Gawker Hacked; Thousands of Emails and Passwords Released

                 Gawker Media, the celebrity and political blog powerhouse, and it’s ring of blogs, including Twitter, were hacked this weekend by a group of hackers operating the under the name of Gnosis.Gawker said it was deeply embarrassed over the hack, in which Gnosis released a 500 MB file containing Gawker’s source code, internal conversations between the companies employees, and email addresses and passwords of commentators, banks, federal government employees and NASA.

                 "This weekend we discovered that Gawker Media's servers were compromised, resulting in a security breach at Lifehacker, Gizmodo, Gawker, Jezebel, io9, Jalopnik, Kotaku, Deadspin and Fleshbot,” Gawker wrote in a post on its Lifehacker blog. "We understand how important trust is on the Internet, and we're deeply sorry for and embarrassed about this breach of security -- and of trust. We're working around-the-clock to ensure our security (and our commenters' account security) moving forward," Gawker added.
The successful hack followed a week of escalating attacks against Wikileaks for releasing U.S. State Dept. cables as well as counter-attacks by hackers associated with a group known as Anonymous in a campaign called Operation Payback.



                 The hackers brought the Gawker site to a standstill on Sunday with a denial-of-service attack, identical to the tactic being used against Visa.com, Paypal.com and Mastercard.com for those companies’ decisions to stop the ability to donate to Wikileaks.

                 Gawker has since regained control of their servers, and is telling readers to change their passwords.An anonymous source identifying itself as one of the Gnosis hackers told news blog Mediaite that Gawker was attacked because it’s arrogance, and wrote in the leaked file: "Your empire has been compromised, Your servers, Your database's, Online accounts and source code have all be ripped to shreds!.. You would think a site that likes to mock people, such as gawker, would have better security and actually have a clue what they are doing. But as we've proven, those who think they are beyond our reach aren't as safe as they would like to think!"

Reaction to the death of Richard Holbrooke

               (CNN) -- Richard C. Holbrooke, the high-octane diplomat who spearheaded the end of the Bosnian war and most recently served as the Obama administration's point man in the volatile Afghan-Pakistani war zone, died Monday at George Washington University Hospital in Washington. Following are reactions to his death:

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
               "Tonight America has lost one of its fiercest champions and most dedicated public servants. Richard Holbrooke served the country he loved for nearly half a century, representing the United States in far-flung war-zones and high-level peace talks, always with distinctive brilliance and unmatched determination. He was one of a kind -- a true statesman -- and that makes his passing all the more painful. From his early days in Vietnam to his historic role bringing peace to the Balkans to his last mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard helped shape our history, manage our perilous present, and secure our future. He was the consummate diplomat, able to stare down dictators and stand up for America's interests and values even under the most difficult circumstances. He served at every level of the Foreign Service and beyond, helping mentor generations of talented officers and future ambassadors. Few people have ever left a larger mark on the State Department or our country. From Southeast Asia to post-Cold War Europe and around the globe, people have a better chance of a peaceful future because of Richard's lifetime of service."

President Barack Obama
               "For nearly 50 years, Richard served the country he loved with honor and distinction. He worked as a young foreign service officer during the Vietnam War and then supported the Paris peace talks which ended that war. As a young Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, he helped normalize relations with China. As U.S. Ambassador to Germany, he helped Europe emerge from a long Cold War and encouraged NATO to welcome new members. As Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs, he was the tireless chief architect of the Dayton Accords that ended the war in Bosnia 15 years ago this week, saving countless lives. As Ambassador to the United Nations, Richard helped break a political impasse and strengthen our nation's relationship with the UN and elevated the cause of AIDS and Africa on the international agenda. And throughout his life, as a child of refugees, he devoted himself to the plight of people displaced around the world."



Vice President Joe Biden, former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
               "Today, I lost a great friend and America lost one of its greatest warriors for peace. Richard Holbrooke was a larger than life figure, who through his brilliance, determination and sheer force of will helped bend the curve of history in the direction of progress. He touched so many lives and helped save countless more. He was a tireless negotiator, a relentless advocate for American interests, and the most talented diplomat we've had in a generation."

Commander Gen. David Petraeus, commanding general of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan
               "This is a tragic loss for our country, this region, and our world," said Gen. Petraeus. "Richard Holbrooke was a true titan in the diplomatic arena and a central figure in the effort in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It was a privilege to work closely with Ambassador Holbrooke when I was at CENTCOM and then as the commander here in Afghanistan. Indeed, it was with considerable pride that we called him our 'diplomatic wingman.' He was, in short, a tremendous diplomatic partner, a great American, and a good friend. Our thoughts are with Kati and his family."

Former President Bill Clinton
               "In a lifetime of passionate, brilliant service on the front lines of war and peace, freedom and oppression, Richard Holbrooke saved lives, secured peace, and restored hope for countless people around the world. Tomorrow marks the 15-year anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Accords - the agreement Dick negotiated which stopped the killings in Bosnia and paved a path to peace in the Balkans that endures today. He was central to our efforts to limit ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and pave the way for its independence, and he found a way to break the stalemate in talks in Cyprus. I was proud to nominate him as the United States' ambassador to the United Nations, where he helped equip the UN to meet the challenges of our 21st Century world. For the last two years, he worked hard to counter terrorism and to build a secure, democratic future for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Our nation is safer, and our world stronger, because of the work he did. I will miss my friend very much."

Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State
               "With the death of Richard Holbrooke we have all lost a tremendous and devoted advocate for peace, diplomacy and human rights. I had the honor and privilege of working with Richard through many international crises over several decades, most particularly the wars in Bosnia and Kosovo. He could always be counted on for his imagination, dedication and forcefulness. He was a tireless defender of democracy and freedom, and continued working on these issues in Afghanistan and Pakistan until his final days. Above all, he loved our country. His death is a blow to American diplomacy and the goals to which he dedicated his life. All of his friends will miss his energy and determination. I am deeply saddened, and my thoughts and prayers are with his wife Kati and his entire family."

Samuel Berger, former National Security Advisor
               "I am deeply saddened by the death of Richard Holbrooke-- a remarkable public servant and a dedicated force for good. Richard was an unrelenting advocate for peace, a superb diplomat and a dear friend. My thoughts and prayers are with his family."

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari
               "Pakistan has a lost a friend. He was an accomplished and experienced diplomat who quickly gained the confidence of interlocutors. He was a key player in international diplomacy to bring peace to Bosnia and in confronting militancy in our part of the world. His services will be long
remembered. The best tribute to him is to reiterate our resolve to root out extremism and usher in peace. My thoughts are with his wife and family. May his soul rest in eternal peace."

