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New Jersey: list of school closings by county on Halloween due to snowstorm.

Diane A. Wade
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New Jersey: list of school closings by county on Halloween due to snowstorm.

Due to Saturday snowstorm, which dumped over a foot of snow onto parts of New Jersey and left more than 500,000 residents without power and the streets littered with trees and debris, many schools have decided to close or delay opening on Monday.

Here is the list of schools in New Jersey, by county, that are currently reporting closings or delayed openings on Halloween:

Essex County:

Belleville — Closed

Bloomfield — Closed

Caldwell-West Caldwell — Closed

Caldwell College — Closed

Essex Fells — Closed

Ivy Hill — Newark — Closed

Lincoln — Newark — Closed

Livingston — Closed

Millburn — Closed

North Caldwell — Closed

Nutley — Closed

Park — Newark — Closed

Ridge — Newark — Closed

Seton Hall Prep — closed

Verona — Closed

West Orange — Closed

Wilson Avenue Grades 1-3 — Newark — closed

Due to Saturday snowstorm, which dumped over a foot of snow onto parts of New Jersey and left more than 500,000 residents without power and the streets littered with trees and debris, many schools have decided to close or delay opening on Monday
Due to Saturday snowstorm, which dumped over a foot of snow onto parts of New Jersey and left more than 500,000 residents without power and the streets littered with trees and debris, many schools have decided to close or delay opening on Monday

 

Somerset County:

Branchburg — Closed

Bridgewater-Raritan — 2-hour Delayed Opening

Union:

Berkley Heights — Closed

Clark — Closed

Cranford — Closed

Mount St. Mary — Watchung — Closed

New Providence — Closed

Scotch Plains-Fanwood — 90-Minute Delayed Opening

Summit — Closed

Morris:

Morris School District — Closed

Chester School District — Closed

Denville Township Schools District — Closed

Harding Township School District — Closed

Mendham Borough Schools District — Closed

Canfield Avenue School District — Closed

Morris Hills Regional District — Closed

Morris Plains District — 90 minute delay

Mountain Lakes School District — Closed

Parsippany — Troy Hills Township School District — Closed

Pequannock Township School District — Closed

Randolph Township School District — Closed

Roxbury School District — Closed

School District of the Chathams — Closed

Washington Township Schools District — Closed

West Morris Regional High Schools District — Closed

County College of Morris — Closed

Drew University — Closed

Hunterdon:

Bethlehem Township School District — Closed

Clinton Township School District — Closed

Delaware Valley Regional High School District — Closed

Flemington-Raritan School District — Closed

High Bridge School District — Closed

Holland Township School District — Closed

Kingwood Township School District — Closed

North Hunterdon — Voorhees Regional High School District — Closed

Union Township School District — Closed

Passaic:

Clifton — Closed

Lakeland Regional High School — Closed

Passaic Valley High School — Delayed opening

Wayne — Closed

West Milford — Closed

Sussex:

Byram — Closed

Warren:

Belvidere — Closed

Hope — Closed

North Warren Regional — Open, but if buses can’t access certain roads, students won’t be marked absent

Bergen:

Allendale — Closed

Bergenfield — Closed

Dumont — Closed

Fair Lawn:

Edison and Radburn schools closed, all others delayed opening

Glen Rock — Closed

Harrington Park — Closed

Hillsdale — Closed

Leonia — Closed

Mahway — Closed

Montvale — Closed

Northern Highlands — Closed

Northvale — Closed

Paramus — Closed

Pascack Regional — Closed

Ramapo Indian Hills High School — Closed

Ridgefield — Closed

Ridgewood — Closed

Teaneck — Closed

Teaneck Community Charter School — Closed

Westwood Regional — Closed

Wyckoff — Closed

Middlesex County:

South Brunswick — Closed

 

Black Friday 2011: shopping websites already launched Christmas offers.

Nancy Clayson
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Black Friday 2011: shopping websites already launched Christmas offers.

In 2011 consumers are starting their Christmas shopping earlier than ever, as Black Friday websites already launched their offers.

According to a new report, nearly 40% of holiday shoppers are already buying gifts, and some consumers have even finished their Christmas shopping.

Experts say frugal shoppers are cashing in at fall clearance sales and pre-holiday events.

However, anyone holding out for Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals still stands to save.

In 2011 consumers are starting their Christmas shopping earlier than ever, as Black Friday websites already launched their offers
In 2011 consumers are starting their Christmas shopping earlier than ever, as Black Friday websites already launched their offers

 

In 2010 the average consumer saved nearly 25% on Black Friday purchases.

Experts also said that it is easier than ever to find the retailer with the best deal. That’s because many Black Friday websites are already posting holiday hours and sale products.

“In 2009, we didn’t even launch what was then BlackFriday2009.com until November 2,” Brad Wilson, editor and chief of BlackFriday2011.com, told 9NEWS.

“So this year, we were two or three weeks ahead of that and it was primarily because retailers are getting so much farther ahead of it putting out ads and early Black Friday and early Cyber Monday sales. And then consumers, we have people on our Facebook page in September and October saying, <<Hey, when is this going to start? When is this going to start?>>”

TV and laptop deals under $200 are going to be hot on Black Friday 2011.

Brad Wilson predicts there are several items that are going to be hot this Black Friday.

The editor expects to see TV and laptop deals under $200. Brad Wilson also says tablet prices will fall this holiday season, due in large part to the release of the new, lower priced Amazon Kindle. And he says Digital SLR cameras will also come down in price as digital point and shoot cameras, a popular gift in years past, are made obsolete by smartphones.

Brad Wilson also expects a repeat of one of last year’s most popular promotions, $3 kitchen electrics.

If you need more information or tips on how to prepare for a Black Friday shopping trip, you can visit BlackFriday2011.com.

200 JetBlue passengers forced to wait 7 hours on a grounded plane at Bradley airport.

Diane A. Wade
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200 JetBlue passengers forced to wait 7 hours on a grounded plane at Bradley airport.

200 passengers aboard a JetBlue flight diverted because of the unusual October snowstorm were forced to wait on the grounded plane for more than 7 hours with no food, water or working bathrooms.

At this moment, federal authorities are investigating why passengers aboard JetBlue flight 504 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Newark, New Jersey, were kept on the tarmac in “disgusting” conditions for so long after being diverted to Bradley International Airport in Connecticut.

Many passengers called 911 after receiving little explanation and the ordeal was only ended when police and firefighters came on board to help a paraplegic man who had difficulty with the circulation in his legs.

People wanting to leave were then told they could do so at their own risk, as the unseasonally early snow continued to fall. Loud cheers greeted the announcement.

200 passengers aboard a JetBlue flight diverted because of the unusual October snowstorm were forced to wait on the grounded plane for more than 7 hours with no food, water or working bathrooms
200 passengers aboard a JetBlue flight diverted because of the unusual October snowstorm were forced to wait on the grounded plane for more than 7 hours with no food, water or working bathrooms

The JetBlue flight had left Florida at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, and sat motionless on the Bradley runway from 01:30 p.m. to 09:00 p.m.

Andrew Carter, a football writer for the Sun Sentinel newspaper in Florida who was intending to cover today’s Miami Dolphins game against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands, was one of those left stranded, the Hartford Courant reported.

“Still on the plane. We haven’t moved. Now EWR closed. Getting ugly in here. People yelling wanting to get off,” Andrew Carter posted on Twitter just before 06:00 p.m.

“This is awful customer service,” Andrew Carter added to his followers.

“Still on the runway. Still blizzarding outside. Aren’t there rules about how long they can make people sit here?

“To answer questions we’re on Tarmac. No water. Bathrooms don’t work. Don’t know the reason why we’re stuck. It changes.

“Lady on board just broke down. Like that guy who cried in his cell at the beginning of Shawshank. Can someone sneak me in Rita Hayworth?”

While on the plane, Andrew Carter told the Hartford Courant via cell phone: “It’s been a long day. There’s been no real explanation as to why we’ve been sitting here for seven hours.

“We ran out of water. The bathrooms are all clogged up and disgusting. The power would go off every 45 minutes for five minutes or so, and that would freak people out. I’ve heard about these kind of stories.

“We’re close to the terminal. We can look out the window and see other planes.”

Andrew Carter said that while a few arguments popped up, passengers had mostly been well behaved.

Victoria Lucia, JetBlue spokeswoman said last night: “JetBlue is doing everything possible to ensure our customers affected by today’s unusual combination of weather and infrastructure issues are being well cared for.

“We apologize for the experience.”

The JetBlue flight was one of 23 aeroplanes diverted to Bradley Airport yesterday, according to Governor Dannel Malloy.

Connecticut was trying to move 1,000 cots to the airport late last night to help make stranded passengers comfortable, Governor Dannel Malloy said.

Bradley International Airport refused to comment.

 

Diann Ford was hit by car and gave birth to a baby girl before she died.

