Soap Dish: Controversial Storylines Good or Bad For Business!

It is Soap Dish time and this week I am dishing on controversial storylines, which seem to be oh so popular lately and whether or not they help or hurt your favorite show. Soap Opera?s are in dire straits that is for sure and as the fate of your favorite shows is up in the air it seems the storylines are getting more controversial. Thanks to a recent one on General Hospital it got me wondering if that is good or bad for business. Daytime has been pushing the envelope for years whether it be The Young And The Restless facelift story from back in the day to same sex storylines to rape just to name a few. Most recently General Hospital did a story where psycho Lisa was going to inject Patrick with Robyn?s HIV blood and many began to wonder if soaps have gone too far. Personally I kind of like the lets cross the line stories, they happen to be the ones I enjoy the most because they switch things up. Should they be done all the time no but they should be done. I also think the way the powers that be at the shows handle [...]

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APNewsBreak: Own party urges Greek PM to resign

Nuray Gercek, a nurse, holds up a sign about the Greek bailout during an Occupy Wall Street protest by mostly nurses in front of Wells Fargo Bank headquarters in San Francisco, on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. Greece's prime minister abandoned his explosive plan to put a European rescue deal to popular vote Thursday, keeping his government alive ? but passionate squabbling in Athens left the country's solvency in doubt and the eurozone in turmoil. Prime Minister George Papandreou reversed course after a rebellion within his own Socialist party over the referendum, but ignored repeated calls to resign and call elections. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Nuray Gercek, a nurse, holds up a sign about the Greek bailout during an Occupy Wall Street protest by mostly nurses in front of Wells Fargo Bank headquarters in San Francisco, on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. Greece's prime minister abandoned his explosive plan to put a European rescue deal to popular vote Thursday, keeping his government alive ? but passionate squabbling in Athens left the country's solvency in doubt and the eurozone in turmoil. Prime Minister George Papandreou reversed course after a rebellion within his own Socialist party over the referendum, but ignored repeated calls to resign and call elections. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Lawmakers applaud Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, right, after his speech during a parliament session in Athens, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. Papandreou abandoned his explosive plan to put a European rescue deal to popular vote Thursday, keeping his government alive _ but passionate squabbling in Athens left the country's solvency in doubt and the eurozone in turmoil. Greek Prime Minister reversed course after a rebellion within his own Socialist party over the referendum, but ignored repeated calls to resign and call elections. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou speaks during a parliament session in Athens, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011. Papandreou abandoned his explosive plan to put a European rescue deal to popular vote Thursday, keeping his government alive _ but passionate squabbling in Athens left the country's solvency in doubt and the eurozone in turmoil. Greek Prime Minister reversed course after a rebellion within his own Socialist party over the referendum, but ignored repeated calls to resign and call elections.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Socialist lawmaker Eva Kaili, center, chats prior the speech of Greek prime minister George Papandreou to his Socialist lawmakers members of parliament, in Athens, Thursday , Nov. 3, 2011 Papandreou has called a confidence vote on his government for Friday night, and his majority was reduced to the bare minimum 151 when Socialist lawmaker Eva Kaili said she would not vote in favor. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Restoration workers use a crane to lift marble slabs at the 5th century B.C. Parthenon Temple on the Acropolis, Greece's best-known ancient monument, in Athens, on Friday, Nov. 4, 2011. Greek lawmakers prepared for a crucial confidence vote in the country's embattled Socialist government, following an international crisis sparked by a government plan to hold a referendum on Europe's new major debt deal. The plan was scrapped Thursday following a hostike reception by markets and EU leaders.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

(AP) ? Greece's ruling Socialists were in open revolt against their own prime minister ahead of a confidence vote Friday, a political free-for-all set off by a European bailout plan.

A week of unending drama in Athens has horrified the indebted country's European partners, spooked the markets and overshadowed the Group of 20 summit in the French resort of Cannes. The threat of a Greek default or exit from the common euro currency spooked global markets and worsened a European debt crisis that has already forced massive bailout deals for Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

Prime Minister George Papandreou on Thursday was forced to abandon his plan to hold a referendum on the debt deal, after markets and EU leaders reacted with hostility to the idea, sparking a global crisis as investors feared that rejection of the hard-fought agreement would force a disorderly Greek default.

