Abused Heiress - Anne Scripps Douglas

Anne Scripps Douglas lived the typical life of a battered woman — the whispered telephone calls, the lies to friends and family, the coded messages to the few she could trust. Like a frightened animal she jumped at every loud sound, each ring of the phone, and most of all at the drunken curses of the man she had once loved but who now terrified her.

Her life had not always been this way. She grew up a child of privilege, the descendant of the men who founded what would one day become the Scripps Howard newspaper chain, once publishers of the Detroit News, Cincinnati Post and other newspapers across America. The Scripps family was as tough as any publishing group in the days of the Penny Press, but they were philanthropic, too. Anne's father, a retired merchant marine captain, was running the Tracy Foundation's alcoholic rehabilitation center in upstate New York when she was born in 1946.

Growing up, Anne was subjected to a rigorous academic and disciplinary course at the all-girls Sacred Heart Convent near Albany and after graduation returned to Manhattan where she studied at the Duchesne Residence School, a two-year college for Catholic women. It was also run by the Religious of the Sacred Heart. Anne, an interior design student, graduated in 1966. A comment on her record by Mother Clare Krim, the director, described Anne as "very attractive, pleasant, very active on the social service committee and always willing to help others."

After graduation, Anne followed the course of so many other well-to-do young ladies and entered the debutante arena, coming out at cotillions in New York and Europe.

Anne enjoyed life in Bronxville, New York, an upstate commuter city. It was there that Anne and her new husband, Anthony Morell, a bond trader, settled after their society wedding when Anne was 23. Her bridal attendants included Princess Immaculata Hapsburg of Vienna and the ushers included Victor Emmanuel Jr. of the House of Savoy, direct descendant of the king of Italy.

What Anne wanted most was the quiet life of a suburban housewife. Friends said she sought the ideal marriage that only seems to exist on television. She wanted to be waiting each night at the doorway as Tony, whom she referred to as her "prince in shining armor", returned from the city to dinner on the stove, the children playing in the yard, the martinis cooling in the glass.

Shortly after they moved to Bronxville, Anne became pregnant and eventually the family included daughters Alexandra and Anne. Anne was determined to give them the close parenting she had not received and friends recalled that there was nothing in the world more important to Anne than the girls.

"She spent so much time with the kids," said Sharon Boles, a friend for two decades. "I'd say to her, 'You're doing the kind of thing I wish we had done. You stop and smell the roses.' She truly loved those kids. She couldn't love them enough."

Each day Anne would walk her daughters to school, return to pick them up for lunch and take them back after. At the end of the day she would walk them home from school.

But Tony liked the fast-paced world of high finance and parties. The marriage lasted until the girls were teenagers, but in the end their differences proved irreconcilable. Tony and Anne divorced in 1988, after 18 years of marriage.

"It was hard for her to be single," said another friend, Gretchen Devlin. "Anne was more afraid of being alone than anything else. She had believed in Tony, believed in marriage . . . She was afraid to be alone raising her kids."

Shortly after the divorce, Anne met Scott Douglas at a party and the two became friends. What Anne saw in Scott, few others in her circle did, but that made no difference to her. She shrugged off their warnings and began dating the younger man.

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ASCORBIC ACID

1. Product Identification

Synonyms: L-ascorbic acid; vitamin C; L-3-Ketothreohexuronic acid lactone
CAS No.: 50-81-7
Molecular Weight: 176.13
Chemical Formula: C6H8O6
Product Codes:
J.T. Baker: 0936, 0937, 0938, 0939, B581
Mallinckrodt: 1852, 4407, 8829

2. Composition/Information on Ingredients

Ingredient CAS No Percent Hazardous
--------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ---------

L-Ascorbic Acid 50-81-7 100% Yes


3. Hazards Identification

Emergency Overview
--------------------------
As part of good industrial and personal hygiene and safety procedure, avoid all unnecessary exposure to the chemical substance and ensure prompt removal from skin, eyes and clothing.

SAF-T-DATA(tm) Ratings (Provided here for your convenience)

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It's All Action All the Time for The Last Templar's Mira Sorvino and Scott Foley

Who needs a stunt double? Not Mira Sorvino in the new globetrotting, treasure-seeking NBC miniseries The Last Templar (Sunday , 9 pm/ET; Monday, 9 pm/ET). The Oscar-winner solved mysteries, kicked ass and definitely felt the pain.

"Five teeth. Five teeth were broken," Sorvino said about her on-set mishap while filming a violent boat scene. But she wasn't the only one suffering on the set.

"During the scene where she lost her or was banged in the teeth we had to have a kiss," costar Scott Foley said. "She had a cold at the time ... [and] that became my mishap. For about two weeks, [that] was maybe the worst cold/flu I've ever had."

All in the name of relic-hunting.

Following in Indiana Jones' and The DaVinci Code's similar footsteps and based on Raymond Khoury's 2005 novel of the same name, The Last Templar teams archaeologist Tess Chaykin (Sorvino) and FBI agent Sean Daley (Foley) as they journey around the world in pursuit of the lost secrets of the legendary medieval Knights Templar. Along the way, there are hidden treasures, ancient instruments, veiled horsemen and treacherous shipwrecks. "I think the idea of the desert sands still being something of an undiscovered country, a frontier as it were, with secrets hidden beneath them, secrets of the past, mystical secrets [still resonates with people]," Sorvino said.

Both admit they were not familiar with the source material — only hearing "smatterings of interesting rumors here and there," as Sorvino puts it — but couldn't wait to dive right in, especially when it came to the action sequences, despite the 100-plus Moroccan heat and, well, broken teeth.

"I trained for weeks in California," Sorvino said. "I ended up doing every single take with the wide and the close and the poor stunt double was standing around all day waiting to do it! ...I would love to do a sequel. That would be my ideal next step."

source

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Complete list of Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award winners

The 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards aired tonight and in usual award show fashion, demonstrated the glitz and glamour of Hollywood’s most talented actors and actresses. This awards show gets special billing amongst the award winners because it is their fellow actors who have cast the votes. The SAG Awards are also the precursor to the biggest awards show, the Academy Awards, which will be airing on ABC on Sunday, Feb. 22nd.

Here’s a complete list of tonight’s winners:

Movies:

Cast: "Slumdog Millionaire."
Actor in a leading role: Sean Penn, "Milk."
Actress in a leading role: Meryl Streep, "Doubt."
Supporting actor: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight."
Supporting actress: Kate Winslet, "The Reader."
Stunt ensemble: "The Dark Knight."

Television:

Drama series cast: "Mad Men."
Actor in a drama series: Hugh Laurie, "House."
Actress in a drama series: Sally Field, "Brothers & Sisters."
Comedy series cast: "30 Rock."
Actor in a comedy series: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock."
Actress in a comedy series: Tina Fey, "30 Rock."
Actor in a movie or miniseries: Paul Giamatti, "John Adams."
Actress in a movie or miniseries: Laura Linney, "John Adams."
Stunt ensemble: "Heroes."
Life Achievement: James Earl Jones.

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Urijah Faber defeats Jens Pulver in 1st round

After their classic fight at WEC 34 last June Jens Pulver and Urijah Faber went at it one more time. Faber (22-2) proved the first win wasn’t a fluke as he rocked Pulver (22-11-1) with some big shots and sank in a guillotine until the ref stepped in early in the first round.

Faber appears to be on the doorstep of a rematch with Mike Brown should he retain his title in March when he faces Leonard Garcia. After the fight Faber said to Brown after the fight “I want my belt, give me my belt”.

Pulver has now lost three straight fights in the WEC and you have to wonder what’s next for him. He was tearful in the post fight interview and wondered out loud if he was still relevant in the WEC but said “Fuck that. I’m not done”.

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Ambrose, Kaufman charm in Hallmark Hall of Fame's 'Loving Leah'

It's an unusual to start dating: after you're married.

"Loving Leah" is a tender, funny love story about an after-the-fact romance kindled between the young Brooklyn widow of an Orthodox rabbi and the rabbi's brother, who learns he's obliged to wed her. Huh?

Best known to viewers as the rebel daughter from "Six Feet Under," Lauren Ambrose transforms herself for the role of Leah, who, after her husband's sudden death, wants to break from her sheltered past by enrolling in college and finding a career. But under an ancient Jewish law, her brother-in-law, a non-practicing Jew, is expected to marry the childless Leah to carry on her late husband's name.

"You're kidding, right?" says Jake (Adam Kaufman), a handsome Washington cardiologist who already has a girlfriend, when informed of his unexpected duty.

The solution he and Leah settle on: Get married, remain secretly platonic, and live their separate lives.

Of course, these opposites attract, especially while residing under the same roof in Jake's cramped Georgetown apartment.

Ambrose and Kaufman ("Without a Trace") are joined in this charming "Hallmark Hall of Fame" by Susie Essman, Mercedes Ruehl, Natasha Lyonne and Ricki Lake. It airs 9 p.m. today on CBS.

