US Army All-American Bowl 2010: Reacting to the Recruits' Announcements

The US Army All-American Bowl game was today on NBC, and though the score, as usual, was inconsequential, the commitments made at the game will send shock waves through the college football community.

Quite simply, if the Gators can hold on to the class they have now, they will have pulled one of the greatest recruiting coups in all of history.

Pennsylvania defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd's "surprise" announcement was for the school in Gainesville, as was five-star defensive end Ronald Powell's.

And in an announcement everyone (and no one) could see coming, four-star "ATH" (athlete)—and temporary defector to the Florida State Seminoles—Matt Elam recommitted to Florida as well.

With the commitment last week of four-star end (and game MVP) Dominique Easley, the Gators now field one of the most talented defensive lines in all of college football.

Remarkably, this all comes just a month removed from the retirement/rehiring of their head coach and the loss of their defensive coordinator, Charlie Strong, and one of their chief recruiters, Billy Gonzales, to other programs.

Powell's decision comes as no surprise—he was choosing between Florida and USC, and the Gators led way before Pete Carroll decided to head to the NFL.

But his performance in the game cemented him as a standout player among the nation's elite. He made two of the most exciting plays in the game for the White team, catching a pass off play-action that showed his scary versatility and returning a blocked extra point that showcased his speed.

He doesn't have the size to be a weak-side end in college football (yet), but he and Easley will be unblockable pass-rushers exploding upfield on passing downs as early as next year.

Anchoring the middle of the refurbished Gators line will be UF's newest steal, Floyd. The four-star defensive tackle was headed to Ohio State a week ago but announced he would "surprise" us with his announcement. Floyd made the rest of the game's huge plays, destroying the White's double-teams on the offensive line and getting in the backfield on a multitude of plays.

Does this all project to Florida's immediate success next year? Of course not. But in just two or three years, Powell, Easley, and Floyd will man one of the most dominant and fearsome lines in college football.

Add to that the commitments of five-star safeties Demar Dorsey and Johnathon Dowling, plus cornerback Jsohua Shaw, and the Gators' defense will have them back in the national championship, Tim Tebow or no Tim Tebow.

Here's a look at the other eight commitments:

As expected, four-star ATH Marquis Flowers remained in-state, picking the hometown Arizona Wildcats over the other suitors in the Pac-10. He's projected at safety for the rebuilding Wildcats, who lost their defensive coordinator, Mark Stoops, to Florida State.

Amidst turmoil over the defection of Carroll, top corner Demetrius Wright chose the Trojans over Tennessee. He also considered Arizona and Washington. However, the 2010 class didn't go unscathed: the Trojans reportedly lost the commitments of five-star ATH Dillon Baxter and four-star ATH D.J. Morgan, per various Twitter accounts.

Four-star corner Dior Mathis chose the Oregon Ducks over the Michigan Wolverines. I can tell you from following Michigan recruiting closely that Michigan's coaches cooled on Mathis' recruitment as the year went on. I think they felt burned by the poor play of undersized corner Boubacar Cissoko and didn't want to take a chance on Mathis, who is also small for his position. All the same, best of luck to the Ducks with Mathis.

Four-star linebacker C.J. Mosley chose Alabama over Auburn. The situation was tipping the Tide's way for a little while, but Auburn fans never lose a recruit to Alabama and feel good about it. Just repeat: Cameron Newton, Michael Dyer, Cameron Newton...

Tennessee picked up Brandon Willis, a four-star defensive end who decommitted from the Vols earlier in the week but rejoined them in the AAA ceremony. A push, by all counts.

Four-star corner Victor Hampton chose to stay home and play for the Gamecocks next year, keeping Spurrier's defensive machine rolling. If only that was his intention...

And, in news that elated me as a Michigan man but depressed me as a Big Ten fan, four-star ATH/S Latwan Anderson chose West Virginia over presumed suitor Ohio State. The Big Televen is now 0-for-15 on big-name recruit announcements this season. Let's just hope it can keep Seantrel Henderson in conference; the big fella is taking his fifth official visit to Miami over Iowa or Michigan.

taken from: bleacherreport.com

Tuberville's Tech hiring provides splash

Tommy Tuberville will be the most highly regarded football coach ever hired by Texas Tech.

It won't make his job any easier. Tuberville still will have to follow the most legendary figure in the history of the school's football program.

But Texas Tech athletic director Gerald Myers and the others who arranged for Tuberville to return with the Red Raiders have made a significant splash as they try to replace Mike Leach.

There is a need to change the culture of the Tech program after Leach's dismissal last week. Tuberville may be the person to do it.

With Tuberville, who cut his teeth as a defensive coordinator, look for the Red Raiders to put more emphasis on the running game and on defense. His hiring will represent a 180-degree shift from the offense-first strategy favored by Leach, who came to the school after serving as an offensive coordinator at Kentucky and Oklahoma.

