Canine heroes of 9/11 set example for new generation

Annapolis: While there were hundreds of human heroes in the days following the September 11 attacks, there were four-legged heroes too -- the dogs who searched for survivors and bodies in the rubble of buildings and planes.
A decade later, the 9/11 dogs still alive are long retired, but there's a new generation coming up behind them.
Red, a 12 year-old labrador who searched the rubble of the Pentagon with her handler, is among those retired as an active search dog. Her legs are not as spry as they once were but in her temperament Red still appears to have that same devotion to the search.

Not long after American Airlines flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, Red was at work. She was 18 months old and only recently certified as a rescue dog, a rookie among more veteran canines.
Red searched the debris pile with an energy that surprised even her handler, Heather Roche.
"I never thought she would be a successful search dog and actually at six months old I found a pet home for her and had found another dog. I thought ... her personality is not what is needed for a working dog," Roche told Reuters TV.
"And then, no matter what I asked her to do -- whether it was climbing up things, going somewhere (as) I stayed far away, ladders, you name it -- she did it every single time and she did it perfectly," Roche said.
For weeks, Red navigated the hazards of the rubble piles amid the clatter and chaos following 9/11. After Red discovered dozens of bodies, Roche was sure that, among the rescue dogs working the pile, hers was one of the greats, though the dogs generally were impressive.
"They worked so hard and it was so hot and we were on a daytime shift, so it melted all of us. Just the work basically -- 12 hour shifts out in the sun."
By the time we were done every day, they slept hard ... but they were willing the next morning. They were rejuvenated and pulling on the leash to go back to work," Roche said.
Ten years on, Roche, who keeps Red with her in Annapolis, Maryland, is still deep in the tight community of canine search and rescue. She and other handlers train their dogs in a simulated disaster environment such as one in suburban Washington with an obstacle course of a fabricated rubble site made of concrete blocks and wooden pallets.
Roche says the experience of 9/11 has demonstrated the importance of training dogs in these hazardous environments.
In her retirement, Red still tags along on some search missions. She wants to work, even if her body has lost a step or two in these past 10 years.
And, just as the human first responders continue to suffer ailments attributed to their work at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the handlers of estimated 300 canine search and rescue teams know the dogs who worked in the days and weeks following September 11, 2001 also gave up a part of themselves.
"With her, you know she's earned the right to do anything she wants," Roche said.

Scarface Returns to the Big Screen for One Night Event!

Scarface comes back to the big screen August 31

Blasting onto the silver screen with the intensity of its original release nearly 30 years ago, the pop culture phenomenon Scarface, starring Al Pacino and directed by Brian De Palma, returns to movie theaters in a one-night Fathom event on Wednesday, August 31 at 7:30 p.m. local time.

Presented by NCM Fathom and Universal Studios Home Entertainment, audiences nationwide will get the opportunity to experience one of the most influential gangster classics ever made like never before - with all-new restored high-definition picture and enhanced audio. Fans who attend this special event will also get an exclusive look at a 20-minute special feature that showcases interviews with popular filmmakers and talent expressing how this epic feature redefined the gangster genre, leaving an enduring influence on cinema.



Tickets for the Scarface Special Event () are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the NCM Fathom website (theaters and participants are subject to change). The Scarface Special Event will appear in more than 475 select movie theaters across the country via the new digital cinema projection systems.



"Almost 30 years after its initial release, Scarface remains iconic and stirs passionate responses from audiences around the world," said Daniel Diamond, vice president of NCM Fathom. "Now, fans can experience Scarface like never before in theaters with spectacularly updated visual and sound quality, and never-before-seen elements in an historic, one-night event."


Scarface is a 1983 American crime drama and masterful collaboration between acclaimed director Brian DePalma and Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Oliver Stone. Produced by Martin Bregman, Academy Award® winner Al Pacino stars as Tony Montana, a Cuban immigrant who finds wealth, power and passion beyond his wildest dreams...at a price he never imagined. Scarface was nominated for three Golden Globe® Awards (including Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Score), and was named one of the Top 10 Gangster Films of All Time by the American Film Institute. 



This one-night, in-theater event celebrates the first-ever Blu-ray release of Scarface on September 6 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Fans of Scarface will enjoy the restored high-definition picture and 7.1 audio plus see exclusive new bonus content that reveals the film's iconic legacy as one of the greatest crime sagas of all time. For a limited time only, the Scarface Special Limited Edition Blu-ray comes with collectible SteelBook packaging, 10 exclusive art cards, a digital copy of the film and a DVD of the original 1932 Scarface, making it a must-own addition to every film fan's library. And, for the ultimate collector and cigar enthusiast, an elegantly handcrafted Scarface-themed Humidor Blu-ray will also be made available in an exclusive, never-before-available, limited edition.

Scarface was released December 9th, 1983 and stars Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Robert Loggia, Miriam Colon, F. Murray Abraham, Paul Shenar. The film is directed by Brian De Palma.

Giant hogweed has arrived, city and weed expert confirm

hogweed A stand of giant hogweed near Waterloo. The noxious and prolific weed has been found in Guelph. 

 

 

 

GUELPH — Giant hogweed is here.
City staff recently confirmed the noxious plant was found in the front yard of a residence on Dufferin Street in downtown Guelph.
Jessica McEachern, a biologist by training who has conducted plant identification in the past, inspected the weed with Randy Drury, Guelph’s civic weed inspector.
“Both of us, when we saw the plant, knew what we were looking at,” said McEachern, a City of Guelph environmental planner.
François Tardif, an expert in weed science at the University of Guelph, has confirmed two cases within the city limits: the plant at the Dufferin Street address and another stand in nearby Highview Park, where it overflows into a private backyard.
But others are not so certain the Dufferin Street plant is bona fide hogweed.
The resident at the home in question, reportedly an ecologist who has mapped and inventoried hogweed in the past, insists the plant is cow parsnip, and refuses to remove it, McEachern said.
“I believe there was a difference of opinion about what was being observed,” McEachern said. “I don’t think there was any intention of removing it.”
Nigel Finney, a natural heritage ecologist with Conservation Halton who also saw the Dufferin Street plant, said he is “almost certain” it is hogweed.
But whether it’s hogweed or cow parsnip, “they both cause photosensitivity in some people and should be removed,” he said.
Even Tardif said he was only 95 per cent sure. “I may be wrong. Scientists are never 100 per cent sure,” he wrote in an email.
McEachern said she recognized the plant by its height and the purple pubescents on its stalk.
“I mean, no one’s broken the plant to see if it causes photodermititis,” she said. “All I can really say is that both myself and Randy felt very confident with what we were looking at.”
While the city is responsible for destroying hazardous plants found on public property, homeowners have historically been expected to handle plants in their private backyards and gardens.
As public awareness and fear of the plant grows, many residents have mistaken similar plants in the parsley family, such as cow parsnip and wild carrot, for giant hogweed.
Heracleum mantegazzianum, better known as giant hogweed, was carried from Asia to Canada in the mid-1900s and has been spreading throughout southern Ontario in the past decade.
It contains a phototoxic sap that can burn skin, permanently damage the eye or, in extremely rare cases, lead to asphyxiation. A prolific breeder, a single hogweed flower produces thousands of seeds that travel by wind, water or wildlife to adjacent lands.
Asked if the plant is likely to burgeon in Guelph, McEachern said, “It seems to be the general trend in all other locations where it’s been identified. So without proper disposal, I suppose it is a risk.”
The proximity of Dufferin Street to local waterways might be cause for extra concern, Finney said, since the plant could put the floodplain area around the Eramosa and Speed Rivers at risk.
McEachern said the city is “starting to get the ball rolling” on a public education campaign about the weed. “We’re definitely starting to do that now, as we speak,” she said.
Attempts to reach the owner of the house on Dufferin Street were unsuccessful.

