Details on Surrogate Mother Conceiving Sarah Jessica Parker's Twins Unveiled

It is reported by Star Magazine that the surrogate mother who conceives Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick's twins is a 26-year-old divorcee.

While there hasn't been any single information given by Sarah Jessica Parker or her people about the surrogate mother who conceives her just-announced twin daughters, Star Magazine has reported the woman is a 26-year-old divorcee. Moreover, it is said that she is nearly seven months pregnant with Sarah and husband Matthew Broderick's babies.

The celebrity couple are said deciding to seek help from a surrogate mother last year in the wake of mounting reports that Matthew cheated on Sarah with a 21-year-old youth counselor. And once they found the right person, they paid her for "tens of thousands" of dollars to carry the babies, which are due to be born in Sarah's home state of Ohio.

Star Magazine promises some details about the surrogate mother and her comment on carrying the famous couple's babies on its newest issue. Meanwhile, there hasn't been denial or confirmation from Sarah and her camp about the particular report.

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, who have been married since 1997 and already had a 6-year-old son, had their representatives announcing on Tuesday, April 28 that they are expecting twin girls through a surrogate pregnancy. The babies are due to be born this summer.

Flash Flooding Prompts Closure of All Fort Bend ISD Schools

This was posted on the Fort Bend ISD web site:

"Fort Bend ISD is Closed Today, Tuesday, April 28, due to inclement weather conditions!Due to inclement weather conditions, all schools and support facilities in Fort Bend ISD are CLOSED today. Safety for students and staff is our main concern."

I did check the HISD inclement weather hotline (713-267-1704 ) and they are still open as of 7:11 am.

ACL Fest 2009 lineup announced

What: The lineup for the eighth annual Austin City Limits Music Festival was released today by concert promoters C3 Presents.

Confirmed: The worst-kept secret in the Austin music scene — headliners will be Pearl Jam, the Dave Matthews Band, the Beastie Boys, Kings of Leon, Ben Harper and Relentless7 , and Thievery Corporation.

When: Oct. 2 to 4 at Zilker Park

Tickets: Three-day passes are $185 at aclfestival.com.

What you get: More than 130 artists will play the three-day shindig, including Sonic Youth, Mos Def, Flogging Molly, Lily Allen and the Decemberists. The grids: Now we wait to see who’s playing against whom and who’s headlining when.

Breaking down the lineup a little, we find:

ACL first-timers: Pearl Jam, the Dave Matthews Band, the Beastie Boys, John Legend, the Dead Weather (Jack White’s new band), the Levon Helm Band, Sonic Youth

Austin-based highlights: Ghostland Observatory, Asleep at the Wheel (every festival and counting!), the Scabs, Reckless Kelly, Black Joe Lewis, Papa Mali, Heartless Bastards, Terri Hendrix, Leatherbag, Nelo

R&B and hip-hop: John Legend, Mos Def, the Knux, Michael Franti & Spearhead

Take precautions against swine flu, say county officials

County residents are being urged to take precautions against swine flu at schools, offices and other public places after a weekend of escalating infections triggered global concerns and prompted U.S. officials to declare a public health emergency.

No new local infections were reported, and the number of people sickened by the disease in the region remained at four.

But public health officials here and across the nation remained on high alert, predicting that more illnesses will be identified as testing of patients with flu symptoms intensifies. As of last night, they had confirmed 20 cases in California – including three in Imperial County – Kansas, New York, Ohio and Texas. None of the patients died, and most recovered quickly.

Yesterday, epidemiologists also detected swine flu for the first time in Canada and confirmed more patients in Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak with more than 1,600 possible infections and 103 deaths potentially linked to the disease.

“We expect the numbers to change. We expect additional states to identify this virus as we go forward,” said Dr. Ann Schuchat, director of respiratory diseases at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

She and other researchers still don't know why the U.S. cases have been milder than those in Mexico. But Schuchat warned that more serious infections were likely as the spectrum of patients widens.

“I do fear that we will have deaths here,” she said.

The federal government hasn't banned travel to Mexico, but it's asking travelers to follow preventive measures normally recommended for the common flu season. Those include canceling trips and not venturing into public places when sick. Everyone also should wash their hands frequently and avoid people who seem ill.

U.S. epidemiologists are in Mexico to help health officials there set up sophisticated labs capable of testing specimens for swine flu, Schuchat said.

Analyzing a specimen to determine whether it's a common form of influenza is a fairly routine process that can be done at many laboratories around the world. But when an unidentifiable sample turns up, specialized equipment is needed to decode its genetic makeup and match it to the known genetic fingerprint of swine flu.

Health officials in San Diego County are able to identify common strains of flu but must forward unidentifiable samples to the CDC's labs in Atlanta.

Mexico lacks swine-flu detection facilities. It initially sent samples of unidentifiable flu to Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, where the first seven cases from Mexico were identified.

On the domestic front, the White House's emergency declaration yesterday allows federal resources to flow to state and local health agencies investigating swine flu.

President Barack Obama's administration sought to reassure Americans by comparing the emergency declaration with preparing for an approaching hurricane.

“Really, that's what we're doing right now. We're preparing in an environment where we really don't know ultimately what the size or seriousness of this outbreak is going to be,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said during a news conference.

The public health emergency enables authorities to bypass regulations if they interfere with fighting the disease, such as a California law limiting how many patients each hospital nurse can treat, said Dr. Wilma Wooten, public health officer for San Diego County.

In addition, Napolitano said her agency would release 25 percent of the 50 million doses of Tamiflu and Relenza, prescription flu drugs that the federal government has stockpiled. States with confirmed cases of swine flu will receive priority distribution, she said.

An adequate supply is important because the antiviral medications work best when they're administered within 48 hours of symptoms appearing.

