True News Stories

World's Tallest Dog - The 7 Foot Gret Dane

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:52:00 +0000

GRASS VALLEY, Calif.—A canine resident of the Sierra Nevada town of Grass Valley is set to star in an hour-long British documentary about the "world's tallest dog."

Gibson is a harlequin great Dane who is nearly 3 1/2-feet tall at the shoulder and more than 7 feet tall when he stands on his hind legs.

He's been certified the world's tallest dog by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Gibson is set to be filmed by a crew from London's Firefly Film and Television Production on St. Patrick's Day in downtown Grass Valley.

His owner, Sandy Hall, says the crew is particularly interested in recording children's reactions.

Source: http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/040108kvuegibston-bkm.21afefff.html

The Awesome Samsung Instinct

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:50:00 +0000

Sprint (NYSE:S) and Samsung are looking to take a bite out of the Apple (NSDQ:AAPL) iPhone's reign as the touch-screen mobile device of choice with their announcement Tuesday of the Samsung Instinct, a full touch-screen device that Sprint claims supports the lightning fast speeds of Sprint's broadband network.

Coming in June, the Instinct is an EV-DO Rev. A device which Sprint said "speeds up the user experience like no other touch-screen phone," an obvious jab at Apple's iPhone, which dominates the touch-screen space.

"The iPhone set the bar for user interface," Sprint product commercialization director David Owens told Reuters. "We wanted to have an equivalent experience."

Sprint expects the Instinct will be its top seller this year in its bid to win back customers who ran to AT&T, the country's exclusive provider for the iPhone.

"Our goal is clearly that it's a large volume," Owens said.

According to Sprint, the Instinct features a touch-screen with localized tactile feedback, called haptics, which allow the virtual QWERTY keypad and other operations to become "a sensory experience." The mobile phone also features a Voice to Action button offering access to functions through voice activation, including call, text, picture message, traffic, movie, sports, news and search.

The device measures 2.17 inches by 4.57 inches by 0.49 inches and weighs less than 4.5 ounces, Sprint said. It features advanced functions like Visual Voicemail, which lets users listen to messages in their order of preference and manage them with a screen tap. It also offers support for corporate and consumer POP3 email accounts, multitasking that lets users play music in background mode while surfing the Internet, texting or playing games; a 2.0 megapixel camera with camcorder and expandable microSD memory of up to 8 Gb. Other features include stereo Bluetooth 2.0; an integrated world clock, SMS voice and text messaging with threaded text, phone as a modem, picture caller ID and Sprint Mobile Sync.

The Samsung Instinct marks Sprint's first EV-DO Rev. A consumer device. It offers Web browsing, business and personal email access, picture sharing, commercial-free radio and other features at broadband speeds. Additionally, the device opens up access to Sprint exclusive services and multimedia content including Sprint Navigation, a system powered by Telenav with GPS-enabled audio and visual turn-by-turn driving directions, one-click traffic rerouting and more than 10 million local listings; and live search, delivered through Microsoft, which offers access to director information, GPS-enabled directions, interactive maps and one-touch click-to-call access.

The Instinct also boasts entertainment features like Sprint TV, which offers live and on-demand programming; Sprint Exclusive Entertainment, a made-for-mobile sports and entertainment video programming network; and Sprint Music Store, which lets users browse and wirelessly download full songs directly to the device for $0.99 each.

Lastly, the device offers Pocket Express, which gives up-to-date information on sports, weather, news, movie times and other customized options based on the user's zip code.

According to Sprint, the majority of its mobile broadband network has been upgraded to EV-DO Rev. A technology, allowing the Samsung Instinct to offer "blazing fast" speeds. Currently, Sprint's mobile broadband network reaches more than 242 million people in 15,325 cities and touches 1,452 airports.

With the EV-DO Rev. A network, peak download data rates can reach 3.1 Mbps and peak upload rates can hit 1.8 Mbps. Average download speeds on EV-DO Rev. A can hit 600 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps and average uplink speeds between 350 Kbps and 500 Kbps.

"Instinct brings customers what they want with the immediacy they want," said Sprint senior vice president of product development and chief marketing officer John Garcia in a statement. "Every decision during the development process focused on simplifying the user experience. The end result is a great-looking phone that makes the value of Sprint's fast NOW Network come to live, but most importantly, it is fun and easy to use."

Along with its multimedia capabilities, Samsung's Instinct has three dedicated keys -- phone, back and home -- on the lower portion of the handset to ease operation and navigation. The phone key takes the user back to voice calling and features such as speed dial, visual voicemail, contact and the dial pad, while the back key lets the user take a step back. The home key offers access to the four main function menus on the user interface: favorites, main, fun and Web.

The favorites icon gives one-touch access the most used features, allowing customization and personalization. Favorites can include Web sites, TV channels, text messaging and more. The main function offers access to applications like messaging, voicemail, GPS navigation and more. Fun takes users to their music, TV, photos, games and more. And the Web tab accesses the Internet and all things Web-related like weather and news.

"Samsung designed the Instinct after spending years developing innovative touch-screen technology," said Samsung Mobile chief marketing officer Bill Ogle. "What really sets the Instinct apart is the ability to access users' favorite features with just one touch of the device. The three navigation keys that Samsung positioned at the bottom of the Instinct are instrumental in making the user experience quick and easy."

While pricing of the Samsung Instinct has not yet been determined, Sprint said it would cost less than $300. The cheapest iPhone model currently costs $399, while the iPhone model with additional storage reaches just under $500. Sprint said the device will require activation on a Sprint Everything pricing plan, which offers 450 voice minutes and unlimited data for $69 and unlimited voice and data for $99.

Current Analysis analyst Avi Greengart told Reuters the device alone can't won't necessarily save Sprint, but offering the Instinct with unlimited data plans could be a silver lining.

"Everyone's going to offer you something that looks like an iPhone," he said. "Here's something that also offers you a lot of cool things to do with it at a flat rate."

The Instinct comes with a 2 Gb microSD card that holds roughly 2,000 songs from the Sprint Music Store; two standard 1,000 mAmp batteries that offer up to 5.75 hours of continuous talk time each; a battery charging sleeve; a travel charger; a USB cable; 3.5 mm headphones with a built-in microphone; and a leather case with a stylus.

