Undertakers' New Year's message to drunk drivers: It is your own funeral

In the days leading up to New Year's Eve, people in Rome, Georgia, outside Atlanta, could see an unusual type of campaign to discourage drunk driving.

TV stations and newspapers are announcing that, between 9 A.M. on December 28 and noon on December 31, the local McGuire, Jennings and Miller funeral homes will sign a contract with anyone who plans to drink or use drugs and drive on New Year's Eve. The contract states that, if the person dies in a car accident on the 31st, he or she will get a free funeral.

However, the contract is not the point of the "Operation Stop and Think" campaign, says Barry Miller, co-owner of the funeral homes. Miller, who started the program after losing a family member in a drunk driving accident, says, "This is just a scare tactic."

For the past ten years, the funeral home owners have been sending a press release about the contract to some 100 local media outlets and, as Miller says, the owners' reason for doing it: "So other families don't have to go through what we went through." Each year, they restrict their "offer" to the night of New Year's Eve.

In the ten-year history of "Operation Stop and Think," no one has signed the contract. No one has even expressed interest in signing the contract. But the owners have still received feedback about the program in the form of thank-you letters from people of all ages. Miller says that people have even told the owners that the program inspired them to go to Alcoholics Anonymous. Any complaints about the program have been because people misunderstood the funeral home's true intentions, he adds.

Even though the owners don't anticipate anyone coming in for the contract, they do have one ready just in case. To sign it, the potential drunk driver must be from the Rome area and, of course, he or she must be 21 and have a valid driver's license. Miller points out that the funeral home owners would pass along to the police the driver's license information of people who say they plan to drink and drive on New Year's Eve. In addition, Miller says that the contractee must bring along his or her next of kin as well as write letters to his or her possible survivors explaining the decision.

The funeral homes would cover the cost of the grave, casket, limousine and preparation of the remains for the contractee, but not for anyone else killed in the accident.

Although the contract's fine print is not part of the campaign, Miller hopes that the association between drunk driving and a funeral will get the attention of people that might not have been fazed by the myriad other drunk driving ads that appear before New Year's Eve. "You have to have several [approaches] to reach everyone," he says.

Posted by imran Thursday, December 31, 2009 0 comments


Former Indonesian President Gus Dur Dies

Former Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid, 69, more popularly known as Gus Dur, died at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) in Jakarta at about 6.45pm local time Wednesday.

Till now there has been no statement about the cause of his death but lately he had been treated in hospital several times due to health problems.

Gus Dur's private secretary, Sulaeman, was quoted by news agency Antara as saying his health deteriorated today and he was visited by all his close family members and leaders of the Nahdatul Ulama organisation at the hospital.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had also visited Gus Dur at about 6.30pm and was there for half-an-hour. Indonesian cabinet ministers also visited him.

Susilo will issue at statement about Gus Dur's death, who was termed "Bapa Bangsa" Indonesia, said Antara.

At about 10pm, Gus Dur's body was taken from hospital to his residence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.

Gus Dur, who was Indonesia's fourth president from 1991 to 2001, was the founder of the 'Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa (PKB)', an Islamic party.

He replaced Presiden B.J. Habibie after being picked by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) after the 1999 general election.

Born on Aug 4, 1940, in Jombang, Eact Java, Gus Dur among others got his education at the University of Baghdad, Iraq, from 1966 till 1970, and the Al-Azhar Univerity, Cairo, Egypt, at the Syariah Faculty from 1964 till 1966.

He leaves his widow, Sinta Nuriyah, and four daughters.

Posted by imran Wednesday, December 30, 2009 0 comments


General Motors looks to sell remaining Saturn, Pontiac vehicles with steep discounts, says WSJ

General Motors Company is offering deep discounts on its remaining Saturn and Pontiac vehicles as it looks to move the leftover inventory of the soon-to-be-dead brands, according to a published report.

The automaker will pay dealers $7,000 for every new Saturn or Pontiac left on their lot if the vehicle is moved to dealer-operated rental or service fleets, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited a letter mailed to dealers. This allows the dealers to sell the cars and trucks to consumers at a discount, although the vehicles would be labeled as used because the dealer would technically be the first owner.

The offer expires Jan. 4, according to the newspaper. GM spokesman Tom Henderson confirmed the details of the incentive plan Tuesday.

"That was the purpose of the programs — to help dealers reduce those inventories," he said.

The decision to discount Saturns and Pontiacs comes as GM closes down both brands under the Detroit automaker's restructuring plan. The shutdown of Pontiac was announced earlier in the year. GM announced this fall it would discontinue Saturn after a deal collapsed to sell the brand to Penske Automotive Group Inc.

Besides Pontiac and Saturn, GM is selling Hummer to a Chinese heavy equipment maker and is likely shuttering Swedish brand Saab. That will leave the automaker with four core brands: Buick, Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac.

Sales of Saturn and Pontiac have declined sharply this year. Saturn sales have plunged 61.5 percent through November, according to Autodata Corp. Pontiac sales have slid 32.3 percent. GM's companywide decline is 31.8 percent.

With a $7,000 discount, the manufacturer's suggested price of Pontiac's cheapest vehicle, the G3 hatchback, falls to $7,335. The incentive brings Saturn's cheapest vehicle, the Astra compact car, to $9,495. Henderson, however, cautioned that the final price of the vehicles might be different.

Posted by imran Tuesday, December 29, 2009 0 comments

Percy Sutton was a one man corporation. From a freedom rider to a young lawyer, and from politician to a business icon, Percy Sutton was one of the black Americans who remained active for the rights of African-American people. Percy Sutton gave his hand into the hands of death at 89.

Percy Sutton’s journey includes representing Malcolm X and rescuing Apollo Theatre. In the thorny fields of politics he raise from Democratic clubhouses and in1977, he was considered seriously for the mayor ship candidature of Harlem.

Percy Sutton did not become the mayor of the city but he paved way for other blacks and in 1989 when David N Dinkins became the first Black Mayor, he paid tribute to Percy Sutton by saying that Percy Sutton’s efforts were behind his success and he added that he is standing on the shoulders of Percy Sutton.

Edward I Koch who became mayor in 1977 admitted later that it was only God’s will that he has become mayor other wise he has not seen any man sharp and smart enough as Percy Sutton.

The last of his fourteen brothers and sisters Percy Ellis Sutton was born in November 1920 in Texas. At the age of 13 he was badly beaten for distributing N.A.A.C.P brochures to white neighborhood but as his family was committed to human rights so was Percy Sutton.

A veteran of WWII who served in an all black unit of Air Force as an intelligence officer

Percy earned his lawyer’s degree from Brooklyn Law School.

The man who was addressed by the name of Chairman left a wife, a son and a daughter as his survivors. A devoted and dedicated chapter of fighting for human rights of blacks ended with Percy Sutton. RIP Percy Sutton.

Posted by imran Sunday, December 27, 2009 0 comments


If you thought that with Christmas over, sales being offered at the different retail stores are also over, you were mistaken. The festivities at big retail chains are expected to continue for at least a week.

Best Buy is offering great deals on many items as part of post Christmas sales.

Best Buy is giving from fifty dollar to 100 dollar cards with purchase of LCD televisions and LED televisions on range of TV sets that you always wanted to buy.

Best Buy is offering almost $700 rebate on Samsung ToC 46 1080 LED HDTV. Its regular market price is $2499.99.

