chad mcdaniel

chad mcdaniel

Chad McDaniel, 34, of Concordia, Kansas, succumbed to injuries suffered while racing during Friday night's USAC/SMRS midget race in Knoxville, Iowa. McDaniel was transported to Knoxville Hospital, then airlifted to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines suffering from head and neck injuries. McDaniel is survived by his wife Trish and children Trevor and Taylor.
Chad was leading the SMRS Great Plains Midget Series standings at the time of the accident and had scored five top-10 finishes in six races so far this season.
"On behalf on the entire USAC Racing community, we are deeply saddened and carry heavy hearts today with the passing of Chad McDaniel" stated Kevin Miller, CEO of USAC Racing. "Our sport has lost a passionate racer today, and our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to his family during these most difficult times."

jay leno last show

jay leno last show

It wasn't flashy or unforgettable, but Jay Leno ended his 17-year Tonight Show run with a lovely and classy finale Friday night.
The closing segment was especially touching. In response to reporters asking him what he wanted his "legacy" to be, Leno brought onstage all of the children who had been born to parents who met while they were working on The Tonight Show during his tenure. There were 68 of them onstage as the program ended, and Leno said he hoped these children were part of his legacy. While it might sound corny, I thought it was a very moving and original moment.
As for the rest of the hour, the best thing about it was how much it resembled the usual show rather than some kind of grand finale.
Leno delivered the same kind of opening monologue as he did every night -- only a little funnier. Among his best lines:
"When I started this show, my hair was black and the president was white...I was cleaning out my office today, and I found O.J.'s knife...Everybody asks me if I'm going on vacation. Yeah, I'm going to a secluded spot where nobody can find me: NBC prime time."

earthfest boston 2009

earthfest boston 2009

What do green creatures, hordes of people (many unshaven), free organic chips and beverages, and ’90s one-hit wonder bands have in common?
They’re all a part of EarthFest 2009, Radio 92.9’s 16th annual concert and homage to the Earth and all things environmentally friendly. The festivities are this Saturday, May 30, at the Hatch Shell along the Charles River.
If you’ve never been to EarthFest or if you’ve never heard of it, now is the time to put on the tie-dyed T-shirt and venture forth. Walk along the Charles from the BU Beach and you can’t miss it: look for friendly people handing out free food samples and information about environmentally sustainable practices. Or take the Green Line to the Arlington T stop, walk through the Common, and head over Storrow Drive.
The music starts at noon with local band Red Summer Sun, followed by Shawn Mullins, Seven Mary Three, Lemonheads, and the headliner, Soul Asylum (their set starts at 4 p.m.). If you don’t recognize the bands’ names, don’t worry — you’ll recognize one or two of their songs.

honduras earthquake

honduras earthquake

A very powerful earthquake has left at least one man dead after rocking homes in Honduras and Belize Thursday, collapsing structures and sparking panic in residents.The powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Honduras Thursday and collapsed homes, killing at least one man in Pineda de la Lima, according to deputy director of Honduras' Permanent Emergency Commission Carlos Gonzalez.
The frightening quake sent residents running into the streets at 3:24 am. The epicenter of the quake, according to the Associated Press, was 80 miles northeast of La Ceiba, Honduras.

powerball numbers may 27 2009

powerball numbers may 27 2009

Here are tonight’s May 27 2009’s Florida Lottery Powerball Winning Numbers. Florida Powerball’s winning numbers tonight could net someone the highest purse in years.
$232 million is on the line, the biggest Powerball paycheck in one year, and second biggest in two years. Powerball is currently in 30 U.S. states.
Moments ago press confirmed for tonight there was only ONE winning ticket, sold in South Dakota. There are also over 12 who matched 5 of the six numbers that will net them $200,000 each. Those tickets were sold in Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin.
Tonight’s winning numbers are:
5-6-12-16-21PB7 x3

sara jane moore

sara jane moore

Sara Jane Moore and Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme attempted to assassinate U.S. President Gerald Ford in 1975. However, the similarity between them ends here as Moore was released from prison on parole after serving 32 years of her life sentence in 2007 while "Squeaky" Fromme is currently serving a life sentence in prison.
Sara Jane is again in headlines as she appeared in NBC’s Today and said that she "made a serious error". She said "I think that I was misled, that I was mistaken. I think I made a serious error," she told Lauer. "I had to learn later that everyone else didn’t feel that way."
Sara Jane Moore attempted to assassinate U.S. President Gerald Ford on September 22, 1975 outside the St.

jet america airlines

jet america airlines
Low cost airlines start to fly in the travelers' radar as Jet America Airlines introduces 9 dollar fares and will start operations on July 13. One wonders how is Jet America going to make money with 9 dollar fares? Or is this only to create some initial buzz?
Jet America Airlines 9 dollar fares will get the discount travelers from Newark, NJ to Toledo. There will be only nine seats in each flight that will cost nine dollars each. According to Tampabay Jet America Airlines will make money from additional fees, just like other low cost airlines.

