Monday, January 31, 2011

1/31/2011 02:27:00 PM
Like many people we’ve been glued to the news unfolding in Egypt and thinking of what we could do to help people on the ground. Over the weekend we came up with the idea of a speak-to-tweet service—the ability for anyone to tweet using just a voice connection.



We worked with a small team of engineers from Twitter, Google and SayNow, a company we acquired last week, to make this idea a reality. It’s already live and anyone can tweet by simply leaving a voicemail on one of these international phone numbers (+16504194196 or +390662207294 or +97316199855) and the service will instantly tweet the message using the hashtag #egypt. No Internet connection is required. People can listen to the messages by dialing the same phone numbers or going to twitter.com/speak2tweet.

We hope that this will go some way to helping people in Egypt stay connected at this very difficult time. Our thoughts are with everyone there.

Posted by Ujjwal Singh, CoFounder of SayNow and AbdelKarim Mardini, Product Manager, Middle East & North Africa
Source : http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/some-weekend-work-that-will-hopefully.html

Some weekend work that will (hopefully) enable more Egyptians to be heard

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Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of defender David Luiz from Benfica for an undisclosed fee.

Luiz, who has signed a five-and-a-half year contract, joins Chelsea as the third Brazilian in the current squad, linking up with former Benfica team-mate Ramires and fellow central-defender Alex.

He said: 'I am delighted to be joining a big English club, and I know very well the quality that Chelsea has.

'It is a major challenge for me but I am determined and confident in my ability to adapt to this excellent league, and I look forward to meeting my new-team mates.'

Now 23, David Luiz Moreira Marinho was born on April 22, 1987 in Sao Paulo and began his career with Esporte Clube Vitoria in Bahia where he made 47 appearances.

The 6ft 2in defender, who is renowned for his skill on the ball as much as his defensive ability, switched to Benfica, initially on loan in January 2007 before making the move permanent that summer.

In total he made 82 league appearances for the Lisbon club missing just one game last season as they wrapped up a first league title in five years. Uefa.com voted Luiz the league's Player of the Year.

Luiz, who made his Brazil debut against America last year, will not be eligible for Champions League football this season after completing all six of Benfica's group games. They finished third behind Schalke and Lyon.

He also represented his country at the 2007 Under 20 World Cup, and can cover at either left or right-back.

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said: 'David Luiz is one of the great defensive prospects in world football, and already a Brazilian international. I am sure he will prove a valuable addition to the Chelsea squad.'

Chairman Bruce Buck added: 'It is a delight to have completed this transfer for a fantastic young footballer who we have admired for some time. David has played in the Champions League and the squad now has a more experienced look to it that will hopefully serve us well for the rest of this season and going forward.'

The deal will also take midfielder Nemanja Matic to Benfica in the summer, though the Serbian will remain a Chelsea player until his loan deal with Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem is completed at the end of the season.

Source :http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2281533,00.html

DAVID LUIZ

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Starlet Emma Roberts ditched the awards show glam and joined Justin Bieber and NASCAR stars Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle to appear on ABC Sunday's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" in honor of the Remember Alex Brown Foundation, a nonprofit organized after 17-year-old Alexandra Brown rolled her pickup truck and died on her way to school. She was texting and driving.


After being alerted that her daughter hadn't made it to school, Alex's mother Jeannie drove out to find the wreck of the truck. "Although no other vehicles were involved, Alex was not alone," she writes on the Foundation's official website. "The cell phone on which she had sent and receive over 10,000 text messages in the weeks preceding her accident was with her."

Volunteers arrived at the Brown home in Lubbock, TX to rebuild their home - now occupied by the remaining three family members, Jeanne, Johnny Mac, and Alex's 12-year-old sister Katrina a year after Alex's death.

"If Alex was here and seeing all this she would be so excited for us," Katrina told reporters. "She'd be like, 'I'm so glad y'all are getting this! Y'all are doing good. Keep going.'"

The Browns decided to start the Remember Alex Brown Foundation the day she died. "I chose to do it that day at the hospital," her father says. "We have to put the [wrecked] truck on a trailer and we have to go to schools and tell people about the dangers of texting and driving."

"Extreme Makeover" asked Roberts to join in for two reasons. "She's an incredible young actress," said Ty Pennington, "and she's a teen so she understands how big of an epidemic texting and driving is."

"After hearing Alex's story I just think texting and driving is really a problem," Roberts says. "To hear that this happened to someone so young -- that really kind of was a little bit of a wake-up call. I have a nine year old sister and to think of her losing me, or me losing her -- I can't even comprehend that."

Source : http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2011/01/remember-alex-brown-emma-roberts-and-justin-bieber-join-extreme-makeover-home-edition-in-support-of.html

Remember Alex Brown: Emma Roberts and Justin Bieber join 'Extreme Makeover Home Edition' in support of safe driving

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A complete list of the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild winners and nominations:

Best Feature Film Ensemble:
"Black Swan"
"The Fighter"
"The Kids Are All Right"
"The King's Speech" -- WINNER!
"The Social Network"

Lead Actor
Jeff Bridges, "True Grit"
Robert Duvall, "Get Low"
Jesse Eisenberg, "The Social Network"
Colin Firth, "The King's Speech" -- WINNER!
James Franco, "127 Hours"



Lead Actress
Annette Bening, "The Kids Are All Right"
Nicole Kidman, "Rabbit Hole"
Jennifer Lawrence, "Winter's Bone"
Natalie Portman, "Black Swan" -- WINNER!
Hilary Swank, "Conviction"

Supoprting Actor
Christian Bale, "The Fighter" -- WINNER!
John Hawkes, "Winter's Bone"
Jeremy Renner, "The Town"
Mark Ruffalo, "The Kids Are All Right"
Geoffrey Rush, "The King's Speech"

Actress, TV Movie or Miniseries
Claire Danes, "Temple Grandin" -- WINNER!
Catherine O'Hara, "Temple Grandin"
Julia Ormond, "Temple Grandin"
Winona Ryder, "When Love is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story"
Susan Sarandon, "You Don't Know Jack"

Actor, TV Movie or Miniseries
John Goodman, "You Don't Know Jack"
Al Pacino, "You Don't Know Jack" -- WINNER!
Dennis Quaid, "The Special Relationship"
Edgar Ramirez, "Carlos"
Patrick Stewart, "Macbeth (Great Performances)"

Comedy Series Ensemble
"30 Rock," NBC
"Glee," FOX
"Hot in Cleveland," TV Land
"Modern Family," ABC -- WINNER!
"The Office," NBC

Actress, Comedy Series
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Jane Lynch, "Glee"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
Betty White, "Hot in Cleveland" -- WINNER!

Actor, Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" -- WINNER!
Ty Burell, "Modern Family"
Steve Carell, "The Office"
Chris Colfer, "Glee"
Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family"

Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, "The Fighter"
Helena Bonham Carter, "The King's Speech"
Mila Kunis, "Black Swan"
Melissa Leo, "The Fighter" -- WINNER!
Hailee Steinfeld, "True Grit"

Drama Series Ensemble
"Boardwalk Empire," HBO -- WINNER!
"The Closer, "TNT
"Dexter," Showtime
"The Good Wife," CBS
"Mad Men," AMC

Actress, Drama Series
Glenn Close, "Damages"
Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: SVU"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife" -- WINNER!
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"

Actor, Drama Series
Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire" -- WINNER!
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Hugh Laurie, "House"

Source : http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2011/01/2011_sag_award_winners_list.php

SAG Award Winners List 2011

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Posted by SunnyChanel on January 31st, 2011 at 1:02 am

Late last year Kim Kardashian took her clothes off for W Magazine for their “Art Issue,” and the W shoot was featured on the new episode of Kourtney and Kim Take New York.”

Kim Kardashian was seen with nothing but some text bars covering her “assets” on the cover but in the feature inside she was totally naked, except for one thing -silver paint.


This buxom Kardashian showed off her boobs and butt in what was considered in a “art” context. It was the “Art Issue. ” But just before Kim Kardashian was upset that Playboy was going to release naked photos from her photo session she did with the men’s mag. So is she going to regret these photos too?

It’s been rumored that she apparently had regretted doing the Playboy shoot with speculation that she didn’t get enough for the photos, she was 15 pounds heavier in the pics and that she didn’t want to do them in the first place, it was all her mom’s doing. But what makes the “W” pics art vs. the Playboy pics. Couldn’t those be called “art” too? It’s it because one is for a men’s mag and one is for fashion?And she is pretty darn naked in W, when she has kids of her own will she tell them about her nudie mag shoots. Will she be a prude or proud?

Source : http://blogs.babble.com/famecrawler/2011/01/31/photos-kim-kardashian-silver-paint-w-cover-will-she-regret-this-too/

(PHOTOS) Kim Kardashian Silver Paint W Cover – Will She Regret This Too?

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Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero has said that he is not being kept at the club against his will, and when the day arrives that he wants to leave, he will make his feelings known.

The Argentine attacker has been linked with Real Madrid earlier in the transfer window, and speculation linked Tottenham with a massive offer on Sunday evening, although the club have since denied their interest.


Speaking to the media today regarding the possibility of leaving the Vicente Calderon, Aguero said: “This club has always treated me very well. I am very happy, so I wanted to renew my contract here.

“I have made a commitment to take this club forward. I’m glad an I am happy to stay here, and I hope to continue here for many more years.”

Regarding any possible move in the summer, he stressed: “It is not the time to talk about it. The day I decide I want to go, I will decide, not anyone else. The day I want to go, I will day, ‘I want to go’, and then I will.”

Source : http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/222/transfer-zone/2011/01/31/2331469/sergio-aguero-i-remain-committed-to-atletico-madrid?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Sergio Aguero: I Remain Committed To Atletico Madrid

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Sunday, January 30, 2011


The no. 3 seed Novak Djokovic has captured the first set of the Australian Open men’s final today against Britain’s Andy Murray. The match takes place at Rod Laver Arena.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic held a ruling 6-4 6-2 lead over Andy Murray in Australian Open final to smash out British expects of a first men’s grand slam champion in 75 years execution by a thread.


Serbia’s Davis Cup hero won his only previous grand slam in Melbourne in the year 2008, pursued down Murray drop shot to smash for 2-0 with a cross-court backhand.

Murray became the previous year’s runner-up, is trying to capture Britain’s first men’s grand slam winner in around seventy five years.

Today’s final is Murray’s 3rd major final. He was the defeated finalist at previous year’s Australian Open, and had also lost the 2008 US Open final.

Murray’s long-term girlfriend, Kim Sears, will be examination his Australian Open final against Slovak Novak Djokovic from their London home on Sunday. She said that “I’m sure Andy will win a Grand Slam and I still feel like there’s still plenty of time for me to do so, as I’m only 20 and I’m improving all the time; My time will come”.

Source : http://www.freakygossip.com/2011/01/novak-djokovic-girlfriend-kim-sears-cheers-london/

Novak Djokovic girlfriend Kim Sears cheers from London.

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Houston Marathon 2011, The United States Running Circuit (USARC) begins Saturday with the race of Half Marathon Championships 2011 United States, presented by Aramco Services Company.

Back in Houston for the first time since his American record run in 2007, Ryan Hall (Big Bear Lake, California), the securities of a field that includes fellow marathoner Magdalena Lewy Boulet Olympic (Oakland, Calif.) and a host of Top U.S. athletes compete for prize money totaling $ 59,500.

In addition to the national title, athletes use 2011 as an opportunity to preview the course that will be used when Houston hosts the 2012 U.S. Olympic trials team – Marathon next January.


Join Hall in his reconnaissance mission in Houston will be Jorge Torres (Boulder, Colo.), an Olympian in 2008 to 10,000 meters, Patrick Smyth (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.), the 2010 half-marathon runner-up, 2004 Olympic Games Dan Browne (Chula Vista, Calif.), Jason Lehmkuhl (Minneapolis, Minn.), 2008 Half-Marathon runner-up, and Sergio Reyes (Los Osos, Calif.) 2010 USA Marathon Champion.

The women’s race will face 2009 champion Boulet in a deep field that includes 2010 USA Running Circuit champion Katie McGregor (Saint Louis Park, Minn.), three-time Olympian Jen Rhines (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.), 2004 Olympic Trials Marathon champion Colleen De Reuck (Boulder, Colo.); 2010 runner-up Serena Burla (Ellisville, MO), and Zoila Gomez (Alamosa, Colo.) and Tera Moody (Colorado Springs, Colorado), the finishing fourth and fifth women’s 2008 Olympic Trials Marathon.

The U.S. half-marathon is the first stop on the 2011 USA Running Circuit (USARC), and has a total purse of 59,500-championship prize and bonus potential. Men and women will each win and 12,000 champion.

The 2011 USARC is a USA Track & series of country road, with U.S. long distance running championships and first in the U.S. include cross-country. The USARC attracts the best riders from the United States at bay, including Olympians Deena Kastor, Ryan Hall, Meb Keflezighi and Shalane Flanagan. The 2011 USARC has ten events for men and nine women.

The 2011 USARC will feature more than 450,000 in prize money and tour with the U.S. athletes competing for the right to represent the U.S. team in various international competitions.

The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final and 12,500 Grand Prix purse ($ 6, 000, and 4000, and $ 2,500) for the first three men and women point scorers overall.

The mission of the United States Circuit racing is to promote, support and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $ 6 million and U.S. riders at bay.

Mohamed Trafeh won half the U.S. Marathon Championships on Saturday, passing American record holder Ryan Hall in the final mile to beat him in 3 seconds.

Trafeh finished the race of 13.1 miles in 1 hour, 2 minutes, 17 seconds. Time of 1:02.20 Hall was nearly three minutes off the record he set here in 2007 (59:43).

Patrick Smyth, runner-up last year, finished third in 1:02.32.

Three-time Olympian Jen Rhines won the women’s circuit, finishing in a 1:11.14 personal best. Serena Burla was second (1:11.38) for the second consecutive year and Nan Kennard finished third (1:12.03).

The riders have completed the 8-mile loop that will be used for testing of U.S. Olympic marathon next January, when the three best men and women will be the team for the London Games in 2012.

A field of 63 men and 41 women began the race on Saturday under cloudy skies and a temperature of 60 degrees.

Hall set the record on a different course in 2007. Mostly flat road Saturday included some hairpin turns that slowed the riders.

Source : http://usspost.com/houston-marathon-2011-27564/

Houston Marathon 2011

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Herschel Walker continues to defy Father Time. The 48-year-old former NFL and college football star toyed with Scott Carson to pick up his second career mixed martial arts win on the Strikeforce card in San Jose, Calif.

Walker knocked Carson down with a left hook in the opening minute of their fight at the HP Pavilion and brutalized him on the ground for the next two minutes. Referee Dan Stell stepped in to save Carson at 3:13 of the first round. Walker is now 2-0 and said he plans on moving forward with his MMA career.

"MMA is my love," Walker said, when asked about talk of an NFL return.

Walker has been successful in every athletic endeavor he's attempted, so he's very demanding of himself in MMA.

"I was okay. I took a kick where I thought I was getting a little too excited," Walker said. "When you're in MMA, you should be able to take a kick like that."

Walker was a bull from the get-go.

"(My trainer) Javier Mendes told me I have to be on offense. Being a young MMA fighter I gotta control what I'm doing in the cage," said Walker.

The scenario surrounding the first knockdown was like scene out of a movie. Carson grazed Walker's face. The former football star appeared enraged and yelled in the air. He walked straight forward and floored Carson with a left. Carson got to his feet momentarily with 3:50 left in the round, but Walker lifted him in the air and tossed him back down. Walker dominated him on the ground working from hip control and landing punches under Carson's arms. The Californian did little to protect himself.

With two minutes left in the first, Walker backed off for a second to allow Carson to get back to his feet. Carson barely got to his feet, was drilled by a left hook and crumbled against the fence. The referee had to stop it.

For man his age, Walker's energy level was incredible. He threw 58 shots and landed 40 overall. On the ground, he was 36-of-53 (67.9 percent). Walker's combination of stamina and athleticism simply broke Carson's will.

Walker began his MMA journey in 2009 when he began training at a renowned MMA gym, the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose. That's also the home of UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and UFC welterweight title contenders Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck.

Walker made his MMA debut last January. He showed off decent striking and grappling, with his gas tank being his most impressive element. Walker manhandled 26-year-old Greg Nagy for his first professional victory.

Walker's MMA exploits add to an unbelievable athletic resume. After a decorated career at Georgia, Walker earned a home in the college football Hall of Fame. He won the 1982 Heisman trophy as a junior. Walker went on to play 15 seasons in the USFL and NFL, where he rushed for 13,787 yards.

In the middle of his NFL career, he decided that he wanted to be an Olympian and took on the challenge of the bobsled. Walker made the U.S. Olympic team in the two-man bobsled and finished seventh at the 1992 games.

Herschel Walker wins second pro fight via TKO

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In tapping General Omar Suleiman as his vice president, Egyptian President Mubarak has effectively decided on his successor—apparently cutting his son out of the action. John Barry on the power waiting in the wings. Plus, full coverage of the Egypt uprising.

"The Egyptian government can't reshuffle the deck and then stand pat," State Department spokesman P.J.Crowley said in a message he circulated on Twitter after President Mubarak announced he had fired his government. "President Mubarak's words pledging reform must be followed by action."

Now Mubarak has acted—but whether Washington or, more importantly, the demonstrators still thronging Egypt's streets will regard his moves as a mere reshuffling of the deck is unclear. Today, Mubarak announced the appointment of his longtime intelligence chief, General Omar Suleiman, as vice-president and named Ahmed Shafik, aviation minister in the just-departed government, as prime minister of a new cabinet that first reports suggest will be composed largely of technocrats.

Suleiman's career parallels the arc of modern Egyptian history. Born in 1936 into a poor but deeply pious family in one of the poorest provinces in Egypt, Suleiman was accepted at the Cairo military academy in 1954. He served in the 1967 and 1973 wars against Israel, and during the 1960s, the heyday of Egypt's relationship with the Soviet Union, studied at the Frunze Military Academy in Moscow.

When the United States replaced the Soviet Union as Egypt's patron, Suleiman studied at the U.S. Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg. But his career really took off when, during the 1980s, he switched from the infantry to military intelligence, eventually rising to become deputy head of military intelligence in 1986—a job that brought him into direct contact with President Mubarak. Tall, slightly stooping, and with an iron-gray military moustache, Suleiman clearly impressed Mubarak because in 1993 the president appointed him head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service, a job he has held ever since.

During the last decade, Egypt's spymaster has been trusted with a series of increasingly sensitive diplomatic assignments, most notably the successful effort to broker the cease-fire with Israel

A failed assassination attempt in Addis Ababa in 1995 sealed the personal bond between the two men. Mubarak and Suleiman survived the ambush only because both were riding in the armored limousine Suleiman had insisted Mubarak bring to Ethiopia.

Source : http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-01-29/omar-suleiman-cairos-new-spymaster-in-chief/

Omar Suleiman, Cairo's New Spymaster-in-Chief

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The jury at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival has given its grand jury U.S. dramatic prize to Drake Doremus' "Like Crazy," a story of a long-distance romance starring Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones.

The prize, the festival's highest honor, is the second for the film this evening; it previously won a special jury prize for Jones.


The jury also handed the grand jury U.S. documentary prize to Peter D. Richardson's "How to Die in Oregon," a story of the first state to legalize physician-assisted suicide.

In accepting the dramatic prize, Doremus said, "This movie is about love, and love never dying and being with you for the rest of your life." Then he thanked his agent. "Oh, and Paramount Pictures -- thanks for buying the movie." (The studio acquired rights to the film a week ago and will release it later this year.)

Matt Groening presented the grand jury documentary prize and thanked the festival for inviting him, despite a "Simpsons" episode mocking the festival for its abundance of "Parker Posey" and "Parka poseurs."

Several minutes before, the jury handed the U.S. dramatic directing prize to Sean Durkin's cult drama "Martha Marcy May Marlene" and the U.S. documentary directing prize to Jon Foy's "Ressurrect Dead," about a series of mysterious tiles laid out in cities across the world in the 1980s.

The Ellen Barkin wedding-day comedy "Another Happy Day," won the Waldo Salt screenplay award. Writer-director Sam Levinson, in winning the prize, gave a choked-up speech that included the line, "When I introduced my film I cried, so I don't know what the ... is going to happen now." He then proceeded to cry.

Source : http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/awards/2011/01/sundance-2011-top-us-jusry-prizes-1.html

Sundance 2011: Romantic drama, physician-assisted suicide doc win top U.S. jury prizes

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The Directors Guild of America on Saturday evening named Tom Hooper best director of 2010 for "The King's Speech," the film based on the real-life story of King George VI's battle to overcome a debilitating stammer. It is the first guild win in the feature category for the 38-year-old filmmaker.

"Oh my god," said a surprised Hooper. "I am so grateful to my wonderful cast. I am overwhelmed. This is the highest honor of my life."

Hooper was nominated for a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Movie Award and is in contention for a BAFTA and an Academy Award.


"The King's Speech" was the surprise winner last week at the Producers Guild of America Awards -- the Facebook drama "The Social Network" had been favored to win the prize -- and leads the list of most-nominated films heading into the Academy Awards with 12.

The DGA Awards are one of the most dependable bellwethers for the Academy Awards. In fact, in the past 62 years, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the DGA have disagreed in their choices only six times.

The 63rd annual DGA ceremony was held at the Renaissance Hotel at Hollywood and Highland with Carl Reiner hosting.

The guild awarded its prize for directing a TV drama series to Martin Scorsese for HBO's "Boardwalk Empire," though Scorsese, who was said to be ill, did not attend the ceremony. Charles Ferguson won in the documentary category for his feature "Inside Job." Mick Jackson won for directorial achievement in movies for television and mini-series for HBO's "Temple Grandin," while Michael Spiller won for the ABC hit "Modern Family" in the TV comedy series category.

Glenn Weiss won in the musical/variety race for his direction of the 64th annual Tony Awards (CBS), and Larry Carpenter won for his work on "One Life to Live" in the daytime serials category.

The DGA also kicked off its 75th anniversary at the ceremony with DGA winners including Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron, Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood, John Rich and Steven Spielberg introducing special film clip presentations on "game-changing" moments in the guild's history.

Among the other awards handed out, Eytan Keller won for outstanding achievement in reality programs for "The Next Iron Chef" (Food Network); Eric Bross won top honors in the children's programs category for "The Boy Who Cried Werewolf" (Nickelodeon); and Stacy Wall was recognized for his achievement in commercials directing.

Source : http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/awards/2011/01/the-directors-guild-of-america-names-the-best-directors-of-2010-.html

Tom Hooper wins top honors from the Directors Guild of America

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Saturday, January 29, 2011


Although not quite as silly as rumors earlier this month that Facebook was going to shut down on March 15, there is now another rumor going around the Internet.

Sure, this rumor comes around about once every month, and sometimes it comes up once every couple of weeks. The rumor is that Justin Bieber is dead.

Or, as people seem to be spelling it on Google Trends today, "Justin Bieber is died."

Dead or died, it simply does not apply to Justin Bieber.

The boy who online bloggers and twitter have propelled into mega-stardom is still alive. His music (which, frankly, would not be a major loss for humanity) and "the Bieber" are both still around.

However, we have compiled a helpful little fact-sheet should you fear that Justin Bieber, who is still only a child and facing no known health problems, is dead.

There are four simple steps to follow should you be concerned that the 16-year-old with a 12-year-old's voice has passed:

1 - If you think Justin Bieber is dead, check a legitimate news source. Don't go on Google. You'll turn up about fifty blogs and bogus "sources" confirming what frankly is not true. Go to a real news source. AllMediaNY promises to report the news of Justin Bieber's death should it be confirmed. But not until.

2 - Turn on the TV and turn to either MTV, VH1, or E!, since those three would probably report it for an entire day, or more, should the unspeakable occur. Even CNN may take a crack at it - they'll do anything to report the news earlier than they usually do.

3 - This is the most obvious: Check his Twitter account. Past history give us the impression here at AllMediaNY that if Bieber were to die, his Twitter would be updated almost immediately to let the public know about it.

4 - If you ignore step one and proceed to search on Google, then at least do yourself a favor and spell "Justin Bieber is dead" correctly. Otherwise, you'll give Bieber fans a bad name.

For now, thankfully, the rumors of his young demise are false.

More important, in terms of Bieber news, is the fact that the young pop star is now sporting a hairstyle that looks like a copy-cat of Robert Pattinson.

This comes only days after Bieber gave Ellen DeGeneres a very thoughtful birthday gift: a lock of his hair.

source :http://allmediany.com/details_article.php?art_id=436

Justin Bieber Not Dead, but Sporting New Hairstyle

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Former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia weighed in at 311 pounds on Thursday prior to his Titan FC 16 fight against Abe Wagner. Wagner, a former cast member on the 10th season of The Ultimate Fighter, weighed 265.2.

Titan FC 16 takes place Friday night at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. The main card, headlined by Sylvia vs. Wagner, airs live on HDNet at 10 p.m. ET.

This marks the heaviest Sylvia has ever been prior to a fight. "The Maine-iac" weighed 310 pounds before his fight against Ray Mercer in 2009 and 305 when he fought Mariusz Pudzianowksi in 2010.

The 34-year-old Sylvia (28-6) has won his last four fights in a row against Vince Lucero, Paul Buentello, Pudzianowksi and Jason Riley.

He took this fight on short notice after Todd Duffee, who was originally scheduled to fight Wagner, accepted a fight against Alistair Overeem at Dynamitte!! 2010.

Other Titan FC fights to be televised on Friday night include Jason High vs. Rudy Bears, Gary Tapusoa vs. Drew McFedries, and Rich "No Love" Clementi vs. Aaron Derrow.

Below is a video of Sylvia tipping the scales at 311 pounds.

Source : http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/01/28/titan-fc-16-weigh-ins-tim-sylvia-tips-scale-at-311-pounds/

Titan FC 16 Weigh-Ins: Tim Sylvia Tips Scale at 311 Pounds

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World No. 3 Kim Clijsters, the tennis equivalent of a grizzled veteran at 27, beat relative upstart No. 9 Li Na to claim her first Australian Open title and her second consecutive Grand Slam tournament win.

Kim Clijsters Defeats Li Na In Australian Open 2011 Finals To Claim Second Straight Grand Slam Tournament Title

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Friday, January 28, 2011


Liverpool have rejected a written transfer request from Spain international striker Fernando Torres.

The Anfield club have already turned down a bid from Chelsea - thought to be about £35m-40m - for the 26-year-old.

"He's under a long-term contract. We expect him to honour the commitment he made to Liverpool and its fans when he signed the agreement," said the Reds.


Earlier, Liverpool announced they had agreed a deal to sign Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez from Ajax for £23m.

But Suarez's transfer did not stop Torres from asking to leave Liverpool just hours after the Ajax and the Reds confirmed a deal had been agreed for the Uruguayan.

"Fernando Torres has submitted a written transfer request, which has been rejected by Liverpool," added the Reds statement.

Torres has had a indifferent season, scoring nine goals in 26 games but has recently looked revitalised under new boss Kenny Dalglish, scoring three goals in his last four games.

PHIL MCNULTY'S BLOG
John W Henry and FSG will not want one of their earliest signals to be such a bad one by presiding over the departure of one of Liverpool's two world-class players

The Spaniard's inconsistent start to the campaign comes after a knee injury, which also hampered him at the World Cup in South Africa last summer.

Although he scored twice in the Reds' 2-0 win over Chelsea in November, Torres looked a forlorn figure under previous Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson.

Liverpool moved up to seventh in the Premier League table following their 1-0 victory over Fulham on Wednesday, but they still face a fight to qualify for the Champions League next season, with Chelsea nine points ahead of them in fourth spot.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti refused to talk about Torres but said he is happy that "the club are trying to do everything they can to improve the squad".

With the transfer window open until 2300 GMT on Monday, there is still time for the Blues to increase their offer for the Spaniard should they wish.

Ancelotti said: "I don't want to speak about this, you will have to ask the club. He is not my player and I have to have respect for Liverpool.

"I'm not surprised, because I know very well what the club is doing now. I am happy because the club is doing a fantastic job in this transfer market."

Although Ancelotti's team have failed to fully replicate their form of last term where they won the Premier League title, they are still in the Champions League and are 10 points behind league leaders Manchester United.

Ancelotti has previously hinted that he wanted to bring in new players to bolster an ageing squad stretched by injuries this season.

And with the club close to signing Benfica defender David Luiz, the bid for Torres shows that Chelsea are still prepared to use their financial muscle to boost their domestic and European ambitions.

Source : http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/9380389.stm

Fernando Torres asks to leave Liverpool

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Savon Huggins could have gone almost anywhere in the country to play college football. Instead, he'll simply head south on the Turnpike.

The standout running back from St. Peter's Prep, rated the state's No. 1 player by Rivals.com, announced he is Rutgers-bound at a press conference this afternoon at the library of his high school in Jersey City. The 6-0, 190-pounder had taken official visits to Notre Dame, national champion Auburn, Michigan State, North Carolina and Rutgers, with the latter two emerging as his finalists.


"I felt at home at Rutgers," he said, shortly after playfully putting on a North Carolina cap before switching it — following a dramatic pause — for a Rutgers hat.

Huggins said the arrival of new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti and head coach Greg Schiano's efforts to shore up the offensive line played a major role in his decision, which was played out before a packed crowd that included current Rutgers players Mohamed Sanu, Chas Dodd, Jeremy Deering, Brandon Coleman, Andre Civil and incoming quarterback recruit Mike Bimonte.

"I saw what he did with Dion Lewis and Ray Graham at Pittsburgh," Huggins said of Cignetti, who was the Panthers' offensive coordinator before coming to Rutgers.

In addition, Rutgers received a commitment earlier in the day from defensive tackle Max Issaka of Woodbridge, rated the state's No. 15 player by Rivals.com. That brings the school's recruiting class — which could wind up as the best in program history — to 23 heading into national letter of intent signing day on Wednesday.

Of those, three are ranked in the top 10 in the state by Rivals.com and eight are rated among New Jersey's top 18 prospects.

Huggins, who rushed for 1,891 yards and 35 touchdowns as a senior, is the first player ranked No. 1 in the state by Rivals to commit to Rutgers. Rivals.com also rates him the No. 7 running back in the country.
Huggins2.JPGAaron Houston/For The Star-LedgerSt. Peter's Prep star running back Savon Huggins is greeted by friends today after announcing he will play football at Rutgers next year.

It's expected that Huggins will immediately compete for playing time at tailback after Rutgers rushed for just 1,211 yards last season — with more than half of it coming out of the "Wildcat" formation.

Huggins' commitment gives Rutgers two recruits from perennial powerhouse St. Peter's Prep, a school that has traditionally sent its top players out of state. Offensive lineman Keith Lumpkin had already given Rutgers a verbal commitment.

Source : http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2011/01/st_peters_prep_running_back_sa.html

St. Peter's Prep running back Savon Huggins verbally commits to Rutgers

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Vladimir Guerrero and the Baltimore Orioles are making progress in their talks for a 2011 contract sources tell ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.

After the signing of Manny Ramirez last week, Guerrero was considered the top remaining candidate for a designated hitter spot in the American League.

The addition of Guerrero would be the latest move in a busy offseason for the Orioles, who also added slugging corner infielders Mark Reynolds and Derrek Lee.

The 35-year-old Guerrero hit .300 with 29 home runs and 115 RBIs last season with the Texas Rangers.

In 15 MLB seasons, Guerrero has 436 home runs, 1,433 RBIs and a career average of .320.

Source : http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6069728

Vladimir Guerrero and the Baltimore Orioles are making progress in their talks for a 2011 contract

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For a generation who wasn’t born when President Kennedy was assassinated, the space shuttle Challenger explosion is the first tragedy they can remember. Most adults who now have kids of their own can remember where they were when they were little and news of the disaster, which occurred only 73 seconds after liftoff, spread like wildfire. Because of McAuliffe’s presence on the shuttle, many schoolchildren watched it happen live in person and on TV. The cause of the accident was ultimately believed to be poorly designed O-rings.


While the story in and of itself was horrible, what seemed to make it worse was that Christa McAuliffe was among the seven victims. A beloved and revered Social Studies teacher and youth adviser from Concord, NH, McAuliffe had competed against other educators for the precious ticket into outer space.

McAuliffe’s husband, New Hampshire federal judge Steven McAuliffe, released a statement today:

“I know Christa would say that that is the most precious lesson – ordinary people can make extraordinary contributions when they remain true to themselves and enthusiastically pursue their own dreams wherever they may lead. Our family knows that generations of students and teachers will continue to share her love of learning and love of life, and will do great things for our world.”

It was in 1985 that McAuliffe beat out 11,000 other applicants in the NASA Teacher in Space project, in which she was meant to be the first educator in space. The plan was for her to conduct experiments and teacher lessons from aboard the Challenger. She was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush in 2004.

The Teacher in Space project was created by NASA with the hope that public interest in the space program would increase and that the reliability of space flight would be demonstrated at a time when NASA was having difficulty obtaining funding. President Ronald Reagan also said the purpose was to remind Americans about the key role played by teachers in this country.

Of course, the sad irony is that by having McAuliffe aboard and then losing her, the importance of good teachers was felt probably even more strongly.

Today, NASA continues space exploration with an announcement just days ago about a new discovery — images of the earliest galaxy ever were found — by the Hubble Space Telescope. But perhaps one of the greatest legacies from the Challenger disaster is McAuliffe’s kids. Her son went on to graduate school in Marine Biology, and her daughter is now a teacher.

Where were you when the Challenger exploded?

Source : http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2011/01/28/christa-mcauliffe-and-the-challenger-disaster-still-mourning-a-hero-25-years-later/

Christa McAuliffe and the Challenger Disaster: Still Mourning a Hero, 25 Years Later

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Cairo: Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters poured into the streets of Egypt Friday, stoning and confronting police who fired back with rubber bullets and tear gas in the most violent and chaotic scenes yet in the challenge to President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule. One protester was killed and even a Nobel Peace laureate was placed under house arrest after joining demonstrations.

Groups of thousands of protesters, some chanting "out, out, out," defied a ban on any gatherings and turned out at different venues across Cairo, a city of about 18 million people, some marching toward major squares and across scenic Nile bridges. Burning tires sent up plumes of black smoke across the cityscape as the sun set. Security officials said there were protests in at least 11 of the country's 28 provinces.

It was a major escalation in the movement that began on Tuesday to demand 82-year-old Mubarak's ouster and vent rage at years of government neglect of rampant poverty, unemployment and rising food prices. Security officials said protesters ransacked the headquarters of Mubarak's ruling party in the cities of Mansoura north of Cairo and Suez, east of the capital.

Some of the most serious violence Friday was in Suez, where protesters seized weapons stored in a police station and asked the policemen inside to leave the building before they burned it down. They also set ablaze about 20 police trucks parked nearby. Demonstrators exchanged fire with policemen trying to stop them from storming another police station and one protester was killed in the gun battle.

The death brought the toll of those killed in four days of protests to eight.

Internet and cell phone services, at least in Cairo, appeared to be largely cut off since overnight in the most extreme measure so far to try to hamper protesters form organizing. However, that did not prevent tens of thousands from flooding the streets, emboldened by the recent uprising in Tunisia - another North African Arab nation.

"It's time for this government to change," said Amal Ahmed, a 22-year-old protester. "I want a better future for me and my family when I get married."

Egypt is Washington's closest Arab ally, but Mubarak may be losingUS support and running out of options to keep his grip on power. The Obama administration has publicly counseled him to introduce reforms and refrain from using violence against the protesters.

The protesters were energized Friday by the return of Nobel Peace laureate Mohamed Al Baradei, one of the country's leading pro-democracy advocates. He returned to the country Thursday night after a month abroad, declaring he was prepared to lead the opposition to a regime change.

When he joined protesters Friday after noon prayers, police fired water cannons at him and his supporters. They used batons to beat some of Al Baradei's supporters, who surrounded him to protect him.

A soaking wet Al Baradei was trapped inside a mosque while hundreds of riot police laid siege to it, firing tear gas in the streets around so no one could leave. Tear gas canisters set several cars ablaze outside the mosque and several people fainted and suffered burns.

When he returned home police stationed outside told him he was not allowed to leave again.
"We are the ones who will bring change," said 21-year-old Ahmed Sharif, one of scores who were with ElBardei. "If we do nothing, things will get worse. Change must come," he screamed through a surgical mask he wore to ward off the tear gas.

Abeer Ahmed, a 31-year-old woman who showed up for Al Baradei with her toddler, said she has a law degree but makes a living cleaning homes.

"Nothing good is left in the country," she said. "Oppression is growing."

In the upscale Mohandiseen neighborhood, at least 10,000 were marching toward the city center chanting "down, down with Mubarak." The crowd later swelled to about 20,000 as they made their way through residential areas.

Residents looking on from apartment block windows waved and whistled in support. Some waved the red, white and black Egyptian flags. The marchers were halted as they tried to cross a bridge over the Nile, when police fired dozens of tear gas canisters.

In downtown Cairo, people on balconies tossed cans of Pepsi and bottles of water to protesters on the streets below to douse their eyes, as well as onions and lemons to sniff, to cut the sting of the tear gas.

At Ramsis square in the heart of the city, thousands clashed with police as they left the al-Nur mosque after prayers. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets and some of the tear gas was fired inside the mosque where women were taking refuge. Hundreds later broke through police cordons to head to the main downtown square, Tahrir. But they were stopped by police firing tear gas.

Near Tahrir, hundreds of riot police in a cluster moved in, anticipating the arrival of large crowds. A short while later, thousands of protesters marched across a bridge over the Nile and moved toward the square, where police began firing tear gas at them.

Hundreds of protesters played a cat-and-mouse game with riot police in a square just behind the famed Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square. Police were using tear gas and the protesters responded with rocks and chants of "illegitimate, illegitimate," a reference to Mubarak's regime.

Later, television footage showed a chaotic and violent scene where protesters were throwing rocks down on police from a highway overpass near Tahrir Square, while a police vehicle sped through the crowd spraying tear gas on demonstrators.

Clusters of riot police with helmets and shields were stationed around the city, at the entrances to bridges across the Nile and other key intersections.

The troubles were preventing trains from coming to Cairo, with their last stop now before reaching the city are south and north of the capital, said security officials.

In Assiut in southern Egypt, several thousand demonstrators clashed with police that set upon them with batons and sticks, chasing them through side streets in the center of the Nile-side city.

Mubarak has not been seen publicly or heard from since the protests began Tuesday. While he may still have a chance to ride out this latest challenge, his choices are limited, and all are likely to lead to a loosening of his grip on power.

Mubarak has not said yet whether he will stand for another six-year term as president in elections this year. He has never appointed a deputy and is thought to be grooming his son Gamal to succeed him despite popular opposition. According to leakedUS memos, hereditary succession also does not meet with the approval of the powerful military.

Mubarak and his government have shown no hint of concessions to the protesters who want political reform and a solution to rampant poverty, unemployment and rising food prices.

Continuing the heavy-handed methods used by the security forces the past three days would probably buy the Mubarak regime a little time but could strengthen the resolve of the protesters and win them popular sympathy.

The alternative is to introduce a package of political and economic reforms that would end his party's monopoly on power and ensure that the economic liberalization policies engineered by his son and heir apparent Gamal over the past decade benefit the country's poor majority.

He could also lift the emergency laws in force since 1981, loosen restrictions on the formation of political parties and publicly state whether he will stand for another six-year term in elections this year.
Friday's demonstrations were energized by the return of Al Baradei on Thursday night, when he said he was ready to lead the opposition toward a regime change.

They also got a boost from the endorsement of the country's biggest opposition group, the Islamic fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood. The group called its supporters to join the protests on Friday.
The Brotherhood, outlawed since 1954, is Egypt's largest and best organized opposition group. It seeks to establish an Islamic state. It renounced violence in the 1970s and has since been a peaceful movement. Its network of social and medical services has traditionally won it popular support, but its detractors say its involvement in politics has chipped away at its support base.

It made a surprisingly strong showing in 2005 parliamentary elections, winning 20 percent of the legislature's seats, but it failed to win a single seat in the latest election late last year. The vote is widely thought to have been marred, rigged to ensure that Mubarak's ruling party win all but a small fraction of the chamber's 518 seats.

Egypt's four primary Internet providers - Link Egypt, Vodafone/Raya, Telecom Egypt, Etisalat Misr - all stopped moving data in and out of the country at 12:34 a.m., according to a network security firm monitoring the traffic. Telecom experts said Egyptian authorities could have engineered the unprecedented cutoff with a simple change to the instructions for the companies' networking equipment.

The Internet appeared to remain cut off in Cairo but was restored in some smaller cities Friday morning. Cell-phone text and Blackberry Messenger services were all cut or operating sporadically in what appeared to be a move by authorities to disrupt the organization of demonstrations.

Egyptians outside the country were posting updates on Twitter after getting information in voice calls from people inside the country. Many urged their friends to keep up the flow of information over the phones.

A Facebook page run by protesters listed their demands. They want Mubarak to declare that neither he nor his son will stand for next presidential elections" dissolve the parliament holds new elections" end to emergency laws giving police extensive powers of arrest and detention" release all prisoners including protesters and those who have been in jail for years without charge or trial" and immediately fire the interior minister.

Authorities appear to have been disrupting social networking sites, used as an organizing tool by protesters, throughout the week. Facebook, Twitter and Blackberry Messenger have all seen interruptions.

Source : http://gulfnews.com/news/region/egypt/egypt-puts-nobel-laureate-al-baradei-under-house-arrest-1.753657

Egypt puts Nobel laureate Al Baradei under house arrest

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On January 28, 1986, seventy three seconds after liftoff, the space shuttle Challenger exploded, killing all on board.



Millions of Americans witnessed the tragedy on television, many of whom were tuned in because it was to be the first flight of the Teacher In Space Program and carried Sharon Christa McAuliffe, the first civilian to fly in space.

In addition to McAuliffe, the crew included Francis R. Scobee; pilot Michael J. Smith; mission specialists Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, and Judith A. Resnik; and payload specialists Gregory B. Jarvis.

The reaction from the crowds gathered to watch the launch to those watching at home was immediate and that of pain and shock. That evening, President Reagan consoled the Nation from the Oval Office, lamenting “we’ve never lost an astronaut in flight; we’ve never had a tragedy like this” (read the entire address here).

To honor the memory of those who perished 25 years ago, we invited you to share your memories of the disaster in the comments section below.

Read more:
http://dailycaller.com/2011/01/28/25-years-later-remembering-space-shuttle-challenger/

25 years later: Remembering Space shuttle Challenger

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On the same day that Egypt has suspended online activity, Syria has also blocked internet service, according to reports.

Syria is known for a tight control of the internet, which was tightened further after the unrest in Tunisia, reports Reuters

Now, Al Arabiya is reporting that internet services have gone down completely in the country. Previously, Syria had blocked programs that "allow access to Facebook Chat from cellphones," according to Reuters.

Egypt's online services have reportedly been down since last night as the country's deadly protests continued into what was planned as the largest day so far.

Facebook has reportedly been blocked in Egypt for days, before which it was being used as a key tool for organizers. It was also used by the successful revolutionaries in Tunisia, raising concerns among other nations that it posed a threat.

UPDATE (10:32EST) Al Arabiya is reporting that a Syrian official has denied the internet service is down.

UPDATE: Reports are emerging that the Internet is not down in Syria, although the previous service disruptions are in place.

This is a developing story. More to come.

Source : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/28/syria-internet-down_n_815337.html

Syria Internet Down As Egypt Blackout Catches On In Middle East:

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HARTFORD TOWNSHIP — The gut-wrenching sobs of Amy Henslee's mother could be heard from the kitchen as she stood by the television and listened to a reporter who knew more about her missing daughter's case than she did.

The television reports from Thursday evening are how the family first heard that police found a trailer with blood in it.

The trailer belongs to a cousin of Amy's husband, James.

Family members and friends huddled around in the living room and watched the news. How could they be blindsided like that, several asked angrily.

How could the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department not notify Amy Henslee's family first and keep them informed before the media, demanded close family friend Wendy Boyd.

Boyd broke down and began to cry uncontrollably in the kitchen. She didn't have much privacy there — two journalists were waiting for her to sit down for an interview.

She was so angry, but she didn't know who she could call or who would listen.

The family had been waiting for hours for authorities to inform them of how the investigating was going to find Amy Henslee, a 30-year-old stay-at-home mom who disappeared Monday morning.

The final blow was when the television reporter erroneously said the Henslee family was already called to the scene of the bloody trailer.

As the family watched the news, nearly 20 vehicles were parked outside James and Amy Henslee's small grayish house. There were several news trucks that looked intimidatingly large on snow-covered County Road 376 located next to fields and woods.

Ever since a morning press conference at the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department, Boyd patiently fielded question after question in front of several cameras.

She invited reporters into the Henslee house and answered more questions when James Henslee was too shaky to speak.

And now, after all that, Boyd was disgusted.

I need a hug, she said, blinking back tears.

Source : http://peace4missing.ning.com/forum/topics/family-learns-about-new-twists?commentId=2153128%3AComment%3A132425&xg_source=activity

Family learns about new twists in Amy Henslee's case from media, not police

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The final audition of the day in Nashville on "American Idol" was 15-year-old Lauren Alaina, a sweet Georgia peach with a big voice. She started off on "Like We Never Loved At All," which was beautiful -- very pure tone and great natural talent.

Then after her family came in to meet the judges, she sang her parents' song "Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" (with a little help from Steven Tyler, naturally). We thought that piece was even better because she had gotten over being nervous and really let the notes fly.

She reminded us more than a little of the slightly-chubby, curly-haired Carrie Underwood from Oklahoma six years ago. After the auditions, Steven Tyler remarked that he thinks they found "the one" in Lauren, which also reminds us of when Cowell predicted Carrie would go on to not only win, but be the most successful "Idol" winner ever.

So what did you think? Was she all that and more? Or are you not buying into the hype? We aren't crowning her just yet, but we would not be at all surprised if Seacrest does crown her 16 weeks from now.

We'll post her audition footage as soon as we have it but for now here's a YouTube video of her singing "Anyway."

Source : http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2011/01/american-idol-is-lauren-alaina-the-next-winner.html

'American Idol: Is Lauren Alaina the next winner?

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South African former President Nelson Mandela has been discharged from a hospital where he spent two nights.

Surgeon General Vejaynand Ramlakan said Mr Mandela, 92, was suffering from ailments that are common in people his age but was in good spirits.

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe - using Mr Mandela's clan name - said: "Madiba is well."

South Africa's liberation hero flew from Cape Town to Johannesburg on Wednesday for a check-up.

Friends and family visited him amid tight security at Milpark hospital on Thursday.

On Friday Mr Ramlakan said Mr Mandela had suffered a respiratory infection, but was responding well to treatment and would be receiving home-based care.

"To us he is stable, but will be subject to intense monitoring," he told reporters.

A convoy is now believed to be taking Mr Mandela to his home in the Johannesburg suburb of Houghton.

Correspondents say he has seemed increasingly frail since retiring from public life in 2004.

His last public appearance was at the football World Cup closing ceremony last July.

Source : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12306753

Nelson Mandela discharged from hospital in South Africa

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Thursday, January 27, 2011



Rodney Alcala, California’s “Dating Game Killer,” has been indicted in the deaths of two New York City women in the 1970s. Christine Pelisek reports.

A New York grand jury has returned an indictment accusing California serial killer Rodney Alcala of the brutal rape and murder of two New York City women in the 1970s. Prosecutors say Manhattan socialite Ellen Jane Hover and TWA flight attendant Cornelia Crilley, both in their twenties when they died, are among the long list of victims of the so-called Dating Game killer.

The ruling will begin the process of Alcala’s extradition to New York to stand trial and, for the families of the two women, a long-awaited reckoning with their alleged killer.

Alcala, 67, is already on death row at San Quentin State Prison, outside San Francisco, convicted of the sexual assault, torture, and strangulation of a 12-year-old ballet student in Huntington Beach as well as four Los Angeles County women.

Those murders occurred between 1977 and 1979. In between, Alcala enjoyed a bizarre star turn as a winning contestant on the ABC primetime show The Dating Game—on Sept 13, 1978, Alcala was introduced as “a successful photographer” whose pastimes included skydiving and motorcycling. Attractive, with a long mane of hair and a self-described “genius IQ,” he apparently charmed his victims with tales of his work in the fashion industry. After brutalizing and killing them, Alcala placed their bodies in a variety of poses, sometimes photographing them. Many of them had been bitten and strangled slowly to forestall death. All had been sexually assaulted.

n 1980, Alcala was convicted and sentenced to die for the murder of the young Huntington Beach girl, Robin Samsoe. After that conviction was overturned due to inadmissible evidence, he was tried and sentenced to death again in 1986. Another overturning on technical grounds brought a third prosecution in 2003, by which time DNA evidence linked Alcala to the four Los Angeles women. In 2010, he was convicted of all five murders and again given the death sentence.

During the most recent trial, Alcala, who represented himself, used footage from his appearance on The Dating Game as part of his defense and in his closing argument played Arlo Guthrie’s song “Alice’s Restaurant” for the jury.

Authorities in New York had long suspected that Alcala was involved in the slayings of the two young women. Crilley was found raped and strangled with her own pantyhose in her East 83rd Street apartment on June 12, 1971. Police discovered the body of the 23-year-old flight attendant after her boyfriend Leon Borstein, then an assistant district attorney for Brooklyn, reported her missing.

At the time of Crilley’s murder, Alcala was on the lam, wanted for the 1968 rape and attempted murder of an 8-year-old girl, Tali Shapiro, in Hollywood. He had fled to the East Coast and, according to subsequent police reports, enrolled at New York University under the alias “John Berger.”

The FBI captured Alcala in August 1971 after two New Hampshire teenagers recognized his face on an FBI’s Ten Most Wanted poster. Alcala had been their counselor at a summer camp. At the time of his arrest, he told a Los Angeles detective that he was not “dangerous for the streets but that much help could be acquired through therapy.”

Alcala was sentenced to a mere 32 months in prison for the attack on Shapiro and was released in 1974. Two months later, he returned to prison for violating his parole after he was arrested for kidnapping a 13-year-old girl. After his release in June 1977, Alcala, now a registered sex offender, was granted permission by his parole officer to visit his girlfriend in New York and attend a photographer’s convention in Illinois.

Less than a month later, a young socialite and gifted pianist named Ellen Jane Hover--whose father, Herman Hover, owned the Hollywood hot spot Ciro’s—vanished without a trace in New York. Hover was last seen near her apartment on Third Avenue at 44th Street on July 15, 1977, accompanied by a thin, white male who wore his long dark curly hair in a ponytail. She had told a friend that the man was a photographer whom she had met on an unemployment line.

Police began searching for “John Berger,” after they found his name scribbled on Hover’s calendar the day she vanished. Hover’s stepfather also hired a private investigator to look into her disappearance, which unfolded during the summer of the “Son of Sam” serial killings.

The search for Hover made headlines, and ads and stories referring to a suspect named John Berger appeared in New York papers. A New Hampshire camp counselor spotted the notices and called police. She remembered that in 1971, the FBI had arrested a camp employee named John Berger who was a photographer and wore his hair in a ponytail. The information was passed on to investigators with the New York City Police Department, who figured out through the FBI that Berger was in fact Rodney Alcala.

Alcala, meanwhile, had returned to Los Angeles and told his parole officer that he had had a “good time” in New York.

In December 1977, Alcala was questioned in Los Angeles about Hover’s disappearance five months earlier. During the meeting at LAPD’s main police headquarters, Alcala admitted he had met the piano virtuoso at the New York City Public Library. He said she had given him her phone number and that he called her a couple of times but she didn’t return his calls. Three days later, he said, he had bumped into her at the scene of a fire near her apartment building. When detectives asked him why he was near her apartment, Alcala responded that he was “probably walking around taking pictures.” He was asked to take a polygraph but refused.

In 1978, Hover's skeletal remains were found on the Rockefeller estate in North Tarrytown in Westchester County, New York, a few miles away from her family’s weekend home. That same year Alcala, by now working as typesetter for the Los Angeles Times, appeared as Bachelor No. 1 on The Dating Game. (The Bachelorette who chose Alcala later thought better of it and backed out of their date.)

The following year, Alcala was arrested for the murder of Robin Samsoe, who disappeared on her way to her ballet class. Her skeletal remains were found 12 days later in the foothills near Los Angeles.

New York cold-case detective Steve Braccini reopened the Crilley case in 2003 at the behest of family friends of the Crilleys. After searching through the dusty files, he found prints at the Crilley crime scene. The prints were analyzed and came back as a match to Alcala.

“It was the first case I figured out it was Alcala,” said Braccini. In March 2006, he contacted LAPD Detective Cliff Shepard about Alcala, who was in Orange County jail, awaiting trial once again for the murder of the tiny Orange County ballerina, along with the four Los Angeles women. Braccini was surprised to learn from Shepard that Alcala had been interviewed in Los Angeles in 1977 in connection with the Hover case, before her remains were found.

As suspicions grew, Braccini flew out to interview Alcala in jail, where he allegedly made “incriminating statements” regarding Crilley’s murder. Alcala was ordered to give a dental impression, which was apparently matched to a bite mark found on her battered body.

Witnesses who testified at the secret grand jury proceedings included Alcala’s former girlfriend and a Los Angeles woman who was a teenager in 1979 when Alcala kidnapped and raped her in a remote mountainous area outside of Los Angeles.

“I am looking forward to Rodney going to New York,” said Shepard after the grand jury issued the indictment. “He thwarted and manipulated the system here [in California] for 31 years. Now, he will be taken out of his comfort zone, and the families in New York can have some justice.”

Authorities believe that the litigious Alcala, who has filed numerous complaints about his care in prison, will fight extradition. It could take years before the well-spoken, shaggy-haired killer sees a New York courtroom. But the wheels are now officially in motion.

“There are a large group of family members who want justice,” said Braccini. “Why shouldn’t they have it?”

Christine Pelisek is staff reporter for The Daily Beast, covering crime. She previously was a reporter at the LA Weekly, where she covered crime for the last five years. In 2008, she won three Los Angeles Press Club awards, one for her investigative story on the Grim Sleeper.

Source : http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-01-26/rodney-alcala-to-be-indicted-in-dating-game-killer-cold-case/

Rodney Alcala to be Indicted in Dating Game Killer Cold Case

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Juliana Ramos’s car accident was absolutely tragic, and left her with a traumatic brain injury that she is still struggling to recover from. Juliana Ramos is engaged to marry Chris Medina, who appeared on American Idol 2011 in the Milwaukee auditions that aired last night.

Chris Medina moved the American Idol judges to tears when he sang with Juliana Ramos beside him, who is now bound to a wheelchair. Chris and Juliana were to be married just two months after her horrific car accident occurred.

Through his American Idol appearance, Chris Medina has drawn new supporters to Juliana’s Facebook support page, which is entitled “For Juliana.”

The page gives more information about Juliana Ramos’s car accident, and allows friends and family a place to show their support for her recovery.

With all of the new people that are now following Chris Medina and Juliana Ramos’s story, many who don’t even know them are sending their prayers and well wishes on Facebook.

Miracles do happen…and Juliana Ramos and Chris Medina definitely deserve one.

Source : http://blogs.babble.com/famecrawler/2011/01/27/juliana-ramos-car-accident-chris-medina-american-idol-draws-new-facebook-supporters/

Juliana Ramos’s car accident was absolutely tragic

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WASHINGTON (CNN) - Vice President Joe Biden's communications director, Jay Carney, was named the new White House press secretary Thursday as part of a series of other big staff moves announced by new Chief of Staff Bill Daley.


Carney, a former Time magazine reporter, will succeed Robert Gibbs as the most visible spokesman for President Barack Obama. Other White House aides who have been considered for press secretary include Bill Burton, Stephanie Cutter, Josh Earnest and Jen Psaki.

Several Democratic sources said that based on the private deliberations inside the White House, Carney was the clear front-runner for the job.

One of the sources said the job was "totally lined up for Jay" before Daley was named chief of staff this month. Then Daley reopened the process to more candidates to make sure they were making the right move, and that second round of considerations has come to a close with Carney at the top of the list, the source said.

In an announcement to White House staff, Daley also listed a series of other staff moves on the eve of the last official day at the White House for the president's senior adviser, David Axelrod, and deputy chief of staff, Jim Messina. Both of them are headed to Chicago for prominent roles in the 2012 re-election campaign, with Messina becoming the campaign manager.

Other announcements included two new deputies for Daley: Alyssa Mastromonaco (deputy in charge of operations) and Nancy-Ann DeParle (deputy in charge of policy), replacing Messina and Mona Sutphen, who has been expected to leave for private life for some time.

As CNN has reported, top White House aide Rob Nabors was named the president's chief liaison to Congress. A former top official in the Office of Management and Budget, Nabors was a senior adviser to then-Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

The president's current congressional lobbyist, former congressional aide Phil Schiliro, had intended to leave at the end of 2010 but will stay on to help with the transition, Daley's announcement said.

In another long-expected move, David Lane was named a counselor to Daley with a coveted "assistant to the president" title as well. Lane is a Daley favorite who served as his chief staff when Daley was commerce secretary. He recently stepped down as CEO of ONE, Bono's group that fights poverty and preventable diseases around the world, to join the White House staff.

Other positions announced by Daley included:

– Ron Bloom, assistant to the president for manufacturing policy (National Economic Council)

– Stephanie Cutter, assistant to the president and deputy senior adviser

– Emmett Beliveau, deputy assistant to the president and chief of staff to the chief of staff

– Jon Carson, deputy assistant to the president and director of the Office of Public Engagement

– Danielle Crutchfield, deputy assistant to the president and director of scheduling and advance

– David Cusack, deputy assistant to the president and director of advance

– Mike Strautmanis, deputy assistant to the president and counselor for strategic engagement to the senior adviser

– Jessica Wright, deputy assistant to the president and director of scheduling

– Brian Deese, special assistant to the president and deputy director of the National Economic Council.

Source :http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/27/henry-in-the-house-obama-expected-to-name-carney-next-press-secretary/

Jay Carney named White House press secretary

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Kourtney Kardashian's newest reality show was a big hit for E!, but she's not banking as much cash as her little sister, Kim.

In an interview that will air Thursday on Piers Morgan Tonight, Kourtney admits, "I don't have as much money as Kim."

Kim earned an estimated $6 million in 2010, making her the highest-paid reality star, according to the Daily Beast.

The most expensive thing she ever bought herself was a $115,000 watch, she tells Morgan.

"But I got a really good deal on it. I traded two in for it, so, technically I was out of pocket about $50 or $60,000," she adds.

Says Kourtney, "I don't think I could ever just go and spend that, you know? I don't do that stuff for myself."

In addition to explaining she's not as rich, Kourtney goes on, "It's vulgar. And I have a baby that I'm, like, college and expenses…."

Source :http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/kim-kardashian-reveals-expensive-bought-75514?utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=textlink&utm_term=09.10&utm_content=livefeed&utm_campaign=OB090210

Kim Kardashian Reveals Most Expensive Thing She Ever Bought

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Yes, it’s true: Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz are now the proud parents of a baby boy, a rep for Bardem confirms to CNN.

Bardem, 41, and Cruz, 36, "welcomed their first son into their family last week," the rep said, adding that “both parents and baby are doing great.”

According to People, the little one was delivered at Cedars-Sinai medical center in Los Angeles.

This isn't the only joyful news for Bardem, though - the actor scored a best actor Oscar nod for his role in "Biutiful" on Tuesday.

Source : http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/26/its-a-boy-for-javier-bardem-and-penelope-cruz/

It's a boy for Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz

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Discussion of President Obama's State of the Union speech continued Wednesday night. On FOX News' "On the Record," Greta Van Susteren asked former Alaska governor Sarah Palin what she thought of Obama's use of the phrase "Sputnik moment."

"Governor," said Van Susteren. "Last night, there was a lot of discussion about the 'Sputnik moment' that the president talked about. Do you agree with him? Do you feel, is this our moment?"

Will Obama's "Sputnik Moment" Take Off?
Obama: "The Future is Ours to Win"

Palin responded, "That was another one of those WTF moments when [Mr. Obama] so often repeated the 'Sputnik Moment' that he would aspire Americans to celebrate. He needs to remember that what happened back then with the former communist USSR and their victory in that race to space, yeah, they won, but they also incurred so much debt at the time that it led to the inevitable collapse of the Soviet Union."

During the State of the Union address Tuesday, Mr. Obama said:

"Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik, we had no idea how we'd beat them to the moon. The science wasn't there yet. NASA didn't even exist. But after investing in better research and education, we didn't just surpass the Soviets; we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs. This is our generation's Sputnik moment."

Palin seems to have a misunderstanding of the analogy. Mr. Obama was suggesting that when the Soviet Union beat the United States into space in 1957 with the launch of Sputnik, that victory spurred Americans to push science to the limits that led directly to the American moon landing in 1969.

Mr. Obama used the analogy to compare the U.S. to China and India and to suggest that those countries' investments in, for example, green technology and information technology should spur the United States to research and development better technologies so that the United States may remain a world leader. He wasn't cheering on the former Soviet Union.

Source : http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20029742-503544.html

Palin: Sputnik Led to Collapse of Soviet Union

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