Nafissatou Diallo: January 2011

Bettina's Blog ::: 5th Blogiversary!

Guest post by Bettina Perroni

I present my blog. The best blog in the world lol (for me):::

bettinaperroni.blogspot.com

The blog is old. As of January 10 five years on the Web. Its content has been a source of inspiration for some criticism for others. Millions are unaware of its existence but it does have thousands of visitors who have become loyal readers.

All that the author-or I - ever wanted to do was to make this space a personal diary. "Genesis: Origin of my thoughts" rather than a recapitulation of experiences, is the cave where Bettina Perroni has released all these thoughts. Some truths have leaned between the lines, but there are pitfalls when writing.

Why Genesis?, Simply because I believe in the existence of an end ... even in the "happy endings." My belief is based on the constant changes that occur the birth of new stages, new experiences. In short, I born in a different way to the reality in each of my writings. I like to approach life objectively, directly ... but just to watch me pleasure myself from a different perspective, challenging the destination to see when you make a mistake.

I am author, actor and observer of my own decisions and I critique, and judge my own actions.

This blog has allowed me to survive, get over, my fear of flying. Here I am in love, I am disappointed and I have prospered. Sure, let me get close to people that I can not physically see and be where I can not.

You see, you have me here ... and now

you and me.

Surreal but possible;)

So I LOVE MY BLOG and I look forward to the day when this space very soon will wake up with a new look (as new as mine). How many times I needed this blog ...

Maybe you also need a blog.

Quizás también le interese:

Cuando una historia se acaba...

To be... or not to be

COMO EN CASA...

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Can your local TV news staff do this?

I watched it on the telly over the weekend. I wonder if John McLoughlin tendering his resignation over at WTEN led to WNYT's desire to spread the video below?

WTEN announces McLoughlin's replacement: a cub reporter!

What videos could WTEN respond with? Demetria Ganias covering any Nicki Minaj tune? How about John McL himself answering the call with his own rendition of This little number!

Top Entrecard droppers January 2011

Here they are.

The folks who dropped most on this humble weblog.

But far more importantly, there was a single blog that I purchased adverts on that totally outperformed all of the other ec blogs my widget appeared on! Not only did I get "hits' ::: I got HIGH-QUALITY traffic! People who actually STAYED for awhile to read my articles!
That blog belongs to Kimm!

Monday Morning Message

Friends, here we are, smack dab in the middle of wintertime! The last day of January begins our new workweek, and we'll be into the short month of February by the time it's all done Friday at 5pm!

I have a busy week ahead: the radio station fund drive take splace all week. On Tuesday we have Governor Andrew Cuomo out with his budget proposal. Wednesday meteorologists peg as the day of the next Northeast snowstorm, and we're not certain of its track. Will New York City get dumped on again? Will the storm reach the Capital Region and Saratoga? Stay tuned!

I've been awfully busy over the last several days, a trend I expect to continue. You must excuse my lack of more frequent posting for the time being. And know that the release of the 12 Hottest Blogging Babes for the year 2011 is coming soon.

Looking over the weekend Times Union I find Albany news doesn't seem to change very much. The local landfill is still running out of space. The newspaper continues to chase down any dirt regarding NXIVM and its founder Keith Raniere.

A national story that caught my eye was one about a rich woman who went wacko and killed her teenagers! Kids can indeed be "mouthy" but in this case mom blew her top! The NY Daily Nx has details and pictures from Facebook.

Last week's most interesting picture was that Reuters photo of lightning striking Mt. Shimone as the Japanese volcano erupted.

Imagine seeing TWO suns in the sky!*** The TU on page A8 (Sunday) may have the answer to why the Mayan calendar ends at the year 2012: the imminent explosion of Betelgeuse!

I had some issues with Saki Tumi's laptop, and let me tell you, what a difference a good disk cleaning program can make!

Wishing you a good week - I'll post when I can, and of course you can always find me on twitter!

