anderson cooper bachelorette

anderson cooper bachelorette

First, Anderson Cooper forgot this is the candy-apple daytime show, Regis and Kelly, where soft questions are asked, not the zinger “So hows your sex life!”

Second, Cooper’s question about the Bachelorette’s life in the bedroom proves Anderson is exactly in tune with what America would have asked also. Bravo for asking!

Finally, Cooper (CNN) clearly wanted to ask what really goes on during those Disney ABC Shows - “How many guys did you sleep with on the show”.

Bachelorette: “I kissed 10 guys, but only 4 with tongue”.
Cooper: “I think I just threw up in my mouth.”

sporting news top 50 coaches

sporting news top 50 coaches

Scotty Bowman

Chicago Blackhawks Senior Advisor, Hockey Operations Scotty Bowman has been listed at number seven in The Sporting News Magazine’s Top 50 Greatest Coaches of All-Time list, which was released on Wednesday. Bowman is the highest ranked National Hockey League coach on the list, as selected by a panel of 118 Hall of Famers, championships coaches and other experts.

“I feel honored and privileged to be considered in such elite company,” Bowman said. “It is a reflection on the many great Hall of Fame players that I had the good fortune to coach.

Bowman, who joined the Blackhawks Hockey Operations Department on July 31, 2008, has been a member of 11 Stanley Cup winning teams since 1973, which includes an NHL record nine as a head coach. The Montreal native is also the NHL’s all-time leader with 1,224 regular-season wins and 223 postseason victories. Prior to joining the Blackhawks, Bowman has held a position in professional hockey since 1967.

Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 1991, Bowman is the only man in the history of the sport to lead three different teams to the Stanley Cup and has reached the league Finals 13 times as a bench boss. As a head coach, he has captured the Cup with the Montreal Canadiens (1973, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979), Pittsburgh Penguins (1992) and Red Wings (1997, 1998 and 2002). He served as the director of player development on Pittsburgh’s 1991 Stanley Cup winning club and most recently celebrated his 11th league title with the Red Wings in 2008.

Bowman has coached an NHL record 2,141 contests and has captured the Jack Adams Award as the league’s best coach twice (1977 and 1996). He also spent time behind the St. Louis Blues’ bench (1967-71) and the Buffalo Sabres’ bench (1979-87), while guiding his squads to the postseason in 29 of his 30 years as a head coach. He has coached in an NHL-best 13 All-Star games, which includes his final season in 2002, when he led the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup after posting 51 wins and 116 points during the regular-season. Statistically, Bowman registered his best season in 1995-96 when his Detroit team racked up an NHL record 62 wins.

Bowman broke into coaching after a head injury ended his playing career in juniors and accepted his first NHL head coaching gig with the St. Louis Blues during their expansion season in 1967-68 at the age of 34.

He is also a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame since his induction in 2004. Other major awards include the Lester Patrick Trophy in 2001, presented by the NHL and USA Hockey for outstanding service to hockey in the United States and the Wayne Gretzky Award of Excellence, presented to him in 2002 by the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

Bowman’s son Stan was recently named the Blackhawks’ General Manager on July 14, 2009.

rev ike

rev ike

The Rev. Frederick Eikerenkoetter, known as Rev. Ike to a legion of followers here and across the nation to whom he preached the blessings of prosperity while making millions from their donations, has died. He was 74.

A family spokesman said he died Tuesday in a Los Angeles hospital, two years after he suffered astroke from which he never recovered.

Rev. Ike's ministry reached its peak in the mid-1970s, when his sermons were carried on 1,770 radio stations to an audience estimated at 2.5 million.

He also preached his philosophy of self-empowerment on television and the Internet, in books and magazines, and on audiotapes and videotapes.

From the stage of the former Loews movie theater on 175th St. in Washington Heights, which he restored and transformed into his United Church Science of Living Institute, Rev. Ike would tell thousands of parishioners "this is the do-it-yourself church. The only savior in this philosophy is God in you."

He then would exhort the believers to "close your eyes and see green ... money up to your armpits, a roomful of money, and there you are, just tossing around in it like a swimming pool."

As payback for spiritual inspiration, Rev. Ike asked for cash donations from the faithful - preferably in bills not coins. "Change makes your minister nervous in the service," he would say.

Critics called Rev. Ike a con man, saying the only point of his ministry was getting rich from the donations.

They noted that he made a show of sumptuous clothes, jewelry, posh residences and exotic cars. "My garages runneth over," he would boast.

But his supporters said Rev. Ike's love of luxury had roots both in the traditions of African-American evangelism and the philosophies of mind over matter.

Rev. Ike was born in Ridgeland, S.C., to a father who was a Baptist minister and a mother who taught elementary school. They divorced when he was 5.

At 14, he became an assistant pastor for his father's congregation. He briefly preached in Boston before coming to New York.

He leaves his wife, Eula, and son, Xavier Frederick.

greg fitzsimmons

greg fitzsimmons

Comedian Greg Fitzsimmons, he of Howard Stern Show and his own Sirius XM gig The Greg Fitzsimmons Show fame – will write a memoir for Simon & Schuster. The book, Dear, Mrs. Fitzsimmons will not be presented as a traditional biography; rather the many “disciplinary letters, incident reports, and in worst cases, newspaper clippings, that his parents received from teachers and school officials” about Greg throughout his youth will build the story of his life.

“I am beyond flattered that a company as distinguished as Simon & Schuster would get behind me writing this book,” Fitzsimmons said. ‘I apologize to them in advance for the difficulty they now face in working with me.”

Dear, Mrs. Fitzsimmons will be published next year.

todd genger

todd genger

A lawyer for Wall Street powerhouse Goldman Sachs was caught in a sting operation aimed at perverts who solicit young girls for sex, officials said Tuesday.

Todd Genger, 33, is accused of trying to lure an underage teen with explicit chat on the Internet and then traveling to Westchester to consummate the cyber-affair.

In reality, the "girl" Genger was chasing was an undercover investigator posing as a teen in the chat room, the Westchester County district attorney's office said.

Genger, a Manhattan resident who is married and has three children, was snared after a series of Internet conversations that began April 13 and ended Monday, officials said.

The investigator was posing as a 15-year-old and made it clear "she" was underage, said Lucien Chalfen, a spokesman for the district attorney.

Genger did not respond to telephone calls.

He admitted to participating in the online conversations about the intended tryst, which included "specific explicit sexual acts," Chalfen said.

At his arraignment on charges of trying to disseminate indecent material to a minor, Genger was released on his own recognizance pending an Aug.11 court date.

He faces 1-1/3 to 4 years in prison, if convicted.

madonna pictures

madonna pictures

HEALTH and fitness experts in Burton have given mixed reactions to shocking photographs showing pop icon Madonna with veins bulging out of her arms.

Pictures published in the national Press yesterday revealed a rather thin-looking Madonna arriving home from a restaurant.

The protrusive veins in her arms were visible for all to see and are likely to cause concern for many fans. However, health experts in Burton believe this bizarre body formation is merely caused by a good diet and exercise.

Adam ‘AJ’ John, fitness manager at DW Sports, formerly JJB Sports, in Middleway Park, Burton, said that there was no reason why the amount of exercise a 50-year-old woman did would affect her arms.

He said: "I think she does a lot of heavy resistance training either using resistance machines or by using weights. I think it’s much more likely that she uses heavy weight lifts.

"She seems to work extremely hard which warms the body up and this causes the veins to be more noticeable on the surface.

"If she has been training all her life then there is no reason that that amount of exercise for a woman of 50 should be unhealthy. If she has a good regime and possibly includes splits — exercise in morning and evening — then it will be fine.

"As she is doing six days a week of exercise, I would imagine that one of those days would maybe be something fun such a tennis or swimming.

"Her arms could be down to her diet as well which is extremely important. She eats properly and has at least four or five meals a day, so I don’t believe that her arms are anything to worry about."

However, Andy Elliott, health and fitness manager at Fitness First, in Wetmore Road, Burton, said that while Madonna may be exercising a lot he would not recommend her diet to any of his clients.

He said: "It looks like she is on a really low diet of high protein but low carbohydrate. She seems to do a lot of weight training on her upper arms but seems really malnourished. She needs some fats and to increase her diet and also relax on the upper arm training.

