Killer Whale Kills Trainer Footage: Dawn Brancheau's Last Moments Alive

NEW YORK (CBS) A tourist visiting Orlando's SeaWorld captured whale trainer Dawn Brancheau's last moments alive.

Photo: Amateur footage of Dawn Brancheau and Tilikum moments before he killed her.

PICTURES: Dawn Brancheau SeaWorld Trainer Killed

Todd Connell videotaped seven minutes of footage which shows Brancheau working with Tilikum the killer whale. He told Orlando television station WESH, which is running the footage, that he shut off the camera seconds before Tilikum grabbed Brancheau by the pony tail and dragged her underwater.
The 40-year-old died of multiple traumatic injuries and drowning Wednesday.

Photo: Dawn Brancheau with an unnamed whale.

PICTURES: Dawn Brancheau SeaWorld Trainer Killed

"It was terrible. It's very difficult to see the image," said Brazilian tourist Joao Lucio DeCosta Sobrinho. He and his girlfriend said they watched the whale show at the park two days earlier and came back to take pictures. But on Wednesday the whales appeared agitated.

"He was thrashing her around pretty good. It was violent," witness Victoria Biniak told the Orlando Sentinel. The whale "took off really fast in the tank and he came back, shot up in the air, grabbed the trainer by the waist and started thrashing (her) around," she told the paper.

She said the attack was so violent that Brancheau's shoe flew off.

Some workers hustled the audience out of the stadium while the others tried to save Brancheau, but it was too late.

Posted by Neil Katz
Source : http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/02/26/crimesider/entry6246908.shtml

A touch—Let’s make it a HUG—keeps the Doctor away?

I’ve once read in a magazine about the story of new born twins: one was a very healthy baby boy and the other was a baby girl who was expected to live for only a night. The nurse, who was stationed at the nursery, did the unthinkable (something that the hospital didn’t allowed). She placed the healthier twin on the crib together with the younger for the idea that maybe this could help. When morning came to check on the weaker twin, nurses and doctors found the twins holding hands and the girl definitely stronger—she then lived happily with her twin brother and her family.

My cousin was a freelance writer for magazines which allowed me to read such fine selections from them. At this point, now that’s she’s in abroad while I’m miles away, a friend of hers shares this story of people who asks for hugs. These are people who are found on sidewalks with placards stating “HUG ME”. Whoever who are not used to such or may have thought of them as weird or annoying; disrupting the thoughts we had flowing; but in truth they are the one doing us a favor.

According to Psychologist Virginia Satir, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.” A touch they say does the trick and a smile gives more meaning however giving hugs can do more as warmth from someone shows the difference between “stressed out and looking for someone to care” to “totally taken cared of”. Yup we do need hugs.

Hugging someone actually relieves tension as it helps our body released oxytocin which is known as the bonding or cuddle hormone which then perks up our loving and caring feeling. It also reduces blood pressure as told in another study conducted year 2000. Studies show that babies who were hugged during while running blood test on them are calmer and their heart rates steadier. Both elevated levels of cortisol and high blood pressure have been linked to various diseases and hugging do wonders by decreasing chances of having these.

Yup something good for the heart; just when we thought oatmeal and exercises will do just fine. There are certain stuffs which we must also consider at great length, one of which is the principle that no man should be an island (although kidding aside we always wanted something to be named after us even an island).

There are people who have through great lengths just to give a hug. A certain advertisement once showed a man with a placard asking for hugs. At first nobody wanted to then one girl turned back at the guy and started hugging him. Sooner he was hugged by almost anyone who passed his way till it reached a certain point that he had more than what he seemed he wished for. Everyone who had hugged him that day had big smiles on their faces—there are even those who jumped joyfully as they do this with the guy. At the end of the commercial wrote the message on AIDS and how people should understand them. The hugs and those who gave them are definitely much more appreciated by people with certain illness who are at times discriminated. These give them hope more than a person could imagine that during their last years on earth they felt loved and understood. It’s definitely time to live, love and hug some more than the usual—hugs hugs hugs!!!!

NV gov takes woman named in divorce papers to D.C.

