amygdala

Happiness involves doing, not being lectured at - and it is an emerging science, not a cult.
Thus Australian taxpayers should be utterly miserable that the Federal Government spent more than $950,000 (about the monthly wages bill of a decent-sized hospital emergency ward) paying a small army of US self-styled happiness gurus to tell public servants and teachers how to be happy as part of the Rudd Government's education revolution and workplace reforms.

It emerges that as a species we are all very similar in terms of the things that make us feel good. The literature on the topic is strikingly convergent and straight-forward. Social and brain scientists have now identified with a large degree of accuracy the things that make us happy. Using brain imaging sensors they are able to weed out the grumps from the happy people.

Dr Richard Davidson from the University of Wisconsin has identified an index for the brain's set point for moods. The images show that when we are distressed, the most active parts of the brain are the amygdala and the right prefrontal cortex. When we are in positive moods those brain areas are quiet and there is increased activity in the left prefrontal cortex.
A person's normal mood range can be ascertained by noting the baseline level of activity in right and left prefrontal areas. The further the ratio tilts to the left, the happier we are.

The Buddhists monks who for centuries have been preaching the art of happiness have got it down pat. When their brains were imaged, their baseline points were most to the left.
But if you're not impressed enough to get a one-way to ticket to Tibet, read on. Wide-ranging studies of thousands of people across many countries have allowed happiness experts to develop a roadmap to happiness.

depression cooking with clara

One of the hottest video hits on YouTube features a saucy, dark-haired Italian who knows her way around a kitchen.
Is it a sign of the times that it's neither Rachael Ray nor Giada De Laurentiis, but rather a 93-year-old great-grandmother named Clara Cannucciari who cooks in a kitchen that looks like it was last redecorated when Richard Nixon was president?
"Great Depression Cooking with Clara," a series of 10 videos shot by her filmmaker grandson Christopher, shows her skillfully preparing the humble Italian-American fare she remembers from that other cash-crunched era—pasta with peas and potatoes, egg drop soup, pepper and egg sandwiches.
"It was cheap and it was nourishing," Clara Cannucciari said Friday from her upstate New York home. "My mother used to make [the dishes] during the Depression. These are all simple things to make."

The videos have become an Internet phenomenon, and Clara is suddenly fielding media requests from all over. She's set to appear next week on the "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric."
Her grandson describes the project, begun in 2007, as "oral history with a twist." Clara had a following from the start, he said, but added—with a laugh—that the worsening recession inspired him to step up production in November.
Clara's stories, included in each video, have local provenance: She was born and raised in west suburban Melrose Park, and recalls in one how bootleggers rented garage space in the neighborhood to make their hooch.
Christopher Cannucciari said he has heard from fans that much of the videos' appeal comes from how they capture "the experience of hanging out with your grandmother."
But let's not forget Clara's frugal approach to cooking, a strategy for survival. Her stories about great poverty—in the winter, she said, the family buried food in the snow because they didn't have a freezer—are bittersweet, yet fascinating.
As Clara recalls in one video, "Everything was terrible," she says of the time. "But we had good food."

mega millions winning numbers

Mega Millions Friday Winning Numbers Announced:

Angeles, Calif -- The numbers in tonight's multi-state Mega Millions draw are 24, 37, 44, 50, 56 and the Mega number is 35.The estimated jackpot is $171 million.The drawing was the 13th since the last time a ticket with all six numbers was sold. A ticket sold in New York for the Jan. 13 draw had all six numbers and was worth $22 million.

The odds of matching all five numbers and the Mega number is 1 in 175,711,536, according to the Mega Millions Web site.Besides California, the Mega Millions game is played in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

panasonic p905i

Panasonic P905i cell phone is made by a Japanese electronics company. Panasonic P905i is highly sought by mobile phone users despite the fact that Panasonic P905i does not look sleek and impressive (our personal opinion). The truth is Panasonic P905i is bulky just like Nokia N97. With today’s trend, we can only wonder why this phone is very popular in many parts of the world.

Maybe that’s because we have not tried it yet. We do not want to sound biased but with the multitude of mobile phones we have seen thus far and reviewed in this site, there are only a few things we can love in Panasonic P905i. Some of these features that we think we like in Panasonic P905i are: its high-resolution camera (5.1MP) and high-capacity storage (max of 4GB). We’re not saying we do not like the Panasonic P905i (considering the high quality of Japanese technology in the product which has been tested and proven for decades) but we do not picture ourselves buying this cell phone anytime soon.

hr textron

Textron Inc., the Providence-based company that’s divesting some units to stem losses and boost liquidity, agreed yesterday to sell its actuation business to Woodward Governor Co. for $365 million in cash. The sale will generate about $265 million in net proceeds and will reduce 2009 earnings by about 5 cents a share, Textron said in a statement. The unit, HR Textron, provides systems for military aircraft, and is part of the defense division.

Textron this week cut its quarterly dividend for the first time ever to conserve cash as the recession hurts demand. Textron has said it may have to sell more units if liquidity doesn’t improve by early next year.
Grocery to open in downtown :A 24-hour gourmet grocery with restaurant seating and wi-fi is set to open in mid-March at 173 Weybosset St. in Providence. Buff Chace of Cornish Associates, collaborating with the Rhode Island School of Design, which owns the building, has arranged to sub-lease the space to a Connecticut greengrocer, Chung Cho, which has two Gourmet Heaven stores in New Haven.

The store will offer groceries ranging from milk, bread and cereal to specialty candies and imported teas. It will also have household items, flowers, produce, dairy and a deli. A kitchen will prepare hot and cold dishes and desserts for sale by weight, and there will be a sandwich station as well as grilled bagels and coffee. The Downcity Partnership and the Providence Revolving Fund both helped with the project, as did the design-build team of Site Specific and the architects at Durkee, Brown, Vivieros &Werenfels.
N. Smithfield company gets grant :
Ion Signature Technology Inc., of North Smithfield, yesterday received a $69,989 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency for the research and development of green technology. Ion will develop a thermal extraction detection system for rapid, accurate, quantitative analysis of environmental pollutants in the subsurface. The goal of this technology is to provide data to better manage pollution site investigations and cleanup. The EPA grant to Ion was part of $210,000 handed out by the EPA in New England under its Small Business Innovation Research program.
Fishing lawsuit continues :
New England fishermen are headed back to court in an effort to ban industrial herring trawlers from fishing grounds. Represented by the public interest law firm Earthjustice, the Midcoast Fishermen’s Association is proceeding with its lawsuit to evict the high-volume herring ships from areas identified as spawning grounds and sanctuaries for the region’s dwindling groundfish populations. Contending agency inaction in the face of evidence that herring ships are catching haddock and other groundfish stocks in their nets, the group filed papers signaling its intent to proceed with its federal court case. “Many fishermen in New England have made sacrifices to preserve a livelihood for future generations.

But the current rules are undermining our hard work,” said Glen Libby, a commercial fisherman and chairman of the Midcoast Fishermen’s Association. “If our region’s groundfish populations are ever going to recover, we need to fix this problem. And it looks like the only way to do it is through the courtroom.”

lito sheppard

THE BIG FISH: The Jets, after some uneasy moments, signed former Ravens ILB Bart Scott to a 6-year, $48 million contract. He'll get $27 million in the first three years. Wow. Scott and David Harris will make a formidable inside tandem. They picked Scott over Ray Lewis, who still is floating in free-agent limbo.

LITO: Looking for a corner to start opposite Darrelle Revis, they have worked out a trade for Eagles CB Lito Sheppard, a two-time Pro Bowl player. The trade, of course, is pending a physical, which will happen Saturday. The Jets will surrender a fifth-round pick in '09 and a conditional pick in '10 (anywhere from a second- to a fifth-rounder). It's a potentially steep price to pay for a guy coming off a disappointing year. Evidently, Tannenbaum wasn't thrilled with the free-agent market or the prospects of finding a starting-caliber corner in the draft.

THE COMEBACK KID: One day after being released in cap move, RG Brandon Moore is back. Hours after being spurned by Steelers G Chris Kemoeatu, who re-signed with the Steelers, the Jets reached out to Moore and finalized a four-year, $16 million deal that includes $10 million in guarantees. If they had kept Moore under his previous contract, it would've been four years, $15.6 million, including $7.6 million in guarantees. One day of unemployment worked out nicely for Moore. It was a smart move to bring him back.