Other shows to look for:

"The Last Templar" boasts Oscar winner Mira Sorvino ("Mighty Aphrodite"), Scott Foley ("The Unit," "Felicity"), Victor Garber ("Eli Stone," "Alias"), and even Omar Sharif (the long-ago star of "Dr. Zhivago" and "Lawrence of Arabia"). It's been hung with the ornamental billing "event." It has a global span and plunges into the past with a mythological bent. It's got special effects and rollicking action. But, airing at 9 p.m. today and Monday on NBC, it's a monumental waste of time. Don't take my word for it. Just sample the opening scene, as Manhattan archaeologist Tess Chaykin (Sorvino) reacts boldly to a siege at an art museum gala. If you make it through that scene without bursting into laughter, maybe "The Last Templar" is for you. Otherwise, you might want to stick to NBC's intended comedies on Thursday nights, which are even funnier.

She's a little piglet, but never mind that. Olivia gets things done, has fun adventures, and has loads of friends. No wonder her books are a hit with the preschool set. Now "Olivia" comes to Nickelodeon weekdays starting Monday at 11:30 a.m. Brought to the screen by computer-generated animation, 6-3/4-year-old Olivia starts things off by razzing her younger brother Ian for being too short, then grows concerned that one day he might tower over her. What choice does she have but to try to keep him from growing? After all, no little brother should be bigger than his big sister. A series that deals with pressing issues such as, "If I didn't have to go to school anymore, would I still have to take a bath?" — this show is adorable.

White they may be, but the Whitest Kids U'Know are as colorful (and off-color) as ever as they start their third season of twisted comedy. Composed of Trevor Moore, Sam Brown, Zach Cregger, Timmy Williams and Darren Trumeter Jr., this Brooklyn-born troupe returns to IFC in a new 15-minute format 10 p.m. Tuesday, as part of the network's weekly "Automat" programming block. First up: a racy brand of cat food; a desperate car dealer's sales pitch; a bargain-basement edition of dramatized Bible stories; and what might be the dumbest newscast in the world. In subsequent episodes: a strange technique for underage drinking and water balloons in the Wild, Wild West. Thanks to this special kind of Kids stuff, it's all even stranger than it sounds.

Not long ago, Ted Haggard had a ministry that reached 30 million followers. As founder and pastor of Colorado's New Life Church and president of the National Association of Evangelicals, he called the shots for what was right and wrong in the lives of a significant percentage of the nation — and of the electorate (he had the ear of President George W. Bush). Then things went wrong for Pastor Ted with his just-say-no-to-sin gospel, when, in 2006, he admitted to "sexual immorality" and buying methamphetamines from a male prostitute. Disgraced and out of a job, he was sent into exile with his wife and five kids. Filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi captures what happened after that in her documentary, "The Trials of Ted Haggard." Looking for work, living with his family in motels with their U-Haul truck in the parking lot, Haggard says, "I'm worthless at this point." The film, which premieres 8 p.m. Thursday on HBO, follows him through a months-long journey through the wilderness of his soul.

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'Loving Leah': A lot to like, if not love, about 'Loving Leah'

"Loving Leah" has the commonest of plots — two unlikely people falling in love. But because the story unfolds amid a background of Hasidic Judaism, this Hallmark Hall of Fame production holds some surprises, too.

Jake, played by the magnetic Adam Kaufman of TV's "Without a Trace," is a career-driven cardiologist who lives in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. He's also a commitment-phobe, with a girlfriend he takes for granted.

It's been six years since the nonreligious Jake has seen his brother, a Hasidic rabbi in Brooklyn. Jake has a dream that his brother is seeking him — and his brother dies later that day. Jake returns home for the burial.

The rabbi's devout but feisty widow, Leah is played by the marvelous Lauren Ambrose of TV's "Six Feet Under." Under an ancient law of his brother's faith, Jake is expected to marry the widow if his brother has died childless. (The practice, known as a Levirate marriage, is mandated by the torah, with many Old Testament examples.)

Here's where the viewer is asked to take a colossal leap of faith with the plot of "Loving Leah" (9 p.m. Sunday, Chs. 5, 46).

Instead of hopping on the next plane out of New York, Jake agrees to take part in a Halizah — a ceremony that will let him avoid his duty to marry Leah. As part of the ceremony, Leah removes Jake's shoe, throws it across the room and spits on the floor in front of him. For murky reasons, probably involving
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feelings of guilt and disgrace, Jake stops the Halizah and requests a timeout.

Alone with Leah, he proposes to marry her, take her back to Georgetown with him, live in separate bedrooms — and probably divorce her within a year. She agrees.

If this sounds preposterous, it's probably because it is.

So why is it enjoyable? For starters, the movie, based on a play by P'Nenah Goldstein, depicts a culture that's foreign to most of us, but also intriguing.

More important, for those willing to make the leap of faith, Ambrose and Kaufman have chemistry, which invites viewers to overlook improbabilities. We enjoy watching Ambrose domesticate her new husband-roommate — who has a pool table in his living room. And as Leah becomes a bit more worldly and Jake a bit more spiritual, the ending is as predictable as it is moving.

With the two leads getting solid support from the likes of Mercedes Ruehl as Jake's mother, Susie Essman (of "Curb Your Enthusiasm") and Natasha Lyonne as Leah's mom and sister, "Loving Leah" is easy to like.

"Loving Leah"

Airing: 9 p.m. Sunday,
Chs. 5, 46

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SAG to honor James Earl Jones tonight

It's hard to imagine Darth Vader stuttering.

That's what James Earl Jones, who was the voice of the iconic villain in the "Star Wars" franchise, had to overcome as a schoolboy in northwestern Michigan.

But don't expect the esteemed stage and screen star with the unmistakable, booming voice to stumble over his words when he accepts Lifetime Achievement honors tonight at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
James Earl Jones

The 78-year-old Jones grew up between Cadillac and Manistee on a farm near Dublin, attended high school in Brethren and earned a degree in drama from the University of Michigan.

He perhaps is best known for the voices of Vader and Mufasa in "The Lion King," and for playing boxer Jack Johnson on Broadway and the big screen ("The Great White Hope"). Then there are numerous TV and film supporting roles, from "Dr. Strangelove" to "King Lear," and, most recently, "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins."

"To be a film actor alone, or a stage actor alone, is to be an actor who walks with one leg, while to be both is to be a two-legged actor. I like to be a centipede," he recently told The Associated Press.


The 15th annual SAG Awards ceremony will present trophies in five film categories and nine for television roles. Unlike most other award shows, the SAG recognizes ensemble work, this year nominating the casts of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Doubt," "Frost/Nixon," "Milk" and "Slumdog Millionaire" -- all films featuring multiple nominees.

In the TV categories, the comedy "30 Rock," drama "Mad Men" and miniseries "John Adams" boast the most nominations.

Oscar party details

Two local shindigs are scheduled for the Oscar telecast Feb. 22:

• Red Carpet Ready, at 8 p.m. in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel's Pantlind Ballroom, will benefit the West Michigan Film and Video Alliance. WZZM (Channel 13)'s Stephanie Webb will host the Roaring '20s-themed festivities, which include celebrity look-alike and costume contests, hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction, gift bags and much more. Tickets for the event are $40 for students with ID, $75 per person or $125 per couple for WMFVA members, $100 per person or $150 per couple for others. Go online to redcarpetready.org for reservations or more information.

-- Organizers of the Waterfront Film Festival will host an official Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences-sanctioned party at 6:30 p.m. at Levitation "Studios," 2740 29th St. SE.

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Afro Samurai (Academy Award ® nominee Samuel L. Jackson)

Afro Samurai (Academy Award ® nominee Samuel L. Jackson) avenged his father and found a life of peace. But the legendary master is forced back into the game by a beautiful and deadly woman from his past. The sparks of violence dropped along Afro’s bloody path now burn out of control – and nowhere are the flames of hatred more intense than in the eyes of Sio (Lucy Liu: Kill Bill). She won’t quit until Afro is schooled in the brutal lessons he dealt those who stood in his way.

There’s no such thing as final vengeance. The cycle of bloodshed spinning around the Number One Headband must roll on. Featuring the voice of Mark Hamill (Star Wars) and fresh production from The RZA (Wu-Tang Clan), the saga that began in the best-selling anime DVD of 2007 continues in AFRO SAMURAI: RESURRECTION.

visit official website : http://www.afrosamurai.com

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Love Remains the Same lyrics by Gavin Rossdale

1000 times I've seen you standing
Gravity like lunar landing
You make me wanna run till I find you
I shut the world away from here
I drift to you, you're all I hear
As everything we know fades to black

Half the time the world is ending
Truth is I am done pretending

I never thought that I
Had anymore to give
You're pushing me so far
Here I am without you
Drink to all that we have lost
Mistakes we have made
Everything will change
But,love remains the same

I find a place where we escape
Take you with me for the space
The city buzz sounds just like a fridge
I walk the streets through 7 bars
I have to find just where you are
The faces seem to blur
They're all the same

Half the time the world is ending
Truth is I am done pretending

I never thought that I
Had anymore to give
You're pushing me so far
Here I am without you
Drink to all that we have lost
Mistakes we have made
Everything will change
But love remains the same

So much more to say
So much to be done
Don't you trick me out
We shall overcome
It's all left still to play

We - we could have had the sun
Could have been inside
Instead we're over here
Love Remains the Same lyrics by Gavin Rossdale

Half the time the world is ending
Truth is I am done pretending
Too much time too long defending
You and I are done pretending

I never thought that I
Had anymore to give
You're pushing me so far
Here I am without you
Drink to all that we have lost
Mistakes we have made
Everything will change
Everything will change

I, oh I,
I wish this could last forever
I, oh I,
as if this could last forever

Love remains the same
Love remains the same

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The Night Before The Wedding (Avon Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Editorial Reviews

"This is the kind of book that makes people fall in love with romance novels. Sensual, eloquent, extremely well written--Outstanding!!!" -- Romance Readers Connection

Product Description


To win the woman destined to be his bride . . .