LAS VEGAS -- Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons has acknowledged that a woman to whom he sent hundreds of text messages several years ago accompanied him on his recent trip to Washington, D.C., where he attended the National Governors Association conference over the weekend.

Gibbons, who was approached at the Reno airport by KLAS-TV late Monday after returning from the trip, originally said Kathy Karrasch, of Reno, was not in Washington while he attended the conference.

In video of the confrontation, Gibbons responded to a reporter's questions about the trip and his travel companions, saying, "What's it to you?"

The station reported Karrasch was also at the airport Monday night and left in a state-owned vehicle.

On Tuesday, the governor issued a statement to the station, saying Karrasch traveled with him to the nation's capital but the state did not pay for her expenses.

"I apologize for any ambiguity or confusion caused by my answers to your questioning of me late last night" the governor said Tuesday. "I had just finished three days of arduous meetings and a cross-country flight when I was suddenly confronted with your questions."

Gibbons told reporters he had paid for Karrasch's trip, keeping a promise he made to take her to the conference, according to the Las Vegas Sun. He said he and Karrasch live near each other and she was given a ride home as a courtesy.

Gibbons, who is divorcing first lady Dawn Gibbons, acknowledged in 2008 that he sent 867 text-messages to Karrasch over a six-week period the previous year. The governor reimbursed the state $130 for the text messages and issued a publicly apology. He denied the messages were "love notes."

The governor filed for divorce in May 2008, citing incompatibility with his wife. She accused him of having affairs with a former Playboy model and Karrasch - allegations the governor denied.

Karrasch also denied the accusation, calling it false and hurtful to her family.

"Kathy Karrasch has been a long time friend of mine and will continue to be a friend of mine," the governor said Tuesday.

Source : http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/24/AR2010022401496.html

Pakistan captures another Taliban leader

By Reza Sayah, CNN

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Another senior Afghan Taliban leader has been arrested in Pakistan, two Pakistani intelligence officials told CNN on Monday.

Security forces arrested Mullah Abdul Kabir last week from a religious school in the district of Nowshera, 54 miles (88 km) northwest of Islamabad, the officials said.

Nowshera is located in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province.

The intelligence officials asked not to be named because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

Mullah Kabir served on the Taliban's Council of Ministers and governed the eastern zone of Afghanistan during the Taliban rule of the 1990s, said Imtiaz Gul, head of the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies.

The eastern zone included the provinces of Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar and Laghman.

Kabir is the fourth Afghan Taliban leader to be arrested by Pakistani security forces in the past several weeks.

Last week, U.S. and Pakistani officials confirmed the arrests of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Mullah Abdul Salam and Mullah Mir Muhammad.

"This arrest underscores a change in Pakistan's policy," Gul said. "This suggests their level of cooperation with the U.S. is much better than in the past."

Gul said the new level of cooperation could be in response to Washington's recent decision to tone down its criticism of the Pakistani military.

"The Pakistani military has finally convinced the U.S. military establishment not to publicly condemn it," said Gul. "When you criticize the Pakistani military publicly, it reduces room for maneuvering for Pakistan's institutions. It becomes difficult for the military to motivate the lower and middle rank officers. Finally, there is a much better equation between both military establishments."

In a statement to CNN, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid denied that Mullah Kabir had been arrested.

Source : http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/22/taliban.arrest/index.html?hpt=T2

After 2 years: Student wounded in NIU grounds due to gun shot

A shootout happened early morn of February 19, 2010, at Northern Illinois University campus. the said incident, which caused a short period of panic, reportedly injured one person.

It was said that the shootout was actually isolated between two indivuduals. According to the press briefing, which was proceeded by NIU president Dr. John Peters, both involved party were students of the said Campus: one was staying within the school premises while the shooter was an off campus resident.

At 3:29 am the shooting happened outside of Stevensons North Residence hall, at a nearby lake. police responded at around 3:30. four minutes after, the suspect has been apprehended, however the University was prohibited from stating the name of the shooter until as of the moment.

at 3:48 am, as protocol. the NIU police stated giving text message alert to its 12,000 subscribers informing them about the incident. The School was now at total lock-down.

the NIU website started posting, in its website, information regarding the said insident at around 12:30 pm. However a more elaborate update, together with the advice that the university will resume its classes was posted at around 5:03pm

At the end of the press briefing by Dr.Peters he stated his message regarding campus violence: "violence continuous to play college campuses and society, across the country, and it is very important that we continue to be vigilant in providing a safe and secure college community..." it can be recalled that two years ago a shooting incident which ended with 5 students killed and 19 wounded. the suspect who was a graduate student then shot himself after he had done this at the lecture hall.