"She needs to increase her carbohydrate intake as well and I would not recommend this diet to anyone."

alexis cohen season 8

alexis cohen season 8

"Even after her death," said Kitty Caparella in The Philadelphia Inquirer, "fans are still arguing about Alexis Cohen," who was rejected by American Idol judges in season 7 and again in season 8. Some remember Cohen for her "expletive-deleted" rant against the Idol judges who rejected her during Idol's season 7 in 2007. But some bloggers said Cohen -- a 25-year-old known as "Glitter Girl" because of her sparkling makeup -- was "kind" and "fun" -- despite the bad impression she made in her infamous tirade. (watch Alexis Cohen's American Idol rant)

Alexis Cohen was definitely one of those memorable American Idol contestants, said Radar Online. Who can forget "her liberal use of glittery-eye makeup, and comparing herself to Pat Benatar, Janis Joplin, and Grace Slick." And the video of her season 7 rant against judge Simon Cowell was one of those viral Internet videos no one forgets.

"The glittery makeup, the bellowing voice, and the nationally televised harangue may have garnered Alexis Cohen a brief, idiosyncratic stint in the spotlight," said Brian Callaway in Cohen's hometown newspaper, the Allentown, Penn., Morning Call, but Cohen's mother wants people to remember her daughter as more than comic relief in American Idol's season 7 and season 8. "She was a great kid,'' Mindy Cohen said Sunday, the day after Alexis Cohen's death in Seaside Heights, N.J. "Nobody gave her the chance to show them the nature she had."

ironman lake placid

ironman lake placid

The 11th annual Ironnman Lake Placid is now underway.

According to Ironman.com:

"More than 2,200 athletes from around the world are expected to compete in the 2009 event. Athletes participating in the 2009 Ford Ironman Lake Placid will compete for a total professional prize purse of $50,000 and 72 qualifying spots for the 2009 Ford Ironman World Championship to be held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in October."

stephen murray crash video

stephen murray crash video

The legendary Isle of Man TT is one of the fastest, most demanding and most spectacular sporting events in the world, and in 2009 speeds hit an all-time high.

Now you can experience all the excitement and drama for yourself with the Official DVD Review, an action-packed and comprehensive look back at the fastest TT ever.

The TT, first run in 1907, remains one of the most challenging and iconic motorsport events on Earth. Every year the finest motorcycle racers descend on the Island in the middle of the Irish Sea to test their skills around the 37.73-miles of closed public highways, where speeds top 190mph just inches from houses, walls and hedges.

Over almost four hours of comprehensive coverage, the Official Review brings you breathtaking action footage as records tumble over the legendary TT Mountain course in every single class.

Produced for the first time by North One Television, the TT 2009 review offers unrivalled coverage of this unique event.

There’s more on-board cameras with leading riders than ever, letting viewers experience the incredible 37.73-mile circuit from the rider’s point-of-view. Plus, the Hi-Motion camera captures spellbinding ultra-slow motion sequences which demonstrate exactly how much skill and courage it takes to control 240bhp Superbikes at speeds in excess of
190mph.

The Official Review rounds up all the practice week action, including Australian Cameron Donald’s stunning unofficial lap record and his TT-ending practice crash – complete with post smash interview.

There’s complete coverage of every race over the Mountain course, including an incredible 15th TT win and new outright lap record of 131.578mph AVERAGE lap speed for John McGuinness. There’s also a popular double for Yorkshire’s Ian Hutchinson, an emotional return to the top step of the podium for the Dunlop name and an unexpected, but thoroughly deserved, victory for Steve Plater in the blue riband Senior TT.

The review also records a stunning 14th TT victory for sidecar legend Dave Molyneux during a TT packed with emotional highs and lows for the three-wheel crews.

Incredible camera angles, aerial footage and on-bike action are skilfully combined to bring you the full story, with informed commentary from ex-racers Steve Parrish and James Whitham keeping you fully up to speed.

In 2009 the TT attracted one of its biggest US entries, with six leading racers lining up to take on the ultimate challenge. The Official Review includes a fascinating interview with five of these stars - Mark Miller, Jimmy Moore, Scott Jensen, James Vanderhaar and C.R. Gittere – about why they have travelled thousands of miles to ride.

Plus, the Official Review takes you on-board at the Lightweight and Ultra Lightweight TT races – held on the 4.25-mile Billown Circuit – and takes a look at the inaugural TTXGP. This was the first-ever race for clean emission motorcycles, putting the Isle of Man TT back at the cutting edge of racing technology and making headlines around the world – the
Official Review’s special feature explains why TTXGP was such an important and groundbreaking achievement.

As ever, the TT attracted some famous fans and the Official Review features two of the biggest. There’s an interview with legendary ‘Voice of Motorsport’ Murray Walker O.B.E. and the historic lap by MotoGP great Valentino Rossi, the reigning World Champion taking a break from his busy schedule to achieve an ambition held since childhood – lapping the TT course.

vernon forrest dead

vernon forrest dead

Former boxing champion and U.S. Olympian Vernon Forrest, aka “The Viper,” was shot and killed at age 38 last night in northwest Atlanta where he lived. WSB Radio news has reported early this morning that Forrest was working on his Jaguar at about 11 pm Saturday night when two males attempted to carjack him.

Lt. Keith Meadows, Atlanta police spokesman, told WSB Radio that the boxer had a gun and a brief foot chase ensued, ultimately exchanging gunfire which left the boxing champion shot in the head.

The suspects are described as “two black males driving a red [Chevrolet] Monte Carlo.” Investigators are interviewing witnesses, and no suspect(s) is/are in custody at this time.

Forrest’s girlfriend’s son is said to have been in the car at the time, but is apparently unhurt. The child’s family is coming up from Texas to retrieve him.

It’s suspected that Forrest was shot at least 7 or 8 times with a semi-automatic pistol.

Best known for his two fights with Shane Mosley, Forrest was a welterweight and light middleweight champion, compiling a 41-3-1 record along the way -- with 29 knockouts -- and was a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team.

three men and a little lady

three men and a little lady

HARRAH -- In search of closure, Connie Rocha on Monday stood near where her cousin Daniel Simmons was beaten to death the night before by three men.

"I just came out here just to see if I could find something," she said standing along Harrah Road. "He was my family. When you lose something you always want to find something -- maybe just some way to release."

Deputies on Monday arrested three men they believe responsible.

Simmons, a 42-year old Quinault tribal member, was the latest victim in a recent spike of violent crimes on the Yakama reservation that has both residents and authorities concerned.

On Monday, Simmons' girlfriend, Colleen Jaramillo, stood outside a mobile home on a dusty lot near where she lives and where the incident occurred in the 5500 block of Harrah Road.

She said Simmons would often stay days at a time and do yard work.

On Sunday evening, three men who had past run-ins with Simmons came to the property, said Simmons' friend, Angelo Weston.

Simmons, who had been drinking, grabbed a baseball bat and went after them, said Weston.

There was a brief struggle before the men took the bat from him and began hitting him with it, he said.

One of the three men had a shovel and struck Simmons with it as well, said Weston, whose eyes moistened as he described the beating and how he helped pull his bloodied friend from the street.

Describing the incident as gang-related, Jaramillo said she was taking a shower when it began.

"I got out; they said he was getting beat up," she said. "He was just laying there. They hit him with a shovel in the head."

Weston said the same group of men sent Simmons to the hospital with broken ribs just a few week ago.

"Yesterday they took it too far and killed my friend," he said somberly. "I've known him for a long time -- that's messed up."

Rocha said her parents raised Simmons in Harrah, and that they were more like brother and sister. She said he has several children, but wasn't sure of the exact number.

"Daniel, you know, lived a hard life, but I think the Lord had a better plan for him," she said.

The death was the latest in a string of violent crimes on the reservation this year.

On June 7, three men were hospitalized in a shooting at a house party on Brownstown Road just west of Harrah.

Two other men were hospitalized in a March 18 shooting in a yard on Osbourne Road just west of Wapato.

And just days prior to that, a man was found killed at the basketball court of the tribal housing project at Larena Lane in Wapato.

Three of the four cases are being investigated by the FBI, which has jurisdiction over serious crimes on Indian land. But little information about the status of the investigations or nature of the cases has been released, including the names of the victims in most cases.

FBI agent Frank Harrill in Spokane said Monday that progress is being made in those cases.

"What I don't want to do is comment on the individual cases because they are ongoing," he said. "If we need assistance from the public, we'll be the first to ask."

