Would you believe that there are more tigers in captivity in Texas than in the whole of Africa? Such declarations become completely credible as documentarian Michael Webber's "The Elephant in the Living Room" delves into the growing trend of Americans treating some of the most dangerous animals on Earth as household pets.
Webber anchors his film in the activities of Tim Harrison, a now-retired safety officer in Oakwood, Ohio, a leafy suburban community of stately homes on huge lots.
Harrison has captured and rescued hundreds of alligators, lions, tigers and the largest and most deadly snakes — all in the U.S.
News reports of a 500-plus-pound lion reported on an interstate highway bring Harrison in contact with the lion's owner, Terry Brumfield, who lives in nearby Pike County, where it is perfectly legal for him to keep the lion, Lambert, and his mate, Lacie, in a large caged area.
Still suffering from the effects of a serious truck accident, Brumfield has been soothed by his lions' presence and loves them like his own children. While fearing for the animals' ultimate fate, Harrison wins Brumfield's trust, and the unfolding of the men's friendship and the destiny of the lions form the trajectory of the film.
"The Elephant in the Living Room" reveals the folly, cruelty and danger of treating often lethal exotic animals as pets. This impeccably made film is chock-full of enlightening and sometimes bizarre moments: visits to an exotic animal expo and an auction at which a small boy is given a dangerous baby snake as a pet.
Webber is also fair-minded: he includes a Las Vegas exotic pets dealer, a trained zoologist who wisely states that unless owners of such creatures act responsibly, fear amid the public will cause increasing banning of the private ownership of such pets. "The Elephant in the Living Room" could scarcely be more engaging — or more consciousness-raising.
"The Elephant in the Living Room." Rated PG for thematic material, including some disturbing situations, mild language and smoking. Running time: 1 hour, 34 minutes. At Mann's Chinese 6, Hollywood.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Fantasia returns to American Idol
Ryan leads Fantasia to the contestants and asks for the one thing she knows now that she wishes she did then. "It can throw you a lot of things that you're not ready for, so you have to keep good people with you," she tells them. "The first love is the music for me ... Because you love music, you can do it."
Next, Ryan calls up Haley Reinhart, Pia Toscano and Thia Megia to sing Katy Perry's Teenage Dream. Haley starts, giving the melody her distinctive growl. When Pia takes her lines, she's forced by the choreography to actually move a bit, she starts to look more like the star she could be.
"From that fun to the ultimate buzzkill," says Ryan after the song, going right to the results. Pia, as expected is safe: Ryan sends her back to her seat. Thia, however, is headed to the stool -- she joins Naima in the Bottom Three. Since two go home, one of them is toast.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Pakistan vs India Semi Final match Cricket World Cup 2011, Live Score Card
In the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, India marched to the semi final with five wins, one loss and a tied match against England, whereas Pakistan reached the semi final with five victories and a loss against New Zealand. Check here >> Live Score Card
ONE OF the biggest days in the history of Cricket has now arrived. The Godfather of all cricket matches is about to be played as the India vs Pakistan semi final takes place in Mohali at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium on Wednesday, March 30 from 2:00 pm onwards.
Millions of cricket-crazy fans from across the globe have already started cheering for their heroes to do well in the super match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. They are praying for the victory of their favourite team at temples, mosques, gurudwaras, and churches.
The winner of the India vs Pakistan second semi final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will play against Sri Lanka on Saturday, April 2, at India's finance capital Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. In the first semi final match of the Cricket World Cup 2011 on Tuesday, March 29, Sri Lanka won by five wickets at R. Premadasa Stadium, in Colombo, and reached its second successive final of the Cricket World Cup.
Prior to the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan semi final match in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, last night, the weather in Mohali raised the heart beats of Indian and Pakistani cricket fans. Mohali witnessed some heavy rain and thunderstorms on Tuesday.
According to the Mohali weather report, on Wednesday, March 30, in the afternoon the sky will mostly be sunny, and Mohali temperature will be around 41°C, however, there will be a chance of little rain by the evening.
The two captains, MS Dhoni and Shahid Afridi, will come to the middle of Punjab Cricket Association Stadium for the important toss of the second semi final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at 2:00 PM and live action for the battle for final will start from 2:30 PM IST. Cricket fans from across the globe will get all the latest updates and information from Live Score Card link.
ONE OF the biggest days in the history of Cricket has now arrived. The Godfather of all cricket matches is about to be played as the India vs Pakistan semi final takes place in Mohali at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium on Wednesday, March 30 from 2:00 pm onwards.
Millions of cricket-crazy fans from across the globe have already started cheering for their heroes to do well in the super match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. They are praying for the victory of their favourite team at temples, mosques, gurudwaras, and churches.
The winner of the India vs Pakistan second semi final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 will play against Sri Lanka on Saturday, April 2, at India's finance capital Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. In the first semi final match of the Cricket World Cup 2011 on Tuesday, March 29, Sri Lanka won by five wickets at R. Premadasa Stadium, in Colombo, and reached its second successive final of the Cricket World Cup.
Prior to the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan semi final match in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, last night, the weather in Mohali raised the heart beats of Indian and Pakistani cricket fans. Mohali witnessed some heavy rain and thunderstorms on Tuesday.
According to the Mohali weather report, on Wednesday, March 30, in the afternoon the sky will mostly be sunny, and Mohali temperature will be around 41°C, however, there will be a chance of little rain by the evening.
The two captains, MS Dhoni and Shahid Afridi, will come to the middle of Punjab Cricket Association Stadium for the important toss of the second semi final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 at 2:00 PM and live action for the battle for final will start from 2:30 PM IST. Cricket fans from across the globe will get all the latest updates and information from Live Score Card link.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Mass Effect 2 Arrival DLC Arrives on Xbox Live
he last DLC for Mass Effect 2, dubbed Arrival has finally arrived on Xbox Live Marketplace. The DLC will set you back by 560 Microsoft Points and the download clocks in at 760MB. Arrival DLC has been released with much fanfare and a relatively prolific marketing campaign that build up to its release today.
Arrival chronicles Shepard's quest to rescue an operative who may have dope on an impending reaper invasion of Earth. Looks like the DLC is setting up the plot for Mass Effect 3, which may see the action headed for Earth. The launch is marked by a brand new trailer for the DLC, which we have got it right here for your viewing pleasure.
Arrival chronicles Shepard's quest to rescue an operative who may have dope on an impending reaper invasion of Earth. Looks like the DLC is setting up the plot for Mass Effect 3, which may see the action headed for Earth. The launch is marked by a brand new trailer for the DLC, which we have got it right here for your viewing pleasure.
10 Things every Woman must know about Ovarian Cancer
It's known as the 'silent killer' but now campaigners are trying to make a big noise about one of our most
common cancers. Here we reveal the facts that could help you avoid it
FACT 1:This is the fifth most common cancer in women
Although ovarian cancer is technically classed as a rare cancer (the common ones are breast, bowel, lung and prostate) it still affects around 6,700 women each year in the UK.
Risk varies from woman to woman and depends on how old you are, your genes and your lifestyle.
A woman has a one in 50 chance of developing the disease over her lifetime, according to charity Target Ovarian Cancer. But the risk rises as you get older, with four in five cases occurring after the age of 50.
FACT 2: It’s a bigger threat than cervical cancer
We’ve all heard of cervical cancer, thanks to NHS screening using the smear test.
No wonder a survey by Target Ovarian Cancer found that nearly half of women think cervical cancer is more of a threat than ovarian cancer.
Sadly, this isn’t true. Ovarian cancer kills around 4,500 women a year compared to just under 1,000 cervical cancer deaths.
The reason cervical cancer deaths are so low is because most women go for regular smears – Cancer Research UK estimates the test saves 4,500 lives a year.
FACT 3: There ARE some early symptoms
It was thought that symptoms didn’t show themselves until the cancer had become advanced. But it’s now known this isn’t the case.
Research shows that women do get symptoms in the early stages of the disease but a lack of awareness along with the fact that symptoms are quite general means they’re often missed until it’s too late.
In 2008, the NHS National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative identified the top three symptoms of ovarian cancer as:
Consultant gynaecology oncologist Dr Khalil Razvi of Southend University Hospital advises: “See your GP if you have persistent symptoms for four weeks or longer. Chances are it’s not ovarian cancer but any symptoms, especially pain, that last this long needs to be investigated. And if it does turn out to be ovarian cancer, the sooner you’re diagnosed and treated, the better your survival chances.”