Hussain Haqqani, Pakistani ambassador to the United States:
               "In Richard Holbrooke's passing the world has lost a great diplomat while I have lost a personal friend and professional role model. Amb. Holbrooke showed great compassion for the people of Pakistan and was a strong supporter of Pakistan's progress and security as a modern Muslim democratic country. His attitude towards diplomacy was reflected in his response to my question at our breakfast on Thursday about how long he planned to keep working. He said 'As long as I can make a difference.' His greatest asset was his ability to be a personal friend and diplomatic interlocutor at the same time."

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee
               "Richard Holbrooke has been a dynamic force in American diplomacy for more than five decades. His stellar service is deeply appreciated and held in the highest esteem."

Sen. John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
               "This awful news is almost incomprehensible, not least of all because I cannot imagine Richard Holbrooke in anything but a state of perpetual motion. He was always working. He was always a man on a mission, the toughest mission, and that mission was waging peace through tough as nails, never quit diplomacy - and Richard's life's work saved tens of thousands of lives. We loved his energy, we loved his resolve -- that's who Richard was, and he died giving everything he had to one last difficult mission for the country he loved. It is almost a bittersweet bookend that a career of public diplomacy that began trying to save a war gone wrong, now ends with a valiant effort to keep another war from going wrong."


Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Connecticut
               "Richard Holbrooke was a colossus of American diplomacy. From Vietnam to the Balkans and now Afghanistan and Pakistan, the history of our nation's foreign policy over the last forty years is inseparable from Richard's own remarkable and courageous life -- which was spent, both inside and outside government, in the distinguished service of the country he loved and in pursuit of the most noble ideals for which it stands. Richard Holbrooke has left the world far too soon, but he leaves it a far better place through his achievements."

Samuel Worthington, President of InterAction, an alliance of U.S.-based international non-governmental organizations

               "The U.S. NGO community wishes to extend our sincere condolences to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke's family and to all of his colleagues at the State Department on his untimely passing. Ambassador Holbrooke was a longtime friend of the NGO community and his death was a shock to us all. He served on many non-profit boards and was deeply committed to the humanitarian values that guided the NGO response to the Pakistani floods. Ambassador Holbrooke's passing is a great loss to his colleagues, friends, family and to our country. He was a gifted diplomat, whose work over half a century made a difference in the lives of so many people, whether helping to end wars or dealing with their aftermath. His mark on history will be forever felt."

Supreme Court denies Webb acquittal involved money

               MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court on Tuesday vehemently denied allegations that money changed hands in the acquittal of Hubert Webb and five other accused in the Vizconde massacre case.

               Midas Marquez, the tribunal’s spokesman and court administrator, stressed that the seven justices who voted to acquit Webb et al based their decision on court documents and transcripts of records from the Parañaque regional trial court which tried the case.

               “It would be better if they read the majority decision,” Marquez replied when asked to comment on insinuations that the justices received money to vote in favor of Webb’s petition.He also downplayed allegations that Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio had a hand in the acquittal of the accused.

               “Justice Carpio inhibited himself from the case early on. I don’t see any reason how he could influence other justices,” he said.Voting 7-4, the high court ordered Webb’s release due to inconsistencies in the testimony of star witness Jessica Alfaro and the failure of the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.

Uncharted 3 makes it official with a new trailer and a release date

              Last week Sony and Naughty Dog first released the details of the upcoming Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. This weekend they topped it off with a trailer and an official November release date.

                Somewhere along the way, the Uncharted series went from being a fun series that were liked, to one of the PS3’s biggest hits. The first game was considered a success, but the second game surpassed it in almost every way, quickly becoming one of the “must have” PS3 titles, and winning several “Game of the Year” . Sony then decided to push forward with a movie adaptation written and directed by David O. Russell, who may be on the way to an Oscar nod for his recently released flick The Fighter (although new reports suggest that the movie may be on hold while Russell pursues another project). In other words, the series got really big, really quickly.

                So it is not an exaggeration to say that the news of Uncharted 3 was met with a fair amount of excitement. Last week the first details of the sequel—including the name–were released, but at the VGAs this weekend, Naughty Dog did us one better and released both a full trailer including gameplay, and the release date for the game.

                Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception will bring us back to the world of modern day Indiana Jones, Nathan Drake, as he heads to the Arabian Desert in search of the fabled Atlantis of the Sands. The game will also feature a heavy online emphasis as the previous game did.

                Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception will be released as a PS3 exclusive on November 1, 2011 (or 11/1/11).

Hugh Jackman injures face in stunt

                Hugh Jackman has been injured in a flying fox stunt during the taping of Oprah Winfrey's second show in Sydney.The actor was treated by medical staff after slamming into rigging on the outdoor set at the Sydney Opera House this afternoon.

                He had been attempting to enter the stage in dramatic fashion with a 100-metre ride on the flying fox.An injury to his eye appears to be only minor."I'm not 100 per cent, actually," Jackman saidafter struggling to free himself from his harness while dangling 10 metres in the air.

                "I've hurt my eye; it's not bad. I'm really sorry about this."Hugh Jackman has been injured in a flying fox stunt during the taping of Oprah Winfrey's second show in Sydney.The actor was treated by medical staff after slamming into rigging on the outdoor set at the Sydney Opera House this afternoon.

                He had been attempting to enter the stage in dramatic fashion with a 100-metre ride on the flying fox.An injury to his eye appears to be only minor."I'm not 100 per cent, actually," Jackman saidafter struggling to free himself from his harness while dangling 10 metres in the air.

                "I've hurt my eye; it's not bad. I'm really sorry about this." Jackman was due to make his entrance after surprise guest and U2 frontman Bono this afternoon.Winfrey has been filming two of her Ultimate Australian Adventure shows in Sydney today in front of 12,000 people. This morning's show featured special guests Russell Crowe and the Irwin family.

Geminid meteor shower 2010

                 The Geminid meteor shower for 2010 peaks overnight Monday with what promises to be a spectacular show for sky watchers who find themselves under clear, dark skies with an unobstructed view of the horizon.

                 By some estimates, the Geminid meteor shower – so named because they appear to the observer to be emanating from the constellation Gemini – could yield up to 120 shooting stars an hour for those watching under ideal viewing conditions between midnight and dawn Tuesday.For astronomy buffs, the Geminids often provide the best meteor-shower show of the year. For some astronomers, however, the display and its source – an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon – represent something of a mystery: Where did this asteroid come from and why does it appear to be shedding like a golden retriever, something asteroids generally don't do?

