Jessica Hahn

Jessica Hahn Smacked Down By Barbara Walters Over Affair Comments On 'The View'.

Jessica Hahn Smacked Down By Barbara Walters Over Affair Comments On 'The View' (VIDEO)

The Huffington Post Jack Mirkinson
First Posted: 02/22/11 02:26 PM Updated: 02/22/11 08:53 PM
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Barbara Walters smacked down a guest who brought up her relationship with a U.S. Senator on Tuesday's "The View."

The show is doing a week of "Where Are They Now?" episodes featuring guests who had 15 minutes of fame years ago. Tuesday's guest was Jessica Hahn, a woman who had a sexual encounter (one she claimed was rape) with televangelist Jim Bakker in the 1980s. The revelation of the incident led to a major scandal for Bakker.

But Hahn bristled when Sherri Shepherd called the incident "an affair"--and she brought up Walters' past for comparison.

"This wasn't an affair," she said. "Unlike, I don't want to be cruel or anything, in your book Audition you had an affair with a Senator," she said.

This was a reference to Walters' admission that she had an affair with Senator Edward Brooke in the 1970s.

Walters jumped in.

"This is about you, my dear. this is not about me. OK?" she said, to applause from the crowd. "I'm very happy talk about my relationships, but this is about you."

Tip Toes

US BudgetRecap:Obama Tip-Toes Out of Startng Blcks W/FY12 Plan.

–Obama’s FY12 Budget Proposes $1.1 Trillion In Ten Year Savings
–Obama Says ‘Further Steps’ To Reduce Budget Deficit Are Needed
–House Budget Chief Ryan Calls Admin Plan A ‘Duck’ From Hard Choices
–Senate Budget Chief Conrad Says Admin Plan Is Okay For One Year

WASHINGTON (MNI) – President Obama released this week his fiscal
year 2012 budget which calls for $1.1 trillion in ten year savings with
about two thirds coming from spending savings and one-third from revenue
increases.

Obama’s FY12 budget sees budget deficits of $1.65 trillion in the
current year, FY11, and $1.1 trillion in FY 12.

According to the administration’s plan, cumulative deficits between
FY12 and FY16 will be $3.769 trillion and cumulative deficits over th
FY12-21 period will be $7.205 trillion.

The president’s plan to secure $1.1 trillion in savings relies
heavily on his proposal to freeze large portions of the discretionary
budget for five years. That secures $400 billion in savings.

Under the president’s plan for FY12, spending will reach $3.7
trillion while revenues generate $2.627 trillion.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad said the president’s
plan “gets it about right for the first year,” but then falls short.

“We need a much more robust package of deficit and debt reduction
over the medium-and long term,” Conrad said in a statement. He repeated
his pleas for a “bipartisan” process to tackle longer-term deficits.

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan was far more dismissive,
blasting the plan as little more than a tactical placeholder designed to
force Republicans to take the heat for offering a more aggressive fiscal
plan.

In a sharp exchange with White House Budget Jack Lew at a hearing
on Obama’s FY12 budget, Ryan said the president’s new budget “does
nothing” to reform increasingly costly entitlement programs.

“Why did you duck?” Ryan asked sharply. “Why are you not taking
this opportunity to lead?”

“We all know the debt is becoming a crisis,” he said.

Ryan also said the administration uses very optimistic growth
assumptions to narrow the deficit by the middle of the decade. “You are
expecting very robust growth,” he said skeptically to Lew.

Lew said the administration’s FY12 fiscal “puts the nation on a
path of fiscal sustainablity,” but said bipartisan negotiations will be
needed to tackle medium and long-term fiscal issues.

“This is the first step in the process…The president’s budget is
the starting point,” Lew said. “There are very very tough choices in
this budget,” he added.

House Speaker John Boehner said this week that the House GOP budget
will include entitlement reforms. “Our budget will lead where the
president has failed, and it will include real entitlement reforms so
that we can have a conversation with the American people about the
challenges we face and the need to chart a new path to prosperity,” he
said.

The Speaker offered no details on what types of entitlement reform
the House GOP will propose.

But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell seemed more cautious
this week about the GOP taking the lead in pushing entitlement reforms.
“We know and will say again that entitlement reform will not be done
except on a bipartisan basis with presidential leadership,” McConnell
said.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, in an assessment of
Obama’s budget, concluded that it “offers too little at a time when so
much is needed.” It added that “this budget shirks away from making the
hard choices and instead focuses in on non-security discretionary
spending.”

The Concord Coalition also the Obama budget falls short. “While
there are positive aspects to this budget, dealing with the nation’s
unsustainable structural deficit is not one of them, Once again, the
entitlement and tax reform agenda is left to another day.”

Chicago Mayor

Rahm Emanuel declares victory in Chicago mayor's race.

Rahm Emanuel declared victory in the Chicago mayor's race tonight.

"Thank you Chicago for this humbling victory," a smiling Emanuel told supporters. "All I can say, you sure know how to make a guy feel at home."

"It is easy to find differences, but we can never allow them to become divisions. Tonight we are moving forward in the only way we truly can. Together. As one city, with one future."

"It's you. It's the hard-working, plain-speaking folks who share a love for their city and a determination to keep it strong," he said. "I share that love and I am determined with your help to meet our challenges head on and to make a great city even greater."

"While this election was hard-fought, it was only the beginning," he said. "We have not won anything until a kid can go to school thinking of their studies and not their safety...Or until the parents of that child is thinking about their work and not where they're going to find work, we have not won anything. The real work of building a better future begins tonight."

Emanuel said he does not want to see another child's name on a memorial for those killed by gun violence. He said it's important for parents to partner with schools.

Chicago's new mayor said the city needs to confront a budget shortfall "not by burdening Chicago families with more taxes they cannot afford, but by reinventing city government so that city government works for the taxpayers."

Emanuel said he spoke with outgoing Mayor Richard Daley tonight. Daley proved the right kind of leadership can make a city world-class while others struggle.

"Nobody has ever loved Chicago more or served it with greater passion or commitment. This city bears his imprint and he has earned a special place in our hearts and our history."

Emanuel also thanked his wife, Amy Rule, for "being our rock through all of this."

As Emanuel spoke, political consultant David Axelrod looked on. President Barack Obama called Emanuel to congratulate Emanuel, his former chief of staff, and the White House sent out a statement.

"I want to extend my congratulations to Rahm Emanuel on a well-deserved victory tonight," Obama said in a statement. "As a Chicagoan and a friend, I couldn't be prouder. Rahm will be a terrific mayor for all the people of Chicago."