*** From WikiPedia ::: The creation of the Crab Nebula corresponds to the bright SN 1054 supernova that was recorded by Chinese astronomers and Arab astronomers in 1054 AD. The Crab Nebula itself was first observed in 1731 by John Bevis. The nebula was independently rediscovered in 1758 by Charles Messier as he was observing a bright comet. Messier catalogued it as the first entry in his catalogue of comet-like objects. The Earl of Rosse observed the nebula at Birr Castle in the 1840s, and referred to the object as the Crab Nebula because a drawing he made of it looked like a crab.

Tags: NXIVM, Betelgeuse

Around The Blogosphere 30 January 2011

Entrecard Experiencing Technical Difficulties

The popular hybrid advertising/social blogger's network is having a "dashboard" dilemma: Droppers can't reciprocate the way they are accustomed to! "Serious error: We have a bug in our software..." read »

Brazil: Exclusive Internet Interview with the Founder of WikiLeaks

Read this post.

Written by Paula Góes · Translated by Melissa Mann · Americas

Brazilian netizens were invited to participate in an exclusive and collective interview with Julian Assange, founder and editor of the polemical WikiLeaks. Assange explains why he works with mainstream media – though he never fails to criticize it. read »

Egypt: Hosni Mubarak Appoints Vice-president (Politics)
A. Fatih Syuhud - 19 hours agoIn other countries vice-president appointment might not be a news at all. Not in Egypt. Since, Husni Mubarak have not appointed any VP during his 30-year rule.

Egypt: Solidarity Pours in from Around the World

Read this post.

Written by Hisham · Middle East & North Africa

On Saturday, in different cities around the world, people demonstrated in solidarity with the Egyptian protesters. This is a round up of some of the videos of the marches posted!

Entrecard Error?

Hmmm... Entrecard is not working today. If you can't do your reciprocal dropping, here's a new program you can join and get started in while waiting for EC to come back up.

So, you're not dropping 300 (or 600 or 900) today?

Have you joined AFFILIATE LIGHTS?

Click here to sign up for FREE right now!

Additionally ::: Blog Engage is now offering free submission to Blog Serp a sister site of blog engage. The products page for blog engage has been updated, and so far their affiliate program already has 4 sales for their members and that's only the start of this money train.

So if you can't be droppin' get HOPPIN' on board the Affiliate Lights money train!

Tags: Affiliate Lights, entrecard

Titian's Madonna and Child sold at auction for US$16.9 million

Titian's A Sacra Conversazione: The Madonna and Child with Saints Luke and Catherine of Alexandria sold for nearly $16.9 million at Sotheby's Old Masters auction on Thursday. (Sotheby's)

Madonna and Child (pictured) is sold at auction for US$16.9 million, the highest price for a painting by Titian.

A large-scale Titian painting of Jesus and the Madonna accompanied by two saints sold for nearly $16.9 million US in New York Thursday night, during an evening that saw several auction records set.

A European collector bidding by phone purchased Titian's A Sacra Conversazione: The Madonna and Child with Saints Luke and Catherine of Alexandria for $16,882,500, including auction house premium.

Offered as part of Sotheby's Old Masters sale, the 16th-century Titian painting fell short of its high-end pre-sale estimate, which was $20 million.

Still, the lofty price for the sumptuous, earth-toned oil painting broke the $13.6-million auction record for the artist, set at a London sale 20 years ago.

Cyber Storm Troopers

Egypt Shows How Easily Internet Can Be Silenced ::: USA To Follow?

Earlier this week, United States Senator Joe Lieberman brought back a bill he first introduced last summer that would give President Obama power over privately owned Internet providers and computer systems during a "national cyberemergency." The revised version of the Lieberman-Collins bill now includes language stipulating that the federal government designation "shall not be subject to judicial review." It also expanded the president's purview to include "provider of information technology." Given the government's rush to cut off access to WikiLeaks for a few thousand embarrassing but dated diplomatic cables, it's hard to trust their definition of a "cyberemergency." ~ New York Magazine

Tags: Egypt internet, government internet control

Found new music! #mylauramichelle

Love listening to music online? Check out Laura Michelle! Laura, your stuff is awesome, but you need longer cuts and real videos to get the message out! You might wanna borrow a page out of DJ Vadim & Yarah Bravo's book: UPLOAD, BABY, UPLOAD!

