KnowledGe.sPOT408...

Bugatti Veyron (Jacked this from the BBC/Ice Cream Blog)

2008-12-12T17:14:00.000-08:00

Click here for Bugatti Veyron site: http://www.bugatti.com/en/veyron-16.4.html

Chad...you going through my laundry or what? Sick ass Stussy "Revolution" shirt

2008-12-12T17:06:00.000-08:00

Bellarmine-Valley Christian winner could get State Bowl bid (San Jose Mercury News)

2008-12-03T11:27:00.000-08:00

By Dennis Knight
Mercury News
Posted: 12/02/2008 07:39:07 PM PST

With a chance at a State Bowl bid on the line, Friday night's Central Coast Section Open Division football final between Bellarmine College Prep and Valley Christian takes on even greater importance.

Bellarmine (11-1), which is No. 3 in the Northern California State Bowl Game Division I rankings compiled by Cal-Hi Sports editor Mark Tennis, probably will need some help to earn a bid. The State Bowl format has been expanded to include an Open Division game this season, opening up an extra slot for teams. But the Bells are ranked behind Concord's De La Salle and Grant of Sacramento and need to beat Valley Christian and hope that one of the teams ahead of them loses.

De La Salle (10-1), the favorite for the Open Division berth, is playing in a North Coast Section semifinal Friday against Foothill of Pleasanton, a team De La Salle beat 63-7 during the regular season. Grant (12-0) is playing in a Sac-Joaquin Section final against Burbank, which Grant defeated 35-13 in the regular season.

"Bellarmine will have people arguing for them if they win. But if both teams win, Bellarmine still has that blemish on their record, even though they came back to beat Serra in the playoffs," Tennis said. "Bellarmine can argue that they have a tougher schedule — and their league is certainly tougher and their playoffs are a little stronger — but that loss may have cost them a shot at a State Bowl."

However, if Valley Christian (10-2) defeats the Bells, it looks as if the Warriors would travel to the Home Depot Center in Carson for the Division II championship game.

Valley Christian is ranked No. 1 in NorCal Division II ahead of Casa Roble of Orangevale and St. Mary's-Stockton.

"If Valley Christian wins, it's a slam dunk for them over St. Mary's," Tennis said. "It's not as clear over Casa Roble, but Valley Christian has a much tougher strength of schedule."
Warriors Coach Mike Machado said his team isn't looking past Bellarmine.

"That would be like putting the star on the Christmas tree before you put the lights on," he said. "We're not looking past Friday. If it works out, we'll go from there. This is going to be a good matchup between two teams that know each other very well."

The San Jose State baseball team has signed pitchers Blake McFarland (Leigh High School/Santa Barbara Community College) and David Luna (Piedmont Hills/Ohlone College) and infielder-pitcher Tyler Christian (Leigh).

Fresh from election victory, high-speed rail backers look to Obama and D.C. Democrats for next funding wave (San Jose Mercury News)

2008-12-03T11:22:00.001-08:00

Conceptual rendering of the California High-Speed Rail.

Tracy neighborhood shocked by kidnapping, torture allegations (San Jose Mercury News)

2008-12-03T11:05:00.000-08:00

Michael Luther Schumacher, suspected of keeping a teenager prisoner for the past year in Tracy, Calif. (San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office)

Kelly Layne Law, accused of holding a teenager captive for the past year in Tracy, Calif. (San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office)

Caren Ramirez is being sought by police in connection with the kidnapping of a teenage boy in Tracy. (San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office)

TRACY — The teenage boy stumbled into the sprawling fitness club wearing only boxer shorts and a heavy chain padlocked to his ankle. Covered in dried blood, bruises, burns, feces and urine, he begged the club's assistant manager to hide him, then curled into a fetal position under the front counter and kept saying, over and over, "They're going to come find me."

Kidnapping and torture weren't supposed to happen in Northern California's second safest city, not on a quiet street where hundreds of children walk to Williams Elementary School, not behind a sports complex where hundreds of adults work out to stay fit.

But a day after the 17-year-old boy managed to jump across a fence and pleaded for help at the In-Shape Sports Club, the purported secrets of 630 Tennis Lane began to leak out. Tuesday, neighbors and residents struggled to accept the news: The boy had been held at the house for at least a year, beaten, chained and apparently burned, according to police.

It was even harder to understand for the neighbors who know Kelly Layne Lau, 30, and Michael Schumacher, 34, the couple who lived at the Tennis Lane home and now are being held on suspicion of torture, kidnapping, false imprisonment and child endangerment. Those neighbors had seen the boy, who has not been named, playing with the couple's four children in the front yard, setting out the trash and even carrying out used Pampers.

"You'd look outside and she'd be watering the lawn and the kids would all be playing," said Rachel Portillo, 47, who lives directly across the street from Lau and Schumacher and has known them since the couple moved in about two years ago.

The teenage boy "seemed to arrive at the house like a friend," Portillo said.

"They said it was a friend's son, they said he'd be going in about a month, then it was three months, then six months, then November. I always wondered 'why isn't he going to school?' "
Tracy police said it was about 3:30 p.m. Monday when the boy stumbled into the sprawling fitness club. "I thought it was a prank costume," said Lea Leonardo, the assistant manager, who came to his aid. "He was so dirty and had the chain around his foot. His feet were swollen, he was terrified and cold. He kept saying 'they're going to come find me.' He kept saying that over and over."

The teen said he was in a foster home, but ran away because he wanted to be with his family, said Chuck Ellis, the club manager.

"He was apparently picked up by these people, who had him over a year," Ellis said.
Leonardo called 911 and police arrived to find the boy wrapped in towels because he was shivering so hard. Officers immediately sealed off 630 Tennis Lane, which is in front of the side parking lot of the sports complex.

They arrested Lau and Schumacher and placed their four children in protective custody. Schumacher is a contractor with Comcast Cable, according to Tracy police. Lau's MySpace page says she is a stay-at-home mom. She also is a Girl Scout leader.

Tuesday evening, Berkeley police arrested a woman named Caren Ramirez, 43, who is believed to be the boy's aunt and had stayed at the Tennis Lane home off and on. According to court records, Ramirez was convicted in 2007 in Sacramento County of one felony count of inflicting corporal injury on a child. Police said they believed she was headed to her brother's house in East Palo Alto but she was still at large late Tuesday.

It is unknown what role if any she played in the torture and apparent imprisonment of the teenage boy.

Portillo's daughter, Marina Alvarez, was friends with Lau and said she was told that Ramirez and the boy were at the house because he had gotten into trouble and caused Ramirez to lose her home. She said the woman was called Carmine, not Caren, by Lau and Schumacher. Alvarez said the boy was called Kyle.

"Supposedly Carmine (Caren) was going to court because of Kyle," she said.

Portillo said Lau and Schumacher often held garage sales and would sit in the driveway. The teenager would be with them, but he seemed shy and withdrawn.

"He never went away," never went anywhere, she said. "He'd come out and cut the lawn but they'd have the blinds open. I think he was being watched."

Portillo said her 11-year-old granddaughter spent the night at Lau and Schumacher's house one night. The girl told her grandmother that the boy they knew as Kyle slept at night "on a piece of carpet in front of the door to the garage."

The neighbor also said Lau would curse the teenage boy.

Finding out the boy had allegedly been kidnapped and tortured, that he escaped with a heavy chain padlocked to his ankle "just blew me away," Alvarez said. Lau "made it seem like he was this troubled kid that needed to be disciplined."

Early news reports of the boy's fate prompted a flurry of calls with help Tuesday, including a call to Bay Area News Group reporter Mike Martinez from a Santa Clara County man who said he wanted to "foster the child for the holidays."

The boy remains in serious condition at Sutter Tracy Community Hospital.

And a town — named just last week as the second safest city in Northern California by CQ Press — was left to wonder why.

"We met him, my grandkids played with him in the front yard," Portillo said. "It angers me and it hurts me. I feel so badly."

Metal Face/Fingers Doom - Top 15 Emcees/Overall Artists

2008-12-03T11:03:00.001-08:00

"Don't sleep on him anymore!"

November Sucked!!

2008-12-03T11:02:00.000-08:00

The Upper Playground Store in the University District - Seattle, Washington

2008-10-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

Campus Parkway Art - University District (UW Campus)

2008-10-29T20:22:00.000-07:00

The Walk to Volunteer Park - Seattle, Washington

2008-10-29T20:11:00.000-07:00

PSP 2 Concept

2008-10-29T12:10:00.000-07:00

The Class of 1997/2001...still doin' it!

2008-10-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

A Giant Night To Remember

2008-10-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

About a year ago I went to a Giants vs. Dodgers game at AT&T and I caught a foul ball. Sweet.

Seattle, Washington Bound

2008-10-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

On the way to Berkeley, CA (Random Blackberry Pics)

2008-10-29T11:19:00.000-07:00

Pictured above: The Oracle Arena "Home of the Golden State Warriors" off of that 880 Northbound.

Pictured above: The Oracle Arena "Home of the Golden State Warriors" off of that 880 Northbound.

Pictured above: Entering Berkeley, CA.

Guess who's bizzzack...

2008-10-29T11:11:00.000-07:00

I have been slacking on the blog spot. October is always a weird month. Well I am in Seattle, Washington today, tomorrow I am in Las Vegas, Nevada. Holla!