Catherine Depford is the wealthiest heiress in London, and she is all but promised to a proper English lord . . . so why is she having dreams of a Scottish warrior claiming her for his own? She can't imagine that her heated fantasies would come true . . . until she locks eyes with the stranger of her dreams in a crowded ballroom.

A Scotsman will do anything

Highland chief Gabriel MacBraedon has come to London in search of Catherine, the woman an ancient curse dictates to be his bride. But he can't very well sweep the English beauty into his arms and carry her off to Scotland in the dead of night. Or can he? Nothing is impossible when a Scotsman's passion is making the rules . . .

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Night Before The Wedding Video(DVD)
source : http://www.nightbeforethewedding.com

Logline

Before straight-laced William Shay weds his soulmate, he must get through one last wild night with his best buddies...but the party quickly turns serious when he finds himself alone with a real life porn star.
Synopsis

On the night before his wedding, William Shay - a genial guy straight out of the episode of 'Leave it to Beaver', - has planned an intimate dinner with his parents. but one of his closest friends, bronco - a bitter but loyal guy - has very different plans: a surprise bachelor party with all their best buddies that he's convinced is the right thing to do for the soon to be husband.

When will walks in, everyone stops the festivities to welcome the man of the night. During silly speeches and old basketball stories, will realizes how happy he is to be in the midst of all his best friends.

But with bronco still refusing to reveal his big plan, causing unnecessary tension in the room, and the rest of the gang getting rowdier,, will gets scared and threatens to leave.

bronco does some serious convincing, and before you know it, will is unwittingly seduced into a night of partying. bronco's plan is soon revealed:: he has arranged for two real life porn stars to spice up the party, and will soon finds himself alone with one of them - Melissa Mercury.

What happens next is something no one expected, even Will.

visit : nightbeforethewedding

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20-Year-Old Brazilian Model Mariana Bridi Da Costa Dies

This is a very sad story about a girl that had a promising future. Beautiful 20-year-old Brazilian model Mariana Bridi da Costa died after she succumbed to an infection that doctors were unable to stop. Mariana Bridi's physicians had amupated her hands and feets but were still unable to save her. The infection was caused by bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which has resistance to some antibiotics. WebMD has more about Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections which they say are "exceedingly rare" in young, healthy people in the U.S. Mariana's illness was originally incorrectly diagnosed as kidney stones in December.

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Miss Indiana, Katie Stam Wins Miss America 2009 Pageant

Miss America 2009 is Miss Indiana, Katie Stam; A 22-year old student at the University of Indiana majoring in Communications and an aspiring television anchor. Katie's platform is "Promoting Community Service and Involvement" and as Miss America 2009 will spend the next 365 days touring the country on a 20,000 mile-per-month blitz representing the Miss America Organization, Children's Miracle Network, and promoting her personal platform.

Katie's favorite food is "anything breakfast" and her favorite movie is National Treasure (according to the 2009 Miss America Magazine and program book). Stam was a Tuesday night preliminary swimsuit winner and Quality of Life Award finalist.
During the Talent competition, Katie sang "Via Dolorosa" (an emotional song about Jesus' final walk) and won over the crowd.
Katie has been battling Laryngitis for the past week but seamlessly sailed through preliminary competitions and ultimately walked off with the crown.

Source : http://community.livejournal.com

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Paterson: 'No Signal From Me' For Kennedy To Quit Senate Effort

New York Governor David Paterson said Sunday that Caroline Kennedy "had gotten no signal from me that she had to withdraw" before Kennedy ended her effort last week to fill Hillary Clinton's vacant U.S. Senate.

Appearing at a news conference with the person he picked to fill that seat — Democratic Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand of Hudson in upstate New York — Paterson briefly answered reporters' questions about the Kennedy withdrawal, saying the decision was entirely hers.

"Caroline Kennedy called me on Wednesday to inform me that for personal reasons she had to withdraw," Paterson said.

Paterson was not asked what might have happened if Kennedy had stayed in contention but said, "There was nothing that would have prohibited her from
serving. She took her name out of consideration."

When he announced Gillibrand's selection Friday, Paterson declared, "I believe that I have found the best candidate to be the next United States senator from New York."

In her turn at the microphone Sunday, Gillibrand made no reference to Kennedy, trying instead to fend off criticism of her selection as a little-known congresswoman from a mostly rural district in upstate New York.

Much of that criticism has come from her consistent support of gun-owner rights.

"I grew up in a family of hunters," Gillibrand said. "I very much believe in protecting hunters' rights — it is a core value for our region and our state."

But she said as a senator she would listen to various groups.

"There's a lot of concerns in many of our city communities about gun violence, about keeping our children safe, about making sure guns stay out of the hands of criminals," she said. "Those are all concerns I share, and I will fight very hard to protect our communities."

Paterson and Gillibrand spoke to reporters after lunch with Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, and Clinton, who was confirmed last week as secretary of
state.

Neither Clinton nor Schumer attended the press conference.

Paterson and Gillibrand took the opportunity to praise Clinton, with Paterson saying Gillibrand had to "fill the shoes of a great leader who has gone on to be secretary of state."

Gillibrand added, "We could not have a better person as secretary of state right now."

Paterson's pick of Gillibrand concluded an apparently chaotic selection process that drew criticism from across the political spectrum.

The selection also put a definitive end to weeks of speculation that the seat might go to Kennedy, who cited personal reasons for publicly withdrawing
her name from contention.

Political observers are speculating that Paterson may have chosen Gillibrand in part because Democrats will have to defend the Senate seat in 2010 special election. Gillibrand — a 42-year-old Albany-born Catholic congresswoman and mother of two — has a proven ability to win over conservative voters in upstate New York, a region traditionally hostile to Democratic candidates.

Source : http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com

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Gaza-Israel Crisis In Context

Gaza currently has 1.5 million people running out of food, fuel, and water suitable for drinking. The region has been set ablaze with Israeli attacks, leaving hospitals unable treat the myriad of people in desperate need of care. As a recent editorial in The Nation pointed out, 75 percent Gaza is without electricity and their sewage systems are bordering ruin. Furthermore, the loss of a dozen Israeli deaths and just over a dozen injured, Gaza has been lost over 600, a quarter of them being civilian. To say that this is a mere crisis would be as grave an injustice as the conflict itself.

All of this has created a dividing line in the mainstream media punditocracy. Neo-conservatives, the Israel Lobby, Christian Zionists, J Street, Jewish Voice for Peace, and Peace Now have engaged in some of the most vitriolic debate many have had the misfortune of seeing in a long while.

The worst has been directed towards those seeking a just peace, questioning the actions of Israel and proposing actions, ranging from conventional to the extreme, in hope of bringing this age-old crisis. Neoconservative writer Andrew Sullivan has compared The Nation’s Eric Alterman to the authors of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. He writes, “Boston Globe columnist Cathy Young has accused me of blaming Hitler’s victims for Palestinian misery.” Statements just as striking can be found (predictably) in publications such as Commentary and The Weekly Standard.

All of this couldn’t come at a worse time. America is in shambles, and our credibility in the Middle East has been squandered on account of eight years of belligerent foreign policy, unjust wars, wrongful imprisonment, torture, and the perception that the US works only in the best interest of Israel. Attempting to play a vital role as the “middle man” will be take an extraordinary amount of finesse, not to mention the need to send a strong and clear message to the world that we wish only for justice and peace in the region.

This is easier said than done. The US has a long history of failure in the area of Middle East diplomacy, and this is particularly true in regard to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. More often than not, it is that the US and the international community lacks the resolve to implement and enforce agreements, while giving a wink and a pass to breaches of the agreements.

How, then, are we to overcome these obstacles?

We must first begin with a change in perception. An example of such change would be US citizens overcoming the notion that Israel has for years been sacrificing land for peace. While it is true that land has been transferred, these plots are by no means sacrificial. The regions are settlements, having gone beyond it’s pre-1967 borders. In short, they are returning land that they confiscated and settled upon, forcing an outrageous number of Palestinians from their homes.

Doing this will force the US and the international community to hold both sides accountable for their former agreements. All sides endorsed UN Resolutions 424 and 338, the Oslo Accords of 1993, Bush’s “Road Map for Peace” in 2003, as well as those agreed upon at Annapolis. The only thing at play here is forcing both sides to be implement what was already agreed upon.

Secondly, the US must consistently apply their calls for democracy with the results of the democratic process of elections. The crusade for global democracy has resounded from Washington for some time, but leaders have been very selective when recognizing those democratically elected. If the goal is to have “the people” vote, and “the people” vote for a group that the US doesn’t particularly like (i.e. Hamas), the US must, if wishing to be consistent in their crusade for global democracy, recognize the decision of the people. To do otherwise is to be horribly inconsistent, fueling the Arab world’s impression that it isn’t so much democracy that we want, but rather to put leaders in power that have US interests and secular values at the forefront of their mind.

It would do us well recognize the fact that without a resolve which favors a two-state solution and a complete (or almost complete) withdraw from illegal settlements, there will be further tension in other areas of the Middle East. Iran, al Qaeda, and Hezbollah have much to gain from a failed peace process. Recruitment will increase, policies will be justified, and alliances will be solidified.

The US must identify and condemn various actions committed by both sides. The difficulty in doing so rests, at least in part, with the fact that we are dealing with two radically different groups.

Israel is a nation with a capitol, huge military and economic subsidies from the US, as well as a military force that rules the region like a colony, punishing a people collectively. As UN human rights representative of the territories has recently been quoted as saying, Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians is a “crime against humanity.” Women, children, and the elderly have been victims of attacks from Israeli air strikes. Palestinians are required to carry color-coded IDs and travel permits. Civilians have had their homes demolished. One must also include the barricades, checkpoints, and settler-only roads.

On the other hand, the Palestinians left with little more than guerrilla warriors and the unconventional tactics often accompanying them. As Hamas leader Khaled Meshal said to Alya Rea of CounterPunch, “Unfortunately the insistence on violent repression by or assailants leads to innocent blood on the streets. Since 1996, 12 years ago, we have proposed to exclude civilian targets from the conflict on both sides. Israel did not respond to that. When Israel insists on killing our kids, our elders and senior citizens and women, and bombarding houses with the gunships, F-16s and Apaches, when Israel continues these attacks, what is left for the Palestinians to do? They are defending themselves with whatever they have.”

None of this is to say that targeting civilians is ethically permissible. All that is meant here is to put the situation into context. One country with a capitol, subsidized military and economy, the ownership of nuclear weaponry and a state of the art military over against a colonized people with little more than Qassam missiles, outdated artillery, and individuals willing to be human bombs in order to settle a score.

President Obama has a tough road ahead, both on the home-front and internationally. But he must have the courage and wisdom to confront this age-old controversy in a way and with a resolve that former presidents have not. Unless he begins seeing the bigger picture, with all its complexities (i.e. religious, ethnic, economic, and militaristic), he will follow the same path as those who went before him. A path covered as much with the inhumane and unjust as much as it is with the blood and tears of the innocent.

Source : http://distributism.blogspot.com

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BBC Refuses To Broadcast Charity Appeal For Gaza Aid

LONDON, England (CNN) — The BBC is refusing to broadcast a plea from leading British charities for aid to Gaza, saying the ad would compromise the public broadcaster’s appearance of impartiality.

The Disasters Emergency Committee, which includes the British Red Cross, Oxfam, Save the Children and 10 other charities, plans to launch its appeal Monday.

British broadcasters, led by the BBC, originally declined to air the advert — but in the face of criticism from government ministers and others, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 changed their minds. CNN was not approached to broadcast the ad, a DEC spokesman said.

About 5,000 people demonstrated in front of the BBC’s Broadcasting House in central London on Saturday over the broadcaster’s stance. Seven people were arrested. Video Watch protest against BBC decision »

The BBC is standing by its decision, director general Mark Thompson wrote in a blog post on the corporation’s Web site.

“We concluded that we could not broadcast a free-standing appeal, no matter how carefully constructed, without running the risk of reducing public confidence in the BBC’s impartiality in its wider coverage of the story,” he wrote Saturday.

“Inevitably an appeal would use pictures which are the same or similar to those we would be using in our news programs but would do so with the objective of encouraging public donations. The danger for the BBC is that this could be interpreted as taking a political stance on an ongoing story,” Thompson said.

“Gaza remains a major ongoing news story, in which humanitarian issues — the suffering and distress of civilians and combatants on both sides of the conflict, the debate about who is responsible for causing it and what should be done about it — are both at the heart of the story and contentious,” he added.

The BBC, which is funded by an obligatory license fee paid by every British household with a television, is required by its charter to be impartial. It does not carry commercial advertising but does broadcast charity appeals.

The DEC is “disappointed that the BBC declined to support the Gaza appeal,” the spokesman told CNN. “It might limit the reach of our key message to the general public.”

The spokesman, who asked not to be named, said the BBC had to make its own decision about impartiality.

“That is a decision they must make. We have no view on that subject,” he said.

Many readers of Thompson’s blog post did have a view, however. The statement got hundreds of comments, most of them critical of the BBC.

A commenter who signed in as “bully–baiter” said the BBC was taking a side, no matter what it did.

“Sorry Mr. Thompson but you cannot have it both ways. If deciding to accede to the DEC request would be seen as political then deciding not to accede to it is also political. Don’t insult me with your disingenuous attempts to suggest it is otherwise,” the commenter wrote.

Other commenters simply rejected Thompson’s position out of hand.

“I think the reasons for blocking help for a grave humanitarian disaster are simply astounding,” “brit–proud” wrote. “How can simply bringing food, medicines and homes to hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians be seen as political impartiality? How stupid do the BBC think the British public are?”

But the corporation had its defenders as well.

“The last thing I want to do, is fund the BBC to broadcast propaganda,” “SternG” wrote: “There’s no way I will pay the BBC to air the DEC’s politically-motivated ‘appeal’ for Gaza. Gaza is run by a government which is internationally recognized as a terrorist group, including by the EU. There is no doubt that some aid/fund will be ‘procured’ by Hamas…. Good decision BBC.”

British broadcasters have refused to air some previous DEC appeals, the umbrella organization’s spokesman said.
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A planned 2006 appeal for aid to victims of the war in Lebanon was scrapped because “there were genuine concerns, shared by the aid agencies, about the deliverability of aid.”

Thompson cited doubts about whether DEC members could get aid to Gaza as a secondary reason for declining to take the ad.

Source : http://thecurrentaffairs.com

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The 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

For anybody hoping to make money betting on the Oscars (who does that??) the Screen Actor’s Guild Awards may be your source for where to place your bets. Pretty much every SAG nod is mirrored by the corresponding OscarNomination. Meaning if you follow the winners and losers tonight, you’re almost guaranteed some sort of pay off. Last year the SAGs were the show with the most celebs due to the writers strike. Hopefully the attendance won’t drop now that that’s over. The SAG awards are playing live right now on TNT and TBS.

To create a dramatic arrivals area, impressive set and intimate dinner settings are prepared for the world’s leading actors who are gathering on Sunday, Jan. 25, at the Shrine Exposition Center, for the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

You’ll be amazed at what it takes to pull such an event off..
The decor:

* Lay 16,476.145 square feet of red carpet in the arrivals area, edged by 444.1 lineal feet of 3′-tall hedge and 337.11 lineal feet of 8′-tall trees.
* Lay 11,800 square feet of black carpet in the interior Shrine entrance and the showroom.
* Drape the interior Shrine entrance with 5,500 feet of gold fabric punctuated by eight silver-accented white columns that will be echoed onstage and utilize 15,000 square feet of black drape to cover the showroom walls and block sunlight.
* Post five 10’ Actor® statues along the red carpet and onstage.
* On the stage, install 700 feet of steel tubing to support 120 running feet of 22’-high set walls punctuated by eight gold and ivory fluted columns and a central radiating sunburst. Two stepped deco arches will be accented by 30 feet of translucent etched fins. Crowning the stage will be 400 feet of gold-leafed deco molding, illuminated by 400 feet of warm white neon tubing.
* Float a 20’-wide “silver screen” framed by a platinum screen-surround illuminated by 80 feet of embedded LED lights at center stage in front of 200 running feet of 30’-high fiber-optic star cloth.
* Line the stage floor with 150 4’x8’ sheets of black Formica.
* Above the stage hang three antique chrome and glass art deco chandeliers that will be echoed by the five chandeliers hung from the Expo Hall’s ornate ceiling.
* Place 3,600 pieces Regency crystal stemware, 2,400 pieces Scalini silver plated flatware and 1,200 Coupe black china chargers on 86 rectangular dinner tables and over 2,000 glasses at two 16’ beverage bars and two wine tasting bars.
* Create custom table coverings from 800 yards of black silk, accented by runners made from 800 yards of gunmetal crushed silk, complemented by 1,200 black and gunmetal Dior-style pinstriped 22-inch square napkins made from 200 yards of black-lined textured fabric.
* Soften black Chiavari guest chairs with 1,200 black padded seat cushions.
* To create a visual statement for each of the tables, florals will include over 100 exotic phaeleanopsis orchids highlighted by over 1,500 white miniature calla lilies, supplemented with over 3000 imported white orchids, enhanced with over 2500 white Ecuadorian roses and accented with over 500 stems of chartreuse hydrangea, arranged in more than 100 rectangular containers in wood and glass. Elements of dramatic foliage and succulents create movement, depth, and texture, completing the European contemporary look.
Guests will dine on an antipasto plate conceived by chef Alan Jackson, deliciously prepared and artfully arranged by Jackson Catering, consisting of:

* Dungeness Crab and Grapefruit Salad with Sriracha citrus emulsion
* Sugar Cane Lacquered Chicken with crispy corn grits cake, Seckle pear and ginger
* Short Rib and Sweet Corn Flan with wild mushroom ragout
* Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad, Basil oil, balsamic and parmesan
* Hand-made freshly baked breadsticks
To prepare this menu, Jackson Catering’s purveyor order for the SAG Awards includes:

* 225 pounds Crab
* 16 cups Sriracha Sauce
* 3 gallons Orange Juice
* 5 pounds Chop Chive
* 5 pounds Chop Shallot
* 6 gallons Grape seed Oil
* 600 Pink Grapefruits
* 300 Whole Endive
* 4 gallon Cider Vinegar
* 300 bunches of Frizee
* 5 pounds Fresh Dill
* 700 Poussin Chicken
* 40 gallon Pomegranate Juice
* 50 pounds white Polenta
* 20 gallon Vegetable Stock
* 400 Seckle pears
* 8 gallon Roasted Chicken Stock
* 20 pounds Dried Apricot
* 20 pounds Dried Fig
* 20 bunches Cilantro
* 10 pounds Fresh Ginger
* 225 Short Ribs Braised & Pulled
* 3 gallons Sweet Corn
* 10 gallons Cream
* 75 pounds Wild Mushroom Ragout
* 20 gallons Red Wine
* 30 bunch Parsley
* 40 gallons Assorted Baby Tomatoes
* 75 pounds Bocaccinni Mozarella
* 6 gallons Olive Oil
* 20 pounds Basil
* 6 gallons Balsamic
* 40 pounds Shaved parmesan
* 4 pounds Fleur De Sel
* 20 pounds Dried Black Olives
Beverages for guests include:

* For the tables: 204 bottles of Dry Creek Vineyard’s 2004 Endeavor Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and 204 bottles of Dry Creek Vineyard’s 2006 Russian River Valley Chardonnay
* Dry Creek Vineyard’s wine-tasting bars will offer a selection that includes their 2006 Russian River Valley Chardonnay, the 2006 Dry Creek Sonoma County Old Vine Zinfandel, the 2007 Sonoma County Fumé Blanc and the 2004 Endeavor Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. A total of 192 bottles will be available for tasting.
* 234 magnums of Champagne Taittinger Brut La Française served in the showroom
* 144 magnums of Champagne Taittinger Brut La Française served in at the post-Awards gala
* 1548 glass decanters of Voss sparkling and still water served in the showroom
* Another 6,720 unbreakable half-liters of Voss still water for our more than 700 media and 300 fans in the bleachers

Source: http://www.celebritysmackblog.com

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David Morgan : Whips

The manufacture of long lash whips, once a flourishing trade, has all but disappeared. As part of our specialty interest in leather braiding, we maintain this craft with a limited production of whips, all hand cut from selected hides and hand braided. You will find our whips used by cattlemen from Montana to Florida, and by animal trainers, stuntmen, and whip artists throughout America.



Bullwhips
Australian Stock Whips
Blacksnakes
Signal Whips and Quirts

Selecting Your First Whip for Sport Cracking
The Art of Whip Cracking
Care of Whips
Whip Frequently Asked Questions

Visit Website Fro More Details

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Resveratrol: the magic ingredient in red wine that makes you live longer

American 60 Minutes featured a story tonight on Resveratrol, a naturally occurring component of red wine that may extend human life.

“If the promise holds true, I think this has the chance to change healthcare,” Dr. Christoph Westphal tells 60 minutes correspondent Morley Safer.

Dr. Westphal says we all may soon be taking a drug that just might beat the clock, a simple pill that could delay the inevitable. “Our goal is to prevent and forestall many of the diseases that strike us as we reach 50, 60, and 70. All with one pill.”

Here’s the Resveratrol clip. The second scientist featured, David Sinclair, Professor of Pathology and Co-Director of the Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for the Biological Mechanisms of Aging at Harvard Medical School, and yes, he’s Australian.

If Resveratrol isn’t available at your local pharmacy in pill form, but there’s always the alternative: drinking a couple of glasses of red winedaily.

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The Telling Playboy Star Bridget Marquardt 's Horror Movie

Playboy Star Bridget Marquardt Produces 'The Telling'


If you’re a fan of the show The Girls Next Door then you probably saw the episode a few months ago in which Bridget Marquardt was approached by Breakout Worldwide Entertainment to produce her first horror film. Since Bridget is well known for her personal horror fandom, I was really curious to see if she could pull off the direction of a film. In this horror anthology film, three girls pledge the most popular – and cruelest – sorority on campus. For their final task, they must tell the scariest story they know. Containing three distinct stories - one featuring a murderous doll, one a has-been actress and her run in with a film crew of the undead and, finally, a hunt-and-kill frightfest. From the trailer (check it out below) it appears that her first attempt is going to be a classic slasher film packed full of blood, gore and sexy Playboy playmates (of course). It actually looks like it will be a great deal of fun to screen, which I can’t wait to do. From the official website, there appears to be no information on when it will be released to the public, either in theaters or on DVD, but considering that the movie just wrapped earlier this month it’s not a surprise. Check out more information about The Telling on the official website: www.thetellingmovie.com.

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Nederland private investigator Phillip Klein featured on Dateline

Private investigator Philip Klein, founder of Nederland-based Klein Investigations and Consulting, was featured Sunday in an hour-long Dateline special on NBC detailing his efforts to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of Patrick Kim McDermott.

McDermott, a former boyfriend of singer Olivia Newton-John, vanished in 2005 after leaving San Pedro, Calif., for a fishing trip.

Dateline producers first came into contact with Klein, whose company routinely investigates cases where children are taken by their non-custodial parents, after interviewing him for another story.

"Phillip's an interesting guy and it seemed like a waste to just interview this guy once," Dateline producer Joe Delmonico told The Enterprise by phone. "We asked him to take a fresh look at the case and followed him from his office, to Los Angeles, and all the way to Mexico."

McDermott's case was investigated by the Coast Guard, Delmonico said, but no answer emerged. For the past few years it has remained a mystery as to whether McDermott fell overboard, jumped, or whether he "made himself disappear," Delmonico indicated.

According to a Web site set up by Klein, FindPatrickMcDermott.com, McDermott joined 21 others on the fishing trip and was seen by at least one witness departing the vessel and entering the pier parking lot after the trip concluded and was not reported missing July 6 after failing to attend a family event. Witnesses, the Web site states, have since reported seeing McDermott in Mexico.

Klein said by phone Thursday that he could not discuss any particulars of the investigation per agreement with Dateline.

Overall, he said, though he had some initial concerns about how he might be portrayed, he soon discovered that the Dateline crew was very professional and enjoyed working with them.

"This is an experience we hope people can learn from. The viewer will actually get to see the inside of an investigation," Klein said.

"I tell everybody I've got the greatest job in the world," he said. "I hunt people, people who abduct children."

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Ex-Chicago Bulls player's ex-girlfriend killed

CHICAGO - An attorney for New York Knicks player Eddy Curry says a woman found slain in Chicago is Curry's former girlfriend and the mother of his 3-year-old son.

Attorney Kelly Saindon said Sunday in Chicago that Curry — a former player for the Chicago Bulls — is devastated by the slayings of Nova Henry and her infant daughter.

Curry's 3-year-old son was found unharmed at the scene.

Chicago Police spokeswoman Monique Bond says a relative found the bodies of 24-year-old Henry and her 9-month-old daughter, Ava, in their apartment Saturday evening.

No one had been charged in the case as of Sunday morning.

Bond says police believe the killings on the city's near South Side were the result of a domestic dispute, but she would not elaborate.

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Full Results from WWE's Royal Rumble 2009 Pay-Per-View

WWE Royal Rumble
January 25th, 2009
Detroit, Michigan - Joe Louis Arena

- Jimmy Wang Yang b. Paul Burchill in a dark match prior to tonight's Royal Rumble pay-per-view from the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

- The 2009 Royal Rumble pay-per-view kicks off with a video package showing clips from past Rumbles. We cut to a package showing what happened with Vince and Randy Orton on Monday's RAW. We cut to Cole and Lawler in the arena, saying the McMahon family is keeping Vince's condition private. They say Randy will be reprimanded but tonight, the show must go on.

ECW Title Match

Matt Hardy vs. Jack Swagger

The ECW Title match opens tonight's show as Matt Hardy makes his way to the ring followed by the new face of ECW, Jack Swagger.

