Happy New Year 2009!

EVENT GUIDE FOR TIMES SQUARE 2009, NEW YEAR'S EVE IN TIMES SQUARE
You may want to get your partay on, at this point.


For 104 years, Times Square has been the center of worldwide attention on New Year's Eve, ever since the owners of One Times Square began in 1904 to conduct rooftop celebrations to greet the New Year. The first Ball Lowering celebration occurred in 1907, and this tradition is now a universal symbol of welcoming the New Year.



THE EVENT



4:00 p.m.

The Revelers

Revelers start arriving late in the afternoon on New Year's Eve. By approximately 4:00 p.m., the Bow Tie of Times Square (42nd to 47th Sts. between Broadway & 7th Ave.) is fully closed to traffic. Revelers are directed by the NYPD to gather in separate viewing sections. As one section fills up, the revelers are directed by police to the next viewing section. As the evening progresses, revelers continue to fill the Times Square neighborhood along Broadway and Seventh Avenue moving uptown from 43rd Street to as far as Central Park.



6:00 p.m. to 6:05 p.m.

Opening Ceremonies - Lighting and Raising the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball

The celebration begins with Univision host Raúl de Molina assisted by the actress Angelica Vale lighting and raising the brand new New Year’s Eve Ball atop One Times Square. Raúl and Angelica will be joined by representative of the Philips Lighting Company to flip the giant switch which lights the New Year’s Eve Ball and begins its ascent accompanied by special pyrotechnic effects atop One Times Square.

6:05 p.m. to 6:17 p.m.

Musical Performance by Parachute

The Times Square New Year’s Celebration gets started with a musical performance by Parachute from the Nivea Countdown Stage at Duffy Island in Times Square between 46th and 47th Streets.



6:17 p.m. to 6:19 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Practice Kiss

Two revelers will be featured on the Nivea Kiss and Be Kissed Platform located on Fence Island between 45th and 46th Streets practicing their best midnight kiss…3..2..1.., Kiss like a billion people are watching!



6:58 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Hourly Countdown with Carson Daly

As we approach the New Year, Carson Daly will appear on the Nivea Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”, read some of the confetti wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight, share his personal wish for the New Year and lead the revelers in counting down to the end of the hour.

7:10 p.m.

Times Square 2009 Hats, Balloons, Pom-Poms, Confetti Bags and Scarves

The Times Square Alliance sanitation crews clad in bright red uniforms begin to distribute tens of thousands of fun handouts to the Times Square revelers for cheering in the New Year. Nivea is providing festive blue New Year’s Eve hats and blue balloons tied with silver mylar ribbons along with useful Nivea Lip Care product to keep our lips looking and feeling beautiful for that unforgettable kiss at midnight. 3 Musketeers is providing pom-poms to cheer in the New Year, confetti bags, and their delicious chocolate mini- bars. Pepsi is providing New Year’s Eve scarves to keep the revelers warm and happy.



7:25 p.m. to 7:35 p.m.

NBC’s New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly: Musical Performance by Ludacris

Ludacris performs “Stand Up” and “One More Drink” on the Nivea Countdown Stage.



7:45 p.m. to 7:47 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Special Anniversary Kiss

Two revelers will be featured on the Nivea Kiss and Be Kissed Platform for a special anniversary kiss…3..2..1.., Kiss like a billion people are watching!



7:58 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Hourly Countdown with Ryan Seacrest

As we approach the New Year, Ryan Seacrest will appear on the Nivea Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”, read some of the confetti wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight, share his personal wish for the New Year and lead the revelers in counting down to the end of the hour.



8:45 p.m. to 8:47 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Welcome Home Kiss

Two revelers will be featured on the Nivea Kiss and Be Kissed Platform for a long overdue Welcome Home kiss…3..2..1.., Kiss like a billion people are watching!