Wall Street: Fall of the fat cats

2008-10-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

Pictured above: Jordan Belfort

"'I was a crook,' says Jordan Belfort, once a Wall Street fat cat who made $1 million a week before going to jail."

By Abbie Boudreau, David Fitzpatrick and Scott Zamost - CNN SIU

NEW YORK (CNN) -- In the midst of Wall Street's agonizing slide last week, there was at least one place in Manhattan where the liquor was flowing, the cigar smoke was billowing and the theme of the evening was simple: Work hard. Play hard.

"It's like fiddling. Nero fiddled while Rome burned," said Thomas Graf, vice president and producer of Northmarq Capital. "We're smoking cigars while we're losing our shirts, literally."
He was among hundreds of mid-level Wall Street executives and traders gathered for a party thrown by Cigar Report magazine, published by New York-based Doubledown Media.
And if they seemed a little tone-deaf about how this kind of event could be perceived as millions of dollars were lost, at least on paper, most did not seem especially concerned.

"It is a great time," said Adam Marsh of Empire Capital Partners. "I think for at least a couple of hours in the evening, we can kind of sit back, have a few drinks, forget what's facing us on the Street tomorrow."

Few of the men and women at the party earned millions in Wall Street bonuses on top of their salaries. But nearly all did very well, they say, at the top of the Wall Street bubble. And their bosses, along with those who managed Wall Street hedge funds, did even better.

"These guys were spending more than $250 billion a year," Robert Frank said. "They bought mansions in Greenwich and Palm Beach. They bought art for $100 million a painting." Frank, author of "Richistan," says the enormous amounts of money earned by Wall Street elite made them practically a nation unto themselves.

"They just looked at the guy with the bigger house, the nicer Ferrari, the better artwork," he said. "And it was all competitive spending."

One prominent example is the CEO of Lehman Brothers, Richard Fuld. In 2007 alone, according to the executive compensation firm Equilar, he earned total take-home compensation of more than $45 million in salary and bonuses.

Congressional researchers said he earned nearly $500 million from 2000 through 2007.
Fuld told Congress that the failure of his company centered on inaction on the part of government and a loss of confidence in the financial markets.

"This is a pain that will stay with me for the rest of my life, regardless of what comes out of this committee, regardless of when the record books get written," Fuld told Congress during a recent hearing.

Not every Wall Street executive played by the books.

Jordan Belfort was once chairman of a brokerage firm called Stratton Oakmont. In the early to mid-'90s, he called himself the Wolf of Wall Street.

He was jailed on federal charges of securities fraud and money laundering. He spent 22 months behind bars and was released in 2005.

"I was a crook," Belfort said.

At one time, he says, he was earning more than $1 million a week. Now, he has been ordered to pay back $110 million to his victims, and he said he is working on that.

Even the man who first chronicled Wall Street excess to a national audience can barely believe what has happened.

Oliver Stone, who wrote and directed the film "Wall Street" 21 years ago, says the main character in his story, unprincipled stockbroker Gordon Gekko, has been overtaken by reality.
"I never thought it would go to this level," Stone told CNN's Larry King. "I thought the Gordon Gekkos of the world would die out. But they got worse."

So what exactly did the new Gordon Gekkos do to earn those fabulous sums?
"What they really did was to figure out new and clever ways of investing," Frank said. "Of creating financial products that very few of us could understand."

"On Wall Street, there's no cost. The only cost is the employees, the executives," said Andy Serwer, managing editor of Fortune magazine. "So if a firm is creating a financial product that it can sell for $5 million, the person who sells it will get $2 million."

But people who earned relatively little on Wall Street are now paying the price as well.
Win Hornig, a 25-year-old Minnesotan who worked at both Bear Stearns and J.P. Morgan, is now out of a job. He's launched a Web site called BankerGoneBroke.com to talk about it.
"My life was basically a disaster," Hornig said. "I was working all the time, didn't have a lot to show for it. I came to the conclusion that there was more to life than money."

While it lasted, the good times on Wall Street made money for traders and, of course, for Americans who had invested in the stock market, mainly through their 401(k) contributions. But there is a "new normal" these days.

"The party is over on Wall Street -- until it comes back again," Serwer said. "I've been around long enough to see that we have these cycles. These guys get their cigars and champagne. They have a great time. The whole thing blows up. But then they re-emerge years later. This one is a really, really bad one. But I don't think Wall Street is dead."

(Courtesy of Wall Street Journal)

"Pure Beauty Yo" - Roselyn Sanchez

2008-10-17T09:13:00.000-07:00

Date of Birth: 2 April 1973, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Nickname: Popi Ros
Height: 5' 5" (1.65 m)
Spouse: Gary Stretch (1998 - 2001) (divorced)

(Courtesy of IMDB)

Kanye You F'ing Genius!! - JESSICA CIRIO

2008-10-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

Jessica Wanda Judith Cirio (born March 21, 1985 in Lanús, Buenos Aires Province) is an Argentine model and dancer. She has appeared on the Argentine reality show Cámara en Mano as well as pictorial spreads in Revista Hombre.

She is the host of 'Kubik', a TV programme broadcast in La Plata's America 2. She also took part in two popular Argentine-version contests 'Dancing with the stars' and 'Dancing on Ice'. Jesica currently resides in Puerto Madero neighbourhood in Buenos Aires.

(Courtesy of Wikipedia)

91-0!!

2008-10-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

"ESTERO, Fla. - The Estero High football staff gathered in head coach Rich Dombroski's office late Friday, almost in stunned silence.
Earlier that night, Estero lost to Naples High by 13.
Not by 13 points. By 13 touchdowns. That's right: Naples 91, Estero 0."

(Courtesy of the Associated Press)

Click here for full article: http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=862709

How Savage!! This is SAD!!

2008-10-12T22:59:00.001-07:00

Football Routs Utah State On Homecoming, 30-7

2008-10-12T18:05:00.000-07:00

Erin Andrews

2008-10-12T18:02:00.001-07:00

NBA Outdoors - Indian Wells Tennis Stadium Palm Springs, California

2008-10-12T17:56:00.000-07:00

Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya - December 6, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada

2008-10-12T17:54:00.000-07:00

Profile: OJ Simpson (Courtesy of BBC News) - Dayum!

2008-10-06T13:40:00.000-07:00

"The story of Orenthal James - "OJ" - Simpson is that of the fall of a hero."

OJ Simpson is once again making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Convicted of armed robbery and conspiracy to kidnap by a Las Vegas district court, Simpson may be facing life imprisonment 13 years to the day after being cleared of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.

That trial started in 1995 and containing the blockbuster ingredients of money, murder and sex, gripped the country for an entire year.

OJ's latest court appearance in a trial that lasted less than three weeks attracted much less interest - until the verdict was announced late on Friday 3 October.

Heaving a heavy sigh as the charges were read, could the once all-American football hero and Hollywood star have been reflecting on the broken shards of his once-charmed life?

Turning point

Before 1994, Simpson was regarded with affection by the public, well known as a professional athlete, actor and million-dollar spokesman for several US companies.

Things appeared to always work out for "the Juice". He had gone from the San Francisco ghetto, where he grew up, to a home in the wealthy boulevards of West Los Angeles via a glittering American football career.

It all changed when he became the main suspect in his ex-wife's murder. Millions of Americans watched as the police chased his white Bronco car for 90 minutes live on TV. He finally gave himself up outside his LA home.

Throughout his career OJ had worked hard to rise above race and become an all-American hero.
In 1969, in an interview with the New York Times, he stated that his biggest accomplishment was that "people looked at me like a man, not a black man".

But years later, in the courtroom, the issue of his colour could not be ignored.

His lawyer Johnnie Cochran was accused of playing the "race card" to a largely black jury after suggesting that police had planted evidence in an attempt to frame Simpson because he was a black superstar.

And the verdict divided US opinion along racial lines. There was widespread outrage among white Americans after Simpson walked free.

The trial led many to ask the question: Who was the real OJ Simpson?

There was no denying that he had been very much loved by the public who viewed him as gentle, generous, hard-working and charismatic. He and Nicole Brown, whom he married in 1985, played the perfect, handsome couple.

But the court case threw up a darker side, with the prosecution's emphasis on Simpson's violent relationship with his ex-wife.

There was the now-infamous incident of New Year's Day 1989 when police were summoned to their home to find Nicole outside, her eye blackened and her lip bloodied. She fell into an officer's arms, sobbing and screaming: "He's going to kill me."

Nicole decided not to press charges, but the city attorney went ahead and prosecuted OJ for spousal battery. He was fined and given two years' probation.

The couple remained together for another three volatile years before they divorced.

All-American hero

Simpson was born in 1947. He was a bow-legged child who had rickets, but was able to escape the San Francisco slums by the fact that he was an extremely good runner. He eventually went on to become one of the top running backs in American football history.

He attended the University of Southern California, where he was named the country's top college football player in 1968. He then moved to Buffalo, New York, where he spent most of his career.
In 1979, he was forced to retire due to injuries. By then, however, he was making his mark as a Hollywood actor.

Between 1973 and 1994, he appeared in more than 20 films including The Towering Inferno and the Naked Gun films. He also won some lucrative television advertising deals.

After the 1995 trial, things were never the same for Simpson. He was later found liable for the deaths in a civil trial brought by the Brown and Goldman family and ordered to pay them $33.5m in damages.

This money has not been paid, and OJ has remained out of work because any money earned would have to be handed over to the Brown and Goldman family. He does, however, receive a pension from his sporting career.

He has pursued a relatively quiet life, playing golf and focusing on his four children - two from his first marriage to a childhood sweetheart in the 1960s and two from his marriage to Nicole.
Last year, he was back in the spotlight, after a deal $3.5m ($1.8m) he reached with Rupert Murdoch's broadcasting and publishing companies sparked public outrage.

The deal included the publication of Simpson's ghost-written, "hypothetical" account of the murders, If I Did It, as well as an interview for Fox TV.

The project was shelved at the time, but this year, a court in Florida awarded the rights of the book to the Goldman family, partly to satisfy the unpaid civil judgement.

It was published by an American company in September.

(Coutesy of BBC News)

Police: Man shot prostitute in the back because she got tired

2008-10-06T13:33:00.000-07:00

Bakersfield Californian
Article Launched: 10/06/2008 01:22:39 PM PDT

A 20-year-old man shot a prostitute in the back because she got tired after having sex for 10 minutes, according to a recently released search warrant.

Ryan Graham and the victim agreed to a deal of $20 for sex in the west alley of the 200 block of T Street in Bakersfield on Sept. 17, police said.

The 26-year-old woman got tired after having sex for 10 minutes in the vehicle, according to the court document. The suspect got mad and shot her in the back as she left the vehicle, the document says.

The woman suffered a collapsed lung and was taken to Kern Medical Center, the warrant said. She was not identified because she fears for her safety.

Another prostitute gave police a description of the suspect's vehicle. Officers found the automobile in the 400 block of Eye Street.

Police went to the home and interviewed Graham, who identified himself as Nigel Patterson, the search warrant said. Graham then ran through the back door and was caught after a short chase.
Graham was taken to the medical center and the victim identified him as the shooter, police said. Graham grimaced and shook his head in a negative manner in an attempt to intimidate the victim, the court document said.

Police have taken a DNA sample from Graham.

Graham is facing several charges including attempted murder, assault with a firearm on a person and preventing/dissuading a victim/witness, according to Kern County Superior Court records.

(Courtesy of San Jose Mercury News)

Jackin' from Kanye's Blog - SpY

2008-10-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

"SpY is an artist from Madrid whose art consists in the playful reappropiation of urban elements, that he replicates or transforms and then installs in the street."

Go check out his website: http://spy.org.es/

San Francisco, California

2008-10-06T12:20:00.000-07:00

Got out of town this weekend and went up to San Francisco. Gotdelmit, had a great time. Did shopping downtown and checked out the "dark side" of Frisco. Good times. Great city!!

Empyre Ashton Black Herringbone Jacket - Exclusively at Zumiez? (I need info)

2008-10-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

"Game on in this Empyre Ashton Jacket! Features include hood with adjustable drawstrings, tall ribbed collar, front zip pockets that include headphone port, zip chest pocket for storage, ribbed waistband, adjustable cuffs and graphic Empyre lining."

Citigroup sues Wachovia, Wells Fargo for $60 billion

2008-10-06T12:11:00.000-07:00

By Sara Lepro
Associated Press
Article Launched: 10/06/2008 09:53:05 AM PDT

NEW YORK — Citigroup has filed a complaint in New York Supreme Court against Wachovia, Wells Fargo and the directors of both companies seeking more than $60 billion in damages for interfering with the bank's planned takeover of Wachovia's banking operations.

The complaint seeks more than $20 billion in compensatory damages and more than $40 billion in punitive damages from Wells Fargo for tortious interference. Citigroup also seeks relief from Wachovia for its bad faith breach of the banks' contract.

Citigroup and Wachovia are battling a separate case in federal court.

Meanwhile, Federal Reserve officials have been in talks with Wells Fargo and Citigroup in the hope of getting the parties to come to some sort of agreement, according to a person with knowledge of the talks. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter.

(Courtesy of San Jose Mercury News)

Wall Street tanking amid global sell-off

2008-10-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

By Joe Bel Bruno
Associated Press
Article Launched: 10/06/2008 06:48:39 AM PDT

Financial markets took a bleak view of the future today, seeing contagion in a credit crisis that threatens to cascade through economies globally despite government efforts to provide relief. The Dow Jones industrials skidded around 600 points and fell below 10,000 for the first time in four years, while the credit markets remained under strain.

Investors around the world have come to the sobering realization that the Bush administration's $700 billion rescue plan won't work quickly to unfreeze the credit markets. Global banks, hobbled by wrong-way bets on mortgage securities, remain starved for cash as credit has dried up.

That has sent stocks spiraling downward in the U.S., Europe and Asia, and driven investors to sink money into the relative safety of U.S. government debt. Fears about a global recession also caused oil to drop below $90 a barrel.

"The fact is people are scared and the only thing they're doing is selling," said Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer's Investment Research. "Investors are cleaning out portfolios and getting rid of everything because nothing seems to be working."

The selling was so extreme that only 98 stocks rose on the NYSE — and 3,114 dropped. That's a telling sign considering the stock market is considered a leading economic indicator, with investors tending to buy and sell based on where they believe the economy will be in six to nine months.

Today's steep decline on Wall Street indicates that investors are becoming more convinced that the country is leading a prolonged economic crisis that is spreading to other nations. Over the weekend, governments across Europe rushed to prop up failing banks, while the governments of Germany, Ireland and Greece also said they would guarantee bank deposits.

As the U.S. tries to repair its battered banking system, the German government and financial industry agreed on a $68 billion bailout for commercial-property lender Hypo Real Estate Holding AG. And France's BNP Paribas agreed to acquire a 75 percent stake in Fortis's Belgium bank after a government rescue failed.

The Fed also took fresh steps to help ease credit markets. The central bank said today it will begin paying interest on commercial banks' reserves and will expand its loan program to squeezed banks.

Joseph V. Battipaglia, chief investment officer at Ryan Beck & Co., said government intervention certainly might help. However, he believes investors are sensing that what's happening in the economy is a shift in the extent to which consumers and businesses take on debt, a change that will take years to play out.

"This is a global deleveraging of many economies," he said. "It might appear that you're going into the abyss where the economy grinds to a halt and the financial system goes into complete disarray. But, what the market is really reading here is that this is a global phenomenon, and when you delever like this, it is a process that takes a very long period of time measured in years, not quarters."

That, he said, is being reflected in major stock indexes being repriced significantly lower. In early afternoon trading, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 593.61, or 5.75 percent, to 9,731.77, dropping below 10,000 for the first time since Oct. 29, 2004. At one point, the Dow was down more than 600.

Broader indexes also tumbled. The Standard & Poor's 500 index shed 70.28, or 6.39 percent, to 1,028.95; and the Nasdaq composite index fell 137.38, or 7.05 percent, to 1,810.01. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies dropped 41.45, or 6.69 percent, to 577.95.

In Asia, the Nikkei 225 closed 4.25 percent lower. Europe's stock markets also declined, with the FTSE-100 down 5.20 percent, Germany's DAX down 7.07 percent, and France's CAC-40 down 9.04 percent.

The anxiety was again obvious in the credit markets. The yield on the three-month Treasury bill slipped to 0.42 percent from 0.50 percent late Friday. Demand for bills remains high because of their safety; investors are willing to take extremely low returns just to have their money in a secure place.

Investors also moved into longer-term Treasury bonds. The yield on the 10-year note fell to 3.49 percent from 3.60 percent late Friday.

Anthony Sabino, a professor of law and business at St. John's University, said the "market is displaying one of its worst traits with a herd mentality, and investors have an appetite for feeding on fear." He cautions that, while there are deep economic and financial problems being faced, it is still not a nightmare scenario.

"Most certainly, this is not the Great Depression of the 1930s, but (is like) the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s — and we bailed them out," he said. "Once people catch their breath, they'll see this is the proper analogy and this will breathe life back into banking institutions."

Banks' hesitation to lend to one another and to many businesses and individuals is the result of the bad mortgage debt that the financial rescue is supposed to sweep up. But it's still unclear how quickly financial institutions will be able to hand that debt to the U.S. government and convince the markets they are healthy again.

There has been some hope that perhaps the Fed, in concert with other central banks, might cut interest rates to help stimulate the economy. With oil prices well off their midsummer highs and indicators pointing to a slower economy, the Fed's worries about inflation are less than they had been, making it easier to justify a rate cut.

Investors might get some indication about a potential rate cut with several policymakers slated to speak this week. Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher and Chicago Fed President Charles Evans will speak on the U.S. economy ontoday. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is due to speak on Tuesday.

Frederick Dickson, chief market strategist at D.A. Davidson & Co., believes investors are eager for any signs about the well-being of the economy. He doesn't believe that will happen until Wall Street overhauls its expectations for growth of corporate earnings and the overall economy.
"Wall Street at this point is shifting its attention from whether Congress was going to act on the emergency stabilization bill to the realization that the economy is slowing significantly faster than most analysts had expected," he said. "The downturn has shifted from first gear to about third gear in about two weeks."

(Courtesy of San Jose Mercury News)

"Cookin' up yo!" - Be Back Soon

2008-09-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

Holla @ me!

Yo! Wake up! - Support "Citizens for Change"

2008-09-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

Peace to MSLGW CEO.

