Passes

I applaud Governor Riley for his support of the Clean Indoor Act. I hope that this will provide the last little push to finally get it through the House on Monday. Riley: I’ll sign indoor smoking ban if it passes - Breaking News from The Birmingham News - al.com

A Eurail or Interrail pass is often the first thought when it comes to getting around Europe with a travel pass. While a bus pass may not get you to as many places as the train, it's a far more economical option and thus a worthy consideration with the current value of the Euro. Here are some bus pass options for travel in Europe.Europe WideFor pan-European bus passes there are two major choices:

It's the end of an era for Anna. Today all known pacifiers have been tossed in the garbage.Why today? Well, the main reason is thrush. I have had a gut feeling for the past month that our pacifiers are the reason for the continuation of this insane battle. I also don't think she "needs" the pacifier anymore like she did as a newborn. She can find her hands and is interested in toys now. And

I've lived in New Jersey twice in my life so I feel like I have some, valid leg to stand on when I say the following...What are they thinking?Township Commissioner Ralph H. Bayard, who introduced the ordinance, said it was not anti-surfer. “We don’t want people walking around naked with a towel around them."Correct me if I'm wrong but if a person has a towel around them then... they aren't nak

By: Al Terry What's the big deal with football tickets? Why are so many sports fans willing to pay an arm and a leg to get them? What is it about the sport that makes fans so crazy? If you're not a sports fan, it might be hard to understand the football fever that grips so many people across the country. But football mania is not something new.Rugby With A Twist?The game we know as American football today had its beginnings in the game of rugby. A man called Walter Camp brought about a number of changes to the basic rules, which is why football is so different from rugby today. The game really began to catch on in collegiate circuits and in the early part of the twentieth century a number of fierce rivalries grew. The importance of collegiate football has not diminished today and most NFL

"Iran is responsible for what is happening in Lebanon. The subject now is the Iranian attack on Lebanon. They want us to surrender totally without any compensation," Lebanese Sports Minister Ahmed Fatfat said Friday during an interview with the Al-Arabiya television network Friday amid reports that Hizbullah gunmen seized control of large parts of Beirut."Hizbullah has turned from an opposition party into a militia attempting to impose its control. I think Hizbullah believes that the way to Tel Aviv passes through Beirut," he said. Fatfat said Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah had "taken advantage of the government's decision to outlaw the (Shiite) group's communications network in order to declare war." More...

Don’t forget that Gear Patrol is giving away two passes to the Johnson Club Room at Nat Sherman. To win one of two free passes to The Johnson Club Room at Nat Sherman simply email giveaway@gearpatrol.com (email link) with the name of your favorite cigar and name. A winner will be chosen randomly at the end [...]

The U.S. House of Representatives acted today to help communities hit hardest by the housing foreclosure crisis, passing legislation introduced by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-35), the Chairwoman of the Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee. By a vote of 239-188, the House passed The Neighborhood Stabilization Act (H.R. 5818), which authorizes a $15 billion federal grant and [...]

Nokia 6210 Navigator passes through FCCThe FCC has just approved the Nokia 6210 navigator, which is the follow up to the 6110 navigator that was released not so long ago. As such, the 6210 bears much resemblance to its predecessor in terms of features and functionality, after all that’s how Nokia has always been when it comes to updating most of their mobile phone series. The 6210’s features which are mostly similar to the 6110 an include a built-in GPS with A-GPS, 3G, Wi-Fi and voice-activated controls. But that is not to say the Nokia 6210 is a mere copy-cat of the 6110, it also has some nice new features of its own. For one, the 6210 is equipped with an improved 3.2-megapixel camera and it now runs on the Symbian Series 60 OS. In addition, we could also see a dual-LED flash near the

The New York State Assembly today passed a rather robust legislative package aimed at addressing the “national sub-prime lending crisis.” The four-bill bundle contains legislation that, if enacted, would offer assistance to homeowners in default or facing foreclosure, establish requirements on all home loans, provide consumer info to all residential mortgage applicants, and most notably, create [...]

