1995 - A new Beatles recording called "Free As a Bird" was released
Happy Birthday to:
Vice President JOE BIDEN, White House correspondent JUDY WOODRUFF actors SEAN YOUNG, BO DEREK and VERONICA HAMEL ("Hill Street Blues")
comedian DICK SMOTHERS, RICHARD DAWSON of the Family Feud
Jets football great MARK GASTINEAU and singer NORMAN GREENBAUM
Sabi the army dog returns home
Sabi the army dog returns home after 14 months lost in Afghanistan
Special Forces units make a point of never leaving one of their own behind — and Australia’s Sabi is no exception.
The bomb-sniffing black labrador has been found after being declared missing in action, presumed dead, following a gun battle in Afghanistan 14 months ago.
Four-year-old Sabi was rescued by American soldiers in the remote mountains of Uruzgan province, deep inside Taleban territory in the south.
After more than a year of eluding the Taleban and living off her wits, Sabi received a celebrity welcome from General Stanley McChrystal, head of Nato troops, and Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, who saw the dog during an overnight trip to visit his country’s servicemen.
Her trainer verified her identity by testing her with a familiar game. “I nudged a tennis ball to her with my foot and she took it straight away. It’s a game we used to play over and over during her training,” the handler said. “It’s amazing, just incredible, to have her back.”
Nine Australian soldiers — including Sabi’s handler — were wounded in the battle, which earned one of the Australian SAS troopers the highest bravery award.
Mark Donaldson won a Victoria Cross for deliberately and repeatedly drawing enemy fire so that his wounded comrades could be evacuated — and then running across 80 yards of open ground to rescue a wounded Afghan interpreter.
Once the dust cleared, there was no sign of Sabi, a dog trained to detect explosives. The troops later searched repeatedly around the ambush site, but assumed that the dog was dead.
Last week an American soldier — named only as John — spotted the dog close to an isolated outpost in the northwest of the province. Officials said he knew the Australians had lost a dog, and it matched her description so he called her towards him. “I took the dog and gave it some commands, and it understood,” he said.
Sabi was airlifted to the Australian headquarters in the provincial capital, Tarin Kowt. She was then reunited with the Army’s working dogs unit.
...
Trooper Donaldson welcomed the news of the dog’s safe return. “She’s the last piece of the puzzle,” he said. “Having Sabi back gives some closure for the handler and the rest of us that served with her in 2008. It’s a fantastic morale booster for the guys.”
George Hulse, from the Australian Defence Force Trackers and War Dogs Association, said: “She’s been a fantastic dog and given us great service, and that she’s a survivor shows that she’s got the true Australian spirit.”
Elf Yourself is back!!
A new Christmas tradition is back today - Office Max has brought back the “Elf Yourself” website!
You’ll be able to make dancing elf versions of you and your friends at www.elfyourself.com
The Beatles’ 14 re-mastered stereo albums are being released on a limited-edition, apple-shaped USB drive!
The drive will also have 13 mini-documentaries, replicated original UK album art, rare photos and expanded liner notes.
The 16GB drive will be available December 8th and can be pre-ordered for $279.99 at the band's website.
Only 30,000 "Apples" are scheduled to be produced
Neighborhood Nickname Tutorial!
New York is being sliced and diced into hip sounding names, mostly because real estate agencies are finding that people have more interest in areas when they sound trendy
Here is a quick tutorial on the names: DUMBO - the loft-laden area down under the Manhattan Bridge overpass. SoHo - south of Houston Street Tribeca - the triangle below Canal Street NoHo - north of Houston Street Nolita - north of Little Italy BoHo - the Bowery below Houston Street iTri - the "iron triangle" of Willets Point in Queens BoCoCa - the combination of three old-school Brooklyn neighborhoods - Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill GoCaGa - Gowanus and Carroll Gardens SunSlope - a name invented by a broker trying to sell condos in Greenwood Heights, which is a fancier name for Sunset Park.
More toy concerns
Just in time for the holiday season, the Center for Environmental Health says some toys from big-name brands like Barbie and Disney have turned up with high lead levels
A Barbie Bike Flair Accessory Kit and a Disney Tinkerbell Water Lily necklace are among the items with high lead levels
Excessive lead was also detected in a Dora the Explorer Activity Tote, two pairs of kids shoes, a poncho and a boy’s belt.
We have a LOCAL WINNER for the "Simpsons create a character" contest!!
Peggy Black of Orange, Connecticut won the contest to create a character for “The Simpsons,” beating more than 25,000 entries!!! "Rrrri-cardo Bomba," is the name of the character, Peggy said. "He's someone that all the women love and all the men want to be."
Bomba will be introduced in the January 31st episode featuring guest star Chris Martin of Coldplay.
In "Million Dollar Maybe," Homer is rushing to meet Marge for a date when he encounters Bomba in the episode that centers on a winning lottery ticket.
Executive producer Al Jean helped judge the contest and says It's possible Bomba could appear again
Black Friday 2009 deals!!
Black Friday 2009 is almost here and the sales and deals are pouring in...overall, stores are keeping inventories lean and going deep only in categories they believe will appeal to anyone strapped for cash
Walmart will go all out this year in key categories like toys and electronics, and there will be “100 toys for $10"
Kmart and Sears have been promoting holiday goods since July on their Web sites, and this will be Kmart's first holiday without Martha Stewart, so look for promotions on the Country Living brand
Best Buy is highlighting Blu-ray players for under $200, GPS systems, digital cameras, HDTV’s under $400!
The Home Depot will be offering a 7 foot artificial Christmas tree with all the lights included for just $49! They are also offering Maytag washing machines for less than $300
Toys R Us is offering 50-60% off most toys, and as an added incentive there will be an additional 350 Toys R Us locations opening inside malls and Babies R Us stores just for the holidays
Amazon is offering free shipping…they also have DVD’s for $5 and Blu Ray Discs for $15 and under
Old Navy and Gap – The expected discounts on sweaters, loungewear and denim.
Modells is offering 33% off all team jerseys and 50% off sneakers and sweat shirts
GO TO THIS LINK TO SEE SCANS OF THE ACTUAL BLACK FRIDAY ADS ~~~> www.blackfriday.info/sales/
Want to cook on live TV?
Do you have the passion for cooking, but lack certain skills?
Do you watch cooking shows to get ideas for recipes and meals for your family?
”Gordon Ramsay: Cook-along Live” is the show that can help you and is looking for participants to appear on the special from their own home
The deadline to submit your application is this Friday, November 20th and the show is looking for individuals, Couples, Families or Best Friends of all skill levels
The live special will air on December 15th and go to www.fox.com/casting.htm to register
Holidays To Know
The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are inviting the public to “send a touch of home” to US service members and vets across the country and abroad with the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign. Last year the program received more than 1.4 million cards for military men and women.
Send holiday cards with personal messages to a special post office box now through December 7th. Cards are screened for hazardous materials and delivered to military bases and hospitals in the U.S. and abroad during the holidays.
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
New Movies This Weekend
The Drama "The Blind Side" (PG-13) with SANDRA BULLOCK, TIM McGRAW and KATHY BATES - About a homeless football player who gets taken in by a wealthy family who helps him fulfill his dreams
The animated comedy "Planet 51" (PG) with the voices of DWAYNE JOHNSON, JESSICA BIEL and GARY OLDMAN
The movie teenagers have been waiting for all year…"The Twilight Saga: The New Moon" (PG-13), starring KRISTEN STEWART, ROBERT PATTINSON, TAYLOR LAUTNER and DAKOTA FANNING.
3 stars from the Daily News, which says the main actors” bring teen muscle to the sequel” and “you will feel right at home from the opening scenes”
The Post disagrees, giving it one and a half stars and saying “New Moon” is supposed to be an exciting love story plus monster action, So where’s the excitement?
Here's my Pick for This Week!
The 3-disc reboot of "Star Trek" on DVD and BluRay!!
Disc one has the film, and disc two features the extras, including "The Shatner Conundrum," explaining why William Shatner was not included in the movie
- "A New Vision" looks at the influence of Star Wars' pacing on the film - "Gene Roddenberry's Vision" features J.J. Abrams and others looking back at "Star Trek's" creator and his vision for the future
- A collection of nine deleted scenes, including Spock's Birth, Klingons Take Over Narada and more
- The "Starfleet Vessel Simulator", an interactive piece that shows both the Enterprise and the Narada in a three-dimensional environment with clickable options that reveal facts about the vessels.
Disc three features both a playable demo version of the video game Star Trek D-A-C and a digital copy of the film.
Amazon is offering the movie in a limited edition gift set, containing a "screen-accurate" 8.5-inch replica of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701, modeled directly from the digital-effects files used in the making of the movie.
The figure is made of solid metal and comes with a certificate of authenticity
New Movies on DVD and Blu Ray
On Television
Letterman: Viggo Mortensen The Jay Leno Show: Jay Mohr Conan: Eva Mendez and Bon Jovi immy Kimmel: all three stars from “New Moon” Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner Craig Ferguson: Neil Patrick Harris Jimmy Fallon: Elvis Costello
Check out the world record for toppling dominoes being broken!
This is great! 4,491,863 dominoes bit the dust in Holland this weekend by a man known as Mr. Domino
The dominoes fell in a sequence lasting an hour and a half...check it out!
No more Eggos???
Kellogg says there will be a nationwide shortage of Eggo waffles until next summer because of interruptions in production
The Atlanta plant was shut down by a September storm and production lines at its largest bakery in Tennessee are closed indefinitely for repairs
It will take until the middle of 2010 before shelves around the country are stocked at pre-shutdown levels...
The existing stock of Eggos will be distributed nationally based on stores' sales histories of the waffles
Eggos are also made at plants in Blue Anchor, New Jersey
Dan Taylor Chats with Smokey Robinson!
Click here to check out photos of Smokey Robinson in studio with Dan Taylor!
Part 1
Part 2
Photos
Click here to check out pictures of Adam West and Dan Taylor!
Click here to check out pictures of Dan at the National Air and Space Museum!
Click here to check out pictures of Joe Piscopo and Dan Taylor!
Click here to check out pictures of Al Jardine performing for CBSFM listeners!
Click here to check out photos of Mr. G's
visit to the Brooklyn's Children Musem!
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
Sabi the army dog returns home after 14 months lost in Afghanistan
The 3-disc reboot of "Star Trek" on DVD and BluRay!!
.jpg)