Papandreou's two-year-old government has a tenuous majority of two in the 300-seat assembly, but at least four Socialist dissenters have refused to say whether they will back him.

Government ministers and senior Socialist officials continued to pile pressure on Papandreou to hold immediate talks to form a national unity government ? signaling that he may have to soon step aside even if he wins Friday's vote.

A senior Socialist lawmaker told The Associated Press he will not support the government in the midnight vote unless Papandreou pledges to resign over the weekend and start talks on a caretaker government.

The lawmaker spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive talks within the governing Socialist party.

The party revolt was triggered by Papandreou's surprising announcement Monday that he would put a European debt deal to a referendum. He withdrew the proposal Thursday in the face of fierce opposition at home and abroad.

"It is inconceivable that the government should win the confidence vote and then pretend that nothing had happened," Health Minister Andreas Loverdos wrote on his Internet blog. "Unless immediate steps are taken toward the formation of a national unity government, I will have no place in that political process."

Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos spoke by phone to an array of European officials ? German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, Jean-Claude Juncker who chairs the eurozone's 17 finance ministers, and EU's Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn ? to officially tell them the referendum is off.

He also said the aim of Friday's confidence vote was "to seek and achieve the broadest possible consensus and cooperation for the benefit of the country" ? without giving further details.

The new debt deal would give Greece a euro130 billion ($179 billion) rescue package ? on top of the euro110 billion ($152 billion) it was granted a year ago. It would also see banks write off 50 percent of the money Greece owes them, some euro100 billion ($138 billion). The goal is to reduce Greece's debts to the point where the country is able to handle its finances without relying on constant bailouts.

If the deal stalls, Greece will not get the next euro8 billion ($11 billion) installment of its loans and will probably go bankrupt before the year is out.

Papandreou has given no indication that he plans to resign shortly, although he said Thursday he was not "glued to his seat." But both his own Socialist party and the opposition conservatives are talking about elections ? though they differ strongly on the timing.

A senior Socialist lawmaker said Friday if the government wins the late-night confidence vote, it can then launch talks with the opposition conservatives on forming a caretaker administration to lead the country through the next few crucial months, when Greece must approve the bailout and thrash out debt write-off details with banks.

Christos Protopappas said elections could then be held in February or March.

"We need three or four months ... to rationalize the situation, restore calm to the country, get rid of that euro100 billion in debt and build international credibility," Protopappas, the Socialists' parliamentary spokesman, told state-run NET radio. "Then we can get back at each others' throats for a month with elections ? at that point everyone will be able to wait for us."

The conservatives don't want to wait. New Democracy party leader Antonis Samaras insisted Thursday that Papandreou has to go now, and demanded elections within the next six weeks.

"Mr. Papandreou pretends that he didn't understand what I told him," he said. "I called on him to resign."

Protopappas argued that holding early elections now would drive Greece to bankruptcy.

"The electoral process takes about 40 days, and soon we be unable to pay salaries and pensions, while nobody will be able to negotiate with us on the bailout agreement," Protopappas said.

Polls indicate the Greek public is close to the breaking point after more than 20 months of harsh austerity cuts and tax hikes, and waves of general strikes and protests have often degenerated into riots. Recent opinion surveys show 90 percent of Greeks oppose Papandreou's policies and his party has just 20 percent public support.

The Socialists came to power in a landslide 2009 victory, and immediately discovered that, under the ousted conservatives, Greece had falsified financial data for years.

A labor union plans to protest outside parliament later Friday.

