Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said today he is unlikely to bring back popular utilityman Doug Mientkiewicz because of the signing today of free-agent outfielder Eric Hinske
Hinske can play all four of the positions -- first base, third base, left field, right field -- that Mientkiewicz played for the Pirates last season.
Quinn was sworn in Thursday after the state Senate booted Rod Blagojevich out of office at his impeachment trial.Now I wont have to read anymore stupid headlines about Oprah being a candidate for senator.
Numerous Southmoreland High School students are under investigation by state police in Greensburg for sending inappropriate messages via cell phone.
The investigation concerns a new trend among young people commonly known as "sexting" -- using cell phones to send sexual messages or images.
Students are under investigation regarding inappropriate images of an underage girl that were sent to students' cell phones since April 2008. It is unclear how the images were discovered or how many students are involved.
Southmoreland School District turned over the investigation to the state police and refused to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation. No charges have been filed.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, charged with trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by President Barack Obama, considered offering it to talk show star Oprah Winfrey.Come on! I know there are people who just LOVE Oprah. I am not one of them, I don't hang on her every word, I don't do things cause she does them... So, I just don't get how she is even a little qualified to be a Senator. My conclusion? The Governor is a idiot. He doesn't deserve to be in office. Period.
WTAE Channel 4's Jennifer Miele reported that Mayor Karl Eisaman and the Greensburg Police Department have received dozens of e-mails from people who think the kids' parents -- and not a judge -- should punish them.And"These are good kids that made mistakes ... What they did was wrong, but they are not sex offenders," one of the boys' mothers said in an e-mail to Channel 4 Action News on Monday.
"I think it's actually really foolish for both the school district and the prosecuting attorneys to make an issue of this thing," defense attorney Dante Bertani said. "I mean, it's girls sending pictures of themselves to their boyfriends."
The city is declining comment and referring all questions to District Attorney John Peck, who made the decision to charge the teens.
In the WPXI story, which included contributions from the Associated Press, {Police Capt. George} Saranko indicated that authorities decided to file the child pornography charges to send a strong message to other minors who might consider sending such photos to friends.
"It's very dangerous," he said. "Once it's on a cell phone, that cell phone can be put on the Internet where everyone in the world can get access to that juvenile picture. You don't realize what you are doing until it's already done." (Seranko could not be reached for comment on Thursday, and a woman who answered the phone at the Greensburg Police Department said, “Our department is not doing any more interviews on the case.”)OK. Problem 1: Cell phones are NOT "put on the Internet" unless your selling them. Pictures are put on the internet. Moron.
Really? I am glad someone agrees with me. Overkill indeed. Bullshit too.
But Patrick Artur, a Philadelphia defense attorney who by his reckoning has handled at least 80 child pornography cases, said the prosecution of minors for photos they took themselves runs counter to the purpose of both state and federal child pornography laws: Preventing the sexual abuse of children by “dirty old men in raincoats.”
“It’s clearly overkill,” he said. “… The letter of the law seems to have been violated, but this is not the type of defendant that the legislature envisioned” in passing the statute.
"This is going to ruin his life," the boy's mother said. "My son did not know this girl. He had seen her around school, and it was texted to him. He did not take the picture."And:
"I could see if my son took the picture of the girl," the boy's mother said. "My son just received this as a text message, which by the way, the principal said the whole school had it on their phones."
Sic'em greensburg. Charge all of them bitched with a crime!!!!
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy reported last month that a survey of 1,280 teens and young adults found that 20 percent of the teens said they had sent or posted nude or semi nude photos or videos of themselves. That number was slightly higher for teenage girls — 22 percent — vs. boys — 18 percent.
The Terrible Towel is a symbol, and, like all symbols, it is profoundly
personal for many Steelers fans. Described as the perfect blend of color and
motion, it is tough, ubiquitous, resilient to abuse, utilitarian, portable and
the most recognized fan accessory in the world of sports. This being Pittsburgh,
a towel-come-lately is sure to evoke strong passions.
"Like all the other towels that have surfaced out there, it's a cheap
imitation," he added. "I think it's a dumb idea. It's a ripoff. A
copycat."
The Terrible Towel's legacy
In triumph and in tears, the towel has waved its way into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, along with its creator. It has been twirled by active and retired players, punctuating parades and serving as proof of citizenship for tribal members in other cities. It gave Mr. Cope a sendoff at his funeral, and it has been buried with mayors.
But its greatest contribution has been to improve the quality of life for children and adults with intellectual development disabilities through the Allegheny Valley School, where Mr. Cope's son has been a resident since 1982.
Mr. Cope turned over the trademark to the school in 1996. Since then, the cash cow towel and its satellite products have generated $2.2 million for the school, including $1 million the year the Steelers won Super Bowl XL.Given that kind of validity and support, nothing can displace its legacy, said Regis Champ, president and chief executive officer of Allegheny Valley School. "The Terrible Towel has been around for decades," he said. "Nothing can replace an original. The Terrible Towel rules."
It seems that, all of a sudden, the NFL is awash in towels. Blue ones that said "This Is Our House" were handed out before last weekend's game at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn., where the home team Titans were defeated by the Ravens.
Just a few weeks earlier, the Titans did a Tennessee two-step on a
Terrible Towel. Subsequently, they were shut out and then eliminated, and home
field advantage was in the hands of the Steelers. 'There's only one'
OK. I understand they were using their phones when the were not supposed to. But What I don't understand is why they were looking thru the kid's phone pictures.Three teenage girls who allegedly sent nude or semi-nude cell phone pictures of themselves and the three male classmates high school who received them are charged with child pornography in juvenile court.
Police in Greensburg say the girls are 14 or 15 and the boys charged with receiving the photos are 16 or 17. The juveniles were not identified.
Police say Greensburg Salem High School officials learned of the photos in November. That's when a student was seen using a cell phone during school hours, which violates school rules. The phone was seized and the photos found on it. When police investigated, other phones with more pictures were seized.
The phone was seized and the photos found on it.I don't know that they had a right to do that. I have a real problem with that. New phones can be rather complicated. You don't just accidently "find" questionable pictures. You have to LOOK. But maybe I am wrong about this. Does the school rules say that when the phone is seized it will be searched? Doesn't that violate a right? If it's not the school's phone do they still have the right to look at everything on it? I would feel upset if someone who was not my parent looked thru my phone or looked thru my child's phone. As a parent, that is my job. (and when Julia gets a phone, look thru it, I will.) In my book, you take it, lock it up and they get it back after school or the parent has to come get it. Simple enough. This just really doesn't sit well with me.
Three teenage girls who allegedly sent nude or semi-nude cell phone pictures of themselves and the three male classmates high school who received them are charged with child pornography in juvenile court.I will tell you that at 15. At 16. At 17, I did not understand what child pornography encompassed. At those ages, I never would have known that sending a racy pic of myself to my boyfriend would be something that I could go to jail for, or have to register as a sex offender for. SRSLY. I don't expect that these kids understood either. That bothers me too. This whole thing feels like "lets make an example of someone" situation. It really does. Did they hurt anyone? It doesn't sound like it. It sounds more like someone was snooping thru a teenager's phone found something and decided to make a big deal.
Penguins coach Michel Therrien has watched his team lose seven of its past eight games and tumble to 10th in the Eastern Conference standings.He knows as well as anyone that something has to change -- dramatically and quickly -- if the Penguins are to salvage their season.
But, when asked in the wake of the Penguins' 5-3 loss to Colorado at the Pepsi Center yesterday if he felt his job security is an issue, Therrien made it clear that he doesn't believe it is. Or should be.
"No," he said. "Why? I'm not worried about that."
No coach has complete control over his fate, of course, but general manager Ray Shero repeatedly has said that replacing Therrien is not on his radar.
UM. HELLO!!! The last thing the players need is to worry their head coach is going to get fired because they can't get their act together. And also... do you really want your head coach to be all "Yeah, I think I'm getting canned after this season. Sorry, I am a shitty coach guys."
WTF? NO, you don't!
I don't want my NHL head coach to be some sissy boy panzy worried about himself more than his team! Therrien is NOT a sissy boy panzy. He will call out a player. The problem is we are playing so poorly he has to call out almost the whole damn team right now. And a Team problem it is... make no mistake. A coach can't go out there and play for them. These losses are not all his fault.
So Reporters, quit asking stupid questions.
Fans, Stop emailing the same stupid questions.
Penguins (Like any of them read this stupid little blog of mine right?), sit down, take a deep breath, forget the season so far and start playing like the talented pros that you are.
