of energy and radiation from the jet could induce the formation of large numbers of stars and planets after its initial wake of destruction is complete.

The results from Evans and his colleagues will appear in The Astrophysical Journal. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., manages the Chandra program for the agency's Science Mission Directorate. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory controls science and flight operations from the Chandra X-ray Center in Cambridge, Mass.

Additional information and images are available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/chandra/
and
http://chandra.harvard.edu

Media contacts: Grey Hautaluoma 202-358-0668
Headquarters, Washington
grey.hautaluoma-1@nasa.gov

Jennifer Morcone 256-544-7199
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
Jennifer.J.Morcone@nasa.gov

Megan Watzke 617-496-7998
Chandra X-ray Center, Cambridge, Mass.
m.watzke@cfa.harvard.edu

Since I love everything about the space program I found this story very interesting.

It is quite interesting that they chose the name of Star Wars 'Death Star' as the ominous

name of the black hole.

Yours truly,

Brian"mediamerlin"Woodbridge

Ginormous Rats, Grunting Fish and Fanged Frogs Found in Remote Rainforest

2009-09-08T08:46:00.000-04:00

Today's trends didn't have that many things that interests me, except when I noticed the rainforest link.

Some remote areas of our earth have creatures like this :::

Excerpt found here----ECOWORLDLY

Written by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway

Published on September 7th, 2009

Posted in About Animals, About Environment, About Science, In Global

A team of biologists and filmmakers have discovered new species of rats, spiders, fish and frogs on a recent expedition deep inside the jungle of Papua New Guinea. The team discovered many exotic creatures, including a ginormous rat, while filming the BBC’s Lost Land of the Volcano.
According to the press release from the BBC’s Natural History Unit, the rat, the size of a cat, is one of the world’s largest rats. First spotted on film, the team set out to take a closer look and trapped a live rat.
Measuring almost 3 feet in length from the tip of its nose to end of its tail, the rodent weighed in at over 3 pounds! The silvery-grey Bosavi Woolly Rat was discovered in the crater of an extinct volcano, Mount Bosavi. The area is so remote, it is often described as a “lost world.” Nearly 40 undiscovered species were discovered in the location. Besides the rat, the Fanged Frog of Bosavi, a grunting fish appropriately named the Henamo Grunter and a bear-like marsupial Bosavi Silky Cuscus, were also discovered during the two-week expedition inside the crater. Several of the species appear to be unafraid of humans.
The series airs on television beginning September 8, 2009. To get a sneak peek of the rat in action, visit the BBC. Photos of some of the species are available on the Belfast Telegraph website.

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Tags: BBC’s Natural History Unit, Bosavi Silky Cuscus, Bosavi Woolly Rat, fanged frogs, Henamo Grunter, huge rats, Lost Land of the Volcano, lost world, Mount Bosavi, new species, Papua New Guinea, rainforest, rats the size of cats

Now that is one of the largest rats that I have seen a picture of....one questions comes to mind;
How many other weird and unusual species are their on this planet yet to be discovered?

hmmmmmm
Yours truly,
Brian"mediamerlin"Woodbridge

Why no one labors on Labor Day aka history of Labor Day

2009-09-07T12:01:00.001-04:00

Articles contents care of :
THE EXAMINER

Pullman strikers outside Arcade Building, 1894

Do you know the origin of the celebration we hold on the first Monday in the month of September? Many Americans pair Labor Day and the end of summer together, however that’s not how it started.
The first labor festival occurred in Toronto. American labor leader Peter J. McGuire witnessed it, and returned to New York City and organized a labor celebration on September 5, 1882.
However, the impetus behind sanctioning Labor Day as a Federal holiday was the Pullman Strike. Approximately 3,000 employees of the Pullman Palace Car Company began a wildcat strike in 1894. Their wages had been cut five times, 30-70 percent, within six months. George Pullman literally owned the land, homes and stores in the town named for him. The workers’ earnings went back to Pullman through rent and goods. Though their wages were cut, living costs remained the same.
The American Railway Union (ARU) joined the wildcatters, enmeshing 250,000 workers and 27 states. President Grover Cleveland feared the nation would come to a halt. He stepped in and people died. Cleveland ordered U.S. Marshals and about 12,000 United States Army troops to end the strike, killing 13 and wounding 57 men.
In an act of reconciliation, Cleveland rushed a law through Congress making Labor Day a national holiday, six days after the end of the strike.
In 1896, Cleveland lost his bid at the Democratic National Convention for reelection.
In 1897, George M. Pullman, who began as a manufacturer of coffins as a young man, died. He was buried in Graceland Cemetery in a lead-lined coffin.
In 1898, through the efforts of an investigation regarding the causes of the Pullman Strike, the Pullman Company divested itself of the town and Chicago annexed the 4,000 acres of land on the west shore of Lake Calumet -- formerly known as Pullman, Illinois.

Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself. Have a safe, happy weekend.

Wow considering I grew up in Mississauga it is nice to hear that the first Labor Day
in Canada occurred in Toronto in the year September 5,1882. It is sad how the national holiday
began in the States though.

Have a happy and prosperous Labor day today.

Yours truly,
Brian "mediamerlin" Woodbridge

Unexplained phenomenon: Google buzz has a UFO flip side

2009-09-05T18:20:00.000-04:00

story from
http://www.examiner.com/x-504-Space-News-Examiner~y2009m9d5-Unexplained-phenomenon-Google-buzz-has-a-UFO-flip-side

Now its own hot click, the mystery Google UFO doodle and the search term 'unexplained phenomenon' are bouncing around the internet like pinballs in warp drive. The sudden popularity of the term and the new logo have sparked discussions about driving news via trends and a possible covert action to advertise the new sci-fi movie District 9.
Whether by coincidence or not, LiveScience is running a special feature: Top Ten Unexplained Phenomena. Coming in at #7 on their list: UFOs.
Which leads us to Buzz Aldrin, the Apollo moon landings, and fraudulent claims by UFOlogists that Aldrin reported a UFO during the the mission. Not only did he not see a UFO, he's pointed out that a video that appears to show him saying just that is a badly-edited fraud.
But the urban legend keeps cropping up, as UFO buffs cite the story repeatedly as established fact. In February, I reported how the UFO claim had been totally debunked. NASA Senior Scientist David Morrison debunks the claim, along with the face on Mars as a constructed artifact, in an article for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI).
Here's the video that claims Aldrin reported a UFO.

But Morrison has the real story:

In an interview on the Science Channel..., Aldrin stated that he, Neil Armstrong, and Mike Collins saw unidentified objects that appeared to follow their Apollo spacecraft. To get the story straight, I called Buzz Aldrin, who was happy to explain what happened. He said that his remarks were taken out of context to reverse his meaning. It is true that the Apollo 11 crew spotted an unidentified object moving with the spacecraft as they approached the Moon.
After they verified that this mystery object was not Apollo 11’s large rocket upper stage, which was about 6,000 miles away by then, they concluded that they were seeing one of the small panels that had linked the spacecraft to the upper stage (any part of the spacecraft’s rocket upper stage will continue to move alongside the spacecraft, as both are floating in free-fall). These panels were too small to track from Earth and were relatively close to the Apollo spacecraft.
Aldrin told me that they chose not to discuss this on the open communications channel since they were concerned that their comments might be misinterpreted. His entire explanation about identifying the panels was cut from the broadcast interview, giving the impression that the Apollo 11 crew had seen a UFO.
Aldrin told me that he was angry about the deceptive editing and asked the Science Channel to correct the intentional twisting of his remarks, but they refused. Later, Aldrin explained what happened on CNN’s Larry King Live (left, bottom) but was nearly cut off by the host before he could finish.

So there you have it: no UFO reported by Aldrin on the Apollo 11 flight.
Exploring unexplained phenomena is intriquing, but it's about time that this UFO canard be placed in the "explained" category.
Image/Aldrin PR release

Now with all of the space flights and other launches into space ...don't you think someone would have

seen something.
hmmmmmmmm

Angry man slaps child at Walmart and is arrested

2009-09-03T11:48:00.000-04:00

This just simply enrages me. How anyone can do that is just wrong. I feel sorry

I feel sorry that he felt like that was the only solution.

Story from the examiner here:

At a Walmart store near Atlanta, Georgia, Roger Stephens, 61 heard a crying 2 year old girl and walked up to the mother and allegedly said, “If you don’t shut the baby up, I will shut her up for you.”

A few moments later as the child continued to cry, Stephens grabbed the child and slapped her four times, then said to the mother, “See I told you I would shut her up.”

