Abe Pollin health was declining who was a real estate developer, philanthropist, and owner of the Washington Wizards and other sports teams, has died at 85, WRC-TV is reporting Pollin today is remembered most fondly as a sports team owner---the man who bought the Baltimore Bullets to Washington, brought NHL hockry to the city, women's pro basketball, and other sporting endeavors.
He presided over one world championship, the 1978 Bullets' NBA title.But he was also a crackerjack businessman, a developer who left his legacy across the region's landscape, in numerous apartment towers in Montgomery County and the District. His prime development legacy, let there be no doubt about it, will be the MCI Center, which Pollin built out of his own pocket while the city suffered from crippling financial woes and went on to anchor the rebirth of downtown Washington.
Though well known as a hellish negotiator, Pollin was generous with his riches, donating heavily to Jewish causes (he helped save the Sixth & I Synagogue, for instance) and, among other good works, paying for an entire elementary-school class to go to college.
The cause of Pollin's death is yet unconfirmed [WaPo reports that Pollin suffered from corticobasal degeneration for several years], though he had appeared frail in rare public appearances in recent years and several news outlets are reporting that he suffered from a rare brain malady. ESPN.com reports this comment from the July 2008 re-signing announcement for Antawn Jamison: "I'm getting a little old and a little sick....But I'm still around, and I'm going to be around until we win the...championship. I'm stubborn and hardheaded."
The Washington Post writes:
Pollin was among the last of the old-school pro sports owners who ran his teams as a family business, shaped by his strong personality and his intense loyalties. His teams lost more than they won, and fans often criticized his personnel moves and his failure to spend more money, but Pollin invariably remained set in his ways.
He was also a major philanthropist in the community, paying for affordable housing and endowing a local Boy's and Girl's Club. His grandest project was building the MCI Center (now Verizon Center) in 1997 and triggering a stunning renaissance of Gallery Place and surrounding neighborhoods.
WRC-TV's Lindsay Czarniak interviewed Pollin's beloved wife Irene last month:
ESPN.com notes his impact on the D.C. sporting world and beyond, and notes that Ted Leonsis, who bought the Bullets and Mystics from Pollin, stands to take over his empire, Washington Sports & Entertainment:
Pollin was the NBA's longest-tenured owner. With his death, a group led by longtime AOL executive Ted Leonsis is poised to take ownership of a Washington-area sports empire that began when Pollin purchased the Baltimore Bullets in 1964....
"There's no important initiative or any end to difficult situations or any settlement or any legislation that Abe was not leading the way on across all these years," NBA commissioner David Stern said in March. "He's been an extraordinary league person, always voting the league way, similar to what he did in building Verizon Center. He was going the D.C. way, not necessarily what was in his best economic interest but what was in the best economic interests of Washington, D.C."
Former WaPo sports editor George Solomon is now hosting a live chat on Pollin at washingtonpost.com.
A statement from the Washington Nationals:
The Washington Nationals and the Lerner family join all of the Washington DC community and sports fans nationally in mourning the loss of Abe Pollin. He was not just the beloved owner of sports teams in the Nation's Capital for almost 40 years; he was also a significant force in the rebirth of downtown Washington DC, and a magnanimous contributor to the personality, health, and well-being of everyone who calls our community home. He leaves an important legacy. Our deepest affection and condolences are with the Pollin family and the Washington Sports and Entertainment organization in their time of grief.
Here are some of the best Pollin-related columns by WCP's Dave McKenna:
•About Pollin's team-owner bona fides...back in 2003! "More than ever before, he thrives in comparison with the other major-league owners in town. With every passing week, Dan Snyder proves himself the Redskins equivalent of star-crossed Cubs fan Steve Bartman: a superfan who, when given a chance to control the fate of the team he idolizes, screws it up for everybody. And Ted Leonsis, long billed by the Capitals as "the most accessible owner in sports," committed the mortal sin of ownership by blasting the fans for not coming out to watch his overpaid underperformers fold against Tampa Bay in last year's playoffs." (So he was a little off about Leonsis; the new Caps owner would get Best Sports Owner honors from McKenna this year, with Pollin runner-up.)
•About a group of fans who mobilized to "Save the Caps" in the early '80s after Pollin threatened to move the team unless Prince George's County handed him tax breaks.
•About a Pollin and his documentarian, who won "Unsportsman of the Year" honors in 2007 for making an unnecessarily mean-spirited biopic. Among its revelations: That Michael Jordan “called me a liar, and the worst thing he said to me was, ‘You’re a no-good redneck bastard.’”
•About the Wizards' re-embrace of the Bullets moniker, which Pollin famously discarded citing his feelings on violence in the mideast and in the inner city.
•About Pollin's encounter with rocker Nils Lofgren, author of "Bullets Fever"
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has issued a statement:
Today the District of Columbia has lost one of our greatest treasures. Abe Pollin almost single-handedly revitalized the Gallery Place / Chinatown neighborhood by turning down offers from suburban jurisdictions to finance and build the Verizon Center on 7th Street NW. My deepest condolences go out to Mr. Pollin’s family, most especially his wife Irene, who was always his partner, in sports, construction, philanthropy, and of course, family.