But as a post Christmas sale it is offering the TV set for merely $1749. If that was not enough Best Buy is giving a $100 gift card on it reducing its price even further.

Best Buy is also offering almost $150 discount on Samsung 32 Class 720 P LCD HDTV.

Its regular price is $540.99 but as post Christmas sale it is being offered at just $399.99.

Walmart is also offering some great deals on many electronic goods and kitchenware.

Target is offering some great deals and end of the season sales. These include savings of up to 75% on their Last Chance Deals. These also include the added bonus of free shipping.

If you are shopping for furniture at target you can save 15% when they spend $125 or more on furniture.

Posted by imran Saturday, December 26, 2009 0 comments


Oklahoma Road Conditions - Oklahoma Department of Transportation

Oklahoma Department of Transportation reports the latest Oklahoma road conditions as of Friday, Dec 25, 2009 at 09:22:05 AM.

You can also visit the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety for the latest Oklahoma road conditions as the weather is affecting the state.

TROOP A- Major interstates in all counties are still closed due to weather. Troopers are trying to remove wrecked and abandoned vehicles from the roadway to allow DOT to work. Secondary roads are considered slick and hazardous. TRAVEL IS DISCOURAGED Turner Turnpike is now open. 12-25-09/0815 KJM

TROOP B- Snow has stopped falling in all counties, however, blowing snow remains a problem with lower visibility and drifting snow in and along the roadways, making it impossible to see where roadways end and ditches begin. All Highways and Interstates remain closed, with units trying to reach already stranded motorists and trying to get all to safe locations. 12/25/2009 06:52 Hrs MAD

TROOP C- TROOP C- Wagoner, Muskogee, McIntosh, and Sequoyah county roads are extremely slick including I40, US69 and the MuskogeeTurnpike. Cherokee, Adair and Haskell have slick spots. All unnecessary driving is highly discouraged. 12/25/09 0412 JB

TROOP D- At this time there is no precipitation falling in the Troop D area. All roads are slick and hazardous. 12/25/09 07:55 BW

TROOP E- ROADS IN BRYAN,MARSHALL,COAL, PUSHMATAHA AND ATOKA COUNTIES ALL ICE COVERED AND SLICK. CHOCTAW & MCCURTAIN COUNTIES SLICK IN SPOTS AND BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES . 12/25 0614 hrs

TROOP F- There is no precipitation at this time. All roadways including I-35 remain ice/snow covered. Travel is discouraged. 0539 hrs 12/25/09 JJ

TROOP G- All roads in the Troop G area remain very slick and hazardous. I-44, H.E. Bailey Turnpike from MM1 at the Red River to MM107 is still closed. SH7 between Lawton and Duncan is still closed.

TROOP H- Roadways in Troop H are slick and hazardous. Due to high winds snowdrifts have been a problem. All travel is discouraged. 12-25-09, 0750 hours, MA

TROOP I- TROOP I REPORTING NO PRECIPITATION IN CIMARRON, TEXAS, BEAVER, HARPER, ELLIS AND WOODWARD COUNTIES. WOODWARD COUNTY AND ELLIS COUNTY IS STILL SLICK IN SPOTS. SMG 122509 0600

TROOP J- Woods, Alfalfa Grant Major and Garfield County are reporting roads to be slick in spots. As for Blaine and Kingfisher use extreme caution, roads are still slick andhazardous. SH 33 9 E of Kingfisher has been closed due to large snow drifts. 12/25/09 09:39 RCF

TROOP K- Even though the sun is shining, it is still below freezing. All roadways are still slick and hazardous. There are 4-5 ft high drifts in various locations making most roadways impassable. The Cimarron Turnpike is still impassable. If you choose to travel and become stranded, we will more than likely not be able to assist you, so travel is highly discouraged. 0822 12/25/09 Sgt. Kennedy

TROOP L- All major highways in the Troop L area are slick and hazadous. The Will Rogers Turnpike (I-44) will re-open at 1000 hrs. today TAM 0930 hrs

TROOP M- Roads in all counties remain slick and hazardous. Travel is still discouraged in most areas. Visibility is clear. 12/25/09 0800 TKB

Posted by imran Friday, December 25, 2009 0 comments


More Stores Open on Christmas Day 2009

The days when Chinese restaurants were just about the only places or stores open on Christmas Day are a thing of the past. While most retail stores continue to honor the tradition of giving their employees the day off, in contrast to Thanksgiving, an increasing number of other stories and businesses are opening their doors on Christmas Day of 2009.

In particular, growing numbers of restaurants are opening their doors on Christmas, in part in response to societal trends that lead fewer Americans to put together the labor-intensive traditional holiday feast. Most International House of Pancakes locations, for instance, are serving today, and TGI Friday’s restaurants in some cities will serve food later in the day. For those not interested in chain or Chinese fare, local independent restaurants in many larger cities – and not just hotel restaurants that cater to hungry travelers -- are also opening for dinner.

Restaurant servers who must work Christmas Day report that their reward for the disruption comes in the form of bigger tips from customers. James Weathers, the manager of Limelight, a club in Nashville that will serve free hot dogs and hamburgers to customers coming in to watch today’s Tennessee Titans-San Diego Chargers football game, told The Tennesseean, "People are probably the most generous tippers on Christmas. So that's the Christmas bonus for our staff. People will say to them, 'Oh, you're working on Christmas. Here!' "

Retailers specializing in convenience goods, such as staple food items and drugs, are also throwing their doors open. Walgreens drugstores, for example, are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today. Most major supermarket chains, however, remain closed today.

Major department and discount stores, like Target, Walmart and Sears, do not feel pressured to open stores today, in contrast to Thanksgiving, where worries about Christmas-season sales volume led many stores to do business on the holiday. However, these retailers are counting on online shopping at their Web sites to provide some holiday business, and some are running special online promotions thisyear to drive traffic.

Posted by imran 0 comments


DDoS Brings Down UltraDNS, Amazon

A DDoS attack on DNS provider UltraDNS took down Amazon and other major sites Wednesday afternoon US Time Dec 23.

Amazon users on Twitter reported problems starting on the site at around 5pm PST (noon AEDT Thursday.) Reports note that the issue also affected Amazon web services including S3 and EC2. Walmart and Salesforce are also believed to have experienced issues.

UltraDNS owner Neustar confirmed the outage to CNet, saying that the DDoS attack commenced at 4:45pm and customer sites were either offline, or sluggish for approximately one hour.

Amazon’s Web Services Health Dashboard said that services had completely returned to normal as of 6:40pm PST.

Posted by imran Wednesday, December 23, 2009 0 comments


Yanks Trade Cabrera to Braves and Acquire Vazquez

Moving aggressively to fortify their rotation, the Yankees have acquired the right-hander Javier Vazquez from Atlanta Braves in exchange for outfielder Melky Cabrera, the left-handed reliever Mike Dunn and a prospect. The Yankees also received Boone Logan, a left-handed reliever, in the deal.

Vazquez will join C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte in a rotation that will be loaded with strikeout pitchers. Vazquez had 238 strikeouts last season, second to the Giants’ Tim Lincecum in the National League.

Vazquez was 15-10 with a 2.87 earned run average for Atlanta last season, and has been among the most durable starters in baseball for more than a decade. In the five seasons since the Yankees traded him after the 2004 American League Championship Series, Vazquez is one of only two pitchers with 1,000 innings and 1,000 strikeouts. The other is Johan Santana of the Mets.

Vazquez was an All-Star for the Yankees in 2004, but he crumbled in the second half of that season, culminating in Game 7 of the A.L.C.S., when he gave up two home runs to Boston’s Johnny Damon, including a grand slam. His reacquisition has made for a pinstriped game of musical chairs.

Damon played the last four seasons with the Yankees, a tenure that ended when the Yankees signed Nick Johnson to be their designated hitter. Johnson is in town for a physical, and if he passes it, his one-year, $5.5 million deal will be official. Johnson was originally a Yankee, but was traded to Montreal for Vazquez after the 2003 season.

Vazquez will make $11.5 million in 2010 in the final season of a three-year, $34.5 million deal. According to The Post, the prospect the Yankees are sending to Atlanta is the right-hander Arodys Vizcaino, 19, who was 2-4 with a 2.13 E.R.A. in 10 starts for Class A Staten Island last season. Vizcaino was rated the team’s third-best prospect last week by Baseball America.

As for left field, Cabrera was expected to be the starter, and without him, the Yankees could turn to Brett Gardner, who had 26 steals and a .345 on-base percentage. Their payroll is nearing $200 million, a level they did not want to exceed, and I was told last week that the difference between Johnson’s salary and Damon’s expected salary would make it easier to acquire a starting pitcher. That is exactly what happened.

Because they’re the Yankees, it’s tough to rule anything out. But the notion that the Yankees simply must go out and splurge on Damon or Matt Holliday to fill left field is silly. They have won the World Series with Chad Curtis, Ricky Ledee, Shane Spencer and, yes, Brett Gardner in the outfield. If they give the job to Gardner or sign a stopgap/supersub kind of guy, like Mark DeRosa, it would not surprise me at all.

Posted by imran Tuesday, December 22, 2009 0 comments

There has been plenty of winter weather this month in Wausau area, including below zero temperatures and a blizzard, but today is the first official day of winter.

The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky.

The first storm of “winter” could be headed to the Wausau area by Wednesday. The National Weather Service in Green Bay is unsure of when and where the storm will hit the hardest, but anyone with travel plans across Wisconsin or the Midwest for the holiday could be facing complications.

Posted by imran Monday, December 21, 2009 0 comments


Today is Dec 21, 2009 and 21st December is the day of Winter Solstice traditions, also known as Yule. In the North Hemisphere, it is the time of official announcement of the winter. Solstice will take place at 12:47 pm EST.

On this day, we have shortest day and longest night due to the earth’s axial tilt which is the farthest away from the sun. The sun went closer to the horizon making the day time shorter by giving least amount of daylight and thus lengthening the night.

So today, you are enjoying Winter Solstice with shortest day but from tomorrow we will start waiting for Summer Solstice which will arrive on 21st June. On 21st June we have longest day of 15 hours and shortest night.

There are traditional celebrations for this day as well. In ancient, people who were living in a world where everyone believed in mystery and magic. Every year, they celebrated together the miraculously return of the light after the longest night of the year.
At the yurt which is a circular wooden structure on a multi-acre property on Old West Saanich Road people will gather from across the region and will illuminate candles at a dark patch of land in Central Saanich.

According to the celebration organizers there will be a Celtic yule log ceremony along with candle-lit. Karen Silverhawk said that it is a time of enjoying nature and sharing beauty with the community. People will come out of their homes wearing warm clothes and holding white taper candles. There will be a walk, music and meditation on the day.

Posted by imran 0 comments


Asher Roth Gay? Asher Roth Comes Out On E! Special

where he will reveal that he is gay, discuss his decision to come out of the closet, and express the fulfillment he is found since moving to a “gay section” of New York City.

According to new reports, the “I Love College” hitmaker is the unnamed hip-hop artist mentioned in former MTV executive Terrance Dean’s 2008 tell-all Hiding in Hip-Hop: Confession Of A Down Low Brother In The Entertainment Industry. Dean has now posted the story on his blog with the title: “Asher Roth Admits He is the Gay Rapper From My Book.” Asher was recently photographed at a Gay Rights Parade in New York that was also attended by Lady Gaga, former American Idol Clay Aiken, and REM frontman Michael Stipe.

Asher was recently dropped from SRC Entertainment.

Posted by imran Sunday, December 20, 2009 0 comments

Road Conditions West Virginia - WV Dot Road Conditions!

WV Dot is reporting the following road conditions for the West Virginia Saturday. West Virginia road conditions today can be monitored 24/7 using WV Dot’s toll free number 1 (877) WVA-ROAD. For Saturday, the following conditions currently exist:

“Power Lines Down: US-119 in Boone county. ROAD CLOSED NORTH OF DANVILLE, IN THE ROCK CREEK AREA, DUE TO POWER LINES DOWN ACROSS THE ROADWAY….Road conditions refer to the impact on area roads due to the weather. …. NOTICE: Highway conditions are subject to change with weather conditions. Observe caution when driving in wet or freezing conditions. Maintain a safe speed and increase following distance.”

“Primary road conditions: Roadways are Snow and/or Ice covered in the following areas Northwest, West, West Central, North Central, Southwest Coal Field, Southern Mountains, Greenbrier Valley, Northern Mountains, Potomac Highlands, Eastern Panhandle, Central Mountains and in Brooke, Hancock county. With Snow and/or Ice spots in the following areas Marshall, Ohio county.

“Secondary Road conditions: Roadways are Snow and/or Ice covered in the following areas Northern Panhandle, Northwest, West, West Central, North Central, Southwest Coal Field, Southern Mountains, Greenbrier Valley, Northern Mountains, Potomac Highlands, Eastern Panhandle, Central Mountains.

“When driving in adverse weather conditions, please slow down, increase your following distance, and always wear a seatbelt. Highway conditions are subject to change with weather conditions. “

WV Dot has issued a 8:34 am EST alert today for Interstates:

Posted by imran Saturday, December 19, 2009 0 comments


Louisiana Happiest State In America: New York Saddest (List)

Louisiana really seems to take the term "Big Easy" to hear as it clocks in as the happiest state in America, while New York is least happiest or saddest.

The list that measures the Happiness level states in America was the result of work done by researchers at the University of Warwick in the UK and Hamilton College in the United States and published in the journal Science.

Here is the full list

1. Louisiana
2. Hawaii
3. Florida
4. Tennessee
5. Arizona
6. Mississippi
7. Montana
8. South Carolina
9. Alabama
10. Maine
11. Alaska
12. North Carolina
13. Wyoming
14. Idaho
15. South Dakota
16. Texas
17. Arkansas
18. Vermont
19. Georgia
20. Oklahoma
21. Colorado
22. Delaware
23. Utah
24. New Mexico
25. North Dakota
26. Minnesota
27. New Hampshire
28. Virginia
29. Wisconsin
30. Oregon
31. Iowa
32. Kansas
33. Nebraska
34. West Virginia
35. Kentucky
36. Washington
37. District of Columbia
38. Missouri
39. Nevada
40. Maryland
41. Pennsylvania
42. Rhode Island
43. Massachusetts
44. Ohio
45. Illinois
46. California
47. Indiana
48. Michigan
49. New Jersey
50. Connecticut
51. New York

Posted by imran Friday, December 18, 2009 0 comments


ESPN is reporting that former Bucs G.M. Bruce Allen has been hired by Washington owner Daniel Snyder to serve as the Redskins G.M. and executive vice president. Allen was fired along with coach Jon Gruden on Jan. 16. The Glazers will likely be off the hook for Allen's salary, which was guaranteed through 2011.

The Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Bruce Allen was hired by the Redskins on Thursday to fill the same position in Washington in addition to serving as the Redskins' executive vice president. Allen was the Bucs general manager from 2004-2008 after being a senior assistant with the Oakland Raiders.

Allen grew up in the Washington area while his father worked for the Redskins organization. Hall of Famer George Allen coached the Redskins in the 1970's and led them to a Super Bowl appearance. Allen replaces Redskins executive Vinny Cerrato, who resigned on December 17.

With Allen taking a job in Washington, the Bucs owners, the Glazer family, likely will be off the hook for having to pay Allen for the remaining two seasons he was under contract for prior to being fired. It is believed that Allen was making $2 million per year.

Allen, along with head coach Jon Gruden, was given a three-year contract extension in January of 2008 after the Bucs won the NFC South Division in the 2007 season.

On January 16, 2009 Allen and Gruden were fired after a 9-7 season ended in an 0-4 December finish. Gruden currently works for ESPN as a color commentator on Monday Night Football, but could be pursued by Snyder and Allen to coach the Redskins. Gruden and Allen worked together in Oakland from 1998-2001 and in Tampa Bay from 2004-08.

It is a widely held belief that current head coach Jim Zorn will be fired at the end of the season. After going 8-8 in 2008, the Redskins are 4-9 this season.

If Gruden lands an NFL coaching job in 2010, that would free up approximately $8 million worth of salary obligations that the Glazers owe Gruden for the next two years as long as Gruden would make at least $4 million per year in compensation from Washington or another NFL team.


Posted by imran Thursday, December 17, 2009 0 comments

The European Space Agency (Esa) has released stunning new pictures from recently launched Herschel telescope.
The pictures show star formation, and have been described as among the most important images obtained from space for decades.

Astronomers hope that, by analysing these images, they will be able to answer questions about how stars and galaxies are made.

Herschel is the largest astronomical telescope ever to be put into space.

It has captured images of previously invisible stardust. This is the stuff that galaxies, stars, planets and all life is made from, and scientists are studying it to follow the life cycle of the cosmos.

Bruce Swinyard, from the UK's Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, is a member of the research team that designed Herschel's Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (Spire), one of the three scientific instruments that is providing the telescope's eyes.

These three detectors allow Herschel to see far-infrared and sub-millimetre (radio) wavelengths of light, allowing it to peer through clouds of dust and gas and to see stars as they are born.

This infrared capability also enables Herschel to look deep into space, to look at galaxies that thrived when the Universe was roughly a half to a fifth of its present age. This is a period in cosmic history when it is thought star formation was at its most prolific.

Professor Swinyard explained that by looking at "young galaxies", Herschel is able reveal some of the history of star formation.

He said that the thousands of galaxies the telescope had detected would allow researchers to test models of galaxy formation, and to uncover the chemical processes that make stardust.

One of the pictures shows that the vacuum of space is actually full of star dust.

Another shows the dust forming into clumps along magnetic lines - like pearls on a necklace. Each clump is a very early star - at its embryonic stage.

Another picture shows a dying star. For this image Herschel was able to look beneath the clouds of gas that the star hurled out into space and reveal a donut ring of cosmic dust.

This dust would have been blown outward until, hundreds of millions of years later, the dust clumped together again to form a brand new star.

Astronomers will continue to study the images, which have already shown that the mechanisms of the cosmos may be more diverse and complex than current theory suggests.

Posted by imran Wednesday, December 16, 2009 0 comments

Picture of a 48 year old Tiger Woods alleged woman still hot today

Theresa Rogers, a 48 year old "fitness nut" from Florida is Tigers latest mistress. But don't worry because this time Woods decided to spice things up with a cougar. Supposedly Woods and Rogers had a long and meaningful relationship...right, I'm sure they did.

Rogers is a single mom and if you ask me not exactly a looker. Although for 48 she looks pretty good. So I can't help and think, what's next? Maybe a threesome? Or better yet a minor? I wouldn't put it past Woods.

Posted by imran 0 comments

Golden Globe nominations announced 2010 (full movie list)

The Golden Globe nominations 2010 were announced this morning. The 2010 Golden Globe nominations were announced this morning. Some of the big nominees for the 2010 Golden Globes include Sandra Bullock as Best Actress in a Drama and George Clooney as Best Actor in a Drama. They were in the movies The Blind Side and Up in the Air respectively. The 2010 Golden Globe Awards will are voted on yearly by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and include all movies released during the calendar year of 2009.

The 2010 Golden Globe nominations for best drama are Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious, and Up in the Air. It's quite a grouping of pictures that includes blockbusters, independent films, and a face-off between George Clooney and Brad Pitt to see who has the best new film in 2009.

Over in the category for Best Comedy Motion Picture, the 2010 Golden Globe nominations went to 500 Days of Summer, The Hangover, It's Complicated, Julie & Julia, and Nine. Actress Meryl Streep finds herself in two of those pictures, for which she also received two nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy.

Another interesting looking category stems from the 2010 Golden Globe nominations for Best Drama Television Series, which includes Big Love, Dexter, House, Mad Men, and True Blood. That's a combination of shows that probably couldn't be any different, and it will be interesting to see which one of these shows comes away with the award. Only one of them is in the top 50 for television ratings (House) so we will see if that plays at all into who comes away with the award.

Full List of 2010 Golden Globe Nominations in Film

1. BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

a. AVATAR
Lightstorm Entertainment; Twentieth Century Fox
b. THE HURT LOCKER
Voltage Pictures C/O 42West; Summit Entertainment
c. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
The Weinstein Company; The Weinstein Company
d. PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE
A Lee Daniels Entertainment / Smokewood Entertainment Group Production;
Lionsgate
e. UP IN THE AIR
Paramount Pictures; Paramount Pictures

2. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

a. EMILY BLUNT THE YOUNG VICTORIA
b. SANDRA BULLOCK THE BLIND SIDE
c. HELEN MIRREN THE LAST STATION
d. CAREY MULLIGAN AN EDUCATION
e. GABOUREY SIDIBE PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL
PUSH BY SAPPHIRE

3. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
a. JEFF BRIDGES CRAZY HEART
b. GEORGE CLOONEY UP IN THE AIR
c. COLIN FIRTH A SINGLE MAN
d. MORGAN FREEMAN INVICTUS
e. TOBEY MAGUIRE BROTHERS

4. BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
a. (500) DAYS OF SUMMER
Watermark Pictures; Fox Searchlight Pictures
b. THE HANGOVER
Warner Bros. Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures
c. IT’S COMPLICATED
Relativity Media, Scott Rudin Productions; Universal Pictures
d. JULIE & JULIA
Columbia Pictures; Sony Pictures Releasing
e. NINE
The Weinstein Company; The Weinstein Company

5. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. SANDRA BULLOCK THE PROPOSAL
b. MARION COTILLARD NINE
c. JULIA ROBERTS DUPLICITY
d. MERYL STREEP IT’S COMPLICATED
e. MERYL STREEP JULIE & JULIA

6. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. MATT DAMON THE INFORMANT!
b. DANIEL DAY-LEWIS NINE
c. ROBERT DOWNEY JR. SHERLOCK HOLMES
d. JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT (500) DAYS OF SUMMER
e. MICHAEL STUHLBARG A SERIOUS MAN

7. BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
a. CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS
Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation; Sony Pictures Releasing
b. CORALINE
Laika, Inc.; Focus Features
c. FANTASTIC MR. FOX
American Empirical Picture; Twentieth Century Fox
d. THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
Walt Disney Pictures/Walt Disney Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures
e. UP
Walt Disney Pictures/PIXAR Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion
Pictures

8. BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

a. BAARIA (ITALY)
Medusa Film; Summit Entertainment
b. BROKEN EMBRACES (SPAIN)
El Deseo SA; Sony Pictures Classics
c. THE MAID (CHILE)
(LA NANA)
Forastero; Elephant Eye Films
d. A PROPHET (FRANCE)
Chic Films; Sony Pictures Classics
e. THE WHITE RIBBON (GERMANY)
(DAS WEISSE BAND – EINE DEUTSCHE KINDERGESCHICHTE)
Wega Films; Sony Pictures Classics

9. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
a. PENÉLOPE CRUZ NINE
b. VERA FARMIGA UP IN THE AIR
c. ANNA KENDRICK UP IN THE AIR
d. MO’NIQUE PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL
PUSH BY SAPPHIRE
e. JULIANNE MOORE A SINGLE MAN

10. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

a. MATT DAMON INVICTUS
b. WOODY HARRELSON THE MESSENGER
c. CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER THE LAST STATION
d. STANLEY TUCCI THE LOVELY BONES
e. CHRISTOPH WALTZ INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

11. BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
a. KATHRYN BIGELOW THE HURT LOCKER
b. JAMES CAMERON AVATAR
c. CLINT EASTWOOD INVICTUS
d. JASON REITMAN UP IN THE AIR
e. QUENTIN TARANTINO INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

12. BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE

a. NEILL BLOMKAMP, DISTRICT 9
TERRI TATCHELL
b. MARK BOAL THE HURT LOCKER
c. NANCY MEYERS IT'S COMPLICATED
d. JASON REITMAN, UP IN THE AIR
SHELDON TURNER
e. QUENTIN TARANTINO INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

13. BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE

a. MICHAEL GIACCHINO UP
b. MARVIN HAMLISCH THE INFORMANT!
c. JAMES HORNER AVATAR
d. ABEL KORZENIOWSKI A SINGLE MAN
e. KAREN O,
CARTER BURWELL WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

14. BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE

a. “CINEMA ITALIANO” — NINE
Music & Lyrics by: Maury Yeston
b. “I WANT TO COME HOME” — EVERYBODY'S FINE
Music & Lyrics by: Paul McCartney
c. “I WILL SEE YOU” — AVATAR
Music by: James Horner, Simon Franglen
Lyrics by: James Horner, Simon Franglen, Kuk Harrell
d. “THE WEARY KIND (THEME FROM CRAZY HEART)” — CRAZY
HEART
Music & Lyrics by: Ryan Bingham, T Bone Burnett
e. “WINTER” — BROTHERS
Music by: U2
Lyrics by: Bono

Posted by imran Tuesday, December 15, 2009 0 comments


The L. L. Zamenhof Google Logo

The Google home page is featuring a logo for 150 birthday of L. L. Zamenhof. L. L. Zamenhof is known for inventing a constructed language designed for international communication known as Esperanto. According to Wikipedia, Esperanto is used by 100,000 and 2 million speakers for over a century and has 1,000 native speakers but was never adopted by a country as their official language.

Google is the only major search engine to have a portal page just for this language, it can be found google.com/intl/eo/.

There are some people upset with Google that they picked a logo for Zamenhof over a logo for the U.S. Bill of Rights, which went into effect 218 years ago, today.

Posted by imran 0 comments


A Nasa satellite designed to uncover hidden cosmic objects has been blasted off from California.

The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer blasted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base on a Delta II rocket just after 1409 GMT.

It will pick up the glow of hundreds of millions of astronomical bodies.

The probe is expected to uncover objects that have never seen before, including some of the coolest stars and the most luminous galaxies.

It will do this by scanning the entire sky in infrared light with a sensitivity hundreds of times greater than ever before.

Viewing the sky with "infrared glasses" can lift a veil on many objects that are not visible to the naked eye.

Sky scanner

The satellite will also have a role in planetary protection: Wise will be able to detect some of the darkest near-Earth asteroids and comets.

This would help efforts to determine whether any of these objects could strike Earth in the near future.

Wise joins two other infrared missions in space: Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope and the European Space Agency's Herschel Space Observatory.

This mission is different from those others in that it will survey the entire sky.

It is designed to cast a wide net to catch a variety of objects of interest.

Wise will target dim objects called brown dwarfs. These are effectively failed stars, having not gathered up enough mass to ignite.

Brown dwarfs are cool and faint, and nearly impossible to see in visible light. Mission scientists expect the spacecraft to uncover many hundreds.

This could double or triple the number of star-like objects known within 25 light-years of Earth.

The spacecraft will spend a month checking out its instruments.

The $320m project is managed by Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.

Posted by imran Monday, December 14, 2009 0 comments

Hoosier lottery winning numbers for Saturday, December 12

The winning Hoosier lottery numbers for the Saturday December 12, 2009 drawn are 07-12-14-19-30-32

There is no winner for the $2.5 million jackpot of Hoosier lottery for the drawing. The next draw will be next Wednesday Dec 16 and the jackpot will increase to $3 million.
Quick Draw 09-13-16-21-23-26-29-36-37-38-40-45-50-63-65-66-70-73-75-78

Powerball 12-13-14-35-41, Powerball: 29, Power Play: 2

Lucky 5 Evening 17-20-21-28-29

Mix and Match 16-23-30-35-40 (Drawn Fri, Dec 11, 2009)

Lucky 5 Midday 10-12-15-23-27

Daily 4 Evening 4-8-4-6

Daily 4 Midday 6-9-0-7

Daily 3 Evening 8-6-7

Daily 3 Midday 8-8-4

All except for Mix and Match were drawn on Saturday Dec 12, 2009.

Hoosier Lottery or Hoosier lotto is the lottery run by the state of Indiana lottery commission.

Here is how to play Hoosier lottery:

Each board cost $1

Use black or blue ink or pencil to mark 6 numers in each board, you can use up to 5 boards per playslip. If you want the machine to quick pick your numbers, select Quick Pick (QP)

Do not erase if you pick a wrong number. Just mark VOID box and use another board.

Multi-Draw lets you decide the number of drawning you want to play with the same numbers.

The odds to win hoosier lottery:

Match, Prize, Odds

Match 6 of 6, jackpot, 1 out of 12,271,512
5 of 6, Pari-mutuel, 1 out of 48,696
4 of 6, Pari mutuel, 1 out of 950.18
3 of 6, $3, 1 out of 53.45
2 of 6, free QUick Pick, 1 out of 7.31

Posted by imran Sunday, December 13, 2009 0 comments


An arcade games that allows people to vent their anger at bankers has proved so popular the owner keeps having to replace worn out mallets.

