Saturday, October 12, 2013

Peru bus plunge kills 52, including 13 children

LIMA, Peru (AP) — A makeshift bus carrying 52 Quechua Indians back from a party in southeastern Peru plunged off a cliff into a river, killing everyone on board, including 13 children.


The accident occurred Friday night as the red-and-yellow cargo truck made its way back from a party in the provincial capital of Santa Teresa, an area about 310 miles (500 kilometers) southeast of Lima. It went off the road and fell about 650 feet (200 meters) into a deep ravine, ending up in the Chaupimayo river which courses through the ravine.


Rescuers equipped with little more than flashlights spent the night searching without success for survivors amid the twisted steel and large boulders, pulling bodies from the water. Authorities said bodies were found as far as 330 feet (100 meters) away from the impact site, suggesting they were thrown from the vehicle.


"We haven't found a single survivor," said firefighter Capt. David Taboada, who was leading the rescue operation and provided the casualty figure.


The cause of the accident hasn't been determined, Taboada said, adding that the vehicle was "coming from a party in Santa Teresa at which a lot of alcohol was consumed."


Firefighters were placing the recovered bodies on a soccer field above where the crash took place.


Throughout the morning and day, relatives of the victims arrived to identify their loved ones. Local farmers prepared meals and invited them to dine with them.


Fedia Castro, mayor of the district where Santa Teresa is located, told Canal N television that rural farmers must rely on informal forms of transport, such as this cargo truck, because no public buses exist in the area.


The high-altitude roads of the Peruvian Andes are notorious for bus plunges, with poor farmers comprising many of the victims. Last year, more than 4,000 people were killed in such accidents.


Source: http://news.yahoo.com/peru-bus-plunge-kills-52-including-13-children-191529328.html
Tags: kaley cuoco   Under the Dome   lamar odom   "i Have A Dream" Speech  

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

The Last Guardian Is Still Being Done by SCE Japan


Gamekicker.com Submit Button

The Last Guardian

It?s no secret that the development of Team Ico?s The Last Guardian has been a troubled one. Between the game?s director, Fumito Ueda, leaving his full-time position at Sony and the game?s many delays, it?s no surprise that fans are skeptical about the game?s release. There was some?concern during E3 when Sony of America?s Jack Trenton stated the game was ?on hiatus?, but this statement was quickly countered when Sony Worldwide?s Shuhei Yoshida clarified that the game was ?in active development?.

In slightly more recent news (http://www NULL.joystiq NULL.com/2013/06/12/the-last-guardian-is-alive-with-no-release-in-sight/), PlayStation?s Scott Rohde confirmed that the game is ?alive?. He stressed that the game is one that ?there?s a lot of love for inside PlayStation walls? because fans are so ?emotionally driven?. He stated that they game is very important to them, but that they weren?t ready to?divulge specific details.

All that aside, it seems we?ve?received?yet another confirmation that?The Last Guardian?is in development. In a recent?interview?with Polygon (http://www NULL.polygon NULL.com/2013/7/19/4538902/the-benefits-of-developing-for-ps3-not-ps4), Gavin Moore, a developer for SCE Japan, discussed how they develop multiple games at once. He mentioned that ?multiple teams are always working on games with a core group, while a much larger group of developers move to which ever project is closest to completion?. When discussing how busy the studio was with projects he stated that, ?Knack?is being done in that studio,?The Last Guardian?is still being done in that studio, [Gravity Rush?creator Keiichiro] Toyama-san is doing his next one.?

So there it is folks! Another conformation that, despite all the bumps in the road,?The Last Guardian?is in development. Although no other details have been provided, at least we can rest assured?knowing?that the game has not been abandoned.

SOURCE? (http://www NULL.polygon NULL.com/2013/7/19/4538902/the-benefits-of-developing-for-ps3-not-ps4)


Gamekicker.com Submit Button

About Hailee Kenney

Hailee first started following Operation Rainfall when the localization of Xenoblade Chronicles was officially announced. Her gaming life began when she got The Legend of Zelda: Link?s Awakening on Gameboy, and she has loved the Legend of Zelda series ever since. Hailee loves RPGs or any game with a good story, and is especially fond of the Final Fantasy and Persona series; she is also quite fond of BioWare titles. She also admires any games that are unique in their gameplay or aesthetic. Although she has to balance gaming with earning a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Hailee is always trying to broaden her horizons and try as many different games as possible.