Roger Stephens was arrested Monday and charged with first-degree cruelty to children. According to the incident report, before he was arrested, Stephens apologized to the mother for striking the girl, CNN reported.

CNN video of the story

Oak Glen fire grows to 350-plus acres; no structures damaged so far

2009-08-31T17:11:00.002-04:00

Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 08/30/2009 07:10:35 PM PDT

OAK GLEN - The brush fire that ignited Sunday afternoon has grown to more than 350 acres, threatening an unknown number of homes but so far no homes have been damaged.

Fire officials said there is no containment yet on the fire.

Calfire information officer Jason Meyer said Oak Glen's southern and southeastern neighborhoods are under a mandatory evacuation order.

An evacuation center has been set up at Yucaipa Community Center, 34900 Oak Glen Road. American Red Cross volunteer Teresa Sherwood said the center has enough food and sleeping space to accommodate 200 people.

The Oak Glen Fire started shortly before 1:40 p.m. Sunday in the brushy hillsides south of Oak Glen and Potato Canyon roads. Dried vegetation is fueling a blaze
A helicopter makes a water drop on flames in Oak Glen on Sunday. About 350 acres had burned in the Oak Glen Fire near Yucaipa. No injuries were reported and no structures burned as of 6 p.m. Sunday.

(Will Lester/Staff Photographer)

that has sent flames about 100 feet into the air.

Fire commanders have sent 41 engine companies to battle the Oak Glen Fire. Those firefighters are joined by the members of 18 hand crews. Five water tenders and three bulldozers have also been dispatched to the fire.

Firefighters have been supported from the sky by seven helitankers and eight air tankers. The airtankers include a Martin Mars water bomber and a DC-10 jet that carries a large volume of fire retardant.

This story courtesy of THE SUN

Just another great hot topic of the day. Hope you all had a great weekend.
Look for more exciting news events coming in the future.

Yours truly,
Brian "mediamerlin" Woodbridge

Part-Time Diaper Free: Elimination Communication for the Rest of Us

2009-08-28T19:42:00.003-04:00

Image credit: Part-time Diaper Free

Only last weekend I was musing on infant potty training and elimination communication (EC) - wondering whether it's really possible to go diaper-free if you're a working parent. (For more scoop on EC, check out Warren's post on 'potty whispering' or Kyeann's take on diaper free babies.) As a soon-to-be parent, I'm intrigued and attracted by the possibility of ditching diapers early, but find it hard to envision an intensive routine of EC. As I suspected in my first post, it's not all-or-nothing.

Charndra of Part-Time Diaper Free and other commenters made it clear that you can indeed adopt a more gradual approach - combining EC with cloth diapers, and simply giving your baby the option of using a potty as and when it works for your schedule.

Charndra has actually put together a free online guide (you need to join her site to gain access, but it is indeed a free resource) to gaining diaper-free confidence. She also wrote an online guide to explore whether part-time EC might work for you. Her list of statements to check include:

" Imagine you are quite happy to use diapers for pees, but know your baby's poop rhythms and signs well enough for baby to do virtually all of them in a potty. Wiping poo off your baby's soft skin is an uncommon activity for you, and you are very pleased with this!"

So far you'll find no argument here.

"Imagine offering your baby wee breaks at home, in natural transitions in the day's activities, yet using diapers as a full-time 'backup' - for peace of mind as the idea of accidents on the carpet just make you too nervous! You find catching pees in the potty several times a day (and most poos in the morning) to be great fun - baby enjoys it - it's an enjoyable way to connect with your baby each day."

Again, sounds like an excellent idea to me.

"Imagine using Modern Cloth Diapers, knowing baby stays aware of when they are using their diaper, and inviting them to wee in the potty at diaper changes, or when you check and find a dry diaper while you are at home. In time, your awareness of baby's attempts to communicate that they need to use the potty grows and you can help them when they need to go."

Heck yeah. I'm sold. This whole approach just seems to make so much sense to me - I'm just confused why it's not more common. After all, it hardly seems right to let babies sit in their poop and pee for their first few years and then suddenly tell them this is somehow wrong. A gentler, more gradual transition to going diaper free seems like the kindest and probably least messy route possible.

Any readers know of other good resources out there?

Follow @TreeHugger on Twitter & get our headlines with @TH_rss!

After reading this I thought what a great concept. Why not?

I think that any new parent could benefit from this...just have a room that

doesn't have any carpet though....

