Monday, July 29, 2013

Hawaii braces for Tropical Storm Flossie

Residents and tourists across Hawaii are bracing for heavy rains and strong winds from Tropical Storm Flossie, while the system weakens as it approaches the state.

National Weather Service officials said they expect people on the Big Island and Maui to see the brunt of the storm on Monday morning, with wind gusts up to 60 mph, possible flooding and waves up to 18 feet high.

Flossie could also bring flash flooding, mudslides, tornadoes and waterspouts, the forecasters said.

The service issued a tropical storm warning for Oahu, Hawaii's most populous island with the city of Honolulu, to go along with previous warnings for the Big Island, Maui, Molokai and Lanai. The warning means the storm represents a threat to life and property.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed an emergency proclamation in anticipation of the storm, allowing the state to use its disaster fund to pay for staff overtime, supplies and other resources. The proclamation also allows the state to call Hawaii National Guard members to duty, if necessary.

"The purpose of signing this proclamation is to ensure that state agencies have full powers necessary to best protect and serve the people of Hawaii," Abercrombie said.

The U.S. Coast Guard also ordered three ports closed -- two on the Big Island where the storm is expected first and a third on Maui.

Michael Cantin, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, said Sunday that the tropical storm warnings were expanded because the storm strengthened overnight Saturday, before it began weakening Sunday.

Cantin said heavy rains are likely with winds a growing possibility, including gusts able to knock down power poles and blow away loose objects.

"These winds will be strong enough to pick up debris and throw things around," Cantin said.

The service also issued a tropical storm watch for Kauai and Niihau, a less severe notice, asking people to make a plan and pay attention to see if things get worse.

Officials warned people to cancel beach trips, finish necessary storm preparations and evacuate if asked by local officials.

Mike McCartney, chief executive of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said Sunday afternoon that some airlines have begun to adjust flights.

"Visitors should contact their airlines and hotels to confirm their travel plans," he said.

State officials on Saturday closed trails and campgrounds on the Big Island, and warned people to avoid forest areas until Flossie clears.

"Hikers, campers or hunters should avoid trails, streams and back-country areas under these conditions," said William Aila Jr., chairman of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

It's not immediately clear which island faces the most danger, though the Big Island -- the easternmost island in the archipelago -- is likely the first in Flossie's path. Flossie's center was expected to pass near the Big Island and Maui on Monday morning and then south of Oahu several hours later on Monday evening into Tuesday morning.

Cantin said Flossie could stray from its currently projected path up to 60 miles north or south as it crosses the Hawaiian islands and end up some 100 miles away from where forecasters project it to be by the time it passes.

Cantin said the storm is likely to shift south if it gets weaker and north if it gets stronger.

The storm could drop up to 15 inches of rain to windward areas of Maui and Hawaii counties, and 6 to 10 inches in other areas, forecasters said. Up to a foot of rain could fall on windward Oahu and 4 to 8 inches in central and leeward areas. Kauai may see 2 to 4 inches of rain, with up to 6 inches on windward slopes.

Waves of 12 to 18 feet are expected for the Big Island and Maui, with surf of 10 to 15 feet on other islands.

Despite the system weakening, the current forecast keeps Flossie as a tropical storm through Wednesday.



Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2013/07/29/hawaii-braces-for-tropical-storm-flossie/?test=latestnews#ixzz2aSjs8Zj5

Christian Benítez

Christian Rogelio Benítez Betancourt (May 1, 1986 – July 29, 2013), also known as Chucho, was an Ecuadorian footballer who played as a forward for El Jaish of the Qatar Stars League. He began his career with El Nacional in Ecuador and then joined Santos Laguna, with whom he won the award for Best Player of the Clausura 2008.[2] He spent the 2009–10 season on loan to Premier League clubBirmingham City. He was a member of the Ecuador national football team.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

'Vegan Sellout List' outs and shames ex-vegans online - UPI.com

 