FACT 4: More than 70% survive – if it’s caught early
If it’s diagnosed in the early stages, the good news is that more than 70% of women will survive this disease. But at the moment we have the worst survival rate in Europe – two-thirds of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer won’t survive beyond five years.
Knowing the symptoms is crucial – if you’re worried, keep track of yours with Ovarian Cancer Action’s new online symptoms diary. Fill it in and take it along to your GP.
Visit www.ovarian.org.uk.
FACT 5: It may be mistaken for IBS
GPs have often been accused of not being sufficiently aware of ovarian cancer symptoms. Indeed, in 2009 the Pathfinder Study for Target Ovarian Cancer found that three-quarters of them were not familiar with Department of Health guidelines on symptoms and diagnosis.
“I think GPs are becoming more aware of early symptoms, but there’s a constant stream of new research coming out on so many conditions,” says Dr Razvi. “The average GP will only see one case of ovarian cancer every five years. Another problem is that the symptoms are also symptoms for a wide range of illnesses, so ovarian cancer may not be the first thing that comes to mind.”
It’s often confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which affects one in five women, as well as side effects of hormone replacement therapy.
Dr Razvi says: “Don’t be afraid to ask your GP if he or she has considered the possibility of cancer if your symptoms are similar to those established by the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative.” See FACT 3.
FACT 6: It doesn’t just affect older women
Although most women who develop ovarian cancer are over 50, certain types can affect women as young as 20.
“In this case, symptoms are more likely to be mistaken for other gynaecological problems, like fibroids or endometriosis,” says Dr Razvi. You’re more likely to develop it young if you have two or more close relatives who’ve had ovarian or breast cancer, which may be linked to specific genetic faults.
This is more common in women of Jewish, Polish, Icelandic and Pakistani descent and more significant the younger they were when they developed the cancers.
“If you’re concerned about your family history, tell your GP who can refer you to a genetics clinic for an assessment,” says Dr Razvi.
However, it’s important to note that nine out of 10 ovarian cancers have nothing to do with genes.
FACT 7: A clear smear does not rule it out
The smear test is designed solely to pick up cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer and has nothing to do with ovarian cancer. However, a 2007 survey by Target Ovarian Cancer suggested that up to half of all women wrongly believe that a clear smear test means they’re free from ovarian cancer, too.
FACT 8: The Pill lowers your risk
This is good news for women who’ve taken the combined oral contraceptive pill for five or more years.
“Research shows that after five years, it reduces risk by nearly 30%, with benefits lasting up to 30 years afterwards,” says Dr Razvi.
After 15 years of taking the Pill, risk is reduced by half, according to Cancer Research UK.
“This is thought to be because being on the Pill stops ovulation. We also know that the risk of ovarian cancer is lower in women who’ve had children than those who haven’t. The more children a woman has, and the longer she breastfeeds for, the lower her risk.
“One theory is that ovulation may damage the lining of the ovaries so the less often a woman ovulates, the less damage to her ovary lining. However it hasn’t been proven,” says Dr Razvi.
FACT 9: Fighting the flab will reduce your risk
Obese women who’ve passed the menopause are up to 80% more likely to get ovarian cancer, according to a study in the US.
Aim for a waist size below 32 inches and preferably below 30. This will also substantially reduce your risk of other conditions, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Some research suggests that regular exercise reduces risk of ovarian, breast and bowel cancers, though this could be partly because it helps keep your weight under control.
One large Scandinavian study showed women who exercised for at least four hours a week reduced their risk by more than two-thirds.
FACT 10: Scientists are working on a screening test
At the moment there’s no screening programme for ovarian cancer.
But a clinical trial into the potential benefits is now being carried out on 200,000 women
Keep an eye out for the results, which are due in 2014.
Source: Daily Mirror
common cancers. Here we reveal the facts that could help you avoid it
Although ovarian cancer is technically classed as a rare cancer (the common ones are breast, bowel, lung and prostate) it still affects around 6,700 women each year in the UK.
Risk varies from woman to woman and depends on how old you are, your genes and your lifestyle.
A woman has a one in 50 chance of developing the disease over her lifetime, according to charity Target Ovarian Cancer. But the risk rises as you get older, with four in five cases occurring after the age of 50.
FACT 2: It’s a bigger threat than cervical cancer
We’ve all heard of cervical cancer, thanks to NHS screening using the smear test.
No wonder a survey by Target Ovarian Cancer found that nearly half of women think cervical cancer is more of a threat than ovarian cancer.
Sadly, this isn’t true. Ovarian cancer kills around 4,500 women a year compared to just under 1,000 cervical cancer deaths.
The reason cervical cancer deaths are so low is because most women go for regular smears – Cancer Research UK estimates the test saves 4,500 lives a year.
FACT 3: There ARE some early symptoms
It was thought that symptoms didn’t show themselves until the cancer had become advanced. But it’s now known this isn’t the case.
Research shows that women do get symptoms in the early stages of the disease but a lack of awareness along with the fact that symptoms are quite general means they’re often missed until it’s too late.
In 2008, the NHS National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative identified the top three symptoms of ovarian cancer as:
- Persistent pelvic or stomach pain.
- Increased tummy size and persistent bloating as opposed to bloating that comes and goes.
- Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly on most days.
- The need to wee suddenly or more often.
- Changes in bowel habit, for instance constipation or diarrhoea.
- Feeling tired all the time.
- Back pain.
Consultant gynaecology oncologist Dr Khalil Razvi of Southend University Hospital advises: “See your GP if you have persistent symptoms for four weeks or longer. Chances are it’s not ovarian cancer but any symptoms, especially pain, that last this long needs to be investigated. And if it does turn out to be ovarian cancer, the sooner you’re diagnosed and treated, the better your survival chances.”
FACT 4: More than 70% survive – if it’s caught early
If it’s diagnosed in the early stages, the good news is that more than 70% of women will survive this disease. But at the moment we have the worst survival rate in Europe – two-thirds of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer won’t survive beyond five years.
Knowing the symptoms is crucial – if you’re worried, keep track of yours with Ovarian Cancer Action’s new online symptoms diary. Fill it in and take it along to your GP.
Visit www.ovarian.org.uk.
FACT 5: It may be mistaken for IBS
GPs have often been accused of not being sufficiently aware of ovarian cancer symptoms. Indeed, in 2009 the Pathfinder Study for Target Ovarian Cancer found that three-quarters of them were not familiar with Department of Health guidelines on symptoms and diagnosis.
“I think GPs are becoming more aware of early symptoms, but there’s a constant stream of new research coming out on so many conditions,” says Dr Razvi. “The average GP will only see one case of ovarian cancer every five years. Another problem is that the symptoms are also symptoms for a wide range of illnesses, so ovarian cancer may not be the first thing that comes to mind.”
It’s often confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which affects one in five women, as well as side effects of hormone replacement therapy.
Dr Razvi says: “Don’t be afraid to ask your GP if he or she has considered the possibility of cancer if your symptoms are similar to those established by the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative.” See FACT 3.
FACT 6: It doesn’t just affect older women
Although most women who develop ovarian cancer are over 50, certain types can affect women as young as 20.
“In this case, symptoms are more likely to be mistaken for other gynaecological problems, like fibroids or endometriosis,” says Dr Razvi. You’re more likely to develop it young if you have two or more close relatives who’ve had ovarian or breast cancer, which may be linked to specific genetic faults.
This is more common in women of Jewish, Polish, Icelandic and Pakistani descent and more significant the younger they were when they developed the cancers.
“If you’re concerned about your family history, tell your GP who can refer you to a genetics clinic for an assessment,” says Dr Razvi.
However, it’s important to note that nine out of 10 ovarian cancers have nothing to do with genes.
FACT 7: A clear smear does not rule it out
The smear test is designed solely to pick up cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer and has nothing to do with ovarian cancer. However, a 2007 survey by Target Ovarian Cancer suggested that up to half of all women wrongly believe that a clear smear test means they’re free from ovarian cancer, too.
FACT 8: The Pill lowers your risk
This is good news for women who’ve taken the combined oral contraceptive pill for five or more years.
“Research shows that after five years, it reduces risk by nearly 30%, with benefits lasting up to 30 years afterwards,” says Dr Razvi.
