In the News, August 31 2008

A double dose...

Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook | Active Storms | Marine Forecasts

Hurricane Gustav is making trouble as it roars into the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico as a ferocious Category 4 hurricane. Yesterday Gustav destroyed homes and roads in Cuba. In fear of the storm, the mayor of New Orleans has ordered residents to flee the "storm of the century" by morning. Residents are ordered to flee an only partially rebuilt New Orleans as another monster storm bore down on Louisiana nearly three years to the day after Hurricane Katrina wiped out entire swaths of the city.

Hanna remains a tropical storm....for now.

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Oprah Olympics

In Chicago fans began lining up at 6 a.m. Saturday for a chance to snag free tickets to "The Oprah Winfrey Show" season premiere featuring 150 U.S. Olympic athletes.
The show will air Sept. 8 and include appearances by gold medalists Michael Phelps, Nastia Liukin and Kobe Bryant.

Tickets for the Winfrey's tapings are usually available only by phone and nearly impossible to get. Fans were vying for the 2,000 seats available for Wednesday's taping.


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Republican Stars
The nonpartisan Creative Coalition is scheduled to join the festivities for the republican convention this week just as they did last week for the dems. The organization, devoted to arts advocacy as well as issues such as health care and affordable housing, will be sending spokespeople Warren Beatty, Dana Delany, Tim Daly, Giancarlo Esposito and Matthew Modine.

The group is showing a film, "14 Women," about the 14 female senators of the 109th Congress.

Creative Coalition Executive Director Robin Bronk told The Hollywood Reporter


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Congratulations to Lun Lun!

	CONGRATULATIONS LUN LUN!

Lun Lun, one of Zoo Atlanta's pandas, gave birth to a cub Saturday night.
Zoo Atlanta’s Animal Management Team announced today that 11-year-old female giant panda Lun has given birth to a cub. Delivery took place at 10:10 pm in a specially-constructed birthing den in the Zoo’s giant panda holding building. The cub is the only giant panda to be born in the U.S. in 2008.

The birth marks another significant milestone in the fight to save one of the world’s most beloved endangered species. Fewer than 1600 giant pandas are estimated to remain in the wild, with an additional 230 living in zoological situations.

“We are delighted, proud and elated,” said Dennis Kelly, Zoo Atlanta’s President and CEO. “We are just as excited as we were about Mei Lan’s (Lun Lun’s first offspring, born September 6, 2006) birth. This is another great moment for the City of Atlanta our colleagues in China as well as Zoo members, guests and staff.”

Fewer than 1600 giant pandas are estimated to remain in the wild, with an additional 230 living in zoological situations.

Videos (8621) More Videos... Hurricane warning posted for Gulf Coast

Labor Day Statistics-2008

Labor Day 2008: Sept. 1

The first observance of Labor Day is believed to have been a parade of 10,000 workers on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by Peter J. McGuire, a Carpenters and Joiners Union secretary. By 1893, more than half the states were observing a “Labor Day” on one day or another, and Congress passed a bill to establish a federal holiday in 1894. President Grover Cleveland signed the bill soon afterward, designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day.

Who Are We Celebrating?

154.5 million
Number of people 16 and older in the nation’s labor force in May 2008, including 82.6 million men and 71.9 million women.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics <http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf>

Employee Benefits

82%
Percentage of full-time workers 18 to 64 covered by health insurance during all or part of 2006.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/010583.html>

77%
Percentage of workers in private industry who receive a paid vacation as one of their employment benefits. In addition:

• 77 percent of workers receive paid holidays.
• 15 percent have access to employer assistance for child care.
• 12 percent have access to long-term care insurance.
• 71 percent have access to medical care, 46 percent to dental care, 29 percent to vision care and 64 percent to outpatient prescription drug coverage.

Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 634 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>

Our Jobs

Americans work in a variety of occupations. Here is a sampling:

Occupation	Number of employees
Teachers	7.1 million
Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists	778,000
Chefs and head cooks	345,000
Taxi drivers and chauffeurs	333,000
Firefighters	288,000
Roofers	269,000
Pharmacists	247,000
Musicians, singers and related workers	170,000
Gaming industry (gambling)	111,000
Tax preparers	104,000
Service station attendants	90,000
Logging workers	88,000

Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 596
<http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>

7.7 million
Number of workers who hold down more than one job. So-called moonlighters comprise 5 percent of the working population. Of these, 4 million work full time at their primary job and part time at their other job. Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 589
<http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>

When Do They Sleep?
There are about 288,000 moonlighters who work full time at both jobs.
Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 589 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>

10.4 million
Number of self-employed workers. Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 585
<http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>

22 million
Number of female workers 16 and older in educational services, and health care and social assistance industries. Among male workers 16 and older, 11.5 million were employed in manufacturing industries.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

28%
Percentage of workers 16 and older who work more than 40 hours a week. Eight percent work 60 or more hours a week.
Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 582 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>

4
Median number of years workers have been with their current employer. About 9 percent of those employed have been with their current employer for 20 or more years.
Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 591 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>

10.3 million
Number of independent contractors. Other workers with alternative work arrangements include 2.5 million on-call workers, 1.2 million temporary help agency workers and 813,000 workers provided by contract firms.
Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 588


<http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>

15.6 million
Number of labor union members nationwide. About 12 percent of wage and salary workers belong to unions, with Hawaii and New York having among the highest rates of any state. North Carolina has one of the lowest rates, 3 percent.
Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 644 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>

73.5%
Size of labor force growth in Frisco, Texas, between 2000 and 2005, the highest among cities with populations of 25,000 or more. Frisco was followed by the fellow Texas cities of Cedar Park (growth of 66 percent) and McKinney (52.5 percent), then by Carmel, Ind. (49.9 percent) and Dania Beach, Fla. (45 percent).
Source: County and City Data Book: 2007 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/miscellaneous/011548.html>

74,700
Number of jobs added in Harris County (Houston), Texas, between September 2006 and September 2007, the largest increase in employment among the nation’s 328 largest counties.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics <http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cewqtr.pdf>

5.4 million
The number of people who work at home.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

Another Day, Another Dollar

$42,261 and $32,515
The 2006 annual median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers, respectively.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006, at
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/010583.html>

$1,585
Average weekly wage in Santa Clara County, Calif., for the third quarter of 2007, the highest among the nation’s 328 largest counties. Clayton, Ga., led the nation in growth of average weekly wages the third quarters of 2006 to 2007, with an increase of 24 percent to $919.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics <http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cewqtr.pdf>

Hot Jobs

53%
Projected percentage growth from 2006 to 2016 in the number of network systems and data communication analysts. Forecasters expect this occupation to grow at a faster rate than any other. Meanwhile, the occupation expected to add more positions over this period than any other is registered nurses (587,000).
Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2009, Table 598 <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>

Early, Lonely and Long — the Commute to Work

16.7 million
Number of commuters who leave for work between midnight and 5:59 a.m. These early birds represent 13 percent of all workers.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

76%
Percentage of workers who drove alone to work. Another 11 percent carpooled, and 5 percent took public transportation (excluding taxicabs).
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

30.9 minutes
The average time it takes to commute to work for residents of New York state. New York residents had the most time-consuming commute in the nation, followed by that of Maryland residents with 30.6 minutes. The national average was 25.0 minutes.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

3.1 million
Number of workers who face extreme commutes to work of 90 or more minutes each day.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

53%
Percentage of workers 16 and older living in Virginia who worked and lived in different counties, the highest rate in the nation.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Products/users_guide/index.htm>

census.gov




Labor Day Monitor Sale! Hurry offer ends 9/1/08.


Save up to $600 on select TVs at Dell. Kick off the season in hi-def! - Expires 10/12/08.

In the news, August 30th, 2008

They are all lined up...