The crowd is heavily behind Hardy with loud 'Hardy' chants. The opening bell rings and we're underway. Hardy and Swagger lockup, both trying to gain leverage on the other. Hardy gets Swagger into the corner, the referee warns him. Lots of heat for Swagger.

Swagger counters Hardy, back him into the turnbuckles. Hardy counters with a right hand on Jack Swagger, knocking him to the mat. Swagger finally goes to the outside to regroup. Matt Hardy goes to the outside and connects with a right hand on Swagger. Hardy roles the Challenger back in. Hardy takes Swagger down in the ring.

Again, Swagger retreats to the outside of the ring, this time the side near the ramp. Swagger gets back in, loud 'Hardy' chants continue. Jack applies a submission maneuver on Hardy on the mat.

Matt gets back to vertical base, but Swagger quickly takes him back to the mat. Another submission hold from Swagger. Hardy again gets back to his feet. Hardy backs Swagger down with elbows, he goes for the Twist of Fate but Swagger counters. Hardy connects with boots to the jaw on Swagger in the corner. Bulldog from Hardy and a two count on the Champion.

Hardy gets on the top rope, Swagger pushes him to the outside. Swagger follows Hardy. Jack roles him back in where the action continues. Swagger takes Hardy down to the mat then throws him off the ropes. Cover from Jack for a two count.

Swagger has another submission hold on Hardy but Hardy gets back to a vertical base. Right hands from Swagger as the hold is broken. They exchange blows in the corner.

Swagger hits Hardy with a big clothesline and a two count. Swagger applies another submission hold on Hardy. Swagger picks him up by his arm and slams him to the mat.

Swagger continues to work the left arm of Matt Hardy. Hardy counters with a clothesline. Hardy hits two more and another move before getting a two count on Swagger. Hardy sends Swagger into the corner and ends up getting another bulldog. Two count for Hardy on Swagger.

Matt Hardy gets on the middle rope, elbow to the back of Swagger. Yet another two count. Hardy pumps up the crowd as he goes for Twist of Fate. Swagger hits a belly-to-belly suplex and a two count on the Challenger.

Swagger bounces Hardy's head off the top turnbuckle then sets him up on it. Swagger and Hardy work from the middle rope with Hardy sitting on the top rope. Moonsault from Hardy onto Swagger for a two count.

Swagger hits Hardy with elbows to the back of the head before throwing him into the corner where he hits his head on the steel ring post. Swagger hits the Gutwrench Powerbomb for the three count.

Winner & still ECW Champion - Jack Swagger

- After the match, Matt Hardy looked dejected as he left the ring, actually sitting on the ringsteps at one point to collect himself.

Earlier Tonight:

They showed how earlier tonight, Randy Orton arrived, with a lot of people staring at him in silence.

WWE Women's Title Match
Melina vs. Beth Phoenix

The bell rings and the match is underway. The two lockup as Beth shows her clear strength advantage.

Melina applies a side headlock but Beth counters out. Bear hug from Beth Phoenix on Melina. Crowd is hot for Melina. Melina hits Beth in the face with elbows then goes off the ropes. Dropkick from Melina. Beth counters with a shoulder block off the ropes.

Impressive arm bar take down from Melina but Beth ends up countering. Beth is on her feet, Melina in the corner. Beth runs into Melina, slamming her face off the turnbuckle. Beth gets a two count on Melina. Beth pulls Melina to the center of the ring and applies a leg submission.

The referee checks for submission as Melina reaches for the ropes. Beth bends Melina's leg back so far that it bounces off her head. Beth uses Melina's own leg to kick her in the head. The referee breaks up the hold as Melina tries to gain offense. Beth's power is too much as she takes down Melina for another two count.

Beth lifts Melina above her head for a gorilla press slam, Melina counters before Beth can drop her down. Melina hits right hands then goes off the ropes. Beth lifts her up but Melina rolls through. Two count for Melina followed by a drop toe hold. Melina puts her legs to the back of Beth Phoenix as she gets a two count.

Melina goes off the middle rope onto Beth. Beth had her knees up, but Melina counters when Beth comes over to her. Beth counters and hits Melina with a chop. Beth attempts her finisher but Melina counters and rolls Beth up to win the belt.

Winner & new WWE Women's Champion - Melina

Backstage:

Backstage with JBL and Shawn Michaels. JBL tells Shawn that if he wins tonight, that JBL will give him all his money and will never have to work for him again. JBL says if he wins tonight, he guarantees Shawn a spot in the Royal Rumble. The Undertaker cuts into the screen and sometimes it's hell getting to heaven. JBL hurries Shawn along.

World Heavyweight Title Match

John Cena vs. JBL w/ Shawn Michaels

The bell rings and the match is underway. JBL looks at Shawn Michaels before circling the ring with Cena. Cena takes JBL down to the mat first with a sideheadlock take down.

JBL reverses the hold on Cena on the mat. Cena gets back to his feet in the side headlock from JBL. JBL goes off the ropes and hits a shoulder block. Cena takes JBL down to the mat and gets a two count. JBL goes to the outside to regroup.

JBL whispers in Shawn Michaels' ear on the outside. Bradshaw gets back in and hammers away at Cena. He backs him into the corner, Mike Chioda orders him out. JBL takes Cena down. Cena gets back to his feet and lands some offense on the challenger. Two count from Cena.

The action is on the outside as JBL is banging Cena's head off the steel ring steps. JBL rolls him back in the ring and gets a two count. We go to a replay of JBL taking Cena down on the outside. Big clothesline from JBL on Cena, he gets a two count.

Several elbow drops from JBL on the World Champion. Two count for JBL. JBL locks Cena in a submission hold on the mat. The hold is working the neck of Cena. Cena is able to get back to the vertical base as he goes off the ropes. JBL counters with a slam and gets a two count.

JBL ends up taking Cena out of the ring. Mike Chioda starts to count Cena out. JBL jumps out of the ring and pulls Cena towards the ring. Cena resists but JBL sends him head first into the steel ring steps. The referee starts to count them both out.

JBL rolls Cena back in at 7. Cena kicks out of another two count. JBL works with the champion in the corner. Right hand from JBL followed by another. JBL assaults Cena in the corner, Michaels is just standing at ringside stone faced. JBL sits Cena on the top turnbuckle and delivers more stiff right hands.

JBL gets on the middle rope and goes for a superplex. Cena counters with right hands of his own. JBL hits the mat as Cena is dazed on the top rope. Cena goes off and connects with a legdrop to the back of the neck of JBL. Two count.

Cena sets JBL up in the corner, JBL counters with a boot. Cena tackles Bradshaw who is trying to counter and bangs his head off the turnbuckles. Shoulder block from Cena followed by a back body drop. Crowd is split on Cena as he signals the five knuckle shuffle. Off the ropes Cena lands it.

Cena goes for the FU but Bradshaw counters. Cena catches JBL in a drop toe hold, then locks in the STF.

JBL gets out as Cena is distracted with Michaels on the outside. JBL ends up knocking Cena off the apron onto the outside. Cena yells at Michaels as he gets back in and eats the clothesline from hell. Two count for JBL on the champion.

Cena is down in the ring, JBL looks frustrated, staring at Michaels. JBL tries to pull Cena up but Cena goes for the FU. The referee is knocked out of the ring as Cena takes out JBL. Both men are down. Shawn Michaels gets in the ring. Michaels stares at both JBL and Cena who are down in the ring. Cena has one hand on the bottom rope. JBL gets up, Cena gets back up, and Michaels gives JBL Sweet Chin Music. The crowd erupts as Cena looks stunned.

Another one for Cena as Michaels hits him with Sweet Chin Music. Michaels drapes JBL's arm over Cena and calls for the referee. Michaels walks to the back.

Another referee comes out and counts a two count on Cena. Michaels has left ringside, the match is still ongoing. Both men get back up in the ring as Cena gets Bradshaw up for the FU, he hits it and retains the championship.

Winner & still World Heavyweight Champion - John Cena

- The events leading to Jeff Hardy vs. Edge are shown.

WWE Title Match - No DQ
Edge vs. Jeff Hardy

Justin Roberts is the ring announcer. Hardy comes out to a big ovation as he is in full black and white face paint.

Vickie Guerrero comes out on the mic... EXCUSE ME. Lots of heat on Vickie. She tells Jeff to not even think of getting out of this match by getting disqualified. She says that she has changed the match to no-disqualification. Vickie introduces who she calls the next WWE Champion... Edge. Edge comes out with Chavo Guerrero.

The bell rings as Jeff Hardy works Edge over in the corner. Hardy bangs Edge's head off the turnbuckle. Hardy hits Edge with right hands. Hardy kicks Edge in the midsection, follows with a body block off the ropes. Hardy whips Edge off the ropes but Edge grabs them and goes to the outside. Hardy chases him around but Edge gets back in. Hardy grabs a chair but Edge kicks the chair out of his hand when he tries to get in the ring.