After 15 years of taking the Pill, risk is reduced by half, according to Cancer Research UK.
“This is thought to be because being on the Pill stops ovulation. We also know that the risk of ovarian cancer is lower in women who’ve had children than those who haven’t. The more children a woman has, and the longer she breastfeeds for, the lower her risk.
“One theory is that ovulation may damage the lining of the ovaries so the less often a woman ovulates, the less damage to her ovary lining. However it hasn’t been proven,” says Dr Razvi.
FACT 9: Fighting the flab will reduce your risk
Obese women who’ve passed the menopause are up to 80% more likely to get ovarian cancer, according to a study in the US.
Aim for a waist size below 32 inches and preferably below 30. This will also substantially reduce your risk of other conditions, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Some research suggests that regular exercise reduces risk of ovarian, breast and bowel cancers, though this could be partly because it helps keep your weight under control.
One large Scandinavian study showed women who exercised for at least four hours a week reduced their risk by more than two-thirds.
FACT 10: Scientists are working on a screening test
At the moment there’s no screening programme for ovarian cancer.
But a clinical trial into the potential benefits is now being carried out on 200,000 women
Keep an eye out for the results, which are due in 2014.
Source: Daily Mirror
Victoria's Secret Coupons: 20% Off Pants & Bra Tops, Free Shipping, $30 Off $150+ Purchases
First, take 20% off a large selection of pants with promo code "PANT20."
A large selection of bra tops, including many super cute summer tank tops, are now 20% off. No promo code is necessary for this offer.
100+ different swimwear styles have already been marked down 25%!
Receive free shipping on any $50+ order with promo code "SHIP50" or take $30 off a $150+ order with promo code "30OFF150". Sorry - these two codes can't be combined.
Plus, every purchase will come with a free Secret Reward Card, which will be good for $10, $50, $100, or $500 off your next purchase! Orders placed through March 31, 2011 will come with a reward card!
For additional savings at Victoria's Secret don't forget to shop through cash-back shopping site ShopatHome and you'll earn an additional 2% cash back on your purchase total!!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Crysis 2 to get Patched with DX11 Support
Patch scheduled for March 29; will also include an advanced graphics menu
After much rumours doing the round around forums, a German website announced that a DX11 patch was under development for Crysis 2, along with an advanced graphics menu for PC gamers to squeeze the last ounce of performance out if their rigs.
For PC gamers across the world, Crytek was amongst the last bastions of hope; a studio PC fanboys would pride for bringing bleeding edge graphics and pushing the envelope of PC hardware and technology with games like Crysis. However, since Crysis 2 went console happy, PC gamers weren't amused at all. It got worse when the console versions looked less than spectacular, and with the PC release being found to be stuck in DX9 mode (and despite looking relatively stunning) the purists and overclockers alike burst a nerve.
PC gamers may rue that Crytek has sold out, but DX11 or not our Crysis 2 performance preview did show that the game was optimised quite well, and yet looked relatively good. Here's hoping the DX11 patch brings it up to the awesomeness of the original Crysis. Although, we aren't holding our breaths.
Anna Chapman's new Russian TV Show Secrets of the World exposes mysteries, just not hers
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| Russian spy Anna Chapman gave a rare English-language interview to the BBC on Sunday. |
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| Add caption |
Sarah Lane Says Natalie Portman Did 5 Percent of Black Swan Dancing
Ballet Dancer Lane Bristles After Portman's Boyfriend Says She Did Most of the Dancing
The nasty post-Oscar battle between Natalie Portman and her dancing double, Sarah Lane, over who did what on the "Black Swan" dance floor is a flashback to the 1983 dance blockbuster "Flashdance," which was panned by critics but a box office smash.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Crysis 2 pirates can play online
Ok, we know Crytek might get upset with PC gamers pirating their game but WTF? According to a lot of reports, Crysis 2 pirates can actually play online without any issues or restrictions. Normally, games verify your cd-key as a valid one before entering the multiplayer mode but this is not the case with Crysis 2. As a result of this, gamers that pirated the PC version can already play online in the official servers. It is literally a kick in the nuts for those that bought the game. This is pretty much confirmed and Crytek should address it as soon as possible.
We were also quite shocked with your reaction to our ‘How Crytek Doomed Crysis 2′s PC version’ article. Some criticized us about it, although that was not a review of the game. It was an article about things that were already in Crysis 1 and are absent from its sequel. Funny thing is that the leaked beta version featured most of them, so we’re wondering; why Crytek decided to remove them? Fingers crossed there’ll be an update that will fix all its issues!
NCAA 2011Tournament Final Four
Conference: Colonial Athletic Association
The strength: The Rams employ a zone press designed to force turnovers and wear down opponents, and they like to spread opposing defenses wide with the threat of their 3-point shooting. They’ll use 10 players but only six for extended minutes, which makes it all the more impressive that they’ve been able to cause fatigue for so many big-name opponents. Their top six scorers all have made at least 29 3-pointers in 38 games, which forces opponents to stretch out to the perimeter and tends to open driving lanes and one-on-one opportunities in the post for center Jamie Skeen. What the Rams do really well that gets precious little attention is defending the 3-point line. They’ve now outscored their tournament opponents by a composite 159-69 from behind the 3-point line.
The weakness: It’s not uncommon for pressing teams to be poor in rebounding. Coaching legend Nolan Richardson expressed little concern about this department when leading Arkansas to Final Fours and the 1994 NCAA title. The Rams aren’t a big team and are, on average, beaten by 3.8 rebounds per game—which ranks 294th in Division I. They were destroyed on the boards by Kansas but somehow saw to it that it did not matter, even without a huge differential in turnovers, by being more efficient and productive on offense.
Brandon Rozzell provides a spark off the bench for VCU. (AP Photo)Best player: Point guard Joey Rodriguez has been the tournament’s dominant player—not just for VCU but for every team in the field. That might sound strange given that he has averaged only 10.2 points, but Rodriguez dominates tempo in a way that energizes the Rams. His 7.6 assists might give a better accounting of his influence, but even that does not capture how thoroughly he can dominate a game when he is playing well. He’s so important he hasn’t played fewer than 30 minutes in a game since the first week of January.
Super sub: Senior guard Brandon Rozzell comes off the bench to play 25 minutes per game, and he’s never played any better than in this tournament. Already established as an excellent 3-point shooter—39.8 percent for the season—he has made nearly half his attempts in five tournament games. He is averaging more than 10 points per game on 3-pointers alone in this tournament. He doesn’t create a lot of plays but rarely makes a mistake. He either gets up a shot, or gives up the ball.
Coach’s M.O.: Shaka Smart has been a quietly rising star in coaching since he went from an assistant’s job at Akron to his first BCS-conference job at Clemson under Oliver Purnell. His impressive work ethic and intelligence caught the attention of Florida’s Billy Donovan, who hired him away from the Tigers then endorsed him as a replacement at VCU for another former Gators assistant, Anthony Grant. Smart is energetic, organized and committed to his system. He has wisely used the loud media condemnation of the program’s inclusion in the NCAA field to motivate his players. He is generally composed on the sideline, never demonstrating stress to his players—so cool that when he got T’d up in the Kansas game, it was his first of the season.
Season’s turning point: In mid-February, VCU dropped consecutive games to Colonial Athletic Association powers Old Dominion and George Mason. The Rams were blown out in each game—by 11 against ODU and 20 against Mason. And both were at home. In the aftermath of those debacles, VCU made the trip to Wichita State for a BracketBusters game against Wichita State, in which it gutted out a 68-67 victory against a solid opponent and one of the loudest crowds in college basketball. The Rams are 8-3 since, with an appearance in the CAA championship game and now the Final Four.
Toughest tournament test: The Rams have been the most dominant team in the NCAAs. For one thing, they’ve won five games and the other three standing won four. In four of the five victories, they won by double-digit margins, including by 10 over a No. 1 seed, by 18 over a No. 2 seed and by 18 over a No. 6. The only close call for the Rams was their one-point overtime victory over Florida State in the regional semifinal, a game in which they struggled to manufacture scoring opportunities against the Seminoles’ long, athletic, rugged defense.