Strangefruitmusicblog has a nice article featuring DJ Vadim's "Beautiful" video, which I understand has been one of the all-time most-popular posts on "the twitterer" blog...

...and DJVadim himself tweeted the alert on a shortandsweet post entitled DJ Vadim Presents the Electric: Life Is Moving By: ND McCray.

Arnold Schwarzenegger in Montreal

Arnold Schwarzenegger gave a speech before the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal on Thursday January 27.
The former California governor, movie actor and champion bodybuilder began his speech by thanking the two Montrealers Ben Weider (1923-2008) and his brother Joe who invited him to move to United States in 1968.
Schwarzenegger then proposed to the guests his recipe in eight points to explain his success.
1. Think Big;
2. Have Self-confidence;
3. Work hard;
4. Never accept NO as an answer;
5. Be generous;
6. Have passion;
7. Have a vision of his goals;
8. Never be afraid to fail.
Arnold does not believe in luck and he does not consider itself a leader of men.
In this sense, his best adviser is him! He is in life as in his film characters, a kind of lone warrior.
He says he is very happy with his life and he would not be anybody else except perhaps the Pope... he adds, laughing
Ben Weider said about Arnold that his biggest secret is his determination to go toward his personal goals. and that he is able to focus on its objectives as very few people are, and can be.
Finally, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a unique phenomenon in itself who created the character of his life and he wants to continue on this path.
Arnold Schwarzenegger intends to return to the movie business and write an autobiography.

Photo 1: Bernard Bujold at the conference;

Photo 2, 3: Arnold Schwarzenegger in Montreal;

Photo 4: Joe Weider, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ben Weider ( Archives)

SEE PHOTO ALBUM Arnold Schwarzenegger in Montreal

#ff Man is a Social Being...

Although, like everyone else, I have some concerns when it comes to Facebook privacy, from time to time I search Facebook for someone interesting to friend whom I don't know personally. I think it adds to the mix and matter of social networking. Life (and internet social networking) is often about DISCOVERY via reaching out to others. Digital Grifter Schnooks know this [Schnook 1][Schnook 2] and work it to their advantage, harboring less than honorable intentions, which yield unhappy results.

Wanna delete that Facebook account? Here's how.

Speaking of DISCOVERY, did humans cross from eastern Africa to Arabia around 130,000 years ago? This could be an addendum to the excellent PBS documentary THE JOURNEY OF MAN.

The latest wave of PR updates has shaken and stirred the blogosphere. I found a nice site for investigating your blog backlinks.

About #ff

Follow Friday is simply an understood way of promoting other people on Twitter – anyone you think your followers should also be following for any reason.

How to participate in Follow Friday:
1. type Follow Friday and/or #ff (upper or lower case is fine) anywhere within a tweet
2. list the @name of the Tweeters you recommend

If you want your Follow Fridays to be more effective (increase how many new followers they get), you can also craft a reason why you’re giving them the Follow Friday and why you think they’ll be a great follow for all your followers.

Tribute to Audrey Best (1960-2011)

Audrey Best (50 years) represented the Montreal woman and her death marks a turning point in the political history of Quebec.
Bernard Bujold have known Audrey when she was the wife of Premier Lucien Bouchard:
"Audrey Best loved life and had adopted Quebec, particularly Montreal, where she remained after her separation with Lucien Bouchard.
The couple was beautiful but it could not really function in daily life.
Lucien is an intellectual who likes to read and discuss the ideas of the world while Audrey, 20 years younger and a California girl, loved to be active and she enjoyed the social life. I remember a story when the couple attended a private party in the Laurentians. There were fifty guests at the residence of a wealthy businessman in front of a small lake. Audrey decided to accept the invitation of the owner and to go water skiing. She had practiced this sport before but because there was a dozen children seated in the outboard, the boat could not accelerate quickly, which prevented Audrey to take the momentum out of the water with her skis. After four or five attempts, one had to see Lucien on the shore angry shouting at Audrey to stop and come back and talk quietly with guests rather than playing on the lake and risking an accident.
Audrey had persisted and finally she managed to make her ride.
For its part, Lucien continued to dig with his cane on the dock and he did not stop to repeat to the guests around him that it made no sense ...
I saw Audrey a few times after her separation and on occasion in the company of a well known restaurant owner from Montreal.
I heard about Audrey's disease along with the announcement of her death!
For me, it's as if a part of Montreal vanished with her departure "
Photo 1: Audrey Best