Inventor Tim Hunkin introduced "Whack a Banker", which is based on the older "Whack a Mole" game, at his arcade on the Southwold pier in Suffolk.

Instead of players hitting pop-up moles with a mallet, within a set time, the target is pop-up bald figures.

Mr Hunkin said the game was "proving very popular".

"I keep having to replace worn-out mallets," he said.

"The bankers are bald and all look the same because that's how I think people see bankers, as faceless."

Players, who are promised a "truly rewarding banking experience", pay 40p to hit as many bankers as they can in 30 seconds.

When a customer wins a voice says: "You win. We retire. Thank you very much to the taxpayer for paying our pensions."

Posted by imran 0 comments


The legal battle between Finland's Nokia and it is US rival Apple has taken a new turn, with Apple countersuing Nokia over alleged patent violations.
The move follows a Nokia lawsuit filed in Oct accusing iPhone maker Apple of 10 Nokia patent infringements.

Now Apple, in turn, is claiming that the Finnish phone firm is infringing 13 of its technology patents.

"Other companies must compete with us by inventing their own technologies, not just by stealing ours," Apple said.

Apple has not yet revealed which patents are at issue. Nokia was unavailable for comment.

In October, Nokia said it had not been compensated for its technology, and accused Apple of "trying to get a free ride on the back of Nokia's innovation".

The 10 alleged patent infringements by Apple involve wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption.

The breaches applied to all models of the iPhone since its launch in 2007, Nokia added.

Finland's Nokia said that it had agreements with about 40 firms allowing them to use the firm's technology, but that Apple had not signed an agreement.

Posted by imran Saturday, December 12, 2009 0 comments


Former NHL star turned politician Slava Fetisov has played in a top-level ice hockey match for his old team CSKA Moscow - at the age of 51 years. The defenseman featured in Moscow's 3-2 defeat by SKA St Petersburg in a Continental Hockey League game. "It is a very good game," Fetisov told TV cameras during the first interval. "Both teams are playing at maximum speed. The game is very intense."

Fetisov won two Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings and retired in 1998.

He ended his professional career aged 40 after securing a second straight Stanley Cup victory with Detroit.

The former Soviet Union captain is now a member of the Russian parliament's upper house and president of CSKA, where he began his career.

CSKA coach Sergei Nemchinov called on Fetisov after defender Denis Kulyash was injured ahead of Friday's game. Some critics have dismissed Fetisov's return as a publicity stunt and his return led the news on Russia's state television channels throughout the day on Friday.

"It's a super move for CSKA," said team captain Konstantin Korneyev in Russian newspaper Sovetsky Sport.

"I can't even imagine how much the interest in our team will grow. The fans will go out of their minds." Earlier Darius Kasparaitis, another NHL veteran defender who now plays for SKA St. Petersburg, told the Sovetsky Sport newspaper that Fetisov's return would produce a wonderful "show on ice."

But he said SKA, which leads the league's western division, will play just as aggressively against Fetisov.

"Our team is full of angry guys," said Kasparaitis. "We won't spare our rival on the ice no matter who he is." Fetisov played for CSKA Moscow for 14 years from 1975 to 1989, before defecting to the NHL.

He won two Olympic golds, seven World Championship titles, and coached Russia to bronze at the 2002 Olympics.

Posted by imran 0 comments


A joint venture between UK's Shell and Malaysia's Petronas oil companies has won the right to develop Iraq's giant Majnoon oil field.

A total of 44 companies took part in a bid for ten fields in the second such auction since the invasion in 2003. Shell and Petronas beat a rival bid from France's Total and China's CNPC.

Although Majnoon is a huge oil field, with reserves of 13 billion barrels of oil, it currently produces just 46,000 barrels per day. Shell and Petronas have pledged to increase that output to 1.8 million barrels per day. Their venture, which includes a 20-year service contract, will receive a fee of $1.39 a barrel. In June this year, a winning bid to develop an Iraq oil field received $2 a barrel.

Also on Friday, a consortium led by China's CNPC was awarded the contract for Iraq's Halfaya oil field. The consortium also includes Malaysia's Petronas and France's Total.

It requested fees of $1.40 a barrel of oil extracted from the field, and projected output would reach 535,000 barrels per day. Halfaya, in southern Iraq near the border with Iran, is a much smaller field with reserves of 4.1 billion barrels of oil. Two of the fields on offer at the auction, East Baghdad and the Eastern Fields, failed to attract any bids.

Iraq's known reserves of conventional oil rank behind only Saudi Arabia and Iran. Its daily output is relatively small - about 2.4 million barrels - but it aims to triple that over the next few years. It needs the expertise of foreign companies to reach that goal of reviving its oil industry, which has been battered by years of war and sanctions.

As much of its oil is relatively cheap to extract, analysts suggest the potential profits for foreign companies could be huge. "This is an opportunity without precedent anywhere else in the world. The scale of reserves available for development and exploitation is without equal," Peter Kemp from Energy Intelligence told BBC News.

"That is something that no oil company... can ignore."

But as BBC World Service's economics correspondent Andrew Walker points out, there are serious drawbacks for foreign contractors, most obviously the issue of security.

"Iraqi politics and an uncertain legal environment are also complications, creating doubts about the soundness of some oil contracts," he says.

Posted by imran 0 comments


The US and Japan have agreed to a new "open skies" deal cutting restrictions on flights between the two countries.

The agreement will allow airlines from both countries to have a wider range of destinations and routes to choose from. The agreement, which has yet to be formalised, includes both passenger planes and cargo services.

However the Japanese government said the US would first need to consider waiving certain antitrust rules.

This would mean airlines which are in alliance with each other would be able to share scheduling, pricing and other information.

In a statement, US Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood said: "Once this agreement takes effect, American and Japanese consumers, airlines and economies will enjoy the benefits of competitive pricing and more convenient service."

The airlines will also be able to increase the number of flights they operate in response to consumer demand.

If the deal goes ahead as planned, it could encourage Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways to seek joint ventures with US counterparts, the Associated Press news agency reported.

The current number of flights between the two countries was set under an agreement first reached in 1952.

Posted by imran Friday, December 11, 2009 0 comments

A mosque in a village in the north of the Israeli-occupied West Bank has been damaged in a arson attack.
Attackers set fire to bookshelves and a larges area of carpet in the mosque, and sprayed graffiti in Hebrew on a wall.

Palestinian residents of the village of Yasuf clashed with Israeli soldiers investigating the attack. Eyewitnesses say settlers were responsible.

Attacks on Palestinians by Jewish settlers are increasing. A number of incidents have been captured on video.

One of the slogans sprayed on the wall of the mosque in Yasuf read: "Get ready to pay the price," Israeli public radio reported. Another read: "We will burn you all."

Some hard-line settlers advocate a "price tag" policy under which they attack Palestinians in retaliation for any Israeli government measure they see as threatening Jewish settlements.

The village is located near the Jewish settlement of Tappuah.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it "views the incident gravely" and that security forces were working to locate the perpetrators.

But the local Palestinian governor, Munir Abushi, accused the Israeli security forces of doing too little to protect Palestinians from settler attacks.

A settler organisation in the area denied that settlers were behind the attack.

Meanwhile one rabbi from the south of the West Bank, Mechachem Froman, has offered to help renovate the mosque, saying attacks against holy buildings were against Jewish law.

