Sexy and Stupid

CNN Huffington Post Urge Violence Against Republicans

2010-02-16T10:54:00.000-08:00

Two of the most popular liberal news sites are calling for violence against Republicans for obstructing the radical agenda of President Barack Obama.
CNN and Huffington Post have each published op-eds this past week by regular contributors with headlines that explicitly call for Obama to use violent gangland tactics against his political opponents.

CNN published a column by Roland Martin on February 11 with the headline, Time for Obama to go ‘gangsta’ on GOP.

Martin concluded the article with a plea for Obama to emulate the violent tactics of the Prohibition-era Chicago mob boss Al Capone.

Obama’s critics keep blasting him for Chicago-style politics. So, fine. Channel your inner Al Capone and go gangsta against your foes. Let ‘em know that if they aren’t with you, they are against you, and will pay the price.

The Huffington Post followed-up with their own call for gangland violence against Republicans with the publication on February 14 of a column by David Bourgeois with the title, Obama Better Start Breaking Kneecaps.

Bourgeois concludes his article with this call for gangland violence.

You’ve given it your best shot, you’ve tried numerous times to talk with the Republicans, to negotiate, to meet them halfway on every single matter before the American people. But they hate you for many reasons. It’s time you break kneecaps (bold in original). It’s time to destroy the Republican Party. They don’t deserve a seat at the table when all they want to do is score political points by being the Party of No.

Huffington Post publisher Arianna Huffington recently excoriated Fox News chief Roger Ailes for allegedly provocative rhetoric by Fox host Glenn Beck.

HUFFINGTON: Well, Roger, it’s not a question of picking a fight. And aren’t you concerned about the language that Glenn Beck is using, which is, after all, inciting the American people? There is a lot of suffering out there, as you know, and when he talks about people being slaughtered, about who is going to be the next in the killing spree…

…It’s not about the word police. It’s about something deeper. It’s about the fact that there is a tradition as the historian Richard Hofstetter said, in American politics, of the paranoid style. And the paranoid style is dangerous when there is real pain out there.

Ailes defended Beck, saying he was accurately talking about the governments of Hitler and Stalin.

Violent rhetoric such as that espoused by CNN and the Huffington Post is usually found in the bowels of Internet discussion forums, not as sanctioned op-ed headlines on news sites with White House press passes.
CNN and Huffington Post would be well-advised to retract the calls to violence and issue apologies to Republicans before Obama supporters are incited by their violent rhetoric and start going gangsta and break kneecaps of Republicans.
If they won’t do that of their own volition, then White House press secretary Robert Gibbs should shame them into doing so. Surely the Obama administration does not countenance violence against their domestic political opponents.

3 world powers criticize Iranian enrichment

2010-02-16T10:25:00.000-08:00

VIENNA – Russia joined the U.S. and France in urging Iran to stop enriching uranium to higher levels in a statement shared Tuesday with The Associated Press, suggesting the project reinforced suspicions that Tehran is seeking to make nuclear weapons.

Shrugging off international concerns, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced the country was moving ahead to expand its enrichment capacities by installing more advanced machinery at its main enrichment facility.
Ahmadinejad told reporters in Tehran the centrifuges are not yet operational but are five times more efficient than the model now in use at its Natanz enrichment plant.
Because enrichment can produce both nuclear weapons as well as reactor fuel, Iran is under three set of U.N. Security Council sanctions for refusing to stop its program. Its determination to expand such activities had been criticized worldwide even before an announcement earlier this month that Tehran would enrich to a higher level.
In a confidential letter to the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the three world powers questioned Tehran's assertion that it had started the higher enrichment project to provide fuel to a research reactor providing medical isotopes for cancer patients.
The one-page letter was significant in reflecting unified Russian and Western opposition to Iran's move. Russia in the past has often put the brakes on Western attempts to penalize Tehran for defying U.N. Security Council demands that it freeze its enrichment program, which can produce both nuclear fuel and the fissile core of warheads.
"If Iran goes ahead with this escalation, it would raise fresh concerns about Iran's nuclear intentions, in light of the fact that Iran cannot produced the needed nuclear fuel in time" to refuel the research reactor, said the letter.

Iran's decision to enrich to the 20-percent level is "wholly unjustified, contrary to U.N. Security Council resolutions and represent(s) a further step toward a capability to produce highly enriched uranium," said the letter to IAEA chief Yukiya Amano.
The 20-percent mark represents the threshold between low-enriched and high-enriched uranium.
Although warhead material must be enriched to a level of 90 percent or more, just getting its present stockpile to the 20 percent mark would be a major step for Iran's nuclear program. While enriching to 20 percent would take about one year, using up to 2,000 centrifuges at Tehran's underground Natanz facility, any next step — moving from 20 to 90 percent — would take only half a year and between 500-1,000 centrifuges.
Since its clandestine enrichment program became known eight years ago, Iran has insisted it is meant only to generate nuclear fuel. But its secrecy and refusal to cooperate with an IAEA probe of allegations that it experimented with aspects of a weapons program had increased fears about its nuclear ambitions even before President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Feb.7 announcement that Iran will raise the enrichment bar.

Vancouver Olympics schedule, Vancouver Olympic medals & Vancouver Olympics results

2010-02-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

Vancouver: Vancouver Olympics schedule, Vancouver Olympic medals & Vancouver Olympics results. Death of a Georgian luge racer during a practice run at Vancouver Winter Olympics, lights out to some concerns over soaring risk factors in the Games. In response to Olympic officials' explanation of Nodar Kumaritashvili's crash on the track that it was a fault from the athlete, voices were raised against high speed tracks, even from the president of Republic of Georgia.

The athletes turned up for the Games at Vancouver are the best, and well-trained in their respective sporting itmes. Anyway, it is sure that almost all items at the Games, which include luge, skeleton, aerial skiing or snowboarding, the race for faster, higher, more air have a touch of risk.

"The Winter Olympics has always had dangerous sports, but it's getting worse. A lot of it has to do with maybe you want the ratings, and danger is good for ratings. Perhaps not so good for the athletes", said Olympics historian David Wallechinsky.

According to statistics of past Games, there were thousands of accidents happened in the winter Olympics. 139,332 American athletes were injured while skiing in 2007 , and another 164,002, hurt during snowboarding in the same year. Almost all items at the games have recorded a similar kind accident cases.

The 2010 Winter Olympics has finally arrived. It was announced that there will be a total of 15 winter sports events that will be part of the 2010 Winter Olympics which include alpine skiing, Biathlon, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, nordic combined, short track speed skating, skeleton, ski jumping, snowboarding, and Speed skating. 82 participating countries will compete in these games. Peru, Pakistan, Montenegro, Serbia, Ghana, Colombia, and Cayman Islands, will make their winter Olympic debuts but other countries like Venezuela, Virgin Islands, Thailand, Madagascar, Luxembourg, Kenya, and Costa Rica, which competed at the previous Winter Games in Turin will not participate in Vancouver.

Paczki Day 2010: Facts, Traditions, And Recipes For Paczki Day, Fastnacht Day And Fat Tuesday

2010-02-16T09:20:00.000-08:00

It is Paczki Day today, Feb. 16, 2010 - also known as Fastnacht Day and Fat Tuesday.
Paczki Day is a Polish tradition in which people use up lard, sugar and eggs in preparation for Lent, which begins the day after.
Paczki (pronounced POONCH-key), or pączek, is described by Dictionary.com as follows: "A round Polish pastry similar to a doughnut, usually filled with fruit and topped with sugar or icing."
Paczki Day is particularly popular in American cities with large Polish populations such as Chicago, Buffalo, and Detroit.
The Polish American Journal provides further information including recipes (small, large, old Warsaw, or old Polish) to prepare paczki yourself.
Celebrations are being held across the Midwest to honor the day and local bakeries are making extra paczki to accommodate Paczki Day.

7-Year-Old Samba Queen Cries at Rio's Carnival

2010-02-15T12:30:00.000-08:00

She was cheered by legions of Carnival fans, but 7-year-old Julia Lira, the youngest drum corps queen in memory at Rio's lavish party, broke down crying after being surrounded by cameras early Monday.

Dressed in a sequined halter top and a miniskirt made of purple feathers, the youngster tentatively stepped through the first 50 yards of the parade. Her father -- the president of the parading Viradouro samba group -- then took her by the hand and presented her to the crowd. She smiled big for the photographers and adoring fans.

But 10 minutes into the group's parade and surrounded by dozens of photographers and television cameramen, the youngster broke down in tears and was immediately scooped up into the arms of her unofficial handler, the group's spokeswoman Joice Hurtado, and taken away from the attention.

After a five-minute cool down, Julia returned to her place in front of the group's massive drum line, but was quickly whisked through the parade grounds by her father and out of the media's eye.

"She just got scared after having all those cameras thrust in her face," Hurtado said after the parade. "After we got her into her mother's arms, she quickly calmed down and put on a great show."

While Julia bounced back and began to samba at the helm of the parade, television coverage broadcast to millions in Brazil steered clear of showing any more shots of her.

Before the parade began, Julia's father, Marco Lira, said that "she's happy, she is ready to

dance."

After the parade, however, both father and daughter looked tired and emotionally exhausted, though Julia managed a few furtive smiles but no words when asked how she liked the event.

Some in the audience thought she was not ready for the spotlight

"She is too young to be a drum corps queen," said Marister Deniz, 60, who was watching from the stands. "A girl that size shouldn't be thrust in such a role."

But Jorge Elias Souza, a member of the Viradouro drum corps, said he was proud of the girl regardless.

"She is the embodiment of all the love in our school. Normally a famous person is the drum corps queen, but her father is our president and she is the center of our family," he said. Putting Julia in the Carnival role drew the ire of child welfare advocates who were against a young girl taking on a role normally reserved for sultry models and actresses.

Carlos Nicodemos, director of the Rio de Janeiro state Council for the Defense of Children and Adolescents, two weeks ago asked a judge to keep the girl from dancing, arguing that "what we can't allow is putting a 7-year-old girl in a role that traditionally for Carnival has a very sexual focus."

A judge ruled last week that the girl could join the parade, and the overwhelming response in Brazil was a shrug and acceptance.

Before Julia took to the parade ground, the Rio's reigning Carnival Queen Shayene Cesario Vieira, 24, said she thought "it's cool" that the girl would participate.

"I don't remember hearing of a drum corps queen being so young," she said. "But her dad is the president of the group and if he thinks it's OK, it's OK.

In the two weeks leading up to the Carnival parade, Marco Lira said repeatedly that he and his wife would be with the girl at all times and they would carefully watch to make sure she doesn't get too tired during the parade. Both he and his wife were with the girl through the entire parade.

The Viradouro samba group has a history of controversial themes. A 2008 float portrayed Hitler amid a sea of naked mannequins representing Holocaust victims. A judge banned that float from being in the parade.

Nicodemos has also suggested that the samba group put Julia into her role to get extra attention -- a charge strongly denied by her father.

As 12 top-tier Rio samba schools compete fiercely in the parades that are broadcast to viewers nationwide, massive street parties continued to erupt across the city.

Tourism officials said almost 730,000 visitors arrived in Rio this year for the big party -- a 5 percent increase over last year.

It's the first Carnival since Rio was named as host to the 2016 Olympics, and officials have been working hard to show that the city, known for the drug-gang violence that pervades its slums, can safely host major events.

There have been few reports of violence during the party so far.

A 37-year-old Dutch tourist was shot by a robber as he tried to defend a Dutch woman he was with, police said. A spokesman for the Silvestre Hospital said Alexander Kors Johannes had been operated on and was in stable condition Sunday.

Kevin Smith Tossed from Plane for Being Too Fat

2010-02-15T12:18:00.000-08:00

In the film world, Kevin Smith is larger than life. And in the real world, he's too big to fly on an airplane. The director, actor and comedian was escorted off an airplane Saturday because he could not fit comfortably in his seat.

Smith boarded a flight from Oakland to Burbank, Ca, but was soon escorted off the flight because he was encroaching upon the comfort of his fellow passengers.

"If a customer cannot comfortably lower the armrest and infringes on a portion of another seat, a customer seated adjacent would be very uncomfortable and a timely exit from the aircraft in the event of an emergency might be compromised if we allow a cramped, restricted seating arrangement," Southwest said.

Of course, Smith was not happy about it. The Mallrats director took to Twitter soon after with a series of rants.

"I broke no regulation, offered no 'safety risk' (what, was I gonna roll on a fellow passenger?)" he wrote. "I saw someone bigger than me on THAT flight! But I wasn't about to throw a fellow Fatty under the plane as I'm being profiled. But he & I made eye contact, & he was like 'Please don't tell...'"

"Don't worry," he added. "[The] wall of the plane was opened & I was airlifted out while Richard Simmons supervised."

Southwest Airlines said they called Smith to offer their "heartfelt apologies," but reiterated that his removal was for the "safety and comfort of all customers."

Smith has now joked he wants to start a boycott of the airlines, and says that he will try to never fly Southwest again.

"The SouthwestAir Diet. How it works: you're publicly shamed into a slimmer figure. Crying the weight right off has never been easier!"

Iran is becoming a military dictatorship

2010-02-15T11:59:00.000-08:00

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday Iran is sliding into a military dictatorship, a new assessment suggesting a rockier road ahead for U.S.-led efforts to stop Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

As the first high-level Obama administration official to make such an accusation, Clinton was reflecting an ever-dimming outlook for persuading Iran to negotiate limits on its nuclear program, which it has insisted is intended only for peaceful purposes. The U.S. and others — including the two Gulf countries Clinton visited Sunday and Monday — believe Iran is headed for a nuclear bomb capability.

Clinton also was revealing the logic of the administration's plan to target the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps with a new round of international sanctions intended to compel Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions before it increases the likelihood of a military clash.

Clinton flew to Riyadh, the Saudi capital, and then was driven in King Abdullah's private bus about 65 miles northeast to Rawdat Khurayim, a secluded royal hunting retreat where the vacationing king hosted her for lunch — and where a large-screen TV was on. Afterward they met privately in his elaborately appointed tent, which includes five crystal chandeliers in the reception room. Clinton also met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal in Riyadh and later was flying to Jeddah on the Red Sea coast.

Earlier in the day, in Doha, Qatar, Clinton spoke bluntly about Iranian behavior and what she called the Obama administration's view of Iran as increasingly dominated by the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Last week the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it was freezing the assets in U.S. jurisdictions of a Revolutionary Guard general and four subsidiaries of a previously penalized construction company he runs because of their alleged involvement in producing and spreading weapons of mass destruction.

The Revolutionary Guard has long been a pillar of Iran's regime as a force separate from the ordinary armed forces. The Guard now has a hand in every critical area, including missile development, oil resources, dam building, road construction, telecommunications and nuclear technology.

It also has absorbed the paramilitary Basij as a full-fledged part of its command structure — giving the militia greater funding and a stronger presence in Iran's internal politics.

"The evidence we've seen of this increasing decision-making (by the Revolutionary Guard) cuts across all areas of Iranian security policy, and certainly nuclear policy is at the core of it," Clinton told reporters flying with her from Doha to Saudi Arabia.

Asked if the U.S. was planning a military attack on Iran, Clinton said "no."

The United States is focused on gaining international support for sanctions "that will be particularly aimed at those enterprises controlled by the Revolutionary Guard, which we believe is in effect supplanting the government of Iran," she said.

Meanwhile, a semi-official news agency quoted the head of Iran's nuclear program as saying the country received a new proposal last week from the United States, Russia and France, three of the countries trying to rein in Tehran's uranium enrichment program.

Iran said that it was studying the joint proposal purportedly made after the country announced last week it had begun enriching uranium to a higher level than previously acknowledged. The ILNA news agency quoted Ali Akbar Salehi as saying various countries have also offered Iran proposals on a nuclear fuel swap, adding that Iran is reviewing all the proposals. He did not provide any more details.

Private U.S. experts on the Iranian regime said they agreed with Clinton's assessment of Iran's drift toward military dominance.

"When you rely on the power of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to remain in power it is only a matter of time before the regime becomes a paramilitary dictatorship — and it is about time we realize this," Iranian-born Fariborz Ghadar, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in an e-mail to The AP. He said the current regime is "beholden to the Revolutionary Guard for its survival."

Ray Takeyh, a former administration adviser on Iran who now follows Iranian developments from the private Council on Foreign Relations, said by e-mail, "The Revolutionary Guards are increasingly represented in all aspects of governance."

Clinton told reporters it appears the Revolutionary Guard is in charge of Iran's controversial nuclear program and the country changing course "depends on whether the clerical and political leadership begin to reassert themselves."

She added: "I'm not predicting what will happen but I think the trend with this greater and greater military lock on leadership decisions should be disturbing to Iranians as well as those of us on the outside."

Clinton said the Iran that could emerge is "a far cry from the Islamic Republic that had elections and different points of view within the leadership circle. That is part of the reason that we are so concerned with what we are seeing going on there."

In her Doha appearance, Clinton also said she foresees a possible breakthrough soon in stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

"I'm hopeful that this year will see the commencement of serious negotiations that will cover every issue that is outstanding," she said, adding that "everyone is anticipating" progress after more than a year of impasse between the negotiating parties.

The peace talks broke down in late 2008 with Israel's incursion into Gaza, which had launched rocket attacks on Israeli targets.

Clinton spoke in an interview with the Al-Jazeera TV network before a live audience of mostly Arab students at the Carnegie Mellon campus.

Michelle Obama to launch initiative fighting child obesity

2010-01-20T23:55:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON — Calling obesity an epidemic and one of the greatest threats to America's health and economy, first lady Michelle Obama said Wednesday that she would launch a major initiative next month to combat the problem in childhood.
Obama, speaking at a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, said the idea was simple: "To put in place common-sense initiatives and solutions that empower families and communities to make healthy decisions for their kids."
The initiative will involve the federal government working with local officials and leaders in the business and non-profit sectors, she said, to provide more nutritious food in schools, allow more opportunities for kids to be physically active and give more communities access to affordable, healthful food.
Obama has said she hopes one of her legacies will be her work in reducing childhood obesity, an effort she already has begun by planting the White House garden and joining in physical activities with children.
She told the mayors that as much as she has read and talked about the problem, "the statistics never fail to take my breath away."
About 32% of children and adolescents are obese or overweight, government statistics show. Almost 20% of children ages 6 to 11 and 18% of those ages 12 to 19 are obese. Such children are at a greater risk for weight-related health problems such as high cholesterol and diabetes, and they have an increased chance of becoming obese adults.

The Scoop on Scott Brown

2010-01-20T23:31:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Scott Brown pulled off a tremendous political upset. The Massachusetts Republican beat out Democrat Martha Coakley for the Senate seat left vacant by the late Democrat Ted Kennedy. On this, the day after Brown's improbable victory, the Web searches are pouring in on everything from Sen. Brown's victory speech to his daughter's Hollywood aspirations to his humorous defense of pickup trucks.

