Friday, January 28, 2011

D.C. region's foreclosure rate down in 2010

The Washington, D.C., metro region finished 2010 with the nation's 78th-highest foreclosure rate among metropolitan areas, according to new data from RealtyTrac of Irvine, Calif.

With one filing per 49 households, the rate was down 22 percent from 2009.

The Baltimore-Towson area was ranked No. 106, with one filing per 63 households. However, that was up 16.3 percent from 2009. The Hagerstown area, with one filing per 88 households, was ranked No. 88. Its rate was down 6.53 percent from a year earlier.

Among 206 metro regions in the rankings, Las Vegas had the highest rate, with one filing per nine households, or about 11 percent. The U.S. average was one filing per 45.

Optelecom stockholders OK

$9.1 million acquisition

Shareholders of video-equipment company Optelecom-NKF of Germantown on Tuesday approved its $9.1 million cash acquisition by TKH Group of Haaksbergen, Netherlands.

About 95 percent of the 60 percent of outstanding shares of common stock that voted favored the deal, which was expected to close Thursday.

According to a TKH statement issued in November, when the deal was announced, Optelecom has 120 employees, about 85 of whom work in the Netherlands.

"In a time of increasing consolidation within the global security industry, this transaction with TKH represents value for our shareholders and a good strategic fit for Optelecom-NKF," Optelecom CEO Dave Patterson said in a statement.

Optelecom, founded in 1972, does business in the Netherlands, Latin America, Europe, Dubai and Singapore. The company makes video surveillance equipment for traffic monitoring and security at airports, seaports, casinos, prisons, public transit, hospitals and corporate campuses.

SunEdison activates 17.2-MW

solar farm in North Carolina

SunEdison of Beltsville, a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials of St. Peters, Mo., activated the final phases of a 17.2-megawatt solar farm it built in Davidson County, N.C., in conjunction with Duke Energy of Charlotte, N.C.

The project has more than 63,000 photovoltaic solar panels on more than 200 acres and is expected to generate enough electricity to power more than 2,600 homes, according to a joint statement.

SunEdison designed and deployed the project and will be responsible for operations and maintenance. Financing of the project, reported at $173 million when it was announced in 2009, was through lease financing provided by MetLife and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Hinman CEOs director

takes first in competition

James V. Green, director of entrepreneurship education and the director of the Hinman CEOs Program in the University of Maryland's Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute in College Park, took first place in the 2011 3E Learning Innovative Entrepreneurship Education Competition for his "Team Challenge of Risk and Reward" activity.

Green was selected from more than 30 entrants at the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship annual conference in Hilton Head, S.C. The award recognizes college educators who have created new and challenging learning activities that actively involve students in the entrepreneurial experience.

Green's winning activity engages students in a real-time classroom decision of risk assessment and team decision-making through a six-phase process.

New hospital will boost

Montgomery College, officials say

A new, $202 million Holy Cross Hospital facility, approved by a state commission last week, would mean a lot more than a 93-bed facility for Montgomery College's Germantown campus, officials say.

It also would anchor the college's 40-acre Science and Technology Park, attracting researchers and biotechnology companies to the campus and helping generate jobs and graduates to fill them, said Sanjay Rai, vice president and provost of the Germantown campus. Officials hope the park will become a magnet for biotechnology, nanotechnology and information technology companies, as well as venture capitalists. The school eventually plans to have 1 million square feet for offices, laboratories and other uses in the park.

"In the end, it helps your curriculum, it helps your students," Rai said. "And students get opportunities for internships and also permanent employment." For example, students could see research translated into product development, he said.

A new Holy Cross hospital also would expand opportunities for other college students, officials said. Angie Pickwick, instructional dean of Health Sciences at Montgomery College, said the hospital would provide an additional clinical training facility for the college and grow the number of nursing students from 400 to 500 over time, although not all the additional nursing students would study at the new hospital.

New transmitter could

replace satellite trucks

Instead of huge, costly satellite trucks, news broadcasters soon will be able to send high-quality transmissions in real time with a much smaller and cheaper alternative that can be attached to a belt.

IT company EuroTech of Columbia has partnered with Nomad Innovations of Kentucky to provide the device, which weighs just 1.5 pounds while still working as a router for high-bandwidth live transmissions, company officials said.

The product, LiveEdge, recently was unveiled at a technology show in Las Vegas.

"Any field team, whether broadcasting the news or responding to emergency situations, has greater mobility and flexibility when communications options are no longer tied to microwave or satellite trucks and time-consuming setup procedures," said Sean Higgins, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Nomad Innovations, in a statement.

While accessibility and mobility will be big selling points, cost also will play a role, he said. The new device costs about $40,000, versus $500,000 or more for a remote broadcast truck for news stations, he said.

Montgomery-Carderock pact

aims to foster tech business

Montgomery County officials have signed the county's first partnership agreement with the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Carderock Division in Bethesda.

The agreement will help the county identify Navy-developed technology that is available for licensing; participate in technology showcases targeting county businesses and Carderock research and development; and have better access to programs and resources for developing research and development collaborations with Carderock, according to a county statement.

A specific agreement between Montgomery College and Carderock is to provide the opportunity for students to benefit from the staff expertise, unique facilities and equipment related to surface warfare science and technology available from Carderock.

SBA drought loans

now available

Federal economic injury disaster loans are available to small businesses, agricultural cooperatives and most nonprofits in Carroll and Fredrick counties due to a drought that began on June 5, 2005, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Loans of up to $2 million with 3 percent interest for nonprofits and 4 percent for small businesses and terms up to 30 years are available.



State suspends

physician's license

A North Bethesda physician under federal investigation for selling prescriptions for painkillers had his state medical license suspended last month by Maryland regulators.

Silviu Ziscovici, 56, was barred from practicing medicine Dec. 1, in part because 15 of his patients died from drug overdoses, according to information from a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration probe contained in the public suspension order from the Maryland Board of Physicians.

The order, signed by board Deputy Director John T. Papavasiliou, details DEA and Montgomery County Police investigations and shows a physician who provided prescriptions to known drug abusers.

Papavasiliou quoted a medical expert who said Ziscovici's "medical decision making process was grossly incompetent."

"The action our board took speaks for itself," Papavasiliou told The Gazette. "It was swift; it was exact; that shows how important this is to the medical profession. It's a pretty troubling case."

Ziscovici declined to comment and referred questions to his attorney, Peter D. Greenspun of Fairfax, Va. Greenspun said the suspension was appealed Dec. 15 and he and his client will continue to seek reinstatement at future administrative hearings.

"He's a doctor that has taken care of a lot of patients over a lot of years, and that's what we are going to show," Greenspun said.

Wings chain to open

20 locations in region

Wingstop of Richardson, Texas, a chicken wings restaurant chain, plans to grow its presence in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., area with 20 new locations during the next five years.

The company — with restaurants in Gaithersburg and Rockville, according to its website — said in a statement that it expects to open four locations in the region this year.

"We love the Wingstop product, and the concept of just serving wings and fries," co-owner Rahim Kurji said in the statement.

Wingstop has more than 475 restaurants in the U.S. and Mexico. It was acquired last year by Roark Capital Group, a private equity firm in Atlanta.

Builders poll: Bay cleanup

deserves taxes or fees to fund

Maryland residents want the state to focus on job creation even if the environment suffers to some extent, but the Chesapeake Bay cleanup should be funded by higher taxes or fees, according to a new poll.

According to the poll commissioned by the Maryland State Builders Association, 83 percent of state residents say creating jobs should be a higher priority than reducing Bay pollution and 57 percent believe economic growth should be given priority even if the environment suffers. By comparison, 33 percent say protection of the environment should be more important even at the risk of slowing the economy. But 67 percent of those polled said the Chesapeake Bay cleanup should be funded with tax increases and additional fees.
Henley sang "Father Can You Hear Me" for the judges at the Nashville auditions, and while Steven Tyler thought her voice was strong -- if a little restrained. Jennifer Lopez disagreed, saying she didn't think Henley had enough of what it takes. So it came down to Randy Jackson, and, big surprise, the pretty girl got through.

At this point, we think we might be with Lopez. It's not that Henley has a bad voice, but we don't see it as quite up to par with some of the best we've heard in the audition round. But who knows? Maybe what Tyler heard in her can come to the forefront in the Hollywood round and beyond.

Her audition is below. What do you think of her chances? Will Stormi Henley be done by the Hollywood round, or will she stay around longer than that?
<object style="height: 390px; width:540px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UW6FlTA7Xxo?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UW6FlTA7Xxo?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></object>

amy henslee

BANGOR TOWNSHIP — A suspect is in custody in the disappearance of Amy Sue Henslee, Van Buren County Prosecutor Juris Kaps said early today.

A medical examiner arrived at the scene early this morning as police investigators continued to search for evidence in a wooded area off County Road 687 in Van Buren County.

Henslee, a 30-year-old Hartford Township woman, has been missing since Monday.

Asked at the scene at 3 a.m. if police still have an active missing persons case, Kaps said, “I don’t believe we are going to.”

Police were using shovels and had brought in a Bobcat to dig in a wooded area of the property in the 42000 block of CR 687, near Van Auken Lake north of Hartford. They had been on the scene for several hours and were using all-terrain vehicles to get to an area illuminated with portable lights hundreds of yards back off the road.

Kaps as of 3 a.m. declined to identify the suspect, but said he was 30 or 31 years old. He said the man did not currently live at that location on CR 687. "At this time, he lives at a different address," the prosecutor said.

American Idol' lacking bite in Music City

Delusional "singers" and camera-hogging novelty acts dominated the show, which took up an hour compared to the two devoted to the sonically richer environs of Milwaukee Wednesday. Somewhere Hank Williams is weeping.

Only a few stand-out singers appeared on the show. Best was Adrienne Beasley, a farm worker with a slightly unusual back story. She's a 22-year-old African-American who was raised by a white family. Beasley's style tapped into the deeper history of country music, bypassing the slick cliches of modern Nashville. Her unpretentious style suited the setting of the auditions, the historic Ryman Auditorium.
Also gaining traction, as well as the clear favor of the judges, was Lauren Alaina. She had a backstory, too (a seeming pre-requisite this year). The woman who inspired her to sing - her cousin Holly - recently went through chemotherapy for a brain tumor. Remarkably, Alaina didn't exploit this in front of the judges (who were surely tipped). She hardly needed the edge. Aliana ably navigated the tricky melody of a song Tyler had sung himself: Diane Warren's "Don't Wanna Miss A Thing."
The show opened with another compelling tale: a romantic couple who used to perform as a duo, but who now sing apart.  The male of the pair, Bob Bolin, stood out above his distaff half, with a voice that recalls Ray Lamontagne's.  The pair sang even better together, on the Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody" - an endorsement of coupled conventionality well-suited to "Idol's" insistence on family values over all.
Naturally, they both got the golden ticket.
A cluster of males, cordoned off into a montage, also made it through the old mill, all singing soul songs instead of country. Their chosen genre served to stress the power of both genres in this region.
Once again Thursday, other singers squeezed through by less earned means. Matt Dillard, a 27-year-old Bubba-type, sounded like an unseasoned Josh Grobin. The judges weren't wowed, but they moved him on, if only to fill out the ranks. Likewise, a former Miss Teen USA contestant improbably named Stormi Henley went on, even though the judges acknowledged that vocalizing wasn't her strong suit.
"That may be the smallest voice we've heard so far," complained Jennifer Lopez, who acknowledged the young singer's beauty.
It made for an odd moment, considering the ratio of Ms. Lopez's own skills. But at least it gave dull Nashville a shot of unintentional comedy.

Marin investigators school residents on gang infestation

Marin residents need to be increasingly proactive, engaged and shrewd to combat a pernicious gang presence in the county, especially with ongoing budget constraints on law enforcement resources, gang investigators said Thursday night.
Police delivered the warning during a gang seminar at the Marin County Office of Education in San Rafael. The briefing was organized amid a recent upswing in gang violence and vandalism in the county, including a double shooting Jan. 3 at the Hamilton Marketplace in Novato.
San Rafael and Novato police and sheriff's deputies said Marin's gang participants tend to be based in San Rafael, Novato and Marin City, but their activities have been documented in neighborhoods and schools all over the county. Often they show up at parties, community events or public areas to sell drugs, recruit, intimidate and assert power, police said.
"Gangs are constantly morphing, changing their dynamic," said San Rafael police Sgt. Raul Aguilar. "Gangs want to stay ahead of the schools, the police, anyone who wants to curtail their activities."
Investigators urged parents to watch for signs of gang involvement in their children beginning as early as middle school, when they are searching for identity and a sense of belonging. Deputy Dave Gallegioni spoke of a working single parent who recently discovered that his teenage son had been a gang associate for some six years.
"It's a rude awakening for parents who are oblivious

Bohemian Grove

Original site of the Bohemian Club, a somewhat secretive men’s club that goes through some odd rituals/traditions every year in the Redwood forests of Marin. These have included powerful figures past and present, including major California political figures, every Republican President since 1923 (including Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon and both Bushes), Alan Greenspan, Bill Clinton and other major politicians and heads of industry. Here they erected a plaster statue of Buddha in the 1910′s. They later moved a few miles to the North near Jenner, where they remain to this day, a favorite subject of conspiracy theorists.
Muir Woods National Monument, California
Article by Robert Bruce Baird





Bohemian Grove:”Bohemian Grove is ‘the greatest men’s party on Earth’, according to once-regular attendee Herbert Hoover. A secret little getaway for America’s male upper crust, the 2-week long annual retreat in Monte Rio, California, has all the luxuries you’d expect of an elitist clique: outdoor plays, an orchestra, delicious food and beverages, public urination, streaking, and human sacrifices, to name a few. Nestled in beautiful redwood forests, every Republican president since Coolidge has partaken in the gala, as well as a host of other huge names in business and politics. {Many of the discussions during the two week festival end up becoming the tenets upon which the bureaucracy and media begin to act.}Little is known about its origins. The Bohemian Club was founded, according to its PR people, in 1872 by “five newspapermen, a Shakespearean actor, a vintner and a local merchant” from San Francisco. The male bonding funfest at the Grove itself began in 1879, near the Russian River. It wasn’t long before this yearly custom became an annual tradition which has continued for over 120 years. Members enjoy opera, literature, and music.” (1)Perhaps the human sacrifices are just mock shows or theatre macabre in the style of Masonic rituals like the killing of Hiram Abiff but there are people who have escaped who say otherwise. Churchill was made a Druid in a well known presentation at Blenheim Palace and Thomas Paine correctly notes that the Masons derive their system from the Druids. This is true for all Luciferians or Heliopolitans who like to trace their history to the early shamanistic scientists and subsequent Chaos Scientists. There is little likelihood that any of these so-called Druids are anything like the Druids who formed the beneficent leadership of the Brotherhood on Earth in the time before Empire. People who like my research and who have sought to spread my message have taken umbrage when I tell them this if they consider themselves Druids or other neo-New Age cults.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

wozniacki bikini

put impeccable championship form on display as Tuesday’s highly touted all-Swiss Australian Open quarter-final evolved into just another winning walkabout for the world number two in 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 drilling of Stanislas Wawrinka.
Women’s top seed Caroline Wozniacki kept a tenuous grip on her number one ranking as she preyed on the tiring legs of 30-year-old French Open winner Francesca Schiavone for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 trip to the semi-finals.
Italy’s battling veteran Schiavone had played for almost five hours in a marathon weekend win and ran out of puff after leading a set and 3-1. Wozniacki survived in the quest for her first Grand Slam title to back up the top ranking she earned in 2010.
Schiavone will still rise to fourth, the best ever for an Italian woman. She saved three match points as Wozniacki served for victory before finally going down in nearly two and a half hours.
Men’s holder Federer easily rolled to his fifth-consecutive win in his series against Wawrinka, his Swiss “little brother,” with whom he won the Beijing Olympic doubles gold medal in 2008.
Federer, bidding for a 17th Grand Slam title, was majestic in the one-hour, 47-minute win, his seventh of eight against Wawrinka. The pair both came to the match with identical 11-0 records this season after Wawrinka won the Chennai title and Federer captured Doha.
“I think it was a good match for me really, I started off well,” said Federer. “I was able to serve and return really well. I did not expect myself to do that because last time I played him he was really able to get the free points.
“There are no secrets out there for him or me. It may have been more of a battle for him since he had won his last two matches at night. I had to fight really hard, Stan has played an amazing tournament.”
So thorough was the Federer domination that Wawrinka, who fired 24 aces in his previous win over Andy Roddick, managed just one on the day – and that came three games from the end.
The world number two is to play in his eighth-straight Australian Open semi-final, facing either Novak Djokovic or Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych.
Both men got the better of Federer in 2010 Grand Slams, Berdych knocking him out of a Wimbledon quarter-final and Djokovic doing the same in the US Open semis.
“The opponents only get tougher as the tournament goes on,” said Federer, 59-7 overall in Melbourne with four titles.
“Djokovic and Berdych did beat me, but I got both of them back later in the season,” said Federer, who triumphed over Berdych in Canada and Djokovic in Shanghai, Basle and London. “I won’t be coming out to hand them the match. I will give everything I have.”
In the women’s quarter-finals, China’s Li Na duplicated her record-setting semi-final place from a year ago as she advanced 6-2, 6-4 over German Andrea Petkovic.

