July 23, 2012

Sally Ride, first U.S. woman in space, dies at 61

Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, has died of cancer at age 61, her organization has announced.

On June 18, 1983, Ride was 32 when she launched aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Ride, a physicist, helped develop the shuttle's robotic arm.

She was one of 8,000 people who responded to a newspaper advertisement seeking NASA applicants. She joined the space agency in 1978 and left in 1987.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/07/sally-ride-first-us-woman-in-space-dies-at-61/1#.UA3CUWt5mK0

Ride, Sally, Ride! All the way home........

July 23, 2012

The Muslim Brotherhood responds to Bachmann's claims:

Muslim Brotherhood Leader: We ‘Can’t Even Penetrate The Egyptian Government’

Rep. Michele Bachmann’s (R-MN) baseless allegations that the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated the U.S. government — particularly via a top aid to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton — have been met with near-universal condemnation inside the United States. But no one has thought to ask the Muslim Brotherhood whether she’s telling the truth – until now, when GlobalPost reporter Erin Cunningham managed to solicit a public response. While some Egyptians have unfortunately been persuaded by Bachmann’s nonsense, the Muslim Brothers themselves are not among them. They issued a somewhat amusing blanket denial:

“I haven’t heard these rumors, but they strike me as ridiculous,” said Ahmed Al Nahhas, a long-time Brotherhood activist and leader in Egypt’s second-largest city, Alexandria. “Surely the United States government selects its employees very carefully.” …

n Egypt, the birthplace of the Brotherhood, the organization’s leaders were either perplexed by the accusations or simply hadn’t heard them. Nor had they heard of Huma Abedin.

“The Muslim Brotherhood can’t even penetrate the Egyptian government,” said a Brotherhood leader in Egypt’s Daqheleya province, Ibrahim Ali Iraqi, in response to the accusations his group had infiltrated top US agencies.
<snip>
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/07/23/568531/bachmann-muslim-brotherhood-egypt/

Ha!

July 23, 2012

Don't boycott Chick-Fil-A. Here's what a Dixie Chick suggests:

On second thought, Chick-fil-A should become the new gay hangout! All gays all the time! Chick-fil-Gay!
http://twitter.com/1NatalieMaines/statuses/227464725527683072

Ha! Loves me some Dixie Chicks! Miss them.

July 23, 2012

Keith's response to Paterno family's latest statement:

RT @KeithOlbermann: Just. Shut. Up.
RT @BreakingNews Paterno family: NCAA sanctions are a 'panicked response' and 'defame the legacy and contributions of late coach'.

Amen!

July 23, 2012

PSU sanctions:

Fine of 60 million dollars - money to be given to organizations dealing with abuse

4 year bowl ban

4 year reduction from 25 to 15 scholarships for 4 years (each year)

Vacate wins from 1998-2011 (Whoa! That will leave a mark! There goes JoePa's record for most wins)

5 year probationary period

More being listed.

PSU signed consent decree. That means no appeal by PSU.

July 23, 2012

The 14 Openly Gay Athletes Of The 2012 Olympics

5- Lisa Raymond -Tennis - USA

Age: 38
Twitter: @lisaraymond73
Bio: Lisa Raymond is one of the best doubles tennis players in the world. She's won 6 Doubles Grand Slams and 5 Mixed Doubles Grand Slams, and is currently a part of the number one ranked pair in the world. She's been romantically connected to fellow Tennis star and former doubles partner Rennae Stubbs in the past, but the two are no longer together.

10- Seimone Augustus- Basketball - USA

Age: 28
Twitter: @SeimoneAugustus
Bio: Augustus is a WNBA Champion, Finals MVP, three-time All Star, and former Rookie of the year. She played her college ball at LSU, where she led the Tigers to three straight Final Fours. She is currently engaged to marry her girlfriend, LaTaya Varner.

14-Megan Rapinoe - Soccer - USA
Age: 27
Twitter: @mPinoe
Bio: A member of the 2011 US Women's Soccer Team that nearly won the World Cup, Rapinoe created one of the team's signature highlights when she set Abby Wambach up with a beautiful desperation cross that led to the US's 122nd minute goal against Brazil to keep the US's World Cup hopes alive. Rapinoe came out of the closet earlier this month and revealed that she's been in a three-year relationship with an Australian soccer player.
More: http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/the-14-openly-gay-athletes-of-the-2012-olympics

Muh.... Knew about Rapinoe.

July 23, 2012

Woman, 80, fights off pair of robbers with MANGOES and a bag of apples

An 80-year-old woman fought off a pair of robbers by hurling mangoes and a bag of apples at them.
Otilia Martins pelted the fruit at Eduardo Torres-Lopez, 22, and Jesse DosSantos, 24, when they demanded cash from a clerk at the Continental Market in New Bedford, Massachusetts owned by the elderly woman's daughter Maria Nogueria and son-in-law, Manny.

The men were arrested for being armed and for related robbery charges after Ms Martins chased the men outside and Mr Nogueria identified them to police.
<snip>
video and pics at site-
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2177170/An-80-year-old-Massachusetts-woman-fights-pair-robbers-mangoes-bag-apples.html#ixzz21RgJ7At9

Guns- Meh!
Give me produce and a good arm!

July 23, 2012

1-800-Flowers denies a year’s worth of dog food to animal rescue winner

In April, 1-800-Flowers.com hosted a contest called “There’s a New Bunny in Town” Photo contest, where participants shared a picture of their pet with a pair of bunny ears and enter the photo for a chance to win a grand prize of: 1 Year of pet food from Wag.com, a year’s supply of assorted products for dogs and dog lovers from Planet Dog and a $150 Savings Pass from 1800Flowers.com

Maria Mandel, who has an amazing service dog named Stacey Mae (Stacey has 18,000+ fans on Facebook) entered the contest on behalf of our friends at Lucky Dog Rescue. Then, she promoted the contest on Facebook begging others to vote for Stacey’s photo… so that she could donate the winnings to Lucky Dog Rescue. Thousands of votes later Maria won the contest, on behalf of Lucky Dog Rescue. When 1-800-flowers contacted her for an address to send the winnings, she gave them Lucky Dog’s address.
<snip>
One of the last representatives she spoke with offered to take her number with the promise of a call back; when he did call back- the representative acknowledged the contest and that Maria Mandel was the winner. However, the representative informed her that the prize was “non-transferrable” and by Maria requesting that the food be shipped to Lucky Dog rescue it made the winnings null and void.

When 1-800-Flowers posted the contest it stated: ‘No clear Official Rules, Entry Frequency, Country Restriction, or Age Requirement’ and when Ashley told that to the representative He responded: “I’m sorry if the rules weren’t clearly stated, ma’am”;  Ashley proceeded to ask him how can there be rules if non are stated, and if the company was clearly intent on not honoring the promised winnings for someone who entered the contest from the start advertising that she was going to give her winnings to an animal charity- she got a ‘yes ma’am’ in response.
<snip>
http://blogfourpaws.com/2012/1-800-flowers-denies-a-years-worth-of-dog-food-to-animal-rescue-winners/

They really are a worthless, unethical company.

July 23, 2012

View from ISS at night - stunning

http://vimeo.com/45878034

What a ride!

July 23, 2012

Source: Penn State will be fined at least $30 million as well as

at least a 3 year post-season ban. A 3 year ban will allow players to transfer immediately without penalty. In addition, there will be a significant loss of scholarships.

Wow!