He disputed long-standing skepticism of some tribal members who question whether federal authorities are fully committed to solving crimes on Indian land.

"They are a priority, especially violent ones like that one," said Harrill, who agreed there's been an uptick in crime of the Yakama reservation.

Simmons' case, however, is being investigated by the Yakima County Sheriff's Office because it occurred in the middle of the road and off tribal land.

An autopsy scheduled on Wednesday.

jud suss

jud suss

Gov. Charlie Crist is as cordial as they come in the political world. But his office may have went a bit too far with a “thank you” letter sent to a Pasco County man who had mailed Crist a copy of a Nazi-era anti-Semitic video.

The movie is “Jud Suss” and John Ubele sent Crist a DVD copy earlier this year. The movie, according to www.holocaustresearchproject.org, was made in 1940 in Nazi Germany and tells a convoluted tale that ends with Jewish residents of a region being expelled.

Ubele is running for the state House in Pasco County. His website decries accusations that he is a white separatist, but he is endorsed on David Duke’s website as “unmistakeably a pro-white candidate.” A visit to Ubele’s websites, including one for the “Nationalist Coalition,” show links to anti-Semitic books and leaflets.

In the letter mailed from Crist’s office on June 30 and posted online by Ubele, the governor says “Thank you for sending me the DVD ‘Jud Suss.’ It is my pleasure to accept this on behalf of myself and the people of Florida. I appreciate your thoughtfulness in sharing this DVD … Thank you again for your generosity.”

“Of course we appreciate him helping us with our efforts to awaken our people with the video,” Ubele wrote on a blog at a Nationalist Coalition site.

Crist, like many statewide officials, receives hundreds of items and letters from people every year and the formality of a generic “thank you” is protocol. A separate office of “Citizens Services” handles the governor’s mail and generates responses as well as courtesy letters for things like birthdays and military service.

The letter is signed by Crist and the initials at the bottom of the page indicating who wrote and reviewed the letter include the initials “CC.”

UPDATE: Crist sent out a stern letter late Friday night, asking Ubele to pull a copy of Crist's original form letter from the website.

"This letter is written to correct an inexcusable mistake made by staff in my office. reflected in a letter of June 30, 2009 regarding the DVD Jud Suss. Unfortunately, that letter was sent by staff prior to any review of the content of the DVD. Subsequently, my staff has reviewed the DVD and advised me of the content.

"I am now writing to unequivocally advise you that neither I, not anyone in this administration agree with or condone the anti-Semitic content of this DVD. This DVD contains anti-Semitic propaganda filmed in Nazi Germany. It is laden with crude, anti-Semitic stereotypes and was unfortunately used by the Nazi regime to facilitate the Holocaust. The murder of over six million Jews in World War II is an abhorrent but real episode of man's inhumanity to man.

"I am advised that you have posted by June 30, 2009 letter on your Web site. Since that letter was sent in error and does not reflect my view, I request that you immediately remove it from your Web site, and any other representation therein that I or anyone in my administration agree with or condone the anti-Semitic content of this DVD."

lowell folk festival

lowell folk festival

LOWELL — Looking for a way to hear music and taste foods from around the world without leaving the Bay State? You'll have your chance this weekend as the Lowell Folk Festival kicks off in downtown Lowell, with 22 artists performing on six stages, playing everything from polka to jazz and beyond.

The three-day music extravaganza is set to begin tomorrow and run through Sunday. Those who attend will be treated to traditional music, food, dancing and crafts from all corners of the globe.

"It is all about taking ethnic traditions and bringing it to the big stage," said John Marciano, who is in charge of programming music for the festival. "You just can't access this music any other day of the year."

Though it's called a folk festival, this event features many genres of music, from bluegrass, to Celtic and gospel, to blues. The main concept is to present traditional music from regions throughout the world in its original context.

"It is as close to the real deal as possible," Marciano said. "This is music that is handed down from one generation to the next. It's not whitewashed at all. That is the difference with the Lowell Folk Festival."

Since its 1987 debut as the National Folk Festival, what has since become the Lowell Folk Festival continues to draw artists from all around the world. Highlighting this year's group is Sierra Hull and her touring group Highway 111, Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz Band, Yomo Toro and Niamh Ni Charra, as well as a host of other artists.

"A lot of these artists most people don't know," Marciano said. "But this is not a pop festival. It is a traditional music festival. You may not know their names but this festival turns people on to music they have never heard before and cultures they have never seen before."

Music aside, the festival also will feature sample foods from around the globe, with more than a dozen types of ethnic food sold throughout downtown and around the JFK Plaza, Boarding House Park and Dutton Street Dance Pavilion.

Also, for the second consecutive year, the "Keepers of the Tradition: Folk Art and Heritage in Massachusetts" theme continues, as crafters who preserve and revitalize deeply rooted art traditions display their work. In addition, there is Art in the Courtyard, where visitors can view and purchase some of the finest art around.

A Family Fun activity area will be located on Shattuck Street for the kids, where children can enjoy hands-on games such as box-hockey, bean bag toss and several other activities.

"It is truly an unbelievable value and an amazing opportunity," said Marciano. "Honestly you only have to go once and you'll be hooked. I guarantee it."

If You Go

What: Lowell Folk Festival.

When: Friday, July 24, through Sunday, July 26. Hours are Friday from 7 to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

Where: Six stages throughout downtown Lowell.

How: The festival is free. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.lowellfolkfest.org.

2009 Lowell Folk Festival Performance Schedule

FRIDAY, JULY 24

Boarding House Park

6:40-7 p.m.: Parade with Glen David Andrews Band (New Orleans R&B and brass band).

7-7:15 p.m.: Festival kickoff

7:15-8 p.m.: Frank London's Klezmer Brass AllStars

8:15-9 p.m.: Sierra Hull & Highway 111 (bluegrass)

9:15-10:15 p.m.: Yomo Toro (Puerto Rican cuatro master)

Dutton St. Dance Pavilion

7:15- 8:30 p.m.: Trudy Lynn (blues and soul)

8:45-10 p.m.: Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys (zydeco)

SATURDAY, JULY July 25

Boarding House Park

12-12:45 p.m.: Niamh Ní Charra (Irish)

1-1:45 p.m.: Yomo Toro (Puerto Rican cuatro master)

2-2:45 p.m.: Genticorum (Quebecois)

3-3:45 p.m.: Sierra Hull & Highway 111 (bluegrass)

4-4:45 p.m.: Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band (Traditional New Orleans jazz)

5-6 p.m.: Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys (zydeco)

7:10-7:30 p.m.: Parade with Glen David Andrews Band (New Orleans R&B and brass band)

7:30-8:15 p.m.: Niamh Ní Charra (Irish)

8:30-9:15 p.m.: Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band (Traditional New Orleans

jazz)

9:30-10:15 p.m.: Trudy Lynn (blues and soul)

JFK Plaza

12:15-10 p.m.: The Lucky Stars (western swing & honky tonk)

1:15-2 p.m.: Sierra Hull & Highway 111 (bluegrass)

2:15-3 p.m.: Eddie Forman Orchestra (Polish polka)

3:15-4 p.m.: Yomo Toro (Puerto Rican cuatro master)

4:15-5:15 p.m.: The Brotherhood Singers (African American a cappella gospel)

5:30-6:15 p.m.: Frank London's Klezmer Brass AllStars

Market Street Stage

12-12:30 p.m.: Capoeira Luanda (Brazilian capoeira)

12:45-1:30 p.m.: The Brotherhood Singers (African American a cappella gospel)

1:45-2:15 p.m.: Capoeira Luanda (Brazilian capoeira)

2:30-3:30 p.m.: Frank London's Klezmer Brass AllStars

3:45-4:30 p.m.: Maeandros Ensemble (Greek)

4:45-5:45 p.m.: Picked Strings Traditions with Yomo Toro, Mavrothi Kontanis (Maeandros Ensemble), Sierra Hull & Clay Hess (Sierra Hull & Highway 111), Jeremy "JW"

Wakefield (The Lucky Stars)

Lee Street Stage

12-12:45 p.m.: Genticorum (Quebecois)

1-1:45 p.m.: Maeandros Ensemble (Greek)

2-2:45 p.m.: Sana Ndiaye (Senegalese ekonting)

3-3:45 p.m.: Two Fiddles & The Sugar River String Band (Oldtime New England barn dances)

