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Timeline History Date – The Week In News, Entertainment, Sports, Latest Music, TV Ratings, Technology – January 15-21, 2012

January 30, 2012

History Timeline Date – January 15-21, 2012

A look at this week news, latest songs, tv schedule, sports news, technology. Watch Youtube videos. mrpopculture & mrpophistory

 

This Week In The News/News World…Trivia – January 15-21, 2012

News Of The Week 


Divers found the bodies of two elderly men inside a capsized cruiseliner on Sunday, bringing the known death toll from a spectacular accident off Italy’s coast to five, with another 70 people injured. Divers and other rescuers were painstakingly checking thousands of cabins on the Italian liner Costa Concordia for 15 people still unaccounted for after the huge vessel foundered and keeled over with more 4,229 passengers and crew on board.

Mitt Romney has opened a wide lead over his Republican rivals in the South Carolina primary election race, trouncing Newt Gingrich and gaining momentum in his march toward the party’s nomination, a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows.

Ten people were killed when gunmen wearing explosive belts stormed a police building in the Iraqi city of Ramadi on Sunday, police and provincial officials said.The attack in mainly Sunni Anbar province followed several weeks of bombings targeting Shi’ites after the eruption of a political crisis that has threatened to break up the coaliton government and raised fears of renewed sectarian violence.

Ends his presidential bid  – Republican Jon Huntsman drops out. He  began his bid for the Republican nomination asking voters to pick a non-extreme opponent to face President Obama, and he ended it by perhaps asking himself how he could poll behind a comedian in a crucial primary state.

An Iranian news website is reporting several suspects have been arrested over last week’s killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist. Ali Larijani, speaker of the Iranian parliament, said the suspects are being interrogated, and the investigation is continuing. He talked to Iran’s state Arabic language TV channel Al-Alam, and his comments were carried on the Tabnak.ir site.Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, an official in Iran’s nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz, was killed in an explosion Wednesday after attackers attached a bomb to his car in Tehran.

Oil In Nome – Crews have laid a hose along a half mile stretch of Bering Sea ice and were hoping Monday to soon begin transferring 1.3 million gallons of fuel from a Russian fuel tanker to the iced-in western  Alaska city of Nome. The offloading could begin before sundown Monday, said Stacey Smith of Vitus Marine, the fuel supplier that arranged to have the Russian tanker Renda and its crew deliver the gasoline and diesel fuel. Crews on Monday hooked the arctic-rated hose to a shore-side pipeline leading to storage tanks in town and were safety-testing the hose with pressurized air, Smith said.

Passing – The founder of the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store chain, Dan Evins, has died at 76. The company said Monday that Evins — known as Danny — died Saturday in Lebanon, Tenn. No cause of death was given. Evins opened his first restaurant in Lebanon, Tenn., in 1969. The restaurant catered to highway travelers and focused on offering Southern hospitality, country-style cooking and an associated gift shop that came to define the chain.

The Italian coast guard angrily ordered the captain of the capsized Italian cruise ship to go back aboard to oversee the evacuation, but he stalled, according to an apparent recording of their radio exchange played on national television. Captain Francesco Schettino is in jail, accused of multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship. He denies all wrongdoing and was questioned by magistrates on Tuesday.

In an ABC/Washington Post Poll – Mitt Romney  holds a  2-to-1 lead over his closest competitor in support for the Republican presidential nomination. Coming off his eight-vote victory in Iowa and strong showing in New Hampshire, a vast 72 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents now expect Romney to be their nominee – up by 32 points from mid-December. Fifty-seven percent, moreover, call him their best chance to win in November, nearly triple the September level, with a 19-point jump in the last month alone.

Santorum Wins In Iowa – Barely – REVERSAL! Rick Santorum may have won the Iowa caucuses after all—but we’ll apparently never know. Certified results released Thursday morning, first reported by the Des Moines Register, show the final count of votes from Jan. 3′s Republican presidential caucus ended with Santorum a whopping 34 votes ahead of Mitt Romney—with 29,839 votes compared to Romney’s 29,805.

The US Navy announced it led a rescue operation to assist the crew of an Iranian fishing vessel in distress in the Gulf of Oman, the third in 10 days in an area marked by tension between Washington and Tehran. A Seahawk helicopter from the guided missile destroyer USS Dewey spotted an Iranian fishing boat sinking early Wednesday while two other vessels tried to tow it to safety, according to a Navy press release.

Online shoe retailer Zappos told customers this weekend that it has been the victim of a cyber attack affecting more than 24 million customer accounts in its database. The popular retailer, which is owned by Amazon.com, said customers’ names, email addresses, billing and shipping addresses, phone numbers and the last four digits of credit cards numbers and scrambled passwords were stolen. But it said the hackers had not been able to access servers that held customers critical credit card and other payment data. “We were recently the victim of a cyber attack by a criminal who gained access to parts of our internal network and systems through one of our servers in Kentucky,” Zappos chief executive Tony Hsieh said in an email to staff which was posted on the company’s blog on Sunday.

Polaroid – The iconic film company Polaroid is determined not to get left behind in an increasingly digital age. A new Android-powered point-and-shoot camera is part of that reinvention. Check out the Polaroid SC1630 Smart Camera debuting at the Consumer Electronics Show last week in Las Vegas. The camera features a 3.2-inch touchscreen and the full Android app market. It’s a 16-megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom, and it includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Obama administration said over the weekend that it would not support legislation mandating changes to Internet infrastructure to fight online copyright and trademark infringement. “Proposed laws must not tamper with the technical architecture of the Internet through manipulation of the Domain Name System (DNS), a foundation of Internet security,” the administration said in a statement. ”Our analysis of the DNS filtering provisions in some proposed legislation suggests that they pose a real risk to cybersecurity and yet leave contraband goods and services accessible online. We must avoid legislation that drives users to dangerous, unreliable DNS servers and puts next-generation security policies, such as the deployment of DNSSEC, at risk.”

The co-founder of  Pinkberry Frozen yogurt has been charged with assault for attacking a homeless panhandler with a tire iron after the man flashed a provocative tattoo at him, authorities said on Tuesday. Young Lee, 47, a kick boxer turned architect, helped create the Los Angeles-based Pinkberry in 2005 and the company has since grown to over 170 locations around the world. Lee was arrested on Monday at the Los Angeles International Airport after arriving on a flight from South Korea, police said. He is charged with assault with a deadly weapon, causing great bodily harm, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office said.

Bomb blasts killed at least 14 prisoners travelling in a security vehicle in northwest Syria on Saturday and troops fought rebels elsewhere as the Arab League weighed whether to keep monitors in place.

This Week Technology News –

wikipedia-shut-down-technology-in-history-january-2012On Wednesday of this week – Wikipedia will go offline for a day – in protest of the proposed anti-piracy laws, saying that sites like theirs will be affected if such legislation is passed.

Wikipedia’s English-language site shut down at midnight Eastern Standard Time Tuesday and the organization said it would stay down for 24 hours. Instead of encyclopedia articles, visitors to the site saw a stark black-and-white page with the message: “Imagine a world without free knowledge.” It carried a link to information about the two congressional bills and details about how to reach lawmakers.

Seen on Google – This Electronic Petition Saying: Two bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would censor the Web and impose harmful regulations on American business. Millions of Internet users and entrepreneurs already oppose SOPA and PIPA. The Senate will begin voting on January 24th. Please let them know how you feel. Sign this petition urging Congress to vote NO on PIPA and SOPA before it is too late.

Apple is scheduled to host an education-related event on January 19 — shrouded with a veil of mystery, as always. a new report from Ars Technica says the company is about to unveil a set of tools to create interactive e-books. Previous rumors said that Apple will show no new devices, and that the event will center around Apple’s new partnerships with textbook publishers.

Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang is leaving the struggling Internet company, as it tries to revive its revenue growth and win over disgruntled shareholders under a new leader. The surprise departure, announced Tuesday, comes just two weeks after Yahoo Inc. hired former PayPal executive Scott Thompson as its CEO.

FaceBook Auto Share – Sixty apps that let users publish information automatically to Facebook launched at a news conference held at a trendy nightclub here on Wednesday. Many of these are new versions of existing online services or mobile apps. Apps for foodies, like Foodspotting and Foodily, can publish to a user’s Facebook profile when she updates her digital diary of meals. Ticketmaster can publish to Facebook when customers buy concert tickets. Since the launch of Facebook Music in September, participants such as MOG and Spotify have reported large increases in membership. Some 400,000 people coming from Facebook have signed up for MOG accounts since September, and each day, Facebook sends an average of 4,000 people who have never visited MOG before, David Hyman, the music company’s CEO, said in a phone interview.

AT&T on Wednesday hiked rates on its smartphone and tablet data plans. The new rates will go into effect on Sunday, but only new customers will be affected. Those under contract will keep their current rates. AT&T said that existing customers will not be required to switch to the new rates, even if they upgrade their phones. The wireless giant raised the cost of its lowest-tier data package to $20 per month, up from $15 — a 33% price hike. AT&T offered a carrot alongside the stick: It increased the amount of data in that plan to 300 megabytes per month, up from 200 MB.

SOPA STOPPED FOR NOW – Immediately following Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’ss (D-NV) decision to postpone a full vote on “Protect IP Act” (PIPA), which was originally scheduled for Tuesday, Rep. Lamar Smith(R-TX), chief sponsor of the “Stop Online Piracy Act” (SOPA), has announced that he will delay further consideration of the contentious anti-piracy bill in the House “until there is wider agreement on a solution.” Earlier this week, Smith said that he would resume markup hearings on SOPA by the House Judiciary Committee, of which he is chairman, in February.The interruption of both bills follows Wednesday’s mass online blackout held in protest of the companion anti-piracy bills.“I have heard from the critics and I take seriously their concerns regarding proposed legislation to address the problem of online piracy,” said Smith in a statement. “It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best to address the problem of foreign thieves that steal and sell American inventions and products.”

Apple currently has more than 360 retail stores doing business in towns and cities all around the world. As its 11-year-old retail empire steadily grows, it’s clear the computer giant is constantly on the lookout for locations which stand out, places that are a little different, spots that will bring consumers flooding through its doors and lining up at its cash desks.

Following last month’s opening of its biggest ever store in Grand Central Terminal in New York, news has emerged that the iPhone maker will be opening a store-within-a-store in one of the world’s most famous department stores – Harrods in London.

This Week In Sports –

Joe Paterno wishes he had done more after hearing accusations in 2002 that former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky had been caught acting inappropriately with a young boy in the Penn State locker room, but admits he “didn’t know which way to go” with the information. In an interview with Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post, Paterno’s first since he was fired from the university on Nov. 9, Paterno reveals his thought process during a fateful meeting with graduate assistant Mike McQueary, as well as his regrets about the fallout that cost him his job and permanently tarnished his legacy.

NFC Divisional Games on FOX

FINAL: Saints 32 vs 49ers 36

FINAL: Giants 37 vs. Packers 20

AFC Divisional Games on CBS

FINAL: Broncos 10 vs.Patriots 45

FINAL: Texans 13 vs. Ravens 20

The Los Angeles Dodgers filed a proposed bankruptcy reorganization plan Friday, a little more than a week after resolving a court fight with Fox Sports that threatened plans to sell the ball club. The Dodgers said in court documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy in Wilmington, Del., that the pending sale of the team should satisfy all creditor claims in full, either through cash payments or assumption of the claims by the new team owners. The Dodgers intend to complete a sale of the team by April 30, as called for in a settlement with Major League Baseball. The April 30 date coincides with the deadline for Dodgers owner Frank McCourt to pay $131 million to his ex-wife, Jamie, as part of their divorce settlement.

The Week In Entertainment News –

Golden Globe Winners:

MOTION PICTURES

_ Picture, Drama: “The Descendants.”

_ Picture, Musical or Comedy: “The Artist.”

_ Actor, Drama: George Clooney, “The Descendants.”

_ Actress, Drama: Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady.”

_ Director: Martin Scorsese, “Hugo.”

_ Actor, Musical or Comedy: Jean Dujardin, “The Artist.”

_ Actress, Musical or Comedy: Michelle Williams, “My Week With Marilyn.”

_ Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, “Beginners.”

_ Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, “The Help.”

_ Foreign Language: “A Separation.”

_ Animated Film: “The Adventures of Tintin.”

_ Screenplay: Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris.”

_ Original Score: Ludovic Bource, “The Artist.”