A FLOCK OF RAVENS: Nickel CB Corey Ivy visited Friday. He took a physical, but left without a contract. There's still a chance a deal could get done. S James Leonhard, a Rex Ryan favorite from their days in Baltimore, arrives Saturday for his official visit. That deal figures to get done.

THE BORDER WAR: Former Jets TE Chris Baker signed with the Patriots, a deal believed to be at least four years. I caught up with Baker Friday afternoon, and he said the Jets never made an attempt to re-sign him. "The Patriots were really aggressive," he said. "The Jets never pursued me. ... My agent called them the other day, just to tell them I was going to visit New England, and (the Jets) really didn't have a response. It didn't go much further than that. I wanted to feel wanted, and the Patriots made me feel wanted. I feel very fortunate. I get to play with Tom Brady and Randy Moss, two Hall of Famers."

mike vrabel

New England’s Pro Bowl linebacker Mike Vrabel is in Kansas City undergoing a physical so that he can then be traded to the Chiefs. General Manager Scott Pioli is reaching out to bring in a player familiar with his system, and New England is a willing trade partner.
Look, Vrabel may be 33, but NFL linebackers have a long shelf life. Plus, he made the Pro Bowl and had 12.5 sacks in 2007. He’s far from washed up, and who would know that better than Scott Pioli? I’m sure the Patriots are trying to get younger, so this deal makes sense for them, too.
We’ll have to wait and see what we give up, but for now I like it. This gives us a defensive leader and Pro Bowl-caliber player, albeit an aging one, who knows Pioli and his system. Vrabel is also one of those mean bastards you hate when they are on somebody else’s team, but love when they are on yours. This instantly starts to chip away at the losing culture in our locker room.
He’s also a pretty damn good goalline tight end. The way things are going with our vets — GULP! — we might need one of those.
This also looks like a definite sign that we are moving to the 3-4. Not only that, but a sign that we want to be competitive, and competitive soon. This also shows that the Pats are willing to deal with us, which could mean that a Matt Cassel trade is also on the horizon.
Kansas City, I think you are going to love this guy!

the hot chick

Literally. At the ripe old age of "almost 47", I'm suddenly right in the thick of perimenopausal hell, and let me tell you, I am not at all happy to be here. Strange things are now occurring within my body, rendering me not only a physical wreck, but impacting my mental and emotional states in a most negative manner as well.

I realize I'm venturing into the realm of "Entirely Too Much Information", but I don't care (she said with a surly snarl) -- this is most certainly a matter that affects (afflicts?) the vast majority of women, and I think we need to be able to freely discuss. And vent (lest we kill).I began menstruating when I was 12, and my periods have arrived like clockwork for more than 30 years. Only recently have they become wildly unpredictable (as have my moods), and it's not much fun playing guessing games ... Will TODAY be the day she finally bleeds? Step right up, folks - place your bets ... Cramps are manifest; there's the telltale zit ... Odds are good, folks -- odds are good ...

iceman cometh

By many accounts, Lila Meizell was a nice lady who died a horrific death. The 83-year-old Wheaton resident was beaten and then burned alive in her home last year, a casualty of an alleged check-cashing scheme that went bad.
Despite the lurid headlines and public consternation, her murder might have been quickly forgotten, stored away in memory like so many other grisly crimes. But the three people in custody are all Salvadoran immigrants, including a man who had done yardwork for Meizell. So her death has become a new front in the political battle over illegal immigrants in Montgomery County.
Until Meizell’s murder and a series of other area homicides police say were committed by Hispanic immigrants, Montgomery County officials had clung to a sort of don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy when dealing with foreign-born residents; they left immigration enforcement to the feds.
All that changed last week, when the Montgomery County Police Department joined a growing number of law enforcement agencies in the D.C. metropolitan area that have stepped up scrutiny of immigrants. These days if you get arrested for handgun possession or a violent crime in Montgomery County, police will forward your name to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to find out if you are deportable.
The policy reversal is a blow to CASA of Maryland, one of the most influential immigrant advocacy organizations in the country. CASA Executive Director Gustavo Torres and other immigrant allies vigorously lobbied county officials against wading into immigration issues, warning that such a move could violate the Constitution and set police on a slippery slope toward racial profiling. They also raised the specter of civil rights lawsuits like the one CASA and the American Civil Liberties Union initiated against the Frederick County Sheriff’s Department.

But with the economy tanking and crime and anti-immigrant sentiment on the rise, Montgomery County Executive Isiah “Ike” Leggett bowed to the restive activists on the other side of the debate, who for more than a year had lobbed fiery op-ed salvos at CASA and pressed for more police enforcement of immigration laws.
The new rules don’t go as far as those imposed in Frederick and several Virginia communities. Instead of checking the status of every immigrant crossing their path, Montgomery police now notify ICE of arrests made for two dozen of the most violent crimes. Nevertheless, Leggett’s about-face leaves Montgomery County in curious company among other jurisdictions that have taken to aiding a federal immigration crackdown. How did this happen in CASA’s backyard?

We’re helping to shape, but also riding a wave, of increased power and impact of the Maryland immigrant community,” says Kimberly Propeack, a lobbyist for CASA.
So, why hasn’t CASA been able to fend off this new policing policy in a county it considers a stronghold and where it has ties to Leggett and other local leaders?
“Two years ago, this would not have been able to happen,” says State Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez, a Democrat and former president of CASA’s board of directors, who represents Montgomery County in Annapolis

brian dawkins

Philadelphia Eagles star safety Brian Dawkins will finish his career at the Denver Broncos.
According to reports, Dawkins and the Broncos have agreed to terms on a contract that will be formally announced on Saturday.
Dawkins was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles straight out of college in the 1996 NFL Draft. In that time he has been picked in the Pro Bowl seven times, and was made a member of the Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team and 20/20 Club.
Speculation is also mounting that Ray Lewis may also follow Dawkins to the Broncos. Both would offer a much needed boost the teams defensive lineup.

Amsterdam plane crash

AT least nine people died when a Turkish airliner crashed and broke up on the approach to Amsterdam airport today.But scores more of the 145 crew and passengers on board escaped unhurt.Earlier reports said no-one had died. However a local mayor and the airport's director later confirmed there were nine victims.Another 50 were injured, many seriously, after the Turkish Airlines Boeing 737 from Istanbul came down in a field just short of the runway at Schiphol.

A statement from the Dutch government said: "Our thoughts go out to the people who were in the plane and of course also to those who are now waiting in uncertainty to hear about the fate of their loved ones."A spokesman for the Amsterdam Medical Centre said the hospital was treating seven injured passengers. "Three are lightly injured and four are serious or very serious," he said.The injured were taken to nearby hospitals and other survivors to a sports hall to be reunited with relatives.A spokesman for the Dutch Anti-Terror Co-ordinator's office, said terrorism did not appear to be a factor.

Michigan Lottery

The Michigan Lottery is launching a new raffle game that gives players the chance to buy a $10 ticket and win up to $700,000.The game will feature 19,820 cash prizes, including two top prizes of $700,000; 18 prizes of $70,000 each; 1,800 tickets worth $1,700; and 18,000 tickets good for $70. Lottery spokeswoman Andi Brancato tells The Detroit News the new game offers cash-strapped players a more cost-effective chance to claim a big jackpot. Lucky 7s tickets go on sale Monday. A tentative drawing is scheduled for May 4.

The State of Michigan Lottery said that the group would stand a better chance to qualify for raffle and charity game activities under the Local Civic Organization Qualification.The members want to hold one fund-raiser raffle this year during a summer golf outing.The Bulls were incorporated in September 2007.At some point, the group would like to provide a college scholarship for those players who participate over time.

mega millions lottery

The Mega Millions lottery jackpot went another round without a winner, inflating the prize to an estimated $171 million.Drawings for the multiple-state lottery, including New York, are Tuesdays and Fridays. The Tuesday drawing had numbers of 1-27-28-35-40 and a Mega Ball of 6 (the Mega Ball must be matched, while the other numbers do not have to be in order).

Winners of the jackpot can choose to take a lump sum up front, now estimated at $113.7M, or can choose payouts over 26 years for the full amount.The current jackpot is not close to Mega Millions record prizes. In 2007, the jackpot swelled to an estimated $390 million.Each time a drawing passes without a winner, the estimated jackpot increases -- generally at a faster rate. The current jackpot began at $12M, the opening jackpot after a winner is acknowledged.

taylormade tourino stand bag

The TaylorMade Tourino Stand Bag and Towel is for all of you golfers out there. The TaylorMade golf stand bag is a golf bag with the stand system from the very reputable golfing brand, TaylorMade. TaylorMade is one of the largest golfing equipment companies in the world.But seeing this TaylorMade Tourino Stand Bag and Towel is going to make some people really nervous. “Guys,” they’ll say, “I want cheap Linux boxes and maybe some action figures, not sports equipment! What happened to the überdeals you used to give us?” And at first glance, you might be right. But let us explain our logic.