Abe Pollin will be remembered in the District for adopting our city as his hometown, having lived in the area since the age of eight; for more than 40 years as owner of the Washington Wizards; and for being the original owner of the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals and the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Washington Mystics.
I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Abe Pollin, a true pioneer who contributed to the growth of professional sports and gave unselfishly to our communities.” In 1997, Abe & Irene Pollin saw their dreams to fruition with the completion of a state of-the-art sports and entertainment facility in our nation’s capitol.
Mr. Pollin, not only achieved his goal to create a facility that would “be the catalyst that turned the city around,” he also demonstrated his commitment to ensuring that our residents became the primary benefactors of the city’s resurgence. Together, the Pollins’ contributions to our communities are invaluable. From employing many of our District residents to giving many of our students the opportunity to attend college, Mr. Pollin embodied the intangible qualities of a wonderful humanitarian, businessman and father, whose legacy will continue to inspire others.”
The prayers of the Councilmember, his family and staff go to Abe Pollin’s wife and partner, Irene and his two sons Robert and James.
The Wizznutzz tweet a tribute: "WE LOVE U ABE POLLIN u helped build DC with your hands & your hope"
Here's D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray:
I am saddened to learn of the passing of Abe Pollin, one of Washington’s most-respected businessmen and philanthropists. He and his wife, Irene, have made a huge difference on the lives of countless residents in the District of Columbia and in the region. My sincere condolences go to Mrs. Pollin and their family.
In the late 90s, Abe Pollin brought the Wizards and the Capitals to what’s now called the Verizon Center. Now, a decade later, the Pollins can take a large part of the credit for the bright lights, crowds and remarkable revitalization of downtown Washington.
It’s not just the mixture of sports and business that made Abe Pollin a household name. He also will be remembered for the benevolent business partnerships with the District that sparked housing and other projects to improve the quality of life for some of our residents most in need. I worked closely with Mr. Pollin on numerous projects and will miss his personal, gentle style of collaboration. Ironically, today I chaired a hearing on the plan for the continued cultural development and revitalization of Chinatown.
Mrs. Pollin was an active partner with her husband on many fronts. No doubt she will continue their immeasurable work to ensure Mr. Pollin’s legacy lives on.
Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans calls in with his thoughts:
He was a great man. His contributions to the city were enormous, to many of the philanthropic causes, to affordable housing, to the synagogue at Sixth and I, his reach was extraordinary. But what he will absolutely be remembered for is bringing the two teams, the Bullets and the Caps, to downtown Washington and the area that was absolutely deserted and dangerous. And then, when the city could not fulfill its part of the deal, to build the arena, he used his own money to building the arena. It was the catalyst for the revitalization of Washington. You can't say enough how much this city is indebted to Abe Pollin....
I saw him at a game recently, must have been a hockey game. He was not in good shape. I don't know that he recognized me; he was definitely on the downswing. But they had a special place for him in the box....
Every time I saw him, he was so upbeat about the city.
A statement from Washington Convention and Sports Authority CEO Greg O'Dell:
The Washington Convention and Sports Authority, along with the entire Washington, D.C. community, mourns the passing of Abe Pollin, a legendary figure on the D.C. sports scene and a visionary whose dedication to the community is an inspiration to us all. He was a beloved sports owner in the District for more than 40 years and his pioneering efforts were a significant factor in the revitalization of downtown Washington. He will be missed, but his legacy will live on forever. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife Irene, his two sons and the entire Pollin family.
Redskins owner Dan Snyder's statement:
Abe Pollin was a great owner for Washington, as well as a personal friend. His legacy will live through his teams and the arena he built, and just as importantly, through his commitment to his family and to Washington. My thoughts and prayers go out to Irene and the rest of his wonderful family.
Developer Douglas Jemal shares some thoughts with Washington Business Journal:
Jemal...recalled Pollin as a wonderful man and a business icon who did things the old school way.
"I knew him very well and spent a lot of years with him down here when he was building the Verizon Center. And I can tell you when the Verizon Center was being built, he was down here every day monitoring construction," Jemal said.
One day, when a worker on one of Jemal's buildings had a construction accident, Pollin was there to help, Jemal said. "He came running across the street to see what he could do."
Pollin represented a now gone era of "independent, old-school team owners" who cared about the city's where they did business. "I think that team was his life," Jemal said. He said that even when the team was not winning, "he would sit in that owners' box by himself and watch every time that team played."
ESPN.com:
Pollin will be remembered for several things. He was the NBA's longest tenured owner. He was the guy who fired Michael Jordan. And he was the person who changed the name of his team from the Bullets to the Wizards after his friend, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, was killed.
NPR:
Pollin will long be known as the man who stopped Michael Jordan's basketball ambitions, not on the court where few people could stop His Airness but in the front office. After Jordan retired from the Chicago Bulls, Pollin brought him to Washington in 2000, selling him a minority stake in the Wizards.
abe pollin death has died abe pollin health, abe pollin dies, washington wizards, wizards
Jordan, with his towering ego, eventually proved insufferable, especially to Pollin. According to reports, Pollin was particularly irked by Jordan's presumption that he would one day own Pollin's team.
After Jordan sold back his minority stake in order to put on his basketball shoes and play a few seasons for the Wizards, Pollin outfoxed him by refusing to sell back to Jordan once he retired from playing again, the minority stake Jordan had given up. Jordan left the organization in 2003
Volvo launched a contest tie-in with the second Twilight movie New Moon, “What drives Edward?”
Twilight fans who participate in the contest can win premiere tickets and a new Volvo. A lot of fans are having trouble with “What drives Edward, phase 4,” and a question on Yahoo Answers points to a video that seemingly helps. (Die hard fans: Stephenie Meyer is appearing on Oprah today to promote New Moon.)
Below, a video of the “what drives Edward, phase 4″ part of the challenge. I’m not playing, so tell me in the comments, does it work?
tony alamo christian ministries, evangelist tony alamo, big lots ad, big lots, aes success
175-Year Sentence For Evangelist Alamo On Sex Crimes Convictions
By Mark Memmott
Convicted over the summer of taking five underage girls across state lines to have sex with them, evangelist Tony Alamo was today sentenced to 175 years in prison by a judge in Texarkana, Ark.
"May (God) have mercy on your soul," U.S. District Judge Harry Barnes told Alamo, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.
Alamo, 75, is a one-time clothing entrepreneur. The victims testified they were taken as "child brides" by the evangelist.
The expected commitment of ESPNU 150 wide receiver Trovon Reed (Thibodeaux, La./Thibodeaux) to Auburn gives the Tigers another talented pass-catcher in this class.
Reed joins Under Armour All-American Antonio Goodwin (Atlanta, Ga./Booker T. Washington), four-star athlete Shaun Kitchens (College Park, Ga./Banneker) and in-state three-star prospect Jeremy Richardson (Springville, Ala./Springville) as part of the receiving haul for this year's cycle.
Auburn assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor, who is considered one of the top recruiters in the SEC and the country, was Reed's recruiter of record. Taylor also snagged Goodwin earlier this year.
Much like the verbal commitment of the nation's top running back, Michael Dyer (Little Rock, Ark./Little Rock Christian) last week, this commitment was not unexpected because Reed had been leaning toward the Tigers for some time.
But do terrible events really occur on Black Fridays?
Several natural disasters have occurred on this day, including Hurricane Charley in 2004, the unexpected snow storm in Buffalo in 2006, the Andes flight disaster of 1972 and a large-scale ship disappearance in 1773.
The arrest of Al Capone occurred on a Black Friday, as did the death of Tupac Shakur. Friday the 13th has also been associated with the stock market crashes, and Henry Ford would never do business on Friday the 13th.
Friday the 13th occurs at least once a year but no more than three times - the next one is not until August 2010.
Statisticians have researched the day's events, and it has been proven that car accidents increase 60 percent every Black Friday. However, studies have also shown that, due to alcohol, every Friday generally has an increased number of crimes, murders and accidents on the road.
Oddly enough, studies have shown that crime and accidents somewhat decrease on Friday the 13th because people are alert.
Cambridge University physiologist Richard Wiseman has theorized that people who consider themselves to be unlucky are more likely to believe in superstitions like Friday the 13th.
More than 80 percent of highrises do not have a 13th floor. Many hotels and hospitals will not have a room 13, and in Florence, Italy, the house number between 12 and 14 is 12 1/2.
In some places in America, Friday the 13th Clubs were formed, in which the members only gather on Black Friday and decided to defy society's views by smashing mirrors, scattering salt, opening umbrellas inside and letting black cats out.
Friday the 13th is today. Stay in or go out, but realize those with superstitions may be the unlucky few.
bout 21 million Americans suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia, the fear of Friday the 13th, or Black Friday.
They avoid daily activities that could potentially put them in harm's way and some are too afraid to get out of bed in the morning.
But why? Where did the superstition come from?
One theory suggests 12 is the most complete number. It occurs in common cultural references - 12 months in a year, signs of the Zodiac, labors of Hercules, tribes of Israel, gods of Olympus and apostles of Jesus Christ. Thus, 13 is considered irregular.
Friday has been considered unlucky, and therefore a bad day to start a new journey or project - stemming from the Canterbury Tales. Also, according to Christian scripture, Jesus was crucified on a Friday.
In the 13th century, the Knights Templar were arrested by King Philip in France on Friday the 13th.
Another belief comes from Norse mythology, in which Frigga, the goddess of love, was banished to a mountaintop and labeled a witch. Every Friday, Frigga would call 11 other witches to the top of the mountain to plot evils for those below. The 12 witches would gather with a 13th guest - the devil. Similarly, in Roman times, witches are said to have gathered in groups of 12 with the 13th member being the devil.
Another part of Norse mythology states 12 gods were gathered at dinner in heaven - Valhalla - when an uninvited 13th guest, the god of darkness, shot Balder, the god of joy and gladness. When Balder died, the world went dark, and from that moment 13 was considered ominous.
Likewise, in Christian scripture, there were 13 diners at the Last Supper, following which Jesus was killed. Many myths claim when 13 people dine together, ill fate awaits one of the diners.
There is no written evidence of a "Friday the 13th" superstition before the 19th century. The first written reference was in 1869 in the biography of Italian composer Gioachino Rossini. Generally, Italians separately regard Friday and 13 to be unlucky, but on Friday the 13th, Rossini died. Continue
As you will all be aware, today is Friday 13th. And for those people, who are superstitious, will know that Friday 13th is an ominous day for many. People from all across the world, will be rearranging travel plans and some may not even step foot outside their houses.
But what many others would like to know, is why all the superstitions about Friday 13th? Well according to reports from living.oneindia.in, the fear may have something to do with triskaidekaphobia, which is the fear of the number 13.
And the reports also say that there is a common assumption, that the year 2009 is bad for a lot of people as well. After all, many businesses have been affected by the recession this year, plus there have been a lot of losses, epidemics and accidents happening.
Looking for a $3 gift deal on small home appliances?
Target may be the ticket. The retailer's Black Friday specials include $3 coffee and sandwich makers, toasters and slow cookers, according to gottadeal.com.
The Web site purports to have the retailer's actual full 2009 Black Friday ad listing on its site.
Target declined to say if the Web site information is accurate and doesn't plan to spill the beans until Thanksgiving week.
To learn about the retailer's deals, consumers should visit www.target .com/weeklyad Nov. 25 and check out the chain's Thanksgiving Day newspaper ads, spokeswoman Sarah Boehle said.
Retailer's 'doorbuster discounts' reportedly include a 32-inch LCD HDTV for $246 and a $10 free gift card when you spend $100 or more.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Target is hoping to lure this year's Black Friday shoppers with $3 toasters and coffeemakers, deep deals on high-definition televisions, and discounts of 50% on clothes and toys, according to a Web site that says it has received a leaked copy of the retailer's circular.
Brad Olson, founder of Gottadeal.com, a Web site that markets itself as one of many "official" Black Friday deal sites, said Wednesday that he received a copy of the discount retailer's ad.
For competitive reasons, most merchants typically keep a tight lid on their promotions for Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, until a week before.
Olson, who's been tracking annual Black Friday deals from Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500), Target (TGT, Fortune 500), Sears (S, Fortune 500) and other chain stores for the past six years, said Target's deals look "pretty aggressive" this year.
That's not particularly surprising given that the past 10 months have been a sales nightmare for most merchants.
Given that trend, sellers need to start the holiday shopping season -- their most important sales period of a year -- with a bang.
The November-December gift-buying period can account for 50% or more of sellers' annual profits and sales.
Olson said Target's Black Friday "doorbuster" deals, or the extra juicy sales given for a limited time to early shoppers, look very attractive.
These include a Westinghouse 32-inch LCD HDTV for $246. "The $246 HDTV is the lowest price that we've ever seen for that model," said Olsen.
Also in the ad: $3 Chefmate appliances such as toasters, coffeemakers and sandwich makers; a 40-inch Apex 1080p LCD HDTV for $449 with a $10 gift card; a TomTom GPS for $97; a Garmin GPS for $179; an RCA dual-screen portable DVD player for $88; a $39 Polaroid V 130 Camcorder; 50% off on select toys; and children's clothing for between $5 to $7.
The ad said the merchant is also offering a free gift card worth $10 if you spend $100 or more at its stores from 5 a.m. to noon on Black Friday.
According to Target's circular, some of the sales are valid only on Black Friday while others are good through Saturday.
Target spokeswoman Sarah Boehle said the company "is unable to confirm the accuracy of any [Black Friday] two-day ads or pricing information that is posted online."
"Each year we chronicle lots of excitement about our ads when we hear that they were prematurely leaked,' said Boehle. "We really appreciate all the interest. We encourage consumers to look for our official [Black Friday] ad."
Target is expected to release its weekly circular the week of Nov. 22.
charla nash, oprah, charla nash pictures after attack, lady face ripped off by monkey, oprah monkey Charla Nash Opens up Oprah About Chimp Attack
In a first interview with Oprah Winfrey that aired November 11th, Charla Nash opened up about the Chimpanzee attack that nearly took her life has left her face almost completely distorted. In the interview, Charla speaks about how the attack happened, but also demonstrated her positive attitude and her resolve to live. She is quoted as saying “Sometimes things just happen in life”. In addition, Charla went on to say that she is no longer angry and just wants to work on getting better and stronger. In the most shocking part of the interview, Nash removed the black veil which she has been seen wearing until this time. The removal allowed the audience and the world to see her injuries for the first time. Charla has been left with no eyesight and doctors had to build a nose from grafted leg skin. Shocking does not completely describe Nash’s face, which is almost unrecognizable as a human face. Eventually, she will receive a face transplant. However, she will never look the way she did prior to the accident. Nash went on to explain that she was never a vein person and only wants to get better and feel better. Nash’s family is suing the owner of the Chimpanzee for monetary damages.
nu keese richardson, tennessee football players arrested, ut football players arrested, knoxnews, knoxville news sentinel
Nu’Keese Richardson and Janzen Jackson arrested for armed robbery
govolsxtra.com is reporting that a third player, freshman defensive back Mike Edwards is also charged in the incident.