Edge gains control on Jeff Hardy in the ring, connecting with stiff right hands. Edge's face bangs off the top turnbuckle as Hardy counters when he is thrown into the corner. Scoop slam from Jeff onto Edge.

Edge counters with clubbing blows on the WWE Champion. Edge bounces Hardy's head off the top turnbuckle. Edge ends up getting thrown out, Hardy goes for a suicide dive but Edge moves, Hardy stops and goes off the apron onto Edge. Hardy is knocked off the apron by Edge when he leaves his feet.

Edge goes off the ropes and hits a baseball slide on the WWE Champion who was standing on the outside. Edge goes to the outside to work him over. Edge throws Jeff Hardy into the security wall. Edge picks Hardy up on the outside. He bounces his head off the SmackDown announce table, then the Raw announce table, then the ECW announce table! Edge rolls Hardy into the ring. Edge goes for a quick cover, he gets a two count on Jeff Hardy. Edge kicks Jeff in the ribs, driving the air out of Jeff Hardy.

Edge whips Hardy coast-to-coast from corner to corner. Hardy melts in the corner as Edge slows into his next move. Right hand from Edge as he attempts a Spear after pushing Jeff out, but Jeff counters for a two count. Edge counters again and gets a two count for himself.

Edge has Hardy by the waist on the mat. Jeff gets back to a vertical base and tries to fight out of the hold. He uses elbows to back Edge down but Edge grabs Hardy by the hair and takes him to the mat. Hardy counters and takes Edge down to the mat. Hardy goes to the top but Edge meets him there with right hands. Edge climbs up, Hardy pushes him off. Hardy goes back to the top but Edge connects with a dropkick as he goes off.

Two count for Edge on the WWE Champion. Edge goes to the outside. Edge grabs two chairs, he gets on the apron, but Hardy spears him off. Edge is down on the outside.

Hardy goes over the top rope to the outside on Edge. Hardy rolls Edge back into the ring. Hardy gets assaulted when he gets back to the apron. Edge works with Hardy on the apron, Hardy hits the Twist of Fate off the ring apron. Both are down on the outside.

Jeff Hardy bounces Edge's head off the SmackDown announce table then the Raw announce table. Hardy takes apart the Raw announce table, removing the monitors. Hardy goes under the ring and gets a ladder. Hardy sets up the ladder in front of the announce tables. Hardy sets Edge up on the broken down Raw announce table. Hardy climbs the ladder, Chavo Guerrero climbs up the other side. Hardy fights him off but Edge gets out of the way. Hardy goes off onto Chavo. Jeff throws Edge into the steel ring post, then Chavo into the stairs.

Jeff has Chavo on the broken down Raw announce table as he goes off the ladder as it collapses onto Chavo through the table. Insane spot as it looked like Hardy lost his balance. Jeff takes out Edge with a dropkick to the ribs. Hardy rolls Edge back in. Hardy goes to the top, he hits a cross-body and gets a two count.

Edge counters on Hardy, then removes the turnbuckle cover on one of the top turnbuckles. Edge hobbles over to Hardy and grabs him by the hair. Hardy blocks the attempt and hits Whisper in the Wind. Two count for Jeff on Edge.

Hardy attempts Twist of Fate but Edge counters with a DDT. Two count for Edge.

Edge pulls Jeff Hardy close to one of the corners. He gets up on the middle rope and goes off, Jeff gets hit feet up. Jeff ends up rolling Edge up in an inside cradle for a long two count. Facebuster suplex from Hardy on Edge. Hardy goes to the top but Edge tries to get out of the ring. Hardy stops him but Edge counters and bounces Hardy's face off the exposed turnbuckle. Two count for Edge.

Edge sizes Hardy up, trying to get him to get up. Hardy gets up, Edge goes for the knockout Spear but Hardy counters with a Twist of Fate. Hardy gets on the apron, trying to get to the top rope. Vickie Guerrero comes out and tries to pull Jeff off, he kicks her away. Swanton Bomb from Jeff Hardy onto Edge. Crowd is on fire as Hardy crawls to Edge. Vickie pulls the referee out during the count.

Matt Hardy comes out and rolls Vickie into the ring. Matt has a chair that he gives to Jeff. Hardy goes for the chair shot but Matt stops him. Matt has a chair, time for a Con-Chair-Toe. Matt hits Jeff with a chairshot in the ring, taking him out.

Edge covers Jeff for the three count and the win, new champion. Matt exits the ring without saying anything and we go to replays as Edge celebrates and Hardy is left laying in the ring.

Winner & new WWE Champion - Edge

- After Edge's music cuts, WWE officials in the ring finally help Jeff Hardy to his feet. We go to replays again of Matt cracking Jeff with the chair. Hardy is helped to the back by officials and gets a nice pop from the crowd. Most of the crowd still seems a bit shocked. JR and Tazz continue playing up the Hardy vs. Hardy angle.

Backstage:

Backstage with Randy Orton and Todd Grisham. Todd wants Randy to address rumors that legal action will be taken against Randy tomorrow night on Raw after his attack last week on Vince McMahon. Randy says he hasn't heard from the McMahons but he's still in the Rumble tonight. Chris Jericho comes in and excuses Todd Grisham. Jericho tells Orton that he doesn't blame him one bit and that he thought that the Vince McMahon that was going to show up was going to be the genius, but it wasn't. Jericho says Orton he didn't take out Mr. McMahon, the real Mr. McMahon was already dead. Orton asks why Chris is telling him this, to make him feel better or trying to gain his trust. Jericho says he's an honest man and that he doesn't know how much of a chance that he's going to have to say what he thinks. Jericho says he thinks tonight is Orton's last night as an employee of World Wrestling Entertainment. Jericho wishes him good luck as we go to a video package.

The 30-Man Royal Rumble for a Title Shot at WrestleMania

Justin Roberts is in the ring explaining the rules for the 30-Man Royal Rumble match. Every 90 seconds another superstars enters the ring, both feet have to touch the ground, two superstars start things out. The winner receives a title shot at WrestleMania 25.

Rey Mysterio is the first participant announced. It looks like the match is going to be called by Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler. The second entrant is John Morrison, he and Mysterio will start things out.

The bell rings and the 2009 30-Man Royal Rumble match is underway. Rey starts to kick away at Morrison but Morrison throws him off the ropes. Morrison ends up getting kicked in the face off a counter. Morrison nearly eliminates Mysterio but he is able to get back in.

Rey's on the apron as he ends up diving back in off the top rope onto Morrison. Mysterio hits a head scissor takeover then nearly eliminates Morrison. Morrison is knocked off the apron but he holds on and gets back in through the bottom rope. Carlito is out next.

Carlito spits in Morrison's face then goes to work on Mysterio. Mysterio goes off the ropes on Carlito but he hits a swinging neckbreaker. Carlito goes off the top rope with a springboard succession into a moonsault.

Morrison is working over Mysterio as he hits a European uppercut. Carlito interferes and goes to work on Morrison. MVP is out next as the fourth entrant. MVP comes in and goes to work on Morrison as he gets a pop from the live crowd. MVP takes out Mysterio then goes back to work on Morrison but Carlito goes to work on him. MVP takes him out as well and goes back to Morrison.

Mysterio and MVP work together with Mysterio finally gaining the advantage in the ring. Mysterio hits MVP with a dropkick to the face. Here comes The Great Khali as entrant number five.

Khali climbs in and takes down MVP, Mysterio, Morrison, then Carlito. MVP eats another blow. Khali throws down Morrison hard and actually gets a face pop. Khali hits Mysterio with a clubbing blow. Carlito goes for a Backstabber on Khali but it has not affect. Punjabi Plunge from Khali on Carlito. Khali is the only man on his feet. Vladimir Kozlov is entrant number six.

Kozlov clubs Khali out of the ring and eliminates him. The Great Khali is the first man to be eliminated. Kozlov eliminates MVP. Kozlov then goes to work on Carlito, nearly eliminating him, he does. Triple H is out next.

Triple H eliminates Vladimir Kozlov. Morrison goes to work on Hunter in the corner. Morrison and Hunter go back and forth as Randy Orton is the eighth entrant. Hunter nearly eliminates Morrison as he gets distracted with Orton coming out. Triple H and Orton go at it in the ring.

Orton takes Triple H down after an attack. RKO attempt on Hunter but Triple H kicks him and goes for the Pedigree. Morrison breaks it up then Mysterio gets involved. 619 from Mysterio on Morrison. Cryme Tyme flips a coin as JTG is entrant number nine.

JTG works with Triple H in the corner. Orton is working with Mysterio, Hunter with Morrison. Mysterio gets out on the apron but hangs on. Ted DiBiase is the next entrant. DiBiase comes out and takes out Morrison, Mysterio, and JTG. Hunter works on Orton in the corner. JTG and Morrison go at it. Ted DiBiase nearly eliminates Morrison, JTG as well but both hold on. DiBiase is nearly eliminated by Mysterio.

