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NEW YORK (CNN) -- Michelle Crawley says she's a "freak" about putting sunscreen on her two girls.
Emily Crawley and her dad, Jere, hit the pool on the first day of a Florida vacation, which left Emily sunburned.
"They are both pretty fair skinned," says the West Chester, Ohio, mother of two. So every time Emily, 6, and Claire, 3, go out into the sun, she slathers them with SPF 30 or higher .
But during a recent trip to Key Largo, Florida, Crawley's vigilance wasn't enough.
"I wasn't sure if it was my technique, the sunscreen or being in Florida," Crawley said, but "that evening they were just fried beyond belief."
Slathering on sunscreen has become as much a part of the summer ritual as the vacation itself, but a consumer advocacy group has a warning for parents like Crawley who think they're protecting their family with sunscreen: You may be getting burned.
The Environmental Working Group, a Washington-based nonprofit, has released an investigation of nearly 1,000 brand-name sunscreens that says four out of five don't adequately protect consumers and may contain harmful chemicals.
The group says that some of the products of the nation's leading brands -- including Coppertone, Neutrogena and Banana Boat -- are the poorest performers. Read about the study
Coppertone was named by the Environmental Working Group as having 41 products that failed to meet the group's criteria for issues ranging from failing to protect adequately to containing potentially harmful ingredients to making unsubstantiated claims.
But in a statement to CNN, the company says it "rigorously tests all its products in the lab and in the real world" to ensure that they're safe and effective. Watch more on what to look for in sunscreen »
The makers of Banana Boat, which also failed to meet the Environmental Working Group's standards for various reasons, did not respond to CNN's requests for comment.
Neutrogena says its sunscreen products have been "embraced by dermatologists and consumers for their efficacy" and says its new Helioplex technology provides broad-spectrum UV defense against sun damage.
The science of sunscreens is simple: Active ingredients are compounds that absorb, reflect or block ultraviolet light. Sunscreens are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration not as cosmetics but as over-the-counter drugs. Sunscreens are rated based on their SPF, or Sun Protection Factor. The higher the SPF, the better the protection against sunburn.
The Environmental Working Group says that the SPF rating on a sun product is only part of what consumers need to know and that one of the biggest problems with sunscreens is that they don't fully protect against sunlight.
"A good, effective sunscreen must prevent against a broad spectrum of rays," said Sonya Lunder, a senior researcher at the Environmental Working Group.
Sunlight is composed of two types of ultraviolet light: UVB rays, which cause sunburns, and UVA rays, which tan. Although both may increase the risk of skin cancer, sun damage and wrinkles, the FDA doesn't require sunscreens to protect against both, just UVB.
The FDA acknowledges that new rules mandating UVA testing and labeling requirements are being evaluated, but the Environmental Working Group wants tougher standards now.
"The fact most sunscreens still don't don't offer UVA protection and the fact the FDA has been working for years to finalize its rules is really what provoked us to look at this issue," Lunder said.
Another issue: Is a key sunscreen ingredient safe?
Oxybenzone is a a popular UV filter in many sunscreens, one evaluated by the FDA as safe. The Environmental Working Group says its analysis of hundreds of studies of more than a dozen sunscreen chemicals finds that oxybenzone can penetrate the skin and pose health concerns, anything from hormone disruption to cancer.
The industry group representing sunscreen makers denies that oxybenzone causes harm and deems such claims irresponsible.
"Questions about the safety of oxybenzone unnecessarily alarm consumers," said John Bailey, the chief scientist for the Personal Care Products Council, which
|
[
"What doesn't adequately protect?",
"Who allows the chemical in sunscreens, says it is safe ?",
"What can penetrate skin and pose health concerns?",
"What can the chemicals in sunscreen do?",
"Who says their products are safe and effective?",
"What do sunscreen manufacturers say?",
"How many sunscreens tested don't adequately protect ?",
"What in sunscreen does FDA say is safe?"
] |
[
"sunscreens",
"the Food and Drug Administration",
"oxybenzone",
"penetrate the skin and pose health concerns, anything from hormone disruption to cancer.",
"Coppertone",
"its new Helioplex technology provides broad-spectrum UV defense against sun damage.",
"four out of five",
"Oxybenzone"
] |
question: What doesn't adequately protect?, answer: sunscreens | question: Who allows the chemical in sunscreens, says it is safe ?, answer: the Food and Drug Administration | question: What can penetrate skin and pose health concerns?, answer: oxybenzone | question: What can the chemicals in sunscreen do?, answer: penetrate the skin and pose health concerns, anything from hormone disruption to cancer. | question: Who says their products are safe and effective?, answer: Coppertone | question: What do sunscreen manufacturers say?, answer: its new Helioplex technology provides broad-spectrum UV defense against sun damage. | question: How many sunscreens tested don't adequately protect ?, answer: four out of five | question: What in sunscreen does FDA say is safe?, answer: Oxybenzone
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- More than two years after her death, Carol Anne Gotbaum's children are expected to receive a $250,000 settlement from an insurance company on behalf of the city of Phoenix, Arizona, and its police department.
Carol Gotbaum, shown in an undated family photo, died accidentally, a medical examiner said.
The 45-year-old Gotbaum accidentally strangled herself while in police custody after behaving erratically in a terminal at Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport when she missed her connecting flight, according to both family and police accounts.
Gotbaum, the stepdaughter-in-law of New York City Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, was traveling alone and unescorted on her way to an alcohol rehabilitation center in Tucson, Arizona.
Gotbaum's family had originally sought $8 million but subsequently reduced that to $5.5 million. They accused the city and its police department of negligence in leaving Gotbaum chained and unattended in an airport police cell.
Her three children, all still under age 10, will be the beneficiaries of the settlement once it is approved by a New York surrogate court, whose duties are to deal with issues concerning the deceased.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, its insurance carrier had spent $500,000 so far on the case and anticipated spending another $750,000 in litigation. It was a financial decision by the insurance carrier to settle in order to minimize further costs, the department said.
Witnesses reported that Gotbaum may have been drinking on her flight and had been drinking heavily in an airport bar just before the altercation with police. She had missed her connection and was bumped from another one after airline personnel would not allow her to use a boarding pass given to her by another passenger. She grew incensed, threw her phone and started running down the concourse yelling, "I am not a terrorist," according to witness accounts.
Police said they had no information regarding her physical or psychological state when they responded to a call from gate agents. In a security video she is seen struggling with officers as they drag her down a concourse.
An internal police investigation and one by the city found that the police did not violate any laws. But Gotbaum's husband, Noah, filed suit claiming the officers were negligent in leaving her unattended in a disoriented state.
|
[
"Who are expected to receive a $250,000 settlement?",
"What happened in custody?",
"How much are the children receiving?",
"Where is the custody footage?",
"Who was taken into custody after acting erratically at airport?",
"Where does the money comes from?"
] |
[
"Carol Anne Gotbaum's children",
"accidentally strangled herself",
"$250,000",
"Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport",
"Carol Gotbaum,",
"an insurance company on behalf of the city of Phoenix, Arizona, and its police department."
] |
question: Who are expected to receive a $250,000 settlement?, answer: Carol Anne Gotbaum's children | question: What happened in custody?, answer: accidentally strangled herself | question: How much are the children receiving?, answer: $250,000 | question: Where is the custody footage?, answer: Phoenix's Sky Harbor airport | question: Who was taken into custody after acting erratically at airport?, answer: Carol Gotbaum, | question: Where does the money comes from?, answer: an insurance company on behalf of the city of Phoenix, Arizona, and its police department.
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Most people like gossip. Come on! You do too. Don't you glance every once in a while at US Weekly, In Touch, Page Six? And how about that Spitzer scandal -- even I can't get enough of that one.
A freshman talks about how cruel postings on the Juicy Campus web site have tainted her college experience.
But what happens when the gossip is about you or your boyfriend or your kid? And what if it's there on the Internet, for the entire world to see on a Web site called Juicy Campus?
That's what happened to Jane Smith (her name has been changed to protect her privacy), a college freshman I spoke with recently. She said she learned from a friend that her name had been posted on the Web site and people were anonymously posting not so nice things about her.
Things like she was promiscuous, "ugly," "overrated," "racist." Things she says are not true. Her post has received over a thousand page views -- in non-techie speak, everyone is reading and writing about her. She even got a request for a "hook up" from a guy hundreds of miles away at another college.
She told me that when she read the posts, she felt like she had been kicked in the stomach. She called her parents in the middle of the night crying. She has lost weight, has trouble sleeping, and has become suspicious of those around her. She told me that it has ruined her freshman year -- and will likely taint her entire college experience. Watch how campus poison pens inflict pain »
So what is Juicy Campus and who is behind it? Juicy Campus is a Web site, founded on August 1, 2007, which claims to have "the simple mission of enabling online anonymous free speech on college campuses."
The site allows and encourages posters to anonymously post uncensored gossip and rumors -- the juicier the better -- about others. There is a separate section on the site for each college or university, over 60 campuses at last count.
Some recent posts discuss the breasts of a professor, sluttiest girls and sexiest guys on campus. Some posts even contain racist, sexist and anti-Semitic remarks. Juicy, huh?
It was founded by a Duke alum, a former frat house president who has gone to lengths to keep his identity secret. We tried to reach him for comment. He didn't return our calls or e-mails. Instead, we received this not-so-juicy statement from a publicist:
"While there has been much attention given to the critics ... Thousands of students from across the country have written in to request that their campus be added."
Come on! Why is he hiding? Jane can't even sue him. In fact, there is little she can do.
Juicy Campus and similar Web sites are protected under Communications Decency Act of 1996. The Act aims to shield Web publishers from liability for libelous comments posted by third parties. The section states "no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider."
Juicy Campus is one of those sites that openly hides behind its immunity. The site's Frequently Asked Questions page states: "There is no way for someone using the site to find out who you are. And we at Juicy Campus are not keeping track of who you are or what you post. In fact, we prefer not to know who you are. We like to think that famous people like Justin Timberlake and Beyonce are using our site. We love them ..."
But what about those cowards, I mean posters, who like to call people names behind the wizard's curtain of protection provided by the Communications Decency Act? The First Amendment certainly protects free speech, even unpopular speech. Opinions are protected. The truth is protected. But lies are not.
To successfully sue the posters, Jane would have to show that they made false and
|
[
"What gossip site allows anonymous posting?",
"What is not protected under the law?",
"what is juicy campus",
"What site allows anonymous posting?",
"which are protected under the law"
] |
[
"Juicy Campus web",
"lies are",
"is a Web site, founded on August 1, 2007, which claims to have \"the simple mission of enabling online anonymous free speech on college campuses.\"",
"Juicy Campus?",
"Juicy Campus and similar Web sites"
] |
question: What gossip site allows anonymous posting?, answer: Juicy Campus web | question: What is not protected under the law?, answer: lies are | question: what is juicy campus, answer: is a Web site, founded on August 1, 2007, which claims to have "the simple mission of enabling online anonymous free speech on college campuses." | question: What site allows anonymous posting?, answer: Juicy Campus? | question: which are protected under the law, answer: Juicy Campus and similar Web sites
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Nearly a year after being beaten into a coma, Bryan Steinhauer said Wednesday he does not hate the Serbian basketball player witnesses said brutally assaulted him.
Bryan Steinhauer, who was beaten into a coma, is making significant progress in his rehabilitation.
"I am not full of hate; hatred kills progress," he said.
Appearing alongside his parents and doctors at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital, Steinhauer struggled to speak but his message was clear.
"Please don't feel sorry for me," he said. "Tragedy leads to wisdom, and this experience has taught me so much about life." Watch Steinhauer talk about his recovery »
The 22-year-old from Brooklyn was about to graduate and had a job lined up at accounting giant KPMG when he got into an argument last May that nearly cost him his life.
According to police, witnesses said Steinhauer and college basketball player Miladin Kovacevic had exchanged harsh words at an upstate New York bar near Binghamton University after Steinhauer danced with the girlfriend of one of Kovacevic's friends.
The witnesses said the fight went outside the bar, where several men attacked Steinhauer, with Kovacevic beating him about the head, according to police. Kovacevic is 6-foot-9 and 260 pounds while Steinhauer was 130 pounds.
Kovacevic was arrested but jumped bail and fled to Serbia with the help of Serbian consular officials in New York.
The case strained relations between the United States and Serbia.Hillary Clinton intervened, first as U.S. senator from New York and later as secretary of state, as did Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, to make sure Kovacevic was prosecuted.
Serbia has no extradition treaty with the United States, but Serbian officials arrested Kovacevic last October and are working on prosecuting him with the assistance of the district attorney of Broome County, where the beating took place.
In addition, the Serbian government recently paid the Steinhauer family $900,000 in recognition of the misconduct of Serbian government officials and the financial burdens placed upon the Steinhauer family as a result of the beating.
Steinhauer awoke from his coma last August, three months after the beating that left him with skull fractures, a severe brain injury and no memory of the attack. He weighed less than 100 pounds, could not speak or walk, and was fed through a tube, doctors said Wednesday.
"He had hemorrhages and contusions affecting almost every lobe of his brain," said Dr. Brian Greenwald.
Working with specialists and boosted by the support of his family, Steinhauer surprised even his doctors in his quick recovery, they said. He now has outpatient rehabilitation four times a week, goes to a gym, and receives acupuncture treatments. While he can eat on his own now and is making significant progress, Steinhauer continues to undergo intensive therapy.
Steinhauer says he doesn't think about Kovacevic because he's not concerned about other people.
"I've had a second birth and raising at Mount Sinai," he said. "Live long and prosper."
|
[
"Who was beaten?",
"to whom experience has taught life lessons?",
"How long ago was the attack?",
"what has the experience taught him?",
"who jumped bail, fled to Serbia?",
"Who beat Bryan Steinhauer into a coma?",
"who was beaten into a coma ?",
"Where is the suspect now?",
"Where did the suspect flee to?"
] |
[
"Bryan Steinhauer",
"Steinhauer",
"a year",
"so much about life.\"",
"Kovacevic",
"Miladin Kovacevic",
"Bryan Steinhauer",
"Serbia",
"Serbia"
] |
question: Who was beaten?, answer: Bryan Steinhauer | question: to whom experience has taught life lessons?, answer: Steinhauer | question: How long ago was the attack?, answer: a year | question: what has the experience taught him?, answer: so much about life." | question: who jumped bail, fled to Serbia?, answer: Kovacevic | question: Who beat Bryan Steinhauer into a coma?, answer: Miladin Kovacevic | question: who was beaten into a coma ?, answer: Bryan Steinhauer | question: Where is the suspect now?, answer: Serbia | question: Where did the suspect flee to?, answer: Serbia
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- New York celebrates the centennial of its most famous New Year's tradition Monday, as organizers of the Times Square ball drop have given the crystal globe an environmental makeover.
Technicians prepare the New York Times Square ball Thursday for the event's 100th anniversary.
This year the 1,415-pound ball has been outfitted with more than 9,500 energy-efficient light-emitting diodes that will illuminate the ball's more than 600 crystals. The LEDs will use the same amount of electricity as about 10 toasters, say event officials.
That's a dramatic overhaul from 1907's first Times Square ball, which was made from iron and wood and was covered with about 100 light bulbs. Watch the computer-controlled ball »
New York police estimate about a million people will crowd Times Square to watch the ball drop from a flagpole atop the One Times Square building at midnight.
Another billion people worldwide are expected to watch the spectacle on video, said Tom Chiodo, a spokesman for the Times Square Alliance. Of those viewers, 100 million will be in the United States, he said.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be joined by Iraq war veteran Karolina Wierzchowska, who was also a Ground Zero guard worker and a New York Police Academy valedictorian -- to push the button for the ball drop at 11:59 p.m.
Weather forecasts indicate clear skies for the celebration, with temperatures in the 40s -- a mild departure from inclement weather gripping much of the Northeast.
In an effort to help people stay warm, New York City sanitation workers will be passing out "goody bags" from the Times Square Alliance that will include mittens and hats, said Chiodo.
The event will include musical performances from Hannah Montana, the Jonas Brothers, Kid Rock, Lenny Kravitz, Lifehouse, The Bravery, and alums from Fox TV's "American Idol," Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis.
Security inside Times Square will be tight and everyone should expect to have their bags searched at least three times, said New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly on CNN's "American Morning."
In addition to a heavy police presence on the ground, Kelly said the NYPD's counterterrorism unit, radiation detectors and helicopters will also be patrolling the crowds.
Kelly said that once the Times Square attendees pass the entrance gates, they will not be able to leave.
New York's terrorist threat level remains at orange -- the nation's second highest level -- as it has since the September 11, 2001, attacks.
"We certainly haven't let our guard down," Kelly said.
As the ball drops, the new year will be greeted with a massive fireworks explosion, some 168 shots in the first five seconds alone, and a downpour of two tons of fireproof confetti. Some of the confetti includes New Year's wishes that were written by visitors to the city in nearly two dozen languages.
Over the past week, visitors from across the country wrote their messages on a Times Square "Wishing Wall."
"I want to turn the world green and the water clean," one person wrote.
"Let my husband stop snoring," another wrote, while others were more serious: "That my mom will get her kidney transplant" and "Peace in Pakistan." E-mail to a friend
|
[
"1907 ball was covered with how many bulbs?",
"who many people were expected to attend?",
"what kind of power usage is it?"
] |
[
"100",
"about a million",
"energy-efficient light-emitting diodes"
] |
question: 1907 ball was covered with how many bulbs?, answer: 100 | question: who many people were expected to attend?, answer: about a million | question: what kind of power usage is it?, answer: energy-efficient light-emitting diodes
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- New York police have made an arrest in the case of an Ecuadorian immigrant beaten to death in an apparent anti-Latino and antigay hate crime in December, New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly announced Wednesday.
Jose Sucuzhanay was beaten after leaving a party at a church.
Police arrested Hakim Scott, 25, on Tuesday and charged him with second degree murder as a hate crime. Police are still looking for a second suspect.
On December 7, 2008, police say Jose Sucuzhanay and his brother Romel had left a party at a church and were embracing each other to keep warm in the cold when Scott and another man approached them in a car in Brooklyn's Bushwick section, about a block from the brothers' home. Police say the two assailants shouted antigay and anti-Latino vulgarities and attacked the brothers.
Scott first assaulted Jose with a beer bottle before chasing after Romel, police said. The second assailant proceeded to "savagely beat Jose about his ribs, shoulders," head and back with an aluminum bat, according to Kelly.
Jose Sucuzhanay, 31, died of his injuries in December hours before his mother arrived in New York from Ecuador. Romel Sucuzhanay, 34, suffered minor scrapes.
Police were able to identify two suspects after inferring that they had crossed the Triborough Bridge in the course of their flight from the crime scene. They interviewed bridge toll booth employees and combed through videotape of cars passing through cash-only lanes on the bridge.
Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes said the incident should send a message that antigay violence endangers straights and gays alike.
"If there was ever a message to the people of this city or anywhere as to why heterosexuals have to stand up and not permit this type of violence ... it is this case," Hynes said.
|
[
"what is the age of Hakim Scott?",
"for which crimeHakim Scott is charged with?",
"What were they charged?",
"Who was charged?",
"Who beat Jose and Romel Sucuzhanay?",
"who were hugging to stay warm?",
"Who is charged with 2nd degree murder?"
] |
[
"25,",
"second degree murder",
"second degree murder as a hate crime.",
"Hakim Scott,",
"Hakim Scott,",
"embracing each other",
"Hakim Scott,"
] |
question: what is the age of Hakim Scott?, answer: 25, | question: for which crimeHakim Scott is charged with?, answer: second degree murder | question: What were they charged?, answer: second degree murder as a hate crime. | question: Who was charged?, answer: Hakim Scott, | question: Who beat Jose and Romel Sucuzhanay?, answer: Hakim Scott, | question: who were hugging to stay warm?, answer: embracing each other | question: Who is charged with 2nd degree murder?, answer: Hakim Scott,
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- New York suspended all construction crane activity in the city Friday after a crane collapse on the Upper East Side killed two construction workers.
Crane wreckage lies on Manhattan's Upper East Side on Friday in a photo by iReporter Michael Schuman.
Acting Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri announced the suspension, in effect until Monday, and unveiled a $4 million plan to assess high-risk construction activities, including crane operations, and make recommendations to improve safety.
"This year we have seen an increase in accidents and injuries related to high-risk construction activities," LiMandri said. "We must make sure that as construction activity in the city continues to increase, the department's ability to hold the construction industry to higher safety standards keeps pace."
Friday's accident was the second deadly crane collapse in the city in less than three months. Seven people were killed and 24 were injured in March when a construction crane toppled, plowing through several residential buildings.
Crane operator Donald Leo, 30, died in the initial collpase Friday morning. Construction worker Ramadan Kurtij, 37, died Friday afternoon of cardiac arrest after being rushed to the hospital. Another construction worker remained critically injured, a city official said.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the cranes in the two incidents were different types.
"Two crane collapses in a short period of time look like a pattern, but there's no reason to think that there's any real connection," he said.
On a radio program Friday, Bloomberg vowed that an investigation would be conducted and changes would be made if necessary.
"I don't need any developer or union leader or anybody else telling me about the consequences of slowing things down," he said. "Nobody wants this economy to grow more than me. But we're not going to kill people."
The accident happened shortly after 8 a.m. Bridget Barrett, who lives two buildings away, said she was just leaving for work.
"We heard a loud crash as I was walking down my stairwell. I went to the front door of the building, and it was all white smoke everywhere," she said.
"The crane had fallen in the middle of the street and was on fire. There was water spewing out of the apartment building all over the place. And I dialed 911." See photos from the scene of the collapse »
Witnesses said the cab and the arm of the crane crashed more than 20 stories to the ground, smashing the penthouse on a building across the street and gouging chunks out of balconies all the way to the ground.
"It sounded like a large metal structure slowly falling on itself, sounded like a prolonged car accident," said iReport contributor Daniel Miranda, who lives a block away. "Construction workers were peering over the edge. Some of them were crying out in grief."
A pedestrian had minor injuries, Bloomberg said at a news conference, adding that nearby buildings with about 160 apartments were evacuated "strictly as a precaution." Watch how latest crane collapse raises questions »
The collapse occurred a day after a building inspector rescinded a partial stop-work order that had been issued April 24.
The order was issued after an inspection found that employees had been working without a permit and operating a crane in an "unsafe manner," according to the city's Building Department. No other details were available.
The collapse left a pile of wreckage at the foot of the Azure, an apartment building under construction at the northwest corner of East 91st Street and First Avenue, a mainly residential area on the city's Upper East Side.
The falling crane also damaged the Electra, a 20-plus-story building on the southwest corner. See where the crane fell »
Michael Schuman, another iReporter, said he heard a loud crash, grabbed his camera and went to the scene, about five buildings away.
"I got there before the emergency vehicles. It looked like the crane had broken into three or four large pieces. I saw water pouring out
|
[
"How many remain critically injured?",
"How many people remain critically injured?",
"Who suspended all construction crane activity?",
"What activity did the city suspend?",
"What did the city suspend?",
"How many were killed in the first accident?",
"A previous crane collapse killed how many people?",
"How many were killed in a similar accident?",
"What killed the second construction worker?",
"Where did a similar incident recently occur?",
"What is the number of people that remain in critical injured status?"
] |
[
"Another construction worker",
"24",
"New York",
"construction crane",
"all construction crane activity",
"two",
"Seven",
"Seven",
"a crane",
"NEW YORK",
"24"
] |
question: How many remain critically injured?, answer: Another construction worker | question: How many people remain critically injured?, answer: 24 | question: Who suspended all construction crane activity?, answer: New York | question: What activity did the city suspend?, answer: construction crane | question: What did the city suspend?, answer: all construction crane activity | question: How many were killed in the first accident?, answer: two | question: A previous crane collapse killed how many people?, answer: Seven | question: How many were killed in a similar accident?, answer: Seven | question: What killed the second construction worker?, answer: a crane | question: Where did a similar incident recently occur?, answer: NEW YORK | question: What is the number of people that remain in critical injured status?, answer: 24
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- New York's iconic Plaza Hotel will lose a figure nearly as synonymous with it as Eloise when its longest-serving doorman retires Thursday after 46 years on the job.
Ed Trinka, whose retirement coincides with his 65th birthday, joined the hotel 1963.
Ed Trinka, whose retirement coincides with his 65th birthday, joined the hotel's staff in 1963 as a teenager. He spent 40 years at the fabled lodging's Fifth Avenue entrance, relocating to its doorway facing Central Park South during the property's renovation and partial conversion to condominiums several years ago.
Now as much a Central Park South fixture as the horse-drawn carriages that line the park's southern perimeter, the gregarious Trinka is known as the "mayor of 59th Street." On a recent afternoon, he seemed to know every other passerby, exchanging a constant stream of hellos with chauffeurs and doormen from adjacent tony apartment buildings and, of course, the Plaza's residents.
Over his more than four decades manning the Plaza's entrance, Trinka has met countless celebrities -- or "all of them," as he puts it. After his first celebrity encounter at the hotel with the Beatles, he's catered to a long procession of big names, including Joe DiMaggio, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Liza Minnelli.
Marla Maples, ex-wife of one-time Plaza owner Donald Trump, would regularly peck Trinka on the cheek when she saw him. Trinka says he has an autographed photo of Richard Nixon -- a token of gratitude from the former president -- hanging on proud display at his home.
Trinka says he has thoroughly enjoyed his lengthy stay at the portal to history and glamour. "I never had a bad day in all the years."
Nonetheless, with all those years at the hotel under his belt, Trinka felt it was time to "bow out gracefully."
As he transitions to retirement, Trinka says he'll miss the front-row view of Central Park and the hotel's clientele -- the "greatest people in the world." He also concedes he'll miss "the women."
The building's inhabitants are not eager for his departure.
"He's a gentleman, refined -- you don't find these people anymore," lamented resident Joan Spain.
Trinka's replacement, Jimmy O'Connell, is keenly aware of the large shoes he'll have to fill, saying he'd be satisfied if he "could be half the doorman" Trinka is.
The hotel will bid farewell to Trinka in characteristically grand fashion on Thursday afternoon. After a champagne send-off in the hotel's landmarked Oak Room, its management will present him with an opportunity to view the Plaza from the vantage point of the countless guests he's greeted over the years: He'll be given a free stay at the hotel.
In addition to a trove of anecdotes about celebrities, Trinka acquired something else during his tenure at the Plaza: a new name.
Years ago, the hotel gave him a nametag that mistakenly read Edward, even though his full name is Edwin. He came to embrace the errant nametag, neglecting to correct people when they called him Edward and even naming his own son Edward.
|
[
"in what year joined the hotel?",
"Who is Ed Trinka?",
"who gets a free stay?",
"When did Ed Trinka join the hotel?",
"How many years did he stay at his job?"
] |
[
"1963.",
"longest-serving doorman",
"Ed Trinka,",
"1963.",
"46"
] |
question: in what year joined the hotel?, answer: 1963. | question: Who is Ed Trinka?, answer: longest-serving doorman | question: who gets a free stay?, answer: Ed Trinka, | question: When did Ed Trinka join the hotel?, answer: 1963. | question: How many years did he stay at his job?, answer: 46
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Nonnie Dotson, a nurse in the U.S. Air Force, was decompressing from a hard-fought child support battle when she disappeared hundreds of miles from her home base.
U.S. Air Force nurse Nonnie Dotson disappeared on the way to the mall on November 19, 2006.
Dotson, 33, was staying with her brother at his home outside Denver, Colorado, when she vanished on November 19, 2006. She was supposed to meet friends at the mall for a smoothie.
She never showed.
The single mother and her 16-month-old daughter, Savannah, lived in San Antonio, Texas, where Dotson worked on a military base as an intensive care nurse. They were staying with Dotson's brother, Tony, for a few days. Watch why Dotson's disappearance puzzles investigators »
Dotson had recently emerged from a court battle with Ed Vehle, Savannah's father. Vehle, who also lived in San Antonio, was ordered by the court to pay $10,000 in back child support, as well as $900 each month. Dotson won the court order two months before she disappeared.
Dotson was just months away from completing her military duty and was trying to decide whether she would move back to her hometown in Colorado or remain in San Antonio.
Vehle had declared he had no interest in being a part of their lives. The two met in 2004 and the relationship ended when Dotson became pregnant. Vehle did not want her to have the baby, she told friends at the military base. The friends spoke on condition that their identities would not be made public. Vehle is not a suspect or person of interest in the case, police said.
Because things appeared to be going well in Dotson's life, her sudden disappearance is a mystery to her family and to police. She was hundreds of miles away from home in a safe Denver suburb. She left her brother's home on Sunday afternoon, and the mall was within walking distance,Tony Dotson said.
"She asked me to look after Savannah for a couple hours and she walked out that door and we never saw her again," Tony Dotson added. "She would never have intentionally left Savannah behind like that." Police agree.
Since Dotson vanished, there has been no activity on her bank accounts, credit cards or cell phone, police said. Her case is still an open missing persons investigation being handled by the Jefferson County homicide department.
"Unfortunately, we have no real leads as to who is responsible for Dotson's disappearance," said sheriff's office spokeswoman Jacki Kelley.
"She could be alive and being held against her will. She could have been kidnapped and then murdered. We are not ruling anything out at this time," Kelley said.
For several weeks after Dotson's disappearance, Vehle refused to answer questions. He retained counsel. In mid-December 2006, Vehle and Jay Norton, his attorney, met with police, answering all their questions.
Norton said they were able to provide investigators with receipts and cell phone records accounting for Vehle's whereabouts. Police confirmed that Vehle was nowhere near Colorado before, during or after Dotson's disappearance.
After Dotson's disappearance, Vehle decided to go to court to pursue full custody of his daughter. Dotson's parents had been taking care of Savannah. The court last year gave Vehle shared custody with Dotson's parents.
Family and police urge anyone with information about the whereabouts of Nonnie Dotson to call the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office tip line at (303) 271-5612. Nonnie Dotson is 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighs 115 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes.
|
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question: Who was an Air Force nurse?, answer: Nonnie Dotson, | question: In what city does Nonnie Dotson's brother live in?, answer: outside Denver, Colorado, | question: What did Nonnie Dotson do for a living?, answer: nurse in the U.S. Air Force, | question: Who won a court battle?, answer: Nonnie Dotson | question: Where was Dotson visiting?, answer: Denver, Colorado, | question: What was Nonnie Dotson's job?, answer: a nurse in the U.S. Air Force, | question: Who should be called with a tip?, answer: Jefferson County Sheriff's Office | question: When did Nonnie Dotson disappear?, answer: November 19, 2006. | question: What Sheriff's office should you call if you have tips?, answer: Jefferson County | question: Who was Nonnie Dotson?, answer: a nurse in the U.S. Air Force, | question: Who was Nonnie Dotson visiting when she disappeared?, answer: her brother | question: What court battle did she win?, answer: child support
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Off a desert highway, about 15 miles from her home in the southern tip of Nevada, the mystery of Maureen Fields' disappearance began with the discovery of her abandoned car.
The body of Maureen Fields, seen here in June 2005, hasn't been found since she went missing in 2006.
Investigators found the 41-year-old woman's 2004 green Hyundai just across the California border on February 16, 2006. It was one day after her husband, Paul Fields, said he last saw her.
Investigators say they discovered Fields' purse and wallet, the keys in the ignition and a fully reclined driver's seat.
There were slippers and eyeglasses beneath the gas pedal, religious pamphlets, a knotted pair of pantyhose as well as three bottles of prescription tranquilizers and pain killers. Watch an update on the case »
A small spot of her blood and vomit stained a blanket strewn across the ground beside the car. But Fields, who'd been working as a Wells Fargo bank teller in the small town of Pahrump, Nevada, has never been found.
"Just looking at the circumstances, it could appear staged" by whoever was responsible for her disappearance, said Detective Dave Boruchowitz, an investigator with the Nye County, Nevada, Sheriff's Office.
Reported inconsistencies in her 60-year-old husband's story, police said, paired with the fact that the couple was described as having a stormy relationship, made Paul Fields the initial suspect.
A lack of physical evidence, however, has made the case unprosecutable, said Detective Joe Close, also with the Nye County Sheriff's Office.
Paul Fields, who runs an auto business out of the double-wide trailer he and his wife shared, maintains his innocence. He's speculated that she faked her death before running off with another man. A message left at his home was not returned.
But his attorney, Harold Kuehn, said, "His contention is and my belief is that if she's truly dead, and the court says she is for civil purposes, then he didn't do it. ... What he told police is what he told me. Basically she left one day, never to be seen again."
In a new twist, Nye County District Attorney Bob Beckett says an unknown male's DNA was found on key items at the scene of the abandoned car.
"What we have to explore is the possibility of another suspect," Beckett said. "We have to find out who this male was and whose DNA was found at the scene. It's a lot more complicated than one may think it is."
The prosecutor said he's sure a jury would have reasonable doubt if presented a case with this question mark looming.
"We have a duty to make sure we're doing the right thing," he said. "There are too many unanswered questions at this time."
Maureen Fields has been declared dead, and the search for her body, and her killer, continues.
Her father, Jim Fitzgerald, has been doing some investigating of his own. The former detective with the Newark, New Jersey, Police Department -- and now a national director with the conservative John Birch Society -- has made repeated trips from his Randolph Township, New Jersey, home to speak with his daughter's former friends and co-workers. He's also consulted with a psychic in his search for clues.
No matter when her body is found, a serial numbered metal jaw implant -- which served to combat Fields' teeth grinding habit -- will stand as proof of her identity, Fitzgerald said.
Since murder carries no statute of limitations, time is on the law's side.
"The case isn't dead to us," said Boruchowitz, one of the detectives still on the investigation. "We're going to continue to work it until we prove who did it."
Anyone with information about this case should call the Nye County Sheriff's Office at 775-751-7000.
|
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question: Where was found the car?, answer: just across the California border | question: Is there any suspect to be her killer?, answer: Paul Fields | question: has her body been found?, answer: hasn't | question: Where was Maureen Fields from?, answer: southern tip of Nevada, | question: When did Maureen Fields go missing?, answer: 2006. | question: who went missing in 2006?, answer: Maureen Fields,
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Olga A. Mendez, a ground-breaking Puerto Rican politician from New York City, has died after a long battle with cancer, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced.
Mendez, widely reported to be the first Puerto Rican woman elected to a state legislature in the mainland United States, was 84.
"Olga's election to the state Senate as its first Puerto Rican woman was a tremendous symbol of hope for a community that now had a seat at the table," Bloomberg said in a release Wednesday. "But Olga's life was an inspiration to countless others, because the doors she bravely pushed opened stayed open for everyone else."
Mendez served in the New York state Senate 13 consecutive terms, from 1978 until being defeated in 2004. A long-time Democrat, she had switched to the Republican Party in 2002 and failed to win re-election to her heavily Democratic 28th district, which included East Harlem and parts of the Bronx.
"Mendez was brash, bold and aggressive because she had to be," New York's El Diario newspaper said Thursday. "She cut her teeth in the Senate and became a battle-ready politician. And she balanced what few politicians were able to do well -- an on-the-ground constituency services with the ability to achieve critical legislative negotiations. This, in a Senate that was controlled by Republicans during the entire 26 years she served."
Bloomberg noted Mendez's bipartisanship.
"When I first entered public service eight years ago, Olga sat me down and impressed upon me -- in her inimitable way -- the importance of reaching across partisan lines to do what's right for your constituents," the mayor said. "That's a lesson I carry with me every day."
El Diario noted that "Mendez successfully fought for an increase in the state's minimum wage, ushered in legislation that provided basic rights to migrant farm workers and secured funding for senior citizen centers. She also fought for resources for early childhood development and gained bipartisan support for affordable housing and economic development initiatives in her district."
Born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Mendez moved to the Mainland U.S. after receiving a bachelor's degree from the Universidad de Puerto Rico in 1950. She received a master's degree in psychology from the Teacher's College at Columbia University in 1960 and a doctorate's in educational psychology from Yeshiva University in 1975.
An early widow, she had no children.
Mendez underwent surgery for breast cancer in 1993.
"Olga didn't recoil from public life or attempt to hide her condition," Bloomberg said. "Instead, she shared her story and her struggle with others."
|
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"What did she die of?",
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question: What did she die of?, answer: cancer, | question: How many terms did Mendez serve in the New York state Senate?, answer: 13 consecutive | question: What did Mendez die of?, answer: cancer, | question: What nationality is Mendez?, answer: Puerto Rican | question: Who is Mendez?, answer: a ground-breaking Puerto Rican politician from New York City, | question: What happened in 2002?, answer: switched to the Republican Party
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps has acknowledged he engaged in "regrettable" behavior and "demonstrated bad judgment," after a British newspaper published a photograph of the swimmer smoking from a bong.
