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JORDAN LLOYD Is BIG BROTHER 11 FINALE 2009 WINNER

2009-09-16T01:02:00.000-07:00

Big Brother 11 Recap: And The Winner Is...

Well, I had high hopes for Kevin as I thought that out of the three remaining houseguests in the Big Brother house, he was the one that played the best game. Apparently, that hadn’t gone unnoticed by Jordan, and it was she who got to decide who went to the final two with her.

Tonight’s finale, like so many BB finales of the past reunited the houseguests (except for Chima, who was kicked out by production and apparently not invited to participate in the finale). Julie wore a purple smock-like dress that looked a little bit like a parachute. Considering her ever-increasing baby-bot-bump was always an adorable addition to the live episodes this season, I was a little disappointed that she wore the ill-fitting garment but there were more important things at hand.

I have to give Jordan credit. I thought it might’ve been a major mistake for her to bring Natalie to the end. We saw diary room footage toward the beginning of tonight’s finale that revealed that while both Jordan and Kevin swore they’d take each other to final two, Kevin planned to stick to his word, knowing he stood a better chance of winning against Jordan than Natalie, while Jordan admitted she would probably take Natalie to the end. So despite the fact that I think Jordan’s a good person and deserved a shot at the final two, I hoped Kevin would win the last part of the head of household competition. Even if it meant Jordan lost to him in the final two, at least someone tolerable (and worthy of the grand prize) would have won. Any scenario that involved Natalie in the final two just didn’t seem favorable to me.

It amazed me that Natalie was still acting bossy toward Kevin during the days leading up to the finale. When Kevin was thinking out loud about his chances of winning against Natalie, she announced that he just “made her upset.” Getting upset is understandable as her fate lies in the hands of two other people but still, expressing irritation like that to him as though he’s wrong to be questioning his options is not only insensitive but it’s also kind of stupid. Her best play would be to buddy up to both of them and not make either of them feel like they have to take her to the end. In the end, I don’t think it would’ve mattered though as Kevin hasn’t been playing emotionally all season.

The final HoH competition had Jordan and Kevin seated next to each other with a barrier between them. Julie asked them questions that were asked to the five jurors and they had to guess which of the two answers given was the juror’s response. It came down to a 3 to 3 tie, forcing them to go to a tiebreaker. Julie asked them how many votes had been cast, including tie-breaker votes over the course of the whole seaosn. The answer was 51 and Jordan amazingly answered 50, which was much closer than Kevin’s answer (80). With Jordan as the winner of the final HoH competition, it was up to her to choose who she wanted to take to the final two.

Sure, Jordan said she was going to take Natalie but I was still hanging onto hope that she might take Kevin with her to the end. Before Jordan had to announce her decision, Kevin and Natalie had a chance to appeal to her. Natalie took up most of the time allotted, talking about how she stayed loyal to Jessie just as Jordan had stayed loyal to Jeff. By the time she was done talking, Kevin only had a few moments to speak and he used them to basically beg her to take him to the end. Jordan’s decision was made up though and after telling them she had to go with her gut and reminding Kevin that he won $10,000, she evicted him.

So Natalie and Jordan were the final two. Kevin lingered for a minute, seeming unsure of what to do and finally Natalie said “I think you have to go.” I know she was probably just trying to be helpful but still, wow. She just can’t help herself, can she?

As the jury questioning hadn’t happened yet, before the jury returned to the studio, we saw footage of Michele’s entrance into the sequester house. She told them about Natalie’s Pandora’s box lie and they revealed to her that Natalie was 24. Michele didn’t seem all that surprised by that. When it came time to discuss who deserved to win, Lydia was naturally Kevin’s biggest advocate while Jeff was pushing for Jordan. The two started bickering but Jeff, whose sense of humor seems to kick in even in the most tense situations, made a few jokes about Lydia being crazy and then they moved on. Seeing Russell crack up during the brief altercation was pretty amusing. Over all though, the producers did a nice job of keeping us in the dark as to where the majority was. Plus, not knowing who the final two would be, the jurors were all speaking mainly in hypotheticals.

After the jurors made their entrances to the applause of the audience, Julie revealed to them that Kevin was the final juror. Lydia was disappointed and declared that there were two witches in the final two. The live questioning was interesting as we got to see a more raw version of this procedure. In previous seasons we get the edited version as it takes place prior to the finale, which means the producers have the opportunity to mislead us by concealing facial expressions or cutting away them when comments are made. The other big difference in tonight’s juror questioning as compared to previous seasons is that with a live audience that didn’t always remain silent, the jurors might have had a sense of who the viewers were rooting for. Whether that’s the case or not, who knows? I know we definitely heard some laughter when Natalie answered Russell’s question about why she deserves to win with a mention about how she never backstabbed her allies. And Jordan got applause when she said she got herself to the end and didn’t need to rely on anyone to make it to the finale. So let’s say for argument’s sake that the jury had a general idea of which direction the audience was facing with these final two contestants.

Questions included things like “Why do you deserve to win?” and “What was your best move in the game?” Jordan made a good point in saying her best move was to get Kevin out because she didn’t think she could win against him. As someone who isn’t going to be seen as a master strategist, I think that was probably Jordan’s best answer. Natalie’s best answer was to Russell’s question about why she deserved to win. At least, part of her answer was her best. The backstabbing part probably hurt her but admitting that she allied with strong players was both truthful and flattering to some of the jurors (Kevin and Jessie in particular).

Natalie and Jordan both had a chance to make a final statement to the jury and it seemed that they were both too nervous to form any solid arguments other than to repeat most of what they said during the jury questioning. Jordan talked about winning competitions and being loyal to her alliances. Natalie also talked about loyalty to her alliances. It was a lot of rambling on both parts but as I’m thinking the jurors already had their minds made up at that point, it didn’t matter.

As the jurors cast their votes, each of them got to make one statement before putting their key in the box. Jessie said, “Hakuna Matata, Jordan,” which struck me as odd as I thought he was for sure going to vote for Natalie. Even with that comment, I couldn’t imagine that he’d really vote for Jordan. Lydia announced that she loved a good blonde, which seemed to imply that she was voting for Jordan. Russell said he went with the person who played the best game from start to finish. Jeff told Jordan he was proud of her, Michele said she was voting for the strongest female in the game and Kevin said his vote was strictly strategic.

Before the winners were announced, we got to see Ronnie, Laura, Braden and Casey return to talk about some of the things that went on in the house. Ronnie apologized to Michele for saying she was the worst human being and admitted that it was all strategic. Given that he hasn’t been very popular among fans of the show since his eviction, this was his best chance to try to make amends for his unnecessary meanness just before he left the house. Michele shrugged it off and smiled as she accepted his apology and admitted that she thought his attempt to put doubt in the rest of the house’s mind worked.

Kevin looked shocked and a little irritated when he found out that Natalie was really 24. Casey brought up the lie that Natalie and Kevin concocted to get Russell out, saying it was the biggest mistake in the game on Jeff’s part for believing it. Jeff, like Michele earlier, shrugged it off and said that Michele confirmed it to him earlier. I’m not sure if he meant she confirmed that it was a lie or that she confirmed that she and Russell did have a final-two pact, so the lie wasn’t really a lie. Either way, he didn’t seem bothered by it any more than he was bothered to know Natalie was 24.

Braden called Jessie a pimp, commenting on how he got so many of the girls in the house to worship him. Jessie looked awkward and uncomfortable at the remark but he seemed that way for most of the show. It didn’t help that they showed video footage of Jessie and Lydia’s HoH blanket-tent action. After that was shown, Julie pointed out the definition of “platonic” and got Jessie to admit that there was a little more going on with him and Lydia. When Julie asked Lydia if that had continued on in the jury house, she smiled but wouldn’t answer. Silence is golden. When it came time to discuss Chima’s exit, Laura said she was offended that Chima would throw the opportunity she had in the house away and offended on behalf of Chima’s alliance that she would abandon them like that. Kevin agreed with that and after that, none of the houseguests had anything to say in defense of Chima.

As the filler-portion of the finale began to wrap up, Julie asked Jeff what’s to come for him and Jordan outside of the house. His response was to smile and say, “We’ll see if she wins or not.” That got a lot of laughs. Afterward he basically gave a “We’ll see how things go now that we’re out of the house” answer. He still wouldn’t commit to taking her with him on his trip to Hawaii but he did say she was on the short-list. I’m sure fans of the Jordan/Jeff showmance would’ve wanted to see Jeff profess his undying love for Jordan but I think I preferred his humorous and rational answer.

Finally, it was time to get down to the votes. As Julie put America’s key in first, she drew that out and revealed that the viewers voted for Jordan to win. No surprise there. What was a surprise was Jessie’s vote, which was for Jordan. Again, even with his Hakuna Matata remark, I thought Natalie had his vote locked down. Lydia voting for Jordan wasn’t a surprised as I couldn’t imagine her voting for Natalie no matter who she was up against. Russell voted for Natalie, whom he mistakenly thought played the best game from beginning to end. When Julie announced that Jeff voted for Jordan, that sealed the win for her. We learned later that Natalie had Kevin’s vote but Michele also voted for Jordan, giving the perky blonde a 5-2 win.

The final revelation was the America’s choice prize of $25k. It was no surprise that Jeff won that and Julie said it wasn’t even close.

And that wraps up the eleventh season of Big Brother. Did the best player win? I don’t think you can ever say no to that when it comes to Big Brother. Getting to the end and winning over the jury is the object of the game and Jordan managed to do that. Where did Natalie go wrong? Honestly, I don’t think she had the personality to win over the jury after the lies she told. The key to being a villain in BB and winning, as proven by Will in season two and somewhat by Dan last season, is being able to convince the jury that while you may have lied and broken your word, it really was all for the game and not personal. Both Dan and Will used flattery to win over the jurors and I don’t think Natalie managed to do that nearly as much as she should have. Perhaps if she’d taken her argument about allying with strong players a little further and played that up, finding a reason as to why each juror helped her get to the end, they might have seen her as the right person to win. Or maybe nothing she said could’ve won over the majority. Above anything else, I’m most curious to know why Jessie voted for Jordan instead of Natalie. Did he foresee her winning and wanted to make sure he was on the right team once the winner was announced? Or did he sour toward Natalie at some point over the last few weeks? Hopefully we’ll find out once the interviews start going up.

In the meantime, congratulations to Jordan. Given the final two, I definitely preferred to see her get the grand prize. If anything, she stayed consistently likable throughout the season and while Jeff was right when he said the stronger players were all on the jury, the nicest player turned out to be the winner.

http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Big-Brother-11-Recap-And-The-Winner-Is-19880.html

PRESIDENT OBAMA calls KANYE WEST "JACKASS"

2009-09-16T01:01:00.000-07:00

Obama calls Kanye West "jackass": "Off the record" in the age of Twitter

Most people would probably agree with what US President Barack Obama called singer Kanye West after the latter ruined Taylor Swift's moment at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Obama's "jackass" comment, however, was supposed to be off the record, but it was tweeted (the post has since been taken down) by another reporter who overheard the banter.� This once again shows the impact of New Media and microblogging tools such as Twitter on mainstream media and the rules that have governed traditional media coverage. In fact, the incident is provoking a debate on standards for journalism in the age of Twitter.

Here's an excerpt from the Associated Press report.

During what sounds like informal banter before the interview begins, Obama is asked whether his daughters were annoyed by West's hijacking of Swift's acceptance statement, according to an audio copy that was posted on TMZ.com.

