Three Straight Wins Sets Up Monday Night Match at Atlanta
October 16, 2007
After starting the season with two losses, the New York Giants looked like a team that had no chance to reach the playoffs. Their defense gave up chunks of yards to Dallas and Green Bay, while surrendering 80 points. With divisional games staring at them in the next two weeks, their season could have been over before October.
A second half comeback at Washington may have been the turning point in the Giants’ season if they go on to qualify for the postseason. They held the Redskins scoreless and made a statement by not letting the pressure get to them. Head coach Tom Coughlin, who has been criticized for not being able to hold the team together, made the proper halftime adjustments and his team took it a step further by totally dismantling Philadelphia a week later. The same defense that could not stop Tony Romo and Brett Favre sacked Eagles’ quarterback 13 times while holding them to three points.
The Giants (3-2) went over the .500 mark last Sunday with a 35-24 win over their stadium counterparts, the Jets, who led by 10 points heading into the locker room. Running back Brandon Jacobs made his first appearance since injuring his knee in the opener and rushed for over 100 yards, fueling the comeback. Rookie cornerback Aaron Ross had two interceptions and ran one back for a touchdown to put the Jets away for good.
Terrorist Prisoner Claims Conversion From Islam
October 11, 2007
Have you seen the reports that 60 Minutes will air a story including details that Ramzi Yousef, “the mastermind of the first terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, claims he converted from Islam to Christianity”. That news comes courtesy of drudgereport.com, that bastion of “report first, fact-check later” journalism.
On two occasions I wrote Meester Drudge to correct a couple of glaring errors in fact with regards to stories on the U.S. Military (I’m a 13-year Air Force veteran and former reporter for Air Force News and, more indirectly, the Pentagon Channel). My corrections were ignored, so I dismissed Matt Drudge for what he seems to be; an Internet schlub hungry for clicks, just like the rest of us. (As oppposed to an actual journalist.) But I digress.
The Drudge story, complete with headline in flaming red text, claims that Ramzi Yousef is no longer an Islamic fundamentalist. Now, he’s a Christian fundamentalist. If Yousef ever escapes from prison, he’ll blow up abortion clinics in the name of Jesus instead of blowing up skyscrapers in the name of radical Islam. I bet Randall Terry (remember him? Operation Rescue? Prepare to die for right-to-life issues? Yeah.) is wetting himself with glee.
LIPA Saved Over $20 Million Bringing Low Cost Power
October 11, 2007
LIPA Saved Over $20 Million During Summer with Neptune Cable Bringing Low Cost Power from New Jersey to Long Island
New Cassel, NY-October 11, 2007-The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) today announced that it saved over $20 million this summer by using the new Neptune electric transmission cable to bring nearly 1.2 million megawatt hours (MWh) of low cost power to Long Island during the peak summer season in July, August and September when demand for electricity is highest.
The Neptune cable, which is privately owned and operated and links Long Island directly to Mid-Atlantic power supply resources for the first time, is estimated to save LIPA hundreds of millions of dollars in energy supply costs over the next 20 years.
When coupled with the nearly $200 million in savings by importing lower cost energy via the Cross-Sound Cable since June, 2004, the savings derived by the Neptune cable will help LIPA’s efforts to minimize its power supply costs.
“This historic power project has given Long Island direct access to a lower cost, more diversified power supply in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland (PJM) power market that stretches from New Jersey to Illinois,” said LIPA President and CEO Kevin S. Law. “The money saved this summer is significant and in the long term will help us meet our objective of holding down our power supply charges as much as possible.”
Read more from this release……….
Long Island Takes Lead in Alternative Energy Research
October 10, 2007
Hicksville, NY – October 10, 2007 – The Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC) has announced that a groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Tuesday, October 16th, 2007 beginning at 10:00am with addresses and refreshments at the Charles B. Wang Center on the Stony Brook University campus and then the groundbreaking itself will take place at the AERTC site nearby.The AERTC is a research facility created to develop alternative energy sources and protect natural resources by exploiting cutting edge technologies, the largest facility of its kind on Long Island.
The event will begin with addresses by AERTC Co-Chair Robert Catell (Chairman, KeySpan/National Grid USA), AERTC Co-Chair Dr. Shirley Strum Kenny (President, Stony Brook University), State Senator Kenneth LaValle, Kevin S. Law (Chairman, LIPA), Dr. Yacov Shamash (Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and VP of Economic Development, Stony Brook University) and others TBA. Transportation will then be provided to the AERTC site for the actual groundbreaking, which will include gold shovels and gold hardhats for a photo opportunity.
Read more about this release……….
Billy Joel To Receive Long Island State Park Award
October 10, 2007
Billy Joel To Recive Long Island State Park Tenth Annual Master Builder Award
October 10, 2007 (Bethpage, NY) – The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the Foundation for Long Island State Parks, is pleased to announce that noted singer/songwriter/performer, Billy Joel, is the honoree receiving the Long Island State Parks’ Tenth Annual Master Builder Award. This honor is in recognition for his achievements in the entertainment industry and his efforts to protect Long Island’s historic maritime industries.
Tickets are now on sale for this prestigious, black-tie optional, gala which is being held on October 11, 2007, at Bethpage State Park’s Carlyle on the Green. The cost of a ticket is $500 or $6000 for a table of twelve.
Since Billy Joel joined his first band, The Echoes, (later known as The Lost Souls) in 1963, he has been nominated for and won a total of 50 awards and honors. This iconic singer/songwriter/performer has won six Grammys, has seen 18 Grammy Nominations, has had 16 albums achieving RIAA Platinum Status, two singles achieving RIAA Platinum Status, and four singles achieving RIAA Gold Status.
Read more about this release…….
At The Box Office: Resident Evil - Extinction
October 10, 2007
You normally won’t find the words “fine cinema” and “based on the hit videogame” in the same sentence. Such is the stigma that videogame-based film adaptations have had to endure throughout the years, although the burden is not entirely undeserved. Early on, videogame movies were rushed, cheap, sloppy, and often catered directly to children (hello, Super Mario Brothers). It appears, however, that Hollywood is beginning to realize that the children of yesterday are now the adults of today, and that they’re still playing (and have more money to spend). The videogame business is maturing and now spans all age ranges, from kids to grandparents. In terms of entertainment media, videogames are beginning to compete with (and in some ways even eclipse) Hollywood’s efforts in terms of profitability.
Here’s a good example of how neck and neck gaming and movies are currently running: Remember my brilliant review of last summer’s blockbuster film Spiderman 3? That movie set an initial box office record of $59 million in its first 24 hours of release. That’s a lot, right? Now, along comes Halo 3- a highly-anticipated game for Microsoft’s Xbox360 console- and it sells more than $170 million worth of copies in its first full day of release. Impressive, yes, but even more so when you figure in their respective budgets- Spiderman 3’s was a whopping $258 million, while Halo 3 clocked in at a meager (competitively speaking) $25 mil. Of course, when we also take into account a movie ticket’s price ($10) versus a videogame’s price ($60- ouch), the gap closes ever so slightly, but the fact still remains- videogames are big business. Thus, it would be expected that the associated tie-ins (in this case, films) would finally increase in quality, and for the most part, it’s happening.
Ron Paul’s YouTube Channel Reaches Over 30,000 Subscribers
October 10, 2007
Presidential candidate surpasses 30,000 subscribers on leading online video network
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA— Congressman Ron Paul’s YouTube channel reached over 30,000 subscribers on October 7. His is the leading “You Choose 08” presidential campaign channel, with nearly three times more supporters than Democratic candidate and supposed internet campaign darling, Barack Obama, who places second with over 11,000 subscribers. Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s channel is the fifth most popular with slightly more than 3,000 subscribers, or one tenth of Ron Paul’s support. Fellow Republican Rudy Giuliani lags behind with over 2,000 subscriptions, followed by John McCain and Mike Huckabee with just over 1,000 each. All other Republican candidates have fewer than 1,000 YouTube supporters.
“In all leading online metrics, Dr. Paul is dominating the field,” said Paul campaign chairman Kent Snyder. “Dr. Paul’s message of freedom, peace, and prosperity is resonating strongly with Americans, and attracting new supporters every day.”
Dr. Paul’s video channel has been viewed 4.5 million times by supporters who embrace his message of freedom and limited government, making him one of the most-watched presidential candidates in internet history. His is also the 39th most popular channel of all time. Subscribers laud him as “exciting”, “honorable”, “dedicated to principle”, and the only man who “can beat Hillary.” They use YouTube to recruit and organize other Ron Paul supporters, adding to his burgeoning campaign base. This energy remains unprecedented among other Republican presidential hopefuls.
YouTube was founded as an online video-sharing network in February 2005. It is the leading online video site worldwide.
About Ron Paul:
Ronald Paul is a Republican from Texas, a physician, and a candidate for U.S. president, 2008. He has represented Texas’s 14th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1997, and its 22nd district, 1976 – 1977 and 1979 – 1985. Paul also placed third in the 1988 presidential election as the Libertarian Party nominee, while remaining a registered Republican. After graduation from Duke University School of Medicine and residency in obstetrics and gynecology, he was drafted and served as a flight surgeon during the Vietnam War.
Paul supports free trade, hard money, sharply lower taxes, reduced government, and non-interventionist foreign policy. He voted against the Iraq War Resolution and the Patriot Act. Paul states he has never voted in Congress to raise taxes or to approve an unbalanced budget. He has called for the total abolition of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the federal income tax, as well as the Federal Reserve. He also opposes illegal immigration, gun control, and the existence of many federal agencies.
During his 2008 presidential campaign, Paul has generated strong support on the Internet and is among the top Republican Internet search terms as measured by Hitwise, Alexa, and Technorati. At YouTube, he leads the other presidential candidates, with over 29,000 subscribers. Supporters claim he is unfairly ignored by the media, and cite his victories in four out of five of the 2008 GOP debate sponsors own online and phone text polls to argue he deserves more recognition.
Find out more at: http://www.ronpaul2008.com
Damage To Long Island Sound, No Secret
October 10, 2007
The Millstone power station propaganda battle concerning closed cycle cooling has begun. The campaign to frighten people with higher electric prices and monstrous 500-foot cooling towers is under way, orchestrated by Dominion, owners of Millstone. Local politicians and business leaders are being rounded up and trotted out to the media and to the townspeople with the Dominion company line.
I won’t say that these are not reasonable concerns for local leaders to have and given that these impressions persist, Soundkeeper, as a party to this administrative proceeding, needs to do a better job presenting the facts on the issue.
Power plant cooling water intakes kill trillions of fish, fish eggs and larva on an ongoing basis. This fact is certainly no secret. It’s clear that species of fish in Long Island Sound are heavily affected by power plants. The fish are killed, in all their life stages, along with other marine life when they are sucked into the facility along with a flood of water to cool the plant, in Millstone’s case it can be up to two billion gallons per day. The marinelife that can’t escape are then either scraped off the protective screens into a trash pit or discharged back to the Sound as a lifeless soup.
New York’s Finest Go Above And Beyond To Help Animals
October 10, 2007
New York’s Finest Go Above And Beyond To Help Lucky Cat.
New York, NY – New York Police Detective Steven Litwin never expected he’d fall for an old, sick cat while making an arrest. With the cat’s only guardian facing a long prison sentence and eviction at his apartment, The NYPD’s Detective Litwin knew the pitiful cat he’d discovered there had nowhere to go and no one returning for her.
“There was no way I could just walk away from an innocent little cat who was an unfortunate victim of someone else’s lack of judgment. My job is to protect New Yorkers, all New Yorkers, so that’s exactly what I did.” NYPD Detective Steven Litwin
The detective knew the cat’s age and obviously poor medical condition meant she would likely face euthanasia if taken to a city shelter. Detective Litwin arranged for the cat named Sonia to stay in the empty apartment until he could find a place for her to live. He and his partners promised the building’s owner they would visit daily to feed and care for Sonia on their own time. But knowing Sonia could not stay in the abandoned apartment forever, Detective Litwin contacted the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, who agreed to take the old cat in. The only problem was, they had no room for Sonia right away. Despite being allergic to cats, Detective Litwin agreed to foster Sonia in his own home until space became available. The Mayor’s Alliance eventually arranged for Sonia to see veterinarian Dan Lauridia at Murray Hill Animal Hospital in Manhattan where, after examining Sonia, it was determined she was almost completely blind and would need to be referred to see a specialty Ophthalmologist at NYC Veterinary Specialists & Cancer Treatment Center for further treatment.
Religious Words Such As God, Lord Banned
October 10, 2007
Religious words such as God, Lord banned by Architect of the U.S. Capitol
According to U.S. Representative Marilyn Musgrave, our nation’s legislators are now prohibited from using references to God in certificates of authenticity accompanying flags flown over the Capitol and bought by constituents. Such references include: “under God” in the pledge, “God bless you,” or “in the year of our Lord, 2007.” Never before has this official prohibition been leveled.
Architect of the Capitol Steven Ayers said he has removed the words because reference to God and the Lord may offend some Americans. He now prohibits them from being placed on official documents such as flag certificates.
Musgrave was astonished when she flew a flag over the U.S. Capitol building as a tribute to a senior citizen, and the accompanying certificate she received was edited with all religious references removed.
The congresswoman was more astounded when, upon further investigation, she discovered the certificate was censored by order of The Architect of the Capitol, an unelected very low-level official who manages the flag office.
Responding to a request for a flag flown over the United States Capitol in honor of a World War II veteran’s 81st birthday, the congresswoman ordered the flag and a certificate to state: “This flag was flown for Mr. John Doe on the occasion of his 81st birthday, the eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord, 2007. Thank you, Grandpa, for showing me what it is to be a true patriot — to love God, family, and country. We love you!”
When the flag and certificate came back from the flag office, each reference to the Lord and God were removed. A group of lawmakers confronted architect Stephen Ayers seeking to find where he had the authority to restrict their freedom of speech and religious expression. Ayers refused to give the lawmakers a clear justification of his authority to delete the religious references.
For more information: Capitol flag policy assailed (Washington Times).
Capitol flag policy assailed - By Audrey Hudson October 6, 2007