Emanuel's declaration came after runner-up Gery Chico called him tonight to concede defeat.

"We've elected a mayor tonight," Chico told supporters. "I want with all of my heart for Rahm Emanuel to be successful as mayor. We need that, ladies and gentlemen."

Emanuel needed to be above the 50 percent benchmark to avoid a runoff election and six more weeks of campaigning, and he got what he needed. With 96 percent of precincts counted, Emanuel had 54.9 percent to 24.4 percent for Chico.

City Clerk Miguel del Valle had 9.4 percent and former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun was at 8.7 percent.

Braun conceded defeat, saying she didn't know whether there'd be a runoff.

"I believe that hope flames eternal," she told supporters. "We will continue to try to inspire people, to get them engaged in government....I wish the victor in this race all the success in the taking of the reins of government."

Emanuel is holding his election night party at a Near West Side union hall. The Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" played in the background as early election results came in.

A small crowd cheered as returns showed Emanuel over 50 percent and leading competitors with a wide margin.

Emanuel and his family were gathered in a room above the hall's main floor. They sat on a small red couch as they watched returns come in on a flat screen television. Emanuel seemed giddy as he watched his lead grow.

At Chico's election night headquarters at a River North hotel, the crowd was subdued as results rolled in showing Emanuel with a commanding lead. The campaign sent U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, a staunch supporter, to speak to reporters. Gutierrez said he was "upbeat" because early results did not show where votes had been counted. But campaign staffers acknowledged Chico was making plans to come downstairs and address supporters "pretty soon."

At Braun's campaign party at a South Side ballroom, a 10-man gospel chorus was on stage belting out a song with the chorus "We are the chosen generation."

Many in attendance turned away from the TV on one side of the room and clapped for the group or waved their hands to the music. Some held up smart phones to get quick videos of the performance.

A few dozen "Carol for Chicago" signs were stacked just outside the room for Braun's eventual appearance before a bank of news cameras. Some on the campaign were signaling it will be an early night.

Earlier today, the major contenders fanned out across the city on Election Day looking for last-minute votes.

Despite a tremendous amount of attention on the mayor's race and a slew of hotly-contested aldermanic races, election officials say turnout could be as low as 40 percent. That's far less than the 50 percent turnout officials were hoping for on Monday.

If no candidate scores a majority tonight, the top two finishers will square off for six more weeks of campaigning. A runoff election will be held to determine Chicago's next mayor.

Mayor Richard Daley, who is out of town today, isn't on the ballot for the first time since 1989. He'll leave office on May 16 when his successor is sworn in.

Emanuel is at a Near West Side union hall, Chico at a downtown hotel, Braun at a South Side ballroom and del Valle at a microbrewery.

About 150 turned out foir del Valle's election night party. State Sen. Iris Martinez, D-Chicago, said she was amazed by the low turnout.

"Why people are not more engaged the way they should be? It amazes me," she said.

"I think people are going through foreclosures, the bad economy. These could be all the affects of it," Martinez said. "People feel disengaged."

Chico, a former Daley chief of staff, spent the closing weeks of the contest working to erode what had been growing support for Emanuel and get into a runoff by ridiculing the “Rahm Tax.” That’s Emanuel’s plan to reduce the city’s home-rule sales tax but expand the tax base to unspecified services. Chico ripped the plan in TV ads and Emanuel put up his own spots to rebut the criticism.

In the final week, Chico ratcheted up his TV commercial criticism, contending Emanuel was pushing the sales-tax plan because “Rahm grew up in suburban safety and privilege” of the wealthy North Shore where higher taxes might be more acceptable than in working family neighborhoods.

Emanuel, who largely avoided addressing his opponents, called Chico “desperate” and countered “It’s not what neighborhood you grew up in. It’s whether you’re going to fight for neighborhoods.”

But Emanuel also began lowering expectations last weekend, acknowledging “it may take one or two bites of the apple” to become mayor.

Still, his camp pushed hard in the final days to close out a win in the race, keeping with the aura of inevitably it pushed. Emanuel used an extensive bankroll to run TV ads, deliver automated telephone messages and extol volunteers to get out the vote.

Though pre-election polls showed Emanuel gradually nearing the magic majority of support needed to prevent a runoff, Chico, Braun and del Valle each had urged voters to extend the campaign and allow voters more time to digest the significant issues at hand. Among them: An increasing city budget deficit, an improved-but-still-troubled public school system, a ballooning public-employee pension debt and ways to create jobs, improve the economy and combating a perception of a growing crime problem.

Each of Emanuel’s rivals pleaded with voters to ignore the former White House chief of staff’s huge lead in the polls and turn out to vote to set up a runoff.

“We, I think, will have a runoff and it will be good for the city,” del Valle predicted last weekend. “There are too many issues out there.”

Veteran election attorney Burt Odelson ended up being one of Emanuel’s toughest opponents. He claimed Emanuel wasn’t eligible to run for mayor because he abandoned his Chicago residency when he went to work for Obama.

After wending its way through the city’s election board – including a raucous hearing in which the tough, sharp-tongued Emanuel won points for staying cool under questioning for more than 11 hours by citizens and activists – the state Supreme Court in late January ruled in Emanuel’s favor.

Throughout it all, Emanuel abided by his campaign’s plan to keep his head down and let his lawyers do their work and being regimented about staying on message and trying appear above the fray.

“This is better than a commercial, isn't it?” Odelson asked at one point during the hearing.

“It’s actually cheaper,” Emanuel responded of the attention.

Jeremy Shockey

Saints Release Jeremy Shockey.

Not to toot my horn or anything, but I said on January 12th: "I'm calling it now, Shockey will not be a Saint next year."

Ok fine, I am tooting my horn a little bit.

So Jeremy Shockey is now gone and Jimmy Graham can officially start his campaign as the phenom tight end of the future. Jay Glazer broke the news first, and the Saints' official twitter page confirmed it shortly thereafter. Now it's on their official website.

He was set to make $4.2 this year, but he's now free to sign with any team he likes. There's still a chance the Saints could try to bring him back at a cheaper price, but based on Sean Payton's quote that he thanks Shockey for his contributions, my guess is there's little chance he'll return in a Saints uniform.

Rachel Nichols from ESPN tweeted a comment from Shockey regarding his release:

"It's a business, I understand," Shockey said. "I'll just go play hard for someone else. Whoever gets me it's going to be a steal."

Now.How do you feel about this news guys?

Chicago Election Results

Chicago Election Results: They call it F***.