Tuberville's last stint as a defensive coordinator came at nearby Texas A&M, where he help call the defenses on an Aggie team that went 10-0-1 in 1994. That gives him at least a cursory knowledge of Tech's recruiting area, along with potential opening the Red Raiders into the Southeastern Conference area as well.

He's a proven commodity after earning national Coach of the Year honors after leading Auburn to a 13-0 record in 2004. And his media-friendly ways will be a big advantage as he replaces Leach.

James Willis, the associate head coach and outside linebackers coach at Alabama, has been mentioned to be his choice for defensive coordinator.

If Willis is brought on, his first immediate challenge will be to earn the trust of Tech players who were united under defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill, the other finalist for the job. McNeill was the best recruiter on the staff and involved in getting together Tech's current recruiting class that is the best in the school's Big 12 history. It appears that McNeill won't be retained if Willis is coming. That will be a ticklish problem for Tuberville to circumvent with his new team.

But the biggest question with Tuberville will be how he can narrow the traditional gap that has existed between the Red Raiders and the dominant programs in the Big 12 South Division at Texas and Oklahoma.

Leach made the biggest inroads as the Red Raiders have split with the two programs in the last two seasons. Tech employed the victory over the Longhorns in 2008 to earn a three-way tie for the South Division title -- a first in Tech's Big 12 history.

But he never took the Red Raiders any higher than the Cotton Bowl in the Big 12's bowl arrangement. An trip to the Bowl Championship Series clearly is the next step and will be Tuberville's goal.

Tuberville, 55, might be the ideal person to challenge the Longhorns and Sooners, considering his track record at Auburn. While there, he beat Alabama seven of 10 times, including a streak of six straight seasons and has consistent success against the Southeastern Conference's top schools. He claimed nine of 15 games at Auburn against Top 10 teams from 2004. He'll consistently face the same challenges against the Big 12's elite schools.

He's been successful before.

But Tech will provide some unique challenges that will make this the toughest job that Tuberville has ever faced.

taken from: espn.go.com

Sharrif Floyd Picks The Florida Gators At The Amry All-American Bowl

Sharrif Floyd has finally picked where he's going. Today he announced that he has chosen to go to the Florida Gators after much speculation he was going to go to Ohio State.

Floyd Told NBC he wasn't sure for awhile but it came down to where he felt he'd feel most comfortable for the next four years of his life. He told NBC his decision while the 2010 Army All-American Bowl.

Floyd is 310 pounds at 6-foot-3, in other words as Mick from "Rocky" used to say, "he's a Dinosaur!" He's one huge defensive tackle out of Philadelphia George Washington High. Floyd is right now ranked No. 1 defensive tackle in America on Rivals.com.

Floyd told NBC that wanted to thank Coach Cohen and his family for the support and the drive to get him where he is today. We hope it works out well for him.

taken from: postchronicle.com

Google Gravity for Chrome is one boring experiment

Google Gravity is an experiment for Google Chrome developed by Hi-ReS! which loads Google’s frontpage then makes all it’s elements fall to the bottom of the browser. Unfortunately, this Google Gravityexperiment seems to only work as it should in Google Chrome so don’t try any other browser, as you won’t get the expected results.

The thing is the Google Gravity experiment doesn’t offer anything useful and doesn’t also prove anything, especially because it’s only working on Chrome and it can only make Google’s frontpage fall.

taken from: softsailor.com

Cole Marcoux football – An unheard player’s rise to fame!

Cole Marcoux was just another unheard off player until few days back when he got into a TV series which put him under limelight and gave him a chance to attend Dartmouth to play at the U.S. Army all American Bowl .

He was just another quarterback prospect from the Upper West Side of Manhattan who attended a football training camp in Chester, Pa., to get a bit of summer workout.

One fine day a reality TV show made seven quarterbacks dressed in red who had already been cast inFox Sports Net reality series called “The Ride,” stand on one side of the field and the unpopular rest, including Marcoux, wore blue on the field’s other end. The point was to make the red team players play and earn points from a panel of jury to play at the in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Saturday in San Antonio.

Strangely Marcoux’s strong throw caught the panel’s attention insipte of him being in the blue team. The very next moment “Would you like to be in a reality series?” said Rich McGuinness, the president of All-American Games. And an ecstaticMarcoux said yes and made his way from Ivy League recruit from the Bronx’s elite Fieldston School to Dartmouth where he is expected to enroll.

As the winner of “The Ride,”  Marcoux will have the time of his life at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl as he will be playing with all the top notch players in the game.

Marcoux you lucky boy!

taken from: entertainmentandshowbiz.com

Seahawks Fire Mora After One Season

The Seattle Seahawks jumped onto a slowly spinning coaching carousel Friday, firing Jim Mora after just one injury-riddled season. But the Seahawks’ next move might be an even bigger surprise. ESPN reported that the Seahawks were pursuing University of Southern California Coach Pete Carroll.

The Seahawks had asked for permission to talk with Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, Leslie Frazier, who will interview Saturday, according to The Minneapolis Star-Tribune. That puts the Seahawks in compliance with the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate.

