NEWS TODAY

Michael Jackson

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 9 Nov 2011 10:23:00 +0600

Michael Joseph Jackson’s story was a quintessentially American tale of celebrity and excess that took him from musical boy wonder to global pop superstar to sad figure haunted by lawsuits, paparazzi and failed plastic surgery.

At the height of his career, Mr. Jackson was indisputably the biggest star in the world; he sold more than 750 million albums. He spent a lifetime surprising people, in his last years mainly because of a surreal personal life, lurid legal scandals, serial plastic surgeries and erratic public behavior that turned him — on his very best days — into the butt of late-night talk-show jokes and tabloid headlines.

Mr. Jackson died at age 50 in Los Angeles on June 25, 2009. His death itself became an enormous spectacle. On television and on the Internet, tens of millions of people worldwide watched a memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The cause of Mr. Jackson’s death was a mixture of the powerful anesthetic propofol and the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office.

Two days after Mr. Jackson’s death his personal doctor, Conrad Murray, told detectives that he had been using propofol nearly daily for the last two months to help Mr. Jackson sleep. But he said that he had been trying to wean Mr. Jackson off the drug and had tried sedatives instead. Dr. Murray was charged with involuntary manslaughter for providing him with propofol.

Michael Jackson Death Trial: ER Doctor Says Murray 'Sounded Desperate' and 'Looked Devastated'

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 9 Nov 2011 10:17:00 +0600

The cardiologist called to UCLA Medical Center's emergency room when Michael Jackson was admitted to the hospital June 25, 2009, testified today that Dr. Conrad Murray, on trial for Jackson's death, "sounded desperate" and "looked devastated" in the hospital.

Dr. Thao Nguyen said Murray said to her and other doctors, "Do not give up easily. Please try to save his life."

Nguyen said she was called to the emergency room when she received a page saying that a VIP patient, Michael Jackson, had been admitted to the hospital.

"By the time I came down, the patient appeared lifeless," Nguyen said. "I couldn't find a pulse. My attending couldn't find a pulse."

But Murray told Nguyen's attending physician that he had detected a pulse so, acting in "good faith," Nguyen said, she and her team continued to attempt to resuscitate Jackson. They made an agreement with Murray that if another attempt and resuscitation efforts with a balloon pump proved futile, she said, they would pronounce him dead. The procedure was unsuccessful and Jackson was pronounced dead.

Nguyen also testified that when she began to ask Murray questions he was not able to tell her the time Jackson stopped breathing, when medication was administered to him that day or the interval of time between the two events.

"He said he did not have any concept of time," Nguyen told the court. "He did not have a watch."

Jackson's Doctor's Trial: Fatal Propofol Dose Watch Video

Michael Jackson's Doctor on Trial: Defense Setback Watch Video

Medic: MJ Lifeless, Doc Mute on Propofol Watch Video

She added that when she "specifically asked" Murray if Jackson had taken any other sedatives or narcotics, "his reply was negative."

Murray asked both Nguyen and her attending doctor "that we not give up easily and try to save Michael Jackson's life," Nguyen said.

"In Dr. Murray's mind, if we called it quits at that time, it would be giving up easily," Nguyen said. "[It's] not a case of too little, too late. It seems like a case of too late."

Earlier in the day, an emergency room doctor who attempted to resuscitate Michael Jackson the night he died said that even if Dr. Conrad Murray had told her Jackson had taken the drug propofol, it would not have changed her treatment.

"Had Dr. Murray told you he had given 25 mg of propofol at 10:30, would it have altered your treatment of Michael Jackson?" asked defense attorney Michael Flanagan at the second week of Murray's trial for involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's overdose death on June 25, 2009.

"No," answered the doctor, Richelle Cooper, who was on duty at UCLA Medical Center's emergency room the night Jackson died.

"Would that have altered the result that happened to Michael Jackson?" Flanagan asked.

"As I said, Mr. Jackson died long before he became my patient," Cooper answered. "Knowing more, it's still unlikely I could have done something different to him."

Murray told Cooper that he was treating the singer for dehydration and that Jackson had no history of health problems, witnesses have testified.

On Friday, Cooper and paramedics who responded to an apparently lifeless Michael Jackson said Murray did not tell them that Jackson was taking the powerful anesthetic propofol to sleep.

Murray told Cooper that the only medications that Jackson took regularly were valium, an anti-anxiety medication, and Flomax, which is used to treat an enlarged prostate or someone suffering from a kidney stone, according to testimony at the trial.

