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Revealed: 2011 Ford Mustang

Monday, November 30, 2009


It would be reasonable to expect that Ford might pass over the Mustang and instead devote more attention to its other models since it's fresh off a comprehensive revamp for the 2010 model year. However, that's not what is shaping up in the House That Henry Built.

For 2011, the Blue Oval is introducing a new 3.7-liter V6 Mustang that should give it the firepower and refinement needed to take on Chevrolet's six-cylinder Camaro and Hyundai's upstart Genesis Coupe. But it isn't just the spanking all-aluminum powerplant and its 305 horsepower and 280 foot-pounds of torque that's making the scene for the forthcoming model year. In addition to the Cleveland-sourced mill, there are a pair of fresh gearboxes, a new V6 performance package, and a host of nip/tucks to the interior and elsewhere.

Now, we could grouse on behalf of 2010 MY 'Stang owners everywhere that these upgrades weren't part of last year's mid-life updo, but instead, we'll just be happy that these advancements are arriving at all.

Despite being smaller than the outgoing 4.0-liter V6, the dual-overhead cam 3.7-liter's horsepower and torque ratings represent massive improvements over the 2010 model (305 HP dismisses 210 HP and 280 lb-ft. plays 240 torques). In fact, that's more horsepower than the 4.6-liter V8 Mustang made just a few years ago. While the 305-horse figure only allows the Mustang to pip the crosstown Camaro by a single all-important stallion in the pony car bragging wars, Ford says the powertrain will be good for 30 miles-per-gallon on the highway when paired with its new six-speed automatic, also one notch better than the Chevy.

That impressive fuel economy figure isn't just the result of the new engine -- a suite of new pieces have been developed in order to maximize performance, including a revised air intake, a pair of new six-speed transmissions (both automatic and manual), electric power steering, and even some aerodynamic tidying, including a revised front fascia, deeper front air dam, rear-wheel tire spats, different underbody shields, and a new rear decklid seal.

The Heart Transplant

Despite those incremental improvements, the centerpiece of the 2011 Mustang is obviously the 24-valve Duratec V6, and it includes Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) and polished buckets and roller finger followers in the direct-acting mechanical bucket valvetrain, among other features. Ford officials promise that V6 buyers won't miss the roar of the V8's extra cylinders thanks to a retuned air intake and throaty standard dual exhaust. At the sneak-peek event for this new Mustang motor, Autoblog had the chance to hear the new engine fire up and rev -- and it indeed sounds sporty and purposeful. To be fair, however, we only heard the powertrain briefly in an enclosed space (a large development garage on Ford's Dearborn campus), so we'll have to wait until it's out in the open and we're behind the wheel to really get a feel for the 3.7's aural character. Other noteworthy features of the drivetrain include a deep-sump aluminum oil pan that enables less-frequent 10,000-mile oil change intervals and a 7,000-RPM redline.

On the transmission front, Ford has fitted a new six-speed 6R60 automatic with hill-start assist that allows for the 30 MPG highway bogey, as well as 19 MPG in the urban cycle (a 25 percent improvement over the 2010's 16 mpg city / 24 mpg highway figures). Prefer to shift for yourself? Expect fuel economy to suffer an iota for your enjoyment, with numbers for the six-speed manual falling to 18/29 (2010 MY: 18/26).

Naturally, with an all-new powertrain and its differing weight properties, Ford's engineers also had to turn their attention to the suspension. To that end, the 2011 V6 gets new damper and spring rates, a different rear lower control arm, and stiffer stabilizer bar bushings.

A More Electrifying Steer?

We always get a bit nervous when vehicles move to electronic power steering. Such systems may improve performance by lowering parasitic drag on the engine, but they rarely do any favors for steering feel. Ford assures us that they've worked hard to build a robust "feedback loop" into the system, but again, we'll have to wait and see for ourselves. In the meantime, we'll remain curious about how effective Ford's so-called Pull-Drift Compensation system is at accounting for road crowns and crosswinds, not to mention the amusingly named Active Nibble Control, which apparently helps to exorcise high-speed vibrations caused by wheel balance issues and warped brake rotors. And about those brakes -- they're bigger. 11.5-inches in front and 11.8-inchers out back have been borrowed from the GT's parts bin, and there's also a standard limited-slip differential to help get the V6 model's newfound power to the ground.

The Performance Model

What V6 Mustang are we most eager to drive? The new Performance Package model, which is scheduled to go on sale next August, as it promises to provide increased grip and go. For starters, the Perf Pack borrows the uprated front struts and rear shocks/springs from the V8 GT model, along with its thicker front and rear anti-roll bars and the rear lower control arms from the Shelby GT500. Also included is a 3.31 axle ratio for better acceleration, model-specific 19-inch alloys wrapped in Pirelli summer rubber, more lenient stability control programming with a dedicated sport mode, as well as a strut tower brace and the usual assortment of badges.

How will street spotters identify the new V6 Mustang? If the dual exhaust isn't enough of a tip-off, you'll probably have to check the glass. For 2011, all Mustangs get nifty integrated blind-spot mirrors -- and if you peek inside the driver's side window, you might catch a glimpse of the new-look instrument cluster which features a 160 MPH speedo and an 8,000-RPM tach.

How Much -- and What's Next?

Ford has yet to release any performance estimates or pricing, but despite the big jump in power and content, we don't expect pricing to increase dramatically. Given that the augmented V6 nearly shades the current 4.6-liter V8's horsepower figure (and the fact that the latter engine is comprehensively outgunned by the Camaro SS' 6.2-liter engine's 426 hp and 420 pound-feet of torque, it's no surprise that a new V8 engine is rumored, and we fully expect to see it before this domestic auto show season is out.

The takeaway from all of this? For those who thought that the rekindled pony car wars reached a fever pitch this year with the advent of the refreshed Mustang, long-awaited Camaro and still-warm Dodge Challenger, well ... we ain't seen nothin' yet.

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Sean Payton Approval Rating


This was something I wanted to do last week at the halfway mark of the season but never got around to it. I thought it would be interesting to take the temperature of fan sentiment regarding head coach Sean Payton and try to get a quantifiable answer as to how fans feel he is doing in his job as head coach this season.

Personally, Payton gets an "A" from me. Pretty hard to find fault with the coach of a 9-0 football team. In fact, my initial hesitation with writing this post was that I thought his excellent work this season was too obvious and evident and that it would just be a waste of time.

But just for funsies, let's do it anyway! Cast your vote below and grade Payton's performance so far. Of course, your greater take on the subject can be expressed below in the comment section.

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After 20 years, 'Christmas Vacation' still brings the laughs

All Clark Griswold wanted was an "old-fashioned family Christmas."

But he couldn't swing it because the fates were against him.

His zealous desire for perfection got in the way, too.

"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" turns 20 years old this holiday season, making it an official classic. In fact, it airs at 8 tonight on AMC (American Movie Classics).

As the hapless Griswold, Chevy Chase was in his prime. This was the third film in the Griswold misadventure "Vacation" films.

While it's not as sentimental as seasonal favorites such as "Miracle on 34th Street" or "It's a Wonderful Life," the movie has plenty of laughs and relatable holiday moments.

Some of us may know guys like Clark who go all out to decorate the house. He strings up 25,000 lights with interesting results.

And there's Clark's ill-fated quest for the perfect tree; the family cat getting fried by the gnawing on the tree lights; Uncle Lewis setting the tree on fire; redneck cousin Eddie showing up in an RV; and the family being terrorized by a maniac squirrel.

The film's script was written by the late John Hughes who adapted his short story, "Christmas '59," which appeared in National Lampoon's magazine in December 1980.

"Christmas Vacation" gives a nod to "It's a Wonderful Life," which is seen playing on a TV set in the background of a scene when the Griswold grandparents arrive.

In another scene Clark and Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) toast their eggnog in moose head mugs, a wink to Marty Moose and Walley World from the first "Vacation" movie.

Fans of the film can purchase replicas of those mugs, as well as Griswold, Walley World and "Christmas Vacation" T-shirts at www.chasingthefrog.com/
christmasvacation-t-shirts.php

You can get one with Clark's rant against his boss. Griswold has some choice words when he learns that the Christmas bonus is a membership in a jelly of the month club.

