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Dallas snowy owl

2012-02-25T05:17:00.000-08:00

Dallas snowy owl

These are the snowy owls attracting quite a crowd of onlookers across America as an ‘unbelievable’ mass migration continues to grow.
Bird enthusiasts are reporting rising numbers of the Arctic birds winging into the lower 48 states this winter in a mass southern migration.
Some states as far south as Texas are reporting sightings of the bird that is as white as the driven snow.Fosters.com reported that one snowy owl has even made it to Hawaii.
Thousands of the snow-white birds have been spotted from coast to coast, feeding in farmlands in Idaho, roosting on rooftops in Montana, gliding over golf courses in Missouri and soaring over shorelines in Massachusetts.
Greater competition this year for food in the Far North by the booming bird population may have then driven mostly younger, male owls much farther south than normal.

A certain number of the iconic owls fly south from their Arctic breeding grounds each winter but rarely do so many venture so far away even amid large-scale, periodic southern migrations known as irruptions.
'What we're seeing now - it's unbelievable,' said Denver Holt, head of the Owl Research Institute in Montana.
'This is the most significant wildlife event in decades,' added Mr Holt, who has studied snowy owls in their Arctic tundra ecosystem for two decades.Mr Holt and other owl experts say the phenomenon is likely linked to lemmings, a rodent that accounts for 90 per cent of the diet of snowy owls during breeding months that stretch from May into September.
The largely nocturnal birds also prey on a host of other animals, from voles to geese.
An especially plentiful supply of lemmings last season likely led to a population boom among owls that resulted in each breeding pair hatching as many as seven offspring.
That compares to a typical clutch size of no more than two, Mr Holt said.
Research on the animals is scarce because of the remoteness and extreme conditions of the terrain the owls occupy, including northern Russia and Scandinavia, he said.The surge in snowy owl sightings has brought birders flocking from Texas, Arizona and Utah to the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest, pouring tourist dollars into local economies and crowding parks and wildlife areas.
The irruption has triggered widespread public fascination that appears to span ages and interests.
'For the last couple months, every other visitor asks if we've seen a snowy owl today,' said Frances Tanaka, a volunteer for the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge northeast of Olympia, Washington.
But accounts of emaciated owls at some sites -- including a food-starved bird that dropped dead in a farmer's field in Wisconsin -- suggest the migration has a darker side.And Mr Holt said an owl that landed at an airport in Hawaii in November was shot and killed to avoid collisions with planes.
He said snowy owl populations are believed to be in an overall decline, possibly because a changing climate has lessened the abundance of vegetation like grasses that lemmings rely on.
This winter's snowy owl outbreak, with multiple sightings as far south as Oklahoma, remains largely a mystery of nature.
'There's a lot of speculation. As far as hard evidence, we really don't know.’
The creatures stand two feet tall with five-foot wingspans.

With word reaching this discussion group about possible Whooping Cranes in central Nebraska, I would ask folks on this list to remind those that are not on this list of proper etiquette whenever coming across this species. This is particularly the case with the influx of out-of-state birds that may be visiting the state as a result of the Common Crane. As everyone knows, Whooping Cranes are state and federally-listed as endangered. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Nebraska's Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act prohibits harassment, harm, and pursuit of whooping cranes including any intentional or negligent act or omission that creates the likelihood of injury to wildlife by annoying it in such a way that significantly disrupts normal behavior patterns, such as feeding or roosting. Harassment includes flushing the birds to flight during observation.
Instances of Whooping Crane harassment by wildlife photographers has increased in the past couple years. In spring 2010 in Nebraska, there were 3-4 instances of individuals approaching Whooping Cranes on foot in attempts to get better photos. In doing so, at least two of these individuals trespassed on private property. One of these cases was turned over to law enforcement and I anticipate law enforcement will be increasingly involved in future instances.

Whooping Cranes should never, ever, be approached on foot. Observers should always view Whooping Cranes from a vehicle or a blind and, ideally, stay 2000 ft. from any birds.

If you see someone approaching, harassing, or shooting a Whooping Crane, please collect some details (e.g., license plate #, description) and contact law enforcement.

I apologize for the lecture. Furthermore, I wish Whooping Crane location information could be provided freely to the public so everyone could take every opportunity to see this species. I am disappointed a few bad eggs ruin it for all the good eggs.

I am disappointed too, but I accept that bad eggs ruin good eggs. Yes, birds may or may not be harmed by this type of irresponsible behavior. There is no doubt, however, that birding itself is damaged. When responsible birders refuse to act, the jerks win.A friend of mine once observed that we often admire qualities in birds that we find irritating or even abhorrent in people. She was thinking in particular of the Great Kiskadee, a spectacular flycatcher whose garish dress and loudmouthedness she compared to a stereotypical used car salesman. Love it in the bird, hate it in the human. She was joking, of course. Mostly.

In a parallel but more serious vein, I was really struck by the juxtaposition of two blog posts yesterday about Snowy Owls and the trials they have faced this winter as so many have come south: Ted Eubanks' here on the ABA blog and Greg Neise's at the North American Birding Blog.

They're both great posts, well-crafted and thought-provoking, and I find myself largely in agreement with the sentiments expressed in both of them. But I can't help feeling there's a double standard at play so extreme that it demands some careful consideration. Not so much in the posts themselves, but in the responses they've gotten.

Greg's story of the Peregrine/Snowy encounter was greeted with comments like this:

"Awesome!"

"that was incredible, oh to have just one of these encounters, lucky ducks!"

"Whoa. Totally awesome to see. I'm glad they got photos to share with the rest of us. Wow, wow, wow!"

While the video of the owl being flushed that Ted links to inspires such disgust in cyberthrush that he suggests that, "... this guy should have a scarlet letter 'J' tatooed directly to his forehead," recalling both the extreme social ostracism of The Scarlet Letter as well as Brad Pitt's punishment for captured Nazis in Inglourious Basterds. And cyberthrush isn't alone in his outrage. The internet has been groaning with the cries of birders protesting the flushing of Snowies, as any recent reader of the New York Birding List can attest.

In short, when a birder/photographer harasses a Snowy Owl, oafishly flushing it once, we're ready to light the torches and grab the pitch forks. But when a Peregrine Falcon mercilessly strafes a Snowy Owl again and again for five minutes, "...we [are] happy just to witness one of nature's greatest gifts."

I'm not suggesting that one set of these reactions is wrong and the other right. But the differences sure are striking.

Of course, I get it. It feels vastly different seeing a human clumsily and needlessly flush a bird versus watching a Peregrine use its consummate aeronautic skills to force one to throw its talons in the the air in self-defense again and again, even if the latter is surely far, far, far more stressful for the owl involved. If I myself were present at the events videotaped at Boundary Bay and photographed at the Chicago Lakefront, I'd certainly have been indignant at the former and exhilirated by the latter. My question is, why? And what, if anything, should we do about it?

I would say up front that I find the oft-expressed view that one is, "natural," and the other is not to be deeply unsatisfying.

But I am also more than willing to concede that our capacity for ethics places somewhat different obligations on us than on our fellow species. We won't get far with an ABA Code of Ethics for Peregrines. And yet I think that document is one of the ABA's most important contributions for birders.

And what human can say that Peregrines don't have Peregrine ethics? Ethics which may demand that they test the mettle of a potential rival and/or prey item?

And an ethical sense isn't the only difference, of course. If Homo sapiens had just been removed from the Endangered Species list, having been put in jeopardy by the activities of several billion Falco peregrinus, well, that would be a different world from the one in which we all live.

So I'm offering it up for discussion. Take a look at Greg's post and at Ted's post. Watch the YouTube video. Why does one owl incident make us shake with joyous excitement and another with rage?

And when you do encounter situations that call for action, such as birders or others behaving badly, I certainly encourage you to address them, confidently and, one hopes, effectively. But I encourage you to do so with a certain measure of understanding, even empathy. This planet is a hard place for all the life that inhabits it. That would be so with or without human beings. We've all been jerks at times and we've all flown with the angels at others. Let's help each other spend more and more time aloft.

With the invasion of the Snowy Owls this year, it was not really a surprise that there would be vagrants in some really unusual locations, but this bird really did it. It snuck into Dallas and hung around for several weeks before the birding community even found out about it. This first year bird has been “playing” with the night watchman of a marina on Lake Ray Hubbard for the past two weeks and nobody knew! The bird has a favorite light pole that she (as dubbed by those who know more than me) returns to on a regular basis. Eventually, somebody told somebody, who contacted somebody up north, who finally let the rest of the birding community of Texas know what gem they had in their midst. But enough about that, this is about celebrating the view of such a beauty.

I found out on Friday morning at 1:05 am that the bird had been seen all day by a photographer. Since I am off on Fridays and Saturdays, I made a decision to drive to Dallas the next morning. I got there at 1:00 pm, and there were almost no birders in the park at all. Amazing! So I made the rounds of the park and didn’t see the bird. Birders started coming in during that time and one group, the Dallas group set up shop across from the infamous telephone pole, and the Fort Worth contingent set up on the opposite side of the park, with a few of the birders scurrying back and forth between the two groups. No bird was seen all day, and everybody had a chance to sit and talk with birders from their respective home bases. I spent the afternoon talking with a number of birders, mostly from Houston, who wereintermixed with the Dallas crowd. When the bird was deemed a no show, I decided to stay over and see if the bird would come in on Saturday. I spent the evening with a couple of birders from Dallas.

The next morning, I showed up at 7:00, and the only other birder there was Carlton Collier, another Houston birder. We sat for several hours with minimal numbers of birders, then I went around the park to double check that the bird was not there. I had decided to check out a flock of sparrows, when another birder came and told me that he had heard that the owl was back! We headed straight for the parking lot where the bird had perched on a light pole on the opposite side of the parking lot from his favorite pole. I set up at a distance, as did all of the other birders, and proceeded to take pictures.Eventually the bird decided to fly to its infamous perch and flew right over my head and set up shop at a more comfortable location. I turned around, started taking pictures, then noticed that I was closer to the bird than any of the other birders. I had not moved when the owl flew over, but I felt out of place and decided to give up my spot and move back with the other birders.The owl found a spot that it was comfortable and preened herself and took a nap, periodically checking out the birds and birders.There have been valid concerns about the welfare of this bird. Obviously, the long-term outlook for it is not good, but the concern about the effect of all the birders does not seem to be warranted. I watched this bird for over four hours and everybody was respectful of the owl’s space. Since it has chosen the parking lot of a restaurant and bar on a marina, it doesn’t seem to mind the activity around her. Obviously, if people are following her everywhere that she goes, it will be hard for her to hunt, but I believe that this bird probably hunted near where it roosted last night and came to digest its meal at a place where there were few birds to bother it. The only real responses I saw from outside stimuli were when some grackles flew overhead. The owl did not even respond when a Coke delivery truck pulled right under the light pole that it was on. It returned to the same location this morning after having gone through yesterday’s circus of birders, so I would not worry too much about the typical birdwatching activity affecting it.

Limp bizkit cash money

2012-02-25T05:13:00.000-08:00

Limp bizkit cash money

Limp bizkit cash money, Southern hip hop cornerstone Cash Money Records/Young Money Entertainment -- home of Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj -- has been signing up new artists left and right lately, and today they announced their newest, and perhaps most unexpected, acquisition: The recently reunited Limp Bizkit.

Frontman Fred Durst tweeted the exciting news saying, "The game is missing danger, electricity, and rock n roll!!!! Cash Money Limp Bizkit" and, later, the less decipherable "Rock shit doesn't rock anymore! They say the whole game done went pop so I'm back in this ho!"

After a several year hiatus, Durst and co. regrouped in 2011 to release "Gold Cobra" on Interscope (their first album to feature the original lineup since 2000). It hit No. 16 on the Billboard 200, while topping the hard rock chart.

They join current Cash Money artists including Wayne, Minaj, Bow Wow and Cash Money co-founder Birdman. Recent additions include Busta Rhymes, Mystikal, producers Cool & Dre and former TLC singers Shyne and T-Boz.

“The Cash Money Records and YMCMB family continues to grow and work in various music genres as shown by the addition of Limp Bizkit. We have always admired how they have been able to blend rock and hip hop and will bring a unique sound to the label,” Bryan “Birdman” Williams said in a release.

“We are excited to see the work and collaborations that come from the entire Cash Money family with the addition of Limp Bizkit,” added label co-founder Slim Williams.

“As both an artist and someone who has signed artists, I can say without a doubt that Cash Money is at the top of their game," Durst explained. "What attracted me to the label is not only their great taste and hustle, but their belief in their artists and the family atmosphere. Slim and Birdman allow their artists to be themselves and encourage creative output and continued development. I look forward to bringing my vision as a director as well as my voice to the label and to Limp Bizkit putting out some of our best music to date."

Limp Bizkit had their heyday during the late nineties nu-metal craze, scoring such hits as "Nookie," "Rollin'" ad "Break Stuff." The group's first three albums sold over 20 million copies in the U.S.

Sacha Baron Cohen

2012-02-25T05:11:00.000-08:00

Sacha Baron Cohen

Sacha Baron Cohen, “General Aladeen,” the fictional Middle Eastern ruler who Sacha Baron Cohen plays in his upcoming film “The Dictator,” will be making an appearance on the red carpet at the Academy Awards after all.

“We’re thrilled to have him and he’ll be on the red carpet dressed as The Dictator,” Oscar producer Brian Grazer told entertainment television show “Extra.”

Earlier, Cohen spoke out against the Academy’s reported attempt to ban him from appearing in character at this Sunday’s Oscar ceremony.

In a video posting on his “official government website,” Cohen as Aladeen, the ruler of the fictional nation of Wadiya, blasts the “Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Zionists,” fumes that he’s “outraged” at the ticket snub, and warns there will be “unimaginable consequences” if the Academy doesn’t “lift its sanctions” and give him his tickets back. “Furthermore, it is an act of aggression that no Wadiyan films have been recognized by the academy,” he adds. “Where are the nominations for such classic movies as ‘When Harry Kidnapped Sally,’ ‘You Got Mailbomb,’ and ‘Planet of the Rapes?’”

In character, Cohen also skewers Hilary Swank’s recent PR misstep in which she claims she unknowingly took $2 million from a suspected war criminal to attend his birthday party, and director Brett Ratner’s anti-gay comments, which led to him stepping down as the producer of the Oscar telecast.

In closing, he screams: “Death to the West! Death to America! And good luck, Billy Crystals!,” before asking someone off-camera, “How was that? Did I sound crazy enough?”

In reality, Cohen — the actor, not the faux dictator — has a reason for being at the Oscars this year. He’s a member of the cast of this year’s most nominated film, “Hugo.”

Cohen also called into NBC this morning to plead his case, saying he had to delay “30 executions” and said the Academy has until midday Sunday to return his tickets.

Source: abcnews

Ellen DeGeneres ads

2012-02-25T05:07:00.002-08:00

Ellen DeGeneres ads

Ellen DeGeneres is the newest spokesperson for vitaminwater zero, the naturally sweetened beverage with zero calories to launch in early March.
The 52-year-old American Idol judge will star in the upcoming ad campaign and check out the behind-the-scenes pics below. Love the twisty straw!!!
“I’m thrilled to be working with vitaminwater zero,” said Ellen via a statement to JustJared.com. “It tastes great, it’s good for you and it has zero calories per serving. It does everything for your body except massage it. But that’s why I have armando.”

Ellen DeGeneres stars alongside animals in television and cinema commercials made for American Express, released in October 2006. The star of the Ellen DeGeneres show appeared in an American Express campaign in 2005 but launched into a new level of engagement with television, cinema, print and interactive features including animals such as penguins, hyenas and ostriches. The two minute black and white cinema ad begins with Ellen walking through an exit door, passing a wall-size list of lines, “I will not eat in English Class” (from an episode of Ellen’s show). Pink flamingos (we assume they’re pink) poke their heads out from their office doors. She greets Craig (some kind of praire rodent) before sending Shelly the tortoise off to Starbucks for a coffee.In the board room it’s time to work on Ellen’s comedy material. She wants to talk about working in an office. What if you were a neat freak and you were forced to share an office with a pig. “You know what I mean Francis!”, she explains to a grubby pig. Harold the elephant, two hyenas, a dog and a bird, each with their own typewriter, all throw in ideas for Ellen’s routines. Roger the cricket throws in a sarcastic comment or two. At the elevator Ellen shares a knowing comment with Darryl the alpaca. At the food dispenser machine she shares her food with Frank the goat. In the studio Molly the giraffe replaces a high light bulb and checks a follow spot. In the changing room Rikki the raccoon provides advice on eye makeup.It’s show time. There’s an eagle on camera. Steve the seal warms up the crowd. On stage, just before the curtain rises, Ellen feels a desperate need for a mint. Andy the kangaroo comes to the rescue. And she hasn’t forgotten about the $12 the ostrich owes her. The phrase “My Life Goal: to work with animals”, is linked up with Ellen’s final voice over: “My life is far from ordinary. That’s why my card is American Express.”

