grue vermin: December 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Muslims boycott the mayor

Some religious leaders attending Mayor Bloomberg?s interfaith breakfast Friday expressed solidarity with Muslims upset about Police Department surveillance in their communities while more than a dozen leaders boycotted the yearly gathering that is meant to be a showcase of tolerance.

?I wouldn?t like it to happen to my house of worship,? Rabbi Robyn Fryer Bodzin said at the breakfast of the spying program.

?I would be hurt if it was my faith group that was in this situation or predicament. . . . I see it as the mayor choosing one faith-based group to target.?

The absence of 15 Muslim clerics and civic leaders made little difference to the size of a breakfast roster that totaled more than 360, but it made their concerns about police infiltration of Muslim neighborhoods and mosques a topic of conversation for many.

Bloomberg didn?t directly address the boycott during the event, though he did quote his father as telling him that ?discrimination against anyone is discrimination against everyone.?

He also said: ?We have to keep our guard up, but if we don?t work together we?re not going to be able to have our own freedoms.?

Source: http://feeds.nydailynews.com/~r/nydnrss/news/~3/h7mXnOCHXvU/story01.htm

oklahoma earthquake new madrid fault

Pre-caffeine: Breaking NORAD, 'Blade Runner' sketches!

via BuzzFeed

By Helen A.S. Popkin

Our pre-caffeine roundup is a collection of the hottest, strangest, and most amusing stories of the morning. Here's everything that you need to know before taking that first sip of coffee today.

Looks like "Dump GoDaddy Day" totally worked. The website hosting company now straight-up denounces SOPA.

Steve Jobs is totally getting a Grammy.

Meanwhile, MySpace is "a cesspool no on wants to visit," says your first friend, Tom.

On Wednesday, Verizon Wireless customers had to deal with yet another data outage. Like previous technical glitches, the outage was resolved within a day's time and Verizon tweeted an obligatory line about things being back to normal.

NORAD says its Santa-tracking operation broke its own records for phone calls, emails and Facebook and Twitter followers on Christmas Eve.

While politicians routinely cite video games as a contributing cause for everything from childhood obesity and lower test scores to youth violence, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) recently labeled a video game museum as something else ? a waste of taxpayer funds.

Speaking of a waste of money, a man in China spent $16,000 for a virtual sword on a game that has not even been released yet.

An Israeli law center is threatening to sue Twitter unless the social network cuts off access to groups, including Hezbollah, that are considered terrorist organizations by the United States.

Meanwhile, Fox Latin America apologized for a poll on whether Jews killed Jesus Christ that one of its staffers put on a Facebook page promoting the National Geographic Channel's Christmas special.

In closing: "Blade Runner" sketch book! "Blade Runner" sketch book!?

? compiled by Helen A.S. Popkin, who invites you to join her on Twitter and/or Facebook.?Also, Google+.??

Source: http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/30/9826117-pre-caffeine-tech-breaking-norad-blade-runner-sketch-book

barrel roll anagram 180 degrees askew cory smoot do a barrel roll jimmy kimmel

Friday, December 30, 2011

George Adam Wallace, 81, Tampa, Florida

Wallace, Father George A, S.M (Society of Mary "Marists")., 81, of Tampa passed away on December 25, 2011. He is survived by his sister, Margaret "Peg" Freeman (Joseph) and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by an uncle, Father George Meiluta, S.M.. He attended Catholic elementary schools in Philadelphia and high school at St Mary's Manor in Penndel, PA. his Novitiate was at Our Lady of the Elms in Staten Island and he was professed in 1951. Philosophy and Theology degrees from Marist College in both Framingham Mass and Washington DC. He was ordained in 1957 at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC, he served in various churches as Associate Pastor and was Pastor of St. Michaels Church in Wheeling W. Va. And was a full time Chaplain at St Mary Hospital in Langhorne PA from 1985-2005. He then retired to Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ybor City (Tampa, Fl) in 2005 until present. Visitation will be held on Friday from 9-10 am at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Ybor City (Tampa) where a Catholic Mass will be offered at 10 AM. Interment will follow at a later date in Atlanta Ga.

Source: http://abcactionnews.tributes.com/show/George-Adam-Wallace-93015042

michelle rounds cabin in the woods dan quayle brett favre packers stock packers stock mastectomy

Investec Loyal faces protest in Sydney-Hobart race

In this photo provided by Rolex, supermaxi Investec Loyal crosses the finish line in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, finishing just three minutes ahead of favorite Wild Oats XI in one of the closest finishes in the history of the prestigious ocean-racing event. In a dramatic final day, Investec Loyal overtook Wild Oats XI and held on in a tight, tactical tussle crossing the line just ahead of its rival after 628 nautical miles of racing. (AP Photo/Rolex, Daniel Forster) EDITORIAL USE ONLY

In this photo provided by Rolex, supermaxi Investec Loyal, right, and Wild Oats XI race to the finish line in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, in one of the closest finishes in the history of the prestigious ocean-racing event. In a dramatic final day, Investec Loyal overtook Wild Oats XI and held on in a tight, tactical tussle crossing the line just ahead of its rival after 628 nautical miles of racing. (AP Photo/Rolex, Daniel Forster) EDITORIAL USE ONLY

In this photo provided by Rolex, supermaxi Investec Loyal approaches the finish line in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, finishing in Hobart, Australia, just three minutes ahead of favorite Wild Oats XI in one of the closest finishes in the history of the prestigious ocean-racing event. In a dramatic final day, Investec Loyal overtook Wild Oats XI and held on in a tight, tactical tussle crossing the line just ahead of its rival after 628 nautical miles of racing. (AP Photo/Rolex, Kurt Arrigo) EDITORIAL USE ONLY

In this photo provided by Rolex, supermaxi Investec Loyal, center right, is escorted by spectator craft after crossing the finish line in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, finishing in Hobart, Australia, just three minutes ahead of favorite Wild Oats XI in one of the closest finishes in the history of the prestigious ocean-racing event. In a dramatic final day, Investec Loyal overtook Wild Oats XI and held on in a tight, tactical tussle crossing the line just ahead of its rival after 628 nautical miles of racing. (AP Photo/Rolex, Daniel Forster) EDITORIAL USE ONLY

HOBART, Australia (AP) ? Supermaxi Investec Loyal's victory Wednesday in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race was immediately placed under protest by the race committee amid allegations the provisional winner used a television helicopter pilot to spy on runner-up Wild Oats XI.

Investec Loyal beat Wild Oats by 3 minutes, 8 seconds in one of the closest finishes in the history of the prestigious ocean-racing event.

The protest under rule 41, which refers to the use of outside assistance, will be heard at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania on Thursday.

The race committee, chaired by Tim Cox, said the incident occurred at 6.30 a.m. Tuesday, 30 nautical miles south of Merimbula on the south coast of New South Wales State. The protest describes an "audio recording of conversation between ABC helicopter and Investec Loyal."

"Crewman from Investec Loyal seeking information from the helicopter of the sail plan in use on Wild Oats XI," the protest said.

In a dramatic final day, Investec Loyal overtook Wild Oats XI in the afternoon and held on in a tight, tactical tussle to reverse last year's finishing order.

The 100-foot Investec Loyal, skippered by Anthony Bell, finished at 7:15 p.m., completing the 628 nautical miles in 2 days, 6 hours, 14 minutes, 18 seconds.

The race was the first since 1997 to still be actively contested in the Derwent River that leads to the finish line off Constitution Dock in Hobart, capital of the island state of Tasmania.

The finish was the closest in a generation, but was well outside the narrowest margin in the race's history ? the 7-second gap between Condor of Bermuda and Apollo in 1982.

Third-place Lahana was about 50 miles from the finish line when the top two crossed and was expected to finish after midnight. Fifth-place Loki, which had 60 miles to run, was narrowly leading the race on handicap when Investec Loyal finished.

Loyal's narrow win capped an exhilarating final 24 hours in which the lead changed hands three times. Wild Oats led the 88-yacht fleet out of Sydney Harbour on Monday at the start of the 67th edition of the race and held that lead through a stormy first night at sea, then through all of the next day.

Investec Loyal closed, then overtook Wild Oats on Tuesday night and led by a little more than a mile when dawn broke over a reduced fleet Wednesday.

Wild Oats XI, skippered by Mark Richards, regained the lead Wednesday morning and opened a four-mile lead by mid-afternoon. But Investec Loyal again closed, then overtook Wild Oats XI in lighter wind, leading by 7 minutes when it rounded Tasman Island, heading for the mouth of the Derwent.

Wild Oats navigator Ian Burns described the tactical contest as it unfolded.

"They're doing a nice job down there keeping their options open, keeping as much distance between us and them as possible so that if they have an opportunity they can make the most of it," he said. "It makes it hard to match them. It's tough tactically, relatively easy sailing for the crew but hard tactically."

The yachts remained in sight of each other in the final hours of the race, and were seldom separated by more than a third of a mile. Wild Oats XI set the race record in 2005 and showed greater speed at times, but Investec Loyal was able to cover its every move in the last 20 miles.

Of the 88 yachts that started the race, 76 were still racing when the leaders crossed the line; 12 were forced to withdraw with gear failures or because of injuries to crew members.

The most high-profile casualty was the supermaxi Wild Thing, the 2003 line-honors winner, which withdrew Tuesday because of sail damage while running in third place.

Loki overcame a collision with a shark or a whale Wednesday to hold the lead on overall handicap.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2011-12-28-SAI-Sydney-Hobart/id-3da105ee00874206a78dd709e857bf88

quirky chrissy teigen chia seeds embers metta shannon brown utah jazz

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

GOP campaign for Iowa caucus enters final week (AP)

DES MOINES, Iowa ? An Iowa caucus campaign that has cycled through several Republican presidential front-runners entered its final week Monday, as unpredictable as the day conservatives began competing to emerge as Mitt Romney's chief rival.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, released a new television commercial for the state in which he cited a "moral imperative for America to stop spending more money than we take in. It's killing jobs," he said.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry countered with an advertisement that said four of his rivals combined ? none of them Romney ? have served 63 years in Congress, "leaving us with debt, earmarks and bailouts."

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who has invested more time in Iowa than any other contender, was the only one in the state during the day.

That changes Tuesday, with bus tours planned by Perry, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, all eager to energize their existing supporters and attract new ones.

Texas Rep. Ron Paul arrives Wednesday. Recent polls suggest he is peaking as caucus day approaches, and in some surveys is tied with Romney or even ahead.

The result figures to be a short but intense stretch of campaigning through small towns and even smaller towns, the sort of one-on-one politicking that has largely vanished in the electronic age.

Failing that, it will pay tribute to the types cuisine that prosper in early 21st century America.

The Perry bus will belly up to Doughy Joey's in Waterloo and to the Fainting Goat in Waverly, an establishment whose website says "After 10 p.m., we are the type of place your mothers warned you about." Perry also will visit a vineyard and winery in Carroll.

Bachmann will make an early-winter stop at a Dairy Queen, as well as Pizza Ranch establishments in Harlan, Red Oak and Atlantic, three localities with a combined population of 17,282.

It's not all about the food, though.

Perry has a stop arranged at the Glenn Miller Museum in Clarinda, population 5,301, where the great bandleader was born.

The Texas governor also has a distinction that none of his rivals can boast, a town that shares his name. Thus, Perry will visit Perry.

There were signs of strategic shifts as candidates struggled to stand out in advance of the straw poll next week that inaugurates the round of primaries and caucuses that will pick a nominee to oppose President Barack Obama next fall.

Perry's new ad shows images of Gingrich, Paul, Santorum and Bachmann as it criticizes Congress and renews the governor's call for halving lawmakers' pay and time spent in Washington.

Despite the commercial's implication, Gingrich and Santorum were out of Congress when the multibillion-dollar financial bailouts of 2008 occurred. Paul and Bachmann voted against the legislation.

Still, the approach taken suggests the Texas governor is more concerned with outpacing Paul, Bachmann, Santorum and Gingrich on caucus night that he is in defeating Romney.