This makes a lot more sense (as they say) then allowing babies to sit in their

wet diapers!!!!

You can find more information HERE!

John Mayer's mug shot revealed; singer faces consequence after challenging TMZ's Harvey Levin

2009-08-27T16:44:00.002-04:00

BY Cristina Everett
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, August 27th 2009, 3:00 PM

Merritt/Getty; TMZ.com

John Mayer was arrested on May 26, 2001 for driving with a suspended license in Atlanta.

LA County Sheriff's Dept.

Patrick Stump was arrested Tuesday on a two-year-old warrant for driving without a valid license.

When will John Mayer learn?

If you challenge TMZ's Harvey Levin, you'll get burned.

Either in a moment of stupidity or a need for publicity, Mayer took to Twitter early this morning to reveal his criminal past.

"I was arrested for the same offense as Patrick Stump," Mayer tweeted about the Fall Out Boy singer who was arrested Tuesday on a two-year-old warrant for driving without a valid license. "It's the lamest answer to the question "why you in here?"

Mayer, 31, went as far as to challenge the TMZ honcho, who has become notorious for finding undiscovered celebrity mug shots, to find his old photo.

"If Harvey Levin at TMZ can produce my mugshot, I will donate 25k to the charity of his choice," he tweeted. "Who else is in? Harvey is Freedom of Information Act King."

Indeed he is.

Within 14 hours, Levin produced the unseen photo showing a fresh-faced Mayer after his arrest on May 26, 2001 for driving with a suspended license in Atlanta.

Time to pay up, John.

Follow the Daily News on Twitter @ NYDNgossip

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/08/27/2009-08-27_john_mayers_mug_shot_revealed_singer_faces_consequence_after

I guess you need to watch what you bet....

The above article can be viewed in the http above.

Now that Ted is gone, has Vicki Kennedy’s time come?

2009-08-26T23:58:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the delay ...I have been up preparing for a new endeavour and purchasing new
tools for my business.

Also just finished the great webinar with Armand Morin....check out what he is offering...

A great system

But now to the topic at hand I went to this site to see what it was about:

The Boston Herald Account

By Inside Track
Thursday, August 27, 2009 - Added 54m ago

EmailE-mail PrintablePrint Comments(0) Comments LargerSmallerText size Bookmark and Share Share Buzz up!

In 1992, when then-60-year-old Ted Kennedy made the surprise announcement that he would wed 38-year-old Washington lawyer Victoria Reggie, cynics dismissed it as an obvious PR ploy to shore up his political standing in the wake of the Palm Beach rape scandal.

But in the intervening years, the former single mom from Louisiana righted the senator’s personal life, superbly executed the role of political wife and became the senator’s strongest ally and best friend.

And when Kennedy took on the toughest fight of his life - his battle with brain cancer - Vicki was there to nurse him, comfort him and take the reins inside his senate office when Kennedy became too ill to function.

Now that the senior senator is gone, the focus is on his widow and whether she will seek to fill her husband’s seat in the short - or long - term.

Although Vicki has sent the message that she is not interested in being either appointed or elected to the Senate, political observers believe that that may not be the final word.

“I have a hard time believing that there is not some sort of plan for a Kennedy to carry on the torch,” said one political insider. “It’s going to be either Joe (Kennedy) or Vicki - and if it’s not either one, I’d be totally shocked.”

Momentum is building on Beacon Hill to accommodate Kennedy’s dying wish - a change in state law that would allow Gov. Deval Patrick to appoint someone to fill his seat until a special election can be called.

The request was seen as a play by the Kennedy people to have a hand-picked successor installed to carry on the late senator’s work. Speculation has centered on Vicki, who, we are told, ran the day-to-day operation of her husband’s office - in conjunction with longtime staffers - after Kennedy became too ill to do it himself.

Victoria Reggie was an unknown D.C. lawyer when Kennedy’s office made the surprise announcement 17 years ago that she and the senator were engaged. The betrothal came on the heels of Kennedy’s infamous “apology speech” at the Kennedy School of Government - a mea culpa he gave following a night of carousing that led to sensational rape allegations against his nephew, William Kennedy Smith .

Most Washington insiders didn’t even know the two had been dating. But friends of the senator insisted that the romance was the real thing - not a savvy political ploy to quash the Palm Beach scandal and Kennedy’s rep as a womanizer.