I’ll admit, it kind of snuck up on me, but today’s the day that Chicago chooses its new mayor, and boy are they excited:

On the city’s North Side, voter turnout had been so slow in Warren Park that election judges cheered when two voters walked in. Only 71 voters, out of 600 in the 50th-Ward precinct, had voted as of 12:30 p.m.

Turnout was similarly slow for the other two precincts in Warren Park.

“It should be packed at lunch hour and it’s not,” said Kathy Holdren, one of six judges staring at seven empty voting booths. “It goes faster if we have more people.”

In the 38th precinct in Uptown, only about 100 people had voted by noon. But just after noon, seven people showed up at once, the biggest surge poll workers had seen all day.

Emanuel Fever! Catch it!

If elected, Emanuel would be the first Chicago mayor to take the phrase “swearing in” literally. He’s certainly not lacking for confidence:

Everyone’s talking runoff, but I know it’s a victory. My fingerstump disappeared this morning and now the rest of the hand is fucking going.

Time to head in to start watching results. I’m wearing a single glove over my invisible hand, motherfucking MJ style.

…And with good reason, apparently. Hopefully he’ll run Chicago with a little more grace, wisdom and competence than he displayed in the Obama White House. But I won’t hold my breath.

Streetstrider

StreetStrider Summit 8r Review.

I had the opportunity to test ride the StreetStrider Summit 8r ($1699) this past week. The StreetSrider is an elliptical cross training machine on wheels. Now the exercise that you could only experience in a gym, can now be enjoyed in the great outdoors. The Summit 8r was developed in conjunction with NBC’s hit reality show “The Biggest Loser” and has steadily grown in popularity now that it has become available to the general public. The first time that I stepped on the 8r, I was comfortable and felt secure due to the 3-wheel platform. Striding was very easy to pick up on my first try. It felt like a combination of low impact jogging, skiing, and cycling, and the unit was easily maneuverable given the lean-to-steer design. This machine can really fly once you get going. In fact, it can go as fast as 43 mph. You have complete control over your speed and can handle all sorts of terrain and inclines given the built in 8 Speed Shimano Nexus Transmission with Twist Grip Shifter. This machine can accommodate riders weight of up to 400 lbs. This model comes in 3 colors: Lava Red, Breakwater Blue, and Galaxy Black. Several additional accessories come with this unit, such as a water bottle holder and rear luggage carrier. It also comes with a User’s Manual, Assembly and Tips DVD, as well as a handy Toolkit and Carry Pouch. The price tag of $1699 might be steep for some, however financing plans are available. In addition, there are other less expensive StreetStrider models to choose from. What is so great about this new form of exercise, in addition to being fun, it also provides a full body workout, burning up to 1,000 calories an hour. You can learn more about StreetStrider here.

National Margarita Day 2011

Happy National Margarita Day!

Citizens of Margaritaville, it is your day today! February 22 has been deemed as National Margarita Day, and you can celebrate with all the margaritas that you can drink.

Margarita is the most popular tequila-based cocktail in the United States today1, and I would not be surprised if the same can be said in other countries. If you don’t already know, a classic margarita is made with tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. The difference lies in the proportions of the ingredients, and some bartenders will add their own twists to the drink.

Have you ever wondered who invented this drink? According to legend, in 1948, Margarita Sames was hosting a party at her hacienda in Acapulco and decided to experiment with Tequila Herradura, Cointreau, and fresh lime juice. The rest, as they say, is history.

So how can you pay homage to this refreshing drink that has gotten many a party going? Aside from mixing your own margaritas, you can also try making margarita dishes (here are some cool margarita recipes). You can also watch this video which teaches you how to make the classic drink in really easy steps.



Alternatively, why not visit a Margaritaville location near you? Jimmy Buffet’s locations are sure to be crowded later tonight, but you will definitely not miss out on the fun.2 If you’re fortunate enough to have been named Margarita or Rita, you even get free drinks! (If you show a valid ID, of course.)

All this reading and writing about drinks is making me thirsty, and unsurprisingly, I found myself searching for cool infographics on drinks. I found some cool graphics created by Fabio Rex, and of course, there is one about the perfect margarita.3

In case I have gotten you all thirsty before noon on a Tuesday, just remember that it’s five o’clock somewhere! ;)

Happy National Margarita Day, everyone! Remember, don’t drink and drive.

Somali Pirates

Somali Pirates Kill Four Americans!

 

CNN BREAKING: Four U.S. citizens on a yacht hijacked by Somali pirates last week are dead, a U.S. defense official says.

MSNBC (“Four American hostages killed by pirates“):

Four Americans captured by Somali pirates while sailing in the Indian Ocean have been shot and killed, NBC News reported Tuesday.

The two couples, Phyllis Macay, 59, and Robert Riggle, 67, of Seattle, and the yacht’s owners Jean and Scott Adam of California were on an around-the-world sailing trip when they were captured by pirates Friday.

Military officials told NBC News that about 1 a.m. ET shots were heard aboard the yacht. Negotigations had been under way with the pirates at the time.

The officials said U.S. military personnel boarded the yacht and discovered all four hostages had been shot by their captors.

The officials added that two pirates were killed and 13 others captured after a brief gun battle.

BBC (“Hijacked Americans ‘killed by captors’ off Somalia“):

Four American sailors hijacked by Somali pirates off the coast of Oman have been killed, US defence officials say.

The US military said its forces trailing the vessel had responded to gunfire heard aboard but found all the captives shot when they arrived.

The yacht S/V Quest, hijacked on Friday, was owned and sailed by Scott and Jean Adam of California.

Also killed were two US passengers, Phyllis Mackay and Bob Riggle.

In a statement, US Central Command said that negotiations were underway between the US Navy and the pirates, when the US forces heard gunfire coming from the Quest about 0600GMT.

They boarded the ship, killing two pirates in the process, and discovered the four Americans shot. The US Navy sailors attempted to provide first aid but the hostages died, the military said.

“As they responded to the gunfire, reaching and boarding the Quest, the forces discovered all four hostages had been shot by their captors,” Gen James Mattis of US Central Command Commander said in a statement.

“We express our deepest condolences for the innocent lives callously lost aboard the Quest,” the statement added.

The US Navy captured 13 pirates, and found the remains of two other pirates already dead about the vessel, the US military said.

This will step up pressure on the U.S. government to do more to combat this scourge. It’s not at all clear, however, that much more can be done.

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber Cuts His Hair.