And Hallmark has a commemorative Christmas ornament, "Cousin's Eddie's Rusty RV," which plays some of Eddie's lines from the movie. Now that's classic.

SNOWED IN: The Weather Channel wants you to be dreaming of a white Christmas with its "Guaranteed White Christmas" contest.

One viewer will have snow delivered on Christmas Day (no matter the location) and there will be live coverage by meteorologist Adam Berg.

Viewers have until Dec. 6 to send in a video pleading for snow. Check out the rules on www.weather.com/ whitechristmas.

SNL HOSTS: "Saturday Night Live" appears to be making a run at younger female viewers with next round of guest hosts. Saturday's episode will be hosted by "Gossip Girl's" Blake Lively, with musical guest Rihanna.

Taylor Lautner, the hunky teen werewolf of "The Twilight Saga" is paired with Bon Jovi on Dec. 12. And James Franco, currently guesting on "General Hospital," will host Dec. 19 with British rock band Muse as the musical guest.

DONT MISS: "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," at 8 tonight on ABC, is the 1966 animated Dr. Seuss holiday story that takes viewers inside a snowflake to Whoville, the magical land of the Whos where the Grinch, a hateful creature with a heart three sizes too small, despises Christmas and plots to steal it.

TUNE IN TONIGHT: "Smokey Robinson Tribute on Ice," 6 p.m., Hallmark Channel

Filmed during the recent Tampa stop, singer Smokey Robinson performs his hits (not on ice) while Olympic, World and National figure skaters are on the ice.

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June 17 1972

Some people do hard work the right way, while others choose to disregard law that they don’t like either in the pursuit of an important end that they think is sufficiently important to warrant disregarding that law they don’t like or in the fatuous belief that they are “above the law.”

On July 24, 2009, Congressman Darrell Issa (R. Cal.) released a devastating and detailed report on ACORN and a press release titled “REPORT: Is ACORN Intentionally Structured As a Criminal Enterprise?” (http://issa.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=News.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=ad0751a3-19b9-b4b1-1247-42fb7b539871).

The press release began:

“A report released today by Rep. Darrell Issa (CA), the Ranking Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, presents evidence thatACORN has evaded taxes, obstructed justice, engaged in racketeering, and created a conspiracy to defraud the United States.

“’This report is a comprehensive and substantive examination of an organization that has operated in secrecy and outside the law,’ Issa, also a member of the House Judiciary Committee said. ‘There are number of legitimate questions raised about the political activities and organizational structure of ACORN. This report is about getting to the truth and when there are significant accusations and questions outstanding regarding an organization that has benefited from millions of taxpayer dollars, those questions should be answered and the truth should be brought to light.’

“’The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) has repeatedly and deliberately engaged in systemic fraud,’ according to the report’s executive summary. ‘Both structurally and operationally,ACORN hides behind a paper wall of nonprofit corporate protections to conceal a criminal conspiracy on the part of its directors, to launder federal money in order to pursue a partisan political agenda and to manipulate the American electorate. Emerging accounts of widespread deceit and corruption raise the need for a criminal investigation of ACORN.’

“The report includes significant new information about wrongdoing brought to the attention of committee investigators by ACORN whistleblowers.”

The Issa report did not mention the “Pimp and Pro” ACORN sting.

That was not possible, becaus the “Pimp and Pro” ACORN sting was in the planning stage when the Issa Report was being written.

Whether a result of coordination or simply sheer coincidence, the sting began on the same day that the Issa report was issued–July 24, 2009.ACORN’s Philadelphia office was targeted in the morning and ACORN’s Baltimore office was targeted in the evening. ACORN ’s Washington, D.C office was targeted the next day and then James O’Keefe went to California to show video to Andrew Breitbart, publisher of BigGoverment.com and then reconnected with Hannah Giles to do a sting at anACORN office in New York and three in ACORN offices in California last August that would permit the kind of rollout that Breitbart favored.

As Mr. Spock of “Star Trek” would say, “Fascinating.”

Doug Giles, Ms. Giles’ dad, explained (http://townhall.com/columnists/DougGiles/2009/09/19/no,_it_wasn’t_my_idea_for_hannah_giles_to_dress_like_a_hooker_and_infiltrate_acorn): “The truth of the matter, from a timeline standpoint, is that they hatched their plan in May of ’09, fine-tuned it from May 20th – July 23rd, and then launched July 24th, fully accomplishing their mission by the end of August. And that’s a fact to all those for whom facts still matter.”

Like the whole truth, facts still matter to me.

Succumbing to the temptation to surreptitiously record to obtain evidence of the misconduct of political opponents did not begin with the “Pimp and Pro”ACORN story or even with the Watergate scandal.

If you believe in the rule of law in America, you believe that the same law applies to Republicans and Democrats and liberals and conservatives.If you believe the public should know the whole truth, you don’t believe that two wrongs make a right or that the proper responses to the lies and crimes of the Far Left are inspiring cover stories and excusable criminal conduct from the Right.If you believe in federalism, you believe that each state is entitled to set its own public policy so long as that public policy is constitutional.

I wish that one-party consent was lawful throughout America, but it’s not and a prohibition of surreptious recording without the consent of all parties to a conversation is constitutional. I respect that legal reality, but some others do not.

The second break-in to the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate in 1972, generally known as the Watergate break-in, boomeranged “bigtime.”

Initially dismissed as “a third-rate burglary,” it did not prevent President Richard M. Nixon’s resounding re-election victory in 1972. But, mostly due to the determined efforts of the team of reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of The Washington Post, backed by editor Ben Bradlee and federal government insider Mark Felt (aka “Deep Throat”), that cover story did not hold and the cover up culminated in President Nixon’s resignation after his political base collapsed as the truth became known.

President Gerald Ford succeeded President Nixon, pardoned him and declared that “our long national nightmare is over.”

It wasn’t. The Republicans were devastated in the 1974 Congressional elections, South Vietnam fell to the Communists, Jimmy Carter was elected President in 1976…and obviously the lesson that using illegal methods in the hope of exposing wrongdoing of political opponents was not learned by all.

Hannah Giles, heroine of the “Pimp and Pro” ACORN sting, told this inspiring it-came-to-me-on-a-morning-jog story about the origin of the sting when interviewed on “Hannity”: “Well, Sean, it’s amazing what girls think about when they are jogging. And that was just something that popped into my head. I had never seen anACORN office, I really didn’t even know that they existed and I jogged into the wrong part of town, saw some homeless people and street ladies and I put two and two together when I turned around to get back into a safe neighborhood. And it’s like — what if these people went intoACORN — a prostitute and what would come from that? No bills, no nothing — would they get a house? Could they start a business? So we put it to the test.”

Earlier this year Ms. Giles had an internship with the National Journalism Center in northwest Washington, D.C.

That ACORN office where Ms. Giles and James O’Keefe “put it to the test” was located on the second floor at 739 8th Street SE, a few blocks south of Pennsylvania Avenue, a bit north of I-295 and across the street from a beautifully kept Marine Barracks! That area is “safe” (as my wife and daughter attested). It’s well kept and not reasonably described as “the wrong part of town.” To be sure, I visited the area as well as the National Mall last weekend. I saw joggers and a couple of homeless people on the Mall, but none near 739 8th Street SE and no “street ladies” at all. If the deplorable MSM (mainstream media) had not been determined to avoid the “Pimp and Pro”ACORN story, it would have scrutinized the story. But the MSM does not really scrutinize ACORN, or Obama, or even the “Pimp and Pro” ACORN story (lest it focus the kind of attention on ACORN and Obama that does not suit the MSM’s agenda).

Robert Stacy McCain, September 18, 2009 (http://rsmccain.blogspot.com/2009/09/fired-acorn-baltimore-workers-to-sue.html):

“UPDATE: Rather than talk to a veteran conservative journalist — I’ve got an e-mail address and have already interviewed Hannah’s father, Doug Giles — James O’Keefe tells his story to the liberal MSM:

O’Keefe insists that he and Giles’s work was done independently and rejects liberal suggestions that the videos were bankrolled by conservative organizations. He does, however, acknowledge receiving help and advice from a conservative columnist and Web entrepreneur.

