Right to Work

What is the Right to Work Bill?

Right to work is the Republicans top priority in this year’s 10-week legislation. This bill would allow workers to opt out of paying union dues as a requirement for employment. Under the House Bill 1001 and Senate Bill 269, companies and labor unions can no longer require workers to pay the fee for representation. Violators could face misdemeanor and lawsuits.

From the latest Republican debate, Presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney and Rick Perry have voiced their support to the ‘Right-to-Work’ Bill.

The Quadrantids

To kick off 2012, nature has something magical in store for us – the Quadrantids!

Named after the extinct constellations, the Quadrantids will be visible for 2 hours on Wednesday 3am-5am ET, It’s been reported that the peak will happen between 2:30am – 3:00am. NASA says it will be a ‘brief, beautiful’ show.

If you’re from the East Coast, you’re lucky! That’s the best place you can be to get the best view of this magnificent show.

Check out NASA’s live stream of the meteor shower:

Live Video streaming by Ustream

Rose Bowl

The 2012 Tournament of Roses wasn’t just for the flowery floats, or so it seems. The Wall Street movement didn’t pass up on this annual event. The protesters carried a 250-foot long banner that said “We the People.” Occupy the Rose Parade organizer Pete Thottam said that there were at least 5,00 protesters.

This year’s parade showcased a total of 44 floats, 16 marching bands and 22 equestrian troupes. An estimate of 40 million viewers tuned in to the procession. Iraq war veteran, J.R. Martinez was featured as the grand marshal.

Oregon Ducks  take on the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2012 Rose Bowl. Both teams are not new to playing at the Rose Bowl. The Ducks played in 2011 while the Badgers in 2010.

Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin

Kathy Griffin co-hosted the live coverage of the Times Square ball drop with Anderson Cooper. As soon as the camera cut to the audience marveling at the Swarovski crystal ball, Griffin pulled her biggest trick yet. Cooper was so surprised that all he could say was, ”Are you freaking kidding me?” Anyone who was watching the duo can see how awkward Cooper felt. To make up for the situation he took out a sign that said ‘No Nudity’ and tried covering Griffin with it, before handing the sign over to her.

“But when I’m on stage, I’m at a microphone … it’s a joke!”

- Kathy Griffin on her antics at the CNN live coverage of the Times Square ball drop

Griffin wasn’t even done yet. While in her underwear, she flirted with CNN political correspondent David Gergen.

“I have a no-apology policy,” Griffin told CBS news. “No apologies for jokes. I apologize in my real life all the time. I say ridiculous things, I make mistakes constantly.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Check out the highlights of her interview on Piers Morgan Tonight:

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Carlos Beltran

After the Albert Pujols decision to sign with the Los Angeles Angels, the World Series Champions St. Louis Cardinals have signed six-time All-Star outfielder Carlos Beltran. The announcement was made Thursday at the KMOX.

Carlos Beltran,34, has agreed to a two-year, $26million deal with no option with the St. Louis Cardinals. Beltran batted .300 with 22 home runs, 84 RBIs and a .385 on-base percentage this year while playing for the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants. He is expected to be the opening-day right fielder while Lance Berkman moves to first base, taking Pujol’s spot, this coming season.

Shroud of Turin

The Shroud of Turin is a 14-foot-long linen revered to be the burial cloth of Jesus can not be proven as a medieval fake.

Italy’s National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Development released their latest findings last November. Modern technologies were used to test the Holy Shroud’s authenticity. For the past five years,  scientists attempted to replicate the Christ-like image on modern linen by using ultraviolet light and examined X-rays of the fabric. The tests were able to achieve a ”very superficial, Shroud-like coloration of linen yarns.” They concluded that the Shroud of Turin could not have been doctored in Medieval times and that the image may have been a result to an intense source of light – no man-made light would produce that much strength.

The Holy Shroud is owned by the Vatican and resides in a chamber in the Cathedral of Turin in Italy.

Matt Berkley

In front of a Christmas tree and flanked by six Heisman trophies, USC quarterback Matt Barkley has announced that he will return for a senior season. The announcement was made Thursday inside a packed new conference at USC’s Heritage Hall.

“I am staying so I can finish what I started.”

- Matt Barkley

Barkley, 21, has led the USC to a 10-2 record this season and was believed to be a top pick in the April draft. He’s been a three-year starter and team captain. For the Heisman trophy this year, he finished sixth.

This announcement is only the third in the history of USC that a Trojan quarterback held court in Heritage Hall to announce whether he’s returning or turning pro. The first was in 2005 with Matt Leinhart, who announced that he would return. In 2009, Mark Sanchez announced that he was going pro.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Director David Fincher took a shot at Steig Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo novel. This is the second adaptation of the Swedish novel that was published in 2005. The first film adaptation debuted in 2008 with Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows’ Noomi Rapace as the lead. It was directed by Niels Arden Oplev.

Fincher’s version has Rooney Mara play Lisbeth Salander, the heroine who has been victimized by men that has turned her into a feminist. Film critics say that Fincher’s adaptation has given homage to the text.

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Monta Ellis

Golden State Warriors star guard Monta Ellis has been sued for sexual harassment. A former Golden State Warriors employee claims that Ellis sent her unwanted text messages with a photo of his genitals.

In the lawsuit, Erika Ross Smith says that Ellis started sending her explicit messages by the dozens back in November 2010. This was when she was working for the team’s community relations department. Upon learning of the texts, Juanika Ellis, Ellis’ wife, complained to the team executives. The Warriors then changed Smith’s job description and eventually fired her.

Monta Ellis has a $66 million, six-year contract with the Warriors starting in 2008. He has won the NBA’s most improved player award. Ellis is the Warriors’ leading scorer last season, with an average of 24.1 points a game.

Ellis is the Warriors team captain for the 2011-2012 season.

Mayan calendar

Millions of years ago, the Mayans have been charting the stars. And according to the Mayan calendar, December 12, 2012 is the day the world ends. The Mayans have predicted that there will be astronomical events that day that will cause apocalypse.

We’ve had a couple of predictions about the end of the world that didn’t happen as they said it would. And as for the Mayans’ prediction there are certainly believers and there are skeptics. Which one are you?

“Forget what you read on websites.  Don’t believe movies or the History Channel.  The world will not end on December 21, 2012.”

- Dean Regas of the Cincinnati Observatory

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