Team Fortress 2 'Uber Update' gets more details

Valve says the so-called 'Uber update' will be "the biggest, most ambitious update in the history of Team Fortress 2."

'Timbuck Tuesday' reveals two more new character models following on from day one, this time The Sniper and The Demoman get a going over. Each comes with new weapons and accessories to increase their effectiveness in the field.

The Sniper gets a new rifle and a sword called 'The Shahanshah', while Demoman gets a shield, a sword and 'Ali Baba's Wee Booties' which provide a health boost when worn.

Team Fortress 2 is also free to play this week. Check out all the Timbuk Tuesday details in the screen grabs below.

[ Source: Team Fortress 2 website ]

Top 5 Summer Diets of 2011

Everyone is tired of dieting without getting the results, but fear not, we've found some powerful diets that'll get you in beach-ready shape in no time.
Jenny Craig - With the help of you Jenny Craig personal consultant you will achieve that summer body you have always wanted.  For those of you who are on lower budgets this diet may not be for you since the cost of the program starts at about $600 per month.  The consultant customizes a meal program which includes three packaged meals and one snack per day.  You are allowed to add your own fruits and vegetables after they are approved by your consultant.  So what are you waiting for call Jenny today!

Weight Watchers Diet - Weight Watchers has been helping us slim down since the 1960s. This diet program defines each food you consume as points, and depending on your goal weight you are allowed only a certain amount of points per day.  The program really focuses on portion size and how to forever moderate one's food intake.  Weight Watchers weight-loss support groups, which are both online and in person, help you make this adjustment that can totally change the way you eat. Hey, it is nice to have long lasting results.
17 Day Diet - summer is here and for some it's getting down to the wire to shed those extra pounds before putting on that swimsuit.  Dr. Michael Moreno has discovered a way for us to start shedding the pounds in as little as 17 days as well as speed up the metabolism.  This diet has three cycles and a fourth long-term maintenance cycle. The 17 Day Diet encourages a diet of beneficial eating, without the use of sugar, processed foods, fried foods, and other unhealthy foods.  This new diet has become a phenomenon across America!

Zone Diet - this low calorie diet helps change your metabolism and prevent certain health problems.  When you are on the zone diet you attain in 30 percent calories of your daily intake from protein, 40 percent calories from carbohydrates, and 30 percent calories from fat.  There are many books on the zone diet which tell you what specific foods to eat and stay away from.
Ornish Diet - The diet is definitely for those of you who are going hardcore in the race to stay healthy and lean.  The Ornish diet plan, discovered by M.D. Dean Ornish, is a very low-fat, high fiber, vegetarian diet.  Therefore, the diet eliminates meat, fish, and poultry. Only less than 10 percent of your daily calorie intake will come from fat.  With this diet and exercise, you will be on your way to that beach body in no time.

'Green Lantern's Ring' Shines in NASA Space Photo

This glowing emerald nebula seen by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope is reminiscent of the glowing ring wielded by the superhero Green Lantern.

CREDIT: NASA/JPL-Caltech     

A glowing ring spotted in space seems at first more like superhero fiction than science fact. But that's what NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope found in the murky clouds encircled by the tail of the constellation Scorpius.

The new photo of the bright emerald nebula, released Wednesday (June 15), is reminiscent of the glowing ring wielded by the comic book superhero Green Lantern, who derives his strength from the band forged by the diminutive Guardians of the Planet "Oa," according to a NASA description. The film version of "Green Lantern", starring Ryan Reynolds as iconic hero Hal Jordan, on Friday (June 17). [See NASA's photo of a 'Green Lantern' nebula]

In reality, the cosmic ring is a region of hot gas and glowing dust sculpted by the powerful light of giant "O" stars, which are the most massive type of star known to exist.

'Green Lantern' Stars: Don't Try Superhero Fashion At Home!

At the movie's Hollywood premiere, Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively and others weigh in on when it's cool to wear spandex.

HOLLYWOOD, California — No matter how different the characters, costumes and mythology, there are a lot of similarities among comic book superheroes, especially those of the big-screen variety. The latest entry into the comic book movie annals is this week's "Green Lantern," in which star Ryan Reynolds sports a fashion commonly associated with superhero types: spandex.

Well, his co-star Blake Lively insists the Green Lantern isn't wearing a suit of spandex, but rather a suit of "energy." Still, given the fact that these characters seem so comfortable sporting outfits of the stretchy, pliant variety, we asked the stars and attendees at Wednesday's "Green Lantern" premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre when they think it's cool for dudes to wear spandex — outside the superhero realm, of course.
"Ooh wow, that's good," Ryan Reynolds said of our query. "Ballet. Definitely ballet. That's in the top five at least."
Mark Strong, who plays the soon-to-be-evil Siestro, suggested that the appropriate time is "on a bicycle. And that's about it."
"I wear spandex every day," revealed NBA All-Star Blake Griffin. "So I'd say 24/7. I have red, white, blue, green, orange, purple, navy, pink," he joked, before correcting himself. "I just wear white and black under my basketball shorts. I don't really go that far."
Reynolds had a definite idea of when not to wear the fabric: "I don't think when it's sexy time. That's probably not a good idea."
Maybe it depends on what color you wear for said sexy time?
"[Maybe] lavender, with little gold flecks?" Reynolds allowed, with a smile.
"If people could walk around in suits of energy, that would be cool," Blake Lively said, taking our question seriously. "Other than that, I don't think men should wear spandex."
Check out everything we've got on "Green Lantern."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

Clash of the Titans (2010) Review

My review of the 2010 version of 'Clash of The
Titans

Having not seen the original 'Clash' in 1981, I am judging this film as any other film - not comparing to it's original, just a average movie review.


'Clash of the Titans' (as said) is a remake of the 1981 film of the same name. The story follows the Greek myth of Perseus (Sam Worthington who you may know as Jake Sulley in 'Avatar') who must capture Hades, the god of the underworld (played by Harry Potter's nemesis, Voldemort, Ralph Fiennes) while Zeus (Liam Neeson) tries to guard Hades' wanted revenge after Zeus tricked Hades and sent him to the underworld. Perseus has a very difficult task: He must defeat Hades, the infamous Medusa (the one you don't want to look in the eye, remember?), and Hades' created creature, the kraken.


First off: Casting. Sam Worthington seems to get mixed reviews on his acting by some critics - some love him, some are medium on him, some can't stand him. From the two films I've seen him in now (Avatar is the other) I have found him to be a pretty solid actor - not amazing, but he has delivered two very nice performances in both films I have seen him in - he was the main character\good guy in both, too so you get to see plenty of him. So with that being said, I thought Worthington played Perseus outstanding - some of you may have other thoughts about his performance in 'Titans', but I thought he played Perseus great.
Ralph Fiennes is also rock-solid as Hades - you really feel his "evilness" in the film - other villains in other films aren't acted as great, but I think Fiennes was perfect for the role. Lo (Gemma Arterton) who had kept an eye on Perseus throughout his life is a very beautiful character and likeable, too. Arterton was also rock-solid in her role. Liam Neeson on the other hand... some reason I had mixed feelings on his role as Zeus - he was good, but not great. I don't know what it is (I will probably get questions on why I didn't like him as well - I honestly can't say - just something about him seemed a little "off" but to each his own, right?) Mads Mikkelson (sorry, I can't help but laugh at that hilarious name) plays Draco great, too. While Princess Andromeda (surprisingly doesn't have that many scenes when you consider she is a princess after all - but I haven't seen the original yet, either, so.. yeah.) who is played by Alexa Davalos is pretty good, too. I didn't see many flaws in the casting in this film, either besides maybe Neeson as Zeus, but even he wasn't terrible.. so I think the cast is all around nothing short but great.


