This Is War

'This Is War'- Michael Moore To Rachel Maddow On Wisconsin.

On her Wednesday show, Rachel Maddow and filmmaker Michael Moore both agreed that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and the state's Republicans will lose what Moore called a "class war" being waged against the working class.

The two were reacting to Wednesday's sudden passage of a measure in the Wisconsin Senate to strip public employees of their collective bargaining rights--something only accomplished through an unheard-of parliamentary maneuver.

Before bringing Moore on, Maddow said that the Wisconsin Republicans had awoken a "dragon." And she sent a message to the Democrats as well. "When people who have to work for a living are directly attacked...they fight back," she said. "And they are expecting the Democratic Party to stand with them."

Moore then came on the show. He told people to go to Madison right away. "This is war," he said. "This is a class war."

He also expressed optimism about the outcome of the Wisconsin fight. "Everything has turned in favor of the working people," he said.

Maddow said that the "political brittleness" of what Walker and other Republicans were attempting was working against them."All it takes is some political pushback against that and it collapses," she said.

Watch this video of "Michael Moore".

Black Tomato

The World's Most Colorful Destinations.

Marvin Gaye sung 'The world is just a great big onion'.

We say peel away the layers and stand and admire the color clash. For tropical flavor with more citrus overtones than Miuccia Prada's fruit bowl-chic spring/summer collection, we've collected together our favorite kaleidoscopic destinations to re-engage the retina.

Dare not to shield your eyes; stand and admire.

"Two and a Half Men" Is Better Than None

I read in the paper today that Conan O'Brien's documentary is out this weekend. The one that chronicles the purportedly healing journey/concert tour he went on after his messy divorce from NBC. I also read that Charlie Sheen is suing Warner Brothers for $100 million and the two of these things reminded me of one of the more character-building experiences that I had in my career, many years ago.

People often ask me why I never continued in the role of Jack Ryan in the movies based on Tom Clancy's great novels. Usually, I have given a half truth as an answer, something about scheduling conflicts and so forth. But the truth is the studio cut my throat. Or, more specifically, an executive at the studio named David Kirkpatrick who was, as studio executives are on their way both up and down the ladder, eager to prove he had that special quality that studio executives are eager to display. That quality is an utter lack of sentimentality while transacting deals around a business built on sentimentality.

Food And Wine's Best Burgers in the U.S.

The burger, America's quintessential comfort food, can now be enjoyed in an impossibly endless number of ways. There are round-the-clock burgers at 24-hour-roadside joints and ephemeral late-night burgers sold out in mere minutes; burgers grilled in hundred-year-old cast-iron broilers and burgers steamed in state-of-the-art ovens; burgers crafted from Kobe beef imported from Japan and burgers made with Black Angus beef from just down the road. It's clearly a great time to love the burger. Here, we've singled out the 25 best burgers around the country.

Wisconsin GOP Senators

Wisconsin GOP Senators Pass Stand-Alone Anti-Union Bill Without Democrats Present.

WASHINGTON -- In a bold gambit to put an end to the weeks-long budget standoff in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker (R) split his controversial budget-repair bill in two on Wednesday, allowing the Senate to pass the most hotly contested provisions while their 14 Democratic colleagues remained out of state.

The parliamentary maneuver, first reported by local press, enabled the Senate to strip nearly all collective bargaining rights from public workers without the quorum required to approve fiscal legislation.

It was also a 180-degree reversal by Walker and state Senate Republicans, who have insisted for the past three weeks that the collective bargaining provision was designed to help alleviate the state’s budget problems. State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) had previously said he would not attempt to pass any portions of the bill without Democrats present.

Wisconsin Democrats decried the move as an unprecedented and blatant end-run, but it was clear that they were powerless to stop it. Indeed, it took the conference committee only a matter of minutes to pass the severed off measure by a four-to-two vote. Minutes later, the same bill passed through the entire Senate by an 18-1 margin, with Sen. Dale Schultz, a Republican moderate who had proposed a compromise measure, lodging the only no vote.

8.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Japan 2011

8.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits, 30-Foot Tsunami Triggered- Japan Earthquake 2011.

TOKYO -- A ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coast Friday, killing hundreds of people as it swept away boats, cars and homes while widespread fires burned out of control.

Hours later, the tsunami hit Hawaii and warnings blanketed the Pacific, putting areas on alert as far away as South America, Canada, Alaska and the entire U.S. West Coast. In Japan, the area around a nuclear power plant in the northeast was evacuated after the reactor's cooling system failed.

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Police said 200 to 300 bodies were found in the northeastern coastal city of Sendai, the city in Miyagi prefecture (state) closest to the quake's epicenter. Another 88 were confirmed killed and at least 349 were missing. The death toll was likely to continue climbing given the scale of the disaster.

The magnitude-8.9 offshore quake unleashed a 23-foot (seven-meter) tsunami and was followed by more than 50 aftershocks for hours, many of them of more than magnitude 6.0.

Dozens of cities and villages along a 1,300-mile (2,100-kilometer) stretch of coastline were shaken by violent tremors that reached as far away as Tokyo, hundreds of miles (kilometers) from the epicenter. A large section of Kesennuma, a town of 70,000 people in Miyagi, burned furiously into the night with no apparent hope of the flames being extinguished, public broadcaster NHK said.

"The earthquake has caused major damage in broad areas in northern Japan," Prime Minister Naoto Kan said at a news conference.

Charlie Sheen Not Dead

Charlie Sheen Not Dead, But Virus Spreads On Facebook.