At present the victim is being treated at Kishwaukee Community Hospital. there is still no update on his situation at this moment.

http://www.freep.com/article/20100219/SPORTS17/2190359/1065/Sports17/Todays-Olympics-TV-schedule-(2-19)

NBC

(Channel 4 in Detroit)

3-5 p.m.: Cross-country skiing, women's 15K pursuit (live), men's figure skating final analysis.

8-11:30 p.m.: Figure skating, compulsory dance (live), men's and women's skeleton (live), skiing, men's super G and ski jumping, individual large hill.

12:05-1:30 a.m.: Medal ceremonies.

1:30-5 a.m.: Prime-time replay.

CNBC

5 p.m.-1 a.m.: Men's curling, U.S. vs. France (live), men's hockey, Latvia vs. Czech Republic (live), women's curling, Denmark vs. Canada (live).

MSNBC

3-5:30 p.m.: Men's hockey, Belarus vs. Sweden (live).

Midnight-3 a.m.: Men's hockey, Finland vs. Germany (live).

USA

Noon-3 p.m.: Women's curling, U.S. vs. Russia (live).

Universal Sports

10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.: Live updates and news ticker; "The Vancouver Figure Skating Hour," 2-3 p.m.

Today's events

Listed in Detroit time; Vancouver is 3 hours behind.

Alpine skiing: Women's super G, 2:30 p.m.

Cross-country skiing: Women's 15K pursuit, 4 p.m.

Curling: Women (at noon) -- Germany vs. Britain, Russian vs. United States, China vs. Denmark. Men (at 5 p.m.) -- Germany vs. Switzerland, Denmark vs. Canada, France vs. U.S., Norway vs. China. Women (at 10 p.m.) -- Sweden vs. China, Britain vs. Denmark, Norway vs. Switzerland, France vs. Canada.

Figure skating: Ice dance, compulsory dance, 7:45 p.m.

Hockey: Men -- Belarus vs. Sweden, 3; Czech Republic vs. Latvia, 7:30; Finland vs. Germany, midnight.

Skeleton: Women's third run, 6:45 p.m., fourth run, 7:45, men's third run 9:20 and fourth run, 10:30.

Ski jump: Individual qualification (large hill), 1 p.m.

Thursday's medalists

Alpine skiing: Women's super combined -- Gold: Maria Riesch, Germany. Silver: Julia Mancuso, U.S. Bronze: Anja Paerson, Sweden.
Biathlon: Women's 15K -- Gold: Tora Berger, Norway. Silver: Elena Khrustaleva, Kazakhstan. Bronze: Darya Domracheva, Belarus. Men's 20K -- Gold: Emil Hegle Svendsen, Norway. Silver: Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, Norway. Bronze: Sergey Novikov, Belarus.

Figure skating: Men -- Gold: Evan Lysacek, U.S. Silver: Evgeni Plushenko, Russia. Bronze: Daisuke Takahashi, Japan.

Snowboarding: Women's half-pipe -- Gold: Torah Bright, Australia. Silver: Hannah Teter, U.S. Bronze: Kelly Clark, U.S.

Speedskating: Women's 1,000 meters -- Gold: Christine Nesbitt, Canada. Silver: Annette Gerritsen, Netherlands. Bronze: Laurine van Riessen, Netherlands.

Team Michigan

Jeremy Abbott: Figure skater from Detroit Skating Club finished ninth overall after earning 149.56 points in the men's free program.

Pavel Datsyuk: The Russians played Slovakia at midnight.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White: Team from Arctic FSC in Canton competes in compulsory dance tonight.

Mark Grimmette: Luger from Muskegon finished 13th in doubles Wednesday night.

Angela Ruggiero: Defenseman from Harper Woods had two assists and took two penalties in the U.S. women's 6-0 victory over Finland.

Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates: Team from Ann Arbor FSC competes in compulsory dance tonight.

Team Sweden: Men's hockey plays Belarus today.
Team USA: U.S. men's hockey team defeated Norway, 6-1. See box on this page. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir: Team from Arctic FSC in Canton competes in compulsory dance tonight.

Source:http://www.freep.com/article/20100219/SPORTS17/2190359/1065/Sports17/Todays-Olympics-TV-schedule-(2-19)

Perry, on campaign trail, reacts to Austin plane crash

Austin Bureau chief Christy Hoppe, who is traveling with Gov. Rick Perry as he campaigns, reports that Perry just took a moment in Sugar Land to make a statement about the plane crash in Austin.

Perry said he was trying to be very cautious with information and was still finding out details himself. But "anytime you have an aircraft that hits a building particularly after 9/11, there is always great speculation about how or why that occurred."

"Our hope is that the days of flying aircraft into buildings or some structure is over," Perry said. "But you always have some exposure in a free society."

The governor appeared to be getting updates by e-mail from his homeland security and emergency preparedness officials. He also appeared to take a long phone briefing before his appearance at the Sugar Land Chamber of Commerce.

Perry told Hoppe afterward the pilot is thought to be local to Austin. Some initial reports suggested he might have come from Waco.

Source : http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/02/perry-on-campaign-trail-reacts.html

Olympics Medal Counts 2010 Shows Germany On Top of Leaders

The Olympics medal counts 2010 has increased today with Germany taking the lead over the U.S. and France. Germany has racked up 9 Olympic medals count at the 2010 Vancouver winter games followed by the United States closely behind with 8 medals.


(Media-Newswire.com) - The Olympics medal count 2010 has increased today with Germany taking the lead over the U.S. and France. Germany has racked up 9 Olympic medals count at the 2010 Vancouver winter games followed by the United States closely behind with 8 medals.

The Germany team has won three gold medals so far in five days of the Olympic games. Magdalena Neuner won two medals in the Biathlon with a silver in the Women's 7.5km Sprint and a gold medal for winning the Women's 10km pursuit Biathon event.

In the luge, the men's gold went to the Germany team member Felix Loch with the silver going to his teammate David Moeller.

The U.S. team has won two gold and two silver medals so far in this day 6 of the games. Hannah Kearney won a gold medal in the Women's moguls with Shannon Bahrke winning the bronze at the same event.

Seth Wescott won a gold at the Men's Snowboard cross event.

Source: http://media-newswire.com/release_1112546.html

Fat Tuesday, Paczki Day and National Pancake Day: Happy Mardi Gras!

Fat Tuesday, Paczki Day, National Pancake Day, Fastnacht Day and Shrove Tuesday are all names for the last day of happy Mardi Gras celebrations. Earlier I shared my Fat Tuesday organic pancake recipe before Lent and Ash Wednesday. A recent Happy Mardi Gras tour around Gather taught me about Paczki Day and Happy Mardi Gras traditions around the world including Fastnacht Day!

We are celebrating National Pancake Day with lowfat organic pancakes and yummy ham steaks. Other will be eating delicious Polish Paczki for Paczki Day. On my diet, I wondered about Paczki calories. I discovered they have about 500 calories each!

In Germany, Mardi Gras is called Karneval with Fastnacht Day celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday. Parades are held on Lundi Gras, also called Fat Monday.

Whatever you decide to call the day and however you celebrate it, Happy Mardi Gras!

Here is YouTube video of New Orlean Mardi Gras 2009 and Fat Tuesday in the French Quarter:

Source : http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978050364&grpId=3659174697244816

Aquarius Krewe to take a trip through time

By Frances Powell
Contributor

Published January 31, 2010

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Galveston’s second oldest Krewe of Aquarius with the theme being “Silver Anniversary Memories.”

Founding members Merlin Lidstone and son Johnny Lidstone are excited about all the hype celebrating 25 years of this fantastic Krewe’s existence.

King and Queen XXV, Ronnie and Stephanie Blasé, were crowned at the Krewe’s coronation ball on Jan. 23 at the Galveston Island Convention center.

Guests were treated to a procession of costumed characters and the presentation of 25 years of Krewe Royalty.