4-4:45 P.m. Accordion Traditions with Niamh Ní Charra, Eddie Forman, and Patrick Farrell (Klezmer Brass AllStars)

5-5:45 p.m. Alash (Tuvan throat singing)

St. Anne's Churchyard

12:15-1 p.m.: Sana Ndiaye (Senegalese ekonting)

1:15-2 p.m.: Alash (Tuvan throat singing)

2:15-3:15 p.m.: Singing and Song Styles with Trudy Lynn, Alash, The Brotherhood Singers, and

Sage Guyton (The Lucky Stars)

3:30-4 p.m.: Capoeira Luanda (Brazilian capoeira)

4:15-5:15 p.m.: Oldtime

New England Barn Dance with Two Fiddles & The Sugar River String Band

Dutton Street Dance Pavilion

12:15-1:15 p.m.: Eddie Forman Orchestra (Polish polka)

1:30-2:30 p.m.: Glen David Andrews Band (New Orleans R&B and brass band)

2:45-3:45 p.m.: Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys (zydeco)

4-4:45 p.m.: Samba Ngo (Congolese)

5-6 p.m.: Trudy Lynn (blues and soul)

7:15-8:30 p.m.: The Lucky Stars (western swing & honky tonk)

8:45-10 p.m.: Samba Ngo (Congolese)

Street Performances (John St. & Merrimack St.)

1-1:30 p.m.: Alex the Jester

3-3:30 p.m.: Alex the Jester

SUNDAY, JULY 26

Boarding House Park

12-1 p.m.: The Brotherhood Singers (African American a cappella gospel)

1:15-1:45 p.m.: Capoeira Luanda (Brazilian capoeira)

2-3 p.m.: Niamh Ní Charra (Irish)

3:15-3:45 p.m.: Alash (Tuvan throat singing)

4-4:45 p.m.: Genticorum (Quebecois)

5-6 p.m. Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band (Traditional New Orleans jazz)

JFK Plaza

12:15-:15 p.m.: Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band (Traditional New Orleans jazz)

1:30-2:15 p.m.: Samba Ngo (Congolese)

2:30-3:15 p.m.: The Brotherhood Singers (African American a cappella gospel)

3:30-4:15 p.m.: Maeandros Ensemble (Greek)

4:30-5:30 p.m.: Glen David Andrews Band (New Orleans R&B and brass band)

5:45 - 6:30 p.m.: The Lucky Stars (western swing & honky tonk)

Market Street Stage

12-12:45 p.m.: Sana Ndiaye (Senegalese ekonting)

1-2- p.m.: Frank London's Klezmer Brass AllStars

2:15-3:15 p.m.: Big Apple/Big Easy with Frank London, Glen David Andrews, and Dr. Michael White

3:30-4 p.m.: Boston Bhangra (South Asian Punjabi dance)

4:15-5 p.m.: Niamh Ní Charra (Irish)

5:15-5:45 p.m.: Boston Bhangra (South Asian Punjabi dance)

Lee Street Stage

12:15-2:45 p.m.: Grupo Canela (Puerto Rican jíbaro)

1:15-2:15 p.m.: Sierra Hull & Highway 111 (bluegrass)

2:30-3:15 p.m.: Banjo Traditions with Detroit Brooks (Original Liberty Jazz Band), Sana Ndiaye, and Cory Walker (Sierra Hull & Highway 111)

3:45-4:30 p.m.: Sana Ndiaye (Senegalese ekonting)

4:45-5:30 p.m.: Alash (Tuvan throat singing)

St. Anne's Churchyard

12-1 p.m.: Fiddle Traditions with Niamh Ní Charra, Megan Weeder (Maeandros Ensemble), Pascal Gemme (Genticorum), and Alash

1:15-2 p.m.: Maeandros Ensemble (Greek)

2:15-3 p.m.: Genticorum (Quebecois)

3:15-4 p.m.: Grupo Canela (Puerto Rican jíbaro)

4:15-5:15 p.m.: Oldtime New England Barn Dance with Two Fiddles & The Sugar River String Band

Dutton Street Dance Pavilion

12:15-1:15 p.m.: Oldtime New England Barn Dance with Two Fiddles & The Sugar River String Band

1:30-2:30 p.m.: Trudy Lynn (blues and soul)

2:45-3:45 p.m.: The Lucky Stars (western swing & honky tonk)

4-5 p.m.: Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys (zydeco)

5:15-6:15 p.m.: Samba Ngo (Congolese)

Street Performances (John st. & Merrimack St.)

12:45-1:15 p.m.: Branches Steel Orchestra (steel pan orchestra)

3:15-3:45 p.m.: Branches Steel Orchestra (steel pan orchestra)

youtube wedding dance

youtube wedding dance

The latest YouTube sensation is a video of a wedding party literally partying down the aisle of a church in St. Paul, Minn.

Starting with ushers tossing programs into the air like confetti, the seven bridesmaids and five groomsmen groove down the aisle, then part as the groom, 28-year-old Kevin Heinz, somersaults toward the altar. Finally, bride Jill Peterson struts in to Chris Brown's "Forever," shaking her hips and pumping her bridal bouquet into the air.



Heinz posted a video of the June 20 ceremony on YouTube and it quickly became a hit -- about 700,000 people have already watched the couple's rocking nuptials.

Peterson told the "Today Show" it was her idea.

"I danced growing up and was a dancer through college and loved dance as a way to express yourself and share joy," she said. "So it was something I always thought about doing."

physique 57

physique 57

Two Dallas sisters with a love of baking and fitness have turned their passion into an online business. Meghann and Erin O'Leary, both Southern Methodist University graduates, created O'Cookies Wholesome Bites, organic cookies that start with a whole-wheat flour blend, trim the fat and load up on good-for-you ingredients such as dried fruit and nuts.

But if you think these are tasteless "health" cookies, think again. The two-bite, 60-calorie mounds have a wonderful, dense, cookie-dough texture, and the chocolate makes them taste decadent.

"Erin and I have always loved baking," says Meghann, a 2005 grad who lives in Dallas. "And we love sweets." Erin, who graduated in 2004, is pursuing a dance career, so she lives in New York, where she's also an instructor at Physique 57.

The sisters started baking on her New York visits, Meghann says, and realized they spent a lot of time adapting cookie recipes to be more healthful. They talked about turning their pastime into a business, and O'Cookies was born.

Erin handles all of New York, where family and friends helped spread the word – and the cookies. "I'm doing Dallas and most of the shipping," says Meghann, who's now in the cookie business full time. In fact, if you live close to her, or your location is convenient, Meghann may even hand-deliver your cookies.

"It's really incredible to work together," she says of her sister partnership, "and it's great to have a job we're so passionate about."

erin andrews video peep pictures rapidshare

erin andrews video peep pictures rapidshare

Will voyeurs ever stop searching the Web for Erin Andrews video peep pictures? One who follows the news would have to be excused for believing that the desperate search for Erin Andrews video peep pictures will stretch out into eternity.

For almost a week now, Erin Andrews video peep pictures (and all the various iterations the search phrase has morphed into - including, but not limited to, "Erin Andrews peephole video," "Erin Andrews peephole pictures" and "Erin Andrews peephole megaupload") has been the hottest search topic on the web.

Unless you're an alien living on a planet far, far away from Earth, you would know that the story started when some miscreant (or miscreants) surreptitiously filmed Erin Andrews through a peephole in a hotel room while she was undressing.

Once the now-infamous Erin Andrews peephole video hit the Internet, Andrews' lawyers demanded that the videos be taken down and promised to vigorously prosecute those involved in perpetuating the crime.

But that did not stop people from searching for the video and their enablers from posting it.

And then hackers got into the act and started posting links containing malware; others have posted links that lead prospective voyeurs to nothing more than a sales pitch for some product (clever, uh?)

Some conspiracy-theory types believe that Erin Andrews staged the whole thing as a giant publicity stunt (come on, now - why would she take such a huge risk? Besides, her career is already going gangbusters).

The latest Erin Andrews peephole video news is that it may have been shot by an ESPN coworker (or coworkers) without her knowledge or consent.

Plenty of people are understandably outraged over the Erin Andrews peephole video controversy.

But others are equally angry at the media for covering the story so thoroughly.