Be careful. A virus is spreading rapidly, primarily through Facebook, claiming that Charlie Sheen is dead.

The dangerous posts, which have also popped up on Twitter, typically start, "Exclusive Video," "RIP!" or "Breaking News." They go on to say "Charlie Sheen found Dead at his House" or some variation and include a link to a site that appears to be fueling the rumor.

Even ZDNet appeared to be victimized by the scam, tweeting yesterday, "Exclusive Video: Charlie Sheen found Dead at his House! http://zd.net/fOpMY2" That link now goes to a dead page.

David And Victoria Beckham

The Beckhams are thinking pink.

The bundle of joy David and Victoria expect this July is a baby girl, PEOPLE has confirmed.

The soccer star, 35, announced the news Friday afternoon at an L.A. Galaxy fan luncheon, ESPN reports.

"Obviously, we're very lucky to be expecting again, and this is the first time I'm going to say it: It's a little girl," Beckham shared.

"We're still in shock. Obviously, having three boys, you kind of expect another one, so finding out a little girl is in there is surprising, but, obviously, we are over the moon," he added. "Our three boys are happy and excited, and Victoria is doing well."

In February, the fashion designer, 36, insisted she didn't yet know the sex of her fourth child, but said she'd be happy with either.

"We know what to do with boys," said the mother of sons Cruz, 6, Romeo, 8½, and Brooklyn, 12. "But, if it's a girl, we'd be over the moon as well."

Japan Nuclear Plant Explosion

Earthquake Death Toll Rises- Japan Nuclear Plant Explosion Raises Fears Of Meltdown.

IWAKI, Japan - An explosion at a nuclear power station Saturday destroyed a building housing the reactor, but a radiation leak was decreasing despite fears of a meltdown from damage caused by a powerful earthquake and tsunami, officials said.

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Government spokesman Yukio Edano said the explosion destroyed the exterior walls of the building where the reactor is placed, but not the actual metal housing enveloping the reactor.
That was welcome news for a country suffering from Friday's double disaster that pulverized the northeastern coast, leaving at least 574 people dead by official count.

The scale of destruction was not yet known, but there were grim signs that the death toll could soar. One report said four whole trains had disappeared Friday and still not been located. Local media reports said at least 1,300 people may have been killed.

Edano said the radiation around the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant had not risen after the blast, but had in fact decreased. He did not say why that was so. The pressure in the reactor was also decreasing after the blast, he said.

The explosion was preceded by puff of white smoke that gathered intensity until it became a huge cloud enveloping the entire facility, located in Fukushima, 20 miles (30 kilometers) from Iwaki. After the explosion, the walls of the building crumbled, leaving only a skeletal metal frame.

Tokyo Power Electric Co., the utility that runs the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, said four workers suffered fractures and bruises and were being treated at a hospital.

Chernobyl Disaster

No repeat of Chernobyl disaster for Japan-experts.

BRUSSELS, March 12 (Reuters) - Japan should not expect a repeat of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster after an explosion blew the roof off one of its nuclear power plants that had been shaken in a huge earthquake, experts said on Saturday.

Japan's Daiichi 1 reactor north of the capital Tokyo began leaking radiation after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami, and swiftly prompted fears of a nuclear meltdown.

But experts said pictures of mist above the plant suggested only small amounts of radiation had been expelled as part of measures to ensure its stability, far from the radioactive clouds that Chernobyl spewed out when it exploded in 1986.

'The explosion at No. 1 generating set of the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, which took place today, will not be a repetition of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster,' said Valeriy Hlyhalo, deputy director of the Chernobyl nuclear safety centre.

He was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying Japanese reactors were better protected than Chernobyl, where just over 30 firefighters were killed in the explosion. The world's worst civilian nuclear disaster, Chernobyl has also been blamed for thousands of deaths due to radiation-linked illness.

'Apart from that, these reactors are designed to work at a high seismicity zone, although what has happened is beyond the impact the plants were designed to withstand,' Hlyhalo said.

'Therefore, the consequences should not be as serious as after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.'

CORE INTACT

Japanese officials said on Saturday that the nuclear reactor's core was intact, and that sea water would be poured into the leaking reactor to cool it down and reduce pressure in the unit -- a statement that should calm any fears.

Experts said it was crucial to make sure the steel reactor container had not been shattered in the explosion or in the earthquake.

'If the pressure vessel, which is the thing that actually holds all the nuclear fuel ... if that was to explode -- that's basically what happened at Chernobyl -- you get an enormous release of radioactive material,' said Prof. Paddy Regan, nuclear physicist from Britain's Surrey University.

'It doesn't look from the television pictures ... as though it's the vessel itself.'

Television footage showed an explosion in a large building in the area of the number one reactor at the Daiichi nuclear facility. Grey smoke billowed from the site and later, a building was shown without its exterior walls.

Robert Grimes, professor of materials physics at Imperial College London, said earlier it had seemed that back-up generators had failed and had allowed pressure to build up.

'It does seem as if the back-up generators although they started initially to work, then failed,' Grimes told BBC television, adding that the explosion was probably the large release of that pressure.

'If it's that, then we're not in such bad circumstances ... Despite the damage to the outer structure, as long as that steel inner vessel remains intact, then the vast majority of the radiation will be contained.

Most experts said the relatively slight damage to the reactor was testimony to the improved security of nuclear power, something that has convinced more governments to adopt the technology in recent years despite environmentalists' concerns.

