EDAR Is A Mini Mobile Home For The Homeless

The EDAR, a four-wheeled combination cart and sleeping unit created for use by people experiencing homelessness, is beginning to make its presence known in the greater Los Angeles area.

Designed by Eric Lindeman and Jason Zasa while still in school at Pasadena Art Center College of Design, this modified shopping cart was their solution to a problem posed by local philanthropist Peter Samuelson: improve upon the cardboard box by designing a mobile, single-person shelter.


Sixty prototypes hit the streets beginning in fall 2008, and EDAR, Inc., the nonprofit organization founded by Samuelson, is hoping to release another 1,000 in the near future.

While the Rand Corporation completes an efficacy study on these initial units, EDAR, Inc. is already having trouble keeping up with increasing demand.

According to the organization, the units are currently being used in three ways. In shelters, the EDARs are deployed as additional beds. Cheaper and faster than building new facilities or expanding existing ones, the units can provide a stop-gap solution to the shortage of shelter beds, while also offering some additional privacy to residents.

The EDAR — which stands for Everyone Deserves a Roof — is also being given directly to homeless clients who are reluctant or unable to enter traditional shelters.

story by Leigh Christy for ArchitectureWeek.com

Moody's Bottom Rung list Includes AMD, Clearwire, Palm, Unisys; Media Default Armageddon

Moody’s has released its “Bottom Rung” list of companies that have a high risk of default and weak liquidity and there are a few technology and telecom household names on the list including AMD, Clearwire, Palm and Unisys.

Media companies are the biggest chunk of companies on the verge of credit defaults.

The list, which got some play in the Wall Street Journal Tuesday, covers 283 speculative grade companies. Last year, Moody’s Bottom Rung list had 157 companies.

Moody’s, under fire for failing to warn folks about the impending mortgage meltdown, is looking to get ahead of the latest likely round of corporate bond defaults. The problem is that Moody’s could cause more problems for companies that appear on the list.

story by Larry Dignan for ZDNet

Maytag Refrigerator Recall Affects 1.6 M Units

This morning an enormous Maytag recall is announced. The fire hazard has prompted a Maytag Refrigerator recall, which affects 1.6 million units of refrigerators.


The The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Maytag announced that the company recalls the refrigerators that affect 1.6 million units. It's a voluntary recall and includes Maytag®, Jenn-Air®, Amana®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand refrigerators.

Maytag, a Newton, Iowa based corporation and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission say that Maytag recalls the refrigerators because an electrical failure in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator’s compressor, can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard.

There has already been a considerable damage done, which in turn prompted the voluntary Maytag refrigerator recall. The company informs of 41 reports of refrigerator relay ignition, including 16 reports of property damage ranging from smoke damage to extensive kitchen damage. The types of the refrigerators that are included in this Maytag recall are those that are side and top freezer refrigerators.

The refrigerators that Maytag recalls are sold at department and appliance stores and also installed by homebuilders nationwide. They have been in operation fromJanuary 2001 through January 2004 and have been sold between about $350 and $1600. Refrigerators with freezers on the bottom are not included in this recall.

Therefore, if you have a Maytag refrigerator that has been manufactured in USA between 2001 and 2004 of the above mentioned brands you need to contact Maytag toll-free at (866) 533-9817 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.repair.maytag.com.

This Maytag refrigerator recall is indeed very disturbing, but has one bright part: actually two. The first is that we know about the danger of the fire and the second is that thousands of repairmen, who are usually a small one-person businesses will get more orders from the recalled Maytag refrigerators, which in turn may help the economy a little bit.

The news that Maytag recalls 1.6 million units of refrigerators are reported both on the company and The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's website, which is charged to protect the consumers.

original post by by admin_huliq for Huliq News

United Technologies To Cut 11,600 Jobs

United Technologies Corp., which makes Pratt & Whitney jet engines and Sikorsky helicopters, lowered its 2009 profit forecast on Tuesday and said it expects to cut 11,600 jobs because of a deteriorating commercial aerospace market.

The moves, part of an expanded $750 million restructuring program, are being driven by a decline in expected revenue, which is now seen totaling $55 billion this year, down $2.7 billion from a December estimate.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected $55.2 billion.

United Technologies cut its 2009 earnings per share forecast to between $4 per share and $4.50 per share, down from its December outlook of $4.65 to $5.15. Analysts, on average, had expected $4.60, according to Thompson Reuters.

