Mick and Merry

CHESTNUTS B kept the pressure on their rivals in the race for the Nuneaton Winter Snooker League crown with a 3-1 away verdict at Bowling Club A with `Big’ John Williams their man in form.

The experienced potter sank a 48 break to take the opening game before Adam Edge, who pocketed a 35, doubled the lead in the next. Mick Price ensured the success but the Bowlers salavaged some pride with Stuart Reed’s black ball verdict in the last.

Reigning champions Atack C cued up a 3-1 home win against Atherstone Cons despite the latter taking the first frame through Mark Chapman but Andy Kean, Glen Locker and Nick Stanford turned things around.

Coton A 1 Coton B 3: (Dave Davies 19 Martin Hall 61, Ben Redshaw 39 Shaun Suffolk 60, Carl Underhill 39, Barry Suffolk 51, Stuart Green 63 Paul Lowe 31).

Chestnuts A 0 Bowling B 4: (Mick Jackman 24 Chris Taylor 56, John Watson 52 Adam Bartram 66, Steve Upton 32 Phil Thompson 57, Derek Walsh 28 Nick Frain 72.

Bowling A 1 Chestnuts B 3: (Mark Glover 28 John Williams 62, Tony Dawson 8 Adam Edge 82, Ian Harrison 8, Mick Price 67, Stuart Reed 57 Stuart Glover 54).

Windmill 0 Atack D 4: (Craig Merry 53 John Keegan 58, Pete North 43 Albert Morris 51, Dave Parsons 41 Bill Meechin 63, Dave Ensor 49 Mick Harper 53).

Atack C 3 Ath Cons 1: (Steve Self 41 Mark Chapman 54, Andy Kean 63 George Wheatley 21, Glen Locker 59 Nigel Rhodes 45, Nick Stanford 60 Dave White 8).

Co-op Sports 0 Att Libs 4: (Bob Self 21 Dave Mallabone 48, Martin Hall 23 Roly Smart 49, Martin Ashby 41 Ron Archer 52, Mick Cook 64 Rich Robey 74).

Att Libs A 2 Cabbage 2: (Jack Underhill 70 Paul Gibbs 42, Chris Richardson 32 Steve Blakemore 40, Allan Bradley 63 Dennis Witts 30, Joe Cooper 28 Paul Voss 55).

Highest breaks: John Williams (Chestnuts B) 48, Adam Edge (Chestnuts B) 35, Martin Hall (Coton B) 24, Rich Robey (Att Libs B) 23.

Source:http://www.abreakingnews.us/mick-and-merry.html

HOLLYWOOD DIRT OVERFLOW WINTER OLYMPICS UPDATE

SOME GUY TOOK A SWING AT MITT ROMNEY WHILE FLYING BACK FROM THE OLYMPICS:

Former Republican Presidential candidate MITT ROMNEY spent the weekend at the Vancouver Olympics with his wife Ann. Then, on the way home, he nearly THREW DOWN with a passenger on the plane --But it wasn't his fault. As his Air Canada flight to Los Angeles was getting ready to take off, the jerk sitting in front of his wife reclined his seat too far back. --So Romney asked the guy to put his seat up . . . and it was ON. According to a Romney spokeman, the guy became ''physically violent'' and took a swing. --Even though the other guy threw the first punch and deserved a beating, Romney didn't retaliate. The plane returned to the gate, and the crew dragged the guy off. He hasn't been identified, and Romney doesn't plan to press charges. (--Romney was the CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympics and was in Vancouver as a guest of honor. Surprisingly, the Romneys were in row 15 of coach. That's how you treat a guest of honor? People get punched out in coach.) (Toronto Globe and Mail)
A CANADIAN CURLER IS FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS PREGNANT:

KRISTIE MOORE is an Olympic Athlete. Sort of. She's an alternate for the Canadian women's curling team. That's the sport that looks like shuffleboard on ice. --And if you're wondering how challenging the sport of curling really is, consider this: Kristie is FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS PREGNANT. --But the team's captain said they chose her anyway because, quote, "She is young and fit." --Kristie is definitely showing, but she doesn't think her condition will affect her performance. She says, quote, "In the eighth month or so, that might be an issue." (--Believe it or not, Kristie is the THIRD pregnant Olympian in history. Swedish figure skater MAGDA JULIN won a gold medal in 1920 in her first trimester, and knocked-up German skeleton racer DIANA SARTOR finished fourth in 2006.) (Yahoo)


THE U.S. GOALIES HAD THEIR HELMETS CENSORED:

The International Olympic Committee has been busy CENSORING GOALIE HELMETS to make sure that no one reads anything inappropriate. --It's become a tradition for goalies to unveil tacky, airbrushed, over-the-top goalie helmets for the Olympics. --The U.S. helmets feature red-eyed eagles swooping, Uncle Sam flexing his enormous biceps, and a Native American shooting an arrow. The I.O.C. is fine with all of that. --But starting goalie RYAN MILLER needed to put a decal over the phrase "Miller Time" on the back of his helmet, because it's a beer slogan. (--Even though it's also his LAST NAME.) --Backup goalie JONATHAN QUICK needed to cover up "Support Our Troops" on his helmet, because it was a political message. --And third-stringer TIM THOMAS had to hide "k.i.t k.o.t k.a.t." . . . which are the initials of his three children. No reason was given. (--Although maybe it was simply too similar to the Kit Kat candy bar.)(Reuters)


THE GERMANS HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD IN THE OVERALL MEDAL COUNT:

After four days of competition, the U.S. fell behind Germany in the medal count. The Germans picked up four new medals, but we didn't pick up a single one. Here is yesterday's overall medals breakdown . . .
#1.) Germany with 9 Medals . . . 3 Gold, 4 Silver, and 2 Bronze.
#2.) The United States, with 8 Medals . . . 2 Gold, 2 Silver, and 4 Bronze.
#3.) France with 7 Medals . . . 2 Gold, 1 Silver, and 4 Bronze.
#4.) Canada with 5 Medals . . . 2 Gold, 2 Silver, and 1 Bronze.
#5.) South Korea with 4 Medals . . . 3 Gold and 1 Silver.
WE MAY HAVE NOT WON ANY MEDALS, BUT AT LEAST OUR HOCKEY TEAMS BOTH WON THEIR GAMES:

Even though U.S. Olympians were SHUT OUT in medals for all five of Tuesday's main events, the men's and women's hockey teams both won their games. The men's team beat Switzerland, 3-1, and the women's team embarrassed Russia with a score of 13-0. --Our best finishers in the other events were:
--Women's Snowboard Cross: Fifth Place, Lindsey Jacobellis
--Speed Skating, Women's 500 meter: Sixth Place, Heather Richardson (--Lindsey was favored to win the snowboarding gold, but she lost her balance on a jump in the semifinals, fell off the course, and was disqualified.) (--She SHOULD have won the gold four years ago, but she fell while showboating at the finish line and came in second. So much for redeeming herself this year.)



THE THIEVES WHO STOLE CHARLIE SHEEN'S CAR ALSO TOOK HIS CHEVRON CARD:

The thieves who stole CHARLIE SHEEN'S Mercedes earlier this month took his Chevron card out of it before they rolled it down an embankment near his gated community. --According to TMZ, they used it for seven fill-ups. Police are now hoping to turn up some leads by interviewing employees at all the gas stations where it was used. (--By the way . . . RadarOnline.com says that Charlie's wife, Brooke Mueller, is in rehab for CRACK ADDICTION. The website claims Brooke was also treated for a crack addiction back in 2001.)
MEGAN FOX "DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR" ALL THE ATTENTION SHE'S GETTING:

It's time for another celebrity to complain about all the "unwanted" attention they're getting. -This time, it's MEGAN FOX. In a new interview with "W" magazine, she says, quote, "It's an immense amount of pressure, celebrity itself. I didn't create that. I didn't sign up for that; I didn't know that was going to happen. It created itself." --To Megan's credit, she does admit to SOME culpability here. She says, quote, "[It's happened] with my assistance, obviously. Whatever. --"But it's so big and it's so much. Such a good portion of it is so negative. I think that if you are receptive to anything, if you feel anything ever, it's impossible not to let it affect your life." --Megan also reveals that she's not really sure of herself as an actress. She says, quote, "There's a million people I could name who are more deserving of the parts that I get and the life that I'm living. --Asked if she's jealous of anyone in Hollywood, she says, quote, "Everybody, maybe? Anyone who's got any sort of legitimate accolades."


IS KEVIN SMITH READY TO DROP HIS BEEF WITH SOUTHWEST AIRLINES???

Believe it or not, the "Too Fat to Fly" controversy between KEVIN SMITH and Southwest Airlines is still chugging along. But maybe not for much longer. --It sounds like Kevin is ready to put it to bed. In his latest blog, he writes, quote, "Lots of folks still telling me to stop crying and lose weight . . . as if that's what this was all about. --"Once again: I know I'm fat. The point of all this? I'm not too fat for Southwest Air, yet someone deemed me so. *sigh*" --But, after continuing on for a while, he closes out the post with the following . . . quote, "But, folks? Tomorrow? Let's Tweet about other stuff, shall we? This is starting to taste mediciney and fruitless."(--If you're still fascinated by all of this, you can read the whole thing here . . .)http://silentbobspeaks.com/?p=393
#1.) EVANDER HOLYFIELD'S wife Candi has dropped the restraining order she took out against her husband earlier this month, after he allegedly assaulted her. There's no word what made her change her mind. --At the time, Candi claimed that Holyfield hit her several times during an argument that started when she complained about being cold because the heat in their Georgia home had been turned off.


#2.) BEYONCÉ'S dad, MATTHEW KNOWLES, has been ordered to pay $8,200 a month to a woman who claims he fathered the child she gave birth to on February 4th. --Knowles . . . who has not admitted or denied being the father . . . is taking a paternity test on March 1st. Beyoncé's mom, Tina, filed for divorce from Matthew in November . . . presumably after she found out about his alleged love child.
#3.) KELLY OSBOURNE has been looking really good these days. And according to her, a simple diet tip helped her get her weight under control. --She says, quote, "A trick I've learned is to eat just a little bit of something that has no carbs and no sugar in it before you go to sleep because it keeps your metabolism going. --"They say you should never eat before you go to bed, but I've found just having a tiny little snack . . . like half an apple or something like that . . . before you go to sleep really helps."
#4.) JILLIAN MICHAELS . . . one of the trainers on "The Biggest Loser" . . . is being sued over her Maximum Strength Fat Burner pills. A woman has filed a class-action suit, claiming that the pills contain a potentially lethal blend of ingredients. -This is the THIRD time Jillian has been sued over the Fat Burner pills. The first two suits were brought by people who just claim the pills don't work. (--You have to admit, it seems kind of hypocritical for such a harsh advocate of nutrition and exercise to put her name on diet pills. It doesn't sound like anything more than a cash grab, does it???)
DEAN KOONTZ'S TAKE ON FRANKENSTEIN IS BEING TURNED INTO A MOVIE:

Author DEAN KOONTZ'S series of modern-day "Frankenstein" novels are being turned into a movie. For those of you who aren't familiar with the plot . . . and that's probably most of you . . . here's the deal . . . --Dr. Frankenstein is IMMORTAL, and living in present-day New Orleans as Dr. Helios . . . the CEO of a company called Helios Biovision. --He's building an army of artificial humans to destroy the human race. But he's losing control of his new creations . . . and one has even become a serial killer. --The original Frankenstein monster is the hero of the story. His name is Deucalion, and he has the power of teleportation. He was summoned by Tibetan monks to help stop Helios. And they gave him some sweet tattoos. --Aiding Deucalion are two New Orleans homicide detectives. --Koontz has done three books in the series, and the fourth is coming June 22nd. There's no word on a release date for the movie.


KEVIN EUBANKS IS LEAVING "THE TONIGHT SHOW":

KEVIN EUBANKS . . . JAY LENO'S bandleader (slash) sidekick . . . is considering retirement. Yesterday, NBC confirmed the news in a statement. --It reads, quote, "Kevin has expressed interest in pursuing personal touring and recording opportunities . . . however, he will be with the show when it returns." --So he'll be there when Jay's "Tonight Show" returns on March 1st, but beyond that nothing is certain. The "New York Times" reports that he's in the process discussing an exit strategy with the producers and Jay himself. -Kevin joined the band back in 1992 . . . and became the bandleader when BRANFORD MARSALIS left in 1995. --No one from Kevin's camp . . . assuming he has one . . . has commented on this yet, but a so-called "colleague" of his says, quote, "It's been more than 17 years and he just said he wanted a break." (--Yeah, that or he was secretly on Team Conan.) --And just to cover all the bases, no one is saying that Kevin's departure would be permanent . . . but then again, no one is suggesting it may only be temporary either. --HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH stud DARIUS RUCKER has already been rumored to be a possible replacement . . . but Darius' rep has said it isn't true, and NBC said yesterday that they haven't offered the gig to anyone yet.
THE PALIN FAMILY DID *NOT* APPRECIATE BEING REFERENCED ON THIS PAST SUNDAY'S "FAMILY GUY":

This past Sunday's episode of "Family Guy" featured a female character with Down syndrome, who mentioned that her mother was a former governor of Alaska . . . you know, like SARAH PALIN. --And Sarah . . . whose youngest son TRIG has the disorder . . . was not pleased. --On her Facebook page yesterday, Sarah didn't post her reaction, but her DAUGHTER'S. --BRISTOL PALIN had said, quote, "As a culture, shouldn't we be more compassionate to innocent people . . . especially those who are less fortunate? --"Shouldn't we be willing to say that some things just are not funny? Are there any limits to what some people will do or say in regards to my little brother or others in the special needs community? --"If the writers of a particularly pathetic cartoon show thought they were being clever in mocking my brother and my family [on Sunday], they failed. All they proved is that they're heartless jerks." --Sarah described Bristol's comment as, quote, "a much more restrained and gracious statement than I want to make." --But Sarah did give her own views on the subject last night on "The O'Reilly Factor". --She said, quote, "This world is full of cruel, cold-hearted people who would do such a thing."(--There's more. You can see the whole interview here . . .)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tarcoBFVAOA
THE CW HAS RENEWED FIVE OF THEIR SHOWS FOR NEXT SEASON:

The CW handed out early renewals for five of their shows. --"The Vampire Diaries", "Gossip Girl", "Supernatural", "America's Next Top Model", and "90210" will all be back next season. --The jury's still out on some of their other slows, like "One Tree Hill" . . . which has been on the fence for YEARS now . . . "Smallville" and "Melrose Place". --For those that are deeply concerned about the fate of those shows . . . here's the latest line on them, according to E! Online. --Supposedly, the future of "One Tree Hill" depends on the new CW show "Life Unexpected". Only one of these shows is expected to be back next season. --It's quote, "likely" that "Smallville" will be back, but another season could be its last. The show has attracted a respectable 2.5 million viewers on Friday nights. (--Yes, 2.5 million viewers is respectable for The CW. Not so for any of the other major networks. Heck, that's less than half what JAY LENO was getting in primetime.) --As for "Melrose Place", sources tell E! that it doesn't look good, but the network is waiting to see how it does in the ratings after it returns on March 9th.
TV RANDOMS:


#1.) Rumor has it that 63-year-old Food Network super-star PAULA DEEN is in talks to appear on "American Idol". A "source" tells E! Online that negotiations have been ongoing for about two weeks. --It's unclear what Paula would do on "Idol", but the running theory is that she could serve as a guest judge. It's also unclear what musical qualifications she has, but that hasn't really been a deal breaker for "Idol" guest judges in the past.


#2.) TARYN MANNING . . . who played Nola the prostitute in "Hustle & Flow" . . . has been cast as a regular in CBS' updated version of "Hawaii Five-O". --She'll play the younger sister of Detective McGarrett, who will be played by ALEX O'LOUGHLIN. The cast also includes "Lost" star DANIEL DAE KIM. The show will premiere this fall.
#3.) The "authenticity" of "Jersey Shore" has just sustained another accidental fist-pump to the face. That's because JWOWW admitted to FoxNews.com that neither she, nor SNOOKI, are actually Italian. (--ATTICA!!!) --She said she's actually Spanish and Irish . . . while Snooki is Chilean. Nonetheless, they still refer to themselves as, quote, "guidette princesses".


DID SEBASTIAN BACH SAVE AXL ROSE FROM BEING STABBED???

There's a chance that AXL ROSE could have been STABBED on Sunday . . . during the second of GUNS N' ROSES' two secret New York City shows. --Fortunately, SEBASTIAN BACH . . . of SKID ROW "fame" . . . was there, and acted selflessly to SAVE AXL'S LIFE. Maybe. --The "New York Post" reports that, while Guns was onstage, some dude walked into the venue . . . brandishing a switchblade. --A so-called "witness" says, quote, "[He] pulled out a knife and flicked the blade out. Sebastian, who was standing on a banquette, said: 'Nobody is getting anywhere near my man Axl Rose with a knife,' and went after him. --"Security then immediately threw him out. The man appeared to be drunk. It was dealt with so quickly that none of the other guests or the band were aware of it." --Our hero, Sebastian, has yet to comment on the alleged incident. (--Now, the "New York Post" is definitely NOT one to EVER embellish a story, but isn't it convenient that Sebastian stepped in between Axl and an ARMED man . . . and it was "dealt with so quickly" that no one even knew it happened???)


MUSIC RANDOMS:

#1.) The DailySwarm.com claims "multiple industry sources" tell them that Lady Gaga, Green Day, The Strokes and a reunited Soundgarden will headline this year's Lollapalooza, which is going down August 6th through the 9th in Chicago. --The festival's promoter wouldn't comment . . . so we probably won't hear anything definite until the lineup is officially announced. That usually happens in April.


#2.) AEROSMITH has booked another European festival gig WITH STEVEN TYLER. This time it's the Sweden Rock Festival, which is scheduled for June 9th through the 12th. They'll also play at Britain's Download music festival in June. --Guitarist JOE PERRY said, quote, "This is the first show of our European tour. We can't wait to uncork our tour here in Sweden and I am sure the cork will hit the ceiling." (--So what's going on? Is Steven back in the band or what???)


#3.) ADAM LAMBERT stopped a performance in New York on Monday night . . . mid-song . . . to tell some girl to get off her phone. He stopped singing, and told the fan, quote, "Can you get off your phone?! --"You're yelling into it. Wait, sorry, we're going to start over. Really?! Dominoes . . . we deliver!" He added, quote, "You're not watching TV honey . . . it's a live show." (--Here's video . . .)http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=f768b13a-3730-468e-a4bb-e10005d4dc37


JAY-Z SAYS THE FACT THAT HE TOUCHED THE WORLD SERIES TROPHY BEFORE A-ROD PROVES THAT HIP-HOP HAS ARRIVED:

JAY-Z says hip-hop has truly arrived, and he's the proof. --He says, quote, "The world is inspiring me. I get out and see the world and more of the world is accepting of our music and what we do. I'm just inspired by the whole thing and how big hip-hop can be and how much of a phenomenon it is. --"You couldn't imagine hip-hop being at the World Series. I touched the championship trophy before A-ROD and the Vince Lombardi trophy before the Saints. --"You couldn't imagine that happening 10 years ago. How about five years ago? I'm saying that to say that the journey hip-hop has taken and we are right now, there's no imitation to it . . . still. Still!"


JAY-Z DOESN'T THINK "WE ARE THE WORLD" SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMADE:

JAY-Z would like you to know there's a reason why he and his wife BEYONCÉ weren't part of the new "We Are the World". --He says, quote, "I have an interesting take on that. Namely, that they should never have remade it in the first place. --"I know everybody is gonna take this wrong: 'We Are the World', I love it, and I understand the point and think it's great. But I think 'We Are the World' is like 'Thriller' to me. I don't ever wanna see it touched. --"I'm a fan of music. I know the plight and everything that's going on in Haiti . . . So I appreciate the efforts and everything, but 'We Are the World' is untouchable like 'Thriller' is untouchable. --"Some things are just untouchable. It was a valiant effort, but for me, it's gonna be untouchable." --Jay thinks they should have written a NEW song instead . . . but he adds, quote, "As everyone knows, I have tremendous respect for QUINCY JONES. Of course, I think he's genius, as everyone else does. --"But I think it's time for us to make a new song."


NAZZY’S RANDOM STUFF

WOMEN LOVE SHOPPING BECAUSE OF EVOLUTION:

Women love shopping. Now, thanks to a new study from the University of Michigan, researchers think they know why: It's because of EVOLUTION. Here's the logic . . . --Thousands of years ago, men were HUNTERS and women were FORAGERS. --When men went hunting, their technique for killing prey was to get in and out as quickly as possible . . . just like most modern men with shopping. --But for women, foraging required a lot of sorting and careful examination to get the best stuff . . . just like a lot of modern women with shopping. --A guy named Daniel Kruger led the study. He says, quote, "Women would want to have more things to search through, and to be able to experience them, touch them, feel textures and see colors. --"With a guy, he knows the properties he wants. It may be more efficient to have a counter that the guy walks up to, says what he wants, and they go get that item from a storage room." --In other words, the reason your girl is always shopping and spending all your money is because she's compelled by evolution. Not that it matters all that much when she blows $200 on a new pair of shoes . . . I'm just saying. (MSNBC)


AMERICANS ARE THE BEST-LOOKING PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!!!

It's moments like this when I stop and think to myself: "Yes, I AM awesome." (???) --Recently, a British website called OnePoll.com asked users which country has the BEST-LOOKING people. Check out the top five:
#5.) Italy#4.) Australia#3.) Spain#2.) Brazil#1.) THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (!!!) (UPI)
THE HAPPIEST STATE IN AMERICA IS . . . HAWAII:

Yesterday, a new Gallup poll came out ranking the 50 states in terms of HAPPINESS. --It was based on several different criteria, including emotional health, work environment, healthy behavior, basic access to healthcare and recreation, and something called life evaluation, which is basically how satisfied people are with life. --According to the study, the five happiest states are:
#5.) Iowa#4.) Minnesota#3.) Montana#2.) Utah#1.) Hawaii
--And the five least happy states are:
#5.) Nevada#4.) Ohio#3.) Arkansas#2.) Kentucky#1.) West Virginia (Yahoo News)
(--You can link to the full list here . . .)http://www.livescience.com/culture/happy-states-2009-100216.html


CATHOLIC LEADERS WANT YOU TO GIVE UP TECHNOLOGY FOR LENT . . . AND THEY HAVE A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW TO DO IT:

Today is the first day of Lent, the period leading up to Easter when . . . traditionally . . . Christians give up a small luxury to represent the hardships Jesus endured during his temptation by Satan. --And this year, Catholic leaders in the UK are urging Christians to go on a "carbon fast" to reduce their carbon footprint and help the environment. --According to one Catholic leader, quote, "Lent is a period when we should look at how we live our lives. Giving up chocolate is a symbol of that, but giving up technology is a more serious way of looking at the issues that face us as a global community. --"It is a statement [of solidarity] with a world that does not have that ability to communicate the way we can, and a reminder to us that perhaps we may have got beyond ourselves in terms of our own consumption of technology." --Here's a list of possible "carbon fasts" that Catholic leaders have suggested: --Give up all technology for one day a month . . . that means no computer, no TV and no cell phone . . . and donate the money you save to charity. --Become a part-time vegetarian by eating at least two vegetarian meals a week. --Mend your old clothes instead of buying new stuff.
--Start composting food waste, and growing your own fruits and vegetables.--Cut your meat and vegetables thinner, so they'll cook faster and use less energy.--Turn off the lights and eat by candlelight.--Take the train instead of flying.--Arrange "swapping parties" with your friends where you exchange clothes, jewelry and other items so everyone gets something new without going to the store.--Avoid "excess" idling and acceleration to cut back on emissions when driving. --Save water by only flushing the toilet every other time you use it. (Daily Telegraph)


TWO COMPLETE STRANGERS TIED THE KNOT TO PROVE A POINT ABOUT THE "SANCTITY" OF MARRIAGE . . . OR LACK THEREOF:

If you've been following the gay marriage debate, you know that one of the major knocks against it is that it violates the "sanctity" of marriage. --Well, a guy from Orlando named Brian Feldman doesn't buy it. So last week, he put up a post on Facebook saying he'd marry ANYBODY who showed up at the courthouse on Friday morning. --The idea was to show that marriage between a man and a woman isn't necessarily "sanctified," it's just between members of the opposite sex. --Or as Brian put it in his post, quote, "Is this entire project a mockery of marriage? Not at all! It’s completely within the legal rights of Brian and any other heterosexual couple with $123.50 (plus $6 for a standard marriage certificate). --"Sound absurd? Not nearly absurd as denying the equal right to marry for same-sex couples who truly care about each other; who’ve been in committed, productive and, most importantly, loving relationships for upwards of 20+ years. --"That, to Brian, and millions of Americans who believe in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality, is truly absurd - to say nothing of a civil injustice." --Anyway, three women showed up at the courthouse. And after playing spin-the-bottle to determine which one Brian would marry, he tied the knot with a COMPLETE STRANGER named Hannah Miller. (!!!) (Orlando Sentinel)


ARE SCHOOLS GOING TO PLAY BURT BACHARACH TO PREVENT KIDS FROM GRINDING ON THE DANCE FLOOR?

We've been hearing about this for a while, and it doesn't seem to be going away: High schools across the country keep looking for new ways to stop their kids from grinding on the dance floor. --On the one hand, it's hard to take this stuff seriously, because we should be more worried about their grades, and at least they're not shooting each other. --On the other hand, if you have kids, or you've ever SEEN the stuff they do when they're dancing, you know why this bothers people. It's like "Dirty Dancing" on crack. --Some schools have banned dances, posted rules, or made their students sign contracts before dances . . . all in the name of the anti-grinding movement. But the best plan so far is the one from the Pacific Hills School in L.A. --Last year, they threatened to turn on the lights if students started to grind . . . and to interrupt whatever song was playing with BURT BACHARACH . . . or WILLIAM SHATNER'S rendition of "Mr. Tambourine Man". (LA Times)


SHOULD DOGS BE ALLOWED TO GO EVERYWHERE WITH THEIR OWNERS?

I'm not exactly sure when it happened, but some time around the rise of PARIS HILTON and her merry band of celebu-skanks, it became socially acceptable for dog owners to take their pets EVERYWHERE with them. --And I'm not just talking about parks and other outdoor spaces . . . I'm talking about restaurants, stores, and even airplanes. --The question is: Should dogs be allowed to go everywhere with their owners? --Well, two editorialists addressed that exact topic in a recent "Complaint Box" piece in the "New York Times".--A woman named Barbara Rosenblatt took the dissenting opinion. She says, quote, "Animals are joining the ranks of small, bored children who must accompany their grown-ups just about everyplace. --"Perhaps what it will take to keep animals out of stores is a few too many paw prints on the merchandise, or a deposit by a dog that mistook a rug for a sidewalk." --And a woman named Erica Manfred defended her right to take her dog anywhere by saying he, quote, "makes my life bearable, and I don't care what anyone thinks." (Paw Nation)


FORMER WASHINGTON REDSKIN DARRELL GREEN RAN THE 40-METER DASH IN 4.43 SECONDS ON HIS 50TH BIRTHDAY:

DARRELL GREEN is a former cornerback for the Washington Redskins. He retired from the NFL in 2002, and on Monday he celebrated his 50th birthday . . . by running the 40-meter dash in 4.43 SECONDS. --If that doesn't mean anything to you, think of it this way . . . Darrell's 40-meter time on Monday was still faster than MOST players in the NFL right now. (Fan House)


GIRLS WHO PLAY SPORTS IN HIGH SCHOOL ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE CHUBBY WHEN THEY GROW UP:

A new study from the University of Illinois at Chicago has found that when girls play sports in high school, they're 7% less likely to be overweight 20 to 25 years later in life. (New York Times) (--You can link to the full story here . . .)http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/health/16well.html

HERE ARE FIVE SIGNS YOU'RE SLEEP-DEPRIVED:

You know you need to get about eight hours of sleep to be at the top of your game. But sometimes it's just not possible. --With that in mind, here are five signs your body will send to let you know you're SLEEP-DEPRIVED:

#1.) You can't make even the simplest decision: A study from the University of California at San Diego found that when people are tired, they have a harder time distinguishing between minor stuff and what's important . . . so they're easily confused.

#2.) You're always hungry: Studies have shown that when you don't get enough sleep, the body produces less of a hormone called leptin that curbs appetite, and more of a hormone called ghrelin that stimulates the appetite.

#3.) You keep getting sick: Studies have found that sleep boosts the immune system. And when people get less sleep than they need, they're up to three times more likely to get sick than those who get enough sleep.

#4.) You're an emotional wreck: The part of the brain that processes fear and anxiety is called the amygdala. Brain scans have shown that when people lose sleep, their amygdala is 60% more active than that of someone who's fully rested. --And other studies have found that when people are tired, their amygdala has a harder time communicating with the part of the brain that controls appropriate emotional responses . . . thus the near-constant waterworks.

#5.) You keep knocking stuff over: A study from Stanford University found that lack of sleep impairs focus, balance, reflexes, and depth perception. (MSN Health)


NAZZY'S SILLY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

#1.) This is what happens when you combine "Star Wars" nerds with the dorks who do those spontaneous 'flash-mob' events: a bunch of people suddenly start a lightsaber fight at a shopping mall in Bristol, England. (--It starts at 1:10.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUZgrL85OKs(Search Terms: Bristol lightsaber flashmob YouTube.com)

#2.) A politician in New Hampshire voiced her support for banning gay marriage by graphically describing how men have sex using the back-door.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgDWAvLh0yo(Search Terms: Nancy Elliott New Hampshire HB1590 video)
#3.) An Australian weatherman is attacked by a pelican in the middle of his report.http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1929349(Search Terms: pelican attacks weatherman Australia)


FIVE INVENTIONS WE OWE TO THE SPACE PROGRAM:

NASA was planning to put another man on the moon by the year 2020, but it would have cost $100 billion. So President Obama cut the plan when he sent his new budget to Congress. But some people say he made the wrong decision. Here's why. --These are five inventions people rely on every day that were inspired by NASA's research . . .

#1.) GPS. NASA researchers originally developed it as a space-based navigation system for the military. And it was used to increase the accuracy of satellite-guided missiles. But now you've probably got it on your cell phone.

#2.) MEMORY FOAM. NASA needed a new material that would make liftoffs and landings easier on the astronauts' bodies. So they made one. Now people use it to get a better night's sleep and to help with aches and pains caused by normal mattresses.

#3.) INVISIBLE BRACES. They're made from a special material that's stronger than steel and doesn't stain. And most important, it's clear. NASA developed it, and the military used it on heat-seeking missiles.

#4.) CORDLESS POWER TOOLS. The astronauts needed lightweight equipment that had a decent battery life. Black and Decker was already working on it when NASA got involved. But that's when the technology started getting a lot better.

#5.) CAT SCANS. This is one of the most-important things NASA's ever come up with. During the Apollo missions in the 1960's, scientists needed a way to digitally enhance pictures of the moon. --And the technology they came up with eventually evolved into CAT scans and MRIs, which are used to help diagnose cancer and all sorts of other diseases. (AskMen.com)FACT OR

Original Post By: Nazzy

Source: http://1055jyy.blogspot.com/2010/02/february-17-2010.html

Nick Punto Day

A few weeks back, Twins blogger Andrew Kneeland (of Twins Target) sent out an e-mail to different Twins bloggers asking to partake in Nick Punto Day. What is Nick Punto Day? Well, NPD isn't a holiday - at least not yet - but it is a day for Twins bloggers to give their thoughts on one of the most controvertible players in Twins history, Nick Punto.

We all hate when manager Ron Gardenhire describes him as a "gamer" or talks about his "hustle" and his yearning for Punto has even brought on several tasteful (and tasteless) jokes over the years, but I see why Gardenhire is so fond of him. Other than the fact that he's both over-payed and overplayed, he's a valuable player to have on a team.

Although he's only 5'9'' and 170 lbs., Punto is one of the most athletic players on the team. Every position he plays, he plays it well. Other than the 52 innings he's spent in the outfield, Punto has been used as an infielder throughout his entire career. At 32, he has racked-up over 5,300 innings at second base, shortstop and third base. And what's the most impressive about those 5,300+ innings is that his UZR/150 at each position has been great. At second base, his URZ/150 at second base is 3.9, at shortstop it's 18.1, and at third base it's 19.9.

With both J.J. Hardy and Orlando Hudson now in the fold, Punto is likely to receive a bulk of the starts at third base, which is his best defensive position. Danny Valencia, a top prospect in the Twins system, could be ready around mid-2010, which could push Punto into the role most would like to see him in, which is utility.

Punto has started an average of 125 games over the last five years and in the same span, he has hit .249/.324/.327 in 2,022 at-bats. Other than drawing a fair number of walks, Punto doesn't offer much offensively.

With all things considered, it's time to get down to the nitty-gritty...

I've grown tired and weary of the people that complain about Punto being penciled into the starting lineup. Punto, much like former Twins outfielder Carlos Gomez, should play everyday. Despite putting up atrocious numbers at the plate, both players can still be very valuable to a team with their great defense. The problem is that when your lineup already has two or three guys that aren't adequate on either side of the ball, then someone gets singled out.

Punto has wrongfully been the scapegoat to many complainers over the years. His defensive value cannot be denied. I've always thought that if Punto's to be blamed, then the front office is even more at fault. Gardenhire plays the roster he's given and knows Punto's value and believes that he offers something more than whatever else he has on the roster. And I agree 100% with him on that.

With guys like Hudson and Hardy filling out the middle infield, why not take a chance on Punto in the #9 hole? His defense is great at third base and great offensive production probably won't be a necessity.

Overall, I like Punto and hope he stays with the Twins. I do hope however that if the Twins do need more offense that Gardenhire doesn't think twice about pulling him out of the lineup.

Original Post by Josh Johnson

Source: http://joshsopinion.blogspot.com/

What does a Picture say about you

Looking at this picture below:

This picture was taken about 4 years ago. I do not know what I was doing with my mouth but I do know that I was very annoyed with this picture. Can you guess where I was at? A John Mayer/Ben Folds concert. It was taken by a girl that had been bugging me all day and I was done with getting my picture taken. The people that surrounded me were a bunch of dumb girls screaming for John Mayer to play dumb girl songs. I was there with friends and was really more excited to see Ben Folds then John Mayer. At this moment in time it was almost summer time, school had just ended and I was getting ready to start a summer of boredom and working at a gas station of misery. I remember feeling pretty alone around this time and I think that this picture actually kind of captures that in some way or another.

The amazing thing about photos is that there is a story to each one. Looking at this photo you might think it is a photo of the side of a guys head, but really it tells a story. Each photo is unique because there are events that are going on in the photo. It is almost like you are taking a quick snapshot of what you are doing to keep that memory alive of the moment.

You should join me in taking part in this fun.
Select a picture and tell us about what was going on.
What story is being told?
Why did you select this photo?
What is unique about that picture, that day, that look?

Either track back to this post in a blog post you write about this or leave a link in the comment section.
Would love to hear some stories about your photos.

*kyle

Original Posts by Kyle Reed

Source: http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com/what-does-a-picture-say-about-you/#more-3414

Happy Valentine's Day!

As the weekend approaches, Valentine's Day will be upon us. I've always felt that Valentine's Day puts pressure on men to do something special for their girlfriend or wife. I think that it shouldn't be about who loves you but who you love. I'd rather the card, flowers or something special just because not necessarily on Valentine's Day. However, I do usually give the boys something fun and definitely lots of extra kisses on Valentine's Day.
Here is some Valentine's Day Trivia for you:

* 15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.
* 73% of people who buy flowers for Valentine's Day are men, while only 27 percent are women.
* About 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged each year. That's the largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year, next to Christmas.
* About 3% of pet owners will give Valentine's Day gifts to their pets.
* Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent on the telephone, an "Improvement in Telegraphy", on Valentine's Day, 1876.
* 110 million roses, the majority red, will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period.

So, this Valentine's Day, hand write a love note and give it to someone that you love. I heart you! Jenifer

Original Post by Jenifer Harris


Source: http://imluckyx2.blogspot.com/2010/02/happy-valentines-day.html

Orthograph #38 - A Recipe

Source : Posted by s-p
http://pithlessthoughts.blogspot.com/2010/02/orthograph-38-recipe.html

Orthograph #36 - The Bar is Open

Source: Posted by s-p
http://pithlessthoughts.blogspot.com/2010/02/orthograph-36-bar-is-open.html

Firepup Follies

Firedoglake has emerged as a reasonably important force on the left wing of the Democratic party. Sure it's not dailykos, but it is much more reliably lefty.

Jane Hamsher et al are active activists and really believe in a democratic organization of Firedoglake. They have a reader poll to elect Firedogs (to fight the bluedogs). These would be congressmen whose re-election campaigns are actively supported by Firedoglakes.

Being transparent as well as democratic, they have the front runnders after the first day of voting up up. I see

Vote for 2010 FDL Fire Dogs

It’s going to be a tough election year in 2010. Which members of Congress should we help?

Early Front-runners in Voting

Eric J. Massa (NY-29)
Michael E. Capuano (MA-08)
Lloyd Doggett (TX-25)
Raul Grijalva (AZ-07)
Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05)



I know the beta Firedog Michael Capuano. He is my representative in Congress. Every two years I get a general election ballot which gives me a choice between Michael Capuano or I can write a name in.

IIRC the Republicans haven't run a candidate in MA-08 since Michael Capuano has been in office (nor did they ever run one against his predecessor although way back in the msits of time some Republican ran against Tip O'Neil.

This year will not be a tough year for Michael Capuano. There is no point in donating to his campaign. He doesn't have to campaign. He represent Ma-08.

I think the vote shows the Firepup approach to politics. It has nothing to do with actually influincing policy outcomes. It is a matter of expressing personal preferences.

Hamsher explains the idea *again*

It’s 3pm and as promised, here are the first day vote tallies to determine which members of Congress become FDL Fire Dogs, and receive community fundraising and GOTV support in 2010.



See its not "which congressperson do you like best ?" nor "with which congressman's public statements do you agree with most ?"

It is where should we direct our scarce resourses.

I'd say rule number one is that Firedoglake should try to defeat Republican candidates and not waste resources on elections where there is no Republican candidate.

Note I am criticizing Firepups, that is, Firedoglake readers who do something more than just read. I thought the election of Firedogs was a good idea (which shows what I know). I am in no position to criticize the actual Firedogs such as Alpha Firedog Hamsher on this one.

But come on firepups political strategy and self expression are not the same thing.

Source: posted by Robert
http://rjwaldmann.blogspot.com/2010/02/firepup-follies-firedoglake-has-emerged.html

Daily Thoughts 2/3/2010

Illustration of a bookstore, from Los Españoles pintados por sí mismos. 1851 edition; original publication would have been about a decade earlier.


Daily Thoughts 2/3/2010

I finished reading The Book of Dead Philosophers. In the afterword, Simon Critchley tells us that part of the book is based on a course at the New School for Social Research done in 2007 called "To Philosophize Is To Learn To Die." I enjoyed reading this book tremendously.

This morning, I watched a dvd called The Mystery of the Nile about the first expedition to travel the full length of the nile river to the sea. It was interesting hearing the narrative of the group passing through Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, and eventually reaching Alexandria. They visited ancient Egyptian temples, Ethiopian churches, and an ancient Nubian site. The film was originally done for IMAX.

I have started reading Starship Flagship by Mike Resnick. It is space opera with a bit of irony, humor, and political meandering thrown in.

Source: Posted by Book Calendar
http://bookcalendar.blogspot.com/2010/02/daily-thoughts-232010.html

God and Wall Street

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, writes the following for Newsweek:

Recently I went to New York City to participate in a conference at Trinity Wall Street. It was called "Building an Ethical Economy: Theology and the Marketplace." In my view, the contribution of theology to economic decision making is not only about raising questions concerning the common good—questions that deal with how this or that policy grants or withholds liberty for the most disadvantaged. Obviously, these are important issues. But we need to look with great care as well at what our economic practices are assuming and promoting about human motivation and integrity.

In our culture, we have become used to an attitude in which economic motivations, relationships, and conventions are fundamental: the language of seller and customer has wormed its way into practically all areas of our social life, even education and health care. The implication is that the most basic interaction between one human being and another is the carefully calibrated exchange of material resources.

In our culture, we have become used to an attitude in which economic motivations, relationships, and conventions are fundamental: the language of seller and customer has wormed its way into practically all areas of our social life, even education and health care. The implication is that the most basic interaction between one human being and another is the carefully calibrated exchange of material resources.

But we must hang on to the idea that not everything reduces to one standard of value. Treat economic exchanges as the only "real" thing that people do, and you face the same problems confronted by the evolutionary biologist (for whom the only question is how organisms compete and survive) or the Freudian fundamentalist (for whom the only issue is how we resolve the tensions of infantile sexuality). Traditional religious ethics—traditional ethics of any kind, in fact—do not require you to ignore the hidden forces that may be at work in any particular setting. Being human is learning how to ask critical questions of your own habits and compulsions, and it's learning how to adjust them against a model of human behavior—an idealized truth about the purpose of our humanity.

It is possible to see the various balancing acts we engage in—the calculations of self-interest and security, the resolution of buried tensions—as a means to finding our way to a life that manifests something, a life that doesn't just solve problems of survival and profit. Our job as human beings is to imagine ourselves—using all the raw materials that science, psychoanalysis, and economics provide us—in the hope that the images we discover and shape will have resonance and harmony with the rhythms of what Christians, and others, call the will and purpose of Almighty God.

Source:posted by King of Peace
http://kingofpeace.blogspot.com/

Thoughts on Massachusetts

There's all sorts of speculation and back of the envelope math being done right now on the Massachusetts Senate special election and whether Republican Scott Brown might be able to pull off a surprise there. Dave Weigel reports that Rasmussen is going to be polling there tonight so that should give us a better idea but I thought it would be worth taking a look at what would happen if things played out in Masschusetts similarly to Virginia, which is a sort of Democratic worst case scenario.

The Virginia exit poll showed the folks who turned out there voted for John McCain by an eight point margin, in contrast to the actual six point victory in the state for Barack Obama. A similar 14 point drop on the Obama margin in Massachusetts would mean the people who come out for the Senate election voted for him by a 56-44 margin.

In Virginia Creigh Deeds won 88% of the Obama vote and Bob McDonnell won 95% of the McCain vote. Give those percentages to Martha Coakley and Scott Brown and you have Coakley at 51.5% and Brown at 48.5%. That finding incidentally is similar to what Sean Trende of Real Clear Politics came up with last week using some different metrics.

So how does Brown win? One path would be for Democratic turnout in Massachusetts to be even worse relative to the Republicans than it was in Virginia- that seems unlikely to me as what happened there really does seem about rock bottom. A more plausible (though still highly unlikely) scenario would be for Brown to pick off a higher percentage of Obama voters than McDonnell did in Virginia. Democratic turnout there may have been awful but the ones who did turn out voted for Deeds pretty much across the board- Brown would have to do a better job picking off Obama voters than McDonnell did to pull the shocker.
There's all sorts of speculation and back of the envelope math being done right now on the Massachusetts Senate special election and whether Republican Scott Brown mig

Source: http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2010/01/thoughts-on-massachusetts.html

UIL Realignment 2010 List Released

The official 2010 UIL realignment list has been released this morning, Monday at 9.00am. It is thought that many American schools are concerned about where they would fall for the 2010-2011 season, and with the changes, the UIL have moved two Palestine school districts back to familiar ground as part of District 20-3A. Palestine and Westwood will be joined by Fairfield, Mexia, Madisonville, and Groesbeck.

A number of other interesting changes are set to occur, with the Longview Lobos, who will open the University Interscholastic League realignment season with Marshall. This will be the second year in a row that the Lobos will feature a Class 5A state champion.

FHS remain in AAA and will play in Region IV District 26 AAA with others such as Boerne, Canyon Lake, Bandera, Geronimo Navarro, San Antonio Hawkins, and Wimberly.

According to a press release from UIL, they say that schools may appeal against their realignments, and must do so before February 11. Realignment happens on a two year basis, and the UIL try and group similar size schools, in neighbouring districts.

Dallas News has the entire list.

Source: Merinews

Underdog Jesse Brinkley Gets Thrilling Win Over Curtis Stevens On FNF

Curtis Stevens predicted that he'd dispatch foe Jesse Brinkley 50 seconds into round one of their scrap, the feature bout on ESPN's Friday Night fights at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. The seconds ticked by, and then the minutes. Jesse Brinkley was still in the game. His confidence blossomed and the Vegas native showed that the New Yorker came to town too cocky.

I'll show you, Showtime.

He mixed his shots, scored two knockdowns and earned himself an IBF title shot after 12 rounds of mostly intelligent pugilism. Mostly, I say, because he might look back at the tape of this fight and wonder why he was trading with Stevens when all he had to do was coast to the unanimous decision, but you'll not hear any complaints from viewers, who were treated to a fine scrap.


Brinkley (167 1/2; age 32; now 35-5) and Stevens (165; age 24; now 21-3) couldn't even look at each other during the prefight staredown session. They did however hug after the cards (all Brinkley--117-109, 118-108, 119-107) were read. The win earns Brinkley a shot against IBF champ Lucian Bute.


In the first, Stevens scored with his left hook several times, and nicked Brinkley's right eye, and directly underneath the peeper. Brinkley showed a decent jab and mixed in some body work. His trainer, interestingly, was Peter Manfredo Sr., who oversaw Brinkley while his son Peter Junior headlined a show in Connecticut.


In the second, Stevens kept headhunting, and Brinkley loosened up. He moved more and looked like he belonged in there. Stevens regressed, and by the third Brinkley looked confident he could emerge with an upset win. In the fourth, Brinkley's diet of one-twos, and underneath handiwork were impressing judges.

Brinkley kept fighting smart in the fifth. He didn't get too cocky, and forget that Stevens can bang. The two kept trading after the bell. Trainer Manfredo ran into the ring and pulled Stevens away, before the ref yanked him away. Stevens doesn't own a superior jab, or rather, the resolve to use a jab as a weapon and a tablesetter. Brinkley rights hurt Stevens with a minute to go in the sixth, and the New Yorker waved Brinkley towards him, indicating that he wasn't hurt. To the contrary...Brinkley had him on the ropes, and Stevens went to his knee with 15 seconds left. He looked totally gassed and had to be overjoyed when the bell rang to save him. Atlas thought that the dynamic was reminiscent of the Tyson-Holyfield scenario, when the bully bashing lost steam, and the bully's resolve crumbled.

In the seventh, Stevens came out awake. He jabbed more, and was back in the fight. Atlas recommended to Manfredo that Brinkley look to take out Stevens, rather than let the hitter hang around during the eighth. Stevens buzzed the underdog in the eighth. In round nine, we learned Manfredo was removed from the corner, on order of the commission. The distance closed, with Stevens having some luck with long rights. In the 10th, Stevens kept leading with his left hook. Brinkley saw it, and slipped it. His own left hooks told Stevens he didn't have that market cornered. In the 11th, Brinkley stayed busy. He made sure to keep proper distance, got in, got out, and likely got another 10 on the cards. The couple solid shots he took, he shrugged off. In the 12th, Manfredo must've been crazed as he saw Brinkley trading, instead of running out the clock. Atlas lauded Stevens here, admitting that the Tyson-bully hat didn't fit. Brinkley scored a knockdown, his second, with 35 seconds left, as the ropes kept Stevens from hitting the mat. Two right hands and a left hook did the damage. "That is good stuff! Good stuff here in Reno. Jesse Brinkly puts on a show!" screamed Joe Tessitore at ringside. We'd go to the cards, as both men's face told anyone who looked at them their vocation after the 36 minutes of combat.


SPEEDBAG Analyst Teddy Atlas took a slap at Freddie Roach, noting that Roach abandoned Peter Manfredo to go train Oscar De La Hoya, going for the moolah instead of adhering to his word. Did that smackdown come out of nowhere? Nope; Roach busted on Atlas for talking on air three weeks ago about that email that went from a Pacquiao teammember to a Mayweather teammember, wondering what might happen if Pacquiao tested positive for a PED. Atlas brought up Roach again in the eighth as well.

--Atlas guessed that Stevens might take out Brinkley in a round or two. He offered a mea culpa during round six, to his credit.

---No shame for Stevens. He's just 24, and now he knows better. Don't predict a KO within a minute, because your opponent knows what's coming, and will be emboldened if he makes it through the stated time period.


Original Source: By Michael Woods http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/7669/underdog-jesse-brinkley-gets-thrilling-win-over-curtis-stevens-fnf/

Full Moon 2010 - Wolf Moon & Mars Equal Big Night for Skywatchers

The first full moon for 2010 is also known as the wolf moon and will shine brightly on the last weekend in January. Add to the night of sky-watching a mix of Mars and you have quite the spectacle as the moon and Mars increase in brightness.

Full Moon 2010 - Wolf Moon & Mars Equal Big Night for Skywatchers

Fox News notes in a report on the origins of the term 'wolf moon' it (is) "a moniker dating back to Native American culture and the notion that hungry wolves howled at the full moon on cold winter nights..."

How bright will it be? Thanks to Mars, expect some serious light.

According to a report from National Geographic, "The 2010 wolf moon will appear 30 percent brighter and 14 percent larger than any other full moon this year, because our cosmic neighbor will actually be closer to Earth than usual."

***

Robin Scagell, from the Society for Popular Astronomy is cited by the UK Guardian and said: "Mars is looking really quite red and impressive at the moment, and the moon will be full. It's going to be a great sight and rather fun to look for."

The report notes that it is best to get away from light pollution and pack it to the country and for optimal viewing, "A pair of binoculars and a clear out-of-town sky will reveal an added bonus - the "beehive" star cluster - between the two objects, said Scagell.

Source: By Gene Byrd
Jan 29, 2010

Goodbye Holden -- and Franny and Zooey

Even though I rarely think of J.D. Salinger, just the other day I mentioned him -- and his most famous character, Holden Caufield -- in a paper I wrote for a class I'm taking on adolescent development. As an alienated teenager, myself, I took a literature class where we read Salinger's Nine Stories. I had a passionate teacher who helped Salinger's work come alive for me. I wasn't really sure what these stories were about exactly, but, whatever it was, struck me as something very important, something very genuine -- and something worth striving to understand.



Now -- at the ripe old age of 91, many years from the teenager's world of Holden where everything adults did or cared about seemed "phony" -- Salinger is dead.



I am grateful to have had his work as part of my life. It made me feel less alone, especially as a teen, to know others were feeling alienated -- and were searching for something "more.


Original Post : http://abayye.blogspot.com/2010/01/goodbye-holden-and-franny-and-zooey.html

Toyota Recall List: Sales of Eight Models Suspended

Toyota’s difficulties related to the unintended acceleration issue appear to be worsening, as the automaker has announced suspended sales of eight models in the U.S. market. As of January 27, the Toyota recall list has been updated to include suspended sales of Camry (excluding hybrid versions), Avalon, Tundra, Sequoia, RAV4, Corolla, Highlander (excluding hybrid versions) and Matrix models. The move has also forced a temporary production halt at plants in Indiana, Texas, Kentucky and Canada.

As the Toyota Camry remains the best selling car in America, the sales suspension is expected to have a noticeable impact on Toyota’s dealer network, already reeling from a sluggish economy and tightening credit requirements. Prior to this latest setback, Toyota had announced aggressive leasing options and cash back programs in an effort to get customers into showrooms.

Original Source :Posted in Newsworthy, Popular Cars, Recalls, Toyota by Kurt
http://www.ridelust.com/toyota-recall-update-sales-of-eight-models-suspended/

Don't Judge Period 2.

When it comes to judging people, there’s a fine line between character and visual impression.

Keep in mind when your parents used to tell you not to judge people based on how they appear? Well, even if we may have been tell not to do that a hundred times, sad to say, we still do.

I’m not one of the prettiest girls around. People don’t usually notice me on the street. I may have walked past you, but surely you wouldn’t have noticed me if not for my bright clothes. I’m plainly average; I’m not thin, I’m not tall, not even close to what girls call the ‘it’ girls. I wear glasses and I don’t have the best fashion sense in the world. My every day clothes consists of jeans, t-shirt, rubber shoes, and an dull coat to keep me warm on cold days. I don’t wear makeup; just a few dab of a face powder in the morning and I’m good to go.

Three months ago, I decided to have a makeover. I changed my hair. I taught myself how to apply makeup; I even asked the help of my fashion designer friend to revamp my whole wardrobe. I wear high-heels now; I have skirts and dresses in my closet, and have practically thrown away all my sneakers and rubber shoes. The change was remarkable. People noticed me on the street, they even open doors open for me (treatment I didn’t get when I was still a plain-looking gal). Overall, my makeover gave me the confidence I want and the respect I deserve.

So, what does this say about our society? Well, the sad truth is, we are shallow, materialistic people. We get easily impressed by materials things, and although we try to follow what our parents told us, we always adjudicator citizen by physical impression. It’s often what we look from the outside that dictates how people treat us.

And so, what our parents warn us not to do have sadly become the today. If you want people to respect you, you have to look the part.

Remembering my buddies

I was looking at the torn pictures of my high school classmates when I realized I haven’t heard from them in a long time. After graduation, we all drew apart and walked our own paths. I don’t really have close friends back in high school. I envy those people who have a circle of friends who they can call in the middle of the night just for a quick stroll in the graveyard, or friends who goes to their house on unholy hours and dig up all the food in the fridge, which, by the way, their mom was saving up for the weekend party.

I wish to have a clique just like that. But, don’t get me wrong. I’m not unfriendly or have a communicable disease. I easily get along with people and I can crack a joke in perfect timing. I just don’t know why I can’t keep friends forever.

So, as I was looking at our old photos, a thought came to me. Why don’t I dig up my old friends and know what they are up to these days. And so, I plunge in a thorough research and here’s what I found out:

Vince: He lived across our house. We used to carpool back then and share our things; we even shared a girlfriend once. We last saw each other in 1995. From what I heard, he’s a print and ad model today and have came out in some TV commercials. He still got a lot of girls and can’t manage to pick one to be his wife. That lucky bastard!

James: The sporty guy. The only thing I can remember about him is basketball. He’s one of the varsity players in school, and the only guy I always have a brawl with. The last thing I heard, he’s a pastor at some Christian church now.

Robin: The guitar guy. You can never see this guy in campus without his guitar in hand. He’s the best guitarist I have met in my entire life. From what they say, he plays at a cruise ship today. I think he’s already married.

Francis and John: My best mates in high school, who change girlfriends same way they change their shirts. They never seem to lose girls in their palms. I see Francis every now and then; he’s currently having his residency in one of the hospitals in town. As for John, I got no news of him.

I just realized that my friends are just my fleeting companions in my daily existence. They shape my potentials; they love me; they hurt me; they influence me; they keep me on the ground; they just come and go.

Holiday Cram

I am so busted. A few days before the holidays, and I still haven’t got my presents ready. Work has been tight, with the year-end reports to finish and holiday parties to attend. I still got a few things to wrap up before I head-off to my trip. But time is short. I have deadlines coming up. I’m actually cramming right this very moment to get everything finished. I hate my laziness; I blame it on my non-existent social life.

But you know what?

I just realized that all these trials, deadlines, and pressure are here to make me commit to my responsibility better, even if it’s freaking hard.

There are times when the anxiety makes me suicidal, but that’s not the attitude.

The feeling of finally getting the fruits of something I worked hard for is incomparable.

And in a few years, I’ll look back to everything that has happened, and just grin. Then, I’ll tell myself it was all a good memory and a worthwhile experience.

So, whatever problems come my way, I’ll just enjoy it. Feel the trial. Fall. Cry.

Perhaps I need to start on those presents now. I’m feeling a bit ecstatic and in a shopping mood after writing this post. Happy holidays everyone!

She’s such a flirt!

Okay, so my friends and I went clubbing the other night. It was our first night out together after months of staying sober and nightclub-free. We were only a few minutes inside the club when this girl came over Jim and started flashing her fake lashes and throwing evocative gestures at him. Five minutes of groping and they were out of our sight.

I don’t have anything against flirting, but when it comes to female throwing goo-goo eyes and showing sexual intent to guys they just pick out from the crowd, that’s a totally different story. I mean, can’t the girl see that she’s just getting mixed signals from the guy? I can put the blame on the lethal cocktails in her hands, but that’s not enough reason for her to hit on Jim head on. I mean come on, doesn’t the ring on his finger clearly says he’s off the market?

Let’s be clear though. Flirting doesn’t have to be ghastly all the time; that is if it’s done with innocence. Innocent flirting is just like appreciating someone; nothing more, nothing less. There are no age limits, gender boundaries, and sexual connotations. It simply is being charming. But throw in battling lashes, fake laughs, and too much physical contact, there’s totally nothing innocent with that.

I can tell when a girl is flirting innocently or introducing sexual element to someone; trust me I know. I won’t be surprised when I get a frantic call one of these days from Jim’s wife. So, girls take it from me; if you want to flirt make sure to do it to someone uncommitted. Don’t jump into the situation easily. Flirting can be fun, if you do it with a light hand.

Don’t judge, period.

When it comes to judging people, there’s a fine line between character and visual impression.

Remember when your parents used to tell you not to judge people based on how they look? Well, though we may have been told not to do that a hundred times, sad to say, we still do.

I’m not one of the prettiest girls around. People don’t usually notice me on the street. I may have walked past you, but surely you wouldn’t have noticed me if not for my bright clothes. I’m plainly average; I’m not thin, I’m not tall, not even close to what girls call the ‘it’ girls. I wear glasses and I don’t have the best fashion sense in the world. My every day clothes consists of jeans, t-shirt, rubber shoes, and an occasional dull coat to keep me warm on cold days. I don’t wear makeup; just a few dab of a face powder in the morning and I’m good to go.

Three months ago, I decided to have a makeover. I changed my hair. I taught myself how to apply makeup; I even asked the help of my fashion designer friend to revamp my whole wardrobe. I wear high-heels now; I have skirts and dresses in my closet, and have practically thrown away all my sneakers and rubber shoes. The change was remarkable. People noticed me on the street, they even open doors open for me (treatment I didn’t get when I was still a plain-looking gal). Overall, my makeover gave me the confidence I want and the respect I deserve.

So, what does this say about our society? Well, the sad truth is, we are shallow, materialistic people. We get easily impressed by materials things, and although we try to follow what our parents told us, we always judge people by physical impression. It’s often what we look from the outside that dictates how people treat us.

And so, what our parents warn us not to do have sadly become the norm today. If you want people to respect you, you have to look the part. Change your physical impression, and it’ll take you a long way. I learned that the hard way.