Sports attorney Ryan Smith thinks Michael Phelps should speak to public about his opposition to drug use.
Ryan Smith, a sports attorney and BET talk show host, on Monday spoke to John Roberts on CNN's "American Morning" about how the incident could affect Phelps' career.
John Roberts: What was your reaction to news of this picture of Michael Phelps surfacing?
Ryan Smith: The thing with Michael Phelps is, he's not only been an outspoken athlete against drugs so he's done a lot of testing, he's been supportive of WADA, which is the World Anti-Doping Agency. But he's really a guy of high character.
So you look at this, and my first thought was, "What about his endorsement deals? What's going to happen in those?" A lot of endorsement deals have clauses that say that you can't do bad actions like this, not only crimes, but just things that you do bad in public could result in the termination of your contract. So he could lose a lot of money on this.
Roberts: Now he never really admitted to smoking marijuana. ... The United States Olympic Committee isn't going to sanction him, it looks like, but did call his actions disappointing. But to the greater issue that you were talking about, in terms of his endorsement deals, do you think anybody is going to say, well, this is the straw that broke the camel's back with this guy? He had one incident back in 2004. But are you going to dump Michael Phelps because of this picture?
Smith: It could happen, and the reason why is because a lot of these companies that are sponsoring him really are focused on kids and how actions of their athletes affect children. So that can be a big problem.
The other thing is, unlike an athlete that plays sports every year in the public spotlight, the Olympics for swimmers comes only every four years. So he doesn't have that chance to rehabilitate his image immediately like a lot of other athletes, a basketball player or a football player would.
So companies might say, you know what, let's not work with Michael Phelps right now, because he doesn't really have a chance to redeem himself. A picture says a thousand words, and how can he fight that?
Roberts: How could you turn this around? If you were his attorney, if you were advising him what would you do?
Smith: The first thing I would suggest is a drug test. And I know that that's not required. And I also know that he's not really going to have a problem with swimming in 2012. But I would just show that hey, I'm clean, I'm doing great. The next thing I would do is go out there in the public and talk about the troubles with working with drugs and really show the public that you are not about drug use, you are not about doing bad things in public. You are only about supporting the rules of WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and supporting their drug testing program. So you can show that, hey, this is a minor incident, not a big deal. And really what it's all about is remaining clean.
Roberts: If you were to lay a bet, would you say anybody drops him?
Smith: I would say he'll have some problems. I don't know if I would say that a big sponsor would drop him, but I would say that a more wholesome-oriented sponsor might.
|
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] |
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question: What did a newspaper publish a picture of Phelps doing?, answer: smoking from a bong. | question: What did the newspaper publish?, answer: a photograph of the swimmer smoking from a bong. | question: What did Ryan Smith adivse Phelps to do?, answer: a drug test. | question: What could Michael Phelps lose?, answer: endorsement deals | question: Name of the attorney?, answer: Ryan Smith | question: What could Phelps lose a lot of?, answer: of endorsement deals | question: What can Michael Phelps lose a lot of?, answer: money | question: What may Michael Phelps lose because of the bong photo?, answer: endorsement deals | question: What was Michael Phelps caught using?, answer: smoking from a bong. | question: What job does Ryan Smith have?, answer: Sports attorney
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- On May 4, 2007, Kara Kopetsky, a 17-year-old high school junior in Belton, Missouri, was not having a good day.
Kara Kopetsky, 17, left school early in Belton, Missouri, on May 4, 2007, and hasn't been seen since.
She forgot one of her textbooks and called home and asked her mom to drop it off at the school office. She also asked her mother to wash her uniform so she could work the 4 p.m. shift at Popeye's Chicken.
Later that morning, Kara had an argument with one of her teachers in class, according to police and her family. Frustrated, she left campus about 10:30 a.m., ditching school for the rest of the day.
A school surveillance video shows her walking out. But no one can say which way she went, or whether she got into a car.
It was the last time anyone saw or heard from her.
Police say there has been no activity on Kara's cell phone since shortly after she walked out of school. They followed some pings from the phone, conducted some searches, but found nothing significant. Beyond that, they aren't commenting. Watch an update on the case »
Kara's stepfather says the cell phone's long silence makes him suspicious.
"This doesn't make any sense," said Jim Beckford. "Kara was on her cell phone sending texts constantly. Her cell phone bill was typically 80-100 pages long."
When Kara didn't come home from school as usual, her family -- mother Rhonda, stepfather Jim and stepbrother Thomas -- grew worried. They filed a missing persons report later that afternoon.
Police told them they believed Kara was a runaway, and that she'd come back on her own in a few days.
Two years later, her family hasn't heard a word from Kara. She left behind most of her belongings -- money, clothes, iPod and a new carton of cigarettes. Her bank debit card was left in her school locker and her bank account, with $150 from her recent paycheck, remains untouched.
According to police in Belton, the case is being actively investigated. But with no certain evidence of foul play, police continue to characterize Kara's disappearance as an endangered and missing adult case.
The state of Missouri considers Kara Kopetsky to be an adult because she was 17 when she disappeared.
Belton Police Capt. Don Spears said police are looking at several persons of interest, but haven't narrowed their investigation to focus on a single suspect.
Her family says she has no history of running away. They say they fear that she was abducted when she left school that day.
"She is a very beautiful girl and so we often warned her to be careful, but like any teen, she had an attitude that she was invincible," her stepfather said.
About a month after she disappeared, Kara's case was eclipsed by another sensational case -- the abduction and slaying of Kelsey Smith.
Smith was taken from a store parking lot in Overland Park, Kansas, and her body was found in the Missouri woods, six miles from Kara's home in Belton. A suspect was charged, pleaded guilty, and is serving a life sentence.
Police in Belton and Overland Park compared notes but could find no connection.
According to family and police and Kara's MySpace profile, she had an on-again, off-again boyfriend. He lived in her neighborhood, was 18, and attended the same high school but dropped out earlier the spring Kara disappeared.
Kara was trying to end the relationship, friends told police. It is unclear whether the two saw each other the day Kara vanished.
A $30,000 reward is offered for tips leading to the whereabouts of Kara Kopetsky or the arrest of anyone responsible for her disappearance.
Police and family urge people to call the Belton Police Department's tip-line at 816-474-TIPS. Kara is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall and 125 pounds with brown hair and
|
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question: Who is Kara Kopetsky?, answer: a 17-year-old high school junior in Belton, Missouri, | question: Is there a reward for information?, answer: $30,000 | question: Did the cell phone show any activity?, answer: no | question: What did the surveillance show?, answer: her walking out. | question: IS there a reward because she is now missing?, answer: $30,000
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- One of America's pre-eminent political power couples made a rare joint appearance Friday, when Bill and Hillary Clinton took the stage at the former president's Clinton Global Initiative conference.
Bill Clinton says his wife Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the "best public service our family has ever produced."
"I want to begin by expressing my extreme indebtedness to the Clinton Global Initiative, to all of you who participated, for giving me the first chance I have had in a week to see Hillary," Bill Clinton told the audience of social activists and business leaders at the closing session of CGI, a week-long conference designed to find solutions to global problems through public and private partnerships.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was at the session to unveil a new State Department initiative on food security.
As he introduced her, the former president was effusive in his praise for his wife, saying that her approach to food security -- helping farmers around the world grow their own food to earn income and alleviate poverty -- was much smarter than the decades-long policy of simply giving humanitarian aid and food to countries. Watch Clinton pay tribute to his wife »
"It was a wrong-headed policy. It persisted through Democratic and Republican policies alike, including mine. We were all wrong, and she is determined to reverse it," Bill Clinton said. Watch portion of Anderson Cooper's interview with former President Clinton »
"Most of what I know about what I do today, I learned from her and she has become the best public servant our family has produced," he added. "I am very proud of her and honored that she came here."
Hillary Clinton, who received a standing ovation, had equally kind words for her husband.
"It won't surprise you to hear that I am very proud of my husband, and I think what he has invented and brought to life here is extraordinary," she said, adding that the new State Department food initiative, in part, was an idea she developed by seeing the kinds of partnerships the Clinton Global Initiative produced.
The Clintons posed for a photo-op with State Department officials and executives from General Mills and other organizations, who pledged at the conference to start a program to help farmers around the world.
And then, for fans of the former first couple, a rare treat. As she walked off the stage, Bill Clinton drew some more cheers when he gave his wife a kiss.
Bill Clinton continued to read off the million-dollar commitments he received at the conference for additional social programs. Hillary Clinton left to meet with 15 ministers from the Caribbean.
|
[
"What does Hillary Clinton what farmers to do to earn income?",
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] |
[
"grow their own food",
"Bill Clinton",
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"his wife,",
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"earn income and alleviate poverty"
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question: What does Hillary Clinton what farmers to do to earn income?, answer: grow their own food | question: Who praised their wife?, answer: Bill Clinton | question: What policy was "wrong-headed" for humanitarian aid?, answer: and food to countries. | question: Whose approach did Clinton praise to food security?, answer: his wife, | question: What does Hillary Clinton want?, answer: new State Department initiative on food security. | question: What are Hillary Clinton's approaches to food security?, answer: earn income and alleviate poverty
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- One of the perks of using search engine Google's home page is checking out the frequently changing seasonal, current-event, and holiday-inspired "doodles" used for the logo.
Christin Engelberth's "doodle" beat out more than 28,000 entries in Google's annual contest.
Soon the work of 12-year-old Christin Engelberth will occupy the Google spotlight to be viewed by millions of online searchers worldwide.
On Wednesday, Google announced that Christin, a sixth-grader at Bernard Harris Middle School in San Antonio, Texas, is this year's winner of "Doodle 4 Google," a yearly competition that asks K-12 students to dream up their own variation of the logo. Her work will be featured on Google's main site for 24 hours on Thursday.
The theme of this year's contest was "What I Wish for the World."
"Both our country and the world are undergoing significant change," Google said on the contest's Web pages. At Google we believe in thinking big, and dreaming big, and we can't think of anything more important than encouraging students to do the same."
"A New Beginning," the title of Christin's doodle, depicts the Google logo as a land and sea naturescape intertwined with trees, a frog and leaping dolphin, a curious lizard, a turtle and fish, and a butterfly set against an orange and yellow background with a rising sun represented by the second "O" in "Google."
In an interview with CNN, Christin said she portrayed a dawn as a symbol of a new day. Her wish was that "out of the current crisis, discoveries will be found to help the Earth prosper once more." She added that wanted to portray a brighter tomorrow and "discoveries being made lead to a better Earth for everyone."
Christin said her initial idea for a doodle was for animal conservation, but then she decided "it shouldn't just include animals; it should include the rest of the world."
Christin did check out her competition, and said she thought the other doodles were "much better than mine."
But a panel of independent judges and Google employees, along with close to 6 million online voters, disagreed, and chose her sketch as the overall winner from a field of over 28,000 other submissions.
Google's Marissa Mayer, vice president of search products and user experience, and Dennis Hwang, webmaster manager, said on the Google Blog that Christin's design was part of "a very creative pool of doodles."
As the national winner, Christin will receive a $15,000 college scholarship, a laptop, and a $25,000 technology grant for her school, in addition to having her artwork featured on the Google site.
She was presented with her award at the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York City, where Google also unveiled an exhibit of the top doodles. They will be on display until July 5.
National finalists also were selected in three grade groups. Each will receive a laptop computer.
All winners were treated to a day in New York that Google said "included activities which promote peace, sustainability and wellness -- all inspired by this year's theme." The winners also will participate in a doodling class led by Dennis Hwang and the Google doodle team.
Grand prize winner Christin -- who told CNN she was excited to visit New York City -- said she's been "drawing for as long as she can remember."
When she grows up, she said, she hopes to do "anything to do with art."
|
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"Where does the winner of \"Doodle for Google\" live?",
"What was the name of the contest?",
"Where will the winning entry be displayed?",
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"How much is the college scholarship that Christin received?",
"Who won the $25,000?"
] |
[
"San Antonio, Texas,",
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"Christin",
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question: Where does the winner of "Doodle for Google" live?, answer: San Antonio, Texas, | question: What was the name of the contest?, answer: "Doodle 4 Google," | question: Where will the winning entry be displayed?, answer: Google's main site | question: What did the winner say about her dreams?, answer: "out of the current crisis, discoveries will be found to help the Earth prosper once more." | question: Who is Christin Engelbert?, answer: this year's winner of "Doodle 4 Google," | question: Who won the contest?, answer: Christin | question: How much is the college scholarship that Christin received?, answer: $15,000 | question: Who won the $25,000?, answer: Christin Engelberth's
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Pam Biggers, a 52-year-old woman from Hueytown, Alabama, disappeared while on a business trip to the Florida Panhandle.
Pam Biggers disappeared while on a business trip to the Florida Panhandle in January 2008.
She drove to the La Quinta Inn at Panama City Beach on January 27, 2008, a Sunday. She checked in and talked with her husband over the phone about 5:30 p.m.
She told him she was going out to eat with a colleague who was staying across the hall.
After an early dinner, the two women returned to their rooms about 7 p.m., police said. And then Pamela Biggers simply disappeared.
"It's completely baffling," said her husband, Don Biggers. "All of her belongings, clothes, purse, cell phone, were left in her room."
Biggers' bed did not look slept in, police said, but it appeared that she had been reading in bed. Her open book and glasses were on the bedside table, and the pillows were propped up against the headboard.
She had not changed into her pajamas, and her hotel room key and car keys were in the room. There was no sign of struggle, police said. Watch Rupa's report on this baffling cold case »
Biggers' family believes that she left the hotel and either lost her way or became the victim of foul play.
"We think she may have initially wandered off on her own," Don Biggers said. "She had some episodes ... complaining of voices in her head and paranoia."
She'd been on medication but had decided to stop taking it, he added.
Biggers said he was concerned about his wife's health and urged her to not go on the business trip.
Police searched for Biggers for weeks. Her family brought in Texas Equusearch, a specialized search and rescue operation. The group conducted ground and air searches and used cadaver dogs but was unable to find any clues.
The hotel did not have surveillance cameras, so it is not known when Biggers left or whether she was alone. Hotel staffers did not recall seeing Biggers leave.
She had driven to Florida in the family car, which was in the hotel parking lot.
According to her family, Biggers had never wandered off before, nor had she suffered from memory loss.
She had just learned that her son, Jacob, was to be dispatched for a tour of duty in the military to Afghanistan and may have been stressed about that, her husband said.
Police and the Biggers family are asking the public for help. Anyone who has seen Pam Biggers or has more information leading to the person or people responsible for her disappearance is asked to call the Bay County Sheriff's Office tip line at 850-747-4700.
A $20,000 reward is offered.
Biggers was last seen wearing a white sweater, black pants with white pinstripes, a wedding band and an aquamarine ring. She is a white female who stands 5'8" tall, weighs 135 pounds and has green eyes and gray hair.
|
[
"Who should you call if you know something?",
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"What phone number is used for the reward?",
"Where was Pamela Biggers last seen?",
"Who is Pamela Biggers?"
] |
[
"the Bay County Sheriff's Office tip line at 850-747-4700.",
"$20,000",
"$20,000",
"52-year-old",
"Pam Biggers,",
"850-747-4700.",
"trip to the Florida Panhandle.",
"52-year-old woman from Hueytown, Alabama, disappeared while on a business"
] |
question: Who should you call if you know something?, answer: the Bay County Sheriff's Office tip line at 850-747-4700. | question: How much is the offered rewad?, answer: $20,000 | question: What is the reward being offered for information?, answer: $20,000 | question: What age was Pamela Biggers?, answer: 52-year-old | question: Who went on a business trip?, answer: Pam Biggers, | question: What phone number is used for the reward?, answer: 850-747-4700. | question: Where was Pamela Biggers last seen?, answer: trip to the Florida Panhandle. | question: Who is Pamela Biggers?, answer: 52-year-old woman from Hueytown, Alabama, disappeared while on a business
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Paul McCartney has come to New York and he wants to shout it from the rooftops.
Paul McCartney performs Wednesday on the roof above the marquee of New York's Ed Sullivan Theater.
To promote his concert at Citi Field this Friday, the former Beatle performed Wednesday afternoon on the roof above the Ed Sullivan Theater marquee before his appearance on "Late Night with David Letterman," which is taped in the theater.
Wednesday's performance began at 5:30 p.m. ET and included a set of classics including "Get Back," "Band on the Run," "Helter Skelter" and "Back in the USSR." Sporting a pink button-up shirt and suspenders, McCartney played to a huge crowd that blocked off traffic near the intersection of 53rd Street and Broadway.
McCartney occasionally waved to occupants of nearby buildings as they gathered at their windows to listen to the concert.
McCartney will be the first music act to play at Citi Field, and that concert will kick off his summer U.S. tour. The Ed Sullivan Theater, named for the late variety-show host, has special meaning for McCartney as it was the site of the Beatles' historic televised performance in 1964.
|
[
"What Theater was the Beatles historic TV performance?",
"Which former Beatle is performing a concert at New York's Citi Field?",
"What year was the historic TV performance?",
"McCartney performed songs before appearing on which US TV show?",
"Who performed songs before appearance on \"Late Night with David Letterman\"?",
"Where was the historic 1964 \"Beatles\" performance?",
"Which TV show is McCartney appearing on?",
"Who performed on \"Late Night with David Letterman\"?"
] |
[
"New York's Ed Sullivan",
"Paul McCartney",
"1964.",
"\"Late Night with David Letterman,\"",
"Paul McCartney",
"The Ed Sullivan Theater,",
"\"Late Night with David Letterman,\"",
"Paul McCartney"
] |
question: What Theater was the Beatles historic TV performance?, answer: New York's Ed Sullivan | question: Which former Beatle is performing a concert at New York's Citi Field?, answer: Paul McCartney | question: What year was the historic TV performance?, answer: 1964. | question: McCartney performed songs before appearing on which US TV show?, answer: "Late Night with David Letterman," | question: Who performed songs before appearance on "Late Night with David Letterman"?, answer: Paul McCartney | question: Where was the historic 1964 "Beatles" performance?, answer: The Ed Sullivan Theater, | question: Which TV show is McCartney appearing on?, answer: "Late Night with David Letterman," | question: Who performed on "Late Night with David Letterman"?, answer: Paul McCartney
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Perhaps he should be called Captain Phoenix?
Captain America will return in a new comic book series July 1. Its title: "Captain America Reborn."
Rising from the dead after being killed off over two years ago, Captain America is being resurrected by Marvel Comics.
Though the circumstances of his return are being closely shielded, the star-spangled superhero returns July 1 in a five-comic-book series, "Captain America Reborn."
A big-budget movie in development by Marvel is also expected in 2011.
After close to 60 years in print, Marvel Comics killed off Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, in 2007, one of its most famous and beloved superheroes, amid a controversial story line.
He fought and triumphed over Hitler, Tojo, international Communism and a host of super-villains, but a sniper's bullet cut Captain America down in 2007, a move that shocked many of his fans.
"The reaction was amazing," says Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort. "It certainly was like the world went crazy for three days. Everybody had a point of view about it, including fans who hadn't read the comic for 30 years."
In the comic series, Rogers was to stand trial for defying a superhero registration law passed after a hero's tragic mistake causes a 9/11-like event. Marvel said the comic story line was intentionally written as an allegory to current real-life issues like the Patriot Act, the war on terror and September 11.
Rogers eventually surrenders to police. He is later mortally wounded as he climbs the courthouse steps. It was a violent and strange end for an American hero and icon.
The primary shooter, Crossbones -- working under the orders of Captain America's longtime nemesis, the Red Skull -- was caught. The identity of a second shooter is revealed in issue 600, which goes on sale Monday.
Many felt Captain America's death in 2007 was symbolic of the time. And his return now?
"The tenor of the world now is when we're at a point where we want to believe in heroes. Someone who can lead the way," said Brevoort. "It just feels like the right time."
Captain America first appeared in 1941, just as the United States entered World War II. He was a symbol of American strength and resolve in fighting the Axis powers.
As originally conceived by creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, Rogers was born before the Great Depression in a very different America. He disappeared after the war and only reappeared recently in the Marvel timeline.
Keeping superheroes dead and buried does not come easy. Even Superman, who was killed off by DC Comics in 1993, came back to life a year later.
And what of Captain America's sidekick, Bucky Barnes? After taking up the shield and mission of Captain America for the past year, it'll be time to relinquish the mantle. Is there room for two sentinels of liberty? Stay tuned.
Glenn Perreia contributed to this report.
|
[
"Which superhero is being resurrected?",
"Which publication shed light on the plot behind Captain America's death?",
"which studio is making",
"What type of charcter is Captain America?",
"Who is being resurrected?",
"when will it be released"
] |
[
"Captain America",
"\"Captain America Reborn.\"",
"Marvel",
"superhero",
"Captain America",
"July 1."
] |
question: Which superhero is being resurrected?, answer: Captain America | question: Which publication shed light on the plot behind Captain America's death?, answer: "Captain America Reborn." | question: which studio is making, answer: Marvel | question: What type of charcter is Captain America?, answer: superhero | question: Who is being resurrected?, answer: Captain America | question: when will it be released, answer: July 1.
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Pfizer is near a deal to buy rival drugmaker Wyeth for $68 billion, according to news reports late Sunday citing people familiar with the deal.
Pfizer's world headquarters is in New York.
A deal was imminent and likely to be announced Monday, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times reported.
"It is our policy not to comment on rumor or speculation," said Michael Lampe, a Wyeth representative. Pfizer was not immediately available for comment.
Pfizer, the world's leading drugmaker in terms of sales, has been in talks to buy Wyeth. Pfizer's stock slipped 1 percent on the news Friday, while Wyeth gained about 8 percent.
On January 13 Pfizer said it was cutting up to 8 percent of its R&D staff, about 800 jobs. Spokesman Raymond Kerins said that was to "raise productivity."
But analysts say Pfizer is clearly trying to beef up its drug pipeline through an acquisition, adding that the company seems to have given up on its own R&D staff coming up with a blockbuster to replace Lipitor. This cholesterol-cutting drug peaked in 2006 with nearly $13 billion in annual sales but will lose its patent protection in 2011, when generic versions will become available.
Les Funtleyder, pharma analyst for Miller Tabak, said Pfizer is "not feeling that they're getting the efficiency out of their R&D unit." He said Pfizer would probably rather do a deal with Wyeth over other competitors, because there is less overlap in the companies' pipelines.
Funtleyder said Pfizer already has a diabetes franchise, which would overlap with Eli Lilly & Co. and Bristol-Myers Squibb, both of which also focus on diabetes treatments. Pfizer probably has its eyes on Wyeth's Alzheimer's drug pipeline, he said. But he cautions that a merger won't be a success unless Wyeth's pipeline is successful, which remains to be seen, he said.
"If Wyeth comes out with an Alzheimer's drug that works, then the deal works," he said.
Pfizer is probably also focused on Wyeth's blockbuster children's vaccine Prevnar, as well as its experimental biotech drugs, said Michael Krensavage of Krensavage Asset Management.
Sales of Prevnar, which combats meningitis and blood infections, jumped 12 percent in the first nine months of 2008 compared with the same period the prior year, to $2.1 billion.
If a deal does go through, Funtleyder warns, Wyeth staffers should brace for layoffs.
"I can say with pretty good confidence that this is going to lead to some head count reduction," he said.
|
[
"What did the rep say?",
"How many jobs are being cut?",
"Which department is having staff cut?",
"What are the rumors about Wyeth?",
"Who said it's not their policy to comment on rumors?",
"Who was not immediately available?",
"What kind of company is Wyeth?",
"What did the Wyeth rep say?",
"Number of jobs Pfizer was cutting?",
"Who was not available for comment?",
"What was the policy of Pfizer?",
"What is Wyeth's policy?",
"What was the rumor for?",
"What was the name of the company?",
"What month was the lowest percent?",
"What is the policy?>",
"How many jobs are being cut?"
] |
[
"\"It is our policy not to comment on rumor or speculation,\"",
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"Pfizer is near a deal to buy rival drugmaker",
"Michael Lampe, a Wyeth representative.",
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"about 800",
"Pfizer",
"not to comment on rumor or speculation,\"",
"not to comment on rumor or speculation,\"",
"Pfizer is near a deal to buy rival drugmaker Wyeth",
"Pfizer",
"January",
"not to comment on rumor or speculation,\"",
"about 800"
] |
question: What did the rep say?, answer: "It is our policy not to comment on rumor or speculation," | question: How many jobs are being cut?, answer: 800 | question: Which department is having staff cut?, answer: R&D | question: What are the rumors about Wyeth?, answer: Pfizer is near a deal to buy rival drugmaker | question: Who said it's not their policy to comment on rumors?, answer: Michael Lampe, a Wyeth representative. | question: Who was not immediately available?, answer: Pfizer | question: What kind of company is Wyeth?, answer: drugmaker | question: What did the Wyeth rep say?, answer: "It is our policy not to comment on rumor or speculation," | question: Number of jobs Pfizer was cutting?, answer: about 800 | question: Who was not available for comment?, answer: Pfizer | question: What was the policy of Pfizer?, answer: not to comment on rumor or speculation," | question: What is Wyeth's policy?, answer: not to comment on rumor or speculation," | question: What was the rumor for?, answer: Pfizer is near a deal to buy rival drugmaker Wyeth | question: What was the name of the company?, answer: Pfizer | question: What month was the lowest percent?, answer: January | question: What is the policy?>, answer: not to comment on rumor or speculation," | question: How many jobs are being cut?, answer: about 800
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Poet and punk rocker Jim Carroll has died at age 60. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Poet, punk rocker and author Jim Carroll performs at a 2002 benefit in New York.
A respected poet and musician, Carroll also was the author of "The Basketball Diaries," which was adapted into a 1995 movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Carroll died Friday at his home in Manhattan after suffering a heart attack, said his former wife, Rosemary Carroll.
In 1980, he released the popular album "Catholic Boy," which, according to his fan Web site, expressed the "[b]omb-fear anticipation, the optimistic nihilism and glittering darkness of the 1980s."
The track "People Who Died" was one of the most-requested songs on FM radio at the time, and as Newsweek's Barbara Graustark noted then, "it propelled [Carroll] from underground status to national attention as a contender for the title of rock's new poet laureate."
The release of the song coincided with the death of John Lennon. The success of the album was attributed to the powerful combination of pure rock 'n' roll with Carroll's poetic sensibility and ability to write from his own experience.
The fan Web site Catholicboy.com sums up Carroll's approach to music by quoting him as saying, "There ain't much time left, you're born out of this insane abyss and you're going to fall back into it, so while you're alive you might as well show your bare ass."
In addition to two follow-up albums, Carroll was a best-selling author of six books.
"He was a sweet, sweet man, and I'm going to really miss him," said Cassie Carter, a close friend for more than 20 years who operates Catholicboy.com.
Carroll was born in New York in 1949 and spent his childhood living on the city's Lower East Side, attending Catholic schools, said Rosemary Carroll, whom he met in 1973.
At 12, he began keeping a journal that eventually was published as "The Basketball Diaries" in 1978. In it, he recorded the highs and lows of his youth.
He first experimented with drugs at 12 and soon was addicted to heroin, but he was able to kick that habit in the 1970s, his former wife said.
He had just completed a novel, tentatively titled "The Petting Zoo," which is about a young painter who experiences spiritual crises. The date of its release has not been set.
Carroll is survived by a brother, according to his ex-wife.
|
[
"what happened to jim carroll",
"when was the movie made",
"what addiction is to blame",
"What did Jim die from?",
"What year was the album Catholic Boy released?",
"What did Catholic Boy feature?",
"Who did the movie star?"
] |
[
"died at age 60.",
"1995",
"heroin,",
"heart attack,",
"1980,",
"expressed the \"[b]omb-fear anticipation, the optimistic nihilism and glittering darkness of the 1980s.\"",
"Leonardo DiCaprio."
] |
question: what happened to jim carroll, answer: died at age 60. | question: when was the movie made, answer: 1995 | question: what addiction is to blame, answer: heroin, | question: What did Jim die from?, answer: heart attack, | question: What year was the album Catholic Boy released?, answer: 1980, | question: What did Catholic Boy feature?, answer: expressed the "[b]omb-fear anticipation, the optimistic nihilism and glittering darkness of the 1980s." | question: Who did the movie star?, answer: Leonardo DiCaprio.
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Police in Connecticut say they have arrested a woman suspected of robbing at least six banks in the past week.
Police released photos of a suspect in the robberies of six New England banks.
Detectives from the Major Crimes division of the Connecticut State Police took Heather Brown into custody at about 3:15 p.m. The 34-year-old resident of Norwich, Connecticut, will be formally charged with robbery in the first degree, police said.
Investigators believe Brown robbed the banks, often while claiming to have a bomb.
"When she goes into the banks, she gives the teller information through a note or verbally that she has a bomb," said Sgt. Jim Keeney of the Connecticut State Police. "However, there haven't been any reports of an actual bomb."
Authorities say they believe the woman has held up banks in the Connecticut towns of Middletown, Montville, East Hartford and Windsor, as well as banks in West Springfield, Massachusetts and Westerly, Rhode Island.
Women commit 6.2 percent of bank robberies nationwide, up from 4.9 percent in 2002, according to recent FBI figures.
The one-woman crime wave in New England apparently began September 21 at the Citizens Bank in Montville, Connecticut. State police said "a lone white female ... entered the bank with a bag in her possession. The suspect approached the teller indicated she was in possession of a bomb and demanded cash."
The woman left the bag on a counter and bolted, police said.
Four days later, a woman entered a branch of the New Alliance Bank in East Hartford, Connecticut. Investigators with the East Hartford Police Department said she "left a note indicating that she had a bomb and demanded $1,000. She fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of money."
Police suspect she struck again the next day in Windsor, Connecticut.
|
[
"Did heather brown have a bomb?",
"What did heather brown do?",
"Where is Heather Brown from?",
"What age is Heather Brown?",
"Who do police have in custody?",
"Suspect lives in what state?",
"Police have who in custody?",
"How many banks has she held up in the past week?",
"What is Heather Brown's age?",
"What does Heather Brown say to bank tellers?",
"What age is Heather Brown?",
"What crime did Heather Brown commit?",
"Where does suspect live?",
"Where does Heather Brown live?",
"How many banks did she hold up?"
] |
[
"there haven't been any reports of an actual bomb.\"",
"robbed the banks, often while claiming to have a bomb.",
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"she has a bomb,\"",
"34-year-old",
"robbery in the first degree,",
"Norwich, Connecticut,",
"Norwich, Connecticut,",
"six"
] |
question: Did heather brown have a bomb?, answer: there haven't been any reports of an actual bomb." | question: What did heather brown do?, answer: robbed the banks, often while claiming to have a bomb. | question: Where is Heather Brown from?, answer: Norwich, Connecticut, | question: What age is Heather Brown?, answer: 34-year-old | question: Who do police have in custody?, answer: Heather Brown | question: Suspect lives in what state?, answer: Connecticut | question: Police have who in custody?, answer: Heather Brown | question: How many banks has she held up in the past week?, answer: six | question: What is Heather Brown's age?, answer: 34-year-old | question: What does Heather Brown say to bank tellers?, answer: she has a bomb," | question: What age is Heather Brown?, answer: 34-year-old | question: What crime did Heather Brown commit?, answer: robbery in the first degree, | question: Where does suspect live?, answer: Norwich, Connecticut, | question: Where does Heather Brown live?, answer: Norwich, Connecticut, | question: How many banks did she hold up?, answer: six
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- President Obama spoke at the Pentagon on Friday to those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001, telling them no words would heal their pain yet calling for a renewed resolve against the ones who attacked the country eight years ago.
President Obama addresses family members and friends who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001.
Obama laid a wreath of white flowers at the Pentagon, where 184 people lost their lives when a hijacked jet smashed into the military icon outside the nation's capital.
"No words can ease the ache of your hearts," Obama told a crowd of relatives and friends standing under umbrellas in a steady rain. The plane, American Airlines Flight 77, struck the Pentagon's west wall.
Earlier in the day, the president and first lady Michelle Obama held a moment of silence outside the White House to mark the eighth anniversary of the al Qaeda attacks that killed 2,752 people.
At the Pentagon, Obama was introduced by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who spoke of the "great pinnacle of sacrifice" shown that day.
"Eight Septembers have come and gone," Obama said. "Nearly 3,000 days have passed, almost one for each one who has been taken from us.
"We recall the beauty and meaning of their lives," he said. "No passage of time, no dark skies can dull the meaning of that moment. Watch a slideshow of Obama's speech and the day's events »
"Let us renew our resolve against those who perpetrated this violent act," Obama said.
The nation paused at the moments when the planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon -- symbols of America's financial and military might -- and at a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Officials believe that plane's target was either the White House or the Capitol.
There was silence at the site of the former World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane struck the North Tower, followed by another at 9:03 a.m. when a jet struck the South Tower. iReport.com: 9/11 emotions surge back in sculpted tributes, memories on video
Family members and friends of those killed read their names in solemn roll calls at each site as bells tolled.
In London, England, U.S. Ambassador Louis Susman and his wife, Marjorie, laid a wreath at the September 11 Memorial Garden in Grosvenor Square.
At ground zero in New York, a woman whose husband worked on the 94th floor of one of the twin towers recalled that day.
"The pain can still be so sharp. ... I realize how much my life has changed," she said, mentioning that her children have now grown and she has grandchildren.
Her husband left many lessons, she said, including "the courage to be kind."
Just before the first moment of silence, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg praised the newly established September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, designated by Obama.
"Appropriately, the city of New York has taken up that call. From this day forward we will guard the memories of those who died by rekindling the spirit of service and help keep us strong," Bloomberg said.
At the Web site set up for that day, people were listing their charitable acts.
One man who spoke to the crowd at ground zero remembered his brother, a partner at a law firm near the twin towers and a longtime volunteer firefighter. He rushed "toward the inferno," to do what he could to help, the brother said.
"He was there when the tower collapsed."
Near Shanksville, people gathered at a field where the 40 passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 died. The passengers and crew, aware of the fate of other hijacked planes, fought the men who had taken control of their aircraft, leading to its crash.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell gave the keynote address at the 2,200-acre site, where a $58 million memorial is scheduled to open in 2011, on the 10th anniversary of the attacks.
More than 1
|
[
"Who spoke in Pennsylvania?",
"Who read roll calls?",
"Where do services take place?",
"Who read the names of those killed?",
"What happened in Shanksville, Pennsylvania?",
"What did Obama say?",
"Who spoke at the services?",
"How many people died?"
] |
[
"President Obama",
"Family members and friends of those killed",
"at the Pentagon,",
"Family members and friends of",
"planes crashed",
"\"No words can ease the ache of your hearts,\"",
"President Obama",
"184"
] |
question: Who spoke in Pennsylvania?, answer: President Obama | question: Who read roll calls?, answer: Family members and friends of those killed | question: Where do services take place?, answer: at the Pentagon, | question: Who read the names of those killed?, answer: Family members and friends of | question: What happened in Shanksville, Pennsylvania?, answer: planes crashed | question: What did Obama say?, answer: "No words can ease the ache of your hearts," | question: Who spoke at the services?, answer: President Obama | question: How many people died?, answer: 184
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Radio host Don Imus has prostate cancer.
Radio shock jock Don Imus has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The shock jock made the announcement on his radio show Monday morning.
Imus learned of the Stage 2 prostate cancer diagnosis last Wednesday, said Laurie Cantillo, program director for WABC-AM of New York.
A bone scan indicated that the cancer has not spread, she said, and doctors believe it is fully treatable.
Stage 2 prostate cancer means the cancer can be felt on exam but has not spread beyond the prostate gland.
Imus, 68, said he's been on an organic diet for the past 10 years, avoiding meat and fish and eating mostly fruits and vegetables.
"It wasn't great, but I was surprised," Imus said after learning the results of a biopsy that was performed last Monday. He added that he plans to go to San Francisco, California, for a second opinion.
Imus said he's spoken with Sen. John Kerry and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani about his diagnosis. Kerry and Giuliani are both prostate cancer survivors.
Imus exuded confidence while discussing his situation. "They are predicting they can treat it. They can cure it."
Imus returned to the radio in December of 2007, months after his inflammatory remarks caused the cancellation of his morning radio show on the CBS radio network. His four-hour program is syndicated nationally by the Citadel Broadcasting Corp.
Known for decades for his outspoken comments and off-color humor, Imus sparked a public outcry with his comments in April 2007 about the Rutgers University women's basketball team. The controversy eventually led to the cancellation of his show by CBS Radio.