Last month, United Technologies Chief Executive Louis Chenevert stood by December’s outlook.

original post by Democratic Underground from MSNBC source

The Consumer Queen Goes Shopping

Consumer Queen offers deals and tips for consumer moms looking for ways to save money in todays economy just like the tag line says Cheap is Good But Free is Better.

Consumer Queen has coupons, deals of the week, freebies and giveaways that can help today’s consumer mom keep the household expenses in check.

Find out how Melissa Garcia aka the Consumer Queen got $300 worth of groceries for only $20! (Turn up your volume, the audio quality is not great.)



With saving tips, printable coupons, and a forum where consumer moms can share ideas and deals they have found, the Consumer Queen can help moms keep the household budget under control.

Sign up for the newsletter, take a look at the message board, sign up for contests to win free products, even check out the Blog Talk Radio. Share your own money saving ideas and talk with moms who are also trying to save money in today’s economy.

original post by 411Chatter.com

USNS Impeccable: Chinese Vessels Harass US Navy Ship

The USNS Impeccable is an unarmed U.S. Navy ocean surveillance ship. The U.S. embassy in Beijing has lodged a protest with China that on Sunday five Chinese ships, including a naval vessel, harassed the USNS Impeccable in international waters in the South China Sea.

The USNS Impeccable (T-AGOS-23) is a surveillance ship that serves in international waters in the South China Sea. Her function is to serve in support of the U.S. Navy using passive and active low frequency sonar arrays to detect and track undersea threats.

Over the weekend the Impeccable was conducting routine operations about 75 miles south of Hainan Island when she was harassed by as Chinese Naval ship. There were five Chinese ships involved in the harassment. They included a Bureau of Maritime Fisheries Patrol Vessel, a State Oceanographic Administration patrol vessel, a Chinese Navy intelligence collection ship, and two small Chinese flagged trawlers. The ships maneuvered dangerously close to the U.S. ship, two within 25 feet.

The crew of the USNS Impeccable radioed the Chinese crews requesting safe passage to leave the area. The Chinese ships maneuvered in front of the ship and stopped almost causing a collision and forcing the Impeccable to an emergency stop. The Chinese crews continued harassing the ship, attempting to hook the sonar that trailed behind the ship. American crews turned fire hoses on the Chinese, who stripped down to their underwear and continued the harassment.

The incidents on Sunday were the latest in a series of increasingly aggressive and provocative incidents between the Chinese ships and the USNS Impeccable.

Earlier in the week, on Thursday, March 5, 2009, a Chinese frigate crossed within about 100 yards of the USNS Impeccable. Shortly after that incident a Chinese Y-12 aircraft conducted 11 fly-bys of the Impeccable and her sister ship, the USNS Victorious. The two unarmed U.S. data collecting and surveillance ships were subjected to the fly-bys that came to within a 100 to 300 foot range of the ships at an altitude of 600 feet. The fly-bys were followed by the same Chinese frigate crossing Impeccable’s bow again, this time even closer, coming within 400 to 500 feet of the U.S. ship.

On Saturday, March 7, 2009, the USNS Impeccable was contacted by radio by a Chinese collection ship. The Chinese accused the Impeccable of conducting illegal operations and demanding that she leave the area or ’suffer the consequences’.

These incidents, one after the other over the last few days, are the most aggressive actions any foreign ships have taken against U.S. ships in international waters. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing has filed a complaint with the Chinese government.

“The unprofessional maneuvers by Chinese vessels violated the requirement under international law to operate with due regard for the rights and safety of other lawful users of the ocean,” Pentagon spokesman Marine Corps Major Stewart Upton said in a statement.

“We expect Chinese ships to act responsibly and refrain from provocative activities that could lead to miscalculation or a collision at sea.”

This aggressive behavior on the part of the Chinese is disturbing. It is especially disturbing in light of the threatening and aggressive rhetoric coming out of North Korea this week.

When there is a vacuum of power, then there is chaos and all the petty dictators of the world will jockey to position themselves to fill the vacuum.

It appears that world powers are sensing an opportunity to push the limits of America’s patience. China, as a world power, and North Korea, as a communist state backed by the Chinese, seem poised to test the courage of the new American President. We all hope he passes the test. Most of us fear he doesn’t have a strong sense of the danger posed by these threats or will attempt to appease rather than stop the aggression with a show of strength.

original post by Beth for Blue Star Chronicles

Pimp This Bum

A Houston homeless man is part of an Internet experiment to get him some help, but is it at the expense of his dignity?

