birdman of alcatraz

And all the attention to Obama's 100th day in office takes away from the night's other century milestone: the 100th episode of "Lost" (ABC, 9 p.m.), which, after a one week break for a summary, returns with some story to burn. Tonight, it comes mostly from the mouth of the most fascinating recent addition to the cast, Jeremy Davies, as the brainy Daniel Faraday.

Though he's been instrumental in all the crazy time traveling throughout this season and last, tonight's episode, "The Variable," will be the first that will feature his backstory through flashbacks - that is to say, flashbacks not of his own making.

Also on tonight, it's the season finale for both "Ghost Hunters" (Sci Fi, 9 p.m.) and "The Exterminators" (A&E, 10:30 p.m.), each a reality show about guys who are sort of in the same business. In the former, the guys find themselves in an abandoned psychiatric hospital in Newark, which is scary on so many levels. In the latter, they've got much more tangible targets: mice and a skunk.

Ed Asner guest stars on "CSI: NY" (CBS, 10 p.m.).

Tashera Simmons, Alana Wyatt and Liza Rios are among those profiled on "Rapper Wives: The E! True Hollywood Story" (E!, 10 p.m.) for being married to DMX, Mos Def and Big Pun respectively. At least they're not all separate reality series.
Remember the quickly canceled Roy Liotta series "Smith" (DirecTV, Channel 101)? It's back on, on satellite.

"Time Warp" (Discovery, 8 p.m.), the series dedicated to slowing down footage of just about everything, just for the beauty of it, tonight slows down Metallica.
Billy Mays and company look into a hands-free cell phone device on "Pitchmen" (Discovery, 10 p.m.).

Good thing it's not avian flu pandemic. Tonight's fare on Turner Classic Movies are all about birds: "Birdman of Alcatraz" (8 p.m.), "The Birds" (10:45 p.m.), "Bye Bye Birdie" (1 a.m.) and "Thunderbirds are Go" (3 a.m.).

Wonder if Somalia has tarnished the fun in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At the World's End" (Starz, 7:11 p.m.)?

In baseball, it's the Marlins at Mets (SNY, 1 p.m.), Yankees at Tigers (ESPN, YES, 7 p.m.) and Red Sox at Indians (NESN, 7 p.m.). In the NBA playoffs, it's Heat at Hawks (TNT, 8 p.m.) and Hornets at Nuggets (TNT, 10:30 p.m.).

Jerry Cabrera of Vernon plays "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" (WTIC, Channel 61, 1 p.m.).
Daytime TalkRegis and Kelly: Matthew McConaughey, cast of "Rock of Ages." The View: Harold Perrineau. Bonnie Hunt: Kristin Chenoweth, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach. Ellen DeGeneres: Michael Douglas, Faryl Smith. Mike and Juliet: Kim Kardashian, Collin Raye, Steven Pasquale, Chuck Nice, Patrick Meagher..

Late TalkDavid Letterman: Jennifer Garner, Elon Musk, Manchester Orchestra. Jay Leno: Jimmy Fallon, Chris Matthews, Zac Brown Band. Jimmy Kimmel: Dominic Monaghan, J.J. Abrams, Bang Camaro. Jimmy Fallon: Glenn Close, Kristen Wiig, Gomez (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Kenneth Branagh, Antony and the Johnsons. Carson Daly: Jack and Kelly Osbourne, Ben Harper & Relentless 7 (rerun). Jon Stewart: Doris Kearns Goodwin. Stephen Colbert: David Kessler

american idol top 4

America already had voted him from the competition, so it was no huge surprise Matt Giraud was the latest to fall on American Idol. The real surprise, without question, is how Adam Lambert landed in the bottom three.

A definite favorite to make it to the finals, Adam somehow landed in the dreaded bottom three of the group. Before you get too carried away, let’s do the math.

With five contestants left, three being in the bottom three … well, odds aren’t that stacked against such a scenario. And, considering many people have pegged Adam to go the distance, some people may be power voting to try and save their “other favorite” contestants.

Not to make excuses for Adam. We all saw how being in the bottom — and getting voted off, really — saved Matt for a couple of extra weeks. No matter what happens to Adam in the coming few weeks, he will be the most successful Idol finalist from this season. It’s not even a question.
I also think Matt will be OK. Even if he returns to his dueling piano gig in Michigan, he’ll be much more of a successful artist than he stood a chance of being without this show.
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natalie cole

One more Idol will bid us farewell tonight, but only after we see performances from Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks, Natalie Cole and Rat-Pack mentor Jamie Foxx.

Hey Idol fans! Hope you enjoyed last night's show as much as I did! Just a heads up, I'll be on vacation next week, but the dynamic duo of Mickey O'Connor and Adam Bryant will be filling in for me. I had to bribe them with the promise of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts from my Hawaiian getaway, but they finally agreed to do it (high maintenance!).

After a cool black and white, slow-mo Ford music video, the Top 5 launch into "I've Got Rhythm," and they're not lip-synching! It's fast and crazy — but enjoyable nonetheless.

The behind-the-scenes video of the week features the five hopefuls baking birthday cakes. I use the term baking very loosely. It's basically a massive cake and frosting fight, and the kitchen is completely destroyed when they're done. It's cute and a lot of fun, but part of me can only think about the poor folks who have to clean up that place.

You know it's not the Idols. Ryan asks the group who was responsible for starting the mess, and Allison blames Danny right away. Seacrest hands him an envelope containing a bill for $6,000 for the maid service that had to clean up the mess. Danny rightly says, "You don't think American Idol can pay for this, with all the money they make?" Ha!

Results — Part OneRyan asks Matt and Kris to stand on one side of the stage, and Allison and Danny to stand on the other. Ryan then asks Adam which group he thinks he belongs in, and the poor guy winces. Wouldn't you? I hate when they pull this crap; it's so awkward. Adam says that based on last night, he'll stand with Allison and Danny.

But no sooner does he make the trip, Seacrest pulls him over to Matt and Kris and tells him he's in the bottom three. I'm honestly shocked! I'm also shocked that Allison and Danny are safe automatically, and judging by her jaw dragging on the floor, so is Allison. But, can we talk about Adam Lambert? I thought that dude was untouchable, and I'm glad to see that he's got competition. Woo to the hoo! Can I also say a giant "ha!" to Simon? America didn't listen to him about Allison.

Natalie Cole PerformsNatalie sings "Something's Gotta Give" and looks fantastic! Yes, she's very thin, but I gather her weight's due to her struggle with Hepatitis C. Clearly, it's not stopping her from performing (or touring this summer), so bravo! Her performance is jazzy, although the end is a little sharp. But the audience and the judges all give her a standing ovation... because she's Natalie Cole.

Taylor Hicks PerformsTaylor Hicks (he's skinny, too!) is back in all his Soul Patrol glory to perform his single "Seven Mile Breakdown." It sounds exactly like every other Taylor Hicks song, which is not a bad thing. It's just his funky, bluesy, down-home kind of style. Has anyone been following Taylor's career? Seen his shows? I'm so curious. If you have, dish it up in the comments section below.Results — Part TwoI feel like it's my birthday, or Christmas has come early: Kris is sent back to safety! Kris and Allison are safe! Me and my unborn baby girl are doing a happy dance right now. She seems to kick a lot during this show... could it be her love of music? Or her disdain for Simon? Only time will tell.Jamie Foxx PerformsWhile I'll give him props for his being a decent mentor, I cannot stand his hit, "Blame It." I might have accidentally fast-forwarded through it.

Hee hee. After the song, Jamie tells Ryan that these are some of the most talented artists he's seen in the last ten years and hopes the audience continues to support them after they're off the show. Aw. Then he ruins it by plugging his movie.

Results — Part ThreeOf course, Adam is safe. Come on, you didn't think he was going home, did you? So, we say goodbye to Matt Giraud. Though he had some shaky weeks, I think that if he sticks with his jazzy, R&B-Justin Timberlake thing, he could go far. Good luck, Matt! (P.S. I love that he has tears in his eyes).

snollygoster

If you’ve ever played with Google Trends, you might have noticed that it’s either being gamed, or people are losing their minds…
Top 10 Search Terms Today:
1. hot richard

2. snollygoster

3. kim manners

4. gwen araujo

5. lmg gang

6. whiplash iron man

7. metastatic melanoma

8. pi facts

9. smart house

10. katie holmes hair

Snollygoster caught my eye… Related searches: nixie, nixie definition, naacp image award, klieg, crosse.

Snollygoster can be defined as followed a politician who is not interested in helping his voters but is instead driven.(No shortage of this).

O’Reilly or Dennis Miller probably used this term on the Factor.

fort worth isd

Fort Worth ISD shuts down all schools due to Swine Flu
FORT WORTH - Late Wednesday night, the Fort Worth Independent School District said it would be joining the Cleburne Independent School District in its decision to close all of their schools due to concerns over the swine flu threat.

Earlier in the day, the district announced it would close South Hills Elementary, McLean 6th Grade, W.P. McLean Middle School and Westcliff Elementary until May 11. FWISD is awaiting results from the CDC on four probable cases of swine flu.

The first student to become ill was at McLean Middle School, and is now reported to be in good condition.

The Tarrant County Health Department reported three other students, one from each of the other schools originally listed for closure, were likely to have the swine flu.

Richardson was the first district to take action after a student at Canyon Creek Elementary School was confirmed to have swine flu. Graham Cracker Express, a preschool in Richardson, announced later it too would close its doors until next Monday.

Wednesday, the Cleburne Independent School District announced it would close all its schools, and encouraged childcare centers to follow suit.

The Lewisville Independent School District closed Hebron Valley Elementary School in Carrollton because of three probable cases of the swine flu.

Now, the Golden Rule Charter School in Dallas and pre-kindergarten through second grade classes were canceled at the Universal Academy in Irving. I don't know if I'm supposed to be worried or sit back and enjoy the LOL. People are starting to freak the fuck out over this shit.

taylor hicks

First, our congradulations goes to those who made it to American Idol top 4 list this evening. Few very interesting things happened during the American Idol April 29, 2009. American Idol season 5 winner Taylor Hicks returned to the idol stage to sing his latest single “Seven Mile Breakdown.”

Adam is in the bottom 3 of Idol This Week on April 29. This was the evening when American Idol when from top 5 to top 4.

Napping at Red Lights reports on this evening's American Idol results.
The biggest shock of the night as American Idol dwindled its numbers to four was not who got sent home, but who was in the Bottom 3. At this point, at least one person had to grace the stools for the first time, but this week we got two newbies.

The jeopardy seats went to Matt Giraud, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert this week after 47 million votes were received, the highest of the season.
I wasn’t surprised to see Kris there. Not because of his performance (I loved it), but because he performed first on Tuesday. Luckily, Kris was declared safe first.

However, I was a bit shocked - and apparently so were his fellow competitors - to find Adam in the Bottom Three. In all honesty I was mostly surprised that Idol went with three on the bottom tier with only five competitors.

Sure Adam is popular and a favorite among the judges. But he also has a large contingent who doesn’t like him. And I think that now that we’ve gotten down to the Final 5, those that don’t like Adam will vote for anyone but him.

In the end though, it was Matt who was sent home, as expected. It was only two weeks ago, Matt was in this same spot and was spared by the judge’s save. I don’t think anyone expected him to win after that, but at least we got to hear him perform a couple more times.

Aside from the results, the Idol stage was busy tonight with three guest performers. But first the Top 5 took on a medley of “I Don’t Mean a Thing” and “I Got Rhythm” for the opening number.
Next up was Natalie Cole. Now she would have made a great mentor for the Rat Pack week. And I enjoyed her performance of “Something’s Gotta Give” from her album Still Unforgettable. My husband seems to think it was a remake, but I couldn’t find out who originally sang it.

Then Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks returned to the Idol stage to sing his latest single “Seven Mile Breakdown” from his album “The Distance.” I wonder why the Idol producers keep bringing back the former Idols. Is it strictly a contractual obligation or are they trying to get them more face time in front of the public? I can’t imagine it’s really because of demand (well with a few exceptions).

And finally, guest mentor Jamie Fox performed “Blame It.” This song was so far away from this week’s theme that I am again wondering why Jamie was a mentor for Rat Pack week. I was really in the mood for more big band tunes and instead I got a plug for Jamie’s album and his movie.

taylor hicks

Taylor Hicks is back performing on "American Idol." More than any other winner he was a creature of the show. His Soul Patrol sprung up seemingly overnight, he did really well on the show's format, won - -and since then....

I liked him when he was on "Idol"; a great guy, someone who had a lot of fun and who seemed to enjoy all the silliness that comes with competing on "American Idol" (doing hokey commercials, bantering with Ryan, dressing up).

But I think the show has grown to the point where he wouldn't crack the current top five. He gives the finalists great advice, though -- it's all about song choice at this point ...

Would Taylor Hicks have a chance of winning if he were competing this year? What's your favorite Taylor "Idol" memory? Tell us your thoughts in the comments, below.

-Relive ""American Idol" Season 5! Photos of Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Kellie Pickler, Elliott Yamin, Chris Daughtry, Paris Bennett, Kevin Covais, Bucky Covington at the finale party
1) Click here for photos of all of the "American Idol" finalists performing
2) Vote in our poll for your favorite finalist
3) See photos from inside the after-party for the 13 "American Idol" finalists

valerie robinson

Sinn Fein has drafted legislation aimed at saving the buildings where leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising staged their final stand.

Moore Street in Dublin city centre is part of a redevelopment plan worth €1.25 billion (£1.1 billion) that would see the old Carlton cinema site and surrounding area changed into office, residential and retail outlets.

Campaigners have said the plan would have a devastating impact on 16 Moore Street and adjacent buildings used as the final headquarters of the provisional government after rebel leaders fled the General Post Office during the Easter Rising.

Yesterday Dublin South Central Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh launched the Local Government (Planning and Development) (Amendment) Bill 2009 which is designed to safeguard the buildings.

“The significance of 16 Moore Street and its surrounding buildings in Irish historical terms cannot be underestimated,” he said.

“It would be an absolute travesty if these buildings were to be demolished as part of the plans to develop this quarter.

“In most other countries the destruction of such a site would be unthinkable yet we are faced with a very grave threat to this site despite it being named as a national monument.

“Sinn Fein has proposed the development of a historical and cultural quarter at this site to be associated with the 1916 Rising and linked to the GPO on O’Connell Street.”

Sinn Fein has no Dail slot to table a private member’s bill so it is calling on opposition parties to share their time to put forward its bill.

The Republic’s planning authority, An Bord Pleanala, has been holding hearings on the development plan.

The board heard this week that the proposed measures could have an adverse impact on many protected structures in the area.

The developer, Chartered Land, said the plan would make a “positive” contribution to the city.

league of extraordinary gentlemen

In The Black Dossier, Moore borrows liberally from Shakespeare, Lovecraft, and Orwell, among others. The book's departure from the traditional comic book format in favour of more heavily text-based, multi-genre dabbling may alienate visually oriented action junkies and lazy assholes, but patient readers and literature geeks will find much to love here.

I'd compare TBD's scope and its relative lack of accessibility to Tolkien's Silmarillion, another odd and excellent book reviled by fanboys the world over. Especially cool are the Golliwog character's translation of moral gravity into actual physical gravity and the migraine-inducing and very trippy 3D section of the book.

sophomore clothing

Western Elegance hits runway Friday
Fashion show to benefit Hope Scholarship Fund

STERLING, Colo. — This Friday will not be an ordinary day on campus for a number of students who have agreed to be models in the Western Elegance fashion show.

By the time the day is over, these learners will have been fitted, groomed, coached and showcased on the runway. The show is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. May 1 in the Tennant Art Gallery in Hays Student Center.

The fashion show, which is a prelude to the upcoming Western Elegance Hope Scholarship Gala, is designed to give spectators a taste of what kind of attire they might see later in the month. It is a fundraiser for the NJC Foundation, with all proceeds going to the Hope Scholarship fund.

Clothing and accessories to be showcased include items from the Serenity and Beau Monde boutiques located here in Sterling and from CM Accessories of Merino. You can expect to see the latest in Western cut tux combos, shirts, jeans, boots, purses, jewelry and belts galore, combined with some dazzling dresses, skirts and jackets, all appropriate wear for the upcoming gala on May 30. Both local boutiques are quick to point out that they have clothing in all sizes available locally in time for the upcoming gala.

The tuxes may be rented for the event, or can be purchased if desired. Serenity will be providing its own models at the fashion show; Beau Monde items will be modeled by students. The NJC cosmetology program students will be providing hair designs for the show.

As a special treat, some students will be modeling a number of items from Janelle Designs of Fort Collins. Janelle Baldwin has emerged as one of the most popular rodeo queen clothing designers around today. Her creations have been showcased at the Miss Rodeo America competition in Las Vegas for the last seven years. Her one-of-a-kind leather gowns and fancy arena attire, embellished with exquisite crystals and fringe among other pretties, are now being worn by state queens all over the country.

She designs a Miss Rodeo America jacket for the chosen queen each year and has designed a number of ‘theme’ jackets for state queens. Most recently, she completed a beautiful red, white and blue jacket for the current Miss Rodeo Minnesota which features a U.S. Marines military theme.

Baldwin’s booming cottage industry — she makes all of the clothing in a sewing room located in her home — has strong ties to NJC. She first began designing the queen clothing in 2001 when her niece, Addie Knowlton, who was a student here at the time, was vying for and was named Miss Rodeo Colorado 2002. Addie went on to be named the second runner-up at the national pageant in 2003. Addie was a student leader on campus at NJC, serving as the Associated Student Government secretary her sophomore year.

Three years later, Addie’s sister, Tressie Knowlton, who attended NJC from 2002-2003, was named Miss Rodeo Colorado 2005 and went on to capture the Miss Rodeo America 2006 title. Tressie won the coveted Miss Appearance title at that pageant. Baldwin made nearly all of the clothing she wore during her reign as the state queen and also did much of her wardrobe when she wore the national crown.

The clothing from Janelle will include some items she has actually made for various queens, but which have been returned to her personal collection for resale or exhibit.
In addition to some fabulous and fun clothing, the fashion show will include great music, door prizes and a full array of heavy hors d’oeurves and theme appropriate drinks following the show. Cost is $25 per person. Tickets should be purchased in advance and may be found at Wells Fargo Bank, Bank of Colorado (main bank), beau monde, Serenity or the NJC Bookstore. Only a limited number of tickets are sold due to space limitations. Vendors will be set up after the fashion show for some purchases to be made right on the spot.

dancing with the stars melissa

Eight weeks in and Dancing With the Stars is down to five...Wait, that can't be right!

Unfortunately, only five performed tonight because late-preseason addition Melissa Rycroft of Bachelor and now ballroom fame had to sit out Monday—which also featured the first team dance—after hurting herself during practice.

The show started off tonight with a rueful-looking Tony Dovolani making an entrance sans partner, and we later found out that Rycroft went to the hospital today after being bothered all week by what turned out to be a hairline rib fracture.

"I felt a blinding pain shoot down my side," Melissa said.

"She received treatment today for her ribs, and there were complications," a show rep told E! News. "She's resting, and we expect her back here tomorrow."

As they did with Steve-O early on, the judges based their disappointed-sounding critiques on Melissa and Tony's final taped rehearsal, which looked right out of Dirty Dancing—black pants and sleeveless undershirt for Tony, rolled up jeans and a black sports bra for Melissa as they ran through the motions of a jive that looked as if it would have been pretty awesome live, with all the fixin's.

Unfortunately, they only got a 21 for their dry-run-caliber efforts.

Here's how the rest of the group shaped up:

Gilles Marini: With the help of a cortisone shot to the shoulder, Gilles was able to toss Cheryl Burke over his shoulder with relative ease during their Lindy Hop, which was chock-full of traditional swingy steps—that the Frenchman pulled off most impressively. He seemed to spend a little too much time running around sans Cheryl, but apparently the judges didn't mind. "I made a list of the things that the French are famous for—French toast, french fries and French kissing," began Len Goodman. And from today, you can put Lindy Hop on that list."Score: 27. Still not back in that stellar place yet.

tu4ar

1UP's Game Night: Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram and Marvel vs. Capcom 2 Time: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 5 p.m. PST Location: Watch the embedded video player here in this story. Questions: Ask your question in the Game Night thread.

"We're bringing it back to the old school," says executive producer Garnett Lee, talking about this week's Game Night, starring Virtual-On: Oratorio Tangram and Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Both games appeared in the arcades in the late 90s, supported by a large community that continues to play them competitively. Virtual-On, developer AM 2's mech-battle game, comes out this Wednesday on Xbox Live, though Virtual-On purists may feel slightly uncomfortable playing without the game's signature Twin-Stick controller.

In addition to battling giant robots, we'll play Capcom's popular crossover-fighter, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, with a few members of Shoryuken.com, a popular community devoted to fighting games. Capcom teased Marvel vs. Capcom 2's announcement with a cryptic website named tu4ar.com, but if you've played Marvel, and listened to its ridiculously catchy -- and odd -- character select song, you'll uncover the acronym ("...take you for a ride!). Watch this video, backed by Yikes' hilarious commentary, for just a sample of Marvel vs. Capcom's 2 insane gameplay

broken cowboy

motorcycle. Instead of pews, chairs are gathered café style around tables, while parishioners chug bottled water and nibble on snacks.
And the collection plate? A Baby Moon hubcap.

Welcome to Broken Chains Freedom Church on Jacksboro Highway, where a gritty past or an arm full of tattoos aren’t obstacles to the Christian life.

Leading the flock is Roy Boswell, a man who splits his time between a job as sales manager of Four Stars Motors in Henrietta and pastor of the new biker church.

“It may be an untraditional atmosphere, but the constant is God’s word,” he said.
The come-as-you-are church held its first services April 10 with a standing-room-only crowd. Since then, services average about 70 people.

“We’re here to knock down walls,” Boswell said. “People want to worship, but they put up invisible walls that prevent them from coming to church like a fancy building, a denomination’s name on the sign and appropriate clothing.”

Pastor Roy Boutwell addresses the congregation during the inaugural service of the Broken Chains Freedom Church.

One visitor looked at the pastor and couldn’t believe he didn’t have to wear a tie to church.
“I told him if he did wear a tie, it would most likely get cut off and nailed to the wall,” Boswell said with a laugh.

Broken Chains hails itself as a “biker church,” but welcomes everyone, whether they drive a Harley or a Honda. Anyone of any faith has an invitation to join.
“We don’t want to limit our attendance to just bikers,” Boswell said. “One of the first couples to join was in their 70s.”

During the inaugural service, Boswell counted 58 cars and 37 motorcycles in the parking lot.
“It’s more about reaching the unchurched and lost,” he said. “We don’t care what you drive, how you dress, where you work, if your hair is a different color or how many tattoos you have. All we care about is where your heart is and where you’re going to spend eternity.”

The nonthreatening atmosphere draws all kinds of people from all walks of life. Many have done hard time, and Boswell said their testimonies would tear your heart out.
“The people I’ve met with the biggest hearts are those people you wouldn’t let in your front door,” he said.

dateline.msnbc.com

You Might Be Rich” is a Dateline NBC segment where that first aired last August, helping return almost $2 million lost dollars to average Americans. In the new rendition of the segment NBC News reporter Tiki Barber and his team, which includes NBC News’ Peter Alexander, and MSNBC’s Tamron Hall, find unclaimed property that is waiting in the state treasuries to be returned to the rightful owners.

Almost $5 million was returned to over a dozen individuals by Barber and his team. In one particular case a former Pennsylvanian, who moved to Germany, was tracked down by the NBC news team, and given over a half a million dollars from an inheritance he was unaware he ever had. The story gets even better; when Dateline finally tracked him down they discovered he was homeless.

Another man had a million dollars that was waiting to be collected in the Illinois State Treasury, according to dateline.msnbc.com. You Might Be Rich, will air in two, hour specials Sunday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m. ET, and Sunday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m. ET.

The May 3 show will take place live from outside Rockefeller Center, surprising one family that is completely unaware that they are entitled to unclaimed money.

you might be rich

You might be rich, a segment that airs Sundays on MSNBC in the U.S, says there could be money sitting around in State coffers that’s yours and you don’t even know it.

On Sunday night Dateline MSNBC aired an episode of You might be rich where they discovered a man was owed $1,046,000 when he only expected to recover about $50,000 doing his own research. In fact, the show has put up a website where you can go and enter your details and find out for yourself if the government owes you money.

dean martin roasts

The New York Times is most definitely a committed left-wing concern that is openly contemptuous of the conservative, traditional point-of-view. That is the primary reason the paper may soon dissolve.

The nation's largest left-wing newspaper and the bible for network news producers and bookers may be going under. This week, the New York Times announced more staggering losses: nearly $75 million dollars in the first quarter alone.

The New York Post is reporting the Times Company owes more than one billion dollars and has just $34 million in the bank. A few months ago, the company actually borrowed $225 million from a Mexican billionaire, Carlos Slim, at a reported 14% interest. With things going south fast, pardon the pun, Mr. Slim might want to put in a call to Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr.
The spin from Sulzberger is that the Internet is strangling the newspaper industry, and there is some truth to that.

Why read an ideologically crazed paper when you can acquire a variety of information on your PC? But other papers are not suffering nearly as much as the Times, so there must be more to this.

We'll take a walk down memory lane and talk to Deana Martin about her dad and the legendary Dean Martin Roasts...

Newsweek editor Jon Meacham just won a Pulitzer prize for his new book about Andrew Jackson--he'll enter the No Spin Zone...

Juliet Huddy of the Mike and Juliet Morning Show will face off against Steve Doocy in a special edition of the Great American Culture Quiz...

Mark Fields, the president of the Ford Motor Company, will talk to Bill about the American car industry and the ongoing economic crisis...

The Factor will be LIVE on Wednesday, April 29 at 9 PM Eastern following President Obama's address...

jay leno in hospital

BURBANK, Calif. -- After missing his first day of work on "The Tonight Show" in 17 years due to illness and spending the night in the hospital, Jay Leno has now been released, Access Hollywood has confirmed.

"We [are] happy to say that Jay Leno is feeling much better and has been released from the hospital," a rep for NBC told Access. "He's anxious to return to work on Monday."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: The Latest Star Sightings

And while he will return to the air on Monday, Leno didn't waste any time returning to the set.
He was spotted back at work on Friday afternoon, where he came in to write a few jokes.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Photo Fun With Hollywood's Hottest Comedians!
"He looked great," a source said.

A source had previously confirmed to Access that Leno stayed overnight at St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank for precautionary measures, after the comedian was admitted Thursday afternoon for what was rumored to be food poisoning.

Leno was released from the hospital around 1 PM on Friday.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Jay Leno
AccessHollywood.com broke the news on Thursday of Leno's illness, which caused the taping of Thursday and Friday's shows to be canceled. At the time, a spokesperson for "The Tonight Show" said the host was "not feeling well."

Once at the hospital, which is right across the street from the NBC studios, Leno appeared to be in good spirits.

"He was kidding around with the hospital staff and running his monologue jokes by the doctors and nurses," the spokesperson added.

NBC aired a re-run on Thursday night and will do so again on Friday in Leno's absence.
Among the guests slated to appear for Leno's return on Monday are actor Eric Bana and award-winning baker Marjorie Johnson.

jan michael vincent

Submissions for the Education Calendar must be received by The Bulletin at least three days before an event to ensure they are included in the daily listing. To submit information or photos for the Education Calendar, e-mail schools@norwichbulletin.com.Bozrah
Fields Memorial School, 8 Bozrah St. Ext., (860) 887-2561:The next preschool screening is Friday for Bozrah residents ages 3 and 4. If you have a child in this age range, call (860) 887-2561 to schedule an appointment for your child. Screening appointments will be scheduled beginning at 9 a.m.Colchester
William J. Johnston Middle School, 360 Norwich Ave., 537-2313: The annual Literacy Luau and Art Show will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. Student artwork will be on display. Literacy activities include local/student author sharing of excerpts of their work, bake sale, book fair, games, crafts, a free book swap and more.Lebanon
Lebanon Elementary School
The second annual fun run to benefit Bailey’s Garden will kick off at 1:30 p.m. May 3. Baileys Garden is an ADA compliant playground being built in memory of the Shifrins’ daughter Bailey who died in 2004. Bailey was born with Edwards Syndrome and was not expected to survive birth. For information, call (860) 642-4452, or visit www.baileysgarden.org.Montville
St. Bernard School, 1593 Norwich New London Turnpike, Uncasville, (860) 848-1271, www.saint-bernard.com:Cocktails and Connections, a casual social event to meet, mingle and make friends will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Lake of Isles Golf Course at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Refreshments and a cash bar will be available.

To RSVP, call the Advancement Office at (860) 848-1271, Ext. 139, or e-mail advancement2@saint-bernard.com.The 37th annual art exhibit and awards kicks off with a viewing and reception from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, followed by an award ceremony for newly inducted National Art Honor Society students from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.An art information session will be held at 7 p.m.

Tuesday in the Bishop D. P. Reilly Fine Arts Center, for parents, students and friends to learn more about the Visual Arts Department.The draw-a-thon will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 16. The winner of the best pencil drawing will receive a $1,000 scholarship toward tuition. Other scholarship prizes include $100, $150 and $500. Norwich

Sacred Heart School, 15 Hunters Ave., Taftville, (860) 887-1757, www.sacredhearttaftville.org:Kindergarten screening will take place May 4 and May 5. To schedule an appointment, call (860) 887-1757.A band concert will be held at 7 p.m. May 12.The musical “Ever After” will be performed at 7 p.m. May 29. A school social will be held from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. May 30.Three Rivers Community College, 574 New London Turnpike, (860) 886-0177:The sixth annual Empty Bowls Project will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday in the cafeteria. All proceeds benefit St. Vincent de Paul Place’s soup kitchen and food pantry.

Cost is $5. Children younger than 3 eat for free. For information, call (860) 823-4256. Plainfield
Plainfield High School, 105 Putnam Road, (860) 564-6422:Plainfield High School Drama presents the musical “Grease” at 7 p.m. May 14 and 15 and at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. May 16 in the Plainfield High School auditorium. General admission is $8 and $5 for students and seniors. For ticket information and ordering, call (860) 564-6422, Ext. 3103.Pomfret

Pomfret School, 398 Pomfret St., (860) 963-6100:The Empty Bowls dinner will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Pomfret School dining hall and common room. Guests may select a handmade bowl, created by either Pomfret School students and faculty under the direction of ceramics teacher Kathi Yokum or donated from Sawmill Pottery in Putnam, and will eat a simple meal of soup and bread.

Tickets are $12 and proceeds will be donated to Friends of Assisi Food Pantry in Danielson and the Daily Bread Food Pantry in Putnam.The Fantasticks will be held at 7 p.m. May 8 and at 4 p.m. May 10 in the Hard auditorium. The chamber musical is the longest running musical in history. Free and open to the public. Preston

Preston Veterans Memorial School, 325 Route 165, (860) 887-3113:Kindergarten registration for the 2009-10 school year will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday and from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday. To be eligible, a child must be 5 years old on or before Jan. 1, 2010. For information, call (860) 887-3113.Putnam

Putnam High School, 152 Woodstock Ave., (860) 963-6905:The class of 2009 Project Graduation Committee will host a spaghetti dinner and car raffle today at the Putnam Elks Hall. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. Takeout is available. Dinner tickets is $8 for adults, or $5 for senior citizens/children younger than 12. The raffle for a 2009 Ford Focus, 42-inch Panasonic plasma TV or $100 gas card will be held at 8 p.m. Car raffle tickets are $20 each. Tickets are available at the high school main office, or by calling Sue Gilman at (860) 455-6162.A bottle/can drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 2 in the Rotary Club parking lot. Salem

Salem Elementary School, 200 Hartford Road, (860) 859-0267:The preschool lottery for the 2009-10 school year will be held May 29. Students must be 3 years old by Sept. 1 and cannot reach age 5 on or before Jan. 10, 2010. The preschool program is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays. Tuition and transportation for regular education students will be the responsibility of the parent. For information, call (860) 859-3988 by May 22. Kindergarten orientation will be held at 6 p.m. April 30 in the Salem Elementary School Library. Sprague

Academy of the Holy Family, 54 W. Main St., Baltic, (860) 822-9272:The Academy of the Holy Family will present a spring concert and art show at 7 p.m. today at St. Michael Center. The program will feature art from the art department, and music by the Academy Glee Club and the Alumnae Chorus. Admission is $3.WoodstockWoodstock Academy, 57 Academy Road, (860) 928-6575:The Freshman FOCUS Scholar dinner honoring freshmen students who maintained honor roll status for three consecutive marking periods will be held at 5 p.m. May 3 in the Academy Dining Commons. Scholarships

The Pomfret Recreation Department is offering an annual scholarship based on community service with the town. The $500 scholarship will be awarded in June. Residents of Pomfret who are high school seniors or college undergraduates may apply. The application is available at www.pomfret.org. Deadline is May 8. The American Legion Post 67 in North Grosvenordale is accepting applications for the Carl Eccleston Memorial, Oscar Swanson Memorial, Sal Navarro Memorial and the Durante Cabral Military scholarships. Applications may be picked up at the high school guidance office and submitted no later than May 29. Completed applications for a Killingly Board of Education scholarship must be received by May 8.

The scholarship for the 2009-10 school year is available for seniors and graduates of Killingly High School. Winners will be chosen based on need and potential for success. Applications are available at the Office of the Superintendent of Schools at 369 Main St., Danielson. The Laura Pike Rowe Scholarship will be awarded to a graduate of Killingly High School or the H.H. Ellis Vocational Technical School who plans to major in agronomy with an emphasis on floriculture, horticulture or forestry. Applications can be picked up at the Office of the Superintendent of Schools at 369 Main St., Danielson.The Connecticut Sun Foundation is offering applications for the Third Annual Bright Horizons Scholarship.

The $10,000 scholarship, which will be distributed in $2,500 increments annually, will be awarded to one graduating Connecticut high school senior who will attend an accredited four-year college or university in the state of Connecticut. Applicants must meet a variety of criteria, including a demonstrated financial need and a minimum 1300 score on the SAT or 28 on the ACT. Applications can be downloaded from the Sun Web site at www.connecticutsun.com.

chelsea stone

Henry Ian Cusick, who plays Desmond on the show Lost, is being sued by former ABC employee, Chelsea Stone for sexual harassment. Check out video and pictures here.

Henry Ian Cusick, who is best known for his role as Desmond Hume on the show Lost, has had a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him by former ABC employee Chelsea Stone. She claims that while she was still working on the show, Cusick touched her buttocks and rubbed her back while moaning. She also says that he
“Placed his face on top of her breasts, moving his face from side to side.”
That was before he allegedly fondled her breasts with his hands.

Stone says that she reported the incident to her supervisor, but was told to just stay clear of the actor. An ABC employee since 1997, the lawsuit reveals that approximately twelve days after the alleged incident, Chelsea Stone Lost her job. Also named in the suit, as defendants, are ABC and Grass Skirt Productions.

Stone is seeking unspecified reparations. Cusick’s manager has declined to make a comment on the situation.

hatching pete

Hatching Pete with Jose Lopez and Michael Musso premieres tonight. Jason Dolley leads the large cast in the Disney Channel original movie (7:30 pm ET / PT).

Hatching Pete is the story about what happens when the school’s mascot grows ill and has to be replaced by a shy teen played by Dolley.

It’s the transformation that the teen experiences that wins over the team, and the town, driving a great movie storyline.
Cast Includes:
Jason Dolley … PeteMitchel Musso … Cleatis PooleNicole Dault … Brewster High CheerleaderTennay Evans … Lions CoachAmy Farrington … Doris IveyLarry Filion … Chicken body doubleDarren Fromal … Assistant CoachSean Klindt … Lion MascotAramis Knight … Wendell PateToiya Leatherwood … Brewster High StudentJosie Lopez … AngelaChristopher Robin Miller … Hondo HS JanitorBen Naccarato … Lions CenterMary Alice Nelson … Brewster High StudentSeth Packard … Drum majorMadison Riley … CamieBrian Stepanek … CoachTiffany Thornton … JamieRachel Woodward … Susie
Catch it on tv tonight!

swine flu symptoms

AP) — HONOLULU (AP) ? The state is keeping doctors informed about an unusual strain of swine flu that has killed dozens of people in Mexico.

Department of Health spokeswoman Janice Okubo says the state has asked island doctors to send virus specimens from patients showing flu symptoms to the state laboratory for testing.
No case of the swine flu has been reported in Hawaii.

The outbreak caused alarm in Mexico, where more than 1,000 people have been sickened. At least eight people in Texas and California have caught the virus, though there have been no deaths in the U.S.
Okubo says department staff joined a conference call on the virus that the Atlanta-based Center for Disease Control and Prevention organized for the states.
She says the state wants to make sure it's prepared as the situation unfolds

four brothers

Zulu Warrior 2. Sama Kama Wacky Brown 3. Damsels Lament I Will Never Marry 4. Yellow Bird 5. Angelique-O 6. Superman 7. East Virginia 8. Greenfields 9. Darlin', Won't You Wait 10. Eddystone Light 11. Banua 12. Yellow Bird 13. Zulu Warrior 14. Well, Well, Well 15.

Sweet Rosyanne 16. St. James Infirmary 17. Riders in the Sky 18. When the Sun Goes Down 19. Green Leaves of Summer 20. Pretty Girl Is Like a Little Bird 21. My Little John Henry (Got a Mighty Know) 22. Beautiful Brown Eyes 23. Old Settler's Song 24. With You Fair Maid

foppish

I have done very little this vacation, aside from watching an ungodly number of Buffy/Angel episodes, and writing and ungodly number of (short-ish) chapters for the New!Snape!fic. I've already told this to Echo and Stella, but this is in no way taking over the Life's Work- instead, it's a simple, straightforward, short vacation from it. Also, it's very different.

Instead of a ship with an OC, it's a father/daughter sort of thing, which is cute. (In addition to that, it's a bit AU, with young!Snape apparently being friends with a Hufflepuff, as well as not living at Spinner's End, and being only a bit nicer.)

I had faced the wrath of the Dark Lord, the jealousy of Bellatrix Lestrange, the ferocity of Fenrir Greyback… But those things were nothing compared to the mortification I suffered at the hands of a particular pureblood whom I could only describe as ‘foppish’. Also, ‘spastic’ might have been fitting.

Seven hours. Seven hours. I swore to myself that I would somehow escape by nine, but instead, he kept me there until nearly two in the morning! Oh, Merlin, and I was so close to escaping. Apparently he had invited near every person in the Wizarding World with blood pure enough, and after a formal gathering that I was not wholly and wretchedly opposed too… Well, he sent them home at about ten-ish, and I tried to leave with them… But lo-and-behold, they were only warm-up.
He…
Well, he “busted out the good stuff,” if I may quote, and once he was sure that his wife had gone to bed- about midnight- he opened the doors to… To… Apparently he hired a troupe called the ‘Wicked Witches,’ who… For Merlin’s sake, of all the things he could have done, he had to hire skantily-clad, dancing ladies!

Needless to say, I ran for it, and spent that particular portion of the evening reading by the dim light of one of the many linen closets lining the servant’s quarters. I did not consider myself a coward in the slightest.

To be honest, I was rather surprised that I did not reemerge to find Lucius sitting in a chair, trousers on his head, wand stuffed into one ear like a giant baboon… But apparently Avery and Mulciber had been busy as well, as they too were giggling over some terrible overly-alcoholic beverage or another.

In regards to that, I had had only a glass of wine with the light dinner, and then a scotch later to drown my sorrows in, but I was quite sure that Lucius had downed more alcohol than I did in a month- by eleven o’clock! (And speaking of drowning, I remember one particular point where I wondered if they had taken away the punch yet, and how much of it would have to be left exactly for it to be of an ideal drowning depth.)

It was unfortunate in itself that they were just barely sober enough to prevent me from leaving just yet, but then they put their arms around my shoulders, and laughed obnoxiously, and sang old Wizarding tunes at the top of their lungs and in tones most disagreeable even to dogs…

By the time Yaxley dropped like a rock, I was half-way out the door. And so, I gratefully returned to my dark, quiet, perfectly non-alcoholic and stripper-free home (well, at least it was slightly less alcoholic.) In other news, Mum was badgering Andrew to get in the shower, and without any prompting from me said, "Your hair is greasy! Even Snape would look at your hair and say, 'Eew, take a shower!'" Needless to say, Iaughed hysterically at the thought.

the phone

As more people look hard for ways to cut their cellphone bills, no-contract plans are emerging as a tempting option.

Cellphone providers are rolling out a slew of new no-contract plans -- in which users pay for service in advance instead of after they use their minutes. T-Mobile USA last year began offering a range of "flexpay" plans that allow users to buy monthly service without a credit check or contract. In January, Boost Mobile, a unit of Sprint Corp., introduced a no-contract plan offering unlimited talking, texting and Web use for $50 a month, and Virgin Mobile USA followed last week with a $49.99-a-month unlimited calling plan.

To boost awareness of no-contract, or "prepaid" plans, the industry has marketed them heavily. Consumer advocates, including Consumer Reports, have encouraged phone users to take a look at the no-contract option.

However, consumers should be aware that such plans are not for everyone. Indeed, the people most likely to benefit are individuals who use their cellphones less than 200 minutes a month or more than about 600 minutes.

Of course, no-contract plans free consumers from many of traditional plans' most infuriating fees, such as those for activation and termination.

But the plans have their own costs. You'll probably pay more for the phone, for instance, and some prepaid services may add roaming fees when you leave their service areas. T-Mobile's monthly plans require you to pay with a debit or credit card or accept an extra $5-a-month fee.

And if you exceed your monthly minutes, you'll have to buy more to continue your service.
Other pay-as-you-go plans may require you to pay $1 or more each day you use the phone, and the bundles of minutes may expire in 30 or 90 days unless you buy more, even if you haven't used up what you have.

The various contract and no-contract plans are so complex that comparing them is difficult. Peter Pham, chief executive of Web site Bill which helps consumers find the best deals, says his service crunches through 10 million potential combinations.

So how do you find the best deal? Here are some suggestions:
Start by considering the quality of the services in your area. Even a cheap rate is useless if the reception stinks. Poll friends, neighbors and co-workers about how well their phones work.
Next, look at several months of bills and estimate how many minutes you need. You'll need that to compare no-contract plans.

Break that down to show weekday minutes, night and weekend minutes and how much talk is with people using the same provider, so you can compare contract plans and see if you're paying for too many minutes. For two phones or more, family contract plans can be quite efficient; they might even make sense for roommates or friends.

Contract plans tend to start at 300 to 450 minutes a month, and if you use between about 200 and 450 minutes a month, you'll spend less on a contract plan than on a pay-as-you-go plan. Heavy users may want to consider an unlimited prepaid plan if the cost of their contract plan passes $50 a month.

Be honest about your phone fashion needs. Contract plans tend to offer the latest phones at the lowest prices, so it's easier to upgrade. Plans without contracts tend to have less selection and higher phone price.

Just about every plan has additional costs. Taxes, surcharges and other fees can vary widely, sometimes adding more than 20% to your bill, so ask each provider to estimate what those charges will be. Also, calculate whether it's cheaper to order text messages or data in bundles or to get them à la carte.

billoreilly.com

Authorities estimate about 4,000 loons are roaming around London right now. Some of them trying to cause trouble as President Obama and other world leaders are trying to right the economy.
These protesters hate the world economy and just about everything else. Many of them are angry misfits, who derive pleasure from destroying stuff. Luckily, nobody has been seriously hurt thus far, but property has been damaged, arrests been made and the London police are showing remarkable restraint in the face of provocation.

From what we've seen, there are basically three groups of loons: anti-capitalists who want universal communism; environmental extremists who have a litany of complaints; and anti-war folks who want to give peace a chance while bin Laden and his crew cut off people's heads.

Of course, these groups have been around for decades, but the Internet has given them a lot of power. They can now mobilize, organize, and provoke in worldwide cyberspace. That gives the loons a tactical advantage.

Now we're seeing this in America as well. Political pressure groups using the Net to damage their opponents by organizing and smearing and pressuring President Obama. President Obama should take a hard look outside his hotel window this evening at the crew in the street because they are becoming very dangerous.

Also, jihadists are now using the Net to organize violence and recruitment. The president should think about how to deal with the growing threat.

Today, Mr. Obama met with world leaders and the queen and other dignitaries -- mostly dog and pony show stuff. The two best sources of information we've seen on the summit are stratfor.com and globalpost.com. You can check both of those out on billoreilly.com.
You see, we use the Net to do good.

Talking Points remains uneasy, however, about the Obama administration's lack of urgency when it comes to terrorism and anarchy. Jettisoning the "War on Terror" phrase, closing Gitmo, considering the release of captured jihadists, all of that is dubious to say the least.

So maybe -- just maybe -- President Obama will see the future when he looks at the hoards rampaging around London. He better see something because sooner or later, he's going to have to deal with it.

if i can t have you

The Public Broadcasting Service turns 40 this year, and on Tuesday it gave itself a gift that just might make it feel young again. PBS' new video portal allows online viewers to stream an array of its best-known shows over the Web. The new site gathers more than 130 episodes of nearly 20 programs, including marquee fare such as "Frontline," "Nova" and "Masterpiece Theater." PBS says thousands of hours of programming should be available to users by the summer.

In giving its shows away online, PBS is joining on-demand video sites such as Hulu.com and YouTube -- places for younger consumers who aren't wedded to watching TV on a television. Those two sites, both commercial, have been touting themselves as advertiser-friendly viewing destinations where video surfers can go to browse among a variety of familiar titles. But on these sites, familiar can mean that you saw it decades earlier. Major media companies are still wary of posting their best material online, leaving YouTube and Hulu thin on the most popular shows but overgrown with cultural castoffs such as "The Lone Ranger," "Alf" and "Coolio's Rules."PBS' initial selection of about 20 programs is small compared with the pulpy catalogs maintained by the other sites, but full-length episodes of nearly every show in PBS' prime-time lineup have been put online.
In addition to acting as a clearinghouse for PBS content, the portal will function as the hub of a nationwide network of online affiliates, all of which can share programming through a single Web infrastructure, whose cost PBS would specify only as "in the seven figures." "I think this is really good of PBS," said Jackie Kain, senior vice president of new media at Los Angeles' KCET public television station.

"We're all trying to create a local identity as it relates to a national identity," she said, referring to the way each station will create a unique mixture of original and borrowed content. "We're all part of a system."When the video portal is extended to the first wave of local stations in May, Kain said, visitors to KECT will be able to watch its "SoCal Connected" and "Huell Howser" programs. PBS will sell limited advertising on its online videos to help recoup what it expects to be $500,000 to $1 million in annual bandwidth costs, depending on the audience it generates.To make money from those ads, the company will have to lure the kind of shaggy-haired demographic not always associated with PBS. Will putting its content online be enough to get new viewers to tune in?

"They probably do have people that are highly loyal to that network," said David Card, a media and marketing analyst at Forrester Research, suggesting that some PBS programs seem intended for a more discerning viewer. "That may not be such a great thing if you're going for a young audience."

hashima island

By Linda Stasi, TV Critic
"Life After People"
[****] (Four stars)
Tonight at 10 on History
WHAT if everyone disappeared?
OK, if that included my upstairs neighbors, it wouldn't be a total loss. But what if even they went the way of all flesh?
History's very compelling, bigbudget new series, "Life After People," which was spawned from a hugely successful 2008 special, will tell the story of what would happen to the Earth if it were devoid of humans.

Tonights premiere episode, "The Bodies Left Behind," is kind of misnamed. Although it begins with what would happen to the 3,000- year-old Egyptian mummies if humans weren't around to keep them hermetically sealed and finishes up 100 million years later with the remnants of our modern-day skeletons, what the episode really shows - in computerized detail -is what would happen to the things that we've created in an attempt to be immortal.

From the Sistine Chapel to the Statue of Liberty to our skyscrapers and domed stadiums, homes and apartments, the destruction would be inevitable.

Without the constant hand of humans, eventually everything would revert back to nature.
Tonight's episode proves it by taking us to Hashima Island in Japan where the Mitsubishi company once housed 15,000 coal workers.

Abandoned only in 1974, the entire island of reinforced concrete apartment buildings, offices and medical facilities today looks more like 1,000-year-old ruins. So much for reinforced concrete and steel

katmai sinking

A few weeks ago, Sig Hansen and Keith Colburn made their rounds promoting the upcoming fifth season of ‘Deadliest Catch’ and explained a bit of their reaction to the sinking of the F/V Katmai. There’s also additional information about the Katmai if you follow the link.

Sig Hansen: ‘No Way’ He Would Tell Crew About Katmai
NEW YORK — As wheel house two-way radios crackled with news of trouble on the fishing vessel Katmai last fall, captains didn’t share the information with their crews, Sig Hansen acknowledged in an interview on the CBS “Early Show” Tuesday morning.

Hansen, appearing with Captain Keith Colburn to promote the new season of “The Deadliest Catch,” said he would “absolutely not” tell his crew about what happened with the Katmai, which sank while film crews were shooting aboard his boat, the Northwestern.

In response to a question from the “Early Show’s” Harry Smith about whether a captain should talk about trouble on another boat in the fleet, Hansen said, “No way. You got to keep the morale up, so you don’t want to bring them down.”

american brownie company

As they sipped tea and nibbled on dates, more than 100 men and women listened to a litany of speakers sounding the same message: The FBI is not your friend."We're here today to say our mosques are off limits," Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations for Greater Los Angeles, told the crowd last month at an Anaheim mosque.

"Our Koran is off limits," Ayloush said. "Our youth, who they try to radicalize, are off limits. Now is the time to tell them, 'We're not going to let this happen anymore.' "Such strong words from a man who once was a vocal advocate of ties with federal law enforcement was yet one more signal that the fragile relationship between Muslim American groups and the FBI is being tested.

In the months and years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, FBI officials met privately with Muslim leaders, assuring them that a spate of hate crimes would be vigorously investigated and at the same time asking for help in the campaign against terrorism. Local leaders promised to encourage cooperation.

But even as relations warmed, a series of revelations -- including allegations that the FBI sent an informant into a mosque in Orange County, surveilled community leaders and sent an agent to UC Irvine -- caused some to begin questioning the FBI's real intentions.Now, the leaders of several Muslim organizations say they feel betrayed.

Because Orange County has been at the center of many of the revelations, local leaders have taken a lead in challenging the FBI, but the issues are resonating nationwide.

On Sunday, a coalition of the nation's largest Muslim organizations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Islamic Society of North America, issued a statement demanding that the Obama administration address FBI actions, including what they describe as the "infiltration of mosques," the use of "agent provocateurs to trap unsuspecting Muslim youth" and the "deliberate vilification" of the council.

"It reached a level where we felt we had to do something," said Agha Saeed, chairman of the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections. "The FBI is doing things which are not healthy. They are creating divisions and conflict, creating a totally negative, Islamophobic image of Muslims in America."Over the years, there's been a gradual erosion of trust between the groups and the FBI. Months ago, the agency told local leaders it was suspending relations with the council, one of the largest Muslim civil rights groups in the country.Since then, things have unraveled rapidly.

Like other Muslim communities in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, many in Orange County -- home to more than 100,000 Muslim Americans, dozens of mosques and several prominent Muslim community organizations -- worried about FBI investigations.The FBI, in turn, believed terrorists were either trying to get to Southern California to carry out attacks or were already here. To gain intelligence and demystify the agency's operations, the FBI met with local leaders and formed a committee that met monthly.

"In the post-9/11 world, the Arab American and Muslim community became one of those places where we said, 'It's worth making the extra effort,' " said FBI spokesman John Miller, who is also in charge of the agency's national community outreach program.Early on, Ayloush said the FBI was acting in good faith and working with the community as "partners rather than suspects."But the delicate relationship soon began to fray.

In 2004, the FBI and immigration officials arrested the popular head of an Anaheim mosque; he was held on immigration-related charges for two years until a judge ordered his release pending deportation. In 2006, an FBI agent was quoted as telling a business group in Newport Beach that the agency was monitoring Muslims at local universities.

A year later, UC Irvine students said an FBI agent conducting an investigation at the school assaulted a Muslim student with his car near the site of a demonstration.On a national level, there was the disclosure that FBI agents had been secretly monitoring radiation levels at mosques in search of radioactive bombs. More troubling were news reports that Muslims had been asked to become informants or face deportation.

The breaking point came in February with the revelation that the FBI had sent an informant to an Irvine mosque to collect evidence of jihadist rhetoric and other allegedly extremist acts by a Tustin man who attended prayers there.To some, the incidents added up to this conclusion: The government was targeting all Muslims.

Miller strongly disputes that contention, saying that the agency does not go on "fishing expeditions.""What we investigate is people," he said. "If we develop information on a person, that investigation may take us different places -- to their home, their place of business . . . and yes, if . . . they go to a mosque, the investigation may take us to the mosque. That is part of what we do.

"The Council on American-Islamic Relations was named in 2007, along with hundreds of other organizations and individuals, as an unindicted co-conspirator in a case against the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation, which the government accused of funneling money to terrorists.

As a result, the FBI suspended relations with the council this year."That is not to suggest that anyone or everyone associated with CAIR has any kind of taint," Miller said, adding that "there are some issues we would like to know more about from the leaders at CAIR's headquarters."But at the recent meeting at the Anaheim mosque, the tone was one of frustration and anger.Speakers suggested that ordinary Muslim Americans need to protect themselves from overzealous FBI agents."You don't get brownie points for speaking to them," said Ameena Qazi, a lawyer for the council. "

They don't go back to the office and check off your civic engagement or your patriotism. . . . We are a very open and hospitable community, but we shouldn't be naive."Attendees applauded Qazi's statement, but it was a mea culpa that most moved them."We goofed up, guys," said Shakeel Syed, head of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California. "We brought them here. We brought them to our mosques, to our meetings. . . . We have to hold ourselves responsible. That's why it's so important to dig our heels into the ground and say we're not going to take this lying down, we're going to fight."

ray allen

You could forgive Ray Allen for being a little timid coming into Monday night's game against the Bulls. He did, after all, shoot an embarrassing 1-for-12 in Saturday's playoff opener.

But after an equally miserable first half, Allen made up for the absence of Kevin Garnett and overcame an outstanding performance by Chicago's Ben Gordon. The Celtics guard scored 30 points and hit a series of big shots down the stretch, including the game-winner with two seconds remaining as Boston tied up its series with Chicago 1-1.

Allen's performance was especially important given the sluggish nature with which Paul Pierce played most of the game, and the determined way in which the Bulls attacked the defending champs following an initial Boston offensive surge.

Now, some people will ask, "Are the Celtics back?" The answer to that would be, "No, they are not." There are several reasons to think the C's can topple the Bulls in this series, though they seem a little flimsy at the moment.

Derrick Rose, Saturday's star, was relatively ineffective, scoring just just 10 points, albeit adding seven assists and six rebounds. That can be chalked up to a strong defensive effort by the Celtics, but containing Rose for the length of an entire series seems about as likely as Glen Davis averaging 26 points (his Monday total) the rest of the way home, or Rajon Rondo, whose effort should certainly be commended, posting triple-doubles every night. He threw up a ridiculous 19 point, 12 rebound, 16 assist effort in Game 2.

But then again, Gordon won't score 42 for the Bulls each time out either. Remove Gordon's game, though, and the fact remains that the Celtics needed every conceivable break to beat a Bulls team many expected them to sweep.

That's not to condemn their collective effort, but as long as Garnett isn't on the floor, it seems more and more likely that the Bulls could be the team that puts their hopes of repeating to rest.

ben gordon

Before getting to some more bile directed at VDN, I'll start with good happy thoughts: It's official that the Bulls are fairly evenly matched against the Celtics. If Leon Powe is out that narrows the talent margin even more. And the Bulls look like they believe, and it's been showing in their play. Those mostly easy (made to be less easy, perhaps) wins down the stretch didn't make them a better team, but it maybe made them think they were a better team. Winning is fun, confidence is contagious, and the Bulls as a result have a lot of good players playing at a high level.

Especially tonight with Ben Gordon. Who, if the Bulls won, would've had the entire post dedicated to his brilliance. This is a team that has no plan, no structure, no plays, no offense. Though that breakdown into one-on-one play happens more often in the playoffs anyway, it's always there on the Bulls. So guys like Gordon are vital, and he carried the Bulls on offense all game. I'm not sure how Doug Collins could keep calling Ben Gordon 'streaky' when he both kept them from getting KO'd early in the first and scored nearly every Bulls point down the stretch. That's not streaky, it's being damned good, and believing that the next shot is always going in. Without Gordon tonight this game is out of reach, not a heartbreaker.

(Tried to resist throwing this in when writing this post, but I can't: He better be on this team next season.)
I thought Hinrich, Rose, and Salmons had good games as well, though fouls kept Rose from another great game (hey, it can't happen every time). Again, this is a team that doesn't exactly play together well (even on fast breaks there were clear passes that weren't made in lieu of taking it themselves), but individually they're all pretty good.

The game was lost in the frontcourt. Commenter fundamentallysound ran the four factors for us:
The Bulls had a higher eFG%, FTA/FGA, and lower TO%. The only one of the four factors that they lost was the OReb%. Celtics gathered 42.9% of their misses, whereas the Bulls only grabbed 21.6% of their misses.

That’s the entire difference between winning and losing. The Bulls either dominated or slightly edged the C’s in every other category, and because they got hammered on the boards, they lost the game.

Some of it was luck (lots of blocks in the 1st ending up back in the C's hands - and then the basket), but a lot of it was bad positioning and being outmuscled. The Bulls have not been a good defensive rebounding team (in fact they're bottom-5 worst in the league) all season, and it's because their bigs are slight, and often out of position (the downside of being able to fly around and block everything). They likely can't win the battle of the boards in this series, but what they need to avoid is getting blown out in that department.

And a lot of that falls on Tyrus Thomas, who had 4 boards in 20 minutes, pretty much exclusively shooting jump shots on the offensive end. Though he was swatting everything in sight (all the Bulls were. The C's really aren't an above-the-rim team are they?) it wasn't his best game.

But I don't care: He needs to play to close out games. I only slightly believe in this confidence factor making a huge difference, but it can't be good for Tyrus' confidence for him to be on the bench the final 9 minute of the game, after winning the previous one in OT. Brad Miller may have had the better game up to that point, but he never needs to play 35 minutes, and the final 17 minutes of the game.

Just looking at him near the end, practically dying on the court: unable to rotate quickly, grab defensive boards (hmmm...) or keep from turning the ball over (and fall over)...actually it's not that rare of a sight, since Vinny has been doing this over and over again seemingly since Miller was acquired.

And it sucks. It sucks to see Vinny not give his team the best chance to win (Lindsey Hunter was at the two for a short stretch as well, what the hell?), and almost sucks worse to think what it does for Thomas long-term. Maybe game one was the start of something special with him, maybe not. But lets find out and not make him sit and watch when he's one of the best (and most important) players on this roster.
So there's that. And running out of time outs...again. When down two with 2 seconds to go, the Bulls couldn't advance the ball. Collins was so perplexed he probably wished he didn't weep his way out of the Bulls coaching search.
It's a shame, because this team has shown yet again how talented it is, and that they're actually quite close to this version of the Celtics. The Celtics haven't played well all series, but the longer that happens, the more one has to believe they're just not that good of a team right now. I mean, Glen Davis took 21 shots. So for the Bulls, considering the lack of coaching has been apparent all season, I wish Vinny would just go full hands-off: play your best, and get the heck out of the way.

fairytale brownies

OH ME.OH MY!FAIRYTALE BROWNIESWOW....I don't even know where to begin.I received the most WONDERFUL package E----VER not too long ago.I actually almost knocked the poor ups guy down trying to get to the package.All I saw was the word BROWNIES and that was it!(You see, me and brownies....we go way back.)I couldn't contain myself.

I had to open the box.I even opened the box in front of my kids. *THAT WAS A BIG STEP FOR ME as I usually have to hide my goodies. (I am not ashamed of that either!)OH BOY ! ! !Fairytale Brownies DELIVERED in a BIG WAY.There were chocolate chip brownies, cream cheese brownies, caramel brownies, expresso, pecan, peanut butter....Every kind of brownie that you could imagine was packed in this ONE box.I tore open the package and took my first bite.

I WAS IN HEAVEN.The brownies were so moist and the flavors were out of this world.Fairytale Brownies rocked my socks off!I can not even type this post without drooling over my keyboard.AY YI YI !*Can't you tell how good they were by all the !!!!'s that I have used

philip markoff

MISTER MARKET/BAD DAY OR BLOOM OFF THE ROSE?-The Dow Jones lost some 290 points today, about 3.5% of its value, to close at 7842. Pulling the market downward? The same stocks that have recently been pushing the market upward: banks. Bank of America was the latest bank to report a 1st quarter profit, saying this morning that they made $4.2 billion in the 1st quarter. BofA joins Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase and Citicorp in announcing 1st quarter profits that handily beat analysts’ projections.

So what’s the problem? Dan Harris reported for WORLD NEWS tonight that “specifically what spooked investors today was a warning from Bank of America…that even though they posted a $4.2 billion profit, it’s setting aside $13.4 billion to cover loans that could go sour in the coming months…a clear sign that the credit crisis is not over.” The renewed worries about banks' debt problems were aggravated by news reports that their lending remains tight and that the government may swap its debt in banks for ownership stakes as its $700 billion bailout fund runs down.

Because of the central role lending plays in keeping businesses of all kinds going, investors have been hunting for signs of a recovery in banks before they get more optimistic about the broader economy. As Hugh Johnson noted in Harris’ WORLD NEWS piece, “We have an economy that grows on money and credit and unless banks start to increase their lending it’s hard to make the case that there’s going to be a recovery in the economy.” The Treasury Department will outline Friday how it plans to structure the stress tests, which aim to gauge the health of 19 big banks. Those results are due on or around May 4th.

In the interim, reports Harris, “many investors are expecting the market to be down for the coming days…(until we) see how healthy the major banks really are.” CRAIGSLIST SUSPECT IN CUSTODY: Boston authorities have apprehended a man they say is connected to the assault of a lap dancer at a Boston hotel last week, and possibly two other attacks. Police have arrested Philip Markoff, 22, of Quincy, MA. Markoff has been charged in the murder of Julissa Brisban and the assault on a woman last week at a Boston hotel.

The Boston University student was taken into custody at 4pm this afternoon after being stopped by authorities on Route 95 in Warpole, MA. He had no prior criminal record. Authorities said they found him through ‘technical means’ and ‘physical evidence’, and he had also been under surveillance. Markoff will be arraigned in Boston Municipal court Tuesday morning. (thanks to Marisa Bramwell for this entry)

OBAMA VISITS THE CIA/”YOU’VE GOT A HARDER JOB TO DO AND SO DO I”-Last Thursday’s release of the controversial Justice Department memos discussing the legality of certain CIA interrogation techniques once again shed light on the CIA where they didn’t necessarily need (or want) it. It was not a decision taken lightly-Jake Tapper noted tonight on WORLD NEWS that “sources close to (President Obama) say the hardest decision (he’s had to make so far) was his decision to release (those) memos.”

So today’s visit to the CIA by President Obama was seen as both a chance for the President to explain his reasoning and a chance to deliver a “pep talk”, as Jake Tapper noted. Let’s start with his reasoning-Tapper: “The President says American values and ideals must be upheld even under the fear and threat of terrorism.” As for the pep talk, President Obama seemed to hit the nail on the head when discussing the frustrations of working for a security agency. Obama: “What makes (your job) tougher is when you succeed, as you so often do, that success usually has to stay secret. So you don’t get credit when things go good, but you sure get some blame when things don’t.”

Obama also told the assembled group: “We will protect your identities and your security as you vigorously pursue your missions. I will be as vigorous in protecting you, as you are vigorous in protecting the American people.”

OBAMA/NOT GEORGE W’S FOREIGN POLICY-President Obama’s recent trip to the Summit of the Americas has brought a good deal of criticism on the Administration for ‘engaging” with U.S. critics like Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez during the summit. As Martha Raddatz notes though, “it should not be a surprise that President Obama is reaching out to friend and foe..after promising a stark change." Raddatz goes down the list:

“In just the first 90 days, he has reached out to the Iranian people, Muslims and the Russians.” While the jury’s still out on what those moves have changed, there’s no disputing the change with Cuba. Raddatz: “Lifting a half century of restrictions on Cuban Americans, a move that prompted Cuban President Raul Castro to excitedly declare he would now talk about “everything, everything, everything” with President Obama.” One glaring failure so far-North Korea. Raddatz: “(President Obama)’s reaction to the recent missile launch showed echoes from the Bush Administration…stern words and a UN Security Council condemnation..that have done little good. “
DEAD POLO HORSES-The sudden death of 21 polo horses at the U.S. Open Polo Championship in Palm Beach County, Florida shortly before the event began yesterday has perplexed veterinarians. Sharyn Alfonsi filing for WORLD NEWS sets the scene: “The horses belonged to the Venezuelan-owned team Lechuza Caracas and had not shown any signs of illness. But when handlers went to off-load the horses at the stadium, investigators say ‘some of the animals were dead’ and the others-struggled to breathe and stand. Vets rushed to help but one by one the horses collapsed. 14 died on Sunday 7 more overnight.” Several theories as to what killed the horses are out there and each has found critics to refute the possibility. Alfonsi notes that “state labs are now running tests on the animals trying to solve the mystery of what killed so many horses so fast.” OTHER STUFF--GAS PRICES-The price you paid at the pump last week was the highest price paid in 2009. The national price for regular unleaded rose 0.8 cent to an average of $2.06 a gallon, the highest level in five months, but it is still down $1.45 from a year ago, the department's Energy Information Administration said in its weekly survey of service stations. Pump prices are expected to rise another 20 cents for this summer, with drivers expected to pay an average $2.23 a gallon for the season, according to the EIA's forecast. That's much cheaper than the record $4.11 hit last July or last summer's average pump price of $3.81 a gallon.--FOUR CORNERS (NOT)-Maybe they can call it Four Corners Adjacent.

National Geodetic Survey officials say the Four Corners marker showing the intersection of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah is about 2.5 miles west of where it should be. The only place in the United States where four state boundaries come together was first surveyed by the government in 1868 during the initial survey of Colorado's southern boundary. Apparently the survey was inaccurate.

TUESDAY—--SOMALI PIRATE IN NY FEDERAL COURT—ayem-The lone surviving Somali pirate from the kidnapping of Maertz Alabama Captain Richard Phillips will be arraigned in NY federal court tomorrow morning. --SUPREME COURT - STRIP SEARCH: In 2003 a 13 year-old Arizona school girl was stripped searched by school officials looking for a banned substance (ibuprofen) another student had accused her of possessing. They found nothing. She sued the school district and won. The lower court said that "common sense informs that directing a 13 year-old girl to remove her clothes, partially revealing her breasts and pelvic area, for allegedly possessing ibuprofen … was excessively intrusive."

The school district has appealed and the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case (likely sometime in April.) Some have argued that students should have the same constitutional rights as adults, but some educators argue that schools should be treated differently. They say that a ruling against them could jeopardize campus safety. Jan Crawford Greenburg has a preview piece to air day of arguments for GMA. (Dennis Powell) --SERVE AMERICA LEGISLATION—4pm ET-- Tomorrow President Obama will appear with former President Bill Clinton and Senator Kennedy to sign the “Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.”

The act creates new service opportunities aimed at growing the number of volunteers nation-wide and focuses on providing incentives for middle and high school students to engage in service. At the 4 pm event held at the SEED school in Washington, DC Senator Kennedy will introduce the President who will then make remarks on national service before signing the legislation

Obama Calls for Unity as He Faces U.S.’s Latin American Critics

President Barack Obama, facing some of the U.S.’s harshest critics, said he seeks new ties with Cuba and called on fellow leaders in the Americas to work as equals with the U.S. instead of making the superpower a scapegoat.
Obama made his debut last night at the Summit of the Americas, where leaders including Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega greeted him with rants about “Yankee troops” and complaints about U.S. policies, including the embargo against Cuba and Puerto Rico’s status as a U.S. territory.
The barbs didn’t sway Obama from his message of hemispheric unity. He’s promising “equal partnership” and a “new chapter of engagement” as the global economic crisis, drug trafficking and security concerns weigh on the region. He responded to the most contentious issue hanging over the summit by saying that the U.S. and Cuba can start fresh after almost 50 years of severed ties, as long as Cuba is sincere.
“I am not interested in talking for the sake of talking,” Obama said at a welcoming ceremony last night in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, where all nations in the region except Cuba are gathered for talks. “But I do believe that we can move U.S.-Cuban relations in a new direction.”
Obama didn’t directly respond to Cuban President Raul Castro, who said on April 16 that his government is “willing to discuss everything” that could ease five decades of hostilities between the two nations.
Castro’s Overture
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was in the Dominican Republic yesterday, said the administration is “taking a very serious look” at Castro’s overture.
Ortega and Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the first leaders to talk at the summit, both called for Obama to lift the almost 50-year-old trade embargo with Cuba. Obama administration officials have said there are no plans to do so. Fernandez also said the U.S. had subordinated Latin America.
Obama didn’t mention the embargo as he made his case for alliances across the hemisphere that are built on “mutual respect, common interests and shared values.” He called for all countries to pull their weight and stop judging the U.S. based on old grievances.

“To move forward, we can’t let ourselves be prisoners of past disagreements. I am very grateful that President Ortega didn’t blame me for things that happened when I was three months old,” Obama said in his only direct reference to the Nicaraguan leader.
‘Rose Above It’
“Obama rose above it,” said U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York attending the summit. “He set the tone. He had the last word.”

Ortega, who said he was upset that he was forced to wait for three hours on the tarmac after landing, spoke for 45 minutes and said he was “ashamed” Cuba wasn’t invited to participate in the summit. At one point, he prompted a smirk from Obama when he referred to “Yankee troops.”
Obama said the U.S. has changed and other nations must do so also.
“It’s not just the United States that has to change. All of us have responsibilities to look toward the future,” he said.

“It’s important to recognize, given historic suspicions, that the United States policy shouldn’t be interference in other countries,” he said in comments that weren’t part of his prepared remarks released by the White House.

Obama’s ‘Bargain’
“But that also means that we can’t blame the United States for every problem that arises in the hemisphere. That’s part of the bargain,” Obama said. “That’s part of the change that has to take place.”

The approach may already be working.
Before his remarks, Ortega came over to Obama and introduced himself, a U.S. official who requested anonymity told reporters.
Obama is eager to find some time for pull-aside meetings, instead of formal bilateral talks, over the next two days with the leaders of Canada, Colombia, Peru, Haiti and Chile, the administration official said.
Hugo Chavez, Venezuela’s socialist president who called former President George W. Bush a “devil,” walked over and introduced himself to Obama before the U.S. president spoke. Chavez told Obama he wants to be his “friend,” Venezuela’s Information and Communications Ministry said in a statement.
The criticism of the U.S. also didn’t appear to ruffle Clinton, who is attending the summit. When asked about Ortega’s speech, the secretary of state smiled and alluded to the post- speech entertainment.
“I thought the cultural performance was fabulous,” she said.
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