8:58 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Hourly Countdown with Surprise Guest

As we approach the New Year, a surprise guest will appear on the Nivea Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers "Happy New Year", read some of the confetti wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight, share her personal wish for the New Year and lead the revelers in counting down to the end of the hour.



9:40 p.m. to 9:55 p.m.

Times Square Sing-Along Featuring the Liberty Bells

The USO’s Liberty Bells lead the annual Panasonic Sing-Along from the Nivea Countdown Stage. The Times Square revelers will join the Liberty Bells singing “America the Beautiful”, “Shout”, and “We Are Family”.

9:58 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Hourly Countdown with Anderson Cooper

As we approach the New Year, Anderson Cooper will appear on the Nivea Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”, read some of the confetti wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight, share his personal wish for the New Year and lead the revelers in counting down to the end of the hour.



10:12 p.m. to 10:18 p.m.

ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve: Musical Performance by Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift performs a medley of her hit songs on the Nivea Countdown Stage.



10:47 p.m. to 10:54 p.m.

ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve: Musical Performance by Lionel Richie

Lionel Richie performs a medley of his hit songs on the Nivea Countdown Stage.



10:58 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Hourly Countdown with Raúl de Molina

As we approach the New Year, Raul de Molina will appear on the Nivea Countdown Stage to wish the Times Square revelers “Happy New Year”, read some of the confetti wishes to be mixed into the confetti release at midnight, share his personal wish for the New Year and lead the revelers in counting down to the end of the hour.



11:11 p.m. to 11:13 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Practice Kiss

Two revelers will be featured on the Nivea Kiss and Be Kissed Platform practicing their best midnight kiss…3..2..1.., Kiss like a billion people are watching!



11:42 p.m. to 11:48 p.m.

ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve: Musical Performance by Jonas Brothers

Jonas Brothers perform a medley of their hit songs on the Nivea Countdown Stage.



11:55 p.m.

Pepsi Balloon Release

1,000 3-foot balloons featuring the words JOY, HOPE, and 2009 will gently drift down from setback roofs throughout Times Square onto the revelers below as they prepare to countdown the final seconds to the New Year. Pepsi is energizing the revelers by bringing back the big bouncing balloons that were last seen in 1999 as part of the 24-hour millennium celebration.



11:59 p.m.

The Sixty-Second Countdown

The Times Square 2009 Special Guest and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg push the Waterford crystal button that signals the descent of the New Year’s Eve Ball, and lead the final sixty-second countdown to the New Year at the Nivea Countdown Stage.



The New Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball

The lighted Ball descends 70 feet in sixty seconds. The Ball is a geodesic sphere, twelve feet in diameter, weighing 11,875 pounds. The Ball is covered with 2668 Waterford crystal triangles and lit by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs.



12:00 a.m. -- New Year's Day

2009 Sign

At the stroke of Midnight, the lights on the New Year’s Eve Ball are turned off as the numerals of the New Year “2009” burst to life shining high above Times Square.



Times Square Confetti Release and Pyrotechnic Effects

The world-famous New Year's Eve confetti is released from the rooftops of buildings throughout Times Square creating a celebratory blizzard of colorful confetti as revelers welcome the New Year accompanied by colorful pyrotechnic effects.



12:15 a.m. - End of Show

International Sex Kitten dies at age 81

Once dubbed the "most exciting woman in the world" by Orson Welles, Eartha Kitt, known in the industry as "The Sex Kitten" died Christmas Day at the age of 81. She leaves behind one daughter.Kitt gained fame overseas as an actress and cabaret singer but is known to younger American audiences as the first black Catwoman on the 1960s Batman series.

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Levert death may lead to changes in RX prison meds

Sean Levert apparently died because he did not receive his Xanax medication after being arrested and held in an Ohio jail on child support charges. His widow is filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Jail authorities will now allow inmates to have prescriptions upon verification. Good idea.

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Charting the psychology of evil, decades after 'shock' exper

If someone told you to press a button to deliver a 450-volt electrical shock to an innocent person in the next room, would you do it? Many people have. It's called by some, "The Lucifer Effect."