Mora was the third coach fired this season, after Buffalo’s Dick Jauron and Washington’s Jim Zorn, who was replaced by Mike Shanahan. Mora had been named Mike Holmgren’s successor even before Holmgren stepped aside after the 2008 season.

The Seahawks finished 5-11, a one-game improvement over 2008 despite several injuries. But the team closed with four straight losses by a combined score of 123-37. Mora had three years and $11 million remaining on his contract.

taken from: nytimes.com

Katie Piper Pictures After Acid Attack

Katie Piper was a 24-year old TV presenter when she was attacked with acid. She was left fighting for her life and suffering from terribly disfiguring burns to her face, arms and chest. Following pioneering surgery using artificial skin to re-build her face, she made a TV documentary about her story.

The 26-year-old former model and aspiring television presenter was burned beyond recognition when a man threw acid in her face on a London street in March 2008.

Almost two years on, Katie Piper had dozens of operations – 32 on her throat alone. She still lives on a mostly liquid diet of protein shakes. But she is determined to be more than just the woman in a Perspex mask.

Here are some of pictures after acid attack:

Eminem Died

It was Christmas Eve when someone posted an article on one of the sites of internet that Eminem has been dead in a car accident and after that many others too confirmed about his death by writing same sort of articles but the question is that if he is dead then has anyone confirmed it? Is any Police Department has issued a confirmation report of his dead?

Actually, he is not dead and these were just rumors. Internet is a very easy way to spread rumors about any person because people tend to believe any thing they read on internet.

Eminem is busy in his music. Recently his album ‘Relapse’ is re-released and very soon you will get to listen and enjoy the new album of music star. Now, it’s also a point to ponder that may be anyone from his camp had stated spreading rumors about his death for publicity. Surely, see if someone says to you that some singer has been dead and after a couple of week its new album comes into market then what will be the reaction of people? Surely, they will rush towards it. But anyhow, this is just one point of view and we can’t say anything for sure as it’s a pretty sensitive matter.

Eminem is alive, fit and enjoying his life with music. Very soon, you will enjoy his new album and now for this time, you can hear the album ‘Relapse’ that has been re-released. Don’t go with these rumors and try to confirm the news of anyone (not even celebrities) before you send it to your friend.

taken from: puggal.com

Erica Hill leaving CNN for new job

Tonight a breaking story was released on Anderson Cooper 360 via CNN: Eric Hill's leaving CNN News. The attractive news anchor has been a part of CNN since 2003, starting out as an anchor for Headline News.  She's worked with Anderson Cooper on 360 for some time now, and was also an anchor for "CNN Tonight" from time to time.

Hill appeared on screen while Anderson Cooper delivered the news, saying he "cannot imagine doing this program without Erica Hill and I cannot really express how much I'm going to miss you."

So why's Erica Hill leaving CNN News and where is she headed?  While many people might enjoy seeing Erica make the move to become one of the Fox News Women anchors, she will be instead taking a position at CBS News.  She's been a co-host of the Saturday edition of CBS' "Early Show" since September of 2008, so possibly she'll be taking on a bigger role there.  Recent news of Maggie Rodriguez' pregnancy may give Hill a spot with Harry Smith and the others on CBS' weekday edition of the Early Show.

Best wishes to Erica Hill in her new role with CBS, as she will be missed on CNN!

taken from: gather.com

Mitch Hedberg

Mitch Hedberg was an American comedian and he was well known for his surreal humor and unconventional comedic delivery. He was born on February 24, 1968 at Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. On 25th February, 1999, he married with Canadian comedian Lynn Shawcroft.

In 1989, he started his career by playing open mic nights in southern Florida. He was well addicted to drugs. He also refers his drugs addiction during his comedy shows by saying “I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too”. He was arrested in Austin, Texas with the possession of heroin in 2003.

Mitch Hedberg was dead on March 30, 2005. His body was found from hotel room in Livingston, NJ. He had defective heart since his birth and had many heart treatments in his childhood. It was assumed that may be the heart problem caused his death but latter it was found that “multiple drug toxicity”, like cocaine and heroin “speedball”, was the real cause of his death. In Minnesota, at St. Ambrose of Woodbury Church his funeral was held.

He also worked in films. His films were ‘Los Enchiladas!’ in 1999, ‘Almost Famous’ in 2000 and ‘Lords of Dogtown’ in 2005.

He also made many TV appearances. His TV appearances includes: That ’70s Show, Premium Blend, Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, Home Movies, Just for Laughs in Montreal, Comedy Central Presents, Comedy Central Presents, Late Friday, Late Show with David Letterman, Saddle Rash, Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Crank Yankers and Shorties Watchin’ Shorties.

taken from: puggal.com

Greer Barnes

Greer Barnes was born in the Bronx, New York City. Raised by his mother and Jewish stepfather, Greer received his Bar Mitzvah at age thirteen. Athletics led Greer to baseball in which he excelled. Having been scouted by the San Francisco Giants he seemed to be on his way until he suffered a career ending injury at age eighteen. Following his second dream of stand up comedy, Greer was quickly noticed and began headlining at clubs and colleges across the country.

