Celebrate Arbor Day 2010: Plant a tree, volunteer, learn about Arbor Day
Arbor Day is Friday, April 30, 2010. There are many ways to celebrate this is national holiday set aside to plant trees across the nation.
How can you celebrate Arbor Day 2010?
Buy a tree online, gift a tree to a friend, read an Arbor Day book to a child or improve your community by volunteering at a tree planting event.
Arbor Day is a national holiday is celebrated on the last Friday in April each year. However, many states observe Arbor Day on different dates according to their best tree-planting times.
It has been over 135 years since J. Sterling Morton, the 3rd United States Secretary of Agriculture, founded Arbor Day.
Beltane Countdown: Walpurgisnacht
In the parts of Germanic Europe, Walpurgisnacht is celebrated each year around April 30 - right around the time of Beltane. The festival is named for Walpurga, a Christian saint, who spent a number of years as a missionary in the Frankish empire. Over time, the celebration of St. Walpurga blended with the Viking celebrations of spring, and Walpurgisnacht was born.
In Norse traditions - and many others - this night is the time when the boundary between our world and that of the spirits is a bit shaky. Much like Samhain, six months later, Walpurgisnacht is a time to communicate with the spirit world and the fae.
Bonfires are traditionally lit to keep away malevolent spirits or those who might do us mischief.
Today, some Pagans in central and northern Europe still celebrate Walpurgisnacht as a precursor to Beltane. Although it is named for a martyred saint, many Germanic Pagans try to honor the celebrations of their ancestors by observing this traditional holiday each year. It is typically observed much like May Day celebrations - with lots of dancing, singing, and ritual around the bonfire.
Obama on Height: 'A place of honor in American memory'
The President Obama called on Americans to pray for and remember Dorothy Height and "the Union she made more perfect."
"She too deserves a place of honor in American memory," Obama said of the civil rights leader who died last week at age 98. The president delivered one of the eulogies during Height's funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington.
Height's many works -- de-segregating the YWCA, leading the National Council of Negro Women, often the only woman in the room during civil rights meetings -- puts her in the pantheon of American leaders, the president said, from Mary McLeod Bethune to Martin Luther King, Jr.
The steady work of Height and others "ultimately made it possible for Michelle and me to be here as president and first lady," Obama added. Quite a life for an African-American woman "raised in another age, in a different America," Obama said. "Jim Crow ruled the South -- The Klan was on the rise."
Yet for nearly ten decades, Height pursued "a life that lifted other lives," Obama said. He also joked, "when you have a nephew who's 88, you've lived a full life."
Height worked right up to the end, and was not the type of person who settled for just one visit to the office of the nation's first African-American president. "Twenty-one times, she stopped by the White House," said Obama, who has been president less than 16 months.
Height was an early backer of the Obama presidential campaign, and the Obamas got to know her well. "We came to love her as so many loved her," Height said. "We loved those hats that she wore like a crown."
It added up to an "unambiguous record of righteous work," Obama said, from one more interested in promoting causes than taking credit.
"The cause of justice, the cause of equality, the cause of opportunity," Obama said. "Freedom's cause."
Jamie-Lynn Sigler Has a New BF – Jets Mark Sanchez
Actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler came to her senses and dumped Turtle – that would be actor Jerry Ferrara – and has apparently hooked up with New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez.
Sigler met Sanchez at a party recently after taking a hiatus from the dating scene since December 2009 following her breakup with Ferrara.
According to sources, Sigler and Sanchez made no effort to hide their feelings for each other at a Tribeca Film Festival party.
A partygoer says, “They met at the LG Infinia premiere of Keep Surfing for the Tribeca Film Festival and really hit it off. They were flirting and talking all night.”
Sigler of course is best known for her role as Meadow Soprano in the HBO series The Sopranos. Sanchez will be entering his second season as the quarterback of the Jets.
While you’re visiting, take a moment to view the photo gallery we posted of Jamie-Lynn Sigler in May 2009 when we wished her a happy birthday.
Noah S Ark Found In Turkey; A Plethora Of Belief And Skepticism
A Plethora of Belief and Skepticism has engulfed the world, as a new claim by and evangelical Christian filmmaker about finding the remains of Noah’s ark at the Mount Ararat surfaces. The Hong Kong based Wing-cheung has said that he is ninety nine percent sure that he hit upon the religious treasure when he shot the wooden structure along with Turkish Scientists and archeologists.
According to different religious mythologies, Noah followed instructions from God Almighty to build Noah’s ark to save not only himself but every pair of animal kingdom present at his time from the epic flood that ended in complete wash over of the life in the world at that time, leaving only those who were with Noah in Noah’s Ark.
Wing-cheung added that they are not 100% sure that they have found the legendary Noah’s Ark as nobody has seen or visualize the ark. He added that they are only 99% sure that wooden structure found by them is Noah’s ark, putting base of their almost hundred percent certainty to historical accounts, local beliefs and carbon dating. The samples from the wooden structure were tested in Turkey and scientists in Turkey found the wooden remains closer to the period when Noah was afloat in his ark.