'We must remember that there are 55 reactors in Japan and this was a huge earthquake, and as a test of the resilience and robustness of nuclear plants it seems they have withstood the effects very well,' Regan said.

Arthur

R.I.P. Arthur.

Arthur magazine, which has long been one of my favorite publications, in print and online, is coming to an end. Publisher/editor Jay Babcock announced today that March 15 will be Arthur's last day. He says the archives will be available "as long as makes sense." Money is the issue, of course. (Though readers may cling to the memory that the magazine has wiggled out of tight corners before, including surviving a move to the East Coast (and back) and in going online.)

It was a beautiful portal into all kinds of mysterious, sometimes off-the-wall, sometimes visionary stuff. And known for its comics and MP3s. It began in 2002.

Yogi Berra

Yogi Berra back at the ballpark.

TAMPA, Fla. – Yogi Berra is back at the ballpark.

The 85-year-old Hall of Famer was at George Steinbrenner Field on Friday for the Yankees spring training game against Atlanta, one day after he tripped and fell in the clubhouse while going to get a bowl of a soup.

"I didn't like the soup," Berra said.

The Yankees spring training instructor caught one of his sneakers on the carpet and fell at Philadelphia's complex, where the Yankees played the Phillies on Thursday. Berra went by ambulance to the hospital as a precaution after landing on his backside and was released about four hours later.

"He's great," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's the same."

Berra, who normally travels to away games with Girardi, didn't accompany the manager for Friday's road split-squad game against Toronto.

"He doesn't have road pants, today," Girardi said

Olivia Wilde files to end 8-year marriage

Olivia Wilde files to end 8-year marriage in LA.

LOS ANGELES – Olivia Wilde doesn't want to share a house with her husband of eight years — the television actress filed for divorce Friday in Los Angeles.

The "House" actress cited irreconcilable differences for her split with Tao Ruspoli, whom she married in January 2003.

The former couple separated in January. They have no children together.

Wilde's court filings do not indicate the pair have a prenuptial agreement, and the actress is asking that each party pay their own legal costs.

Ruspoli is a documentary filmmaker and the son of an Italian prince.

Wilde starred in "Tron: Legacy" and she is in the upcoming film "Cowboys & Aliens."

Tokyo, Japan Disneyland

Tokyo Disneyland has suffered damage in parts of its campus in the 8.9 magnitude quake that rocked Japan early Friday.

According to Thedisneyblog.com, the 69,000 guests in the park at the time of the quake were stranded due to transportation being affected in the aftermath. The guests were quickly evacuated to safe areas and given supplies.

Photos of the park’s destruction appeared on Twitter of guests camped out in the common areas of the park. Twitter user Rezaikram tweeted that guests were provided with “disposable heaters, plastic bags, and rain coats.”

The blog also reports that liquefaction, or large puddles, have destroyed the Tokyo Disneyland parking lot. The DisneySea expansion area has also affected by liquefaction.

Disney parks entertainment executive Steve Davison reported that the guests at the Tokyo Disneyland Resort are safe after an initial evacuation and have been allowed back into their hotel.

The main impact of the earthquake and tsunami was 200 miles north of the resort. The theme park will remain closed through the weekend. No injuries have been reported.

Great White Shark

Great white shark: Researchers have found that fewer great whites are in the Pacific ocean than previously believed. Other shark species from around the world have also suffered steep population declines like the great white shark's in recent years.

A great white shark seen dragging buoys after taking the bait off Guadalupe Island, Mexico. Thanks to a recent study, the great white shark has been found to have a smaller population than previously thought.

The Friday Five - March Gladness- Glam Slam

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- Spring arrives this month, which makes me extra happy! Here are a few other things to bring a smile to your face this month.

GOTTA DANCE!
One of my guiltiest pleasures... "Dancing with the Stars," is back! Can't wait for all the body glitter, spray tans, wax jobs and behind the scenes drama. Oh yeah, it's fun to watch the dancing too. Returns March 21 on ABC.DEAL OF THE DAY!
For one day only, Gap is offering a flash sale on what the brand is calling its first "Flashion (that's flash combined with fashion BTW) It" item... the soft trench. The Gap Soft Trench, originally $89.95, will be only $50! Available tomorrow, Saturday March 5, from 10am to 9am at all Gap stores nationwide.

CHEAP CHIC COMEBACK
Missed one of your fave designer's collaborations with Target? The chain is reissuing 34 dresses from past "Go International" Designer Collaborations, including Zac Posen, Thakoon and Proenza Schouler. Target's Greatest Hits Collection is available March 13 at Target stores and online at www.Target.com.

Elisabeth Rohm

ELISABETH Röhm has opened up about her undergoing fertility treatments to conceive her little girl.

The actress — who’s best known for her role as Serena Southerlyn on Law & Order — is mom to 2½-year-old daughter Easton August with fiancé Ron Anthony.

“There are certain experiences that almost every woman looks forward to as a right of passage. Pregnancy is one of them. To me, it’s as big as death, and it seems like an impossible situation when you discover that you will not give birth in your lifetime — or if you do, it will be after extensive medical assistance and cost a small fortune,” she told People magazine.

“It is devastating when you simply can’t do it the natural way and your body can’t function as you believed that it would during your whole young adult life.

“I never thought I’d come out and talk about my experience with in vitro fertilization (IVF). It’s not that I’m shy or hugely private — it mainly comes from the subject being socially taboo and very personal. As a woman who has had to receive assistance to be able to carry a child and deliver a healthy baby girl, I am grateful that I had the right to make a choice for my family and regarding my own body.