Um, Alex Rodriguez once again is being excoriated by the press -- this time due to the birth of his daughter, ordinarily a watershed event in anyone's life.Why does it seem everything he does PR wise turns out to be so awkward even when it should not be the case?From the Baltimore Sun: Alex Rodriguez passed out during the birth of his first daughter in 2004. "The one nurse had a cold cloth on his head. The other nurse had the blood pressure on his arm. And my mother was, like, rubbing his back. And he is passed out on a couch. And I am there, in the middle of labor," Rodriguez's wife, Cynthia, said on an episode of the YES Network's YESterdays that is scheduled to be broadcast tonight. Natasha Alexander Rodriguez was born Nov. 18, 2004.Is A-Rod a wuss? I don't think it's that big of a deal

A new plan to slow home foreclosures won Senate approval Monday, but its chances of moving forward face challenges from the banking industry and opposition from Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Although the DFL-controlled Senate approved the plan by a 34-29 vote, several key DFL members -- including Senate President James Metzen -- voted against it, and an industry lobbyist said the plan "goes in the wrong direction." The chief House sponsor, Rep. Jim Davnie, DFL-Minneapolis, said that he was disappointed in the lack of bipartisan support, but added that the House would consider the plan later this week.

Gather Up Your Friends for a Season of Amusement Park fun! Experience the Thrills & Adventure - On Us! Get FREE 4 Season Passes and say “Yes!” to an entire season of unlimited theme park access, hundreds of dollars of in-park values, plus special perks specific to your location! Spin 360-degrees, become a human boomerang, or take a [...]

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil futures surged to a new record over $120 a barrel Monday, raising concerns about higher prices for gasoline and goods and services throughout the economy. Retail gas prices fell more than a cent over the weekend, but oil’s advance increased the likelihood that pump prices would resume their climb. Supply threats [...]

Country superstar Gretchen Wilson has added another award to her already full awards shelf. This one doesn't include singing, however. Wilson earned her General Educational Development exam recently, which earns her a high school diploma.

By a 46-21 vote, the House Financial Services Committee has approved a bill that provides the Federal Housing Administration with $300 billion in loan commitment authority to refinance “underwater” mortgages. The bill, crafted by the committee chairman, Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., provides mortgage investors/servicers with an option to refinance struggling borrowers into FHA-insured loans if [...]

Sen. Don Gaetz just released one piece of his education reform "train," the provision expanding the state's corporate income tax scholarship program by $30-million, to $118-million a year. But it still includes a provision the House leadership opposes, which could...

More Flags. More Fun. That's exactly what you'll find. More rides. More shows. More awesome. Still not convinced? Here are 10 reasons why getting Season Passes gives you thrills and so much more.1. Best Entertainment Value. Make the most of the entire 2008 season — buy your pass early and save!2. Five Free Tickets for Friends. Your Six Flags Theme Park Season Pass Value Book contains five free tickets for friends on select days.3. New Attractions for 2008. We're adding attractions at every single park across the country in 2008, including eight new coasters!4. Free Waterpark. Seven of our Six Flags Theme Parks have free waterparks inside, so don't forget your swimsuit.5. Pays for Itself. A Season Pass pays for itself in less than 2-3 visits.6. Over $300 in Exclusive Passholder Perks. Pas

Passing the House of Representatives on a voice vote, S. 1858 has been sent to President Bush for signature. The Newborn Genetic Screening bill was passed by the Senate last December. The bill violates the U.S. Constitution and the Nuremberg Code, writes Twila Brase, president of the Citizen's Council on Health Care (CCHC). "The DNA taken at birth from every citizen is essentially owned by the government, and every citizen becomes a potential subject of government-sponsored genetic research," she states. "It does not require consent and there are no requirements to inform parents about the warehousing of their child's DNA for the purpose of genetic research. Already, in Minnesota, the state health department reports that 42,210 children of the 780,000 whose DNA is housed in the M

NEW DELHI: Veteran Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande passed away in the national capital. She was 79. Deshpande, a Rajya Sabha member, was not keeping well for the past two-three days, and she died in her sleep early Thursday morning, Rajshree, one of her close associates said. “Deshpande had returned from Dhanbad on Tuesday and had some gastric [...]

A bill to enhance the amount of compensation to victims of air accidents or for damages caused to baggage or cargo, bringing it on par with the global level, was adopted by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill, tabled last year, was adopted by a voice vote after Civil Aviation Minister [...]

Lutz, FL (ThaLunatic Daily) -- Nicole Marie Van Neil, a 22 year old Florida woman who is 8 months pregnant has been arrested for DUI again. And again. And again. And Again.Hillsborough County Deputies noticed Van Neil's car swerving across the yellow line while driving her vehicle on April 17th. When they pulled the vehicle over, they found 8 month pregnant Van Neil and a strong odor of marijuana.Police also found marijuana stored in a pill bottle and a marijuana pipe hidden under the driver's seat. They also found additional drug paraphernalia stored in the vehicle's center console.Police charged Van Neil with DUI, marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.As if that wasn't enough of a train wreck, authorities soon learned that this isn't the first go around for Nic

The House just passed the law, already Ok'd by the Senate, aimed at preventing misbehaving teachers from getting away with it and moving quietly from one district to another. The Educator Ethics in Education Act (SB 1712) establishes a list...

Albert Hofmann , the Swiss Chemist who discovered the LSD had passed away in his country in the age of 108. I think that he did not know how danger the substance he discovered suddenly would be and that it would destroy a whole generation , sorry generations. He used to defend and argue till his last day in Life that LSD is not that bad and it is fine as a treatment for psychological diseases and disorders despite what it causes from psychological diseases and disorders itself. I think Albert Hofmann was a lucky one because there are many  drugs in the world we do not know who invented them still may be because this man did not intend to invent a destructive drug that would destroy a whole generation just like Alfred Noble , still he did not regret it or was sorry for how his disco

Sources reveal to PerezHilton.com that April Lavigne has "postponed" her concert in San Diego concert. April's supposedly suffering from throat problems. We sense that she's really plagued with poor ticket sales! We're hearing THAT is the real reason for the last-minute cancellation. Boo hoo! [Image via WENN.]

Yossi Harel, who was the captain of the Exodus ship that brought 24,000 Jewish refugees to Israel during WW2, has passed away at 90 years old. He should be honored for his bold role as captain of the great rescue ship.

Washington: More than 10 years after it was first introduced by New York Rep. Louise Slaughter, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act has passed the US Senate 95-0.The bill outlaws using genetic information gathered by medical research to discriminate against donors by denying them insurance coverage or jobs. President Bush will not oppose the law."It's the first civil rights bill of the new century of life sciences... We made sure today that our laws reflect the advances we are making," Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy told the LA Times. Source: www.allheadlinenews.com

Saturday, the deadline imposed by Microsoft relating to the merger with Yahoo passed quietly which means Yahoo ignored the deadline.  What will happen next?  Microsoft has several options including starting a proxy fight, upping the bid amount or walking away.  What should Microsoft do?  If they choose the proxy fight or walk away, it [...]

People learning through genetic testing that they might be susceptible to devastating diseases wouldn't also have to worry about losing their jobs or their health insurance under anti-discrimination legislation the Senate passed Thursday. The bill, described by Sen. Edward Kennedy as ''the first major new civil rights bill of the new century,'' would bar health insurance companies from using genetic information to set premiums or determine enrollment eligibility. Similarly, employers could not use genetic information in hiring, firing or promotion decisions. ''For the first time we act to prevent discrimination before it has taken firm hold and that's why this legislation is unique and groundbreaking,'' said Sen. Olympia Snowe. There are more than 1,100 genetic tests available today, she s

 It was bad enough when Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick decided to go to New York and sign a million dollar book deal on the day that the staple of his budget plan, casinos in Massachusetts, was being debated and ultimately shot down by the man who really runs Massachusetts, Sal Dimasi, instead of fighting for it. This [...]

After Motorola's (MOT) global handset market share dropped from 22% two years ago to 14% more recently, it could hold on to one prize. It was still the top... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

CHICAGO – Following our recent interview with “Young@Heart” director Stephen Walker, choral director Bob Cilman and choral member Dora Morrow, we’re now announcing a new HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film that you’re guaranteed to win so long as you reply in time. These free, admit-two passes can be used in Chicago throughout the run of the film. RELATED READING“Young@Heart” interviews (April 18, 2008)“Young@Heart” audio interview (April 20, 2008)RELATED IMAGE GALLERYView our full “Young@Heart” gallery As these are run-of-engagement passes, they can be used any time Monday through Thursday for complimentary admission to regularly scheduled screenings at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema (2828 N. Clark St.) in Chicago. Since these are movie theatre-approved passes

The Florida Senate has approved legislation that would allow public school teachers "to objectively present scientific information relevant to the full range of scientific views regarding chemical and biological evolution." The 21-17 vote showed most Democrats opposed and most Republicans...

The latest mobile handset to be passed by the FCC testing labs id the HTC NEON300, and just like its predecessors the HTC NEOM200 and before that the HTC NEON100, this HTC mobile handset is yet another variant on the HTC Touch series. Actually deep within the murky vaults of the FCC there is conformation [...]

 Concerned that problems in the credit and mortgage markets could spread to the student loan industry, the House on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a bill that would increase the amounts that students can borrow through federal programs and grant wider authority for the Education Department to make financing available should it become more difficult for students and parents [...]

Okay, I'll make this a quick one.. I just thought before I go to sleep, I'll just upload some photos into my lappy. A couple of days ago, I just decided to pick up the camera and snap pics of the kids. I knowww.. amazing isn't it? Me? With a camera?? You guys better go buy number laaa.. LOL! Anyways, after I uploaded the pics, I browsed through them for a while.. and I noticed then, how fast my

Join the Message Board BATON ROUGE, La. — The most serious sex crimes should be punishable by castration, with drugs or surgery, the Louisiana Senate voted on Tuesday. The bill by Sen. Nick Gautreaux, D-Meaux, would give judges the option of imposing chemical castration on those convicted of sex crimes including aggravated rape, simple rape and indecent [...]

Join the Message Board BATON ROUGE, La. — The most serious sex crimes should be punishable by castration, with drugs or surgery, the Louisiana Senate voted on Tuesday. The bill by Sen. Nick Gautreaux, D-Meaux, would give judges the option of imposing chemical castration on those convicted of sex crimes including aggravated rape, simple rape and indecent [...]

BATON ROUGE, La. —  The most serious sex crimes should be punishable by castration, with drugs or surgery, the Louisiana Senate voted on Tuesday. The bill by Sen. Nick Gautreaux, D-Meaux, would give judges the option of imposing chemical castration on those convicted of sex crimes including aggravated rape, simple rape and indecent behavior with a juvenile. [...]

Since signing up with the BlogBurst service in early February of this year, the Housing Chronicles blog has just passed the 5-million headline view mark. Most of these posts have been picked up by the Reuters.com website, followed by the Chicago Sun-Times, Fox Business News and the Wall Street Journal.Through another service called Sphere, posts have also appeared on websites for The Washington Post, CNN.com as well as the Wall Street Journal. While it's difficult to predict the future of blogs, the success of these syndicators as well as the large investment in blog networks by groups like Forbes.com and InmanNews.com tells me that blogs are definitely becoming growing members of traditional online media.

According to TMZ.com hottie actress Cameron Diaz lost her dad, 58 year old Emilio Diaz this morning after he passed away from complications after catching the flu.  Our condolences Cameron! Share This [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

The lower house of the French parliament approved a new law on genetically modified crops on Wednesday after fierce opposition criticism and internal wrangling in the ranks of the centre-right government. After a vote of 249 in favour of and 228 against the proposed law, intended to bring French legislation into line with European Union directives, the bill will now go to the Senate for a second reading on April 16. The law is aimed at fixing the conditions under which genetically modified (GMO) crops may be cultivated in France, where many regard them with deep suspicion. Europe has demanded that member states formulate domestic laws on GMO use since 2001 but France has dragged its feet over an issue that is fiercely disputed by supporters including the main farmers union and env

Come see why they’re called amusement parks by getting 5 free Season Passes to your favorite theme park. And get ready for the ride of your life. Adventure is waiting—experience the thrill of your favorite roller coasters by getting 5 Season Passes to the theme park of your choice. But hurry, the fun’s only unlimited for [...]

With all of the write-offs it has taken in the past and all those it is likely to take in the future, the market rubbed more salt in the wounds of Citigroup... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Although the Senate passed a bill yesterday to help prop up the housing market, experts say to expect significant changes in the House version still being debated. Whereas the Senate bill focuses more on builders and lenders but not homeowners (i.e., supply side), the House version takes an opposite tack. From a AP via MSNBC story:The Senate on Thursday passed a bipartisan package of tax breaks and other steps designed to help businesses and homeowners weather the housing crisis.The measure passed by an impressive 84-12 vote, but even its supporters acknowledge it’s tilted too much in favor of businesses such as home builders and does little to help borrowers at risk of losing their homes.The plan combines large tax breaks for homebuilders and a $7,000 tax credit for people who buy for

the.LIFE Files was under the impression that John McCain was far behind both Hillary Clinton & Barack Obama…but boy were we wrong! According to stats released yesterday on Yahoo... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Cedella Marley Booker Passes At 81 Cedella Marley Booker, mother of late reggae icon Bob Marley, died Tuesday night at her South Florida home after a long illness. She was 81. Booker was surrounded by loved ones inside her South Miami-Dade home and was ”very ...

The Senate on Thursday passed (84-12) HR 3221 giving tax breaks to builders and lenders while providing no help to struggling homeowners. The so called housing crisis bill had already been stripped of actions that would help homeowners facing foreclosure. The provision that would have permitted bankruptcy judges to modify interest rates and reduce mortgage balances to the current value of a

The Senate on Thursday passed a bipartisan package of tax breaks and other steps designed to help businesses and homeowners weather the housing crisis. The measure passed by an impressive 84-12 vote, but even supporters of it acknowledge it’s tilted too much in favor of businesses like homebuilders and does little to help borrowers at risk [...]

Senate passes bill to ease housing crisis - Mortgage Mess- msnbc.com: "AP WASHINGTON - The Senate on Thursday passed a bipartisan package of tax breaks and other steps designed to help businesses and homeowners weather the housing crisis." Albuquerque Real Estate

I was sitting at work today, and this thought crossed my mind, “You know what this place needs? A gatt or two!” Well, if I lived in Florida, that could happen! Backed by the NRA, the so-called “take-your-guns-to-work” measure was passed by the Florida Senate Wednesday and would prohibit business owners from banning guns kept [...]

Cedella Marley Booker, mother of late reggae icon Bob Marley, died Tuesday night at her South Florida home after a long illness. She was 81. Booker was surrounded by loved ones inside her South... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

That’s right, JEWISH refugees. The Jews who were run out of Arab countries, by those tolerant peaceful muslims, after the UN created (or rather, GAVE BACK WHAT WAS RIGHTFULLY THEIRS TO BEGIN WITH) Israel in 1948. All the media ever harps on about is the Arabs who left Israel (which they previously invaded and occupied [...]

The Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HOSE) today April 09 continued increasing on the stock market as the VN Index jumped 3.49 points or 0.64% to end at 552.05 pts with the total matching order trade of 11 million shares and fund certificates worth nearly 545 billion dong, marking the 11th consecutive increasing... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

John Mayer Holds Hands With A Guy John Mayer Hugs A Guy Gossip King Perez Hilton has taken a lie detector test to prove his New Year’s Eve 2006 party romantic kiss with John Mayer isn’t a figment of his imagination.The Blogger went public about the alleged smooch earlier this week after growing tired [...]

The Oscar-winning actor died ad the age of 84 in his Beverly Hills home on Saturday. In 2002, he had been diagnosed with symptoms similar to those of Alzheimer’s disease. Charlton Heston lived a full life however, achieving his stardom by playing larger-than-life figures including Moses, Michelangelo and Andrew Jackson. Later in his life, he became an [...]

One of Oregon's most amazing WWII veterans died recently -- Jacob DeShazer. The Oregonian did a nice story but one of the nation's largest newspapers, The Wall Street Journal, recognized this Oregonian with a full-blown editorial. I met this humble man PLEASE read this memorial. The veterans of World War II a

The United States is apparently not interested in settling its dispute with Antigua regarding online gambling — at least not right now. The U.S. had a deadline of April 1 to offer a proposal that would rectify its dispute with the Caribbean nation via the World Trade Organization. The WTO had ruled earlier that the United [...]

How the world has gone Digital!! This should tell Hip Hop artists world wide where they should focus their efforts!! Over the past few years, we have watched Apple climb the music sales chart courtesy of the iTunes. Last month we learned that Apple passed Best Buy to become the number two retailer in the the US. Now, Apple has ascended to the top of the charts, surpassing Wal-Mart for the first time ever, according to the NPD MusicWatch Survey.read more | digg story

The Michigan Senate passed legislation to hopefully stimulate the housing industry in Michigan. A similar stimulus package was passed by the Michigan House last year which would give homeowners a 18... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

LALATE NEW MUSIC Ray J Passes Chris Brown Leona Lewis Takes No. 1 from Usher It’s a story we’ve been following all week at LALATE NEWS. And now, honestly, we are a bit shocked. Usher has had his hold on the number one song in the nation for several weeks with “Love in this Club” (which we don’t think [...]

By DAVID DECAMP Times Staff Writer TALLAHASSEE — A Senate panel endorsed “protections” Wednesday for students and teachers who offer alternative theories to evolution — despite a report saying there’s never been a case alleging such discrimination in Florida. Sen....

The Senate's committee on K-12 education voted 4-1 Wednesday to approve Sen. Ronda Storms' bill to protect teachers who offer alternative theories to evolution and students who offer other theories. Only Sen. Ted. Deutch opposed it, despite criticism from some...

Indonesia plans to restrict access to pornographic and violent sites on the Internet after the country's parliament passed a new information bill, officials said on Tuesday.The Southeast Asian country has had a vigorous debate over pornography in recent years, exposing deep divisions in the Muslim-majority nation.The new legislation, the Electronic Information and Transactions Law, will allow courts to accept electronic material as evidence in cases involving Internet abuse, officials said.Under the law, anyone found guilty of transmitting pornographic material, false news or racial and religious hate messages on the Internet could face up to six years in prison or a fine of 1 billion rupiah ($109,000).Edmon Makarim, an adviser for the information ministry, said the government hoped to sta

CHICAGO – Following our sold-out ticket giveaway to the upcoming Ellen Page comedy “Smart People,” HollywoodChicago.com now announces another ticket giveaway to the advance screening of the new Uwe Boll comedy “Postal”. The film, which opens on May 23, 2008, will show to downtown Chicagoans at a screening on April 3, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. “Postal”.Photo credit: MovieSet Each winning ticket allows you to bring one guest. We have 10 admit-two tickets available in total for this special screening. Before we share your simple task to score free tickets, let’s explore its plotline. “Postal” is insulting, irreverent, politically incorrect and funny as hell. It follows two days in the life of the Postal Dude in the regrettably named town of Paradise. Just when he thinks he has

Sad news out of England last night. Jason Rae, husband of British songstress Corinne Bailey Rae and saxophonist for local favorites The Haggis Horns, died of what police are referring to as a possible drug overdose. The thirty-one year old’s body was discovered in a Hyde Park flat

The best montage scenes from the 80's. For those of you that don’t know the 80’s montage is basically made up with 1 really cheesy 80’s song and a bunch of scenes cut together to give the illusion of time passing and people getting things accomplished...

This is first step but State Senator and Military and Homeland Security Committee Chairmans office has given me intel that there is no opposition and if everything proceeds as promised it should go to Gov. Patterson by June. last year the bill was shelved in favor of the Property

Very sad news from the Liberty and Power Blog: Kenneth Gregg, intellectual historian and the creator of the libertarian blog CLASSical Liberalism, died of heart failure last Friday after a long illness. Sadly, he was only 57, and the last few years of his life were marked by a degree of tragedy most of us are mercifully unable to fathom. Kevin Carson has a very touching tribute him to at

Despite compulsory education laws in Indonesia, latest figures indictae a high percentge of children still are not attending schools, particularly at the secondary level in many parts of the nation. In a recent survey of the country’s 440 regencies and municipalities, almsot half of children between the ages of 13 and 15 were being denied [...]

Renowned character actor Raghuvaran died here Wednesday after a weeklong fight to survive a cardiac arrest, the family said. He was 59.Although separated from him, his former wife and actor Rohini was inconsolable. They have a nine-year-old son, Nanda. Honoured by the Tamil Nadu government with its premier “Kalaimamani” award, the actor had carved a niche for himself by his method acting. In a career spanning 26 years, Raghuvaran played hero, villain and character roles in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi movies rubbing shoulders with stars such as Rajnikanth, Kamal Hassan, Sathyaraj, Mammooty and Mohanlal.The distinctly different use of a cultured, baritone voice in a peculiarly slow, deliberate dialogue-delivery set Raghuvaran apart from the rest.Noticed by critics immediately af

CHENNAI: Veteran actor Raghuvaran passed away in a hospital here on Wednesday morning following a brief illness. Raghuvaran, 60, is survived by his ex-wife and son.He was admitted to a private hospital following an ailment about a week back. His funeral will be held on Wednesday evening, family sources said.Raghuvaran was married to actress Rohini. However, their marriage was a short lived one and ended in divorce.He acted in more than 80 films in Tamil and Malayalam and had bagged many awards, including the Tamil Nadu government's 'Kalaimamani' award and best character artiste award.He had acted with all top actors, including superstar Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan. The actor had carved a niche for himself with his special style and voice modulation.

It is a great loss for Tamil cinema (indeed for South Indian cinema) to lose Raghuvaran suddenly like this. This versatile, understated, elegant actor had been struggling with a few health issues, but nobody thought (or knew) how serous it was. The news that is just coming in is that he was suddenly hospitalized on [...]

Renowned character actor Raghuvaran died here Wednesday after a weeklong fight to survive a cardiac arrest, the family said. He was 59.Although separated from him, his former wife and actor Rohini was inconsolable. They have a nine-year-old son, Nanda. Honoured by the Tamil Nadu government with its premier “Kalaimamani” award, the actor had carved a niche for himself by his method acting. In a career spanning 26 years, Raghuvaran played hero, villain and character roles in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi movies rubbing shoulders with stars such as Rajnikanth, Kamal Hassan, Sathyaraj, Mammooty and Mohanlal.The distinctly different use of a cultured, baritone voice in a peculiarly slow, deliberate dialogue-delivery set Raghuvaran apart from the rest.Noticed by critics immediately afte

Raghuvaran, a distinguished character artiste, passed away in Chennai this morning (March 19). He was admitted to Mehtha Hospital for treatment a few days ago. The reason for the death has been disclosed as weakness caused by excessive alcohol consumption. It is learnt that he had been under intensive medical care for the past few weeks. Raghuvaran, born in December 11,1948, has acted in several Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Hindi films. Most of his roles were of a villain or a supporting actor. He has also acted as a hero in a few movies. Though he has acted in several films, he shot to fame with his role as the protagonist of a Tamil soap opera, 'Oru Manidhanin Kadhai' (One Man's Story), about the agony of a well-to-do man who becomes an alcoholic. Unfortunately, the drug addiction cas

News Corp.’s Fox passed CBS as the most-watched television network after its “American Idol” singing contest topped ratings and the Hollywood writers strike limited competition from scripted shows.Fox’s 6.8 rating among U.S. households in primetime for the season through March 16 snatched the lead from CBS Corp., according to Nielsen Media Research. CBS has been [...]

 It is a phrase that conservatives say over and over again. It is always true, and it will always be true. The phrase is said so often that it probably loses it’s luster. Last week it was proven true once again. What phrase am I referring to? This one:  (Insert Democrat name here) is a tax [...]

3/13/08 - Okla. House Passes Campus Gun Bill (Associated Press)House Bill 2513 introduced by Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie...The state House agreed Thursday to allow people with specialized firearms training, such as military personnel, to carry concealed weapons on the state's college campuses, despite opponents who said it made no sense following shootings at schools across the country.The measure was approved 65-36, and now heads to the state Senate for a vote.More can be read at the AP link above.It is a fairly limited concealed carry bill, but at least it is a start. From what the AP story says, only those with "with firearms training certified by the Council on Law Enforcement Education who hold a state concealed weapons license to carry guns on college and university campuses." It a

The House on Friday approved a Democratic bill that would set rules for the government’s eavesdropping on phone calls and e-mails inside the United States. The bill, approved as lawmakers departed for a two-week break, faces a veto threat from President Bush. The margin of House approval was 213-197, largely along party lines. Because of the promised [...]

Some good news, but don't hold your breath yet--The CPSC reform bill (S. 2663) has passed the Senate, and now heads to conference committee where the differences between the house and senate versions will be worked out.Let's hope the differences being "worked out" will not involve the watering down of the important provisions of this bill. Essentially, this bill in its current state would markedly strengthen the CPSC, increase penalties for violating companies, ban lead in all children's products (like bibs!) and not just toys , and would require that toys be tested by independent labs before they are sold. It is about time! There were some excellent amendments added to the senate version, one that I think Non-Toxic readers will be excited about is from Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) th

CMGI, Inc. (NASDAQ: CMGI) shares are trading up slightly in after-hours trading after earnings. The supply chain manager and internet incubator posted a 14.4%... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Some good news, but don't hold your breath yet--The CPSC reform bill (S. 2663) has passed the Senate, and now heads to conference committee where the differences between the house and senate versions will be worked out.Let's hope the differences being "worked out" will not involve the watering down of the important provisions of this bill. Essentially, this bill in its current state would markedly strengthen the CPSC, increase penalties for violating companies, ban lead in all children's products (like bibs!) and not just toys , and would require that toys be tested by independent labs before they are sold. It is about time! There were some excellent amendments added to the senate version, one that I think Non-Toxic readers will be excited about is from Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) th

This from the Associated Press by way of The Kentucky Law Review; The Indiana Law Blog; & Law.com: Photo from PressTV.ir. An 8-year-old boy with dreams of becoming a judge has passed a law school entrance exam -- shocking Brazil's legal profession and prompting a federal investigation. The Universidade Paulista, a multi-campus private university, issued a statement acknowledging that Joao Victor Portellinha de Oliveira had passed the entrance exam and that it initially enrolled him. But he was turned away from classes when he showed up on Thursday with his father.The school said that the fifth grader has to graduate from high school before he can enter the university.The university said one of its employees erred in accepting Oliveira's enrollment and said it would return his fees to t

This from the Herald-Leader:FRANKFORT, Ky. --The state Senate has approved a bill that would overhaul Kentucky's methods for testing student achievement.The plan calls for ending the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System. That divisiveness of the proposal was reflected in the Senate's 22-15 party-line vote on Friday. The measure now goes to the House for consideration.The bill now moves into choppy waters in the House. Speaker Jody Richards predicted the measure would fail there. Governor Steve Beshear is poised to veto the bill if it passes both chambers.

Lobbyists wage fierce behind-the-scenes battle to weaken measureThe Senate today passed the strongest consumer safety legislation since the creation of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 1972.The bill, which passed by a vote of 79-13, overhauls the CPSC and its guiding document, the Consumer Product Safety Act.The CPSC Reform Act would gradually increase the agency's funding to $155.9 million by 2015 and includes many clauses that would make it harder for companies to get away with making dangerous products. The agency was slated to have a $63 million budget this year, but Congress bumped that up to $80 million.A similar bill unanimously passed the House of Representatives in December, but is considered by many consumer advocates to be inadequate compared to the Senate versio

Acclaimed Beatles engineer Norman Smith has passed away. Dubbed Norman Normal by John Lennon, the studio hand worked on every Beatles album up to Rubber Soul and later found pop music success himself under the alias Hurricane Smith. Perhaps most famously, he presided over the first ever Fab Four recording at Abbey Road Studios in George Martin’s absence

Move over Bill Gates, Warren Buffett is now the richest man on the planet. Riding the surging price of Berkshire Hathaway (nyse: BRKA) stock, America's most beloved investor has seen his fortune swell to an estimated $62 billion, up $10 billion from a year ago. That massive pile of dough puts him ahead of Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT) co-founder Bill Gates, who was the richest man in the world for an amazing 13 straight years. But don't fret too much for Gates, he didn't exactly suffer through 2007, amassing another $2 billion to bring his cash pile to $58 billion. See Forbes' full list of the world's billionaires.

So yesterday I was surfing the net and found out that Gary Gygax, the co-creator of the renowned game Dungeons of Dragons, had passed away. Typically, I don’t really follow this kind of news, however, I feel that the life of Mr. Gygax should be recognized. As many gamers will probably tell you, [...]