He called the Scarlet Knights "tough girls" and "nappy-headed 'hos" during a national broadcast a day after the team lost the NCAA championship to the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers. He later apologized.
|
[
"What did Imus say he will seek?",
"Who was surprised by the biopsy results?",
"What did the doctors believe?",
"Who announced his diagnosis?",
"Who will seek a second opinion?",
"What did bones scans do?",
"What was Imus surprised by?",
"What do doctors believe about his cancer?"
] |
[
"a second opinion.",
"Imus",
"it is fully treatable.",
"shock jock",
"Imus",
"indicated that the cancer has not spread,",
"learning the results of a biopsy",
"it is fully treatable."
] |
question: What did Imus say he will seek?, answer: a second opinion. | question: Who was surprised by the biopsy results?, answer: Imus | question: What did the doctors believe?, answer: it is fully treatable. | question: Who announced his diagnosis?, answer: shock jock | question: Who will seek a second opinion?, answer: Imus | question: What did bones scans do?, answer: indicated that the cancer has not spread, | question: What was Imus surprised by?, answer: learning the results of a biopsy | question: What do doctors believe about his cancer?, answer: it is fully treatable.
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Rapper and actor Clifford Smith, better known to fans as Method Man, was arrested Monday and faces charges of failing to pay taxes, the district attorney in Richmond County, New York, said.
Clifford Smith, better known as Method Man, failed to file tax returns and owes $33,000, authorities say.
Smith, 38, owes the state nearly $33,000 for New York State income tax returns that he did not file between 2004 and 2007, district attorney Daniel Donovan Jr. said in a statement.
The Grammy-winning rapper, an original member of the Wu-Tang Clan, was arrested at his home on Staten Island. He faces a felony charge of repeated failure to file taxes and a misdemeanor charge of failure to pay tax.
The felony carries a sentence of up to four years in prison.
Smith was to appear at an arraignment in Staten Island Criminal Court on Monday.
Smith's attorney Peter Frankel was not immediately available to comment.
|
[
"How long are charges for evading taxes?",
"What is Method Man's real name?",
"What is Clifford Smith known more as/",
"How long a prison sentence do the charges carry?",
"What didn't he file?",
"How much does he owe in taxes?"
] |
[
"four years",
"Clifford Smith,",
"Method Man,",
"four years in",
"tax returns",
"$33,000,"
] |
question: How long are charges for evading taxes?, answer: four years | question: What is Method Man's real name?, answer: Clifford Smith, | question: What is Clifford Smith known more as/, answer: Method Man, | question: How long a prison sentence do the charges carry?, answer: four years in | question: What didn't he file?, answer: tax returns | question: How much does he owe in taxes?, answer: $33,000,
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Reigning hot dog-guzzling champ Joey Chestnut and nemesis Takeru Kobayashi of Japan attempted to psych each other out Thursday at the weigh-in for the 94th annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest.
Competitive eaters Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi take part in an official "staredown."
Chestnut and Kobayashi glared long and menacingly into each other's eyes in an official "staredown."
At last year's contest, 25-year-old Chestnut, a civil engineering student at San Jose State University, eked out a win over Kobayashi, 31, in a tiebreaker after both initially consumed 59 dogs apiece. It was Chestnut's second slim victory over Kobayashi in as many years.
Kobayashi vowed he will avenge those two defeats on Saturday. He also said he no longer suffers from the "jawthritis" that some cited as the culprit for his 2007 defeat, which snapped his six-year winning streak at Coney Island.
Chestnut, for his part, said he had no intention of ceding the coveted mustard yellow belt -- competitive eating's answer to golf's green jacket. He is setting his sights this year on 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
Saturday's competition will be partially about redemption for Chestnut, too. In May, he suffered a stinging defeat to Kobayashi in a loss he said "really set a fire underneath me" and "made me hungry for this contest."
Chestnut revealed the extreme dietary regimen he is following in the days leading up to the contest. He said he is sticking to water to make sure he is "empty" when the mountain of hot dogs is placed in front of him.
In addition to Chestnut, Kobayashi admitted to keeping a watchful eye on 32-year-old Tim "Eater X" Janus, whose signature painted face was described by Major League Eating impresario Richard Shea as an attempt to mask his "inner torment." In a recent trial round, Janus downed a personal-best 55 hot dogs -- a weiner's throw from the 59 that Chestnut and Kobayashi wolfed down last year.
As a lead-in to the main event, Major League Eating on Friday will hold a first-of-its-kind "cross-species" eating contest between three competitive eaters and three Asian elephants. MLE's Shea described it as the realization of one of his two lifelong dreams, the other being a scenario in which a dozen competitive eaters eat the entire contents of a convenience store.
Twenty finalists will compete in the championship on Saturday. They were culled from 18 preliminary contests and comprise a Who's Who of the world of competitive eating.
For people who stuff their faces with record-breaking quantities of food, many of the contestants at the weigh-in boasted surprisingly svelte physiques. Juliet Lee, a 44-year-old Maryland salon owner fresh off the feat of downing 13.23 pounds of cranberry sauce in 8 minutes, clocked in at a mere 105 pounds. Kobayashi, at 123 pounds, lifted his T-shirt to reveal the sort of chiseled abdomen one would expect at a bodybuilding competition.
Others contestants were not quite as disconcertingly trim. Fearsome world matzo ball-eating champion Eric "Badlands" Booker tips the scales at 400 pounds.
|
[
"Who was the runner-up last year?",
"Who did Chestnut stare down?",
"Who won last year?",
"Who is the hot dog eater champ?",
"Who is the reigning hot dog-guzzling champ?",
"Who vowed to avenge defeat?",
"Who was the tiebreaker between?",
"What is the contest about?",
"What did Kobayashi vow to do?",
"what did Chestnut say about the contest in May?",
"Which person won the title last year?",
"who won last year",
"What is the name of the champion?",
"in what sport do they compete?",
"who is the hot dog eating champ",
"What is the name of his competitor?"
] |
[
"Kobayashi,",
"Takeru Kobayashi",
"Joey Chestnut",
"Joey Chestnut",
"Joey Chestnut",
"Kobayashi",
"Joey Chestnut",
"Hot Dog-Eating",
"avenge those two defeats",
"of ceding the coveted mustard yellow belt",
"Chestnut,",
"Reigning hot dog-guzzling champ Joey Chestnut",
"Joey Chestnut",
"Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest.",
"Joey Chestnut",
"Takeru Kobayashi"
] |
question: Who was the runner-up last year?, answer: Kobayashi, | question: Who did Chestnut stare down?, answer: Takeru Kobayashi | question: Who won last year?, answer: Joey Chestnut | question: Who is the hot dog eater champ?, answer: Joey Chestnut | question: Who is the reigning hot dog-guzzling champ?, answer: Joey Chestnut | question: Who vowed to avenge defeat?, answer: Kobayashi | question: Who was the tiebreaker between?, answer: Joey Chestnut | question: What is the contest about?, answer: Hot Dog-Eating | question: What did Kobayashi vow to do?, answer: avenge those two defeats | question: what did Chestnut say about the contest in May?, answer: of ceding the coveted mustard yellow belt | question: Which person won the title last year?, answer: Chestnut, | question: who won last year, answer: Reigning hot dog-guzzling champ Joey Chestnut | question: What is the name of the champion?, answer: Joey Chestnut | question: in what sport do they compete?, answer: Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest. | question: who is the hot dog eating champ, answer: Joey Chestnut | question: What is the name of his competitor?, answer: Takeru Kobayashi
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Rep. Charles Rangel said he is satisfied with the steps New York police are taking in response to the death of Officer Omar Edwards, but renewed his call for a federal investigation into instances of police friendly fire.
Officer Omar Edwards was shot to death by another officer on May 28.
Edwards, 25, a black officer, was shot to death May 28 by a fellow officer, Andrew Dunton, who is white. Edwards was off duty at the time.
Edwards was in plainclothes and carrying a handgun as he chased a suspect past a police car, authorities said.
Dunton shot him after Edwards failed to drop his weapon when ordered to, they said. Officials said Dunton said he didn't realize Edwards was an officer.
"Every white cop that shot down a black cop, I would believe it was a mistake and not because of racism, but it takes special training for them to know," Rangel , D-New York, told CNN's Don Lemon on Saturday.
In the wake of Edwards' death, the New York Police Department has implemented sensitivity training and provided guidance to officers on identifying themselves.
In a statement, Rangel asked the Department of Justice to look into "police department practices, training of police officers and whether and to what extent race was an issue in the tragedy."
The shooting prompted New York Gov. David Paterson to commission a task force to investigate shootings between police officers statewide, spokeswoman Marissa Shorenstein told CNN on Saturday.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne pledged Saturday to assist Paterson's investigation.
Also Saturday, the NYPD released a list of 10 New York City officers killed in cases of mistaken identity since 1930. Five of the officers were African-American or Hispanic; five were white. The list does not include officers who were injured by friendly fire, and does not specify whether the officers killed were on or off duty.
The formation of the New York task force came after Paterson met with state officials, clergy members and civil rights leaders, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, in a closed-door meeting Friday. The group called for an independent investigation and the appointment of a special prosecutor to look into the NYPD incident.
"We are handling this sensitively," Paterson told reporters after the meeting. "There may be issues that involve race, [but] we are not discussing any institutional or direct racism."
The governor spoke of what he described as a "high percentage of African-American and Hispanic police officers who were shot either on or off duty by friendly fire." However, the commission will examine friendly fire incidents between all officers regardless of race, according to Shorenstein.
The task force will ask NYPD and police departments across the state to provide any data related to shootings where officers were either killed or injured by other officers.
The governor said the task force will look at the statistics to "determine if there's any disproportionate sense that any particular group has been victimized more than any other."
Paterson said that he would "not close the door" on an independent investigation or special prosecutor to look into the death of Edwards, but would rely for now on the investigation by the New York City district attorney and the NYPD.
The focus of the task force, the governor said, would be to prevent friendly fire among all police officers, regardless of race, and to instill confidence in the state and community that such incidents are investigated properly
CNN's Alona Rivord contributed to this report.
|
[
"What is the Justice department asked to do?",
"What killed officer Omar Edwards?",
"What has New York Gov. David Paterson set up?",
"What has Charles Rangel asked for?",
"Who killed Officer Omar Edwards?",
"Who shot Edwards?",
"What did Paterson do?"
] |
[
"practices, training of police officers and whether and",
"shot to death by another",
"commission a task force to investigate shootings between police officers statewide,",
"extent race was an issue in the tragedy.\"",
"Andrew Dunton,",
"Andrew Dunton,",
"commission a task force to investigate shootings between police officers"
] |
question: What is the Justice department asked to do?, answer: practices, training of police officers and whether and | question: What killed officer Omar Edwards?, answer: shot to death by another | question: What has New York Gov. David Paterson set up?, answer: commission a task force to investigate shootings between police officers statewide, | question: What has Charles Rangel asked for?, answer: extent race was an issue in the tragedy." | question: Who killed Officer Omar Edwards?, answer: Andrew Dunton, | question: Who shot Edwards?, answer: Andrew Dunton, | question: What did Paterson do?, answer: commission a task force to investigate shootings between police officers
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Sean Kingston was talking about his hit song "Fire Burning" when his cell phone suddenly started to ring. The device blasted a familiar tune.
Sean Kingston has one of the summer's hottest hits with "Fire Burning."
She's fire burning, fire burning on the dance floor.
Wait a minute. His own song is his ringtone?
"I've got to support it, man," said Kingston, 19, with a cheeky smile. "It goes right back in my pocket, but hey."
There had better be plenty of room in those pockets. "Fire Burning" is shaping up to be one of the summer's hottest tracks, with more than a million downloads sold, and is the second best-selling song on iTunes this week. For mainstream radio listeners and nightclub goers, the reggae-trance track is inescapable.
Even for Kingston. Watch how Kingston sets the dance floor ablaze »
"Three days ago I was in an elevator," he said. "A lady came in and she had her iPod and she was playing my song. She didn't know who she was standing next to. That was kind of funny."
But hearing his music in public doesn't mean he's allowed to get too cocky, he said.
"It actually motivates me to make even more music, because that's kind of big. Coming from where I'm from -- coming from nothing -- it's just amazing to hear people react to my music like they do."
The Miami-born artist, whose real name is Kisean Anderson -- he changed his name to Kingston to reflect his Jamaican heritage -- got a taste for the big time in 2007 when his debut song "Beautiful Girls" became a No. 1 hit in the United States.
His sophomore album, called "Tomorrow," comes out September 22. Kingston just wrapped filming in Los Angeles for the music video for its second single, "Face Drop."
Kingston dropped by CNN to share his thoughts on his abilities on the dance floor and the leading ladies of pop. The following is an edited version of the interview.
CNN: How much time do you actually spend on the dance floor?
Sean Kingston: I spend a lot of time on the dance floor, [though] ... I'm more the type of dude to sit back and pose and act cool. But I had to make a song for it because there's a lot of stuff that's going on in the world today ... people want to dance. People want to let loose and "Fire Burning" is a song that you can do that to.
CNN: You were born in Miami. You grew up in Kingston. Then you moved to L.A. Where do you feel most at home?
Sean Kingston: I feel really at home, I can't even lie, in Miami. Because it's just like I know a lot of people, my friends that are there. That's where I started doing music when I was in Miami.
CNN: Why call your sophomore album "Tomorrow"?
Kingston: Because I feel like it's so futuristic. I felt like my last album was yesterday. Nobody's going to be able to expect what Sean Kingston is bringing on this new album.
CNN: The first track that came off the new album was a collaboration with Lil' Wayne. It didn't take off like your previous hits. Why do you think that is?
Kingston: We never sent it to radio. That record got leaked. It got leaked from the Internet and we just kept it going. But it never really got that push from the label.
But I mean it did good. I mean 4 million plays on YouTube, 3 million on MySpace. Sometimes you've got to give free music to get people to pay attention and to build a buzz. So I basically gave my fans free music.
CNN: You collaborate with punk-pop band Good Charlotte on
|
[
"When is Kingston's album due?",
"Which album is due in September?",
"What is the title of one of Sean Kingston's hits?",
"When is his new album going to be released?",
"Which was one of top hits of summer?"
] |
[
"September 22.",
"\"Tomorrow,\"",
"\"Fire Burning.\"",
"September 22.",
"\"Fire Burning.\""
] |
question: When is Kingston's album due?, answer: September 22. | question: Which album is due in September?, answer: "Tomorrow," | question: What is the title of one of Sean Kingston's hits?, answer: "Fire Burning." | question: When is his new album going to be released?, answer: September 22. | question: Which was one of top hits of summer?, answer: "Fire Burning."
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Sen. Charles Schumer said Sunday the Bush administration is trying to "blame the fire on the person who calls 911" by suggesting he had a role in one of the costliest U.S. bank failures.
Sen. Charles Schumer said the OTS "ought to stop pointing false fingers of blame."
Federal regulators with the Office of Thrift Supervision were "asleep at the switch" when it came to IndyMac's "reckless" behavior, the New York Democrat complained.
The OTS announced Friday that it was taking over the $32 billion IndyMac and transferring control to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
The OTS pointed the finger directly at Schumer for the failure, accusing him of sparking a bank run by releasing a letter that "expressed concerns about IndyMac's viability." Watch what's next for IndyMac »
"In the following 11 business days, depositors withdrew more than $1.3 billion from their accounts," the OTS said in a statement announcing the California-based lender's takeover on Friday.
The statement included a quote from OTS Director John Reich saying, "Although this institution was already in distress, I am troubled by any interference in the regulatory process."
Schumer, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, chairman of Congress' Joint Economic Committee and the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate, rejected any suggestions of responsibility for IndyMac's collapse
"OTS ought to stop pointing false fingers of blame and start doing its job to protect the future of the banking system, so that there won't be other IndyMacs," he said.
Schumer's June 26 letter said he was "concerned that IndyMac's financial deterioration poses significant risks to both taxpayers and borrowers."
In a Sunday news conference, he said everything in his letter was already known to the public.
"IndyMac was one of the most poorly run and reckless of all the banks," he said. "It was a spinoff from the old Countrywide, and like Countrywide, it did all kinds of profligate activities that it never should have. Both IndyMac and Countrywide helped cause the housing crisis we're now in."
The embattled Countrywide Financial Corp. was recently purchased by Bank of America.
Schumer argued that the "breadth and depth" of the problems at IndyMac were "apparent for years, and they accelerated in the last six months." But OTS, he said, "was asleep at the switch and allowed things to happen without restraint.
"And now they are doing what the Bush administration always does: Blame the fire on the person who calls 911."
The White House had no immediate response.
Schumer said OTS is "known as a weak regulator," and added, "my job was to try and toughen them up and that's what I tried to do."
IndyMac, with assets of $32 billion and deposits of $19 billion, is the fifth bank to fail this year. Between 2005 and 2007, only three banks failed. And in the past 15 years, the FDIC has taken over 127 banks with combined assets of $22 billion, according to FDIC records.
IndyMac will reopen Monday with a new charter and a new name -- IndyMac Federal Bank.
|
[
"Who does the OTS accuse?",
"Who is taking control?",
"What does Schumer reject?",
"what did the FDIC take control of?",
"WHAT DID SCHUMER say about IndyMac?"
] |
[
"Schumer",
"Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.",
"any suggestions of responsibility for IndyMac's collapse",
"$32 billion IndyMac",
"Federal regulators with the Office of Thrift Supervision were \"asleep at the switch\" when it came to IndyMac's \"reckless\" behavior,"
] |
question: Who does the OTS accuse?, answer: Schumer | question: Who is taking control?, answer: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. | question: What does Schumer reject?, answer: any suggestions of responsibility for IndyMac's collapse | question: what did the FDIC take control of?, answer: $32 billion IndyMac | question: WHAT DID SCHUMER say about IndyMac?, answer: Federal regulators with the Office of Thrift Supervision were "asleep at the switch" when it came to IndyMac's "reckless" behavior,
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- She survived a bloodbath at a Lane Bryant store in Tinley Park, Illinois, by playing dead. The only survivor, she gave police a detailed description of the gunman.
The Illinois State police worked closely with the survivor to come up with a composite of the gunman.
Police aren't identifying their witness to protect her safety. Five other women lost their lives at Lane Bryant on February 2, 2008. The gunman is still at large.
The crime began to unfold shortly after 10 a.m. when a man posing as a delivery man walked into the store. He chatted briefly with two customers and two employees. Then, police said, he pulled out a gun and announced a holdup.
He forced the four women into the back room, police said. He bound them with duct tape and placed them face down on the floor. Two more women who later entered the store also were taken to the back room, tied and placed next to the others. Watch an update on the case »
Store manager Rhoda McFarland managed to call 911 from her cell phone at 10:44 a.m., just before she was shot to death. She got to her phone while the gunman was distracted, even though she was bound by the duct tape.
On the call, posted on the Tinley Park police Web site, a man can be heard saying, "I'm losing it."
The six women were shot execution style. Five of them were dead by the time police arrived, a few minutes after McFarland's call.
A sixth woman survived. She, too, had been shot and left for dead, but tricked the killer by pretending to be dead.
The killer was not wearing a mask or disguise, so she was able to describe him in detail. She told police he was a 6 foot African-American male, average weight, medium to dark skin tone, with braided hair and cornrows, husky build, and between 25 and 35 years old.
His hair was pulled back, but one braid hung along his right cheek with light-green beads at the end of it, she told police. Police have released a composite sketch based on the witness' description.
Besides store manager McFarland, the other women slain were Jennifer Bishop, Connie Woolfolk, Carrie Hudek Chiuso and Sarah Szafranski.
The investigation remains open and active, and all theories are still being investigated, police say. The investigation has included a thorough vetting of the victims' backgrounds to determine whether any of them had any enemies.
"None of the victimology so far has led to any suspects yet," said Commander Pat McCain of the Tinley Park Police Department.
Police aren't ruling out any theories, including robbery. The gunman took a few hundred dollars, police said.
"Certainly, the surviving witness didn't seem to recognize the killer, but maybe one of the dead victims knew him. We don't know," McCain said.
The weapon used was a .40-caliber Glock. Bullet casings were left at the scene and the killer took the weapon with him.
More than a year later, forensics from the crime scene are still being processed, police said. Investigators won't comment on whether the gunman left any fingerprints, hair or other trace evidence.
Police say they have received more than 5,000 tips and feel this case will be solved. But at this point, they have not named a person of interest or a suspect.
Investigators are asking for the public's help. There is a $100,000 reward for the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the Lane Bryant shootings.
Have information? Please call the Tinley Park Police tip line at (708) 444-5394 or go to the tip line on the department's Web site.
|
[
"What is the tip hotline number?",
"Who called 911 before being shot to death?",
"What store did the shooting take place?",
"Who said \"I'm losing it\"?",
"Who was the store manager?",
"Who released a detailed composite of Lane Bryant shooting suspect?",
"How much is being offered for tips?"
] |
[
"(708) 444-5394",
"Rhoda McFarland",
"Lane Bryant",
"a man",
"Rhoda McFarland",
"Illinois State police",
"$100,000"
] |
question: What is the tip hotline number?, answer: (708) 444-5394 | question: Who called 911 before being shot to death?, answer: Rhoda McFarland | question: What store did the shooting take place?, answer: Lane Bryant | question: Who said "I'm losing it"?, answer: a man | question: Who was the store manager?, answer: Rhoda McFarland | question: Who released a detailed composite of Lane Bryant shooting suspect?, answer: Illinois State police | question: How much is being offered for tips?, answer: $100,000
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Summer excursions seem out of reach to many struggling young professionals, and the faltering economy isn't helping. But one New York City company, offering trips aimed at the young and thrifty, is capitalizing on the urbanite's desire to get away -- and finding success despite the downturn.
A group of Urban Escapes NYC hikers stops for a snack during an expedition in New York's Harriman State Park.
As a slightly broke young professional myself, with a taste for adventure but living in a very expensive city, the idea behind Urban Escapes NYC was intriguing. The company offers an array of activities -- from short hiking, sky diving or canoeing trips to international journeys that combine various activities.
On the company's user-friendly Web site, I scrolled through the offerings. There were trips ranging from one-day hiking or fruit-picking excursions priced at around $60 to $800 weeklong international expeditions. The average trip includes ground transportation, the cost of the activity, guide fees, equipment rental and meals.
Jumping out of planes put the company's founder and CEO, Maia Josebachvili, 25, on the path to becoming a business owner. While attending Dartmouth College, Josebachvili developed a passion for sky diving. To pay for the pricey dives, she began to lead trips for her friends and her friends' friends. Soon she realized that the people she was guiding were outside of her original social network, and an idea began to emerge.
After graduating from Dartmouth and working as a trader on the New York Stock Exchange, Josebachvili decided working in the concrete jungle was not for her. At 24, Josebachvili started a business out of something she had been doing for years during college -- leading outdoor adventure trips.
The company launched in early 2008, just months before the economy tanked. "I started to wonder if this is really going to work," Josebachvili said.
But with trips designed with budget and value in mind, the suffering economy did not stunt the business. Josebachvili said the company was able to break even within six months.
The business relies on social networking avenues for promotion, and word spread rapidly. It also quickly developed a reputation as a great way to meet people and make new friends.
"I was the market," Josebachvili explains, "My friends were the market. Anyone just out of college working on Wall Street didn't have the time to plan and research the trips. There is no shortage of those kinds of people in New York."
After perusing the site, I rather nervously picked a $59 six-mile hike. This may not sound so cheap, but after factoring in the planning of the trip, transportation, gas, experienced guides and a post-hike discount at a local restaurant, the value becomes apparent. I hadn't been hiking in years and still am sadly out of shape. My imagination ran wild with images of young, sporty folks racing up high peaks as I huffed and puffed behind. Terrifying.
After a rainy start to the morning, our upbeat guides for the day, director Bram Levy and guide Roget Lerner, drove a group of 12 north of the city to Harriman State Park. They encouraged us to get to know each other and joked that we would be quizzed on it later.
Waiting to get into the van, I asked a man standing next to me why he was on the trip. "I moved from San Francisco a year ago," public relations professional Michael Lindenberger said. "I need some trees."
After an hourlong drive, we arrived at our hiking destination. Levy and Lerner checked our sneakers, water supply and told us a bit about how the day was going to unfold. And then we began the hike.
Throughout the day, there was lots of laughing, squealing and helping each other over rocks and through slick patches of mud. I was surprised how quickly a team mentally developed among the group. We were all strangers, but after a day of hiking, I knew everyone's name, profession and a good deal
|
[
"Where is Urban Escapes located?",
"What price does Day trips out of New York start at?",
"What is Urban Escapes?",
"What was the company able to do within six months?",
"how much day trips out?",
"Who is Urban Escapes' founder?"
] |
[
"New York City",
"around $60 to $800",
"New York City company,",
"break even",
"$60 to $800",
"Maia Josebachvili,"
] |
question: Where is Urban Escapes located?, answer: New York City | question: What price does Day trips out of New York start at?, answer: around $60 to $800 | question: What is Urban Escapes?, answer: New York City company, | question: What was the company able to do within six months?, answer: break even | question: how much day trips out?, answer: $60 to $800 | question: Who is Urban Escapes' founder?, answer: Maia Josebachvili,
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Sunday night's "2009 MTV Video Music Awards" will feature a personal tribute from Janet Jackson to her late brother, MTV said.
Michael Jackson receives the Legend Award during the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards.
Michael Jackson fans also will get their first peek during the MTV show at the behind-the-scenes documentary of the pop star's final three months, the network said.
MTV announced this week that Janet Jackson "will help open" its video music awards show Sunday night with a tribute to her brother. No other details about her "special appearance" were released.
The trailer for the upcoming documentary "Michael Jackson: This Is It" will also debut on the MTV show.
It comes a month after concert promoter AEG Live handed over to Sony Pictures about 100 hours of video captured between April and June, when Jackson was preparing for his concert comeback.
Fans who miss the MTV show, which will air live at 9 p.m. ET Sunday at New York's Radio City Music Hall, can preview the documentary online at www.thisisit-movie.com beginning Sunday night, the network said. See guests arrive to awards show »
British comedian Russell Brand will return to host Sunday's Video Music Awards for the second straight year.
It will be the first time the awards show has aired from New York since 2006.
|
[
"The documentary will look at the pop star's what?",
"What have MTV promised?",
"MTV says Janet Jackson will give tribute to who?",
"What does MTV say?",
"What is also promised?",
"When does the live show air?",
"Who will give tribute to Jackson?",
"The show is due to air when?",
"When does the show air?",
"Who will give tribute to her late brother?",
"What did MTV say?",
"Who gave tribute",
"When does the show air",
"What is the documentary title?",
"Documentary covers what part of pop stars life?"
] |
[
"final three months,",
"Janet Jackson \"will help open\" its video music awards",
"Michael",
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"Janet",
"9 p.m. ET Sunday",
"live at 9 p.m. ET Sunday",
"Janet Jackson",
"\"2009",
"Janet Jackson",
"9 p.m. ET Sunday",
"\"Michael Jackson: This Is It\"",
"final three months,"
] |
question: The documentary will look at the pop star's what?, answer: final three months, | question: What have MTV promised?, answer: Janet Jackson "will help open" its video music awards | question: MTV says Janet Jackson will give tribute to who?, answer: Michael | question: What does MTV say?, answer: Janet Jackson "will help open" its video music awards | question: What is also promised?, answer: will get their first peek during the MTV show at the behind-the-scenes documentary of the pop star's final three months, | question: When does the live show air?, answer: 9 p.m. ET Sunday | question: Who will give tribute to Jackson?, answer: Janet | question: The show is due to air when?, answer: 9 p.m. ET Sunday | question: When does the show air?, answer: live at 9 p.m. ET Sunday | question: Who will give tribute to her late brother?, answer: Janet Jackson | question: What did MTV say?, answer: "2009 | question: Who gave tribute, answer: Janet Jackson | question: When does the show air, answer: 9 p.m. ET Sunday | question: What is the documentary title?, answer: "Michael Jackson: This Is It" | question: Documentary covers what part of pop stars life?, answer: final three months,
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Supermodel and television host Tyra Banks said Sunday she's "concerned" about Saturday's melee at an "America's Next Top Model" audition at a New York hotel but said she didn't know what caused the disturbance.
Supermodel Tyra Banks, who hosts "America's Next Top Model," says she's not certain what triggered the fight.
"We are concerned by the events that occurred Saturday afternoon in the vicinity of the New York City casting call for the next cycle of 'America's Next Top Model,' " Banks, who hosts and produces the show, said in a joint statement with executive producer Ken Mok.
"At this time, we still don't know all the details of what happened or what triggered the incident. We appreciate the efforts of the NYPD and will assist them in any way possible in this matter," the statement said.
It remained unclear Sunday what happened in the crowd waiting for the audition at the Park Central New York Hotel in Manhattan.
Three people were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and inciting a riot, police said. Six people were injured and two of them sought treatment at a hospital, authorities said. Watch police try to control the screaming crowd »
The audition was shut down after the incident, authorities said.
Calls to Park Central management were not immediately returned Saturday.
The "Top Model" competition, aired by the CW network, is in its 12th cycle.
|
[
"Who is the show's host?",
"where were auditions held?",
"Where was the audition held?",
"Where were the auditions held?",
"What is the number of people arrested?",
"What is the name of the host?",
"how many people were arrested?",
"who said she didnt knew what triggered melee?"
] |
[
"Tyra Banks",
"Park Central New York Hotel in Manhattan.",
"Park Central New York Hotel in Manhattan.",
"a New York hotel",
"Three",
"Tyra Banks",
"Three",
"Tyra Banks,"
] |
question: Who is the show's host?, answer: Tyra Banks | question: where were auditions held?, answer: Park Central New York Hotel in Manhattan. | question: Where was the audition held?, answer: Park Central New York Hotel in Manhattan. | question: Where were the auditions held?, answer: a New York hotel | question: What is the number of people arrested?, answer: Three | question: What is the name of the host?, answer: Tyra Banks | question: how many people were arrested?, answer: Three | question: who said she didnt knew what triggered melee?, answer: Tyra Banks,
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Ten members of an international smuggling ring have been arrested and charged with paying more than $500,000 in bribes to smuggle millions of dollars in fake designer goods from China to the United States, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
Authorities say a sting targeted a smuggling ring pushing counterfeit goods through a New Jersey port.
The defendants were expected to appear Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Maas.
The counterfeit goods included designer jeans, Nike shoes, Burberry and Chanel handbags, and Polo and Baby Phat clothing, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York.
The estimated value of the genuine versions of the goods would be more than $200 million, prompting U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia to describe the case as "one of the largest counterfeit smuggling cases ever brought in United States history."
The suspects arrested Wednesday are accused of smuggling or attempting to smuggle scores of 40-foot-long shipping containers through the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal in Elizabeth, New Jersey, since June 2006.
The Chinese-made knockoffs were placed in containers with false bills of lading, which are the shipping documents used to determine a cargo's point of origin and destination.
"One bill of lading claimed a container held 'noodles,' when in fact it contained counterfeit Nike sneakers," the news release said.
After the bogus goods cleared inspection at the New Jersey port, they were transported to New York-area warehouses, where they awaited distribution to retail customers.
According to the news release, the bribes were paid directly to an undercover agent whose "near-daily" conversations with the suspects were secretly recorded or monitored.
The undercover agent posed as a "corrupt longshoreman's union official, stationed at Port Newark, who had the ability to clear imported cargo through the United States customs and border security measures without detection or seizure," the news release said.
The 10 suspects are charged with conspiring to smuggle goods into the U.S., smuggling goods into the U.S. and trafficking in counterfeit goods, the news release states.
If convicted, they face up to 35 years in prison, at least $2.5 million in fines and an obligation to pay restitution to the manufacturers of the genuine versions of the goods.
Among those arrested in the sting were Robin Huff, 46, of New York, a federally licensed customs broker who is accused of using a Customs and Border Patrol database to help push goods through the port.
Also arrested were Chi On Wong, 36, and Man Wai Cheng, 34, both of New York, who operated a Brooklyn-based trucking company, KT Express Inc. Authorities allege Wong and Cheng charged smugglers a premium to transport goods around the New York area.
On Wednesday, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents raided a house in Brooklyn used as KT Express' base of operations and three other locations. Federal agents seized $80,000 in cash and two KT Express trucks allegedly used in the operation, the news release said.
Also arrested Wednesday were:
• Grace Quezon, 38, of Jersey City, New Jersey, who is alleged to have paid at least $400,000 to the undercover agent. She also is accused of smuggling or attempting to smuggle more than 25 containers of counterfeit goods.
• Michael Chu, 70, of New York, who is accused of paying more than $100,000 to the undercover agent and smuggling more than 20 containers through the port.
• Hsi Feng Li, 61, of New York, aka "the General," who is accused of telling the federal agent he could send the agent 50 containers of bogus goods a month.
• Yee Khiong Ting, 44, of New York, who is accused of coordinating shipments, paying bribes to the federal agent and selling the goods once they cleared customs.
• Troy King, 37, of New York, who allegedly worked with Chu and Quezon, and whom authorities accuse of arranging payments and overseeing operations.
• Wing Ki Lee, 36, of Jersey City, who is accused of working with King to
|
[
"Who posed as a \"corrupt longshoreman's union official\"?",
"What did the undercover agent pose as?",
"How much did officials say the original versions are worth?",
"What was the original version worth?",
"What was the customs broker and trucking company operator?",
"What did undercover agents pose as?",
"What are worth more than $200 million?"
] |
[
"The undercover agent",
"posed as a \"corrupt longshoreman's union official, stationed at Port Newark, who had the ability to clear imported cargo through the United States customs and border security measures without detection or seizure,\"",
"more than $200 million,",
"more than $200 million,",
"Chi On Wong, 36,",
"a \"corrupt longshoreman's union official,",
"The estimated value of the genuine versions of the goods"
] |
question: Who posed as a "corrupt longshoreman's union official"?, answer: The undercover agent | question: What did the undercover agent pose as?, answer: posed as a "corrupt longshoreman's union official, stationed at Port Newark, who had the ability to clear imported cargo through the United States customs and border security measures without detection or seizure," | question: How much did officials say the original versions are worth?, answer: more than $200 million, | question: What was the original version worth?, answer: more than $200 million, | question: What was the customs broker and trucking company operator?, answer: Chi On Wong, 36, | question: What did undercover agents pose as?, answer: a "corrupt longshoreman's union official, | question: What are worth more than $200 million?, answer: The estimated value of the genuine versions of the goods
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Ten years ago, teen Daniel Giddings shot a man during an attempted robbery and was sentenced to six to 12 years in prison.
During his time behind bars, Giddings racked up almost 30 disciplinary infractions, was kicked out of two separate facilities for bad behavior and reportedly spent hundreds of days in the hole because of his conduct.
After serving 10 years, Giddings was released last August. According to CNN affiliate WPVI, he allegedly assaulted several police officers days later. Then, in September, he allegedly killed a Philadelphia police officer before being fatally shot by another officer.
We see classic cases of repeat offenders like this all the time. A teen is thrown into the abyss of the corrections system and comes back out no better, if not worse. If we had the right intervention for troubled teens, could we reduce their chances of becoming repeat offenders?
The fact that we constantly have to ask that question tells me America needs to change the way it fights crime. As a nation, we're very good at locking criminals up, yet we still remain one of the most violent and crime-ridden societies in the developed world.
According to the International Center for Prison Studies in London, England, the United States has the world's highest incarceration rate, with one in 100 adults behind bars. In fact, the United States accounts for less than five percent of the world's population, but almost a quarter of the world's prisoners.
Considering how much time, energy and money we spend locking people up, you'd expect to see a bigger payoff. But in the United States there are about 16,000 homicides per year, or roughly six per 100,000 people, based on Department of Justice statistics. Compare that to Canada and Britain, which don't even tally 1,000 homicides per year each.
Our current system is broken because it is too focused on tossing criminals behind bars and hoping they get the message instead of rehabilitating them. I'm not saying we need to stop punishing criminals. We just need to start peppering in prevention techniques and using creative solutions to identify red flags early.
Quietly, the pendulum is swinging in that direction. Missouri's groundbreaking juvenile justice system is the vanguard. It focuses on rehabilitation, therapeutic intervention and conflict resolution rather than force and punishment. Small groups of youths stay in dorms with a couple of adult facilitators to emphasize individual treatment. According to Harvard University's Ash Institute, the youths attend daily meetings with peers, partake in educational and volunteer programs and serve as role models for each other.
