Are you a STOCK TRADER or a STOCK GAMBLER?

<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">You should ask yourself that question above</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusb9H9InPW8AdSBr4Tq20zR2WEcyXYpc9Z21ofaQBI5ExEDNph-k4OYgaS5Sfx0w4CtXk65AiQgexv9rRaEXq4ekhW9G0Q5f_sygsZoEzG15_8tVG6-QdKj1JB7TdX8sriSKTQaJH2VQ/s1600/KrullON_THE_SCREENS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusb9H9InPW8AdSBr4Tq20zR2WEcyXYpc9Z21ofaQBI5ExEDNph-k4OYgaS5Sfx0w4CtXk65AiQgexv9rRaEXq4ekhW9G0Q5f_sygsZoEzG15_8tVG6-QdKj1JB7TdX8sriSKTQaJH2VQ/s1600/KrullON_THE_SCREENS.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Here's a wise quote from Trader Dan Norcini:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"Computer algorithms are heartless automatons which do not care one whit about the size of your hard-earned trading dollars. They will rip it away from you faster than you can spit if you are not careful. The old adage " learn to run away and play another day" should be plastered all over the monitors at your trading desk until you get it!"</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>---Dan Norcini, "Trader Dan"</i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Always remember that CASH is a position.  Of course the die hard stackers consider CASH as TRASH but that's an entirely different form of insanity.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><i> </i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> Watch the CHARTS:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><!-- Start FreeStockCharts.com Chart Widget --> <br /><div align="center" width="100%"><iframe frameborder="0" height="390" scrolling="no" src="http://widgets.freestockcharts.com/WidgetServer/InteractiveChartWidget.aspx?guid=4b10a81a-895e-4009-9ca7-1e334c44af36&w=500&h=390" style="border: none;" width="500"></iframe></div><!-- End FreeStockCharts.com Chart Widget --></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">...developing... </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></b></div>

Are you a STOCK TRADER or a STOCK GAMBLER?

You should ask yourself that question above Here's a wise quote from Trader Dan Norcini: "Computer algorithms are heartless automa...

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Belly up! Combine jelly bean flavors to create fave beer tastes (BLOG)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqcmkBsfuPyhfEu7glBnnveUknQSbayrdXM7h8GrNx-uN69OCCn-KVSuyWATx-WAL1wdkzs2gKEt4BzBB9VOt3njHOFJJ3p6F65ha5BS73iRuGAUjqyIKsrQjb80KxfWw6Rj_nVaaRWk/s1600/be.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqcmkBsfuPyhfEu7glBnnveUknQSbayrdXM7h8GrNx-uN69OCCn-KVSuyWATx-WAL1wdkzs2gKEt4BzBB9VOt3njHOFJJ3p6F65ha5BS73iRuGAUjqyIKsrQjb80KxfWw6Rj_nVaaRWk/s1600/be.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">Jelly Belly jelly beans were a great source of joy for me as a kid. We'd regularly take long car trips and my sister and I would pass the time with a bag of Jelly Belly candy, following the "recipes" printed on the bag that called for combining different flavored beans to create new and interesting taste treats. <em>Oh my gosh </em>— <em>two Green Apple and one</em> C<em>innamon totally DO taste like a candy apple!</em></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">When Jelly Belly recently <a href="http://www.today.com/food/jelly-belly-debuts-first-beer-flavored-jelly-bean-2D11967843" style="color: #f15822; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">announced it was making a new "Draft Beer"-flavored jelly bean</a>, the dusty bean-blending gears in my brain immediately creaked back to life. I savored the opportunity to blend a fun part of my youth with an obsession of my adulthood: Jelly Belly candy and craft beer.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">Jelly Belly based the Draft Beer bean on a German Hefeweizen, a sweet and bready wheat beer that’s known for its notes of banana, clove and sometimes a hint of bubblegum. The Draft Beer beans do a lovely job of replicating the Hefeweizen style, with a sweet, broad flavor that has just enough maltiness and a simulated taste of alcohol (the beans contain no booze) to trick your senses into thinking of beer when you chew one up.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">I got my hands on some Draft Beer beans and Jelly Belly's 50-Flavor Gift Box and set to work concocting new flavor combos, intent on recreating the flavors of different styles of craft beer.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><strong>IPA</strong><em>Two Draft Beer + One Sunkist Grapefruit</em><br />With the Draft Beer beans acting as the beery base, the grapefruit bean adds a bittersweet citrus punch to the proceeding, reminiscent of a classic West Coast IPA.<em><br /></em></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Dandy Shandy</strong><em>Two Draft Beer + One Lemon Drop </em><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">A lemon shandy is a beer that blends a wheat beer and lemonade. It was a safe bet that combining two wheat beer-inspired Draft Beer beans with a Lemon Drop bean would create a fair replication of this summer thirst quencher. It did, with the Lemon Drop adding a bright and clean pucker of lemon onto the finish of the flavor.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Imperial Stout</strong><em>Two Draft Beer + One Chocolate Pudding + One Licorice</em><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">I love big boozy stouts, so I was happy when I found this perfect combination of beans to create a satisfying facsimile. The Draft Beer beans supply the beeriness, with the Chocolate Pudding bean adding richness and the Licorice bean bringing complexity and the sensation of booziness to the back end of the flavor. Serve this one in a snifter!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Chili Mango Pale Ale</strong><em>Two Draft Beer + One Chili Mango</em><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">I was irrationally excited to see a Chili Mango jelly bean among the 50 varieties in the gift box I was using as a source of flavors to punch up the Draft Beer beans. And punching up is exactly what happened when I added one to the mix. It reminded me a bit of Ballast Point’s excellent Habanero Mango Sculpin IPA, with a rich malt base playing host to a sweet burst of mango and a peppery chili finish. Excellent!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Coffee Stout</strong><em>Three Draft Beer + One Chocolate Pudding + Cappuccino</em><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">I love coffee stout, which blends a rich roasted malt profile with hints of espresso, vanilla and chocolate. Combining three Draft Beer beans with a Chocolate Pudding and a Cappuccino bean did a wonderful job of replicating the complex flavors found in these hearty beers.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Framboise</strong><em>Two Draft Beer + One Raspberry</em><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">I found a super bright raspberry bean in the gift box, which was perfect for creating a chewy rendition of Lindemans Framboise, a Belgian wheat beer blended with raspberries. Earthy, sweet and having a very clean finish, these flavors worked wonderfully together. I also mixed a Sour Cherry with a single Draft Beer to create a facsimile of a New Glarus Wisconsin Belgian Red. Delicious!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><strong>Watermelon Wheat</strong><em>Two Draft Beer + One Watermelon</em><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">My all-time favorite Jelly Belly has to be Watermelon, mostly because I love how they are green on the outside and pink in the middle, just like a real watermelon. Blending a Watermelon bean with two Draft Beer beans creates a tasty homage to 21st Amendment’s Hell or High Watermelon, a wheat beer brewed with the refreshing fruit. Malty, smooth and sweet, this might be my favorite combination of the bunch.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">Those were just some of the fun combos I concocted — pairing a couple bags of Draft Beer beans and a Jelly Belly gift box creates a ton of possibilities to explore. I’m just happy that Jelly Belly has given me an excuse to revisit one of my favorite childhood treats while geeking out about one of my favorite adult indulgences. Now I’m just waiting for the whiskey beans!</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><em><a href="http://www.today.com/food/jim.galligan@hotmail.com" style="color: #f15822; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Jim Galligan</a> is co-founder of the <a href="http://beerandwhiskeybros.com/" style="color: #f15822; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Beer and Whiskey Brothers blog</a>, where he and his brother Don cover the ever-evolving world of craft beer and distilled spirits. Follow him on <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/JCGalligan" style="color: #f15822; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</em></div>

Belly up! Combine jelly bean flavors to create fave beer tastes (BLOG)

Jelly Belly jelly beans were a great source of joy for me as a kid. We'd regularly take long car trips and my sister and I would pass th...

Read more »

BITCOIN is COMING but it's NOT FOR EVERYONE

<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Cash, Credit, or BITCOIN?</span> </span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">The age of DIGITAL CURRENCY is here</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Expect more expansion of this TECHNOLOGY</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/i2I9D-K6VBQ?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe> <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>...developing...</b></div>

BITCOIN is COMING but it's NOT FOR EVERYONE

Cash, Credit, or BITCOIN? The age of DIGITAL CURRENCY is here Expect more expansion of this TECHNOLOGY ...developing...