Josh Lucas to Play Charles Lindbergh

Josh Lucas has been casted to play the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh,  for Clint Eastwood's latest movie "J.Edgar"according to Deadline.
As for the other actors who will play in the movie:
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as the FBI head and Brian Grazer's Imagine Entertainment is producing with Eastwood's Malpaso
Pretty cool!  We think this is going to be a good movie! Why? Because Leonardo DiCaprio and Josh Lucas are in it! They are wonderful actors!

Those who do not know who Charles Lindebergh was:
Charles Augustus Lindbergh (February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974) (nicknamed "Slim,"Lucky Lindy" and "The Lone Eagle") was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.
Lindbergh, then a 25-year old U.S. Air Mail pilot, emerged from virtual obscurity to almost instantaneous world fame as the result of his Orteig Prize-winning solo non-stop flight on May 20–21, 1927, from Roosevelt Field[N 1] located in Garden City on New York's Long Island to Le Bourget Field in Paris, France, a distance of nearly 3,600 statute miles (5,800 km), in the single-seat, single-engine monoplane Spirit of St. Louis. Lindbergh, a U.S. Army reserve officer, was also awarded the nation's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his historic exploit.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Lindbergh relentlessly used his fame to help promote the rapid development of U.S. commercial aviation. In March 1932, however, his infant son, Charles, Jr., was kidnapped and murdered in what was soon dubbed the "Crime of the Century" which eventually led to the Lindbergh family fleeing the United States in December 1935 to live in Europe where they remained until the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Imperial Japanese Navy. Before the United States formally entered World War II by declaring war on Japan on December 8, 1941, Lindbergh had been an outspoken advocate of keeping the U.S. out of the world conflict, as was his Congressman father, Charles August Lindbergh (R-MN), during World War I, and became a leader of the anti-war America First movement. Nonetheless, he supported the war effort after Pearl Harbor and flew many combat missions in the Pacific Theater of World War II as a civilian consultant, even though President Franklin D. Roosevelt had refused to reinstate his Army Air Corps colonel's commission that he had resigned in April 1941

Found: Lord Nelson and Lady Emma's locks of love Read more:

A gold locket that is believed to be a token of the scandalous affair between Admiral Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton has emerged for sale.
The 3in-long piece, which was unknown to experts but is said to be genuine, is decorated with locks of their hair and with pearls.
It commemorates the Battle of the Nile, in which the Royal Navy routed the French, and contains the date of the first day of that encounter – August 1, 1798.
Tokens of love
Tokens of love
Tokens of love: Nelson's hair (left) and Emma's (right) in the lockets up for auction
The next month Nelson got to know Emma Hamilton and they fell in love. Both were married.
Nelson’s sandy-coloured hair is on one side of the locket and Emma’s darker hair is on the reverse.
The locket has come from a family in Australia via relatives in Portsmouth to an auction house in Wiltshire, but its history is a bit of a mystery.
Naval hero: Admiral Lord Nelson had an affair with a married woman in 1798
Naval hero: Admiral Lord Nelson had an affair with a married woman in 1798
Jonathan Edwards from Woolley and Wallis auction house in Salisbury said: 'This is potentially a very important piece.
'We are sure as we can be that it is right and we've had experts look at it and they agree.
'There is an "N" on it which means Nelson. We believe it was made in the year following the battle because after that Nelson used the name Bronte.
'Quite who it was made for and how it got to Australia we don't know. It has pearls in it, an anchor and an arrow.
'There is also gold thread and it really is a beautiful thing that is more likely to have been worn by a woman.'
Mr Edwards added: 'Nelson's reputation really suffered because of his affair with Lady Hamilton, although it was restored in time.
'This really ought to go into a museum.'
It is to be sold on Thursday by Woolley and Wallis in Salisbury with an estimated price of up to £5,000.

occ bankrupt

At the moment the internet is buzzing about the Orange County Choppers foreclosure. Is this true or not? The fans of Paul Sr and Paul Jr all over the world may relax.
The hole fuss about OCC foreclosure is true, but we’re not talking about Orange County Choppers, the American company specialized in customizing motorcycles. The OCC acronym also stands for Comptroller of the Currency which indeed is bankrupt. An article in Huffington Post speaks about the OCC foreclosure: “The FDIC has been pushing to impose new requirements on the operations of those divisions, which are known as mortgage servicers. The agency has been engaged in heated negotiations with other regulators at the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).”
As about the Orange County Choppers lawsuit, it started in December 2009 because Paul Sr urged his son to sell 20% of his shares in Orange County Choppers saying they had a previous agreement. Paul Sr also asked for $1 million for damages for misappropriation of assets.
Orange County Choppers
Another reason for Orange County Choppers foreclosure confusion is the company that builds custom motorcycles moved their headquarters in Town of Newburgh. Rumor has it that OCC has a mortgage payments delay, a fee of around $96,400. Orange County Choppers has two mortgages through GE Commercial Finance Business Property Corp., one for $11 million and one for $1.5 million.
Orange County Choppers (OCC) is a custom and production motorcycle manufacturer that saw the sun light back in 1999. The company founded by Paul Teutul Sr and Paul Teutul Jr was the star of the American Chopper series on Discovery Channel. The series were broadcast in 150 countries all over the globe. The action is located in Montgomery, a small city at North of New York, where Paul Teutul Sr and his two sons, Paul Jr and Mike are building custom choppers, more expensive even than premium cars.
OCC would have been nothing without Paul Sr. In 1999, with the help of his son, Paul, he presented his first OCC Chopper – True Blue – at a festival in Daytona. Three years later a Discovery Channel producer saw the company as a great idea for a show.
But OCC didn’t stop there, they built a $500,000 chopper for the American automaker, Lincoln, and one for Carol Shelby, for which they received two Ford Shelby Cobra units, and Paul Sr and Jr even said they are not afraid of building cars. Their production motorcycles were sold at around $40,000, but they were not seen in the Discovery series. The Teutul family also build a $1 Million bike for Microsoft.
Paul Teutul Sr was born in a poor family and in the 70′s he was a drugs and alcohol addict. Now he is the head of a business that makes millions of dollars. And this kind of money is not coming only form building choppers. OCC earns a lot of money from the Discovery commercial rights, American Chopper and Orange County Choppers merchandise, and real estate, Orange County Ironwoks steel mill, founded by Paul Sr and now run by his third son, Dan.
To sum up, Orange County Choppers are OK, at least for now and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is the bankrupt one, but this doesn’t concern us

Orange County Choppers Foreclosure

have been a fan of American Choppers for some time now, so you can understand how upset I was when the main three from the show/company parted due to reasons unknown. Since then Paul Sr. and Jr. have been locked in a battle to do with his son’s 20 percent stake in OCC. When we first learned that the lenders of the OCC headquarters had filed a foreclosure, we assumed that it was to do with this ongoing family feud, but they do not seem to be related.
We had first assumed that this was a joke, but Surrounded Me has learned through sources that Orange County Choppers‘ has missed a number of mortgage payments, which is said to be for $96,400 and $14,000. The source explained that OCC did not make the payments, as they wanted to force the lender to make a few changes to the terms of the loan.
The reason why they want to make a few changes to the mortgage terms is because the building is not worth as much as it was back in 2007. It is no secret that the auto industry has had a tough few years, as has the housing market; it is for this reason why the headquarters is now worth $4 million to $5 million less than it once was.