Ellen DeGeneres has been gearing up for her first beauty campaign as the face of CoverGirl and Olay’s newest product Simply Ageless Foundation. This product is a first of its kind — an anti-aging makeup that stays suspended over fine lines and wrinkles, instead of settling into lines which can make you look older. Ellen’s famous face will be the focus of the new print and television ads starting in January 2009. “I’m thrilled to be a CoverGirl,” says Ellen. “I’ve been practicing in my bathroom mirror for years…Now finally, you’ll all be able to see it.” Tell

+Jessica Simpson pregnancy

2012-02-25T05:05:00.000-08:00

+Jessica Simpson pregnancy

+Jessica Simpson pregnancy, Jessica Simpson, who’s pregnant, claims herself a ‘big blob’; Jessica Simpson states it will be “astonishing” to ascertain herself “with a waist” while she checks herself on the premiere of NBC’s new reality demo, “Fashion superstar,” contributing that she experiences like “a big blob.”

Singer, 31, was pregnant, who has her own clothing lines out, as a guide for aspiring fashion designers in the series, which was filmed for the first time on March 13 at 9:30 pm ET, and a few months ago.

“I were not pregnant when we shot it,” Simpson told Us Weekly magazine. “It would be amazing to see myself with waist circumference. I’ll be like a big bubble sitting on the couch watching myself thin.”

Simpson baby bump is prominent. It did not announce the exact date but is expected to give birth in the spring. Singer said in an October 31, 2011 she and her fiance, Eric Johnson, 31, expecting their first child the first published picture of her, believes that it is dressed as a mummy. They began dating in May 2010 and announced in November following, after finalizing his divorce from his first wife, which they are engaged. Did not announce a wedding date.

In “Star Fashion”, the novice designers compete for buyers, such as H & M and Messi to get their plans in the market. And hosts the show by supermodel Elle Macpherson, and also includes Nicole Richie and another mentor. The mother of 30 years of the two, which also has a line of sleepwear, it has expanded recently to offer to help Simpson with pregnancy.

“I offered [Jessica] to take my children to have a salary,” Ritchie, who is known for her sense of humor, and said in a television program “Access Hollywood Live”. He said, “this did not work really. This offer still stands, because they did not have children yet. So, if you wanted to take them, go ahead. No problem!”

Both Simpson and Ritchie are not strangers to reality TV. Simpson co-starred with Nick Lachey, and her husband on the MTV series “Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica,” which documented their married life together before their divorce in 2006. In 2010, she appeared in the VH1 reality of short-term program, “Jessica Simpson: The Price of Beauty”

Shine Ritchie and Paris Hilton in the reality, “The Simple Life”, which aired between 2003 and 2007. Richie also has served as guest judge on “Project Runway.”

Simpson said the Weekly they have not bought maternity clothes, and prefer to wear clothes that come in larger sizes. It was announced in January it plans to launch a maternity line.

Have made their collections of past perfume, clothing and other products, which are marketed to young women, at about $ 1 billion in sales.

Singer has also launched her own line of diamond jewelry with Zales and collaborated with celebrity Nerida Joy aesthetics to launch BeautyMint, a portal website that sells anti-aging skin care.

source

Texas warrant round-up

2012-02-25T05:01:00.000-08:00

Texas warrant round-up

The Plano Police Department is part of a multi-jurisdictional warrant round-up coordination that started Feb. 13. Individuals with outstanding warrants are encouraged to resolve their cases prior to Feb. 24. Starting Feb. 25, individuals will be arrested at their homes, work and around town and brought to jail to address their outstanding warrants. A listing of outstanding warrants in Plano, along with instructions on how to resolve the warrant, is available here.

Local Southeast Texas Police Departments are offering people with outstanding warrants a 2 week grace period prior to the enforcement phase of the Great Texas Warrant Round Up scheduled to begin February 21 – 24. Officers will be using new license plate scanning equipped cruisers that are able to check peoples plates for warrants, so if you have outstanding warrants be sure to contact your local authorities and get it taken care of before the grace period ends. Some of the police departments participating in the roundup will be Beaumont, Port Arthur, Nederland and Groves among others.

Last year’s Great Texas Roundup results released by the Beaumont police department stated that they ran 16,000 license plates with 54 hits in an 8 hour period, 81 defendants went through the municipal system with 172 warrants being served just on the first day of the 2011 Great Texas Warrant Roundup. People paid about 53,000 dollars in outstanding fines between March 4 to March 7 and there were 1,305 views on the warrant page and 2,346 views on the payment website from March 1 to 6.

Representatives of law enforcement agencies and courts from more than 250 jurisdictions across Texas announced that they have combined efforts to host the third annual Great Texas Warrant Roundup beginning Saturday, March 6.

The roundup is designed to target thousands of defendants with traffic, parking, city ordinance, penal code and higher charge warrants from participating jurisdictions. It is believed to be the largest joint operation of its kind with arrests expected to continue for several days.

Hundreds of thousands of notices were recently mailed statewide by participating entities.

Numerous counties, justices of the peace, constables and municipalities of all sizes will participate in the roundup.

Affected persons are urged to contact the McAllen Municipal Court at (956) 972-7900 to dispose of their cases voluntarily to avoid the inconvenience and embarrassment of arrest at home or work in front of family, friends or co-workers.
The Corpus Christi Police Department is joining forces with more than 200 law enforcement agencies across the state to take part in the annual Great Texas Warrant Round Up.

The round up will officially begin Saturday, February 25, 2012. But Tuesday, the first set of warrant round up defendants were loaded into CCPD van for transport to the Nueces County Jail.

If you currently have an outstanding warrant you can take care of it at the Corpus Christi Municipal Court before February 24, 2012 and possibly avoid getting caught up in the round up.

Pouring salt makes food inedible

2012-02-25T04:58:00.002-08:00

Pouring salt makes food inedible

Pouring salt makes food inedible, It sounds gross, but that’s the point. If you can’t stop yourself from taking one more bite , try making your food inedible once you’ve eaten your fill. Pour salt , ketchup, mustard or anything else that’ll make you want to push your plate away.

Ear canal pressure point helps curb hunger

2012-02-25T04:56:00.002-08:00

Ear canal pressure point helps curb hunger

Ear canal pressure point helps curb hunger, Place your hunger on hold: The next time you have a hankering for a Mars bar, take your thumb and forefinger and squeeze the flap of skin that juts out by your ear canal (see where it’s located). Activating this pressure point may help curb cravings, says Blatner

Wearing jeans to work + burn more calories, more walking

2012-02-25T04:55:00.001-08:00

Wearing jeans to work + burn more calories, more walking

Wearing jeans to work + burn more calories, more walking , The researchers examined 53 healthy men and women with an average age of 42. Each wore a pedometer two days a week for two weeks. One day they dressed in normal work attire and the next day they dressed in jeans. On the "Jeans Day," the participants logged an average of 491 (or 8 percent) more steps than on those days in which they wore normal business attire. That works out to 25 more calories a day.
Steps and Calories Add Up

Not impressed? Over the course of a year that equal 2 pounds worth of calories. That in turn would keep off the average weight gain per year for Americans, which is 0.4 to 1.8 pounds per year. A silly little thing like dressing comfortably at work can make the difference between losing and gaining weight.
"Over the last 25 years, advances in technology combined with our hectic lifestyles have help to virtually eliminate physical activity from our daily routines," says Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D., chief exercise physiologist for the American Council of Exercise. "Wearing casual, comfortable clothes to work may be an easy way to encourage us to put physical activity back into our daily lives."

+Wear a belt to keep overeating

2012-02-25T04:52:00.000-08:00

+Wear a belt to keep overeating

+Wear a belt to keep overeating, Wear a belt to keep overeating-Stomach belts are devices designed to burn fat off the abdominal area and tighten abdominal muscles without having to perform a single crunch. The belt uses electronic muscle stimulation to contract the muscles to mimic an abdominal workout. To lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you consume. While the stomach belt may help burn fat, you can increase your results with clean eating and regular exercise. Wear the stomach belt while working around the house. Strap on the belt while performing regular activities like gardening or cleaning to burn more calories. Perform cardiovascular activity while wearing your stomach belt to get an abdominal workout at the same time. Go jogging, ride your bike or go walking while the belt works your abs.

Eat clean foods. Focus your diet on natural unprocessed foods like lean meats, fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables and whole grains that have fewer calories and keep you fuller longer. Avoid unhealthy processed foods that are high in sodium, fat and refined sugars that digest quickly and encourage overeating, notes MayoClinic.com. Decrease the number calories you consume. Create a calorie deficit by subtracting 500 calories daily to lose about 1 lb. per week.

Engage in circuit training three days per week to get a cardiovascular and muscular workout at the same time, notes Bodybuilding.com. Perform one exercise per body part such as push-ups, pull-ups, crunches, squats and lunges for one set of 15 repetitions each. Jump rope after every exercise for 60 seconds to keep your heart rate up. Rotate through each exercise for 30 minutes. You should burn about 600 calories per workout.

original article

Breakfasts for weight loss

2012-02-25T04:50:00.000-08:00

Breakfasts for weight loss

Breakfasts for weight loss, Weight loss and eating a healthy breakfast go hand in hand, so you can think of breakfast as setting the standard for your day. There are some who skip breakfast entirely and others who choose this time to use a meal replacement drink or bar, but a good breakfast with real food can help lead to weight loss.

Breaking Your Fast
The name says it all: break -- fast. During sleep your body has been in a fasting state, relying on stored nutrition so the first meal of the day sets the stage for how the metabolism will work during the coming day.

Postabsorptive state
Going without food for extended periods places your body in this state, which can be thought of as your body using itself for fuel because none is being provided by food. This sounds like terrific news for weight loss, but it is not.

Without food your body begins to use tissue that it does not need for survival as fuel. Because fat is needed for protection, insulation and energy, what you will lose first is muscle because your body makes a priority of fat over lean tissue.

Breakfast Boosts Metabolism
During the sleeping fast your body is in, it's in a basal metabolic state and it is food that triggers it to start using food for fuel instead of itself. Providing your body with fuel is essential at this time; providing the correct fuel is the key.

Supplying Usable Energy
Providing energy in the form of carbohydrates is the best practice because it can be used and not stored. Food that has retained its fiber content is the way to go; old fashioned oatmeal, bran and muesli are good choices, as well as whole wheat bread (100-percent stone ground) and fresh fruits.

Refined foods produce a sudden increase in blood glucose and provide short-term energy, which is provided too quickly for the body to use. Your body will clean up this excess blood sugar and the net result is short-term energy and the storing of the excess as fat.

Supply and Demand
The average American consumes the majority of his calories late in the day, especially for dinner. Some start their day with meal replacement drinks, with a small breakfast, or none at all. Do not fall into this trap.

Consuming the bulk of your calories earlier in the day and reducing the size of your meals as the day progresses allows your body time to burn them for daily activities.

Late in the day and into the evening when your activity is minimal, your need for energy is reduced. It may be insulting to dinner guests, but having that meal replacement drink in the evening or having a small dinner would be a better choice because soon, the fast is going to begin again, and your body will be absorbing, not burning.

Read more: Weight Loss and Breakfast | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5393983_weight-loss-breakfast.html#ixzz1nOhStJxh

Brushing teeth curbs eating

2012-02-25T04:47:00.000-08:00

Brushing teeth curbs eating

Brushing teeth curbs eating, Brushing teeth curbs eating-If you are unable to brush your teeth at the moment substituting minty gum is also a good way to curb over eating. The taste of mint helps alter the taste of food making it less palatable to ones taste buds. Brushing your teeth is an important part of keeping your mouth healthy, right? Well, it depends. It’s generally accepted within the dental community that brushing 2-3 times each day is the optimal amount of toothbrushing for reducing plaque, keeping gums healthy, etc. However, more and more dentists across the United States and several other countries are noticing a disturbing trend appropriately known as “over-brushing”. According to a Huffington Post article, by Suzette Standring, the trend has been present for the past few decades, and is now at an all-time high. Dr. Valdemar Welz, a Boston dentist who has run his own practice for over 30 years, says “Everybody is seeing it in their practice.” The signs of over rushing are not difficult to spot. Dr. Welz says that the 2 most common indicators of over-brushing are: heightened tooth sensitivity and tooth enamel damage.

You may be wondering what causes the nasty effects produced by over brushing. Well, contrary to what some of you may be thinking, it’s not the toothbrush causing the heightened sensitivity and reduction in tooth enamel. Blame it on the toothpaste. Dentists speculate that the tooth-whitening craze in recent years has spawned a great number of abrasive toothpastes on the market. Dental product companies are engaged in a cutthroat battle for tooth whitening toothpaste supremacy. As a result, some harsh and unsafe products are flooding the market. The effects of harsh toothpaste are compounded by the excessive amount of toothpaste and vigorous brushing habits of the average brusher. Thankfully, avoiding over-brushing is not difficult. A little common sense goes a long way in this case. The first recommendation I have is to heed your dentist’s advice first and foremost. If your dentist recommends you brush 3 times per day, brush 3 times per day.

Secondly, do not use excessive amounts of toothpaste. Most dental professionals recommend using only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste with each brushing. That’s all that’s needed to do the trick. Finally, for all you powerbrushers out there, slow down and be gentle(but not too gentle). Too much pressure is never good, but you also want to make sure you’re really brushing the teeth, gums, and tongue adequately.

While it seems counter-intuitive when dentists preach moderation when it comes to brushing your teeth, the disturbing trend of over brushing is very real. The consequences can be a nuisance at best: heightened sensitivity and eroded tooth enamel. Not fun at all – and could potentially lead to further oral problems. So, if you’re experiencing either of these conditions, check with your dentist as soon as possible to rule out more serious oral health problems.

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Hula Hoop + weight loss

2012-02-25T04:43:00.000-08:00

Hula Hoop + weight loss

Hula Hoop + weight loss, Hula Hoop + Weight Loss- Hula Hoop for Weight Loss – Acu Hoop 5 lb: Sports hoops are weighted and different to traditional small hula hoop. Sports Hoops are big and heavy, designed to enhance adult and teenage fitness workouts. This item features: * Item for adult user weighing 120 lbs to 300 lbs. * Product dimension: Diameter 41.5" / pipe 1.3"- 1.8 " wave * Big size and heavy weight. Strong impact to your body. * Unique wavy ridges design inside the hoop. * Slim your waist week by week until fit. * For fitness workout, massage and have fun. We are Sports Hoop worldwide patent owner.

Back in the early days when we started hooping I must admit that we weren’t really interested in fitness. We were just out there doing it because it was fun, because we wanted to play, because we wanted to dance, because we wanted to express ourselves. The whole hooping for fitness thing actually turned out to be a bit of a surprise. But when people who hadn’t seen us in awhile said, “Wow, you look great, what have you been doing?”, it started to become apparent even to us that hooping could be a great tool for getting in shape too.

Over the years the fitness aspect of hooping has, rightly or wrongly, become increasingly predominant in the public eye as well. In my early years of talking with the media about the return of the hoop it was rare for a reporter to ask about fitness. Over time, however, it became rare for them to ask about anything else. It seems to me that there are loads of people out there in the world that really want to get in a hoop and play, but they can only allow themselves to do that or take time out for it if they have a practical reason for doing so.

How many calories do you burn hooping? Can you really lose weight with a hula hoop? Will hooping whittle my waist down? Do I need a heavy hoop to shed some pounds? Hooping.org gets numerous emails with questions like these daily. The short answer is that hooping is really great for fitness. The longer answer, however, is a lot more complicated.

Most of us know that hooping is a great calorie burner. The American Council on Exercise study at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse found that hooping compared favorably with most other group classes, that it was comparable to what you’d get from boot-camp, step aerobics, even cardio kickboxing classes. The exact calorie count they came up with was that hooping burns approximately 210 calories per 30-minute session – which fell within ACE’s accepted guidelines for exercise that can contribute to weight management. The American College of Sports Medicine signed off it as well, so yes – we know that hooping is great exercise.

That being said, there are questions that were left unanswered. They examined 16 healthy females (ages 16 to 59) who were regular participants in choreographed hooping classes. They were all women for one, secondly they were all healthy to begin with, and they were all in a class setting with others. Each subject completed a video-led, 30-minute hooping class. Would a live instructor have made any additional impact, negatively or positively? We don’t really know. The video used featured a five-minute warm-up followed by a 30-minute hooping workout that included seven different dances and a wide variety of choreography. Would you get the same results hooping in front of your television while catching the latest episode of True Blood? Again, we really don’t know.

The average heart rate for the 30-minute class was 151 beats per minute, which corresponds to 84 percent of age-predicted maximum heart rate. Average oxygen consumption was 20.6 ml/kg/min, and average caloric expenditures were 70 Kcal/min, which is equivalent to 210 calories for 30 minutes of hooping. Average RPE was 13.0, which corresponds to “somewhat hard” on the Borg scale. All of this data is, of course, incredibly fascinating if you’re a hoop geek like me – but I still have some questions. Do men burn more calories hooping since most men hoop a little “harder”? Does the size and weight of the hoop make a difference? While it seems like the answer would obviously be yes, without some science to back it up, can we really say for certain?

In my own personal experience, as well as in my independent, casual, random surveys of the years, which are hardly scientific, it seems to me that the hoop itself can play a significant role. Back in the early days of hooping we were all using large, over-sized hoops. They were heavier than anything you’d find in a toy store, but they weren’t weighted with water or sand or anything. Over the years as hooping began to become popular for fitness, along with that came this now widespread common misperception that weighted hoops were necessary to make it happen. Our adult-sized custom hoops made from pvc tubing were already larger and heavier than anything you’d find at Toys R Us. Our hoops weighed a pound or two depending on how much tape you put on it, and if you wanted it to be a little heavier you just added another color to your design.