Do you know any meat-eaters who used to be vegan? If so, they might appear on the Vegan Sellout List at exvegans.com, where vegans can post details about "traitors" to the cause. "The spirits of the billions murdered have risen to deliver: The Vegan Sellout List," the site declares, calling out "swarms of haughty, nose-turning carnists" guilty of "ethical degeneracy and paleo-terrorism." The site says there is an "epidemic" of vegan sellouts, "those who are aware of the suffering caused by meat, dairy, egg, fur, and leather production, yet choose to look away while the animals suffer." Users can submit photos, city, narrative description and links to a person's website "or other supplemental info" to the site, and the ex-vegan will be added to the directory, searchable by location or name. Many of the ex-vegans are just regular people, who may not even know a former friend or partner with a grudge added them to the directory. Others, though, are well known ex-vegans, including Berlin Reed, 31, a vegan-turned-butcher who was inspired to write "The Ethical Butcher" after working at a Brooklyn shop that partnered with small local farms. “Here we have yet another person hiding behind anarchism to justify their selfish behavior,” says Reed's entry on the Vegan Sellout List. The site seems to anticipate backlash from those who find themselves on the site. Instead of an ordinary "contact us" form on the website, visitors are encouraged to "send hate mail." In the field where a visitor can write their message, the site prompts, "Your Hateful Message / How You're Going to Sue Us / Etc." Former Top Chef contender Andrea Beaman was also called out on the site for turning away from veganism for health reasons. She said she isn't bothered by it, and she understands their extreme mentality. "When I was a vegan, it was the most judgmental time of my life!" she said.

Human head transplant now possible, says neuroscientist - UPI.com

Human head transplant now possible, says neuroscientist - UPI.com

Dr. Sergio Canavero, a member of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group, has published a paper saying we now have the technology to complete the transplant of a human head onto another human body. Robert White successfully transplanted the head of a rhesus monkey onto the body of another rhesus in 1970, but so far, scientists have been unable to connect spinal cords, leaving the animals paralyzed below the point of transplant. “The greatest technical hurdle to cephalosomatic linkage [head transplant] is of course the reconnection of the donor’s and recipients spinal cords. It is my contention that the technology only now exists for such linkage,” Canavero wrote, citing recent advances in reconnecting surgically severed spinal cords. Much of the procedure remains the same as in the old experiments. The head to be transplanted is cooled to between 12°C and 15°C (54.6°F and 59°F). Surgeons then have one hour to remove both heads at the same time, and re-connect the transplant head to the circulatory system of the donor body. During the reconnection procedure, the donor body must be chilled and total cardiac arrest induced. Once the head is reconnected, the heart of the donor body can be restarted. Once the head is reconnected, Canavero says surgeons may now be able to proceed to reconnect the spinal cord. A head to body spinal connection has never been attempted in animals, but Canavero points to studies in which scientists have restored limited connectivity to a severed spinal cord in a rat. In his paper, Canavero proposes cutting spinal cords with an extremely sharp knife, then mechanically connecting the spinal cord from one head to another body. "It is this "clean cut" [which is] the key to spinal cord fusion, in that it allows proximally severed axons to be ‘fused’ with their distal counterparts. This fusion exploits so-called fusogens/sealants….[which] are able to immediately reconstitute (fuse/repair) cell membranes damaged by mechanical injury, independent of any known endogenous sealing mechanism." Canavero speculates that plastics like polyethylene glycol (PEG) could be used to accomplish this fusing, citing research showing that PEG has allowed the fusing of severed spinal cords in dogs. Patients with muscular dystrophy, or paraplegics with enough spinal cord left intact to allow for a transplant, could in theory achieve full use of a donor body. As long as they have the $13 million Canavero estimates a full head transplant would cost.

Bitcoin IPO launched by Winklevoss twins - UPI.com

 

In an effort to legitimize the trendy Bitcoin digital currency, the Winklevoss twins of Facebook fame have filed paperwork for an initial public offering of a new exchange-traded fund tracking the price of bitcoins. In April of this year, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss revealed that they owned about $10 million worth of Bitcoins, or about 1 percent of all the Bitcoin wealth in existence. At the time, Bitcoins were in the middle of a sickening crash, tumbling from an all-time peak of $266 per bitcoin to $105 in the course of one trading day. The price has continued slowly downward, recently valued at about $90. Unlike other currencies, Bitcoins are not issued by a bank or other centralized authority. Since 2009, people have been able to generate or "mine" Bitcoins by participating in the global computer network that supports them. The ETF would let traders and investors in on Bitcoins -- without having to go through online currency exchanges, which are notoriously difficult to access. The currency remains anonymous, unregulated and untaxed. The Bitcoin ETF, however, has fees and taxes. Despite an 18-page outline of the "risk factors" involved in buying an ETF tracking Bitcoins, and numerous articles enumerating the risks, the Winklevoss twins think people will want to let them take a cut on bitcoin investment transactions. At any time, Bitcoins -- which are just digital -- could be erased from existence, through computer error or hackers. At any time, governments could decide to regulate, tax, or even ban the currency, which happens to be useful to money launderers. And, as with any ETF, there is the risk the fund won't match the value of its underlying assets. Some think the Winklevoss IPO will legitimize the digital currency, but critics argue ETF investors will have to take on all the risks of Bitcoin without any of the benefits of being untaxed and anonymous.