The discovery has fetched mixed remarks
from believers and skeptics. If believers are declaring it a discovery of ages, skeptics are questioning the possibility of finding the wooden ark in intact form.
It would be interesting to know that for centuries, people have had been claiming of finding the Noah’s Ark at Mount Ararat or its closer vicinity. Let us hope this time we hit the jackpot but we would like the scientists throughout the world to share their findings when samples from Noah’s Ark are shared with them so that world would have a better judgment about such a structure that was a miracle in itself.
Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Grows
A growing fleet of the air and sea craft is fighting a rapidly expanding oil spill emanating from a well at the bottom of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, as communities around the Gulf Coast brace for its likely impact on commerce and the environment.
Seen from a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flying at 2,500 feet, the slick—which looks like a thin skin laid on top of the ocean—seems to extend beyond the horizon. Aircraft can be seen spraying dispersant over some denser, rainbow-colored spots, hoping to break down the molecules of crude to enable it to evaporate into thin air; and ships dragging boom lines attempt to contain the slick's expansion. As of late Monday, the sheen, which was 36 miles offshore, measured about 80 miles by 42 miles.
The crude spill, emanating from broken drilling infrastructure 5,000 feet below the surface at a rate of 1,000 barrels per day, was caused by the explosion and sinking last week of the Transocean Ltd. Deepwater Horizon, which was drilling an exploration well for BP PLC. At the site where the rig once floated, large pockets of reddish-brown crude rise from the deep, and the air above reeks of oil.
On Monday afternoon, at least five ships—the core of the BP-funded armada—endeavored feverishly to collect crude while crews attempted to shut down the well via remotely operated vehicles. The efforts to remotely activate the well's blowout prevention mechanism, which began Sunday, were expected to take 24 to 36 hours. The company also envisages drilling relief wells to block the flow of oil into the existing well, which could take months and cost about $100 million per well. BP, which liable for the clean-up since it owns the oil, is also considering placing a dome over the spill to contain it, something that hasn't been successfully attempted in deep water.
Despite these efforts, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration official told The Wall Street Journal late Monday that oil is expected to hit shore Saturday. If that occurs, it could create an environmental disaster, harming local businesses and further incensing opponents to the Obama administration's plan to let the oil industry drill in new offshore areas.
The sheer scale and complexity of the operation highlights the titanic struggles faced by the modern oil industry. Locked out of easier-to-exploit oil reservoirs by national governments in developing countries, international oil companies such as BP, Chevron Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC each invest billions of dollars every year in scouring the depths of the sea for hydrocarbons and building massive high-tech platforms. But when problems arise, they're equally difficult to conquer.
Steve Benz, chief executive of the Marine Spill Response Corp., said that the non-profit organization is "mounting the single, largest response effort" in its 20-year history, according to a BP statement.
Venice, the southernmost tip of Louisiana, is about 50 miles from where the Transocean rig sank, and is by no means unfamiliar with the travails—and profits—of the oil industry.
The wetlands here are interspersed with natural gas processing plants and equipment warehouses owned by oilfield-service companies. Earlier this month, an oil spill forced the closure of the Delta National Wildlife Refuge, a haven for alligators, red-tailed hawks and brown pelicans. Yet locals embrace the oil industry, which they credit with keeping the community alive even after the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
"Southern Louisiana survives on oil," says Rene Cross, owner of the Cypress Cove Marina and Lodge. Thirty percent of the marina's business comes from oil companies. Even the distant deepwater platforms are a boon to the other part of the business, sport fishing. These structures function like man-made reefs, attracting tons of sought-after fish, such as blue and white marlin, Mr. Cross said.
But if it takes BP several months to stop the spill, sport fishing, which picks up after Memorial Day, could be hampered.
"If they don't cap the flow by June, it'd be bad for the marine industry," said Michael Ballay, the marina's manager.
Louisiana's $2.4 billion dollar per year sea food industry, an important source of revenue and jobs at Plaquemines Parish, where Venice is located, could suffer. There are major harvesting areas for oysters and shrimp in the eastern part of the state, close to the spill's area. Commercial shrimping and fishing seasons for species such as grouper and greater amberjack resume in the spring and early summer.
The U.S. Supreme Court opts to review the controversial California legislation involving violent games.
The United States Supreme Court announced (via The New York Times) today that it will review a decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to throw out a California law that would ban the sale of violent videogames to anyone under the age of 18.
The law, which was signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2005 but never went into effect due to being blocked by a judge on January 1, 2006, was struck down by a U.S. District Court after the state of California was sued by the industry over claims that the law was unconstitutional. When appealed by the state of California, the Circuit Court agreed with the previous assessment, leading to California appealing that decision once again, thereby bringing it to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court could have denied the writ of certiorari so that the previous decision would have stood without further review, but there is now the possibility that the Supreme Court will rule that the law is constitutional.
