Bal Thackeray hits out at TV channels in editorial

Bal Thackeray hits out at TV channels in editorial

Mumbai, March 2 -  Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, who is undergoing treatment at the Lilavati Hospital here, has lashed out at television channels and their crew over the way in which they were monitoring his health and reporting on it.
In a personalised editorial in party mouthpiece “Saamna”, Thackeray said that TV channels were engaged in stiff competition over reporting the minutest details of his health. 

“While one channel  said I suffer from high blood pressure, another  said I had developed low blood pressure,” he said in the editorial. 

“Apparently, they are more in the know of my health than the dedicated team of doctors attending on me,” he added sarcastically. 

He attributed the extensive coverage to the scramble for TRP rating points among TV channels, which forced them to park OB vans outside the hospital for the past five days, cameras trying to catch the smallest unusual activity and the visitors calling on him. 

Expressing sympathy for the electronic media staffers, the editorial said the poor journalists and technicians have been waiting on the pavements in the blazing sun for so many days and nights without going home, having a proper bath or proper food. 

All this is because they don’t want to be left out in the rush for “breaking news” and giving “hit and hot” headlines. 

Taking pity on their plight, he said in the editorial that he has instructed his local municipal corporator Bala Sawant to make all arrangements, including a mobile toilet, for the benefit of the TV crew. 

Terming his spell in hospital as “a prison of love”, Thackeray said that the priority was not his health, but the “health of the nation”. 

“Don’t worry about my health, be concerned about the health of Maharashtra and the whole country,” he said referring to the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party fighting over sharing seats for the parliamentary elections. 

The 82-year-old was admitted to the hospital Thursday after a bout of incessant coughing. Giving a brief of his health, the editorial said he did feel a bit unwell last week and was taken to Lilavati Hospital for a routine check-up. 

He was due to be discharged the same day, but doctors insisted that they may as well carry out more tests - so he stayed put for another five days. 

“A decision will be taken in a day or so when the doctors feel I am fit and fine to go home,” he said in the editorial.

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Spoiler Chat: Are Dan and Serena Really Over?

Spoiler Chat: Are Dan and Serena Really Over?

Oh, CW. You cruel, cruel network! Not only have we gone a good month without such a peep from the lovely voice of Kristen Bell regarding the latest 411 on our favorite Upper East Siders, we still have two more weeks to go before the next new episode of Gossip Girl.

Thankfully, though, to scratch you G.G. fans' itch, I have the answer to the No. 1 question you've been asking: Is there any hope for Dan and Serena? Plus, the latest on Georgina Sparks (Michelle Trachtenberg).

Also, who wants to know which Lost character will be undergoing a radical change in tone this season?

Or what about the upcoming One Tree Hill wedding?

Or Amy Ryan returning to The Office?

No? None of that sounds appealing? Well, read on for this week's roundup of exclusive TV scoop anyway...

Sharan in Birmingham, U.K.: Just watched ER season 15, ep five. Is Shane West returning again? Or was that it? Please help, I have to know.

His rep and the network both confirm that he's due back for at least one more ep this season. There's hope yet for a Ray-Neela reunion.

Karla in Janesville, Wis.: TV Guide says Gale Harold is not coming back to Desperate Housewives this season. Is it true?
A studio rep tells me the reports from TV Guide are wrong. The producers stick by this recently released statement: "We are working on bringing him back to the show. We just don't know when. Because we had to work around his absence, the story doesn't require him immediately. But we would like to have him back on the show very soon." Hit the comments with your pleas to get him back on Wisteria Lane.

Emily in Napa, Calif.: Any hopes of seeing Michelle Trachtenberg on Joss Whedon's Dollhouse?
Don't look for little Dawn to be back in the Jossverse any time soon. Michelle just told me that while she's happy for her former boss, she's not too familiar with his new show. "I haven't even seen it. I haven't heard much about it except it's premiered and congratulations for that!" Don't be too disappointed, though. Her lack of knowledge on all things Dollhouse is simply because she's too busy playing the evil Georgina Sparks again. "I'm most excited to be back on Gossip Girl. It has wonderful people, and it's really nice just having my first day back, hearing 'Welcome back.' "

Tim: Kristin, can you ask Lost's Fionnula Flanagan if Brotherhood will be back? I know it's not very popular, but it is a good show. Thanks!
According to Fionnula, who plays Providence mob matriarch Rose Caffee on the Showtime drama, "We're on hiatus, and we're waiting to hear what Showtime's pleasure is about that. It will all have to be balanced with what else Showtime has on its roster for this next year. Usually the shooting season was the summer, so I should imagine that we'll know soon."

Chris in Seattle: I can't wait to see Jeffrey Dean Morgan in Watchmen! Will Grey's fans like his character?
Actually, no. Jeffrey says that the Grey's fans will be shocked by his Watchman character, Comedian. He's very unsavory! On coming back to Grey's, Morgan says, "I really don't know. They keep me out of the loop because I'm a talker. They're real careful not to tell me anything. When I was lucky enough to go back there, it was just a thrill to go back."

Alexandra in Burlington, Vt.: America's Next Top Model is back this week! What are the girls like this season?
These potential models are insanely gorgeous—or maybe just a little insane? I kid! While there are some of the usual crazies, there are noticeably more standouts in ANTM's 12th cycle (yes, this is the 12th season!). Based on the premiere, the 6'1 and stunning Aminat and breath of fresh air Celia are definitely frontrunners. I know it's still early, but these two not only get the most screen time, they seem to have those natural, model-esque qualities. Also, I'm thinking we should keep an eye on Jessica Stroup look-alike, London. She's a model on a mission—literally!

Diandra in Napa, Calif.: Any other scoop on ANTM?
This cycle takes place in Las Vegas, and instead of first narrowing the girls down to 20, Tyra makes it 21 in honor of Top Model's new hometown.

Dayra in Duluth, Ga.: In the Motherhood looks so funny! Any scoop?
Not much yet, but when we teased Megan Mullally about staring in a show about motherhood when she isn't a mother herself, she turned to her post-Oscar date for a quick comeback. "She's my coach," Megan said, pointing at her close pal and funnylady, Molly Shannon. You never know, maybe Molly will take a break from her snazzy wardrobe at Kath & Kim and stop by the suburbs on In the Motherhood!


Pamela in Hollywood, Calif.: Have you heard anything new on Amy Poehler's show Parks and Recreation?
Besides reading the pilot script, which was amazing, I've officially become a Parks and Recreation member myself thanks to my sweet new water bottle.

Sam in Del Mar, Calif.: Any scoop on How I Met Your Mother?
We gave you the first look at Laura Prepon on the set of How I Met Your Mother, but now you can get your second look here thanks to TVfanatic!

Henry in Scranton, Pa.: Will Jay Harrington return to Private Practice?
On his short stint as an Addison (Kate Walsh) love interest, Jay Harrington says his character "could come back." He'd also love to see another crossover (besides the sub-par Grey's Anatomy one) with Private Practice. "I think within the network it would be fun to see Taye Diggs' character on [Better Off Ted] or me on Ugly Betty," he adds.




Drew in Boston: Hey, I'm dying without my Gossip Girl fix! Please, is there any hope for Serena and Dan now that they have a half-dead-sibling? Anything else you can spill?
Correction: They have a half sibling who is fully alive and whom we will see on the show! And because of that and more, I'm told by a source: "Serena and Dan are really over." Done. Kaput. No hope for them this season. Sorry! Anyone need a hug? Join me in the comments. As for the rest of the season, Serena will be cozying up big time to her new boy-toy (played by Armie Hammer) and a source tells me: "The last few episodes of the season are chock-full of some of the biggest OMFG moments of the series." I think I just tinkled a little. Why do I love this show so? Darn you, Josh Schwartz and your TV crack!

Marshall in New Hampshire: On Lost, any scoop on Sawyer in the 1970s?
I'm hearing that he and Jin will be in that fabulously groovy decade for three whole years and that...wait for it...Jin might speak far better English now! Hooray for more Daniel Dae Kim screen time and multisyllabic words!

Isaiah in Little Rock, Ark.: On Lost, are we ever going to see Richard Alpert in a scene with Mrs. Hawking? I feel like those two are Island gods who must know each other.
When we recently spoke to Fionnula Flanagan, she told us that she hasn't had any scenes yet with Nestor Carbonell, but, "Perhaps I have in some previous existence, or in some previous materialization of Mrs. Hawking, but it hasn't come to light yet." You'll note that doesn't rule out encounters between young Ellie (if that is Mrs. Hawking in an earlier life) and Richard Alpert in the past.

Jenna in Irvine, Calif.: Heroes?
Claire saves Aquaboy tonight, but just as soon as she's done with that gig, she gets a new assignment from Rebel: Saving that creepy Puppetmaster dude who tried to kill her and her two moms! Meanwhile, Claire's Uncle Peter is branded a terrorist by the federal government. The only person who can save him? His high-flying brother Nathan. Oh yeah, and Sylar finds out what really happened to his mother, and he doesn't love what he discovers.

Walker in Pittsburgh: Is Holly Flax ever coming back to The Office?
You mean you didn't hear my squeals of joy last week when Mindy Kaling (Kelly) stopped by the OfficeTally chat room and finally confirmed that more Amy Ryan is on its way! "Amy's coming back [for] at least one this season!" Does that mean next season is an option too? And if any of you think Pam was lying when she told Michael that Holly still has feelings for him, Mindy wants to ease your minds. "I do not believe that our intention was to say that Pam was lying. I think it would be too cruel, ultimately." Anyone else just breathe a huge sigh of relief?


Martin in New York: One Tree Hill! Will we get a wedding?
Lucas and Peyton's wedding will happen this season. However, how it will end is a whole other story. (Here's hoping he doesn't say the name Rachel.) Also, get ready to see the softer (but still bitchy!) side of Victoria.

Heidi in Bristol, Conn.: I can't wait for Georgina to come back to Gossip Girl! Any chance we'll see more of her next season, too?
I'm just as excited as you are, especially after all of the goodies we just revealed about Georgina's return! Michelle Trachtenberg (Georgina) tells us nothing has been decided just yet about her Gossip Girl fate, but her answer did have us leaning toward a yes! "A character like Georgina is so fantastic, and there are so many elements that are exciting and untapped, so you never know." And while she has nothing planned, Michelle went on to say that she would definitely be open to a full-time TV gig, whether it's G.G. or something new. "I think the wonderful thing about doing TV shows is that you get a few months out of the year to do films as well, so you get the best out of every world." Did you hear that Josh Schwartz? Start working on another masterpiece for this girl!

Morgan in Seattle: I've heard rumors that Parminder Nagra is leaving ER before the series finale. Please tell me this isn't true!
We heard the same thing, but sources close to the show tell me that while her last "big episode" called "Shifting Equilibrium," airs March 19, Neela does appear in the remaining episodes of ER, which I'm guessing means they won't leave her out of the April 2 series finale.

Mario in Chicago: Blah blah blah Grey's Anatomy, Heroes and Lost. Can you mix it up a little with some dish other shows—like maybe the undersung CBS comedies?
Rules of Engagement returns tonight, and Megyn Price and Patrick Warburton continue to be laugh-out-loud hilarious, which means that two out of five lead characters of this comedy are actually funny! Thankfully, Megyn and Patrick get some giggle-worthy backup next week when Aliens in America's Adhir Kalyan makes his first appearance as Russell's (David Spade) much put-upon new assistant. Adhir's line reading of "Bond. James Bond…" alone is with the price of admission.


Heather in Pasadena, Calif.: After last night's emotional episode of Brothers & Sisters, please tell me there's some good news coming for the Walker clan!
There's some good news and some bad news on Brothers & Sisters. Good news: Robert is still alive. Bad news: He probably won't be married much longer. Good news: The illegitimate Walker children (Ryan and Rebecca) are bonding! Bad news: There are sparks flying. Good news: Justin supports Rebecca through the whole Holly-Tommy debacle. Bad news: Justin and Rebecca are splitsville by the end of Sunday's ep. Or is that good news?

Callie in Erie, Pa.: Got any goodies on The Office?
I think Dwight might be getting a mini-me. Producers are looking for a new coworker who is described as annoying, arrogant, bossy, yelly, probably not good-looking and definitely not well-dressed. I wonder if he wears any mustard-colored shirts?

Marissa in Mountain View, Calif.: Any news on Entourage?
E and Sloan will still be entangled early in season six, but look for a good-looking guy who has Sloan's attention to attract E's ire. (Lucky for E, the guy will turn out to be Sloan's cousin.)


Alice in Whitby, Ontario, Canada: Hi, Kristin, I'll send you some maple syrup if you'll give some info on Chuck and Sarah—are they done for good? Is there any hope in the near (before end of season) future for them?
Mmmm...syrup! I wish I could tell you that, but in tonight's episode Chuck (Zachary Levi) dumps Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) for real. Ruh-roh.

Lisa in Detroit: Is it true that Carla dies in the Burn Notice finale?
Let's see—what can I actually tell you about the finale? Your heart will hurt a little when a product-placement deal requires Michael Weston to use OnStar, but if it keeps this excellent show running (à la 30 Rock and Verizon or Gossip Girl and godforsaken Vitamin Water) I suppose we'll just have to suffer. In other news, Fiona Glennanne slaps someone, kisses someone and kills someone. Care to guess with whom she does what? (Post in the comments.) Also, John Mahoney (the dad from Frasier) pops by with an offer that Michael can't refuse...or can he?

Mark in New York, N.Y.: Anything Prison Break please!
Sources tell me there's another prison break, and you'll be surprised at who helps the big escape...T-Bag! Did I mention that Gretchen is also in the slammer?

Brad in Oahu, Hawaii: Thanks for your interview with Malcolm David Kelley. Will he be back on Lost anytime soon?
No official word yet, but he'll be guest starring on Saving Grace later this season. Kelley tells me of his character, "My name was Benjamin, and my dad was on death row. I was friends with Holly Hunter's nephew on the show." BTW, was anyone else floored at how freaking old MDK looks now? Our wittle Walty is all growed up!


Ferlay in Los Angeles: Kristin, got any scoop on 24?
How about some scoop on Jack's daughter? Regarding Elisha Cuthbert's return to 24, executive producer Howard Gordon says, "Without really giving a spoiler [Editor's note: Booooo...], I will tell you she's not in any danger. Jack is in a situation that requires something that only she can provide. I hate to be as oblique as that, but that's the best I can say about it without spoiling." Actually, that's just dandy with me. Thanks, Howard!

Jeremy in Mendocino, Calif.: What's coming up on 24 tonight?
Even though Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) and the president hit the lockdown room before General Juma and his men can get to them, Madam president is definitely not safe by any means. Also, I may have I said Dubaku was in the hospital, but that doesn't mean he's alive!

Simone in St. Louis: Any dish on the undersung Medium?
Just that the family might be moving out of Phoenix! Joe's getting a job offer later this season that would mean a move to San Diego. What do you guys think—could you stand it so long as the family stayed together?

Marianne in Colorado Springs, Colo.: Got any Bones info?
We'll be meeting Bones' Japanese she-male doppelgänger. (For reals.) Look for a character named Asa Tanaka who is Japan's leading forensic anthropologist but whose gender is indistinguishable, which confuses the Jeffersonian team when they join forces with Asa to solve the murder of a Japanese national. P.S. Got Q's for Bones bosses Hart Hanson and Stephen Nathan? Email tvdiva@eonline.com, and we'll try to get you answers!


Erica in El Paso, Texas: Big Love is so good. I can't believe they killed Kathy, and now I'm desperate to know who else is on the chopping block!
I know! I emailed Big Love boss Will Scheffer after last night's crackerjack outing and demanded that we get our vengeance for Roman's abuse of poor Kathy, and Will replied, "Oh, you'll get it somehow." As for the other death, am I the only one who didn't notice until last week that Sarah's promo posters have the caption "Dying to get out"? Seems like a clue to me!

Rebecca T.: Do you have any idea when TBS' My Boys will return? Any spoilers?
My Boys premieres March 31 (hurrah!), and in an upcoming ep P.J. gets jealous when Stephanie becomes a BFF with another girl. But wait, what's that? You want scoop on Bobby or Brendan instead? Then you better email your Q's to tvdiva@eonline.com because I'm going to the My Boys launch party and will gladly try to get you answers.

Wallace in Orlando, Fla.: How about some 90210?
With love from our hot and sunny zip code to yours: Naomi's sister Jen is coming to town, and if you thought Naomi was manipulative and a schemer, just wait till you meet big sis! Also, Adrianna and Navid's bachelor and bachelorette parties put things into perspective for both characters, including a possible gateway back into drugs for pregnant Adrianna, which would elicit a sternly worded letter from yours truly to that little trollop.

K.B. in Seattle: Hi, Kristin. It looks like there are a lot of great shows premiering in March and April. Can you please give us a list of which shows premiere when?

Keep an eye out later this week for our midseason preview on all the new shows you should (or shouldn't) be watching.

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Square Root Day revelers to party like it's 3/3/09

Square Root Day revelers to party like it's 3/3/09

Count on Tuesday's alignment of the calendar to add some excitement to the lives of at least a few math geeks.

Tuesday is Square Root Day, a rare holiday that occurs when the day and the month are both the square root of the last two digits of the current year. Numerically, March 3, 2009, can be expressed as 3/3/09, or mathematically as √9 = 3, or 3² = 3 × 3 = 9.

"These days are like calendar comets, you wait and wait and wait for them, then they brighten up your day--and poof--they're gone," Ron Gordon, a Redwood City, Calif., teacher who organized a contest intended to publicize the event, told the Press. The prize, or course, is $339.

Celebrants are expected to mark the occasion by cutting root vegetables into squares or preparing other foods in the shape of the square root symbol.

Square Root Day occurs only nine times in a century. The last one occurred on February 2, 2004, and the next will occur in seven years on April 4, 2016.

Square Root Day isn't the only humorous holiday celebrated in the math world.

Pi Day is observed each March 14 (3.14), while Pi Approximation Day falls on July 22 (roughly equal to 22/7). The first Pi Day was observed in 1988 by staff at the San Francisco Exploratorium, who walked around in circles.

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More aid for AIG cheaper than collapse

More aid for AIG cheaper than collapse

Washington: Pumping $30 billion more of US taxpayer funds into embattled insurance giant American International Group Inc. is ultimately cheaper than letting it collapse and endanger the broader economy, a person familiar with the matter said on Sunday night.

Special: The Great Crash of 2008

The US government will announce the latest cash infusion for AIG on Monday morning, along with a series of other measures that are designed to better position it to sell some assets and try to find a route toward long-term viability.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said AIG posed a significant systemic risk for the US financial system and as long as that was the case there might be a need for continued government aid.

Jobs lost till now!

AIG is expected to announce a fourth-quarter loss of about $60 billion early on Monday, and a new rescue package for the company will be rolled out at the same time that includes new money from the US Treasury.

AIG also is expected to give the Federal Reserve a preferred-stock interest in its American Life Insurance Co (Alico), which generates more than half of its revenue from Japan, and Hong Kong-based life insurance group American International Assurance Co (AIA) in return for reducing its debt.

The source said that the decision to help AIG for a third time since late last year was made in light of the continuing deterioration in US economic conditions since that time.

More India business stories

Allowing AIG to collapse would have sent shockwaves through the retail insurance sector as well as posing a systemic risk to the economy that US authorities decided could not be allowed to happen, the source said.

 

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Commander's Palace in New Orleans

Commander's Palace in New Orleans Hosts Bravo's 'Top Chef' Season Five Finale

NEW ORLEANS - Commander's Palace, the celebrated New Orleans restaurant, welcomed Bravo's "Top Chef: New York" cast and crew for the filming of the season finale, which aired earlier this evening, Wednesday, February 25. Co-Owner Ti Adelaide Martin and Executive Chef Tory McPhail served as judges. (Co-Owner Lally Brennan was unable to join due to a prior commitment in New York City for a charity event.)

From welcoming the cast and crew for cocktails in the parlor to executing Commander's famous style of team service, the Commander's Palace family was thrilled to work with "Top Chef".

Executive Chef Tory McPhail, who turned over his kitchen to the final three contestants for the afternoon, said "My favorite moment was the look on the contestant's faces when an entire alligator was presented as the final challenge." (Chef Tory, a seasoned hunter of all game - including alligators - has prepared many an alligator dish in the Commander's kitchen.)

"We were thrilled to hear 'Top Chef' was planning to film in New Orleans and doubly so when they inquired about taping at Commander's," says Co-Owner Ti Adelaide Martin. "The dinner had all the elements of a great New Orleans-style meal: great food, well-made cocktails and repartee - the perfect combination!"

About Commander's Palace 

The renowned Commander's Palace restaurant, celebrating 129 years of business, is where top chefs Paul Prudhomme, Emeril Lagasse and the late Jamie Shannon each launched their careers. Commander's Palace, recently voted "Most Popular" by Zagat Survey for the eighteenth year, has also amassed numerous awards, among them the James Beard Foundation's Lifetime Outstanding Restaurant Award, Lifetime Service Award and Who's Who of Food and Beverage Award. In March 2008, Commander's Palace Family of Restaurants was inducted into the Culinary Institute of America's Hall of Fame, one of only three families to ever win the CIA's leadership award.

Commander's Palace offers dinner from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Jazz Brunch is served 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling (504) 899-8221.

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THE TRUTH ABOUT ARLEN SPECTER

THE TRUTH ABOUT

ARLEN SPECTER

ARLEN SPECTER AND THE JFK ASSASSINATION

The Single Bullet Theory

To support the scenario that a lone assassin (Oswald) could fire the purported number of shots within an allotted time frame, the Warren Commission concluded that one of the bullets fired that fateful day hit both Kennedy and Connally. This conclusion came to be known as the "single bullet theory." However, given the location of Kennedy's and Connally's wounds, for the "single bullet theory" to be correct, the bullet would have had to change course several times, behaving in the manner shown in the diagram (below left). The chief architect of the "single bullet theory" was the Warren Commission's ambitious junior counsel, Arlen Specter, now U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania. In the reenactment photo (below right) Specter, with his pointer in hand, attempts to make the "single bullet theory" appear more plausible by deceptively indicating a straight line trajectory for the bullet.  


While Specter managed to sell his "single bullet theory" to the Warren Commission, he had trouble selling it to the American public. A recent New York Times/CBS poll found that 77 percent of Americans rejected the Warren Report's conclusions.

For a list of Arlen Specter's other deceptions regarding the JFK assassination click here: Fetzer (compiled by researcher, James Fetzer).

Testimony of an Eyewitness

In Dallas Texas on November 22, 1963, two women, Jean Hill and Mary Moorman, were standing on the south side of Elm Street in Dealy Plaza, as Kennedy's motorcade passed. They were two of the closest eyewitnesses to President Kennedy when he was struck with the fatal head shot. Jean Hill would later be questioned by Warren Commission attorney Arlen Specter. Hill recalled her encounter with Specter with journalist/author Jim Marrs:

"The FBI took me to Parkland Hospital. I had no idea what I was doing there. They escorted me through a labyrinth of corridors and up to one of the top floors of Parkland. I didn't know where we were. They took me into this little room where I met Arlen Specter. He talked to me for a few minutes, trying to act real friendly, then this woman, a stenographer, came in and sat behind me. He had told me that this interview would be confidential, then I looked around and this woman was taking notes. I reminded him that the discussion was to be private and he told the woman to put down her notebook, which she did. But when I looked around again she was writing. I got mad and told Specter, 'You lied to me. I want this over.' He asked me why I wouldn't come to Washington, and I said, 'Because I want to stay alive.' He asked why I would think that I was in danger and I replied, 'Well, if they can kill the President, they can certainly get me!' He replied that they already had the man that did it and I told him, 'No, you don't!'  

He kept trying to get me to change my story, particularly regarding the number of shots. He said I had been told how many shots there were and I figured he was talking about what the Secret Service told me right after the assassination. His inflection and attitude was that I knew what I was supposed to be saying, why wouldn't I just say it. I asked him, 'Look, do you want the truth or just what you want me to say?' He said he wanted the truth, so I said, 'The truth is that I heard between four and six shots.' I told him, 'I'm not going to lie for you.' So he starts talking off the record. He told me about my life, my family, and even mentioned that my marriage was in trouble. I said, 'What's the point of interviewing me if you already know everything about me?' He got angrier and finally told me, 'Look, we can even make you look as crazy as Marguerite Oswald and everybody knows how crazy she is. We could have you put in a mental institution if you don't cooperate with us.' I knew he was trying to intimidate me.... 

He finally gave me his word that the interview would not be published unless I approved what was written. But they never gave me the chance to read it or approve it. When I finally read my testimony as published by the Warren Commission, I knew it was a fabrication from the first line. After that ordeal at Parkland Hospital, they wrote that my deposition was taken at the U.S. attorney's office in the Post Office Building."

                                                                                                                .

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James Whitmore dies at 87

James Whitmore dies at 87; Veteran award-winning actor brought American icons to life

James Whitmore, the veteran Tony- and Emmy-winning actor who brought American icons Will Rogers, Harry Truman and Theodore Roosevelt to life in one-man shows, died Friday (06-02-2008). He was 87.

Whitmore died of lung cancer at his home in Malibu, said his son, Steve. He was diagnosed with the disease a week before Thanksgiving

"He cared about acting; his whole life was dedicated to the theater and to movies," said actor David Huddleston, a longtime friend who appeared in Whitmore's 1964 movie "Black Like Me" and did a couple of plays with him. "I asked James Cagney one time to tell me the best thing you can about acting. He said never to get caught at it. That's kind of how I'd sum up Jim Whitmore."

James Arness, who appeared with Whitmore in the movies "Battleground" and "Them!," said Whitmore was "an actor's actor," adding that "it was always a treat to work with him." 

Arness also remembered the "great intensity" Whitmore could bring to a role.

"When we wanted to get an actor to play a character who had that quality, Jimmy was the guy you'd think of," said Arness, who starred in "Gunsmoke," a TV series that Whitmore appeared on a number of times.

A stocky World War II Marine Corps veteran who bore a resemblance to actor Spencer Tracy and shared Tracy's down-to-earth quality, Whitmore earned early acclaim as an actor.

In 1948, he won a Tony Award for outstanding performance by a newcomer in the role of an amusingly cynical Army Air Forces sergeant in the Broadway production of "Command Decision." 

Whitmore's Broadway success brought him to Hollywood, where he received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor in his second movie, the hit 1949 World War II drama "Battleground," in which he played a tobacco-chewing, battle-weary Army sergeant.

Supporting roles and occasional leads in some 50 movies followed over the next 50-plus years, including "The Asphalt Jungle," "Them!," "Kiss Me Kate," "Battle Cry," "Oklahoma!," "Planet of the Apes," "Tora! Tora! Tora!," "The Serpent's Egg," "Nuts," "The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Majestic." 

A frequent guest actor on television, Whitmore also starred in three series: the 1960-62 legal drama "The Law and Mr. Jones," the 1969 detective drama "My Friend Tony" and the 1972-74 hospital sitcom "Temperatures Rising" (although he left after a year, he later said, "because it was just a series of jokes").

In 2000, Whitmore won an Emmy Award as outstanding guest actor in a drama series for "The Practice," and he received a 2003 Emmy nomination in the same category for "Mister Sterling."

An avid flower and vegetable gardener, Whitmore also was known to TV viewers as the longtime commercial pitchman for Miracle-Gro garden products.

Whitmore often said he found acting in films and television boring because of the long waits between scenes; his passion was for the theater, and he continued to act on stage throughout his long career.

"I've been very, very lucky," he said in a 2003 interview with the Nashville Tennessean. "The stage is human beings sharing something together -- flesh and blood together -- and the others are mechanical and shadows on the screen."

Although he starred in productions of plays such as "Our Town," "Inherit the Wind" and "Death of a Salesman," Whitmore was best known for his three one-man shows: as Truman in "Give 'em Hell, Harry!," as Roosevelt in "Bully" and as Rogers in "Will Rogers' U.S.A." 

The 1975 film of his performance in "Give 'em Hell, Harry!" earned Whitmore a best actor Oscar nomination.

But the one-man-show character he said he "always felt most comfortable with" was Rogers.

"He was wise with a sense of humor, and that's an unbeatable combination," Whitmore told the Manchester (N.H.) Union Leader in 2003. 

He was initially resistant to the idea of playing the gum-chewing, lariat-twirling humorist -- his first one-man show -- when adapter-director Paul Shyre brought "Will Rogers' U.S.A." to him in 1969.

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TV Diner friends represent at blood drive

TV Diner friends represent at blood drive

(NECN: Billy Costa, Dedham, Mass.) - For the fifth year in a row, the American Red Cross Blood Services - Northeast Division and New England Cable News are joining together to reach out to patients in need by increasing the blood supply and raising awareness about the ongoing need for blood donors. 

Jose Duarte, chef/owner of Taranta in the North End, is joining in on the efforts, along with Cecilia Rait, owner of the Beacon Hill Hotel and Bistro.

The Celebrate the Gift of Life campaign will run throughout the winter months and holiday season, when blood donations are often critically low. 

Click here for more information and to find a donor center near you.

Every day, there are thousands of patients in hospitals who rely on the generosity of volunteer blood donors so that they can receive the treatments they need. Across the United States, a blood transfusion is needed every two seconds. The only source of blood is a healthy volunteer donor. Each unit of donated blood has the ability to help save the lives of up to three patients in need. Donated blood is used to help accident victims, trauma patients, transplant recipients, and those receiving treatment for life-threatening illnesses.

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chonga matthews octuplets

chonga matthews octuplets

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Alexandra Pelosi is in the news

 Alexandra Pelosi, a filmmaker

Alexandra Pelosi Is Nancy Pelosi Daughter

       Alexandra Pelosi, a filmmaker and the daughter of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Alexandra Pelosi is in the news after her latest film, “The Trials of Ted Haggard” aired tonight on HBO. The documentary follows the evangelical preacher as he tries to rebuild his life after the sex and drug scandal rocked the church. Pelosi focused on the theme of forgiveness, saying, “The story is about a church that preaches forgiveness. He, as a pastor, preached forgiveness and redemption. But he was not forgiven and he was not redeemed. They cast him out and they exiled him. It was very biblical in a way. Not that I even read the Bible, so I wouldn’t know. But the people who go to church get told every Sunday, `We forgive.’ He was not forgiven. That, to me, is what is interesting about it.”

As a biography, Alexandra Pelosi was born October 5, 1970 in San Francisco, California, so her age is 38. She is married to Michiel Vos. They have 2 children together. She graduated from USC’s Annenberg School for Communication with a master’s degree in Communication Management. Alexandra is the daughter of Nancy Pelosi, the current Speaker of the House in the United States Congress. She works as a filmmaker and director, with four documentaries under her belt.

Alexandra and Haggard worked together previously for her film “Friends of God: A Road Trip with Alexandra Pelosi”. For that documentary, Haggard served as her tour guide as she traveled through the south and examined the practices and politics of fundamentalist, evangelical Christians.

Her latest film, though, is the one that people will remember. After Haggard’s relationship with another man and his drug use became public, he stepped down from the New Life Church. But now he is revealing details that were previously kept quiet. Alexandra’s film brings many new aspects of the story to light, which makes it an interesting movie to watch.

Alexandra is dedicated to the topics she pursues. Once, when investigating hate in America, she joined the KKK to get an inside look.

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Coach not sorry for 100-0 win, gets fired

Coach not sorry for 100-0 win, gets fired

The coach of a Texas high school basketball team that beat another team 100-0 was fired Sunday, the same day he sent an e-mail to a newspaper saying he will not apologize "for a wide-margin victory when my girls played with honor and integrity."

Kyle Queal, the headmaster for Covenant School, told the Dallas Morning News that he could not answer if the firing was a direct result of coach Micah Grimes' e-mail disagreeing with administrators who called the blowout "shameful."

On its Web site, Covenant, a private Christian school, posted a statement regretting the outcome of its Jan. 13 shutout win over Dallas Academy. "It is shameful and an embarrassment that this happened. This clearly does not reflect a Christlike and honorable approach to competition."

A parent at the game said an assistant Covenant coach cheered wildly as the team hit three-pointers in the fourth quarter to edge closer to 100 points. Dallas Academy, with eight girls on the team and 20 girls in the school, specializes teaching students with short attention spans or dyslexia.

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Curry's ex-girlfriend killed in Chicago

A woman found shot to death in a Chicago apartment was a former girlfriend of New York Knicks center Eddy Curry and the mother of his 3-year-old son, Curry's attorney said Sunday.

A relative found the bodies of Nova Henry, 24, and her 9-month-old daughter, Ava, in their apartment near the South Side on Saturday evening, Chicago police said. Both died from multiple gunshot wounds. Curry's 3-year-old son was found unharmed at the scene.

Curry used to play for the Chicago Bulls.

-- A promoter for the Monster Truck & Thrill Show has died from injuries after an accident at the Dane County Coliseum, just more than a week after a 6-year-old boy was killed by debris while sitting in the stands at a monster-truck event in Tacoma, Wash.

The Dane County Coroner said 41-year-old George Eisenhart Jr. of Chardon, Ohio, died after an accident Saturday in Madison. A witness told the Wisconsin State Journal that Eisenhart walked in front of one of the monster trucks just as it was about to pass by him.

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Jennifer Joseph the Model.

Jennifer Joseph

Best known as: The model for the latest Columbia Pictures logo.

Jennifer Joseph isn't a household name, but as the model for the Columbia Pictures logo -- the draped lady holding a torch -- her likeness is seen by millions of moviegoers every year. After Sony Pictures Entertainment bought Columbia Pictures in 1989, New Orleans artist Michael Deas was commissioned to update the famous logo that has been around since the 1930s. Jennifer Joseph, at the time a 31 year-old designer with The Times-Picayune newspaper, modelled for Deas, although he used computer-generated images to construct a composite for the face. Joseph herself later became a muralist in Houston, Texas. In 2004 actress Annette Bening told movie critic Roger Ebert that she had been told she had been the model for the logo, but artist Deas said that wasn't the case. 

Extra credit: Jenny Joseph is also the name of the English poet who wrote "Warning," a short poem with the famous line "When I am an old woman I shall wear purple."

Obama to Order to Close Guantanamo

WASHINGTON — President Obama is expected to sign executive orders Thursday directing the Central Intelligence Agency to shut what remains of its network of secret prisons and ordering the closing of the Guantánamo detention camp within a year, government officials said.

The orders, which would be the first steps in undoing detention policies of former President George W. Bush, would rewrite American rules for the detention of terrorism suspects. They would require an immediate review of the 245 detainees still held at the naval base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to determine if they should be transferred, released or prosecuted.

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George carlin 7 words

George carlin 7 words

Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker, and Tits.Those are the heavy seven. Those are the ones that'll infect your soul, curve your spine and keep the country from winning the war.

– George Carlin, Class Clown, "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television"

George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008) was an iconic American stand-up comedian. He was also an actor and author, and won four Grammy Awards for his comedy albums.

Carlin was noted for his black humor as well as insights on politics, the English language, psychology, religion, and various taboo subjects. Carlin and his "Seven Dirty Words" comedy routine were central to the 1978 U.S. Supreme Court case F.C.C. v. Pacifica Foundation, in which a narrow 5–4 decision by the justices affirmed the government's power to regulate indecent material on the public airwaves.

The first of his 14 stand-up comedy specials for HBO was filmed in 1977. In the 1990s and 2000s, Carlin's routines focused on the flaws in modern-day America. He often took on contemporary political issues in the United States and satirized the excesses of American culture. His final HBO special, It's Bad For Ya, was filmed less than four months before his death.

Carlin was placed second on the Comedy Central cable television network list of the 100 greatest stand-up comedians, ahead of Lenny Bruce and behind Richard Pryor.[21] He was a frequent performer and guest host on The Tonight Show during the three-decade Johnny Carson era, and was also the first person to host Saturday Night Live.

How to tell if someone is lying

How to tell if someone is lying

From little white lies to nation-destroying omissions, lying has been around as long as the truth. And while lying has a rich history, the vast majority of humanity, almost all of the time, tells the truth. And why not? It is far easier, creates an atmosphere of trust, and facilitates a stable society. But every now and again, you get the sneaking suspicion that the person across from you isn't giving it to you straight.

So how do you tell if you're being lied to? Before we cover that, we have to ask two important questions.

The first question is: Do you really want to know? Some people willingly blind themselves and accept a lie as fact solely because the truth might be too painful to handle. 

On the other hand, some people are so desperate to believe that the painful truth is a lie that they will see “signs of lying” where none exist. 

The first step to discovering a lie, then, is to be aware of your personal feelings about the subject. In other words, what is your involvement in this possible lie?

The second question is: Why would this person lie to you? What is at stake here? Maybe he is afraid of being punished, or of the loss of the ability to obtain what he desires (for instance, your business), or, ironically, he is afraid he will lose your trust. 

In order to really be accurate in spotting a lie, you must be aware of the other person's motivations for lying to you, including what you might do to him if you knew the truth. 

An example of this is a child lying to a parent to avoid being grounded: He is desperately avoiding the punishment he is certain the truth would bring. The parent, being aware of this, is in a better position to gauge the child's lie. 

So, you want to know, you're certain he has a reason and you've got the feeling that he is hiding the truth? Let's test that theory...with science! 

Know how he talks normally. The first step to reading a liar's body language is to know his normal, everyday conversational habits. This is referred to as someone's “baseline” behavior – normal eye, hand and body movements during a pleasant conversation in which there is no pressure or lying. This will allow you to detect variations when the lie occurs, without mistaking a naturally awkward or shy person for a chronic liar. 

Notice how stress influences his patterns. It is notoriously difficult to tell the difference between a person who has been put on the spot (that is, under stress and pressure), and an out-and-out liar. This is because most of the tell-tale signs of lying are based around the fact that telling a lie is a stressful event on the body and mind – it seems humans are not built for distorting the truth, and forcing that situation has recognizable repercussions. 

Look for the signs.This is a list of the most common “tells” that people have while attempting to lie. Again, note that most of these also occur when someone is feeling stressed by the conversation. 

Little to no body movement. People will sometimes “freeze,” not quite facing the other person, and will move as little as possible during the lie. Alternatively, some people will fight this by being overly dramatic, moving the body much more than normal to try and “sell” the lie. 

No eye contact. A lot of information is conveyed through eye contact, and most people have an extremely hard time lying to someone while looking directly into his eyes. Sometimes this will only occur at the moment of the lie, a brief glance at the floor or to the right. Again, some will try to sell the lie by making and maintaining eye contact fiercely, much more so than usual. 
 


Stress gestures (rapid blinking, scratching, itching, swallowing, fidgeting, etc.). If discovered, a deception carries much greater risk of punishment than simply telling the truth, and people understand this. This uncomfortable situation will make them uncomfortable, and they will act accordingly. 

Looking up to the right. Looking up and to the right stimulates the part of the brain associated with imagination (that is, making things up), whereas looking up and to the left stimulates the part of the brain associated with recalling memories (that is, telling the truth). 

Touching the nose and covering the face/mouth. Habits from childhood, these gestures are a subconscious attempt to “cover up” the lie, and put distance between the liar and you. 

Rise in vocal pitch. Another product of stress, the liar's voice will get higher and squeaky. This should be noticeable if you are familiar with his normal speaking voice. 

Wide-eyed, innocent look. Another product of childhood fibs, based on the “who, me?” fake innocence usually associated with a kid denying he has his hand in the cookie jar while it is still in there. 

A noticeable pause in speaking. Most people lack the ability to come up with a plausible fiction in an instant, so they have to take a moment to think something up. This results in a pause, usually right before the lie itself, while they desperately reach for something other than the truth. Careful questioning will reveal variations in their story, as a consistent fiction is hard to remember, whereas actual events are usually easy to recall. 

Lying by omission. Sometimes a lie will happen by not speaking – that is, the liar omits an important piece of information from an otherwise truthful statement. However, this omission will, in the mind of the liar, poison the “truthful” statement, thus rendering it a lie. The above signs will still be present, with the addition of more obvious signs after he has finished talking. (An example: After talking in a relatively truthful manner, he falls silent and immediately looks away, covering his mouth and fidgeting.) 

Ask. A risky maneuver, as a person who is telling the truth may be horribly offended. Sometimes, however, a liar will come clean if given the chance to, as he realizes that continuing to lie when you know he's doing so would be far worse than just admitting the lie. 

Trust your intuition. Notice I say “intuition” and not “desire.” Most people have a pretty decent “lie detector” built in, and if you trust it, it can usually point the way. However, some people may want to believe they are being lied to, and they mistake this desire for “a gut feeling.” So before you start accusing anyone of a lie, make sure you're not trying to project your desire on an innocent person. 

Using the above steps, you should be able to determine the difference between a lie and the truth to a much more accurate degree. And while we may not have an answer to how to define truth for certain, we will at least be able to tell if the other person feels like he is lying...and if it feels like a lie, it probably is. 

Good luck!

source :http://www.howtodothings.com

Virginia Killer's Violent Writings

Virginia Killer's Violent Writings
Play told of pedophilic stepfather, murder of 13-year-old boy

APRIL 17--The college student responsible for yesterday's Virginia Tech slaughter was referred last year to counseling after professors became concerned about the violent nature of his writings, as evidenced in a one-act play obtained by The Smoking Gun. The play by Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old English major, was submitted last year as part of a short story writing class. Entitled "Richard McBeef," Cho's bizarre play features a 13-year-old boy who accuses his stepfather of pedophilia and murdering his father. The teenager talks of killing the older man and, at one point, the child's mother brandishes a chain saw at the stepfather. The play ends with the man striking the child with "a deadly blow."  

Plane Crashes into Hudson River in US

Plane Crashes into Hudson River in US

Plane Crashes into Hudson River in US (photos)

A US Airways passenger plane carrying 155 people has crashed into the Hudson River in New York. US Coast Guard came for their rescue immediatly and all passengers and crew were  rescued.