This approach appears to be bearing dividends, as the Department of Justice points out over 90 percent of Missouri youths avoid further incarceration for at least three years after graduating from the program. Thanks in part to these detention alternatives, Missouri's adult prison population decreased from 2005 to 2007 after increasing each year from 1997 to 2003, according to the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Other states are catching on to the Missouri model. The Annie E. Casey Foundation, a leading supporter of alternative juvenile justice, says there are more than 100 sites using juvenile detention alternatives in 24 states and the District of Columbia. The proliferation of these alternatives may be having nationwide effects. The national juvenile arrest rate has decreased nearly 10 percent from 2000 to 2007, according to FBI arrest statistics. Obviously the Missouri model isn't the only factor at play, but imagine the impact if we could spread those programs to the other 26 states.
So how will we get the remaining "tough against crime" politicians to implement similar systems? By showing them how it will fatten up the government's coffers. The Missouri model has been shown to reduce recidivism, meaning states will have fewer repeat offenders to incarcerate. And the best way to reduce prison costs is to reduce incarceration.
I think certain aspects of the Missouri model must be expanded beyond corrections systems. After all, why should juvenile offenders be the only ones learning conflict resolution and peer counseling? We should offer similar tools -- such as group therapy -- in public high schools to help all troubled kids before a potential descent
|
[
"What programs has Missouri used to reduce repeat crime?",
"What has Missouri done to lower repeat crime?",
"Which state lowered repeat crime?"
] |
[
"rehabilitation, therapeutic intervention and conflict resolution",
"focuses on rehabilitation, therapeutic intervention and conflict resolution rather than force and punishment.",
"Missouri"
] |
question: What programs has Missouri used to reduce repeat crime?, answer: rehabilitation, therapeutic intervention and conflict resolution | question: What has Missouri done to lower repeat crime?, answer: focuses on rehabilitation, therapeutic intervention and conflict resolution rather than force and punishment. | question: Which state lowered repeat crime?, answer: Missouri
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Tess Sosa and her daughter have had a hard time forgetting US Airways Flight 1549's emergency landing in New York City's Hudson River in January.
Tess Sosa holds her infant son, Damian, as her daughter Sophia, 4, plays on the couch.
Sosa and Sophia, 4, have needed therapy, and the Sosas have had to pay out of their own pockets because US Airways' insurer says only three counseling sessions are covered. The family has private insurance and large deductible.
The airline and insurer say compensation to the passengers has already exceeded US Airway's obligation, adding they gave $5,000 to passengers after the incident. But Sosa said she thinks the airline is still falling short
"They have gone to incredible measures to get all of our belongings back, dry them out," she said. "However, I think in doing so, there was this huge oversight in 'Let's take care of these passengers.'" Watch Sosa explain her expectations »
Relief over her family's survival can't undo the trauma she endured after the January 15 landing, during which she had to scramble over seats with her infant son, Damian, in tow.
Water rushed into the plane as she turned and saw her husband, Martin, sitting at the back of the plane with their then-3-year-old daughter, Sophia. She recalled her husband "in shock with my daughter being held up high, the water coming in, and hoping they'd see me."
Another passenger "bear hugged" her and Damian and escorted them to the exit.
Today, Sosa still remembers how she felt that day: "the possibility, the imminent death, just waiting to see if the plane was going to plunge any further in the river."
Following the emergency ditching of Flight 1549, Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger was quickly crowned a hero for ably landing the Airbus A320 after birds disabled its engines. He made the cover of several magazines, including People, which featured him holding Damian Sosa. See other notable air accidents »
U.S. Airways hired a firm to restore and return thousands of personal items to passengers -- items ranging from boarding tickets to suitcases.
The airline's insurer, American International Underwriters Holdings, a unit of AIG, says US Airways went above and beyond its obligations because the airline is not liable in the crash and the insurers' responsibility "is to pay valid claims on behalf of US Airways as a result of its legal liability."
Commenting for AIU, Robert Hartwig, president of the Insurance Information Institute, said he concurred that the airline and insurer had fulfilled their obligations.
"We have a flock of birds flying into jet engines for a perfectly well-functioning aircraft and a crew that exhibited extraordinary professionalism in this particular incident. This is very important to recognize, but again, the liability does not exist," he said.
This is little consolation to the Sosas, whose private insurance has a $3,000 deductible. Sosa said the family still needs help dealing with the trauma, especially Sophia.
The family just received another $1,000 bill for therapy sessions.
"I expect my family to be taken care of in the very best way possible, and I don't feel like that's happening when you're balking at my claims to a therapist and you are setting limits on that," she said.
|
[
"In which river was the pilot's plane ditched?",
"The pilot ditched plane in which river?",
"What crippled the plane's engines?",
"For what is the family paying themselves?",
"Which month did the plane come down after birds crippled the engines?",
"What was the number of the flight that crash landed?",
"Where did the pilot crash the airplane?",
"Has US Airways exceeded their obligations to passengers according to US Airways ensurer?",
"What airline was involved in the crash?"
] |
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"Hudson",
"birds disabled its",
"therapy,",
"January.",
"1549,",
"New York City's Hudson River",
"airline is still falling short",
"US Airways"
] |
question: In which river was the pilot's plane ditched?, answer: Hudson | question: The pilot ditched plane in which river?, answer: Hudson | question: What crippled the plane's engines?, answer: birds disabled its | question: For what is the family paying themselves?, answer: therapy, | question: Which month did the plane come down after birds crippled the engines?, answer: January. | question: What was the number of the flight that crash landed?, answer: 1549, | question: Where did the pilot crash the airplane?, answer: New York City's Hudson River | question: Has US Airways exceeded their obligations to passengers according to US Airways ensurer?, answer: airline is still falling short | question: What airline was involved in the crash?, answer: US Airways
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The CEO of Southwest Airlines said Friday he has ordered an investigation into charges the discount carrier flew airplanes that weren't properly inspected for safety.
Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly tells CNN the airline is surprised at FAA charges.
Gary Kelly said Southwest was caught off guard when the Federal Aviation Administration notified it on Thursday that it may be hit with a record $10.2 million federal fine for alleged violations involving fuselage crack inspections. Kelly called the fine "unfair" and "unprecedented."
The FAA on Thursday accused Southwest of operating the 47 airplanes last year without conducting mandatory checks for fuselage cracking. The airline has 30 days to respond.
Kelly told CNN safety was never an issue.
"In this particular situation, we identified a gap in our documentation. We voluntarily reported that to the FAA. We worked out with the FAA how to fix that problem, and we fixed it," he said on CNN's "American Morning."
Asked why, then, the discount carrier was called on the carpet, Kelly replied, "We were surprised yesterday to get that notification by the FAA as well. The Wall Street Journal yesterday reported as late as last month the FAA said that it had no safety issues with Southwest Airlines."
"I've ordered an investigation as to exactly what happened in this event," Kelly said. "It occurred in March of 2007. These aircraft are inspected inch by inch. In this particular incident, over 99 percent of the inspections were completed, according to documentation." Watch what's raising concerns about Southwest »
He said that after fuselage cracks were discovered in about half a dozen of the airline's 737s, 47 planes were reinspected over a 10-day period.
Boeing Inc., the plane's manufacturer, which was contacted when the problems arose, said that at no time were the cracks unsafe, Kelly said. "Cracks do occur. That's why we do inspections."
He said Boeing issued a release Thursday saying Southwest "acted responsibly, and at no time were the aircraft operated in an unsafe manner."
The FAA issued a statement saying that Southwest improperly inspected the planes for cracks, then allowed them to fly an additional 1,451 flights, knowing they weren't airworthy.
Kelly was asked about FAA allegations that an inspector knew about the problems, but continued to allow the planes to be flown. He didn't answer the question directly, saying the airline has an ongoing relationship with the federal agency and there is a complicated system of inspections.
"Our interpretation of the guidance that we got from the FAA at the time was that we were in compliance with all laws and regulations," Kelly said.
"I think the FAA has a different view of that today, and that's something that we're investigating as well. But the important point is that at no time were we operating in an unsafe manner, and I think our history proves it."
Calling the situation detailed in the FAA documents "one of the worst safety violations" he has ever seen, Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minnesota, is expected to convene a hearing to ask why the airline may have allegedly put its passengers in danger. He heads the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Watch passengers react to the charges »
The FAA documents allege that Southwest flew at least 117 of its planes in violation of mandatory safety checks. The 117 number includes the 47 planes alleged to have flown without fuselage checks and 70 additional planes allegedly flown without mandatory rudder inspections.
In some cases, the documents say, the planes flew for 30 months past government inspection deadlines. It should have grounded them until the inspections could be completed.
The planes were "not airworthy" according to congressional air safety investigators.
Southwest Airlines, which carried more passengers in the United States than any other airline last year, said in a written statement Thursday that it looks forward to making details of the case public -- saying those details will support the airline's actions.
The documents were prepared by two FAA safety inspectors who have
|
[
"What was the fine for fuselage inspections?",
"Who is the Southwest Airlines CEO?",
"What was skipped by Southwest airlines?",
"How many planes were skipped for mandatory inspections?",
"What CEO was surprised?",
"Who is Southwest's CEO?",
"Who was surprised at FAA charges?"
] |
[
"$10.2 million",
"Gary Kelly",
"conducting mandatory checks for fuselage cracking.",
"47",
"Gary Kelly",
"Gary Kelly",
"Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly"
] |
question: What was the fine for fuselage inspections?, answer: $10.2 million | question: Who is the Southwest Airlines CEO?, answer: Gary Kelly | question: What was skipped by Southwest airlines?, answer: conducting mandatory checks for fuselage cracking. | question: How many planes were skipped for mandatory inspections?, answer: 47 | question: What CEO was surprised?, answer: Gary Kelly | question: Who is Southwest's CEO?, answer: Gary Kelly | question: Who was surprised at FAA charges?, answer: Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The National Transportation Safety Board and other agencies are investigating not only what went wrong, but also what went right Thursday when a US Airways flight ended in the Hudson River without any deaths or major injuries.
The aircraft remains in the Hudson River on Friday. Workers hope to lift it out Saturday morning.
"Having a successful ditching is a very rare event," Kitty Higgins of the NTSB said Friday.
"We'll not only celebrate what worked here, but also learn what worked. So many times you're only focused on what went wrong. A lot of things went right yesterday."
Divers struggled against strong currents and frigid water temperatures to retrieve critical pieces of the puzzle from the Hudson River, where US Airways flight 1549 ended up less than three minutes after it took off from New York's LaGuardia Airport Thursday afternoon.
The flight data and cockpit voice recorders -- both critical to determining exactly what happened -- remained attached to the tail section of the aircraft, which was still partially submerged but secured to moorings. Watch a former pilot tell how to water-land a plane »
Workers will be at the site until midnight, rigging the aircraft so it can be lifted out Saturday morning, attached to a barge and moved to a secure location for investigation, Higgins said.
Both engines from the Airbus A320 double-engine jet were on the river bottom, after the water landing's impact apparently detached them from the plane. Authorities are using side-scan sonar to locate the engines, Higgins said. iReport.com: Were you there? Send images
The engines also will be brought in as part of the investigation into what happened, including the possibility of bird strikes.
"I don't want to characterize anything at this point about this particular accident because we are just at the beginning stages," Higgins said, adding that this accident would be the first "in a very long time" where possible bird strikes may have been a factor. Watch water wash over the plane »
Meanwhile, passengers, city officials and aviation experts heaped praise on pilot Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger and his crew, as well as first responders who acted quickly to minimize passengers' injuries in below-freezing temperatures and frigid water.
The White House said President Bush called Sullenberger to praise him for "his heroic efforts to ensure the safety of his passengers and the people in the area."
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Sullenberger executed an "incredibly skillful emergency landing." The pilot and crew of the flight will receive the key to the city, he told reporters Friday. "We typically like you to land at our airports," he joked, but said the water landing worked out with the best possible outcome. Watch Bloomberg honor heroism »
"We saw a lot of heroism in the Hudson yesterday," Bloomberg said.
The mayor also gave certificates of appreciation to first responders who scrambled to help passengers to safety.
Shortly after the flight, bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, took off at 3:26 p.m. Thursday, passengers noticed quickly that something was awry. See a map of the plane's flight path »
A source familiar with the situation told CNN that Sullenberger reported a double bird strike, which was taken to mean that birds were sucked into both the jet's engines. The FAA said witnesses reported seeing the plane hit a flock of birds.
Sullenberger was given clearance to return to LaGuardia for an emergency landing, a source said, but instead, he was forced to find someplace else to ditch the plane. In crowded New York City, the Hudson River provided the best option. Watch how the landing and rescue happened »
After the plane came to a stop, passengers quickly got out, standing on the partially submerged wings or on the emergency exit chutes, which also serve as life rafts.
New York Waterway Capt. Vince Lombardi, operating a ferry in the Hudson, said he noticed something in the water as the boat pulled out of Pier 70.
"I said to my deck hand,
|
[
"Who will the mayor give key to the city to?",
"What do the agencies hope for?",
"what its the temperatures?",
"what says the mayor?",
"Cold temperatures are hampering the efforts to do what?"
] |
[
"The pilot and crew of the flight",
"lift it out Saturday morning.",
"frigid",
"\"incredibly skillful emergency landing.\"",
"to retrieve critical pieces of the puzzle from the Hudson River, where US Airways flight 1549 ended up"
] |
question: Who will the mayor give key to the city to?, answer: The pilot and crew of the flight | question: What do the agencies hope for?, answer: lift it out Saturday morning. | question: what its the temperatures?, answer: frigid | question: what says the mayor?, answer: "incredibly skillful emergency landing." | question: Cold temperatures are hampering the efforts to do what?, answer: to retrieve critical pieces of the puzzle from the Hudson River, where US Airways flight 1549 ended up
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The New York Times endorsed Arizona Sen. John McCain for the Republican presidential nomination over Rudy Giuliani and the rest of the GOP field, strongly criticizing the former mayor of its home city.
Sens. John McCain, left, and Rudy Giuliani took part in a debate in Florida on Thursday.
In endorsements posted on its Web site for Friday's editions, the Times also endorsed New York Sen. Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.
"Senator John McCain of Arizona is the only Republican who promises to end the George Bush style of governing from and on behalf of a small, angry fringe," the paper's editorial board wrote.
"With a record of working across the aisle to develop sound bipartisan legislation, he would offer a choice to a broader range of Americans than the rest of the Republican field."
The endorsement anticipated readers asking how the New York paper could reject Giuliani, a man it endorsed for re-election in 1997 and praised for his work cleaning up crime in the city and during the time of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
"That man is not running for president," the paper wrote.
"The Rudolph Giuliani of 2008 first shamelessly turned the horror of 9/11 into a lucrative business, with a secret client list, then exploited his city's and the country's nightmare to promote his presidential campaign," the paper writes, describing Giuliani as "a narrow, obsessively secretive, vindictive man."
Giuliani played down the harsh words, suggesting that the Times has a liberal editorial staff that often disapproved of him.
"I probably never did anything the New York Times suggested I do in eight years as mayor of New York City, and if I did, I wouldn't be considered a conservative Republican," Giuliani said during a Republican debate Thursday night hosted by MSNBC in Boca Raton, Florida.
"I changed welfare, I changed quality of life, I took on homelessness -- I did all the things that they think makes you mean and I believe show true compassion and true love for people."
His wasn't the only Republican campaign taking that tack. An e-mail from the campaign of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney sarcastically noted that McCain had been endorsed by "[t]hat bastion of conservative advocacy."
The editorial was hardly full of praise for McCain, despite calling him a "genuine war hero" and a "staunch advocate of campaign finance reform."
"Mr. McCain was one of the first prominent Republicans to point out how badly the war in Iraq was being managed. We wish he could now see as clearly past the temporary victories produced by Mr. Bush's unsustainable escalation, which have not led to any change in Iraq's murderous political calculus," it reads.
"At the least, he owes Americans a real idea of how he would win this war, which he says he can do."
The paper praised Clinton's chief rival, Sen. Barack Obama, but called Clinton more qualified for the job.
"It is unfair, especially after seven years of Mr. Bush's inept leadership, but any Democrat will face tougher questioning about his or her fitness to be commander in chief," it reads.
"Mrs. Clinton has more than cleared that bar, using her years in the Senate well to immerse herself in national security issues, and has won the respect of world leaders and many in the American military."
The Democratic editorial contrasts Clinton and Obama -- calling her "the brilliant if at times harsh-sounding senator from New York" and him "the incandescent if still undefined senator from Illinois."
The paper says Clinton "sometimes overstates the importance of [her] resume," but that upon hearing "her policies and answers for America's big problems, we are hugely impressed by the depth of her knowledge, by the force of her intellect and by the breadth of, yes, her experience."
New York is one of a host of states that will vote during the February 5 Super Tuesday primaries. E-mail to a
|
[
"Who praises Barack Obama ?",
"What is Guiliani's response?",
"What happenen to Rudy Giuliani ?",
"Paper praised Obama, but called whom more qualified for the job?",
"What did the opinion piece say that McCain would do?",
"Who is more qualified for the job?",
"What did the Opinion piece says McCain wil do ?",
"Who will end George Bush style of governing?",
"Who is described as a \"narrow, obsessively secretive, vindictive man\"?"
] |
[
"The paper",
"\"I probably never did anything the New York Times suggested I do in eight years as mayor of New York City, and if I did, I wouldn't be considered a conservative Republican,\" Giuliani said",
"took part in a debate",
"Clinton",
"offer a choice to a broader range of Americans than the rest of the Republican field.\"",
"Clinton",
"promises to end the George Bush style of governing from and on behalf of a small, angry fringe,\"",
"\"Senator John McCain of Arizona",
"Giuliani"
] |
question: Who praises Barack Obama ?, answer: The paper | question: What is Guiliani's response?, answer: "I probably never did anything the New York Times suggested I do in eight years as mayor of New York City, and if I did, I wouldn't be considered a conservative Republican," Giuliani said | question: What happenen to Rudy Giuliani ?, answer: took part in a debate | question: Paper praised Obama, but called whom more qualified for the job?, answer: Clinton | question: What did the opinion piece say that McCain would do?, answer: offer a choice to a broader range of Americans than the rest of the Republican field." | question: Who is more qualified for the job?, answer: Clinton | question: What did the Opinion piece says McCain wil do ?, answer: promises to end the George Bush style of governing from and on behalf of a small, angry fringe," | question: Who will end George Bush style of governing?, answer: "Senator John McCain of Arizona | question: Who is described as a "narrow, obsessively secretive, vindictive man"?, answer: Giuliani
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The agency that owns the space where the World Trade Center towers stood is freeing itself of the term "freedom" to describe the signature skyscraper replacing the buildings destroyed on September 11, 2001.
The One World Trade Center skyscraper is expected to be completed in late 2013.
The change from Freedom Tower was revealed Thursday at a news conference where the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced the signing of the first commercial lease in the building to a Chinese company. The building is expected to be completed in late 2013.
"We've referred to the primary building planned for the site as One World Trade Center -- its legal name and street address -- for almost two years now, as well as using the name the Freedom Tower," said Stephen Sigmund, a spokesman for the Port Authority, in a statement released to CNN. "Many will always refer to it as the Freedom Tower, but as the building moves out of the planning stage and into full construction and leasing, we believe that going forward it is most practical to market the building as One World Trade Center."
Ten of the building's planned 108 above-ground floors have been built.
"The fact is, more than $3 billion of public money is invested in that building, and, as a public agency, we have the responsibility to make sure it is completed and that we utilize the best strategy to make certain it is fully occupied," Sigmund added.
He noted that the agency lost 84 colleagues in the September 11 attacks.
Mary Fetchet, founding director of Voices of September 11th, a group that commemorates the lives of those killed in the attack, said she was not familiar with the decision made by the Port Authority and was not willing to make a statement.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, on the John Gambling radio show taped Friday morning, said he was not upset by the Port Authority's decision.
"It's up to the Port Authority," he said. "I have no idea what the commercial aspects are, and we can say, 'Oh, we shouldn't worry about that,' but of course you have to, particularly now.
"I would like to see it stay the Freedom Tower, but it's their building, and they don't need me dumping on it. If they could rent the whole thing by changing the name, I guess they're going to do that, and they probably, from a responsible point of view, should. From a patriotic point of view, is it going to make any difference?"
He added, "one of the things is, we call things what we want to call them. So, Avenue of the Americas is a good example, for it's Sixth Avenue to most people. Very few people use Avenue of the Americas. If they name this One World Trade Center, people will still call it the Freedom Tower."
The building was named the Freedom Tower in the first "ground zero" master plan. Officials said at the time that the tallest, most symbolic of five planned towers at the site would demonstrate the country's triumph over terrorism.
Representatives of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Vantone Industrial Co. announced Thursday the signing of a lease that will create the China Center, a 190,810-square-foot business and cultural facility, to be on portions of the 64th floor and the entire 65th through 69th floors of One World Trade Center.
Hailing it as a great day for the Port Authority and its partners in the China center, Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward added, "this is the first step in a long journey as downtown is finally rebuilt."
The lease is for 20 years and nine months, beginning when the building is completed, with rents starting at $80 per square foot and escalating afterward. The China Center also will have the right to lease up to two additional contiguous floors under the same terms, an option that expires at the end of 2009.
The Port Authority also has commitments for
|
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"What was called Freedom Tower?",
"What was the building originally named?",
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"What was the building named in the first \"ground zero\" master plan?",
"What country has the first commercial lease be signed with?"
] |
[
"a Chinese company.",
"Freedom Tower,\"",
"One World Trade Center.\"",
"Freedom Tower",
"Vantone Industrial Co.",
"One World Trade Center",
"Freedom Tower",
"Chinese"
] |
question: Who will the agency be leasing first too?, answer: a Chinese company. | question: What will the new skyscraper be called?, answer: Freedom Tower," | question: What was called Freedom Tower?, answer: One World Trade Center." | question: What was the building originally named?, answer: Freedom Tower | question: Who signed the first to sign a commercial lease?, answer: Vantone Industrial Co. | question: What is the name of the new skyscraper?, answer: One World Trade Center | question: What was the building named in the first "ground zero" master plan?, answer: Freedom Tower | question: What country has the first commercial lease be signed with?, answer: Chinese
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The body of a woman who authorities say was impaired by marijuana and alcohol when she caused a deadly head-on collision shows no signs of long-term alcohol use, according to an investigator hired by her family.
Diane Schuler's minivan was heading the wrong direction as the wreck happened, police said.
"I have looked at the autopsy, and the pancreas, liver and esophagus were clear," Tom Ruskin, lead investigator and president of CMP Protective and Investigative Group, told CNN. "I've never seen a case like this. No one has seen this woman drunk and we have interviewed over 50 people -- relatives, friends, colleagues and former employees from her company."
The Westchester County medical examiner's office found that Diane Schuler, 36, had a blood alcohol level of .19 percent -- more than twice the legal limit -- and had marijuana in her system when she drove a minivan the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway and ran head-on into an SUV.
Three adults in the SUV were killed in the July 26 crash, along with Schuler and four children in her minivan -- her daughter and three nieces. A fifth child, Schuler's son, survived and is in stable condition.
Ruskin, a former officer in New York Police's narcotics division, said he is hesitant to fully accept the autopsy report.
"I'm not saying the autopsy is wrong or right. I don't know if she smoked pot weeks prior. Marijuana stays in your system for up to 30 days," he said.
The medical examiner's office released a statement on August 6, saying it stands by its autopsy results, and reiterated that Sunday.
Schuler's family expressed shock when the details were revealed, saying she had no history of substance use.
"There's no way she'd do this," Jay Schuler, Schuler's sister-in-law, said earlier this month. "She was responsible."
Tests revealed that Schuler had an additional six grams of alcohol in her stomach that had yet to be metabolized, according to Maj. William Carey of the New York State Police.
A vodka bottle was also found in the vehicle after the crash.
Ruskin is adamant that it is necessary to go back through the day of the crash.
"We are analyzing all of the data that we have to date. We have a staff that has consumed themselves with this case," he said. "We are trying to determine what happened here."
Schuler's husband, Daniel, "would like to remind people that no matter what happened here he lost his wife, his daughter, his nieces and he also grieves for the Bastardi and Luongo families," Ruskin said, referring to the other crash victims.
"He talks about that constantly in my daily conversations with him."
|
[
"What was said Diane Schuler?",
"What shown autopsy?",
"What autopsy showed after all?",
"What investigators says about her?"
] |
[
"minivan",
"the pancreas, liver and esophagus were clear,\"",
"no signs of long-term alcohol use,",
"she caused a deadly head-on collision shows no signs of long-term alcohol use, according"
] |
question: What was said Diane Schuler?, answer: minivan | question: What shown autopsy?, answer: the pancreas, liver and esophagus were clear," | question: What autopsy showed after all?, answer: no signs of long-term alcohol use, | question: What investigators says about her?, answer: she caused a deadly head-on collision shows no signs of long-term alcohol use, according
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The chairman of India's UB Group, which includes Bangalore-based Kingfisher Airlines and United Breweries, made the winning $1.8 million bid on a number of Mahatma Gandhi's personal items on auction.
Mahatma Gandhi was known for his peaceful opposition to tyranny, which led to India's independence.
Vijay Mallya was expected to return the items to the Indian government, according to CNN-IBN, CNN's sister station in India.
Controversy surrounded the sale Thursday of Gandhi's items -- among them his metal-rimmed glasses, pocket watch, sandals, bowl and plate -- prompting the seller, James Otis, to ask that the items be withdrawn from the auction.
India voiced strong objections to the auction. Its Ministry of External Affairs said the bidding would "commercialize and thereby demean the memory of the Father of the Nation and everything that he stood for in his life, beliefs and actions."
On Tuesday, a New Delhi court issued an injunction to stop the sale. Watch the auction stoke high interest »
But the Antiquorum auction house in Manhattan went ahead with the auction as scheduled.
The Indian government had rejected an offer from Otis, who had asked the Indian government to expand its spending on the poor in exchange for the items.
India's government already spends a large amount of money on the country's disadvantaged sectors, India's culture minister Ambika Soni told reporters Thursday.
Still, the government had hoped Otis would not allow the public to bid on the items.
Soni, the culture minister, said that India's government exercised several options to stop the auction at the Antiquorum in New York.
Gandhi, who waged a long struggle against British rule in India, was assassinated in New Delhi by a Hindu fanatic on January 30, 1948. He is still widely revered for his insistence on non-violent protest to achieve political and social progress.
Many Indians believe selling Gandhi's items for profit is outrageous.
"I feel very sad about it because Gandhi himself never believed in private possessions," said Varsha Das, director of India's National Gandhi Museum, using a term of endearment for Gandhi. "He gave away everything. He did not even have a home to live in."
CNN's Harmeet Shah Singh contributed to this report.
|
[
"Who is expected to return items to the Indian government?",
"The controversy caused James Otis to do what with the items?",
"What are the items?",
"What would bidding do to Gandhi's memory?",
"What items were on auction?"
] |
[
"Vijay Mallya",
"be withdrawn from the auction.",
"metal-rimmed glasses, pocket watch, sandals, bowl and plate",
"\"commercialize and thereby demean the",
"metal-rimmed glasses, pocket watch, sandals, bowl and plate"
] |
question: Who is expected to return items to the Indian government?, answer: Vijay Mallya | question: The controversy caused James Otis to do what with the items?, answer: be withdrawn from the auction. | question: What are the items?, answer: metal-rimmed glasses, pocket watch, sandals, bowl and plate | question: What would bidding do to Gandhi's memory?, answer: "commercialize and thereby demean the | question: What items were on auction?, answer: metal-rimmed glasses, pocket watch, sandals, bowl and plate
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The crown of the Statue of Liberty will re-open to tourists on July 4, the Interior Department said Friday.
The Statue of Liberty welcomes visitors, immigrants, and returning Americans.
The crown was closed after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, for safety and security reasons.
The National Park Service closed the attraction amid worries that it would be difficult for visitors to evacuate quickly in the event of an emergency.
Visitors must climb a narrow 168-step double-helix spiral staircase to get to the crown.
Since the closing, tourists have been able to visit other parts of the statue. iReport.com: Show us your best Statue of Liberty shots
The federal government planned to give "America a special gift" by re-opening the crown, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said.
"We are once again inviting the public to celebrate our great nation and the hope and opportunity it symbolizes by climbing to Lady Liberty's crown for a unique view of New York Harbor, where the forebears of millions of American families first saw the world," he said in a statement.
Access to the crown will be limited to 10 people at a time, guided by a National Park Service ranger.
"We cannot eliminate all the risk of climbing to the crown, but we are taking steps to make it safer," Salazar said.
The measures include raising the handrails on the spiral staircase and stationing rangers throughout the Statue to help visitors.
The Statue of Liberty will be open for the next two years, then closed again for "work on a long-term solution that will improve safety and security permanently," according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
A gift from France to the United States, the Statue of Liberty was dedicated in 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for its centennial on July 4, 1986.
It stands just across New York Harbor from where the Twin Towers stood.
|
[
"how many poeple can visit the crown at a time?",
"when was the crown closed?",
"What closed after the attacks?",
"what does the government want to give to America?",
"Will they reopen the crown?",
"What does the government want to give America as a special gift?",
"What has been closed since September 11, 2001?",
"Tourists have been able to visit what?",
"How many people can have access to the crown at one time?",
"When was the crown closed?",
"What has been closed since 9/11",
"Tourists have been able to visit what parts?"
] |
[
"10 people",
"after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,",
"crown",
"\"America a special gift\" by re-opening the crown, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said.",
"on July 4,",
"re-opening the crown,",
"The crown of the Statue of Liberty",
"The crown of the Statue of Liberty",
"10",
"after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,",
"The crown of the Statue of Liberty",
"The crown of the Statue of Liberty"
] |
question: how many poeple can visit the crown at a time?, answer: 10 people | question: when was the crown closed?, answer: after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, | question: What closed after the attacks?, answer: crown | question: what does the government want to give to America?, answer: "America a special gift" by re-opening the crown, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said. | question: Will they reopen the crown?, answer: on July 4, | question: What does the government want to give America as a special gift?, answer: re-opening the crown, | question: What has been closed since September 11, 2001?, answer: The crown of the Statue of Liberty | question: Tourists have been able to visit what?, answer: The crown of the Statue of Liberty | question: How many people can have access to the crown at one time?, answer: 10 | question: When was the crown closed?, answer: after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, | question: What has been closed since 9/11, answer: The crown of the Statue of Liberty | question: Tourists have been able to visit what parts?, answer: The crown of the Statue of Liberty
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The crown of the Statue of Liberty will reopen to tourists on July 4.
The Statue of Liberty welcomes visitors, immigrants, and returning Americans.
The crown was closed after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, for safety and security reasons.
The National Park Service closed the attraction amid worries that it would be difficult for visitors to evacuate quickly in the event of an emergency.
Visitors must climb a narrow 168-step double-helix spiral staircase to get to the crown.
Since the closing, tourists have been able to visit other parts of the statue. iReport.com: Show us your best Statue of Liberty shots
The federal government planned to give "America a special gift" by re-opening the crown, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in May.
"We are once again inviting the public to celebrate our great nation and the hope and opportunity it symbolizes by climbing to Lady Liberty's crown for a unique view of New York Harbor, where the forebears of millions of American families first saw the world," he said in a statement.
Access to the crown will be limited to 10 people at a time, guided by a National Park Service ranger.
"We cannot eliminate all the risk of climbing to the crown, but we are taking steps to make it safer," Salazar said.
The measures include raising the handrails on the spiral staircase and stationing rangers throughout the Statue to help visitors.
The Statue of Liberty will be open for the next two years, then closed again for "work on a long-term solution that will improve safety and security permanently," according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
A gift from France to the United States, the Statue of Liberty was dedicated in 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for its centennial on July 4, 1986.
It stands just across New York Harbor from where the Twin Towers stood.
|
[
"On what date did the crown of the statue of liberty close?",
"Had there been pictures taken of the statue?",
"Where can one share Statue of Liberty photos?",
"What event triggered the closure?",
"What will reopen July 4th?",
"How long has the crown been closed?",
"When will Liberty's crown re-open?"
] |
[
"September 11, 2001,",
"of Liberty shots",
"iReport.com:",
"the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,",
"The crown of the Statue of Liberty",
"after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,",
"July 4."
] |
question: On what date did the crown of the statue of liberty close?, answer: September 11, 2001, | question: Had there been pictures taken of the statue?, answer: of Liberty shots | question: Where can one share Statue of Liberty photos?, answer: iReport.com: | question: What event triggered the closure?, answer: the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, | question: What will reopen July 4th?, answer: The crown of the Statue of Liberty | question: How long has the crown been closed?, answer: after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, | question: When will Liberty's crown re-open?, answer: July 4.
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The daughter of a man who died after falling four stories at Shea Stadium said her father was not sliding down the escalator when the accident happened, as police reported.
A statement from the New York Police Department on Tuesday said witnesses saw 36-year-old Antonio Nararainsami of Brooklyn sitting on the banister of the escalator when he lost his balance and fell.
Nararainsami's daughter, Emily, told CNN affiliate WABC on Tuesday that her father was walking down the escalator, not sliding on its banister, as fans left the stadium after the New York Mets-Washington Nationals game. She said she and another relative saw what happened.
"He wasn't moving or nothing; he was just walking down. I guess he tried to say something to us or something, and I guess he just lost his balance and flipped over," she said.
Nararainsami died at Booth Memorial Hospital about 25 minutes after the 10 p.m. incident.
Police are investigating the death as an accident. E-mail to a friend
|
[
"Where did the man die?",
"Who has lost his balance?",
"what was the reason why he fell",
"What did the man fall off?",
"Who are investigating it?",
"where was the hospital he was taken to",
"Where was the man taken?",
"What are police investigating the incident as?"
] |
[
"Booth Memorial Hospital",
"Antonio Nararainsami",
"lost his balance",
"Shea Stadium",
"Police",
"Booth Memorial",
"Booth Memorial Hospital",
"accident."
] |
question: Where did the man die?, answer: Booth Memorial Hospital | question: Who has lost his balance?, answer: Antonio Nararainsami | question: what was the reason why he fell, answer: lost his balance | question: What did the man fall off?, answer: Shea Stadium | question: Who are investigating it?, answer: Police | question: where was the hospital he was taken to, answer: Booth Memorial | question: Where was the man taken?, answer: Booth Memorial Hospital | question: What are police investigating the incident as?, answer: accident.
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The family of a woman who died ignored on an emergency room floor has reached a settlement with Health and Hospital Corp., the family's lawyer and the company's top executive said Thursday.
Surveillance video shows Esmin Green on the hospital floor for more than an hour before anyone helps her.
The attorney, Sanford Rubenstein, said the settlement, reached Wednesday, is for $2 million.
Alan Aviles, the president and CEO of Health and Hospital Corp., said in a written statement that the company -- which operates Kings County Hospital, where Esmin Green, 49, died last year -- takes full responsibility for her death and offers a "full apology."
He said the settlement "is not meant to put a value on a life and the loss of a loved one. That remains priceless."
Last July, Green's relatives said they planned to file a $25 million lawsuit against the city and the hospital and called for criminal charges against hospital workers.
A hospital security video showed that the mother of six waited in an emergency room chair for nearly 24 hours before she slid to the floor, where she convulsed for more than a half hour and then became still.
An hour after she fell to the floor, the video showed, a hospital employee nudged Green with her foot and summoned help, but the 49-year-old woman was dead
The New York Civil Liberties Union alleges that hospital records were falsified to say that Green was "sitting quietly in the waiting room" at a time when, the video shows, she had been on the floor for 48 minutes and had not moved for more than 10 minutes.
An autopsy revealed that Green died from pulmonary thromboembolism -- blood clots that formed in her legs and eventually made their way into her lungs, according to Ellen Borakove, the medical examiner's spokeswoman. The clots came from deep vein thrombosis, which complicated Green's chronic paranoid schizophrenia, she said.
|
[
"What did Green die from?",
"Name the hospital where Green died?",
"What did the video show?",
"What caused Greens death?",
"What does Aviles do?",
"Who operates hospital?",
"Who took full responsibility for Green's death?",
"Where did Esmin Green die last year?",
"What did the workers ignore?"