The California law, in addition to banning the sale or rental of violent videogames to anyone under the age of 18, would fine retailers up to $1,000 for each violation and require videogames containing violence to be labeled as such. But the definition of a violent videogame isn't especially clear, and opponents of the law point to the fact that the ESRB already exists and labels videogames to inform parents of any questionable content contained within a game.
Just last week, the Supreme Court struck down a federal law that would ban videos showing animal cruelty, a victory for those in favor of free speech. That ruling would suggest to some that the Supreme Court would also rule against the California law when it comes up for review (which won't be until the next term, beginning on October 4), but there is an added layer of complexity as the law attempts to protect minors, similar to laws which prevent the sale of pornography to minors.
The Entertainment Software Association, as you'd expect, is firmly against the law. ESA president and CEO Michael Gallagher said in a statement, "Courts throughout the country have ruled consistently that content-based regulation of computer and video games is unconstitutional. Research shows that the public agrees, video games should be provided the same protections as books, movies and music.
"As the Court recognized last week in the US v. Stevens case, the First Amendment protects all speech other than just a few 'historic and traditional categories' that are 'well-defined and narrowly limited.' We are hopeful that the Court will reject California's invitation to break from these settled principles by treating depictions of violence, especially those in creative works, as unprotected by the First Amendment."
A major part of lawmakers' argument in favor of the law centers around studies that attempt to link aggressive and anti-social behavior, as well as a desensitization to violence, in children to violent videogames. In the Circuit Court ruling against the law, Judge Consuelo Callahan said, "None of the research establishes or suggests a causal link between minors playing violent video games and actual psychological or neurological harm, and inferences to that effect would not be reasonable." He also said there are other, less restrictive ways to protect children from "unquestionable violent" games.
Expect to hear much more on what will be an extremely significant Supreme Court ruling later this year.
Bret Michaels Condition After Brain Hemorrhage
Celebrity Apprentice contestant Bret Michaels is currently in critical condition after suffering from a brain hemorrhage on April 22nd. The former Poison singer reported having an agonizing headache before the hemorrhage took place. Bleeding at the base of the brain stem was discovered by doctors.
On April 12, Michaels had an emergency appendectomy (in layman’s terms: his appendix was removed) after experiencing severe stomach pains. Add on top of all of this his suffering from diabetes, and I just can’t help but feel bad for this guy—hair extensions and all.
Michaels’ publicist released information that the musician is conscious but experiencing slurred speech due to the hemorrhage. He reports, “Bret is a fighter and we are hopeful that once all is complete, the slurred speech, blurred vision and dizziness etc. will be eliminated and all functions will return to normal.”
The cause of the hemorrhage has not yet been found (or disclosed), but Michaels is currently undergoing tests and being constantly monitored in hopes of discovering the source of the internal bleeding.
I’m not a ridiculously huge fan of Bret Michaels, but I definitely enjoyed all of the seasons of Rock of Love. Yes, I’m kind of shallow. However, I hope he continues to recover and can overcome this tragic obstacle.
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Raiders draft defensive tackle Lamarr Houston
the Raiders were riveted by the national-title game in the January between Alabama and Texas. A day after taking Crimson Tide linebacker Rolando McClain in the first round, Oakland selected Longhorns defensive tackle Lamarr Houston in the second round Friday.
He will play defensive end as the Raiders plug in physical players with pedigrees to fix a run defense that was 29th in the NFL last season.
"Getting good and turning it around," coach Tom Cable said, "We don't need knuckleheads; we need champions."
Oakland then finally took an offensive tackle - maybe its biggest need - in the third round, but it was not workout champ Bruce Campbell of Maryland. He ran a 4.78-second 40-yard dash at the combine and was predicted by many to go to Oakland in the first round at No. 8, was still available at No. 69.
The Raiders went with Division II All-America Jared Veldheer of Hillsdale College in Michigan. Veldheer is 6-foot-8 and 321 pounds, and impressed Cable and Raiders managing general partner Al Davis on a visit to Alameda 10 days ago.
"He was the best tackle available," Cable said. "He is a tremendous athlete."
Though Veldheer is slightly taller than Campbell, it was his ability to bend better that probably gave him the nod over Campbell. Veldheer is the highest-drafted Division II player since defensive end Lamar King of Saginaw Valley was taken in the first round by Seattle in 1999.
In the second round, the Raiders traded down five spots in two separate trades before taking Houston with the 44th pick. He had 10 tackles and a sack in that 37-21 loss to McClain and Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game.
"I'm bringing a physical attitude," Houston said. "A physical attitude, someone whose motor is high and ready to play football. I'm excited about trying to change the face of the Raiders' defense."
A running back, basketball player and track athlete in high school, Houston grew into first a defensive end and then a defensive tackle at Texas. In a conference call with reporters, Houston said how much he enjoyed playing tackle - hours before Cable said that he would be playing end in the NFL.
"He has the power and speed, it will be an easy transition for him," Cable said. "We're going to become a little more physical this year, and he can wrestle the tight end all day and win those battles."
As Oakland kept trading down in the second round, Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen kept slipping, but Cable said he was not a consideration. How's that for a vote of confidence for JaMarcus Russell?
The Raiders have six picks in Rounds 4-7 today. They added a fifth-rounder from Tampa Bay to move down three spots and then a sixth-rounder from New England to drop two more spots.
King Tut Comes To Manhattan (Video)
King Tut is on display in New York for the first time in more than 30 years as part of the "Tutankhamen and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" exhibit at the Discovery Times Square Exposition.
Lines were up the block ahead of the opening.
There are more than 130 ancient artifacts in the show, making it the largest King Tut exhibit ever assembled.
Visitors can expect some exclusive pieces, which have never been seen before, along with 50 pieces from the nine-year-old king’s tomb.
"You'll see his royal crown, or diadem as it's called,” explained Bryan Harris of Arts & Exhibitions International. “You'll see one of his miniature coffins; it's a beautiful, beautiful gold piece. You'll see a ceremonial dagger. It was actually found on the mummy itself."
"To be anything at nine years old is fascinating in it of itself,” said one visitor.
Tut died when he was 18 or 19, more than 3,000 years ago.
The city is the exhibit's final stop on its tour before the artifacts go back to Egypt.
Only 600 visitors will be allowed in each hour. The exhibit is on view until January.
George Campbell, Cooper Union President, To Retire In 2011
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art announced Tuesday that its president, George Campbell Jr., will retire at the end of the 2010-11 academic year, after 10 years at the college.
Under Mr. Campbell’s leadership, Cooper Union—which offers free tuition for every student—has made $200 million in capital investments, replacing 40% of the school’s aging facilities and renovating most of the remaining space. In 2001, Mr. Campbell launched a fundraising campaign for the school, raising $190 million to date, nearly quadruple the outcome of its previous campaign.
The college, which offers degrees in architecture, engineering and art, achieved a balanced operating budget for the first time in decades in 2008, and rebuilt its endowment from a low of less than $100 million in 2001 to a high of $600 million.
“The college owes (Mr. Campbell) an immense debt of gratitude,” said Mark Epstein, chairman of the board at Cooper Union. In reflecting on the past 10 years, “what comes to mind is how strong The Cooper Union has become under President Campbell’s transformational leadership and how our long standing reputation for academic excellence has continued to grow.”
Indeed, Cooper Union is ranked number one academically among Baccalaureate Colleges by U.S. News and World Report.
The college is putting together a search committee to find Mr. Campbell’s replacement.
Mass Save Rebates on Earthday 2010 (Video)
Mass Save Rebate starts at 10:00 AM on Thursday, April 22, also Earthday 2010. Mass Save Rebate saves Massachusetts residents money on certain appliance purchases. One of your conservation Earth Day activities should be checking out the Mass Save rebates, especially if you need new appliances.
Energy saving appliances qualify for the Mass Save Rebate to save money and our world. To get a Mass Save Rebate reservation number and form, call 1-877-627-9271.
When you have your number, check out the list of participating stores, appliances and rules to start shopping. Once you get your new appliance, you mail in the MasS Save Rebate form with a sales receipt and electric bill copy as well as a copy of the doc showing your old appliance was picked up.
Your Mass Save Rebate application must be mailed in before June 19, 2010. Isn't Earthday 2010 a perfect time to start the Mass Save Rebate? Definitely one of the great Earth Day activities for Massachusetts residents.
Here is a YouTube video about the Mass Save Rebate appliances:
Christina Hendricks: Best Looking Woman
There is some real good news for all the fans of noted actress Christina Hendricks, as the “Man Men” star has been named the best looking American woman in a poll by a leading men’s magazine. The poll, in which all the readers of the magazine got the opportunity to cast their votes about who according to them is the most beautiful actress, resulted in the 34 year old “Hunger Point” star getting an estimated thirty per cent of the votes.
In order to win the much coveted title, Christina Hendricks left behind other notable names such as Megan Fox as well as Victoria’s Secret Model Adriana Lima. However, all the fans of Adriana Lama and Megan Fox do not need to be disappointed as both of them registered the second and the third position respectively.
Earning the title of the most ravishing American woman is not the only highlight that fans of Christina Hendricks can watch out for as the much acclaimed actress is all set to appear in the cover of the latest issue of the men’s magazine which would be available from April 27. The “Man Men” star appears in a stunning black outfit in the magazine cover which makes her look nothing short of gorgeous with her attractive curves and daring cleavage. At the same time, in the May issue of the men’smagazine, Christina Hendricks has also penned a “Letter to Men” where she gives revealing insights about what women generally think of men as well as what they desire or detest about men. All these factors are likely to play a pivotal role in turning the latest issue of themagazine into a huge hit.
MondMarathon ay: Boston Marathon 26000 Running the Course (course map)
April 19, 2010 the city of Boston shuts down (almost, I am still working) for Marathon Monday. This year 26000 (registered) people have come out to run the Boston Marathon, and unlike other years Americans are among the contenders--which may have to do with the volcano in Iceland grounding all flights from Europe due to the volcanic ash.
Last years Boston Marathon defending champions have made it to the race, Deriba Merga of Ethiopia and Salina Kosgei of Kenya looking to repeat last years win. The race began with the wheelchair racers. At 10:00 am the 26000 runners (registered) lined up to begin their 26.2 mile run from Hopkinton to Boston's Back Bay, finishing in Copley Square in front of the Boston Public Library.
The two American front-runners are Meb Keflezighi, who won the New York City Marathon, and Ryan Hall. An American has not won the Boston Marathon since 1983. I'm heading over to Copley Square at lunch to cheer on some friends who are running. The weather in Boston is beautiful, maybe on the hot side for a marathon, but no rain which means lots of spectators! Check out the Boston Marathon course map to see where you can catch a glimpse of the 26000+ runners on their track to the finish.
Norfolk Island is situated on the Pacific Ocean in between Australia and New Zealand. This island is of great importance to biological experts. The Norfolk Island is also famous for its famous national park which is now a permanent part of the island. The full name of the island is therefore Norfolk Island national park. This island is full of a variety of animals, birds and plant species. It has widespread flora and fauna forestry. This forestry is a rare phenomenon now.
The people of the Island are the direct descendants of the Bounty Mutineers. It was discovered by Captain James cook therefore it was part of the Britain government. The name of the park was suggested in the honor of the Norfolk. The beauty and the presence of unique plants and animals hindered the way of the crew of captain. They were really fascinated by the extraordinary presence of flax and Pine trees. Pitcairn made this island a true paradise on earth and a place worth living for humans.
However the most recent reports say that this beautiful island is facing some serious threats of global warming. While spending your holidays on the Norfolk you would realize that the peace and calamity of the surroundings makes you forget the rest of the world. You will be relieved from the tensions of the daily life.
There are no busy roads there, no train tracks and no noise of factories. It is now an eternal part of Common wealth Australia. This heaven is worth seeing and you would not forget the experience of this untouched beauty ever in life.
Rumors are swirling around that Mexican singer Luis Miguel has been dead but point to note is that there are no authentic confirmations of these rumors. Neither the spokesman nor any other authentic source confirmed that the star was dead so, most likely it was just a hoax that had nothing to do with the reality.
Meanwhile, there are reports about him which say that he is hospitalized at the Cedars-Sinai Hospital of Los Angeles and it seems that this report is correct as various other sources are also believing this because it came from some legitimate source.
The legitimate source is the program of the star “El Gordo Y la Flaca” which airs from Univision where an announcement was made regarding the star that he was hospitalized and he needed the prayers of his fans. No other details were disclosed as to why he was hospitalized and what his condition was now. But his family has not confirmed the report that he is hospitalized. Various media sources are trying to find out the reasons of his being hospitalized.
One insider—who is very close to him and his family—says that he is in critical situation and the reason of his being hospitalized is his plastic surgery. Reportedly, he had a plastic surgery before his 40th birthday and that cosmetic work made him to go hospital and now he is lying on the bed of hospital under serious condition.
He went under knife for two times first time for his abdomen when he underwent “liposuction”—a trick of getting smart through surgery—while his second surgery was for his face. Reportedly, he is suffering from some serious infection and doctors are treating him at the hospital.
Weird News: Huge Green Fireball Meteor in Wisconsin – VIDEO
A giant green fireball assumed to be a meteor freaked out residents in the Wisconsin and Iowa Wednesday night. The fireball lit up the night sky like it was daylight and reportedly caused multiple sonic booms over the state.
The object blazed across the skies at around 10 p.m. CDT, spurring a frenzy of calls to local media. The National Weather Service reports it was probably a meteorite that shook houses under its path. Meteor showers were expected over the area over the past few days.
Not only was the meteor in Wisconsin a shocking sight in the sky, it also probably scared a number of people who didn’t even see it just from the noise alone. “Several reports of a prolonged sonic boom were received from areas north of Highway 20, along with shaking of homes, trees and various other objects including wind chimes,”The National Weather Service said in a statement.
It is unknown whether any portion of the meteorite actually hit the ground – if it was a meteorite, of course. You know there are plenty of folks out there who will be going all conspiracy theory over this thing!
Apple updates MacBook Pro line of laptops
Apple is updating its MacBook Pro line of the laptops. The new computers will feature faster processors, more powerful graphics and up to 10 hours of the battery life.
The MacBook Pros come in models with 13-inch, 15-inch and 17-inch screens. They are priced from $1,199 to $2,299. The laptops come with 4 gigabytes of memory, expandable to 8 gigabytes, and with hard drives of 250 gigabytes to 500 gigabytes. Processing speeds range from 2.4 gigahertz to 2.66 gigahertz.
Apple last updated its MacBook Pro laptops in June.
Clyde Drexler & Scottie Pippen Celebrity Apprentice episode
While athlete Michael Johnson left Celebrity Apprentice on the latest episode, 2 other athletes were guest stars on the show. Former NBA stars Scottie Pippen and Clyde Drexler were featured in Celebrity Apprentice Season 9 episode 5. The object of the task for the teams was to create anew Right Guard commercial using the basketball stars.
Clyde Drexler and Scottie Pippen are two former NBA All-Star legends. Drexler played the majority of his pro career with Portland Trailblazers, while Scottie Pippen played with the Chicago Bulls. Drexler won his first and only NBA title with the Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets in 1995. Pippen became a six-time champion along with Michael Jordan during the 90's Bulls dynasty. Drexler provided the opponent for Pippen and the Bulls in the 1992 NBA Finals, which was the Bulls second title.
Both of these legendary basketball stars were named to the fifty greatest NBA players list in 1996. Drexler is already a member of Basketball's Hall of Fame, with Pippen to be inducted this year.
It was great to see these two legends guest starring on Celebrity Apprentice. The teams did their best to use Clyde Drexler and Scottie Pippen in creative Right Guard commercials. Unfortunately only one team could win it. So who got the ax on Sunday's show? It was Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks. Trump didn't feel she has that aggressiveness or fierce nature needed in business. So Selita Ebanks, you're fired. Michael Johnson also left the show to deal with some personal matters. He may be back to the show before the season's up.
Katyn massacre claims more victims
On their way to commemorate the anniversary of the 1940 Katyn massacre, members of the nation’s top leadership, including President Lech Kaczynski and his wife, were killed in a plane crash.
The dead included the governor of Poland’s Central Bank, its army chief of staff, its deputy foreign minister and head of the National Security Office.
Some of the people on board were relatives of victims of the Katyn massacre. The Associated Press reports that the dead also included Anna Walentynowicz, the former Gdansk shipyards worker whose firing in 1980 launched the Solidarity movement in Poland.
Kaczynski’s identical twin brother, Jaroslaw, former prime minister of Poland and head of the Law and Justice party, was not on the plane.
The aircraft went down near the airport in Smolensk, Russia, not far from the Katyn woods where Soviets killed thousands of Polish prisoners during World War II.
For decades, Moscow denied the mass murders. Just three days ago, Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin became the first Russian leader to attend an event paying tribute to those who died.
Today Putin assumed responsibility for the Russian investigation of the plane crash.
Wachovia online banking down
Wachovia online banking is down since a few hours and people are not really satisfied with this, several reports on Twitter confirm the situation. This in not the first time Wachovia is in the buzz.
This is the entity that during the crisis was rescued by Wells Fargo. Agreed to pay $ 160 million to the U.S. government to defer prosecution for allegedly laundering money to promote a drug cartel in Mexico Wachovia agreed to pay the US government $ 160 million to defer prosecution for allegedly encouraging money laundering Mexican drug cartels, today announced the U.S. Justice Department.
The government agreed to defer prosecution in exchange for 12 months and drop the charges if Wachovia, now a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Co, during that time cooperating in the investigation, said the Justice Department.
Wachovia accused U.S. prosecutors of “willfully failing to establish a program to combat money laundering” between May 2003 and June 2008.
Obama's Nuclear Strategy: What's Changed, What Hasn't
It is 72 pages long and filled with arcane deterrence language, but there's arguably no more important document in the world right now than the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) that President Obama released on Tuesday. After all, the text spells out how many nuclear weapons the U.S. will continue to deploy around the world and the conditions under which it would be prepared to use those weapons — no small thing considering that its arsenal is big enough to threaten the survival of the species. Here are five ways in which Obama has shifted — or not shifted — U.S. nuclear policy from the George W. Bush years.
1. It's still MAD
In a historic speech in Prague last April, Obama pledged to "end Cold War thinking." Yet the U.S. still has a cache of land- and sea-based missiles and long-range bombers. The reason? The idea of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) is still central to America's nuclear standoff with Russia. With thousands of weapons ready to launch at a moment's notice and with both sides retaining the option to "launch on warning" of an incoming attack, Obama said during the presidential campaign that the U.S. was unnecessarily exposing itself to accidental nuclear war, in the event of faulty radar alerts or computer glitches. (Long-range missiles do not have a self-destruct button and cannot be rerouted mid-flight.) While it is highly unlikely that the U.S. and Russia would ever intentionally engage in nuclear war, the NPR does nothing to carry out Obama's pledge to lessen the chance of accidental nuclear war by taking U.S. missiles off hair-trigger alert.