mike tyson s baby

mike tyson s baby

I have read a lot of articles talking about the tragic treadmill accident that has now claimed the life of Mike Tyson's 4 year old baby girl Exodus.
The little girl died of strangulation after getting a cord wrapped around her neck on the family's treadmill while her mother was doing chores in another room. Her 7 year old brother discovered her near lifeless body after being asked to check on her by her mom. She lingered on life support for a day and then passed.
Obviously this is an accident. But as a mother and one who has a home gym with treadmill, bike, etc. I was shocked to hear that little Exodus was allowed in a room with a treadmill unsupervised. My littlest is allowed in our home gym only when I am in there with him and he is not allowed on any of the equipment or near the weights.
But though I am safe about our home gym, I am the first to admit that I, like most moms (even if they don't admit it), have left my children in unsafe situations in the home while trying top get chores done.

sink the vandenberg

sink the vandenberg

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — A ship last used by the U.S. Air Force to track missiles and spacecraft will soon become the world's second-largest intentionally sunk artificial reef.
Crews plan to sink the decommissioned Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg on Wednesday morning about seven miles off Key West. Officials hope it will attract fish and divers and relieve recreational pressure on nearby natural reefs.
Explosives will be detonated to flood the 17,000-ton, 523-foot-long ship that was first built as a cargo ship in World War II. It's expected to settle on the sandy bottom in 140 feet of clear water.
Officials in the Florida Keys expect it to generate up to $8 million in tourism-related revenue, mostly from divers and related businesses.

roh moo hyun

roh moo hyun

The former president of South Korea, Roh Moo-hyun, who had been under investigation for alleged corruption, has apparently committed suicide.
His former chief of staff said Mr Roh appeared to have jumped to his death from a rock while mountain climbing in the south of the country, and had left a brief suicide note.
Here are a selection of reactions to his death from around the world.
SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT LEE MYUNG-BAK
This is a truly unbelievable, lamentable and deeply sad event
KIM DAE-JUNG, FORMER SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT
I've lost my life-long companion, with whom I took part in struggles for democracy and shared 10 years of a democratic government... I feel like I've lost a half of myself.

lebron james shot

lebron james shot

LeBron James wants to say it one more time.
Well, he wishes it was one more time. He'll probably have to repeat it over and over, but his answer never changes. When it comes to taking the last shot of a close game -- no matter if it is in the Eastern Conference finals or the Olympics or a regular-season game in December -- James will always make what he calls "the right play."
Often that means passing as he did at the end of Game 1. He also did it in Game 1 of the conference finals in 2007, and he's done it numerous times in between -- even if it received a significant amount of criticism nationwide.

erika dutra

erika dutra

Twilight and New Moon star Robert Pattinson had quite an eventful time in Cannes promoting his projects as well as being interviewed by numerous media outlets. It is now being reported that the young phenom "hooked up" with Erika Dutra, the blonde that he was pictured canoodling with at the amfAR post-party.
"Erika was introduced to Robert by a mutual friend at the beginning of the night and he was smitten with her from that point on," an eyewitness tells Life & Style. "He took pictures of her, sat with her all night, and the two of them were even seen kissing! There was serious chemistry between them, and they looked like they were having an amazing time."

taste of cincinnati

taste of cincinnati

Starting at 6 p.m. today, Fifth Street downtown and one-way streets intersecting into Fifth Street will close for the Taste of Cincinnati event. The right turn will from eastbound Fifth Street to southbound Race Street will remain open during the event. All streets will reopen by 4am Tuesday morning. The P&G Taste of Cincinnati USA, presented by Time Warner Cable and Budweiser Select, is the city's showcase of music and food and the region's annual kickoff to summer. Taste features approximately 45 area restaurants, more than 60 musical acts and approximately 500,000 grazing gourmets in attendance.

siesta beach florida

siesta beach florida

SARASOTA — Siesta Beach in Sarasota was ranked the second best beach on the annual list of America’s Best Beaches produced by coastal expert Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, also known as “Dr. Beach.”
Siesta Beach was runner up to Hanalei Bay in Kauai, Hawaii.
According to dr.beach.org, Siesta Beach received high honors because of its fine, white sand and clear, warm water. The only other Florida beach to make the list was Cape Florida in Key Biscayne.

aubrey drake graham

aubrey drake graham

Rihanna, apparently, is back on the dating saddle again as she reportedly has been seen kissing actor-rapper Aubrey Drake Graham, who is widely believed to be her new boyfriend. The rumored lovers, according to New York Post's Page Six, were seen enjoying PDA at Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge on West 42nd Street on Monday night, May 18. Joined by 10 friends, Rihanna and Aubrey opted to make space for themselves, staying close to each other while their companions enjoyed bowling and drinks. "The two of them were stealing kisses here and there the whole night," said a source.

laura waring

laura waring

Real Housewife of Orange County Laura Waring is demanding more cash from her ex husband -- and it's probably because she claims to only make 400 bucks a month.In legal papers filed in Orange County Superior Court, Waring claims she has over $12,000 in expenses per month, and the money she's already getting from Phillip Waring just ain't cuttin' it.Laura claims she's tryin' to help out, stating in the docs that she's working two jobs -- insurance agent and actress. Yeah, actress. Right.BTW -- Laura estimates Phil pulls in around $360,000 a year.

sat scores

sat scores

Dear Babs, I just took the SAT for the first time and I did OK - I got a 2000. I did really well in reading and writing, but I only got a 550 in math. I want to go to a good school, maybe not an Ivy, but somewhere with a good reputation, like Tufts University. Should I retake it to improve my SAT scores?
Dear Trying, It might not be a bad idea. Think hard about why you did not perform as well as you would have liked. Is math difficult for you? Was it your last section and you were tired? Were you having an "off" day? If you can really focus why you did poorly on the math and learn study tips to improve your SAT scores, you might be able to bring your test up by 100 points or so. However, know that with more effort going into the math, your high scores in reading and writing might slip. The CollegeBoard, the organization that administers the SATs, now allows you to choose which scores you send by test date with "Score Choice" However, you can't select which section you want to report: if you improve by 100 on one area, and "slide" in another area by 100 your score will stay the same.

sickles high school yearbook photo

sickles high school yearbook photo

A Sickles High School Yearbook Photo is making news today after a 16 year old student says she didn’t wear panties to school the day the photos were taken because she didn’t want panty lines showing up in her yearbook photos. However, the end result of going commando has meant an eyeful for thousands who have copies of the Sickles High School yearbook.

After the Sickles High School yearbooks were handed out on Monday, students began noticing that the pottery club photo showed a side of one teenage girl they’d never seen before.

Here’s a copy of the Sickles High School yearbook photo everyone is talking about. We’ve covered the goods in the photo because the girl is a minor.

bart ehrman

bart ehrman

CNN -- Just so you know, Bart Ehrman says he's not the anti-Christ.

Bart Ehrman says most of the New Testament is a forgery but it's still an important body of work. He says he's not trying to destroy your faith. He's not trying to bash the Bible. And, though his mother no longer talks to him about religion, Ehrman says some of his best friends are Christian.

Ehrman, a best-selling author and a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is a biblical sleuth whose investigations make some people very angry. Like the fictional Robert Langdon character played by actor Tom Hanks in the movie "Angels & Demons," he delves into the past to challenge some of Christianity's central claims.

In Ehrman's latest book, "Jesus, Interrupted," he concludes: Doctrines such as the divinity of Jesus and heaven and hell are not based on anything Jesus or his earlier followers said. At least 19 of the 27 books in the New Testament are forgeries. Believing the Bible is infallible is not a condition for being a Christian.

fall of saigon

fall of saigon

HONG KONG (AFP) — Hugh Van Es, the Dutch photographer whose photo of the 1975 fall of Saigon became one of the most enduring images of the Vietnam war, has died. He was 67. Van Es suffered a brain haemorrhage last week in Hong Kong, where he had lived for many years, and never regained consciousness, colleagues said.

The Dutchman was part of what became a famous generation of journalists who covered the Vietnam war, many of whom paid tribute Friday to his courage, talent and personality. "His sunny demeanour endeared him to his colleagues and to the American and Vietnamese soldiers he photographed," veteran war correspondent Peter Arnett told AFP.

Arnett called him "one of the few Western photographers willing to take the risks of witnessing the war's end."

jon peters

jon peters

Today, Peters presumably hopes to turn a corner on what has been an unfortunate past year, during which he was slapped with a sexual harassment suit as well as facing ongoing litigation surrounding a 2006 drunk-driving conviction – although a court ruled last month that he will avoid jail time if he completes a 36-month probation programme by 2010.

Mindy Peters – who despite being the fourth ex Mrs Peters – remains Peters's biggest fan: "Jon is a very unusual and colourful person. Take it from me – we were married, divorced and now we're back together again.

"But I don't think anyone should be too worried about his book. More than anything I think it will make people laugh out loud. Its pretty much the story of Jon's life from the day he was born up until today. He's lived about 20 lifetimes and been on many wild adventures.

Everyone knows about Jon the Casanova, but he's much more than that. He has so many stories to tell that he's already discussing writing a whole series of books. And, of course, it will be a movie too. Naturally. The whole thing will be in Jon's own words. Well, Jon's own words as told to a ghostwriter."

barbara graham

barbara graham

Join us at Kepler's this Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. for a reading and discussion with not one, but three wonderful authors: Barbara Graham, editor of "Eye of My Heart," Susan Griffin and Bharati Mukherjee.

Here is in Barbara's words how the book was born:

Until my granddaughter, Isabelle Eva, was born in 2006, I had no clue just how complicated—and full of wonder—the role of grandmother could be. But when I turned to the place I always turn to for wisdom—books—I couldn’t find anything literary that addressed my alternately joyful, perplexing, painful, amusing—but always profound—new status. And so Eye of My Heart: 27 Writers Reveal the Hidden Pleasures and Perils of Being a Grandmother was born.

For me, stepping into the shoes of a grandmother was sobering and thrilling, scary yet comforting. Although the coming of Isabelle Eva secured the continuity of some fragment of the ancestral essence I carry from my own Russian-Polish-German-Jewish stew—sparking in me an unexpected but palpable sense of relief—I was also acutely aware that her arrival moved me up a notch in the life cycle.

google down

google down

Earlier on the morning of May 14, at about 10:45 AM Eastern Time, Google and its related services like Google News, Gmail and services were completely failing to some areas in the world and and at some places it starting to move extremely slowly. In some cases, Google services are reported to have completely stopped working.In the States, I've heard from users in NYC, Chicago, and San Francisco. They all report that Google searches were running at historically low speeds. I've heard similar reports from users Europe and Australia.