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Lindsey Williams new ELITE Revelations of Alternative Medicine

<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Lindsey Williams has a new MARKETING STRATEGY</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UxxPOcmaGJocb9C3G2xSUoQxlDfA5ily-bsUcUQ6m_uJr4ZpBtQmikyDv8je7qk10IUGG5IMEV-_v3hYoew6nJYXq6o69uawyeV9KV1h8HAI3O9AXo7Oy2qYDwPHbQ65AaRjwPNcuao/s1600/LindseyWilliamsandDrRodriguesPIC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UxxPOcmaGJocb9C3G2xSUoQxlDfA5ily-bsUcUQ6m_uJr4ZpBtQmikyDv8je7qk10IUGG5IMEV-_v3hYoew6nJYXq6o69uawyeV9KV1h8HAI3O9AXo7Oy2qYDwPHbQ65AaRjwPNcuao/s1600/LindseyWilliamsandDrRodriguesPIC.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Elite Revelations of Alternative Medicine</span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">People don't have to die from cancer</span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Learn the secrets of the elite... </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Lindsey Williams is now confederate with Dr. Rodrigo Rodriguez from IBC Hospital & Health Center in Tijuana, Mexico promoting ELITE HEALTH CARE SECRETS that have kept the well to do healthy into their latter days.  </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>It seems he is no more concerned with financial collapse at this particular moment as the deadline to buy GOLD has passed now on January 1, 2014 and they are still selling GOLD and even SILVER at coin dealers and bullion dealers across America and throughout the entire world.  Perhaps there has been a delay in the CURRENCY DEVALUATION, RESET, and of course the OBAMACARE at this point?</b><br /><br /><b>For more information visit:</b><br /><b><a href="http://www.lindseywilliams.net/" style="color: red;">www.lindseywilliams.net</a> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/TTGriGX0e-c?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe> <br /><b>...developing...</b></div>

Lindsey Williams new ELITE Revelations of Alternative Medicine

Lindsey Williams has a new MARKETING STRATEGY Elite Revelations of Alternative Medicine People don't have to die from cancer Learn the s...

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- February 14, 2014

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/RspPdFxC_gg" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Syria's Disintegration Alarms Israel -- Ian Black, The Guardian</b></span></div><br />Bashar al-Assad looks like the least bad option as fears mount of growing strength of jihadi groups, writes Ian Black<br /><br />Nearly three years into the war in Syria, the Israeli government is getting used to the idea that its northern neighbour is changing beyond recognition as the bloodiest chapter of the Arab spring takes its bloody course with no end in sight.<br /><br />Unlike Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq, Israel – Syria's enemy for 65 years - has not been inundated with hundreds of thousands of desperate refugees fleeing the conflict. But it is increasingly alarmed about the disintegration of the country and the rise of Jihadi-type groups in the uprising against Bashar al-Assad. Eventually, the fear is, they will turn their attention to Israel.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/on-the-middle-east/2014/feb/14/israel-syria-alqaida-golan">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/14/syria-public-outrage-horrors">Where is the public outrage on Syria?</a> -- Jan Egeland, The Guardian<br /><br /><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2014/0212/Will-Iran-oil-end-Saudi-Arabia-s-energy-reign">Will Iran oil end Saudi Arabia's energy reign?</a> -- Rami Ayyub, Christian Science Monitor<br /><br /><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/02/14/276565622/despite-promising-signs-iran-has-yet-to-escape-economic-troubles">Iran's Hope Is Sanctions Relief, But Reality Is Struggling Economy</a> -- Peter Kenyon, NPR<br /><br /><a href="http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/14/why-western-business-eyeing-iran-is-a-good-thing/">Why Western business eyeing Iran is a good thing</a> -- Cornelius Adebahr, Special to CNN<br /><br /><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Security-Watch/2014/0214/Why-was-North-Korea-so-quick-to-agree-to-family-reunions">Why was North Korea so quick to agree to family reunions?</a> -- Donald Kirk, Christian Science Monitor<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2014/02/14/4823541/kerry-looks-to-china-to-rein-in.html">Kerry looks to China to rein in N. Korea’s nuclear arms, but at what cost?</a> -- Stuart Leavenworth, Kansas City Star/McClatchy Foreign Staff<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/02/13/218116/us-ties-with-karzai-erode-further.html">U.S. ties with Karzai erode further over prisoner release</a> -- James Rosen, McClatchy Washington Bureau<br /><br /><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/10636290/The-eurozone-crisis-is-just-getting-started.html">Eurozone Crisis Is Just Getting Started </a>-- Jeremy Warner, Daily Telegraph<br /><br /><a href="http://www.euronews.com/2014/02/13/fears-for-the-economic-legacy-in-ukraine/">Fears for the economic legacy in Ukraine</a> -- Euronews<br /><br /><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-02-14/obama-bid-for-russia-reset-slips-amid-cold-war-iciness">Obama Bid for Russia Reset Slips Amid Cold War Iciness </a>-- Nicole Gaouette, Bloomberg Businessweek<br /><br /><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2014/02/scotland-rocky-road-independence-20142141425307296.html">Scotland: A rocky road to independence</a> -- Inside Story/Al Jazeera <br /><br /><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/venezuela-in-a-country-so-divided-peace-is-just-a-dream-9127081.html">Venezuela: In a country so divided, peace is just a dream </a>-- Linda Sharkey, The Independent<br /><br /><a href="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/opinion/2014/02/14/opinion-venezuelan-masses-will-not-let-president-maduro-rule-with-iron-fist/?cmpid=GoogleNewsEditorsPicks">Venezuelan Masses Will Not Let President Maduro Rule With An Iron Fist Perpetually</a> -- Leopoldo Martínez, FOX News<br /><br /><a href="http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2014/02/13/postmortem/">A Postmortem On Venezuela</a> --- Richard Fernandez, PJ Media

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- February 14, 2014

Syria's Disintegration Alarms Israel -- Ian Black, The Guardian Bashar al-Assad looks like the least bad option as fears mount of growin...

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'Biggest Loser' winner addresses eating disorder controversy (BLOG, VIDEO)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0kc1cxFSnNL19Dne6_L_jwtr43HUecJEfxf1FSg6Mu41pOPPA-nKDlppdXyQi8DNnDEHhPFb-8Vl5U3Q9xFKi8INqocUoD_yTIcrdTNVwUsZXvcjVsBWo1DG_GUx6IiHoQ-yBLn2sQs/s1600/tt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0kc1cxFSnNL19Dne6_L_jwtr43HUecJEfxf1FSg6Mu41pOPPA-nKDlppdXyQi8DNnDEHhPFb-8Vl5U3Q9xFKi8INqocUoD_yTIcrdTNVwUsZXvcjVsBWo1DG_GUx6IiHoQ-yBLn2sQs/s1600/tt.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><a href="http://www.today.com/entertainment/tag/biggest-loser" style="color: #f15822; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"Biggest Loser"</a> winner Rachel Frederickson went from 260 pounds at the start of season 15 down to just 105 pounds on finale night. The dramatic transformation earned her the win, but it also earned <a href="http://www.today.com/entertainment/biggest-loser-fans-worry-about-winners-health-after-massive-weight-2D12060323" style="color: #f15822; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">shocked reactions from fans and even the show's trainers</a>. Now Frederickson admits she might have gone too far in an effort to win.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">"Maybe I was a little too enthusiastic in my training to get to the finale," the 24-year-old told <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20785822,00.html" style="color: #f15822; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">People</a> in the wake of the controversy.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">Despite that, Frederickson maintains that she didn't exactly sacrifice her <a class="itxtnewhook itxthook" href="http://www.today.com/entertainment/biggest-loser-winner-addresses-eating-disorder-controversy-2D12099786#" id="itxthook0" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: none; border: 0px none transparent; color: #f15822; cursor: pointer; display: inline; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap itxtnewhookspan" id="itxthook0w" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: transparent transparent rgb(0, 204, 0); border-style: none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; bottom: auto; color: #009900; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; height: auto; left: auto; line-height: normal; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px 0px 1px !important; position: static; right: auto; text-decoration: underline !important; top: auto; white-space: nowrap !important;">health</span></a> for the win.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">"I am very, very <a class="itxtnewhook itxthook" href="http://www.today.com/entertainment/biggest-loser-winner-addresses-eating-disorder-controversy-2D12099786#" id="itxthook1" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: none; border: 0px none transparent; color: #f15822; cursor: pointer; display: inline; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxtnowrap itxtnewhookspan" id="itxthook1w" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: transparent transparent rgb(0, 204, 0); border-style: none none solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; bottom: auto; color: #009900; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-family: inherit; height: auto; left: auto; line-height: normal; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px 0px 1px !important; position: static; right: auto; text-decoration: underline !important; top: auto; white-space: nowrap !important;">healthy</span></a>," she said when asked if she had an eating disorder.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">Still, Frederickson's own trainer, Dolvett Quince, told the magazine he was surprised when he saw her moments before <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/11/sharon-osbourne-on-justin-bieber_n_4764569.html?utm_hp_ref=tv-replay" style="color: #f15822; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">her record-breaking win</a>.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><br /></div><div class="media_container video youtubevideo none medium" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; margin: 0px auto; width: 564px;"><br /><div class="image_info clearfix" style="zoom: 1;"></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">"The first thing that went through my mind was, 'That's just too much,' " he said.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">He wasn't the only trainer who was taken aback. On finale night, "Biggest Loser" vets Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels weren't able to hide their shock when Frederickson walked out.<br /><br /><div style="padding-left: 30px;">Harper explained his reaction in a interview set to air on <a href="http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show-info/on_this_week/index.html#THU" style="color: #f15822; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Thursday's "Rachel Ray Show."</a></div><div style="padding-left: 30px;">"What people don't understand is, when the contestants leave to go home ... they're in charge of themselves. So, I had not seen her until that night, and so when she walked out, I was just kind of like, 'Whoa!' And I’ve been on the show since the beginning, forever," he explained. "I was stunned. That would be the word. I mean, we've never had a contestant come in at 105 pounds."</div><div class="media_container art slideshow medium rendered" style="margin: 0px auto 20px; width: 500px;"><div class="slideshow-headline"><h2 style="font-size: 20px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;"><a class="slideshow-title" href="http://www.today.com/slideshow/today/biggest-loser-15-before-and-after-54272940" style="color: #f15822; text-decoration: none;"><span class="slideshow-icon" style="background-image: url(http://www.today.com/Today/assets/desktop/images/todaysliders-sprite2.png); background-position: -59px -65px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 17px; width: 17px;"></span> 'Biggest Loser' 15: Before and after</a></h2></div><a class="slideshow-link" href="http://www.today.com/slideshow/today/biggest-loser-15-before-and-after-54272940" style="color: #f15822; display: block; line-height: normal; position: relative; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-140204-biggestloser-after/ss-140204-biggestloser-after-tease.blocks_desktop_medium.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" /><div class="view-slideshow" style="background-image: url(http://www.today.com/Today/assets/desktop/images/view-slideshow.png); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; height: 62px; left: 141px; margin: 0px auto; position: absolute; top: 156px; width: 218px;"></div></a><div class="credit" style="color: #666666; font-size: 10px; line-height: 1.25em; position: relative; text-align: right;"></div><div class="caption" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 5px; position: relative;">After weeks of grueling workouts and big changes to their eating habits, the contestants of season 15 show off their fab new bodies.</div></div><div style="padding-left: 30px;">But it wasn't a surprise to everyone. "Biggest Loser" executive producer Dave Broome told People that the show closely monitored Frederickson throughout her weight-loss journey.</div><div style="padding-left: 30px;">"Rachel passed all the required medical tests ensuring she was healthy," he assured.</div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jihelvZxa7E" width="560"></iframe>

'Biggest Loser' winner addresses eating disorder controversy (BLOG, VIDEO)

"Biggest Loser"  winner Rachel Frederickson went from 260 pounds at the start of season 15 down to just 105 pounds on finale night...

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The FED will PRINT, PRINT, PRINT, says Peter Schiff

<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">...and the U.S. DOLLAR will collapse.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Peter Schiff is adamant about his expectations of the FED leading the country into RECESSION and give his views on the new FED Chair Janet Yellen...</b></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/AXxkLXjBV80?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>...developing...</b></div>

The FED will PRINT, PRINT, PRINT, says Peter Schiff

...and the U.S. DOLLAR will collapse. Peter Schiff is adamant about his expectations of the FED leading the country into RECESSION and give ...

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World News Briefs -- February 14, 2014 (Evening Edition)

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Qns-ZcOOqhU" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Syria Peace Talks Reach an Impasse -- Voice of America</b></span></div><br />GENEVA — Five days of peace talks aimed at ending Syria's civil war ended in a bitter impasse on Friday with Syrian government and opposition negotiators trading accusations over who was to blame for the stalemate at the UN-mediated talks in Geneva. <br /><br />U.N. mediator Lakhdar Brahimi met separately with the Syrian government and opposition delegations Friday. When the meetings ended, the two parties held separate news conferences to vent frustrations with each other's negotiating positions.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/syria-peace-talks-set-to-end-with-no-progress/1851178.html">Read more </a></b>....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MIDDLE EAST</b></span></div><br />Thousands flee Syrian town as <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-syria-crisis-idUSBREA1D11920140214">'major assault' looms</a></b>.<br /><br />Russia: Syria peace talks <b><a href="http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/russia-syria-peace-talks-going-in-circles-1.267580">'going in circles'</a></b>.<br /><br />As battle rages around historic castle, <b><a href="http://www.terradaily.com/reports/As_battle_rages_around_historic_castle_Syrias_heritage_faces_ruin_999.html">Syria's heritage faces ruin</a></b>.<br /><br />UN puts evacuations from<b><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/un-puts-evacuations-from-syrian-battleground-city-of-homs-on-hold/article16892817/"> Syrian battleground city of Homs on hold</a></b>.<br /><br />Israelis fear Palestinians fighting in Syria <b><a href="http://freebeacon.com/israelis-fear-palestinians-fighting-in-syria-will-bring-terror-home/">will bring terror home</a></b>.<br /><br />Iraqi troops regain ground from militants <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/iraqi-troops-regain-ground-militants-northern-town-131755195.html">in northern town</a></b>.<br /><br />Iranian oil exports soar <b><a href="http://freebeacon.com/iranian-oil-exports-soar-under-sanctions-collapse/">as sanctions collapse</a></b>.<br /><br />West aims to minimize nuclear bomb risk<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-iran-nuclear-deal-idUSBREA1D0KE20140214"> in Iran talks</a></b>.<br /><br />Iran demands ‘proof’ of<b><a href="http://www.defencetalk.com/iran-demands-proof-of-nuclear-weapons-allegations-50697/"> nuclear weapons allegations</a></b>.<br /><br />Gunmen launch deadly attack<b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26177795"> on Yemeni prison</a></b>.<br /><br />Yemen: The Shia rebels close in <b><a href="http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/yemen/articles/20140213.aspx">on the capital</a></b>.<br /><br />Arrests in Bahrain on <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/02/arrests-bahrain-uprising-milestone-eve-20142141185461822.html">uprising milestone eve</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ASIA</b></span></div><br />Abducted Pakistani <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2014/02/abducted-pakistani-drone-activist-freed-20142141414744609.html">drone activist freed</a></b>.<br /><br />Karachi violence raises doubts <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/karachi-violence-raises-doubts-about-taliban-talks/1851489.html">about Taliban talks</a></b>.<br /><br />Karzai criticises lack of US respect for Afghan sovereignty <b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/13/karzai-criticises-respect-afghan-sovereignty">as relations worsen</a></b>.<br /><br />US sees more delay likely in finalizing <b><a href="http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/sees+more+delay+likely+finalizing+security+agreement+with/9507104/story.html">security agreement with Afghanistan</a></b>.<br /><br />China will act on North Korea, <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-26174433">says John Kerry</a></b>.<br /><br />Kerry meets China's Xi amid <b><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Kerry-meets-Chinas-Xi-amid-heightened-Asia-tensions/articleshow/30383848.cms">heightened Asia tensions</a></b>. Kerry says China willing to push North Korea more <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-china-usa-idUSBREA1D0BJ20140214">on nuclear plans</a></b>.<br /><br />China says "will never allow war or chaos"<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-china-usa-korea-idUSBREA1D0DC20140214"> on Korean peninsula</a></b>.<br /><br />11 'terrorists' dead in shootout <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/11-terrorists-dead-in-shootout-with-chinese-police-report/1851254.html">with Chinese police: Report</a></b>. Several terrorists killed<b><a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-02/14/c_133116298.htm"> in Xinjiang attack</a></b>.<br /><br />Two Koreas to hold more <b><a href="http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/more-high-level-inter-korean-talks-set-friday/">high-level talks this week</a></b>. Koreas agree to hold family reunions<b><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/rival-koreas-meet-border-22510154"> as planned</a></b>.<br /><br />Navy chief: US would 'help' Philippines <b><a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140213/DEFREG03/302130031/Navy-Chief-US-Would-Help-Philippines-South-China-Sea">in South China Sea.</a></b><br /><br />Thai police retake<b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2014/02/thai-police-retake-protest-camps-bangkok-20142145210548224.html"> protest camps in Bangkok</a></b>.<br /><br />China's consumer inflation <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26184151">holds steady at 2.5%</a></b>.<br /><br />Indonesia volcano erupts; 3 killed, <b><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/indonesias-mount-kelud-java-island-erupts-22502220">100K evacuated</a></b>. Mass evacuation in Indonesia as <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26183880">Java volcano erupts</a></b>.<br /><br />Nanjing seeks UNESCO listing <b><a href="http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Nanjing_seeks_UNESCO_listing_for_massacre_documents_999.html">for massacre documents</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AFRICA</b></span></div><br />Libyan PM moves to <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/libya-prime-minister-zeidan-moves-to-quash-coup-rumors-after-haftar-video/1851552.html">quash coup rumors</a></b>.<br /><br />Libyan general wants<b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/02/libyan-general-wants-parliament-suspended-2014214111452905729.html"> parliament suspended</a></b>. Libya's Zeidan says government, <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-libya-crisis-zeidan-idUSBREA1D0ML20140214">security under control</a></b>. Libya denies rumors <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/libya-denies-rumours-impending-coup-132121499.html">of impending coup</a></b>.<br /><br />France to boost forces in <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26195583">Central African Republic</a></b>.<br /><br />UN chief urges international <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/un-chief-urges-international-support-for-car/1851687.html">support for CAR</a></b>.<br /><br />1,000 Muslims reported <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/one-thousand-muslims-reported-trapped-in-car-town/1851047.html">trapped in CAR town</a></b>.<br /><br />Scores of men and women <b><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/02/scores-massacred-eastern-dr-congo-201421462858159187.html">executed in DR Congo</a></b>.<br /><br />We must not forget South Sudan as 3.7 million at risk of hunger,<b><a href="http://www.trust.org/item/20140214093824-vw38j/?source=hppartner"> warns charity</a></b>.<br /><br />Russia, Egypt reach initial <b><a href="http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140214/187524953/Russia-Egypt-Reach-Initial-3-Bln-Arms-Deal--Report.html">$3 bln arms deal – report</a></b>.<br /><br />Nigeria orders audit for <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/nigeria-orders-audit-billions-petrodollars-130006897.html">billions of petrodollars</a></b>.<br /><br />Insight: Graft allegations test<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-somalia-corruption-insight-idUSBREA1D08P20140214"> West's ties to Somali president.</a></b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>EUROPE</b></span></div><br /><b><a href="http://winter-games.reuters.com/">Sochi 2014: Live</a></b><br /><br />On Feast of St. Valentine, <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/on-feast-of-st-valentine-a-papal-blessing/2014/02/14/98bef234-95a7-11e3-ae45-458927ccedb6_story.html">a papal blessing</a></b>.<br /><br />Bulgarian police detain 120 <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-bulgaria-mosque-attack-idUSBREA1D1O820140214">after mosque attack</a></b>.<br /><br />Atlantic storm brings more flood misery <b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/14/world/europe/uk-weather-flooding/">to drenched Britain</a></b>.<br /><br />U.K. warns Scotland: Vote to secede, <b><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/02/13/276526750/u-k-warns-scotland-vote-to-secede-lose-common-currency">lose common currency</a></b>. U.K. to Scotland: Walk away, <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/uk-to-scotland-walk-away-lose-the-pound/2014/02/13/f9406a4e-94cf-11e3-9e13-770265cf4962_story.html">lose the pound</a></b>.<br /><br />Ukraine releases all 234 protesters<b><a href="http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/a61c09d2-9596-11e3-9fd6-00144feab7de.html#axzz2tKKd5frh"> but tensions remain</a></b>.<br /><br />Russia accuses EU of seeking Ukraine <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-ukraine-russia-eu-idUSBREA1D0PT20140214">"sphere of influence"</a></b>.<br /><br />UK military on alert for <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/uk-military-alert-ira-mail-bomb-threat-132727282.html">new IRA mail-bomb threat</a></b>.<br /><br />Italian Prime Minister<b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26181569"> Enrico Letta resigns</a></b>. Italy's premier resigns <b><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/02/14/italy-premier-resigns-after-sacking-by-own-party/">after sacking by own party</a></b>.<br /><br />Italy's Renzi readies for power <b><a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/italy-politics-idINL5N0LJ30220140214">but faces daunting task</a></b>. Renzi grabs power in Italy<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-italy-renzi-idUSBREA1D0RE20140214"> without election</a></b>.<br /><br />Eurozone GDP growth<b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26185159"> gathers speed</a></b>.<br /><br />Spain closes enclave to <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/spain-closes-enclave-avert-syrian-migrant-rush-115932651.html">avert Syrian migrant rush</a></b>.<br /><br />Russia bans adoptions by <b><a href="http://rt.com/politics/russian-adoption-same-sex-couples-854/">foreign same-sex couple</a></b>.<br /><br />Athens court jails<b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/athens-court-jails-4-turkish-suspected-terrorists-131111786.html"> 4 Turkish suspected terrorists</a></b>.<br /><br />Salzburg art stash <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26187296">'more important than Munich'</a></b>.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AMERICAS</b></span></div><br />Winter storm buries parts of northeast;<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-usa-weather-idUSBREA120WG20140214"> <b></b></a><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/Winter%20storm%20buries%20parts%20of%20northeast;%20death%20toll%20at%2020">death toll at 20</a></b>.<br /><br />More snow predicted <b><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/more-snow-predicted-for-eastern-us-/1851293.html">for eastern US.</a></b> Deadly storm brings fresh round of snow to Northeast as <b><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2014/02/14/winter-storm-wreaks-havok-along-east-coast/">outages linger in South.</a></b><br /><br />Canceled! Airlines scrap <b><a href="http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/24723401/canceled-airlines-scrap-record-number-of-flights#axzz2tJ3kKAgM">record number of U.S. flights</a></b>.<br /><br />North Dakota pumps record <b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/nd-pumps-record-313-5m-194645643.html;_ylt=AvdRIz7TVFYeATaCUqVjiLLQtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTBsb21manVyBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwM1BHNlYwNzcg--">313.5M barrels of oil in 2013</a></b>.<br /><br />Anti-Maduro protests persist in Venezuela,<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-venezuela-protests-idUSBREA1D19J20140214"> dozens jailed</a></b>.<br /><br />Venezuela braces for more violence – but it could work<b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/14/venezuela-violent-clashes-chavistas-opposition"> in Maduro's favour</a></b>. Officials in Venezuela order arrest of <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/officials-in-venezuela-order-arrest-of-opposition-leader-leopoldo-lopez/2014/02/13/a3c95398-94e1-11e3-84e1-27626c5ef5fb_story.html">opposition leader Leopoldo López</a></b>.<br /><br />Argentina struggling - again - <b><a href="http://www.dw.de/argentina-struggling-again-with-inflation/a-17429229">with inflation</a></b>.<br /><br />Mexico's president to ask Supreme Court <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-mexico-tv-idUSBREA1D02P20140214">to rule in TV battle</a></b>.<br /><br />Gun rights: Federal judges rule against Calif. restrictions<b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/gun-rights-federal-judges-rule-against-calif-restrictions-011846019.html"> on concealed carry.</a></b><br /><br />Factory production in U.S. falls <b><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-14/factory-production-in-u-s-fell-in-january-by-most-since-2009.html">by most since 2009</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR</b></span></div><br />Here’s a list of former Afghan detainees who have returned <b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/02/13/heres-a-list-of-former-afghan-detainees-who-have-returned-to-fight-for-the-taliban/">to fight for the Taliban</a></b>.<br /><br />Al-Qaeda is alive and well <b><a href="http://warontherocks.com/2014/02/al-qaeda-is-alive-and-well-in-afghanistan-and-pakistan/">in Afghanistan and Pakistan.</a></b><br /><br />Al Qaeda splinter group <b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-syria-crisis-executions-idUSBREA1D0R020140214">executes 13 in Syria: report</a></b>.<br /><br />The new jihadists make al-Qaeda look like <b><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10636336/The-new-jihadists-make-al-Qaeda-look-like-tired-old-has-beens.html">tired old has-beens</a></b>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS</b></span></div><br />U.S. to pursue trade dispute over<b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/14/us-usa-trade-solar-vote-idUSBREA1D16C20140214"> Chinese, Taiwanese solar imports</a></b>.<br /><br />Comcast-Time Warner Cable deal <b><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-comcast-deal-20140214,0,4696720.story#axzz2t41LE47C">would create formidable giant</a></b>.<br /><br />Facebook allows users <b><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-26177050">to customise gender</a></b>.<br /><br />Crude oil slips to near<b><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/crude-oil-slips-near-100-demand-doubts-134611365.html"> $100 on demand doubts</a></b>.<br /><br />Lenovo profits and sales <b><a href="http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/lenovo-profits-and-sales-reach-beyond-expectations-114021400609_1.html">reach beyond expectations</a></b>.

World News Briefs -- February 14, 2014 (Evening Edition)

Syria Peace Talks Reach an Impasse -- Voice of America GENEVA — Five days of peace talks aimed at ending Syria's civil war ended in a bi...

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Jon Corzine to head the OBAMA "myRA" ACCOUNTS

<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">President Obama appoints GUESS WHO?</span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">myRA violates FEDERAL INVESTMENT LAWS</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Meet the myRA man Jon Corzine</span></b><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbD6D0K-eBISRr_AEMkVgvOafqDreH4UPWqFnOmsd4SLICInn0WeaKhCT_phLXPVA-ZCh1NI1nxxpAJ8tI2dKu2m-TVBLGBP_rIpgCXB7fJBiAzF1h_i1LJRhn-nBAMY1fVAo9A-aVEc/s1600/Jon_Corzine1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbD6D0K-eBISRr_AEMkVgvOafqDreH4UPWqFnOmsd4SLICInn0WeaKhCT_phLXPVA-ZCh1NI1nxxpAJ8tI2dKu2m-TVBLGBP_rIpgCXB7fJBiAzF1h_i1LJRhn-nBAMY1fVAo9A-aVEc/s1600/Jon_Corzine1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> The lawless continue their lucrative lifestyles</span></b></div><br /><b><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/29/retirement/myra-accounts/" style="color: red;">http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/29/retirement/myra-accounts/</a></b><br /><br /><b><a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/expert-obamas-myra-violates-multiple-investment-laws/article/2543760" style="color: red;">http://washingtonexaminer.com/expert-obamas-myra-violates-multiple-investment-laws/article/2543760</a> </b><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Gerald Celente will bust a blood vessel soon:</b></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbW_kI_u6GqhVisDVVUfCcL92WHsruazt601a0jLr1r5egysDOkYIDFJBitN6RfLIzBpY6DC5sdS3GB__UA9l3YmyXbx5AQBYEfKPQEV2JrUrjtDyWoKOwOi47ExiDuPzYRUR8eRjBpQI/s1600/GeraleCelentePISSEDpic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbW_kI_u6GqhVisDVVUfCcL92WHsruazt601a0jLr1r5egysDOkYIDFJBitN6RfLIzBpY6DC5sdS3GB__UA9l3YmyXbx5AQBYEfKPQEV2JrUrjtDyWoKOwOi47ExiDuPzYRUR8eRjBpQI/s1600/GeraleCelentePISSEDpic.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">And you think everything is getting better in America?</span> </b></div><b></b><br /><b><br /></b><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LeiC3BoT5mc?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><b>...developing...</b>

Jon Corzine to head the OBAMA "myRA" ACCOUNTS

President Obama appoints GUESS WHO? myRA violates FEDERAL INVESTMENT LAWS Meet the myRA man Jon Corzine  The lawless continue their lucrativ...

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Revolt in the ranks: Foreign Service group demands better qualified diplomats (BLOG)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZE7jqqS0pupc7jvC2CxtkG6TMXBdNVUlNwtBK3AFMf8paSXDOvf33eNB7vjweN91tqhXxLi2i4VMs-5d4hRejcLlQR2BgHdHt3kcpFDyBzINaw0Fgl8IjH8KI097FNGvDt9pJFkqZVwI/s1600/r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZE7jqqS0pupc7jvC2CxtkG6TMXBdNVUlNwtBK3AFMf8paSXDOvf33eNB7vjweN91tqhXxLi2i4VMs-5d4hRejcLlQR2BgHdHt3kcpFDyBzINaw0Fgl8IjH8KI097FNGvDt9pJFkqZVwI/s1600/r.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">After a string of rocky confirmation hearings for President Obama's diplomatic nominees, the group representing America's Foreign Service professionals signaled Friday that it's had enough. </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">The organization, in a major rebuke, is now urging that the White House set minimum qualification standards for its ambassadorial nominees. </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">"The topic of the qualifications of ambassadorial nominees is of great interest to AFSA's membership," The American Foreign Service Association said in a statement. "All Americans have a vested interest in ensuring that we have the most effective leaders and managers of U.S. embassies and missions advancing U.S. interests around the globe." </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">The American Foreign Service Association has long argued that ambassadorial nominees should, for the most part, come from the ranks of career professionals -- as opposed to the ranks of top-dollar political donors. But the organization is taking its concerns to a new level, announcing Friday that it will propose new guidelines for "the necessary qualifications and qualities" for diplomatic candidates. </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">The statement said the group has been "closely monitoring" recent confirmation hearings. </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">The remark was a reference to several problematic appearances by Obama donors who had been rewarded with diplomatic appointments. At confirmation hearings, they betrayed gaps in knowledge about the countries where they were appointed to serve. The performances stoked concerns that the administration is appointing too many politically connected donors, and not enough Foreign Service professionals, to diplomatic posts. </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">The American Foreign Service Association further fueled those concerns when it reported that a whopping 53 percent of Obama's second-term appointments have been political. </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">The United States is just about the only major democracy that still uses diplomatic posts to routinely reward political friends. Historically, less than a third of these appointments have been political in nature. Under former President Bill Clinton, 28 percent were political; under former President George W. Bush, that number was 30 percent. Under Obama, the number has climbed to 37 percent overall. By the time he leaves office, it could well be higher. </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">Though this is a bipartisan practice, the performance during confirmation hearings of some of Obama's latest picks has raised concerns that the United States may be sending the wrong message abroad. </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">Last week, his nominee to Argentina admitted he'd never been there. His nominee to Norway also flubbed some key facts about the Scandinavian nation at his confirmation hearing. During the hearing, George Tsunis at one point referred to Norway's president, though the country is a constitutional monarchy. He also downplayed the importance of the country's Progress Party but was sternly reminded by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that the party is part of the center-right coalition government there. </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">Colleen Bradley Bell, a soap opera producer nominated for ambassador to Hungary, also recently struggled to answer what America's strategic interests are in that country. </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">A FoxNews.com review shows that Obama has appointed at least 44 so-called bundlers -- people who gather political contributions for a candidate -- since taking office. That's almost as many as Bush appointed in his full two terms. </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">The positions awarded to these individuals have remained roughly consistent. Plush posts in western European countries, the Caribbean, and places like Singapore and Canada, often go to the politically connected. France, Great Britain, Germany and Italy are just a handful of the most sought-after jobs. </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">The administration stresses that it's too early to say, especially based on scattered confirmation hearing performances, how these nominees would do in their jobs. </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">"I would encourage people to give those who have had tougher hearings a chance to go to their countries and see what their tenure will entail," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said last Friday. "And the judgment can't be made about how effective they'll be or how appreciated they'll be by the government until we have that happen." </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">She noted that many esteemed U.S. ambassadors have come from outside the Foreign Service career path, including former Vice President Walter Mondale in Japan, and Sargent Shriver in France. </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">AFSA acknowledged that some "outstanding ambassadors" have come from outside the Foreign Service ranks. The group also said, though, that "individuals who have spent decades in the United States Foreign Service are uniquely qualified for the job of Ambassador given their years of training and hands-on experience." </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">The statement suggested that the guidelines would seek to establish minimum qualifications for nominees, rather than rule out political nominations altogether. </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">The guidelines apparently have been in the works for months, prepared by 10 ambassadors spanning eight administrations. The group's Board of Governors recently adopted them. It's too early to say whether the administration would follow suit.  </div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Nueue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 36px; padding: 0px;">-FOX</div>

Revolt in the ranks: Foreign Service group demands better qualified diplomats (BLOG)

After a string of rocky confirmation hearings for President Obama's diplomatic nominees, the group representing America's Foreign Se...

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Early Indications of Hypersarcasm

The following chart shows the annual change in the semiannual average of the producer price index for finished goods.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0xRfPRr5_LdFR3G70HxJ6UGlJsVjZXL08jr5cSh_peJk2KLeLMZ9092tqrJqxzfuNaqEe3-CguAoFmWEV4Rew7hj5B6IYO4QDYfBatI7wr1AJBruspP0kHjxBxYx5ZmweaBHJqVmgog/s1600/Early+Indications+of+Hypersarcasm.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0xRfPRr5_LdFR3G70HxJ6UGlJsVjZXL08jr5cSh_peJk2KLeLMZ9092tqrJqxzfuNaqEe3-CguAoFmWEV4Rew7hj5B6IYO4QDYfBatI7wr1AJBruspP0kHjxBxYx5ZmweaBHJqVmgog/s320/Early+Indications+of+Hypersarcasm.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />1. Heckle the Fed for achieving long-term "stable price" certainty?<br /><br />2. Heckle Jeremy Siegel for warning us that the Fed would raise rates <a href="http://www.bullfax.com/?q=node-fed-raise-rates-well-2014-siegel-says">well before 2014</a>?<br /><br />3. Heckle CNBC for warning us what <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/101282534">the taper would do to interest rates</a>?<br /><br />4. Heckle Shadowstats for misguided <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/12/where-is-cornpocalypse.html">hyperinflation theories</a>?<br /><br />So many many targets! So little time. I may be forced to resort to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_independently_targetable_reentry_vehicle">Sarcastic ZIRP Technology</a>!<br /><br /><div style="color: black;"><b><span style="color: red;">ZIRP</span> - A <span style="color: red;">Z</span>illion <span style="color: red;">I</span>ndependently targetable interest <span style="color: red;">R</span>ate <span style="color: red;">P</span>uns</b></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjvFoGcPneZ6lxQsbf-wAdE_yv-Ti_fqHUgU0BKPhyphenhyphenKn4D127H0Q02tkVTJbwHKzKBnuECkrJmUTZmQfL62vcGRelXx8ffqEaWwZCHGJgaD4kNlti8mOO9Vvf6CDccon5noDse12usno/s1600/MIRV.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjvFoGcPneZ6lxQsbf-wAdE_yv-Ti_fqHUgU0BKPhyphenhyphenKn4D127H0Q02tkVTJbwHKzKBnuECkrJmUTZmQfL62vcGRelXx8ffqEaWwZCHGJgaD4kNlti8mOO9Vvf6CDccon5noDse12usno/s320/MIRV.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Minuteman_III_MIRV_path.svg">File:Minuteman III MIRV path.svg (Fastfission)</a></span><br /><br />This is not investment advice.<br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=s7B">St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart</a>

Early Indications of Hypersarcasm

The following chart shows the annual change in the semiannual average of the producer price index for finished goods. Click to enlarge. 1. H...

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Valentine's Day Special: The 14 Most Romantic Cities in the U.S.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdfo8DWFF5hn2vydtprgjPMFtGX0tBq_HxareaNBjPMcKEhD8JPQHcINGAku997FNrXxSLFYY2Ajf5R2MI-JoQJvAHnzCVsZ7TCAQYET9l3L5T90XRBLRMa1kiWY0ILaW1DhpBTjwmZ0/s1600/e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdfo8DWFF5hn2vydtprgjPMFtGX0tBq_HxareaNBjPMcKEhD8JPQHcINGAku997FNrXxSLFYY2Ajf5R2MI-JoQJvAHnzCVsZ7TCAQYET9l3L5T90XRBLRMa1kiWY0ILaW1DhpBTjwmZ0/s1600/e.jpg" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">This year, my Valentine (you may have seen me with him -- Irish guy, white hair, blue eyes, adorable) and I will be staying close to home for this most beloved of Hallmark holidays. We've been on a tear since before Christmas and we needed to slow down. Besides, the hearth is always good for the heart.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">This is not to say that our romance has always been homebound. Over the years, Phil and I have lived and loved in more than a few far-flung places. When we first started dating, I had a house in the Hollywood Hills, he lived in Chicago, and we'd actually commute cross-country to go on dates.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Then we got married (in Beverly Hills), took off for a honeymoon (in Greece), and settled into a home in the suburb of Winnetka, Illinois -- where we both learned, firsthand, the quiet joys of neighborhood living. But two careers called, and before long we were headed east, building a home in Connecticut along the waters of Long Island Sound, and eventually putting all our eggs into our cozy nest in New York City.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">But romance doesn't live by the coasts alone. Across the country this week, flowers and chocolates (and hugs and kisses) are being exchanged in countless settings in innumerable cities, in honor of Valentine's Day. So I decided to take a little poll: Which American city is the most romantic?</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Is it in the sensual south, which has inspired everything from country love songs to romance novels? Or is it one of our major metropolises, which, despite the bright lights and honking horns, always seem to have their own electrifying kind of romance? Or is it an unexpected location -- like a small hamlet tucked into a snowy mountainside, or even smaller beach hideaway.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">Take a look at our list and let us know what you think. And if we missed your city, let us know that too, and tell us why!</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;">In the meantime, Happy Valentine's Day, America! (And, Phil -- light a fire and pour the wine. I'll be home in ten minutes).</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="" data-beacon="{"p":{"slideshow_id":"336112"}}" id="hp-slideshow-wrapper-336112" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, FreeSans, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="hp-ss-wrapper" data-beacon="{"p":{"slide_id":"3390445","slide_position":0}}" data-id="336112" data-title="Valentine’s Day: 14 Most Romantic Cities" id="hp-ss-wrapper-336112" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; height: 555px; line-height: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 570px; z-index: 4999;"><div class="hp-ss-leaderboard" style="background-color: #222222; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(43, 43, 43); border-bottom-style: solid; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 109px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; padding: 0px; position: absolute; vertical-align: baseline; width: 920px; z-index: 5000003;"><div class="hp-slideshow-leaderboard-div" id="hp-slideshow-leaderboard-div-336112" style="background-color: black; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 90px; margin: 10px auto 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 728px;"></div></div><div class="hp-ss-body" style="background-color: #101010; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 570px; z-index: 5000003;"><div class="hp-ss-main" data-beacon="{"p":{"view_mode":"screen"}}" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="hp-ss-main-header" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 40px; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 10px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="hp-ss-title-icon hp-ss-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; direction: ltr; display: inline-block; float: left; font-family: hp-ss-icon; font-size: 26px; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px; speak: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 22px;"></div><div class="hp-ss-title-block" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; cursor: default; direction: ltr; display: inline; float: left; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 9px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 396px;"><div class="hp-ss-head-title-fade" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(left, rgba(16, 16, 16, 0) 0px, rgb(16, 16, 16) 100%); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 25px; z-index: 5000005;"></div><span class="hp-ss-head-title-text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: default; display: block; height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 360px;">Valentine’s Day: 14 Most Romantic Cities</span></div><div class="hp-ss-next-arrow" data-beacon="{"p":{"event_action":"arrow_top_corner_right"}}" style="background-image: linear-gradient(rgb(252, 252, 252) 0px, rgb(196, 196, 196) 100%); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; float: right; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 2px 0px 0px; padding: 4px 7px 4px 6px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="hp-ss-icon bN" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: hp-ss-icon; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; speak: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div><div class="hp-ss-prev-arrow" data-beacon="{"p":{"event_action":"arrow_top_corner_left"}}" style="background-image: linear-gradient(rgb(252, 252, 252) 0px, rgb(196, 196, 196) 100%); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; float: right; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 7px 0px 0px; padding: 4px 7px 4px 6px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="hp-ss-icon bN" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: hp-ss-icon; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; speak: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div><div class="hp-ss-current-text" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; direction: ltr; float: right; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; min-width: 40px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="fs-inline-ss-current" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1</span> of <span class="fs-inline-ss-total" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">15</span></div><div class="clearboth" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div><div class="hp-ss-main-image" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 420px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1140px;"><div class="hp-ss-fullscreen-prev" data-beacon="{"p":{"event_action":"arrow_in_slide_image_left"}}" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 360px; left: 10px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 35px; z-index: 100;"><span class="hp-ss-icon bN" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; cursor: pointer; font-family: hp-ss-icon; font-size: 60px; height: 60px; left: 2px; line-height: 60px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0.8; padding: 0px; position: absolute; speak: none; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039) 2px 2px 4px; top: 177.5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 35px;"></span></div><div class="hp-ss-fullscreen-next hover" data-beacon="{"p":{"event_action":"arrow_in_slide_image_right"}}" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 360px; left: 525px; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 35px; z-index: 100;"><span class="hp-ss-icon bN" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: white; cursor: pointer; font-family: hp-ss-icon; font-size: 60px; height: 60px; line-height: 60px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: 2px; speak: none; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039) 2px 2px 4px; top: 177.5px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 35px;"></span></div><div class="hp-ss-main-image-inner" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; float: left; height: 415px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 10px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 570px;"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/336112/slide_336112_3390445_free.jpg?1391551153254" style="border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 369.7083333333333px; margin: 21.645833333333343px 0px 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 548px;" /></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Valentine's Day Special: The 14 Most Romantic Cities in the U.S.

This year, my Valentine (you may have seen me with him -- Irish guy, white hair, blue eyes, adorable) and I will be staying close to home fo...

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Mahendra Sharma's Astrological forecasts of PRECIOUS METALS

<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">KITCO seeks an astrologer and stargazer </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Mahendra Sharma forecasts GOLD, SILVER, and PALLADIUM</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Learn about his FINANCIAL TRADING STRATEGIES:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="http://www.mahendraprophecy.com/" style="color: red;">http://www.mahendraprophecy.com/</a></b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Mahendraprophecy</span></b> </b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b><b>Watch the peeping and muttering wizard below.  For those of you that seek unto these FAMILIAR SPIRITS, you better do some immediate and serious stacking:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ZYM-j15YFT4?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>The News UNIT has a much better synopsis:</b><br /><b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-news-units-gold-and-silver-analysis.html" style="color: red;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-news-units-gold-and-silver-analysis.html</a> </b><br /><br /><b>...developing...</b></div>

Mahendra Sharma's Astrological forecasts of PRECIOUS METALS

KITCO seeks an astrologer and stargazer  Mahendra Sharma forecasts GOLD, SILVER, and PALLADIUM Learn about his FINANCIAL TRADING STRATEGIES:...

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Darren Sharper CHARGED WITH RAPE! NFL Star Allegedly Drugged Multiple Women (BLOG)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3b0aC-uaCEyGsYwRfe5iotYmgVQwKUUblSCXNIMJeROzqvlgqdAvDF9zKpWhYeJEWyQDrvM2UjHqp8QoPVtjR9ePc3A1MLMHBBZRJczQXMuK9mQaCzEC64FRan5T1fRLCFJXTMmXiaE/s1600/w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3b0aC-uaCEyGsYwRfe5iotYmgVQwKUUblSCXNIMJeROzqvlgqdAvDF9zKpWhYeJEWyQDrvM2UjHqp8QoPVtjR9ePc3A1MLMHBBZRJczQXMuK9mQaCzEC64FRan5T1fRLCFJXTMmXiaE/s1600/w.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Darren Sharper has just been charged with 2 counts of rape in L.A. ... after the former New Orleans Saints superstar allegedly drugged multiple women and raped them in his hotel room ... TMZ Sports has learned.<br /><br />Among the charges ... two counts of rape by use of drugs, four counts of furnishing a controlled substance and one count of possession of a controlled substance, all felonies.<br /><br />Sharper -- who had a Hall of Fame-caliber NFL career as a safety -- is accused of drugging the women with zolpidem (Ambien).<br /><br />Officials say Sharper met the two women in a West Hollywood nightclub on October 30th and invited them to another party.<br /><br />On the way, officials say they stopped at Darren's hotel room and he gave them each a shot.<br /><br />The women then passed out and hours later one of the women claims she woke up with Sharper sexually assaulting her.  The second woman says she woke up and "interrupted his actions."<br /><br />Officials say Sharper STRUCK AGAIN on January 14th ... when he returned to the same West Hollywood nightclub and found two more women.<br /><br />Sharper allegedly pulled the same scheme -- inviting them back to hs room, gave them a shot, they passed out, he raped them.<br /><br />Officials say both women left his hotel and sought medical treatment.<br /><br />Sharper was arrested on January 17th. He was released on $200k bail.  In addition to the rape, officials also say he was illegally in possession of morphine.<br /><br />If convicted, Sharper faces more than 30 YEARS in prison. Officials are recommending the judge set his bail at $100 MILLION.<br /><br />(Update: We're told the $100 million bail was a typo ... officials meant to request a $10 MILLION bail).<br /><br />Officials say Sharper is also accused of raping women in 3 other states -- including Arizona, Nevada and Louisiana.<br /><br />As we previously reported, Sharper has addressed the allegations in Louisiana ... claiming the sexual encounter was consensual.<br /><br />-TMZ

Darren Sharper CHARGED WITH RAPE! NFL Star Allegedly Drugged Multiple Women (BLOG)

Darren Sharper has just been charged with 2 counts of rape in L.A. ... after the former New Orleans Saints superstar allegedly drugged multi...

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Marijuana is still both LEGAL and ILLEGAL

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Marijuana Monetary Madness </b></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NdGy_pX_D6a0sCgXFPU_OfWcTANChfhyphenhyphencx97rpAu3WCtaKLp0v5UUv-wBbjkYsEOQUVWqY0xkVFDg0k2YZDOo5hTk_AezhoLVacN7R7sWpdOaK5epFrvk98lG3HZ0B-o_Mxt1hKqm-Y/s1600/moneybagspic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NdGy_pX_D6a0sCgXFPU_OfWcTANChfhyphenhyphencx97rpAu3WCtaKLp0v5UUv-wBbjkYsEOQUVWqY0xkVFDg0k2YZDOo5hTk_AezhoLVacN7R7sWpdOaK5epFrvk98lG3HZ0B-o_Mxt1hKqm-Y/s1600/moneybagspic.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Justice Department is making no guarantees...</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zEyFZsibuDsy8L41T2AkGGT4dQmCkV6VMvnBsH-o9HuwAh7p5iPe53ksuP3JFou7A1o1bPOLkL0HS1tRkGW20nci7-VDfhGJyPpXSmisPVxZh5QmzWh0N5JlB8G51yUlDBWffpY2TbQ/s1600/marijuana-pictures-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zEyFZsibuDsy8L41T2AkGGT4dQmCkV6VMvnBsH-o9HuwAh7p5iPe53ksuP3JFou7A1o1bPOLkL0HS1tRkGW20nci7-VDfhGJyPpXSmisPVxZh5QmzWh0N5JlB8G51yUlDBWffpY2TbQ/s1600/marijuana-pictures-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>  </b></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>...but the BANKS are now cleared to take the money...</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JCdfWJmq7yg?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><b>...developing...</b></div>

Marijuana is still both LEGAL and ILLEGAL

Marijuana Monetary Madness The Justice Department is making no guarantees...   ...but the BANKS are now cleared to take the money... ...deve...

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Valentine's Day shout-out from first lady: 'Hey Barack' (BLOG)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglG_hkziW2VQespMcQrW6OdrQmGLZTu4m8ohCNcMWfhfnBsNyisI23dNe72MfpIfrOOmqLAqUSyVS4BEnW5u3KUErpPFOhkLQ7NUzH1AuDAtAFLEhWTAlqyNfsEGo-pyAFj80eW0Llh-A/s1600/s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglG_hkziW2VQespMcQrW6OdrQmGLZTu4m8ohCNcMWfhfnBsNyisI23dNe72MfpIfrOOmqLAqUSyVS4BEnW5u3KUErpPFOhkLQ7NUzH1AuDAtAFLEhWTAlqyNfsEGo-pyAFj80eW0Llh-A/s1600/s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;">In case the president wasn't sure who his Valentine was, his wife reminded him on Friday.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;"><br /></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">First Lady Michelle Obama sent out photos on Twitter and Instagram of her and President Obama dancing, smiling and kissing. Accompanying the photos was the message, "Hey Barack, I'll always be your valentine! #HappyValentinesDay –mo<span style="color: #006699; line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>."</strong></span> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: small; line-height: 1.5em;">This</span> isn't the first time the love birds have exchanged pleasantries on the day of love. In 2012, the president tweeted his wife — and his 41 million other followers — a happy Valentine's Day.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">The couple will be spending the holiday apart, as the president is splitting his time between meeting with House Democrats in Maryland, traveling to California to discuss the drought with farmers and to greet the King Abdullah II of Jordan. But the love is alive through social media. </div>

Valentine's Day shout-out from first lady: 'Hey Barack' (BLOG)

In case the president wasn't sure who his Valentine was, his wife reminded him on Friday. First Lady Michelle Obama sent out photos on T...

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Princes William, Harry spend Valentine's Day helping flood-ravaged town (BLOG)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXhyl6mxDRPberTsWOxo2IRh5t3f1eBWNph1rQaZuy2wSIycsED3AEGV2whIFPJWk4wu7lgZ6GaTmoEIOvnOc77MK9QOFhURiapEGe1-bau1logwFdPGcjJ32JbpaUs8ofAQY2EwcNsA/s1600/yy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXhyl6mxDRPberTsWOxo2IRh5t3f1eBWNph1rQaZuy2wSIycsED3AEGV2whIFPJWk4wu7lgZ6GaTmoEIOvnOc77MK9QOFhURiapEGe1-bau1logwFdPGcjJ32JbpaUs8ofAQY2EwcNsA/s1600/yy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">Prince William and Prince Harry spent Valentine’s Day putting their hearts, along with their heft, into helping a flood-hit village in southern England.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">The royal brothers joined military soldiers to haul sandbags early Friday morning in Datchet, Berkshire, where homeowners have been struggling to protect their homes against rising floods.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">The two princes worked with members of the Household Cavalry, for whom Harry is an officer. William also was attached to the regiment before he retired from the military service last September.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">Their visit was unannounced but news crews and photographers followed the pair once word about their work spread about five hours into their effort. At one point, Prince William asked one reporter to help out. The journalist tried but was told he couldn't because he didn't have appropriate clothing.</div><div class="media_container widget tweet-embed flexible-twitter rendered" data-template="<%= Desktop %>" data-twttr-id="twttr-sandbox-0" data-widget-type="tweet-embed2" data-widget="{"Desktop":"<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>Prince William to Guardian: &quot;Why don&#39;t you put the notebook down and give us a hand with the sandbags?&quot; I offered but was told no by minders</p>&mdash; Robert Booth (@Robert_Booth) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Robert_Booth/statuses/434279442148782080\">February 14, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src=\"//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>"}" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding: 0px 30px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">Another reporter asked Harry whether he was enjoying the work.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">"Not really, with you guys around,” he replied, according to the Press Association, a UK news agency.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">Graham Leaver, a clerk at the Datchet parish council, praised the princes for their involvement.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">"They were very natural. To be honest, they could have walked in among people here and nobody would have recognized them looking at the way they were dressed,” he told the Press Association of the two princes, clad in Wellington boots and waterproof outerwear.</div><div class="art medium none" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; margin: 0px auto 20px; width: 500px;"><img alt="DATCHET, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 14: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry leave a temporary military base on February 14, 2014 in Datc..." src="http://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/streams/2014/February/140214/2D11629653-today-prince-flood-140214-02.blocks_desktop_medium.jpg" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" /><div class="credit" style="color: #666666; font-size: 10px; line-height: 1.25em; position: relative; text-align: right;">Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images</div><div class="caption" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-top: 5px; position: relative;">Prince William and Prince Harry leave a temporary military base.</div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">Queen Elizabeth also lent her aid to flood victims in the area, according to a Buckingham Palace spokesman who said the monarch contributed food and bedding from the royal farms at Windsor.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: MuseoSans, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding-left: 30px;">Both Prince William and Prince Harry have been known to show their heroic sides in the past, often at unexpected moments. William, a former search-and-rescue pilot, <a href="http://www.today.com/news/teen-prince-william-thank-you-saving-my-life-6C10916517" style="color: #f15822; line-height: 1.5em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">once saved the life of a teenager after the girl got caught in a riptide</a>. And Harry <a href="http://www.today.com/id/46926610/ns/today-today_news/#.Uv5Rz0JdU0M" style="color: #f15822; line-height: 1.5em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">came to the aid of an injured polo player after a collision </a>during a charity match in Brazil.</div>

Princes William, Harry spend Valentine's Day helping flood-ravaged town (BLOG)

Prince William and Prince Harry spent Valentine’s Day putting their hearts, along with their heft, into helping a flood-hit village in south...

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Man calls 911 because his wife’s jacket zipper got stuck (BLOG)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbP1vbZjRwjk338YjE-PmX2-yoMbqVx9a9OEa4bVIhklty4Q_uitLowJspqtx5iehUDE69SH4mRkQViTNErt72ZtCkyt5Foz3DLuy1bAqLfbwQIw6RaXGYTIQTS11oVCB6SJOUgwthB_c/s1600/911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbP1vbZjRwjk338YjE-PmX2-yoMbqVx9a9OEa4bVIhklty4Q_uitLowJspqtx5iehUDE69SH4mRkQViTNErt72ZtCkyt5Foz3DLuy1bAqLfbwQIw6RaXGYTIQTS11oVCB6SJOUgwthB_c/s1600/911.jpg" /></a></div><div id="yui-tmp-18" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Zippers are tricky, or at least they’re tricky for now until that <a data-rapid_p="9" href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2014/02/12/possibly-the-most-radical-innovation-to-zippers-in-over-a-century/" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">cool Under Armor zipper</a> takes over. One Oregon man was particularly frustrated with his wife’s jacket zipper, so much so that he called 911 for their assistance, as <a data-rapid_p="10" href="http://www.kgw.com/news/Man-calls-911-after-wife-cant-get-jacket-off-245255581.html" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_14262" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">KGW Newschannel 8</a> reports.</div><div class="yom-fig-frame" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_13861" style="margin: auto; text-align: center; width: 714.125px;"><span id="schemaorg"><div class="yom-figure yom-fig-middle" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_13860" style="float: none; margin: 0px auto 15px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; width: 550px;"><img alt="" class="editorial " id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_13859" src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/pMEP_u5IsgNWLjGOk05ROA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTU1MA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/news/2014-02-13/5c3b3e30-94fd-11e3-908a-8bf12991ea43_Screen-Shot-2014-02-13-at-1-58-11-PM.png" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; opacity: 1 !important; transition: opacity 0.3333s ease 0ms; vertical-align: bottom; visibility: visible !important;" title="(KGW)" width="550" /><div class="legend" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_14332" style="background-image: none; color: grey; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; max-width: 100%; padding: 5px; text-align: left;">(KGW)</div></div></span></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_14342" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The transcript, lovingly provided by KGW:</div><blockquote id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_14354" style="background-color: white; border-left-color: rgb(116, 116, 116); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; color: #747474; font-family: Georgia, 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em 13.33333px; padding: 0px 13.33333px;"><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_14353"><em id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_14352">OPERATOR: 911, Police Fire and Medical.</em></div><em>CALLER: Yeah we got a problem here. My wife is struggling in her jacket and can't get it off. I want 911 here immediately.</em><br /><em>OPERATOR: Is she not breathing?</em><br /><em>CALLER: She's alright, she just can't get her [expletive] jacket off.</em></blockquote><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_14437" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The fire department arrived and helped the woman take her jacket off. As <a data-rapid_p="11" href="http://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/index.ssf/2014/02/you_called_911_for_that_washin.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">The Oregonian</a> reports, this call was released as part of the Washington Dispatch Agency’s “You called 911 for that?!” campaign. They are attempting to, “educate people on the proper use of the emergency service.” Every week they will post another “ridiculous use” of 911 on their <a data-rapid_p="12" href="https://www.facebook.com/WCCCA911" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Facebook page</a>.</div><span class="yui-editorial-embed" id="yui_3_0_0-2-1392330072976214" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px;"></span><br /><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_14427" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">More info: <a data-rapid_p="13" href="http://www.kgw.com/news/Man-calls-911-after-wife-cant-get-jacket-off-245255581.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">KGW</a>, <a data-rapid_p="14" href="http://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/index.ssf/2014/02/you_called_911_for_that_washin.html" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">The Oregonian</a></div>

Man calls 911 because his wife’s jacket zipper got stuck (BLOG)

Zippers are tricky, or at least they’re tricky for now until that  cool Under Armor zipper  takes over. One Oregon man was particularly frus...

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It's Valentines Day

Sorry, I didn't get you any flowers.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjaxcWfw_Bry-qvirSjfgn6GzvvIjpUyDITXgMVKaLb50mvUdPnKPEtmLSTCJhOjpec5ojHZ1MY3PECxYr8uXtGJDve_MeOoMtINu-bZQIElVLbSTGI-T6tOh1yLGyfOBaVkOGk2YAf7V/s1600/heart-butt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjaxcWfw_Bry-qvirSjfgn6GzvvIjpUyDITXgMVKaLb50mvUdPnKPEtmLSTCJhOjpec5ojHZ1MY3PECxYr8uXtGJDve_MeOoMtINu-bZQIElVLbSTGI-T6tOh1yLGyfOBaVkOGk2YAf7V/s640/heart-butt.jpg" /></a></div>

It's Valentines Day

Sorry, I didn't get you any flowers.

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Want to know the secret to a 67-year marriage? Ask Bill and Betty Evans (BLOG)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1AnCPSCf_DTjKoafl8V-szjq3UFWG76TqwGuj5Tbi3GdWS4Fbp6SmB1xwWY1C6DlkkfhJZn2PkUHKALQfC1xEZQQDAg92Q8fPyOOVm_7KaEfB9p2T7nCLjieQiIZcBQv0DZhbCl_YZw/s1600/q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1AnCPSCf_DTjKoafl8V-szjq3UFWG76TqwGuj5Tbi3GdWS4Fbp6SmB1xwWY1C6DlkkfhJZn2PkUHKALQfC1xEZQQDAg92Q8fPyOOVm_7KaEfB9p2T7nCLjieQiIZcBQv0DZhbCl_YZw/s1600/q.jpg" /></a></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_9099" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The average American marriage that ends in divorce lasts about <a data-rapid_p="9" href="https://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/p70-125.pdf" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_9151" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">eight years</a>.</div><div class="body-slot-mod" style="background-color: white; clear: right; float: right; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17.307693481445313px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em 10px; max-width: 300px;"><div class="yom-remote"><div class="" id="mediacontentrelatedstory_container"></div></div></div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_9117" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Bill and Betty Evans have been married for nearly 67 years.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_9127" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"I probably asked her half a dozen times before she said 'Yes,'" Bill told Iowa's <a data-rapid_p="10" href="http://www.kcci.com/news/central-iowa/For-Iowa-couple-Valentine-s-Day-is-a-story-of-love/24481566" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_9136" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">KCCI.com</a> in a special Valentine's Day report.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_9205" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">The pair met on a naval base in Maryland in 1947 and tied the knot a few months later. Fast forward to today, and they have three children, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_9215" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Speaking to KCCI, Bill joked that he didn't think he'd live 67 years "let alone be married for that long." But he has, and he and his wife shared some of their secrets for a long and loving relationship.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_9225" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Bill joked that he "learned early in life to say, 'yes, ma'am.'" He said the two rarely argue, but they do have "discussions" and have never made a "serious decision without consulting the other one."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">"Cherish each other," he continued. "Respect each other forever. No matter what happens."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">Of course it's one thing to hear that advice from somebody who just watched "The Notebook" and think they know it all. But to hear the advice from a couple who's still in love after 67 years of marriage is something else entirely.</div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_9253" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;">As for how they plan to celebrate Valentine's Day, KCCI reports the couple will be enjoying a meal at their local Red Lobster, which happens to be Betty's favorite restaurant. </div><div id="yui_3_9_1_1_1392406268669_9253" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24.000001907348633px; margin-bottom: 1.1em;"><em id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389377114892_1114">Follow Mike Krumboltz on Twitter (<a data-rapid_p="11" href="https://twitter.com/mikekrumboltz" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1389377114892_1113" style="color: #324fe1; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">@mikekrumboltz</a>).</em></div>

Want to know the secret to a 67-year marriage? Ask Bill and Betty Evans (BLOG)

The average American marriage that ends in divorce lasts about  eight years . Bill and Betty Evans have been married for nearly 67 years. &q...

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