WHO WORE IT BETTER: Miley Cyrus vs. Paris Hilton

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesMq9vYI5pZSkIXF31Oc71uY44UF7iod8ny95scrEAQ4AkfjU0wUdJSuBWW2CVepEVNAHdeWU_t2NfW_ObkbJqSn_Oz4IdHOveCPLjgY_dgNpf8AAtFcd3m1wLySJsmYmspokOIQagoxZ/s1600/Miley+Cyrus+vs+Paris+Hilton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Miley Cyrus vs Paris Hilton [duchessofandrogyny.blogspot.com]" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesMq9vYI5pZSkIXF31Oc71uY44UF7iod8ny95scrEAQ4AkfjU0wUdJSuBWW2CVepEVNAHdeWU_t2NfW_ObkbJqSn_Oz4IdHOveCPLjgY_dgNpf8AAtFcd3m1wLySJsmYmspokOIQagoxZ/s1600/Miley+Cyrus+vs+Paris+Hilton.jpg" title="Miley Cyrus vs Paris Hilton [duchessofandrogyny.blogspot.com]" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Miley Cyrus during the 2013 MTV Awards versus Paris Hilton's Halloween costume a la Miley Cyrus</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />

Miley Cyrus paris hilton who wore it better WHO WORE IT BETTER: Miley Cyrus vs. Paris Hilton

Miley Cyrus during the 2013 MTV Awards versus Paris Hilton's Halloween costume a la Miley Cyrus

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Tenth Doctor Month: Quote Of The Day #31

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEiq2-kx2Jj0S6pz2TFacSS3-KrGS7umXyfigsCpKaucjBUbw_g3qR7v4yqLT8alVWweXGEba90aESetFISqVRrYRmFujsEVtl-wxreQGRabUxtk1mp_i4WLzfY4QItF8cvz3ZThKUxc/s1600/SONTARAN_%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEiq2-kx2Jj0S6pz2TFacSS3-KrGS7umXyfigsCpKaucjBUbw_g3qR7v4yqLT8alVWweXGEba90aESetFISqVRrYRmFujsEVtl-wxreQGRabUxtk1mp_i4WLzfY4QItF8cvz3ZThKUxc/s640/SONTARAN_%25285%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Doctor: </b>Martha, Donna. Donna, Martha. Please, don't fight. I can't bear fighting.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Donna:</b> You wish. I've heard all about you. He talks about you all the time.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Martha:</b> I dread to think.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Donna: </b>No no, he says nice things. Good things. Nice things. Really good things.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Martha: </b>Oh my god... he's told you everything.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Donna: </b>Didn't take long to get over it, though. Who's the lucky man?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Doctor:</b> What man? Lucky what?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Donna: </b>She's engaged, you prawn.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Sontaran Stratagem (2008)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

Doctor Who Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Tenth Doctor Month Tenth Doctor Quotes Tenth Doctor Month: Quote Of The Day #31

The Doctor: Martha, Donna. Donna, Martha. Please, don't fight. I can't bear fighting. Donna: You wish. I've heard all about you...

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MAG COVER: Jessy Mendiola for Women's Health

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7GhBq1J8i4oIYYXvzovPB7dRXDh8YQ6J5zotMvXRRJTIlWxON9gbrI54j9vZOFoV2awOktK7tGPv2mru2rK72WhvofA6Qot2qEoICWGvUsGd9IKFSxna0WJGkhjMsTlOvZVH75ivtJ1V/s1600/jessy+mendiola+for+womens+health.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Jessy Mendiola for Women's Health [duchessofandrogyny@gmail.com]" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7GhBq1J8i4oIYYXvzovPB7dRXDh8YQ6J5zotMvXRRJTIlWxON9gbrI54j9vZOFoV2awOktK7tGPv2mru2rK72WhvofA6Qot2qEoICWGvUsGd9IKFSxna0WJGkhjMsTlOvZVH75ivtJ1V/s1600/jessy+mendiola+for+womens+health.jpg" title="Jessy Mendiola for Women's Health [duchessofandrogyny@gmail.com]" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Philippines' "Maria Mercedes", Jessy Mendiola, covers Women's Health November Issue.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />

Jessy Mendiola MAG COVER women's health november 2013 MAG COVER: Jessy Mendiola for Women's Health

Philippines' "Maria Mercedes", Jessy Mendiola, covers Women's Health November Issue.

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MAG COVER: Toni Gonzaga for Meg

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NckHJ6i1r4lXNLg7SYBFMuJ_yvHz_aBlSuffYdGaaz120J4WFW27h2YAUL_Wo-7TUCvpMtlFMslziNVdPDaVobHGwweU8ZFJhKQz6CRvv-tdtPjNmny0DgJdst4FTHL5E_m59XgPUVFL/s1600/toni+gonzaga+for+meg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Toni Gonzaga for Meg Magazine [duchessofandrogyny.blogspot.com]" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NckHJ6i1r4lXNLg7SYBFMuJ_yvHz_aBlSuffYdGaaz120J4WFW27h2YAUL_Wo-7TUCvpMtlFMslziNVdPDaVobHGwweU8ZFJhKQz6CRvv-tdtPjNmny0DgJdst4FTHL5E_m59XgPUVFL/s1600/toni+gonzaga+for+meg.jpg" title="Toni Gonzaga for Meg Magazine [duchessofandrogyny.blogspot.com]" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Toni Gonzaga on the cover of Meg Magazine November 2013 issue.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />

MAG COVER meg magazine november 2013 Toni Gonzaga MAG COVER: Toni Gonzaga for Meg

Toni Gonzaga on the cover of Meg Magazine November 2013 issue.

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WATCH: President PNoy's Address to the Nation (October 30, 2013)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIsedYcuaPRbiJOccgfJ2OUedKwWHQmyTaRKGlYpVYXGl0Yzpwhyphenhyphen9HkXbaIJL1KRvFihfbjEFcFgOm4qGfG42T8Tgggao74nA7oCP1P4kFvaTNZq1GFAdPJIN5UBMOeXGJk5t_CztESp4/s1600/President+PNoy+Address+to+the+Nation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="President PNoy Address to the Nation (October 30, 2013) [duchessofandrogyny.blogspot.com]" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIsedYcuaPRbiJOccgfJ2OUedKwWHQmyTaRKGlYpVYXGl0Yzpwhyphenhyphen9HkXbaIJL1KRvFihfbjEFcFgOm4qGfG42T8Tgggao74nA7oCP1P4kFvaTNZq1GFAdPJIN5UBMOeXGJk5t_CztESp4/s1600/President+PNoy+Address+to+the+Nation.jpg" title="President PNoy Address to the Nation (October 30, 2013) [duchessofandrogyny.blogspot.com]" /></a></div>Watch President Benigno Aquino III's televised Address to the Nation, Wednesday night, October 30, 2013 regarding PDAF, DAP, Pork Barrel issues:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/90qKmv9rCII" width="470"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's the full text of the President's speech:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><i>Mga minamahal kong kababayan, magandang gabi po.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Nitong mga nakaraang buwan, lumitaw ang ilang mga paksang naging sentro ng pampublikong diskurso. Kabi-kabilang tinig po ang narinig natin, at baka po mayroon na sa ating nahihilo sa usaping Pork Barrel at DAP [Disbursement Acceleration Program]. Humihingi po ako ngayon ng kaunting oras upang liwanagin ang mga isyung ito.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Nakikita na po siguro ninyo ang nangyayari ngayong bangayan. Sa isang panig, kayo at ang gobyernong binigyan ninyo ng mandato para sa pagbabago, na tatlong taon at limang buwan nang gumagawa ng reporma, naghahabol sa corrupt, at kumakalinga sa mahirap. Sa kabila naman ay ang mga tiwaling opisyal na diumano’y sangkot sa Pork Barrel Scam.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Baka po may nakakalimot sa atin: Pagnanakaw ang tunay na ugat ng isyung ito. Iyan po ang usapang pilit nilang tinatabunan, matapos mabisto ang kanilang kalokohan. Napapailing na nga lang po ako, dahil ang una kong inasahan, papabulaanan nila ang mga akusasyon. Di po ba’t iyan ang natural na tugon ng kahit sinong akusado? Sa hinaba-haba ng mga kontra-paratang na ibinabato sa atin, ni minsan, hindi ko narinig ang katagang at statement na “Hindi ako nagnakaw.”</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Sana nga po, alang-alang sa inyong mga nagtiwala at bumoto sa kanila, ay tinutupad ng mga opisyal na ito ang kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin. Sana nga po, may paliwanag kung paanong nangyaring ang mga benepisyaryo ng pekeng NGO [nongovernment organization] na pinili nila, ay listahan lang pala ng mga board passer na hinugot lang mula sa diyaryo. Pero parang ang hirap na pong maniwala sa mga palusot, kung sa paulit-ulit nilang paggamit ng pare-parehong NGO, ni minsan ay hindi nila sinilip kung nakakaabot sa taumbayan ang perang inilaan nila para dito. Medyo mahirap o imposible na po talagang ipaliwanag ito.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Sa sobrang hirap nga pong ipaliwanag, tila sinunod na lamang nila ang payo ng isang matandang pulitiko sa kanilang kampo: Kung hindi mo kayang ipaliwanag, palabuin mo na lang lahat; kung hindi mo kayang bumango, pabahuin mo na lang lahat; kung hindi mo kayang gumuwapo, papangitin mo na lang lahat. Narinig naman ninyo ang hirit nila: Pare-pareho lang naman daw kaming lahat.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Ang tugon ko po diyan: Hindi tayo pareho. Hindi kami nagnakaw, at hindi kami magnanakaw; kami ang umuusig sa mga magnanakaw. Itinalaga po natin ang mga taong may paninindigang tuparin ang kanilang mga sinumpaang tungkulin. Di po ba’t ang itinalaga nating liderato ng Commission on Audit ang sumuyod sa mga dokumento, kaya’t natuklas ang mga pang-aabuso sa PDAF [Priority Development Assistance Fund]? Di ba’t nakakaasa tayo ngayon sa patas at makatarungang imbestigasyon, dahil katuwang sa tuwid na daan ang Ombudsman na atin ding itinalaga?</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Linawin na rin po natin: Hindi pork barrel ang Disbursement Acceleration Program. Sa kabuuang DAP releases noong 2011 at 2012, siyam na porsyento po nito ang ginugol sa mga proyektong iminungkahi ng mambabatas. Hindi rin po pagnanakaw ang DAP. Ang pagnanakaw, ilegal; ang paggastos gamit ang DAP, malinaw na nakasaad sa Konstitusyon at sa iba pang mga batas. Pangalan lang ang DAP ng isang proseso ng paggastos sa perang natipid, at sa iba pang nalikom na kita ng inyong gobyerno. Saan po nanggaling ang perang ito? Nagmula ito sa pagtitigil natin sa kuntsabahan sa kontrata, tong-pats, overpricing, at kickback. Nagmula ito sa maayos na paggugol ng budget. Nagmula ito mula sa dagdag na kita mula sa matinong koleksyon ng buwis. Nagmula ito sa tapat na pamamahala ng mga GOCC [government-owned and -controlled corporation]; halimbawa ang MWSS [Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System], na dating nababaon sa utang, pero ngayon, taun-taon nang nag-aabot ng dibidendo sa gobyerno. Savings, above-target na koleksyon, at mga bagong revenue ang resulta ng tamang pamamahala. At dahil sa DAP, naitutok ang pondo sa mga proyektong nasa loob rin naman ng budget at totoong may pakinabang sa atin.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Paano gumagana ang mekanismong ito? Simple lang po. May mga ahensya, na sa iba’t ibang kadahilanan, hindi agad naipapatupad ang mga proyekto nila; mayroon namang masigasig at mabilis magpatupad ng mga proyekto. Kapag naantala ang pagpapatupad ng proyekto, natural, hindi rin ito gugugulan ng pondo. Hindi po natin hinahayaang matulog ang pondong ito: Humanap tayo ng programang nakapila sa ilalim ng ahensyang mabilis magpatupad, at doon natin itinutok ang pondong natipid, pati na rin ang dagdag na perang kinita ng ating gobyerno. Mas mabilis at napaaga ang pagdating ng benepisyo sa mamamayan, at mas masinop at epektibo nating nagugol ang perang taun-taong nakalaan sa ilalim ng Pambansang Budget.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Kayo nga po ang magsabi: Mali ba ito? Kailan ba naging masama ang paghahanap ng konstitusyonal na paraan para makapaglingkod ng mas epektibo sa taumbayan? Dahil po sa DAP, napondohan ang Project NOAH [Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards], na nagbibigay ng tama at agarang babala kung may sakuna. Dahil din sa DAP, sa ilalim ng Training-for-Work Scholarship Program ng TESDA [Technical Education and Skills Development Authority], mayroong halos 150,000 na Pilipino ang napag-aral; at di bababa sa 90,000 sa kanila ang may trabaho na ngayon. Nakinabang din po ang ating Air Force at kapulisan; nakapagpatayo tayo ng kalsada, classroom, at ospital sa Mindanao at sa iba pang bahagi ng bansa; naibalik ang benepisyo ng mga empleyado ng DepEd noong nabayaran ang kanilang GSIS [Government Service Insurance System] premiums na matagal nang di nababayaran ng pamahalaan; at marami pang ibang programa at proyektong may tunay na pakinabang sa Pilipino.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Malaki rin ang naitulong ng DAP sa nangyayaring pag-arangkada ng ating ekonomiya. Sabi pa nga ng World Bank, nag-ambag ang DAP ng 1.3 percentage points sa ating GDP [gross domestic product] growth noong ikaapat na quarter ng 2011. Ikumpara po natin: Hindi ba’t noong sila ang nasa poder, “Sick Man of Asia” ang tawag sa atin? Ngayon, mamili na kayo sa mga bagong bansag sa atin ng mundo: “Asia’s Fastest Growing Economy,” “Rising Tiger,” “Brightest Spark.” Isama pa diyan ang nakuha nating investment grade status mula sa tatlong pinakatanyag na credit ratings agency. Ang pag-angat nito, at ang tinatamasang benepisyo ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na ng mga nasa laylayan ng lipunan–ito po ang bunga ng tamang paggastos, sa halip na pagnanakaw. Ang perang dating kino-corrupt, napakinabangan na ng taumbayan, lalo na ng mahihirap.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Ipaliwanag na rin po natin itong President’s Social Fund [PSF]. May mga pagkakataon po na kailangan ng agarang pondo para tumugon sa mga biglaang pangangailangan. Halimbawa: ang tulong para sa pamilya ng sundalo’t pulis na nasawi sa pagreresponde sa MNLF [Moro National Liberation Front]-Misuari Faction sa Zamboanga, gayundin sa paghahatid ng ayuda nang sumalanta ang bagyong Sendong. PSF po ang pinanggagalingan nito; kung wala nito, kung walang calamity o contingency funds, mananatili ang ating mga kababayang nagdurusa.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Dahil noong araw, inabuso ang pondong ito, baka raw abusuhin namin ito ngayon—kahit walang paratang ng pagnanakaw o kamalian ng paggamit. Ang mungkahi ng ilan, tanggalin na lang. Tanong po: Makatuwiran po ba ito? Maganda po sana kung ganoong kasimple, pero paano po kung magkaroon ng sakuna? Buwenas na tayo kung may session sa Batasan; mahina po ang apat na buwan ng debate at pakikipagpalitan ng sulat sa Kongreso bago maaprubahan ang pondong puwedeng gugulin. Kung ikaw ang nasa Zamboanga City, at humihilab ang sikmura ng anak mong iyak nang iyak, matatanggap mo ba kung sabihin sa iyo ng iyong gobyernong, pasensyahan muna tayo? May pera naman, at may sapat tayong mekanismo upang siguruhing mapupunta ito sa dapat kalagyan. Tama bang ipagkait ang kalinga sa ating mga kababayan?</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Uulitin ko po: Pagnanakaw ang isyu dito. Hindi ako nagnakaw. Pero ang mga diumano’y nagnakaw ay siyang nagpapasimuno ng kalituhan; gustong kaladkarin pababa ang lahat ng ating pinaghirapang maabot dito sa tuwid na daan. Tayo ang ninakawan, tayo ang niloko, tapos tayo pa ngayon ang pinagpapaliwanag. Tayo ang patuloy na naghahanap ng katotohanan, tayo ang nagbawas nang nagbawas sa mga mekanismong maaaring gamitin para abusuhin ang kapangyarihan―tapos, tayo pa ngayon ang pinaparatangang “Pork Barrel King.”</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Ito po ang masasabi ko sa kanila: Kung sa tingin ninyo, titigil ako sa pag-usig; kung sa tingin ninyo, maililihis ninyo ang atensyon ng publiko; kung sa tingin ninyo, makakatakas kayo sa pagnanakaw; nagkakamali kayo ng tantya sa akin, at sa taumbayang Pilipino. Baka naman po may natitira pang kabaitan sa inyo. Sana po, gumawa na kayo ng kilos para naman sa kapwa ninyo, at hindi lang para sa sarili.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Nang bumalik sa bansa ang aking ama noong ika-21 ng Agosto 1983, may nakahanda siyang talumpati. Hindi na ito narinig ng mga Pilipino dahil sa tarmac pa lang, pinaslang na siya. Sa talumpati, sinipi niya si Archibald MacLeish: “How shall freedom be defended? By truth when it is attacked by lies.” Ngayong sinusubok ng mga kasinungalingan at panlilinlang ang karapatan ng mga Pilipinong magkaroon ng isang tapat na pamahalaan, tanging katotohanan lamang ang wastong sandata. Sa gabing ito, inilatag ko sa inyo ang tunay na konteksto ng mga nangyayari sa ating bayan. Mangyari po sanang sa darating na mga araw, pag-usapan ninyo ito sa kani-kaniyang mga pamilya, grupo, at komunidad, at doon bumuo ng sariling mga kaisipang nakatuntong sa katotohanan.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Mga Boss, marami na tayong pinagdaanang laban. Nagpapasalamat ako dahil gaano man kasahol ang mga paninira at pagsasabotahe, hindi kayo bumitiw, hindi kayo sumuko, at pinatunayan nating walang maaapi kung walang magpapaapi. Ngayon, ang mga tila nagsamantala sa atin ang gustong idiskaril ang kurso natin tungo sa ating mga pangarap. Hindi ako naniniwalang papayag kayo dito. At habang nandiyan kayo, patuloy akong maninindigan.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Panatag ang loob ko, nasa poder man ako o hindi, na kayo mismong mga Boss kong maayos ang kaisipan at nasa tamang lugar ang puso, ang magpapatuloy at magtatapos ng laban. Dito nagmumula ang aking lakas at katatagan ng loob. Di ba’t kailan lang, ang umiiral na siste ay isang taumbayang nagsawa nang mangarap, nagsawa nang pumalag, nagsawa nang makiambag? Ngayon, napakarami na nating sama-samang pumapanday ng positibo at makabuluhang pagbabago sa lipunan. Tiwala akong mas masigasig pa ninyong papanigan ang tama, ang makatotohanan, at ang makatarungan. Kaya nagpapasalamat ako, dahil alam kong tuloy na tuloy pa rin ang ating martsa sa tuwid na daan.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Muli, isang magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat.</i>

Address to the Nation DAP PDAF Pork Barrel Issue Pork Barrel Scam President Benigno Aquino III VIDEO WATCH WATCH: President PNoy's Address to the Nation (October 30, 2013)

Watch President Benigno Aquino III's televised Address to the Nation, Wednesday night, October 30, 2013 regarding PDAF, DAP, Pork Barrel...

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Happy Hallowe'en: David Tennant Haunts Catherine Tate

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GTWfm-Y77xxN4rU3y3Aw28BNcvbvH2D1Hg4_dlhITQRg3-4SlxP5afXo1-WChudidWmbayrvnG3yktIO_aa-vtTcTl0pOKox0mdwLPtkg3ygV4e8uaF6gPMs34MicEW8ISjgUDFmJ0u3/s1600/Ghost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GTWfm-Y77xxN4rU3y3Aw28BNcvbvH2D1Hg4_dlhITQRg3-4SlxP5afXo1-WChudidWmbayrvnG3yktIO_aa-vtTcTl0pOKox0mdwLPtkg3ygV4e8uaF6gPMs34MicEW8ISjgUDFmJ0u3/s640/Ghost.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In another spookily-themed treat - and one we admit is perhaps more Christmassy than Hallowe'en - David Tennant appears to Catherine Tate as the world's least scary ghost.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yV56DJO6pH4" width="640"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Hallowe'en! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

Catherine Tate Comedy David Tennant Nan's Christmas Carol Happy Hallowe'en: David Tennant Haunts Catherine Tate

In another spookily-themed treat - and one we admit is perhaps more Christmassy than Hallowe'en - David Tennant appears to Catherine Tat...

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Winter Forecast 2013-14 -- The Players On The Field

The cooler end to October, at least compared to what we experienced in the first two plus weeks of the month, have some of us pining for winter to set in full time, permanently. With that, the thought of what may, possibly, could, ultimately happen this winter is on some of your minds.<br /><div><br /></div><div>As is usual tradition, our winter outlook tries to get to the bottom of the plethora of mysteries out there and comes up with a quantifiable expectation for what *may* transpire in the upcoming winter.  Philadelphia's position in the transition zone between the milder influences of the Gulf Stream and the colder northern climes makes forecasting winter more "fun" and not necessarily one of higher confidence here compared to in Boston or in Minneapolis.<br /><br />This winter outlook highlights the usual players that make up the winter and what those typically suggest when factored together in an upcoming winter.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikABFZTFScP9fF3dWBuSoWevivkV-p9Twf9OIOvppIjpusqxpxQYqJc_5ZXaAcb50RxaTEe93ctdhyphenhyphenxkblMNqIygc6ZiSckYkJ3cOnZC13EnRWO40oBdiRRIHKIuuyWaYJ25qFnVUDICO5/s1600/WINTERNAO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikABFZTFScP9fF3dWBuSoWevivkV-p9Twf9OIOvppIjpusqxpxQYqJc_5ZXaAcb50RxaTEe93ctdhyphenhyphenxkblMNqIygc6ZiSckYkJ3cOnZC13EnRWO40oBdiRRIHKIuuyWaYJ25qFnVUDICO5/s400/WINTERNAO.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>First, the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO):</b>  NAO is reflective of the state of blocking in the atmosphere based on pressure setups in the North Atlantic. Our cold season last year featured very impressive blocking in October, November, and in late February into March but largely was neutral to positive for the heart of cold season. This was reflected in the reality that winter temperatures ended up above average last year despite a colder than average November, February, and March (-NAO's typically yield colder conditions in winter).  The NAO in October, historically, has a 60% tendency to have an opposite state for the winter overall (if the NAO is positive in October, it would be negative in the following winter six out of ten years). It's a decent, not great correlation. Based on where we're working towards this winter, the NAO should average out to negative for the month overall. Note the rather amplified pattern we've seen of late -- this typically is a sign of what may, at times, be a blocky regime through the course of winter. However, it may not necessarily be often enough to bring lasting cold through the heart of winter.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SviKpb7pwRiNgZ43m3euagN703-0UPXtZ0Kl_vLLV5cCWnrQ7cKyR0KQDCbFyJzYkgSma2XYVDt2YxjbQ29kiWQMXpesh2gzFeZhpDTeHyv1lKrTM1r-vLpLtThLWwWyv5yFA69uhrQH/s1600/WINTERAO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SviKpb7pwRiNgZ43m3euagN703-0UPXtZ0Kl_vLLV5cCWnrQ7cKyR0KQDCbFyJzYkgSma2XYVDt2YxjbQ29kiWQMXpesh2gzFeZhpDTeHyv1lKrTM1r-vLpLtThLWwWyv5yFA69uhrQH/s400/WINTERAO.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>Second, the Arctic Oscillation (AO):</b> The AO and NAO work in sync rather frequently (45 of the last 64 winters feature AO/NAO agreement). Last winter featured one of the exceptions to that pattern -- we had a rather negative AO regime through the course of the winter but the NAO did not respond in kind.  An unfavorable NAO, combined with an unfavorable Pacific pattern, dumped the bulk of chill into Alaska last winter as opposed to down into the Northeast. There is a lower statistical correlation between October's AO and the proceeding winter AO (55% of agreement) than there is between the summer AO and the proceeding winter (60% agreement). This summer's AO registered positive, while October for the whole will likely register positive as well.  Positive AO status often yields milder conditions for us.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYbf3XQmnCw1OXXGBC-4nYead5HapmEgeyw1Lh8x9nbi8Y80dheGeI5WhkGhX6zElusEYpEn4QnYK_fj0vdKNTxsDaZkdwt6qHvUDXH-fabmZGUzVtLOJxWcCDNHWEJwJG6S5DOSKmHXt/s1600/WINTERMEI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYbf3XQmnCw1OXXGBC-4nYead5HapmEgeyw1Lh8x9nbi8Y80dheGeI5WhkGhX6zElusEYpEn4QnYK_fj0vdKNTxsDaZkdwt6qHvUDXH-fabmZGUzVtLOJxWcCDNHWEJwJG6S5DOSKmHXt/s400/WINTERMEI.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b>El Nino/La Nina/La Nada:</b>  The tropical Pacific does provide some steering and "big picture" for the following winter. The current neutral or "nada" look in the tropical Pacific is one that modeling suggests maintain for a chunk of the winter. We could drift into a warmer look in the Pacific late in the winter but it may not be in time to provide the corresponding atmospheric result that the warmer Pacific would provide.  More important, the part of the Pacific that is warming (near South America) isn't the part you ideally want if you are a fan of cold and snow (east Ninos tend to <a href="http://philadelphiaweather.blogspot.com/2009/07/thoughts-on-nino-and-winter.html" target="_blank">produce warmer results for us than West</a>). Neutral winters of late include last winter, 2003-2004, and 1996-1997. Two of those three ended up warm, with 03-04 the exception from a temperature standpoint thanks to strong arctic blocking.<br /><br /><b>October's temperatures:</b> <a href="http://philadelphiaweather.blogspot.com/2013/10/do-october-temperatures-matter-for.html" target="_blank">There's a relatively strong correlation between October temperature</a> and winter temperature over a long term period of time. The colder or warmer it is in October, the stronger the tendency it is for the following winter to follow suit. This October will end up above average on temperatures and in the warmer third of temperatures since 1940, which has a stronger than 70 percent correlation to above average temperatures in the proceeding winter.<br /><br />So...all of that put together...what happens this winter? We will lay that out this evening.</div>

long range forecasting winter forecast discussion winter forecasts Winter Forecast 2013-14 -- The Players On The Field

The cooler end to October, at least compared to what we experienced in the first two plus weeks of the month, have some of us pining for win...

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McDonald's Bagged Coffee Could Be a Great Idea

<div class="MsoNormal">I know what you’re thinking:  I wish I could buy some McDonald’s products in the grocery store.  Well, it appears that wish is about to be granted.  According to the Associated Press, McDonalds bagged coffee, both ground and whole bean, will <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/mcdonalds-sell-bagged-coffee-next-002252647.html">soon be available</a> in test markets around the country. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">While the report is mum on where and exactly who will be selling McDonald’s bagged coffee next to Starbucks, Folgers, Dunkin Donuts, and whatever else is on shelves these days, consumers can hardly blame the hamburger and chicken nugget retailer for trying to grab a slice of the <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/04/09/coffee-mania/2069335/">$20 billion a year</a> coffee industry in the United States.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mcdonalds.com/content/dam/McDonalds/item/mcdonalds-Coffee-Small.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.mcdonalds.com/content/dam/McDonalds/item/mcdonalds-Coffee-Small.png" width="280" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The McCafe idea has caught on adding significantly more than the <a href="http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/03/22/mcdonalds-names-next-ceo-don-thompson-the-man-behind-mccafe/">originally expected $125,000 per year</a> to restaurant sales.  Every time I am at the drive through I always see the specialty coffee drinks be handed out the window, and a lot of regular coffee cups as well.  <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It makes sense for the restaurant chain to add McDonald’s bagged coffee to a nontraditional retail setting for the chain, and I would not be surprised in the least to see K-Cups with the Golden Arches logo being tossed into Keurigs later in the year.  You can call Ronald a lot of things, but slow to adapt to change is apparently not one of them.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Even if the company can capture a tiny amount of market share from customers looking to duplicate their coffee experience at home, it will present a major win for the company.  The question of whether or not the process is financially viable remains to be seen, but any portion of $20 billion is pretty significant to me.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">McDonald’s bagged coffee presents an intriguing idea, but the cost to value relationship is important, and you have to wonder if store sales will sag because customers can brew the coffee at home before heading out the door instead of picking up a cup at the five locations they pass on their way to work (and perhaps add on a sausage biscuit or two).  <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">As the year unfolds it will be interesting to watch, as with anything the fast food giant does, I have to wonder how many other companies will jump on board.  Does the coffee at a fast food company merit bagged sales?  Lucky for everyone, time will have the answer to this question, but it does seem like a logical play for what could be a significant cash grab. <o:p></o:p></div>

national coffee sales will it work McDonald's Bagged Coffee Could Be a Great Idea

I know what you’re thinking:  I wish I could buy some McDonald’s products in the grocery store.  Well, it appears that wish is about to be g...

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Problem With Furtick Not That He is Wealthy, But Accumulation of Wealth Occurred BECAUSE He is a Pastor

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUv2u37k0ptoOo_zgeVWNygMPCuCJjh5z_71ZdqOt-fq0x-T8YR1WmISb3xCxfdttKG2RWVk5t7RblnjiuJVwjTDCS5u3EL43yaqQzHJM4Y5MlLMBBCjo8pDlCAWbZrx4svV32pHksira/s1600/customerparking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUv2u37k0ptoOo_zgeVWNygMPCuCJjh5z_71ZdqOt-fq0x-T8YR1WmISb3xCxfdttKG2RWVk5t7RblnjiuJVwjTDCS5u3EL43yaqQzHJM4Y5MlLMBBCjo8pDlCAWbZrx4svV32pHksira/s320/customerparking.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Over at Pajama Pages, an anonymous commenter "Josh" <a href="http://www.pajamapages.com/steven-furtick-and-the-walter-white-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-8790" target="_blank">posted a lengthy comment</a> that was worthy of featuring here. Below is the comment in its entirety, with some highlights by me.<br /><br /><b>But first a few comments of why I really like Josh's post. </b><br /><br />Josh's comments below touch on some of the issues of why this blog began in 2007. I had my own eyes opened up to the same sort of thing: <i><b>pastors made wealthy simply BECAUSE they are pastors</b></i>. Pastors who view the church as a business - THEIR business - THEIR FAMILY business. They hire marketing consultants, they use the church resources to build their own brand, to sell their own goods. They view Christians as customers, as impersonal "giving units" who generate revenue for their godly pursuits.<br /><br />And good people allow it. They defend it. They encourage it. As Josh says, the mentality is that if something is good for the CEO/pastor, it is good for the church. And people who give the money are not allowed to see the details of how it is spent, especially on CEO/pastor compensation. If you scan the early days of this blog, what Josh writes about are concerns I had in my own church, and I couldn't believe that good people in a good church would allow this sort of thing to go on. I figured if more people knew, they would do something. Thus the blog.<br /><br />I was wrong. And that is why Steven and Perry and Ed will keep on trucking. The consumers are brand loyal. This will be a very minor speed bump for Steven. The only question is: is this business ("church") model sustainable in the long run? <a href="http://www.pajamapages.com/steven-furtick-and-the-walter-white-conundrum/" target="_blank">As James Duncan wrote yesterday</a>, perhaps not.<br /><br />Lastly, in a strange way I might give MORE leeway to Steven Furtick and Perry Noble than I would most other celebrity mega church pastors in this: <i><b>at least Steven built his OWN business ("church") from the ground up</b></i>, with ZERO members. He just didn't come in behind other pastors and assume the throne and the perks, be anointed the king and get a sweet land deal and immediately build a huge house and put his family on staff and turn the church into his own family business.<br /><br />Steven has built quite a successful business, and feels he is justified in making lots of money. In his response to the congregation, he emphasized how he started the church with just 4 families.<br /><br />It is Steven's business, he started it, he is the CEO.<br /><br />Here is Josh's post:<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="comment-text"><i><b>The problem with Furtick isn’t that he’s rich, or even that he’s a rich pastor. <span style="color: red;">The problem is that he’s rich because he’s a pastor.</span> If professing Christian Steven Furtick started a successfully bakery, retail store or construction company in 2006 that was incredibly successful, so much so that he could buy a 3 million dollar home, few would criticize him for enjoying his earnings. In fact, the world and people in the church generally look favorably on successful Christian businessmen. <span style="color: red;">No one questions how Truett Cathy spends his Chick-fil-a money, for example.</span></b></i><br /><br /><i><b><span style="color: red;">The problem is that Furtick and others got their money by turning the church into a business. Pastors like Furtick are obsessed with business leadership because they fashion themselves as the CEO and identify more with celebrity CEOs like Steve Jobs than with non-celebrity pastors</span>. Decisions are made by the CEO to build the brand, to create a larger customer base, to increase the giving margin, and to expand into new opportunities. Church personnel decisions are made in the same way. Is the youth pastor growing the youth brand? Is the worship pastor stylish enough? While such decisions are constrained at some point by biblical considerations…they aren’t going to hire a guy who publicly rejects the bible…the biblical standards of Titus 1 and 1 Timothy 3 aren’t really considerations. </b></i><br /><br /><i><b>This creates two problems, though. One, churches aren’t businesses and aren’t supposed to be run as such. There is nothing wrong with Macy’s developing a non-fraudulent pricing and promotional strategy designed to extricate consumers with as many spending dollars as possible. Macy’s should offer products and services designed to produce high margin income. But churches aren’t businesses. The pastor shouldn’t spend time developing (or more likely purchasing from consultants) “offering talks,” or message series, or coaching services, or conferences with a goal of increasing the church’s income. The church shouldn’t be selling books and tshirts and lattes and bibles or anything else. God’s house is not a house of merchandise!</b></i><br /><br /><i><b>So when the Furticks of the Christian world stand up and talk about money (and they talk about money a lot!) it sounds a lot like Macy’s running television commercials for their two-day after Thanksgiving sale. <span style="color: red;">When they preach on tithing (a subject on which bible believing Christians can easily disagree), it sounds self-serving because it is self-serving. Is it Furtick the preacher of God’s word talking, or Furtick the CEO of Elevation Church, Inc. talking?</span> Nothing has changed in two thousand years. A pastor cannot serve two masters.</b></i><br /><br /><i><b>The second problem is the conflict of interest between the company (the church) and the CEO (the pastor.) Former GM CEO Charles Wilson reputedly once claimed that “What’s good for GM is good for the country.” (A misquote, but that’s not the point here.) <span style="color: red;">Celebrity CEO Pastors seem to believe that what’s good for the Lead Pastor is good for the church. That’s why they freely write and promote books on “church time” and bring in other celebrity CEO pastors to “teach”</span> (with undisclosed and sizable speaking fees). Does Furtick invite Craig Groeshel to teach for $____ because Groeshel brought in Furtick to teach at Lifechurhc for $_____? No one knows because it’s all a big, big secret. Is the five week sermon series on “Sun Stand Still Prayers” for the edification of the church, or to promote the CEO’s new book, which is conveniently for sale in the church bookstore. <span style="color: red;">Building the CEO’s profile will help him sell books, increase his demand as a guest speaker, and feed his ego. But does it benefit the church? None of your business</span>.</b></i><br /><br /><i><b>The clear conflict of interest is exacerbated by an utter lack of accountability. Sure, if Furtick gets caught sleeping with his cute personal assistant (which has happened in at least two smaller CEO-style churches I’m aware of), he couldn’t salvage his position. But no one from inside his inner circle is going to question his business dealings, his use of church time to work on and promote his books, his purchase of his own and friends books by the church, his speaking fee at churches with mutual relationships, or his promotional choice of message series. <span style="color: red;">Anyone from the inside who did ask such impertinent questions would suddenly find themselves on the outs, <span style="color: black;">and in a personality driven organization</span></span>, loss of access to the leader is a dire sanction. <span style="color: red;">Outsiders in the media or blog may ask questions, but they won’t get answers.</span> And the rank and file members will stay on and keep giving.</b></i></div></blockquote><br />Josh is so right: outsiders in the media or blog may ask questions, but they won't get answers.<br /><br />Never.

Problem With Furtick Not That He is Wealthy, But Accumulation of Wealth Occurred BECAUSE He is a Pastor

Over at Pajama Pages, an anonymous commenter "Josh" posted a lengthy comment that was worthy of featuring here. Below is the comm...

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"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" is back tonight for the 47th year

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHveDUsgN-E3EKFIi-8zHIKy-YHSQNfcwcugZaloFhIbp8ftW7KrH01wlh0KSrTjzglmsyPYspFqaaSd9VUZ66VKU42WY1z2ePq6N21O8gXbjuiHqC71GbX360c4vhhMLhfqv19tGOOqO/s1600/Peanuts+Halloween+gang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHveDUsgN-E3EKFIi-8zHIKy-YHSQNfcwcugZaloFhIbp8ftW7KrH01wlh0KSrTjzglmsyPYspFqaaSd9VUZ66VKU42WY1z2ePq6N21O8gXbjuiHqC71GbX360c4vhhMLhfqv19tGOOqO/s320/Peanuts+Halloween+gang.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It's Halloween! Do you know where you'll be at 8:00 tonight? I'll be parked right in front of the television watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," that classic Peanuts Gang treat that first aired on October 27, 1966. This year viewers will enjoy it on the holiday itself.<br /><br />Follow along as <span class="kno-fv"><span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?biw=1366&bih=664&q=%22it%27s+the+great+pumpkin,+charlie+brown%22+%22characters%22+%22charlie+brown%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAAEsANP_AHvTx-gAAAAPCAMiCS9tLzAxM3ozbkAB8F7Th9WmiiCJ1LsF093onJlDlHBfTylNLAAAAA">Charlie Brown</span>, <span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?biw=1366&bih=664&q=%22it%27s+the+great+pumpkin,+charlie+brown%22+%22characters%22+%22snoopy%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDAz8HsxKnfq6-gaFxlXGeA2NksUH8Obtl5-y_i_99Zv29-IPtrsMABdV0BCwAAAA">Snoopy</span>, <span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?biw=1366&bih=664&q=%22it%27s+the+great+pumpkin,+charlie+brown%22+%22characters%22+%22linus+van+pelt%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDAz8HsxKnfq6-gaFxlXGeA2PiDov3npMYSnWuM09bEc23_8Q0lmoAv8UWpSwAAAA">Linus van Pelt</span>, <span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?biw=1366&bih=664&q=%22it%27s+the+great+pumpkin,+charlie+brown%22+%22characters%22+%22lucy+van+pelt%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDAz8HsxKnfq6-gaFxlXGeA-PZLPNT03x-Ck6NP2V3QE5Yk0Fg6goAbM_SjywAAAA">Lucy van Pelt</span>, <span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?biw=1366&bih=664&q=%22it%27s+the+great+pumpkin,+charlie+brown%22+%22characters%22+%22sally+brown%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDAz8HsxKnfq6-gaFxlXGeA-O60JkLl6rd_XCH5c2nBu2gVd4V0mcBQ9QHliwAAAA">Sally Brown</span>, <span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?biw=1366&bih=664&q=%22it%27s+the+great+pumpkin,+charlie+brown%22+%22characters%22+%22schroeder%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDAz8HsxKnfq6-gaFxlXGeA2PRkcWzS9uXsO8oyle8VCMr3X1YZyYA18fceywAAAA">Schroeder</span>, <span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?biw=1366&bih=664&q=%22it%27s+the+great+pumpkin,+charlie+brown%22+%22characters%22+%22pig-pen%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDAz8HsxKnfq6-gaFxlXGeA-MUuZtpO_U_vDiqV7xPd7tUwGqfY7cALeKcRSwAAAA">Pig-Pen</span>, <span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?biw=1366&bih=664&q=%22it%27s+the+great+pumpkin,+charlie+brown%22+%22characters%22+%22patty%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDAz8HsxKnfq6-gaFxlXGeA6PF8rJZucmrvGq9bh5avca7faeHxQMAAl8MFiwAAAA">Patty</span>, <span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?biw=1366&bih=664&q=%22it%27s+the+great+pumpkin,+charlie+brown%22+%22characters%22+%22violet+gray%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDAz8HsxKnfq6-gaFxlXGeA-MCdx6WNzv8d9_xvfq3UoFBaceZqxwAtrGYiiwAAAA">Violet Gray</span>, <span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?biw=1366&bih=664&q=%22it%27s+the+great+pumpkin,+charlie+brown%22+%22characters%22+%22frieda%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDAz8HsxKnfq6-gaFxlXGeA-P3bdMWOVQb_T11kW3p-vLkr35WrR0Aa-_jiCwAAAA">Frieda</span>, <span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?biw=1366&bih=664&q=%22it%27s+the+great+pumpkin,+charlie+brown%22+%22characters%22+%22shermy%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDAz8HsxKnfq6-gaFxlXGeA-P-461qUbk8m-X2Bdd9uNbMyOWw4ScABh2XiiwAAAA">and Shermy</span></span> spend Halloween -- some in the traditional door-to-door search for treats -- and others waiting for the Great Pumpkin.<br /><br />"Comic Riffs" reporter Michael Cavna at the <i>Washington Post</i> has <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/its-the-great-pumpkin-charlie-brown-7-things-you-dont-know-about-thursdays-peanuts-special/2013/10/28/abb92e4c-4023-11e3-9c8b-e8deeb3c755b_blog.html">"7 Things You Don't Know About 'Peanuts' Special"</a> with some interesting tidbits of info. <br /><br />In today's fast-paced, ever-changing world, it's somehow comforting that the Peanuts gang is still alive and well and enjoying Halloween 47 years after the original showing. Creator Charles Schulz would be proud.

autumn in Shenandoah Valley Charles Schulz halloween It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown Linus Peanuts Snoopy "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" is back tonight for the 47th year

It's Halloween! Do you know where you'll be at 8:00 tonight? I'll be parked right in front of the television watching "It&#...

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Today's Teamster News 10.31.13

<a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/teamsters-hold-first-meeting-dc-taxi-operators-association">Teamsters Hold First Meeting Of D.C. Taxi Operators Association</a>  teamster.org   ...Hundreds of taxicab drivers in the nation’s capital attended the first meeting of the new Washington, D.C., Taxi Operators Association Tuesday in overwhelming support for a strong affiliation with the Teamsters as the city imposes major, costly industry changes affecting their livelihoods...<br /><a href="http://www.wusa9.com/news/article/281002/158/DC-cabbies-to-be-represented-by-Teamsters" rel="nofollow">DC Cabbies to Be Represented by Teamsters</a>  WUSA9 News   ...A big vote in Northeast DC has forever changed the political landscape for DC cab drivers. See the video... <br /><a href="http://www.dclabor.org/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/112372" rel="nofollow">DC Taxi Drivers Organize</a>  DC Labor   ...DC taxi drivers chanted "We will win! We will win!" at yesterday's first meeting of the Washington DC Taxi Operators Association, which formalized its affiliation with Teamsters Local Union 922...<br /><a href="http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/money/business/2013/10/29/teamsters-members-reject-wegmans-contract/3310281/" rel="nofollow">Teamsters members reject Wegmans contract</a>  Democrat and Chronicle   ...For the second time during this round of contract talks, Wegmans' Rochester-based distribution and transportation employees have rejected the contract proposal that was agreed to by Wegmans and Teamsters Local 118...<br /><a href="http://www.wadenapj.com/content/arbitrator-rules-teamsters-local-320-and-wadena-county-contract-sues" rel="nofollow">Arbitrator rules on Teamsters Local 320 and Wadena County (Minnesota) contract issues</a>  Wadena Pioneer Journal   ...Nearly 11 months after the county’s new labor agreements went into effect on Jan. 1, arbitrator Stephen F. Befort delivered his decisions on the unresolved issues between the county and its unit of 19 essential public safety employees represented by Teamsters Local 320...<br /><a href="http://www.abc57.com/home/top-stories/Some-Teamsters-unhappy-about-pay-raises-229765421.html" rel="nofollow">City delays budget vote after Teamsters delay contract vote</a>  ABC 57 News   ...The vote happens Tuesday and Wednesday and will affect about 250 city employees who are members of Teamsters Local 364...<br /><a href="http://www.joc.com/trucking-logistics/ltl-shipping/yrc-worldwide/yrc-worldwide-teamsters-set-meet-dallas_20131029.html" rel="nofollow">YRC Worldwide, Teamsters Set to Meet in Dallas</a>  Journal of Commerce   ...YRC Worldwide, fresh from a terminal network restructuring and change in leadership at $3.2 billion less-than-truckload carrier YRC Freight, will meet with the Teamsters union early next month to discuss the company’s future...<br /><a href="http://democratherald.com/news/local/county-teamster-union-agree-to--year-contract/article_f32ab8b4-40e0-11e3-aec5-0019bb2963f4.html?comment_form=true" rel="nofollow">County, Teamster Union agree to 4-year contract Albany</a>  Democrat-Herald   ...Linn County in Oregon has reached a four-year wage and benefits contract with Teamster Local Union No. 670, which represents about 42 of the county’s 600 employees...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/corporations-take-take-take-while-workers-pay-bill" rel="nofollow">Corporations Take, Take, Take While Workers Pay The Bill</a> (opinion)  teamster.org   ...What do mega-corporations like communications giant Verizon and big pharma drug maker Bristol-Myers Squibb have in common, besides their billions in earnings? They both paid an effective tax rate of zero percent over the past year...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/abf-update-central-region-local-cartage-teamsters-overwhelmingly-decline-authorize-strike">ABF Update: Central Region Local Cartage Teamsters Overwhelmingly Decline To Authorize A Strike At ABF</a>  teamster.org   ...In a vote with 77 percent turnout, a majority of the membership covered by the Central Region Local Cartage Supplement has overwhelmingly (70% to 30%) chosen not to authorize a strike at ABF...<br /><a href="http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/10/anheuser-busch_teamsters_start_contract_talks_could_fate_of_syracuse-area_brewer.html" rel="nofollow">Anheuser-Busch, Teamsters start contract talks</a>  The Post-Standard   ...Negotiations will start next month on a new labor contract that could determine the future for the Anheuser-Busch InBev brewery near Baldwinsville, New York...<br /><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-10-24/is-funeral-home-chain-scis-growth-coming-at-the-expense-of-mourners" rel="nofollow">Is Funeral Home Chain SCI's Growth Coming at the Expense of Mourners?</a>  Bloomberg   ...For traditional funerals, SCI charges $6,256 on average (excluding casket and cemetery plot), 42 percent more than independents...<br /><a href="http://www.unionplus.org/union-made/halloween-treats?header" rel="nofollow">Union-Made Halloween Treats</a>  unionplus.org   ...When those little ghosts and goblins come collecting on Halloween, make sure you have a full supply of union-made-in-America treats for them like Jelly Belly's candy corn. Find out about other goodies that are made by union workers...<br /><a href="http://bethlehem.patch.com/groups/schools/p/todays-college-grads-wont-be-able-to-retire-until-theyre-73" rel="nofollow">Today's College Grads Won't Be Able to Retire Until They're 73</a>  Bethlehem Patch   ...Student loan debt likely will force today's college grads to work longer...<br /><a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/stop-the-social-security-stupidity-a-q-a" rel="nofollow">Stop The Social Security Stupidity: A Q&A With Bernie Sanders</a>  Talking Points Memo   ...The Koch brothers, Pete Peterson and other billionaires are spending huge amounts of money trying to cut Social Security and other vitally important federal programs. As part of this campaign, an enormous amount of misinformation is floating around...<br /><a href="http://www.msnbc.com/all/americas-new-hunger-crisis" rel="nofollow">America’s new hunger crisis</a>  MSNBC   ...“When 50 million people in the richest country on the planet are hungry, that’s a crisis...”<br /><a href="http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BUDGET_DEFICIT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT" rel="nofollow">US budget deficit down to $680B, lowest in 5 years</a>  Associated Press   ...For the first time in five years, the U.S. government has run a budget deficit below $1 trillion...<br /><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-rt-us-usa-trade-20131029,0,5398194.story" rel="nofollow">U.S. trade official pushes Congress to renew trade promotion authority</a>  Reuters   ...The Obama administration's top trade official said on Tuesday that the United States is aiming to finalize a giant trade deal with 11 other Pacific Rim nations by the end of year, but that it needs Congress to approve a rule to speed up the talks...<br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24680283" rel="nofollow">Brazil protests: Sao Paulo bus station attacked</a>  BBC News   ...Friday's protests began with a march through the city that lasted about three hours. Violence erupted when a section of the crowd broke off and attacked a bus terminal in the city centre, police said...<br /><a href="http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/state/Census-More-Ohioans-living-in-poverty-than-since-before-the-Great-Recession" rel="nofollow">Census: More Ohioans living in poverty than since before the 'Great Recession'</a>  Associated Press   ...A U.S. Census report shows there are more Ohioans living in poverty than before the Great Recession. The numbers show one in six Ohioans was living in poverty last year. The state's poverty rate increased from 13.1 percent in 2007 to 16.3 percent in 2012...<br /><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/john-kasich-war-on-poor-gop-republicans-2013-10" rel="nofollow">GOP GOVERNOR: 'There Seems To Be A War On The Poor' With Republicans In Washington</a>  Business Insider   ...Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) criticized members of his party in Washington in an interview with The New York Times published Tuesday, saying there "seems to be a war on the poor."...<br /><a href="http://www.indystar.com/viewart/20131029/OPINION/310290027/Lower-middle-class-workers-get-trampled" rel="nofollow">Lower middle-class workers get trampled</a>  Indianapolis Star   ...Consumer confidence has plunged for lower middle-class Americans in recent years...<br /><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/10/30/2859291/alabama-blogger-arrested-jailed-writing-governor%3Cem%3Es-son/" rel="nofollow">Alabama Blogger Arrested, Jailed For Writing About Former Governor’s Son</a>  ThinkProgress   ...this sort of order is what is known as a prior restraint on First Amendment expression and is almost certainly unconstitutional...<br /><a href="http://www.blackagendareport.comhttp//www.blackagendareport.com/content/detroit-will-be-democracys-decisive-battle/content/detroit-will-be-democracys-decisive-battle" rel="nofollow">Detroit Will be Democracy's Decisive Battle</a>  Black Agenda Report   ...Detroit is the battleground chosen by Wall Street to crush the last vestiges of American democracy by creating “the template for direct corporate rule.”...<br /><br />

Today's Teamster News 10.31.13

Teamsters Hold First Meeting Of D.C. Taxi Operators Association   teamster.org   ...Hundreds of taxicab drivers in the nation’s capital att...

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The Royal Television Society Present 'Broadchurch - Anatomy Of A Hit'

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAJURg0x9miJpNWo6YaSwbdGHuUTBZ2sDElLKCLFdfCf-HUoSFbJo3CnrRq0nvDy5jU5Ma_EG1x46NSQ2KzVEiZzPBjBRiaZEHApKhV_TFHgVMlrbnoSEVzPsdjXc7vIUfQp9DhU3LCAq/s1600/Broadchurch_Banner+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAJURg0x9miJpNWo6YaSwbdGHuUTBZ2sDElLKCLFdfCf-HUoSFbJo3CnrRq0nvDy5jU5Ma_EG1x46NSQ2KzVEiZzPBjBRiaZEHApKhV_TFHgVMlrbnoSEVzPsdjXc7vIUfQp9DhU3LCAq/s640/Broadchurch_Banner+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Royal Television Society present an exclusive look behind the scenes at the creative process behind <i>Broadchurch</i>, the TV drama that hooked the nation earlier this year, as cast and creatives meet at a live event to discuss the success of the ITV show. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Series creator Chris Chibnall, Kudos chief executive Jane Featherstone, director James Strong and star Olivia Colman will be guest speakers at Broadchurch - Anatomy Of A Hit which takes place at 6.30 on Thursday 28th November at 6.30pm at the Cavendish Conference Centre in London. The event will be hosted by Heat editor Boyd Hilton. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.rts.org.uk/broadchurch-anatomy-hit-0"><span style="color: blue;">Click here to register for the event</span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The award winning eight part series <i>Broadchurch </i>starred David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Arthur Darvill, Jodie Whittaker and Andrew Buchan. Originally airing on ITV, the series has now been broadcast all over the world, including the USA, Australia, Canada, Russia, Latin America Sweden and Norway. It will soon be seen in France, Germany, Spain and New Zealand. A second series goes into production next year, while Chris Chibnall is executive producing a US version of the show for FOX , retitled <i>Gracepoint</i>, also starring David Tennant.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

Broadchurch Chris Chibnall Olivia Colman TV Drama The Royal Television Society Present 'Broadchurch - Anatomy Of A Hit'

The Royal Television Society present an exclusive look behind the scenes at the creative process behind Broadchurch , the TV drama that hook...

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Trick or Treat!

Its Halloween!<div><br></div><div>We won't be home this evening so I left out a bowl of chocolate bars for any children who call.</div><div><br></div><div>There are only about 10 children on our street and I don't know if any will call - some are quite young.</div><div><br></div><div>Traditionally when you call looking for sweets at neighbors doors in Ireland you would chant "Help the Halloween Party". However over time (and probably seeing it in movies) children have gradually started saying the American "Trick or Treat".  I grew up saying "Help the Halloween Party" - I miss the kids saying it! </div><div><br></div><div>What did you say as a child when you called to houses at Halloween?</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehv7_Kvh2aQ4NAIDtzLSPZw1-mi5KJNuE0eXmvcU9eIwhgQfy7RJf4cR4vMkX8LVP9xPe_vgxpq-SZxI5zRgsWgSGpRfaLKkKgUQvSgvW_nSf5PIzXFnLNkhH1kjXyIfgRWfLYtDYBRQX/s640/blogger-image-1363311287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehv7_Kvh2aQ4NAIDtzLSPZw1-mi5KJNuE0eXmvcU9eIwhgQfy7RJf4cR4vMkX8LVP9xPe_vgxpq-SZxI5zRgsWgSGpRfaLKkKgUQvSgvW_nSf5PIzXFnLNkhH1kjXyIfgRWfLYtDYBRQX/s640/blogger-image-1363311287.jpg"></a></div><br></div>

Trick or Treat!

Its Halloween! We won't be home this evening so I left out a bowl of chocolate bars for any children who call. There are only about 10 c...

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Warm, Breezy, Dare I Say Muggy

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkW4GbsKGReSmG4pc9csClNFomu6KFD6TPGSPJ4NHipWoz_YiC_YqP-e3jl_zKiAqbWSlSjfrdAP6KJgRwk_VpwroBW2ZohRpJeJK8t-wQJiZdrLizFsHFfPh8C48prx-iolpvdHJ85Me/s1600/103113-AM1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkW4GbsKGReSmG4pc9csClNFomu6KFD6TPGSPJ4NHipWoz_YiC_YqP-e3jl_zKiAqbWSlSjfrdAP6KJgRwk_VpwroBW2ZohRpJeJK8t-wQJiZdrLizFsHFfPh8C48prx-iolpvdHJ85Me/s400/103113-AM1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />A storm system's approach to our region is going to provide a push of warmth and extra mugginess tomorrow. While we may not see a ton of sunshine tomorrow, a warm front will lift far enough north to bring warmer conditions to the Delaware Valley.<br /><br />Not to mention higher dew points -- we could see them push north of 60 tomorrow, reminding you of what humidity is.<br /><br />We've nudged temperatures around a bit tomorrow -- I'm a bit more aggressive on temperatures for Philly and points south, reflective of the fact we will have a nice push of warmth aloft and at the surface as winds increase through the afternoon hours. North of the city will have a tougher time warming as much but should get into the 60's rather easily.  The question turns to just "how warm" we get -- we're projecting mid 60's in Allentown, upper 60's along the PA Turnpike, with around or just above 70 for everyone else.  If we don't get enough brightening temperatures could be a few degrees cooler. That said, the push of warmth is pretty solid and should do enough to nudge us pretty close to these points.<br /><br />A few showers are possible north and west of Route 222 during the day but odds are the vast, vast majority of the region is dry until late tonight when the shield of rain and some thunder approaches.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEian0IjpDMlPta4MTrNzN-OFFD-Kef6J0nQ3TA0Doin2q3aPDxNbnNIWmuv6HeX8LgX4g8zpgjdwBh27GiYkRTHxGrgGK7Nxpgjc1zcjPTHwtTzWRrDTHzEejSCth3zKO7mfSq-chUIMWlC/s1600/103113-AM2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEian0IjpDMlPta4MTrNzN-OFFD-Kef6J0nQ3TA0Doin2q3aPDxNbnNIWmuv6HeX8LgX4g8zpgjdwBh27GiYkRTHxGrgGK7Nxpgjc1zcjPTHwtTzWRrDTHzEejSCth3zKO7mfSq-chUIMWlC/s400/103113-AM2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />

daycast Warm, Breezy, Dare I Say Muggy

A storm system's approach to our region is going to provide a push of warmth and extra mugginess tomorrow. While we may not see a ton of...

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Happy Halloween: Fright Night Blooper Reel

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5qGqncdz8wB-8ahFwR7UpO95FxSbDApO3NRCEatLkYRA0QOICv-WDKUYkKpUhwBidqfQkkpJ5DElf99ZyidOIyk4NnVjoReYu6P_W5yoKXU3ZFRWR-luxiaZxtQXzx7kxqlRsLD52G_X/s640/vlcsnap-2012-10-31-12h28m43s127.png" width="640" /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a devilishly good treat for Halloween <span style="background-color: #fafafa; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">here's a video of outtakes from David Tennant's Hollywood horror movie Fright Night, be warned it includes scenes of a gory nature and a very itchy pair of leather trousers!</span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/6zdBDCMbxsY?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br />

David Tennant Fright Night halloween VIDEO Happy Halloween: Fright Night Blooper Reel

As a devilishly good treat for Halloween  here's a video of outtakes from David Tennant's Hollywood horror movie Fright Night, be wa...

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Happy Halloween - Listen To David Tennant Read Vampire Stories

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfI9AfHCQE-dGKQ120Rk2qKKbefxu4NP1zALFJeCvb54EdQUjCnsChzRlKFVAOK5NqOQn1gK9anlYVLe6BpCT5fsobutw2pNnDOn5EIwWKNLgA23gAPD8PYw7HBtX5uxVhiK8aXWc9JQ/s1600/frightnightstill-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfI9AfHCQE-dGKQ120Rk2qKKbefxu4NP1zALFJeCvb54EdQUjCnsChzRlKFVAOK5NqOQn1gK9anlYVLe6BpCT5fsobutw2pNnDOn5EIwWKNLgA23gAPD8PYw7HBtX5uxVhiK8aXWc9JQ/s640/frightnightstill-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Halloween! We hope you all have a suitably spooky day. To get you in the mood here's some tales of vampires read by David Tennant!</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They're bloody fang-tastic...</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div><div><strong><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/vamp1.mp3"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bewitched</span></span></a></strong></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bewitched by Edith Wharton. Saul still goes out to see his previous girlfriend...even though she died years ago.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div></div><div><strong><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/vamp2.mp3" target="_self"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Drink My Blood</span></span></a></strong></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Drink My Blood by Richard Matheson is about a young schoolboy whose only ambition in life is to become a vampire. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/vamp3.mp3"><span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Girl With Hungry Eyes</span></strong></span></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Girl With The Hungry Eyes by Fritz Lieber concentrates on the magnetic power of the vampire.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div></div><div><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/vamp4.mp3"><span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Lot Of Mince Pies</span></strong></span></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Lot Of Mince Pies by Robert Swindells focuses on a group of carol singers who visit the same cottage every year.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div></div><div><strong><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/vamp5.mp3"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Lady Of The House Of Love</span></span></a></strong></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Lady Of The House Of Love by Angela Carter a virginal English soldier, travelling through Romania by bicycle, finds himself in a deserted village.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div><a href="http://www.team-tennant.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/bookbed1.mp3"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Dead Persons In Hungry</strong></span></a><br />David Tennant reads Antoine Calmet's accounts of real Vampires, gathered from people across Europe who believed they had seen the creatures with their own eyes.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><a href="http://www.team-tennant.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/bookbed2.mp3"><span style="color: black;"><strong>The Family Of The Vordalak</strong></span></a><br />Gorcha sets off on a mysterious mission but tells his family not to accept him if he should return after 10 days - for then he will be a vampire.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.team-tennant.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/bookbed3.mp3"><span style="color: black;"><strong>The Horla</strong></span></a><br />Guy de Maupassant's striking psychological tale enters the world of the Vampire and how it corrupts and destroys the brain.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.team-tennant.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/bookbed4.mp3"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Luella Miller</strong></span></a><br />Luella Miller seems incapable of helping herself. But everyone who comes to her aid soon ails and dies in their efforts.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.team-tennant.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/bookbed5.mp3"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Clarimonde</strong></span></a><br />In this true struggle between good and evil, heaven and hell, Theophile Gautier creates a whirlwind world of sensuality, seduction and rampant vampirism. </div></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div></div>

audio David Tennant halloween Happy Halloween - Listen To David Tennant Read Vampire Stories

Happy Halloween! We hope you all have a suitably spooky day. To get you in the mood here's some tales of vampires read by David Tennant!...

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Three (Mesmerizing) Hitchcock Villains Revisited on Halloween

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSnqgNb87Y0Ng5pmOACjMm2jPPAmtBgMQ5x2DsyCg9O23qxd8oNZHUbOC6kPYdfIbHsghcAX6RvY-yGEGmroVmcfDcn2-QGwrLnb7offHNexh9mLMcKXRaIU5bnWZBi1BqPQmM5GL_88/s1600/Hitchcock_Halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSnqgNb87Y0Ng5pmOACjMm2jPPAmtBgMQ5x2DsyCg9O23qxd8oNZHUbOC6kPYdfIbHsghcAX6RvY-yGEGmroVmcfDcn2-QGwrLnb7offHNexh9mLMcKXRaIU5bnWZBi1BqPQmM5GL_88/s400/Hitchcock_Halloween.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today (and today only) our friend Lara of <i>Backlots</i> is hosting a one day <i>Hitchcock Halloween</i> blogathon and for the occasion I'm resurrecting an old favorite from the <i>Reel Life</i> archives.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In January 2011 the Classic Movie Blog Association hosted a Hitchcock blogathon and I decided rather than blog about a particular film, I'd take another approach. The result was an exploration of three legendary Hitchcock killers and the actors who portrayed them: Joseph Cotten's Uncle Charlie in <i>Shadow of a Doubt </i>(1943), Robert Walker's Bruno Anthony in <i>Strangers on a Train </i>(1951) and Anthony Perkins's Norman Bates in <i>Psycho </i>(1960). I was and still am fascinated by the complex characters of Uncle Charlie, Bruno and Norman - and with the masterful performances of the three daring actors who took their turns as what film critic/historian David Thomson calls Hitchcock's "smiling psychopaths."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;"><a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/01/cmba-hitchcock-blogathon-three-classic.html"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Click here to read </span></a><i><a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/01/cmba-hitchcock-blogathon-three-classic.html"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Three Classic Hitchcock Killers</span></a><span style="color: black;">.</span></i></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For links to Lara's blog and and more on <i>Hitchcock Halloween</i>, <a href="http://backlots.net/2013/10/31/the-hitchcock-halloween-blogathon-the-entries/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">click here</span></a>.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ATvefdWqpCu1fTzNykEpJ4m1FgXaXYs1CpK9_yRW8aU1I19JETubqPw-NpP-K1rfr2VZoeDSNJTIPxX3X3w6CtDOZABiUq6DZ2HBFnCvtl8BRW6eugzV51ePZK4cF4F_PVBbSl-0DE8/s1600/Classic_Killers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ATvefdWqpCu1fTzNykEpJ4m1FgXaXYs1CpK9_yRW8aU1I19JETubqPw-NpP-K1rfr2VZoeDSNJTIPxX3X3w6CtDOZABiUq6DZ2HBFnCvtl8BRW6eugzV51ePZK4cF4F_PVBbSl-0DE8/s1600/Classic_Killers.JPG" /></a></div><span id="goog_1974639347"></span><span id="goog_1974639348"></span><br />

Alfred Hitchcock Backlots Hitchcock Halloween Psycho Shadow of a Doubt Strangers on a Train The Lady Eve (author) Three (Mesmerizing) Hitchcock Villains Revisited on Halloween

Today (and today only) our friend Lara of Backlots is hosting a one day Hitchcock Halloween blogathon and for the occasion I'm resurre...

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Happy Halloween, Wanna See Something Scary?

Watch this guy process a deer in under two minutes.<br /><br />If you are squeamish, don't bother coming around here.<br /><br />This Blog isn't for pussies or little kids anyway.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/XF2kKqjvG08" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br />BTW, Happy Birthday to my little brother BP.<br /><br /> Heh, little, the shithead outweighs me by damn near 90 pounds and is two inches taller than I am.<br />50 years ago I got my trick or treating cut short because of him and I still remember having to sit in the damn car at the hospital.<br /><br />He turned out alright in the long run though, a real fish killin' machine and quite the finish carpenter.<br /><br />Love ya dude.

Happy Halloween, Wanna See Something Scary?

Watch this guy process a deer in under two minutes. If you are squeamish, don't bother coming around here. This Blog isn't for pussi...

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Self-Branded Smartphone from Idea: Idea Ultra

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Indian telecom provider company Idea Cellular have made announcement to launch its self-branded smartphone. The smartphone comes with the tag of Idea Ultra and company also declared the price of device Rs. 10,500.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Smartphone include all the latest ongoing features, which are popular in the market like 8 MP high resolution camera, dual SIM support, 2000mAh battery with more back-up, 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and Android 4.1.2 OS. The device comes with 5-inch IPS display.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-BMzWKc_cM/UnH8tTJiscI/AAAAAAAAAeI/3lC0nmOHDek/s1600/265x312xUltra-smartfone_jpg_pagespeed_ic_jDEOHV9QjO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="idea ultra smartphone with latest features like Camera, Processor" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-BMzWKc_cM/UnH8tTJiscI/AAAAAAAAAeI/3lC0nmOHDek/s1600/265x312xUltra-smartfone_jpg_pagespeed_ic_jDEOHV9QjO.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is 12th smartphone introduced by Idea with 3G enabled since last two year. Company will provide the device across 3G market in India through Idea retail and service outlets. Idea cellular is also providing the new and better data plans for the users, to enjoy more.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chief Marketing Officer, Idea Cellular Sashi Shankar made a statement on launching event “The true potential of mobile broadband can be unleashed only with the development of the entire ecosystem. Keeping this in mind, Idea has been actively focused on offering affordable 3G smartphones with high-end features, in addition to rapidly growing 3G network and product portfolio, to ensure that Idea users enjoy the best 3G experience. We are now encouraged to venture into the 12.7cm (5”) category Smartphone with ULTRA, which is targeted at the evolving and experimental, young Indian consumers, for whom the smartphone is increasingly becoming an integral part of their lives”.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: inherit;">Technical specifications:</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Display: 5-inch IPS display with FWVGA resolution</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Camera: 8MP rear and 0.3 MP front</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Processor: 1.2 GHz quad-core</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Space: 512 MB of RAM 4GB internal storage with expandable option</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">OS: Android 4.1 with more processing speed</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.0, 3G, Wi-Fi</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Battery: 2000mAh, providing more back-up to users.</span></li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/100638775997274345522" rel="author"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anil Swami</span></a></div></div>

idea smartphone Self-Branded Smartphone from Idea: Idea Ultra

Indian telecom provider company Idea Cellular have made announcement to launch its self-branded smartphone. The smartphone comes with the ta...

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Halloween Isn't Scary...Everyday Life Is!!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCx7AwEyqcBQ9y019q8u7buC4EjSVpNaBYKnpcIO9uKhEQj-0pVcHkEQJEpbOP_c_kkxEPsk9m0-wHuH12v98-mn0300JuEjd4ZdrqqcIPVOq4NMb4LvuhqcCG352ZEOOXNA1eGiYhSAje/s1600/Scary+Halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCx7AwEyqcBQ9y019q8u7buC4EjSVpNaBYKnpcIO9uKhEQj-0pVcHkEQJEpbOP_c_kkxEPsk9m0-wHuH12v98-mn0300JuEjd4ZdrqqcIPVOq4NMb4LvuhqcCG352ZEOOXNA1eGiYhSAje/s400/Scary+Halloween.jpg" width="400" /></a>Happy Halloween you sexy ghosts and wacky goblins.<br /><br />Unless you live in Amish country or have mean, uncaring, evangelical Christian parents, you know that today is Halloween…<br /><br />A day in which children from 2 to 92 with joy in their hearts and senses of fun, roam about the earth dressed in fun costumes, or in the case of the older children…<br /><br />Dress as pimps and sluts, go to the bars, and drink until they get their chance to make it with someone dressed as Frankenstein or Miley Cyrus.<br /><br />However, Halloween for many is just a fun time to enjoy being scared.<br /><br />People love to pay to walk through manufactured “haunted houses” whose proceeds go to the recently crippled kid down the street, the wife whose husband was killed in a grain elevator accident, or to the local Kiwanis Club so that they can continue to do whatever it is the Kiwanis Club does.<br /><br />I don’t really get scared by “haunted houses” and the traditional Halloween stuff, however…<br /><br />In every day life, there are a boatload of things that scare the hell out of me, and/or more accurately, give me an exponential case of the heebie-jeebies.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwXZwkiHYoNZCYIun3S8YU69hJ6bAIrYWkThe46hUbjRB2SsgUFcMyifLlfaoLV-Kjn-yxVy8qBo0IN2frR5awDxt_fmp9Z1Rva-YcxsUC-Kiu8xNAQCIRDcnMOD8xcqYStOH6c4nf8jR/s1600/house_centipede.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwXZwkiHYoNZCYIun3S8YU69hJ6bAIrYWkThe46hUbjRB2SsgUFcMyifLlfaoLV-Kjn-yxVy8qBo0IN2frR5awDxt_fmp9Z1Rva-YcxsUC-Kiu8xNAQCIRDcnMOD8xcqYStOH6c4nf8jR/s400/house_centipede.JPG" width="400" /></a>Spiders?  Snakes?  Pffffffft.  While I am always leery of those two creepy crawly types, nothing freaks me out more than fast moving multi-legged bugs, many of which I have never seen, nor even knew existed.<br /><br />I hate bugs who just appear out of the blue…bugs that have never been pictured in textbooks, and believe me…<br /><br />They’re out there!!  ICK!!<br /><br />Body Lotion…Oh Dear GAWD…Just thinking of putting that greasy crap on my arms and legs even after completing forty days and nights in the desert with Jesus, makes my skin crawl.  Uuch!!<br /><br />Brussels Sprouts and Eggplant…Seriously?  They both suck…They are things that those stupid Kiwanis Club Haunted Houses would use for their dish of “Frankenstein’s Brains.”  And what really gets me about Eggplant?  I have heard often…<br /><br /><i>“Try Eggplant Lasagna, it’s really good.”</i>  And of course I reply, <i>“But I think Eggplant is gross.”</i><br /><br />And then I hear, <i>“No, it’s really good; you won’t even taste it.”</i><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwuAWL3Zpr0kPd1Kur90BvVRMsQQDQZNFwW85bE1w1A5UCkCGh6mDDGaAFtVETpgacv_xBNsF8pFh5yL298B_d7BUAB8sQyi8-HyWTIYcmvRlWgCOXH4FJZX6kn6u6V6D-AAetu-CZ_DU/s1600/Nose+Drops+Old.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwuAWL3Zpr0kPd1Kur90BvVRMsQQDQZNFwW85bE1w1A5UCkCGh6mDDGaAFtVETpgacv_xBNsF8pFh5yL298B_d7BUAB8sQyi8-HyWTIYcmvRlWgCOXH4FJZX6kn6u6V6D-AAetu-CZ_DU/s320/Nose+Drops+Old.jpg" width="320" /></a>If it’s really good, why allegedly, does it not have any taste!!?  Eggplant pushers!!<br /><br />And if you are my age or older, remember getting nose drops when you were a kid with a cold? They’ll clear you right up…<br /><br />And the nose drops, pressured down your nose by Mama and Papa Mengele always went to the back of your throat and tasted liked carp piss.  Ugh.<br /><br />And here’s one that I think many people feel more than uncomfortable with…<br /><br />When I worked for SEIU, we had many meetings, many conferences, many planning sessions.<br /><br />And of course when you have big groups like that, said groups must have break-out sessions and mini-meetings contained within said meeting or conference.<br /><br />These twenty-one words were uttered often during those meetings, and to this day, give me a giant case of the goo…<br /><br /><i>“Before we begin our meeting, why don’t we go around the table, introduce ourselves, and share a little something about ourselves?”</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNh46Goq9F7wMh_pBuQSr6zLqskRXETrKTn_dr4B_A9a_jOhQBa7HNswTRY3bNeHR81HZRJFvpJhWNHwMTp9rVxtVbhU65_1fHROaulRDFFFUKczRNWJsssm4NvPbQhBOBizP0NwzGpmd/s1600/Meetings+Are+Stupid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNh46Goq9F7wMh_pBuQSr6zLqskRXETrKTn_dr4B_A9a_jOhQBa7HNswTRY3bNeHR81HZRJFvpJhWNHwMTp9rVxtVbhU65_1fHROaulRDFFFUKczRNWJsssm4NvPbQhBOBizP0NwzGpmd/s400/Meetings+Are+Stupid.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Whenever I heard, or hear that to this day, I curl up into a fetal position and while crying, say what I always wanted to say to that question/order…<br /><i><br /></i><i>“Hi.  My name is Matt.  I eat scrambled rats brains for breakfast. I eat my girlfriend for lunch, and for dinner?  I go meatless, and drink my own, day-old urine from a rusty, empty Beefaroni can. How you doin’?”</i><br /><br />Oh dear God, how I hate that more than anything…Well…<br /><br />Except for expiration dates on food and milk and food.<br /><br />I never used to care about those, but man…If I come across a container of milk that expires on the day on which I want to drink it?<br /><br />It better have a time stamp on it as well.  Because an expiration date of 10/31/2013 at 8 AM ain’t the same as 10/31/2013 9 PM.<br /><br />Thanks a lot Dad!!<br /><br /><i>Cheers!!</i><br /><br />Matt-Man<br /><br /><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com">mattmaniws@ymail.com</a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">@mattman_iws</span></a><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/mattmaniws" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">My Facebook Page</span></a></div>

Halloween Isn't Scary...Everyday Life Is!!

Happy Halloween you sexy ghosts and wacky goblins. Unless you live in Amish country or have mean, uncaring, evangelical Christian parents, y...

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