Historic New York

Historic New York

by Jennifer Plum Auvil
2012/9/11

Explore the City of Immigrants

New York has evolved since its early days as the home of the Wappinger Indians and later the Dutch settlers who founded New Amsterdam in 1624. Today, it's true to its roots and remains a city of immigrants with inspiring architecture, a thriving arts scene and a starring role in the economy of the U.S. and the rest of the world.

Neighborhoods
From the refined brownstones of the Upper West Side to the tall office buildings lining the streets of the Financial District, New York is made up of a series of neighborhoods. There are countless enclaves with history, but here are some of the highlights.

Ravens Head to Uneasy Philadelphia After Slaughtering Bengals: A Fan's Outlook

Ravens Head to Uneasy Philadelphia After Slaughtering Bengals: A Fan's Outlook

By Robert Dougherty | Yahoo! Contributor Network 
2012/9/11
The Philadelphia Eagles made everyone react the same way against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 9. Every Eagles fan like myself echoed that if the Birds faced anyone other than the Browns, they would have lost instead of stealing a 17-16 win. When Philadelphia faces a real team, things will get more difficult - and unfortunately, a real team is coming to town as soon as next week.
The Baltimore Ravens further proved that they are a real team, and could be a pretty dominant one this season. They were certainly dominant against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 10, as the Ravens turned a close game into a 44-13 slaughter in the span of a half.

Jessica Simpson loses 40 pounds after pregnancy

Jessica Simpson loses 40 pounds after pregnancy

Sep 11, 2012

Jessica Simpson recently revealed her post baby body on the premiere of Katie Couric's talk show, asserting that shedding off those extra pounds were challenging.

The actress disclosed that she lost 40 pounds since the birth of her son, Maxwell Drew Johnson in May.

During pregnancy, I didn't really think about it, ABC news quoted Simpson as telling Couric.

Inside Blake Lively and Ryan Reynold's top-secret wedding

Inside Blake Lively and Ryan Reynold's top-secret wedding

news.com.au
September 11, 2012

THEY pulled their marriage off without a whisper in the gossip pages, but details of Blake and Ryan's big day are starting to emerge.
The couple who met on the set of "The Green Lantern" in 2011 married after just a year of dating.
Here's what we know so far about the newlywed's top-secret nuptials.
THE DRESS

Rihanna Gets Chest Tattoo in Memory of Her Late Grandmother

Rihanna Gets Chest Tattoo in Memory of Her Late Grandmother
by Elizabeth Snead, The Hollywood Reporter | September 11, 2012

Rihanna has now paid tribute to her late grandmother, who passed away in July after a long battle with cancer, with a mammoth tattoo of an Egyptian goddess on her chest.

MTV VMAs 2012: Rihanna, One Direction Find Love & Moonmen

Japan buys disputed islands, China sends patrol ships

Japan buys disputed islands, China sends patrol ships

Sep 11, 2012
* Japan finalises $26 mln buy of disputed islands

* China sends two patrol ships, military issues warning

* Tokyo says has only peaceful intentions

By Kiyoshi Takenaka

TOKYO, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Japan brushed off stern warnings by China and bought a group of islands on Tuesday that both claim, in a growing dispute that threatens to deepen strains between Asia's two biggest economies.

Chinese official media said Beijing had sent two patrol ships to waters surrounding the islands to reassert its claim and accused Japan of "playing with fire" over the long-simmering row. The army warned that further, unspecified steps could follow.

Gold Advances on Outlook for Further Stimulus From Fed

Gold Advances on Outlook for Further Stimulus From Fed

By Maria Kolesnikova on September 11, 2012
Gold rose as the outlook for more stimulus from the U.S. Federal Reserve spurred demand for the metal as a store of value.

The policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee will consider asset purchases at its Sept. 12-13 meeting, with unemployment stalled above 8 percent for 43 months. Chairman Ben S. Bernanke signaled last month that a third round of quantitative easing may be needed to reduce joblessness. Gold almost doubled from December 2008 to June 2011 as the Fed bought $2.3 trillion of debt in two previous rounds of QE.

“That’s where the focus is, especially for gold,” Marc Ground, a commodities strategist at Standard Bank Plc in Jonannesburg, said today by phone, referring to the Fed meeting. “The market is pricing in the order of $500 billion in outright easing, but I’m not sure the Fed would do something on that scale just yet. So we could see a pullback at the end of the week.”

Murray fights off Djokovic to win US Open

Murray fights off Djokovic to win US Open

Becomes the first British man in 76 years to win a Grand Slam men’s singles title
Sep 11 2012
Julian Linden

New York: Andy Murray fought off Novak Djokovic to win an epic US Open final on Monday and become the first British man in 76 years to win a grand slam singles title.
The Scotsman, beaten in his four previous grand slam finals, made it fifth time lucky with a nerve-jangling 7-6 7-5 2-6 3-6 6-2 victory at a windy Arthur Ashe Stadium where the players had to battle the elements as much as each other.
With both men struggling to control the ball in the gusting winds, and battling exhaustion in a final that tied the record as the longest at Flushing Meadows, the match became a test of courage and stamina and it was Murray who handled the decisive moments better.

Agreement reached for Sept. 11 museum's completion

Agreement reached for Sept. 11 museum's completion

September 10, 2012
Associated Press

NEW YORK — An agreement that paves the way for the completion of the Sept. 11 museum at ground zero was reached Monday, the eve of the 11th anniversary of the terror attacks.

The agreement between the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the foundation that controls the National September 11 Memorial & Museum was announced Monday.

iPhone 5 ! and iPhone10?

The iPhone 5 is coming ... will there be an iPhone 10?

By David Goldman @CNNMoneyTech September 11, 2012

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Industry analysts are already predicting that Apple's iPhone 5, widely expected to be unveiled on Wednesday, will be the best-selling smartphone of all time. Each new iPhone has outsold the previous version, and the iconic device has been the top-selling mobile phone since its 2007 debut.
That raises the question: How much longer can Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) keep this up? Will there be an iPhone 10?

Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively Reportedly Tie Knot

Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively Reportedly Tie Knot

By Anthony Castellano
2012/9/10

Congratulations are apparently in order for Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, who reportedly got married over the weekend.
The “Green Lantern” co-stars got hitched Sunday night at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant, S.C., according to People magazine. Reps for the two actors have yet to confirm the marriage.
The magazine reported that Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine performed live at the nuptials. The couple’s wedding cake was transported all the way from Virginia, according to the magazine.

‘Wallflower’ gives Emma Watson new fantasy role as ordinary high school teen

‘Wallflower’ gives Emma Watson new fantasy role as ordinary high school teen

By Associated Press, Updated: Monday, September 10

TORONTO — Emma Watson is living out another fantasy — the life of a high school kid that she missed out on growing up in the Harry Potter fold.

For her first major film role since leaving the world of Potter behind, Watson chose “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” in which she plays an American teen who’s part of a clique of hip outsiders at a Pittsburgh school.
The 22-year-old British actress said it gave her a taste of a whole different life considering her cloistered upbringing on the set of the Potter franchise, in which she was cast as bookish young hero Hermione Granger at age 9.

It’s O.K. to Let Babies Cry It Out at Bedtime

It’s O.K. to Let Babies Cry It Out at Bedtime

Sleep training a crying baby isn't easy, but a new study finds that certain techniques work in the short term without causing psychological harm down the line
By ALEXANDRA SIFFERLIN  September 10, 2012
When infants can’t sleep, it usually means mom and dad aren’t getting much shut-eye either. That in turn can double the risk of depressive symptoms in mothers, cause strife in marriages and result in costly trips to the pediatrician.

For wiped-out parents wondering whether or not to “sleep train” their restless babies, a new study in Pediatrics has some good news: strategies that let babies cry it out for limited periods while teaching them to sleep on their own not only help families sleep better in the short term, but they also don’t cause long-term psychological damage in kids or weaken the bond between babies and parents.

Serena Williams comes back to win U.S. Open

Serena Williams comes back to win U.S. Open

September 10, 2012
By thehindu.com

Serena Williams rallied as Victoria Azarenka served for victory, with the American winning her 15th Grand Slam title and fourth at the US Open on Sunday 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.

The struggle gave the 30-year-old Williams a New York trophy 13 years after winning her first.

BP in Deal to Sell Some Gulf Fields

BP in Deal to Sell Some Gulf Fields

September 10, 2012
By ANUPREETA DAS, RYAN DEZEMBER and ALEXIS FLYNN
BP BP +1.79% PLC reached a deal to sell some of its Gulf of Mexico offshore oil fields to Plains Exploration & Production Co. PXP +1.41% for $5.55 billion, as BP continues to divest itself of assets to pay for the 2010 oil spill in the region.

The properties sold include the Marlin, Dorado and King fields, the Horn Mountain field, the Holstein field, as well as the Diana-Hoover field, which is operated by ExxonMobil Corp., XOM +1.05% and the Ram Powell field, which is operated by Royal Dutch Shell RDSB.LN +0.22% PLC unit Shell Offshore Inc., Plains said in a statement Monday.

Plains also said it concluded a separate deal with Shell to buy its controlling stake in Holstein for $560 million.

U.K.-based BP, among the largest global oil producers, has been selling off assets to help pay for cleanup and other costs related to the April 2010 drilling-rig explosion that killed 11 people and resulted in a massive oil spill. Of about $38 billion in assets earmarked for sale, BP has so far agreed to sell about $32 billion

Treasury to Cut A.I.G. Stake Below 50%

Treasury to Cut A.I.G. Stake Below 50%

BY MICHAEL J. DE LA MERCED
2012/09/09
The Treasury Department said on Sunday that it was planning its biggest sale of shares in the American International Group to date, making the federal government a minority shareholder in the bailed-out insurer for the first time since it took control of the company four years ago.

With the sale of at least $18 billion worth of shares in A.I.G., a number that could grow to $20.7 billion if investors prove enthusiastic, the Treasury Department could reduce its holdings to as little as 15 percent from 53 percent.

Taking the government’s stake in A.I.G. below 50 percent is the realization of a long-held goal by both the Obama administration and the company, helping to cut ties to one of the most controversial bailouts of the 2008 financial crisis. The Treasury Department expects to earn a profit on its investment in A.I.G., though it is unclear how large.
“This was always meant as a temporary measure,” Henry T. C. Hu, a professor at the University of Texas School of Law at Austin, said. “The faster we can do this as a practical matter, the better for everyone involved.”

Porter Magnificent in Denver Debuts

Manning, Porter Magnificent in Denver Debuts

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer
DENVER September 10, 2012 (AP)

Now that they're teammates, Peyton Manning can celebrate when Tracy Porter returns an interception for a touchdown.

Three seasons ago Porter denied Manning a second Super Bowl title when he returned an interception 74 yards to seal the New Orleans Saints' win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Their Denver debut Sunday night was a success thanks to Manning's magnificent return from a year's absence and Porter's 43-yard interception return for a score that sealed their 31-19 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Broncos' final drive stalled at the Steelers 8 and Matt Prater's short field goal left Roethlisberger with 3 minutes to erase a 25-19 deficit.

Top Iraqi Leader Call His Death Sentence ‘Unjust’

Top Iraqi Leader Call His Death Sentence ‘Unjust’

By OMAR AL-JAWOSHY and MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ
Published: September 10, 2012

BAGHDAD — The vice president of Iraq, a prominent Sunni Muslim who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in a trial conducted in absentia, denounced the verdict on Monday as “false and unjust,” depicting the court’s finding as “an acquittal, confirming my innocence.”
The verdict on Sunday coincided with a wave of bombings and insurgent attacks that claimed at least 100 lives, making the day one of the bloodiest in Iraq since American troops withdrew last year.

Obama edges Romney in August fundraising

Obama edges Romney in August fundraising

By David Jackson, USA TODAY
Sep 10, 2012

President Obama's campaign raised $114 million in August, edging Mitt Romney's haul of $111.6 million and ending the Republican's three month winning streak in the money race.

"The key to fighting back against the special interests writing limitless checks to support Mitt Romney is growing our donor base, and we did that substantially in the month of August," said Jim Messina, Obama's campaign spokesman.

Chicago teachers strike for first time in 25 years; contingency sites ready, charters remain open

Chicago teachers strike for first time in 25 years; contingency sites ready, charters remain open

BY ROSALIND ROSSI and LAUREN FITZPATRICK Staff Reporters September 9, 2012
For the first time in 25 years, Chicago’s teachers are on strike
“Negotiations have been intense but productive, however we have failed to reach an agreement that will prevent a labor strike,” Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said at a dramatic 10 p.m. Sunday press conference. “Real school will not be open [Monday]. ... No CTU member will be inside our schools.

“Please seek alternative care for your children.”

The announcement was quickly blasted by Mayor Rahm Emanuel as “a strike of choice” that didn’t have to happen if talks continued. He repeatedly declared: “My team is available now.”

Man with scissors arrested at Miley Cyrus' house

Man with scissors arrested at Miley Cyrus' house
Published September 08, 2012
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES – A man allegedly clutching a pair of scissors was arrested after police say he tried to force himself inside the Los Angeles home of Miley Cyrus.
Los Angeles police Lt. Brian Wendling says that employees inside the house in the Studio City area called police around 4 a.m. Saturday after the man came to the door and claimed to be a friend of the 19-year-old singer-actress.

Ryan V.P. debate prep intensifies

Ryan V.P. debate prep intensifies

2012/09/08
Posted by
CNN Political Producer Shawna Shepherd

San Ramon, California (CNN) – With the vice presidential debate five weeks away, Republican Rep. Paul Ryan will hold his first all-day prep session this weekend, campaign aides say.

The Wisconsin lawmaker will convene with aides in Oregon on Sunday, which has been described to reporters as the first of many sessions where they will discuss likely debate topics and counterpoints.

– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

Chicago teachers, school officials resuming talks to avert strike

Chicago teachers, school officials resuming talks to avert strike
By Mary Wisniewski
CHICAGO | Sun Sep 9, 2012

(Reuters) - Negotiations between the Chicago Teachers Union and the nation's third-largest school district were going down to the wire on Sunday, as teachers threaten to strike on Monday over Mayor Rahm Emanuel's demand for sweeping school reforms.

Both sides expressed varying degrees of optimism on Saturday night about chances for a resolution, although school district officials sounded more hopeful than union leaders. School board President David Vitale said he thought the district's latest proposal was "very close" to what was needed for a deal. Talks resume on Sunday morning.

Chicago Weekend Guide

Chicago Weekend Guide

A Whirlwind Tour of the Windy City
2012/9/8
by Erica Walsh
Filed Under: Chicago, Weekend

The Chicago metropolitan area, located along beautiful Lake Michigan, is also known as Chicagoland, and it's home to almost 10 million people. The city is full of breathtaking architecture and landscaped public parks. Here's a quick guide for seeing the best of the Windy City in just 48 hours.

Where to Stay
Hotel Burnham
Built by Daniel Burnham in 1895, this charming boutique hotel in the historic Reliance Building, served as a model for our nation's first skyscrapers. The hotel is an architectural treasure with a prime location near Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theater and Ford Center for the Performing Arts. The rooms feature plush beds and the mahogany writing desks echo the motif of the wood-paneled lobby. Its history is enhanced with modern design and amenities like complimentary Starbucks coffee in the lobby each morning and a wine reception each afternoon from 5 to 6 p.m.