Neither OCC nor lender GE Commercial Finance would make any official statement, but one would assume that this little blip in the road will go away. Orange County Choppers in a world brand now, so they would not risk anything to lose their building where things are not only built but run as wel

Thursday, January 20, 2011

malcolm mitchell

VALDOSTA — Sorry Alabama, but the Georgia kids are staying home.
Jay Rome, the No. 1 tight end in the nation, and his Valdosta Wildcat teammate Malcolm Mitchell committed to play football at the University of Georgia on Thursday.
Both Wildcats decided to stay in-state and help the Bulldogs rebuild their proud tradition instead of heading across state lines to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
“We’ve been teammates for about four years now, so I guess three or four more won’t hurt,” Mitchell said.
Rome traveled to Tallahassee to make a live announcement on ESPNU’s Recruiting Insider.
Two hours later, Mitchell announced his intentions to be a Bulldog in front of a packed crowd at Hibachi Grill & Deluxe Buffet in Valdosta and on Talk 92.1 FM.
Rome arrived in time to hear Mitchell become his teammate for another few years. The two embraced shortly after Mitchell put on his matching Bulldog hat.
“Well, to all the Georgia Bulldog fans, I know a lot of you have been heckling me on Facebook every chance you get, so I’m just giving you what you want man. Jay Rome is going to Georgia,” Rome said on ESPNU.
Added Mitchell, “I prayed about it and God gave me and answer. I took it.”
The two can’t officially become Bulldogs until they sign on the dotted line Feb. 2 — National Signing Day.
“Well, there’s been a lot of things going through my head,” Rome said. “Alabama is a great school. Coach (Nick) Saban is putting together a good program. He’s developing athletes. But I think I’m gonna stay in-state and go to Georgia. Georgia is a great school and has a great football history. People call it Tight End U. At the end of the day, I felt I wanted to stay home, stay in state.”
Rome said he was as surprised as anyone that Mitchell chose Georgia. He said Mitchell, whose nickname is “Tampa,” had dropped hints to him he was going to choose Alabama.
Mitchell burst onto the national scene as a senior after catching 77 passes for 1,419 yards and 15 touchdowns on his way to being named Region 1-AAAAA Offensive Player of the Year. He said it struck him that UGA was the place for him when he took his official visit in December.
“As I was sitting there, something came across my mind that said, ‘This feels right,’ ” Mitchell said. “That moment ... I said I’m coming to Georgia. Alabama came hard. At one point I thought I was going to go there, but it all came down to what I thought was best for me.”
Rome said he had fun with the recruiting process and everyone continually asking him where he was headed. He even revealed to ESPNU that he kept his mom in the dark.
“I kind of played with my mom a little bit,” Rome said. “She asked where I was going and I said, ‘Oh you’ll find out with everybody else.’ ”
Rome added that he was glad to get the decision over with, while Mitchell embraced the moment. He had his mom come into the restaurant wearing a Florida Gator hat and an orange sweater just to throw everyone off. After his announcement, he stayed behind to pose for pictures and sign autographs.
Valdosta head coach Rance Gillespie was proud of both his star players. Even though Gillespie is a former Georgia player and alum, he said he would have supported Rome and Mitchell whatever they decided.
“You have to remove yourself from all of that stuff,” Gillespie said. “I’m a Wildcat, and I’m excited for the Wildcat family that they have two kids who will be able to live the dream that very few kids are able to.”
ESPNU ranks UGA as the 12th best recruiting class — and there is still time for the Dogs to land more big fish. Rome was the ringleader of a group of eight high school players from Georgia at the Under Armour All-American Game, and he supposedly tried to convince the others from Georgia to go to college together and create a “dream team.”
Mitchell and Rome are on board at UGA, but Thomas County Central defensive end Ray Drew and Carver-Columbus running back Isaiah Crowell are still out there. Rome looked into the camera and had special message for them: “Isaiah, Ray, come be a Dawg. We can have the dream team and we can do it. Be a Dawg, baby.”

adam housley

It’s been a big year for the Sister Sister sisters Tia and Tamra Mowry…and it’s just January!
The first announcement was that Tia Mowry was pregnant with her first child. The second big piece of news? That twin sister Tamra Mowry is engaged. She said of her fiance, “I’m beyond thrilled and feel so blessed to have him in my life. Not only is he my love, but also my best friend.” So who is she engaged to? His name Adam Housley. Who is he? housley headshot Tamera Mowry Engaged to Adam Housley! Who is He?
Adam Housley is can be seen on the Fox News Channel as one of their Los Angeles-based correspondents. He also does some travel for his job going to Thailand, Mexico, Nicaragua, Kuwait, Iraq, the Persian Gulf, Pakistan, Israel, Gaza Strip and El Salvador.
Before he scored his Fox News gig he worked as a reporter for a radio station in Napa, California. But he wasn’t always a broadcaster, he was a baseball player. He had been drafted by the Montreal Expos and played for both Milwaukee Brewers and Detroit Tigers miner league teams.
Congrats to the happy couple!

kim richards alcoholic

There is never a dull moment in the Real Housewives franchises. And sometimes there are some pretty serious issues at stake, and not just showing up at a party wearing the same hue of Christian Louboutins. There are new rumors, innuendos and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills sneak peeks that are implying that cast member and former child star Kim Richards is an alcoholic. And this revelation actually explains a lot.On one episode Kim Richards sister Kyle says to Kim, “You are a liar, and sick, and alcoholic. You are an alcoholic. That’s right. I said it and everybody knows.” And then at the very end of the episode there was an update that said that “Kim’s family checked her into rehab . . . A week later, she checked herself out. She is taking her life one day at a time.”
On many episodes she is totally MIA, doesn’t participate in many of the gals events and seems a bit unhinged even for a Real Housewives cast member.
And there is more! It’s not just Kyle that is confronting her, Andy Cohen is too! Check out this sneak peek of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

is kevjumba a heterosexual bear wrestler


We’ve heard the stories of the damage someone lost deep into using their phone create are the force behind some horrible accidents.
But this, blithely walking into a large running water fountain inside the Berkshire Mall, will certainly win a lot of blog awards. Here’s the video for you:
The video was shot by the indoor security system and the security person responsible for the video getting online has since been fired.
And a lawsuit is soon to be announced. Go get them “Fountain Lady”.

john f. kennedy inaugural address

Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, reverend clergy, fellow citizens, we observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom—symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning—signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.
The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.
This much we pledge—and more.
To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do—for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.
To those new States whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom—and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.
To those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required—not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.
To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge—to convert our good words into good deeds—in a new alliance for progress—to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.
To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support—to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective—to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak—and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.
Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.
We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.
But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course—both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind’s final war.
So let us begin anew—remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.
Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms—and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.
Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.
Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah—to “undo the heavy burdens … and to let the oppressed go free.”
And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.
All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.
In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.
Now the trumpet summons us again—not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are—but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation”—a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.
Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Aubrey plaza

is in full-on diva mode in a new promo for "Parks and Recreation," shouting expletives at Aubrey Plaza, punching Adam Scott in the face and throwing coffee in Aziz Ansari's eyes.

In the clip posted on FunnyOrDie.com, the NBC show's cast, including, Amy Poehler, Plaza, Ansari and Scott, are in an office celebrating the series' return to the small screen on Jan. 20.
Rob Lowe steps into the room to join the fun, but expresses shock when he realizes that his handsome face hasn't been on TV for months.
"You knew that, right?" Poehler asks Lowe.
"No I did not f---ing know that," the 46-year-old actor says. "How f---ing long have I not been on television?"
A surprised Poehler tries to defuse the situation by saying it's good news that they are back.
"What's good news?" he yells. "That this [he motions to his face] has not been on TV for five f---ing months?"
Lowe then throws his cup of coffee in Ansari's face, who yells in pain. He then complains that he is out of coffee and tells Plaza, whom he calls the production assistant, to get him another.
"I'm on the show," she replies. "I was on it before you."
"There was no f---ing show before me," he says. "I'm Robert Hepler Lowe."
When Adam Scott expresses surprise at his name,

Where's my refund?

Calculating your IRS refund just got a little "less taxing" this year thanks to the new SnapTax app for the iPhone and Android devices which shows a running tally of the IRS refund, or tax owed, every step of the way of the filing process.