Wooten said the county has its own stockpile – enough to treat all first responders and still have 300 doses available for public distribution.

As a precaution, she said, local hospital staffers and public health workers who had direct contact with swine flu patients have received the treatment prophylacticly.

While the makers of Tamiflu and Relenza reported healthy inventories in the United States, supplies of Tamiflu had sold out by yesterday at some pharmacies along Avenida Revolución in Tijuana, where the medicine is sold over the counter.

Store workers said there had been a run on the drug, particularly from U.S. customers. They expected to restock the medication this week.

Worry about swine flu prompted the closure of several schools for today in New York City, San Antonio and suburban Sacramento, where a sick seventh grader was being tested for the disease.

No such action is being taken in San Diego County, where three youngsters have contracted the illness.

As they did last week, county health officials yesterday refused to identify the local high school, elementary school and day-care center where these patients attend classes.

Wooten said there was no need to take broader precautions because all of the youngsters have fully recovered from the flu and no other students at their schools have become ill.

“The principals and administrator at the three facilities are well aware of the situation,” she said.

It wasn't clear whether parents of other students at the schools were told about the infections.

At the U.S.-Mexico border crossings, U.S. customs agents have stepped up health screenings in hopes of blocking the spread of swine flu. They said the extra efforts shouldn't cause significant delays.

But taking time for medical surveys at the San Ysidro Port of Entry – the world's busiest border crossing – could create a logistical challenge during commute hours.

Agents are questioning border crossers about their health if they appear to have the flu. Anyone with symptoms could be pulled out of line for further questioning by health officials, and they might not be allowed to enter the United States.

Similar screenings are being done at San Diego's Lindbergh Field, which has three international flights – two from San José del Cabo in Mexico and one from Vancouver, Canada – according to its Web site.

Airport officials said they didn't expect the procedure to disrupt operations.

No cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Baja California, the state's health secretary, José Guadalupe Bustamante, said yesterday. But health authorities in that region were reviewing the case of a 7-month-old girl who died of pneumonia Friday in Tecate's Hospital General, he said.

While severe cases of flu can lead to pneumonia, the potentially dangerous lung infection can have other causes.

Source: signonsandiego.com

Dove Award Winners Announced!

Did you catch last night's Gospel Music Awards? I was all set to watch it, flipped on the TV, punched in channel 189, and got...a dark screen with some writing on it. The screen screamed at me "NOT AUTHORIZED". Suddenly, the Gospel Music Channel is no longer a part of the basic Comcast Digital service. Grrrrr. So, I had to settle for reading the Twitter updates from the artists, which was actually pretty neat to hear/see their live view. If you're curious to see the complete list of winners, GospelMusic.org has it. Here is the list of the "big category" winners:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Steven Curtis Chapman

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Tenth Avenue North

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Steven Curtis Chapman

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Give Me Your Eyes”; Brandon Heath, Jason Ingram; Sitka 6 Music/Essential Music Publishing (ASCAP), Peertunes Ltd. (SESAC), Grange Hill Music (SESAC), Windsor Way (SESAC)

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Brandon Heath

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Natalie Grant

GROUP OF THE YEAR
Casting Crowns

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Bernie Herms

94 years of the Armenian Genocide

Today is April 24, 2009, 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide since april 24 1915. May the Souls of innocent victims may rest in peace and give light of enlightenment to the cowards.

The Armenian Genocide pictures are really moving so I am not posting them. Can be found all over the internet.

Timothy Wright, famed NY gospel singer, dies at 61

The Rev. Timothy Wright, the Grammy-nominated gospel singer and composer known for his up-tempo praise songs and powerful mass choir sound, has died. He was 61.

Wright, who was seriously injured in a car crash that killed his wife and grandson, died early Thursday at the Bronx Veterans Hospital, music agent Will Bogle said.

Timothy Wright was the pastor at Grace Tabernacle Christian Center Church of God in Christ, located in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. He released more than a dozen gospel recordings, writing many of the songs. His latest album, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus," came out in 2007.

In 1994, his record "Come Thou Almighty King," with the New York Fellowship Mass Choir, made the Billboard Top 20 charts for gospel albums and was nominated for a Grammy for best traditional soul gospel album.

He got another nomination in that category in 1999 for "Been There Done That," recorded with the B/J Mass Choir and featuring Myrna Summers.

"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus" features the New York Fellowship Mass Choir. The title track, written by Wright and his wife and recorded live at a Church of God in Christ convocation, expresses the plight of a woman displaced during Hurricane Katrina: She encourages herself and others by calling the name of Jesus. Among the other songs on the album was "You Must Come In At the Door."

According to the book "Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Encyclopedia," by Bil Carpenter, the Brooklyn-born Wright began playing piano for his local church at age 12 and also began composing at a young age.

By his early 20s, he was music director at Brooklyn's Washington Temple Church of God in Christ.

He began writing songs for such fellow musicians as Mattie Moss Clark and the Rev. Isaac Douglas, according to Carpenter's book, and in 1976 formed the Timothy Wright Concert Choir. Among the choir's albums were "Who's on the Lord's Side?" and "Do You Know the Light?"

Wright was critically injured July 4 in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 near Loganton, Pa. Another car was going the wrong way when it struck Wright's car.

His wife, Betty Wright, 58, was killed in the crash, and their 14-year-old grandson, D.J. Wright, died later at a hospital.

The driver of the wrong-way car, John Pick, also was killed, while a passenger in a third car was injured.

The Wrights were returning from a Church of God in Christ conference in Detroit, said Leroy Johnson, a trustee at Grace Tabernacle.

Source: Philstar.com

Fire destroys homes near Myrtle Beach - Photos and Videos

A coastal wildfire spread early Thursday toward one of the busiest tourist stretches in South Carolina, burning dozens of homes and forcing hundreds to flee in the middle of the night. No injuries were reported.