One of the big highlights in this film is the amount of badass creatures and villains - some fierce creatures and villains were aplenty in this film (especially creatures) as it seemed there wouldn't be 5 minutes without some kind of battle going on. Which is a very good plus since that brings much action, and much interest in viewers. So I give action a A+. I also got to mention that the movie goes by very swiftly - it goes by rather quick. (It's 106 minutes, by the way).


One thing you guys may want to check out (if you don't have a Blu-Ray) is a interesting alternate ending that came to the Blu-Ray version of the movie - so you might wanna search "Clash of the Titans Alternate Ending" on Youtube to check it out if you don't have Blu-Ray (like me).

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised at how good this film was - casting was very good, villains and creatures aplenty, and action non-stop. I may shock some people by saying this, but I have to give this film a 9.5\10. Because I just feel that if I made it a .5 lower, it wouldn't be right. I recommend checking this film out for sure - it will be worth the rent!

May 21st doomsday movement harms christianity

In January 1961, a few days before John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as president, he invited Billy Graham to spend a day with him in Key Biscayne, Florida. After a round of golf, Kennedy and Graham were returning to their hotel when Kennedy stopped the white Lincoln convertible he was driving by the side of the road.

“Billy, do you believe that Jesus Christ is coming back to Earth one day?” Kennedy asked.

“Yes, Mr. President, I certainly do,” the evangelist responded.

“Then why do I hear so little about it?” Kennedy wondered.

Were Kennedy alive today, he probably wouldn't be asking the same question.

During Kennedy’s lifetime, few mainline Protestant churches discussed the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Fifty years later, however, televangelists, network television programs, movies and books like the "Left Behind" series — which has sold more than 60 million copies — have succeeded in placing the return of Jesus Christ in the public consciousness.

A 2004 Newsweek poll revealed that 55 percent of Americans believe in the Rapture, the snatching away of all Christians prior to the end of the world and the return of Jesus Christ.

As a pastor who preaches often about Bible prophecy, I am grateful for the general awareness people have of the promised return of Jesus Christ.

But our culture’s newfound interest in the end times has a downside. Bible prophecy inherently attracts fanatics. As a seminary professor of mine used to say to our class, “Remember, wherever there is light, there are bugs!”

One of those fanatics is Harold Camping, the founder of the Christian broadcasting ministry Family Radio in Oakland, California. Camping has predicted that the Rapture will occur at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, followed by the end of the world five months later on October 21, 2011.

Family Radio has plastered billboards across the nation with the warning “Judgment Day, May 21, The Bible Guarantees It!”

Road trip to the end of the world

Readers should note that Camping first predicted the world’s end in 1994. He says he was wrong due to a mathematical miscalculation.

Now I am going to make my own prediction which I’m (almost) willing to stake my life on: May 21 will come and go without any Rapture.

How can I be so certain of my prophecy? The Bible itself says that no one can know the date of the end of the world.

Predicting the apocalypse

In discussing His return to Earth, Jesus told His disciples, “... of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” (Matthew 24:36).

If God has not even revealed to his own son the date the world will end, I doubt he has revealed it to Harold Camping.

My hunch is that the date God ultimately has chosen is one that will not be plastered on billboards around the country.

What harm is there in an 89-year-old preacher making prognostications about the end of the world?

First, such predictions give non-Christians one more reason to discount the Bible.

For example, many secularists have dismissed the Bible because they assume that it teaches the world is only 6,000 years old. In reality, the Bible never makes such a claim about the Earth’s age. Instead, some well-intentioned Christians have misused the genealogies in the Bible to attempt to ascertain the date of creation.

Similarly, when next Saturday passes without a Rapture, some will say, “See, the Bible was wrong again,” when, in fact, it will have been Harold Camping who was wrong — again.

Second, predictions about the end of the world always lead some people to make foolish decisions. When a self-professed prophet named Edgar Whisenant predicted that the Rapture would occur in 1988, a couple I know responded by charging their Visa card to the limit with a trip to Disney World, believing the bank would be left with the bill once they had left the Magic Kingdom for God’s kingdom.

Obviously, things did not go as planned.

A look at the ways the world could end

Just as every teacher knows how unproductive and unfocused students are the week before school lets out, God knows how tempted we would be to neglect the responsibilities he has entrusted to us if we knew the date we would be raptured into heaven. That is why God refuses to show us his calendar and instead instructs us to focus on our assignment.

But the most harmful consequence of Camping’s false prediction is that it discourages people from making the necessary preparation for the real event when it actually occurs.

Remember the boy who cried wolf once too often? The villagers were so hardened to the boy’s false alarms that they were unprepared when the wolf finally arrived.

When May 21 passes and Camping’s prophecy is added to the ash heap of discredited prophecies, some will be tempted to join the chorus of cynics whom the Bible predicts will mockingly say, “Where is the promise of Christ’s coming?” (2 Peter 3:3-4).

Make no mistake about it. As Billy Graham affirmed to President Kennedy, Jesus is coming back some day. Over 1,800 verses in the Old Testament and 300 verses in the New Testament prophesy of the lord’s return.

Don’t allow the Harold Campings of the world keep you from making the necessary preparation for the end — whenever it may be.

May 21st Doomsday: Harold Camping is a Fraud

So you may be looking to May 21st, 2011 as the rapture according to Christian radio host Howard Camping. But according to him the world isn’t actually ending on May 21st. That’s a convenient little out. That won’t happen until October 21st, 2011. So even he knows it isn’t happening.


Judgment Day isn’t going to happen this weekend or any time soon if ever. Jesus isn’t coming down out of those clouds to save the oppressive peoples out there who believe that they’re right. If Camping really believed this, he wouldn’t be spouting this garbage on an isolated radio station that about three people above the Mason-Dixon Line listened to prior to his rapture scoop.

He’s just trying to get an audience. This isn’t going to happen. He’s be touring churches throughout the country free of charge trying to get who he believed would be saved ready for the rapture. He would’ve given up this life as a hack radio host and lived life to its fullest. By spreading the word of God, Camping means getting enough people to listen consistently to get a high paycheck.

That’s why he’s said the actual end of the world will not come until October 21st. That way if nothing happens this weekend, he’ll come up with some other doomsday scenario where either nobody was saved or it would just be delayed. If October 21st passes and nothing happens, then he’s got a problem but by that time, he probably will have gained a much larger audience and gotten a fat new paycheck.

Priests breaking news of the rapture has happened tons of times now and how many raptures have we had? One guy is spitting nonsense and it ascends to the top of Internet trends and captures peoples’ imaginations? Why? Do they actually believe this? No they just want to make more money and they do that by getting higher ratings and people will surely be listening to his last broadcast before the rapture.

Harold Camping is a fraud. Every right thinking rational human being knows this. The world isn’t coming to an end this Saturday. It’s just beginning. We should go live our lives because we can, not because Harold Camping is a blowhard moron.

So please, everyone: Internet, people on the streets, and everyone else: be quiet. Nothing is happening this Saturday of any world-ending interest. Please be quiet Camping. At least you gonna get your money thanks to the morons that take you seriously.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey Recap: Anatomy of a Brawl

Note: The Subtext Translator is currently on break after the last exhausting Housewives run. Not to worry, because judging by the season premiere of Real Housewives of New Jersey, all subtext has taken a break too!