The TaylorMade Tourino Stand Bag is designed to be carried backpack style, with straps and a built-in stand for when you set it down. Yes, it will naturally work with your clubs if you’re a golfer, but you know what else it will hold? Your toy swords. Foam katana, plastic Schweizersäbel, even all those cardboard gift wrap tubes, you’ll fit them all comfortably into the TaylorMade Tourino Golf Bag. You’ll finally have a handy way to carry around your arsenal that will make you the envy of the SCA or your cosplaying friends. We think you’ll even find there’s room for a lightsaber and a couple of ‘aqleHs. It’ll be right to the front of the Pizza Hut line for you!

meaning of ash wednesday

Depending on your church, the restrictions placed upon you on Ash Wednesday will vary, meaning some will have few, if any. In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence from meat, and repentance. The Anglican Book of Common Prayer also stipulates the day as a day of fasting. Other Christian denominations focus more on repentance, rather than these practices. Ash Wednesday, dates from at least the 8th Century. According to the linked reference above, Ash Wednesday and the ceremony of ashes is never mentioned in Scripture.

Fat Tuesday has come and gone. Hopefully you partook of IHOP's free pancake day or Jack in the Box's free tacos. Now the question is: What is the meaning of Ash Wednesday?Lent is the is the forty-day-long liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter. The forty days have meaning as the time Jesus spent in the desert, where according to the Bible he endured temptation by Satan. As Easter varies from year to year, so do Lent and Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday, AKA the Day of Ashes, can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10.

dani sperle

Caleb Howe reported, earlier today, that political cartoonists are treading lightly over depictions of our new President. I can only imagine that a similarly light touch was applied in the creation of this portrait. I also imagine that this would be a good cure for this.
The canvas, in this case, is Brazilian carnival queen Viviane Castro's thigh. Surprisingly, her right thigh. (Correction: Her right thigh. I must've been distracted.)
The full picture is NSFW, nor safe for any activity that requires even a modicum of your attention.
Castro's previous claim to fame was for "wearing" the smallest scrap of clothing ever in a Carnival parade, at 4 cm. The Associated Press reports, however, that her record has been torn asunder by model Dani Sperle, with a 3cm outfit. That's a "Change of Clothes We Can Believe In."
I have to confess, I don't know that much about Brazil, but I like it so far. In America, a carnival queen is just the guy who works the "Tilt-A-Whirl."

gary locke

Former Washington governor Gary Locke is likely to be President Obama's choice to head the Commerce Department, according to several administration officials briefed on the decision.
Locke would be the third person put forward by Obama for the job, after withdrawals by New Mexico Gov.

Bill Richardson (D), because of an ongoing pay-to-play investigation of his administration, and Sen.(R-N.H.), who backed out after concluding that his ideological differences with the administration could not be resolved.
Locke did not reply to an e-mail seeking comment, and the White House said no announcement would be made about the post today or tomorrow.
The choice of Locke for commerce secretary would continue a pair of themes that have emerged as Obama has assembled his Cabinet: diversity and reaching out to former rivals.
Locke was the first, and remains the only, Chinese American to be elected governor of a state, and he would become the third Asian American in Obama's Cabinet, joining Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki and Energy Secretary Steven Chu.
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He was also an early supporter of then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) in the Democratic presidential race, serving as a co-chairman of her effort in his state. Obama crushed Clinton in Washington's Democratic caucuses, and Locke shifted his support to the senator from Illinois after Clinton ended her bid in June.
After several high-profile misfires emerged in the Cabinet selection process, Locke is regarded as a safe choice by senior officials in the Obama administration given his long history in public life, his strait-laced reputation and his bipartisan governing credentials. His steady -- and generally popular -- tenure as governor of Washington was the biggest factor in his selection, according to a source familiar with the administration's thinking.
An Eagle Scout who lived in public housing as a child, Locke began his political career in the Washington House, where he served for a decade starting in 1982. After three years as county executive in Seattle's King County in the mid-1990s , Locke was easily elected governor in 1996. He won reelection in 2000 with 58 percent of the vote, served as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association in 2003 and gave the Democratic response to President George W. Bush's 2003 State of the Union address.
Locke decided against seeking a third term, citing a desire to spend more time with his family and to reclaim a "normal life."
After leaving office in 2004, Locke joined the Seattle office of the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine, specializing in China and energy issues. Fred Yang, a Democratic pollster and partner at Garin-Hart-Yang Research, said Locke's heritage and his familiarity with trade issues related to Asia would make him a wise pick for Obama.
"Governor Locke would seem to have a strategic and practical sense of strengthening our 21st-century economy," Yang said.
If confirmed, Locke would be the third resident of Washington state named to a high-ranking position in the Obama administration. Ron Sims, another Clinton supporter and Locke's successor as King County executive, was nominated as deputy secretary of housing and urban development, and Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske reportedly has been tapped to serve as drug czar.
The Commerce Department's stated mission is to promote U.S. economic growth, but Locke would face several other immediate challenges if confirmed, including the 2010 census. The administration's decision to move more oversight of the census into the White House was cited by Gregg as among the key factors in his decision to step aside as Obama's choice for the job.

scleroderma

The Menzies Research Institute has launched three new studies into arthritis in Tasmania.
The studies will focus on three different forms of the condition - Ankylosing spondylitis, scleroderma and psoriatic arthritis.
Menzies Research Fellow Jane Zochling says the studies will help determine how common the conditions are, and come up with a system for early diagnosis and treatment.
"An early diagnosis means early treatment and a better outcome in the end for everybody," Dr Zochling said.
The studies will be statewide and volunteers can contact the Menzies Research Institute on 1800 638 124.

sheer bliss ice cream

What You Should Know Before Buying a Digital Camera

Digital cameras are a vast improvement over the regular cameras. Electronic sensors are used in digital cameras to store pictures on a memory card. These pictures can be uploaded to a computer by an USB cable. Some digital cameras can record sound and video also.
It is imperative to study the different types of digital cameras, their features and identify our objective before buying a digital camera.
Types of digital cameras:
Compact digital camera - These are "snapshot" cameras invariably small and compact in size. They lack sophisticated hardware. Images are stored in JPEG format. Compact digital cameras have a sharp focus and a built-in flash.
Bridge camera - These cameras form a "bridge" between the compact digital camera and the DSLR camera. They have small sensors but large zoom ranges. Bridge cameras have an LCD electronic screen which can take a live preview of the photo before clicking it. Bridge cameras employ either electronic viewfinders (EVF) or optical viewfinders (OVF). The quality of these viewfinders is undergoing sea improvement regarding their size, resolution, visibility, magnification and refresh rate.
Digital single-lens reflex camera - An automatic mirror system is used which displays the exact image. The absence of time lag in the image is a great advantage for taking photos where the subject is constantly on the move. There is an auto focus system and furthermore, the resolution is extremely good. The only disadvantage is the absence of a "live preview" in most DSLR cameras.
Digital rangefinder camera - This is a portable camera suitable for theatre photography, portrait photography, street photography and candid shots. A rangefinder is a range finding focusing accessory attached to a digital camera allowing a sharp focus. Wide-angle lenses are more often used in rangefinders. Filters which absorb much light or change the color of the image can be used in this camera.
Main features:
Resolution - About 2 - 3 mega pixel resolution is enough for a decent digital camera. Resolution is a measure of the number of pixels on the sensor that create the picture. It is an important factor for printing a larger image or cropping it. Usually, the higher the resolution, greater the cost.
Type of lens - A glass lens gives a better quality picture than a plastic one. Again, a zoom lens adds greater versatility.
Close-up mode - Many digital cameras have a special close-up mode which allows one to take close-ups of extremely small objects like jewelry and coins.
Manual mode - Modes of different types are there, which enhance the quality of photographs in a particular situation. Portrait, landscape and close-up are the special exposure modes. Shutter speed and lens opening can be maneuvered in the manual exposure mode. Burst mode allows a number of pictures to be taken in rapid succession. Different filters can be used to provide beautiful effects. Extra flash modes can also enhance the clarity of the picture.
ISO - This value normally varies between 100 and 400. A higher value indicates that more number of pictures can be taken in dim light.
Conclusion:
After going through the different types of digital cameras and their features, one should ask oneself about the objective of buying a digital camera. The type of photography, the experience level, weather conditions, the budget and portability are all factors which need to be taken into account before purchasing a digital camera. A higher mega pixel rating means a higher price. If large prints are not the criteria, then mega pixel rating around 4 should suffice. Lastly, reading reviews of the different digital cameras available for sale might just be the best option before purchasing an actual one.

methadone

I suspect that few of us have wondered what would happen if house were suddenly transformed into a nice guy, because the fact that he is such a jerk is a big part of what makes him awesome. Yet, Fox decided to show us Nice Guy House anyway. Nice Guy House shaves and wears ties.