Police banged on doors to awaken residents as strong winds pushed the blaze through a wooded swath toward the Barefoot Landing development, a sprawling complex of houses, condominiums and golf courses separated from the main route through Myrtle Beach by the Intracoastal Waterway.

Myrtle Beach Fire April 22 2009 3000 acres plus have already been burnt. This is a videoo from Grissom Pkwy intercoastal bridge.

Apple approves 'Baby Shaker' for App Store

If you needed any further proof that Apple's App Store approval process is horrifyingly out of whack, consider one of the latest additions to the App Store: Baby Shaker.

A company called Sikalosoft is currently selling a US$0.99 iPhone application called Baby Shaker, as of Monday. The object of Baby Shaker is to stop the incessant crying of an infant pictured on screen by violently shaking the iPhone, at which point two red "x" marks appear over the baby's eyes. "See how long you can endure his or her adorable cries before you just have to find a way to quiet the baby down!" reads the sales pitch for Baby Shaker.

Jennipher Dickens, who founded a non-profit organisation in 2007 after her son Christopher was injured from being shaken by his father, brought the new application to our attention after reading about it on Krapps, an iPhone application review site. I downloaded it from the App Store this morning to verify it existed and worked as described.

"As a mother of a child who was violently shaken at seven weeks old, causing a severe brain injury, and the founder of a US organisation for Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention (as well as the communications director for a national organisation helping children with brain injuries), I don't have to tell you how much this horrifies me!!!" she wrote in an email.

When the App Store was first announced in March 2008, Apple said it would vet every single application submitted to the App Store and approve or reject applications based on its internal standards. So, as Apple approaches the one billionth download of App Store applications, let's review what Apple has decided you're allowed to do, and what you're not allowed to do, with iPhone applications.

You are not allowed to have swear words in your application.

You are not allowed to develop applications that could potentially harm existing or future Apple businesses.

You are allowed to develop applications that break App Store rules if you work for one of the most important companies on the planet, whose CEO happens to sit on Apple's board of directors.

You are allowed to simulate infanticide.

Apple representatives did not respond to requests for comment on Baby Shaker.

David Hernandez: David Hernandez’s latest news

David Hernandez, was found in a NY gay bar by a writer for a website. Hernandez was asked if he thought his old gay stripper past ruined his chances in Season 7 of American Idol.

Hernandez said he felt it wasn’t his stripping work that cost him AI. Hernandez said it was because he was gay. Hernandez said he knew Adam Lambert from the scene. David Hernandez thought that Lambert might get voted off for being gay.

There are several differences between Hernandez and Lambert. The former was a closet gay stripper. The latter has openly posted his racy gay kissing photos online.

Craigslist Killer’s (Philip Markoff) Wedding Website Removed: Megan-Philip.com

Here are all of the screen grabs I captured from www.megan-philip.com before the site was taken down early this morning:

http://bcclist.com/2009/04/21/screen-grabs-from-megan-philip-dot-com/

Ouch - the wedding website for Megan McAllister and Philip Markoff:

www.megan-philip.com

The site has been yanked but I managed to get screen grabs of each page early this morning. Here’s the homepage - more to come when I get back in front of my home PC tonight…

Update 1: Here’s Megan not yet facing reality:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090421/Craigslist_fiancee_090421/20090421?hub=World

Innocent until proven guilty but IP Addresses are like DNA - they don’t lie. I hope she can get through this difficult time in her life. Fortunately she’s still young and wasn’t harmed.

Update 2: Why did Phil need money so bad? The site had a honeymoon poll (again, more screenshots tonight) and there was an option to vote for Mohegan Sun Resort. Seriously - a casino in Connecticut for a honeymoon? Yeah, yeah - he was in med school so they were broke. The poll even indicated they would take a real honeymoon in 8 years. But, a casino in Connecticut made the list of 4? Gambling problem? We’ll see…

Update 3: Unbelievable…

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D97N0EVO0&show_article=1

“Prosecutors say they traced an e-mail address used to set up an appointment with masseuse Julissa Brisman of New York City to Markoff, who was on his way to Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut with his fiancee when he was arrested by Monday afternoon.”

Phish Fnway Park Tickets -- LiveNation.com Blows It Again

Error!

Sorry, we are having technical difficulty processing your request. Please try your request again. If the problem persists, please contact us. Thank you.

That was the message on LiveNation's website when I tried to login to get tickets for Phish's show at Fenway Park, set for May 31st, 2009. The message appeared only a couple of minutes past 10 a.m.

I kept trying for one hour and could not once even get the page to load. There are people posting tweets saying they scored tickets to see Phish at Fenway Park -- one guy with the user name Canada_Bound claimed to land eight tickets -- but lots of other people are saying they could not login to the LiveNation.com either.

TicketSnow.com already had a link posted for tickets to catch Phish at Fenway Park for the opener of their 2009 Summer Tour, although it was not displaying any for sale before the 10 a.m. on-sale time. Tickets already were listed for sale on StubHub, though, ranging from $113 to $3,400 per ticket. TicketLiquidator had tickets for sale before 10 a.m. with specific seat and row numbers attached to them, such as "Field Box 92, Row KK -- two seats available" for $194 apiece. VividSeats had specific tickets as well, like "Loge Box 14, Row JJ -- two tickets for $190 (each I believe, although it's not clear)." Likewise, you could buy four tickets at 7 a.m. EST (three hours before the general on sale time) in "Pavilion Box 6, Row B" for $203 each at CoastToCoastTickets. And, of course, on eBay and CraigsList Fenway Park ticket prices are off the chain.