___

Associated Press writers Elena Becatoros and Derek Gatopoulos in Athens contributed.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2011-11-04-EU-Greece-Financial-Crisis/id-0302ae9906f241f0a155a25004ef0930

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Police investigate Texas judge over video beating

This undated image provided by the Aransas County, Texas Court-at-Law webpage shows Aransas County Judge William Adams. The Court-at-Law Judge told Corpus Christi television station KZTV on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011, a YouTube video that shows him lashing his then-16-year-old daughter with a belt "looks worse than it is." (AP Photo/Aransas County)

This undated image provided by the Aransas County, Texas Court-at-Law webpage shows Aransas County Judge William Adams. The Court-at-Law Judge told Corpus Christi television station KZTV on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011, a YouTube video that shows him lashing his then-16-year-old daughter with a belt "looks worse than it is." (AP Photo/Aransas County)

Hillary Adams, daughter of Aransas County Court-at-Law Judge William Adams, talks outside her mother's home in Portland, Texas Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011. Adams says she feels some regret about posting online video of her father lashing her with a belt several years ago but that she hopes it forces him to get help. (AP Photo/Chris Sherman)

In this March 17, 2005, photo Hillary Adams, the daughter of Aransas County Court-at-Law Judge William Adams, practices the piano at her home in Rockport, Texas. Williams Adams told a Corpus Christi television station the video secretly recorded in 2004 looks ?worse than it is.? The video shows Adams violently whipping his daughter, Hillary, in the legs more than a dozen times, while she screams and refuses to turn over on a bed to be beaten. (AP Photo/The Caller-Times, Rachel Denny Clow)

In this Nov. 13, 2003, photo William Adams, Judge of the County Court At Law, listens to a prosecutor during a trial at the Aransas County Court House in Rockport, Texas. The Court-at-Law Judge told Corpus Christi television station KZTV on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011, a YouTube video that shows him lashing his then-16-year-old daughter with a belt "looks worse than it is." (AP Photo/The Caller-Times, Mayra Beltran)

In this March 17, 2005, photo Hillary Adams, the daughter of Aransas County Court-at-Law Judge William Adams, practices the piano at her home in Rockport, Texas. Williams Adams told a Corpus Christi television station the video secretly recorded in 2004 looks ?worse than it is.? The video shows Adams violently whipping his daughter, Hillary, in the legs more than a dozen times, while she screams and refuses to turn over on a bed to be beaten. (AP Photo/The Caller-Times, Rachel Denny Clow)

(AP) ? Police launched an investigation Wednesday into a Texas family law judge whose daughter posted a YouTube video of him savagely beating her with a belt during a tirade several years ago when she was a teenager.

The nearly 8-minute video, viewed more than 950,000 times as of late Wednesday, shows Aransas County Court-at-Law Judge William Adams lashing his then-16-year-old daughter in the legs more than a dozen times and growing increasingly irate while she screams and refuses to turn over on a bed to be beaten. The video was uploaded last week.

"Lay down or I'll spank you in your (expletive) face," Adams screams. His daughter, Hillary, wails and pleads for him to stop.

Tim Jayroe, the police chief in William Adams' hometown of Rockport, a Gulf Coast community about 200 miles south of Houston, said Wednesday that he's asked the Texas Rangers to assist in investigating whether the video shows anything criminal happened. He said his department began investigating after receiving phone calls from several concerned people who watched the secretly recorded 2004 video.

No one answered the door at William Adams' home in Rockport on Wednesday, and repeated calls to his office rang unanswered. However, the 51-year-old judge told Corpus Christi television station KZTV on Wednesday that the video "looks worse than it is," and that he doesn't expect to be disciplined or punished because of it.

"In my mind, I haven't done anything wrong other than discipline my child after she was caught stealing," Adams said. "And I did lose my temper, but I've since apologized."

Reached at her mother's home in Portland, Texas, Hillary Adams told The Associated Press that her father became irate after she was caught illegally downloading media files she hadn't paid for. She said she feels some regret over posting the video because she said she doesn't want to see her father punished, but that she hopes it will spur him to seek help.

"He's supposed to be a judge who exercises fit judgment," she said.

Aransas County Sheriff Bill Mills said that since the video was posted, William Adams has received threatening phone calls and faxes at the courthouse.

"People are upset, understandably upset. But emotions can't really run this thing," Mills said.

On Wednesday, a neighbor said she saw Adams packing up to leave with bags, a briefcase, clothes and rifles, which his girlfriend carried to the truck.

"He looked like he was here for a purpose," said Stephanie Perry, who lives across the street.

A secretary for the William Adams' attorney, William Dudley, said Wednesday that Dudley was unavailable to comment.