The victory speech

He may be a United States senator, but he's still Dad. During his victory speech, with his wife and daughters standing behind him, Brown thanked his family for their support. And then things got a little awkward. As his shocked daughters looked on, Sen. Brown said that both of his daughters were "available."

Quoting Dad: "Just in case anyone who's watching throughout the country, yes, they're both available." He then backed off his comments as the crowd hooted and hollered. "No, no. No. Only kidding, only kidding. Only kidding, only kidding," he said. "Arianna... Arianna's definitely not available." He then added, "But Ayla is."

Brown, the professional

If either of his daughters want to get back at their dad, they have some good ammo. Prior to becoming the newest United States Senator, Scott Brown was a state senator, a lawyer, a member of the National Guard, and... a nude model? Yes, that's right. In 1982, Sen. Brown won Cosmopolitan's "Sexiest Man" competition and posed in the buff (key areas were covered). The contest helped him pay for law school. And while the photo spread may be a bit embarrassing, it obviously hasn't hurt his career.

Brown, the family man

Senator Brown's jokey demeanor may have something to do with his family. After all, anybody with two college-age daughters has to have a good sense of humor. One of his daughters, Ayla, was a contestant on the fifth season of "American Idol." Though she failed to win the competition, her father's victory has put her back in the Search spotlight. Online lookups for "ayla brown" and "ayla brown american idol" both surged over 300%. His other daughter, Arianna, is a pre-med student at Syracuse University.

His wife, Gail

As numerous news outlets have pointed out, prior to his election, Scott Brown was probably the third most famous member of his immediate family. His eldest daughter was on "American Idol." His wife, Gail Huff, is a longtime news reporter for WCVB, an ABC station in Boston. Folks eager to see Ms. Huff do her thing on camera pushed searches on "gail huff news videos" and "gail huff clips" into primetime. According to her bio on the station's official site, Ms. Huff "has been recognized with numerous awards for her work with area charities."

What's wrong with pickups?

While campaigning for Ms. Coakley, President Obama took a jab at Sen. Brown's pickup truck. "I'd think long and hard before getting in that truck with Martha's opponent. It might not take you where you want to go." Well, Senator Brown had the last laugh. During his victory speech, the senator said he was going to ask President Obama if he'd like to see the truck around Washington, D.C. The senator also channeled his inner country-music star. He said he didn't mind when the president criticized him, "But let me tell you, when he started to criticize my truck, that's where I draw the line." For the record, Brown's truck is a GM. Ironically, as a taxpayer, President Obama is part-owner of the beleaguered automaker.

What's next for Martha?

Ms. Coakley's loss has put a huge dent in the Democratic plan for health care reform. In the wake of her stunning defeat, many party insiders are pointing fingers as to why Coakley lost. Not surprisingly, many of those fingers are aimed directly at Coakley for running a mediocre campaign. Others are blaming the Democratic party. And still others are blaming good ol' fashioned hubris in everybody involved. After all, how could a Republican win in one of the bluest states in the country? Overconfidence is getting pinpointed as a likely culprit.

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Massachusetts Election could Jolt Senate Obama

2010-01-19T07:05:00.000-08:00

BOSTON — On the eve of the Senate election that could determine the fate of President Obama's agenda, Democrats scrambled to build a firebreak around the candidacy of Martha Coakley against the phenomenon of Scott Brown, the Republican Massachusetts state senator whose underdog campaign has surged as the vessel for national opposition to the Democrats' supermajority in the chamber.

Both teams, reinforced by senior political operatives from Washington and bevies of volunteers from beyond Massachusetts, made ardent appeals to supporters to brave freezing temperatures and vote in today's special election to fill the seat vacated by the death of Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy.
Democrats focused on trying to persuade independent women to back Coakley, who would be the first female senator from the Bay State. Republicans championed Brown as the best brake on runaway spending in Washington.
Enthusiastic crowds greeted Brown, whose prospects sharply ascended when his candidacy was identified as an opportunity to deprive Democrats of the 60th vote required to stop debate on a health-care overhaul, an issue that was Kennedy's lifelong quest. Chants of "Forty-one!" broke out at his campaign stops.
Several late polls suggested Brown's remarkable surge may be pushing him beyond what appeared to be a dead heat a week ago.
Over the weekend, Suffolk University surveyed three Massachusetts communities where past returns have mirrored statewide results, and found Brown leading by 14 to 17 percentage points.

A Brown campaign official predicted independent voters rallying to the insurgent Republican would push turnout above 50 percent, twice that of the last special election.
"The half of my family who voted for Obama are for Brown," said Dennis Sheehan, an electrical technician from Lowell, who cheered the Senate candidate outside a Boston Bruins game. "They felt sold out. He said he'd bring the whole country together. I've never seen the country so divided in my life, and I grew up in the '60s, with Vietnam."
A conservative political-action committee calling itself "Our Country Deserves Better," which has aligned itself with the Tea Party movement, has spent more than $285,000 in support of Brown the past couple of weeks, federal election records show.
The political-action committee of the Cooperative of American Physicians — a California-based consortium of doctors concerned with the costs of malpractice lawsuits — has spent at least $35,000 on "prerecorded messages" in support of Brown.
The Political Action Committee of the National Republican Trust, also supporting Brown, reported spending nearly $100,000 on advertising.
On a much smaller scale, a conservative group focused on national-security issues called Move America Forward reported spending more than $13,000 on an e-mail blast and other activity supportive of Brown.

All you can think is a click away is that type of a blog which brings you a lot of stuff which means that this blog is easy for you to entertain yourselves. This blog has a lot of stuff that is usefull for people around the world. This blog is about hottest informations and reviews all you need and how you implement in it as well. Share and enjoy God bless you all.

Say Cheese Extra Photos at the Golden Globes

2010-01-19T06:32:00.000-08:00

"Extra" caught up with all of Hollywood's hottest stars at the Golden Globes.

Google Postpones Mobile Phone Launch in China

2010-01-19T06:22:00.000-08:00

BEIJING (AP) — Google on Tuesday postponed the planned launch of its mobile phone in China amid a dispute with the government over Internet censorship and e-mail hacking that the search giant says may force it to leave the country.
"It is postponed," Google Inc. spokeswoman Marsha Wang said. She said a launch ceremony planned for Wednesday was canceled but declined to give a reason for the decision or to say when the launch might be rescheduled.
Also Tuesday, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said the search giant must obey China's laws and traditions, suggesting the government was giving no ground in talks over Internet censorship and Google's threat to pull out of the country.

It was the government's first direct comment on Google since the U.S. company said Jan. 12 it would no longer censor search results in China and might shut down its China-based site Google.cn. The announcement prompted an outpouring of support from Chinese Web surfers, who left flowers at Google offices and pleaded with the company to stay.
Google's phone is an effort by the company to join in competition for a share of China's mobile phone market, which is the world's most populous.
Google's announcement shocked the international business community and cheered many free-speech advocates.
The Chinese government blocks access to websites abroad run by human rights groups and dissidents and material deemed subversive or pornographic.

FBI illegally Collected Phone Records

2010-01-19T06:13:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON – The FBI violated the law in collecting thousands of U.S. telephone records during the Bush administration, The Washington Post reported Monday.
Citing internal memos and interviews, the Post said the FBI invoked nonexistent terrorism emergencies or persuaded phone companies to provide information as it illegally gathered more than 2,000 records between 2002 and 2006.
The bureau said in 2007 that it had improperly obtained some phone records, and the Justice Department inspector general is expected to release a report this month detailing the extent of the problem.
FBI general counsel Valerie Caproni told the Post that agents technically violated the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, which was enacted in 1986, by citing nonexistent emergencies to collect records. "We should have stopped those requests from being made that way," she said.
Documents obtained by the Post show that FBI managers as high as the assistant director level approved the emergency requests. Caproni said FBI Director Robert Mueller did not know about the requests until late 2006 or early 2007, after the inspector general's investigation had begun.
Caproni told the Post that the bureau will await the inspector general's report before deciding whether disciplinary action is warranted.All you can think is a click away is that type of a blog which brings you a lot of stuff which means that this blog is easy for you to entertain yourselves. This blog has a lot of stuff that is usefull for people around the world. This blog is about hottest informations and reviews all you need and how you implement in it as well. Share and enjoy God bless you all.

Golden Globe Fashion Awards Sandra Bullock

2010-01-19T06:02:00.000-08:00

The best-actress winner for The Blind Side wore a sheer, purple Bottega Veneta gown. "The shape of her dress suited her body so well, and the color was perfect for her skin tone," Yalof Schwartz says. The actress also considered her look a victory: "The minute I put this on, it felt like me."

With husband Jesse James holding her umbrella high, Sandra Bullock looks lovely on the rainy red carpet at the 2010 Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday (January 17) in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The 45-year-old actress wore a violet Bottega Venetta gown and Casadei’s signature 3504 triple platform pump. Her hair was created by Frederic Fekkai stylist Adir Abergel.

Sandra is nominated for both of her leading roles in The Blind Side and The Proposal at tonight’s ceremony. She most recently tied with Meryl Streep at the 2010 Critics’ Choice Movie Awards for Best Actress and sealed it with a kiss!

Chavez says U.S. Occupying Haiti in Name of Aid

2010-01-18T07:41:00.000-08:00

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez on Sunday accused the United States of using the earthquake in Haiti as a pretext to occupy the devastated Caribbean country and offered to send fuel from his OPEC nation.

"I read that 3,000 soldiers are arriving, Marines armed as if they were going to war. There is not a shortage of guns there, my God. Doctors, medicine, fuel, field hospitals, that's what the United States should send," Chavez said on his weekly television show. "They are occupying Haiti undercover."
"On top of that, you don't see them in the streets. Are they picking up bodies? ... Are they looking for the injured? You don't see them. I haven't seen them. Where are they?"
Chavez promised to send as much gasoline as Haiti needs for electricity generation and transport.
A perennial foe of U.S. "imperialism," Chavez said he did not wish to diminish the humanitarian effort made by the United States and was only questioning the need for so many troops.
The United States is sending more than 5,000 Marines and soldiers to Haiti, and a hospital ship is due to arrive later this week.
The country's president said U.S. troops would help keep order on Haiti's increasingly lawless streets.
Venezuela has sent several planes to Haiti with doctors, aid and some soldiers. A Russia-Venezuela mission was set to leave Venezuela on Monday carrying aid on Russian planes.

Chavez said Venezuela's planes were the first to land in Haiti after Tuesday's 7.0 magnitude earthquake, which wrecked the capital Port-Au-Prince and killed as many as 200,000 people.

Security Concerns Cause Doctors To Leave Hospital Quake Victims

2010-01-18T07:38:00.000-08:00

Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) -- Earthquake victims, writhing in pain and grasping at life, watched doctors and nurses walk away from a field hospital Friday night after a Belgian medical team evacuated the area, saying it was concerned about security.

The decision left CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta as the only doctor at the hospital to get the patients through the night.

CNN initially reported, based on conversations with some of the doctors, that the United Nations ordered the Belgian First Aid and Support Team to evacuate. However, Belgian Chief Coordinator Geert Gijs, a doctor who was at the hospital with 60 Belgian medical personnel, said it was his decision to pull the team out for the night. Gijs said he requested U.N. security personnel to staff the hospital overnight, but was told that peacekeepers would only be able to evacuate the team.

He said it was a "tough decision" but that he accepted the U.N. offer to evacuate after a Canadian medical team, also at the hospital with Canadian security officers, left the site Friday afternoon. The Belgian team returned Saturday morning.

Gijs said the United Nations has agreed to provide security for Saturday night. The team has requested the Belgian government to send its own troops for the field hospital, which Gijs expects to arrive late Sunday.

Responding to the CNN report that Gupta was the only doctor left at the Port-au-Prince field hospital, U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said Saturday that the world body's mission in Haiti did not order any medical team to leave. If the team left, it was at the request of their own organization, he said.

Edmond Mulet, the U.N. assistant secretary general for peacekeeping operations, told reporters later that local security officers deemed the makeshift hospital unsafe.

"It seems that we've heard some reports in the international media that the United Nations asked or forced some medical teams to not work any more in some clinic -- that is not true, that is completely untrue," Mulet said Saturday.

CNN video from the scene Friday night shows the Belgian team packing up its supplies and leaving with an escort of blue-helmeted U.N. peacekeepers in marked trucks.

View or add to CNN's database of missing persons in Haiti

Gupta -- assisted by other CNN staffers, security personnel and at least one Haitian nurse who refused to leave -- assessed the needs of the 25 patients, but there was little they could do without supplies.

More people, some in critical condition, were trickling in late Friday"I've never been in a situation like this. This is quite ridiculous," Gupta said.

With a dearth of medical facilities in Haiti's capital, ambulances had nowhere else to take patients, some of whom had suffered severe trauma -- amputations and head injuries -- under the rubble. Others had suffered a great deal of blood loss, but there were no blood supplies left at the clinic.

Gupta feared that some would not survive the night.

He and the others stayed with the injured all night, after the medical team had left and after the generators gave out and the tents turned pitch black.

Gupta monitored patients' vital signs, administered painkillers and continued intravenous drips. He stabilized three new patients in critical condition.

At 3:45 a.m., he posted a message on Twitter: "pulling all nighter at haiti field hosp. lots of work, but all patients stable. turned my crew into a crack med team tonight."

Are you in Haiti and safe? Share your photos

He said the Belgian doctors did not want to leave their patients behind but were ordered out by the United Nations, which sent buses to transport them.

"There is concern about riots not far from here -- and this is part of the problem," Gupta said.

There have been scattered reports of violence throughout the capital.

"What is striking to me as a physician is that patients who just had surgery, patients who are critically ill, are essentially being left here, nobody to care for them," Gupta said.

Sandra Pierre, a Haitian who has been helping at the makeshift hospital, said the medical staff took most of the supplies with them.

"All the doctors, all the nurses are gone," she said. "They are expected to be back tomorrow. They had no plan on leaving tonight. It was an order that came suddenly."

She told Gupta, "It's just you."

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake flattened Haiti's capital city Tuesday afternoon, affecting as many as 3 million people as it fanned out across the island nation. Tens of thousands of people are feared dead.

Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere, lacked adequate medical resources even before the disaster and has been struggling this week to tend to huge numbers of injured. The clinic, set up under several tents, was a godsend to the few who were lucky to have been brought there.

Retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, who led relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina in 2005, said the evacuation of the clinic's medical staff was unforgivable.

"Search and rescue must trump security," Honoré said. "I've never seen anything like this before in my life. They need to man up and get back in there."

Honoré drew parallels between the tragedy in New Orleans, Louisiana, and in Port-au-Prince. But even in the chaos of Katrina, he said, he had never seen medical staff walk away.

"I find this astonishing these doctors left," he said. "People are scared of the poor."

IMF chief: Global Recovery Stronger Than Expected

2010-01-18T07:34:00.000-08:00

TOKYO (AP) -- The head of the IMF said China and other developing Asian economies are leading a global recovery that is faster and stronger than expected, but warned that money rushing into emerging markets could lead to asset bubbles.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, strongly suggested Monday that the IMF would raise its 2010 global growth forecast from the 3.1 percent it projected in October.

China, India and other emerging Asian economies were close to returning to their pre-crisis growth rates, while rebounds in the U.S., Japan and other advanced economies remained "sluggish," he said.

"The forecasts we're going to release in a couple of days will show that this recovery is going faster and stronger than we expected" several months ago, Strauss-Kahn told reporters in Tokyo.

While the IMF doesn't forecast a "double-dip," or second recession, risks remain, he said. "We have to very cautious because this recovery remains very fragile."

While hundreds of billions in stimulus spending by governments around the world avoided another Great Depression, he said, the most important risk facing the global economy is deciding how and when to reverse those polices and deal with resulting debt burdens.

"Now we have to fix the consequences of the policy that has been put in place to fight against the crisis," he said. "Finding the right time to implement exit policies is really a difficult one."

"If you exit too late, you waste resources," he said. "If you exit too early, you have a risk of going back into recession."

The best indicators for timing fresh growth strategies are monitoring private demand and employment, he said. The IMF recommends that governments devise policies that will support the labor market given still-high joblessness, which could lead to social unrest in some countries.

A key lesson from the global financial crisis is that authorities need to beef up supervision -- more so than regulations -- of financial institutions, he said.

"You may have the best regulations in the world, but if it's not supervised correctly, it's no use."

Strauss-Kahan also said he was worried that the unified political will to tackle the crisis demonstrated at the Group of 20 summits last year will vanish as the world economy recovers.

The rush of money into major emerging markets such as China, Brazil and Russia reflects investors' recognition that these economies are growing rapidly.

But Strauss-Kahn said this could lead to "many problems," including asset bubbles and a sudden drop in foreign investment, much like Eastern European countries experienced during the global financial crisis.

Jennifer Aniston Gerad Butler Shows Off Thigh Cuddles (PHOTOS)

2010-01-18T07:30:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler, her costar in the upcoming "The Bounty Hunter," presented at the Golden Globes. In the press room afterward Aniston's otherwise boring black dress revealed a high thigh slit when she walked. All you can think is a click away is that type of a blog which brings you a lot of stuff which means that this blog is easy for you to entertain yourselves. This blog has a lot of stuff that is usefull for people around the world. This blog is about hottest informations and reviews all you need and how you implement in it as well. Share and enjoy God bless you all.

Sexy Jessica Chobot

2010-01-18T07:23:00.000-08:00

Jessica Chobot became an overnight internet sensation when a tongue-in-cheek modeling photo of her appeared online licking the Sony PSP in 2005. The photo has been widely parodied since, even appearing on Sony-branded advertising.

Supplementing her love of videogames is an obsession with Japanese culture, specifically anime and manga. In 2006 Chobot was hired full-time by IGN.com to take over hosting responsibilities for the network's IGN Weekly show which is no longer running. Her segments included stand-up introductions as well as "woman-on-the-street" pieces. She now hosts a daily show entitled , "IGN Daily Fix", the first episode aired March 23, 2009. While Chobot is the main host of the show Fran Mirabella and more commonly Daemon Hatfield have been known to host as well. The show does a weekly Friday giveaway asking questions about random fun video facts, the winner receiving a video game. In addition, she contributes columns, features and reviews and her IGN blog is one of the most visited on the site. Chobot is also a former contributor to FHM UK, Mania.com and has made multiple appearances on G4's "Filter" and "Attack of the Show." She has also hosted a videogame preview segment for Fuel TV’s, “The Daily Habit,” and co-hosts on Lifeskool TV’s, “Gamer’s Dojo.” She also contributes as a weekly guest on Maxim Radio, where she answers caller questions for an hour each Monday.