When O’Keefe had filmed the first two videos — in the District and Baltimore — a friend urged him to share his project with Andrew Breitbart, a conservative Internet entrepreneur who had plans to launch an anti-liberal site called BigGovernment.com. Breitbart said he was skeptical after a June phone call with O’Keefe about what he had, but when the video was rolling in his basement office in Los Angeles in late July, Breitbart said, he gasped.

“Doug Giles is my friend, yet I am profoundly hurt by O’Keefe’s deliberate insult — talking to the Washington Post before talking to me? When a 25-year-old punk starts insulting veteran journalists, there could be seriousconsequences….”

I think “The Other McCain” was being facetious about “serious consequences,” but “there could be “serious consequences” of a legal nature, because the surreptitious recording that made the “Pimp and Pro” ACORN story sensational was legal at only two of the ACORN offices visited (Washington, D.C. and New York), no in Philadelphia, or Baltimore, or San Bernardino, or San Diego, or Los Angeles.

(With apologies to Senator Howard Baker), who knew that surreptitious recording is illegal in some states and when did he/she/they know it?

Ms. Giles knew at least by 2008.

Ms. Giles, in a September 23, 2008Townhall post titled “The Truth is Too Scandalous for YouTube” and lauding O’Keefe’s Planned Parenthood sting (http://townhall.com/columnists/HannahGiles/2008/09/23/the_truth_is_too_scandalous_for_youtube): “In the summer of 2007 O’Keefe made phone calls to several Planned Parenthood clinics across the country. He only made these phone calls in states where it is legal to audio record without the other party’s consent (i.e. Ohio, New Mexico, Idaho, Oklahoma).”

Ms. Giles can plead youth and inexperience, but a claim of ignorance that surreptious recording is not lawful across the whole United States will not do.

In addition, a plea of exigent circumstances will be a really steep climb, since both Ms. Giles and O’Keefe said that they were shocked by the reaction they received when they visited ACORN offices. For example, Fox News, “ACORN Officials Videotaped Telling ‘Pimp,’ ‘Prostitute’ How to Lie to IRS” (September 10, 2009) (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,548827,00.html):

“Reached by FOX News, O’Keefe said he was ’shocked’ at the level of assistance provided by ACORN staffers.

“‘I was prepared for them to call the police, throw me out of the office and be hostile,’ he said. “Without hesitation, they helped me every way they could with evading taxes and setting me up with a brothel, with getting around federal tax laws — doing everything they could to help us. I was completely shocked.’”

If the reaction received was “shocking” instead of expected, then what’s the excuse for violating state law prohibiting surreptitious recording? Curiosity and/or filmmaking won’t do.

At Breitbart’s Big Government.com, an article by former California Attorney General and current Republican Congressman Dan Lundgrun pleaded for mercy for Ms. Giles, 20, and O’Keefe, 25.

Lundgrun, in “Maryland Shouldn’t Prosecute ACORN Filmmakers” (October 23, 2009) (http://biggovernment.com/author/dlungren/):

“Certain states, such as Maryland, have statutes prohibiting the recording of conversations without the consent of the other party. Unfortunately for the young investigative entrepreneurs, their disclosure of alleged illegal activities carried out by the ACORN employees took place in these so-called ‘two party consent states’ which prohibit the recording of confidential communications without the permission of all parties.

“From the vantage point of a former prosecutor and as an official charged with the responsibility of stewardship of the public purse, I believe all of the equities point to the exercise of prosecutorial discretion by declining to prosecute those who have in fact provided a public service to our nation. In other words, the good guys ought to win this one!”

While Lundgrun wisely called for the exercise of prosecutorial discretion, Breitbart baited current California Attorney General (and probably soon to be again California Governor) Jerry Brown.

Breitbart, in “ACORN: The LA Story, Part I” (November 12, 2009): “Since I woke up to the news that ACORN had sued the U.S. government to get its federal funding back, it struck me as obvious that ACORN is in the process of trying to get its mojo back absent any real investigations by the Holder Justice Department, the Democratic-controlled Congress, and the Jerry Brown sham investigation in California – not to mention the so-called ‘internal investigation’ whose chief investigator was picked by number one ACORN defender, John Podesta, and SEIU head Andy Stern, whose union is deeply aligned with the troubled ‘community organizing’ group.”

BigGovernment.com’s editorial panel (aka “Publius”), in “Calif. Attorney General Brown Will Face Independent Investigation for Secretly Recorded Conversations” (November 17, 2009) (http://biggovernment.com/2009/11/17/calif-d-a-brown-will-face-independent-investigation-for-secretly-recorded-conversations/):

“Brown’s position on the recordings strikes the Big Government editorial panel as arrogant. First, the Attorney General is in the process of investigating the ACORN filmmakers for violating laws about secret tape-recordings while conducting similar recordings himself… repeatedly. Second, Brown conducted an internal investigation on himself (much like John Podesta of Media Matters and Andy Stern of the SEIU conducting the internal investigation of ACORN) for nearly three weeks before he solicited a third party. And judging by the wording in the attached letter, Brown seems none too happy to pass that duty elsewhere.

“Much like the internal investigations movement, Brown might be hurting right now. Stay tuned…”

“Stay tuned” is right.

If the MSM decides to investigate, there will be some Watergate parallels to appreciate.

There were TWO Watergate burglaries, the first of which was not noticed at the time.

http://www.viswiki.com/en/Watergate_burglaries:

“The Watergate burglaries, which took place on May 28 and June 17, 1972, were the focus of the Watergate scandal that ultimately led to the resignation of United States President Richard Nixon. Five men who were apprehended inside the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate building during the second burglary implicated themselves on other counts and charges by voluntarily telling investigators about having committed a ‘first break-in.’ Congressional and law enforcement investigations into the first burglary relied entirely on the testimony of the conspirators because there was no physical evidence of a first burglary, and there were no independent witnesses to the event.

“Physical evidence that might or might not have corroborated the testimony was destroyed by a number of people involved in and peripheral to first burglary, including G. Gordon Liddy, Jeb Magruder, John Dean, and the acting head of the FBI at the time, L. Patrick Gray, who resigned after his admission of destruction of evidence that had been taken from the safe of E. Howard Hunt

“As a result, the only information available concerning the first burglary is contained in the sworn testimony and anecdotal accounts of the participants themselves.’

“On or about May 27, 1972, under the supervision of Gordon Liddy and Howard Hunt, McCord, Barker, Martinez, Gonzalez, and Sturgis, broke into the DNC headquarters. McCord placed two monitoring devices on the telephones of DNC officials, one on the telephone of Chairman Lawrence O’Brien, and the second on the telephone of the executive director of Democratic state chairmen, R. Spencer Oliver, Jr. Barker selected documents relating to the DNC contributors, and these documents were then photographed.” Judiciary Committee Impeachment Hearings, 93rd Congress Book I, Events Prior to the Watergate Break-in U.S. Government Printing Office 1974.

Surely the Watergate burglars were seeking evidence of wrongdoing to use for political purposes.

Unfortunately, they went about it illegally. The break-ins became the story, not possible Democrat wrongdoing.

G. Gordon Liddy (who wisely invested in gold a decade ago) probably knows what really was so.

www.viswiki.com/en/G._Gordon_Liddy:

“In 1971, after serving in several positions in the Nixon administration, Liddy was moved to Nixon’s 1972 campaign, the Committee to Re-elect the President…to extend the scope and reach of the White House ‘Plumbers’ unit, which had been created in response to various damaging leaks of information to the press. At CRP and at the behest of John Dean (operating on his own to impress his superior, John Erlichman, unbeknownst to Liddy at that time), Liddy concocted several plots, some far-fetched, intended to embarrass the Democratic opposition. These included firebombing the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. in order to sneak into the building as firemen and grab sensitive classified documents leaked by Daniel Ellsberg, kidnapping anti-war protest organizers and transporting them to Mexico during the Republican National Convention (which at the time was planned for San Diego), and luring mid-level Democratic campaign officials to a house boat in Baltimore where they would be secretly photographed in compromising positions with call girls. Most of Liddy’s ideas were rejected by Attorney General John N. Mitchell, but a few were given the go-ahead by Nixon Administration officials, including the break-in at Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist’s office. Ellsberg had leaked the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times. At some point, Liddy was instructed to break into the Democratic National Committee offices in the Watergate Hotel.”