Diane A. Wade
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Diann Ford was hit by car and gave birth to a baby girl before she died.

Diann Ford, a 22-year-old pregnant woman from San Marcos, Texas, was struck by a hit-and-run driver while walking home from work and gave birth to a healthy baby girl before she died.

According to San Marcos police, Diann Ford was returning from her job at Long John Silver’s late on Tuesday when she was hit by the car.

Diann Ford, who was 37 weeks pregnant, was taken to an Austin hospital that night, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

Diann Ford, 22, was struck by a hit-and-run driver while walking home from work and gave birth to a healthy baby girl before she died
Diann Ford, 22, was struck by a hit-and-run driver while walking home from work and gave birth to a healthy baby girl before she died

 

The woman gave birth by cesarean section on Wednesday, October 26, and the girl was taken to the hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit. Diann Ford died the next day.

Diann Ford’s boss, Kris Jaccard said she was excited about her future as a mother. The 22-year-old woman knew she was having a girl and had picked out a name.

Kris Jaccard described Diann Ford as a model employee who always showed up for work on time.

Diann Ford had started at the restaurant about six months ago as a cashier.

“She was a very friendly, very nice, very caring person,” Kris Jaccard told the San Antonio Express-News.

San Marcos police are still trying to find the driver of the car.

The police report said that Diann Ford was crossing the road at night where there wasn’t a cross walk and she was wearing dark-coloured clothing.

After a car struck her and the driver fled, Diann Ford was found by a passing motorist and she was conscious when emergency responders arrived at the scene.

[youtube pgu9A8zUDAM]

Daylight Saving Time 2011: When is it and Why we need it?

James J. Williams
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Daylight Saving Time 2011: When is it and Why we need it?

Daylight Saving Time (DST), also summer time in several countries, is the practice of temporarily advancing clocks during the summertime so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less.

Typically clocks are adjusted forward one hour near the start of spring and are adjusted backward in autumn.

In 2011, Daylight Saving Time comes to an end in U.S. on the morning of Sunday, November 6, when you move the clocks back one hour.

In 2007, U.S. introduced the extended DST, after the Energy Policy Act of 2005 came into effect and the clocks were set back one hour on the first Sunday of November instead of the last Sunday of October.

The start of DST was also changed from the first Sunday of April to the second Sunday of March.

There’s been a number of conflicting reports about how much energy is saved from Daylight Saving Time.

In the 70’s, studies showed US saved 1% of energy nationally, which was a big motivation for adopting DST. On the other hand, states like California argue the energy savings are negligible, while another report published in 2008 by the U.S. Department of Energy concluded 4 weeks extra of daylight savings time could conserve 1.3 trillion watt-hours per day, enough to power 100,000 homes for a year, reports Scientific American.

Benjamin Franklin first came up with the idea in 1784, but DST wasn’t used until World War I to conserve energy.

In 2011, Daylight Saving Time comes to an end in US on the morning of Sunday, November 6, when you move the clocks back one hour
In 2011, Daylight Saving Time comes to an end in US on the morning of Sunday, November 6, when you move the clocks back one hour

 

The U.S. observed year-round DST during World War II and implemented it during the energy crisis in the 1970’s, notes the Scientific American.

Modern DST was first proposed by the New Zealand entomologist George Vernon Hudson in 1895, whose shift-work job gave him leisure time to collect insects, and led him to value after-hours daylight. George Vernon Hudson presented a paper to the Wellington Philosophical Society proposing a two-hour daylight-saving shift, and after considerable interest was expressed in Christchurch, New Zealand he followed up in an 1898 paper.

Not everyone across the U.S. observes Daylight Saving Time, including Hawaii, most of Arizona, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Marianas.

DST is generally not observed near the equator, where sunrise times do not vary enough to justify it. Some countries observe it only in some regions; for example, southern Brazil observes it while equatorial Brazil does not. Only a minority of the world’s population uses DST because Asia and Africa generally do not observe it.

A post by Chris Kline on ABC15.com discusses why most of Arizona doesn’t observe the time change: “According to an Arizona Republic editorial from 1969, the reason was the state’s extreme heat. If Arizona were to observe Daylight Saving Time, the sun would stay out until 9 p.m. in the summer (instead of 8 p.m., like it does currently).”

Massachusetts: National Grid reports nearly 400,000 customers without power.

Diane A. Wade
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Massachusetts: National Grid reports nearly 400,000 customers without power.

National Grid reported this morning that 393,800 customers are currently without power in Massachusetts due to the snowstorm. Out of them, 4,000 are in Westborough town.

The early winter weather caused wet snow to fall on trees still heavy with leaves – causing falling branches and downed power lines. National Grid emergency, restoration and tree trimming crews are in the field working to restore power.

Debbie Drew, spokesperson for National Grid said:

“We’re going through the process to assess what we have in damage.” She said the process involves starting with repairing the main transmission system.

“The bulk supply is always first.”

“After that is repaired, individual customer power can be restored,” Debbie Drew said.

“Our main concern is safety. The snow, as you know, is like wet concrete.”

National Grid reported this morning that 393,800 customers are currently without power in Massachusetts due to the snowstorm
National Grid reported this morning that 393,800 customers are currently without power in Massachusetts due to the snowstorm

National Grid spokesperson warned that the snapping trees and downed wires can be dangerous. People should stay away from any downed wire as it could be live.

Debbie Drew said downed wires should be reported by calling 800-465-1212.

Officer Chip Dapolite of the Westborough Police Department echoed that concern.

“Please get the word out that people should not be driving,” Chip Dapolite said.

“Power lines are down all over the place. It may be sunny and beautiful, but please don’t drive.”

Throughout the storm, fire, police and DPW employees responded to reports of downed limbs, fallen trees and wires in the roadways.

At this time, Westborough officials continue to report live wires to electric companys crews.

Because of the high volume of downed wires, attempts are being made to prioritize dangerous situations.

On its website, NSTAR reports that 114,000 customers remain without power.

“While many of our customers will have power restored within the next 24 hours; due to the difficult driving conditions, downed trees and severe damage experienced on our system, we’re anticipating our power restoration effort will last into the work week.”

CL&P saftey tips in case of storm

James J. Williams
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CL&P saftey tips in case of storm

As an unusual October snowstorm hit the North East of US, Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) offers the following safety tips in case of storm.

Everybody should be prepared before the storm hits with a “lights-out” kit that includes:

  • A flashlight and extra batteries
  • A battery-operated radio or TV and clock
  • A first-aid kit
  • Containers for water or bottled water
  • Canned food and a non-electric can opener
  • Sterno or similar fuel – but never burn charcoal indoors
  • A list of important phone numbers and some cash, as automatic teller machines may not work.
  • Plan ahead for the worst-case scenario.

 

As an unusual October snowstorm hit the North East of US, Connecticut Light & Power offers some safety tips in case of storm
As an unusual October snowstorm hit the North East of US, Connecticut Light & Power offers some safety tips in case of storm

Take steps to protect your major or electronically sensitive appliances. Now is the time to make sure your car’s gas tank is full. Electricity and water never mix. If you know your home is in an area prone to flooding, turn off devices like your furnace, water heater and electrical system before water can reach them.

Protect your food and water. Set your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings. Food will stay frozen up to 24 hours, and even longer if the freezer is full. Open the refrigerator or freezer doors only when necessary. If you have a well and water pump, fill spare containers with water, and your washing machine with water for flushing, just in case.

Portable generators should be installed only by a licensed electrician. Check with your town regarding a permit and inspection. Generators must be connected with a special transfer switch that prevents power from feeding back into the electric lines. Feedback could endanger line workers who are nearby. Generators must be vented outside. And never refuel them while they are running.

Be alert to downed power lines. High winds and tree branches can sometimes combine to cause electric lines to fall.Never walk near or touch a downed power line. Stay away and keep others away. If you are driving and come across a fallen line, never get out of your vehicle. In all situations, always assume that a fallen line is “live.” If you see a downed line, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Beware, fallen branches. Never go near or remove tree branches that have come down until the area is thoroughly checked for fallen power lines. There may be a downed wire hidden beneath those branches and it may be energized.

Tree limbs can conduct electricity, causing injury or death. If you see a downed line, call 9-1-1 immediately. Only call 9-1-1 to report a dangerous situation.

Qualifying examples include a downed line or utility pole. CL&P customers can report an outage or get a “power-back” estimate by calling 800-286-2000.

Always let your utility know when you don’t have power. Don’t assume your neighbor will call in the problem.

Connecticut: 770,000 CL&P customers without power after snowstorm.

Diane A. Wade
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Connecticut: 770,000 CL&P customers without power after snowstorm.

The unusual October snowstorm in North East US sent trees and branches crashing down on electrical wires and equipment across the states.

In Connecticut, all of the 149 cities and towns served by Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) were affected by the snowstorm.