In addition, Google services like Google News and Gmail are completely failing. The Internet Storm Center is saying that it's received multiple "reports of a total fail of Google Applications. Gmail, Reader, Docs, News, Apps. etc." The Storm Center also states that it has "Reports of Google working in some areas (West Coast, co.uk, and others), however the outage appears to pretty widespread for the most part. Probably depends on which Google Data Center you are connected to." I can confirm that users in the UK seem to be doing well.

biggest loser before and after

biggest loser before and after

Just take a look, a female of 47-year-old lost 140 pounds...Its simply amazing...

According to RealityTvWorld, "Helen Phillips, a 47-year-old retired retail manager from Sterling Heights, MI, was crowned the show's third-straight female champion during last night's live broadcast of The Biggest Loser:


Couples' finale on NBC. Helen -- who also became the show's oldest champion ever -- began the competition at 257 pounds and weighed-in at 117 pounds during the finale, giving her a 140-pound weight-loss and a 54.47% weight-loss percentage."

mike morelli

mike morelli

No one was sure until the last minute who America would vote to compete as a finalist in the Biggest Loser 7 finale. Between Mike Morelli and his dad Ron Morelli, America chose to send the show’s youngest player ever to compete against winner Helen Phillips and Tara Costa. Mike’s been an inspiration to young and old, and with a 207 pound total weight loss, there’s no doubt he’ll continue to be that.

Mike’s final weight was 181 pounds, down 53.35%. He’s anxious to begin college in the fall, and he continues to lend support to his younger brother Max.Be sure to stay tuned for the DietsInReview.com interview with Mike live from the finale.

tahlia brookins

tahlia brookins

Last night’s 2-hour premiere on the CW touted big personalities, big sob stories, and even bigger attitudes.

While the models were certainly larger than life this season, no one will ever steal the spotlight from Tyra Banks. When Banks arrived at Las Vegas’s Caesar’s Palace for the Top 34 round, she was dressed in a fierce toga and surrounded by a battalion of Spartan soldiers.

The most inspirational model of the pack was Tahlia Brookins, a burn victim whose body was covered in scars following a childhood accident. At first, Tahlia seemed confident with her body (aside from a few extra pounds). But when she was covered from head to toe during their first runway show, Tahlia felt the heat of the caddy fashion world.

tmz miss california

tmz miss california

In the wake of Carrie's topless photo controversy, Vivid Entertainment -- one of the biggest adult film companies in the world -- has decided to test Prejean's moral toughness with a $1 million offer to star in one of their "films."

In the formal offer, mailed off to Prejean late Wednesday afternoon, Vivid makes it clear, "This is purely a business offer and has nothing to do with your religion or your personal beliefs."

It's doubtful Prejean would accept, but a quick survey of biblically correct heterosexual males shows they would support her overwhelmingly if she did.

Read the letter sent to Miss California from TMZ here

reif larsen

reif larsen

Jorge Luis Borges' short story "On Exactitude In Science" is about a guild of cartographers who were so fixated on perfection that they "struck a Map of the Empire whose size was that of the Empire, and which coincided point for point with it." Subsequent generations found it useless, and the map was left to crumble in the desert, where it became shelter for wild animals and derelicts. Reif Larsen recounts this story, and another, about a Grade 7 assignment in which his class was instructed to draw the world from memory.

"Some people breezed through it," he says, smiling. "I got really into it."

Reif Larsen liked his maps then - and now. "We had an atlas, an old National Geographic atlas from the '60s, and I would just pore over that. I'd make up stories about these crazy places. I think, like a good story, they give you enough to sink your teeth into. A map has place names, it has a scale, they're just so delicious to me."

sgt. john m. russell

sgt. john m. russell

BAGHDAD, May 12 -- The U.S. military on Tuesday announced that Sgt. John M. Russell, of the 54th Engineer Battalion, has been charged in the shooting that killed five service members at a combat stress clinic here on Monday.

Russell, 44, is from Sherman, Texas and is on his third deployment to Iraq, military officials said. He was charged with five counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault, said Maj. Gen. David Perkins, the top U.S. military spokesman in Iraq.

Two of the slain service members were officers who worked at the combat stress clinic at Camp Liberty. One was a Navy officer and the other was in the Army. The three other victims were enlisted soldiers.

rebecca shaw

rebecca shaw
Transcripts from the cockpit voice recorder in the last seven minutes before Flight 3407 crashed Feb. 13 near Buffalo, N.Y.:

22:10:32 — First Officer Rebecca Shaw: Oh yeah, oh it's lots of ice.

22:10:47 — Captain Marvin Renslow: "Oh yeah, that's the most I've seen, most ice I've seen on the leading edges in a long time. In a while, anyway, I should say.

22:10:57 — Shaw: Flying in the Northeast, I've 1,600 hours. ... I had more actual time on my first day of IOE (initial operating experience) than I did in the 1,600 hours I had when I came here.

22:11:31 — Renslow: But, uh, as a matter of fact I got hired with about 625 hours here.

22:11:37 — Shaw: Oh wow.

22:11:39 — Shaw: That's not much for, uh, back when you got hired.

22:11:42 — Renslow: No but, uh, out of that ... 250 hours was, uh, part 121 turbine, multi-engine turbine.

22:11:50 — Shaw: Oh that's right yeah.

22:11:54 — Shaw: No, but all these guys are complaining, they're saying, you know, how we were supposed to upgrade by now and ... I'm thinking, you know what? I really wouldn't mind going through a winter in the Northeast before I have to upgrade to captain.

roxana saberi photos

roxana saberi photos

Roxana Saberi, the American-Iranian journalist sentenced to eight years in prison for alleged espionage, is expected to be freed today. Ms. Saberi's release is cause for celebration, however, she was not the only journalist languishing in Iran's prisons. In Iran, the brutal suppression of free speech and a free press is routine. As a dual national who worked for leading media outlets, Ms. Saberi's case has generated headlines and outrage. By contrast, the cases of dozens of Iranian journalist, bloggers, and activists are often overlooked.

Roxanna Saberi's case is serious, but it was manipulated by the Iranian regime and used to draw attention away from the cases of other imprisoned media workers and bloggers. Even Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian President, feigned an interest in Ms. Saberi's case and demanded a fair trial, doubtless to boost his image and popularity.

canon powershot sd1100 is

canon powershot sd1100 is
I purchased the Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS a few months ago to replace a much older PowerShot that was nearing the end of its life. I have had nothing but good experiences with the SD1100.

The size of the SD1100 was what first attracted me, as it is not much larger than a deck of playing cards. In comparison to the overall size of the camera, the LCD display screen is sizeable and I find it adequate for my purposes (photographing family, friends, taking it on trips and the like). Unlike my much older PowerShot, the SD1100 has a sliding bar instead of a dial which allows the user to choose between taking photos, movies and reviewing photographs. This eliminates the need to check and see what setting the camera is on when you take it out of the case, as I found the dial often switched without my knowledge.

The SD1100’s menu is highly intuitive, and easy to learn. Unlike some other digital cameras, the self-timer function is easy to find and the number of shots and delay time can be custom set. There are settings for taking photographs under different conditions, such as on the beach, in the snow and underwater, as well as the ability to take black and white, sepia or macro photographs.

new postage rates

new postage rates
WASHINGTON, May 11 (UPI) -- Two cents may not buy much nowadays, but it will help a first-class letter mailed Monday reach its destination under new U.S. Postal Service postage rates.

The cost of mailing a letter rose from 42 cents to 44 cents for the first ounce -- about five sheets of paper -- a move necessitated by rising production costs, the USPS said in announcing the hike in February. Postcards now cost 28 cents while large envelopes cost 88 cents for the first ounce to mail, rates on the USPS Web site show.

One way consumers can hedge against the rising costs of snail mail is by using so-called "Forever Stamps," postage without a cent designation that can be used any time for a 1-ounce letter. Forever stamps sell at the going postage stamp price, but can be used when the rate is increased without additional postage.

hoopz sextape

hoopz sextape

Nikki Alexander, aka Hoopz, is best known as the girl that almost won Flavor Flav’s heart on reality show “Flavor of Love.” Now she is set to be the star of a brand new flick the “Hoopz Sex Tape.”

Infamous celebrity sex tape distributor Mr. ZZee, who is the anonymous man behind many other best selling sex tapes, announced that he acquired a sex video of the reality star. According to reports the high quality video features numerous positions, several different camera angles, and some incredibly nasty things that you’re going to have to watch yourself to find out. Currently screen shots and video are available here (with a little digging around), but the full video will be put on DVD and online pay-per-view soon.

Of course with a little digging around you can also find nude photos of Hoopz. The girl loves showing off her body.

Check out pictures and a clip video of the Hoopz Sex Tape below.

Power tool may have sparked Santa Barbara wildfire

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The wildfire that has scorched 13 square miles and destroyed dozens of homes in the hills above this scenic coastal city was apparently sparked by a power tool being used to clear brush, investigators said Sunday.

Fire officials said someone, or possibly a group of people, was clearing vegetation on what appeared to be private land near the trail around the time the fire erupted Tuesday.

"Any time you use any power tool, there's always a possibility, especially if the conditions are right," said Joe Waterman, the overall fire commander from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Concerns white phosphorus used in Afghan battle (AP)

KABUL – Doctors voiced concern over "unusual" burns on Afghan villagers wounded in an already controversial U.S.-Taliban battle, and the country's top human rights groups said Sunday it is investigating the possibility white phosphorus was used. The American military denied using the incendiary in the battle in Farah province — which President Hamid Karzai has said killed 125 to 130 civilians — but left open the possibility that Taliban militants did. The U.S. says Taliban fighters have used white phosphorus, a spontaneously flammable material that leaves severe chemical burns on flesh, at least four times the last two years.

Using white phosphorus to illuminate a target or create smoke is considered legitimate under international law, but rights groups say its use over populated areas can indiscriminately burn civilians and constitutes a war crime.

'Star Trek' has galactic $76.5 million opening

LOS ANGELES – "Star Trek" beamed itself up to the top of the box office, earning $76.5 million in its opening weekend.

Paramount Pictures had estimated that the movie would make about $50 million for the weekend, but figured that strong reviews helped carry it to the bigger opening.