“Liddy was the Nixon Administration liaison and leader of the group of five men who broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Complex with the intent to plant listening devices. John Dean had been given the responsibility for overall campaign intelligence by H.R. Haldeman, and recommended Liddy as intelligence chief to the Committee to Re-elect the President to Jeb Magruder, the Deputy Director. Liddy did not participate in the break-in himself, insomuch as he did not actually enter the Watergate Complex, rather, he admitted to supervising the break-in from another hotel across the street. For his crime, which he coordinated with Hunt, Liddy was convicted of conspiracy, burglary and illegal wiretapping. Liddy was sentenced to a 20-year prison term and was ordered to pay $40,000 in fines. He began serving the sentence on January 30, 1973. On April 12, 1977, President Jimmy Carter commuted Liddy’s sentence to eight years, ‘in the interest of equity and fairness based on a comparison of Mr. Liddy’s sentence with those of all others convicted in Watergate related prosecutions’, leaving the fine in effect. Carter’s commutation made Liddy eligible for parole as of July 9, 1977. Liddy was released on September 7, 1977 having served a total of four-and-a-half years of actual incarceration.”

The fact that Liddy supervised the break-in did not keep him from being convicted.

The motive became an unimportant detail in the courtroom of public opinion.

http://www.viswiki.com/en/Watergate_burglaries:

“E. Howard Hunt, one of the two admitted co-commanders, said under oath in congressional testimony that the reason for the first burglary was because G. Gordon Liddy ‘had information’ from ‘a government agency’ that ‘the Cuban government was supplying funds to the Democratic Party.’ Hunt said that to ‘investigate this report, a surreptitious entry of Democratic national headquarters at the Watergate was made.’ No such report from a government agency was produced in evidence, and no other physical evidence is in the record to support or corroborate this motive.

“G. Gordon Liddy, Hunt’s co-commander, has never cited Cuban contributions to the Democrats as a motive for a first burglary. For several decades Liddy never cited any reason for a first burglary except an oral order Liddy said he received in a private meeting with Nixon adviser Jeb Magruder, which Liddy says took place ‘toward the end of April’ 1972. According to Liddy, Magruder said that he ‘wanted to hear anything that was going on inside the office of Larry O’Brien, who was the chairman of the DNC’ (and who was in Miami, Florida at the time); that Magruder ‘wanted to be able to monitor his [O'Brien's] telephone conversations;’ and that ‘if there was anything else lying around,’ that was to be photographed.

“In 1968, O’Brien was appointed by Vice President Hubert Humphrey to serve nationally as the director of his presidential campaign and by Howard Hughes to serve in Washington as his public-policy lobbyist. O’Brien was elected in 1968 and 1970 by the DNC to serve nationally as its chairman. With the upcoming Presidential election, John H. Meier a former business adviser to Howard Hughes, working with Hubert Humphrey and others, wanted to feed misinformation to Richard Nixon. In late 1971, the President’s brother Donald Nixon, was collecting intelligence for his brother at the time and was asking Meier about Larry O’Brien.

“Meier told Donald that he was sure the Democrats would win the election since they had a lot of information on Richard Nixon’s illicit dealings with Howard Hughes that had never been released, and that Larry O’Brien had the information, O’Brien didn’t actually have any documents but Meier wanted Richard Nixon to think he did). Donald then called his brother and told him that Meier gave the Democrats all the Hughes information that could destroy him (Richard Nixon) and that O’Brien has it. Nixon’s Chief of Staff Bob Haldeman said he believes Nixon told his Chief Counsel Chuck Colson to get the goods on O’Brien’s connection with Hughes. This would have provided the President with the motivation to break into O’Brien’s office, as he wanted to see if anything was going to break before the election.

“In more recent years, Liddy began to state in speeches, and in a subsequent libel suit, that the motive for a first burglary at the DNC was John Dean’s desire to determine whether the Democrats possessed information embarrassing to Dean, and that the burglars, without Liddy’s knowledge at the time, must have been seeking a compromising photograph of Dean’s fiancée. (In contrast, E. Howard Hunt and Bernard Barker have said under oath that the participants had been instructed to photograph documents on Democratic donors and financial records.)

“There is no verifiable evidence of any motive for a first burglary at the Watergate complex.”

It’s not easy for the public to learn the truth and sometimes it doesn’t.

Do we know the whole truth about “Watergate”?

No.

Do we know the whole truth about the “Pimp and Pro” ACORN story?

No.

Will the “Pimp and Pro” ACORN story morph into ACORNgate?

As Breitbart puts it, stay tuned…

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Christmas albums range from naughty to nice


Calvin Coolidge, of all people, once astutely noted that Christmas is not a date. It is a state of mind.

It is that state of mind in all its many shadings - joyous, blue, reverent, sassy, loving, somber, playful, warm and thankful - that successful holiday music strives to express in art.

This year brings a somewhat smaller bundle of new Christmas discs, but there's still a diverse selection of albums from artists of varying sensibilities and generations.

Here are some of the most notable new entries to the Christmas music catalog.

"Midwinter Graces" by Tori Amos (Universal Republic)

Amos is part feminist, part pagan pixie and part creative loon. She's also the slightly wayward daughter of a Methodist minister. On "Midwinter Graces," Amos strives to reconcile that bumptious mix in a coherent blend.

The album honors the ancient pagan traditions that celebrate the natural cycle of death and renewal, winter and spring. Indeed, Amos divides the album into the four elements of air, earth, fire and water. She gives voice to her mystic heart on original songs such as "Winter's Carol" and "Snow Angel." Yet she also respectfully updates traditional carols honoring the Christ child, including "What Child Is This," "Coventry Carol" and "Silent Night."

I'm a little surprised to say this, but it's my favorite new Christmas disc.

"My Christmas" by Andrea Bocelli (Decca)

Like Josh Groban, Bocelli has become a candlelight icon by combining operatic chops with pop romance. Produced by David Foster, "My Christmas" has Bocelli singing carols such as "Silent Night" and "Adeste Fideles" with a full orchestra and several large choirs, including the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Salvation Army boys choir.

Some unexpected carolers show up on the doorstep: Bocelli sings "Jingle Bells" with the Muppets, and Mary J. Blige more than rises to the moment on "What Child Is This." But other matches have the chemistry of a snowman and a sunlamp. Bocelli tries to croon his way through "Blue Christmas" while Reba McEntire operates in her Aretha Franklin gear. And why would anyone think Bocelli belongs in a sleigh with a playful trifle such as "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"?

"Sounds of the Season: The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection" (Big Machine)

Swift's charm is that she accurately expresses the dreams and yearnings of an adolescent mind from direct experience. She hasn't been the top-selling recording artist of the past couple years because she's a great interpretative singer.

As such, "Holiday Collection" doesn't play to her strengths. She's about 20 years too young for the gold-digger tease of "Santa Baby," and it's still beyond her to bring anything new or noteworthy to "White Christmas." The best tune in the set is a bouncy Swift original, "Christmas Must Be Something More," that wrestles with the meaning of the day through a series of what-if questions.

This is an inexpensive six-song EP sold through Target, but only devoted followers are likely to care.

"Christmas in the Heart" by Bob Dylan (Columbia)

The great irony of Dylan's recording career is that he's an enormously influential singer with minimal vocal talent. Aside from a few forgotten forays such as "Self Portrait," Dylan has rarely done many covers, relying sensibly instead on his legendary talents as a writer.

But "Christmas in the Heart" finds Dylan wheezing his way through familiar tunes such as "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Silver Bells" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." Producing under his occasional guise of Jack Frost, Dylan surrounds himself with '50s and '60s touches such as female backup groups and achieves a level of wretchedness rarely attained since the Barking Dogs' "Jingle Bells."

