Montgomery College | United States Online News

A workshop in Spanish: Preparing Your Child for College will be held from 7-8:30 pm Feb. 2 at Wheaton High School, 12601 Dalewood Drive, Wheaton. Parents can get information from a “Montgomery College”recruteur admissions on how to help their children prepare for college, how to pay for higher education and how to support students in their quest for a degree. The workshop is free and childcare and free interpretation services are available. For more information 301-517-5940, e-mail or visit AskMCPS@mcpsmd.org www.mcpsparentacademy.org.

A workshop focusing on education: Parents as Advocates and family-school partnership will be held from

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Francis Scott Key Middle School, 910 Promenade Schindler, Silver Spring. Experts will discuss the special education process and share tips on how to effectively advocate for your child. This is the first in a series of four workshops conducted by the Montgomery County Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. Other workshops in the series will be held Feb. 3, 10 February and 17 February. The workshop is free and childcare and free interpretation services are available. For more information 301-517-5940 or visit www.mcpsparentacademy.o

Read More

Muslim Brotherhood Arrests Reported As Egypt Protests

The secretive Islamic opposition group has long renounced violence and may be the most reasonable option. Bruce Riedel on why Obama shouldn't panic—and should let Egyptians decide their fate.

The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia has sent a shock wave through the Arab world. Never before has the street toppled a dictator. Now Egypt is shaking, Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year-old regime faces its most serious threat ever. The prospect of change in Egypt inevitably raises questions about the oldest and strongest opposition movement in the country, the Muslim Brotherhood , also known as Ikhwan. Can America work with an Egypt where the Ikhwan is part of a transition or even a new government?

Photos: The Protests in Egypt

The short answer is it is not our decision to make. Egyptians will decide the outcome, not Washington. We should not try to pick Egyptians' rulers. Every time we have done so, from Vietnam’s generals to Afghanistan’s Hamid Karzai, we have had buyer’s remorse. But our interests are very much involved so we have a great stake in the outcome. Understanding the Brotherhood is vital to understanding our options.

The Muslim Brethren was founded in 1928 by Shaykh Hassan al Banna as an Islamic alternative to weak secular nationalist parties that failed to secure Egypt’s freedom from British colonialism after World War I. Banna preached a fundamentalist Islamism and advocated the creation of an Islamic Egypt, but he was also open to importing techniques of political organization and propaganda from Europe that rapidly made the Brotherhood a fixture in Egyptian politics. Branches of the Brotherhood grew across the Arab world. By World War 2, it became more violent in its opposition to the British and the British-dominated monarchy, sponsoring assassinations and mass violence. After the army seized power in 1952, it briefly flirted with supporting Gamal Abdel Nasser’s government but then moved into opposition. Nasser ruthlessly suppressed it.

Nasser and his successors, Anwar Sadat and Mubarak, have alternatively repressed and demonized the Brotherhood or tolerated it as an anti-communist and right-wing opposition. Technically illegal, it has an enormous social-welfare infrastructure that provides cheap education and health care. In Egypt’s unfair elections, it is always the only opposition that does well even against the heavily rigged odds.

Nasser and his successors, Anwar Sadat and Mubarak, have alternatively repressed and demonized the Brotherhood or tolerated it as an anti-communist and right-wing opposition. Technically illegal, it has an enormous social-welfare infrastructure that provides cheap education and health care. In Egypt’s unfair elections, it is always the only opposition that does well even against the heavily rigged odds.

Read More

NASA Marks 25th Anniversary of the Challenger Disaster

NASA is remembering three major tragedies in its history this week, starting with the 25th anniversary of the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger on Friday.

"This year marks the 25th anniversary of the loss of the Challenger—a tragedy that caused us to completely rethink our systems and processes as we worked to make the shuttle safer," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in an AFP report.

Along with deputy administrator Lori Garver, Bolden honored the lives of those lost in Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia by laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia Thursday morning.

"The nation will never forget Jan. 28, 1986, nor its indelible images," Bolden added.

Challenger's entire crew was killed when the shuttle exploded just 73 seconds after its launch, 46,000 feet in the air. The explosion was broadcast on live television.

In 2003, a faulty heat shield caused Columbia to disintegrate as it re-entered the earth's atmosphere, killing seven astronauts. A fire aboard Apollo 1 proved fatal for the vessel's crew of three in 1967. This mission was the first of NASA's manned trips to the moon.

Since 1964, 24 people have been killed in a NASA mission, but NASA says it has learned since then.

"Safety is the number one priority at NASA and the shuttle launch schedule does not drive discussions or decisions when issues arise," a NASA spokesperson told PCMag. "That is reiterated often and is apparent in media events about the issues."

Perhaps the most telling example is the recent delays in the coming launch of Space Shuttle Discovery. The ship was originally set to take off on its final voyage on Nov. 1, but due to leaks, inclement weather, electrical issues, and equipment problems, the mission was delayed more than a half a dozen times. It's now scheduled to lift off Feb. 24.

"NASA has learned hard lessons from each of our tragedies, and they are lessons that we will continue to keep at the forefront of our work as we continuously strive for a culture of safety that will help us avoid our past mistakes and heed warnings while corrective measures are possible," Bolden said.

After Discovery, the shuttle Endeavor is supposed to launch in April 18, the AFP said. Additionally, if Congress hands over the necessary funds, NASA is hoping to send Space Shuttle Atlantis into orbit for an additional trip.

In October, President Obama signed the 2010 NASA Authorization Act, which added an additional flight to the space shuttle fleet before its retirement The administration is looking at a June launch for Atlantis, but it's lacking several hundred million dollars necessary to get the ship off the ground

Read More

Packers and Bears, this time for a title - NFL- NBC Sports

CHICAGO - Love those big rivalries all you want — Lakers-Celtics, Yankees-Red Sox, Ohio State-Michigan.

They've got nothing on Packers-Bears for grit.

For 90 years, from a time of leather helmets to these days of instant-replay challenges and excessive-celebration penalties, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears have played rough. Through cold and wind and snow and bitter winters, these two bloody-knuckled pioneers of the NFL and their founders, Curly Lambeau and George Halas, have left marks on the game that will never go away. Twenty-one NFL championships between them, dozens of Hall of Famers who line the walls in Canton and a combative history of rugged, emotional matchups.

Read More

Danica Flores Magpantay is Supermodel 2011

Danica Flores Magpantay, a University of the Philippines Fine Arts student, was named as the 2011 Ford Supermodel of the Year, a prestigious award held in New York City.

Danica won a $250,000-worth modeling contract from the Eileen Ford Modeling Agency, which is believed to be the largest and most prestigious international modeling competition. Magpantay stood out from the rest of the 40 aspiring candidates from around the globe.

Danica Flores Magpantay stands 5’9” and weighs 109 lbs. Source: Manila Bulletin

Read more: http://iamjammed.com/blogging/danica-flores-magpantay-named-supermodel-of-the-world-2011/#ixzz1Bs2fzjlM
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Read More

Israel inquiry finds Gaza aid flotilla raid 'was legal'

An Israeli inquiry has found the country's navy acted legally in a deadly raid on a flotilla of aid ships trying to reach Gaza last May.

The raid, in which nine Turkish activists were killed, attracted widespread international condemnation.

Correspondents say the report will probably be dismissed by Israel's critics as biased.

A separate UN inquiry last year said the navy had shown an "unacceptable level of brutality".

Israel's actions severely strained relations with its long-time ally, Turkey.

The 300-page Turkel Committee report found the actions of the Israeli navy in the raid and Israel's naval blockade of Gaza were both legal under international law.

The panel of inquiry - headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Jacob Turkel, with five Israeli members and two international observers - was set up in June.

One of the inquiry's members died aged 93 during its hearings.

Read More

Danica Magpantay from the Philippines wins Ford Supermodel of the World 2011

Danica Flores Magpantay, 17, a University of the Philippines (UP) Fine Arts student, wins the FordSupermodel of the World 2011. She’s the first Filipina to win the prestigious contest since 1980. Magpantay also won a cash prize of $250,000 modeling contract with Ford models.

Models from over 50 countries joined the international modeling contest held in New York City Saturday. The prestigious Ford Supermodel of the World was established by Eileen Ford in 1980, and was called “Face of the 80s” back then.

Ford Models Supermodel of the World is the largest and most prestigious international modeling competition. Aspiring models from more than 40 countries join the annual competition.

In October last year, Danica bagged the Ford Supermodel of the World-Philippines title, the same title her mom Lala Flores had won 21 years before.

Danica stands 5’9″ and weighs 109 lbs.

Read More

10 Best Films About Sex

If you enjoy movies about sex, you may want to learn about the 10 best films about sex. Whether they're campy or serious, these films about sex showcase a few of the most popular and enjoyable movies about sex. Here is your list of ten best films about sex.

1. "Boogie Nights" This film was released in 1997, starring Mark Walhberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore and a few other notable actors like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Heather Graham, Don Cheadle and William H. Macy. It was loosely based on the life of John Holmes and focuses on the pornography business with the star of the movie being a newcomer to the industry.
2. "The Last American Virgin" This teen comedy was released in 1982 and although it was mostly a comedy, it also shared many themes of drama. It focuses on a group of teens and their lives with sex and all of its complications.
3. "American Pie" This movie has become the epitome of teen comedies that focus on sex and relationships during high school. It was released in 1999 and has had many sequels, although none as successful as the first movie.
4. "Unfaithful" This movie showcased a cheating spouse and her turbulent affair with a younger man. It starred Diane Lane, Richard Gere and Olivier Martinez. It released in 1999 and was nominated for an Oscar Award for Diane Lane's stunning performance.
5. "Secretary" This movie is a mixture of drama, romance and dark comedy. It was released in 2002 and stars James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal as a boss and secretary that become involved in a bondage type relationship.
6. "Nine 1/2 Weeks" This movie is synonymous with movies that pushed the envelope in what could be shown regarding sex. It starred Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke and was first released in 1986. It is about a couple that tries almost everything when it comes to sex.
7. "Sex and the City" What started out as a highly successful HBO series turned into a movie franchise in 2008. This movie focuses on four women in New York City and their love and sex lives. It stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall and Kristin Davis.
8. "Risky Business" This movie was hugely popular and is still referenced today. It stars Tom Cruise and was released in 1983. "Risky Business" focuses on a young man who starts his own brothel after a series of events.
9. "The Graduate" This is another film that is referenced quite often due to its popularity. It starred Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft and was released in 1967. It told the story of a young college student who is seduced by an older woman, but finds himself falling in love with her daughter.
10. "Wild Orchid" This movie was a sequel to "Nine 1/2 Weeks" and told the erotic story of a woman and man who have a series of trysts in Rio. It was released in 1989 and starred the original member of "Nine 1/2 Weeks," Mickey Rourke.

Now you can learn about ten best films about sex and catch a few you may have missed over the years. You may even have a few favorites of your own but these are some of the more popular choices.

Read More

Pyay Ti Oo Asking formally for Eaindra's Hands in Marriage

Here are the exclusive photos covering the Engagement ceremony of Pyay Ti Oo and Eaindra Kyaw Zin which was held on today (1st January 2011) at Eaindra Kyaw Zin's house. Parents and Guardians of bride and bride-groom, members of Pyay Ti Oo foundation and local reporters attended the ceremony. Pyay Ti Oo and Eaindra Kyaw Zin will hold the Ceremony of signing on Marriage Certificate on 4th January 2011 at Trader Hotel, Yangon. See More Photos....

Read More

Justin Bieber's Diane Warren Collaboration Has A Lot To Live Up To

Justin Bieber is about to get all adult contemporary on us. The teen superstar has reportedly worked with songwriting guru Diane Warren on last-minute track for the soundtrack to his upcoming film "Never Say Never." The movie opens on February 11, and Warren confirmed that she and the film's star "just finished" the track, which is called "Born to Be Somebody."

"It's a beautiful song," Warren told The Hollywood Reporter about the song, the same night she won a Golden Globe for her "Burlesque" track, "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" (performed by Cher in the flick). "That's a good age difference between Cher and Justin — 40 years!"

Warren is certainly not new to the world of film soundtracks. And if Bieber is unsure of her credibility, all he need do is look at her resume for churning out hits. After all, she is the woman behind such hits as "My Heart Will Go On" (the inescapable Celine Dion smash from "Titanic") and that other inescapable song "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" performed by Aerosmith for "Armageddon" (which is played while Steven Tyler's real life daughter Liv watches her movie dad, Bruce Willis, die in space ... spoiler alert?).

Her other big hits include but are not limited to "Because You Loved Me" (another Dion song from the forgotten romantic comedy "Up Close and Personal"), "Un-Break My Heart" (performed by Toni Braxton), "For You I Will" (sung by Monica from the classic animated epic "Space Jam") and "Can't Fight the Moonlight" (one of the many awesome aspects of "Coyote Ugly").

She has also been nominated for Oscars, won a Golden Globe and a Grammy and been nominated for a number of others. Basically, we think that the Biebs might have a hit on his hand — and one the parents of his fans might also enjoy.

Read More

Jodie Sweetin: Engaged to Morty Coyle!

Jodie Sweetin got THE BEST SURPRISE gift at her 29th birthday party in Los Angeles Tuesday night – an engagement ring from Morty Coyle!

The actress' boyfriend and the father of her baby daughter Beatrix proposed to her in front of all their party guests at the Kibitz Room in L.A.

"I was glad that everybody was there," she says. "People videotaped it, it was great. My friend decorated the whole place with little diamonds on the table."

As for the ring, "it's so beautiful," says Jodie of her 2½-carat oval sapphire, surrounded by 18 diamonds in a snowflake shape - "a one-of-a-kind original."

Still, it's a bit early to put the former Full House star (who also has a two-year-old daughter, Zoie, with ex-husband Cody Herpin) on wedding watch.

"We are in no hurry as far as dates or anything like that," says Sweetin, who says that gay marriage rights factor into their decision to wait.

Whatever works for then. Congrats to Modie Swoyle.

Read More

‘American Idol’s’ Revamped Return!

By Erin O’Sullivan

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

“American Idol” made its somewhat revamped return with the excessively-hyped Season 10 premiere on Wednesday night and I am pleased to report that overall, I found it to be mildly entertaining!

A self-proclaimed “Idol” purist, I watched the show’s first season, shrieking and rooting for Kelly Clarkson, and I may or may not have cried when she won.

I was thrilled when the game-changing reality series returned for Season 2. Clay Aiken’s perfectly-pitched vocals had me glued to the screen yet again.

However, when Clay lost to Ruben Studdard, the show lost me. I attempted to get back on board the “Idol” train numerous times during the ensuing seven seasons, but repeatedly lost interest as the show dissolved into a parody of itself.

Paula Abdul’s praise went from something like, “You are amazing and have a beautiful spirit,” to pearls of nonsensical faux-wisdom like, “You are like a bird, sitting on a stone near a waterfall, who sees the beauty of the trees from within,” — all the while delivering big, exaggerated seal-who-wants-a-fish claps.

Simon Cowell’s commentary went from harsh-but-helpful critiques like, “You’re good, but you’ve got to get rid of that mullet,” to, “You look like the orphaned child of an ugly stick.”

And the AUDITIONS – the unbelievably staged auditions (William Hung, anyone?)! I just couldn’t take it anymore.

That said, with the addition of Latina goddess Jennifer Lopez to the judges’ table, I cautiously crept back for more.

Wednesday’s Season 10 premiere kicked off with the sound of a heart beating (because it’s that exciting, obviously) set to a montage of various news outlets reporting upcoming changeups on the “Idol” front. Next came the sweeping shots of a wild crowd, complete with women crying as new judges Steven Tyler and J.Lo were announced.

After the obligatory introductory packages showcasing judges Randy Jackson, Steven and Jennifer, the evening began with a bang when Steven delivered his first critique of the night in the form of … a poem.

“Well, hell fire, save matches, f**k a duck and see what hatches,” the Aerosmith frontman responded, after an ear-piercing country performance by an unnamed blond male.

“F**k a duck”?!? If this is any indication as to how Season 10 will play out, I quit.

Following the aforementioned teaser, the judges headed to Snooki and DJ Pauly D’s stomping grounds for their first rounds of auditions in New Jersey.

Season 4 semi-finalist-turned-Broadway thesp Constantine Maroulis — remember him? No? Most folks don’t! — was on hand to introduce the Garden State, complete with crowds of would-be “Idols” delivering “Jersey-isms,” such as, “How YOU doin’?” and “OHHHH!” Very original.

21-year-old Puerto Rican dance instructor Tiffany Rios made the first memorable entrance when she stormed the stage wearing a zebra bikini top (embellished with large silver stars on each, ummm, upper body attraction).

Before performing an original song about why she deserves to be a reality star, the boisterous brunette gave a tutorial on proper New Jersey grooming – AKA hair teasing. Tiffany was moved to tears upon seeing her “inspiration,” Jennifer, in person. After many tears and hugs from the famous diva, Steven wanted to know, “What’s with the joojoobees on your oohoohbees?” Wow.

Following a second chance from the judges, Tiffany delivered a more vocally promising — yet uniquely worded — version of Celine Dion’s “Power of Love.” Tiffany was sent to Hollywood.

A montage of talented aspiring singers followed before the show quickly headed back to its patented formula with dozens of television trainwrecks!

First up, Chris Cordeiro. An 18-year-old Boy Scout with a straw-hat topped bowl-cut, Chris horrified the judges by murdering Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” Sacrilege! My soul winced with pain for Ole’ Blue Eyes.

Next came Michael Perotto, the burp guy. Yes, I’m serious. After belching repeatedly, Michael “sang” Ike and Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” (complete with percussion enhancements courtesy of Steven banging on a table), before J.Lo cut him off with a quick “Make it stop!”

Then there was Yoji “Pop” Asano, who was, by far, my favorite trainwreck. Rocking grey skinny jeans, white eye shadow, a shiny gold jacket and a thick Japanese accent, Yoji delivered his best Miley Cyrus impression, belting the teen queen’s hit, “Party in the USA,” while performing classic Michael Jackson dance moves.

A-MAZ-ING!

It’s well worth two hours of your life to see Yoji “pop”-- trust me.

For energetic “Idol” hopeful Ashley Sullivan, begging was the “golden ticket” to La La Land. The 25-year-old Britney Spears devotee burst into tears, then dissolved into a fit of frenzied begging after being denied a chance to continue to the next round. It worked – Jennifer and Steven caved, while Randy called them “insane.”

In true reality TV fashion, tonight’s premiere also brought the drama by showcasing contestants who’ve overcome seemingly insurmountable odds for the chance to be America’s next “Idol.”

Robbie Rosen of Merrick, New York was born with a disease that forced him to spend his early years bound to a wheelchair. Now 16 — and with a voice reminiscent of “Glee’s” Matthew Morrison — Robbie is wheelchair-free and wowed the judges with his touching version of John Lennon’s “Yesterday.”

Melinda Ademi, a Yonkers native with war refugee parents from Kosovo, showed she had a voice as moving as her story. She impressed the judges with soulful her version of Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You.”

Both Robbie and Melinda are headed to Hollywood.

All in all, with numerous promising contestants and a plethora of biographies that will tug at your heartstrings, Season 10 is off to a rousing start.

Jennifer Lopez breathes feisty fresh air into the tired hit and Steven Tyler brings just enough “crazy” to keep America entertained.

AH Nation Poll: Who stole the show on “Idol’s” season premiere? Click HERE to vote!

Tune in to get your “Idol” fix as the auditions continue on Thursday at 8 PM on FOX.

Copyright 2011 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Keep your Access to everything in Hollywood! Breaking news and personal commentary from Billy, Tony, Shaun, Maria & all of our producers! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter now!

Read More

Steven Tyler’s New Website

Season 10 judge Steven Tyler made his American Idol debut with New Jersey auditions tonight. Steven’s other debut of the night is his new website, www.StevenTyler.com. Find out more about Idol’s resident rocker with Steven Tyler news, photos, videos, interviews, and more.

What did you think of the new judges and the Season 10 premiere? Chat about Steven, Jennifer, Randy, and Ryan in the Idol Community forums.

Read More

Passing the Torch to a New Generation 50 Years Ago a Young John F. Kennedy Took the Oath of Office, Changing the Presidency - and a Nation - Forever

(CBS) This week marks a bittersweet anniversary: It was 50 years ago, on a cold and snow-covered day in Washington, D.C., that a relatively young and untried man stepped forward at noontime to take the Presidential Oath of Office. But for many of us of a certain age it seems like yesterday. Jeff Greenfield reports this morning's Cover Story:

He is of another time and place, buried on a hillside in Arlington, Va., for more than forty-seven years. Seven out of ten Americans were not even born when he took the oath of office 50 years ago.

But if you are old enough to remember, you can stand at the Capitol's east front, and the images flood back across half a century - the images in brilliant black and white that filled tens of millions of television screen.

"We observe today, not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom."

He had come to the presidency as the child of wealth and privilege, as a World War II hero who had almost lost his life, as Video: JFK's Inaugural Address 50 Years Later
Video: Watch Complete Inaugural Address

"Not just the youngest elected but also the first Catholic," notes historian Thurston Clarke. "And also elected by the slimmest vote, majority in the popular vote. And so that's another reason that he had to give a speech for the ages. A speech that would unite the country."

John F. Kennedy would be speaking as well to millions of his generation, who had come home from the war, tasted postwar prosperity, raised their baby boom children, worried under the shadow of a cold war and a nuclear threat, and watched as one of their own took the presidency.

"I remember thinking, I didn't know you could be a president of the United States and not have gray hair, you know?" said columnist, author, and former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan. She was a 10-year-old girl on New York's Long Island.

"These new people who came in, they had dark hair like sort of relatively young people, like parents, not like grandparents. I didn't know. I thought you had to have gray hair. I thought it was in the Constitution!"

And it was not just youth, but glamour, after 15 years of the Midwest, plain-spoken Harry Truman and then Dwight Eisenhower.Jacqueline Kennedy was not just impossible young - a 31-year-old first lady - but strikingly attractive.

There was glamour of another sort: An inaugural gala hosted by Frank Sinatra, with many of the brightest stars of stage and screen.

"You had all of the celebrities in Washington," said Clarke. "You had a feeling that this was a gathering of the best and the brightest in the country."

On Inauguration Day, Kennedy took the oath of office bathed in brilliant winter light.

"It had snowed eight inches overnight," said Noonan. "Inauguration Day itself was very cold, but it was very bright. And the sun was out. And it was bouncing off all the snow. It was bouncing off those big white pillars."

There was Robert Frost, blinded by the sun, unable to read the poem he'd written, reciting another from memory. Jacqueline, dressed in beige, a conscious decision to set her apart from the other, older women draped in fur.

But what is most remembered are the words.

Longtime speechwriter and advisor Ted Sorensen told CBS News back in 1999 that Kennedy had one goal in mind: "He wanted this speech to speak out and try to address those skeptics, to prove that he was up to the task."

Sorensen - who died a few months ago - was often given credit for the Inaugural Address. Thurston Clarke disagrees.

"I think you would find that John Kennedy contributed most of the passages and the famous words that we remember: 'The torch has been passed to a new generation.' The "Ask not' line. 'Bear any burden.' All of those were Kennedy. He had a Sorenson draft in front of him. On January 10th he flew to Palm Beach, he looked at the draft, and he dictated his changes and his additions to the draft."

At the Kennedy Library in Boston, director Tom Putnam showed us the display that includes pages from the steno pad of Kennedy's secretary.

"Clearly, this is JFK dictating, as he often did, to Evelyn Lincoln," said Putnam. "Even in her shorthand, you can she's written out the words, 'Long twilight struggle.' 'Now the trumpet summons us again.' 'Tyranny, disease, war itself' - these are signature lines that we remember, and really, this is the genesis of them on that flight down to Palm
Beach."

"We shall bear any burden, pay any price ..."

"People remember this as a kind of Cold War speech because of 'We'll pay any price, bear any burden,'" said Clarke. "But most of the rest of the speech was about peace and about negotiations and about the threat of nuclear war."

"Let us never negotiate out of fear ... but let us never fear to negotiate."

Most memorable, of course, is the line that defined his central message:

"And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

"When Kennedy said, 'Ask not,' people knew that this was a man who'd been decorated in World War II," said Clarke. "Who'd almost lost his life trying to save the surviving crew members of PT-109. So it wasn't Where does he get off saying 'Ask not'? He had the credentials to make this claim on people."

The instant acclaim for the speech - and the images of youth and glamour that surrounded the inauguration - set the state for coverage of the new president and his family and lasted for almost all of his thousand days in office - especially in the mass magazines, Life and Look, that were still read by millions.

But even now, with full knowledge of his reckless private life, why do Americans still rank John F. Kennedy the best of all post-war presidents?

"I think what we do - what John Kennedy did - is we compartmentalize things," said Clarke. "There was so much that was accomplished, that was on its way to being accomplished. We put this in one compartment. And then we have the other compartment, is this terribly reckless sexual life."

But there is, of course, another reason. Those other memories of another moment in Washington - the sudden end of his presidency left behind a sense of what could have been.

Is the legacy what happened or what we think could have happened had he not been killed?

"I think it's what we thought could have happened," said Clarke, "because in the last 100 days of his life he was suddenly beginning to have the courage to do the things that were going to make him a great president. And one was the civil rights bill and the other was the test ban treaty.

"But the beginning of his presidency - and what turned out to be the end of his presidency - were both times when the American people hoped that … this president was going to solve their problems, and was going to become what he hoped to be, which was a great president."

"This was a presidency interrupted," said Noonan. "It didn't have enough time to impose real meaning. It had enough time to impose a mood, and to impose an indelible memory."

Read More

Golden Globes 2011: Ricky Gervais' monologue pulls no punches (thanks, Charlie Sheen)

Every 2011 awards show host should just pre-emptively thank Charlie Sheen now for providing endless material. It's particularly perfect because nobody even feels bad laughing at him, since he makes so much more money than everyone else in America.

Combined.

So it's no surprise that host Ricky Gervais kicked off Sunday's Golden Globes ceremony by taking a few easy potshots at the "Two and a Half Men" star - particularly pointing out that before his latest booze-fueled alleged porn star capture, he introduced the woman to his ex-wife, Denise Richards.

"As you do," says Gervais.

The monologue was as no-holds-barred as can be expected of a man who takes the stage with a beer in hand. He mentioned the plethora of 3-D movies that hit theaters recently. "Everything this year was three-dimensional, except the characters in the Tourist," comes the zinger. "I feel bad about that joke. I'm jumping on the bandwagon, because I haven't even seen that movie. Who has?"

He noted that the airbrush artist who worked on the "Sex and the City" posters had his vote for best special effects. "Girls, we know how old you are," he quips. "I saw one of you in an episode of 'Bonanza.'"

Most of Gervais' jokes went over well - with some help from his lawyers, who assisted with the carefully-worded joke abut gay scientologists. The only joke that didn't fly was at the expense of one of our favorites, Hurley from "Lost."

"It was quite a complicated finale. I'm not sure I totally understood, but from what I made out, I'm pretty sure the fat one ate them all."

On that rather unfortunate note, Gervais conceded the spotlight to Scarlett Johansson. "Beautiful, talented, and Jewish, apparently. Mel Gibson told me that. He's obsessed."

Read More

MLK Quotes for MLK Day

Here are some quotes from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in honor of Martin Luther King Day:

A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, 1967.

The curse of poverty has no justification in our age. It is socially as cruel and blind as the practice of cannibalism at the dawn of civilization, when men ate each other because they had not yet learned to take food from the soil or to consume the abundant animal life around them. The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, 1967.


Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction....The chain reaction of evil--hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars--must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength To Love, 1963.


Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength To Love, 1963.


The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy.
Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.

Nothing in the world is more dangerous than a sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

Read More

Reality TV show to feature company with Indianapolis Westside office

Written by

Gretchen Becker

The leader of a company with a Westside Indianapolis office will be featured on a Sunday night reality TV show.

Belfor's CEO Sheldon Yellen will be the featured boss on the CBS show "Undercover Boss" at 9 p.m. Sunday, said spokeswoman Alexandra R. Gort. Belfor has its U.S. headquarters in Birmingham, Mich.

Belfor specializes in rebuilding and repairing property after natural and man-made disasters, Gort said. The company has one of its more than 100 offices near 62nd Street and Guion Road in Pike Township.

The concept of the show is for the boss to go undercover and work with his employees in the trenches to learn about the everyday hard work and struggles.

Read More

Regina King to Marry Malcom Jamal Warner

Regina King, an American film and television actress, and Malcolm Jamal Warner, the singer and actor, have been dating since 2008. It is said that they have also have been living together and are going to get married soon.

Regina King started her career on the screen in 1985 when she played on the TV series 227. She acted as Brenda until 1990 in the TV series. She was known as a vocal supporter of Barack Obama during his campaign for election to the US presidency.

She married Ian Alexander Senior on April 23, 1997, but then she ended up the marriage because of “physical abuse, drug use, and extramarital affairs” done by his former husband on November 8, 2006.

Regina King has been acquainted with Malcolm Jamal Warner since they first met in the 1980s. They decided to be a couple in 2008.

The National Enquirer cited King and Warner’s close friend, “”Malcolm and Regina are thrilled that they’ve found the most satisfying relationship of their lives… They’re both extremely content right now, and marriage is the next step.”

Read More

No Pants Subway Ride

The ‘No Pants Subway Ride 2011′ is a serious matter. Yesterday in New York was held on the tenth edition of the rally, which saw hundreds and hundreds of New Yorkers descend into the subways of the Big Apple and stay in their underwear. All this with seriousness and professionalism. It is because the rules are few but clear. ‘When you enter the train, not parlatevi: you do not know of you. If you ask questions you can answer that you have forgotten your pants, and if I ask you to admit that yeah, you got a bit ‘cold’. We must behave in a normal and polite. No photos. No comments.

Read More

KCK Officers Arrested, Suspended In Misconduct Investigation

KANSAS CITY, Kan. —

Four Kansas City, Kansas police officers have been suspended without pay after they were arrested in a sting operation this week, prompted by an internal investigation.

Agents with the FBI detained several officers of the department's SCORE unit at department headquarters on Tuesday night.

Police Chief Rick Armstrong said he could not share further details on charges or the reason for the arrests. Armstrong could also not say how many additional officers had been questioned in the investigation.

"Thi is not a systemic problem in this organization," Armstrong said.

Sources inside the department who have asked to remain anonymous told FOX 4 News that the investigation is "a huge black eye" for the department.

"We are all sick (over the charges)," said Armstrong. "The reaction yesterday was sick to stomach, embarassed, unacceptable."

Armstrong said the investigation began in the fall of 2010 after a complaint from a citizen.

On Wednesday, Kansas City, Kansas mayor Joe Reardon called misconduct allegations against several KCK police officers "troubling." in a statement on Wednesday.

"I have the highest confidence in Police Chief Armstrong and his leadership of the KCK Police Department," Reardon said. "I applaud his decision to launch the investigation and fully support the way it is being handled."

According to police, Chief Armstrong requested assistance from the FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Wyandotte County District Attorney's Office in the investigation, the details of which have not been released, although sources say that the matter could involve felony federal charges.

The function of the SCORE Unit, according to the department's website, is to "reduce violent crime, and to utilize all legal remedies at its disposal to rid the community of dangerous felons and or any criminal activity where specialized attention is a necessity."

Chief Armstrong asked the public to not cast the entire department with those officers who have been arrested.

"(We) want to assure you we value your trust, and we make a committement each and every day to earn your trust," said Chief Armstrong.

Read More

Plano ISD Pulls Humanity Textbook Because of Statue Nudity

It’s an old joke, but do you know the difference between naked and nekkid? Well, naked is no clothes on. Nekkid is no clothes on and up to something.

Now, with that definition in mind, we broach the subject of Plano ISD banning humanities textbooks because they have pictures of nude Greek statues. First, aside from busts (the noggin kind, not the chest kind), are there any other kinds of Greek statues? Second, these are books for high school students. Note to parents: if you have anything more than basic cable at home, your kid has seen naked. No, wait. If it was Cinemax, it was definitely nekkid.

Which brings me to my last point: statues are not animate objects. And these are works of art, to boot. Have you seen these statues? If your kid can get any kind of um, excitement, from a no-eyeballed, half-draped woman with one boob out, well, you have other problems with your kid than his or her anatomy textbook, IJS.

Read More

Lottery suspense builds in Mass. for $355m prize

An air of excitement and wistful speculation surrounded lottery players across the state yesterday, as the jackpot for the Mega Millions game climbed to $355 million in anticipation of last night’s drawing.

10 tips for a lottery winner

• Photos What a winning mega millions ticket could buy

Across the country in 41 states yesterday, 240,000 tickets a minute were being sold, sending the red hot jackpot to its third-highest in game history, according to Massachusetts Lottery spokesman Dan Rosenfeld, with an estimated cash payout option of $220 million.

The drawing was held just after 11 p.m., but Rosenfeld said any information on the sale of winning tickets would not be released until this morning. The winning numbers were: 4-8-15-25-47, with a Megaball of 42.

“Sales are a lot higher than we anticipated,’’ Rosenfeld said last night. “As of 6:45 p.m. we’ve sold nearly 6 million tickets in Massachusetts today alone.’’

The last drawing took place on New Year’s Eve, and in just four days the jackpot has jumped by more than $100 million.

Last night, many retailers said lottery sales were up significantly, as scores of would-be winners poured into convenience stores and other establishments to purchase last-minute tickets.

Andy Morgan, who works at the Common Ground Cafe in Methuen, said the atmosphere there has been chaotic.

“It is crazy,’’ Morgan said. “You’re just seeing all kinds of people coming in that don’t normally play. Lots of new faces.’’

At Border Bets & Butts in Attleboro, Chris Thornhill said business was booming.

“Lots of different faces grabbing those Mega Millions tickets,’’ he said. “But even the regular customers are buying more than usual.’’

Rosenfeld said the timing of the drawings, coming over the end of the holiday season, has been a boon to lottery sales.

“There’s a lot more commerce going on,’’ he said. “And when people are out more often, they buy more lottery tickets.’’

Of course, there is also the sheer size of the potential winnings.

Massachusetts lottery agents have sold about $26 million in tickets over the course of this 16-draw series, which has failed to produce a jackpot winner. The tickets have raised $11 million for cities and towns.

If no one won last night, the next drawing will take place on Friday.

Read More

Homeless Man With Sweet Radio Voice Lands NBA Voiceover Job

OK, this is barely even tangentially LA-related, but it’s an amazing story nonetheless. Ted Williams, a homeless man in Cleveland with a studied radio voice, was a recovering drug and alcohol addict who would solicit change on the side of the road in exchange for a few words of his sweet voice. Someone eventually posted a YouTube clip of Williams and it soon went viral. This week, Williams drew enough web heat to begin getting job offers from all over the country. NFL Films was supposedly interested.

He eventually landed a voiceover gig with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers–who are also setting him up with a house. Whowouldathunkit? A feelgood story in the Cleveland sports universe.

Get this guy chain smoking and we may just hear him doing voiceovers for action movie trailers in a few years.

Read More

Mega Millions Winning Numbers Overloads Site

But that's not what most people saw after visiting the Mega Millions website, which was shuttered by an overload of traffic soon after the drawing.

From the Mega Millions Website:

Due to unprecedented traffic, our regular web site has been temporarily minimized to provide access to the greatest number of players possible.

Winning numbers will be posted shortly after the drawing.

The $355 million jackpot prompted long lines at many lottery vendors, as the previous drawing at $290 million produced no winner. Two winning tickets exist, though the winners' names are yet to have been release.

Get HuffPost Technology On Twitter and Facebook! Know something we don't? E-mail us at technology@huffingtonpost.com

Read More

US downplays Chinese stealth fighter status – Reuters

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

Telegraph.co.uk US downplays Chinese stealth fighter status Reuters N) F-22 Raptor, the world's only operational stealth fighter . But US Vice Admiral David Dorsett, director of naval intelligence, said deployment of the J-20 … The Chinese Stealth Fighter Human Events Navy Intel Chief on China's Stealth Jet: Zzzzzz Wired News (blog) Photos Reportedly Show Prototype Chinese Stealth Fighter RedOrbit New York Times ?- The Associated Press ?- Strategy Page all 322 news articles??

Read More

American Red Cross & Dunkin’ Donuts to Launch “Give A Pint, Get A Pound” Campaign

From The Red Cross:

To celebrate National Blood Donor Month and help increase awareness about the need for blood, Dunkin’ Donuts and the American Red Cross are teaming up for the fourth annual “Give a Pint, Get a Pound” campaign, which provides a coupon for a free pound of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee* to all presenting donors at Red Cross blood drives in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont during the month of January. Also, at participating Dunkin’ Donuts in New York, all presenting donors in January are eligible to win coffee for a year.** Four winners will be selected.

In addition, participating local Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants are hosting blood drives throughout the month to collect blood for patients in need. To donate blood during the month of January call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org.

Dunkin’ Donuts and the Red Cross are thanking donors who support the community blood supply by rolling up their sleeves to give the gift of life. Patients in area hospitals need blood every day and one donation may help save three lives. Because winter is often a challenging time for blood collections due to severe weather and flu season, the “Give a Pint, Get a Pound” campaign helps boost blood collections when patients need it most. The campaign achieved great success last year, helping the Red Cross exceed blood collection goals with more than 90,000 pints donated. Over the past three years, Dunkin’ Donuts has provided more than 300,000 pounds of coffee to presenting donors.

“The ‘Give a Pint, Get a Pound’ campaign helps the Red Cross increase blood collections so that we can meet the daily needs of patients in area hospitals during the winter months,” said Donna M. Morrissey, Director of Communications for the American Red Cross Blood Services – Northeast Division. “The program reflects Dunkin’ Donuts’ commitment to the communities they serve, and we are very appreciative of Dunkin’ Donuts for its ongoing dedication to our lifesaving mission.”

“Dunkin’ Donuts is proud to partner with the American Red Cross once again to provide our coffee as a gift to those who give blood,” said Karen Raskopf, Senior Vice President of Communications at Dunkin’ Brands and Co-Chair of the Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation. “We encourage all eligible blood donors to give blood and help those in need in our communities.”

*Coupons are redeemable at participating Dunkin’ Donuts locations. Coupons are non-transferrable and not redeemable for cash.

**Selected winners will receive 48 pounds of regular ground coffee.

Read More

Craigslist Killer Movie to Premiere Tonight [VIDEO TRAILER]

Twitter is buzzing tonight about the premiere of the TV movie “The Craigslist Killer“. If you remember, this is a story of a handsome medical student named Phillip Markoff. He had a very promising future and engaged to be married. However, he was charged on the murder of Julissa Brisman, a masseuse whom he met through the popular online ad site “Craigslist”

His fiancee initially stood by him but later broke off the engagement. Markoff was found dead in his cell back in August after committing suicide.

Watch a preview of the The Craigslist Killer, which airs on Lifetime at 9 p.m. ET/PT and 8 p.m. CT, below:

Read More

What Happens to Megan McAllister?

Philip Markoff decided to end his life by his own hand on August 14, 2010. He left his fiancee, Megan McAllister, who never suspected that her beloved fiance was a serial killer. Actually, they were arranged to be married when Philip Markoff was arrested by the police. And now their life is depicted in a TV feature entitled The Craiglist Killer. Jake McDorman is starring Philip Markoff, while Agnes Bruckner is starring Megan McAllister in this new Lifetime that will be featured tonight.

Megan probably will never watch the TV while her life is being portrayed on the screen. She will experience a traumatic event for sure. Philip and Megan were supposed to be married on August 14, 2009. They first met in 2005 at Boston University and decided to be engaged three years after the first meeting. Soon after that, it was very dramatic to find that Philip Markoff turned out to be a serial killer and then he decided to kill himself.

Megan always loved Markoff in any circumstances. After Markoff was arrested, she stated, “To me and my family, he is a loving and caring person and in the eyes of the law and constitution, he is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”

In fact, she always thought that they were still can be together. She said, “We expect to marry in August and share and wonderful, meaningful life together.” But unfortunately, she couldn’t fulfill the expectation.

However, there was some information that Megan McAllister paid Markoff a visit in jail to break their relationship before he committed suicide. He wrote Megan’s name on the wall of the jail by using his own blood immediately before he died.

Read More

USS Enterprise Video Scandal: Racy Clips Raise Questions About Navy Culture

NORFOLK, Va. — Raunchy comedy videos made by a high-ranking Navy commander and shown to the crew of an aircraft carrier three or four years ago have suddenly proved an embarrassment to the Pentagon that could blight the officer's career.

The videos, released Sunday by a newspaper in this Navy port city, feature Capt. Owen Honors using gay slurs, pantomiming masturbation and staging suggestive shower scenes. They were played on the shipwide television system during weekly movie night when Honors was executive officer, or second in command, of the USS Enterprise. Honors has since become commander of the ship.

Over the weekend, the Navy at first downplayed the videos as "humorous skits," then called them "not acceptable" and said they are under investigation.

Navy sources told NBC News that Honors "will be temporarily relieved of his command as early as Tuesday" while the investigation is taking place.

The videos' existence was not news to Navy higher-ups. In a statement to the Virginian-Pilot on Friday, the Navy said its leadership had put a stop to videos with "inappropriate content" on the Enterprise about four years ago.

The videos' existence was not news to Navy higher-ups. In a statement to the Virginian-Pilot on Friday, the Navy said its leadership had put a stop to videos with "inappropriate content" on the Enterprise about four years ago.

"They were probably hoping it would all go away, and it didn't and now they have to say something," said Michael Corgan, a career Navy officer who now teaches at Boston University.

Corgan said Honors was guilty not only of an error in judgment but of failing to recognize a changing Navy culture. "Standards shift, of course, and trimming your sails is something you have to do if you're going to command people in the Navy," Corgan said. "This guy showed poor judgment."

Read More

Orange Bowl Final Score: Stanford Pummels Virginia Tech 40-12 In Andrew Luck, Jim Harbaugh's Final Game (?)

With coach Jim Harbaugh (likely) off to Michigan and QB Andrew Luck (probably) headed for the NFC South, the Stanford Cardinal left no doubt by dusting the Virginia Tech Hokies 40-12 in the most lopsided Orange Bowl since 2005. Stanford outgained VPI by 243 yards, with Stepfan Taylor running for 113 yards, Jeremy Stewart adding 99 on the ground, and Luck good for 302 total yards plus four touchdowns.

The Stanford D bottled up Virginia Tech’s entire offense, save QB Tyrod Taylor. In his final game the ACC Player of the Year accounted for all but 45 of the Hokies’ yards and made one of the wildest plays bowl season has seen yet

The ACC’s BCS futility continues, with the conference now 1-5 in its marquee bowl since it became a conference championship tie-in. A loss by Boston College to Nevada would also give the ACC a losing bowl season record. No pressure, Eagles.

Read More

Pakistani governor Salman Taseer assassinated; suspected gunman cites opposition to blasphemy laws

Salman Taseer, governor of Punjab province, is shot and killed in Islamabad. Police say the gunman, one of Taseer's guards, killed the outspoken official because of his opposition to Pakistan's blasphemy laws.

Pakistan's Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, said Taseer's killer had confessed to killing the governor because of his opposition to Pakistan's strict blasphemy laws, which have been denounced by international human-rights groups. The laws have been under particular scrutiny of late after a Pakistani Christian woman was condemned to death for allegedly defaming Islam.

The ruling People's Party, which in recent days has been struggling to cope with the defection of a major coalition partner and keep the government afloat, was plunged into mourning. Many of its senior members likened Taseer — a popular and charismatic figure who commanded a large following on Twitter — to the assassinated Bhutto, who also ran afoul of religious extremists.

Malik said it was not known whether the killer acted on his own or in concert with others. The blasphemy policy — which Taseer had called a "black law" — is strongly supported by Islamist parties. Taseer was the target of angry protests by Islamists after he called for the pardon of the condemned woman.

Pakistan's latest political crisis erupted Sunday, when the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, or MQM, announced it was quitting the ruling coalition and going over to the opposition, a move that could bring down the government and trigger early elections. Zardari and his top associates have been courting the main opposition party, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, but so far without success.

Special correspondent Khan reported from Islamabad and Los Angeles Times staff writer King reported from Kabul. n's blasphemy laws.

Read More