The extravagant pageant featured the 2010 Royal Court in full Mardi Gras regalia paying tribute to themes of the past 25 years.

The krewe is preparing for what will be its largest parade to date on Feb. 6 when the Seawall Boulevard will be graced by the Mardi Gras pageantry for which Aquarius is well known.

Float Captains Hope Cook, Chip Shearrow, Pat Saenz, Phyllis Santos, Mari Berend, Harry and Marian Millo, Fran Grabiel, Michelle Loubiere, Pat Collier, Marc Hopkins, Jackie Friesenhahn and Rhonda Sykes will proudly show floats depicting themes from previous years: 1988’s Galveston Past, Present and Future; 1995’s “Aquarius Awakens the Far East;” 1998’s “The Roaring ’20s;” 1999’s “Aquarius plays Vegas;” 1996’s “A salute to New Orleans,” and 2004’s “Rock ’n’ Roll Revue” among many others.

Parade Capt. Johnny Lidstone promises great entertainment when 20 marching bands take to the street for the big parade.

Mardi Gras revelers do not want to miss out on the specially minted Aquarius 25th anniversary beads and souvenir cups.

C’bration At Bishop’s Palace For Leopold

Galveston Historical Foundation gathered a palatial crowd to herald longtime mem of GHF Bill Leopold’s 85th b’day at the Bishop’s Palace aaaannnddd the dedication ceremony for the official naming of the William E. Leopold Visitors Center at the Palace.

Bill’s charming family mems there were Nelson and Patricia Leopold and Scott And Sherry Leopold and family and William and Ronald Leopold.

Mingling in the music room with chair Becky Maixner were Beth Shriner, Kim and Fred Raschke, John Gorman, Margaret Doran and Divafaves Don and Nancy Mafrige.

Gathered in the music room were other keepers of the past and protectors of our future, those jolly good guys, were Lise Darst, Burke Evans, VJ Tramonte, George Maida, Gale and Mary Jane Rogers, CJ and Jeannie Poirer, Larry Jantzen, Victor Lang and JoAnn and John Hyatt.

The 1892 Bishop’s Palace, managed by the Galveston Historical Foundation since 2007, is recognized as one of the most important Victorian buildings in America.

Its elaborate tile roof, a highly distinctive feature of the “Chateauesque-style” house consisting of 10 individual styles of tile, is badly in need of repair.

The foundation has been awarded a $380,000 grant, to be matched dollar-for-dollar by other donations, from the Department of the Interior’s “Save Americas Treasures” program to help undertake an overhaul of the roof.

A member of an OGF, BOI Joe Opperman, president of a firm that specializes in historic architecture, will oversee the project, which will cost $1.2 million to complete.

He gave a talk at the Palace outlining the problems with the roof and how they will be addressed.

Party Hearty At Mardi Gras With ETC

Getcha beads ready for a fun-filled evening at Island ETC’s prime parade-viewing location.

Party honchos are Mary Jo Singleton, Amy Grant and Eric Kirkpatrick, Sharla Kimbrough, Jennifer Daugherty, Kevin Daugherty and Kim Mytelka.

Their prime people-watching and bead-throwing location (one can toss beads from the upstairs windows, as well as be down on the street for prime bead catching) will feature a Cajun-style dinner.

Come comfy and casual. For tix and deets, contact 409-762-3556 or 888-762-3556 or islandetc.org.

Next on the boards at ETC is the hit musical “Rent.” There’s a fabbo cast, almost everyone new to ETC (a cast member in temporarily from Connecticut) and another lead commutes from Bryan.

Kim Mytelka is directing, with Carol Daubert musical director and Jennifer Daugherty choreographer.

“Rent” opens March 5 and runs through April 3. Due to the popularity of the show and advance ticket sales, we recommend that everyone purchase their tickets early.

Nod To Hollywood By Kiddie Parade

Salute to Hollywood is the theme of the Firefighter’s Children’s Parade (Feb. 14), it was inadvertently left out of the Mardi Gras program from the Park Board. Call Charlie Olsen, 409-789-1265. More to come next Scenes.

Source :http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=f8f379fd3b276ac4

BEFORE THE BELL: US Stock Futures Up, Deal On Greece Reached

U.S. stock futures pointed to small gains Thursday ahead of a report on employment as a top European official said a deal to help Greece has been reached.

S&P 500 futures rose 4.1 points to 1,067.50 and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 7 points to 1,751.70. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 38 points.

At a meeting of European leaders in Brussels, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy read out a statement saying that no direct aid will be delivered to Greece but that European governments stand ready to assist the country if needed.

The European Commission and the European Central Bank will monitor Greece's budget cutting efforts--a first assessment will come in March--and the International Monetary Fund will provide technical assistance.

In the U.S., weekly jobless claims data are due at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. The Dow Jones consensus forecast is for a drop of 12,000 claims from last week.

There was merger activity Thursday. FirstEnergy (FE) said it'll buy Allegheny Energy (AYE) in an all-stock deal that values the smaller power company at $8.5 billion, including debt.

Air Products (APD) went hostile with a $5.1 billion for rival Airgas (ARG).

Viacom (VIA) rose 5% on a stronger than forecast profit, while Boston Scientific (BSX) fell over 7% on worries over the loss-making firm's outlook.

There was a busy day for earnings in Europe, where Alcatel-Lucent (ALU) and Air France-KLM issued disappointing outlooks while Smith & Nephew (SNN) and Rio Tinto (RTP) were more optimistic.

Asian markets ended higher, with Hong Kong and Chinese stocks rising after data showed a moderation in the mainland's consumer price inflation, while Australian shares received a boost from a solid jobs report.

The dollar held to a tight range while oil futures reclaimed the $75-a-barrel mark.

Europe stocks also rose, led by mining and health companies.

U.S. stocks closed with small losses during a snow-filled Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 all retreating between 0.1% and 0.2%.

Testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke hinted at a gradual tightening of monetary policy, probably by other measures besides the main Fed funds rate.

Strategists at Credit Suisse said a recent pullback in markets--the S&P 500 is down 7% from its highest levels of the year--may continue in the short term.

"We think the period of consolidation may last another month: Tactical indicators are neutral and typically markets consolidate by 9% for 3 months around the first phase of monetary tightening (which this time is brought about by the People's Bank of China and the end of quantitative easing)," they said.

The Credit Suisse strategists said fears of a sovereign-credit crisis, China tightening, the end of quantitative easing, bank regulation and stalling U.S. employment momentum are overdone.

"We can understand these fears, but nonetheless believe clients should be buying on dips even if the tactical indicators are not giving a near-term buy signal," they said.

-By Steve Goldstein;44 20 7842 9424; AskNewswires@dowjones.com
Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100211-707240.html

Small Earthquake Hits Near Chicago

By JENNIFER PRESTON and JACK HEALY
Published: February 10, 2010

A small earthquake in northern Illinois set off car alarms, knocked books off the shelves and jolted scores of people awake at 4 a.m. Wednesday, but otherwise caused no serious damage, officials said.

The United States Geological Survey reported that the earthquake, which had an estimated magnitude of 4.3, was centered near Virgil, about 50 miles northwest of Chicago, at a depth of about three miles. There were no immediate reports of aftershocks.

Sarah Evans, 29, of the northwest Chicago suburb of Elgin, said she was awakened at about 4 a.m. when her house started trembling.

“I popped out of bed,” she said. “I felt extreme shaking. I shook my husband, and said, ‘Oh my God, I think it was an earthquake.'” She said the dogs didn’t bark but it seemed as if everything in her 100-year-old single-family home was shaking, as if a train was roaring by.

Ms. Evans, who is the owner of Sevans Strategy, a public relations strategy firm that guides companies on how to use Twitter and other social media, said she then reached for her iPhone and posted a message on Twitter. “Seriously weird,” she wrote. “Something that felt like a minor quake just woke us up. Can anyone else in the CHI area/burbs confirm?”

Soon, she said, many people were trading information about the quake through the forum.

Pat Gengler, a spokesman for the Kane County sheriff, said the switchboards had been lighting up with calls, but he said there were no immediate reports of any damage.

“Right now the only reports we were getting were some people a little startled at 4 in the morning when their house started shaking,” he said. “We got a lot of snow out here and we had a little earthquake, so it’s been an interesting 12 hours.”

Amy Vaughan, a geophysicist with the agency, said that the tremor was only the second notable earthquake in more than 30 years to rattle the area. Even though the quake was relatively small, it was felt by residents as far away as southern Wisconsin, according to news reports.

“This is not a very seismically active area,” Ms. Vaughan said. “We don’t know what fault system this is, but there are faults everywhere throughout the world that can slip at any given time.”

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/us/11chicago.html

Steve Phillips "Moves On" By Spilling His Guts To Matt Lauer

Steve Phillips made it out of sex rehab alive and has definitely seen the error of having sex with people who aren't your wife. So he went on "Today," because this is information that America needs to hear.

You see, sex addiction rehab is traditionally followed by "image rehabilitation" and that begins with a mealy-mouthed pseudo-apology on national TV. Sex addiction is not an excuse, except when you need to explain away a single extra-marital affair and maybe try to convince someone to give you a job. The worst part, however, is all the media attention that gets placed on your family three months after everyone stopped talking about you. Why won't these vultures stop conducting live one-on-one interviews with him?

"Baseball Tonight" probably isn't calling back, but maybe he and Eliot Spitzer can start a scouting service together.

[Thanks to Gawker.tv and NBC for the clips]

Source: http://deadspin.com/5466687/steve-phillips-moves-on-by-spilling-his-guts-to-matt-lauer

Calvin Barnett flips to Arkansas

By: Stephen Spiewak

10:34 a.m. EST There's lots of talk that Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.) defensive tackle Calvin Barnett is switching from Oklahoma State to Arkansas today.

Barnett's stock has risen greatly recently. He was expected to be a defensive cornerstone of the Cowboys' recruiting class. A late push by Arkansas was enough to seal the deal.

It's also likely that the Hogs land fellow defensive lineman Byran Jones, which should give Arkansas a nice boost in the team rankings.

Source: http://www.maxpreps.com/news/et9xoBDZEd-UswAcxJTdpg/calvin-barnett-flips-to-arkansas.htm

Gates' budget to rebalance US defense posture & 'backdoor taxes to hit middle class' story taken down

WASHINGTON, (KUNA): Gates' budget to rebalance US defense posture & 'backdoor taxes to hit middle class' story taken down. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday that the defense budget for 2011 reflects the administration's goal to rebalance America's defense posture in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Gates affirmed before Congress that the base budget request reflects the Pentagon's major institutional priorities which are "reaffirming and strengthening the nation's commitment to care for the all-volunteer force, rebalancing America's defense posture by emphasizing capabilities needed to prevail in current conflicts while enhancing capabilities that may be needed in the future and continuing the department's commitment to reform how it does business."

His remarks came in a testimony before the Senate armed services committee along with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen and Under Secretary of Defense Robert Hale to discuss defense authorization request for the year 2011, the Quadrennial defense review and the ballistic missile defense review.

The fiscal year 2011 defense budget request, unveiled by the White House yesterday, included USD 549 billion for the base budget and USD 159 billion for the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, in addition to a 2010 supplemental request of USD 33 billion to fund the additional 30,000 troops to support the White Houses Afghanistan policy announced last December.

Gates noted that measurement of progress in Afghanistan are the recruitment goals and ongoing training for the Afghan national security forces.

Asked about Afghan and Pakistani skepticism over the United States maintaining a long term strategy in the region, Gates affirmed that "there definitely is such a deficit of trust with Pakistan and I think it is historical" and added that the July 2011 of US troops from Afghanistan is "the beginning of a process and that there is no deadline on that process." "But there also is an acknowledgment by some of the Afghans that they needed that kind of wake-up call in order to begin to realize they were going to have to take responsibility themselves for defeating the Taliban, that this was not something that everybody else could do for them," he added.

Meanwhile, top Republican and Democratic Senators held a news conference on Capitol Hill calling to cut off funding to the White House for the trials of the 9-11 conspirators in civilian courts.

The Senators included Lindsey Graham, John McCain, Jim Webb, Blanche Lincoln, Jeff Sessions, Jim Demint, Joseph Liberman and Orin Hatch.