POTW: Not wearing ties is the POTW, who is a teenage boy, born with ambiguous genitalia and was assigned to the male sex - something his parents decided he should never ever know. Because they believe in healthy communication. He collapses after scoring the winning point for his basketball team and after his parents demand no one inform him of his unusual genetic makeup. Then they conduct the first round of tests by saying they think he needs an MRI. Nice Guy House allows this despite knowing it is a blind alley. But since the team runs down so many blind alleys anyway, what's one more?

Huddy: No baby drama. Not even a single mention of the baby. Instead everyone is too freaked out by House's apparent good mood as evidenced by him being somewhat polite and agreeing to the parental demands. Eventually everyone decides he's on heroin and they aren't far off. It's actually methadone, which allows him to walk without a cane. Wilson even talks Cuddy into allowing House to keep taking the methadone and keep his job, which is just this side of insane. But love is blind, deaf and dumb. Emphasis on the dumb.
Foreteen: They are more concerned with who knows they are back together. Kutner and Taub both think it's good they were forced to break up, but quickly enough realize that they are still together. They try a couple little tricks to seem like they are trying to stay a step ahead of House, but he's too happy to not be in pain to notice that they are still shagging. I just can't buy them as a couple. They lack the chemistry to carry a real romance. I think it's a combination of Foreman's referenced robotic emotional spectrum paired with 13's constant state of irritation.

sophia loren

Academy Awards call the wrong number

I guess reinventing the Oscars is harder than it looks. The academy gave the gig this year to producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon, two classy industry veterans who've been involved with all sorts of admirable films over the years. But after watching this year's Hugh Jackman-hosted awards, which were undermined by a pair of lackluster musical numbers, nearly three hours of earnestly dull, emotion-free acceptance speeches (of course excepting Kate Winslet, who's apparently been overflowing with emotion for the entire award season) and hardly any surprises, I'm beginning to believe that saving the Oscars is a job for Iron Man or Hancock, a kick-ass superhero with the kind of unassailable powers that would allow him to radically overhaul what has become the year's stodgiest awardsfest.

From Jackman's strangely self-conscious, low-rent opening musical number to Ben Stiller's very inside-the-Beltway spoof of Joaquin Phoenix's recent appearance on David Letterman's late-night show, the awards had a tone problem -- they tried to be something for everyone, coming off like a movie script that had its edginess and guts airbrushed out by too many studio notes.
All over the place:

It was hard to find any focused narrative for the awards, which were busy veering wildly from making fun of serious movies (mocking "The Reader," for example) to being entirely too reverential about the past, treating a banal montage of supporting actress thank-you speeches as if they were lost outtakes from "Citizen Kane.

"It's hard to blame the producers for some of the problems. It certainly wasn't their fault that "Slumdog Millionaire" swept the evening, robbing the proceedings of any real suspense -- you know you've got a drama deficit when the biggest upset of the night came in the foreign-language film category. New ideas were attempted but not always executed with success. It was a treat to see Queen Latifah crooning and Sophia Loren paying tribute to Meryl Streep.

My 10-year-old son was especially impressed that all his favorite movies were represented in a nicely edited action-film montage, although it reminded us only of how cloistered the Oscars have become, since virtually none of the films in the montage was nominated for any major award (and the visual effects Oscar went to "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," the one non-action film in the bunch). It also wasn't the producer's fault that the much-anticipated Judd Apatow comedy sketch, which featured his "Pineapple Express" costars, was so hit and miss that the best line in the whole bit came from Polish cinematographer Janus Kaminski, who waved his Oscars and, with perfect timing, apologized by saying, "They made me do it, Mr. Spielberg, [work is] really slow in town."But you'd have to say that Jackman was a bust. The idea of having a song-and-dance man instead of a traditional comedian seemed like a step in the right direction. But Jackman never radiated any real heat.

shortcomings were especially obvious when Will Smith, someone with real star power, showed up to give out a bunch of technical awards. You wanted Will to stick around -- he had real presence. Jackman disappeared for so many big chunks of the evening that I found myself shouting at the TV: "Who kidnapped Hugh Jackman?" (Of course, I also found myself shouting: "What does Philip Seymour Hoffman have on his head?

sean penn

Oscars backstage: Kate Winslet hugs, Sean Penn on Mickey Rourke, more!

While the Academy Awards ceremony was full of musical numbers, visual innovations, and new ways of presenting old categories, the backstage press room was the regular mix of foreign tongues, tears, awkward moments and long-winded behind-the-scenes winners. Here are the highlights.
Most Poised: Heath Ledger's FamilyHeath Ledger's father, Kim Ledger, mother, Sally Bell, and sister, Kate Ledger, were the picture of grace and calm backstage after accepting his award for Best Supporting Actor in The Dark Knight. When asked what she meant when she said onstage that she and her brother "had even talked about being here on this very day," Kate Ledger took to the mic and admitted, "Firstly, I'm extremely nervous." She went onto explain: "When [Heath] came home for Christmas a year ago, he had been sending me shots and bits and pieces from the film. No one had really seen [the completed film], but...I said to him, 'I have a feeling this is it for you. You're going to get a nomination for this, for the Academy.' He just looked at me and smiled. So he knew."
In looking back at Heath's childhood, Kim Ledger admitted that his daughter Kate "was the actor originally, but Heath was forever the clown." He also said that the Oscar statuette would be kept in a trust for his daughter Matilda until she turns 18. "Just to look at Matilda, she's totally like her daddy," remarked Sally Bell with a soft smile. "She has the same mannerisms. I really feel he's in her."
Best Trouble With Translation: Penelope CruzAbout half of Best Supporting Actress winner Penelope Cruz's answers were in Spanish, but she was happy to translate what she'd said in her mother tongue in the Kodak Theater when she won her award for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. "I said that I want to dedicate it to all the actors of my country," she told the press room, "and that I want to dedicate it to all the people that are now watching there at home and that our feeling that this also belongs to them." Cruz became so effusive when talking about Sophia Loren, her costar in the upcoming musical Nine, that she got a little tongue-tied. "She's become like my second mom," said Cruz. "She's a woman with a gold of heart. Wait, what did I say? A woman with a heart of gold!"

inspiration cafe

Oscar winner Helen Hunt will get some primetime exposure at this year's Academy Awards, but you won't see her on the screen. The actress is turning the spotlight on the inspirational story of Lisa Nigro, a former police officer who began helping the homeless by serving them coffee and sandwiches, and later went on to found the Inspiration Cafe. Hunt has directed a 60-second commercial that will air during the Oscars, highlighting the inspiring story. Hunt previously stepped behind the camera for Then She Found Me which she also co-wrote. Off-screen, the actress/director has managed to stay below the Hollywood radar and get caught up in her real-life role as mother to her young daughter, Makena Lei.

Q: Was it a challenge to tell a story in one minute after you've directed a full-length feature? A: Actually, it was really fun and really inspiring to get a chance to do a little 60-second biography of a woman who is happy because she's feeding people. That's how she started helping others. We filmed Lisa serving breakfast in the Inspiration Cafe that provides support to the homeless with dignity and respect. That's how she began her mission, which has greatly expanded. Mother Theresa said something like, 'If you want to be happy, feed people.' I kept thinking of that as I watched her connecting intimately with each of these human beings as she was serving them breakfast.

Q: Even though it's a growing problem, it's easy to forget about the homeless because they don't really have a voice

A: There are people who just have gotten caught in a system that isn't working right. I think what Lisa has very successfully done is to look into the eyes of each human being and open her arms and her kitchen to them without considering how they got there or without judging them.

Q: Was there a lesson in it for u:

I guess it was to look for ways to be of service. Look for tiny ways and don't be afraid to remain anonymous. I think that you get a little something extra if nobody knows about it. I'm trying to keep that in mind. I don't think it's an accident that this commercial is made right now and it's getting all this attention. We're living in a time when people are waking up to the idea that being of service is something that nourishes you. r you?

jerry lewis

The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award winner seemed to forget that hey, ladies, you're supposed to be funny. Grr, you can't rely on the new generation to remake all your comedic gems, Mr. Nutty Professor. Then again, I'd pay to see Tina Fey's re-imagining of "Cinderfella." I want to go to there.

Chandra Levy

The parents of slain intern Chandra Levy said this morning that D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier told them late Friday night that an arrest warrant in the eight-year old unsolved murder case is "imminent in the next couple of days." Local television stations in Washington and California began reporting late Friday night that an arrest was coming soon.

The Levys said Lanier did not tell them who the suspect is. Lanier issued a statement Saturday declining to comment. "The Metropolitan Police Department has no information available for release in this ongoing investigation. This case generated bits of information, which we continued to follow up on."The police investigation into the murder of Chandra Levy has ramped up in recent months, after The Washington Post in July published a 13-part serial narrative investigation into the case, pointing to Ingmar Guandique, a Salvadoran immigrant, as the most likely suspect in the case.

christine collins

INDIANAPOLIS -- Titans coach Jeff Fisher said he and Vince Young have discussed the parameters of the 2006 first-round draft pick reclaiming the team's starting quarterback job.
Fisher reiterated that he wants Kerry Collins to return and to claim the starting job, but opened the door to Young returning the the role he occupied before his benching after Week 1 last year.

"I visited with Vince last week and we had a good conversation," Fisher said. "He's anxious to come back and wanted to know what he has to do to win the starting job back.
"He's willing to do whatever it takes."
Collins, 36, is due to become a free agent next Friday. He hasn't committed to playing another season, but said if he plays he wants to be the starter again. Collins also acknowledged he would consider playing for a team other than the Titans as the starter.

Fisher said the Titans and Collins are not in position to sign a new contract yet.
Young started last season as the Titans starter and sprained his MCL in the opener. Collins switched to Collins at quarterback, a move he said would not change when Young's injury healed

conan o brien

After 16 years, the prominently coiffed, long-limbed host of NBC's Late Night With Conan O'Brien bid farewell Friday with a star-studded and signaturely side-splitting finale— which was really only a temporary goodbye, considering he'll emerge from hibernation June 1 in Los Angeles as host of the Tonight Show.
But it was the end of an era just the same. We doubt Jay Leno will be hacking his set to pieces with an ax during his final week.
In addition to dismantling his surroundings, O'Brien has spent the last four nights looking back at some of the show's funniest moments—his trip to Finland, where he resembles the female president; picking apples with Mr. T; the most jaw-dropping Walker, Texas Ranger clip ever—and traded quips with scheduled and surprise guests like Jerry Seinfeld, Martha Stewart, Will Arnett, Bob Saget, Nathan Lane, Stephen Colbert and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Friday brought out even more big guns, including John Mayer, Will Ferrell and the first performance by the White Stripes since 2007. Andy Richter, O'Brien's Ed McMahon until 2000, also stopped by for an extended trip down memory lane.
The parade of bits and fond reminiscences kicked off right after O'Brien's final jump and invisible-string-assisted hip shake.
"I used to live in NYC, now I'm as douchey as a man can be...L.A. is gonna eat you alive," Mayer sang to O'Brien in a stirring video tribute.
Ferrell, who's reprising his SNL George W. Bush in a one-man show on Broadway, not far from Late Night's 30 Rockefeller Plaza studio, showed up in character to thank Conan for "16 years of humortastical wonderment," before breaking into the "degrading, humiliating" leprechaun striptease O'Brien was mock-hoping to avoid.
But the best part of tonight was really the clips, which included Conan's trip to a Long Island baseball field where men were playing 1800s-era baseball; a naked Richter strolling onto the Today set, believing it was a Turkish spa; Conan's visit to an actual day spa; Conan suiting up for speed-skating; and the Harvard grad proving to Jennifer Garner that snuck is a word.

Amid the laughter, O'Brien did take time out to express his earnest appreciation to the fans.
"There are people that have hosted these kinds of shows who are better than I am," he said. "Nobody has ever enjoyed it more than I do. It's an incredible, amazing honor to do this show for you people."
"I want to say something about—we're going on to this next gig, and sometimes I read that it's time for Conan to grow up because he's going to 11:30," he continued. "And I assure you, that's just not going to happen. I can't. This is who I am, for better or for worse."
Not bad for a guy who, in a recent New York Times interview, compared his taking over NBC's 12:30 a.m. spot from David Letterman 16 years ago to, well...
"Following him was like Ted WIlliams departed the field and a fetus ran out in a ball cap."
Yup, Jimmy Fallon's got some enormous shoes to fill.

mary jane fonder

THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY To create their newest theatrical piece, an exploration of the rise of the evangelical movement, members of the singular theater troupe the Civilians spent 10 weeks in Colorado Springs, where several evangelical churches have their national headquarters. There they asked hundreds of residents about the importance of religion in their lives. In this hybrid work — part play with music, part docudrama — the troupe compares issues facing the Colorado city with those facing the nation. Written by Steven Cosson and Jim Lewis, with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman. Opens Sunday. Closes March 15. Vineyard Theater, 108 East 15th Street, Manhattan; (212) 353-0303, vineyardtheatre.org.
OTHELLO The tale of the doomed Moor of Venice will be the first of back-to-back Shakespearean tragedies from Theater for a New Audience this spring. John Douglas Thompson (“Oroonoko”) has the title role, and Arin Arbus, the company’s associate artistic director, directs. Opens Sunday. Closes March 7. In the second play, “Hamlet,” Christian Camargo (“All My Sons”) portrays the Danish prince, and David Esbjornson directs. Previews begin March 15. Opens March 26. Closes April 19. The Duke, 229 West 42nd Street, Manhattan; (646) 223-3010, dukeon42.org.
THAT PRETTY PRETTY; OR, THE RAPE PLAY Jane Fonda is an actress in “33 Variations” (see below) and a character in this odd comedy by Sheila Callaghan (“Dead City”) about two murderous ex-strippers and the screenwriter who wants to include them in a movie. In previews. Opens Monday. Closes March 15. Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, 224 Waverly Place, Greenwich Village; Smarttix, rattlestick.org

nachspiel

Yesterday my brother came home with a new toy; a high-definition camcorder.
Now I love gadgets, and one of the features this thing has is the ability to record movement in slow motion, so he was eager to put it to the test and asked if he could film me doing a few exercises.
"Sure!" I thought, always eager to keep up with the latest technology and find an excuse to fit some exercise into my day.
So, as he got to grips with the camera, he asked me to do a few exercises while he was recording. He then reviewed the footage and got me to repeat the exercises until he had the hang of things.
Now, I didn't do that much, time-wise. In fact I didn't even finish whole sets of things. I just did 15-20 seconds of one thing, rested a few seconds while he reviewed the shot, then went again.
In little more than 3 or 4 minutes I did some sprints, squat jumps, bear crawls and push ups. Boy did I feel winded from that 'all-out' effort!
Within minutes of finishing I felt fine. Somehow I'd managed to 'camouflage' some effective exercise as an experiment in filming...
Today my abs are sore, my bum is feeling tight and my legs feel worked.
Like I said, I did no more than 4 minutes in total yesterday, and although it felt taxing at the time, I was only goofing about. I hadn't set out to devote a lot of time to a training session.
The lesson is this; even small bursts of exercise daily will leave you feeling fitter, stronger and more energised.
I just threw a few things into those limited minutes and it worked.
Do the same. 20 seconds here, 20 seconds there.
DON'T tell me you don't have 20 seconds here and there.
If you want to use that excuse then SIMPLY ADMIT that you're not ready to get into shape!

lilo brancato

NUEVA YORK._El actor de la popular serie de la cadena HBO y la película A Bronx Tales” que protagonizó junto a Al Paccino, fue absuelto por un jurado en la Suprema Corte de El Bronx de la acusación de intento de asesinato contra el policía hispano Daniel Encheutegui, un veredicto que fue protestado por el Sindicato de Policías y parientes de la víctima.
Brancato de origen colombiano pero que adoptó el nombre porque es fanático de la mafia italiana, fue convicto empero por intento de robo en primer grado y de otros tres cargos criminales también fue absuelto por el panel.
El actor tendrá que regresar a la corte el 16 de enero cuando será sentenciado a una pena mínima de tres años en la cárcel. El agente fue asesinado por un compañero de Brancato identificado como Steven Armento quien fue declarado culpable y fue condenado a cadena perpetua, cuando enfrentó a los dos civiles mientras trataban de robar medicamentos recetados para endrogarse en una casa vecina a la del policía que recibió un disparo en el pecho.
El oficial acababa de llegar de su tarea diaria en un precinto de El Bronx cuando se percató de movimientos sospechosos de Armento y el actor, quienes habían salido de un club nocturno a buscar estupefacientes.
Los acusados alegaron durante el juicio que sólo fueron a “despertar” a un amigo que les iba a entregar drogas en la residencia en la que las autoridades dicen que estaban intentando robar y que no sabían que Enchautegui era policía porque no se identificó como tal

taj george

Whew! Even we were tired after watching Jalapao and Timbira battle it out for immunity and fishing gear in a game of river basketball, which resembled the mud-wrestling scene in Stripes more than anything else, Thursday on Survivor: Tocantins.
The limbs—and boobs (hello, Erinn) and bum cracks (hence the number of blurry dots on the TV screen)—were flying as opening-day outcast Sierra Reed fought to regain her credibility, J.T. Thomas and Tyson Apostol showed leaderesque qualities, and former SWV chanteuse Taj Johnson-George (aka Mrs. Eddie George!) plowed through her opponents like a fullback.
Of course, the real game began after the challenge, won by...
Jalapao! The short-handed tribe, having been the first to Tribal Council last week, came from two baskets down to take the fishing tackle and the glory. (Once again, there was only one challenge tonight.)
The victors picked Timbira member Brendan Synnott to go to Exile Island—and, thanks to the newest twist introduced by Jeff Probst, he brought Taj, from the winning team, along with him.
While they were pseudobonding, Timbira had a choice to make—send home the slight Sierra or chatterbox Candace Smith.
Just when they seemingly had decided on Sierra, Benjamin "Coach" Wade (we're still amused by that moniker) started turning the tables after Candace's negativity started to really bum him out, and he got resident cougar Debbie Beebe to agree.
So it was Candace who got the boot at Tribal Council, 7.

Greg Bean's Column

Even the best ideas can have unintended consequences Coda • GREG BEAN :

I've written before about the law of unintended consequences, that whole thing where a butterfly flaps its wings in South America, and that minor disturbance sets off a chain reaction that ultimately results in a tsunami in Borneo.

I saw a particularly interesting chain of unintended consequences during the last big recession, when the Wyoming town we were living in decided to go from twice-weekly garbage pickup to once a week in an effort to save money.
A number of New Jersey communities, including East Brunswick, are currently considering reducing the number of pickups per week, so an account of that experiment in fiscal frugality might provide some food for thought.
Here's what happened:
Our town was very windy, so instead of plastic garbage cans that can blow around, most folks used 55- gallon drums with the lids cut off. And for lids, they used old tires with quarter-inch steel in the middle. The cans were big and heavy, but they wouldn't blow around. Most families had two of them.
But when the town went to once-weekly pickups, people realized that two garbage cans weren't enough, so they went out and bought hundreds of plastic cans at the local hardware stores.
Which immediately started blowing down the streets, turning the thoroughfares into dangerous games of dodge 'em. They even mowed down a few pedestrians before people, and the police, started demanding a solution.
The solution? The town forked out to buy great big, heavy garbage containers for every family in town. You couldn't wheel the things around, so they parked them in people's front yards (very attractive). They were also too heavy for the sanitation guys to lift.
The solution for that problem?
The city had to buy a whole new fleet of garbage trucks, the kind with a winch on them strong enough to lift the new garbage cans.

The ‘curse’ will strike once again

Over the past ten years the “Madden Curse” has plagued the National Football League, affecting players like Ray Lewis, Eddie George and Michael Vick.
The “Madden Curse” falls on whoever ends up on the cover of the Madden football video game. The featured player is usually coming off a good season, with the curse striking the following season. Madden cover athletes have faced season-ending injuries, lack of playoff appearances and embarrassment on and off the field.
With the yearly chance to be on the cover of the Madden game, and the chance of the curse, not all players are willing to take advantage of the honor.
LaDainian Tomlinson, the San Diego Chargers star running back, declined the offer to be on the 2008 cover. Perhaps he made a good decision since Tomlinson went on to have a great season, beating the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs.
Vince Young, 2008 cover man, was not quite as fortunate. Young injured his quadriceps and after missing a few games, lost his starting spot on the Tennessee Titans.
Brett Favre, one of the most well known quarterbacks in the NFL, also faced a challenge at the end of last season. After announcing his retirement in 2008, Favre was named Madden’s cover guy.
Retired from football, he had a chance to break the curse. But Favre reinstated in time for pre-season and was back in the NFL only in the different green of the New York Jets. The Jet’s former quarterback, Chad Pennington was then released and picked up by New York Jets division rival, the Miami Dolphins.
Unfortunately for Madden lovers like myself, seeing the curse broken was not going to happen this year.
Playing for the Jets, Favre ended up falling one win short of making the playoffs while Pennington received several satisfactory wins, showing the Jets the caliber of their ex-quarterback throughout the season.
So unfortunately for Brett, he ended his career with a bitter loss. Although he will be in the hall of fame, his last season will taint his career forever.
Whereas last year he could have retired after an honorable season with the Green Bay Packers, he will instead be remembered as losing the last playoff spot to the very quarterback he replaced in New York.
And it is almost that time of year again. Time to pick out who will be the next victim of the “Madden curse.” A few players have stood out this season but my pick would be Larry Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald may even be the elite athlete with the needed ability to break the curse. But maybe not, if we look at Favre.
Under the curse, there’s nothing Brett could have done. The “Madden curse” has a mind of its own. Good luck to whoever is brave enough to be the next face of Madden. I’ll anxiously be waiting for the release in August when we’ll see if it still lives to strike again.

'Idol:' I'm a-going home

Except to say that I'm officially bored of the Smithson-Johns slow duet arrangement of "The Letter," I'll leave my thoughts on tonight's coronations and eliminations for after the jump...
I understand that they've been building up to this moment for weeks, but you have to admit: What the producers did to Tatiana tonight was pretty cruel. Once it was down to her and Danny for the final Top 12 slot, every person in America save one knew what was going to happen next.

But there she was, looking like she was about to have a major league flip-out, dangling in the breeze during a long commercial break, and finally, informed that her dreams were crushed. The only meaner move would be to bring her back for the Wild Card round, only to send her home again. Let's hope the judges have a little more compassion than that.

Other than that, I was impressed with the poise of the rest of the losing contestants, unsurprised about Danny and Alexis, and certainly not shocked about the success of Michael Sarver, who's a decent singer and a likable guy. Expect to see Anoop Dogg in the Wild Card round. If I had to predict who would join him, I think I'd pick Ricky Braddy and Stevie Wright. Anyone agree?

CBS Radio's Talk KLSX-FM/Los Angeles Set for CHR Flip

CBS Radio will flip Talk KLSX-FM/Los Angeles to CHR as "97.1 AMP Radio," effective February 20. The top 40 format previously aired on co-owned KCBS-FM's HD2 channel. Senior VP/Programming Kevin Weatherly, who also programs KCBS and sister KROQ-FM, developed the format and will handle AMP programming duties replacing Jack Silver.
The new station will air 10,000 songs in a row following its debut with limited commercial interruption. Core artists include Justin Timberkale, Beyonce, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Kanye West and Pink, among others.
"Creating a successful radio station not only means focusing on what you hear over the air -- it's that, yet it's so much more, and as evidenced by what we're announcing today, the possibilities are endless," said Weatherly. "Incubating AMP Radio online and on HD2 allowed us to experiment with different ideas, build brand loyalty, and analyze listener feedback. We saw immediately the impact of the evolution of the station and watched the online audience steadily increase each month."
Senior VP/Market Manager Dan Weiner added, "Launching this format, and the way in which we execute it across several different platforms, expands dramatically what we can offer advertisers. And just as important, we're providing an alternative listening option for a dynamic sector of the Los Angeles population. Collectively, our portfolio of stations will now boast a significant share of the male and female audience of listeners ranging in age from 12+."

Out with the move is the entire air staff including Adam Carolla and his syndicated morning show. Carolla took over mornings on KSLX in January, 2006, after Howard Stern left for Sirius Satellite Radio. Prior to handling mornings, Carolla was best known as a co-host of syndicated "Loveline." (02-18-09)

New York Post has gotta apologize over offensive chimpanzee cartoon

The New york post Wednesday called President Obama a chimpanzee.
That is sure how it seemed to many people who saw it.
And in Black History Month, no less. The stunningly offensive drawing springs from the chimp rampage in Connecticut that ended with police shooting the crazed creature dead.
The artist, Sean Delonas, depicts two cops standing over the chimp's bullet-riddled body, one with a smoking pistol.
"They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill," the other cop says.
As any member of the species Homo sapiens knows, Obama championed the stimulus package. He may even be betting his presidency on it.
A photo of the President signing the stimulus bill appeared in Wednesday's Post, one page before the cartoon.
Readers who turned the page went right from Obama photo to the chimp drawing.
Really.
The cartoon's conscious intent may have been to say the stimulus bill as written by Congress is such a mess it could have been penned by a monkey.
But say "stimulus" to readers and they rightly think "Obama."
He is as much a personification of the package as FDR was of the New Deal. The Post's story even noted that no congressional leaders attended the bill-signing. It was all Obama.
Delonas, and whatever editor or editors saw the cartoon before it went in the paper, cannot be completely unaware of the long and repulsive history of white racists calling African-Americans "apes" and "monkeys" and, yes, "chimpanzees."
Any association between the chimp figure and Obama is made all the more offensive by the bullet holes. The big unspoken fear many of us share is that Obama's triumph over racism will end in violence. On first seeing the cartoon, I had the same reaction as the Rev. Al Sharpton, with whom I often disagree. He saw it at 5:30 a.m. on his way to the gym.
"I'm like, 'Maybe I'm missing something,'" he recalled. "I called 10 people and said, 'Tell me there's something I'm missing.'"
Many others besides Al and I had difficulty believing what they saw. More than a few considered it proof that racism was not vanquished as we hoped after Obama's election.
"Maybe that's why you have Al Sharpton," Al Sharpton said.
Ongoing studies by a prominent psychologist at Stanford University suggest that the racist association of African-Americans with apes is so ingrained in our history and culture that it persists subconsciously even in college kids born after the civil rights movement.
The study's results were summarized in the 2008 paper "Not Yet Human: Implicit Knowledge, Historical Dehumanization and Contemporary Consequences."
"It was surprising to us how strong it was," the co-author, Stanford Associate Prof. Jennifer Eberhardt, said Wednesday of the persistent link. "It did give me cause for pause."
She did not need to see the Post to know the dehumanizing association is wired into many psyches.
"It's still with us," she said, "despite the election of the first black President."
We also have the first black attorney general, Eric Holder. He made a speech to Justice Department employees Wednesday marking Black History Month. He said we remain "essentially a nation of cowards," afraid to speak to each other about race.
"If we're going to ever make progress, we're going to have to have the guts, we have to have the determination, to be honest with each other," he added afterward. "It also means we have to be able to accept criticism where that is justified."
Holder was not speaking of the Post, but he might as well have been. Sharpton was and he was planning a demonstration. The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives was calling for advertisers to yank their ads. Readers were speaking of a boycott.
What the Post needs to do is apologize.

CURRENTLY PLAYING FEBRUARY 19, 2009

Battle Hymn: Jim Leonard’s play follows teenaged, impregnated Martha (Suzy Jane Hunt) from the eve of the Civil War into the 21st century. She refuses to give birth until America is on the road to recovery – and therefore the play is an ideal way to celebrate the Obama era. Leonard maintains a lighthearted tone throughout most of Martha’s odyssey, with deliberate anachronisms, genuinely wacky images and moments that require actors and audience not to take it all so seriously. Hunt’s a wonder in her high-flying role, but so are the four men (Bill Heck, William Salyers, Robert Manning Jr., John Short), who play all the other parts, crossing not only the gender line and occasionally the racial line but also the species line. John Langs’ direction and a couple of musical numbers by Michael A. Levine help energize the proceedings. Circle X Theatre at [Inside] the Ford, Cahuenga Pass, Hollywood. (323) 461-3673. Fordtheatres.org. Closes March 7.

The Bird and Mr. Banks:A seemingly drone-like comptroller (Sam Anderson) rescues a co-worker (Jenny Kern) from their lecherous boss (Chet Grissom). The comedy and unexpected horror-genre elements in Keith Huff’s play are dulled by a surfeit of avian imagery and other cloying stabs at excess sentiment. Mark St. Amant directs. Road Theatre, North Hollywood. (866) 811-4111. roadtheatre.org. Closes March 21.

The Bourgeois Gentilhomme. Molière wrote this satire of the nouveaux riches as spoken interludes within a lavish royal ballet. This adaptation by director Frederique Michel and designer Charles Duncombe is on a much smaller scale but retains an elegant look. The laughs don't flow freely until the second act, perhaps because the first scenes focus on the foolish title character's (blissfully goony Jeff Atik) “studies” instead of his and his daughter's love lives. Ruthie Crossley, Troy Dunn, Deborah Knox and others deliver precisely chiseled comic performances. City Garage, Santa Monica. (310) 319-9939. citygarage.org. Closes Feb. 22.

Candida:Shaw’s comedy, about a strong woman (Willow Geer) who’s asked to choose between her popular preacher husband (Mark Deakins) and the gangly and lovesick young poet Marchbanks (Johnathan McClain), is in the skilled hands of director Kathleen F. Conlin and a sterling cast. At last the lustrous Geer, who developed her talents at her family’s Theatricum Botanicum, is entering the wider world of L.A. theater. Colony Theatre, 555 N. 3rd St., Burbank. (818) 558-7000 x15. colonytheatre.org. Phone or see website for times. $32-$42. Closes Sun., March 8.

Daddy's Dyin:Who's Got the Will? Del Shores' first hit comedy - originally set among white small-town Texans - receives a mostly African American-cast revival, staged by its original producer, Theatre/Theater’s Jeff Murray. The racial transformation is working well, not only in the makeup of the audience but in the ease with which most of the lines are adaptable to African American voices within the same small town. There are two different casts. I saw this show earlier at Theatre/Theater’s Pico Boulevard venue; it had some memorable performances but could have used a tightened pace. Theatre/Theater-Hollywood. (323) 954-9795. theatretheater.net. Closes Sun., March 15.

Dwyane Wade Sues Estranged Wife Siohvaughn Wade For STD (Photos)

Miami Heat basketball star, Dwyane Wade, is suing his estranged wife and her two lawyers Wednesday after being accused of giving Siohvaughn a sexually transmitted disease from a sexual affair. Read more on the Dwyane Wade lawsuit below.
Dwayne Wade is suing Siohvaughn and two of her lawyers for at least $50,000 in damages from each of the three defendants due to the false allegations.
Siohvaughn Wade said that Dwayne had given her a sexually transmitted disease in 2007. But she withdrew the claim.
But Dwyane Wade said her allegations not only defamed him, but caused “embarrassment” and “humiliation” along with damaging future earning potential.
“It has been difficult to see false allegations, rumors and gossip repeatedly discussed in public about my personal life,” Dwyane Wade said in a statement released to the AP. “I had no other choice but to file this action in order to clear my name.”
Attorneys Michael Berger and Dorene Marcus and their firms are the other defendants along with his wife.
“Mr. Wade has been the victim of a reckless campaign by Siohvaughn Wade and her lawyers to publicly humiliate him and damage his reputation,” Joe Power, an attorney representing the Heat player, said in a statement to the AP. “To clear the public record from these false and malicious allegations, we have filed a defamation suit in court … and will seek appropriate compensation for damages.”
Siohvaughn Wade’s claim made “by and through her attorneys, and disseminated by various print and online media throughout the world placed plaintiff Dwyane Wade in a false light,” the lawsuit stated.
“We believe there’s absolutely no merit to it,” Berger said. “I believe that the lawsuit will get dismissed. It seems interesting to me Wade would file a lawsuit like this when he supposedly wants to keep a low profile. This lawsuit will put his entire private and social life in full view of the public.”
Berger said that even though Siohvaughn Wade withdrew the claim that, “Mrs. Wade has stood behind her allegations.”
Along with claims of extramarital affairs and being given the STD, Siohvaughn Wade also said her husband abandoned their children and goes weeks at a time without speaking to them.
Dwyane and Siohvaughn Wade started dating as teenagers and continued dating through college.Wade starred at Marquette, leading his team to the Final Four before being drafted with the No. 5 overall pick in 2003 by Miami.
The couple married in 2002 and have two kids.