In the video, Adams is apparently unaware the camera is on when he enters the room, turns off the light and tries forcing his daughter onto the bed to be beaten.

"Go get the belt. The big one. I'm going to spank her now," Adams is heard saying in the clip's opening seconds.

A few minutes into the video, a woman appears and barks at the girl to "turn over like a 16-year-old and take it! Like a grown woman!" For about a minute, the ordeal appears to have ended after both adults leave the room and shut the door. But the judge then storms back into the room and the beating resumes.

Hillary Adams said she set up the camera because she knew "something was about to happen." Toward the end of the video, her father shouts that he plans to beat the girl "into submission" and rants about having a computer in the house and the problems it causes. The video ends with the adult woman telling her to leave the room and sleep on the sofa.

Elected in 2001, Adams draws an annual salary of $138,055 as Aransas County's top judge. He dealt with at least 349 family law cases in the past year, nearly 50 of which involved state caseworkers seeking to determine whether parents were fit to raise their children.

Texas' Department of Family and Protective Services is aware of the video and "will take the appropriate steps in this matter," agency spokesman Patrick Crimmins said in an email. He said the agency would have no further comment.

Steve Fischer, a longtime attorney in Rockport, called Adams fair and a "better than average" judge. He said Adams sometimes shows anger, but not in a way that would be considered unusual.

Children's advocates roundly condemned the beating as abuse. However, investigators may decide that the judge's actions, while shocking to many, weren't criminal.

The lines between what's deemed child abuse and what's considered an acceptable level of discipline differ in various parts of the country and among various social groups, though the use of objects such as belts and sticks is usually seen as beyond any normal physical punishment, said David Finkelhor, a University of New Hampshire sociology professor who heads the school's Crimes against Children Research Center.

Jim Hopper, a clinical instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School and a child abuse expert, said there is no doubt that the judge's actions crossed the line.

"This is an act of brutal violence," Hopper said.

"To beat someone into submission is not discipline. To beat a child into submission makes it harder for that child to take in rules and the values that the parent believes they are imposing on the child."

Hillary Adams' parents divorced in 2007 after 22 years of marriage, according to court records. The divorce petition states that "the marriage has become insupportable because of discord or conflict of personalities," but a counter-petition filed by Adams' ex-wife states that the divorce was filed under grounds of "mental cruelty."

Court records show that the couple had another daughter who was 6 at the time.

___

Heidgerd reported from Dallas. Associated Press Writers Danny Robbins and Linda Stewart Ball in Dallas and Paul J. Weber in San Antonio contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2011-11-02-US-Videotaped-Beating-Texas/id-0a300d36fe4841979c56e9639823bb4b

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House panel approves subpoena on Solyndra loan (AP)

WASHINGTON ? A Republican-led House panel on Thursday agreed to subpoena the White House for documents related to Solyndra Inc., the failed California solar company that received a half-billion-dollar federal loan.

A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee voted 14-9 along party lines to authorize subpoenas of top White House officials. GOP lawmakers say the subpoenas are necessary because the White House has denied or delayed requests for thousands of documents related to Solyndra. The Fremont, Calif., company received a $528 million federal loan before filing for bankruptcy protection and laying off 1,100 workers.

Rep. Fred Upton, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said getting White House documents on Solyndra was like "extracting a tooth without anesthesia" ? painful and time-consuming.

"I wish it had not come to this, but it has," said Upton, R-Mich., who called the White House "downright obstructionist" on Solyndra.

Democrats called the solar loan subpoena an overreach.

Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., called the vote "an act of irresponsible partisanship" and a "political sideshow" that obscures the real issues in the Solyndra debacle.

DeGette and other Democrats said the vote amounted to a "fishing expedition" that grants Upton broad powers to issue subpoenas as he sees fit.

It was the second time in two days that a House panel authorized a subpoena of administration documents. On Wednesday, a House Judiciary subcommittee authorized its chairman to subpoena Department of Homeland Security documents on deportations of illegal immigrants.

Upton, who met with White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler on Wednesday, said he will take into account recent White House attempts to provide the committee with documents as he considers whether to issue a subpoena.