Joanna Hunkin: Kardashian divorce just another business deal

noreply@blogger.com (shawkat) — Wed, 2 Nov 2011 12:42:00 +0600

Anyone who has ever kept up with the Kardashians could see this was just another publicity stunt.

As the cameras followed the couple in the build up to their fairytale wedding, it was shockingly apparent Kim Kardashian and her supposed true love Kris Humphries barely knew each other.

But am I impressed? Yes.

Kimmy K reportedly scammed a cool $18 million out of her wedding and related endorsement deals.

The event itself was reported to have cost another $10 million (none of which, one imagines, she paid for).

The divorce papers were filed 72 days after the August 20 extravaganza. Which means the soon-to-be former Mrs Humphries earned an astounding $250,000 a day. No one can deny thats impressive work.

And Kim is all about work. In the lead up to her divorce announcement - and even after the news was out - Kim was busy plugging her wares on Twitter. Not so much as a frowny faced emoticon to mark the shock news.

Her two sisters took to Twitter to express their sadness - and berate the negative Twits coming through. But Kim was all business.

Here in Melbourne (where I am to interview Sarah Jessica Parker, which you can watch on Breakfast tomorrow morning&) Kim was due to make an appearance at the Melbourne Cup.

She cancelled that commitment (seems to be her thing at the moment) but will still be travelling down under to launch her new handbag line on Wednesday.

Like I say, shes all about the business.

A business driven by her mother Kris Jenner and based on not a hell of a lot. A sex tape. An impressively large derriere. And of course, those infernal reality shows.

Bieber urges fans to donate to Starship

noreply@blogger.com (shawkat) — Wed, 2 Nov 2011 12:37:00 +0600

Justin Bieber has announced the Starship Foundation is his chosen charity for New Zealand and urged his fans to donate.

The teen singer is backing 20 charities around the world, setting a goal to raise millions of dollars through his "Believe Charity Drive" campaign.

Starship welcomed the endorsement with Foundation CEO Brad Clark saying: "The Starship Foundation is so grateful to have the support of superstar Justin Bieber and we encourage all of his New Zealand fans to get in behind the Believe Charity Drive.

"The proceeds will go towards the rebuild of Starship Hospital's neuroservices and medical specialties wards, which treats conditions including neurological disorders, brain tumours, metabolic and genetic disorders, head trauma and suspected child abuse injuries, respiratory illnesses and infectious diseases."

Fans can go to justinbiebermusic.com/believecharity and donate as little as $1, or donate their time.

"Everything will make a difference," Bieber said.

He has chosen charities with focus on education, youth wellbeing, and music.

Bieber's worldwide charities: Pencils of Promise; Project Medishare for Haiti; City of Hope; Make-A-Wish Foundation; Boys & Girls Clubs of America; Musicians On Call; the Grammy Foundation ( US); Children's Wish Foundation ( Canada), Unesco ( Japan), Triubte To Bambi ( Germany), Starship Foundation ( New Zealand), Teenage Cancer Trust ( UK), Barretstown ( Ireland), Acreditar ( Portugal), Peter Pan Onlus ( Italy), SOS Bornebyerne ( Denmark), Un Juguete Una Ilusion ( Spain), Association Petits Princes ( France), Kinderen Kankervrij ( Netherlands), and Barncancerfonden ( Sweden ).

Contributions will also be made to other charities, his management said.

sexiest vegetarians, claimed the look was easily made without causing harm.

noreply@blogger.com (shawkat) — Wed, 2 Nov 2011 12:33:00 +0600

PETA added: "These days, it's easy to have a look that kills without killing - with fake snake, mock croc, python pleather, and other designer items that pay tribute to the beauty of these animals without massacring them."

The group have previously targeted celebrities including Paris Hilton, who was pelted with flour during a fashion show in London in 2006 for modelling for Julien Macdonald, a designer who uses fur.

Critic's Guide to Monday TV: Rock Center, Halloween Marathons, and More!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 1 Nov 2011 12:37:00 +0600

The biggest TV news of the night comes from a network's news division, as NBC News launches Rock Center With Brian Williams (10/9c), the first high-profile network newsmagazine with serious intent to premiere in a long while, closer in tone to 60 Minutes than Dateline's lurid true-crime fixation. How serious is this? No less a legend than Ted Koppel has signed on as a contributor, though he wasn't on the initial first-night playlist. Top-rated Nightly News anchor Brian Williams hosts live from Studio 3B in Rockefeller Center, and the opening lineup includes a report on Syrian rebellion from star foreign correspondent Richard Engel, a Kate Snow investigation about Chinese women who come to America to give birth and return with U.S. citizenship, and former CBS anchor Harry Smith with a piece about "the one place in America with a negative unemployment rate."

No one's expecting blockbuster ratings, especially on Halloween night, but this project is more about prestige and credibility, and NBC is going to give it time. Besides, it's not as if they could do any worse in the time period.

Gamlin resigns, new CLP leader likely to elected today.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 1 Nov 2011 12:29:00 +0600

The resolution which stated, "We, the party MLAs, are authorizing Sonia Gandhi to nominate the CLP leader," was read out to newsmen by AICC observer and Union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. The party MLAs held a meeting where Shinde and other two observers - former DoNER minister B K Handique and party general secretary and in-charge of Arunachal Pradesh Dhaniram Shandil - were present.

A new Congress Legislature Party leader is likely to be selected by Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday and the swearing-in of the new chief minister will follow, said a Raj Bhavan source.

Sources said Gamlin, while tendering his resignation, has proposed two names for the CLP leader's post, creating confusion in Congress circles. These two names are of environment and forest minister Setong Sena and finance minister Kalikho Pul.

In the 60-member assembly, Trinamool Congress has 5 members, NCP (5), People's Party of Arunachal (4), BJP (3) besides a lone Independent. Trinamool Congress and NCP provide outside support to the Congress government.

Happy Halloween? Not if allergies get in way .

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 1 Nov 2011 12:24:00 +0600

Other allergy threats on Halloween include dust mites in costumes that have been spent time in storage, nickel in tiaras, wands, and other costume accessories, and "cheap Halloween makeup."

Some kids are allergic to latex, which is found in some balloons and rubber toys - another thing parents may want to consider.

"When people think of Halloween-associated allergies, they focus on candy and often overlook many other potential triggers," Dr. Myron Zitt, past president of the College, said in a written statement published on the organization's website.

Happy Halloween! Do giant pumpkins have a size limit?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 1 Nov 2011 12:19:00 +0600

It all began with Nova Scotia grower Howard Dill, the most famous person in the world (at least when it comes to mammoth pumpkins). All of today's record-shattering fruits come from a single gourd from 1979 named the Atlantic Giant, a member of the subspecies Cucurbita maxima. C. maxima was first cultivated in the early 19th century, by growers who crossed a Japanese kabocha squash with a Hubbard squash.

In addition to the right seeds, there are a few other factors that go into colossal pumpkins. According to the National Gardening Association, the elephantine pumpkins prefer a soil pH of 6.5 to 7, with lots of organic matter. Giant pumpkins take 130 days to mature, and at their fastest rate they can gain up to 50 pounds a day, a rate comparable to that of the largest trees.

Bernie Madoff Exclusive: Barbara Walters' Firsthand Account.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 1 Nov 2011 12:07:00 +0600

It is a 90-minute flight from New York to Raleigh, N.C., and then it takes about 40 minutes by car to get to the Butner Federal Correction Complex. As you drive east from Raleigh all you can see for miles is farmland scattered with a few small buildings. Butner is a beautiful, rural community, despite being home to several prisons.

The Butner complex itself has four prisons: two medium security facilities, a hospital and a low-security prison as well. Bernard Madoff is in Medium I. All the buildings are white and low to the ground, and from a distance look like an attractive office complex. The area was quiet and extremely well-kept -- if I was expecting doom and gloom, it wasn't what I found. Only as you drive closer to the actual buildings can you see the barbed wire fence ringing each of the four prisons.

Palm Beach County residents speak out on new Madoff book

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 1 Nov 2011 12:03:00 +0600

A rainy day may be the perfect time to curl up with a book; however, you might have a hard time finding “Truth and Consequences,” the new Madoff book by Laurie Sandell, in Palm Beach. Classic Bookshop on South County Road in Palm Beach has already run out.

"It's done well,” said Dan Foster, the store buyer for Classic Bookshop. “It arrived this week and we immediately sold out."

The town the Madoffs called home is eager to hear what the infamous family has to say about the ponzi scheme that cost thousands of investors, including their own friends and neighbors, billions.

"It's going to make money because everyone is interested in this whole Madoff case and how he got away with it for so long," explained Philip Snow of Boca Raton.

"I was in agony over the losses of all my friends,” Ruth Madoff told Today Show Host Matt Lauer. “Everyone I know and loved was a victim."

Ruth Madoff and her son, Andrew, told their story on NBC's Today Show this morning. Ruth Madoff admitted she and her husband tried to commit suicide. Both she and Andrew said they didn't know any wrongdoing was going on.

"It never occurred to me that it was all fake," Andrew Madoff told Lauer.

That’s not sitting well with people in Palm Beach County.

Crime, punishment, and the shame of being a Madoff.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 1 Nov 2011 11:59:00 +0600

When news broke that Bernard Madoff had swindled thousands of people out of billions of dollars, many assumed that his family must have known all along. But Madoff's wife Ruth and son Andrew tell Morley Safer they were blindsided when Madoff finally confessed that he'd been running a giant Ponzi scheme. In their first television interviews, they describe how their once-happy family was completely destroyed.

One Casualty of Northeaster: ‘Trick or Treat

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 1 Nov 2011 11:48:00 +0600

From New Jersey to Massachusetts, towns called off trick-or-treating on Monday because downed power lines and fallen trees posed a danger in the dark. Other towns in New York and New Jersey suggested what amounted to curfews, urging the candy-seeking ghosts and goblins to ring all the doorbells they wanted — before nightfall.

“One, there’s still downed wires,” said Michael J. Rohal, the administrator of Glen Ridge, N.J., explaining the decision to postpone trick-or-treating until Friday. “We have traffic signals without power. We have a lot of tree limbs that are down. We have large amount of tree debris, making the sidewalks impassable.”

And, with electricity still out in much of the borough, children would have been wandering in total darkness.

Trick-or-treating hours, safety tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 1 Nov 2011 11:43:00 +0600

Official trick-or-treating hours in Glen Ellyn and Wheaton are from 3 to 7 p.m. today. The Wheaton Police Department also wants the public to keep the following tips in mind to have a safe Halloween.

• Refrain from crossing the street in the middle of the block or between parked cars. Cross the street only in the crosswalk or at the corner, using caution.

• Trick-or-treat while it’s light outside. If you must be out after dark, wear white or light-colored clothing, put reflective tape on your costume and treat bag, and carry a flashlight so you can be seen. Never carry a lit torch or candle.

• Dress children in non-flammable costumes that fit properly – short enough to prevent tripping. Avoid wearing masks, which obstruct vision. Use face paint and makeup instead.

• Trick-or-treat with friends and stay in a group; there is safety in numbers. Never trick-or-treat alone.

• Make sure young children are accompanied by an adult or a responsible teen, such as an older brother or sister while trick-or-treating.

• Advise children not to enter any residence or vehicle for the promise of anything. Children should wait outside the door for their treats.

Take-off hopes for stranded Britons .

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:31:00 +0600

The Australian government ordered an arbitration hearing after Qantas grounded all of its aircraft on Saturday, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded worldwide.

In a victory for the airline, Fair Work Australia issued the emergency ruling, ordering the unions to return to the negotiating table and come to an agreement within 21 days or face binding arbitration.

The first of the grounded planes were preparing to return to the sky as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority cleared the airline to resume flying.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said: "The important thing is that all industrial action is now over and we have a certainty. We will be returning to business as usual over the next 24 hours."

On its website, the company apologised for the inconvenience it had caused, and told passengers: "Please be advised that some flights may be delayed."

Heathrow Airport, where a Qantas flight for Singapore and Sydney is scheduled to leave, urged passengers to check the status of Qantas flights with the airline before setting off.

In the last few weeks, workers have staged strikes and refused overtime work over concerns that some of the airline's 35,000 jobs would be moved overseas. Up to 70,000 passengers were affected when the airline grounded 108 planes at 22 airports on Saturday.

The strikes have cost the airline 15 million Australian dollars (£10 million) a week.

Some aviation experts said the surprise grounding of planes has hurt the reputation of Australia's flag carrier around the world. Nevertheless, Qantas shares jumped almost 5% to 1.62 Australian dollars (£1.07) today on the stock exchange in Sydney.

PM to name adoption shame councils

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:23:00 +0600

The Prime Minister said details such as local adoption rates would be published so that people can challenge underperforming councils.

Those that do not improve could be taken over by more effective authorities, or have their services contracted out privately.

Mr Cameron spoke out as potential adopters and foster parents were urged to come forward.

Launching the Give a Child a Home campaign at the start of national adoption week, the premier said: "It is shocking that of the 3,600 children under the age of one in care, only 60 were adopted last year - this is clearly not good enough.

"So we will publish data on how every local authority is performing to ensure they are working quickly enough to provide the safe and secure family environment every child deserves."

He continued: "We need more people to think about fostering and adoption so this National Adoption Week I would encourage anyone who is considering adoption to find out more about whether they could provide a home for a child.

"People who foster and adopt make a fantastic difference to a child's life and there are children waiting for families right now."

A final report by former mandarin David Norgrove into reforming the family justice system is due to be published later in the week.

Its recommendations are expected to include restricting the duration of court cases to six months - instead of the average 13 months now.

City Cards App

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:12:00 +0600

The app stores all content locally, so there is no need to incur roaming charges when using it while abroad.

You can now save your favourite attractions into your favourites folder

The App now provides you with walking route from your current location to a selected attraction

Improved user interface makes using the app easier than ever.

The application also provides users with information on where they can purchase a city card which will give them discounted admission to all of the attractions listed. City Cards can be ordered online by vistiing the City Tourist Board web sites or can be obtained from Tourist Offices in the city.

Could Sports be the Savior that 3D TV needs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:07:00 +0600

It seems that not every new deal in technology is worth the euphoria that it hits the market with. This is a lesson that many players in the television and movie industry have learnt the hard way as far as 3D technology is concerned. Apparently, the old 2D is still gold according to numerous Hollywood producers and Wall Street analysts who advocate for drastic reduction in the number of movies produced in 3D. The main reason behind the outcry is the lower finances and revenue that 3D box office continues to record each year.

Many producers go with the misconception that since the 3D film Avatar was a success in 2009; then everything else will fit into place so long as it is in 3D as well. The hype that ushered in 3D seems to have disappeared as quickly as it emerged and the high revenues that used to come from it some two to three years ago are no longer the order of the day. On average, a 3D film will cost 20-45 percent more to make than a 2D version of the same. Many of the 3D companies are recording disappointing revenue figures. So what is the way forward for such companies?

It is tempting to quickly mention the reduction of 3D movie prices. However, that quick fix option could only mean worse for the companies. Larger audiences may be tempted in but at lower rates not much more money would be made. To add insult to injury, research findings indicate that price isn’t the only issue, but interest in the 3D movies is a key issue as well. Where there is no will, there definitely isn’t a way no matter how low the price tags might be lowered. Simply put, the main market for these films, Americans, seem to be losing interest in 3D movies altogether.

Man Tasered after fight at Plan B

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:57:00 +0600

Two men ended up in jail when a Madison Police officer used a Taser after being punched in the shoulder trying to break up a brawl at the Plan B parking lot early Saturday morning.

Police said officers were called to Plan B on Williamson Street for a fight and when they got there saw a suspect punch another man several times.

According to the report, a Taser was used on the primary suspect in order to gain his compliance.

Police said a friend of the suspect tried to prevent an officer from making the arrest.

New districts could apply in recalls.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:52:00 +0600

Wisconsin state senators who could face recall elections next year might be campaigning to new constituents if the legislature passes an amendment pushing forward the date new district lines are applied to elections.

State Sen. Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin, authored an amendment on Friday to Act 43, the new state law that changes legislative district lines.

Senators of even-numbered senate districts and Assembly representatives have regular elections on Nov. 6, 2012, but senators from odd-numbered districts, to which the amendment would directly apply, do not have general elections until 2014.

There could be special elections before the Nov. 6 date for senators from odd-numbered districts eligible for recall next year, in which, under the GAB's interpretation, constituents from the old districts would vote.

Lazich's amendment would move the date the new districts will apply to elections up to November 9, 2011 for Senate districts so constituents of new Senate districts would vote in recall elections.

Lazich said in a statement if old districts were used for recall elections, voters would be recalling and electing a senator from another district.

"With the new landscape of recalls, the legislature must take steps not to disenfranchise voters living in odd numbered districts," Lazich said.

But Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, sees the amendment as an "unconstitutional" Republican effort to save their jobs and the GOP state majority.

"[The legislation ensures] that Republicans facing recall can run in their new, gerrymandered districts rather than the districts that elected them to office," Larson said in a statement.

The amendment is in response to Government Accountability Board Director Kevin Kennedy's opinion that any recall election occurring before Nov. 6, 2012 would be held in the district that legislator represented before Aug. 24, 2011, the day redistricting took effect.

Kennedy said an election occurring on or after that date would use the new district lines.

State allows concealed weapons in Capitol

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:47:00 +0600

State officials decided Friday to allow concealed weapons in the state Capitol and other state buildings under Wisconsin's new law that allows those with permits to carry weapons in public places.

The law is set to go into effect Tuesday.

"We must respect [a citizen's] right to keep and bear arms under the U.S. and Wisconsin Constitutions," Department of Administration Secretary Michael Huebsch said in a statement.

Huebsch said weapons will be prohibited in buildings that provide services for mentally ill patients or criminals and buildings that store combustible materials.

In addition, concealed weapons will not be permitted in the Wisconsin Supreme Court chamber or the State Capitol Police station because of current state law.

The state Senate drafted rules that would prohibit concealed weapons from being brought into the Senate Gallery but the state Assembly will likely allow weapons in the Assembly Gallery. Both houses would permit concealed carry on their respective floors if committees approve their rules.

Huebsch said in a letter that state workers will be subject to the same criteria as the public with the exception of employees whose job performance may be impacted by possessing a concealed weapon.

But Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, said in a statement the policy shows that Gov. Scott Walker is "out of touch and taking our state in the wrong direction."

"Gov. Walker needs to decide which is more important—dividing and polarizing our state or actually moving forward on issues that matter most to the people of Wisconsin," Barca said.

City of Madison, Dane County and University of Wisconsin-Madison officials previously took steps to restrict those with concealed weapons access to their buildings. But their jurisdiction does not cover open public spaces like state parks, parking lots and campus outdoor areas.

Occupy Wall Street: Many Cities Leaving Protesters Alone [LATEST UPDATES]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:59:00 +0600

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, for example, said Friday that the several hundred protesters sleeping in Zuccotti Park, the unofficial headquarters of the movement that began in mid-September, can stay as long as they obey the law.

"I can't talk about other cities," he said. "Our responsibilities are protect your rights and your safety. And I think we're trying to do that. We're trying to act responsibly and safely."

Still, the city made life a lot harder for the demonstrators: Fire authorities seized a dozen cans of gasoline and six generators that powered lights, cooking equipment and computers, saying they were safety hazards.

In the span of three days this week, police broke up protest encampments in Oakland, Calif., Atlanta and, early Friday, San Diego and Nashville, Tenn.

Nashville police cracked down after authorities imposed a curfew on the protest. Twenty-nine people were arrested and later released after a judge said the demonstrators were not given enough time to comply with the brand-new rule. They received citations for trespassing instead.

Fifty-one people were arrested in San Diego, where authorities descended on a three-week-old encampment at the Civic Center Plaza and Children's Park and removed tents, canopies, tables and other furniture.

Officials there cited numerous complaints about human and animal feces, urination, drug use and littering, as well as damage to city property - the same problems reported in many other cities. Police said the San Diego demonstrators can return without their tents and other belongings after the park is cleaned up.

Earlier this week, in the most serious clashes of the movement so far, more than 100 people were arrested and a 24-year-old Iraq War veteran suffered a skull fracture after Oakland police armed with tear gas and bean bag rounds broke up a 15-day encampment and repulsed an effort by demonstrators to retake the site.

But other cities have rejected aggressive tactics, at least so far, some of them because they want to avoid the violence seen in Oakland or, as some have speculated, because they are expecting the protests to wither anyway with the onset of cold weather.

Officials are watching the encampments for health and safety problems but say that protesters exercising their rights to free speech and assembly will be allowed to stay as long as they are peaceful and law-abiding.

"We're accommodating a free speech event as part of normal business and we're going to continue to enforce city rules," said Aaron Pickus, a spokesman for the mayor of Seattle, where about 40 protesters are camping at City Hall. "They have the right to peacefully assemble. Ultimately what the mayor is doing is strike a balance."

Authorities have similarly taken a largely hands-off approach in Portland, Ore., where about 300 demonstrators are occupying two parks downtown; Memphis, Tenn., where the number of protesters near City Hall has ranged from about a dozen to about 100; and in Salt Lake City, where activists actually held a vigil outside police headquarters this week to thank the department for not using force against them.

In the nation's capital, U.S. Park Police distributed fliers this week at two encampments totaling more than 150 tents near the White House. And while the fliers listed the park service regulations that protesters were violating, including a ban on camping, a park police spokesman said the notices should not be considered warnings.

In Providence, R.I., Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare said the protesters will not be forcibly removed even after the Sunday afternoon deadline he set for them. He said he intends to seek their ouster by way of court action, something that could take several weeks.

"When you see police having to quell disturbances with tear gas or other means, it's not what the police want and it's not what we want to see in our society," Pare said.

Similarly, in London, church and local government authorities are going to court to evict protesters camped outside St. Paul's Cathedral - though officials acknowledged Friday it could take weeks or months to get an order to remove the tent city.

Several hundred protesters against economic inequality and corporate excesses have been camped outside the building since Oct. 15. On Oct. 21 cathedral officials shut the building, saying the campsite represented a health and safety hazard.

It was the first time the 300-year-old church, one of London's best-known buildings, had closed since German planes bombed the city during World War II.

In Minneapolis, where dozens have been sleeping overnight on a government plaza between a county building and City Hall, the three-week-old occupation has been far tamer than those in other cities, with only a few arrests.

Sheriff Rich Stanek has made it a practice to meet with protesters daily to talk about their issues and the day ahead, and he has refused to engage what he called "the 1 percent" who want to cause trouble.

Thomas Kinkade painting Gaston town

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:51:00 +0600

McAdenville is already internationally famous as Christmastown USA, where tourists flock to see nearly a million holiday lights.

But this holiday season could draw in new tourists from all over the globe wanting to see the latest masterpiece by 53-year-old artist Thomas Kinkade.

“Christmastown USA” is the name of the work being created by the famed “Painter of Light” and will feature McAdenville, complete with a covering of snow and Christmas lights adorning the town’s trees.

Jay McCosh, one of the owners of the Thomas Kinkade Gallery on Main Street, McAdenville, says that he’s wanted Kinkade to paint the Gaston town for three years now and the time has finally arrived.

“It’s really special. He was really excited and his brother is the one that really kind of tweaked him into doing it,” McCosh said. “Rumors have been flying since two years ago. Since then, it’s just been a hint. Now that it’s been confirmed, I couldn’t officially announce it until I got the first sketch.”

The black-and-white Kinkade-drawn sketch arrived in McCosh’s hands Tuesday and since then he’s been telling everyone about the painting that’s coming to fruition.

The sketch, which McCosh says could be changed by the time it’s painted, features the town’s famed fountain and Christmas trees surrounding it.

There’s a little church nearby and McCosh says that some aspects of the town could be moved around in the painting, making it not appear totally as it would in reality.

Patrick Kinkade, Thomas’ brother, has been to McAdenville and taken pictures back to the artist. McCosh says that he’s taken hundreds of pictures of the town and those are now in the hands of Thomas Kinkade.

“I sent him probably over 100 pictures… close-ups of things,” McCosh said. “This painting is going to have snow on the ground and all the trees will be lit.”

Reproductions of the painting will be sold on canvas exclusively in McCosh’s McAdenville gallery and he says that people wanting it are “going to have to come to me to get it.”

In the future, McCosh hopes to have note cards, Christmas cards, paper prints and nightlights for sale featuring the finished painting.

But for Christmas 2011, 18x27-inch framed canvases will be sold from between $955 to $1,210, he says. The other merchandise will have to wait until next year to be sold because of timing issues.

Unveiling

The painting will be unveiled at McAdenville’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 1, McCosh says.

Thomas Kinkade could be there to show off the work of art personally. Patrick Kinkade may be there if his famous brother can’t work it into his schedule.

“We’re trying to get Thom here and I’ve got a lot of prep to do if he is coming,” McCosh said. “If Thom doesn’t come, his brother will definitely be there. His brother and I are good buddies.”

Kinkade has only painted North Carolina twice in his illustrious career, according to McCosh.

He once painted the Biltmore Estate in Asheville and the Cape Hatteras lighthouse.

Kinkade’s past paintings are famous for depicting peaceful, thought-provoking environments often surrounding a cottage or village. Many of these are set in wintry weather environments.

“I think this painting is going to celebrate Christmas,” McCosh said. “What we’re hoping is that it again puts McAdenville in the national spotlight to celebrate how wonderful it is that we find Christmastown USA. It’s going to be a nice little acknowledgment.”

McCosh says that a nativity scene and church could be featured in the painting, in addition to Santa Claus, a little drummer boy and a man roasting chestnuts.

Painting it himself

Although Patrick Kinkade and McCosh have helped Thomas prepare to create the painting by supplying ideas and photographs, McCosh says that the “Painter of Light” will create the artwork.

“He paints everything himself. At first when they told me he’s got one guy that helps him prepare some work, I actually thought that this was going to be the other guy that prepared the sketch,” McCosh said. “This sketch was actually done my Thom. For me, I was extremely impressed.”

Kinkade’s status as a globally-appealing artist may leave some wondering why he chose to capture a Gaston County town. His uses of light, subtle paint strokes and colors have molded him into an artist whose work transcends generations.

But for McCosh, there’s no mystery why he’d want to paint McAdenville.

“You’ve got a mill town there aren’t many towns in the country. Mill people still live in town and work in town,” he said. “McAdenville is not like it used to be even 20 years ago in that respect. A lot of people that live in the mill houses still work in the mill. That structure still exists but not as much as it used to.”

McCosh says that Kinkade’s paintings, often depicting scenes evocative of yesteryear, conger up memories and people like that.

“I know he’s one of the most collected living artists in the world,” McCosh said. “His Christmas pieces are by far some of the most popular. They really sell out when they come…things from a simpler, better time in peoples’ minds where you can have a mental escape.”

Thomas Kinkade creates NASCAR-themed work

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:46:00 +0600

TALLADEGA, Alabama -- Pat Kinkade knows we'd rather be talking to his brother. But right now, artist Thomas Kinkade is in England, painting what is destined to be another piece of art that will eventually be found in living rooms around the world.

So it falls to Pat -- chairman of the Criminal Justice Department at Texas Christian University -- to attend today's unveiling in Talladega of "This is Talladega," a NASCAR-themed work created by his brother.

Pat Kinkade doesn't have a title in the Thomas Kinkade organization, but he's pleased to step in when needed.

"Ultimately, I'm just his brother," he said. "I'm the Billy Carter of the art world."

The Talladega print, which depicts Dale Earnhardt Sr. speeding around the track, is Thomas Kinkade's second NASCAR work. His first debuted three years ago at Daytona.

"Thom's a big fan and approached the people at NASCAR," Pat Kinkade said. "He came up with the idea of Daytona, and Talladega was a natural, too. Dale Earnhardt was one of Thom's favorite drivers."

"This is Talladega" will be available at Talladega this weekend and at Thomas Kinkade galleries around the country. Prices range from $20 for unframed posters to various types of limited editions that could cost as much as $40,000, Pat Kinkade said. The most common limited edition will cost about $1,000, he said.

Blake Davidson, NASCAR's vice president of licensing and consumer products, said the new piece will please race fans.

"Kinkade has an innate ability of capturing the true emotion of our sport, and he has clearly done so again with his latest work honoring one of NASCAR's most thrilling venues," he said.

In addition to painting, Thomas Kinkade spends his time and money on charitable endeavors, a desire to give that comes through in his art, Pat Kinkade said.

"Thom's art speaks to the heart," he said. "It's comfort art. It provides a sense of family, of God, of country of peace. Ultimately what it does is speak to the heart of the average collector. It turns someone's house into a home."

It has also turned Thomas Kinkade, known as the "Painter of Light," into a millionaire, and made his brother a semi-celebrity in the process.

"I'm sort of the face of the company, but of course, I'm much prettier," Pat Kinkade said with a laugh. "I like to say I'm the brother of light."

Now Offering Thomas Kinkade's 'This is Tallad

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:40:00 +0600

Inc., a renowned custom conservation framing and art gallery, has announced the availability of Thomas Kinkade's "This is Talladega" to the public.

San Francisco Bay Area, CA (PRWEB) October 29, 2011

World Wide Art, Inc., a renowned custom conservation framing and art gallery, has announced the availability of Thomas Kinkade's "This is Talladega" to the public.

The painting, which is Kinkade's second NASCAR masterpiece, features the late Dale Earnhardt reflecting the aggression and passion the racing legend was known for. Nicknamed "The Intimidator," Earnhardt was fearless in his racing style, which is obvious when one views the painting.

"Kinkade has really nailed the emotion of NASCAR with this piece. 'This is Talladega' captures the spirit and passion that racing fans feel for this one-of-a-kind sport," said David Wilfong, spokesperson ."This painting captures an amazing moment in NASCAR history and is perfect for any motorsports fan, especially fans of Talladega and Dale Earnhardt."

Thomas Kinkade, the Painter of Light, is known for his hallmark ability to capture light with glowing, realistic highlights. Few artists are able to perfect this skill as Kinkade has in his work. The artist also has the distinction of being known as America's most-collected living artist.

Kinkade tends to draw inspiration for his works from subjects that people can easily relate to, whether they are everyday scenery or beloved sporting events, like the moment captured in "This is Talladega." Rather than merely focus on the technical details of the settings he observes, the artist takes great care to preserve the spirit and the emotion of each moment. This effort is masterfully demonstrated in his latest release.

In "This is Talladega," Earnhardt's black and red car, emblazoned with his No. 3, charges ahead of the pack at breakneck speed. Two other vehicles trail hopelessly behind, lingering several yards back in a haze of dust. The crowd is going wild and the sky itself almost seems gripped with anticipation, gleaming pink and azure while setting a dramatic backdrop for the scene.

"For millions of fans across the United States and around the world, NASCAR is an exciting and fun-packed sport," said Wilfong. "Kinkade has worked masterfully at capturing this energy, including the high-octane engines and excitement of the crowd at the famous Talladega Speedway."

The work takes on a special meaning for true Dale Earnhardt fans, who know that Talladega was the last race the driver won before his death at the 2001 Daytona 500. He remains a legend to NASCAR fans, with many considering him to be the greatest driver of all time.