_ Original Song: “Masterpiece” (music and lyrics by Madonna, Julie Frost, Jimmy Harry), “W.E.”

TELEVISION Golden Globe Winners:

_ Series, Drama: “Homeland,” Showtime.

_ Series, Musical or Comedy: “Modern Family,” ABC.

_ Actor, Drama: Kelsey Grammer, “Boss.”

_ Actress, Drama: Claire Danes, “Homeland.”

_ Actress, Musical or Comedy: Laura Dern, “Enlightened.”

_ Actor, Musical or Comedy: Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes.”

_ Miniseries or Movie: “Downton Abbey (Masterpiece),” PBS.

_ Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Kate Winslet, “Mildred Pierce.”

_ Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Idris Elba, “Luther.”

_ Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story.”

_ Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones.”

New Pop Culture TV Channel – Four of the biggest players in the entertainment industry — Ryan Seacrest, Mark Cuban, concert giant AEG and Hollywood powerhouse talent firm Creative Artists Agency — are teaming up to launch a new pop culture cable channel. Called AXS (short for access), the cable network is envisioned to focus primarily on live programming aimed at entertainment aficionados. It is to include a heavy diet of concerts and lifestyle shows and use production facilities at AEG s downtown L.A. Live complex as its on-air home base. “The industry in Los Angeles is a sport,” Cuban said of the channel’s plans to cover show business on a 24/7 live basis. The network’s flagship show is to be called “AXS Live,” which Cuban described as a “‘SportsCenter’ for pop culture and music.” The joint venture will be rebranding Cuban’s HDNet channel, creating a new network that is expected to debut as soon as late spring. Cuban launched HDNet in 2001 and has struggled to get the network widely distributed. Currently in about 27 million homes, Cuban said he thinks having the weight of AEG behind the channel will boost its reach.

Will.i.am – At the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month, Will.i.am announced that he’s doing a global tour with Intel to promote its new Ultrabooks. Fans will be able to follow his journey as he visits 12 countries in 12 months recording music and filming his adventures. He helped design the new willpower360 app, which allows viewers to experience the Ultrabook Project from any angle.

Passing – Goodbye Etta James - The 73-year-old blues legend died on Friday at Riverside (CA) Community Hospital from complications of leukemia, with her husband and sons at her side, her manager, Lupe De Leon said. James recorded a string of hits in the late 1950s and ’60s including “Trust In Me,” ”Something’s Got a Hold On Me,” ”Sunday Kind of Love,” ”All I Could Do Was Cry,” and of course, “At Last.”

Passing – Ironic – The man that discovered Etta James in 1955 – music man Johnny Otis –  at the age of 90

TV Ratings News – “American Idol” debut – continued to slip Thursday night after dropping with its season premiere Wednesday night, while NBC’s new drama “The Firm” continued its slide, according to preliminary numbers.

Fox’s “American Idol,” which Wednesday night premiered to a 24 percent decline versus last season’s premiere, dropped off another 19 percent with Thursday’s installment, clocking a 5.7/15 in the adults 18-49 demographic and receiving 14 million total viewers. That was similar to the percentage dip that the show experienced between last season’s first and second night.

“Idol” was still the night’s top-rated program, and pushed Fox to a ratings win with an average 3.9/10. It also boosted “The Finder” at 9 p.m., which grew 29 percent from last week’s premiere with a 2.2/5 and 6.7 million total viewers.

CBS took the second-highest ratings of the week with “The Big Bang Theory” at 8, which scored a 5.2/14 and 15.7 million total viewers. “Rob” at 8:30 dropped 12 percent from its strong premiere last week, hitting a 3.6/9 and drawing 11.7 million total viewers. “Person of Interest” at 9 received a 3.3/8 and 14.3 million total viewers, while “The Mentalist” the following hour drew a 2.9/8 and 14 million total viewers. The network took most-watched status for the night with an average 14 million total viewers.

The Best Songs Of The Week 2012

We Found Love – Rihanna With Calvin Harris

Good Feeling – Flo Rida

Set Fire To The Rain – Adele

It Will Rain – Bruno Mars

The One That Got Away – Katy Perry

Sexy And I Know It – LMFAO

Ni**as In Paris – Jay Z Kanye West

Turn Me On – David Guetta fea. Nick Minaj

Rack City – Tyga

Young, Wild & Free – Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa fea. Bruno Mars

Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO fea. lauren Bennett & GoonRock

Dance (A$$) – Big Sean fea. Nicki Minaj

Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5 fea. Christina Aguilera

Work Out – J. Cole

Domino – Jessie J

Stereo Hearts – Gym Class Heroes fea. Adam Levine

Someone Like You – Adele

Not Over You – Gavin DeGraw

The Motto  Drake fea. Lil Wayne

Without You – David Guetta fea. Usher

Stronger – Kelly Clarkson

I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz

International Love – Pitbull fea. Chris Brown

Top Movies This Week 2012


Underworld Awakening

Red Tails

Contraband

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Haywire

Beaty and the Beast

Joyful Noise

Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

The Iron Lady

War Horse

Television Ratings This Week 2012

1.AFC Divisional Playoff: Denver at New EnglandCBS2.FOX NFC Playoff: NY Giants at Green BayFOX3.NCISCBS4.Golden Globe AwardsNBC5.NCIS: Los AngelesCBS6.The Big Bang TheoryCBS7.Person of InterestCBS8.The MentalistCBS9.RobCBS10.Modern FamilyABC11.Blue BloodsCBS12.Undercover BossCBS13.SimpsonsFOX14.UnforgettableCBS15.Grey’s AnatomyABC16.CSI: NYCBS17.FOX NFC Playoff-Post GameFOX18.Once Upon a TimeABC19.CastleABC20.The Good WifeCBS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Pop Culture Youtube Music – Songs This Day In History-Trivia

January 23, 2012

The Best Youtube Music Songs

Mr Pop History Looks At Now And Same Time 2011, and 2010 With Trivia.

The Best Songs Of The Week

 

Top Youtube Song This Week:


“Someone Like You” – Adele

Top Youtube Music… Last Year At This Time In 2011:


“Hold It Against Me – Britney Spears

Top Youtube Music Song – This week in 2010:


“Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga

Dateline Top Entertainment News of January 23, 2010:

Miley Cyrus youtube music songs mrpopcultureWe Are The World” is being recorded – this time for Haiti. Look for –The new recording will feature Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Hudson, Will Smith, Jason Mraz, Sheryl Crow and Mya. Crash writer-director Paul Haggis is also reported to  be filming the recording session, which is set for next Monday. Quincy Jones will produce.
Star Trek video game debuts!
ABC cancels “Ugly Betty.”
 Samantha Harris – co-host of “Dancing with the Stars” is leaving the show.  

Compiled By Gary West  @ www.mrpophistory.com and www.mrpopculture.com. The World’s Largest This Week In Pop & News History archive.

Posted in Youtube History - Most Popular Songs | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Timeline Date – This Week In News, Entertainment, Sports, Latest Music, TV Ratings, Technology – January 8-15, 2012

January 16, 2012

History Timeline Date – January 8-15, 2012

A look at this week news, latest songs, tv schedule, sports news, technology. Watch Youtube videos. mrpopculture & mrpophistory

 

This Week In The News/News World – January 8-15, 2012

 

Romney Wins In New Hampshire - Republican front-runnerMitt Romney emerged on Sunday from back-to-back debates inNew Hampshire a bit dinged but not seriously dented as rivals stepped up attacks to slow his march toward the presidential nomination. Two days before voters in the small New England state head to the polls for the first 2012 primary election, Romney took heat on a number of topics: his record as governor of neighboring Massachusetts, the attack ads run by an outside group on his behalf and a suggestion he would wither in the face of attacks fromDemocratic President Barack Obama.

An Iranian court has convicted an American man of working for the CIA and sentenced him to death, state radio reported Monday, in a case adding to the accelerating tension between the United States and Iran. Iran charges that as a former U.S. Marine, Amir Mirzaei Hekmati received special training and served at U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan before heading to Iran for his alleged intelligence mission. The radio report did not say when the verdict was issued. Under Iranian law, he has 20 days to appeal.

Outgoing Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has pardoned at least four convicted killers who worked as inmate trusties at the Governor’s Mansion, including a man who was denied parole less than two weeks ago. Relatives of three victims told The Associated Press on Monday that state corrections officials notified them over the weekend that the men convicted in the crimes were to be released this past Sunday. Barbour’s office hasn’t responded to numerous messages. Barbour, a Republican, leaves office on Tuesday.

American sailors have come to the rescue of distressed Iranian mariners for the second time in less than a week, the Pentagon said Tuesday. The United States Coast Guard cutter Monomoy “picked up six Iranian mariners after their vessel broke down” in the Persian Gulf Tuesday, the BBC reported. At about 3 a.m. local time, the Coast Guard vessel “was hailed by flares and flashlights from the Iranian cargo dhow, Ya-Hussayn,” the U.S. Navy Central Command/Fifth Fleet public affairs report said. The Iranian mariners asked for assistance from the Monomoy because the cargo dhow’s engine room was flooding. The latest American rescue comes just five days after a U.S.Navy Ship freed 13 Iranian fishermen from Somali pirates  in the Arabian sea. The American sailors gave clothes, food and water to the freed Iranian fishermen, who had been held hostage by their Somali captors for six weeks.

Joran van der Sloot, the prime suspect in the disappearance of American teen Natalee Holloway, pleaded guilty today to the 2010 murder of Stephany Flores in Peru. “Yes, I want to plead guilty. I wanted from the first moment to confess sincerely,” he said today in court, according to The Associated Press. “I truly am sorry for this act. I feel very bad.” Van der Sloot faced up to 30 years in jail if convicted at a trial. It’s not clear how much time he will get as a result of his confession. His hearing was suspended until Friday when he will be sentenced.

Hostess/Wonder Bread files for Chapter 11 BK Protection. – Concurrent with the filing, the company said that, subject to Court approval, it has received a commitment for $75 million in debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing from a group of its existing first-lien lenders, led by Silver Point Capital, L.P. The financing will enable the company to continue routine operations while undertaking a comprehensive financial and operational restructuring to transform it into a strong, competitive company.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Thursday harshly condemned the alleged desecration by U.S. Marines of the corpses of Taliban fighters, after a video showing the actions went viral on a number of Internet sites this week. The Pentagon chief said he’d ordered a full investigation into the alleged incident, which comes amid sensitive diplomatic initiatives to try to advance reconciliation efforts with the Taliban. “I have seen the footage, and I find the behavior depicted in it utterly deplorable,” Panetta said in a press statement sent to Yahoo News Thursday. “I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.” The video-which Pentagon officials had not yet definitively authenticated–appears to show four American Marines urinating on the corpses of three Taliban fighters. (Due to its graphic content, Yahoo has posted an edited version of the posted video from ABC News, which you can see above.)”Have a nice day, buddy,’ one of the alleged U.S. Marines said on the video.

The assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist sparked deep fury in Tehran on Thursday against prime suspect Israel and against the United States, which said it had nothing to do with the murder. The 32-year-old deputy director of Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility died when two riders on a motorbike drove by his car trapped in Tehran’s rush-hour and slapped onto it a magnetic bomb that directed a deadly blast inside the vehicle.The explosion also killed Ahmadi Roshan’s driver/bodyguard and wounded a third occupant of the Peugeot 405.

After launching full-throated attacks against Mitt Romney’s business record earlier this week, Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich are now backing off the Bain bashing. Reports from South Carolina say that Perry debuted the term “vulture capitalism” on Tuesday, but by Wednesday afternoon, the line of attack was removed from his speech.

France was stripped Friday of its top-notch credit rating and rumors swirled in financial markets that its debt-burdened neighbors would be next, complicating Europe’s efforts to solve its financial crisis. Finance Minister Francois Baroin told a French TV station that France had been downgraded by one notch by credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s. That would mean a rating of AA+, the same as the United States since it was downgraded last summer.

Passengers leapt into the sea and fought over lifejackets in panic when an Italian cruise ship ran aground and keeled over, killing at least three and leaving dozens missing. In the chaotic aftermath of the Friday evening accident near the island of Giglio off the coast of Tuscany, Italian officials could still not say how many of the 4,229 passengers and crew on board the 114,500-tonne Costa Concordia were missing. “I was sure I was going to die. We were in the lifeboats for two hours, crying and holding on to each other,” said Antonietta Sintolli, 65, breaking down in tears as she recounted the event. “People were trying to steal lifejackets from each other. We could only gets ones for children.”