Hurricane warnings are in effect for Atlantic - Caribbean Sea - Gulf of Mexico, Cayman Islands. Gustav swelled to a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 mph as it approaches western Cuba on a track to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast three years after Hurricane Katrina.
In New Orleans city officials detailed plans for an evacuation that could be called over the weekend, some residents weren't waiting to be told to leave. Storm warnings are in effect for Monroe county Florida as well.

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Jacko the Big 5-0

Michael Jackson celebrated his 50th birthday.
Jackson says he gets "pretty emotional" when he sees his children having a wonderful time.


"I'll just have a little cake with my children and we'll probably watch some cartoons," the pop star said in an interview with ABC News' "Good Morning America." Jackson talked by phone with ABC on Thursday.

Jackson, a twice-divorced father of three, said he aims to provide a normal life for his children.





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Dad gets sentenced for killing cat

First of all...what was he thinking? or was he?
An Indiana man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting he forced his 7-year-old daughter to stab the family cat to death.

During his sentencing he was "extremely sorry" for his actions. The judge in the case told him it wasn't "civilized conduct."

In exchange for a guilty plea on animal cruelty and two counts of neglect, prosecutors dropped three other felony charges against the 39-year-old man.

According to the ASPCA, in an affidavit filed Thursday in Delaware County alleges the man told his 11-year-old son and daughter he wanted them to "learn how to kill" and ordered them to kill the family's pet cat.
The siblings told police their father was drunk when they were dropped off for a visit at his Muncie residence, according to the affidavit. They said he is "a different person" when he's drunk.

Raw Video: World's biggest tomato fight

Facts about Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin has been chosen by John McCain as the Vice Presidential nominee for the Republican party. She is virtually unknown to many of use. Here are some facts about her.

• Born: February 11, 1964, in Sandpoint, Idaho

• Received her B.S., University of Idaho, 1987
  
  
• Married: To Todd Palin, her high school sweetheart. They have five children. The oldest, Track, serves in the U.S. Army; the youngest, Trig, has Down syndrome.
  
  
• Served as mayor of her hometown, Wasilla, in 1996-02
  
  
• Took office on Dec. 4, 2006, as the 11th governor of Alaska, she is the first woman to hold the office.
• She is chair of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, a multi-state government agency that promotes the conservation and efficient recovery of domestic oil and natural gas resources while protecting health, safety and the environment.
  

• Professional career: Television sports reporter, 1987-89; co-owner, commercial fishing operation, 1988-2007; owner, snow machine, watercraft and all-terrain vehicle business, 1994-97; chairwoman, Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, 2003-04.

• A legislative investigation is looking into allegations that Palin fired Alaska's public safety commissioner because he refused to fire the governor's former brother-in-law, a state trooper. She denied wrongdoing.

• An outspoken anti-abortion Republican, Palin has spoken out about her fifth child, who was diagnosed in utero with Down syndrome.
  

• Palin is an avid hunter and a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.

• 1984, when she wore the crown of Miss Wasilla and competed in the Miss Alaska contest.

Alaska State Government Website

In the News, August 29 2008

IT'S a RACE...of the TS'S

It's a race between Hanna and Gustov.
Tropical Storm Gustav's winds and rain blasted Jamaica. The storm's path is expected to take it to Grand Cayman next. Gustav could grow into a category 3 hurricane by the time it reaches western Cuba on Saturday.
At least 51 people died in southwestern Haiti and eight were killed in neighboring Dominican Republic as Gustav passed through Thursday, officials there said.



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In case you missed it....

Barack Obama has accepted the Democratic Party's presidential nomination .
More than 75,000 people packed into the football stadium in Denver, Colorado, to hear Obama's historic speech as the first African-American Democratic presidential nominee.
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McCain to announce his running mate
With all the excitement from the DNC being over, it's time for the Republicans to be heard. Rumor has it that McCain is set to introduce his running mate at a rally in Ohio. The Republicans kick off their convention next week in St. Paul, Minn.

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Comcast Corp., the nation's second-largest Internet service provider, says it would set an official limit on the amount of data subscribers can download and upload each month. The cap on customers' Internet usage will start October 1.