Greer has done commercial work for both the NBA and the NFL. His television credits include, "In Living Color", "The Late Show with Carson Daly", Comedy Central's "Premium Blend", "The Late Show with David Letterman", and "Chappelle's Show", to name a few. Greer was able to combine both his love for baseball and acting when he appeared with Kevin Costner in the film "For the Love of the Game". His first "Comedy Central Presents" half-hour special premiered in 2009.

 

Taken from: comedians.jokes.com

Dan Lefevour

American football quarterback Dan LeFevour played the last game of his career on Wednesday. On Wednesday in the GMAC Bowl at Mobile, Ala, No. 25 Central Michigan had to work hard to beat Troy 44-41. Butch Jones who guided LeFevour through three seasons has left CMU for Cincinnati to replace Kelly.

Jones has a strong relation ship with LeFevour and he helped recruit LeFevour to Central Michigan. LeFevour understood him and said:

    “He’s gotta make a decision that’s best for his family and his future, we’ll still stay in touch and things like that. Wish he was there, but I think we’ll be just fine.”

LeFevour is the only player who holds numerous conference records and entered in the game with 148 career touchdowns, which is a record in the Football Bowl Subdivision. In the NCAA history he is the only player with 12,000 passing yards and 2,500 rushing yards. In the Football Bowl Subdivision’s career total yards list he is on the second place. LeFevour is also known as a dual-threat quarterback and he is one of the best quarterbacks of all the time.

Central Michigan’s Dan LeFevour is aware of the fact that great quarterbacks are the ones who know they’ll have to carry the team on their shoulders from time to time and when the Chippewas needed him he was there. It was the last game of his career and we would like to say that what a career it was. In his five years at CMU he played for four head coaches.

taken from: puggal.com

Accused Holocaust museum shooter dies

The 89-year-old man accused of a deadly shooting at Washington, D.C.'s Holocaust museum died Wednesday in a prison hospital.

James von Brunn died shortly before 1 p.m. at North Carolina's Butner Federal Prison, prison spokesperson Denise Simmons said.

Von Brunn's lawyer, A.J. Kramer, called the death "a sad end to a tragic situation," but declined further comment.

The elderly suspect had been awaiting trial for the killing of security guard Stephen T. Johns, 39, at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in June.

Von Brunn had been wounded by return fire but survived.

Officials at the prison hospital had previously said chronic medical problems had complicated a psychiatric evaluation for the suspect, a white supremacist, who prior to the shooting had written racist and anti-Semitic screeds on the internet.

Writings attributed to von Brunn on the internet say the Holocaust was a hoax and decry a Jewish conspiracy to "destroy the white gene pool."

In 1983, he was convicted of attempting to kidnap members of the Federal Reserve Board and served more than six years in prison.

He was arrested two years earlier carrying a revolver, knife and sawed-off shotgun outside the room where the board was meeting.

taken from: cbc.ca

Hogchoker Fish

Hogchoker fish are formally named Trinectes maculatus.  Hogchoker fish are a small flatfish found in brackish water along the coast of North America.  Hogchoker fish are abundant in the Carolinas.  The name "hogchoker" comes from farmers who used to feed these fish to their hogs.  The bony fish would make the hogs choke.

The hogchoker is a number of the sole family.  It is a dark brown color with a lighter coor on their blind side without an "eye".  Hogchoker fish feed on invertebrates and small aquatic insects.  Most hogchoker fish have no ray or one ray on its pectoral fin.

In aquarium stores, sometimes hogchoker fish are sold as "freshwater flounder" or freshwater fluke".

Did you ever try hogchoker fish?  I'm a fisherwoman and I didn't try hogchoker yet.  Did anyone ever feed these to their hogs?  I can't say I've done that either...

taken from: gather.com

Julie Chen birthday

CBS’s producer and famous TV personality Julie Chen turns 40 today. So it is her birthday today. It’s an occasion to celebrate not only for her family but for her fans as well. “Big Brother” host Julie Chen and his husband CBS President and CEO Leslie Moonves welcomed their new family member a baby boy named Charlie on 24th September in Los Angeles. So it’s again a joyous moment for her family.

Julie was a brilliant student when she attended Junior High School and she won the title of “Most Intelligent” and “Most Likely to Succeed.” When she started her career she was a reporter and weekend anchor and then she hosted of the American version of Big Brother. She was the anchor of both shows CBS Morning News & The Early Show from 1999 to 2002. Julie is also a news anchor and journalist and she also have news casting experience of 14 years. Her grandfather was a leading industrialist. She completed her studies from the University of Southern California.

In 1991, Julie graduated in broadcast journalism and in 2004 she married Leslie Moonves. Even during her pregnancy she continued her work and didn’t take medical leave. She earned the nick of “Chenbot” because of her wooden delivery during live programs and she has also acknowledge the same and proudly proclaimed, “I am the Chenbot!” We wish her very Happy Birth Day and pray for a successful and bright future ahead.

Taken from: puggal.com

Dawson crosses Hall’s threshold

For nine years, Andre Dawson has been looking for his name in the voting results for the Baseball Hall of Fame, to see what incremental increase he received. Yesterday, he got 77.9 percent of the vote - more than a 12 percent increase over his 2009 total - and surprisingly was the only player voted into the Hall by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

“It’s been a while,’’ said Dawson, who was named on 420 of 539 ballots cast, “but it was worth the wait. I didn’t know how I would react if this moment ever came, but it’s a great feeling to know you’re among the greatest players who ever played the game.

“I don’t think you ever know it’s going to happen until it actually does, and then it’s every bit, if not more, fulfilling as you thought it would be.’’

Affectionately known as “Hawk,’’ Dawson spent two seasons in Boston (1993 and 1994), when his knees were so ragged that every step he took was painful. He will join former Royals and Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey, who were voted in by the Veterans Committee in December, at the July 25 induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y.

While Dawson’s ascent over the 75 percent mark needed for induction wasn’t a surprise, the fact that 10-time Gold Glove second baseman Roberto Alomar didn’t gain entry on the first ballot was the day’s shock factor. Alomar was named on 397 ballots (73.7 percent), falling eight votes short.

It was also a bittersweet day for Bert Blyleven, who in his 13th season of eligibility missed by five votes, receiving 74.2 percent (400 votes).

“I’m very happy for Hawk,’’ said Jim Rice, who was voted in last year, his 15th and final year of eligibility. “I understand the waiting, but for me, I always felt it was out of my control, but once it comes, the worrying is over. It’s yours. And they can’t take it back.’’

Rice, who played against Dawson in the minor leagues, added, “He’s a Hall of Famer because he could run, throw, hit, hit for power. He was one of the best all-around players in the game when he played.’’

Former Red Sox and Expos general manager Dan Duquette said of Dawson, “We’re all proud of him. He he was a five-tool player, a great player and a great man. We enjoyed watching him throughout his career. By the time he got to Boston he was at the end of his career, but handled himself with great class and dignity.’’

Duquette was GM for only Dawson’s second year with the Sox. Lou Gorman brought Dawson to Boston.

After Dawson’s vote total reached 61 percent in 2006, it went down to 56.7 in 2007, making him wonder whether his dream of being a Hall of Famer was ever going to come true. Yet it rose to 65.9 percent in 2008 and 67 percent in 2009. His biggest year-to-year increase came this year.

“I can’t really describe the elation,’’ Dawson said. “If you’re a Hall of Famer, eventually you’re going to get in, no matter how long it takes.’’

Blyleven took the news as a sign he would likely be elected.

“I was a little disappointed, but at the same time, my vote total went up considerably, and that’s a sign that things may work out soon,’’ said Blyleven, whose vote total rose from 338 to 400. “I was very surprised Robby Alomar didn’t get the votes, but he’s going to be in soon as well.

“I am very happy for Andre Dawson, who was one of the best players of his era. It’s well-deserved, considering all of the time he waited for this day. Very happy for him.’’

In his career, Blyleven fell 13 wins short of 300, and that has seemed to hurt him, as well as his 250 losses. But he pointed out that 2009 Cy Young winners Zack Greinke and Tim Lincecum won 16 and 15 games, respectively, an indication that “wins aren’t everything,’’ he said. “There’s a lot more that goes into good pitching than just the W.’’

The induction of Alomar seemed like a given, considering that he batted .300 with 2,724 hits during a 17-year career. But apparently there were voters who held the 1996 spitting incident with umpire John Hirschbeck against him. That may well have cost him the eight more votes he needed.

“I feel disappointed, but next year hopefully I make it in,’’ Alomar said. “At least I was very close.’’

Edgar Martinez, who was on the ballot for the first time - the first DH to get serious Hall consideration - received only 36.2 percent. Writers still seem hesitant to vote for a DH, despite the fact that Martinez was a superb hitter with a .312 career average and .418 on-base percentage.

The controversial Mark McGwire, who is the Cardinals’ hitting coach, received only marginal support again, getting 23.7 percent. McGwire hit 583 homers but has been dogged by suspicions of steroid use and his lack of cooperation at the congressional hearing in 2005.

Barry Larkin, another player some believed might sneak in on the first ballot, received 51.6 percent. Another former Red Sox player, Lee Smith, can’t seem to garner significant support, receiving 47.3 percent. Money pitcher Jack Morris showed a slight increase to 52.3 percent.

Another interesting first-timer, Fred McGriff, stayed on the ballot with 21.5 percent.

taken from : boston.com

Apocalypse Man Rudy Reyes Helps us Prepare for the End of the World

Here’s a positive beginning for 2010: This week on the History Channel is Armageddon Week. In case you missed the showing of “Apocalypse Island,” don’t worry: you can always catch “Life After People,” which discusses topics such as “Death of a Nation, Lost Art,” and “10,000 + years after humans.” There is also “After Armageddon,” and finally, “Apocalypse Man.” “Apocalypse Island” is so named for a place in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that holds the final clue to the Mayans’ apocalyptic predictions for the year 2012.

Damn. And here I thought that January was a time for New Year’s Resolutions and optimistic fresh beginnings. But if we only have two years until the end of the world, what’s the point? The History Channel website states: “The end is near. At least that's what the doomsday predictions from Nostradamus, the Book of Revelation, the Mayan ‘long count’ calendar and others would have us believe. Many unsettling forecasts of global destruction even pinpoint the year: 2012. How worried should we be?”

Well, thank goodness we have the Apocalypse Man, Rudy Reyes, to help us. This show provides guidance for “not if…but when…a moment in the future…some catastrophe sparks mass destruction, leaving humans challenged to find shelter, heat, food, water and defense. Survival expert Rudy Reyes journeys through abandoned buildings showing us some surprising survival techniques, including making fire from steel wool, finding safe houses and creating shortwave radio transmissions.” Perhaps bad news is easier to take coming from a handsome, ripped ex-Marine.

This whole end of the world thing is all very troublesome. However, notice the disclaimer at the bottom of the screen of “After Armageddon” in between commercial breaks: "This program is a theoretical account of the worst case scenario for a global disaster. This is not a real emergency.” Well, now you tell me. I had already started hoarding canned goods and practicing my fire-making techniques. Now I can get back to carrying out my ambitious New Year’s Resolutions. Or at least telling myself that I will.

taken from : gather.com

Trouble Tempers Working Families Party’s Triumph

Unabashedly left-leaning, the Working Families Party is the latest in a line of little-known but powerful third parties in New York. The party, whose leaders come from unions and liberal corners of the Democratic Party, rarely runs its own candidates. Leaders recruit and cross-endorse Democrats and put savvy field operatives to work in primaries and general elections.

Since its founding in 1998, the Working Families Party has accumulated a handsome pile of scalps, and prodded and sometimes dragged Democrats to the left. This year it successfully championed a so-called millionaire’s tax and a bill to train workers and weatherize houses — and its troops helped push Bill de Blasio, the city’s new public advocate, to victory.

But in its moment of triumph, the party faces an imposing threat, along with an implicit question: Did this hybrid of political party and political movement get too clever and overreach? The United States attorney’s office in Manhattan recently issued subpoenas seeking campaign documents from the Working Families Party and from Mr. de Blasio and City Council candidates who contracted with the party.

At issue is whether the Working Families Party has constructed an end run around campaign finance laws. After making an endorsement, party leaders ask a candidate to consider hiring the party’s commercial arm, Data and Field Services, to run the campaign. Critics accuse party leaders of providing that service at a discount, in effect making an under-the-table campaign contribution.

Government & Politics

Encouraged by a group of influential New York Democrats, Harold Ford Jr., the former congressman from Tennessee, is weighing a bid to unseat Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand in this fall’s Democratic primary, according to three people who have spoken with him.

Political junkies rejoice: The 2013 race for New York City mayor is (already) on. Former Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr., who lost to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in an unexpectedly close race in November, said on Tuesday that he had decided to run for mayor again in four years.

Crime & Public Safety

New York City health officials defended a pamphlet it produced and distributed on “tips for safer use” of heroin that has raised the hackles of public officials, including the city’s special narcotics prosecutor.

As Manhattan’s longest-serving district attorney has cleared out his office for his successor, Robert M. Morgenthau and his staff have found historical letters and other lost treasures.

Housing & Economy

It is winter. A third of the city is poor. And unworn clothing is being destroyed nightly by major retail chains.

Transportation

Federal agents were not immediately able to retrieve surveillance images of a man who breached security at Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday because a camera system was not working properly, officials said.

Schools

Despite receiving hundreds of millions of dollars to reduce class sizes, the city’s Department of Education has ignored state law and allowed classrooms to grow in the last couple of years, the city teachers’ union and other groups said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday.

People & Neighborhoods

For nearly a century, Harlem has been synonymous with black urban America. But the neighborhood is in the midst of a profound and accelerating shift: Blacks are no longer a majority of the population.

The Professional Bull Riders Invitational roars into Madison Square Garden this weekend, but outside that dusty arena, New York’s aspiring cowboys can be found at a bar in Rockefeller Center that is home to one of the city’s few mechanical bulls.

taken from: nytimes.com

Nexus One another tactic in Google's ad-revenue strategy

Dash all the announcements of Google Inc.'s fast new phone, Nexus One, because on Tuesday the search company made conceivably bigger news with its creation of a Google-hosted Web store for purchasing its Android devices.

That innovation could give advertising-based Google the ability to attract about 1 billion mobile-phone buyers from all over the world to its site each year. The site would likely feature a range of ads from third-party vendors selling mobile phone add-on equipment and related products and services such as earplugs, multimedia content and links to Android Market apps, analysts said.