Chobot has appeared on commercials for ADV’s Anime Network On Demand cable station, lent her likeness to Symbiote Studios Toy Company for two limited-edition anime-style sculptures. In addition, she has modeled for the J!NX female gamers clothing line. In 2006-2007, she co-wrote a sci-fi script with writer/director/creator of Tron, Steven Lisberger, for Soul Code. Current collaborations include an anime-style collectible figurine in development with Symbiote Studios, a representative of JiNX.com women's apparel line. Chobot is also writing the "Ask Jess, Dammit!" blog for Maxim[4].She was named the 88th most desirable woman of 2008 by AskMen magazine and 14th hottest woman of business 2009 by Business Pundit

Michelle Obama intensely jealous of Oprah Winfrey

2010-01-18T07:14:00.000-08:00

America’s First Lady Michelle Obama is jealous of her husband’s close friendship with Oprah Winfrey.

America’s First Lady Michelle Obama is jealous of her husband’s close friendship with Oprah Winfrey.Michelle and Barack Obama's marriage is under pressure due to the First Lady's ‘jealousy' of her husband's friendship with Oprah Winfrey, the National Enquirer reports. "Their marriage has been like a war zone lately," a source claims. "In public, they put on a united, smiling front but behind closed doors, the gloves come off. If they're not screaming at each other, they're glaring or stomping off in different directions. Michelle is intensely jealous of the time Barack spends with Oprah.
"Since the election, Michelle has privately given Oprah the cold shoulder. She once said: ‘There's only room for one First Lady in the White House - and that's me!' Believe me, she means it."
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Cameron's 'Avatar' Wins Best Drama Honor at Globes

2010-01-18T07:11:00.000-08:00

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - The science-fiction blockbuster "Avatar" won best drama at the Golden Globes and picked up the directing honor for James Cameron on Sunday, raising the "Titanic" filmmaker's prospects for another Academy Awards triumph.

It was a repeat of Cameron's Globes night 12 years ago, when "Titanic" won best drama and the directing prize on its way to dominating the Oscars.

This time, though, instead of being "king of the world," as Cameron declared at the Oscars, he has become king of an alien landscape, elevating space fantasy to enormous critical acclaim.

"'Avatar' asks us to see that everything is connected, all human beings to each other, and us to the Earth. And if you have to go four and a half light years to another, made-up planet to appreciate this miracle of the world that we have right here, well, you know what, that's the wonder of cinema right there, that's the magic," Cameron said.

Winning the dramatic-acting honors were Sandra Bullock for the football tale "The Blind Side" and Jeff Bridges for the country-music story "Crazy Heart." The crowd gave a standing ovation to Bridges, a beloved veteran generally overlooked for key Hollywood honors.

The acting prizes for musical and comedy went to Meryl Streep for the Julia Child story "Julie & Julia" and Robert Downey Jr. for the crime romp "Sherlock Holmes." The supporting-performance Globes were won by Mo'Nique as an abusive welfare mother in "Precious" and Christoph Waltz as a gleefully bloodthirsty Nazi in "Inglourious Basterds."

The Vegas bachelor bash "The Hangover" won for best musical or comedy, bringing uncharacteristic awards attention for broad comedy, a genre that often gets overlooked at Hollywood honors.

"I just want to thank my mom, who supported my decision to become a director when she realized I wasn't as smart as my two sisters," said "Hangover" director Todd Phillips.

As he accepted the directing Globe, Cameron had kind words for ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow, nominated as best director for "The Hurt Locker."

"Frankly, I thought Kathryn was going to get this. She richly deserves it," said Cameron, whose "Titanic" earned the directing and best-drama Globes 12 years ago on its way to Academy Awards triumph.

The blockbuster "Up" came away with the award for animated film.

While Streep is a perennial at awards shows, the prize marked a dramatic turning point for Mo'Nique, who was mainly known for lowbrow comedy but startled audiences with her ferocious performance in "Precious: Based on the Novel `Push' By Sapphire."

"First let me say, thank you, God, for this amazing ride that you're allowing me to go on," the tearful Mo'Nique told the crowd.

She went on with gushing praise for "Precious" director Lee Daniels and newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, a best dramatic actress nominee at the Globes with her first film role, playing Mo'Nique's abused, illiterate daughter.

"Lee Daniels, the world gets a chance to see how brilliant you are. You are a brilliant, fearless, amazing director who would not waver, and thank you for trusting me," Mo'Nique said. "To Gabby, sister, I am in awe of you. Thank you for letting me play with you."

Streep's competition for best actress in a musical or comedy included herself. She also was nominated for the romance "It's Complicated."

"I just want to say that in my long career, I've played so many extraordinary woman that I'm getting mistaken for one," Streep said. "I'm very clear that I'm the vessel for other people's stories and other people's lives."

Waltz, a veteran Austrian actor who is a relative newcomer in Hollywood, won the supporting-actor Globe as a gleefully bloodthirsty Nazi in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds."

"A year and a half ago I was exposed to the gravitational forces of Quentin Tarantino," Waltz said. "He took my modest little world, my globe, and with the power of his talent and his words and his vision, he flung it into its orbit, a dizzying experience."

Though one of Hollywood's biggest parties, the Globes bore somber reminders of tragedy in the real world, many stars wearing ribbons in support of earthquake victims in Haiti.

Films from Pixar Animation, the Disney outfit that made "Up," have won all four prizes for animated movies since the Globes introduced the category in 2006. Past Pixar winners are "WALL-E," "Ratatouille" and "Cars."

"Up" features the voice of Ed Asner in a tale of a lonely, bitter widower who renews his zest for adventure by flying his house off under helium balloons to South America, where he encounters his childhood hero and a hilarious gang of talking canines.

"When it came to finding the heart of the film, we didn't have to look very hard," said "Up" director Pete Docter, whose film also won for musical score. "Our inspiration was all around us. Our grandparents, our parents, our wives, our kids. Our talking dogs."

Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner won the screenplay honor for "Up in the Air," which Reitman also directed. The foreign-language honor went to "The White Ribbon," a stark drama of guilt and suspicion set in a German town on the eve of World War I.

"Mad Men" won for best TV drama, while Michael C. Hall won for best actor in a TV drama for "Dexter," in which he plays a serial killer with a code of ethics, killing only other murderers. Hall's publicists revealed this past week that Hall is being treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma and that the cancer is in remission.

"It's really a hell of a thing to go to work in a place where everybody gives a damn. That's really the case with `Dexter,'" Hall said. "It's a dream job. I'm so grateful."

"Dexter" also won the supporting-actor TV honor for John Lithgow. Other TV winners included Juliana Margulies as best actress in a drama for "The Good Wife" and Toni Collette as best comedy actress for "The United States of Tara."

The rain-drenched red carpet was a rare sight for an awards show in sunny southern California, stars in their finery getting damp under umbrellas as storms swept the region.

The Globes got a makeover, featuring Ricky Gervais as master of ceremonies, the first time in 15 years the show had a host.

One of his most biting quips came as he sipped a beer on stage.

"I like a drink as much as the next man, unless the next man is Mel Gibson," Gervais wisecracked as he introduced Globe presenter Mel Gibson, who made an anti-Semitic rant a few years back during a drunken-driving arrest.

Gervais opened by mocking Steve Carell, star of the U.S. version of "The Office," based on Gervais' British comedy series. While a stone-faced Carell watched, Gervais yammered on about how fans love Carell and wonder where he gets his ideas from.

Carell then mouthed and pantomimed, "I will break you," to Gervais, an executive producer on the U.S. version of the show.

Gervais joked about the international causes near and dear to Hollywood stars.

"You can be a little Asian child with no possessions and see a picture of Angelina Jolie and you think, `mommy,'" he said.

With stars sharing dinner and drinks, the Globes traditionally are a loose and relaxed affair compared to the courtly Oscars. Celebrities sometimes are caught more in reality-show mode — Jack Nicholson once mooned the crowd for a laugh, and Christine Lahti had to rush from the restroom to collect her Globe for the TV drama "Chicago Hope."

Sunday's winners could get a last-minute boost for the Oscars, whose nominations balloting closes Saturday. Last year's big Globe winner, "Slumdog Millionaire," went on to dominate the Oscars.

The Globes are presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a group of about 90 reporters covering show business for overseas outlets. The show airs live on NBC.

Rubble in Haiti Australian Media Crews Pull Baby

2010-01-18T07:05:00.000-08:00

SYDNEY (AFP) – Rival Australian news crews said Monday that saving a life came before doing their jobs when they rescued an 18-month-old baby from underneath the rubble in earthquake-devastated Haiti.

The little girl was lying alongside the bodies of her dead parents who were killed in the 7.0 magnitude earthquake which hit Port-au-Prince on January 12 when the camera crews heard her moans and began to dig her out on Friday. Related article: Haitians pray in ruins Richard Moran, a cameraman with the commercial Nine Network, put down his camera and lifted pieces of concrete out of the way while Nine's interpreter and fixer Deiby Celestino climbed into the tangled mess to retrieve the child.

"And then, out of the ruins came this little girl, and I will never forget it. She did not cry. She looked astonished, almost as if she was seeing the world for the first time," Nine reporter Robert Penfold told The Australian.

The images of the child's rescue were captured by Nine's major rival Seven, and footage beamed around the world showed Seven's correspondent Mike Amor holding the dusty little girl and giving her water.

"That moment, it was beyond news," Amor said. "I haven't seen anything so remarkable since the birth of my own child. The emotion for all of us has been incredible."

Amor said the news crews and the locals who had helped locate the girl were concentrated on rescuing the child rather than news priorities.

"The focus of everybody on that hill was the little girl, and as any of us will tell you, it was Deiby who went into that hole, and dug, and dug, until he got that little girl out. He's the hero," he told The Australian.

Footage of the rescue is available on Seven's website, tagged: "Mike Amor's amazing rescue".

Channel Nine's news director Mark Calvert said while disasters can sometimes bring out the very worst in journalists, they can also produce the best.

"I'm proud of the Nine News team, who put the welfare of the little girl before their own safety, and placed their personal convictions before professional pressures," he said in a statement to AFP.

"Yes, they put down their camera to help. But they also filed their story. And most importantly, they helped save a life."
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Jon Hamm Still Sexy, Even With The Beard

2010-01-17T04:16:00.000-08:00

Not even growth that's a few weeks away from matching Brad Pitt's scraggly beard could stop Jon Hamm from being dashing as ever. The "Mad Men" hunk showed at the Motion Picture and Television Fund's premiere screening of Kirk Douglas' autobiographical film "Before I Forget" on Wednesday night in Los Angeles with actress and screenwriter Jennifer Westfeldt on his arm.

Hamm and Westfeldt chatted with the acting legend at a pre-screening reception hosted by Netflix, where the Golden Globe nominee mingled with the likes of Kellan Lutz and director-producer Adam Shankman. While Shankman was enthused over Douglas' retrospective flick, he imparted to me his all-time favorite performance from the master thesp:

"He's Spartacus, I'm a gay man. You do the math," Shankman said. How do you take your Hamm? Fuzzy or clean shaven? Tell me in comments!

Obama Confident Bank Tax Plan Will Pass Congress

2010-01-16T08:36:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama expressed confidence Saturday that lawmakers would approve his proposed tax on banks to recover bailout money, despite opposition from Republicans and the financial industry.
"Like clockwork, the banks and politicians who curry their favor are already trying to stop this fee from going into effect," he said, using his weekly radio and Internet addresses to promote the plan he announced this past week.
"The very same firms reaping billions of dollars in profits, and reportedly handing out more money in bonuses and compensation than ever before in history, are now pleading poverty. It's a sight to see."
If banks can afford to pay out all those bonuses, he said, then they can repay taxpayers, too.
We're not going to let Wall Street take the money and run. We're going to pass this fee into law," he said.

Congress must approve the tax and that's not assured, given the immediate opposition from Republicans. Democrats also could lose their 60-vote majority in the Senate, with Democrat Martha Coakley in an unexpectedly close race against Republican Scott Brown in Massachusetts to fill the seat held for decades by the late Democrat Edward M. Kennedy.
Brown opposes Obama's bank tax. Obama planned to campaign in the state on Sunday.
The White House's decision to use the address to speak about the proposed tax instead of the U.S. response to the suffering and devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti suggested one line of attack Obama would use against Brown on Sunday.
The proposed 0.15 percent tax would last at least 10 years and generate about $90 billion over the decade, according to administration estimates. It would apply to about 50 of the biggest banks, those with more than $50 billion in assets, and include many institutions that accepted no money from the $700 financial industry bailout.
Obama said that although the banks were facing a "crisis of their own creation," the "distasteful but necessary" taxpayer-funded bailout prevented an "even greater calamity for the country."
Most of the banks have returned the money they borrowed, and Obama said that was "good news."
"But as far as I'm concerned, it's not good enough," he said. "We want the taxpayers' money back, and we're going to collect every dime."
Six of the biggest U.S. banks are on track to pay $150 billion in total executive compensation for 2009, slightly less than the record $164 billion in 2007 before the financial crisis struck, according to the New York state comptroller's office.
Obama challenged those who say banks can't afford the tax without passing the costs on to shareholders and customers.
"That's hard to believe when there are reports that Wall Street is going to hand out more money in bonuses and compensation just this year than the cost of this fee over the next 10 years," he said. "If the big financial firms can afford massive bonuses, they can afford to pay back the American people."
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Australian Open Tennis – Henin and Oudin On The Move

2010-01-16T08:21:00.000-08:00

At 18 years of age, Melanie Oudin’s physique is similar to Belgium’s 27-year old Justine Henin. They are both 5’6”. Melanie outweighs Justine by a muscular 4 pounds.

Henin has navigated the tour quite successfully, thank you. Even after her nearly two-year layoff, Henin has banked more than $19 million in tour earnings. After a limited year on the tour, Melanie Oudin banked a cool $450,000. She’s pretty happy about that.

All along Oudin has viewed Henin as her role model. Joined by their need to overcome their vertical challenges, the Georgia native sees to be mirroring Justine’s career path. Eventually, she will develop a serve that will be more offensive than defensive. With experience, she will learn the other competitor’s nuances.
En route to her seven Grand Slam titles, Henin has had to travel the same path. She learned to serve. She learned to spot weaknesses and turn disadvantage to advantage.

She is a first-rate fighter, a superior competitor with as strong a will to succeed as exists on the tour today. Justine Henin and Melanie Oudin embody the role of underdog, overachiever.
They do not whine, complain or suffer the fans to obnoxious prima donna outbursts. No, they lift their heads and go back to what they do best; chasing down shots from bigger, stronger athletes and using the momentum ad energy of those shots to keep those bigger, heavier competitors on the courts for ungodly lengths of time.
In the stifling Australian summer, that works. Even in the American fall, that works. Perhaps in Paris it is a problem, but this year, on these fast, hot surfaces, these two may go down, but their opponents will know they were in a dogfight and know they have to overcome all that passion on the other side of the net.
The two mighty mites have stern tests ahead. Unseeded and comparatively unheralded, it is not inconceivable that these two could meet in the finals. Unlikely, yes. Impossible, no.
Henin, who reached the finals in Brisbane before dropping a tight three setter to Clijsters last weekend, is in the toughest bracket in all of Melbourne.
Her path to the finals includes likely pairings with 5th seed Elena Dementieva (2nd round), Alisa Kleybanova (3rd round), Flavia Pennetta (4th round), Clijsters in the quarters and Sharapova in the semis. If Justine makes the finals, just maybe the former number one could be seeded in Paris, where she has won an astounding four times.
For Oudin to play Henin, she will have to manage underdog victories against Aggie Radwanska (2nd round), Francesca Schiavone (3rd round), Venus Williams (4th round), Caroline Wozniacki (quarters) and Serena Williams in the semis. By any standard, that is a tall order for a short teenager.
But, remember, the 17-year old knocked off Jankovic at Wimbledon, Dementieva, Sharapova and Kuznetsova in New York last year. It is safe to say that 2nd seeded behemoth Dinara Safina has never had a Grand Slam like that!
Go get ‘em mighty mites! Be perky, pesky and keep ‘em running side to side in that brilliant Australian sun. Keep your composure, honor the game and don’t be afraid to enjoy the moment. The world is your oyster.
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Kalika Moquin

2009-12-02T09:58:00.000-08:00

Kalika Moquin, Life & Style reports that Kalika Moquin, is the latest woman to be connected to Tiger Woods. Reports of Moquin follow rumors about Rachel Uchitel and Jaimee Grubbs, both of whom have been linked to Woods romantically in the past week. Here is the press release from the magazine:

Life & Style can exclusively reveal the identity of a woman who has quietly been seeing golf star Tiger Woods for months — as recently as late October.
Kalika Moquin, a marketing manager for The Bank nightclub in Las Vegas, hooked up with Tiger more than once at his Las Vegas hotel during the weekend of Oct. 23, an insider tells Life & Style. Kalika is the third woman to be publicly linked to Tiger. Club promoter Rachel Uchitel and Los Angeles cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs have also been named in shocking reports as women with whom Tiger has cheated on his wife of five years, Elin Nordegren.
When contacted by Life & Style, Kalika neither confirmed nor denied an affair with Tiger. “It’s not appropriate for me to comment one way or the other,” she said. “At this time, I’m just choosing to focus on my job.”
Reps for Tiger would not comment. But the insider tells Life & Style, “They’ve hooked up a bunch of times. Tiger told Kalika that married life isn’t all it’s built up to be. He said he wasn’t happy in his marriage or his home life and that there was just so much pressure on him.”

Tiger Woods Voice Mail To His Girl Freind Jamie Grubbs

2009-12-02T09:44:00.000-08:00

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Tiger Woods said he let his family down with "transgressions" he regrets "with all of my heart," and that he will deal with his personal life behind closed doors.

His statement Wednesday follows a cover story in Us Weekly magazine that reports a Los Angeles cocktail waitress claims she had a 31-month affair with the world's No. 1 golfer.

"I have not been true to my values and the behaviour my family deserves," Woods said on his website . "I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behaviour and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone."

Woods did not offer details of any alleged relationship.

The cocktail waitress, Jaimee Grubbs, told the magazine she met Woods at a Las Vegas nightclub the week after the 2007 Masters - two months before Woods' wife, Elin, gave birth to their first child. Grubbs claims to have proof in 300 text messages.
About three hours before Woods' statement, the magazine published what it said was a voicemail
provided by Grubbs - that Woods left on her phone on Nov. 24, three days before his middle-of-the-night car crash outside his home in Florida.

"I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart," he said in the statement.

"I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves," Woods said. "For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology."

Woods has been subjected to more media scrutiny over the last week than when he first won the Masters in 1997 and set off the first wave of Tigermania. He has spoken only three times through his website, although this was his longest posting.

"Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means," Woods said. "For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives."

And he continued to say accounts that physical violence played a role in his Friday morning car crash were "utterly false and malicious."

"Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect," he wrote.

His statement came one day after the Florida Highway Patrol closed its investigation into the accident - without Woods ever speaking to state troopers. He was charged with careless driving, which carries a $164 fine and four points on his driving record.