“He’s absolutely crazy about her,” Kennedy’s attorney Gregory Craig said at the time. “I can tell by the way he is with her when she’s around. It’s as if there’s no one else in the room . . . It’s quite clear that this is a very special relationship and that she is a very special person to him.”

Vicki, the daughter of longtime Kennedy crony Judge Edmund M. Reggie, was a partner in a Washington law firm who had two children by an earlier marriage. She was divorced in 1990 and Kennedy had divorced his first wife, Joan, in 1982 after his unsuccessful bid for the presidency.

“I love Vicki and her children very much,” Kennedy said at the time. “She has brought enormous happiness into my life.”

Now Vicki must decide whether she will step out of her husband’s shadow to try to take the torch that he’s passed - and if she’s willing to let the voters have the final say on whether the pigeon-toed girl from Louisiana is the new keeper of the Kennedy flame.

Storms force delay for shuttle launch

2009-08-25T10:16:00.003-04:00

By Tariq Malik

Managing editor

updated 3:00 a.m. ET, Tues., Aug 25, 2009

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Lightning and thunderstorms thwarted NASA's attempt to launch the space shuttle Discovery early Tuesday, forcing its seven-astronaut crew to wait at least one more day before leaving the planet.

Discovery was slated to blast off from a seaside launch pad here at NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 1:36 a.m. ET Tuesday, with forecasts predicting an 80 percent chance of good launch weather. But that nearly pristine forecast crumbled away late Monday as lightning, rain showers and thick clouds unexpectedly cropped up to prevent the launch.

Lightning struck near the launch pad several times, at times within 5 miles (8 kilometers), while Discovery's seven astronauts were strapped into their seats hoping for liftoff. Camera views showed rain pouring down on the launch pad during the countdown. The weather did improve closer to launch time, but it was not enough to clear Discovery for liftoff, mission managers said

"The vehicle and operations were cooperating, but unfortunately the local weather did not," NASA launch director Pete Nickolenko told Discovery's crew. "We'll have to scrub for today and just try again tomorrow."

"We copy," Discovery commander Rick Sturckow radioed back. "As soon as the weather will be ready to cooperate, we'll be ready to go."

Discovery is now slated to launch no earlier than Wednesday at 1:10 a.m. ET. The chief weather concerns for Discovery's launch attempt Tuesday were rain and thick clouds near the launch pad, as well as lightning and thunderstorms too close to a nearby runway that is reserved in case the shuttle suffers an emergency during liftoff, said Lt. Col. Patrick Barrett of the Air Force's 45th Weather Squadron.

Barrett told Space.com that there is a 70 percent chance of good weather for Discovery's next launch opportunity on Wednesday.

Weather woes
Stormy weather, and lightning in particular, has been a thorn in NASA's side for shuttle launches of late. The July launch of shuttle Endeavour was delayed five times due to lightning and foul weather. Lightning also slowed Discovery's trek to the launch pad earlier this month.

NASA has until Aug. 30 to launch the shuttle before standing down due to restrictions on the launch range it shares with the nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. NASA wants to launch Discovery by the end of August to avoid a traffic conflict with an unmanned Japanese cargo spaceship also due at the space station this month. If the mission is unable to launch by then, NASA can try again on Oct. 17.

Discovery's mission is slated to fly to the international space station to deliver nearly 8 tons of cargo, including new science gear and a treadmill named after comedian Stephen Colbert. The 13-day mission will also ferry astronaut Nicole Stott to the station to replace NASA astronaut Tim Kopra, who has been living aboard the orbiting lab since mid-July.

Click for related content

Cosmic Log: Giant leap for a treadmill
Liftoff could be an East Coast spectacle
Humble beginnings lead to space
Discovery boasts eclectic crew
Show us your blasts from the past

Set to launch aboard Discovery with Sturckow and Stott are STS-128 pilot Kevin Ford and mission specialists Patrick Forrester, Jose Hernandez, Danny Olivas and Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang. Fuglesang represents the European Space Agency, while the rest are NASA astronauts. Three spacewalks are planned for their mission.

Stott is set to begin a three-month mission to the space station as a flight engineer on the outpost's six-person Expedition 20 crew. She will join two Russians, another American and astronauts from Belgium and Canada on what is the station's first full-sized crew.

If Discovery is unable to launch Wednesday, the next opportunity is Thursday at 12:52 a.m. ET.

More on international space station | shuttle Discovery

This report includes information from The Associated Press and msnbc.com.

© 2009 Space.com. All rights reserved. More from Space.com.

I am always fascinated by anything that NASA comes out with. This shuttle launch
has more then just NASA astronauts on it. I hope it lifts off alright on Wednesday around
1300hrs. Look here for more details and other launchs at this site:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32540198/ns/technology_and_science-space/?ns=technology_and_science-space

You can also see other very interesting things on this site.

GO check it out!!

Ryan Jenkins Death

2009-08-24T23:56:00.002-04:00

Update : New Details in Death of Ryan Jenkin

Ryan Alexander Jenkins, a fugitive suspect in the murder of his ex-wife Jasmine Fiore was found dead Sunday in British Columbia, and now new details have surfaced in the reality star's death.

Jenkins was found dead in his room at the Thunderbird Motel in Hope British Columbia, and according to the Associated Press the motel manager Copyright 2009 Buena Park Police Departmentand his nephew found the 32-year-old hanging from the bar of a coat rack by a belt.

Kevin Walker, the manager of the Thunderbird Motel, tells the AP that Jenkins arrived in a Chrysler PT Cruiser and was accompanied by a young woman, but Jenkins stayed in the car while the woman checked them in to the motel.

Walker added that the woman who was blond and in her early 20s, paid in cash for three days, and that he found Jenkins dead in the room when he unlocked it because the pair never checked out.

The British Columbia Coroner's Service is currently investigating Jenkins' death.

Posted August 24, 2009 4:45:00 AM

Thank you goes to where I read this story to begin with.

http://www.etonline.com/news/2009/08/77824/index.html

http://blog.dmoz.org/2009/08/24/what-is-editor-abuse/1

2009-08-24T19:15:00.001-04:00

http://blog.dmoz.org/2009/08/24/what-is-editor-abuse/1

Shared via AddThis

Hollywood's Audrey Hepburn - film actress, humanitarian & above all - loving mother

2009-08-24T00:58:00.000-04:00

Audrey Hepburn (Photo/wiki)

Audrey Kathleen Ruston, "Audrey Hepburn," was a British actress, humanitarian and Academy Award winner.

Hepburn spent her childhood chiefly in the Netherlands, including German-occupied Arnhem, Netherlands, during the Second World War (1939-1945).

Hepburn studied ballet and drama in Amsterdam and dance in London in 1948. She worked part-time as a fashion model. And somewhere during her training of the fine arts, she also learned to be a dental assistant!

She appeared in a handful of European films before starring in the 1951 Broadway play Gigi. Her first starring role was with Gregory Peck in the Italian-set Roman Holiday (1952), and her screen test for Holiday was used in the promotional trailer for the film.

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) proved to be a hit, and another film not originally thought to have Audrey cast as the lead.

Hepburn's first role in a motion picture was in the British film One Wild Oat in which she played a hotel receptionist. She played several more minor roles in Young Wives' Tale, Laughter in Paradise, The Lavender Hill Mob, and Monte Carlo Baby.

During the filming of Monte Carlo Baby Hepburn was chosen to play the lead character in the Broadway play Gigi. The writer Colette, when she first saw Hepburn, reportedly said:

Voilà! There's our Gigi!"

Elizabeth Taylor was the first choice for the role, in Roman Holdiay, but Hepburn's screen test included footage of when the camera was left on, with candid footage showing her relaxing and answering questions, unaware that she was still being filmed. As a result, she was cast in the lead. Wyler, the director, said:

[Audrey] She had everything I was looking for - charm, innocence and talent. She also was very funny. She was absolutely enchanting, and we said, 'That's the girl!'"

The movie was to have had Gregory Peck's name above the title in large font with "Introducing Audrey Hepburn" beneath. After filming had been completed, Peck called his agent and, predicting correctly that Hepburn would win the Academy Award for Best Actress, had the billing changed so that her name also appeared before the title in type as large as his.

Hepburn and Peck bonded during filming, and there were rumours that they were romantically involved, but both denied it. Hepburn, however, added,

(Photo/wiki) Actually, you have to be a little bit in love with your leading man and vice versa. If you're going to portray love, you have to feel it. You can't do it any other way. But you don't carry it beyond the set." - Audrey Hepburn

Eliza Doolittle was portrayed by Hepburn in the film version of My Fair Lady (1964). When Barbara Walters interviewed Audrey, she asked if she felt funny that Julie Andrews didn't get the part of Eliza instead.

I did agree that it should have been Julie Andrews. In fact I told my agent that I didn't want to do it, because it should be her, and for some crazy reason - and Hollywoods' often been crazy...(Julie Andrews didn't get it and I did)..."

From 1968 to 1975 she took a break from acting, mostly to spend more time with her two sons - Sean and Luca. In 1976 she starred with Sean Connery in Robin and Marian. In 1989 she made her last film appearance in Steven Spielberg's Always.

Hepburn returned to cinema in 1979, taking the leading role of Elizabeth Roffe in the international production of Bloodline. Her last starring role in a cinematic film was with Ben Gazzara in the comedy They All Laughed, directed by Peter Bogdanovich. The film was overshadowed by the murder of one of its stars, Bogdanovich's girlfriend, Dorothy Stratten; the film was released after Stratten's death but only in limited runs.

In 1987, Audrey co-starred with Robert Wagner in a tongue-in-cheek made-for-television caper film, Love Among Thieves which borrowed elements from several of Hepburn's films, most notably Charade and How to Steal a Million.

In the final months of her life, Hepburn completed two entertainment-related projects, that of hosting a television documentary series entitled Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn, which debuted on PBS the day after her death, and she recorded a spoken word album, Audrey Hepburn's Enchanted Tales featuring readings of classic children's stories, which would win her a posthumous Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children. In 2000 Jennifer Love Hewitt starred in The Audrey Hepburn Story.

Audrey Hepburn had an intense passion for humanitarian work, and although she had worked for UNICEF since the 1950s, during her later life, she dedicated much of her time and energy to the organization. From 1988 until 1992, she worked in some of the most profoundly disadvantaged communities of Africa, South America and Asia. In 1992, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

After reading this story here

http://www.examiner.com/x-5590-Acting-Examiner~y2009m8d9-Hollywoods-Audrey-Hepburn--film-actress-humanitarian--above-all--loving-mother

I started to think about all the old movies that I have watched in my life.

Miss Universe 2009 Contestants Prep for Finale

2009-08-24T00:51:00.000-04:00

The Miss Universe 2009 contestants will line up tonight. Which one will succeed Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela (pictured)?

The Miss Universe 2009 Contestants will be narrowed down, and the final choice will be made at 11 PM ET. Unlike shows like the Emmys, this event does not run over, so you can expect it to happen at that time.

Much as any other such event, there is a betting line on the Miss Universe 2009 contestants. Which one do you think will win?

Here is a compelte list of Miss Universe 2009 Contestants:

Albania - Hasna Xhukiçi
Angola - Nelsa Alves
Argentina - Johanna Lasic
Aruba - Dianne Croes
Australia - Rachael Finch
Bahamas - Kiara Sherman
Belgium - Zeynep Sever
Bolivia - Dominique Peltier
Brazil - Larissa Costa
Bulgaria - Elitsa Lubenova
Canada - Mariana Valente
Cayman - Islands Nicosia Lawson
China - Wang Jingyao
Colombia - Michelle Rouillard
Costa Rica - Jessica Umaña
Croatia - Sarah Ćosić
Curaçao - Angenie Simon
Cyprus - Kielia Giasemidou
Czech - Republic Iveta Lutovská
Dominican Republic - Ada de la Cruz
Ecuador - Sandra Vinces
Egypt - Elham Wagdi
El Salvador - Mayella Mena
Estonia - Diana Arno
Ethiopia - Melat Yante
Finland - Essi Pöysti
France - Chloé Mortaud
Georgia - Lika Ordzhonikidze
Germany - Martina Lee
Ghana - Jennifer Koranteng
Great Britain - Clair Cooper
Greece - Viviana Kampanile
Guam - Racine Manley
Guatemala - Lourdes Figueroa
Guyana - Jenel Cox
Honduras - Bélgica Suárez
Hungary - Zsuzsa Budai
Iceland - Ingibjörg Egilsdóttir
India - Ekta Choudhry
Indonesia - Zivanna Letisha Siregar
Ireland - Diana Donnelly
Israel - Yulia Liubianitzki
Italy - Laura Valenti
Jamaica - Carolyn Yapp
Japan - Emiri Miyasaka
Kazakhstan - Olga Nikitina
Korea - Ree Na
Kosovo - Marigona Dragusha
Lebanon - Martine Andraos
Malaysia - JoannaBelle Ng
Mauritius - Anaïs Veerapatren
Mexico - Karla Carrillo
Montenegro - Anja Jovanović
Namibia - Happie Ntelamo
Netherlands - Avalon-Chanel Weyzig
New Zealand - Katie Taylor
Nicaragua - Indiana Sánchez
Nigeria - Sandra Otohwo
Norway - Eli Landa
Panama - Diana Broce
Paraguay - Mareike Baumgarten
Peru - Karen Schwarz
Philippines - Pamela Bianca Manalo
Poland - Angelika Jakubowska
Puerto - Rico Mayra Matos
Romania - Elena Bianca Constantin
Russia - Sofia Rudieva
Serbia - Dragana Atlija
Singapore - Rachel Kum
Slovak Republic - Denisa Mendrejová
Slovenia - Mirela Korač
South Africa - Tatum Keshwar
Spain - Estíbaliz Pereira
Sweden - Renate Cerljen
Switzerland - Whitney Toyloy
Tanzania - Illuminata James
Thailand - Chutima Durongdej
Turkey - Senem Kuyucuoğlu
Turks & Caicos - Jewel Selver
Ukraine - Kristina Kotz-Gotlib
Uruguay - Cintia Dottone
USA - Kristen Dalton
Venezuela - Stefanía Fernández
Vietnam - Võ Hoàng Yến
Zambia - Andella Chileshe Matthews

copied from:
http://www.huliq.com/3257/85296/miss-universe-2009-contestants-prep-finale

Now who would you like to win?

USA TODAYS debut Issue

2009-08-24T00:17:00.000-04:00

Usa Today Debut Issue on Dipity.

The concept of a colorful newspaper with national distribution was considered at the paper's launch to be a risk, and the paper received early criticism, receiving the derisive nickname 'McPaper.' However, the newspaper has striven to set itself apart in distribution methods as well. The paper is still sold in unique newspaper vending machines with curved edges that resemble television sets. USA Today was also eager to latch onto the business traveler and was heavily distributed through airlines, airports, and hotels in addition to other sales outlets. The newspaper was also among the first newspapers to use satellite transmissions to send the final edition of the newspaper to multiple locations across the country for printing and final distribution in those regional markets. The innovation of using satellites and regional printing hubs allowed the paper to push back deadlines and include the most recent news and sports scores in each edition.

In 2001, the newspaper moved into its new 30 acre (120,000 m²) headquarters in McLean, Virginia, a Washington, D.C. suburb. Its original headquarters, the old USA Today and Gannett, Inc. "silver towers", are located in the neighborhood of Rosslyn and are a major landmark on the Washington skyline.

The newspaper's motto, appearing on the top and bottom levels of the nameplate, is The Nation's Newspaper - #1 in the USA

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TRIBOELECTRIFICATION-Static electric charge can pose flight risk — Ares I-X launch

By William Neff, The Plain Dealer

October 25, 2009, 11:39AM

The Ares I-X mission's launch weather officer, Kathy Winters, dropped a tongue-twister in Sunday's press briefing that had even some veteran aerospace reporters in the auditorium scratching their heads. The word -- remember this for future spelling bees -- was

triboelectrification.

triboelectrification

is a static electric charge that can build up on flying vehicles, aircraft as well as spacecraft, as they move through particles in the atmosphere. That usually means precipitation, as in rain. But clouds, even light ones,can contain enough particles to deliver the charge.

triboelectrification's

Whenever a word comes out that I haven't used. I always like to figure out what they mean.When I came across triboelectrification I thought that I must find out more.Even though lightning isn't around static electicity can be generated.

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The Ares I-X mission's launch weather officer, Kathy Winters, dropped a tongue-twister in Sunday's press briefing that had even some veteran aerospace reporters in the auditorium scratching their heads.
The word -- remember this for future spelling bees -- was

is a static electric charge that can build up on flying vehicles, aircraft as well as spacecraft, as they move through particles in the atmosphere. That usually means
precipitation, as in rain. But clouds, even light ones,
can contain enough particles to deliver the charge.

Whenever a word comes out that I haven't used. I always like to figure out what they mean.When I came across triboelectrification I thought that I must find out more.
Even though lightning isn't around static electicity can be generated.

I am always amazed a celestial bodies...In 1986 when Halley's Comet came through I was
a little over twenty years old...what memories...
I am fascinated by astronomy and other space item.