Steve Tyler's a Dog, and Jennifer Lopez is a Fox

After all the hype about the "new" era of "American Idol," the season premiere of Season 10 was pretty much just like the season premiere of Season 9.

There were the same weirdos (the guy who burps when he's nervous), the same wannabes (the Britney fanatic), the same sob stories (enter triumph over tragedy here), even the same songs ("Hallelujah" yet again) -- pretty much the same everything.

Jennifer Lopez put it. But here's one pleasant surprise -- they were a lot funnier than we thought they would be. Especially Steven Tyler. While the Aerosmith frontman doesn't have Cowell's frosty wit, he is pretty outrageous. His best line of the night, in response to one contestant: "Well hellfire, save matches, f--- a duck, and see what happens." What??

The "Idol" judging panel also has something else it never had before -- a bona fide sex symbol. Between the hair, the makeup, the clothes and the jewels, you can't take your eyes off of Jennifer Lopez (even if you find her tinny little-girl voice kind of annoying). Even Randy took a peek at her legs, which Tyler was kind enough to point out.

Which brings us to another point about Tyler -- he's a dog. Not "the dog" like Randy -- a "dog," as in a pig. Tyler loves the ladies, and the ladies -- most young enough to be his granddaughters -- love him right back. At 62, he had no problem pointing out that a super-wholesome 16-year-old was showing "just the right amount" of leg.

One major criticism: More so than the judges of yore, this panel seems a little too willing to send the freaks to Hollyweird -- most notably Tiffany Morris, a well-endowed dance teacher who literally let it all hang out while singing about how America needs her for "higher ratings on TV." But Tyler made up for it by addressing the dangling stars on her skimpy bikini top, asking, "What's with the jujubes on your hoo hoo bes?"

But we kind of wished Simon were there to point out, "If you're so poor, why do you look like you're wearing designer eyeglasses?"

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50th Anniversary of Kennedy's Inauguration

Fifty years ago on this day, a young, dapper American president rose to the podium and delivered an inaugural address that would resonate for decades to come.

For those who witnessed it, Kennedy's inauguration day was anything but smooth. It was freezing. A snowstorm wreaked havoc in Washington, nearly cancelling the inaugural parade.

"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country," said John F. Kennedy in a riveting call to service. "My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

The U.S. Army was put in charge of clearing the streets and former president Herbert Hoover missed the swearing-in ceremony because he couldn't fly into the city. When the ceremony did start, a lectern caught fire during the invocation, which some complained was too long, and Vice President Lyndon Johnson fumbled his words during his swearing-in.

Yet the mood surrounding the event was one that Americans hadn't felt in years.

"There was this tremendous sense of vigor and yes, hope and optimism. It was also a time when we were entering a huge economic boom," remembers ABC News contributor Cokie Roberts, a college freshman at the time who was unable to make it to the inauguration because of the snow.

Kennedy's uplifting inaugural address, remembered by some historians as one of the best in the nation's history, challenged Americans to serve their country at a time when the Cold War simmered overseas and the civil rights struggle grew at home.


"A lot of people who are the senior statesmen of today were the kids in that era who came because of Kennedy, and they came because they were asking what they could for their country," she said.

"The inaugural address was certainly incredibly well-received. And the whole gravity, the credence and the whole business of the torch has gone forth to a new generation, that was absolutely true," Roberts said. "The visual image of the turnover from Eisenhower to Kennedy, it was very striking -- a man who was a general in World War II versus this man who was the second youngest president, who was a kid on a PT boat."

Kennedy's election marked many firsts for the United States. At age 43, he was the youngest president to be elected. Teddy Roosevelt came to the White House at 42, but he replaced William McKinley, who was assasinated. Kennedy was also the first, and to this date, the only Catholic elected as commander-in-chief and he brought a sense of excitement to many American Catholics that hasn't been seen since.

Those close to him also remember him as an amiable, funny president, a marked departure from his predecessor, Dwight D. Eisenhower.

"President Kennedy, the first time he met you he asked your name and he never forgot it. The second time, he asked your wife's name and your children's names, and he was personable with the agents and very much a free spirit compared to President Eisenhower," said Gerald Blaine, a Secret Service agent in Eisenhower and Kennedy's security detail and co-author of the "The Kennedy Detail: JFK's Secret Service Agents Break Their Silence." "It was such a contrast because he was so young and was totally different."

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New Condominiums Supplied..

The institute said 2,500 units will be put on the market in January. It expects 50,000 units to be supplied in the Tokyo metropolitan area in calendar 2011, showing the highest level since 2007, when 61,021 units were supplied. In 2010, 44,535 units were supplied in the area. The number of new condominiums supplied in Tokyo and surrounding cities rose 40.8% on year to 7,388 units in December, marking the 11th straight month of increase, the Real Estate Economic Institute said. Out of the 7,388 units supplied, 5,806 units, or 78.6%, were signed for purchasing, staying above 70% for 12 straight months. Figures above 70% are widely seen as indicating steady demand. 

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The American Idol Contestant Alex Lambert Not Homeless

Well, on Monday night, Lambert posted a string of tweets in which he claimed he'd been forced to live on the streets of Los Angeles since October, when he wrapped up his stint on the reality series "If I Can Dream," the online show he fled to after being booted from "Idol."


On the eve of the season 10 debut of "American Idol," one of last season's most lovable losers has gotten himself back into the news. Perhaps you remember (though probably not) stage-fright-wracked singer Alex Lambert, the talented but nervous guitar strummer whose ouster unleashed an online petition of support from more than 13,000 fans who wanted him reinstated to the show.


According to Entertainment Weekly, however, things are not nearly as grim as they might seem. A spokesperson for an "Idol" production company, 19 Entertainment, which manages many of the show's contestants, confirmed that the tweets did come from Lambert but denied that the 20-year-old Texas singer is sleeping behind dumpsters. "He's not homeless. I don't know where that came from," the unidentified rep told EW, explaining that there's good reason to believe that Lambert should have the ability to pay for housing thanks to his development deal with 19. "He's on a retainer, and he's getting money every month," the spokesperson said. "He's working on demos. He's with writers, he's working on music. ... He's not homeless. How could he be texting? How could he be going into [the] recording studio and sleeping on the streets? There's no record deal yet, but hopefully these demos ... something could come from that."


After chatting with some fellow fans and former "Idol" pals about his frustrations with the music biz, Lambert dropped this bombshell: "Ever since 'IICD' ended I've been kinda homeless! Sleepin on the street and behind buildings. I have a choice to stay and pursue my career or go back to texas and not do music! I'm usually a strong person but I can't take it anymore. I've been goin to coffee shops and other stores so I can tweet to my snaf! Because to be honest! You guys are all I really have!"