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Jackson Five cash at stake

A Northwest Indiana man says the famous Gary-born group owes him $900,000 he estimates in royalties from songs he wrote for the men long ago. He has excluded frontman Michael Jackson from the lawsuit.

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W. Mark Felt, 'Deep Throat' of Watergate, dead at 95

W. Mark Felt, who leaked information to reporters under the moniker, "Deep Throat," about the Watergate break-in, died Thursday at the age of 95, sources told CNN.

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Insult, satire, roast or pure genius comedy writing?

Throughout the years, Saturday Night Live has entertained audiences with their gentle ribbing of public figures. However, Saturday's skit on the show's fictitious news cast apparently did not tickle the funny bone of a few. One news report dished it as "third grade humor" which is way different than the humor they are used to seeing on SNL. Really!?
Is it surprising to hear bawdy comments and jokes, sophomoric and at times, humor used inappropriately? What about the obscure tales of jubilation and woe, ie, Schwetty Balls confections skit, cork soaker skit, the lamp store skit, the Blago skit? Although using the Fed's transcript walks the line--it was still hi-larious.
Please understand the history of SNL, not just those witty political skits the world seems to love.
Remember Jane Curtain was the "Ignorant Slut" on Weekend Update for many years? How about Sprockets, the German cable access show? Dija even get that?? Bokay?
How about the portrayal of families on the show? The noisy silverware skit, the kissing skit or the kids-won't-go-to-bed skit and the favored A-holes skit? There was even a bathroom humor skit featuring Fred Armisen.
If you are a walking stereotype, a public figure who so foolishly has made a target of him or herself through unscrupulous behavior; severely obscure, way too cute for your own good; a liar, really, really nice or very mean--you will be satirized on SNL.
They are equal opportunity offenders and I laughed my ass off at the skit. (So you should too.)

Nicolas Cage as The Fly?

NICOLAS CAGE is vying for the part of THE FLY in a planned remake of DAVID CRONENBERG's 1986 cult classic, according to the director himself.Cronenberg, who is working on an operatic version of the creepy man-insect story, will not be involved in the remake, but he has been kept abreast of developments.

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First look: Hollywood knowingly prepares for apocalypse

•Knowing, which gets its first look here, stars Nicolas Cage as a man who discovers a series of numbers that foretell catastrophes, including the9/11 attacks. The story lines may be grim, but that doesn't mean moviegoers won't pay good money to see apocalypse now.

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Fred Armisen on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

I can't wait to see this concept on late night. Fred should be on often.

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Yeah and--So What!: Political Soap Opera off-focus

Obama, Jackson are not the problem as Blagojevich pouts, acts out as if he weren't invited to the party.Appreciating the Political Soap Opera means reading the indictment for yourself.

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Blink Bling? Not So Fast, Say Some Experts

Dr. Sandra Cremers of Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary explained the procedure."So what you do is make a cut, you insert whatever you are inserting, right there into the little pocket and you close it back up," Cremers.

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Jimmy Fallon finds a new late night voice

Video of Jimmy introducing his new show. SNL's Fred Armisen to guest star.

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The Homes that Pitt built

It was a bittersweet moment for Brad Pitt, walking through the Lower 9th Ward neighborhood where families were preparing to spend their first holidays since Hurricane Katrina.

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First Black Social Secretary Discusses Her New Appointment

We're just getting started working on them, so I can't really discuss it, but that's the first series of events I'll be working on. The first event we will have in the White House is the governor's ball in February.

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Fed bets $800 billion on consumers

President-elect Barack Obama will speak at a news conference today on federal spending. Central bank and Treasury announce a massive plan to jumpstart lending. Will make $200 billion available for a range of consumer loans - including credit cards and car loans - likely won't be up and running until February.

