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.

Tweet

By utama with

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.

Tweet

By utama with

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.

Source : Here 

Tweet

By utama with

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


Source : Here

Tweet

By utama with

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.”

Source : Here

Tweet

By utama with

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.

source : here

Tweet

By utama with

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.

Tweet

By utama with

'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?

Tweet

By utama with

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.

Tweet

By utama with