Anzhi Makhachkala defender Roberto Carlos says Jose Mourinho confessed to him that he will stay at Real Madrid after the end of the season.
Mourinho stated in December that he wished to return to the Premier League in 'a couple of years' and admitted that England was his 'passion' in football.
Reports in Spain have suggested that Mourinho is keen to cut short his stay at Madrid after receiving whistles from the club's fans in the wake of the Copa del Rey exit at the hands of Barcelona.
However, Roberto Carlos, whose club Anzhi has long been credited with an interest in Mourinho, says the Portuguese coach will not step down in the summer.
"He told me he has a running contract and that he will stay," Roberto Carlos told Canal Plus. "I told him that if he changed his mind, Anzhi would be waiting for him with open arms.
"He is the best coach in the world."
The 38-year-old left back stepped onto the Santiago Bernabeu pitch ahead of Madrid's 4-2 victory against Levante to receive an award for his 11-year spell at the club.
"It is always a pride to return to the Bernabeu," Roberto Carlos continued.
"Everything seems to be in place in La Liga and in the Champions League: let us forget about Barca and we will win important titles again.
"I like this team's character, no matter how hard things get, and its winning spirit. This team will make history."
2012年2月13日星期一
Cavs center Varejao breaks right wrist
For the second time this week, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been hit with an injury to a key player.
Center Anderson Varejao, who is having the best season of his eight-year career, will be out indefinitely with a broken right wrist.
Rookie point guard Kyrie Irving missed his third straight game Saturday night against Philadelphia with a concussion. While it’s hoped Irving will return in the near future, possibly as early as next week, it’s unclear how long Varejao will be sidelined.
The latest injury will be a major blow to the Cavaliers.
Not only is Varejao averaging 10.8 points with 11.5 rebounds, his hustling style of play both inspires his teammates and aggravates opponents as well.
“It’s going to be hard to make up for everything that Andy does,” Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. “He gives us so much on both ends of floor. There’s not a whole lot of guys in the league that play with the energy and intensity Andy plays with. That’s what makes him special.”
Varejao, who leads the league in offensive rebounds per game, was injured in the third quarter of Friday night’s 113-112 overtime loss to Milwaukee and did not return.
The injury occurred while he grabbed a rebound and was slapped on the wrist by a defender.
The results of an MRI performed Saturday revealed a non-displaced fracture of the wrist. Scott said Varejao will be evaluated again Sunday.
A timeline for his return will be established next week after further testing.
Semih Erden started at center Saturday. Scott said Ryan Hollins and Samardo Samuels will also get minutes there. Rookie power forward Tristan Thompson may be another option.
Scott said Irving rode the stationary bike Saturday, but it’s uncertain when he will be cleared to take part in practice drills.
The Cavaliers are following the NBA’s new guidelines on treating head injuries with Irving, who was injured in Tuesday’s game against Miami. He was knocked down in the foul lane while driving to the basket and his head struck Heat guard Dwyane Wade’s knee.
Irving complained of a headache on Wednesday and was diagnosed with the concussion shortly before Cleveland hosted the Los Angeles Clippers that night.
Center Anderson Varejao, who is having the best season of his eight-year career, will be out indefinitely with a broken right wrist.
Rookie point guard Kyrie Irving missed his third straight game Saturday night against Philadelphia with a concussion. While it’s hoped Irving will return in the near future, possibly as early as next week, it’s unclear how long Varejao will be sidelined.
The latest injury will be a major blow to the Cavaliers.
Not only is Varejao averaging 10.8 points with 11.5 rebounds, his hustling style of play both inspires his teammates and aggravates opponents as well.
“It’s going to be hard to make up for everything that Andy does,” Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. “He gives us so much on both ends of floor. There’s not a whole lot of guys in the league that play with the energy and intensity Andy plays with. That’s what makes him special.”
Varejao, who leads the league in offensive rebounds per game, was injured in the third quarter of Friday night’s 113-112 overtime loss to Milwaukee and did not return.
The injury occurred while he grabbed a rebound and was slapped on the wrist by a defender.
The results of an MRI performed Saturday revealed a non-displaced fracture of the wrist. Scott said Varejao will be evaluated again Sunday.
A timeline for his return will be established next week after further testing.
Semih Erden started at center Saturday. Scott said Ryan Hollins and Samardo Samuels will also get minutes there. Rookie power forward Tristan Thompson may be another option.
Scott said Irving rode the stationary bike Saturday, but it’s uncertain when he will be cleared to take part in practice drills.
The Cavaliers are following the NBA’s new guidelines on treating head injuries with Irving, who was injured in Tuesday’s game against Miami. He was knocked down in the foul lane while driving to the basket and his head struck Heat guard Dwyane Wade’s knee.
Irving complained of a headache on Wednesday and was diagnosed with the concussion shortly before Cleveland hosted the Los Angeles Clippers that night.
Officials vow loyalty at Kim's supposed birthplace
North Korea's top military and party officials have visited the supposed birthplace of late leader Kim Jong-Il to mark his upcoming birthday and pledge loyalty to the dynasty, state media said on Monday.
The North is planning an elaborate commemoration of Thursday's birthday, dubbed "The Day of the Shining Star", after the longtime leader died of a heart attack on December 17 at the age of 69.
In the ceremony Sunday at Mount Paekdu near the border with China, senior military and ruling party officials as well as workers and troops from "all walks of life" mourned Kim, the Korean Central News Agency said (KCNA) said.
Among those attending were military chief Ri Yong-Ho, leading party officials Kim Ki-Nam and Choe Thae-Bok, and Kim Jong-Gak, who is in charge of military administration and organisation, it said.
They were among eight people -- including Kim's youngest son and successor, Jong-Un -- who walked beside the leader's hearse at the funeral on December 28.
Jong-Un, believed to be in his late 20s, was swiftly proclaimed the "great successor" to his father and has been officially appointed as military commander.
Kim Jong-Il ruled the impoverished but nuclear-armed state for 17 years after his own father and founding president Kim Il-Sung died in 1994.
Ri, in a speech at the event, called Kim's birth "a global milestone" while senior ruling party official Ri Yong-Chol urged young people to "firmly unite" behind Jong-Un in line with Kim's last wishes.
The event ended with fireworks and cheers by participants, it said.
State media has earlier said groups of workers across the nation began trips to the mountain to pay respects to the Kim family, whose "Paekdu bloodline" is trumpeted in official propaganda.
The mountain, the highest on the peninsula, is sacred to both Koreas as the place where, according to legend, their ancestors originated.
Official accounts say Kim was born there. But independent experts say his birthplace was actually a guerrilla camp in Russia, from where his father was fighting Japanese forces who had colonised the Korean peninsula.
The North is planning an elaborate commemoration of Thursday's birthday, dubbed "The Day of the Shining Star", after the longtime leader died of a heart attack on December 17 at the age of 69.
In the ceremony Sunday at Mount Paekdu near the border with China, senior military and ruling party officials as well as workers and troops from "all walks of life" mourned Kim, the Korean Central News Agency said (KCNA) said.
Among those attending were military chief Ri Yong-Ho, leading party officials Kim Ki-Nam and Choe Thae-Bok, and Kim Jong-Gak, who is in charge of military administration and organisation, it said.
They were among eight people -- including Kim's youngest son and successor, Jong-Un -- who walked beside the leader's hearse at the funeral on December 28.
Jong-Un, believed to be in his late 20s, was swiftly proclaimed the "great successor" to his father and has been officially appointed as military commander.
Kim Jong-Il ruled the impoverished but nuclear-armed state for 17 years after his own father and founding president Kim Il-Sung died in 1994.
Ri, in a speech at the event, called Kim's birth "a global milestone" while senior ruling party official Ri Yong-Chol urged young people to "firmly unite" behind Jong-Un in line with Kim's last wishes.
The event ended with fireworks and cheers by participants, it said.
State media has earlier said groups of workers across the nation began trips to the mountain to pay respects to the Kim family, whose "Paekdu bloodline" is trumpeted in official propaganda.
The mountain, the highest on the peninsula, is sacred to both Koreas as the place where, according to legend, their ancestors originated.
Official accounts say Kim was born there. But independent experts say his birthplace was actually a guerrilla camp in Russia, from where his father was fighting Japanese forces who had colonised the Korean peninsula.
Zambia wins African Cup after penalty shootout
In a game of relentless drama and high emotion, the most significant moment was perhaps when Kalusha Bwalya, a member of the tragic team who was not on the ill-fated aircraft in 1993 and is now Zambia’s football federation president, lifted the Cup of Nations trophy up in one hand on the pitch, almost defiantly.
It was Zambia’s first game in Libreville since that the plane crash.
“There was a sign of destiny, a force within us. Maybe it was meant to be,” Zambia coach Herve Renard said. “I can’t explain it, honestly I can’t explain it. Something was written in the stars. It was not me.”
Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba also missed a 70th-minute penalty to send the dramatic decider to extra time and then a shootout and boost Zambia’s feeling that they were meant to win the African Cup here.
After both sides made their first seven penalties, Kolo Toure gave Zambia a chance at victory when his effort was saved by Kennedy Mweene. But Kalaba Rainford sent his effort high over the crossbar.
But Arsenal’s Gervinho faltered as well and Sunzu made no mistake when it was his turn, drilling his penalty past Boubacar Barry for the title-clinching moment that capped a compelling, storybook ending.
“It was not the right time,” Renard said of Rainford’s miss, “but Sunzu was strong and he gave us the African Cup.”
The Zambians, who had watched the final few penalties on their knees with arms linked, erupted in joy and chased after Sunzu.
“That’s (the plane crash) the thing that’s been driving us through the tournament,” goalkeeper Mweene said. “We have been thinking about that since we went into camp.
“It’s one of those games. We were playing against big names but … we had to do it. The team spirit and the brotherhood in the team was the key for us.”
Sunzu ran to the team’s fans behind the goal to begin the celebrations. The current players had pledged to return to Libreville and win their first major trophy to honor the 25 Zambian players and officials who died in the crash.
The Gabonese fans at a packed Stade de l’Amitie were also won over and were chanting “Chipolopolo,” the Zambian team’s nickname, at the end. It was more than just a neutral crowd backing the underdog. The home fans seemed to be offering their support after the Zambians lost so many players just off their shores.
Drogba hit his regular-time penalty way over the crossbar after Gervinho was fouled, and then looked up at the sky in frustration. And even though the Chelsea striker scored in the shootout, Ivory Coast still failed to end a 20-year wait for a second African title despite being highly rated and everyone’s pick to win.
It was the Ivorians first loss in six games at this tournament after it also went through qualifying with a perfect six wins from six.
“Zambia really believed in their victory,” Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui said. “What else can I tell you? It’s a very big disappointment. We didn’t expect such a difficult game from the Zambians.”
Zambia captain Christopher Katongo hit the post in the opening five minutes of extra time, but the underdogs were hanging on in the latter part of the match, as Max Gradel sent a shot agonizingly wide in the 88th for Ivory Coast and the powerful star-studded favorite surged forward in the final 15 minutes of extra time.
Zambia had already been hampered when Joseph Musonda was forced off with injury after just 10 minutes of what was meant to be a memorable 100th match for him. The veteran defender was in tears as he left the field and was consoled by team mates.
Gervinho won the penalty for Drogba when he was dragged down by midfielder Isaac Chansa just inside the area. But when Drogba missed and looked up helplessly at the sky, the Zambians saw it as a further sign that the win was destined to be theirs.
“We were not the favorites of the final, obviously,” Chansa said, “but we believed in ourselves as players. It was written somewhere, you could see that from the miss of Drogba.”
It was Zambia’s first game in Libreville since that the plane crash.
“There was a sign of destiny, a force within us. Maybe it was meant to be,” Zambia coach Herve Renard said. “I can’t explain it, honestly I can’t explain it. Something was written in the stars. It was not me.”
Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba also missed a 70th-minute penalty to send the dramatic decider to extra time and then a shootout and boost Zambia’s feeling that they were meant to win the African Cup here.
After both sides made their first seven penalties, Kolo Toure gave Zambia a chance at victory when his effort was saved by Kennedy Mweene. But Kalaba Rainford sent his effort high over the crossbar.
But Arsenal’s Gervinho faltered as well and Sunzu made no mistake when it was his turn, drilling his penalty past Boubacar Barry for the title-clinching moment that capped a compelling, storybook ending.
“It was not the right time,” Renard said of Rainford’s miss, “but Sunzu was strong and he gave us the African Cup.”
The Zambians, who had watched the final few penalties on their knees with arms linked, erupted in joy and chased after Sunzu.
“That’s (the plane crash) the thing that’s been driving us through the tournament,” goalkeeper Mweene said. “We have been thinking about that since we went into camp.
“It’s one of those games. We were playing against big names but … we had to do it. The team spirit and the brotherhood in the team was the key for us.”
Sunzu ran to the team’s fans behind the goal to begin the celebrations. The current players had pledged to return to Libreville and win their first major trophy to honor the 25 Zambian players and officials who died in the crash.
The Gabonese fans at a packed Stade de l’Amitie were also won over and were chanting “Chipolopolo,” the Zambian team’s nickname, at the end. It was more than just a neutral crowd backing the underdog. The home fans seemed to be offering their support after the Zambians lost so many players just off their shores.
Drogba hit his regular-time penalty way over the crossbar after Gervinho was fouled, and then looked up at the sky in frustration. And even though the Chelsea striker scored in the shootout, Ivory Coast still failed to end a 20-year wait for a second African title despite being highly rated and everyone’s pick to win.
It was the Ivorians first loss in six games at this tournament after it also went through qualifying with a perfect six wins from six.
“Zambia really believed in their victory,” Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui said. “What else can I tell you? It’s a very big disappointment. We didn’t expect such a difficult game from the Zambians.”
Zambia captain Christopher Katongo hit the post in the opening five minutes of extra time, but the underdogs were hanging on in the latter part of the match, as Max Gradel sent a shot agonizingly wide in the 88th for Ivory Coast and the powerful star-studded favorite surged forward in the final 15 minutes of extra time.
Zambia had already been hampered when Joseph Musonda was forced off with injury after just 10 minutes of what was meant to be a memorable 100th match for him. The veteran defender was in tears as he left the field and was consoled by team mates.
Gervinho won the penalty for Drogba when he was dragged down by midfielder Isaac Chansa just inside the area. But when Drogba missed and looked up helplessly at the sky, the Zambians saw it as a further sign that the win was destined to be theirs.
“We were not the favorites of the final, obviously,” Chansa said, “but we believed in ourselves as players. It was written somewhere, you could see that from the miss of Drogba.”
Glen Campbell brings audience to its feet at Grammys
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Country music veteran Glen Campbell, diagnosed last year with Alzheimer's disease, had no trouble remembering words to his signature song as he gave a rousing performance of "Rhinestone Cowboy" at the Grammy Awards show on Sunday.
The 75-year-old entertainer took the stage with contemporary country stars The Band Perry and Blake Shelton, who preceded him with their own versions of two other Campbell hits, "Gentle on My Mind" and "Southern Nights."
Within moments, he had the celebrity-studded crowd at the Staples Center on their feet and singing along, including former Beatle Paul McCartney and guitarist Joe Walsh, who was seen dancing in the aisle with his wife, Marjorie.
Ever the showman, Campbell pointed his microphone at the audience for each chorus, inviting them to join in on the line, "Like a Rhinestone Cowboy!" and the hall's musical luminaries all joyfully obliged.
The performance, delivered without a hitch, ended in a hail of cheers and applause as Campbell shouted, "Thank y'all so much!" then turned to leave the stage as the lights went down and could be heard gamefully asking, "Where do I go?"
Campbell, a five-time Grammy winner who had been suffering from short-term memory loss for years, revealed in a People magazine article in June that he had been diagnosed six months before as being in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
His wife, Kim, said then that the couple decided to go public with his diagnosis ahead of a final, farewell concert tour that he launched in the fall of 2011.
Campbell started out as a session guitarist for the Beach Boys and producer Phil Spector before rising to fame in the 1960s with hits that included "Wichita Lineman" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix." Perhaps his best-known song, "Rhinestone Cowboy" was a No. 1 hit in 1975.
He hosted his own CBS variety show, the "Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour," from 1969 to 1972, and co-starred with John Wayne in the original 1969 movie version of "True Grit."
The 75-year-old entertainer took the stage with contemporary country stars The Band Perry and Blake Shelton, who preceded him with their own versions of two other Campbell hits, "Gentle on My Mind" and "Southern Nights."
Within moments, he had the celebrity-studded crowd at the Staples Center on their feet and singing along, including former Beatle Paul McCartney and guitarist Joe Walsh, who was seen dancing in the aisle with his wife, Marjorie.
Ever the showman, Campbell pointed his microphone at the audience for each chorus, inviting them to join in on the line, "Like a Rhinestone Cowboy!" and the hall's musical luminaries all joyfully obliged.
The performance, delivered without a hitch, ended in a hail of cheers and applause as Campbell shouted, "Thank y'all so much!" then turned to leave the stage as the lights went down and could be heard gamefully asking, "Where do I go?"
Campbell, a five-time Grammy winner who had been suffering from short-term memory loss for years, revealed in a People magazine article in June that he had been diagnosed six months before as being in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
His wife, Kim, said then that the couple decided to go public with his diagnosis ahead of a final, farewell concert tour that he launched in the fall of 2011.
Campbell started out as a session guitarist for the Beach Boys and producer Phil Spector before rising to fame in the 1960s with hits that included "Wichita Lineman" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix." Perhaps his best-known song, "Rhinestone Cowboy" was a No. 1 hit in 1975.
He hosted his own CBS variety show, the "Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour," from 1969 to 1972, and co-starred with John Wayne in the original 1969 movie version of "True Grit."
Adele top winner with 6 Grammys
Adele, who captured the world's heart with an album about a broken romance, emerged as the top winner at Sunday's Grammy Awards, winning six trophies including the prestigious trifecta of record, song and album of the year.
The singer, who also made a triumphant comeback from vocal cord surgery on the Grammy stage, sobbed as she won the night's final award, album of the year, for "21." It was last year's top-selling album with more than six million copies sold and remains lodged at the No. 1 spot on this year's charts.
Her victories tied her with Beyonce as the most wins by a woman in one evening.
"Mom, gold is good!" Adele shouted as she took the album of the year trophy.
The celebration of Adele, a big-voiced, soulful singer, came on a night where the Grammys marked the loss of one of music's great female voices — and one of its most prized talents overall. Whitney Houston died the night before the Grammys, casting a shadow over music's biggest night.
But while her death lent a somber overtone to the evening's show, it did not overwhelm it, perhaps best proved by the show's closing number, a rollicking jam session featuring Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Dave Grohl among others.
The night's other big winners were Grohl's Foo Fighters, who won five Grammys. They noted that they made their album "Wasting Light" in a garage.
"To me this award means a lot because it shows that the human element of making music is what's most important. Singing into a microphone, learning to play an instrument and learning to do your craft, that's the most important thing for people to do," Grohl said as the band accepted their best rock performance trophy for "Walk." ''It's not about being perfect. It's not about sounding absolutely correct. It's not about what goes on in a computer. It's about what goes on in here (your heart) and what goes on here (your head). ... Long live rock 'n' roll!"
Among the evening's performances was a dance-heavy number by Chris Brown, and performances by McCartney and Springsteen, who kicked off the show by performing his new song "We Take Care of Our Own," a rousing song that references the troubles of the nation.
But the evening's most moving moment came as Jennifer Hudson — who has called Houston an inspiration and one of her biggest idols — emerged to sing one of Houston's signature songs, "I Will Always Love You." Dressed in black, with only the accompaniment of a piano, Hudson appeared to fight back tears as she sang the song, ending with the line, "Whitney, we will always love you."
The show started off on a somber note, as host LL Cool J appeared in black, and told the audience: "There is no way around this. We've had a death in our family."
He then led the audience in prayer to "our fallen sister."
"Heavenly father, we thank you for sharing our sister Whitney with us," he said, as celebrities like Lady Gaga and Miranda Lambert bowed their heads in prayer. "Though she is gone too soon, we remain truly blessed to have been touched by her beautiful spirit."
He then introduced a clip of a glowing Houston singing "I Will Always Love You." In his performance of "Runaway Baby," Bruno Mars also mentioned the death: "Tonight we're celebrating. Tonight we're celebrating the beautiful Miss Whitney Houston."
And Stevie Wonder said: "To Whitney up in heaven, we all love you."
The show, as usual, was heavy on performances more than awards. Among those was Chris Brown, who was performing on the stage for the first time since he dropped out of 2009's broadcast; his attack on Rihanna the night before led to both of their absences, an assault charge for Brown and a career low.
But 2011 marked an amazing comeback for Brown and he was rewarded with two planned performances during the show, the first time he and Rihanna performed at the same event since the attack (she sang solo and with Coldplay during the ceremony).
Brown also won best R&B album: "First and foremost, I gotta thank God, and thank the Grammys for letting me get on this stage and do my thing," he said "All my fans, I love you. We got one. Thank you."
Justin Vernon, whose band Bon Iver beat Nicki Minaj, The Band Perry, J. Cole and Skrillex for best new artist, accepted the award with admittedly mixed emotions.
"It's really hard to accept this award. Well, there's so much talent out here, like on this stage. There's a lot of talent that's not here tonight. It's also hard to accept because when I started to make songs I did it for the inherent reward of making songs, so I'm a little bit uncomfortable up here," he said. "But with that discomfort I do have a sense of gratitude. I want to say thank you to all the nominees, all the non-nominees that have never been here and never will be here."
The Grammys did their best to keep a tone that balanced the many moods of the night: The Foo Fighters performed in a tent outside the Staples Center, where the awards were being held, amid a throng of bouncing fans; but moments earlier, Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt paid tribute to Etta James, the legend who died last month.
There was also a tribute to the recently reunited Beach Boys that featured Maroon 5, Foster the People and Mike Love, Al Jardine and Brian Wilson, the three remaining members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band, all pitch-perfect as they brought the groups California rock sound and harmonies back to life.
Glen Campbell, who announced his retirement last year after disclosing he had Alzheimer's disease, also performed with The Band Perry and Blake Shelton, singing his classic hit, "Rhinestone Cowboy."
The Foos and Brown also returned for another dance-themed performance, a first for the Grammys. It also featured deadmau5, David Guetta and Lil Wayne.
And with Lady Gaga not performing, Minaj stepped in to give the night's most bizarre/headscratching performance. The rapper-singer's number included a clip that referenced "The Exorcist" and a stage show that had her levitating on stage amid a church-like background, with hooded choir members and religious imagery.
The singer, who also made a triumphant comeback from vocal cord surgery on the Grammy stage, sobbed as she won the night's final award, album of the year, for "21." It was last year's top-selling album with more than six million copies sold and remains lodged at the No. 1 spot on this year's charts.
Her victories tied her with Beyonce as the most wins by a woman in one evening.
"Mom, gold is good!" Adele shouted as she took the album of the year trophy.
The celebration of Adele, a big-voiced, soulful singer, came on a night where the Grammys marked the loss of one of music's great female voices — and one of its most prized talents overall. Whitney Houston died the night before the Grammys, casting a shadow over music's biggest night.
But while her death lent a somber overtone to the evening's show, it did not overwhelm it, perhaps best proved by the show's closing number, a rollicking jam session featuring Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Dave Grohl among others.
The night's other big winners were Grohl's Foo Fighters, who won five Grammys. They noted that they made their album "Wasting Light" in a garage.
"To me this award means a lot because it shows that the human element of making music is what's most important. Singing into a microphone, learning to play an instrument and learning to do your craft, that's the most important thing for people to do," Grohl said as the band accepted their best rock performance trophy for "Walk." ''It's not about being perfect. It's not about sounding absolutely correct. It's not about what goes on in a computer. It's about what goes on in here (your heart) and what goes on here (your head). ... Long live rock 'n' roll!"
Among the evening's performances was a dance-heavy number by Chris Brown, and performances by McCartney and Springsteen, who kicked off the show by performing his new song "We Take Care of Our Own," a rousing song that references the troubles of the nation.
But the evening's most moving moment came as Jennifer Hudson — who has called Houston an inspiration and one of her biggest idols — emerged to sing one of Houston's signature songs, "I Will Always Love You." Dressed in black, with only the accompaniment of a piano, Hudson appeared to fight back tears as she sang the song, ending with the line, "Whitney, we will always love you."
The show started off on a somber note, as host LL Cool J appeared in black, and told the audience: "There is no way around this. We've had a death in our family."
He then led the audience in prayer to "our fallen sister."
"Heavenly father, we thank you for sharing our sister Whitney with us," he said, as celebrities like Lady Gaga and Miranda Lambert bowed their heads in prayer. "Though she is gone too soon, we remain truly blessed to have been touched by her beautiful spirit."
He then introduced a clip of a glowing Houston singing "I Will Always Love You." In his performance of "Runaway Baby," Bruno Mars also mentioned the death: "Tonight we're celebrating. Tonight we're celebrating the beautiful Miss Whitney Houston."
And Stevie Wonder said: "To Whitney up in heaven, we all love you."
The show, as usual, was heavy on performances more than awards. Among those was Chris Brown, who was performing on the stage for the first time since he dropped out of 2009's broadcast; his attack on Rihanna the night before led to both of their absences, an assault charge for Brown and a career low.
But 2011 marked an amazing comeback for Brown and he was rewarded with two planned performances during the show, the first time he and Rihanna performed at the same event since the attack (she sang solo and with Coldplay during the ceremony).
Brown also won best R&B album: "First and foremost, I gotta thank God, and thank the Grammys for letting me get on this stage and do my thing," he said "All my fans, I love you. We got one. Thank you."
Justin Vernon, whose band Bon Iver beat Nicki Minaj, The Band Perry, J. Cole and Skrillex for best new artist, accepted the award with admittedly mixed emotions.
"It's really hard to accept this award. Well, there's so much talent out here, like on this stage. There's a lot of talent that's not here tonight. It's also hard to accept because when I started to make songs I did it for the inherent reward of making songs, so I'm a little bit uncomfortable up here," he said. "But with that discomfort I do have a sense of gratitude. I want to say thank you to all the nominees, all the non-nominees that have never been here and never will be here."
The Grammys did their best to keep a tone that balanced the many moods of the night: The Foo Fighters performed in a tent outside the Staples Center, where the awards were being held, amid a throng of bouncing fans; but moments earlier, Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt paid tribute to Etta James, the legend who died last month.
There was also a tribute to the recently reunited Beach Boys that featured Maroon 5, Foster the People and Mike Love, Al Jardine and Brian Wilson, the three remaining members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band, all pitch-perfect as they brought the groups California rock sound and harmonies back to life.
Glen Campbell, who announced his retirement last year after disclosing he had Alzheimer's disease, also performed with The Band Perry and Blake Shelton, singing his classic hit, "Rhinestone Cowboy."
The Foos and Brown also returned for another dance-themed performance, a first for the Grammys. It also featured deadmau5, David Guetta and Lil Wayne.
And with Lady Gaga not performing, Minaj stepped in to give the night's most bizarre/headscratching performance. The rapper-singer's number included a clip that referenced "The Exorcist" and a stage show that had her levitating on stage amid a church-like background, with hooded choir members and religious imagery.
Stacy Francis Calls Thursday Run-In With Whitney Houston A 'Misunderstanding'
Former "X Factor" hopeful Stacy Francis has called her run in with Whitney Houston on Thursday a "misunderstanding."
"This is a sad time for me. I loved Whitney Houston with all my heart. She was such an amazing musical influence for me," Stacy Tweeted on Sunday night. "I deeply regret the events that led to Thursday's misunderstanding, but I respect and love her more than I can say."
PLAY IT NOW: Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party: Stars React To The Death Of Whitney Houston
According to Radar Online, Whitney became angry when she left the stage at Tru Hollywood on Thursday, after dueting with friend Kelly Price, and saw Ray J talking to Stacy.
"She ran over to them and began screaming, 'This is my man! I'm a cougar!" a source claimed to Radar.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Whitney Houston’s Final Public Appearance — February 9, 2012
Ray J reportedly told Whitney that Stacy was a "longtime family friend" but the superstar singer continued to shout at the reality star.
On Twitter, Stacy shared her condolences to the Houston family.
"Whitney maintained a genuineness in this difficult profession and I will always admire and respect the courage that she lived," she Tweeted. "At this painful time, I would like to express my support and most sincere condolences to Whitney's family in learning of her sudden death...I will always remember her to be a deeply humane person and wish her spirit to rest in peace."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: A Look Back: Whitney Houston — Her Life In Pictures
Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
"This is a sad time for me. I loved Whitney Houston with all my heart. She was such an amazing musical influence for me," Stacy Tweeted on Sunday night. "I deeply regret the events that led to Thursday's misunderstanding, but I respect and love her more than I can say."
PLAY IT NOW: Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party: Stars React To The Death Of Whitney Houston
According to Radar Online, Whitney became angry when she left the stage at Tru Hollywood on Thursday, after dueting with friend Kelly Price, and saw Ray J talking to Stacy.
"She ran over to them and began screaming, 'This is my man! I'm a cougar!" a source claimed to Radar.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Whitney Houston’s Final Public Appearance — February 9, 2012
Ray J reportedly told Whitney that Stacy was a "longtime family friend" but the superstar singer continued to shout at the reality star.
On Twitter, Stacy shared her condolences to the Houston family.
"Whitney maintained a genuineness in this difficult profession and I will always admire and respect the courage that she lived," she Tweeted. "At this painful time, I would like to express my support and most sincere condolences to Whitney's family in learning of her sudden death...I will always remember her to be a deeply humane person and wish her spirit to rest in peace."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: A Look Back: Whitney Houston — Her Life In Pictures
Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Stacy Francis Calls Thursday Run-In With Whitney Houston A 'Misunderstanding'
ormer "X Factor" hopeful Stacy Francis has called her run-in with Whitney Houston on Thursday a "misunderstanding."
"This is a sad time for me. I loved Whitney Houston with all my heart. She was such an amazing musical influence for me," Stacy Tweeted on Sunday night. "I deeply regret the events that led to Thursday's misunderstanding, but I respect and love her more than I can say."
PLAY IT NOW: Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party: Stars React To The Death Of Whitney Houston
According to Radar Online, Whitney became angry when she left the stage at Tru Hollywood on Thursday, after dueting with friend Kelly Price, and saw Ray J talking to Stacy.
"She ran over to them and began screaming, 'This is my man! I'm a cougar!" a source claimed to Radar.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Whitney Houston’s Final Public Appearance — February 9, 2012
Ray J reportedly told Whitney that Stacy was a "longtime family friend" but the superstar singer continued to shout at the reality star.
On Twitter, Stacy shared her condolences to the Houston family.
"Whitney maintained a genuineness in this difficult profession and I will always admire and respect the courage that she lived," she Tweeted. "At this painful time, I would like to express my support and most sincere condolences to Whitney's family in learning of her sudden death...I will always remember her to be a deeply humane person and wish her spirit to rest in peace."
"This is a sad time for me. I loved Whitney Houston with all my heart. She was such an amazing musical influence for me," Stacy Tweeted on Sunday night. "I deeply regret the events that led to Thursday's misunderstanding, but I respect and love her more than I can say."
PLAY IT NOW: Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party: Stars React To The Death Of Whitney Houston
According to Radar Online, Whitney became angry when she left the stage at Tru Hollywood on Thursday, after dueting with friend Kelly Price, and saw Ray J talking to Stacy.
"She ran over to them and began screaming, 'This is my man! I'm a cougar!" a source claimed to Radar.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Whitney Houston’s Final Public Appearance — February 9, 2012
Ray J reportedly told Whitney that Stacy was a "longtime family friend" but the superstar singer continued to shout at the reality star.
On Twitter, Stacy shared her condolences to the Houston family.
"Whitney maintained a genuineness in this difficult profession and I will always admire and respect the courage that she lived," she Tweeted. "At this painful time, I would like to express my support and most sincere condolences to Whitney's family in learning of her sudden death...I will always remember her to be a deeply humane person and wish her spirit to rest in peace."
Stacy Francis Calls Thursday Run-In With Whitney Houston A 'Misunderstanding'
Stacy Francis arrives to the The love of R&B Grammy Party at Tru Hollywood, in Hollywood, on February 9, 2012 -- WireImage
Former "X Factor" hopeful Stacy Francis has called her run in with Whitney Houston on Thursday a "misunderstanding."
"This is a sad time for me. I loved Whitney Houston with all my heart. She was such an amazing musical influence for me," Stacy Tweeted on Sunday night. "I deeply regret the events that led to Thursday's misunderstanding, but I respect and love her more than I can say."
PLAY IT NOW: Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party: Stars React To The Death Of Whitney Houston
According to Radar Online, Whitney became angry when she left the stage at Tru Hollywood on Thursday, after dueting with friend Kelly Price, and saw Ray J talking to Stacy.
"She ran over to them and began screaming, 'This is my man! I'm a cougar!" a source claimed to Radar.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Whitney Houston’s Final Public Appearance — February 9, 2012
Ray J reportedly told Whitney that Stacy was a "longtime family friend" but the superstar singer continued to shout at the reality star.
On Twitter, Stacy shared her condolences to the Houston family.
"Whitney maintained a genuineness in this difficult profession and I will always admire and respect the courage that she lived," she Tweeted. "At this painful time, I would like to express my support and most sincere condolences to Whitney's family in learning of her sudden death...I will always remember her to be a deeply humane person and wish her spirit to rest in peace."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: A Look Back: Whitney Houston — Her Life In Pictures
Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Former "X Factor" hopeful Stacy Francis has called her run in with Whitney Houston on Thursday a "misunderstanding."
"This is a sad time for me. I loved Whitney Houston with all my heart. She was such an amazing musical influence for me," Stacy Tweeted on Sunday night. "I deeply regret the events that led to Thursday's misunderstanding, but I respect and love her more than I can say."
PLAY IT NOW: Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party: Stars React To The Death Of Whitney Houston
According to Radar Online, Whitney became angry when she left the stage at Tru Hollywood on Thursday, after dueting with friend Kelly Price, and saw Ray J talking to Stacy.
"She ran over to them and began screaming, 'This is my man! I'm a cougar!" a source claimed to Radar.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Whitney Houston’s Final Public Appearance — February 9, 2012
Ray J reportedly told Whitney that Stacy was a "longtime family friend" but the superstar singer continued to shout at the reality star.
On Twitter, Stacy shared her condolences to the Houston family.
"Whitney maintained a genuineness in this difficult profession and I will always admire and respect the courage that she lived," she Tweeted. "At this painful time, I would like to express my support and most sincere condolences to Whitney's family in learning of her sudden death...I will always remember her to be a deeply humane person and wish her spirit to rest in peace."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: A Look Back: Whitney Houston — Her Life In Pictures
Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
List of Grammy winners in select major categories
OS ANGELES (AP) — Winners in selected major categories at Sunday's 54th Annual Grammy Awards:
Album of the Year: "21," Adele
Record of the Year: "Rolling in the Deep," Adele
Song of the Year: "Rolling in the Deep," Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth
New Artist: Bon Iver
Pop Solo Performance: "Someone Like You," Adele
Pop Performance by a Duo or Group: "Body and Soul," Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
Pop Vocal Album: "21," Adele
Alternative Album: "Bon Iver," Bon Iver
Rock Song: "Walk," Foo Fighters
Rock Album: "Wasting Light," Foo Fighters
Rock Performance: "Walk," Foo Fighters
Hard Rock/Metal Performance: "White Limo," Foo Fighters
R&B Album: "F.A.M.E.," Chris Brown
R&B Song: "Fool For You," Cee Lo Green, Melanie Hallim & Jack Splash
R&B Performance: "Is This Love," Corrine Bailey Rae
Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "Fool For You," Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona
Rap Album: "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," Kanye West
Rap Performance: "Otis," Jay-Z and Kanye West
Rap Song: "All of the Lights," Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West
Rap/Sung Collaboration: "All of the Lights," Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie
Dance Recording: "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites," Skrillex
Dance/Electronica Album: "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites," Skrillex
Musical Theater Album: "The Book of Mormon," Robert Lopez, Trey Parker & Matt Stone
World Music Album: "Tassili," Tinariwen
Latin Pop Rock, Rock or Urban Album: "Drama y Luz," Mana
Tropical Latin Album: "Last Mambo," Cachao
Banda or Norteno Album: "Los Tigres Del Norte and Friends," Los Tigres Del Norte
Regional Mexican or Tejano Album: "Bicentenario," Pepe Aguilar
Country Solo Performance: "Mean," Taylor Swift
Country Album: "Own the Night," Lady Antebellum
Country Performance by a Duo or Group: "Barton Hollow," The Civil Wars
Country Song: "Mean," Taylor Swift
Jazz Vocal Album: "The Mosaic Project," Terri Lyne Carrington & various artists
Jazz Instrumental Album: "Forever," Corea, Clark & White
Improvised Jazz Solo: "500 Miles High," Chick Corea
Large Ensemble Jazz Album: "The Good Feeling," Christian McBride Big Band
Blues Album: "Revelator," Tedeschi Trucks Band
Folk Album: "Barton Hollow," The Civil Wars
Pop Instrumental Album: "The Road From Memphis," Booker T. Jones
Bluegrass Album: "Paper Airplane," Alison Krauss & Union Station
Americana Album: "Ramble at the Ryman," Levon Helm
Reggae Album: "Revelation Pt. 1: The Root of Life," Stephen Marley
New Age Album: "What's It All About," Pat Metheny
Children's Album: "All About Bullies... Big and Small," various artists
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Paul Epworth
Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: "Cinema (Skrillex remix)," Sonny Moore
Gospel Song: "Hello Fear," Kirk Franklin
Gospel/Contemporary Christian Performance: "Jesus," L'Andria Johnson
Gospel Album: "Hello Fear," Kirk Franklin
Choral Performance: "Light & Gold," Eric Whitacre
Classical Contemporary Composition: "Elmer Gantry," Robert Aldridge & Herschel Garfein
Producer of the Year, Classical: Judith Sherman
Orchestral Performance: "Brahms: Symphony No. 4," Gustavo Dudamel
Opera Recording: "Adams: Doctor Atomic," Alan Gilbert, conductor
Spoken Word Album: "If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)," Betty White
Comedy Album: "Hilarious," Louis C.K.
Compilation Soundtrack Album For Visual Media: "Boardwalk Empire," various artists
Score Soundtrack Album For Visual Media: "The King's Speech," Alexandre Desplat
Song Written For Visual Media: "I See the Light," Alan Menken & Glenn Slater
Historical Album: "Band on the Run (Paul McCartney Archive Collection - Deluxe Edition)," Paul McCartney
Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists: "Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)," Jorge Calandrelli
Album of the Year: "21," Adele
Record of the Year: "Rolling in the Deep," Adele
Song of the Year: "Rolling in the Deep," Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth
New Artist: Bon Iver
Pop Solo Performance: "Someone Like You," Adele
Pop Performance by a Duo or Group: "Body and Soul," Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
Pop Vocal Album: "21," Adele
Alternative Album: "Bon Iver," Bon Iver
Rock Song: "Walk," Foo Fighters
Rock Album: "Wasting Light," Foo Fighters
Rock Performance: "Walk," Foo Fighters
Hard Rock/Metal Performance: "White Limo," Foo Fighters
R&B Album: "F.A.M.E.," Chris Brown
R&B Song: "Fool For You," Cee Lo Green, Melanie Hallim & Jack Splash
R&B Performance: "Is This Love," Corrine Bailey Rae
Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "Fool For You," Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona
Rap Album: "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," Kanye West
Rap Performance: "Otis," Jay-Z and Kanye West
Rap Song: "All of the Lights," Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West
Rap/Sung Collaboration: "All of the Lights," Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie
Dance Recording: "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites," Skrillex
Dance/Electronica Album: "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites," Skrillex
Musical Theater Album: "The Book of Mormon," Robert Lopez, Trey Parker & Matt Stone
World Music Album: "Tassili," Tinariwen
Latin Pop Rock, Rock or Urban Album: "Drama y Luz," Mana
Tropical Latin Album: "Last Mambo," Cachao
Banda or Norteno Album: "Los Tigres Del Norte and Friends," Los Tigres Del Norte
Regional Mexican or Tejano Album: "Bicentenario," Pepe Aguilar
Country Solo Performance: "Mean," Taylor Swift
Country Album: "Own the Night," Lady Antebellum
Country Performance by a Duo or Group: "Barton Hollow," The Civil Wars
Country Song: "Mean," Taylor Swift
Jazz Vocal Album: "The Mosaic Project," Terri Lyne Carrington & various artists
Jazz Instrumental Album: "Forever," Corea, Clark & White
Improvised Jazz Solo: "500 Miles High," Chick Corea
Large Ensemble Jazz Album: "The Good Feeling," Christian McBride Big Band
Blues Album: "Revelator," Tedeschi Trucks Band
Folk Album: "Barton Hollow," The Civil Wars
Pop Instrumental Album: "The Road From Memphis," Booker T. Jones
Bluegrass Album: "Paper Airplane," Alison Krauss & Union Station
Americana Album: "Ramble at the Ryman," Levon Helm
Reggae Album: "Revelation Pt. 1: The Root of Life," Stephen Marley
New Age Album: "What's It All About," Pat Metheny
Children's Album: "All About Bullies... Big and Small," various artists
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Paul Epworth
Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: "Cinema (Skrillex remix)," Sonny Moore
Gospel Song: "Hello Fear," Kirk Franklin
Gospel/Contemporary Christian Performance: "Jesus," L'Andria Johnson
Gospel Album: "Hello Fear," Kirk Franklin
Choral Performance: "Light & Gold," Eric Whitacre
Classical Contemporary Composition: "Elmer Gantry," Robert Aldridge & Herschel Garfein
Producer of the Year, Classical: Judith Sherman
Orchestral Performance: "Brahms: Symphony No. 4," Gustavo Dudamel
Opera Recording: "Adams: Doctor Atomic," Alan Gilbert, conductor
Spoken Word Album: "If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)," Betty White
Comedy Album: "Hilarious," Louis C.K.
Compilation Soundtrack Album For Visual Media: "Boardwalk Empire," various artists
Score Soundtrack Album For Visual Media: "The King's Speech," Alexandre Desplat
Song Written For Visual Media: "I See the Light," Alan Menken & Glenn Slater
Historical Album: "Band on the Run (Paul McCartney Archive Collection - Deluxe Edition)," Paul McCartney
Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists: "Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)," Jorge Calandrelli
2012年2月11日星期六
Woman struck, killed by car is San Jose’s 2nd pedestrian fatality since Friday night
KTVU.com and Wires
SAN JOSE, Calif. —
A 77-year-old woman crossing a street in San Jose Saturday morning was struck and killed by a car, police said. Her death was the city's second pedestrian fatality since Friday night.
The woman had been in the road in the area of Oakland and Rock Avenue when she was struck by a 1999 green Honda Civic at about 6:45 a.m., police said.
She was transported to Regional Medical Center of San Jose, where she was pronounced dead at 8:46 a.m.
About 12 hours earlier, a woman crossing Meridian Avenue was struck and killed by a car, police said.
The crash was reported at about 8:35 p.m. and involved a green late 1990s Acura Legend. The car was driving northbound on Meridian Avenue when it struck the woman, believed to be in her 40s, who was in the road just south of West San Carlos Street, police said.
Fire personnel pronounced the woman dead at 8:43 p.m.
The drivers in both crashes stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Police said there was no indication that either driver was intoxicated but that the pedestrians' sobriety levels were unknown Saturday.
Both fatal crashes were under investigation and mark the city's first and second auto-pedestrian fatalities of 2012. Saturday morning's crash was the fourth traffic-related fatality of the year.
SAN JOSE, Calif. —
A 77-year-old woman crossing a street in San Jose Saturday morning was struck and killed by a car, police said. Her death was the city's second pedestrian fatality since Friday night.
The woman had been in the road in the area of Oakland and Rock Avenue when she was struck by a 1999 green Honda Civic at about 6:45 a.m., police said.
She was transported to Regional Medical Center of San Jose, where she was pronounced dead at 8:46 a.m.
About 12 hours earlier, a woman crossing Meridian Avenue was struck and killed by a car, police said.
The crash was reported at about 8:35 p.m. and involved a green late 1990s Acura Legend. The car was driving northbound on Meridian Avenue when it struck the woman, believed to be in her 40s, who was in the road just south of West San Carlos Street, police said.
Fire personnel pronounced the woman dead at 8:43 p.m.
The drivers in both crashes stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Police said there was no indication that either driver was intoxicated but that the pedestrians' sobriety levels were unknown Saturday.
Both fatal crashes were under investigation and mark the city's first and second auto-pedestrian fatalities of 2012. Saturday morning's crash was the fourth traffic-related fatality of the year.
Meet the Xoloitzcuintli, Plus 5 More Breeds Debuting at Westminster 2012
,000 pristine physical specimens are descending upon Manhattan as we speak, there to primp and preen and strut their stuff for an audience of some of the world's most discerning taste-makers. But we're not talking about Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, though that's happening, too. We're referring of course to the Westminster Kennel Club's 136th Annual Dog Show. Judging begins on the floor of Madison Square Garden on Monday morning, with Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding categories judged that day, and Sporting, Working and Terrier varieties judged on Tuesday. The coveted Best in Show will then be announced on Tuesday evening. As always, USA Network will carry primetime coverage.
Six new breeds are poised to make their debuts at Westminster 2012, after having received official recognition from the American Kennel Club. Let's get acquainted with the frosh class!
AMERICAN ENGLISH COONHOUND (Hound Group)
Description: A "wide-ranging hunter that possesses tremendous speed and endurance" and has "excellent voice," the American English Coonhound are descendants of English Foxhounds, and were bred to hunt fox by day and raccoons by night. The breed has a tough, protective coat that has a cool, splatter-pattern they call "ticked." The breed is "pleasant, alert, confident and sociable with both humans and dogs."
Ideal Owner: Divorced Martha's Vineyard estate-owner, with kids.
CESKY TERRIER (Terrier Group)
Description: This is not a Schnauzer! It's a Cesky Terrier, a "well-muscled, short legged and well-pigmented" hunting terrier with "natural drop ears and a natural tail." It's "soft, long, silky coat" comes in a variety of gray shades, from Charcoal to Platinum. They are "reserved towards strangers, loyal to their owners, but ever keen and alert during the hunt."
Ideal Owner: Energetic, monied, octogenarian spinster.
ENTLEBUCHER MOUNTAIN DOG (Herding Group)
Description: Bred in Switzerland, the medium-sized Entlebucher Mountain Dog is the smallest of the four breeds to come from that alpine country. Breeding has resulted in an "unusually intense bonding between the Entlebucher and his master." The Entlebucher works hard and plays hard, but his guard-dog traits require owners to thoroughly socialize the dog.
Ideal Owner: Oregon-based ostrich farmer.
FINNISH LAPPHUND (Herding Group)
Description: The Finnish Lapphund is a reindeer herding dog from the northern parts of Scandinavia that has existed for hundreds, possibly thousands, of years. Yes. Believe it. They are popular family pets in Finland, "friendly with all people, highly intelligent and eager to learn."
Ideal Owner: Tilda Swinton.
Six new breeds are poised to make their debuts at Westminster 2012, after having received official recognition from the American Kennel Club. Let's get acquainted with the frosh class!
AMERICAN ENGLISH COONHOUND (Hound Group)
Description: A "wide-ranging hunter that possesses tremendous speed and endurance" and has "excellent voice," the American English Coonhound are descendants of English Foxhounds, and were bred to hunt fox by day and raccoons by night. The breed has a tough, protective coat that has a cool, splatter-pattern they call "ticked." The breed is "pleasant, alert, confident and sociable with both humans and dogs."
Ideal Owner: Divorced Martha's Vineyard estate-owner, with kids.
CESKY TERRIER (Terrier Group)
Description: This is not a Schnauzer! It's a Cesky Terrier, a "well-muscled, short legged and well-pigmented" hunting terrier with "natural drop ears and a natural tail." It's "soft, long, silky coat" comes in a variety of gray shades, from Charcoal to Platinum. They are "reserved towards strangers, loyal to their owners, but ever keen and alert during the hunt."
Ideal Owner: Energetic, monied, octogenarian spinster.
ENTLEBUCHER MOUNTAIN DOG (Herding Group)
Description: Bred in Switzerland, the medium-sized Entlebucher Mountain Dog is the smallest of the four breeds to come from that alpine country. Breeding has resulted in an "unusually intense bonding between the Entlebucher and his master." The Entlebucher works hard and plays hard, but his guard-dog traits require owners to thoroughly socialize the dog.
Ideal Owner: Oregon-based ostrich farmer.
FINNISH LAPPHUND (Herding Group)
Description: The Finnish Lapphund is a reindeer herding dog from the northern parts of Scandinavia that has existed for hundreds, possibly thousands, of years. Yes. Believe it. They are popular family pets in Finland, "friendly with all people, highly intelligent and eager to learn."
Ideal Owner: Tilda Swinton.
Meet the Xoloitzcuintli, Plus 5 More Breeds Debuting at Westminster 2012
2,000 pristine physical specimens are descending upon Manhattan as we speak, there to primp and preen and strut their stuff for an audience of some of the world's most discerning taste-makers. But we're not talking about Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, though that's happening, too. We're referring of course to the Westminster Kennel Club's 136th Annual Dog Show. Judging begins on the floor of Madison Square Garden on Monday morning, with Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding categories judged that day, and Sporting, Working and Terrier varieties judged on Tuesday. The coveted Best in Show will then be announced on Tuesday evening. As always, USA Network will carry primetime coverage.
RELATED: Wine Talk, Password Security, and Test Tweets
Six new breeds are poised to make their debuts at Westminster 2012, after having received official recognition from the American Kennel Club. Let's get acquainted with the frosh class!
RELATED: Mozzarella, Newspapers, and Frozen Lasagna
AMERICAN ENGLISH COONHOUND (Hound Group)
RELATED: Puppy Therapy Helps Law School Students Chill Out
Description: A "wide-ranging hunter that possesses tremendous speed and endurance" and has "excellent voice," the American English Coonhound are descendants of English Foxhounds, and were bred to hunt fox by day and raccoons by night. The breed has a tough, protective coat that has a cool, splatter-pattern they call "ticked." The breed is "pleasant, alert, confident and sociable with both humans and dogs."
RELATED: Boots, Deli Meats, and Fun with Chris Matthews
Ideal Owner: Divorced Martha's Vineyard estate-owner, with kids.
RELATED: Groundhogs, the Fountain of Youth, and Another Hero Dog
RELATED: Wine Talk, Password Security, and Test Tweets
Six new breeds are poised to make their debuts at Westminster 2012, after having received official recognition from the American Kennel Club. Let's get acquainted with the frosh class!
RELATED: Mozzarella, Newspapers, and Frozen Lasagna
AMERICAN ENGLISH COONHOUND (Hound Group)
RELATED: Puppy Therapy Helps Law School Students Chill Out
Description: A "wide-ranging hunter that possesses tremendous speed and endurance" and has "excellent voice," the American English Coonhound are descendants of English Foxhounds, and were bred to hunt fox by day and raccoons by night. The breed has a tough, protective coat that has a cool, splatter-pattern they call "ticked." The breed is "pleasant, alert, confident and sociable with both humans and dogs."
RELATED: Boots, Deli Meats, and Fun with Chris Matthews
Ideal Owner: Divorced Martha's Vineyard estate-owner, with kids.
RELATED: Groundhogs, the Fountain of Youth, and Another Hero Dog
Bahrain reports: 2 American activists deported
MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Bahrain deported two American women Saturday accused of aiding anti-government activists after entering on tourist visas, officials and activists said. The announcement comes amid escalating tensions ahead of the one-year anniversary of the uprising against the Gulf kingdom's rulers.
The two women, identified by Bahraini authorities as Huwaida Arraf and Radhika Sainath, were ordered out of the country after being arrested at a protest in the capital Manana, said Bahrain's Information Affairs Authority. Officials offered no other details about the deportation or the two women.
Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, said the pair are U.S. citizens. The U.S. Embassy said it is looking into the reports. Journalists and rights observers need prior approval to enter Bahrain, but American tourists or business travelers can obtain a visa upon arrival.
Security forces have stepped pressure before the Feb. 14 anniversary of the start of Shiite-led protests seeking a greater political voice in the strategic island nation, ruled by a Sunni monarchy that hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.
The statement from Bahrain officials accused the women of violating tourist visa rules by joining the protests "in order to report on them" for websites and social media linked to Rajab's rights group.
Bahrain's majority Shiites began protests last year seeking a greater voice in political and security affairs. Authorities responded with widespread crackdowns and arrests. At least 40 people have died in the unrest, and some right groups place the total higher.
The country's monarchy later offered some concessions, including giving more powers to the elected parliament. But protesters demand the monarchy give up its near monopoly control of political affairs.
The two women, identified by Bahraini authorities as Huwaida Arraf and Radhika Sainath, were ordered out of the country after being arrested at a protest in the capital Manana, said Bahrain's Information Affairs Authority. Officials offered no other details about the deportation or the two women.
Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, said the pair are U.S. citizens. The U.S. Embassy said it is looking into the reports. Journalists and rights observers need prior approval to enter Bahrain, but American tourists or business travelers can obtain a visa upon arrival.
Security forces have stepped pressure before the Feb. 14 anniversary of the start of Shiite-led protests seeking a greater political voice in the strategic island nation, ruled by a Sunni monarchy that hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.
The statement from Bahrain officials accused the women of violating tourist visa rules by joining the protests "in order to report on them" for websites and social media linked to Rajab's rights group.
Bahrain's majority Shiites began protests last year seeking a greater voice in political and security affairs. Authorities responded with widespread crackdowns and arrests. At least 40 people have died in the unrest, and some right groups place the total higher.
The country's monarchy later offered some concessions, including giving more powers to the elected parliament. But protesters demand the monarchy give up its near monopoly control of political affairs.
Happy homecoming for Redknapp as Spurs run riot
Harry Redknapp's emotional week ended on a high when his Tottenham Hotspur side crushed Newcastle United 5-0 at White Hart Lane.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Louis Saha struck inside the first six minutes before Saha's second and a strike from Niko Krancjar ensured the home side reached the interval with a four-goal advantage.
Emmanuel Adebayor then completed the scoring midway through the second half as Spurs moved 10 points clear of fourth-placed Arsenal.
For Redknapp, this was the perfect end to a week in which he was cleared of charges of tax evasion and been installed as the clear favourite to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager.
The manager had described the stresses of his two-week court ordeal in the build-up to this game.
He also admitted to being flattered at being linked with the England job, although added it would be a wrench to leave Tottenham.
The reaction of the Spurs supporters will have done nothing to change that, with the home fans making it clear they would like the manager to remain at the club.
Both matters were cast to one side as he switched his focus back on to Tottenham and their continuing efforts to increase the pressure on Manchester United and Manchester City at the head of the table.
Chelsea's defeat at Everton earlier in the day also meant Spurs could extend the gap between themselves and fourth place.
And they were given the perfect start when they raced into a two-goal lead inside the first six minutes.
If Redknapp was looking for an antidote to the off-field affairs that have dominated his week, then this was the ideal response from his players.
Their intent was clear from the moment Adebayor exchanged passes with Kranjcar on the edge of the Newcastle area before delivering a low cross towards Assou-Ekotto who slotted the ball into an empty net.
Two minutes later, and Newcastle were again carved open by Adebayor who this time picked out Saha with a deep, right wing cross.
The former Everton striker was making his full debut after joining Spurs on transfer deadline day and he ensured it was an occasion to remember by finishing with a left foot volley.
Tottenham were rampant while Newcastle simply looked shell-shocked.
It could have got worse for the visitors in the 15th minute when Kranjcar shot over when he should have done much better.
But that turned out to be only a temporary reprieve and four minutes later, Saha made it three when he drilled a shot past Tim Krul after Adebayor had laid off Luka Modric's cross.
The visitors finally threatened Brad Friedel's goal when Demba Ba sent a free kick flying narrowly wide.
That proved to be a rare moment of activity in the Spurs goalmouth and Redknapp's side established a four-goal lead in the 33rd minute.
Once again Adebayor was involved, firing in a shot after collecting a pass from Saha and Kranjcar followed up to convert the rebound after Krul had saved.
Redknapp's reaction to each goal had got progressively more animated and this time he virtually danced along the touchline in celebration.
Newcastle had no answer and after avoiding further setbacks before the break, were then left with the task of avoiding more humiliation after the restart.
They held out for 20 minutes, but eventually wilted when Saha turned provider and nodded down for Adebayor who volleyed home for the fifth.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Louis Saha struck inside the first six minutes before Saha's second and a strike from Niko Krancjar ensured the home side reached the interval with a four-goal advantage.
Emmanuel Adebayor then completed the scoring midway through the second half as Spurs moved 10 points clear of fourth-placed Arsenal.
For Redknapp, this was the perfect end to a week in which he was cleared of charges of tax evasion and been installed as the clear favourite to succeed Fabio Capello as England manager.
The manager had described the stresses of his two-week court ordeal in the build-up to this game.
He also admitted to being flattered at being linked with the England job, although added it would be a wrench to leave Tottenham.
The reaction of the Spurs supporters will have done nothing to change that, with the home fans making it clear they would like the manager to remain at the club.
Both matters were cast to one side as he switched his focus back on to Tottenham and their continuing efforts to increase the pressure on Manchester United and Manchester City at the head of the table.
Chelsea's defeat at Everton earlier in the day also meant Spurs could extend the gap between themselves and fourth place.
And they were given the perfect start when they raced into a two-goal lead inside the first six minutes.
If Redknapp was looking for an antidote to the off-field affairs that have dominated his week, then this was the ideal response from his players.
Their intent was clear from the moment Adebayor exchanged passes with Kranjcar on the edge of the Newcastle area before delivering a low cross towards Assou-Ekotto who slotted the ball into an empty net.
Two minutes later, and Newcastle were again carved open by Adebayor who this time picked out Saha with a deep, right wing cross.
The former Everton striker was making his full debut after joining Spurs on transfer deadline day and he ensured it was an occasion to remember by finishing with a left foot volley.
Tottenham were rampant while Newcastle simply looked shell-shocked.
It could have got worse for the visitors in the 15th minute when Kranjcar shot over when he should have done much better.
But that turned out to be only a temporary reprieve and four minutes later, Saha made it three when he drilled a shot past Tim Krul after Adebayor had laid off Luka Modric's cross.
The visitors finally threatened Brad Friedel's goal when Demba Ba sent a free kick flying narrowly wide.
That proved to be a rare moment of activity in the Spurs goalmouth and Redknapp's side established a four-goal lead in the 33rd minute.
Once again Adebayor was involved, firing in a shot after collecting a pass from Saha and Kranjcar followed up to convert the rebound after Krul had saved.
Redknapp's reaction to each goal had got progressively more animated and this time he virtually danced along the touchline in celebration.
Newcastle had no answer and after avoiding further setbacks before the break, were then left with the task of avoiding more humiliation after the restart.
They held out for 20 minutes, but eventually wilted when Saha turned provider and nodded down for Adebayor who volleyed home for the fifth.
Spanish thriller dredges up dark childhood secret
Director Antonio Chavarrias and cast member Magica Perez pose during a photocall to promote the movie 'Dictado' at the 62nd Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin February 11, 2012. REUTERS/Morris Mac Matzen
BERLIN (Reuters) - Spanish psychological thriller "Dictado" (Childish Games), depicting a man spooked by a little girl who revives a dark secret from his childhood, had viewers also on edge at its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on Saturday.
When Daniel's childhood friend commits suicide, he takes the man's seven-year-old daughter into his care. But some of the girl's simplest actions put him on edge as they recall ominous childhood memories.
"My character is afraid of a descent into madness because of the ghosts of the past," said Juan Diego Botto, who plays Daniel. "He is making a huge effort to save himself, to remain healthy...but he cannot avoid the fact this trauma, that he never confronted, fully comes back in a monstrous form."
Daniel is a gentle schoolteacher, in a loving relationship with Laura, played by Barbara Lennie who recently starred in Pedro Almodovar's "La piel que habito" (The skin I live in).
But like his friend, he is increasingly engulfed by irrational fears and memories of the past. During the day, he manages to repress his demons and carry on as usual, but at night they come back with a vengeance in his macabre dreams.
"It is about the shadows our childhood project across our lives, from which we are never freed," said director Antonio Chavarrias. "The nightmares help to show what is going on inside him and the irrational elements of his feelings."
"He is a perfectly balanced character, or thinks he is. He thinks he has a logical explanation for what has happened in his childhood, he has been convinced it was an accident which has no further consequences, but when he sleeps he loses that control."
The symphonic music, which recalls the scores of classic American thrillers from the 1940s and 1950s, such as those of Alfred Hitchcock, heightens the tension and threat that ultimately engulfs Daniel. Certain motifs are repeated in many variations like a growing obsession.
"An echoing melody can be pretty but also become very nightmarish," said Chavarrias, who filmed the main plot in his hometown of Barcelona, in northeastern Spain.
"Juan's character is a very difficult one because... his life is undergoing terrible change, and he cannot express it fully, so we thought we could use the score to help channel those emotions."
Daniel's torment increasingly drives a wedge between him and his girlfriend, who desperately wants a child of her own and grows attached to the little girl. He becomes isolated, trapped within his own fears and jealousy.
The girl, played by Magica Perez, appears innocent but is somehow also unsettling.
Director Chavarrias said it was challenging to make a film about evil without any villains - and it is precisely that which makes it less easy to define as a genre.
"I didn't want to make a genre film, but I looked to traditional fairytales, and also more specifically to the tragic dimension of fairytales," he said.
"There is a lot of horror in fairytales, but at the end, there tends to be light at the end of the tunnel.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Spanish psychological thriller "Dictado" (Childish Games), depicting a man spooked by a little girl who revives a dark secret from his childhood, had viewers also on edge at its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on Saturday.
When Daniel's childhood friend commits suicide, he takes the man's seven-year-old daughter into his care. But some of the girl's simplest actions put him on edge as they recall ominous childhood memories.
"My character is afraid of a descent into madness because of the ghosts of the past," said Juan Diego Botto, who plays Daniel. "He is making a huge effort to save himself, to remain healthy...but he cannot avoid the fact this trauma, that he never confronted, fully comes back in a monstrous form."
Daniel is a gentle schoolteacher, in a loving relationship with Laura, played by Barbara Lennie who recently starred in Pedro Almodovar's "La piel que habito" (The skin I live in).
But like his friend, he is increasingly engulfed by irrational fears and memories of the past. During the day, he manages to repress his demons and carry on as usual, but at night they come back with a vengeance in his macabre dreams.
"It is about the shadows our childhood project across our lives, from which we are never freed," said director Antonio Chavarrias. "The nightmares help to show what is going on inside him and the irrational elements of his feelings."
"He is a perfectly balanced character, or thinks he is. He thinks he has a logical explanation for what has happened in his childhood, he has been convinced it was an accident which has no further consequences, but when he sleeps he loses that control."
The symphonic music, which recalls the scores of classic American thrillers from the 1940s and 1950s, such as those of Alfred Hitchcock, heightens the tension and threat that ultimately engulfs Daniel. Certain motifs are repeated in many variations like a growing obsession.
"An echoing melody can be pretty but also become very nightmarish," said Chavarrias, who filmed the main plot in his hometown of Barcelona, in northeastern Spain.
"Juan's character is a very difficult one because... his life is undergoing terrible change, and he cannot express it fully, so we thought we could use the score to help channel those emotions."
Daniel's torment increasingly drives a wedge between him and his girlfriend, who desperately wants a child of her own and grows attached to the little girl. He becomes isolated, trapped within his own fears and jealousy.
The girl, played by Magica Perez, appears innocent but is somehow also unsettling.
Director Chavarrias said it was challenging to make a film about evil without any villains - and it is precisely that which makes it less easy to define as a genre.
"I didn't want to make a genre film, but I looked to traditional fairytales, and also more specifically to the tragic dimension of fairytales," he said.
"There is a lot of horror in fairytales, but at the end, there tends to be light at the end of the tunnel.
Spanish thriller dredges up dark childhood secret
BERLIN (Reuters) - Spanish psychological thriller "Dictado" (Childish Games), depicting a man spooked by a little girl who revives a dark secret from his childhood, had viewers also on edge at its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on Saturday.
When Daniel's childhood friend commits suicide, he takes the man's seven-year-old daughter into his care. But some of the girl's simplest actions put him on edge as they recall ominous childhood memories.
"My character is afraid of a descent into madness because of the ghosts of the past," said Juan Diego Botto, who plays Daniel. "He is making a huge effort to save himself, to remain healthy...but he cannot avoid the fact this trauma, that he never confronted, fully comes back in a monstrous form."
Daniel is a gentle schoolteacher, in a loving relationship with Laura, played by Barbara Lennie who recently starred in Pedro Almodovar's "La piel que habito" (The skin I live in).
But like his friend, he is increasingly engulfed by irrational fears and memories of the past. During the day, he manages to repress his demons and carry on as usual, but at night they come back with a vengeance in his macabre dreams.
"It is about the shadows our childhood project across our lives, from which we are never freed," said director Antonio Chavarrias. "The nightmares help to show what is going on inside him and the irrational elements of his feelings."
"He is a perfectly balanced character, or thinks he is. He thinks he has a logical explanation for what has happened in his childhood, he has been convinced it was an accident which has no further consequences, but when he sleeps he loses that control."
The symphonic music, which recalls the scores of classic American thrillers from the 1940s and 1950s, such as those of Alfred Hitchcock, heightens the tension and threat that ultimately engulfs Daniel. Certain motifs are repeated in many variations like a growing obsession.
"An echoing melody can be pretty but also become very nightmarish," said Chavarrias, who filmed the main plot in his hometown of Barcelona, in northeastern Spain.
"Juan's character is a very difficult one because... his life is undergoing terrible change, and he cannot express it fully, so we thought we could use the score to help channel those emotions."
Daniel's torment increasingly drives a wedge between him and his girlfriend, who desperately wants a child of her own and grows attached to the little girl. He becomes isolated, trapped within his own fears and jealousy.
The girl, played by Magica Perez, appears innocent but is somehow also unsettling.
Director Chavarrias said it was challenging to make a film about evil without any villains - and it is precisely that which makes it less easy to define as a genre.
"I didn't want to make a genre film, but I looked to traditional fairytales, and also more specifically to the tragic dimension of fairytales," he said.
"There is a lot of horror in fairytales, but at the end, there tends to be light at the end of the tunnel
When Daniel's childhood friend commits suicide, he takes the man's seven-year-old daughter into his care. But some of the girl's simplest actions put him on edge as they recall ominous childhood memories.
"My character is afraid of a descent into madness because of the ghosts of the past," said Juan Diego Botto, who plays Daniel. "He is making a huge effort to save himself, to remain healthy...but he cannot avoid the fact this trauma, that he never confronted, fully comes back in a monstrous form."
Daniel is a gentle schoolteacher, in a loving relationship with Laura, played by Barbara Lennie who recently starred in Pedro Almodovar's "La piel que habito" (The skin I live in).
But like his friend, he is increasingly engulfed by irrational fears and memories of the past. During the day, he manages to repress his demons and carry on as usual, but at night they come back with a vengeance in his macabre dreams.
"It is about the shadows our childhood project across our lives, from which we are never freed," said director Antonio Chavarrias. "The nightmares help to show what is going on inside him and the irrational elements of his feelings."
"He is a perfectly balanced character, or thinks he is. He thinks he has a logical explanation for what has happened in his childhood, he has been convinced it was an accident which has no further consequences, but when he sleeps he loses that control."
The symphonic music, which recalls the scores of classic American thrillers from the 1940s and 1950s, such as those of Alfred Hitchcock, heightens the tension and threat that ultimately engulfs Daniel. Certain motifs are repeated in many variations like a growing obsession.
"An echoing melody can be pretty but also become very nightmarish," said Chavarrias, who filmed the main plot in his hometown of Barcelona, in northeastern Spain.
"Juan's character is a very difficult one because... his life is undergoing terrible change, and he cannot express it fully, so we thought we could use the score to help channel those emotions."
Daniel's torment increasingly drives a wedge between him and his girlfriend, who desperately wants a child of her own and grows attached to the little girl. He becomes isolated, trapped within his own fears and jealousy.
The girl, played by Magica Perez, appears innocent but is somehow also unsettling.
Director Chavarrias said it was challenging to make a film about evil without any villains - and it is precisely that which makes it less easy to define as a genre.
"I didn't want to make a genre film, but I looked to traditional fairytales, and also more specifically to the tragic dimension of fairytales," he said.
"There is a lot of horror in fairytales, but at the end, there tends to be light at the end of the tunnel
Love a click away in Indonesia's Twitter Republic
He was a geeky kid from Yogyakarta, she a glamorous city girl in Jakarta. In a country with one of the world's most vibrant social networking scenes they fell in love on Twitter.
The storyline of "Republik Twitter," an Indonesian romantic comedy to be released in Valentine's week, exemplifies a growing trend of couples hooking up through social networking sites in the world's most populous Muslim nation.
In Indonesia, with its 240 million population scattered across a vast archipelago of 17,000 islands -- some without even landlines -- 40 million Facebook users and 20 million tweeters comprise the world's third-largest Facebook community and fifth-biggest on Twitter.
And the button on a smartphone is often the gateway to love.
Social media manager Aulia Soemitro met his belle on Twitter. On Valentine's Day, he wants to tweet his tale.
"I'll post a short story about our love journey, confess when I started having feelings for her and what made me so crazy about her," the 24-year-old said.
Ilham Aji Prasetyo, a 22-year-old student, said he snared himself a cyberspace girlfriend after two weeks of flirting -- but never got to meet her face-to-face.
"It was a virtual relationship, we never met. I checked out her Facebook photos and chatted online and she felt so right for me," he said.
"But after three weeks we both felt we couldn't get more serious because we were of different faiths so we split."
He found another girlfriend last month -- again online.
"This time we've met," he said." On Valentine's Day I will send her a love tweet with heart icons, then we'll go out to the malls."
Marriages are not usually arranged in Indonesia, but social networking sites have become a popular way to find a partner -- particularly over long distance in such a big country.
But some Islamic clerics have called for a ban of sites like Facebook, arguing they allow improper mingling between the sexes and encourage pornography and illicit sex.
"Republik Twitter" portrays not only Indonesia's online romance scene, but also the nation's collective love affair with social networking sites.
"We are a Twitter nation. Some use the medium to communicate and share news, others to find love," said Kuntz Agus, 30, who directed the film.
"Numerous hook-ups and break-ups happen on Twitter. Many relationships end badly due to personality differences. After all, it's hard to get to know a person well in 140-character bits," he added.
On screen, love blossoms on Twitter between Sukmo and Hanum. But after Sukmo meets her and she turns out to be a glamorous and beautiful journalist, his confidence melts. He decides to reinvent his looks, and real love blooms when they meet again.
The storyline of "Republik Twitter," an Indonesian romantic comedy to be released in Valentine's week, exemplifies a growing trend of couples hooking up through social networking sites in the world's most populous Muslim nation.
In Indonesia, with its 240 million population scattered across a vast archipelago of 17,000 islands -- some without even landlines -- 40 million Facebook users and 20 million tweeters comprise the world's third-largest Facebook community and fifth-biggest on Twitter.
And the button on a smartphone is often the gateway to love.
Social media manager Aulia Soemitro met his belle on Twitter. On Valentine's Day, he wants to tweet his tale.
"I'll post a short story about our love journey, confess when I started having feelings for her and what made me so crazy about her," the 24-year-old said.
Ilham Aji Prasetyo, a 22-year-old student, said he snared himself a cyberspace girlfriend after two weeks of flirting -- but never got to meet her face-to-face.
"It was a virtual relationship, we never met. I checked out her Facebook photos and chatted online and she felt so right for me," he said.
"But after three weeks we both felt we couldn't get more serious because we were of different faiths so we split."
He found another girlfriend last month -- again online.
"This time we've met," he said." On Valentine's Day I will send her a love tweet with heart icons, then we'll go out to the malls."
Marriages are not usually arranged in Indonesia, but social networking sites have become a popular way to find a partner -- particularly over long distance in such a big country.
But some Islamic clerics have called for a ban of sites like Facebook, arguing they allow improper mingling between the sexes and encourage pornography and illicit sex.
"Republik Twitter" portrays not only Indonesia's online romance scene, but also the nation's collective love affair with social networking sites.
"We are a Twitter nation. Some use the medium to communicate and share news, others to find love," said Kuntz Agus, 30, who directed the film.
"Numerous hook-ups and break-ups happen on Twitter. Many relationships end badly due to personality differences. After all, it's hard to get to know a person well in 140-character bits," he added.
On screen, love blossoms on Twitter between Sukmo and Hanum. But after Sukmo meets her and she turns out to be a glamorous and beautiful journalist, his confidence melts. He decides to reinvent his looks, and real love blooms when they meet again.
Large Crowd On Hand For Josh Hamilton Appearance
HURST (CBSDFW) – Why would people show up at a store in Hurst before 9 A.M. with the temperature below freezing and a biting north wind? To get a chance for an autograph of Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton.
Hamilton was in Hurst Saturday afternoon for a public appearance and book signing at a LifeWay Christian Store.
Nearly 250 people showed up at 9 A.M. to pick up a ticket for the signing. Some, like Heather Sweeney, had arrived much earlier. “I’m here to show him I support him no matter what he’s going through,” said the fan, who had arrived at midnight.
By the time the event started, hundreds more were lined up around the business with copies of Hamilton’s biography.
Saturday’s appearance is Hamilton’s second known public appearance since his well-documented relapse with alcohol two weeks ago. The 2010 MVP has struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. He has turned to religious faith to battle his addictions.
In the line, many people expressed hope that Hamilton has learned from this latest relapse and are ready to see him patrolling the outfield at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington this season.
Hamilton, who was scheduled to appear for one hour, stayed for more than two hours, but was only able to sign copies of his book for 150 of the estimated 500 people in the crowd.
Hamilton was in Hurst Saturday afternoon for a public appearance and book signing at a LifeWay Christian Store.
Nearly 250 people showed up at 9 A.M. to pick up a ticket for the signing. Some, like Heather Sweeney, had arrived much earlier. “I’m here to show him I support him no matter what he’s going through,” said the fan, who had arrived at midnight.
By the time the event started, hundreds more were lined up around the business with copies of Hamilton’s biography.
Saturday’s appearance is Hamilton’s second known public appearance since his well-documented relapse with alcohol two weeks ago. The 2010 MVP has struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. He has turned to religious faith to battle his addictions.
In the line, many people expressed hope that Hamilton has learned from this latest relapse and are ready to see him patrolling the outfield at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington this season.
Hamilton, who was scheduled to appear for one hour, stayed for more than two hours, but was only able to sign copies of his book for 150 of the estimated 500 people in the crowd.
Buena Vista musician declines to go to Grammys
A top Cuban musician from the Buena Vista Social Club has declined to go to the United States to attend the upcoming Grammy Awards ceremony, website Cubasi reported.
In an interview with the website on Friday, Eliades Ochoa said he had received a US visa but would stay home instead.
"I prefer to play here in Cuba, in front of my people, rather than go to the Grammys," said Ochoa, 65. "I said it even before the visa came: I prefer to remain in Cuba and play for my people."
The guitarist and singer did not specify whether he himself had applied for the visa.
Ochoa's album "Afrocubismo," which represents a mixture of traditional Cuban and African music, was nominated for a Grammy award.
"The nomination itself was an award for us," the musician said. "It was a recognition of Cuban traditional music, of our roots. And if we win a Grammy, so much the better."
Ochoa is currently on a concert tour promoting his new album, "A Bolero for You," with performances scheduled in Havana and Varadero.
The Grammys ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on Sunday.
In an interview with the website on Friday, Eliades Ochoa said he had received a US visa but would stay home instead.
"I prefer to play here in Cuba, in front of my people, rather than go to the Grammys," said Ochoa, 65. "I said it even before the visa came: I prefer to remain in Cuba and play for my people."
The guitarist and singer did not specify whether he himself had applied for the visa.
Ochoa's album "Afrocubismo," which represents a mixture of traditional Cuban and African music, was nominated for a Grammy award.
"The nomination itself was an award for us," the musician said. "It was a recognition of Cuban traditional music, of our roots. And if we win a Grammy, so much the better."
Ochoa is currently on a concert tour promoting his new album, "A Bolero for You," with performances scheduled in Havana and Varadero.
The Grammys ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Nicole Miller mixes '70s rocker and digital prints
NEW YORK (AP) — Nicole Miller played on parallel times past and present, combining bright digital prints with rocker black, brown suede and velvet in a fall collection inspired by Jimi Hendrix.
Known for red carpet gowns worn by Angelina Jolie, Miller put together a New York Fashion Week runway evoking the '70s in color and cut. She put long fringe on the bottom of skirts, ruffles on silk blouses and alpaca trim on a vest and a black leather coat with a metallic brocade.
"I'm inspired by the freedom and power I see all around us, popular culture particularly," Miller said. "My designs this season have a certain vintage feel, with a modern and feminine twist."
One of her digital prints was a feather design in a light mossy green. Another featured garden flowers and a third was a neon plaid in pink, orange and a touch of blue against black in a velvet trouser. Miller carried the same print into a mini skirt.
She mixed her flowers with a blocky jewel print in a stretchy dress and used bright jewels to embellish tops and clutch bags held by models, some of whom walked in floppy wide-brimmed hats.
"I love blending modern technology and old techniques," Miller said in her notes. "Felting of all kinds has long been an obsession."
Miller also made use of patchwork in a suede short and a silk georgette blouse.
Known for red carpet gowns worn by Angelina Jolie, Miller put together a New York Fashion Week runway evoking the '70s in color and cut. She put long fringe on the bottom of skirts, ruffles on silk blouses and alpaca trim on a vest and a black leather coat with a metallic brocade.
"I'm inspired by the freedom and power I see all around us, popular culture particularly," Miller said. "My designs this season have a certain vintage feel, with a modern and feminine twist."
One of her digital prints was a feather design in a light mossy green. Another featured garden flowers and a third was a neon plaid in pink, orange and a touch of blue against black in a velvet trouser. Miller carried the same print into a mini skirt.
She mixed her flowers with a blocky jewel print in a stretchy dress and used bright jewels to embellish tops and clutch bags held by models, some of whom walked in floppy wide-brimmed hats.
"I love blending modern technology and old techniques," Miller said in her notes. "Felting of all kinds has long been an obsession."
Miller also made use of patchwork in a suede short and a silk georgette blouse.
Kagawa strike keeps Dortmund top
Japan winger Shinji Kagawa hit his fourth goal in four games on Saturday to keep Borussia Dortmund top of the German league with a 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
The 22-year-old Kagawa finally unpicked the packed Leverkusen defence and fired home from a tight angle on the stroke of half-time for what proved to be the winner which keeps Dortmund two points clear of second-placed Bayern Munich.
Having scored twice in the 3-1 home win over Hoffenheim a fortnight ago and in the 4-0 German Cup rout of Holstein Kiel in midweek, Kagawa is in fine form for the German champions and his pace is a constant threat.
"Leverkusen were organised and highly motivated, but we did a good job of defending well against them," said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp.
"I am very happy with the game, because I knew it would be very difficult."
Ex-Germany captain Michael Ballack, who has fallen out of favour with Leverkusen, was again over-looked on the bench when coach Robin Dutt opted to bring on 21-year-old midfielder Karim Bellarabi for the last 15 minutes.
Leverkusen defended well throughout, but will have their work cut out to contain holders Barcelona at home in the Champions League round of 16, first-leg on Tuesday.
Dortmund picked up their 14th win of the season, but Bayern are hard on their heels after their 2-0 win over struggling Kaiserslautern as Germany's Mario Gomez and Thomas Mueller both netted.
"We built on our good performance in Stuttgart (in the German Cup in midweek) and we created five great chances im the first-half alone," said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes.
"I was again very pleased that we gave nothing away in defence, because you need a good defence to win the title."
Munich will be without midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger for the foreseeable future as the Germany star has damaged ankle ligaments, but they had enough firepower in midfield to cope with Kaiserslautern.
Dutch winger Arjen Robben, who has struggled for form recently, started on the bench, but came on for the last half an hour with Bayern to face FC Basel in the knock-out phase of the Champions League on February 22.
"Arjen Robben was highly motivated and played well when he came on, he was very positive, but I expected that of him," said Heynckes.
Borussia Moenchengladbach enjoyed a 3-0 win at home to Schalke 04 on Saturday night to take over third place from the Royal Blues and remain three points behind Dortmund.
"That was impressive, but we lost our domination a little in the second-half," said goal-scorer Mike Hanke, while midfielder Marco Reus said the team are still improving.
The hosts were 2-0 up after just 15 minutes with Dortmund-bound Marco and Hanke finding holes in the Schalke defence before Juan Arango added the third on 32 minutes from an indirect free-kick.
"That performance was not worthy of a Schalke team," fumed Schalke captain Benedikt Hoewdes.
"We were very poor in the first-half, we were almost childish in our errors."
Having been knocked out of the German Cup in midweek by Moenchengladbach, Hertha Berlin's fortunes dipped further as they were hammered 5-0 at VfB Stuttgart and had defender Andreas Ottl sent off for a foul.
Hertha host Dortmund in the Bundesliga next Saturday and will need to improve substantially to avoid another defeat as they lie in 15th place, just above the relegation zone.
Hoffenheim who fired Holger Stanislawski as coach on Thursday and replaced him with ex-Hertha manager Markus Babbel, enjoyed their first win under their new coach with a 1-1 draw at Werder Bremen.
The 22-year-old Kagawa finally unpicked the packed Leverkusen defence and fired home from a tight angle on the stroke of half-time for what proved to be the winner which keeps Dortmund two points clear of second-placed Bayern Munich.
Having scored twice in the 3-1 home win over Hoffenheim a fortnight ago and in the 4-0 German Cup rout of Holstein Kiel in midweek, Kagawa is in fine form for the German champions and his pace is a constant threat.
"Leverkusen were organised and highly motivated, but we did a good job of defending well against them," said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp.
"I am very happy with the game, because I knew it would be very difficult."
Ex-Germany captain Michael Ballack, who has fallen out of favour with Leverkusen, was again over-looked on the bench when coach Robin Dutt opted to bring on 21-year-old midfielder Karim Bellarabi for the last 15 minutes.
Leverkusen defended well throughout, but will have their work cut out to contain holders Barcelona at home in the Champions League round of 16, first-leg on Tuesday.
Dortmund picked up their 14th win of the season, but Bayern are hard on their heels after their 2-0 win over struggling Kaiserslautern as Germany's Mario Gomez and Thomas Mueller both netted.
"We built on our good performance in Stuttgart (in the German Cup in midweek) and we created five great chances im the first-half alone," said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes.
"I was again very pleased that we gave nothing away in defence, because you need a good defence to win the title."
Munich will be without midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger for the foreseeable future as the Germany star has damaged ankle ligaments, but they had enough firepower in midfield to cope with Kaiserslautern.
Dutch winger Arjen Robben, who has struggled for form recently, started on the bench, but came on for the last half an hour with Bayern to face FC Basel in the knock-out phase of the Champions League on February 22.
"Arjen Robben was highly motivated and played well when he came on, he was very positive, but I expected that of him," said Heynckes.
Borussia Moenchengladbach enjoyed a 3-0 win at home to Schalke 04 on Saturday night to take over third place from the Royal Blues and remain three points behind Dortmund.
"That was impressive, but we lost our domination a little in the second-half," said goal-scorer Mike Hanke, while midfielder Marco Reus said the team are still improving.
The hosts were 2-0 up after just 15 minutes with Dortmund-bound Marco and Hanke finding holes in the Schalke defence before Juan Arango added the third on 32 minutes from an indirect free-kick.
"That performance was not worthy of a Schalke team," fumed Schalke captain Benedikt Hoewdes.
"We were very poor in the first-half, we were almost childish in our errors."
Having been knocked out of the German Cup in midweek by Moenchengladbach, Hertha Berlin's fortunes dipped further as they were hammered 5-0 at VfB Stuttgart and had defender Andreas Ottl sent off for a foul.
Hertha host Dortmund in the Bundesliga next Saturday and will need to improve substantially to avoid another defeat as they lie in 15th place, just above the relegation zone.
Hoffenheim who fired Holger Stanislawski as coach on Thursday and replaced him with ex-Hertha manager Markus Babbel, enjoyed their first win under their new coach with a 1-1 draw at Werder Bremen.
Egypt Bedouin free 3 S. Korean hostages: governor
Bedouin in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on Saturday released three South Korean tourists and their Egyptian tour guide a day after abducting them, South Sinai's governor told AFP.
Khaled Fouda said the tourists, all women, "were unharmed" and he was waiting for them to arrive at a hotel near St Catherine's monastery, from where the tourists were returning on Friday when they were snatched by armed Bedouin.
The kidnappers demanded the release of fellow tribesmen held by the authorities in exchange for the tourists.
Police officials said the tribesman demanded by the kidnappers had been arrested after a bank robbery in one of south Sinai's resorts.
The kidnapping came after the brief abduction of two American women and their Egyptian guide by armed Bedouin in the peninsula last week.
It also follows the brief seizure of 19 Egyptian policemen on Thursday after a tribesman was killed in a shoot-out with police near the border with Israel.
Bedouins in North Sinai also briefly held 25 Chinese workers employed by a military-owned cement factory, to demand the release of Islamist relatives detained over bombings in the peninsula's Red Sea resorts between 2004 and 2006.
The sparsely populated Sinai has some of Egypt's most lucrative tourist spots, as well as being home to a mostly poor and disaffected Bedouin population.
Militants belonging to Bedouin tribes, which complain of discrimination by the central government in Cairo, stepped up attacks on police and a pipeline exporting gas to Israel after president Hosni Mubarak's overthrow last year.
Khaled Fouda said the tourists, all women, "were unharmed" and he was waiting for them to arrive at a hotel near St Catherine's monastery, from where the tourists were returning on Friday when they were snatched by armed Bedouin.
The kidnappers demanded the release of fellow tribesmen held by the authorities in exchange for the tourists.
Police officials said the tribesman demanded by the kidnappers had been arrested after a bank robbery in one of south Sinai's resorts.
The kidnapping came after the brief abduction of two American women and their Egyptian guide by armed Bedouin in the peninsula last week.
It also follows the brief seizure of 19 Egyptian policemen on Thursday after a tribesman was killed in a shoot-out with police near the border with Israel.
Bedouins in North Sinai also briefly held 25 Chinese workers employed by a military-owned cement factory, to demand the release of Islamist relatives detained over bombings in the peninsula's Red Sea resorts between 2004 and 2006.
The sparsely populated Sinai has some of Egypt's most lucrative tourist spots, as well as being home to a mostly poor and disaffected Bedouin population.
Militants belonging to Bedouin tribes, which complain of discrimination by the central government in Cairo, stepped up attacks on police and a pipeline exporting gas to Israel after president Hosni Mubarak's overthrow last year.
2012年2月10日星期五
Florida Inmate Drops Pounds in Exchange for Early Release
A 345-pound man jailed for driving with a suspended license was freed nine days early thanks to a Lake County, Fla., judge's "lose-a-pound, gain-a-day" deal.
George McCovery, 37, dropped 25 pounds in 20 days -- a feat he credited to bland prison food and the judge's weight-loss challenge.
"She gave me a chance to prove myself, and I didn't want to let her down," he told the Orlando Sentinel.
Judge Donna Miller, whose courtroom proceedings are replayed in the TV show "Lake Courts," is famous for her unusual sentence deals. In her 17 years as a judge, Miller has ordered defendants to start jogging, take a dance class, tutor math and write Christmas cards, according to the Sentinel.
"I do what I do to try to change the person in front of me," she said, acknowledging that her self-improvement sentences won't be doled out to everyone. "If the person needs jail, they get jail."
Miller said she would check McCovery's weight after 20 days. And to her surprise, he had already shed 25 pounds.
"It's not easy to lose weight," Miller told the Sentinel. "I thought he'd lose 5, maybe, 6 pounds -- not 25."
Carrying extra pounds can raise the risk of chronic, debilitating and even life-threatening medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. And if waistlines keep expanding at current rates, experts predict half of the U.S. population will be obese by 2030.
McCovery, who takes medication for high blood pressure, said he wanted to lose weight during the trial. But it isn't easy. Obesity treatments, such as bariatric surgery, are effective, but many people are reluctant to undergo such an invasive procedure. And a dearth of drugs approved to treat obesity leaves few options for extreme weight loss short of strict diets and intense exercise programs.
But the benefits of weight loss are well worth the effort. According to an August 2011 report, if every obese person decreased his or her body mass index by just 1 percent (a loss of 2 pounds for a 200-pound adult), as many as 2.4 million diabetes cases, 1.7 million cases of heart disease and stroke and 127,000 cancer cases could be prevented.
Although McCovery lost more than a pound a day, experts say slow and steady weight loss is the best way to shed the pounds for good.
"There's a lot that goes on between losing that first pound and losing that 100, 50 or even 20 pounds," Lisa Cimperman, a registered dietitian at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, told ABC News. Aiming to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week can help you stay on track and power through the inevitable weight loss lulls.
Along the way, McCovery was encouraged by his detention deputies, the Sentinel reported.
"Studies have shown that support groups or just having someone else encouraging you will help make you successful," said Lisa Cimperman.
That encouragement and the promise of making it home in time for Thanksgiving was enough for McCovery, who earned a note of praise from Judger Miller on his release order that read, "Good job, Mr. McCovery!"
George McCovery, 37, dropped 25 pounds in 20 days -- a feat he credited to bland prison food and the judge's weight-loss challenge.
"She gave me a chance to prove myself, and I didn't want to let her down," he told the Orlando Sentinel.
Judge Donna Miller, whose courtroom proceedings are replayed in the TV show "Lake Courts," is famous for her unusual sentence deals. In her 17 years as a judge, Miller has ordered defendants to start jogging, take a dance class, tutor math and write Christmas cards, according to the Sentinel.
"I do what I do to try to change the person in front of me," she said, acknowledging that her self-improvement sentences won't be doled out to everyone. "If the person needs jail, they get jail."
Miller said she would check McCovery's weight after 20 days. And to her surprise, he had already shed 25 pounds.
"It's not easy to lose weight," Miller told the Sentinel. "I thought he'd lose 5, maybe, 6 pounds -- not 25."
Carrying extra pounds can raise the risk of chronic, debilitating and even life-threatening medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. And if waistlines keep expanding at current rates, experts predict half of the U.S. population will be obese by 2030.
McCovery, who takes medication for high blood pressure, said he wanted to lose weight during the trial. But it isn't easy. Obesity treatments, such as bariatric surgery, are effective, but many people are reluctant to undergo such an invasive procedure. And a dearth of drugs approved to treat obesity leaves few options for extreme weight loss short of strict diets and intense exercise programs.
But the benefits of weight loss are well worth the effort. According to an August 2011 report, if every obese person decreased his or her body mass index by just 1 percent (a loss of 2 pounds for a 200-pound adult), as many as 2.4 million diabetes cases, 1.7 million cases of heart disease and stroke and 127,000 cancer cases could be prevented.
Although McCovery lost more than a pound a day, experts say slow and steady weight loss is the best way to shed the pounds for good.
"There's a lot that goes on between losing that first pound and losing that 100, 50 or even 20 pounds," Lisa Cimperman, a registered dietitian at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, told ABC News. Aiming to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week can help you stay on track and power through the inevitable weight loss lulls.
Along the way, McCovery was encouraged by his detention deputies, the Sentinel reported.
"Studies have shown that support groups or just having someone else encouraging you will help make you successful," said Lisa Cimperman.
That encouragement and the promise of making it home in time for Thanksgiving was enough for McCovery, who earned a note of praise from Judger Miller on his release order that read, "Good job, Mr. McCovery!"
Gary Giordano, Suspected in Robyn Gardner's Disappearance in Aruba, to Go Free
The only suspect in the disappearance of Robyn Gardner , who went missing in Aruba during a weeklong trip last August, will be a free man by Tuesday, according to one of his attorneys.
Gary Giordano's lawyer, Jose Baez, told ABC News that Giordano would be freed Tuesday night at 8 p.m. and could be home as early as Wednesday.
"Gary had a chance to speak, and the judge listened to him," Baez said. "He made a heartfelt plea -- explained the situation."
Giordano had spent more than 100 days in jail on the island after an Aruban judge threw out the prosecutors' request to keep Giordano detained without charge for another 30 days.
"Justice delayed is justice denied," Baez said.
Prosecutors admitted that they had no body, no murder weapon and no solid motive. But over the past few months, they believed they had accumulated enough circumstantial evidence to keep Giordano jailed for a while.
The judge thought differently.
During today's short proceeding, Giordano was allowed to explain his situation, according to Baez, who also defended Casey Anthony.
"It doesn't even pass the laugh test," Baez said today on "Good Morning America." "You're going to say a person goes to an island he has never been to before and doesn't leave a trace of a crime. I don't buy it. I don't buy it."
Taco Stein, Aruba's solicitor general, said he was "extremely surprised" the judge decided against extending Giordano's detention. He told ABC News he'd filed an appeal to Aruba's high court this morning, triggering a scramble to convince the island's three-judge panel to convene before Giordano is freed Tuesday night. They typically convene once a week, on Wednesdays.
If Giordano left the country, and the panel decided to extend his detention, Aruban prosecutors would be forced to file an extradition order -- something Stein said he hoped to avoid.
"For the investigation this will not change a thing," Stein said. "We are determined to get an answer and determined to see to it that Robyn's family will get the closure they deserve. We feel that during these difficult days."
Investigators had been trying to determine whether Giordano (once arrested for shoplifting PlayStations) was either a criminal mastermind or just a guy with bad luck -- and some bad legal advice from his first attorney.
Giordano still faces a possible grand jury indictment in Maryland.
Gardner's boyfriend, Richard Forester, told ABC news, "I hope the U.S. federal authorities have had sufficient time to gather evidence from the FBI raid on Gary Giordano's home in August and the investigation stateside so that an indictment can be obtained here in Maryland. If this is the case, then I hope he is taken into custody by U.S. federal authorities before he has a chance to be a flight risk. ... I still keep faith and hope that Robyn will be found alive."
In September, Giordano was denied release from the Aruba jail after evidence surfaced suggesting he was eager to cash in on the life insurance policy of Gardner.
"[He] sounded excited, like he was about to win something," one representative from American Express insurance told the FBI.
Court documents also show that Giordano had previously taken out an insurance policy on Gardner for a trip in June. The policy, obtained by ABC News, is dated April 27 and was signed by Gardner on May 12, officially designating Giordano as her beneficiary and listing him as her "domestic partner."
Gardner, who'd met Giordano on a swinger's website, later canceled the trip and went to New York with her roommate, Christina Jones, instead. Jones has previously told ABCNews that Giordano sent Gardner aggressive, harmful texts for her decision to bail on the trip and go to New York.
Gary Giordano's lawyer, Jose Baez, told ABC News that Giordano would be freed Tuesday night at 8 p.m. and could be home as early as Wednesday.
"Gary had a chance to speak, and the judge listened to him," Baez said. "He made a heartfelt plea -- explained the situation."
Giordano had spent more than 100 days in jail on the island after an Aruban judge threw out the prosecutors' request to keep Giordano detained without charge for another 30 days.
"Justice delayed is justice denied," Baez said.
Prosecutors admitted that they had no body, no murder weapon and no solid motive. But over the past few months, they believed they had accumulated enough circumstantial evidence to keep Giordano jailed for a while.
The judge thought differently.
During today's short proceeding, Giordano was allowed to explain his situation, according to Baez, who also defended Casey Anthony.
"It doesn't even pass the laugh test," Baez said today on "Good Morning America." "You're going to say a person goes to an island he has never been to before and doesn't leave a trace of a crime. I don't buy it. I don't buy it."
Taco Stein, Aruba's solicitor general, said he was "extremely surprised" the judge decided against extending Giordano's detention. He told ABC News he'd filed an appeal to Aruba's high court this morning, triggering a scramble to convince the island's three-judge panel to convene before Giordano is freed Tuesday night. They typically convene once a week, on Wednesdays.
If Giordano left the country, and the panel decided to extend his detention, Aruban prosecutors would be forced to file an extradition order -- something Stein said he hoped to avoid.
"For the investigation this will not change a thing," Stein said. "We are determined to get an answer and determined to see to it that Robyn's family will get the closure they deserve. We feel that during these difficult days."
Investigators had been trying to determine whether Giordano (once arrested for shoplifting PlayStations) was either a criminal mastermind or just a guy with bad luck -- and some bad legal advice from his first attorney.
Giordano still faces a possible grand jury indictment in Maryland.
Gardner's boyfriend, Richard Forester, told ABC news, "I hope the U.S. federal authorities have had sufficient time to gather evidence from the FBI raid on Gary Giordano's home in August and the investigation stateside so that an indictment can be obtained here in Maryland. If this is the case, then I hope he is taken into custody by U.S. federal authorities before he has a chance to be a flight risk. ... I still keep faith and hope that Robyn will be found alive."
In September, Giordano was denied release from the Aruba jail after evidence surfaced suggesting he was eager to cash in on the life insurance policy of Gardner.
"[He] sounded excited, like he was about to win something," one representative from American Express insurance told the FBI.
Court documents also show that Giordano had previously taken out an insurance policy on Gardner for a trip in June. The policy, obtained by ABC News, is dated April 27 and was signed by Gardner on May 12, officially designating Giordano as her beneficiary and listing him as her "domestic partner."
Gardner, who'd met Giordano on a swinger's website, later canceled the trip and went to New York with her roommate, Christina Jones, instead. Jones has previously told ABCNews that Giordano sent Gardner aggressive, harmful texts for her decision to bail on the trip and go to New York.
Mars Rover Curiosity Launched and Heading for Mars
Mars beckons space age explorers, much as the New World lured Christopher Columbus. NASA answers the siren call again Saturday -- launching the $2.5 billion nuclear-powered Mars Science Laboratory, nicknamed Curiosity.
It is the most ambitious and complex robotic rover built to explore the Red Planet. The goal: find elements that could prove whether life ever existed on Mars.
An Atlas V rocket hoisted the rover, officially known as Mars Science Laboratory, into a cloudy late morning sky from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, just south of the launch pads from which space shuttles left for 30 years, and before them, Apollo moon missions.
Curiosity is set for a nearly nine-month trip to the Red Planet. Getting there is only the start; when the spacecraft plows into the thin Martian atmosphere, that's where the spacecraft designers will be tested.
Curiosity weighs one ton and is much too heavy to land on airbags like NASA's previous rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. So it will be slowed by a heat shield and parachute, then gently lowered to the planet's surface on cables suspended from a rocket-powered sky crane. It is the first time this design is being used, and mission managers have openly confessed they're uneasy.
Mars is a harsh mistress. Of 38 missions we earthlings have sent there since the beginning of the space age, NASA counts 24 failures. The Russians have never yet had a full success.
This mission, if it succeeds, will answer questions for NASA scientists who are planning to send humans to Mars, some day. How would a manned mission work?
"The key is pre-deploying spacecraft and rovers -- getting infrastructure in place to make the most of the time we have to explore the planet," said Bret Drake of NASA's Human Space Flight Team.
Drake said we just won't know enough to go to Mars for another 30 years. It would take 180 days to get to Mars, 180 days to get back, and the astronauts would spend 500 days exploring the planet. The logistics are daunting. Problems like protecting astronauts from the radiation found in interplanetary space have yet to be solved.
Astronaut Mike Gerhardt is testing concept rovers and systems that could be used by explorers on Mars. A 900 day mission? He would go in a heartbeat.
"Once you get there, think how exhilarating it would be," he said. "You would be discovering a new planet."
Getting to Mars is time-consuming partly because of the way our planets orbit. Rice University's Dr. Patricia Reiff jokes she thinks sometimes Mars doesn't want us there.
"Even though it is relatively close to Earth, its orbit is one and a half astronomical units, where we are at one," she said. "Because the orbits are so nearly the same we only line up every two years, so we only have a good opportunity to fly to Mars every two years. That just makes it tricky navigationally."
The failures are legendary -- including the latest, Russia's Phobos-Grunt spacecraft, which is currently stuck in Earth orbit after it launched earlier this month. Phobos-Grunt was an ambitious mission to land a robotic probe on one of Mars's moons, Phobos ("Grunt" is Russian for "ground"), and scoop up soil to return to Earth. Scientists were thrilled with the prospect of testing samples in labs around the world. Now engineers are talking about when the doomed spacecraft will crash back to Earth, probably in late December or early January.
Curiosity, hopefully, will avoid Phobos-Grunt's fate. If all goes well, it will land on Mars on Aug. 6, 2012.
It is the most ambitious and complex robotic rover built to explore the Red Planet. The goal: find elements that could prove whether life ever existed on Mars.
An Atlas V rocket hoisted the rover, officially known as Mars Science Laboratory, into a cloudy late morning sky from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, just south of the launch pads from which space shuttles left for 30 years, and before them, Apollo moon missions.
Curiosity is set for a nearly nine-month trip to the Red Planet. Getting there is only the start; when the spacecraft plows into the thin Martian atmosphere, that's where the spacecraft designers will be tested.
Curiosity weighs one ton and is much too heavy to land on airbags like NASA's previous rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. So it will be slowed by a heat shield and parachute, then gently lowered to the planet's surface on cables suspended from a rocket-powered sky crane. It is the first time this design is being used, and mission managers have openly confessed they're uneasy.
Mars is a harsh mistress. Of 38 missions we earthlings have sent there since the beginning of the space age, NASA counts 24 failures. The Russians have never yet had a full success.
This mission, if it succeeds, will answer questions for NASA scientists who are planning to send humans to Mars, some day. How would a manned mission work?
"The key is pre-deploying spacecraft and rovers -- getting infrastructure in place to make the most of the time we have to explore the planet," said Bret Drake of NASA's Human Space Flight Team.
Drake said we just won't know enough to go to Mars for another 30 years. It would take 180 days to get to Mars, 180 days to get back, and the astronauts would spend 500 days exploring the planet. The logistics are daunting. Problems like protecting astronauts from the radiation found in interplanetary space have yet to be solved.
Astronaut Mike Gerhardt is testing concept rovers and systems that could be used by explorers on Mars. A 900 day mission? He would go in a heartbeat.
"Once you get there, think how exhilarating it would be," he said. "You would be discovering a new planet."
Getting to Mars is time-consuming partly because of the way our planets orbit. Rice University's Dr. Patricia Reiff jokes she thinks sometimes Mars doesn't want us there.
"Even though it is relatively close to Earth, its orbit is one and a half astronomical units, where we are at one," she said. "Because the orbits are so nearly the same we only line up every two years, so we only have a good opportunity to fly to Mars every two years. That just makes it tricky navigationally."
The failures are legendary -- including the latest, Russia's Phobos-Grunt spacecraft, which is currently stuck in Earth orbit after it launched earlier this month. Phobos-Grunt was an ambitious mission to land a robotic probe on one of Mars's moons, Phobos ("Grunt" is Russian for "ground"), and scoop up soil to return to Earth. Scientists were thrilled with the prospect of testing samples in labs around the world. Now engineers are talking about when the doomed spacecraft will crash back to Earth, probably in late December or early January.
Curiosity, hopefully, will avoid Phobos-Grunt's fate. If all goes well, it will land on Mars on Aug. 6, 2012.
Mars Rover Curiosity Set for Saturday Morning Launch
Mars beckons space age explorers, much as the New World lured Christopher Columbus. NASA answers the siren call again Saturday -- launching the $2.5 billion nuclear-powered Mars Science Laboratory, nicknamed Curiosity.
It is the most ambitious and complex robotic rover built to explore the Red Planet. The goal: find elements that could prove whether life ever existed on Mars.
The Saturday launch window opens at 10:02 a.m. ET, and there are daily opportunities after that until Dec. 18. NASA said today the weather is 70 percent go for launch from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, just south of the launch pads from which space shuttles left for 30 years, and before them, Apollo moon missions.
Curiosity is set for a nearly nine-month trip to the Red Planet. Getting there is only the start; when the spacecraft plows into the thin Martian atmosphere, that's where the spacecraft designers will be tested.
Curiosity weighs one ton and is much too heavy to land on airbags like NASA's previous rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. So it will be slowed by a heat shield and parachute, then gently lowered to the planet's surface on cables suspended from a rocket-powered sky crane. It is the first time this design is being used, and mission managers have openly confessed they're uneasy.
Mars is a harsh mistress. Of 38 missions we earthlings have sent there since the beginning of the space age, NASA counts 24 failures. The Russians have never yet had a full success.
This mission, if it succeeds, will answer questions for NASA scientists who are planning to send humans to Mars, some day. How would a manned mission work?
"The key is pre-deploying spacecraft and rovers -- getting infrastructure in place to make the most of the time we have to explore the planet," said Bret Drake of NASA's Human Space Flight Team.
Drake said we just won't know enough to go to Mars for another 30 years. It would take 180 days to get to Mars, 180 days to get back, and the astronauts would spend 500 days exploring the planet. The logistics are daunting. Problems like protecting astronauts from the radiation found in interplanetary space have yet to be solved.
Astronaut Mike Gerhardt is testing concept rovers and systems that could be used by explorers on Mars. A 900 day mission? He would go in a heartbeat.
"Once you get there, think how exhilarating it would be," he said. "You would be discovering a new planet."
Getting to Mars is time-consuming partly because of the way our planets orbit. Rice University's Dr. Patricia Reiff jokes she thinks sometimes Mars doesn't want us there.
"Even though it is relatively close to Earth, its orbit is one and a half astronomical units, where we are at one," she said. "Because the orbits are so nearly the same we only line up every two years, so we only have a good opportunity to fly to Mars every two years. That just makes it tricky navigationally."
The failures are legendary -- including the latest, Russia's Phobos-Grunt spacecraft, which is currently stuck in Earth orbit after it launched earlier this month. Phobos-Grunt was an ambitious mission to land a robotic probe on one of Mars's moons, Phobos ("Grunt" is Russian for "ground"), and scoop up soil to return to Earth. Scientists were thrilled with the prospect of testing samples in labs around the world. Now engineers are talking about when the doomed spacecraft will crash back to Earth, probably in late December or early January.
Curiosity, hopefully, will avoid Phobos-Grunt's fate. If all goes well, it will land on Mars on Aug. 6,
It is the most ambitious and complex robotic rover built to explore the Red Planet. The goal: find elements that could prove whether life ever existed on Mars.
The Saturday launch window opens at 10:02 a.m. ET, and there are daily opportunities after that until Dec. 18. NASA said today the weather is 70 percent go for launch from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, just south of the launch pads from which space shuttles left for 30 years, and before them, Apollo moon missions.
Curiosity is set for a nearly nine-month trip to the Red Planet. Getting there is only the start; when the spacecraft plows into the thin Martian atmosphere, that's where the spacecraft designers will be tested.
Curiosity weighs one ton and is much too heavy to land on airbags like NASA's previous rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. So it will be slowed by a heat shield and parachute, then gently lowered to the planet's surface on cables suspended from a rocket-powered sky crane. It is the first time this design is being used, and mission managers have openly confessed they're uneasy.
Mars is a harsh mistress. Of 38 missions we earthlings have sent there since the beginning of the space age, NASA counts 24 failures. The Russians have never yet had a full success.
This mission, if it succeeds, will answer questions for NASA scientists who are planning to send humans to Mars, some day. How would a manned mission work?
"The key is pre-deploying spacecraft and rovers -- getting infrastructure in place to make the most of the time we have to explore the planet," said Bret Drake of NASA's Human Space Flight Team.
Drake said we just won't know enough to go to Mars for another 30 years. It would take 180 days to get to Mars, 180 days to get back, and the astronauts would spend 500 days exploring the planet. The logistics are daunting. Problems like protecting astronauts from the radiation found in interplanetary space have yet to be solved.
Astronaut Mike Gerhardt is testing concept rovers and systems that could be used by explorers on Mars. A 900 day mission? He would go in a heartbeat.
"Once you get there, think how exhilarating it would be," he said. "You would be discovering a new planet."
Getting to Mars is time-consuming partly because of the way our planets orbit. Rice University's Dr. Patricia Reiff jokes she thinks sometimes Mars doesn't want us there.
"Even though it is relatively close to Earth, its orbit is one and a half astronomical units, where we are at one," she said. "Because the orbits are so nearly the same we only line up every two years, so we only have a good opportunity to fly to Mars every two years. That just makes it tricky navigationally."
The failures are legendary -- including the latest, Russia's Phobos-Grunt spacecraft, which is currently stuck in Earth orbit after it launched earlier this month. Phobos-Grunt was an ambitious mission to land a robotic probe on one of Mars's moons, Phobos ("Grunt" is Russian for "ground"), and scoop up soil to return to Earth. Scientists were thrilled with the prospect of testing samples in labs around the world. Now engineers are talking about when the doomed spacecraft will crash back to Earth, probably in late December or early January.
Curiosity, hopefully, will avoid Phobos-Grunt's fate. If all goes well, it will land on Mars on Aug. 6,
Kamikaze Turkeys? Two Fowl Accidents
Two turkeys who managed to escape 2011's Thanksgiving feast proved no match for deceptively clean windows. One crashed headfirst into a Massachusetts house earlier this week; a second turkey went barrelling into a Pennsylvania restaurant on Thanksgiving day.
Blair Belcher was hanging Christmas lights outside his home in Bellingham, Mass., when he spotted a few turkeys across the street. One of them “got scared by a dog and took off full bore for that window,” Belcher told ABC News affiliate WCVB, pointing to his large (and now taped-up) living room window.
“I begged it not to do it, but it did it anyway,” he said. “Fortunately it didn’t get inside the house, but it was fatal for the turkey.”
The damage will cost $1,000, he told the station, but he couldn’t get too upset. After all, he said, “I’m eating its cousin.”
“It’s a memorable Thanksgiving, that’s for sure,” he told WCVB.
A couple days later in Penn Hills, Pa., another wild turkey headed straight for a large glass pane at Eat’n Park restaurant, closed for Thanksgiving day, crashing straight through the glass.
The bird didn’t survive.
Penn Hills police officer Bernard Sestili told ABC News affiliate WTAE, the turkey “probably was roosted in one of the trees in this wooded area back here, got up this morning and just for his morning flight and … flew into the window.”
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, a passing motorist saw the broken window and alerted police. According to Sestili, the manager of the restaurant didn’t believe him at first.
“She thought it was a joke,” he told the Tribune-Review.
Although the timing of the turkey’s death was unusual, no “fowl” play is suspected.
Blair Belcher was hanging Christmas lights outside his home in Bellingham, Mass., when he spotted a few turkeys across the street. One of them “got scared by a dog and took off full bore for that window,” Belcher told ABC News affiliate WCVB, pointing to his large (and now taped-up) living room window.
“I begged it not to do it, but it did it anyway,” he said. “Fortunately it didn’t get inside the house, but it was fatal for the turkey.”
The damage will cost $1,000, he told the station, but he couldn’t get too upset. After all, he said, “I’m eating its cousin.”
“It’s a memorable Thanksgiving, that’s for sure,” he told WCVB.
A couple days later in Penn Hills, Pa., another wild turkey headed straight for a large glass pane at Eat’n Park restaurant, closed for Thanksgiving day, crashing straight through the glass.
The bird didn’t survive.
Penn Hills police officer Bernard Sestili told ABC News affiliate WTAE, the turkey “probably was roosted in one of the trees in this wooded area back here, got up this morning and just for his morning flight and … flew into the window.”
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, a passing motorist saw the broken window and alerted police. According to Sestili, the manager of the restaurant didn’t believe him at first.
“She thought it was a joke,” he told the Tribune-Review.
Although the timing of the turkey’s death was unusual, no “fowl” play is suspected.
Apocalypse 2012 Back On? Second Mayan Inscription Uncovered
Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History now says Mayan ruins show a second reference to the apocalypse occurring in 2012 but said that rumors of the world ending late next year were a Western misinterpretation.
On Thursday, the institute released a statement saying that the date of the apocalypse had been found on the carved or molded face of a brick at the Comalcalco ruin in the southern part of the country.
Most experts had previously said there was only one reference in Mayan glyphs, a stone tablet from the Tortuguero site in the Gulf coast state of Tabasco.
Arturo Mendez, an institute spokesman, said the fragment known as the Comalcalco Brick had been found years ago and studied thoroughly. It is not on display and is kept in storage.
The Tortuguero and Comalcalco inscriptions were probably carved about 1,300 years ago.
The Mexican institute cautioned Thursday that “Western messianic thought has twisted the cosmovision of ancient civilizations like the Maya.” Its experts said that the Mayas believed that time started and ended with regularity, with nothing apocalyptic occurring at the end.
The institute plans to hold a meeting of Mayan experts next week to “dispel some of the doubts about the end of one era and the beginning of another, in the Mayan Long Count calendar.”
On Thursday, the institute released a statement saying that the date of the apocalypse had been found on the carved or molded face of a brick at the Comalcalco ruin in the southern part of the country.
Most experts had previously said there was only one reference in Mayan glyphs, a stone tablet from the Tortuguero site in the Gulf coast state of Tabasco.
Arturo Mendez, an institute spokesman, said the fragment known as the Comalcalco Brick had been found years ago and studied thoroughly. It is not on display and is kept in storage.
The Tortuguero and Comalcalco inscriptions were probably carved about 1,300 years ago.
The Mexican institute cautioned Thursday that “Western messianic thought has twisted the cosmovision of ancient civilizations like the Maya.” Its experts said that the Mayas believed that time started and ended with regularity, with nothing apocalyptic occurring at the end.
The institute plans to hold a meeting of Mayan experts next week to “dispel some of the doubts about the end of one era and the beginning of another, in the Mayan Long Count calendar.”
Wis. Balsam Fir Becomes White House Christmas Tree
First lady Michelle Obama today accepted delivery of a 19-foot Wisconsin-grown balsam fir, which will stand in the Blue Room as the centerpiece of the White House’s annual Christmas display.
The 18-year-old pine was hauled by horse-drawn wagon up the White House driveway to the North Portico, where the first lady, daughters Sasha and Malia, and first dog Bo waited as a military brass ensemble played Christmas carols nearby.
“It’s very large,” said Malia, as the family walked around the tree.
“It’s beautiful,” said Michelle Obama, who donned a gray cardigan, patterned skirt and knee-high boots.
Growers Tom and Sue Schroeder of Neenah, Wis., also accompanied the Obamas for the tree’s arrival. The couple won the National Christmas Tree Association annual championship in August and the honor of donating the White House tree.
“I’m happy with the tree they selected, and I hope the first family and all the visitors to the White House enjoy the tree we grew here on our small family farm,” said Sue Schroeder in a statement. She and her husband have been growing trees for wholesale since 1987.
The White House tree – the 46 th presented by a member of the national association – is donated as a gift to the American people. “I wouldn’t want to put a value on it. It’s priceless,” said NCTA spokeswoman Pam Helmsing.
After decorators adorn it with ornaments, the tree will be viewed by an estimated 100,000 visitors to the White House over the next four weeks. According to the White House, military families, including Gold Star (those who have lost a loved on in military service) and Blue Star (those who have members in active duty) parents, spouses and children will be the first members of the general public to get a glimpse of the newly decorated tree — on Wednesday Nov. 30.
The theme of the Blue Room tree will be honoring Blue Star families, according to the first lady’s office.
During that event, the first lady will also host military children in the State Dining Room for a demonstration of holiday crafts and treats by the White House chefs.
A special tree decorated by Gold Star families will also be displayed at the White House visitor’s entrance on the East Wing Landing.
Helmsing said the balsam fir, which was hand-picked by officials from the White House and National Park Service, is prized for its short needles, strong branches, good color and fragrant aroma. The last time a balsam fir stood in the White House was 1998.
In a statement, the White House also recognized the Schroeders as participants in the Christmas Spirit Foundation’s Trees for Troops program, which has donated thousands of trees to military families since 2005.
The 18-year-old pine was hauled by horse-drawn wagon up the White House driveway to the North Portico, where the first lady, daughters Sasha and Malia, and first dog Bo waited as a military brass ensemble played Christmas carols nearby.
“It’s very large,” said Malia, as the family walked around the tree.
“It’s beautiful,” said Michelle Obama, who donned a gray cardigan, patterned skirt and knee-high boots.
Growers Tom and Sue Schroeder of Neenah, Wis., also accompanied the Obamas for the tree’s arrival. The couple won the National Christmas Tree Association annual championship in August and the honor of donating the White House tree.
“I’m happy with the tree they selected, and I hope the first family and all the visitors to the White House enjoy the tree we grew here on our small family farm,” said Sue Schroeder in a statement. She and her husband have been growing trees for wholesale since 1987.
The White House tree – the 46 th presented by a member of the national association – is donated as a gift to the American people. “I wouldn’t want to put a value on it. It’s priceless,” said NCTA spokeswoman Pam Helmsing.
After decorators adorn it with ornaments, the tree will be viewed by an estimated 100,000 visitors to the White House over the next four weeks. According to the White House, military families, including Gold Star (those who have lost a loved on in military service) and Blue Star (those who have members in active duty) parents, spouses and children will be the first members of the general public to get a glimpse of the newly decorated tree — on Wednesday Nov. 30.
The theme of the Blue Room tree will be honoring Blue Star families, according to the first lady’s office.
During that event, the first lady will also host military children in the State Dining Room for a demonstration of holiday crafts and treats by the White House chefs.
A special tree decorated by Gold Star families will also be displayed at the White House visitor’s entrance on the East Wing Landing.
Helmsing said the balsam fir, which was hand-picked by officials from the White House and National Park Service, is prized for its short needles, strong branches, good color and fragrant aroma. The last time a balsam fir stood in the White House was 1998.
In a statement, the White House also recognized the Schroeders as participants in the Christmas Spirit Foundation’s Trees for Troops program, which has donated thousands of trees to military families since 2005.
Obama Leaves God out of Thanksgiving Speech, Riles Critics
Critics of President Obama felt little holiday cheer after the president did not thank God in his Thanksgiving-themed weekly Internet address. They immediately took to Twitter and the Internet to voice anger and disbelief.
"Holy cow! Is that one screwed up or what?" columnist Sherman Frederick of the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote in a Thanksgiving-morning blog post.
"Somebody ought to remind Obama (and his speechwriter) that when Americans sit down around a meal today and give thanks, they give thanks to God."
Over on the website of Fox News Radio, radio host Todd Starnes also took issue.
"His remarks were void of any religious references, although Thanksgiving is a holiday traditionally steeped in giving thanks and praise to God," Starnes wrote.
"The president said his family was 'reflecting on how truly lucky we truly are,'" Starnes said. "For many Americans, though, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on how blessed and thankful they are."
The popular website of London's Daily Mail has taken the issue global, with a story under the headline "What a Turkey! Outrage as Obama Leaves God Out of His Thanksgiving Address."
Obama mentioned God once in a closing "God bless you," to Americans watching the Internet address. However, the President explicitly thanked God earlier in the week in his written Thanksgiving proclamation, which called the holiday "one of our nation's oldest and most cherished traditions," and an occasion that "brings us closer to our loved ones and invites us to reflect on the blessings that enrich our lives."
"As we gather in our communities and in our homes, around the table or near the hearth, we give thanks to each other and to God for the many kindnesses and comforts that grace our lives. Let us pause to recount the simple gifts that sustain us, and resolve to pay them forward in the year to come," Obama wrote.
Ironically, the attacks on Obama came as the Republican White House hopefuls suspended their criticism of the president on Thursday in favor of a unified message of thanks to U.S. service members and their families.
Three of the Republican presidential candidates – Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum – issued Thanksgiving statements that omitted any references to God. Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain and Rick Perry mentioned God in their statements.
Obama, like his predecessors, records an address each week that focuses on an issue the White House wants to spotlight. The messages are typically posted on the Internet at the start of the weekend, but this week's address – with its Thanksgiving theme – was issued before the holiday.
In this week's address, delivered from the White House, Obama said, "We are especially grateful for the men and women who defend our country overseas," and he said, "We're also grateful for the Americans taking time from their holiday to serve in soup kitchens and shelters."
He acknowledged this Thanksgiving would be "more difficult than most" for many Americans because of the economy, but added, "No matter how tough things are right now, we still give thanks for that most American of blessings, the chance to determine our own destiny."
"Holy cow! Is that one screwed up or what?" columnist Sherman Frederick of the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote in a Thanksgiving-morning blog post.
"Somebody ought to remind Obama (and his speechwriter) that when Americans sit down around a meal today and give thanks, they give thanks to God."
Over on the website of Fox News Radio, radio host Todd Starnes also took issue.
"His remarks were void of any religious references, although Thanksgiving is a holiday traditionally steeped in giving thanks and praise to God," Starnes wrote.
"The president said his family was 'reflecting on how truly lucky we truly are,'" Starnes said. "For many Americans, though, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on how blessed and thankful they are."
The popular website of London's Daily Mail has taken the issue global, with a story under the headline "What a Turkey! Outrage as Obama Leaves God Out of His Thanksgiving Address."
Obama mentioned God once in a closing "God bless you," to Americans watching the Internet address. However, the President explicitly thanked God earlier in the week in his written Thanksgiving proclamation, which called the holiday "one of our nation's oldest and most cherished traditions," and an occasion that "brings us closer to our loved ones and invites us to reflect on the blessings that enrich our lives."
"As we gather in our communities and in our homes, around the table or near the hearth, we give thanks to each other and to God for the many kindnesses and comforts that grace our lives. Let us pause to recount the simple gifts that sustain us, and resolve to pay them forward in the year to come," Obama wrote.
Ironically, the attacks on Obama came as the Republican White House hopefuls suspended their criticism of the president on Thursday in favor of a unified message of thanks to U.S. service members and their families.
Three of the Republican presidential candidates – Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum – issued Thanksgiving statements that omitted any references to God. Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain and Rick Perry mentioned God in their statements.
Obama, like his predecessors, records an address each week that focuses on an issue the White House wants to spotlight. The messages are typically posted on the Internet at the start of the weekend, but this week's address – with its Thanksgiving theme – was issued before the holiday.
In this week's address, delivered from the White House, Obama said, "We are especially grateful for the men and women who defend our country overseas," and he said, "We're also grateful for the Americans taking time from their holiday to serve in soup kitchens and shelters."
He acknowledged this Thanksgiving would be "more difficult than most" for many Americans because of the economy, but added, "No matter how tough things are right now, we still give thanks for that most American of blessings, the chance to determine our own destiny."
Safeway Security Guard Fired After Interrogating Girl; Company Faced Criticism for Similar Incident
Safeway has fired the security guard who interrogated a 4-year-old girl for alleged shoplifting after he saw her eat from a bag of apricots and put the bag back on the shelf.
The girl’s father apparently hadn’t noticed what his daughter had done and was taken aback when he was stopped by security on his way out of the Everett, Wash., store.
The guard then interrogated Savannah Harp, 4.
The girl’s mother, Alissa Jones, said the guard proceeded to tell Harp’s father that the tot was banned from the store and that it would be pressing charges.
“He told them, ‘Your daughter stole and she’s banned from the store, and we’re pressing charges. And she needs to sign this form saying she understands she can’t come into any Safeways,’” Jones said, according to ABC News Seattle affiliate KOMO 4 News.
Savannah, who can’t read or write yet, was forced to scribble on the piece of paper.
“It’s pretty troubling. It’s not like she even knows what she was doing,” Jones said.
Safeway officials expressed outrage over the guard’s treatment of the little girl and issued a formal apology to her family. The division president offered to take the little girl around the bakery to show her that the store was not a scary place.
“In this case, neither our policy nor commonsense seems to have been followed,” Safeway said in a statement.
The California-based supermarket chain recently came under fire in a similar situation. A pregnant woman who was shopping with her husband and 2-year-old daughter in a Safeway in Beretainia, near Honolulu, was arrested and charged with theft after she ordered two sandwiches for a total of $5, ate one while she shopped and forgot to pay for them at checkout on Oct. 31.
Nicole Leszczynski, 28, and her husband Marcin, 33, were new to the state and had gotten lost on their way to the grocery store. When they came upon the Safeway, she was famished, the Associated Press reported.
The pregnant woman, a former Air Force staff sergeant, said she was embarrassed about the lapse and offered to pay for the sandwiches, but managers wouldn’t allow it.
Instead, the couple were handcuffed, searched then released on $50 bail each, and their daughter was temporarily taken away by the state Child Welfare Services, the AP said.
The incident caused furor across the nation. Safeway dropped the charges and apologized to the woman. The company also said it would re-examine its worker training polices, the AP reported.
The girl’s father apparently hadn’t noticed what his daughter had done and was taken aback when he was stopped by security on his way out of the Everett, Wash., store.
The guard then interrogated Savannah Harp, 4.
The girl’s mother, Alissa Jones, said the guard proceeded to tell Harp’s father that the tot was banned from the store and that it would be pressing charges.
“He told them, ‘Your daughter stole and she’s banned from the store, and we’re pressing charges. And she needs to sign this form saying she understands she can’t come into any Safeways,’” Jones said, according to ABC News Seattle affiliate KOMO 4 News.
Savannah, who can’t read or write yet, was forced to scribble on the piece of paper.
“It’s pretty troubling. It’s not like she even knows what she was doing,” Jones said.
Safeway officials expressed outrage over the guard’s treatment of the little girl and issued a formal apology to her family. The division president offered to take the little girl around the bakery to show her that the store was not a scary place.
“In this case, neither our policy nor commonsense seems to have been followed,” Safeway said in a statement.
The California-based supermarket chain recently came under fire in a similar situation. A pregnant woman who was shopping with her husband and 2-year-old daughter in a Safeway in Beretainia, near Honolulu, was arrested and charged with theft after she ordered two sandwiches for a total of $5, ate one while she shopped and forgot to pay for them at checkout on Oct. 31.
Nicole Leszczynski, 28, and her husband Marcin, 33, were new to the state and had gotten lost on their way to the grocery store. When they came upon the Safeway, she was famished, the Associated Press reported.
The pregnant woman, a former Air Force staff sergeant, said she was embarrassed about the lapse and offered to pay for the sandwiches, but managers wouldn’t allow it.
Instead, the couple were handcuffed, searched then released on $50 bail each, and their daughter was temporarily taken away by the state Child Welfare Services, the AP said.
The incident caused furor across the nation. Safeway dropped the charges and apologized to the woman. The company also said it would re-examine its worker training polices, the AP reported.
Baby Gorilla Dies at Chicago Zoo, Just 9 Days Old
Baby gorilla at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo. Todd Rosenberg Photography
A baby gorilla, born nine days ago at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo, was found dead this morning in its mother’s arms, according to zoo managers.
What went wrong? A necropsy will be done, the zoo told the Chicago Tribune, because until today there was no sign of trouble.
“We have been watching the mother and infant very closely since the birth and felt cautiously optimistic that the baby was healthy and being cared for appropriately,” said Megan Ross, the zoo’s vice president of animal care, according to the Tribune. “We are all surprised and very saddened by this tragic turn of events.”
Gorillas are intelligent animals, able to feel loss and mourn. The zoo let the baby’s mother, a 16-year-old gorilla named Bana, hold the baby for several hours “to make peace with what happened.” The zoo is open every day of the year (it’s a free and pleasant side trip if you visit Chicago, only three miles north of the Loop), but the African Apes building there was closed for the day.
The zoo staff had not yet given the baby a name. She was the first one born there in six years.
A baby gorilla, born nine days ago at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo, was found dead this morning in its mother’s arms, according to zoo managers.
What went wrong? A necropsy will be done, the zoo told the Chicago Tribune, because until today there was no sign of trouble.
“We have been watching the mother and infant very closely since the birth and felt cautiously optimistic that the baby was healthy and being cared for appropriately,” said Megan Ross, the zoo’s vice president of animal care, according to the Tribune. “We are all surprised and very saddened by this tragic turn of events.”
Gorillas are intelligent animals, able to feel loss and mourn. The zoo let the baby’s mother, a 16-year-old gorilla named Bana, hold the baby for several hours “to make peace with what happened.” The zoo is open every day of the year (it’s a free and pleasant side trip if you visit Chicago, only three miles north of the Loop), but the African Apes building there was closed for the day.
The zoo staff had not yet given the baby a name. She was the first one born there in six years.
VIDEO: ‘Jetman’ Takes Flight Over Swiss Alps
Yves Rossy a.k.a. “Jetman,” took to the skies recently to perform aerobatic figures with two L-39C Albatros planes over the Swiss Alps.
Rossy, a Swiss pilot, became the first and only man in aviator history to fly with a jet-propelled wing in November 2006.
After 10 years of development and more than 15 prototypes, Rossy used a wing he’d created with four model jet engines to fly for five minutes and 40 seconds. He carried only an altimeter and a tiny throttle control.
In May 2008, the 52-year-old made his first official flight over the Swiss Alps in front of the media.
Rossy crossed the English Channel in September 2008 by air and the event was broadcast live to 165 countries. It took him 13 minutes.
Since then, Rossy has flown alongside two Boeing Stearman biplanes carrying the Breitling Wingwalkers, circled a hot-air balloon and hurtled over the Grand Canyon.
Rossy, a Swiss pilot, became the first and only man in aviator history to fly with a jet-propelled wing in November 2006.
After 10 years of development and more than 15 prototypes, Rossy used a wing he’d created with four model jet engines to fly for five minutes and 40 seconds. He carried only an altimeter and a tiny throttle control.
In May 2008, the 52-year-old made his first official flight over the Swiss Alps in front of the media.
Rossy crossed the English Channel in September 2008 by air and the event was broadcast live to 165 countries. It took him 13 minutes.
Since then, Rossy has flown alongside two Boeing Stearman biplanes carrying the Breitling Wingwalkers, circled a hot-air balloon and hurtled over the Grand Canyon.
State Lines No Boundary For Deals
One California shopper didn’t want to brave the crowds at his hometown big-box stores, so he filled up his gas tank and drove 360 miles to Tempe, Ariz., with one goal in mind: to score a flat screen TV for less than $300.
“I drove 360 miles from Santa Ana because the stores there are just too crazy,” Lazaro Gomes told ABC affiliate KNXV.
The Santa Ana, Calif., man was the first in line. His friend’s wife, who lives in nearby Chandler, Ariz., even delivered a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal to him while he waited in line for eight hours outside a Target store.
Gomes, who was at the head of the estimated 1,000 person line, had no problem snagging the television that was on his wish list.
Exiting the store, he waved his receipt and said, “I’m so happy!”
Mission almost accomplished– now he just has to drive those 360 miles back to California.
Read about more mayhem this Black Friday:
Grandfather Bloodied, Cuffed, Charged in Black Friday Confusion
Shoppers Wield Guns, Pepper Spray
PHOTOS: Black Friday Frenzy
Black Friday’s Dark Origins
“I drove 360 miles from Santa Ana because the stores there are just too crazy,” Lazaro Gomes told ABC affiliate KNXV.
The Santa Ana, Calif., man was the first in line. His friend’s wife, who lives in nearby Chandler, Ariz., even delivered a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal to him while he waited in line for eight hours outside a Target store.
Gomes, who was at the head of the estimated 1,000 person line, had no problem snagging the television that was on his wish list.
Exiting the store, he waved his receipt and said, “I’m so happy!”
Mission almost accomplished– now he just has to drive those 360 miles back to California.
Read about more mayhem this Black Friday:
Grandfather Bloodied, Cuffed, Charged in Black Friday Confusion
Shoppers Wield Guns, Pepper Spray
PHOTOS: Black Friday Frenzy
Black Friday’s Dark Origins
Second Death in Craigslist Job Scam?
A caller's tip led police to a body buried in a shallow grave behind Rolling Acres Mall in Akron, Ohio, that might be connected to a job-seeking scam on Craigslist, the FBI said today.
The online job ad has already been implicated in the death of one man and the injury of another.
Although the identity of the body found this morning is still unknown, The Associated Press reported it might be that of a missing man in the area, Timothy Kern, 47, of Massillon.
"It could be, it could not be," FBI spokeswoman Vicki Anderson told ABCNews.com. "We do not know until we get that autopsy."
The coroner will not examine the body until Saturday, she said.
"Cadaver dogs were the ones who hit on the grave -- it wasn't a situation where someone would walk by and see it," Anderson said.
Investigators finished recovering the body around 1 p.m., she said. "It's a tedious process to make sure evidence wasn't disturbed."
Now investigators are working to find out whether or not the man found dead today had answered an ad on Craigslist for a job working on an Ohio cattle farm.
Authorities had already identified two victims, one from Florida and one from South Carolina, who had responded to that ad. The men were told to bring all of their belongings, as they would be living on the farm.
The man from South Carolina was shot in the arm but managed to escape and inform authorities. As police investigated the shooting, they found the body of a missing man from Florida in a shallow grave outside Caldwell, Ohio, about 80 miles east of Columbus.
Authorities believe robbery was the motive, and on Nov.16 took two suspects into custody: a 16-year old high school student identified by ABC News' Columbus affiliate WSYX as Brogan Rafferty, and 52-year-old Richard Beasley.
Beasley's mother, Carol Beasley, 70, told ABCNews.com that she was shocked when she picked up her newspaper that morning and read about the murder. Although the paper did not specifically name her son, it identified a 52-year-old man from Noble County who was arrested Wednesday, just as her son was. "In my wildest dreams, I just couldn't imagine him harming someone," Beasley said. "I never imagined he would do the things he did."
She knew her son had been arrested as he walked down the street but believed it was related to failure to appear in court for two previous charges — aggravated trafficking in drugs and compelling prostitution.
"Although he did a lot of types of things, it seems that he worked with people on the border — drug addicts, street people — I just don't know if he crossed over the line or what happened," Beasley said. "It absolutely blew my mind when I read that this morning."
When asked about Brogan Rafferty, Beasley said that she has known him since he was 8 years old, since they go to the same church. Beasley called Brogan a "really nice kid" and said he struggled a bit in school and with his parent's divorce.
"They were friends," Beasley said. "Richard tried to mentor him, get him into history." Beasley said her son had been struggling financially to make ends meet, working as an unpaid chaplain, and had other problems. She said he had spent time in jail and desperately did not want to go back.
"I've lived long enough to know that you have to be prepared for anything," Beasley said. "I'm just praying they've got the wrong people."
Rafferty is being held at the Muskingum County Juvenile Detention Center, and Beasley is in custody at the Summit County Jail on a $1 million bond.
A judge has imposed a gag order so that no further information about the case could be released.
Craigslist, an online marketplace that hosts ads for a wide variety of sales and services, has been blamed for a number of crimes and deaths, including the 2009 murder of a New York masseuse allegedly killed by a Boston medical student she met through the website, and the 2010 murder of a Tacoma, Wash., man in a home robbery committed
The online job ad has already been implicated in the death of one man and the injury of another.
Although the identity of the body found this morning is still unknown, The Associated Press reported it might be that of a missing man in the area, Timothy Kern, 47, of Massillon.
"It could be, it could not be," FBI spokeswoman Vicki Anderson told ABCNews.com. "We do not know until we get that autopsy."
The coroner will not examine the body until Saturday, she said.
"Cadaver dogs were the ones who hit on the grave -- it wasn't a situation where someone would walk by and see it," Anderson said.
Investigators finished recovering the body around 1 p.m., she said. "It's a tedious process to make sure evidence wasn't disturbed."
Now investigators are working to find out whether or not the man found dead today had answered an ad on Craigslist for a job working on an Ohio cattle farm.
Authorities had already identified two victims, one from Florida and one from South Carolina, who had responded to that ad. The men were told to bring all of their belongings, as they would be living on the farm.
The man from South Carolina was shot in the arm but managed to escape and inform authorities. As police investigated the shooting, they found the body of a missing man from Florida in a shallow grave outside Caldwell, Ohio, about 80 miles east of Columbus.
Authorities believe robbery was the motive, and on Nov.16 took two suspects into custody: a 16-year old high school student identified by ABC News' Columbus affiliate WSYX as Brogan Rafferty, and 52-year-old Richard Beasley.
Beasley's mother, Carol Beasley, 70, told ABCNews.com that she was shocked when she picked up her newspaper that morning and read about the murder. Although the paper did not specifically name her son, it identified a 52-year-old man from Noble County who was arrested Wednesday, just as her son was. "In my wildest dreams, I just couldn't imagine him harming someone," Beasley said. "I never imagined he would do the things he did."
She knew her son had been arrested as he walked down the street but believed it was related to failure to appear in court for two previous charges — aggravated trafficking in drugs and compelling prostitution.
"Although he did a lot of types of things, it seems that he worked with people on the border — drug addicts, street people — I just don't know if he crossed over the line or what happened," Beasley said. "It absolutely blew my mind when I read that this morning."
When asked about Brogan Rafferty, Beasley said that she has known him since he was 8 years old, since they go to the same church. Beasley called Brogan a "really nice kid" and said he struggled a bit in school and with his parent's divorce.
"They were friends," Beasley said. "Richard tried to mentor him, get him into history." Beasley said her son had been struggling financially to make ends meet, working as an unpaid chaplain, and had other problems. She said he had spent time in jail and desperately did not want to go back.
"I've lived long enough to know that you have to be prepared for anything," Beasley said. "I'm just praying they've got the wrong people."
Rafferty is being held at the Muskingum County Juvenile Detention Center, and Beasley is in custody at the Summit County Jail on a $1 million bond.
A judge has imposed a gag order so that no further information about the case could be released.
Craigslist, an online marketplace that hosts ads for a wide variety of sales and services, has been blamed for a number of crimes and deaths, including the 2009 murder of a New York masseuse allegedly killed by a Boston medical student she met through the website, and the 2010 murder of a Tacoma, Wash., man in a home robbery committed
WSJ: Kodak Preparing for Bankruptcy
Eastman Kodak Co. is preparing for bankruptcy in the "coming weeks" in case efforts to sell its patents fall through, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
The photography and imaging equipment company has long struggled with revamping itself as a technology company amid advancements in digital cameras and photo sharing. Shares of Kodak have closed under $1 for 30 consecutive trading days, the Journal reported.
Kodak has cut global staff to 18,800 from a peak of 145,300 in 1988. Jobs at its headquarter in Rochester, N.Y. were cut to 7,100 from 60,400 in 1982, according to the Associated Press.
The company is in discussions with potential lenders for $1 billion in financing to keep it afloat during bankruptcy proceedings, sources told the Journal.
Christopher Veronda, a spokesman for Eastman Kodak, told ABC News the company had no comment, "as it's our long-standing policy not to comment on market rumors or speculation."
If the company does file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it would operate normally and try to sell its 1,100 patents through a court-supervised bankruptcy auction, the Journal reported.
On Tuesday, Kodak disclosed the New York Stock Exchange warned the company's shares could be delisted unless it gets its finances in order in the next six months.
The company has been called Eastman Kodak Company since 1892 under George Eastman , who tinkered with film and photography machines. In 1888, the word KODAK was registered as a trademark for a camera that could be used by a larger market, according to the company.
The photography and imaging equipment company has long struggled with revamping itself as a technology company amid advancements in digital cameras and photo sharing. Shares of Kodak have closed under $1 for 30 consecutive trading days, the Journal reported.
Kodak has cut global staff to 18,800 from a peak of 145,300 in 1988. Jobs at its headquarter in Rochester, N.Y. were cut to 7,100 from 60,400 in 1982, according to the Associated Press.
The company is in discussions with potential lenders for $1 billion in financing to keep it afloat during bankruptcy proceedings, sources told the Journal.
Christopher Veronda, a spokesman for Eastman Kodak, told ABC News the company had no comment, "as it's our long-standing policy not to comment on market rumors or speculation."
If the company does file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it would operate normally and try to sell its 1,100 patents through a court-supervised bankruptcy auction, the Journal reported.
On Tuesday, Kodak disclosed the New York Stock Exchange warned the company's shares could be delisted unless it gets its finances in order in the next six months.
The company has been called Eastman Kodak Company since 1892 under George Eastman , who tinkered with film and photography machines. In 1888, the word KODAK was registered as a trademark for a camera that could be used by a larger market, according to the company.
McCain's, Er, Evolving Views on Mitt Romney
Sen. John McCain appeared in New Hampshire - his political wheelhouse, where he won the Republican primary twice - to endorse a former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney today in this year's nominating contest.
The Arizona senator delivered a stem-winder of a speech, criticizing President Obama for hurting the economy and saying that under Romney, Americans would not have a President who "leads from behind."
Needless to say, Senator McCain was not the biggest fan of Mitt Romney when they were running against each other in 2008 for the GOP nomination. And despite his endorsement of the former Massachusetts governor today, back then it sometimes seemed pretty personal.
The book Game Change reports that "McCain routinely called Romney an 'a$$hole' and a 'f!@#%ng phony'" in private.
McCain was less profane in public, though not particularly flattering:
On Good Morning America in October 2007, McCain said, "His record when he was in Massachusetts had many positions, most positions are direct contradictions to the ones he proclaims now, including being ardently being pro-choice, including saying he didn't want to go back to the Reagan-Bush years, which is obviously not something that most Republicans believe in, and supporting Democrats for various offices. So look, this debate is about our records, this is about being honest with the American people, and if you're really going to get their respect, I think you've got to respect them first."
See that 2007 interview here: (starting at about 3:30)
"It's not just the abortion issue, although he certainly was passionate in his advocacy for being pro-choice," McCain said on Face the Nation in October 2007. "I mean, look at literally every major issue, whether it be immigration reform or taxes or immigration or any other issue. There has been changes in his position and perhaps all of those are evolved. But I think that that brings to mind the question is, isn't consistency on fundamental issues an important factor in this race? And I don't think that consistency has been there."
And in Manchester, New Hampshire, that month, McCain told voters, "As we all know, when he ran for office in Massachusetts being a Republican wasn't much of a priority for him," McCain said. "In fact, when he ran against Ted Kennedy, he said he didn't want to return to the days of Reagan-Bush. I always thought Ronald Reagan was a real Republican."
"When Governor Romney donated money to a Democratic candidate in New Hampshire, I don't think he was speaking for Republicans…When he voted for a Democratic candidate for President, Paul Tsongas, I don't think he was speaking for Republicans. When he refused to endorse the Contract with America, I don't think he was speaking for Republicans. And when he was embracing the Democratic position on many major issues of the day, I don't think he was speaking for Republicans…So you'll understand why I'm a little perplexed when Mitt Romney now suggests that he's a better Republican than me or that he speaks for the Republican wing of the Republican Party."
McCain went on to win in New Hampshire in 2008. Not too long after, he got Romney's endorsement on Valentine's Day 2008.
The Arizona senator delivered a stem-winder of a speech, criticizing President Obama for hurting the economy and saying that under Romney, Americans would not have a President who "leads from behind."
Needless to say, Senator McCain was not the biggest fan of Mitt Romney when they were running against each other in 2008 for the GOP nomination. And despite his endorsement of the former Massachusetts governor today, back then it sometimes seemed pretty personal.
The book Game Change reports that "McCain routinely called Romney an 'a$$hole' and a 'f!@#%ng phony'" in private.
McCain was less profane in public, though not particularly flattering:
On Good Morning America in October 2007, McCain said, "His record when he was in Massachusetts had many positions, most positions are direct contradictions to the ones he proclaims now, including being ardently being pro-choice, including saying he didn't want to go back to the Reagan-Bush years, which is obviously not something that most Republicans believe in, and supporting Democrats for various offices. So look, this debate is about our records, this is about being honest with the American people, and if you're really going to get their respect, I think you've got to respect them first."
See that 2007 interview here: (starting at about 3:30)
"It's not just the abortion issue, although he certainly was passionate in his advocacy for being pro-choice," McCain said on Face the Nation in October 2007. "I mean, look at literally every major issue, whether it be immigration reform or taxes or immigration or any other issue. There has been changes in his position and perhaps all of those are evolved. But I think that that brings to mind the question is, isn't consistency on fundamental issues an important factor in this race? And I don't think that consistency has been there."
And in Manchester, New Hampshire, that month, McCain told voters, "As we all know, when he ran for office in Massachusetts being a Republican wasn't much of a priority for him," McCain said. "In fact, when he ran against Ted Kennedy, he said he didn't want to return to the days of Reagan-Bush. I always thought Ronald Reagan was a real Republican."
"When Governor Romney donated money to a Democratic candidate in New Hampshire, I don't think he was speaking for Republicans…When he voted for a Democratic candidate for President, Paul Tsongas, I don't think he was speaking for Republicans. When he refused to endorse the Contract with America, I don't think he was speaking for Republicans. And when he was embracing the Democratic position on many major issues of the day, I don't think he was speaking for Republicans…So you'll understand why I'm a little perplexed when Mitt Romney now suggests that he's a better Republican than me or that he speaks for the Republican wing of the Republican Party."
McCain went on to win in New Hampshire in 2008. Not too long after, he got Romney's endorsement on Valentine's Day 2008.
Family Massacre Survivor William Petit Engaged to Marry
Dr. William Petit, the sole survivor of the deadly home invasion that claimed the lives of his wife and two daughters in 2007, is engaged to be married.
Petit became engaged to photographer Christine Paluf after Christmas, he told The Hartford Courant in an email. Petit, 55, told the paper there is no set date for the wedding.
Paluf, 34, is a professional photgrapher who specializes in weddings, events and portraits. She also photographs events for the Petit Family Foundation, which works to honor the Petit's deceased family by supporting causes including education, victims of violence and those affected by chronic illnesses.
Photos of William Petit at foundation events are part of Paluf's online portfolio. The pair reportedly met through her photography work for his organization.
Petit's wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, and the couple's two daughters, 17-year-old Hayley and 11-year-old Michaela, were killed during a July 2007 home invasion carried out by Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky.
The mother was strangled while the girls, tied to their beds, died when the house was set ablaze.
William Petit was the only one to survive. Brutally beaten with a baseball bat and left bound in the basement he managed to escape to a neighbor's house. Petit sat in the front row throughout the separate murder and sentencing trials of Hayes and Komisarjevsky . Both men were convicted and sentenced to be executed and are currently on Connecticut's death row.
"There is never complete closure when you lose your wife and family…but the first part is over and we think justice has been served," said Petit after the jury delivered its verdict for Komisarjevsky in a Connecticut courtroom on Dec. 9, 2011.
Paluf attended the Komisarjevsky trial with Petit and his family.
"We want to go forward with the Petit Family Foundation and create good out of evil," he said in December. "I will relax some and try to enjoy the holidays as best we can."
Petit became engaged to photographer Christine Paluf after Christmas, he told The Hartford Courant in an email. Petit, 55, told the paper there is no set date for the wedding.
Paluf, 34, is a professional photgrapher who specializes in weddings, events and portraits. She also photographs events for the Petit Family Foundation, which works to honor the Petit's deceased family by supporting causes including education, victims of violence and those affected by chronic illnesses.
Photos of William Petit at foundation events are part of Paluf's online portfolio. The pair reportedly met through her photography work for his organization.
Petit's wife, Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, and the couple's two daughters, 17-year-old Hayley and 11-year-old Michaela, were killed during a July 2007 home invasion carried out by Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky.
The mother was strangled while the girls, tied to their beds, died when the house was set ablaze.
William Petit was the only one to survive. Brutally beaten with a baseball bat and left bound in the basement he managed to escape to a neighbor's house. Petit sat in the front row throughout the separate murder and sentencing trials of Hayes and Komisarjevsky . Both men were convicted and sentenced to be executed and are currently on Connecticut's death row.
"There is never complete closure when you lose your wife and family…but the first part is over and we think justice has been served," said Petit after the jury delivered its verdict for Komisarjevsky in a Connecticut courtroom on Dec. 9, 2011.
Paluf attended the Komisarjevsky trial with Petit and his family.
"We want to go forward with the Petit Family Foundation and create good out of evil," he said in December. "I will relax some and try to enjoy the holidays as best we can."
Credit Card Rates Rise to 4-Year High
Credit card rates have risen to a four-year high—this, at a time when the Fed is practically begging banks to lug away free money. Does that mean that card companies are making out like bandits? And where can card customers expect card rates go in 2012?
"Rates currently are the highest since we've been tracking them," says Ben Woolsey, director of marketing for CreditCards.com, which has tracked card rates every week for the past four years. The average rate nationally right now, based on new card offers by 100 of the most popular issuers in the U.S., stands at 15.14 percent, up from 14.75 percent six months ago.
The average includes several different kinds of cards (airline, cash-back, low-interest, student, and business, for example) but excludes ones with introductory "teaser" rates. For cards with variable rates, only the lowest is considered for the average. Thus, some consumers are paying far more than the average suggests. The current rate for card holders with bad credit, for example, is 25 percent.
While credit card rates remain high, most other interest rates have reached 50-year lows. The prime rate, which banks charge their best customers, stands at just 3.25 percent. The federal discount rate -- that's what it costs banks to borrow from the Federal Reserve -- is just .75 percent.
Woolsey says the 15.14 percent average credit card rate represents a rise of some 300 basis points, or 3 percentage points, from where the average was in 2009 (12.3 percent) when Congress, in an attempt to reign in "unfair or deceptive" practices, passed the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act.
Some of that act's unintended consequences, he says, have arguably made life worse for consumers.
The CARD act restricts companies' ability to jack up rates on existing balances without first giving account holders proper notice; it forbids lenders from zinging customers with certain fees and penalties. It does not, however, address card interest rates per se. Prohibited now from raising rates on existing balances (except under certain circumstances), lenders are instead slapping higher rates on new accounts.
As for penalties, a survey by CreditCards.com finds that while 30 cards--including ones from Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank and HSBC--have done away with penalty rates, others have kept them and raised them. The average penalty rose from 27.9 percent in 2010 to 28.6 percent in 2011. Barclays, says the survey, charges the highest penalty rate: 30.24 percent.
Just because a lender lowers or dispenses with its penalty interest rate, however, doesn't mean its customers necessarily are better off: the lender still can charge a penalty fee, lower the account's credit limit or close the account altogether.
Does all this mean, then, that card companies are making juicy profits? Not necessarily, says professor Todd Zywicki of George Mason University. It's true that the Fed has lowered the rates it charges banks, but credit card rates are less closely tied to the cost of funds than are mortgages or car loans.
With car loans, he says, the underlying cost of funds represents perhaps 80 percent of a lender's expenses; with home loans, 90 percent. "For credit cards, it's more like 30 to 40 percent," he tells ABC News. Moreover, credit card accounts are expensive for banks to run, what with customer service costs and so many small transactions needing to be processed. Charge-offs and defaults are higher than for other kinds of loans.
What can card holders expect average rates to do for the rest of 2012? Come down, says Ben Woolsey. "I'd guess they will start to trend downward as the economy improves. By December, I'd expect to see them in the range of 13 to 14 percent. That's my gut feeling."
Consumers can fight back over high interest rates on their cards, though it may be more difficult for those with damaged credit or high balances. Bankrate.com has a free tool that lets you sort card offers by rate and perks. Many people have been able to negotiate lower rates with their existing cards simply by calling the customer service number.
"Rates currently are the highest since we've been tracking them," says Ben Woolsey, director of marketing for CreditCards.com, which has tracked card rates every week for the past four years. The average rate nationally right now, based on new card offers by 100 of the most popular issuers in the U.S., stands at 15.14 percent, up from 14.75 percent six months ago.
The average includes several different kinds of cards (airline, cash-back, low-interest, student, and business, for example) but excludes ones with introductory "teaser" rates. For cards with variable rates, only the lowest is considered for the average. Thus, some consumers are paying far more than the average suggests. The current rate for card holders with bad credit, for example, is 25 percent.
While credit card rates remain high, most other interest rates have reached 50-year lows. The prime rate, which banks charge their best customers, stands at just 3.25 percent. The federal discount rate -- that's what it costs banks to borrow from the Federal Reserve -- is just .75 percent.
Woolsey says the 15.14 percent average credit card rate represents a rise of some 300 basis points, or 3 percentage points, from where the average was in 2009 (12.3 percent) when Congress, in an attempt to reign in "unfair or deceptive" practices, passed the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act.
Some of that act's unintended consequences, he says, have arguably made life worse for consumers.
The CARD act restricts companies' ability to jack up rates on existing balances without first giving account holders proper notice; it forbids lenders from zinging customers with certain fees and penalties. It does not, however, address card interest rates per se. Prohibited now from raising rates on existing balances (except under certain circumstances), lenders are instead slapping higher rates on new accounts.
As for penalties, a survey by CreditCards.com finds that while 30 cards--including ones from Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank and HSBC--have done away with penalty rates, others have kept them and raised them. The average penalty rose from 27.9 percent in 2010 to 28.6 percent in 2011. Barclays, says the survey, charges the highest penalty rate: 30.24 percent.
Just because a lender lowers or dispenses with its penalty interest rate, however, doesn't mean its customers necessarily are better off: the lender still can charge a penalty fee, lower the account's credit limit or close the account altogether.
Does all this mean, then, that card companies are making juicy profits? Not necessarily, says professor Todd Zywicki of George Mason University. It's true that the Fed has lowered the rates it charges banks, but credit card rates are less closely tied to the cost of funds than are mortgages or car loans.
With car loans, he says, the underlying cost of funds represents perhaps 80 percent of a lender's expenses; with home loans, 90 percent. "For credit cards, it's more like 30 to 40 percent," he tells ABC News. Moreover, credit card accounts are expensive for banks to run, what with customer service costs and so many small transactions needing to be processed. Charge-offs and defaults are higher than for other kinds of loans.
What can card holders expect average rates to do for the rest of 2012? Come down, says Ben Woolsey. "I'd guess they will start to trend downward as the economy improves. By December, I'd expect to see them in the range of 13 to 14 percent. That's my gut feeling."
Consumers can fight back over high interest rates on their cards, though it may be more difficult for those with damaged credit or high balances. Bankrate.com has a free tool that lets you sort card offers by rate and perks. Many people have been able to negotiate lower rates with their existing cards simply by calling the customer service number.
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