Perhaps someone at 19 had a chat with Lambert about his down and out in Beverly Hills claims, since he updated his status on Tuesday afternoon, writing, "Sorry for the miscommunication ;) I'm just fine! MAHALO!"


And even though he claimed to be living on the streets, he asked his followers not to feel sorry for him, adding, "I know a lot of people think I tweeted my living situation for publicity! But I don't give a damn about fame!" But then he muddied the waters again with some follow-up tweets in which he stated emphatically, "I'm real! And I don't lie! and I would never lie to y'all! (y'all being my supporters who got my back through thick and thin) F--- yeah I was ... sleepin outside! That sh-- sucks too! I'm goin back home to get my sh-- together! But I will be back! And I'm comin strong! LETS DO THIS!"


Don't miss our "American Idol" live stream "Judging the Judges: An 'Idol' Without Simon," featuring post-show analysis from Jim Cantiello and special guests, on MTV.com tonight at 10 p.m. ET. Tweet your "Idol" commentary with the hashtag #idolwithoutsimon, and we could quote you on the show!

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Big Budget SPCA to New 4 Year Deal, Ana Zorrilla Leads

The SPCA has been at the heart of animal control in New Orleans for the past 60 years, but talk with the city financiers and the SPCA broke down after the latter said they would be unable to continue offering their services on the budget of $1.7m which the city was offering.


New Orleans is at the centre of a storm today after it has been announced by Mayor Mitch Landrieu that the Louisiana SPCA (LA/SPCA) will continue to provide animal control services for the city after a new four-year co-operative endeavour agreement was signed.


The city has stumped up a further $200k, offering $1.92m to seal the deal which they believe is a good investment.


Ana Zorrilla, CEO of the LA/SPCA told the press, “The LA/SPCA is nationally recognized for the standards we set in animal care and sheltering, we look forward to continuing these high quality services our citizens have come to expect for the animals of New Orleans.”
There is now however a public backlash with many citizens questioning the quality of service provided by the LA/SPCA, and many feel that comments made by Zorrilla prior to the new deal were nothing short of scare-mongering.


“This is a big win for the residents and animals of New Orleans,” said Mayor Landrieu. “As was done with so many other contracts, our negotiations have been guided by my fiduciary responsibility to secure quality services for a price the city can afford. The LA/SPCA has been providing quality animal control and enforcement services for decades. As great community partners, their board, volunteers and donors have stepped up. We are pleased to have a fiscally responsible agreement in place for the next four years.”


Questions about where the money goes have also been raised by the public, after many reports claim that untrained volunteers were working in the SPCA facility, and that cats and dogs were being euthanized for the most mundane of illnesses.
Others have stated that the SPCA is only interested in housing pure-bred cats or dogs, and has little or no time for strays – presumably because there is little profit in housing or re-homing them.


Zorrilla, when appearing before the city council in October, tried to manipulate events using the threat of, “packs of dogs running through the streets,” biting people and threatening children, and feral cats “terrorizing people’s gardens.”


This was her way of squeezing more cash out of the city. 
Zorrilla said the SPCA takes in 7,000 stray, unwanted and problem animals a year. Allowed to roam and breed freely, she said, the stray animal population in the city could increase to 320,000 in three years.


The SPCA has recently cut some of its services and no longer responds to calls about attacks by animals, or to collect strays, made outside working hours or on weekends. Those situations are now handled by the police.


Please let us know what you think of Ana Zorrilla and her SPCA, or share an experience you had with them by leaving a comment.
Read more about health risks associated with wild animals, like Rabies and one of its symptoms Aquaphobia.

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Bank Of America's Web Site And Online-Banking Services Inaccessible

Bank of America's Web site and online-banking services inaccessible for some users.


The Charlotte-based bank acknowledged the problem through its "BofA_Help" Twitter account, which has been serving up variations of the following for most of today:
We are aware of the issue and are working to resolve it as fast as possible. Please accept our apologies.


Twitter updates with the "#bofa" hashtag suggest this outage began before 8 this morning. The site wouldn't load about noon; more recently, it's been appearing exceedingly slowly, as if it were on the wrong end of a dial-up modem.


Bank of America experienced a similar outage in January of 2010, not long after it paid off a $45 billion government bailout. Conspiracy-minded readers may wish to note that in December of last year, BofA announced that it would no longer process money transfers to WikiLeaks -- which many people expect will soon publish some of the bank's internal documents. Similar cutoffs of Wikileaks by Visa and MasterCard earlier that month resulted in brief but successful denial-of-service attacks against those firms' sites.


Are you a BofA customer? How much trouble have you had using the bank's online services? And what's your guess about what's happened to its site?

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Cowboys to hire Rob Ryan

The Cowboys are committed to the 3-4 defense, and Ryan is the third coordinator Garrett interviewed who has experience in that system. However, San Diego scooped up Greg Manusky, and San Francisco is reportedly set to keep Vic Fangio with new head coach Jim Harbaugh. Paul Pasqualoni, who closed the season as the Cowboys' coordinator, is now the head coach at UConn.


The Dallas Cowboys will hire Rob Ryan as their defensive coordinator, a team source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.


Calvin Watkins, Tim MacMahon and Todd Archer have the Dallas Cowboys blanketed for ESPNDallas.com. Blog
More: ESPN Dallas
10 In '10: Highlights   Lowlights 


Cleveland had the 22nd-ranked defense in 2010, allowing 350.1 yards per game, and it was tied for 13th with 20.8 points allowed per game. The Cowboys allowed 351.8 yards and 27.3 points per game in 2010. While not tremendous numbers, the Browns defense improved nine spots in yards in 2010 and had a spike in turnovers with 19 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries.


Ryan interviewed with Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett and owner/general manager Jerry Jones on Friday. While Ryan still has a year left on his deal in Cleveland, the Browns will go in a different direction under new coach Pat Shurmur.


Ryan, the twin brother of New York Jets had coach Rex Ryan, has spent the past two seasons as Cleveland's defensive coordinator after a five-year stint with the Oakland Raiders. He won two Super Bowl rings in New England as the Patriots' linebackers coach. His father, Buddy, was a longtime NFL coach and irked many Cowboys fans during his time in Philadelphia.

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Investing in social media can offer high reward with high risks

Earlier this month, California investment company NeXt BDC Capital Corp. started a closed-end mutual fund to buy shares in fast-growing private tech startups, which could include Facebook and other social media. That would give the public, who can buy closed-end shares that are traded like stocks, a chance to get in on the action.