Photo 2,3: Lucien Bouchard and Audrey Best
See story and pictures TVA ;
See story Le Devoir ;
See story The Gazette;

See Photo story Funeral Saturday January 29 -2011 ;

Death of Le Journal de Montréal

Michel Houellebecq wrote in his novel LA CARTE ET LE TERRITOIRE there is a window to enter a life event. After this window, the event will never be possible. Here he talks about the love between his main character and another female character trying to reconnect together after several years of separation.
It's the same situation in all the events of life. There is a moment when the decision is taken and which will determine the future without being possible to return to starting point.
Le Journal de Montreal is at the stage of no return and its former existence will never be possible because the settlement window is in the past.
The error of the employees of the Journal de Montreal is not to have realized the reality the conflict in early 2009. An agreement was on the table and each of the two parties were ready to sign but Quebecor wanted to add cuts on working conditions. The union would then categorically refused convinced to be able to win over Quebecor and this was the beginning of the end and
the lockout. If employees of the Journal de Montréal had another union leadership, who could have communicate with the president of Quebecor, it is likely that agreement would have been possible.
In union bargaining, there are two basic elements to evaluate. The employment contract is one, but most important is communication between the boss and the union president. All great leaders I have known applied this approach to their work and they knew excellent results. I am thinking particularly of Pierre Péladeau father and Brian Mulroney. The latter, who was a union lawyer before becoming Prime Minister of Canada, was always preparing his labor negotiations with an analysis of people characte at the table then and only then, looked at clauses in employment contracts.
Raynald LeBlanc and Pierre-Karl Peladeau are like day and night and no dialogue has never been possible, and will never be possible! This is due to the incompatibility of each. The employees should have changed their Union's president's since the contrary is impossible with Pierre Karl Peladeau who owns the company Quebecor ...
The situation of La Presse (Gesca) is an example of good communication between employer and employees. Employees have reduced their working conditions and the paper survived the very serious threat of closure by Power Corp..
Negotiate a collective agreement is like selling and buying a car. For the mechanic, the important thing is not to have the perfect contract but to get the car out of the garage and for the customer it is to drive a car!
Photo 1: News room at Rue Frontenac

Photo 2: Assemblage with the book cover THE MAP AND THE TERRITORY
See story La Presse ;
Voir site LA CARTE ET LE TERRITOIRE ;
See biography Pierre Péladeau

Journalism according to Michel Gratton

The funeral of Michel Gratton ex-Press Secretary of Brian Mulroney are held today Friday January 21 in Ottawa (Vanier).
Bernard Bujold read for a second time the autobiography of Gratton.
"One day Gratton invited me to go check on what the journalists are saying about the topics of the day. I suggest we go for a walk in the offices of the Tribune Building in Central Block and that we chat with journalists preparing their texts for the next day. Michael had in mind instead of going to the bar at The Press Club...
It was in 1985 when journalists began to split into two clans.
Those without a university education who relied on human exchange to get the news and the emerging journalists, the graduates who were working in accordance with techniques.
Now 25 years later, the Press Club bar is closed and the Internet has totally made forgotten the techniques.
Other times, other manners ...
Picture: Bernard Bujold reading Michel Gratton's book
See picture of the times of Brian Mulroney ;

See story on Michel Gratton's funeral

Pierre Jasmin and the music of Chopin

The artist Pierre Jasmin has released an album of piano music to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Chopin, whose exact date of birth was 1 March 2010.
If the launch of the album CHOPIN 200e JASMIN was to intimate and sober, the album itself is top quality and will undoubtedly become a part of the classical interpretations of Chopin's work.
Here the links to some pictures of the pianist and music teacher Pierre Jasmin taken at the official launch of his album at the Centre Pierre Péladeau Montreal Wednesday, January 19, 2011 and an interview made previously at the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal.
Photo 1: Pierre Jasmin;

Photo 2: Cover of the album;
Photo 3: Bernard Bujold listening to the album;

See photo reportage album launch 200th CHOPIN-JASMIN;
See interview Pierre Jasmin LeStudio1.com;

The discovery of author Louise Penny

The creator of LeStudio1.com Bernard Bujold, discovered the author of thriller Louise Penny by chance at the suggestion of a friend press secretary.
"Initially, I did not really want to read her book because I lack time for reading and, in polar, I'm a fan of Kathy Reichs (Bones). Moreover, I had just finished the third volume of the trilogy by Stieg Larsson and I liked it so much that I did not want to break my pleasure with a writer that I didn't know. I accepted anyway, and I was surprised by the pace and writing style of Louise Penny. I first read in French "EN PLEIN COEUR" and next in English" BURRY YOUR DEAD "and I just finished the book that is coming out in bookstores now: "SOUS LA GLACE"
According to me, Louise Penny is the author of choice to discover and her talent is equal to the one of Reichs and Larsson. Her characters are captivating and one wonders where the author has found such an inspiration. One could only wishes now that Louise Penny find herself a television producer to bring to the screen Inspector Armand Gamache. A series that would be worthy of NCIS, Bones or Blue Bloods with Tom Selleck.
In the meantime, we must take advantage of her books ...
P.S. I forgot! Louise Penny will be at my favorite bookstore for a signing session this Friday, January 21 in Montreal (Indigo on Ste-Catherine at 1 pm ).
Photo 1: Cover of book SOUS LA GLACE;
Photo 2 and 3: Louise Penny
See website of Louise Penny;
See photo essay Louise Penny Salon du livre de Montréal - LeStudio1.com;
View Personality of the Year 2010 - LeStudio1.com;

See pictures of Louise Penny at Indigo Montreal ;

See interview Nathalie Petrowski and Louise Penny

The journalist Michel Gratton is dead!

Journalist and former press secretary for Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Michel Gratton (58), was found dead in his apartment in Ottawa on Thursday afternoon January 13. The creator of LeStudio1.com, Bernard Bujold, had worked with Michel in 1984-85 and he retains warm memories from that time.
"He was a sort of bohemian at heart but a great enthusiast for the French people. He and I did not really have a common links until he heard that I had been a journalist at L'Evangeline in Moncton. He then became friendly with me. Unfortunately, we never became close friends because our characters were too far apart. Michel enjoyed the pleasures of life including alcohol. He considered that his residence was virtually the bar at the Press Club where he loved to share with other journalists on Parliament Hill.
He was a natural charmer, but he was humble and he never used his credential as press secretary to seduce. One day, I heard him answer a girl, who was asking him about his work in the PMO, that he was a janitor at the Langevin building.
Michel had a passion for journalism and I think that his greatest pride was his work at the newspaper Le Droit. He was curious and had the claim to be aware of all secrets. Once, some journalists of the Press Gallery had published a scoop without him knowing it and dealing with Brian Mulroney. The latter complained to his press secretary reminding him that he should know everything and that his work was mainly to inform the Prime Minister before the public was.
If I wanted to summarize who Michel Gratton was, I would say that he was a sort of John Wayne. Efficient and precise in its actions despite its messy look like, liking alcohol and women, sense of humor and often moody but always generous and willing to help the man or woman in need.
Dear Michael, I am glad to have known you! "
See story - La Presse ;
See reactions of his friends - La Presse ;
See story The Gazette ;
See story Radio-Canada ;
See story 1984 in Ottawa - LeStudio1.com

First Miss America pageant was held in 1921

The first Miss America pageant, held in 1921, was conceived in part as a way to lure tourists to Atlantic City after the summer season had wound down. The nine contestants represented cities, not states. The winner, 16-year-old Margaret Gorman (second from left), was from Washington, D.C.