Brooke Mueller

The custody dispute between Charlie Sheen and his ex is resolved. Last week, in the midst of the Sheen media meltdown, the mother of his two-year-old twins had the boys removed from the star's house, and a restraining order imposed. A source tells E!, "Brooke is happy with the settlement."

Tony Danza’s Marriage is Totally Over!

TONY Danza’s marriage is over.

The Who’s the Boss? actor has filed for divorce from his wife, Tracy Danza, according to reports from TMZ and People magazine.

Tony cites “irreconcilable differences” as the reason behind the split.

The couple — who wed in June 1986 — have two daughters, Katherine, 23, and Emily, 17.

Tony has a son, Marc, from his early-’70s marriage to Rhonda Yeoman.

Prince Charles

LONDON - Prince Charles could be forgiven for feeling a bit grumpy these days.

Close to many people's retirement age, he's still waiting for the position he was groomed for: King of England. And he's preparing for the wedding that will make his eldest son Prince William and Kate Middleton the fresh new faces of a monarchy sorely in need of renewal.

That leaves Charles, who once cut a dashing figure himself, something of a forgotten man.

He is sandwiched between his mother Queen Elizabeth II, treasured for her steadfast dignity and devotion to duty since her coronation in 1953, and William, who carries a hint of the late Princess Diana's glamour wherever he goes.

"He's in a very tricky position," said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine. "By next year his mother will have been on the throne for 60 years, she's the only monarch many of us have ever known. When she came in, she was very young with two small children and there was huge empathy for her, but Charles won't get that when he comes to the throne."

He said the failure of Charles' marriage to Diana — and the role that his current wife, Camilla, played in that doomed union — has given the public too much information about the man who would be king.

"We've heard his private telephone conversations," Little said, referring to embarrassing intimate calls that were intercepted and published, giving Britons a glimpse into Charles' fantasies.

Kelly Preston

The actress and wife of John Travolta says she is worried about her ex-fiance Charlie Sheen. Preston and Sheen were engaged for a short period in 1990. At a recent event, Preston said that her 'thoughts and prayers are with him.'

Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson Reaches Plea Deal in Domestic Violence Case.

Mel Gibson has reached a plea deal with prosecutors in his domestic violence case, The Associated Press reports.

Gibson, 55, was expected to be formally charged this week for misdemeanor battery against ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, but instead will appear in court to enter the plea and will avoid jail time, a source close to the case told the AP.

Woman believed to be Gibson's ex-girlfriend: You hit our baby while she was in my hands

"I know from almost 20 years as a criminal defense lawyer that sometimes justice can come for a client at too high a personal price," Gibson's lawyer, Blair Berk, said in a statement Wednesday. "That is particularly so for Mel, whose right to due process can only be exercised in this case with an enormous media circus attached. Mel's priority throughout all of this has been that the best interests of his young daughter Lucia and the rest of his children be put first in any decisions made. It is with only that in mind that he asked me to approach the district attorney with a proposal that would bring all of this to an immediate end."

Grigorieva accused Gibson of punching her in the head and face during an argument in January 2010. Gibson later said he did so to protect their baby daughter, Lucia, whom Grigorieva was holding.

Angelina Jolie

Lara Croft will be back -- but an actress other than Angelina Jolie will be shooting the guns and wearing those tight short-shorts.

GK Films and producer Graham King (The Departed, The Town) have acquired the film rights to the sexy videogame heroine, with plans to reboot the Tomb Raider film franchise, Entertainment Weekly reports.

PHOTOS: Angelina vs. Jen Aniston -- who's the biggest fashion icon?

A pre-Brad Pitt Jolie, now 35, played daredevil archaeologist Lara Croft in two 2001 and 2003 blockbusters. (The action-adventure flicks grossed $432 million worldwide; while the Lara Croft video games have sold over 35 million units since launching in 1996.).

The next Tomb Raider film, slated for 2013, will be a "reboot" featuring a "young and dynamic Lara Croft," according to the release posted at Deadline.com -- which likely puts Jolie out of the running for the role.

PHOTOS: Brad and Angelina's PDA-packed life

Not that Jolie is that interested. Back in 2004, when asked about becoming Lara again, she told website Ugo.com, "I don't think so. I just don't feel like I need to, because I felt very happy with the last one, which was kind of the one we wanted to do. The first one kind of frustrated us, because we were trying something new. The second one, I felt like that's kind of how I wanted to do it, and I don't really feel the need to do another one."

Jennifer Aniston's Baby Plans

Gossip Cop debunks the most ridiculous rumors of the week from Jennifer Aniston's baby plans to Charlie Sheen's return to "Two and a Half Men."

Justin Timberlake And Jessica Biel Break Up

After four years together, on-again/off-again couple Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel have broken up.

In a joint statement, reps for the couple confirm to UsMagazine.com, "Addressing the media speculation regarding Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake's relationship, we are confirming that they mutually have decided to part ways. The two remain friends and continue to hold the highest level of love and respect for each other."

"It was mutual," says an insider. "Jessica is doing well."

Singer-actor Timberlake, 30, began dating actress Biel, 29, in January 2007 -- right on the heels of Timberlake's late 2006 split from Cameron Diaz, whom he dated for about three years. (Biel dated actor Chris Evans, her costar in the flick Cellular, from 2001 to 2006).

Japan Fukushima

Fukushima, Japan Nuclear Facility Declares State Of Emergency.