The strength: The Rams employ a zone press designed to force turnovers and wear down opponents, and they like to spread opposing defenses wide with the threat of their 3-point shooting. They’ll use 10 players but only six for extended minutes, which makes it all the more impressive that they’ve been able to cause fatigue for so many big-name opponents. Their top six scorers all have made at least 29 3-pointers in 38 games, which forces opponents to stretch out to the perimeter and tends to open driving lanes and one-on-one opportunities in the post for center Jamie Skeen. What the Rams do really well that gets precious little attention is defending the 3-point line. They’ve now outscored their tournament opponents by a composite 159-69 from behind the 3-point line.
The weakness: It’s not uncommon for pressing teams to be poor in rebounding. Coaching legend Nolan Richardson expressed little concern about this department when leading Arkansas to Final Fours and the 1994 NCAA title. The Rams aren’t a big team and are, on average, beaten by 3.8 rebounds per game—which ranks 294th in Division I. They were destroyed on the boards by Kansas but somehow saw to it that it did not matter, even without a huge differential in turnovers, by being more efficient and productive on offense.
Brandon Rozzell provides a spark off the bench for VCU. (AP Photo)Super sub: Senior guard Brandon Rozzell comes off the bench to play 25 minutes per game, and he’s never played any better than in this tournament. Already established as an excellent 3-point shooter—39.8 percent for the season—he has made nearly half his attempts in five tournament games. He is averaging more than 10 points per game on 3-pointers alone in this tournament. He doesn’t create a lot of plays but rarely makes a mistake. He either gets up a shot, or gives up the ball.
Coach’s M.O.: Shaka Smart has been a quietly rising star in coaching since he went from an assistant’s job at Akron to his first BCS-conference job at Clemson under Oliver Purnell. His impressive work ethic and intelligence caught the attention of Florida’s Billy Donovan, who hired him away from the Tigers then endorsed him as a replacement at VCU for another former Gators assistant, Anthony Grant. Smart is energetic, organized and committed to his system. He has wisely used the loud media condemnation of the program’s inclusion in the NCAA field to motivate his players. He is generally composed on the sideline, never demonstrating stress to his players—so cool that when he got T’d up in the Kansas game, it was his first of the season.
Season’s turning point: In mid-February, VCU dropped consecutive games to Colonial Athletic Association powers Old Dominion and George Mason. The Rams were blown out in each game—by 11 against ODU and 20 against Mason. And both were at home. In the aftermath of those debacles, VCU made the trip to Wichita State for a BracketBusters game against Wichita State, in which it gutted out a 68-67 victory against a solid opponent and one of the loudest crowds in college basketball. The Rams are 8-3 since, with an appearance in the CAA championship game and now the Final Four.
Toughest tournament test: The Rams have been the most dominant team in the NCAAs. For one thing, they’ve won five games and the other three standing won four. In four of the five victories, they won by double-digit margins, including by 10 over a No. 1 seed, by 18 over a No. 2 seed and by 18 over a No. 6. The only close call for the Rams was their one-point overtime victory over Florida State in the regional semifinal, a game in which they struggled to manufacture scoring opportunities against the Seminoles’ long, athletic, rugged defense.
Catwoman, Batgirl and More Go Anime Thanks to 89g [Art]
89g must know a thing or two about comics, too, because the eye-scarred Man of Steel concept in that gallery comes straight out of Superman/Batman: The Search for Kryptonite, and Storm was inspired by X-Men: Xenogenesis. However you feel about those storylines, the sketches they've led this artist to make are sleek.
Additionally, there's an uncharacteristically chipper shot of Daken sizing up X-23, but I'm sure that if he ever went anime, there would be a ton of smug scenes like that all over the place. Check out that some other highlights below.
Neymar double strike gives Brazil victory over Scotland
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Teenager Neymar underlined his growing reputation with both goals in Brazil's victory over Scotland. |
(CNN) -- Teenage striker Neymar showed why some of Europe's biggest clubs are hot on his trail as he scored both goals in Brazil's 2-0 friendly international win over Scotland at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
The 19-year-old Santos star is reported to be a transfer target for both Real Madrid and Chelsea when the season finishes and his display on a sunny spring afternoon will only enhance his reputation still further.
Neymar has now scored three times in three appearances for his country as Brazil got back to winning form after recent defeats by both France and Argentina.
Brazil were always in control against a side that had never beaten them in nine previous meetings and they took the lead three minutes before half-time.
Andre Santos played a superb cross in from the left for Neymar, who was given too much space in the area before curling a low shot into the corner of the net.
And the same player secured the victory in the 77th minute, scoring from the penalty spot after he had been fouled in the area by Charlie Adam.
Meanwhile, the United States and Argentina shared a 1-1 draw in their friendly match at New Meadowlands Stadium, home of the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets.
Esteban Cambiasso put Argentina ahead in the 42nd minute from close range after goalkeeper Tim Howard had saved Angel Di Maria's initial shot.
But the home side rallied and levelled on the hour mark when teenage substitute Juan Agudelo fired home after Argentina failed to deal with Landon Donovan's corner.
Looking Up: Supernova in Another Galaxy
One of these days we might see a supernova. It might seem more correct to say “one of these nights,” but a star exploding in our galaxy as a supernova would easily be so bright it would be seen in a blue daytime sky, outshining any star or planet in the night sky.
We are long overdue. Supernovae are very rare, although astronomers say they should occur on the average every few hundred years. The last one seen in the Milky Way Galaxy was in 1680.
A supernova can become so bright - for a brief time- that the star outshines every star in the galaxy. The one in 1680 was not particularly brilliant as seen from Earth, but some have been- notably the great supernova of 1572 in Cassiopeia and another in the year 1054 in Taurus.
Several notable supernovae have been recorded through history, but none in our own galaxy since the early days of the telescope! Much of what we know today about these cosmic catastrophes come from observations of other galaxies.
Distant galaxies generally are so far away we cannot discern individual stars, although large professional observatories have photographed faint stars in nearer galaxies such as the great Andromeda Galaxy, visible to the unaided eye as a hazy patch.
While we wait for the next supernova in our home galaxy to dazzle our eyes, for both professional and amateur backyard-variety astronomers, it is a wonder to see a star within the faint smudge of a far away galaxy, where no star had been seen before.
Some amateur astronomers seriously hunt for them, methodically checking galaxies at the telescope eyepiece or on photos they take, to see if anything new has appeared.
The writer was pleased to see two of these in the early '90s, after learning of them through press reports. From a backyard in White Mills, at the time using a telescope with only a 6-inch-wide mirror, he was able to see the newly appearing stars, both in easily distinguished galaxies, M51 and M82.
Any reader with a small telescope can extend his or her horizons, so much farther than you ever might have expected - millions of light years. With some patience and practice, and a good star chart, you start by learning the constellations, and then picking out some of the brighter deep-sky wonders seen with binoculars, if not by unaided eyes. You can find a faint galaxy or other object such as a star cluster that is plotted on your chart, by carefully “star hopping” starting from some bright star, and moving to fainter stars nearby. With your imagination, you picture your own little “constellations” in the eyepiece, perhaps a triangle of stars, a line or some other geometric shape, to help you slowly move across the sky to the location of your target.
By doing this, you will soon learn the positions of some familiar galaxies or star clusters and can more easily locate them the next time. Once you are familiar with the appearance of a galaxy, which for the most part in a small telescope looks like a fuzzy oval or circle, you will be aware if the next time you look, something is amiss, and a new star has shown up - possibly a supernova.
Not all stars end as a supernova. There are more than one kind, but a typical supernova is the result of a massive star that has collapsed under its own weight. The stellar material hits its neutron core and bounces back. In another type, a dense white dwarf star explodes when enough material from a second, orbiting star, falls into it.
Other stars suddenly appear but are not exploding supernovae; they are any one of several categories of variable stars, that go up an down in output, whether over a period of days or even years or centuries. Time for a new light bulb?
Only certain stars, depending on their mass and makeup, are destined to explode; once they do, they leave behind a nebulous shell of gas, several of which are observable in backyard instruments. Probably the most well-known is the Crab Nebula, M1, in the constellation Taurus, the result of a supernova in the year 1054. Some think it looks like a crab, but in a small telescope it looks more like a baby’s bootie. With all our cold scientific data, thank heavens for imagination!
New moon is on Sunday, April 3.
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We are long overdue. Supernovae are very rare, although astronomers say they should occur on the average every few hundred years. The last one seen in the Milky Way Galaxy was in 1680.
A supernova can become so bright - for a brief time- that the star outshines every star in the galaxy. The one in 1680 was not particularly brilliant as seen from Earth, but some have been- notably the great supernova of 1572 in Cassiopeia and another in the year 1054 in Taurus.