Director J.J. Abrams' reboot of the beloved sci-fi franchise made $72.5 million from Friday through Sunday, plus $4 million just in pre-midnight screenings Thursday, the studio said Saturday. That cumulative figure includes a record $8.2 million in IMAX showings.

gamestop.com

gamestop.com

GameStop is the world's largest video game retailer. With over 6,100 stores located throughout the United States and 17 countries, we are the retail destination for gamers around the world.

Our GameStop, EB Games and Electronics Boutique retail locations set us apart in the industry. Everything that we offer our customers-from our expansive selection of new products, to our knowledgeable associates and our value-added pre-owned products-is geared to deliver customer satisfaction. We complement our store network with GameStop.com and EBgames.com, and publish Game Informer, one of the industry's largest circulation video game magazines.

Together, we hold a passion for gaming, a commitment to our industry and a disciplined business perspective to continuously drive value with shareholders, customers, vendors and employees.

white house correspondents dinner

white house correspondents dinner

He brought down the house!

President Obama, playing the comic-in-chief, had the celebrity-packed crowd at the White House Correspondents' dinner rolling out of their seats Saturday night as he skewered Republicans, Vice President Biden and even Hizzoner. "In the next hundred days, I will meet with a leader who rules over millions with an iron fist, who owns the airwaves and uses his power to crush all who would challenge his authority in the ballot box," Obama said, before pausing.

"It's good to see you, Mayor Bloomberg." Displaying a different kind of audacity, Obama even used the White House's botched photo op over New York City as comedic fodder. The incident, involving military planes trailing a low-flying jetliner, terrified scores of New Yorkers.

microcenter

microcenter

Micro Center is an American computer department store that was founded in 1979 by two former Radio Shack employees. The first Micro Center store was a 900 sq ft (84 m²). storefront located in the Lane Avenue Shopping Center in Upper Arlington, Ohio.

There are currently 21 Micro Center stores nation-wide in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Massachussetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.

chuck daly

chuck daly

The Pistons were in a brutal stretch during the 1985-86 season, having dropped 13 of their previous 19 games. And Isiah Thomas, Detroit's franchise player, asked Chuck Daly to meet him at a McDonald's in suburban Detroit so they could set a few things straight. Thomas knew Daly was on the verge of getting fired. He supported Daly, despite the Pistons' struggles, but the star point guard needed to know if Daly was as desperate to win as he was.

"Is this what you still want to do?" Thomas asked him. Daly didn't flinch. As usual, he was cool. "Let's just gut our way through it and figure out how to get it right," he said.

It was a turning point for the franchise, and for the relationship between coach and star player. Thomas went to owner Bill Davidson and asked him to stick with Daly a little longer. And Daly held up his end, guiding the Pistons to NBA championships in 1989 and 1990.

wmzq fest

wmzq fest

WMZQ Fest Concert and Tour Schedule

You can order WMZQ Fest tickets either online or by just picking up the phone. Click on the "View Available Tickets" link below to view a list of available tickets, a seating diagram, or to order tickets online. If you do not wish to order your WMZQ Fest tickets online, please call us at 800-279-4444. If you don't see the tickets you are looking for please call us.

WMZQ ticket opening policies

anna hansen

anna hansen

In May 2007, Crow adopted a 2-week-old boy she named Wyatt Steven Crow.

And Armstrong is ready – whether he likes it or not -- to be a daddy again.

His girlfriend, Anna Hansen, got pregnant last year and is due to deliver next month. Reportedly, the baby was conceived naturally, which is amazing considering Armstrong's bout with testicular cancer.

Surprise!

Are men ridiculous or what? Does becoming a daddy so soon after telling Sheryl he didn't want more kids make him look a total child? You're better off, Sheryl!

ap studio art digital submission

ap studio art digital submission


Here's a link to the Studio Art Digital Submission webpage. Please be sure to get online and begin uploading you're work this week so that you don't fall behind. On Monday next week we'll have a session in class going over more of the details but most of the important information can be found via the link above.

tpc sawgrass

tpc sawgrass

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - Tiger Woods has the signature fist pump. And the signature slow start.

He was at it again Thursday in the first round at the Players Championship, playing his first six holes in one-over par. (Meanwhile, Scott Verplank birdied five of his first seven holes.)

Starting off the back nine, his downfall was the 483-yard 14th.

He pushed his drive right, leaving himself 213 yards. His approach sailed far left of the green, settling in a nasty, native area. He pitched to 38 feet and two-putted for a 5. After playing the 422-yard 15th conventionally – 288-yard drive, approach to 21 feet, two putts – Woods went to town on the 16th, a short par 5 that perennially ranks as the TPC Sawgrass' easiest hole.

bank stress test results

bank stress test results

NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of Bank of America Corp. continued their rapid climb Thursday, hours ahead of the expected announcement of bank stress test results and following a pair of analyst upgrades. Bank of America shares jumped $1.57, or 12.4 percent, to $14.26 in morning trading, after gaining 17 percent on Wednesday. Shares have gained 46 percent since the end of last week.

Morgan Stanley analyst Betsy Graseck raised her rating on the Charlotte, N.C.-based bank to "Overweight" from "Underweight" and lifted her price target to $25 from $16. Separately, Robert W. Baird & Co. analyst David George upgraded the stock to "Outperform" from "Neutral" and doubled his price target to $18. Both upgrades come amid reports that Bank of America will need about $34 billion to cover potential capital shortfalls based on the results of the government's stress tests on 19 banks.

cristal taylor

cristal taylor

DALLAS — Police arrested a woman with multiple felony warrants at the Preston Hollow home of Dallas Mavericks basketball star Dirk Nowitzki on Wednesday morning.

Cristal Taylor, 37, was arrested at the Strait Lane home after police received information from a Dallas officer working with an FBI task force, authorities said.

Police said that Taylor may have been using as many as eight aliases, NBC Channel 5 reported. Police wouldn’t speculate on Taylor’s relationship with the NBA All-Star, NBC Channel 5 reported.

Sarah Melton, a spokeswoman for the Mavericks, said Taylor was “just staying at his house,” NBC Channel 5 reported. Sources told nbcdfw.com that Taylor is Nowitzki’s girlfriend.

the players championship 2009

the players championship 2009

The Players Championship 2009 Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson: This week, one of the most prestigious tournaments of the year, The Players Championship, tees off early Thursday morning live from the TPC at Sawgrass-Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

A stellar field of players will compete, as the biggest names in golf will be on display. This of course means, Tiger Woods [+250 ML] and Phil Mickelson [+1000 ML], whom at SBGglobal.com have been respectably listed as the first and second Sports Odds favorites to win The Players Championship 2009.

Last week, Tiger Woods fell short at the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, as he just couldn’t find his swing.

3d realms

3d realms

Is Duke Nukem Forever developer 3D Realms finally shuttering? Seems like it. Game On just received a somewhat cryptic form-email from development studios Deep Silver and Apogee Entertainment (a legal alias for 3D Realms) stating, simply, that "Deep Silver and Apogee Software are not affected by the situation at 3D Realms" and that "Development on the Duke Nukem Trilogy is continuing as planned." No further details were offered, or reference made to what the "situation at 3D Realms" actually is.

Judging from the anonymous scuttlebutt ping-ponging around the blogosphere, the "situation" is apparently that development studio 3D Realms — founded in 1987 and the guys responsible for the irreverent Duke Nukem series — is shutting down.

odd day

odd day

Ron Gordon, the California teacher who founded and promoted Square Root Day reminds us that Thursday is another math holiday, Odd Day! The calendar date (as written by people in the US) will be 5-7-9, which only happens once a century. Odd Days happen six times a century. It’s a day to take the opportunity to do something odd. In celebration, there’s another contest, with $579 up for prizes. Get all the details at the Odd Day website. Link -Thanks, Ron!


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Math buffs are celebrating a rare occasion today, known as Odd Day. Today's date 5/7/09 is one of only six this century boasting three consecutive odd numbers. In California, a teacher is offering a prize to those he thinks best celebrate Odd Day. The prize amount: $579.

carrie prejean racy

carrie prejean racy

ICarrie Prejean answering the controversial question that has sadly earned her fame. (AP Images)

Racy photos of Miss California's Carrie Prejean, who touts being "biblically correct," have hit the Internet. And people are searching for them in a frenzy. You can check out the photos here.

You see, Prejean has become somewhat of a Conservative spokesperson since she told Perez Hilton she was against gay marriage during the question/answer segment of the Miss USA pageant, and some believe her controversial answer cost her the crown.

She immediately cashed in on the media blitz that insued by going on the Today Show and defending her answer by saying she was "protecting marriage" and not willing to "compromise" her beliefs.

recovery.gov

recovery.gov

The Recovery.gov Web site for tracking spending under the economic stimulus law has enough money, but is pressed for time, according to the chairman of the site's oversight board.
The Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board is pushing to set up an online reporting system on Recovery.gov for the $787 billion in stimulus money by Oct. 10 when the spending data starts arriving from federal agencies, said Earl Devaney, the board's chairman, after a House hearing May 5.
Congress gave the board $84 million for the reporting, which Devaney said is enough to establish the data warehouse and centralized online reporting system.

ctic stock

ctic stock

CTIC Stock News - 5/6/09Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) to Report 2009 First Quarter Financial Results on May 7On Thursday, May 7, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern/2:30 p.m. Central European/5:30 a.m. Pacific, members of Cell Therapeutics, Inc.'s (CTI) (Nasdaq and MTA: CTIC) management team will host a conference call to discuss the Company's 2009 first quarter achievements and financial results.Live audio webcast at http://www.celltherapeutics.com will be archived for post listening approximately two hours after call endsCell Therapeutics (CTIC) Technical AnalysisCTIC stock closed over $0.49 on Tuesday. There is no resistance until the 200 day moving average at $0.79. A close over the 200 DMA would set up some kind of retest of $0.97. I like pullbacks into the $0.40's.

nikki catsouras decapitated

nikki catsouras decapitated

A tragic event that occurred nearly three years ago continues to disturb a family in Orange County, Calif. Despite every effort, they are unable to move past the tragedy because the Internet will not allow them to reach closure. Actually, the World Wide Web itself is not to blame as much as the morbid and insensitive individuals who hide on its darker side.
The events surrounding this story began to unfold on October 31, 2006. On that day, 18-year-old Nikki Catsouras (photo here) fatefully grabbed the keys to her father's Porsche 911 Carrera and walked out the front door of her parents' home. Nikki had been forbidden to drive the sports car, and her judgment on that day will forever remain in question.

area code 206

area code 206

Area code 206 is a telephone dialing code in the U.S. state of Washington for Seattle, the islands of Mercer, Bainbridge and Vashon, and portions of the Seattle metro area from Des Moines to Woodway.