The season opens with the Giudices arriving at a reception venue called the Manor, florid signage and all. Baby Audriana has so many feathers on her headpiece, it’s like somebody told that poor kid she was going to the royal wedding instead of her cousin Joey’s Christening. For the first time, we meet Melissa Gorga, mother of Joey and Teresa’s estranged sister-in-law, and I totally respect her for squeezing in her baby’s baptism before a huge night at the slots, which is the only logical explanation for her wearing a hot-pink mini-toga with bedazzled neckline and chainwork to this event.

Teresa comes over to her brother Joe’s table to congratulate him on this holiest of days, and you can already see trouble brewing in Joe Gorga’s eyes. And by trouble, I mean a lot of alcohol. It’s like his eyeballs are submarine windows and you can actually see them lowering into an ocean of alcohol. When Joe hears the word “congratulations,” it’s as if Teresa has hit upon a deep Clockwork Orange trigger that someone implanted in his subconscious, and immediately he’s shaking as he orders Teresa to “just walk away. Go.” She doesn’t back off, so he takes that Gorga intensity up a notch by growling at her that she’s “garbage,” and when even that doesn’t do the job, he goes ahead and violently pounds the table with both fists. I’m bracing for a full-on table flipping when Teresa’s husband, Joe Giudice, decides that he wants to get up in the mix. And then it’s Joe (!!) on Joe (!!) as …

the show cuts to a title card reading “One Week Earlier.”
I’m guessing this 500 Days of Summer approach is supposed to create procedural suspense by taking us back through the clues of what Teresa did to bring on Joe’s double-fisted game of Whac-A-Mole, but it also makes the rest of the story lines feel completely inconsequential. Once I’ve seen the baptism party, I’ve just got to get back there. And it doesn’t help that the other women’s story lines are extremely quiet this week, so let’s get them out of the way.

Caroline Manzo’s grown boys, Albie and Chris, are finally moving out into their own apartment, and it’s incredibly refreshing to see cheap carpeting and vertical blinds on this show, because the eye needs a rest every once in a while from marble and gilding. Caroline starts to cry about Chris being “her baby,” and those words are like my own “congratulations” trigger because I also have a mom who thinks I’m 12-months-old, but just weirdly articulate and mobile for my age. I love Caroline and she’s looking fantastic, but it’s time to let your grown men go and masturbate into their own towels, you know?

Back at the Manzo mansion, the whole family’s making a southern dinner, dissing southerners by accusing them of doing pasta sauce from the jar, but I didn’t see anyone around that kitchen island hand-cutting lard for those biscuits! Chris decides to really turn the knife in his mom’s back about his future absence by pulling out a “Cajun” accent that totally slays her, but the accent is pretty much just a bad Popeye crossed with Sling Blade. Caroline brings up Chris’s “wit” as evidence that he’s going to do great in the world, and that right there is a portrait of a mother’s love: It’s blinder and deafer than the family’s aging dog.

Over dinner, Caroline decides to press her daughter Lauren’s boyfriend Vito about when he’s going to Zales, and Vito is about as romantic as an Excel spreadsheet because he “has a timeframe.” It must make Lauren swoon to know that Vito’s kind of like a toaster and someday he’s just going to ding with a proposal. Jacqueline and Caroline’s brother Christopher are also at this dinner, and their whole story line this week is about how Jacqueline’s daughter Ashley continues to be clueless and entitled, except now she’s got Lizzie Grubman to mentor her.

Earlier in the episode, Jacqueline went to visit Ashley at her Grubman internship and gave her a public dressing-down because Ashley suggested that her mom should fund a move to Manhattan, even though Ashley is making a little under zero dollars per hour. I say a “little under” because Lizzie is chemical peeling her way to subcutaneous tissue, and having to see that every morning is like a wage deduction. When Ashley starts crying, Lizzie rushes to hug her while squealing, “Why are you crying? Noooooo,” which tells me that there is no chance for Ashley to undergo any amount of personal growth at that company. The best thing anybody could do for her at this point would be to laugh in her face every time she demands something without earning it. Jacqueline is starting to understand this, but there’s also the sense that it’s just too late — that instead of giving Ashley an SUV for doing kiiiiiind of average in summer school, they should have tried to get her cast on Survivor.

And now, at last, we can get back to Teresa Giudice and the satellite players in the Saga of the Christening Congratulations. Before returning to the big-ticket action, the show brings us up to date on what’s been going on with Teresa during the hiatus (bankruptcy) and gives a more lengthy introduction to Melissa Gorga and cousin Kathy. All you need to know is that Juicy Joe’s been working at the pizza shop while Teresa makes bank selling her Skinny Italian books. Gia shows up to her mom’s signing with a fresh blowout, and walks around the table smiling and cheating out like Vanna White going to turn a letter. Joe’s there wearing a shirt with denim side panels like he came over from an apparel class at Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts.

We meet Melissa next, and she’s wearing a purple-fur jacket, which is not the last of purple that you’re going to see from her over the course of this season, I can promise you that. Homegirl loves purple. You can tell she’s one of those people who thinks purple means something. She’s married to Teresa’s brother Joe and they live in a Hugh Hefner–esque 15,000-square-foot home, and I realize that they’re perfect for each other when she describes his “work ethnic” and he, in a totally separate interview, describes her “worth ethic.” Melissa has a habit of making a super-bouncy sign of the cross and throwing kisses to heaven, but she also likes to give regular shout-outs to Jesus, whose name she says like he’s a baby up in heaven. Like she’s just saying, “Jesus,” but somehow there’s a silent coochy-coo in her pronunciation.

There’s also cousin Kathy, but the most notable things about her so far are that she can open her eyes wider than Teresa and she’s married to a Lebanese Jon Lovitz. Honestly, I’m more interested in her teenage kids, who both have mysterious whispers of danger about them. Sixteen-year-old Victoria has glamour shots on her wall in which she’s wearing, alternately, leather and a masquerade mask, and her mom casually remarks that you “don’t mess with her.” Then there’s cute little Joseph, who has “so many friends” and “is such a sweetheart,” but we meet him unsheathing a knife as he relaxes in bed.

In preparation for a return to the baptism reception, the following is my CSI “assembling the clues” montage about why there’s bad blood between the Giudice’s and the Gorgas:

1. Teresa and her brother Joe used to be close, but she feels that his marriage to Melissa pushed her away. He feels that she stopped making an effort to be there for family.
2. (Because both men are Joe G’s, I’m going to go with “Teresa’s Joe” and “Melissa’s Joe” to keep them straight.) Melissa’s Joe is under the belief that Teresa’s Joe has curried the Gorga father’s favor and somehow torn down that relationship.
3. Teresa didn’t invite Melissa and Joe to some book reading/signing. (Believe me, Melissa and Joe, this was a gift. Do you understand how boring book readings are?? I spend so much effort trying to get out of them!)
4. Teresa didn’t tell Melissa that her home was beautiful.
5. Teresa didn’t come to the hospital when baby Joey was born.
6. Teresa threw away some Christmas cookies that Melissa brought over.

These preexisting bad feelings get amplified the day of the Christening when Teresa shows up late to the church and Joe’s not with her. He’s home with a case of diarrhea, and later at the reception, when Melissa’s Joe gets insulted that Teresa’s Joe doesn’t want to slam back shots with him, I’m saying to myself, “Just tell him you had diarrhea! This will all be resolved if you just tell him you had diarrhea!” In my life, I’ve found that people are incredibly sympathetic when you tell them you’ve been on the toilet all morning, and I feel like this would have been the perfect ice breaker for the two Joes. But Teresa’s Joe just keeps that stiff, sweaty upper lip, and everything goes downhill from there.