Robert Pattinson dating Riley Keough? | YOU

 

The Water For Elephants actor ‒ who recently called time on his relationship with actress Kristen Stewart ‒ was spotted with Elvis Presley’s granddaughter at his Los Feliz, Los Angeles, home over the weekend. Riley (24) ‒ who was previously engaged to Alex Pettyfer ‒ worked with Kristen on 2010′s The Runaways. It was recently revealed Robert is writing songs to help get over his split from Kristen but isn’t planning to make them public. A source said, “Rob’s always had half a mind on his music, but when his film career and relationship with Kristen both took off at the same time, something else had to give. “He’s really enjoyed picking up his guitar again properly and it has given him something to focus on during the break-up. Everyone’s saying that he’s really talented, but he’s adamant we’ll only be seeing him in films for the time being.” The pair split for a second time after Kristen got back in touch with Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders, whom she confessed to having an affair with last year behind Robert’s back. Robert’s musical efforts have previously seen him record two tracks for the original Twilight soundtrack, Never Think and Let Me Sign. He has also previously said he originally wanted to be a musician rather than an actor. He said, “I love the piano. I never really had any aspirations to be an actor when I was young. I wanted to play the piano in a bar, to be the old dude with a whiskey glass.” -Bang Showbiz

Orioles Trade Jake Arrieta, Pedro Strop To Cubs, Who Shipped Carlos Marmol To Dodgers

Orioles Trade Jake Arrieta, Pedro Strop To Cubs, Who Shipped Carlos Marmol To Dodgers

OAKLAND, Calif. — Down and all but out before the All-Star break, the Chicago Cubs are starting to make moves for the future. The team traded starting pitcher Scott Feldman to the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday and former All-Star reliever Carlos Marmol to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In exchange for Marmol, the Cubs received veteran reliever Matt Guerrier. They got right-handers Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop as well as two international signing bonus slots from the Orioles for Feldman and catcher Steve Clevenger. "I don't want to say it's tough. You know it's got a chance of happening," Chicago manager Dale Sveum said about a potential payroll purge before his club opened a three-game series in Oakland. The Cubs (35-45) entered Tuesday 15 1/2 games behind first-place Pittsburgh in the NL Central. And with the latest trades, seemingly ready to ride out another lost season on the North Side. Feldman had been scheduled to start against the Athletics on Tuesday night. Instead, the Cubs called up lefty Chris Rusin from Triple-A Iowa to take his place. Feldman left Texas to sign a $6 million, one-year contract with the Cubs last winter and went 7-6 with a 3.46 ERA in 15 starts for them. He is 46-50 with a 4.66 ERA in 219 major league games over nine seasons. The Cubs designated Marmol for assignment last week after he went 2-4 with two saves and a 5.86 ERA in 31 appearances, striking out 32 while walking 21. An All-Star as a setup man in 2008, Marmol's best year as a closer was 2010, when he had 38 saves in 43 chances along with 138 strikeouts and 52 walks. But fans had begun booing him and management was eager to cut a deal with the Dodgers, who also acquired an international signing bonus slot. Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said team scouts are high on the international class and the additional dollars will allow them to be more aggressive. Asked what type of message the club sent by parting ways with two noteworthy players, Sveum said nobody on his team should be surprised or upset at this point.

Alicia Silverstone Starts Breast Milk Sharing Program

Alicia Silverstone Starts Breast Milk Sharing Program - Today's News: Our Take | TVGuide.com

The Clueless star recently launched Kind Mama Milk Share, a breast milk exchange program to help out vegan parents in need. Silverstone was inspired to create the program after hearing about a friend who couldn't produce enough breast milk and had a hard time learning about the lifestyle choices of donors. Actors who dated their TV family members "A lot of women unfortunately have a similar struggle, and there's no reason why they shouldn't be able to give their babies the most amazing start in life with clean, mean, glorious breast milk," Silverstone wrote on her website The Kind Life. "And because we are a community of beautiful souls who recognize the importance of food as health, I say we help support those mamas and babies who need a hand during one of the most important times in their lives." Silverstone's website has already been flooded with support from parents. But for the program to work, any potential donor would need to be screened to ensure that the milk is clean and healthy. This isn't the first time Silverstone's parenting practices have raised eyebrows. In 2012, she stirred controversy for chewing up food and feeding it directly from her mouth to that of her then-10-month-old son, Bear Blu. "I do want to let you know that this has been going on for thousands of years — still going on all over the place — and it's natural," Silverstone said at the time. What do you think of Silverstone's program?

Umpire Brian Runge reportedly fired for drugs by MLB | Big League Stew - Yahoo! Sports

 

Unique because he was a third-generation MLB ump, Runge worked the All-Star Game in 2012 and was the plate umpire for three no-hitters, including Philip Humber's perfect game in 2012. Runge didn't work a game in 2012 after Aug. 30 because of a knee injury, though he did work spring training games this season, along with some games in Triple-A. MLB announced in June that Runge was no longer on the major league staff — but has never given a reason why.

Kris Kross was an American rap duo of the 1990s, Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith

Kris Kross was an American rap duo of the 1990s, Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith.

Kris Kross was an American rap duo of the 1990s, Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith. The duo was best known for their hit 1992 song "Jump", which was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and certified double platinum as a single. Kris Kross was also noted for their fashion style, which consisted of wearing their clothing backwards. The duo sang the "Rugrats Rap" for Nickelodeon, which was released as an extra on some Nickelodeon VHS tapes starting in 1994 and was finally released on CD on The Best of Nicktoons in 1998, and as an extra on the Rugrats: Decade in Diapers Collectors Edition DVD in 2002.

Paris Fashion Week

Paris Fashion Week: Kristen Stewart at Chanel and More Celeb Scoop | E! Online UK

K.Stew's looking très chic in France! On Tuesday's Live from E!, Ken Baker, Marc Malkin and Melanie Bromley raved over Kristen Stewart's black-and-white look for Paris Fashion Week. Although the actress has been spotted at Hooters, bars and tattoos parlors across the country, this is the first major appearance the Twilight star has made since her breakup with longtime BF and costar Robert Pattinson. The panelists added their insights to rumors of Pattinson dating Riley Keough, who is a mutual friend of the former couple and costarred with Stewart in The Runaways. Sources insist, however, that the 27-year-old is enjoying the single life. PHOTOS: Take a look back at Robsten's relationship While Stewart is in Paris, Pattinson was spotted last night for Beyoncé's second concert at the L.A. Staples Center. Marc, who also attended the celebrity-packed show, dished his deets on Chris Evans' rendition of Queen B's dance moves, Lea Michele's night out with her girlfriends, and how cute Naya Rivera was with her not-so-big BF Big Sean. In other Paris Fashion Week news, the panelists discussed Jourdan Dunn being dropped from Dior show because her boobs are too big. "If she doesn't have a shot," Ken adds with a chuckle, "Kate Upton, you're never going to do Paris Fashion Week."  Other celebs in Paris include Jennifer Lawrence and Rihanna, who is currently on her Diamonds World Tour. The two bumped into each other while dining out and took this cute pic posted on the singer's Instagram and Twitter pages. PHOTOS: See what other stars are in Paris for Fashion Week Also on today's show, watch Johnny Depp kiss Jimmy Kimmel—three times! During his Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance to promote his new movie The Lone Ranger, the actor kissed the talk-show host on the cheek followed by a smooch on the lips! "I've lost my train of thought," Kimmel responded, only to be given another kiss. Be sure to check us out every day at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT! And don't forget to follow us on Twitter @LiveFromE and hit us with your questions using the #LiveFromE hashtag. PHOTOS: Check out these photos from The Lone Ranger

Monday, July 1, 2013

Paula Deen

Paula Deen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Paula Ann Hiers Deen (born January 19, 1947) is an American celebrity chef, former cooking show host, restaurateur, author, actress, and Emmy Award-winning television personality. Deen resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates The Lady & Sons restaurant with her sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen. She has published fourteen cookbooks. Though married in 2004 to Michael Groover,[2] she uses the surname Deen, from her first marriage.[3] Contents  [hide]  1 Early life 2 Restaurants 3 Books and magazines 4 Food Network and other television 5 Personal life 6 Other work 7 Awards and honors 8 Criticism 8.1 High fat, salt, sugar recipes and diabetes 8.2 Racial epithet controversy 9 Filmography 10 References 11 External links Early life Deen was born Paula Ann Hiers in Albany, Georgia,[4] the daughter of Corrie A. (née Paul) and Earl Wayne Hiers, Sr.[5][6] She grew up Baptist, and is still deeply devoted to her faith.[7] Her parents died before she was 23, and an early marriage ended in divorce. In her 20s, Deen suffered from panic attacks and agoraphobia. She then focused on cooking for her family as something she could do without leaving her house.[8] Her grandmother Irene Paul had taught her the hand-me-down art of Southern cooking; one of the only places she felt safe was at her own stove, making thousands of pots of chicken and dumplings.[9] She later moved to Savannah, Georgia, with her sons. In 1989, she divorced her husband, Jimmy Deen, to whom she had been married since 1965.[2] She was left with only $200[4] and money was tight raising both her kids and her younger brother, Earl (“Bubba”). She tried hanging wallpaper, working as a bank teller, and selling real estate and insurance.[9] She then started a catering service,[10] making sandwiches and meals, which her sons Jamie and Bobby delivered. Lady & Sons restaurant in Savannah, Georgia Restaurants Deen's home business, The Bag Lady, soon outgrew her kitchen. She first moved into the Best Western on Savannah's southside on Abercorn Street in 1991 with a restaurant called The Lady. In January 1996,[citation needed] Deen opened her restaurant, The Lady & Sons, in downtown Savannah, on West Congress Street. Within a few years, the restaurant moved to the old White Hardware building on Whitaker. USA Today named The Lady & Sons the "International Meal of the Year" in 1999. The specialty is a buffet of Southern "comfort foods."[11] Every buffet meal includes a salad bar and one dessert. Her sons are also involved in managing the restaurant, which is popular with tourists visiting Savannah.[12] In 2008, Deen opened another restaurant, the Paula Deen Buffet, at Harrah's Tunica Casino in Tunica County, Mississippi.[13] It has an entrance facade modeled on Deen's home in Savannah and features Southern cooking.[14] As of June 2013, the Paula Deen Buffet does not appear on Harrah's Tunica Casino's website list of restaurants.[15] In September 2009, Deen announced a new dessert line to be sold at Walmart including signature pies Apple Crunch Top, Dark Rum Pecan, Old Fashioned Fudge and Gooey Butter Cake bars.[16] In addition to these, Deen currently co-owns Uncle Bubba's Oyster House in Savannah, Georgia.[17] Books and magazines

Paris Jackson | Paris Jackson is 'strong like her father'

Paris Jackson | Paris Jackson is 'strong like her father' | Contactmusic.com

Paris Jackson's mother says she is ''strong like her father'' Michael Jackson. Debbie Rowe has thanked fans for supporting the 15-year-old aspiring actress following her recent suicide attempt and said she is recovering well in hospital in Los Angeles. She wrote on Twitter on Saturday (29.06.13): ''My daughter has asked that I extend a huge thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers and support.'' She added: ''She is strong like her father.'' Paris is still undergoing treatment at a psychiatric facility at UCLA Medical Center after overdosing on painkillers and slashing her wrists earlier this month because she had reportedly been struggling to adjust to life without her father, who died in 2009.

Exclusive: Meet Alexis Welch, fiancee to Knicks star Amar'e Stoudemire

Exclusive: Meet Alexis Welch, fiancee to Knicks star Amar'e Stoudemire - NYPOST.com

And now, after Stoudemire’s surprise proposal, the Kansas City native is gathering their young troops, daughters Ar’e, 6, and Assata, 4, and son Amar’e Jr., 5, and prepping for the move to the Big Apple next month — and all of the madness that will no doubt ensue. (As for the wedding itself, the couple is still figuring out a date for 2013.) “It’s been a whirlwind. I’m so overjoyed,” Welch tells The