 RELATED – Geminid meteor shower: four viewing tips

                 "The whole thing is very weird," says David Jewitt, an astronomer at the University of California at Los Angeles who studies comets and asteroids.Phaethon is a near-Earth asteroid – an object some three miles across whose orbit around the sun each 1.4 years brings it close to Earth's orbit and to within 13 million miles of the sun, well inside Mercury's orbit.

                 Astronomers discovered Phaethon in 1983 using a space-based infrared telescope known as IRAS. Once researchers had calculated the asteroid's orbit, the late astronomer and comet specialist Fred Whipple noticed that its path matched that of the debris stream that generates the Geminid shower.That appeared to solve a problem, Dr. Jewitt explains, since until then, no one had identified a source of the material forming the Geminids.

                 Meteor showers typically stem from dust and rocks that comets shed as they approach the sun. They heat up, the ices they carry flash from ice to gas, and as the gas vents through the comet's surface, it carries dust and debris with it. No one had been able to associate a comet with the Geminid debris stream.
But that raised another question: Why is Phaethon shedding? Asteroids don't tend to do that. Astronomers looked for signs that it might have a small halo of gas around it, similar to a comet's "coma." But none appeared. Indeed, over the years, the object has yielded no evidence of activity that would eject material.

                 Then last year, Dr. Jewitt and colleague Jing Li received an alert from another colleague that Phaethon had brightened suddenly as it reached its closest approach to the sun.Jewitt and Dr. Li captured images of Phaethon with NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft – one of a pair of sun-watching probes. They observed the brightening and proposed that Phaethon's flash occurred as it shed rocky material fractured by the heat of its close approach to the sun.

                 In effect, the researchers say, the object is a "rock comet" rather than an icy "dirty snowball" or "snowy dirt ball" comet. The duo published its results in November in the Astronomical Journal.As for Phaethon's origins, another team led by Julia Maria de León Cruz at the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia in Grenada, Spain, suggests that Phaethon may be a chip off Pallas, a 340-mile-wide asteroid in the main asteroid belt, which circles the sun between Mars and Jupiter.

                 Although Phaethon and Pallas don't share the same overall color, a first-cut clue as to their surface composition, Phaethon does share more-detailed spectral signatures of nine other, smaller asteroids near Pallas that are associated with it. They posit that Phaethon and its nine siblings constitute debris left over from a collision between Pallas and another object in an event that would have carved a sizable crater into Pallas.
The Grenada team published its study in April in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

                 It's still unclear if Phaethon is shedding enough material to continually resupply the Geminid meteor stream, Jewitt acknowledges. The stream is about 1,000 years old. Phaethon would have to undergo at least 10 such shedding events each orbit over that time to provide enough material to sustain the Geminid shower that humans observe today. So far, astronomers have observed just one.

                 More broadly, Phaethon could be opening a window on a little-understood process that marks the end of the line for many asteroids and comets."We know small bodies can be destroyed in different ways," Jewitt says. Collisions can break them apart. Comets can run out of gas, their cores becoming dark hulks orbiting the sun. Asteroids and comets can end in fiery plunges into the sun. And comets can get disrupted by planets' gravity and break apart.

                 With Phaethon however, astronomers may be witnessing that Jewitt calls spontaneous disintegration. "Its a physical decay," he says. "They fall to bits, for reasons which are unclear."Not a promising future from Phaethon's perspective. But for Earthlings, that slow-mo crumble can put on a good show.

French children released safely after hostage-taking

                 Paris (CNN) -- Children who were taken hostage at a school in France Monday were released unharmed and the man who held them was arrested, the mayor of the town of Besancon told CNN.The young man, armed with two swords, had entered a kindergarten and took children hostage in eastern France Monday morning, the French Ministry of Education said.

                 There were about 20 children, aged 4 to 6, in the classroom when the incident began, and five children and their teacher were held until the incident was resolved, Besancon police told CNN.The hostage-taker is about 17 years old, and had "demands," the Ministry of Education said, without specifying what they were.

                 The hostage taker is "depressed," had been "under medical treatment," and has not taken his medication for several days, Besancon Mayor Jean-Louis Fousseret told CNN.The mayor did not know of a connection between the hostage-taker and the school.

                 He had released children in three groups before the incident ended, the ministry said.A security cordon was placed around the school, and police marksmen took positions outside the school, pictures from the scene showed. They did not enter the school during the incident, the mayor said.

                 The incident started at at 8:30 a.m. at the Charles Fourier school in the borough of Planoise and ended about four hours later.France last had a high-profile school hostage incident 17 years ago.Six girls and their teacher were held hostage for two days in the suburbs of Paris in 1993, media reported at the time.

                 A man calling himself "The Human Bomb" strapped explosives to his body and demanded about $18 million to release them.He was killed by police marksmen using guns with silencers, press reports said.

On Taking Ron Artest Seriously

               As Ron Artest celebrated his first NBA title last June, he gave a special shout-out to his therapist. Everyone thought it was funny, and apt -- Artest is a crazy dude, of course he has a shrink! It was, to say the least, an unconventional acknowledgment. And given the strange, quixotic interviews Ron Ron gave that night, it felt about par for the course.

               Artest may no longer have been the player he once was. But that night made it OK, finally, to open ourselves to one of the NBA's few true originals. They just don't make them like Artest anymore, and when they do (Gilbert Arenas, anyone?) the story often ends badly. Lucky for Artest, he got that part out of the way.


               But if the Lakers forward started this season as a national treasure, he was still something of a joke. When he was at his most dangerous, literally and figuratively, even Artest's most pointed critics would admit he was the game's mightiest on-ball defender. They took him seriously. The fear of Artest, too, was a kind of compliment. He was a crisis point for the NBA exactly because he was so damn good. He became a winner with the Lakers, and a beloved one (despite being with the Lakers), and yet was denied any ballast. "Artest being Artest" brought us non-stop amusement, where before, it had been the source of the best kind of controversy.

               Except, in an unlikely way, late-period Artest has started to matter again -- and you can thank his therapist for it. Pretty much everything Artest said that night was from the heart; the mention of his therapist, though, seemed the most tangential. As it turns out, it was possibly the most important thing he said, and absolutely key to the way he saw himself. Want proof? This season, Artest has made mental health advocacy his new m.o. as a public figure: raffling off a championship ring to raise money, recording a PSA, and now, according to NBA.com, possibly donating his entire 2011-12 salary away to charity.

From Scott Howard-Cooper at the Hang Time blog:

[Ron Artest] is seriously thinking about handing over at least half, and maybe all, of next season's $6.79 million salary. "I'm definitely considering the whole thing," Artest said. "Or maybe 60 percent."