One thing that is glaringly obvious is that the same seats are for sale across all four websites. Now, Fenway Park's primary purpose is as the Boston Red Sox home field. Fenway Park does host other events throughout the year (for instance, The Dave Matthews Band is playing two shows there before Phish on May 29th and 30th; both bands have the same management company these days.), but "season tickets" are not sold for these additional events -- just for Red Sox games.

Perhaps the Red Sox offer first dibs for tickets to other events inside Fenway Park to Red Sox season tickets holders, and the tickets currently available on all of the scalper sites are simply posted by some enterprising Red Sox fans who have read the news about demand for Phish tickets, or heard it through the grapevine and see an opportunity to pocket a few hundred bucks.

No matter how those tickets to Phish at Fenway Park on May 31st became available for purchase before the public on sale date and time, it is fucked up (insert your own personal rant on Ticketbastard, LiveNation.com and ticket scalpers here).

On a side note, I wanted to announce that The Wagger will no longer provide links to ticket re-sale websites; if you plan on buying tickets through those bastards you can link to them on your own. Not to sound rude, but I don't want to provide them with any help at all, no matter how minuscule it may be and no matter how insignificant this Blog may be in the grand scheme of Phish. Sure I mentioned them by name above, but that's only for the sake of posting an entirely accurate news story.

In related news, New York Sen. Charles Schumer unveiled plans for legislation that would ban the resale of concert and sports tickets until two days after they first go on sale to the public, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month.

Changing The Rules On How To Eat Chocolate

Eating chocolate is both an art and a passion. It is important truly to appreciate the “food of the gods” and eat chocolate in moderation. And to truly appreciate chocolate in all its splendor you must try its many different forms. Surely adapting is OK. If you force someone to eat chocolate cake every day they will quickly tire of it. The Rules of Chocolate is if you get melted chocolate all over your hands you’re eating it too slowly. Aren’t you tired of the Vanila Chocolate ripple. Except that this relaxed night was even better because it included the interview and wine. I was already drunk on the Beards and didn’t indulge and The chocolate plus a friendly social crowd.

Blog Posts on Changing The Rules On How To Eat Chocolate.

We enjoyed meeting new people and seeing. Minnesota’s most liberal newspaper the rostrum of the star filed for bankruptcy a few months ago. They can eat the chocolate rolls to help them with the eggnog. My daughter’s school only offers 2 milk and chocolate milk. Which is the lesser of the two evils The extra saturated fat of the 2 or the extra sugar from the chocolate milk They get very little of either in their diets. Rather than change their ways or face the music the powers behind this struggling newspaper would rather in true liberal form beg for money or an exception to the laws of corporate taxation. Aren’t we tired of the Duality?.

Oke here is the Step for The Rules on How To Eat Chocolate :

== Steps ==

# ”’Begin by reading books on chocolate.”’ You can never learn too much about it; make sure to get books with colorful photographs of chocolate. Look especially for books that discuss tasting chocolate, discussions on the various brands of chocolate and the history behind chocolate. All of this is essential background knowledge to truly appreciate eating chocolate.

# ”’Try milk chocolate varieties.”’ See if these please your palate. Always seek the best quality milk chocolate varieties rather than the common supermarket and corner store bars and confectionery. Look for European chocolates, especially Swiss brands, because, while they normally are more pricey, the product is held to a higher standard than most American chocolates. Even better, of course, would be to find a chocolatier who makes chocolate from scratch near to you. That is hard to find nowadays, though, so don’t be hopeful.

# ”Taste Dark Chocolate” This ranges in intensity from around 45% through to 100%. Be careful not to try the dark chocolate at too high a level to begin with or you may not like it. Start at around 45 - 50% dark and work your way up. Most people do not like the 85 - 100% range at first, or maybe never, as it tends to be very bitter. 100% has no sugar content at all and is very harsh to the untrained palate. When tasting dark chocolate, allow it to melt in your mouth rather than chewing. This will make it less bitter and more tasty!

#’Try White chocolate.” This has a delicious and different flavour, because there is no cocoa; instead it is made with cocoa butter.It is very creamy and sweet.

#”’Try Make Chocolate Trufflestruffles.”’ These should be hand-made, preferably by a chocolatier, a patissier or a baker who specializes in chocolate treats. The cream must be fresh. If it is not, the experience will be ruined. Return them and demand new ones- the chocolatier deserves to be made aware of any quality issues.

#’‘Try drinking a chocolate” This is a delight not to be overlooked in the pursuit of enjoying chocolate. Purists may pooh-pooh drinking it, but did you know that this is how chocolate was first appreciated by the Aztecs and the Europeans many centuries ago? There are many ways to enjoy drinking chocolates. What is important, however, is to find the finest quality of said drink. Beware drinking chocolates marketed at children or for mass cafeteria consumption; they are likely to be over sweet and sickly. Look for low fat and sugar content (As in no added fats to pad out the powder and not too high a sugar ratio). True connoisseurs will look for powdered drinking chocolate that has no added milk fats, slight sugar and high cacao content or for the pure grated or broken high quality chocolate itself (added directly to warm milk).

#”’Savour chocolate.”’ Whether you chew, allow to melt in the mouth or drink your chocolate, enjoy it slowly and with enjoyment. Take out time to discern the notes in chocolate for yourself and to try and develop a tasting repertoire that suits you. Chocolate differs in taste and quality in the same way as wine, whiskey, cognac, seafood and game meats do. Learn to appreciate the subtleties over time. And share with a friend- become experts together!

#”Focus on nothing but the chocolate.”’ This works with most tasty foods but is especially appealing with chocolate. Close your eyes and cut off all sensory information except the chocolate. Pay attention to the taste and details of the entire piece, moving around in your mouth and savoring the flavor. Allow the chocolate to overwhelm your senses and don’t let anything else bother you. Practicing ”meditation” can certainly help, as this is similar to reaching a state of meditation. If it is an exceptional piece of chocolate and you reach the correct state of mind, this technique can make you feel quite like you are having an orgasm.