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Fed bets $800 billion on consumers

President-elect Barack Obama will speak at a news conference today on federal spending. Central bank and Treasury announce a massive plan to jumpstart lending. Will make $200 billion available for a range of consumer loans - including credit cards and car loans - likely won't be up and running until February.

read more | digg story

Michelle Obama: The world's most recognized woman

"Michelle Has the Power to Change the Way African-Americans See Ourselves, Our Lives and Our Possibilities"

NEW YORK, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Without even stepping into the White House, Michelle Obama has already accomplished a great deal in raising the profile of African-American women, Newsweek National Correspondent Allison Samuels writes in the December 1 cover, "The Meaning of Michelle" (on newsstands Monday, November 24). "When her husband raises his hand to take the oath of office, Michelle will become the world's most visible African- American woman," Samuels writes. "The new First Lady will have the chance to knock down ugly stereotypes about black women and educate the world about American black culture more generally. But perhaps more important -- even apart from what her husband can do -- Michelle has the power to change the way African-Americans see ourselves, our lives and our possibilities."

Michelle Obama challenges the typical stereotype of African-American women, including what is beautiful. Often, the standard of beauty for black women has meant fair skin, and dainty facial features, a limited scope that has had a profound effect on the self-esteem of many African-American women. Michelle Obama puts a new face on the standard of beauty. "Michelle is not only African-American, but brown. Real brown," Samuels writes. "In an era where beauty is often defined on television, in magazines and in movies as fair or white skin, long straight hair and keen features, Michelle looks nothing like the supermodels who rule the catwalks or the porcelain-faced actresses who hawk must-have cosmetics. Yet now she's going to grace the March cover of Vogue magazine -- the ultimate affirmation of beauty."

It remains to be seen what Michelle Obama will accomplish if she takes on substantial issues. "I'm hoping the whole "Mom-in-Chief" role will leave plenty of room for Michelle to tackle significant, meaty issues even if she's not clamoring for a West Wing office, Samuels writes. "But she'll have another dimension to worry about: if she focuses on the black community -- helping urban schools, say -- will her interests be viewed as too parochial? And while every First Lady -- and plenty of professional women -- walk the line between being confident and seeming like a bitch, African- American women are especially wary that being called 'strong' is just another word for 'angry'."

First Photos of Nic Cage in Season of the Witch

As the Black Plague rages across 14th century Europe, one brave knight Lavey, is tasked with transporting a girl suspected of being the witch who caused the pandemic to trial.

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National Report Ranks Indiana 28th, Illinois 43rd, in Protecting Kids From Tobacco

Ten Years After Tobacco Settlement, States Falling Short in Funding Tobacco Prevention

An annual report on states' funding of tobacco prevention programs, titled "A Decade of Broken

Promises," was released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American

Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association and the Robert Wood Johnson

Foundation.
Ten years after the November 1998 state tobacco settlement, Indiana and Illinois rank 28th and 43rd in the nation in funding programs to protect kids from tobacco, according to a national report released today by a coalition of public health organizations.

Illinois currently spends $9.5 million a year on tobacco prevention programs, which is 6.1 percent of

the $157 million recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Other key findings for Illinois include:

-- The tobacco companies spend more than $471 million a year on marketing
in Illinois. This is almost 50 times what the state spends on tobacco
prevention.
-- Illinois this year will collect $913 million from the tobacco
settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend just 1 percent of it on
tobacco prevention.

Indiana currently spends $16 million a year on tobacco prevention programs, which is 20.3 percent of

the $78.8 million recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Other key findings for Indiana include:
-- The tobacco companies spend more than $425 million a year on marketing
in Indiana. This is more than 26 times what the state spends on
tobacco prevention.
-- Indiana this year will collect $660 million from the tobacco
settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend just 2.4 percent of it on
tobacco prevention.


The report warns that the nation faces two immediate challenges in the fight against tobacco use:

complacency and looming state budget shortfalls. First, while the nation has made significant progress

over the past decade in reducing smoking, progress has slowed and further progress is at risk without

aggressive efforts at all levels of government.