Several notable supernovae have been recorded through history, but none in our own galaxy since the early days of the telescope! Much of what we know today about these cosmic catastrophes come from observations of other galaxies.
Distant galaxies generally are so far away we cannot discern individual stars, although large professional observatories have photographed faint stars in nearer galaxies such as the great Andromeda Galaxy, visible to the unaided eye as a hazy patch.
While we wait for the next supernova in our home galaxy to dazzle our eyes, for both professional and amateur backyard-variety astronomers, it is a wonder to see a star within the faint smudge of a far away galaxy, where no star had been seen before.
Some amateur astronomers seriously hunt for them, methodically checking galaxies at the telescope eyepiece or on photos they take, to see if anything new has appeared.
The writer was pleased to see two of these in the early '90s, after learning of them through press reports. From a backyard in White Mills, at the time using a telescope with only a 6-inch-wide mirror, he was able to see the newly appearing stars, both in easily distinguished galaxies, M51 and M82.
Any reader with a small telescope can extend his or her horizons, so much farther than you ever might have expected - millions of light years. With some patience and practice, and a good star chart, you start by learning the constellations, and then picking out some of the brighter deep-sky wonders seen with binoculars, if not by unaided eyes. You can find a faint galaxy or other object such as a star cluster that is plotted on your chart, by carefully “star hopping” starting from some bright star, and moving to fainter stars nearby. With your imagination, you picture your own little “constellations” in the eyepiece, perhaps a triangle of stars, a line or some other geometric shape, to help you slowly move across the sky to the location of your target.
By doing this, you will soon learn the positions of some familiar galaxies or star clusters and can more easily locate them the next time. Once you are familiar with the appearance of a galaxy, which for the most part in a small telescope looks like a fuzzy oval or circle, you will be aware if the next time you look, something is amiss, and a new star has shown up - possibly a supernova.
Not all stars end as a supernova. There are more than one kind, but a typical supernova is the result of a massive star that has collapsed under its own weight. The stellar material hits its neutron core and bounces back. In another type, a dense white dwarf star explodes when enough material from a second, orbiting star, falls into it.
Other stars suddenly appear but are not exploding supernovae; they are any one of several categories of variable stars, that go up an down in output, whether over a period of days or even years or centuries. Time for a new light bulb?
Only certain stars, depending on their mass and makeup, are destined to explode; once they do, they leave behind a nebulous shell of gas, several of which are observable in backyard instruments. Probably the most well-known is the Crab Nebula, M1, in the constellation Taurus, the result of a supernova in the year 1054. Some think it looks like a crab, but in a small telescope it looks more like a baby’s bootie. With all our cold scientific data, thank heavens for imagination!
New moon is on Sunday, April 3.
Students Gives help in Bahamas
ASHLAND -- Ashlee Boes, a student at the Dwight Schar College of Nursing in Mansfield, and Miriah Keller, an Ashland University music education major from Mansfield, were among 16 Ashland University students who dedicated their spring break to helping others -- on the tropical island of Eleuthera, Bahamas.
This is the first medical trip mission that Ashland University has participated in, said Dan Hellinger, visiting professor at Dwight Schar College of Nursing. Hellinger joined with Dr. John Swope, director of "the Religious Life Network" and The Call at Ashland University, in arranging the trip.
The students worked with Bahamas Methodist Habitat, based at Camp Symonette in James Cistern on the island of Eleuthera. Bahamas Methodist Habitat has been working since 1992 to improve the lives of those on the island by repairing homes damaged by hurricanes and upgrading substandard housing, Swope said.
While in the Bahamas, the students painted, repaired a roof and worked on fixing a quadraplex for senior citizens that was in need of repair. They also helped remodel a previously condemned clinic in James Cistern.
Nursing students completed health assessments, reported their findings, dispensed medications and observed nursing practices in the Bahamas and the resources with which the nurses have to work.
Submit life updates by e-mail to yournews@mansfield newsjournal.com, putting "Neighbors" in the subject line. Mail to News Journal, attention: Neighbors, P.O. Box 25, Mansfield, OH 44901.
This is the first medical trip mission that Ashland University has participated in, said Dan Hellinger, visiting professor at Dwight Schar College of Nursing. Hellinger joined with Dr. John Swope, director of "the Religious Life Network" and The Call at Ashland University, in arranging the trip.
The students worked with Bahamas Methodist Habitat, based at Camp Symonette in James Cistern on the island of Eleuthera. Bahamas Methodist Habitat has been working since 1992 to improve the lives of those on the island by repairing homes damaged by hurricanes and upgrading substandard housing, Swope said.
While in the Bahamas, the students painted, repaired a roof and worked on fixing a quadraplex for senior citizens that was in need of repair. They also helped remodel a previously condemned clinic in James Cistern.
Nursing students completed health assessments, reported their findings, dispensed medications and observed nursing practices in the Bahamas and the resources with which the nurses have to work.
Submit life updates by e-mail to yournews@mansfield newsjournal.com, putting "Neighbors" in the subject line. Mail to News Journal, attention: Neighbors, P.O. Box 25, Mansfield, OH 44901.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Mega Millions Winning Numbers Here: Are you? The new lottery star?
The Mega Millions winning lottery numbers drawn on Friday night were: 22, 24, 31, 52 and 54. The Mega Ball is 4.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Captain America Trailer
How can I articulate how stoked I am for the "Captain America" movie coming out this summer? Well, I'm more stoked about it than "Thor," that's for sure.
Captain America was The First Avenger, after all, and The Avengers are my favorite comic book heroes. So you might say he was/is the original Captain. The rum guy is just a wannabe.
Chris Evans stars as the movie's main character, Steve Rogers, a weakling transformed into a super soldier during World War II. What's cool is the way they digitally shrink Evans to make him look skinny before his transformation into the Captain. (I wonder if they digitally enlarge him, too?)
The girl is someone named Hayley Atwell. At first, I thought she looked like Claire Danes, but no dice.
"Captain America: The First Avenger" is due out July 22.
Captain America was The First Avenger, after all, and The Avengers are my favorite comic book heroes. So you might say he was/is the original Captain. The rum guy is just a wannabe.
The girl is someone named Hayley Atwell. At first, I thought she looked like Claire Danes, but no dice.
"Captain America: The First Avenger" is due out July 22.
Jersey Shore Season 4: Jersey Shore in Italy?
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| Jersey Shore Season 4: Can Italy Handle the Cast? |
Jersey Shore Season 3 wrapped up last night, and if you missed the final episode, I can sum it up for you in about three sentences. Ronnie and Sam had a huge fight. Deanna and Pauly and Vinny had a huge fight. And nobody in the house got to “smush” Deanna’s best friend. Other than that, you really didn’t miss much.
Fans of the MTV show can’t wait for Jersey Shore Season 4, when the cast heads to Italy to look for guido juiceheads and hopefully avoid any European grenades. Is Italy ready for this crowd? Can Italy handle Jersey Shore?
You seriously can’t get two more different venues than Italy and Seaside Heights, NJ. My guess is that the Jersey Shore Season 4 cast will not exactly be well received by Italians. Do they even have tanning salons in Italy?
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to watch Jersey Shore Season 4. GTL baby!
Arizona defeats Duke, setting up showdown vs. UConn
ANAHEIM — Arizona guard Lamont “MoMo” Jones of Harlem, who never hesitates on the court, paused for nanosecond on Wednesday when he found himself stuck between his best friend Kemba Walker and a hard place.
Jones was talking about how his teammate, Derrick Williams, was the best player in college basketball.
“Better than your best friend?” he was asked.
“They’re two different players, two different positions,” replied Jones.
But now Walker, a point guard, and Williams, a power forward, are in the same lofty position today. They will lead their teams against each other for the right to go to the Final Four.
THE POST LINE: ALL THE ODDS
COMPLETE NCAA COVERAGE
After Walker dropped 36 on San Diego State in a Connecticut win, Williams last night scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the fifth-seeded Wildcats to a stunning 93-77 West Regional upset of No. 1 seed Duke at the Honda Center.
The result means there will be a new champ in college basketball.
The Blue Devils were seeking their fifth crown under coach Mike Krzyzewski, who was looking to become the first coach to post a repeat.
“The tournament is cruel,” Coach K said. “It’s an abrupt ending.”