Health News – Swiss pharmaceutical firm Novartis said Sunday it was recalling four different products sold over the counter in the United States over reports of a malfunction at one of its plants. The affected drugs are Excedrin, NoDoz, Bufferin and Gas-X Prevention, Novartis Consumer Health (NCH) said in a statement. “NCH is taking this action as a precautionary measure, because the products may contain stray tablets, capsules, or caplets from other Novartis products, or contain broken or chipped tablets,” it said. “Mixing of different products in the same bottle could result in consumers taking the incorrect product and receiving a higher or lower strength than intended or receiving an unintended ingredient.

Michelle Obama shot down any notion of infighting between her and the president’s top aides in a television interview on Wednesday, downplaying her role and influence in the White House. Michelle Obama defended her role as one of dozens of advisers to President Barack Obama after the publication of “The Obamas,” a new book by New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor that paints the popular first lady as a tough political player. “That’s been an image that people have tried to paint of me since, you know, the day Barack announced (he was running for president in 2008), that I’m some angry black woman,” Obama told CBS’s “This Morning,” adding that she hasn’t read the book.

 Sports News Week Of January 8-15, 2012

Major NFL Upset as the Denver Broncos defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers – 29-23. Pittsburgh lead most of the first half of the game.

University of Alabama Crimson Tide – Are the BCS National Champions!

Confirmed – A Green Bay report that a body found in the Fox River has been identified as that of Michael Philbin’s. Michael was the 21-year-old son of Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.

Jim Rome, the notorious radio and TV talker – he of the acerbic rants and intentional provocation – has switched networks again, going from ESPN to CBS Sports per an announcement by the network Wednesday. Rome will participate across the CBS networks, contributing to CBS Sports and hosting a show on the CBS-owned Showtime. But his first show to launch — and the real experiment in all of this — is his daily show with the CBS Sports Network, “Rome.” The show will debut on April 3.

NFL Action – San Francisco – an incredible win over the Saints – To review, there was  Alex Smith’s run in for a touchdown to give San Francisco the lead, Jimmy Graham‘s 66-yard touchdown to take the lead back, and then Vernon Davis‘ two catches to get San Francisco its first playoff win since 2002. The game was a nail biter – a total of 4 lead score changes!  Vernon Davis’ heroics helped lead the San Francisco 49ers past the New Orleans Saints, 36-32, in the NFC divisional round of the 2012 NFL Playoffs on Saturday afternoon at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, CA.Davis racked up 180 yards and two touchdowns — including the game-winning 14-yard touchdown reception with 14 seconds left in the fourth quarter — on seven catches. As a result, the 49ers are going to the NFC Championship Game

 

Technology News Week Of January 8-15, 2012

Mobile app users are generally pretty cool with ads, as long as those ads help to ensure that the content they’re consuming with those apps is free. The data comes from market research firm Nielsen’s  State of the Media report for 2011, which examined what kind of apps smartphone and tablet users had downloaded and what the paid/free breakdown was for each category. Unsurprisingly, only a small percentage of users only downloaded paid apps, with the majority of consumers preferring to go with either the cheap route or a mixture of the two.

CES Las Vegas – The Kinect technology that was on display at Microsoft’s opening presentation on Monday night, introducing the first truly interactive television show, can be a game-changer for the content industry. Microsoft has paired with the classic children’s show, “Sesame Street,” to create what they called the first “two-way” television experience. It worked like this: a child watches the show, and is prompted by characters like Grover, Elmo and Cookie Monster to take an action.In the demonstration, a little girl threw coconuts into a box. Grover caught them, and counted each one.

Religion – Quote This Week From Popular Minister Joel Oelsteen:

“Will a gay person be accepted into heaven, as you see it?,” Oprah Winfrey asked the famed pastor. “I believe they will,” he responded. ”Sometimes we look at gay being a bigger sin than being proud or not telling the truth. I don’t think God categorizes sins.”

Entertainment News Week Of January 8-14, 2012

Kristy McNichol – has come out publicly as a lesbian in hopes of helping others who have been bullied because of their sexual orientation. McNichol, best-known for starring in the ABC drama Family and NBC’sEmpty Nest, revealed that she has been living with her partner, Martie Allen, for the last two decades. Why now? The 49-year-old actress is “approaching 50″ and wants to “be open about who I am.”

Justin Bieber fans might not be able to expect sex, drugs or very much rock-and-roll from the Canadian teen pop star, but if he has his way they can at least looking forward to seeing their idol around for a while. “It’s not a fluke that I’m here,” the 17-year-old said in an interview with V Magazine.  “I’m here for a reason, and I’m here for a lifetime.”That bold prediction is just one of several revealing statements Bieber gave to the magazine as the cover boy on its newest issue. “I know a lot of people say they hate Justin Bieber,” he says.  “They just hate me because they hate the idea of me.” “I’m young, I’m handsome…but they just think I got here because of that,” he tells the mag. Even with millions of fans, more than $14 million in album sales and 58 awards to his name, the “Baby, Baby, Baby” singer has his fair share of critics who aren’t afraid to rib the singer for his goody-two-shoes image.

Passing – Denise Darcel, the French-born actress known for vampy roles in such films as “Vera Cruz” and “Thunder in the Pines,” has died. She was 87. Darcel’s son, Craig, said Monday that she died Dec. 23 at a Los Angeles hospital from complications from an emergency surgery to repair a ruptured aneurysm.

Jay-Z released his latest collaboration “Glory feat. B.I.C.” on his website LifeandTimes.comon Monday. The new track commemorates the birth of Jay-Z and Beyonce’s newborn baby girl, Blue Ivy, just two days earlier on January 7.

People’s Choice Awards For 2012 – The Winners:

Favorite Movie: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″

Favorite Comedy Movie: “Bridesmaids”
Favorite Drama Movie: “Water for Elephants”
Favorite Action Movie: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″
Favorite Book Adaptation: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″

Favorite Movie Actress: Emma Stone, “The Help”
Favorite Movie Actor: Hugh Jackman, “Real Steel”
Favorite Comedic Movie Actress: Emma Stone, “Crazy, Stupid, Love”
Favorite Comedic Movie Actor: Adam Sandler, “Just Go With It”
Favorite Movie Icon: Morgan Freeman

Favorite Movie Star Under 25: Chloe Grace Moretz

Favorite Movie Superhero: Ryan Reynolds, “Green Lantern”
Favorite Action Movie Star: Hugh Jackman, “Real Steel”

Favorite Ensemble Movie Cast: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″
Favorite Animated Movie Voice: Johnny Depp, “Rango”

Kim Kardashion To Guest Host With Kelly  – With the “Live!” producers still looking for a permanent replacement for departed co-host Regis Philbin, the “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star will climb into the guest-host seat on January 23, kicking off a week of all-female guest hosts.

With Madonna performing the half-time show – it’s announced that Kelly Clarkson will perform the national anthem at Super Bowl XLVI.

CBS’s new sitcom “Rob!,” starring Rob Schneider as a man who marries into a large Mexican family, had a big debut Thursday, scoring the network’s best numbers for a regularly scheduled program in its time slot since May 2010.

Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network announced three new series Friday about female firefighters, matchmakers unleashed on a small town, and what constitutes normalcy. “Lives on Fire” follows female firefighters in California who battle fires even as they keep the home fires burning. “Lovetown, U.S.A.” features matchmakers who visit Kingstown, Ga., to try to match up singles. “Are You Normal, America?” is a game show in which contestants try to guess what their fellow Americans do, and how common different behaviors are.

Yahoo Sports, Electus and Collegehumor have partnered on “Blindsided,” a new original series that will prank athletes and fans, much like MTV’s “Punk’d” did with celebrities.The pranking will go both ways, with athletes pranking fans and teammates and vice versa. Among the athletes participating are Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, New York Knicks shooting guard Landry Fields and Ravens’ offensive tackle Bryant Mckinnie.The show, which debuts January 19, is part of Yahoo’s continued push into original content. Yahoo held a private event in Las Vegas Tuesday during the Consumer Electronics Show to promote its upcoming “Electric City,” an animated web series made in conjunction with Tom Hanks and Reliance Entertainment.

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Richard Threlkeld, a far-ranging and award-winning correspondent who worked for both CBS and ABC News during a long career, has been killed in a car crash on New York’s Long Island. The 74-year-old Threlkeld died Friday morning in Amagansett, N.Y., when his car collided with a propane tanker. He was pronounced dead at Southampton Hospital, according to the East Hampton, N.Y., Police Department. He lived in nearby East Hampton.

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony are together again — at least to promote their new project.The stars, who split up last summer, appeared on a stage Saturday to promote a new music series they are doing together. “Q’Viva! The Chosen” premieres on Univision later this month.

Top Video Games week of January 8-14, 2012

Kinect Adventures X360

Just Dance 3 Wii

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 X360

Mario Kart 7 3DS

Super Mario 3D Land 3DS

Zumba Fitness Wii

Call of Duty: Modern warfare 3 PS3

NBA 2K12 X360

The Elder scrolls V: Skyrim X360

Kinect Sports: Season Two X360

Top albums the week of January 8-14, 2012

Take  Care – Drake

21 – Adele

TM:103 – Hustlerz Ambition – Young Jeezy

El Camino – The Black Keys

Talk That Talk – Rihanna

These Times – Safety Suit

Mylo Xyloto – Coldplay

Sorry For Party Rocking – LMFAO

Now 40

Ceremonials – Florence + The Machine

Own the Night – Lady Antebellum

Here And Now – Nickelback

19 – Adele

Clancy’s Tavern – Toby Keith

Stronger – Kelly Clarkson

Bangarang – Skrillex

Kioness: Hidden Treasures – Amy Winehouse

Tailgates & Tanlines – Luke Bryan

Tha Carter IV – Lil Wayne

Watch The Throne – Jay Z Kanye West

Torches  – Foster The People

My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean

Sigh No More – Mumford & Sons

 

Top movies week of January 8-14, 2012

Contraband (1st week $24 million)

Beauty and the Beast (1st week (18.49 million)

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

Joyful Noice (1st week $11.5 million)

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

The Devil Inside

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked!

War Horse

The Iron lady

 

 Top In TV Listings Ratings – Week of January 8-14, 2012

1. NFL Football: Detroit at New Orleans NBC
2. Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick NBC
3. NCIS CBS
4. 60 Minutes CBS
5. NCIS: Los Angeles CBS
6. Modern Family ABC
7. Two and a Half Men CBS
8. Grey’s Anatomy ABC
9. 2 Broke Girls CBS
10. Mike & Molly CBS
11. Hawaii Five-O CBS
12. Unforgettable CBS
13. The Big Bang Theory CBS
14. The Good Wife CBS
15. Blue Bloods CBS
16. CSI: NY CBS
17. CSI: Miami CBS
18. Once Upon a Time ABC
19. How I Met Your Mother CBS
20. The Middle ABC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Timeline Date – This Week In News, Entertainment, Pop Culture January 1-7, 2012

January 9, 2012

History Timeline Date – January 1-7, 2012

A look at this week news, latest songs, tv schedule, sports, technology. Watch Youtube videos. mrpopculture & mrpophistory

 

This Week In The News – January 1-7, 2012

An early morning New Year’s shooting left four people dead at a condominium near San Diego, authorities said Sunday. Police responded to a 911 cellphone call of shots fired in Coronado, a wealthy seaside suburb of about 24,000 people on San Diego Bay. Officers found a man in the doorway of the condo. The bodies of two men and a woman were discovered inside the condo. San Diego County sheriff’s Lt. Larry Nesbit said homicide investigators have not determined how any of the four died, though Coronado police officers who were first to arrive believe the man found in the doorway was shot.

About 125 people were evacuated overnight from the visitors center at Mount Rainier National Park as authorities searched the snowy terrain for an armed gunman suspected of killing a park ranger. About 150 officers converged on the mountain park after rangerMargaret Anderson was shot to death Sunday morning, and searchers used an aircraft with heat-sensing capabilities to hunt from the skies. Authorities believe the gunman was still in the woods, with weapons.

The arrest of a 24-year-old German man halted a series of overnight arson blazes that caused more than $3 million in damage and put Los Angeles residents on edge during the long holiday weekend. But police have said nothing about a possible motive in the fires set across Hollywood, neighboring West Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley. A neighbor said the suspect’s mother was having legal problems, but authorities wouldn’t confirm reports that she may have faced deportation. “We are very confident in this arrest, but we have a long way to go,” said Police Chief Charlie Beck.

Iowa Caucus – It was state’s closest caucus vote in history. With Mitt Romney’s razor-thin, eight-vote victory over Rick Santorum, Iowa has created a new pecking order for the primaries to come in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida and beyond. And, as is often the case, it will be a campaign for the soul of the party.

British oil giant BP is pushing US energy services firm Halliburtonto pay for all the costs BP incurred in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the worst environmental disaster in US history. In a US federal court filing, BP said that it was seeking full repayment of damages from Halliburton, alleging it fraudulently putting a defective cement seal on a deepwater well, causing a deadly explosion and pollution of the Gulf and neighboring states.

Michele Bachmann announced her exit from the presidential race Wednesday morning following a sixth-place finish in the first-in-the-nation caucus state of Iowa. ”Last night, the people of Iowa spoke with a very clear voice. And so I have decided to stand aside,” the Republican representative from Minnesota told reporters during a morning media availability here at the Marriott hotel. Despite Bachmann’s extensive, last-minute tour to visit all 99 of Iowa’s counties, her first place finish in the Aug. 13 straw poll, and the state being her place of birth, Iowa Republican caucus voters rejected Bachmann’s campaign, handing her 6,073 votes on caucus night–5 percent of the total votes cast in Tuesday night’s caucuses.

A wave of bombings targeting Shiites in Iraq killed 72 people on Thursday, deepening sectarian tensions that exploded just after the last American troops left the country in mid-December. The coordinated attacks targeting Shiites bore the hallmarks of Sunni insurgents linked to al-Qaida, although there was no immediate claim of responsibility.

A burst of hiring in December pushed the U.S. unemployment rate to its lowest level in nearly three years, giving the economy a boost at the end of 2011. The Labor Department said Friday that employers added a net 200,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate fell to 8.5 percent, the lowest since February 2009. The rate has dropped for four straight months. The hiring gains cap a six-month stretch in which the economy generated 100,000 jobs or more in each month. That hasn’t happened since April 2006.

Authorities say a gunman opened fire in the intensive care unit of a northwest Georgia hospital, killing his wife and mother-in-law before turning himself in to police. Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead says the shooting happened around 6 p.m. Friday at Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., which is located near the Tennessee line.

General Motors will strengthen the structure around the batteries in its Volt electric cars to keep them safe during crashes, a person briefed on the matter said Thursday. GM will ask Volt owners to return the cars to dealers for structural modifications, said the person, who did not want to be identified because GM executives plan to announce the repairs later Thursday.

This Week In Sports –  January 1-7, 2012

Turner Sports says longtime broadcaster Jim Huber has died. He was 67. The cable network says Huber died Monday in Atlanta. A cause of death was not immediately released. A statement from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., said Huber was an Emmy Award-winning essayist who joined Turner Sports full-time in 2000 and was an announcer for professional golf matches and NBA games.

Joe Torre resigned Wednesday as Major League Baseball’s executive vice president for baseball operations to join a group trying to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers. Torre managed the Dodgers from 2008-10, then retired and joinedMLB last February as a top aide to Commissioner Bud Selig. He is part of a group headed by real estate developer Rick Caruso. “In Rick I found a partner who understands consumers and fully appreciates that the Dodgers are a treasured LA institution,” Torre said in a statement. “Since moving to Los Angeles, I have seen firsthand Rick’s dedication to business and the people of Los Angeles.’

This Week In Technology – January 1-7, 2012

Yahoo Inc. is reportedly considering naming Scott Thompson, the president ofeBay Inc.’s PayPal division, as its new CEO. The struggling Internet company has been without a permanent CEO since early September, when it fired Carol Bartz after losing patience with her attempts to turn around the company during her 2½ years on the job. Tim Morse, Yahoo’s chief financial officer, has been interim CEO since Bartz’s ouster.

PayPal Point Of Sale Test – Online payment provider Paypal and home improvement chain Home Depot are teaming up to bring a pilot test program of in-store Paypal paymentsat select Home Depot locations. In order to pay with Paypal at the register, shoppers will be asked to type the phone number tied to their Paypal account as well as a personal-identification number into the payment terminal

This Week In Entertainment History News – January 1-7, 2012

Trump’s New Celebrity Apprentice Line-up – Mob boss widow Victoria Gotti, singer Clay Aiken and IndyCar champ Michael Andretti are on tap for the next edition of NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice.” Host Donald Trump announced the new batch of contenders on Wednesday’s “Today” show. They also include “Real Housewives of New Jersey” cast member Teresa Guidice, comedian Lisa Lampanelli, former Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza, rock star Dee Snider and “America Chopper” star Paul Teutul Sr.

Teen star Miranda Cosgrove says she usually doesn’t get nervous about taping episodes of her Nickelodeon comedy “iCarly,” but that changed when first lady Michelle Obama taped a recent guest appearance. The 18-year-old Cosgrove says the idea of having Obama on the set made her “nervous,” but the first lady was approachable and is a “nice, pretty normal person.” Nickelodeon and the White House are joining forces to bring awareness to the ways kids can support U.S. military families. “iCarly” is a good fit because Cosgrove’s character is the daughter of an Air Force colonel who is serving overseas.

“The Martha Stewart Show” ends production in April.
Nick Cannon is spending the first week of the new year in the hospital, with wife Mariah Carey by his side. Carey tweeted that Cannon is suffering from “mild kidney failure.” His representative confirmed Cannon’s hospitalization. He is in Aspen, Colo., where he and Carey were vacationing.

Latest Songs Week Of January 1-7,  2012

We Found Love – Rihanna fea. Calvin Harris
Sexy And I Know It – LMFAO
The One that Got Away – Katy Perry
It Will Rain – Bruno Mars
Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO fea. Lauren Bennet & Goonrock
NI**as In Paris – Jay Z Kanye West

Good Feeling – Flo Rida
Set Fire To The Rain – Adele
Someone Like You – Adele
Stereo Hearts – Gym Class Heroes fea. Adam Levine
Dance (A$$) – Big Sean fea. Nicki Minaj
Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5 fea. Christina Aguilera
Without You – David Guetta fea. Usher
Young, Wild & Free – Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa fea. Bruno Mars
5 O’Clock – T-Pain fea. Wiz Khalifa & Lily Allen
Red Solo Cup – Toby Keith
Work Out – J. Cole
Headlines – Drake
Mr. Know It All – Kelly Clarkson
Pumped Up Kicks – Foster the People
Domino – Jessie J
You Da One Rihanna
The Motto – Drake fea. Lil Wayne
Not Over You – Gavin DeGraw

Top movies January 7-8, 2012

The Devil Inside (1st week $34.5 million)
Mission: Impossible –Ghost Protocol
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
War Horse
We Bought A Zoo
The Adventures of Tintin
Tinker, Tailor Soldier,Spy
New Year’s Eve

Top TV Listings Week Of December 31, 2011

1.NFL Football: Dallas at New York GiantsNBC2.Sunday Night NFL Pre-KickNBC3.60 MinutesCBS4.Football Night in AmericaNBC5.Dick Clark’s Prime-time New Year’s Rockin’ EveABC6.NCISCBS7.Criminal MindsCBS8.The Big Bang TheoryCBS9.CSICBS10.NCIS: Los Angeles” (Wednesday)CBS11.The MentalistCBS12.Person of InterestCBS13.Kennedy Center HonorsCBS14.New Year’s Rockin’ EveABC15.Two and a Half MenCBS16.Rules of EngagementCBS17.Mike & MollyCBS18.CSI: NYCBS19.Football Night in America (Part 2)NBC20.UnforgettableCBS

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Timeline Date – This Week In History News & Pop Culture – December 22, 2011

January 5, 2012

Timeline This Week In History Date – December 22-31, 2011

A look at news, latest songs, tv guide listings and popular history – same week. With Youtube videos.

 

News From The Week Of December 22-31, 2011

A wave of bombings ripped across Baghdad on Thursday(Dec22) morning, killing at least 57 people and injuring nearly 200 in the worst violence Iraq has seen for months. The bloodbath comes just days after American forces left the country. The blasts also came on the heels of a political crisis between Iraq’sSunni and Shiite factions that erupted this weekend. The political spat, which pits Iraq’s Shiite prime minister against the highest-ranking Sunni political leader, has raised fears that Iraq’s sectarian wounds will be reopened during a fragile time when Iraq is finally navigating its own political future without U.S. military support.

The Senate’s top Republican on Thursday(Dec22) urged the GOP-led House to pass a short-term renewal of payroll tax cuts and break an impasse that threatens 160 million workers with a 2 percentage point tax increase on Jan. 1. The move by Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is aimed at breaking an impasse between House Republicans and Democrats controlling the Senate. He urged House Republicans to pass a new short-term extension while calling on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to appoint negotiators on the separate House measure that would bring a year-long renewal of the payroll tax and jobless benefits.

Tens of thousands of flag-waving and chanting protesters called Saturday for a disputed parliamentary election to be rerun and an end to Vladimir Putin’s rule, increasing pressure on the Russian leader as he tries to win back the presidency. The protesters shouted “Russia without Putin” and “New elections, New elections” as one speaker after another called for an end to Putin’s 12-year domination of the country at the second big opposition rally in two weeks in central Moscow. ”Do you want Putin to return to the presidency?” novelist Boris Akunin asked from a large stage. Whistling and jeering, protesters chanted: “No!”

Iraq’s Shiite spiritual leader on Friday demanded the country’s politicians work to restore security, saying their conflicts were to blame for attacks like the devastating bombings that tore through mostly Shiite neighborhoods ofBaghdad and killed at least 69 people. The calls by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, made by his representative in a Friday prayer sermon, implicitly hit on the political showdown between the Shiite prime minister and the top Sunni political leader in the country, against whom the government put out an arrest warrant, accusing him of running hit squads. Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi has denied the charges, which have fueled Sunni fears that the minority community is being pushed out of influence by the Shiite-dominated government.

Fire swept through an advertising executive’s Victorian home along the Connecticut shoreline, killing her three children and her parents. Madonna Badger and a male acquaintance were able to escape from the house as it was engulfed by flames on Christmas morning, Stamford police Sgt. Paul Guzda said. But Badger’s three daughters — a 10-year-old and 7-year-old twins — died in the fire, Guzda said. He said Badger’s parents, who were visiting for the holiday, also died in the blaze.

Afghanistan will accept a Taliban liaison office in Qatar to start peace talks but no foreign power can get involved in the process without its consent, the government’s peace councilsaid, as efforts gather pace to find a solution to the decade-long war. Afghanistan’s High Peace Council, in a note to foreign missions, has set out ground rules for engaging the Taliban after Kabul grew concerned that the United States and Qatar, helped by Germany, had secretly agreed with the Taliban to open an office in the Qatari capital, Doha.

A Utah woman used Facebook to seek help after she and her 17-month-old son were held hostage at a residence for nearly five days, police said. Police Sgt. Jon Arnold said the woman hid in a closet with a laptop to post her plea for help on the social networking website, saying she and her son would be “dead by morning” if they were not rescued. The post prompted someone to call police, who went to the home to check on the woman’s welfare. “Facebook was her only outlet that she had at the home,” Arnold said. “It just happened that she was able to use it.” Police arrested Troy Reed Critchfield, 33, and booked him into jail Saturday for investigation of aggravated kidnapping, forcible sodomy, aggravated assault, domestic violence, child abuse, animal cruelty and other charges.

Sears Holdings Corp will close as many as 120 of its Kmart and namesake big-box stores after sales during the peak holiday period fell sharply, and the retailer also forecast that fourth quarter earnings would fall by more than half, sending its shares plunging some 25 percent. Adding to the share selloff, Sears also disclosed on Tuesday that it has tapped its credit facility to borrow cash. Once one of the leading retailers with a national reach through its popular catalog along with hundreds of stores, Sears has been pressured in recent years by competitors ranging from Wal-Mart Stores to Amazon.com.

U.S. consumer confidence hit an eight month high in December on improving job prospects, lending theeconomy further support, even though weak home prices could delay a recovery in the housing market. The sharp rise in sentiment reported by the Conference Board on Tuesday offered hope for a pick-up in consumer spending after an anemic performance in November.

The U.S. Fifth Fleet said on Wednesday it will not allow any disruption of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, afterIran threatened to stop ships moving through the strategic oil route.  “The free flow of goods and services through the Strait of Hormuz is vital to regional and global prosperity,” a spokesperson for the Bahrain-based fleet said in a written response to queries from Reuters about the possibility of Iran trying to close the waterway. “Anyone who threatens to disrupt freedom of navigation in an international strait is clearly outside the community of nations; any disruption will not be tolerated.”

The world watched anxiously on Wednesday as North Korea staged a huge funeral in the capital, Pyongyang, for former leader Kim Jong-il, searching for signs of what to expect from the isolated nation that may be close to attaining nuclear weapons capacity. Bleak pictures from state television showed a funeral cortege led by a limousine carrying a huge picture of the 69-year old, who died on December 17, passing serried ranks of olive green-clad soldiers whose bare heads were bowed in homage in the main square of the snow-covered capital.

President Barack Obama will nominate Harvard economist Jeremy Stein and Jerome Powell, an investment banker and former Treasury official, to the two empty seats on the Federal Reserve’s policy-setting board of governors. The White House’s pick of candidates, who have Democratic and Republican credentials respectively, may help speed their nomination through Congress amid a sluggish economic recovery that has failed to put a major dent in the unemployment rate, now at 8.6 percent.

Six victims of a Christmas Day shooting rampage near Dallas were honored by more than 100 friends on Wednesday who wept and clung to each other as they shared their memories at a candlelit vigil. Police said Aziz Yazdanpanah, 58, opened fire on Sunday morning and killed his estranged wife Fatemeh Rahmati, 56, and two children Nona, 19, and Ali, 14. Toting two pistols and dressed as Santa, the gunman also shot and killed his wife’s sister, Zohreh Rahmaty, 58, her husband, Mohamad Hossein Zarei, 59, and their daughter, Sahra Zarei, 22, before turning a gun on himself.

His Videos Go Viral Before His Death - Ben Breedlove, 18, died on Christmas, but not before posting a pair of powerful videos.

Turkish warplanes launched air strikes against suspected Kurdish militants in northern Iraq near the Turkish border overnight, the military said on Thursday, but local officials said the attack killed 35 smugglers who were mistaken for guerrillas.

The Turkish military confirmed it had launched the strikes after unmanned drones spotted suspected rebels of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), but said there were no civilians in the area and it was investigating the incident.

Retail sales look poised for a solid finish to the holiday season as warm weather and deep discounts encouraged shoppers to hit stores or go online to snap up last-minute gifts, according to data released on Wednesday. Sales in the week ending December 24 soared 14.8 percent from a year ago to about $44 billion, helped by Christmas Eve falling on a Saturday, according to ShopperTrak, which monitors traffic at shopping malls. Good weather also helped as snowstorms had blanketed some areas at the same time last year. 

Boeing Co beat out Lockheed Martin to retain its position as the prime contractor for the U.S. long-range missile shield, the Pentagon said on Friday. The U.S. Defense Department said it was awarding Boeing a $3.48 billion, seven-year contract to develop, test, engineer and manufacture missile defense systems. A team led by Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon Co had vied with Boeing to expand and maintain the Ground-based Midcourse Defense, or GMD, hub of layered antimissile protection.

Republican voters in Iowa open a long and grueling 2012 presidential race on Tuesday(Jan3), with polls showing Mitt Romney battling Ron Paul for a momentum-generating win in the party’s kickoff nominating contest. Four other contenders, led by surging Rick Santorum, are vying to consolidate conservative support and break into the top tier in the state-by-state fight to pick a Republican challenger to President Barack Obama, a Democrat, in November’s election. The stakes are high for each candidate, with Romney aiming for a win that could put him on a path toward clinching the nomination early and struggling rivals like Rick Perry and Michele Bachmannfighting to keep their White House hopes alive. 

Technology News Articles –

2011  seemed to be the year when streaming media for mobile really took off. According to The Nielsen Company, 14% of U.S. mobile users (about 31 million people) now watch videos on their smartphones and feature phones, a 35% increase over last year. Also, 29% of U.S. smartphone users stream music or Internet radio to their phones, up 66% from 2010.

Verizon Wireless was working to get its 4G network back up and running on Wednesday, following a nationwide outage that began in the early morning hours. Customers across the country, from California to Ohio to Virginia, took to Verizon’s formums to complain that service was knocked out, though gripes were mostly limited to the new 4G LTE data network, which Verizon began to roll out a year ago. Voice calls, texts and 3G data were unaffected, according to the company.

LG upcoming OLED TV panel measures 55 inches and comes with a contrast ratio of over 100,000:1, the company has announced. The panel is also just 5 mm thin and has a color gamut that is “wider” than that produced by LCD panels. All of these characteristics make it a candidate for bringing OLED TV technology to the masses in a market that’s still dominated by LCDs.”Although OLED technology is seen as the future of TV display, the technology has been limited to smaller display sizes and by high costs, until now. LG Display’s 55-inch OLED TV panel has overcome these barriers,” said Sang Beom Han, CEO and Executive Vice President of LG Display.

The Google+ social network has topped 60 million users, according to Ancestry.com founder Paul Allen, who also made the bold prediction late Tuesday that Google+ would reach 400 million users by the end of 2012. Allen, who calls himself the “unofficial statistician” of Google+, runs hundreds of queries on various surnames on the social network each week. He has been tracking those names since Google first announced thatGoogle+ had reached 10 million users in July.

IBM Says Passwords Passé In Five Years – The company recently released its annual list of five predictions for five years into the future. Among them is the belief that facial definitions, eye scans, voice files and even DNA will safeguard personal identity and information, and replace the current memorization-based approach. Some of these systems are already in use, but future developments will enhance the technologies, making them much more sensitive. Imagine voice and facial recognition sensors and software at an ATM refusing you access to your account because you look and sound under duress. Thinking that you the customer are possibly being robbed, it might even contact the police.

Verizon Wireless has reversed its decision to charge a $2 fee for telephone and online bill payments, bowing to a storm of criticism from consumers and the U.S. communications regulator. The biggest U.S. wireless operator retracted its decision on Friday, just a day after it announced the fee for one-time payments, which was to have begun January 15.

Entertainment news December 22-31, 2011 –

Adam Lambert and his reality TV star boyfriend Sauli Koskinen were arrested and jailed Thursday morning for getting into a fight outside a Helsinki, Finland bar. The duo were released several hours later. 

Mel Gibson is officially a single man. The 55-year-old actor finalized his divorce from Robyn Gibson(now going by Robyn Moore).

Robert De Niro is a father again. Stan Rosenfield, the 68-year-old actor’s spokesman, says De Niro and his 56-year-old wife, Grace Hightower, welcomed a healthy 7-pound, 2-ounce (3.3 kilogram) baby girl named Helen Grace Hightower through a surrogate mother.

Van Halen Set To Re-unite Next Year – Next year with represent the 40th anniversary of the founding of Van Halen, and what better way to celebrate four decades of strumming and strutting than with another tour and a new album?  Such is the case for the four men of Van Halen: Guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen, bassist Wolfgang Van Halen, and singer/dancer/bon vivant David Lee Roth. The band last hit the road in 2007, which was the first time the Van Halen brothers had teamed up with Roth since the ill-fated (and short-lived reunion in 1996. The return of the band’s original (and best) singer remains tempered by the absence of bassist Michael Anthony, whose backing vocals and wild-eyed personality were sorely missed on the last tour (he was always a remarkably great foil for Roth on stage; Wolfgang, Eddie’s son, always looked like he was in Van Halen against his will).

British comic Russell Brand filed for divorce Friday to end his marriage to US pop star Katy Perry 14 months after the pair were wed in India. “Sadly, Katy and I are ending our marriage. I’ll always adore her and I know we’ll remain friends,” the 36-year-old comedian and actor said in a statement. In court documents Brand filed in Los Angeles, the British actor and comedian cited “irreconcilable differences” as a reason for divorce.

Latest albums week December 22-31, 2011 –

21 – Adele

Christmas – Michael Buble

TM: 103: Hustlerz Ambition

Take Care – Drake

Under The Mistletoe – Justin Bieber

Own the Night  – Lady Antebellum

Talk That Talk – Rihanna

Here and Now – Nickelback

El Camino – The Black Keys

NOW 40

Clear As Day – Scotty McCreery

Mylo Xyloto – Coldplay

My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean

Concerto: One Night In Central Park – Andrea Cocelli

Lioness: Hidden Treasures – Amy Winehouse

19 – Adele

Sorry For party Rocking – LMFAO

The Dreamer/The Believer – Common

My Life II… The Journey Continues – Mary J. Blige

Ceremonials – Florence + The Machine

Break The Spell – Daughtry

A Very She & Him Christmas – She & Him

Duets II – Tony Bennett

Tha Carter IV – Lil Wayne

 

Top movies December 22-31, 2011

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Alvin nd the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

 

We Bought a Zoo

The Adventures of Tintin

New Year’s Eve

The Descendants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Pop Culture Timeline – Week In Review – December 15, 2011 With Videos. News, Tech, Entertainment

December 29, 2011

This Week In Pop Culture & News – December 15, 2011

Compiled By Gary West – www.mrpophistory.com

  www.mrpopculture.com

In The News -

In a small ceremony in Baghdad today, the U.S. military formally ended its mission in Iraq after nearly nine years of war, 4,487 lives lost and more than 32,000 wounded.On hand for the small ceremony held at the international airport in Baghdad were Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey.“This is not the end, but the beginning,” Panetta told a small group of U.S. service members and dignitaries gathered to watch the  “casing” of the flag of U.S.-Forces-Iraq,  the headquarters command for U.S. troops in Iraq.

Bangladesh police say fishermen have beaten to death 10 suspected pirates who were wounded in a gunfight with security forces. Local police chief Bashir Ahmed says the wounded men were being brought to a police station late Wednesday when hundreds of angry fishermen snatched them from police and beat them to death.He said Thursday that police were far outnumbered by the mob and could not save the suspected pirates.

Passing –  Christopher Hitchens, the author, writer and Vanity Fair contributing editor, has died. He was 62.

 

Another Repbulican Debtate – Newt Gingrich put himself in a difficult position ahead of Thursday night’s Fox News debate in Sioux City, Iowa: He sought to adhere to his pledge not to go negative against his Republican presidential opponents while still holding his lead in the Iowa polls.

President Obama hit China automobile tire makers with a trade tariff in 2009 and now Beijing has struck back with a potentially more punitive tariff, as much as a 21% tax hike on U.S. car exports bound for China, the world’s largest auto market. This week, the Chinese government upped the ante in the Obama-China trade dispute by surprisingly imposing new tariffs on imports of Honda and Cadillac models, Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee, the BMW X5 and X3 and Mercedes Benz models made in Michigan, Alabama and South Carolina. China argues that the U.S. provided illegal subsidies to these companies during the economic downturn in 2008 and is selling those vehicles cheaper in China than they are sold for in the U.S.

The Senate has approved a two-month extension of a cut to the Social Security payroll tax and agreed to continue jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed. It’s a partial victory for President Barack Obama’s year-end jobs agenda. It also contains a provision demanded by Republicans to pressure Obama into approving construction of a Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline that promises thousands of jobs.

The last convoy of U.S. soldiers pulled out of Iraq on Sunday, ending nearly nine years of war that cost almost 4,500 American and tens of thousands of Iraqi lives and left a country grappling with political uncertainty. The war launched in March 2003 with missiles striking Baghdad to oust President Saddam Hussein closes with a fragile democracy still facing insurgents, sectarian tensions and the challenge of defining its place in an Arab region in turmoil.

North Koreans poured into the streets on Monday to mourn the death of leader Kim Jong-il and state media hailed his untested son as the “Great Successor” of the reclusive state whose atomic weapons ambitions are a major threat to the region. Earlier, a tearful North Korean television announcer, dressed in black and her voice quavering, said the 69-year old ruler died on Saturday of “physical and mental over-work” on a train on his way to give “field guidance” — advice dispensed by the “Dear Leader” on trips to factories, farms and the military.

Iraqi authorities issued an arrest warrant forSunni Muslim Vice-President Tareq al-Hashemi on Monday for suspected ties to assassinations and bombings, a decision likely to fuel sectarian tensions after the U.S. troop withdrawal.

Fierce winds and snow that caused fatal road accidents and shuttered highways in five states, crawled deeper into the Great Plains early Tuesday, with forecasters warning that pre-holiday travel would be difficult if not impossible across the region. Hotels were filling up quickly along major roadways from eastern New Mexico to Kansas, and nearly 100 rescue calls came in from motorists in the Texas Panhandle as blizzard conditions forced closed part of Interstate 40, a major east-west route, Monday night. About 10 inches of snow had fallen in western Kansas before dawn Tuesday and several more inches along with strong wind gusts were expected, National Weather Service meteorologist Marc Russell said.

A small plane heading for Georgia crashed Tuesday on a major New York-area highway, spiraling out of control, breaking up and hitting a wooded median and scattering wreckage across the road. All five people aboard were killed, but no one on the ground was injured. Federal investigators said the pilot had discussed icing with controllers just before the plane went down but were unsure what role, if any, icing played in the crash.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino declared on Tuesday a state of national calamity after flash floods and land slides caused by a typhoon swept through a southern region late last week, killing about 1,000 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless. The national disaster agency said 957 were killed and 49 were missing, with most of the casualties in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in the Mindanao region.

Technology –

AT&T Inc. said Monday that it is ending its $39 billion bid to buy T-Mobile USA after facing fierce government objections. The cellphone giant said that the actions of the U.S. government to block the deal do not change the challenges of the wireless phone industry, which it says requires more airwaves, known as spectrum, to expand.

Entertainment –

Authorities say “Lean on Me” actor Jermaine “Huggy” Hopkins has been arrested in Phoenix for trying to buy 200 pounds (91 kilograms) of marijuana from an undercover officer. Sheriff’s detectives say the 38-year-old Hopkins was taken into custody Tuesday. Phoenix TV station KSAZ reports that detectives found 200 pounds of marijuana in his SUV and $100,000 cash. Authorities later searched an Avondale apartment listed in Hopkins’ name. They say they found another 100 pounds (45 kilograms) of marijuana.

Satellite radio personality Howard Stern joins “America’s Got Talent” as a judge. Howard finally landed a spot as TV show talent judge as he was once considered for “American Idol.”

Atlanta police say the rapper Slim Dunkin was gunned down Friday evening in amusic studio as he was preparing to record a video.  Police Maj. Keith Meadows said the rapper, whose real name is Mario Hamilton, was fatally shot in the chest after getting into an argument with another individual. He was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Slim Dunkin had appeared on a number of songs with the rapper Waka Flocka Flame. The website Mtv.com reported that the Brick Squad Monopoly rapper was on a solo track and had recently released a 20-track mix tape that featured Gucci Mane, Roscoe Dash and Pastor Troy.

“At Last” and “Tell Mama” blues singer Etta James, whose health has been fading in recent years, is now terminally ill, and her live-in doctor is asking for prayers. Dr. Elaine James, who isn’t related to the 73-year-old entertainer, tells the Riverside Press-Enterprise newspaper that the singer’s chronic leukemia was declared incurable two weeks ago.

The Beach Boys Will Re-Unite in 2012 - The members of the group will join forces for a new album and a 50th anniversary tour, the band announced on its website Friday.  The effort reunites original band leader and chief songwriter Brian Wilson with fellow members Al Jardine, Mike Love, Bruce Johnston and David Marks.  Several songs have already been recorded for the new album, including a new version of the group’s 1968 hit, “Do It Again.” The 50-date tour will begin in April at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Other dates and cities have yet to be announced.

Britney and Jason www.mrpophistory.com pop culture marriageBritney Spears Engaged - Britney Spears accepts Jason Trawick‘s marriage proposal and the 30-year-old pop superstar can hardly contain her excitement.The couple plans to celebrate their engagement — and Trawick’s 40th birthday – Friday evening at Planet Hollywood and Chateau nightclub in Las Vegas.

Hugh Hefner says he pushed Lindsay Lohan to shoot her Playboy pictorial in the buff. ”It was essentially mama and the folks around her that kept pushing for less nudity,” Hefner told E! News. “I said, ‘We’re doing a nude pictorial here. We’re going to do it in a very classy way and we’re going to do it in a way in which it will not be forgotten.’” Ellen DeGeneres is putting down roots where Brad Pitt once laid his head. The daytime host finalized a deal to purchase Brad’s Malibu, Calif., home for $12 million on Friday.

Chaz Bono and his fiancée Jennifer Elia have split and canceled their engagement. Bono’s rep Howard Bragman confirmed to ET that the engagement is off and Chaz and Jennifer are “no longer a couple.” “They leave this relationship with great love, respect and affection toward one another. No further amplification will be forthcoming and they ask that you respect their privacy at this time,” Bragman said in a statement.

Social Media Hoax Said Jon Bon Jovi Had Died… Jon Bon Jovi wants duped fans to know he’s not dead, and he has posted a photo proving it. False reports of the New Jersey-born musician’s death spread online after a fake news release surfaced on social media sites.

Top Video Games –

Mari Kart 7 3DS

Just Dance 3 Wii

Kinect Adventures! X360

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 X360

Super Mario 3D Land 3DS

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Ps3

Mario Kart Wii

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sward Wii

Wii Sports Resort

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim X360

At the movies –

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows (1st week $39.6 million)

Alivn and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked! (1st week $23.2 million)

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (1st week $13.3 million)

New Year’s Eve

The sitter

The Twilight saga: Breaking dawn – part 1

Hugo

Arthur Christmas

The Muppets

Young Adult

The Descendants

 

 

 

Hot hits this week  –

Sexy And I Know it – LMFAO

We Found Love – Rihanna fea. Calvin Harris

It Will Rain – Bruno Mars

Good Feeling – Flo Rida

The One That Got Away – Katy Perry

Ni**as In Paris – Jay Z Kanye West

Someone Like You – Adele

Moves Like Jagger – Maroon 5 fea. Christina Aguilera

Without You – David Guetta fea. usher

5 O’Clock – T-Pain fea. Wiz Khalifa & Lily Allen

We Are Young – Glee Cast

Stereo Hearts – Gym Class Heroes fea. Adam Levine

Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO

Dance (A$$) – Big Sean fea. Nicki Minaj

Work Out – J. Cole

Headlines – Drake

Red Solo Cup – Toby Keith

You Make Me Feel… Cobra Starship fea. Sabi

Mr. Know It All – Kelly Clarkson

Pumped up Kicks – Foster The People

Young, Wild & Free – Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa fea. Bruno Mars

Set Fire To The Rain – Adele

You Da One – Rihanna

Not Over You – Gavin DeGraw

I Don’t Want This Night to End – Luke Bryan

 

Tops In TV Ratings  

1.

 NFL Football: N.Y. Giants vs. Dallas NBC

2.

 Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick NBC

3.

 Two and a Half Men CBS

4.

 60 Minutes CBS

5.

 The Big Bang Theory CBS

6.

 Football Night in America NBC

7.

 The Mentalist CBS

8.

 2 Broke Girls CBS

9.

 NCIS CBS

10.

 Person of Interest CBS

11.

 Mike & Molly CBS

12.

 Criminal Minds CBS

13.

 NCIS: Los Angeles CBS

14.

 Modern Family ABC

15.

 Amazing Race 19 CBS

16.

 Survivor: South Pacific CBS

17.

 The Good Wife CBS

18.

 How I Met Your Mother CBS

19.

 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CBS

20.

 Hawaii Five-0 CBS

 

 

 

 

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Popculture Timeline – Week In Review – News, Pop, Tech, Trends December 8, 2011

December 21, 2011

 

Compiled By Gary West @ www.mrpopculture.com and  www.mrpophistory.com

Timeline – News and Pop Culture – Week In History- December 8, 2011

(Headline Video) Two Dead At Virginia Tech – The Virginia Tech University police officer who was fatally shot by a gunman on the school’s campus, along with a second person who was found dead, were killed by the same handgun, officials said early today. Virginia State Police said that ballistics tests confirmed and “officially linked the two fatal shootings” that left Virginia Tech Police Officer Deriek W. Crouse and a second victim dead Thursday, authorities said in a news release. The shooting came almost five years after the deadly massacre at the Blacksburg, Va., school, when Seung Hui-Cho killed 32 other people before killing himself. Crouse, 39, of Christiansburg, Va., was shot and killed while performing a routine traffic stop when someone walked up to the officer’s car and shot him.

Rescue crews completed the difficult process of recovering bodies Thursday from a remote canyon outside Las Vegas after the crash of a tour helicopter belonging to a company with repeated aviation violations. Sundance Helicopters of Las Vegas had at least five accidents and was the subject of 10 federal enforcement actions since 1994. It charted a luxury sunset tour of the Las Vegas Strip and Hoover Dam on Wednesday that killed a 31-year-old pilot and his fourpassengers.

Nobel Peace Prize To Three Women – Three women who fought injustice, dictatorship and sexual violence in Liberia and Yemen accepted the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize on Saturday, calling on repressed women worldwide to rise up against male supremacy. “My sisters, my daughters, my friends — find your voice,” Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said after collecting her Nobel diploma and medal at a ceremony in Oslo. Sirleaf, Africa’s first democratically elected female president, shared the award with women’s rights campaigner Leymah Gbowee, also from Liberia, and Tawakkul Karman, a female icon of the protest movement in Yemen.

Iran will not return a U.S. surveillance drone captured by its armed forces, a senior commander of the country’s elite Revolutionary Guard said Sunday.Gen. Hossein Salami, deputy head of the Guard, said in remarks broadcast on state television that the violation of Iran’s airspace by the U.S. drone was a “hostile act” and warned of a “bigger” response. He did not elaborate on what Tehran might do.

President Barack Obama defended his leadership style on Sunday and said he would keep standing up toCongress as another stand-off over taxes and deficits brewed on Capitol Hill. In an interview on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” Obama suggested his wife,Michelle, had mixed feelings about their time in the White Housebut said he had no hesitation about seeking re-election next year, saying he wanted to finish the job of putting the U.S. economy on stronger, and fairer, footing.

A decision by retail giant Lowe’s Home Improvement to pull ads from a reality show about American Muslims following protests from an evangelical Christian group has sparked criticism and calls for a boycott against the chain. The retailer stopped advertising on TLC’s “All-American Muslim” after a conservative group known as the Florida Family Association complained, saying the program was “propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda’s clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values.”

The Supreme Court agreed Monday to rule on Arizona’s controversial law targeting illegal immigrants, setting the stage for an election-year decision on an issue that is already shaping presidential politics.

Former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky abruptly waived his right to a preliminary hearing at which eight young men accusing him of child sex abuse when they were boys were set to testify against him. Shortly after arriving at a packed Centre County courthouse at 8 a.m., Sandusky and his attorney,Joe Amendola, joined two prosecutors and a court reporter in the judge’s chambers of the courtroom. A second attorney, Karl Rominger, arrived at court with Sandusky and Amendola and went with them into chambers.

A man armed with hand grenades and guns opened fire in the crowded center of a Belgian city on Tuesday, killing two people and wounding 64, an official said. It was not immediately clear what motivated the attack in Liegecity, but Interior Ministry official Peter Mertens said it did not involve terrorism. He said the assailant died, but did not say how that had happened. The daily La Meuse newspaper said the unidentified attacker killed himself.

A U.S. Congressional panel has frozen $700 million in aid to Pakistan until it gives assurances it is helping fight the spread of homemade bombs in the region, a move one Pakistani senator called unwise and likely to strain ties further. Pakistan is one of the largest recipients of U.S. foreign aid and the cutback announced is only a small proportion of the billions in civil and military assistance it gets each year.

A Montana man convicted of running an investment scam on the Internet was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $13.2 million in restitution to more than 1,400 investors. U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks in Reno told Rick Young, 52, of Lewistown, that the fraud carried out by his Nevada-based Global One Group from 2006 to 2007 was “incredibly repulsive.” Many of the victims, the judge said, were vulnerable, “middle-class working people taking money out of accounts, trading out of their 401(k) plans, their pension plans, even off of their credit cards.” “Frankly, it was nothing more than a type of Ponzi scheme, but it was incredibly sophisticated,” he said.

Tim Magazine names its person of the year, “The Protester.”

Unfavorable views of Barack Obama inched to their highest level of his presidency in the latest  ABC News/Washington Post poll,  but he’s still more popular than his front-running potential Republican challenger, Newt Gingrich. And then there are views of the economy, which make both look almost good by comparison. Forty-nine percent of Americans now express an unfavorable opinion of Obama, while 48 percent view him favorably – the first time his negative number has exceeded his positive one in this most basic measure of personal popularity. Obama’s favorable rating has plummeted by 31 points from his career high, 79 percent, days before he took office.

President Barack Obama saluted troops returning from Iraq Wednesday, declaring that the nearly nine-year conflict is ending honorably, “not with a final battle, but with a final march toward home.”   Marking the conclusion of the war at this military base that’s seen more than 200 deaths over nearly nine years of fighting in Iraq, Obama never tried to declare victory. It was a war that he opposed from the start, inherited as president and is now bringing to a close, leaving behind an Iraq that is still struggling.

Sports –

Albert Pujols – the heart and hammer of theSt Louis Cardinals for more than a decade, will leave St. Louis and sign with the Los Angeles Angels. Latecomers to the Pujols derby, the Angels will pay Pujols $250 million to $260 million over 10 years, a devastating turn for the Cardinals and a departure from past organizational philosophies for Arte Moreno’s Angels.

Technology –

(Quick Response) QR Codes – Really? Most Don’t Know What It Is. The whole point of a QR code is that it’s supposed to make it easier for people to use their phones to connect with information about things that they encounter in their environment. That’s where mobile typing gets in the way. Most smartphones and even many feature phones have good enough web browsers and data connections to display a simple mobile-friendly web page, but trying to correctly type a URL on even the best smartphone is a pretty tedious and error-prone activity. QR codes eliminate the need for typing a URL on your phone, but you need to have a barcode scanner app installed. And then you must take a moment to find and launch that app before you point your phone’s camera at a QR code.

 

Microsoft released an Xbox Live app for iOS devices on Wednesday, bringing features of Microsoft’s gaming service to Apple devices for the first time. My Xbox Live lets users edit their 3-D avatars, chat with Xbox Live friends and revel in their achievements. You can also check out more information about the newest apps and games on Xbox, as well as gaming tips and breaking news.

AT&T remains the worst carrier in the United States, according to an annual customer satisfaction survey compiled byConsumer Reports and released on Tuesday.The mobile provider ranked dead last for the second year in a row, and its rating fell from 2010.. Actually, customer satisfaction with all four national carriers fell this year, with third-ranked T-Mobile sliding by the largest margin. Still, T-Mobile ranked well ahead of AT&T, according to Consumer Reports’ survey.

Facebook officially took the “beta” label off its much-publicized Timeline Tuesday evening, but it’s rolling out the new feature gradually. New Zealand is currently the only country to get Timeline, the company said in a blog post. Other regions will get it in the “near future.” Facebook first unveiled Timeline in early September, and quickly provided the means for developers and curious users to enable the feature. A more general release was planned for later that month, but it never came, ostensibly to address technical issues and privacy concerns having to do with the software. Timeline, you may recall, is a way to illustrate your entire life — not just the part you’ve been living on Facebook since you joined — in a graphical way.

Google made its first foray into the growing field of social facial recognition technologies on Thursday, introducing Find My Face, a tagging suggestion tool for its Google+ social network. unlike Facebook, Google  prompts users to opt into the service before it starts automatically suggesting to their friends that they be tagged in photos. Only after a Google+ user opts into Find My Face will Google construct a face model of that person, using his or her profile photo and existing manually tagged photos on the site.

Google also requires the subject of a suggested tag to approve it before it goes public if the tagger isn’t in the tagee’s “circles.” Facebook allows all tags to go live before notifying the subject. “Privacy has been baked right into this feature,” said Benjamin Petrosky, product counsel for Google+, at a facial recognition policy summit held by the Federal Trade Commission in Washington on Thursday.

Jawbone Wristband Device Not Peforming Well – When the wristband works properly, it records all your daytime footsteps, and later provides a visual report of your walking, running or hiking activity via a nifty iOS app interface. You can also set the band to give you “Activity Reminders” — gentle vibrations on your wrist that compel you to get out of your seat and take a few steps. Three review units have failed during Gadget Lab testing, numerous complaints of “bricked” units riddle Jawbone’s user forums, and the clever health and fitness product currently receives just two out of five stars on Amazon.com reviews — 41 different user reviews were complaining of 23 bricked devices as of press time.

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen announces his new space project. Stratolaunch Systems will reunite Allen and aerospace pioneer Burt Rutan as they work to develop a new mobile launch system. The duo previously collaborated on SpaceShipOne, in 2004.

Radio News –

The just-released Arbitron report – the radio ratings company, indicates that Ruch and Hannity are down almost 1/3 their audiences. With a lull in ratings since November, Rush Limbaugh had a 3.0 share of listeners for his radio time slot, which is a 33% slide from October and from last April. Sean Hannity’s national talkshow was reported to be down 28% from its peak numbers in the fall.

 

Entertainment –

Jodie Foster’s estranged father faces more than 25 years behind bars after being convicted of bilking more than $100,000 from the poor and elderly in a home-building scheme. City News Service reports that Lucius Foster was convicted of 21 misdemeanor counts of grand theft after a jury deliberated for about three hours on Wednesday. A Los Angeles judge is scheduled to sentence the 89-year-old on Thursday afternoon.

The results are in from Men’s Health! Readers of the magazine awarded Jennifer Aniston with the honorable title of “Hottest Woman of All Time.” Not just 2011. She is the hottest woman ever. And that’s a bit of a surprise, considering Aniston was only 26th on the list for the year 2011.

Top albums this week:

Christmas – Michael Buble

Under the Mistletoe – Justin Bieber

Take Care – Drake

Here and Now  – Nickelback

Talk That Talk – Rihanna

My Life II – Mary J. Bloge

Concerto: One Night In Centroal Park – Andrea Bocelli

Own the Night – Lady Antebellum

Clear as Day – Scotty McCreery

Mylo Xyloto – Coldplay

Glee: The Christmas Album

Break The Spell – Daughtery

My Christmas – Andrea Bocelli

Someone To Watch Over Me – Susan Boyle

Heavenly Christmas – Jack Evancho

Speak Now: World Tour Live – Taylor Swift

Christmas Symphony – Mannheim Stemroller

Twilight Saga – Breaking Dawn

Ceremonials – Florence + The Machine

Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll – Bob Segar &The Silver Bullet Band

Inevitable – Trey Songz

Duets II – Tony Bennett

 

At the movies –

New Year’s Eve (1st week $13.7 million)

The Sitter (1st week $10 million)

Twilight Saga: Breaking Down Part 1

The Muppets

Arthur Christmas

Hugo

The desenceants

Happy Feet Two

Jack and Jill

Immortals

Tower Heist

Puss in Boots

 

Top TV –

1. The OT FOX
2. NFL Football: Detroit at New Orleans NBC
3. Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick NBC
4. NCIS CBS
5. Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer CBS
6. 60 Minutes CBS
7. Football Night in America NBC
8. Blue Bloods CBS
9. Survivor: South Pacific CBS
10. The X-Factor” (Wednesday) FOX
11. The Big Bang Theory CBS
12. CSI: Miami CBS
13. Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show CBS
14. The X-Factor” (Thursday) FOX
15. Last Man Standing ABC
16. The Good Wife CBS
17. Law & Order: SVU NBC
18. Harry’s Law NBC
19. CSI: NY CBS
20. Two and a Half Men CBS

 

 

 

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Pop Culture Radio Ratings – Limbaugh And Hannity Down Considerably

December 14, 2011

Radio ratings – Rush and Hannity’s National Numbers slip by almost 1/3rd!

Radio News –
The just-released Arbitron report – the radio ratings company, indicates that Rush and Hannity are down almost 1/3 their audiences. With a lull in ratings since November, Rush Limbaugh had a 3.0 share of listeners for his radio time slot, which is a 33% slide from October and from last April. Sean Hannity’s national talkshow was reported to be down 28% from its peak numbers in the fall.
www.mrpophistory.com www.mrpopculture.com rush limbaugh eib networkPremiere Radio syndicates both shows – and – they are downplaying the report. Inside, they’re panicking because, the number represents millions of listeners. And, lot’s of advertising money just went away. If the trend continues, it won’t bode well with the talkradio format – which today, is an AM radio province.
It will be interesting to see if other national talking heads are also down. Folks such as Mike Gallagher and Michael Savage.
Gary West – www.mrpophistory.com and sister mrpopculture.com   – one of the world’s largest one-author blogs at 45,000 pages.
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Timeline Pop Culture – Week In News Tech And Pop – December 1, 2011

December 10, 2011

Week In Review – News, Pop Culture Tech & More. December 1, 2011

Compiled By Gary West @ Mr Pop History & Mr Pop Culture

Al-Qaida claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of a 70-year-old American aid worker in Pakistan in August, and issued a series of demands for his release. In a video message posted on militant websites, al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri said Warren Weinstein would be released if the United States stopped airstrikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen. He also demanded the release of all al-Qaida and Taliban suspects around the world. “Just as the Americans detain all whom they suspect of links to al-Qaida and the Taliban, even remotely, we detained this man who is neck-deep in American aid to Pakistan since the 1970s,” al-Zawahri said, according to a translation provided by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant messages.

Ignoring a presidential veto threat, the Democratic-controlled Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a massive, $662 billion defense bill that would require the military to hold suspected terrorists linked to al-Qaida or its affiliates, even those captured on U.S. soil, and detain some indefinitely. The vote was 93-7 for the bill authorizing money for military personnel, weapons systems, national security programs in the Energy Department, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in the fiscal year that began Oct. 1. Reflecting a period of austerity and a winding down of decade-old conflicts, the bill is $27 billion less than what President Barack Obama requested and $43 billion less than what Congress gave the Pentagon this year.

The Senate on Thursday sidetracked rival plans to extend a Social Security payroll tax cut, in dueling votes that pave the way for negotiations on a compromise on a core component of President Barack Obama’s jobs program. First, Republicans defeated Obama’s plan to extend the payroll taxcut through the end of next year while also making it more generous for workers.

Camp Victory Handed Back To Iraq – On Friday, the base that at its height was home to 46,000 people was handed over to the Iraqi government as part of American efforts to move all U.S. troops out of the country by the end of the year. “The base is no longer under U.S. control and is under the full authority of the government of Iraq,” said U.S. military spokesman Col. Barry Johnson.

Several overturned semis on a Utah highway. Hundreds of thousands without power in California. A wind gust reaching 123-mph in Colorado. The powerful winds that tore across Western states Thursday created a path destruction that closed schools, left neighborhoods with a snarl of downed trees and power lines, and prompted some communities to declare emergencies. The system brought high wind warnings and advisories for California, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico. The blustery weather is expected to eventually hit Oklahoma, Missouri and Indiana.

A roadside bombing killed three NATO service members Saturday in eastern Afghanistan, the U.S.-led coalition said. The coalition recently shifted its focus from southern Afghanistan to the east, where militants are fighting Afghan and coalition troops along the long, porous border with Pakistan. The exact location of the bombing was not disclosed, nor were the nationalities of the dead. So far this year, 519 NATO service members have been killed in Afghanistan, including at least 389 Americans.

A surveillance drone flying over western Afghanistan had gone out of control late last week and may be the one Iran said it had shot down over its own airspace, theInternational Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said on Sunday. “The UAV to which the Iranians are referring may be a U.S. unarmed reconnaissance aircraft that had been flying a mission over western Afghanistan late last week. The operators of the UAV lost control of the aircraft and had been working to determine its status,” an ISAF statement said.

Facing bankruptcy, the U.S. Postal Service is pushing ahead with unprecedented cuts to first-class mail next spring that will slow delivery and, for the first time in 40 years, eliminate the chance for stamped letters to arrive the next day. The estimated $3 billion in reductions, to be announced in broader detail on Monday, are part of a wide-ranging effort by the cash-strapped Postal Service to quickly trim costs, seeing no immediate help from Congress.

(Video) Republican Herman Cain parks his Presidential campaign. He says it’s on hold, be he has big problems.

Americans spent a total of nearly $6 billion in online purchases during ‘Cyber Week’ 2011, according to a report from market research firm comScore. This includes three days — Nov. 28 (a.k.a. ‘Cyber Monday’), Nov. 29 and Nov. 30 — that saw more than $1 billion in sales each. These numbers make this year’s Cyber Week the most spending-heavy period for e-commerce ever. By comScore’s count, Cyber Monday sales reached $1.25 billion. Tuesday saw sales of $1.12 billion, and Wednesday sales reached $1.03 billion. For the 32 days from Nov. 1 through December 2, online spending was up 15 percent from the previous year, to reach a whopping $18.7 billion spent this holiday season. But it remains

A suicide bomber struck a crowd of Shiite worshippers who packed a Kabul mosque Tuesday to mark a holy day, killing at least 56 people, and a second bombing in another city killed four more Shiites. They were the first major sectarian assaults since the fall of the Taliban a decade ago.

Chinese police have busted two huge child trafficking rings that spanned 10 provinces, arresting more than 600 suspects and rescuing 178 children, the government said Wednesday. Child abductions and trafficking are rife in China, despite repeated police crackdowns — a problem that many experts blame on the nation’s strict “one-child” policy and lax regulations on adoption.

Former Penn State assistant football coach (Vide0) Jerry Sandusky was arrested at home today by Pennsylvania state police in the wake of new sexual assault charges filed by a grand jury against him. Sandusky was handcuffed and taken out of his home by state police and brought to an arraignment before a judge in Centre County, Pa., for the new charges, which include assaulting two boys involved in his Second Mile charity. The men came forward in the wake of the earlier allegations against Sandusky, including 40 counts of child molestation, for which he was charged on Nov. 5.

A federal judge today sentenced impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to 14 years in prison, giving little weight toBlagojevich’s first-ever apology this morning since his arrest three years ago. “The jury didn’t believe you and neither did I,” U.S. District Court Judge James Zagel said. Blagojevich was convicted on 18 corruption charges, including the scheme to peddle the vacated Senate seat of Barack Obama. Blagojevich started the day telling the court that he was “unbelievably sorry” for his “terrible mistakes,” his last chance to convince the federal judge that he deserved some mercy when he was sentenced on corruption charges.

Russian authorities should annul the results of the parliamentary vote and hold a new one, former Soviet leaderMikhail Gorbachev urged Wednesday as popular indignation grew over widespread allegations of election fraud. United Russia won less than 50 percent of Sunday’s vote, a steep fall from the 64 percent it won four years ago. But opposition parties and independent observers say even that result was inflated by vote-rigging, including alleged ballot-box stuffing and false voter rolls. Gorbachev told the Interfax news agency that authorities must hold a fresh election or deal with a rising tide of discontent.

Business –
If you used Ticketmaster’s website to buy tickets between October 21, 1999 and October 19, 2011, you’re in for a windfall. Well, a $1.50 per ticket order windfall. Because of a proposed class action settlement, Ticketmaster is being forced to credit $1.50 per ticket order (up to 17 orders) to customers due to the fact that they profited off of “processing fees” without declaring as much. And despite the reparations, Ticketmaster can continue to profit off transactions — they just have to say they’re doing so on their website. According to court documents, the original claim, filed October 21, 2003, also implicates UPS’ delivery price for expedited delivery of tickets as deceptive. Those part of the UPS subclass of the suit are entitled to an additional $5.00 credit per ticket. Both credits are in the form of vouchers, which can be redeemed a maximum of two at a time.

Sports –
Former NHL forward Matthew Barnaby was fired by ESPN as the cable network’s hockey analyst on Monday, a day after being charged with drunken driving for being found behind the wheel of an SUV that was missing its front tire.

The Washington Redskins lost more than just their eighth game of the season on Sunday afternoon at FedEx Field, an improbably fourth quarterback comeback giving the New York Jets a 34-19 win— they may have lost the biggest part of their offense for the rest of the season. It’s repored that tight end Fred Davis(notes) and left tackles Trent Williams(notes) will be suspended for the rest of the season for violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. Both players started Sunday’s loss for the 4-8 Redskins.

Packers linebacker Erik Walden(notes) was charged Wednesday with misdemeanor disorderly conduct-domestic abuse following a fight with his girlfriend. Walden did not appear for a Brown County Circuit Court hearing and defense attorney Steve Richards entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Walden remains free on bond and is due back in court Dec. 27.

Technology –
Facebook has acquired location sharing service Gowalla for an undisclosed sum, according to a source close to Gowalla. Launched in 2009, Austin-based Gowalla went head-to-head with direct rival Foursquare — and lost. Badly trailing Foursquare in user adoption, Gowalla recently shifted directions, recasting itself as a travel guide. The site had raised around $10 million over the years from backers including the Founders Fund, Greylock Partners and a collection of angel investors.

New YouTube – We already knew about YouTube’s redesign, which tech-savvy readers have been enabling for the past 10 days. As of now, however, the new YouTube is available to everyone. Unlike parent company Google, which tends to roll out redesigns over a period of days, YouTube pressed the button and switched the homepage for every user worldwide at 4:30 p.m. ET Thursday. So what’s the change all about? One word: channels. The world’s most popular online video service now sees itself as a descendent of cable TV, with millions of channels rather than hundreds — and it’s doing its darndest to encourage you to use it that way.

App On Smartphone Tracking Every Move – On Monday, researcher and developer Trevor Eckhart posted a 17-minute YouTube video apparently showing how the software — designed as a diagnostic tool to find and help fix mobile network problems — runs on his smartphone and logs every keystroke, every text and the full URL of every website he visits. News of the app’s existence on millions of phones had bounced around on tech blogs for a while. But attention skyrocketed this week when Eckhart posted his video.

Entertainment –
Comedy Central is honoring the late Patrice O’Neal by airing his stand-up special, “Elephant in the Room,” twice on Wednesday night. The comedian, who died on Tuesday from complications from a stroke he suffered on October 19, aired his first, and only, hour-long stand-up special on Comedy Central in February, and tackled such topics as race, football and typing classes.

CBS’ “Early Show” is ending early in the new year, and now its successor has a name. CBS News announced on Thursday that the replacement morning broadcast will be called “CBS This Morning.” The program will be hosted by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill. It is being pitched as a serious-news alternative to ratings leader “The Today Show” on NBC, and ABC’s “Good Morning America,” the audience runner-up.

Barbara Walters’ Most Fascinating People This Year – Would you call the Kardashian family the most fascinating people in the world? Barbara Walters would. She’s picked the Kardashians, Pippa Middleton, Simon Crowell and others among the top 10 fascinating people of 2011. Hosted by Walters, she will present the special on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 9:30 p.m. on ABC.

Justin Bieber was the major draw for the Wednesday night event that brought tens of thousands of fans out to Rockefeller Center to watch Bieber and his celebrity friends kick off the holiday season. Yes, there were plenty of other stars out for the night of music, but the screaming throng of fans only had eyes for the man-boy of their dreams. Joining him for the night of seasonal holiday music were Tony Bennett, Neil Diamond, Carol King, and Cee Lo Green.

Donald Trump, former presidential hopeful has teamed with Newsmax, a conservative magazine and news web site, to moderate a presidential debate in Des Moines, IA on Dec. 27.
week of december 1, 2011 mrpopculture.com chelsea clintonChelsea Clinton makes her NBC News debut Monday, Dec. 12, on Rock Center with Brian Williams. Clinton, 31, will report on a nonprofit organization based in her home state of Arkansas. The piece will be part of NBC’s recurring “Making a Difference” feature. Clinton was hired last month, but the network emphasized that the former first daughter would not report on politics.

Passing – Alan Sues, who brought his flamboyant and over-the-top comic persona to the hit television show “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” in the 1960s and 1970s, has died, a close friend said Sunday night. He was 85. Sues died of cardiac arrest on Thursday at his home in West Hollywood.  (See Video Alan Sues On Laugh-In)

Universal Studios will spend several hundred million dollars to build a Harry Potter attraction inside its existing Hollywood theme park in hopes of mimicking the success of a similar park in Orlando, Florida. Executives announced the project Tuesday with much fanfare, spraying confetti and hoisting mugs of the wizardly brew butterbeer.

Rosie O’Donnell and girlfriend Michelle Rounds just made their public debut as a couple in September, and O’Donnell announced to her Rosie Show audience on Friday, December 2, that they are now officially engaged.

It’s Madonna – NBC and the NFL announced last night that the Material Girl would be the headlining performer for the upcoming Super Bowl in February of next year. The game is being played in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Jennifer Carpenter and Michael C. Hall finalized their divorce on Friday. The Dexter costars, who play siblings on the show, wed on New Year’s eve in 2008.

“Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer” was the most-watched special of last week, with more than 12 million viewers, with the advantage of being on CBS’ powerful Tuesday night. The Victoria’s Secret special, also on CBS on Tuesday, was second with 10.4 million viewers. The Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Rockefeller Center had 9.4 million viewers, one of NBC’s strongest shows for the week. Specials highlighting the Grinch and Santa Claus, both on ABC, each had fewer than 8 million viewers.

Alec Baldwin says he was kicked off a plane Tuesday at Los Angeles International Airport after having words with a flight attendant over an “addicting” word game he was playing on his cellphone. The “30 Rock” actor was asked to get off a New York City-bound flight for playing “Words with Friends” while the plane idled at a gate Tuesday, said Baldwin’s spokesman, Matthew Hiltzik. “He loves ‘Words with Friends’ so much that he was willing to leave a plane for it,” said Hiltzik, who added that Baldwin boarded another American Airlines flight to New York.

Music News – Metallica Is Back! The first of Metallica’s four 30th anniversary concerts took place last night at their hometown San Francisco’s Fillmore, and on top of a 20-song set that spanned the heavy metal gods’ entire catalog — except, thankfully, Lulu — the biggest surprise of the evening came when the band welcomed former bassist Jason Newsted onstage. Newsted, who abruptly left Metallica in 2001 to pursue other musical projects, previously rejoined his former bandmates when they were all inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, but last night was the first time in a decade that the bassist performed with the group at an actual Metallica gig.

Passing – Singer and songwriter Dobie Gray, who had a top 5 hit in 1973 with the song “Drift Away,” has died. The news came on the evening of Dec. 6 via his official website, although no cause of death was listed. Many remember his first hit, 1965’s, “The In Crowd.”

Passing – Harry Morgan, (Video) the actor who played strait-laced U.S. Army Colonel Sherman T. Potter on the television series “M*A*S*H” through eight of its 11 celebrated seasons, has died. He was 96. He died today at his home in Los Angeles, the New York Times reported, citing his son, Charles Morgan. No cause was given.

At the movies –
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Down Part 1
The Muppets
Hugo
Arthur Christmas
Happy Feet Two
Jack and Jill
The Descendants
The Immortals
Tower Heist
Puss in Boots
J. Edgar

Hot Hits -
We Found Love – Rihanna fea. Calvin Harris
Sexy And I Know It – LMFAO
It Will Rain – Bruno Mars
Without You – David Guetta fea. Usher
Good Feeling – Flo Rida
Stereo Hearts – Gym Class Heroes fea. Adam Levine
The One That Got Away – Katy Perry
5 O’Clock – T-Pain fea. Wiz Khalifa & Lily ALlen
You Make Me Feel… – Cobra Starship fea. Sabi
Party Rock Anthem – LMFAO fea. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock
Headlines – Drake
Pumped Up Kicks – Foster the People
Ni**as in Paris – Jay Z Kanye West
Mr. Know It All – Kelly Clarkson

Top TV –
1. NFL Football: Pittsburgh at Kansas City NBC
2. Dancing With the Stars ABC
3. Dancing With the Stars Results ABC
4. NCIS CBS
5. 60 Minutes CBS
6. Two and a Half Men CBS
7. Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick NBC
8. NCIS: Los Angeles CBS
9. Mike & Molly CBS
10. Modern Family ABC
11. 2 Broke Girls CBS
12. Castle ABC
13. Football Night in America NBC
14. Once Upon a Time ABC
15. Hawaii Five-0 CBS
16. Unforgettable CBS
17. The Big Bang Theory CBS
18. Amazing Race 19 CBS
19. How I Met Your Mother CBS
20. The X-Factor” (Tuesday) FOX

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Pop Culture Google History – This Is What Google Looked Like In 1998

December 4, 2011

Let’s go back to the year 1998. Mr. Pop History was just starting. And, so was Google. This is so fascinating, it’s unreal.

You all know what beta is? It’s a sort of test phase and usually used in tech speak. Take a look at this. It’s Google in beta! Brand new!

This is from 1998. Today, Google owns the Internet world. But – not so long ago – it was a different time. This comes from December of 1998. WOW! Take a look here! 

Back then, Yahoo was #1 and Netscape was the top brower. Videos online?? Good luck! You could barely transmit an mp3 audio track because of the slow dial-ups.

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