P.S. See, I'm not *totally* crazy about the team bonding thing... Dave Molinari Agrees with me. A little anyway:
Q: I think everyone would agree that the Penguins are missing something, whether it's chemistry, grit or lack of production from some guys who are counted on for production. My question is, do you think not being able to attend their boot camp at West Point has been a factor in their lack of chemistry or grit this season? I think going through that allowed them to get comfortable and rely on each other in tough times.
Brian Finnigan, Boardman, Ohio
MOLINARI: Not spending a few days at the U.S. Military Academy had zero impact on the Penguins' grit -- it not as if, say, Miroslav Satan would have been transformed into a win-or-die-trying warrior if he'd been able to put in a few quality hours on the obstacle course -- but there's no question the team-building time they spent there in 2006 and 2007 contributed to exceptional camaraderie the Penguins had.
Even so, a visit to West Point does not come with a guarantee of success. If it did, 30 teams would be booking a trip there every autumn.
Refund anticipation loans, or RALs, are a lucrative business for the tax preparers. In 2006, 9 million consumers obtained such loans, paying $1 billion in fees.
How refund anticipation loans workHere is how the rip off works:
RALs work like this: When customers of storefront tax preparation companies learn that they have a tax refund coming, they are offered the chance to get the money almost immediately. For a fee, the tax preparer arranges a bank loan for the refund amount. The bank then keeps the refund when it arrives from the government.
That is over $100 of your money just in fees. That is crazy. It is as bad as payday loans. Legal Loan sharks...The loan fees are steep when viewed through the lens of a traditional bank loan. Expressed as an annual percentage rate, as required by Truth in Lending requirements, (Jackson Hewitt's Bank) Santa Barbara charges customers an effective annual percentage rate of 113 percent.
Consumers usually are not sensitive to this fee, however, because they don't pay it directly; it is simply deducted from their refund. Fees vary based on the size of the refund, but a consumer expecting a $2,600 refund could expect to pay about $95 in interest charges plus nearly $40 in processing fees, Fox said. Most must wait a day or two to receive their funds.
Refund anticipation loan consumers may not realize that taxpayers who file electronic returns get their refunds – for free -- in an average of 11 days.I understand people need help with their taxes. I pay a someone to do my federal. But don't let these places talk you in to getting a LOAN for money your entitled to anyway. I want all my money. I can manage to wait 10 days. That gives me time to plan what I am going to do with it anyway. :-)
The boy, whose name wasn't released, missed the bus, took the car keys and drove
nearly six miles on Route 360, about 61 miles east of Richmond, while his mother
was asleep.
The boy told police he learned to drive playing Grand Theft Auto and otherLovely. 6 year olds are not supposed to be playing GTA for goddness sake. Its an ADULT Game!! I'll give the kid some props though for how close he got:
video games.
Police said he made at least two 90-degree turns, passed several cars and ran
off the rural two-lane road several times before hitting an embankment and
utility pole about a mile and a half from school.
Northumberland County Sheriff Chuck Wilkins said 26-year-old Jacqulyn Deana
Waltman is being held without bond. Forty-year-old David Eugene Dodson was
released on a $5,000 bond. The boy and his 4-year-old brother were placed in
protective custody.
...He became angry with a McDonald's drive through attendant, claiming he was shorted $5 in change.
...The store manager pulled the register, determining Moye had not been shorted money.
...Police said the man got out of his car and began threatening the attendant and the manager, punching
the window twice and spitting at the building.
...Moye told troopers that he did become agitated but denied spitting or punching the window.However, the incident was caught on surveillance videoThe Moral? Video surveillance is everywhere. And maybe learn to count your change before assaulting building....
Veterinary professor Dr. Alice Blue-McLendon says Santa's reindeers were most likely female.It turns out real reindeer grow antlers regardless of gender.Blue-McLendon also wonders whether a boy reindeer really sport a shiny red nose that almost glows.She said females like accessories -- shiny stuff.You know what? Thanks for setting my gender back. And the last time I checked the story, Rudolph didn't ask for the damn shiny nose.
It may be time to call off the dogs. Police said an upstate New York county's 911 system has led them to arrest three teens accused of vandalism.Officials said three teens were trying to steal auto parts from parked vehicles when one of them unknowingly hit the emergency button on his cell phone.The phone dialed 911, and police said emergency call dispatchers heard the three discussing the vandalism in progress.A 911 operator used the phone's GPS signal to guide arresting officers to their locations.