———
WVLT-TV in Knoxville is reporting that two UT football players are now facing charges of armed robbery. They say that a member of the UT Sports Information Department confirmed that freshman wide receiver Nu’Keese Richardson and freshman safety Janzen Jackson were arrested about 2 a.m. Thursday. They say the incident happened at the Pilot convenience store on Cumberland Avenue, and police say the two were armed with a small semi automatic handgun and robbed a person in the parking lot. 11 Connects will have more on this story as it unfolds today
mary forsberg, mary forsberg weiland, scott weiland
Scott Weiland and wife's heroin fireworks
Mary Forsberg Weiland and her husband, Stone Temple Pilot frontman Scott Weiland, were so addicted to heroin they showed up to a Fourth of July party at the Malibu home of Leonardo DiCaprio wearing long sleeves -- just to hide the track marks.
So writes the former model -- now drug-free -- in her new memoir, "Fall to Pieces: A Memoir of Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll, and Mental Illness." Weiland, who wrote the book with former Esquire editor Larkin Warren, first met the rocker when he was hired by her agency to ferry her to and from modeling gigs for $8 an hour. The couple, now separated, had a tumultuous relationship:
On setting fire to Scott's designer clothes after an argument in March of 2007 -- which led to Mary's diagnosis of bipolar disorder: "The bonfire was huge and very pretty. Everything went up in smoke quickly, except the shoe leather; the Guccis took the longest," she writes. "The news reports said I'd torched $10,000 worth of Scott's clothes, which was wrong by a factor of eight. He was somewhat insulted at their estimate: 'Eighty thousand dollars, Mary,' he said later."
* On doing heroin with Scott: "Scott would bring me a framed Neil Zlozower photograph of Keith Richards; I'd lay out the goods right on top of Keith."
* On attending a party at the Playboy Mansion with Scott: "I had no clue till much later that Scott's time in the bathroom was spent with a crack pipe in his mouth."
* On being asked out by Pauly Shore when she was a 16-year-old model: "I managed to get so drunk at the Roxbury that when Pauly suggested it was time to call it a night, I couldn't tell him where I lived. Did not have a purse; did not have any money . . . Mr. Shore then proved himself to be a complete gentleman (I think this may come as a shock to some people). He took me to his house, settled me into a room by myself, set the clock, and made me take an aspirin and drink a lot of water."
CMA Awards 2009 winners are announced. The CMA Awards 2009 winners are happy about their 2009 CMA Awards wins. Who won the various awards last night? Let me tell you what, there were plenty of surprises, laughs, and not-so-big surprises that made this night grand.
Taylor Swift won all of the awards that she was up for - but is that a surprise? The surprise was that Kanye West didn't pop up on stage to talk about how someone else should have won the awards. Lady Antebellum had a good night as well with 2 wins. Before
we get any further, here's a list of the official CMA Awards 2009 winners:
Entertainer of the Year: Taylor Swift
Male Vocalist of the Year: Brad Paisley
Single of the Year: "I Run to You," Lady Antebellum
Album of the Year: Fearless, Taylor Swift
Female Vocalist of the Year: Taylor Swift
Song of the Year: "In Color," Jamey Johnson (w/ cowriters Lee Thomas Miller and James Otto)
Music Video of the Year: "Love Story," Taylor Swift
Best New Artist of the Year: Darius Rucker
Musician of the Year: Mac McAnally
Event of the Year: "Start a Band," Brad Paisley and Keith Urban
Vocal Group of the Year: Lady Antebellum
Vocal Duo of the Year: Sugarland
Everyone that I was rooting for during the CMA Awards 2009 ended up winning. I love Taylor Swift because she is youg, and she hasn't let fame make her grow up too fast. She's refreshingly funny, and is multi-talented, as her music crosses over from country to top 40 seamlessly. Country music should love young artists such as Taylor Swift because they will inspire other young people to listen to that genre of music.
Sugarland won Vocal Duo of the year. Again, I was rooting for them because their music is so inspiring and wholesome.
Although Taylor Swift didn't have the most nominations (Brad Paisley did), she walked away with the most wins. Lady Antebellum had 2 wins, and Brad Paisley had 2 wins as well. Miss Swift had a whopping 4 wins, meaning she walked away with over 30% of the awards.
John "Johnny" David Gosch was kidnapped on September 5, 1982, at age 12, only two blocks from his West Des Moines, Iowa, home, while delivering newspapers for the Des Moines Register. Soon after, he was drugged, molested, photographed, sold, and prostituted.
This was not a random kidnapping. Johnny was clearly targeted; in the weeks before the kidnapping, he was photographed near his home. The man who ordered his kidnapping, Col. Michael Aquino, has connections to the CIA ("Why Johnny Can't Come Home"). The identities of many of the perpetrators are known, and there are several witnesses to these crimes, but no one has ever been brought to justice. Local and federal law enforcement refuse to investigate any leads. The FBI has only worked to cover-up any details surrounding the case from surfacing.
katt williams, katt williams in jail, kat williams, lawrence taylor, sjc
Comedian Katt Williams was arrested Sunday night in Atlanta on charges of burglary and criminal trespassing. According to police authorities, Williams allegedly broke into a house and attempted to steal jewelry and other items
The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office reports Micah S. Katt Williams was arrested following a call from an unidentified homeowner Sunday night reporting an intruder had “gained entry by breaking into the home, and items were taken from the residence.” Katt Williams was identified as the suspect in the burglary and booked into the Coweta County Jail. Williams has been charged with burglary and criminal trespassing and is expect to be arraigned on Monday afternoon.
This is hardly the first time Williams has tangled with the law. The comedian and rapper was sentenced to three years’ probation in 2006 after being caught carrying a concealed firearm in his briefcase at the Los Angeles International Airport. A year ago, Williams was arrested again after police found a gun in his car during a traffic stop in New York City. Those charges were later dismissed
Tags: bottlenose dolphin, porpoise vs dolphin, tortoise for sale, long sleeved dresses, dance dresses
Porpoises are small cetaceans of the family Phocoenidae; they are related to whales and dolphins. They are distinct from dolphins, although the word "porpoise" (pronounced /ˈpɔrpəs/) has been used to refer to any small dolphin, especially by sailors and fishermen. The most obvious visible difference between the two groups is that porpoises have flattened, spade-shaped teeth distinct from the conical teeth of dolphins, and shorter beaks.
The name derives from French pourpois, originally from Medieval Latin porcopiscus (porcus pig + piscus fish).
Porpoises, divided into six species, live in all oceans, mostly near the shore. Freshwater populations of the Finless Porpoise also exist. Probably the best known species is the Harbour Porpoise, which can be found across the Northern Hemisphere. Like all toothed whales, porpoises are predators, using sounds to locate prey and to coordinate with others. They hunt fish, squid, and crustaceans.
Porpoises apparently diverged from dolphins about 15 million years ago in the northern Pacific, then spread across the globe much later.
Marine biologists have figured out why a growing number of dead harbor porpoises have been found on California beaches in recent years: dolphin attacks.
Now they're trying to determine a reason for them.
Okeanis, a Moss Landing-based conservation group, shot video of bottlenose dolphins fatally attacking a porpoise. It helps explain why carcasses were found with internal bleeding, rake marks and broken bones.
"We saw severe beatings," said Okeanis Chief Scientist Daniela Maldini. "It was a mob of dolphins."
The video shows male dolphins coralling the porpoise, ramming it and drowning it, then bringing the carcass to researchers on a boat and swimming away.
Those images, taken for the first time last September, were the first to even depict dolphin-on-porpoise violence.
Dan Costa, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz, said such an act of violence is not as unusual as it might seem in the wild.
"Everybody thinks flipper is this nice, mellow animal," Costa said. "In the wild, there's interactions that occur and not all of them are friendly."
Scientists say about 74 dead porpoises washed up last year in the state.
Okeanis biologists are working with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Marine Mammal Center and other groups to find evidence that will shed more light on the attacks.
One possible explanation for the violence, according to Maldini, could be pent up sexual angst on behalf of male dolphins.
"It could be a little sexual frustration," she said, "and a lot of males around for very few females. That's my favorite in terms of an explanation, but at this point we're fascinated by the behavior and trying to figure it out."
Scientists now want to test the testosterone levels of the male dolphins to see if higher levels could be playing a role.
Maclaren Recalls One Million Strollers After Kids Lose Fingertips in Hinges
A major stroller recall is underway amid concerns that kids can get their fingertips cut off in the carriage hinge, New York’s Daily News reported.
Stroller maker Maclaren is expected to recall about 1 million umbrella strollers sold in the U.S. since 1999, according to the report. The move comes after 12 children reportedly had their fingertips amputated by the strollers.
"Parents should stop using these strollers right away," a source familiar with the recall told the newspaper.
Maclaren, which dubs itself as "a premier British parenting lifestyle company that produces the world's most safe, durable, innovative and stylish baby buggies and strollers," is planning to provide a free kit to cover the stroller's hinge mechanism, the newspaper reported.
The affected models include Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, Techno XLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller.
The voluntary recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
In a press release, the company said: "Safety is our first priority and through this voluntary effort we urge consumers to contact us immediately to obtain the kit which consists of hinge covers designed specifically to fit all Maclaren strollers."
College Football Rankings for Week 11 Have TCU Behind Top 3
The college football rankings for week 11 once again have the top 3 in control, and the rest of the top 10 in flux. The college football rankings in week 11 will be especially interesting in the 4-5 spots, as the
College Football Rankings for Week 11 Have TCU Behind Top 3
college football rankings for week 11 must find a new top team behind the Big 3. In the AP and USA Today college football polls, that team is TCU. But when the BCS rankings come out today, will TCU stay in that No. 4 spot?
In the USA TODAY college football rankings for week 11, TCU is fourth behind Florida, Texas and Alabama, with Cincinnati the new No. 5. The Bearcats leaped over unimpressive Boise State, which dropped to No. 6. In the AP college football poll, Florida, Texas, Alabama, TCU, Cincinnati and Boise State also make up the top 6 order.
Georgia Tech, Pitt, LSU and Ohio State make up the rest of the AP top 10, while the order in the USA TODAY has Georgia Tech, Ohio State, Pitt and USC. Both of the human college football rankings for week 11 are in agreement about the very top, but the BCS rankings are more important right now.
The college football rankings may be accurate in putting TCU as the best team in college football, beyond the Big 3. TCU will get a huge chance to prove it this week, as they visit top-15 Utah. If TCU wins there, and finishes perfect in a Mountain West conference with three top 25 teams, the Horned Frogs will be in the BCS, at least. But they are starting to dream of a national title shot.
However, the college football rankings of week 11 show once again how hard that will be. As long as Florida, Texas and Alabama keep winning, no one else has a chance. Their schedules for the rest of November are very manageable, so it would take a big upset to finally knock these three teams from their pedestals.
TCU and Cincinnati can only keep winning, though TCU has their tough test this week, and Cincinnati has a season-ending Big East title match with Pitt to end the year. If both teams pass these tests, and one of the top 3 slips, then the Horned Frogs and Bearcats could actually make a strong case to get to Pasadena. But of course, college football is likely hoping otherwise.
Hinchey Helps House Pass Bill to Extend Unemployment Insurance Benefits, Homebuyers’ Tax Credit, Business Tax Relief to Stimulate Local Economy
Washington, DC - November 5, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today helped the House pass a bill to provide stability to American families hit hardest by the recession and to stimulate the local economy by extending unemployment benefits, the homebuyers’ tax credit, and tax relief for military families and businesses. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act will provide immediate assistance, extending relief to millions of workers, families, and businesses nationwide. The bill now moves to the White House where President Obama is expected to sign it into law.
“This bill provides a helping hand to those who need it most — Americans who have lost their job and continue to suffer from unemployment for long periods of time in this very difficult economy,” Hinchey said. “The unemployment funds provided in this bill will help people pay for groceries, fill their cars with gas, and pay their mortgage or rent on time. This bill will also help spur the housing market by providing much-needed tax credits to both first-time homebuyers and those who have already been homeowners for at least five years. Additionally, this legislation provides tax relief to businesses so that they can stay afloat in the face of difficult economic circumstances.”
The legislation Hinchey voted for today will provide unemployed New Yorkers who have exhausted or will exhaust their benefits before the end of this year with an additional 20 weeks of emergency unemployment compensation. The extension is fully paid for and will provide an immediate, effective stimulus to the local economy. The Congressional Budget Office has cited unemployment benefits as one of the most cost-effective forms of economic stimulus, and every dollar spent on unemployment benefits generates $1.63 in new demand, according to Moody’s chief economist Mark Zandi.
Importantly, the bill also extends the popular $8,000 first-time homebuyers tax credit, which has been credited with helping to revive the housing market, to April 30, 2010 and provides a new $6,500 credit to homebuyers who have lived in their current residence for five years or more. It also helps military families struggling to make mortgage payments by making those payments tax-exempt.
To breathe life back into American businesses suffering from huge losses, the bill also allows U.S. companies to carry back losses incurred in either 2008 or 2009 against income earned in any of the five prior years.
For the 11th year in a row, Ironman Florida brings the race back to the warm Gulf waters of Panama City Beach. Last year’s event was a blast with many walking (or limping) away with personal best records and Bella Bayliss walking away with the trophy. This year’s event will start out in the Gulf behind Boardwalk Beach Resort and the final runners at the end of the race will finish their day at Spinnaker Beach club.
Read on for all the details.
Last year we were in attendance and took tons of great shots. This year, our attendance will be limited as I have some plans with my family, but I will be there for the start of the swim and transition from swim to bike, shooting timelapse. I love timelapse.
Here is our recap from last year: http://pcbdaily.com/video/ironman-florida-pictures-and-timelapse-video
From IronmanFlorida.com:
Panama City Beach Florida, with its vast and expansive beaches and emerald waters off the Gulf of Mexico, is a premium vacation spot for those seeking the warmth and sunshine of a tropical climate. This weekend, though, athletes will add a unique way to experience this paradise – by swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running 26 miles. On Saturday, the 11th edition of the Ford Ironman Florida will see over 2,200 participants start the race on a course that has “Personal Best” or “Personal Record” written all over it. With it’s two-looped swim out of the way, competitors head out on the single loop bike and double looped run courses that are both pancake flat and fast. It will be no vacation here for those in the professional race. Five-time Ford Ironman Florida champion, Bella Bayliss (left), is returning to defend her title and will, without a doubt, be favored to win. With eleven Ironman championships on her resume, who can argue? Bayliss has five wins in Florida in eight attempts. She knows this course and what it takes to win here. Nina Kraft and Heather Gollnick both possess multiple Ironman titles and will present Bayliss with a challenge on Saturday. Kraft won Ford Ironman Florida in 2007. The 40-year-old also has two wins in stand-alone marathons this year. She ran in the 2:45 range for both of them and arrives in Panama City Beach fit. If she’s on her game, Kraft could make Bayliss’s attempt to win her sixth Ironman Florida title a bit of a challenge.
Schedule
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Start
End
Event
Location
9:00 a.m.
5:00 p.m.
Ironman Merchandise Store
Spinnaker Parking Lot
9:00 a.m.
5:00 p.m.
Ironman Bike Store
Spinnaker Parking Lot
9:00 a.m.
4:30 p.m.
Ford Ironman Florida Expo
Spinnaker Parking Lot
10:00 a.m.
4:00 p.m.
Athlete Check-In
Spinnaker Parking Lot
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Start
End
Event
Location
8:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
Gatorade Bag Check
Behind the Boardwalk Beach Resort on the beach
9:00 a.m.
5:00 p.m.
Ironman Merchandise Store
Spinnaker Parking Lot
9:00 a.m.
5:00 p.m.
Ironman Bike Store
Spinnaker Parking Lot
9:00 a.m.
4:30 p.m.
Ford Ironman Florida Expo
Spinnaker Parking Lot
10:00 a.m.
4:00 p.m.
Athlete Check-In
Spinnaker Parking Lot
5:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Ford Ironman Florida 11th Annual Welcome Dinner
Boardwalk Beach Resort Main Ballroom
7:30 p.m.
8:30 p.m.
Mandatory Athlete Meeting
Boardwalk Beach Resort Main Ballroom
Friday, November 6, 2009
Start
End
Event
Location
8:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
Gatorade Bag Check
Behind the Boardwalk Beach Resort on the beach
9:00 a.m.
5:00 p.m.
Ironman Merchandise Store
Spinnaker Parking Lot
9:00 a.m.
5:00 p.m.
Ironman Bike Store
Spinnaker Parking Lot
9:00 a.m.
4:30 p.m.
Ford Ironman Florida Expo
Spinnaker Parking Lot
9:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
2010 Ford Ironman Florida Registration On-Site for 2009 Registered Athletes Only
Spinnaker Parking Lot
10:00 a.m.
3:00 p.m.
Mandatory Bike & Gear Bag Check-in
Boardwalk Beach Resort East Parking Lot
5:00 p.m.
Volunteer Meeting
Boardwalk Beach Resort Main Ballroom
2:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
On-Site Registration & Packet Pickup for the Florida Kids Triathlon.
Spinnaker Parking Lot
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Start
End
Event
Location
4:30 a.m.
Transition Area Opens; Bodymarking Begins
South Thomas Drive in front of the Boardwalk Beach Resort
6:50 a.m.
Pro-Start
7:00 a.m.
Age Group Start
9:00 a.m.
5:00 p.m.
Ironman Merchandise Store
Spinnaker Parking Lot
9:00 a.m.
5:00 p.m.
Ironman Bike Store
Spinnaker Parking Lot
6:30 p.m.
Bike & Gear Check-Out
Boardwalk Beach Resort East Parking Lot
12:00 a.m.
Race Officially Ends
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Start
End
Event
Location
7:45 a.m.
8:45 a.m.
Florida Kids Triathlon Packet Pick-up
Frank Brown Park
9:00 a.m.
Florida Kids Triathlon Race Start
Frank Brown Park
7:00 a.m.
3:00 p.m.
Ironman Merchandise Store
Spinnaker Parking Lot
9:00 a.m.
5:00 p.m.
Ironman Bike Store
Spinnaker Parking Lot
9:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
2010 Ford Ironman Florida Registration for 2009 volunteers and general public
Spinnaker Parking Lot
9:00 a.m.
2:00 p.m.
View & Order ASI Race Photos
Spinnaker Parking Lot
9:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
Lost and Found
Spinnaker Parking Lot
9:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
2010 Ford Ironman World Championship Registration
Spinnaker Parking Lot
11:05 a.m.
2010 Ford Ironman World Championship Roll down
Spinnaker Parking Lot
5:30 p.m.
Philadelphia Insurance Ironman Awards Banquet
Boardwalk Beach Resort Main Ballroom
8:00 p.m.
Athlete Party
Spinnaker’s Beach Club on South Thomas Drive
Monday, November 9, 2009
Start
End
Event
Location
5:30 p.m.
Volunteer Party- Free to all volunteers who wear their volunteer T-Shirt