Perhaps, like the Barking Dogs, this was meant as a seasonal joke. If not, "Christmas in the Heart" is musical angina.

"Gold and Green" by Sugarland (Mercury)

Christmas music is evidently a passion of Kristian Bush, and that affection has helped him and partner Jennifer Nettles fashion what may be the year's most likable holiday disc.

The original tunes, which account for half of the songs on the album, have a distinct flair for the visual and emotional climate of the season. "City of Silver Dreams" evokes New York in December with a snowy Central Park and St. Patrick's Cathedral aglow with candles, while "Coming Home" is an original Christmas gospel tune rendered as a letter home to Mama, with Nettles referencing the group's first hit, "Baby Girl."

Even the covers occasionally dodge the obvious suspects with lesser-visited memories, such as the comic recitation of crimes and misdemeanors in "Nuttin' For Christmas." Bush even gets to sing lead on a couple of tunes. Altogether, it's a very warm and affable outing.

"If On a Winter's Night . . . " by Sting (UMG)

One of the most successful Christmas anthology series has been the "Very Special Christmas" series of benefit discs (Vol. 7 came out this week), and among the strong tracks that helped launch that series was Sting's atmospheric reading of "Gabriel's Message."

Appropriately, that song opens Sting's first full-blown seasonal collection, which blends English folk tunes, Christmas carols, lullabies and new material from the musician.

It's the most literate of the new holiday discs. "Cold Song" takes its lyrics from English poet John Dryden, and "Christmas at Sea" is based on a Robert Louis Stevenson poem about a mariner fighting a winter gale in the turbulent seas below the cliffs of his home village.

As he explains in the liner notes, Sting is an agnostic with a sincere respect and affection for the old carols that infuse "Winter's Night" with a chilly medieval beauty.

"Oh Blue Christmas" by A Fine Frenzy (Virgin)

A Fine Frenzy is the musical handle of singer-songwriter Alison Sudol, whose instincts are part pop-rock and part folkie. It's never easy to take songs that have been recorded hundreds of times and put your own mark on them, but Sudol largely pulls it off.

Her "Blue Christmas" goes back before Elvis' chesty blues to the song's original country roots. On "Winter Wonderland," she slows the tempo way down and delivers the lyric with a childlike innocence. There are also three exceptional originals: the haunting "Redribbon Foxes," the bouncy folk-pop of "Winter White" and the emotionally complex "Wish You Well."

MORE HOLIDAY CDS

"Christmas From the Heart" by David Archuleta (Jive). The "American Idol" finalist stays with mostly traditional carols.

"Night Castle" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Lava). First new music in five years from the massive Christmas touring machine is a non-holiday concept album on two CDs. (Trans-Siberian Orchestra will perform at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Bradley Center.)

"A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 7," various artists (A&M). Latest CD in the series includes Carrie Underwood, Miley Cyrus, Sean Kingston and Colbie Caillat, among others.

"A Family Christmas," various artists (Putumayo). An NPR-esque Christmas mix with the likes of Brave Combo, Leon Redbone, Maria Muldaur and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

"Glory in the Highest: Christmas Songs of Worship" by Chris Tomlin (Sparrow). Top Christian contemporary music artist alternates original worship songs with familiar carols.

"A Cherry Cherry Christmas" by Neil Diamond (Columbia). Several new cuts are added to cuts from Diamond's previous holiday albums.

"This Christmas" by Michael McDonald (Razor & Tie). Mostly a compilation of sides from his first two Christmas albums.

"Cosmic Christmas" by Eban Schletter (Oglio). A science fiction/fantasy Christmas.

"If Every Day Could Be Christmas" by Richie McDonald (Stroudavarious). Former Lonestar frontman introduces new tunes such as "Peterbilt Sleigh" and "Christmas Lights."

"Suckin' It for the Holidays" by Kathy Griffin (Twist). Despite the CD's title and Griffin's naughty elf costume on the cover, it's not really a holiday album but rather concert bits on fellow celebs such as Donald Trump, Justin Timberlake and Maya Angelou.

"Not So Silent Night" by REO Speedwagon (CMG). Veteran rockers rely on familiar pop tunes and carols.

"Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas," movie soundtrack (Denon).

"Handel's Messiah Rocks: A Joyful Noise," various artists (Sony Classics). Following in the chords of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, blending classics with prog rock.

"A Christmas Gift For You," various artists (Legacy). A reissue of one of rock's storied holiday albums, produced by Phil Spector.

"Every Day Is a Holiday" by Mary McBride (Bogan Records). First Christmas disc from roots-rocker often compared to Bonnie Raitt and Lucinda Williams.

"Merry Kidsmas" by the Song Trust (Giantslayer Records). A consortium of Nashville writers mixes new tunes with the likes of "Little Drummer Boy."

"A Small Town Christmas" by Simple Gifts with Billy McLaughlin (Proton Records). New project from Minneapolis guitarist and former Narada recording artist.

"The Irish Tenors Christmas" by Irish Tenors (Razor & Tie). Christmas for a PBS audience. (The Irish Tenors will perform at 8 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Riverside Theater, 116 W. Wisconsin Ave.)

- Dave Tianen

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Beerfest and the Potfest Movie

The web has come alive as readers search for information about “Potfest” a sequel to the Broken Lizard team’s 2006 cinematic ode to alcohol Beerfest.

Speculation was incited by the Beerfest movie itself which ended claiming that the sequel, Potfest, was just on the horizon. Since the film the creative team behind Beerfest indicated that this was simply a publicity tool used by the film to poke some fun at the audience.

Although the idea of a Potfest movie was originally a joke according to a member of the filming team, Kevin Heffernan, the massive amount of fan interest in the project have made Broken Lizard reconsider the projects viability.

But the project may have a twist fans won’t be expecting. In an interview granted to IGN Heffernan states that, “It [Potfest] will, of course, be a sequel to Beerfest. But we're thinking maybe we might make this one animated; an R-rated, animated comedy. You don't see many of those."

Beerfest itself was considered a box office success. Warner Bros. and Broken Lizard's goal for Beerfest was a $20-million dollar box office return and sources indicate that the film pulled a $19.2 million profit.

With a strong pot smoking fan base, which may now include Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, the promise of a positive return and the interest that the film has already managed to stir up; perhaps this project is a viable option after all. Still, as yet, nothing has been confirmed.

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Saints without Bush for Monday's game

The undefeated New Orleans Saints will be without running back Reggie Bush for Monday's game against the New England Patriots.

Bush will miss his second straight contest. He did not play last week against Tampa Bay because of a bruised right knee.

So far this season, Bush has rushed 55 times for 277 yards and five touchdowns. He has also caught 29 passes for 207 yards and a score.

The Saints will also be without cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter.

Posted on Mon, Nov. 30, 2009 07:29 PM

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Fentanyl and Fentanyl Lollipop Dangerous New Drug

A disturbing new trend in prescription drug abuse has been an increase in the pain-killer fentanyl. Fentanyl is being prescribed more frequently, as a new patch has been introduced that allows better access for docters and patients. Another way people are abusing fentanyl is by eating fentanyl lollipops, lollipops that have been medically created lollipops that contian fentanyl in them. Fentanyl is stronger than morphine, and therefore there is a strong tendancy to develope a dependancy on them. A woman was caught over the holiday weekend after stealing a large quantity of them from a nursing home, showing that there is more and more demand on the street.

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Bobby Bowden's Retirement Marks a Sad Day For Seminole Fans


After a dreadfully slow Monday night at my serving job in Cincinnati, I came home to check the UK basketball score only to notice a more important update.

Bobby Bowden is expected to retire Tuesday morning. Honestly, I think my heart skipped a beat while reading those dreadful words.

Bowden met Monday with school officials and was given two options. Either take a “program ambassador” role with decreased control or walk away from the game he dominated for years.

There’s no need to mention 2009’s stats. College football fans knew the end was near in Tallahassee after an FSU trustee called for Bowden’s job in the middle of the season.

As a long-time FSU fan, I knew the end was near; however, I didn’t expect or want it to conclude in such a disappointing way.