Check out "Citizens for Change"(Oklahoma Chapter) and get inolved in your local chapter:
http://www.cfcoklahoma.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1

F'n Valleywag...this is tight! - Take this job and love it, if you're working there any more

2008-09-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

"Scorelogix, a research firm which has created an index of job security, says — no surprise! — that the chances of keeping your job dropped again in August. This was before this week's six-figure layoffs, mind you. The good news? There are some industries where job security is rising."

(Courtesy of Valleywag)

11-year-old leads cops on high-speed chase before crashing car into police cruiser, pole

2008-09-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

Associated Press
Article Launched: 09/22/2008 10:16:37 AM PDT

WASHINGTON, Pa. — Police say an 11-year-old who stole his foster mother's car led them on a high-speed chase through western Pennsylvania, striking a cruiser and slamming into a utility pole.

The boy's guardian notified police that he was missing Sunday evening. Minutes later, the boy was spotted on a suburban road about 25 miles southwest of Pittsburgh.

Police say the boy drove up to 85 mph westbound on Interstate 70, swerving wildly between lanes. He got off the highway briefly, only to get back on going eastbound.

Officials say he then exited the interstate, hit a police cruiser and smashed into a utility pole.
The boy suffered a head injury that was not life-threatening.

(Coutesy of San Jose Mercury News)

Wal-Mart and Best Buy will sell MP3s on flash-memory cards

2008-09-22T11:38:00.000-07:00

Here's a primer on the format:

SlotMusic cards will be SanDisk MicroSD cards preloaded with music, album art and other extras.

Each card will be packaged with a USB sleeve, making plug-in to any computer theoretically no problem.

The details in the announcement seem intentionally vague on whether the disk will be a one-on-one alternative to CD albums, or whether record labels will create bundles that take advantage of the cards' 1 GB capacity.

MP3 will be the audio format, with rates as high as 320 kbps rather than the grainier 128 kbps most commonly used to share MP3s. (The 128 kbps rate was chosen as the target for MP3 audio quality back in the early '90s, when ISDN lines were the future.)

No DRM! Seriously, none.

The Big Four music labels — EMI, Sony, Universal and Warner — have signed up.

Also, check out: SlotMusic.org

Controversy surrounds sweeping 'safe neighborhoods' measure - PROP. 6 BACKER FACES POSSIBLE PRISON TERM

2008-09-22T10:56:00.000-07:00

"The measure was crafted as a crusading effort to fight gangs by the authors of 'Three Strikes' and 'Jessica's Law.' Its major financial backer has since been saddled with a 21-count federal indictment that also includes accusations of lies, fraud and conspiracy. The U.S. Attorney's Office reports that during a flight on his private plane, the embattled billionaire and others exhaled so much marijuana smoke that the pilot was forced to don an oxygen mask. "

Check out the full article at: http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10525623?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com

(Courtesy of San Jose Mercury News)

A BATHING APE BABY MILO Halloween Sweat Crewneck

2008-09-21T20:50:00.000-07:00

HARD. - AJ1 Retro "Team USA Olympic"

2008-09-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

1112 Pike St. Seattle, WA 98101 Boutique - 206.622.0459 Skate - 206.621.1307
goodsseattle@mac.com

Ill Artist from San Jose, California - David Choe

2008-09-21T20:19:00.000-07:00

Upper Playground Seattle Grand Opening

2008-09-21T19:58:00.000-07:00

Sick, I am glad that it's going to be open for when I go up there.

Big Up Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf...

2008-09-18T20:57:00.002-07:00

If you have Comcast you gotta hit up the Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf joint On Demand...shaou!!

"Yes, it's Obamba..no he's not my boy." - Shepard Fairey’s Obama Portrait Gets LEGOized

2008-09-18T20:57:00.001-07:00

"Fuq'n Lego's dude..."

"Making a Band my ass..." - Aubrey O'Day (Coutesy of Complex Magazine)

2008-09-18T20:57:00.000-07:00

Check out the full article: http://www.complex.com/GIRLS/Cover-Girls/Aubrey-ODay

"Score one for the burn-outs!!" lol - Police return medical marijuana to Calif. man

2008-09-17T14:25:00.000-07:00

Police return medical marijuana to Calif. man

The Associated Press
Article Launched: 09/17/2008 12:20:35 PM PDT

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.—A medical marijuana user has his pot back, nearly three years after police in Huntington Beach, Calif., seized it.

A judge Tuesday ordered police to return about four ounces of marijuana to Jim Spray.

Spray says he used the pot to relieve back pain. He was arrested but charges were dropped.

Police have been struggling to decide how to deal with California law allowing marijuana use for medical reasons but federal law that prohibits it.

Hit man says FBI agent set up Miami murder

2008-09-17T14:08:00.000-07:00

By CURT ANDERSON AP Legal Affairs Writer
Article Launched: 09/17/2008 01:01:26 PM PDT

MIAMI—A mob hit man who claims responsibility for 20 killings testified Wednesday that he fatally shot a gambling executive in 1982 but that a former FBI agent on trial for murder set events in motion that led to the assassination.

John Martorano said leaders of Boston's Winter Hill Gang got protection and tips from former agent John Connolly, whom they often referred to as "Zip." That included information that former World Jai-Alai president John Callahan might finger the gangsters for an earlier hit on an Oklahoma businessman—a killing also committed by Martorano.

"John Connolly had told them there was going to be so much pressure. They were going to bring it on Callahan now," Martorano said. "John Connolly had told them they were going to put so much pressure on him he was going to fold."

They feared they "were all going to jail for the rest of our lives," he added. That included Connolly, who Martorano said was on the mob payroll.

"They told me at all times they took good care of Mr. Connolly," he testified.

Connolly is being tried for murder and murder conspiracy in the July 1982 killing of Callahan, whose body was found stuffed in the trunk of his silver Cadillac at Miami International Airport. Connolly, 68, faces life in prison if convicted.

Martorano spent just over 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing Callahan and admitting to 19 other murders. Now free, the 67-year-old's agreement with prosecutors requires him to testify against Connolly.

"If I lied in any way, I'd do the rest of my life in prison," Martorano said.

Dressed in a conservative blue suit, crisp white shirt and blue tie, he testified in a soft, matter-of-fact voice about his many murders.

Callahan, an accountant by profession, got involved with the gang in the mid-1970s, Martorano said. The mob was led by James "Whitey" Bulger—still a fugitive on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" list—and Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi, both of whom were secretly working as FBI informants handled by Connolly.

Martorano said he never met Connolly except in court but was told by Bulger that the FBI agent passed sensitive information to them. Connolly had been close to Bulger's politically powerful brother, former Massachusetts Senate President William Bulger, he added.

Callahan had pushed for a hit on Oklahoma businessman Roger Wheeler, who owned World Jai-Alai and was about to discover Callahan had been skimming profits from the business. But after Martorano shot Wheeler, it became clear to the gang that Callahan had to go, too.

"They wanted to kill him to stop him from hurting anybody," Martorano said. "They were my partners. They convinced me that it should be done."

Martorano, who had been living as a fugitive in South Florida, said he met Callahan at the Fort Lauderdale airport. He shot him in the head, then put him in Callahan's car.

When he and an associate heard a moan, they shot him again, Martorano said. They then scattered some of his belongings around Little Havana "to make it appear drug-related."

Martorano also described how he killed Wheeler on May 27, 1981, in the parking lot of a country club in Tulsa, Okla., using information provided by another Boston ex-FBI agent, Paul Rico. Rico was charged in Wheeler's killing but died before standing trial.

Whitey Bulger and Flemmi, Martorano said, shipped guns, disguises and other items by bus to him and his associate. The assassins had detailed information about Wheeler, even his golf tee time, and simply walked up to him sitting in his car.

Martorano said the .38-cal. handgun "exploded" when he pulled the trigger.

Connolly is serving a 10-year sentence for a federal racketeering conviction over his protection of the Winter Hill Gang, including a tip that allowed Whitey Bulger to escape arrest just before a 1995 indictment. Flemmi is serving a life term and is expected to testify.

(Courtesy of San Jose Mercury News)

Seattle University!! - D-I: Back In the Game

2008-09-17T13:56:00.000-07:00

Seattle University is coming back to Division I.

The move signals a return to the big leagues of intercollegiate play and elevates the status of our athletics to match academics.

The transition from Division II to Division I—the highest level in NCAA action—involves all aspects of athletics, from basketball and softball to track and field, tennis and volleyball. Being competitive at the D-I level further positions SU as the premier independent university of the Northwest.

Division I will heighten the university's presence on a national level, allow us to strengthen our ability to recruit the best and brightest students, and build on a campus life that is active and engaging.

With the support of our alumni and friends, the move to D-I will allow us to showcase an environment of thoughtful, caring, urban and inspired learning.

In the words of President Stephen Sundborg, S.J., "Let's ride the wings of the Redhawks."

(Courtesy of Seattle University)

NCF Week 3 Rankings - CAL is out :(

2008-09-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

AP Top 25

1. USC (61) 2-0 1,596
2. Oklahoma 3-0 1,485
3. Georgia (2) 3-0 1,437
4. Florida (1) 2-0 1,414
5. Missouri 3-0 1,389
6. LSU 2-0 1,274
7. Texas 2-0 1,140
8. Wisconsin 3-0 1,076
9. Alabama 3-0 982
10. Auburn 3-0 958
11. Texas Tech 3-0 904
12. South Florida 3-0 801
13. Ohio State 2-1 800
14. Brigham Young 3-0 788
15. East Carolina 3-0 781
16. Penn State 3-0 779
17. Oregon 3-0 679
18. Wake Forest 2-0 482
19. Kansas 2-1 445
20. Utah 3-0 428
21. West Virginia 1-1 179
22. Illinois 2-1 163
23. Clemson 2-1 160
24. Florida State 2-0 146
25. Fresno State 1-1 121
Others Receiving VotesVanderbilt 63, Oklahoma State 62, TCU 45, Boise State 38, Arizona State 36, North Carolina 31, Virginia Tech 28, Nebraska 21, Tennessee 15, Connecticut 13, Iowa 12, Kentucky 6, Tulsa 6, Northwestern 4, Notre Dame 4, Minnesota 4, Arizona 2, UCF 1, Ball State 1, South Carolina 1.
Dropped From RankingsArizona State 15, California 23.

USA Today Poll

1. USC (57) 2-0 1,518
2. Oklahoma (1) 3-0 1,423
3. Georgia (2) 3-0 1,393
4. Florida (1) 2-0 1,335
5. Missouri 3-0 1,294
6. LSU 2-0 1,233
7. Texas 2-0 1,128
8. Wisconsin 3-0 1,027
9. Auburn 3-0 955
10. Texas Tech 3-0 887
11. Brigham Young 3-0 846
12. Oregon 3-0 783
13. Alabama 3-0 771
14. Ohio State 2-1 736
15. Penn State 3-0 724
16. South Florida 3-0 685
17. East Carolina 3-0 508
18. Wake Forest 2-0 498
19. Kansas 2-1 416
20. Utah 3-0 400
21. Clemson 2-1 233
22. West Virginia 1-1 159
23. Illinois 2-1 127
24. Arizona State 2-1 113
25. Florida State 2-0 110
Others Receiving VotesFresno State 93, TCU 76, Nebraska 49, Boise State 43, Kentucky 40, Oklahoma State 39, Tennessee 34, Virginia Tech 31, Connecticut 27, Vanderbilt 20, North Carolina 19, Iowa 14, Northwestern 10, California 7, Notre Dame 5, Michigan State 5, Colorado 3, Boston College 2, Ball State 2, Georgia Tech 2, Tulsa 2.
Dropped From RankingsFresno State 21, California 25.

ESPN.com's Power Rankings

1. USC (15) 2-0 375
2. Oklahoma 3-0 357
3. Georgia 3-0 334
4. Florida 2-0 329
5. Missouri 3-0 327
6. LSU 2-0 294
7. Texas 2-0 275
8. Wisconsin 3-0 249
9. Auburn 3-0 214
10. Alabama 3-0 212
11. Oregon 3-0 204
12. Penn State 3-0 203
13. Ohio State 3-0 187
14. Brigham Young 3-0 186
15. Texas Tech 2-1 186
16. East Carolina 3-0 172
17. South Florida 3-0 172
18. Utah 3-0 105
19. Wake Forest 2-0 100
20. Kansas 2-1 84
21. West Virginia 1-1 52
22. Clemson 2-1 41
23. Florida State 2-0 29
24. Fresno State 1-1 20
25. TCU 3-0 20
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTESIllinois(19), Oklahoma State(19), California(14), North Carolina(10), Arizona State(9), Boise State(8), Vanderbilt(8), Iowa(6), Nebraska(5), Connecticut(5), Tennessee(4), South Carolina(2), Tulsa(2), Virginia Tech(2)
Complete Rankings

When it rains it pours, geeze!! - YAMI DE JESUS

2008-09-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

Cotdamnit - MEGAN FOX IN A BIKINI (Insert fireworks here)

2008-09-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

Megan Fox is featured in the latest issue of GQ and why the hell am I even typing? Here's a story Megan told during her interview about how, at 18, she dated a female stripper named Nikita. For the five people who will actually look at the text:

"Well, that year my boyfriend broke up with me, and I decided — oh man, sorry, mommy! — that I was in love with this girl that worked at the Body Shop," said Fox. "I decided that I was going to get her to love me back, and I went out of my way to create a relationship with this girl, a stripper named Nikita."Fox said Nikita would do "these beautiful slow dances to Aerosmith ballads." The actress also said she would bring the Russian stripper gifts and try to inspire her to quit her line of work.

Jesus. If Megan Fox can't get a stripper off the pole with gifts, there's no hope for the rest of us. Great, now what am I supposed to do with these pots and pans I bought for "Phoenix" down at the Crazy Horse? And before you judge me, I originally tried luring her in with promises of an ironing board, but I ran out of dollar bills before we hit the porch and she ran off.

Check her out at The Superficial: http://thesuperficial.com/2008/09/megan_fox_in_a_bikini.php

Retailer Best Buy to buy Napster

2008-09-15T21:36:00.000-07:00

"Consumer electronics giant Best Buy has entered the online music arena, purchasing the Napster online music service for $121m (£67.5m) in cash and investments".

(Courtesy of BBC News)

Click here for the full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7617248.stm

They're ALL Crooks, haha - Anne Hathaway, Raffaello Follieri and John McCain are on a boat...

2008-09-15T21:19:00.000-07:00

"Anne Hathaway's ex Raffaello Follieri pled guilty yesterday to fraud after he pretended to be a CFO for the Vatican and bilked investors out of money. Today, he began repaying the government as part of his plea bargain and - wait a minute - who's that guy in the purple hat? He looks familiar and possibly dying. Why it's Republican presidential candidate John McCain! Ha ha ha, what in the hell?

The Nation explains:

'The photograph substantiates reports that in late August, 2006, McCain celebrated his 70th birthday aboard a yacht, the Celine Ashley, rented by A-list con man Raffaello Follieri and his then-movie star girlfriend Anne Hathaway.... McCain is shown boarding the yacht ramp towards the smiling Follieri and Hathaway. Just ahead of McCain and shaking hands with Follieri appears to be Rick Davis--McCain's top aide and now co-manager of his campaign, who accompanied him on the trip and advised the government of Montenegro. A few months after McCain's yacht party, Follieri strengthened his ties to McCain's orbit by retaining Rick Davis's well-connected Washington lobbying firm, Davis Manafort, and offering Davis both an investment deal and help in securing the Catholic vote for McCain's presidential bid'.

For the record, my sources inform me there's absolutely nothing scandalous going on here at all, folks. John McCain just loves him some Princess Diaries. Not a fan of the sequel though. Upsets his angina.

Thanks to Ben for recognizing this site is a haven of intellectual debate - and jokes about my penis. Frankly, I don't see how you can have one without the other"

Totally Missed This - Holly Madison leaves Hugh Hefner, for Criss Angel

2008-09-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

The Dirty reports:
Holly Madison moves out of the Playboy Mansion because she is sleeping with Criss Angel.... according to inside source though Hef is totally fine with it.Holly Madison was really working her way into everything (will) at Playboy even choosing Playmates for the magazine. Now “The Girls Next Door” Producers are scrambling on how they are going to finish the show with Holly Madison- Ex-Girl Next Door.

R.I.P. Richard Wright (Co-Founder of Pink Floyd)

2008-09-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

"One of the founding members of Pink Floyd, Richard Wright (above right), died Monday at his home in Britain after a long battle with cancer.
He was 65.
Doug Wright, Pink Floyd's spokesman and of no relation to the artist, said that the family wished to release no further details".

(www.perezhilton.com)

Dark Forces At (Re)Play In Denver (Courtesy of kissingsuzykolber.com)

2008-09-15T16:17:00.000-07:00

"This was a screencap taken just before the replay machine went bust after the Champ Bailey interception review in the 1st quarter of the Broncos-Chargers game. Naturally Satan’s been hanging around Mile High ever since catching that bitchin’ Obama speech".

(Courtesy of kissingsuzykolber.com)

ESPN, EA team for Virtual Playbook

2008-09-15T13:07:00.000-07:00

I was watching ESPN SportsCenter LIVE or whatever and I saw this Virtual Playbook. Pretty bad ass yo!

For more info check the Game Spot's blog: http://www.gamespot.com/news/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=26580163&part=rss&subj=6197322

'SNL' has best premiere since 2001

2008-09-14T16:53:00.000-07:00

Phelps as host, Fey's Palin impression aid strong start
By Paul J. Gough
Sept 14, 2008, 04:45 PM ET

NEW YORK -- With the surprise appearance of Tina Fey playing Sarah Palin in the opening and gold medalist Michael Phelps as guest host, "Saturday Night Live" logged its best premiere since September 2001.

It was also the most-watched "SNL" for any date since Dec. 17, 2002, when former vice president Al Gore was the guest host.

"SNL" averaged a 7.4 household rating/18 share in the 55 metered markets, Nielsen Media Research said Sunday afternoon. The ratings don't include New Orleans or, this weekend, Houston following damage from Hurricane Ike. Saturday's program was up 64% compared to last year's season premiere on Sept. 29.

Already there was a lot of attention to the show thanks to the guest hosting of Phelps, who last month broke Mark Spitz's single-Olympic gold medal record. But the buzz ramped up even further on the weekend when it was rumored that Fey would be putting in an appearance as Palin, whose sudden emergence seemed likely to be strong fodder for the newly reinvigorated "SNL." There was also a cameo by "Star Trek" and "The Practice" star William Shatner, who had his own well-remembered "SNL" appearance in 1986.

This weekend's "SNL" was the best ratings for any of the shows since Dec. 17, 2002, with Gore and musical guest Phish. The top market was Baltimore, which averaged a 14.7/29, with New York averaging an 8.3/20.

Final ratings will be out Thursday.

Throwback: Cassidy Vs. Freeway (Courtesy of datpiff.com)

2008-09-13T12:11:00.000-07:00

This is a classic battle. Although, I hate acapella rap battles. Need a drum or somethin', naw really get a drum or somethin'!

Click here for Cassidy vs. Freeway: http://www.celebully.com/throwback-cassidy-vs-freeway-p1202.html

BELLARMINE 48, CLOVIS 6

2008-09-13T11:58:00.000-07:00

Amanam leads Bellarmine Prep
Mercury News
Article Launched: 09/12/2008 11:17:44 PM PDT

Stanford-bound senior Usua Amanam had 249 all-purpose yards, including four touchdowns, to lead the Bellarmine College Prep Bells, the No. 1 team in the Mercury News rankings, to a 48-6 victory over Clovis in their opener. Running back Kyle Olugbode also rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns in ten carries for the host Bells.

Go Bells!!

Triclops Studio - Folio Toys

2008-09-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

I was cruising through the net and came up on Triclops Studio. Man some uncovered gems...shaou!!

Check out the Triclops Studio at www.triclopsstudio.com, www.triclopsstudio.com/foliotoys.php, or check the blog blogclops.blogspot.com

New York Fashion Week - Day #2: Lacoste Spring 2009 Runway + Backstage

2008-09-12T13:41:00.000-07:00

Some new ill gear is rockin' for the Spring 2009 playa!

Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus to open stores at Valley Fair in 2011

2008-09-12T13:37:00.000-07:00

Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus to open stores at Valley Fair in 2011
By Sue McAllister Mercury News
Article Launched: 09/11/2008 02:05:00 PM PDT

The rumors have been confirmed, Silicon Valley shopping mavens: Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus will open at Westfield Valley Fair in about three years.

Macy's Inc., parent company of the upscale store known by serious shoppers simply as "Bloomie's," announced this week that a new, three-level store will occupy about 150,000 square feet in the soon-to-be-expanding mall. Neiman Marcus, also a magnet for affluent shoppers in search of designer fashions, is planning a two-level, 120,000-square-foot store, the company said.

Doors of both are expected to open in fall 2011.

With the addition of the stores at Valley Fair, both Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus will have three large department-store locations in the Bay Area. Both chains already have branches in Palo Alto and San Francisco. There is also a Neiman Marcus outlet store in the Great Mall in Milpitas.

Valley Fair, located in San Jose and Santa Clara on Stevens Creek Boulevard just west of the Interstate 880 freeway, will begin expanding in January. The department stores will be built between the two existing Macy's locations, on the south side of the mall near Stevens Creek.
Westfield, Valley Fair's parent company, plans to add about 50 new tenants and a half-million square feet of retail space, bringing the overall size of the mall to more than 2 million square feet. About 3,000 new parking spaces will be added as well.

Most of the expansion is slated for completion early in 2010. The mall's last major renovation was completed in 2002.

Macy's and Nordstrom are Valley Fair's longtime "anchor" department stores. The eventual presence of Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus will make Valley Fair one of very few malls in the country to have four top-tier department stores in one complex.

Valley Fair is one of the top-selling malls in the United States based on sales dollars per square foot, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers.

(Courtesy of the San Jose Mercury News)

Varsity Football vs. Clovis High School At San Jose City College (Time: 7:00 PM )

2008-09-12T13:10:00.000-07:00

HUF (San Francisco)

2008-09-12T13:00:00.001-07:00

Just came up on game. Check out HufSF at www.hufsf.com or go hit up their blog at blog.hufsf.com

KAWS - John Mayer 2008 Summer Tour Pass

2008-09-12T12:47:00.001-07:00

"We all know the priceless value of an all access pass during a concert tour, especially a sold out one like John Mayer’s 2008 Summer Tour. However, KAWS just showcased one that may retain its value even when the tour is over. Specially designed for the 2008 Summer Tour of John Mayer, the all access pass featured a Woody Woodpecker-like caricature riding in a bomb casing, encircled by bomblets. All are adorned with KAWS’ signature “X” marks. Of course these passes are not for sale, but maybe a lucky few will find them in future eBay listings".

(Courtesy of http://www.freshnessmag.com/)

FRUITION DUAL FF TEE - The Duality of High End/Street Design

2008-09-12T12:44:00.001-07:00

Guess who's Bizack!!

2008-09-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

"We back in the lab!!! I'm cool with the paparazzi. This guy wasn't cool. I gotta work now... I'll rant later"! - Kanye West

Snipes' Tax Guy -- More Crooked than Wes (from TMZ.com)

2008-09-12T12:20:00.000-07:00

Posted Sep 12th 2008 6:00AM by TMZ Staff

The guy who helped Wesley Snipes evade his taxes just got busted for ... helping people evade their taxes.

Eddie Ray Kahn, who's already in the big house serving 10 years for his role in Snipes' tax case, is in more legal hot water with the Feds for helping people avoid their tax load through something called Guiding Light of God Ministries and American Rights Litigators.

Why Snipes bet on this guy to do his taxes -- besides not having to pay them -- is anyone's guess. Kahn claims he's innocent. Snipes is appealing his three-year prison sentence.

Olsens -- Twin Terrors in the Hood (from TMZ.com)

2008-09-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

Posted Sep 12th 2008 6:59AM by TMZ Staff

How could such small people cause such a ruckus?

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are getting their neighbors in NYC steaming mad. According to the New York Post, they've been keeping the people on the block up all hours with their cars and bodyguards, and they're being called "invaders." They moved into the $12K per month brownstone rental back in May.

The twins' rep says there are no "significant issues."

Scientist's promise on collider

2008-09-11T15:25:00.000-07:00

The Welsh scientist in charge of the world's biggest experiment says it will not result in another "Big Bang".

(Courtesy of BBC News)

Click here for full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7606621.stm

Jackin' from Kanye's Blog - PARMIGIANI BUGATTI FAUBOURG WATCH (GotDELMIT!!)

2008-09-11T15:18:00.000-07:00

"Showcasing an unusual off-center face, it becomes very convenient for the driver to glance at the moving hands of the watch, akin to the moving hand of the speedometer on the car’s dashboard. The wearer doesn’t need to take his hands off the wheel while driving to read the time. Presented in 18-carat rose or brushed white gold version, it fixes firmly on your wrist with the Hermes leather strap. Its exclusivity is raised by limiting it to 20 pieces only".

Price: $233,900

"Dark Knight" plans re-release for Oscar push

2008-09-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

"Dark Knight" plans re-release for Oscar push

Wednesday September 10 9:24 PM ET

Batman wants an Oscar.

To be precise, Warner Bros. wants a statuette -- or 10 -- for "The Dark Knight." So the studio plans to re-release its blockbuster Batman sequel in January, the height of Academy Awards voting season.

"It's just a matter of bringing it back as a reminder for people," a studio insider explained.

Warner Bros. domestic distribution president Dan Fellman acknowledged ongoing talks with Imax execs over the prospect of restoring the Christian Bale starrer to some giant-screen venues in January. It's uncertain if "Dark Knight" also will reappear in conventional venues at that point.

Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film's huge commercial and critical success has spurred talk of possible Oscar nominations for its director, producers and cast -- most specifically Bale's co-star, Health Ledger, for the late actor's edgy performance as the Joker.

To date, "Dark Knight" has rung up about $512 million domestically and $440 million internationally, including more than $55 million in Imax grosses. A pre-Oscars re-release would help assure its topping $1 billion worldwide.

But with the title set to hit DVD in December, it's now apparent anyone hoping the Batman sequel would soar to "Titanic" heights will be disappointed. "Dark Knight" already ranks as the second-highest-grossing movie ever, after "Titanic's" phenomenal $1.84 billion -- a mix of $600.8 million in domestic box office and $1.24 billion in foreign coin registered in 1997 and 1998.

(Courtesy of Reuters/Hollywood Reporter)

Koda Kumi - BOMB!

2008-09-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

Stats:

Name: Kouda / Koda Kumi
D.O.B: November 13th 1982
Place of birth: Kyoto
Ethnicity: Japanese
Blood type: A
Zodiac sign: Scorpion
Chinese sign: Dog
Career: Solo R&B singer
Fav color: Green and Purple
Fav traditional Japanese music artist: rice granary interest period
Fav singers: Christina Aguilera / NELLY / PINK / Pharrell Williams
Fav music: Rock, Hip Hop
Favorite word: Once in a lifetime
People she respects: Her parents
Future ambition: Self produce
Hobbies: Shopping
Turn Offs: Lies and Cheating
Debut date: December 6th 2000 with the single Take Back

BIO:

Born on November 13th 1982, Koda was the eldest daughter in her family. At an early age of 3, Koda Kumi starting singing on stage. She started doing auditions at elementary school, and wrote that she wanted to become a singer in her elementary year book.

Kumi Koda (known as "Koda" in the U.S.) – Kumi Koda’s first single TAKE BACK charted 18th in Billboard Magazine’s Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles chart after its US release in March 2001. Her follow-up single, TRUST YOUR LOVE charted 39th in Billboard's Hot 100 single sales chart and No.1 in Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles chart.

She has collaborated with BoA on THE MEANING OF PEACE, a September 11 charity single CD produced by Tetsuya Komuro, one of Japan’s most prolific and successful producer. The release of her first album, AFFECTION was produced by Max Matsuura, and contains remixes by Hex Hector and Jonathan Peters. With gaining popularity, Koda Kumi did a great job for Squaresoft singing the theme song (1000 no Kotoba) and opening song (real Emotion) for Final Fantasy X-2! On September 21st, Kumi released a Best Of collection, entitled BEST ~first things~. Though the album was second to Mr. Children the first four days on the Oricon charts, it reached the top spot on the 25th. At the week's end, the album ranked #2 on the weekly charts and sold a highly impressive amount. Through the next week Kumi finally reached #1 on the weekly charts. To date, she has sold over 1.2 million copies and holds the best-selling female album of 2005, beating out many famous female artists, including Ayumi Hamasaki and BoA.

Most recently, Ku's single "you" placed #1 on the Oricon charts for it's first 3 days, keeping popular boyband TOKIO from the top position. The single's success continued throughout the week and reached #1 on the weekly charts selling over 72,000 copies, making it Kumi's first ever number one hit. "you" is the first single released by Kumi in a set of 12 singles in a 12 week period. The Following week the second single of the 12 set, "Birthday Eve", was released and grabbed the #6 position for the week (selling 44,294 copies of the limited pressing of 50,000 copies) while "you" took the 7th position. This marks the first time since Ai Otsuka's "Sakuranbo" and "Amanebo" singles in March of 2004 that a female singer has had two singles both in the top ten in the same week.

In addition to her singing career, Koda also models for Christian Dior in Japan.

Stats and Bio courtesy of: http://www.asiafinest.com/

Jackin' from CNET - iPhone iSpy? Hacker says device captures it all

2008-09-11T14:32:00.000-07:00

The iPhone is recording everything users see and do on their devices for caching purposes, an iPhone hacker says.

The device records screenshots of a user's most recent action so that it can achieve that cool effect of applications fading away when the home button is clicked, according to Jonathan Zdziarski, who wrote the forthcoming book iPhone Forensics: Recovering Evidence, Personal Data, and Corporate Assets.

The screenshots are presumably deleted after the application is closed, but they can be recovered with forensics techniques just like data deleted from most any storage device can be reconstructed for purposes of law enforcement, he said in a Webcast on Thursday in which he demonstrated how to break into password-protected iPhones.

"There's no way to prevent it," Zdziarski said of the screenshot caching, according to a Wired report. "I'm kind of divided on it. I hope Apple fixes it because it's a significant privacy leak, but at the same time it's been useful for investigating criminals."

Meantime, breaking into a passcode-locked phone took him nearly an hour to demonstrate and required creating a custom firmware bundle, the report said. The issue is different from a security hole discovered last month that allowed people to get access to e-mail, text, and voice messages on password-protected phones.

Apple representatives did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment for this story.

Washington Mutual sinks below $2, rallies by close

2008-09-11T14:25:00.001-07:00

"Washington Mutual Inc (WM.N) shares sank below $2 for the first time since 1990 as anxiety grew about its capital needs and survival prospects, before staging a powerful late rally".

(Courtesy of Reuters)

Click here for full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080911/bs_nm/washingtonmutual_dc_6

Who's going to win? Picking the Pac-10, Week 3

2008-09-11T12:45:00.001-07:00

Talent-Keyhole.com

2008-09-11T11:44:00.000-07:00

Enemy combatant interrogations took place in this abandoned brick factory north of Kabul, Afghanistan. A CIA field facility was later constructed. Image Source: Space Imaging Middle East

Undeground Facility Entrance, Alternate National Military Command Center, North of Pyongyang, North Korea. Image Source: DigitalGlobe

N Korea 'builds new missile site'

2008-09-11T11:39:00.000-07:00

Pictured above: The new site is thought to be more sophisticated than the Musudan-ri site

"North Korea is close to completing a second launch site for long-range missiles, reports say".

(Courtesy of BBC News)

Click here for full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7609718.stm

Mom of T.I.'s sons wants more money to raise boys

2008-09-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

The Associated Press

Article Launched: 09/11/2008 09:18:35 AM PDT

ATLANTA—The mother of two of T.I.'s children has sued the rapper for more child support, claiming she is having a hard time supporting the boys with the $2,000 a month he is providing.

Lashon Dixon, 29, and T.I., 27, have known each other since they were teenagers and dated before he reached rap megastar status. Their boys are ages 7 and 8.

Dixon said she wants a court to order a stipend that is equal to the rapper's success. A telephone call and e-mail to T.I.'s publicist at Atlantic Records was not immediately returned Thursday.
T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, is currently serving 1,000 hours of community service and will afterward serve a year in prison on federal weapons charges.

He also has two sons with his fiancee, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, of the defunct R&B group Xscape. The couple also had a daughter who died shortly after childbirth in 2007.

US oil agency rapped over conduct

2008-09-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

"A US government report has accused some interior department officials of unethical conduct while doing business with the oil and gas industry".

(Courtesy of BBC News)

Click here for full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7609597.stm

West arrested after airport row

2008-09-11T11:26:00.001-07:00

"US rap star Kanye West has been arrested on suspicion of vandalism after a row with a photographer at Los Angeles International Airport".

(Courtesy of BBC News)

Click here for the full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7611127.stm

Bush reshuffles war zone troops

2008-09-09T12:12:00.000-07:00

"US President George W Bush has announced that about 8,000 US troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by February - with 4,500 being sent to Afghanistan".

Full story at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7605481.stm

(Courtesy of BBC News)

Triumvir Fall/Winter 2008 Collection - The Spoils Of War

2008-09-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

Lacoste Tennis 91 75 years

2008-09-09T11:48:00.001-07:00

Lacoste Tennis 91

2008-09-09T11:46:00.000-07:00

Lacoste Tennis 91

2008-09-09T11:43:00.000-07:00

Golden Bears to Face Maryland for the First Time in School History - After Stomping WSU 66-3 up in Washington

2008-09-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

2008 CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL

Saturday, September 13, 9 a.m. (PT)

California (2-0, 1-0 Pac-10) vs. Maryland (1-1, 0-0 ACC)

College Park, Md. - Byrd Stadium

Live CoverageTV: ESPN. Broadcast Team: Dave Pasch (Px), Andre Ware (Analyst), Erin Andrews (Sidelines).Radio: KGO Radio (810 AM) in San Francisco (Joe Starkey, Troy Taylor, Todd McKim) - and affiliate stations KGIL Radio (1260 AM Los Angeles), XSURF Radio (540 AM San Diego), KNTK Radio (102.3 Weed), KCBL Radio (1340 AM Fresno), KESP Radio (970 AM Modesto), KVBL Radio (1400 AM Visalia) and KTKZ Radio (1380 AM Sacramento). The pre-game show begins 30 minutes prior to kickoff.

(Courtesy of calbears.cstv.com)

Nike Air Force 1 '07

2008-09-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

Apparently from Nike's 2008-2009 Fall/Winter Collection

Probably some Air Forces that I would rock...

Nike AF1 Lo Premium - Air Max 90

2008-09-09T11:27:00.001-07:00

Apparently from Nike's 2008-2009 Fall/Winter Collection

Michigan vs. Notre Dame

2008-09-09T11:09:00.000-07:00

"What's at stake: Hell or heaven. Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis gave Michigan some bulletin-board ammo last spring when he said, "The hell with Michigan" and predicted the Wolverines would be making excuses about their coaching transition. (Dash comment: It would be a truly boring world if coaches can't even talk a little trash to their own boosters every once in a while without it turning into some massive sign of disrespect. Please.) Both teams are badly in need of a feel-good victory, because neither could feel too giddy after scraping by last week".

(Coutesy of ESPN.com)

On TV: NBC @ 12:30 pm PT

CFB Game of the Week - USC vs. Ohio State

2008-09-09T11:01:00.000-07:00

"The excitement over Ohio State at USC (Sat., ABC, 8 ET) is building"

New Week 2 CF Polls - Shaouuuuu!!!

2008-09-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

AP Top 25

1. USC (33) 1-0 1,577
2. Georgia (23) 2-0 1,525
3. Oklahoma (2) 2-0 1,458
4. Florida (4) 2-0 1,438
5. Ohio State (1) 2-0 1,347
6. Missouri (1) 2-0 1,336
7. LSU (1) 1-0 1,231
8. Texas 2-0 1,100
9. Auburn 2-0 1,067
10. Wisconsin 2-0 910
11. Alabama 2-0 865
12. Texas Tech 2-0 845
13. Kansas 2-0 825
14. East Carolina 2-0 762
15. Arizona State 2-0 744
16. Oregon 2-0 616
17. Penn State 2-0 607
18. Brigham Young 2-0 537
19. South Florida 2-0 493
20. Wake Forest 2-0 404
21. Fresno State 1-0 290
22. Utah 2-0 258
23. California 2-0 195
24. Illinois 1-1 164
25. West Virginia 1-1 163
Others Receiving VotesUCLA 150, Clemson 73, Florida State 50, Boise State 22, Tennessee 15, Georgia Tech 14, Oklahoma State 11, Vanderbilt 7, TCU 6, Kentucky 6, Virginia Tech 4, Tulsa 3, South Carolina 2, Arizona 2, Connecticut 1, North Carolina 1, Rice 1.
Dropped From RankingsUCLA 23, South Carolina 24.

USA Today' Poll

1. USC (34) 1-0 1,481
2. Georgia (18) 2-0 1,454
3. Oklahoma (3) 2-0 1,370
4. Florida (3) 2-0 1,306
5. Ohio State (1) 2-0 1,289
6. Missouri 2-0 1,212
7. LSU (2) 1-0 1,198
8. Texas 2-0 1,069
9. Auburn 2-0 1,017
10. Wisconsin 2-0 946
11. Kansas 2-0 854
12. Texas Tech 2-0 755
13. Arizona State 2-0 737
14. Oregon 2-0 665
15. Brigham Young 2-0 628
16. Alabama 2-0 611
17. Penn State 2-0 547
18. South Florida 2-0 475
19. Wake Forest 2-0 419
20. East Carolina 2-0 375
21. Fresno State 1-0 300
22. Utah 2-0 235
23. Clemson 1-1 175
24. West Virginia 1-1 145
25. California 2-0 128
Others Receiving VotesIllinois 124, UCLA 86, Florida State 50, Kentucky 28, Boise State 22, Tennessee 21, TCU 18, Nebraska 16, Georgia Tech 15, Arizona 11, Virginia Tech 11, Vanderbilt 8, Oklahoma State 7, Iowa 4, Colorado 3, Notre Dame 3, Tulsa 2, Connecticut 2, Bowling Green 1, South Carolina 1, Northwestern 1.
Dropped From RankingsSouth Carolina 24, Illinois 25.

ESPN.com's Power Rankings

1. USC (14) 1-0 373
2. Georgia (1) 2-0 348
3. Oklahoma 2-0 340
4. Florida 2-0 334
5. Missouri 2-0 314
6. Ohio State 2-0 308
7. LSU 1-0 278
8. Texas 2-0 254
9. Auburn 2-0 242
10. Wisconsin 2-0 202
11. Oregon 2-0 201
12. Texas Tech 2-0 194
13. Alabama 2-0 194
14. East Carolina 2-0 191
15. Penn State 2-0 171
16. Arizona State 2-0 143
17. Kansas 2-0 134
18. Brigham Young 2-0 103
19. South Florida 2-0 103
20. California 2-0 100
21. Wake Forest 2-0 85
22. Fresno State 1-0 84
23. Utah 2-0 68
24. West Virginia 1-1 23
25. Clemson 1-1 20
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTESUCLA(14), TCU(7), Arizona(5), Oklahoma State(5), Florida State(4), South Carolina(4), Georgia Tech(3), Boise State(0)

(All courtesy of ESPN.com)

State budget standoff harms California's most vulnerable residents (from the San Jose Mercury News

2008-09-07T18:20:00.000-07:00

State budget standoff harms California's most vulnerable residents

STATE-FUNDED CHILD CARE CENTERS, COLLEGE AID HIT HARD

By Karen de Sá and Mike Zapler

Article Launched: 09/07/2008 01:08:50 PM PDT

Lottery winners are still cashing in and judges haven't missed a payday, but California's record-breaking failure to pass a state budget is now hitting thousands of others hard.

Children are being forced from state-funded child care centers - derailing their working poor parents' tenuous link to the workforce. College students lacking loan funds are dropping out. And non-profit agencies that have scrimped and hobbled through August face layoffs and closures in a September with no budget in sight.

With the budget now 69 days late - the longest delay in at least three decades - there are few signs of legislators nearing a deal. Democrats and Republicans remain ideologically polarized over how to close a $15.2 billion deficit, with the GOP calling mostly for spending cuts and Democrats proposing billions in new taxes and smaller cuts.

With little sway over either side is Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who recently pitched a temporary sales tax hike and new spending restraints on the Legislature in an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the crisis. Schwarzenegger told the Mercury News recently that he could see the impasse lasting into the fall, or even into next year.

That leaves Kidango, a non-profit agency serving poor children in Santa Clara, San Francisco and Alameda counties, fretting about laying off staff and shutting programs, said executive director Paul Miller. Those affected include the infants of teen parents, children with disabilities and family members living in homeless or battered women's shelters.

But Miller, whose agency receives more than three-fourths of its funding from the state Department of Education and is owed $6 million, said it's the state's elected leaders who have some growing up to do.

"These people never went to pre-school, so they don't know how to act appropriately," Miller said. "We're hoping to enroll them in our program before we have to close it."

The longer the standoff lasts, the fewer bills the state can pay. In September alone, the state controller will withhold $7.6 billion in payments to health care providers, schools and community colleges if a budget isn't passed. That would bring the total to $12 billion since the fiscal year started July 1.

Some money is being paid out. Many groups are insulated from the budget impasse by state and federal laws or constitutional protections. The lottery - a significant funding source for schools and other programs - was passed by voter initiative, and its payments are guaranteed. Retirees and injured workers also continue receiving payments.

But at state-funded child care centers serving a half-million children in working poor families, the crisis is acute. Center directors are taking out emergency loans and lines of credit - in some cases putting personal finances on the line. While the state budget has often been late, filling the gap is tougher this year due to the unprecedented delay with no end in sight. Compounding matters is the nation's sweeping loan industry crisis, making it impossible for some agencies to secure interim funding.

Sam Storey, CEO of Santa Cruz-based Community Bridges, said his $16 million agency will likely
close four child care centers in Santa Cruz and Watsonville serving 100 children. Multiple banks have rejected the agency's plea for a line of credit to sustain the $1.6 million child care programs, which are 80 percent state-funded.

Single mother Nitasha William-Sanders said if she gets the bad news expected by parents like her next week, care for her 4-year-old daughter will be thrown into uncertainty. William-Sanders - who makes $2,000 per month working with teenage girls in foster care - said it is "virtually impossible" to find subsidized care in her small city of Watsonville. The Bridges day care with "circle story time" and lots of outdoor play "has definitely made it possible for me to go to work," she said.

A group of parents in the Central Valley has already arrived at that difficult juncture.
On Sept. 1, eight child care centers serving 700 children closed, leaving hundreds of farmworker families in need, and 200 employees out of work. The Fresno and Madera communities are among the most impoverished in the state.

Alex Valdez , executive director of I-5 Social Services, said that even when a budget is passed, it will take weeks for the money to arrive. His agency receives $6.5 million per year from the state and is now owed $1.5 million. "Hopefully, when we do open our doors we'll have all those parents bringing back our children, and our staff will hopefully be with us, " Valdez said. "But we can't do anything until further notice."

Allyson Kurtz, the executive director of a 30-year-old Sacramento non-profit agency, put her own house on the line to avoid closure. The unusual personal loan was approved by the National Human Development Foundation's board of directors Kurtz said using $200,000 from a line of credit she took out on her home's equity was an easy decision for her - in the name of the 230 children her agency cares for. "This is my life, working with these young children," she said. "I just can't see closing the door on the children or on the parents who are dependent upon us to stay employed."

Health care providers are also reporting direct impacts - scrambling to make payrolls in the absence of billions of dollars owed to them. Rose Tupaz, who owns 12 San Jose homes for the developmentally disabled, said she's taken out a $500,000 line of credit and dipped into personal savings to cover costs.

"There are ways we can survive for a while, but it will eat up everything we have," Tupaz said. If the impasse drags into October, "we will not be able to provide the care that we do."
Given their greater assets, counties and school districts are continuing to function, often by digging into reserves and penciling in budget projections. But community college students who rely on state grants to pay tuition and expenses aren't receiving the $1,551 per year they need.

The state has withheld more than $120 million in grant money this summer.

That has students at Mission College in Santa Clara abandoning their futures.

"Not having access to these funds definitely impedes their ability to be successful," said Charity Bowles, who directs a program serving 160 students who are disabled, or low-income and the first in their family to attend college. "As the semester progresses and they have more homework and their bills start mounting, I see more students dropping out or having to reduce their course load."

Contact Karen de Sá at kdesa@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5781.

Air Jordan True Flight

2008-09-07T18:06:00.000-07:00

The idea behind this new shoe is to use the familiar styling of past Air Jordans, but at the same time update the shoe with today's technology. The shoe in the picture is modeled after the Air Jordan 7 which was originally released during Michael Jordan's second NBA Championship season. Retail price in stores will be $140. We think this shoe turned out looking great and we expect them to release other Air Jordans with this concept throughout 2009.

Air Jordans will continue after 23 - The Air Jordan 2009

2008-09-07T18:00:00.000-07:00

Air Jordans will continue after 23. The Jordan Brand company is going to stop numbering Air Jordans, which means the last one will be the Air Jordan 23, but they plan to release a top of the line Air Jordan shoe in Feb. 2009. Instead of being called the Air Jordan 24 they are going to call it the Air Jordan 2009.

AJ 12/11 - Release date is Dec. 26

2008-09-07T17:58:00.001-07:00

AJ 12/11 Package colors. The colors for this package have been announced. The AJ 11 will be (Black/True Red-White) and the AJ 12 will be (Black/Varsity Red-Cement Grey). Release date is Dec. 26.

Fitted Hawaii MUA Tee and Cap | A Tribute to University of Hawaii Football

2008-09-06T18:56:00.000-07:00

Jus' Hat Emporium

2008-09-06T17:00:00.000-07:00

That G35 in Action on Branham Lane in San Jose, CA

2008-09-05T15:43:00.001-07:00