1997, the first year that two-piece bathing suits were permitted

Arnold Schwarzenegger is visiting Montreal

The politician and movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger will come to visit Canada and he will be in Montreal on January 27 as speaker. His visit to Montreal will be a sort of greeting to the city of
Ben Weider, who with his brother Joe is responsible for the moving to the United States of the former world champion of bodybuilding. Arnold Schwarzenegger will deliver his address to the
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.
Unfortunately, his mentor Ben Weider died in October 2008.
Photo 1: Arnold Schwarzenegger;
Photo 2: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ben Weider (March 2008)
See photo essay Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ben Weider - LeStudio1.com;
See site Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal

Barack Obama visits Tuscon Arizona

The Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has opened her eyes for a few minutes after Barack Obama's visit to the hospital in Tucson, Arizona. U.S. President gave a rallying speech in front of more than 26,000 people Wednesday, January 12 in two arenas where he wanted to restore the confidence of residents in this city which suffered a crazed gunman.
Photo 1: Daniel Hernandez, Barack and Michelle Obama, Mark Kelly (Reuters);
Photo 2: Michelle Obama and Mark Kelly (Reuters);
Photo 3: Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly (Reuters)

See story The National Post

Cocaine, heroin bust on cruise ship in Baltimore

(Associated Press) Drug-sniffing dogs found nearly $100,000 worth of cocaine and heroin aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in a federal investigation of an employee smuggling ring, authorities said Tuesday.

The search on Saturday uncovered 1 1/2 pounds of heroin and nearly a pound of cocaine aboard the ship Enchantment of the Seas.

The ship was docked in Baltimore after a 12-day cruise to the Caribbean, and the drugs were found in a compartment that's only accessible to employees, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol said.

Last month, three employees of the same ship were charged with conspiracy to import drugs after a previous journey to the Caribbean. According to court documents, one of them was caught onshore with similar amounts of cocaine and heroin and told authorities he planned to sell the drugs for $4,000 in the parking lot of a Walmart near Baltimore's cruise terminal.

Law enforcement officials would not say whether the new drug seizure is linked to that case, and no further arrests have been made.

Cynthia Martinez, a Royal Caribbean spokeswoman, initially told The Associated Press that the seizure was related to the previous arrests, but she later said she might have received incorrect information.

"Royal Caribbean continues to cooperate fully with authorities during their investigation of crew members onboard Enchantment of the Seas suspected of smuggling drugs," the company said in a statement. "We continue to provide any assistance necessary to prosecute these individuals to the fullest extent of the law."

A spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the agency is following up on leads related to the seizure but declined to comment further. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Baltimore declined to comment because the investigation is ongoing.

The employees were arrested after the ship's security officer alerted ICE that they might be involved in smuggling, according to court documents. Officers searched Gavin Excell, 35, and found drugs hidden in his pants and shoes, the documents show.

Excell told authorities that he and two other employees of the ship's kitchen -- John Swart Garth and Kishurn Neptune, both 27 -- picked up the drugs from a Jamaican man in the Dominican Republic.

Loxly Johnson, 48, and Shenika Graves, 34, are accused of plotting to buy the drugs from the ship employees, the documents show. All five face the same charge of conspiracy to import heroin and cocaine.

Excell, Graves and Johnson have pleaded not guilty, and arraignments for Swart Garth and Neptune are scheduled for Friday.

Excell's attorney, Christopher Purpura, said Tuesday that his client did not alert authorities to the additional drugs, but he noted that Excell was cooperative after his arrest, which led to the arrests of Johnson and Graves. Court records did not indicate whether the other two employees had hired attorneys.

Enchantment of the Seas sails to Bermuda, New England and Canada and to various destinations in the Caribbean. It's nearly 1,000 feet long and can hold up to 2,730 passengers, and features bungee trampolines and suspension bridges across the pool deck.

Myspace might be closing!