"I thought that was really inappropriate," Obama says. "What are you butting in (for)? ... The young lady seems like a perfectly nice person. She's getting her award. What's he doing up there?"

A questioner chimes in, "Why would he do it?"

"He's a jackass," Obama replies, which is met with laughter from several people.

You can listen to the TMZ.com audio clip of Obama's comments.

The irony here is that while the off-the-record remarks were uttered during an interview with CNBC, it was employees of rival ABC News that posted the comment on Twitter. One of them was ABC News anchor Terry Moran, who has more than a million followers on Twitter.

Here's an excerpt from the Washington Post story.

"Pres. Obama just called Kanye West a 'jackass' for his outburst at VMAs when Taylor Swift won. Now THAT'S presidential," "Nightline" co-anchor Terry Moran wrote Monday evening. Moran has more than 1 million followers on the microblogging service.

CNBC objected to the post, which was apparently from a portion of the interview that was supposed to be off the record. Moran quickly deleted the comment (although it still can be accessed online), and an ABC spokesperson apologized for the tweet in a statement first posted on Politico.

Moran "prematurely tweeted ... before our editorial process had been completed. That was wrong. We apologize to the White House and CNBC and are taking steps to ensure that it will not happen again," the spokesperson said.

We can expect more incidents like this in the future as journalism struggles to adapt to New Media and maintain standards, in a world of citizen journalists and microbloggers.

How will the old rules apply to these new channels? What happens to mainstream media concepts such as "scoops", "off the record" and "news embargo"? When sources are tweeting and posting announcements on Facebook before they even talk to the media? When employees of news organizations are posting updates even before the news desk gets a chance to edit the raw stories? How about bloggers, do they have the same duty to keep things off the record?

These are the issues that traditional and New Media will have to face squarely and resolve. Let's hope they'll have better luck than an entertainment industry that keeps putting up with jackasses

http://asia.cnet.com/blogs/babelmachine/post.htm?id=63013753&scid=hm_bl

JIMMY CARTER:RACISM behind anger for OBAMA

2009-09-16T01:00:00.000-07:00

Racism behind anger toward Obama: Carter

WASHINGTON — Racism is driving the recent anger-charged criticism of President Barack Obama, ex-president Jimmy Carter said.

"I think that an overwhelming proportion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, he's African-American," Carter, 84, told NBC television.

"I live in the South, and I have seen the South come a long way," Carter added.

"But that racism inclination still exists, and I think it has bubbled up to the surface because of a belief among many white people, not just in the South but across the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country."

"It is an abominable circumstance, and grieves me and concerns me deeply," added Carter.

Carter's remarks come after a week in which a Republican lawmaker Joe Wilson shouted "You lie!" at the US president during a speech, and thousands protested against Obama administration policies in Washington.

A series of Democratic lawmakers and political columnists have pointed to the trends -- the heckling, the gun-toting, the preachers leading congregations in prayers that Obama will die -- and warned of the danger therein.

"There's something loose in the land, an ugliness and hatred directed toward Barack Obama, the nation's first African American president, that takes the breath away," wrote columnist Colbert King in The Washington Post.

To New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, the South Carolina Republican's cry of "You lie!" showed that Obama is "at the center of a period of racial turbulence sparked by his ascension," she wrote.

"This president is the ultimate civil rights figure -- a black man whose legitimacy is constantly challenged by a loco fringe."

Searching for the root of angry outbursts by white, middle-aged to elderly Americans at lawmakers' town hall meetings on health care reform over the summer, Democratic Congressman Charles Rangel also pointed to racism.

"Some Americans have not gotten over the fact that Obama is president of the United States. They go to sleep wondering, 'How did this happen?'" said Rangel earlier this month. Other black Democratic lawmakers have concurred.

But to Obama opponents, whenever a Democrat cries "racist," it is nothing more than a political ploy to muffle dissent.

"It is an intimidation tactic. When you make that attack and call someone racist or homophobic it is a way to kind of silence them," said Brendan Steinhauser, grassroots coordinator for FreedomWorks which organized the first large-scale protest against Obama in Washington over the weekend.

"This movement is made up of people who oppose big government," said Steinhauser, describing the tens of thousands of protesters who converged on Washington.

"The idea that people are trying to bring race into this is absolutely ridiculous."

OPRAH WINFREY:WHITNEY HOUSTON interview My Best Ever!

2009-09-15T10:04:00.002-07:00

Oprah Winfrey calls Whitney Houston interview her best interview ever

Corkery/News

Oprah Winfrey is thrilled with her 'one woman to another woman' approach to interviewing singer Whitney Houston.

Oprah Winfrey says her blockbuster sit-down with Whitney Houston is "the best interview I've ever done."

However, Winfrey isn't telling folks exactly what Houston says - yet.

Houston does talk about her marriage to Bobby Brown, drugs, rehab and how her family saved her.

"My approach to this interview was to not be judgmental in any way, and not to go in trying to get her to say things to make a 'moment,'" Winfrey says in comments released by the show. "I just wanted to be able to have an honest conversation with her. One woman to another woman. And the day of the interview, I literally prayed about that all day long. I just wanted a connection between the two of us. And that is what happened. And that is why I believe it's one of the most, if not the most, powerful interviews I've ever done."

The interview will air Monday and Tuesday and will be seen locally on WABC/Ch. 7 at 4 p.m.

"I can't think of a moment, ever, when I had a stronger connection to the person I was interviewing," Winfrey says.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/09/09/2009-09-09_oprah_winfrey_overjoyed_with_whitney_houston_interview.html

PRESIDENT OBAMA IS A WITCH DOCTOR???

2009-09-15T10:04:00.001-07:00

CNN's Situation Room Charges: 'Racial Tinge to Tea Movement'

By Brent Baker (Bio | Archive)
September 14, 2009 - 21:44 ET

CNN's efforts to smear Obama critics as racist gained visibility on Monday's Situation Room when the usually more sensible Wolf Blitzer, with “RACIAL TINGE TO TEA MOVEMENT” as the on-screen heading, set up a story on how, “most disturbing,” within the tea party crowds there's “a very small but vocal minority, they're targeting President Obama's race.” Though reporter Elaine Quijano said “we have to emphasize by far most tea party protesters are not casting their arguments in what could be seen as a racial light,” she nonetheless proceeded to treat as newsworthy how “a small but passionate minority is also voicing what some see as racist rhetoric.”

In decrying the racism, CNN gave national cable air time to what she described as a “controversial image that's been circulating on the Web since July,” a “doctored image circulating on the Internet and even some protesters signs like this one in Brighton, Michigan, portraying President Obama as a witch doctor.” Brighton, Michigan? So, not at the more newsworthy big national event Saturday in DC I presume.

Quijano soon went to Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page who saw race as the common denominator: “People are not just mad at Obama. They're mad at Jesse Jackson, they're mad at Reverend Wright, they're made at Al Sharpton, they're mad at people who have nothing to do with Obama except they all happen to be black.” Without questioning the supposition, Quijano warned: “Page says the vehement racial resistance that's emerged is another sign any notion of a post-racial society after Barack Obama's election was wishful thinking.”

Maybe it's those using race to incriminate Obama critics and distract from their complaints on health care and spending, such as Page and CNN, who are the ones injecting race and marring dreams of a “post-racial society.”

Earlier NewsBusters posts on CNN pushing the anti-Obama protesters as racist theme:

- CNN's Lemon Praises Maher for Raising Anti-Obama Racism: 'Finally Someone's Talking About This'
- CNN Zeroes-In on 'Dark Undercurrent' of Tea Parties

As a quick contrast, back in February of 2003 CNN ignored the radical-left and pro-communist affiliations of some anti-war protesters and instead celebrated their “diversity.” CNN reporter Maria Hinojosa on a protest in Manhattan:

I have to tell you, it's an extraordinary -- like New York, it's an extraordinarily diverse crowd. I have seen elderly men and women with mink coats carrying their posters. I have also seen children with their parents coming from public schools. I saw a sign with someone from the PTA of a public school. I have seen people who called themselves hippies. I have seen old anti-war folks who say that they have been coming to demonstrations since the 1960s, as well as high school students and college students who have never taken part in any demonstration who are now becoming part of the activity here.

From about 5:30 PM EDT during the Monday, September 14 Situation Room:

WOLF BLITZER: They've come together under the tea party banner, but within the movement you're going to find individuals outraged over taxes, health reform, gun control and more. But, most disturbing, a very small but vocal minority, they're targeting President Obama's race. Let's go to CNN's Elaine Quijano. She's working this story for us. Elaine, what are we seeing?
ELAINE QUIJANO: Well, Wolf, we have to emphasize by far most tea party protesters are not casting their arguments in what could be seen as a racial light, but a small group of demonstrators is using a controversial image that's been circulating on the Web since July. Within the larger tea party movement that's gained steam across the country, a small but passionate minority is also voicing what some see as racist rhetoric, including this doctored image circulating on the Internet and even some protesters signs like this one in Brighton, Michigan, portraying President Obama as a witch doctor. We took to the streets of Washington to get reaction.

WOMAN: I think it's disrespectful to the office of the President to portray him in this manner. It's racist.

SECOND WOMAN: This is appalling.

QUIJANO: How prevalent were the protesters carrying racially-charged messages? Difficult to quantify? CNN all platform journalist Jim Spellman spent weeks covering the tea party demonstrators as a whole.

JIM SPELLMAN: Only a handful of people seem to outwardly have racial issues with the President, but the more you talk to people, you could sense that it was part of a larger distrust.

QUIJANO: For their party tea party leaders disavow any racist views.

MARK WILLIAMS, TEA PARTY ORGANIZER: I saw very little overt racism or anger, and those were on the fringes and were marginalized.

QUIJANO: They want attention focused on the role and reach of government into people's lives but say that controversial protesters have the right to speak their mind.

WILLIAMS: Part of America is that there are people who are bigoted, and, you know, you're never going to convince them not to be. You don't have to embrace them, but in this country you can't shut them up either.

QUIJANO: Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page sees the Obama presidency as a chance for some to lash out.

CLARENCE PAGE, DC-BASED CHICAGO TRIBUNE COLUMNIST: People are not just mad at Obama. They're mad at Jesse Jackson, they're mad at Reverend Wright, they're made at Al Sharpton, they're mad at people who have nothing to do with Obama except they all happen to be black.

QUIJANO: Page says the vehement racial resistance that's emerged is another sign any notion of a post-racial society after Barack Obama's election was wishful thinking.

PAGE: It's only the beginning of the process that we are able to live with leadership that may not look like us, may not come from the same background as us but is still part of this very diverse society.

QUIJANO: Now Mark Williams, the tea party organizer we talked to, notes there's been inflammatory rhetoric in statements at events like anti-war demonstrations in the past, burning flags and hanging effigies, he says. His point: that like other grass roots movements the tea party protesters are a cross-section of America.

—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-baker/2009/09/14/cnns-situation-room-charges-racial-tinge-tea-movement

Muggles Can Be Part of Wizarding World of Harry Potter Too!

2009-09-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

Wizarding World of Harry Potter will open spring 2010

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is set to open in spring 2010, Universal announced today.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has an opening date, although it's a pretty broad one: Spring 2010.

Details about the addition to Islands of Adventure were announced by Universal Orlando on Tuesday. The event confirmed several previously reported items and detailed a few others.

The major attraction will be within the Hogwarts castle and called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. It was described in vague but grandiose terms.