Tim Edwards does not like to talk about what got him there, but he has been roaming the streets of Houston for the better part of five years.

“A lot of times you just go to sleep hungry. But tonight, I know I am going to have something to eat. I am going to be all right,” Edwards said.

Edwards said his new hope is thanks to his new job, but not everyone is convinced his path to improvement is guaranteed or ethical.

Edwards’ new employers, who pay him a minimum of $100 per day, have started a Web site called PimpThisBum.com.

The site is all about Edwards and it solicits donations on his behalf.

Visitors to the Web site can buy him anything from a cheeseburger to laser hair removal to a college education.

There is also streaming video showing what Edwards is doing throughout the day, although the video is available only intermittently for now.

Sean Dolan created the Web site with his father, Kevin, who was recently laid off by a software company.

“We had to make it kind of edgy to get the exposure and have people talking about it,” Sean said.

The Dolans promise all of the proceeds go to Edwards, and the Dolans do not keep any of the donated money.

“It all goes to Tim,” Kevin Dolan said.

So what do the Dolans get out of the deal?

They said they’re getting exposure.

Their theory is if they can make Edwards popular, they can make anything or anyone popular, a bankable skill to attract big businesses.

“Take a homeless guy on the side of the street that has a sign, ‘I should have used Monster.com,’ and Monster.com just turned someone into a walking billboard,” Sean Dolan said.

But is it ethical?

“You’re going to find people who offended by anything you do. Judge the outcome, don’t judge the process,” Sean said.

Edwards does not have any complaints.

He said he can now sleep at night knowing he has a source of income.

“This might be an avenue off the streets, a way I can climb up a little bit and get out of here,” he said.

story by News Channel 5 (CBS Alexandria)

Breaking Down The World Baseball Classic Competition

Post baseball writer John Lott takes a look at all 16 teams trying to claim this month's World Baseball Classic.

CANADA (Manager Ernie Whitt)
2006 finish 2-1 record, eliminated under a complicated tie-breaker rule in first round. Defeated South Africa and the United States, lost to Mexico.
2009 prospects Canada needs a perfect planetary alignment to escape Round 1. Its pitching is thin - reliever Jesse Crain is the lone legitimate major-leaguer on the staff - so the pressure is on the offence to meet expectations. Must beat Italy and Venezuela to advance. Home crowd should provide a boost.
The three stars 1B Justin Morneau, OF Jason Bay, C Russell Martin.
Waiting to shine Two young relievers, Philippe Aumont and David Davidson, need to step up and help get the ball to Crain, the putative closer. Starter Scott Richmond must deliver in a key start vs. Venezuela’s potent offence.
From the lip “It’s going to be tough. We don’t have the depth that a lot of other teams do. We’re going to need some big-time performances, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.” — Outfielder Jason Bay

ITALY (Manager Marco Mazzieri)
2006 finish 1-2 record, eliminated in first round. Defeated Australia, lost to Venezuela and Dominican Republic.
2009 prospects Slim. Loose eligibility rules allow U.S.-born Frank Catalanotto, Nick Punto, Chris Denorfia, Jason Grilli and Mark DeFelice to add a smidgeon of legitimacy, but Italy faces a quick exit.
The three stars OF Frank Catalanotto, IF Nick Punto, P Mark DeFelice
Waiting to shine P Dan Serafini has been waiting since 1992, when the Twins made him their top draft pick. At 35, he provides some faint hope for a wobbly pitching staff.
From the lip “It’s a good opportunity for me being of Italian ancestry. I’m excited just to get back on the field a little bit. The fact [the players] are so eager to learn is great. There’s not a lot of ego.” — Hitting coach Mike Piazza, ex-big league catcher, whose father came to the U.S. from Sicily as a child

UNITED STATES (Manager Davey Johnson)
2006 finish 3-3 record, eliminated in second round. Defeated Mexico and South Africa, lost to Canada in Round 1. Beat Japan, lost to South Korea and Mexico in Round 2.
2009 prospects With solid major-leaguers filling every roster spot, the U.S. is the team to beat, insists manager Davey Johnson. The oddsmakers agree, although they also like the Dominican Republic. Team USA will hit, but its success will depend on how far starters Jake Peavy, Roy Oswalt and Ted Lilly can go on a tight pitch count. The bullpen could be vulnerable.
The three stars 2B Dustin Pedroia, 3B-DH Chipper Jones, 3B-DH David Wright
Waiting to shine With his speed, defence and gap-to-gap power, OF Curtis Granderson may upstage his celebrity teammates.
From the lip “The target’s on our back anyway, so why not go out there and proclaim it?” — Jimmy Rollins, acknowledging the pressure on Team USA to redeem itself after imploding in the ‘06 tournament

VENEZUELA (Manager Luis Sojo)
2006 finish 3-3 record, eliminated in second round. Defeated Italy and Australia and lost to Dominican Republic in Round 1. Beat Puerto Rico and lost to Cuba and Dominican Republic in Round 2.
2009 prospects While Venezuela lacks the pitching depth of the U.S., its offence packs power and veteran experience. (For starters, the 2-3-4 hitters are Bobby Abreu, Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez.) With Francisco Rodriguez to pitch the ninth, Venezuela could go deep in the tournament if it can find enough pitching to pick up starters Armando Galarraga and Felix Hernandez.
The three stars OF Bobby Abreu, 1B Miguel Cabrera, P Felix Hernandez
Waiting to shine P Carlos Silva is trying to rebound from a wretched season in Seattle. If he steps up, Venezuela could contend.
From the lip “It looked like someone cut him in half.” — Seattle skipper Don Wakamatsu, after Silva reported to camp 35 pounds lighter.

CHINA (Manager Terry Collins)
2006 finish 0-3 record, outscored 40-6, eliminated in first round.
2009 prospects Same as 2006. China’s roster includes only three players in major-league farm systems, led by shortstop Ray Chang (Pirates), a Kansas City native who has reached Triple-A. Collins, a former big-league manager, is probably the team’s most familiar name.
The three stars Chang, P Kai Liu, C Zhenwang Zhang. Liu and Zhang, both Yankee farmhands, are the first Chinese players to sign with a big-league club.

CHINESE TAIPEI (Manager Chih-Hsien Yeh)
2006 finish 1-2 record, eliminated in first round.
2009 prospects Same as 2006. Taipei does boast several legitimate prospects, including two Boston farmhands: OF Che-Hsuan Lin, the MVP of last year’s Futures Game, and IF Chih-Hsien Chiang. In this pool, that will not take them far.
The three stars OF Che-Hsuan Lin, IF Chih-Hsien Chiang, P Chi-Hung Cheng. A former Blue Jays farmhand, Cheng is now in the Pirates system.

JAPAN (Manager Tatsunori Hara)
2006 finish 5-3 record, won WBC championship. After losing twice to South Korea in the early rounds, Japan beat South Korea, then Cuba, in the finals.
2009 prospects A definite contender to repeat. Daisuke Matsuzaka leads the pitching staff, Ichiro Suzuki the offence. Rivalry continues with South Korea, which beat Japan on its way to Olympic gold last summer.
The three stars P Daisuke Matsuzaka, OF Ichiro Suzuki, P Yu Darvish. An Iranian-Japanese right-hander, Darvish, 22, is a blue-chip prospect who insists he will resist the lure of the West.

SOUTH KOREA (Manager In-Sik Kim)
2006 finish 6-1 record, best in tournament, but eliminated by Japan in semi-final. South Korea beat Japan twice, but Japan stayed alive via the controversial tie-breaker rule, since dropped.
2009 prospects Will easily advance to second round and continue its heated battle with Japan. Most familiar name is Shin-Soo Choo, a solid hitter for Cleveland, but he may not play because of an elbow injury.
The three stars Anybody’s guess, especially since Seung-Yeop Lee, the top hitter in the ‘06 Classic, begged off to prepare for his season in the Japanese league.

AUSTRALIA (Manager Jon Deeble)
2006 finish 0-3 record, shut out twice, eliminated in Round 1, but did give the Dominican Republic a challenge in a 6-4 loss.
2009 prospects Will battle South Africa to determine who is eliminated first in this pool. Roster is littered with minor-league players, including several genuine prospects (IF Luke Hughes, Twins, for example). Australia’s best-known big-leaguer, P Grant Balfour, wanted to participate but Tampa Bay said no.
The three stars IF Luke Hughes, P Rich Thompson, P Drew Naylor

CUBA (Manager Higinio Velez)
2006 finish 5-3 record, lost to Japan in final. Advanced with 2-1 record in each of first two rounds, then defeated the Dominican Republic in the semi-final.
2009 prospects After coasting through the first round, Cuba will see how strong it is without several stars, including Yadel Marti and Yasser Gomez, who were kicked off the team for trying to defect to the U.S., then managed to defect anyway. Also missing are two top hitters from the ‘06 tourney, Yoandy Garlobo (.480) and Osmany Urrutia (.345).
The three stars 3B Yulieski Gourriel, OF Frederich Cepeda, P Pedro Lazo

MEXICO (Manager Vinny Castilla)
2006 finish 3-3 record, eliminated in second round with losses to South Korea and Japan. Beat U.S. 2-1 in its final game to keep the Yanks from advancing.
2009 prospects A lock to advance to second round again, but likely no further. Mexico has plenty of players with big-league experience, and some pop from Adrian Gonzalez (36 homers for the Padres) and Jorge Cantu (29 for the Marlins), but precious little pitching.
The three stars OF Adrian Gonzalez, OF Jorge Cantu, C Rod Barajas

SOUTH AFRICA (Manager Rick Magnate)
2006 finish 0-3 record, eliminated in Round 1. Gave Canada a scare in the opener, taking an 8-7 lead into the ninth inning before losing 11-8.
2009 prospects Vegas odds are 300-1. This is why. Five players on the South roster have signed big-league contracts. They have a total of three years’ pro experience so far. One will not turn pro until he finishes high school. In the ‘06 Classic, the team allowed more than 15 runs per nine innings.
The three stars Let us be surprised.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (Manager Felipe Alou)
2006 finish 5-2 record, lost 3-1 in semi-final to Cuba.
2009 prospects Even with Alex Rodriguez skipping the WBC, this club could win it all. With Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez at shortstop, Miguel Tejada moves to third, but he can play first if David Ortiz is the DH. The embarrassment of riches extends to the pitching corps, which includes Edinson Volquez, Ubaldo Jiminez, Johnny Cueto and Juan Cruz. Oh yes, and in a pinch, two old jobless guys are available: Pedro Martinez and Moises Alou.
The three stars SS Jose Reyes, P Edinson Volquez, P Jose Arredondo

NETHERLANDS (Manager Rod Delmonico)
2006 finish 1-2 record, eliminated in first round. Lone victory was over Panama.
2009 prospects Another quick exit. The roster includes one player (Rick VandenHurk) with major-league experience (four games), plus a few who have barely dampened their toes in the low minors. Along with South Africa, another example of how difficult it is to find 16 teams to fill out a “classic” international tournament. Maybe the Americans and Dominicans should enter two teams.
The three stars P Rick VandenHurk, OF Greg Halman, P Alex Smit

PANAMA (Manager Hector Lopez)
2006 finish 0-3, eliminated in first round, losing even to the Netherlands.
2009 prospects Dim. Panama has one legitimate star (Houston slugger Carlos Lee), a couple of decent relievers and not much else. Carlos Ruiz had decided not to play, but then Panamanian president Martin Torrijos called the Phillies’ backstop. “We don’t have any catchers,” Torrijos said. “You’re our guy.” Torrijos needs to make a few more calls.
The three stars OF Carlos Lee, P Manny Acosta, P Manny Corpas

PUERTO RICO (Manager Jose Oquendo)
2006 finish 4-2 record, eliminated in second round. Won four straight, then lost to Venezuela and Cuba.
2009 prospects Puerto Rico could be a dark horse and should advance again. The tough sledding starts in Round 2, where the likely opponents will be the U.S., Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Puerto Rico has some firepower (Carlos Delgado, Alex Rios, Carlos Beltran) but lacks the pitching depth needed to beat the big boys. One to watch: Bernie Williams comes out of retirement to lead off.
The three stars OF Alex Rios, OF Carlos Beltran, C Geovany Soto.

original post by Noah Love for National Post

Big 12 Men's Basketball Seeding Scenarios

This is from the Big 12 home office. Here's what we know are confirmed seeds for the Big 12 men's basketball tournament:

Kansas is No. 1, Nebraska No. 8, Baylor No. 9 and Colorado No. 12. The winner of Iowa State and Texas Tech is the No. 10 seed and the loser is the No. 11 seed.