Hoop size is, and hopefully always will be, a matter of personal taste that plays within your relationship to your own physical stature. What works for one person may not necessarily work for another. A hoop designed for me – a 6′ tall male -most likely won’t be the same as one made for a 5′ 2″ female. Finding the right hoop for you is incredibly important – and it’s important to your own personal fitness factor. If you were to decide that you really wanted to lose weight and you got yourself one of those heavier hoops (3 lbs, 5 lbs, 10 lbs) that are typically manufactured in China, one of the problems is that you’re really only supposed to use them for 10 minutes a day. Most come with warning labels actually to prevent internal injury. You also won’t be able to do any real full body work with them because while they are in fact great for building core strength, other than that they’re rather useless.

One of the things that the initial hooping movement really had in it’s favor when it came to losing weight was that we were having fun. Hooping with a heavy weighted hoop for ten minutes can become as much of a routine drudgery as any treadmill. Using a more standard adult-sized custom hoop that weighs 1lb to 2lbs, however, you’re going to have a lot more fun, be able to do more with it, learn some fun moves, dazzle your friends, and the more you enjoy yourself while hooping, the longer you are likely to keep on playing – I mean exercising. Taking this even a step further I’ve found myself wondering in recent months, is it easier for the human body to lose weight when you have a smile on your face and you feel good about yourself and what you are doing, then it is when you approach a fitness activity with the attitude of it being something you have to do or endure so you can check it off your list? While I don’t really know the answer, with all of the insights in recent years on how the mind and spirit impact the human body and our health, it really does make you think, doesn’t it?

As for me personally and my own hooping and weight loss journey, I started out using a hoop that was probably 48″ in diameter. It was actually a hand-made collapsable hoop with a bungee cord inside of it (instructions here) so it had a little additional weight – probably weighing two pounds. It was made from 1″ 100psi pvc pipe and being a guy probably played a part in how much I loved that hoop too. I loved the speed and momentum that the weight would give it while hooping. I could really rock that thing, and while women tended to gravitate to the 3/4″ pipe in those days, most of us guys liked having a little more girth in our hand. How did that hoop ultimately impact my life as a fitness tool? When I started hooping I had a 35″ waist and a year later I was fitting comfortably into my old 32″ pants again, which was pretty incredible. I really hadn’t changed much of anything in my life, other than the fact that I had picked up hooping. Once, usually twice a week, I would grab my hoop, head outside, crank up the tunes, and simply go at it for a two or three hours, sometimes more. Again, when you’re enjoying yourself you’re likely to play/exercise even longer.

A few years later when a newcomer fell in love with my hoop at a hoopjam, I ended up giving it to them. I then downsized to another hoop that I was beginning to really like that was 3/4″ pipe and probably 40″ in diameter. It wasn’t collapsable. It didn’t have any extra weight to it. It was lighter and smaller than the hoop I’d been previously using and I wasn’t even aware that I had begun putting the weight back on. Over the next several months I only noticed that the buttons on my pants seemed to be coming off, which was an odd thing to have happen all at once, and my clothes seemed to be shrinking and getting smaller and tighter. I seriously thought someone must have been playing with the dryer settings in my apartment building until I stepped on a scale one day at a shopping mall. 220 pounds? Gasp! Somehow I had managed to put all the weight I’d lost back on and then some!

While some with a nose for fitness would simply argue that my fitness routine had become that – routine – and my body was thus no longer responding to it, the fact that this didn’t occur during my first few years of hooping seems to say otherwise. In my independent, casual, random survey about this over the past year I’ve heard from others out there who had a similar experience – they downsized their hoop and increased their weight gain. Coincidence? Hmm, I think not.

Looking at all of this rather scientifically, however, there are simple basic facts that most anyone can agree on when it comes to hooping for fitness. If you exercise for an hour instead of only 30 minutes, you’re going to have a greater fitness impact result. How long you exercise for does indeed play a factor. How much you exert yourself during exercise has an impact as well. You can walk for an hour at a 2 mile per hour pace or a 3 mile per hour pace, and the faster you’re going, the more calories you’re going to burn. Thus the amount of energy you put into your hooping or hoop dance is bound to have an impact on your overall fitness factor. Using a hoop that is on the larger and heavier side for you does seem to be a bit of a no brainer in helping out in this regard.

When it comes to weight loss and fitness in general, however, whether you are hooping or doing yoga or any multitude of exercise options out there, there doesn’t really appear to be any sort of holy grail that can do it all for everyone. Genetics, metabolism, diet, all of these will, of course, play a role in just how big of an impact hooping can play in your own weight loss journey as well. As for mine, once I realized that I had in fact actually gained weight again and that there wasn’t some sort of clothing conspiracy going on, I went to work on losing it. I bumped myself up to a 42″ folding collapsable hoop with a little more weight to it, then I went to work on evaluating and changing my overall diet. Over the past few months I’ve lost 28 pounds so far with seven more to go – and I know many of you have your own hooping and weight loss stories to share as well. Hooping as a fitness option is still incredibly new in the big scheme of things and while we have a little research now that confirmed what we we already knew, there’s more to be done. Whether we have all the scientific data we need or not, however, one thing has already been made abundantly clear. Hooping is great for you and your body.

Paint your nails instead of eating

2012-02-25T04:42:00.000-08:00

Paint your nails instead of eating

Paint your nails instead of eating , Paint Your Nails Instead Of Eating - Paint nails can be a fun and inexpensive way to add splash to your summer wardrobe. When the temperatures rise and feet come out of hiding, a pedicure can be the perfect way to prepare for sunny days of sandals that lie ahead.

These tips are just what you need to keep nails looking fabulous all season long with the hottest shades and best techniques for nail painting. Get ready; it's time to pretty up those nails for summer!

Nail Care 101
Before you begin nail painting, it's a good idea to get your fingers ready for the embellishing that lies ahead. Moisture is the most important factor in keeping your hands and feet looking their best, so moisturize every single day.

In addition to a basic hand moisturizer, your cuticles need some extra attention with an application of cuticle cream or oil daily. For extra-moisturizing treatment, soak your fingers in olive oil at least once a week. You can add a bit of lemon juice to the mix to whiten nails that have been discolored from nicotine or dark polishes.

Treat your hands well by wearing rubber gloves when they are exposed to water or harsh cleaning substances. Avoid using your nails as tools to remove a staple or open a soda can. Finally, keep your nails clipped and filed to avoid catching and tearing. File in one direction to prevent weakening of the nail tip, and don't file any more than you must for the look you want. Square tips can look more modern, but they will also make chubby fingers look even wider. Oval tips are always in style and can have a slimming effect on the fingers.

Preparing Hands for the Manicure
Get your hands ready for nail painting by removing old polish with an acetone remover. Use a makeup sponge or cotton wipes for this job to prevent lint from sticking to the surface of the nail. Trim and file your nails in a single direction. Next, soak your hands in a mixture of liquid soap and water or olive oil and lemon juice to soften the nails and hands. Use an orange stick wrapped in cotton to gently push back your cuticles. Finally, exfoliate your hands with a favorite sugar scrub or a mixture of olive oil and coarse salt, add another layer of moisturizer, and you are ready for color.

Preparing Feet for the Pedicure
Getting feet ready for nail painting is similar in the cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing process. Soak your feet in warm water with Epsom salts and maybe a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Exfoliating feet is a bit more challenging than the hands, since your tootsies have more layers of dry skin to remove. Use a pumice stone to remove dry flakes, followed by a sugar or salt scrub and an application of heavy-duty moisturizer. Your cuticles on your toes deserve the same treatment as your fingers, so apply cuticle oil and gently push them back with an orange stick wrapped in cotton. It is now time to learn how to paint your nails so they are sure to get noticed.

Color Matters
Choosing a shade is sometimes the hardest step in painting nails, primarily because there are so many great colors available. According to the Lilian Salon in Chicago, any woman can wear any color of nail polish. Choose your color based on your mood and don't worry about trying to match the shade to your wardrobe. Many women opt for paler shades in the daytime and bolder colors by night.

If you are apprehensive about sporting a bold shade on your fingers, go for a lighter shade and save the shocking pink and fire-engine red for your toes. Cool skin tones can wear anything from beige shades with pink undertones to deep plums for more drama. Warm tones can go from a yellow-based neutral all the way up to deep burgundy.

For a new experience in nail painting this summer, check the Nordstrom counter for the Lippmann collection that is inspired by classic jazz hits. Take a peek at the sweet pink of Diamonds and Pearls, the deep hues of Dark Side of the Moon or the palest mauve of You can Leave Your Hat On.

If you are nervous about trying out a new nail color, SallyHansen.com has a nail-color selector that allows you to try colors online. You build a prototype of your hand with your nail shape, length and skin tone. Next, choose a color range, and the program will allow you to test each shade out on your computerized fingers.

Applying the Color
Once you have chosen your color, it's time to start nail painting. Begin with a base coat that allows your color to go on more smoothly and prevent staining to your nails. To avoid air bubbles in your polish, roll the bottle between your palms instead of shaking it. Store your polish in the refrigerator to make it last longer and add a drop or two of nail polish remover as necessary to keep the formula nice and thin.

There are many ways to paint your nails, but the easiest is to apply a single stroke down the middle and two strokes to each side. Plan to apply multiple thin coats and wait at least 30 minutes between each to avoid smudging. To prevent chipping, place a tiny bit of polish on the tip of the nail's underside and apply a fresh coat of clear polish every other day. Once your nails are completely dry, clean up your fingertips with a cotton swab dipped in nail-polish remover. Avon also makes a wonderful corrector pen for this purpose that keeps your manicure neat and smudge-free.

Do as the Parisians Do
French manicures never go out of style, but you can find fresh takes on this old classic. Instead of painting the nails pink with white tips, try the hot new reverse French manicure. Paint your nails white, and add color to the tips.

You can go with the subtle pink-and-white combination or you can take a bold approach with black or red tips on a white background. To do a French manicure at home, pick up a kit for this purpose. Sets will come with the adhesive strips that attach to your nail once the base coat is completely dry.

After the tips have been painted and dried, remove the strips for a perfect manicure. Another great variation on the French manicure is to apply the strip to the base of the nail rather than the tip, leaving the bottom crescent without color. It's a great way to keep your manicure neat and tidy at the cuticle.

Painting nails is a fun summer pastime that allows you to flaunt your fingers and toes with pride and style. There are so many great colors and techniques to choose from; you can enjoy different nail looks the entire season. With these nail-painting tips and a little practice, you can go from subtle to bold in a single afternoon. It's about putting your own personal flair out there for the whole world to see.

Paying with cash + healthy food purchases

2012-02-25T04:40:00.002-08:00

Paying with cash + healthy food purchases

Paying with cash + healthy food purchases, Paying With Cash + Healthy Food Purchases- Cash is healthier? Credit and debit increase impulsive food purchases: It’s empty calories, puts on the pounds and is awfully, terribly, almost impossibly hard to resist.

It turns out, though, that you’ll buy less junk food if you put away your credit (or debit) card and always pay cash. That’s the finding of a Cornell University study in the Journal of Consumer Research.

Unhealthy foods cookies, potato chips, etc. are impulse buys, says study author Manoj Thomas, an assistant marketing professor at Cornell. “The pain of paying in cash can curb impulsive urges to purchase such unhealthy food products,” he writes.

We buy fewer of these “vice” foods if we’re paying with real money instead of plastic.

“When you pay in cash, there is something that makes you feel bad — to part with money,” says Thomas. And, his study shows that “when you feel bad about paying with cash, you start paying more attention to the healthfulness of the food. You start asking yourself, ‘Is this healthy food? Should I be buying it?’ ”

Participants in one shopping test bought 42 percent more junk food ($14.07) when they paid with a credit card than those paying cash ($9.89). The method of payment didn’t make a difference on good-for-you groceries. Both the credit and cash groups spent about $17.50 on “virtue” products like oatmeal and fat-free yogurt.

Thomas isn’t saying everyone should stop using credit cards to buy food. But for people who have trouble resisting junk food, “going to the bank, getting cash might actually be worth it because it will help them be more healthy.”

Wacky weight loss tips

2012-02-25T04:39:00.000-08:00

Wacky weight loss tips

Wacky weight loss tips, Wacky weight loss tips- Lose Weight; Weight Loss Basics: Weight Loss Tips: I really get a kick out of all of the crazy things people will do for effective weight loss. The grapefruit diet, the enema plan…… it just shows how much of a problem our society is having with weight management issues these days and creating a weight loss menu.

I thought it would be fun to pass along this article I read recently By Sylvia Booth Hubbard from Newsmax and then end this blog entry with some common sense items I recommend for long term results.

Be well,

Dr. S.What would you do to lose weight? Live on baby food? Drink vinegar? Simply breathe? Weight-conscious Americans — even celebrities — embrace even the wackiest of diets. Although Newsmax doesn’t endorse them, here’s a look at some of the more unusual weight loss tips: Baby food. Dieters either eat all baby food or substitute one regular meal during the day and eat baby food at other meals. Portions are small and bland, but baby food is chocked with vitamins and minerals and is free of additives. According to dietsinreview.com, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston are alleged to be fans of the baby food diet and safe weight loss.

Raw food. Believers in the value of raw, weight loss foods maintain that cooking destroys many of the essential enzymes found in foods. The raw vegetarian weight loss menu consists of fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and sprouted seeds, grains, and beans.

Apple cider vinegar. Add apple cider vinegar to your weight loss menu as a nice weight loss system. The inexpensive apple cider vinegar diet is a cleansing diet and is credited with ridding the body of both excess weight and toxins. Dieters drink three teaspoons of apple cider vinegar 15 minutes before each meal. One study found that people who ate a slice of bread along with a small amount of vinegar felt more satisfied than those who just ate bread. Many devotees choose organic apple cider vinegar. Downsides include interactions with medications and irritation of the stomach and throat.

Maple syrup. A favorite of Beyonce, this is also a cleanse and a type of fast. A weight loss recipe that is a combination of maple syrup, lemon juice, spring water, and cayenne pepper, it’s also called the “lemonade diet.” Dieters drink eight to 12 glasses of the mixture every day — and nothing else — for up to 10 days. Advocates claim they not only lose weight, but free themselves of ailments they’ve had for years.

Acid-alkaline. According to some experts, modern diets cause our bodies to be much more acidic than nature intended (our blood is supposed to be slightly alkaline), and thus more prone to illness. Alkaline foods, which include broccoli sprouts, cucumbers, kale, wheat grass, parsley, almonds, and soy beans, make a great weight loss menu and comprise 70 to 80 percent of the diet and supposedly restore nature’s intended balance.

Breatharian. This diet plan, which is also called Inedia, promotes the idea that people don’t need food and can survive completely on air. According to diethound.com, most Breatharians actually do eat at times.

Cookie. Celebrities, including Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi of “Jersey Shore,” is a fan of Dr. Siegal’s Cookie Diet, according to “Access Hollywood.” The doctor’s special cookies replace both lunch and dinner. According to the Siegal Medical Group, the cookies’ secret amino acid protein formula allows dieters to control hunger and stick to their diets. Cookies are a tasty addition to any traditional weight loss menu.

Cabbage soup. Promising quick weight loss of 10 to 15 pounds in seven days, the cabbage soup diet claims to burn fat while containing few calories — the more you eat, the more you lose. Quick weight loss is the key. The recipes for cabbage soup vary, but usually include cabbage, onion, and tomatoes.

If you’d like to go on a reasonable diet, instead of a wacky one, here are several tried-and-true tips that I and many experts agree on:

Drink a lot of water. Since you can often confuse thirst with hunger, WebMD suggests you drink a glass of ice-cold water, perhaps with a splash of lemon.

Eat several small meals throughout the day. Frequent, small meals keep you from becoming ravenous which can lead to overeating.

Spice up your diet. Spices boost flavor and keep you feeling satisfied. And some spices, such as chiles, may enhance your metabolism. Using spices cuts down on the need for adding SALT to your food.

Stock up on healthy snacks and quick meals. Include fat-free popcorn, pre-washed greens, pre-grilled chicken breasts, and whole-grain pitas or wraps for fast, healthy meals.

Don’t skip protein. Eat protein, such as nuts, cheese, or beans at each meal to promote fat burning.

George Huguely Guiltyform-Msnwis

2012-02-24T11:06:00.000-08:00

George Huguely Guiltyform-Msnwis

George Huguely Guiltyform-Msnwis, George Huguely guiltyform=msnwis- George Huguely: That Convicted UVA Student George Huguely of Murder: A juror who helped convict former University of Virginia lacrosse player George Huguely V of second degree murder and sentence him to 26 years in prison told ABC News exclusively that the jury "really believe justice was served."

"We worked hard to come to a fair, just verdict," juror Ian Glomski, a microbiology professor, told ABC News as he left the courtroom with fellow juror Serena Gruia. "We had a good team, educated, well-informed people. We all really believe justice was served. Everyone felt good about our decision."