It was reported that about 770,000 CL&P customers were without power earlier this morning due to the snowstorm, surpassing the peak number of outages caused by Tropical Storm Irene two months ago.

Jeff Butler, president and COO at CL&P said:

“This will not be a <<quick fix>>…this may take more than a week to restore all of our customers. There are reports of trees down practically everywhere.”

“To help with damage assessments, we’re using two helicopters. Our other priorities today are handling emergency situations and working in partnership with the towns to clear the blocked roads.”

About 770,000 CL&P customers were without power due to the snowstorm, surpassing the peak number of outages caused by Tropical Storm Irene two months ago
About 770,000 CL&P customers were without power due to the snowstorm, surpassing the peak number of outages caused by Tropical Storm Irene two months ago

The snowstorm effects differ from Tropical Storm Irene’s in that the storm has caused significant damage to transmission lines, which are the lines that take power from electric generating plants and feeds it to the distribution grid that serves local homes and businesses.

CL&P is scheduling crews to work around the clock until restoration efforts are complete. During a multi-day restoration such as this, approximately 75% of crews will begin their shifts around 07:00 a.m. in order to maximize daylight hours and be most productive.

The remaining 25% of CL&P crews will begin their shifts around 03:00 p.m. and will work through the night.

“The safety of our employees, contractors and our customers is of our utmost concern and we want to make sure everyone working on this restoration has appropriate time to rest between shifts,” added Jeff Butler.

For their safety, CL&P also reminds customers to stay at least 10 feet away from all wires. Assume any downed, hanging or burning power lines are live and dangerous.

“If a power line falls on your vehicle while you’re inside, stay there. Don’t touch anything outside the vehicle and wait for emergency crews. Call 9-1-1 immediately with any emergency condition,” advised CL&P.

“To report outages or check the status of an outage, visit cl-p.com or call 800-286-2000. Our automated phone and online systems can rapidly process your report and help us speed restoration efforts. For helpful tips and news updates, go to our website at cl-p.com, follow us on Twitter @CTLightandPower and like us at Facebook.com/CTLightandPower. You can also get updates on outages in your town by texting “outage” and your zip code to 24612 (texting fees may apply),” CL&P also said.

CL&P has been part of everyday life in Connecticut for more than 100 years, providing safe and reliable electric service to homes, neighborhoods and businesses. With 1.2 million customers in 149 cities and towns, CL&P is improving the environments you live in, by offering programs in energy conservation, economic development and environmental stewardship. CL&P is a Northeast Utilities company (NYSE: NU). For more information, please visit www.cl-p.com , like us on Facebook at facebook.com/CTLightandPower and follow us on Twitter @CTLightandPower.

Boy Scouts of America accused of covering up the paedophile leader Rick Turley.

Diane A. Wade
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Boy Scouts of America accused of covering up the paedophile leader Rick Turley.

The Boy Scouts of America has been accused of covering up the abuses of Rick Turley, a paedophile who was repeatedly allowed back as a leader despite admitting to abusing boys in his care.

Police has recently released documents showing that Boy Scouts of America officials didn’t call authorities after Rick Turley admitted molesting three boys and welcomed him back as a leader even after he kidnapped a boy in a stolen plane.

Rick Turley, now 58, said he is surprised at how many times he got away with it.

An investigation has found that Rick Turley molested at least 15 children in Southern California and British Columbia over 20 years, most of whom he met through American and Canadian Scouting.

“It was easy,” Rick Turley told CBC News.

Rick Turley said that he thinks if the police had been called in 1979 when he confessed to abusing three boys it “probably would have put a stop to me years and years ago”.

Instead, Rick Turley “went back to the Scouts again and again as a leader and offended against the boys,” he told CBC News.

Rick Turley is one of more than 5,000 suspected child molesters named in confidential files kept by the Boy Scouts of America.

An investigation has found that Rick Turley molested at least 15 children in Southern California and British Columbia over 20 years, most of whom he met through American and Canadian Scouting
An investigation has found that Rick Turley molested at least 15 children in Southern California and British Columbia over 20 years, most of whom he met through American and Canadian Scouting

Boy Scouts of America had long recommended that troops kept abuse allegations a secret.

In Rick Turley’s earlier known sexual abuse in 1971, he met Joey Day, a 10-year-old boy while working as a truck driver on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Rick Turley offered to take Joey Day to cubs, but instead took him to a nearby lake where he coerced him into skinny dipping and molested him.

Over the next two years, instead of taking the boy to cub meetings, Rick Turley took him to his apartment where he plied the boy alcohol, showed him pornography and abused him.

When Joey Day tried to tell his father about the abuse, he was beaten.

In January 1975, Rick Turley visited a Scout troop in Orange County and asked Eddy Iris, an 11-year-old boy, if he could show him around, saying he was one of Canada’s top Scout leaders.

Rick Turley shared a sleeping bag with Eddy Iris in the mountains, before taking him to the airport where he stole a plane and after taking off reportedly told the boy: “You do realize you’ve been kidnapped, don’t you?”

When the plane ran out of fuel and made an emergency landing, Rick Turley was arrested and pleaded guilty to child stealing.

Rick Turley was committed to Patton State Hospital as a “mentally disordered sex offender”.

He was released after 18 months on probation and ordered to return to Canada, but he instead got a job at a Boy Scout camp close to the hospital and worked at camps in San Bernardino and San Diego counties for the next three summer.

By 1978, Rick Turley had become a programme director at a Scout Camp in San Diego County. He persuaded the leader of a troop to let his son and two other boys stay at the camp for an extra night.

When they went home they reported that they had been arrested. Rick Turley admitted the offences but officials decided not to report them to police.

Buford Hill, a former Orange County Scouting official told the LA Times:

“We were following exactly the national recommendations of the Boy Scouts of America and its board who set up the rules.”

“You do not want to broadcast to the entire population that these things happen. You take care of it quietly and make sure it never happens again.”

Rick Turley returned to British Columbia where he became a Scout Master again.

At least two Canadian Scout leaders reported that Rick Turley had boys share his tent on trips.

In the mid 1980s, Boy Scouts officials decided rather than calling police or forcing Rick Turley to step down that he should be transferred to another troop.

In 1995, Rick Turley was arrested when his girlfriend told police that he was sexually attracted to children.

Rick Turley was sentenced to 7 years in prison, reduced to 5 on appeal, after he was convicted of five counts of molesting children.

In 2000, while out on parole Rick Turley was caught trying to coerce two boys into a relationship and was sent back to prison for two years.

Rick Turley now says that he is able to control his behaviour.

When questioned by CBC News at a motel in Alberta where Rick Turley now works he said that “it’s hard to put a number” on how many boys he abused.

Asked if he had a son, would he send him to Scouts, Turley said: “No, it’s still going on and will probably always go on.”

A Boy Scouts of America spokesman told the LA Times: “The BSA has continued to enhance its youth protection efforts as society has increased its understanding of the dangers children face.”

 

Cortland: Jackie Barden learned of her son’s death at a football match on Facebook.

Diane A. Wade
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Cortland: Jackie Barden learned of her son’s death at a football match on Facebook.

Jackie Barden, the mother of a high school student who collapsed and died after a football game was only notified of her son’s death via Facebook.

The mother wasn’t told of her 16-year-old son Ridge’s death at a high school football match because she was not listed as an emergency contact.

Jackie Barden‘s ex-husband, whom she is not on “speaking terms” with and was the boy’s emergency contact, also did not tell her.

“On Facebook, on the news, that’s how I had to learn of my son’s death,” Jackie Barden told WSYR-TV.

Once the news had finally reached her, Jackie Barden says she was told the last opportunity to view her son’s body had passed.

Jackie Barden learned about her son Ridge's death via Facebook
Jackie Barden learned about her son Ridge's death via Facebook

 

By the time police became involved in the Ridge’s death on October 14th, they had assumed all of boy’s family had been notified.

Being divorced and not listed as an emergency contact for her son, only Ridge’s father who was listed as a contact was notified and he never told her.

Cortland County Coroner Kevin Sharp told WSYR-TV:

“If the people that are there are not forthcoming that there is an estranged spouse or a parent who they are not speaking to, and it doesn’t need to be a spouse, it can be a parent, child, sister, brother, anyone.”

“We don’t know who to contact.”

Police Chief Dan Mack says he regrets the assumption made on the family notification and that future steps will be taken so it doesn’t happen again.

“I would really hope that people just take a look and start realizing that things have to change so that no other parent would have to suffer and go through what I went through,” Jackie Barden said.

Jackie Barden’s son, Ridge collapsed on the field and he later died at the hospital.  Autopsy results showed that the teenager died from blunt force trauma.

Speaking out to the other players on his varsity team and their opponent that night, Jackie Barden hopes any possible guilt or responsibility felt for his death will be dismissed.

“He just would not want those people to think that it was their fault,” Jackie Barden explained.
“It was just an accident. Everything that Ridge did, he did with full gust. I’d say just take that attitude with you,” she insists.

Ridge’s father released a statement on the loss of his son, WSYR he was too emotional for an interview.
“I have no words right now. My world has been devastated. But, I want to say thank-you to all of you who have written me and are sending your prayers to me. October 14th will go down as the worst day of my life. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you Ridge. I love you so much and cannot even grasp that you are not here,” he wrote.

Jackie Barden said: “It still is shocking. He’s with us and he’s gone.”

[youtube 8ZpVyXhiKNo]

Qantas airline crisis: 68,000 stranded passengers and 600 flights cancelled.

Diane A. Wade
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Qantas airline crisis: 68,000 stranded passengers and 600 flights cancelled.

Qantas airline announced that 68,000 passengers were affected by its grounding of 108 aircraft in 22 cities worldwide due to the industrial action yesterday.

Australian airline also announced it would lock out staff involved in industrial action, after months of strikes.

As a result, the pilots union has threatened legal action against the move.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called for an end to industrial action which has seen Qantas ground all its international and domestic flights.

Prime Minister said the government had applied to regulator Fair Work Australia, “the industrial umpire”, to try to get planes back in the air.

Julia Gillard also said she was concerned about damage that could be caused to the national economy.

“I believe Australians want to see this dispute settled. I want to see this dispute settled and we have taken the appropriate action to bring this before the industrial umpire,” the prime minister told a news conference from the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (Chogm) being held in the western Australian city of Perth.

68,000 Qantas passengers were affected by airline grounding of 108 aircraft in 22 cities worldwide due to the industrial action yesterday
68,000 Qantas passengers were affected by airline grounding of 108 aircraft in 22 cities worldwide due to the industrial action yesterday

It was reported that among thousands of stranded passengers were 17 world leaders attending the Commonwealth summit in Perth, but PM Julia Gillard said they had found alternative flights.

Fair Work Australia reconvened an emergency panel at 14:00 (03:00 GMT) on Sunday, after an earlier hearing was adjourned in the early hours of the morning.

Fair Work Australia can decide whether to order an end to industrial action by both unions and Qantas airline management.

Alan Joyce, Qantas CEO said his planes could be in the air again by late Sunday if the panel ordered a termination of all industrial action, but he warned an order to simply suspend it – as the unions were seeking – would not be good enough.

Qantas airline – the world’s 10th largest – has been hit by a series of costly strikes and other industrial action, which the company said was costing A$15 million ($16 million) a week.

It was reported that pilots have been engaged in protracted talks with management over wages, conditions and outsourcing of jobs to Asia, but they have yet to walk off the job – unlike baggage handlers, engineers and ground staff.

Captain Richard Woodward, the Australian International Pilots Association (AIPA) vice-president said work stoppages were not in their plans.

“Pilots have made it clear from the start that we would not take industrial action that disrupts passengers. We have stuck to that to this day,” Richard Woodward said.

“Alan Joyce, on the other hand, has opted to disrupt passengers in the most devastating way possible.

“Pilots have not been on strike and we are not seeking anything that would damage profitability.”

Captain Richard Woodward described Qantas’s action as “a cynical act of insanity”.

A statement by the Australian airline said all employees involved in industrial action would be locked out from Monday evening and flights grounded from 06:00 GMT on Saturday with aircraft currently in the air would complete their flights, but there would be no further departures.

Qantas airline also issued a statement on its Facebook page saying customers booked on its flights should not go to the airport until further notice. Qantas said a full refund would be available to those affected.

Relations between the unions and Qantas airline management started deteriorating in August after the company announced plans for restructuring and moving some operations to Asia.

Qantas airline has a 65% share of the domestic Australian market, but has been making heavy losses on its international flights.

It was reported that restructuring is expected to mean the loss of 1,000 jobs from its 35,000-strong workforce.

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October snowstorm killed 3 people and left 2.3 M houses without power on East Coast.

Diane A. Wade
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October snowstorm killed 3 people and left 2.3 M houses without power on East Coast.

Three people died and more than 2.3 million homes have lost power as the US East Coast has been hit by an unusual early period snowstorm.

New York City has been hit by more than one inch of snowfall before Halloween for the first time ever – with experts predicting much more on the way.

It was reported that an 84-year-old man from Pennsylvania died when a tree crashed into his house in Temple on Saturday afternoon, while he was having a nap in his recliner chair. He was killed “instantly” according to police.

Another death was in Colchester Connecticut, according to Governor Dannel Malloy who warned that some parts of the state could expect as much as 18 inches of snow.

A third man in his 20s died in Springfield, Massachusetts, after he ignored police warnings and cross a barricade around a downed power line. The man was killed when he touched a metal guard rail that was charged.

October snowstorm killed 3 people and left 2.3 M houses without power on East Coast.
October snowstorm killed 3 people and left 2.3 M houses without power on East Coast.

 

There are reports saying that some places in mid-Atlantic states saw more than half a foot of snow on Saturday and approximately 250,000 customers lost power in Pennsylvania and Maryland, requiring utility crews from Ohio and Kentucky to fix it.

More than 1,000 flights into or out of the United States were cancelled today, with New York particularly affected. JFK airport had around 230 called off by 5:00 p.m. local time.

New York City has been hit by more than one inch of snowfall before Halloween for the first time ever - with experts predicting much more on the way
New York City has been hit by more than one inch of snowfall before Halloween for the first time ever - with experts predicting much more on the way

According to meteorologists, about 60 million people will experience the rare October snowstorm, which should unleash heavy, wet snow and wind, causing fallen tree branches and potential travel chaos.

Halloween weekend looks set to see huge amounts of sleet and snow covering the North East, invariably causing power outages and travel chaos.

In New York City By, 1.3 inches of snow had fallen in Central Park by 2:00 p.m.; never before in October has an inch of snow fallen on a given day in New York City, AccuWeather reported.

AccuWather website reported 10 inches of snow in Ogletown, Pennsylvania, 9.5 inches in Frostburg, Maryland, and 8.5 inches in Lost River, West Virginia.

New York has received measurable snow before Halloween only three times since 1869 – and never more than one inch, as happened today.

Autumn Street in Lodi, New Jersey, where Governor Chris Christie called a state of emergency after the October snowstorm
Autumn Street in Lodi, New Jersey, where Governor Chris Christie called a state of emergency after the October snowstorm

The heaviest snow is forecast for later in the day on Sunday in the Massachusetts Berkshires, the Litchfield Hills in northwestern Connecticut, southwestern New Hampshire and the southern Green Mountains.

Chris Vaccaro, a NWS spokesman said:

“It’s going to be wet, sticky and gloppy. It’s not going to be a dry, fluffy snow.”

The snowstorm comes on a busy weekend for many along the Eastern Seaboard, with trick-or-treaters going door-to-door in search of Halloween booty, hunting season opening in some states and a full slate of college and pro football scheduled.

Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy warned residents that they could lose power due to the anticipated wet, heavy snow.

The heaviest snows are expected between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. this evening, although the temperatures could bring light snow throughout the night.

According to meteorologists, the storm is expected to come hard and fast, with the heaviest snow set for the Virginia and West Virginia border through eastern Pennsylvania and southeastern New York state, northwestern New Jersey, northern Connecticut, Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.

Six inches of snow has already fallen in New England, where is also expected to be powerful winds which could be very dangerous – bringing down trees and power lines.

Temperatures in the 30s and 40s and wind chills in the 20s will make it feel like winter has truly arrived.

Forecasters at weather.com say the heaviest amounts of snow will fall in parts of Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, upstate New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

“Precipitation will start as rain in these locations, but may change over to snow. How quickly this occurs and how much snow falls is dependent on the availability of enough cold air, which is difficult to forecast early in the season.”

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Occupy Wall Street protesters hit by snow in New York.

Diane A. Wade
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Occupy Wall Street protesters hit by snow in New York.

Occupy Wall Street protesters in New York City remained in their tents overnight despite snowstorm and low temperatures which plunged below 40 degrees F.

In the footage from thermal imaging cameras taken late on Friday night in New York, the presence of body heat from humans is represented by yellow and red inside the tents.

On Friday, NYC authorities took away the generators they were using to keep warm and power electronic devices.

According to an Occupy Wall Street spokesman, this was “a pretext to make the protest less sustainable and more difficult for us”. But authorities insisted they had to remove the equipment for safety reasons.

Occupy Wall Street protesters in New York City remained in their tents overnight despite the snowstorm and low temperatures which plunged below 40 degrees F
Occupy Wall Street protesters in New York City remained in their tents overnight despite the snowstorm and low temperatures which plunged below 40 degrees F

 

A blanket of cold air that brought the first flurries of the season to Colorado on Wednesday is continuing to spread south and east, bringing the lowest temperatures to the Northeast since spring.

The unusually early snow is bad news for those camping in city centres across the country, as critics speculate that the days of the Occupy movement may now be numbered.

In the footage from thermal imaging cameras taken late on Friday night in New York, the presence of body heat from humans is represented by yellow and red inside the tents
In the footage from thermal imaging cameras taken late on Friday night in New York, the presence of body heat from humans is represented by yellow and red inside the tents

It was reported that several Occupy Denver protesters had to be taken to hospital on Thursday night to be treated for hypothermia.

Occupy Wall Street demonstrators have erected tents and tarpaulins over parts of Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan, but appeared to be failing in their battle to keep warm and dry.

It seems that authorities will welcome the dramatic weather forecast. Law enforcement officials in some cities such as Oakland, California, have cleared out protests.

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg said there is little he can do about the New York protest until the owners of the park where the camp is located, Brookfield Office Properties, file a complaint.

Meteorologists said that temperatures will plummet with some areas of the north east such as Syracuse reaching lows of 27 at night. In major cities such as New York and Boston overnight temperatures will remain in the 30s.

Snow this heavy this early is highly unusual along and near I-95 in the Northeast. In Philadelphia, the average date for the first accumulating snow is December 18.

Volunteers are being vigilant and do nightly checks for signs of hypothermia among the faithful.

The cold weather will add to the Occupy movement’s existing problems. On Tuesday, police evicted activists in Oakland using used tear gas and stun grenades.

In New York mediation is under way between demonstrators and some of the movement’s musicians, who were drumming up to 10 hours a day.

Protesters staffing the camp’s kitchen, which Occupy Wall Street says feeds up to a 1,000 people daily, have downsized their menu to deter the homeless and freeloaders who have been taking advantage of the hospitality.

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16 feet long python having a whole adult deer in its stomach captured in Everglades, Florida.

James J. Williams
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16 feet long python having a whole adult deer in its stomach captured in Everglades, Florida.

Workers at Everglades National Park, Florida captured and killed a 16-foot-long Burmese python, who was found to have a whole adult deer in its stomach.

The Burmese python, one of the biggest ever found in South Florida, had recently swallowed a doe the size of a child.

An autopsy was conducted at Everglades National Park by Skip Snow, a python specialist who said the reptile had a girth of 44 inches (112 cm) with the 5st 6lb (35 kg) deer inside its stomach.

Skip Snow told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:

“This is clearly an extreme event.

“It shows you they can eat huge things.

“The Burmese python – an ambush predator – would have staked out a known deer trail, seized the animal in its sharp teeth, crushed it by coiling around it and then eaten the corpse.”

Workers at Everglades National Park, Florida captured and killed a 16-foot-long Burmese python, who was found to have a whole adult deer in its stomach
Workers at Everglades National Park, Florida captured and killed a 16-foot-long Burmese python, who was found to have a whole adult deer in its stomach

 

It is the first time a snake has been caught so soon after eating a deer, allowing biologists to see just how large their prey can be.

According to Scott Hardin, exotic species coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, the capture of the snake was crucial to help prevent the spread of pythons further north.

“It’s pretty clearly one of the biggest snakes we’ve seen,” Scott Hardin said.

“We haven’t gotten anything longer than 16ft in the wild in Florida.”

The Burmese python, one of the biggest ever found in South Florida, had recently swallowed a doe the size of a child
The Burmese python, one of the biggest ever found in South Florida, had recently swallowed a doe the size of a child

Specialists said the population of Burmese pythons in the Everglades has grown over the past several years, after being bought by people in the area as exotic pets.

According to state and federal wildlife officials, the dangerous snakes have been set loose by owners after growing too big, or escaped from enclosures destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

specialists also said the pythons primarily eat smaller mammals and birds, but larger specimens are happy to munch on alligators, deer and hogs.

The 16-foot-long python was discovered by workers from South Florida Water Management District, who were removing non-native plants from a tree island.

The world’s largest captive snake is a 25 feet, 22st (140 kg) python called Medusa, who lives in Kansas City and is capable of killing and consuming animals that weigh as much as a healthy adult.

In 2010, scientists from Denmark used computer technology to look inside the organs of a python after it had swallowed a whole rat.

The scientists noted that it took 132 hours for the snake to fully digest the rat, with the snake’s intestine expanding and its heart rate increasing to help it break down its substantial food.

According to researchers, pythons often fast for months and then eat enormous meals, and are able to consume up to 50% of their own bodyweight.

The pythons have in recent years been documented eating cockatoos, frogs and even other snakes.

 

Ernesto Bustamante, an University of Idaho professor shot to death one of his students and killed himself.

Diane A. Wade
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Ernesto Bustamante, an University of Idaho professor shot to death one of his students and killed himself.

Ernesto Bustamante, a University of Idaho professor shot to death Katy Benoit, one of his students he had previously dated, and then committed suicide.

The 22-year-old student, Katy Benoit was killed by psychology professor Ernesto Bustamante in August, after she and other students warned the university that he had talked in class about shooting students and was having “sex orgies” with students.

It was reported that the University officials urged Katy Benoit to take safety precautions and go to police, but that they could not tell officers details of the allegations because of confidentiality.

According to the documents released today, a student evaluating Ernesto Bustamante last fall complained his teaching was erratic and that he had discussed shooting students.

Ernesto Bustamante, a University of Idaho professor shot to death Katy Benoit, one of his students he had previously dated, and then committed suicide
Ernesto Bustamante, a University of Idaho professor shot to death Katy Benoit, one of his students he had previously dated, and then committed suicide

 

In December 2010, a complaint called into a university hotline accused Ernesto Bustamante of having sex with students and coercing one into having sex with him and others.

University of Idaho have defended their response to Katy Benoit’s complaint, saying they contacted Moscow police immediately after she came forward.

They told law enforcement that a student had been involved in a domestic violence issue but did not detail Katy Benoit’s allegations, including claims she was threatened with a gun.

Katy Benoit “did not want us to discuss the allegations in her complaint with police and we honored her wishes”, University of Idaho said in a statement.

Katy Benoit was killed by psychology professor Ernesto Bustamante in August, after she and other students warned the university that he had talked in class about shooting students and was having "sex orgies" with students
Katy Benoit was killed by psychology professor Ernesto Bustamante in August, after she and other students warned the university that he had talked in class about shooting students and was having "sex orgies" with students

According to Idaho University spokeswoman Tania Thompson, Ernesto Bustamante first had a chance to respond to the complaint, which he was served in early July after university officials received permission from Katy Benoit.

“He, at that point, has a right to respond to those allegations,” Tania Thompson said.

Ernesto Bustamante denied Katy Benoit’s allegations and told administrators that they had a friendship that had dissolved after she stole prescription pills from him.

Katy Benoit later told university officials she “screwed up” the relationship by stealing the pills, but she was really scared after he threatened her with a gun.

Ernesto Bustamante resigned his position effective August 19, and three days later, police said he shot Katy Benoit nearly a dozen times outside her Moscow home.

Ernesto Bustamante committed suicide in a hotel room shortly after shooting Katy Benoit and was found with six guns and medications for bipolar disorder and severe anxiety, according to police.

Ernesto Bustamante, who had been known to alternately refer to himself as a “psychopathic killer” and “the beast”, disclosed he took medication for bipolar disorder shortly after he was hired in 2007.

As early as he started the first semester at the university, three or four students went to psychology department chairman Ken Locke to express concerns about professor’s behavior, saying he was “flirtatious” and showed favoritism to students.

Katy Benoit had met Ernesto Bustamante in the fall of 2010 when she took a psychology course he was teaching, and by the end of the semester, they were dating.

During student evaluations of Ernesto Bustamante that fall, another student complained about the professor’s behavior.

“He talked about shooting students, which was disturbing, and implied that he was [and we should be] drunk and high every other day,” said the student, who is not identified in the teaching evaluations.

University of Idaho acknowledged that certain items in the documents, including this student’s comment, were troublesome in hindsight.

“In this case, the department chair did discuss with Bustamante his concerns regarding comments he had received from students about his classroom behavior,” the university said in a statement.

In December 2010, Ernesto Bustamante met with administrators to discuss a complaint that an anonymous caller put into a university hotline, saying professor was having sexual relationships with students.

The call reported that one of these relationships had become mentally abusive and the student had been coerced by Ernesto Bustamante into having sex with other people.

“They have also gotten into sexual orgies,” the caller said, according to a copy of the hotline complaint.

The student at the center of the abuse allegations was not Katy Benoit and denied that Ernesto Bustamante had exhibited improper behavior, refusing to file a complaint against him.

Ernesto Bustamante denied any violations of university policy during a December meeting with university administrator.

The student’s name was not mentioned during the meeting, but she later informed administrators that Ernesto Bustamante had called her immediately afterward and warned her that the dean of the college might make inquiries regarding a sexual harassment complaint.

Katy Benoit’s relationship with Ernesto Bustamante ended in May, after he put a gun to her head a third time and told her how he would use it to kill her.

Ernesto Bustamante had informed the chairman of his department April 30 that was experiencing withdrawal symptoms due to a change in his medication.

On October 3, a judge ordered Ernesto Bustamante’s personnel records to be released.

 

 

Christine Hemming escaped prison sentence for stealing her husband lover’s cat.

Diane A. Wade
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Christine Hemming escaped prison sentence for stealing her husband lover’s cat.

Christine Hemming, wife of British Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming, has yesterday escaped a prison sentence for stealing her husband lover’s cat during a burglary.

Christine Hemming, 53, from the city’s suburb of Moseley, was last month convicted at Birmingham Crown Court of stealing the pet from the home of Emily Cox, the mistress of her husband.

The wife was spared a stringent punishment as she was given a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Christine Hemming, wife of British Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming, has yesterday escaped a prison sentence for stealing her husband lover's cat during a burglary
Christine Hemming, wife of British Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming, has yesterday escaped a prison sentence for stealing her husband lover's cat during a burglary

 

Christine Hemming was also ordered to complete 150 hours of community service and pay costs of £1,000 ($1,500) after she was seen on CCTV abducting four-month-old kitten Beauty.

MP John Hemming, from Birmingham, said last week that he did not think locking up his estranged wife would “be of any benefit to anyone”.

John Hemming, who is a MP for Yardley, said he supported the decision to arrest his wife over pet’s disappearance but did not want her jailed.

MP John Hemming and his mistress Emily Cox
MP John Hemming and his mistress Emily Cox

CCTV footage of the incident, played to the jury at Christine Hemming’s trial, showed her crawling across Emily Cox’s garden at night and leaving through the back door with Beauty tucked beneath her arm.

Christine Hemming has previously accused her husband, with whom she has three children, of having “about 26 affairs”.

MP John Hemming said that the allegation was a “much-repeated myth”, although he admitted he was unfaithful before his wife walked out on him.

Christine Hemming told ITV News yesterday: “I’m not a criminal, yet I have a conviction.

“I did not deliberately take the cat. The whole process has been very unfortunate.

“Why I stepped in, I’ll never know. And then I tried to hide in the adjacent room, but when it’s cut and clipped [the CCTV footage] it looks terrible. Particularly when I left holding the cat.

“I think that the cat’s the victim.”

The stolen kitten Beauty
The stolen kitten Beauty

During her trial, Christine Hemming said that she had no recollection of taking the kitten, describing the incident as “a blur”.

Judge Elizabeth Fisher told Christine Hemming: “Emily Cox made it clear in her evidence that you had no permission to enter her house and that you would never be welcome in her home.

“The kitten has not been seen since the burglary offence. This inevitably would have caused a degree of upset to the victim and her young daughter.”

Judge Fisher added that she accepted Christine Hemming was “under considerable emotional pressure” in the period leading up to the burglary.

MP John Hemming said last week: “My wife took Emily’s kitten in September 2010 and, having initially kept it at her home, she then put it through a fence in Sparkhill about a mile from Emily’s house.

“I supported referring the theft of the kitten to the police because I felt it was necessary to stop my wife from feeling she was free to trespass in Emily’s garden at will.

“I was aware there would be media attention in the story but my priority was protecting Emily and our daughter from any potential further harm.”

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Snowstorm warning for North East Coast on Halloween weekend.

Diane A. Wade
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Snowstorm warning for North East Coast on Halloween weekend.

An unseasonable snowstorm warning has been issued for US East Coast on Halloween weekend, with forecasts of up to 10 inches (25 cm) of early snowfall.

A winter storm warning has been issued by the US National Weather Service (NWS) starting with Saturday morning until Sunday.

The NWS also says travel conditions may be hazardous.

About 10,000 people in Pennsylvania, as well as in Maryland and West Virginia, are without power after heavy snow has begun falling across.

In October 1979, southern New England received a record 7.5 inches of snow.

A region of low pressure brewing off the mid-Atlantic coast is expected to produce heavy, wet snow as it moves north-east, according to the NWS.

A winter storm warning has been issued by the National Weather Service from Saturday morning to Sunday
A winter storm warning has been issued by the National Weather Service from Saturday morning to Sunday

The Massachusetts Berkshires, north-western Connecticut and southern New Hampshire could see the most snow.

Big coastal cities are set to be hit, forecasters say, with New York expecting four inches (10 cm) on Saturday, and Boston 3 inches.

Winds along East Coast could reach 45 mph (72km/h), further damaging powerlines, the NWS said.

Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy has warned some residents could lose power, while NWS meteorologist Bill Simpson said the snowfall could break records.

Mountainous areas in Pennsylvania could see as much as six to 10 inches of snow while more than 6 inches of snow are predicted to fall in Maine on Saturday night.

“This is very, very unusual. It has all the look and feel of a classic mid-winter nor’easter. It’s going to be very dangerous,” John LaCorte, a NWS meteorologist in Pennsylvania told the Associated Press.

John LaCorte added that the last time Pennsylvania saw a major storm so early was in 1972.

In New England it is usual for measurable snow to fall in early December.

Six inches snowfall in Vermont on Friday morning
Six inches snowfall in Vermont on Friday morning

Meteorologist Bill Simpson said temperatures could return to normal by the middle of next week.

“This doesn’t mean our winter is going to be terrible. You can’t get any correlation from a two-day event,” Bill Simpson said.

An industrial dispute grounds Qantas flights worldwide.

Diane A. Wade
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An industrial dispute grounds Qantas flights worldwide.

An industrial dispute made the Australian airline Qantas to ground all international and domestic flights with immediate effect.

All employees involved in industrial action would be locked out from Monday evening and flights grounded from 06:00 GMT on Saturday.

With regard to the aircrafts currently in the air, they will complete their flights, but there will be no further departures.

Fair Work Australia, the national industrial tribunal, adjourned a hearing on the Qantas dispute on Saturday night. The tribunal – which has the power to suspend or terminate industrial action – is to reconvene later on Sunday.

It was reported that Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has warned that the dispute could have “implications” for the national economy.

Qantas airline has been hit by a series of costly strikes. Baggage handlers, engineers and pilots have been involved in the action which the company says is costing A$15 million (US$16 million) a week.

Qantas airline issued a statement on its Facebook page saying customers booked on Qantas flights should not go to the airport until further notice. Qantas said a full refund would be available to those affected.

An industrial dispute made the Australian airline Qantas to ground all international and domestic flights with immediate effect
An industrial dispute made the Australian airline Qantas to ground all international and domestic flights with immediate effect

Relations between the unions and Qantas management started deteriorating in August after the airline announced plans for restructuring and moving some operations to Asia.

Qantas airline has a 65% share of the domestic Australian market, but has been making heavy losses on its international flights.

Qantas restructuring is expected to mean the loss of 1,000 jobs from its 35,000-strong workforce.

The disruption to Qantas flights has also affected a meeting of Commonwealth heads of government in Perth, with reports that members from 17 delegations have been stranded in the city because of the dispute.

The dispute comes on a busy travel weekend, just days before the country’s biggest horse race, the Melbourne Cup.

Anthony Albanese, Australian minister for transport said the government would take action to intervene in the dispute.

“We are very concerned about Qantas’ actions, of which we were notified only mid-afternoon, with no advance notice from Qantas at any stage,” Anthony Albanese said.

“The government is making an urgent application to Fair Work Australia to terminate all industrial action at Qantas. This will be aimed at both actions by unions and by Qantas management.”

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce announced the grounding of the airline on Saturday: “The airline will be grounded as long as it takes to reach a conclusion on this.”

Alan Joyce said that he would not take “the easy way out” and agree to union demands.

“That would destroy Qantas in the long term.

“I’m actually taking the bold decision, an unbelievable decision, a very hard decision, to ground this airline.”

Alan Joyce said he made the decision early Saturday and then gained the approval of the Qantas board.

“We are locking out until the unions withdraw their extreme claim and reach an agreement with us,” he said.

“This is the fastest way to ensure the airline gets back in the air.

“They are trashing our strategy and our brand.

“They must decide just how badly they want to hurt Qantas, their members… and the travelling public.”

The Australian pilots association criticized the grounding.

“It’s unprecedented and really it has hijacked the nation. It really has put everyone on notice and… it’s forcing the government’s hand on this,” Barry Jackson of the Australian and International Pilots Association told Sky News.

“We really need to address this sooner rather than later and get the aircraft back in the air.”

Qantas said as of 04:00 GMT on Saturday, there were 64 aircraft in the air – 36 domestic and 28 international – carrying more than 7,000 passengers. In total, 108 aircraft will be grounded in 22 airports around the world.

Qantas also said 13,305 passengers were booked to travel on its planes from overseas airports to Australia in the next 24 hours. About 1,310 international passengers may be at international airports now waiting for their flights to depart.

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St Louis Cardinals won baseball’s World Series 2011

Ricky Robinson
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St Louis Cardinals won baseball’s World Series 2011

St Louis Cardinals beat Texas Rangers 6-2 in the decisive seventh game and won baseball’s World Series 2011.

Both teams drove in two runs in the first innings, but St Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter then began to dominate as the runs dried up for Texas Rangers.

Allen Craig’s solo home run in the third put St Louis Cardinals ahead before Texas Rangers bullpen contrived to walk in two more runs in the fifth.

St Louis Cardinals added another run in the seventh as they cruised to victory. It was heartbreaking for Texas Rangers, who was beaten by San Francisco Giants in last year’s World Series – and had been one strike away from winning 2011’s Fall Classic on two occasions in Thursday’s epic Game Six.

Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington admitted:

“Someone has to win, someone has to lose and the Cardinals did it.

“They were the better team.”

The game started badly for Texas Rangers when leadoff hitter Ian Kinsler was caught stealing, but Josh Hamilton and Michael Young drove in a pair of runs as Texas got after Chris Carpenter early on.

St Louis Cardinals beat Texas Rangers 6-2 in the decisive seventh game and won baseball's World Series 2011
St Louis Cardinals beat Texas Rangers 6-2 in the decisive seventh game and won baseball's World Series 2011

 

St Louis Cardinals drew level in the bottom of the first innings after Rangers starter Matt Harrison walked Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman.

The stage was set for Game Six hero David Freese, who steered a double into left field to score both runners and level the score at 2-2.

While Carpenter, pitching on only three days’ rest, threw five scoreless innings, St Louis Cardinals took the lead for the first time when Allen Craig smashed his homer over the right field fence.

Allen Craig was only starting the game as regular left fielder Matt Holliday was ruled out with a sprained right wrist he sustained in Game Six.

St Louis Cardinals threatened another rally in the bottom of the fifth when reliever Scott Feldman walked Allen Craig and hit Albert Pujols with a pitch.

Lance Berkman grounded out, but Texas Rangers gambled by intentionally walking Freese to load the bases for Yadier Molina – and it backfired as Feldman walked in a run.

That prompted Washington to lift Scott Feldman in favour of CJ Wilson – who had started Games One and Five but began his career as a closer – and the left-hander’s first pitch hit Rafael Furcal to walk in another run and leave the Rangers trailing 5-2.

Allen Craig made a great leaping catch in front of the left-field fence to deny Nelson Cruz a home run, while Chris Carpenter was eventually pulled early in the seventh innings as manager Tony La Russa – the master of matching pitchers with specific batters – turned to his bullpen.

“I was hoping to have an opportunity to go ahead and pitch in this game and fortunately it worked out,” said Chris Carpenter.

“It started off a little rough in the first. But I was able to collect myself, make some pitches and our guys did an awesome job to battle back.”

Lance Berkman, a Texan who was a World Series runner-up with Houston Astros in 2005, hustled well to start another St Louis Cardinals rally in the seventh innings, and this time Mike Adams was the Rangers reliever to suffer as Yadier Molina drove in Berkman to make it 6-2.

With the record 47,399 crowd joined by thousands more surrounding Busch Stadium to share St Louis Cardinals’ moment of glory, Jason Motte was handed the chance to come in as closer and retired the side in style.

Fittingly, it was Allen Craig in left field who caught a David Murphy fly ball for the final out as St Louis Cardinals wrapped up their 11th Fall Classic triumph.

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Five ideas for a last minute Halloween costume.

Lisa.Felice
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Five ideas for a last minute Halloween costume.

Five ideas for a last minute Halloween costume that can be picked up at your local thrift store or the back of your closet:

The 99%: Make a sign and wear your grungy clothes to dress up as a political protester. Keep it in the spirit of Halloween by protesting the living or protesting for more candy.

The 99 per cent protester Halloween costume
The 99 per cent protester Halloween costume

Your Facebook profile: Take a piece of white poster board and decorate it like your Facebook profile. Cut out a window for your “profile picture” and simply hold the board up to your face. Bonus points: cover the poster board with a sheet of lamination film to make a write on-wipe off surface, then tape a dry erase marker to your board so friends can add “updates” to your “page.”

Instant cowboy: If you have jeans, boots and a long sleeve shirt you can dress up as a cowboy. Add a Nerf gun or cap pistol from the toy aisle and you’re ready to rustle up Halloween fun.

Tourist: If you have a Hawaiian shirt, this one is a cinch. Dig in the back of your closet for an old 35mm camera (or two) to hang around your neck. Bonus points: wear a set of mouse ears or other souvenir hat from a past vacation.

Thrift store zombie: Fenton has two thrift stores to search for frightfully cheap Halloween costumes: Value Village and Goodwill. Thrift store clothes are cheap enough that you can tear them up and splatter them with blood, and just throw them away when your spooky evening is over.

Snowfall forecasts for East Coast on Halloween weekend.

Diane A. Wade
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Snowfall forecasts for East Coast on Halloween weekend.

Forecasts for north eastern US have changed in the last couple of days and the prospect of a snow-free Halloween weekend have now gone.

October has been relatively mild so far but now north eastern states are suddenly braced for snow this weekend.

Low pressure will track up the East Coast on Saturday possibly bringing significant amounts of the white stuff across the tri-state area, Pennsylvania and New England.

New York has received measurable snow before Halloween only three times since 1869 – and never more than one inch, which is what some experts are predicting.

It would be the earliest one-inch snowfall in New York since the Civil War.

Forecasts for north eastern US have changed in the last couple of days and the prospect of a snow-free Halloween weekend have now gone
Forecasts for north eastern US have changed in the last couple of days and the prospect of a snow-free Halloween weekend have now gone

The heaviest snow falls are expected between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Saturday night, although the temperatures could bring light snow throughout the night.

Temperatures in the 30s and 40s and wind chills in the 20s will make it feel like winter has truly arrived.

Forecasters at weather.com say the heaviest amounts of snow will fall in parts of Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, upstate New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

These areas could see between two to four inches late on Saturday.

Weather.com said: “Precipitation will start as rain in these locations, but may change over to snow. How quickly this occurs and how much snow falls is dependent on the availability of enough cold air, which is difficult to forecast early in the season.”

Early season snows, when the leaves are still on the trees, are notorious for causing tree damage and power outages and this storm will be no exception.

The biggest impact from the weekend’s storm will not come from snow accumulation, but from the rain and melted snow freezing on bridges and overpasses.

Sunday morning could be particularly treacherous on the roads.

Overnight freeze warnings are in effect across the north east region.

The forecast for the country is mostly dry, though a few disturbances could bring some showers to parts of Pennsylvania and upstate New York.

Find cheap Halloween costumes at Goodwill.

Diane A. Wade
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Find cheap Halloween costumes at Goodwill.

Goodwill is in the process of promoting a “being green” campaign, with management officials at the store chain noting that every costume or item bought at Goodwill is one less item in a landfill.

According to Goodwill, the 26 stores in Northern New England are stocked with items from nearly one million donors.

The Goodwill store on Loudon Road still has a bunch of different costume ideas and many other Halloween accessories.

Assistant Manager Dawn Cole noted that they have already gone through six racks full of clothes with Halloween costume potential, including old prom dresses, wedding gowns, princess outfits, superhero costumes, scrubs, “crazy jackets,” or orange T-shirts with Halloween slogans and logs.

Goodwill store still has a bunch of different costume ideas and many other Halloween accessories
Goodwill store still has a bunch of different costume ideas and many other Halloween accessories

“What we do is when we’re process things, which is how we go through our donations and hang clothes to sell, we’ll find that have been donated from the 1960s, things that people aren’t going to wear, and we’ll set them aside for Halloween,” she said.

Goodwill also receive costumes from stores that go out of business.

“For usually under $10, they can get a $200 costume,” Dawn Cole said.

Dawn Cole said there have been “lots and lots and lots of people” coming through the store of late. She said there were more sales on a Saturday last week than when the store held a bridal show earlier this year. Cole said business has been steady and growing in recent years.

“We’d like to think we’re recession proof, because of where our price line is,” she said.

“But that’s not always the case. The customers can vary from a guy who lives in a tent down by the Merrimack River to the guy who drives up in the Mercedes. That’s my customer base. It’s not just people who can’t shop in regular retail stores. It’s everybody.”

Goodwill not only sells used items but also new items that are often bought by the store in bulk, according to Dawn Cole. She said the store offers new items of things one might not want to buy used like socks and underwear. Those items tend to be priced lower than most retail outlets, even if they aren’t donated to the store, she said.

Last minute Halloween costumes in London shops.

Diane A. Wade
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Last minute Halloween costumes in London shops.

Halloween is nearly upon us and with it, the need for some seriously spooky last minute costumes. So whether you seek some full-on Dracula attire, a ghostly frock, a dash of fake blood or pair of comedy fangs, you’ll find them all here:

Angels, 119 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8AE (020 7836 5678)

London’s most famous and well-equipped fancy dress shop stocks everything from opulent Elizabethan frocks to contemporary, freakish rubber costumes.
 There are new costumes being added constantly, from Angry Birds to the Honey Monster. Online store is also excellent.

Beyond Retro
, 110-112 Cheshire Street, E2 6EJ (020 7613 3636)

One of London’s biggest and best second-hand shops and an excellent place to get kitted out for a fancy-dress party, with a mighty selection of cheap garments and accessories from the 1920s-1980s. They’ll be choosing extra stock especially for Halloween so there will be plenty to choose from for vintage scares. Also have branches in Dalston, Soho and Brighton.


Charles H. Fox Ltd., 

22 Tavistock Street, WC2E 7PY (020 7257 6159)

This is the place professionals in the film and theatre industries come for make-up, wigs, latex and lashes. 1-2-1 tranny workshops are also on offer, alongside glamour, editorial and avant-garde make-up workshops.

The Costume Studio, 159-161 Balls Pond Road, N1 4BG (020 7923 9472)

An impressive selection of authentic-looking costumes and trimmings but at a price: around £80 an outfit for a week’s hire. Their attention to detail makes them a popular choice for costume drama inspired dress. If you’re channeling Downton Abbey or Jane Eyre, The Costume Studio can help.

Find your memorable Halloween costume in one of the London shops
Find your memorable Halloween costume in one of the London shops

 

Escapade, 45-46 Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AJ (020 7485 7384)

This well-known Camden shop has an extensive range of masks and accessories, as well as full character outfits from Harry Potter to Superman. You can also order from their website to avoid the inevitable and enormous Halloween queues.

Mad World Fancy Dress
, 69-85 Tabernacle St, EC2A 4BA (020 7253 1003).

With more than 35,000 costumes from historical to comic, crammed into a warehouse basement, this is Old Street’s hidden gem. These guys are well prepped for Halloween, but transformed many people’s outfits during Vintage at Southbank too.

National Theatre Costume Hire, Chichester House, Kennington Park Business Estate, 1-3 Brixton Road, SW9 6DE (020 7735 4774).

Any member of the public can can make an appointment at the National Theatre’s costume warehouse, whether they’re looking for a specific item or a whole ensemble. Rails are arranged chronologically from dramatic 18th century ballgowns to 1920s flapper dresses for women, and top hats and tails to Elizabethan ruffs and doublets for men. Enthusiastic staff are on hand to help you build a top-to-toe look.

Prangsta, 304 New Cross Road, SE14 6AF (020 8694 9869).

A bespoke costumier in New Cross with a unique made-to-measure service as well as ready made costumes and staff who can help you put an outfit together thanks to their styling service. This is the go-to venue for circus styling, and 18th century outfits are their bestsellers, but recent demand means they’ve just increased their 1920s range.

Screenface, 48 Monmouth Street, WC2 9EP (020 7836 3955)

A vast selection of theatrical make-up, fake eyelashes and body jewellery will help you get into character. Plenty of scary effects available for Halloween, from realistic gelatin wounds to dental fit vampire fangs. Book in for a dramatic make-over if you’d like them to do the hard part for you.

Last minute Halloween costumes at your home.

Diane A. Wade
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Last minute Halloween costumes at your home.

If you don’t have any idea, or you don’t have enough time or simply you don’t want to spend money to get a Halloween costume, here are some fun ideas that will have you being the life of the monster bash – and most of these items you probably have around your home:

• Carry a quarter and a hammer. What are you? A Quarter-pounder.

• Dress in pink and carry a feather. What are you? Tickled pink.

• Dress all in black, tie a shot glass around your neck. What are you? A shot in the dark!

• Quarter (or preferably enlarged photocopy of one) taped to your back. What are you? A quarter-back.

Find your Halloween costume in your closet
Find your Halloween costume in your closet

• Wear all white. Attach (or paint) yellow circle to your stomach. You are an egg. Add horns and a pitchfork and you are a deviled egg.

• Dress normally. Pin some socks, dryer sheets, hand towels to your shirt. Static cling.

• Get some cat and dog stuffed animals. Use double sided tape or string to attach to an umbrella. Its raining cats and dogs.

• Wear normal clothes. Attach a dollar to each ear. What are you? A Bucaneer. (Buck-an-ear).

• An empty box of cereal. A toy knife. Instant “Cereal Killer.”

• Put a sign that says “Go Ceilings!!!!” on your shirt. What are you? A Ceiling Fan! Cheer to help the effect.

• Where cat ears and carry a paper bag – cats out of the bag

• Carry a large empty picture frame… minus the glass… a self-portrait

• Wear black… using white tape make dash lines down the front of you. Attach a plastic fork… Fork in the road

• Wear an apron and chef’s hat and carry an iron – Iron Chef

Beavis and Butt-Head series reboot premiered last night in New York.

Lisa.Felice
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Beavis and Butt-Head series reboot premiered last night in New York.

MTV’s most famous animated duo, Beavis and Butt-Head made their triumphant return last night.

From hilarious commentary about other MTV shows to plenty of misadventures and snarky asides from the Beavis and Butt-Head, there’s a lot to love about this reboot – as especially evidenced by the three funniest moments from the premiere.

To toast the launch of the much-talked-about Beavis and Butt-Head series reboot, some of the original B&B pioneers, including Baboon Animation and Titmouse staff, reunited last night over drinks and to watch the premiere, at Blue Haven, a pub in Manhattan.

Included among the butt-munchers were some of today’s strongest powerhouses in new media and animation for both kids and adults.

Among participants were Emmy-nominated director-writer Mike de Seve, known for his writing/directing work on DreamWorks’ Madagascar and Monsters vs. Aliens, and directing several SNL shorts, over 50 episodes of the Beavis and Butt-Head series, Beavis and Butt-Head Do Christmas, and on the B&B feature film; Kit Lybourne, an Executive Producer of the original Liquid Television, on which Beavis and Butt-Head premiered in 1993 and co-founder of the Oxygen network and The Whistle, a new transmedia sports network for kids; Machi Tantillo, former Studio Director at MTV Animation and executive at Oxygen; and directors and artists from Adult Swim’s Superjail and The Venture Brothers series.

Beavis and Butt-Head series reboot premiered last night in New York
Beavis and Butt-Head series reboot premiered last night in New York

Only few of the original crew went back to their seats to help on the Beavis and Butt-Head reboot in Los Angeles, but most are on to new territories like iPad and transmedia, said Mike de Seve.

“The new Beavis is just hilarious. But I think a lot of us can’t help ourselves-breaking the new ground is what gets our motors going” Mike de Seve said. “Rrrrrrr,” he added, “Like that.”

Superjail co-creator Ben Gruber, who broke into the biz through Beavis and Butt-Head and also Mike de Seve’s writing team at MTV Films, remembers the B&B crew:

“They were some of the kindest and some of the filthiest people I ever worked with.”

“It was a blast. B&B was fun, it was provocative, and it was actually universal in the same way that Dreamworks and Pixar movies are. No, I’m serious,” said Mike de Seve over a bottom-shelf whiskey.

“The point is, make it from the heart – characters who really, really want something that you can relate to, and are going for it against absolutely impossible odds. That works whether it’s chicks and beer they want, or to find Nemo. That drive is what gets audiences cheering. And in B&B fans’ case, farting.”

Ben Gruber recalled about the Beavis and Butt-Head crew:

“It was just a really great, nice group of people. We were all young. We’d work hard during the day, then go out drinking at Siberia, this bar actually down in the subway. If you worked all night (studio head) Machi would give you a toothbrush in the morning.”

Former MTV Animation VP John Andrews (now a development executive at Six Point Harness, makers of MTV’s other premiering cartoon, Good Vibes) joined the party by teleconference.

John Andrews recalls: “It was amazing to have your own cartoon studio right in the middle of Times Square. Like having a pinball machine in your living room.”

He also remembers that it occasionally got hairy, like the time a Beavis and Butt-Head episode was so controversial they had to move Mike Judge’s voice recording to a secret location for a week.

“And we hired Joe Frasier’s nephew as bodyguard,” says John Andrews.

“He was large,” says Mike de Seve.

“We needed large.”

Mike de Seve noted: “It’s amazing to me that so many friends and colleagues still work together. We’re not afraid to try new things. Have you had this calamari with bacon sauce for example?”

Ben Gruber is currently writing with Mike de Seve’s collective, Baboon Animation, on KikoRiki, which is the number one cartoon in Russia today.

“We’ve gone global,” laughs Mike de Seve.

“Till they take our passports.”

Baboon Animation is a collective of NY and LA writers, directors and artists in animation and new media, whose motto is “Cartoons for Humans.”

Baboon is providing the writing for Russia’s number one family series, KikoRiki; and Kit Laybourne’s new transmedia network The Whistle; and providing the writing and co-direction on the 5-star-rated iPad spy app, Operation Ajax from Cognito Comics (due for full release November 16).

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