At one angle, Bobby Bowden deserved a better last season or at least another opportunity to improve on this tumultuous year. On the other side, Seminole fans are ready to take a step in a new direction.

If Bowden were to stay head coach in 2010, he should not be allowed to have any input on hiring a new defensive coordinator. Jimbo Fisher deserves complete responsibility to revamping one of the worst defenses in the NCAA in ‘09.

The Noles let up long play after long play throughout the season, while consistently finding themselves out of position, missing tackles, and producing little pressure on the quarterback. Not to mention that jump-up-in-the-air, waving-your-hands-around, looking-for-someone-else-to-blame thing whiney kids did when they were little.

To build on this lack of discipline, there seems to be no killer instinct that loomed over opposing offenses in the 90’s and some of this decade. Seminole linebackers used to pin their ears back and attack a ball-carrier. Nowadays, everybody on defense is back on their heels waiting to hit somebody; however quick players end up blowing right by them.

In Bowden’s defense, the offense finally looked promising this season, putting up yardage Nole fans saw circa Chris Rix. On the other hand, the defense was horrendous in nearly every game this season, including the third straight blowout loss against Florida that I turned off right before halftime.

Blame the defense on this season, but let’s look at the overall situation in Tallahassee. Under no circumstances, should there ever be four coaches, in the same program, with the title “head coach.” Not to mention, Fisher isn’t one of them.

As an athlete, who do you begin to take orders from when getting instruction?

Rick Trickett, who joined the staff the same year as Fisher, is the Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Line Coach.

FSU’s offensive line played great, organized football this year, which was not the case in recent years past. However, how does one explain why an offensive line coach should also carry an assistant head coaching title while the head-coach-in waiting only carries titles of Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach?

Chuck Amato and Mickey Andrews are Executive Head Coach and Associate Head Coach, respectively. Amato, who returned from North Carolina State the same year as Fisher arrived, is in charge of Linebackers.

Andrews, on the other hand, is tenured at FSU, well-respected by the Seminole Nation, and maybe the only coach who deserves a “head coach” title in his job description… maybe.

This season’s defensive woes can somewhat be blamed on the losses of Myron Rolle and experienced members from 2008. However, it was easily apparent that the defensive back field and linebackers simply didn’t know what they were responsible for.

There was more passion in finding blame in somebody else rather than focusing on coverage and making necessary tackles.

It’s possible that the fossil-aged coaches, who I strongly supported when put together in 2007, are just not getting the job done anymore.

Andrews announced his retirement midway through the season, while Bowden was left convinced that he had a say in his future and the future of the football program. Again, blame the entire situation for what finally unraveled this year.

It appears FSU’s “upper-office” is in shambles with Andrews retiring, Bowden expected to announce his retirement Tuesday, and the retirement of school president, and longtime friend of Bowden, T.K. Wetherell as soon as a replacement is named.

Bowden gave his life to the program and deserved the opportunity to go out on his own.

It’s important for the Seminoles to get one last bowl win for one of college football’s greatest members; if not for Bowden himself, at least for the simple fact that a losing season is at stake.

Bowden, while maybe not wanting to, is passing the torch to an already-proven coach in Fisher and allowing the once-proud program and its fans to move on.

With Bowden’s expected retirement, Fisher will now have the opportunity to rebuild the program exactly to his liking, including naming his own defensive coordinator.

It’s already obvious that Fisher and the rest of this coaching staff can recruit after achieving top-10 recruiting classes over the past few years. The athletes will always continue to come to Tallahassee; however, recruits will now have to knowledge of who their head coach will be throughout their college career.

Fisher has successfully brought back a dominating offense who is ranked 24th in the NCAA. He’s also helped develop quarterbacks Christian Ponder and E.J. Manuel, a promising freshman who took over the helm after Ponder suffered a separated shoulder against Clemson.

Not to say Seminole fans or college football fans in general, waited for the day Bowden announced his retirement, but it’s easy to at least know one person will now be in complete control of a much undisciplined FSU team.

For myself, as sad as it is to accept, I am happy, inside of course, that I hopefully won’t have to witness another season like 2009, one marred by a mediocre record, trustees stirring up feelings, and not knowing who is actually coaching the team

You’ll be missed Bobby.

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Cyber Monday 2009 deals, cybermonday deals, sales and discounts

Sunday, November 29, 2009

November 29: Cyber Monday 2009 deals, cybermonday deals, sales and discounts. Throngs flocked shops this Black Friday to lay their hands on cheap stuff like televisions, toys and computers rolled out by retail giants across the United States.

The National Retail Federation reported massive footfalls. Budget-conscious crowds were out on the streets to buy high-definition TVs, laptops, Zhu Zhu Pets robotic hamsters and winter coats – available at throw away price.

A Chicago-based research firm ShopperTrak RCT Corp issued a statement, saying that sales advanced 0.5 percent to $10.7 billion.


People turned up in great numbers at Wal-Mart Stores Inc looking for cheap $298 Hewlett-Packard laptop computers. The sales that started at 5 a.m. saw crowds pushing their ways in stores across the country. The biggest attraction at the US’s biggest electronics chain Buy Inc was $547.99 42-inch Samsung flat-panel TVs.

Despite the highest employment in 26 years due to global economic meltdown the sales turnout was amazing. Most of the retail shops across the country had bigger early-morning crowds than last year.

Chief Executive Officer Brian Dunn of Buy Inc was well impressed by the show. “The surprise news is that they are actually buying for themselves as well, due to pent-up demand and frugal fatigue,” Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst with NPD Group Inc. told a host of a national TV channel.

Some Amazon Cyber Monday deals
Garmin nuvi 260W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator - originally $229.99 / now $119.99 shipped

Archos 5 250GB Internet Media Tablet - originally $449.99 / now $199.99 shipped

Sennheiser RS 130 Wireless Surround Headphones - originally $140 / now $59.95 shipped

Dell Inspiron Mini Netbook with Integrated TV Tuner - originally $399.99 / now $299.99 shipped

Toshiba Satellite L505-S5993 TruBrite 15.6-Inch Grey/Black Laptop - originally $639.99 / $549.99 shipped

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10 reasons why ninjas PWN pirates (VIDEO)

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Surviving Christmas

(TV Land’s 10th annual Merrython on Sunday Dec. 13)
10 a.m. (FAM) “Snow” A North Pole toy distributor (Tom Cavanagh) rescues a reindeer.
10 a.m. (TVL) “Sanford and Son” Fred becomes a miserable scrooge.
10:30 a.m. (TVL) “All in the Family” No Christmas bonus for Archie.
Noon (FAM) “Snow 2 Brain Freeze” Santa (Tom Cavanagh) gets amnesia before Christmas.
Noon (HALL) “The Christmas Box” A businessman (Richard Thomas) helps a widow (Maureen O’Hara).
Noon (MAX) “Fred Claus” Santa bails his brother (Vince Vaughn) out of trouble.
1 p.m. (LIFE) “A Christmas Wedding” A bride-to-be (Sarah Paulson) is stranded.
1 p.m. (TVL) “Andy Griffith” Jail Christmas party.
2 p.m. (FAM) “A Carol Christmas” An trash TV host (Tori Spelling) changes her way.
2 p.m. (TVL) “Beverly Hillbillies” Clampetts fly home for Christmas.
2:30 p.m. (TVL) “Beverly Hillbillies” Clampetts’ West Virginia Christmas with Cousin Pearl.
3 p.m. (LIFE) “Christmas in Paradise” A widow (Charlotte Ross) and her kids meet a single father (Colin Ferguson) in Puerto Rico.
3 p.m. (TVL) “Beverly Hillbillies” Clampetts get expensive gifts from Mr. Drysdale.
3:30 p.m. (TVL) “Beverly Hillbillies” The Clampetts work at a Beverly Hills department store before Christmas.
4 p.m. (FAN) “Holiday in Handcuffs” A woman (Melissa Joan Hart) kidnaps a man (Mario Lopez) and pretends to be her boyfriend.
4 p.m. (HALL) “One Magic Christmas”An angel restores hope to a troubled woman (Mary Steenburgen).
4 p.m. (TVL) “Beverly Hillbillies” Christmas in Hooterville.
4:30 p.m. (TVL) “Beverly Hillbillies” Granny pursues Sam Drucker while spending Christmas in Hooterville.
5 p.m. (TVL) “Gunsmoke” Christmas with seven orphans.
5 p.m. (LIFE) “Will You Merry Me?” A Christian and his Jewish fiancee bring their families together for the holidays. With Wendie Malick, Cynthia Stevenson.
6 p.m. (FAM) “Santa Baby” A businesswoman (Jenny McCarthy) helps Santa.
6 p.m. (HALL) “The Christmas Card” A soldier meets a woman who sent cards to the troops.
6 p.m. (LMN) “The Christmas Hope” A grieving woman (Madeleine Stow) bonds with an orphaned girl.
6 p.m. (TVL) “Little House on the Prairie” Laura sells her horse to buy a Christmas gift for Caroline.
7 p.m. (LIFE) “An Accidental Christmas” Children scheme to reunite their parents (Cynthia Gibb, David Millbern).
7 p.m. (TVL) “Andy Griffith” Jail Christmas party
8 p.m. (Ch 64) “A Gospel Christmas” With Kenny Lattimore, Chante Moore, Sounds of Blackness and others.
8 p.m. (AMC) “White Christmas” Friends (Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye) plan a holiday show.
8 p.m. (FAM) “Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe” A former elf starts trouble for Santa and his daughter (Jenny McCarthy).
8 p.m. (HALL) “Christmas in Canaan” A father (Billy Ray Cyrus) urges his son to befriend a black schoolmate.
8 p.m. (TVL) “M*A*S*H” Hawkeye’s Christmas letter.
8:30 p.m. (TVL) “M*A*S*H” Father Mulcahy’s Christmas letter to his sister.
9 p.m. (Ch 64) “Ford Holiday River Parade” From San Antonio’s River Walk.
9 p.m. (LIFE) “A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride” A wedding planner (Joanna Garcia) objects to her mother’s upcoming marriage.
9 p.m. (USA) “Elf” An elf (Will Ferrell) searches for his family.
9 p.m. (TVL) “M*A*S*H” Winchester’s family Christmas tradition.
10 p.m. (Ch 9) “Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Prime-Time Special” Oprah Winfrey visits the Obamas.
10 p.m. (FAM) “Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe” A former elf starts trouble for Santa and his daughter (Jenny McCarthy).
10 p.m. (TVL) “Roseanne” Dan comes home for the holidays.
10:30 p.m. (TVL) Darlene comes home for Christmas.
10:45 p.m. (AMC) “White Christmas” Friends (Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye) plan a holiday show.
11 p.m. (TVL) The Conners tacky Christmas decorations.
MONDAY, DEC. 14

7 p.m. (FAM) “Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too” Pooh delivers wish lists to the North Pole.
7 p.m. (TOON) “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” Boris Karloff narrates the 1966 classic cartoon.
8 p.m. (Ch 9) “Jennifer Hudson: I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” With Michael Buble.
8 p.m. (AMC) “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” A Griswold (Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo) family Christmas.
8 p.m. (DISN) “The Ultimate Christmas Present” Two girls make it snow in Los Angeles.
8 p.m. (HALL) “The National Tree” A man (Andrew McCarthy) drives a Christmas tree to Washington DC.
8 p.m. (LMN) “A Town Without Christmas” A TV reporter (Patricia Heaton) looks for a child who wrote Santa.
9:30 p.m. (TOON) “Bugs Bunny’s Looney Christmas Tales” Animated.
10 p.m. (HALL) “A Christmas Visitor” A stranger appears at Christmas. With William Devane.
10:15 p.m. (AMC) “Santa Claus: The Movie” An elf (Dudley Moore) foils a toy maker’s scheme.
10:30 p.m. (TVL) “The Cosby Show” Elvin plays an elf at the hospital.
TUESDAY, DEC. 15

7 p.m. (FAM) “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & The Island of Misfit Toys” Rudolph saves Christmas again.
8 p.m. (HALL) “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” A student (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) heads home for Christmas.
8 p.m. (LMN) “Eve’s Christmas” A businesswoman (Elisa Donovan) wishes upon a Christmas Eve star.
9 p.m. (Ch 48) “Frontline: From Jesus to Christ, The First Christians” Concludes 9 p.m. Dec. 22.
9 p.m. (Ch 16) “A Renaissance Christmas” With Chicago’s Baroque Chorus and Brass.
9 p.m. (LIFE) “The Family Holiday” A con man (Dave Coulier) turns family man.
9 p.m. (USA) “Elf” An elf (Will Ferrell) searches for his family.
10 p.m. (HALL) “Meet the Santas” (2005) A couple (Steve Guttenberg, Crystal Bernard) marry on Christmas Eve.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 16

7 p.m. (FAM) “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” Disney version of “A Christmas Carol.”
7:30 p.m. (FAM) “Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too” Pooh delivers wish lists to the North Pole.
7:30 p.m. (TOON) “Ed, Edd ’n Eddy’s Jingle Jingle Jangle” Cartoon.
8 p.m. (Ch 9) “Prep & Landing” New animated special about Santa’s elves preparing for Christmas.
8 p.m. (HALL) “Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle” A widower’s twins love their new nanny (Doris Roberts).
8 p.m. (LMN) “Secret Santa” A cynical reporter (Jennie Garth) wants to expose Santa.
8 p.m. (TOON) “Billy & Mandy Save Christmas” Animated.
9 p.m. (Ch 48) “Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir” With Brian Stokes Mitchell.
9 p.m. (LIFE) “Christmas Child” A writer (William R. Moses) spends Christmas in a small Texas town.
10 p.m. (LMN) “Deck the Halls” A boy tries to set up his mother (Gabrielle Carteris) with Santa.
10 p.m. (TNT) “Surviving Christmas” A lonely rich man (Ben Affleck) returns home for Christmas.
THURSDAY, DEC. 17

8 p.m. (Ch 5) “Saturday Night Live Christmas 2009” Holiday sketches from past years.
7 p.m. (FAM) “Jack Frost” Animated. Jack Frost strikes a deal with Father Winter.
8 p.m. (FAM) “Jack Frost” A dead man (Michael Keaton) returns as a snowman.
8 p.m. (TCM) “Christmas in Connecticut” A writer (Barbara Stanwyck) arranges a fake family for herself.
9 p.m. (LIFE) “Home By Christmas” A divorced mother (Linda Hamilton) wants to reconnect with her daughter.
10 p.m. (Ch 54) “Michael McDonald: This Christmas” Holiday music.
10 p.m. (FAM) “Jingle All the Way” Dads (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad) fight for a Turbo Man toy.
10 p.m. (HALL) “All I Want for Christmas” A boy wants to find a mate for his widowed mother (Gail O’Grady).
10 p.m. (TCM) “Holiday Affair” A war widow (Janet Leigh) finds romance.
FRIDAY, DEC. 18

7 p.m. (DISN) “The Santa Clause” A divorced father (Tim Allen) becomes Santa.
7 p.m. (USA) “Elf” An elf (Will Ferrell) searches for his family.
8 p.m. (Ch 12) “Frosty the Snowman” Animated. Narrated by Jimmy Durante.
8 p.m. (AMC) “All I Want for Christmas”A brother and sister scheme to get their divorced parents back together.
8 p.m. (HALL) “Christmas in Canaan” A father (Billy Ray Cyrus) urges his son to befriend a black schoolmate.
8 p.m. (TNT) “The Nativity Story” Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) gives birth to Jesus.
8:30 p.m. (Ch 12) “Frosty Returns” Animated. Narrated by Jonathan Winters.
8:50 p.m. (DISN) “The Santa Clause 2” Santa (Tim Allen) needs a bride.
9 p.m. (LIFE) “An Accidental Christmas” Children scheme to reunite their parents (Cynthia Gibb, David Millbern).
10 p.m. (Ch 48) “Christmas with Luther: Night of Glory, Dawn of Peace” Music from Luther College.
10 p.m. (AMC) “All I Want for Christmas”A brother and sister scheme to get their divorced parents back together.
10 p.m. (HALL) “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” An uncle (Henry Winkler) tries to be a holiday matchmaker.
10 p.m. (TNT) “The Nativity Story” Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) gives birth to Jesus.
SATURDAY, DEC. 19