Comcast said it was setting a monthly data usage threshold of 250 gigabytes per account for all residential high-speed Internet customers, or the equivalent of 50 million e-mails or 124 standard-definition movies.

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Nanny needed
In an ad on Craigslist a mother of four on Manhattan's Upper East Side, wrote
"My kids are a pain."

"If you cannot multitask, or communicate without being passive aggressive, don't even bother replying,"

"I can be a tad difficult to work for. I'm loud, pushy and while I used to think we paid well, I am no longer sure."

Raw Video: Jail escape caught on camera

How to Prepare for a Hurricane

With Gustav around the corner, here is a reminder about hurricane preparedness.

Prepare a disaster kit for your home: Stock up on non-perishable food and water to sustain you and your family for up to 72 hours or longer. Ensure you have important papers (e.g. insurance, identification), first aid kit, a supply of prescription medicines and other specialty items in your preparedness kit. In addition, plan to have an emergency kit for your car in case you need to evacuate. While creating a disaster kit, pet owners should remember to pack the necessary items for their pets.

You can find more information on preparing your disaster kit at: www.ready.gov

Create an emergency plan: Know what to do if you have to evacuate. Make sure you know how to contact members of your family and have an emergency contact number for someone out of state who knows where you are in the event of an emergency. Make sure your pet is included in your emergency plan. You may want to offer assistance to an elderly or disabled family member or neighbor that may be alone and may need your help during an emergency. Make your plans ahead of time and practice them.

Be informed: Know evacuation routes, and listen to local authorities when asked to evacuate. Everyone should know their risks. Whether you live in a coastal community or inland, speak with your insurance agent now about flood insurance and review your homeowner's policy. Every state is at risk for flooding and homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is a cost-effective way to prepare financially for floods. To learn more about your risk and flood insurance, visit www.floodsmart.gov.

Inland states often receive damaging flooding as a result of hurricanes so even residents who don't live in a coastal state should prepare. Knowing your flood risk, emergency evacuation plans and purchasing flood insurance are all things that inland residents should plan for as part of their hurricane preparations.

People who live in manufactured housing also should be aware of their risk during a storm as well as the many who are still residing in FEMA-provided travel trailers and mobile homes. People should have disaster plans and be ready to vacate their residence when advised by local authorities.

To stay informed during a storm keep a battery-powered radio for weather and evacuation information should you experience a power outage and have extra batteries on hand.

Get involved. Contact your local Citizen Corps Council to learn what efforts your community is taking to prepare for hurricane season, and learn how you can help. Through the Councils and Citizen Corps Partner Programs, it is possible to receive training in basic emergency response and find volunteer opportunities to assist your first responders in an emergency. To find a nearby Citizen Corps Council or to learn more about Citizen Corps' Partner Programs, visit www.citizencorps.gov.

For more information on how to prepare for this hurricane season, please visit "Hurricane Season 08. Get Serious. Be Prepared" at www.fema.gov. There, you will find a comprehensive listing of information on family and business preparedness, disaster support links for people with disabilities and other special needs, and tips for preparing your pets for the next disaster.

Get Serious. Be Prepared.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

In the News, August 28th, 20008

It's Hurricane Season

NOAA
Tropical Storm Gustav has put Louisiana on alert, on the three year anniversary of Katrina. Gustav is heading toward Jamaica on a path that may be heading toward the Gulf and surrounding areas.


Meanwhile, a new tropical depression, number 8, formed farther east in the Atlantic.



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DNC News

The Democratic National Convention wraps up tonight. Barack Obama will stand before the world on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic "I Have a Dream" speech — to accept the Democratic presidential nomination. He will be addressing about 75,000 people at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Senator Joe Biden, former President Bill Clinton praised Obama last night while Hilary released her delegates as expected.