White House spokesman Eric Schultz said the Obama administration was disappointed in the GOP vote, adding that committee leaders have "refused to discuss their requests with us in good faith," instead choosing "a partisan route, proceeding with subpoenas that are unprecedented and unwarranted."

Schultz said the administration has "cooperated extensively" with the committee's investigation by producing more than 85,000 pages of documents, including 20,000 pages produced Wednesday. Administration officials also have participated in multiple briefings and hearings on Solyndra, he said.

"All of the materials that have been disclosed affirm what we said on Day One: This was a merit-based decision made by the Department of Energy," Schultz said. "We'd like to see as much passion in House Republicans for creating jobs as we see in this investigation."

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the energy panel's senior Democrat and former chairman, said a subpoena can only be justified if Congress and the executive branch have reached an unbridgeable impasse, which he said he didn't see.

"Apparently what the committee really wants is a confrontation with the president, not information," Waxman said.

But Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., chairman of the energy panel's subcommittee on oversight and investigations, said an impasse had been reached.

"The administration seems to think that if they drag this out, we will give up and simply go away. But we won't," Stearns said.

Congressional Republicans have been investigating Solyndra' s bankruptcy amid embarrassing revelations that federal officials were warned it had problems but nonetheless continued to support it and sent President Barack Obama to visit the company and praise it publicly.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu, who is scheduled to testify before the full committee later this month, acknowledged Thursday the loan program needed work, but took issue with those in Washington who he said were "ready to throw in the towel on clean energy."

Chu, speaking at an energy conference held by The Washington Post, said, "There is no reason to sit on the sidelines and concede on clean energy." But, he noted that Congress and the administration "can design a better loan program."

Among the 1,200 pages of documents the administration released Wednesday were details of a bailout plan considered by the Energy Department that would have provided an infusion of cash to Solyndra and part-ownership of the company by the government.

It was one of several scenarios outlined in August by the investment banking firm Lazard Ltd. Lazard was paid $1 million for analyzing options related to Solyndra.

A Lazard spokeswoman said Thursday that the firm ultimately advised the government not to spend any further capital on Solyndra. "The government agreed with Lazard's advice," she added.

On Aug. 29, DOE officials informed Solyndra that there would no federal refinancing. Two days later, the company shut its doors for good.

The White House announced last week it had ordered an independent review of similar loans made by the Energy Department. The review by former Treasury official Herb Allison will assess the health of more than two dozen other renewable energy loans and loan guarantees made by the Energy Department program that supported Solyndra.

___

AP Environment Writer Dina Cappiello contributed to this report.

___

Matthew Daly can be followed at http://twitter.com/MatthewDalyWDC

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111104/ap_on_go_co/us_solar_investigation

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Some postpone Halloween until lights come back

A vehicle drives under a fallen tree that hangs over a road, in Wilbraham, Mass., Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. Snow and high winds from a rare late October storm over the weekend brought down trees and tree limbs across the state, damaging power lines and leaving many without electricity. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

A vehicle drives under a fallen tree that hangs over a road, in Wilbraham, Mass., Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. Snow and high winds from a rare late October storm over the weekend brought down trees and tree limbs across the state, damaging power lines and leaving many without electricity. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Tracy Ward, of Wilbraham, Mass., prepares dinner by the light of lanterns for her family during a blackout in their Wilbraham home Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. Snow and high winds from a rare late October storm brought down trees and tree limbs across the state, damaging power lines and leaving many without electricity. The Ward family lost power Saturday afternoon. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Members of the Ward family, from the left, mother Tracey, daughter Melanie, son Ben, bottom right, and father Chris, right, eat dinner by the light of lanterns during a blackout in their Wilbraham home Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. The Wards have been without power since Saturday after snow and high winds from a rare late October storm brought down trees and tree limbs across the state, damaging power lines and leaving many without electricity. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Private contractors from A&B Aerial Services use a chain saw to cut up and remove a large tree that feel on telephone lines on Millbrook Road in Stillwater, N.J. Monday Oct. 31, 2011. An unusual October snow storm this past Saturday dumped up to 15 inches of snow in some areas of N.J. causing power outages across the state. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

The Roxbury Mall on Route 10 in Roxbury, N.J. is darkened and closed due to a power outage Monday Oct. 31, 2011. An unusual October snow storm this past Saturday dumped up to 15 inches of snow in some areas of N.J. causing power outages across the state. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

WAYLAND, Mass. (AP) ? Thousands of would-be superheroes, ghosts and witches were waiting to collect Halloween candy and nearly 2 million homes and business across the Northeast were waiting for lights to come back on as cities and towns struggle to recover from an early season snowstorm that snapped branches and tore down power lines.