Krzyzewski entered the game with 900 wins, but now must wait until next season to surpass Bobby Knight as the winningest coach in Division I history. Knight has 902 wins.
It also means tomorrow night will feature a showdown of two of the best point guards the City of Point Guards has ever turned out. Walker, from The Bronx, and Jones, from Harlem, were teammates at Rice High School in Harlem, and consider each other brothers.
“That’s off the court,” Jones said. “When you’re on the court, we’re enemies.”
“I’ve got to go with my teammates, He’s gotta go with his teammates, that’s just the bottom line,” added Jones. “We’re both going to come out and play two great games and try to lead our teams to the Final Four.”
The Huskies, the No. 3 seed (29-9), are going need more than Walker when they face these Men of the Desert. Arizona (30-7), the No. 5 seed, looks like a team on a mission.
Led by the 6-foot-8, 241-pound Williams, these aren’t merely Wildcats, they’re Tough Cats.
They outrebounded the Dukies 40-27, including 16-9 on the offensive boards. Kyrie Irving of West Orange led Duke with 28.
The Blue Devils led by as many as 11 in the first half and 44-38 at halftime, but it should have been more. Williams drained a deep 3 just before the buzzer to give Arizona a huge lift.
With Duke still holding a six-point edge at 53-47, the Wildcats’ athleticism at almost every position took over. They went on 19-2 run to seize a 66-55 lead with 12 minutes left.
Williams, from nearby La Mirada, Calif., arrived at Arizona as a skilled but shy player. Jones, the self-proclaimed trash-talking king of college basketball, made Williams his personal project.
“I called him a skinny bum,” said Jones, who had 16 points, six assists and zero turnovers. “I kept getting into his head, because I saw how good he could be.”
No one saw this coming. Out of the desert comes a storm that blew away the 2010 national champions.
Jones was talking about how his teammate, Derrick Williams, was the best player in college basketball.
“Better than your best friend?” he was asked.
“They’re two different players, two different positions,” replied Jones.
But now Walker, a point guard, and Williams, a power forward, are in the same lofty position today. They will lead their teams against each other for the right to go to the Final Four.
 | |
| CATS AMAZING! Lamont Jones drives to the hoop in Anaheim last night during Arizona’s dominant 93-77 win over defending national champion Duke — setting up an Elite Eight matchup between the Wildcats and UConn tomorrow night. |
COMPLETE NCAA COVERAGE
After Walker dropped 36 on San Diego State in a Connecticut win, Williams last night scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the fifth-seeded Wildcats to a stunning 93-77 West Regional upset of No. 1 seed Duke at the Honda Center.
The result means there will be a new champ in college basketball.
The Blue Devils were seeking their fifth crown under coach Mike Krzyzewski, who was looking to become the first coach to post a repeat.
“The tournament is cruel,” Coach K said. “It’s an abrupt ending.”
Krzyzewski entered the game with 900 wins, but now must wait until next season to surpass Bobby Knight as the winningest coach in Division I history. Knight has 902 wins.
It also means tomorrow night will feature a showdown of two of the best point guards the City of Point Guards has ever turned out. Walker, from The Bronx, and Jones, from Harlem, were teammates at Rice High School in Harlem, and consider each other brothers.
“That’s off the court,” Jones said. “When you’re on the court, we’re enemies.”
“I’ve got to go with my teammates, He’s gotta go with his teammates, that’s just the bottom line,” added Jones. “We’re both going to come out and play two great games and try to lead our teams to the Final Four.”
The Huskies, the No. 3 seed (29-9), are going need more than Walker when they face these Men of the Desert. Arizona (30-7), the No. 5 seed, looks like a team on a mission.
Led by the 6-foot-8, 241-pound Williams, these aren’t merely Wildcats, they’re Tough Cats.
They outrebounded the Dukies 40-27, including 16-9 on the offensive boards. Kyrie Irving of West Orange led Duke with 28.
The Blue Devils led by as many as 11 in the first half and 44-38 at halftime, but it should have been more. Williams drained a deep 3 just before the buzzer to give Arizona a huge lift.
With Duke still holding a six-point edge at 53-47, the Wildcats’ athleticism at almost every position took over. They went on 19-2 run to seize a 66-55 lead with 12 minutes left.
Williams, from nearby La Mirada, Calif., arrived at Arizona as a skilled but shy player. Jones, the self-proclaimed trash-talking king of college basketball, made Williams his personal project.
“I called him a skinny bum,” said Jones, who had 16 points, six assists and zero turnovers. “I kept getting into his head, because I saw how good he could be.”
No one saw this coming. Out of the desert comes a storm that blew away the 2010 national champions.
Jersey Shore Season 4: Can the Show Make It In Italy?
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| Jenni “JWoww” Farley of “Jersey Shore.” Getty |
“Jersey Shore” Season 3 ended last night and already fans are searching for news about “Jersey Shore” season 4. The coming season will be set in Italy, something that has already amused, surprised and horrified some of the citizens of Italy.
For months Italians have been bombarded with stories about Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s soirees with young women. “Jersey Shore’s” arrival may be more reality than the country can stomach.
“That’s the last thing we need,” said Beppe Severgnini, a prominent commentator on the differences between Americans, Italians and Italian-Americans, said about the prospect of “Jersey Shore” coming to Italian shores in an interview with the Journal in January.
(Many American viewers are already tired of at least one aspect of the show: the never-ending drama between Sammi and Ronnie.)
According to MTV News, the cast members of the show are eagerly anticipating their European trip. “For some reason, I really want to go on a gondola ride,” “Jersey Shore’s” Deena Cortese said. “Or I would like if we’re in Rome, I would like to see the love fountain, so I’m thinking I’ll steal a coin … maybe I’ll fall in love.”
Here’s a kinda of ridiculous faux photo slideshow of what the “Jersey Shore” Italian trip might be like.
For more, check out our story Italy Braces for ‘Jersey Shore.”
What did you think of the season finale of “Jersey Shore” Are you looking forward to their trip to Italy?
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Donald Trump, Whoopi Goldberg, Spar Over Obama on The View
Donald Trump went on “The View” on Wednesday and discussed President Barack Obama and other subjects. “I want him to show his birth certificate,” Trump said of Obama. “There’s something on that birth certificate that he doesn’t like.” Trump, who has been promoting his show “Celebrity Apprentice,” is also reportedly mulling a White House run.
“I think that’s the biggest pile of dog mess I’ve heard in ages,” co-host Whoopi Goldberg responded.
Since the 2008 campaign, some critics of President Obama have claimed he was not born in the U.S. The Obama campaign released a certificate of live birth in 2008, an official document from the state of Hawaii listing the president’s name, birth date, city and his parents’ names.
Here’s the clip from “The View.”
“I think that’s the biggest pile of dog mess I’ve heard in ages,” co-host Whoopi Goldberg responded.
Since the 2008 campaign, some critics of President Obama have claimed he was not born in the U.S. The Obama campaign released a certificate of live birth in 2008, an official document from the state of Hawaii listing the president’s name, birth date, city and his parents’ names.
Here’s the clip from “The View.”
$1.1 Billion in Unclaimed Tax Refunds -- Could Some Be Yours?
To get your money, you have to be proactive. The IRS won't send you a tax refund if you haven't filed a federal income tax return. Many taxpayers may not realize that they might qualify for a refund because they erroneously believe that they did not make enough money. However, some taxpayers may be eligible for refundable credits.
A popular -- but still underutilized -- refundable credit is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC helps individuals and families whose incomes are below certain thresholds, which in 2007 were $39,783 for those with two or more children, $35,241 for people with one child, and $14,590 for those with no children.
Other credits may also apply, such as the Making Work Pay Credit. The Making Work Pay Credit offers a flat credit of up to $400 for individual taxpayers and up to $800 for taxpayers who are married but filing jointly.
Refunds may also be due to taxpayers who might have too much withholding. This can happen when taxpayers claim too few exemptions on their form W-9. Form W-9 can be particularly confusing for taxpayers with more than one job or for married couples who both work.
If you're not sure whether you would be eligible for a refund, consider filing a return. If it turns out that you're due a refund, there's no penalty for filing late. Of course, remember that your 2007 refund will be held if you have not filed federal income tax returns for 2008 and 2009. Your refund may also be held if you're subject to offset for unpaid taxes, child support or federal debts.