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Blogger arrested over Guns and Roses

Seems like there are a lot of bloggers who do it but, it still is illegal. A blogger suspected of streaming songs from the unreleased Guns N' Roses album "Chinese Democracy" on his Web site was arrested Wednesday and appeared in court, where his bail was set at $10,000. He was arrested on suspicion of violating federal copyright laws.
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AIDS in NYC spreads 3X faster

According to NYC's city health department, the AIDS virus spreads in New York City three times faster than in the rest of the United States. Some 4,800 New Yorkers became HIV infected in 2006. With its estimated 100,000 HIV-positive individuals, New York City is considered the US epicenter of the AIDS epidemic.

The report put the rate of HIV contagion in the city at 72 per 100,000, while that of the United States at 23 per 100,000.

Lucky lottery ticket given to church

Insuring a Rental Car

The Insurance Information Institute wants you to know about insuring a rental car.

Properly insuring a rental car can be confusing, frustrating and downright daunting. Unfortunately, many consumers don’t even think about car rental insurance until they get to the counter, which can result in costly mistakes, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).



Many car rental companies now impose various fees after an accident that you may not be aware of and will be held responsible for. These fees can include: towing, storage, impound fees, loss of use, diminished value and administrative services.

Before renting a car, the I.I.I. suggests that you make two phone calls—one to your insurance agent or company representative and another to the credit card company you will be using to pay for the rental car.

1. Insurance Company
   Find out how much coverage you currently have on your own car. In most cases, whatever coverage and deductibles you have on your own car would apply when you rent a car, providing you are using the car for recreation and not for business.
   
   If you have dropped either comprehensive or collision on your own car as a way to reduce costs, you will not be covered if your rental car is stolen or damaged in an accident.
   
   Check to see whether your insurance company pays for administrative fees, loss of use or towing charges. Some companies may provide an insurance rider to cover some of these costs, which would make it less expensive than purchasing coverage through the rental car company. Keep in mind, however, that in most states diminished value is not covered by insurers.
   
   
2. Credit Card Company
   Insurance benefits offered by credit card companies differ by both the company and/or the bank that issues the card, as well as by the level of credit card used. For instance, a platinum card may offer more insurance coverage than a gold card.
   
   Credit cards usually cover only damage to or loss of the rented vehicle, not for other cars, personal belongings or the property of others. There may be no personal liability coverage for bodily injury or death claims. Some credit card companies will provide coverage for towing, but many may not provide for diminished value or administrative fees. Some credit card companies have changed their policies, too, so you may not have as much coverage as you thought.
   
   To know exactly what type of insurance you have, call the toll-free number on the back of the card you will be using to rent the car. If you are depending on a credit card for insurance protection, ask the credit card company or bank to send you their coverage information in writing. In most cases, credit card benefits are secondary to either your personal insurance protection or the insurance offered by the rental car company.
   
   If you have more than one credit card, consider calling each one to see which offers the best insurance protection.

At the Rental Car Counter

Since insurance is state regulated, the cost and coverage will vary from state to state. Consumers, however, can generally choose from the following coverages:

• Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)
  Also referred to as a collision damage waiver outside the U.S., an LDW is not technically an insurance product. LDWs do, however, relieve or “waive” renters of financial responsibility if their rental car is damaged or stolen. In most cases, waivers also provide coverage for “loss of use,” in the event the rental car company charges the renter for the time a damaged car can not be used because it is being fixed. It may also cover towing and administrative fees.
  
  Waivers, however, may become void if the accident was caused by speeding, driving on unpaved roads or driving while intoxicated. If you already have comprehensive and collision coverage on your own car, check with your personal auto insurer to make sure you are not duplicating coverage you already have. Should you decide it is necessary, this coverage generally costs between $9 and $19 a day.
  
  
• Liability Insurance
  By law, rental companies must provide the state required amount of liability insurance. Generally, these amounts are low and do not provide much protection. If you have adequate amounts of liability protection on your own car, you may consider forgoing additional liability protection. If you want the supplemental insurance, it will cost between $7 and $14 a day.
  
  An umbrella liability policy, however, may be more cost-effective. Umbrella liability insurance is so named because it acts like an umbrella, sitting on top of your auto and homeowners (or renters) liability policies to provide extra protection including accidents while driving your own car or one that you rent. These policies, usually sold in increments of a million dollars, cost as little as $200 to $300 annually for a million dollars worth of coverage and another $50 to $100 for each additional million.
  
  Those who do not own their own car and are frequent car renters, can also consider purchasing a non-owner liability policy. This not only provides liability protection when you rent a car, but also when you borrow someone else’s car.
  
  
• Personal Accident Insurance
  Personal Accident Insurance offers coverage to you and your passengers for medical and ambulance bills for injuries caused in a car crash. If you have adequate health insurance or are covered by personal injury protection under your own car insurance, you may not need this additional insurance. It usually costs about $1 to $5 a day.
  
  
• Personal Effects Coverage
  Personal Effects Coverage provides insurance protection for the theft of items in your car. If you have a homeowners or renters insurance policy that includes off-premises theft coverage, you are generally covered for theft of your belongings away from home, minus the deductible. If you purchase this coverage through the rental car company, it generally costs between $1 and $4 a day.
  
  If you frequently travel with expensive items such as jewelry, cameras, musical equipment or sports equipment, it may be more cost-effective to purchase a personal articles floater under your homeowners or renters insurance policy. With such a floater, your valuable items are protected at home as well as while traveling anywhere in the world and the coverage is broader.

Other Things to Consider

States have minimum age requirements for renting a car and most major rental car companies refuse to rent a car to someone who is under 21 and in some cases under 25. In addition, some rental car companies now investigate your driving record and/or credit history so check with the rental car company before picking up the car.

If you are planning to rent a car abroad, contact both your insurance agent and travel agent to find out what you need to do to be properly insured. Those driving a rental car from the U.S. into Mexico may find it progressively more difficult to rent a car as U.S. rental car companies are increasingly concerned about the rising crime rates in that country. The minimum required insurance coverage to drive in Mexico is civil liability insurance which covers you in case you cause injury or damage. Your American liability insurance is not valid in Mexico for bodily injury, though some American insurance policies will cover you for physical damage—check with your agent or insurance company representative. You can also buy Mexican car insurance in several American border towns; there are generally several storefronts selling Mexican car insurance near the border.

For more information about insurance, go to the I.I.I. Web site.

For a related video, see Video: Rental Car Insurance.

In the news, August 27th, 2008

Clinton: 'No way, no how, no McCain' Hillary Clinton called herself a "proud supporter of Barack Obama" after Democratic convention delegates greeted her with a standing ovation: "Barack Obama is my candidate. And he must be our president." VP hopeful Joe Biden will make his first appearance before the Democratic National Convention tonight. Also, former President Clinton will be speaking.

...............................................................
Remember the Obese woman who was charged with rolling over on a child killing him?

The half-ton Texas woman was charged in the death of her toddler nephew says that she couldn't have beaten the boy to death because of her limited movement from weight problems, according to her attorney .

Prosecutors said the 2-year-old boy died after being struck at least twice in the head while in the care of Rosales, who is bedridden.

The boy's mother, believes the death was possibly caused by the morbidly obese woman rolling onto the toddler, according to her attorney. She faces one felony count of injury to a child, which carries a life sentence and 10,000 in fines.

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Mattel $100,000,000 : Bratz Legal and Court Fees

Bratz has given Barbie some hefty competition over the past few years. A federal jury awarded Mattel Inc. $100 million in damages in a federal copyright lawsuit that pitted Barbie against the maker of the Bratz dolls. Damages were awarded for contract interference and copyright infringement. No punitive damages were ordered against MGA.

The same jury that decided the damages phase concluded last month that the Bratz designer came up with the Bratz concept while working at Mattel.

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Couple Tries To Swap Girls for a Used Car

A court in San Antonio, Texas says that a couple intended to offer the sexual services of their five-year-old daughter in return for an apartment, a used car and child care for their 10-month-old daughter. It is alleged the couple also intended to sell the sexual service of the 10-month-old at a later date.

According to an affidavit the couple came under investigation when an informant told the FBI about a text message sent by the couple which read: "Nice piece 5 yrs old belongs to my gf and she wants to sell it."

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Got Bags Under Your Eyes?

Researchers in the September 2008 issue of the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
say it caused by fat in the eye socket expanding. In a from UCLA and a plastic surgery resident at the University of California, Irvine, says that there is actually an increase in fat with age, and it is more likely that the fat increase causes the baggy eyelids rather than a weakened ligament.

How Texting Could Kill You

Facts and Figures- DNC

Denver

588,349
Population of Denver, Colo.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/SUB-EST2007.html>

74.2%
The percentage of eligible voters (18 and older who were citizens) in Colorado who were registered in the last presidential election.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2004 <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/voting.html>

82%
Percentage of Denver residents age 25 and older who are high school graduates or higher.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

36.3%
Percentage of Denver residents age 25 and older who have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

17.1%
Percentage of the population who are foreign-born.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

8.7%
Percentage of the population who are veterans.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

34.4%
Percentage of Denver residents who are Hispanic or Latino.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

50.7%
Percentage of Denver residents who are white and not Hispanic.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

10.1%
Percentage of Denver residents who are black or African-American.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

3.4%
Percentage of Denver residents who are Asian.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

1.3%
Percentage of Denver residents who are American Indian or Alaska Native.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

0.2%
Percentage of Denver residents who are Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

35.3 years
Median age of Denver residents.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

24.4%
Percentage of the population under 18 years old.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

10.4%
Percentage of the population 65 years and older.
Source: 2007 Population Estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/012463.html>

29.5%
Percentage of the Denver population 5 and older who speak a language other than English at home.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

33.0%
Percentage of Denver families that are married-couple families with their own children under 18 years.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

25.7%
Percentage of females 20 years and older who have never married.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

32.8%
Percentage of males 20 years and older who have never married.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

23.8 minutes
Mean travel time to work for Denver residents.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

$40,900
Median household income in Denver.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

20.0%
Percentage of individuals in Denver who are living in poverty.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>

54,339
Number of employees in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector, which employs the largest number of people in Denver County.
Source: 2006 County Business Patterns <http://censtats.census.gov/cbpnaic/cbpnaic.shtml>

$2.35 billion
Annual payroll for the Health Care and Social Assistance sector in Denver County.
Source: 2006 County Business Patterns <http://censtats.census.gov/cbpnaic/cbpnaic.shtml>

2,025
The number of Health Care and Social Assistance establishments in Denver County.
Source: 2006 County Business Patterns <http://censtats.census.gov/cbpnaic/cbpnaic.shtml>

In the News, August 26th, 2008

Hurricane Gustav is on the way....

Gustav continued to gain strength after becoming a hurricane early Tuesday and forecasters said it could become a Category 2 hurricane before hitting Haiti's southern coast.
The fast-forming storm is also on track to hit Cuba.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the hurricane's maximum sustained winds were near 85 mph (140 kph) with higher gusts. A Category 2 hurricane has winds of 96 mph (154 kph) or higher.
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At the DNC..

Michelle Obama declared "I love this country" last night as she spoke to the crowd. She sought to reassure the nation that she and her husband Barack share Americans' bedrock values and belief in a dream of a better future. Sen. Ted Kennedy appeared in public for the second time since his surgury. He declared there was "new hope" for the nation.

Hilary Clinton is expected to speak tonight. She will call for her supporters to rally behind Obama,.

According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll, 66 percent of Clinton supporters -- registered Democrats who want Clinton as the nominee -- are now backing Obama. But the number is down from the 75 percent who in June said they backed Obama. Read more on the poll

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Cheerleader's Uniforms and the Dress Code


In Monroe county Ohio, the cheerleaders have violated the dress code and are unable to wear their uniforms during school hours to school. According to the superintendent, "The skirts that the cheerleaders wear are very short, and they're very tight and they're slit so they can do the gymnastics that are required of a cheerleader,"
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Who is the hottest Nun?
An Italian priest and theologian said Sunday he is organizing an online beauty pageant for nuns to give them more visibility within the Catholic Church and to fight the stereotype that they are all old and dour. The "Miss Sister 2008" contest will start in September on a blog run by the Rev. Antonio Rungi and is open to all Nuns from around the world.\

U.S. death toll- Iraq

The History of Labor Day

Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Founder of Labor Day

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Labor Day Legislation

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

A Nationwide Holiday

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

August 25th, In the News

The Celebs head for Denver
As a show of support for the real purpose of the Democratic National Convention, celebrities are heading to Denver.

Kanye West, Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow and Edward Norton are said to be in attendeance. The Black Eyed Peas are scheduled to perform at a Denver show August 27.

According to Washington publication The Hill, other concerts scheduled for Denver include a Monday Rock the Vote show featuring Wyclef Jean; a Tuesday Rock to Win concert starring Melissa Etheridge, Cyndi Lauper and Rufus Wainwright; and a Wednesday show hosted by the ONE campaign -- which supports the fight against AIDS and global poverty -- and the Recording Industry Association of America. That show will be headlined by Kanye West.

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The Bejing Olympics are over
The American's scored the most medals while the Chinese scored the most golds.

Total Medals By Nation
NATION TOTAL MEDALS GOLD SILVER BRONZE
United States 110 Medals 36 38 36
China 100 Medals 51 21 28
Russia 72 7 Medals 23 21 28
Great Britain 47 Medals 19 13 15
Australia 46 Medals 14 15 17
Germany 41 Medals 16 10 15
France 40 Medals 7 16 17

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McCain Versus the Material Girl
John McCain's campaign hit back at Madonna after she kicked off her world tour with a concert that bracketed the US presidential candidate with Adolf Hitler.

McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds angrily condemned the segment of Madonna's concert in Cardiff on Saturday that appeared to draw a comparison between McCain, Hitler and Zimbabwean strongman Robert Mugabe.

The Democratic Convention

This week marks the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

The Democrats are promising a technologically "savvy" convention.

Anchoring the Convention’s technology offerings is the official Web site, DemConvention.com. In addition to traditional content such as video highlights and full text of Convention speeches, the 2008 Convention Web site will feature an exclusive daily Convention preview program, behind-the-scenes blog posts, pictures and video uploaded by Convention attendees and citizens across the country, an aggregated feed from an unprecedented blogger pool and much more.

In a first for a political Convention, the DNCC will offer live, gavel-to-gavel, streaming video coverage in HD at DemConvention.com. Microsoft’s Silverlight platform will provide viewers with an unprecedented opportunity to individually tailor their Convention experiences by selecting their desired camera angles.

A complete, Spanish-language simulcast will also be available on DemConvention.com. More than 300 million people around the globe speak Spanish, including 35 million Americans, and the simulcast will ensure that more people can fully participate in this year’s historic Democratic National Convention and the democratic process.

A series of daily webcasts, “Countdown to America’s Future,” will feature exclusive interviews and nightly Convention previews. “Countdown” will air Sunday–Thursday at 2:30 pm MT/4:30 pm ET and on Friday, August 29 at 7:00 am MT/9:00 am ET. “Countdown” will also be available on Comcast’s Video on Demand and via satellite to media newsrooms across the country.

“America’s Town Hall” will virtually throw open the doors to the Convention hall by inviting individuals across the country to submit text and video questions at DemConvention.com/townhall. Elected leaders and national policy experts will respond directly to voters’ questions live from the Convention floor and online throughout the week.

Through a partnership with YouTube, Convention-goers will also be able to share their unique perspectives by uploading photos and video at kiosks inside.

A record 120 blogs have been credentialed as members of the media for the Convention, connecting communities across the country to the historic event through the eyes and ears of an influential group of online voices. The pool includes blogs covering national, state and local politics, blogs representing a variety of communities and issue-specific blogs.

The DNCC’s blog will feature behind-the-scenes blogposts and video and an aggregated feed of highlights from credentialed blogs.