Although he may not finalize details until the summer, he called the plan "very serious. I've talked to my wife about it already. It's a powerful message. The message is about the inspiration. That's what I want, to inspire people. People will be like, 'Wow. Why is he doing this? Oh, that's why. Wow. We need to help educate.' I didn't come [to the Lakers] for the money. Obviously I could have gone somewhere else, even a lesser market. Pay less taxes. The taxes here are freaking killing me, you know what I'm saying?"

It wouldn't be Ron Artest without that last, distracting, maybe even self-defeating, mention of taxes and the angst they cause him as a multi-millionaire.

               This isn't the first time Artest has thought of giving his salary away, which might come as a huge surprise if we were talking about any other player. In 2006-07, which feels like light years ago in Artest's story, he considered giving that year's paychecks to "to college and high school scholarships." The difference is, this time it's personal. Arenas and former Arizona teammate Richard Jefferson once had a competition to see who could give the most lavish gift to their school. Jefferson, who gave the money to build a practice facility, won. It was funny -- a novel way for players to go about helping out their alma mater, and the latest "what can't Arenas make weird?" episode. Artest's earlier plan, while I don't doubt that it was sincere, seemed to tell us as much about his erratic behavior as what he really felt was important.

               Ron Artest has had, to say the least, an eventful career. Through it all, he's been one of the most talked-about figures in the NBA -- usually for all the wrong reasons, or reasons that sought to make light of him as a person. That's all changing. Through it all, though, he is still undeniably Ron Ron. These days, "Artest being Artest" isn't scary, or laughable -- it's the new benchmark for authenticity in a league that's often sorely lacking in that department.

In Progress: Golden State Warriors @ San Antonio Spurs

                The red-hot San Antonio Spurs resume a lengthy six-game homestand tonight in search of their 25th straight home win over the Golden State Warriors.

                The Spurs, who have topped the Warriors nine straight times overall, are also on the cusp of the best start in franchise history. A win tonight would make San Antonio 18-3, surpassing the 2007-08 club that also started the season at 17-3.



                Most recently the Spurs improved to 2-0 on their current residency Sunday when Tony Parker registered 19 points and six assists in a well-balanced San Antonio attack that trounced New Orleans, 109-84.Matt Bonner went 4-of-5 from the three-point arc and finished with 14 points for San Antonio, which has won four of its past five overall.

                Richard Jefferson had 13 points, while Tim Duncan, George Hill and Gary Neal all recorded 11 points in the victory. Duncan also chipped in nine rebounds."I thought that our team defense was very good from the beginning to the end of the game," said Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. "It's one of the few games this year we've had really consistent defense for the whole 48 minutes."

                The Warriors, meanwhile, continued to struggle last night by dropping the second of a very difficult three-game road trip in Dallas. Dirk Nowitzki scored a game-high 25 points in that one, as the Mavericks held off Golden State down the stretch to notch a 105-100 win, their 10th straight victory.Stephen Curry had 21 points to lead the Warriors, who have lost four straight and nine of 10 games. David Lee posted 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in defeat.

                "We're not getting the final results as far as the wins we need, but we are playing there," said Warriors head coach Keith Smart. "So by the time we get it all together, I think we're going to be a good basketball team."Monta Ellis finished with 18 points, while Dorrell Wright had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Golden State, which fell to 3-9 on the road.

                The Spurs 24-game run against Golden State in the Alamo City, which began in Duncan's rookie season of 1997-98, is the NBA's longest active home winning streak against a single opponent.

Israel fire: student prison guards burned alive

               DALIYAT EL-CARMEL, Israel—Slack winds and an expanded international squadron of fire fighting planes helped Israeli emergency forces on Sunday tame the deadly forest fire ranging in the Carmel mountains outside of northern city of Haifa for four days.

               Fire officials said they had established control of the main centers of the blaze, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel no longer needed additional airborne assistance. Firefighters were able to shrink down and isolate a handful of fires to battle the flames.

               Meanwhile, many of the 17,000 residents who evacuated homes in the Haifa environs began returning home."We've got it under control,'' said Mordechai Shamran, the deputy commander of the Haifa police force in an interview with Israel's Channel 2 television. "We're preventing the fire from reigniting in 98% of the places.''

               Israel's worst forest fire in its history claimed 41 lives, and for the first time rendered the Jewish state dependent on foreign assistance to grapple with a national emergency. On Sunday, Palestinian firefighters and fire trucks from the West Bank cities of Jenin and Bethlehem joined the international effort

               Cabinet Secretary Gideon Hauser said the caused about $74 million in damage, including 250 homes, Haaretz newspaper reported on its website. Meanwhile, news commentators called for an independent commission of inquiry to be set up to assign responsibility for the blaze.

               In a Haifa, a magistrate court extended the detention of two minors from the Arab Druze village of Isfiya arrested on Saturday for negligence in starting the blaze.Israel enlisted 35 aircraft from 10 countries, including a Boeing 747 rented from the U.S., to help put out the fire. The giant smoke clouds over the lush Carmel was replaced on Sunday by a show-like procession of aircraft from Greece, Russia and Turkey.

               Flying 15-minute sorties in small groups of four and two, the planes picked up salt water from the Mediterranean, then headed eastward to the mountain forest, made U-turns and then swooped low over the smoldering woods to release their payload.

               The flights were punctuated occasionally by a giant shower of red flame retardant released by "Supertanker'' Boeing from Evergreen International Aviation Inc. of McMinnville, Oregon.Down below, hundreds of firefighters struggled to beat the blaze back from Israeli towns located in the forest. A group of firefighters with soot-smudged jackets said they were grateful for the assistance as they rested from four consecutive days of action.

               "Today we're seeing results,'' said Haim Buniere, a firefighter with the Jewish National Fund who worked round-the-clock shifts since the blaze broke out on Thursday. "The situation is better and its more relaxed. There aren't any strong winds. It's painful to see trees you cultivated go up in flames.''

               The four-day fire damaged about five million trees and 12,000 acres, some eight times the area damaged as a result of katyusha rocket hits during Israel's six-week war with Hezbollah in 2006.The southernmost front of the forest fire was centered about 10 miles south of Haifa. Dry winds whipped up blazes there that spread to an artists' village, Ein Hod, where several stone houses and studies were damaged Sunday, and the Carmel Forests luxury spa hotel.

               While planes buzzed overhead, JNF forest ranger Omri Bonneh surveyed a gully with singed tree trunks and carpeted with white ash. "The spread of this fire was nothing like we have ever seen before,'' he said. "It will take many years to restore this beauty.''

Will Howard Stern Sign New Deal with iTunes?

                The controversy rages on this weekend; it seems like everyone has their own opinion on whether Howard Stern would ditch his two channels on Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ:SIRI) in favor of a rumored $600 million, three-year deal with Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) where he could have a monthly subscription offering on iTunes.

               
                I personally believe the rumor is false, but many of our own readers disagree.One of the reasons why I don't believe Stern is leaving Sirius, as I explained yesterday, is that if he "were really leaving Sirius XM Radio Inc, he would be bashing their management a lot on his show and on other shows. He isn't quiet when he's unsatisfied... I mean, you've seen Private Parts, right?"
Reader Alex corrected me: "Stern has been blasting Sirius XM management for months, on his show."

                And reader Tim presents his own reasoning for why an Apple deal might happen: "People... Do the math, if 3 million subscribers pay iTunes $10 per month that is 30 mil per month in revenue. 360 mil per year and well over 1 billion over 3 years and we haven't even started adding up the ad revenue yet. He has 5 million listeners on Sirius so he should be able to get more than the 3 million listeners that I conservatively estimated."

Sproles left concussed by McClain's violent hit

                 SAN DIEGO -- San Diego fans booed loudly after no penalty was called on a helmet-to-helmet hit that left Chargers RB Darren Sproles with a concussion. But referee John Parry said the no-call was precisely in keeping with the rules.

                 The play occurred late in the second quarter of the Oakland Raiders' 28-13 win over the Chargers Sunday.Sproles was hit by rookie LB Rolando McClain after a 7-yard reception. Sproles was attended to on the field while the fans booed. He got to his feet and walked off, but he did not return to the game.

                 Parry said no penalty was called because Sproles had taken at least three steps after the catch and was no longer considered a "defenseless" receiver."You can't hit helmet-to-helmet on a defenseless player," said Parry. "He was not considered defenseless. He was considered a runner because the act of possession was complete. The minimum of three steps were taken, so he was not deemed to be a runner so helmet-to-helmet is legal."

                 Chargers coach Norv Turner said of the call: "I didn't get a good look at it. The guy (McClain) is playing football, and he came in there. The big emphasis to me is defenseless players. The quick look I had on it … I didn't seem him (Sproles) as being a defenseless player."Sproles' status moving forward?"Darren is going to be fine," said Turner. "He couldn't return in the game, but he's in there now (in the locker room), and he's doing good."

Merck Names Frazier as CEO

NEW YORK, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Merck & Co (MRK.N) president Kenneth Frazier will succeed Richard Clark as the U.S. drugmaker's chief executive officer, effective Jan 1, the company said on Tuesday.

Frazier, 55, initially made his name at Merck as general counsel by steering the company safely through daunting litigation over its withdrawn Vioxx painkiller, and more recently led the company's high-profile global pharmaceuticals division.

His promotion, which also includes a position on the board, has been expected after the company named him president earlier this year. Clark, who in March turns 65, the mandatory company CEO retirement age, will continue as board chairman.

Frazier, who joined Merck in 1992, previously served as president of the company's global pharmaceuticals division starting in 2007 -- an appointment that expanded his responsibilities beyond legal matters.

In this role, according to Merck, Frazier helped design a new sales model and redeployed resources to emerging markets, where the drugmaker is targeting future growth.

Frazier, who also sits on the board of Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N), served as the company's general counsel from 1999, a period that included Merck's withdrawal of Vioxx from the market because of an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

He helped the company fight off thousands of personal injury lawsuits related to the drug's use. Merck eventually settled the litigation for about $4.85 billion, billions less than investors had feared, boosting Frazier's profile within Merck and with Wall Street.

Clark became CEO in 2005, when the company was reeling from the Vioxx withdrawal.

As Merck's head of manufacturing, Clark was a fairly obscure figure when he was picked to replace then-CEO Ray Gilmartin in 2005.

But he emerged as one of the industry's most aggressive CEOs, controlling the Vioxx fallout and leading a cost-cutting and efficiency drive at the drugmaker.

His moves to acquire products outside of Merck's vaunted laboratories culminated in the $41 billion acquisition of rival U.S. drugmaker Schering-Plough Corp last year.

Merck shares were down 6 cents at $34.63 in thin premarket trading.

Marinette High School Hostage Situation – Wisconsin Student Shoots Himself

CHICAGO — A 15-year-old youth took 23 students and a teacher hostage at a high school in a small Wisconsin town before turning the gun on himself, police said.

The youth was hospitalized with a gunshot wound, with no immediate word on his condition, but the captives were unharmed, according to officials in Marinette, Wisconsin, where the drama unfolded Monday.

Marinette police chief Jeff Skorik said earlier reports on social network sites that students had been injured in the attack were incorrect.

Skorik told a late night press conference the student who had held the hostages shot himself as police approached him after officers had heard three gunshots go off in the classroom.

The male gunman, who was not identified, was transported to a local hospital where his condition or the nature of the injuries was not known late Monday.


"Emergency rescue personnel on stand-by treated the suspect and transported him to Bay Area Medical Center," a police statement said.

The drama came to an end at 8:03 pm (0103 GMT Tuesday) moments after the gunman had released five students to allow them to use the washrooms.

After hearing gunfire, officers who had been in dialogue with the teacher, immediately entered the room, and saw the boy shoot himself.

"The officers breached the door, entered the classroom and saw the suspect in front of the classroom," Skorik said. "At that time the suspect fired one shot, injured himself with a self-inflicted gunshot wound." Skorik did not say where he was shot.

The hostage-taker, an unidentified student, entered the classroom toward the end of the school day, around 3:00 pm (2000 GMT).

Police had been hoping to resolve the drama without violence. "The game plan all along was to have the situation end peacefully," Skorik said.

The youth, a student at Marinette High School, had entered the classroom with two handguns, a .22 caliber semi-automatic and a 9-mm pistol. Cartridge casings found on the scene revealed both weapons had been used, he added.

The motive for the situation remained unclear according to Skorik, who noted the student was not known to local police. One parent told the Milwauke Journal Sentinel that the situation unfolded during a Western Civilization class.

"We have no idea as far as motivations at this point," he said.

The high school will be closed until further notice and grief counselors will be on hand once the decision is made to re-open, said Superintendent Timothy Baneck.

The district had held a drill last fall to practise what to do if a shooter had entered the school, he added.

Marinette is approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the city of Green Bay. The school has approximately 700 students.

Police had earlier said there were 20 students and one teacher being held hostage.

Google Investigated by EU Over Online Ads, Search

                 BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union regulators will investigate whether Google Inc. has abused its dominant position in the online search market — the first major probe into the online giant's business practices.

                 The move announced Tuesday follows complaints from rival search engines that Google put them at a disadvantage in both its regular and sponsored search results, by listing links to their sites below references to its own services in an attempt to shut them out of the market.

                  The EU Commission will also see whether Google prevented advertising partners from placing ads from competitors on their sites. Competitors allegedly shut out include computer and software vendors, the commission said.

                 If the Commission finds that Google has abused its market position, the company could be fined up to 10 percent of its revenue — that would put it on the line for a $2.4 billion fine based on 2009 earnings figures.

                 The Commission has shown resolve in confronting U.S. corporations and only last year concluded a long-running antitrust case involving Microsoft Corp. that lead to over $1 billion of fines.

                 Three companies — U.K.-based price-comparison site Foundem, French legal search engine ejustice.fr and Microsoft-owned shopping site Ciao — lodged complaints against Google with the commission in February.

                 The investigation does not imply any wrongdoing by Google, which controls about 90 percent of the online search market in Europe, but shows that the antitrust watchdog is taking the complaints seriously enough to launch an in-depth examination of the company's practices.

                 Google has maintained it is confident that it hasn't done anything wrong.

                 "Since we started Google we have worked hard to do the right thing by our users and our industry — ensuring that ads are always clearly marked, making it easy for users and advertisers to take their data with them when they switch services, and investing heavily in open source projects," Google said in an emailed statement.

                 "But there's always going to be room for improvement, and so we'll be working with the Commission to address any concerns," the company said.

Fire Reported At Overland Park, Kansas Club

             The fire at the Milburn Golf & Country Club is contained, the Overland Park chief said shortly after 6 p.m. “But we’re in a defensive posture” to make sure it does not spread as high winds whip the fire, Chief Bryan Dehner said.

                The large three-alarm fire was reported about 4:30 p.m. Monday.The fire was thought to have started on the clubhouse’s second floor, but authorities said they didn’t know what sparked it.

                 No injuries were reported, but high westerly winds fanned the flames and made the blaze difficult to control. Heavy smoke blanketed a large area of homes east/southeast of the club.A fire occurred in building earlier Monday, and fire officials were working to find out more about it.

 

                 One Milburn staff member was at the club when firefighters arrived, and officials have talked to that person, Dehner said. Some construction work was being done at the club. The club reportedly was closed Monday.

                Flames were visible above the roof into the evening. Fire crews extended an aerial bucket over the clubhouse, and firefighters in the bucket poured water on the fire from above.Crews also had to bring water from a long distance because there were no nearby hydrants.

                The club is at 7501 W. 69th St. A fire department spokesman urged drivers to avoid the area.Crews from Overland Park, Johnson County Consolidated No. 2, Shawnee, Merriam and Olathe responded to the fire.

                Jim Crilly, a homeowner on 69th Street who lives three houses away from the club, said a friend told him that he heard a loud popping noise from the clubhouse before the firefighters arrived.Crilly said he went outside upon hearing the sirens and saw smoke that appeared to come from the west side of the clubhouse.

                Smoke blanketed the neighborhoods blocks away from the club Monday night and was visible even against the night sky.

                Milburn Golf & Country Club was founded in 1917, according to club’s website said. The course was regularly used by local golfers trying to qualify for the U.S. Open. The club has a fitness center, banquet facilities and other amenities.

                Bob Fischgrund, the club’s vice president, said he had no doubt that Milburn will rebuild. He said that while there is bound to be a lot of work ahead, the course itself appeared to be undamaged.

                “A club of this nature is about people, and the people are still going to be there,” he said.The club had planned a redecorating project in the clubhouse’s upstairs, including changes to the ballroom.

                One of the club’s earliest mentions in The Kansas City Star was on April 1, 1917, when it opened. The club was described as “Kansas City’s first popular priced golf club” because its initiation fee and annual membership dues — $50 and $50 — were less than those of other clubs.

                Monday’s fire wasn’t the first at Milburn. Flames destroyed the clubhouse in September 1932, the day before the club’s annual stag party. The estimated cost of the building was $60,000. The fire started in the second-floor apartment of the club manager, B.C. Bonnell, The Star reported. Almost all the furniture and equipment — including a grand piano and 225 sets of golf clubs — were saved by caddies and caretakers. Firefighters only had access to one hydrant, which had low pressure.A new building was open by May 1933.

                A smaller fire in April 1960 damaged the club’s kitchen and dining wing, causing $10,000 in damage. The club undertook a $300,000 remodeling project that was mostly completed by that fall.

                Art Parchen, a former member who wrote the club’s history, said Monday that the club had regularly held professional golfing events and was the course of choice for many people.

                “Boy, I tell you, it’s sad to watch this thing collapse in on itself,” Parchen said. “The club had probably one of the best golf courses in the area.”

                Diann McCallum of Mission was among dozens of people who lined Santa Fe Drive on Monday, watching firefighters work to tame the fire. Several people took photos with cell phones or digital cameras.

                “You can see it on TV, but you don’t believe it until you actually see it,” McCallum said.McCallum, who graduated from Shawnee Mission North High in 1980, used to sing at the country club with the school choir every Christmas.

                “It’s a gorgeous building. It’s really sad to see it go down,” McCallum said.Many people watching the fire recalled memories Christmas parties, wedding receptions, playing in the pool and spending afternoons golfing.

                “I grew up being a kid here,” said Brandon McNeely. “It was the thing to do and the place to be.” “Of course I’m biased, but I think it’s the best golf course in Kansas City,” longtime member Frank Kennedy said.

                The Strang Line Interurban Railway ran along the east side of the course and was a main stop. Before people had cars, visitors would ride the line to the golf club to caddy or play golf.

                “It’s certainly been an important fixture in the city’s history,” said Florent Wagner, the president of the Overland Park Historical Society. “Thousands of people have been married there.”

                Wagner said he was confident that Milburn will rebuild again, the same way that businesses in downtown Overland Park rebuilt after a fire in 2006.“This will not be the end of Overland Park,” Wagner said. “They will rise from the ashes and be better than before.”

                Diana Jackson worked several jobs at the country club from 1981 to 1986 including bartending.“It’s really sad,” Jackson said as she watched the fire burn. “I have a lot of great memories from there.”Chris Farrell and his twin brother, Greg, grew up playing junior golf at the club.

                “The pride of all of those that were part of this club will find a way to begin again,” Chris Farrell said. “They truly will.”

Conservatives jump out to strong lead in one byelection and ahead in a second

                 OTTAWA — The Conservatives have taken a clear lead in one of three byelections Monday night and the other two contests are close races.

                In Manitoba’s Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette riding, Tory candidate Robert Sopuck was well ahead of his closest competitors when the first results started coming in around 10 p.m. ET, shortly after the polls closed. He is expected to hold the seat for the Conservatives in what is a stronghold riding for the party.
But in Manitoba’s other byelection in Winnipeg North, the Liberals and the NDP were in the midst of a tough fight. The NDP’s Kevin Chief is considered the front-runner, but Liberal candidate Kevin Lamoureux, a longtime former provincial politician, has a decent shot at taking the riding. As the results came in, Chief was maintaining only a slight lead, just under a two-percentage point of popular vote lead.

           In the hottest of the three races, in Ontario’s Vaughan riding, Conservative star candidate Julian Fantino and Liberal Tony Genco were neck and neck as the early results were reported. By about 10:15 ET, Fantino had pulled ahead of Genco by about 380 votes.

           Although the riding is a Liberal stronghold — held by Maurizio Bevilacqua for the last 22 years — the Conservatives are counting on their high-profile star candidate to steal it away. Fantino, the former head of several municipal police forces and the Ontario Provincial Police, is a well-known figure, particularly in the riding’s Italian-Canadian community.

               Genco also has extensive community experience. The NDP’s candidate Kevin Bordian was nowhere near Fantino and Genco as the votes were tallied.The parties have all campaigned hard in the Vaughan byelection, eager to capture a seat in the Greater Toronto Area.

                Making gains in that region is key for the Tories in their quest for a majority government; traditionally, the Liberals have been able to keep the edge over them.If Fantino pulls off a victory, it will give Prime Minister Stephen Harper a tough-talking spokesman to push his law-and-order agenda.

                 Some have speculated Fantino would be put in cabinet upon his arrival in Ottawa. Harper could easily make some adjustments to the cabinet in the near future, given the recent resignation of his environment minister, former Calgary MP Jim Prentice. Prentice announced a few weeks ago that he had taken a job as vice-chairman of CIBC.

                Despite the long Liberal history in Vaughan, the party says it is not taking the riding for granted and is fighting for every vote.If the Liberals lose the seat, the defeat will be compared to the huge upset they suffered in another byelection in 2007 in Montreal’s Outremont riding. Thomas Mulcair’s victory for the NDP there rattled the Liberal party, which had secured that riding since it was created.All three of Monday’s byelections were triggered by MPs who left Ottawa to run in municipal elections this past fall.

Anderson Cooper Joins Fox

              A few months back we mentioned that Anderson Cooper would be launching a day time talk show set to premiere next fall. Well the show finally has a home and it’s going to be on Fox of all places.

              Three Fox-owned stations in the top markets have already cleared the show, which was unexpected as Fox News rivals Cooper’s CNN show.Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution president Ken Werner stated:

"Although the marketplace for fall 2011 has been filled by many returning franchises and the expansion of news programs, there is still a big opportunity across stations.
We are delighted that these major market stations have embraced the opportunity to bring one of America's finest storytellers to daytime and early fringe viewers."

              The show is already being described as one which will "bring to viewers the biggest celebrity and newsmaker interviews, fascinating human interest stories and in-depth coverage of pop culture, social issues, trends and major events." The hour-long show is set to air next September if all goes to plan.
Congrats!

China Moves to Cool Korean Tensions

                BEIJING—China engaged in high-level diplomacy to try to cool tensions on the Korean peninsula as the U.S. and South Korea on Sunday started a naval drill that has prompted dire warnings of reprisals from North Korea.

                   Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo met South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Sunday and said China "opposed any acts that harmed the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula," China's state news agency Xinhua said.

                  Mr. Dai said China "has consistently committed itself to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, as well as promotion for dialogue," and the two sides agreed in the talks to further develop bilateral ties, Xinhua said.

                A U.S. aircraft-carrier battle group started large-scale exercises with the South Korean navy in the Yellow Sea Sunday morning, in a show of strength five days after a North Korean artillery attack on a small South Korean island that killed four people. North Korea has condemned the naval drills and warned that if they go ahead, "no one can predict the ensuing consequences."

                 Mr. Dai arrived in Seoul on Saturday and discussed the situation on the peninsula with South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, China's Foreign Ministry said.Wu Dawei, China's special representative for Korean-peninsula affairs, also visited the country, South Korea's foreign ministry said.


               Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also discussed the situation by phone Saturday with Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the ministry said.Mr. Yang said "all sides should exert effort together, push for the situation to cool down as quickly as possible, and earnestly avoid conflict happening again," the ministry said.

                 He also said he "hopes all sides involved will take a rational and practical attitude, and actively create conditions for resumption of the six-party talks" on North Korea's nuclear program, the ministry said.
Mr. Yang on Friday also met with the North Korean ambassador to China and spoke by phone with South Korea's Mr. Kim and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

              Choe Tae Bok, chairman of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, will visit China from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4 at Mr. Wu's invitation, Xinhua said Sunday.

             China on Friday protested the U.S.-South Korean naval drill. "We oppose any party to take any military actions in our exclusive economic zone without permission," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement. China's stance appeared firmer in July, when officials said they opposed any military exercises in the entire Yellow Sea.

              The Global Times, a generally nationalistic Chinese newspaper, said "the Chinese people oppose the U.S. aircraft carrier entering the Yellow Sea, and this opposition is resolute and definitely will not just be oral."
"Judging from the current situation, the act by [South Korea and the U.S.] to fully enhance their military alliance will not help ease the hostile sentiment between North Korea and South Korea, and instead it will only further intensify the tense situation on the Korea peninsula," Xinhua said Sunday.

Walmart's Cyber Week of Savings 2010

              Walmart is launching Cyber Monday savings early this year, offering six days of sale prices beginning on Sunday and ending on Friday Dec 3rd. More than 150 holiday gifts and other items are available online, while supplies last.

             Walmart’s Cyber Week event will give families amazing offers on a wide assortment of holiday gifts from electronics, toys and video games to home furnishings, apparel, beauty products and personalized items with new savings added daily.

               Walmart, being the largest department store in the country has been letting everyone feel the great Holiday sale during their Thanksgiving and Black Friday deals. They are not yet done folks, here is their Cyber Monday which is actually happening not only for Monday but for the entire week! They are calling it Cyber Week. 

               Walmart's Cyber Week sale will include discounts on electronics, toys, video games, home furnishings at Walmart.com beginning on Sunday, November 28 through Friday, December 3. Go ahead and check Walmart.com and begin to scout all the items that you want to buy.

Willie Nelson Arrested Near El Paso

                 Willie Nelson Arrested – The legendary country music singer known as Willie Nelson was arrested yesterday morning by the Border Police of Sierra Blanca, in the state of Texas for marijuana possession again.

                 The 77 year old musician who is currently on another U.S. tour had just left California with his tour bus to perform in Austin, when his vehicle was stopped and searched by the authorities.

               The police discovered more than six ounces of marijuana conspicuously hidden inside the bus!
Willie Nelson and three members of his entourage were arrested for illegally possessing marijuana but were quickly released after paying their bail of 2,500 dollars.

              Mickey Raphael, Nelson's longtime harmonica player, spoke with Rolling Stone magazine regarding the incident and Nelson's release, telling the magazine that "he said he feels great -- he lost six ounces."
"It's kind of surprising, but I mean we treat him like anybody else," West told the El Paso Times. "He could get 180 days in county jail, which if he does, I'm going to make him cook and clean. He can wear the stripy uniforms just like the other ones do."

                   At the time Nelson was traveling from California to his ranch in Austin, Texas. Because he was released, it is not expected that the arrest would affect his tour, which continues with a concert in Thackerville, Okla., tonight.
                      Elaine Schock, Nelson's spokeswoman, declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press.Nelson, a staunch advocate of decriminalization of marijuana, has had his share of drug-related brushes with the law.
                     In Louisiana in 2006, 1.5 pounds of marijuana and three ounces of hallucinogenic mushrooms were found on his bus. Nelson pleaded guilty in that case and each was sentenced to a $1,024 fine and six months probation.

                   Back in 1995 Nelson was also arrested in Waco, Texas, and police officers said they saw a joint in his car's ashtray. Nelson had pulled off the road to sleep after an all night poker game. At the time he also confessed that there was small amount of marijuana on the car's floorboard.

Arthur Abraham vs. Carl Froch will be the best fight of the Super Six

                    Sergio Martinez might not have many options at middleweight, but super middleweight remains perhaps the most loaded division in boxing.Two of those top 168-pound boxers will attempt to rebound from losses when Carl Froch fights Arthur Abraham on Saturday night in Group Stage 3 of Showtime's "Super Six World Boxing Classic."

                The Armenian-born Abraham (31-1, 25 KOs) was disqualified during the 11th round of his March 27 fight against Andre Dirrell (19-1, 13 KOs), whom Abraham hit with a bout-ending punch when Dirrell was on one knee.

                 England's Froch (26-1, 20 KOs) was very competitive against Mikkel Kessler (43-2, 32 KOs) on April 24, but Kessler won a unanimous decision in his native Denmark.

              I'm not trying to disrespect Arthur at all when I say this," Froch said, "but if I was to have gotten beaten as badly as he got beaten for 11 rounds [against Dirrell], then I'd be worried.

                  "I'd be mentally dejected. Not only did he get beaten and out-classed, but he got beaten and outclassed by a guy that I previously beat. So that's got to have him worried and cause him concern."
The delayed broadcast of the Abraham-Froch fight from Helsinki, Finland, will begin Showtime's doubleheader at 9 p.m.

                  TRIPLE THREAT: Showtime's strong doubleheader will partially compete with an HBO "World Championship Boxing" tripleheader Saturday night from MGM Grand in Las Vegas.Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KOs) and Australia's Michael Katsidis (27-2, 22 KOs) will square off in the 12-round main event for Marquez's WBA and WBO lightweight titles. The co-featured fight will match Andre Berto (26-0, 21 KOs), of Winter Haven, Fla., against Mexico's Freddy Hernandez (29-1, 20 KOs), the mandatory challenger for Berto's WBC welterweight title.

                    The tripleheader will begin at 9:45 p.m., with a 10-round featherweight fight that'll pit Panama's Celestino Caballero (34-2, 23 KOs) against Jason Litzau (27-2, 21 KOs), of St. Paul, Minn. MAYWEATHER'S MESS: While we all want to see Manny Pacquiao fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. as soon as possible, maybe Mayweather should take some time to rectify whatever's wrong with his personal life before figuring out if he really wants to test himself against Pacquiao.

                   It seems as though Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs), arguably the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, can't go a week without getting into some sort of trouble. His pattern of self-destructive behavior has become disturbing, especially from a man trying to raise four children.That said, HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg shouldn't concede to Mayweather's inevitable inquiry about fighting someone other than Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) early in 2011. Because when Mayweather's money starts running low — and it will once he's finished paying attorneys' fees — he will need to fight again, regardless of whether he wants to do so.

Markets bet on a Portuguese bailout

           Thursday was another punishing day on Europe's bond markets - with relief about a possible bailout of Ireland now firmly replaced by fear that the debt crisis may be spreading.

             On Friday the focus is on Lisbon where the government has to get its latest austerity budget safely through its final vote in Parliament. Portugal's deficit and debts may be smaller on a European scale than those of Spain, Greece or Ireland.

            However, according to press reports, the European Central Bank and other EU nations are pushing Portugal to seek a bailout to take some pressure off Spain. The yield on Portugal's ten year bond has surged to a new record above 7%.Nigel Cassidy reports.

Bengals vs. Jets: Brad Smith Runs Wild

                It was the Brad Smith show at The Meadowlands on Thanksgiving night. The New York Jets’ all-purpose weapon did it all, rushing for a touchdown, returning a kickoff for a touchdown and picking up 200 total yards as the Jets dropped the Cincinnati Bengals, 26-10. Smith’s individual effort proved to be the difference in the game, with the New York defense adding a safety to seal the win and cap a furious second half scoring barrage.

               Down 7-3 at the half, it took the Jets all of two plays to regain the lead. Smith took the reverse, making a quick cut upfield and waltzing into the end zone for 55 yards and the score. With the lead in hand, the Jets took off and never looked back, scoring 23 second half points to put the game away.

               Mark Sanchez was steady, though not spectacular, under center, throwing for 166 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Shonn Greene’s led the Jets’ running backs with 70 yards on 18 carries. LaDainian Tomlinson had a slow day in the backfield, rushing for 49 yards on 13 carries. Dustin Keller led the New York receivers with four catches for 49 yards, followed closely by Santonio Holmes’ 44 yards and a touchdown in the receiving game.

                   For the Bengals, costly mistakes practically handed the Jets the game. Two first half Carson Palmer interceptions killed promising drives, a muffed punt in the second half gave the Jets the ball with excellent field position and poor coverage on Smith’s kickoff return gave the Jets all they needed to wrap this game up. Palmer finished the day with just 135 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions on 17 of 39 passing. Chad Ochocinco led the Bengals’ receivers with four catches for 41 yards. Jordan Shipley added 38 yards and a touchdown, the only Cincinnati touchdown of the day.

                   The Jets improved to 9-2, grabbing a much-needed win before heading to New England to take-on the Patriots on Monday, Dec. 6. Cincinnati fell to 2-9 with the loss. The Bengals host the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints next Sunday.