The last day to file and receive a refund for 2007 is April 18, 2011. After that date, any unclaimed money will be returned to the U.S. Treasury.
United Parcel Service (UPS) Could Break Through $73.34 Resistance Level
United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) closed Tuesday's wandering trading session at $72.05. In the past year, the stock has hit a 52-week low of $56.47 and 52-week high of $77.00. United Parcel Service stock has been showing support around $71.20 and resistance in the $73.34 range. Technical indicators for the stock are Bearish and S&P gives UPS a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy rating. For a hedged play on this stock, look at the May '11 $75.00 covered call for a net debit in the $71.02 area. That is also the break-even stock price for this trade. This covered call has a duration of 59 days, provides 1.43% downside protection and an assigned return rate of 5.60% for an annualized return rate of 34.67% (for comparison purposes only). A lower-cost hedged play for this stock would use a longer term call option in place of the covered call stock purchase. To use this strategy look at going long the UPS Jan '12 $60.00 call and selling the May '11 $75.00 call for a total debit of $12.52. The trade has a lifespan of 59 days and would provide -0.65% downside protection and an assigned return rate of 19.81% for an annualized return rate of 123% (for comparison purposes only). United Parcel Service has a current annual dividend yield of 2.90%. [ATU-Seven Summits Research]
Lord Of The Flies
Lord Of The Flies
I guess I must have missed out on something when I was a child. Apparently many people know what the Lord of the flies is but I just recently learned about this not so delightful tale. This book is about a band of British schoolboys that are stranded on an island. The Lord of The Flies can seem pretty hardcore.
All of the boys that are in this book are under 13. They have to come to some sort of government between the kids and the strong boys take over. The plan for the boys in the Lord of The Flies is to keep the fire burning bright enough so another ship can come and get them. Sadly enough they are scared into believing there is a monster on the island.
After reading a brief part of this book I came to the conclusion that this would not be something that my children would be reading. There was a little bit too much horror even for myself. If you are into that kind of thing the story is written quite well. Lord of the Flies is an allegorical novel by Nobel Prize-winning author William Golding.
All of the boys that are in this book are under 13. They have to come to some sort of government between the kids and the strong boys take over. The plan for the boys in the Lord of The Flies is to keep the fire burning bright enough so another ship can come and get them. Sadly enough they are scared into believing there is a monster on the island.
After reading a brief part of this book I came to the conclusion that this would not be something that my children would be reading. There was a little bit too much horror even for myself. If you are into that kind of thing the story is written quite well. Lord of the Flies is an allegorical novel by Nobel Prize-winning author William Golding.
Rose McGowan stops by a swinging Law & Order: SVU
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" went into the illicit world of swingers during the Mar. 23 episode, "Bombshell," and thankfully, all of the partner-swapping guests were much more attractive than the people you see in those late night HBO specials.
Case in point: Rose McGowan. The "Charmed" vet and "Planet Terror" actress played a swinger named Cassandra, who needed to be questioned by Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) when one of her fellow swingers winds up dead.
So what did you think of her? Personally, we love any dose of McGowan we can get, especially if she's playing the overly sexual type. Like her horribly underrated turn as a homicidal high school nympho in "Jawbreaker."
Fair-warning: the following clip contains an F-bomb and overzealous Popsicle consumption.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
What is congestive heart failure? Film legend Elizabeth Taylor dies of condition at age 79
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| Dame Elizabeth Taylor poses backstage following 'Priscilla Queen Of The Desert', at the Palace Theatre on May 6, 2010 in London, England. Hollywood legend, fragrance icon and HIV/AIDS philanthropist Elizabeth Taylor died Wednesday of congestive heart failure -- a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to the body's other organs. According to the American Heart Association, the condition can be caused by narrowed arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle, high blood pressure or infection or damage to the heart valves. The blood flowing in and out of the heart slows and blood returning to the heart through the veins backs up, causing congestion in the tissues. Common symptoms of congestive heart failure are swollen legs and ankles as well as difficulty breathing. The condition can be treated with rest, diet and medicine, including beta blockers and digitalis. In rare instances, the heart can become irreparably damaged and require a heart transplant. In most cases, the condition can be treated with proper medical supervision. Taylor, 79, had suffered multiple illnesses and injuries in the course of her life. She underwent an appendectomy and an emergency tracheotomy and endured such ordeals as a punctured esophagus, a hysterectomy, dysentery, an ulcerated eye, smashed spinal disks, phlebitis, skin cancer and hip replacements, the Los Angeles Times reported. In 1997, she had a benign brain tumor removed. Taylor had undergone heart surgery in 2009 to replace a leaky heart valve that had occurred because of the congestive heart failure. She had been hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles before succumbing to the congestive heart failure. |
HIGGINS v. POTTER ALICE L. HIGGINS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. JOHN E. POTTER, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service, Defendant-Appellee. No. 10-3234. United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit. Filed March 22, 2011. Before HOLMES and McKAY, Circuit Judges, PORFILIO, Senior Circuit Judge.
MONROE G. McKAY, Circuit Judge.
Plaintiff Alice L. Higgins appeals from the district court's judgment in favor of defendant John E. Potter, Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service (USPS) on her claims of race discrimination. We exercise jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm.
Mrs. Higgins, an African-American, was employed by the USPS as a letter carrier. In September 2007, she was the subject of a postal investigation for mail theft, which resulted in disciplinary action against her on September 13, 2007, on the ground that she had misdelivered mail.
Acting pro se, Mrs. Higgins filed this complaint in December 2008, demanding money damages and injunctive relief on her claim that postal officials had discriminated against her on account of her race in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 during the mail theft investigation. The district court granted her motion for appointment of counsel, and counsel filed an amended complaint in March 2009.
Mrs. Higgins's counseled amended complaint asserted that defendant subjected her to racist comments, unwarranted discipline, an accusation of mail theft, and a strip search on account of her race during the mail theft investigation. In lieu of an answer, defendant filed a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction and/or for summary judgment, arguing that Mrs. Higgins's first two claims were unexhausted and the court lacked jurisdiction over them, and that he was entitled to summary judgment on her other two claims. Mrs. Higgins objected to the motion for summary judgment because no discovery had yet been done, and defendant withdrew that part of his combined motion. The district court granted defendant's motion to dismiss to the extent that Mrs. Higgins intended to raise any claims of race discrimination not related to the events of September 13, 2007, and denied defendant's motion to dismiss with regard to her claim for race discrimination arising from the events on that day. Mrs. Higgins served her first discovery requests to defendant at the end of October 2009.
In early November 2009, shortly after she began discovery in her Title VII case, Mrs. Higgins filed a petition under Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. She did not list her Title VII lawsuit as an asset (contingent or otherwise) on her bankruptcy schedules. Her bankruptcy plan was confirmed in January 2010.
In April 2010, after Mrs. Higgins's bankruptcy plan was confirmed, defendant served his request for admissions, and Mrs. Higgins admitted that this civil suit was not part of her bankruptcy estate. Her attorney claimed that the omission was inadvertent and then attempted to correct it. In May 2010, Mrs. Higgins amended her bankruptcy schedules to include potential proceeds from a worker's compensation lawsuit, when she actually had never filed a worker's compensation lawsuit. On June 16, 2010, she amended her bankruptcy schedules to list the potential recovery from this Title VII lawsuit as personal property and her creditors were informed within a few days.
On June 14, 2010, defendant moved for summary judgment, asking the district court to dismiss Mrs. Higgins's discrimination claim based on the doctrine of judicial estoppel. Mrs. Higgins's attorney was unable to persuade the district court that the omission of her Title VII suit from her bankruptcy schedules was inadvertent, and the court granted summary judgment to defendant. Mrs. Higgins appeals, appearing in this court pro se.
We review the grant of summary judgment de novo. Jones v. Okla. City Pub. Schs., 617 F.3d 1273, 1277 (10th Cir. 2010). Summary judgment is appropriate "if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a).1 Because the district court entered summary judgment in this case based on judicial estoppel, however, we review that decision for abuse of discretion. Bradford v. Wiggins, 516 F.3d 1189, 1193-94 (10th Cir. 2008). "A court abuses its discretion only when it makes a clear error of judgment, exceeds the bounds of permissible choice, or when its decision is arbitrary, capricious or whimsical, or results in a manifestly unreasonable judgment." Id. at 1194 (internal quotation marks omitted). Because Mrs. Higgins appears in this court pro se, we construe her pleadings in this court liberally. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972) (per curiam).