Noon (DISN) “The Santa Clause” A divorced father (Tim Allen) becomes Santa.
Noon (HALL) “The Note” An advice columnist (Genie Francis) travels cross-country to deliver a letter.
12:30 p.m. (FX) “Bernie Mac Show” The kids take in a stray dog at Christmas.
12:45 p.m. (TBS) “The Holiday” Two women (Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet) swap homes for Christmas.
1 p.m. (FX) “Bernie Mac Show” Bernie cancels Christmas.
1:30 p.m. (FX) “Malcolm in the Middle” Lois threatens to cancel Christmas.
2 p.m. (FX) “Malcolm in the Middle” Hal sells Christmas trees.
2 p.m. (HALL) HALL “Christmas in Canaan” A father (Billy Ray Cyrus) urges his son to befriend a black schoolmate.
2:30 p.m. (Ch 54) “Rick Steves’ European Christmas”
2:30 p.m. (FX) “That ’70s Show” Eric’s Christmas party.
3 p.m. (FX) “That ’70s Show” Jackie’s high school Christmas dance.
3 p.m. (LIFE) LIFE “Home for the Holidays” A woman (Sean Young) adopts her nieces and nephews.
4 p.m. (Ch 19) “Jingle All the Way” Dads (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad) fight for a Turbo Man toy.
4 p.m. (HALL) “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” An uncle (Henry Winkler) tries to be a holiday matchmaker.
4:30 p.m. (Ch 54) “Holiday Train Show With David Hartman.” From the New York Botanical Gardens.
5 p.m. (LIFE) “A Town Without Christmas” A TV reporter (Patricia Heaton) looks for a child who wrote Santa.
6 p.m. (Ch 19) “David Sheehan’s Holiday Movie Magic” Holiday movie reviews.
6 p.m. (FX) “Deck the Halls” Neighbors (Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick) clash over light displays.
6 p.m. (HALL) “A Season for Miracles” A woman (Carla Gugino) takes in her sister’s kids.
7 p.m. (DISN) “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” Halloween king Jack tries to spoil Christmas.
7 p.m. (LIFE) “The Christmas Shoes” An attorney (Rob Lowe) helps a boy buying shoes for his ill mother.
8 p.m. (Ch 5) “A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa” Kermit and the gang must deliver three letters to Santa.
8 p.m. (Ch 9) “The Santa Clause 2” Santa (Tim Allen) needs a bride.
8 p.m. (Ch 12) “Elf” An elf (Will Ferrell) searches for his family.
8 p.m. (FX) “Christmas With the Kranks” A couple (Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis) celebrate Christmas.
8 p.m. (HALL) “The Three Gifts” Three orphaned boys stay with a couple (Dean Cain, Jean Louisa Kelly) for the holidays.
9 p.m. (LIFE) “Thomas Kinkade’s Christmas Cottage” A young artist (Jared Padalecki) paints a mural of his hometown.
10 p.m. (HALL) “The Three Gifts” Three orphaned boys stay with a couple (Dean Cain, Jean Louisa Kelly) for the holidays.

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Tiger Woods mistress not Rachel Uchitel hires Feminist Lawyer Gloria Allred



n the latest news, Tiger Woods mistress not Rachel Uchitel hires Gloria Allred and leaves New York City. Just who Gloria Allred is deserves this special blog post but first the details.

Gloria Allred

Embattled nightclub executive Rachel Uchitel left her home in New York City' Meatpacking District (which strangely and I kid-you-not was the home of Alex, the character played by Glen Close in Fatal Attraction) at 5:45 AM only to be greeted by media representing TMZ.com and the New York Daily News. They peppered her with questions from "So you're seeing Gloria Allred", to "How do you feel about Tiger Wood's wife", and also "You know, you're pretty."


But who is Gloria Allred?

Allred's is a founding partner of Allred, Maroko & Goldberg, and a self-described "Feminist Lawyer" who built her career by taking up legal cases for seemingly defenseless women against male-dominated organizations. The legal battle that made her name was a lawsuit agaist the then-all-male Friars Club in Beverly Hills, where she became its first female member. Later she represented Paula Jones in the sexual harassment case she lost to Bill Clinton.

Allred is known as a very outspoken, combative, liberal counselor, who's a much sought-after media pundit, appearing regularly on shows like Larry King Live. In short, Allred's someone you hire when you feel you're rights as a woman or minority have been violated at a high-profile level.

By hiring Allred, Rachel Uchitel is sending a powerful message that she means business in defending her name in the Tiger Woods scandal. I can't help but think her ultimate target is The National Enquirer, but given that publications love for big spotlight battles to protect its stories, this could be a heck of a war.

I can clearly see Rachel Uchitel's concern because she works with a large number of high-profile high rollers and does not want her professional reputation compromised. Now regardless of what's written about her, only Rachel can really explain what's going on and in the process possibly eliminate any inaccuracies about her life. My bet is that's where Gloria Allred comes in.

Stay tuned.

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Delaney Starcher

Full Story And Original Content.Thnewspk.com”Delaney Starcher”:With sister Bailey left watching every move 5-year-old Delaney Starcher learns firsthand about fingerprints Saturday while touring the. With sister Bailey left watching every move 5-year-oldDelaney Starcher learns firsthand about fingerprints Saturday while touring the.
13 Jun 2009. Delaney Starcher covered by TrendHeadlines.com.13 Jun 2009. delaney starcher – Google Blog [...]

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Lakewood Police Shooting Manhunt Continues, Shooter May Be Injured

lakewood police shooting

The manhunt following the tragic Lakewood Police shooting on the outskirts of Seattle continues with police saying that the shooter may be injured.

Four officers, three men and a woman, were shot dead in the Forza Coffee Company store in Parkwood Sunday morning in what police are saying was an execution style shooting and not a robbery gone bad.

A new lead in the case came as police talked to witnesses and examined evidence, both of which point to one officer discharging several rounds before being killed. “There is evidence that a Lakewood Police officer fired off some shots, and we hope that he hit him,” a police spokesman said. “If he’s hit, that means that he’s injured somewhere with a gunshot wound.”

Police have issued an alert to local hospitals and medical centers. They also warn that the gunman may have traveled outside of the Seattle metro area to seek treatment in an attempt to stay off the radar.

The suspect is described as being African American, “scruffy,” between 5′7″ and 5′11″ and between the age of 20 and 30.

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Thanks Giving - Google

Thursday, November 26, 2009

google-doodle-logo-thanksgiving

As those creative rascals at Google love to do on special days and holidays, today’s Google doodle logo commemorates Thanksgiving in the United States, with beloved members of the Peanuts gang Snoopy and Woodstock forming the letter “L” in the Google title.

Here is the artwork Google used for its Thanksgiving logo in 2008:

google-doodle-logo-thanksgiving-2008

And in 2007:

google-doodle-logo-thanksgiving-2007

And in 2006:

google-doodle-logo-thanksgiving-2006

And in 2005:

google-doodle-logo-thanksgiving-2005

And in 2004:

google-doodle-logo-thanksgiving-2004

And in 2003:

google-doodle-logo-thanksgiving-2003

Happy Thanksgiving!

Previous posts about Google’s logo doodles:
Veterans Day Art Tribute: New Google Doodle Logo, Norman Rockwell Military Tributes
Google’s Doodles Honor Sesame Street’s 40th Anniversary… Happy Birthday, Big Bird! (video) - Updates
Mystery of 2 “L’s” on Google’s Homepage

About the author

Vicki McClure Davidson

I'm a conservative frugalist. My priorities: Watchdogging the government, making sure our tax dollars are spent wisely, living within our budgets (at home and in Washington, DC), and adhering to our Constitution and the conservative principles upon which it was developed by our founding fathers. Also, loving God, my family, and my country. Be wise, be frugal. God bless America!

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