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THE ARTIST FILE...02-10-10

 

FEBRUARY 10, 1964...The American press reports that millions of teenage boys are suddenly sporting Beatle-style hairdos (or attempting to) after last night's historic appearance on CBS' Ed Sullivan Show. Meanwhile, the Beatles give yet another press conference, this time from the lobby of New York's Plaza Hotel, where the group is staying.

FEBRUARY 10, 1968...The Beatles close their American fan club and business office, Beatles U.S.A, fire their American PR people, and sever all business ties in the country, turning everything over to their own Apple Corps in London.
FEBRUARY 10, 1990... Eric Clapton ends his unprecedented 18-night series of gigs at London's Royal Albert Hall.
FEBRUARY 10, 2002..Elton John performs at the NBA all-star game in Philadelphia, PA.

***JIMMY MERCHANT of FRANKIE LYMON AND THE TEENAGERS is 70

***DON WILSON of THE VENTURES is 77

***LIONEL CARTWRIGHT is 50

***BOB SPALDING of THE VENTURES is 63

***ROBERTA FLACK is 73

 

Actress: LAURA DERN is 43

Actor: ROBERT WAGNER of IT TAKES A THIEF is 80

Actress: ELIZABETH BANKS of SCRUBS is 36

Actress: EMMA ROBERTS of NANCY DREW is 19

SCIENTISTS TRY TO MEASURE LOVE

Leave it to science to take all the fun out of something as cosmically pure as love.

Theories about love's purpose range from the biologically practical to the biologically complicated. Anthropologists have said it helps ensure reproduction of the species; attachment theorists maintain it's a byproduct of our relationship with our childhood caregivers. And now researchers are exploring what happens physiologically as a romantic relationship progresses.

 

The more we understand it, they say, the better our chances of making love last and of harnessing its potential to improve our emotional and physical well-being.

Whatever its reason, there can be little doubt -- even from a scientific standpoint -- about the potent feelings that being in love elicits.

Arthur Aron, a social psychologist at Stony Brook University in New York, has done brain scans on people newly in love and found that after that first magical meeting or perfect first date, a complex system in the brain is activated that is essentially "the same thing that happens when a person takes cocaine."

In one such study, published in 2005, Aron recruited 10 women and seven men who had fallen in love within the last one to 17 months. After taking a brief survey about the relationship (items included statements such as "I melt when looking deeply into ____'s eyes"), participants were put in MRI machines and shown pictures of their beloved, interspersed with pictures of neutral acquaintances. When participants viewed images of their partners, their brains' ventral tegmental area, which houses the reward and motivation systems, was flooded with the chemical dopamine.

"Dopamine is released when you're doing something [highly] pleasurable," like having sex, doing drugs or eating chocolate, says Larry J. Young, a psychiatry professor at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Atlanta's Emory University. Activation of this part of the brain is primarily responsible for causing the sometimes bizarre behavior of new couples, which is linked to motivation and achieving goals: excessive energy, losing sleep, euphoric feelings and, occasionally, anxiety and obsession when they're separated from their objet d'amour.

According to Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist and author of "Why Him? Why Her?," the smitten party is acting out of a motivation to "win life's greatest prize -- a mating partner for life."

Bonding

After the dopamine surge, research suggests that two key hormones -- oxytocin and vasopressin -- enter the picture, encouraging couples to form emotional bonds.

Oxytocin is released in humans during intimate moments such as prolonged eye contact, hugging and sex. It's also the hormone that causes mothers to bond with their infants. And having been proved to be involved in long-term bonding in prairie voles and, most recently, marmosets, researchers speculate that it plays the same role in humans.

Vasopressin -- also linked to bonding in prairie voles -- has similarly been linked to bonding in men. A 2008 study showed that a certain genetic variation of a vasopressin receptor was correlated with marital infidelity and fear of commitment.

All the chemicals and hormones released in new love help ensure that we mate and stay together long enough to reproduce or form partnerships for the long term. But once they've subsided, what happens?

Until recently, researchers assumed that most couples eventually settle into what's called companionate love: relationships that are more intimate, more committed -- and much less thrilling.

A recent study, however, proved this theory (and years of marriage sitcoms) wrong. Bianca Acevedo, postdoctoral researcher at UC Santa Barbara, looked at brain scans of couples claiming to be madly in love after 20 years of marriage. She and her colleagues found that these fortunate folks had the same neural activity observed in newly in love couples, only without the anxiety or obsession.

Acevedo also discovered something that surprised even her: Based on preliminary surveys, this kind of lasting love appears to be present in approximately 30% of married couples in the U.S.

That doesn't mean, though, that those of us who don't fall squarely into that group should throw in the towel. Researchers believe that we have a lot to learn from these happy couples, if only we're willing to do so.

To begin with, a great deal of research shows that doing novel, exciting things together boosts marital happiness. "Take a class together that you know nothing about," suggests Aron, who has co-written several studies in this area. "See a play, go to a new location, go to a horse race." The release of dopamine during these activities might remind couples of how it felt to fall in love or even be happily misattributed to the experience of being together.

The love upper

Also, says Acevedo, be thoughtful with your partner.

"We know that things like celebrating the positive is important for a relationship's well-being, as well as being supportive when [our partners] need us," she says. Couples that took part in Acevedo's study also resolved conflict smoothly and quickly, were affectionate and communicated openly with their partners, and spent time bettering themselves as well as the relationship.

"And sex!" she adds. "Sex is always good."

These types of intimate, loving interactions between couples are all linked, Acevedo says, to bonding hormones. "There's a connection between being engaged in the relationship -- especially affection, disclosure and intimacy -- and oxytocin." In fact, in one study, couples that had been administered the hormone were better able to calmly mediate conflict and to empathize with a partner.

Thomas Bradbury, a psychology professor at UCLA and co-director of the university's Relationship Institute, says that making beneficial relationship changes isn't as difficult as they may seem.

People -- often men, he says -- "think it's harder than it really is." But the basic idea is simple: to listen and respond in a way that is supportive. "When your partner says, 'I had a funny dream last night,' you say, 'Tell me about it,' " he says. Or, instead of suggesting that your partner quit his or her job because of a difficult boss, he adds, empathize with their struggle. Saying something as straightforward as, "That must be hard when your boss criticizes you," can make all the difference.

As cozy and warm as coupledom feels, its benefits extend even further. Healthy, happy marriages have long been linked to lower mortality rates and better immune functioning and, most recently, lower stress. In satisfied couples, says Acevedo, oxytocin and vasopressin have been shown to activate parts of the brain that are associated with calm, and even pain suppression.

