The News That's Fit to Read

Jim Thorpe's Son Seeks Return of Remains

2010-07-17T12:16:00.000-07:00

By MARYCLAIRE DALE (AP) – Jun 24, 2010

PHILADELPHIA — A son of sports great Jim Thorpe sued the Pennsylvania town that bears his father's name Thursday, demanding that it return his remains to Oklahoma under a federal law designed to give Native American artifacts back to their tribal homelands.
Jack Thorpe, 72, of Shawnee, Okla., sued in federal court in Scranton, saying he had waited until the last of his half-sisters died to avoid a family conflict over the lawsuit.
"The bones of my father do not make or break your town," Jack Thorpe, a past chief of the Sac and Fox tribe, said of the defendants, who include numerous current and former town officials. "I resent using my father as a tourist attraction."
His father, a native Oklahoman born into the tribe, overcame humble roots to win the decathlon and pentathlon in the 1912 Olympics. Jim Thorpe later earned enviable sums playing professional football and baseball, and somewhat less playing the Indian in B-list Hollywood movies, then struggled financially before his March 1953 death in California at age 64.

Associated Press writer Michael Rubinkam in Allentown, Pa., contributed to this report.

Read the rest of the story at: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iUbrzhpCVIEsOocd6HutRIJUntTgD9GHSPG00

25 Miners Die in West Virgina Coal Mine

2010-04-06T07:40:00.000-07:00

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Montcoal, West Virginia (CNN) -- It could take up to two days to drill bore holes into a sprawling West Virginia coal mine, scene of a massive blast that left at least 25 miners dead, a mining official said Tuesday.

Bulldozers will be used to clear a path through the hills and bring in equipment to reach the affected part of the Upper Big Branch Mine, Kevin Stricklin of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration said.

The holes will be drilled 1,200 feet down to help ventilate the mine and collect samples. Rescue crews early Tuesday halted their efforts to reach four miners still unaccounted for, as concentrations of methane and carbon monoxide posed a safety risk, Stricklin said.

"We're hoping to bulldoze our way up there today," he said. "And probably a good guesstimate would be about two days, to get the bore hole into the mine."

Asked about earlier estimates the drilling process could take about 12 hours, Stricklin said, "We can't put a bore hole into the mine at that depth in 12 hours."

President Obama said Tuesday that the federal government stands ready to offer support for the rescue and recovery efforts. He also offered his condolences to the family and friends of the miners killed in the accident.

From CNN – More at:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/06/west.virginia.mine.explosion/index.html?eref=rss_latest&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_latest+%28RSS%3A+Most+Recent%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Sarah Palin

2010-03-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

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March 27, 2010
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Palin shines in support role with McCain

Sarah Palin lent her star power among fellow conservatives to former running mate John McCain in his tough Senate reelection campaign, telling a rally yesterday that McCain pegged President Obama right when he said the Democrat would swell the size of government.

McCain is facing the hardest election fight of his Senate career as he fends off a Republican primary challenge from the right. J.D. Hayworth, former Congressman and conservative talk-radio host, says McCain is too moderate for Arizona Republicans. Hayworth has tried to build support among activists who identify with the tea party movement.

Palin, among the most popular figures with those activists, appeared with McCain for the first time since the pair lost the 2008 presidential election.

“Everyone here supporting John McCain, we are all part of that tea party movement,’’ Palin said.

As the former Alaska governor and McCain took the stage, the crowd chanted, “Sarah, Sarah,’’ not the name of the man who just a year and a half ago topped his party’s ticket.

Palin took heat this week when she released a list of 20 US House seats she said conservatives should try to win in November. The list, posted on her Facebook page, featured a US map with circles and crosshairs over the 20 districts. She also sent a tweet saying, “Don’t Retreat, Instead — RELOAD!’’

Read complete article at: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/03/27/palin_shines_in_support_role_with_mccain/

KC and the Sunshine Band

2010-03-25T08:04:00.000-07:00

KC and the Sunshine Band via last.fm

Richard Finch, co-founder of KC and the Sunshine Band, arrested in Ohio
KC and the Sunshine Band
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by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com

Richard Finch, best known for being the co-founder, producer and former bass player of KC and the Sunshine Band, has been arrested in Ohio. It should be noted that Finch is not "the KC" of the band. That person is Harry "KC" Wayne Casey.

Richard Finch was arrested after a 17-year-old boy alleged that he (Finch) made inappropriate contact with him at Finch's home in Newark, Ohio. Under questioning at the sheriff's office, Finch, 56, admitted not just to sex with that boy, but with others ranging in age from 13 to 17, police said. Finch is currently being held on on $250,000 bond.

Richard Finch is a seven-time Grammy Award winner. He is not a current member of KC and the Sunshine Band, according to WIkipedia. The band was founded in 1973 and continues to tour with KC still the lead singer.

Read more here: http://www.huliq.com/3257/92188/richard-finch-co-founder-kc-and-sunshine-band-arrested-ohio

Billionaire List

2010-03-11T08:48:00.000-08:00

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Carlos Slim Tops Forbes Billionaire List

Thursday, March 11, 10:57 AM ET
For MarketNewsVideo.com, I'm Sayoko Murase.

Carlos Slim Helu has toppled Bill Gates from the head of the Forbes annual billionaire rankings.

Slim, whose fortune is based in the Mexican telecom industry, is worth $53.5 billion, an increase of $18.5 billion over last year’s rankings.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) CEO Bill Gates came in second this year. His net worth increased by $13 billion, to $53 billion.

Taking third place is Warren Buffett, who was the richest man in the world for a while before Gates ousted him. Buffett, head of holding company Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A) (NYSE:BRK.B) saw his net worth increase by $10 billion over the past year, to $47 billion.

Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, at the helm of Reliance Industries, took fourth place on the list, with a net worth of $29 billion.

Lakshmi Mittal, the Arcelor Mittal (NYSE:MT) chief who resides in the U.K., has a net worth of $28.7 billion, and took fifth place.

More at: http://www.marketnewsvideo.com/?id=201003Billion031110&mv=1

Steve Jobs may be one of the most admired CEOs in the tech industry even if he’s not the richest.

Jobs ranked 136 — down from the 43rd spot in 2009 — in the annual Forbes list of billionaires, far behind Bill Gates (no. 2), Larry Ellison (6), Google founder Sergey Brin (24), Steve Ballmer (33) and Michael Dell who came in at no. 37.

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Nissan Recall

2010-03-03T07:03:00.000-08:00

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Nissan to Recall 540, 000 Vehicles Globally

By REUTERS

TOKYO (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co, Japan's third-biggest car maker, said it will recall about 540,000 vehicles worldwide due to potential defects in brake pedal pins and fuel-gauge components, mostly in the United States.

Nissan said five models from 2008 to 2010 model years, including the Titan truck and Armada SUV, would be recalled due to the risk of the brake pedal pins partially disengaging, causing a loss of normal braking ability.

This recall will involve 179,000 cars in the U.S. and 25,800 in other regions, Nissan said in a statement, adding that there have been three reported cases of this braking problem.

Nissan also announced plans to recall 419,000 cars in the U.S. and 53,000 in other regions for a separate problem with the fuel gauge, which can at higher mileage levels fail to accurately indicate how much fuel is left in the tank.

The gauge problem involve six models from the 2005 to 2008 model years, including the Titan, Armada and the Infiniti QX56.

Nissan said no accidents or injuries have been reported.

(Reporting by Nobuhiro Kubo)

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/03/03/business/business-us-nissan-recall.html

EARTHQUAKE

2010-02-27T07:19:00.000-08:00

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Associated Press
Huge quake hits Chile; tsunami threatens Pacific
By ROBERTO CANDIA and EVA VERGARA

TALCA, Chile -- A devastating earthquake struck Chile early Saturday, toppling homes, collapsing bridges and plunging trucks into the fractured earth. A tsunami set off by the magnitude-8.8 quake threatened every nation around the Pacific Ocean - roughly a quarter of the globe.

Interior Minister Edmundo Perez Yoma said the most powerful quake to hit the country in a half-century killed at least 82 people, but the death toll was rising quickly.

In the town of Talca, just 65 miles (105 kilometers) from the epicenter, Associated Press journalist Roberto Candia said it felt as if a giant had grabbed him and shaken him.

The town's historic center, filled with buildings of adobe mud and straw, largely collapsed, though most of those were businesses that were not inhabited during the 3:34 a.m. (1:34 a.m. EST, 0634 GMT) quake. Neighbors pulled at least five people from the rubble while emergency workers, themselves disoriented, asked for information from reporters.

Many roads were destroyed, and electricity, water and phone lines were cut to many areas - meaning there was no word of death or damage from many outlying areas.

Experts warned that a tsunami could strike anywhere in the Pacific, and Hawaii could face its largest waves since 1964 starting at 11:19 a.m. (4:19 p.m. EST, 2119 GMT), according to Charles McCreery, director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Tsunami waves were likely to hit Asian, Australian and New Zealand shores within 24 hours of the earthquake. The U.S. West Coast and Alaska, too, were threatened.

Read more: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/02/27/general-lt-chile-earthquake_7392993.html
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School Shooting

2010-02-24T08:14:00.000-08:00

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Teacher tackles gunman supected in Colorado school shooting

By P. SOLOMON BANDA
The Associated Press
Wednesday, February 24, 2010; 9:59 AM

LITTLETON, Colo. -- The gunman was walking through a middle school parking lot and taking shots at students with a hunting rifle as terrified teenagers ran for their lives. He had just wounded two students and seemed ready to unleash more violence when a math teacher named David Benke sprung into action.

Benke confronted the 32-year-old gunman, tackled him and pinned him to the ground with the help of another teacher, stopping what could have been a much more violent encounter in a city all too familiar with tragic school shootings. The shooting occurred less than three miles from where the Columbine High School massacre happened nearly 11 years ago.

"Unfortunately he got another round off before I could grab him," Benke said. "He figured out that he wasn't going to be able to get another round chambered before I got to him so he dropped the gun and then we were kind of struggling around trying to get him subdued."

The two students survived Tuesday's shooting and one remained hospitalized.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/24/AR2010022400989.html?hpid=sec-nation

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Obama Health Care

2010-02-22T08:56:00.000-08:00

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Obama Unveils Health Care Plan, Violates Pledge by Keeping Abortion Funding

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama has proposed changes he thinks should be included in the changes made to the Senate health care bill as Democrats move ahead with their plan to railroad the bill thorough Congress via reconciliation. However, Obama does not propose any changes to the massive abortion funding.

The current Senate bill contains massive abortion funding that could force taxpayers to fund hundreds of thousands of abortions and it has other pro-abortion problems.

But the new Obama health care proposal, unveiled today in advance of the White House health care summit, leaves intact that Senate language funding abortions.

It opens the door for Rep. Bart Stupak, whose amendment stopped abortion funding in the House version of the bill that will be tossed aside, to gather a group of 10-12 pro-life Democrats who voted for the House bill to oppose the Senate version.

The Obama plan also violates his pledge to Congress and the American people that his version of health care reform would not force taxpayers to fund abortions.

In a September nationally-televised speech to Congress, Obama sought to clear up projections from pro-life advocates that his health care plan would fund abortions.

"One more misunderstanding I want to clear up -- under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions," Obama claimed.

Read more at: http://www.lifenews.com/nat6028.html

Tiger Woods

2010-02-19T08:19:00.000-08:00

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By LARRY DORMAN - New York Times

MARANA, Ariz. — A rationale surfaced late Thursday night for all the cloak and dagger machinations surrounding the timing of the Tiger Woods announcement, which will be televised live on Friday at 11 a.m., Eastern time. Woods, who will be making his first public statement since a Nov. 27 car crash set off a wave of revelations about his extramarital affairs, will be returning to a sex rehabilitation clinic next week after a brief hiatus to be with his family.

The news media gathered for the Tiger Woods statement at TPC Sawgrass, home of the PGA Tour, on Friday.

This is according to a wire service report based on a letter to PGA Tour players from Tim Finchem, the commissioner of the PGA Tour. A number of players had objected to the scheduling of Woods’s announcement at PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., during the W.G.C.-Accenture Match Play tournament being played here this week. The letter, obtained by The Associated Press, explained that Woods wanted to make his announcement before returning to therapy.

Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/20/sports/golf/20woods.html

Shaun White Olympics 2010 video latest update

2010-02-18T09:27:00.000-08:00

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Shaun White Olympics 2010 video is one of the hottest videos in the internet today. He won gold in the Olympics 2010 in an incredible fashion.

Are you searching for Shaun White Olympics 2010 video? Shawn White has live up into the expectations of millions. The most decorated and probably the best snowboarder today, he grabbed his first gold in the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in the men’s halfpipe. Shawn White’s performance goes viral in the internet because he did the improbable and impossible that no person has done it yet, the Double McTwist 1260.

Yes, Sean White Olympics 2010 video still is one of the hottest in the internet today. It is a breakthrough performance that it will not passed away soon. White led the leaderboard all through the game. Shown White scored 48.4 to get the gold medaly while Finland’s Peetu Piiroinen got the silver.

Shawn White Olympics 2010 video will be forever remembered. Watch it below:

From:
PreciseNews
http://www.precisesoft.com/shaun-white-olympics-2010-video-latest-update/
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Walgreen to buy Duane Reade

2010-02-17T09:02:00.000-08:00

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By William Spain, MarketWatch

CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- Walgreen Co. is buying Duane Reade Holdings Inc., operator of a chain of 257 drugstores in the New York area, for about $1.08 billion including assumption of $457 million in debt, the company said Wednesday.

Calling the purchase of the 50-year-old Duane Reade "a compelling strategic acquisition," Walgreen /quotes/comstock/13*!wag/quotes/nls/wag (WAG 34.21, +0.13, +0.38%) said it would fund the purchase with cash on hand and hopes to close the deal by the end of the current fiscal year on Aug. 31.
News Hub: Climate Group Fallout

The company said that the transaction will dilute earnings per share in the first year after closing but would contribute to the bottom line after that, partly with the help of eventual annual cost savings pegged at between $120 million and $130 million.

Duane Reade, founded in 1960, had sales of $1.8 billion last year. Walgreen said it intends to maintain the name -- one of New York City's best-known local retail brands -- on the stores after the acquisition.

Read more: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/walgreen-to-buy-duane-reade-for-108-billion-2010-02-17

Obama's Fat Tuesday

2010-02-16T08:04:00.000-08:00

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The Iris parade winds its way through a large crowd during its march through the streets of New Orleans on Saturday -- the last weekend of parades before today's celebration of Mardi Gras.

Happy Fat Tuesday from The Oval, where every day is Mardi Gras. Today President Obama has some good news to celebrate from Afghanistan as he continues his effort to provide jobs to Americans.

The most pertinent date this week for the White House is tomorrow, Feb. 17 -- first anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which spread $862 billion in federal largesse around the nation. The administration is fanning out coast to coast all week to promote the spending, and the jobs that come with it.

Vice President Biden, fresh from the Olympics in Vancouver, will kick off the week's celebration today with a visit to economically depressed Saginaw, Michigan. Before the week is out, Cabinet members will be in Ohio, Georgia, Texas and Virginia. Obama wraps up the week with events in Colorado and Nevada.

Today, the president will tout the joys of job training at an electrical workers union headquarters in Lanham, Maryland. There he is expected to announce that the government will guarantee more than $8 billion in loans to build the first U.S. nuclear power plant in nearly three decades in Burke, Georgia, according to The Associated Press.

Read more: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/02/oibamas-fat-tuesday/1

Presidents Day

2010-02-15T07:15:00.000-08:00

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Presidents Day 2010 Federal buildings and schools closed, most businesses open Washington's birthday

From: Providence Business News Examiner Cheryl Phillips

Presidents Day is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February. Also known as Washington's Birthday, it is celebrated in 2010 on Monday, February 15. An official federal holiday, most government offices and buildings are closed on President's Day with a few exceptions.

Schools and libraries are typically closed but most retail businesses stay open for what is usually a big sale day.

Most states have the same government and school closings. However, not all will follow the same rules on Presidents Day. It's always a good idea to check your local paper or state website for an accurate list of closings.

Mail Delivery: President's Day is a Federal holiday so there will be no mail delivery in the United States. All U.S. Post Offices are closed on Monday, February 15, 2010.

Banks: Some banks will be open limited hours on Washington's birthday. Several Citizens Banks "in-store" branches are operating on a Sunday schedule. For the most part, banks are closed with access only to ATMs and on-line banking.

Schools: Public schools are closed on President's Day but there may be some exceptions when it comes to private schools.

Businesses: Washington's Birthday, better known as Presidents Day, is a big sale day for most businesses. The automobile business markets this as a big day to save if you are looking for a new or used car. Most retailers are open normal business hours with holiday discounts for shoppers looking for a bargain.

Read More:
http://www.examiner.com/x-22397-Providence-Business-News-Examiner~y2010m2d14-Presidents-Day-2010-Federal-buildings-and-schools-closed-most-businesses-open

The History of Valentine's Day

2010-02-13T08:41:00.000-08:00

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From: History.com

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

Read more (article continues):
http://www.history.com/content/valentine/history-of-valentine-s-day

About Valentine Cards (video link):
http://www.history.com/video.do?name=valentinesday&bcpid=6555686001&bclid=1672160848&bctid=8612163001

Luger dies during Luge accident

2010-02-12T18:07:00.000-08:00

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Story from -- sports.gather.com

Luger dies during Luge accident before the Olympic games begin

A luger right before the opening ceremony of the Olympics died! The luger, named Nodar Kumaritashvili, is from the country of Georia in the Ukraine. Kumaritashvili lost control of his luger while training before the Olympics, which was set to begin Saturday at 5:00 pm. Kumaritashvili went over the track’s wall and actually crashed into an upadded steel pole near the finish line at Whistler Sliding Center. Doctors and paramedics tried to revive the 21 year old luger only their efforts were unsuccessful. Lumaritashvili died at the hospital, according to International Olympic Committee. Two other lugers were injured on this same course recently, but Kumaritashvili was the only luger whom died. The course is under investigation for it’s ability to be safe for the lugers. The Olympics had better hurry up, cause the luger games are tomorrow.

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978044857&grpId=3659174697259360

Winter Olympics

2010-02-12T09:01:00.000-08:00

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The U.S. team is expected to have one of its most successful Winter Games ever.

By Michael C. Lewis

The Salt Lake Tribune

Noelle Pikus-Pace is part of a large group of Olympians with Utah ties competing in Vancouver. (The Associated Press)

Vancouver, British Columbia » Noelle Pikus-Pace has been waiting for this moment for years, and gets a little weepy just thinking about it. So the skeleton slider isn't taking any chances when she finally gets to walk in the opening ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics tonight as a proud member of the U.S. Olympic Team.

"I know this sounds funny," she said, "but I already packed my waterproof mascara."

In other words, the Orem native and Eagle Mountain resident knows she's bound to shed some tears at the emotion of it all, and the realization of a dream so many years in the making -- not unlike the dream of the organizers, who hope to deliver a successful Olympics despite
Photo Gallery
Pre-Olympic Games training
a dearth of snow and budget fears amid a slumping economy.

"We want every visitor to go home and say, 'My God, that was fantastic,' " said Dave Cobb, the deputy CEO of the organizing committee.

The ceremony to open the third Olympics held in Canada isn't expected to be quite as jaw-droppingly spectacular as the one that commenced the 2008 Beijing Games in China, but it will be held indoors for the first time tonight at B.C. Place downtown. That's where Pikus-Pace and most of the other 215 American athletes will join delegations from around the world in the traditional parade of nations and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.

Among them?

Fourteen native Utahns -- including gold-medal favorite Steve Holcomb in the bobsled -- and nearly four dozen others who live, train or attend school in the Beehive State.

Several of them are poised to take home medals from what could be one of the most successful Winter Games ever for the Americans. One estimate by The Associated Press projected the U.S. to win 27 medals, which would rank second all-time, behind the 34 it won at the 2002 Salt Lake Games.

"I'm just excited," snowboarder Louie Vito, of Sandy, said. "It's a dream come true."

The host Canadians are expected to field their strongest team ever, after a $117 million campaign to "Own the Podium" and top the medal table for the first time.

Many of their medals could come in the same speedskating and short-track events that feature Americans who train at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, and most are expected to be won in the final five days.

Read more:
http://www.sltrib.com/olympics/ci_14386829

Earthquake Near Chicago

2010-02-10T09:55:00.000-08:00

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Minor Earthquake Strikes Near Chicago

By JOE BARRETT – The Wall Street Journal

CHICAGO—A minor earthquake centered in a rural area about 40 miles north-northwest of Chicago struck in the early hours of Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The 3.8-magnitude quake could be felt as far away as Ohio and Missouri, said Julie Dutton, a geophysicist with the agency.

No damage or injuries were reported, she said, although the USGS did receive 10,000 reports from people who felt the quake. The agency estimated as many as 11 million people felt light shaking. She said the earthquake likely wasn't strong enough to generate any waves on nearby Lake Michigan.

The earthquake was thousands of times weaker than the devastating temblor that struck Haiti last month. "They are really not two quakes that you can compare easily," she said.

Ms. Dutton said there had been three other minor earthquakes in the area since 1985.

Write to Joe Barrett at joseph.barrett@wsj.com

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704140104575057332026134118.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Toyota Prius Recall

2010-02-09T08:05:00.000-08:00

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Is my 2010 Prius safe to drive? When will it be fixed?

By Laurent Belsie /Christian Science Monitor/ February 9, 2010

Toyota's worldwide recall of two hybrids hits the brands that the company has most wanted to protect: the Prius and the Lexus.

During its January recall for sticky accelerators, Toyota went out of its way to point out that no Lexus was being recalled. That changed with Tuesday's recall of more than 400,000 2010 models Priuses in the United States, Asia, and Europe and all 2010 Lexus HS 250h cars sold in the United States. This one involves braking problems.

"The past few weeks ... have made clear that Toyota has not lived up to the high standards we set for ourselves," Akio Toyoda, Toyota's CEO, wrote in an op-ed Tuesday in The Washington Post. "More important, we have not lived up to the high standards you have come to expect from us."

Separately, the company announced a recall involving a power-steering pressure hose affecting some 7,300 2010 four-cylinder Camrys.

So what should owners of Priuses and Lexus hybrids do?

The problem involves the cars' antilock brakes, which can feel like they're not working momentarily on rough or slick roads. Toyota says it's a software glitch.

If you experience the situation, keep pressing the brake pedal hard, Toyota says. That will engage the brakes. "The vehicles are safe to drive because pressing hard on the brake pedal will stop the vehicle," the company says in its online Q & A.

Toyota says it began fixing the software last month on new 2010 Priuses on the assembly lines. The 14,500 recalled Lexus hybrids have similar antilock brakes and a fix is being finalized.

The company is gearing up to fix the problem on 2010 hybrid models already in consumers' garages (earlier Priuses are not affected because they use a different antilock braking system).

From:
Christian Science Monitor

Read More at:
http://www.csmonitor.com/Money/new-economy/2010/0209/Toyota-Prius-recall-Is-my-2010-Prius-safe-to-drive-When-will-it-be-fixed

Tea Party

2010-02-08T11:08:00.000-08:00

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Who Rules the Tea Party Empire?
By JOHN FUND
The Wall Street Journal – Opinion

Sarah Palin is the honorary Queen Bee of the Tea Party convention. The Tea Party convention held this past weekend in Nashville wasn't the biggest such gathering (600 people) or the most representative (the ticket price was more than $500) but it did give the national media a pretty good angle on the views and direction of this disparate movement.

First, it's clear the group has no leader, although Sarah Palin is certainly the honorary Queen Bee in the eyes of many attendees. Her Saturday night speech was given rapturous applause. Second, the Tea Partiers are unlikely to succumb to the temptation to form a Third Party, especially this close to the mid-term elections. They will follow Ms. Palin's suggestion that the group remain distinct from either party and work within both parties towards electing candidates closer to the movement's views.

Ms. Palin provided some examples of how she follows her own advice. Last week, she endorsed Rand Paul, son of former GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul, for an open U.S. Senate seat in Kentucky. Mr. Paul's opponent in the GOP primary is Trey Grayson, the secretary of state and a protégé of Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell. Ms. Palin was criticized for endorsing someone holding the libertarian views that Rand Paul does, but she stood her ground: "He wants the states to have more say and [respects] the 10th amendment in our Constitution."

She then flew to Houston for an 8,000-person rally where she endorsed Governor Rick Perry, whom she knows from her days as Alaska's governor, in his contentious primary against Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. Shrewdly never mentioning Ms. Hutchison's name, Ms. Palin nevertheless made it clear whom she thought was the real conservative in the race. "What's it going to be?" Ms. Palin asked the crowd. "The way they operate in D.C. or the way y'all get things done in Texas?" Ms. Palin directly appealed to Texas pride by calling it "Alaska's little sister state," and said both places proudly cling to religion and guns, a slap at a slur Barack Obama made during the 2008 campaign.

Read more here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703630404575053463236282690.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_MIDDLETopOpinion

Watch Superbowl Online

2010-02-07T09:23:00.000-08:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

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Watch The Superbowl Online

The sporting event of the year is finally upon us, it is now officially SuperBowl Day! If you want to watch Superbowl online, but have no clue about where to do so or the details of the Superbowl match, then read on.

The 44th SuperBowl will pit the Indianapolis Colts vs New Orleans Saits.The official kickoff for the 2010 Superbowl start time will be 6:20 Eastern time, 5:30 Central time, 4:30 Mountain time and 3:30 Pacific time.

The Superbowl match will take place in Sunlife Stadium in Miami Florida but the main concern for the coaches ahead of the game are the injuries nagging both sides. Dwight Freeney, Reggie Wayne, Robert Meacham, Darren Sharper, Scott Fujita, Will Smith, Jonathan Vilma, Randall Gay are just some of the players listed as probable for the game.

Of course when you watch Superbowl online or on your TV set at home, you are as much interested in watching the Superbowl commercials as you are watching the Super Bowl match itself. I must warn you that if you’re one of the millions who will watch Superbowl online through some illegal streams, then you most probably will not get to enjoy the commercials AND are breaking the law. My advice would be NOT to watch Superbowl online, but instead head over to a sports bar and enjoy it in high quality along with others.

Super Bowl 2010 Start Time

2010-02-06T10:24:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

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Watch the Super Bowl 2010 Right from Kick Off Time
From Xomba

So when is the Super Bowl 44 start time? What is the Super Bowl Time? Football fans all over America would be anxious for the game to begin on 2010 Feb 07 at Land Shark Stadium, Miami, Florida.

The Super Bowl 2010 start time is pretty well set. The pre-game shows starts around 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time and the game itself gets underway at 6:00 P.M. Eastern Time. All the television stations have the Super Bowl 2010 time slot already scheduled.

If you are a football fan then you would not want to miss this NFL final game at the Raymond James Stadium at Land Shark Stadium, Miami, Florida.

Have You Joined Xomba Yet? Its Free! - Write articles, make friends and money online!
Go to: http://www.xomba.com

Super Bowl History: http://www.super-bowl-history.us/super-bowl-start-...

13-year-old, David Sills commits to USC

2010-02-05T07:54:00.000-08:00

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From Crystal Ladwig - Examiner.com

ESPN is reporting that a 13-year-old boy attending middle school in Delaware has verbally committed to attend USC as part of the 2015 recruiting class. His coach describes quarterback David Sills as “phenomenal.” His coach, Steve Clarkson, has coached several star quarterbacks over the years and says he’s never seen a player at Sills’ age with such advanced skills. When the USC coach, Lane Kiffin, contacted Clarkson about a recruit for this season’s, Clarkson went ahead and told Kiffin about Sills even referring him to a You Tube video (available at the bottom of this article) of the young football start. ESPN reports that within a couple of hours, Kiffin was already on the phone with Sills’ father.

This verbal commitment comes with the promise of a scholarship for David Kiffin to attend USC more than 4 years from now. Already, ESPN has more than 1000 comments to the report most discussing whether this verbal commitment really means anything or not. And, to be honest, in a tangible sense, it doesn’t. Nothing is certain until Sills graduates high school and heads to USC for real. But this commitment is likely to stir a debate that rears its head from time to time about parents pushing their star athlete children.

Read more at:
http://www.examiner.com/x-36778-Family-Examiner~y2010m2d5-13yearold-Sills-commits-to-USC

Obama Calls for ‘Civility’ at Prayer Breakfast

2010-02-04T08:19:00.000-08:00

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By JEFF ZELENY from The Caucus

President Obama urged Democrats and Republicans to not question one another’s motives and to make an effort to move beyond the cynicism and skepticism that has weighed down the politics of Washington, saying: “Civility is not a sign of weakness.”

In an appearance today at the National Prayer Breakfast, Mr. Obama conceded that policy differences would often separate the political parties. But he challenged lawmakers and religious leaders to step beyond their comfort zones and unify on at least some daily challenges, not only when a calamity like the Haiti earthquake strikes.

“Too often that spirit is missing without the spectacular tragedy,” Mr. Obama said. “We become numb to the day-to-day crises. We become absorbed with our abstract arguments, our ideological disputes, our contests for power. And in this tower of babble, we lose the sound of God’s voice.”

From The Caucus – Blog of the New York Times

Read more: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/obama-calls-for-civility-at-prayer-breakfast/

Toyota Prius Brakes Called into Question

2010-02-03T07:40:00.000-08:00

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Toyota Woes Continue as Prius Brakes Called into Question

February 3, 2010 /EIN PRESSWIRE/

Fresh off its recall of 4.5 million to 9 million vehicles because of an acceleration/gas pedal issue, Toyota’s newest adversity comes from its hybrid star, the Prius. Toyota’s latest Prius model has been the subject of more than 100 complaints about brake problems in the US, and the Japanese government has called for an investigation into the car’s brake system. Follow the latest on Toyota’s recall and the Prius investigation at Hybrid Cars News Today: Latest Japan Hybrid Cars news – http://hybridcars.einnews.com/japan/ Latest United States Hybrid Cars news – http://hybridcars.einnews.com/unitedstates/ Located at http://hybridcars.einnews.com, Hybrid Cars News Today is a service of EIN News, an industry leader in news monitoring for business professionals and analysts. Using a combination of proprietary search technology and human editing, EIN News delivers to its members the latest hybrid car news from around the world, saving them valuable time they’d spend searching for information. New users to Hybrid Cars News Today can enjoy a no-obligation, one-week free trial. About EIN Presswire The EIN Presswire press release distribution service is a news-syndication solution that distributes news to more than 10 million visitors annually at EIN News and millions more through its press release distribution partners. A news source for leading journalists, decision-makers and industry professionals worldwide, EIN Presswire targets press releases to a wide array of worldwide business professionals in more than 80 different industries. EIN Presswire also offers affiliate network opportunities and news distribution to tens of thousands of news subscribers daily. Read the newest business news at http://www.einpresswire.com and the latest world news in more than 80 different industries at http://www.einnews.com.

Groundhog Day

2010-02-02T07:51:00.000-08:00

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Groundhog Day comes every year, just like we expect it to. But what can we expect this year? Only Punxsutawney Phil knows for sure!

Yes, it's Groundhog Day! And while PETA is trying to ruin all the fun (we kid, we kid! The fact that they think it's cruel for our friend the groundhog to be subjected to such a public display of humanness is their right), we can't help but be in a bit of mid-winter suspense by asking:

Did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow on Groundhog Day?!

There are always certain indicators in nature that we trust. The moon (when people act crazy or "moonstruck") the clouds (when it's about to snow, ask your grandparents who already know it is because of the way the clouds look) and, of course, our cuddly little groundhog who is an icon of the "will we or won't we have six more weeks of winter?" narrative.

Well here's the answer dear Tonic readers: Phil is predicting six more weeks of winter. There's a dramatic twist this year, however: Staten Island Chuck, a low-pro representative of the New York City borrough, did not see his shadow, meaning an early spring is on it's way. The Battle of the Groundhog — who will come out victorious?

Phil made his famed appearance (how much does he get for showing up at this gig?) Feb. 2 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where the event has been faithfully held every year since 1887.

And for those of you who haven't kept up with how the drill with Phil goes, according to the official website of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, Phil annually makes his way out of his home at Gobbler's Knob, with his adoring fans" from around the world." According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather; If he does not, there will be an early spring.

By Jac Chebatoris -- Tonic

http://www.tonic.com/article/groundhog-day-2010/

Latest News About Toyota's Safety Recall Campaign

2010-01-28T19:18:00.000-08:00

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From Toyota

Nothing is more important to Toyota than doing the right thing for our customers -- and restoring their confidence in the safety of our vehicles. We deeply regret the concern that our recalls are causing for our loyal customers, and we are making an all-out effort to develop and implement effective remedies as quickly as we can.

Our highest priority is to fix the accelerator pedal problems for our existing customers. We want to reassure Toyota owners that instances of sticking pedals are rare and generally do not occur suddenly. Toyota is currently in the process of recalling vehicles to remedy the issue of pedal entrapment and we have begun sending instructions to customers about how we will fix their vehicles. Customers who have any questions or have experienced any issues with their accelerator pedals should visit Toyota.com, contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331, or call their local Toyota dealer.

We’ve identified the cause of the problem and are focusing all of our energy and resources on developing and thoroughly testing remedies. Our engineers have been working around the clock and we’ve been in direct communication with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) throughout this process. We also appreciate the opportunity to inform the House Committee on Energy and Commerce about our efforts to address this situation for our customers and we pledge our full cooperation with the Committee.

Toyota has taken the unprecedented step of stopping production to help serve our customers quickly and ensure that all new Toyota vehicles going forward do not experience this problem.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (TEMA) has also been working closely with our pedal supplier CTS on a revised design that effectively remedies the problem. These pedals are now in full production at CTS to support Toyota’s needs. At the same time, we continue to work with CTS to test effective pedal modifications for existing vehicles on the road that will be available to our customers as quickly as possible.

We appreciate the comments that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made today about the way Toyota has stepped up to meet our responsibilities to our customers, and we are determined to continue fulfilling our commitment to put our customers first.

http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/toyota-consumer-safety-advisory-102572.aspx

J.D. Salinger, author of 'Catcher in the Rye,' dies

2010-01-28T12:13:00.000-08:00

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J.D. Salinger, author of 'Catcher in the Rye,' dies

By Bart Barnes
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, January 28, 2010; 2:09 PM

J.D. Salinger, 91, a celebrated author and enigmatic recluse whose 1951 novel "The Catcher in the Rye" became an enduring anthem of adolescent angst and youthful rebellion and a classic of 20th-century American literature, has died at his home in Cornish, N.H.

To generations of men and women in the years after World War II, "The Catcher in the Rye" was the singular, tell-it-like-it-is story about the mind-set of a sensitive youth: cynical yet romantic; disdainful of hypocrisy, social convention and conformity; self-conscious and uncomfortable in his own skin; confused and pathetic but also loveable.

The novel is about the adventures and misadventures of a disillusioned 16-year-old who knows he is about to be expelled from his boarding school, Pencey Prep, and decides to run away instead. Over three days in New York City, he has a run of weird encounters with taxi drivers, nuns, an elevator man, three girls from Seattle, a prostitute and a former teacher. In his eyes, the world is controlled and dominated by "phonies," whom he cannot abide, and he struggles with limited success to come to terms with love, sex and, ultimately, himself. In an encounter with his kid sister, Phoebe, he finds affection and salvation.

Read more at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2010/01/28/AR2010012803177.html

The State of the Union Address

2010-01-27T08:23:00.000-08:00

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By PETER BAKER – The New York Times

When President Obama enters the House chamber on Wednesday night to deliver his first official State of the Union address, it will be a moment of great challenge and opportunity. Under fire and on the defensive, Mr. Obama will get to speak past the punditocracy directly to the American people as he seeks to reframe his presidency.

Now where have we heard that before? For a ritual seemingly devoid of much actual meaning, the annual State of the Union address somehow seems to come quite often at critical moments for the presidents who deliver it. They use it to lay out a broad and sweeping agenda or to turn around a failing one. They use it to confront a hostile Congress or to rally the public against a feckless political establishment.

But not every State of the Union is built alike. The history of the speech is replete with drama, peculiarities, glory and near-disasters. Some presidents were better at the form than others – some more eloquent and commanding, some more long-winded and tedious. Some drank in the moment, others dreaded it. And now it is Mr. Obama’s turn to declare that the state of the nation is strong – or explain why it is not and how he intends to make it strong again.

The speech, of course, was not always a speech. The State of the Union owes its place in the political firmament to Article II, Section 3, of the Constitution, which mandates that the president “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information on the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/us/politics/28web-baker.html

New Orleans Saints vs Indianapolis Colts 2010 Super Bowl Opening Betting

2010-01-25T07:01:00.000-08:00

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Monday, 25 January 2010
Sports-Odds.com is issuing a 2010 Super Bowl Betting Odds Alert at 9:10 AM EST on Monday January 25th for Super Bowl XLIV between the New Orleans Saints vs Indianapolis Colts. The opening NFL betting odds at SBGGLOBAL.com have the Indianapolis Colts -3½ points (-113 odds) at home against the New Orleans Saints.

"The guys have always been very confident and have done a great job of keeping themselves in the game," said Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell, who is the fifth rookie coach to guide his team to a Super Bowl. "We have a group of veterans here who know how to play the game and they got it done today."

The 2010 Super Bowl opening NFL betting odds at SBGGLOBAL.com on the New York Jets vs Indianapolis Colts TOTAL was set at 56 points. The opening NFL betting odds at SBGLOBAL.com on the money line had the Indianapolis Colts -206 odds and the New Orleans Saints +186 odds.

"In reality, we had to lean on each other in order to survive and in order to get where we are now. The city is on its way to recovery, and in a lot of ways has come back better than ever. We've used the strength and resiliency of our fans to go out and play every Sunday and play with the confidence that we can do it, that we can achieve everything we've set out to achieve. It's a moment I've been waiting for for a long time and obviously we're not done yet. It was as loud as I have ever heard it in the dome," Saints QB Drew Brees said after defeating the Vikings. "It feels so good to know we have given our fans an NFC championship. We have another championship to go after in two weeks."

Stop betting like a square and find out what the sharp bettors already know, compare NFL betting odds on the 2010 Super Bowl before making your bets and your bank roll will grow! The New Orleans Saints are playing the Indianapolis Colts in the 2010 Super Bowl on Sunday February 7th, 2010 at 6:30 PM EST in the Sun Life Stadium at Miami.

Written by Martin Bishop of Sports Odds
http://sports-odds.com/american-football/012510-new-orleans-saints-vs-indianapolis-colts-2010-super-bowl-opening-betting-odds.html

Phils reportedly agree to deal with Contreras

2010-01-22T15:03:00.000-08:00

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The Phillies have reportedly reached agreement on a one-year deal with veteran right-hander Jose Contreras, an unnamed sourced told ESPNDeportes.com on Friday afternoon.

Reached via phone by MLB.com, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he could not confirm that a deal is in place.

"We have had discussions with his agent, and we are working on some things," Amaro said.

Contreras' agent, Jaime Torres, could not be reached for comment.

Veteran right-hander pitched for White Sox, Rockies in 2009.
Contreras went 6-13 with a 4.92 ERA in 28 games (23 starts) for the White Sox and Rockies in 2009. For his seven-year career, the 38-year-old native of Cuba is 71-63 with a 4.61 ERA.

The deal, according to ESPNDeportes.com, is still pending a physical.

From MLB.com
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100122&content_id=7956082&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

John Edwards Admits He is the Father

2010-01-21T07:29:00.000-08:00

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RALEIGH, N.C. -- Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards has finally come forward to admit that he is the father of a child born to a videographer he hired before his second White House bid. "It was wrong for me to ever deny she was my daughter," he said Thursday.

Edwards released a statement to The Associated Press after long denying that he'd fathered a child during an affair with Rielle Hunter. The admission comes shortly before a book on the scandal is due out from a former campaign aide who was expected to describe how Edwards worked to hide his paternity.

"I am Quinn's father," the former senator declared in his statement, as the second birthday of Frances Quinn Hunter approaches.

A lawyer for Hunter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It is not clear where she is living.

Frances was born Feb. 27, 2008, indicating that the child was conceived in the middle of 2007, several months after Hunter stopped working for Edwards. John and Elizabeth Edwards renewed their wedding vows in July of 2007 to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary.

A former Edwards aide, Andrew Young, initially claimed paternity of the child shortly before the 2008 presidential primary contests began. Young is scheduled to release a book on Feb. 2 that details the scandal.Elizabeth Edwards, whose cancer returned in an incurable form in March 2007, has stood by her husband despite the affair. She has said that it does not matter to her whether her husband fathered a child with Hunter, saying, "that would be a part of John's life, but not a part of mine.

"Since admitting the affair in August 2008, John Edwards has largely gone into seclusion. He has acknowledged a federal investigation into his campaign finances while both Young and Hunter -- with her child -- have made appearances at a federal courthouse in Raleigh.

In the statement Edwards released Thursday, he said, "I will do everything in my power to provide her (Frances) with the love and support she deserves. I have been able to spend time with her during the past year and trust that future efforts to show her the love and affection she deserves can be done privately and in peace.

"Edwards also said, "It was wrong for me ever to deny she was my daughter and hopefully one day, when she understands, she will forgive me."

From: Channel 3000.com -- http://www.channel3000.com/nationalnews/22300076/detail.html

Another Earthquake Hits Haiti

2010-01-20T06:57:00.000-08:00

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An aftershock that measured 6.1 on the Richter Scale hit Haiti early Wednesday morning but will there be another? In the past week since the devastating 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, at least 14 aftershocks measuring 5.0 or above have been recorded by the United States Geological Survey.

Earthquakes happen frequently, but the magnitude of some of these quakes and aftershocks are causing some real panic - especially for the people of Haiti.

In other areas of the world, there have been earthquakes that have been noted by the USGS in the past 24 hours. Cayman Islands experienced a quake that measured 5.8 on Tuesday and just this morning, a small rumbling in California measured 3.4 on the Richter Scale.

Scientist are confident that there will be more aftershocks in Haiti but a study by the Woods Hole seismologists states that there is likely to be future destruction by more earthquakes.

A report in Newsweek explained that the Haiti's location may make the country a prime target for more devastation.
Haiti and its neighbors sit above two tectonic plates that slide awkwardly past one another in an east-west direction at about an inch a year ... Last Tuesday’s rupture occurred when a segment of the plates that had been stuck together since 1751 (when the last earthquake occurred) jerked themselves free ... Not all of that tension was released by the quake.

Seismologists speculate that the tension in both places will be released by earthquakes equal to or above that of last Tuesday’s quake. There is no telling when this will happen -- it could be months, years or even hundreds of years. Scientists, however, are confident that the position of Haiti makes it a prime target at some point for more earthquakes of a high magnitude.

At this time, there have been no damage or casualty reports issued about the 6.1 aftershock that rocked Haiti on Wednesday morning.

From: HULIQ.com: http://www.huliq.com/8059/90639/haiti-afterschock-measures-61-there-another-earthquake-yet-come

Cayman Islands Earthquake

2010-01-19T10:19:00.000-08:00

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Cayman Islands Earthquake 2010:Quake News – Cayman Islands Earthquake of 5.8 is the big headline in the world this morning.The Cayman Islands suffered a 5.8 magnitude temblor just six miles underground on Tuesday.The archipelago which is located south of Cuba in the Caribbean Region, is still recovering from the Haiti earthquake a week ago.

The area is being hit constantly because on Monday, a 6.0 Guatemala earthquake was recorded,just days after another had occurred in Venezuela.Early reports said there were no injuries nor damages.

From: http://news.spreadit.org/cayman-islands-earthquake-2010/

The USGS says it hit Monday morning about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Guatemala City, where it was felt by many residents. There were reports of shaking in the Guatemalan countryside and in El Salvador as well.
Civil protection officials in the two countries says so far there are no reports of injuries or damage, but authorities are still checking.

Guatemala Earthquake

2010-01-18T10:54:00.000-08:00

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Guatemala Shook by 6.0 Earthquake, No Damage or Injuries Reported
The world is still trying to get over the devastation caused by the earthquake that hit Haiti last week, which has left thousands dead and many more homeless and now we are hearing reports of an earthquake elsewhere in the world.
According to a recent report at The Canadian Press, a strong earthquake measuring 6.0 shook El Salvador and Guatemala today, but there have been no immediate reports on dame or injuries in either of the countries.
The U.S. Geological Survey says that the earthquake hit on Monday morning, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Guatemala City. There were reports of some shaking in the Guatemalan countryside, as well as in El Salvador.
Civil protection officials in both countries say that so far there have been no reports of injuries or damage, although authorities are still checking. According to reuters.com, it was only a light movement that lasted a few seconds.

Story from: http://www.onlykent.com/20100118/guatemala-shook-by-6-0-earthquake-no-damage-or-injuries-reported/

How to Help - Haitian Earthquake Relief

2010-01-14T15:32:00.000-08:00

Wyclef Jean via last.fm

The tragedy in Haiti from a large earthquake has many asking - how can I help? Can I be a part of the Haitian Earthquake Relief? Money is certainly needed as the devastation is horrific and a list of charities is provided here from Microsoft and ways to use your cell phone to text and donate (directly to the Red cross) are also available.

Celebrities are also helping.

The Hollywood Exclusive writes, "With the shocking devastation of Haiti putting into perspective the various aggravations and tiffs that have been clogging the show business blogosphere of late, it is heartening to see the literally dozens of celebrities who've been using their Twitter feeds and websites to appeal to fans for help and provide information."

***

Wyclef Jean and his Yele charity lead the way (go here for their website as another way to donate and comment) with the long list of stars that are willing to pitch in and help.

The list ranges from Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to Ellen DeGeneres, Lindsay Lohan, Adam Lambert, Chris Gorham, Alyssa Milano and Lisa Rinna among those who've donated or tweeted info about Unicef, Red Cross and other help agencies.

By Jeff Freeland
Jan 14, 2010
http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272629947.shtml

Haiti Earthquake

2010-01-13T15:27:00.000-08:00

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The US government has begun to mobilize what is likely to become a massive humanitarian relief effort to deal with Haiti earthquake damage
The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is expected to reach Haiti by Thursday afternoon, after loading up with relief supplies at a depot in Mayport, Fla., Pentagon officials say. A number of other ships, including the USNS Comfort hospital ship and a group of amphibious ships with a Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard, are on standby and may leave for Haiti in the next few days. In addition, the US Coast Guard has deployed a number of cutters that were already in the region, officials say.

Haiti’s temblor, with a magnitude of 7.0, hit near the capital of Port-au-Prince Tuesday afternoon. Haitians have piled bodies along the devastated streets of their capital after a powerful earthquake crushed thousands of structures yesterday, from schools and shacks to the National Palace and the UN peacekeeping headquarters. Untold numbers were still trapped. According to the estimates of relief organizations, as many as 3 million people could be affected – about a third of the country’s population.

Significant challenges loom. The main airport runway is in decent shape but for now will offer limited ability to absorb the massive amount of airlifted aid, said Gen. Douglas Fraser, head of US Southern Command in Miami, during two briefings of reporters Wednesday in Washington.

Major magnitude 7 quake hits Haiti

2010-01-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

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Major magnitude 7 quake hits Haiti - USGS

Source: Reuters

(Updates with aftershocks) WASHINGTON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - A major magnitude 7.0 quake hit the impoverished country of Haiti on Tuesday and prompted a tsunami watch for parts the Caribbean, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said on Tuesday.

The epicenter of the quake, which was initially reported off the coast, was located inland, only 10 miles (16 km) from the capital Port-au-Prince and was very shallow at a depth of only 6.2 miles (10 km).

A major earthquake, of magnitude 7 or higher, is capable of causing widespread and heavy damage. There was no immediate report of damage or casualties.

The tsunami center said the watch was in effect for Haiti, the neighboring Dominican Republic, with which it shares the island of Hispaniola, Cuba and the Bahamas.

"A destructive widespread tsunami threat does not exist based on historical earthquake and tsunami data," the center said. "However, there is the possibility of a local tsunami that could affect coasts located usually no more than a 100 km (60 miles) from the earthquake epicenter."

The quake was quickly followed by two nearby, strong aftershocks of initial magnitude of 5.9 and 5.5, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Original Story from Reuters: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N12208897.htm

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Blagojevich

2010-01-11T10:08:00.000-08:00

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CHICAGO – Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic majority leader, is not the only one apologizing for using racially charged language when it comes to

President Obama

. On Monday, Rod R. Blagojevich, the indicted, ousted former governor of Illinois turned reality television show contestant and Elvis impersonator, had his own apologies to offer.

In an interview with Esquire Magazine for its February issue, Mr. Blagojevich is quoted as saying that he is “blacker than

Barack Obama

.”

In the article, the comments follow the former governor portraying most politicians as phony, but saying that he was “real,” going on to note (as Mr. Blagojevich often has over many years) that he shined shoes as a child, grew up in a five-room apartment, and that his father had a laundromat “in a black community not far from where we lived.”

By Monday morning, as word of the comments became public, Mr. Blagojevich, who faces a jury trial this spring on charges of corruption and trying to sell the Senate seat left empty when Mr. Obama became president, was back-pedaling.
On WLS radio, an AM talk station in his hometown here, Mr. Blagojevich said he had chosen his words poorly and was sorry if he had offended anyone. He described his comment about being “blacker” as a “stupid thing to say.”

Over the weekend, President Obama said he had accepted the apology of Senator Reid, who had once predicted that Mr. Obama could become the nation’s first black president because he was “light-skinned” and had “no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.”

No word from the White House on any acceptance (or otherwise) of Mr. Blagojevich’s radio apology.

From The Caucus : http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/blagojevich-retreats-from-race-remarks-about-obama/

Copyright material is distributed without profit
or payment for research and educational
purposes only, in accordance with
Title 17 U.S.C. section 107

Elvis Presley Birthday

2010-01-08T10:54:00.000-08:00

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Elvis Presley Birthday

Elvis Presley died on August 17, 1977. Today Elvis Presley would have celebrated his 75th birthday. I am 66 years old, so I remember all of his career. And I do mean ALL OF IT. People often can remember what they were doing the moment they hear tragic news. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news about the destruction of the space shuttle Challenger, and the death of its seven crew members. I also have the same recollection of the moment I heard the news of the death of Elvis on the radio.

In my opinion, Elvis was the king of entertainment and will hold that position for some time. When I was a young man serving in the Navy, I was sent to Memphis for Aviation Electronics school. I met a girl there that I saw for a bit of time. Her sister had actually gone to high school with Elvis Presley and this allowed me to see Elvis in her high school year books.

Anyway, I liked every song he ever sang, and still do! There are some interesting things about Elvis Presley that a lot of people don’t know. I will share some of them with you here.

Elvis won only three Grammys. Two were for “He Touched Me” and “How Great Thou Art.”

Elvis earned enough that he managed to get into the highest tax bracket of 91%. Elvis always had the IRS compute the amount of taxes he owed the government. He gladly paid whatever they said he owed.

Elvis was 42 years old when he died and at that time he weighed 255 pounds.

Presley’s true hair color was a sort of light brown. He had it dyed darker, in fact almost black.

The first Gold record for the king was “Heartbreak Hotel.”

We have missed you Elvis, and will continue miss you.

ABB Shooting Suspect Identified

2010-01-07T09:31:00.000-08:00

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ABB Shooting Suspect Identified

Thursday morning, January 7, 2010, at about 6:30 Central time, an armed man, armed with an assault rifle, walked into a factory in North St. Louis and began shooting. The plant ABB is owned by a Swiss based multi-national company. The business manufactures electrical transformers.

A spokesman for the city’s fire department, Bob Keuss, told the Associated Press that one person was killed and four others were wounded in the incident, two of them critically. It seems the shooting took place during a shift change and there were about 100 employees there. The motivation for the shootings is not yet known.

Local television reports indicated that police entered the building a little later in the morning to escort some employees to safety outside.

Police have identified a 51 year old Webster Groves resident named Timothy Hendon as the suspected shooter. It seems he began shooting in the company parking lot then went inside and continued.

Be on the look-out for Hendron’s Nissan truck, pewter colored with a black top and notify authorities immediately if spotted. It bears Missouri license plate
“OKK 696.”

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Chicago Plane Crash – 2 Dead

2010-01-05T16:11:00.000-08:00

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Chicago Plane Crash – 2 Dead

A LearJet seems to have been on approach for landing at Chicago Executive Airport in Wheeling Illinois when it crashed. This was a cargo plane with only two people aboard, the pilot and the co-pilot. The crash took place today, January 5th, at about 1:39 PM CST. It has been reported that both the pilot and co-pilot were celled in the crash, but confirmation is pending. Names have not been released.

The Federal Aviation Administration, on the scene of the crumpled wreckage, said it was unclear what caused the crash, noting that the jet had just been cleared for visual approach to the airport.

A twin engine Learjet 35 from Royal Air Freight crashed into a forest preserve, landing along the west bank of the Des Plaines River, while on final approach to CEA Tuesday afternoon.

Royal Air Freight is based in Waterford, Mich. It was established in 1961 and currently flies 23 planes.

Chicago Executive Airport is outside of Chicago, and just north of O'Hare International Airport.

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Incarcerated Bob… Is he really dead?

2010-01-04T11:17:00.000-08:00

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Incarcerated Bob… Is he really dead?

Incarcerated Bob, who was fairly well know in New York sports broadcast circles, especially Sports Talk Radio may be gone. I really know nothing about him, but it seems many people do know of him and about him. Incarcerated Bob apparently was a frequent caller to sport radio shows in New York.

Incarcerated Bob has been a fairly popular caller into sports radio shows for quite some time. He has been well known on WFAN in New York calling in about both baseball & football. If the Tweet on his Twitter account is correct, Incarcerated Bob died after a drunk driver crashed into his car on New Years day. It is reported that his family took him off life support just after midnight on January 3rd.

I don’t know where he got the name Incarcerated Bob, and a quick search on the internet did not help. I would guess he began calling radio talk shows while he was in Jail, but I am unsure of that. If you know please post a comment enlightening me. Thanks!

New Years Eve in Times Square, New York

2009-12-31T16:53:00.000-08:00

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If you will be sitting at home in front of the television instead of at the big event in Times Square, you won’t miss much except the excitement of being there. You will be able to see it all and will see a lot of it a lot better than if you were there. I guess it would not be the real thing without Dick Clark doing his usual "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.” This year Ryan Seacrest will be assisting Dick. ABC will carry Dick’s show and the observance of the ball drop at midnight. I think this will be 38 years in a row they have carried it.

Television coverage starts at 10:00 PM East Coast Time and will feature an interesting line of performers. Performers such as: The Black Eyed Peas, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Keri Hilson, Colbie Caillat, Robin Thicke, Jennifer Lopez. Hey, if you are going to start coverage at 10:00 you have got to fill the time with something.

If ABC is not your network of choice NBC, Fox, CNN and Fox News will be among the others covering New Year's Eve.

Whichever way you enjoy the festivities, on location in Times Square, or from the comfort of your own home make it a fun time. Those at home will probably be glad they are not in Times Square when they see the size of the crowd. In any event – Best wishes for very Happy New Years to all. May 2010 be your best ever!

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TSA Looks to Expand Use of Full-Body Scanners at U.S. Airports

2009-12-30T08:57:00.000-08:00

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TSA Looks to Expand Use of Full-Body Scanners at U.S. Airports

From FOXnews.

The Transportation Security Administration is looking to increase the number of full-body scanners at U.S. airports over the next few years as it reviews security procedures in the wake of the attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight last week.

Experts say a full-body scanner likely would have detected the powdered explosive that terror suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab allegedly stuffed in his underwear and ignited aboard a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas.

Though nothing is foolproof, and concerns remain that intelligence agencies compound security gaps by not properly sharing information about terror suspects, the TSA's goal is to have multiple layers of advanced technology to ensure nothing dangerous gets aboard a plane.

The full-body scanners are one of several new technologies that have been introduced in recent years; and what's available is just the beginning.

"We are continually evolving and testing and deploying new technology as they become available to us," TSA spokeswoman Lauren Gaches said.

The full-body scanners allow TSA officials to look under clothing for any contraband -- for instance, the PETN explosive sewn into the underwear of the alleged would-be bomber last week -- but there are relatively few in operation now. Nineteen airports in the U.S. are using a total of 40 of the scanners. Only six airports use the scanners as their primary method of screening.

But Gaches said TSA has purchased and received 150 more of the machines, and it plans to distribute them next year. The agency plans to purchase 300 more next year, at a cost of between $130,000-$170,000 per unit.

But the machines, which can "see" through clothing and reveal the shape of a passenger's body, have raised privacy concerns and are currently optional. Any passenger who doesn't want to go through a full-body scanner is allowed to request a pat-down instead.

From FOXnews.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/29/tsa-looks-expand-use-body-scanners-airport

Tylenol Recall

2009-12-29T08:48:00.000-08:00

Late September 2009, there was a Tylenol recall for childrens' and infants' TYLENOL liquid products. You can see the previous list here. Today, Tylenol recall has been expanded to include arthritis caplets - Tylenol Arthritis Pain caplets are included.

Here is the press release:

In consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), McNeil Consumer
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Healthcare, a Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., is voluntarily recalling all currently available bottles of TYLENOLArthritis Pain Caplet 100 count. These bottles can be easily identified by a distinctive red EZ-OPEN CAP. In November 2009, 5 lots of this product were recalled due to consumer reports of an unusual moldy, musty, or mildew-like odor that was associated with nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea. The recall is being expanded, as a precaution, to include all TYLENOLArthritis Pain Caplet 100 count bottles with the distinctive red EZ-OPEN CAP. Only the TYLENOL Arthritis Pain Caplet 100’s are affected by this action. All other TYLENOL Arthritis Pain products remain available. McNeil Consumer Healthcare will reintroduce the TYLENOL Arthritis Pain Caplet 100 count product by January, 2010.

The uncharacteristic smell is caused by the presence of trace amounts of a chemical called 2,4,6-tribromoanisole. The source of 2,4,6-tribromoanisole is believed to be the breakdown of a chemical used to treat wooden pallets that transport and store packaging materials. The health effects of this compound have not been well studied, and to date all of the observed events reported to McNeil were temporary and non-serious.

If you have purchased TYLENOL Arthritis Pain Caplet 100 count bottles with the EZ-OPEN CAP, you should stop using the product and contact McNeil for instructions on a refund or replacement. For these instructions or information regarding how to return or dispose of the product, please call 1-888-222-6036 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, and Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time) or use our email contact form. If you have medical concerns or questions, please contact your healthcare provider.

NFL Playoff Scenario

2009-12-28T13:13:00.000-08:00

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Since there is but one game left, playoff scenarios for the NFL will soon be finalized. There are still teams

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who can determine their outcome in the last game of the season, but it looks like the division leaders have their spots locked-up.

One team, the New York Jets, was thought to be a real long shot based upon the remaining games. I don’t know if it was over confidence or what, but the Indianapolis Colts made the mistake of pulling their starters in the third quarter and that allowed the Jets to hand them their first loss of the season. If the Jets are able to pull off another win this weekend they will get a playoff spot.

Only one week of football remains in the 2009 season. Fans, looking to see how the NFL playoff scenario will play out, are waiting on the edge of their seats. As we saw both New Orleans and Indianapolis handed their first losses of the 2009 season we know that points up that no team is invincible and there is much question as to who is headed towards the SUPERBOWL !

The AFC & NFC division leaders right now are as follows:

AFC East - New England Patriots (10-5)
AFC North - Cincinnati Bengals (10-5)
AFC South - Indianapolis Colts (14-1)
AFC West - San Diego Chargers (12-3)

NFC East - Philadelphia Eagles (11-4)
NFC North - Minnesota Vikings (11-3)
NFC South - New Orleans Saints (13-2)
NFC West - Arizona Cardinals (10-5)

Things are pretty set in stone in terms of who's in the playoffs in the NFC.

This is the NFC Playoff Scenario as of right now:

1. New Orleans (13-2)
2. Minnesota (11-3)
3. Philadelphia (11-4)
4. Arizona (10-5)
5. Green Bay (10-5)
6. Dallas (10-5)

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After Christmas Sales

2009-12-24T10:18:00.000-08:00

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I predict that the best ever after Christmas sales will take place the week between Christmas and New Year’s day 2009. There are several factors that will drive this bonanza for those consumers who wait until after Christmas for those great after Christmas sales. Consider the general economic condition for most of 2009. Consider the current unemployment rate. Consider that most retailers were not very happy with “Black Friday” sales.
Most, or at the very least many, retailers, both large and small will have some pretty aggressive after Christmas sales this year. Starting the day after Christmas, Wal-Mart will offer up to 50% discount on many holiday items, toys and some home items. Historically, what Wal-Mart does so does K-Mart. I think you can count on all of the others to pretty much follow suit.

Year-End, Clearance along with after Christmas sales open an excellent opportunity to get some great deals. If bargain hunting is an activity you enjoy the week after Christmas is for you. You get some good deals and the retailer’s have a chance to unload some items that are about to be discontinued or they are overstocked with.

Don’t overlook the online retailers. There will be some real bargains there too, and you avoid the crowds. Happy shopping!

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BALLOON BOY HOAX

2009-12-23T14:39:00.000-08:00

Parents get jail time.

As much as I am really tired ot this story, I guess I need to get on the band wagon for just one short article. The truth is I grew very tired of the balloon boy hoax story as it was happening. It seemed clear to me that there was something wrong with the balloon boy story. The pieces just did not fit right. It did not take very long before it was exposed as a hoax. Actually, the balloon boy himself helped to expose it because his parents confused him by having him lie while saying he was telling the truth. Very confusing to a child of 6 and he let it slip that he was not in the balloon.

Both parents, Richard and Mayumi Heene are now facing jail time for the the balloon boy hoax. Richard was sentenced to 90 days and Mayumi was sentenced to 20 days. They were also prohibited from profiting as a result of the hoax for the next four years. It seems their goal was to land some sort of reality show.

"I'm very, very sorry. And I want to apologize to all the rescue workers out there, and the people that got involved in the community," said the 48-year-old Heene, a UFO-obsessed backyard scientist who turned to storm-chasing and reality TV after his Hollywood acting career bombed.

"What this case is about is deception, exploitation — exploitation of the children of the Heenes, exploitation of the media and exploitation of people's emotions — and money," District Judge Stephen Schapanski said.

I hope they (Richard and Mayumi Heene) are also required to repay the total cost of this the balloon boy hoax to all who spent money trying to save the boy in the balloon. All state and local authorities who expended time and manpower should be repaid the total that they spent as a result of the hoax.

Personally, I hope we have heard the last of it.

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Health Care Reform Bill

2009-12-22T19:37:00.000-08:00

Well, it looks as though the Health Care Reform Bill has either passed or is about to pass. But I think it's not over yet. I keep getting the feeling that we are watching a legislative body that is the most corrupt ever. They keep pushing a Health Care Reform Bill even though the public does not want it. But again, it’s not over yet. The White House and Harry Reid did some serious arm twisting to get the first round of 60 votes for their Health Care Reform Bill. The Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin is already saying what many American skeptics have been suspecting. This is just the beginning and this thing is going to grow. Americans are very skeptical and see this as being just another step towards socialism.

I think Americans are becoming very tired of the “Bait and Switch” that continues to be evident from the axis of power—Obama/Pelosi/Reid. You would think by know they would have received the message. The majority of Americans who don't want the Health Care Reform Bill or ANY form of ObamaCare. I hope they catch on soon.

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