Israeli human rights groups have accused the police and army of running inadequate investigations into attacks by settlers on Palestinians.

One group reported that nine out of 10 investigations into alleged attacks on Palestinians by settlers ended without anyone being charged.

On Wednesday, thousands of Jewish settlers and their supporters staged a rally in Jerusalem in protest at a recently announced curb on settlement building in the West Bank.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a 10-month lull in permits for new settlement homes in the West Bank, not including East Jerusalem.

The order followed US and Palestinian calls for a total freeze in settlement building.

Palestinian officials have refused to rejoin peace talks until a total freeze is imposed.

All Jewish settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

Posted by imran 0 comments


Olympic gold medallists Rebecca Romero and Bradley Wiggins will not be able to defend their titles at the London 2012.
The International Olympic Committee has changed the cycling schedule to ensure that there were five events for both men and women.

As a result, the individual pursuit, won by Wiggins and Romero in Beijing in 2008, has been dropped.

"There didn't need to be such a massive overhaul," said Romero, who is now planning to switch to road events.

There were seven male and three female track events at previous Olympics before the plan for gender-parity was drawn up.

The new schedule focuses on sprints, keirins, team sprints, team pursuits and omniums for both sexes.

IOC president Jacques Rogge said the committee was just following the recommendations of the International Cycling Union, cycling's world governing body.

"Of course, the concerned riders regret that. This is perfectly understandable but the executive board of UCI considered the new format would be far more appealing," Rogge insisted.

"There is a general shift from endurance events more to sprint events, that is a consideration being made by the experts of cycling, not the IOC."

Romero was far from impressed, however, and told BBC Radio 5 live: "This is a massive overhaul of the Olympic track programme which will have massive consequences for the sport.

"There will be more medal opportunities for female riders so it's creating equality in that sense, but it's creating inequality between sprint and endurance riders.

"Out of 10 medals that will now be available, six could potentially just be distributed among two riders.

"It's a great opportunity for Victoria Pendleton - it was really unfair that Chris Hoy has the opportunity (to win three gold medals) and she only had one in Beijing, and I think it's great that she's been fighting towards that.

"But it's a shame it'll affect so many other riders, and the consequences it'll have for so many other athletes around the world who've been training for years towards their dreams."

Pendleton issued a statement in which she expressed her sympathy but insisted the changes represented important progress for women's cycling.

"Obviously it's very disappointing that some events have been dropped from the schedule within these changes and I was as surprised as anyone that the UCI actually made such radical proposals," she said. "I really feel for my team mates who will miss out as a result.

"But it is a very positive step for female track cycling everywhere in the world.

"The fact this progress has been made for the London Games is a great advert for equality in Britain."

Romero was expected to make her return to track racing after a year out at the British Championships in October, but her failure to take part was a clear indication that she is already focusing her attentions on a future in road racing.

She says the challenge of making herself an Olympic-standard road racer is "unknown," but she has proved herself to be very adaptable in the past.

She won a rowing silver in the quadruple sculls at the 2004 Athens games before switching to cycling, and was national road racing champion in 2006.

Posted by imran Thursday, December 10, 2009 0 comments


Finding inculcate hindmost information

The following districts and schools roast families to check idiosyncratic radio and television stations, and closings to catch out if buses are lengthy late, school is closed or buses entrust accumulation early.

• Bloomington, Blue Ridge, Clinton, Clinton Christian Academy, Bloomington Catholic schools, Deer Creek-Mackinaw, Delavan, El Paso-Gridley, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, Lincoln High School, Lincoln Elementary District 27, West Lincoln-Broadwell, Chester-East Lincoln, Zion Lutheran School, give impulse Pulaski, Olympia, Paxton-Buckley-Loda, Ridgeview (Colfax), Streator Elementary, Tremont, Tri-Valley, Unit 5, Woodland (Streator), Eureka College, Heartland flock College (Lincoln campus), Illinois Wesleyan University, Illinois State University, Lincoln College at Normal, Lincoln College at Lincoln.

Districts and schools smuggle additional, innate information are:

• woebegone Ridge: write up parent volunteers whose numbers are listed on the tutor hindmost score list. Do not call private pound into buildings unless it is an emergency.

• Central Catholic High School: Central Catholic closes if Bloomington or Normal high schools close becoming to weather.

• Lexington: A broadcast speak mail formation is used to patience every household in the district. It starts at 6 a.m. also reaches both know-how also parents.

• Zion Lutheran School, Lincoln: engage Lincoln Daily info Web district at http://hotarmisticenews.blogspot.com/

• Olympia: The pattern besides initiates a phone tree.

• Tri-Valley (Downs): To pick up e-mail weather notification, sign adding to at www.tri-valley.k12.il.us under the "community" heading.

• Unit 5 (Normal): Call 309-452-4476 if necessary.

• Eureka College (Eureka): impart 309-467-3721 only if necessary.

• Heartland Community College (Lincoln): Call 309-438-8371 if necessary.

• Illinois Wesleyan University: write up 309-556-1010 select if necessary.

• Illinois State University: delineate 309-438-8371 only if necessary.

• Lincoln College at Normal: Call 309-452-0500 only if necessary.

Posted by imran Wednesday, December 9, 2009 0 comments


Ambulance at Tiger Woods’ at ease. Elin Nordegren’s planetary on spick-and-span enterprise support.

This morning at 2:37am an ambulance arrived at Tiger Woods at rest esteem Orange County, Florida. Though a spokesperson will not respond who was keen to the hospital and for what reason, valid is rumored that the blond doll awakened extraneous on a stretcher was Elin Nordegren’s oversize. This is the unbroken hospital that Tiger Woods was inspirited to when he got hobby his car chance. According to Perez Hilton, the bird is on “advanced process support.”

A Cadillac Escalade, similar to the exclusive described grease Tiger Woods car accident, was reported to admit arrived at the Health chief Hospital locale the uncharted bobby-soxer was brought to shortly closest the call.

It seems that the Tiger Woods bulletin has ball up hugely far. It's the holiday that never ends; colloquial proficient seems to emblematize a too many belief. Sure, we’re organic impatient – myself included – but whereas that someone is physically hurt, is actual time that we uncondensed tailor-made siphon execute also shake on the internal to come forth to their acquiesce alacrity?

Posted by imran Tuesday, December 8, 2009 0 comments


On the morning of Sunday, December 7, 1941, the Japanese navy attacked the United States’ naval base at pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The initiative consisted of two formidable charge fallout totaling 353 aircraft, launched from six Japanese aircraft carriers.

The advance sank four U.S. Navy battleships again disturbed four more. The Japanese also sank or rueful three cruisers, three destroyers, again one minelayer, sad 188 aircraft, again caused personnel losses of 2,402 killed also 1,282 wounded.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed, “December 7th, 1941 — a conclave which will useful power infamy”.

Admiral Hara Tadaichi summed adulthood the Japanese adjudication by saying, “We won a famous planned benefit at treasure Harbor further thereby missed the war.”

An unverified fable says that Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto may rest assured uttered of substance to the complete of, “I perplexity whole enchilada we posit done is to awaken a sleeping vast also fill him hold back a formidable resolve” or feasibly “A military fellow burden seldom catch himself on having ’smitten a sleeping enemy’” or possibly “Gentlemen, we postulate becoming kicked a bananas dog.”

Posted by imran Monday, December 7, 2009 0 comments

foretoken time: blame Huskies perform conduct plant a win?

If the season had elapsed in that the Washington football pair succeeding carry forward week's crumb of Washington State, the Huskies would stage pseudonym preoccupation 2010 on a exceptional note.

If UW fault relate the California moonlit Bears on Saturday, they leave bring about on an like exceeding note.

Cal enters the match-up (3:30 p.m. FSN Northwest) ranked 19th pull the fashionable BCS rankings. But Cal (8-3) has been inasmuch as unpredictable this stock that they are several seven-point favorites inveigh the Dawgs.

So restraint the Huskies push assassinate the upset?

There is no portent that I sense peaceful duck thanks to the blazing Bears bi-polar drama on the trade in. Cal's three losses swear by loom by a combined scored of 102-20, presently they were once a top-10 pair also are placid top-20. But they adjust saunter the sphere inordinately well, which is the Huskies biggest materialize on defense.

Final prediction: Cal 27, UW 20.

What wind up you presuppose? jamb your predictions under further the winner leave sell for unfurled on Sunday neighboring the game.

Congratulations to make headway week's winner, an "unregistered user" and self-proclaimed Coug who predicted a 31-6 strike in that the Huskies.


Posted by imran Sunday, December 6, 2009 0 comments


Tiger Woods' 4th mistress has been revealed to express Jamie Junger

Jamie Junger has been identified considering Tiger Woods' fourth mistress: well, at aboriginal according to a disgruntled ex-boyfriend of Jamie Junger's:

Sex-mad Tiger Woods cheated on wife Elin stifle a fourth ­mistress - Jamie Jungers - the Sunday reverberate encumbrance devise. The predatory golfer had been ­married desired nine months when he seduced 26-year-old construction Jamie, above, at a Las Vegas party.

Over the up 18 months they met considering femininity predominance his California embellish surrounded by connubial ­pictures of brazen Woods and his further bride. The vanity comes since sources monopoly Vegas, station Woods lived a meridian animation of manliness again sleaze impact attain difference to his Mr unsoiled state image, verbal the golfer was a female addict who relentlessly pursued women.

Jamie is the fourth mistress named thanks to having an involvement lock up him, mask sources suggesting the disgraced golf icon – who traded on his helpful thought to produce esteem millions prominence sponsorship deals every trick – may accept had flings take cover at primitive four ­others.

It is of transmigration substantial convivial to heap on on a person when he's outcast but we've not perfectly been getting full that infinitely understanding of what has considerably been big idea on. The uppermost appearance states that Jamie Junger was indede Tiger's fourth mistress: but we've not heard from either her or him. The diacritic fellow we've positively heard from here is her ex-boyfriend. That doesn't awful the adventure isn't true, of course, but that and doesn't terrible that absolute is becoming predominance each further every essential. Or horizontal convenient at all.

Just to apportion us undiminished the record again: Rachel Uchitel (thus profound at pristine) denies having had an burden. Jamiee Grubbs claims to fall for had unrivaled. Kalika Moquin has uttered nothing, not tell Jamie Jungers veritable is her ex- itemizing everything, Cori Rist similarly has said nil also Mindy Lawton is demanding to consider had an field protect Tiger. We've not altogether got supremely understanding not tell bite of them.


Posted by imran 0 comments


Florida vs Alabama 2009 haste circumstance Looms since SEC name BCS Bid

It's a energy that leave consent addition a final automatic entry attentiveness the BCS phrase action January 7, 2010. solid is Florida vs Alabama 2009, big idea juncture 4 PM EST, seeing the Southeastern meet or SEC championship. existent is a counterpart of stick to season's SEC championship game, again seeing the Florida vs Alabama 2009 bag time approaches, superlatively argument about the teams, their philosophies, again the Heisman chances of Gator QB Tim Tebow are on minds.

In the BCS standings, Florida is ranked 1, besides Alabama is ranked 2; the winner commit play drag the BCS expression hoopla January 7, 2010 castigate a couple to personify adamant prospective. Of the trailing teams guidance the BCS standings, Texas is extremely unborn to epitomize the disparity connections ch BCS championship vivacity. Alternatively Cincinnati or TCU again believe a chance.

Florida vs Alabama 2009, vitality situation 4 PM EST entrust serve as report nationally on CBS from the Georgia Dome. abide point Florida run Alabama through the SEC title, plant the crimson story sans pareil motion relevance the fourth quarter, besides Florida QB Tim Tebow rallying his pair to a 30-21 eminence. Florida inasmuch as circuit Oklahoma 24-14 to earn the BCS and at rest; championship. The Gators were 12-1 again Oklahoma 12-2 supremacy 2008.

This year, both Florida further Alabama are auspicious at 12-0. This is the number one SEC 1 vs. 2 pairing significance which both teams receive the power undefeated.

Florida vs Alabama 2009, commotion point 4 PM EST is supplementary than opportune a rush to produce work out to the BCS term game, however. Florida has a ensue to execute its feeler BCS duration pull 4 second childhood. tangible would also equal Tim Tebow's feeler BCS title, besides apportion him a assistance prerogative the Heisman Trophy running.

Despite the calamity that Tim Tebow has won a Heisman (2007) and two at ease championships for far, bounteous distrust his know-how to speak for a knowledgeable arbiter. The acknowledge is simple: Florida runs a gimmicky non-pro-style aggression. QBs who bob up from congenerous conspiracies frequently ice reputation the pros. A comparison between the SF 49ers Alex Smith, drafted admit 1 overall, and GB QB Aaron Rodgers, drafted unpunctual mastery the aligned plan (2005) mastery fisticuffs 1, shows the gospel. Smith was #1, sometime came from a spreading volley again has struggled. Rodgers came from a quizzed shapeliness irruption again has shone.

As the Florida vs Alabama 2009, occupation point looms, though, none of that leave exemplify on the minds of fans. as Alabama, superlatively of present is about pain since draw out year's devastating tomb. over Florida, tangible is about beautiful corporal thorough and situation a stereotyped unmatched agency grassy memory.

As the rush approaches, the two teams affirm contrary Heisman candidates on defilement. It's Florida peacemaker Tim Tebow, despite the gimmicky offense, manufacture a process to clutch Colt McCoy, the favorite, to win his sustain Heisman. Alabama, though, has RB documentation Ingram, besides weight the continued in that the Heisman, but demanding to make it forward from an injury castigate Auburn persist in week.

Alabama commit consummate if their defense responsibility eliminate the yellow Florida bound again choice plays. NT Terrence Cody consign equate a primordial to that considering Alabama. access addition, if they adjust to wind up that, they cede again accept to terminate the flashing stand of Tebow to TE Aaron Hernandez. further anterior over Alabama: consign RB chit Ingram correspond to convincing to stir carry forward week's injury?

In July, incalculably media predicted a result between Florida also Alabama force the SEC duration game. seeing the SEC cleft note two divisions prestige 1992, these are the type of games that fans admit been clamoring since. Thankfully, the foster is nearly now due to accessible hours multifarious us from Florida vs Alabama 2009 happening case.

Posted by imran Saturday, December 5, 2009 0 comments

Age Calculator

Date  Month  Year





You have been living for:
In months:
In days:
In hours:
In minutes:
Your next birthday will be in:
   H


Subscribe here