Here are the scenarios:

• If Missouri and Oklahoma win (or both lose): Missouri No. 2, Oklahoma No. 3

• If Missouri wins and Oklahoma loses: Missouri No. 2, Oklahoma No. 3

• If Missouri loses and Oklahoma wins: Oklahoma No. 2, Missouri No.3

• If Texas and Oklahoma State win: Texas No. 4, Oklahoma State No. 5

• If Texas and Oklahoma State lose, but K-State and A&M win: K-State No. 4, Texas No. 5, Texas A&M No. 6, Oklahoma State No. 7

• If Texas, OSU and A&M lose, but K-State wins: K-State No. 4, Texas No. 5, Oklahoma State No. 6

• If Texas, OSU, Texas A&M and Kansas State lose: Texas No. 4, Oklahoma State No. 5

• If Texas, OSU and Kansas State lose but Texas A&M wins: Texas No. 4, Texas A&M No. 5, Oklahoma State No. 6

• If OSU, Kansas State and Texas A&M win, but Texas loses: Oklahoma State No. 4, Kansas State No. 5, Texas No. 6, Texas A&M No. 7

• If OSU and Kansas State win, but Texas and Texas A&M lose: Oklahoma State No. 4, Kansas State No. 5, Texas No. 6, Texas A&M No. 7

• If OSU and Texas A&M win, but Kansas State and Texas lose: Oklahoma State No. 4, Texas No. 5, Texas A&M No. 6, Kansas State No. 7

• If Kansas State and Texas A&M lose but Nebraska wins: Kansas State No. 6, Texas A&M No. 7, Nebraska No. 8

by Richard Durrett for College Sports Blog

From Humble Republic, A Remarkable Western

When Johnny Guitar opened in Brazil probably in 1955, it was released through a big chain of movie theaters and I remember it being quite successful at the box office, no doubt also helped by the song that was a huge hit.



Except for a few critics, most people took it just as a good western with no second thoughts. But there was more to it, "as François Truffaut wrote in his review when it was first shown in France "Never trust in appearances. Beauty and profundity are not always found in the "obvious" traditional places; a Trucolor Western from humble Republic can throb with the passion of "l'amour fou" or whisper with an evening delicacy."" (from "The Western" by Phil Hardy, page232).

Seeing it recently I was impressed with the fast pace of the film, the great dialogs, the unusual settings, the incredibly strong presence of Joan Crawford, the hysterical character played by Mercedes McCambridge. Nicholas Ray was a creative director and his great achievement in this film was to take the story seriously, and not try to make a satire.

review by tmwest for The Internet Movie Database

Terrell Owens And Buffalo Bills: Strange Bedfellows

We could have imagined Terrell Owens taking a bite of the Big Apple in New York City. But biting chicken wings in Buffalo?

Wait until T.O. tries to catch passes from Trent Edwards that are nowhere near as catchable the ones from Tony Romo were.

Wait until T.O. gets his hands on those run-first game plans from offensive coordinator Turk Schonert.

Wait until blue-collar Bills fans get a load of his T.O.-first attitude.

Owens claimed he picked the Bills in part because he believes the team has all the pieces.

"I'm leaving America's team [for] North America's team," Owens said in a news conference.

Owens joins an offense that scored three points or less in three of its last five games, finished 22nd in the NFL in passing yards and did not have a 300-yard passing game all season.

Owens could help generate interest for a team that needs help selling tickets. He also could make life very difficult for Bills head coach Dick Jauron.

story by Dan Pompei for the Chicago Tribune

Nationalized Socialism

Here is a little tidbit, Nazi (yes those nazis) was an acronym in German that pretty much mean the German National Socialist Party.



So, what is Nationalized Socialism, well, look at what Obama is doing. You’re watching the Government trying to become the source of supply for as many Americans as it can. It wants to be “where you have to go” for everything. Jobs, Healthcare, Loans, Investments, Childcare . . .

Sounds like nationalized socialism to me.

written by AttackDog for the Conservative Attack Dog blog

Tactical Solutions And Black Dog Machine Form New Magazine Company

The owners of Tactical Solutions and Black Dog Machine have announced that the companies will be forming a new company, Black Dog Magazine Inc., to sell their highly efficient and high quality magazines.

“The reason that we created this new entity was so we could form a stronger company that can research, design and develop new magazine products to bring to the shooting industry,” said Chet Alvord, Vice President of Tactical Solutions. “We will use the innovation of Kevin Rich (Head of Research and Development and Owner of Black Dog Machine) and our resources to produce the greatest .22LR magazines on the market.”

The recent economic state has created an important niche for conversions. In fact, Tactical Solutions plans on introducing two additional conversion options this year.