Glomski indicated the panel considered the higher charge of first degree murder, but passed on that charge because there did not appear to be "premeditation" in Love's killing. Conviction of first degree murder could have sent Huguely to prison for life.
When Glomski was interviewed to become a juror, he told the court that he enjoyed reading the New York Times and did not own a television. He said he was "essentially not following the case at all."

Late Wednesday night, the jury found Huguely, 24, guilty of second-degree murder in the beating death of his ex-girlfriend Yeardley Love and guilty of grand larceny for stealing Love's laptop.

The jury recommended to Judge Edward Hogshire that Huguely be sentenced to 26 years in prison, 25 years for the second degree murder charge and one year for the grand larceny charge for stealing Love's computer.

Huguely's formal sentencing is scheduled for April 16. The judge could lower the jury's sentence, but he cannot increase it.

Both Huguely and Love were star lacrosse players in their senior year at the University of Virginia in May 2010 when Love was killed. The University had chosen to withhold any comments until the conclusion of the trial, so UVa president Teresa Sullivan released a statement today.

"The conclusion of a trial like this may bring a momentary sense of justice or retribution, but our judicial system can never restore to a family what it has lost," Sullivan wrote. "Yeardley's family, teammates, sorority sisters and friends – indeed all of us at the university – continue to feel the loss of this promising young woman."

Sullivan also expressed her "sympathy and compassion" for both the Love and Huguely families, "as they face the future and their personal grief."

Sullivan was not the president of the university at the time of Love's death.

Huguely kept his head down in court as the jury's sentencing recommendation was read and remained stoic, but members of his family were visibly upset as they left the courthouse.

A little girl, one of Huguely's cousins, was crying hysterically and saying, "That's too much."

Huguely's mother was kept protected on the inside of the group and Huguely family members did not speak to the media.

Huguely's attorney, Francis McQ. Lawrence, said the defense was "disappointed with this verdict but proud to represent George over the years."

"He has the support of a loving family, has displayed amazing resilience and courage, is hopeful and spiritual, and we look forward to some corrections on what happened here tonight," Lawrence said. "The courtroom saw his remorse during various times during the trial."

Sharon and Lexie Love, Yeardley Love's mother and sister, left the courthouse from a side exit and also did not speak to the media, though they released a written statement after the sentencing.

Statement from Yeardley Love's Family

"We dread looking back on the events of May 3, 2010 and pray for the strength to get through each day," they wrote. "Time has not made us miss Yeardley any less, in fact quite the opposite. It is truly devastating to wake up each day and realize that she is no longer here. Yeardley's contagious smile, kind spirit and gentle touch have left this world but we know that heaven has an angel like no other. We will continue to keep her spirit alive by performing works of kindness in her name. We would like to thank the commonwealth and particularly [prosecutor] Dave Chapman for his tireless efforts on our behalf.

"Our hearts burst with pride when we think of Yeardley's accomplishments but our hearts melt when we remember her kindness and grace. We have received letters from so many people telling us stories of her many acts of kindness. Intelligence and athletic ability are God given talents. Kindness and compassion are choices ... choices that Yeardley made every day without a second thought. We'd like to thank everyone for their kindness and respect of our privacy during such a difficult time."

On April 16, Judge Hogshire will decide whether he wants to confirm or lessen the 26-year sentence recommended by the jury. He cannot increase the sentence.

J.K. Rowling Plans New Novel for Adults

2012-02-24T06:53:00.000-08:00

J.K. Rowling Plans New Novel for Adults

J.K. Rowling Plans New Novel for Adults, Adult fans of J.K. Rowling can rejoice: She has a new novel coming, for grownups.

The kids will have to wait and see.
The author of the mega-selling "Harry Potter" series has an agreement with Little, Brown in the United States and Britain to release her first adult novel, the publishers announced Thursday. The title, release date and details about the book, long rumored, were not announced. A neighbor of Rowling's in Edinburgh, author Ian Rankin, tweeted Thursday that he thinks Rowling has written a mystery novel.
"Wouldn't it be funny if J.K. Rowling's first novel for adults turned out to be a crime story set in Edinburgh?" Rankin wrote. "My word yes."
Her seventh and final Potter story came out in 2007, and in recent years the British author has said that she was working on an adult book and on a Potter encyclopedia. Rowling's Potter books, which broke sales records around the world, were published by Bloomsbury in Britain and Scholastic in the U.S. Rowling will now share the same publisher with Stephenie Meyer, whose "Twilight" series at least partially filled the gap opened by the conclusion of the Potter stories.
"Although I've enjoyed writing it every bit as much, my next book will be very different to the Harry Potter series, which has been published so brilliantly by Bloomsbury and my other publishers around the world," Rowling, 46, said in a statement released by Little, Brown. "The freedom to explore new territory is a gift that Harry's success has brought me, and with that new territory it seemed a logical progression to have a new publisher. I am delighted to have a second publishing home in Little, Brown, and a publishing team that will be a great partner in this new phase of my writing life."
Rowling's agent, Neil Blair, would not disclose financial details of the deal but said there had been no auction. He said Thursday that Rowling was remaining with Bloomsbury in Britain for the Harry Potter books.
"As her new book is for a different audience, and marks a new literary direction for her, it made sense to separate the two and for her new book to be launched by a different publisher," said Blair.
Blair became Rowling's literary agent last year when she left the Christopher Little Literary Agency, where Blair had worked. Bloomsbury said its 15-year relationship with Rowling "remains stronger than ever" — and new editions of the seven novels were on the way. Some 450 million copies of the seven Potter stories are in print and the books have been translated into 74 languages. A billion-dollar movie franchise, starring Daniel Radcliffe as the young wizard, ended last year.
"We are pleased to announce that as part of our long term strategy for Harry Potter we intend to publish illustrated editions of all seven Harry Potter books in a rolling program from 2013 onwards in addition to our partnership on e-books with the Pottermore website," the publisher said in a statement. In the U.S., Scholastic spokeswoman Kyle Good noted that Scholastic didn't publish adult books.
"We will continue to publish her children's books in the U.S.," Good said Thursday.
Any Rowling book would seem a guaranteed million seller, although it's questionable that her new novel will have the same mass appeal as Potter. Adult authors from E.B. White to Sherman Alexie have nicely managed the transition to writing for young people but, once a writer is defined as a children's author, the transition can be tricky. Winnie the Pooh creator A.A. Milne, a successful playwright in his early years, once confessed that he was forced to say "goodbye to all that" after his beloved books about the bear and friends. Margaret Wise Brown, author of the classic "Goodnight Moon," tried for years to write stories for The New Yorker.
Daniel Handler of "Lemony Snicket" fame and Ann Brashares, author of the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" novels, are among the recent popular writers for children who have had limited success as adult writers.
But Rowling does begin with one advantage: The Potter books had an enormous following among readers of all ages and she is widely credited with revealing to publishers that children's books were no longer just for the young. Meyer's vampire novels and Suzanne Collins' "Hunger Games" trilogy also have caught on with both parents and kids. Meyer herself wrote an adult book, "The Host," a best-seller in 2008.
"It would just be cool if my existing fans liked it," Meyer told The Associated Press in 2008. "And I hope to get some new readers who would never go into the YA (Young Adult) shelves."
Beth Puffer, director of the Manhattan-based children's bookseller Bank Street Bookstore, said she'd have to see the novel before deciding where or whether to stock it.
"I assume if it's written for adults, it's not appropriate for children," said Puffer, who added that she might stock the book in a section for ages 14 and up. "There are a lot of former children and young adults who grew up with Harry Potter and they would likely be an audience for her new book. You also have all the adults who loved the Potter books."
One of Rowling's most passionate fans, Melissa Anelli, said she was beyond herself "with excitement." Anelli, 32, runs a leading Potter/Rowling fan site, http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org .
"J.K. Rowling is simply a great writer, and no matter what she applies her talents to, we will anticipate and enjoy it," Anelli wrote in an email. "I'm also so intrigued by this process: What will happen as the world's greatest children's/YA author navigates the new publishing landscape and publishes for a new audience?"
Rowling's novel will be available in both print and electronic formats. The author held out for years on allowing the Potter books to come out digitally, but announced in 2011 that Potter e-books would be sold through her own "Pottermore" website. The books were supposed to become available last fall, but have been delayed until sometime this year.

Chris Brown and Rihanna

2012-02-24T02:40:00.000-08:00

Chris Brown and Rihanna

Chris Brown and Rihanna_Rihanna and Chris Brown have reconciled ... at least professionally ... because the former couple have collaborated on 2 brand new songs.

It's only been 3 years since Brown pummeled Rihanna's face during a late night argument in L.A. ... but the singer and her ex-con ex-BF have each released songs featuring the other's voice. One is a remix of Rihanna's song, "Birthday Cake" and the other is a new version of Chris Brown's, "Turn Up the Music (below)."

Both songs hit the Internet this week ... and both Rihanna and Brown have been pushing the songs on Twitter.

The songs seem to prove the rumors ... that Rihanna has forgiven Brown and is willing to move on. Earlier this week, Brown tweeted Rihanna "Happy Birthday" ... and Rihanna actually responded, "Thanks."

Rihanna is currently in London (see photo above) ... and Chris Brown was most recently seen in Miami.

As we previously reported, Brown is currently in a relationship with a woman named Karrueche Tran ... and we're told the two seem very happy together.

source: tmz

Octavia Spencer Says She's Going to Get Her Breasts Lifted

2012-02-24T02:31:00.000-08:00

Octavia Spencer Says She's Going to Get Her Breasts Lifted

Octavia Spencer Says She's Going to Get Her Breasts Lifted_No matter whether she wins or loses, Best Supporting Actress nominee Octavia Spencer is going to treat herself after the 2012 Academy Awards.

"I'm going to get my boobs lifted. That's going to be my first gift," she told Parade magazine. "I figured going into my forties I want my boobs where they were when I was 17."

The 41-year-old star, who has already won a Golden Globe, a BAFTA Award and a SAG Award for her role in "The Help," told the magazine she plans to go under the knife after next fall.

"[I'm getting the surgery post-Oscars] because right after the Oscars I start a Diablo Cody movie. We're taping out of the country for four months so I wouldn't be back here until about August," she said. "So I want to do this around November. Then that way I could just relax until January."

The actress hasn't been shy when it comes to talking about her body, and at the end of January, she revealed that she was trying to drop 15 pounds. Spencer later claimed comments that she didn't feel healthy or as valuable because of her weight, relayed to People magazine, were misconstrued.

Spencer turned to her Facebook page to clear up the quotes that were taken out of context. "I am NOT WORRYING ABOUT MY WEIGHT! I AM NOT TRYING TO CONFORM TO an unrealistic model of beauty," she wrote. "I AM however being proactive in being the healthiest I can be. And before you ask, NO, awards season is not the reason. I've been doing this for the past 10 years because it took that long to gain the weight! Right now, believe it or not, I'm pretty damn healthy! 20 LBS (max) is all I intend to lose."

source: huffingtonpost

John Edwards sex tape

2012-02-24T02:24:00.000-08:00

John Edwards sex tape

John Edwards sex tape_ The videotape purported to show former presidential candidate John Edwards and his mistress having sex will be destroyed as part of a lawsuit settlement approved on Thursday.

Rielle Hunter, a videographer who had an affair and a child with Edwards during his failed bid for the 2008 Democratic nomination, also won back possession of other personal items she claimed Edwards' former campaign aide and the aide's wife took.

Hunter sued Andrew Young and his wife, Cheri, seeking to force the return of the items.

Hunter lived with the Youngs while she was pregnant with Edwards' baby, and Andrew Young initially claimed he was the child's father at Edwards' request.

Edwards later admitted the child born in February 2008 was his.

The former North Carolina senator is now awaiting trial on federal charges accusing him of secretly accepting more than $900,000 from two wealthy supporters to help cover up his extramarital affair and baby as he sought the nomination in 2008. He has pleaded not guilty.

Andrew Young wrote a 2010 book, "The Politician," about Edwards' affair with Hunter and efforts to keep it from the public eye.

The Youngs admitted no liability as part of the settlement, and the North Carolina judge presiding over the case made no finding regarding liability.

The couple released a statement saying they were "extremely pleased" to have the lawsuit resolved.

Hunter's property, which has been held by the court clerk, is to be returned to her within 30 days. The alleged sex tape also will be destroyed within that time, court records show.

"What she had sought from the outset in this matter is to get back materials that belong to her and to provide protections for her privacy," said Hunter's attorney, Alan Duncan. "She's been able to accomplish that objective."

source: reuters

Consumer privacy bill of rights

2012-02-24T02:19:00.000-08:00

Consumer privacy bill of rights

Consumer privacy bill of rights_U.S. consumer privacy laws are, to put it bluntly, a mess. We have sectoral laws that provide different protections for financial information, cable and phone subscriber records, health privacy and yes, video rentals. But we are the only country in the OECD except for Turkey that fails to provide baseline protections for consumer data that is collected online and offline.

Every day, our personal data are scattered like breadcrumbs to pigeons in the park, across the Internet and beyond to advertisers, social network sites, data brokers, direct marketers and the myriad companies we do business with. Our privacy laws simply haven't moved in step with the way our capacity to collect, process and share our personal information.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has pushed about as far as it can with its limited power to go after bad guys for unfair or deceptive practices, but that case-by-case focus on instances where companies deceive consumers is just not enough. Companies simply hide behind ponderous and undecipherable privacy policies that do nothing to protect privacy, written by lawyers who are looking out for their companies -- not you. But we might make progress yet. A recently introduced a bill from Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) would create for the first time a commercial privacy "Bill of Rights." It is the first comprehensive privacy bill in the Senate in more than a decade.

Given the rancor in Congress these days, the simple fact that this bill is a bipartisan effort speaks volumes.

Lawmakers are quickly wising up to the importance of consumer privacy. The bill gets a lot of things right, though there are several things my organization, the Center for Democracy and Technology, would change. But at least for today, let's focus on the things the bill does right.

Senate Bill Requires Basic Principles for Companies That Collect Personal Data

The bill would require basic Fair Information Practice Principles for all companies that collect personal data both online and offline. In practice, this means you get clearer, more timely and understandable notice when your information is collected.

Companies will have to tell you exactly what they are planning to do with your information, collect only what they need to accomplish that purpose and only hold on to your data as long as they need it for the stated purpose. You will be able to opt out of third party advertising and that opt-out needs to be global and persistent over time.

Security rules will be strengthened, as will the right of consumers to access the information that a company holds about you. If it's wrong, you can fix it. Both the FTC and State Attorneys General would have power to enforce the new law and impose significant civil penalties for violations, up to $6 million in civil fines.

The bill also has a requirement that companies engage in "Privacy by Design," which means they have to have internal processes in place to consider how to protect privacy as a product or service is first developed.

Finally, in order to make sure that these high level obligations can be tailored to different industries, the bill encourages companies to collaborate with consumer groups and others to develop industry-specific codes that incorporate and build upon the law's requirements. It is then up to the FTC to review those codes and approve the ones that pass muster.

This flexible approach should work for every industry and avoids rigid mandates that might dampen innovation or freeze privacy practices that might quickly be outdated.

source: abcnews

Danica patrick crash

2012-02-24T02:13:00.000-08:00

Danica patrick crash

Danica patrick crash_Danica Patrick was calm, collected and even cracked a joke after she got caught in a wreck and hit the wall hard in her qualifying race at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday.

Her ride didn't fare quite so well.

Racing in the first two 150-mile qualifying races Thursday, Patrick got spun out on the last lap, then hit the inside wall on the backstretch. The wreck demolished the front end of Patrick's car, and she'll have to use a backup in Sunday's Daytona 500.

Daytona 500: Danica Patrick in spotlight

After being released from the infield medical care center, Patrick said she hoped her backup car might be even faster than her primary car. Maybe, she joked, the accident will turn out to be a "blessing in big disguise."

Tony Stewart won the race.

source: cbsnews.com/8301-400_162-57383962/danica-patrick-crashes-in-daytona-qualifier/

Obama energy speech

2012-02-24T02:08:00.002-08:00

Obama energy speech

Obama energy speech_President Barack Obama said Thursday his Republican critics promising immediate lower gas prices are either uninformed or dishonest, and he pledged in a speech to University of Miami students to continue pushing for alternative energy sources.
Framing the issue as "one of the major challenges of your generation," Obama said developing a broad-based energy policy incorporating all sources -- oil, gas, nuclear, solar, wind and alternatives such as algae -- would take years but was essential for the nation's future economic well-being.
His speech came as gas prices soared around the nation, rising 3.3 cents nationwide overnight to $3.61 a gallon, according to AAA.
GOP presidential challenger Newt Gingrich and other Republicans complain Obama is bowing to foreign oil suppliers such as Saudi Arabia and the environmental lobby by not fully exploiting U.S. oil reserves.

At the Republican debate in Arizona on Wednesday night, Gingrich introduced himself by saying he had "developed a program for American energy so no future president will ever bow to a Saudi king again and so every American can look forward to $2.50 a gallon gasoline."
Without naming Gingrich, Obama appeared to target that remark Thursday, saying to cheers that "anyone who tells you we can drill our way out of this problem doesn't know what they're talking about -- or just isn't telling you the truth."
"It's the easiest thing in the world to make phony election-year promises about lower gas prices," Obama said. "What's harder is to make a serious, sustained commitment to tackle a problem. And it won't be solved in one year, it won't be solved in one term, it may not be solved in one decade. But that's the kind of commitment we need right now."

He touted current U.S. oil production as being at its highest level in eight years, and he said U.S. reliance on foreign oil imports has decreased, dropping below 50% in 2010.
Obama also listed steps taken under his energy policy, including approval for new nuclear plants; opening more territory including in the Arctic region to exploration and development; an agreement signed with Mexico this week to cooperate on developing oil and gas reserves along their maritime border; increasing fuel efficiency standards in cars and trucks, and developing alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power.

Because of the new fuel standards, he said, in the middle of the next decade "you'll be able to fill up your car every two weeks instead of every week -- something that, over time, will save the typical family more than $8,000 at the pump."
"And it means this country will reduce our oil consumption by more than 2 million barrels a day," Obama added to applause. "That's not only good for your pocketbook, that's good for the environment."
He also made an obvious reference to the bankrupt Solyndra solar panel company that had received $500 million in federal loan guarantees, saying public investment in new technology doesn't pay off right away.
"Some technologies don't pan out, and some companies will fail," Obama said. "But as long as I'm president, I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy."
Repeating that external factors such as Middle East instability cause fluctuating oil prices, Obama insisted that "there isn't a silver bullet. There never has been."
The rising gas price threatens to slow signs of consistent economic recovery in recent months, and Republican critics have focused on the issue as the November presidential election campaign heats up.
Obama ridiculed that strategy, mentioning a news headline that said the rising gas price has Republicans "licking their chops."
"Only in politics do people root for bad news," Obama said, saying the unlimited oil drilling advocated by Republicans won't solve America's long-term energy needs.
"It's not a strategy to solve our energy challenge," he continued to applause. "It's a strategy to get politicians through an election. You know there are no quick fixes to this problem, and you know we can't just drill our way to lower gas prices."
Before the speech, Obama toured the university's Industrial Assessment Center, where students learn how to help manufacturers reduce energy costs.
The government should support such research and innovation, the president said in his speech, and he called for extending tax credits for consumers who take steps such as improving their home energy efficiency.
"This Congress needs to renew the clean energy tax credits that will lead to more jobs and less dependence on foreign oil," Obama said.
He also called for ending billions of dollars in tax subsidies for oil companies.
"These are the same oil companies that have been making record profits off the money you spend at the pump for several years," Obama said. "How do they deserve another $4 billion in subsidies from taxpayers? It's outrageous. It's inexcusable."
In another dig at Republican opponents, Obama added that "every politician who's been fighting to keep these subsidies in place should explain to the American people why the oil industry needs more of their money, especially at a time like this."

source: cnn

Nissan Recalls Nearly 250,000 Vehicles Worldwide

2012-02-24T02:03:00.000-08:00

Nissan Recalls Nearly 250,000 Vehicles Worldwide

Nissan Recalls Nearly 250,000 Vehicles Worldwide_ Nissan Motor Co said on Wednesday it would recall about 250,000 Juke, Infiniti M, March and other models globally to fix a mechanical glitch in the fuel rail of direct injection engines that could lead to a fuel leak in extreme cases.

No accident or injury has been reported due to the fault, a Nissan spokesman said.

Subject to the recalls are some Juke crossovers produced in Britain, Tiida subcompact cars made in China, March/Micra hatchbacks made in India, as well as Serena minivans and the Infiniti M and QX models produced in Japan between August 2009 and January 2012. About 93,000 of the recalls are in Japan.

source: reuters

Ryan Braun appeal

2012-02-24T01:59:00.000-08:00

Ryan Braun appeal

Ryan Braun appeal_National League MVP Ryan Braun's 50-game suspension was overturned Thursday by baseball arbitrator Shyam Das, and sources told ESPN that Major League Baseball is weighing the possibility of suing in federal court to reverse the decision.

Braun's case marks the first time a baseball player has successfully challenged a drug-related penalty in a grievance.

The decision was announced Thursday by the Major League Baseball Players Association, one day before the 28-year-old outfielder was due to report to spring training with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Braun tested positive in October for elevated testosterone, and ESPN's "Outside The Lines" revealed the positive test in December.

"I am very pleased and relieved by today's decision," Braun said in a statement. "It is the first step in restoring my good name and reputation. We were able to get through this because I am innocent and the truth is on our side.

"We provided complete cooperation throughout, despite the highly unusual circumstances. I have been an open book, willing to share details from every aspect of my life as part of this investigation, because I have nothing to hide. I have passed over 25 drug tests in my career, including at least three in the past year."

Two sources told ESPN that Braun testified he never used performance-enhancing drugs, but that he and his representatives never disputed the fact that a second test on his urine sample showed exogenous testosterone in his body, meaning it came from an outside source.

Braun didn't argue evidence of tampering and didn't dispute the science, but argued protocol had not been followed. Multiple sources confirmed to ESPN investigative reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and T.J. Quinn that Braun questioned the chain of custody and collection procedure.

MLB officials, however, argued that there was no question about the chain of custody or the integrity of the sample, and that Braun's representatives did not argue that the test itself was faulty.

According to one of the sources, the collector, after getting Braun's sample, was supposed to take the sample to a FedEx office for shipping.

But sources said the collector thought the FedEx office was closed because it was late on a Saturday and felt the sample wouldn't get shipped until Monday.

As has occurred in some other instances, the collector took the sample home and kept it in a cool place, in his basement at his residence in Wisconsin, according to multiple sources.

Policy states the sample is supposed to get to FedEx as soon as possible.

Braun's initial T/E ratio was more than 20:1. Sources previously confirmed synthetic testosterone in his system.

Sources said MLB is livid and is evaluating the possibility of suing in federal court to have Das' decision overturned, but that they did not expect a decision to be made until after Das issues his written report within the next week or so and MLB lawyers have a chance to review it. There are very limited grounds by which either party could sue, but sources said MLB officials believe Das' ruling was based on a faulty reading of the policy.

Braun's representatives are saying there was a difference in the ph balance of Braun's sample when it was taken at the time of the test and when it arrived at the lab in Montreal. A source said the director of the Montreal Olympic doping lab, Christiane Ayotte, testified during the hearing that it was not unusual for the balance to be different, as the equipment used in the field is not as sophisticated and accurate as the equipment in the lab. She also said she did not question the integrity of the sample and that it arrived with all seals intact.

Sources told Quinn and Fainaru-Wada the seals were totally intact and testing never reflected any degradation of the sample. Based on the World Anti-Doping Agency code, this is exactly what would have been expected to happen, and the collector took the proper action, the source said.

The source also noted that synthetic testosterone doesn't show up just because a sample sits in one place or another.

Travis Tygart, chief executive officer of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, called the decision "a real gut-kick to clean athletes."

"To have this sort of technicality of all technicalities let a player off ... it's just a sad day for all the clean players and those that abide by the rules within professional baseball," he said.

The players' association did not supply reasoning behind Thursday's decision.

A person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that, after being informed of the positive result, Braun asked to have another urine test taken, and that the second test was within normal range.

An evidentiary hearing on Braun's appeal was held Jan. 19-20 in New York, ending the day before the player accepted the NL MVP award at a black-tie dinner.

"Today the arbitration panel announced its decision, by a 2-1 vote, to sustain Ryan Braun's grievance challenging his 50-game suspension by the commissioner's office," a statement from the players' association said.

MLB executive vice president Rob Manfred and union head Michael Weiner are part of the arbitration panel, and management and the union almost always split their votes, leaving Das, the independent panel member, to make the decision.

Manfred said management disagreed with the decision by Das. It is the first time a drug suspension has been overturned in a grievance, baseball officials said.

"It has always been Major League Baseball's position that no matter who tests positive, we will exhaust all avenues in pursuit of the appropriate discipline. We have been true to that position in every instance, because baseball fans deserve nothing less," Manfred said. "As a part of our drug testing program, the commissioner's office and the players' association agreed to a neutral third party review for instances that are under dispute. While we have always respected that process, Major League Baseball vehemently disagrees with the decision rendered today by arbitrator Shyam Das."

Attempts by ESPN to reach Das have been unsuccessful.

Braun hit .312 with 33 homers and 111 RBIs last year, and led Milwaukee to the NL Championship Series, where the Brewers lost to the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Brewers are counting on his offense following the departure of Prince Fielder, who became a free agent and signed with the Detroit Tigers.

Braun already was signed through 2015 when the Brewers gave him a new deal running through 2020 that added $105 million and guaranteed him a total of $145.5 million over a decade.

"MLB and cable sports tried to sully the reputation of an innocent man," Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said on Twitter. "Picked the wrong guy to mess with. Truth will set u free #exonerated."

Brewers closer John Axford added on Twitter: "All I can say is that Braun has exemplary character is continuing to handle this in an unbelievable manner."

Positive tests for performance-enhancing drugs have been relatively rare under the major league testing program, with just two others in 2011: Tampa Bay outfielder Manny Ramirez and Colorado Rockies catcher Eliezer Alfonzo. Ramirez at first retired rather than face a 100-game suspension for a second positive test. Wanting to return this year, he is serving a 50-game penalty -- the length was shortened because he missed most of last year.

"I just did a few shirtless cartwheels to show my excitement," Brewers teammate Corey Hart said in a text message.

Brewers owner Mark Attanasio was also pleased his best player was vindicated.

"Since joining our organization in 2005, Ryan Braun has been a model citizen and a person of character and integrity. Knowing Ryan as I do, I always believed he would succeed in his appeal," Attanasio said in a statement. "It is unfortunate that the confidentiality of the program was compromised, and we thank our fans and everyone who supported Ryan and did not rush to judgment."

source: espn

7 Marines Killed

2012-02-24T01:52:00.000-08:00

7 Marines Killed

7 Marines Killed_Seven Marines were killed late Wednesday in a collision of two helicopters near Yuma, Ariz., during night training exercises, the Marine Corps said Thursday.

Lt. Maureen Dooley with Miramar Air Base in California said the service members with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing were based at Camp Pendleton north of San Diego. The crash involved an AH-1W "Cobra" and UH-1 "Huey" helicopter, she said.

The aircraft collided in a remote portion of the Yuma Training Range Complex.
"We're still gathering a lot of details as the sun comes up," Dooley said.
It will be at least 24 hours before the Marine Corps releases the names of those killed, she said.
Capt. Staci Reidinger, director of public affairs at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma said earlier Thursday that the crash happened west of the Chocolate Mountains in California, though the exact location hasn't been confirmed.
"It's not in a populated area," she said.

Several accidents have happened in the past year involving Marine Corps training in Southern California.
In September, a helicopter went down during a training exercise at Camp Pendleton, killed the two Marines onboard and set off a fast-moving brush fire at Camp Pendleton.
In August, two Marines were ejected from their F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet as it plunged toward the Pacific Ocean. The two Marines spent four hours in the dark, chilly ocean before they were rescued. Both suffered broken but survived.

In July, a decorated Marine from western New York was killed during a training exercise when his UH-1Y helicopter went down in a remote section of Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego.
Another Hornet sustained at least $1 million damage when its engine caught fire on March 30 aboard the USS John C. Stennis during a training exercise about 100 miles off the San Diego coast. Eight sailors, a Marine and two civilians were injured.

A decade ago, in February 2002, a helicopter crash in the Chocolate Mountains in eastern Imperial County, Calif., killed two Camp Pendleton Marines and injured two others. The UH-1N "Huey" was on a routine training mission in the Naval gunnery range.

source: yahoo

J.K. Rowling Plans New Novel—For Adults

2012-02-24T01:46:00.000-08:00

J.K. Rowling Plans New Novel—For Adults

J.K. Rowling Plans New Novel—For Adults_Adult fans of J.K. Rowling can rejoice: She has a new novel coming, for grownups.The kids will have to wait and see.

The author of the mega-selling "Harry Potter" series has an agreement with Little, Brown in the United States and Britain to release her first adult novel, the publishers announced Thursday. The title, release date and details about the book, long rumored, were not announced. A neighbor of Rowling's in Edinburgh, author Ian Rankin, tweeted Thursday that he thinks Rowling has written a mystery novel.
"Wouldn't it be funny if J.K. Rowling's first novel for adults turned out to be a crime story set in Edinburgh?" Rankin wrote. "My word yes."

Her seventh and final Potter story came out in 2007, and in recent years the British author has said that she was working on an adult book and on a Potter encyclopedia. Rowling's Potter books, which broke sales records around the world, were published by Bloomsbury in Britain and Scholastic in the U.S. Rowling will now share the same publisher with Stephenie Meyer, whose "Twilight" series at least partially filled the gap opened by the conclusion of the Potter stories.
"Although I've enjoyed writing it every bit as much, my next book will be very different to the Harry Potter series, which has been published so brilliantly by Bloomsbury and my other publishers around the world," Rowling, 46, said in a statement released by Little, Brown. "The freedom to explore new territory is a gift that Harry's success has brought me, and with that new territory it seemed a logical progression to have a new publisher. I am delighted to have a second publishing home in Little, Brown, and a publishing team that will be a great partner in this new phase of my writing life."

Rowling's agent, Neil Blair, would not disclose financial details of the deal but said there had been no auction. He said Thursday that Rowling was remaining with Bloomsbury in Britain for the Harry Potter books.
"As her new book is for a different audience, and marks a new literary direction for her, it made sense to separate the two and for her new book to be launched by a different publisher," said Blair.
Blair became Rowling's literary agent last year when she left the Christopher Little Literary Agency, where Blair had worked. Bloomsbury said its 15-year relationship with Rowling "remains stronger than ever" — and new editions of the seven novels were on the way. Some 450 million copies of the seven Potter stories are in print and the books have been translated into 74 languages. A billion-dollar movie franchise, starring Daniel Radcliffe as the young wizard, ended last year.
"We are pleased to announce that as part of our long term strategy for Harry Potter we intend to publish illustrated editions of all seven Harry Potter books in a rolling program from 2013 onwards in addition to our partnership on e-books with the Pottermore website," the publisher said in a statement. In the U.S., Scholastic spokeswoman Kyle Good noted that Scholastic didn't publish adult books.
"We will continue to publish her children's books in the U.S.," Good said Thursday.

Any Rowling book would seem a guaranteed million seller, although it's questionable that her new novel will have the same mass appeal as Potter. Adult authors from E.B. White to Sherman Alexie have nicely managed the transition to writing for young people but, once a writer is defined as a children's author, the transition can be tricky. Winnie the Pooh creator A.A. Milne, a successful playwright in his early years, once confessed that he was forced to say "goodbye to all that" after his beloved books about the bear and friends. Margaret Wise Brown, author of the classic "Goodnight Moon," tried for years to write stories for The New Yorker.
Daniel Handler of "Lemony Snicket" fame and Ann Brashares, author of the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" novels, are among the recent popular writers for children who have had limited success as adult writers.
But Rowling does begin with one advantage: The Potter books had an enormous following among readers of all ages and she is widely credited with revealing to publishers that children's books were no longer just for the young. Meyer's vampire novels and Suzanne Collins' "Hunger Games" trilogy also have caught on with both parents and kids. Meyer herself wrote an adult book, "The Host," a best-seller in 2008.
"It would just be cool if my existing fans liked it," Meyer told The Associated Press in 2008. "And I hope to get some new readers who would never go into the YA (Young Adult) shelves."
Beth Puffer, director of the Manhattan-based children's bookseller Bank Street Bookstore, said she'd have to see the novel before deciding where or whether to stock it.
"I assume if it's written for adults, it's not appropriate for children," said Puffer, who added that she might stock the book in a section for ages 14 and up. "There are a lot of former children and young adults who grew up with Harry Potter and they would likely be an audience for her new book. You also have all the adults who loved the Potter books."
One of Rowling's most passionate fans, Melissa Anelli, said she was beyond herself "with excitement." Anelli, 32, runs a leading Potter/Rowling fan site, http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org .
"J.K. Rowling is simply a great writer, and no matter what she applies her talents to, we will anticipate and enjoy it," Anelli wrote in an email. "I'm also so intrigued by this process: What will happen as the world's greatest children's/YA author navigates the new publishing landscape and publishes for a new audience?"
Rowling's novel will be available in both print and electronic formats. The author held out for years on allowing the Potter books to come out digitally, but announced in 2011 that Potter e-books would be sold through her own "Pottermore" website. The books were supposed to become available last fall, but have been delayed until sometime this year.

source: yahoo

Sarah Palin Aide On HBO's 'Game Change': 'This Is Sick'

2012-02-24T01:39:00.000-08:00

Sarah Palin Aide On HBO's 'Game Change': 'This Is Sick'

Sarah Palin Aide On HBO's 'Game Change': 'This Is Sick'_Current and former aides to Sarah Palin lashed out Wednesday at HBO’s “Game Change,” describing the upcoming film’s depictions of her on the 2008 campaign trail as “sick” and inaccurate.

None of the aides said they have yet seen the movie, which debuts March 10, and some said they had asked for an opportunity to screen the film but had been denied.

Trailers for the film, which is based on the bestselling book chronicling the 2008 presidential race, have been released, however, and some snippets appear to cast Palin in an unfavorable light. As portrayed by Julianne Moore, Palin is seen complaining about how she’s being handled by political advisers and mumbling about missing her baby, who was born in April 2008. In one snippet, campaign strategist Steve Schmidt, portrayed by Woody Harrelson, describes her as being on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Aides said none of that jibes with their own experiences with the former Alaska governor, and they defended her vigorously Wednesday.