But, you see, the Erin Andrews peephole video controversy is a huge, huge, story. It speaks to many issues, including the role the Internet plays in perpetuating prurient new stories, the emergence of female sports reporters, sexism in pro sports, voyeurism, betrayal, publicity, the public's fascination with celebrities, etc.

Erin Andrews Peephole Video Prompts Stern Warning from ESPN Lawyer, Hartley Engel, Associated Content

Erin Andrews Hotel Tape being used to spread computer virus, Reid Cherner and Tom Weir, USA Today

anabela mota janke

anabela mota janke

Scott Janke, a south Florida town manager who is married to a porn star, Anabela Mota Janke, has been reportedly fired from his post after the mayor and council members learned about the marriage.

Fort Myers Beach town council voted 5-0 to fire Scott Janke “without cause” after Mayor Larry Kiker summoned an emergency meeting on Tuesday night.

According to the sources Kiker has reportedly told the media that he came to know that afternoon that Scott’s wife is an adult star, and the elected officials took the action on Scott a few hours later. “We did everything we could not to judge. It was not about him or her, it was about the town,” Kiker reportedly told the media.

Recently Adult Industry News had reported that Scott Janke’s wife Anabela Mota Janke goes on to the stage with the name Jazella Moore. Kiker stated that a clause in Janke’s contract have allowed them to terminate him from his post.

Reacting to his sudden termination from his office Sott Janke said, “Our heads are held high. We have nothing to be embarrassed about. We have done nothing wrong.” Scott Janke said that the mayor had called him before the meeting but did not let him to attend it. He said that Kiker had called him post meeting to inform him about the outcome. According to the reports Scott will supposedly get a severance package worth of his six month’s salary, which comes to about $50,000, plus health benefits.

Janke said that he and his wife had been married since October, and were taking care of their three teenage children. He didn’t comment about any possible legal action against the town.

vibram fivefingers

vibram fivefingers

Classic women's shoes have non-marking Vibram TC1 performance rubber soles. A thin, abrasion-resistant stretch polyamide fabric fits low on the footfor comfort and quick drying. Classic is best for: Running, Fitness Training, Martial Arts, Yoga, Pilates, and Travel Materials. amazon.com

Vibram FiveFingers shoes have been around for a couple of years but the word is spreading that they are good. You will find them on Amazon.com in many styles and colors for around $75.00.

Right here in Concord, Massachusetts the company, Vibram, teamed up with Dr. Daniel Leiberman of Harvard University for scientific research of barefoot and/or running without too much on the foot. They came up with FiveFingers. They remind me in a way of Crocs. People said they were ugly. They now come in many styles and so many colors! They are the most comfortable shoe I've worn and I think they're cute. I will have to let you tell me about your experiences with FiveFingers.

The idea behind them is that they mimick walking in your bare feet. Some doctors will tell you that walking/running in barefeet is not good; some will say it's great. If you have foot problems and are going to be running with FiveFingers please check with your doctor.

Some wearers say that they don't protect the foot but they do cushion them and are like gloves. Some wearers swear by them even when running on rocky gravel; some say that they can feel every pebble wearing them. I would recommend that you be able to return them unless you can find them for a great deal.

Even if FiveFingers aren't the perfect running shoe it seems they would be great for bike riding, weight training, and kayaking just to name a few fitness activities. Each style has suggested sports that the shoes would be suitable for.

"Motion studies demonstrate that when running barefoot, one naturally lands on the forefoot, directly below your center of gravity. This results in optimum balance, increased stability, less impact, and greater propulsion. According to Dr. Ivo Waerlop of the Vibram Biomechanics Advisory Board, “Running in FiveFingers improves agility, strength, and equilibrium, plus it delivers sensory feedback that allows runners to make immediate corrections in their form. This greatly improves running efficiency.” www.vibramfivefingers.com

erin andrews peephole tape

erin andrews peephole tape

Obviously folks have noticed that the "mainstream media" (as always, an outdated term, but necessary for this purpose) is showing the Erin Andrews peephole video. CBS did it a few days ago -- which we discussed with Newsday's Neil Best today -- in poor fashion. And then last night, Bill O'Reilly, conservative independent gentleman of leisure, decided to air the tape on his show so he could talk about people using the video to spread a computer virus. Of course he did.



The best part about this video, of course, is that it's the second example in the past week of a MAJOR NETWORK airing the video in order to "generate a buzz." A.k.a. "exactly what the blogosphere DIDN'T do with this video."

Look, it's tough enough to stomach the idea that creepjobs are walking around America filming people through peepholes in hotel rooms without having to see it exploited by people in the media; can't we all just stop talking about it altogether?

jim breuer

jim breuer

When “Saturday Night Live” veteran Jim Breuer first came to Bay Street Theatre two years ago, he “crushed the place,” he said in a recent interview.

Now Mr. Breuer is coming back to Sag Harbor for a second go on Monday, July 27, and he says this is also the month when he ventures back into the national spotlight, starting with the premiere on Saturday night of his Comedy Central special “Let’s Clear the Air.”

He said he has played it low-key since his last one-hour special, “Jim Breuer: Hardcore,” but now that his three daughters are getting older and wondering what their daddy does to make his money, he is ready to be front and center again and is even developing a family sitcom based on his own life.

Though he has toured steadily since he left “SNL” in 1998 and has made occasional appearances in film and television, much of his working life has been limited to the radio since 2004, when he first hit the satellite waves with “Jim Breuer Unleashed” on Sirius Radio. Before that, he regularly appeared on the “Opie and Anthony” radio show, which he said really put him on the map.

He made his first foray into radio, he said, so he could spend more time with his three daughters, Gabrielle, 10, Kelsey, 7, and Dorianne, 4.

The comedian, who turned 42 last month, is originally from Valley Stream, in Nassau County, where as a young man—too young to get into comedy clubs, let alone perform there—he opened for his friends’ bands. When his parents retired to Florida in the late 1980s, he moved to the Sunshine State and performed across the Southeast. After just a few years he returned to New York to put all his effort into turning comedy into his career. It turned out to be the right move, because in 1995 he was cast in “Saturday Night Live,” and stayed with the show for three seasons.

When he left the grind of “SNL,” Mr. Breuer set out to start a family with his wife, Dee, and they settled in Chester, New Jersey. He compared Chester to Mayberry, the fictional town in “The Andy Griffith Show,” saying, “The whole place shuts down at 9.”

On his radio show, “Fridays with Breuer,” which now airs just once a week, Mr. Breuer often talks about his neighborhood. It’s the kind of place where the cops know everyone—and what car everyone drives, he said. In fact, when his niece came to visit she was pulled over just for having an unfamiliar car.

Mr. Breuer said that radio enabled him to find a different side of himself. Rather than the rapid-fire pace of standup comedy, the radio allowed for him to take his time and tell stories.

He has also embraced the internet, cutting together home videos starring him and his daughters and posting them on jimbreuer.com. The site also features some of his “Saturday Night Live” sketches and other television appearances.

“It’s all about the internet now,” Mr. Breuer said. “Because of YouTube, I’ll be touring Europe next year.”

He recently learned that an old standup bit of his became a YouTube hit in Holland, Sweden and other European countries. “I had no clue,” he said.

The bit is about the “party in the stomach” on a night out drinking, with beer starting the festivities before being joined by scotch and saki. Eventually tequila shows up and ruins it for everyone—and the bouncer tells everyone to get out, through “the way you came in.”

Mr. Breuer also has a movie in the works. He’ll be playing the voice of a crow in Kevin James’s upcoming film, “The Zookeeper.” Mr. Breuer said he has only done minor voice acting parts in the past, but Mr. James personally asked him to take a major role in “The Zookeeper.”

His sitcom is in early development at this point, but he said it will be based on his own life: being married for 18 years, raising kids and having elderly parents. He said he wants to make the kind of show he could laugh at and enjoy alongside his young children.

His “Let’s Clear the Air” special, which was filmed back in September, is aimed at doing just what the name suggests, Mr. Breuer said. He’ll talk about what went on behind the scenes of the 1998 hit he co-starred in with Dave Chapelle, “Half Baked,” what he’s been up to since then, and who he really is—just a Long Island guy with a blue-collar upbringing.

When he returns to Sag Harbor, he’ll have a lot to say about Long Island, he promised. And though he grew up in the “up-island” community of Valley Stream, he said that East End residents will still be able to relate.

Though many of the seats at Bay Street on Monday may be occupied by fans who enjoyed his visit two years ago, he said others who don’t know what to expect can be reassured: “It’s better than any therapy, a lot cheaper, and it will blow away any film you’ll see.”

tour de france stage 16 crash

tour de france stage 16 crash

The stage 16 of Tour de France was marked by a severe crash. Jens Voigt of Germany suffered a serious crash which led to a broken cheekbone and the rider crashing out of the race. The 37 year old renowned cyclist faced this almost towards the end of the stage. Things are not going well for the Saxo Bank team as Voigt would be their second team member (in the last seven days) to pull out of the race after previous crashes forced Andy Schleck and Kurt-Asle Arvesen to do the same.

Bjarne Riis, the team’s director spoke about this to the media, he said, “I only saw him after the crash and he looked very very bad. It’s not nice to loose a rider like this, but these are things which happen in a race and you have to accept them. It is too early to say how bad his injuries are, I didn’t see the crash, I only saw the aftermath and it wasn’t good. I am just concerned with Jen’s health right now.”

Recent updates though have pointed out that matters could have been worse than they actually are right now for Voigt. Even Voigt himself has said in a statement to his fans and teammates, “I think I was very lucky not getting severely hurt from today’s crash.”

Voigt is very popular with his team mates for is amiable nature and positive perspective towards racing. Though a talented and veteran rider, he had been criticized for his skills on mountainous terrains. He came to the forefront when in 1994 he won the Peace Race and got the lead ranking in the UCI “Challenge Mondial Amateurs” rankings.

harvey mudd college

harvey mudd college

A report this morning on Yahoo! Finance finds that college students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute who complete just a bachelor's degree do quite well in terms of earnings.

The school ranked 11th among the nation's colleges and universities in terms of mid-career median pay. Dartmouth was first, followed by MIT, Harvard, Harvey Mudd, and Princeton.

The data were collected over the past year by PayScale, a web site that collects salary information from different professions. The survey isn't random; 1.2 million users of the site self-reported their salaries.

The results also consider only those whose education went no further than the bachelor's level. Physicians, lawyers and others with advanced degrees weren't included.

RPI's mid-career median salary was $116,000, putting it in a three-way tie for 11th place with Duke University and Bucknell University. The starting median salary was $62,500, placing it eighth in the rankings.

starbucks free pastry

starbucks free pastry

Starbucks is giving away free pastries today, but only until 10:30 a.m.

You will have to buy a coffee, but the pastry is free with a coupon ( available here ) and is good until pastries run out. The coupon can be printed out or you can show the clerk this Web site page on your mobile phone .

In August 2006 a free coffee offer from Starbucks was emailed to employees in the Atlanta region. That email was quickly circulated around the country, leading Starbucks to discontinue that promotion.

Companies have often run into problems when they attempt to give away items . In May KFC and Oprah teamed-up to give away coupons for the fast food chain's new grilled chicken. The promotion did not go well as stores ran out of chicken and people had to be turned away.

ben roethlisberger

ben roethlisberger

A civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault against Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was filed in Nevada last week by a worker at Harrah's, according to Profootballtalk at NBC Sports.

Lawyer David Cornwell acknowledged the suit but defended Big Ben to PFT, releasing this statement: "Ben has never sexually assaulted anyone."

He also underscored that no criminal charges were pending. "The timing of the lawsuit and the absence of a criminal complaint and a criminal investigation are the most compelling evidence of the absence of any criminal conduct," Cornwell said. "If an investigation is commenced, Ben will cooperate fully and Ben will be fully exonerated."

Roethlisberger is potentially staring at one civil count of assault, one civil count of sexual assault and battery, one civil count of false imprisonment, one civil count of false pretenses, one civil count of fraud, and one civil count of intentonal infliction of emtional distress.

erin andrews peephole video link rapidshare

erin andrews peephole video link rapidshare

The Erin Andrews peephole video link has been sought after for days now. Finding the Erin Andrews peephole video link was even more difficult after Erin Andrews herself took the original peephole video offline. However, other sites have gotten a new Erin Andrews peephole video link, and tried to direct people to the peephole video of Erin Andrews changing in a hotel. However, those people who click onto the Erin Andrews peephole video link could find themselves vulnerable to a computer virus.

Sophos.com first reported yesterday that clicking on Erin Andrews peephole video links could spread malware. Hackers have already fooled many people into clicking on a false link to the Erin Andrews video, causing computers viruses to infect their system.Yesterday, reports had the Erin Andrews peephole video link being discovered on Rapidshare, a legitimate file-hosting website. But it now appears that clicking on any links promising to show a naked Erin Andrews are not safe.

The hackers may have accidentally made things a little easier for Erin Andrews herself with these scams. When the original peephole video link came up, showing Erin Andrews getting undressed in a hotel, the ESPN sideline reporter had the ESPN legal team take the illegal video down.Legal action will be taken against those who originally put the peephole video up, as soon as they find out who filmed it. But while they look, people around the Internet are still looking to see Erin Andrews naked, as it continues to be a hot search on Google.Since Andrews took the original video down, it only made it more in demand. But this has backfired on those who want to see it, since hackers now have a golden opportunity to tempt them onto their sites, and give them computer viruses.

It appears that more than a few have fallen for it already.This may not make a lot of people think twice about clicking onto an Erin Andrews peephole video link. But if it makes only a few think twice and reconsider looking for it, it may be a small but crucial step into making the search die down a bit. Then again, "Nigerian princes" have still been trolling for money long after they were discovered as frauds.Perhaps the prospect of a computer virus would do as a more fitting punishment than any legal action Erin Andrews could bring about. Nevertheless, Erin Andrews peephole video links are still being sought after more than ever, consequences in the real and Internet world be dammned.

hgsi

hgsi

U.S. stocks were rising Monday as the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.6% to 8798, the S&P 500 rose 0.6% to 946 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.8% to 1901. Among the companies whose shares are actively trading in the session are Human Genome Sciences Inc. (HGSI), CIT Group Inc. (CIT) and Orexigen Threapeutics Inc. (OREX)

CIT Group ($1.26, +$0.56, +80.00%) was close to securing $3 billion in last-minute rescue financing from its bondholders Sunday in a deal that should keep the struggling lender out of bankruptcy court, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.

Human Genome Sciences ($10.26, +$6.94, +209.04%) said its experimental drug Benlysta met the goals of a late-stage study in treating lupus, a notoriously hard-to-treat autoimmune disease that hasn't seen a new therapy in decades. The success surprised many analysts and investors who were expecting the drug to fail, as it did in an earlier mid-stage study. Citigroup believes the trial's success makes the company a takeover target of partner GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK, $37.57, +$1.21, +3.33%). The companies split Benlysta, which the firm sees having $1.3 billion in 2013 U.S. sales, and Human Genome has potential for royalties on two other Phase III drugs from Glaxo

Orexigen Therapeutics ($6.75, +$1.06, +18.63%) said its Contrave drug showed strong results in three large late-stage studies in treating obesity, a potential multibillion-dollar market.

BMO Capital markets downgraded its investment rating on Tyson Foods Inc. (TSN, $11.44, -$1.20, -9.41%) to market perform from outperform. The firm said the company's "near-term stock upside has become somewhat limited as its stock price reflects improved chicken margins, the company's internal improvements, and lower feed prices." Meanwhile, Sanderson Farms Inc. (SAFM, $41.42, -$4.28, -9.37%) was cut to market perform from outperform by BMO Capital Markets. The firm said in a note to clients that it's cautious on further chicken margin expansion as chicken demand has weakened and the effects from hot weather in the South were more muted than expected.

Wabash National Corp. (WNC, $0.72, +$0.18, +33.31%) announced it was getting a $35 million investment from a division of private-equity firm Lincolnshire Management Inc., which created a new entity Trailer Investments LLC, to buy a series of preferred stocks and warrants for new common stock. Trailer Investments will also get to put five board members on Wabash's 12-person board. "This capital infusion will fortify our balance sheet, allowing us to put in place a capital structure that meets the needs of the Company during this economic downturn, including to obtain needed accommodations under our existing credit agreement," Chief Executive Dick Giromini said in a statement.

Other Stocks In Focus:

California-based East West Bancorp Inc. (EWBC, $6.84, -$0.15, -2.15%) announced plans to sell at least 11 million shares as the company said it has completed a capital-raising effort that so far has generated $168.9 million.