] |
[
"pulmonary thromboembolism",
"Kings County",
"Esmin Green on the hospital floor for more than an hour before anyone helps her.",
"pulmonary thromboembolism",
"takes full responsibility for her death and offers a \"full apology.\"",
"Alan Aviles,",
"Alan Aviles, the president and CEO of Health and Hospital Corp.,",
"Kings County Hospital,",
"Esmin Green"
] |
question: What did Green die from?, answer: pulmonary thromboembolism | question: Name the hospital where Green died?, answer: Kings County | question: What did the video show?, answer: Esmin Green on the hospital floor for more than an hour before anyone helps her. | question: What caused Greens death?, answer: pulmonary thromboembolism | question: What does Aviles do?, answer: takes full responsibility for her death and offers a "full apology." | question: Who operates hospital?, answer: Alan Aviles, | question: Who took full responsibility for Green's death?, answer: Alan Aviles, the president and CEO of Health and Hospital Corp., | question: Where did Esmin Green die last year?, answer: Kings County Hospital, | question: What did the workers ignore?, answer: Esmin Green
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The former hedge fund manager who faked his own suicide to avoid prison time for fraud will spend an extra two years in jail for failing to surrender himself, according to the U.S attorney's office.
Sam Israel tried to get out of serving a 20 year sentenced by faking his suicide. It added two years.
Federal Judge Kenneth Karas sentenced Sam Israel III in White Plains, New York, on Wednesday, giving him two more years in addition to his previous sentence.
Federal guidelines call for a 12- to 18-month sentence, but Karas noted that Israel's crime "took a fair amount of planning," and he criticized the former hedge fund manager for "thumbing his nose at the system."
The additional sentence will begin after Israel serves his first 20 years for fraud.
Israel admitted to authorities in March that he had faked his own suicide to escape his jail sentence.
He was supposed to report to a Massachusetts prison in June of 2008 to serve a 20-year sentence for defrauding investors of Bayou Management out of approximately $450 million.
But he did not show up at the facility. Days later, his sport-utility vehicle was found abandoned on a bridge in upstate New York, with the words "Suicide is Painless" -- title of the theme song for the television show "M.A.S.H." -- written in dust on the the hood.
Authorities determined the suicide setup was a ruse and launched a major manhunt to find Israel.
He turned himself in to law enforcement July 2, 2008.
|
[
"What does the judge say?",
"Isreal faked his suicide to escape what?",
"What did Judge say about Sam Israel?",
"what says judge?",
"Hedge fund manager faced 20 years for what?"
] |
[
"\"took a fair amount of planning,\"",
"prison",
"crime \"took a fair amount of planning,\" and he criticized the former hedge fund manager for \"thumbing his nose at the system.\"",
"\"took a fair amount of planning,\"",
"fraud"
] |
question: What does the judge say?, answer: "took a fair amount of planning," | question: Isreal faked his suicide to escape what?, answer: prison | question: What did Judge say about Sam Israel?, answer: crime "took a fair amount of planning," and he criticized the former hedge fund manager for "thumbing his nose at the system." | question: what says judge?, answer: "took a fair amount of planning," | question: Hedge fund manager faced 20 years for what?, answer: fraud
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The home life Diana Krall shares with husband (and fellow musical brain) Elvis Costello and their 2-year-old twin boys is a little nutty.
Diana Krall's new album, "Quiet Nights," was inspired by a trip she made to Brazil.
"It's zany in the most wonderful way," says the 44-year-old jazz singer-pianist. "You have two little boys leaping off the furniture who think they're Buzz Lightyear while we're practicing and playing. It's just a happy house."
Krall's domestic bliss -- "domestic" being a new concept for the ever-touring artist -- is suggested in the warm, intimate vibe of her latest album "Quiet Nights."
"It's a very natural process for me, making a record. It ends up being a reflection of where I am at that time. My life is just tremendous right now. It couldn't be better," she says.
No kidding. "Quiet Nights" debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 album charts last week, a career high for Krall.
A memorable trip to Brazil in 2007 inspired the Canadian chanteuse to take her 12th album in a bossa nova direction: The title track is the English version of the bossa nova classic "Corcovado." She also covers "The Girl from Ipanema" -- though naturally in her whispery rendition she flips "girl" to "boy" -- and gives a fresh spin on Frank Sinatra's "Where or When." Watch Krall find bliss in Brazil »
"There was something about turning 'Where or When' into a bossa nova that changes the feeling for me of the song," Krall said. "It's much more emotional than if I sang it in a swing feeling. I've always experimented with that."
Krall brought arranger and conductor Claus Ogerman on board. He was a natural, having worked with Sinatra and Brazilian singer-songwriter Antonio Carlos Jobim who wrote both "Ipanema" and "Corcovado." And Krall co-produced the album with frequent collaborator Tommy LiPuma.
"One of the best parts of making a record is the dinner after where you all you go to the restaurant, you decompress, have some great wine and just tell stories and listen to Claus and Tommy and [engineer] Al Schmidt and all these people telling amazing stories," says Krall.
Diana Krall recently sat down with CNN to share some stories of her own about a teenaged letter to Oscar Peterson, idolizing Harry Connick Jr. and Mickey Mouse pancakes. The following is an edited version of the interview.
CNN: This is the first album you've made since becoming a mother. Does it feel different somehow?
Diana Krall: I think [this album reflects my present] state of mind. It's not about loss, it's not preparing for loss. I'm not peeling grapes. Life has changed a lot and it's not just about performing and touring. It's motherhood and having a home for the first time, because I've always been on the road. So it's an incredible thing to be making Mickey Mouse pancakes in the morning while you're doing your interviews.
CNN: You've been producing Barbara Streisand's new album. What has that been like?
Krall: Incredible. I just am so thrilled with her performance on this album. [She gives] one of the most incredible performances I think of her career on a song called "You Must Believe in Spring" with a great pianist from New York named Phil Charlap. It's just piano and voice and it's so incredibly stunning. She said to me, "Maybe it needs some strings or something." I said "Don't touch it! Just leave it! It's gorgeous!"
It's been great working artist to artist and we had a lot of fun. We played cards. So when there were moments in the studio where there was something technical that had to be fixed, we'd deal the cards and we'd play gin
|
[
"What instrument does she play?",
"Whose new album is she producing?",
"What is Diana Krall's new album?"
] |
[
"piano",
"\"Quiet Nights,\"",
"\"Quiet Nights,\""
] |
question: What instrument does she play?, answer: piano | question: Whose new album is she producing?, answer: "Quiet Nights," | question: What is Diana Krall's new album?, answer: "Quiet Nights,"
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The laser surgery business is booming for treatments like hair, tattoo and wrinkle removal.
Julie Pak gets laser treatment from a doctor, eight years after she says she was scarred by earlier treatment.
In 2005, the last year recorded, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery said its members performed nearly 1 million such procedures, about 300,000 more than in 2003.
Board certified dermatologists, however, are not the only ones operating lasers on skin. Laser treatments are offered at local beauty salons, and are also a big part of the medical spa industry, which has grown by 160 percent in the last three years, according to the International Medical Spa Association.
The association says a medical spa operates under the full-time, on-site supervision of a licensed health care professional. It offers traditional, complementary and alternative health practices and treatments in a spa-like setting.
Some doctors are concerned that while these high-tech devices can produce amazing results, in the wrong hands, the outcome can be horrifying.
Eight years ago, computer programmer Julie Pak went to her neighborhood salon in Illinois to have the rose tattoo on her back removed, a decision she said that left her not only with physical scars but emotional ones as well.
Pak said a laser was used to peel back layers of the tattooed skin. She said she knew the procedure would hurt, but was not prepared for what she experienced --pain that was excruciating "beyond words." Watch more on the dangers of illegal laser surgery
"I was in tears for I believe a week, but certainly while she was doing it I didn't have any anesthesia or anything. She literally had a laser pen and was zapping across my skin," she said. And she said the tattoo was only partially removed.
The proliferation of medical spas and other clinics offering laser treatments worries the ASDS, which said botched laser skin procedures increased 41 percent from 2005 to 2006.
"We see a definite increase in the number of people being damaged by untrained individuals using these lasers and we think that this is just going to be more of a problem," said Alastair Carruthers, president of ASDS. He and other doctors say the increased demand for laser surgery is outpacing the number of people properly trained to use it.
"If you use them inappropriately, you can damage tissue severely. You're trying to damage very selectively, but you can do more than that, so that you can draw a hole in someone if you are being dumb about things," he said.
"Sadly, there are many people who are laser techs who have done very little, maybe a weekend course, maybe some other training. We believe that you require more information than that," Carruthers said. He thinks a physician should always be present during the procedures and that those performing it should have at least basic knowledge of the response of body tissue to lasers, like a registered nurse or physician's assistant.
The ASDS and organizations like the National Coalition of Estheticians, Manufacturers/Distributors & Associations, put the blame squarely on state regulatory boards for what they consider a lack of effective oversight in the industry. Regulation on who can use lasers and what defines "medical supervision" differs from state to state. Some states require a doctor on site, others do not.
According to the ASDS, Kentucky is the only state that requires a doctor to be present in the room while the procedure is taking place. Only four other states require that a physician be on site and available for consultation during treatments. The rest require less stringent physician involvement -- like simply being available by phone or beeper, for example.
"If we could get a clear definition from the state medical boards as to what medical supervision is, it would make our lives a lot easier and it would keep consumers much safer," said Susanne Warfield, executive director of the NCEA.
The salon that Pak said disfigured her back eight years ago has gone out of business. Since then, she has thought a lot about warning signs that should
|
[
"What did the salon not remove?",
"Which state is the only state that requires a doctor be in the room during surgery?",
"What state requires a doctor be in the room during surgery?",
"Can you get laser procedures done in a salon?"
] |
[
"the tattoo",
"Kentucky",
"Kentucky",
"treatments are offered at local beauty"
] |
question: What did the salon not remove?, answer: the tattoo | question: Which state is the only state that requires a doctor be in the room during surgery?, answer: Kentucky | question: What state requires a doctor be in the room during surgery?, answer: Kentucky | question: Can you get laser procedures done in a salon?, answer: treatments are offered at local beauty
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The members of the band Naturally 7 are experts at blowing their own horns -- and they do it without a trumpet or trombone in sight.
Naturally 7 engages in "vocal play" in performance, emulating the sounds of musical instruments.
In fact, you won't see a single instrument when they hit the stage. They are the instruments.
"People are always imitating instruments," said first baritone and arranger Roger Thomas. "People are driving; they hear their favorite song; it gets to the guitar solo part. ... They don't stop singing. They actually start imitating the instrument they hear. We just decided to be crazy enough to bring [that idea] to the stage."
The septet even came up with a name for it: "vocal play," a total reliance on the human voice to mimic a range of instruments and sounds, including the harmonica, bass guitar, trumpet and DJ scratches. Watch the band do its thing »
Warren Thomas takes beatboxing to a whole new level with his imitation of a drum kit, complete with snare. (He also impersonates a mean guitar.) Rod Eldridge has never played a real trumpet before, though you wouldn't think that if you saw him duplicate the sound of one, lips pursed, his hands in front of him, pressing on imaginary valves.
"To produce the sound, I have to visualize that I'm holding that instrument or whatever in my hand," he said.
Only one Naturally 7 member has ever played the instrument he imitates, and that's Armand "Hops" Hutton, who uses his incredibly deep voice -- you have to step closer when he speaks -- to portray a thumping bass guitar.
The group initially formed a decade ago in New York as an a cappella group (oh, yeah, they sing, too). But to make themselves stand out, Naturally 7 decided to be both a singing group and a band.
The concept caught on when video of them performing on a Paris subway -- to hilariously mixed reactions from Parisian commuters -- hit YouTube. It has racked up almost 3 million views. And standing ovations became a regular part of the group's experience touring as the opening act for crooner Michael Bublé in 2007 and 2008.
The musicians are about to embark on their own tour of Asia, Australia and Europe. With a recent performance of their aptly named song "Wall of Sound" on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and a new album in the works, they hope to boost Naturally 7's profile in the United States over the next year.
Naturally 7 -- which also includes Jamal Reed, Dwight Stewart and Garfield Buckley -- spoke to CNN about the challenges of becoming instruments. The following is an edited version of the interview.
CNN: Traveling and sound checks must be very easy for you.
Roger Thomas: We don't have to lug around instruments with all the traveling we do, and that does make that part easier. The sound check part of actually becoming the band, where we're actually the singers and the instruments, that probably takes a longer time.
CNN: How so?
Thomas: I often call our sound man "Octopus Hands" because he's just got to do so many different things. We switch from being the backgrounds to being the lead vocals and then going back to doing a trombone. And these have different sounds and settings, so it's a lot of work on the performance side if we're using microphones.
CNN: Are your "instruments" ever out of tune?
Rod Eldridge: Every now and then. It is the voice, and if you're suffering and you have a cold, its not like you can have a guy come in and [say], "Oh, let me change my guitar string out." It's a human thing. Every now and then, you're not as perfect as you would like, but you are always working at it.
CNN: Are you continually adding new instruments?
|
[
"How many page views did the group get?",
"what kind of music do they play",
"Naturally 7 is a what?",
"who received 3 million page views?"
] |
[
"almost 3 million",
"\"vocal play\"",
"band",
"Naturally 7"
] |
question: How many page views did the group get?, answer: almost 3 million | question: what kind of music do they play, answer: "vocal play" | question: Naturally 7 is a what?, answer: band | question: who received 3 million page views?, answer: Naturally 7
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The missing engine from a US Airways jet that ditched in the Hudson River was recovered Friday, more than a week after the crash landing.
A jet engine lost after Flight 1549 ditched in the Hudson River is hoisted from the water Friday.
Icy conditions and strong currents hampered efforts to locate and raise the plane's left engine, which apparently tore from the Airbus A320 when it hit the water in an emergency landing January 15.
The engine was found Wednesday in about 50 feet of water. The divers who found it reported that it was in one piece, said New Jersey State Police Sgt. Stephen Jones.
A crane brought the engine up Friday afternoon as daylight began to fade. It was placed on a barge and hauled to the New Jersey side of the river, according to a spokeswoman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which was supervising the recovery. Watch the engine pulled from Hudson River »
After an initial examination at the site, the engine will be shipped with the plane's other engine to the manufacturer, where "the NTSB will supervise and direct a complete tear-down of each engine," NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson said.
The right engine was still attached to the plane when it was pulled from the Hudson last week.
It will be at least next week before any information from the initial examination is released, Knudson said.
Investigators said this week that they found a single feather and evidence of "soft-body impact damage" on the aircraft. The find reinforces the pilot's report that the plane was brought down by a flock of birds.
Pilot Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, 58, told investigators that his aircraft struck birds, disabling both engines, about 90 seconds after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in New York. Map »
The feather, found on a flap track on the wing, was sent to identification experts at the Smithsonian Institution, the National Transportation Safety Board said.
Samples of what appears to be organic material found in the right engine and on the wings and fuselage have been sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Meanwhile, a pilot program involving "birdstrike avoidance" radar systems will be expanded to include LaGuardia, said a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. See authorities' efforts to retrieve plane »
The Air Force has been using such systems at its bases for years, and last year the Port Authority -- which operates five metropolitan New York airports -- struck an agreement with the Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration to install the bird-detecting system at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
In the wake of the US Airways crash-landing, that program will be expanded to include LaGuardia and Newark International airports within a few months, according to Pasquale DiFulco, spokesman for the Port Authority.
Newly released video captured seconds after the Airbus A320 ditched in the Hudson River showed passengers trying to flee the aircraft almost immediately after it settled in the water and began to float along the river current.
All 155 crew members and passengers on the plane survived the incident, which Gov. David Paterson dubbed a "miracle on the Hudson."
The video, which the Con Edison utility company released Thursday, first shows a long wake behind the plane before zooming in on the aircraft. Steam surrounds the plane as it floats with a slow counterclockwise twist.
An exit hatch opens on the plane's left side, and several people file out onto one of the plane's wings. Seconds later, an inflatable evacuation ramp extends from the opposite side of the plane. Watch their escape »
Passengers run onto the plane's other wing as the aircraft floats off-screen for a few seconds. The camera jerks, and when the plane reappears, passengers can be seen at the bottom of the inflatable ramp.
Some passengers jump into the water, which was a chilly 41 degrees when the plane splashed down on the afternoon of January 15.
Within minutes, a ferry and other boats come into the picture and begin to take the people aboard.
The
|
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question: What airline was mentioned?, answer: US Airways | question: Name of airline involved in crash?, answer: US Airways | question: What did the video show?, answer: showed passengers trying to flee the aircraft almost immediately after it settled in the water and began to float along the river current. | question: Where is the Hudson River?, answer: New Jersey | question: Evidence of what kind of impact found on plane?, answer: "soft-body | question: Why did the plane crash-land?, answer: aircraft struck birds, disabling both engines, | question: What was recovered from the Hudson?, answer: The missing engine | question: How many passengers jumped into the river?, answer: Some | question: Where was the engine recovered from?, answer: Hudson River | question: What does the video show?, answer: showed passengers trying to flee the aircraft almost immediately after it settled in the water and began to float along the river current. | question: What was recovered from the Hudson?, answer: missing engine | question: What did evidence found on the aircraft point to?, answer: the plane was brought down by a flock of birds. | question: What river did the passengers jump into?, answer: Hudson | question: What plane part was recovered drom the river?, answer: left engine, | question: What was hauled to the New Jersey riverbank?, answer: missing engine from a US Airways jet | question: Where was the engine hauled?, answer: to the New Jersey side of the river, | question: What airline did the plane that crashed belong to?, answer: US Airways
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The mother of a 17-year-old girl who disappeared while on spring break in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has identified her daughter on grainy hotel surveillance video.
Brittanee Marie Drexel's mother on Friday confirmed it was her daughter seen in a hotel surveillance video.
"When I saw her profile it was confirmed," Dawn Drexel said Friday on "Nancy Grace."
Drexel's daughter, Brittanee, was last seen on Saturday, several days after she traveled to Myrtle Beach against her mother's wishes.
In the video, a girl wearing shorts and flip-flops walks in and later out of the doors of a hotel on Saturday evening. Brittanee Drexel supposedly was on her way to meet friends at another hotel nearby. Watch her mom talk about spotting her »
Meanwhile, Myrtle Beach Police reportedly have shifted some search efforts about 40 miles to Georgetown County, based on tips. But there is still no sign of the high school junior from Rochester, New York.
Dawn Drexel said she had forbidden her daughter to go to Myrtle Beach, a popular destination for high school and college spring break. But Brittanee and her friends apparently drove the 850 miles to the coastal city anyway. Drexel said her daughter had about $100 with her.
Although they stayed in touch by phone and spoke on Saturday, Drexel said she believed the girl was calling from Rochester when she was actually in Myrtle Beach.
Drexel has now gone to the city where her daughter was last seen, helping in the search for Brittanee.
"We're going to all of the businesses and restaurants on Ocean Boulevard," Drexel said, but she admitted that she is concerned something may have happened to her daughter.
"I just have a gut feeling that because the stories don't match, things aren't making sense to me," Drexel said, referring to reported contradictions in the information Brittanee's friends have given police.
Authorities have not named any suspects or persons of interest in the case.
|
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"What day was Brittanee Drexel last seen at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina?",
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] |
[
"Saturday,",
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"Dawn Drexel",
"Saturday,",
"it was her daughter seen in a hotel surveillance video.",
"it was her daughter"
] |
question: What day was Brittanee Drexel last seen at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina?, answer: Saturday, | question: Who was last seen Saturday?, answer: Brittanee Marie Drexel's | question: Who tells CNN about forbidding the daughter?, answer: Dawn Drexel | question: when was she last seen, answer: Saturday, | question: what does mom confirm, answer: it was her daughter seen in a hotel surveillance video. | question: What did the mom confirm on a hotel surveillance video?, answer: it was her daughter
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The number of homicides in New York City rose about four percent in 2008 compared with the previous year, preliminary figures from the city's police department showed.
There were 516 homicides in New York City in 2008, according to preliminary police figures.
The NYPD's CompStat data showed 516 homicides in the city last year, up from 496 in 2007.
That's still a dramatic change from 1990, when 2,262 homicides earned New York the title of "murder capital" of the nation.
Though the figures are subject to change, the 2008 tally also represents a drop from the 596 homicides investigated in New York in 2006.
The NYPD, which began compiling the report in 1963, cited its Operation Impact as a chief reason for the improvement in recent years.
The operation places more uniformed officers in concentrated areas where crime rates are high, the NYPD said.
|
[
"who cites operation impact for improvement?",
"when That's still a dramatic change?",
"where were uniformed officers deployed?",
"How many homicides was in 1990?",
"where The operation places more uniformed officers?",
"Where was 516 homicides?"
] |
[
"The NYPD,",
"1990,",
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"2,262",
"in concentrated areas",
"New York City"
] |
question: who cites operation impact for improvement?, answer: The NYPD, | question: when That's still a dramatic change?, answer: 1990, | question: where were uniformed officers deployed?, answer: in concentrated areas | question: How many homicides was in 1990?, answer: 2,262 | question: where The operation places more uniformed officers?, answer: in concentrated areas | question: Where was 516 homicides?, answer: New York City
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The numbers were good for "Knowing."
In "Knowing," a physics professor (Nicolas Cage) ponders patterns in a list of numbers.
The film, about a physics professor who sees clues for disastrous events in a time capsule's list of digits, overcame some pretty long odds at the box office -- going against the Paul Rudd-Jason Segel comedy "I Love You, Man," the Julia Roberts-Clive Owen romantic thriller "Duplicity" and some fairly scathing reviews -- to emerge as the weekend's No. 1 film.
Though star Nicolas Cage wouldn't have predicted the outcome, in an interview before the film's release, he did talk about the power of positive thinking.
"I'm a huge believer of the human spirit," he told CNN. "I think people are amazing. I think what we have accomplished is incredible. ... If you think positive and you apply the guts and ingenuity that mankind has been doing forever, at least in our existence, I believe we get through anything."
Cage's character, John Koestler, is a science professor whom Cage describes as "someone who is reawakening to his faith." He begins the film believing that everything is random, but as the film continues -- and he seeks to alert the world of a coming catastrophe -- "he believes there is cause and effect and perhaps even a divine mind," Cage said.
The film begins in 1959, with students burying items in a time capsule at an elementary school. One of the children, however, creates an image of seemingly random numbers. Fifty years later, when the capsule is opened, Koestler's son receives the page of numbers, and his father realizes that they correspond to major disasters of the past half-century.
Koestler determines that three events have yet to occur and sets out to meet the clairvoyant child's now grown daughter. The final event threatens life on Earth itself, and the group begins a race against time, with unusual consequences.
Critics were not impressed. The film earned a 25 percent rating on the review aggregator RottenTomatoes.com, with some reviewers in full-on mockery mode. Watch Mr. Moviefone review "Knowing" and other films »
"It's increasingly hard to believe that Cage won an Oscar in 1996 (for 'Leaving Las Vegas')," wrote USA Today's Claudia Puig in a 1½-star review. "In the past decade, he has made some awful choices, and his range has seemed to grow more limited."
"It's so inept that you may wish you were watching an M. Night Shyamalan version of the very same premise," wrote Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman, referring to the director whose last two films, "Lady in the Water" and "The Happening," were two of the most detested films of recent years.
But the film's apocalyptic theme obviously strikes a chord, something director Alex Proyas ("Dark City") saw early on.
Proyas told CNN in a pre-release interview that "you can read [the film] as biblical if you choose to," but he prefers to see it as "spiritual."
"I try to leave it very open-ended," he said. "I try to think of it as more a spiritual place than a biblical one." Cage's character, he said, is on a spiritual quest in the midst of what could be global destruction.
Rose Byrne, who plays the clairvoyant child's daughter, Diana, called the film "kind of a theological discussion."
"That's always an exciting topic," she said. "It's bridging the gap between science and spirituality. That always makes things thought-provoking, and I like that with any piece of art."
Byrne said that "Knowing" taps into some of the end-times anxiety that's been in the air in recent years, which perhaps could help find an audience. (As she was talking before the film's release, she did
|
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question: Who stars in the film?, answer: (Nicolas | question: What was the weekend's number 1 film?, answer: "Knowing," | question: What themes are in the film?, answer: apocalyptic | question: What themes does "Knowing" tap into?, answer: apocalyptic | question: What was the weekend's number one film?, answer: "Knowing," | question: Who starts in "Knowing"?, answer: (Nicolas | question: Who was the leading male star in the film "Knowing"?, answer: (Nicolas | question: What was the No. 1 film?, answer: "Knowing," | question: What was the name of the weekend's No. 1 film?, answer: "Knowing." | question: What does the film tap into?, answer: some of the end-times anxiety | question: Who was the star of the movie?, answer: Nicolas Cage | question: Who is the star of the movie?, answer: Cage) | question: What are the most prominent characters?, answer: science professor
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The regional airline involved in a fatal February plane crash outside Buffalo, New York, contested a report Monday alleging the pilot did not have the training to handle the emergency that brought the plane down, and that he might have been fatigued on the night of the crash.
Debris is cleared from the scene of Flight 3407's crash near Buffalo, New York, in February.
Continental Connection Flight 3407, operated by regional carrier Colgan Air, plunged into a house in Clarence Center, New York, on the night of February 12, killing all 49 on board as well as one man in the house.
In a story Monday, The Wall Street Journal cited investigators as saying the crash resulted from pilot Marvin Renslow's incorrect response to the plane's precarious drop in speed: He overrode an emergency system known as a "stick pusher," which sends the plane into a dive so it can regain speed and avoid a stall.
The Journal's report said Colgan had not provided Renslow with hands-on flight-simulator training for a stick-pusher emergency.
Colgan, in rebuttal, issued a statement saying Renslow had received classroom instruction for such an emergency. Watch a Colgan official respond to questions »
The company also emphasized that the Federal Aviation Administration does not require pilots to receive a stick-pusher demonstration in a flight simulator.
"The FAA generally trains to standards of routine line operations. They don't focus on the edges of the envelope," stall recovery expert Doug Moss told CNN.
Colgan further admitted that during his career, Renslow failed five "check rides" -- occasional tests of pilot proficiency -- including two that Colgan said he did not disclose on his application with the airline. His most recent failed check ride occurred 16 months before the crash.
"In the cases while with Colgan, he received additional training and successfully passed the check rides," the airline said.
Colgan stressed that despite his performance on check rides, Renslow nonetheless ultimately passed his pilot exams and had "all the training and experience to safely operate the Q400," the airplane involved in the crash.
Colgan further insisted that pilot fatigue was not a factor in the crash, noting that Renslow had "nearly 22 consecutive hours of time off before he reported for duty on the day of the accident."
In its statement, Colgan did not specifically address potential illness-related fatigue in 24-year-old co-pilot Rebecca Shaw, who, according to The Wall Street Journal report, said before takeoff that she probably should have called in sick.
The National Transportation Safety Board begins a three-day hearing on the crash on Tuesday. Renslow's history as well as pilot training broadly will be examined.
|
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] |
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"Colgan Air,",
"Colgan Air,",
"near Buffalo, New York,"
] |
question: Flight 3407 crashed where?, answer: near Buffalo, New York, | question: What was the flight number?, answer: 3407's | question: What did Wall Street Journal say about the pilot?, answer: Marvin Renslow's incorrect response to the plane's precarious drop in speed: He overrode an emergency system known as a "stick pusher," which sends the plane into a dive so it can regain speed and avoid a stall. | question: How many people died?, answer: 49 | question: What was the pilot's name?, answer: Marvin Renslow's | question: Who was the flight operator?, answer: Colgan Air, | question: What was the airline?, answer: Colgan Air, | question: Where did flight 3407 crash?, answer: near Buffalo, New York,
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The son of the late Gambino family crime boss John Gotti is set to stand trial in federal court in New York on Monday on murder and racketeering charges that could put him in prison for life if he is convicted.
'Junior' Gotti's lawyer, Charles Carnesi, talks with reporters outside the federal courthouse.
Three previous racketeering trials against John "Junior" Gotti, 45, have ended in mistrials in New York.
The government says it has learned since his previous trial, "that Gotti had participated in three murders, that Gotti had run a multi-million dollar cocaine trafficking network, that Gotti had overseen a systematic effort to tamper with trial juries, grand juries and witnesses, and that Gotti had participated in various other violent crimes," according to court documents filed by prosecutors.
The defense claims the newest round of charges is part of the government's ongoing quest to convict Gotti.
The current case was moved to New York in December from Florida, where the original indictment was handed up.
A superseding indictment was filed in the case on August 3. In the first indictment, Gotti was only charged with violating the federal Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO.
The superseding indictment formally charged Gotti with the drug-related murders of two men -- allegations mentioned as part of the first indictment -- along with the RICO charge. The RICO law is used to target organized crime groups -- in this case, the Gambino crime family.
Gotti's defense attorneys, however, allege in court filings that "the prosecution has engaged in a 'win at all costs' campaign riddled with misconduct."
"The prosecution charges the same conspiracy, albeit with new garnishments," said one filing from July. "After having received frustrating results in three separate trials, the case was hijacked to the Middle District of Florida in a shameful attempt to forum shop or judge shop or both."
Federal prosecutors, meanwhile, say in court filings that Gotti's allegations he is a victim of a government vendetta are unfounded. Since Gotti's previous trials, prosecutors maintain, they have "uncovered extensive new evidence of Gotti's criminal conduct in the course of investigating and prosecuting another Gambino family captain."
The indictment alleges that Gotti was at times an "associate, soldier, captain and de facto boss" in the Gambino family, and also served on a "committee of captains" formed in the early 1990s to assist in family administration.
"The principal purpose of the GCF (Gambino crime family) Enterprise was to generate money ... for the GCF Enterprise members," the indictment says.
"This purpose was implemented," the indictment continued, "through various criminal activities, including criminal acts involving the felonious manufacturing, importing, receiving, concealing, buying, selling and otherwise dealing in narcotics and other dangerous drugs, extortion, armed and unarmed robbery, armed home invasions, illegal gambling, extortionate credit transactions, theft and bribery."
To further their activities, family members threatened and caused economic injury, the indictment says, as well as threatening and using physical violence "ranging from simple assault to murder."
The two murders Gotti is charged with are those of George Grosso, who died in December 1988 in Queens, and Bruce John Gotterup, slain in November 1991 in Queens.
The indictment also accuses Gotti in connection with a third murder, that of Louis DiBono in October 1990 in the parking garage of the former World Trade Center, but does not allege that murder was drug-related.
Although the murder charges carry a potential death sentence, prosecutors have said they will not seek the death penalty against Gotti.
The trial will be the latest chapter in a long legal saga.
In late 2006, a third mistrial was declared in a federal case against Gotti on charges including racketeering and extortion. Prosecutors said they would not retry Gotti, who was accused of ordering attacks on radio talk show host Curtis Sliwa after the Guardian Angels founder criticized Gotti's father on his program. Sliwa was shot three times but recovered and testified against the
|
[
"Who is Junior Gotti the son of?",
"Where was the original indictment filed?",
"When is Gotti scheduled for trial?",
"Who is Gotti's attorney?",
"Who is set to go on trial in federal court?"
] |
[
"John",
"Florida,",
"Monday",
"Charles Carnesi,",
"The son of the late Gambino family crime boss John Gotti"
] |
question: Who is Junior Gotti the son of?, answer: John | question: Where was the original indictment filed?, answer: Florida, | question: When is Gotti scheduled for trial?, answer: Monday | question: Who is Gotti's attorney?, answer: Charles Carnesi, | question: Who is set to go on trial in federal court?, answer: The son of the late Gambino family crime boss John Gotti
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- The venerable CBS soap opera "Guiding Light" will go dark in September after 72 years and 16,000 episodes, the network announced Wednesday.
Gina Tognoni is one of many performers who have appeared on "Guiding Light" over the years.
The daytime drama's declining viewership led to the decision, according to a CBS spokeswoman.
The show, which the Guinness Book of World Records lists as the longest-running television drama, first aired on NBC radio in 1937 as a 15-minute serial, the spokeswoman said.
It moved to television on the CBS network in 1952 as 15-minute drama. It later went to 30 minutes, and on November 7, 1977, it expanded to one hour and introduced the wealthy Spaulding family as foils to the show's middle-class Bauers, who were a mainstay of the show for much of its run.
In 1979, the show did a groundbreaking storyline when the character of Roger Thorpe (played by the late Michael Zaslow) raped his wife, Holly (Maureen Garrett).
The marital-rape story line reflected a significant real-life case in 1978 -- the state of Oregon v. John J. Rideout. It was the first time in modern U.S. history that a man was charged with raping his wife and then put on trial. It prompted national debate about whether a man had absolute sexual rights with his spouse. Rideout was acquitted.
Among the actors who went on to greater fame after roles on the show: Kevin Bacon, James Earl Jones and Taye Diggs.
The last episode is set to air on September 18, the spokeswoman said. The show is produced in New York.
|
[
"When was the last episode?",
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] |
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"September 18,",
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"CBS network",
"72 years",
"September 18,"
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question: When was the last episode?, answer: September 18, | question: When did "Guiding Light" debut?, answer: 1937 | question: Where did "Guiding Light" debut on?, answer: NBC radio | question: Where did the show move to?, answer: CBS network | question: What was the length of the serial?, answer: 72 years | question: When will the last episode air?, answer: September 18,
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- They've been called "bromances": those buddy films and TV shows, such as the movies "Pineapple Express" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," that feature non-sexual but deep friendships between two or more males.
Jason Segel and Paul Rudd star in "I Love You, Man," which opens Friday.
The forthcoming "I Love You, Man," which opens Friday, appears to fit the bill.
In the film, Paul Rudd plays a man who needs a best man for his wedding but has never made any male friends. Enter Jason Segel as Sydney Fife, whom Rudd's character, Peter Klaven, pursues on several "man-dates" that end up threatening his relationship with his fiancée (Rashida Jones).
But don't call the film a "bromance" in the presence of Rudd and Segel.
"We hate that word," Segel told CNN.
"It was not part of the lexicon while we were filming," added Rudd.
Still, both actors have plenty of experience in the, uh, guy-pal genre. Rudd has been in several comedies written, directed or produced by Judd Apatow, considered one of the leaders of the "bromance" trend with his softer, more openly emotional male characters. Segel has also been in Apatow projects -- including last year's "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" -- and he stars in the TV series "How I Met Your Mother," which finds plenty of humor in male bonding.
Segel observes that what helps the films work is the discomfort of two men trying to talk about their emotions while hoping to maintain a dispassionate, hard-edged, prototypically manly façade. And he knows he's good at bringing out that discomfort in his co-stars.
"Judd Apatow told me that my special skill was that I am able to maintain my likability while getting incredibly close to the creepy line, and that's what I should try to cultivate," he said.
"That's what he does," Rudd noted. "He just holds [the moment] a little too long."
"It's the fraction of a second too long that makes people uncomfortable," Segel added.
In "I Love You, Man," Segel's character is rougher and looser than his characters in "Sarah Marshall" and "How I Met Your Mother." He welcomed the change.
"It was a real treat for me, to be honest for a minute, to play this character, because I've played sort of a puppy dog guy in 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall,' and on ['Mother'] I play a husband, you know, a loving husband," he said. "So to get to play a character who is a bit more of a man of mystery was very exciting for me."
In real life, claims Segel, he even has a man cave.
"It's filled with puppets," he said. "And I keep wondering why I don't have a girlfriend. I'm like, 'hey, this is my house; come check it out. This is where I keep my 40 puppets.' ... I think that I have a reputation for being weird because of that."
But he quickly turns serious and maintains that "I Love You, Man" does have a message to go along with its comedy.
"I think we both had something to learn from each other," he said. "Paul's character had to learn that it's all right to take a little distance from your significant other and have some dude friends and someone to vent to about things you can't necessarily talk about with your girl."
"Sometimes buddies hold a mirror up to the way you behave in ways that relationships with the opposite sex don't," Rudd said.
"Yeah, and my character had to learn that maybe it's time to grow up a little bit," Segel added.
So, this "
|
[
"The comedy makes serious points about what?",
"What are two men trying?",
"What is the name of the comedy?",
"What are the names of the stars?",
"What term do they not like?"
] |
[
"\"Paul's character had to learn that it's all right to take a little distance from your significant other",
"to talk about their emotions while hoping to maintain a dispassionate, hard-edged, prototypically manly façade.",
"\"I Love You, Man,\"",
"Jason Segel",
"\"bromance\""
] |
question: The comedy makes serious points about what?, answer: "Paul's character had to learn that it's all right to take a little distance from your significant other | question: What are two men trying?, answer: to talk about their emotions while hoping to maintain a dispassionate, hard-edged, prototypically manly façade. | question: What is the name of the comedy?, answer: "I Love You, Man," | question: What are the names of the stars?, answer: Jason Segel | question: What term do they not like?, answer: "bromance"
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- They've been teasing and tantalizing female readers with images of muscular men oozing sensuality and the pretty women they are destined to save and then fall in love with. The "beefcakes and bodices" book covers have helped Harlequin sell their romance novels for more than half a century.