Asked about those advertising-related connections, Andy Rubin, vice president of engineering at Google, made the company's goal clear. "Our primary business is advertising... a superphone [like Nexus One] is a great way to access the Web, and that... supports our whole business model, which is advertising," he said. The new phone and store represent "the next front of our core business," he added.

Google is not trying to make a profit on sales of the Nexus, said Rubin. Instead, it's trying to "make sure we have great access to Google services... and the best possible Web experience," he explained. "You buy this and the advertising model takes off."

Rubin also clarified that it would be "inaccurate to say that Google designed the phone;" instead, he gave credit to mobile phone vendor HTC. Still, it was clear that Google worked on the Android 2.1 operating system used in the Nexus One interface, which includes 3D visual effects and speech-to-text functionality, which allows users to enter content into a text field -- such as a tweet or an e-mail -- by speaking instead of typing.

In the Google Web store Tuesday, Nexus One phones for use on T-Mobile USA's network were available for $179 with a two-year contract. They were also available for $529 unlocked, meaning people could use them on the networks of other GSM carriers.

Google also says there will be a Verizon Wireless CDMA-capable version of Nexus One available sometime in the spring. Anyone with a Gmail account linked to a credit card can purchase any of the devices, Google officials said. So far, only Nexus One is offered, but Google is promising more to come.

The entire purchasing process was explained in a blog post by Mario Queiroz, vice president of product management, who noted that more operators and more devices will soon be added.

As an indication of Google's control over the buying process, two T-Mobile representatives on Tuesday said the Nexus One must be purchased from the Google site and cannot be purchased in T-Mobile stores, although T-Mobile's site provides details on the monthly costs of the device. Google confirmed that the T-Mobile version must be purchased from its store, although it is sold unlocked, and only committed to T-Mobile.

The $179 T-Mobile version requires a two-year contract of $80 a month for 500 minutes of talk time and unlimited data, or $2,099 over the course of the contract. Theoretically, a $529 unlocked phone using a $60 monthly plan (as T-Mobile offers for some other phones) would cost $2,019 for two years.

The simplicity of purchasing a mobile phone is what caught the eye of some analysts attending Google's event on Tuesday, even more than the 1 Ghz Snapdragon processor and other features in the touchscreen Nexus One.

"Today was really less about the Nexus One phone and more about the retail model Google has for selling phones," said Ken Dulaney, an analyst at research firm Gartner Inc. While Dulaney said he liked the Nexus One's hardware and software design, he called the announcement "a gauntlet thrown down to Amazon," the leader in online retail.

Dulaney said Google is "trying to get control of Web-based retailing of phones, but if they get control of this, who knows what happens."

It's likely that Google will support the ad effort through third-party ads on the phone site, for devices such as Bluetooth headsets that work with the featured phones, or even downloadable content, Dulaney said. For now, he said advertising on the phones shouldn't be too prevalent, adding that "eventually Google will get to that."

If Google's phone store does well, it could affect phone sales at brick-and-mortar storefronts, possible leading to consolidation among the thousands of smaller stores operated by wireless carriers, Dulaney predicted.

But he also said it's too early to predict the impact of the business model, with only one Google phone for sale so far. He said Google hasn't named the third party vendor that will take orders and mail out the unlocked phones, since many of the details are still unclear.

Dulaney also predicted that sales of unlocked phones would be strong, although not necessarily in the U.S. "There's a huge demand for unlocked phones all over the world. Google will do well selling them, but the question over time is how well they will do."

taken from : computerworld.com

Motorola and HTC devices may get Android 2.1 update

At the end of Google's Nexus One press conference yesterday, Motorola's CEO Sanjay Jha stated that he "thinks" Verizon Wireless' Motorola Droid will be updated to run the Android 2.1 operating system, the version announced yesterday for the Nexus One.

The update would bring new UI features to the Droid, including a new app drawer, 3D accelerated applications, live wallpapers, an updated photo gallery application, and more.

Motorola isn't the only one considering the upgrade to Android 2.1. According to PC World, HTC's CEO Peter Chou also said that Android 2.1 would be made available to the HTC Droid Eris, also on Verizon Wireless. The Droid Eris runs HTC's highly customizable Sense user interface.

Neither Jha nor Chou gave a time frame as to when the Droid or Droid Eris would receive the update, and the jury is still out on how well the 3D features will work on devices that don't run the more powerful 1-GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

taken from : mobileburn.com

3 Kings Day January 6th - Feliz Dia de Los Reyes!

Today is 3 Kings Day for Christians.  Also known as El Dia de Los Reyes (Feliz Dia de Los Reyes!), January 6th is a holy day for Eastern Christian and Western Christian churches.  International customs on Three Kings Day celebrate the day Melchior, Gaspar and Baltazar brought baby Jesus gold, frankincense and myrhh.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.  And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.


And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.  When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.

Mat: 2:10-14

Three Kings Day is also referred to as Ephiphany.  Eastern Christian churches call 3 Kings Day Theophany.  Western Christian churches may refer to the time from December 25 to January 6th as the Twelve Days of Christmas.

In our house, we always call it Little Christmas on January 6th.  It is the last time we turn on the Christmas lights and tree before we take them down.