Construction machinery reached a cyclical bottom during the second quarter, Bank of America-Merrill Lynch said while upgrading Caterpillar Inc. (CAT, $36.42, +$2.43, +7.15%) to buy. Caterpillar's results Tuesday are likely to be weak and potentially come with lower guidance for future quarters, "but we don't think that matters," BofA-Merrill said, as there's limited downside to the stock given low expectations. BofA-Merrill's dealer channel checks show reduced machinery inventories setting the stage for restocking going into 2010, and the firm predicts Caterpillar's multiple will expand to historical levels after its operations stabilize in the second half of this year.

Bank of America Corp.'s (BAC, $12.62, -$0.27, -2.09%) "normalized" earnings picture got cloudier after its second-quarter earnings, Fox-Pitt said, downgrading Bank of America to in line from outperform and sharply cutting earnings estimates. The firm had forecast normalized earnings per share of $2.80, or about 1% return on assets, but now says BofA will continue to struggle to generate positive EPS due to credit and revenue headwinds. Fox-Pitt swings its 2009 EPS view to loss of 46 cents a share from previous view of a 48-cent profit, and cut its 2010 view to 55 cents a share from $1.32 a share. Bank of America is unlikely to repay its Troubled Asset Relief Program loans soon, Fox-Pitt also added.

Eaton Corp.'s (ETN, $49.00, +$4.05, +9.01%) second-quarter profit plunged 91% on slumping sales and margins as results missed expectations.

Extreme Networks Inc. (EXTR, $2.07, +$0.07, +3.50%) signed an alliance with Internet-security giant McAfee Inc. (MFE, $43.06, +$0.07, +0.16%) to work on network security for customers for both McAfee and Extreme Networks, which works in Ethernet based networks.

Halliburton Co.'s (HAL, $21.98, +$0.60, +2.81%) second-quarter earnings fell 48% on weak demand and lower prices, but results were better than feared.

Hasbro Inc.'s (HAS, $26.28, +$0.90, +3.55%) second-quarter earnings rose 4.8% amid strong sales of most of its toy brands, including those related to the Transformers movie sequel, but revenue fell just short of Wall Street's expectations while profit topped estimates.

Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI, $23.42, +$1.90, +8.83%) posted its first profitable quarter since last autumn as the auto-parts and heating-systems maker saw cost cuts partially take the sting out of tumbling demand, which fell more than expected.

M&T Bank Corp.'s (MTB, $56.48, +$2.04, +3.75%) second-quarter profit plunged 75%, reflecting charges from its acquisition of Provident Bankshares and special payment toward the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s deposit-insurance fund.

Investors should buy Peabody Energy Corp. (BTU, $34.99, +$1.83, +5.52%) ahead of earnings Tuesday, FBR analysts said in a note, as Peabody will be supported by long-term steel and energy demand in China and India. China continues to import coking coal to improve its steel quality and conserve its domestic resources, and demand will be sustained by strong real estate construction, the firm says. Meanwhile, India's power generation has been growing every month this year and aggressive economic expansion efforts by India could increase coking coal imports by 75% by 2012.

PetMed Express Inc. (PETS, $17.36, +$0.71, +4.26%) recorded a 23% increase in second-quarter profit as sales jumped 13% and both figures exceeded expectations. The animal pharmacy and operator of the 1-800-petmeds number and Web site said that it added 297,000 new customers and saw online and reorder sales both rise.

Ruby Tuesday Inc. (RT, $7.35, -$0.15, -2.00%) will offer at least 10 million shares as the restaurant operator joins a wave of companies in recent months looking to take advantage of investor appetite for new shares to raise cash. The offering would dilute shares outstanding by about 19%.

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SPPI, $5.81, +$0.26, +4.68%) shares gained Monday following news the U.S. Food and Drug Administration accepted for review the company's resubmission of its application for its cancer drug, Zevalin. The agency accepted the drug as a Class 1 submission and established Sept. 7 as a decision date, the oncology-focused biotechnology company said.

Weatherford International Ltd.'s (WFT, $18.80, -$1.14, -5.69%) second-quarter earnings fell 89%, with results missing analysts' expectations, as international growth failed to offset a steep drop in North American demand.

106.7 the fan

106.7 the fan

Washington returned to having two sports talk radio stations as of midnight. WJFK-FM is now known as “106.7 The Fan” and they seem ready to challenge longtime sports force ESPN 980 in what should become a very interesting battle for metro-area sports fans.

Chris Kinard, the program director of 106.7 The Fan, is very confident that listeners are ready to hear their sports from different voices.

What is the philosophy of 106.7 The Fan when it comes to sports talk?

Kinard » “We are all local, all day. Washington sports fans want to hear their sports from people who are knowledgeable, passionate, and most of all, are well versed in all local sports. We know that this is a Redskins town and we will give fans the best Skins coverage. But we also feel that Nationals, Caps, Wiz, D.C. United and many college teams fans are underserved. Washington is a very sophisticated and diverse sports town and we feel we can do a great job of reaching all the fans in the region.”

What else do you have planed?

Kinard » “We have Liz Drabick as our lead update anchor. We plan on adding a local primetime night show in the not too distant future. The Junkies will be doing a Redskins pregame show prior to all the games this season. We plan on launching more local weekend shows as we continue to grow.”

You are the new flagship for the Wizards. What about adding more teams?

Kinard » “We are proud to be the new radio home of the Wizards. We have great plans for them and we can’t wait to get started. We have added the NFL on Westwood One package so we will have plenty of football. Of course, we are the home of University of Maryland sports which has been great for us. But we really will go all out in adding the Nationals, Capitals or any local team. We feel that with our clear FM signal and our ability to offer quality support programming that we would be high on any teams list as a flagship station.”

espy winners 2009

espy winners 2009

Last night saw the ESPY Awards ceremony aired, which took place at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles last Wednesday 15th July, with veteran Hollywood actor Samuel L. Jackson as the evening’s host. And there were definitely some deserving winners.

According to Daily Contributor, there appeared to be one individual that was the biggest winner of the night. And that individual was multiple Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, who walked away with not one or two, but four awards of the night.

Not only did he take home the award for Best Male Athlete, which golfer Tiger Woods has won for five years in a row, but he also took home awards for Best Male Olympian, Best Championship Performance and one for Best Record-Breaking Performance.

jeff locker

jeff locker

A motivational speaker from Long Island was found strangled and stabbed in his car in East Harlem Thursday, hours after he was seen buying condoms.

Jeffrey Locker, 52, had his hands tied behind his back and a cord wrapped around his neck and tied to the headrest. He had been stabbed in the chest and robbed, police sources said.

Investigators suspect there were two killers in his 2007 Dodge Magnum in the Wagner Houses - one in the backseat with the cord and one in the front passenger seat with the knife.

Teens on the block said they saw Locker park the car on Second Ave. and walk into the nearby Wagner Deli about 3 a.m.

"He got out of the car and bought a bottle of water and a pack of Trojan condoms. He seemed cool, relaxed," said Whitney Young, 19. "The next time we see him, he's here dead."

Cops said they are checking to see if Locker had regularly visited a prostitute in the Wagner Houses on Wednesday nights.

Locker's wife, Lois, reported him missing Wednesday night when he did not return to his Valley Stream home.

It's unclear why he was in East Harlem.

"He was going into the city and coming home. He was supposed to be coming home," she said, without elaborating. "He was supposed to come home. He wasn't there by choice."

The victim was a father of three and a motivational speaker who ran "life-fulfillment" workshops and published self-help books, his Web sites said.

"He probably trusted someone," said his mother-in-law, Annette Serota. "He was a very trusting person. That's probably how it happened. You could sell him the Brooklyn Bridge."

Neighbor Robert Levine, 52, often took bike rides with Locker. "He was a nice, really great guy," he said. "He was a really wonderful father."

Locker was sued in April as an investor who profited from a $300 million, decade-old Ponzi scheme run by Lou Pearlman, former manager of boy bands including the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync.

Pearlman pleaded guilty in March 2008 to conspiracy, money laundering and presenting a false claim in bankruptcy court.

A bankruptcy trustee sued Locker to recoup roughly $371,000 he received from Pearlman's investment company, according to court papers filed in Orlando.

