A Memorial Day History Lesson

Good morning campers; it's almost Memorial Day and some of you, no doubt, are wondering just exactly what is Memorial Day history. You may want to know how it came about, how it was made official, so on and so forth. So, in advance of packing up to camp out at the lake, go to Grandma's house or just getting from all the noise, here's some of the dish on Memorial Day.

Article Source: A brief Memorial Day history lesson

The Civil War ends and begins Memorial Day history

It was not really called Memorial Day at first. The exact first observance is a matter of debate, but what is known is that right after the conclusion of the Civil War, which certain states haven’t received the memo about yet, days of remembrance were observed by decorating the graves of the fallen. Initially, it was really called Decoration Day, not the most imaginative of names. (Not a soul can come up with an interesting name for a holiday in this country. Maybe some extra cash should get raised for an exploratory study for some new names for our holidays with panache.)

The veterans weigh in

The town of Waterloo, New York, on May 5, 1866, got the attention of two Army Generals, John Logan and John Murray. John Logan, as it turns out, was the head of the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization for Civil War veterans. (Later it became the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.) On May 5, 1868, they announced that on May 30 they would observe a Decoration Day, and urged others to do the very same. The South, true to form in opposing something that was not horrible and having a mammoth amount of sour grapes, mostly opposed it.

Memorial Day put on the books

The name Memorial Day didn't become official until 1967. The next year, Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, which moved Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Columbus Day and Presidents Day (then Washington's Birthday) from the traditional specified dates to designated Mondays to make the logistics easier for everyone. Malcontents, especially among veterans organizations, are petitioning to get it moved back to May 30 ever since. Memorial Day 2010, will fall on May 31.

Read more on this topic here

Memorial Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day

After a century, Mark Twain is still making news

Several recent pieces of news have put Mark Twain, perhaps the greatest American literary figure ever, back into headlines. For starters, Tina Fey has won the Mark Twain Award For American Humor. It’s a prestigious award, to be sure. However, the other bit of news is perhaps more interesting. After a century after his death, Mark Twain’s autobiography will finally be making a release.

Tina Fey wins Mark Twain prize

The 2010 Mark Twain Award For American Humor has been awarded to Tina Fey. The prize is granted by the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, beginning in 1998. The list of honorees is distinguished. Some past winners include Richard Pryor, Billy Crystal, Steve Martin, and George Carlin. Fey will be the second woman to receive the award, along with Lily Tomlin. Tina Fey deserves the award, but it’s the other Mark Twain news I’d dole out some instant cash to get the inside scoop on.

Twain ordered the 100-year wait

As he neared his death, Mark Twain put into his will that his memoirs would not be released until 100 years after he died. Well, Mark Twain (Samuel Longhorn Clemens) died April 21, 1910. That means it has been 100 years, and it’s time to go to the presses. His memoirs have been in storage at UC Berkeley, according to CBS. Some editing is likely necessary, but his autobiography may be out by the end of the year.

Why the hundred year wait?

Mark Twain loved being a public figure, and he didn’t want his reputation to suffer. Some of his last works, such as The Mysterious Stranger and Letters From Earth had to be published well over a decade after his death to the work being incredibly dark. The books were actually published against his daughter’s wishes, pieced together by his editor. That all said, it’s a great honor for Tina Fey, and I’m sure his autobiography will be an interesting read, to say the least.

Citations:

Mark Twain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain

CBS

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/24/national/main6514831.shtml

2010 Nissan GT-R spontaneously combusts at Florida dealer

Sports cars that cost $ 90,000 like the 2010 Nissan GT-R don’t normally blow up by themselves, so when they do, people notice. According to The Gainesville Sun, however, that’s just what occurred at a local dealership recently. Not long after a security guard completed his rounds at about 10 p.m. Sunday, the blaze was discovered. Carol Davis, a fire rescue spokeswoman, told the Sun that a causal investigation is still underway.

Resource for this article: 2010 Nissan GT-R spontaneously combusts at Florida dealer By Car Deal Expert

People want auto loans for their 2010 Nissan GT-R cars

Customers do not need exploding parts in their high-powered 2010 Nissan GT-R sports cars. The spark plugs of a shiny new Super Silver GT-R are supposed to fire and make the engine purr, but no other explosions are expected. With this explosion, firefighters had to smash their way through glass doors to get to the engulfed Nissan. {This is certainly not the kind of service that dealerships are fighting for these days|Sadly, that isn’t the kind of service dealerships had in mind as they compete for customer business during this recession|Without a doubt, no dealership wants that kind of fight to get customers into their service dealerships.

And the security guard couldn’t even get back inside

That’s an odd bit of news from the Sun, considering that the security guard had locked the building in the first place. Are Nissan dealerships becoming so sophisticated that the door locks morph into a different key pattern at the end of each day? Regardless, the Nissan dealership’s parts and services director, Stacy Calhoun, told the press that firefighters are still trying to determine whether the 2010 Nissan GT-R fire started inside or outside the car, as well as how it happened. Arson remains a possibility, according to reports.

‘It’s unusual for a car to catch fire in a closed building,’ said Davis

Understatement aside, the Nissan dealership owners are thankful that there was no damage to the rest of the building and inventory (which includes another Nissan GT-R). The Gainesville Fire Department is more than likely to blame for this positive ocurrence. There is of course insurance to cover the dealer’s bottom line on the lost 2010 Nissan GT-R and an auto loans customer would be similarly protected. If it’s an internal problem, there will likely be some kind of manufacturer’s recall or warranty coverage. But if spontaneous combustion occurs after the warranty expires and there’s no manufacturer recall, would comprehensive coverage take care of the trouble?

Find more information on this topic

The Gainesville Sun

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100524/ARTICLES/100529757/1105/NEWS?Title=Update-Car-locked-inside-Nissan-showroom-catches-fire&tc=ar

Google I/O 2010 Wows Crowd With Google TV Demo

At the 2010 Google I/O conference Thursday, Google TV was unveiled. The demo showed that the technology combines the Android and Google Chrome to merge the web and television into a seamless experience. The Google TV allows users to use a search bar to discover programs instead of scrolling through a channel directory. Google TV also allows an Android-based phone to be used a remote, complete with spoken commands.

Article Resource: Google TV demo wows a huge crowd at Google I/O 2010 By Personal Money Store

Google's TV demo

Google TV’s Android capabilities will be built into Sony HDTVs and Blu-ray players. Logitech plans to sell set-top Google TV devices to hook into existing TVs. Washington Post explains that Google TV Android replaces the cable or satellite providers program guide with a search engine that indexes the total channel inventory and relevant web content for each channel. People can be running out for same day loans to buy Google TV devices when they hear that instead of wading through a grid of hundreds of channels, a search is typed in with either a remote or spoken into an Android phone. Google TV search on Android also provides web possibilities – if you will find no airings of a show, users can switch to Google Chrome instead for streaming episodes available on Amazon or Hulu. Users can watch a show in one corner and use the rest of the screen to browse the web. On a separate DVR, Google TV can also schedule a recording.

According to Google, “video should be consumed on the biggest, best and brightest screen in your house, and that’s the TV.”

TV devices by Google

Google TV partners contain Sony, which plans to launch Sony Internet TVs and Blu-ray players with Google TV in the fall, engadget.com reports . Logitech plans to add a set-top Google TV device with Harmony remote and an HD camera for video chat. Dish Network may also launch a Google TV box. The Google TV platform can be sold in Best Purchase retail stores. Google TV has a potential U.S. customer base of 60 million HDTV households in a $70 billion advertising market. The engadget.com article reports a total of 4 billion TV viewers worldwide — the biggest market in the world.

Google I/O calls for Google TV developers

At the Google TV demonstration at Google I/O 2010, Google called on developers to start prepping Google TV-ready apps. PC World reports that Sony and Logitech Google TV devices will certainly be powered by an Intel Atom processor. There are 3 main software components to Google TV. Although it will eventually be upgraded over the air, the service will run Android 2.1. Google TV will consist of Flash 10.1 and the browser is Chrome. Google TV should have the mobile version of Android Market working on it. If apps don't require phone specific hardware, any should work on Google TV.

A lot more data on this topic

Washington Post

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2010/05/google_tv_some_web_smarts_for.html

engadget.com reports

http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/20/google-tv-turns-on-at-i-o/

PC World reports

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2364007,00.asp

BP Facebook Boycott And BP Twitter - PR Setback Won't Hurt Profits

As the gulf of Mexico oil spill 2010 continues unabated, a "boycott BP" movement driven by social media is gathering steam. With a bogus BP Twitter account, Humorists are using social media to affect BP's reputation. Selling like crazy are BP oil like parody products such as t-shirts. But although BP is living a public relations nightmare, analysts say the giant oil business will see little effect on its profits.

Resource for this article: BP Facebook boycott and BP Twitter – PR setback won’t hurt profits By Personal Money Store

BP boycott hits social media

BP boycott organizers say purchasing gas from other brands would hit the oil company really bad, short of the expense incurred dealing with the disaster. More than 11,000 signatures were collected on Wednesday by Public Citizen after launching a BP Boycott Pledge on its website. Consumers are told to take their online cash advance other places to get gas by a Facebook boycott group called Boycott BP with more than 75,000 members. But convenience may trump the act of signing a pledge online. Also, the Facebook boycott isn't making any difference. The Washington Post surveyed a whole bunch of customers at BP gas stations across the Washington region. Many drivers said it was pointless to complicate the convenience of filling a gas tank with political or moral questions.

BP Twitter account goes rogue

The BP Facebook boycott may not be as effective as just hurting BPs reputation as the bogus BP Twitter account @BPGlobalPR. Wednesday the Los Angeles Times reports that the fake BP Twitter page had 42,000 followers. You will find only 5,700 on BP's real Twitter account, @BP_America. The bogus BP Twitter account has raised a lot more than $3,000 for the nonprofit Gulf Restoration Network through the sale of $25 BP T-shirts. Some fan favorites from the Twitter page contain:

Catastrophe is a strong word, let’s all agree to call it a whoopsie daisy. The good news – Mermaids are real. The bad news: They are now extinct. I’m sorry, are people mad at us for drilling in the ocean?!? Maybe God shouldn’t have put oil there in the first place. DUH.

The real hit is the BP gas station owners

A lot more than global petroleum behemoth, BP gas station owners can be hit by all of this. CNNMoney.com reports that BP does not own the 11,500 gas stations that carry its logo. Independent franchises own the BP gas stations. Last year nearly 42 million gallons of gas per day were pumped by these gas stations. An oil business executive told CNN that BP, being one of the largest oil trading companies in the global market, can really sell petroleum products wherever it needs to. Just because American's don't purchase gas doesn't mean that someone else won't. BP, which generated sales last year of about $240 billion, told CNN it has seen no effect from any boycott efforts.

Citations

The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/25/AR2010052501765.html

Los Angeles Times reports

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/05/bpglobalpr.html

CNNMoney.com reports

http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/26/news/companies/boycott_BP/?npt=NP1

The winner of 2010 American Idol is

Crystal and Lee were in it to win it! Who won 2010 American Idol May 26, 2010? Look here.

No amount of personal installment loans or same day loans could determine the vote of the American Idol winner 2010. The only thing that made a difference was how well they sang. Here's last evening’s recap of American Idol:

American Idol Round 1 – contestant's choice

First singing was Lee. The song he chose was "The Box" by Simon & Garfunkel. Kara and Randy thought he had to bring it up some, Judge Ellen was pleased with Lee and Simon’s comment was it was a kiss on the cheek when he wanted a kiss on the lips, but continued, "Not from you!" I was let down, disappointed because I really had hope for. He didn't change anything from the original at all. Lee is terrific; you (got to|have to} like him. But I don't think it was his best performance, and this is the day he should have done his best.

Crystal Bowersox was the next to perform and was great performing "Me and Bobbie McGee." Kara, Simon and Ellen loved it and Randy thought it was dope. I agree. Crystal wins round 1.

Round 2—Simon Fuller picks

Lee DeWyze was assigned R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts," to sing. He sang this one better than the first song, but still not as good as he’s done. The judges thought Lee was off a little off. Not the night to be off.

Crystal was given "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles to sing. She nailed this song. "Mamasox is in it to win it," (says|exclaimed|according to}Randy. Round 2 to Mamasox.

Contestant’s choice of single—Round 3

In other years, the last song was assigned to both contestants to become the American Idol winner’s first single. This season, the finalists got to pick their own song that will be their first single if they are the winner. Lee picked "Beautiful Day" by U2 for his closing song. Again, Lee was a little off.

Mamasox (ended|finished|closed} the (evening|night} with "Up to the Mountain" by Patty Griffin. I would say the judges practically crowned her Idol right (then and there|at that moment|there}. Crystal deserved to win right there. But it was not the judge’s choice. It was up to us.

The Idol winner is

Who do you think the Idol winner 2010 is? The winner of American Idol 2010 is …

If you like Dutch Colonials, try the Amityville Horror House

Trying to buy some prime real estate? How about a three story, six bedroom Dutch Colonial with a gambrel roof? There is also a swimming pool and a boat house. The house is located in a small sleepy Long Island suburb. The beach is never far away either. It’s listed for a mere $ 1.15 million. Oh, and it's the house where The Amityville Horror took place.

Article Source: If you like Dutch Colonials, try the Amityville Horror House

Yeah, The Amityville Horror

The book, The Amityville Horror, and later the film, are about the experiences of George and Kathy Lutz and their children. The couple bought the vacant expansive Dutch Colonial in 1976. The house had been where Robert DeFeo Jr murdered his entire family the year before. They scored the place for a scant $ 80,000. At that price, you would never have to worry about needing payday loans to keep up with the payments. The house, according to the Lutzes, was either haunted or demon possessed, and they abandoned the home less than a month after moving in.

At the movies

After the incidents involving the Lutzes took place (allegedly), a book was written about the events. The book in question, The Amityville Horror, has come to be viewed as not-quite-accurate. The film, The Amityville Horror, followed in 1979, and several sequels were made. A remake came out in 2005, starring Ryan Reynolds. After the Lutzes left, the next owner, James Cromarty and his wife, stayed in the home for more than ten years. Cromarty said that "Nothing weird ever happened, except for people coming by because of the book and the movie."

Homes at killer prices

The National Association of Realtors probably won’t admit it, but houses where murders have taken place often are quickly put on the market at a fraction of their actual value. The idea there is to get rid of the property as quickly and quietly as possible. Oh, you think I’m full of it, right? See for yourself at HousingWatch.com. The only thing you have to ask yourself is if you're alright with knowing someone met a grisly end in your living room.

Article resources

The Amityville Horror

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amityville_Horror

HousingWatch

http://www.housingwatch.com/2010/02/11/fate-of-a-murder-house/

Does ZabaSearch Make Your Private Information Public?

Personal information and privacy on the internet can be a sticky issue – and ZabaSearch is just one of many public-records search engines available online. There are concerns that ZabaSearch shares information that most people just don't want shared. The results you get from ZabaSearch aren't always accurate, though.

Source for this article: Does ZabaSearch make your private information public By Personal Money Store

How Zabasearch gets its information

Public records searches all operate pretty much the same – Spokeo, ZabaSearch, or others. The program behind ZabaSearch crawls through public records to compile information. When you put a name in Zabasearch, the computer program returns the results that it has compiled. Basic search results are provided for free, and extended search results are available for a fee.

What does ZabaSearch compile for its information?

A basic ZabaSearch search pulls up the address and phone number for the names typed in. If a customer pays for a Zabasearch report, they can get information that ranges from tax resolution records to average home value in the area. Intelius is the company name that paid Zabasearch results are paid through.

Could you remove your information from ZabaSearch?

It can be eye-opening to see all your public information in one area. While information such as this has been public for years, the fact it is so easy to find is relatively new. The information ZabaSearch returns is not always even 50 percent accurate. The Zabasearch program doesn't have any person employed to "connect the dots" on public records. For example, having two different names on public information records – such as "John Doe" in one place and "John A. Doe" in another – will create two records. Opting-out of ZabaSearch is not necessarily easy, because the service relies on publicly available information. While ZabaSearch does allow you to “opt-out” by faxing them your proof of identity, there are other search engines that do the same thing. You have to request your public records be legally sealed in order to remove your information from all public records searches.

Deciphering Sidewall Graffiti - What Those Tire Codes Mean

Does sidewall graffiti on tires hold any secrets? Author Douglas Adamsmay very well be intrigued at the notion, but the truth is that tire codes tell consumers about the tire’s size, wear, construction and speed rating, among other things. Using properly sized and rated tires for your automobile is an essential part of getting the most from your automobile and increasing mpg. Thanks to our friends at Edmunds, here’s your official cheat sheet for breaking down the mystery of the tire codes on your daily commuter or weekend joy-rider. You won't have to go to a Car Deal Expert unless you need an auto loans with bad credit since you’ll have the code cracked in no time.

Article Resource: Deciphering sidewall graffiti – What those tire codes mean?

If your tires could talk – sidewall graffiti

Let’s use this tire code as our sample -205/55R 16 89V. Let’s see how that breaks down:

• First there's 205 – This is the tire’s section width, which measures the millimeter distance between sidewall edges. The tire is fatter if the number is larger.
• 55 – This is the aspect ratio that compares section height to width. The section height is 55 percent of the section width in this case. Lower numbers (under 55, for example) mean a shorter sidewall, which grants improved handling.
• 3rd R – This is the tire’s construction, in this case radial. Radial has been the standard in the last 20 years, but some trucks nevertheless use the same old bias-play construction.
• 16 ­– This represents the rim diameter in inches. If you choose to buy new tires, this number will nevertheless have to match.
• Fifth there's 89 – The load index, which represents the Maximum Load-Carrying Capacity Per Tire chart. 89 equates to 1,279 pounds per tire. Multiply the result by four to get total weight capacity for a set of tires.
• Sixth is V – This represents the speed rating, which tells you maximum speed a tire can go over an extended time frame. “V” means the tire can safely run at up to 149 mph for a period of time. If you go over that more than a couple of minutes, your tires might explode. For more speed codes, see the link at the bottom of the article.

Other things to consider as part of your sidewall graffiti

In the case of a recall, Edmunds says there might be other details such as a DOT (Department of Transportation). A traction rating might be there too with A,B, or C, A being the best. The term “TREADWEAR” may also be visible among the tire codes, alongside a number like 120 or 180. 180 can maintain tread for 80% longer as standard is 100. Sometimes you will find other scales used but usually the higher the number, the longer the tread life.

Additional information at these websites

Douglas Adams

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Adams

Edmunds

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/howto/articles/43859/article.html

radial

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radial_tire

Maximum Load-Carrying Capacity Per Tire

http://www.kaltire.com/retail/about_your_tires/loadchart.php

speed codes, see the link at the bottom of the article

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=35

Tesla and Toyota team to top electric car market

It was announced last week that Toyota would be purchasing a large stake in Tesla Motors, the electric car manufacturing firm. Tesla has a claim to fame of making high end completely electric roadsters that can do 100 miles per hour with impunity. Its flagship model, the Tesla Roadster, is capable of going from 0 to 60 in less than four seconds, which is a considerable feat for any car. The company had seen lagging revenue, and announced an Initial Public Offering after which Toyota announced it would buy a large stake.

Article Source~Article Resource~Source for this article~Resource for this article: Tesla and Toyota team to top electric car market

Toyota and Tesla

The Toyota Prius is one of the best selling hybrids on the market, so Toyota already is a leader in hybrid and electric car developments. Toyota pledged to put up $ 50 million after Tesla Motors announced a forthcoming IPO to raise capital after some losses. According to the New York Times, Tesla announced an IPO to raise capital after losing $ 56 million over 2009. The Tesla Roadster starts at about $ 109,000, so auto loans for the car are considerable.

Tesla Roadster the flagship

The claim to fame for Tesla Motors is the Tesla Roadster, the fastest production electric or hybrid car. Their basic model can get from 0 to 60 miles an hour in 3.9 seconds. The Tesla Roadster Sport accomplishes it in 3.7 seconds, but costs about $ 20,000 a lot more. Granted, that is not exactly a time for the record books, but it is as far as hybrid and electric cars are concerned. (In case you should wonder, the fastest car that comes stock from a major domestic is the Chevy Corvette ZR1.)

Good for both

This is an excellent move for Toyota, and for Tesla. Tesla is an eco-friendly manufacturer, and they’re about to unveil the Tesla Model S, a family sedan retailing around $ 60,000. Toyota comes into the picture by putting Tesla up in the NUMMI manufacturing complex, which recently closed. It seems a Tesla of any sort creates sparks wherever it goes.

Sources

New York Times

http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/24/toyota-tesla-style/?src=busln

Tesla Roadster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster

Arrested Was Food Network Chef, Juan-Carlos Cruz

When a Food Network chef is arrested, the situation is ripe for humor, but the arrest of Juan-Carlos Cruz is no laughing matter. The Food Network chef doesn't work at Food Network anymore explaining why he was "very cheap" when it came to hiring 3 individuals to kill his wife off. Maybe he paid for it all with payday loans no fax?

Arrested in Santa Monica is Food Network Chef

The Food Network Chef arrested, Juan-Carlos Cruz, is due to appear in a Santa Monica courtroom this morning. He plotted to hire three homeless individuals to kill his wife until one of those individuals turned him in. Identified as “Big Dave,” “Little Dave” and “Shane,” these three men said Cruz was “very meticulous” and “very cheap.” Right now he is being held on $ 5 million in bail.

Food Network chef arrested specializes in low-calorie cooking

Low calorie cooking is what Juan-Carlos Cruz made his public celebrity name off of. After he appeared on a Discovery Channel Body Challenge show, Juan-Carlos Cruz lost a lot of weight. Cruz changes his cooking focus to low calorie meals as a previous pastry chef. The Food Network chef that was arrested had once starred in Calorie Commando, a show dedicated to “replacing the junk in food with healthy alternatives.”

Watch the Food Network Chef arrested demo reel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOOCqtB7NyI

Part of weight loss industry was Food Network chef being arrested

The U.S. weight loss market is estimated to be worth more than $ 65 billion. The Food Network Chef arrested sold a cookbook recently as part of the industry. The $ 7.49 cookbook, "Juan-Carlos Cruz Calorie Countdown Cookbook" got 4 ½ star ratings. This cookbook probably isn't paying the bills although Juan did hire himself out as a speaker and consultant.

Sources

Boston Herald

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/west/view/20100517tv_chef_juan-carlos_cruz_to_face_la_judge_over_alleged_murder_plot/srvc=home&position=recent

Wire Update

http://wireupdate.com/wires/4796/food-network-chef-juan-carlos-cruz-arrested-and-to-make-courtroom-appearance-today/

Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Juan-Carlos-Cruz-Calorie-Countdown-Cookbook/dp/1592402585

Sprint, Verizon snub Nexus One - Is the Google phone a failure?

The Nexus One which is Google's overhyped Android phone, is in the headlines for the wrong reasons. Verizon was the first to prick the Nexus One bubble when it announced last month it wouldn’t make the Nexus One accessible. This week, the Sprint and Nexus One pairing instantly vaporized. Sprint axed Nexus One after previously saying it would carry the device. Depending on who you talk to, Verizon and Sprint snubbing Nexus One is either one of technology’s greatest failures, or a trivial misstep that doesn’t really matter.

Google web store and also the Nexus One

The Nexus One failure, at first blush, seems clear. Google wanted to make it so you could only purchase the Nexus One within the Google web store. As reported on eWeek, Some experts think the Google web store Nexus One model is evidence that carriers aren’t interested in supporting a device that can’t sell in their own retail stores. Others argue that the Nexus One was just eclipsed by better Android phones.

Sprint Nexus One

Just a couple of months ago, things were looking for Google's Nexus One sales. PC World reports that in mid-March, Sprint announced that it would carry a CDMA version of Google’s Nexus One sometime later this year. Sprint dropped the Nexus One on Monday. Sprint said it would support the upcoming HTC EVO 4G Android phone instead. Sprint likely chose the HTC EVO 4G because it has a larger display screen than the Nexus One, runs on Sprint’s 4G WiMAX network and also features the HTC Sense UI. The fact that you could not use your installment loan to buy a Nexus One from Sprint probably didn’t help.

Nexus One and Verizon

The Nexus One/Verizon deal flopped thanks to the HTC Incredible Android phone. The Incredible has about the exact same specs as the Google Nexus One. Both phones also run Android 2.1. What is the biggest difference between the two phones? The Droid Incredible runs HTC's revised Sense UI. Informationweek.com reports the newest version of Sense makes using the Android platform more enjoyable experience.

Nexus One’s Android advantage

Everybody likes a winner, and even before the Sprint and Verizon defections, the Nexus One reputation suffered from original 3G connectivity bugs and low sales figures. PC World said that the remaining advantage Nexus One has over Incredible and EVO is its direct tie to Google’s speedy OS update process. On the HTC Sense UI, a manufacturer-altered versions of Android, updates can take months to reach users.

Without Nexus One, Android thriving

Is Nexus One a failure? Analysts seem to think that Google would be better off without the Nexus One. After its humiliating rejection by major carriers, the Nexus One may be done. All rivals run on Android though which Google doesn't mind. And all the media commotion about smartphone competition, of all things, has raised the profile of Android to the point that Android phones actually outsold Apple’s iPhone last month.

Citations

eWeek

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Google-Nexus-One-Not-a-Failure-Despite-Slights-By-Sprint-Verizon-409079/

PC World reports

http://www.pcworld.com/article/196022/why_sprint_and_verizon_nixed_the_nexus_one.html

Informationweek.com

http://www.informationweek.com/newshome/index.jhtml;jsessionid=1U2VTTNH0NJJRQE1GHPCKH4ATMY32JVN

Bangkok Curfew Imposed As Violence And Fires Rage In Thailand

As protests and violence are nevertheless taking place, officials have declared a curfew for Bangkok and other areas. If the situation in Thailand doesn’t start to die down, this may be prelude to something worse. The Red Shirt protesters aren’t backing down entirely, and anti-government protests are still going on. Several foreign governments are urging their citizens to avoid Thailand altogether or to leave as soon as possible.

Article Source: Bangkok curfew imposed as violence and fires rage in Thailand By Personal Money Store

Encampment of Bangkok protesters raided

The damage done by the riots will take a lot more than a little quick cash to fix, and also the government still lacks confidence among a large section of the public. A camp full of Red Shirt protesters has been raided by the Thai military, according to the Christian Science Monitor. After the raid was over, Bangkok also as other areas of Thailand had a curfew imposed. To stay away from further bloodshed, leaders of the Red Shirts announced they were surrendering. Following this announcement, further violence broke out in Bangkok streets, and various buildings were set on fire in apparent arson attacks.

Advisory issued to British in Thailand

Following the violent Bangkok protests, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised British nationals to avoid traveling to Thailand, according to the BBC. The British Embassy had closed on May 14 due to violence within the capital. They are advising Britons in Bangkok and other areas of Thailand to stay home if at all possible, and if they must travel, to do so after curfew hours with all appropriate paperwork to ensure their safety. Thai officials said travel after curfew hours can be fine if all passports and appropriate paperwork are on hand and people are cooperative with police and military checkpoints.

Further unease

Following the camp of Red Shirts was raided, fires broke out which emergency services had difficulty getting to. The Red Shirt protesters are deeply unsatisfied with the current government, and are calling for the government to hold urgent elections. This can be a result of a long chain of events, and it won’t be solved overnight.

Discover more data on this topic

Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2010/0519/Clashes-fires-roil-Bangkok-despite-red-shirt-protest-leaders-surrender

BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8693122.stm

Teacher, Tonya Craft, Cleared Of Molestation Charges

The Tonya Craft trial — the Chickamauga battle that became national news — is over. On Tuesday, the Tonya Craft verdict acquitted the previous kindergarten teacher of all 22 counts of child molestation that she was being charged with. But not until after she lost her job at Chickamauga Elementary School, her house in Chickamauga, Ga., and amassed legal bills close to $ 500,000. Also, Tonya Craft was separated from her kids for 712 days.

Tonya Craft trial a ‘witch hunt’

Tonya Craft supporters characterized the trial as a “witch hunt,” and legal bloggers covering the Tonya Craft trial reported the prosecutors and judge conspired for a Tonya Craft conviction. After her exoneration, Tonya Craft was on the “Today” show Wednesday morning and could be featured on Larry King Live Wednesday night.

On 'Today' is Tonya Craft

Tonya Craft's verdict kept her from getting sentenced to 400 years in prison. But her legal costs may leave her in need of a short term loans. She told NBC's "Today" on Wednesday that it wasn't a victory because of that very reason. “There’s nobody that wins in this situation. My whole heart has been taken, and I got half of it back.” Craft said she hoped the truth would come out but was "scared to death" it would not. She talked about how hard it was to see her daughter testify against her.

“That was the absolute hardest thing I’ve ever experienced, because my job as a mother is to protect her,” Craft said. “There certainly was no anger towards her. It absolutely broke my heart to see that my daughter had been pretty much indoctrinated to believe things that weren’t true.”

Trial misconduct and Tonya Craft

Following the Tonya Craft verdict, Craft’s attorney, Demosthenes Lorandos, told The Associated Press that he and Craft’s other attorneys have contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. attorney’s office about what he called “fraudulent” behavior of Judge Brian House and also the Catoosa County district attorney’s office during the exact same case.

Local media is a circus

April 13 was when the Tonya Craft trial commenced. The proceedings have seemed a local media circus. Local TV news programs given the case tag lines and logos. Breathless anchors popped up on the screen throughout the day with promises of "graphic testimony." The "Tonya Craft Trial" on News Channel 9 and "Tonya Craft: Teacher on Trial" on "WCRB — News you are able to count on," competed for ratings and website hits with constant updates on all the sordid details.

Tonya Craft and conspiracy against her by Prosecutor?

Many of the players within the Tonya Craft trial showed questionable behavior that suggested Judicial misconduct. As outlined by Cato-at-liberty.org, the judge sitting on the case represented the defendant's husband in their divorce. Defense attorneys asked the judge to step down but he refused. Blogger William Anderson, who has been covering the trial, reports that with the trial pending, the prosecutor, Len Gregor, wrote status updates on Facebook that included numerous comments by witnesses. After Tonya Craft's verdict was set, Anderson wrote to the defendant:

What was done to you was criminal: no other word will suffice. Indeed, if you want to know where the REAL conspiracy was centered, it was in that courtroom, as a judge and his two henchmen conspired time and again to deprive you of your civil rights to a fair trial. Let me be more specific. House (the judge), Arnt, and Gregor (the prosecutors) were not guilty of overzealousness or even bad judgment. What they did was much, much worse because they teamed up to keep much of the evidence that would have exonerated you out of the courtroom. They harassed your witnesses and then called your four expert witnesses, who are well-respected in their fields (to put it mildly), “whores” and liars.

Tonya Craft verdict – not guilty on all 22 counts

Tonya Craft was arrested in June 2008 and accused of molesting three girls in her home between August 2005 and May 2007. After a five week trial, a jury started debating her case on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, they found her not guilty of all 22 counts, including child molestation, sexual battery and aggravated child molestation. Craft’s chief attorney, Dr. Demosthenes Lorandos, said on the “Today” show that his client had been receiving many different death threats, and he hurried her out of the courtroom following the Tonya Craft verdict.

Citations

“Today” show Wednesday morning

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37103788/ns/today-today_people/

The Associated Press

http://www.ap.org/

Blogger William Anderson

http://williamlanderson.blogspot.com/search/label/Tonya%20Craft

Privacy Concerns Cause A lot more Users To Delete Facebook Accounts

You are able to go ahead and join the crowd if you are considering deleting your Facebook account. Facebook began a new feature that gave personal information to not only just friends, but the whole internet in April. People seem to be a lot more concerned about Facebook privacy issues and what Facebook is doing with their personal information. Web superstars, privacy advocates, and even politicians have announced that they’ll be deleting their Facebook accounts.

For privacy's sake, deleting Facebook accounts

Unless they block it manually, personal data is now fair game, so people are deleting their Facebook accounts. Blogger Mat McKeon reports that when Facebook was founded, in 2005, it restricted a user’s personal info to just friends and their network. Over the past couple of years, the default Facebook privacy settings for a user’s personal data have become as permissive as no fax payday loans no credit check. Now, everyone who wants to can see every little thing but your birthday and contact information. Users think it is confusing how Facebook also keeps changing what is classified as personal information.

Make sure to update your Facebook privacy settings

McKeon is not deleting his Facebook account or suggesting any person else should. He gets it that Facebook is trying to make money off of the data they get with their free service. But he does strongly advocates double and triple checking your privacy settings for a personal profile that might be giving out details from where you live to the movies you like and the individuals you trust. The Wall Street Journal reports that some high-profile members of the tech community, such as Google search-engine guru Matt Cutts and Engadget co-founder Peter Rojas, have announced recently that they were planning on deactivating their Facebook accounts, a step that shuts down but doesn't delete the Facebook account completely.

How do I delete my Facebook account forever?

It isn't as simple as a point and click to delete your Facebook account forever. Facebook makes it quite easy to deactivate your account, which will temporarily hide your info. As outlined by wikiHow, it is much a lot more difficult to discover the "permanent delete" option. This wikiHow article definitely answers the question: How do I delete my Facebook account forever?

Facebook privacy issues

“Delete Facebook account” has been a top search term on Google recently. After Facebook's developer conference a few weeks ago, ABC News reports the latest backlash started brewing. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg talked about various changes that he said would make the Web a lot more social and personalized by expanding Facebook’s presence to other websites. On many sites a “social plug-in” now lets users “like” content and see what their Facebook friends have liked, directly from those online websites.

Facebook and privacy violations

Facebook by default is now giving third party companies member's friends lists, names, and hobbies. When a Facebook user logs onto a site with the Facebook social plug-in, the content displayed is shaped by all of the personal details in their Facebook account, as well as any personal information of their friends. To disable this feature, a manual opt-out is needed.

Advocates of Facebook privacy

Powerful legislator is on the side of people who are upset about Facebook privacy policies. “With great power comes great responsibility, and sites like Facebook have great responsibility,” Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said at a news conference a week after Facebook’s announcements. “In my view, it ought to be the user who determines who gets what information, not Facebook.” Schumer asked the Federal Trade Commission to create guidelines for Facebook and other social networks to follow.

People delete Facebook account forever

Facebook hasn't done much to help its recent problem relating to privacy. In a Q and A session with the New York Times this week Elliot Schrage, Facebook's vice president for public policy, responded to all of the privacy concerns by saying that participating in Facebook is "a choice." He said "Please don't share if you're not comfortable.". That advice is being taken by many.

Article Resources

Mat McKeon reports

http://mattmckeon.com/facebook-privacy/

Wall Street Journal reports

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/05/14/looking-to-delete-your-facebook-account-youre-not-alone/

Minivan Rap Song - Toyota Sienna Swagger Wagon

Cool is coming back to the suburbs, if the new minivan rap song is to be believed. The Minivan rap song tries the equivalent of getting an no fax payday loans for the minivans’ image – proving they’re “awesome” by doing what all the cool kids are doing. Could this rap song be considered offensive, if effective?

Minivan rap song – trendy parody?

The Toyota Sienna minivan rap song seems intended to be very ironic. Two rather average-ish looking parents rap about loving being parents and loving their "swagger wagon.” The video is incredibly amusing, parody and irony mixing together. The humor, though, stems from the stereotypical premise that white people from the suburbs “shouldn’t” be rapping. The real irony, though, is while most hip-hop music is performed by minority musicians, within the billion-dollar hip-hop industry a lot more than 70 percent of music sales are made to white individuals. Pop music charts are also being taken over by hip-hop music.

Minivan rap song continues an advertising trend

Far from the first, the minivan rap song is one of a long list of advertisements that have "ironic rap". Everyone from Taco Bell to Smirnoff have done similar commercials, to different levels of success. Comedians such as Barats and Bereta, as well as hundreds of SNL skits, have also made careers on the concept.

Minivan rap song offensive?

From online commentary, most just find the minivan rap song amusing. The head of Cultural Trends at an ad agency that specializes in “campaigns that target minorities” has written extensively about advertisements such as this. She poses a question that is worth discussion:

What is intended to be funny about this video? White people posturing in (stereotypically) non-white scenarios? When is race role-play and cultural appropriation okay? When is it acceptable, and when is it derogatory?

So what do you think?

Finance Your Georgia Honda Civic Purchase - Atlanta Honda Civic

In case you are looking for a Honda Civic in Atlanta, as it is one of the top selling cars in the US, you should keep some things in mind. Although a used Honda Civic could be a great deal, a new Atlanta Honda Civic has style and amazing everyday drive ability. Research what type of Atlanta Honda Civic you would like, line up auto loans and make a smart purchase.

Know facts about the Atlanta Honda Civic

The Honda Civic was sold in Atlanta before the rest of the US in 1973. There are a total of eight, and planned ninth, generations of Honda Civic vehicles. In 2006, the Honda Civic design split – one type of Civic to be sold in the United States and one to be sold in Europe. When looking for Honda Civic in Atlanta, you will probably find all types of Honda Civic cars. Once you find the Atlanta Honda Civic that you want, get a Carfax or Autocheck report on it so you know exactly what kind of shape the automobile is in.

Get financing for your Atlanta Honda Civic

Getting pre-approved for financing for the Honda Civic would be intelligent. You are able to negotiate a lot more very easily with the auto seller with pre-qualified financing. You may also not get locked into a higher-rate loan that is offered at the car lot. Getting pre-qualified for Atlanta Honda Civic financing is easy. It is just one form, and takes less than an hour. Once you are qualified for an car loan, you are able to take that details to the seller and know that a Honda Civic in Atlanta could be all yours.

After purchasing your Atlanta Honda Civic

As soon as you have your Atlanta Honda Civic, get it licensed and insured. Contain the costs of the original setup with your loan for auto financing. If your Honda Civic is used, take it to a mechanic so you know for sure the vehicle is as the dealer promised. Make your monthly payments on your auto loan and your Atlanta Honda Civic should last year's. You made it; best wishes!

Is Matt Lauer Cheating On His Supermodel Wife?

Matt Lauer is cheating, according to the New York Daily News, and the recent Vancouver Winter Olympics may have something to do with it. The charms of curling ensnared NBC Sports broadcaster Tiki Barber previously; add these helpless men are putty. Supposedly, Matt Lauer, age 52, cheated on his supermodel wife when covering the Winder Games up in Vancouver. As outlined by the National Enquirer, Lauer and Roque have split over these allegations, which could very possibly end their 12-year marriage and placing Lauer in a very difficult financial situation where he might need a lot more than a no fax payday loans no credit check to pay his attorney’s fees, alimony and child support.

Added to Matt Lauer's checkered history are cheating points

Has Matt Lauer been accused of cheating before? It isn't clear but you will find bumps in his relationship history. The Matt Lauer Wikipedia page explains that he was married from 1982 until 1989 to TV producer Nancy Alspaugh. He got a divorce at the end. He dated TV newscaster Kristen Gesswein and even got engaged from 1989 to 1996. Of course that engagement was soon broken, as just two years later, Matt Lauer married Annette Roque, aka “Jade.” Among others, Roque has appeared in ads for Revlon and Victoria's Secret. While pregnant with her third child with Matt Lauer, the two separated and even filed for divorce on Sept. 13, 2006. They made up before it became official, possibly because Lauer saw a future where he wouldn’t be able to maintain his “Today” show jet-set lifestyle.

Annette got stood up on Valentine's Day

As far as women are concerned, that's a dead giveaway. Matt Lauer stuck around for a party after his duties at the Vancouver Games were complete, and as the Daily News puts it, he “caught the eye of two good-looking Canadian broadcasters.” Annette was ready for a showdown as he got back. Annette's ring is now nowhere to be seen after many things were said. Matt Lauer and Annette Rogue have 3 beautiful children together: 8-year-old son Jack, 6-year-old daughter Romy and 2-year-old son Thijs (pronounced “tice”).

Keepin’ it down low

That’s what the NBC and the “Today” show are demanding of Matt Lauer and his cheating ways (or alleged cheating ways). They want him to come across as a family man for his female audience. All of us know TV is just about appearances. Al Roker seems to everybody a kind weatherman and interviewer, but for all we know, he could be a super villain. Viewers will never really know thanks to the illusion of TV. Matt Lauer may play the handsome family man on TV, but the reality behind the scenes is a bit a lot more complicated.

Resources

New York Daily News

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/05/13/2010-05-13_matt_lauer_cheating_scandal_today_show_host_accused_of_wild_behavior_behind_wife.html

Charla Nash Comes Home From Cleveland Clinic

In Stamford Connecticut last year, Charla Nash went to the home of her friend Sandra Herold to help her with her pet chimp Travis. Travis went on a rampage, beating Charla Nash nearly to death and severely disfiguring her in the process. The errant primate was killed by police who responded to emergency calls. Charla was taken to the Cleveland Clinic, where she underwent extensive surgeries and therapy, and she has been released. If you were thinking a chimpanzee is a pet you’d like to spend some instant cash to get, you may want to think again.

”Today” Show given update by Charla Nash

Charla Nash recently had an interview with the “Today” show, in which she updated Meredith Vieira about her situation, as outlined by MSNBC. The attack entirely disfigured her face, and since the tragic occurrence, she has worn a veil wherever she goes. The attack caused both of her eyes to be excised. She calls for constant assistance, as she can’t use her hands or eat solid food. She spent over a year in the Cleveland Clinic undergoing surgery and therapy. She hopes to get face and hand transplants.

The intervening officer and his struggle

A related MSNBC article concerned the aftermath for the responding officer. Frank Chiafari, a 25 year Stamford Police veteran has been left traumatized by the incident. When he arrived on the scene, he barely recognized the victim as human. Travis really went up to his automobile, and opened the driver side door. Chiafari had no choice but to fire. Travis died as a result of his wounds. Chiafari was so traumatized he had to take a leave of absence, only for the state to deny his Worker’s Compensation claim.

What will Charla Nash do now?

The Cleveland Clinic was a great place for Charla Nash to go. The Cleveland Clinic is one of the best medical centers within the United States. The first face transplant in the US was done there. That is where kidney dialysis was invented, and where numerous huge strides in medical science were made. She has made huge strides given that the attack, and it's possible she may get even better with further surgeries and therapy.

Sources

MSNBC

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37015385/ns/today-today_people/

MSNBC

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/36962822/ns/today-today_people/

Singer Ronnie James Dio Passes Away At 67

Legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio has passed away at the age of 67. In 2009, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He was one of the titans of hard rock and heavy metal. He had previously been the lead singer of Black Sabbath and Rainbow and achieved success with his solo efforts. This year has taken it’s toll on metal, as Peter Steele of Type O Negative.

Ronnie James Dio

Ronnie James Dio was born in 1942, in New Hampshire as Ronald James Padovona. During his school years, he played brass instruments, which he attributed his powerful vocal technique to. He formed the band Elf in the early 70s, after a lot more than a decade of grinding out a living around New England. Elf was discovered by Deep Purple, who took them out on several tours as a support band.

Rainbow

Ritchie Blackmore hired Elf, including Ronnie James Dio, as the rest of what would be called Rainbow, after he quit Deep Purple. Aside from his musical contributions, he also is credited for popularizing the "metal horns," otherwise known as "devil horns," which he picked up from his Italian grandmother. The hand gesture is called "malocchio," which gained popularity as "the horns." It was adopted as the sign of The Metal.

Black Sabbath

After a number of years and various highly esteemed albums with Rainbow, Dio left because of creative differences with Ritchie Blackmore, and Black Sabbath asked him to audition for the open lead singer spot, as Ozzy Osbourne had just been fired. Dio was hired, and stayed for two albums, “Mob Rules” and “Heaven and Hell." Both were well received critically and commercially, despite the iconic original singer having been discharged. He struck out on his own following the release of “Live Evil,” a live record.

Holy Diver

Ronnie James Dio assembled a band for a solo record, which was called “Holy Diver,” long considered a classic. The album had two stand out hits with the title track and “Rainbow within the Dar,” which are nevertheless played on rock radio stations. He released solo albums until 2006, and even briefly reunited with Black Sabbath in 1992 for “Dehumanizer,” a new album and tour.

Heaven and Hell

Ronnie James Dio and Black Sabbath crossed paths once more, when Ozzy Osbourne wasn't working with the band. They decided to tour under a different name, to stay away from conflicts with Ozzy. The lineup of Ronnie James Dio, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Vinny Appice toured under the name Heaven and Hell, and after releasing a live album, recorded a new studio effort, "The Devil You Know," which was released in 2009. In 2009, Dio was diagnosed with stomach cancer and the band went on hiatus. On May 16, his wife Wendy posted that he had passed away on the Dio website. Ronnie James Dio could be sorely missed as one of the greats of the last 30 years, a man of myth and legend.

Article Resources

Dio website

http://www.ronniejamesdio.com/

The Horns

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_of_the_horns

Open To Fanfare Is The NASCAR Hall Of Fame

NASCAR finally opened the NASCAR Hall of Fame to honor drivers that made exceptional contributions to the sport after more than 60 years of existence. Ground was broken for the facility construction in 2007 and opened on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The class of five drivers was selected from 25 nominees last year, and they will be inducted 12 days following the opening, on May 23 2010. The opening will probably be a instant cash although the beneficiary could be surprising.

NASCAR Hall of Fame

The NASCAR Hall of Fame broke ground for construction in 2007, according the NASCAR Hall of Fame website. Construction continued, and by fall of 2009, exhibits began to be installed, and the building was scheduled to open for May 11, 2010. Some of the first inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame attended the festivities.

The First Class

The inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame includes Dale Earnhardt, Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Richard Petty and Junior Johnson. In their contribution, each of these men were giants of the sport. Bill France Sr. found NASCAR as an organization while his son Bill France JR. helped to further. Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty barely need introduction, as incredibly popular and successful owners and drivers. Junior Johnson won six championships as a team owner.

And now Charlotte

North Carolina has a special role in NASCAR. Many of the most famous and greatest NASCAR drivers, including 3 members of the first class to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame hail from North Carolina. Three major races take place in Charlotte. On top of that, as outlined by Wikipedia, almost three-fourths of all motorsports employees work in Charlotte, North Carolina. Besides Dayton Beach, that's as heavily NASCAR as you can get. To top it off, the NASCAR Hall of Fame happens to be owned by the city. It will bring in tourists and plenty of employment. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is deserved and should to the public good.

Sources for the article

NASCAR Hall of Fame website

http://www.nascarhall.com/about/the-building

Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASCAR_Hall_of_Fame

Guerdwich Montimere, 22, Arrested For Posing As HS Student

Guerdwich Montimere must really believe that “the best days of our lives” are really in high school. The 22-year-old graduate of Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s Dillard High School missed that given that his 2007 graduation. Montimere was a top-flight basketball player there, so much so that he helped them to reach the state semis. He did make an effort to make it in junior college, but could not stick in the lineup; possibly he needed an installment loan to pay for tuition but couldn’t qualify. Montimere, an American citizen from Haiti, decided that enough was enough in 2009: he had to find some 15-year-olds to dominate on the court. The perfectly logical, perfectly immoral step to follow was Montimere disguising himself as a 15-year-old so he could join the team at Pe! rmian High School in Odessa, Texas. Odessa American indicates that Guerdwich Montimere (aka Jerry Joseph) disguised his way straight into being arrested.

Guerdwich Montimere charged with using false identification

Guerdwich Montimere's fake documents proved to be enough to fool head basketball coach Danny Wright, with whom he lived after enrolling at Permian. This was particularly galling for Wright, who considered Montimere “a family member” who would never do such a deceitful thing. “The whole school of Permian embraced that kid. He deceived us and played on every person involved’s emotions,” Wright told the American.

School athletic director Leon Fuller was absolutely flabbergasted: “I feel like I was hit by a ton of bricks. In my 50 years in education, I’ve never heard of anything like this”.

Blame it on Florida

According to the American, Odessa authorities received an anonymous tip from somebody in Florida, where Montimere attended high school legitimately. Might that are a friend of family member of Montimere’s? Who originated the call doesn’t matter much; that immigration was able to catch Montimere because of the tip is more important. Their investigation led to Joseph’s unmasking as Guerdwich Montimere.

Football will make them feel better, eventually

The school that inspired the wildly popular “Friday Night Lights” in print and on television will always have their football glory to keep them warm. Guerdwich Montimere's grab for playing time on the hardwood forced the Permian Panthers boys’ basketball squad to forfeit the entire season in which he played.

Article Resources

USA Today

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/05/22-year-old-texas-high-school-basketball-star-arrested-for-posing-as-16-year-old-/1

Cash For Caulkers - 168,000 Jobs, $ 9.2 Billion In Energy Savings

Homeowners are being offered rebates from $ 3,000 to $ 8,000 for energy-efficient improvements to their homes because of Cash for Caulkers, also known as the Home Star bill. The Cash for Caulkers 2010 bill, which was passed by the House on Thursday, will dole out $ 5.7 billion over two years for a program aimed to stimulate the construction industry, which has been gutted by the recession. Republicans were nearly united in being against the Cash for Caulkers bill which needs Senate approval still before Obama can sign it.

Cash for Caulkers details

Because of Cash for Caulkers 2010, Homeowners won't need quick cash to make energy saving home improvements. The name of the bill is inspired by 2009 Cash for Clunkers bill that had vehicle buyers get rid of their gas hogs. CBS News reports that Cash for Caulkers details consist of two programs: The Silver Star program provides upfront rebates of up to $ 3,000 for specific energy-efficient improvements in homes, such as installing energy-efficient appliances or duct sealing, insulation or new windows or doors. A Gold Star program entitles individuals to up to $ 8,000 when they conduct comprehensive energy audits and implement measures that reduce their energy used throughout their homes by a lot more than 20 percent.

Cash for Caulkers rules

To prevent fraud, Cash for Caulkers rules require licensing for all participating contractors and a certain percentage of projects could be inspected. The Silver Star program has upfront rebates at the time of purchase on many different renovations. There is a credit worth up to $ 1500 per improvement and is capped at $ 3,000 or fifty percent of the total cost. Following an energy audit, the Gold Star program will provide $ 3,000 for energy savings of at least 20 percent, with an additional $ 1,000 for each and every additional 5 percent energy savings. This rebate is capped at $ 8,000 or 50 percent of the project cost.

Cash for Caulkers home energy audit

Cash for Caulkers details about the Gold Star home energy audit requirement can be found on the web. A home energy auditor can help home owners assess how much energy their homes use and evaluate what measures will improve efficiency. Five minutes and the last 12 months of utility bills are all it takes for a do-it-yourself home energy audit using energystar.gov. A lot more energy savings will be delivered by a professional home energy auditor. A professional home energy auditor uses a variety of equipment like blower doors, which measure the rate heating or cooling escapes the home, and infrared cameras, which reveal hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation.

Cash for Caulker's impact on economy

Now that it has passed the House, Cash for Caulkers 2010 moves to the Senate. CBS News reports that the Senate will likely attach Cash for Caulkers to the next jobs bill. Those who support Cash for Caulkers argue that 168,000 jobs might be created. They also estimate that 3 million households could take advantage of its programs, saving $ 9.2 billion in home energy costs over 10-years. 168,000 jobs will be created. The Cash for Caulkers bill would approve $ 600 million over two years for grants to states for replacing older mobile homes with newer, more energy efficient models.

Resources for the article

CBS News reports

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/06/politics/main6467175.shtml

energy audit

http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic=11160

energystar.gov

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_audits

Will The Flat Belly Diet Reshape Midsections?

Dieting has become a new national pastime. Fad diets spring up all the time, like the South Beach Diet, the We Can’t Believe You Were Gullible Enough to Buy This Stuff Diet, and now the Flat Belly Diet. A Northwest Passage of dieting has been sought after for years, and Flat Belly Diet isn’t really one either. It does, though, use some solid science and common sense. You won’t have to get installment loans for people with bad credit for shipments of frozen meals, either.

Flat Belly Diet uses Mediterranean Diet

Because doctors are experts on the human body, to doctors you need to go to consult about dieting and weight loss, and WebMD has reviewed the Flat Belly Diet. The diet claims to burn off 15 pounds in 32 days. The first part consists of a four-day 1,200 to 1,400 calories per day initiation period, wherein dieters ingest foods targeted to lower bloating and mentally adjust to eating healthier. During these four days, you are encouraged to drink 2 liters a day of Sassy Water.

Monounsaturated fats

The authors of the book are Liz Vaccariello, and as fate would have it, Cynthia Sass, the inventor of Sassy Water. The key ingredient in this diet is Monounsaturated Fat. MUFAs are known to boost good cholesterol and reduce the bad cholesterol.

There is healthy good stuff in it

There’s an eating plan for the diet, a cookbook, the works. You eat four portion-controlled, small meals per day, each of which involves a MUFA ingredient. You keep to healthier meal choices, like more vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Exercise is encouraged to complement the diet.

What doctors said

WebMD didn’t hail it as exactly a breakthrough. They had some reservations about the Flat Belly Diet, however they did praise some features. The weight lost will most likely be water weight, as a person would have to burn 1,600 calories a day or more to lose 15 true fat pounds in 32 days. They admonish the public to remember SED – Strength training, exercise (cardio) and a proper Diet, to sustain responsible weight loss. There may be no Northwest Passage to weight loss.

Article resources

WebMD

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/flat-belly-diet

Flat Belly Diet

http://flatbellydiet.prevention.com/default.asp?sname=DefaultOffer&mktSSOfferId=FBD24716&mktBKOfferId=PVN24251

Monounsaturated Fat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monounsaturated_fat

Babies Movie May Violate Child Labor Laws, Critics Say

“Babies,” a new movie documentary by Thomas Balmes, follows the lives of four babies from different parts of the world. There is no dialogue but music accompanying scenes of the kids in their natural environments. Reviews of “Babies” are somewhat mixed; when the 80-minute Focus Features documentary is unquestionably cute, it may lack substance. Adorable little ones and emotionally manipulative music may work in commercials, but a feature-length study demands a lot more depth, say some critics. In fact, less attention is being paid to no matter what message the “Babies” movie may offer than whether the documentary violates child labor laws in its handling of the youngsters – and whether Focus Features will need no fax payday loans no credit check to cover potential fines.

Did the ‘Babies’ movie mistreat just a little baby?

As outlined by USA Today , “Babies” baby little Hattie of San Francisco may not are used in a manner in synch with California child labor laws. California infants that are to appear in commercial films like “Babies” must have doctor and legal permission, plus they must be at least 15 days old. They’re only allowed on camera 20 minutes per day, and throughout that time a studio teacher and nurse (paid for by the film’s production business) must be present. These guidelines weren’t followed to the letter for Hattie within the “Babies” movie, claim some.

‘Babies’ movie producer says the rules didn’t apply to them

This isn’t because they were pulling the “Do you know who I am?” card. In actuality, “Babies” producer Amandine Billot informed the Associated Press the kids were cast when still unborn. The children were then filmed “in their natural environments, like a wildlife film of human babies,” as outlined by Billot. The California Labor Board has not officially opened an investigation into the “Babies” movie, but if they do, potential fines could range from $ 50 to $ 5,000 per infraction.

Blame it on California

With all the red tape and debt in California government, this could turn out to be quite a bad thing for Focus Features. Thus, CEO James Schamus of Focus Features is preparing for the worst. He called the allegations against the “Babies” movie “irresponsible conjecture,” reports the AP. ”The filmmakers a lot more than adhered to both the letter and spirit of the law,” exclaimed Schamus.

Curious to see those ‘Babies’?

As you’ll recall, “Babies” is not all bad. In fact, here’s one that’s quite positive from Beliefnet.com, which claims the documentary, when simple, is “meant to revel within the miracles, radiant innocence and fun nature of babies. You won’t be able to leave the theater without feelings of warmth, happiness and delight”. Just like Sandra Bullock, brining new “Babies” into your life is not a bad thing.

Sources

USA Today

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2010/05/did-babies-break-the-law-/1

Beliefnet.com

http://blog.beliefnet.com/yourlittlecuties/2010/05/movie-review-babies.html

David Boreanaz Cheating Which People Magazine Reveals As Extortion

David Boreanaz – who’s an actor of Bones, Buffy and Angel fame — has admitted to People magazine that “David Boreanaz cheating” is, in fact, a true headline. Although he was married to Jaime Bergman for 8 years, apparently Boreanaz has been cheating for a many years. Though you will find numerous rumors that David Boreanaz cheating has happened with Rachel Uchitel, the actor did not reveal the woman's identity in his interviews.

Cheating of David Boreanaz was revealed because of extortion

David Boreanaz, according to his interview, revealed his cheating for many reasons. First, the woman who he had “been associated with” was asking for loan till payday. Feeling that he was being blackmailed, David Boreanaz chose to take his affair public himself. Jaime Bergman and David Boreanaz are at the moment planning on staying together and supposedly are "working on repairing" their relationship.

David Boreanaz and Rachel Uchitel cheating?

In the interview, David Boreanaz didn't say who he had been cheating on Jamie Bergman with. There are rumors that Rachel Uchitel, one of the Tiger Woods mistresses, might have been the object of David Boreanaz’s affections.

David Boreanaz and Jaime Bergman

In November 2001, Boreanaz and Bergman were married. The couple have two kids, an 8 month old daughter and an 8 year old son. David Boreanaz did not reveal how long his affair had been going on. This is all he says; “Our marriage has been tainted with my infidelities; I just want to be open and honest. I was irresponsible.”

This extramarital affair seems to have many similarities to other Hollywood cheaters. David Letterman publicly admitted his cheating in a similar manner last year. One wonders if David Boreanaz cheating is going to just be added to one more list that includes Jesse James, Tiki Barber, Jude Law, Ryan Philippe, David Duchovny, Tiger Woods, and a lot more. Either way, David Boreanaz’s cheating is sure to provide more fodder for late-night commentators and South Park humorists.

Jason Pfeiffer Alleges Secret Affair With Michael Jackson

A man who has the name Jason Pfeiffer says that he was Michael Jackson's boyfriend until the day he died. Question is, why has he waited till now to come out with this Jason Pfeiffer/Michael Jackson love story? Is this a plot to get some instant cash loans using Jackson's fortune and fame?

Michael Jackson was gay is the claim from Jason Pfeiffer

According to Extra, Jason Pfeiffer believed Jackson was his soul mate, claiming their relationship lasted up to the very day he took his last breath. Pfeiffer said he and Michael grew close particularly because of their childhoods. “We were just sitting there and we both started to cry, and I got up and went over to him and said it’s going to be OK, Michael. … We hugged,” he said. “And it was kind of then that the hug was a little bit more”. Pfeiffer said that it was not until a few months later that he found Michael had mutual feelings.

Is Dr. Arnold Klein a partner in crime with Pfeiffer?

Jason Pfeiffer is a previous dermatologist’s assistant of famed dermatologist Dr. Arnold Klein. Is it coming back to you? Well let's see…

Dr. Arnold Klein worked very closely with Jackson and was rumored to be the biological father of Jackson’s three children. In fact, Jackson's wife, Debbie Rowe, was employed by him for a time. So, out of the ordinary stories like this come as no surprise from Klein. Klein even suggests that he knew there was something going on with Pfeiffer and Jackson when he walked in on them shirtless once. “When you see two people looking at each other you know what’s happening,” he said. “I was just very happy for both of them”.

Jason Pfeiffer's purpose in his story

Whether or not it is true, the Jason Pfeiffer/Michael Jackson story is making rounds in the media. Pfeiffer said that “setting the record straight and finally telling the truth, as opposed to hiding in some house … I think he would have approved of that, yes.” Meanwhile, buddy Dr. Klein says the choice to come out with the “truth” was not meant to harm Michael Jackson’s image, but rather to help squash rumors that Jackson was a pedophile.

Known Safety Violation - San Antonio Refinery Fire

Wednesday morning, only a couple of hours following the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama exploded, a San Antonio refinery fire sent a large plume of black smoke into the air. The San Antonio refinery fire began when an 18-wheeler truck being loaded with fuel exploded. The first explosion within the San Antonio refinery set off a lot of explosions that went on for 45 minutes or a lot more.

The San Antonio refinery is still burning

At the San Antonio refinery fire today there were a lot more than 100 firefighters and emergency responders. Evacuated were all residents within a half mile of the explosion. Hundreds of thousands of dollars will be lost to private money lenders also as any financers. Up to 40 miles away the smoke can still be seen. The fire will probably burn hot and for a long time considering the San Antonio refinery fire is fuel based.

San Antonio refinery explosion began with an 18 wheeler explosion

An 18 wheeler truck was what started the San Antonio refinery explosion. The truck was being pumped with fuel on a loading dock when it exploded. This set off a chain reaction of explosions within the refinery and started a fire that is expected to burn for a number of days. Hazmat crews and firefighters were working to shut off the valves which were still pumping fuel after the fire began.

Before San Antonio refinery explosion, OSHA violations given

The refinery was cited numerous times for safety violations before the San Antonio refinery fire. In 2007 alone, the San Antonio refinery was fined for up to 13 “serious violations”. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, those 13 violations remain “current”. AGE refining, as the only refinery in San Antonio, provides jet fuel and diesel to the US Air Force and many other customers.

Watch reports on the San Antonio refinery fire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm3-rA9Hl9k&feature=player_embedded

Resources

NPR News

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/05/texas_refinery_catches_fire_af.html

My San Antonio

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/Fire_burning_on_South_Side.html?showFullArticle=y

Kens5.com

http://www.kens5.com/news/local/Reports-of-92876584.html

The Associated Press

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jYkAyfTB-gAvN27Vp6Uy-96rPlcgD9FGS8TG2

And the Winner Of The Ford Apps Competition Is – Caravan Track

In an effort to create new on-the-road tools, Ford, U of Michigan, and Intel all got together about a year ago to create a project they called American Journey 2.0. In this partnership, the U of M created Cloud Computing within the Commute, a class focused on creating new social networking applications intended for use in Ford test vehicles. The winner of this competition class was Caravan Track – an application that can be used in the Ford Fiesta research automobile.

What is Caravan Track

The winner of the “Cloud Computing in the Commute” course and competition is an application called Caravan Track. This application is built to allow clusters of cars making a trip together to keep track of one an additional. When signed to the Caravan Track system, it will monitor everything from road hazards to fuel level of all autos on the trip. If the caravan is set to pass restaurants, rest areas, or points of interest, the Caravan Track app will inform them. Messages are pre-programmed into the touch screen, making sure the driver keeps their eyes on the road.

The other five Ford App competition competitors

There were six teams within the competition to create the best Ford American Journey 2.0 application. Caravan Track took the title, but all five of the other applications have excellent promise. By matching up potential carpool passengers, GreenRide Challenge hopes to be able to lower total trip miles traveled. By allowing self-reported road hazards with one-touch systems, NostraMap creates real-time maps of areas to stay away from. Fuel Tracker gives real-time feedback on fuel economy and mileage for a specific route. Point-of-Interest is built to “learn” a driver’s interests over time, and recommend companies and locations that the driver might find interesting. “Listen. Speak. Rate. Share.” is an app built to provide and share audio reviews for points of interest along a driver’s route.

Ford Fiesta with Caravan Track

A specially-designed Ford Fiesta is going to be loaded up with Caravan Track and other experimental programs, then it will head out for Silicon Valley. This research Fiesta will attempt to social network report its entire trip from May 14 to May 22 on the way to the Maker Faire. It's sure that students at the U of M will be watching this trip very closely.

Sources:

Edmunds Blog

http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2010/05/with-help-from-ford-students-create-the-future-of-in-car-cloud-computing.html

Authorities Arrest Faisal Shahzad In Connection With Times Square Auto Bomb

Faisal Shahzad, a 30 year old Pakistani born U.S. citizen has been arrested in connection with the Times Square automobile bomb. He is due to appear in court today, Tuesday, May 4. He evidently and luckily didn’t know much about bomb making, because it didn’t go off. He didn’t get too far afterwards, either. Now he’s likely to need some installment payday loans for a really good lawyer.

Faisal Shahzad arrested in attempted flight

Faisal Shahzad was attempting escape when caught. He had boarded a plane bound for Dubai at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where he was apprehended. The vehicle that had the bomb in it was traced to the original owner, which is how he was tracked down as outlined by the Los Angeles Times. The bomb, according to authorities, appeared to be the work of two individuals.

Referred to as quiet type

Previous neighbors of Faisal Shahzad described him as being very private and quiet. He rarely went outside the house, and what he did for a job proved enigmatic. According to CBS, one neighbor thought he worked on Wall Street, and another believed he worked in nearby Norwalk, close to his former residence in Shelton, Connecticut. Both described him as never emerging from the house much. His house was foreclosed on last year.

The President weighs in

President Obama praised citizens that alerted law enforcement and law enforcement officials for acting. He vowed that justice would be served, and also the incident would be investigated.

Unknown motives

There isn’t really a known reason why Faisal Shahzad set up the Times Square car bomb. It is known he had recently become an American citizen. He and his wife purchased a home, and she and their kids now reside close to Peshawar, Pakistan, where he returned from several months ago. He also bought a used Pathfinder with cash and didn’t register it. Authorities found him by using the VIN number from the bottom of the motor and contacting the previous owner. He is due in court soon, and that may lead to further insight.

Sources for the article

Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-naw-times-square-bomb-201000505,0,3797615.story

CBS

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/04/national/main6459360.shtml