The Biebs underwent a little snip-snip today while on the set of a music video for a song he did with Rascal Flatts -- that's Gary from the group (above) having a little fun with the scissors. (Ed.'s note: Kids, don't play with scissors)

On TMZ Live today, Justin said the actual cutting was done by his regular hairdresser Vanessa. He said he was a little nervous about the cut, but he "wanted to change it up" and he thought the cut was "kind of a mature look."

New Zealand Earthquake 2011

New Zealand Earthquake 2011: Magnitude 6.3 Quake Shakes Christchurch, South Island.



A strong earthquake shook New Zealand on Tuesday afternoon, according to reports.

The 6.3-magnitude quake, per the USGS, shook New Zealand's South Island and its largest city of Christchurch at 12:50 p.m. local time.

The New Zealand Herald reported that the quake's epicenter was Lyttleton with a depth of 5 kilometers, though it was felt as far away as Wellington and Dunedin per Twitter reports. It shook the Canterbury region, which has a population of approximately 500,000. Radio New Zealand reports "that some people have been killed."

Radio New Zealand also noted some of the damage from the quake in Christchurch: a church collapsed, a bridge is impassible, the airport has been shut down and the mayor is urging people not to drive due to road damage.

HuffPost reader Laura Campbell submitted these photos of the damage in Christchurch. A local New Zealand media outlet posted this photo of damage to Chirstchurch's historic Christchurch Cathedral.

Videos of the quake are beginning to surface on YouTube. One video (watch below) shows shaking, presumably an aftershock, and fallen rocks among the damage outside Christchurch.

Watch this video.

Planet Could be 'Unrecognizable' By 2050

Planet could be 'unrecognizable' by 2050, experts say.

WASHINGTON (AFP) – A growing, more affluent population competing for ever scarcer resources could make for an "unrecognizable" world by 2050, researchers warned at a major US science conference Sunday.

The United Nations has predicted the global population will reach seven billion this year, and climb to nine billion by 2050, "with almost all of the growth occurring in poor countries, particularly Africa and South Asia," said John Bongaarts of the non-profit Population Council.

To feed all those mouths, "we will need to produce as much food in the next 40 years as we have in the last 8,000," said Jason Clay of the World Wildlife Fund at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

"By 2050 we will not have a planet left that is recognizable" if current trends continue, Clay said.

The swelling population will exacerbate problems, such as resource depletion, said John Casterline, director of the Initiative in Population Research at Ohio State University.

But incomes are also expected to rise over the next 40 years -- tripling globally and quintupling in developing nations -- and add more strain to global food supplies.

People tend to move up the food chain as their incomes rise, consuming more meat than they might have when they made less money, the experts said.

It takes around seven pounds (3.4 kilograms) of grain to produce a pound of meat, and around three to four pounds of grain to produce a pound of cheese or eggs, experts told AFP.

"More people, more money, more consumption, but the same planet," Clay told AFP, urging scientists and governments to start making changes now to how food is produced.

Population experts, meanwhile, called for more funding for family planning programs to help control the growth in the number of humans, especially in developing nations.

"For 20 years, there's been very little investment in family planning, but there's a return of interest now, partly because of the environmental factors like global warming and food prices," said Bongaarts.

"We want to minimize population growth, and the only viable way to do that is through more effective family planning," said Casterline.

Gulf Bottom

Scientist finds Gulf bottom still oily, dead.

WASHINGTON – Oil from the BP spill remains stuck on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, according to a top scientist's video and slides that she says demonstrate the oil isn't degrading as hoped and has decimated life on parts of the sea floor.

That report is at odds with a recent report by the BP spill compensation czar that said nearly all will be well by 2012.

At a science conference in Washington Saturday, marine scientist Samantha Joye of the University of Georgia aired early results of her December submarine dives around the BP spill site. She went to places she had visited in the summer and expected the oil and residue from oil-munching microbes would be gone by then. It wasn't.

"There's some sort of a bottleneck we have yet to identify for why this stuff doesn't seem to be degrading," Joye told the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual conference in Washington. Her research and those of her colleagues contrasts with other studies that show a more optimistic outlook about the health of the gulf, saying microbes did great work munching the oil.

"Magic microbes consumed maybe 10 percent of the total discharge, the rest of it we don't know," Joye said, later adding: "there's a lot of it out there."

The head of the agency in charge of the health of the Gulf said Saturday that she thought that "most of the oil is gone." And a Department of Energy scientist, doing research with a grant from BP from before the spill, said his examination of oil plumes in the water column show that microbes have done a "fairly fast" job of eating the oil. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab scientist Terry Hazen said his research differs from Joye's because they looked at different places at different times.

Joye's research was more widespread, but has been slower in being published in scientific literature.

In five different expeditions, the last one in December, Joye and colleagues took 250 cores of the sea floor and travelled across 2,600 square miles. Some of the locations she had been studying before the oil spill on April 20 and said there was a noticeable change. Much of the oil she found on the sea floor — and in the water column — was chemically fingerprinted, proving it comes from the BP spill. Joye is still waiting for results to show other oil samples she tested are from BP's Macondo well.

She also showed pictures of oil-choked bottom-dwelling creatures. They included dead crabs and brittle stars — starfish like critters that are normally bright orange and tightly wrapped around coral. These brittle stars were pale, loose and dead. She also saw tube worms so full of oil they suffocated.

"This is Macondo oil on the bottom," Joye said as she showed slides. "This is dead organisms because of oil being deposited on their heads."

Joye said her research shows that the burning of oil left soot on the sea floor, which still had petroleum products. And even more troublesome was the tremendous amount of methane from the BP well that mixed into the Gulf and was mostly ignored by other researchers.

Joye and three colleagues last week published a study in Nature Geoscience that said the amount of gas injected into the Gulf was the equivalent of between 1.5 and 3 million barrels of oil.

"The gas is an important part of understanding what happened," said Ian MacDonald of Florida State University.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief Jane Lubchenco told reporters Saturday that "it's not a contradiction to say that although most of the oil is gone, there still remains oil out there."

Earlier this month, Kenneth Feinberg, the government's oil compensation fund czar, said based on research he commissioned he figured the Gulf of Mexico would almost fully recover by 2012 — something Joye and Lubchenco said isn't right.

"I've been to the bottom. I've seen what it looks like with my own eyes. It's not going to be fine by 2012," Joye told The Associated Press. "You see what the bottom looks like, you have a different opinion."

NOAA chief Lubchenco said "even though the oil degraded relatively rapidly and is now mostly but not all gone, damage done to a variety of species may not become obvious for years to come."