A nuclear power plant in the Fukushima Prefecture in Japan is under a state of emergency following the massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake that shook the nation today.

Located in northern Japan, the Fukushima Prefecture has a population of 2 million and lies in an area heavily impacted by the earthquake. A dam broke nearby, washing away homes, Reuters reported.

Residents near the facility have been asked to evacuate as a precaution. The nuclear power plant's cooling system was malfunctioning after the quake, causing concerns, per the Guardian.

The Yahoo Games

Badoo, Yahoo, Games and Love on This Week’s List of Facebook Gainers.

Looks like Facebook users are looking for love on our Valentine’s edition of Top 20 Facebook applications gainers by monthly active users. Badoo topped the list, with other dating apps, SpeedDate as well and Who will be your Valentine in 2011, coming up as well? Meanwhile, Ravenwood Fair and other social games made their usual appearanches, along with a few Connect apps. We compile this data with our AppData tool, which tracks the growth of applications and their developers on the Facebook platform.

Top Gainers This Week
Name MAU Gain Gain,%
1. Badoo 42,297,742 +4,671,748 +12%
2. Profile Banner 3,241,194 +1,142,080 +54%
3. Ravenwood Fair 9,478,040 +1,114,907 +13%
4. Yahoo! 10,836,146 +860,160 +9%
5. Monster Galaxy 6,096,036 +661,665 +12%
6. BandPage by RootMusic 17,390,482 +600,914 +4%
7. SpeedDate 1,606,216 +558,395 +53%
8. Your statistics 2,706,411 +531,220 +24%
9. Phrases 18,544,317 +531,042 +3%
10. Big Business 2,101,568 +501,043 +32%
11. It Girl 8,771,548 +441,425 +5%
12. TIK TAC TOE 812,980 +413,352 +103%
13. Who will be your VALENTINE in 2011? 1,569,030 +401,153 +34%
14. Diner Dash 418,577 +365,262 +685%
15. Dragons of Atlantis 2,225,768 +359,116 +19%
16. Windows Live Messenger 16,266,940 +353,826 +2%
17. 大腦分析 402,162 +321,690 +400%
18. Paradise Life 2,596,341 +312,295 +14%
19. PicBadges 2,133,443 +302,445 +17%
20. Happy Hospital 2,203,922 +274,755 +14%

Daylight Savings Time 2011

This Sunday, we’ll spring forward ahead, but lose an hour in the process, so while I am thrilled that after this cold and snowy winter to finally be entering the spring season, we’ll also lose and hour.

For some, daylight savings time proves to be more hazardous. There are more reports of increased traffic and workplace accidents. Some say heart attacks rise during this time. Generally speaking, the biggest obstacle is a lack of sleep in our already sleep deprived culture.

For our family, it’s not so much the hour that’s the problem as it is adjusting to it being daylight longer each day. Somehow the change doesn’t faze me quite as much as it did back when my kids were babies and toddlers.

Gradually, we’ll have grown accustomed to the longer days but initially the abrupt change seems a bit jarring. Spring is a funny time of year. We start out freezing on the little league fields and end up sweating, holding bottles of water… just in time to usher in summer, and best of all summer vacation.

Japan- Radiation

Radiation leak fears at nuclear power facilities after quake, tsunami, and strong aftershocks- Japan.

Widespread concerns in Japan over a possible radiation leak at one of the country's largest nuclear facilities, after the devastating quake and tsunami. The government is warning Japanese citizens of risks, but says the situation is not yet critical.

Speaking at the White House today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said U.S. Air Force planes are currently delivering "some really important coolant" to the Fukushima Daiichi plant, which is the focus of safety concerns. Thousands of residents near this facility are reported to have been evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Related coverage:
• World Nuclear News has a good timeline of events, with technical explanations.
• Reuters: "Scientists say Japan quake shows US nuclear risk"
• Nuclear Engineering International: "Japan initiates emergency protocol after earthquake"
• Nikkei.com: "Radiation Level Rising In Fukushima Nuclear Plant Turbine Building"
• Mainichi News: "Quake-hit Japan declares nuclear emergency, says no radiation leaks"
• Reuters: "Japan warns of small radiation leak from quake-hit plant"
• Nature.com: "Japan declares nuclear emergency"
• ABC News: Obama's comments on post-quake Japan nuclear fears
• Yahoo News: "Japan issues atomic energy emergency after earthquake"
• USA Today: "Japan to release radioactive vapor at disabled nuclear reactor"
• New York Times: "Emergency Declared at Japanese Nuclear Plant"
• MSNBC: "2007 Japan quake was a 'wake-up call' on nuclear safety"
• CNN.com news wire: "Japan struggling to cool down nuclear reactor, minister says"

Japan’s Nuclear Reactor

TAPPER: Thanks, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Yeah.

TAPPER: Experts say they can't recall a time when the U.S. ever had to rush assistance to a nuclear power plant in another country before. What can you tell us about how serious this is with the U.S. rushing coolant to Japan because of the nuclear plant there?*

And then, a second question: State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the treatment of Bradley Manning by the Pentagon is “ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid.” And I'm wondering if you agree with that. Thank you, sir.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: On point number one, when I spoke to Prime Minister Kan, I specifically asked him about the nuclear plants and their potential vulnerability as a consequence of the earthquake. He indicated that they are monitoring the situation very closely. So far, they have not seen evidence of radiation leaks. But obviously, you've got to take all potential precautions. And I've asked Steve Chu, our Energy secretary, to be in close contact with their personnel to provide any assistance that's necessary, but also to make sure that if in fact there have been breaches in the safety system on these nuclear plants, that they're dealt with right away.