The kids are in purple vests, purple outfits. There’s so much purple eyeshadow. Melissa’s Joe has got on a purple-silk shirt. There are a lot of purple dresses. Melissa’s in the aforementioned hot-pink number, but I’m guessing it has more lilac in it than what’s reading on-camera. You’ve got your cross ice sculpture, standard. You’ve got your translucent crosses hanging from the branches in the centerpieces like cross-shaped dew. You’ve got the huge diamond cross dangling from Melissa-Joe’s neck.

As previously mentioned, Melissa’s Joe is getting wasted. He has just welcomed his son to God’s kingdom, and you’ve got to wash that down with something. Teresa and her Joe have the nerve to slow dance with Baby Joey (thank God in his kingdom for that "y"), and once they do that, there is no turning back. Some lady comes and rips that baby out of their arms like she’s from Child Services and they were injecting Joey with Botox, but the damage is done. It’s all coming together, like Memento. I just wait to catch up in time.

And then I am back at the pounding of the table, and there’s Teresa’s weakened dad, who is doing his very, very best to ignore the situation and eat his dinner, but his plate is jumping beneath his fork. Melissa’s sister begins screaming “One side! One side!” indicating that even though she and Teresa have done some phone chatting in the past, she is now drawing the line, and Teresa is out there on her own. Except she isn’t. There’s Juicy Joe coming in, swinging at Teresa’s brother for calling his wife a piece of garbage, and he’s got a lot of fight in him for someone who’s probably extremely dehydrated from diarrhea! Once Joe’s got a punch in, suddenly there’s a huge crowd of guys in suits rushing forward in a circle. Being a Jew, the only party reference I have for this is that it looks like the Hora, minus the people up on chairs.

Everybody’s going nuts. Some guy in a blue shirt whom I’ve never seen before is flailing and convulsing with anger while other guys hold him back, and I have no clue what his problem is, but boy, is he scrappy. Women are kicking. Kids are crying. A guttural screech goes up through the Manor ballroom like in Clue: The Movie. The fight has at least three lives because the uproar keeps waxing and waning, and it’s almost comedic, except it’s also psychotic. One of the Bravo cameramen does a spectacular job, continuing to film even after he’s apparently knocked to the floor, and I also appreciate the fine touch of the Bravo editor who inter-cuts a shot of a cross sparkling in a centerpiece.

The episode closes on Melissa’s Joe, his head tipping like a boxer in the last round after a devastating head injury, as he wails at his sick father in Italian out in the lobby. He wants approval. He wants his father to favor him over Teresa’s Joe. He wants love, and he wants to believe in the utmost importance of blood. “You’re my father!” he cries. “My father!” He wails from the bottom of his soul, and the pathos of this scene holds its own against anything that The Sopranos ever submitted for Emmy consideration.

My dog just threw up on the bed next to me, so with that, I’ll see you next week.

7 'unlucky' money and investing mistakes to avoid on Friday the 13th and all other days

Unless you happen to trip over a black cat while walking under a ladder outside your financial adviser's office, nothing should really spook you about your money on Friday the 13th.

Still, it's a good time to remind yourself of money mistakes to avoid throughout the year. Successful investing and money management, after all, are not about luck.

Here are seven common and costly errors to avoid:

___

1. Delaying saving.

There are lots of reasons given for putting off saving for retirement, such as low income, unemployment or paying off college loans. But anyone who waits to save misses out on the power of compounding interest over time. For young adults in particular, the difference can be stunning. Someone who saves $3,000 a year starting at age 25 will produce a nest egg of $777,170 by age 65. That's more than five times the $137,286 balance of someone who starts at age 45. The calculations by Principal Financial assume an 8 percent annual return. Even if the person starting at 45 doubles the annual savings to $6,000, the total by 65 will still be just $274,572, far short of the early starter's total.

2. Letting emotions guide investing decisions.

Plenty of investors have been tempted to buy a hot stock because of the buzz it's generating, as they get swept up in the market fervor; or to sell a stock or mutual fund in fear when the market is plunging. Making emotional short-term decisions with long-term money can be disastrous, however. Investors who bought shares of high-flying Krispy Kreme Donuts saw just how quickly things can change — the stock took a freefall from nearly $50 a share in 2003 to less than $5 in less than two years. You can also ask those who bailed out of stock funds in their 401(k) after the meltdown of 2008-09, only to see the market's value double in the last two years.

Investors should make a plan and have the patience and courage to stick to it, advises Judith Ward, a senior financial planner for T. Rowe Price. "Your objective should be to achieve your goals, not outperform the market, your best friend, or your neighbor with the newest, hottest investment idea."

3. Skimping on an emergency fund.

Emergencies that prompt a quick need for cash can set back your finances for months or years if you haven't set money aside for anything from car repairs to a layoff. Build an emergency fund that can cover at least three to six months of living expenses.

First have a rough idea of what you spend in an average month. Check your records and receipts to get a handle on the total of your monthly non-discretionary expenses — housing, food, utilities, gasoline. Now work at increasing your emergency fund to the necessary level, even if you have to temporarily divert other savings in order to do so.

4. Having an unbalanced portfolio.

Maintaining a mix of investments is critical for investors to achieve their goals. But being sufficiently diversified is harder than most think, according to Kate Warne, investment strategist for the Edward Jones investment firm in St. Louis. It involves owning a wide variety of stocks and bonds, or the proper mix of funds.

"People think if they own a couple of stocks and a couple of bonds, they're diversified," Warne says.

Many do just that. Nearly a third of Charles Schwab's two million investors hold more than 20 percent of their assets in a single stock, the brokerage says. That leaves their portfolios vulnerable to a nosedive in the stock because of a slump, scandal or even bankruptcy.

Setting and forgetting your allocations within a 401(k) plan is another risky oversight, because recent results can tilt your portfolio to be more stocks-laden, or less, than you intended. You should review your plan at least annually, rebalancing investments and increasing your savings rate if necessary.

5. Assuming that a low-priced stock is cheap.

Too many investors judge a stock's value by its price per share, says Bill Stone, chief investment strategist for PNC Wealth Management. The key is P/E — price-to-earnings ratio. The lower the P/E, the less investors are paying for every dollar of the company's profits.

"The stock price is meaningless." Stone says. It's more important for investors to think about the value of the stock in terms of how many times earnings are they paying per share.

There are ways that management can directly influence the price of a stock, such as through stock splits and reverse splits. Citigroup Inc. put a 1-for-10 reverse stock split into effect this week that boosted its stock price from $4.52 at the end of last week into the mid-$40s, but the stock's underlying value didn't change.

6. Paying avoidable or excessive fees.

If you're not careful, it's possible to rack up hundreds of dollars a year in avoidable bank, airline, credit card and other fees.

Using an out-of-network ATM is getting costlier; $5 fees may be just around the corner. Free checking is getting harder to find, as banks find ways to charge monthly maintenance fees.

Airline fees are ever-higher. Checking two bags will cost up to $60 on the biggest carriers such as American, United and US Airways, booking by phone is up to $20, and changing your ticket could set you back $150.

Then there are hotel "resort fees," gift-card activation fees and expensive rental-car insurance fees — one of the most avoidable fees of all, since most auto insurance policies and many credit cards cover your rental.

7. Getting overly conservative with investments in retirement.

Many retirees believe they should adjust their portfolios to become much more conservative when they finish working. That overlooks the fact that retirement can last for decades thanks to longer lifespans and improved medical care.

It's essential to continue to seek long-term growth in retirement by investing in stocks and riskier assets than just CDs and bonds, says Patrick Egan, director of asset management marketing for Minneapolis-based Thrivent Investment Management. The aim is to protect your savings against inflation and minimize the risk of running out of money.