"It couldn't be farther from a roller coaster," said Paul Daurio, show producer of Wizarding World.

+ Fans will enter through a re-creation of Hogsmeade, a full-scale village. First scene: Hogsmeade Station, followed by Zonko's (a joke shop), Honeydukes (treats such as chocolate frogs) and Three Broomsticks (British fare including butterbeer).

+ Next is the Owlery meeting space (referred to as a "calm environment"), the Owlpost (where letters can get a Hogsmeade postmark) and Ollivanders, an interactive shop where guests can purchase their own wands, or rather, the wand chooses them.

+ Two coasters were showcased. Although they were not referred to by their Lost Continent personas, Dueling Dragons looks to become Dragon Challenge and the Flying Unicorn coaster will be transformed into Flight of the Hippogriff.

+ Dervish and Banges, a store with magical instruments and goods such as Quidditch equipment.

+ Finally, Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods, consisting of Ministry of Magic merchandise.

People have been increasingly clamoring for a clearer opening date target from Universal.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/travel/orl-bk-harry-potter-universal-091509,0,637238.story

Meet AMERICA'S GOT TALENT 2009 FINALISTS!

2009-09-15T10:03:00.000-07:00

America’s Got Talent Final -The Ten Finalists – Vote for the Winner

The Finalist:

Vote for your favorite!

Recycled Percussion (Goffstown, New Hampshire): Ryan and Justin are not only cousins but also the drummers; James joins them on guitar and DJ Todd rounds out the group that is rightfully called Recycled Percussion. For the past 10 years they have been creating their unique style of music with just about anything they can get their hands on — everyday household objects like ladders, buckets, trashcans and even metal grinders! This high-energy group promises to bring every ounce of rock and roll to the “America’s Got Talent” stage and wants to prove to the world that it doesn’t matter where you come from, it’s more important where you are going. Recycled Percussion is determined to inspire a drug-free youth to tune in and watch the amazing things you can do when you put your mind to it.

Lawrence Beamen (Walnut Creek, California): Lawrence is a native of the Deep South (Mississippi) and his quiet, humble upbringing is a complete contrast to his booming voice and intense passion for music. The remarkable gift grabbed him at the early age of six and it hasn’t let go. His gospel background was strengthened with classical training and his repertoire grew through discipline and commitment. Lawrence’s sound reflects the great voices that have influenced his musical style: the depth of Barry White, the soul of Mahalia Jackson, the honesty of Bill Withers. His talent as well as his humility have earned Lawrence a place on America’s Got Talent and he hopes he’ll continue to impress both the audience and the judges.

Hairo Torres (Grants Pass, Oregon): Hairo Torres is a 23-year-old breakdancer who was born in Southern California and raised in Grants Pass, Oregon. He began his dance journey at 13 and it has helped transform Hairo’s life for the better. Hairo currently works two jobs — as a clerk at a video store and at a distribution plant — but has dreamed of making a living using the love and passion he feels for his craft. Despite the skepticism he has faced from family and friends over the years, Hairo has continued to practice and to perfect his dance moves. Hairo is taking on the “America’s Got Talent” competition in hopes of capturing his dreams, making his family and friends proud, and inspiring anyone who has hopes and dreams of becoming someone special in this world.

Drew Stevyns (Sykesville, Maryland): At age two Drew learned to sing “Happy Birthday” for his dad’s birthday and, at age five, he asked his parents for a keyboard and piano lessons. When he and his family moved to England in 1989 Drew joined the Anglican choir, was a member of the Royal School of Church Music and was enrolled at the Cleeve Comprehensive School in Gloucestershire, where he performed competitively in the annual Cheltenham Arts Festival.

Returning to the U.S., Drew continued his musical development by taking piano lessons, singing in his high school chorus, and teaching himself to play guitar. After graduating high school Drew worked a variety of jobs: fast food, construction, and landscaping, so that he could continue to pursue his dream of music. While locally he has made a name for himself, he is ready to introduce himself to the rest of America. He feels that his time spent with “America’s Got Talent” is “one of the most interesting experiences of my life and winning the competition would be a dream come true!

Barbara Padilla (Houston, Texas): Barbara Padilla was born in Guadalajara, Mexico where she studied music, acting, and dance. While in college, Barbara was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma and underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. During this time, Barbara was told that she might never be able to sing again because the radiation could harm her vocal chords. But she would not give up her dream.

After traveling to Houston for a consultation with doctors, Barbara had the chance to audition for the Moore’s School of Music at the University of Houston. She was awarded a full scholarship where she completed the Master’s Degree program, all while battling cancer. She was in treatment for several years and was near death on more than one occasion. Her faith, family and friends helped her through those difficult times.

Barbara is now in remission, living in Texas with her husband and beautiful three-year-old daughter. She feels incredibly blessed to have survived cancer and is ecstatic to be a part of America’s Got Talent.

Texas Tenor (Houston, Texas): In April of 2009, best friends Marcus Collins, JC Fisher, and John Hagen learned that “America’s Got Talent” was coming to Texas for auditions. Though they had moved away from each other because of family obligations, they thought coming out to audition would be the opportunity of a lifetime. With various backgrounds in the performing arts, they decided to combine their individual talents and become The Texas Tenors. Mixing country and classical music with their own Texas Tenor flavor, they auditioned with aspirations of winning over the judges and sharing their fresh new act with all of America. JC, a family man with his Texan wife and two sons, currently lives in Kansas. Born and raised on a cattle ranch, he relies on his family’s strong foundation of hard work and faith to guide his everyday life. John, considered the rock of the group, brings a wealth of classical music training along with his baritone voice. He divides his time in Texas performing, spending time with family, and running a small art gallery in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Marcus adds a contemporary flair to the group with his unique pop voice and boyish charm. Marcus splits his time between Houston and Sun Valley, California, to be close to his mother and grandparents on the West Coast. As the name of the group suggests, performing together on America’s Got Talent affords them the chance to do what they love, and represent their deep-rooted love for the Lone Star State.

Grandma Lee (Jacksonville, Florida): Lee was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma back in 1934. After graduating from Otterbein College in Ohio, she a married a career Marine, Ben Strong, and spent the next 20-plus years raising their four children and traveling around the world. As her kids grew up, Lee worked a series of jobs, including newspaper reporting and as an operator for directory assistance. In May 1995, Lee lost her husband to cancer. To help her cope, Lee began attending a local comedy workshop. Since then she has been making people laugh all around the country. Her goal on “America’s Got Talent” is to help older people realize that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.

Kevin Skinner (Orlando, Florida): Kevin Skinner is a singer/songwriter born and raised in Kentucky, where country is a way of life. He picked up the guitar at 12 and has never put it down. Kevin quickly realized that conveying his feelings through his songs was a very special gift. Music is a powerful potion that Kevin loves to share. He said that winning “America’s Got Talent” would be a great gift, but just being a part of the show is something that he will never forget.

Voices of Glory (Highland, New York): The Voices of Glory are a group of siblings whose unique style of singing harmonies makes them stand out. Michael, Avery, and Nadia started singing together in 2007 after their mother, Felicia, was in a head-on car collision with a drunk driver. She was seriously injured and in a coma. They serenaded their mother for months and she eventually came out of the coma and started rehabilitation. This wasn’t the end of the kids’ singing, however. They started traveling to nursing homes and other hospitals in an effort to help other patients. Participating in “America’s Got Talent” is very important to this group because they want to show their family how much they inspire them.

Fab Five (Morgan, Utah): From a dairy farm in rural Utah where life consisted of raising wheat, cows, and family, came five fabulous sisters who could accomplish daily dairy chores in the morning and dance like wildfire at dusk. Nearly three decades of dancing has brought tours, trophies, husbands, and kids. Ultimately, the sisters’ lives have been filled with smiles and tears: their father lost his farm to economic hardships, a child with severe Cerebral Palsy and another with kidney disease, but through it all, family and dancing were there. A win on “America’s Got Talent” would give them the chance to give back to their father and provide significant help for their families. Win or lose, The Fab 5 are forever family strong.

All Pics and Text Courtesy: NBC / America’s Got Talent

http://bawaal.com/blog/1899-america%E2%80%99s-got-talent-final-the-ten-finalists-vote-for-the-winner

CROP CIRCLES 2009 & GOOGLE EARTH LOGO MYSTERY

2009-09-15T10:02:00.001-07:00

Crop circles, Google Earth, and the logo mystery

On Google’s homepage today, the search giant swapped out its normal logo for a UFO-themed Google doodle. The illustrated flying saucer carved out “Goog e” in the corn field, and a little green tractor finishes off the “l.”

Such logo swaps are common for the tech titan, but what are they celebrating? Most of these “doodles” are tied to a particular anniversary or celebrity birthday. Why crop circles? Why today?

To add to the mystery, Google posted the coordinates “51.327629, -0.5616088” in a cryptic Twitter tweet. Curious searchers identified the spot as Horsell, England. Sci-Fi aficionados may recognize the name. In “War of the Worlds,” HG Wells wrote that Horsell residents witnessed the first UFO landing.

This has some Google watchers, including Guardian reporter John Vidal, insisting that the new logo is “almost certainly a viral marketing campaign teasing people ahead of some launch in a week or two. One possible explanation is that it’s trailing an online ‘happening’ that will coincide with the 143rd anniversary of Wells’s birth next week.”

Interesting theory. With people eager for more answers, online searches for “crop circles google earth” hit “volcanic” popularity this morning, according to Google Trends.

http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/09/15/crop-circles-google-earth-and-the-logo-mystery/

PATRICK SWAYZE:57,Succumbs Bravely to Pancreatic Cancer

2009-09-15T10:02:00.000-07:00

'Dirty Dancing' star Patrick Swayze dies at 57

AP – FILE - In this image released by A&E, Patrick Swayze is shown in a promotional photo for the A&E series

LOS ANGELES – Patrick Swayze personified a particular kind of masculine grace both on and off screen, from his roles in films like "Dirty Dancing" and "Ghost" to the way he carried himself in his long fight with pancreatic cancer. Swayze died from the illness on Monday in Los Angeles, his publicist said. He was 57.

"Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months," Annett Wolf said in a statement Monday evening. She declined to give details.

Fans of the actor were saddened to learn in March 2008 that Swayze was suffering from an especially deadly form of cancer. He continued working despite the diagnosis, putting together a memoir with his wife and shooting "The Beast," an A&E drama series for which he had already made the pilot.

Swayze said he chose not to use painkillers while making "The Beast" because they would have taken the edge off his performance. The show drew a respectable 1.3 million viewers when the 13 episodes ran this year, but A&E said it reluctantly decided not to renew it for a second season.

When he first went public with the illness, some reports gave him only weeks to live, but his doctor said his situation was "considerably more optimistic" than that. Swayze acknowledged that time might be running out given the grim nature of the disease.

"I'd say five years is pretty wishful thinking," Swayze told ABC's Barbara Walters in early 2009. "Two years seems likely if you're going to believe statistics. I want to last until they find a cure, which means I'd better get a fire under it."

And that's exactly what he did. In February, Swayze wrote an op-ed piece in the Washington Post titled, "I'm Battling Cancer. How About Some Help, Congress?" in which he urged senators and representatives to vote for the maximum funding for the National Institutes of Health to fight cancer as part of the economic stimulus package.

He also appeared in the September 2008 live television event "Stand Up to Cancer," where he pleaded: "I keep dreaming of a future, a future with a long and healthy life, a life not lived in the shadow of cancer, but in the light. ... I dream that the word `cure' will no longer be followed by the words `is impossible.'"

Celebrities and fans inspired by Swayze's struggle poured out their condolences, including C. Thomas Howell, who costarred with Swayze in "The Outsiders," "Grandview U.S.A." and "Red Dawn."

"I have always had a special place in my heart for Patrick," he said. "While I was fortunate enough to work with him in three films, it was our passion for horses that forged a friendship between us that I treasure to this day."

Others used Twitter to express their sadness, and "Dirty Dancing" was a top trending topic Monday night, trailed by other Swayze films.

Demi Moore, who played Swayze's fiancee in "Ghost," wrote: "Patrick you are loved by so many and your light will forever shine in all of our lives." Moore's husband, Ashton Kutcher, tweeted: "RIP P Swayze" and linked to a YouTube clip of the actor poking fun at himself in a classic "Saturday Night Live" sketch, in which he played a wannabe Chippendales dancer alongside the corpulent — and frighteningly shirtless — Chris Farley.

Larry King wrote: "Patrick Swayze was a wonderful actor & a terrific guy. He put his heart in everything. He was an extraordinary fighter in his battle w Cancer." King added that he'd do a tribute to Swayze on his CNN program Tuesday night.

A three-time Golden Globe nominee, Swayze became a star with his performance as the misunderstood bad boy Johnny Castle in "Dirty Dancing." As the son of a choreographer who began his career in musical theater, he seemed a natural to play the role.

A coming-of-age romance starring Jennifer Grey as an idealistic young woman on vacation with her family and Swayze as the Catskills resort's sexy (and much older) dance instructor, the film made use of both his grace on his feet and his muscular physique.

It became an international phenomenon in the summer of 1987, spawning albums, an Oscar-winning hit song in "(I've Had) the Time of My Life," stage productions and a sequel, 2004's "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights," in which he made a cameo.

Swayze performed and co-wrote a song on the soundtrack, the ballad "She's Like the Wind," inspired by his wife, Lisa Niemi. The film also gave him the chance to utter the now-classic line, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner."

Swayze followed up with the 1989 action flick "Road House," in which he played a bouncer at a rowdy bar. But it was his performance in 1990's "Ghost" that showed his vulnerable, sensitive side. He starred as a murdered man trying to communicate with his fiancee, with great frustration and longing, through a psychic played by Whoopi Goldberg.

"Ghost" provided yet another indelible musical moment: Swayze and Moore sensually molding pottery together to the strains of the Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody." It also earned a best-picture nomination and a supporting-actress Oscar for Goldberg, who said she wouldn't have won if it weren't for Swayze.

"When I won my Academy Award, the only person I really thanked was Patrick," Goldberg said in March 2008 on the ABC daytime talk show "The View."

Swayze himself earned three Golden Globe nominations, for "Dirty Dancing," "Ghost" and 1995's "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar," which allowed him to toy with his masculine image. The role called for him to play a drag queen on a cross-country road trip alongside Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo.

His heartthrob status almost kept him from being considered for the role of Vida Boheme.

"I couldn't get seen on it because everyone viewed me as terminally heterosexually masculine-macho," he told The Associated Press then. But he transformed himself so completely that when his screen test was sent to Steven Spielberg, whose Amblin pictures produced "To Wong Foo," the director didn't recognize him.

Among his earlier films, Swayze was part of the star-studded lineup in Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 adaptation of S.E. Hinton's novel "The Outsiders," alongside Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Emilio Estevez and Diane Lane. Other '80s films included "Red Dawn," "Grandview U.S.A." and "Youngblood," once more with Lowe, as Canadian hockey teammates.

In the '90s, he made such eclectic films as "Point Break" (1991) in which he played the leader of a band of bank-robbing surfers, and the family Western "Tall Tale" (1995) in which he starred as Pecos Bill. He appeared on the cover of People magazine as its "Sexiest Man Alive" in 1991, but his career tapered off toward the end of the 1990s, when he went to rehab for alcohol abuse. In 2001, he appeared in the cult favorite "Donnie Darko," and in 2003 he returned to the New York stage with "Chicago"; 2006 found him in the musical "Guys and Dolls" in London.

Swayze was born in 1952 in Houston, the son of Jesse Swayze and choreographer Patsy Swayze, whose films include "Urban Cowboy."

He played football but also was drawn to dance and theater, performing with the Feld, Joffrey and Harkness Ballets and appearing on Broadway as Danny Zuko in "Grease." He turned to acting in 1978 after a series of injuries.

Within a couple years of moving to Los Angeles, he made his debut in the roller-disco movie "Skatetown, U.S.A." The eclectic cast included Scott Baio, Flip Wilson, Maureen McCormack and Billy Barty.

Off-screen, he was an avid conservationist who was moved by his time in Africa to shine a light on "man's greed and absolute unwillingness to operate according to Mother Nature's laws," he told the AP in 2004.

Swayze was married since 1975 to Niemi, a fellow dancer who took lessons with his mother; they met when he was 19 and she was 15. A licensed pilot, Niemi would fly her husband from Los Angeles to Northern California for treatment at Stanford University Medical Center.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obit_swayze

SPACE SHUTTLE LANDING DELAYED, AGAIN!

2009-09-12T04:52:00.002-07:00

Bad weather delays space shuttle landing again

(CNN) -- The space shuttle Discovery was waved off from its first chance to land Friday afternoon because of unstable weather near Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA said.

The space shuttle's landing in Florida was delayed Thursday, shown. A first attempt Friday was called off, too.

The shuttle will make another orbit of Earth, while NASA mission managers watch to see if extreme moisture and lightning threaten a safe landing.

The next opportunity to land in Florida would come at 7:23 p.m. ET; however, Mission Control told the shuttle crew the forecast for that time "looks about the same."

Crews have been activated at Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert in case NASA decides to land the shuttle there, where the weather is not considered an issue. There are two chances to land Friday evening in California.

The space agency, however, usually exhausts all landing windows in Florida before sending the spacecraft to California. A landing on the West Coast adds a week to the turnaround time before the shuttle can be ready for another mission and it costs several million dollars.

The landing could be delayed until Saturday when there are two more chances to land in Florida or California.

Discovery initially was scheduled to return to Earth on Thursday, but poor weather in central Florida also forced a delay.

The seven astronauts are wrapping up a 13-day mission to the international space station, where the crew made repairs and delivered supplies. The crew executed three spacewalks and dropped off a Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill, or Colbert treadmill. It was named after comedian Stephen Colbert.

Weather and technical problems delayed Discovery's launch three times before blastoff.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/11/space.shuttle.delay/

High school football scoreboard-Here It Is!

2009-09-12T04:52:00.001-07:00

High school football scoreboard

FRIDAY'S SCORES

No. 1 Grant 27, Edison 0 No. 2 Nevada Union 42, No. 13 Ponderosa 7 Lincoln-Stockton 29, No. 3 Pleasant Grove 28 No. 7 Inderkum 46, Fernley 19 No. 10 Casa Roble 23, Woodcreek 7 No. 11 Laguna Creek 34, Florin 12 No. 12 Elk Grove 37, Chavez 6 No. 16 Sheldon 25, Lodi 10 Rio Linda 36, No. 18 Roseville 20 No. 19 Placer 32, Rosemont 6 Vacaville Christian 64, Anderson Valley 14 Brookside Christian at Foresthill, n Galt 25, McNair 0 Argonaut 56, Valley 6 Rocklin 40, Oak Ridge 32 Vista del Lago 28, Napa 20 West Campus at Encina, n Mesa Verde 14, Mira Loma 6 Union Mine 49, El Dorado 21 Paterson 42, McClatchy 0 Bella Vista 41 at Cordova 15 Summerville 42, Bradshaw Christian 21 Lincoln 19, Woodland 7 Oakmont 16, Foothill 12 Dixon 20, Antelope 6 Highlands 34, Millenium 7 River City 40, San Juan 6 Live Oak 21, Lindhurst 6 Fairfield 32, Monterey Trail 28 Colfax 28, Center 7 Chico 27, Yuba City 6 Delta 34, Elliot Christian 14 Capital Christian 29, Bear River 14 Amador 27, Golden Sierra 7 Wood 20, Pioneer 19

NO. 1 GRANT 27, EDISON 0 Edison 0 0 0 0 – 0 Grant 13 0 0 14 – 27 G–Booker 8 run (kick failed) G–Booker 4 run (Vue kick) G–Fields 7 pass from Deary (Vue kick) G–Epps 23 run (Vue kick)

LINCOLN-STOCKTON 29, NO. 3 PLEASANT GROVE 28 Lincoln (0-1) 0 8 14 7 – 29 Pl. Grove (1-0) 14 7 7 0 – 28 PG–Saunders 47 pass from Congdon (White kick) PG–Saunders 53 pass from Congdon (White kick) L–Thompson 25 pass from Gildea (Mistrella run) L–Ruhl 1 run (Villalobos kick) L–Cooks 60 punt return (Villalobos kick) PG–Robinson 11 run (White kick) L–Ruhl 3 run (Villalobos kick)

NO. 16 SHELDON 25, LODI 10 Sheldon 6 0 12 7 – 25 Lodi 3 7 0 0 – 10 L–Fraiser 28 FG S–Young 29 run (kick failed) L–Santiago 3 run (Fraiser kick) S–Dickerson 1 run (kick failed) S–Dixon 29 pass Dickerson (kick failed) S–Young 5 run (Cortero kick)

NO. 11 LAGUNA CREEK 34, FLORIN 12 Laguna Creek 14 0 12 8 – 34 Florin 6 6 0 0 – 12

NO. 12 ELK GROVE 37, CHAVEZ 6 Elk Grove 14 9 14 0 – 37 Chavez 6 0 0 0 – 6

RIO LINDA 36, NO. 18 ROSEVILLE 20 Roseville 7 0 6 7 – 20 Rio Linda 0 15 14 7 – 36

NO. 19 PLACER 32, ROSEMONT 6 Placer 6 12 7 7 - 32 Rosemont 0 0 6 0 - 6

CASA ROBLE 23, WOODCREEK 7 Casa Roble 0 13 7 3 – 23 Woodcreek 0 7 0 0 – 7 CR–Muses 65 pass from Tann (Jungsten kick) CR–Muses 7 pass from Tann (kick failed) W–Cardenas 5 pass from Kovach (Reeves kick) CR–Santiago 49 run (Jungsten kick) CR–Jungsten 30 FG

DELTA 34, ELLIOT CHRISTIAN 14 Delta 14 7 0 13 – 34 Elliot Christian 0 7 0 7 – 14 D–Trejo 28 pass from Blair (Jaimes kick) D–Hernandez 15 run (Jaimes kick) EC–Wick 24 fumble recovery (Hausaur kick) D–Hernandez 8 run (Jaimes kick) D–Herandez 2 run (kick failed) EC–Wick 1 run (Hausaur kick) D–Hernandez 2 run (kick failed)

COLFAX 28, CENTER 7 Center 0 0 0 7 – 7 Colfax 14 14 0 0 – 28 Co–Rollins 2 run (M. Leal kick) Co–Rollins 7 run (M. Leal kick) Co–Rollins 2 run (M. Leal kick) Co–Moreno 65 pass from Machholz (M. Leal kick) Ce–Crabtree 8 run (Jones kick)

ROCKLIN 40, OAK RIDGE 32 Rocklin 6 14 13 7 – 40 Oak Ridge 0 17 0 15 – 32 R–Cummings 2 run (kick blocked) O–Denander 1 run (Beyer kicked) R–Garvella 65 pass (Polaske pass Laughrea) O–Matanane 12 run (Beyer kicked) R–Huff 78 pass from Laughrea (kick failed) O–Beyer 32 FG R–Huff 3 pass from Laughrea (kick failed) R–Cummings 13 run (Wardlaw kicked) O–Buerki 5 pass (Buerki pass Denander) R–Lessard 1 run (Wardlaw kicked) O–Denander 3 run (Beyer kicked)

CAPITAL CHRISTIAN 29, BEAR RIVER 14 Bear River (0-1) 0 0 8 6 – 14 Capital Chr. (1-0) 0 0 8 6 – 29 CC–Lee 1 run (Greenly kick) CC–Greenly 22 FG BR–White 13 run (White run) CC–Roberson 7 pass from Lee (Greenly kick) CC–Lee 49 run (kick failed) BR–Jewett 15 pass from Harris (kick failed) CC–Johnson 25 run (kick failed)

MESA VERDE 14, MIRA LOMA 6 Mira Loma 0 6 0 0 – 6 Mesa Verde 7 0 0 7 – 14 MV–Johnson 4 run (Farley kick) ML–Moore 6 run (run failed) MV–Wilson 12 pass from Ennenga (Farkey kick)

INDERKUM 46, FERNLEY 19 Fernley (0-1) 9 3 0 7 – 19 Inderkum (1-0) 0 13 13 20 – 46 F–Safety (quarterback sacked in end zone) F–Smith 20 pass from Baker (Baker kick) F–Baker 32 FG I–Bumpers 75 run (Maxwell kick) I-Bumpers 3 run (run failed) I–Bumpers 2 run (Maxwell kick) I–Bumpers 5 run (Maxwell kick) F–Baker 40 run (Baker kick) I-Hartley 60 run (Maxwell kick) I-Hartley 25 run (kick failed) I-Arnold 45 run (Maxwell kick)

VACAVILLE CHRISTIAN 64, ANDERSON VALLEY 14 Anderson Valley 8 0 0 6 – 14 Vacaville Christian 30 12 14 8 – 64

HIGHLANDS 34, MILLENIUM 7 Highlands (1-0) 14 6 14 0 – 34 Millenium (0-1) 0 0 0 7 – 7

DIXON 20, ANTELOPE 6 Dixon 7 0 0 13 – 20 Antelope 6 0 0 0 – 6

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/story/2177637.html

MICHAEL JORDAN HALL OF FAME EMOTIONAL SPEECH

2009-09-12T04:52:00.000-07:00

Michael Jordan Emotional During Hall of Fame Induction

Retired NBA great Michael Jordan gets emotional during induction ceremony into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame (Photo: AP)

It is almost like Michael Jordan had been in the Hall of Fame for years. Although he wasn't yet, everyone expected it, and it was made official Friday night (September 11) during a ceremony in Springfield, Mass.

Jordan was overcome with emotion as he spoke before those in attendance at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as he spoke about his legendary status in the game of basketball.

He spoke for nearly 20 minutes, explaining that the competition and adversity he endured pushed him to greatness, naming off players such as Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson and George Gervin, as well as John Starks and others.

"You want to know where my competitive nature came from? It came from them," Jordan said. "As I grew, people added wood to that fire.

"I had a lot of people throw logs on that fire over the years," he continued.

Even Michael gets intimidated. Earlier in the day, he made it clear, there are players as great as him and he can't be singled out as the greatest.

"When people say I was the greatest ever, I cringe a little," Jordan said at a morning press conference. "I never played against Jerry West, Elgin Baylor or Wilt Chamberlain. To say I'm better than those people is not for me to decide."

Throughout his career, even from college, Jordan made an impact. He won one NCAA championship at North Carolina and six NBA championships, five MVP awards and 10 scoring titles with the Chicago Bulls, among other accolades.

Before the ceremony, he joked with friends that he'd say "thank you" and that would be it, said reports. But, Jordan showed how grateful he was for the honor, and just how much the sport meant to him with his emotional speech.

Jordan retired twice during his 15-year career, and finished with 32,292 points under his belt, the third-highest total in NBA history behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. His career average of 30.12 points per game is the best in the league's history.

In addition to Jordan, the 2009 Hall inductees included Utah coach Jerry Sloan, former Jazz guard John Stockton, former San Antonio Spur David Robinson and Rutgers women's coach C. Vivian Stringer.

Stockton holds NBA records for assists in a season with 1,164 in 1990-91, and the highest assist average in a season with 14.5 the previous season. Robinson played 14 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, and won two NBA championships during his tenure.

Jazz coach Sloan, whose #4 is retired by the Bulls, is the only NBA coach to win more than 1,000 games with a single team. He is still coaching and currently has his Jazz in seventh place in the Western Conference standings going into Monday night. While Stringer led three schools to the Final Four in her 38-year career, and has an 825-280 mark spanning four decades.

http://www.ballerstatus.com/2009/09/12/michael-jordan-enters-the-hall-of-fame-in-emotional-ceremony/

NFL OVERTIME:Pittsburgh Steelers defeat Tennessee Titans

2009-09-11T00:44:00.001-07:00

NFL Thursday Night Football

Pittsburgh Steelers defeat Tennessee Titans, 13-10, in overtime

Jeff Reed's field goal wins it after a crucial fumble by Hines Ward in regulation.

Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan brings down Steelers receiver Hines Ward after a reception in the fourth quarter Thursday night. (Keith Srakocic / Associated Press / September 10, 2009)

Reporting from Pittsburgh - The knee of Troy Polamalu folded the wrong way, and the normally sure hands of Hines Ward lost their grip. But the Pittsburgh Steelers were not without options Thursday in the NFL opener.

They still had the poise of Ben Roethlisberger and the foot of Jeff Reed.

After Roethlisberger drove the Steelers into position, Reed clinched a 13-10 victory over the Tennessee Titans with a 33-yard field goal with 10 minutes 28 seconds remaining in overtime.

In a bruising and often sloppy debut -- one that could cost the Steelers star safety Polamalu for three weeks or longer -- Pittsburgh's quarterback showed flashes of the composure he displayed in last season's Super Bowl.

With no running game to speak of from the Steelers, Roethlisberger completed 17 of his last 19 passes against an outstanding defense to bring his team to the brink of victory.

"He was Ben," Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin said. "When the rubber meets the road, he is at his best. In those moments, he sees it with great clarity. He's provided quality plays time and again."

It was the 18th time in the regular season Roethlisberger has overcome a fourth-quarter deficit to lead the Steelers to victory.

"I told the coach I didn't want to start this already," Roethlisberger joked, "these fourth-quarter comebacks."

It wasn't a perfect performance. Roethlisberger, who completed 33 of 43 passes for 363 yards, was sacked four times -- once for a 19-yard loss -- in part because of his reluctance to get rid of the ball.

Pittsburgh's offensive line bears some of that blame, frequently struggling with Tennessee's 4-3 scheme. The blocking problems really showed up in the run game, the Steelers' traditional strength, when the home team scratched out only 36 yards rushing.

"We had a lot of communication errors," tackle Willie Colon said. "We were kind of sloppy in the protection at times, and that's going to happen in the first game."

What the Steelers certainly didn't expect is to lose their star safety, whose leg bent awkwardly under the weight of Tennessee tight end Alge Crumpler. Polamalu suffered an injury to his left knee that could keep him on the sideline for a while. Tomlin deemed it a sprained medial collateral ligament -- although he said the scans were still being read -- and said the recovery time ranges from three to six weeks.

"It's all speculation at this point," the coach said.

It's not the first time Polamalu has dealt with such problems. A left knee injury kept him out for three consecutive games in 2006, and he missed five the next season in part because of an injured right knee.

In the first half Thursday, it was as if Polamalu was involved in every play, good and bad. Not only did he lead the team with six tackles and make a poster-worthy one-handed interception, but he was flagged for two personal fouls and a questionable pass interference.

Titans quarterback Kerry Collins conceded the landscape changed when Polamalu left, saying, "We definitely were aware of him not being in there."

But the Titans had their own concerns. They also lost a key player to a leg injury -- tight end Bo Scaife, who had five catches in the first half -- and blew two scoring opportunities when one field-goal attempt sailed wide and another was blocked.

"It was a shame," Collins said. "We let that one get away. But on the road, against a good football team, if you make the mistakes we made tonight, you're going to lose more ballgames than you win."

It looked as if the Steelers would win at the end of regulation, when Roethlisberger hit a wide-open Ward for a 30-yard gain over the middle. The Pro Bowl receiver was stripped just five yards from the end zone, however, and the Titans recovered at the four with 51 seconds left.

"I pride myself on being that guy not to make any mistakes, especially when the game is on the line," Ward said. "I saw the end zone. If I got down, then we don't even have to worry about the coin toss. . . .

"But what better way to start the year off than with our quarterback putting the team on his back, and J-Reed saving the day?"

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-steelers-titans11-2009sep11,0,6661808.story

Jaycee Lee Dugard Story:Dr. Phil gives his opinion

2009-09-11T00:44:00.000-07:00

Dr. Phil gives his opinion on the Jaycee Lee Dugard story

Dr. Phil McGraw, host of the daytime television show "Dr. Phil," has weighed in on the Jaycee Lee Dugard case.

The television psychologist told the CBS "Early Show" that one of the most frustrating things about the case is people asking how Jaycee could be controlled for so long by her alleged abductors, Phillip and Nancy Garrido.

"It's just so hard to wrap your mind around something like that," McGraw said.

"Look, when you're 11 years old and you are abducted by a power figure, and you're isolated, the number one tool of an abuser is isolation. ... And it seems that this girl was isolated forever before she ever got any ability to move around. And when you're 11 years old, you're so vulnerable," he added.

McGraw predicted long recovery time for Jaycee and her two daughters fathered by her abductor.

"They [Starlet, 15, and Angel, 11] don't have any anchor in the real world. [Jaycee] at least had 4,000 days with her parents and like 9,000 days with this guy. It will just be so difficult for them to find their way back. But it can happen," McGraw said

"There will be a mix of emotions where they're actually grieving the loss of this person and missing him being, but then learning what has happened," McGraw explained.

"It's going to be such conflict that they can really fall through cracks if great care is not taken."

http://www.examiner.com/x-19663-LA-Crime-Examiner~y2009m9d10-Dr-Phil-gives-his-opinion-on-the-Jaycee-Lee-Dugard-story

SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL:9/11 Educational Lesson Plans

2009-09-11T00:43:00.001-07:00

New Web Site Pushes 9/11’s Educational Message

By Lauren Barack -- School Library Journal, 9/11/2009

Teachers and librarians hoping to better integrate the anniversary of September 11, 2001 into the classroom curriculum have a new tool at hand.

The mulitmedia package includes an interview with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

More than 70 interviews with victims’ families, first responders, and politicians, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, make up the September 11th Education Program, a multimedia package that went on sale late last month.

Besides the poignant videos, educators can find lesson plans on how to incorporate tools, including Google Earth, and topics such as United States foreign policy into classes for 6th to 12th graders to help present not just the events of September 11, but its affect on the world. Pilot programs have already launched in several states, including Kansas, California, Alabama, Indiana, New Jersey, and New York.

However, the architects of the materials hope teachers will see a larger use for the DVDs and lesson plans than just teaching students about that fateful day. “We built it to be very flexible,” says David Weiner, CEO of the Social Studies School Services, a Culver City, CA-based educational resource firm that published the curriculum. “We designed it be used over several periods, and weeks.”

The program is not currently geared toward elementary school children. But Weiner says that creators are looking at how to tone-down the delicate issues that stem from the tragedy to make them understandable to students in the younger grades. “A lot comes down to the sensitivity of the material,” he says. “It’s challenging even for 6th to 12th graders.”

While educators can purchase complete sets of the program for $99, Weiner says that price is expected to rise to $129 after September 18. But a multi-user price of $499, which comes with five sets of DVDs, will stay the same. All proceeds benefit the non-profit September 11th Education Trust, says Weiner.

For those schools looking for something a little more budget-friendly to help teach students about the eighth anniversary of September 11th, they can stream a 12-minute film, access teacher forums, and download sample lesson plans for free, after registering on the site.

Once there, Weiner encourages teachers and librarians to stick around, and find tips on how to use the material throughout the year.

“We hope it’s not just taught around 9/11,” he says. “We hope it’s used around a larger history class.”

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6696140.html?industryid=47078

NEVER FORGET 9/11:and the 'Good War'

2009-09-11T00:43:00.000-07:00

9/11: Some Can Never Forget

The tragedy of 9/11 has permanently bonded many of those affected by that day.

NewMajority asked a former Homeland Security Department Secretary, retired CIA and FBI officials, and some families who lost loved ones for their impressions and reflections on this somber day in American history.

September 11th will always be embedded in the minds and spirits of those most affected. All those interviewed unequivocally felt it is a day of mourning and remembrance. Gordon Haberman, who lost his daughter at the World Trade Center, reflected that “9/11 to me is fresh every day… 9/11 will always be a day of remembrance for me.” For many of the CIA and FBI officials interviewed by NewMajority it is no different. A former CIA operative noted that “I think about it every day. In my mind it was practically yesterday. It’s still raw for a lot of us.” Craig Dotlo, a former FBI agent, explained how his fellow colleagues felt while investigating the terrorist act. He sadly commented that “those victims are no longer faceless, but they are real people with families and dreams whose lives were extinguished in just moments. Seasoned FBI agents who felt the pain of those families… knew this incident would leave an indelible mark on the victim’s families and many would never really be able to recover from it.”

The family members interviewed hope that Americans will not forget and become complacent. John Pasquale who lost a son and son-in-law at the World Trade Center stated “People always forget the lessons of the past.” Another former operative concurred with Pasquale in stating that “I’m becoming increasingly concerned that the U.S. has forgotten, especially since there’s not been another major attack here.”

Many former officials told NewMajority that they will never forget that nightmarish day. A former high ranking CIA official wants the family members to know that “I think of 9/11 all the time. I want to always remember the awful feeling of that day. To forget would dishonor those who died.” Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who recently wrote the book Homeland Security, commented to NewMajority that “I have not forgotten them. I have on my desk a piece of steel which has written on it ‘recovered steel World Trade Center’ and I keep it on my desk because it is a visible symbol that I have NOT forgotten.”

All those interviewed feel that the current administration is soft regarding the War on Terror. Debra Burlingame, whose brother was the pilot of the plane that crashed into the Pentagon, is outraged about what this administration is doing. She angrily stated that “he (Obama) is not taking us back to September 10th; he is taking us back to worse than that. At least on September 10th the public was unaware of the nature of the threat.” A former high ranking CIA official agreed and explained that he thinks “about the families and how their lives were forever changed in an instant - and how that could easily happen again to other unsuspecting families.”

The family members are horrified at how the Obama administration is weakening the CIA and catering to the rights of the terrorists. Alice Hoagland who lost a son on United Flight 93 felt it is a travesty that those who are truly guilty, the terrorists, are not getting prosecuted; yet, Attorney General Holder is deciding if CIA operatives should be prosecuted. She furiously stated that “people are whining in the fact that the terrorists were waterboarded. I would happily be waterboarded if it would bring my son back to me.” Joe Holland who lost a son at the World Trade Center does not understand why the CIA is being punished for doing their job which saved lives and stopped attacks. He wonders “if the Obama administration’s actions are making this country risk averse” and he “hopes that Americans wake up.”

Jacquie Van Laere, who lost a brother at the World Trade Center, feels that many Americans do not understand the circumstances surrounding the period directly after 9/11. She insightfully stated that “it is very difficult to look back in hindsight and make a judgment. My brother and 3,000 other people were blown apart. I think we had every reason to fear much worse and I think the CIA was acting on our best behalf.” Another former high ranking CIA official made the same point when he noted that “people don’t understand that time was not on the CIA’s side. We were within days of stopping another attack. No one can understand that unless they were there.”

Going forward what should be done? Bob and Shirley Hemenway, who lost a son at the Pentagon, felt that “the CIA should be left alone to do their job to keep Americans safe.” Maureen and Al Santora want Americans to recognize “who are the truly evil ones.” They are tired of hearing criticism about the CIA from those individuals “who would never put their lives on the line and complain how these poor individuals (the terrorists) were treated so miserably. None of the terrorists were beheaded, none were shot, and none were stabbed.” A former CIA station chief wanted Americans to stop assuming the danger has passed and quit tolerating “the administration’s pandering to leftist interest groups and turning on the intelligence community.” Richard Marquise, a former FBI agent, wants to prevent 9/11 from ever happening again which is “one of the reasons I do what I do - teach cops how to prevent terrorism.”

Kent Clizbe, a former CIA operative, became very emotional when reflecting about the past and commenting on the future. He wanted the 9/11 family members to know that “Americans are sorry for their losses and that those fighting the terrorists, whether the FBI, CIA, law enforcement, or those in the military, are doing their best to strike those that killed your loved ones. We will continue to do our best so please keep the faith.”

http://www.newmajority.com/911-some-can-never-forget

9/11 and the 'Good War'

It was the furies of the Arab world, not Afghanistan, that struck America eight years ago today.

The road that led to 9/11 was never a defining concern of President Barack Obama. But he returned to 9/11 as he sought to explain and defend the war in Afghanistan in a speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Phoenix, Ariz., on Aug. 17. "The insurgency in Afghanistan didn't just happen overnight and we won't defeat it overnight, but we must never forget: This is not a war of choice; it is a war of necessity. Those who attacked America on 9/11 are plotting to do so again. If left unchecked, the Taliban insurgency will mean an even larger safe haven from which al Qaeda could plot to kill more Americans."

This distinction between a war of choice (Iraq) and a war of necessity (Afghanistan) has become canonical to American liberalism. But we should dispense with that distinction, for it is both morally false and intellectually muddled. No philosophy of just and unjust wars will support it. It was amid the ferocious attack on the American project in Iraq that there was born the idea of Afghanistan as the "good war." This was the club with which the Iraq war was battered. This was where that binary division was set up: The good war of necessity in the mountains of Afghanistan, the multilateral war born of a collective NATO decision—versus George W. Bush's war of choice in Iraq, fought in defiance of the opinions of allies who had been with us in the aftermath of 9/11, and whose goodwill we squandered in the cruel streets of Fallujah and the deserts of Anbar.

Our elections last November, this narrative had it, had given us a chance to bring America's embattled solitude and isolation in the world to an end. A man with strands of Islam woven into his identity and biography was catapulted to the presidency. We had drained the swamps of anti-Americanism. Assalam aleikum (peace be upon you) in Cairo, Ankara and Tehran. The great enmity, that unfashionable clash of civilizations, was declared done and over with. A new history presumably began with Mr. Bush's return to his home in Texas.

But it will not do to offer up 9/11 as a casus belli in Afghanistan while holding out the threat of legal retribution against the men and women in our intelligence services who carried out our wishes in that time of concern and peril. To begin with, a policy that falls back on 9/11 must proceed from a correct reading of the wellsprings of Islamist radicalism. The impulse that took America from Kabul to Baghdad had been on the mark. Those were not Afghans who had struck American soil on 9/11. They were Arabs. Their terrorism came out of the pathologies of Arab political life. Their financiers were Arabs, and so were those crowds in Cairo and Nablus and Amman that had winked at the terror and had seen those attacks as America getting its comeuppance on that terrible day. Kabul had not sufficed as a return address in that twilight war; it was important to take the war into the Arab world itself, and the despot in Baghdad had drawn the short straw. He had been brazen and defiant at a time of genuine American concern, and a lesson was made of him.

No Arabs had been emotionally invested in Mullah Omar and the Taliban, but the ruler in Baghdad was a favored son of that Arab nation. The decapitation of his regime was a cautionary tale for his Arab brethren. Grant George W. Bush his due. He drew a line when the world of the Arabs was truly in the wind and played upon by powerful temptations. Mr. Obama and his advisers need not pay heroic tribute to the men and women who labored before them. But they have so maligned their predecessors and their motives that the appeal to 9/11 rings hollow and contrived. In those years behind us, American liberalism distanced itself from American patriotism, and the damage is there to see.

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Associated Press

In the best of circumstances, this Afghan campaign would be a hard sell. This is doubly so at a time of economic distress at home. There is no tradition of central government to be restored in that most tribalized of countries. The lessons, and the analogy, of Vietnam should perhaps be laid to rest. This is not Mr. Obama's Vietnam. It is what it is—his Afghanistan. But there are irresistible parallels with Lyndon Baines Johnson and the way he committed his presidency, and the nation, to a war he dreaded from the start.

This is LBJ in 1964, from a definitive history by A.J. Langguth, "Our Vietnam," published in 2000: "I just don't think it is worth fighting for, and I don't think we can get out. It's just the biggest damn mess." He would prosecute what he called that "bitch of a war" with a premonition that it could wreck his Great Society programs. He knew America's mood. "I don't think the people of the country know much about Vietnam, and I think they care a hell of a lot less." Yet, he took the plunge, he would try to "cheat"—guns and butter at the same time, the war in Asia and the domestic agenda of civil rights and the Great Society. History was merciless. It begot a monumental tragedy in a land of no consequences to American security.

Wars are great clarifiers. Barack Obama's trumpet is uncertain. His call to arms in Afghanistan does not stir. He fears failure in Afghanistan, and nothing more. Having disowned Iraq, kept its cause at a distance, he is forced to fight the war in Afghanistan. So he equivocates and plays for time. Forever the campaigner, he has his eye on the public mood, the steel that his predecessor showed in 2007 when all was in the balance in Iraq is not evident in Mr. Obama.

For the American effort in Afghanistan to stick on the ground in the face of a Taliban insurgency that's gaining in strength and geographical reach, Mr. Obama will have to make a hard choice. He will need a troop commitment of sufficient weight to turn the tide of war. Furthermore, he will have to face his own coalition on the left and convince it that there is a project in Afghanistan worth fighting (and paying) for.

By the evidence of things, this is a decision that he has refused to make, as he pursues his sweeping domestic agenda while keeping Afghanistan in play. He had been sure that NATO forces would rush to his banners, that Europe had stayed away from a serious commitment in Afghanistan because it had been seized with an animus for his predecessor. But Mr. Bush had been an alibi all along. The Europeans are in no mood for this war.

There is a British contingent of decent size in Afghanistan, but there had been one in Iraq as well. The likes of Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schroeder (who dabbled in the most craven of anti-Americanism) are gone and forgotten, but the French and the Germans have not ridden to the rescue of Kandahar. The stringent restrictions on their forces, their very rules of engagement, have left Afghanistan an Anglo-American burden in much the same way Iraq had been.

Eight years ago, we were visited by the furies of Arab lands. We were rudely awakened from a decade whose gurus and pundits had announced the end of ideology, of politics itself, and the triumph of the world-wide Web and the "electronic herd." We had discovered that on the other side of the world masterminds of terror, and preachers, and their foot-soldiers were telling of America the most sordid of tales. We had become, without knowing it, a party to a civil war in the Arab-Islamic world between the autocrats and their disaffected children, between those who wanted to live a normal life and warriors of the faith bent on imposing their will on that troubled arc of geography.

Our country answered that call, not always brilliantly, for we are fated to be strangers in that world and thus fated to improvise and make our way through unfamiliar alleyways. We met chameleons and hustlers of every shade and had to learn, in a hurry, incomprehensible atavisms and pathologies. We fared best when we trusted our sense of things. We certainly haven't been kept safe by the crowds in Paris and Berlin, or by those in Ankara and Cairo who feign desire for our friendship while they yearn for our undoing.

Mr. Ajami, a professor at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies and an adjunct fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution, is the author, among other books, of "The Foreigner's Gift: The Americans, the Arabs and the Iraqis in Iraq" (Free Press, 2007).

Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A19
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203440104574402822520657510.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP 25 RANKINGS 2009

2009-09-08T08:58:00.000-07:00

College Football Top 25

it’s time to review what the college football top 25 teams in the USA Today college football poll did in their week 1 matchups.

Some of the top-ranked teams in the college football rankings went down in week 1 and we are going to update everyone on how the Top 10 among the college football Top 25 looked.

Florida – The Gators easily dominated Charleston State and should remain atop the rankings for another week.

Texas – The offense looked great in a 59-20 victory over Louisiana Monroe but the defense made a few mistakes. Texas should hold their spot.

Oklahoma – BYU shocked the Sooners after quarterback Sam Bradford went out with an injury. The Sooner defense looked great but the offense is going to struggle in the early portion of the year.

USC – Easily defeated the San Jose State Trojans with true freshman quarterback Matt Barkley doing very well. USC’s defense was dominant.

Alabama – The Sooners could jump ahead of USC in the college football rankings after dominating Virginia Tech on both sides of the ball.

Ohio State – Navy almost pulled off the upset here and you have to wonder if Ohio State is overrated yet again.

Virginia Tech – Lost to Alabama and won’t be a top ten in the college football rankings when they are released.

Penn State – The final 31-7 score over Akron was a little deceiving because the Nittany Lions controlled both sides of the ball.

LSU – Held on for an 8-point victory over Washington but the Huskies really outplayed LSU.

Mississippi – Easily dispatched of Memphis and could jump up to #8 in the rankings if LSU drops any.

Stay tuned for an update on what the college football Top 25 rankings will look like after week 1 and get in all of your week 2 bets at BoDog Sportsbook.

Three top-25 teams in the NCAA football rankings went down in week 1 and there should be some movement with teams going off completely and new ones taking their places.

Virginia Tech, Oregon, and Oklahoma all suffered defeats this weekend and Florida State may join that list if the halftime 10-14 score against Miami holds up.

The Hurricanes are likely to jump into the top-25 NCAA football rankings if they hold on for the victory. Florida State is top-20 in both sets of rankings and the Hurricanes were one of the 5-to-6 teams that barely missed the cut to be included.

A victory against a strong Florida State team will put them in contention to be included while Oregon is likely off the rankings list after their solid defeat at the hands of the Boise State Broncos.

Cincinnati was unranked in both major NCAA football rankings but made a strong case to get some love at the bottom of the top-25’s with a 47-15 stomping of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

The Bearcats dominated throughout the game and the road win could have them as high as #20 or so.

The Michigan State Spartans are another team who barely missed getting into the top-25 NCAA football rankings prior to their week 1 game but they could get extra votes this week after dismantling Montana State 44-3 on Saturday.

It wasn’t the world’s best opponent but the Spartans still dominated clearly while other top-25 teams near the bottom of the rankings failed to impress much.

http://www.theonlinewire.com/15/5217/GAMBLING-ARTICLE/College-Football-Top-25-.aspx

Small protest greets Obama's school speech

2009-09-08T08:57:00.001-07:00

Small protest greets Obama's school speech

ARLINGTON, Va. — Controversy has followed President Barack Obama to the Virginia school where he's getting ready to address the nation's students returning to school for the fall.

A small group of protesters gathered outside Wakefield High School in the Washington suburb of Arlington as the president's motorcade was arriving for the midday speech. One sign read, "Mr. President, stay away from our kids."

Inside, Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan met with some 40 students in the school library. He told the young people that while his family didn't have money or connections, he still was able to get a good education.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Take responsibility for your education. Go to class and listen. Don't let failures define you.

That's the advice President Barack Obama will give schoolchildren Tuesday in a speech that drew fire even before he delivered it.

"We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems," Obama said. "If you don't do that — if you quit on school — you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country."

The White House posted Obama's remarks on its Web site Monday.

The president was to deliver the talk at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va., a Washington suburb. The speech will be broadcast live on C-SPAN and on the White House Web site.

In the prepared remarks, Obama tells young people that all the work of parents, educators and others won't matter "unless you show up to those schools, pay attention to those teachers."

Obama's planned talk has proven controversial, with several conservative organizations and individuals accusing him of trying to pitch his arguments too aggressively in a local-education setting. White House officials, including Education Secretary Arne Duncan, have said the allegations are silly.

Obama makes no reference in his prepared remarks to the uproar surrounding his speech. Nor does he make an appeal for support for tough causes such as his health care overhaul. He uses the talk to tell kids about his at-times clumsy ways as a child and to urge them to set goals and work hard to achieve them.

"I think it is a very good speech," Loudoun County, Va., school superintendent Edgar Hatrick told WTOP News in Washington, "but it's just not on the first day of school very convenient for everybody to stop in the middle of lunch and to stop everything else they're doing and hear the live broadcast."

Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt told KDKA Radio: "If the president wants to speak to the students of America and talk about the importance of academic achievement and working hard, that is a wonderful thing and ought not to be the subject of debate."

Duncan, in an interview Tuesday on MSNBC, said the controversy wasn't merited, but he also acknowledged that guidance the administration sent to schools about how kids could participate Tuesday could have been better worded.

In his talk, Obama says: "At the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents and the best schools in the world, and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities."

Some conservatives have called on schools and parents to boycott the address. They say Obama is using the opportunity to promote a political agenda.

Schools don't have to show the speech. And some districts have decided not to, partly in response to concerns from parents.

Duncan's department has also taken heat for proposed lesson plans distributed to accompany the speech.

The education secretary has acknowledged that a section about writing to the president on how students could help him meet education goals was poorly worded and has been changed.

In his remarks, Obama leaves the students with some words of encouragement.

"I expect great things from each of you," he said. "So don't let us down — don't let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it."

On the Net:

White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov

PRESIDENT OBAMA School Kids EDUCATION SPEECH Transcript

2009-09-08T08:57:00.000-07:00

Prepared text of Obama's speech to school students

By The Associated Press (AP) – 8 hours ago

The prepared text of President Barack Obama's back-to-school address scheduled for Tuesdays, as released in advance by the White House:

Hello, everyone — how's everybody doing today? I'm here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we've got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through 12th grade. I'm glad you all could join us today.

I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it's your first day in a new school, so it's understandable if you're a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you're in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could've stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.

I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn't have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday — at 4:30 in the morning.

Now I wasn't too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I'd fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I'd complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."

So I know some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I'm here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year.

Now I've given a lot of speeches about education. And I've talked a lot about responsibility.

I've talked about your teachers' responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn.

I've talked about your parents' responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don't spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox.

I've talked a lot about your government's responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren't working where students aren't getting the opportunities they deserve.

But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.

And that's what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.

Every single one of you has something you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That's the opportunity an education can provide.

Maybe you could be a good writer — maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper — but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor — maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine — but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a senator or a Supreme Court justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.

And no matter what you want to do with your life — I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You can't drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You've got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.

And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.

You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You'll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.

We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don't do that — if you quit on school — you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country.

Now I know it's not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.

I get it. I know what that's like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us things the other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn't fit in.

So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been. I did some things I'm not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.

But I was fortunate. I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams. My wife, our first lady Michelle Obama, has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have much. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.

Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job, and there's not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right.

But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life — what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home — that's no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That's no excuse for not trying.

Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.

That's what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.

Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn't speak English when she first started school. Hardly anyone in her hometown went to college, and neither of her parents had gone either. But she worked hard, earned good grades, got a scholarship to Brown University, and is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to being Dr. Jazmin Perez.

I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three. He's endured all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer — hundreds of extra hours — to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind, and he's headed to college this fall.

And then there's Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods, she managed to get a job at a local health center; start a program to keep young people out of gangs; and she's on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.

Jazmin, Andoni and Shantell aren't any different from any of you. They faced challenges in their lives just like you do. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their education and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same. That's why today, I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education — and to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book. Maybe you'll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you'll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, I hope you'll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.

Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.

I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work — that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you're not going to be any of those things.

But the truth is, being successful is hard. You won't love every subject you study. You won't click with every teacher. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right this minute. And you won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.

That's OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures. J.K. Rowling's first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

These people succeeded because they understand that you can't let your failures define you — you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time. If you get in trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave. If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.

No one's born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work. You're not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song. You've got to practice. It's the same with your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust — a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor — and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.

And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you — don't ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.

The story of America isn't about people who quit when things got tough. It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best. It's the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and found this nation. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.

So today, I want to ask you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country?

Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn. But you've got to do your part too. So I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don't let us down — don't let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

BLACK SUNRISE:EXCLUSIVE PICS ASIA TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE JULY 2009 INDIA AND CHINA

2009-07-22T00:43:00.000-07:00

Thousands witness rare celestial spectacle

Press Trust of India

Thousands of skywatchers burst into an applause as darkness descended soon after sunrise as the moon came in between the earth and the sun during the total solar eclipse this morning.

Share your eclipse moments with us!

Astronomers who had gathered in Dibrugarh in Assam witnessed the total eclipse between 6:31 am and 6:34 am

However, their counterparts in Taregna in Bihar, touted as the best location to watch the longest eclipse in a century were not so fortunate as clouds played spoilsport blanking out the early morning sun.

Image: The moon passes between the sun and the earth during a total solar eclipse in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Photographs: Jayanta Shaw

http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2009/jul/22/slide-show-1-thousands-witness-solar-eclipse.htm

DEEP IMPACT:SOLAR ECLIPSE DOs and DONTs

2009-07-21T09:23:00.001-07:00

Solar eclipse dos and don'ts

July 22, 2009 will be a special morning for all the star-gazers among us.

Many parts of India will experience a total solar eclipse -- the sun will be blocked by the moon completely for an estimated one minute, which could go up to five minutes -- from 5.28 am to 7.40 am.

The next solar eclipse of this kind is estimated to occur in the next century on June 13, 2132. While many have been waiting for this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon, spirits may have been dampened because of the dark rain clouds or the various religious mores attached to a solar eclipse. Some of you have probably been warned to stay indoors and not use metal objects during the eclipse.

However, if you know the dos and don'ts, this total solar eclipse can be an event to remember. Warnings will probably be posted all over the place of sighting, but, here's reinforcing a few musts:

Photographs: REUTERS/Beawiharta

Solar eclipse don'ts

Don't look directly at the sun throughout the progress of the eclipse (during the partial eclipse). Looking directly at the sun can permanently damage your eyes. Therefore, as the sun is being eclipsed remember to wear solar filters or welders' goggles. These must be worn after the total eclipse too, as the sun begins to be visible once more.

Don't use sunglasses to view the eclipse. Even the best of Polaroid's can't save your eyes from the sun's intense glare.

Don't worry about the harm the solar eclipse will do to your baby, if you are pregnant. Research shows that an eclipse does not affect the baby inside the womb.

Don't buy the filter or film from spurious, road-side vendors. There are scores of unsafe filters like color films, black-and-white films that contains no silver, smoked or colored glass, photographic neutral density filters and polarizing filters. Most of these transmit high levels of invisible infrared radiation which can cause a thermal retinal burn, which translates into damaging your eyes.

Solar eclipse dos

Get a headstart of at least 20-30 minutes before the actual eclipse if you are thinking of watching it from another location.

You can look at the sun directly when it is completely eclipsed. It is safe to watch the sun when the moon completely blocks the intense light (not before or after).

To view the progression of the eclipse, you may want to use a pinhole camera. You can make one yourself by using two thin, stiff pieces of cardboard. Make a clear hole with a pin in the centre of one cardboard piece. Place the second piece below the first, a little distance away. As the eclipse begins, stand with your back towards the sun (as mentioned earlier, never look at the sun directly during the progression) holding the two pieces in front of you, letting the sunlight fall on the first. The light will pass through the pinhole, casting an inverted image of the sun on the second piece below. You can increase or decrease the size and brightness of the image by moving the pieces closer or farther apart.

Use binoculars or a telescope to view the total eclipse, if you have access to one. If you plan to use these during the progression, make sure they are fitted with solar filters.

View the eclipse from a safe location. Avoid crowded temples or public viewing spots, unless it is managed by professionals like Nehru Planetarium or meteorologists.

Eat at timely intervals through the day. Especially, if you are traveling to a remote location. Fasting may prevent you from enjoying the moment.

View the eclipse from a place that is not cluttered, like the terrace of a high-rise building, or a remote field without any trees, or even a place outside the city. Wherever your view is not likely to get blocked by buildings, trees, etc.

Remember to pack your bag the night before if you are a photography buff and you want to capture the eclipse. Of course, do remember the event is bigger than the photograph.

http://getahead.rediff.com/slide-show/2009/jul/21/slide-show-1-solar-eclipes-dos-and-donts.htm

22 JULY LONGEST TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE: CELESTIAL EVENT OF 21ST CENTURY

2009-07-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

July 22 eclipse may be most viewed ever

The total solar eclipse passing over some of Earth's most densely-populated regions on Wednesday may become the most viewed ever.

Share your eclipse moments with us!

People across central India and in parts of Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar will briefly find themselves in daytime darkness before the solar eclipse proceeds into China.

Most of the best viewing opportunities are in China, where some 30 million people will be able to witness the solar eclipse in the coastal cities of Shanghai and Hangzhou alone, according to veteran eclipse scientist Jay Pasachoff of Williams College in Massachusetts.

It's not just the eclipse that's drawing interest...

The eclipse will then continue east, passing over Japan's Ryukyu Islands before reaching its maximum duration point over the Pacific Ocean, where the sun will be completely blocked by the moon for 6 minutes and 39 seconds, according to NASA scientist Fred Espenak.

Thousands of overseas tourists and potentially millions of Chinese are flocking to areas along the eclipse path, where hotels are charging higher rates, according to Chinese media reports.

The July 2009 total solar eclipse is expected to have the longest duration of totality in the 21st century, experts say, and should give Pasachoff plenty of data to keep him and his team busy for months.

Pasachoff will see only about five and half minutes of totality from a site in eastern China. 'But once you have five minutes-plus of totality, the extra minute that we could have seen is not significant,' he added.

Pasachoff and his team will observe the solar eclipse from a remote hotel at an altitude of about 3,000 feet (900 meters) on Tianhuangping, a mountain outside the Chinese city of Hangzhou. The location sits above pollution that could obstruct a full view of the eclipse.

He chose the site years in advance so he could witness the longest totality from the Asian mainland.

Teams of astronomers from around the world have already joined him at Tianhuangping.

'We brought about half a ton of equipment and picked up an equal amount borrowed here from our Chinese colleagues, so there is a lot to get ready,' he added.

According to Rollie Anderson, a retired actuary from St. Louis, Missouri, 'The cosmic coincidence that the sun and moon both appear in the sky as the same size, and then, on top of that, they line up every now and again. Just the very idea of that is pretty mind-blowing.'

Source: ANI

http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/jul/21/july-22-eclipse-may-be-most-viewed-ever.htm

ERIN ANDREWS Peephole VIDEO Rapidshare-PARIS HILTON Shows The Way?

2009-07-20T01:15:00.000-07:00

Lawyer Vows Charges in Erin Andrews Peephole Video Case

ESPN has confirmed that sideline reporter Erin Andrews was the victim of an egregious invasion of privacy, in which someone videotaped an undressed EA in her hotel room through a peephole and posted the results to the Internet. Marshall B. Grossman, a high-powered lawyer representing Andrews, put out a release late Friday promising a push to bring criminal and civil charges to the unknown videographer as well as "anyone who has published the material."

ESPN released a brief statement Saturday vowing the network's support of Andrews as she deals with the situation.

Grossman wrote the following for a press release distributed widely by his firm:

"While alone in the privacy of her hotel room, Erin Andrews was surreptitiously videotaped without her knowledge or consent. She was the victim of a crime and is taking action to protect herself and help ensure that others are not similarly violated in the future. Although the perpetrator or perpetrators of this criminal act have not yet been identified, when they are identified she intends to bring both civil and criminal charges against them and against anyone who has published the material. We request respect of Erin's privacy at this time, while she and her representatives are working with the authorities."

News of the video circulated late this week, though it seems most did not believe the woman captured on tape was actually the ESPN star. The news gained particular steam with a Friday link from Deadspin to a blog which had hosted the video before being contacted by an ESPN lawyer. That an ESPN lawyer contacted the blog in question -- run by Doug Sheckler, a peddler of a few half-sports/half-softcore blogs -- seemed toinitially implicate it was in fact Andrews in the video.

Deadspin's post ended up sending the story into overdrive, where it currently resides. (As of this posting, Andrews is involved in two of the top 10 Google hot trends for Saturday, narrowly edged by Tom Watson at the British Open.) Deadspin editor A.J. Daulerio has since apologized for calling attention to the particular blog where the video was most recently posted. Though the video had already been removed, knowing where it was has given savvy web users a virtual roadmap to the video.

There will be a time for delving deeper into the root causes of the type of behavior that results in the criminal action Andrews has to deal with. But suffice to say that while misogyny is not limited to Internet culture, a wide swath of sports blogs -- dominated by the young male demographic -- enable the sort of gross attitude that makes something like this seem like a conquest instead of a violation.

Bloggers can't police the world, but they can police their own writing and the general tone their blog embodies regarding the female perspective. Many don't, and that's at least in part to blame for the disgusting objectification that leads someone to videotape a sideline reporter through a hotel peephole.

Sports Internet Scandals

Jamie Squire, Getty Images

While undressed in her hotel room, popular ESPN reporter Erin Andrews was videotaped through a peephole, and the resulting footage was posted on the Internet. Now her lawyer vows that civil and criminal charges will be filed against the perpetrator(s). Click through to see more web scandals from the sports world.

http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/07/18/lawyer-vows-charges-in-erin-andrews-peephole-video-case/
http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2009/07/18/lawyer-vows-charges-in-erin-andrews-peephole-video-case/

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Moon-FAKED APOLLO MOON LANDING RUMORS PERSIST

2009-07-20T01:06:00.000-07:00

Rumours of faked Apollo missions persist

For a small yet vocal minority the moon landings are not real history, but an elaborate hoax.

There are now numerous films and websites purporting to show that what is arguably the greatest technical achievement of the 20th century was faked by the U.S. government.

The doubters claim that photos and videos from the Apollo program contain tell-tale signs that the moon walks were staged in a film studio on Earth. Among the accusations, they say the direction of shadows suggests the scenes were lit by artificial lighting. And they say the American flag seems to wave in the wind – which would be impossible on the airless surface of the moon. Above all, they insist the technology and computer power of the 1960s just wasn't up to the job.

“If it was so easy to put a man on the moon in the 1960s, there would be [permanent] bases there already,” said Bart Sibrel. The Nashville, Tenn.,-based movie maker has created two anti-Apollo films – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Moon and Astronauts Gone Wild.

The doubters are finding fresh converts in the generations born after Neil Armstrong put the first human boot print into lunar soil on July 20, 1969.

Concerned that the younger generation might be led astray, believers have launched a counter-offensive with their own Internet sites that attempt to debunk the claims made by detractors.

Jay Windley, an engineer from Salt Lake City, Utah, set up a website – www.clavius.org – to refute the accusations with input from experts. “The general public with an ordinary school-book knowledge of Apollo is not going to be able to pick through these technical arguments,” he said. “It really does take an engineer, or scientist or photo analyst, people who have been trained and are qualified in these fields, to explain what exactly is wrong with the conspiracy theories.”

Mr. Windley isn't surprised some people are drawn into the conspiracy camp. “A lot of it has to do with distrust of authority,” he said. “The government is an easy target for these sorts of accusations because there are examples of inappropriate behaviour on the part of the government. And so it's easy to say [faking the moon landings] is one of those examples.”

Over the years, Mr. Sibrel has doggedly pursued – some might say harassed – the Apollo astronauts. On one occasion, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, the second man on the moon, took at swipe at him.

According to Mr. Sibrel, Mr. Aldrin lost his temper when challenged to swear on the Bible that he had actually walked on the moon. But Mr. Sibrel admits he likely provoked the astronaut.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/rumours-of-faked-apollo-missions-persist/article1224059/

MICHAEL JACKSON Death Might Be HOMICIDE,Final Autopsy Report Definitely Drug overdose

2009-07-11T05:47:00.000-07:00

MJ's death: Homicide not ruled out

A top cop probing into Pop King Michael Jackson's death has revealed that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has not ruled out homicide as yet, as investigators subpoenaed the singer's medical records.

'Are we dealing with homicide? Are we dealing with an accidental overdose? What are we dealing with? So as we are standing here speaking, I can tell you, I don't have that information,' the New York Daily News quoted Police Chief Bill Bratton as having said on CNN on Thursday night.

His comments came at a time when Jackson's father, Joe, revealed his own suspicions about his son's death.

'I do believe it was foul play,' Jackson told ABC News' Nightline.

Bratton said that the probe into the Thriller star's death might lead to the framing of criminal charges, based on 'corroboration from the coroner's office as to the cause of death.'

Five doctors, who had treated Jackson in the past, are being investigated to determine whether they supplied the singer with the powerful sedative Diprivan.

Bratton said that the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and the State Attorney General's office, which keeps a database of prescription drugs, were assisting.

One of the doctors being scrutinised is Jackson's dermatologist Arnold Klein, his attorney Richard Charnley has confirmed.

Text: ANI

http://movies.rediff.com/look/2009/jul/10/homicide-not-ruled-out-in-michael-jacksons-death.htm