With respect -- with respect to Private Manning, you know, I have actually asked the Pentagon whether or not the procedures that have been taken in terms of his confinement are appropriate and are meeting our basic standards. They assure me that they are. I can't go into details about some of their concerns, but some of this has to do with Private Manning's safety as well.

Watch this:

Three Mile Island

The Three Mile Island accident was a partial core meltdown in Unit 2 (a pressurized water reactor manufactured by Babcock & Wilcox) of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania near Harrisburg in 1979. The plant was owned and operated by General Public Utilities and the Metropolitan Edison Co. It was the most significant accident in the history of the American commercial nuclear power generating industry, resulting in the release of up to 481 PBq (13 million curies) of radioactive gases, but less than 740 GBq (20 curies) of the particularly dangerous iodine-131.

The accident began at 4 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28, 1979, with failures in the non-nuclear secondary system, followed by a stuck-open pilot-operated relief valve (PORV) in the primary system, which allowed large amounts of nuclear reactor coolant to escape. The mechanical failures were compounded by the initial failure of plant operators to recognize the situation as a loss of coolant accident due to inadequate training and human factors, such as industrial design errors relating to ambiguous control room indicators in the power plant’s user interface. The scope and complexity of the accident became clear over the course of five days, as employees of Metropolitan Edison (Met Ed, the utility operating the plant), Pennsylvania state officials, and members of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) tried to understand the problem, communicate the situation to the press and local community, decide whether the accident required an emergency evacuation, and ultimately end the crisis.

UCLA

LOS ANGELES - Isaiah Thomas had 21 points and 11 assists, freshman Terrence Ross scored 17 points, and Washington overcame Klay Thompson's Pac-10 tournament-record 43 points for Washington State in a thrilling 89-87 victory Thursday night in the quarterfinals.

C.J. Wilcox hit five 3-pointers for the third-seeded Huskies (21-10), who barely hung on to a small lead through the final five minutes to avoid a season sweep by their sixth-seeded archrivals.

Thompson hit eight 3-pointers in his astonishing return from a one-game suspension, but couldn't convert two chances to tie it in the final minute for the Cougars (19-12). Thompson missed a free throw with 48 seconds left and a 3-point attempt with 29 seconds to play.

NFL Lockout

NFL Lockout Coming After NFLPA Decertifies.

As you probably already know by now, the NFLPA decertified this afternoon after negotiations over the collective bargaining agreement stalled. In response, the NFL is expected to announce a lockout that goes into effect at midnight tonight. Basically, everything outside of the NFL Draft is coming to a screeching halt, as the CBA and players association are no longer in place.

I will just be up front about this whole story: it's not fun to write about. It's tough enough to wrap my head around all of the different legalities of this situation, and in general it's just not something I enjoy covering. Talking about how there may not be football next season because these two groups couldn't agree on how to divide up $9 billion of annual revenue just sucks the life out of me. If there aren't many updates on this story outside of something notable, this is why.

Just so we're all on the same page for now, here is a brief rundown of what happened on Friday: DeMaurice Smith and the NFLPA were presented with a new CBA proposal from the NFL, which you can read here. The proposal did not result in a new deal, partly because the NFLPA wants to get a look at the NFL's financial information. That didn't happen, so the union decided to dissolve, allowing class-action lawsuits to be filed against the NFL. This situation is destined to become a legal battle as a result, and all I can say is good luck to those who have to sift through every minute detail of this story. It doesn't sound like fun.

At the end of the day, I just want there to be football in 2011. I have enough faith that a deal will be worked out before any games are threatened, so for now I'm just going to think about the NFL Draft and not worry about the labor situation. Like I said before, it's just not a fun topic, and I'd much rather focus on mock drafts, scouting prospects and other things like that.

Jim Tressel Received Death Threats

His lawyer says he's received death threats.

The Columbus lawyer who sent e-mails to Ohio State coach Jim Tressel last April about players selling memorabilia said he gave Tressel the names of two players -- starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor and receiver DeVier Posey -- in an interview with ESPN's "Outside the Lines."

Christopher Cicero, a walk-on player for the Buckeyes in the early 1980s, said in his first interview that it has been a stressful time since his name and e-mails to Tressel were revealed.

A fan of the Buckeyes' program, Cicero said he doesn't want to be considered the "Judas" in the controversy, and added he has received some death threats in the past few days.

Tressel did not turn over the names to the university or to the NCAA after he received the first e-mail from Cicero April 2, 2010. On Tuesday, Ohio State officials announced that they will suspend Tressel for the first two games this upcoming season and fine him $250,000.

The NCAA is investigating and could levy further sanctions against Tressel and the program. Six players have been suspended for games next season, including Pryor and Posey, who are among five players who will miss five games. One player will miss one game.

Cicero also said he doesn't know of any other possible NCAA violations by Ohio State players, other than selling memorabilia to a Columbus tattoo parlor owner who has been under a federal drug investigation. Tressel has said he didn't report the e-mails from Cicero because he considered them to be "confidential."

Cicero said when he asked Tressel to keep the e-mails confidential, he meant that he would not go to the media or the public, not that Tressel couldn't inform the school or launch his own investigation.

Cicero lettered in football at Ohio State in 1983. Tressel was an assistant coach under Earle Bruce at the time Cicero was a walk-on linebacker.

In a statement released Wednesday, Cicero said he voluntarily cooperated when an Ohio State attorney asked him to meet with university representatives and the NCAA about e-mails he exchanged with Tressel.

In April 2010, Tressel received an e-mail from Cicero telling him that two of his players were caught up in a federal drug-trafficking case and the sale of memorabilia, breaking NCAA rules.

Tressel responded: "I will get on it ASAP." But he never mentioned it to Ohio State's compliance department or his athletic director for more than nine months.

Cicero's history as a lawyer is checkered, the Columbus Dispatch reported. Among other issues, the Ohio Supreme Court suspended Cicero's law license for one year in 1997 after he was found to have engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice and of failing to maintain a respectful attitude toward the courts.

Charlie Sheen's Goddesses

PICTURES: Charlie Sheen's Goddesses

The 24-year-old, who has performed in adult films under the name Bree Olson, was arrested just after 11 p.m. on Feb. 3, after she crashed her Lexus. Oberlin told the officer that arrived on the scene that she was uninjured and that she had slid on a patch of ice after leaving a club earlier in the evening. Her car had taken out a light pole.

Olson was given a breathalyzer test on the scene which had a very poor breath sample according to the arrest report and after she refused to cooperate, the officer put her in handcuffs.

She was then taken to lock-up where the officer noted Olson experienced strong mood swings.

After refusing to submit to a breathalyzer there, Olson was read her Miranda rights and arrested for OWI-refusal.

Oberlin had been with Charlie Sheen at his California home until a couple of days ago. According to CBS affiliate WANE, she came back to Fort Wayne for Tuesday's court appearance. A judge set aside June 8 and 9 for a two day jury trial.

Oberlin reportedly has a home in Fort Wayne went to school in the area.

Bradley Manning

State Department spokesman calls treatment of Bradley Manning “ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid.”

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told an audience at MIT on Thursday that he thought the Defense Department's treatment of alleged WikiLeaks source Private Bradley Manning was "ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid."

Blogger Philippa Thomas first reported Crowley's remarks, which she said were part of a lecture on "the benefits of new media as it relates to foreign policy" at an event organized by MIT's Center for Future Civic Media.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell declined to comment on Crowley's remarks.

Manning, who is being held in a maximum security prison and under isolation 23 hour a day at the Marine Corps' base in Quantico, VA, has been subject to daily disrobing and various other humiliations, which have been widely criticized by human rights groups including Amnesty International.

"PFC Manning is also being held under a Prevention of Injury (POI) assignment, which means that he is subjected to further restrictions," Amnesty wrote to Defense Secretary Robert Gates in January. "These include checks by guards every five minutes and a bar on his sleeping during the day. He is required to remain visible at all times, including during night checks. His POI status has resulted in his being deprived of sheets and a separate pillow, causing uncomfortable sleeping conditions; his discomfort is reportedly exacerbated by the fact that he is required to sleep only in boxer shorts and has suffered chafing of his bare skin from the blankets."

"The harsh conditions imposed on PFC Manning also undermine the principle of the presumption of innocence, which should be taken into account in the treatment of any person under arrest or awaiting trial. We are concerned that the effects of isolation and prolonged cellular confinement - which evidence suggests can cause psychological impairment, including depression, anxiety and loss of concentration - may, further, undermine his ability to assist in his defense and thus his right to a fair trial."

Japan And Pacific Region Strike By Earthquake And Tsunami

The major earthquake off the coast of Japan and subsequent tsunami today have already caused massive damage across large swathes of Japan, and have put coastal areas on alert around the Pacific. The tsunami threat has been cautiously downgraded; small waves have already hit Indonesia and the Philippines, the BBC live blog reports, so far with minimal damage, though larger waves are a possibility. Hawaii and low-lying islands in Micronesia and Indonesia appear to be the biggest concerns in the Pacific.

In Japan itself a death toll of 40 has been discussed, but images of piled up cars, burning buildings, farmland and whole towns being hit by a wave meters high, suggests that this is only the most preliminary of estimates. A state of emergency has been declared and a warning issued after failures reported at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Watch this First Video:


Watch this Second Video:


Lastly, Watch the Third Video:

Hundreds Of People Died In Japan Earthquake And Tsunami

Waves of muddy waters flowed over farmland near the city of Sendai, carrying buildings, some on fire, inland as cars attempted to drive away. Sendai airport, north of Tokyo, was inundated with cars, trucks, buses and thick mud deposited over its runways. Fires spread through a section of the city, public broadcaster NHK reported.

More than 300 houses were washed away in Ofunato City alone. Television footage showed mangled debris, uprooted trees, upturned cars and shattered timber littering streets.

The tsunami roared over embankments, washing anything in its path inland before reversing directions and carrying the cars, homes and other debris out to sea. Flames shot from some of the houses, probably because of burst gas pipes.

Japan Earthquake And Tsunami Kill Hundreds

TOKYO - A ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coast Friday, killing hundreds as it swept away boats, cars and homes while widespread fires burned out of control. Tsunami warnings blanketed the entire Pacific, as far away as South America, Canada, Alaska and the entire U.S. West Coast.

The magnitude 8.9 offshore quake unleashed a 23-foot tsunami and was followed by more than 50 aftershocks for hours, many of them of more than magnitude 6.0.

Japanese police say 200 to 300 bodies were found in Sendai, the closest major city to the epicenter. Earlier, police confirmed at least 60 people had been killed and 56 were missing. The death toll was likely to continue climbing given the scale of Friday's disaster; extensive search and rescue efforts were still just getting underway.