"I am mortified to be accused ... of participating knowingly in a Ponzi scheme," Locker wrote the court in May.

gina salamino

gina salamino

The NY Post reports that the 20-year-old Hugo Boss model who first stepped into the spotlight for shacking up at age 17 with 37-year-old second grade teacher Gina Salamino, was arrested Thursday morning for his involvement in a New York City crime spree. Joshua Walter and his three cronies have confessed to the robbery of 15 gas stations and delis and the theft of $12,000-$15,000.

The spree began June 14 and ended on Sunday at a Dunkin' Donuts on Horace Harding Expressway, where Walter allegedly pistol-whipped one of the victims, sources said.

The crime spree include gas stations, a 7-11, bodegas, and fruit and vegetable stands around Queens and Brooklyn. The four were charged with robbery and criminal possession of a firearm.

Walter took up with Salamino when he was a 17-year-old high school student. She subsequently lost her job because he was a minor.

When Department of Education investigators questioned Walter about Salamino, he said, "I'm tapping that ass and there's nothing you can do about it."
He said he considered the older woman "my shorty."

tour de france stage 13

tour de france stage 13

VITTEL, France — Levi Leipheimer, an American rider on the Astana team, withdrew from the Tour de France on Friday morning with a broken right wrist.

On his Twitter page, Leipheimer, who is Lance Armstrong’s teammate, wrote that he was about to have surgery, so doctors could insert a screw into the wrist to stabilize it.

“I can’t describe how disappointed I am,” he wrote on his page before Stage 13, a 124-mile, or 200-kilometer stage, that ended in the town of Colmar, not far from the Germany border. “Good luck to all my friends in the race and most of all my brothers on Team Astana.”

Leipheimer, from Santa Rosa., Calif., had been in fourth place over all, just 39 seconds back from the race leader Rinaldo Nocentini of Italy, when he crashed late in Thursday’s stage. He had had been one of Astana’s four riders in the top six over all, and had been one of the strongest riders pegged to help either Armstrong or his teammate Alberto Contador win.

In the closing moments of Stage 12, though, Leipheimer said he was surprised by a sudden turn and lost control of his bike. He ended the day with bruises on his right wrist and back and road rashes on his shoulder and back.

“I couldn’t quite save my bike from sliding out, so I slid out and hit the curb,” he said Thursday. “Surprisingly, I’m O.K. It could have been much worse.”

On Friday morning, X-rays showed that he had broken his wrist in the fall.

On his Twitter page, the team manager Johan Bruyneel called Leipheimer’s injury “not good.”

terrell suggs

terrell suggs

The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to a six-year contract with Terrell Suggs, their standout defensive end and outside linebacker, the team has announced.

The deal is worth approximately $63 million, according to several reports.

The agreement comes just before today's deadline for NFL teams to sign their franchise players to longterm contracts.

The 26-year-old Suggs is one of the sport's top pass-rushers. He had 12 sacks last season and has 53 sacks in his six seasons with the Ravens.

"Getting a deal done with Terrell is consistent with our history of retaining our best Pro Bowl players, like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Jonathan Ogden, Todd Heap and Jamal Lewis," General Manager Ozzie Newsome said in a written statement released by the Ravens. "Securing Terrell for six seasons gives us a premier pass-rusher whose ability to stop the run does not get enough credit."

The agreement was completed late Tuesday night, according to the team.
The Ravens placed their franchise player tag on Suggs in February, entitling him to a salary of $10.17 million this season if he'd signed his one-year franchise player deal.

"I am glad it is over, and now we can get back to football," Suggs said, according to a written announcement by the Ravens. "Getting this done took compromises on both ends. I wanted to stay in purple and black, the Ravens wanted to keep me in purple in black, and they stepped up and showed me that. This means a lot to me and my family. Now I can be a Raven for the better part of my career."

Said Ravens Coach John Harbaugh, according to the team's written release: "This is such good news. I was already excited to start training camp, and now having Terrell there makes it that much better. He is a great player, a tremendous person and an outstanding young leader. You guys know that he energizes our practices. He brings that vitality to the game, and he makes the locker room fun. He's a foundation for our defense to stay at the highest level. Having him in training camp will take him to higher levels."

Suggs is a three-time Pro Bowl selection and a former NFL defensive rookie of the year. He's never missed a game in his six NFL seasons.

swine flu symptoms checker

swine flu symptoms checker

Swine flu news is abundant in the media. As health authorities are asking the families and individuals to prepare for the upcoming flu season let's take a quick looks at a swine flu symptoms checker to see what signs and symptoms to watch for.

Great Britain's NHS, which is one of the largest publicly funded health services agency in the world has published a Swine Flu Symptoms Checker writes that good hygiene is the "single most effective way to slow the spread of diseases such as swine flu." Washing hands, cleaning surfaces, using tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze and putting the tissue in the bin as soon as you use it are the key factors of preventing swine flu.

Below are the swine flu symptoms checker published by NSH, however, according to BBC "those with children under five are specifically advised not to use the symptom checker on the NHS Direct website and contact the service directly."

While the sine flu (H1N1) symptoms are the same as the regular symptoms they may or may not cause more severe complications, according to NHS. Swine flu is different from seasonal flu in that most serious illnesses have been in younger age groups, as happened in all three 20th-century influenza pandemics.

The typical symptoms are:

* sudden fever, and
* sudden cough.

Other symptoms may include:

* headache,
* tiredness,
* chills,
* aching muscles,
* limb or joint pain,
* diarrhoea or stomach upset,
* sore throat,
* runny nose,
* sneezing, and
* loss of appetite.

NHS Swine Flu Symptoms Checker

If you have flu-like symptoms and are concerned that you may have swine flu:

* Read up on swine flu symptoms then use the NHS Direct swine flu symptom checker.

* If you are then still concerned, stay at home and call your GP.

* If the GP confirms swine flu by telephone, they will give you a voucher reference number entitling you to antiviral medication.

* Give this number to a healthy friend or relative and ask them to pick up the antivirals for you from a designated local collection center.

Go to the Treatment page for information on the treatment of swine flu.

In the United States an information fact sheet about swine flu, published by Mass.gov (pdf) informs that parents should call a doctor or seek medical care if your child has trouble breathing, has behavior changes like increased restlessness, anxiety and irritability, or isn’t drinking enough fluids. Be alert for skin rashes, dehydration or any other signs that your child is more uncomfortable than you would expect with the flu.

maria del carmen bousada

maria del carmen bousada

A Spanish woman, Maria del Carmen Bousada, deceived a U.S. fertility clinic about her age, then became the oldest woman to give birth. She has died at 69 leaving her 2-year-old twins behind. They were born in December 2006. And I thought I was an old dad at 53!

Maria del Carmen Bousada is not, however, the oldest woman to give birth.

I think that honor would go to Sarah, wife of Abraham. See Genesis 17.

Sarah was 90 years old when she bore Isaac.

No doubt, some of the more ancient folks, pre-flood wives were even older. Back then they lived in a perfect world and could do that sort of thing.

With Sarah, it was a miracle.

With Maria, it was a lie and a miracle that modern science performs...sorta.

reid from the bachelorette

reid from the bachelorette

So yeah, there's no other way to say it: Tonight, my favorite bachelor couldn't get it up. Don't worry, I won't reveal which guy is the softie for those of you who haven't seen it, but wow -- Jillian really has not had much luck with this crew, has she? Either way, we're down to the final two. Both guys are in it to win it, but who do you want to see take home the trophy wife? Post your comments below, and enjoy the latest episode of EW.com's highly disturbing and entertaining series, The Doll Bachelorette. Then, click over for my full Bachelorette TV Watch recap and Chris Harrison's exclusive EW blog.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid29155241001?bclid=29107116001&bctid=29365351001

brock lesnar vs frank mir full fight

brock lesnar vs frank mir full fight

The UFC 100 was a truly amazing night and produced some great fighting. One fight that is proving very popular is the Brock Lesnar vs Frank Mir. For those of you who did not get a chance to catch the fight on July 11, 2009, then view the full fight video here.

We know that Lesnar won the fight against Mir and when Lesnar won, he thought that he would flip the crowd. He thought that he would do this as they had been booing him since the referee decision. Did you agree with that decision?

The UFC 100 title fight looked as if it was going to go Frank Mir’s way as he landed some superb hits, but Brock Lesnar managed to pull the win off, by doing so took his title back from Lesnar who had beaten him in a precious fight.