Source: http://operationrainfall.com/the-last-guardian-still-being-done/

chandler jones peyton hillis fletcher cox charlotte bobcats new york rangers nfl mock draft 2012 norfolk island

Checking for updates from inside a Windows Phone app

?

?

(One intermediate revision by one user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
?

[[Category:Draft]]

+

[[Category:Windows Phone]][[Category:Windows Phone 8]][[Category:XAML]]

?

''Delete instructional text in italic''

+

{{Abstract|This article explains how to check for app updates from inside an app. }}

??
?

{{Abstract|This article explains how to ... }} ''Replace the abstract text with a short paragraph (or sentence) describing what the topic covers.''

?
??
?

''Enter article metadata as described below. Note that this template can be placed anywhere in the article. Do not remove parameters that you do not use''

?
?

{{ArticleMetaData <!-- v1.3 -->

?

{{ArticleMetaData <!-- v1.3 -->

?

|sourcecode= <!-- Link to example source code e.g. [[Media:The Code Example ZIP.zip]] -->

?

|sourcecode= <!-- Link to example source code e.g. [[Media:The Code Example ZIP.zip]] -->

?

|installfile= <!-- Link to installation file (e.g. [[Media:The Installation File.wgt]]) -->

?

|installfile= <!-- Link to installation file (e.g. [[Media:The Installation File.wgt]]) -->

?

|devices= <!-- Devices tested against - e.g. Nokia Lumia 928, Nokia Asha 501) -->

+

|devices= Nokia Lumia 920 <!-- Devices tested against - e.g. Nokia Lumia 928, Nokia Asha 501) -->

?

|sdk= <!-- SDK(s) built and tested against (e.g. Windows Phone 8.0 SDK) -->

+

|sdk= Windows Phone 8.0 SDK <!-- SDK(s) built and tested against (e.g. Windows Phone 8.0 SDK) -->

?

|dependencies= <!-- Any other/external dependencies e.g.: Google Maps Api v1.0 --> ?

?

|dependencies= <!-- Any other/external dependencies e.g.: Google Maps Api v1.0 --> ?

?

|signing=<!-- Special Signing requirements -->

?

|signing=<!-- Special Signing requirements -->

Line 21: Line 18:
?

|update-by= <!-- After significant update: [[User:username]]-->

?

|update-by= <!-- After significant update: [[User:username]]-->

?

|update-timestamp= <!-- After significant update: YYYYMMDD -->

?

|update-timestamp= <!-- After significant update: YYYYMMDD -->

?

|creationdate= <!-- Format YYYYMMDD -->

+

|creationdate= 20130724 <!-- Format YYYYMMDD -->

?

|author= <!-- Enter link [[User:username]] -->

+

|author= [[User:PedroLamas]]<!-- Enter link [[User:username]] -->

?

}}

?

}}

??
?

== Introduction ==

?

== Introduction ==

??
?+

A few months ago, I started receiving some crash reports from one of my most successful apps, [http://windowsphone.com/s?appid=7ca9cfea-1b92-4ca4-8559-269936d5361e Geosense]!

??
?+

After fixing the issue and publishing an updated version of the app, until today I still get quite a few reports from the very same old version, but none from the updated one!

??
?

== Summary ==

+

This has got me to think on the reason to why people don?t update their apps! Here are some reasons:

?+

* No constant internet connection

?+

* Removing the Store tile from the Home screen

?+

* Don?t care about updating apps!

??
??
?

''Remove Category:Draft when the page is complete or near complete''

?
??
?+

The first one doesn?t make much sense to me, as the Windows Phone ecosystem makes a lot more sense as a ?always online? system! Also, Geosense requires internet connection to work and crash reports can?t be done without internet connection, so this doesn?t seem to be the main reason in my case!

??
?

''The "platform categories" will be displayed here in '''preview''' only - Copy paste relevant categories into text here''

+

I don?t see the point in it, but not caring to check and update the apps in ones phone is just a matter of personal opinion!