Jason Recher, who handled vice presidential road operations for the McCain-Palin campaign, called Palin “one of the most engaged public servants I’d ever observed.” Tom Van Flein, her former personal attorney, called her diligent, sharp and enthusiastic about the campaign.

Meg Stapleton, a former spokeswoman, said that she, unlike some of the others who worked with Palin during the campaign, had not been contacted by anyone associated with either the book or movie.

“They don’t want to hear anything good,” she said, her voice full of passion. “We all know Palin sells and the dramatization of Palin sells even more. This is sick.”

“They mock Gov. Palin, you mock Gov. Palin, as weak and unable to cope and press forward,” she told reporters on the conference call. “And the movie and the trailer ... say that. And yet look with your own eyes at what she and her family have endured and inspired over the last few years. Any lesser man would have hanged himself by now. So who’s weak?”

Recher noted that Palin wasn’t the primary focus of the book, and he said he told screenwriter and co-executive producer Danny Strong that the book “absolutely, unequivocally” did not accurately reflect his time with the McCain campaign.

Filmmakers have said that they sought historical accuracy.

Director Jay Roach last month said he wrote a long letter to Palin seeking an interview with her to help the film, “but I got a very quick email back from her attorney saying, ‘I checked, she declined.”’

Strong, in an email, acknowledged that members of Palin’s camp asked to screen the film but said filmmakers responded that they would privately screen the movie for Palin and her husband. He said Sarah Palin declined the offer.

The film portrays Palin “in a balanced light,” he said, “showing her strengths and weaknesses as the vice presidential candidate.”

In addition to the book, Strong said the movie is also based on 25 interviews conducted with members of the campaign by himself and Roach. He said secondary sources include Sarah Palin’s book “Going Rogue,” other books written on the campaign and “innumerable” newspaper and magazine articles.

Palin did not participate in Wednesday’s call. Tim Crawford, the treasurer of the political action committee SarahPAC, who facilitated the call, said Palin is on the record as considering the movie a false narrative, and wrote about her experiences in one of her books.

Read more:nydailynews

Pope on twitter

2012-02-24T01:34:00.000-08:00

Pope on twitter

Pope on twitter,Pope Benedict XVI is bringing a segment of his daily papal message to Twitter, beginning Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, according to a Vatican Radio blog post.
The reason? In its post, the Vatican says that while some Catholics view Lent as a time to volunteer, give something up or study the Bible, others have abandoned the season:

"In our increasingly secular societies, many young people no longer keep the Lenten season in any special way – that’s why the Pontifical Council for Social Communications has come up with a new idea to focus hearts and minds on the challenges contained in Pope Benedict’s Lenten message for 2012.
'Starting on Ash Wednesday, themes from that papal message will be posted on Twitter each day during Lent and over the coming months other papal speeches and documents are likely to be tweeted in a similar way, hoping to attract the media-savvy generation and entice them to find out more.'"

In other words, the Pope is hoping the Vatican's Twitter presence can attract those who are not currently engaged with religion.

In other words, the Pope is hoping the Vatican's Twitter presence can attract those who are not currently engaged with religion.

Msgr. Paul Tighe, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, says Twitter is the ideal medium for religious messages because “many of the key Gospel ideas are readily rendered in 140 characters.”
The Pope's relationship with social media has been mixed. The Vatican has launched a YouTube Channel, iPhone app and web portal during Benedict XVI's papacy.
While he is on Twitter, and recently lit a Christmas tree using an Android tablet, the Pope also issued a statement asking social media to quieten down, in favor of listening.

source: here

Zac Efron Condom

2012-02-24T01:27:00.000-08:00

Zac Efron Condom

Zac Efron Condom_Zac Efron'smouthed, "Oh, my god!" when a condom accidentally fell out of Zac Efron's pocket on the red carpet at the premiere of The Lorax in L.A. Sunday.Zac Efron got a little careless on the carpet at the premiere of ‘Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax’ in Los Angeles. He stars with Taylor Swift in the animated movie.

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Well, this sure ain’t high school — or a musical — anymore.

Zac Efron walked the orange carpet at the L.A. premiere of his latest family-friendly flick, “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax,” last weekend and accidentally dropped a not-so-family-friendly personal item on the ground for all to see.

In a video that is quickly making its rounds online, the former “High School Musical” star, now 24, appears to drop a small, shiny gold condom package as he reaches into his pocket to hand off a few things to someone just off the carpet.

Though it hasn’t been verified that the item in question was indeed a condom, the actor’s blushing reaction as he quickly picked up the misplaced square packet seemed to confirm what his publicists have not.

Efron is seen mouthing the words “Oh my God!" presumably to his publicist before taking a deep breath and donning his stunner shades to face the paparazzi.

He brings fist to mouth as he stifles a nervous laugh, then continues with the event.

The former Disney star plays opposite Taylor Swift in the animated film, but he’s most recently been linked to actress Lily Collins, 22.

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Sacha Baron Cohen

2012-02-24T01:18:00.000-08:00

Sacha Baron Cohen

Sacha Baron Cohen_Sacha Baron Cohen BANNED From Oscars 2012

The actor's tickets for Sunday's 84th Academy Awards ceremony have been rescinded amid fears he would attend in full costume as the character from HIS upcoming flick "The Dictator," Deadline.com reported.

The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is concerned that, on Sunday, Sacha Baron Cohen will come to the Oscars and walk the Red Carpet. While ordinarily that would be fine since he’s a big international star, the Academy is dismayed that he’ll come dressed as the title character in his upcoming Paramount comedy The Dictator. That proposal has been floated with the Academy, and I’m told that everyone involved in the ceremony is adamantly against it on the grounds that it makes a mockery of what Hollywood considers its most prestigious event.

An Oscars spokesperson acknowledges the rumors but isn’t sure if it’s actually going to happen. Said the spokesperson: “We would hope that every studio knows that this is a bad idea. The Red Carpet is not about stunting.” I’ve heard his plan is to come dressed as The Dictator and then change into a tux and attend the Oscars. He’s not scheduled to present an award, but he could certainly arrive as part of the Paramount contingent. That studio has a Best Picture nominee in the Martin Scorsese-directed Hugo. Why the subterfuge? Because at 2007′s Oscars, Baron Cohen was asked to be a presenter and said he would do it only if he could be in character as Borat. And The Powers That Be said, “No way.”

But purists feel that the Oscars is no place for such in your face promotion. The Academy hasn’t even allowed movies to be advertised during the Oscarcast, until this year. While it will certainly be interesting to hear his answer when the Red Carpet’s TV hosts ask who he’s wearing, Baron Cohen would be pushing the envelope. Then again, since the change in producers was made, these Oscars have been incredibly sedate. The prospect of Baron Cohen’s Red Carpet walk is the closest thing to drama I’ve heard about this show.

This would not be Baron Cohen’s first time upstaging an awards show. To promote Bruno, he flew through the air at the MTV Movie Awards and landed with his crotch in the face of Eminem, who later admitted the stunt was rehearsed. And a trailer for The Dictator certainly was one of the raciest ever allowed by the MPAA during the Super Bowl, where Baron Cohen’s character was hilariously depicted running a competitive race while and leg-shooting rivals with a starter pistol as they got close to him.

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Michael Jordan Suing Chinese Company

2012-02-24T01:07:00.002-08:00

Michael Jordan Suing Chinese Company

Michael Jordan Suing Chinese Company _Michael Jordan basketball player sued a Chinese maker of sportswear and shoes for unauthorized use of his name.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame recipient and former Chicago Bulls star said on Thursday that Qiaodan Sports, a company located in the southern Fujian province, had built its business around his Chinese name and jersey number without his permission.

"It is deeply disappointing to see a company build a business off my Chinese name without my permission, use the number 23 and even attempt to use the names of my children," Jordan said in a statement.

"This complaint is not about money. It's about principle and protecting my name," he added.

Jordan is known as Qiaodan in basketball-mad China that has produced its own basketball superstar in Yao Ming. The moniker was registered by Qiaodan Sports, the statement said. It did not specify what compensation Jordan was seeking from the company.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Chinese company defended its use of the name.

"Qiaodan is a trademark registered under the Chinese law by our company and the legitimate use of the trademark is protected," Qiaodan Sports said in emailed comments.

Over the past few years, the company has become the Olympic partner of Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. And in 2010, it became the official partner of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

Jordan filed the case on Tuesday in a Chinese court.

NBA breakout star Jeremy Lin may face similar issues in China further down the road as a woman in the eastern province of Jiangsu has already registered his name, in Chinese characters, as a trademark, the Shanghai Daily newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Lin himself is applying for a trademark in the United States to the term "Linsanity", which is widely used to describe his meteoric rise to fame, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office website.

Apple Inc (AAPL.O) faces similar legal tangles in China. On Thursday, a Shanghai court denied a request in a trademark case by Chinese technology firm Proview Technology (Shenzhen) to stop Apple from selling its iPad tablet in the city.

Proview claims it owns the iPad trademark in China, while Apple says the trademark was bought from the firm years ago.

Steelers Consider Franchise Tag to Keep Mike Wallace

2012-02-24T00:59:00.000-08:00

Steelers Consider Franchise Tag to Keep Mike Wallace

Steelers Consider Franchise Tag to Keep Mike Wallace_Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert sounds determined to keep big-play wide receiver Mike Wallace, one of the top restricted free agents in the NFL.

"We want Mike to finish his career with the Steelers," Colbert told reporters Thursday at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. "We think he's only scratched the surface of what he can do."

But Colbert wouldn't reveal how the salary cap-strapped Steelers plan on keeping him. If the Steelers place a first-round tender on the 25-year-old Wallace, another team can pry him away by extending an offer that the Steelers can't match. The New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals have been mentioned as teams that would be interested in Wallace.

Pittsburgh would be less vulnerable if it uses the franchise tag on Wallace, but that would cost the Steelers $9.6 million for this season. The Steelers saved $8 million in cap space Thursday by restructuring quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's contract, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Pittsburgh was an estimated $8 million over the cap before reworking Roethlisberger's contract and will have to trim even more space in order to use the franchise tag on Wallace.

Colbert said the Steelers would use the first-round tender at the very least and mentioned that the franchise tag remains a possibility.

"Having a great player like Mike Wallace is not a dilemma," Colbert said. "We're going to do everything we can to make sure that Mike Wallace remains a Pittsburgh Steeler and I think that's Mike's belief as well. Usually when you have two parties that share the same goal, it's easier to achieve that goal."

Wallace, taken by the Steelers in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft, acknowledged on Wednesday that he might not be playing for Pittsburgh this season.

"(Pittsburgh is) where I would like to be, but we all know that it is a business and you have certain things you have to handle," Wallace told SiriusXM NFL Radio. "So if I have to go elsewhere, you know Pittsburgh will always be in my heart, but I have to do what I have to do."

Wallace had 1,193 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 2011 and was selected to his first Pro Bowl. He's led the Steelers in receiving touchdowns the past two seasons after tying for the team lead as a rookie.

This is the second time in six months Roethlisberger has reworked the eight-year, $102 million deal he signed in 2008. He deferred some of his salary last August to make sure the Steelers could get under the $120.4 million cap last season. He was scheduled to make $11.6 million in 2012 but the new deal will save the Steelers several million next season.

Linebackers LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons and cornerback Ike Taylor -- all of whom signed new contracts last summer -- have already agreed to restructured deals.
Watch:

source: espn

Savannah Hardin Punished to Death

2012-02-24T00:54:00.000-08:00

Savannah Hardin Punished to Death

Savannah Hardin Punished to Death_Police have charged two women for the death of 9-year-old Savannah Hardin who ran to her death in Alabama Monday.

As punishment for eating a candy bar on the school bus, Savannah was forced to run for three hours by her grandmother Joyce Hardin Garrard, and stepmother Jessica Hardin. As a result of the punishment, the 9-year-old collapsed and later died.

Jessica Hardin called police following Savannah's run Friday evening reporting that the child was having a seizure and unresponsive.

Savannah died Monday at the Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., according to a news release from the Etowah County Sheriff's Office. The report also revealed autopsy findings that the girl was severely dehydrated and had a very low sodium level. An Alabama pathologist ruled her death as a homicide.

Eyewitness Roger Simpson told police he saw a young girl running on Friday.

"I saw her running down there [the road] that's what I told the detectives," said Simpson, according to The Associated Press. "But I didn't see anybody chasing or coercing her."

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Authorities are trying to determine if Savannah was running because of verbal commands or by physical force.

Eating the candy bar may have worsened a possible bladder condition Savannah suffered from, one official told WBRC-TV.

Savannah's stepmother and grandmother are both being held on $500,000 bond in the Etowah County Jail. Shortly after being arrested, pregnant Jessica Hardin delivered her child in a local hospital while under guard of deputies, the TV station WBRC reported.

Savannah's father made it to his daughter's side just four hours before she died, reported New York Daily News.

At Savannah's school, Carlisle Elementary, students and teachers left notes and pictures on her desk as part of a memorial for their student and classmate on Wednesday.

Principal Donna Johnson said that Savannah's absence has been felt every moment since her death.

"I think the hardest part is seeing that one class line up and there is one missing… Even her teacher counts every time they go to the restroom," explained Principal Johnson speaking to WBRC. "They come back and see if everyone is out. It's a reminder that Savannah is not there and that's very hard for her. I can just see it on her face."

Johnson noted, "All that I hold on to at this point is that many people loved her and that she knew Jesus loved her."

source: christianpost

Honda minivan recall

2012-02-23T10:50:00.000-08:00

Honda minivan recall

Honda is recalling nearly 46,000 Odyssey minivans because the rear doors can fall on people unexpectedly, and have on at least two occasions.
The problem affects minivans from the 2008 and 2009 model years that have power lift gates.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says on its website that gas can leak out of the struts that support the lift gates. The doors could close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injuries.

Honda says the problem has caused two minor injuries. The company will replace both power liftgate struts for free.

Honda will send letters to van owners next month with instructions about the recall.

After Honda has been informed on several occasions that its Odyssey minivans present some glitches with the rear doors, the company finally decided to take action. As a result, 46,000 Honda Odyssey minivans are recalled in the United States. Find out which models are subjected to the recall.

According to a report published by the Associated Press, Honda announced it recalls 46,000 of its Odyssey minivans over concerns that its rear doors can cause victims. In fact, it seems that there have been at least two situations, so far, when an Odyssey minivan’s rear doors have fallen on people without notice.U.S. authorities informed this Wednesday that the Japanese automaker Honda is currently checking out several thousands of Odyssey minivans models dating back to 2008 and 2009. The reason behind the recall is to fix a glitch with the power tailgate.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website published a statement saying that Honda’s minivans are recalled to fix a “manufacturing flaw” in the pressurized gas filled struts. These are used to operate the lift gate in vehicles that employ the system. The authority warned that the glitch increases “the risk of personal injury” as there is the potential hazard of gas leaks.

As of March, owners of the 2008 – 2009 Odyssey minivans will receive instructions from Honda regarding the recall. The actual operation will begin March 13 but you can call Honda at 1-800-999-1009 for more information on the matter.

This is not the first time Honda’s minivans come up with glitches. The NHTSA has previously asked Honda to address the issue of what it called an “unreasonable risk of injury”. In 2009, Honda was advised to recall 22,000 Odyssey minivans dating back to year of production 2005, but the automaker refused.

The Japanese company argued that “it respectfully declines the staff’s request for a safety recall of these vehicles”, adding that in their opinion the struts’ glitch was just an inconvenience and not a safety flaw.

However, one year later, Honda initiated a safety improvement campaign. In other words, it did fix the glitch for free and affected owners got new struts.

Honda is recalling some of its previous-generation Odyssey minivans due to potentially faulty gas-filled struts on vehicles equipped with a power rear liftgate. A total of 45,747 vehicles are affected by this recall, all of which are from the 2008 and 2009 model years.

According to the official release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the faulty struts in these vehicles are prone to early life failures due to a "manufacturing flaw" (that's as specific as it gets), an issue that can result in the leak of pressurized gas. These struts aid in opening and closing the power liftgate, and if there isn't enough pressurized gas in the strut, performance can be diminished and can lead to unexpected liftgate closure, potentially causing an injury.

Honda will notify its owners beginning in mid-March, and dealers will replace both gas struts free of charge. For the full details, follow the jump to read NHTSA's report.

Depression migraines

2012-02-23T10:48:00.000-08:00

Depression migraines

Depression migraines, Tricia Stream was 15 when she got her first migraine.

"It felt like someone was tightening a C-clamp on my head and banging my temples with a hammer," said Stream, now 31, who lives in San Jose, Calif.

As Stream got older, her migraines became more intense and more frequent. By her junior year of college, she was getting them every other day. And they were getting her down.

"I just wanted to lie in a dark room and not talk to anyone," said Stream, describing the extreme aversion to light and sound and debilitating pain that would send her into fetal position. "I became very much withdrawn and wasn't really eating. That's when my roommate said, 'You need to talk to someone.'"

Stream talked to a doctor who diagnosed her with depression, a mood disorder often linked to migraines. According to a new study, women with a history of migraines are up to 41 percent more likely to develop depression than their migraine-free counterparts.

"Our study shows that migraine is a potential risk factor for depression," said study author Dr. Tobias Kurth, a neuroepidemiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital. "If you have a chronic intermittent pain condition, you may be more likely to develop depressive symptoms or even depression because you're so bothered by the pain. And it's also possible the conditions share similar pathophysiological features in the brain."

The study followed 36,154 women, 6,456 of whom had a history of migraines. Over an average 14 years, 3,971 women developed depression -- a diagnosis much more common among migraine sufferers. Kurth and colleagues will present their results in April at the American Academy of Neurology's 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

Dr. Joel Saper, director of the Michigan Headache and Neurological Institute, said the study confirms a long-suspected link between migraines and depression.

"They can intermingle with each other, and they can masquerade each other," said Saper, adding that both conditions have genetic roots. "And having one makes the other one worse."

Previous studies have found people with depression are more likely to get migraines, suggesting the risk goes both ways.

"It emphasizes the importance of treating both conditions at the same time," said Saper. "Sometimes we can treat both with the same medication."

When Stream started taking Zoloft for her depression, she was delighted to find the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor also reduced the frequency of her migraines.

"I get them maybe every other month, or even every three months now," said Stream, whose depressive symptoms have also waned.

Five years ago, Stream tried to wean herself off Zoloft.

"It did not go well," she said. "I started to get sick and very dizzy, and my migraines came back. My doctor said, 'Nope, sorry. You're a lifer.'"

Migraine and depression are more common in women than in men, which Saper attributes to fluctuations in estrogen.

"Estrogen makes both of these worse," he said, describing the headaches and mood changes often triggered by the menstrual cycle. "Women are more prone to depression and more prone to migraines, and women who take oral contraceptives are often worse off."

Stream said her migraines were worse when she was on the pill, and stress was the biggest trigger.

Although she still gets the odd migraine, and "they still suck," Stream is a happy working mother of healthy twin boys, who were born three months premature in 2010.

"Talk about a stress trigger for a migraine," she said.

Source: abcnews

FDA Panel Backs Weight Loss Drug Qnexa

2012-02-23T10:44:00.002-08:00

FDA Panel Backs Weight Loss Drug Qnexa

FDA Panel Backs Weight Loss Drug Qnexa, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to take a second look at the weight loss pill Qnexa on Wednesday, after initially rejecting it because of concerns about heart problems and possible birth defects.
While effective at reducing weight, the drug, manufactured by Vivus Inc., was denied approval in 2010 because of its potential side effects. An FDA advisory panel will now review two years of data; when advisers last voted on Qnexa, only one year's worth of follow-up data was available.
The drug combines the appetite suppressant phentermine and the anti-seizure/migraine drug topiramate. Phentermine was once widely prescribed as the "phen" part of the fen-phen weight loss drug. This combo was withdrawn from the market after its use was linked to high blood pressure in the lungs and heart valve disease. The problems were related to the "fen" or fenfluramine part of the combination, not the phentermine.

No new weight-loss drug has been approved in the United States in the past 13 years, according to published reports. As it stands, Xenical is the only FDA-approved drug specifically for long-term use -- up to a year -- for weight loss. Xenical is sold over-the-counter as Alli. However, other drugs may be used off label to promote weight loss.Last April, a study funded by Vivus found that obese patients taking Qnexa lost an average 22 pounds over a year, while also lowering their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Dr. Louis Aronne, founder and director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City, is cautiously optimistic that Vivus did a good job responding to FDA safety concerns, and that the FDA will give the drug its nod of approval, with some caveats. Aronne was not involved in the trials but has been an adviser to Vivus and other companies developing weight loss medications.
"I am not as pessimistic as most people," he said.
Vivus has reported that Qnexa may increase the risk of cleft lip in babies of women who use the drug while pregnant. Aronne said the birth defect concern could be addressed through education on who should and should not use the new drug.
"We have learned our lessons with weight loss drugs," he said. "They need to be used in the right people under the right circumstances." The heart risks need to be weighed against reductions in heart disease risk factors that come with weight loss, he said.
Qnexa is not any riskier than bariatric surgery, according to Aronne. "The problem is that it can be distributed more widely," he said. He hopes for a compromise that allows the new compound to be prescribed, but not misused. "Once new medications are approved, local medical boards will need to enforce rules and make sure these medications are prescribed appropriately to the right candidates," he said. "We don't want to open up pill mills."
One thing is clear, he said: More options to treat obesity are needed. "For hypertension, there are 120 medications in nine categories," Aronne said. "We need new options and we need to get physicians thinking about obesity and obesity treatments."
Dr. Scott Kahan, an obesity expert at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness in Washington, D.C., agreed. He is optimistic about the FDA's upcoming decision on Qnexa. "The weight loss effects are striking and approaching the amount of weight loss over two years that we get with bariatric surgery," he said. "This is really impressive."

Source: yahoo

Jamie lee curtis and ncis

2012-02-23T10:43:00.002-08:00

Jamie lee curtis and ncis

Jamie lee curtis and ncis, Jamie Lee Curtis made a welcome return to television Tuesday night, guest-starring on "NCIS" (Tue., 8 p.m. EST on CBS) as a potential new love interest for Special Agent Gibbs (Mark Harmon).

She played Dr. Samantha Ryan, who was working with the "NCIS" agents to investigate the alleged suicide of Navy reservist and psychiatrist Dr. Robert Banks.

However, as the case progressed she found herself taking more than a professional interest in Gibbs.

Finding herself awake in the wee hours, Ryan decided to take the initiative and call him up. As they flirted on the phone the sexual chemistry between the two was palpable and she asked if he wanted to have breakfast there and then.

To which Gibbs asked, "Are you asking me on a date, Ryan?" Her response? "It's the middle of the night, Gibbs. You tell me."

Jamie Lee Curtis will be back for more next week on "NCIS." Tune in to see if Gibbs and Ryan get it on, Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST on CBS.

TV Replay scours the vast television landscape to find the most interesting, amusing, and, on a good day, amazing moments, and delivers them right to your browser.

Howard stern and america's got talent

2012-02-23T10:42:00.000-08:00

Howard stern and america's got talent

Howard stern and america's got talent, Howard Stern has finally started to film the audition rounds for "America's Got Talent" this season, and we are already learning one thing above all else -- judging people you've never met with big dreams is not always easy.

As a matter of fact, Stern told "Access Hollywood" that there were some challenges with this show that he never saw coming:

"It is way harder then you'd ever think. I hit the buzzer on a nine-year old the other day for the first time in my life. I wanted to go straight to hell in a hand basket."

Stern said that he didn't feel like he found the next great talent on the first day, but he claimed that he did meet his worst nightmare in an impersonator who looked just like him.

Are you excited to see Howard on the show?

More "America's Got Talent" news

Blue skinned people of kentucky

2012-02-23T10:41:00.002-08:00

Blue-skinned people of kentucky

Blue-skinned people of kentucky, Benjamin "Benjy" Stacy so frightened maternity doctors with the color of his skin -- "as Blue as Lake Louise" -- that he was rushed just hours after his birth in 1975 to University of Kentucky Medical Center.

As a transfusion was being readied, the baby's grandmother suggested to doctors that he looked like the "blue Fugates of Troublesome Creek." Relatives described the boy's great-grandmother Luna Fugate as "blue all over," and "the bluest woman I ever saw."

In an unusual story that involves both genetics and geography, an entire family from isolated Appalachia was tinged blue. Their ancestral line began six generations earlier with a French orphan, Martin Fugate, who settled in Eastern Kentucky.

Doctors don't see much of the rare blood disorder today, because mountain people have dispersed and the family gene pool is much more diverse.But the Fugates' story still offers a window into a medical mystery that was solved through modern genetics and the sleuth-like energy of Dr. Madison Cawein III, a hematologist at the University of Kentucky's Lexington Medical Clinic.

Cawein died in 1985, but his family charts and blood samples led to a sharper understanding of the recessive diseases that only surface if both parents carry a defective gene.

The most detailed account, "Blue People of Troublesome Creek," was published in 1982 by the University of Indiana's Cathy Trost, who described Benjy's skin as "almost purple."

The Fugate progeny had a genetic condition called methemoglobinemia, which was passed down through a recessive gene and blossomed through intermarriage.

"It's a fascinating story," said Dr. Ayalew Tefferi, a hematologist from Minnesota's Mayo Clinic. "It also exemplifies the intersection between disease and society, and the danger of misinformation and stigmatization."

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Methemoglobinemia is a blood disorder in which an abnormal amount of methemoglobin -- a form of hemoglobin -- is produced, according to the National Institutes for Health. Hemoglobin is responsible for distributing oxygen to the body and without oxygen, the heart, brain and muscles can die.

In methemoglobinemia, the hemoglobin is unable to carry oxygen and it also makes it difficult for unaffected hemoglobin to release oxygen effectively to body tissues. Patients' lips are purple, the skin looks blue and the blood is "chocolate colored" because it is not oxygenated, according to Tefferi.

"You almost never see a patient with it today," he said. "It's a disease that one learns about in medical school and it is infrequent enough to be on every exam in hematology."

The disorder can be inherited, as was the case with the Fugate family, or caused by exposure to certain drugs and chemicals such as anesthetic drugs like benzocaine and xylocaine. The carcinogen benzene and nitrites used as meat additives can also be culprits, as well as certain antibiotics, including dapsone and chloroquine.

The genetic form of methemoglobinemia is caused by one of several genetic defects, according to Tefferi. The Fugates probably had a deficiency in the enzyme called cytochrome-b5 methemoglobin reductase, which is responsible for recessive congenital methemoglobinemia.

Normally, people have less than about 1 percent of methemoglobin, a type of hemoglobin that is altered by being oxidized so is useless in carrying oxygen in the blood. When those levels rise to greater than 20 percent, heart abnormalities and seizures and even death can occur.

But at levels of between 10 and 20 percent a person can develop blue skin without any other symptoms. Most of blue Fugates never suffered any health effects and lived into their 80s and 90s.

"If you are between 1 percent and 10 percent, no one knows you have an abnormal level and this might be the case in a lot of unsuspecting patients," he said.

Many other recessive gene diseases, such as sickle cell anemia, Tay Sachs and cystic fibrosis can be lethal, he said.

"If I carry a bad recessive gene with a rare abnormality and married, the child probably wouldn't be sick, because it's very rare to meet another person with the [same] bad gene and the most frequent cause therefore is in-breeding," Tefferi said.

Such was the case with the Fugates.

Martin Fugate came to Troublesome Creek from France in 1820 and family folklore says he was blue. He married Elizabeth Smith, who also carried the recessive gene. Of their seven children, four were reported to be blue.

There were no railroads and few roads outside the region, so the community remained small and isolated. The Fugates married other Fugate cousins and families who lived nearby, with names like Combs, Smith, Ritchie and Stacy.

Benjy's father, Alva Stacy showed Trost his family tree and remarked, "If you'll notice -- I'm kin to myself," according to Trost.

One of Martin and Elizabeth Fugate's blue boys, Zachariah, married his mother's sister. One of their sons, Levy, married a Ritchie girl and had eight children, one of them Luna. Luna married John E. Stacy and they had 13 children.

Benjy descended from the Stacy line.

Source: abcnews

Marie Colvin Killed in Syria

2012-02-23T06:02:00.000-08:00

Marie Colvin Killed in Syria

Marie Colvin Killed in Syria, Respected American war reporter Marie Colvin, who covered conflicts from Sri Lanka to Syria and stood up for the importance of independent journalism, died in a shelling attack in Syria on Wednesday. She was in her 50s.
Known for getting close to the story and for courage behind the front lines, Colvin had been holed up in the besieged city of Homs. She died alongside French photojournalist Remi Ochlik, the French government announced.

March 11, 2008: Journalist Marie Colvin is seen in London. A French government spokeswoman on Wednesday Feb. 22, 2012 identified two Western reporters killed in Syria as American war reporter Marie Colvin and French photojournalist Remi Ochlik.

Colvin, from Oyster Bay, New York, had been a foreign correspondent for Britain's Sunday Times for the past two decades, making a specialty of reporting from the world's most dangerous places. She lost the sight in one eye during an ambush in Sri Lanka in 2001 — but promised not to "hang up my flak jacket," and kept reporting on the world's most troubled places.
"Marie had fearlessly covered wars across the Middle East and south Asia for 25 years for The Sunday Times. She put her life in danger on many occasions because she was driven by a determination that the misdeeds of tyrants and the suffering of the victims did not go unreported," Rupert Murdoch, who owns the Sunday Times said of Colvin.
"So, was I stupid? Stupid I would feel writing a column about the dinner party I went to last night," she wrote in the Sunday Times after the attack. "Equally, I'd rather be in that middle ground between a desk job and getting shot, no offense to desk jobs.
"For my part, the next war I cover, I'll be more awed than ever by the quiet bravery of civilians who endure far more than I ever will. They must stay where they are; I can come home to London."
Easily recognizable for her black eye patch, Colvin was known for focusing on the plight of women and children in wartime. In an interview with the BBC on Tuesday, she vividly recounted the death of an infant in Syria.
"I watched a little baby die today," she said. "Absolutely horrific, a 2-year old child had been hit. They stripped it and found the shrapnel had gone into the left chest and the doctor said 'I can't do anything.'"
Colvin worked in the Balkans, where she went on patrol with the Kosovo Liberation Army as it engaged Serb military forces. She worked in Chechnya, where she was repeatedly attacked by Russian jets while reporting on Chechen rebels. She also covered the conflict in East Timor after its people voted for independence.
She was outspoken in her defense of independent journalism, and a fervent advocate for the cause of war reporting. During a tribute service at Fleet Street's St. Bride's Church in November 2010, she offered a stirring appeal to media executives, pressing the case to continue investing in conflict zone reportage.
"Our mission is to speak the truth to power," she said. "We send home that first rough draft of history. We can and do make a difference in exposing the horrors of war and especially the atrocities that befall civilians."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/02/22/american-war-reporter-marie-colvin-killed-in-syria/#ixzz1nDIQE6o7

Albert Pujols: Stop Calling Me 'El Hombre'

2012-02-23T02:31:00.000-08:00

Albert Pujols: Stop Calling Me 'El Hombre'

Albert Pujols: Stop Calling Me 'El Hombre' _There’s no question that even just days into spring training, Albert Pujols is now “the man” at Anaheim Stadium.
Just make sure you don’t call him that to his face.

Pujols has made it clear he’s not a fan of a new billboard campaign featuring him pictured in an Angels uniform alongside the Spanish phrase “El Hombre”, according to ESPN.com.
There are 20 of the billboards scattered throughout the Southland, and while Pujols hasn’t specifically addressed the issue with any team officials, he made it very clear back in 2010 that the moniker is not exactly his favorite.
The reason: his admiration for Hall of Famer Stan “The Man” Musial, whom he grew close to during his 11-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Musial, 90, was known as “The Man” throughout most of his 22-year career.
Team officials told ESPN that while Pujols was not consulted before the campaign was launched, the “El Hombre” signs featuring the first baseman only account for less than one-third of the 70 billboards featuring Pujols around Southern California.
Pujols agreed to join the Angels after signing a 10-year deal worth $250 million back in December.

source: CBS Local - Los Angeles

Cedric Benson May Be Done in Cincinnati

2012-02-23T02:26:00.000-08:00

Cedric Benson May Be Done in Cincinnati

Cedric Benson May Be Done in Cincinnati _NFL.com is running a story about Bengals running-back Cedric Benson, who is reportedly upset with his current role in the Cincinnati offense.

It may be nothing more than media sensationalism in what has been a slow news week, but the very notion that Cedric Benson might be disgruntled with his role in the offense, makes my mind boggle.

Has Cedric Benson forgotten that he has just served jail time for two assault charges? Has he also forgotten that he didn't get any offers of contracts pre-2011 and had to sign a one-year deal with Cincinnati?

Benson is also waiting for a verdict on his suspension appeal, one that has lead many to suggest that they should part ways with Benson if he is indeed banned for three games.

For those reasons, it seems incomprehensible to me that Ced would complain about his position in the offense. Right now, Benson is lucky to have a job at all.

Benson's comments were reported by The Cincinnati Enquirer on Wednesday:

He said: "Often times you want to express how you feel about something but sometimes people don’t want to receive it the right way or how they receive it could be confusing or cause some conflict," Benson told the newspaper. "There's guys who make those calls who put us in a position to win."

Jay Gruden, who Benson alludes to in these comments, played down the reports as something that is commonplace within professional sports. In short, everyone wants the ball, everyone feels like they can get the job done when others don't.

He said: "When Bernard Scott comes in for him, (Benson) feels like we don’t love him anymore," Gruden said. "When we pass a couple times on first down and we have to punt, he gets a little upset. Most great competitors are like that. He just has to channel his emotions and understand we’re all trying to do the best and win the game. Whether he gets the ball 10 or 50 times—I don’t care as long as [we win] the game."

With news of the verdict on Benson's suspension likely to emerge sometime soon, one would expect him to be extremely quiet if things don't go his way and if his ban is overturned he will need to back-up his comments on the field in coming weeks.

You have to wonder what the young unselfish passing offense and back-up RB Bernard Scott make of these comments, as Benson's ongoing off the field problems have provided a hearty distraction that the 2011 Bengals were hoping to move away from, and not only that, but his complaints echo the likes of Chad Ochocinco's in previous years....

Honda Minivan Recall

2012-02-23T02:22:00.000-08:00

Honda Minivan Recall

Honda Minivan Recall _Honda is recalling 46,000 Odyssey minivans because their power tailgates, when open, can drop unexpectedly, potentially injuring anyone standing underneath.

Due to a manufacturing error by the part supplier, the gas-filled struts that hold the tailgates open can leak, reducing their ability to hold up the heavy tailgate.

If the struts leak, the tailgate can suddenly drop several inches, a Honda spokesman said. At that point, the electric motor that powers the tailgate into the open position will slow the tailgate's fall.
Honda (HMC) is aware of two minor injuries resulting from falling tailgates.
The recall involves model year 2008 and 2009 vans equipped with power rear liftgates. Recall letters will be sent to owners beginning in mid-March. Owners with affected vehicles will be asked to go to a dealership to have the struts inspected and possibly replaced.

source: cnn

Oldest Elephant Herd

2012-02-23T02:18:00.000-08:00

Oldest Elephant Herd

An elephant footprint is seen in the dirt at the Pafuri game reserve on July 21, 2010 in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Scientists working in the United Arab Emirates have discovered elephant footprints that are seven million years old, making them the oldest of their kind in the world

Oldest Elephant Herd _The world's oldest elephant tracks have now been revealed, 7-million-year-old footprints in the Arabian Desert, researchers say.

The world's oldest elephant tracks have now been revealed, 7-million-year-old footprints in the Arabian Desert, researchers say.
These prehistoric footsteps, likely the work of some 13 four-tusked elephant ancestors, are the earliest direct evidence of how the ancestors of modern elephants interacted socially, and the oldest evidence of an elephant herd.
"Basically, this is fossilized behavior," said researcher Faysal Bibi, a vertebrate paleontologist at theMuseum for Natural History in Berlin. "This is an absolutely unique site, a really rare opportunity in the fossil record that lets you see animal behavior in a way you couldn't otherwise do with bones or teeth."

The site, known as Mleisa 1, is in the United Arab Emirates. The region then was home to a great diversity of animals, including elephants, hippopotamuses, antelopes, giraffes, pigs, monkeys, rodents, small and large carnivores, ostriches, turtles, crocodiles and fish. These were sustained by a very large river flowing slowly through the area, along which flourished vegetation, including large trees. The animals resembled those from Africa during the same time, though there are also similarities with Asian and European species of that period.
Fossil trackways in the region have been long known to locals, and were taken to be the prints of dinosaurs or giants of ancient myth. It was not until January 2011, when researchers mapped the area from the air for the first time, "that we realized what we had and how we could go about studying it," Bibi said. [The Creatures of Cryptozoology]
"Once we saw it aerially, it became a much different and clearer story," said researcher Brian Kraatz atWestern University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif. "Seeing the whole site in one shot meant we could finally understand what was happening."
The footprints cover an area of 12.3 acres (5 hectares). This is about equal to nine U.S. football fields, seven soccer fields, or the base of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
"The trackways are visually stunning," said researcher Andrew Hill at the University of Poitiers in France. "It is quite obvious to anyone, without any technical knowledge, that these are the footprints of very large animals, and to learn that they are over 6 million years old presents a visitor with the sensation of walking back in time."
The researchers noted that while these prehistoric titans were proboscideans like modern elephants, they likely looked quite different. Of the three kinds of fossil proboscidean species in the area at that time, the one that most likely made the trackways was Stegotetrabelodon syrticus, the earliest known member of the elephant family, "which carried tusks in both its upper and lower jaws," Bibi told LiveScience.
The trackways stretch up to about 850 feet (260 meters) long, making them "the most extensive ever recorded for mammals, and to view them is to be transported 7 million years back in time when herds of four-tusked primitive elephants and other related behemoths roamed a wetter and more vegetated Arabian Peninsula," said paleontologist William Sanders at the University of Michigan, who did not take part in the study. [Photos of Elephant Trackways]
Actually mapping these footsteps proved challenging, since the individual tracks are each only about 15 inches (40 centimeters) wide, too small to show up in satellite imagery. To do so, researchers mounted a pocket digital camera onto a kite, stitching the hundreds of pictures it took into a single large mosaic image that gave a broad overview of the site.
Analysis of the footsteps suggests they belonged to a herd of at least 13 elephants of different sizes and ages that walked through mud, leaving behind tracks that hardened, were buried, and then re-exposed by erosion.

The researchers also discovered tracks from a solitary male traveling in a different direction from the herd. These suggest the extinct giants divided into solitary and social groups, just as elephants do today. Also, these ancient pachyderms might have structured themselves along lines of sex just as their modern relatives do, with the males leaving the herd to live alone.
"Like the human handprints in Paleolithic caves, animal trackways crystallize in time [the] identity and behavior of the organisms that made them, and yield rare insights about these organisms, which fossil bones alone cannot provide," Sanders said.

+Drew Barrymore pregnant

2012-02-23T02:12:00.000-08:00

+Drew Barrymore pregnant

+Drew Barrymore pregnant _Could Drew Barrymore be planning more than just her wedding this year?

After the recently engaged actress was spotted leaving a doctor's office with a sonogram in-hand over the weekend, seen first in a photo posted on TMZ.com, some are wondering whether Barrymore, 36, is expecting her first baby with fiancé Will Kopelman.

The couple would like to become parents, a source close to them told PEOPLE last month. "Drew is so motherly," the source said at the time. "Will would like to be a dad. Family is so important to him."

When asked by PEOPLE if Barrymore was expecting, her rep had no comment.

Although there could be another explanation for the sonogram, starting a family has long been on Barrymore's mind. "I definitely feel the beginnings of a tick-tock," she told PEOPLE in 2006. "Whether I have children or adopt, whatever form a family comes in, I would absolutely love to have it."
In recent weeks, the actress has stepped out for public appearances in notably loose-fitting clothing, though her characteristic style has always been on the bohemian side. At a Feb. 18 party celebrating Marni's new line for H&M, the actress was asked if she had selected a wedding dress yet. Laughing, she told reporters, "Oh, gosh, I don't know! I've been trying to figure it out! All I know is that I want something tasteful, something timeless."

Barrymore first stepped out with Kopelman, an art consultant, last February.

source: people

Lea Michele Cory Monteith

2012-02-23T02:04:00.000-08:00

Lea Michele Cory Monteith

Lea Michele Cory Monteith_‘Glee’ co-star and Lea were spotted dating on Valentine's Day (14.02.12) together at Los Angeles eatery Il Covoand enjoying together.Good news for “Glee” fans: Finchel may finally be real.

Lea Michele appears to be taking her budding on-screen romance with co-star Cory Monteith into the real world, according to Life & Style.

The twosome, who play an engaged high school couple on the hit FOX show, reportedly spent Valentine’s Day together, enjoying a cozy night out at Los Angeles eatery Il Covo.

“They were into each other all night,” an eyewitness told the magazine. “She was very happy, flirting and touching Cory a lot. He just stared at her with puppy-dog eyes.”

Despite nearby patrons, Michele, 25, and Monteith, 29, apparently couldn’t hide their affection for one another in public as they giggled and held hands throughout the evening. The witness claims Monteith went as far as feeding his on-screen love interest spaghetti, to which Michele reciprocated by affectionately rubbing his back.

Three days later, the pair was spotted out again on another date at the Ritz-Carlton, reports Life & Style.

The couple’s newfound romance has apparently been a long time coming. Michele, who once said Monteith was “like my brother,” has continuously gushed about the Canadian actor in her interviews.

“On romance between cast members … I think if it was ever going to happen, it would have happened by now. I mean, for me, if it was going to happen with anybody it would have happened with Cory,” the songstress admitted to Glamour UK last year. “The moment I saw him, I thought ‘This boy is very cute.’ ”

If the rumors are true, this would be Michele’s first relationship since her split from longtime beau Theo Stockman in September.

Christina Aguilera weight

2012-02-23T01:53:00.000-08:00

Christina Aguilera weight

Christina Aguilera weight_Whether it’s sexual tension as Cee Lo Green says, or just playful banter, one thing’s clear: Adam Levine definitely has his Voice co-star Christina Aguilera‘s back! In a recent interview with shock jock and new America’s Got Talent judge Howard Stern, the Maroon 5 front man came to Aguilera’s defense w
hen the conversation turned to her weight. What did he say? Keep reading for all the details.

Christina Aguilera’s weight has been media fodder for many months, but as the Grammy-winning singer says, “As long as I’m happy in my own skin, that’s all I need. I’m happy with where I’m at. I have a boyfriend that loves my body. I love my body.”

But apparently, Howard Stern’s not feeling the love.

During his show, the shock jock asked rocker and fellow NBC reality star Adam Levine about Aguilera’s new, fuller figure, saying, “Why do you think she’s got so heavy, is she upset? She used to be so f**king hot! And her clothes are too tight, am I right?”

Levine responded, “Her clothes are tight, she likes to wear tight clothes,” adding, “She clearly likes to talk about being comfortable with being a woman, and snapping her fingers and doing the whole [diva] thing.”

Stern then declared, “When you’re a plus sized woman, you can’t wear the tight clothes anymore,” but Adam quickly interrupted, “I wouldn’t go that far actually.”

Katy Perry russell brand

2012-02-23T01:43:00.000-08:00

katy perry russell brand

katy perry russell brand_Singer Katy Perry has filed for divorce for Russell Brand

The 36-year-old comedian released a statement today: "Sadly, Katy and I are ending our marriage. I'll always adore her and I know we'll remain friends."

The couple had recently been photographed without wearing their wedding rings after spending the holidays apart.

According to TMZ, which obtained the divorce documents filed in Los Angeles, Brand is citing "irreconcilable differences."

Perry, 27, and Brand were married Oct. 23, 2010 in India after a whirlwind romance. They have no kids.

A solo Perry was photographed before Christmas splashing in the surf around Hawaii, which could explain the absence of her wedding ring.

But then People reported that her husband Brand, who spent Christmas miles away in Britain, stepped out on a London street Thursday, also without his wedding band.

Reps for Perry and Brand did not respond immediately to ABCNews.com's requests for comment. And their normally active Twitter pages have been unusually mum on the issue.

Us Weekly reported that Perry and Brand had "a massive fight" just before Christmas and instead of flying her family via private jet to Brand's London hometown for the holidays, the singer changed course and flew to Hawaii with friends.

Earlier this month, Brand brushed off reports of problems, telling Ellen DeGeneres, "I am really happily married.... I'm married to Katy. Perpetually, until death do us part was the pledge. I'm still alive."

Brand gushed about Perry and married life when he appeared on ABC's "The View" and "Nightline" in the spring. He said, despite being A-list stars, the couple had a "normal" marriage.

He joked with the women of "The View" that he was more like Perry's butler now, whereas his life before her was "chaos, glass, blood, and madness."

Asked by "Nightline" correspondent Bill Weir what touched him about Perry, Brand responded: "I think I was growing up anyway, Bill. Eventually I wanted a companion, a friend. It's the most normal relationship I've ever had. The other day, seriously, we're getting ready, Bill, to go out, and she goes, 'Oh, you're wearing that shirt, are you?' 'Yeah?' Bill, I did not wear that shirt."

In Perry's most recent interview, with ABC's Barbara Walters for her "Most Fascinating People of 2011," the singer was asked if she has a happy marriage.

"I think that it's lovely so far," she said in the interview that aired Dec. 14.

When Walters asked Perry if she planned to have children, she replied, "Yes of course, I think that is one of the biggest reasons why you do get married."

Judge to Lindsay Lohan: Keep Up the Good Work

2012-02-23T01:33:00.000-08:00

Judge to Lindsay Lohan: Keep Up the Good Work

Judge to Lindsay Lohan: Keep Up the Good Work_"Ms Lohan, you're in the home stretch," Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner told the actress on Wednesday. "The probation officer is pleased with your progress." Lindsay Lohan drew praise Wednesday from a judge who said the actress was one court hearing away from putting a long-running drunken driving case behind her.

“Ms. Lohan, you're in the home stretch,” Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner told the actress. “The probation officer is pleased with your progress.”

The former Disney star has progressed under strict probation guidelines imposed by Sautner last year, including weekly stints working at the morgue and therapy sessions.

Lohan, 25, now has to work 14 days at the morgue and attend five therapy sessions before the judge ends her probation on a 2007 drunken driving case that has dogged Lohan for years.

She is due back in court on March 29 for what could be her final court appearance if she stays out of trouble.

Lohan would remain on informal probation for a case filed after she took a necklace without permission in January 2011 but would no longer have to report to a probation officer or appear in court for frequent updates.

The model-actress is attempting a career comeback and is scheduled to host “Saturday Night Live” on March 3.

“You seem to be getting your life back on track,” Sautner told her.

Dana White Floyd Mayweather

2012-02-23T01:26:00.000-08:00

Dana White Floyd Mayweather

Dana White Floyd Mayweather_UFC president Dana White called WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. a racist Tuesday night for comments the boxer made recently about New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin.

Mayweather caused a stir Feb. 13 when he tweeted: "Jeremy Lin is a good player but all the hype is because he's Asian. Black players do what he does every night and don't get the same praise."

Lin, an Asian-American and Harvard graduate, recently became a Knicks phenomenon by leading the team to seven wins in his first seven starts. He is averaging 14.6 points and 5.7 assists in 19 games with New York after being cut by Golden State in the preseason.

Jeremy Lin's rise in the sports world has taught us to consider all of the ramifications of what we say, writes J.A. Adande. Story

In an interview on Fuel TV, White responded to Mayweather's comments.

"First of all, what [Mayweather] said, I think, is racist. He's made a couple of racist comments. And yes, Floyd, you're racist with the stuff that you've said," White said.

"First of all, Jeremy Lin gets all this credit because he's an Asian player in the NBA that African-Americans never get? Yeah, he's getting all this praise because he is an Asian guy playing in the NBA.

White continued: "And you say African-Americans don't get it? Really? Kobe Bryant doesn't get any praise? Michael Jordan never got any praise? The list goes on and on of guys who completely get praised for being great NBA basketball players. Not only can [Lin] compete and make it in the NBA, the guy is tearing it up and is breaking records, you knucklehead."

Mayweather expounded on his position after reading the original story on ESPN.com, tweeting: "It's okay for ESPN to give their opinion but I say something and everyone questions Floyd Mayweather. I'm speaking my mind on behalf of other NBA players. They are programmed to be politically correct and will be penalized if they speak up.

"Other countries get to support/cheer their athletes and everything is fine. As soon as I support Black American athletes, I get criticized."

White did not immediately respond to ESPN.com's requests for comment. His remarks did not go unnoticed by Mayweather's adviser, Leonard Ellerbe.

"He needs to shut the [expletive] up and mind his own business, stay in his own lane and keep on taking advantage of the UFC fighters, while underpaying them," Ellerbe told Yahoo! Sports Tuesday night. "If he keeps on running his mouth, we may decide to give a free seminar to all of the UFC fighters on how the pay-per-view revenue should be distributed.

"This is typical Dana, who is always prone to ignorant outbursts. He should be the last person to try to judge someone else."

White himself has been accused in the past of making insensitive comments, including an April 2009 incident in which he was criticized by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation for remarks he made toward then-Sherdog.com reporter Loretta Hunt. White later apologized.

White also called out Mayweather for derogatory statements the boxer directed at WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines.

"The other thing you said was that Manny Pacquiao should make some sushi somewhere," White said. "Sushi is from Japan. He's from the Philippines, dummy."

Despite numerous attempts, Mayweather and Pacquiao have failed to reach an agreement on a bout. Mayweather is moving up a weight class to face WBA junior middleweight titleholder Miguel Cotto on May 5 in Las Vegas. Pacquiao has a June 9 date with WBO junior welterweight champ Timothy Bradley.

source: espn

Tom Martinez, Tom Brady's Mentor, Dies at 66

2012-02-23T01:15:00.000-08:00

Tom Martinez, Tom Brady's Mentor, Dies at 66

Tom Martinez, Tom Brady's Mentor, Dies at 66,Tom Martinez, the coach who mentored New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, died Tuesday after suffering a heart attack during dialysis. The man known as "The Quarterback Whisperer" was in need of a kidney transplant due to diabetes complications.

Martinez first came into Brady's life when the future MVP was just 13. He signed up for a quarterback clinic and then worked with Martinez for the rest of his career. Brady said he would never be the quarterback he is today without Martinez's help.

"He's a great friend of mine for a very long time and taught me how to throw a football at a very young age," Brady told ABC News in January. "He's been looking for a kidney for quite a while."
Brady used his platform in the Super Bowl to encourage organ donation.
People from around the NFL immediately reacted to Martinez's passing. Brady's teammate, Julian Edelman, tweeted, "RIP coach Tom Martinez. He was such a great mentor to many in the bay area. His legacy will always live on." Brady's father told CSN New England, "There are a lot of sad people in San Mateo County tonight."

Martinez's impact was felt beyond football. He coached football, women's basketball and softball at the College of San Mateo, where he won a combined 1,100 games. He was 66 years old.

Watch:

source: yahoo