Chimp Attack

200-pound pet chimpanzee in Stamford, Connecticut severely mauls a woman. Owner stabs chimp repeatedly but fails to stop the attack. Chimp goes after police when they arrive on the scene. Police officer fatally shoots chimp. You may know chimp from Old Navy ads (the ones with Morgan Fairchild). Chimp knew how to use a computer, drink wine “from a stemmed glass,” bathe himself.But….. no. That urge to sex up the story prevails. How’s it done? A few examples courtesy of cable and the tabloids.

Travis the chimpanzee, a veteran of TV commercials, was the constant companion of a lonely Connecticut widow who fed him steak, lobster and ice cream. He could eat at the table, drink wine from a stemmed glass, use the toilet, and dress and bathe himself.In recordings of calls to 911 dispatchers released Tuesday, Travis' grunts can be heard as a frantic Herold cries that her pet is "eating" Nash and must be killed. The attack lasted about 12 minutes.

obama housing plan

President Barack Obama's plan to address the rising tide of foreclosures will spend $75 billion looking to help as many as 9 million Americans avoid losing their homes. The plan, being released later today, is more ambitious than initially expected and is also more costly.Stock prices have weakened in early trading. The declines for the major averages comes amid continued concern about the outlook for the troubled economy.

WASHINGTON (AP) Tough times continue for the nation's homebuilders. The Commerce Department says January housing construction sunk nearly 17 percent to a record low.CLEVELAND (AP) Goodyear Tire & Rubber plans to cut 5,000 jobs this year amid a fourth-quarter loss. The cuts amount to nearly 7 percent of the work force for the Akron, Ohio based company, which is the biggest U.S. tire maker.

National Action Network

Nationalactionnetwork.net is the official website of National Action Network (NAN), one of the leading Civil Rights organizations in the U.S., with numerous local chapters around the country. It works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to promote a modern Civil Rights agenda that includes one standard of just and decency for all people regardless of race, social justice for communities, and the improvement of race relations.

People really don't want to hear the empty rhetoric. Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson are not the moral compasses of the black community. I have yet to hear Rev. Al Sharpton attack black-on-black crime, but he is quickly on the scene when there is perceived injustice against a black person at the hands of a white person. Come on. This is totally ridiculous. Sharpton is just seeking to drum up publicity for his National Action Network, inaction on many social issues is more like it.

What Happened to Bucky Covington?

As a biography, Bucky Covington was born on November 8, 1977, so his age is 31. He grew up in Rockingham, North Carolina with his twin brother, Rocky. He bought his first guitar after high school and taught himself how to play. The musically-inclined up-and-comer also plays the bass and drums. He worked in his dad’s auto body shop and played as many shows as he could land.
Bucky got his big break on season 5 of the hit reality television show, “American Idol”. Though he finished 8th, he went on to score a record deal and make a go of it in the country music industry. After his final appearance on the show, he got several phone calls with offers of record deals. In the end, he went with O-Seven Artist Management, who handles Sawyer Brown. His self-titled debut album hit shelves April 17, 2007, debuting at #1 on the country charts.

Tonight on “American Idol”, Brent Keith sang the country song “Hick Town”, trying to show fans who he really is and take them back to his roots. Although the performance received pretty good reviews from Randy, Kara, and of course Paula, Simon wasn’t sold. Paula had compared Keith to Josh Gracin, Bo Bice and Bucky Covington, in the end saying “look what happened to Bucky Covington.” This statement prompted Simon Cowell to say, “What DID happen to Bucky Covington”, and then went on to say that Paula’s statement said it perfectly, calling Keith’s rendition of “Hick Town” “forgettable”. So it begs the question, what did happen to Bucky Covington

American Idol Voting:American Idol Phone Number

American Idol Voting:American Idol Phone Number - ‘American Idol’ Voting is open tonight.You can call to keep your favorite contestants in the game.Below are the phone numbers and rules to call.”American Idol” voting starts Tuesday night. In addition to text voting, AT&T customers can get involved with the show in other ways. Customers should note that standard rates apply in most cases.

Casey Carlson's 'Idol' days may be numbered

Tuesday was not a good night for Casey Carlson.
On the first live "American Idol" show this season, the 20-year-old Eden Prairie native took a verbal beating from the "Idol" judges after singing the '80s hit "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic" by the Police. The judges questioned her song choice, phrasing and even her stage presence. Randy Jackson called her performance "weirdly karaoke." Kara DioGuardi said, "Everything about that was wrong."
And, of course, Simon Cowell was the harshest: "You get one massive opportunity, which you got tonight, and you've just thrown it away." Carlson, who joined her parents after being critiqued, was crushed.
Overall, most of the 12 performers Tuesday left much to be desired, although there were a few standouts including Alexis Grace, 21, and her soulful rendition of "Never Loved a Man"; Danny Gokey's solid take on "Hero"; and Anoop Desai's smooth "Angel of Mine."
We'll have to wait until tonight's results round (7 on Fox), to see if Carlson emerges as one of three semifinalists — the top male, the top female and the next top vote-getter — who'll move onto the top 12. The remaining two groups of 12 (one of which includes Minneapolis' Jesse Langseth) will perform in the next two weeks with six more contenders, along with the judges' three wild-card picks, filling out the top 12.

The Real Housewives of New York City': Meet the new housewife

Kelly Killoren Bensimon has yet to demonstrate why Bravo even bothered adding her to its Real Housewives franchise.
She fits in on paper: She's rich, a former model, the ex-wife of fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon, has two daughters, is a writer-journalist and zzzzzzzzzz. Oh, excuse me. You see, all that aside, Kelly is a crashing bore.
On the "Real Housewives of New York City," we already have a well-adjusted, leggy former model in LuAnn, and even she has a quirky personality that comes out when it comes to her role as Countess de Lesseps. All the other housewives are genuine characters, whether we're talking about the ambitiously creepy Alex and her metro husband, Simon, mouthy social maven Jill, caustically sarcastic Bethenny or even crazy-eyed Ramona, who never fails to embarrass her daughter.

chimp attack

A Connecticut police officer shot and killed a pet chimpanzee that mauled a friend of its owner on Monday. The 200-pound chimp, Travis, who once starred in an Old Navy commercial for cargo shorts, had been running loose after using using a key to get out of the house.A teenage ape raised like a human went berserk in Connecticut Monday, badly mauling a friend of his owner before cops shot and killed him.

But Travis, a normally docile 200-pound chimp that starred in a TV commercial for Old Navy cargo shorts and enjoyed human activities like drinking wine and surfing the Internet, could not be stopped."These actions have not been seen in the chimpanzee before. This animal had been raised as a member of the family," Conklin said.

siri

breaking news this morning, SIRIUS XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) and Liberty Media Corp. (NASDAQ: LMDIA) have reached a deal that will save the satellite radio company (for now) from the brink of bankruptcy.In pre-market trading, SIRI shares have jumped more than 80% to 19 cents per share.

SIRI CEO Mel Karmazin, told reporters, "Liberty's investment is an important validation of what SIRIUS XM has already achieved and a vote of confidence in what we will achieve..."

In response, Liberty will assume two spots on the SIRIUS XM board and receive 12.5 million shares of preferred stock, convertible into 40% of common SIRI shares.Liberty will invest $530 million in SIRI, kicking off with a first phase: a senior secured loan worth $280 million, $250 million of which will be paid out today.

Juliana Redding

Juliana Redding was an aspiring actress who had moved to southern California to chase the Hollywood dream. She wound up as the victim in a real-life murder mystery -- one few people are talking about. Police haven't made any arrests and say they have no suspects. CNN.com and Nancy Grace are working together to bring fresh eyes to cold cases.She was also taking college courses while working part-time in a trendy Venice Beach bar.

Juliana Redding was 21, an aspiring actress and model who, like so many others before her, had moved from Arizona to southern California in pursuit of the Hollywood dream. She wound up the victim in a real life murder mystery -- one few people are willing to talk about in any detail.Although there are unconfirmed reports that the cause of death was blunt force trauma, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office denies that. "Those media reports are not accurate. The cause of death was not blunt force trauma. The file has been sealed by police, so we cannot disclose the actual cause of death."