"All of us have something in common on the stage today; we believe we are at war. The law enforcement model being used by the Obama administration should be rejected. We are not fighting a crime; we are fighting a war and to criminalize this war puts our nation at risk," said Graham.

"I believe it is inappropriate to give the mastermind of 9-11 full constitutional rights of an American citizen. We reject the law enforcement model. Civilian trials of non-citizen enemy combatants captured on the battlefield is a stark departure from past precedent has never been used by our nation before," he added.

Mayor Bloomberg reversed last week his initial position and expressed concern over having the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a federal court in lower Manhattan, blocks from the World Trade Center, saying "it would be great if the federal government could find a site that did not cost a billion dollars, which using downtown bill." Media reports hinted that the US administration backed off from taking this step but there is no official confirmation by the White House or the Justice Department yet.

Graham further noted that civilian trials "are necessarily dangerous, messy, confusing and expensive" and added that military commissions "can be held at Guantanamo Bay quickly, securely and will add very little additional cost."

In the meantime Reuters carried a story under the headline ‘Backdoor taxes to hit middle class. Within hours of it being posted, the story that criticizes Obama administration for its budget bungling was withdrawn and a small note was put on the place of the story instead.

Source : http://www.khabrein.info/news/Gates_budget_to_rebalance_US_defense_posture___backdoor_taxes_to_hit_middle_class_story_taken_down_1265138805/

InStyle's Grammy best-dressed list

By Hal Rubenstein

(InStyle) -- All eyes were on Lady Gaga at this year's Grammys and, as expected, pop's newest sensation pulled off something most unexpected: a partnership with the last designer anyone would ever have dreamed of pairing her with -- Giorgio Armani.

In fact, the self-installed Queen of the Fame Monsters, whose crystal-shard-in-your-face stage antics are as deliberately avant-garde as they are rivetingly entertaining, was outfitted not once, but three times in out-of-this-galaxy Swarovski-drenched outfits by the venerable white-haired lion of Milan.

See more looks from the show

We don't know whose canniness to applaud first: the 75-year-old maestro of streamlined red-carpet glamour for stitching so far out of the box, or pop's newest shot-from-guns sensation for hitting up the most famous designer in the world as insurance that no one would come close to knocking off her look, or looks, of the night.

Not since Madonna has anyone pushed the limits so far while maintaining a poker face, and last night, knowing Gaga was in the house, almost every female artist made sure her presence wouldn't go unnoticed.

Most stylish acts of the night

On the red carpet, Jennifer Hudson sported a black architectural peplum dress from Victoria Beckham Collection, while Ciara worked a cascade of huge iridescent black pailettes and lace from Givenchy that was a cross between a gown and body stocking.

Top 5 Grammy looks

Katy Perry's nude Zac Posen gown was studded with bronze metal flowers.

Fergie's electric blue Emilio Pucci micro-mini was held up and ensnared by one thickly rolled silver strap.

Even country princess Carrie Underwood had on a white Edition by Georges Chakra gown with asymmetrical metallic geometrics.

And Beyonce exaggerated her curves to graphic novel drool-worthy proportions in a dramatic, form-fitting satin gown from Stephane Rolland.

Onstage, the women made sure they weren't about to be caught in the shadow cast by Gaga's mountainous, glittering green Armani shoulders.

Beyonce's stalked the stage in battle armor (actually a leather mini-dress from Versace Atelier) that would have made Spartacus cower.

Pink's aerial act, in which her gauzy gown transformed into a sling from which she dangled in nothing but a water-dripping bedazzled catsuit and Rene Caovilla heels, was nearly as hypnotizing as the sight of her in the shimmering, soaked body stocking itself.

Fergie suited up in futuristic-looking jumpsuit, and even the Titanic voiced Celine Dion donned a petal-to-the-metal eye-catcher rather than risk sinking without a trace amidst such hot-wired company.

Now if you were watching the Grammy telecast to pick up fashion tips from your idols, you watched the wrong show. But as performance art, theater, eye candy, or as a parade of potential costumes for anyone who has ever sung into a hairbrush and played air guitar and swore they heard the roar of thousands, it was sensational. The Grammys had us all aGaga with delight.

See the full gallery at InStyle.com

Source:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/02/01/in.style.grammys.best.dressed/