2. The U.S. won't start a nuclear war (against friendly nations at least)
The NPR says the U.S. would not threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states — as long as they are not seen to be developing nuclear weapons. This is both a carrot and a stick for countries with suspected weapons aspirations such as Iran and Syria, as well as those with confirmed nuclear programs, like North Korea. The carrot? A guarantee of security if they fall in line with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The stick? The possibility, however remote, of nuclear war if they don't. In an interview before the NPR's release, Obama said that, in a change from the past, the U.S. would no longer threaten nuclear war in retaliation for a biological- or chemical-weapons attack. But look closely at the text, says Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists, which monitors nuclear weapons policies, and you'll see that's not quite true. For instance, the document states that there "remains a narrow range of contingencies in which U.S. nuclear weapons may still play a role in deterring a conventional, chemical or biological attack against the U.S. or its allies." Says Kristensen: "Basically, there is no restriction on how the U.S. can use its weapons in this document."
3. The U.S. won't develop new nuclear weapons — maybe
Last December, Senate Republicans sent a letter to Obama saying they would fight the ratification of arms-control treaties unless the President guaranteed the longevity of aging U.S. nuclear weapons — code for building new nukes. In interviews this week, Administration officials said they would not develop new weapons. But, says Stephen I. Schwartz, a nonproliferation expert at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, that depends on how you define new. The document states that a warhead introduced into the stockpile will not be considered new if it is based on a previously tested — but never deployed — design. "The United States conducted 1,030 nuclear weapons tests from 1946 to 1992," he says. "We developed and deployed 65 warhead types. Another 25 types were tested but canceled before production. Some of those 25 nukes are presumably now available for revival."
4. There's still a deterrent against nuclear terrorism
The NPR keeps in place an ambiguous declaration from the Bush years that the U.S. "will hold fully accountable" any state that "supports or enables" terrorists in their mission to use weapons of mass destruction. That implies that the U.S. would use nuclear weapons against any state that gave a nuclear weapon or weapons-grade material to terrorists. Some nuclear terrorism experts — most noticeably Graham Allison of Harvard University — had hoped the U.S. would go further and threaten nuclear war against any nation from which terrorists had obtained nuclear material — even if it was stolen. This, Allison said, would give urgency to the task of securing weapons and weapons-grade material. But there are obvious problems with that. Would the U.S. really bomb Russia if terrorists stole material from a factory there? With a nuclear security summit planned for next week in Washington aimed at reaching international agreement on efforts to secure vulnerable fissile materials, Obama obviously felt it more sensible to focus on intentional transfers rather than the potential for stolen weapons.
5. Belgium, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands remain de facto nuclear powers
Yes, that's right. The mighty Belgian air force is nuclear-armed. Although none of the four countries have their own nuclear weapons, there are an estimated 200 B-61 thermonuclear-gravity bombs scattered across their land. And under a NATO agreement that was struck during the Cold War, the bombs, which are owned by the U.S., can be transferred to the control of a host nation's air force in times of conflict. The NPR declares that these weapons "contribute to Alliance cohesion and provide reassurance to allies." Again, that's arguable: a 2006 poll found that almost 70% of people in the four countries want the U.S. nukes withdrawn, and many non-nuclear states say the weapons violate a clause in the NPT that prevents nuclear powers from arming allies. But while retention of "nuclear-burden sharing" may cause Obama problems internationally, it is part of a raft of compromises in the review meant to appease critics in the Senate, who may be needed to ratify international arms-control treaties, according to George Perkovich, director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "Senate ratification is required to take even some of the earliest, easiest steps on the long road toward global nuclear disarmament," he says. "Obama could have offered a righteous posture review — but then had nothing concrete to show for it in terms of actual treaties."
NCAA Championship Game 2010 Time Nears for Duke, Butler
The NCAA championship game 2010 time is at the 9:21 pm est. Once the NCAA championship 2010 game time comes, some kind of Hollywood ending will be written. Either Butler will clinch perhaps
the most unlikely national title in 25 years, or Duke will bring some hard reality into this 'Cinderella' story. Most fans and pundits expect the latter, especially after Saturday's semifinals. But if the favorite wasn't considered unbeatable, we wouldn't have a real Cinderella story - and the NCAA championship game 2010 time will bring an end to it one way or another.
Duke and Butler are the most unlikely final two in a while - or at least half of this pairing is. The Bulldogs' rise, return home, and underdog status is very well known by now, as the partisan Indianapolis crowd will cheer for a big ending. Hoosiers comparisons have been endless, even though they may not be that accurate.
As the NCAA championship game 2010 time comes, Butler is now a legitimate long shot for the first time in this tournament. In spite of the Cinderella/Hoosiers storylines, this program has threatened to be this big for some time. In fact, it would have been an upset if they lost to Michigan State on Saturday. But it's how they won, and how their final opponent won, that has truly made the Bulldogs an upset pick.