Second, the states are expected to face budget

shortfalls in the coming year as a result of the weak economy. The last time the states faced

significant budget shortfalls, they cut funding for tobacco prevention programs by 28 percent between

2002 and 2005. The cutbacks are a major reason why smoking declines subsequently stalled, and states

should not make the same mistake again.

On Nov. 23, 1998, 46 states settled their lawsuits against the nation's major tobacco companies to

recover tobacco-related health care costs, joining four states (Mississippi, Texas, Florida and

Minnesota) that had reached earlier settlements. These settlements require the tobacco companies to

make annual payments to the states in perpetuity, with total payments estimated at $246 billion over

the first 25 years. The states also collect billions of dollars each year in tobacco taxes.

The new report finds that most states have broken their promise to use a significant portion of their

tobacco money to fund programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit.

According to the report, the states in the last 10 years have received $203.5 billion in revenue from

the tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes. But they have spent only 3.2 percent of this tobacco money

-- $6.5 billion -- on tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

In recent years, Indiana has taken several important steps to protect kids from tobacco. In 2007,

Governor Mitch Daniels and the Legislature increased tobacco prevention funding by nearly 50 percent

and raised the cigarette tax by 44 cents to 99.5 cents per pack. Cigarette consumption in Indiana

decreased by almost a fifth from 2007 to 2008 and was accompanied by a 260 percent increase in calls

to the state's smoking cessation quitline.

The annual report on states' funding of tobacco prevention programs, titled "A Decade of Broken

Promises," was released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American

Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association and the Robert Wood Johnson

Foundation.

The new report finds that most states have broken their promise to use a significant portion of their

tobacco money to fund programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit.

In Indiana, 22.5 percent of high school students smoke, and 9,800 more kids become regular smokers

every year. Each year, tobacco claims 9,800 lives and costs the state $2.1 billion in health care

bills.

The report warns that the nation faces two immediate challenges in the fight against tobacco use:

complacency and looming state budget shortfalls. First, while the nation has made significant progress

over the past decade in reducing smoking, progress has slowed and further progress is at risk without

aggressive efforts at all levels of government. Second, the states are expected to face budget

shortfalls in the coming year as a result of the weak economy. The last time the states faced

significant budget shortfalls, they cut funding for tobacco prevention programs by 28 percent between

2002 and 2005. The cutbacks are a major reason why smoking declines subsequently stalled, and states

should not make the same mistake again.

The report found that there is more evidence than ever that tobacco prevention programs work to reduce

smoking, save lives and save money by reducing tobacco-related health care costs. Washington State,

which has been a national leader in funding tobacco prevention, has reduced smoking by 60 percent

among sixth graders and by 43 percent among 12th graders since the late 1990s. A recent study found

that California's tobacco control program saved $86 billion in health care costs in its first 15

years, compared to $1.8 billion spent on the program, for a return on investment of nearly 50:1.



More information, including the full report and state-specific information, can be obtained at

www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/settlements.

President-Elect Obama selects Eric Holder as top cop pick

Holder set to be nation's first black Attorney General when confirmed
President-Elect Barack Obama has selected Eric Holder as the first African American Attorney General, according to US media reports. Mr Holder, 57, whose appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate, was deputy attorney general for four years under Bill Clinton and co-chairman along with Caroline Kennedy of Mr Obama's vp search team.

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First Family: Still taking it all in

Watch CBS Videos Online

President-Elect Barack Obama gives Weekly Democratic Radio Address

Is it possible? A Fugees reunion?

Seriously? Say "no" to J. C. shoes?

During the economic boom of the past decade, many people relaxed their definitions of "need." They upgraded from Timex to Rolex. When the price of Jimmy Choo shoes hit $800, many people said they "needed" the latest shoe anyway.