Source: http://www.crn.com/networking/207001104

Is The Legend Of Zelda Becoming A Movie?

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:48:00 +0000

GN is reporting that a Legend of Zelda movie is in production and will be released on April 1st 2009.

The fantasy adaptation of one of the great properties in gaming history is being written and directed by newcomer Sam Balcomb. Link is played by JR Killigrew, Camille C. Brown portrays Princess Zelda, and Gregory Lee Kenyon stars as Ganondorf. No mention of who will be playing Navi, we'd like to suggest Richard Simmons.

Check out the trailer!

In related news, did you get so excited by the Zelda movie that you forgot what day it was for second? April fools, biotch!

Source: http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/684102/Legend_of_Zelda_Movie_On_The_Way.html

Beckwith Syndrome

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:46:00 +0000

It's 6 a.m. when Clifford Weaver flips on the overhead light in his son's bedroom.

Ryan is still covered by his green and black panda bear bedspread, but he is awake and looks his father in the eye.

Clifford runs down a checklist with Ryan of the activities his son will do that day.

"School, then what?" Clifford asks. "What comes after school?"

"School," Ryan replies, his big hazel eyes peeking out from the covers.

"Come on, talk to me," Clifford prods.

Clifford will tell Ryan each activity, and Ryan will repeat it.

"Wal-Mart," Clifford says, signaling Ryan's afternoon trip to the store, where he'll be able to buy a small toy and coloring book.

"Wal-Mart," Ryan repeats quickly.

"Burger, fries," Clifford says, referring to the nearby McDonald's where Ryan will have a Happy Meal.

"Burger, fries," Ryan says with excitement.

"Come on buddy, you need to get ready," his mother Abby shouts from the kitchen, inside the Lodi family's modest East Oak Street home. "It's time for school buddy, you need to get ready."

Ryan, their darling son, is 6 foot 7 inches, 314 pounds and 22 years old.

He has a severe form of autism and is mentally retarded.

He's among hundreds of thousands of other young people in America with developmental disabilities — mental or physical disorders that can cripple one's chances of living an independent life.

Source: http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2008/03/23/news/2_ryan_080322.txt

Green For All

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:44:00 +0000

Since we reported on the idea in last year’s Earth Day issue, “green collar” jobs, have generated quite the buzz. After cycling through the mainstream media and the blogosphere, the term is now common parlance among business leaders and community organizers who want to bring about a New Green Deal. It even got some play during the presidential campaign, with contenders on both sides of the aisle citing it as a way to end dependency on foreign oil, protect natural resources and reduce carbon emissions.

Green for All, a new advocacy group out of Oakland, CA, is the organization driving the discussion. According to director and environmental visionary Van Jones (author of last Earth Day’s cover story), green collar workers are the labor force of the future — they’ll be the ones weatherizing buildings, installing solar panels, servicing electric vehicles and building green rooftops. They’ll be the local union members getting livable wages in positions that can’t be outsourced to India. And if Green for All succeeds, this first generation of workers will come from today’s impoverished inner cities. Their message is that the legacy of American inequality can be reversed through environmental innovation. “The green economy will simultaneously address our economic, ecological and moral crises,” said Jones at a recent conference of green builders.

While serving as director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Jones, along with a coalition of groups including the A pollo Alliance and the Center for American Progress, lobbied congress and the Oakland City Council to establish a green jobs corps. Their efforts paid off. Last summer’s massive federal energy bill included the Green Jobs Act providing $125 million to train veterans, formerly incarcerated workers, at-risk youth and the urban poor for clean-tech occupations. Now Jones and his new organization need to hold Washington to its promise. Field director Jeremy Hays said that the Green Jobs Act has yet to be cemented into the 2009 federal budget. “We’re going to keep on top of them until congress gives us a clear signal of an actual allocation.”

But federal procrastination hasn’t deterred the Green for All vision. Now that one act has passed, they’re pressing lawmakers to fund another $1 billion in national green jobs training by 2012 that will bring 250,000 workers out of poverty and boost green industries. In preparation, they’re building a national network of green entrepreneurs, educators, union workers and government officials who are sharing best practices and getting technical assistance for the job training programs.

Since opening in March, Green for All has been responding to a deluge of interest. “One minute we plugged in the fax machine,” said Hays, “and the next minute we’re standing in a pile of messages from community leaders and activists all wanting to work with us.”

Early this month, Green for All is putting on “ The Dream Reborn,” a conference in Memphis commemorating the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s assassination. One of the conference’s goals is to facilitate partnerships between labor, activists and communities of color. “The green economy is a complicated puzzle,” remarked Hays. “Some people are banging away on job creation strategies and others are doing training programs, so we want to develop ways for people to talk to each other and create a community of practice that brings the green economy to the next level.”

When the federal funds become available next year, Green for All will help manage a competitive grant process to determine allocations to various training programs. To stay informed and find out how you can get involved, visit greenforall.org .

Source: http://commongroundmag.com/2008/04/oor_5_0804.html

Jay Leno's Gayest Look Comment

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:42:00 +0000

I don't watch much television, especially late-night shows. Conan, Letterman, the whole bunch - I just don't find them funny. But worse than all the others, in my mind, is Jay Leno. Though I shiver at the thought, I could sit through a Fall Out Boy concert in its entirety before I could do the same for the Tonight Show. To top it off, Leno is so lacking in wit that his only apparent back-up is bigotry.

On March 20, Ryan Phillippe stopped by the set of the Tonight Show to promote his new film, "Stop-Loss." Leno's initial discussion with the actor revolved around earlier portions of his career, including his stint on the soap opera "One Life to Live" as Billy Douglas, the first gay teen character on television. After inquiring whether or not Phillippe's mother was proud of him when he got the role, I guess Jay just couldn't help himself from proceeding with what he thought was comedic gold. He asked Phillippe to give camera two his "gayest look," pretending it was his gay lover Billy Bob just having ridden in shirtless from Wyoming.

Oh, Jay! Those Brokeback Mountain jokes were so hilarious the first time around, why not reuse them!

What I'm dying to know at this point is what exactly does Mr. Leno consider a "gay face"? A male one? An "effeminate" one? One covered in bruises due to hate-motivated violence, as Jeff Whitty (librettist for "Avenue Q," among other things) pointed out on his personal Web site? And while many in the gay and ally communities are in an uproar, what will the network do about it?

My guess is probably nothing. But frankly, if ABC can refuse to renew Isaiah Washington's contract for an incident of prejudice that occurred on the set of Gray's Anatomy, then NBC needs to get their act together.

The lack of public knowledge already says something to me. When Washington called fellow cast member T.R. Knight a "faggot," it exploded in the media, and Washington didn't do himself any favors with his statements that followed regarding what had happened. It has been over a week since Leno's stunt, and I did not even hear about it from someone until this past weekend, completely by chance.

Incidents like this are exactly the kind of heteronormative reinforcement that we as a general public so often let slide. Though he appeared visibly uncomfortable and threatened (though somewhat jokingly) to leave the set, Ryan Phillippe remained to finish the rest of his interview. What we needed him to do was walk offstage. I hope he at least makes good on his comment that that might have been his last visit to the Tonight Show.

There are plenty of people out there who will think I take this too seriously, but if we all just laugh it off, we become just as complicit in the ongoing oppression of LGBTQ individuals and their rights. The late-night television hosts are the cream of the crop when it comes to people with privilege in this country - old, white American males who can seemingly make disgusting displays of bigotry into humorous monologues.

Jay Leno has about as much right to demand to see anyone's "gayest look" as he does to relegate someone as talented as Kevin Eubanks to the role of a "token black guy who I require to laugh in response to the worthless drivel I spout".

Some might argue that humor is what brings the public's attention to sensitive social issues like these. Be real, folks: There is a huge difference between satire and plain old humor (neither of which Jay Leno exhibits successfully). Where satire proves a point through its disconcerting moments, garden-variety humor encourages amusement at the expense of someone else. Even people present in the audience that night who might have found themselves laughing uncomfortably at Leno's pressing request were still laughing, not thinking.

The fact that a mainstream entertainment source finds it acceptable to contribute so wholeheartedly to the ongoing intolerance of the LGBTQ community is my justification for watching as little television as I do. Allowing Leno to strengthen societal inequality without reprimand because "it's just a joke" is exactly how prejudiced attitudes and heterosexism get transmitted to future generations. So, Jay, consider my columnist photo my "gayest look" - and assume that like all the other photos on mygayestlook.com, you're getting the bird as my final word.

Source: http://media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736/news/2008/04/02/OpinionColumns/Lenos.gayest.Look.Joke.Not.Funny-3297046.shtml

Ha Ha! Bush Was Booed At A Ballgame!

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:02:00 +0000

So any time that President Bush leaves the White House, he takes what’s called the press pool with him. It’s a handful of reporters and photographers from various types of media — one newspaper reporter, a couple of wire reporters, one TV network, etc. In the case of newspaper reporters, the job of the pool reporter is to capture every detail that he or she sees and report it back to all other reporters who cover the White House, and they’re then free to use it in their stories.

Once a month, I have pool duty, and I had it Sunday. Weekend pool duty usually means you have to be at the White House very early to caravan out into the woods so Bush can ride his bike around out of your sight. Such was the case Sunday morning, and here was the first of the day’s pool reports that I filed:

“Pool report 1, 3-30-08

President left the White House in motorcade at about 8 am for biking at Secret Service training facility near Beltsville, Md. He was joined by Secret Service agents and, possibly, unidentified guests.

Pool did not see him, but did enjoy a Godfather marathon on AMC while we waited.

Arrived back at White House shortly after 10, with a lid until 5:50.”

Later Sunday night, Bush headed to Nationals Park for the local baseball team’s season opener against the Braves. It was also the first regular-season game at the new stadium. This was a better-than-average pool assignment. (Pool duty, incidentally, is doled out alphabetically each month, so as far as I know, the White House does not choose reporters based on which events are coming up on the schedule).

Here’s my pool report from the game:

“Pool report 2, 3-30-08

Potus (President of the United States) and motorcade arrived at Nationals Park about 7 pm. He disappeared for more than an hour for clubhouse visits.

After both the Braves and Nationals were introduced on the field (Nats’ starters came in from outfield), and after Denyce Graves sang the national anthem, the two teams cleared the field. Nationals manager Manny Acta, 3B Ryan Zimmerman and owner Ted Lerner came back on. Then Bush emerged from the Nationals’ dugout to throw the first pitch. He wore a red Nationals jacket and dark slacks.

It seemed there were more cheers than boos, but not by much. He walked quickly to the mound and almost immediately, with a high delivery, threw a high fastball that would have been a ball to anyone other than Yao Ming. Acta rose to catch it, manager and president quickly shook hands and Bush was waving to the crowd as he walked back into the dugout. The crowd reaction after the pitch was decidedly mixed. Bush, back in the dugout, gave the ball to team President Stan Kasten and he went back up the tunnel. Bush smiled throughout, despite the boos.

We’re told Potus is watching the game from the owner’s box and will do ESPN commentary in the third inning. It is now bottom of first and pool is watching from what appears to be a press conference room.”

We left the game in the fifth and ended up back at the White House for the night.

My description of the crowd reaction is catching some criticism on the blogs, based on what people heard at the game or on television. You can watch for yourself on YouTube. All I can say is that I reported what I heard, which has been backed up by people at the game — they announced Bush, there was a heavy amount of cheering initially, then the booing kicked in, he threw the pitch, and there was a continued mixed reaction afterward. I was right behind home plate on the field, which I think was a good place to gauge the stadium-wide reaction. But based on where you were sitting or where the ESPN microphones were, you might have heard something different. I think I got it right, but I’ll admit it’s more an art than a science. The booing certainly intensified after the pitch.

For you wrestling fans out there, think of a typical John Cena reaction.

Source: http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2008/03/31/pool_duty_at_the_new_stadium.html

Women Love Yahoo! Shine

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:00:00 +0000

Yahoo (NSDQ:YHOO) is taking aim at the distinct contents needs and buying power of woman with a new Website called Shine.

Women in the male dominated technology business said there is a real need for Web content that speaks directly to women. They said Websites like Shine and Everything Channel's Women in the Channel are necessary to educate young girls to compete in corporate America.

"This is great," said Laura Steward, CEO of Guardian Angel Computer Services, a Norwalk Conn. Solution provider. "A lot of younger woman just coming into their own are deciding what they want to do with their lives and careers and many still are hesitant about technology. The schools and families are still not focusing on that. I was very fortunate my parents taught me whatever I wanted to do I just could go out and do it."

"It is these types of new Websites that encourage women to go out and build a career," said Steward. "There is still a lot of focus on the woman being the caregiver only. The pretty face if you will."

Steward said it is critical that young girls understand it is not just about being pretty. "What Websites like Shine and Women in The Channel do is really put the emphasis on the whole package,"she said. "It's not about just your looks. It is really about your intelligence, your commitment, your education and your drive. If you talk to any woman CEO who are really successful they will tell you they got support from mentors, family and friends along the way."

Yahoo said a "new editorial team will develop original stories on a daily basis, and hand pick the best user blog posts to feature prominently on the site." The Web portal provider said Yahoo Shine creates a single destination for the approximately 40 million women between the ages of 25 and 54 who already come to Yahoo! each month, making it what they called "a more relevant starting point for this audience."

The new Website will feature nine categories "ranging from Fashion & Beauty to Parenting, and will feature content from many of the most popular lifestyles publishers, including Conde Nast Publications and Hearst Corporation."

Steward said it is particularly important that the Web offerings deal with women juggling career and family or even career and their role as caregivers.

Steward herself is dealing with that very issue as she opened an office in Melbourne, Fla. to be closer to her aging parents. Last week, her 79-year-old Dad, Edward, who has Parkinson's disease, blacked out. Steward was there to help her 78-year-old Mom through the ordeal. "He almost died," she said. "It was frightening. I don't know what would have happened if I wasn't here. My Dad is in a rehabilitation center now."

Steward started Guardian Angel Computer Services 14 years ago after an eight-year-career as an engineer at Pitney Bowes. Steward received a severance package with medical benefits from Pitney Bowes that provided her with the ability to start Guardian Angel Computer Services.

"That was a huge decision," she said of her decision to start the business. "And at the same time I was going through a divorce. I took one step at a time and looked at it one hour at a time. I looked at it as I was starting a new life and what did I want that new life to be?"

Steward said she hopes Shine addresses how woman think differently than men. "Understanding how woman work is critical," she said. "We work differently. Woman are extreme multitaskers. Because of this the way we do business is very different. We leap ahead five or ten steps."

Source: http://www.crn.com/it-channel/207000736

April Fools Day Pranks

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:58:00 +0000

Does April Fools' Day (or the mere thought of it) strike fear in your heart? Do memories of walking into your aluminum foil-covered office still haunt you at the end of every March?

Or, do you spend 364 days of the year plotting the mother of all pranks against your co-workers?

Whichever side you fall on, 32 percent of workers say they have either initiated or been on the receiving end of an April Fools' Day prank at work, according to CareerBuilder.com's annual April Fools' Day survey.

"Pranking at work can be risky business," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder.com.

"When determining whether a prank is a good idea on April Fools' Day, employees should consider the worst case scenario of their joke. Will his or her joke simply result in a laugh from fellow co-workers? Or could anybody, including you, lose their job?"

While faking a resignation, gluing office supplies to the desk and covering someone's cube in aluminum foil are among the most common office pranks, here are 10 of the most memorable pranks from this year's survey:

1. Placed a pair of pants and shoes inside the only toilet stall in a men's room to make it appear someone was using the stall. It sat there for hours until someone called security to check if the person had died.

2. Sent a fake love note to a co-worker from another co-worker.

3. All the women in office individually spoke to the president, confiding that she is pregnant. By noon, he 'knew' that all of his female workers were pregnant and he could not tell anyone because each asked for confidentially.

4. Called the electric company, used a co-worker's name and told them he was moving so the electricity got turned off at the co-worker's house.

5. Filled the vending soda machine with cans of beer.

6. Rigged the boss' chair to drop suddenly during a staff meeting.

7. Placed a sign on the restroom door that read, "The company ran out of toilet tissue; please use your own resources."

8. Paged a co-worker over the loud speaker claiming the CEO was looking for him. The worker went into the CEOs office and the CEO didn't know who he was or why he was there.

9. Shrink-wrapped everything in a co-worker's cubicle.

10. Put a 'house for sale' ad in the newspaper regarding a co-worker's home.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/03/31/fool.pranks.work/?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail

Aloha Airlines Closing Down

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:57:00 +0000

HONOLULU — Aloha Airlines said Sunday it will halt all passenger service after Monday, signaling the end of an airline that has served Hawaii for more than 60 years.

Aloha, which filed for bankruptcy for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 20, was a casualty of fierce competition and rising fuel prices. The airline said it will stop taking reservations for flights after Monday.

"We simply ran out of time to find a qualified buyer or secure continued financing for our passenger business," said Aloha President David Banmiller in a statement. "We had no choice but to take this action."

Aloha has suffered since Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group Inc. launched a new interisland carrier called go! airlines in 2006, triggering a local airfare war.

In January, go! reported a $20 million operating loss in its first 16 months of operations. Meanwhile, Aloha and Hawaiian Airlines — the other major interisland carrier — reported combined losses of nearly $65 million since go! began operating.

Aloha's bankruptcy filing said the airline was unable to generate sufficient revenue due to what it called "predatory pricing" by go! Banmiller didn't mention go! by name in his statement, but did blame the company's demise on rival companies.

"Unfortunately, unfair competition has succeeded in driving us out of business," he said.

The company's website, http://www.alohaairlines.com, also announced the end of service.

Rising fuel prices, which have forced other airlines to raise fares and look for ways to cut expenses, also made it difficult for Aloha to operate. Aloha, the second-largest Hawaii carrier, has operated a fleet of 26 Boeing 737s to serve five airports statewide and six mainland U.S. destinations.

Aloha Airgroup Inc. was forced to file for Chapter 11 protection just over two years after it emerged from a previous trip through bankruptcy court.

Aloha said tickets for flights after Monday will not be honored. It said it is working to have UAL Inc.'s United Airlines accommodate passengers with tickets for Aloha's mainland to Hawaii flights. It hopes to seat those with interisland tickets on Hawaiian Airlines Inc.

Aloha has canceled Monday flights from Hawaii to the West Coast and between several cities in California and Nevada. Its last day for interisland travel will be Monday.

Aloha advised passengers who don't want to fly another airline and who want a refund to contact their travel agents or credit card companies. Those who paid by cash or check may file a claim in bankruptcy court.

Hawaiian Airlines said it would add capacity and take all the Aloha passengers it can on standby free, but only for four days, through April 3

"Customers will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis based on available seats 15 minutes prior to each scheduled departure," the airline said.

The shutdown will affect about 1,900 employees. The company said air cargo services are to continue.

A Seattle company on Thursday offered to buy Aloha's cargo operations for an undisclosed amount. But Saltchuk Resources Inc. said it wasn't interested in taking over Aloha's passenger business.

Aloha Airlines was founded in 1946.

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-03-31-aloha-halts_N.htm

Yay! Cesar Chaves Day

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:56:00 +0000

March 31 throughout the state of California is Cesar Chavez Day. The state holiday honors the life and work of the former Latino labor leader.

All state offices, community colleges, courts and libraries are closed.Cesar Chavez helped found the United Farm Workers Union and would have been 81 years old on Monday.

He is credited with helping create a stronger farm workers union built from former Latino and Filipino unions in 1966.The UFW and preceding farm worker unions helped farm workers who were working under inhumane conditions obtain better wages and benefits and fight the perils of pesticide dangers.

Chavez also helped the farm workers movement become one of nonviolence, having fasted more than once. He also led many strikes, boycotts and marches over at least three decades.

Source: http://www.turnto23.com/news/15751698/detail.html

Brooklyn Decker Nabs Andy Roddick

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:55:00 +0000

Andy Roddick is engaged to swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker, according to a statement on his official website.

“We are thrilled to announce that Andy and Brooklyn Decker are engaged to be married,” the statement read.

The tennis player, 25, proposed to 20-year-old Decker — a model who has appeared in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition — in early March.

“The couple wanted to tell their family and close friends first but good news travels fast,” according to the statement. “By the time Andy arrived in Miami for the Sony Ericsson Open, the tournament was bustling with the news.”

The two — who met in NYC last year — have yet to set a date.

“With their hectic travel schedules, Andy and Brooklyn plan to enjoy their engagement,” the statement read.

Source: http://www.showbizspy.com/2008/03/31/andy-roddick-engaged-to-swimsuit-model-brooklyn-decker/

Cherry Blossom Festival - DC

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 09:46:00 +0000

Riddle this one.

What do foot racers from Bedrock, blush flapjacks and a lawn mower with a V-twin engine have in common?

Here's a hint: Dogs on a catwalk.

Easy, right?

Of course. These attractions, other ones and thousands of visitors - all poured into a big ol' pink pot, in essence - made up the first Saturday of the 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival, Macon's baby.

The 26th annual f�te, which came to be in 1983 in honor of the local Yoshino cherry tree, emerged this weekend in trademark fashion.

From morning to night, Third Street Park to Macon Downtown Airport in east Macon, kids and grownups displayed their city pride in one unified way. Embracing the color pink.

It started at the breakfast table.

For hundreds of people Saturday morning at Central City Park, the smells of sausage, buttery pancakes and maple syrup filled the air.

"When I told my grandson that it was Cherry Blossom time, he said, 'Oh goody, let's go have pink pancakes,' " Sandy McDonell of Macon said.

Inside a tent at the park, Macon-Bibb County firefighters hosted the Pink Pancake Breakfast, a festival favorite featuring, well, pink pancakes - all you could eat for $5.

The rare food item drew in McDonell, her daughter Jennie Floyd, and her two grandsons Hayden, 5, and Bryce, 7, all of Forsyth.

Randall and Linda Rozier of Warner Robins also brought their grandson, Trent Brown, who celebrated his second birthday Saturday starting with the event.

"We've been coming to Cherry Blossom for about 25 years and for 10 of those to the breakfast. We wouldn't miss it," Randall Rozier said.

Interim Fire Chief Marvin Riggins said he expected to feed at least 1,000 people at the breakfast. Firefighters will be back next Saturday for a second serving. All proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

"It's a great event for a good cause and we have many volunteers from both the department as well as our corporate sponsor, Kroger." Riggins said.

All around Central City Park, children soaked up Kids Cherry Dazzle events that included face painting, magic acts and poodle coloring. (Think festival mascot Petals.)

If one followed the sound of "tap-tap-tap," it led to dozens of apprentice carpenters building bird houses, sports racks or sailboats. Home Depot sponsored the set-up, and all the kids received an orange apron and a building kit of their choice.

Seven-year-old Brent Rice was building a birdhouse with his father, Michael Rice of Duluth.

The elder Rice said it was the first time they made the 100-mile trip to attend the Cherry Blossom Festival events.

"It's a great time for families" he said.

The FURever Friends Humane Society Pet Fashion show, also at Central City Park, truly was something.

Fashion-forward pets from all over Middle Georgia competed for nods in the "Best Dressed," "Prettiest in Pink," "Pet/Owner Look Alike," "Most Unusual" and "Best Trick" categories.

And strut their stuff, these pets did.

There were dogs, lots of dogs. There was a duck, a goat and a lobster, which turned out to be a wiener dog in a lobster costume.

One dachshund wore a hula skirt and another had on a pink boa. Poodles in panties and bassets in britches and skirts.

To be expected, there was lots of pink, but also red and plaids that coordinated with colored legs, backs, toenails and hoofs.

Saturday afternoon near Cherry, Poplar and Third streets, screaming fans, teams of racers and two makeshift tracks transformed the downtown quad into Macon's very own Indy 500.

Cheering on competitors in the festival's annual Bed Race, Miss Cherry Blossom Emily Alston said this year's bed designs were some of the best she'd seen since she started participating in the festival at age 5.

"Very original," Alston, 18, a senior at Mount de Sales Academy, said. "I loved that Flintstones bed that just came in."

Now, the beds weren't really beds, or at least not the kind you sleep in.

The beds were more like mobile crates, designed with a theme and powered by runners, who from the rear, pushed the vessels down about a block.

The goal? Get to the finish line fast.

Of the 10 teams, a group called the Bud Light Bandits placed first with a time of 21 seconds. The average time was about 30 seconds.

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation sponsored a bed that resembled a pink Cadillac. The Children's Hospital had one that looked like a race car and honored Kristina Venable, a teenage cystic fibrosis patient. Those two beds were the judge's favorites.

Elberta Health Care in Warner Robins took home a prize for having the most original bed, which team members modeled after an old covered wagon.

"I thought the choices were awesome, and I really like that people were racing for a cause this year, which was new," said Stacey Campbell, the festival's marketing director.

Lindy Clay of Macon said she finally rounded up co-workers and friends from the gym to form her team of five, the Bedrock Racers.

"Every year, we'd been wanting to get in the bed and every year we'd failed to do so," she said. "Our bed took about three weeks to make, and it's made of tables, pallets, just about anything from wood, you name it."

Judges thought the Bedrock Racers, who jetted down Cherry Street in faux animal hides a la Barney Rubble, the funniest of all the groups.

"How's that for a first try?" Clay said.

An hour later, onlookers cheered on sportsmen competing in a lawn mower race around Third Street Park. The event is new to the Cherry Blossom Festival. It features lawn mowers that have been jazzed up by stronger engines and other upgrades.

Eight racers, most from the Dixie Lawn Mowers Racing Association from Cochran, rode the machines at about 60 mph, competing for a $500 prize that, in the end, was donated to the nonprofit group.

Drivers included Mark Bratcher, who once was fifth in nation in his class of lawn mower racers.

Gil LeGuin, the association's president, said racers usually compete on dirt tracks and drive as fast as 100 mph.

"But racing on the street is less forgiving," he said. "You do a lot more sliding and spinning in the dirt, but it hurts a lot less if you fall."

Mowers malfunctioned Saturday and a minor collision happened. None of the athletes got hurt, however.

There were airplanes all over the Macon Downtown Airport on Saturday.

An Edge 540, a DayJet Eclipse and several other aircraft whizzed through the sky with pilots who demonstrated unique hand motioning and coordinated precise diamond formations. Two skydivers twirled hundreds of feet to the ground, landing smoothly on both feet, no problem.

Manish Patel and his family recently moved to Warner Robins from Atlanta.

"My son and I love watching airshows on TV," Patel said. "He wants to be in the Army or the Air Force. This is our first time seeing one live."

Patel came Saturday with his 11-year-old son Archid, his father and his uncle, both from England.

"Yes, they came only for the Cherry Blossom Festival," he said. "They wanted to see what it was all about."

Because of rain and winds Saturday evening, some events were canceled, including a picnic and concert on Coleman Hill and the hot air balloon lift at the airfield

The highlight of today's events is the festival parade at 3 p.m. on Mulberry and Cherry streets.

Richard Cupri, of western Kentucky, will feature his model F117 Stealth bomber in the parade. Actually, Braxton Wise, the 7-year-old grandson of a festival employee, will drive the version - which is a third of the size of the original 63-foot bomber plane - through downtown.

"Here's my theory," Cupri said jokingly. "If a 24-year-old could fly into Germany in World War II, a 7-year-old can drive an airplane at 5 miles an hour in a parade."

Telegraph correspondent Jackie Docauer contributed information to this report.

To contact writer Ashley Tusan Joyner, call 744-4347.

Source: http://www.macon.com/198/story/308186.html

Kids Choice Awards - Miley Cyrus Kills It!

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 09:44:00 +0000

By Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Many stars vied for honors at the Kids Choice Awards on Saturday, but only two mattered to the thousands of screaming children on hand.

Miley Cyrus, the 15-year-old heroine of the Disney Channel series "Hannah Montana," and the Jonas Brothers, a pop band comprised of three fresh-faced siblings, were the top draws at the Oscars for the pint-sized set. A-listers like Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz could only look on in bemusement.

Cyrus performed at the 90-minute ceremony, and picked up a pair of orange blimp statuettes for favorite female singer and television actress.

Her "Hannah Montana" concert tour was the hottest ticket in the land last year, with anxious parents paying thousands of dollars for scalped tickets. The scarcity of tickets prompted political probes and even a Federal Reserve economics primer on the basics of supply and demand. A concert film recently topped the North American box office.

Arriving at the Pauley Pavilion with three bodyguards in tow, Cyrus elicited ear-splitting shrieks from the excitable fans. When she took to the stage to accept her awards, she thanked, in true Hollywood style, "my lord and savior Jesus Christ" and her coterie of managers and agents.

The Jonas Brothers -- Joe, 18, Kevin, 20, and Nick, 15 -- were named favorite music group.

The ceremony, now in its 21st year, is organized by Viacom Inc-owned kids cable channel Nickelodeon. Host Jack Black said more than 88 million votes were cast online. Last year's telecast drew a record 6.1 million viewers across the United States. The show is also broadcast internationally.

The decidedly goofy event gives serious Hollywood celebrities an excuse to degrade themselves for children's amusement. Harrison Ford and Orlando Bloom were drenched in green slime, the network's traditional badge of honor. Diaz, winner of the Wannabe Award for best role model, took time out in a special booth to display her belching skills.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSN2929615320080330

Dance On Sunset - DanceOnSunset.com News

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 09:42:00 +0000

Nickelodeon took advantage of its huge audience for the Kids Choice Awards to premiere its own version of a dance show, "Dance on Sunset."

Unlike the glut of other dance shows, this one is not strictly a competition (though it has an element that brings in some audience involvement).

Mostly, it’s an unusual half hour hosted by former MTV VJ Quddus Philippe in which the Nick Six troupe do choreographed dances to contemporary hits.

Along the way choreographer Tommy Testa teaches how do to steps in a kind of dance-along "High School Musical" kind of way. There’s a freestyle portion where kids in the audience spill onto the stage to do there thing where it starts to resemble old "American Bandstand" as reimagined by "Hairspray" with a "Bandstand" like countdown of the top five dance tunes (No.1 one was Mary J. Blige).

Then some of the "real people" are picked out by the Six for further competitions, the winner of which will be named Sunset VIP (though apparently not right away).

We learn too about the Six and their backgrounds, meaning Nick wants to turn them into little stars as soon as possible. And the audience members who do well inthe dance competitions can move up to be part of the next Six, a group assembled like a dance Menudo.

Source: http://blogs.courant.com/roger_catlin_tv_eye/2008/03/nick-goes-danci.html

Jonas Brothers Tickets - Way Too Expensive?

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 09:40:00 +0000

Viewers are asking me about ticket prices for the upcoming concert by the Jonas Brothers -- the hottest teen band in America.

Earlier in the week, fans were complaining that Fan Club tickets sold out before they could get any. Now others are complaining about prices for the Cincinnati concert July 28th.

Several viewers tell me they can't believe the ticket prices for a teen act! Indeed, Pavilion seats at Riverbend for the Jonas Brothers range from $54 to $84 dollars, plus an 8 dollar Ticketmaster fee.

By contrast, when the Jonas Brothers opened for Hannah Montana last year, top ticket price was just $50. Now that's inflation!

However, Riverbend does not set prices: the bands do...and this will be one hot ticket, no matter the price. Jonas Brothers tickets go on sale Saturday, March 29, at Noon.

Source: http://www.wcpo.com/content/news/localshows/dontwasteyourmoney/story.aspx?content_id=c3c9aa55-fa14-4642-82ac-ae7385def8aa

Stephanie Kuleba Dies After Breast Surgery For Inverted Nipple

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:22:00 +0000

Stephanie Kuleba, a 18-year old cheerleader from Boca Raton, Florida, died Tuesday of malignant hyperthermia, a fatal reaction to anesthesia, during corrective breast surgery.

Kuleba underwent surgery to correct asymmetrical breasts and an inverted areola.

Doctors say the cause of death was malignant hyperthermia, a rare metabolic condition that can be triggered by certain anesthesia. During malignant hyperthermia, a patient's heart rate and metabolism rises, causing the body temperature to rise as high as 112 degrees.

About one third of women will experience some degree of an inverted areola. As a woman gets older and wants to have children, corrective surgery is suggested in order to breast feed properly.

Kuleba, a high school senior, was the captain of the varsity cheerleading team at West Boca High School and received scholarship offers from Tulane University and Florida State University.

Kuleba planned to study medicine in college and become a plastic surgeon.

Source: http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=41395&cat=14

Richie Sambora Drunk Driving

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:20:00 +0000

TMZ has learned Richie Sambora was arrested for DUI in Laguna Beach, Calif.

Law enforcement sources tell us the Bon Jovi guitarist was pulled over by the Laguna Beach PD just before 11:00 PM last night. Cops say they observed him driving erratically in a black Hummer and pulled him over. He failed numerous field sobriety tests and was detained for DUI.

At the station, a cooperative Sambora opted to take a blood test rather than blow into a breathalyzer. Laguna Beach PD tells TMZ there's no indication of drugs.

Sambora was released around 4:00 AM this morning.

In 2007, Richie had not one, but two stints in rehab.

A spokesperson for Bon Jovi had no comment.

Source: http://www.tmz.com/2008/03/26/richie-off-the-wagon-popped-for-dui/

Why Does Everyone Hate Billy Wolfe?

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:13:00 +0000

Man, kids are MEAN. Check this out:

The parents of Billy Wolfe, a 16-year old high school student in Fayetteville, Arkansas, filed a lawsuit against one of Billy's bullies.

Since elementary school, Wolfe has been bullied by several classmates. As a matter of fact, bullying Wolfe has become a school activity as various people have joined in on the verbal and physical assault over the years.

Wolfe, a sophomore at Fayetteville High School, has been videotaped being bullied. One video shows a bully jumping Billy on the school bus and slamming his head against the window. A second video, which was taken by a bully's accomplice, shows a bully getting out of a car at Billy's bus stop, walking up to him, and punching him in the face.

The students at his school have even created a Facebook page entitled "Everyone Hates Billy Wolfe" and another Internet post that claims that Billy is gay. The "Everyone Hates Billy Wolfe" page has been deleted on Facebook, the popular social networking site.

The group have been replaced on the site by groups such as "Everybody Loves Billy Wolfe" and support groups for people that were bullied ever since Wolfe's story has made national news.

After talking to the parents of the bullies to school administrators, the Wolfe family has finally filed a lawsuit against one of the bullies.

Source: http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=41424&cat=14

Thomas Beattie - The Pregnant Man

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:10:00 +0000

An Oregon transgendered man who used to be a woman says he is five-months pregnant.

Thomas Beatie, who's expecting a girl, tells his story in a first-person account published in "The Advocate" magazine.

Beatie is legally a male and lives with his wife, Nancy. He claims to have stopped taking his testosterone injections to get pregnant, and that conception was achieved through home insemination.

"Sterilization is not a requirement for sex reassignment, so I decided to have chest reconstruction and testosterone therapy but kept my reproductive rights," he writes in the article for the gay and lesbian magazine.

"How does it feel to be a pregnant man? Incredible," he adds. "Despite the fact that my belly is growing with a new life inside me, I am stable and confident being the man that I am."

Beatie is expected to give birth in July. In the short article he also speaks about the ostracism he has suffered as a result of his condition.

"Health care professionals have refused to call me by a male pronoun or recognize Nancy as my wife. Receptionists have laughed at us. Friends and family have been unsupportive; most of Nancy's family doesn't even know I'm transgender."

Source: http://www.newsday.com/news/custom/offbeat/ny-uspreg0327,0,234680.story

The Drunk 4 Year Old

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:16:00 +0000

THE VILLAGE -- A 4-year-old girl was taken from an elementary school in The Village after teachers reported that she was acting strangely and had an alcohol smell on her breath.

The Village police say the child was taken from Andrew Johnson Elementary School in the Oklahoma City suburb Wednesday by paramedics and was in good condition.

Police say the girl will be placed in state custody.

Deputy Police Chief Steve Jagosh says it's believed the girl got the alcohol before she got to school. Investigators are still trying to determine where she got the alcohol.

Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080306_1__THEVI22622

About Memphis In May

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:14:00 +0000

I often miss my time living in Memphis, Tennessee especially when times rolls around "Memphis in May" and the "Beale Street Music Festival".

The 2008 line-up was just announced and it sounds like it is going to be a blast! The rundown includes Aretha Franklin, Sheryl Crow and My Chemical Romance just to name a few. Get the complete line-up on the official "Memphis in May" website.

Between May 2nd and 4th) you can bounce back and fourth between 4 stages on the banks of the mighty Mississippi river and watch more than 60 head-lining musicians. You'll hear everything from R&B to rap, country, rock and blues.

If you have never visited Memphis, early May is definitely the right time!

Source: http://gaysocialites.com/2008/03/memphis_in_may_lineup_announce.html

Song Danny Boy Lyrics Have Been Banned

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:12:00 +0000

NYC Pub Owner Bans `Danny Boy' in March

By VERENA DOBNIK – 8 hours ago

NEW YORK (AP) — It's depressing, it's not usually sung in Ireland for St. Patrick's Day, and its lyrics were written by an Englishman who never set foot on Irish soil.

Those are only some of the reasons why a Manhattan pub owner is banning the song "Danny Boy" for the entire month of March.

"It's overplayed, it's been ranked among the 25 most depressing songs of all time and it's more appropriate for a funeral than for a St. Patrick's Day celebration," said Shaun Clancy, who owns Foley's Pub and Restaurant, across the street from the Empire State Building.

The 38-year-old Clancy, who started bartending when he was 12 at his father's pub in County Cavan, Ireland, promised a free Guinness to patrons who sing any other traditional Irish song at the pub's pre-St. Patrick's Day karaoke party on Tuesday.

The lyrics for "Danny Boy," published in 1913, were written by English lawyer Frederick Edward Weatherly, who never even visited Ireland, according to Malachy McCourt, author of the book "Danny Boy: The Legend of the Beloved Irish Ballad."

He said Weatherly's sister-in-law had sent him the music to an old Irish song called "The Derry Air," and the new version became a hit when opera singer Ernestine Schumann-Heink recorded it in 1915.

Some say the song is symbolic of the great Irish diaspora, with generations of Irish fleeing the famine and poor economic conditions starting around 1850. Others speculate it's sung by a mother grieving for her son or by a desolate lover. Lyrics include: "The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying/ 'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide."

"Danny Boy" was recorded by Bing Crosby in the 1940s, served as the theme song of television's "Danny Thomas Show" from 1953 to 1964. It has been performed by singers ranging from Judy Garland and Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson.

At least one patron at Foley's was glad to hear the song was banned from the pub for the rest of the month.

The song is "all right, but I get fed up with hearing it — it's like the elections," Martin Gaffney, 73, said in a thick Irish brogue.

Gaffney said Wednesday he looked forward to crooning his own Irish favorites, such as "Molly Malone" — whose own theme is hardly a barrel of laughs.

A sort of unofficial anthem of Dublin also known as "Cockles and Mussels," the song tells the tale of a beautiful fishmonger who plies her trade on city streets and dies young of a fever.

Source: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j7hRM_mCL9GWeehIGTA25vE7O1lgD8V7T3280

The Magical Lizzy Bordello

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:08:00 +0000

LAUREL, Md. — A Laurel woman is under arrest on charges she operated a house of prostitution at the apartment complex where she lived.

Anne Arundel County Police say 35-year-old Elizabeth Harrison identified herself on a Website as "Magical Lizzy." She faces four criminal charges, including receiving money from prostitutes with the intent of promoting and profiting from a crime.

The arrest followed complaints from residents of the Russett Green community about men and women showing up at all hours at an apartment in the 3400 block of Holly Creek Drive. Police learned the women were advertising sexual services on the Internet.

Police say an undercover officer was solicited for sex acts, resulting in a raid and Harrison's arrest.

A police spokesman says the other women allegedly operating out of the house are still under investigation and have not been charged.

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335458,00.html

Jose Padilla Sentenced To 17 Years

noreply@blogger.com (Gadget Lover) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:37:00 +0000

The news that US citizen Jose Padilla has received a prison sentence of 17 years and four months should provoke outrage in the United States, although it is unlikely that there will be much more than a whimper of dissent.

The former gang member and convert to Islam -- whose arrest in May 2002 was trumpeted by then-Attorney General John Ashcroft as that of a "known terrorist," who was "exploring a plan" to detonate a radioactive "dirty bomb" in a US city -- was once regarded as one of the most dangerous terrorists ever apprehended on American soil. Almost six years later, as he received his sentence, he was not actually accused of lifting a finger to harm even a single US citizen.

While this is shocking enough in and of itself, Padilla's sentence - in what at least one perceptive commentator called "the most important case of our lifetimes" - is particularly shocking because it sends a clear message to the President of the United States that he can, if he wishes (and as he did with Padilla), designate a US citizen as an "enemy combatant," hold him without charge or trial in a naval brig for 43 months, and torture him - through the use of prolonged sensory deprivation and solitary confinement - to such an extent that, as the psychiatrist Dr. Angela Hegarty explained after spending 22 hours with Padilla, "What happened at the brig was essentially the destruction of a human being's mind."

Padilla's warders had another take on his condition, describing him as "so docile and inactive that he could be mistaken for 'a piece of furniture,'" but the most detailed analysis of the effects of his torture was, again, provided by Angela Hegarty in an interview last August with Democracy Now:

Juan Gonzalez: And have you dealt with someone who had been in isolation for such a long period of time before?

Dr. Angela Hegarty: No. This was the first time I ever met anybody who had been isolated for such an extraordinarily long period of time. I mean, the sensory deprivation studies, for example, tell us that without sleep, especially, people will develop psychotic symptoms, hallucinations, panic attacks, depression, suicidality within days. And here we had a man who had been in this situation, utterly dependent on his interrogators, who didn't treat him all that nicely, for years. And apart from - the only people I ever met who had such a protracted experience were people who were in detention camps overseas, that would come close, but even then they weren't subjected to the sensory deprivation. So, yes, he was somewhat of a unique case in that regard.

As if this were not worrying enough, it was what happened after Padilla's 43-month ordeal that sealed the President's impunity to torture US citizens at will.

Source: http://www.alternet.org/rights/74590/