Myspace sacked half of its 1000 employees (11 January 2011) and News Corp. owner threatens to close down the site by the months unless it becomes more profitable ...
Rupert Murdoch bought the site in 2005 for $ 580 million (US).
(To be continued)
Photo 1: Logo Myspace;
Photo 2: Rupert Murdoch
See story The Wall Street Journal;

How to live in the Eternity?

It is possible to live forever on the Internet!
The New York Times Magazine published a story on the subject which shows that our publications on various social websites survive our death.
See story The New York Times Magazine;

Tragedies in United States

Politics in the United States is currently experiencing one of the major tragedies in its history and the massacre that occurred in Arizona questions freedom of expression and the radicalism of the American political right. The violence is even more serious because the offender is a U.S. citizen who has committed acts of terrorism against the elected people of his own country. One victim, the young girl aged 9, was born on September 11, 2001.
Photo 1 and 2 Gabrielle Giffords
Photo 3: New York in September 2001 and the girl of 9 years in Arizona (inset)
See story The New York Times - Gabrielle Giffords ;
See The New York Times story - a young girl of 9 years;

Gaston L'Heureux is dead

The host star of radio and television in Quebec Gaston L'Heureux died Saturday, Jan. 8 when he was hospitalized. The man was greatly loved by the public and it had not forgotten the artist despite its withdrawal from the spotlight following a car accident in 2007 and since he had been confined to a wheelchair.
Photo: Gaston L'Heureux
See story Radio-Canada;

See editorial by Nathalie Petrowski LA PRESSE

Video : Madonna - Frozen

Kraft hires 'golden voice' homeless man for ad work

(Crain's) — Kraft Foods Inc. has turned to Internet sensation Ted Williams to be the voice of four new mac and cheese television ads, adding to the organizations that are helping to lift the Ohio man out of homelessness.

"His amazing voice is perfectly suited for our campaign," a Kraft spokeswoman said.

Mr. Williams, 53, recently rocketed to fame after a Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch newspaper profile and video showcasing his voiceover skills became an Internet sensation. Within days, the homeless man, whose radio career disappeared amid personal problems including drug and alcohol addiction, was fielding various job offers.

"There's no way in the world that I could have ever imagined that I would be — I mean, just (to) have all of this just all of a sudden come into this portion of my life," he said during a Thursday appearance on NBC's "Today" show.

While in New York on Thursday morning — between being reunited with his 90-year-old mother and appearing on morning television shows — he went into a studio and did voiceover work for Kraft, the spokeswoman said.

The timing was perfect, the Northfield-based food company was in the process of putting the spots together, she added.

"We were in the unique position to help Ted use his voice to gain employment and help our campaign," she said. "We're thrilled to help Ted on his journey."

The first advertisement is scheduled to run Sunday night during ESPN's broadcast of the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. The football game has Boston College playing Nevada.

The Kraft spokeswoman said she is unaware of the air dates for the remaining three commercials and does not know if the company will hire Mr. Williams again for more work.

It's not Mr. Williams' only new gig these days. He says the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers offered him a job doing announcing work under a two-year contract that includes living expenses.

Mr. Williams until recently was homeless, living in shelters and occasionally with family and friends over the past few years. His past includes a lengthy list of arrests, prison time for theft and forgery and numerous misdemeanors. After a May 14 arrest he pleaded guilty to a first-degree misdemeanor theft charge. In court records, his address is listed as "Streets of Columbus."

Mr. Williams acknowledged his record during the "Today" show appearance and explained that he turned to crime so he could afford his drug habits.

Mr. Williams said his life began spiraling downward in 1996 when he began drinking alcohol "pretty bad." He used marijuana and cocaine and lost interest in his radio career. He eventually wound up on the streets, despite the best efforts of his children, seven daughters and two sons who all live in the Columbus area.

John Edwards to Wed Rielle Hunter, Report Claims

John Edwards has "reportedly" asked mistress Rielle Hunter to marry him, according to tabloid magazine The National Enquirer.

The Hollywood Gossip has a screenshot of the latest issue of the Enquirer, the publication that broke the original story about Edwards's liaison with Hunter, his campaign videographer, and predicts that the two might tie the knot this summer, if at all.

While the Enquirer gained some credibility for its coverage of the Edwards affair, it is worth noting that they posted nearly the exact same story regarding an Edwards-Hunter nuptial and a "luxury $3.5 million beachfront home" last year, a report that was later denied.

John Edwards's wife, Elizabeth Edwards, passed away last month after a battle with cancer. In her will, she left her possessions to her three children, while leaving out her estranged husband entirely.

Starbucks revamps logo, hints at life beyond coffee

Starbucks Corp, the world's biggest coffee chain, dropped both its name and the word "coffee" from its 40-year old logo in order to conquer new markets.

The current ubiquitous logo -- a deep green ring emblazoned with "Starbucks Coffee," which encircles a black-and-white siren -- will now be banished from their recycled-content cups after nine years in action.

It will be replaced by a circular image of the green and white siren, with no mention of coffee or the company.

As it stripped away the Starbucks Coffee epithet, the Seattle firm -- which became famous by bringing baristas to the local coffee bar -- signaled a quest for new markets.

"We've allowed (the siren) to come out of the circle in a way that I think gives us the freedom and flexibility to think beyond coffee," said chief executive Howard Schultz.

Battered by the recession, the company has already expanded its product lines to include tea, smoothies, food and has waded into the highly competitive grocery and music sales business.

"It embraces and respects our heritage, and at the same time evolves us to a point where we feel it is more suitable for the future," Schultz said of the redesign.

Even more diversification may be on the way, according to brand consultant Alina Wheeler, "revitalizing a brand often signals a new direction and commitment," she said.

It may also make it easier for customers using new technologies, according to Kevin Budelmann president of Peopledesign, a brand identity firm.

"There is an ongoing desire to simplify some of these graphic identities so that they can be more portable into different kinds of media spaces."

"Today people thinking about new graphic identities are thinking about facebook icons and Twitter icons just as often as stationary or business cards."

The firm recently launched a pilot mobile payment scheme that allows customers to use their smartphone as a wallet.

And the change could help elevate Starbucks to iconic brand status.

"It puts them in a category with other brands like Nike and Apple. Iconic brands like Target, Apple, Nike and John Deere have become so recognizable that they don't need the name spelled out," Wheeler said.

IRS extends tax-filing deadline to April 18

The Internal Revenue Service announced today that taxpayers will have three extra days to file their returns because of theEmancipation Day holiday celebrated in the District of Columbia.

The holiday, marking the freeing of D.C. slaves by President Abraham Lincoln, falls on April 16, a Saturday, so that means the district takes the day off on Friday, the 15th. Because tax deadlines cannot fall on a weekend or holiday, filers will have until midnight April 18 to post or electronically send their returns.

The IRS had already announced that because of congressional tax changes, itemizers won't be able to file before mid- to late February.

Son of shah of Iran commits suicide

(CNN) -- Alireza Pahlavi, son of the former shah of Iran, died Tuesday morning at his home in Boston, Massachusetts, a family spokesman said. The spokesman said it was a suicide.

Pahlavi, 44, was the son of the former shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, who was overthrown in 1979 and died the following year in exile in Cairo, Egypt.
"It is with immense grief that we would like to inform our compatriots of the passing away of Prince Alireza Pahlavi," the family website said.

"Like millions of young Iranians, he too was deeply disturbed by all the ills fallen upon his beloved homeland, as well as carrying the burden of losing a father and a sister in his young life. Although he struggled for years to overcome his sorrow, he finally succumbed."

The family learned of the death Tuesday at 2:30 a.m., said spokesman Ahmad Oveyssi.

Born in Tehran on July 28, 1966, Pahlavi attended schools in Iran before traveling to the United States in 1979 during the Iranian revolution. He obtained a B.A. from Princeton University in 1984 and a masters degree from Columbia University in 1992 and attended Harvard University in pursuit of a Ph. D. in Ancient Iranian Studies.
In June 2001, Pahlavi's sister, Leila Pahlavi, also committed suicide.

He is survived by his mother, Farah Pahlavi, his older brother Reza, his sister Farahnaz and his half-sister Shahnaz.

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