?

{{VersionHint}}

+
??
?

''Add categories below using category selector. ''

+

That leaves the middle option: having the Store tile in the Home screen will enable users to get visual notification of updates (the number of updated apps appears in the tile); without it, the only other option is that the user actually opens the Store app from the applications menu.

?+

?

?+

== Coding time ==

?+

?

?+

Wouldn?t it be nice to just get the app to notify the user that an update is available?

?+

?

?+

Keeping this in mind, I opened Fiddler on my laptop, set my phone to use it as a proxy server, opened Geosense info from the store, and this is the request I could see going to Microsoft servers:

?+

?

?+

http://marketplaceedgeservice.windowsphone.com/v8/catalog/apps/7ca9cfea-1b92-4ca4-8559-269936d5361e?os=8.0.9903.0&cc=GB&oc=&lang=en-GB&hw=520170499&dm=RM-821_eu_euro1&oemId=NOKIA&moId=VOD-GB&cf=99-1

?+

?

?+

I can see in the above url the application ProductId (7ca9cfea-1b92-4ca4-8559-269936d5361e) the windows phone version (os=8.0.9903.0), the store territory (cc=GB), the language (lang=en-GB) and a bunch of other stuff related to the device brand, model and version.

?+

?

?+

The response is even more interesting, as it shows all the Store information about the app, including the latest available version and release date.

?+

?

?+

Given we are only interested in the version, after manually clearing up the response this is what we get:

?+

?

?+

<code xml>

?+

<a:feed xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:os="http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearch/1.1/" xmlns="http://schemas.zune.net/catalog/apps/2008/02">

?+

? <!-- other stuff -->

?+

?

?+

? <a:entry>

?+

? ? <!-- other stuff -->

?+

?

?+

? ? <version>1.10.1.8</version>

?+

?

?+

? ? <!-- other stuff -->

?+

? </a:entry>

?+

?

?+

? <!-- other stuff -->

?+

</a:feed>

?+

</code>

?+

?

?+

Well, we now know how to get the Store information about a particular app, we know what gets returned and how to read it, so let?s put that all together!

?+

?

?+

We will need the ProductID for the current running app, and for that we can just read it from the WMAppManifest.xml file like I shown in a [http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/Generating-a-Windows-Phone-9d19f939 previous article]:

?+

?

?+

<code csharp>

?+

public static string GetManifestAttributeValue(string attributeName)

?+

{

?+

? ? var xmlReaderSettings = new XmlReaderSettings

?+

? ? {

?+

? ? ? ? XmlResolver = new XmlXapResolver()

?+

? ? };

?+

?

?+

? ? using (var xmlReader = XmlReader.Create("WMAppManifest.xml", xmlReaderSettings))

?+

? ? {

?+

? ? ? ? xmlReader.ReadToDescendant("App");

?+

?

?+

? ? ? ? return xmlReader.GetAttribute(attributeName);

?+

? ? }

?+

}

?+

</code>

?+

?

?+

Given that there is no way in the current SDK to retrieve the Store territory, we will fallback to the CultureInfo.CurrentUICulture value for it and also for the language.

?+

?

?+

Here?s the complete async method to retrieve the latest version information from the Store:

?+

?

?+

<code csharp>private Task<Version> GetUpdatedVersion()

?+

{

?+

? ? var cultureInfoName = CultureInfo.CurrentUICulture.Name;

?+

?

?+

? ? var url = string.Format("http://marketplaceedgeservice.windowsphone.com/v8/catalog/apps/{0}?os={1}&cc={2}&oc=&lang={3}?",

?+

? ? ? ? GetManifestAttributeValue("ProductID"),

?+

? ? ? ? Environment.OSVersion.Version,

?+

? ? ? ? cultureInfoName.Substring(cultureInfoName.Length - 2).ToUpperInvariant(),

?+

? ? ? ? cultureInfoName);

?+

?

?+

? ? var request = WebRequest.Create(url);

?+

?

?+

? ? return Task.Factory.FromAsync(request.BeginGetResponse, result =>

?+

? ? {

?+

? ? ? ? var response = (HttpWebResponse)request.EndGetResponse(result);

?+

?

?+

? ? ? ? if (response.StatusCode != HttpStatusCode.OK)

?+

? ? ? ? {

?+

? ? ? ? ? ? throw new WebException("Http Error: " + response.StatusCode);

?+

? ? ? ? }

?+

?

?+

? ? ? ? using (var outputStream = response.GetResponseStream())

?+

? ? ? ? {

?+

? ? ? ? ? ? using (var reader = XmlReader.Create(outputStream))

?+

? ? ? ? ? ? {

?+

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? reader.MoveToContent();

?+

?

?+

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? var aNamespace = reader.LookupNamespace("a");

?+

?

?+

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? reader.ReadToFollowing("entry", aNamespace);

?+

?

?+

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? reader.ReadToDescendant("version");

?+

?

?+

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? return new Version(reader.ReadElementContentAsString());

?+

? ? ? ? ? ? }

?+

? ? ? ? }

?+

? ? }, null);

?+

}

?+

</code>

?+

?

?+

All you now have to do is compare it to the active app version, like in this sample code:

?+

?

?+

<code csharp>

?+

private async void CheckForUpdatedVersion()

?+

{

?+

? ? var currentVersion = new Version(GetManifestAttributeValue("Version"));

?+

? ? var updatedVersion = await GetUpdatedVersion();

?+

?

?+

? ? if (updatedVersion > currentVersion

?+

? ? ? ? && MessageBox.Show("Do you want to install the new version now?", "Update Available", MessageBoxButton.OKCancel) == MessageBoxResult.OK)

?+

? ? {

?+

? ? ? ? new MarketplaceDetailTask().Show();

?+

? ? }

?+

}

?+

</code>

?+

?

?+

At startup, just call CheckForUpdatedVersion() and it will check if a new version is available, and if so, show a confirmation message box to the user and open the Marketplace details for the updated app.

?+

?

?+

== The Cimbalino alternative ==

?+

?

?+

If you?re using [http://cimbalino.org/ Cimbalino Windows Phone Toolkit], I?ve added the [https://github.com/Cimbalino/Cimbalino-Phone-Toolkit/blob/master/src/Cimbalino.Phone.Toolkit.Background%20%28WP71%29/Services/IMarketplaceInformationService.cs '''IMarketplaceInformationService'''] that contains all the above logic to retrieve Store information for apps, with added bonus that will work not only for WP8 but also in WP7!

?+

?

?+

For the time being, this new service is only available in the '''3.1.0-rc''' version of the toolkit, so make sure to install the pre-release version!

?+

?

?+

{{VersionHint}}


Latest revision as of 21:02, 24 July 2013

This article explains how to check for app updates from inside an app.

Article Metadata

Tested with

SDK: Windows Phone 8.0 SDK

Devices(s): Nokia Lumia 920


Compatibility
Article

[edit] Introduction

A few months ago, I started receiving some crash reports from one of my most successful apps, Geosense!

After fixing the issue and publishing an updated version of the app, until today I still get quite a few reports from the very same old version, but none from the updated one!

This has got me to think on the reason to why people don?t update their apps! Here are some reasons:

  • No constant internet connection
  • Removing the Store tile from the Home screen
  • Don?t care about updating apps!


The first one doesn?t make much sense to me, as the Windows Phone ecosystem makes a lot more sense as a ?always online? system! Also, Geosense requires internet connection to work and crash reports can?t be done without internet connection, so this doesn?t seem to be the main reason in my case!

I don?t see the point in it, but not caring to check and update the apps in ones phone is just a matter of personal opinion!

That leaves the middle option: having the Store tile in the Home screen will enable users to get visual notification of updates (the number of updated apps appears in the tile); without it, the only other option is that the user actually opens the Store app from the applications menu.

[edit] Coding time

Wouldn?t it be nice to just get the app to notify the user that an update is available?

Keeping this in mind, I opened Fiddler on my laptop, set my phone to use it as a proxy server, opened Geosense info from the store, and this is the request I could see going to Microsoft servers:

http://marketplaceedgeservice.windowsphone.com/v8/catalog/apps/7ca9cfea-1b92-4ca4-8559-269936d5361e?os=8.0.9903.0&cc=GB&oc=&lang=en-GB&hw=520170499&dm=RM-821_eu_euro1&oemId=NOKIA&moId=VOD-GB&cf=99-1

I can see in the above url the application ProductId (7ca9cfea-1b92-4ca4-8559-269936d5361e) the windows phone version (os=8.0.9903.0), the store territory (cc=GB), the language (lang=en-GB) and a bunch of other stuff related to the device brand, model and version.

The response is even more interesting, as it shows all the Store information about the app, including the latest available version and release date.

Given we are only interested in the version, after manually clearing up the response this is what we get:

<a:feed xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:os="http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearch/1.1/" xmlns="http://schemas.zune.net/catalog/apps/2008/02">
<!-- other stuff -->
?
<a:entry>
<!-- other stuff -->
?
<version>1.10.1.8</version>
?
<!-- other stuff -->
</a:entry>
?
<!-- other stuff -->
</a:feed>

Well, we now know how to get the Store information about a particular app, we know what gets returned and how to read it, so let?s put that all together!

We will need the ProductID for the current running app, and for that we can just read it from the WMAppManifest.xml file like I shown in a previous article:

public static string GetManifestAttributeValue(string attributeName)
{
var xmlReaderSettings = new XmlReaderSettings
{
XmlResolver = new XmlXapResolver()
};
?
using (var xmlReader = XmlReader.Create("WMAppManifest.xml", xmlReaderSettings))
{
xmlReader.ReadToDescendant("App");
?
return xmlReader.GetAttribute(attributeName);
}
}

Given that there is no way in the current SDK to retrieve the Store territory, we will fallback to the CultureInfo.CurrentUICulture value for it and also for the language.

Here?s the complete async method to retrieve the latest version information from the Store:

private Task<Version> GetUpdatedVersion()
{
var cultureInfoName = CultureInfo.CurrentUICulture.Name;
?
var url = string.Format("http://marketplaceedgeservice.windowsphone.com/v8/catalog/apps/{0}?os={1}&cc={2}&oc=&lang={3}?",
GetManifestAttributeValue("ProductID"),
Environment.OSVersion.Version,
cultureInfoName.Substring(cultureInfoName.Length - 2).ToUpperInvariant(),
cultureInfoName);
?
var request = WebRequest.Create(url);
?
return Task.Factory.FromAsync(request.BeginGetResponse, result =>
{
var response = (HttpWebResponse)request.EndGetResponse(result);
?
if (response.StatusCode != HttpStatusCode.OK)
{
throw new WebException("Http Error: " + response.StatusCode);
}
?
using (var outputStream = response.GetResponseStream())
{
using (var reader = XmlReader.Create(outputStream))
{
reader.MoveToContent();
?
var aNamespace = reader.LookupNamespace("a");
?
reader.ReadToFollowing("entry", aNamespace);
?
reader.ReadToDescendant("version");
?
return new Version(reader.ReadElementContentAsString());
}
}
}, null);
}

All you now have to do is compare it to the active app version, like in this sample code:

private async void CheckForUpdatedVersion()
{
var currentVersion = new Version(GetManifestAttributeValue("Version"));
var updatedVersion = await GetUpdatedVersion();
?
if (updatedVersion > currentVersion
&& MessageBox.Show("Do you want to install the new version now?", "Update Available", MessageBoxButton.OKCancel) == MessageBoxResult.OK)
{
new MarketplaceDetailTask().Show();
}
}

At startup, just call CheckForUpdatedVersion() and it will check if a new version is available, and if so, show a confirmation message box to the user and open the Marketplace details for the updated app.

[edit] The Cimbalino alternative

If you?re using Cimbalino Windows Phone Toolkit, I?ve added the IMarketplaceInformationService that contains all the above logic to retrieve Store information for apps, with added bonus that will work not only for WP8 but also in WP7!

For the time being, this new service is only available in the 3.1.0-rc version of the toolkit, so make sure to install the pre-release version!

[edit] Version Hint

Windows Phone: [[Category:Windows Phone]]
[[Category:Windows Phone 7.5]]
[[Category:Windows Phone 8]]

Nokia Asha: [[Category:Nokia Asha]]
[[Category:Nokia Asha Platform 1.0]]

Series 40: [[Category:Series 40]]
[[Category:Series 40 1st Edition]] [[Category:Series 40 2nd Edition]]
[[Category:Series 40 3rd Edition (initial release)]] [[Category:Series 40 3rd Edition FP1]] [[Category:Series 40 3rd Edition FP2]]
[[Category:Series 40 5th Edition (initial release)]] [[Category:Series 40 5th Edition FP1]]
[[Category:Series 40 6th Edition (initial release)]] [[Category:Series 40 6th Edition FP1]] [[Category:Series 40 Developer Platform 1.0]] [[Category:Series 40 Developer Platform 1.1]] [[Category:Series 40 Developer Platform 2.0]]

Symbian: [[Category:Symbian]]
[[Category:S60 1st Edition]] [[Category:S60 2nd Edition (initial release)]] [[Category:S60 2nd Edition FP1]] [[Category:S60 2nd Edition FP2]] [[Category:S60 2nd Edition FP3]]
[[Category:S60 3rd Edition (initial release)]] [[Category:S60 3rd Edition FP1]] [[Category:S60 3rd Edition FP2]]
[[Category:S60 5th Edition]]
[[Category:Symbian^3]] [[Category:Symbian Anna]] [[Category:Nokia Belle]]

Source: http://developer.nokia.com/Community/Wiki/index.php?title=Checking_for_updates_from_inside_a_Windows_Phone_app&diff=204042&oldid=204040

Miley Cyrus Twerking Jesus Shuttlesworth Michael Hastings mac miller bruno mars Hunter Hayes Born Sinner

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Donated items for tornado victims sold at thrift store

Posted on: 7:34 am, July 19, 2013, by La'Tasha Givens, updated on: 08:09am, July 19, 2013

MOORE, Okla. ? News Channel 4 is investigating concerns about items donated for tornado victims ending up for sale at a local thrift store.

Jason Winick said part of his roof collapsed during the Moore tornado.

?The wind blew a hole in my roof and then it flooded into my living room.?

Winick said he went to the Donation Station to get some assistance.

He said instead of receiving donated items directly, he got three vouchers that would allow him to collect $150 dollars worth of products at a thrift store in Del City.

?I?m very concerned that they are taking donations right behind Moore Medical Center which is devastated by the tornado and people believing that they are a tornado relief station,? Winick said.

State Representative Mark McBride said he concerned as well.

He said he personally dropped off clothing at Donation Station but now worries his donation may not have been given to those in need.

State Rep. Mark McBride, Moore District 53, said, ?They took the brand new 10 pair of jeans that I gave them and they took them to Del City and sold them, that irritates me.?

Over the course of a week?s time, we?ve tried repeatedly to sit down with the owner of Donation Station.

He declined our requests for an on-camera interview but we?ve had numerous phone conversations.

We asked him if some of the donation items people dropped off in Moore are being sold at Value Village in Del City.

?Donation Station has operated at the Moore location at least a year before the tornado hit,? he said.

He told us, similar to Goodwill or the Salvation Army, Donation Station collects items people no longer want, then sells those belongings at its thrift store in Del City.

But unlike like the charities mentioned, Value Village is a for-profit business owned by Bazecorp Investments; that?s confusing for some who donated.

?In this particular situation, I think is very misleading because, I myself, have dropped stuff off there and they?ve offered me a contribution card,? McBride said. ?No one tells you those items are going to be sold.?

During our phone conversations, we addressed the other concern brought to our attention.

We asked if the prices at Value Village had significantly increased since the storm.

Some concerned about the situation said they believe that?s taking advantage of people who are in need of help.

The owner said since the tornado, they have received higher ticket items than normal but he said in no way have they ever raised the prices to take advantage of victims.

Bottom line, he said tornado victims can use their vouchers to collect items from his store, but admits some of the items that were donated after the tornado might end up being purchased by the general public.

Representative McBride said he plans to create an accountability system so people who donate to storm victims are clear about where those donations end up.

We also learned a request has been made to the State Attorney General?s Office asking that an investigation be conducted.

We do want to make clear, the owner of Donation Station told us that his company worked countless hours in the weeks after the tornado, directing donations to a number of charities and churches.

We checked with every organization he told us he had worked with and while we didn?t hear back from all of them, the majority confirmed that they did receive truckloads of donated items from Donation Station.

The owner also told one of our producers, in the future, during disaster situations, he will make it clear to anyone donating items that those items might end up in his thrift store.

Source: http://kfor.com/2013/07/19/donated-items-for-tornado-victims-sold-at-thrift-store/

maundy thursday Mexico vs USA Harmony Korine Summly Human Rights Campaign bioshock infinite smokey robinson

Friday, July 19, 2013

Japan's Abe may push nationalism after election

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

Source: enews.earthlink.net --- Thursday, July 18, 2013
TOKYO (AP) ? With the economy perking up under his "Abenomics" policies, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his ruling party are seen rolling to a convincing victory in Sunday's upper house election and regaining control of both houses of parliament for the first time in six years. ...

Source: http://enews.earthlink.net/article/int?guid=20130717/2507804d-2fa6-4e7b-a2b2-3fdfc6b016bc

george zimmerman charged big sean sherri shepherd sherri shepherd arkansas razorbacks trisomy 18 ozzie guillen

Victory for salad bars: School, union officials reach agreement; salad bars are...

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.facebook.com/packernews/posts/10151790022309083

jessica chastain jessica chastain oscars jane fonda abc bradley cooper channing tatum

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Erin Brady, Miss Connecticut, Wins Miss USA Contest In Vegas

LAS VEGAS ? A 25-year-old contestant from Connecticut won the title of Miss USA in Las Vegas on Sunday night.

Erin Brady of South Glastonbury, Conn., won the beauty pageant at the Planet Hollywood hotel-casino after strutting in a white sparkly gown and answering a question about the U.S. Supreme Court's decision upholding widespread DNA tests. Asked if she agreed with the decision, Brady said she did.

Brady gets the crown and a New York apartment for one year. She is expected to spend her title reign on a nationwide speaking tour and raising breast and ovarian cancer awareness, the organization's official cause.

During the swimsuit competition, the ladies threw off sheer wraps to reveal skimpy blue, gold and orange bikinis. They strutted in stilettos to the Jonas Brothers' live performance of "Pom Poms."

The women also strutted to Calvin Harris' electronica-infused "Sweet Nothing" in an array of spangled, flowing evening gowns. Trains, gauze and long wavy hair were the preferred looks.

Unlike the rival Miss America pageant, Miss USA doesn't ask its queens to perform a talent or choose a charity mission.

The judge's panel included over-the-top fashion designer Betsey Johnson, "Biggest Loser" star Bob Harper and "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me" personality Mo Rocca.

Rocca praised the pageant as a prime example of Americana backstage. He said he was looking to appoint a new Miss USA who reminded him of Abraham Lincoln "without the beard."

The pageant aired live on NBC, hosted by Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers pop act and Giuliana Rancic, co-anchor of "E! News." The Jonas Brothers and DJ Pauly D were expected to perform.

The winner will represent the United States at the Miss Universe pageant in the winter.

Last year's Miss USA, Olivia Culpo, won that international crown, becoming the first Miss USA to ascend to Miss Universe in 16 years. Meriwether, who had been first runner-up, took over for her for the remainder of the year.

The Miss USA hopefuls stayed at the Planet Hollywood casino for the past week, but the flashing slot machines and ubiquitous oversized novelty drinks have been little more than a background to a stuffed schedule of product tie-in media events, including hairdo contests and paddleboat competitions.

The animal rights organization People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals is using the pageant to stage a protest of fur and the tradition of awarding furs to winners of some state pageants.

PETA has made a provocative ad featuring four nude former Miss USA winners. The tagline is: "Feel Beautiful in Your Own Skin, and Let Animals Keep Theirs."

___

Yvette Cruz contributed to this report.

Hannah Dreier can be reached at http://twitter.com/hannahdreier

Earlier on HuffPost:

"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/16/miss-usa-2013-erin-brady-_n_3451816.html

Alexandra Lenas Jim Kelly Secret Life of the American Teenager zynga PNC Bank floyd mayweather Romina Puga