Armenia Marks World AIDS Day Danger Of Contracting The HIV Virus Stems Mostly From Gay and Lesbian people

2009-12-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)—Armenians marched through the streets of Yerevan on Tuesday to commemorate World AIDS Day and raise awareness of efforts to prevent the spread of the disease in Armenia.

The march, organized by a coalition of NGOs working in Armenia, was held under the banner of breaking the cycle of indifference and discrimination toward Armenians living with HIV/AIDS. Organizers held a press conference Tuesday to discuss their efforts and the challenges they face trying to raise awareness of the disease in Armenia.

“There are people who have done their research and they know they have the HIV virus, but they don’t take care of their health, fearing a negative reaction from the public,” explained Hovhannes Madoyan, head of the organization Real World, Real People.

Experts monitoring the spread of AIDS in Armenia warn that the number of people living with the disease in Armenia is growing faster than the development of preventive measures in the country. The disparity is largely attributed to the taboo nature of the subject in Armenia.

“There is a widely held belief in Armenia that the danger of contracting the HIV virus stems mostly from gay and lesbian people, when in reality, the virus is most often spread among heterosexual people,” said Mamikon Hovsepyan of Public Information and Need of Knowledge (PINK).

According to the Armenian Health Ministry’s Center for Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS, the main method of transmission in Armenia is through intercourse between heterosexuals, while injection drug use accounts for 44 % of cases. Nearly half of the HIV/AIDS cases in Armenia are registered Yerevan.

“It is because of discrimination and intolerance, that they cannot go see a doctor or seek treatment,” he added. “In Armenia, people’s rights continue to be violated, while the accessibility of treatment continues to remain a dream.”

Treatment for the disease is limited in Armenia, as is education and awareness on preventative measures. According to experts, negative attitudes towards drug users, homosexuals, and prostitutes in Armenia prevent many people from taking advantage of free antiretroviral treatment, which can prolong an infected person’s life by many years.

The Health Ministry says that the first registered cases of the disease in Armenia came in 1988. There are currently 808 registered cases of people with HIV/AIDS in Armenia today, with 60 percent of the infected being adults ranging from 25 to 39 years old and nearly 75 percent being men. HIV/AIDS Prevention Center estimates that the real number of people infected in Armenia could be as high as 2,800.

AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007. An estimated 33.2 million people worldwide live with HIV as of 2007. Despite recent improvements in access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2 million lives in 2007, of which about 270,000 were children.

Thousands in PR hold vigil for murdered gay teen

2009-12-01T09:45:00.000-08:00

(San Juan, Puerto Rico) Thousands of people marched through Puerto Rico’s capital last Wednesday, celebrating the life of a gay teenager whose dismembered, burned body was found dumped along a road in a small mountain town.

The crowd, many of them carrying candles as a breezy dusk settled over San Juan, were also demanding that authorities invoke a law for the first time covering crimes based on sexual orientation in the U.S. territory
“We’re gay people, straight people, young people, old people. It is Puerto Rico that’s walking tonight,” Pedro Julio Serrano, a spokesman for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said among the marchers gathered outside the island’s Department of Justice.The mutilated body of 19-year-old college student Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado was discovered Nov. 13 along a road in the town of Cayey. He was a volunteer for organizations advocating HIV prevention and gay rights, and Serrano said there have been vigils for him in a dozen cities, including Los Angeles and New York.Juan Martinez Matos, the 26-year-old suspect held in the case, allegedly met Lopez in an area known for prostitution, according to prosecutor Jose Bermudez Santos.The prosecutor said Martinez confessed to stabbing Lopez, who was dressed as a woman, after discovering he was a man.

It could not be immediately determined if Martinez is being represented by a lawyer. Officials for the island’s public defenders office could not be reached Wednesday evening.Gay activists have voiced outrage that Martinez wasn’t immediately charged with a hate crime. He has been charged with murder.Ana Quintero, a spokeswoman for Justice Secretary Antonio Sagardia, said the murder case was still under investigation and officials would pursue it as a hate crime if the evidence warrants. A 2002 hate crime law in this U.S. territory has not been applied to any cases involving sexual orientation or gender identity despite calls to use it more aggressively, Serrano said. A suspect convicted of a hate crime offense as part of another crime automatically faces the maximum penalty for the underlying crime. For murder, that would be life in prison.

Serrano said he has identified at least 10 slayings on the island over the last seven years that should have been investigated as hate crimes, including some in which the victims were sex workers. Two U.S. Congress members from New York, who are of Puerto Rican origin, have suggested prosecuting the case under new federal hate crimes legislation that extended coverage to sexual orientation. President Barack Obama signed it last month.

High Musical's Zac Efron Speaks on the "Craziest Ride of His Life"

2009-11-30T08:22:00.000-08:00

While Zac Efron is thankful for his star-making role in the High School Musical franchise, he's also excited to expand his movie resume and enter the realm of true Hollywood A-lister.

The young stud takes a step in that direction with Me and Orson Welles, a drama that opens next month. He spoke to Parade about the film - and his hair, of course - in a new interview. Excepts from it are below...

On choosing the movie: "I had never done anything like this before... I thought, 'Maybe this time I've bitten off more than I can chew because I'm not singing and dancing. It's all about acting.' I knew people wouldn't see it as a predictable next move in my career, but I'd like to be known for more than predictability."

On his character: "I really connected with Rick - the way he kind of lucked into an opportunity to act, and thanks to Orson Welles, doors were opening for him. It kind of resembled my life experience growing up in the theater. In school, my whole life was focused on theater, especially musicals, which were a creative outlet. I had no clue that I'd end up in Hollywood. I'm still on the craziest ride of my life."

On his hobbies: "I like very normal things, like hiking and camping. When it comes to sports I go skiing, surf boarding, snowboarding, and skateboarding. I guess at this point a perfect day for me is probably just relaxing and hanging out with friends. It's not always easy to be left alone, but I try not to think about it. You can't let fear control you."

On his hair: "It's pretty low maintenance, so it's appealing for lazy individuals like me. You don't have to do anything really, it just goes that way. You don't even have to put gel in it or anything. There is one thing: If you wash it at night and leave it damp, just towel dry it, you wake up in the morning and you're all set."

Hollywood Block Buster 'New Moon' keeps box office spot with $42.5M

2009-11-30T07:54:00.000-08:00

LOS ANGELES — Vampires and werewolves continued to howl at the box office with a $42.5 million weekend for "The Twilight Saga: New Moon."

"The Blind Side" had a great second weekend with $40.1 million coming in at No. 2 just behind "New Moon." Released by Warner Bros., the inspirational story of Baltimore Ravens tackle Michael Oher stars Sandra Bullock as a woman whose wealthy family takes in the homeless teen and enrolls him in private school.

The two movies propelled Hollywood to record revenues over the five-day Thanksgiving period. Wednesday-to-Sunday receipts came in at an estimated $275 million, according to Hollywood.com box-office analyst Paul Dergarabedian.

That surpassed the previous Thanksgiving record of $244.4 million set in 2000, when "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Unbreakable" topped the box office.

With 2009 domestic revenues at $9.5 billion, Hollywood is on the verge of breaking the record of $9.7 billion set in 2007. Studios have a month of prime holiday business ahead, so the industry should easily top the $10 billion mark domestically for the first time.

"We're going to buzz past it," Dergarabedian said.

New wide releases had so-so results this weekend. Disney's family comedy "Old Dogs," starring Robin Williams and John Travolta as single guys forced to mind 7-year-old twins one of them never knew he had fathered, came in at No. 4 with $16.8 million for the three-day weekend and $24.1 million since opening Wednesday.

The Warner Bros. action tale "Ninja Assassin" opened at No. 6 with $13.1 million over the weekend and $21 million since Wednesday. The movie features Korean pop star Rain and Naomie Harris in a thriller about a hit man on the run from his assassination clan.

"Fantastic Mr. Fox," the 20th Century Fox animated comedy with a voice cast led by George Clooney, expanded to nationwide release and pulled in $7 million to finish at No. 9.

"New Moon" raised its domestic total to $230.7 million after just 10 days. That's nearly $40 million more than the first movie, last year's "Twilight," took in during its entire 20-week run. The movie's worldwide gross stands at $473.7 million.

The "Twilight" movies star Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner in an adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's books about teen heartache among a school girl, a vampire and a werewolf.

"New Moon" is approaching numbers achieved by another teen fantasy sensation, the "Harry Potter" films, which had domestic totals ranging from $250 million to $317 million.

"We always hesitated to compare ourselves to `Harry Potter,' but the numbers do speak for themselves," said Richie Fay, head of distribution for Summit.

While the weekend haul for "New Moon" dropped a steep 70 percent from the movie's $142.8 million opening, "The Blind Side" actually went up 18 percent from its $34.1 million first weekend. Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros., said the movie is on track to top $200 million.

"The Blind Side" is drawing equal audiences among men and women and finding fans from ages 8 to 80, said Andrew Kosove, co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Alcon Entertainment, which produced the film.

"Even though Michael Oher is a football player, and football is a part of the story, the movie is really not a sports movie. It's a family movie," Kosove said.

"The Blind Side" lifted its 10-day total to $100.3 million and has generated Academy Awards buzz for Bullock.

In limited release, the Weinstein Co. apocalyptic drama "The Road" opened strongly with a $1.5 million weekend and $2 million since opening Wednesday. Adapted from Cormac McCarthy's novel, the film stars Viggo Mortensen as a father struggling to survive with his young son in the wasteland of America after an unspecified catastrophe.

Disney's animated musical "The Princess and the Frog" did huge business, debuting in two theaters with $712,000 over the weekend and $1.1 million since Wednesday. Updating the Brothers Grimm fairy tale "The Frog Prince" to jazzy New Orleans in the 1920s, the film expands nationwide Dec. 11.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," $42.5 million.

2. "The Blind Side," $40.1 million.

3. "2012," $18 million.

4. "Old Dogs," $16.8 million.

5. "Disney's A Christmas Carol," $16 million.

6. "Ninja Assassin," $13.1 million.

7. "Planet 51," $10.2 million.

8. "Precious: Based on the Novel `Push' By Sapphire," $7.1 million.

9. "Fantastic Mr. Fox," $7 million.

10. "The Men Who Stare at Goats," $1.5 million.

Community wanna Ban On Blood Donations From Gay Men

2009-11-30T07:44:00.000-08:00

Danny Chaviano is a relatively normal guy.

He loves pasta. He plays piano. He pays taxes.

He’s your neighbor, your classmate, your average civil engineering student. He speaks of his calculus class with an air of slight disgust, and he thinks one of the weirdest things about himself is his utter dislike of steak. But the Food and Drug Administration thinks this 18-year-old, piano-playing, pasta-eating, UF engineering student is a potential threat to blood banks everywhere. Chaviano is just one of the sexually active, gay American men who have been turned away from donating blood since 1983 when, in the light of the AIDS scare, the FDA enacted an umbrella ban on any man who has had sexual contact with another man since 1977.

“I couldn’t do something for someone just because of my sexuality,” Chaviano said. “It just doesn’t make sense.”

And he’s not the only one who doesn’t understand or agree with the 26-year-old ban. Jeremy Whitaker, now a 19-year-old UF student, was the vice president of his high school’s semiannual blood drive when he was turned away from donating blood. Although he helped sponsor the event that accrued about 60 quarts of blood, he was deemed ineligible for the same reason Chaviano was: He is a sexually active gay man.

“I was supposed to be a leader in something, and I couldn’t even contribute,” Whitaker said.

The ban, which also includes any woman who has had sexual contact with a man who might have had sexual contact with another man during the past 12 months, was designed two years after the first cases of AIDS in five gay Los Angeles men were reported to prevent the transfer of HIV or AIDS from “high-risk communities” through blood transfusions. And as people recognize the 21st World AIDS Day tomorrow, some blood bank officials are wondering why the FDA has not changed the policy when, according to the American Red Cross, someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds.

“It’s one of those policies that makes you scratch your head,” said Galen Unold, director of recruitment and retention at LifeSouth Community Blood Centers Inc. “But you have to understand why the policy was put in effect. At that time, this group was at the highest risk.”

The FDA insists the current policy that “defers” any sexually active gay man from donating blood is based on policies that assure the protection of the nation’s literal lifeline.

“Although this policy may disqualify some healthy individuals from donating blood, it has proven effective in protecting the nation’s blood supply,” the FDA states on its Web site.

And not everyone disagrees with the FDA.

“I agree with this policy [be]cause HIV or AIDS is high risk for that group, it has nothing to do with discrimination,” Melody Sansbury, a former American Red Cross employee, wrote in an e-mail. Jenni Schelble’s mouth gaped open, exposing the forkful of Hare Krishna lunch she was eating under the looming shadow of one of LifeSouth’s bloodmobiles on Turlington Plaza, when she found out the ban was still in effect.

“It’s blatant, horrible discrimination,” she said.

“By their logic, are they going to say black women can’t donate blood? Can you imagine if they started saying black women couldn’t donate blood?” Schelble’s comments allude to a 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study that found about half of new AIDS diagnoses in the U.S. during that year were from the black community. Bobby Davis, HIV/AIDS program coordinator for the Alachua County Health Department, noted that although about half the new diagnoses in 2007 came from the black community, the black community is much larger than the gay community. As a result, the overall HIV/AIDS prevalence within the U.S. black community is still lower than that of the gay community.

After analyzing people by race, the CDC found the black community accounted for 46 percent of those infected in the U.S. with HIV or AIDS. The CDC also found that men who have sex with men account for 48 percent of those infected with HIV or AIDS in the U.S., according to the same 2006 study. The numbers in Alachua County seem to follow the same nationwide trend. Since the ACHD began keeping statistics in 1983, 56 percent of all reported AIDS infections have been from the black community and 41 percent of all reported AIDS transmissions have been through male-to-male sexual contact, according to a June 2009 report. “It’s really important to protect the nation’s blood supply,” said James Beaudreau, education and policy director for the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. “But we think the policy needs to be re-examined.”

Unold agreed with Beaudreau, as he stressed the importance of a time-based deferral system for men who have sex with men similar to the current policy that allows any person who has had sexual contact with a prostitute more than 12 months ago to donate blood. “I would feel completely comfortable if the FDA reversed that policy,” Unold said. “I think our blood supply would still be safe.” The American Red Cross has been pressing the FDA to do just that. In a 2006 statement with America’s Blood Centers and the American Association of Blood Banks, the American Red Cross stated the current FDA-regulated lifetime deferral for any man who has had sexual contact with another man “is no longer medically and scientifically warranted.”

“We have always supported the use of scientific and rational deferral programs,” American Red Cross spokeswoman April Phillips said. “Given the science we have and given the sophistication we have, the main thing right now is for the sexual deferral policy to be applied equally to everyone and not just certain communities.” Although blood banks across the country test all donations for infections, the window period for HIV or AIDS, the time after exposure to the infection before it can be detected, and “imperfect testing measures” continue to be the main reasons the FDA has refused to adjust its 1983 policy. The GLMA addressed the issue in a 2008 statement to the FDA. “[The window period] is not a meaningful basis to establish policy either for the population as a whole or for men who have sex with men,” the statement read.

The statement also requested the FDA adopt “social behavior screening rules” to modify the current lifetime deferral program to allow men who have sex with men at a lower risk of infection, including those in monogamous HIV-negative relationships, to donate blood. Although Unold and Phillips both said the current FDA policy should be reexamined, the pair also addressed other ways a person who is deemed ineligible to donate blood can help with America’s blood shortage, including volunteering at a local blood drive or recruiting donors. “I understand the frustration, but don’t take it out on a community’s blood supply and the patients that it serves,” Unold said. “If you’re going to boycott the policy, don’t boycott the Blood Mobile. Don’t prevent someone from donating blood. Don’t prevent someone from giving the gift of life.”

Those who wish to get tested for HIV/AIDS should call 352-392-1161 ext. 4281 to schedule a free appointment from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Florida Gym.

Maurice Clemmons

2009-11-29T23:50:00.001-08:00

Maurice Clemmons, the 37-year-old Tacoma man being sought for questioning in the killing this morning of four Lakewood police officers, has a long criminal record punctuated by violence, erratic behavior and concerns about his mental health.
Nine years ago, then-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee granted clemency to Clemmons, commuting his lengthy prison sentence over the protests of prosecutors.

"This is the day I've been dreading for a long time," Larry Jegley, prosecuting attorney for Arkansas' Pulaski County said tonight when informed that Clemmons was being sought for questioning in connection with the killings.

Clemmons' criminal history includes at least five felony convictions in Arkansas and at least eight felony charges in Washington. The record also stands out for the number of times he has been released from custody despite questions about the danger he posed.

Huckabee, who ran for the Republican presidential nomination last year, issued a statement tonight calling the slaying of the police officers "a horrible and tragic event."

If Clemmons is found responsible, "it will be the result of a series of failures in the criminal justice system in both Arkansas and Washington State," Huckabee said.

He added that Clemmons' release from prison had been reviewed and approved by the Arkansas parole board.He was released from custody just six days ago, even though he was wanted on a fugitive warrant out of Arkansas and was staring at eight felony charges in all out of Washington state.

Chaka Khan

2009-11-29T23:40:00.001-08:00

Best known for Soul/Funk tracks like Tell Me Something Good and Sweet Thing as lead singer of the band Rufus. She later had solo success in the 80s, like with her 1984 cover of Prince’s I Feel for You R&B singer Chaka Khan enjoyed solo success as well as popularity as a member of the group Rufus.

Chaka Khan (born Yvette Marie Stevens on March 23, 1953), is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter best known for such hit songs as "I'm Every Woman", "Ain't Nobody", "I Feel for You" and "Through the Fire". She sang a modernized theme song for the popular children's TV show Reading Rainbow in the show's later years. Khan was featured vocalist in the funk band Rufus with hit songs, "Tell Me Something Good", "You Got The Love", "Once You Get Started", 'Sweet Thing", "Everlasting Love" and "Stay", before launching a solo career.

Khan was born Yvette Marie Stevens in North Chicago, Illinois. Her sister is dance music artist Taka Boom, and her brother is Mark Stevens of the band Aurra. Khan was raised on Chicago's South Side, and at the age of eleven formed her first group, the Crystalettes. She went to Calumet High School and Kenwood Academy on the city's south side and while in high school, she joined the Afro-Arts Theater group, which toured with Motown great Mary Wells. She adopted the African name "Chaka" while working as a volunteer on the Black Panthers' Free Breakfast for Children program in Chicago. During a naming ceremony at the Afro-Arts Theater, a Yoruba priest christened her Chaka Adunne Aduffe Yemoja Hodarhi Karifi (as stated on her official website). After quitting high school in 1969, Chaka joined the group Lyfe, before leaving to join another soul band, The Babysitters, replacing former lead singer Baby Huey. Neither group enjoyed mainstream success, but her fortunes changed when she teamed with ex-American Breed member Kevin Murphy and Andre Fischer to form Rufus. Around this time she married bass guitarist Hassan Khan.