Financial advisers recommend planning for a retirement that could last a full 30 years or more, until age 95. That makes 65 almost the new 35, Egan suggests, when it comes to investing in stocks.

Google pushes Chrome OS at post-PC world

Samsung and Acer launch cloud notebooks and Google opens app store, with developers keeping 95% of takings

After a day dominated by Android, Google's I/O developer conference focused its second day on the firm's other mobile platform, Chrome OS, laying down the gauntlet to the forthcoming Windows 8, which will also span PCs and mobiles and tap into the cloud.

Chrome OS has been in the works for nearly two years and got its first official launch last year, but now Google is stepping on the pedal with big name devices and an app store, plus the obligatory attacks on Windows. Co-founder Sergey Brin said traditional 'fat' operating systems were "torturing users", pointing to a new era where business devices, in particular, would run slimmed-down platforms attached to the cloud at all times. Other OSs like Hewlett-Packard's webOS are pursuing the same agenda, though HP sees its own offering as coexisting with Windows in many situations.

Brin qualified his comments, saying there was nothing "inherently wrong with Windows" - indeed, it had key strengths such as security, an area where doubts hang over Chrome OS. But he stressed that the traditional PC concept was nearing the end of its life as users move towards more diverse devices running Linux-based systems. Chrome OS puts most of the apps and data on the web, with some offline capabilities, creating a "stateless" model that is power friendly and simple to use and manage, said Brin.

The notebook partners who turned up to showcase Chrome OS were Samsung and Acer, which will both ship notebooks next month, though there will be more interest once the system starts to turn up in tablets and other mobile internet products, as well as business products like printers. At this point, there will be some overlap with Android, though - as in HP's vision - some devices, especially for business, may run both platforms in a dual-mode fashion. It was notable that Google announced partnerships with virtualization specialists VMWare and Citrix to co-market Chrome OS and support remote access for enterprise apps.

By contrast, Android will push into a far wider array of low power mobile gadgets and consumer or M2M sectors, but will remain tilted towards native apps rather than the cloud. Chrome OS is based on the Google browser layered on top of a stripped-down Linux OS, with cloud-based back-ups and default encryption of all data. The primary function is web access but the devices will have a file system and offline access to some key apps.

The initial notebooks will sell for between $350 and $500 but Google is playing with a rental scheme - originally for students but later for businesses - offering PCs, support and upgrades for $28 per user per month ($20 for the education sector). Verizon will offer the Samsung 3G product for $499. The computers claim to start up in seconds, wake up from sleep mode almost instantaneously and boast netbook-class battery life of 6.5 to eight hours.

Google turned to everyone's favorite launch app, the Angry Birds game, to open the Chrome Web Store, which differs from most of the mobile storefronts by offering developers 95% of the revenue rather than the usual 70%. The store will be rolled out immediately in 41 countries, with a reach of 160m users.

The Chrome focus followed a day when Google fleshed out its strategy for Android, unveiling the next version, Ice Cream Sandwich, which will reunify the current tablet and smartphone variants. The search giant also aims to make Android a truly universal OS that goes well beyond handsets, into all kinds of consumer gadgets as well as the smart home. Google announced the Android@Home platform to target control and automation applications.

Fable 3 On PC: Steam Vs Windows Marketplace Preorder

We learned in February that Fable 3 was coming to the PC, but there will be two ways how you can play it. The two are either Steam or Windows Marketplace, and the both have a great preorder offer, but which of the two will win out?

The Xbox version has now been out since October, but we are told that the PC version of Fable III will be worth the wait, as it will be far superior compared to the video console version. So, it looks as though the wait will be worth it, but what of those preorder offers we mentioned above?

For those who choose to get Fable 3 through Games for Windows Marketplace, then Fable: The Lost Chapters will be yours for free with preorder. However, those who wish to choose Steam will get Rebel’s Weapon and Tattoo Pack. It is not a hard choice, but we love how The Escapist puts it, “a free game on GFW or some throwaway crap on Steam.?



You do not have that long to preorder yours, as Fable 3 for the PC is due for release on May 17, 2011. If you are considering this game, then visit our recent post on the minimum PC requirements. Where will you download the game from, GFW or Steam?

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Fable 3 Coming to Steam

In a stunning acknowledgment of "who's your daddy," Microsoft has announced that the PC edition of Fable 3 will be released on Steam as well as Games for Windows Marketplace.

"There can be only one," as the saying goes, and in the world of digital distribution for the PC, that's Steam, plain and simple. And while Microsoft has long tried to be the Christopher Lambert to Valve's Clancy Brown, today the software giant finally knelt down and kissed the ring.

"Microsoft Game Studios and Lionhead are happy to announce that Fable 3 for Windows will be available through Valve Corporation's Steam distribution platform, in addition to Games for Windows Marketplace and in retail stores simultaneously," Microsoft announced today. Releasing a game on Steam is hardly noteworthy these days, but Microsoft turning over one of its few remaining PC franchises to the tender mercies of its arch-rival in the digital distribution arena? That's something altogether different. And I bet it stung.

Microsoft is holding back a little something for itself, of course. Gamers who preorder Fable 3 on Games for Windows Marketplace will also receive a free copy of Fable: The Lost Chapters, which is a pretty sweet deal for anyone taking their first Fable plunge. A Steam preorder, on the other hand, will net you the "Rebel's Weapon and Tattoo Pack," which includes four exclusive weapons and five tattoos. So, a free game on GfW or some throwaway crap on Steam - what's it going to be, internet?

Fable 3 for the PC comes out on May 17.

Will bin Laden’s Death Finally Quell Obama Conspiracy Theories?

President Obama, Nobel Peace Prize winner, turned the streets of America into a flag-waving frenzy with the announcement that Osama bin Laden had been killed by American forces. Finishing what the "mission accomplished speech" by President Bush could not, Obama rose like a phoenix from the ashes of a week in which he had to release the long-form of his birth certificate to silence the "carnival barker" Donald Trump and other so called patriot birthers.

The important takeaway for religionists is that Obama squarely placed bin Laden outside of the camp of traditional Islam. Obama said:

We must also reaffirm that the United States is not –- and never will be -– at war with Islam. I’ve made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity.

In a speech designed to bring some closure to 9/11, the emphasis on not demonizing Islam was crucial.

For those, including myself, who have wondered if the president was too soft on his detractors, the killing of bin Laden will resonate as a moment in which the president has proven his resolve as a leader who is willing to go to the wall to finish the job. The prattle of the religious right's portrayal of the president as a crypto-socialist, crypto-Muslim, a non-American, and other insults just stopping short of the n-word, will be suspended as they try to figure out their latest spin on this blockbuster story. My guess is that they will credit the troop effort, and ignore that this was a decision on the part of the commander in chief to make the hard decision to go forward and commit troops to the operation.

The crowds singing patriotic songs in front of the White House, Ground Zero and other sites are a spectacle, celebration, and cipher to me. What to make of the happiness of the death of an admittedly reprehensible human being? Should we proclaim, as Mike Huckabee did, "Welcome to Hell, bin Laden," or should we take a moment to remember all those who have died in the "war on terror?"

What I can say at this point, most assuredly, is that although many are relieved that bin Laden is gone, some of us are still a little perplexed that the winner of a Nobel Peace Prize will probably experience a surge of popular opinion, not because of all the other things he has done as president, but because a terrorist was hunted and killed.

But bin Laden’s death brings more questions — about our politics, and about the right's discourse about Obama: will bin Laden's death bring any satisfaction to those who lost loved ones on 9/11? Is this the beginning of more violence, or less?

Whatever comes, May 1, 2011 will be the day that one mission was accomplished, but another one begins: how to move the American people forward from fear of Islam and fear of weakness. Most importantly, I hope it moves them past their fear of a black president.

YouTube FOunders Purchase Yahoo's 'Delicious'

The founders of YouTube on Wednesday bought popular bookmarking site Delicious from Yahoo, promising to keep it up and running and maintained.

Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, who sold their video hosting site to Google in 2006 for $1.65 billion, said they planned to integrate Delicious with their new Internet company AVOS.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We're excited to work with this fantastic community and take Delicious to the next level,” Hurley, CEO of AVOS told AFP in a statement. “We see a tremendous opportunity to simplify the way users save and share content they discover anywhere on the Web.”

Hurley and Chen said they would seek to use Delicious to “develop innovative features to help solve the problem of information overload.”

“We see this problem not just in the world of video, but also cutting across every information-intensive media type,” Chen added.

Delicious will most likely evolve into something slightly different as AVOS pursues its mission.

“We see a tremendous opportunity to simplify the way users save and share content they discover anywhere on the Web,” said Hurley.

Delicious, created in 2003, provides a forum for sharing Web bookmarks to URLs. Yahoo will hold onto the site until July, when it will be transitioned over to AVOS.

“We believe this is the right move for the service, our users and our shareholders and look forward to watching the Delicious technology develop,” said Yahoo, which bought the bookmarking site in 2005.

YouTube’s sale to Google made both Hurley and Chen wealthy. Hurley received 735,000 shares of Google stock worth an estimated $350 million when the deal closed in November 2006. Chen received 625,000 shares of Google worth about $300 million.

Yahoo decided to scrap Delicious as part of a cost-cutting strategy adopted by CEO Carol Bartz. That strategy helped boost Yahoo’s earnings, but revenue still remains shaky more than two years after Bartz was hired to turn the company around.

Viral Video: Part 2 of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”

This last installment in the excellent “Harry Potter” movie series looks like it is going to be the best–at least from the special effects bursting out of this new trailer.

It seems that there is no innovative digital wizardry was left on the drawing board, from giant flame monsters to sparkly explosions to a lovely delicate floating flower.

Ah, magic.

Enjoy:

Witcher 2 console in the works, is 'entirely new project' - Report

CD Projekt has seemingly confirmed PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of its upcoming role-playing sequel The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings.

Speaking in an interview on Polish TV, CD Projekt's Michael Kicinski reportedly said that the studio is looking at the home console versions of the game as "separate projects" and revealed that it's currently working on them,





"Yes, it is for us an entirely new project. But of course, [we are] already working on it," he's reported to have said. "You can expect that during such events as the largest fair in the world of computer games, E3 and Gamescom [we will] inform you about what we're currently working on."

Last year The Witcher 2 publisher Namco Bandai told CVG it had no console plans "for the moment". The game is scheduled for a PC release on May 17.

Ovarian Cancer – Key To Developing A Better Ovarian Cancer Treatment Found

BOSTON–High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), the fifth-deadliest cancer among American women, is thought by many scientists to often be a fallopian tube malignancy masquerading as an ovarian one. While most of the evidence linking HGSOC to the fallopian tubes has so far been only circumstantial, a new Dana-Farber Cancer Institute study suggests there is a direct connection, a finding that could aid in the development of better treatments for the cancer.

Dana-Farber scientists report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences they have developed a laboratory model that mimics the process by which fallopian tube cells may morph into cancer cells that appear to have come from the ovaries. Their demonstration that this process can happen in the lab is powerful evidence that it does happen in patients, throwing new weight behind the theory that HGSOC begins, in fact, in the fallopian tubes.

“The hypothesis of fallopian tube origin of high-grade serous ovarian cancer is based primarily on examinations of fallopian tubes surgically removed from women with a genetic predisposition to ovarian cancer,” says Dana-Farber’s Ronny Drapkin, MD, PhD, senior author of the new study. “Areas of the tubes adjacent to the ovary often had patches of cells that were predecessors of serous cancers. But to convincingly show that these cells are the source of high-grade serous ovarian cancer, we need to trace each step of the disease’s development. Our model provides that kind of demonstration.”

The origins of HGSOC have been so difficult to track down because of the insidious nature of the disease. Ovarian tumors often establish themselves without producing any warning symptoms. By the time the disease is discovered, the ovaries can be so overrun with cancer that adjacent sections of the fallopian tube are obscured, making them difficult to examine under a microscope. Late detection is one reason why ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to treat. The American Cancer Society estimates that 22,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with HGSOC each year, and 14,000 die of it. Worldwide, the incidence approaches 200,000 women with 115,000 deaths each year.

In work published last year, Dana-Farber researchers created a laboratory model for studying the lining of the fallopian tubes. Using tissue from women who had had their fallopian tubes removed for reasons unrelated to cancer, the researchers established a model that mirrors the structure and function of normal fallopian tube tissue in the body.

For the new study, researchers removed secretory cells from the fallopian tube tissue model and “immortalized” them – altered the cells’ genetic programming so they could divide indefinitely, much as cancer cells do. As the Cancer Genome Atlas Project has shown, ovarian cancers don’t have a consistent pattern of gene mutations (other than in the p53 tumor suppressor gene). What they have, instead, are broad irregularities in the number of copies of key genes – too many, too few, or none at all. The gene most commonly missing from ovarian cancer cells is hRb, the one most often overduplicated is c-Myc. The Dana-Farber researchers made the immortalized cells mimic those abnormalities by shutting down hRb and sending c-Myc into overdrive.

Like true tumor cells, these “artificial” cancer cells proliferated rapidly and were able to leave their home tissue and grow elsewhere. When implanted in laboratory animals, they also gave rise to tumors that were structurally, behaviorally, and genomically similar to human HGSOC.

“The model allows us to introduce other genetic abnormalities into these cells to see the effect on tumor growth and development,” says Drapkin, who is also an assistant professof of pathology at Harvard Medical School. “Such studies will help us identify different types of high-grade serous ovarian cancer, as well as possibly discover biomarkers – proteins in the blood – that signal the presence of the disease. Ultimately, the model will enable us to test potential therapies to determine which work best in each type of the disease.”

The study’s lead author is Alison Karst, PhD, and the co-author is Keren Levanon, MD, PhD, both of Dana-Farber.

The research was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Fellowship, a Marsha Rivkin Foundation Scientific Scholar Award, the American Association for Cancer Research/George and Patricia Sehl Fellowship for Cancer Genetics Research, the American Physicians Fellowship for Medicine in Israel/Claire and Emmanuel G. Rosenblatt Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, the Robert and Debra First Fund, the Randi and Joel Cutler Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, and the Mary Kay Foundation.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (www.dana-farber.org) is a principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and is among the leading cancer research and care centers in the United States. It is a founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute. It provides adult cancer care with Brigham and Women’s Hospital as Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center and it provides pediatric care with Children’s Hospital Boston as Dana-Farber/Children’s Hospital Cancer Center. Dana-Farber is the top ranked cancer center in New England, according to U.S. News & World Report, and one of the largest recipients among independent hospitals of National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health grant funding.

iPad 2 and White iPhone 4 To Arrive in Japan On April 28, Indian Launch Soon?

Despite of the tremendous natural disaster, Apple is all set to release the iPad 2 in Japan on April 28. The launch is exactly after a delay of a month due to the tsunami & earthquake that did a huge destruction in various parts of the country. Apple continuous improvements in iPad 2 online shipping in US & UK could be the indication towards the iPad 2 debut in India as well.

The rumor has been reported by the CNNGo, a popular Japanese site. However, there is no official announcement from Apple about the launch on the same day. Just after the iPad 2 rumor, someone posted a screenshot of a poster which clearly depicts the white iPhone 4 availability on 28 April.

If the rumors are true then we can expect the iPad 2 in India ahead of the Japan launch. It is needless to say here that Apple has finally figured out a way to manufacture the product with ease which can meet the international demand.

What do you think ?

Prince William and Kate Middleton Royal Wedding: 4m bottles of bubbly, 20m beers and 300 miles of Union Jack bunting.. it's time to party

Friday's royal wedding is set to boost shops and pubs with a record £1billion spending spree.

Food and drink is flying off the shelves along with bunting and commemorative memorabilia as the nation plans a day of barbecues and street parties.

When Friday dawns, shoppers are expected to have bought four million bottles of champagne, cava or other bubbly, 20 million bottles and cans of beer, five million punnets of strawberries and 500,000 Union Jack paper cups.

Revellers are also set to snap up 300 miles of patriotic bunting, 500,000 cup cakes, 300,000 frozen cheesecakes and two million extra loaves of sliced bread for the festivities.

Many of the country's 52,000 pubs are already putting up Union Jacks and red, white and blue bunting and balloons. The British Beer and Pub Association estimates bars will pour an extra 100 million pints over the weekend. And 5,500 road closures have been requested to allow street parties.

Total spending on food, drink and souvenirs is set to hit £480million with pub sales over the weekend adding another £500m - more than double the figure for a normal bank holiday.

Last night Asda revealed it expects a sales bonanza including 350,000 royal wedding tea towels and 100,000 boxes of commemorative fudge. The chain also says camping sales are up 56 per cent on last year as shoppers buy extra chairs, bags for party guests.

Tesco says it expects to sell rolls, 200,000 packs of Union 45,000 TVs - and is one of many wedding promotions to boost sundaymirror.co.uk also says camping sales are up 56 per cent on last year as shoppers buy extra chairs, airbeds and sleeping bags for party guests.

Tesco says it expects to sell 40,000 packs of sausage rolls, 200,000 packs of Union Jack party napkins and 45,000 TVs - and is one of many stores running royal wedding promotions to boost last-minute spending.

Article continues below >>

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Royal Wedding means a day off for U.S. diplomats

Most American diplomats stationed at the U.S. Embassy in London and consulates in Northern Ireland and Scotland are enjoying a shorter work week in observance of the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Embassy personnel in London and staffers stationed at U.S. consulates in Belfast and Edinburgh had the day off Monday in observance of Easter Monday — a major British holiday — and are scheduled be out of the office again Friday in observance of the nuptials.

Despite the closure, emergency consular services will be available as they always are when the embassy is closed, according to embassy spokesman Philip Breeden.

The embassy plans to issue “a very generic notice” to staffers advising them of the parade route “and to use prudence in crowds,” Breeden said in an e-mail.

Their boss, U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom Louis Susman, is scheduled to attend the wedding as the official representative of the U.S. government. But he’s going stag, because his wife, Marjorie, was not invited due to limited seating at Westminster Abbey, according to published reports.

No other U.S. government officials and no foreign heads of state are invited to the wedding. Top diplomats from Germany, Israel, Poland and other countries are also expected to attend.

As if having Friday off wasn’t enough, U.S. diplomats in the U.K. will enjoy a four-day weekend because next Monday is May Day, another major British holiday. American diplomats stationed in the U.K. observe nine federal holidays and seven British holidays, including two bank holidays.

Lest you think they’re getting off easy, remember it is customary for U.S. embassies around the globe to observe major local or national holidays. In Beijing, U.S. diplomats observe the nine federal holidays and six Chinese holidays, including the Lunar New Year, Tomb Sweeping Day and a five-day break for Chinese National Day.

RELATED: Full coverage of The Royal Wedding

Nintendo Confirms Wii Successor For 2012

Nintendo has confirmed it will launch a successor to its popular gaming console Wii in 2012.

As of March, Nintendo has sold 86.01 million Wiis since 2006 when the console was launched. However, in 2010 the company sold only 15.1 million Wiis – a 25% drop from 2009 when it sold 20.1 million units globally.

The company also revealed its yearly financial results for 2010, marking a big drop in net profit which was $825 million – 66 percent less than in 2009.

The declining Wii sales paired with the shoddy financial results make this a perfect moment for Nintendo to announce the next version of Wii. A “2012 launch” is as vague as launch dates come, but Nintendo promised to have a playable unit, as well as more details and specifications of the upcoming Wii model, at the E3 Expo, which is held June 7-9, 2011, in Los Angeles.

Macaroni and Cheese for Adults

Mac & Cheese with Braised Leeks, Asiago and Parmesan Breadcrumbs

If you think Macaroni and Cheese is for kids then check out this version with braised leeks, Asiago cheese and Parmesan breadcrumbs by Chef Viviane Banquet Farre… remarkable and a complete departure from traditional recipes.

Macaroni and Cheese… For Adults

serves 8

For the leeks




3 tablespoons olive oil
4 leeks – 4” of tops and roots trimmed (about 1 1/2 lbs), cut in half lengthwise, thoroughly washed and cut in 1/4” slices
4 large garlic cloves – skinned and finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
3/4 cup white wine
For the béchamel




6 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 tablespoons unbleached white flour
6 cups milk – warmed
1 cup heavy cream
freshly ground nutmeg to taste (use microplane grater)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
8 oz Wisconsin Asiago – coarsely grated (2 cups)
For the bread crumbs




1/3 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup finely grated Wisconsin Parmesan
1 tablespoon olive oil
For the pasta




1 lb pennette lisce or macaroni
1 tablespoon sea salt (for the pasta water)
1 medium ceramic or glass baking dish – buttered
Step 1: To braise the leeks – Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and leeks. Toss well and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until leeks have wilted and just begin to take on a golden color, tossing from time to time. Add the garlic, chili pepper flakes, salt, black pepper and wine. Quickly toss, reduce heat to medium-low and cover pan. Braise leeks for 25 minutes until very tender and all the juices have evaporated (if there is still some liquid in the pan after braising the leeks for 25 minutes, sauté at high heat for 1 to 2 minutes until all juices have evaporated). Transfer to a bowl and set aside.


Step 2: To make the béchamel – Place the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. As soon as the butter is melted, whisk in the flour and cook, whisking constantly for 1 to 2 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy and the flour becomes golden, but not brown. Quickly whisk in the warm milk and cream. While constantly whisking, bring back to a boil. As soon as it reaches boiling point, lower the heat to medium and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes until the béchamel has slightly thickened, still whisking constantly. Add the nutmeg, salt, pepper and grated cheese. Whisk until the cheese has melted and remove from heat.


Step 3: Place the breadcrumbs and parmesan in a small bowl. Drizzle with the olive oil and mix well. Set aside.
Pre-heat oven to 375°F.


Step 4: Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil. When the water is boiling, add the salt and the pasta. Cook the pasta about 2 minutes less than the package instructions so that it’s not cooked all the way through (see picture below). Drain well and transfer to a large bowl. Add the leeks and béchamel to the pasta and stir until well blended. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the breadcrumbs and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until bubbly on the sides and golden. Remove from oven and heat the broiler on high. Place the mac & cheese under the broiler for a few seconds to brown the breadcrumbs. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Cook’s note: The mac & cheese is best eaten as soon as it’s made. Reheating will make it stodgy. The braised leeks can be prepared up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated. The béchamel can be prepared up to 3 days ahead and refrigerated. Gently reheat it over medium-low heat and thin with a little milk before using in the recipe. Boil the pasta, assemble and bake the mac & cheese just before serving.