Lubchenco Saturday also announced the start of a Gulf restoration planning process to get the Gulf back to the condition it was on Apr. 19, the day before the spill. That program would eventually be paid for BP and other parties deemed responsible for the spill. This would be separate from an already begun restoration program that would improve all aspects of the Gulf, not just the oil spill, but has not been funded by the government yet, she said.

The new program, which is part of the Natural Resources Damage Assessment program, is part of the oil spill litigation — or out-of-court settlement — in which the polluters pay for overall damage to the ecosystem and efforts to return it to normal. This is different than paying compensation to people and businesses directly damaged by the spill.

The process will begin with public meetings all over the region.

Aplia

The illogicality of off-brand Q-tips.

While perusing the aisles of Safeway the other day, I pondered the rationality of my grocery selections. I bought the Q-tips brand ear swabs instead of the Safeway brand equivalent which would have saved me about $0.70, but reluctantly opted not to buy my favorite kind of chocolate because it was selling for $3.99 rather than the frequent sale price of $2.99 a bar. I selected the grape tomatoes at $1.99 a carton instead of my preferred cherry tomatoes at $3.99 a carton, but bought a fancy bottle of salad dressing for $4.59 in spite of a myriad of cheaper alternatives.

Why did I spend the extra money on Q-tips when I could have used it to buy chocolate instead? Why forgo the expensive tomatoes but not the pricier salad dressing? The answers lie largely in the economic concept of elasticity. Price elasticity of demand describes how much a change in the price of a good affects the quantity demanded for that good. If a good has very elastic demand, then a small change in the price will have a large effect on how much of that good is demanded. Conversely, the price of a good with inelastic demand can rise substantially without having much effect on the quantity demanded. For example, my choice to stop buying chocolate bars in response to an increase in price suggests my demand for them is relatively elastic.

Cross-price elasticity of demand refers to how much a change in the price of one good affects the demand for another good. The switch from cherry to grape reflects a positive cross-price elasticity of demand, because my demand for grape tomatoes increased when the price of cherry tomatoes rose. This illustrates one determinant of elasticity: the availability of viable alternatives or substitutability. Although I do prefer cherry tomatoes to grape, it is a slight preference, so when cherry tomatoes are not on sale, I substitute grape tomatoes for cherry and save $2.

Another determinant of a good’s price elasticity is the percentage of one’s overall budget that a good requires. I eat a lot of chocolate; therefore, only buying it when it goes on sale adds up to far more savings over time than choosing to buy the generic Q-tips, which I only buy every six months or so. Because I find off-brand Q-tips mildly frustrating (the cotton doesn’t seem to stay properly attached), choosing the off-brand to save $1.40 a year would probably be one of the least worthwhile money-saving sacrifices I could make.

A third determinant of price elasticity is necessity. While food in general is perhaps the most necessary good I buy, my actual need for chocolate is (somewhat) less pressing. Reluctantly, I postponed my chocolate purchase in hopes that next time it would be on sale.

While normal people do not consider the elasticity of their demand for various grocery items, their actions are inevitably guided to some degree by the prices of alternatives, the weight of the expenditure in their overall budget, and the necessity of the good. But why stop at the checkout line? While it might be most natural to illustrate the elements of elasticity with groceries, economists believe the same decision-making behaviors apply when people buy any good or service. So, next time you’re considering whether to sacrifice or splurge on anything from cupcakes to cell phone plans, remember that some savings make more of an impact on your budget than others.

Wisconsin Road Conditions

Wisconsin Road Conditions Latest Updates.

The Wisconsin 511 Travel Information website is currently experiencing unusually high demand. In order to serve you quickly, below is an immediate access to the Wisconsin road conditions.

Here is the latest alert updated 2/21/11 8:29 AM from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. You are advised to visit www.511wi.gov for the latest updates.

“Travel Alert: Heavy snow, freezing rain, sleet, and ice are expected to lead to extremely hazardous travel conditions in many parts of Wisconsin beginning early Sunday morning. Travel is strongly discouraged. A dangerous mix of snow, freezing rain, and ice is expected to enter the southern third of the state over night; and the central third of the state is likely to receive very intense snowfall that could reach over 12 inches in accumulation. It is possible that roadways – including segments of the Interstate Highway System and other freeways – could become impassable during the day on Sunday. Travelers and truckers encountering impassable roads could become stranded, and should closely monitor weather conditions – avoiding trips if at all possible.”

Chattahoochee Technical College

Middle Georgia Technical College Nominates 14 Students for GOAL Award.

Warner Robins - Instructors at Middle Georgia Technical College have nominated 14 students for the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) competition, according to Janet Kelly, coordinator for the college's GOAL program. 

GOAL, a statewide program of the Technical College System of Georgia, honors excellence in academics and leadership among the state's technical college students. GOAL winners are selected at each of the state's 26 technical colleges, as well as two Board of Regents colleges with technical education divisions.

Chosen for recognition by their instructors are Diane Stafford, a Business Administrative Technology student from Byron; Dereck White, a Cosmetology student from Jackson; Mark Craddock, a Radiologic Technology student from Warner Robins; Vanessa Phillips, an Industrial Systems Technology student from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Joseph Pope, an Industrial Systems student from Unadilla; Raymond Ochoa, an Industrial Systems student from Warner Robins; Rodolfo Santana, an Air Conditioning Technology student from Warne Robins; Mary Margaret Yawn, a Cosmetology student from Perry; Rhonda Mincey, a Criminal Justice Technology student from Perry; Robert Butler, Jr., an Industrial Systems student from Albany; Jessica Worsley, a Practical Nursing student from Bonaire; Kristian Manley, a Business Administrative Technology student from Warner Robins; Anna Collins, a Radiologic Technology student from Roberta; and Kristie Kunkel, a Business Administrative Technology student from Warner Robins.

"The purpose of the GOAL program is to spotlight the outstanding achievement by students in Georgia's technical colleges and to emphasize the importance of technical education in today's global workforce," said Kelly.

A screening committee of administrators at MGTC will review each of the instructors' nominations and conduct personal interviews with the students. After the nominees have been ranked, four finalists will be selected to compete to become the College's GOAL winner for 2011.

The four finalists will then take part in another round of interviews and evaluations by a selection committee of representatives from local business and industry. The selection committee will consider the students' qualities, including academic achievement, personal character, leadership abilities and enthusiasm for technical education.

The student judged most outstanding will be designated as the college's GOAL winner and move on to the regional competition. Three students chosen from each of the three regions will make up the nine semi-finalists that will interview for the title of state GOAL winner. The nine finalists will be announced in May at the state GOAL conference in Atlanta. After another round of interviews, one winner will be chosen to become the state's ambassador for Technical Education.

The state GOAL winner receives a GOAL medallion and will also receive a new Chevrolet Cruz to aid in the job of traveling the state of Georgia as the ambassador of Technical Education. Chevrolet is the statewide corporate sponsor for Georgia's GOAL program.

Whitney Cummings

Whitney Cummings Talks Grammys, Palin & How She Spent Her Valentine's Day.

If you haven't seen Whitney Cummings on "Chelsea Lately," the Comedy Central roast of David Hasselhoff, or any of her numerous stand-up appearances, you are seriously missing out. If her 150,000 plus Twitter followers are any indication, it's definitely worth hearing what this genuinely funny comedienne has to say.

We got to sit down with Cummings in the green room at Caroline's On Broadway before her show this weekend and get her thoughts on Bieber, the Grammys, the future of Palin and how she spent her Valentine's Day. Watch the exclusive interview below and if you're in NYC, try and catch her last show at Caroline's tonight at 8:00 p.m.

Watch her video.

WZZM 13 School Closings

WZZM 13 School Closings and Delays.

WZZM 13 School Closings and Delays. A winter storm that blew through the upper Midwest over the long Presidents Day weekend has dumped snow, sleet and ice on Michigan, canceling flights, closing schools and making driving treacherous for early morning commuters.
List Updated: MONDAY, FEB 21 AT 8:55 AM