Butler only had one field goal in the last 12 minutes Saturday, and still won. They have had virtually no offense in this tournament, and they are playing for a title anyway. In contrast, Duke has three deadly weapons, and has only been challenged once in this tournament. Plus, they already tore apart a defensive minded West Virginia team on Saturday, in what was supposed to be their toughest game here.
The NCAA championship game 2010 time is highly anticipated, but there are now fewer people who expect a tight game. Butler may have had some picking their upsets against Syracuse and Kansas State, but not so many are picking them tonight. Yet since they face the hated Blue Devils, most neutral fans - and those fighting for mid-majors - will go for them anyway.
Hopkins vs Jones Live Stream Online Results 2010 Part 1 (Video)
Mandalay Bay Resort was the place to be last night as night as the boxing world watched two veteran boxers duke it out for 10 rounds. The fight last night was a rematch of a fight that originally took place 17 years ago.
The fight last night featured Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr, with Bernard Hopkins coming out the winner. Hopkins goes out on top and avenges his loss to Hopkins 17 years ago. Both fighters are in their 40's.
Now as the old boxing saying goes "Let's get ready to Rumblllllllllle! You can check out the two veteran fighters going at it in the fight below. This is the first one that set up the fight last night - and also altered the career paths of both fighters.
The Executive Director with Autism services says 1 out of every 150 Canadians has a diagnosis of autism and those numbers will continue to rise.
Today is World Autism Awareness Day which kicks off Autism Awareness month.
Shannon Friesen says doctors are more successfully diagnosing forms of autism where someone would have simply been considered socially quirky and she says they are still researching the cause but believe there is some genetic pre-disposition that is triggered by environment.
The Global Light-it-up-Blue campaign marks World Autism Awareness Day. Places like the CN Tower in Toronto and the Empire State Building in New York were lit up in blue yesterday evening. To recognize Autism awareness, Friesen has asked Saskatoon City Council to change the lights on the Traffic Bridge to blue this month.
Topeka: Google pulls April Fools' prank after Kansas's renaming stunt
Topeka? Today's Google name change may confuse visitors at first. But check the date.
Google has a long history of April Fools' Day pranks. From upside-down YouTube clips and replacing videos with text to partnering with Virgin to create the Mars expedition team Virgle, Google has pulled more gags than the MIT frats to which many of its employees once belonged.
However today's spoof has a touch of real-world consequence. Last month, Topeka jokingly changed its name to Google, Kansas. This earlier renaming stunt, pulled well before April 1, tried to grab Google's attention. The company has offered to test a super-high-speed broadband network – 20 times faster than current commercial options – in one US city. This promise, which comes with plenty of publicity and probably new jobs, sent cities across the country into a lighthearted bidding war.
Topeka renamed itself. Duluth, Minn., mayor Don Ness jumped into frigid Lake Superior in just a T-shirt and shorts – then uploaded the video to YouTube, of course. "I've laid down the gauntlet," Mr. Ness says in the video. "All right, you other mayors, you want Google fiber? You jump in Lake Superior!"
In an April Fools' press release today, Google CEO Eric Schmidt explained the company's new name.
"We didn’t reach this decision lightly; after all, we had a fair amount of brand equity tied up in our old name," he writes. "But the more we surfed around (the former) Topeka’s municipal website, the more kinship we felt with this fine city at the edge of the Great Plains. In fact, Topeka Google Mayor Bill Bunten expressed it best: 'Don’t be fooled. Even Google recognizes that all roads lead to Kansas, not just yellow brick ones.' "
Acknowledging the broadband deal, Mr. Schmidt closed the letter with: "Finally, we want to be clear that this initiative is a one-shot deal that will have no bearing on which municipalities are chosen to participate in our experimental ultra-high-speed broadband project, to which Google, Kansas has been just one of many communities to apply."
As with most of Google's banner changes, everything will likely return to normal tomorrow. But for the chosen city, which Google will announce soon, April Fools' Day just caps a month full of stunts that could change a community's future for years to come.
Ruben Studdard returns to American Idol, to tour with Clay Aiken (video)
Remember when Ruben Studdard was a long shot on American Idol and Clay Aiken was a shoe-in? Remember when the reverse happened, though Aiken came in second and the two became friends (and faux foes of Simon, who was meaner back then).
If you don't (and you probably won't since that was seven years ago), take a look at the video below to jog your memory.
In any case, Rueben Studdard once again graced the American Idol stage, singing for the top ten his latest single, "Don't Make 'Em Like U No More". Talk about a contrast with Usher and will.i.am, who also sang on the show.
But Studdard was first up, and he owned the stage for a number of reasons, one of which is that his presence is very big (despite the fact that the singer slimed down since his Idol days after becoming a vegan and regular exercise). Again, watch below and you'll see what I mean. And hell be even bigger when he reunites with Clay Aiken this summer as they tour together.
What do you think of Ruben Studdard and his brand of music? Do you think he is still an American Idol? Do you think you will go and see the two former Idols when they tour? Please weight in!