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Town stunned as 8-year-old charged in two killings, Chicago lawyer who tried similar case talks to CNN

An 8-year-old Arizona boy charged in the fatal shootings of his father and another man draws similarities between it and another case. Chicago attorney, Andre M. Grant spoke to CNN anchor, Don Lemon about a similar case in 1990s where Chicago police accused 7 and 8-year-old boys of a heinous sex crime and murder of an 11-year-old girl. He defended one of the boys.

(left to right) Atty. Andre Mandell Grant, Ill. Appellate Judge, ret. R. Eugene Pincham (deceased), Atty. Lewis Myers. This photo was taken by a Chicago Defender photographer (Rod) on the steps of the Defender at 2400 S. Michigan in 1999 at its old location in connection with a story on the Ryan Harris case.
Although both children were later exonerated, the incident changed the Cook County juvenile justice system forever. Grant said several factors must be considered, like the legality of the police interrogation process, when charging juveniles with adult crimes.Eighteen Months, a fictitious book based on a reporter who covered the story of two young boys accused of murdering 11-year-old Ryan Harris in the 1990s may be found here: Eighteen Months.

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Town stunned as 8-year-old charged in two killings, Chicago lawyer who tried similar case talks to CNN

An 8-year-old Arizona boy charged in the fatal shootings of his father and another man draws similarities between it and another case. Chicago attorney, Andre M. Grant spoke to CNN anchor, Don Lemon about a similar case in 1990s where Chicago police accused 7 and 8-year-old boys of a heinous sex crime and murder of an 11-year-old girl. Although both children were later exonerated, the incident changed the Cook County juvenile justice system forever. Grant said several factors must be considered, like the legality of the police interrogation process, when charging juveniles with adult crimes.Eighteen Months, a ficticious book based on a reporter who covered the story of two young boys accused of murdering 11-year-old Ryan Harris in the 1990s may be found here: http://stores.lulu.com/ljonesmccloud.

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Town stunned as 8-year-old charged in two killings, Chicago lawyer who tried similar case talks to CNN

An 8-year-old Arizona boy charged in the fatal shootings of his father and another man draws similarities between it and another case. Chicago attorney, Andre M. Grant spoke to CNN anchor, Don Lemon about a similar case in 1990s where Chicago police accused 7 and 8-year-old boys of a heinous sex crime and murder of an 11-year-old girl. Although both children were later exonerated, the incident changed the Cook County juvenile justice system forever. Grant said several factors must be considered, like the legality of the police interrogation process, when charging juveniles with adult crimes.Eighteen Months, a ficticious book based on a reporter who covered the story of two young boys accused of murdering 11-year-old Ryan Harris in the 1990s may be found here: http://stores.lulu.com/ljonesmccloud.

read more | digg story

The First Family

And the Winner is...Mr. President.

Election in Day Lake County, Indiana (Turn It Blue, Indiana!)

Fraud alert for SSA

Social Security Inspector General Warns Public about Misleading Internet Websites that Appear to be Official Social Security Administration Site
Recently OIG has received complaints from Social Security applicants who believed that personal information they provided to the Social Security Administration had somehow been disclosed, without their permission, to claimant representative firms.
An Office of the Inspector General investigation revealed that instead, while the applicants believed they were visiting the Social Security Administration’s official website, they were instead visiting privately-owned websites designed so as to appear to be that of the Social Security Administration. As a result, some applicants provided personal information when the website operators later contacted them to offer representation.
Some of the misleading characteristics of these websites include: official-sounding website addresses; links which users could click on to (purportedly) apply for benefits; and the use of patriotic and/or governmental symbols, such as the American flag.
The Social Security Administration and the Office of the Inspector General are concerned that some applicants who mistakenly visited these websites believed they were applying for benefits online with SSA. The Office of the Inspector General has taken action under Section 1140 of the Social Security Act to stop the owners of these and similar websites from misleading the public in this fashion.
“Any organization that uses misleading tactics such as these to victimize applicants for Social Security benefits will be dealt with swiftly, and to the full extent of the law,” said Patrick P. O’Carroll, Jr., Inspector General for the Social Security Administration.
To date, the operators of two websites have been contacted and agreed to alter their sites to eliminate confusion. Nevertheless, Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue urges the public to exercise caution online, and to provide personal information only through the Social Security Administration’s official website, www.socialsecurity.gov.
Anyone with knowledge of misleading websites such as those described in this advisory or any suspicious activity involving Social Security programs should contact the Office of the Inspector
General’s Fraud Hotline at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/oig/hotline/ or by phone at 1-800-269-0271. (Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can call the OIG TTY number at 1-866-501-2101.)
If a person has questions about Social Security benefits or programs, he or she should contact Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213 or visit Social Security’s official website at www.socialsecurity.gov. (Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can call Social Security's TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.)

As public servants, SSA employees are expected to maintain a high level of integrity when it comes to facilitating the business of the Social Security Administration. As such, SSA/OIG takes seriously any crimes involving SSA employees. For example, is an SSA employee selling Social Security Cards? Is an employee stealing checks from beneficiaries? If you believe an SSA employee is committing these or any other crime against the Social Security Administration, please contact the OIG Fraud Hotline.

Top

Scams Involving the Impersonation of an SSA Employee

We sometimes receive reports where individuals have been contacted by someone pretending to be an SSA employee. The intent of this type of call may be to steal your identity and/or money from your bank accounts. The caller generally asks you for personal information such as your Social Security number, date of birth, your mother's maiden name, or your bank or financial account information.

The impersonator may state that "the SSA computers are down" or may refer to enrollment in the Medicare prescription drug program. The intent of this type of call may be to steal your identity and/or money from your bank accounts. You should not provide any of this information to these individuals.

It is possible that an SSA employee may contact you to follow-up on a previous application for SSA/Medicare Part D benefits or to follow-up on other business you initiated with SSA. If you are unsure as to the authenticity of someone who claims to be an SSA employee, please call SSA's toll-free number:

Barack: The One

We Were There!

We were there to hear and see Presidential Candidate, Barack Obama speak to Hoosiers in Highland, Indiana at Wicker Park Halloween Night.


It was the greatest thing to be a part of because I was about 10 yards from the podium and got to shake the Candidate's hand.
He was so nice and personable to everyone.
Now I can post as many photos and video as I care to because they all belong to me and I hold the copyright.
Naah nah!
Go Obama! Vote Obama!

Sen. Barack Obama on Jon Stewart

Poll update: Obama ahead in key states, close in Indiana

(CNN) — New CNN polls of polls in key battleground states suggest Barack Obama holds significant advantages in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire, while John McCain is only up 2 points in Indiana — a state that hasn't voted Democrat in 44 years.

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Poll update: Obama ahead in key states, close in Indiana

(CNN) — New CNN polls of polls in key battleground states suggest Barack Obama holds significant advantages in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire, while John McCain is only up 2 points in Indiana — a state that hasn't voted Democrat in 44 years.

read more | digg story

Poll update: Obama ahead in key states, close in Indiana

(CNN) — New CNN polls of polls in key battleground states suggest Barack Obama holds significant advantages in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire, while John McCain is only up 2 points in Indiana — a state that hasn't voted Democrat in 44 years.

read more | digg story

Poll update: Obama ahead in key states, close in Indiana

(CNN) — New CNN polls of polls in key battleground states suggest Barack Obama holds significant advantages in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire, while John McCain is only up 2 points in Indiana — a state that hasn't voted Democrat in 44 years.

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Sen. Obama visits his Ohio campaign office

Alaska's largest newspaper endorses Obama (AP)

McCain's poor judgment, erratic behavior--plus Palin's unreadiness means that smart and steady Barack Obama is the best person to be President.

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Palin a diva? Nooooo.

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (CNN) – With 10 days to go until election day, long brewing tension between Sarah Palin and key aides to John McCain has become so intense, it is spilling out into the public.

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Nicolas Cage Gets Medieval, National Treasure III (finally) gets the green light

Nicolas Cage on the set of Knowing
while filming in in Australia


Galloping Into Theaters: Nicolas Cage will once again work with Gone in Sixty Seconds director Dominic Sena in Relativity Media's Season of the Witch. Story follows a fourteenth-century knight who must escort on horseback a girl suspected of being "the witch behind the Black Plague" to a distant monastery. The action-loving Sena was presumably hesitant until Cage convinced him that he "could put in some bitchin' horse chases." [HR]


National Treasure 3 is Officially a Go
Written by Stephanie Sanchez

It was certainly an all Disney, all the time kind of day here at IESB. The studios' preview and showcase of upcoming films was full of a lot of good information and surprises.

One surprise had producer Jerry Bruckheimer and actor Nicolas Cage on stage to talk about their favorite Disney franchise, “National Treasure.”
Jerry Bruckheimer, Nicolas Cage and Disney's Dick Cook confirmed that National Treasure 3 was currently in development.

Another installment of the popular history based franchise was expected but had not been officially announced.


No release date was given but rumors have it out during the holiday season of 2010.


Information gathered from Cagefactor, a group of individuals dedicated to the fannery of Nicolas Cage.Thanks Colleen!

Celebrate in Grant Park in Chicago Election Night Nov. 4

WASHINGTON--Barack Obama will celebrate election night in Chicago's Grant Park---providing scenic backdrops of the city--and near where demonstrators gathered during the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago.

The Grant Park location is down the street from Obama's national campaign headquarters on Michigan Avenue.


Obama Campaign Announces Location for Election Night Event

CHICAGO - The Obama-Biden campaign today announced that the location for the Election Night event on Tuesday, November 4 will be Chicago's Grant Park on Hutchinson Field.

Grant Park is regularly used as an open-air venue for concerts, charity events and sporting activities such as the Chicago Marathon and Taste of Chicago.
Additional details will be announced as they become available.
This message is courtesy of Chicago Sun-Times and columnist Lynn Sweet

Find out how to take your autistic child to the library without incident

www.thejointlibrary.org/autism
For more information about this project and to receive a free "Libraries and Autism: We're Connected" decal for your library, please contact the libraries at autism@thejointlibrary.org.





SCOTCH PLAINS, N.J., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The Scotch Plains Public Library (NJ) and the Fanwood Memorial Library (NJ) produced a customer service training video to help library staff serve individuals with autism and their families more effectively. The video focuses on what you need to know about autism spectrum disorder and empowers the viewer with specific techniques to offer more inclusive and comprehensive customer service when interacting with this growing and underserved population. Nationally, autism affects one in every 150 individuals, and in New Jersey, as many as one in ninety-four.
As suggested in the video, the two libraries provided additional in-depth training to their combined staff as well as to local school media specialists. The session was conducted by representatives from our project partners: Dr. Linda Meyer, Executive Director of COSAC, The NJ Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community; Dr. Jill Harris, Director of Psychology and Coordinator of The Autism Center of Excellence at Children's Specialized Hospital; and Adrienne Robertiello, Founder of Community Partnership for People with Autism.

My captain, my captain: They want you dead

ROME - Police in Italy are looking into reports that the Naples mafia plans to carry out its threat to kill the author of the best-selling book "Gomorra," which has been made into a hit movie about mafia brutality, by Christmas.

read more | digg story

Leslie Live!

Secret Service looking into Obama threat at rally (AP)

AP - The Secret Service is looking into a second allegation that a participant at a Republican political rally shouted "kill him," referring to Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

read more | digg story

Comedian D.L. Hughley to host CNN show

When news breaks, D.L. Hughley will be ready to mock it.

read more | digg story

Lake County early voting