Kadie
Kadie's JournalIowa campaign headquarters for Newt Gingrich - pic
Contenders for the Republican presidential nomination are stepping up their efforts in Iowa
URBANDALE, IA - DECEMBER 14: Ben Bishop, a volunteer in the Iowa campaign headquarters for Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, calls voters on December 14, 2011 in Urbandale, Iowa. Contenders for the Republican presidential nomination are stepping up their efforts in Iowa in front of the state's January 3 caucus.
Thousands of birds make crash landing in Utah - mistaking a Wal-Mart parking lot for a body of water
Thousands of birds make crash landing in Utah
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
(12-14) 10:57 PST ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) --
Thousands of migratory birds died on impact after apparently mistaking a Wal-Mart parking lot and other areas of southern Utah for bodies of water and plummeting to the ground in what one wildlife expert called the worst downing she's ever seen.
Crews went to work cleaning up the dead birds and rescuing the survivors after the creatures crash-landed in the St. George area Monday night.
By Tuesday evening, volunteers had rescued more than 2,000 birds, releasing them into nearby bodies of water.
"They're just everywhere," said Teresa Griffin, wildlife program manager for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resource's southern region. "It's been nonstop. All our employees are driving around picking them up, and we've got so many people coming to our office and dropping them off."
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/14/national/a072218S48.DTL#ixzz1gXNgOmzh
In this photo provided by Utah Division of Wildlife Services, a Utah Division of Wildlife Resources employee frees some surviving grebes on Dec. 13, 2011 at Stratton Pond in Hurricane, Utah after thousands of the birds crash landed throughout Southern Utah on Monday night. Officials say storm clouds above city lights Monday night probably confused thousands of grebes, which are a duck-like aquatic bird that migrates south for the winter. Thousands of the birds were killed, but more than 2,000 had been rescued by Tuesday evening. The survivors were released into Washington County bodies.
Photo: Lynn Chamberlain / AP
In this photo provided by Utah Division of Wildlife Services, surviving grebes swim across the waters of Stratton Pond in Hurricane, Utah following their release by Utah Division of Wildlife Resources employees Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011 after thousands of the birds crash landed throughout Southern Utah on Monday night. Officials say storm clouds above city lights Monday night probably confused thousands of grebes, which are a duck-like aquatic bird that migrates south for the winter. Thousands of the birds were killed, but more than 2,000 had been rescued by Tuesday evening. The survivors were released into Washington County bodies.
Photo: Lynn Chamberlain / AP
A 9-year-old's compassion for stray cats inspires people of all ages
A 9-year-old's compassion for stray cats inspires people of all ages
Amy Rossi, Philadelphia Animal Welfare Examiner
December 12, 2011
With all the horror and abuse stories we read every day, it's refreshing and heartwarming to be able to highlight the generous and compassionate side of people, especially when they are young.
It gives us hope that the future for animal welfare may be brighter thanks to children who are seeing and learning that caring and kindness toward animals is something they should aspire to.
We would like to introduce Evan, a 9-year-old who, for the past few years, has saved his allowance and instead of spending it on himself, made a holiday donation to City Kitties Rescue in Philadelphia to help stray cats.
In 2009, he donated $46.75, which inspired donors from all over the country to match it. In 2010, he increased it to $63, and this year to $97. Be sure to read the letter (left) he wrote this year along with his donation.
more...
http://www.examiner.com/animal-welfare-in-philadelphia/one-boy-s-generous-donation-and-compassion-toward-animals?CID=examiner_alerts_article
Evan's letter
PG&E assumes civil liability in San Bruno blast
PG&E assumes civil liability in San Bruno blast
By GARANCE BURKE, Associated Press
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
(12-13) 15:49 PST San Francisco (AP) --
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. officials confirmed Tuesday it will take financial responsibility for the deadly San Bruno pipeline explosion and compensate victims who have brought civil suits in the wake of the blast.
The announcement came as company attorneys prepared for a hearing regarding more than 90 civil suits filed against the utility in San Mateo County Superior Court.
PG&E President Chris Johns said the company issued the statement in response to a judge's request for an official position, but PG&E is hoping to settle cases without going to trial.
"PG&E is hopeful that today's announcement will allow the families affected by this terrible tragedy to receive compensation sooner, without unnecessary legal proceedings," Johns said in a statement. "We are affirming our commitment to do the right thing in our response to this accident."
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/13/national/a154918S74.DTL#ixzz1gSvwCyME
Warren Seely, LEGO Kid, Builds Farm Equipment Replicas From Toys
Warren Seely, LEGO Kid, Builds Farm Equipment Replicas From Toys
First Posted: 12/12/11 01:26 PM ET Updated: 12/12/11 01:28 PM ET
No matter how hard you worked on it, Warren Seely probably puts even your most beloved LEGO creation to shame.
Dubbed "the LEGO kid," Seely first learned his way around heavy farm equipment while growing up on his parents' Oregon mint farm. He rebuilt his first tractor engine at age 6 and has been using his knowledge of mechanics to build small, working replicas of farm equipment from LEGOs since he was 12-years-old.
At age 15, Seely was already enrolled in community college classes to prep for his career as an electrical engineer.
Over the years, Seely's creations have been displayed at several farming conferences in Washington and Oregon, the Columbia Basin Herald reports.
Seely's models have also been used in classrooms at Washington State University and elsewhere, according to a WSU news release.
more...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/12/warren-seely-lego-kid-farming-equipment_n_1143409.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003
No one is buying Michele Bachmann's book
No one is buying Michele Bachmann's book
By Jessica Lussenhop Thu., Dec. 8 2011 at 10:48 AM
Michele Bachmann's new book has been on shelves for two weeks now, and that's apparently where it's staying.
"Core of Conviction" is a 224-page memoir and political manifesto, filled with half-truths and 109 exclamation points. Bachmann's been on a book tour since its release before Black Friday.
But the chance to meet Bachmann and gaze back into those crazy eyes hasn't been enough to inspire sales.
According to figures from Nielsen BookScan, which gets its numbers from major book retailers like Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble, Bachmann's life story has only sold 3,000 copies in two weeks. Nielsen says its numbers cover about 75 percent of the retail market for books, though it does not currently get figures from Walmart or Sam's Club.
On Amazon.com's "Best Sellers in Politics" list, "Core of Conviction" ranked 96th. Incidentally, the book was outpaced by Jesse Ventura's latest, which came in at 91st.
Not a total shock. Even when she was signing copies at the Mall of America in her home state, only 50 people turned up.
more...
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2011/12/no_one_is_buying_michele_bachmanns_book.php
Chuck E. Cheese fined for breaking child-labor laws
Chuck E. Cheese fined for breaking child-labor laws
Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
(12-13) 07:56 PST SAN FRANCISCO --
Nine Chuck E. Cheese pizza parlors in the Bay Area have been fined a total of more than $28,000 for violating federal child-labor laws, authorities said.
Eight restaurants allowed 16 teenagers to load and operate on-site trash compactors, while the ninth location allowed two minors to operate a dough mixer, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's wage and hour division.
The restaurants in question were not identified. There are 13 Chuck E. Cheese restaurants in the Bay Area, which are among the 554 stores in the U.S. and seven other countries, according to the company's website.
"We all want young workers to develop the skills and experience necessary to compete in the marketplace, but safety must never be sacrificed in the process," said Ruben Rosalez, acting administrator of the wage and hour division's western region. "Employers have an obligation to ensure minors are not performing tasks that could be harmful, which is why these child labor rules were established."
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/13/BA5T1MBSUC.DTL#ixzz1gRLZ3urH
6-year-old boy saves mom's life after crash
A mother couldn't be prouder
Nikki Dober is amazed by her son's actions after her car tumbled down a hill Saturday
By BRYAN FITZGERALD, Staff writer
Updated 11:03 p.m., Monday, December 12, 2011
BERNE — Once Nikki Dober's car came to a rest on its roof in the woods 50 feet below Joslyn School Road, the only part of her son she could see were his shoeless size 2 feet.
Standing in the snow in his socks outside the driver's side window, 6-year-old Aaron Wright told his mother he was going to kick in the cracked glass and pull her to safety.
"I told him 'No!'" Dober said. "Then he ran up the hill to get help, but I didn't really want him to do that either. He said he was OK, but I wasn't sure. I could only see that the accident had knocked his shoes off his little feet."
snip...
Seconds after the crash, Aaron quickly wiggled out of his booster seat, reached over and unbuckled his mother. But Dober was still stuck.
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/A-mother-couldn-t-be-prouder-2397930.php#ixzz1gRJDGuL5
Expelled gay sailor returns to active duty
Expelled gay sailor returns to active duty
Linguist Jase Daniels, 29, re-enlists four years after discharge
Written by Nathan Max
3:03 p.m., Dec. 12, 2011
A San Diego man who was kicked out of the Navy twice under the government’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy re-enlisted Monday.
Jase Daniels, 29, is believed to be the first expelled, openly gay member of the military to return to active service since the policy was repealed Sept. 20, according to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.
Daniels, a Hebrew linguist, was discharged in April 2005, recalled to the military nine months later, then discharged again in March 2007.
Daniels, along with two others, sued the government in 2010, arguing that the policy was unconstitutional.
more and video at...
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/12/expelled-gay-sailor-returns-active-duty/
The First Lady and Santa Visit Children’s Hospital - w/pics
Dec 12, 2011 6:25pm
The First Lady and Santa Visit Children’s Hospital
Michelle Obama, with Santa and the family dog Bo as an entourage, visited the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., today to read the Christmas classic “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to a crowd of children and their families, continuing a tradition that dates back more than 60 years.
“Christmas is coming,” Obama said as she took her seat. “Is everyone excited?”
Throughout the poem, the first lady interjected her own commentary. As she read aloud, “He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot/ And his clothes were all tarnished/ with ashes and soot,” she looked over at Santa and told the kids, “He cleaned up for you guys.”
snip...
The first lady said she has not had a moment to tell Santa what she wants for Christmas, so she told him as he sat next to her.
“I really want all kids to grow up with the chance for a good life and to be healthy,” she said.
more...
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/the-first-lady-and-santa-visit-childrens-hospital/
U.S. first lady Michelle Obama reads "The Night Before Christmas" to children next to long time patient Romauld Vital, 8 years OLD, at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington December 12, 2011.
pics from news.daylife.com
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