I visited Wikipedia and learned Irish refer to 3 Kings Day as Little Christmas.  I have an Irish background so it makes sense.  Other cultures have interesting names and customs to celebrate 3 Kings Day on January 6th.

Eastern Orthodox celebrate the Feast of Theophany.  There is an eight day Afterfeast where the fasting laws are lifted to prepare for Great Lent.

The Armenian Church celebrates the Nativity and Theophany with a seven day fast before January 6th.  On the eve of January 6th, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated followed by a Blessing of Waters.

The Ethiopian Orthodox church called the feast Timkat and has a Blessing of Waters and processions with the Tabot.  They celebrate on January 19th or January 20th on Leap Year.

In France, they eat a king cake with a hidden bean or trinket (typically a porcelain king). The person who gets the goody is a “king” for the day. In Portugal a king cakes is baked and eaten.

The Dutch call it Three Kings Day. In Belgium and the Netherlands, children in costume sing door to door for candy and coins on 3 Kings Day.

In Greece the customs are around the Great Blessing of the Waters. On Epiphany Eve, children sing Epiphany carols.

Three Kings Day is still a school holiday on January 6th in Malta. Christmas decorations are typically up and lighted through this day.

In Spain, El Dia de los Reyes (The Day of the Kings) is also known as Dia de los Tres Reyes Magos (The Day of the Kings). The Magi bring gifts to the baby Jesus after following the star. Children and even adults leave shoes for the Kings' presents before going to bed on the eve of January 6th. In the morning, goodies are left in the shoes.

In Mexico, shoes might be left under the Christmas tree for 3 Kings Day. Filipino children also leave their shoes out for gifts. In Puerto Rico, children fill a box with hay or grass and put it under their beds for gifts. Feliz dia de los Reyes!

Baked pastry and terracotta are sold in Italy for 3 Kings Day.  Befana visit the children the night before January 6th to fill their socks with candy and gifts if they are good.  If they are bad, they get a lump of coal.

In Louisiana, Epiphany is the start of Carnival season. King cakes are baked. The one of finds the doll has to bake the next King Cake.

Do you celebrate 3 Kings Day and what do you all it? What are your customs on January 6th?  Feel free to comment here or post at Gathering 4 Jesus.

Have a beautiful, blessed Three Kings Day!

taken from : gather.com

Connecticut AG Blumenthal to seek Dodd's Senate seat

Blumenthal, 63, told financial news channel CNBC that he will officially announce later on Wednesday his pursuit of fellow Democrat Dodd's seat.

A press conference is slated for 2:30 p.m. EST at state Democratic party headquarters in Hartford, Connecticut.

Blumenthal has been Connecticut's top law enforcement official since 1990, serving five terms in that office, and previously served in the state's legislature.

Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, is expected to announce later on Wednesday his decision to not seek re-election.

Aides gave no explanation for Dodd's decision, but it had been clear for months the Connecticut lawmaker, dogged by questions over his financial industry connections, might be voted out of office.

With Dodd's approval skidding, the non-partisan Cook Political Report this week said the seat was leaning Republican.

The entry of Blumenthal is likely to change that equation. In November, a Quinnipiac poll showed Blumenthal with a lopsided 78 percent job approval rate.

Republicans running for the seat include former U.S. Representative Robert Simmons, and Linda McMahon, former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment.

taken from: reuters

"Whale Wars" Media Circus Strikes Again

Well, the heroic anti-whaling activists of the Sea Shepherd (and stars of Animal Planet's "Whale Wars") have made the headlines once again. This time they claim the Japanese rammed their speed boat, the Ady Gil, in an "unprovoked attack," breaking it in half.

Given that former Greenpeacer Paul Watson's express purpose in tailing the Japanese whaling fleet through the Southern Ocean is to harass them, I highly doubt the attack was unprovoked.

Still, there's nothing like some high seas dog fighting to make good television. I've got to hand it to the programming execs at Animal Planet who came up with this -- they knew what they were doing. All they needed to do is add some camera crews to Paul Watson's entourage, and then sit back and watch as all hell broke loose.

You can forget about any substantive argument for or against whaling, because that's not what Watson, his crew, or the show is about. And that's what's most disappointing about the whole thing. Here are people glued to the TV set watching a show about a meaningless battle over a few minke whales in the Southern Ocean. Meanwhile our oceans are being polluted and acidified, and humans are gobbling up its fish (not whales) at an unprecedented rate.

I wonder what goes on in Paul Watson's head, I really do -- probably something akin to whatever went through Richard Heene's before he launched a helium-filled flying saucer into the sky over Colorado and pretended his son was inside it. Regardless, I'm waving the white flag. It's clear the media loves a diva, and they've found a worthy one in Watson.

To be fair, the Japanese 'research' activities are just as suspect as Watson's crusade. I just hope that as folks watch this titillating little drama unfold, they can find enough time in their busy TV schedules to worry about where their seafood is coming from.

Taken from: Discovery news