And some mutual funds are reporting stakes in social media, though those investments are often only a fraction of a fund's portfolio. Baltimore's T. Rowe Price Group was one of several companies reportedly in talks to buy stakes in online deal site Groupon. Price is not commenting, but after avoiding the tech fads during the Internet bubble, the company has dabbled in the social media space through several of its funds.


But while early investing can mean the potential payoff is greater, so are the risks.


For every powerhouse like Google, there are dozens of Internet companies that flop. Still, a decade after the dot-com bubble that burst, there is no shortage of investors trying to get a piece of the next online blockbuster.


Lately, much of the hype has centered on social media.


While many of the big names — Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter — may sell stock publicly through IPOs one day, they have been raising capital by selling stakes to institutional investors, venture capitalists and wealthy investors. Mom-and-pop investors — and users of social media — also are angling for ways to invest in these private companies.


With little public information about the financial performance of social media, it's difficult to put a value on these private companies and many other tech startups, analysts said. And questions remain about whether the hot startups can turn a profit and sustain it.


"The question for investors is when you look at some of the private companies out there, are they the next Google or not?" said Jordan Rohan, an Internet analyst at Stifel Nicolaus. "There's no easy answer to that."


"One of the major issues — this goes back to the dot-com crisis and the bubble effect — is everything is based on an estimation," said Roger Staiger, an adjunct professor of finance at Johns Hopkins University's Carey School of Business. "It's not really based on real cash projection."


Investors also need to consider the fluidity of social media — where technology, trends and consumer interest can swiftly change, analysts said.


Just a few years ago, MySpace was the dominant social networking website, and it was snatched up by News Corp. for $580 million in 2005. But Facebook has now taken over, and MySpace announced plans last week to lay off nearly half of its work force.


"Sustaining a social network allure is difficult to achieve," said Rohan of Stifel. "So far, Facebook and a handful of others have done so. The allure of MySpace has faded."


But unlike the buying frenzy during the 1990s dot-com boom, which pumped up the stocks of many companies, today's investors are putting up the cash for a more select group of private startups, said Harry Weller, a general partner of venture capital firm NEA, an early investor in Groupon.


"People are more focused on investing in the winners because of the lessons learned during the Internet bubble," said Weller, who is based in NEA's Chevy Chase office and sits on Groupon's board.


Indeed, venture capitalists and other big investors are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into recognizable names.


Such trades have drawn the attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is looking into whether it enables some firms to avoid public financial disclosure requirements. SecondMarket said this month that it received a request for information regarding "pre-IPO pooled investment funds" and is cooperating with the regulator's inquiry.


Staiger of the Carey business school said such private investment should be limited to wealthy individuals because "common shareholders are not going to understand the complexity of the product."


Goldman Sachs, which bought a stake in Facebook for $450 million a few weeks ago, recently offered its wealthy clients an opportunity to buy shares of the social networking site now valued at $50 billion. Groupon raised $950 million during its most recent private fund-raising. Groupon is pushing ahead with plans for a public offering that could value the company at $15 billion, according to published reports late last week.


Wealthy individuals can buy private stocks of Facebook, Twitter and other tech startups on secondary trading markets like SecondMarket and SharesPost.


Individuals must have income exceeding $200,000 or $1 million in assets to trade stocks on these secondary exchanges. On SecondMarket, for instance, the average transaction size is $2 million, according to spokeswoman Aishwarya Iyer.

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Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan, Winner Good Or Bad Example For Girls?

Teresa Scanlan, Miss Nebraska, was crowned the Miss America 2011 winner at last night’s Miss America Pageant. As one of the youngest Miss America contestants to ever compete in the pageant, Teresa Scanlan beat Miss Arkansas to take the crown.


Teresa Scanlan has done work in the past to help girls with eating disorders, but by participating in a competition where beauty and perfection is the main focus, is she contradicting her work?


The Miss America pageant does come with a scholarship prize, and the Miss America winner always goes on to do charity and volunteer work, etc. There is an academic component to the pageant, but honestly, have you ever seen a Miss America contestant who wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous and a size 2?


Many young girls were likely watching the Miss America Pageant with their parents last night and looked on in awe at all of those beautiful ladies on stage. Now that Teresa Scanlan is Miss America 2011, she will serve as a role model to girls across this country. As the winner of a beauty pageant, is Teresa Scanlan setting a good or bad example for our youth?

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Ireland's PM to make statement

A number of ministers have told Cowen he needs to step down following revelations he played golf with the former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank just months before the scandal-riddled lender was taken into state care.


If Cowen decides to resign as head of Fianna Fail he could stay on as caretaker prime minister and call a parliamentary election, as already planned, once the last piece of legislation underpinning the budget is passed, likely in February.


"The Taoiseach (prime minister) has decided what he is going to decide and it is a matter for the Taoiseach to articulate that and not me," Deputy Prime Minister Mary Coughlan told state radio RTE.


"He will be making a public announcement later on in the evening."




But remaining on as premier without the full confidence of his own colleagues would be difficult and he may decide to dissolve parliament and call an immediate election instead.


The media reports have revived allegations of cozy relations between Fianna Fail and the bankers and property developers whose reckless loans brought the country's economy to its knees forcing Dublin to seek a humiliating EU/IMF bailout last year.


Such allegations have spooked some senior cabinet colleagues and backbench MPs already fearful of losing their seats in what is set to be a record rout for the Fianna Fail party in the upcoming poll.

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Al Borges will adapt to Robinson

Brady Hoke, hired as Michigan's 19th coach Tuesday, is building his staff. But Borges, who has a rich coaching background, including stops at Auburn and UCLA, has joined Hoke from San Diego State. He'll arrive in Ann Arbor on Saturday. 


New Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges runs a pro-style offense, but he made clear he'll make it work for quarterback Denard Robinson. 


Borges said he looks forward to sittingdown with Robinson, the Big Ten's offensive player of the year, and making sure he knows the offense will be built around him — at quarterback. 


"I think the best thing when I talk to him is emphasizing that regardless of where I've been, it's not about me, and that we're creating this thing from ground up and the quarterback spearheads what we're going to do on offense," Borges, 55, told The News on Thursday. "You've got Denard, who we're going to keep at quarterback, and we're going to wean our team into some of the pro-style concepts, but we're not going to lose what he's capable of. I'm not smart, but I'm not dumb enough to not know that. He's got a skill we're going to exploit." 


Robinson, a first-year starter as a sophomore in Rodriguez's spread-option offense, became the first quarterback in Division I history to both rush and pass for 1,500 yards in a season. 


"What I will tell him is I coached two first-round (NFL quarterback draft picks in Cade McNown and Jason Campbell), and we accommodated them," Borges said. "We gave them the vehicle for success. They drove it, and they drove it well." 