Special section: Earthquake in Japan

A Japanese coast guard official said a search is under way for a ship carrying 80 dock workers that was swept away by the tsunami. The vessel was washed away from a shipbuilding site in Miyagi prefecture, close to the earthquake's epicenter.

Dozens of cities and villages along a 1,300-mile stretch of coastline were shaken by violent tremors that reached as far away as Tokyo, hundreds of miles from the epicenter.

Hawaii, entire Pacific, under tsunami warning

"The earthquake has caused major damage in broad areas in northern Japan," Prime Minister Naoto Kan said at a news conference.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said Japan had closed four nuclear power plants as a precaution. A state of emergency was declared at one of the plants after its cooling system had a mechanical failure. Thousands of residents around the plant were ordered to evacuate. Trouble was reported at two other nuclear plants as well, but there was no radiation leak at any.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the emergency measure at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima was a precaution and that the facility was not in immediate danger.

Even for a country used to earthquakes, this one was of horrific proportions because of the tsunami that crashed ashore, swallowing everything in its path as it surged several miles inland before retreating. The apocalyptic images of surging water broadcast by Japanese TV networks resembled scenes from a Hollywood disaster movie.

The Los Angeles Times

Sky Steward Lands at Los Angeles Times Travel & Adventure Show.

Gailen will be galavanting around Los Angeles with the likes of Travel Channel’s Samantha Brown, Arthur Frommer and Rick Steves at The Los Angeles Times Travel & Adventure Show next week. Not only will he be schmoozing with these well-known travel gurus, he’s a well-known travel guru himself! Watch for him along with popular travel blogger Bobby Laurie!

The Los Angeles Times Travel & Adventure Show, March 19-20, 2011, is the perfect kick-off for our very first Jetiquette Week (take a look at the map in that link – that’s a lot of travel!).

If you’re an attendee at the show, do your research beforehand by examining the complete program schedule. For the adventurous, take a stab at climbing a 25’ rock wall. Or, if you’re into scaring the crap out of yourself, consider the zip line that’s precariously stretched above the 5-acre show floor.

The Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Islands weather details & Aloha paragraphs / March 10-11, 2011.

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Thursday afternoon:

Lihue, Kauai – 79
Honolulu airport, Oahu - 82
Kaneohe, Oahu - 77
Molokai airport - 80
Kahului airport, Maui - 84
Kona airport - 83
Hilo airport, Hawaii - 81

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops…as of 5pm Thursday evening:

Kailua-kona - 81F
Kaneohe, Oahu - 75

Haleakala Crater - missing (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 34 (under 14,000 feet on the Big Island)

Precipitation Totals - The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals Thursday evening:

1.66 Mount Waialeale, Kauai
0.85 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
0.04 Molokai
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.02 Oheo Gulch, Maui
0.71 Waiakea Uka, Big Island

Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing trade wind producing high pressure system just to the north of the islands…moving eastward. At the same time we have a weak frontal boundary to our northeast. Our trade winds will remain moderately strong into the weekend.

Satellite and Radar Images: To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with this Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean. Finally, here's a Looping IR satellite image, making viewable the clouds around the islands 24 hours a day. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live web cam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two web cams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon weather conditions.

Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific - Here’s the latest weather information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Here’s a tracking map covering both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. A satellite image, which shows the entire ocean area between Hawaii and the Mexican coast…can be found here. Of course, as we know, our hurricane season ends November 30th here in the central Pacific.

San Diego News

BRIEF-San Diego Gas & Electric signs renewable power contract With Tenaska project.

March 10 (Reuters) - San Diego Gas & Electric:

* San Diego Gas & Electric-contract for solar energy generated at

imperial solar energy center west's proposed 1,057-acre facility

* SDG&E signs renewable power contract with tenaska project that will use

locally produced solar modules

* San Diego Gas & Electric says 25-year contract for up to 150 megawatts

(mw) of solar energy

* San Diego Gas & Electric-project will create nearly 300 construction jobs

in imperial valley during two-year construction period

((Bangalore Equities Newsroom; +91 80 4135 5800; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780))

Crescent City CA

Obamateurism of the Day.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t add this gem to the OOTD canon. Thanks to a habit of disengagement on issues and a plethora of “czars” in his administration, Barack Obama had to tap Tom Gavin to manage his own Cabinet:

During the first two years of President Obama‘s term, the administration fully embraced just a few of his superstar picks – people such as Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Education Secretary Arne Duncan. But many more agency chiefs conducted their business in relative anonymity, sometimes after running afoul of White House officials.

Both sides were deeply disgruntled. Agency heads privately complained that the White House was a “fortress” that was unwilling to accept input and that micromanaged their departments. Senior administration advisers rolled their eyes in staff meetings at the mention of certain Cabinet members, participants said. …

The larger mission is to make the dealings between the Cabinet and the White House more functional, several senior officials said. Daley, a former commerce secretary himself, has been calling agency heads for input, asking about the process over the past two years – and promising that it will change.

At the same time, the White House recently created the position of Cabinet communications director, appointing media adviser Tom Gavin to the job. The goal, according to the official statement, is “to better coordinate with and utilize members of the Cabinet” and is a “high priority.”

In the past, the job title of the person tasked with coordinating utilizing members of the Cabinet was the President of the United States. Of course, in the past the American electorate hired a man with actual executive experience and success for the position, too. This is what happens when amateurs get hired and expect on-the-job training.

Quakes – Japan

Quakes – Japan – Several incl 8.9 AND 7.x.