Chris Jericho is entrant number 11. Jericho goes to work right on DiBiase then Randy Orton. Jericho tries to eliminate Orton. It's pandemonium in the ring. Bulldog from Jericho on Triple H, followed by a Lion Sault attempt. Jericho ends up going for the Walls of Jericho on Hunter. Hunter throws Jericho to the apron but Jericho holds on. Triple H stomps to the midsection of Jericho.

Mike Knox is entrant number 12. Knox goes to work on JTG then Morrison. Now it's time for Rey Mysterio. Mysterio takes right hands from Knox. DiBiase and Orton are planning an attack on JTG. They double team him in the corner. Morrison is working with Jericho, Knox with Mysterio. Triple H interrupts Knox as he nearly eliminates Rey.

The 13th entrant is The Miz. He hits the ring and goes right at JTG. Then he goes after DiBiase. Jericho has Rey up in a suplex but Rey counters. RKO on Morrison then The Miz from Randy Orton. JTG gets one but Triple H hits Orton with a Pedigree. Triple H eliminates The Miz & John Morrison at the same time. Finlay is the next entrant.

Finlay works over Mike Knox then goes to work on DiBiase. Orton helps DiBiase out. Cody Rhodes is the 15th entrant. Rhodes joins the rest of Legacy as they attack JTG first, then go to Hunter. Now it's Finlay's turned to get triple teamed.

Orton hits Mysterio with an RKO when Rey went off the top rope. JTG works on Jericho as the next entrant is The Undertaker. The lights go down in the arena for his entrance as he gets a huge pop. No hat or trench coat for Taker, he's in his ring gear ready to go.

The Undertaker comes in and begins to clean house. Heels and babyfaces, no one's safe. Undertaker eliminates JTG.

The crowd is heavily behind The Undertaker as he works on Cody Rhodes. Undertaker goes for a chokeslam on Knox as Goldust comes out as the next entrant. Goldust goes after Ted DiBiase but is confronted by Cody. They square off as Goldust hits him in the face twice. Goldust throws Cody to the ring apron but Cody holds on. Goldust hits DiBiase but eats an RKO.

Cody Rhodes throws Goldust over the top rope to eliminate him. CM Punk is the next entrant. Punk double clothelines Team Priceless and then hits some kicks. Punk goes after Mysterio then Jericho. Bulldog from Punk onto Jericho. Hunter goes for a Pedigree but Punk counters and ends up hitting him with GTS.

Finlay works with The Undertaker, landing clubbing right hands. Mark Henry is out next with Tony Atlas who doesn't come to ringside. Henry takes out DiBiase then Rhodes. Then Hunter and is now working on The Undertaker.

Mark Henry stands on Punk's chest in the corner. Triple H comes to his aid, taking him out. Henry counters with a big slam on The Game. CM Punk goes off the top rope onto Henry but Henry catches him. Punk is thrown to the apron by Mark Henry. Shelton Benjamin is out next.

William Regal is entrant 21. Regal goes to work on CM Punk, continuing their storyline. The Undertaker is working over Shelton Benjamin in the corner. Mark Henry was eliminated by Rey Mysterio as we had to be shown a replay as the camera missed it.

Kofi Kingston is entrant number 22 as he goes to work on everyone in the ring with drop kicks.

The Undertaker eliminates Shelton Benjamin as it appears Undertaker is busted open. Kane is the 23rd entrant. Mysterio barely escapes elimination from Chris Jericho.

Kane goes on the offensive on Ted DiBiase. Yes, The Undertaker is busted open. Kane and Undertaker team up on DiBiase to a tremendous pop from the crowd. Kane chokeslams Kofi as Jericho goes to work on Undertaker.

CM Punk eliminates William Regal. R-Truth is out next as entrant #24.

A group tries to eliminate Kane but he stays in. The ring is jammed packed, very hard to call the specific spots. Rob Van Dam is entrant number 25. Tremendous pop for RVD as he cleans house.

RVD goes for the Frog Splash on R-Truth but he's nearly eliminated by Triple H. Entrant 26 is The Brian Kendrick. Kendrick eliminates Kofi Kingston. Triple H eliminates Brian Kendrick.

Dolph Zigger is entrant number 27. Ziggler runs right into Kane. Kane immediately eliminates him when he extends his hand to greet him.

Rhodes takes CM Punk in an electric chair. Orton is trying to eliminate Rob Van Dam. Santino Marella is entrant 28. Kane eliminates Santino as soon as he gets in. Santino says he wasn't ready.

'Hacksaw' Jim Duggan is entrant #29. Hacksaw gets in and begins to go to work, knocking everyone down including The Undertaker. The final Royal Rumble entrant is the Big Show. Show comes face to face with Taker but gets clocked hard by Kane.

Big Show just eliminated Jim Duggan. Randy Orton is teetering on the top rope with The Undertaker but Cody Rhodes interferes. Big Show eliminates R-Truth. Big Show eliminates CM Punk with his stiff knockout blow after Punk saved himself three different times from going over. Hornswoggle gets in the ring out of nowhere and takes out Kane for Finlay. Mysterio was in the match 49 minutes after getting eliminated. Triple H is the longest survivor in the match. Code Breaker from Jericho on Kane.

Randy Orton drops Triple H down for a stiff DDT. Big Show and The Undertaker square up in the ring. They exchange right hands. Jericho works on Big Show. Frog Splash from RVD on Randy Orton but Jericho ends up eliminating RVD. Jericho teases RVD as Undertaker walks up to him. The Undertaker ends up eliminating Jericho.

Kane is eliminated by The Legacy. We're down to six: Legacy, Undertaker, Triple H, and Big Show.

Big Show takes out Triple H as The Legacy works over Undertaker in the corner. Undertaker chokeslams each Legacy member. Now it's Big Show and The Undertaker. Undertaker losers the straps of his singlet. Big Show wants a boxing match as they exchange shots.

Randy Orton goes for the RKO on Undertaker but he counters it. Big Show and Undertaker are working on the apron. They go back and forth. Randy Orton eliminates Big Show. Big Show eliminates Undertaker from the outside. Taker and Big Show go to the crowd to fight it out. It's Legacy vs. Triple H.

Triple H is triple teamed by Legacy. Rhodes and DiBiase hold Triple H as Orton assaults him. Orton goes for the RKO but Triple H pushes him off. Rhodes and DiBiase both eat attacks from The Game. Triple H hits a Pedigree on Rhodes. Triple H eliminates DiBiase then Rhodes. Randy Orton eliminates Triple H to win the Royal Rumble.

Royal Rumble Winner - Randy Orton

Orton holds his hands high in the ring with DiBiase and Rhodes after the match. Orton points up at the WrestleMania sign hanging from the rafters. The ref tells Orton something and he yells back at him. Orton climbs the turnbuckle and points at the sign again as pyro explodes and the Rumble goes off the air.

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What to do during Surya Grahan? – Surygrahan or Solar Eclipse in Hinduism

There are numerous recording of Surya Grahan, or Solar Eclipse, in Hindu scriptures. The most famous being the Suryagrahan during the famous Mahabharata war. Usually, Hindus do not perform any work during Surya Grahan and they purify themselves by taking a bath and chant mantras. A complete fast is undertaken by many Hindus during the period. In Hindu religion, taking a holy dip at sacred rivers and tirths on the Surya Grahan day is considered highly auspicious.
The next Surya Grahan is on January 26, 2009 from from 10:26 hrs to 16:30 hrs (Indian Standard Time).

Ancient sages and texts like Brahman Siddhanta restrict viewing the eclipse – one should look at an eclipse through a cloth or a reflection of it. A pregnant woman should never look directly at an eclipse.

Mantras Chanted during Surya Grahan

Some of the important mantras that are chanted during the Surya Grahan include:

Gayatri Mantra

Ashtakshara Mantra dedicated to Shri Krishna. Ashtakshara mantra is ‘Shri Krishna ha sharnam mama.’ Astakshari Mantra is also taken as ‘Om Namoh Narayan Na Yah.’

Mahamrityunjay Mantra is also chanted during eclipse.

Other mantras chanted are Surya Kavach Strotra and Aditya Hridaya Strotram

It is important that one chants mantra or remember god in any form at this time to keep calm and the aura clean.

Hindu Temples Remain Closed

All Hindu Temples remain closed during Surya Grahan. Temples open only after proper rituals are performed to get rid of the ill effects of the Surya Grahan. However, some Lord Shiva temples remain open during Surya Grahan as Lord Shiva is considered as ‘Layakara,’ who Himself is an embodiment of darkness.

Fasting During Surya Grahan

Adult Hindus stop eating 12 hours before a solar eclipse. Children, old people and those who are ill stop eating 3 hours before the beginning of a solar eclipse. If the solar eclipse ends after sunset, then people fast during night and consume food only next day morning.

One should not take food at the time of Grahan because it is said that at this time the most harmful rays from the sun can be seen and absorbed.

Pregnant Woman and Surya Grahan

Normally at the time of Surya Grahan, pregnant women are supposed to not come out of the house, with no sunlight entering either by doors or windows. This is to avoid harmful rays. You can find more detail regarding Surya Grahan and Pregnancy in this article.

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