Many towns asked parents to postpone or cancel Halloween revelry because of snow-clogged sidewalks, slippery surfaces and the possibility of more falling tree limbs. Some urged parents to take children trick-or-treating at malls or organize activities at home with friends.

Ana Cifelli said her daughter, a first-grader going as a cheerleader, and her son, a fourth-grader planning to masquerade as a pirate, will go trick-or-treating Friday.

"They're OK with it, as long as they know they're going to get dressed and go later," said Cifelli, of Nutley, N.J.

But 12-year-old McKenzie Gallasso of South Windsor, Conn., was disappointed when she learned officials in her town were advising families to call off trick-or-treating.

"This year I'll have to eat candy from my mom," said McKenzie, who was deciding whether to be a witch or a werewolf.

Snowfall ranging from less than inch in some places to 32 inches in the small town of Peru, Mass., in the Berkshire Mountains, fell from Maryland to Maine over the weekend. For some it was an inconvenience; for others, a disaster.

Authorities blamed the storm for at least 21 deaths, including one in Canada. Most were caused by falling trees, traffic accidents or electrocutions from downed wires.

More than 3 million lost power at some point and utilities had restored electricity to hundreds of thousands by early Tuesday morning. Still, companies said the storm presented an enormous challenge, in part because of a large number of individual outages.

"We have a tremendous amount of work to do throughout the week," said Michael Wood, a spokesman for an electric utility in Pennsylvania, where more than 100,000 customers were without power late Monday.

To ward off the cold, some families huddled under blankets and winter coats at home while others waited out the crisis in shelters, where meals and sometimes even movies were available. Hundreds of schools were closed Monday because they had no power or travel conditions were too dangerous for students and staff.

"Such a small storm but such a big disaster," said Marina Shen, who spent Sunday night with her husband and dog at a middle school in Wayland, a Boston suburb of 13,000 where half the homes lost power. Just a few inches fell in Wayland, and most of it had melted by Monday, but overnight temperatures fell below freezing.

"The house is really, really cold. You cannot do anything. It's so dark, cold," Shen said. "Here they give us a hot shower."

The storm clobbered many communities still recovering from the flooding two months ago caused by Hurricane Irene, leaving weary homeowners exhausted and demoralized. In areas of New Jersey, residents said they had only been able to return to their homes over the past two weeks. Several families spoke of just having done their first major food shopping since before Irene ? food that was quickly rotting in freezers without power.

Dave Sisco's SUV was parked at an angle in his driveway Monday so a patch of sun fell on his face. He was trying to find a spot warm enough for a nap after a cold sleepless night.

"It's terrible, very terrible. No power. No gas. Food in the refrigerator is no good. Sleeping in 27 degrees, and we're still not recovered from the flood, the house is still a wreck. Trees are still down in the backyard, our gazebo is smashed," said Sisco, a 58-year-old who lives in Pompton Lakes, N.J.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and his family were among those who lost power over the weekend.

Christie said he expected 95 percent of the 338,000 customers in New Jersey without electricity to have it back by Thursday.

"I know if you are without power today, Thursday seems like a long time from now," he said. "I understand that all this information, if you are someone who doesn't have power, is just talk until the lights go back on and the heat goes back on in your house."

In New Hampshire, Gov. John Lynch sought an emergency disaster declaration for his state Monday. He said 315,000 homes and businesses were without power at the storm's peak, making it the third worst in the state's history.

Utilities in New Hampshire reported late Monday that they had made significant progress in restoring power to tens of thousands of customers.

Some town officials worried the cleanup would stretch depleted budgets to the breaking point.

"There's no question that most municipal budgets are past bending and into breaking," said William Steinhaus, the top elected of official in Dutchess County, in New York's Hudson Valley, which got nearly 2 feet of snow. "Whether it's fuel money or overtime money or salt and sand material items, those line items are all stretched or broke at this point."