Darlene Love

2009-11-29T23:26:00.000-08:00

Love began her singing with her local church choir in Hawthorne, California. While still in high school (1959) she was invited to join a little-known girl group called The Blossoms, who in 1962 began working with producer Phil Spector. With her powerful voice she was soon a highly sought-after vocalist, and managed to work with many of the legends of 1950s and 1960s rock and soul, including Sam Cooke, Dionne Warwick, The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones and Sonny and Cher; Darlene and the Blossoms sang back-up vocals on Shelley Fabares's hit, "Johnny Angel" as well as John Phillips' solo album John, Wolfking of L.A. recorded in 1969. They also appeared on Johnny Rivers' hits including "Poor Side of Town" and Motown covers "Baby I Need Your Loving" and "The Tracks of My Tears."(The Blossoms recorded singles, usually with little success, on Capitol 1957-58 [pre-Darlene Love], Challenge 1961-62, OKeh 1963, Reprise 1966-67, Ode 1967, MGM 1968, Bell 1969-70, and Lion 1972.)Amazingly, Darlene Love, a superb vocalist, hasn’t had much of a track record as a solo singer, at least not in terms of hits. Love was a founding member of The Blossoms in 1957. They did several sessions and were resident singers on the television show Shindig. Into the 1970s Love continued to work as a back-up singer, before taking a break in order to raise a family. In 1973, she recorded vocals as a cheerleader along with Michelle Phillips, for the Cheech & Chong single "Basketball Jones", which peaked at No.15 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

Don Cornelius

2009-11-29T23:17:00.000-08:00

Personal Information

Born September 27, 1936, in Chicago, IL; married Delores Harrison, 1956; children: Anthony, Raymond.
Education: Attended broadcasting school, 1966.
Military/Wartime Service: U.S. Marines, c. 1954-55, served in Korea.

Career

Insurance salesman, Golden State Mutual Life, 1956-66; announcer, WVON, Chicago, IL, 1966; sports anchor, A Black View of the News, WCIU-TV, Chicago, beginning in 1968; creator, producer, and host of Soul Train, first aired on August 17, 1970, nationally syndicated, 1971--; founder, with Dick Griffey, of Soul Train Records, 1975; creator of Soul Train Music Awards, 1987, and Soul Train Comedy Awards (nationally-syndicated special honoring African-American comedy performers), first annual telecast, August 3, 1993.

With the news of the BET Awards 2009 making last minute alterations to pay tribute to the pop star Michael Jackson, it was expected to be a memorable show. Don Cornelius of the Soul Train fame remembered his experience with Jackson while talking about him onstage. Don who had Known Jackson since childhood but only as a young singer onstage mentioned about the huge talent thatthe pop star possessed since childhood. It was in the mid 1960s when Don encountered MJ from among the five brothers from Indiana who were performing to covers of the then established bands namely the Temptations. The then four feet tall young Jackson’s vocal skills and dance onstage caught the eyes of Cornelius as he reminisced.

Paul Kruger

2009-11-29T23:11:00.000-08:00

Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger (10 October 1825 – 14 July 1904), better known as Paul Kruger and affectionately known as Uncle Paul (Afrikaans: "Oom Paul") was State President of the South African Republic (Transvaal). He gained international renown as the face of Boer resistance against the British during the South African or Second Boer War (1899-1902).

The trekkers crossed the Vaal River in 1838 and at first stayed in the area that is known today as Potchefstroom. Kruger's father later decided to settle in the district now known as Rustenburg. At the age of 16, Paul Kruger was entitled to choose a farm for himself at the foot of the Magaliesberg where he settled in 1841.

The following year he married Maria du Plessis and the young couple accompanied Casper Kruger to live in the Eastern Transvaal for a while. After the family had returned to Rustenburg, Kruger's wife and infant son died, probably from malaria. He then married Gezina du Plessis, who was his constant and devoted companion until her death in 1901. Seven daughters and nine sons were born of the marriage, some dying in infancy.

He was called the "old lion of Transvaal". This can be attributed to his general appearance - a mane of grey hair and an impressive beard framing an impassive and stubborn looking face. He was also the president of the Republic of South Africa for many years.

He was born Stephanus Johannes Paul Kruger on 10 October 1825 - for many years until South Africa's democratic elections in 1994, the 10th of October was celebrated as a public holiday in honour of Paul Kruger. He was born on Bulhoek, his family's farm situated near the town of Craddock in the Eastern Province of South Africa. Paul Kruger's forefathers were Prussians who arrived in South Africa in 1713.

Paul Kruger taught himself to read and write and at the tender age of sixteen, he owned his first farm, which he called Waterkloof, situated in the northern area of Transvaal near the town of Rustenburg. He married at the age of seventeen, but his wife Maria and their child died of Malaria in 1846. Paul Kruger was only twenty-one years old and remarried the year after. His second wife was Gezina du Plessis, his first wife's cousin. They had sixteen children. One of the suburbs in Pretoria, Gezina, was named after his second wife.

Cryptic Clue Fest Day 4

2009-11-29T11:18:00.000-08:00

RuneScape will run cryptic Clue Fest Day 4 today, and there will be two more clues given. These clues started running on November 26, and those participating will be on the look for more today.

According to The Composed Gentleman, if you head over to runescape.wikia.com you should be able to see one of the clues that’s been revealed today. The clue points to Faruq, and says players must visit Faruq (read the details here).

For those of you who do not know what the “Cryptic Clue Fest” is, it’s basically a special clue-seeking event that is held during Thanksgiving 2009 weekend. The event is run in game and on RuneScape Forums.

Players will have more than the 4-days to complete the Cryptic Clue Fest, because it ends a little before next weeks update. Have you been taking part?

Cyber Monday 2009 Ads, Sales, Deals, Specials

2009-11-29T10:45:00.000-08:00

November 30th, 2009 is the oficial Cyber Monday day this year. In case you didn't know, Cyber Monday is the online version of Black Friday: lots of deals and price cuts on all sort of things, all available online.
Everything you wanted to know about Cyber Monday. The history of Cyber Monday, what is Cyber Monday, when is Cyber Monday and much more. We will also have a section dedicated to Cyber Monday 2009 deals, ads and specials.

Best Cyber Monday Sites

Sites that have the best Cyber Monday 2009 deals and coupons.

Dealworker.com Cyber Monday Page - Cyber Monday page with a full listing of Cyber Monday sale ads, coupon codes and deals. Some released early.

Flamingoworld Cyber Monday Page - Cyber Monday page with Cyber Monday coupons and promotions.

Dealtaker.com Cyber Monday Forum - Cyber Monday 2009 forum listing deals for Cyber Monday.

What is Cyber Monday?

Brief history of Cyber Monday.

Cyber Monday is the Monday following Black Friday and the unofficial kick off to online shopping for the holiday season. On this day many merchants will have some great deals and these deals are only good online. There are usually great deals throughout the holidays but some of the best can be found on this day, even moreso this year with the way our economy has been going lately.

When is Cyber Monday?

This year Cyber Monday will be on November 30, 2009 with Black Friday starting a few days earlier on Friday November 27.

Cyber Monday 2009 Deals And Ads

There is nothing here yet but come back the night before Cyber Monday and we will find some of the best deals and list them here. We will also link out to some of the top sites out there featuring Cyber Monday 2009 deals, specials, bargains and coupons.

Rachel Uchitel Claims Affair With Tiger Woods, Rachel Uchitel Pictures Pics

2009-11-27T23:05:00.000-08:00

Tiger Woods is busy recovering from injuries he sustained when his Cadillac Escalade made an unfortunate merger with a tree and a fire hydrant outside the athlete’s Florida home Friday morning. But the golfer may have an even tougher time reclaiming his squeaky-clean public image, thanks to rumors that he’s been hamming it up with alleged Buss It Baby Rachel Uchitel?

As news of the minor car accident involving Tiger Woods races around the Internet, people are beginning to ask questions about Rachel Uchitel. The leggy beauty -- who has previously claimed she had an affair with actor David Boreanaz -- is now being linked to Tiger Woods.

Nothing has even come close to being proven. But several websites have reported that Uchitel, who works in club promotions. This was followed up by allegations of something shady between the two in the pages of the National Enquirer.

We have no idea whether the rumors are true. The Enquirer gets it wrong a lot, but they've outed several major figures for peccadilloes in the past, including former presidential candidate John Edwards. Keep an eye on this one, we'd say.

Tiger Woods Car Accident

2009-11-27T22:57:00.000-08:00

World champion golfer and sports icon Tiger Woods is in serious condition after his car crashed into a fire hydrant and a tree near his home in Isleworth, Florida.

Tiger Woods was injured in a car accident early Friday when his car struck a tree near his mansion in a gated waterfront community, authorities said.

The Highway Patrol Florida said the 33-year-old PGA stars hit the hydrant and a tree after pulling out of his driveway in his 2009 Cadillac sport utility vehicle.

The patrol reported Woods as serious injuries, although the Bretton spokesman Glenn Greenspan said the player was treated at a hospital and released in good condition.

The patrol said alcohol was not involved, but the accident remains under investigation and charges could be filed. No one else in the car, patrol spokeswoman Kim Montes said.

2.4 million U.S. dollars Home Woods is part of the subdivision of the exclusive Isleworth near Orlando, a community located in an Arnold Palmer designed golf course and a chain of small lakes. The neighborhood, which is fortified with high walls of brick and has its own security force, is home to the executive directors and stars from other sports like NBA, Shaquille O’Neal.

The accident occurred at 2:25 am, although the PSF did not release the report of the accident until nearly 12 hours later.

Chile faces possible World Cup expulsion

2009-11-26T22:31:00.000-08:00

ASUNCION, Paraguay -- Chile could be kicked out of the World Cup unless Chilean club Rangers drops a court case by Dec. 3 contesting its disputed demotion to the second division of the national soccer league.

CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American soccer, said Thursday it was notified by FIFA about the possible sanction.

Rangers were deducted three points for using six foreign players - the limit is five - in a league match on Nov. 8. The three points cost them relegation to the second division, and last week they appealed the case to a Chilean court.

Chile, which has not played in the World Cup since 1998, is one of five South American nations that have qualified for next year's tournament in South Africa.

"We beseech your association to call on your affiliated club... to withdraw the case it took to the Chilean courts of justice within the next 72 hours or... announce the pertinent sanctions against your affiliated club," a FIFA letter sent to Chile's Football Association (ANFP) said.

Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay have also qualified.

The appeal by Rangers has forced the Chilean league to suspend play in its postseason playoffs.

"If Rangers don't drop the case, then FIFA could expel (the national federation) because they can't expel a club," Harold Mayne-Nicholls, president of the Chilean federation, said on radio Agricultura. "This could bring consequences that would be deadly for Chilean football."

Kohl’s Black Friday ad

2009-11-26T22:30:00.001-08:00

Believe it or not, the Kohl’s Black Friday ad actually features a decent amount of electronics deals. Stores open at 4AM on Black Friday.

Here’s a list of all the electronics deals. Doorbusters (available from 4AM to 1PM on Black Friday) are marked with an asterisk.

Digital Cameras

Vivitar 10.1MP HD Digital Camera 2.4″ LCD 8X Digital Zoom – $59.99 *

Electronics

10-50% Off Entire Stock Of The Sharper Image Products – 10-50% Off

2XL In-Ear Headphones iPod Compatible – $9.99

5-Day Wireless Weather Forecaster – $59.99

BYO 10″ Lunch Bag – $9.99

BYO By Built 10″ Netbook Sleeve – $9.99

Charging Station Complete With Power Strip – $18.99

Digital Photo Viewer 3.2″ LCD, 500 Pictures, Rechargeable Internal Battery – $24.99

Discovery Expedition Entertainment Projector – $79.99 *

Entire Stock of Portable Karaoke Systems – $59.99 *

HMDX Speaker-On-The-Go – $9.99

iHome Clock Radio – $49.99

iHome Clock Radio And Audio System – $89.99

iHome Portable Speaker System – $29.99 *

iLive Home Music System – $79.99

Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Speakers – $79.99 *

Negative Scanner – $59.99 *

Panimage 7″ Digital Photo Frame 512MB Internal Memory AR – $29.99 *

Robot Bank – $29.99

USB Video Camera – $39.99 *

Wooden Music Center w/Recordable CD Player – $179.99 *

GPS Systems

3.5″ GPS Navigation System – $69.99 *

GPS Dashboard Grip Mat – $9.99 *

MP3 Players

2GB MP3 Player w/Video – $24.99 *

Televisions

19″ LCD HDTV w/Built-in DVD Player – $199.99 *

Digital Labs 7 Inch Portable LCD TV – $69.99 *

Video Games

Entire Stock of Nintendo DS Video Games – 20%-30% Off *

Entire Stock of Nintendo Wii Video Games – 20%-30% Off *

Entire Stock of Video Game Accessories – 20%-50% Off *

Making wise Black Friday Computer Deals

2009-11-26T22:24:00.000-08:00

Black Friday falls on the day after Thanksgiving and has earned the reputation of being the busiest shopping day of the year. The name was adopted from an accounting term - red ink denotes a negative profit margin, where as "in the black" denotes a positive profit margin. Many retailers make or break their sales goals between Thanksgiving and Christmas, with the season kicking off on the Friday after Thanksgiving, hence the name "Black Friday."

I don't need a new PC, but I want one anyway. All those Black Friday deals are mighty tempting. But, if you're going to give in to temptation here are some hints to keep in mind.

First, those deals that are too good to be true? Many of them are too good to be true. If you are the first person in line at 4 AM you may get the one ultra-low price laptop that a store will have in stock. But, if you're a 'late' riser, who doesn't make it to the store until 4:05, you can forget about the miracle-priced computer.

Other computers may also be on sale at insane prices, but take a careful look at exactly what it is that you're buying. I've seen several netbooks deals that sound great... until I looked closer and saw that they require pricey, two-year mobile phone contracts on top of the up-front price.

I'm not saying you can't get a good deal. You can. Just don't get too worked up about sub-$100 priced computers, or you may end up disappointed or with a PC that costs you far more in the long-run.

Before setting your alarm clock for 3 in the morning, you also should keep in mind that many vendors are offering the same deals at their online stores. Given a choice between standing in a crowd at your local Best Buy and sitting at my computer and shopping, I'm at home at my PC every time.

To find these deals, there are several good Web sites that serve as Black Friday sales guides. I prefer Black Friday Ads and Black Friday Info.

Before you start shopping though, here are some specifics to keep in mind.

If you're going to buy a new Windows 7 PC, be sure to get one with at least 2GBs of RAM, and if you can get more RAM so much the better. I've found adding RAM to a computer usually gets you the most bang for the buck from any upgrade. Avoid netbooks with Windows 7. Windows 7 Starter Edition may, in theory, run on 1 GB of RAM, but it's no fun and it lacks many of Windows 7's best features.

The version of Windows 7 that you'll want to buy for a home PC, by the by, is Windows 7 Home Premium. Windows 7 Ultimate is also worth buying if it won't cost you much more. On the other hand, you want to avoid Windows 7 Home Basic. It has more features than Starter Edition, but it lacks such basics as the ability to play DVDs. If you buy a 'deal' with Windows 7 Home Basic, it's a deal you'll regret.

If you've been lusting for a Mac, now, or rather tomorrow, November 27th, is the time to buy. Apple will offer modest, about 8% sales on Macs on that day only. Still, since Apple almost never discounts Macs, it's still better than nothing. Other vendors, like MacMall, will also offer lower Mac prices for longer periods of time. For what it's worth, I think the Mac Mini, which will also be on sale, has always offered a great Mac at a PC price.

As for Linux, there's not a lot to pick from, I had one deal I liked a lot, a Dell's Vostro A90 Netbook for $184. This is a nice netbook that comes with Ubuntu Linux, but it appears that they're already sold out. Sigh.

Still, any netbook you can find will run desktop Linux successfully, so if you're heart is set on Linux, shop around. Even the most minimal-equipped network will still do well with Linux running on it.

Good luck with your shopping!

Black Friday Internet Sales

2009-11-26T22:17:00.000-08:00

They don't call the day after Thanksgiving "Black Friday" for nothing. It's all about launching the mega stores “into the black” – into profitability. They profit not by offering goods at a loss, but by using ultra-low prices to lure you into their stores, where they can employ dirty tricks to make money.

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, which is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. The term dates back to at least 1966, although its usage was primarily on the East coast. The term has become more common in other parts of the country since 2000. Because Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, Black Friday occurs between the 22nd and the 29th of November.

Black Friday is not an official holiday, but many employees have the day off (with the exceptions of those employed in retailing, health care, and banking), which increases the number of potential shoppers. Retailers often decorate for the Christmas and holiday season weeks beforehand. Many retailers open extremely early, with most of the retailers typically opening at 5AM or even earlier. Some of the larger retailers (depending on the location) such as Sears, Best Buy, Macy's, Toys "R" Us, and Walmart have been reported to open as early as midnight on the start of Black Friday in localized areas and remain open for 24 hours throughout the day until midnight the following Saturday. Upon opening, retailers offer doorbuster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores. Although Black Friday, as the first shopping day after Thanksgiving, has served as the unofficial beginning of the Christmas season at least since the start of the modern Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924, the term "Black Friday" has been traced back only to the 1960s.

The term "Black Friday" originated in Philadelphia in reference to the heavy traffic on that day (see Origin of the name "Black Friday" below). More recently, merchants and the media have used it instead to refer to the beginning of the period in which retailers go from being in the red (i.e., posting a loss on the books) to being in the black (i.e., turning a profit).

2009 Black Friday Ads: K-Mart, Sears and Target Doorbuster Deals

2009-11-25T10:33:00.000-08:00

Black Friday is closing with Cyber Monday to follow. The Ads for certain retailers, Sears and K-Mart along with Target stores show that the retail shops are using the tried and true method of doorbuster savings on certain items to get shoppers in the door. Prices are being slashed and Black Friday ads are being leaked on everything from electronics to children toys.
The Sears ad has already been placed online and have some incredible deals on a washer/dryer combination and other items. Target Black Friday deals include a 32-inch Westinghouse HDTV for $246, and a 40-inch full HD Apex HDTV for $449.
Target has a 32" Westinghouse 720p HDTV unit on sale for just $246. K-Mart is really pushing hard this season, bringing back good old fashioned layaway early in the season for those that can't handle credit cards well and also will be open on Thanksgiving.

Toyota Replacing some 4M gas pedals that could jam

2009-11-25T10:28:00.001-08:00

To quell rising consumer worries from its largest ever recall, Toyota Motor Corp. will shorten the gas pedal and install a new brake system on some of 3.8 million vehicles recalled because of the risk they may accelerate without warning.

The problem, which allegedly has caused more than a dozen fatalities and resulted in more than 100 formal complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has presented the most serious challenge yet to Toyota’s reputation as the auto industry’s quality leader.

Wednesday’s announcement came one day after Toyota recalled 110,000 Tundra pickup trucks from model years 2000 through 2003 which have experienced underbody rust that in some cases may loosen spare tires mounted beneath the trucks.

For 2005 through 2010 model year Toyota Avalons, 2007 through 2010 Camry and Lexus ES350, the automaker will reconfigure the floor surface beneath the pedal to create more space between the pedal and the floor.

The action is designed to address the root cause of the unintended acceleration, which Toyota previously blamed on floor mats becoming trapped between drivers’ feet and the gas pedal.

The brake over-ride system that will be offered on the Camry, Avalon and Lexus ES and IS models should ensure the car stops if both the accelerator and brake pedals are applied at the same time. Many of the reported incidents involved sudden increases in speed when the cruise control system is engaged. Drivers have reported that their brakes could not stop their vehicles when they experienced the phenomenon.

Toyota intends to make the brake over-ride feature standard throughout the Toyota and Lexus product lines beginning in January 2010.

Toyota Replacing some 4M gas pedals that could jam

2009-11-25T10:28:00.000-08:00

The action is designed to address the root cause of the unintended acceleration, which Toyota previously blamed on floor mats becoming trapped between drivers’ feet and the gas pedal.

Toyota intends to make the brake over-ride feature standard throughout the Toyota and Lexus product lines beginning in January 2010.

Tiger Woods affair

2009-11-25T10:23:00.000-08:00

Tiger Woods affair, Tiger Woods Affair?: Cheating On Wife Rumors Circulate Web:- It is a rumor unconfirmed and suspect at that, but word of a Tiger Woods affair is spreading quickly on the Web this morning.

Media Take Out writes, “MediaTakeOut.com just got its hands on this week’s National Enquirer and it is EXPLOSIVE!!! According to them, Tiger Woods is CHEATING with the below woman, named Rachel Uchitel.”

Adam Sandler Turkey Song Video / Audio

2009-11-25T09:55:00.000-08:00

Adam Sandler Turkey Song Video / Audio
he Thanksgiving Song by Adam Sandler is a humorous song about the Thanksgiving holiday.

Cell Phone Jammers / Blocker

2009-11-25T09:53:00.000-08:00

We've all wanted to strangle them before. There's nothing worse than some jerk blabbing away on their cell phone while you're trying to enjoy a movie, meal at a restaurant, or a nice quiet nap on the bus/train ride to work. Actually, only hearing only one side of a stupid conversation makes us pay more attention than normal. Our brain expects information from both sides of a conversation, and it will try to fill in the blanks. You can try to send the offending mobile blabbermouth a few evil looks or the old "courtesy cough" but those passive aggressive gestures rarely work.

If you really want to shut down a dopey chatter box, then you'll need to acquire a cell phone jammer.

WHAT IS A "JAMMER"?
Cell phone jammers are devices that create a temporary "dead zone" to all cell phone traffic in their immediate proximity. Jammers are typically used by the police and military to control or disrupt communication during hostage situations and bomb threats. Traditionally, jammers were large antennas mounted on trailers that had to be pulled behind a truck. They now come in a variety of shapes and sizes including models that are about the size of a cell phone.

USING A JAMMER
Because jammers now come in much smaller sizes, they are very easy to carry around. Portable personal jammers will fit into the palm of your hand or easily slip into your coat pocket. So the next time someone on your commuter bus refuses to shut up, you can just reach into your backpack and turn on a temporary "dead zone" with your jammer. Then get back to some nice peace and quiet.

RANGE & FREQUENCY
Most jammers only have a range of about 50 to 80 feet and will only effectively jam your immediate surroundings. Mobile blabbermouths will just think they've hit a dead spot in their cell phone company's coverage until they leave your jammers immediate vicinity. Stronger jammers are available to cover larger structures like office buildings, movie theaters and churches. They look like a miscellaneous metal boxes with wires sticking out and are usually mounted on walls or ceilings (see image on right).

Most cell phone jammers come in 2 versions, one for Europe, North Africa and the Gulf states GSM networks (900 & 1800) and one for the Americas & Canada (800 & 1900 mhz) networks. Make sure you get the right version for your location.

Navy Seals Court Martial

2009-11-25T09:44:00.000-08:00

Some of you might recognize the picture above. It's a picture of a crowd of Bani Sadr's Iraqi Shi'ite sympathizers and militiamen in Fallujah partying near a bridge over the Euphrates River. Oh, and those four blackened, burnt out husks hanging from the bridge? They used to be four of your fellow Americans, men who had wishes, dreams, families and futures just like you. At the time this particular photo was taken, they had just been murdered by al-Sadr's men, their mutilated bodies dragged through the streets of Fallujah and the corpses burned beyond recognition..after which the remains were hung on the bridge and turned into the party favors you see above.

The ringleader who oversaw this, Ahmed Hashim Abed code named "Objective Amber" by our military was recently captured at great risk by three of our Navy SEALS - who are now facing assault charges and a court martial because this lawyered up jihadi has accused them of what amounts to police brutality, claiming he was hit in the mouth.

And believe it or not, the Navy is bending over backwards to try to convict the SEALS:

Navy SEALs have secretly captured one of the most wanted terrorists in Iraq — the alleged mastermind of the murder and mutilation of four Blackwater USA security guards in Fallujah in 2004. And three of the SEALs who captured him are now facing criminal charges, sources told FoxNews.com.

The three, all members of the Navy's elite commando unit, have refused non-judicial punishment — called an admiral's mast — and have requested a trial by court-martial.

Ahmed Hashim Abed, whom the military code-named "Objective Amber," told investigators he was punched by his captors — and he had the bloody lip to prove it. {....}

United States Central Command declined to discuss the detainee, but a legal source told FoxNews.com that the detainee was turned over to Iraqi authorities, to whom he made the abuse complaints. He was then returned to American custody. The SEAL leader reported the charge up the chain of command, and an investigation ensued.

State Dinner Photos Hosts By Obama

2009-11-25T09:34:00.000-08:00

State Dinner Photos Hosts By Obama

MICHELLE ROBINSON OBAMA PICTURES

2009-11-25T09:22:00.000-08:00

Born on January 17, 1964, Michelle Robinson was raised in a one-bedroom apartment on Chicago's South Shore. Of note is that she shared a "bedroom" with her brother, but it wasn't much of a bedroom. It was actually the living room with a divider down the middle. Michelle's father died in 1990 two years before she married Barack, but her mother is still alive and living in the same one-bedroom apartment, protected by a burglar-proof wrought-iron door and secured windows.

After high school Michelle Robinson majored in sociology at Princeton University, graduating with cum laude honors in 1985. From there she attended Harvard where she earned her law degree in 1988, one year ahead of her husband-to-be, Barack, whom she hadn't met yet but attended the same law school.

Thanksgiving Quotes: Inspirational, Reflective Sayings To Share

2009-11-25T09:17:00.000-08:00

Looking for inspiration to get into the Thanksgiving spirit? How about a few words to reflect on as the holiday season kicks off?

Thanksgiving quotes can help do the trick. Here's a collection:

"If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily." -Gerald Good

"The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!" -Henry Ward Beecher

"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action." - W.J. Cameron

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice." -Meister Eckhart

"Praise God even when you don't understand what He is doing." -Henry Jacobsen

"An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day." -Irv Kupcinet

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them,
is the true measure of our thanksgiving."
W.T. Purkiser

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today,
and creates a vision for tomorrow."
Melody Beattie

"Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character."
Author Unknown, from Be Thankful

"We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning."
Albert Barnes

"If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got,
he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get."
Frank A. Clark

"When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty
my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup."
Sam Lefkowitz

"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action."
W. J. Cameron

"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit."
Albert Schweitzer

"Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life."
Northrup Christiane

Funny Thanks Giving Turkey Pictures

2009-11-24T11:49:00.000-08:00

Funny Thanks Giving Turkey Pictures

David Barton Gym

2009-11-24T11:46:00.001-08:00

Let's be honest here: I go to the gym to look good. Yes, being healthy is important to me but really what's even more important is that I look hot. It's why I drink Diet Coke and use Splenda - I *know* it's causing cancer, but you know what? At least I'll be thin when I die. And that's really where my priorities are.

If you are in love with your reflection, you will LOVE David Barton. The unusually-dim gym has strategically placed lighting on the machines and benches. The result is ridiculously flattering lighting that hits you in all the right places.

Monthly rates are around the $115-$125 range, with an $80 student rate. While this may seem a bit high for most people, you definitely get what you pay for. The gym is robustly staffed and the place is kept in great order and is IMMACULATE. Coming from poorly-kept Bally's this is a huge step up for me. The bathrooms are stocked well with Bumble and Bumble products, razors, Listerine, you name it. There is a nice list of classes that go on at all hours of the day and there is a separate yoga studio and spinning studio. The machines are top-of-the-line and maintained properly. The cardio equipment all have cable tv feeds on their mini screens and often there are live DJs spinning.

This DB location is iconically a gay gym - David Barton's wife Susanne Bartsch is even a gay nightlife promoter. There aren't that many women that go here so it's probably a GREAT gym for women. The one loss of a star here is for how jam-packed it gets during peak hours. You will wait for at least a few machines and at the free weight wall it's shoulder to shoulder.

When I go to David Barton, I feel posh, pampered and pretty. And you know what? I deserve it!

Alicia Sacramone

2009-11-24T11:42:00.000-08:00

Alicia Sacramone was born 3 December 1987 and is a World Champion gymnast from Boston, Massachusetts. Sacramone was the 2005 World Champion on Floor Exercise and has won many titles with her powerful and spunky gynnastics style. Alicia struggles with the Uneven Bars and occasionally the Balance Beam, but is one of the world's strongest competitors on Floor and Vault.

Alicia first started gymnastics after she was discovered doing cartwheels in a local shopping mall in Massachusetts. Sacramone first qualified as an elite gymnast in 2000 and competed in various important competitions in America. While she drew attention for her engergetic style and promising vault and floor work, she was known for succumbing to pressure in major competitions and making mistakes as a result. Her best results prior to 2004 were a seventh place finish in the All Around at the 2002 US Classic and a Fourteenth place at Senior Nationals in 2003. While the latter qualified her for the Senior National team, Alicia was never in the picture to make the 2003 World Championships Team.

Gulf of Sidra Incident

2009-11-24T11:34:00.000-08:00

LETTER TO THE CONGRESS, MAR. 26, 1986(1)

Gulf of Sidra is a body of water in the Mediterranean Sea on the northern coast of Libya; it is also known as Gulf of Sirte. It is located by the city of Sirte. In Ancient Rome it was known as Syrtis Maior (compare: Syrtis Minor).

Tuna fishing is of economic importance in the Gulf.

On March 23, United States forces in the Eastern Mediterranean began a peaceful exercise as part of a global Freedom of Navigation program by which the United States preserves its rights to use international waters and air space. This exercise is being conducted entirely in and over areas of the high seas, in accordance with international law and following aviation safety notification procedures.

On March 24, our forces were attacked by Libya. In response, U.S. forces took limited measures of self-defense necessary to protect themselves from continued attack. In accordance with my desire that the Congress be informed on this matter, I am providing this report on the actions taken by United States Armed Forces during this incident.

Shortly before 8:00 a.m. (EST) on March 24, two SA-5 surface-to-air missiles were fired at U.S. aircraft flying over the high seas in the Gulf of Sidra from a Libyan missile installation in the vicinity of Sirte on the northern Libyan coast. During the course of the next few hours, several surface-to-air missiles were fired at U.S. aircraft operating over the high seas. At approximately 3:00 p.m. (EST) these missile installations again activated their target-acquisition radars with the evident objective of firing upon U.S. aircraft. Two HARM air-to-surface missiles were thereupon fired by a U.S. Navy A-7 aircraft, apparently resulting in the destruction of the radars controlling the missile battery. After a short outage, the radar returned to active status and still posed a threat to U.S. forces. At 6:47 p.m., A-7 aircraft again fired two HARM missiles at the SA-5 radar at Sirte. After another short outage, the radar has returned to active status.

Meanwhile, a Libyan missile patrol boat equipped with surface-to-surface missiles came within missile range of U.S. ships on the high seas well away from the Libyan coast. The U.S. commander determined, in light of the Libyan attacks on U.S. aircraft, that this vessel was hostile and therefore ordered U.S. aircraft to engage it. At approximately 2:00 p.m. (EST), U.S. Navy A-6 aircraft fired two Harpoon missiles, which struck and heavily damaged the Libyan vessel. At approximately 4:00 p.m. (EST), a second Libyan patrol boat approached U.S. forces, and was driven off by U.S. Navy aircraft. Shortly after 6:00 p.m. (EST), a third Libyan patrol boat approached the USS YORKTOWN at a high rate of speed; the YORKTOWN fired two Harpoon missiles, which hit the Libyan craft.

Shortly after 12:20 a.m. (EST) on March 25, U.S. Navy A-6 aircraft armed with Harpoon missiles attacked another Libyan craft, apparently resulting in the sinking of that vessel.

All U.S. aircraft returned safely to their carriers, and no casualties or damage were suffered by U.S. forces. The extent of Libyan casualties is not known.

Grandstream GXV3140 IP Multimedia Phone Coming at “Dancing with the Stars”

2009-11-24T11:20:00.000-08:00

Today, November 24, fans of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” will be able to witness the season 9 finale of the show. During the show they will notice Grandstream Networks’ GXV3140 IP Multimedia Phone, a communication device that’s going to be showcased tomorrow.

Now I don’t have any problems with gadgets being advertised in popular TV shows. We see that every day and it’s something we have gotten used to over the years. What I have a problem is the gadget itself. So bear with me for a couple of minutes and I will be more than happy to explain.

The GXV3140 IP Multimedia Phone is not a mobile phone but a phone made for your home. Furthermore the phone is not just a simple phone but a smartphone for home. That’s right, in a world where landlines are losing more and more marketshare a home smartphone wouldn’t exactly be something I’d want to buy.

In all fairness to the device and its maker, I will say that the GXV3140 comes with some interesting features which you could very well take advantage of once you chose to get it. It has a 4.3-inch LCD screen, an integrated web browser, one-touch access to RSS feeds, Internet radio support, social networking support for Facebook and Twitter, and support for Internet streaming from various sites.

Although remarkable for such a phone, the features offered aren’t special in any way. I’d definitely use a laptop or desktop instead of the GXV3140 in order to browse the Internet, stream video and audio files or check Facebook and Twitter updates. And I’d definitely use my cell phone whenever I need to make calls and send messages to friends and family.

Let’s face it folks, home phones and landlines are slowly dying and we’re going to use smarter phones instead. Sure a phone like this could be used by various companies which still rely on regular phones to communicate. But a phone filled with such features will affect overall production as employees will use it extensively to check out Facebook and Twitter instead of doing what their supposed to.

What about you? Do you still use regular phones?grandstream GXV3140 phone

LG X120 Netbook Gets Official in the USA

2009-11-24T11:17:00.000-08:00

LG has decided to launch the X120 in the USA today. Thus LG has announced its first netbook for U.S. consumers, so let’s take a brief look at it.

The LG X120 is finally ready to be purchased by American customers and the netbook has some special features to offer. The machine was announced in Korea earlier this summer and it’s about time it became available in more markets.

The LG X120 is a 10.1-inch netbook that weighs only 2.8lbs but it’s ready to meet your computing needs while you’re on the go. The netbook comes with a LED backlit 10.1-inch LCD, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, a built-in 1.3-megapixel camera, HD stereo speakers, Wi-Fi connectivity, 3G HSDPA support and Windows XP running in the background. The X120 also has a great battery capable of delivering 7-hours of life. You’ll certainly appreciate that battery next time you’re stuck waiting in an airport or on a longer than expected trip.

Ehtisham Rabbani, vice president of product strategy and marketing for LG Mobile Phones, had this to say about the X120 netbook:

We created the LG X120 to allow consumers to stay connected on their own terms. The Smart On(TM) button puts consumers seconds away from the fun stuff such as showing off your vacation photos or picking your fantasy football line-up.

The LG X120 will be available for purchase in Radio Shack stores nationwide or online. You can also get it from AT&T stores bundled with a new 2-year AT&T DataConnect service agreement of at least $60 per month. In that case the X120 will only cost $179.99 and, for that subsidized price, AT&T will let you use up to 5GB of data traffic per month and access its 20,000 Wi-Fi Hot Spots for free.

Sylvania Digital Camcorder with/ 2" LCD Color Display

2009-11-24T08:07:00.000-08:00

Life doesn't wait for you to run and get your camcorder. Capture every memory the instant it happens with this Sylvania DV-2100 digital camcorder. It's small enough to fit into your pocket or purse--so you can keep it handy to record spontaneous moments as they occur.

Slim and compact. Measuring about the size of a deck of cards, this camcorder slips into your jacket or jeans pocket with ease. Plus, it's lightweight, so it doesn't weigh down your purse or travel bag. Use it for birthdays, holidays, vacations, and more.

Videos and pictures. Not only does it take video, it also snaps photos. Just input your memory card (not included) and start shooting.

Fits in your pocket--and your budget. At this price, you can even let teens direct their own videos. It makes a great gift for everyone in the family. What are you waiting for? Don't miss another moment! From Sylvania.

Includes digital camcorder, USB cable, A/V cable, Arcsoft software, Greeting Card Factory Express, and Morpheus Photo Animation Suite
2" diagonal color TFT LCD display
Playback feature
4X digital zoom
640x480 VGA video-quality resolution
Internal USB connector
SD/MMC memory card slot, card not included
Easy-to-use control menu
TV output
Built-in speaker
No internal memory
Requires 2 AA batteries, not included
Software is PC compatible only; Camcorder is Mac and PC compatible
Measures approximately 4-1/2"L x 2-1/4"W x 1"D
1-year Limited Manufacturer's Warranty
Made in China

Adam Lambert AMA Video & Access

2009-11-24T08:01:00.000-08:00

Adam Lambert's AMA video is causing quite a stir because of its very controversial performance. 1500 viewers called in to complain about the performance according to Reuturs.com. I guess that's not really that much actually but yet Adam has been put in the position to defend his performance. If you haven't seen it yet it's dramatic and theatrical to the extreme and has Lambert in one move simulating oral sex with one of the dancers. During an interview with Access Hollywood (below), Adam defends his performance and says how female performers have been doing provocative performances for years and are not censored. He has a point. Do you agree?

Crib Recall List November 2009

2009-11-24T07:40:00.000-08:00

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a massive crib recall of 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs, as well as 147,000 Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo.
This is the largest cribs recall in the US history.

San Fransisco- Many companies in the last couple of years had to recall their toys, cribs, play yards and bassinets from the market as they had chances of choking babies or causing some serious health problems to them. However, none of the recalls were as big as the Stork Craft cribs recall, that the US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued recently and this is the highest number of cribs recalled in history. The Crib Recall List November 2009 includes 2.1 million cribs manufactured by Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc. based in British Columbia.

The Crib Recall List November 2009 not only included the cribs sold in the US market but also included the cribs that the company has sold in Canada. Recall of such a large number of cribs affected the company but they have not yet made any public statement after this recall was issued for ensuring the safety of infants. The Commission issued the cribs recall from the market after it suffocated and killed four infants. The commission recommended all parents to opt for some other sleeping arrangements for their babies and stop using these cribs.

US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Crib Recall List November 2009 declared that the cribs that Stock Craft has manufactured from January 1993 to October 2009 have chances of suffocating a baby. The list also included cribs made during October 1997 to December 2004, which have been sold with Fisher Price logo. All the details of the recalled cribs are provided by the commission so that parents and caregivers can easily identify the cribs that can cause suffocation problem to an infant.

Notre Dame Quarterback Jimmy Clausen Punched In Face

2009-11-24T07:27:00.000-08:00

I haven't been doing this very long compared to some people, but I'm pretty certain that if any random straw poll of fans was asked to respond to the question "Which college football player would you most like to punch in the face?" no player over the last five years would finish in the same ballpark as Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, the perfect storm of hype, hair gel and unearned entitlement at the most high profile position in the most widely-despised program in America. Not that Jimmy deserves to be punched in the face or anywhere else, of course, but still -- there are no doubt a lot of smiling people tonight living vicariously through an anonymous patron of CJ's in South Bend, where Clausen was reportedly dealt at least one shiner a few hours after the Irish's deflating double-OT loss to UConn:

Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen was attacked by an irate fan. ESPN reports that Jimmy Clausen was punched in the face outside of a South Bend restaurant early Sunday morning.The report claims that a fan attacked Clausen after he had dinner with his parents and left him with a swollen eye. The fan allegedly said something toJimmy Clausen and/or a female acquaintance.The alleged attack took place hours after the Fighting Irish lost an overtime game to Connecticut.There is no police report to confirm any details.

Cyber Monday 2009 Information

2009-11-24T07:22:00.000-08:00

What is Cyber Monday?

Brief history of Cyber Monday.

Cyber Monday is the Monday following Black Friday and the unofficial kick off to online shopping for the holiday season. On this day many merchants will have some great deals and these deals are only good online. There are usually great deals throughout the holidays but some of the best can be foundon this day, even moreso this year with the way our economy has been going lately.

When is Cyber Monday?

This year Cyber Monday will be on November 30, 2009 with Black Friday starting a few days earlier on Friday November 27.

Cyber Monday 2009 Deals And Ads

Walmart Black Friday 2009 flyer, Best Buy Black Friday 2009 sales and Toys

2009-11-24T07:18:00.000-08:00

November 23:

Walmart Black Friday 2009 flyer, Best Buy Black Friday 2009 sales and Toys R Us Black Friday 2009 ad. If retailers’ Black Friday schemes are not enough many leading tech giant and computer, laptop, mobile, camera and other gadgets’ manufacturers too have come out with their own Black Friday sales schemes.

You shouldn’t have to stand in a long line to get a great deal. We’re searching for the best Black Friday deals everywhere–including deals other stores are planning–so we can meet or beat their prices and bring them to you even earlier.

The schemes are enticing for any lay person.

But I must warn you that please don’t go for EMI option as no one knows as to how long one may be able to pay the monthly installment that comes with the finance option.
If you have money please pay upfront.

HTC HD2 Windows Mobile 7 Upgrade Pending?

2009-11-23T10:32:00.000-08:00

According to as yet unconfirmed rumours the owners of the HTC HD2 (formerly known as the HTC Leo) can look forward to a free upgrade to the Windows Mobile 7 OS when WinMo 7 becomes available next year.

Expected to be announced at the Mobile World Congress to be held in February 2010, whilst the WinMo 7 upgrade is yet to be confirmed it seems wholly viable as the HTC HD2 has the distinction of being the first phone to meet all the hardware requirements laid done by Microsoft for its new iteration Windows Mobile – specifically meeting with MS’s Chassis 1 specifications.

Whilst information concerning the purported free WinMo 7 HTC HD2 is pretty space as at the time of writing, MsMobiles additionally reports that as such upgrade will be an “official upgrade from HTC, not a hacked ROM from PPCGeeks or Xda-dev” though the site does no qualify this by offering any indication as to the source of this information. Still, being that the HTC HD2 is an enormously popular phone, added to the fact that from a hardware standpoint its ‘WinMo 7 ready’ and taking the (again unconfirmed) rumours concerning the HTC HS2 being due to hit T-Mobile in the US sometime in Q1 2010 into account there’s little doubt that such an upgrade would very much work in favour of HTC’s 4.3” already highly desirable capacitive touchscreen smartphone.

Google Maps Navigation (Sort Of) Released For European Androids

2009-11-23T10:30:00.000-08:00

When the Google Maps Navigation software was announced for Android phones just a few weeks ago, those of you who carry Android phones outside the United States probably quickly realized one thing – that Google Maps Navigation doesn’t work for you. Until now, that is.

The European forum XDA Developers featured a post where a cunning user posted a series of codes that need to be input into your Android device that will enable Google Maps Navigation, the turn-by-turn TomTom killer software on phones outside the United States.

Google never released any reasons why the Google Maps Navigation software was only limited to the United States, keeping Canada and Europe in the cold, but non-Americans across the blogosphere have confirmed that the workaround works.

XDA’s forum went down in all the buzz surrounding this release, but Gadget Venue posted a clip of the code needed to enable this functionality. It appears to work by some ROM modifications, followed by a hacked version of the app being installed.

Dell Mini 3i Android Phone Gets Official

2009-11-23T10:28:00.000-08:00

Dell has realized this year that it can’t miss out on the smartphone business especially with a hot OS like Android available out there. And the company has been busy developing an Android handset for the Chinese market. The Dell Mini 3i isn’t a secret anymore and earlier today it became official. According to the press release, the Dell Mini 3i will be available “later this month” and China Mobile is the carrier that will launch it.

China Mobile is a powerful carrier in China and, with 500 million subscribers, it’s the largest mobile operator in the world. No wonder that Dell wants a piece of that action. So what does the Mini 3i have to offer? Here’s the official specs list of the device:

* China Mobile OPhone OS (custom Android version)
* Quadband GSM/EDGE
* 3G support
* 3.5-inch touchscreen
* GPS
* 3-megapixel camera with zoom, auto-focus, flash and video capture
* Bluetooth
* microSD support for up to 32GB of storage
* miniUSB port
* Dimensions: 58.35 x 122 x 11.7
* Weight: 105g

Michael Yang, vice president and general manager for Greater China Consumer of Dell had this to say about the phone:

People today want to carry their lives with them – they want to discover, capture and share new content as they roam around the world. We believe Dell’s year-long development collaboration with China Mobile will amplify those experiences better than anyone else in the industry.

He might be right about the way people see smartphones today and that seems to be an indication that Dell will not make phones only for China. In fact we already know that the company is going to launch a Dell Mini 3i version in the USA and other markets. But that version hasn’t been officially announced yet and we might not even see it in stores this year.

The Dell Mini 3i doesn’t have a price yet, so all those China Mobile subscribers will have to wait until their carrier announces them later this month.

Two New Drobos For Your Storage Pleasure

2009-11-23T10:26:00.000-08:00

For those out of the know, Drobos are data storage devices, that feature multiple hard drive bays and allow you to hot swap drives on the fly and features extensive automated data redundancy backup features. They’ve been extremely popular, despite mild critism about the transfer speeds and the lack of an Ethernet port (stopping you from using one as a self-contained NAS unit). Today, Drobo manufacture Data Robotics unveiled two new Drobo models, both serving different niches.

The first new Drobo is the high-end business DroboElite. The DroboElite has 8 hard drive bays, and with only 2 Ethernet connections, which pretty much orients it for the enterprise marketplace. The DroboElite can support unto 16 different hosts using data off of it with 255 different volumes onboard.

It’s a pretty impressive piece of computer hardware, but with the lack of a USB or Firewire port, and the hefty price tag of $3,500, that makes it clear that this one is for the Enterprise marketplaces.

The Drobo S is the new consumer-based model. Data Robotics addressed one of the key complaints with the original Drobo by improving the speed of the unit in the back end (with Engadget reporting 20 to 25% performance improvement). Where the original Drobo had 4 HDD bays, the new Drobo S adds a fifth, which allows for more data redundancy options when backing up your files on the Drobo. Like the first Drobo, the Drobo S features a USB and Firewire connection.

The smaller Drobo S will retail for $800. Drobos aren’t cheap, but they are fairly impressive for what they do. If you only need 4 hard drive bays, the original Drobo may be enough for you at only $400. Data Robitics also has various deals if you order a Drobo bundled with hard drives from them.

Verizon Samsung Omnia II Release Date & Pricing Confirmed

2009-11-23T10:20:00.000-08:00

The Samsung Omnia II has just become official. Just like we told you a few days ago, the phone has been properly announced by Verizon Wireless. The Omnia II will be available in stores starting with December 2 for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and with a new two-year contract.

Samsung Omnia II is a Windows Mobile 6.5 phone and it will be interesting to see how it will perform especially now when Android phones seem to dominate the end of the year. If you ask me, we need to see more Windows Mobile 6.5 handsets even if Microsoft’s latest mobile OS isn’t as hot as we would like it to be. The Omnia II is probably one of the best Windows Mobile 6.5 phones available right now, and the only phone that can contend that spot at the moment is the HTC HD2.

So let’s officially see what the Omnia II will offer:

* 3.7-inch ultra-brilliant touchscreen; widescreen AMOLED display
* Virtual QWERTY keyboard with Swype technology
* Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional
* Samsung’s TouchWiz 2.0 UI
* 3G Support
* Verizon Wireless services: V CAST Music with Rhapsody, V CAST Video on Demand, V CAST Song ID, Visual Voice Mail, VZW Tones, VZ NavigatorSM
* 5.0-megapixel camera with flash, autofocus and video recording
* 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
* 8GB internal memory
* Up to 16GB microSD memory card
* Bluetooth

There’s no doubt about it, the Omnia II is a great smartphone. Sure it might not be able to fight against the iPhone yet but it can definitely successfully compete against some of the best phones launched so far.

If you’re looking to buy a smartphone right now then you’re facing a very difficult choice. The iPhone 3GS is still selling very well but there are other hot phones to choose from: the Motorola Droid, the Samsung Omnia II, the HTC HD2, the BlackBerry Storm2 and the BlackBerry Bold 9700. What would you rather buy this Christmas?

Kenwood MG-F500 Digital Audio Player Unveiled

2009-11-22T07:25:00.000-08:00

Kenwood have officially unveiled their latest DAP in the form of the Kenwood MG-F500 which is very much an entry level digital audio player which will impress few with its somewhat limited audio file format support and its lack of video playback capabilities (then again, this is a DAP as opposed to a PMP so video should hardly be expected).

The Kenwood MG-F500 comes with a 2” color TFT display and, whilst the internal storage capacities on offer are pretty paltry – the MG-F500 will be offered up in 4GB, 8GB and 16GB models only – its saving grace, in this respect at least, is that it also comes with an onboard microSD/SDHC slot allowing you to add additional capacity on and over the limited capacity on offer.

In terms of audio file support, however, the Kenwood MG-F500 fails to impress as you’re looking at the device supporting MP3, WMA, AAC and WAV audio file formats only – no OGG, no AAC no FLAC or APE. That’s said, where the Kenwood MG-F500 does manage to impress is in terms of its endurance as it’ll purportedly run for a fairly impressive 50 hours on a single charge.

Kenwood have not offered any indication concerning the MG-F500’s pricing for any of the three variants to be offered at this juncture but, with the above in mind, its reasonable to assume that we’re looking at it coming in at especially budget-friendly price points (possibly sub $100?).

New Intel Atom First Details Emerge

2009-11-22T07:19:00.000-08:00

Whilst details at this stage are fairly thin on the ground, we do, at least, have some details confirmed regarding the 2011 Intel Atom CPU, which is set to succeed the up and coming Pine Trail Atom, which offers a tantalising insight as to where the future of Intel’s highly successful Atom processor, which is under the hood of just about every netbook and nettop currently available, is headed.

The new 2011 Intel Atom, which, is codenamed “Cedarview” whilst, as a platform, goes by the codename “Cedar Trail”, is reported to be based on a 32 nanometer manufacturing process and is said to be set to support DirectX 10 3D graphics processing as well as offering HD video output whilst additionally offering up dual digital output that’s see both DisplayPort and HDMI, as well as older formats, suitably catered for.

Further highlights will include a new memory controller offering DDR3 memory support (specifically DDR3 1066 – as catered for by Intel’s Core i7 CPU).
The new Atom Cedar Trail platform is expected to hit in 2011 though its already set to be replaced by the next iteration, which is set to utilise a 22 nanometer manufacturing process, sometime in 2013 – but, as yet, there’s no specific details as to what that’ll bring to the table.

Grenade USB Flash Drive Offers 8GB of Explosive Data Capacit yeek

2009-11-22T07:15:00.000-08:00

We’ve seen out fair share of novel (aka wacky) USB flash drives here at TFTS and now we have another distinctive flash drive to all to our collection in the form of this USB Grenade Flash Drive, which has just become available from ThinkGeek.
Offering USB 2.0 connectivity, the ThinkGeek USB Grenade Flash Drive youts 8GB of capacity, comes with a flip off connector cover and measures in at around 32 x 32 x 57mm.

ThinkGeek’s product listing explains the USB Grenade Flash Drive thus:
Pull the plug and lob your old flash drive out your window (preferably after you’ve backed up the files, but who are we to tell you what to do?). Store your most valuable and portable files inside a grenade for maximum style points. Unleash that little evil part of yourself that wants to blow up your coworkers. That annoying guy three cubes down want the same files you’ve already emailed him 30 times? Pull the plug on your grenade and fling it into his cube. It won’t blow up, but at least a grenade to the head might make him reconsider the next time he wants to bug you about something…
The USB Grenade Flash Drive is available as of now and will set you back just shy of $40.

Apple Multitouch Magic Mouse Windows Compatibility

2009-11-22T07:11:00.000-08:00

If you’ve been lusting over Apple’s mulittouch capable Magic Mouse (we’re with you on that, incidentally) but you’re a Windows user you may have consigned any thoughts of using the Apple Magic Mouse with your current setup to the back of your mind but now, thanks to a strictly unofficial hack of Apple’s latest Bluetooth update, you can happily pair up the Magic Mouse with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.

Provided by UneasySilence, the Windows Magic mouse drivers are available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions though you’ll need to splash out $70 to obtain the Magic Mouse in the first place, obviously.
You can get your hands on the Magic Mouse Windows drivers via the UneasySilence webpage and, should you give them a go, we’d love to hear your feedback – how do they work for you, is there any functionality issues?

A Motorola Droid That May Not Work [Motorola Droid Engineering Prototype]

2009-11-21T20:54:00.000-08:00

Ever want to own a (supposed) piece of cell phone history? An alleged engineering prototype of the Motorola Droid has shown up on eBay, with a starting bid of $485. The Droid, which runs Google’s Android 2.0 OS, was released earlier this month, with a price of $200 (subsided with a service plan, of course) by American provider Verizon.

According to the eBay listing, the prototype is ‘a pre-release verison’ and ‘was made strictly for Motorola engineers’. The seller doesn’t exactly speculate on where he got the phone, but judging by the wording of the eBay listing, he doesn’t appear to be a Motorola engineer.

The seller says the phone is ‘working perfectly’ and can be used with an cellular network. The pictures of the operating system appear to be running the regular version of Google Android. If you were even concerned, it comes with a phone charger. Despite the seller’s claims that the phone works well, he does say can’t guarantee it will work perfectly.

This really appears to be the real deal. The pictures on the eBay listing show the phone looks slightly different from the off-the-shelf one and instead of the provider logo near the mouthpiece, the phone features an apt warning, “Confidental: Motorola Restricted Property: Not For Sale”. Ooops.

Note that this probably isn’t a debug unit that will let you hack into Verizon’s network and cause havoc, it simply appears to be a pre-release regular unit. Despite some mild coverage over the tech blogosphere today, there STILL aren’t any bids, so if you’re interested in paying more for a regular Motorola Droid, albeit one with an interesting story, then you better fire up that PayPal account.

Orb Bluetooth Headset Turns Into a Ring

2009-07-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

It seems that Transformer mania has finally pervaded the world of hands-free with the creation of the Orb Bluetooth headset. This nifty little gadget is the result of a collaboration between Hybra Advance Technology Inc. and AbsolutelyNew Inc. and goes from ultra-sleek wireless communication device to high-fashion fingerwear with a simple twist. As far as Bluetooth devices are concerned, this one ranks pretty high on the fashion scale.
The Orb will be available in various sizes and for those who like their Bluetooth headsets on the sparkly side, it will available in a limited edition designer model that features integrated decorative gemstones. The base model Orb is slated for January 2010 availability and will sport a MSRP of $129. The Deluxe edition is due out the following April with a MSRP of $175.

But the Orb isn’t just good looks. This high-tech gizmo incorporates NXT technology and provides high quality bone conduction audio without the discomfort of placing a device inside the ear. All units will offer a Class 2 Bluetooth range of 30-ft. It’s both form and function. Rumor has it that there is also a “deluxe edition” in the works that will feature a Flexible Organic Light Emitting Device (FOLED) screen to display caller ID, calendar reminders, and voice-to-text information for communication without taking the ring off the finger.

Nokia 6760 Slide Announced for UK Debut Reviews [Nokia Intros European Version ]

2009-07-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

Something’s up today with the whole bunch of mobile phones hitting the market. Another model that is trying to get the eye and to impress is the new Nokia 6760 Slide smartphone which has just been release to the old continent. Known as Nokia Surge in the US, the European version (actually the UK version) of the handset features a 2.4 inch QVGA display, a 3.2 megapixel camera and a microSD card that allows up to 8GB of storage.
Available in black, red or white, by the end of summer for 200 Euro (some $280 today), Nokia 6760 is a great multi-tasker that allows you to tweet, email, IM, share online, browse the web, listen to music, all at once.
One of the most interesting aspect of the new Nokia 6760 Slide, is that the sliding QWERTY keypad has been specially designed to be messaging-optimised and to make typing easy — a pretty neat feature if you’re consider the you get easy access to your favourite social networking site (Facebook, MySpace or Twitter) as well as email accounts that support Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Windows Live Hotmail and thousands of other email providers.

Pirates searching for everyday right fielder is it Eric Hinske

2009-06-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

Delwyn Young homered Saturday night and is batting .346 when he's in the lineup. Brandon Moss hit safely in five of his past six games and is power threat against right-handed pitchers.
So when it came time to choose a starting right fielder Sunday against Kansas City Royals righty Zack Greinke, Pirates manager John Russell chose ... Eric Hinske.
"Put 'em in a hat, pull one out and see how it works," Russell said with a chuckle.
The decision-making process, of course, is not nearly as simple as that. It's difficult, too, considering the recent success by Young and Moss and the presence of Hinske and Steve Pearce.
"It's a nice problem to have," Russell said.
Before making his choice, Russell huddles in his office with hitting coach Don Long and bench coach Gary Varsho.
"We talk about what might be the best matchup that night," Russell said. "We look at the time between starts, matchups, gut feelings sometimes."
Last week, Moss made three straight starts in right after showing signs of life at the plate. To stay sharp, Young played Saturday.
"We really like the way Delwyn and Brandon are playing," Russell said. "Eric gives us veteran leadership, and he needs to play every once in a while as well."
Hinske went 0-for-4, but he contributed a nifty defensive play. In the seventh inning, Hinske dove to snag Mitch Maier's blooper in shallow right.
The odd man out is Pearce, a natural first baseman who was called up June 21 after Craig Monroe was designated for assignment.
"We put Steve in a tough spot by dropping him back into right field for just two games before he came up," general manager Neal Huntington said. "Young and Moss are better right fielders. Hinske could arguably be a better right fielder than Steve. So there may not be many at-bats for Steve."
Huntington said Russell has done a great job of mixing and matching right fielders. But Huntington would prefer that it didn't have to happen.
"We love for one of those guys to just go bananas for a month, never look back, take the job and keep it for the next 10 years," Huntington said. "But until that point, (Young and Moss) both deserve opportunities out there. They've both shown enough that intrigues us."
The Pirates are happy with the veteran leadership Eric Hinske has provided this season.

Are you Searching For Michael Jackson Autopsy Photos

2009-06-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson Autopsy Photo - As days have passed since the death of the King of Pop, many people on the Internet are starting to look for a picture of Michael Jackson’s autopsy. This is mostly generated because of the “leaked autopsy report” that was in fact a hoax.

The fake report, which among other things stated that Michael Jackson was found with pills on the stomach, broken ribs, needle injuries and scarring from numerous surgeries, was called false by official sources.
If you happen to be one of the thousands of people scouring the internet in search of Michael Jackson’s autopsy photo, then you’re out of luck sicko. There isn’t one.
Since the “leak” of the fake autopsy results hit the internet, people have been clamoring to see a photo that disproves that the King of Pop was nearly bald. Sickos, he just died. Freaking vultures.

Picher Oklahoma Last man standing at wake for a toxic town

2009-06-30T10:23:00.000-07:00

Wearing powder blue pants and a plaid fedora, 84-year-old Orval "Hoppy" Ray arrived fashionably late to a celebration in Picher, Oklahoma, a vacated mining town at the center of one of the nation's largest and most polluted toxic-waste sites.
Former residents, bought out by the government because their town was deemed so dangerous, gathered in Picher's elementary school to say farewell to a place where kids suffered lead poisoning, where homes built atop underground mines plunged into the Earth and where the local creek coughs up orange water, laced with heavy metals.

A toothpick dangling out of the corner of his chapped mouth, Ray greeted several old friends as if he were in any other small town in America.
"Hello there, Hoppy! How the hell are ya?" one called out.
Gray mountains of toxic gravel loomed behind the school, just out of sight, as Hoppy hobbled past a bundle of balloons and through the front doors, cane in hand. He tipped his hat as he entered.
"Looks like a good crowd," he said. "Everybody seems to be havin' a good time. That's the main thing."
In a town this tragic and for a person as stubborn as Hoppy, that's a big statement.
As his abandoned town fades to dust, Hoppy has gone into the business of memories. He wants to remind townspeople, and the world, that a person's home should always be loved -- no matter how toxic. The death toll from a chain-reaction accident on an Oklahoma turnpike this weekend has risen to 10.Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Mo., said Sunday that 35-year-old Shelby Hayes of Frisco, Texas, had died. She had been in critical condition with head, internal and external injuries after Friday's crash.Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., said Sunday that the condition of 12-year-old Andrea Reyes, of Phoenix, Ariz., was upgraded from critical to serious

Jillian Confronts Wes About a Girlfriend: Does Wes Have a Girlfriend?

2009-06-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

Can’t believe Jake would go to all the trouble of going to see Jillian to tell her about Wes’ girlfriend and Jillian would believe Wes anyway. No, baby, I don’t have a girlfriend. I have an ex-girlfriend who’s a good friend.
Tonight on “The Bachelorette,” we have hometown visits and the return of Jake and Ed. Woo hoo!
Reid, Philadelphia
Reid is up first. His parents have a beautiful house in a Philly suburb. Reid has Rhonda, Larry, Brett and Chad (parents and two brothers). They immediately start talking about the family realty business and Jillian’s design background.
Rhonda takes Jillian off for some one-on-one time. Jill asks Rhonda if she’s Reid’s type and Rhoda says, “I think you’re adorable.” Heh heh. Wway to skirt that question, mom. The brothers talk to her about committment and how Reid hasn’t met the right person yet.

Tonight on "The Bachelorette," Wes can add another episode to his publicity and we lose one of the good ones.
Chris calls our remaining guys the "Elite Eight." I think he means "the Magnificent Seven and one guitar-strumming douchebag." This week there are two solo dates and one group date. 5 roses will be given out and those guys get to take Jillian to their hometowns.
They are leaving Whistler and taking the Rocky Mountain... something. I missed it. Rocky Mountain Oysters? No, I'm pretty sure those are cow balls. It's a train, though. That's the gist.
Just for the record, 5 minutes into the episode, I think Jillian needs to ditch Wes, Tanner P and Michael and keep Jake, Reid, Robby, Kiptyn and Jesse. That is my prediction/hope.By the way, while Jillian says good-bye to Robby, the other 7 guys press their faces up against the train windows like a bunch of little match girls. Geez, guys. Michael cries about Robby's departure because he didn't get to say good-bye. I'll say it again... I think Michael wishes he was in the Canadian wilderness with Robby.

Navigon MobileNavigator iPhone App for iPhone OS 3.0 [PND App for iPhone 3G/iPhone 3G S]

2009-06-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

With Alex having posted only yesterday concerning the TomTom PND iPhone Application long comes news that its not only TomTom who are looking for a slice of the pie when it comes to utilising the new iPhone OS 3.0 for Apple’s iPhone 3G and newly announced iPhone 3G S as Navigon have also confirmed that they are developing an iPhone application of their own known as MobileNavigator.
Billed as offering turn-by-turn navigation functionality, the Navigon MobileNavigator iPhone app also sports a host of functions you’d expect on Navigon’s full blown PND’’s such as Reality View Pro, Real Roadsign Pro, Lane Assistant Pro, Speed Assistant, Day & Night Mode as well as pre-loaded POI whilst also hooking up with your contact list (hence directing you accordingly).
Navigon’s Official Press Release:

NAVIGON takes off first: MobileNavigator now also leads the way on the iPhone already in June
To turn the iPhone 3G and the forthcoming iPhone 3G S into an innovative navigator, you only need two “ingredients”: the new Apple OS 3.0 operating system and the MobileNavigator from NAVIGON. By June iPhone users will be able to turn their phones into a handy, convenient navigation device with the professional software from NAVIGON for the first time.
Lunch break. Time to eat and a chance to send private emails, make phone calls and to relax listening to songs from your own playlist. Now and again checking the status of online bidding, and taking a funny photo of a colleague. One thing is for sure, there’s hardly another smartphone on the market that makes multitasking so much fun as the iPhone. And soon users will be able to have themselves navigated from the office to the new Italian restaurant in town. All that’s needed is an iPhone running on the new Apple OS 3.0 operating system - and the MobileNavigator from NAVIGON.
Before the end of this month iPhone users will be able to kit out their smartphones with the professional navigation software from App Stores across the globe. “With the new OS 3.0 operating system, Apple has made the use of navigation software on the iPhone possible, and NAVIGON has quickly managed to adapt the MobileNavigator software to the new firmware. The iPhone can now be transformed into a versatile, fully functional navigator”, quotes Egon Minar, CEO of NAVIGON AG.
Alternative in the App Store
When equipped with the MobileNavigator software, the iPhone 3G (with Apple OS 3.0 operating system) and the iPhone 3G S guide their users safely to their destination - with updated map material and intelligent navigation.

The package includes well-known functions such as Reality View Pro, Real Roadsign Pro, Lane Assistant Pro, Speed Assistant, Day & Night Mode, amongst others, as well as the option of displaying POIs along the route. With this range of functions, Mobile Navigator stands out from its competition on the market - also by the fact that the typical user functions of the iPhone have been implemented seamlessly in order to make navigation using the iPhone and NAVIGON software even more enjoyable. If you turn the iPhone 90 degrees, then the display switches automatically from portrait to landscape view. As well as this automatic display adjustment, and the intelligent address entry, there is also the option of navigating directly to an address from saved contacts. If navigation is interrupted by a telephone call then navigation is resumed automatically after the call has ended.
“This allows iPhone users to navigate wherever they are, whenever they want - conveniently and while on the move,” states Egon Minar.
Within this month MobileNavigator will be available in the international AppStore where iPhone users can choose between various options. One option is the LITE Version available for free, with no active route guidance, but with map material and the possibility to display POIs (points of interest) in the vicinity. Another option is the full version, which navigates users quickly and reliably to their destination.
The prices for the full version will be released by the AppStore at the launch.
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Panasonic HDC-TM10 & HDC-SD10 Camcorders [New HDCs Pricing & Availability Confirmed]

2009-06-12T08:43:00.000-07:00

Panasonic plans on claiming the “world’s lightest” title with the announcement of their latest HDC-TM10 and HDC-SD10 camcorders that only weight half a pound. Featuring the Panasonic’s VIERA Link technology that allows for Full-HD video content viewing, both the HDC-TM10 and HDC-SD10 camcorders offer 16x optical zoom and use Advanced Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S) technology that helps minimize shakes at high zoom levels.
Virtually the same, the real difference between the two camcorders is that the HDC-SD10 will store your memories on a SD/SDHC style="font-family:georgia;">memory card, while the HDC-TM10 first has to fill 8GB of internal memory before using the card option.As for the other specs, they both feature touchscreen and handy function buttons for intuitive usage, built in light and flash for when you’re shooting in the dark and a 1.9-sec Quick Power-On to make sure you won’t miss on anything.
The camcorders are going to ship starting in the US from September with a MSRP of $599.95 for the HDC-TM10 model, wile the HDC-SD10 will cost you $549.95.

Trigem USA Averatec D1200 All-in-One PC [Full HD AIO PC with G4500HD Graphics]

2009-06-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

Recently released, the new Averatec D1200 is another all-in-one PC designed for quick installation, ease of use and leading-edge performance. But unlike its predecessors the D1200 has been announced with a 25.5-inch full 1080p High-Definition LCD display and will boast a 2.5 GHz Intel Dual Core E5200 processor, 4GB of DDR2 RAM and a 320GB 7,200 rpm hard drive.
Averatec D1200 has an Intel G4500HD graphic chipset to deliver full HD video quality, comes with 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity, a 2 megapixel web camera, a DVD burner, Gigabit Ethernet and a wireless keyboard and mouse. And as you expected there are 2 USB ports, DVI out, SPDIF audio port and a TV Antenna for the built-in TV tuner.

Running on Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit complete with media center functionality and priced at $999, the new Averatec D1200 all-in-one PC is a powerful solution that costs an affordable price.

TomTom Turn-by-Turn Navigation iPhone App [iPhone PND Application]

2009-06-12T06:48:00.000-07:00

Following the WWDC 2009 keynote where we got official details about the new iPhone 3GS and the new OS 3.0, TomTom have just unveiled their turn-by-turn navigation application that will bring 2D/3D maps, voice-guided directions and Points Of Interest (POIs) directly to your iPhone.
Along with the surprisingly sleek software app that brings navigation to your iPhone, TomTom will also include an accompanying car kit that features a speaker and microphone for hands-free calls, supports both orientations and works as a charger that supplies power. However knowing that mapping and navigation software are usually expensive, the big question about TomTom’s iPhone app is how much will it cost as we can’t imagine this being cheap.
For now all we know is that the TomTom app is expected to be available this summer.

BlueLounge StudioDesk Keeps Clutter Away [Desk for Laptop Users, Stashes Your Wires in Style]

2009-06-12T06:32:00.000-07:00

A traditional workspace with a modern twist, the new StudioDesk has been designed for laptop users looking for a clutter-free working environment. Crafted by BlueLounge with clean and simple shapes, the desk features a sliding top surface that uncovers a large hidden compartment where you can completely conceal all your wires, iPhones, cameras and other peripherals that take up space.
It will cost you a good $599 but keep in mind that the new StudioDesk comes with a removable faux leather mat to cover the sliding portion of the desktop, has solid mahogany legs and white laminate surfaces and storage spaces.
A timeless design that comes in a comfy knock down condition and can be easily assembled, the desk looks perfect for both home and office use. Is it worth it to keep clutter away? We’ll let you decide …
[BlueLounge via OhGizmo]
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Touchscreen Speaker Phone Waterproof Watch with Camera & Integrated DAP

2009-04-30T20:15:00.000-07:00

We’ve seen touchscreen watches. We’ve seen watches with DAP functionality. We’ve also seen watches with integrated cameras and watches that double up as wrist worn cell phones. But what about a wrist watch that comes with touchscreen, cell phone functionality and integrated camera that packs in DAP capabilities complete with inbuilt stereo speakers that happens to be waterproof and, (yes, there’s more), which comes in a gloriously tacky golden finish?
Yes, it’s another gem from ChinaGrabber whose undoubted claim to fame is the sustained ability to produce cheap gadgetry that sounds great on paper and looks crap in reality.

This M1000i 1.5″ Quad Band TouchScreen WaterProof WristWatch Phone w/ Bluetooth, Camera, Mp3, Mp4 (to give it it’s formal and decidedly catchy title) measures in at 56 x 43 x 19mm and, as alluded to previously, packs in just about everything you could possibly want in a watch (and then some) that you quite probably wouldn’t be seen dead with.
Offering GSM 850/900/1800/1900 connectivity, as well as Bluetooth, this touchscreen cell phone DAP camera stereo speaker watch (you’ll excuse us if we’ve missed something out here), sports a 1.5″ 260K color 176 x 220 resolution display, comes with integrated 2 megapixel camera (allowing you to capture stills and video with sound), offers MP3, MP4, 3GP, JPG and GIF file format compatibility and no, we wouldn’t be seen dead with it either.

PeeWee Pivot Tablet Laptop for Children [aka 'PeeWee Premier PC' for Kids]

2009-04-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

Referred to as both the PeeWee Pivot Tablet Laptop and the PeeWee Premier PC, this 1.6GHz Atom N270 powered 10″ touchscreen laptop is aimed specifically at young children and, apart from offering s sturdy design capable of riding out the knocks and scrapes young kids will undoubtedly throw at it (its both drop and spill resistant), comes with a bundle of ten ‘age-targeted’ software titles as well as handwriting recognition and MS Works 9.0.

Measuring in at 9.5″ x 7.5″ x 1.5″ the PeeWee Pivot Tablet Laptop, as befits a tablet PC, comes with a swivel display capable of swivelling 180 degrees, 1GB of memory (upgradeable to 2GB), a 60GB HDD, 2-in-1 card reader and Ethernet connectivity as well as Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (interestingly billed as Linux version only though only an XP Home version appears to be available at this time), a 1.3 megapixel camera and, apart from coming with customised themes taking in the likes of Disney can be ‘custom built for your child’s age, name, and interests’ - though quite what this specifically entails, apart from entering your kid’s name, eludes us.
Provided with software that enables parents to snoop on what their child’s up to (for piece of mind), the PeeWee Pivot Tablet Laptop is priced from just shy of $600 and is available as of now.

Pure Digital Flip Ultra & 720p Flip Ultra HD Now Available [New Flip Ultra Video Cameras]

2009-04-30T20:08:00.000-07:00

Following on from a series of leaks concerning its new iterations of its ever popular Flip video camera, Pure Digital has at last gone official with its new Flip video cameras, the Flip Ultra and Flip Ultra HD, which sport revised designs and larger TFT 2″ 960 x 240 resolution displays.

The new Pure Digital Flip Ultra video cameras, which are powered by an updated Flip Video Engine (version 3.5) come in SD and HD versions offering up to 640 x 480 and 1280 x 720 resolution video capture capabilities at 30 frame per second respectively and offer H.264 video compression with AAC audio compression and well as MP4 file format support whilst zoom capabilities remain unchanged at 2x digital.

Coming with replaceable AA battery packs offering up to three hours recording endurance whilst recording at 720p resolution or up to five hours when recording in standard definition, the new Pure Digital Flip Ultra video cameras come with integrated stereo microphones as well as in-built speakers (previous Flip models offered mono audio recording only) and, in the case of the Flip Ultra HD, integrated HDMI port allowing you to hook the video camera directly up to a HD TV to view captured footage.
Both the Flip Ultra SD and the Flip ultra HD have just been made available and will set you back just shy of $149 and $200 respectively.

USB Cooler Keyboard Keeps Hands Cool [Keyboard with Integrated Fans]

2009-04-21T07:26:00.000-07:00

With the temperatures on the rise - certainly in this part of the world - and having posted earlier this month about the LED Message Display USB Mouse with Integrated Hand Cooling & Remote along comes this keyboard with built-in cooling fans which we felt compelled to feature as both of these gadgets combined could see your hands kept comfortably cool whilst at your PC throughout the summer.
Measuring in at a not especially compact 20″ x 8.7″ x 13.8″, the USB Cooler Keyboard comes with USB 2.0 connectivity and a series of prominent vents lined along the keyboards’ wrist rest that, when the keyboard’s hooked up, will supply a steady stream of cooling air under your hands courtesy of three fans as your type but, unfortunately (I jest, of course) unlike the aforementioned cooling muse there’s no gaudy LED display offering the ability to show customisable messages.
The USB Cooler Keyboard will set you back around $93 though, if you’re anything like us, you’ll happily get by without it.

Sony E-Series/NW-040 Series Walkman with Swappable Panels

2009-04-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

Sony have taken the wraps of their new E-Series (specifically NW-040 Series) Walkman USB stick styled digital audio players which come in three capacities, namely 2GB, 4GB and 8GB - and which feature what Sony terms as ‘Style-Up Panels’ allowing you to adapt the new Walkman’s appearance according to your fashion (in)sensibilities.

The new Sony E-Series/NW-040 Series Walkmans, which sport a 3 line color LCD display as well as integrated FM tuner, and which measure in at a decidedly pocket friendly 22.3 x 84.9 x 19.6mm, will initially be offered in a range of colors such as orange, silver & crystal, hot pink, mint green & pink sugar (lovely) and feature Clear Stereo and Clear Bass audio technologies and offer a purported playback time of around 28 hours based on a full 1.5 hour charge or, if you’re in a hurry, will apparently offer up to 3 hours endurance based on a 3 minute quick charge.
The new Sony E-Series/NW-040 Series Walkmans are set to hit Japan from May 16th and will retail at around the equivalent of between $80 and $132.