At inception, area code 206 served all of Washington state. In 1957, Eastern Washington was split as area code 509.

In 1995, 206 was split again, limited to the Seattle metro and Puget Sound area, with the remainder of Western Washington assigned area code 360. Then in 1997, 206 was again split, limited to its current territory; the Eastside and northern suburbs were assigned area code 425 and the southern suburbs and Tacoma metro area were assigned area code 253.

kroq

kroq

You know summer is coming when festivals are announced to set up the upcoming season. Besides Coachella, one of the summer festivals that usually has some big names is KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta. Just announced this morning on Kevin & Bean, this year's 2009 Weenie Roast will take place Saturday, May 16th at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine.

The line-up includes Weezer, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kings of Leon, the Airborne Toxic Event, Silversun Pickups, White Lies and more. Tickets go on sale this Thursday, May 7th at 5pm via Live Nation ONLY & enter KROQ Street Team password: KROQROAST

May 16th: KROQ Weenie Roast at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

Posted by thescenestar on May 04, 2009 at 08:32 AM in Current Affairs, Festivals, Music, Recent News, Ticket Onsale Info | Permalink

cinco de mayo

cinco de mayo

The weather was dreadful for Sunday's Cinco de Mayo parade, but the spirit of celebration was strong - even defiant.

"I know they canceled in Flushing, but we're still here!" said Adan Gomez, referring to similar Cinco de Mayo events that were nixed in Queens in response to swine flu fears.

"I am happy, happy!" said Gomez, 23, dressed as an Aztec warrior under a blue plastic poncho as the rain poured down on the Central Park West parade, which started an hour behind schedule.

The threat of germs appeared to be far from the minds of the hundreds of participants who danced in the streets in colorful skirts,

the last boy scout

the last boy scout

The Last Boy Scout is a 1991 action film starring Bruce Willis as a former Secret Service agent, now working as a private detective, and Damon Wayans as a retired professional football player. The two join forces to solve the murder of Wayans' character’s girlfriend (played by the then-little known Halle Berry). The movie was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and Geffen Pictures and directed by Tony Scott.
During a rainy football game between (fictional) teams from Los Angeles and Cleveland^[1][2], star running back Billy Cole (Billy Blanks) receives a threatening phone call during half time from someone named Milo (Taylor Negron), involved in game fixing, warning him to win the game at all costs, or he's "history". Cole ingests PCP and, in a drug-induced rage, brings a firearm onto the field. Cole initially continues to play normally but, finding his path blocked with seconds remaining, he shoots three opposing players to make it to the end zone. As the police move in, Cole kneels in the end zone and announces "Ain't life a bitch?" before shooting himself in the head.

schadenfreude

schadenfreude

I am delighted that Arlen Specter (R-PA) is now Arlen Specter (D-PA).

But I am not sure how much it matters. With the President's decision to push through his top agenda items by means of reconciliation -- i.e, dodging the need for 60 -- we probably don't need Specter during this Congress anyway. And after the 2010 elections, we'll be above 60.

Nonetheless, I am very excited about this because it is partial payback to the GOP for what they have done to America in recent years and especially since 2000.

The party of Lincoln and Eisenhower is now a party which, unlike any major party in our previous history, openly wishes ill on the country.

idaho lottery

idaho lottery

For the second consecutive year, a Lewis-Clark State College graphic design student has won the Idaho Lottery's Annual Collegiate Scratch Ticket Design Contest, officials from the Idaho Lottery announced on Tuesday.

Andy Burden, a senior from Meridian majoring in Graphic Design/Print Technology, received a check for $1,000 after being named the overall winner from 23 designs submitted by college students from around the state. LCSC freshman Amanda Strong of Anaconda, Mont., placed third.

Burdin follows Lewiston’s Trevor Nesbitt, who won last year’s contest.

carlsbad street fair

carlsbad street fair

Don’t know what it was about the Carlsbadistan Street Faire, but today we actually had fun. The streets were packed, the sun was out, then it rained to cool things off a little, and then the sun came back out again.

Sure, many of the booths were stacked full of junk we wouldn’t even haul to the Goodwill, but it was so good seeing the streets filled with smiling faces that not even a fire-and-brimstone street preacher could bring us down.

We didn’t count, but it looked a lot like the biggest and best Street Faire ever. Follow the jump for all the photos.

kentucky derby 2009 field

kentucky derby 2009 field
It's hard to believe the Kentucky Derby is upon us already, but this Saturday marks the 135th run for the roses.

For an idea of how good our picks are, here's what we said about Big Brown last year:

Brien: Looks good but I hate to be the favorite
Russell: Not worth the money, in my opinion
J-Red: This horse is the class of the race, but unfortunately he's hanging out in the 20th spot

So we liked him, but we didn't quite see the greatness (and certainly didn't make any money off him [J-Red's Note: Until Preakness that is. I took a picture of the pile of cash.]). On to this year's picks: