ImReportMaster

Petechiae

2011-01-21T07:22:00.002-08:00

What is Petechiae?
It is very easy to define Petechiae. Petechiae are round red spots appearing on the skin. The spots are initially red in color. In later stages, however, they may appear blue or purple in color. A single dot is called Petechia. A cluster of Petechia is known as Petechiae. The condition can apply to any of three purpuric skin ailments.

Petechiae are normally accompanied by external symptoms like the appearance of small round dots in the skin. Unlike rashes, which are raised spots on the skin, these are flat. This is because these are not formed over the skin but under it.
The spots are very tiny. Generally, each of them is less than 3 mm in diameter. These do not blanch when they are pressed upon.
In the early stages, the dots are red in color. But in advanced stages, the color can change to blue or purple. The spots generally appear on the leg, but they may get distributed in other parts of the body in later stages.
You can generally find Petechiae on legs and ankle, which are under increased pressure for the most part of the day. But they may also be found in other regions of the human body.

Why Sarah Palin Drives Them Wild

2011-01-21T07:22:00.000-08:00

I wonder how many television hosts and “journalists” tuned in to Sarah Palin’s interview on “Hannity” this week, waiting with bated breath for her to say something they could try to distort. And the more she says “this isn’t about me,” the more they make it about her.

Let’s enter the world of Sarah Palin for a moment.

If she grants interviews to Oprah or Barbara Walters, she’s accused of wanting to be a celebrity. If she denies those interviews, she’s labeled a coward.

If she’s quiet when viciously attacked, she’s accused of hiding. If she speaks up, she’s described as injecting herself into the story.

If she addresses health care reform, bailouts, and QE2 via columns, Facebook, and Twitter, she’s accused of not engaging in unscripted conversations. In 2008, she was criticized by many for calling it like she saw it and going off script at campaign events.

When she resigned as Governor, she was labeled a quitter. I assure you that if she hadn’t resigned, she would have been painted by many as a self-centered hypocrite who didn’t care about Alaska. They would have argued that she prioritized the preservation of her political future over the fact that frivolous ethics charges against her were draining the resources of the governor’s office.

The truth? Many on the Left and Right are ready and willing to pounce on Sarah Palin’s every move. The question is why. And the answer is simple.

She’s just a regular person like you and me. But she’s a regular person who has managed to pack convention halls and book signings, to release two bestselling books, to launch a successful and unconventional television series, to boost the ratings of every television show she has appeared on – and she has done it all just by being herself. No help from the GOP establishment, no help from the media elite, and no help from any you-do-for-me-I-do-for-you deals with big shots. To top it all off, she’s – heaven forbid – happy.

The worst part for the elites? While running a city and a state, she managed to keep her values intact. She sustained a successful marriage and prioritized her children. She kept smiling and loving life. She even made time for those 5 a.m. runs.

To the business-as-usual politician and/or media hack, she’s simply maddening. So, they respond by saying she’s not smart enough. (Translation: She doesn’t speak our pretentious language.) Or they claim she’s too controversial. (Translation: She stands by principle, even when it’s unpopular.) Or they declare she’s not presidential. (Translation: She doesn’t play by our rules, and that scares the crap out of us.) Or they insist that her TV series proves she’s not a serious politician. (Translation: If she pulls a Reagan, we’re screwed. And why didn’t I get offered a TLC show?)

Palin’s work ethic, record of achievement, and commitment to principle inspire many ambitious Americans. Because they get that she’s not a superhero, but a hard worker. And if she can do it, so can they.

But to the insecure, to those who feel the need to tear you down in order to lift themselves up, Palin is an absolute nightmare. Because she’s “not going to sit down…not going to shut up.” Because in the face of vicious attacks and death threats, she continues to prove that she’s bigger and better than those who play dirty. She continues to prove that her family and her faith are her anchors. And she continues to prove that her commitment to principle is impervious to their constant digs.

I’m often asked what my perception was of Palin after my November telephone interview. Political components aside, the truth is that I found her to be a regular person. When I picked up the phone, she said, “Hey Jedediah. It’s Sarah.” There was no pomp and circumstance from start to finish. There were no assistants. There was no nonsense.

Most importantly, she wasn’t afraid to just be herself. And to those who spend their lives trying to be who they think people want them to be, nothing is more infuriating.

Mariah Carey announces she is pregnant

2010-10-29T04:03:00.001-07:00

(Reuters) - Mariah Carey, one of the world's top selling singers, said on Thursday that she is pregnant with her first child.
The Grammy Award winning singer and her husband, "America's Got Talent" host and rapper Nick Cannon, made the announcement in an interview broadcast on NBC's Today Show.
"Yes, we're pregnant, this is true. It's still early, we're expecting in the spring," said Carey, confirming rumors that had been swirling for several months.
"It's been a long journey, but it's been tough because I have been trying to hold on to a shred of privacy and that was not easy," said Carey, who also revealed that she suffered a miscarriage soon after she and Cannon married in 2008.
Carey will release her 13th studio album, "Merry Christmas II You," next week. During her 20 year career, Carey has sold more than 200 million albums, singles and videos and scored 18 No. 1 songs in the United States.

Indonesia's volcanic eruption claims 25 lives

2010-10-26T22:57:00.000-07:00

MOUNT MERAPI, Indonesia – Rescusers scoured the slopes of Indonesia's most volatile volcano Wednesday after it was rocked by an eruption that spewed clouds of searing ash, killing at least 25 villagers including an old man known as the mountain's spiritual gatekeeper.
The blast eased pressure that had been building up behind a lava dome perched on the volcano's crater, but experts said the worst may not be over. The lava dome could unleash deadly gases and debris if it collapses.
"It's a little calmer today," said Surono, the chief of Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation. "No hot clouds, no rumbling. But a lot of energy is pent up back there. There's no telling what's next."
Mount Merapi, which translates as "Fire Mountain," has erupted many times over the last 200 years, often with deadly results. In 1994, 60 people were killed, while in 1930, more than a dozen villages were incinerated, leaving up to 1,300 dead.
Still, as with other volcanoes in Indonesia, many people call its fertile slopes home. More than 11,000 live near Merapi.
Though thousands streamed into makeshift emergency shelters after Tuesday's powerful eruption, many started returning Wednesday saying they had to tend to their crops and protect their homes.
"I keep thinking about what's happening up there, with my cows, my property," said Hadi Sumarmo, who has a farm in Srumbung, a village three miles (seven kilometers) from the crater's mouth. "I just want to go back to check. If I hear sirens, I'll get out again quickly."

Even as rescue officials contended with the volcano — one of 129 to watch in the world's largest archipelago — officials were trying to assess the impact of a 7.7-magnitude earthquake off Sumatra island that triggered a three-meter (10-foot) -high tsunami, killing more than 100 people and leaving scores missing.
The twin disasters happened hours apart in one of the most seismically active regions on the planet.
Officials said earlier that by closely monitoring the famously active volcano they thought they could avoid casualties, but the death toll was quickly rising.
Aris Triyono, of the national search and rescue agency, said his teams were scouring the southern slope of the mountain, which has been pounded by rocks and debris, in search of victims and survivors.
Twenty-five bodies have been brought to the main hospital in the city of Yogyakarta, said Endita Sri Andiyanti, a spokeswoman, and more than a dozen others were admitted with respiratory problems, burns and other injuries.
Among the dead was Maridjan, an 85-year-old man who had been entrusted by a highly respected late king to watch over the volcano's spirits.
"We found his body," said Suseno, a member of the search and rescue team, amid reports that the old man was found in the position of praying, kneeling face-down on the floor.
Maridjan, who for years led ceremonies in which rice and flowers were thrown into the crater to appease spirits, has angered officials in the past by refusing to evacuate even during eruptions.

Ebook: Earning Over $15 a day

2010-10-14T12:48:00.000-07:00

This tutorial teach you how to make over $15 a day. Its simple and brief explanation on all the techniques involved.

Don't hesitate to buy it, its for only $30. Reviews will be posted later.

Justin Bieber Arrested

2010-10-08T00:34:00.000-07:00

Police investigation found that Justin Bieber is actually 51 years old pedophile.

Justin Bieber Arrested - The best home videos are here

Tutorial 1: 3Ds Tutorial

2010-10-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

Create your free animated world by reading this tutorial.

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Enjoy this video tutorial and don't forget to post your comment.

Move would be Bridge too far - Buck

2010-10-07T06:40:00.001-07:00

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck insists the club still has no plans to leave Stamford Bridge, despite the stadium's capacity of under 42,000 seats

The Blues are dominating English football on the field after winning both the Premier League and FA Cup trophies last season and Carlo Ancelotti's side are sitting pretty at top this term after seven games.
But the West Londoners' lie eighth in the table when it comes to attendance averages and a move away from the Bridge has long been mentioned to help them compete with the type of revenues Manchester United and Arsenal command from their gate receipts.
And while Buck admits Chelsea will never rule out leaving their 105-year home, the Blues chairman insists the capital outfit are making up for a smaller capacity venue by focusing on revenue from commercial activity, sponsorship and new media.
He told Sky Sports News."There is a lot of history and tradition here at Stamford Bridge.
"The club has been here since 1905 and so it's very difficult for us to make the philosophical decision that we are going to move on.
"Certainly we wouldn't leave West London or thereabouts and there are very few sites available.
"We have to do things with our other commercial activities to make up the deficit that is created by the fact we don't have a 60,000 seat stadium.
"I can't say that we will never move or have a new stadium but at the moment, it's not at the front of our agenda.
"What's at the front of our agenda is increasing our commercial activities, increasing how our sponsors and increasing how we use new media."

Roy's methods aren't working with Reds

2010-10-07T06:39:00.000-07:00

Roy Hodgson needs to drastically change his formation if he is to reverse Liverpool's dismal slump in form.

Liverpool's potential new owners New England Sports Ventures have reassured Roy Hodgson over his managerial future at Anfield, saying they feel he is "the right person to take this club forward" if their takeover goes through.
I'm happy to admit that I thought Hodgson was a fantastic appointment as Rafael Benitez's successor in the summer - and even went as far as tipping them for a top-four finish.
But now I'm not so sure.
Having watched Liverpool's disastrous start to the season under his tutelage, albeit only seven league games in, I just can't see how things will get better for the Reds under the former Fulham boss, who already has an embarrassing League Cup exit to Northampton and a humiliating home defeat by Blackpool on his record.
I can't shake the feeling that Hodgson is simply out of his depth at Anfield, with the glare of the constant spotlight on him overwhelming a man who now looks like he has the world on his shoulders.
The alarm bells started to ring a few weeks ago when Hodgson dropped into a press conference how many extra hours he was working in his new job.
You get the impression he was left to his own devices by Mohammed Al Fayed at Craven Cottage, and thrived on the freedom he had in west London.
But this is Liverpool Football Club - a club in crisis but still a club steeped in the grandest tradition and still one of the biggest in world football when it comes to history, silverware and fanbase.
I was never Benitez's biggest fan but there was never any doubt that he had red running through his veins while he was in charge on Merseyside, and he clearly worked around the clock, living and breathing Liverpool FC.
Benitez's meticulous approach to training and tactics seems to be something the players are only fully appreciating now that he's gone - and although Hodgson is desperate to stamp his own style on his new team, I just don't think the two are compatible.
"My methods have translated from Halmstads to Malmo to Orebro to Neuchatel Xamax to the Swiss national team," Hodgson has claimed in his defence, but that very list of clubs tells it's own story, with his methods perhaps not suited to the bigger clubs in world football, where world-class and World Cup-winning footballers are used to a much different approach.
Despite the distractions of the ongoing ownership and takeover wranglings since the summer, there's simply no way Liverpool should be in the relegation zone with the squad at Hodgson's disposal.
Many critics have pointed the finger at Benitez for the Reds' shortcomings, but although the squad as a whole needs greater depth, there is still a top-class starting XI there if the right players are picked.
Understandably Hodgson has transferred the formation and style that served Fulham so well last season from London to Merseyside - but Fernando Torres is not Bobby Zamora, so asking him to do a similar job in a lone striker role has been a key factor in the Spaniard's dip in form, body language and goals return.
Under Benitez, Torres had the likes of Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun buzzing around him, pressing defenders, winning possession and providing ammunition for his predatory finishing skills in the attacking third.
Liverpool's midfield and attack has looked totally disjointed under Hodgson, with Torres' frustration at his lack of service visible to everyone.
The Reds boss needs to realise he has dropped a clanger in his recruitment of Christian Poulsen, and play the classy Raul Meireles in his best position - which is certainly not on the right wing.
I personally think Hodgson should take a look at the top of the table and mirror Chelsea's 4-3-3 formation, which has served them pretty well so far.
The Blues have a solid back four who are protected by a three-man midfield shield which could be provided by talismanic skipper Steven Gerrard in the centre, Meireles and the much-maligned Lucas Leiva (or Fabio Aurelio when fit for balance on the left of the trio). Jonjo Shelvey could even be an option alongside Gerrard and Meireles, while some Reds fans have called for Daniel Agger to be given a chance in a holding midfield role given Hodgson doesn't seem to want him in central defence.
This midfield trio would allow Glen Johnson the freedom to bomb forward in much the same way Ashley Cole does for the Blues, giving the Reds some much-needed width and delivery from the right flank which has been sorely missing so far.
With Lucas/Aurelio/Agger in the team, Gerrard could be the heartbeat pulling the strings from the middle of the pitch and the man tasked with linking midfield with an attacking trio of Joe Cole, Dirk Kuyt and Torres.
Chelsea play with Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda supporting star striker Didier Drogba, and although I'm not Kuyt's biggest fan, his workrate, passion and eye for goal put him way ahead of David Ngog and Ryan Babel, with Maxi Rodriguez another option for Kuyt's position if the Dutchman is unavailable.
This formation would give Torres plenty of company up top and allow him to harass defenders in a gang, rather than ploughing a lone furrow.
With so many teams starting to adopt this formation - one of which being Blackpool who rocked Roy's Reds last time out - Hodgson needs to realise his tried and tested methods are simply not working at Anfield.
Although Liverpool have previously tended to stand by their man, defeat to Everton in the upcoming Merseyside derby could make the call for Hodgson's head deafening, with Reds fans chanting the name of Kenny Dalglish in the humiliating defeat by Ian Holloway's Seasiders last weekend.
Hodgson insists he has not "lost any ability which has served me so well in 35 years of coaching" - and I'm sure he hasn't.
But his current methods are simply not working at the moment - and unless he accepts he may have to adapt his ways sooner rather than later, he may give Liverpool's hierarchy no other choice but to usher him towards the exit door.

2010 ICC Awards

2010-10-06T06:14:00.000-07:00

We’re LIVE at the 2010 ICC Awards at the Grand Castle in Bangalore.
Here’s a look at who won:
Cricketer of the Year: Sachin Tendulkar
Test Cricketer of the Year: Virender Sehwag
ODI Cricketer of the Year: AB de Villiers
Test Team of the Year: India
ODI Team of the Year: Australia
LG People’s Choice Award: Sachin Tendulkar
Women’s Cricketer of the Year: Shelley Nitschke
Twenty20 International Performance of the Year: Brendon McCullum for his unbeaten 116 against Australia.
Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year: Ryan ten Doeschate
Emerging player of the year: Steven Finn
ICC Umpire of the Year: Aleem Dar
West Indies fast bowlers Courtney Walsh and Joel Garner, along with Bishan Singh Bedi and the late Ken Barrington of England joined the 60 male members of the Hall of Fame, while England’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint becomes the first woman to be inducted.

Red carpet arrivals:
Bishan Singh Bedi was among the first to arrive. He’s being inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame this evening and he said it was a huge honour. The media waiting here grilled him on what he thought about India taking on Australia and whther India vs Australia was now turning out to be a bigger rivalry than India vs Pakistan. Bedi said that there has always been a fierce rivalry between the two teams.
The Indian team arrived at the awards in their team bus and while most of them almost ran across the red carpet, Sachin Tendulkar (who was up for three awards tonight) did stop to answer questions. And there were plenty of them! Sachin seemed to be in a great mood after yesterday’s awesome win in Mohali and he said that though every win means alot, yesterday’s win was just very very special. We agree.

Torres strain puts derby outing in doubt

2010-10-05T00:50:00.000-07:00

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is a doubt for the Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday October 17.
It has been confirmed that Torres has strained an adductor muscle - a similar injury to the one he sustained in the World Cup final.
The Spain striker limped off after just 10 minutes of the 2-1 Premier League defeat to Blackpool at Anfield on Sunday.
Manager Roy Hodgson said the 26-year-old had strained his groin but did not know the severity of the injury.
Torres pulled out of Spain's squad for the forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Lithuania and Scotland and had a scan at the club's Melwood training ground.
"Fernando was assessed earlier today at Melwood and underwent a scan this afternoon," said Dr Peter Brukner, head of sports medicine and sports science.
"He will have intensive treatment over the next couple of weeks but it is too early to say if he will be fit for the game against Everton."
The forthcoming derby is hugely significant with Liverpool currently wallowing in 18th place in the Premier League after their worst start to a campaign since 1953-54, when they were relegated.
Everton have also had their difficulties in the current campaign and are just one place above their near-neighbours, on goal difference alone.

Clemence upset by Hodgson criticism

2010-10-05T00:48:00.001-07:00

Liverpool legend Ray Clemence believes it is "sad" that Roy Hodgson is being questioned after just three months in charge at Anfield.

Liverpool fans chanted the name of Kenny Dalglish during Sunday's 2-1 home defeat by Blackpool which left their side in the bottom three of the Premier League.
Clemence believes the situation will not change significantly until the Tom Hicks-George Gillett ownership position is sorted out.
The former England keeper said: "I can't believe after two to three months that people are questioning the man (Hodgson).
"He has managed and coached at the highest level. He got Switzerland to over achieve with his organisation and tactical knowledge.
"He has coached in different places in Europe. He made Fulham into an excellent side, took them to a situation they've never been in their history.
"Why wouldn't he be the person to be given the opportunity at Liverpool? But he is in a situation which is not ideal by a long stretch of the imagination at the moment."
Clemence added: "I am sure Roy knows better than I do the changes that need to be made there but his hands appeared to be tied at this moment and will be until Christmas.
"Until the get the club sorted out in terms of who is going to own it, where the money is going to come from, then it is going to be a difficult three or four months.
"The problem is that the fans are confused as well.
"They've been having a go at the top people for so long, the top people still don't appear to want to move, so where do they go now? We'll have a go at the manager.
"It is sad because Liverpool fans over the years have been, and are in mind, are still the most loyal when you consider the number of managers over the years compared to other clubs.
"The man should be given a chance and three months is no time at all to make the changes that need to be made."
Clemence admits he is hurting personally over Liverpool's current plight.
He said: "I loved my time at Spurs, it was the best thing that could have happened to me at that time.
"I had 12 great years there as a player and coach, learnt a lot, and probably wouldn't be in this position today if I hadn't gone to Spurs.
"But if someone nails you to a post and says 'what is the club' then it is Liverpool.
"I had a fantastic time playing-wise there, the fans were always fantastic to me and still are when I go back.
"I love the place, I love the club, I hate to see where it is at the moment and I want to see them back up there as soon as possible in the position I believe they should be in."

Zakir Naik: Concept of God in Hinduism and Islam

2010-10-05T00:35:00.000-07:00

About Zakir Naik
A medical doctor by professional training, Dr. Zakir Naik is renowned as a dynamic international orator on Islam and Comparative Religion. Dr. Zakir Naik clarifies Islamic viewpoints and clears misconceptions about Islam, using the Qur'an, authentic Hadith and other religious Scriptures as a basis, in conjunction with reason, logic and scientific facts.

Dr. Zakir is popular for his critical analysis and convincing answers to challenging questions posed by audiences after his public talks. In the last 6 years (by the year 2002, Dr. Zakir Naik has delivered more than 600 public talks in the U.S.A., Canada, U.K., Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, South Africa, Mauritius, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Guyana (South America) and many other countries, in addition to numerous public talks in India.

He has successfully participated in several symposia and dialogues with prominent personalities of other faiths. His public dialogue with Dr. William Campbell (of USA), on the topic, “The Qur’an and the Bible in the light of Science” held in city of Chicago, U.S.A., on April 1, 2000 was a resounding success.

Sheikh Ahmed Deedat, the world famous orator on Islam and Comparative Religion, who had called Dr. Zakir, "Deedat plus" in 1994, presented a plaque in May 2000 awarded to Dr. Zakir Abdul-Karim Naik for his achievement in the field of Da'wah and the study of Comparative Religion with the engraving "Son what you have done in 4 years had taken me 40 years to accomplish, Alhamdulillah."

Dr. Zakir Naik appears regularly on many international T.V. Channels in more than 100 countries of the world. He is regularly invited for T.V. and Radio interviews. More than a hundred of his talks, dialogues, debates and symposia are available on video cassettes, video CDs and audio cassettes. He has authored books on Islam and Comparative Religion.

Video Download Link:

http://hotfile.com/dl/73846372/f17bc34/Part1.flv.html
http://hotfile.com/dl/73846006/7c5accb/Part2.flv.html

“One Nation Working Together”

2010-10-05T00:29:00.001-07:00

The liberal “One Nation Working Together” rally in Washington Saturday was a trashy affair — much trashier than Fox News host Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally held at the end of August, at least according to one member of the clean-up crew who worked both events.

As the ralliers began to disperse from the “One Nation” rally around 4 p.m., one thing was immediately clear: the area around the Lincoln Memorial had become a landfill.

Fast food remnants littered the area below the Memorial. Empty water bottles were omnipresent as were discarded stick-mounted signs. The limited park-provided trash bins were almost works of art. The trashcan heaps bursting upwards looked like images of volcanoes caught mid-eruption, to say nothing of the areas surrounding the bins. Pompeii never had a chance.

Perhaps the biggest problem was the pamphleteering. With well over a hundred groups passing out buttons, sign-up sheets, newspapers, pamphlets, flyers, rants and manifestos, it should come as no surprise that a lot of the printed material became sidewalk graffiti.

The Daily Caller attempted to see just how much stuff a single person could accumulate at the rally. Apart from time constraints, there were several self-imposed limitations governing TheDC’s research:

• Only free items were counted

• Items were only taken when explicitly offered by the pamphleteers first

• Items were only taken once

• No wood-mounted signs or banners were taken that couldn’t fit into a backpack

TheDC also attempted to pick up anything off the ground, but this became logistically impossible after 1:30 p.m.

The result: 112 items (17 stickers; 22 small leaflets; 14 8.5-x-11 flyers; 7 broadsheet newspapers; 7 pamphlets; 5 business cards; 2 mail-in forms; 2 large signs; 1 208-page book; and 1 postcard. The rest of the 112 items came from a 34-loose-page document titled, “General Motors and UAW Information for Investigation Consideration.”)

Message in a Bottle Survives Epic Journey

2010-10-05T00:28:00.001-07:00

Last year, a high school student named Corey Swearingen put a letter in a bottle, sealed it up, and dropped it in the Atlantic Ocean, off the Florida coast. It was kind of an experiment for school. In the letter, he appealed to whomever came across the bottle to contact him and let him know where in the world it showed up. Amazingly, someone did.
About 16 months after the bottle was dropped, Swearingen's marine science teacher heard from someone in Ireland. The letter had made its way across the Atlantic Ocean and washed up on the shores of the Emerald Isle, found by a 17-year-old and his Dad while out for a stroll. In an interview with Florida Today, Swearingen said he never expected the message to be found.
Can't blame him for pessimism. After all, the wine bottle, which, according to Swearingen, is being put up on display in an Irish pub, did face long odds. But it's hardly the first message in a bottle to survive a perilous journey.
In 2009, a message in a bottle washed up on the shores of England. It had been tossed into the waters near the Bahamas nearly five years previous. Incredible, but that pales in comparison to a bottle sent by Emily Hwang. True, Hwang's bottle traveled "only" 1,735 miles from Seattle to Alaska, but it took an amazing 21 years to do so.
There's even a case of a message in a bottle helping a family find a new life. In 1979, Dorothy and John Henry Peckham dropped a message in a bottle in the Pacific Ocean while on a cruise. Amazingly, the bottle found its way to Southeast Asia where it was picked up by 31-year-old Hoa Van Nguyen.
Nguyen wrote back and began a correspondence that eventually led to the Peckhams helping to sponsor Nguyen and his family's immigration to the United States.
Eat your heart out, email.

Foursquare Down

2010-10-04T20:49:00.000-07:00

Foursquare, the popular location based social network that focuses on checking in where you go has been down for upwards of four hours. The company first blamed the downtime on server overloading, but later revised that with a 404-type image on their website that claims that they are “currently upgrading [their] servers.”

It could be that the service went down, and then the company decided to upgrade, but it is much more likely that Foursquare pulled a fail-whale and is frantically trying to get back online.

Twitter has been buzzing without stop about the down time, but the service has been near silent. Since this tweet four hours ago they have said nothing:

The tweet was passed along by Foursquare CEO Dennis Crowley, but he had nothing further to say on the matter.

Is Foursquare the new Twitter of going down, or is this just a one time fluke? Given the general durability of the service, we are likely to take the second view. This time, at least.

Allen Stern had a rather funny take on the whole situation:

"We are hearing from many users (they want to remain anonymous) that they are staying at home until the service is restored. One user called us on our tips hotline noting that it just “isn’t worth going out if you can’t get a badge”.

A Call For Unity

2010-10-04T07:19:00.000-07:00

This book is a leaflet which has been laid out to invite devout Christians and Jews for cooperation to convey people the message of existence and oneness of Allah.

Download Link: http://sharecash.org/download.php?file=1304166

Torres out of Spain squad

2010-10-04T06:57:00.001-07:00

Fernando Torres has withdrawn from the Spain squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Lithuania and Scotland

The Liverpool striker was forced off with a groin problem after just ten minutes of his side's shock 2-1 defeat to Blackpool on Sunday.
Torres' injury has been assessed by the Spanish medical staff and he has been forced to pull out of the world champions' squad.
Liverpool are still waiting to find out the full extent of the problem and how long their star striker might be sidelined for as they look to turnaround their horrendous start to the season.
Spain will also be without Barcelona forward Pedro and Sevilla winger Jesus Navas after they picked up knocks over the weekend.
Vincente Del Bosque is already without Barcelona schemer Xavi and Arsenal ace Cesc Fabregas for the two games against Lithuania and Scotland.
Del Bosque has drafted in Valencia duo Pablo Hernandez and Aritz Aduriz and Villarreal pair Borja Valero and Bruno Soriano to provide cover for the latest withdrawals.

Wayne Rooney defending himself

2010-10-02T07:43:00.001-07:00

Rooney has been plagued by poor form and off-field controversy so far this season. He missed the recent clash with Everton after allegations over his private life before being rested due to an ankle problem for today's clash with Sunderland.
The forward, who could however be named in the England squad on Monday for the Euro 2012 qualifier with Montenegro on October 12, believes playing time is the answer to his poor performances recently.
"I'm only a human being," he said.
"I hurt as well, but I need to get through this and get back to playing football the way I can do."
Rooney added: "I know I can play better, so I'm hoping to get a consistent run of games in the team.
"If I do that, I'm sure my form will be back to its best.
"When you're not playing at your best, you need to just continue playing and doing the simple things, then your form will come good."
Rooney, who has spent the overwhelming majority of his career to date as a first-choice with club and country, continued: "You always want to play well and give the manager no excuses to leave you out, but there are top players here, so you have to be at your best to keep your place. If you're not, the manager has the players to leave you out. All footballers get left out at some stage, but I want to play every game.
"My performances could be better. I obviously missed pre-season and I've only played four or five games this season but the more games that you play, the better your form will become, so I'm hoping to get a run of games."
The former Everton man also highlighted a change of position this season as a factor in his recent struggles
"Last season, I played up front every game, whether it was alone or with Berba (Dimitar Berbatov). I was the out-and-out striker and that was the big difference.
"That's my favourite position and, scoring wise, it's obviously a lot better because you get more chances to score rather than if you are playing in the hole and creating for others."

Milan Jovanovic could quit Liverpool Team

2010-10-02T07:41:00.001-07:00

The Serb, signed on a free transfer in the summer from Standard Liege, is seemingly unhappy about his lack of playing time under Roy Hodgson and warned he is getting itchy feet.
"I am starting to find the time dragging on," he is quoted as saying by The Sun.
"I'm a fighter but if things do not sort themselves out I will change club - even though it is too soon to think about it yet.
"I'm on form, I'm working hard and I have started eight competitive games.
"But I've not been in the starting XI for the last few matches - and I've not even come on as a sub."
He continued: "I have to adapt to a new system over here. I have to defend all the time.
"Just three or four teams in the Premier league play attractive football. The others set great store by commitment, discipline and defending.
"I miss Standard and the city of Liege."

Ecuador Correa rescue President

2010-10-01T04:24:00.001-07:00

QUITO, Ecuador – Ecuador was under a state of siege Friday, with the military in charge of public order after rescuing President Rafael Correa from a hospital where he had been surrounded, roughed up and tear gassed by rebellious police.

Correa and his ministers called Thursday's revolt — in which insurgents also paralyzed the nation with airport shutdowns and highway blockades — an attempt to overthrow him and not just a simple insurrection over a new law that cuts benefits for public servants.

At least three people — two police officers and a soldier — were killed and dozens injured in the clashes, said Irina Cabezas. the vice president of congress. Five soldiers were wounded — two critically — in the firefight at the hospital before Correa was removed at top speed in an SUV, according to the military and Red Cross.

Correa was trapped for more than 12 hours in the hospital, where he was being treated for the tear-gassing that nearly asphyxiated him when he tried to reason with angry police officers at a capital barracks. The officers also roughed him up and pelted him with water.

The region's leaders and the United States have expressed firm support for Correa. Bolivia's leftist president, Evo Morales, summoned South American presidents to an emergency meeting Friday in Buenos Aires of the continent's fledgling UNASUR defense union.

Correa, 47, speaking from the balcony of the Carondelet palace after his dramatic rescue, told hundreds of cheering supporters that Thursday "was the saddest day of my life." He thanked those who had converged on the hospital Thursday "ready to die to defend democracy" — his loyalists had hurled stones at mutinous police, who repelled them with tear gas.

The president said 27 of his special forces bodyguards had been injured in the melee and the unrest was not just a pay dispute.

Leo Apotheker as new CEO

2010-10-01T04:23:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO – Hewlett-Packard Co. has hired recently discarded software executive Leo Apotheker to steer the world's largest technology company as it tries to prove it can thrive without its previous leader, Mark Hurd.

Thursday's announcement ends HP's nearly two-month search to fill its top post. It has been empty since HP's board ended Hurd's five-year reign as CEO amid allegations of sexual harassment and deceptive expense reports.

Hurd's ouster wasn't well-received on Wall Street, causing the company's stock to plunge more than 15 percent in the weeks after his departure. The backlash intensified the pressure to find a CEO that would inspire investor confidence.

The initial response to Apotheker's appointment was icy. HP shares fell $1.28, or 3 percent, in extended trading after finishing Thursday's regular session at $42.07, down 46 cents.

Apotheker, 57, spent most of his career at business software maker SAP before being promoted to CEO in April 2008. He lasted less than two years in the position. SAP decided not to renew his contract when it expired nearly eight months ago, largely because SAP's financial performance hadn't been living up to investor expectations.

Since leaving SAP, Apotheker said he has been enjoying some time off and consulting with companies. He is scheduled to take over HP's helm Nov. 1.

Although it's a large company, SAP's emphasis on business software means it has a much narrower focus than HP. Carrying out a strategy crafted by Hurd, HP is trying to build upon its leadership in personal computers and printers by expanding into technology services, data storage and security.

In a Thursday interview, Apotheker said he would start off with a "listening tour" and rely heavily on HP's current management team to help him get a better handle on a company that employees more than 300,000 people.

"HP has such a broad portfolio of products that I don't think there is a single human being on the planet that would know them all and be an expert in all of them," Apotheker said.

SAP also is based in Germany, creating the potential for some cultural adjustments as Apotheker tries to adapt to HP ways that have been shaped during a 71-year history in the free-wheeling Silicon Valley.

HP's board is confident it found the right man for the job.

"Leo is a strategic thinker with a passion for technology, wide-reaching global experience and proven operational discipline — exactly what we were looking for in a CEO," said Robert Ryan, the lead independent director on HP's board.

HP also named another candidate for the CEO position, Ray Lane, as its non-executive chairman.

Lane, 63, is currently a partner at renowned venture capital firm, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, but he is best known in Silicon Valley as the former chief operating officer at SAP rival Oracle Corp.

Although he was hailed for helping Oracle recover from an accounting scandal, Lane was dumped by the company's mercurial CEO, Larry Ellison, a decade ago.

In an ironic twist, Ellison hired Hurd as his top lieutenant after publicly blasting HP's board for forcing him out of his job.

Lane said he doesn't get any special satisfaction from chairing the board of a company that is increasingly competing against Oracle.

"It's irrelevant," Lane said. "Oracle is a partner and a competitor, just like IBM, just like SAP. I think we are going to have the same relationship with have with Oracle as we have with everyone else."

Apotheker's selection as CEO comes as a surprise. Most analysts expected to hire from within after going with two outsiders who clashed with the board. Before Hurd arrived, HP had been run by Carly Fiorina, now a Republican candidate for Senate.

HP's CEO slot is one of the most coveted and troubled in the technology world. Apotheker is the third CEO HP has had in the past decade.

Hurd was pushed out in August after a five-year reign in which he slashed costs — including cutting 50,000 jobs — and bought scores of companies to reduce HP's dependence on its cash-cow printer ink.

The company is now a player in technology services, where it competes with IBM Corp., computer networking, where it competes with Cisco Systems Inc., in addition to PCs and other technologies.

Hurd was revered on Wall Street, as HP's market value nearly doubled under his watch. But he ran afoul of HP's ethics policies, which he tightened after a scandal four years ago involving HP's board spying on the phone records of journalists and board members.

The former CEO was found to have submitted inaccurate expense reports for his dinners with an HP marketing contractor, Jodie Fisher. She accused Hurd of sexual harassment, which kick-started an investigation by HP that uncovered the expense reports. Hurd insists he didn't prepare his own reports, and that Fisher's name wasn't intentionally left off any of them.

Fisher and Hurd settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. Hurd fought with the board over its decision to publicly disclose the claim, even though it found no evidence of sexual harassment.

MTV's Tony DiSanto is stepping down

2010-09-30T20:01:00.000-07:00

Now MTV really does have a situation on its hands.
It's losing the man who helped put shows such as "The Hills" and "Jersey Shore" -- with its characters Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino and Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi -- on the map.
Tony DiSanto, president of programming, is exiting the cable network along with Liz Gateley, senior vice president for development, according to a person familiar with the situation. The duo are departing to join former NBC Entertainment President Ben Silverman's new production entity Electus.
David Janollari, the former head of the now-defunct WB Network who joined MTV as a development executive this year, is expected to take the reins as the network's top programming executive. Janollari was brought on board to help MTV lessen its reliance on reality shows and focus more on scripted programming. News of the shake-up was first reported by Deadline Hollywood and Daily Variety.
The departure of DiSanto will be a big blow to MTV. He has spent more than two decades at the network, starting as an intern in the late 1980s when the channel was in its heyday and rising through the ranks to president, a position he has held for the last three years. Under his watch, MTV regained some of its prominence with young viewers.
Fueled by the popularity of "Jersey Shore" and "Teen Mom," MTV's ratings are up 14% so far this year compared with 2009. The third quarter was particularly strong, with ratings growing 30% over the year-earlier period among the network’s target audience of viewers ages 12 to 34. The third quarter included the launch of MTV's new series the “World of Jenks.”
MTV is the crown jewel of Viacom's far-flung media empire and as of late has even become a focal point for the company's 87-year-old Chairman Sumner Redstone, who has expressed interest in getting a reality show on the air about a female band called the Electric Barbarellas that he apparently likes very much. DiSanto was able to resist giving in to the programming desires of the big boss. Now we'll see whether Janollari will do the same.

Giants sweep Arizona, clinch tie for NL West title

2010-09-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Bruce Bochy has said all along the NL West race would probably come down to the season's final weekend - and it will.
His San Francisco Giants have put themselves in prime position: They need only one victory against visiting San Diego in their season-ending three-game series to win the division and end a six-year playoff drought.
Pablo Sandoval hit a splash shot into McCovey Cove, Andres Torres and Buster Posey also homered and the Giants beat Arizona 4-1 on Thursday, moving them closer to their first NL West crown since 2003.
Bochy said the days of team meetings are over. His players understand the stakes.
"We've got to go out there and go hard," Bochy said. "Yeah, we put ourselves in good position but we've got games ahead of us. They know it. They're very much aware of where we're at."
San Francisco's win, coupled with San Diego's 1-0 loss to Chicago later Thursday, left the Giants' magic number to win the division at one. Even if the Padres sweep this weekend's three-game series in San Francisco, the teams would be tied for the title.
The Giants completed a three-game sweep over the Diamondbacks, won their fourth straight and eighth in 10.
Matt Cain (13-10) starts Friday night's series opener for San Francisco. It could be to clinch - and it's expected to be an electrifying scene at AT&T Park for all three sold-out games.
"We've put ourselves in a good situation and got done what we needed to get done today," Cain said. "I've got to go and do the same things I've done before. Same preparation."
Torres' go-ahead, solo homer in the fifth inning helped rookie Madison Bumgarner (7-6) earn his first home victory in eight tries. Posey hit a two-run homer in the sixth, the rookie's seventh shot in September.
Overall, the Giants have hit 16 home runs in their last seven games. Pat Burrell had a three-run drive Wednesday night.
"We have one guy hitting a home run one night and another guy hitting a home run another night," Sandoval said.
Barry Enright (6-7) lost his fifth straight start. He has given up 12 homers during that span after surrendering just eight longballs in his previous 12 outings.
"We want to be in their position next year," Enright said. "We still have a few games left but it's exciting to think about some of the guys coming back next year."
New Arizona general manager Kevin Towers said he hopes to decide on a manager "shortly after the season" ends. He has spent time in recent days with interim Kirk Gibson, who hopes to stay on for 2011.
Sandoval's solo shot into the water beyond right field with two outs in the second prompted one of two kayakers paddling for the ball to jump out of his boat and swim to snag the souvenir.
It was the first home run for the struggling slugger since Aug. 28, a homerless stretch of 66 at-bats. Sandoval has just 12 hits in his last 63 at-bats. He insists he is more relaxed lately and finding his stroke again.
"This is the same Pablo as last year," he said.
Sandoval connected for his fourth career splash hit and second this year. It was the fifth by a Giant in 2010, 55th by San Francisco overall and 77th total in the 11-year ballpark's history. Barry Bonds, the home run king, has 35 of them.
Arizona loaded the bases against Bumgarner in the fourth, getting Enright's sacrifice fly to tie it at 1.
Bumgarner had been 0-3 at home with a 4.95 ERA before winning Thursday. He struck out seven and walked one in five innings, allowing seven hits and one run.
The 21-year-old lefty pitched on an extra day's rest after he had his start pushed back a day as ace Tim Lincecum pitched Wednesday night on normal rest. Bumgarner has allowed only five earned runs in his last 38 innings over his last six starts.
"It feels pretty good," he said of the Giants' position. "We're going to try to get it tomorrow, but we're not penciled in yet."
Ramon Ramirez pitched the ninth for his third save in as many tries as the Giants completed their third sweep of the season against Arizona. With a three-run cushion, Bochy gave All-Star closer Brian Wilson a break after he saved back-to-back games with a five-out effort Tuesday.
Moments after the final out, three concession workers on the lower concourse raised brooms into the air and chanted "Sweep! Sweep!"
Arizona struck out 12 times after 14 Ks in Wednesday's 3-1 loss. The Giants' pitching staff has a majors-best 1,306 strikeouts and established a San Francisco single-season franchise record, topping last year's total of 1,302.
Notes: Posey also hit seven home runs in July. He'd been in a 1-for-19 stretch before the homer. ... 2B Freddy Sanchez returned to the Giants' starting lineup after missing the first two games of the series with a strained right shoulder. ... Struggling 3B Mark Reynolds was back in the D-backs' starting lineup after missing three straight starts with a sore thumb. He is in an 0-for-19 funk and 3 for his last 34.

Alisa Kuzmenko cut dog!

2010-09-30T08:07:00.000-07:00

Caution: Images have a character that might offend the most sensitive. We see animals dissected and skinned. So it has been removed.

Her name is Alisa Kuzmenko, 20, a student vet, and she is currently at the heart of a scandal facebookiens salacious enough. Because, she uploaded about 8 hours ago a photo album on his own fan page (would miss an "artist"). A photo album to say the least strange, because you can see, in the company of a friend of hers, a dog butcher proudly.

The photos are still on Facebook, which the moderators do not seem to lift a finger to remove them, despite the huge influx of insulting comments, petitions and threats directed against Alisa Kuzmenko in just a few hours.

In fact, the story dates back to 2009, as evidenced by the above-cons paper denouncing the atrocities of these young women. Although these facts are not any recent buzz has finally taken yesterday because the girl just put online the pictures of the "butchery" on his Facebook page.

If the animal appears to have already been recovered as a corpse, sources agree that the girl would actually went to get the dog to a park to kill him.In the genus blocked anal-sadistic stage, Alisa Kuzmenko is strong, so strong with the devastating effects of the web, you never know how far can stop any punitive Internet.