Campbell was the Southeastern Conference MVP in 2004, the season Borges became offensive coordinator at Auburn, and McNown was an All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist for UCLA under Borges' tutelage. 


Borges runs a pro-style offense, but he said it has gone through much tweaking over the years, and describes his philosophy as more of a hybrid pro-style. 




Borges also coached Auburn running backs Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown, who were first-round picks. 
'He can throw'


He has run some aspects of the spread offense. 


"To say we're a spread team, we're not that," Borges said. "But you can't say, we're going to blow up and start all over again, not when you have a talent like (Robinson). We want to get back to some power offense, get down in the stance and knock people off the ball and give our kids a chance to kick butt. Within that scope, we then let our quarterback do what he does well. 


"I've been doing this for 24 years. I'm no genius and I do not pretend to be one, but I have a hell of a lot of experience with a lot of different types of quarterbacks." 


"What we'll do is, we'll add a little bit to the offense, we'll exploit his running skills because he's used to running the ball — we'll exploit his running ability, but we'll make him a better passer. If he doesn't rush for a gazillion yards and we could make that up with a little more passing, we'd be a little better off."

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James Cameron's "Avatar" was the year's box-office champion

James Cameron's "Avatar" was the year's box-office champion, grossing $117.1 million. Two other 3D movies, "Shrek Forever After" and "Alice in Wonderland," made the box office top ten.

Revenues increased by 43% from $736.2 million in the previous year to $1.05 billion.
"The increase was obviously due to the large-scale spread of the 3D format," Alexei Ryazantsev, general director of the distributor Karo-Premier, told The Hollywood Reporter. "Movies like 'Avatar,' 'Clash of the Titans' and 'Alice in Wonderland' were primarily responsible for the rise. And the number of screens suitable for 3D nearly doubled during the last year."

He added that the trend is likely to continue this year, but viewers will pay more attention to quality, and the very fact of a film being in 3D will no longer be sufficient for a good box office performance.



Meanwhile, local fare didn't do very well. Russian films' share in the total box office plummeted for a second year in a row, from 24% to 15%.

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Bob Beyfuss Research

Bob Beyfuss where he served as the Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Leader and also as the NY State specialist for American Ginseng Production for Cornell University Cooperative Extension.

He is the author of “American Ginseng Production in NY State”, “The Practical Guide to Growing Ginseng” (a 65 page grower’s guide), “Ginseng Production in Woodlots” “The Economics of Woodland Ginseng Production”, (both published by the USDA National Agroforestry Center) “Growing Gourmet Mushrooms from A to Z” “Companion Planting” and several other fact sheets regarding ginseng, organic gardening and mushroom growing in forested environments. Bob is also an Internationally Certified Arborist.

Bob received his Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University in 1973, majoring in Botany and his Master’s degree in Agriculture from Cornell University in 1987. His Master’s project was “The History, Use and Cultivation of American Ginseng”

Mr. Beyfuss is currently conducting research on woodland production of ginseng and other botanical crops. He offers Agroforestry Consulting and continues to teach courses on Woodland Ginseng Production, Mycology and several other topics related to Natural Resources Income Opportunities.

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Christie Brinkley Tay That however Remains a Secret

One-time mega-model Christie Brinkley is saying that she is in no hurry to find love again.
Christie has been divorced for the last two years (most recently married to Peter Cook and previously to the sensational singer Billy Joel) but insists that she has recovered well, courtesy a 'novel way' of bouncing back from the blues.

Considering that she is the mother of 3 kids aged 25, 15 and 12, that is a huge statement that she made to People magazine.

That however, remains a secret.

She insists though that her current work makes her a better mom and that she does not at all neglect her kids.

“It gives me a little door to step out of my parenting and bring back the excitement from olden day back into my life, she says.

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Batman - 'Million Dollar Money Drop' random facts

First up was the most popular boy's name in 2009. Jacob (Thanks, "Twilight"!) was the correct answer over Michael and Ethan. Next, we have "Which celebrity woman has been divorced the most?" The choices were Christie Brinkley, Heather Locklear, Drew Barrymore and Britney Spears. The correct answer was Brinkley and Locklear.

Another random fact we learned from the episode was that Christian Bale starred in the highest grossing "Batman" movie, beating out Michael Keaton and George Clooney.

Also, did you know that "American Pie" is the longest classic rock and roll song? Well, now you do. "American Pie" is 8 and 1/2 minutes long, while "Bohemian Rhapsody" is around 5 minutes and "Ramblin' Man" clocks in at 4 minutes and 48 seconds. This question knocked out the first girls playing in the episode and the two split their money between "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Ramblin' Man." Kind of funny considering "American Pie" almost doubles their running time, no?

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New Zodiac Signs Changed in 2011

ccording to Minnesota Planetarium Society board member Parke Kunkle the signs of the zodiac have changed because the gravitational force of the Moon has managed to tilt the planet’s axis a bit since the Babylonians determined the dates of the Zodiac couple of a million of years ago.

Today we have also learned that not only the way you read horoscope has changed – we have also discovered that there may be a 13th Zodiac sign called Ophiuchus.

Thanks to those new findings, you are strongly advised to remove your Capricorn tattoo – as it turned out you are really a Sagittarius. The next time you open a new paper and want to read your horoscope take the following information into consideration:

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Sarah Palin showing a light on political rhetoric caustic

In a eight-minute video posted on her Facebook page, Palin thwarted her critics' claims that her firearms-infused political attacks contributed to the gruesome assassination attempt of Representative Gabrielle Giffords, Democrat of Arizona, in Tucson, which led to the deaths of six and left as many as 14 wounded.

"Acts of monstrous criminality stand on their own. Especially within hours of a tragedy unfolding, journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence that they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible," Palin remarks in the video released early Wednesday.

Incidentally or rather ironically, Palin was trying to defend herself from the allegations that her words caused the 22-year-old suspected gunman Jared Loughner into taking the violent step when she blurted out the words heavy with religious symbolism that has stirred off a huge storm now.

The "blood libel" takes root in an ugly accusation slapped against Jews that they murdered Christain children and used of their blood to make matzos, a cracker-like unleavened bread, for Passover, a festival. The blood accusation has been one among many claims used to justify the persecution of Jews.

The Arizona shooting has been on the news ever since the incident and the media coverage has been fraught with rhetorics. Shortly after the tragedy, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik claimed "vitriolic rhetoric" was a potential source for the violence.

Vitriol refers to sulfuric acid, one of the most corrosive substances and most dangerous chemicals. Vitriol, which stems from Latin 'vitrium' meaning 'of glass', has been used poetically since ages. The word recently figured the political warfare. In April 2010, President Barack Obama referred to some cable talk shows as vitriol.

Sheriff Clarence Dupnik's eloquent linking of Saturday's devastating shooting to "the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government", had sparked off debates over words and language leading to actions.

However, the latest from Palin has raised other questions. While media questions if Palin even completely understood the implication of the usage of "blood libels", linguists have explainted why the usage of this particular phrase has invoked so much anger.

By using the specific and intense sense of "blood libel" to refer to verbal criticisms, Palin has implied an equivalence between both circumstances.

The Atlantic Wire quoted famous linguist Deborah Tannen as explaining that the whole episode is a case of semantic bleaching, a phenomenon where a word or term with a specialized meaning takes on a more generalized set of associations with time. The linguistics professor argued that the words and phrases lose their literal meaning over time, while other contentions included the possibility of the term simply thought to mean "a false accusation regarding responsibility for harm to others."

Meanwhile, Sharron Angle, the unsuccessful GOP Senate candidate from Nevada, has also refused allegations that her campaign rhetoric played a role in Tuscon shooting attack.

In a statement, Angle said, "I have consistently called for reasonable political dialogue on policy issues to encourage civil political education and debate."

"Inappropriately attributing blame of a singular tragedy to achieve a political agenda is contrary to civil discourse, and is a media ploy to which I refuse to belong."

Allegations against Angle stemmed from her feiry campaign rhetoric targeted against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, when she suggested that voters would turn to "Second Amendment" remedies if they had no other way to settle grievances with Congress.

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Criticism of Palin to The Producers 'Blood Libel' as Supporters Cite Sharron Angle Speech Limits

Sarah Palin made a call to conscience Wednesday for those who would manufacture "a blood libel" for last weekend's Arizona shooting, saying "acts of monstrous brutality ... begin and end with the criminals who commit them, not collectively" with Americans exercising their constitutional freedoms.
The former Republican vice-presidential candidate, the target of many pontificators ascribing motive to gunman Jared Lee Loughner, charged in the Tucson attack that killed six and injured 14 others, had been silent since shortly after the Saturday shooting when she issued a two-line statement offering her prayers for the families and victims.
But Palin's name -- and those of others, including Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle -- had been central in the early accusations over what spurred the shooting. Liberal media pundits assigned blame by citing Palin's political action committee's website, which showed crosshairs on districts that it was targeting in the November midterm, including the district of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the believed target of the gunman who was wounded in the shooting.
Others said Angle's comments on the campaign trail also incited violence. The debate about heated political rhetoric ratcheted up so quickly and vigorously -- even before Loughner had been identified as the alleged shooter -- some Democratic lawmakers called for curbs on free speech.
In a Facebook posting issued Wednesday morning, Palin lamented the "irresponsible statements" of those casting blame on political figures.


"If you don't like a person's vision for the country, you're free to debate that vision. If you don't like their ideas, you're free to propose better ideas. But, especially within hours of a tragedy unfolding, journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible," Palin said.

 
She added that claims that the political rhetoric is somehow more heated today than ever before seem unfounded, noting that "back in those 'calm days'" of the Republic, political differences were occasionally settled with "dueling pistols."
Palin was immediately criticized for the statements, including her use of the term "blood libel," which historically has referred to the Medieval effort to try to demonize Jews by falsely accusing them of murdering Christians to use their blood in ritual.
"You know, Sarah Palin just can't seem to get it, on any front. I think she's an attractive person, she is articulate," Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., reportedly told the Bill Press radio show. "But I think intellectually, she seems not to be able to understand what's going on here."
But Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz defended Palin's use of the term "blood libel," saying it "has taken on a broad metaphorical meaning in public discourse.
"There is nothing improper and certainly nothing anti-Semitic in Sarah Palin using the term to characterize what she reasonably believes are false accusations that her words or images may have caused a mentally disturbed individual to kill and maim. The fact that two of the victims are Jewish is utterly irrelevant to the propriety of using this widely used term," he told BigGovernment.com.
As Palin decried the exploitation of the Arizona shooting, some lawmakers said federal regulations are needed to stop heated speech.
Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., on Monday referenced a comment by Angle in calling for a change in the nation's political dialogue -- by will or by law.
"'Don't retreat, reload.' Someone in Nevada saying we may need to use Second Amendment remedies. There's only one way to read this," Slaughter said.
Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., told Fox News that Angle "talked about people rising up and taking over the government by force, using their guns. She was very explicit."
Sherman said that even if language used by Angle and her supporters hadn't incited the shootings in Arizona, eventually it will lead to violence.
"I'm saying if you have a heart attack, stop smoking, not because nicotine may or may not have caused your last heart attack, you'll never know, but it's going to cause the next one," Sherman said. "And if we continue to bring into the mainstream and treat as civil those who call for violence and disruption and assassination and revolution and insurrection, then whether that caused what happened in Tucson or not, it will cause the next tragedy."
Angle defended herself in a statement released late Tuesday.
"Expanding the context of the attack to blame and to infringe upon the people's constitutional liberties is both dangerous and ignorant. The irresponsible assignment of blame to me, Sarah Palin or the Tea Party movement by commentators and elected officials puts all who gather to redress grievances in danger," Angle said.
"Finger-pointing toward political figures is an audience-rating game and contradicts the facts as they are known," Angle added. "I have consistently called for reasonable political dialogue on policy issues to encourage civil political education and debate. Inappropriately attributing blame of a singular tragedy to achieve a political agenda is contrary to civil discourse, and is a media ploy to which I refuse to belong."
In the wake of the shooting, the National Hispanic Media Coalition used the incident to reiterate its call for the FCC to update its definitions of hate speech in media. It also asked the FCC to "examine the extent and effects of hate speech in media, and non-regulatory options for counteracting the violence that extreme rhetoric breeds."
Rep. Robert Brady, D-Pa., said he has no knowledge about what motivated Loughner to attack Giffords and the others, but he still wants legislation that bans the use of certain imagery when talking about congressional targets.
"I want to eliminate what may have been," Brady told Fox News. "I'm not a psychologist ... All I'm saying is you can't put a bull's eye or a crosshair on a member of Congress."
And on Tuesday, Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., was quoted in the Oregon Statesman-Journal saying he blamed conservative media personalities like Fox News' Glenn Beck and radio host Rush Limbaugh.
"I hold them personally responsible. I don't know how they can sleep at night after this," Schrader said.
Loughner, the accused gunman with no discernible connection to American political discourse, has not stated why he allegedly shot 20 people in the assault at a Tucson Safeway grocery store. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that the community college student who had been suspended last October had frequented gaming websites seeking answers to questions about why he couldn't find a job or get a girlfriend.
More than a decade ago, lawmakers like Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., warned that violence in movies and video games could cause violence in life. But graphic imagery and heated rhetoric moved to the political theater long before that.
Several recent examples have been offered from both sides of the aisle, including President Obama's quoting from the film "The Untouchables" in which appears the statement, "If they bring a knife, we'll bring a gun."
And even before movie references, crosshairs and bull's eyes, "battlefields" were drawn across campaign and policy landscapes. President Lyndon Johnson's State of the Union speech called for a figurative "War on Poverty," a precursor to the Reagan administration's equally figurative "War on Drugs."
Slaughter said that while she's not up to speed on current regulations, the Federal Communications Commission should work to sanction broadcasts that could incite people to violence.
"No one owns the airwaves," Slaughter said. "They are owned by the people."
If lawmakers were to seek remedies to quiet distasteful discussion, the so-called Fairness Doctrine is at the top of lists inspiring supporters and alarming opponents.
Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., told National Public Radio said he "came up in a time that the Fairness Doctrine did not allow media outlets to say things about a candidate or a person in public office without giving that person equal time to respond. And I really believe that everybody needs to take a look at where we are pushing things, and may need to take a serious step back and evaluate what's going on here."
Brent Bozell, president of the Media Research Center, said any effort to "use the Arizona tragedy as an excuse to criminalize conservative thought through the FCC" will "backfire magnificently."
"The country is learning that a) there was no conservative 'hate' speech that inspired this killer, and b) that this monster wasn't even a conservative! In the face of those realities, any attempt to tar Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, the Tea Party, or any other conservative leader as responsible in any way will be met with outrage by the American people. If they bring a knife, we'll bring a gun -- as they say," Bozell said.
And not every politician may be on board with a hasty turn to bottling up dissenting voices. Delivering a speech Tuesday, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said media have the power to inspire, motivate and inform. "But they also have the power to inflame and incite. The seething rhetoric has gone too far."
However, Leahy added, "In a free society, the society that we Americans must always want our country to be, the government should not and must not restrain free expression."
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., also suggested Tuesday in a speech at the Center for American Progress that the blame game has no winner.
"The big question wasn't whose rhetoric was right or wrong, but whether our political conversation was worthy of the confidence and trust of the American people," he said.

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The Agriculture Department planning to release new dietary guidelines for the general public

WASHINGTON – Schoolchildren would have to hold the fries – and pick up more whole grains, fruits and vegetables – on the lunch line under proposed new federal standards for school lunches.

The guidelines, which were obtained by the Associated Press and confirmed by USDA, would require schools to cut sodium in those meals by more than half, use more whole grains and serve low fat milk. They also would limit kids to only one cup of starchy vegetables a week, so schools couldn’t offer french fries every day.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the new standards could affect more than 32 million children and are crucial because kids can consume as much as half of their daily calories in school.


While many schools are improving meals already, others are still serving children meals high in fat, salt and calories. The new guidelines are based on 2009 recommendations by the Institute of Medicine, the health arm of the National Academy of Sciences.

The announcement comes just a few weeks after President Barack Obama signed into law a child nutrition bill that will help schools pay for the healthier foods, which often are more expensive.

The subsidized meals that would fall under the guidelines proposed this week are served as free and low-cost meals to low-income children and long have been subject to government nutrition standards. The new law for the first time will extend nutrition standards to other foods sold in schools that aren’t subsidized by the federal government, including “a la carte” foods on the lunch line and snacks in vending machines. Those standards, while expected to be similar, will be written separately.

The announcement is a proposal, and it could be several years before schools are required to make changes.

The new USDA guidelines would:

• Establish the first calorie limits for school meals.

• Gradually reduce the amount of sodium in the meals over 10 years, with the eventual goal of reducing sodium by more than half.

• Ban most trans fats.

• Require more servings of fruits and vegetables.

• Require all milk served to be low fat or nonfat, and require all flavored milks to be nonfat.

• Incrementally increase the amount of whole grains required, eventually requiring most grains to be whole grains.

• Improve school breakfasts by requiring schools to serve a grain and a protein, instead of one or the other.

Some school groups have criticized efforts to make meals healthier, saying it will be hard for already-stretched schools to pay for the new requirements. Some conservatives have charged that telling children what to eat is a case of government overreach.

Vilsack says he understands the new standards may pose some challenges for school districts, but he believes they are necessary. He compares obesity and related diseases like diabetes to a truck barreling toward a child, and the new guidelines are like a parent teaching that child to look both ways before he or she crosses the street.

“You want your kid to be able to walk across the street without getting hit,” he says.

According to the USDA, about a third of children 6 to 19 years old are overweight or obese, and the number of obese children has tripled in the past few decades.

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Sarah Palin's 'blood libel' statement on the Tucson shootings

Sarah Palin's video statement on the Tucson shootings is an interesting example of how meanings can change over time and can be ripped from their original context. This was obviously a well-crafted statement, not something said off the cuff, so Palin and her advisers certainly thought carefully about whether to include these elements.In the new Fact Checker, from time to time we will provide context for the terms that politicians use without awarding any Pinocchios.

Blood libel

Sarah Palin: "If you don't like their ideas, you're free to propose better ideas. But, especially within hours of a tragedy unfolding, journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible."

The Fact Checker: The term "blood libel" has a very distinct history. It refers to the false accusation, dating back centuries, that Jews sacrificed Christian children for various nefarious or even religious purposes - such as using their blood as an ingredient in the unleavened bread in Passover ceremonies. It was a core tenet of anti-Semitism, widely believed in medieval times and beyond, and it often resulted in persecution, murders and other actions against Jews. A pro-Israel Web site lists more than two dozen examples of blood libel against Jews over the centuries, including as recently as 2005 in Russia.



Palin's use of the term has sparked controversy, in part because she is not Jewish and has often spoken of the United States as a Christian nation, and in part because the target of the shooter, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), is Jewish. The liberal pro-Israel group J Street tweeted, "We hope @SarahPalinUSA will recog that Jews are pained by, take offense at use of 'blood libel.' "

But the "blood libel" phrase had already been used in the context of the Tucson tragedy. Conservative commentator Glenn Reynolds first raised it in an opinion article in the Wall Street Journal on Monday, asking, "Where is the decency in blood libel?" Others on the right picked up the phrase as well, leading conservative commentator Jonah Goldberg to wonder if this was appropriate.
"Historically, the term is almost invariably used to describe anti-Semitic myths about how Jews use blood - usually from children - in their rituals. I agree entirely with Glenn's, and now Palin's, larger point. But I'm not sure either of them intended to redefine the phrase, or that they should have," he wrote.

But Jim Geraghty, another commentator for the National Review, quickly collected many other examples of commentators and politicians using the phrase "blood libel" out of context. These include references to Sen. John F. Kerry's testimony to the Senate as Vietnam War veteran and the recount battle in Florida after the 2000 election.

None of those examples, of course, involved such a high-profile individual as Palin. Now that she has used the phrase, the attention surrounding it might yank it back to its origins - or turn it into a new political talking point increasingly divorced from its original meaning


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Holly Lahti declared the winner of his $ 190 million in the Mega Millions Lottery

Holly Lahti declared the winner of his $ 190 million in the Mega Millions Lottery

When Lahti, of Rathdrum, went to the store to check her numbers last week, the employees took her in the back to tell her she won.

She was calm at first, but in the backroom Lahti could no longer contain her excitement. She asked if anyone was in the store. When she was told there wasn’t, Moore said she asked, “Can I scream?”

And scream, she did.

Moore said Lahti, who used to work at a nearby bank, is a regular at the convenience store.

“She comes in at least weekly,” she said. “She never played the lotto before, from what I understand.”

Moore described Lahti as a “very well-rounded individual.”

“She’s got a good head on her shoulders,” she said. “(She’s) very well put together. I think she’ll do really well with this. She’ll do good things.”

Idaho Lottery Director Jeff Anderson announced Wednesday Lahti was the winner of half the $380 million jackpot, the second largest jackpot in history. The convenience store will receive $50,000.

He called Lahti “a delightful individual,” but said she has asked for privacy; the lottery isn’t releasing any more information about her.

Lahti turned her winning ticket over to the lottery office in Boise on Tuesday at the end of the day, and the lottery confirmed that it is the winner. It hasn’t yet paid her, however, Anderson said. She has 60 days to decide whether she wants to take the 26 payments over 25 years, or the smaller lump sum of $120 million, which would equal $81 million after state and federal income taxes.

“She’s given us an indication that she’s willing to talk to the media when she’s got her affairs in order,” Anderson said. “As you might expect, there’s a lot of things that Ms. Lahti has to get in order.” “There’s lots of curious people who want to know who the winner is. This is a big deal.”

Her name was being provided because it is a matter of public record, he said.

If Lahti takes the lump sum payment, the state of Idaho will receive $9.36 million in state income taxes.

Anderson said, “Once people hear this, Ady’s is going to become the luckiest place in northern Idaho.”
And lottery ticket sales have increased there since people found out the winning ticket was sold in Post Falls, Moore said.

Lahti is splitting the $380 million jackpot with an Ephrata, Wash., couple, Jim and Carolyn McCullar, who also picked the winning numbers and came forward last week.

Katie Stillinger said she worked with Lahti at Inland Northwest Bank in Post Falls for several years and said Lahti “really deserves” the money she won.

“She’s a very, very sweet girl. She has a wonderful personality,” said Stillinger, who was a branch manager while Lahti was a teller in new accounts. She said Lahti is a single mother of two young children. “She’s had a hard time raising them by herself and she will do wonderful things with (her winnings).”

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Kidnapping Kids on a Wild and Crazy

The Boston Herald is reporting that an MBTA bus driver has been suspended for locking a group of “terrified” Boston Latin School students in her bus and then taking them on an angry ride because they kept pushing the stop strip…and wouldn’t stop.

WHDH TV in Boston is reporting that, according to a transit police report, the driver, Audrey Arrington, said students were acting up and falsely pushing the bell to get off. The report goes on to say she ordered a group of kids off the bus randomly in Roxbury (not their regular stop) and then headed for her base, an unfamiliar direction for the kids still on the bus. According to parents commenting on the Herald site, some of the kids who were forced off the bus were 12 and had no money or cell phones to call home.

As for the kids still on the bus, apparently some thought that they were being kidnapped. On the WHDH site, Craig Galvin is quoted as saying that he got a “terrified call from his 13-year-old daughter.” He says:

“All I heard was frantic screaming that the bus driver was taking them somewhere where we’re not supposed to be,” said Galvin. He then goes on to describe his feeling as his daughter tried to give him landmarks like a South Boston storage facility:

“Horrified, because I wanted to be able to help her, but I couldn’t. And I didn’t know where she was, nor did I know what was going on.”

Galvin called 911, and the police were waiting when the bus got to its home base.

According to the Herald, “Arrington told police she took that action because the students were pushing the bell to get off the bus, but when she pulled over no one got off and the pranksters wouldn’t confess, the report states. That’s when Arrington allegedly became angry and ordered one group out and then drove the remaining students — who were crying and screaming — back to her base, the police report stated.”

Among the students on the bus? Boston Mayor Tom Menino’s granddaughter.

The driver did not appear to be under the influence of any drugs or alcohol – she simply said that she had somewhere to be that day, and didn’t have time for the kids’ alleged shenanigans. According to WHDH TV, “The MBTA’s general manager made a statement saying that: ‘As public servants, MBTA employees must act in a professional manner at all times and never should they do anything to inflame a situation with customers.’”

For now, the driver is on paid leave, pending the outcome of an investigation this week, and MBTA officials say she will be disciplined.

The reaction from parents so far? All over the map. Some are accusing the driver of kidnapping. Some are coming to her defense with comments like “Hey, what was she supposed to do? At least she drove them to her base.” Still others are arguing that it’s really the kids—and, ultimately, their parents—who could use the disciplinary action: “The parents of the kids caused this problem. There is no discipline in the home. Kids today feel they can give any adult a hard time and not listen to them. This is not the 1st time the brats acted like this. Hey parents, wake up and smell the coffee.”

Still others are left scratching their heads about how times have changed. One commenter said: “You did something like that 40 years ago and the driver would stop the bus and kick your a** right off, and then your parents would do the same when you got home. Too much coddling these days.”

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The North Eastern Winter Snow Storm

MBTA, along with state and city officials have been very vigilant in the response to the nor'easter that spawned a winter snow storm of epic proportions. Here is a short list of things residents and travelers should be aware of in the wake of the storm.

The following information was provided by the General Manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority:
The website was down for a while, but as of 0958 hrs, it is back up and functional.
Greenbush 078 08:50 AM IB experiencing 20-25 min delays due to weather related problem, according to the MBTA General Manager via Twitter.
Transit/Route update: The Red, Orange, and Blue lines are all running good service at this time, according to an MBTA tweet.

Governor Patrick has asked all non-essential state workers to remain home as the travel conditions are very dangerous. However, Patrick reminds the public that he and his administration are ready to tackle the plowing and salting of the roads following the winter snow fall.

According to the National Weather Service, the state, especially in the central and metropolitan areas, can expect snowfall totals up to 24" in some parts.

One final point: According to the governor's office, MBTA will operate on a normal service schedule. However, the Mattapan Line is suspended due to inclement weather.

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Boston's public transportation delayed by snow

Boston was hit with as much as 20 inches snow and public transportation via the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) was in some cases delayed or canceled.

MBTA Services said the Mattapan M-Line was suspended due to heavy snow. Substitute buses will replace regular train service while officials work to remove snow from the train tracks.

The Green Line D is being diverted because a tree fell down the tracks (bus shuttles will run between Newton Highlands and Riverside). For the Green Line E, service will terminate at Brigham Circle.

Due to slippery road conditions, MBTA buses will also omit many stops and connections.

MBTA Services said the Orange Line and Blue Line are running normally.

At Boston's Logan International Airport, all morning flights, about 400 in total, has been canceled, reported the Boston Globe.

Despite the snow-induced havoc, many Bostonian tweeted they successfully arrived to work after delays and sometimes traveling on alternate routes.

"Made it into work today thanks to the #9 MBTA bus, although was running on delay," tweeted Julie Kepnes, a publicist.

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'The Dark Knight Rises' New candidates for Batman's love interest

Christopher Nolan’s search for Hollywood’s Next Top Batman Love Interest — which really needs to be a reality show, preferably one hosted by Uma Thurman in a garland bikini — continues as he prepares to shoot his third and final Bat-flick with star Christian Bale, The Dark Knight Rises. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Inception helmer has a short list of actresses in mind for the alleged role of Talia, who would be both lover and nemesis to Batman. None of this is confirmed (Nolan and Warner Bros. decline to comment on casting or creative details), so this latest report could be a big stinky pile of Bat guano. (Click it. I dare you.) But the names on the list are: Gemma Arterton (Prince of Persia), Jessica Biel (Stealth), Anne Hathaway, Keira Knightley, Kate Mara (127 Hours), and young British TV actress Charlotte Riley, who is also reportedly engaged to actor Tom Hardy, whom Nolan has tapped for an unspecified Batman 3 role. (Hugo Strange or Clayface: Debate!) This alleged “short list” is no longer than the list of actresses that first emerged last November via Deadline.com, which also included Hathaway and Knightley, but had Blake Lively, Natalie Portman, Naomi Watts and Rachel Weisz rounding out the mix. It’s believed that Nolan is looking to cast two female roles.

Just as provocative to hardcore comic book fans, if not more so than the alleged list of actresses, is the name attached to the part for which they are allegedly competing: Talia. To explain her significance to the Batman mythos, allow me to excerpt a passage from a previous post about The Dark Knight Rises, in which I suggested Talia might make for a nifty Bat-nemesis:

“TALIA AL GHUL In Batman Begins, Liam Neeson played a criminal-terrorist named Henri Ducard, aka Ra’s al Ghul, the leader of a legendary organization of assassins called the League of Shadows. Its charter: to lay waste to great cultures gone to seed with corruption or decadence. They tried to recruit Bruce Wayne, but he disagreed with their policy on killing; Batman may be a self-appointed one-man judge and jury, but his illegal vigilante ethos draws the line at executing his enemies. Neeson’s character died in the first film’s fiery subway climax, during which Batman told Ra’s: “I won’t kill you, but I don’t have to save you.” (That’s one way to get around the no-killing rule. Shiver.) In the comics, Ra’s had a daughter — Talia. At one point, Batman even became romantically involved with her. THEORY! In Batman 3, Talia will blow into town as the new leader of the League of Shadows to finish her father’s work — i.e., destroying Gotham — and getting vengeance against Batman for killing her dad, making her an ironic counterpoint to Batman’s own morally murky V for Vendetta adventuring. Along the way: A smooch or two.”

Playing the al Ghul/League of Shadows card would give Nolan the chance to bring his trilogy full circle. But it does raise a question that I’ve long had: Why do superheroes fall for bad girls? Shouldn’t these paragons of virtue be better judges of character? Aren’t they supposed to be, like, smart and stuff? Of course, not every caped crusader is reckless with their heart; see: Superman and Lois Lane. But the ones who are baffle me. Take Bruce Wayne. This is one careful man. He spends more time meticulously maintaining an elaborate long con designed to keep his Batman identity a secret than he does actually being Batman. He’s practically obsessive-compulsive about protecting his compulsive obsession with beating the snot out of men in dark alleys dressed as a giant caped rodent. So what the hell is he doing engaging in the high risk activity of chasing after psychotic hottie tail like Catwoman? Is the tail really that hottie? Does film noir not exist in Batman’s film noir fantasy world? Does he not understand the pernicious peril of the femme fatale? Did Fatal Attraction and most of Michael Douglas’ late eighties/early nineties cinematic output simply not screen in Gotham City?

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flights canceled, New York City declares weather emergency

Within weeks from a blizzard that hit New York City halting travel, city Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared a weather emergency from Tuesday evening through Wednesday afternoon in many parts of the region after a storm arrived in New York on Tuesday evening.


According to the National Weather Service of the United States, the season’s major snowstorm is expected to dump as much as 12 inches of snow on New York City through Wednesday, which means the day would witness more flight cancelations.

“Most domestic flights at John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty airports are cancelled through early afternoon Wednesday,” Ron Marsico, spokesperson for The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was quoted as saying in media.

Delta Air Lines has canceled about 800 flights scheduled for Wednesday, said media reports. Its 1,700 Delta and Delta Connection flights for Tuesday were also canceled.

According to AirTran Airways, the airline has canceled over 50 flights for Wednesday, and more than about 260 flights were canceled for Tuesday.

American Airlines spokesperson Tim Smith said the airline canceled roughly 335 flights into and out of the three major New York airports for Wednesday. Boston Logan International Airport said in a facebook message that the average delays to "JFK Airport are 168 minutes, 86 minutes to EWR and 60 minutes to LGA."

Meanwhile New York mayor Michael Bloomberg warned commuters, motorists and travelers to avoid driving as any hindrance from vehicles in plowing street would compel authorities to remove the vehicles. "The storm is predicted to be at its heaviest just a few hours before rush hour and there's no ways that our city's plows can get to all 6,000 streets in one or two hours," he said.

According to National Weather Service officials, this is the third snowstorm in three weeks and weather conditions are likely to persist for some time. The regions expected to receive up to 16 inches snowfall include New England and New Jersey.

Watchdogs foresee this storm as a challenge for Bloomberg who has been criticized for slow cleanup work after the blizzard last month, and for not declaring snow emergency ahead of the storm that paralyzed the city on a Christmas weekend, which is one of the busiest days of travel, stranding travelers on airports when they were flying home for Christmas.

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