2 Intense Fitness: Morning Services Canceled; Morning Services Canceled
2nd Cong. Preschool: Closed Today
2nd Cong. UCC: Closed Today
5th Reformed – Muskegon: Preschool closed Monday. Possible delay for daycare.
Acad. of Dance Arts-Comstock Pk.: Day classes cancelled …; check with WZZM for updates
Ada Christian School: Closed Today
Ada Village Pre-School: Closed.
Adams St. Christian School: Closed.
Algoma Christian School: Closed – All Evening Activities Canceled., Wee Knights Child Care OPEN.
All Saints Academy – Elementary: Closed. Childcare open
All Saints Academy – Middle: Closed Today
Allegan Area ESA: Closed-Educational Services building closedNo staff PD.
Allegan Area Tech/Ed Ctr.: Closed- All day and evening classes canceled No staff PD.
Allegan Co. Michigan Works: Closed Today; Staff do not report
Allegan Public: Closed Today
American Legion Post 47: Monday Morning Bingo Canceled
AMVETS Post 126: Morning Bingo Canceled
Assumption School of Belmont: Closed.
Baker College – Fremont: Closed until noon.
Baker College Fremont Extension site: Closed until noon.
Bangor Public Schools: Closed.
Beaverdam Christian School: Closed Today
Bellevue Comm. Schools: Closed Monday, Little Broncos DayCare is Open.
Beth Haven Baptist Academy: Closed Today
Big Jackson Elementary: Closed Today
Bloomingdale Public Schools: Closed.
Brockway Christian Academy: Closed Today
Bronson Community Schools: Closed.
Byron Center Charter School: Closed Today
Byron Center Public Schools: RTB Childcare will be opened.
C-Snip Route: Route Canceled for Monday
Caledonia Community Schools: Closed.
Calvary Christian – Fruitport: Closed Today
Calvary Schools of Holland: Closed Today
Careerline Tech Center: Closed.
Cathedral of St. Andrew: Parish Office Closed
Cedar Springs Park and Rec: Closed Today; No Evening Activities
Cedar Springs Public Schools: Closed.
Central Montcalm Public School: Closed.
Central Wesleyan – Holland: All Morning Activities are Canceled
Chandler Woods Charter Academy: Closed.
Children’s Workshop Preschool: No AM Preschool
Club Fitness of Sparta: Closed until Noon Monday
Comstock Public Schools: Closed., No Staff Report.
Conklin Forget Me Not Senior Dinners: Closed Today
Contours Express – Caledonia: Closed Today
Coon School: Closed Today
Coopersville Head Start: Closed Today
Coopersville Public Schools: Closed.
Cornerstone Christian Academy: Closed Today
Corpus Christi: Closed.
Covenant Christian H.S. – GR: Closed.
Covenant Kids PreSchool: Closed Today
Cowden Lake Bible Academy: Closed Today
Creative Technologies Academy: Closed Today
Cross Creek Charter Academy: Closed.
Curves – Cedar Springs: Morning Services Canceled; Please check back for Afternoon Services.
Curves – East Muskegon: Closed Today; Check back for afternoon.
Curves – Fremont: Closed Today
Curves – Greenville: Morning Services Canceled; opening @ 3 p.m.-check with wzzm for updates
Curves – Hart: Open at noon
Curves – Holland South: Morning only. Check back for Afternoon
Curves – Kentwood: Closed Monday AM – Check for updates
Curves – North Muskegon: closed am, check back for afternoon opening
Curves – Rockford: Closed Am. Check back for Pm.
Curves – Walker: Morning Services Canceled
Curves – Wyoming: Closed Morning-Check first for afternoon
Curves at The Pointes: Closed Today; Closed in a.m. Check back for afternoon opening
Curves-Norton Shores North: Closed Today; in the morning/check back for afternoon
Daniels Hairstyling Academy: Closed Today
Delton-Kellogg Schools: Closed Monday.
Dutton Christian School: Closed.
Eagle Crest Charter Academy: Closed.
Eastminster Preschool: Closed Today
Fennville Public Schools: PD day delayed one hour. Teachers please report at 9 a.m..
Ferry Center Head Start: Closed Today
Flat River Comm. Library: Closed Today; Opening at noon
Forest Hills Presbyterian Preschool: Closed Today
Forest Hills Public Schools: Closed.
Fremont Public Schools: Closed Today
French Academy of Cosmetology: Closed Today
Fruitland Township Hall: Closed Today; board meeting rescheduled for 2/22
Fruitport Community Schools: Adult Ed and GED Testing Closed
G.R.A.C.E Childcare & Learning Ctr.: Closed Today
Gobles Public Schools: Closed Today
Gospel Light Christian Academy: Closed Today
Grace Church Preschool: Closed Today
Grace Lutheran – Wyoming: No AM Preschool
Grand Haven Area Public Schools: Closed Today; Open Door at Central School only.
Grand Haven Christian School: Closed Today
Grand Haven Gospel Chapel: No Morning or Evening Free GED or ESL Classes
Grand Rapids Christian Elementary: Closed Today
Grand Rapids Christian H.S.: Closed Today; Choir concert, ACT Prep still on as scheduled
Grand Rapids Christian M.S.: Closed Today
Grand Rapids Gymnastics: Closed Today; All Rec & Practice Canceled
Grand River Preparatory H.S.: Closed Today
Grant Public Schools: Closed – All Evening Activities Canceled.
Greenville Area Senior Ctr.: Closed Today
Greenville Comm. Church: Closed Today
Greenville Public Schools: Young Americans starts at 11am on Monday
Guardian Angel Pre-School: Closed Today
Gull Lake Community Schools: Closed Monday. ACC/Daycare will be open
Gymboree Play & Music: Closed all day & evening
Gymnastiks Unlimited: Closed until 3 pm
Hackett Catholic Central: Closed.
Hagar Park Reformed – Jenison: Core Fitness Cancelled
Hamilton Community Schools: Closed.
Heritage Christian School: Closed.
Herrick District Library: Closed Monday untill Noon.
Hesperia Area Child Dev. Center: Closed Today
Hesperia Community Schools: Closed Today
Hillside Learning and Behavior Ctr.: Closed.
Hispanic Center of West Mich.: Closed Today
Holland Christian Schools: Closed.
Holland Public Schools: Closed Today
Holy Name of Jesus – Wyoming: Closed.
Holy Spirit Catholic School: Closed.
Holy Trinity Catholic School: Closed.
Holy Trinity Luth. Schl. – Wyoming: Closed Monday.
Home School Building – Wyoming: Building closed, No HsAP Classes or daytime activities.
Hope Prot. Ref. Christian School: Closed Today
Horizon Complex: Day Classes Cancelled
Huron Potawatomi Head Start: Closed Monday
Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish: Closed.
Immanuel-St. James Luth. Schl. -GR: Closed Today
Jenison Public Schools: Central Office is closed today. Childcare remains open..
John Knox Food Pantry: Closed Today
John Knox Preschool: Closed Monday
K’ZOO Christian Middle School: Closed.
K’ZOO Christian West Elem. School: Closed.
Kalamazoo Christian Elementary: Closed Today
Kalamazoo College: Closed., Closed until noon. Tradesmen report..
Kalamazoo Country Day School: Closed Today
Kalamazoo Junior Academy: Closed Monday
Kalamazoo Public Library: Kalamazoo Public Library downtown location OPEN; Oshtemo Branch KPL opening delayed to 1 pm; Powell Branch KPL closed due to power outage
Kalamazoo Public Schools: Closed., 12 month staff need not report.
Kalamazoo Valley Comm. College: Closed.
Kelloggsville Public Schools: Closed Today
Kent Career/Technical Center: Closed Today
Kent District Library: Closed until Noon
Kent ISD Educ. Service Ctr.: Open
Kent Transition Ctr.: Closed Today
Kids Kampus and Daycare: Closed Today
Kinderkirk Preschool: Closed Today
Knapp Charter Academy: Closed Today
Kzoo Christian – Little Treasures Preschool: Closed Today
Kzoo Christian East: Closed Today
Kzoo Christian HS: Closed Today
Kzoo Christian Schools Assoc.: Closed Today
Lakeshore Schl. of Fine Arts – Musk.: Closed Today
Lakeview Comm. Schools (Montcalm): Closed Monday Feb 21.
Lamont Christian School: Closed Today
Learning Tree Montessori: Closed Today
LifeCircles: No Transportation to Day Center
Little Lakers Learning Center: No Preschool
Little Red House Daycare: Closed Today
Loutit District Library – Gr. Haven: Closed Monday until noon
Love I.N.C. – Newaygo Co.: Closed Today; No Evening Activities
Ludington Area Catholic School: Closed Today
Ludington Area School District: Closed Today
Maple Tree Preschool: Closed Today
Maple Valley Schools: Closed Monday
Marshall Public Schools: Closed Monday, Shamrock Center open.
Mason Co. Central Schools: Closed Today
Mason Co. Eastern Schools: Closed Today
Mason Lake I.S.D.: Closed Today
Mattawan Consolidated School: Closed.
Meals at Home: Closed Today; No Meal Delivery
Messiah Lutheran Pre School: Closed Today; all day
Moline Christian School: Closed Today
Montcalm Area Career Center: Closed Today; PD canceled
Montcalm Community College: Closed.
Montcalm ISD Transportation: Closed Monday – Staff Report.
Mt. Calvary Lutheran – Greenville: CHILDCARE CLOSED MONDAY
Musk. Cath. Central Elem. School: Closed., New Student Visit Day will be rescheduled.
Muskegon Catholic Central Schools: Closed., Student Visit Day will be rescheduled.
Muskegon Catholic Schools: Closed., New Student Visit Day will be rescheduled.
New Community Preschool – Daycare: Closed Today
New Horizons Computer Learning Center- Kalamazoo: Closed Today
Newaygo Co. Career Tech: Closed Today; and SpEd Programs
Newaygo County RESA: Closed Today; MCC Programs
Northern Lights Family Medicine in Montague: Closed Today
NorthPointe Christian Schools: Closed.
Oakwood Christian Preschool & Daycare: Closed Today
Oceana Co. Council on Aging: Closed Today
Ottawa Area Center: Closed.
Ottawa Area ISD – Ed. Services Bldg.: Two Hour Delay.
Our Lady Of Consolation – Rockford: Closed Today
Our Savior Lutheran School – GR: Closed.
Parchment School District: Closed., Daycare is open.
Pentwater Public Schools: Closed Today
Pilgrim Bible Academy: Closed Today
Plainwell Comm. Schools: Closed.
Plymouth Christian HS – Elem. Schl.: Closed Today
Portland Public School District: Closed Today
Proball Training Academy- Hesperia: Morning Services Canceled; no mma class; tumbling class still on
R-Athletics: Closed for AM Classes until 3:00; stay tuned for afternoon activities
Radiant Sportz: closed for daytime classes only
Ravenna Public Schools: Closed.
Ridge Park Charter Academy: Closed.
Rockford Christian School: Closed.
Rockford Public Schools: Closed Today
Rose Park Head Start: Closed Today
Sacred Heart of Jesus Cath. School: Closed.
Saugatuck Public Schools: Closed.
Schoolcraft Community Schools: Closed.
Shelby Public Schools: Closed Today
Sheldon Pines School: Closed.
Shiloh Community Church Pantry: Cosed all day Monday
So. Newaygo FiveCAP Head Start Ctr.: Closed Today
South Olive Christian School: Closed Today
Southwest Co-op Preschool: Closed Today
Sparta Area Schools: Closed., DayCare Is Closed.
Spring Lake Public Schools: Closed Today
Spring Lake Wesleyan: Food pantry is closed today
St. Anthony of Padua School: Closed.
St. Catherine Catholic School – Ravenna: Closed Today
St. Charles Catholic School: Closed Today
St. John Lutheran School – Gr. Haven: Closed Today
St. John Vianney School: Closed., Child Care is open.
St. Joseph Catholic School – Conklin: Closed.
St. Mary’s School – Spring Lake: Closed Today
St. Matthew Lutheran School Spring Lk.: No AM Preschool; Child Care is open
St. Michael Cath. School – Coopersville: Closed.
St. Patrick’s – Parnell: Closed Today
St. Paul the Apostle – GR: Closed Today; No Reconciliation Retreat; No Tech Mtg.
St. Stephen School: Closed.
St. Thomas the Apostle School: Closed.
Stepping Stones Montessori School: Closed Today; EII Students: Meet at train station by 7:15am
Sts. Peter and Paul School – Ionia: Closed Monday, Daycare also closed.
Tech Center CC & HS: Closed Today
The Club in Sparta: Delayed opening at 9 am
Thompson M-TEC: Two Hour Delay., For OAISD Certificate Program Only.
Thornapple Kellogg School District: Closed.
Tri-Cities Family YMCA: No AM Preschool; No PM Preschool
Tri-Unity Christian Schools: Closed Today
Trinitas Classical School: Closed Today
UAW 1231 Retirees: Monday meeting cancelled
Unity Christian High School: Closed Today
Vanderbilt Charter Academy: Closed Today; kindergarten night will be 6 PM March 7
Vanguard Charter Academy: Closed Today
Vestaburg Community Schools: Teacher PD Day cancelled.
Vicksburg Community Schools: Closed.
Vista Charter Academy: Closed.
Walden Green Montessori: Closed Today
Walker Charter Academy: Closed.
Walkerville Public Schools: Closed.
Washington Center Head Start: Closed Today
Wavecrest Career Academy: Closed.
Waypoint Academy: Closed Today
Wellspring Prep: Closed.
Wellspring Prep High School: Closed Today
West MI Lutheran HS: Closed Today
West Michigan CDL: Closed Today
West Ottawa Public Schools: Closed.
Woodbridge Center Head Start: Closed Today
WORD Project – ESL Classes: Closed Today
Wyoming Parks and Rec.: Wyoming Senior Center Closed
Wyoming Public Schools: Closed.
Zeeland Christian School: Closed.
Zeeland Public Schools: Teacher inservice is ON today..
Zion Christian School: Closed.

Glenn Beck

More Websites Glenn Beck Doesn't Trust, Other Than Google.

Glenn Beck has made a lot of comments that could be perceived as paranoid throughout his career, but his recent diagnosis of the Egyptian uprising has been really panicky, even for him. First he claimed that the revolution was unquestionably the first sign of the impending insurrection, and more recently, he said Google's role in Egypt signifies "something is wrong" with it, and that he doesn't trust it enough to use its products anymore.

We just know Google can't be the only website Glenn has a problem with. Here's how we imagine Beck might feel about some other popular sites like Twitter, Bing, Linkedin and more. He may not have made these statements yet, but if he's afraid of Google it's only a matter of time.

Justin Bieber

  The Justin-Bieber-As-Politician Photoshop Competition! 

 

Justin Bieber recently made headlines not for his boyish good looks, new 3D biopic or even his music, but for some controversial political remarks he made in an interview with Rolling Stone. So what are the Bieber's political beliefs? Aside from saying the U.S. health care system was "evil," he rattled off a few more interesting remarks, such as: "I'm not sure about the parties... But whatever they have in Korea, that's bad" and "I really don't believe in abortion. It's like killing a baby?"
We know he's Canadian, but we just had to imagine what this newly-political Bieber would look like as a politician. We've kicked things off with a few photos of Political Bieber at work, and now we want to see what you've got! Photoshop Biebz into any funny political situation you'd like, and upload it to the slideshow below. And don't forget to vote for your favorite!

Presidents Day 2011

22 Ridiculous Things You Didn't Know About U.S. Presidents. 

Happy Presidents Day! If you're like us, you'd rather spend today remembering our former commanders-in-chief for the ridiculous things they did rather than the groundbreaking things they did. Take FDR for example: sure, he made some phenomenal changes to our nation, but did you know he also had a movie credit? Or take Abraham Lincoln and JFK: should we remember them for ending slavery or inspiring a generation? Or should we honor them for winning a wrestling match and getting into Harvard despite a shoddy application, respectively?
With all those fascinating tidbits out there, we just had to update our slideshow from last year to tell you everything you didn't know about U.S. presidents' quirks, pets, hobbies, vices and more. Vote for the most ridiculous fact!

 In 1954, Ronald Reagan's acting career was going so badly that he took a gig as a Las Vegas stand-up comic for a few weeks.

 

Mark Jackson

Remembering Troy Jackson and what happened to Mark Jackson Brother and B-Ball Player?

roy Jackson aka Troy Escalade lived a life that was far too short. The former U of L basketball player, Streetball star and brother of former NBA player and NBA TV analyst Mark Jackson died this week at the age of 35.  What happened?
It’s being reported that b-ball player died in his sleep. And a release on how he died will be released soon.
His nephew Mark Jackson, Jr.  currently plays on the current U of L team.
Our condolences to his friends and family. 35 years of age is far too short of a life.

Sandy Bentley

Sunday Celebrity Profile: Sandy Bentley.

 

Sandy Bentley is not someone you usually see in the headlines, but she deserves her moment of fame this Sunday, for taking the trends by storm. The famous Playboy cover girl and former live-in lover of the world’s most famous bachelor, Hugh Hefner, is today one of the top Google trends, for no other reason than being blond, beautiful and being associated with Mark Yagalla, a New York Ponzi schemer, and Michael Tardio, the victim of a gruesome 2002 murder.
Sandy Bentley reportedly received nearly $750,000 worth of jewelry from Yagalla, who was her lover in the summer of 1999. The jewelry connects Yagalla to the gruesome 2002 double murder of Michael Tardio and Christopher Monson, who were found shot to death, in a burning Mercedes SUV on Sept. 2, 2002, in Studio City, Calif, however he is not a suspect. Sandy Bentley, who was dating Michael Tardio, is not a suspect either. The sudden interest in these two characters can also be explained by the fact that they were the subject of the “48 Hours Mystery” show Saturday night.