The former Massachusetts governor, making his second try for the White House, has a well-funded and well-organized campaign nationally and in Iowa, as well as allies who are spending heavily on television advertisements through an independent organization known as a super PAC.

While others have periodically risen to challenge him, Romney has kept his support from seriously eroding in the polls, consistently remaining near the top.

A victory in Iowa does not necessarily translate into the Republican presidential nomination. Yet history suggests that contenders who finish farthest behind next week will quickly drop out, underscoring the significance of the struggle to emerge as Romney's chief rival.

The most recent presidential hopeful to surge and then falter is Gingrich. The former House speaker's campaign imploded last summer and still shows the after-effects: a shortage of funds to counter attack ads in Iowa, and failure to qualify for the primary in Virginia in March.

After insisting he would run a purely positive campaign, Gingrich let it be known he was about to attack Romney on one of his presumed areas of strength, his economic proposals.

R.C. Hammond, a spokesman for Gingrich, said the candidate would make the case that Romney has advanced "very timid ideas that will do little to get people back to work."

Gingrich favors an end to taxes on investment income and dividends, while Romney wants to end them only for individuals with incomes of $200,000 or less.

Gingrich also has proposed an optional 15 percent flat tax on income. Under the plan, taxpayers could stay in the current system, which has a top tax rate of 35 percent on taxable income above $379,150, or switch to the new flat rate, which would apply to income at all levels.

Romney favors retaining the current graduated income tax system, with lower rates than currently exist.

Gingrich is at least the fourth front-runner to falter since the campaign began in earnest in Iowa earlier this year.

Bachmann, who won a straw poll at the Iowa State Fair last summer, was briefly atop polls in the state. So, too Herman Cain, who subsequently suspended his campaign after a woman claimed they had a long-term extramarital affair.

Santorum has yet to experience the type of sudden surge that others in the race enjoyed, but has doggedly campaigned in all 99 of the state's counties in hopes of rallying social conservatives to his side.

___

Associated Press writer Philip Elliott contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111226/ap_on_el_ge/us_gop_campaign

craig smith eat to live eat to live ron paul money bomb ron paul money bomb bon vivant gop debate

Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas Apple iPhone advertising

I love my iPhone 4 and couldn?t imagine life without it, but after watching this ad, I found myself thinking should I upgrade to the new iPhone 4S. That is the power of this soft sell ad from Apple. It doesn?t mention Siri or iPhone at all in the ad but yet the messages about the new features was so strong. Watch it yourself and let me know what you think.

Yours in soft selling

Belinda

Filed Under: Advertising, Advertising Campaign, Branding, Communication, entertainment, marketing | Tagged Apple, Christmas, iphone, iPhone 4S, Siri

Posted by Belinda Vesey-Brown on December 19, 2011

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/briodaily/~3/dHvb5QO1wEA/

glee project winner kris humphries remember the titans wale wale weather denver weather denver

President Hu Jintao meets Japanese PM Noda

Chinese President Hu Jintao met Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Monday in Beijing. The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern.

Hu Jintao said Noda's visit is of great significance, as the two countries are preparing for the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations next year.

Noda said China's development is an opportunity not only for Japan, but also for the world.

China's top legislator Wu Bangguo also met with Noda on Monday morning.

The Japanese Prime Minister has wrapped up his two-day visit to China and left Beijing Monday noon.

Editor:Liu Fang |Source: CNTV.CN

Source: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r5664183104

andy rooney dies bank transfer day daylight savings 2011 day light savings day light savings us geological survey us geological survey

Sailors? served Christmas dinner at North Chicago church

Sailors from Great Lakes Naval Training Center are served Christmas dinner at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in North Chicago on Sunday afternoon. | Kevin Tanaka~For Sun-Times Media.

Sailors from Naval Station Great Lakes Training Center were served Christmas dinner at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in North Chicago Sunday afternoon.

Source: http://newssun.suntimes.com/news/9619987-418/sailors-served-christmas-dinner-at-north-chicago-church.html

sag nominations sag nominations derek jeter time magazine person of the year time magazine person of the year la clippers verizon galaxy nexus