General Growth Properties Files for Bankruptcy

General Growth Properties, one of the largest mall operators in the nation, filed for bankruptcy early Thursday morning in one of the biggest commercial real estate collapses in United States history.

Despite bargaining for months with its creditors, General Growth faced increasing pressure to handle its more than $25 billion in debt, largely in the form of short-term mortgages that will come due by next year. The company has been severely wounded by the recession, which has wreaked havoc upon the retailers who inhabit its more than 200 malls in 44 states. Many stores have shuttered, depriving mall operators like General Growth of revenue.

Electric cars get a kick-start

Until now, electric cars have been criticized for being too expensive (the California-based Tesla roadster costs around £90,000) or looking more like go-karts than real cars (think G-Wiz). But in recent months, mainstream manufacturers have jumped on board, buoyed up by increasing enthusiasm from governments to fund demonstrations or provide incentives to consumers to kick-start the electric market.

Last year BMW showed off an electric version of the Mini, which it will lease to customers in the US and Germany. The car is part of the motor company's larger Project i, its attempts to reduce the use of petrol and diesel in its cars. Rival car maker Daimler is working with energy company RWE to build a charging infrastructure. For its part, the German government wants a million electric cars on its roads by 2020.

In February, Mitsubishi unveiled the MiEV, a four-seater city car with a top speed of 87 mph and a range of up to 100 miles. Its battery can be fully charged from flat in a relatively fast six hours when attached to mains electricity and, when it goes on sale in the UK next year, it will be the first production electric car available to buy from a mainstream manufacturer.

Hot on its heels will be all-electric cars from virtually everyone else. Mercedes, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Dodge, Ford and Chevrolet all have all-electric cars at advanced stages of development and, at motor shows this year, have fallen over themselves to introduce their electric plans to the world.

There are also new companies trying to get in on the market. The Chinese company BYD, short for Build Your Dreams, was set up in 2003 and began looking at electric vehicles almost immediately. The company knew that, to compete internationally, it would require something unique about its cars. Now the company is poised to tap into the world's fastest-growing vehicle market, as the Chinese swap their bicycles for cars, and plans to use this as a base from which to launch its plug-in hybrid, the A5, and all-electric car, the E6, later this year.

In China, the government will invest over $1.5bn (£1bn) in the next few years to support the development of electric drive trains in cars and is also considering giving incentives to consumers to buy cleaner vehicles.

"Vehicle electrification is inevitable, it will happen," said Dan Sperling, a member of the air resources board of California, and an environmental scientist at the University of California, Davis, during a speech to car experts in London last year. He is also Arnold Schwarzenegger's environmental enforcer, leading the introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles to California, where Better Place has been contracted to set up demonstration networks of its battery-swapping business in several cities including San Francisco.

Sperling went on to compare the challenge to electrify road transport with the Apollo Moon shots of the 1960s. "John F Kennedy said: 'we have the resources, we have the talents but we haven't had the resolve.' There are ways, even with battery technology the way it is, lots of opportunity to use it but certainly with more investment and better policy and focus, we can push it much faster. The good news is that, in transforming our fuels, vehicles and transportation systems, we need much less invention than we needed to get to the Moon. From a technology perspective, it's easier."

Sixto Balbuena stabbed Samuel Valdivia over Tamara Hofmann: Balbuena Valdivia Hofmann (photos)

Tamara Hofmann, 48, a school teacher, had two male young student and former student admirers. Hofmann’s former student, Sixto Balbuena, 20, killed the other young student, Samuel Valdivia, 18.

Hofmann was a Math teacher in El Dorado High School. Hofmann has been suspended from her teaching duties. Hofmann is suspected of having inappropriate relationships with minors. Hofmann is being investigated for other possible relationships.

Tamara Hofmann used to tach Sixto Balbuena when she was atteacher at Tempe’s Marcos de Niza High School. Balbuena was arrested and charged with second degree murder. Balbuena is held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Balbuena paid a sudden visit to Hofmann’s home. Balbuena let himself in and met Samuel Valdivia in Hofmann’s bathroom in her home. He saw Hofmann nude and understood the situation. Balbuena assaulted Valdivia and used a knife to stab him. Balbuena said he did not intend to kill him.

Balbuena attacked Hofmann but he did not use the knife to stab her. Balbuena called 911 to ask for medical assistance. He waited for police to arrive to arrest him.

Tamara Hofmann & Sixto Balbuena photos & details.

Mark Fidrych DEAD

Mark “the Bird” Fidrych is dead from a freak accident. Former Detroit Tigers Mark Fidrych died today while working on his truck. Fidrych was 54.

In 1976, Mark became the American League rookie of the year. Across his five seasons at the Detroit, the Bird earned a 3.10 ERA and 29-19 record.

The Bird reportedly pitched 58 games total in the majors. Police are still not sure what caused his injuries today on his farm located in Northborough, Mass. No official statement has been released.

HauteLook.com Exclusive Member Discounts

If you like online shopping of fashion products, HauteLook.com offers an exclusive platform where you can deal directly with the designers of the brand which you want.

To become a member of HauteLook, easy and you can register for free.

Other benefits if you become a member of Hautelook, you can get discounts up to 75% of the latest fashion products.

VH1 Invites You To Attend The Rock Of Love Bus Reunion!

VH1 will be taping the Rock of Love Bus Reunion show in Los Angeles during the afternoon of Thursday April 9, 2009. More details below -

Are you the ULTIMATE Rock of Love fan?

Do you know everything there is to know about these Bret and the girls? Why not put your knowledge to good use by attending the taping of the Rock of Love Bus Reunion?

You’ll get an opportunity to ask questions of your favorite cast members, hear them revisit good times and bad, and even be among the first to find out how things went for the girls after they left the show.

The taping will be held in Los Angeles during the afternoon of Thursday April 9, 2009. The taping is FREE but by invitation ONLY. So to secure your spot at what is gonna be one of the hottest reunions in VH1 history, write us at: ROLBusReunion@gmail.com.

In your email, please include the following information:

• Your first name
• Your age and sex
• Your city of residence
• Your contact numbers and email address
• The names of the people that you will be bringing to the reunion as well as their age and sex (NOTE: we cannot reserve more than four seats for any one person)

Early respondents do have an edge, so get your response to us ASAP.

You will be contacted by a producer the week of April 2 if you are selected for the audience.

IMPORTANT NOTES: You must be over 18 to attend the taping and have your own transportation to the taping in Los Angeles. The production cannot provide lodging or transportation. THIS IS NOT A CONTEST. All audience members will be REQUIRED to sign a confidentiality agreement prior to being admitted to the audience.

Arthur Curry Found Dead

Arthur Curry Died - Arthur Curry, also known as Artie Curry, died yesterday in New York.

Arthur Curry died only weeks after turning 49 years old. He was well known for his position as Director of Boxing Talent Relations for HBO Sports. Curry was a hard worker and well respected, he started in the mail room of Time Life and earned his position in HBO.

Arthur Curry was found dead in his New York City apartment and the cause of his death has no yet been released to the press. That’s the news on Arthur Curry who will be missed by many.

‘Big Brother’ is calling for contestants

Want to live in a house with a dozen or sostrangers and hundreds of cameras rolling every second of the day? “Big Brothers 11″ offers such an opportunity for interested individuals who are at least 21 years of age. Go to www.cbs.com/casting for an application. Casting directors are looking for outgoing individuals who are up for anything and are willing to compete for half a million dollars against other players who are just as ambitious. Deadline for applying is May 4.

WSMV Anchor Dan Miller Dead

Longtime WSMV-TV anchor Dan Miller died Wednesday night of a heart attack at the age of 64 in his hometown of Augusta, Ga.

Miller was in Augusta to watch practice rounds of the Masters Golf Tournament with fellow friends and longtime co-workers Terry Bulger and Rudy Kalis.

In addition to his work as anchor, Miller also hosted a Sunday night talk show on WSMV during the 70’s and 80’s called Miller & Company, a show that was eventually picked up by the national cable channel TNN. The show featured Miller at his best, sitting in a restaurant booth casually speaking to guests in his own friendly but engaging style. Perhaps the best remembered episode of that show was one Miller was barely on.

It was during the Christmas holiday season in the early 80’s and Miller said on-air that many families in Nashville didn’t have the opportunity to gather around a yule log and talk to each other. Maybe they lived in apartment buildings or homes without a fireplace he said, so his gift that year to the city was a broadcast of logs burning in a fireplace for the entirety of the show.

NashvillePost.com, The Nashville City Paper, and the entire SouthComm family of publications extends its deepest sympathies to Miller’s family, colleagues and friends at WSMV-News Channel 4, and all those who knew him well.

Recession antidote: Apple 8GB 4th Generation iPod Nano - With Images

Yes it is that time of day again when we give you another recession antidote, this means that we look for a deal of an item that you will defiantly want. Today we have a refurbished Apple 8GB 4th Generation iPod Nano, which comes in a range of colors, Black, Blue, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Silver and Yellow.



This 8GB version of the popular media player can hold up to 2,000 songs in a 128 Kbps AAC format, 8 hours of video and 7,000 iPod viewable photos. The two-inch screen on the iPod Nano is big enough for you to view what you are listing to, but is a bit of a strain when trying to view a video.



The Built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery allows you to listen to music for at least 24 hours and 4 hours of video between charges. We do not need to go on anymore about the Apple 8GB 4th Generation iPod Nano as we know all there is to know, so now the price. Woot are selling the device for just $99.99.

Warner Bros. warns Bollywood: Don't touch "Button"

Fighting for its foothold in India's growing movie market, Warner Bros. has threatened to sue anybody planning to remake "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" without its permission.

Warners' threat appeared in local media advertisements Monday after reports that Bollywood producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah planned to make a Hindi-language film called "Action Replay," in which actor Akshay Kumar would go through a reverse-aging process.

"We took the step of publishing a notice regarding the possible unauthorized remake of 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' as part of that rigorous defense of our rights, and to ensure that the filmgoing public in India experience our movies in the way that they were intended," Mumbai-based Warner Bros. India told The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday.

The ads, issued by New Delhi-based firm Lall and Sethi, say that Warners will sue anyone producing a film "either in English or Hindi or another language, having a similar script, screenplay or story line or character sketches or interplay of characters or sequence of events."

"We hope that this will serve as a deterrent to any filmmaker planning an unauthorized remake," attorney Chandler Lall said, adding that the Hollywood studio had issued similar notices in the past concerning such films as "The Departed," which reportedly is slated for a Bollywood remake by producer Sajid Nadiadwala.

The case is just the latest in a long-standing Bollywood-Hollywood dispute over intellectual property rights.

Last year, Lall and Sethi issued a notice warning against unauthorized remakes of Sony Pictures' "Jerry Maguire" as unconfirmed reports indicated that actor Salman Khan was planning to star in a Bollywood remake of the Tom Cruise hit.

Also last year, Warner Bros. took the producers of the Indian film "Hari Puttar: A Comedy of Terrors" to court, arguing that its name was too similar to the studio's "Harry Potter" franchise.

The case was dismissed by the Delhi High Court, which said that the "Harry Potter" books are for "a different class of consumer who will not confuse 'Harry Potter' with 'Hari Puttar.'"

WHDH Says It Won’t Run ‘Leno'

NBC affiliates largely seem to side with the network on the recent flap concerning WHDH Boston and Jay Leno. While WHDH announced late last week it planned to debut a 10 p.m. nightly news instead of the new Leno program come fall, the Sunbeam-owned station appears to be alone in its public defiance of the network. (WHDH may have backtracked from its initial stance; the announcement of its 10 p.m. program no longer appears on WHDH.com).

Several managers at NBC affiliates privately say a 10 p.m. news would be far more lucrative than Leno's as-yet untitled program, especially with the affiliates owning the ad inventory. But they say they remain committed to seeing Leno succeed. "We have a contract, and we respect and honor that," says WOOD Grand Rapids VP/General Manager Diane C. Kniowski. "We look forward to seeing how the network will make it a great product."

The word most GMs offer up when discussing Leno's pending program is "consistent"-the show likely won't be a smash, but the NBC funnyman's wide appeal should prevent it from being a bomb too. NBC affiliates board chairman Michael Fiorile says the timely and topical nature of the program will make it essentially DVR-proof.

"It's a safe-harbor type of program," says WCBD Charleston VP/General Manager Rick Lipps. "If it's not #1, at least it's not #3, and it should be better than 80-90% of the new shows the networks put out there."

While they remain frustrated with NBC's inability to find a hit, general managers say relations with the network have been good. They're pleased to see a committee within the NBC affiliates board working on aspects of the Leno program. "The network has been working closely with the affiliate body to work out our concerns," says WRCB Chattanooga President/General Manager Tom Tolar. "I think those will be dealt with, and I think the Leno show will help local news here."

Affiliates around the country said WHDH's announcement took them by surprise, and did not know of another NBC affiliate that planned to stand with WHDH and defy the network. (A Sunbeam TV spokesperson said president Ed Ansin "still had no comment"; WHDH GM Chris Wayland did not return a call for comment at presstime as to whether the station still planned to stick with the 10 p.m. news). Said one Midwestern GM privately, "Why would we walk? We haven't even seen the show yet. Everyone's making assumptions that it'll be the same show [as The Tonight Show]."

NBC affiliate managers point out that, with owned stations in seven of the top ten markets, the network has considerable skin in the game. "NBC is in this as much as we are," says Lipps. "They're not going to let it flounder."

Is American Idol’s Adam Lambert Gay?

Adam Lambert gave a stunning performance of "Mad World" tonight on American Idol that resulted in Simon giving him a standing ovation. Unfortunately, the live show ran more than 5 minutes over on the East Coast.

Which means a lot of people who recorded it missed seeing it and wound up screaming at their TV.

American Idol contestant Adam Lambert sang for his spot in the final 12 tonight, and the internet lit up with people asking a simple question: Is Adam Lambert Gay?

We could argue that in a modern age, Lambert’s sexuality really doesn’t matter, but there is a simply answer.

Adam Lambert is gay. Is there really any question?

If he isn’t gay, then he’s doing a damn fine impersonation of being an extremely camp gay person, but the evidence for the question is quite clear.

House Kutner Suicide!

Actor Kal Penn who played the the role of Dr. Lawrence Kutner is dead. 33 years old died last April 2nd from self inflicted gunshot wound. People at work were curious why Dr Lawrence Kutner did not show up to work. So they sent Foreman and Thirteen to investigate. They went to his apartment and found Kutner dead in a pool of blood.

5 Elements of a Successful Facebook Fan Page

For many companies a Facebook (Facebook reviews) fan page is an integral part of their social media campaign. But, what elements help fan pages build up large followings and what can brands do to emulate the success of others? I’ve put together a list of specific elements that I believe have helped create fan pages with large, engaged, followings.

1. Networking with other platforms

Building a large following requires a network of other platforms, working in conjunction to drive visitors to your fan page. One brand that does that well is Victoria’s Secret with their PINK line.

As you can see, on their PINK landing page they have a link to their Facebook fan page and their MySpace (MySpace reviews) profile. Victoria’s Secret leverages the traffic their home page gets and pushes them to their Facebook fan page.

Many companies lack this level of dedication, expecting their consumers on Facebook to find them automatically. However, that’s not usually the case.

When is the last time you went looking for a brand’s Facebook fan page? More often than not, a consumer will stumble upon the page, either through a friend or from a hub, similar to Victoria’s Secret’s PINK page.

Understandably, the fact that the demographic targeted by Victoria’s Secret PINK, aligns exactly with the demographic that is most active on Facebook, has helped grow the group as well.

Key Takeaway: Connecting multiple social platforms and a hub from the brand website, can help funnel consumers throughout the network.

2. Creating a resource

Some pages are used as connection hubs, but others offer information pertinent to their consumers. They use the information as added value to have consumers create a connection with the brand.

Dell has done a great job with their social media resource for small businesses. Understanding that small business owners buy computers, by offering them this resource, small business owners interested in social media keep Dell top of mind.

Although, Dell can’t explicitly gauge the success of this program in ROI, it is a branding exercise. Also, since they offer deals and updates on new products on the page - the page does have a chance to convert small business owners into Dell consumers.

Key Takeaway: Offering a resource page allows a brand to target a new demographic, outside of those that already know and love the business.

3. Creating contests that include participation

For brands that want fan pages to have added value (a reason for users to join the page, aside from brand loyalty), but don’t want to become a resource portal; offering contests and coupons specifically to Facebook users can entice consumers to join.

Sears offered fans a $10 coupon to use in stores, giving consumers a reason to join. Clicking on the coupon takes you to a page where Sears collects your information and sends you information about the coupon, deals, and offers. There’s no way to make sure the coupon is given to only Facebook fans, however like Sears, brands can require an email before receiving the coupon.

Key Takeaway: Offering something to consumers to join can help build a large community. Some examples of things to offer: Coupons, free shipping, weekly deals.

4. Empowering pre-existing pages

One of my favorite stories about social media involves the Coca Cola Facebook page. The fan page was created by two users who liked Coke. What started as a fan page for fun, turned out to be the largest product fan page on Facebook.

Coca Cola, instead of taking over the page and making it their own, rewarded the fans by bringing them to Atlanta and giving them a tour of the Coke facility. The fan page remains theirs, but now they have the blessing and help of Coca Cola.

By empowering the fans to keep their fan page, Coke ensures a passionate page owner.

The Coca Cola marketing team was also smart enough to realize that letting others know what happened here would work in their favor. The fan page creators were told to make a video of the history behind the fan page, and how Coke had reached out to them and rewarded them for this.

The video shows future ‘brand enthusiasts’ that creating successful groups around Coca Cola can result in rewards and recognition.

Key Takeaway: Taking over unsanctioned Facebook fan pages isn’t always the best idea. Instead, rewarding dedication can inspire others to do the same.

5. Targeting the proper demographic

Sometimes no matter what you do, your Facebook page won’t grow. This can simply be a side effect of Facebook’s demographic. There are just some brands that will not have a strong presence on Facebook.

Understanding the demographic present can help you decide if Facebook is worth it for your business.

From Quantcast estimates, we can tell that Facebook skews towards female youths. Interestingly, 53% of users have kids and a majority make over $60k a year salary. Obviously, over 50% are college kids. The demographics that make up Facebook are changing quickly, as more moms have begun to join and the college market has become saturated.

facebook quantcast demographics image

Armed with this knowledge, Seventeen Magazine jumped on to the Facebook fan page bandwagon. Their brand targets the demographic most prominent on Facebook, meaning a fairly quick and organic growth.

For companies whose brand does not target the optimal demographic, finding a specific line that does, works.

Consider the brand mentioned earlier in this article, Victoria’s Secret. Instead of putting the entire brand on Facebook, they targeted the PINK line, a line for college students.

Key Takeaway: Some brands cannot expect huge followings on Facebook. Brands or product lines targeting the demographic most prominent on Facebook tend to see the quickest growth.


I purposely did not talk about using advertising to increase the size of a fan page, because although it can be useful to jump start a fan page, organic growth can help build a more engaged group.

Creating a Facebook fan page is simple, but getting it to work well takes time, dedication, and some planning. Don’t expect to create a page and then have a huge following instantaneously. Build good content, make it easy to share, and let people know about it, and over-time the community will grow.

Do you have a successful fan page? What did you do to get the word out? What elements did you add to make it easier to pass along? How do you engage your consumers?

Sarah Palin vs Levi Johnston

Who knew The Tyra Banks show could be this good? Levi Johnston, the father of Bristol Palin's child went on to clear the air about rumors and lies.
I'm not interested in their sex life, but it's obvious that Sarah forced him to go the RNC convention.

In the interview, the Johnston family reveals Bristol Palin, who became pregnant at 17, forced Levi to attend the Republican National Convention in September.

Mercede said, "Levi told me [Bristol Palin] called and said that, 'You're going,' and he said, 'I want to go hunting,' and she said, 'You're going.'"

Sarah Palin was not too pleased and her camp released this statement attacking Levi:

After talking about sex on "The Tyra Banks Show," Johnston – the 18-year-old father of Bristol Palin's baby – was hit with a blistering response from Bristol's mother, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

"Bristol did not even know Levi was going on the show. We're disappointed that Levi and his family, in a quest for fame, attention, and fortune, are engaging in flat-out lies, gross exaggeration, and even distortion of their relationship," says the statement from the Palin family rep.

"Bristol's focus will remain on raising Tripp, completing her education, and advocating abstinence," the statement continues. "It is unfortunate that Levi finds it more appealing to exploit his previous relationship with Bristol than to contribute to the well being of the child."

The statement ends, saying, "Bristol realizes now that she made a mistake in her relationship and is the one taking responsibility for their actions."

It's pretty sickening to use a child for political gain when their baby was used on the national stage and it appears Levi got the old shotgun treatment to attend the RNC Convention.

Wounded Warrior Project

WWP offered guidance to Senator's Akaka and Burr in development of vitally needed legislation

Wounded Warrior Project applauds Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) for their introduction of new legislation, the Family Caregiver Program Act of 2009, to assist the family caregivers of the most severely wounded veterans. WWP also pledges their strongest support for this vitally needed legislation. Senator Akaka is the Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and Senator Burr is the ranking member.

"This bill aims to provide the support family caregivers are in critical need of," stated Wounded Warrior Project's Executive Vice President, Policy and Government Affairs, Brian Feser. "We commend Senators Akaka and Burr for standing up for these veterans and their families and creating legislation to ease their economic burdens."

Wounded Warrior Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. WWP offers services and programs like benefits and career counseling, advocacy initiatives and combat stress seminars to aid in the transition from hospital bed to an independent, productive life.

Securing comprehensive and continuing support for family caregivers nationwide is Wounded Warrior Project's highest legislative priority. Many family caregivers are struggling to care for their veterans, many times to the detriment of their own health, the depletion of their finances, the loss of jobs and health care, and the endangerment of the family unit due to the emotional and economic toll.

The bill would provide not only a training and certification program for caregivers, but also group and individual counseling, respite, health care coverage and a monthly caregiver allowance.

About Wounded Warrior Project:
Wounded Warrior Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. WWP serves to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. For more information, please call 877 TEAM WWP (832-6997) or visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org