Judd Everhart, a spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Transportation, said the agency spent more than $2 million of its $26 million snow-removal budget on keeping state roads clear during the storm.

Scott Heck, borough manager and public works director for Ringwood, N.J., where hundreds of trees were toppled, said "no communities budget for any kind of storm this early" and the costs would definitely affect his budget.

"Normally you come in and plow the snow, but now you have to plow to get to the trees, clear the trees, come back to do more plowing and then clear away all the debris," Heck said.

In some places, commuters who were able to get on the roads were forced to hunt for open gas stations after power outages knocked out the pumps. At a 7-Eleven in Hartford, Conn., two dozen cars waited in a line that stretched into the street and disrupted traffic.

"There's no gas anywhere," said Debra Palmisano of Plainville, Conn. "It's like we're in a war zone. It's pretty scary, actually."

___

Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Michael Rubinkam in Allentown, Pa.; Denise Lavoie in Boston; Michael Melia and Stephen Singer in Hartford, Conn.; Frank Eltman in Garden City, N.Y.; Chris Carola in Albany; Beth DeFalco in Trenton, N.J.; and Samantha Henry in Pompton Lakes, N.J.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2011-11-01-October%20Snow/id-aefae988d85e49749c9a06c0c3a96d4c

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'America's Most Wanted' to return on cable Dec. 2 (AP)

NEW YORK ? Bad guys, look out! John Walsh will be back on the air next month with weekly editions of "America's Most Wanted."

The Lifetime cable TV network announced Tuesday the crime-fighting series will return for its 25th season on Dec. 2 at 9 p.m. Eastern time. Lifetime has ordered 20 weekly hour-long episodes.

Walsh remains the host of the criminal roundup, which since 1988 has helped bring almost 1,200 fugitives to justice.

Until June, "America's Most Wanted" had been a fixture on the Fox network. But last spring Fox announced it was axing the series because of high production costs.

Walsh calls his show "the court of last resort" in its mission to put criminals behind bars.

Walsh's 6-year-old son, Adam, was kidnapped and killed in 1981.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tv/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111101/ap_en_tv/us_tv_america_s_most_wanted

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First, We Get a Second Mortgage for the Pentagon ?

If the United States were to declare war next week, it would be financed much the same way as its two most recent wars, says Todd Harrison, a senior fellow for defense-budget studies at the nonprofit Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. Congress would allocate emergency cash outside the normal budget process. That would mean more borrowing, though probably not enough to run up against the debt ceiling. It would not directly affect the supercommittee?s negotiation, though there?s little doubt it would add to the pressure, both for cuts and for possible revenue increases. It might not even cost the U.S. its triple-A bond rating, though it could mean that the other ratings agencies join S&P in a minor downgrade, depending on the political and economic climate.

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=f245c3b898a3ada7a213e5dc92a614a4

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Tillamook, Oregon Corporate Communications Manager Job at ...

Responsible to develop a communications? organization capable of effectively coordinating communications to key stakeholders that includes members, employees, the media and the community that enhance the image of both the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) and the Tillamook brand. This position oversees reactive and proactive employee communications, media relations, consumer relations and consumer messaging on corporate issues; monitors news coverage; serves as a public information contact; researches and authors reputation management tools; manages content of employee and patron newsletters; and coordinates with others to assure integration and integrity of Association messages.

Duties:

A.???? Develops and executes an annual corporate communications and reputation management plan

1.????? Media, trade and editorial relations

2.????? Community relations and philanthropy

3.????? Public and governmental affairs

4.????? Employee communications

5.????? Member communications

6.????? Consumer relations

7.????? Media and online communications monitoring

B.???? Develops rapport with media representatives by being responsive to their inquiries; addressing their information needs; building personal contacts and networks.

C.???? Develop and execute community outreach, public affairs, and industry programs and employee communications and events

1.????? Manage the TCCA scholarship program by serving as chairman for the committees in both Tillamook and Boardman and supervise communications and administration of the program

2.????? Plan, organize, and supervise volunteers to ensure successful implementation local corporate sponsorship activities and evaluate the effectiveness of these activities

3.????? Manage company events involving governmental affairs

4.????? Manage regional and national corporate giving and corporate donations budget to meet Association objectives

5.????? Prepare and monitor public relations program budget

6.????? Manages Tillamook Online Employee Store, the store vendor, content and purchases

7.????? Oversee content of corporate employee newsletter

8.????? Oversee employee communication events, serve as chair to the annual employee event and evaluate the effectiveness of these activities

D.???? Coordinates with consumer brand communications team to ensure consistency of message to all stakeholders

1.????? Achieves corporate communications operational objectives by contributing information and recommendations to strategic plans and reviews

2.????? Establish key messages for documents such as the corporate social responsibility statement, the supplier code of conduct

3.????? Collaborate with internal partners to insure elements of key messaging are integrated into all stakeholder communications

4.????? Manage the development of publications such as newsletters, brochures, fact sheets, display materials and the cooperative membership handbook

E.????? Develops and implements corporate crisis communications plan

1.????? Creates crisis communications messaging

2.????? Identifies who is authorized to represent TCCA with the media

3.????? Provides media training for key managers

F.????? Provides communications counsel and support to the CEO and executive team

1.????? Prepare drafts and/or proof read memos and other written communications from the CEO and others

2.????? Plan and implement arrangements for the Annual Member Meeting and District Meetings

G.???? Chairs Communications Steering Committee

1.????? Coordinate Visitor Center and farm tours for student groups, industry professionals, and civic leaders

2.????? Coordinate media events at the Visitors Center ? Made in America, Unwrapped, KGW special feature Discoveries America DVD series etc.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

A.???? Responsible and accountable for the hiring, training, and development of their direct reports

1.????? Responsible for the orientation of new employees in the department

2.????? Establishes and monitor annual development plan for each direct report and oversees the process for all indirect reports

B.???? Establishes, monitors, and reviews individual and team performance

1.????? Reviews and updates as needed Position Evaluation Form for all direct reports

2.????? Establishes and monitor SMART Goals for all direct reports

3.????? Provides coaching and mentoring to all direct reports

4.????? Accurately completes annual performance review form and holds review meeting with direct reports

5.????? Reviews all performance reviews of indirect reports to ensure consistency

C.???? Responsible to develop budget and authorize expenditures within approved department budget

1.????? Labor (staff count/wages)

2.????? Department materials/supplies

3.????? Recommend capital budget needs

D.???? Food Safety Responsibilities: Responsible for reporting any food safety and quality problems to personnel with authority to initiate action

Management Team Responsibilities:

A.???? Responsible for following and enforcing procedures outlined in the Food Safety Plan and the Food Quality Plan and any other programs that support the SQF system and other 3rd party audits

B.???? Responsible for taking necessary action on all food safety and quality problems reported or observed

C.???? A trained designee will be appointed by plant management to cover absences or vacancies

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

A.???? Bachelor?s degree in Communication or Public Relations

B.???? 7+ years of demonstrated experience producing mass communication documents (i.e. newsletters, annual report, press releases) and providing strategic counsel to senior organization leaders

C.???? Demonstrated portfolio of successful communication projects including a history of working with op administrators on deadline sensitive projects????????

Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

A.???? Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with employees, supervisors and the general public

B.???? Ability to communicate effectively

C.???? Must be computer literate with basic knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and SharePoint

D.???? Must be a team player and be able to interact with staff at all levels of the company

E.????? Must be able to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and be flexible in working on multiple projects simultaneously

F.????? Excellent time-management skills with the ability to work independently with little supervision

Licenses and/or Certifications:

Valid Oregon driver?s license with satisfactory driving record; Requires overnight travel.?????

Office Work Environment:

Requires sitting majority of shift; can include standing and walking to accomplish tasks. May require stooping, bending and crouching to file, retrieve supplies. Occasional lifting of 25 pounds.??

Wage is DOE. There is no relocation assistance available for this position.? Local candidates only, please.

TCCA is an Equal Opportunity and a Drug-Free Workplace.?

Source: http://jobs.prsa.org/c/job.cfm?site_id=2170&jb=9015244

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