With SnapTax, the details of your refund or how much you owe is in your smartphone:
“IRS e-file is the best option for everyone, especially for people impacted by recent tax law changes,” said Doug Shulman, IRS commissioner.
“E-file ensures people can file accurately and get refunds quickly. With a new legislative e-file mandate for tax preparers, we anticipate that more tax return preparers will be using e-file this year, and we urge people who prepare their own taxes to give it a try. IRS e-file is now the norm, not the exception.”
With the SnapTax app, you can automatically complete basic IRS tax forms on your iPhone or Android by simply taking a picture of your W-2 form and filing in a couple of details. Using OCR technology, it streamlines and simplifies tax preparation, giving you a running tally of taxes owed or if you are entitled to a refund.
The SnapTax app is free to download but you will need to pay $14.99 for one federal 1040EZ and one state tax return plus e-filing.

coachella 2011

2011′s Coachella lineup was announced last night—and sure, it might be stacked with great bands that indie rock denizens have been fawning over since the announcement—the Death From Above 1979 reunion, the standbys like Arcade Fire, Black Keys, the Strokes, Animal Collective, Kings of Leon (if they can manage to get through this show without rescheduling).
But the one area where the festival might fall short is the kitsch factor—Duran Duran is pulling all the weight, here. For starters, people seem to actually like the new Duran Duran single in a non-kitsch way, for one reason or another. Meanwhile, a legitimate grass-roots movement had sprung up to elect another artist to round out the kistch factor at this year’s festival.
There are pages and pages filled with this sentiment. Of course there are plenty of Collins detractors who contribute terse counter-arguments like, “Yuck.” But personally I’m of the opinion that Collins’ time has come. He would have leant this year’s festival a certain cultural resonance that Duran Duran just can’t supply.
So where did the legions of “Phil Collins 2011″ troops go wrong? If you want to start a

alex lambert

False alarm! Sorry to stir up your sympathies for nothing!
Sources have gotten in touch with 19 Entertainment, one of American Idol's production companies and the management company for many of the Idol artists, to get an update on Alex Lambert, who yesterday, tweeted that he was "kinda homeless."
In response, a spokesperson for the company insisted that Alex is "not homeless" and that the company has no idea "where that came from" since at the moment, they're paying him good money! The spokesperson explained:
“He’s on a retainer, and he’s getting money every month. He’s working on demos. He’s with writers, he’s working on music…He’s not homeless. How could he be texting? How could he be going into recording studio and sleeping on the streets? There’s no record deal yet, but hopefully these demos something could come from that.”
We were curious as to how he was able to tweet as well, but then again, there are so many places to snag free internet around El Lay, we really didn't think much of it.
19 Entertainment isn't the only one trying to clear up this misunderstanding - so is Alex. Those his tweets seemed pretty clear to us, he took to his Twitter several hours later to clarify the "miscommunication." He wrote:
“I’m a grown ass man. I’ve had so much help out here in LA! I just want to do things on my own! I have places to stay I just don’t want to be a burden on anyone! I have money! And soon I will have a place to stay! I just wanted to let y’all know! I’m not some rich spoiled kid! That I’ve had to hustle and grind and I don’t mind sleepin on the street as long as I get my chance! Because I will not take it for granted! I hope y’all understand. Sorry for the miscommunication. I’m just fine!”
Alright then. Super. Glad to hear the back of that Starbucks no longer has an occupant.

Monday, January 17, 2011

are banks open on martin luther king day

Several services are closed or operating on holiday schedule today, January 17, 2011.
- Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday and all schools, postal service, and government buildings are closed in observance.
- The MTA is running all transportation services on a weekend schedule.
- There will be no garbage pick-up in New York City on January 17.
- All parking rules are suspended in New York City.
- Many banks in the area are closed, and many stores will be closing early in observance of the holiday.
However, there are countless activities going on in the New York City area to commemorate the civil rights hero who is celebrated on this day.
Here is a list of some events going on around the city today and this evening in honor of the holiday:
- Join the JCC at Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at 6:30 PM on Monday for its annual presentation of jazz music by artists who agreed with Martin Luther King, Jr. and his vision for justice, peace and civil rights.  Admission is free Location: Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space
2537 Broadway at 95th St.; 646-505-4493

- The Brooklyn Academy of Music will be hosting its 25th annual day-long tribute to the civil rights champion with a host of activities.  Mayor Bloomberg and other city officials are expected to attend.  The event begins at 10:30 AM and will go on through the day.  Check out their site for travel information.
- The Museum of the Moving Image, in Queens, will be hosting its own event to mark the holiday.  At 3:00 PM on Monday, the museum will be screening "King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery To Memphis."  The film covers the major events of Martin Luther King's life.  Locaiton: 35 Avenue at 37 St., Astoria, NY 11106; 718-777-6888
Bear in mind that transportation will be limited today as the MTA is on a holiday schedule.

mlk quotes

Today is Martin Luther King Day 2011, and while many people are going about their daily routines and asking questions like, “Are banks open on Martin Luther King Day?”, we should take a moment to stop and remember Martin Luther King Jr., and the prominent effect that he had on this country.

The Martin Luther King Jr. “I Have a Dream” speech will go down in history as one of the most remembered and loved speeches of our lifetime. Martin Luther King quotes from the speech are still repeated by many to this day.
To celebrate MLK day, here are some inspirational MLK quotes:
“No one really knows why they are alive until they know what they’d die for.”
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation were they will not be judge by the color of their skin but by the content of their character .”
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?”
“Free at last, Free at last, Thank god almighty we are free at last.”
“No person has the right to rain on your dreams.”
“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.”
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would still go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.”
“And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.”
“Whenever men and women straighten their backs up, they are going somewhere, because a man can’t ride your back unless it is bent”
“If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.”
“One’s dignity may be assaulted, vandalized, cruelly mocked, but it an never be taken away unless it is surrendered.”

Hate cannot drive out hate'

'Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.... Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.' –Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community
At the height of his career, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King gave 450 speeches and traveled more than 325,000 miles per year. All told, his speeches and writings fill hundreds of pages, but it’s not all unique material. Throughout his career, Dr. King often reused lines in his speeches, including this one, which popped up in several places throughout the mid to late 1960s.

Friday, January 14, 2011

kelsey grammer girlfriend

Kelsey Grammer is marrying his girlfriend Kayte Walsh in February.
Kelsey Grammer and Kayte Walsh
Kelsey Grammer is pretty much ignoring his former wife’s confessional to Howard Stern that he’s into cross-dressing and what-not. Instead, he’s focusing on his new lady-love. His future baby-mama and younger verson of his former wife, Camile Donatacci Gammer.
PHOTO: Camille Donatacci Grammer in a Bikini
The 55-year-old actor told David Letterman on Thursday night that he and his new love, Kayte Walsh, are planning to get married as soon as possible, probably in February. He and Kayte Walsh have been dating since July 2010, much to the surprise of Camile, who was at the time playing the uber-beotch on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The episodes of the reality show aired after the news of Kelsey Grammer’s love-affair with the 29-year-old British flight attendant came to light. It was a little creepy to watch her on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills talking about her marriage when we already knew he was messing around with Kayte Walsh. But that’s another story.
Kelsey told People Magazine that they are getting married because they are engaged and they are engaged because they are in love so why postpone the happy union of wallet, I mean man, and wife.
Kelsey Grammer first asked for a divorce when his girlfriend was pregnant with his fifth child. However, she miscarried, but Grammer says they are in love and plan on her becoming his fourth wife. Of course, that would be after he clears up the ugly business of divorcing his third wife and mother of his two youngest children, Camille, who he has been married to since 1997.
Camille Grammer, 41, is seeking full physical custody of the couples two children, daughter Mason, 8, and son Jude, 5 and is reported to be in eligible for a $50 million divorce settlement.
I have read that Camile Donatacci Gammer has been the brains behind Kelsey Grammer’s ability to capitalize on his star power and maximize his earning power. Reports are that he’s terrible with money. I just don’t know how it will go for him without someone keeping track of his funds. He’ll be okay as long as he earns, I guess.
Whatever the case. We wish nothing but luck for his fourth marriage to Brit Kayte Walsh. Maybe fourth time’s the charm. We certainly hope so.

most popular boy names 2009

The most popular names for children born during the first six months of 2010 were William for boys and Ida for girls, according to data released today by Statistics Denmark.
The names dethrone 2009’s most popular names, Mikkel and Freja. Coming in a distant second on the boy’s side was Noah. While for the girls, Isabella, the name of the Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary’s daughter, was a close runner up.
Rounding out the top three were Lucas on the boys' side and Anna for the girls.
The period’s biggest movers proved be Felix, up from 53rd to 34th, between Valdemar and Niklas, and Alberte, which improved 10 places to become the 13th most popular name, well behind Josefine, but just ahead of Laura.
Although traditional names such as Jens and Anna remain the most common, different generations are identified by certain trends and span from Mikkel and Emma for those under 10 to Jens and Anna for centenarians.
When it comes to last names, classic '-sen' surnames, such as Jensen, Nielsen, Hansen, and Andersen still dominate, but their popularity has declined considerably over the past century. While 19 percent of children born today have such names, some 40 percent of people over 80 do.
The most common name of all, according to Statistics Denmark, remains Jens Jensen for men and Kirsten Jensen for women.
Visit Statistics Denmark's name section to see how many people in Denmark have a specific name or name combination.
Factfile | Most common names by generation

most popular boy names 2009

Last night Million Dollar Money Drop questions focused on the most popular boy names 2009 and Christie Brinkley.
The popular Fox game show creates huge buzz online, the most popular boy names 2009 and Christie Brinkley were everywhere on Facebook, Twitter and blogs.
The host of the Million Dollar Money Drop asked contestants “What is the most popular baby names in 2009?” The three choices answers for the question were:  Michael, Jacob and Ethan. Of course, the correct answer was Jacob.
The Twilight Saga movies have made Jacob a very popular name but according to Million Dollar Money Drop host Kevin Pollak, the name Jacob has been popular for over 10 years.
Another big question from Million Dollar Money Drop was about celebrity divorces.  The question was, ”Which of these celebrities had been divorced the most number of times?” The answer was Christie Brinkley. Four of Christie Brinkley’s previous marriages have ended in divorce.
Christie Brinkley was married to Jean-Francois Allaux. They divorced in 1981. She was then married to Olivier Chandon de Brailles. Olivier died in a race-car crash.
Christie married to Billy Joel for her third marriage. They divorced August 25, 1994. Next Brinkley married to Richard Taubman. Christie Brinkley’s most recent marriage was to Peter Cook. Their marriage ended with a divorce in 2008, after Cook had an improper relationship with their nanny.

New Astrological Signs 2011 – Zodiac Signs Changed

Millions of people woke up this morning to find out that their world has drastically changed and that they can no longer blame their personalities, their luck and their mood swings on their zodiac signs. Your date of birth may not have changed – but your zodiac sign just did.
According to Minnesota Planetarium Society board member Parke Kunkle the signs of the zodiac have changed because the gravitational force of the Moon has managed to tilt the planet’s axis a bit since the Babylonians determined the dates of the Zodiac five thousand years ago.
Today we have also learned that not only the way you read horoscope has changed – we have also discovered that there may be a 13th Zodiac sign called Ophiuchus.
Thanks to those new findings, you are strongly advised to remove your Capricorn tattoo – as it turned out you might actually be a Sagittarius. The next time you open a news paper and want to read your daily horoscope take the following information into consideration:

Capricorn: Jan. 20 – Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 16 – March 11
Pisces: March 11- April 18
Aries: April 18 – May 13
Taurus: May 13 – June 21
Gemini: June 21 – July 20
Cancer: July 20 – Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10 – Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16 – Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30 – Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23 – Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29 – Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17 – Jan. 20

Thursday, January 13, 2011

ophiuchus

Your zodiac sign may not actually be your zodiac sign anymore.
Astronomer Parke Kunkle says that due to changes in the Earth's alignment the dates of many zodiac signs have changed, according to NBC. In addition, there may be a 13th Zodiac sign: Ophiuchus.
Kunkle says that as the Earth and Sun slowly move the signs gradually change, as expected.
The change didn't happen over night either. The 12 signs were designated to different periods of the year almost 3,000 years ago, when astrology began, and since then the Earth's position in relation to the sun has changed.
While the sign many people were born under may now be different, it shouldn't affect horoscope readings, according to NBC.
See if your Zodiac sign has changed below.
The New Dates:
Story continues below
Capricorn: Jan. 20 - Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 16 - March 11
Pisces: March 11- April 18
Aries: April 18- May 13
Taurus: May 13- June 21
Gemini: June 21- July 20
Cancer: July 20- Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10- Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16- Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30- Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23- Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29- Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17- Jan. 20

skeet ulrich

is giving us a serious headache. The drama continues to expunge half of its cast, while shuffling around the actors that it keeps. Dick Wolf is creatively revamping the show, which caused the exit of Skeet Ulrich, Megan Boone, and Regina Hall. Ulrich played one half of the detective team, while Hall and Boone were the assistants to the ADAs. According to EW, one of the saving graces of LOLA, Alfred Molina, will be demoted to a new position, and it will be story dictated.

Molina currently plays the role of ADA Ricardo Morales, but he’ll soon make the move to detective where he’ll take Ulrich’s place. Here’s how the change will occur: …”it will be revealed that his character was on the Los Angeles Police Department for 15 years, having earned the detective rank. His frustrations as a prosecutor reach a tipping point and he decides to return to the police force.”
This means that Terrence Howard, who plays the other ADA Jonah Dekker will be on the show full time as their “order” counterpart. “Law & Order: Los Angeles” is currently in the middle of its first season, and we’re not sure when these casting effects will take place. We hope they’ll at least wait until the fall to debut the new line up.

ted williams rehab

he homeless D.J. with the "golden voice" has been on an extraordinary roller coaster ride, going from rags to potential riches in just a few short days after a video of him practicing his radio voice hit the net.

After news broke that Ted Williams had been detained by police following an altercation with his daughter, we expected a downward spiral just as quick as his ascent to stardom. Luckily, as a result of his newfound fame, Williams now has the means to get help for his addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Sure enough, the day after the police stepped in, Williams appeared on "Dr. Phil." And Dr. Phil had done his homework. "Who ordered the Grey Goose vodka last night?" he asked Williams and his family.

High rollers! With an addict in their midst, enjoying a night of expensive booze isn't exactly the most brilliant idea.

Dr. Phil's show turned into an intervention so personal it almost felt intrusive to watch it. Williams admitted that his estrangement from his family was painful for him. "That's where I found comfort in a good blast," he says. "That's where I found comfort in a half a pint of wine. I medicated, I numbed my feelings against it."

Williams' daughter accused him of drinking every night and lying to "the world" about being sober for over two years.

Off the air, Dr. Phil convinced Williams to get the help he needed and reports say that he's now on his way to rehab. Hopefully, he'll get out clean and sober, and we can all listen to his voice announcing everything for years to come.

obama speech tucson

At last night's memorial service for the fallen victims in Saturday's tragedy in Tucson, Arizona, President Barack Obama spoke at length about the lives led by Jared Lee Loughner's victims, and shone a light on the extraordinary men and women who performed acts of valor during and after the event. But did Obama accidentally torpedo part of the federal case against Loughner? According to Josh Gerstein, concern troll, he totally did!
"Obama speech undercuts federal charge for judge's murder," is the basket case that Gerstein gives us in Politico and naturally, his entire case hangs on a detail so picayune that it would embarrass an ordinary writer. Essentially, here's the exact moment where Obama did all of this undercutting:
OBAMA: [Judge John Roll] was on his way back from attending mass, as he did every day, when he decided to stop by and say, 'Hi,' to his representative.
I know! Right away, you're saying, "Huh, what?" I guess this is the answer to that question:
In the complaint supporting Loughner's arrest, federal prosecutors argue that Roll wasn't simply seeking to pay a social call on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) when he showed up at the community outreach event where the shooting spree took place Saturday. Prosecutors and the FBI insist that Roll "was engaged in official duties" because he wanted to talk to Giffords and her staffers about problems with a surging caseload in federal courts in Arizona, particularly along the Mexican border. Loughner's alleged killing of Roll may only be a crime under federal law if Roll was on business and not merely stopping by to say hi to a friend.
And Gerstein's right about that! But what's also true is that President Obama was not submitting sworn testimony last night, he was speaking at a memorial service. His job was to say something nice about the victims, not to bore the audience with disclaimers and legal minutiae. But if you want that stuff, the actual criminal complaint delivers. Here is the relevant portion of the Statement of Probable Cause, in which the federal case is very solidly underpinned:
On or about January 8, 2011, in Tucson, Arizona, Congresswomen Gabrielle Giffords hosted a pre-announced event entitled "Congress On Your Corner," at a Safeway store at 7170 Oracle Road. Congresswoman Giffords represents the Eighth Congressional District in Southern Arizona. The office of Congresswoman Giffords has publicized the event in advance, including by e-mail and telephonic announcements. Your affiant states that Congresswoman Giffords' staff at the event included Gabriel Zimmerman, Rob Barber, and Pamela Simon, who are employees of the United States, all of whom attended to assist Congresswoman Giffords in her official duties. On January 9, 2011, your affiant spoke with U.S. Marshal David Gonzales, who stated that the Honorable John M. Roll, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, had worked with Congresswoman Giffords within the last several months to resolve issues related to the volume of cases filed in the District of Arizona. Judge Roll was notified about Congresswoman Giffords' event telephonically on or about January 7, 2011. having spoken to Pia Carusone, the Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Giffords in Washington D.C., U.S. Marshal Gonzales reports that Ron Barber, a staff person for Congresswoman Giffords who was present at the event, stated that Judge Roll attended the event and sought to speak to Congresswoman Giffords, and spoke with Mr. Barber about issues related to the volume of federal cases in the District of Arizona; Judge Roll expressed his appreciation to Mr. Barber for the help and support that COngresswoman Giffords had given. Your affiant reviewed a digital surveillance video depicting the events at the Safeway; in the video, Judge Roll is seen speaking for several minutes with Mr. Barber.
And at some point, chances are good that Judge Roll might have wanted to, in addition to all of the things that are affirmed by witnesses and surveillance videos, say "Hi" to Gabrielle Giffords. I guess it's a good thing that the criminal complaint exists, because for a minute there, I thought that Obama had totally blown the case, you know?
But since I've come this far, let's see how Gerstein concludes The Case Of The Memorial Service Anecdote:
As a legal matter, Obama's view (which tracks with the public narrative offered by Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik) may be irrelevant, but it probably doesn't help to have the President of the United States emphasizing the social aspect of Roll's stop to see Giffords on Saturday, rather than the reason prosecutors claim drew him there.

Peter Fonda makes a grisly discovery

Los Angeles (CNN) -- "Easy Rider" actor Peter Fonda found a body while driving down Sunset Boulevard in the Pacific Palisades community of west Los Angeles on Wednesday, police said.
Fonda, 70, noticed that a car had been parked on side street off Sunset Boulevard for two days, so he stopped to check it out, according to Los Angeles Police Homicide Detective Allen Shubert.
"He looked in the vehicle and saw a body in there and called the fire department," Shubert said.
A man who had committed suicide several days before was slumped over the wheel of the sedan, he said.
The man's identity has not been made public, but he was not a celebrity

Black Sorority Delta Sigma Theta C elebrates 98th Founder’s Day

Black sorority, Delta Sigma Theta has celebrated its 98th Founder’s Day. Delta Sigma Theta was founded in 1913 at Howard University by 22 female students. Delta Sigma Theta has a history of political activism dating since the women’s suffrage movement when they marched in the 1918 Women Suffrage March in Washington D.C.
The sorority has continued its social activism in fields such as education, home ownership, financial literacy and women’s issues in Africa.
Some famous Delta Sigma Theta members include singer, Roberta Flack, radio personality, Jacque Reid, Malcolm X’s widow Betty Shabazz, scholar, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Surgeon Generals, Regina Benjamin and Joycelyn Elders, Astronaut , Joan Higginbotham, Civil Rights Activist, Dorothy Height, former Presidential candidate Shirley Chisholm, congresswoman Barbara Jordan, and Olympic winner, Wilma Rudolph.

Sister Brandi Favre Arrested Making Crystal Meth

Brett Favre isn’t the only one in his family making headlines. Days after the everlasting football star was sued for sexual harassment, Brett Favre’s sister Brandi Favre has been arrested for allegedly manufacturing crystal meth.
People Magazine reports that the 34 year-old from Pass Christian, Mississippi, was charged with the felonies of manufacturing methamphetamine and generation of hazardous waste  in her condo. Brandi’s operation was traced after two undercover police officers bought meth from two suspects at a nearby gas station. The apartment had “an overwhelming odor [with] smoke and fumes,” and meth was found cooking in the bathtub, a police sergeant said.
Brandi and two other suspects in the condo were arrested, making the total number of suspects five. According to CBS News, they range in age from 25 to 53.
According to reports, Brandi has had a criminal past, including prior charges for shoplifting and unlawful use of a weapon. However, she completed a program in Louisiana that allowed her criminal charges to be erased. Hancock County Sheriff’s Maj. Matt Karl said that officers are “very familiar” with Brandi. “She’s always in trouble,” he said.

new zodiac sign dates

My whole life I’ve been a Virgo. Not the most glamorous sign, I’ll admit, with our obsessively organized, slightly uptight, nerd-ish qualities. Yet I’ve come to accept that this is who I am; I’ve come to love my Virgo-ness. And now with these new zodiac sign dates, I find out that I’m actually a LEO. Granted, Leo is one of the most fun signs, so I’m not complaining, but it’s kind of rocking my world.
But even more than that, my son’s sign is different. When I was pregnant, my son’s due date (Feb. 6) fell dangerous close to the Aquarius/Pisces cut-off, since a mere two-week difference (and that’s not unlikely with an original due date) could push my son’s personality over to Pisces. Now, I don’t have anything against Pisces people, I just wanted an Aquarius baby. But now? Now he’s a CAPRICORN. I don’t even know what that means.
Continue reading to find your NEW zodiac sign date, and cute products to help you come to terms with this crazy change:
Here are the new zodiac sign dates:
Capricorn: Jan 20 – Feb. 16 (my son!)
Aquarius: Feb. 16 – March 11
Pisces: March 11 – April 18
Aries: April 18 – May 13
Taurus: May 13 – June 21
Gemini: June 21 – July 20
Cancer: July 20 – Aug. 10

What's Your Reaction?

Your zodiac sign may not actually be your zodiac sign anymore.
Astronomer Parke Kunkle says that due to changes in the Earth's alignment the dates of many zodiac signs have changed, according to NBC. In addition, there may be a 13th Zodiac sign: Ophiuchus.
Kunkle says that as the Earth and Sun slowly move the signs gradually change, as expected.
The change didn't happen over night either. The 12 signs were designated to different periods of the year almost 3,000 years ago, when astrology began, and since then the Earth's position in relation to the sun has changed.
While the sign many people were born under may now be different, it shouldn't affect horoscope readings, according to NBC.
See if your Zodiac sign has changed below.
The New Dates:
Story continues below
Capricorn: Jan. 20 - Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 16 - March 11
Pisces: March 11- April 18
Aries: April 18- May 13
Taurus: May 13- June 21
Gemini: June 21- July 20
Cancer: July 20- Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10- Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16- Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30- Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23- Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29- Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17- Jan. 20

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Auburn Tigers’ Championship win

Cam Newton wears No. 2. He’s half of that, and then some.
The Auburn quarterback closed out a brilliant, controversial season with a Heisman Trophy, a national championship and his index finger aloft.
He is No. 1. And after a 22-19 victory over Oregon before a record crowd at the University of Phoenix Stadium, only one questioned remained:
Was this the end of his college career?
Newton wouldn’t say after the game, but if so, the Cardinals had better do their homework. Newton showed off his dizzying array of skills, from his rugged athleticism to great poise in the pocket. His bowl statistics weren’t as flashy as Stanford’s Andrew Luck, but he beat a team that Luck could not.
Newton is 1-0 in Glendale, and if he declares for the NFL draft, he would be tantalizingly close to the Cardinals, who own the No. 5 overall pick.
Imagine how good he’d look in red, returning to the scene of Monday’s triumph.
“I’m a prime example of how a guy can turn something that was bad into something that was very great,” Newton said.
The game was quirky, featuring a fake punt, three 2-point plays, two goal-line stands and some of the funkier footwear on the planet. The real heroes were Auburn’s defense and running back Michael Dyer, who powered his team on the game-winning drive.
Yet everything about Auburn revolves around its star quarterback, the one who fumbled with five minutes remaining.
After Oregon capitalized on the turnover, a delicious scenario emerged: If Newton possessed rare star quality, he would lead his team to a game-winning score. It sounds overly simplistic, but transcendent quarterbacks always find a way to get it done under stifling pressure, in the really big moments.
The Tigers scored without much resistance. It was all Dyer, but the total conviction oozing from Auburn’s offense stemmed from the presence of Newton, who orchestrated at 24-point comeback at Alabama earlier in the season. And moments after Monday’s game ended, it was announced that Newton would fly from Arizona to a seat on Jay Leno’s couch today.
“In my career as a head coach, he’s the best player I’ve seen,” Oregon coach Chip Kelly said.
Granted, the low-scoring affair didn’t live up to the hype. Three interceptions in the first 10 minutes muted the excitement. A scoreless first quarter – just the sixth time that has happened in 49 previous quarters of BCS title-game football – had many bracing for disappointment.
There was a feeling this game would be another showcase moment for the SEC, which has produced the past five national champions. On the street, you could feel the difference between the respective fan bases. Auburn fans seemed stoic, hardened by battle. By contrast, many Oregon fans were blowing kazoos that made quacking sounds.
But as the game progressed, it was clear that Oregon belonged on the same field with the unbeaten Tigers. And the full-page ad that ran in The Republic on Monday offered great insight into how Oregon has become an elite football program.
The ad showed LaMichael James walking up a tunnel in a high-tech uniform. It reads: “Yesterday’s Fast is Today’s Slow.” The inference is that players at Oregon have access to innovative apparel that can’t be found at other universities. That’s a powerful recruiting tool.
Still, there is no substitute for a really good quarterback, and that was Auburn’s biggest advantage entering the game.
Newton had some shaky moments. He threw into double coverage, resulting in a bad interception. He short-armed a throw on fourth down near the goal line, failing to connect with a wide-open receiver in the end zone. He overshot a receiver streaking down the middle of the field.
But he accounted for nearly 350 yards of total offense and managed the game extremely well. As the first half evolved, the reigning Heisman winner took command with his arms and his legs. His sensational touchdown pass to Emory Blake, son of former Cardinals quarterback Jeff Blake, gave the Tigers a 16-11 lead at intermission.
Yet both teams left the field to standing ovations.
Auburn’s fans were comfortable with the scoreboard and the pedigree of their team. Oregon fans knew their team’s penchant for second-half domination. Somehow, everyone in attendance knew that the best was still to come.

Monday, January 10, 2011

2011 NFL Draft Player Profile

If you haven’t heard of the Matthews family by now, you most likely live under a rock. It’s no secret that they are one of the most dominant football families to ever play in the NFL. Clay Matthews Sr., and Clay Matthews Jr. are the most well know, as well as his uncle Bruce Matthews who will go down as one of the best offensive tackles to ever play the game. His grandfather Clay Matthews I was a standout in the 1950’s, as well.
2011 NFL Draft

Is it just a name, or can Matthews play?

While his brother walked on and under-achieved at USC, Casey wasn’t as fortunate. He was an undersized three star recruit coming out of Oaks Christian High School. He received scholarship offers from numerous Pac-10 schools, as well as a few medium ranged ACC schools. He chose Oregon in the end, and played in all 11 games in his freshman year.

Casey may not be as physically gifted as his brother Clay, but there’s no doubt that he’s just as intelligent and has a great work ethic.

Player Name: Casey Matthews

Position: Inside Linebacker

School: Oregon

Height: 6’2

Weight: 237

Strengths

Matthews’ biggest strength is his athleticism. He’s also an extremely intelligent player who does well reading and reacting to the offensive play on every down. He has a non-stop motor, playing well sideline to sideline. He’s a very good tackler, who’s very fundamentally sound. He doesn’t often get caught out of position, and he uses his athleticism to make up for his lack of overall bulk. Matthews is also excellent in making plays in coverage. He covers his zone almost effortlessly, and has a knack for finding the ball. He’s an underrated pass rusher on the inside, and has the speed to maybe make the transition to the OLB position in a 3-4, although that may not utilize his skill-set to the maximum. However, his versatility is fantastic and will be coveted among teams in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Weaknesses

The biggest knock on Matthews is his size. He’s not the biggest or strongest player on the football field. He plays in a very loosely based zone defense in Oregon which helps his athleticism shine. He may not be able to transition to a 3-4 defense because of his inability to frequently get off of blockers. He’s most likely restricted to a 4-3 role, but he’s versatile enough to play all three linebacker positions in a 4-3 scheme. While he’s not weak by any means, he still needs to improve on his strength and use his arms to get off blocks, rather than getting fully engaged with blockers.

Draft Range

Right now, it’s completely open where Matthews goes. His brother, Clay, had some of the same weaknesses coming out, not being a big, strong linebacker. But hard work propelled him into the first, and Casey could do the same if he works out well enough at the combine. Right now, his ceiling is as high as a late first round pick, but he’ll most likely be selected between the middle of the second round and middle of the third round. Look for teams like Indianapolis, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Detroit to target him. If teams feel he can make the transition to 3-4, it could improve his stock heavily as teams like Cleveland, Buffalo, Arizona, and Green Bay could look at grabbing him in the 2011 NFL

Oregon vs Auburn

If you want more evidence, below are two videos showing how DIRTY the Auburn Tigers players played this evening against the Oregon Ducks in this Oregon vs Auburn BCS National Championship 2011 game.
In one of the videos, it looked like Nick Fairley was trying to break LaMichael James’ neck. It was intentional and all he got was a 15 yard penalty. This overrated southern player should have been ejected. In fact, Nick Fairley is well known for these types of antics throughout the entire 2010-2011 college football season.
In this Oregon vs Auburn BCS National Championship game, the officiating was NOT good at all. How can a BIG10 officiating team be calling this type of game? They had a horrible reputation during this college football bowl season. They missed a lot of calls, especially tonight.
The second video showed Tiger’s running back, Eric Smith, kicking an Oregon Duck player well after the play had ended. The Duck player had to briefly leave the game because he was bleeding from his head.
I have never seen a bunch of college football athletes playing so dirty like this in my entire life until I watched this game. The game got so bad that I had to turn off the television and listen to it on the radio.
Overall, Auburn has a bunch of dirty players. Cam Newton should have been ruled ineligible. Fairley and Smith should have been ejected from the game. Auburn should not have won the BCS title game. Oregon was the better team tonight but the refs did not see it that way.

BCS' Bill Hancock defends system

No. 1 vs. No. 2, that's the whole point of the BCS national championship, and everybody's happy.
Right?
Fans of Auburn and Oregon, and those who say the system has worked since its inception in 1999, think so - but TCU, the nation's other undefeated regular-season team, was on the outside looking in, getting the consolation prize by winning the Rose Bowl.
 BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock understands the situation.
"What we have is an event that leads to a two-team championship game, not a three-team championship game," he said. "(TCU) had a great season, well-coached, a very good football team.
"What I tell them is, 'Congratulations on a great season, and remember that you got a Rose Bowl reward that was made possible because of the BCS, and you'll remember that Rose Bowl for the rest of your lives.' That is a good football team."
Still, the national championship game comes down to opinions and computer analysis. Hancock does not see that as a drawback.
"There are 270 voters, each of them an individual (who) makes individual decisions based on what he or she thinks is best."

Dress for success

For Oregon running-backs coach Gary Campbell, dressing sharp is part of his lifestyle. The fashion sense he learned at a young age from his mother is something he has not forgotten.
And coaches, players and fans of the Ducks can attest to that.
Before the game, he was on the field wearing a sharp three-piece suit, which he purchased a few days ago, for the first time.
He was hoping it was a good-luck charm, and even though the outfit is expensive, he said he would not mind if he wore it just one time.
His plan if the Ducks won: "I'll just retire it, hang it up and look at it."

Circle of prayer

Before Auburn's first game of the season, assistant head coach Trooper Taylor began what has become a seasonlong ritual. About 2 1/2 before kickoff, the team runs onto the field and forms a circle for a prayer - then they sing a few choruses of "Lean on Me."
An Auburn insider said Taylor wanted a song that could define the team, one with a message the team could rally behind.
The ritual is repeated following the game as well.

Extra points

There was a moment of silence and prayer before the game - it was included in the national ESPN telecast - for the victims of Saturday's shooting in Tucson.
- Honorary captains for the game were two former All-Americans, Bo Jackson from Auburn and Oregon's Ahmad Rashad (then known as Bobby Moore). Both were introduced to thunderous applause from the sellout crowd of 78,000-plus.
- An American eagle with great timing soared around the stadium during the singing of the national anthem.
- Demand for tickets and BCS championship pins was so high that fans begged reporters to sell them their media credentials and souvenir pins. Apparently, all the 750 media members were legit.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/colleges/articles/2011/01/10/20110110bcs-bill-hancock-defends-system.html#ixzz1AiGsMngM

Auburn football team champs on field but not in graduation rates

Auburn University’s football team won the national collegiate football championship, but the Tigers aren’t exactly champs when it comes to graduation rates.
According to the Academic Progress Rate, a four-year assessment by the NCAA of the movement toward graduation for a team’s players, Auburn has dropped from No. 4 to No. 85 among the120 major college football programs.
The drop was caused when Auburn closed academic loopholes that had allowed football players to pad their grade point averages and remain eligible to play by taking easy courses, according to a story in The New York Times.
In addition, a study of 2010-11 bowl-bound college teams conducted by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida showed that Auburn has the highest disparity in graduation rates between white and black players of any major football team. White players graduate at the rate of 100 percent; black players 49 percent.
The University of Oregon, according to that study, graduates 76 percent of white players and 41 percent of its African-American players.
The study, released last month, showed that five of the bowl-bound schools had graduation success rates for African-American football student-athletes that exceeded their rates for white football student-athletes: Northwestern (one percentage point higher), Virginia Tech (three percentage points higher), Southern Mississippi (three percentage points higher), Notre Dame (four percentage points higher) and Troy (10 percentage points higher).
Education Secretary Arne Duncan has been vocal about the importance of college sports teams maintaining high graduation rates.
In an interview on Monday with Washington Post reporters and editors, he repeated that position, saying teams that do not have a graduation rate of at least 40 percent should not be allowed to participate in post-season play. He added that any sanctions for wrongdoing brought by the NCAA on a particular program should also follow the coach under whom they occurred.