The district court dismissed this case under the doctrine of judicial estoppel, relying on our decision in Eastman v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., 493 F.3d 1151, 1158-59 (10th Cir. 2007). R., Vol. 3, at 269, 273-74. As explained by the Supreme Court, "the doctrine's `purpose is to protect the integrity of the judicial process by prohibiting parties from deliberately changing positions according to the exigencies of the moment.'" Eastman, 493 F.3d at 1156 (quoting New Hampshire v. Maine, 532 U.S. 742, 749-50 (2001)). The district court thoroughly discussed the parties' arguments, determining that judicial estoppel should apply here because: (1) Mrs. Higgins did not list this discrimination case on her bankruptcy schedules, assuming inconsistent positions in bankruptcy court and district court; (2) Mrs. Higgins persuaded the bankruptcy court to confirm her bankruptcy plan based on schedules that omitted the discrimination suit; and (3) Mrs. Higgins's failure to disclose her discrimination case on her bankruptcy schedules put her in a position to reap a recovery from her lawsuit, giving her an unfair advantage over her creditors. R., Vol. 3, at 268-74. The district court also noted that Mrs. Higgins corrected her omission only after defendant filed his motion for summary judgment based on judicial estoppel, without ever presenting any evidence to show that the omission was inadvertent. Id. at 269, 273.
Mrs. Higgins argues on appeal that her failure to show the Title VII lawsuit on her bankruptcy schedules was a computer error made by her former counsel—that he incorrectly input a worker's compensation lawsuit instead of the Title VII case and that all parties knew about the Title VII case. She also asks why her motion for appointment of counsel filed in this court was denied. Defendant argues that Mrs. Higgins's "computer error" argument is raised for the first time on appeal and should be deemed waived, and that the listing of a worker's compensation case on her bankruptcy schedules in May 2010 was itself a belated attempt to cure the omission of her Title VII case from her bankruptcy schedules in November 2009, not a mistake on her original schedules.
We have carefully reviewed the record on appeal in light of the parties' arguments and the governing law. Mrs. Higgins's "computer error" argument was not raised in the district court and is deemed waived. Proctor & Gamble Co. v. Haugen, 222 F.3d 1262, 1270-71 (10th Cir. 2000). The district court correctly applied the law of this circuit and did not abuse its discretion in applying the doctrine of judicial estoppel. We affirm the dismissal of Mrs. Higgins's Title VII case for the reasons stated in the court's well-reasoned Memorandum and Order filed on August 20, 2010. Mrs. Higgins's motion for appointment of counsel was denied because she failed to demonstrate that "there is sufficient merit to [her] claim to warrant the appointment of counsel." McCarthy v. Weinberg, 753 F.2d 836, 838 (10th Cir. 1985) (per curiam).
The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
March 25, 2011, Friday MEGA MILLIONS JackPot $304 Million
On Tuesday night, the mega millions drawings produced NO winner. The Mega Millions Winning Numbers were 01, 14, 35, 50, 53 with a Mega number 43. No one won the $244 million jackpot thus meaning that the Mega Millions jackpot for Friday’s drawing will rise to at least $304 million.
However, 26 lucky participants won the $250,000 prize for matching all five numbers but NOT the mega number. Five of these twenty-six players are from California (CA). They will each get $297, 525 for their “hard work”. This difference is due to the lottery system that is currently being used in CA. It’s mainly based on the numbers of participants in the drawing.
Just only for the 10th time in history, this Friday’s drawing (March 25, 2011) will crack the +$300 million mark. If the projected $304 million jackpot still holds true (which may increase due to demand), the lump sum cash payout will be around $194 million. This will make the current drawing the sixth biggest jackpot in MegaMillions lottery history. If no one wins Friday’s drawing, I expect the jackpot to grow to at least $365 million (lump sum cash value of $200 to $230 million)!
What would YOU do with that kind of money?
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
New Showtime-Netflix deal excludes 'Dexter,' 'Californication' and other new shows
Showtime Networks is joining those in Hollywood wary of Netflix.
A week after Netflix said it was jumping into the business of original programming, another potential competitor -- premium cable channel Showtime -- changed the ground rules for dealing with the fast-growing movie and TV show rental service.
Showtime said Tuesday that its newly negotiated deal with Netflix, which takes effect this summer, no longer includes online streaming rights to its currently airing first-run series, such as "Dexter" and "Californication." When the new agreement kicks in, episodes of those shows will disappear from Netflix and will be offered exclusively on Showtime's online service.
"A number of Showtime original series will continue to be available and stream on Netflix including 'The Tudors' and 'Sleeper Cell,' among others," Showtime said in a statement, referring to programs that have gone off the air.
This is a significant departure from Showtime's current arrangement with Netflix, which expires this summer. Under that pact, the cable channel provided several seasons of "Dexter" and "Californication" to Netflix in an effort to introduce its signature shows to a wider audience.
When TV networks and studios first made deals with Netflix a few years ago, the Los Gatos company was considered an innocuous movie rental service much like the corner Blockbuster store. But now that Netflix has more than 20 million customers and its Internet streaming is more broadly accessible, the television industry is increasingly viewing Netflix as a deep-pocket rival that could eventually supplant cash-cow premium cable channels.
Showtime's chief rival, Time Warner Inc.'s HBO, has been particularly uncooperative, holding back all of its new television shows and movies. The smaller Starz and Epix premium channels, meanwhile, currently provide their movies and original programs, such as "Spartacus."
Showtime decided to clamp down on the rights to its first-run programs in an effort to use them as bait to sign up and retain subscribers. (Showtime doesn't control the rights to its popular series "Weeds," which is owned by Lionsgate.)
CBS Corp.-owned Showtime still sees a role for Netflix -- as a digital syndication outlet for older product. Last month, CBS similarly announced a $200-million deal with Netflix to distribute such classic CBS-owned shows as "Frasier," "Cheers," "Twin Peaks" and "The Twilight Zone."
If people want to watch recent Showtime programs online, they must pay for the channel. "Current and past seasons of our original series will be available to our authenticated subscribers via our TV Everywhere service Showtime Anytime," the company said in a statement.
Asked to comment on the move, a Netflix spokesman said, "We have a great relationship with CBS licensing content from all of its channels, including Showtime, and we continue to negotiate for more movies and shows."
A week after Netflix said it was jumping into the business of original programming, another potential competitor -- premium cable channel Showtime -- changed the ground rules for dealing with the fast-growing movie and TV show rental service.
"A number of Showtime original series will continue to be available and stream on Netflix including 'The Tudors' and 'Sleeper Cell,' among others," Showtime said in a statement, referring to programs that have gone off the air.
This is a significant departure from Showtime's current arrangement with Netflix, which expires this summer. Under that pact, the cable channel provided several seasons of "Dexter" and "Californication" to Netflix in an effort to introduce its signature shows to a wider audience.
When TV networks and studios first made deals with Netflix a few years ago, the Los Gatos company was considered an innocuous movie rental service much like the corner Blockbuster store. But now that Netflix has more than 20 million customers and its Internet streaming is more broadly accessible, the television industry is increasingly viewing Netflix as a deep-pocket rival that could eventually supplant cash-cow premium cable channels.
Showtime's chief rival, Time Warner Inc.'s HBO, has been particularly uncooperative, holding back all of its new television shows and movies. The smaller Starz and Epix premium channels, meanwhile, currently provide their movies and original programs, such as "Spartacus."
Showtime decided to clamp down on the rights to its first-run programs in an effort to use them as bait to sign up and retain subscribers. (Showtime doesn't control the rights to its popular series "Weeds," which is owned by Lionsgate.)
CBS Corp.-owned Showtime still sees a role for Netflix -- as a digital syndication outlet for older product. Last month, CBS similarly announced a $200-million deal with Netflix to distribute such classic CBS-owned shows as "Frasier," "Cheers," "Twin Peaks" and "The Twilight Zone."
If people want to watch recent Showtime programs online, they must pay for the channel. "Current and past seasons of our original series will be available to our authenticated subscribers via our TV Everywhere service Showtime Anytime," the company said in a statement.
Asked to comment on the move, a Netflix spokesman said, "We have a great relationship with CBS licensing content from all of its channels, including Showtime, and we continue to negotiate for more movies and shows."
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