Powerful men and demure women were stock in trade in early Harlequin novels.
"It's always great to feel like you're the girl in the book and the handsome guy is coming to rescue you," said Liz Lenz, 25, who has been reading Harlequin novels since she was a teen. "It's always fun for the reader."
Those covers also seduced Winnipeg, Canada, teacher Louann Bergen.
"There's usually good-looking males on the covers or something intriguing to make you want to read more," she said. "I guess they change with the times, but they still have that same allure and that same passion behind them."
As sort of a 60th anniversary gift to its faithful readers, Harlequin is displaying original artwork for its covers in an New York exhibit called "The Heart of a Woman: Harlequin Cover Art 1949-2009."
And before you sniff disdainfully at romance novel art, be reminded: That artwork sells a lot of books. Romance fiction is responsible for $1.375 billion in book sales every year, according to Romance Writers of America. The organization says more than a quarter of all books sold are romance novels, satisfying 51 million readers every year.
The Harlequin exhibit comes from boxes and boxes of old novels that employees discovered at the company's headquarters in Toronto, Canada.
"I pawed through literally thousands of paintings," curator Elizabeth Semmelhack said, adding that she saw apparent shifts in women's historical desires began to emerge. Watch the curator discuss some favorites »
"Rather than being retardataire [outdated], many of these images are extremely cutting edge," she said. "There are images of women doctors before women were really embraced by the workplace. There are women who are adventuring around the world before independence is really part of women's culture."
Many early Harlequin covers, like that of Elizabeth Houghton's "Island Hospital," in which a man, woman and grizzly bear stand poised in confrontation, depict more than one (fully clothed) character in the crux of a suspenseful moment.
"You don't know, is the couple going to get together? Is the hero going to save the heroine? The happy ending is not on the cover," Semmelhack explained.
The illustrations have changed their tone over the years. Where cover art used to hint at psychological intrigue, it's grown to instead promise a passionate physical conclusion.
"From the earliest covers, there's sort of an implied sexual tension, but there isn't much direct imaging of passion. That doesn't happen until the late '70s and into the '80s," she said. "By the time you hit the sexual revolution and passion becomes of primary importance on these covers, then that lover's embrace in many ways signals the happy ending right there on the front of the book."
And in recent decades, the once revolutionary depictions of the lovers' raw embrace have been reduced further.
"Today, covers might just be the undressed male body. He might even be headless. He's so truncated that all you're doing is looking at the object of desire, his masculinity."
Although Harlequin romances are predominantly written for and read by women, according to Semmelhack, the majority of the publisher's cover illustration artists have been male.
"It is interesting that you have men imaging female desire," she said. "It seems to work; the books certainly sell."
This year, Harlequin books, which publishes 1,200 new titles annually, reported first quarter earnings up more than 13 percent.
Debbie Macomber, who has published 153 books since 1983 -- and is most recently author of a May New York Times Harlequin best-seller, "Summer
|
[
"What do readers say?",
"Where does the exhibition took place?",
"who displays half a century of romance book covers in New York?",
"what reader says about books?",
"Where is the event?",
"Who said books still have that same allure and that same passion?",
"who go from psychological intrigue to passionate physical conclusion?"
] |
[
"\"It's always great to feel like you're the girl in the book and the handsome guy is coming to rescue you,\"",
"New York",
"Harlequin",
"\"It's always fun for the reader.\"",
"New York",
"Louann Bergen.",
"cover art"
] |
question: What do readers say?, answer: "It's always great to feel like you're the girl in the book and the handsome guy is coming to rescue you," | question: Where does the exhibition took place?, answer: New York | question: who displays half a century of romance book covers in New York?, answer: Harlequin | question: what reader says about books?, answer: "It's always fun for the reader." | question: Where is the event?, answer: New York | question: Who said books still have that same allure and that same passion?, answer: Louann Bergen. | question: who go from psychological intrigue to passionate physical conclusion?, answer: cover art
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Thirty people joined National Park Service rangers Saturday in climbing to the crown of the Statue of Liberty, the first tourists to go into the landmark's crown since the 9/11 attacks.
Chris Bartnick, 46, and daughter Aleyna, 8, of Merrick, New York, look out from the statue's crown on Saturday.
The New York Harbor monument was closed after the terrorist assaults on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon for safety and security reasons, the Interior Department said.
"Once again, Americans can climb to Lady Liberty's crown and gaze out over New York Harbor, where so many of our ancestors first saw the New World and first breathed the fresh air of freedom," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said as he welcomed visitors back on the Fourth of July holiday. "This is a celebration of America and the joy of being an American."
Visitors on Saturday were grateful they could go inside the landmark.
"It's just basically safety for our country and at least they opened it," visitor Ira Semapadilla told CNN affiliate NY1 before the visit. "That's one thing that I was like, wow, I'm never going to experience it. ... They ruined it for us.
"Now that it's going to open again I'm excited, and I'm just really looking forward to being in there." Watch as CNN's Susan Candiotti treks to top »
Gov. David Paterson, D-New York, Gov. Jon Corzine, D-New Jersey, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined Salazar at the reopening ceremony.
Even with the reopening of the monument, only a rare few will get to scale the 354 steps to the crown.
Only 10 visitors are permitted to ascend the steps at any one time, meaning about 240 people can make the climb during the park's 8:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. hours of operation.
The opportunity to climb Lady Liberty will end again in two years, when work will begin on further safety and security upgrades.
|
[
"When was it closed?",
"Who made the climb to reopen the crown?",
"Who said the reopening was a celebration of America?",
"What monument was closed?",
"What is a celebration?",
"What did the Interior say?",
"How many people made the climb to the crown?",
"What was closed in New York Harbor since the 9/11 attacks?",
"What has been closed since the 9/11 attacks?"
] |
[
"after the terrorist assaults on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon",
"Thirty people joined National Park Service rangers",
"Interior Secretary Ken Salazar",
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"Statue of Liberty,",
"The New York Harbor monument was closed after the terrorist assaults on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon for safety and security reasons,",
"Thirty",
"Lady Liberty's crown",
"Statue of Liberty,"
] |
question: When was it closed?, answer: after the terrorist assaults on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon | question: Who made the climb to reopen the crown?, answer: Thirty people joined National Park Service rangers | question: Who said the reopening was a celebration of America?, answer: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar | question: What monument was closed?, answer: the Statue of Liberty, | question: What is a celebration?, answer: Statue of Liberty, | question: What did the Interior say?, answer: The New York Harbor monument was closed after the terrorist assaults on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon for safety and security reasons, | question: How many people made the climb to the crown?, answer: Thirty | question: What was closed in New York Harbor since the 9/11 attacks?, answer: Lady Liberty's crown | question: What has been closed since the 9/11 attacks?, answer: Statue of Liberty,
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- This classic chant of "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!" -- barked out by battalions of newsboys hawking newspapers -- died decades ago, a casualty of home delivery, mass distribution and the advent of coin-operated newspaper machines.
Some coin-operated newspaper machines have lasted for 30 years, but lack of sales may force their retirement.
But now as newspapers across the country wage a battle to survive in a market where readers are increasingly gravitating to the Internet for information, the fate of another industry fixture seems inevitable. Could those steel machines on street corners, distributing newspapers since the '50s, be headed for the scrap pile?
To begin to answer the question, all it takes is an early morning visit with a man who feeds those machines.
It's 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday, and a white delivery truck for the New Jersey Record has just pulled into the parking lot outside the Plaza Diner in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
The driver -- Mike, who asked that his last name not be used -- is at one of his 130 stops on an eight-hour shift that began at midnight. Mike's job, which takes less than a couple of minutes per stop, entails filling the coin-operated machine with the day's papers, collecting unsold copies and emptying the machine of its coins.
Even though Mike has a full schedule and lots of stops, it doesn't equate to pushing as many papers as he once did. Mike loads 15 copies of the Record into one machine -- and that's a good load, he says. Other locations receive only five to seven copies. He's also tasked with filling machines for USA Today.
Though he's been on this job for only two years, Mike has been on the route long enough to know business is down. He says newspapers sell better at train stations than from the street machines he services.
The demise of newspapers across the country is getting a lot of front-page headlines. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer in Washington was just one of the most recent victims, ceasing print publication in March as declining circulation and plummeting advertising sales forced it to retrench and become just an online provider of journalism.
Even the legendary New York Times will force readers to dig deeper for more coins as it raises prices June 1, with the price of a paper going from $1.50 to $2.
The publication that touts "All The News That's Fit to Print" has been relying less on newspaper racks. In 1999, the Times had 13,300 vending machines, but today that number has shrunk to 5,678, according to Diane McNulty, spokeswoman for the Times.
"One of the factors is home delivery," McNulty said, adding, "This was due to our national expansion -- where once many readers could only get copies from the newsstand or vending machine, they can now enjoy home delivery service."
But all the gloom-and-doom predictions that newspapers will one day disappear isn't scaring workers at the Kaspar Sho-Rack Company, based in Shiner, Texas. The company lays claim to being the world's largest manufacturer of coin-operated and no-charge newspaper vending machines.
Don Kaspar is president and a fourth-generation member of a family business that began in 1898 manufacturing wire products.
"There'll be printed newspapers for years and years" said Kaspar, president of a company that is actually part of the larger Kaspar Wireworks. Still, he concedes, "Business is down about 25 to 30 percent from about five years ago."
It wasn't until the late 1950s that the privately owned company was approached by the now defunct San Antonio Light newspaper to develop an early version of coin-operated newspaper machines.
The early versions of newspaper machines were simple and made mostly of wire, but by the mid-1960s they were all made of metal.
The machines typically consist of a thick metal housing, shelves, doors and hinges. But the heart of any machine is the coin mechanism, which can have 150 moving parts
|
[
"Where is company that makes the machines based?",
"What will be printed for years and years",
"Who makes machines",
"Where do fewer customers buy from?",
"What state is the company from",
"Where do newspapers sell better?",
"Where are more newspaper sold then with street machines?",
"Who says newspapers sell better from train stations ?",
"Who says business is down?",
"Where is the machine maker located?",
"Where do newspapers sell better?",
"What is the main subject of this article?"
] |
[
"Shiner, Texas.",
"newspapers",
"Kaspar Sho-Rack Company,",
"street machines he services.",
"Texas.",
"at train stations",
"train stations",
"Mike",
"Mike",
"Shiner, Texas.",
"train stations",
"distributing newspapers"
] |
question: Where is company that makes the machines based?, answer: Shiner, Texas. | question: What will be printed for years and years, answer: newspapers | question: Who makes machines, answer: Kaspar Sho-Rack Company, | question: Where do fewer customers buy from?, answer: street machines he services. | question: What state is the company from, answer: Texas. | question: Where do newspapers sell better?, answer: at train stations | question: Where are more newspaper sold then with street machines?, answer: train stations | question: Who says newspapers sell better from train stations ?, answer: Mike | question: Who says business is down?, answer: Mike | question: Where is the machine maker located?, answer: Shiner, Texas. | question: Where do newspapers sell better?, answer: train stations | question: What is the main subject of this article?, answer: distributing newspapers
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Three people were arrested Saturday after chaos broke out at an "America's Next Top Model" audition at a New York hotel, police said.
A large crowd at the Park Central New York hotel got unruly Saturday during a "Top Model" audition.
Six people were injured, and two of them sought treatment at a hospital, authorities said.
Police said they didn't know what provoked the bedlam.
Three people were charged with disorderly conduct and inciting a riot in connection with the incident at the Park Central New York hotel in Manhattan.
The audition was shut down after the incident, authorities said.
Calls to Park Central management were not immediately returned on Saturday.
The "Top Model" competition, hosted and produced by supermodel Tyra Banks and aired by the CW network, is in its 12th cycle.
|
[
"What is the number of people arrested?",
"What network does the show air on?",
"Where was the audition being held?",
"What city held the auditions?",
"Who hosted the competition?",
"Where was the audition held?"
] |
[
"Three",
"the CW",
"New York hotel,",
"New York",
"Tyra Banks",
"Park Central New York hotel"
] |
question: What is the number of people arrested?, answer: Three | question: What network does the show air on?, answer: the CW | question: Where was the audition being held?, answer: New York hotel, | question: What city held the auditions?, answer: New York | question: Who hosted the competition?, answer: Tyra Banks | question: Where was the audition held?, answer: Park Central New York hotel
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Three people were arrested Saturday after chaos broke out at an "America's Next Top Model" audition at a New York hotel, police said.
"American's Next Top Model" is hosted and produced by supermodel Tyra Banks.
Six people were injured, and two of them sought treatment at a hospital, authorities said.
Police said they didn't know what provoked the bedlam, which resulted in three people being charged with disorderly conduct and inciting a riot in connection to the incident at the Park Central New York hotel in Manhattan.
The audition was shut down after the incident, authorities said.
Calls to Park Central management were not immediately returned on Saturday.
The "Top Model" competition, hosted and produced by supermodel Tyra Banks and aired by the CW network, is in its 12th cycle.
|
[
"Where can I watch the \"Top Model\" competition?",
"What show was it?",
"What type of treatment did the two people seek?",
"Who were arrested on Saturday?",
"What was the audition for?",
"How many people were arrested?",
"What audition is being held?",
"Who is it hosted by?"
] |
[
"CW network,",
"\"America's Next Top",
"at a hospital,",
"Three people",
"\"America's Next Top",
"Three",
"\"America's Next Top",
"Tyra Banks."
] |
question: Where can I watch the "Top Model" competition?, answer: CW network, | question: What show was it?, answer: "America's Next Top | question: What type of treatment did the two people seek?, answer: at a hospital, | question: Who were arrested on Saturday?, answer: Three people | question: What was the audition for?, answer: "America's Next Top | question: How many people were arrested?, answer: Three | question: What audition is being held?, answer: "America's Next Top | question: Who is it hosted by?, answer: Tyra Banks.
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Three years ago Tuesday, Leslie Marva Adams, an attractive, 40-year-old hair stylist from Atlanta, Georgia, chatted on the phone with her mother in the morning.
Leslie Adams, 40, filed a restraining order against an old boyfriend and disappeared three years ago.
It was the last conversation she would have with a family member.
On the third anniversary of Adams' disappearance, her family is still waiting for answers. Her daughter, Cierra Burk, 19, clings to the belief that Adams is alive.
"We will find her," Burk says.
The family became concerned when Adams failed to show up for her sister's birthday party the day after she talked on the phone with her mother. Two days after the missed party, Adams was officially reported missing.
At her apartment in suburban Lilburn, police found evidence suggesting foul play -- a 12-inch blood stain near her bed and a .45-caliber bullet casing. Adams' car was parked in her driveway and a handwritten note was found on her door.
Investigators soon learned the note was from her sister, Roberta. It said, "Leslie, we're worried about you, please call me as soon as possible." Watch how the mystery began with a missed party »
Adams had been having trouble with her ex-boyfriend, Billy Joe Cook, in the days leading up to her disappearance. She had accused him of stalking her and had filed a restraining order.
In the court document, she alleged that Cook had verbally and physically abused her. She said she feared for her life. A temporary restraining order was granted by the court, but Adams vanished before a scheduled hearing on the matter.
Phyllis Adams said her daughter told her in their final conversation that she had argued with Cook over the phone on the previous day.
According to the temporary restraining order, Cook was not to have any contact with Adams.
Police brought Cook in for questioning and learned he had spoken to Adams on the phone twice the day before she last spoke to her family. Although he was questioned extensively, police have not named Cook a suspect.
Police say he was very cooperative and there is no evidence suggesting his involvement in her disappearance, although they have not ruled him or anyone else out as a potential suspect or person of interest.
Just when they thought the trail had gone cold, police found what could be a lead in the case. In May 2007, clothing was recovered that could belong to the missing hair-dresser. Police found a pair of men's size 8 Reebok sneakers, size 10 capri pants, and a black sweater in the woods along I-85 in Franklin County, 90 miles from Adams' home in Atlanta.
They also discovered human bones and a breast implant near the clothing.
Police have sent the remains to a DNA testing lab and they have yet to be identified. The results are inconclusive, and police continue to collect DNA samples from Adams family members for future tests.
Leslie Marva Adams is an African-American female who stands 5 feet 5 inches, weighs 130 pounds, and has breast implants. Family members fear the remains could be Leslie Adams, but they are still hopeful that she will be found alive and well.
Burk, Adams' daughter, says she struggles with her emotions at this time of year.
"I still believe she is alive and we will find her, but this time of year is very hard," she said, fighting the tears. "It's my aunt's birthday, the day my mom didn't show up and we never saw her again, so it's hard not to break down."
Police and family urge anyone with information on the whereabouts of Leslie Adams to call the Gwinett County Police Department at (770) 513-5300. There is a $25,000 reward for information that helps locate Leslie Adams or leads to the arrest of the person responsible for her disappearance.
|
[
"When did Leslie Marva Adams disappear?",
"What was she due to attend",
"What are the police continuing to do?",
"Who disappeared three years ago",
"Who did Adam's take a restraining order out against",
"At what event did she fail to show up?",
"Who disappeared?",
"Who did Adams take out restraining order against?",
"What are police continuing with?"
] |
[
"three years ago.",
"sister's birthday party",
"collect DNA samples from Adams family members for future tests.",
"Leslie Marva Adams,",
"an old boyfriend",
"her sister's birthday party",
"Leslie Adams,",
"Billy Joe Cook,",
"to collect DNA samples from Adams family members for future tests."
] |
question: When did Leslie Marva Adams disappear?, answer: three years ago. | question: What was she due to attend, answer: sister's birthday party | question: What are the police continuing to do?, answer: collect DNA samples from Adams family members for future tests. | question: Who disappeared three years ago, answer: Leslie Marva Adams, | question: Who did Adam's take a restraining order out against, answer: an old boyfriend | question: At what event did she fail to show up?, answer: her sister's birthday party | question: Who disappeared?, answer: Leslie Adams, | question: Who did Adams take out restraining order against?, answer: Billy Joe Cook, | question: What are police continuing with?, answer: to collect DNA samples from Adams family members for future tests.
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- To understand how close Kanye West and his mother, Donda, were, one only needs to listen to his music.
Donda and Kanye West, here during her book tour, were very close.
He regularly made reference to her in his lyrics, discussing everything from her insistence that he receive a college degree to her unshakeable support of him when he ultimately decided to pursue a rap career.
Donda West, who died at 58 over the weekend, appeared to be as tough as she was loving.
On "Can't Tell Me Nothing," a track from his latest album, "Graduation," he rhymes about his mother's attempt to discourage him from spending money on jewelry and "Louis V." On "Touch the Sky," from his 2005 album, "Late Registration," he recalls how his mother drove him from Chicago, Illinois, to New York in a U-Haul van. (Read the obituary of Donda West.)
She was also the inspiration for the song "Hey Mama," from the same album. "I want to scream so loud for you/ because I'm so proud of you," he rhymes. "I know I act a fool/ but I promise you I'm going back to school/ I appreciate what you allowed for me and I just want you to be proud of me." Watch how Kanye West is mourning his mother »
Donda West was indeed proud. She regularly attended her son's concerts and often could be found dancing and rapping his more radio-friendly lyrics. Watch Donda West talk about "Raising Kanye" »
At the MTV Video Music Awards in September, she and a gaggle of girlfriends were perched in the VIP section at a party for Rolling Stone magazine. As Kanye West whipped the crowd into a frenzy with hits such as "Gold Digger" and "Through the Wire," his mom waved her hands in the air side to side and bobbed to the beats.
When asked if her son would sell more records than 50 Cent (both rappers released their albums on September 11), she answered coyly.
"Good music will win out," she said with a smile and a wink. (Her son's label is named Good Music.) Gallery: Donda and Kanye »
"Graduation" would go on to trounce 50 Cent's "Curtis," debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and selling more than 950,000 copies in its first week of release.
Long before her son became an international superstar, Donda West was an English professor at Chicago State University. She stepped down as chairwoman of the university's English department in 2004 to manage her son's burgeoning career full time.
The two collaborated on a book, "Raising Kanye: Life Lessons From the Mother of a Hip Hop Star," which was released in May. And most recently, she became the CEO of Super Good, the parent company of Kanye West Enterprises. She also was the chairwoman of the Kanye West Foundation, which, interestingly enough, is focused on keeping students from dropping out of school. E-mail to a friend
|
[
"What was Donda West's former profession?",
"What was Donda West supportive of?",
"Who did Kanye West pay tribute to?",
"who supportive her son's career?",
"Who was supportive of her son's career?",
"Who paid tribute to his mother in songs?",
"What was the mother's profession?"
] |
[
"English professor",
"Kanye",
"his mother",
"mother, Donda,",
"Donda West",
"Kanye West",
"English professor"
] |
question: What was Donda West's former profession?, answer: English professor | question: What was Donda West supportive of?, answer: Kanye | question: Who did Kanye West pay tribute to?, answer: his mother | question: who supportive her son's career?, answer: mother, Donda, | question: Who was supportive of her son's career?, answer: Donda West | question: Who paid tribute to his mother in songs?, answer: Kanye West | question: What was the mother's profession?, answer: English professor
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Topps Meat Co. on Saturday expanded a recall of ground beef from about 300,000 pounds to 21.7 million pounds, one of the largest meat recalls in U.S. history.
The recalled products are all ground beef patties with various brand names.
In a statement, the Elizabeth, New Jersey, company said the hamburger patties may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, a bacterium that can cause severe diarrhea and cramps, as well as other complications.
A statement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture said 25 illnesses are under investigation in Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The ground beef products being recalled have a "sell by date" or a "best if used by date" between September 25, 2007, and September 25, 2008, Topps' statement said. Watch the latest on the beef recall »
The packages also have the marking "Est. 9748" inside the USDA mark of inspection.
Tuesday, the company announced a recall of about 331,000 pounds of hamburger meat, according to the USDA.
"Because the health and safety of our consumers is our top priority, we are taking these expansive measures," said Vice President of Operations Geoffrey Livermore in the statement.
"Topps is continuing to work with the USDA, state departments of health, retailers and distributors to ensure the safety of our consumers. Additionally, we have augmented our internal quality control procedures with microbiologists and food safety experts. We sincerely regret any inconvenience and concerns this may cause our consumers," Livermore said.
This is the company's first recall in its 65 years of business, the statement said.
Consumers who find the products at home are asked to cut off the UPC code and return it to Topps for a full refund, then dispose of the product immediately, Topps spokeswoman Michelle Williams said.
The company said to avoid E. coli, consumers should wash hands thoroughly after handling the beef.
Topps set up a toll-free recall help line at (888) 734-0451.
Williams said because the products may have been produced up to a year ago, many of them have already been safely consumed.
Production in the ground beef area of the company's plant in Elizabeth has been shut down until all the investigations are complete, Williams said in a phone interview.
"We're working with the USDA and the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and conducting our own investigation," she added.
The products, all ground beef patties and hamburgers with various brand names, were distributed mainly in the northeastern United States, but went to retailers in many other areas of the country as well, Williams said.
While the sheer size of the recall is large, two other companies have been involved in larger recalls.
In 2002, Pilgrim's Pride recalled more than 27 million pounds of poultry, and Hudson Foods recalled 25 million pounds of ground beef in 1997. E-mail to a friend
|
[
"Who makes the patties?",
"What might the patties contain?",
"What happened to the plant's grinding operation?",
"What kind of bacteria may be present?",
"What number of states reported illness?",
"What might the hamburger patties contain?",
"What company made the hamburger?",
"Where have cases of illness been recorded?"
] |
[
"Topps Meat Co.",
"E. coli O157:H7,",
"shut down until all the investigations are complete,",
"E. coli O157:H7,",
"Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio",
"E. coli O157:H7,",
"Topps Meat Co.",
"Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania."
] |
question: Who makes the patties?, answer: Topps Meat Co. | question: What might the patties contain?, answer: E. coli O157:H7, | question: What happened to the plant's grinding operation?, answer: shut down until all the investigations are complete, | question: What kind of bacteria may be present?, answer: E. coli O157:H7, | question: What number of states reported illness?, answer: Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio | question: What might the hamburger patties contain?, answer: E. coli O157:H7, | question: What company made the hamburger?, answer: Topps Meat Co. | question: Where have cases of illness been recorded?, answer: Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Twenty-four people, including eight children, were injured in an apparent gas explosion at a Harlem apartment building, the New York Fire Department said.
The explosion blew out some of the windows in the five-story building.
John Rodgers, a spokesman for New York-Presbyterian Hospital, said Sunday that four of the eight children were from the same family.
The conditions of all those injured were not immediately known.
One child was in critical condition and the three others were in serious condition, New York Fire Department Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said.
All four had burn injuries. One of the injured is an infant.
A firefighter was also injured, but was in stable condition Saturday evening. He apparently was struck by falling debris, Scoppetta said. About 200 firefighters responded to the scene of the blast on West 119th Street in Harlem.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg visited the five-floor building after the explosion.
The 4 p.m. ET blast blew some of the building's windows out, according to firefighters. Watch rescue workers tend to injured » Although the blast was still under investigation, Scoppetta said the cause appeared to be a gas leak. New York police said the blast was at the rear of the structure.
Residents who assisted in pulling the injured out of the building said some kind of restaurant was being operated on the bottom floor of the building. Scoppetta refused comment on those reports, citing the ongoing investigation.
An emergency room worker at Harlem Hospital Center said the facility received five to six people from the explosion about 4:30 p.m., but would not provide an update on their conditions.
The building, which has 20 apartments, was evacuated, as were apartment buildings on both sides, Scoppetta said. Building inspectors will examine them to determine their structural integrity. E-mail to a friend
CNN's Caleb Silver, Jim Acosta and Richard Davis contributed to this report.
|
[
"what is their condition",
"who was injured",
"About how many firefighters were present?",
"What kind of business was in the basement?",
"What number of children are in serious condition?",
"what was in the building"
] |
[
"and the three others were in serious",
"Twenty-four people,",
"200",
"restaurant",
"three",
"some kind of restaurant"
] |
question: what is their condition, answer: and the three others were in serious | question: who was injured, answer: Twenty-four people, | question: About how many firefighters were present?, answer: 200 | question: What kind of business was in the basement?, answer: restaurant | question: What number of children are in serious condition?, answer: three | question: what was in the building, answer: some kind of restaurant
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Two George Washington Bridge security guards photographed sleeping on the job have been fired, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Two George Washington Bridge guards were fired for their on-the-job siestas.
A bicycle tour operator who commutes daily over the bridge from New Jersey to New York snapped photos of the two guards on different occasions, and the photos were published on a New Jersey local news Web site.
In one set of photographs by commuter Joey Lepore, taken during a Wednesday rush hour at 7:15 a.m., a guard tilts his head downward and dozes. The other snoozer's on-the-clock siesta is more brazen: he uses his arm as a pillow as he dozes at 10:15 a.m. last Monday.
Before releasing the photos, Lepore hesitated, knowing it would likely cost the guards their jobs. But ultimately he decided the security of thousands outweighed the job security of two.
"If there's two people on this bridge who don't care about my safety and the safety of anybody who comes over this bridge, then I really don't have an obligation to withhold what I have," he said.
Given the George Washington Bridge's iconic status and huge traffic volume, officials have long cited it as a potential terrorist target.
Lepore said he was moved to photograph the slumbering sentries after witnessing the same guard napping on three occasions.
"The first time I shrugged it off and said, 'I can't believe he's sleeping,'" said Lepore. "The second time I was very annoyed. Third time -- that's it."
Lepore said he later approached the guard, told him he had caught him asleep at his post three times, and said he had the photos to prove it. The profusely apologetic guard vowed it would not happen again.
Three weeks later, it did happen again, but this time with a different guard, according to Lepore.
Instead of discreetly taking photos from a distance, an indignant Lepore marched up to the guard's booth and snapped away. The guard did not stir.
The sleeping guards were employees of FJC Security, a security contractor used by the Port Authority, which operates the George Washington Bridge along with all other bridges leading into Manhattan.
In a statement, the Port Authority sought to assure commuters it views security as an issue of utmost importance, and urged people to report holes they notice in its defenses.
"The Port Authority takes the safety of its passengers and facilities very seriously and has spent more than $4 billion on security since 9/11. The Port Authority welcomes the public's vigilance on matters of safety and security and we encourage our customers to contact us if they encounter anything out of the ordinary," the agency said.
Although the guards' names were not released, the Port Authority said in its statement, "The two guards have been fired by the security contractor, FJC Security."
FJC Security did not respond to CNN's calls for comment.
Fran Townsend, a CNN contributor and former Bush homeland security adviser, called the guards' naps a serious lapse.
"It is unacceptable, particularly given the experience the Port Authority had with 9/11," she said, referring to the Port Authority's role as the operator of the World Trade Center.
|
[
"Who took pictures of the guards?",
"what did Jeoy Lepore say?",
"Who lost their job?",
"Who did guards work for?",
"Who did the guards work for?",
"Who took photos of a sleeping guard?"
] |
[
"Joey Lepore,",
"\"If there's two people on this bridge who don't care about my safety and",
"Two George Washington Bridge security guards",
"FJC Security,",
"Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.",
"A bicycle tour operator"
] |
question: Who took pictures of the guards?, answer: Joey Lepore, | question: what did Jeoy Lepore say?, answer: "If there's two people on this bridge who don't care about my safety and | question: Who lost their job?, answer: Two George Washington Bridge security guards | question: Who did guards work for?, answer: FJC Security, | question: Who did the guards work for?, answer: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. | question: Who took photos of a sleeping guard?, answer: A bicycle tour operator
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Two U.S. customs agents were arrested on charges they helped smuggle drugs and other contraband through New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The DEA says two customs officials at JFK International Airport helped smuggle drugs and contraband.
Customs supervisor Walter Golembiowski and officer John Ajello face narcotics, bribery and conspiracy charges in the case, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Golembiowski and Ajello regularly solicited and accepted bribes to allow contraband to pass through undetected, the DEA said.
Two airport workers and two others were also charged with importing counterfeit goods. Some of those items included Rolex, Cartier and Chanel watches and designer sunglasses, the DEA said. On several occasions, Golembiowski was captured on audio and video taking bribes to aid his co-conspirators in bringing in illegal drugs and counterfeit goods.
"Smuggling any kind of illegal commodity raises troubling issues at a time of deep concern over national security," said Michael J. Garcia, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. "The threat is heightened when a government official accepts bribes to help smugglers breach our borders."
The arrests came as a result of a lengthy sting operation by a state, local and federal task force. Prosecutors said numerous recorded meetings and phone calls captured the suspects talking about plans to smuggle hashish, ecstasy and other illegal items.
The investigation has led to the indictment and prosecution of more than 20 people -- "from distributors to overseas sources of supply" -- and the seizure of more than 600 pounds of imported hashish and other drugs from the United States and France, according to the statement.
|
[
"What has led to the indictment and prosecution of more than 20 people?",
"Who was arrested on it?",
"what DEA says two agents?",
"Who accepted and solicited bribes?",
"Who smuggled illegal contraband and drugs?",
"Who accepted bribes?"
] |
[
"The investigation",
"Two U.S. customs agents",
"customs officials at JFK International Airport helped smuggle drugs and contraband.",
"Golembiowski",
"two customs officials at JFK International Airport",
"Golembiowski and Ajello"
] |
question: What has led to the indictment and prosecution of more than 20 people?, answer: The investigation | question: Who was arrested on it?, answer: Two U.S. customs agents | question: what DEA says two agents?, answer: customs officials at JFK International Airport helped smuggle drugs and contraband. | question: Who accepted and solicited bribes?, answer: Golembiowski | question: Who smuggled illegal contraband and drugs?, answer: two customs officials at JFK International Airport | question: Who accepted bribes?, answer: Golembiowski and Ajello
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Two additional suspects in the strangulation of an 89-year-old Holocaust survivor were arrested Friday, the Manhattan district attorney's office said.
Felix Brinkmann dances at a 2008 birthday party. "He was not the kind of guy who had enemies," his son says.
Aljulah Cutts, 27, and his brother Hasib, 30, were taken into custody in Manhattan in connection with the death last week of Guido Felix Brinkmann, the district attorney's office said.
A spokeswoman declined to specify what, if any, connection the men are suspected to have had to the victim or to a woman previously arrested in the case.
Police also would not say what charges the two might face.
The woman, Angela Murray, 30, of the Bronx, was arraigned Sunday on one count of murder in the second degree and three counts of robbery in the case.
Brinkmann was found dead in the bedroom of his apartment July 30, his hands tied behind his back, police said. A safe was missing from the apartment, and his car had been stolen.
Brinkmann, a native of Latvia, was held in the Mauthausen, Ebensee and Auschwitz camps during World War II.
After the war, he and his wife, who also survived Auschwitz, came to America.
In 1971, Brinkmann co-founded Adam's Apple disco in Manhattan, and later was the real estate manager of a mixed-use building in the Bronx, according to his son, Rick Brinkman, who uses a different spelling for his last name.
Brinkmann's wife died last year.
CNN's Jason Kessler and Chris Kokenes contributed to this report.
|
[
"Where was Brinkmann found?",
"What was missing from apartment?",
"Who was taken into custody?",
"What was Brinkmann's age?",
"What age was Brinkmann?",
"When was the woman arraigned?"
] |
[
"dead in the bedroom of his apartment",
"A safe",
"Aljulah Cutts, 27, and his brother Hasib, 30,",
"89-year-old",
"89-year-old",
"Sunday"
] |
question: Where was Brinkmann found?, answer: dead in the bedroom of his apartment | question: What was missing from apartment?, answer: A safe | question: Who was taken into custody?, answer: Aljulah Cutts, 27, and his brother Hasib, 30, | question: What was Brinkmann's age?, answer: 89-year-old | question: What age was Brinkmann?, answer: 89-year-old | question: When was the woman arraigned?, answer: Sunday
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Two customers are suing Wal-Mart for negligence after being injured in a mad rush for post-Thanksgiving bargains that left one store employee dead, the men's attorney said Tuesday.
A temporary worker at this Wal-Mart was crushed to death when shoppers rushed into the store last week.
Temporary Wal-Mart worker Jdimytai Damour, 34, was crushed to death as he and other employees attempted to unlock the doors of a store on Long Island at 5 a.m. Friday.
Attorney Kenneth Mollins said Fritz Mesadieu and Jonathan Mesadieu were "literally carried from their position outside the store" and are now "suffering from pain in their neck and their back from being caught in that surge of people" that rushed into the Wal-Mart.
New York Newsday reported that the Mesadieus are father and son, ages 51 and 19.
The lawsuit alleges that the Mesadieus' injuries were a result of "carelessness, recklessness, negligence."
In a claim against the Nassau County police department, the men also contend that they "sustained monetary losses as a result of health care and legal expenses ... in the sum of $2 million."
"This is a tragic situation that could have and should have been avoided with the exercise of reasonable care. There are very simple measures that could have been put in place to avoid this, such as barriers along the line to spread people out, extra security and a better police presence," Mollins said.
He said his clients and others who were at the scene contend that the police "were there ... saw what was happening, and they left."
Calls seeking comment from Wal-Mart Stores Inc. were not immediately returned.
Lt. Kevin Smith of the Nassau County Police Department said, "it's our policy that we don't comment on open litigations" and would not respond directly to Mollins and his clients' claim that officers left the scene.
He said it is "incumbent upon the store to provide security" but noted that there was no security force present when officers responded to an initial phone call after 3 a.m. Friday for an unknown disturbance at the site.
Smith said the officers noticed a lack of order with the crowd and began to organize them into a line, remaining on site for about 30 minutes until the crowd had become orderly.
Throughout the morning, officers went back to check on the crowd and continued to notice no disturbance, Smith said.
He said that there were no additional calls for assistance until about 5 a.m., when people began rushing the doors of the store and trampled Damour.
An autopsy showed that Damour died of asphyxiation after being trampled, Nassau County officials have said.
Video showed that as many as a dozen people were knocked to the floor in the stampede of people trying to get into the store. The employee was "stepped on by hundreds of people" as other workers attempted to fight their way through the crowd, said Nassau County Police Detective Lt. Michael Fleming.
CNN's Kristen Hamill contributed to this report
|
[
"Customers filed claim against who?",
"Who got injured?",
"Who was the store employee who was killed?",
"What were the police accused of?",
"What was the reason for this incident happening?",
"Men suffered from injuries due to what?",
"Who else did the customers file claims against?",
"Number of store employees that was killed in shopping sale?",
"How many people actually died in this incident?",
"How many store employees were killed?"
] |
[
"Wal-Mart",
"Fritz Mesadieu and Jonathan Mesadieu",
"Jdimytai Damour,",
"\"carelessness, recklessness, negligence.\"",
"post-Thanksgiving bargains",
"\"carelessness, recklessness, negligence.\"",
"Nassau County police department,",
"one",
"one",
"one"
] |
question: Customers filed claim against who?, answer: Wal-Mart | question: Who got injured?, answer: Fritz Mesadieu and Jonathan Mesadieu | question: Who was the store employee who was killed?, answer: Jdimytai Damour, | question: What were the police accused of?, answer: "carelessness, recklessness, negligence." | question: What was the reason for this incident happening?, answer: post-Thanksgiving bargains | question: Men suffered from injuries due to what?, answer: "carelessness, recklessness, negligence." | question: Who else did the customers file claims against?, answer: Nassau County police department, | question: Number of store employees that was killed in shopping sale?, answer: one | question: How many people actually died in this incident?, answer: one | question: How many store employees were killed?, answer: one
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Two-year-old Tangena Hussain vanished three months ago in the Detroit suburb of Hamtramck, Michigan, and police say the trail has gone cold.
Tangena Hussain, 2, has been missing since October 2 and police in Michigan are asking for the public's help.
Tangena's mother called police on the evening of October 2, 2008, to report her daughter missing after frantically searching the area where she was last seen.
The child's mother, Nilufa Begum, told police she had left the girl in the care of her boyfriend, Jamrul Hussain. Although Tangena and Hussain have the same last name, he is not her father.
Begum told investigators her daughter was with Hussain all day while she worked at the Northland Mall. Hussain said he stopped at a gas station with Tangena while on the way to the mall to pick up Begum.
They stopped at about 9 p.m. to buy gum and juice, he said. Hussain told police he left Tangena in the car for only a few moments and when he returned, the little girl was gone.
He did not call police and did not conduct a search, but instead drove to the mall and picked up Begum, investigators said.
When she saw Tangena was not with Hussain, Begum asked him where she was. His response was cryptic, she told police. He said he would take her to the place where her daughter was.
Begum became alarmed as Hussain drove to a gas station where, he said, Tangena disappeared. They searched for Tangena together, while Begum called the police to report her daughter missing.
A surveillance camera shows the boyfriend, Hussain, going into the gas station's store, police said. On the video, he makes some purchases and leaves within a few minutes. But there is no video of the area where Hussain parked his car, nor any video that could show whether the little girl had been there or how she might have disappeared.
Police have not named a person of interest in the toddler's disappearance.
When the media picked up the story, a teenager came forward, saying she recognized Hussain as the man who allegedly attacked her. During the investigation, police discovered that the young accuser, then 15, had been Hussain's prior girlfriend.
Hussain, 24, was arrested and charged with two counts of having sex with a minor. He is free on bail while awaiting trial.
"My client is innocent of the charges. He did not have sex with a minor child," said Hussain's lawyer, Shawn Patrick Smith.
Tangena's parents said they just want answers. Her father, Mohammad Ahmed, lives in New York and added $5,000 to an existing Crimestopper's reward of $1,000.
"We are praying that someone knows something that can help us find my daughter," Ahmed said. "How can a child disappear without someone seeing something? Something doesn't fit about [Hussain's] story."
When questioned, Begun told police only she and Hussain saw Tangena in the week leading up to her October 2 disappearance.
A Michigan Amber Alert was issued for Tangena at 5 a.m. the morning after she disappeared. But in the months since, police have hit a dead end.
Police and family members are turning to the public for help. If anyone has seen Tangena Hussain or has any information regarding her whereabouts, please call the Detroit Police Department at 313-596-1240.
Tangena is 3' 2" tall, weighs 34 lbs, has black short hair, brown eyes, and is of East Indian descent. She was last seen wearing white cargo pants, brown long-sleeved T-shirt with a cartoon picture on the front and gold sandals.
The reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Tangena Hussain is $6,000.
|
[
"How much is the reward?",
"What is the name of the person?",
"What age was Tangena Hussain?",
"When was Tangena Hussain last seen?",
"how much is the reward which is offered?",
"When was the person last seen?",
"What number should you call?",
"What is the amount of the reward that is offered?"
] |
[
"$1,000.",
"Tangena Hussain,",
"Two-year-old",
"October 2",
"$1,000.",
"October 2, 2008,",
"313-596-1240.",
"$6,000."
] |
question: How much is the reward?, answer: $1,000. | question: What is the name of the person?, answer: Tangena Hussain, | question: What age was Tangena Hussain?, answer: Two-year-old | question: When was Tangena Hussain last seen?, answer: October 2 | question: how much is the reward which is offered?, answer: $1,000. | question: When was the person last seen?, answer: October 2, 2008, | question: What number should you call?, answer: 313-596-1240. | question: What is the amount of the reward that is offered?, answer: $6,000.
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- U.S. authorities arrested six people Wednesday on suspicion of smuggling African elephant ivory worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, law enforcement officials said.
Imports of African elephant ivory have been banned in the United States since 1976.
The defendants arranged to have ivory from Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Uganda shipped into the United States disguised as wooden snakes, guitars and statues, authorities said.
"The defendants plundered precious natural resources for personal profit," U.S. Attorney Benton J. Campbell and other officials said in a statement. "Their illegal trade threatens the continued existence of an endangered species and will not be tolerated."
Federal agents tracked at least eight shipments, including one worth an estimated $165,000.
Federal agents used surveillance and shipping, phone and bank records to track the suspect shipments. Arrests were made in New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Texas.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement division of the Department of Homeland Security were involved in the law enforcement operation.
One suspect told an undercover federal agent during a purchase that it was difficult to bring ivory into the United States, but easy to sell it at high prices, the government statement said.
Two other suspects also are accused of paying a courier $15,000 to bring a shipment of ivory from Cameroon into the United States.
The U.S. banned ivory imports in 1976, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora effectively outlawed trade in elephant tissue in 1989.
Illegal trade in African elephant ivory is considered to be a major cause of the continuing decline of elephant populations in Africa.
The defendants are expected to appear in court in New York on Wednesday. They face jail terms of up to 20 years if convicted.
|
[
"When did the ivory trade become illegal?",
"In what ways was ivory smuggled?",
"What was ivory reportedly disguised as?",
"How many states face federal smuggling charges?",
"When has trade in elephant ivory been illegal since?",
"Which for states do the six live in?",
"When was the ivory trade made illegal worldwide?",
"What was this ivory disguised as?",
"When was the ivory trade made illegal in the US?",
"Where was the ivory?",
"What was disguised as guitars and other items?",
"Which four states?",
"Who is the U.S. attorney?",
"How many people were charged in this case?",
"When was the ivory trade banned worldwide?",
"What was the ivory disguised as?",
"What charges are six people facing?"
] |
[
"1976.",
"disguised as wooden snakes, guitars and statues,",
"as wooden snakes, guitars and statues,",
"New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Texas.",
"1976.",
"New York, New Jersey, Virginia",
"1989.",
"wooden snakes, guitars and statues,",
"1976.",
"Cameroon,",
"African elephant ivory",
"New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Texas.",
"Benton J. Campbell",
"six",
"1989.",
"wooden snakes, guitars and statues,",
"suspicion of smuggling"
] |
question: When did the ivory trade become illegal?, answer: 1976. | question: In what ways was ivory smuggled?, answer: disguised as wooden snakes, guitars and statues, | question: What was ivory reportedly disguised as?, answer: as wooden snakes, guitars and statues, | question: How many states face federal smuggling charges?, answer: New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Texas. | question: When has trade in elephant ivory been illegal since?, answer: 1976. | question: Which for states do the six live in?, answer: New York, New Jersey, Virginia | question: When was the ivory trade made illegal worldwide?, answer: 1989. | question: What was this ivory disguised as?, answer: wooden snakes, guitars and statues, | question: When was the ivory trade made illegal in the US?, answer: 1976. | question: Where was the ivory?, answer: Cameroon, | question: What was disguised as guitars and other items?, answer: African elephant ivory | question: Which four states?, answer: New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Texas. | question: Who is the U.S. attorney?, answer: Benton J. Campbell | question: How many people were charged in this case?, answer: six | question: When was the ivory trade banned worldwide?, answer: 1989. | question: What was the ivory disguised as?, answer: wooden snakes, guitars and statues, | question: What charges are six people facing?, answer: suspicion of smuggling
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- What started as a college a cappella pastime became a ticket to the big time for 10 Indiana University graduates.
Straight No Chaser broke up years ago, but success on YouTube brought the band back together.
Last year a member of the disbanded group -- called Straight No Chaser -- posted a video of a quirky 1998 performance of "The 12 Days of Christmas" on YouTube. It got more than 8 million hits. And one of the people watching was Craig Kallman, chairman and CEO of Atlantic Records.
Kallman summoned a couple of the troupe members to Los Angeles, where he offered them a record deal. Straight up. The boys (now men, of course) got back together and within 10 months -- and almost 10 years after graduation -- had a debut album neatly tied with a bow.
And you thought your college reunion was exciting. Watch Straight No Chaser blend their voices »
"Holiday Spirits" mostly features festive covers such as "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and "Silent Night," all sung in the a cappella tradition but with creative and entertaining tweaks. (They do a stirring Christmas-infused rendition of Toto's "Africa.")
Members of Straight No Chaser sang for CNN in New York recently, talked about their surprising career turn and where it leaves their day jobs.
CNN: What is it like then to actually become a YouTube sensation?
Randy Stine: Well, [Jerome] got recognized on the street in Hong Kong.
Jerome Collins: A person walked up to me and said, "Hey, I know this may be out of line, but you look like this guy on this video I just saw." I called [Randy] and I was like, "We officially made it. We're being recognized in Hong Kong by some random person on the street." So it was kind of cool, and that's when I knew that [it] was on a bigger scale than we thought.
CNN: What went through your mind when you got the call from Atlantic Records?
Stine: I was half believing it was a prank. I got the call from Craig, and while I'm talking to him the first time, I'm on the computer Googling his name to read his bio. It was just kind of a dream phone call. And I kept thinking, "Is this really happening?" It was pretty amazing.
CNN: You all have day jobs, don't you?
Stine: Yeah. I was actually in Chicago doing IT sales, wishing I was still in music. We're all spread across the country. We've got guys in Chicago, Vegas, Atlanta, here in New York. Jerome was actually in Hong Kong when all this started, and he moved back from Hong Kong to be a part of this.
CNN: What were you doing in Hong Kong?
Collins: I was doing a festival of "The Lion King," and I was Simba. We have one guy selling medical devices, another guy a reporter for ABC, one guy working at a bank, another guy a teacher. ... You name it, we have it.
CNN: And how do you arrange rehearsing or performances if you are scattered throughout the country?
Stine: That's probably one of the big challenges. We all have to fly in from whatever city we're in to New York, to Chicago, L.A., wherever we have to meet up to rehearse or record. But when we get together it's like no time has passed.
CNN: Are you going to keep your day jobs?
Collins: There's no chance that I'm going to be keeping my day job. I obviously gave it up to try and do this so I know for a fact that I'm not going to be going back. I hope they didn't hear that. This is it. This is what I dreamed to do as a kid. This is what I want my day job to be.
|
[
"What was formed at the university in the ninety's?",
"What formed straight no chaser?",
"What was the result of the video posted on YouTube?",
"What had given the band huge success?",
"Who has a record contract?",
"What a capella group has record contract?"
] |
[
"Straight No Chaser",
"college a cappella pastime",
"brought the band back together.",
"on YouTube",
"Straight No Chaser",
"Straight No Chaser"
] |
question: What was formed at the university in the ninety's?, answer: Straight No Chaser | question: What formed straight no chaser?, answer: college a cappella pastime | question: What was the result of the video posted on YouTube?, answer: brought the band back together. | question: What had given the band huge success?, answer: on YouTube | question: Who has a record contract?, answer: Straight No Chaser | question: What a capella group has record contract?, answer: Straight No Chaser
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- When singer-pianist Peter Cincotti showed up to speak to CNN in 2004, he was fresh-faced and impeccably dressed in a suit and shiny shoes.
Peter Cincotti rose to fame as a jazz pianist. His new album features pop songs.
Seated at a piano, and under the watchful eye of his very sweet mother Cynthia, Cincotti performed the standard "How High the Moon," showing off piano skills you'd expect from someone far beyond his 21 years.
His debut album had just topped the Billboard traditional jazz chart -- the youngest artist to claim such a feat.
Now 25, Cincotti is still fresh-faced, but he sings to a very different tune. Looking trendy in a fitted sweater, his hair a little looser, his personality more playful -- mom didn't come to this interview -- Peter has gone pop.
"He's this great jazz pianist," says producer David Foster, who worked on Cincotti's new album. "And he just turned the whole thing 180 and wrote these incredible pop songs."
To Cincotti, whose pop debut "East of Angel Town" was released last week on Warner Bros. Records, the switch isn't that big a deal.
"I'm a musician," he says. "I was just playing what I love then, and I'm playing what I love now." Watch Cincotti do what he loves »
Enlisting Foster to help navigate the transition was crafty: Foster is a 15-time Grammy winner with an undeniable knack for generating pop hits. He also has a reputation for getting his way in the studio. But Cincotti, a native New Yorker, didn't make things easy.
"He's a control freak, too, so we butted heads a lot," says Foster. "And he actually made me come to New York to make the record. And I don't like New York because I'm claustrophobic and I don't dig elevators. But he made me come here for three months. That's how much I loved his music."
Cincotti smiles when he recalls the expletive-ridden voicemail message Foster left him expressing his displeasure over having to vacate his Los Angeles base to work on the project.
"I saved that message," Cincotti says. "It's great."
Cincotti talked to CNN about new beginnings, old influences and playing piano in the fast lane. The following is an edited version of the interview.
CNN: What do you love about pop?
Peter Cincotti: To be honest I don't even categorize (my music) as that. It's just what I'm doing now. This is my first record that I've written everything. It's my first record of original material so the style changed and that's basically what I'm doing right now.
CNN: When a 25-year-old is writing songs, what experiences are you drawing on?
Cincotti: Well, this record is ... kind of like a debut, and I wanted to write about things that I never sang about before in songs. Things that either happened to me, personal experiences. And I didn't want to write a record of "I love you and you love me."
So a lot of the subject matter I think is a bit atypical of what's out there right now ... at least to me.
CNN: You've been playing the piano since you were how old?
Cincotti: I started when I was 3. My grandma bought me this ten-key toy piano, and she taught me how to play "Happy Birthday." It was my third birthday, and I sat down and I never stopped.
CNN: Which pianists have inspired you over the years?
Cincotti: There are so many. I'm still going through phases. I'll just listen to a certain musician. The first guy I remember ... I got my first cassette ... it was a Jerry Lee Lewis tape. I remember I was 5 years old and I went with my uncle to the record
|
[
"Whom did Native New Yorker insist come to N.Y. to produce?",
"Who is Peter Cincotti?",
"What did Cincotti start doing when he was 3 and who was his influence?",
"Who influenced Cincotti?",
"What kind of music does Cincotti play?"
] |
[
"David Foster,",
"singer-pianist",
"Jerry Lee Lewis",
"Jerry Lee Lewis",
"jazz"
] |
question: Whom did Native New Yorker insist come to N.Y. to produce?, answer: David Foster, | question: Who is Peter Cincotti?, answer: singer-pianist | question: What did Cincotti start doing when he was 3 and who was his influence?, answer: Jerry Lee Lewis | question: Who influenced Cincotti?, answer: Jerry Lee Lewis | question: What kind of music does Cincotti play?, answer: jazz
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- When stock markets are soaring, people think they're making money because they're geniuses. But when the market tanks -- which it always does, sooner or later -- people look for villains to blame for their losses.
Allan Sloan says the real lesson of the Madoff case is not to rely on others to protect your investments.
That brings us to Bernie Madoff, who has become the iconic symbol of the current horrible market and economic meltdown, even though he really had nothing to do with it.
Yes, Madoff sure seems to be a really, really bad guy who ruined lots and lots of lives and should probably be locked up for the rest of his natural days.
But Madoff's misdeeds -- or as our lawyers would prefer, his alleged misdeeds -- have nothing to do with the market meltdown that has sliced trillions of dollars from our collective net worth.
He's become the symbol of the current meltdown the same way that uber-tastemaker Martha Stewart became a face of the 2001-02 corporate crime wave, even though the misdeeds of which she was convicted -- misleading government investigators -- were less than penny-ante compared to the multi-billion dollar frauds that first built up and then destroyed giant companies such as Enron and WorldCom.
Along with Madoff, the Securities and Exchange Commission is being portrayed as the villain of the piece, having failed to catch him long ago when his alleged depredations must have been much smaller. Instead, it gave him a few wrist slaps until he confessed his misdeeds a month ago.
But, tips from Boston money manager Harry Markopoulos over the years notwithstanding, it's not at all surprising that the SEC missed Madoff. In fact, I'd have been amazed if the SEC had been the ones to catch him.
Why? I don't want to seem cynical or jaded, but after almost 40 years of covering business news, I've seen the same thing happen over and over because of the way regulators are trained. If someone runs a little bit out of the baseline by chiseling on numbers or playing some other game, regulators are pretty good at catching him (or her).
But if -- like Madoff -- you make up numbers from scratch and deal with huge sums, you're so far out of the baseline that regulators aren't looking for you there.
It's very hard for an SEC regulator to wrap his head around the idea that an establishment guy like Madoff -- a Nasdaq market pioneer and an occasional consultant to the SEC -- is capable of just making things up out of whole cloth. But, it would appear, he was.
And as an aside, it's easy to blame George W. Bush's anti-regulation policies for the SEC not catching Madoff. But Markopoulos' original tips reached the SEC when Bill Clinton was president.
Like newspapers, where I used to work, regulators get all sorts of tips coming across the transom. As in newspapers, I suspect, many of the tips end up ignored.
Markopoulos was right about Madoff's operation being a fraud. But his magnum opus -- an 18-page 2005 letter listing 29 "red flags" -- is quite dense and confusing, probably because he'd gotten frustrated after years of not being taken very seriously.
Unfortunately, the letter didn't list what would have been (in hindsight, naturally) the simplest tip-off: that this supposedly multi-billion dollar operation was audited by an obscure three-person accounting firm.
As Jim Heatherington, a Tulsa, Oklahoma, certified public accountant, pointed out to me after reading a Madoff column I wrote for Fortune, a simple database search shows that the firm hadn't had a peer review since 1990. That would -- or should -- have set off all sorts of alarm bells.
Back to the main event. Ponzi schemes, in which you pay existing investors not by making a profit but by getting money from new investors, have been around forever.
Like Madoff, a Jew who preyed on fellow Jews and Jewish charities such as Elie Wiesel's foundation, Ponzi
|
[
"Who is being blamed for the collapse?",
"What is the real lesson here?",
"What is the real lesson?",
"What do regulators rarely catch?",
"What does Allan Sloan think the real lesson for investors is?",
"Who is being blamed for collapse of stock market values?",
"Name of the person involved with the pyramid scheme?",
"What is Madoff being blamed for?",
"What is Madoff's first name?"
] |
[
"Bernie Madoff,",
"not to rely on others to protect your investments.",
"not to rely on others to protect your investments.",
"huge sums,",
"not to rely on others to protect your investments.",
"Bernie Madoff,",
"Bernie Madoff,",
"current horrible market and economic meltdown,",
"Bernie"
] |
question: Who is being blamed for the collapse?, answer: Bernie Madoff, | question: What is the real lesson here?, answer: not to rely on others to protect your investments. | question: What is the real lesson?, answer: not to rely on others to protect your investments. | question: What do regulators rarely catch?, answer: huge sums, | question: What does Allan Sloan think the real lesson for investors is?, answer: not to rely on others to protect your investments. | question: Who is being blamed for collapse of stock market values?, answer: Bernie Madoff, | question: Name of the person involved with the pyramid scheme?, answer: Bernie Madoff, | question: What is Madoff being blamed for?, answer: current horrible market and economic meltdown, | question: What is Madoff's first name?, answer: Bernie
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- When the Emperors Club VIP said it was sending Kristen, a call girl it described as a "petite, very pretty brunette, 5 feet 5 inches, and 105 pounds," Client 9 was pleased.
Ashley Alexandra Dupre writes on her MySpace page: "I have been broke and homeless."
"Great, OK, wonderful," he told the escort service's booking agent, according to a federal affidavit.
Client 9, later revealed to be New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, was caught arranging the liaison on a federal wiretap. It was the beginning of the end for him.
For the woman at the heart of the prostitution scandal, it was just another step on what she calls an "odyssey" of degrading abuse and high aspirations.
Court documents reportedly identified Ashley Youmans -- now known as Ashley Alexandra Dupre -- as Kristen, the high-priced prostitute who met with Spitzer at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington on February 13.
Dupre is a 22-year-old would-be singer from New Jersey, the New York Times reported Wednesday.
She has not been charged with any crime. Watch a report from Dupre's apartment building »
Dupre made a brief appearance Monday in U.S. Magistrate Court as a witness against four people charged with operating Emperor's Club VIP, the prostitution ring, the Times said.
Spitzer announced his resignation Wednesday as governor of New York, two days after reports of his connection to the Emperors Club VIP emerged.
Dupre told the Times she's mostly gone without sleep since the case became public.
"I just don't want to be thought of as a monster," Dupre told the newspaper. She revealed little else in the interview, but her MySpace page offered some insight into her background.
Dupre writes that she left home at 17 to begin "my odyssey to New York."
"It was my decision, and I've never looked back," she writes. "Left my hometown. Left a broken family. Left abuse. Left an older brother who had already split. Left and learned what it was like to have everything, and lose it, again and again.
"Learned what it was like to wake up one day and have the people you care about most gone. I have been alone. I have abused drugs. I have been broke and homeless. But, I survived, on my own. I am here, in NY because of my music." Watch Kyle Youmans describe his sister as "tough" »
In her profile, Dupre says she moved to Manhattan to pursue her music career.
"I am all about my music, and my music is all about me," she writes on her MySpace page. "It flows from what I've been through, what I've seen and how I feel."
The page includes a picture of Dupre with the slogan "what destroys me, strengthens me." It also features a song titled "What we want" recorded by Dupre, with lyrics including "I know what you want, you got what I want, I know what you need, can you handle me?"
On the MySpace page, Dupre lists singers Etta James, Aretha Franklin and Celine Dion, as well as her brother, as her influences.
She also offers some advice for those experiencing hard times.
"I made it. I'm still here and I love who I am. If I never went through the hard times, I would not be able to appreciate the good ones," Dupre writes.
"Cliché, yes, but I know it's true. I have experienced just how hard it can be. I can honestly tell you to never dwell on the past, but build from it and keep moving forward."
Her brother, Kyle Youmans, told CNN he would not comment on the case or how his sister earns money, but he said she is "the best sister you could have."
"I'm sticking by my sister, doing everything so
|
[
"What did Dupre write on her MySpace page?",
"what new york times say?",
"What do the documents show?",
"what is the name of the woman",
"what she has not been charged of?",
"what has she been accused of doing",
"What is the name of the woman identified in court documents?",
"What does Dupre write about?",
"What did Dupre's brother say?",
"what does her brother think",
"what dupre writes on her myspace page?",
"Has she been charged?"
] |
[
"\"I have been broke and homeless.\"",
"Dupre is a 22-year-old would-be singer from",
"identified Ashley Youmans",
"Ashley Alexandra Dupre",
"any crime.",
"liaison on a federal wiretap.",
"Ashley Alexandra Dupre",
"\"I have been broke and homeless.\"",
"she is \"the best sister you could have.\"",
"she is \"the best sister you could have.\"",
"\"I have been broke and homeless.\"",
"not"
] |
question: What did Dupre write on her MySpace page?, answer: "I have been broke and homeless." | question: what new york times say?, answer: Dupre is a 22-year-old would-be singer from | question: What do the documents show?, answer: identified Ashley Youmans | question: what is the name of the woman, answer: Ashley Alexandra Dupre | question: what she has not been charged of?, answer: any crime. | question: what has she been accused of doing, answer: liaison on a federal wiretap. | question: What is the name of the woman identified in court documents?, answer: Ashley Alexandra Dupre | question: What does Dupre write about?, answer: "I have been broke and homeless." | question: What did Dupre's brother say?, answer: she is "the best sister you could have." | question: what does her brother think, answer: she is "the best sister you could have." | question: what dupre writes on her myspace page?, answer: "I have been broke and homeless." | question: Has she been charged?, answer: not
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- While President Obama takes plenty of heat over his plans to overhaul domestic policies, critics have also taken aim at his foreign policy approach, particularly as it relates to human rights around the globe.
Human Rights Watch advocacy director Tom Malinowski says Obama should have met with the Dalai Lama.
Human Rights Watch advocacy director Tom Malinowski said Wednesday that while the administration appeared to have "gotten the balance right" on Myanmar, the military junta-ruled Asian nation formerly known as Burma, by starting a dialogue while maintaining sanctions, "China is a different matter."
"And that's where we've seen the tension play out in the most acute way, with several signals that have been sent suggesting that the administration is putting human rights issues to one side," Malinowski said on CNN's "Amanpour." "And most recently, the, I think, symbolic mistake of the president declining to meet the Dalai Lama before his own visit to China later next month." Watch the discussion »
The Tibetan spiritual leader, who fled to India in 1959 and established a government in exile there, visited the United States earlier this month.
China considers Tibet a renegade province and accuses the Dalai Lama of inciting violence.
The timing of a presidential meeting with the Dalai Lama is considered largely symbolic, and Malinowski said the president's delay "sent a message to the Chinese government that perhaps this isn't as high a priority for the United States as it has been in the past."
Malinowski also criticized the U.S. special envoy to Sudan, retired Air Force Maj. J. Scott Gration, who had suggested wooing the Sudanese government with "cookies" and "gold stars, smiley faces, handshakes, agreements, talk, engagement" to change its attitude about Darfur, where genocide and famine have killed hundreds of thousands of people.
"It's a really dumb thing to say," said Malinowski, who previously served in the administration of President Clinton.
"Governments like this, they are not children, and they do not react to cookies and gold stars," he said. "They act on their interests, and historically, as you know from Bosnia, to all the places where we have successfully defeated this kind of violence, governments respond to pressure."
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, a candidate for re-election next year, has been indicted on war-crimes charges by the International Criminal Court. Despite Gration's comments, the Obama administration has not yet articulated a Sudan policy.
But Louise Arbour, president of the International Crisis Group and a former U.N. human rights commissioner, told "Amanpour" that talking rather than pressuring governments over human rights can be beneficial.
"If you have a policy of engagement, which I think very much is the one put forward by the Obama administration, you may give an impression that you're softening," said Arbour, who is also a former war crimes prosecutor. "It's very easy to look tough, right? You don't talk to anybody, you repudiate everything, you slam all the doors and you accomplish nothing, or very little. And we have a lot of precedence for that.
"When you have a policy of reinforcing diplomatic initiatives, engagement, it may look soft, because you have to put on the table a multiplicity of issues, not just a single one. But on balance, I think there's more chance on some of these ... all important initiatives than just by looking tough and achieving nothing."
Arbour added, however, that the engagement approach to human rights abuses will not create fast change from the abusive regimes.
Noting the glacial pace of transformation in Myanmar, where democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been held under house arrest for nearly two decades, Arbour said "it's going to be very slow."
"You can't have 20 years of extremely adversarial, confrontational posturing, and then say, well, we're ready to talk and be friendly, and assume that the other
|
[
"what did human rights watch official say",
"An Ex UN official said what about Obama's strategy"
] |
[
"Obama should have met with the Dalai Lama.",
"\"gotten the balance right\""
] |
question: what did human rights watch official say, answer: Obama should have met with the Dalai Lama. | question: An Ex UN official said what about Obama's strategy, answer: "gotten the balance right"
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- With Sen. Hillary Clinton beside him, Sen. Barack Obama emphasized the challenges women in his family had overcome as he reached out to female voters at a fundraiser Thursday.
Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton appears together during a fundraiser in New York Thursday.
The New York event was the third in which the former rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination have appeared together this week.
In an attempt to close any remaining rifts with Clinton's backers, Obama has asked his supporters to help Clinton retire her roughly $22 million of campaign debt.
Obama and Clinton have appeared together five times since Obama secured the Democratic presidential nomination in June.
During the "Women for Obama" event, the Illinois senator recounted how his mother, a single mom who put herself through school, once had to "swallow her pride" and accept food stamps to feed her family. He also recalled how his grandmother worked her way from secretary to the vice president of a bank.
"But I also saw how she ultimately hit a glass ceiling -- how men no more qualified than she was kept moving up the corporate ladder ahead of her," he said.
Obama highlighted the struggles of his wife to balance the responsibilities of her job and parenting -- and admitted that he was somewhat complicit in the situation in which most of the parenting duties fall to his wife. Watch Obama talk about the women who shaped him »
"As the son, grandson and husband of hard-working mothers, I don't accept an America that makes women choose between their kids and their careers," Obama said.
"We take it for granted that women are the backbone of our families, but we too often ignore the fact that women are also the backbone of our middle class.
"And we won't truly have an economy that puts the needs of the middle class first until we ensure that when it comes to pay and benefits at work, women are treated like equal partners," he said, urging a commitment to equal pay for women.
He urged "standing up for paid leave, and paid sick leave, because no one should be punished for getting sick or dealing with a family crisis."
Later on Thursday, Obama traveled to Fairfax, Virginia, to unveil a plan meant to increase women's economic security. The plan includes a tax credit of up to $1,000 for families, an increase in the minimum wage and tax cuts to help working women pay for child care, among other provisions.
Clinton, who introduced Obama, urged her supporters to back the Illinois senator, saying, "It is critical that we join forces. The Democratic Party is a family -- sometimes dysfunctional." Watch Clinton make her case for Obama »
"We shared this remarkable journey, and I could not be prouder to have this opportunity in front of so many of my friends and supporters to express my confidence in his candidacy and my commitment to ensuring that he will take the oath of office come next January 2009," she said.
Obama, in turn, praised Clinton for her historic presidential run, saying, "While this campaign has shown us how far we have to go, we also know that because of what Hillary accomplished, my daughters and yours look at America and themselves a little differently today." Watch why Obama and Clinton are appearing together »
Despite the public calls for unity, some of Clinton's supporters have been hesitant to fall in behind Obama.
With Clinton's debt yet to be paid off, some of her supporters are balking at the idea of donating to Obama -- especially if he does not choose her to be his running mate.
"I certainly know there are lots of people who are withholding their money," said Lynn Forester de Rothschild, one of Clinton's "Hill-raisers" who raised over $100,000 for the former first lady. Watch why some Clinton backers are balking »
"This is a hard decision for me personally because frankly I don't like him. I feel like he is an elitist
|
[
"What did Obama urge?",
"Who urges equal pay?",
"What did the Democratic nominee pledge?",
"Who does Sen. Clinton join?",
"Who joined Obama at the fundraiser?"
] |
[
"\"standing up for paid leave, and paid sick leave, because no one should be punished for getting sick or dealing with a family crisis.\"",
"Obama",
"commitment to equal pay for women.",
"Barack Obama",
"Hillary Clinton"
] |
question: What did Obama urge?, answer: "standing up for paid leave, and paid sick leave, because no one should be punished for getting sick or dealing with a family crisis." | question: Who urges equal pay?, answer: Obama | question: What did the Democratic nominee pledge?, answer: commitment to equal pay for women. | question: Who does Sen. Clinton join?, answer: Barack Obama | question: Who joined Obama at the fundraiser?, answer: Hillary Clinton
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- With strong sales and equally powerful praise, the July issue of Italian Vogue can be judged a resounding success.
Chanel Iman is one of several models of color featured in the "Black Issue" of Italian Vogue.
Dubbed the "Black Issue," the magazine celebrates models of color from the past and present, including Donyale Luna, Liya Kebede, Naomi Campbell, Iman and Chanel Iman.
Within 72 hours, the magazine sold out in the United States and Great Britain. Blog posts and e-mails about the beauty and historical significance of the issue began to flow -- and industry insiders were equally pleased.
Praising renowned photographer Steven Meisel, who shot most of the issue's fashion pictures, The New York Times fashion critic Cathy Horyn gushed, "I think they are some of the best he's done. ... They are crazily, softly beautiful, plainly the work of someone who knows women and fashion." See what all the fuss is about »
Another 40,000 copies of the "Black Issue" were recently reprinted to meet the still strong demand.
But will the all the hoopla translate into tangible change for black models in the fashion industry? Will more color be seen on the runway and in magazines? Many observers have their fingers crossed.
"All the agents were happy about the issue because it gives us hope that other people will catch on and decide that it's OK to use more black girls," said Carlos Ojeda, an agent at New York Models. "It's OK to have more than just one, and she doesn't have to always be Naomi."
"Italian Vogue is very influential around the world on an artistic level," said Constance White, style director at eBay. "That is the book that all the art directors, the photographers, any fashion editor looking for inspiration turns to ... and always has. It has always been the trendsetter, so hopefully people will look at it and say using black models is both relevant and right and will start doing it too."
Bethann Hardison, a legendary model agent-manager, said she has noticed a shift in the industry since she began holding town hall meetings last September to address the lack of diversity in fashion. The packed-to-the-rafters events quickly became the talk of the industry, and Hardison is widely credited with sparking the current movement.
"I started seeing more black models on the runway back in February," she said, pointing to the shows of designers like Diane Von Furstenberg and Michael Kors as examples. "I have already seen change, and I know that I will continue to see change."
Not all are nearly as optimistic, and fear the diversity issue will become as passe as the skinny-model debate of a few years ago.
"I hate to sound cynical, but by January, I feel like it will be back to business as usual," Ojeda said. "I want to be hopeful and positive, but a part of me does not want to get my hopes up."
"Let's see if Italian Vogue is going to be able to live up to the standards that they've now set," added one prominent New York-based stylist. "You can't have an issue with all black girls, pat yourself on the back and say 'that's it for the year.' "
Hardison is working hard to make sure that doesn't happen. She's already scheduled another town hall meeting for September, and she's also planning a mixer to introduce fledgling models of color to industry players.
"We just have to keep the bar high," Hardison said, "and keep showing beautiful women and pictures."
Lola Ogunnaike is the entertainment correspondent for CNN's American Morning.
|
[
"What was a big success?",
"What do observers wonder?",
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"What name did latest Italian Vogue use?",
"What edition of vogue is being discussed",
"What was the focus of the issue",
"Did the issue sold well ?"
] |
[
"the July issue of Italian Vogue",
"will the all the hoopla translate into tangible change for black models in the fashion industry?",
"will the all the hoopla translate into tangible change for black models in the fashion industry? Will more color be seen on the runway and in magazines?",
"\"Black Issue\"",
"\"Black Issue\"",
"models of color from the past and present,",
"out"
] |
question: What was a big success?, answer: the July issue of Italian Vogue | question: What do observers wonder?, answer: will the all the hoopla translate into tangible change for black models in the fashion industry? | question: What are observers wondering about ?, answer: will the all the hoopla translate into tangible change for black models in the fashion industry? Will more color be seen on the runway and in magazines? | question: What name did latest Italian Vogue use?, answer: "Black Issue" | question: What edition of vogue is being discussed, answer: "Black Issue" | question: What was the focus of the issue, answer: models of color from the past and present, | question: Did the issue sold well ?, answer: out
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- With the weekend arriving and a long day finally over, 8-year-old Cherrie Mahan stepped off her yellow school bus on a chilly Friday around 4 p.m.
Cherrie Mahan's third-grade school photo was used on her missing child flyers.
The bus stop was about 100 yards from her home in rural Winfield Township in western Pennsylvania. But Cherrie did not make it to the hilltop trailer she lived in with her parents. She was never seen again.
Investigators say her disappearance after the four mile ride home from elementary school on February 22, 1985, remains a mystery.
"It's like a black hole opened up and she fell in,'' said Cherrie's mother, Janice McKinney. She recalled that she and Cherrie's stepfather, Leroy, could hear the bus pulling up that day. Soon after Cherrie did not arrive, he went to the stop to look for her.
''He came flying back up because she wasn't there,'' McKinney said. Watch what the girl's mom has to say »
Cherrie, an only child, would soon be celebrating her 33rd birthday, but in the minds of many, she will always remain a missing girl. "People still talk about it,'' said Trooper Frank Jendesky, the lead detective working on the case for the Pennsylvania State Police for the past 15 years.
The driver and children riding the bus remember Cherrie getting off the bus with a few other students who lived nearby.
One lingering detail has baffled investigators for years -- reports that a 1976 model van was following the school bus. The van, according to students, had a distinctive painted mural of a snow-capped mountain and skier wearing red and yellow clothes coming down the mountain.
Despite many efforts, the van was never found and it remains unclear whether it holds a link to the puzzle.