"The way that we interpret those findings," she says, "is that the quality of our relationship bonds has implications for our health."

Most research in the field of love has been done with married, heterosexual couples. Acevedo suggests, however, that couples that have been living together for a long time but are not married may have comparable experiences. "If they're living together and almost like marriages, I would predict that they're highly similar to the married individuals."

Brain chemistry may not be foremost on most people's minds when they meet someone new or schedule a date night with their long-term partner. But keeping the spark alive is more than just fun -- it may be vital. And even for those of us who aren't in love right now, the knowledge may prove useful in the future. After all, says Aron, "[just about] everyone falls in love."

This report from: Chicago Tribune

ERIN ANDREWS PEEPER EYED MORE FEMALE STARS

It's all in papers filed yesterday in federal court in Los Angeles, by prosecutors hoping to convince a judge to lock up Michael David Barrett for 27 months as punishment for surreptitiously taping the ESPN correspondent in her hotel room and posting it on the Internet.

ERIN ANDREWS
 

In the docs, first obtained by TheSmokingGun.com, prosecutors claim Barrett "victimized approximately 16 other women in almost precisely the same way he victimized" Andrews -- and posted at least 32 "hotel peephole videos" to the web.

The docs also state that Barrett ran Internet background searches on 30 women, including "other female sports reporters, as well as other television personalities."

In the docs, prosecutors claim Andrews wants $335,558.27 in restitution from Barrett -- citing that she now suffers from "substantial emotional distress."

This report from: TMZ.

OPRAH RIPS LISA LING FOR BREAKING TEXTING AND DRIVING LAW

Oprah Winfrey took her employee, journalist Lisa Ling, to task for breaking the law - she admitted that she sent text messages while driving with her knees!

LISA LING

Oprah is campaigning against using a cellphone, and is making all of her employees sign a pledge saying that they won't text or even talk on the phone in the car in and is calling this the "No Phone Zone." 

Lisa Ling was on The Oprah Winfrey Show Tuesday, and looking chagrined admitted that she has texted while driving with her knees, which prompted Oprah to remind her that "it's against the law," to drive and text.  She told Ling that if she didn't stop she would "notify the California Patrol to be on the lookout," for her

With a row of nuns sitting in the audience, Lisa admitted that she was breaking the law and agreed to sign "half" of Oprah's pledge to not text and drive.  She said that she would use her bluetooth to talk on the phone. 

Ling lives in California where it is illegal to text and drive and all drivers must be hands free while talking on the phone.  Maria Shriver and Jennifer Aniston have both been caught driving and talking on a hand held phone, and Shriver's husband, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, told her that she had to stop and made her donate the phone to charity.

LOUIS GOSSETT JR. REVEALS HE HAS PROSTATE CANCER

(FOX NEWS)--Louis Gossett Jr., best known for his Oscar-winning performance in the 1982 movie 'An Officer and a Gentleman,' is reportedly fighting the early stages of prostate cancer.

According to the Los Angeles-based KTLA, the 73-year-old actor went public with his illness today. The reason: to "set an example for the large number of African-American men who are victims of this disease because of the comparatively low emphasis in our community on preventative examinations and early treatment."
"I want to influence them to seek, as I have, the fine medical care and early detection now available," he added.

According to reports, Gossett is expected to make a full recovery.

In addition to 'Gentleman,' Gossett appeared in the 1977 miniseries 'Roots,' for which he received an Emmy, and 'The Josephine Baker Story.' Next up for the actor is his memoir, aptly titled 'An Actor and a Gentleman,' due out this year.

TOURISTS STUCK IN ELEVATOR SPARKS SHUTDOWN OF WORLD'S TALLEST TOWER

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — (FOX NEWS) Visitors on the observation deck of the world's tallest tower heard what sounded like a small explosion, then saw dust that looked like smoke seeping through a crack in an elevator door 124 floors above the ground. The 15 people inside were trapped for 45 frightening minutes until rescuers managed to pry open the doors.

 Jan. 4: The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building standing at 828 meters, is illuminated during the official opening ceremony in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
 Because the elevator was apparently stuck between floors, rescuers had to drop a ladder into the shaft so those inside could crawl out. On the observation deck, about 60 more people were stranded and some began to panic.

Shortly after the drama unfolded on Saturday evening, the half-mile-high tower that was supposed to be one of Dubai's proudest achievements shut down to the public one month after its grandiose opening. It was the latest embarrassment for the once-booming Gulf city-state that is now mired in a deep financial crisis.

Witnesses who were on the 124th floor observation deck at the time and a Dubai rescue official recounted on Tuesday the chain of events that led up to the shutdown in interviews with The Associated Press.

Emaar Properties, the state-linked company that owns Burj Khalifa, has said little about the incident and nothing at all about an elevator malfunction. It had no comment on Tuesday. It remains unclear what caused the elevator to the observation deck — the only part of the building that was open — to fail.

Michael Timms, 31, an American telecommunications engineer who lives in Dubai, was on the observation deck with his cousin Michele Moscato when the ordeal began.

"It almost sounded like a small explosion. It was a really loud bang," Timms said.

About 45 minutes later, rescue crews arrived and pried open the elevator door, he added. The faulty elevator was caught between floors, so rescuers hoisted a ladder into the shaft to help those trapped inside crawl out.

Abu Naseer, a spokesman for Dubai's civil defense department, confirmed the incident. He said the call for help came in around 6:20 p.m. Saturday evening.

Emergency crews used another elevator to reach the observation deck and were able to rescue all 15 people stuck in elevator unharmed, he said.

Emaar, which owns the 2,717-foot (828-meter) building, has not responded to specific questions about the incident or made anyone available to speak despite repeated requests by the AP.

Local newspapers reported the shutdown of Burj Khalifa on Monday but it is still not clear exactly when the building was closed.

The company issued a brief statement Monday saying the viewing platform was temporarily shut for "maintenance and upgrade" because of "unexpected high traffic." It also hinted at electrical problems, saying "technical issues with the power supply are being worked on by the main and subcontractors."

Emaar has made no mention of problems with the elevators, angering some of those involved in the incident.

"What just kind of shocks me is that they were going to brush this under the rug to save face. If it broke, at least tell people it broke," Timms said.

Witnesses say the company provided little information to visitors stuck on the 124th floor observation deck as rescue crews worked. That lack of information caused panic among some visitors.

"I was really starting to get upset, getting really nervous," said Moscato, 29, a nurse visiting from Columbia, South Carolina. "I started crying."

She said she and Timms — along with other visitors, some in raised voices — asked to use the stairs because they felt uncomfortable taking the elevator back down, but were told that was not allowed.

All of those trapped in the elevator and on the deck were eventually taken down in a freight elevator not normally used by the public, they said.

Moscato said one of those trapped in the elevator told her later that the lights went off and the car began to fall before the brakes kicked in. It was not possible to independently verify the account.

The $1.5 billion Burj Khalifa opened with a lavish fireworks display and other celebrations on Jan. 4 after being beset by a series of delays.

Only the observation deck was being used for now as work continues on the rest of the building's interior. The first tenants were supposed to move in this month.

The tower more than 160 stories, though the exact number is not known. The tapering, silvery tower ranks not only as the highest building but also as the tallest freestanding structure in the world.

The observation deck, which is mostly enclosed but includes an outdoor terrace bordered by guard rails, is located about two-thirds of the way up.

MARK SIMONE INTERVIEWS ANN COULTER & GERALDO RIVERA ON 77 WABC...02-06-10

TO LISTEN TO MARK SIMONE'S INTERVIEWS WITH ANN COULTER AND GERALDO RIVERA, PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW.

http://www.wabcradio.com/sectional.asp?id=33449

 ANN COULTER
  
GERALDO RIVERA

 

POLICE SEARCH LANDFILL FOR MISSING ARIZONA BABY

SAN ANTONIO — (FOX NEWS) Police began excavating a landfill Tuesday in search of a body or other evidence in the disappearance of an 8-month-old Arizona boy who was last seen with his mother at a San Antonio hotel on the day after Christmas.

 File photo of baby Gabriel.

Elizabeth Johnson, 23, was locked in a custody dispute with the baby's father when she took off from Tempe, Ariz., in mid-December. Johnson has refused to say where the baby is, but she told the father, Logan McQueary, that she killed the infant and threw his body in a trash bin — a story she later retracted in a media interview.

Police Chief William McManus said Tuesday that authorities began the arduous task of digging down through 45 feet of trash with hazardous material crews and cadaver dogs standing by. It will take at least six days to dig to the layer containing trash from the hotel. The hotel's trash, which is in a section that's been cordoned off for weeks, will be recovered and carefully sifted, he said.

"We do remain hopeful that Baby Gabriel is alive," McManus said at news conference near the landfill's edge. "We are, however, conducting a missing person investigation and a homicide investigation."

He declined to offer any details on the investigation, which began as a missing-person case but was reclassified as a homicide to allow for the landfill dig. McManus said leads have come in from a variety of sources and investigators are checking every one.

Safely conducting a landfill search requires careful planning and specially trained investigators, McManus said. Heavy rains, which create toxic run-off, also have been a concern, he said.

Johnson, who was arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Dec. 30, is jailed in Arizona on charges of kidnapping, child abuse and custodial interference.

She told Phoenix television station KPHO that she gave the baby to a couple in a San Antonio park and only said she killed the boy to get back at McQueary, who had refused to give the baby up for adoption. Investigators say her descriptions of the purported hand-off were vague.

FOX NEWS ALERT

(FOX NEWS)--SENATE REJECTS OBAMA'S LABOR BOARD NOMINEE CRAIG BECKER.

FOX BUSINESS TICKER...02-09-10

 

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SUPER BOWL WAS MOST-WATCHED SHOW IN TV HISTORY

(FOX NEWS)--The Super Bowl was watched by more than 106 million people, surpassing the 1983 finale of "M-A-S-H" to become the most-watched program in television history.

 

The Nielsen Co. estimated Monday that 106.5 million people watched the New Orleans Saints upset the Indianapolis Colts. That beats the "M-A-S-H" finale, which had 105.97 million viewers in an era when there were fewer television sets.

Compelling story lines involving the city of New Orleans and its recovery from Hurricane Katrina and the quest for a second Super Bowl ring for Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning propelled the viewership.

The game also obliterated the previous record viewership for a Super Bowl -- last year's game between Arizona and Pittsburgh in which 98.7 million people watched.

LONG DAY OF SNOW BEGINS IN CHICAGO

The first wave of a major winter storm made a mess of the morning rush and forced the cancellation of 500 flights at Chicago's two airports.
 
Wesley Maxley waits at a snow-covered bus stop outside the United Center this morning.

Between 3 to 5 inches of snow is expected in the daylight hours -- falling this morning at a relatively moderate rate of half an inch per hour or less. But heavier snowfall is expected this afternoon, and totals could reach 8 to 12 inches by late tonight, according to the National Weather Service.

WGN-Ch. 9 staff meteorologist Tom Skilling believes 14 inches is possible by Wednesday morning. The storm is expected to extend over three rush periods.

Traffic on area expressways generally was moving at under 30 mph this morning. The Kennedy and the inbound Stevenson were the slowest, with travel times about 30 minutes more than normal.

Illinois state police said minor accidents and spin-outs were reported on area expressways but no major problems so far.

Since about 6 a.m., 15 accidents had been reported in the Chicago area, including the  expressways, Master Sgt. John Hernandez said. No serious injuries have been reported, he said.

"There's no concentrated area where everything is going crazy,'' he said. "We have nothing serious going on, we just have minor fender benders right now.''

Airlines have canceled more than 500 flights at the city's two airports, and delays of 90 minutes were being reported at O'Hare.

The CTA  implemented a winter action plan to ensure that bus motors start this morning and that its fleet -- downsized by almost 290 buses because of service cuts -- could get out of the garages and storage yards. Snow-sweeper trains operated overnight to clear tracks.

CTA officials also warned riders to allow up to 45 minutes extra travel time this morning.

The 121 express was packed with people in boots and heavy winter coats and hats at 8 a.m.

"This is a nightmare," said Janet Sandridge. "This (bus) isn't going to move it's so full."

Sandridge said she had not left her home early.

Joel Pepin, also on the bus, said he was not looking forward to taking the bus this morning but didn't have much choice.

"It's either walk or take the CTA," said Pepin. "On a day like today, you're not going to walk."

Tracy Porterfield said the 26 bus, which she usually catches to work, was less crowded than usual. "I think a lot of people stayed at home because of the weather," she said.

Laura Vinci drove in with her father today and said the roads through the city were clear. "But we exercised caution," Vinci said. "So now I'm late."

As of 8:30 a.m., about 80 schools, mostly private ones, across the area had closed their doors for the day.
 
Commuters wait this morning on Chicago Avenue, west of Milwaukee Avenue.

A winter storm warning is in effect until 9 a.m. Wednesday for McHenry, Lake, Kane, Cook and DuPage counties including the cities of Woodstock, Waukegan, Aurora, Wheaton and Chicago.  A blizzard watch also has been issued for Joilet, Kankakee, Morocco, Morris, Pontiac, Watseka, Paxton and Fowler until 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Snowfall is expected to continue into this evening, becoming heavy enough this afternoon that even major roads could become snow covered, officials said. Blowing and drifting snow is likely tonight, with up to an inch of new snow per hour, according to the National Weather Service.

Blizzard conditions may arise with northwest winds up to 35 mph tonight, making travel very dangerous, officials warned.

Because of the snow here and the storm passing through the eastern part of the country, airlines at O'Hare International Airport last night preemptively canceled 200 flights and canceled another 300 this morning.

Delays on inbound and outbound flights there were 90 minutes or more, according to the city's Department of Aviation.

At Midway Airport, Southwest Airlines canceled all flights from 10 a.m. today through 10 a.m. Wednesday. Other airlines at Midway reported about 10 cancellations.

The city sent out its full contingent of snow-fighting trucks for only the second time this season.

About 175 city Snow Command trucks were sent out at 2:30 a.m., and at 4 a.m. another 100 trucks -- the full fleet -- was dispatched. They are expected to be out for the duration of the day.

The Illinois Department of Transportation also has been out on the roadways all morning, working to clear the interstates, said spokeswoman Marisa Kollias. "It will be several hours before everything is cleared," she said, adding, the rapid snow fall has made it difficult to keep the roadways clear. 

This report from: Chicago Tribune.

WATER CANNONS FIRED IN LATEST ANTARCTIC WHALING CLASH

ADELAIDE, Australia  — (FOX NEWS) Activists vowing to stop the killing of whales exchanged water-cannon fire with a Japanese whaling fleet they are tailing in the Antarctic Ocean, as sea confrontations that have led to collisions and a sunken vessel continue.

 Feb. 6: Anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd's ship the Bob Barker, right, and the Japanese whaling ship Yushin Maru No.3 collide in the Antarctic waters.

The Sea Shepherd conservation group said its ships, the Steve Irwin and the Bob Barker, confronted the Japanese factory ship Nisshin Maru early Monday.

"The factory ship turned on their water cannons and were surprised when the Steve Irwin responded with a more powerful water cannon that had a couple of the whalers diving for the bridge doors," said a Monday statement from the group.

On Saturday, the Bob Barker and a Japanese harpoon boat collided in icy Antarctic waters, causing minor damage to both vessels. A Japanese whaler struck Sea Shepherd's high-tech speed boat Ady Gil and sheared off its nose on Jan. 6. The Bob Barker then came to rescue the crew of the Ady Gil, which sank a day later.

Japanese Fisheries Agency official Shigeki Takaya condemned the use of water cannons after Monday's confrontation. "As we have always said, we condemn the act. It is totally unforgivable," he said.

A Japanese foreign ministry official said Japan lodged a protest with the Netherlands and Togo over the water cannon fire in the Antarctic Ocean — the countries where the Steve Irwin and Bob Barker are registered.

"We asked the respective governments to stop the ships from obstructing our whaling activities," the official said, speaking anonymously, citing departmental policy. He declined to elaborate further.

Sea Shepherd, a U.S.-based activist group, sends vessels to confront the Japanese fleet each year. Two major clashes have already occurred this year, one a collision that destroyed a Sea Shepherd vessel.

Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson said his activists have prevented the whalers from catching any whales since Saturday.

"We intend to turn these three whaling-free days into three whaling-free weeks," Watson said in the statement. "I am confident that once again we will severely cut their kill quotas and we will once again negate their profits."

Japan has a six-vessel whaling fleet in Antarctic waters as part of its scientific whaling program, an allowed exception to the International Whaling Commission's 1986 ban on commercial whaling. It hunts hundreds of mostly minke whales, which are not an endangered species. Whale meat not used for study is sold for consumption in Japan, which critics say is the real reason for the hunts.

Watson estimated the whaling fleet has so far killed about 350 minke whales.

Sea Shepherd activists try to block the whalers from firing harpoons, and they dangle ropes in the water to try to snarl the Japanese ships' propellers. They also hurl packets of stinking rancid butter at their rivals.

The whalers have responded by firing water cannons and sonar devices meant to disorient the activists. Collisions have occurred occasionally.

The Sea Shepherd statement said its two vessels have enough fuel to pursue the whaling fleet for another month.

"It does not matter where they go, east or west along the Antarctic Coast," said Steve Irwin 1st Officer Locky MacLean. "We intend to stick to their rear like glue and we will not allow a single whale to be loaded onto the decks of that foul floating abattoir."

BROOKLYN DECKER'S 2010 SI SWIMSUIT COVER

 
SI keeps the cover photo a secret -- even from the models -- until less than 24 hours before it's revealed. Decker said now the mad dash was on to find outfits for TV appearances that will come with the gig. (Her closet of swimsuits wasn't right for winter, she joked.)

"I still don't know the formula for the cover," she added. "It's luck, the perfect suit and perfect storm to get it."

EVACUATIONS ORDERED IN L.A. AREA AHEAD OF STORM

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, Calif. -- (FOX NEWS) While residents of the mud-covered neighborhoods north of Los Angeles scramble to clean out their homes and yards, another storm bore down on Southern California, prompting authorities to issue evacuation warnings.

Weather forecasters predicted thunderstorms, snow in mountain passes and about an inch and a half of rain Tuesday for the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, where debris basins overflowed and damaged 43 homes over the weekend.

Officials issued evacuation orders for 541 homes on the hillsides of La Canada Flintridge and La Cresenta, telling residents to be out of their homes by 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Sheriff's deputies also asked residents to move their vehicles and trash cans away from the streets, where water and rocks roared through, smashing cars and concrete barriers together on Saturday morning.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for Tuesday afternoon through late Tuesday night for the neighborhoods below the steep slopes that were scorched by a massive wildfire last summer.

A fleet of dump trucks cleared piles of sandy mud from the streets around Ocean View Drive, which turned into a river of mud and small boulders during the last storm.

"It takes weeks to clean the debris basins out entirely. We've been working around the clock since Saturday, load after load after load," said Department of Public Works spokesman Bob Spencer. "Hopefully this storm will be kinder to us."

The showers could put more pressure on the debris basins designed to keep mud and boulders away from homes near the burn areas. A basin just up the hill from homes became clogged and overflowed on Saturday.

Engineers have prioritized six of the 28 basins in the burn area, based on their size, current capacity and proximity to at-risk neighborhoods, Spencer said.

About 300 trucks are being used to clear the debris channels.

CITIZEN JY0040-59L MEN'S SKYHAWK AT BLUE ANGELS MULTI-BAND ATOMIC ECO-DRIVE FLIGHT CHRONOGRAPH

Model # SKU JY0040-59L

3rd Generation Skyhawk Atomic Flight Chronograph.

Official Blue Angels Insignia appears on Caseback with logo on dial.

Atomic time keeping. Time is automatically set (or on demand) by the atomic signal.

Multi-band atomic receiver - receives atomic signal in North America, Europe and Asia.

Stainless Steel Case and bracelet.

Eco drive technology charges in sunlight or indoors with 6 month power reserve.

Power reserve indicator with low charge warning.

World Time with 43 cities.

2 World time Alarms

1/100 Second Chronograph Measures up to 24 Hours

99 Minute Countdown Timer

Perpetual calendar.

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) display.

Blue dial with silver tone hands and markers. Digital display.

Digital display back-light.

Luminous hands and markers.

Rotating Slide Rule Bezel.

Non-reflective scratch resistant mineral crystal.

Push-button deployment clasp.

Water resistant to 200m.

Case measures 45mm diameter by 15mm thick.

Flight watch.

5 Years Original Citizen's U.S. Warranty.

FOX BUSINESS TICKER...02-08-10

 

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FOX NEWS ALERT

 (FOX NEWS)--TOYOTA SAYS IT IS RECALLING ABOUT 400,00 HYBRID VEHICLES WORLDWIDE, INCLUDING PRIUS, FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS.

WOMAN CHASING DOG FALLS TO DEATH OFF CALIFORNIA CLIFF

 MENDOCINO, Calif.  —(FOX NEWS)  Authorities in California say a woman fell about 60 feet to her death after she chased her dog off a cliff in the Mendocino headlands.

The chief of the Mendocino Volunteer Fire Department says witnesses on Sunday saw the woman disappear over the cliff while running after her dog. Her dog had fallen about halfway down the cliff but was later rescued.

Danny Hervilla says the woman's body was recovered from a small, rocky beach area, where high tides and rough surf threatened to pull the body out to sea. Her identity has not been released.

Hervilla says the woman is the fourth person to die after a fall from the cliffs in the area in the past 18 months.

TODAY IN HISTORY...02-09-10

Today is Tuesday, Feb. 9, the 40th day of 2010. There are 325 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Feb. 9, 1960, Adolph Coors Co. chairman Adolph Coors III, 44, was shot to death during a botched kidnapping attempt while on his way to the family brewery in Golden, Colo. (Coors' body wasn't found for seven months; the man who killed him, Joseph Corbett Jr., served 19 years in prison. Corbett committed suicide in Aug. 2009.)

On this date:

In 1773, the ninth president of the United States, William Henry Harrison, was born in Charles City County, Va.

In 1825, the House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams president after no candidate received a majority of electoral votes.

In 1861, Jefferson Davis was elected the provisional president of the Confederate States of America.

In 1870, the U.S. Weather Bureau was established.

In 1942, daylight-saving "War Time" went into effect in the United States, with clocks turned one hour forward.

In 1943, the World War II battle of Guadalcanal in the southwest Pacific ended with an Allied victory over Japanese forces.

In 1950, in a speech in Wheeling, W.Va., Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wis.) charged the State Department was riddled with Communists.

In 1971, the crew of Apollo 14 returned to Earth after man's third landing on the moon.

In 1984, Soviet leader Yuri V. Andropov died at age 69, less than 15 months after succeeding Leonid Brezhnev; he was succeeded by Konstantin U. Chernenko (chehr-NYEN'-koh).

In 2002, Britain's Princess Margaret, the high-spirited and unconventional sister of Queen Elizabeth II, died in London at age 71.

Ten years ago: Hackers stepped up their "denial of service" attacks on popular Internet sites, zeroing in on such targets as ETrade and ZDNet, inconveniencing millions of Web users and unnerving Wall Street. Boeing Co. engineers and technical workers began a 40-day strike.

Five years ago: Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina was forced out by board members, ending her nearly six-year reign. A new postage stamp honoring President Ronald Reagan was issued in ceremonies across the country.

One year ago: President Barack Obama used his first news conference since taking office to urgently pressure lawmakers to approve a massive economic recovery bill. All-Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs, telling ESPN he had used steroids while with the Texas Rangers for three years. Lindsey Vonn won the downhill for her second gold at the World Championships in Val D'isere, France, becoming the second American woman (after Andrea Mead Lawrence) to win two golds at a worlds. Playwright Robert Anderson ("Tea and Sympathy") died in New York at age 91.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Kathryn Grayson is 88.  Actress Janet Suzman is 71. Actress-politician Sheila James Kuehl (kyool) ("The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis") is 69. Singer-songwriter Carole King is 68. Actor Joe Pesci is 67. Singer Barbara Lewis is 67.  Actress Mia Farrow is 65.  Singer Joe Ely is 63. Actress Judith Light is 61. Rhythm-and-blues musician Dennis "DT" Thomas (Kool & the Gang) is 59. Actor Charles Shaughnessy is 55. Jazz musician Steve Wilson is 49. Country singer Travis Tritt is 47. Actress Julie Warner is 45. Country singer Danni Leigh is 40. Actor Jason George is 38. Actor-producer Charlie Day is 34. Rock singer Chad Wolf (Carolina Liar) is 34. Actor A.J. Buckley (TV: "CSI: NY") is 33. Rock musician Richard On (O.A.R.) is 31. Actress Ziyi Zhang is 31. Actor David Gallagher is 25. Actress Marina Malota is 22. Actress Camille Winbush ("The Bernie Mac Show") is 20.

MID-ATLANTIC BRACES FOR SECOND MASSIVE SNOWSTORM

(FOX NEWS)--As the Mid-Atlantic digs out from a historic snowstorm that hit over the weekend, forecasters are predicting another two-footer to blanket parts of the region later this week.  

 
Feb. 6: The Oval Office at the White House in Washington is covered in snow.

Tens of thousands of workers in the snowy Mid-Atlantic states were given Monday off to shovel out from a blizzard that buried some areas in nearly 3 feet of snow.  

Federal agencies that employ 230,000 in Washington were closed, as were many businesses and school districts across the region. 

The National Weather Service, meanwhile, issued a storm watch for the Washington area Tuesday, saying there was potential for another 5 inches or more of snow. Forecasters expect highs in the low- to mid-30s for the next few days, though sunshine on Monday should help melt some of the snow, said weather service meteorologist Bryan Jackson.

"You've got a whole city held captive here," Gwen Dawkins, who was trying to get to Detroit, said as she waited at Washington's Reagan National Airport, where all flights had been canceled after 18 inches of snow was recorded by Sunday.

The sight of cross-country skiers cascading down monument steps and flying snowballs has since given way to images of people hunched over snow shovels or huddled next to fireplaces.

John and Nicole Ibrahim and their 2-year-old son, Joshua, have been without power at their suburban Washington home in Silver Spring, Md., since overnight Friday. They were among hundreds of thousands without electricity across the region, and utilities warned it could be days before electricity is restored to everyone.

"We were all bundled up in the same bed together and (Joshua) was coughing in his sleep and his heart was racing, and we worried he might be getting pneumonia," Nicole Ibrahim said.

The National Weather Service called the storm "historic" and reported a foot of snow in parts of Ohio and 2 feet or more in Washington, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Parts of Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia got closer to 3 feet.

Eric Berry, a plow driver for Baltimore, said he worked 12-hour shifts Saturday and Sunday. He said overanxious residents were sometimes hindering his ability to clear secondary roads by digging out their cars and moving them into the path of his plow.

"They feel like they need to park in the street, so that when it's time to go, they can up and go," Berry said.

In Philadelphia, 28.5 inches of snow fell during the storm, just shy of the record 30.7 inches during a January 1996 blizzard. Snow totals were even higher to the west in Pennsylvania, with 31 inches recorded in Upper Strasburg and 30 inches in Somerset.

The nearly 18 inches recorded at Reagan National Airport was the fourth-highest storm total for Washington, and airport officials haven't decided when flights would resume.

Dawkins, 59, was supposed to leave Washington on Saturday but still hadn't Sunday afternoon because of delays and cancellations. And she said there was "no way we're getting out of here tonight."

"They were very ill-prepared," she said.

At nearby Dulles International Airport in Virginia, the record was shattered with 32 inches. Some flights there have resumed.

Authorities say most public transportation in Philadelphia has resumed. In Pittsburgh, bus service restarted but light-rail wasn't running. Washington's Metro trains were to be limited Monday to underground rails, and its buses were going to operate on a very limited basis.

Despite the snow, watching the Super Bowl was still a priority for many. Eric Teoh, 29, of Arlington, said he borrowed his neighbor's snow shovel and spent at least an hour getting his car out of the snow to head to the Crystal City Sports Pub in Arlington, Va.

"I was snowed in and I dug my car out today to come here," he said. "I couldn't go anywhere."

In Mount Lebanon, a suburb south of Pittsburgh, Robb and Meredith Hartlage were again trying to clear the sidewalk in front of their house.

"We did a couple hours yesterday. I would say about four hours mixed with sledding," said Robb Hartlage, 40, who said he's not too old to play in the snow. He acknowledged, however, that the shoveling was hard work.

THE ARTIST FILE...02-09-10

 

FEBRUARY 09, 1964...At 8:00 PM EST, CBS' Ed Sullivan Show takes to the airwaves to broadcast the Beatles' first US television appearance. Nearly 73 million Americans -- a record for its time, and still one of the highest ratings ever -- watch as John, Paul, George and Ringo perform "All My Loving," "Till There Was You," "She Loves You," "I Saw Her Standing There," and "I Want to Hold Your Hand" to 703 screaming teenage fans (mostly girls) in the audience.
Although the group realized how important America was to their career, they had no idea just how important the Sullivan show was to domestic audiences; when the full impact of the event hit them just before the show, John Lennon became so nervous he taped the band's song lyrics to the back of his guitar, just in case.
Before the band's performance, Sullivan reads a telegram: "Congratulations on your appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show and your visit to America STOP We hope your engagement will be successful and your visit pleasant STOP Sincerely Elvis and the Colonel." During "Till There Was You," a message flashes when John appears on-screen: "Sorry, girls, he's married."
Although the music can barely be heard over the screams, this one show has an enormous effect on galvanizing future rock stars into attempting their own version of Beatlemania. Indeed, one other future music star from Britain appears on the show this night -- the Monkees' Davy Jones, performing as part of the cast of Broadway's Oliver!
FEBRUARY 09, 1975... The variety show Cher, meant to take the place of the old Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, debuts on CBS with guests Elton John and Bette Midler.

***CAROLE KING is 68

***"DT" THOMAS of KOOL AND THE GANG is 59

***TRAVIS TRITT is 47

***JOE ELY is 63

***BARBARA LEWIS is 67

 

Actress: JULIE WARNER is 45

 
Actress: KATHRYN GRAYSON is 88

Actress; JANET SUZMAN is 71

Actor: CHARLES SHAUGHNESSY of THE NANNY is 55

Actor: DAVID GALLAGHER of SEVENTH HEAVEN is 25

Actress: JUDITH LIGHT is 61

Actor: A.J. BUCKLEY of CSI: NY is 33

Actress: CAMILLE WINBUSH of THE BERNIE MAC SHOW is 20

FOX NEWS ALERT

 (FOX NEWS)--TOYOTA SAYS IT IS RECALLING PRIUS IN JAPAN BECAUSE OF BRAKING PROBLEMS.

FOX NEWS ALERT

 
(FOX NEWS)--DOW FALLS MORE THAN 100 POINTS, CLOSES BELOW 10,000 FOR FIRST TIME IN THREE MONTHS. 

OIL HOLDS ABOVE $71 A BARREL

 

LONDON--(FOX NEWS) Oil held above $71 a barrel on Monday, supported by a weaker U.S. dollar and as some investors viewed the previous session's decline to a near two-month low as a buying opportunity.

Metals including copper and gold also rose, although European shares turned negative after an earlier rally as banking stocks were dragged down by worries over euro zone sovereign debt problems.

U.S. crude for March was up 38 cents at $71.57 a barrel by 1139 GMT. The contract fell as low as $69.50 on Friday, the lowest since Dec. 15. Brent crude rose 36 cents to $69.95.

"We dipped below $70 on Friday, which is the bottom of the recent trading range, and some used that as a buying opportunity," said Carsten Fritsch, analyst at Commerzbank, referring to U.S. crude.

"Given weak fundamentals and doubts about economic recovery, it's only a matter of time before prices start heading lower again."

A cold snap in the U.S. mid-Atlantic region, an area heavily dependent on home heating oil and natural gas supplies, and escalating tensions between Iran and western nations also lent support to prices.

The U.S. dollar was weaker against a basket of currencies. Dollar weakness makes crude and other dollar-priced commodities cheaper for holders of other currencies, and tends to support oil prices.

Major commodity markets are testing 200-day moving averages after sharp sell-offs in the past three weeks, but that important support level appears to have held for U.S. crude, as well as copper and gold.

"For now, we would venture to say that a measure of stability could be with us over the next day or two," said Edward Meir, analyst at MF Global, in a report.

"However, most charts still look precarious and at best, rallies could return values back over broken trend lines with little assurance that these gains will be sustained."

A blizzard dumped 2 ft (0.5m) of snow across much of the U.S. mid-Atlantic on Saturday, threatening record snowfall and leaving tens of thousands without power.

The United States and Germany have threatened carefully targeted new sanctions against Iran, which gave instructions on Sunday for the production of higher-grade nuclear reactor fuel.

Oil fell 2.7 percent on Friday as a tepid employment report in the United States, the world's top energy consumer, heightened worries of a sluggish recovery in fuel demand. It has lost nearly 10% this year. 

WORLD'S TALLEST TOWER LOOKOUT SUDDENLY SHUTTERED

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — (FOX NEWS) The Burj Khalifa's owner said Monday the observation deck of the world's tallest tower has been unexpectedly shut down, potentially disappointing thousands of tourists and marring the spire's image just a month after it opened.

 Jan. 4: The Burj Khalifa, the world's 828 meter tallest building is illuminated during the official opening ceremony in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The precise cause of the Dubai skyscraper's closure remained murky. In a brief statement responding to questions, building owner Emaar Properties blamed the closure on "unexpected high traffic," but then suggested that electrical problems were also at fault.

"Technical issues with the power supply are being worked on by the main and subcontractors and the public will be informed upon completion," the company said.

A spokeswoman for Emaar was unable to provide further details.

Thousands of visitors have taken the elevator ride of just over a minute to the observation deck since it opened to the public on January 5, though advance bookings have meant many tourists looking to visit have struggled to find tickets. Ticket holders affected by the shutdown are being offered the chance to rebook or receive refunds.

"All ticket holders who wish to rebook shall be given top priority," the company said, adding that it is "committed to the highest quality standards at Burj Khalifa."

Emaar did not say when the observation deck would reopen following Sunday's closure. Ticket sales agents were accepting bookings starting on Valentine's Day this Sunday, though one reached by The Associated Press could not confirm the building would reopen then.

Work is still ongoing on many of the building's other floors, including those that will house the first hotel designed by Giorgio Armani that is due to open in March.

It was unclear if the rest of the building was affected by the observation deck's shutdown. The first of some 12,000 residential tenants and office workers are supposed to move in this month.

Dubai opened the 2,717-foot (828-meter) tower on January 4 in a blaze of fireworks that was televised around the world. The building had been known as the Burj Dubai during more than half a decade of construction, but the name was suddenly changed on opening night to honor the ruler of neighboring Abu Dhabi.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi are two of seven small sheikdoms that comprise the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi hosts the federation's capital and holds most of the country's vast oil reserves. It has provided Dubai with $20 billion in emergency cash to help cover its debts.

The Burj Khalifa boasts more than 160 stories. The exact number is not known.

The observation deck is located on the 124th floor. Adult tickets bought in advance cost 100 dirhams ($27.25). Visitors wanting to enter immediately can jump to the front of the line by paying 400 dirhams ($109) apiece.

SPACE SHUTTLE BLASTS OFF ON LAST NIGHT FLIGHT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida --(FOX NEWS)  Endeavour and six astronauts rocketed into orbit Monday on what's likely the last nighttime launch for the shuttle program, hauling a new room and observation deck for the International Space Station.

 
The space shuttle took flight before dawn, igniting the sky with a brilliant flash seen for miles around. The weather finally cooperated: Thick, low clouds that had delayed a first launch attempt Sunday returned, but then cleared away just in time.

"Looks like the weather came together tonight," launch director Mike Leinbach told the astronauts right before liftoff. "It's time to go fly."

"We'll see you in a couple weeks," replied commander George Zamka. He repeated: "It's time to go fly."

"For the last night launch, it treated us well," Leinbach said.

Endeavour's destination -- the space station, home to five men -- was soaring over Romania at the time of liftoff. The shuttle is set to arrive at the station early Wednesday.

Zamka and his crew will deliver and install Tranquility, a new room that will eventually house life-support equipment, exercise machines and a toilet, as well as a seven-windowed dome. The lookout has the biggest window ever sent into space, a circle 31 inches across.

It will be the last major construction job at the space station. No more big pieces like that are left to fly.

Both the new room and dome -- together exceeding $400 million -- were supplied by the European Space Agency.

Endeavour's launch also was broadcast to the space station residents, who got to watch it live.

Launch manager Mike Moses said he got "evil glares" in the control center for making his team report to work on Super Bowl night. He noted that the shuttle's fuel tank was made in New Orleans. "They were at least happy with the results of the game," he said with a smile.

Monday morning's countdown ended up being uneventful, except for a last-minute run to the launch pad. Astronaut Stephen Robinson forgot the binder holding all his flight data files, and the emergency red team had to rush it out to him, just before he climbed aboard. The launch team couldn't resist some gentle teasing.

A quick look at the launch video showed a couple pieces of foam insulation breaking off Endeavour's external fuel tank, but none appeared to strike the shuttle, officials said.

The 13-day mission comes at an agonizing time for NASA. Exactly one week ago, the space agency finally got its marching orders from President Barack Obama: Ditch the back-to-the-moon Constellation program and its Ares rockets, and pack on the research for an as-yet-unspecified rocket and destination.

NASA's boss, ex-astronaut Charles Bolden, favors Mars. But he, too, is waiting to hear how everything will play out.

The space station came out a winner in the Obama plan. The president's budget would keep the outpost flying until at least 2020, a major extension.
The spectacle of the night launch illuminating the sky attracted a crowd, including some members of Congress, federal big shots and European space leaders.

Endeavour shot through some thin clouds on its way into orbit, and its bright flame was visible from the launch site for seven minutes. By then, the shuttle already was up near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina said Leinbach.

"We're going to cherish this," he said at the traditional post-launch news conference.

Within 15 minutes of taking off, the astronauts were enjoying "a beautiful sunrise" from orbit, with the moon as a backdrop. "Wish you could be here," Zamka called down.

The four remaining shuttle flights to the station -- in March, May, July and September -- have daytime departures, at least for now. A significant delay could bump any of the launches into darkness. NASA has Obama's permission to bump a mission or two into 2011 if safety needs arise.

Given all the changes coming, the mood around the launching site was bittersweet.

The manager in charge of preparing Endeavour for launch, Dana Hutcherson, said everyone was excited to be part of the first launch of the new year.
"But let's face it, our KSC (Kennedy) team is going to have a challenging year ahead of us as the space shuttle is ending," she said. "It's not going to be easy for us."

Three spacewalks are planned during Endeavour's flight to hook up the new station compartments, beginning Thursday. The shuttle crew -- five men and one woman, all Americans -- will team up with the station residents to get the job done. Aboard the station are two Americans, two Russians and one Japanese.

Bolden sees that same blend of nations in NASA's future exploration efforts, whatever they are.

TODAY IN HISTORY...02-08-10

 
Today is Monday, Feb. 8, the 39th day of 2010. There are 326 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Feb. 8, 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated.

On this date:

In 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle in England after she was implicated in a plot to murder her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.

In 1693, a charter was granted for the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg in the Virginia Colony.

In 1837, the Senate selected the vice president of the United States, choosing Richard Mentor Johnson after no candidate received a majority of electoral votes.

In 1904, the Russo-Japanese War, a conflict over control of Manchuria and Korea, began as Japanese forces attacked Port Arthur.

In 1924, the first execution by gas in the United States took place at the Nevada State Prison in Carson City as Gee Jon, a Chinese immigrant convicted of murder, was put to death.

In 1960, work began on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located on Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Los Angeles.

In 1968, three college students were killed in a confrontation with highway patrolmen in Orangeburg, S.C. during a civil rights protest against a whites-only bowling alley.

In 1978, the deliberations of the Senate were broadcast on radio for the first time as members opened debate on the Panama Canal treaties.

In 1989, 144 people were killed when an American-chartered Boeing 707 filled with Italian tourists slammed into a fog-covered mountain in the Azores.

In 2007, model, actress and tabloid sensation Anna Nicole Smith died in Florida at age 39 of an accidental drug overdose.

Ten years ago: Internet vandals continued an unprecedented campaign of electronic assaults against the biggest names in cyberspace, disrupting access for consumers to popular Web sites including eBay, Amazon.com and CNN.com. Republican George W. Bush won the Delaware presidential primary.

Five years ago: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (ah-ree-EL' shah-ROHN') and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas (mahk-MOOD' ah-BAHS') announced a cease-fire at a summit in Egypt. An earlier-than-usual Mardi Gras festival opened in New Orleans with sparse crowds. Longtime CBS newsman George Herman died in Washington D.C. at age 85. Doobie Brothers drummer Keith Knudsen died in Kentfield, Calif. at age 56.

One year ago: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss won five Grammys, including album of the year, for "Raising Sand." R&B singer Chris Brown was arrested on suspicion of making a criminal threat (he was later sentenced to five years of probation for beating his longtime girlfriend, singer Rihanna). The NFC rallied to a 30-21 victory over the AFC in the Pro Bowl.

Today's Birthdays: Composer-conductor John Williams is 78. Former ABC News anchor Ted Koppel is 70. Actor Nick Nolte is 69. Comedian Robert Klein is 68. Actor-rock musician Creed Bratton is 67. Singer Ron Tyson is 62. Actress Brooke Adams is 61. Actress Mary Steenburgen is 57. Actor Henry Czerny is 51. Rock singer Vince Neil (Motley Crue) is 49. Rock singer-musician Sammy Llanas (YAH'-nus) (The BoDeans) is 49.  Actress Mary McCormack is 41. Rock musician Keith Nelson (Buckcherry) is 41. Actor Seth Green is 36. Actor Josh Morrow is 36. Rock musician Phoenix (Linkin Park) is 33. Rock musician Jeremy Davis (Paramore) is 25. Rock musician Max Grahn (Carolina Liar) is 22. Actor Ryan Pinkston is 22. Actress Karle Warren ("Judging Amy") is 18.
 

NETANYAHU: ISRAEL OPEN TO PEACE TALKS WITH SYRIA

JERUSALEM — (FOX NEWS) Israel's prime minister attempted to end a war of words with Syria on Sunday, saying his country is open to peace talks with its longtime enemy.

Israeli and Syrian officials have traded threats over the past week, raising concerns of an escalation between two countries that have officially been at war for more than 60 years.

GOLAN HEIGHTS 

Israel desires peace agreements with "all of its neighbors," Netanyahu told his weekly Cabinet meeting.

"We did it with Egypt and Jordan, and we want to achieve similar agreements with the Palestinians and the Syrians," he said. "I hope that we are on the brink of renewing negotiations with the Palestinians, and we are open to renewing the process with the Syrians as well."

Netanyahu's comments came after an ominous exchange between officials in the two countries.

Syrian President Bashar Assad accused Israel of avoiding peace and his foreign minister threatened that Israeli cities would come under attack in a future war. Israel's foreign minister responded that Syria would be defeated and Assad and his family would lose power in any future conflict.

It has been a quarter-century since Israel and Syria fought directly, but Syria backs anti-Israel forces like the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah and the Palestinian Islamic organization Hamas. Israel's sworn enemy Iran backs Hamas and Hezbollah.

The central point of disagreement between Israel and Syria is the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau that Israel captured in 1967 and later annexed. Syria has demanded a full withdrawal from the Golan as a condition for peace.

Netanyahu said Israel would not accept preconditions to negotiations, indicating he would not agree ahead of time to a Golan withdrawal. He also said any agreement would have to guarantee Israel's security.

Indirect talks between Syria and Israel's previous government ended unsuccessfully in late 2008.

FOX NEWS ALERT

 
(FOX NEWS)--NEW ORLEANS SAINTS BEAT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 31-17 TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV.