| Free Will Astrology: February 26
I say this for two reasons: First, the people you encounter will have a special need to hear about your adventures in redemption, the riddles that have fueled your quest, and the mysteries that have pushed you to the edge of your understanding; second, as you talk about those adventures, riddles, and mysteries, you will give yourself the exact boost you need to open fully to the next great story of your life. CANCER [June 21–July 22] "Never play cards with a man called Doc," said Nelson Algren in his book Walk on the Wild Side. "Never eat at a place called Mom's. Never sleep with a woman whose troubles are worse than your own." Whether or not you generally heed cautionary advice like that, I suggest that you adopt a more freewheeling approach in the coming weeks. In fact, given the frontier-prowling, rules-breaking, fun-erupting nature of your current astrological indicators, you may benefit from experimenting with a host of exploits that at any other time might seem iffy or dicey or itchy.
O'Malley, legislators brace for revenue report
He said Maryland is in better shape owing to tough decisions made in November's special legislative session, when lawmakers approved more than $1.3 billion in tax increases and about $500 million in cuts.
"The likelihood is — given the national economic downturn — that difficult series of decisions will continue," Mr. O'Malley told reporters Tuesday before meeting with the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.
Sen. James E. DeGrange Sr., who is a member of the committee, said lawmakers are looking at every state agency for cuts that will be "painful for all of us." Mr. DeGrange, Anne Arundel Democrat, said the current fiscal climate reminded him of the early 1990s, when the General Assembly had to make repeated budget reductions.
Sen.
Guide to Noise Pop music festival's most intriguing headliners
EACH YEAR, some of the hippest musical acts around come to San Francisco for the annual Noise Pop Festival, which takes place at 15 venues in the city through Sunday. But unless you closely follow the indie-rock scene, many names won't ring a bell. That's OK. A few years ago, you might not have recognized Noise Pop names like the White Stripes, Modest Mouse or Death Cab for Cutie "" now among the biggest in the land. Dozens of acts are playing this weekend; one could be the next big thing. Take a chance! At press time, tickets for some bigger shows were sold out, but you can still get into most with a festival badge, available at www.noisepop.com for $175. A few of this year's most intriguing headliners: Blitzen Trapper The show: 8:30 p.m.
Bush's Blackwater, an armed and deadly mercenary Christian army
Like most of you I knew Blackwater was a military contractor with personnel in Iraq. I knew they also sent armed personnel to police the street of New Orleans after Katrina. But I did some research after a private pilot friend sent me a series of photographs he recently took flying over their 6,000 acre North Carolina training site (see exclusive enlarged high resolution pictures here, my friend took them not knowing whether there might be dire consequenses flying so close to their facility). Once I did a little reading I was horrified at the secret army Bush has at his beck and call. For starters, I suggest readers take a few minutes and at least view this discussion, if not read the entire article from The Nation by Jeremy Scahill, the author of a new book, "Blackwater, The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army".
Braves vet Hampton preps for another try
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Mike Hampton rubs down the ball, stares toward home plate and delivers a pitch that sweeps across the outside corner. Mark Kotsay never gets the bat off his shoulder. The outfielder nods approvingly toward the mound. “That's better," Kotsay says. Brayan Pena is even more enthusiastic. “That-a boy!" the catcher barks, giving a slight pump of the fist. For Hampton, it's another baby step in one of baseball's longest-running comebacks. “My pitches are starting to come around," he said a few minutes later, standing by his locker in the Atlanta Braves' clubhouse. “My arm's been feeling pretty sound. I'm happy where I'm at right now." Remember Mike Hampton? Left-handed pitcher. Former 20-game winner. Perhaps best known for getting one of the richest contracts in baseball history.
US’s FIRST SPANISH-SPEAKING BROADCAST MEDIA TRAINING PROGRAM IS ...
The Ohio and Illinois Centers for Broadcasting today announced plans to start the United States first broadcasting training program dedicated to Spanish-speaking Americans. As part of the program plans, the school has launched www.mediosuno.com, a comprehensive website dedicated to the Schools Hispanic Media Broadcasting Training Program. The School has selected its Denver, Colorado campus for program launch, due to Metro Denvers large, dynamic, and growing Hispanic population. The inaugural classes will start on November 26th and November 27th at the Lakewood, Colorado campus of the Ohio Center for Broadcasting, and these classes are expected to fill in rapid fashion. A shortage of well-trained staff exists in the broadcasting industry, and this shortage is most evident in Spanish-speaking media outlets, where it is rare to find a Spanish speaking job candidate with the skills required for a position at television and radio stations.
Clemens, Gagne, Zaun on Mitchell's list
Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell unveiled his report on performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball Thursday. The much-anticipated 311-page report revealed the names of numerous players who purchased and possibly used performance enhancing substances after a 20- month investigation. The biggest names not previously tainted by rampant accusations were future Hall of Fame pitcher Roger Clemens along with his friend and former teammate with the New York Yankees and Houston Astros, Andy Pettitte. "For more than a decade, there has been widespread illegal use of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing substances by players in Major League Baseball in violation of federal law and baseball policy," Mitchell said at a press conference announcing the findings.
Will 'Amnesty' Sink McCain?
Every program in the world that has allowed illegal immigrants to stay has been called an "amnesty." McCain himself called it "amnesty" as recently as May 2003, when he told the Tucson Citizen "I think we can set up a program where amnesty is extended to a certain number of people who are eligible … Amnesty has to be an important part ..." But once the focus-group results were in, "amnesty" became a four-letter word. ...[snip] Real Straight Talk would be to say "Sure, it's an amnesty, but we don't really have any choice" ... P.S.: The McCain, post-focus-group argument is that it can't be "amnesty" if it has some requirements--e.g., to pay a fine, learn English, etc. But it turns out that Ronald Reagan's 1986 "comprehensive" reform, which he and everyone else called an "amnesty," had requirements too, including payment of fees.
Jobs, Woz Visit Bay Area Apple Stores For iPhone Launch
In San Francisco, customers hungry for Apple's iPhone sang "Auld Lang Syne" following a countdown, as if heralding a new era in telecommunications.
EXTRA: Scott Budman Blogs From Apple Store Patrons at the Apple store in Palo Alto were treated to a very brief appearance by Apple CEO Steve Jobs. He momentarily posed for pictures before leaving. The Bay Area wasn't the only place with iPhone fever. .
Abducted Oakland man fatally stabs captor
The woman asked to be dropped off near where she said she lived, near an East Oakland park. The woman got out of the car, leaving the second woman still inside. The first woman was gone only a few seconds when she came running back to the car followed by a man who simulated having a gun, police said. He made the 35-year-old man get in the back seat with the second woman and began driving the car with the woman who set up the date in the front seat, police said. Phillips said the two women first tried to make .
|