With the growing need for cheaper ammunition and companies creating conversions, new magazines are going to have to be created. “There is a huge need in the marketplace for this type of product and we plan on being the major supplier,” said Kevin Rich, the new Vice President of Black Dog Magazine Inc. “We plan on taking over the market for .22LR magazines.”

As far as new products, Black Dog Magazine Inc. will be keeping you on your toes this year. Already being introduced at the 2009 SHOT Show is a 25-Round .22LR Magazine which works with the Tactical Solutions X-Ring and the Ruger 10/22® receiver.

Products will consist of everything ranging from a 25 Round AR-22 Magazine to a WASR AK-22 Magazine. “We plan on taking Black Dog Machine’s already incredible products to the next level as Black Dog Magazine Inc,” said Daniel Person, President of Tactical Solutions.

Tactical Solutions will handle all of the new company’s sales, and can be reached toll free at (866) 333-9901 or (208) 333-9901. You can also visit Black Dog Magazine’s new website at www.blackdogmag.com.

press release by ShootingWire.com

America's Famous Haunted Sanatorium

Waverly Hills Sanatorium has a collection of ghost stories that has made Louisville, Kentucky one of the most sought after locations for paranormal investigations.


During the nineteenth and early twentieth century, tuberculosis wreaked havoc on the United States. In 1900, Louisville, Kentucky had one of the highest death rates by tuberculosis in the entire country. Geographic and environmental factors made Louisville the perfect place for tuberculosis to take hold and spread quickly. Louisville’s placement on low-lying swampland made the city an easy target for disease.

History of Waverly Hills Sanatorium

A hospital was constructed in 1910 to take in victims of the disease but quickly overcrowded and a second hospital was built. Waverly Hills was built in 1924 and although it was considered the most advanced tuberculosis sanatorium in the country, hundreds of people still died at the peak of the epidemic.

Medicines to combat tuberculosis were not yet available when the horrible disease was ravaging the country. The treatments prescribed at Waverly Hills were oftentimes just as horrific as the disease itself. For instance, doctors placed balloons in patients’ lungs and then filled the balloons with air. This procedure usually ended badly. Ribs and muscles were sometimes removed to make room for the lungs to expand. Most patients did not survive these procedures.

Patients that did not survive Waverly Hills were dropped down a chute called The Body Chute. Bodies went through the tunnel from inside the hospital and landed at the railroad tracks at the base of the hill. This was done so that patients would not see the dead bodies leaving the hospital. Corpses were finally removed on trains.

Tuberculosis declined in the 1930s and medicines were readily available to treat the disease worldwide by the 1940s. Waverly Hills shut down in 1946 and was later reopened as Waverly Geriatrics Sanatorium in 1961. There are many stories of patient mistreatment from this time. Budget constraints caused conditions to worsen in the 70s and Waverly was closed indefinitely in 1982.

Waverly Hills saw many different owners in the 80s and 90s and by the year 2000 the building was in very poor shape. The homeless sought shelter in its rooms while vandals sprayed walls and destroyed property. Young people came to Waverly Hills at night looking for a good scare.

Ghosts of Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Waverly Hills gained its haunted reputation first from the young people who wandered the dark corridors. As this reputation grew and stories circulated, the famous ghosts of Waverly Hills began to emerge.

Some of the notable stories include a little girl that allegedly runs up and down the third floor hallway and a young boy who is spotted playing with a leather ball on the floor. A female apparition supposedly appears, wrists bleeding, and shouts “Help me!” A man dressed in white walks through the kitchen and the smell of food has been reported there.

According to Waverly Hills ghost lore, Room 502 might be the most haunted room of all. Voices have demanded that visitors “Get out!” and black masses resembling bodies have been seen in the windows. Apparently one nurse hung herself in this room while another jumped out of the window to her death on the ground below. Other paranormal activity includes slamming doors, disembodied voices, disembodied footsteps and screaming.

Paranormal Investigations at Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Today, Waverly Hills is a hotspot for paranormal investigations. Investigators have obtained audio recordings of voices, moaning and footsteps. Others have reported being touched, spoken to and having objects thrown at them.

Evidence obtained by members of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) was featured on Sci-Fi Channel’s Ghost Hunters. Evidence included video of a short figure running from one side of a hallway to another.

Source: Haunted Sanatorium. Ghost Hunters. Season 2, Episode 24. Air Date: 29 March 2009. Sci-Fi Channel.

written by Emily Eppig

Granny's Hard Times Recipes An Online Hit

Cooking the recipes she learned as a girl during the Great Depression, not so mild-mannered great-grandmother Clara Cannucciari minces garlic -- but never words.

CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller reports that back then, her family ate what they could afford, or did without.

"Every night was pasta," Cannucciari recalls. "When we got sauce, that was on Sunday."

There was also a lot of egg drop soup eaten in her childhood Chicago home. The two ingredients: eggs and water.

Now Clara's Depression Meals, which on average cost 50 cents a serving, are a surprise hit on the Internet.

The 93-year-old shares a lifetime of savings tricks on her Web videos, along with family memories. In the first episode she explains that for one dish, "We would turn off the gas and let it cook on its own heat so we could save money."

Her Webisodes include pasta (of course), potatoes and stale bread with water and oil.

Cannucciari says, "We went through a lot of hard times." She thinks today's generation is a bunch of whiners in comparison.

CBS News brought her grandson, Chris Cannucciari, along for an interview. He first taped her for the family and then posted the videos online.

Explaining his grandmother's newfound fame, he says, "People started searching the word 'depression' a lot, and the cooking show came up. People saw it, liked it and kept watching."



Chris then created a Facebook page, and a blog for Clara's worldwide fans to let her know what they think.

Cannucciari says she doesn't like the spotlight much, but a new generation is soaking up every word.

story by CBS Evening News

R.I.P. Horton Foote

He was 92 and winner of two Oscars. His most memorable screenplays were Tender Mercies, The Trip To Bountiful and To Kill A Mockingbird.



original post by Nikki Finke

Harvard Professor Jim Yong Kim Is 17th Dartmouth President

Harvard University professor Jim Yong Kim, a former director of the World Health Organization's HIV/AIDS division renowned for his research on drug-resistant tuberculosis, will become Dartmouth's 17th president, College officials announced Monday. Kim's selection comes against the backdrop of the presidential search committee's calls for a leader with a commitment to graduate education and knowledge of medical schools.

original post by M. Heddaya for The Dartmouth Review

One Survivor Found, Coast Guard Searching For 3 Other Missing Boaters

The Coast Guard says it will continue to search waters off Florida's Gulf Coast for three missing boaters for "quite awhile."

Crews rescued a fourth man earlier today. Former University of South Florida football player Nick Schuyler was clinging to an overturned boat that belongs to Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis (mahr-KEES') Cooper.

The Coast Guard says Schuyler told rescuers the boat was anchored Saturday evening when it flipped in rough seas. Schuyler was wearing a life vest and had been clinging to the boat since the accident. He says Cooper and the other two men -- NFL free-agent defensive lineman Corey Smith and former South Florida player William Bleakley -- got separated from the boat.

The weather had been calm when the group left Clearwater Pass Saturday morning, but winds picked up through the day and the seas got heavy. Waves peaked at 15 feet yesterday.

story by the Associated Press

T. Boone Pitches His Energy Plan In Montana

T. Boone Pickens appeared with the governor to pitch to Montanans his plan to decrease the nation's dependence on foreign oil.

He spoke Friday at an energy conference for leaders in business and education.

Pickens' plan calls for offsetting oil with natural gas and wind energy, a strategy that could be good for wind-rich places such as Montana. The Texas oil tycoon says he doubts low oil prices will continue through the year.

In September, Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer signed what is known as the Pickens' Pledge, demanding an end to America's addiction on foreign oil.

The governor says Montana can lead the rest of the country to energy independence from its position in a powerful wind corridor that gusts from Canada to Texas.

written by Kahrin Deines for the Associated Press

www.seussville.com - Dr. Seuss Birthday 2009

Dr. Seuss was actually born Theodor Seuss Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 2, 1904. Seuss grew up in the New England area and went to Dartmouth College. That’s where both his writing career began and his “Doctor” moniker was formed.


Seuss, as the story goes, was caught partying during Prohibition. As a punishment, the school told him to step down from his extracurricular activities, which included writing for a school publication called the Jack-o-Lantern. Seuss, however, wanted to keep writing, so he started working under the name “Dr. Seuss” to keep administrators from realizing it was him.

Dr. Seuss eventually became famous for his rhyming, brightly illustrated books such as The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham. He died in 1991, at the age of 87.

In honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, you can find Dr. Seuss coloring pages and other kids’ activities at the official Seussville.com web site.

original post by KORMOON

After Failed Attempt To Run A Hedge Fund, Ron Insana Back At CNBC