''By now it's probably in a junkyard or somewhere,'' said Jendesky, who considers the case a kidnapping or abduction -- rather than a homicide -- because a body was not found.
"It's the not knowing that kills you,'' McKinney said. ''Every day you wonder and you look at some girl who's 33 and you wonder, 'Is that her?' I look at little kids and wonder, 'Is that my grandchild?' ''
Over the years, police conducted hundreds of interviews and cleared several persons of interest, while the case file grew to more than 4,000 pages.
Among his biggest frustrations, Jendesky said: "The time lapse and a lot of the calls I've gotten over the years really had no relevance to the case.''
In the days before Amber Alerts and greater public awareness of crimes against children, McKinney said it took time before word of her daughter's disappearance became widespread.
McKinney said Cherrie's case was included as a public service insert in a direct mail advertising campaign, one of the first times that approach was taken.
Cherrie was especially close with McKinney's parents. She described how the girl would lovingly mimic her grandfather's daily morning walk in the garden with his hands cupped behind his back.
Hanging in McKinney's dining room is a picture Cherrie drew of a rainbow, trees, birds and clouds. It says "Mom and Dad."
"I have more memories of my daughter than most people get in a lifetime,'' McKinney said, remembering that Cherrie loved the children's character Strawberry Shortcake, enjoyed spelling and wanted to be an elementary schoolteacher.
The day Cherrie went missing she was bringing home annual school pictures. That photo and the girl who never made it home with it became known to many on missing posters distributed across the nation.
"She was one heck of a special kid,'' McKinney said. "And there's somebody out there that knows. And I hope that someday they have a conscience and they'll let us know. Because that's all I pray for, is to have an answer.''
Anyone with information on
|
[
"What year did the third-grader disappear?",
"What was the mural of on the van?",
"Whose flyer was the first sent by direct mail?",
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"When did the third-grader disappear?"
] |
[
"1985,",
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"distinctive painted mural of a snow-capped mountain and skier wearing red and yellow clothes",
"February 22, 1985,",
"Cherrie Mahan's",
"February 22, 1985,"
] |
question: What year did the third-grader disappear?, answer: 1985, | question: What was the mural of on the van?, answer: a snow-capped mountain and skier wearing red and yellow clothes coming down the mountain. | question: Whose flyer was the first sent by direct mail?, answer: Cherrie Mahan's | question: What type of image was depicted on the van?, answer: distinctive painted mural of a snow-capped mountain and skier wearing red and yellow clothes | question: When did the third grader disappear?, answer: February 22, 1985, | question: Whose missing person flyer was one of the first sent by mail?, answer: Cherrie Mahan's | question: When did the third-grader disappear?, answer: February 22, 1985,
|
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, in a rare interview Thursday, depicted himself as an African hero battling imperialism and foreign attempts to oust him rather than the widespread perception of a dictator clinging to power at the expense of the welfare of his people and country.
Robert Mugabe says sanctions against his country are "unjustifiable."
The 85-year-old Mugabe, the only leader of Zimbabwe since it became independent from Britain in 1980, rejected repeated assertions by CNN's Christiane Amanpour that his policies have driven the nation once known as Africa's breadbasket to virtual economic collapse.
Instead, Mugabe accused Britain and the United States of seeking to oust him by imposing economic sanctions, the effects of which he said were worsened by years of drought.
He denied that his country is in economic shambles, saying it grew enough food last year to feed all its people, and defended policies that have driven white farmers off their land as properly restoring that land to indigenous Africans.
"The land reform is the best thing (that) could have ever have happened to an African country," said Mugabe, a former revolutionary leader who came to power when white-ruled Rhodesia became black-ruled Zimbabwe. "It has to do with national sovereignty." Watch Mugabe on his controversial land reform program »
It was Mugabe's first interview with a Western television network in several years, and he appeared to get frustrated with some of Amanpour's direct questioning, repeatedly denying widely accepted evidence and reports on his nation's woes.
Mugabe denied that his ZANU-PF party lost elections in 2008 that forced him to accept a power-sharing agreement with his chief rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, who now is prime minister. Violence surrounding the disputed election, much of it against opposition supporters, further damaged Zimbabwe's standing, but Mugabe rejected any blame on Thursday.
"You don't leave power when imperialists dictate that you leave," he insisted. "There is regime change. Haven't you heard of (the) regime change program by Britain and the United States that is aimed at getting not just Robert Mugabe out of power but get Robert Mugabe and his party out of power?"
He also waved off Amanpour's assertion that the power-sharing arrangement is not working, and that opposition political figures are continuing to get harassed and arrested. Watch Mugabe talk about power-sharing »
Asked about Roy Bennett, a white opposition figure who has yet to be sworn in as agriculture minister a year after formation of the power-sharing government, Mugabe stammered before saying Bennett faces charges of "organizing arms of war" against Zimbabwe. He added that he's heard the prosecution lacks evidence in the case, but said he won't agree to swearing in Bennett until after any charges are dropped.
Mugabe also denied any responsibility for harm to the nation from his economic policies, instead blaming what he called "unjustified" and "illegal" sanctions that he said were intended to bring regime change.
"The sanctions must be lifted. We should have no interference from outside," Mugabe said. "The continued imperialist interference in our affairs is affecting our country adversely."
When Amanpour challenged him by saying most of the sanctions were directed at individuals, rather than economic entities, Mugabe said she was wrong.
"The U.S. sanctions are real sanctions, economic sanctions. Have you looked at them?" he said. "It's because of sanctions, mainly."
Amanpour tried to push the point, saying outside observers blamed his policies and not sanctions. "Not everybody says so," Mugabe cut her off. "It's not true."
He also rejected criticism from South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize winner for his role in the anti-apartheid struggle, who has accused Mugabe of turning Zimbabwe into a "basket case" and repressing his own people.
"It's not a basket case at all," Mugabe said. He later called Tutu's comments "devilish talk" and added: "He doesn't know what he's talking
|
[
"What does Mugabe reject?",
"What did he call sanctions?",
"What did Mugabe call the sanctions?",
"Who interviewed Mugabe?",
"What does Mugabe call the sanctions?",
"Which broadcaster interviewed him?",
"What is the criticism against Mugabe?"
] |
[
"assertions by CNN's Christiane Amanpour that his policies have driven the nation once known as Africa's breadbasket to virtual economic collapse.",
"\"unjustifiable.\"",
"\"unjustifiable.\"",
"Christiane Amanpour",
"\"unjustifiable.\"",
"Christiane Amanpour",
"turning Zimbabwe into a \"basket case\" and repressing his own people."
] |
question: What does Mugabe reject?, answer: assertions by CNN's Christiane Amanpour that his policies have driven the nation once known as Africa's breadbasket to virtual economic collapse. | question: What did he call sanctions?, answer: "unjustifiable." | question: What did Mugabe call the sanctions?, answer: "unjustifiable." | question: Who interviewed Mugabe?, answer: Christiane Amanpour | question: What does Mugabe call the sanctions?, answer: "unjustifiable." | question: Which broadcaster interviewed him?, answer: Christiane Amanpour | question: What is the criticism against Mugabe?, answer: turning Zimbabwe into a "basket case" and repressing his own people.
|
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Is cheese the answer for Cayuga County, New York?
Larry Rosenbaum surveys the field where he hopes to build a high-end specialty cheese factory.
Like small towns all across America, this agricultural community is suffering, with unemployment approaching 10 percent.
Entrepreneur Larry Rosenbaum thinks he can do his part to turn things around. For a decade, the insurance man by trade has been dreaming of building a factory for high-end specialty cheese.
One key selling point: His product would meet the strictest standards of the Jewish and Muslim faiths.
Rosenbaum says the demand for kosher and halal cheese is high but the selection is slim. So he's been eyeing a plot of barren farmland between Aurelius and Auburn -- two Cayuga towns -- as the future home of a $40 million, 64,000-square-foot factory that would churn out feta and brie.
The goal is for his company, Saratoga Cheese Corp., to produce 30 million pounds of cheese in the first year and distribute it domestically and internationally.
"It's the beginning of a trend of bringing back manufacturing industry to New York," said Rosenbaum. According to the Public Policy Institute of New York State, manufacturing in New York declined more than 30 percent between 1997 and 2007. Watch Rosenbaum talk about his plans »
Rosenbaum estimates that Saratoga Cheese Corp. would bring 75 factory jobs and 150 temporary construction jobs to the region. Plans also include 50 yeshiva work-study students to be placed on participating farms. In addition, several rabbis and imams would supervise production.
If Saratoga Cheese can get off the ground, it could mean a boost for local farmers like Dale Hemminger, who has agreed to supply kosher milk to Saratoga Cheese Corp.
Hemminger says it could be a crucial new market for his milk. And though he was at first skeptical of Rosenbaum's plan, Hemminger says he admires Rosenbaum's vision.
But that vision is still $10 million short of becoming reality. Rosenbaum has secured $30 million in government grants, loans and private funding, but needs $40 million before Saratoga Cheese Corp. can break ground. Given the recession, securing the final amount is proving no small feat.
According to Bill Teator, a board member of Saratoga Cheese Corp., the best-case scenario is a combination of investment by a kosher dairy company and private lending. Teator says that though investors are confident about the business plan, the economic environment makes it tough to secure the needed cash.
But support from local lawmakers is abundant. Republican state Sen. Michael Nozzolio is optimistic that Saratoga Cheese Corp. will find a home in his 54th District. And with an estimated $140 million in local revenue hanging in the balance, there's reason to hope.
Recession or not, Rosenbaum is steadfast in his belief. For him, it's not a question of if the factory will get built, but when.
"We're not going to quit until we make it," says Rosenbaum. It's a persistence that is necessary in a recession that has proved legendary.
|
[
"What does he hope the factory will help turn around?",
"Who wants to build a specialty cheese factory?",
"what does he hope",
"what does he see the plot of barren farmland as",
"what is the key selling point",
"What cheeses will be made there?",
"What faith's standards would the product meet?",
"Who has long dreamed of building high-end specialty cheese factory?"
] |
[
"unemployment",
"Larry Rosenbaum",
"to build a high-end specialty cheese factory.",
"the future home of a $40 million, 64,000-square-foot factory that would churn out feta and brie.",
"His product would meet the strictest standards of the Jewish and Muslim faiths.",
"feta",
"Jewish and Muslim",
"Larry Rosenbaum"
] |
question: What does he hope the factory will help turn around?, answer: unemployment | question: Who wants to build a specialty cheese factory?, answer: Larry Rosenbaum | question: what does he hope, answer: to build a high-end specialty cheese factory. | question: what does he see the plot of barren farmland as, answer: the future home of a $40 million, 64,000-square-foot factory that would churn out feta and brie. | question: what is the key selling point, answer: His product would meet the strictest standards of the Jewish and Muslim faiths. | question: What cheeses will be made there?, answer: feta | question: What faith's standards would the product meet?, answer: Jewish and Muslim | question: Who has long dreamed of building high-end specialty cheese factory?, answer: Larry Rosenbaum
|
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- JPMorgan Chase & Co. said Sunday that it is buying troubled Wall Street firm Bear Stearns, amid deepening fears that Bear's demise could have sent shockwaves across already shaky financial markets.
The deal to buy Bear Stearns is worth an estimated $236 million.
The deal values Bear Stearns at $236 million, or just $2 a share. Shares had closed at $30 on Friday, down 47 percent that day.
"Effective immediately, JPMorgan Chase is guaranteeing the trading obligations of Bear Stearns and its subsidiaries and is providing management oversight for its operations," said a statement released Sunday by JPMorgan.
Shareholders must approve the deal, which is expected to close by the end of June.
JPMorgan is taking immediate responsibility for Bear's trading obligations and assuming "management oversight" of the firm's operations. The deal has already been approved by the Federal Reserve and other regulators, according to the statement.
The Fed is providing special emergency financing for up to $30 billion in Bear Stearns assets.
"JPMorgan stands behind Bear Stearns," said Jamie Dimon, chairman and chief executive of JPMorgan. "Bear Stearns clients and counterparties should feel secure that JPMorgan is guaranteeing ... risk," he continued.
The fast-track deal is expected to close by the end of June, the statement said.
Bear Stearns was on the brink of financial collapse Friday when JPMorgan and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said they would provide the brokerage a short-term loan.
Bear was dealing with a classic "run on the bank." The firm's short-term creditors refused to lend the firm any more money and simultaneously demanded repayment of outstanding debt.
The one-two punch overwhelmed Bear's cash position.
With the global credit crisis worsening, the Fed -- along with officials from the Treasury Department and other government agencies -- took the dramatic action to prevent the investment bank from going under and igniting widespread panic through the financial markets. Watch a discussion on the impact on global markets »
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Sunday that talks about how to rescue Bear had continued throughout the weekend. He defended the Fed's bailout on Friday as "the right decision" and said the Bush administration was ready to take other actions to bring stability to the financial markets.
He would not say what might have happened had the government failed to step in.
"I'm not going to speculate about what-ifs," he said. "I'm just going to say our clear priority right now -- our number one priority, everything we're doing in the economic arena -- is to minimize instability, minimize spillover into the real economy."
Bear Stearns has approximately 14,000 employees worldwide.
The deal marks an inglorious chapter for 85-year-old Bear Stearns, a storied Wall Street firm the unraveling of which has been fast and furious.
Rumors that Bear Stearns was on the verge of collapse started buzzing around Wall Street trading desks last Monday. Chief Executive Alan Schwartz -- who took over as CEO in early January from longtime chief Jimmy Cayne -- appeared on television on Wednesday afternoon to reassure the markets that the firm was stable.
But by Thursday night, Bear was in a severe crunch. Some firms that trade with it effectively stopped offering it credit because they feared that Bear was running short of short-term funding, or liquidity.
"The past week has been an incredibly difficult time for Bear Stearns," said Alan Schwartz, president and CEO of Bear Stearns. "This transaction represents the best outcome for all of our constituencies based upon the current circumstances."
White House spokesman Tony Fratto told CNN on Sunday that Paulson has briefed U.S. President George W. Bush on the Federal Reserve's role in helping to facilitate the purchase.
"We appreciate the actions taken by the Federal Reserve this evening," said Fratto. "Secretary Paulson and Chairman Bernanke are actively engaged in addressing issues affecting our financial markets. Secretary Paulson has kept the President briefed on recent developments."
Shares of Bear Stearns opened last week at $69.75 and
|
[
"What is the US Fed financing?",
"When will the deal close?",
"who was facing run on the bank",
"What is \"run on the bank\"?",
"what is the us providing financing for",
"What did the shares close a on Friday?",
"What does the U.S. Fed do?",
"What kind of company is Bear Stearns ?"
] |
[
"up to $30 billion in Bear Stearns assets.",
"by the end of June.",
"Bear Stearns",
"The firm's short-term creditors refused to lend the firm any more money and simultaneously demanded repayment of outstanding debt.",
"Bear Stearns assets.",
"$30",
"providing special emergency financing for up to $30 billion in Bear Stearns assets.",
"Wall Street firm"
] |
question: What is the US Fed financing?, answer: up to $30 billion in Bear Stearns assets. | question: When will the deal close?, answer: by the end of June. | question: who was facing run on the bank, answer: Bear Stearns | question: What is "run on the bank"?, answer: The firm's short-term creditors refused to lend the firm any more money and simultaneously demanded repayment of outstanding debt. | question: what is the us providing financing for, answer: Bear Stearns assets. | question: What did the shares close a on Friday?, answer: $30 | question: What does the U.S. Fed do?, answer: providing special emergency financing for up to $30 billion in Bear Stearns assets. | question: What kind of company is Bear Stearns ?, answer: Wall Street firm
|
NEW YORK -- For more than 10 years, Mandy Hughes drifted in an out of what she calls the horrible, debilitating pain of Lyme disease.
Mandy Hughes says the pain she suffered for more than 10 years was due to Lyme disease
"It literally feels like you got into a severe accident, like you were hit by a Mack truck and you were allowed no medical attention," she says.
After being bitten by a tick at 19, Hughes broke out in hives and suffered fever and chills so severe that she had to be hospitalized. She was diagnosed with Lyme disease and was sent home with two weeks' worth of the antibiotic tetracycline. She seemed to be cured.
But over the years, the Lyme symptoms flared back -- crippling joint pain, muscle spasms, headaches and facial paralysis. She visited 15 doctors, yet they were unable to arrive at a diagnosis. Several thought she had multiple sclerosis. Others knew she was sick but didn't know why. Lyme had been ruled out.
"Maybe it's psychological -- we don't really have an explanation," they told Hughes. "Your tests are coming back fine, Mandy." Watch a report on a 10-year battle with Lyme disease symptoms »
The memory of one doctor's visit stays with her to this day. She went to see him with joint pain so severe, she said, her hands were curled into a palsy-like position. Yet the doctor seemed impatient with her.
"You're obviously an attractive woman, and you're just trying to get attention," she recalls him saying.
In 2005, Hughes went to see what some patients refer to as a "Lyme-literate" doctor -- one willing to diagnose chronic Lyme disease and prescribe a long-term regimen of intravenous as well as oral antibiotics.
Within three months, she began to feel better. After 15 months, she was back on her feet, but had to abruptly halt treatment when her doctor was sued by an insurance company and stopped seeing patients. Learn more about Lyme disease »
Hughes' story is featured in a new documentary called "Under Our Skin," which takes a look at the leaders of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, a national medical group that represents health care professionals who specialize in infectious diseases. The society's purpose, according to its Web site, is to improve health care in areas related to such diseases.
In particular, the documentary takes aim at the 14-member panel that wrote the 2006 Lyme disease treatment guidelines. The guidelines question the existence of chronic Lyme disease and claim the post-treatment symptoms of some patients appear to be "more related to the aches and pains of daily living rather than to either Lyme disease or a tickborne coinfection."
The guidelines list specific criteria for diagnosing Lyme -- such as an obvious tick bite, a characteristic bull's-eye rash at the site of the bite, facial paralysis and a positive blood test.
Yet some Lyme specialists say many patients experiencing symptoms do not see or remember a tick bite. Only 70 to 80 percent get the rash at all, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The longer the disease goes undiagnosed, the harder it is to treat, some doctors say.
"The disability associated with Lyme disease is worse than the disability that you might see with someone after a heart attack," said Brian Fallon, director of the Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at Columbia University Medical Center in New York.
Patient advocates criticize the IDSA for recommending no more than a month's worth of antibiotics to treat Lyme. They say insurance companies use the guidelines to deny payment for long-term antibiotic therapy.
But the IDSA says there are inherent risks from such treatment, including localized infection from the IV line and the creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
One IDSA critic, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, conducted an antitrust investigation of the guideline process, saying the panel ignored or minimized other medical opinions regarding chronic Lyme disease. Blumenthal said the process was tainted by conflict of interest because
|
[
"Who was featured in the documentary?",
"What did Mandy Hughes suffer from?",
"Who suffered from Lyme disease for more than 10 years?",
"What did Mandy Hughes say?",
"Who suffered over a decade from effects of Lyme disease?",
"Who was featured in a documentary?"
] |
[
"Mandy Hughes",
"Lyme disease.",
"Mandy Hughes",
"the pain she suffered for more than 10 years was due to Lyme disease",
"Mandy Hughes",
"Mandy Hughes"
] |
question: Who was featured in the documentary?, answer: Mandy Hughes | question: What did Mandy Hughes suffer from?, answer: Lyme disease. | question: Who suffered from Lyme disease for more than 10 years?, answer: Mandy Hughes | question: What did Mandy Hughes say?, answer: the pain she suffered for more than 10 years was due to Lyme disease | question: Who suffered over a decade from effects of Lyme disease?, answer: Mandy Hughes | question: Who was featured in a documentary?, answer: Mandy Hughes
|
NEW YORK -- Talking excitedly and pacing the front of her classroom, Molly Greer engages her students. "What are different paces you can go when you're reading aloud? Christina?"
Molly Greer, in her New York classroom, says she now wants to make teaching her career.
"Low." "Okay, low or soft, yes."
On the first day of school, most of the kids in Greer's eighth-grade class could not read at a sixth-grade level. With summer almost here, it's a totally different story for these kids, who according to their school are expected to read at or near grade level. "It is an incredible thing for these students."
Greer graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin. She arrived at PS 212, the multicultural magnet school in the Bronx, New York, two years ago with a degree in political science and a desire to change the world.
"When I found out about Teach For America," she said, "I realized that teaching would be such an incredible way to make an impact."
Teach For America is like a local Peace Corps serving some of the country's poorest public schools in inner cities and in rural areas. It has grown every year since its inception in 1990, sending 20,000 college graduates into the nation's neediest classrooms for a two-year commitment. This year, amid a tight job market, it is more popular than ever.
According to the organization's Web site, their teachers get paid the same salary and benefits as beginning teachers in their area and are paid by the local school district.
About 35,000 college seniors applied for the 2009 school year, a 42 percent jump from last year.
"We had less competition from Wall Street firms, banks and places like that. It just led a lot of students to really think about what they wanted to do and how they could make an impact," said Kevin Huffman, executive director of Teach For America.
"Eleven percent of the entire Ivy League senior class applied to join, 20 percent of African-American seniors at Ivy League schools, 8 percent of the University of Michigan and University of North Carolina," Huffman said, "just an incredible outpouring of interest by people competing to teach in low-income communities."
David Stanley went through the program and now recruits for Teach For America. He sees education as this generation's civil rights issue and says there is a direct correlation between the program's popularity and President Obama's call to service.
"With Obama talking about the need for people with talent to go into public education, and the fact that people are still really frustrated that we live in a country where 90 percent of kids in low-income communities don't go to college, and that the best way we can predict the number of prisons we're going to have to build in 25 years is by looking at third-grade reading skills, and so at this particular moment in time, I think it's really about getting our very best and asking them to go to the root of the problem, and the root of the problem is education."
This year, Teach For America will place its largest corps ever.
About 4,100 high achievers from the nation's top colleges will head to classrooms in 34 regions across the country, teaching in places like Boston, Massachusetts; Dallas, Texas; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Nashville, Tennessee; and in more rural areas such as South Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta.
But schools in Appalachia and elsewhere desperately need help.
Huffman said, "Districts across the country are facing the same economic pinch that many businesses are facing. And there are just fewer positions across the country available for teachers."
Which is why a teachers union says those positions should go to career teachers, not inexperienced recruits who may stay only the required two years.
"It's very hard to justify laying off teachers who have given service to a school system and then turn around and bring in new teachers," argued
|
[
"Where does teach for america place college grads?",
"How many teachers will be placed across the US?",
"Who placed college grads as teachers?",
"How many teachers will be placed across United States?",
"Who runs Teach for America?"
] |
[
"into the nation's neediest classrooms",
"4,100",
"Teach For America",
"About 4,100",
"Kevin Huffman,"
] |
question: Where does teach for america place college grads?, answer: into the nation's neediest classrooms | question: How many teachers will be placed across the US?, answer: 4,100 | question: Who placed college grads as teachers?, answer: Teach For America | question: How many teachers will be placed across United States?, answer: About 4,100 | question: Who runs Teach for America?, answer: Kevin Huffman,
|
NEW YORK -- There's no shortage of diners in New York City, but one of its most beloved will soon be taking up residence in Alabama.
The Cheyenne Diner, which opened in 1940 in New York City, shut its doors in April 2008.
The Cheyenne Diner, which first opened in 1940, was split in two Monday night to begin its move on a pair of flatbed trucks some 860 miles to its new home near Birmingham.
The dining experience at the Cheyenne was typical of many similar New York eateries, where more often than not, you're guaranteed a hearty meal at a comfortable price.
After taking a seat in a roomy booth or even at the counter, you check out the flimsy paper placemat with innocuous historical information or a simplified map of the Greek Isles.
A busboy places a glass of ice water on your table. Then it's time to break out the reading glasses and flex those muscles to heft the always lengthy menu. While it may take you several minutes to sift through it, take comfort in knowing that you may actually burn some calories by lifting this bible of comfort food.
Unlike the sometimes stuffy pretense of a formal restaurant, the diner experience is generally simple, while the food offerings are diverse -- from apple pie to baked ziti and everything in between.
While never known as a bastion for fine dining, the Cheyenne saw brighter days before it unceremoniously closed on a chilly Sunday in April 2008.
Originally known as the Market Diner until its moniker was changed in 1986, the pre-assembled restaurant stood as a rare classic definition of free-standing diners.
Its streamlined, railcar-inspired design boasts a reverse-channel illuminated neon sign. Horizontal and vertical stainless steel strips border the colorful enamel panels and wrap-around windows on its facade. Celebrities from Jerry Lewis to David Letterman entered through its curved entryway lined with glass blocks.
But, like a beloved baseball team whose owner has tossed in the towel, the Cheyenne is moving to a new town for a new life in a new home.
The owner of the diner, George Papas, wanted to change the flavor of the block and replace the eatery with a multilevel condo building.
Enter preservationist Michael Perlman, a 26-year-old patron saint of sorts for unwanted diners. Perlman found out that the Cheyenne was facing demolition and began to look for a guardian angel to save it.
He connected with Alabama businessman Joel Owens, head of the investment group NAIC, who saw the Cheyenne for sale on a Web site devoted to the preservation of New York City structures and fell in love with its "gorgeous structure."
"I like it better each time I see it," Owens said. "The barrel roof. The exterior facades are second to none. I think it's the most beautiful diner in the world."
Owens and his business associate, Patti Miller, have a grand vision for the diner and eventually want to incorporate it as part of an entertainment and historic area outside of Birmingham.
Once it's restored, which could take up to a year, the Cheyenne will become the first free-standing diner in Alabama, Owens said.
A longtime collector of antique cars and Coca-Cola memorabilia, Owens is a firm believer in the lessons that can be learned from the past.
"If you think about what's wrong with today, in order to fix the problems of today, you've got to look back... [to] when it was better," Owens said.
"I think [the diner] is symbolic of the glory days. Technology and more money doesn't necessarily mean progress. We long for simpler times," he explained. "These types of buildings can be an instrument for our youth to learn from the past. Teenagers need a clean environment for entertainment, a 'hang out.'"
The departure of the Cheyenne Diner brings back some bitter memories for aficionados of historic New York. The Moondance Diner encountered a similar fate in 2007, after it was put up for sale by developers who purchased
|
[
"When did the Cheyenne Diner open?",
"What celebrities were seen in the New York diner?",
"What year was the Cheyenne Diner opened?",
"What state will the Diner be moving to?",
"Where is The Cheyenne Diner located?",
"Where was the Diner originally opened?"
] |
[
"1940",
"Jerry Lewis",
"1940",
"Alabama.",
"New York City,",
"New York City,"
] |
question: When did the Cheyenne Diner open?, answer: 1940 | question: What celebrities were seen in the New York diner?, answer: Jerry Lewis | question: What year was the Cheyenne Diner opened?, answer: 1940 | question: What state will the Diner be moving to?, answer: Alabama. | question: Where is The Cheyenne Diner located?, answer: New York City, | question: Where was the Diner originally opened?, answer: New York City,
|
NEWARK, New Jersey (CNN) -- The most "far-flung and exotic fugitive investigation ever conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service" ended early Sunday with convicted child molester Alan Horowitz in custody on U.S. soil.
Alan Horowitz was convicted in 1991 on 34 counts of child molestation.
Officers from the U.S. Marshals service arrested the 60-year-old at Newark Liberty International Airport after a 15-hour flight from New Delhi, India.
The ordained Orthodox rabbi and former child psychologist was arrested on May 22 at a seaside resort in Mahabalipuram, India, according to parole officer Robert Georgia.
An agent from the Diplomatic Security Service escorted him aboard the Continental Airlines flight, authorities said.
He is being held at a correctional facility in New Jersey and will appear before an extradition judge on July 16th before being taken to New York to face a parole violation charge there.
He also faces a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Watch Horowitz in custody at Newark airport »
A number of Internet tipsters in India were responsible for alerting the Marshal's service to Horowitz's whereabouts, said U.S. Marshal Gary Mattison, who was assigned to track down Horowitz last year.
Horowitz served 13 years of a 10-20 year sentence for child molestation and was released on parole in 2004, authorities said. In June 2006, he fled the country shortly after meeting with his parole officer, setting off the manhunt that involved the Indian police, agents from the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service, and U.S. Marshals, U.S. Marshals told CNN.
Horowitz's 1991 conviction was on 34 counts of child molestation in Schenectady, New York.
A dual citizen of the United States and Israel, Horowitz has also been convicted of "perverted sexual practices" in Maryland, where he was found guilty of abusing one of his patients, federal marshals said.
During the 1980s, while he was living in Israel, he was the subject of a police investigation into charges he was sexually abusing his second wife's children, according to the U.S. Marshal service.
He also faced another sexual misconduct investigation while living in North Carolina, authorities say. E-mail to a friend
CNN's Katia Porzecanski contributed to this report.
|
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"Who is an ordained rabbi?",
"Who was subject of investigations in U.S., Israel; had multiple convictions ?",
"What is the destination of the flight?",
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"Where was the flight heading to?",
"What was Horowitz' former profession?"
] |
[
"Alan Horowitz",
"Alan Horowitz",
"Newark Liberty International Airport",
"Alan Horowitz",
"child psychologist",
"Newark Liberty International Airport",
"child psychologist"
] |
question: Who is an ordained rabbi?, answer: Alan Horowitz | question: Who was subject of investigations in U.S., Israel; had multiple convictions ?, answer: Alan Horowitz | question: What is the destination of the flight?, answer: Newark Liberty International Airport | question: WWho is an ordained Orthodox rabbi and a former child psychologist ?, answer: Alan Horowitz | question: What is Horowitz's former occupation?, answer: child psychologist | question: Where was the flight heading to?, answer: Newark Liberty International Airport | question: What was Horowitz' former profession?, answer: child psychologist
|
NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia (CNN) -- Suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick will go to work for a construction company in Newport News, Virginia, after he leaves federal prison for bankrolling a dogfighting operation, his lawyer said Thursday.
Football player Michael Vick listens as his lawyers make the case for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The details emerged in a Chapter 11 confirmation hearing in Virginia Eastern Bankruptcy Court to determine how Vick, 28, will work his way out of bankruptcy.
Vick's lawyer, Michael Blumenthal, told the court that the embattled footballer will take the stand first thing Friday and explain how he intends to turn over a new leaf after spending nearly two years in prison on a federal conspiracy charge.
Vick's 23-month sentence ends in July, but he is expected to be released from the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas, in May and serve the remainder of his sentence in home confinement, most likely in Virginia. He is a native of Newport News.
The sports agent who landed Vick's landmark 10-year, $140 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons also testified that he expects Vick will be back in the game as soon as September -- if the NFL reinstates him.
Vick is in great shape and could once again command millions of dollars if he returns to football, Joel Segal told the court.
The decision to reinstate Vick rests with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, with whom Segal said he had consulted.
Vick was suspended from the NFL after his conviction but remains under contract with the Falcons, Segal said, though he does not expect the Falcons to retain Vick's rights if he is reinstated.
Vick and many of his creditors are depending on a return to football as his main source of income. But Segal admitted that he has no way of knowing whether Vick will be reinstated, because the decision lies with Goodell.
In the meantime, Vick is ready to "get back in the community in a positive light" and demonstrate remorse for his actions, Segal said.
He has agreed to participate in a documentary about him that will net him $600,000, Segal said. He will also work 40 hours a week for W.M. Jordan, a construction company based in Newport News.
The employment is not part of the official 61-page agreement tentatively worked out between's Vick's lawyers and numerous creditors.
The parties involved in the hearing will continue to present evidence and testimony in an effort to convince the judge that Vick qualifies for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Attorneys and representatives from the creditors, including Bank of America, the Atlanta Falcons and the City of Newport News, to name a few, packed the courtroom Thursday as the hearing got under way.
Vick's mother sat in the gallery with his fiancée, who blew him a kiss during one break in the proceedings.
Among the terms included in Vick's plan of reorganization:
• Vick will retain the first $750,000 of his income.
• A percentage of his income above $750,000 will go to a trust fund.
CNN's Eric Fiegel contributed to this report.
|
[
"who is expecting chapter 11 confirmation?",
"Did he show remorse?",
"who will work for 40 hours a week?",
"What is the suspected player seeking from Virginia judge?",
"What community work does he have?",
"WHO EXPECTS VICK TO RETURN TO FOOTBALL?",
"When will Vick return to football?"
] |
[
"Michael Vick",
"Vick is ready to \"get back in the community in a positive light\" and demonstrate",
"Michael Vick",
"Chapter 11 bankruptcy.",
"for a construction",
"Joel Segal",
"as soon as September"
] |
question: who is expecting chapter 11 confirmation?, answer: Michael Vick | question: Did he show remorse?, answer: Vick is ready to "get back in the community in a positive light" and demonstrate | question: who will work for 40 hours a week?, answer: Michael Vick | question: What is the suspected player seeking from Virginia judge?, answer: Chapter 11 bankruptcy. | question: What community work does he have?, answer: for a construction | question: WHO EXPECTS VICK TO RETURN TO FOOTBALL?, answer: Joel Segal | question: When will Vick return to football?, answer: as soon as September
|
NHA TRANG, Vietnam -- Editor's note: Football fans Daniel and Clinton Rowling were in Vietnam late December when the country won a major tournament for the first time. The event sparked wild celebrations in the South East Asian nation but joy soon turned to carnage as five people died and dozens were injured in the celebrations. They share their story.
Celebration time: Five people were killed on Vietnamese roads as football joy got out of control.
After spending a month in Vietnam we can safely say that the Vietnamese are passionate about three things: Ho Chi Minh, or Uncle Ho as the locals call him; football; and the tourist dollar.
Everywhere you look you see football. The locals proudly sport imitation merchandise of their favorite European team anywhere and everywhere they can. Other than on your person, the next best place to show your allegiance is on your motorbike through stickers. Some local football teams even play in the strips of their favorite club.
While we were in Vietnam the ASEAN cup was contested. It is the premier football contest in South East Asia. Every second year the countries of the region do battle for the crown. Up until 2008, the only winners of the cup had been Singapore and Thailand with three titles each (Indonesia has been the bridesmaid three times).
After pool play, the best of two finals series was played out between Thailand and Vietnam. Thanks to the close proximity, and some historical conflict, there is a strong rivalry between these two countries. The Thais played host to the Vietnamese in the first leg, where the visiting underdogs were winners, stunning the home crowd by winning the match 2-1.
The reverse leg was played in Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. After unexpectedly winning the first final, local interest was even higher than normal.
We watched the game in the coastal city of Nha Trang. The locals flocked to their TV sets and the beer flowed freely. Each TV was like a magnet for thirsty football fans.
Do you have a great football tale to tell? Send us your story and you could be featured on Football Fanzone!
We quickly realized there was a pecking order and that the most hardcore fans had the best seats, whilst the "fair weather supporters" were relegated to the back benches. As foreigners we were at the very bottom of the pecking order. We were resigned to watching the match from the street kerb on small plastic seats half in the rain which refused to dampen the crowds' spirits.
Predictably Thailand took the lead and were up 1-0 (making it 2-2 on aggregate) and time was ticking away. Vietnam's tactic of playing breakaway "Kung fu" style football was looking largely ineffective against the more structured, controlled and dominant Thai approach. Still, the Vietnamese were doing enough to create the odd opportunity to gives the locals hope.
Still tied up on aggregate, and with the end of regular time looming, the Vietnamese were awarded a free kick. The unexpected happened. The kick came in and a Vietnamese player managed to find it with the crown of his head sending the ball to the back of the net and the locals through the roof.
Everyone jumped to their feet, there were hugs, high fives and toasts. As outsiders we sat stunned and could only watch the spectacle unfolding. With the game effectively over, the victors were overcome with emotion whilst the fans were overcome with energy.
The locals were eager to include us in celebrations, with the nominated English speaker communicating with us in his limited vocabulary. We replied with our full Vietnamese vocabulary of smiles, nods and numerous thumbs up.
The older men who had been doing the majority of the drinking were content sitting and enjoying each other's company, while the younger and more boisterous sections of the crowd had their own form of celebration and they swiftly brought the streets alive with a massive motorcycle posse.
Led by the rider with the biggest Vietnamese flag, they proceeded to lap the town honking their horns and generally getting excited. With the roads slick from a weeks worth of rain
|
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"how many people were killed",
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"where Daniel and Clinton Rowling in Vietnam when the country wins ASEAN Cup?",
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] |
[
"five",
"Thailand",
"Daniel and Clinton Rowling",
"were in",
"football",
"December",
"Thailand"
] |
question: how many people were killed, answer: five | question: who did vietnam beat, answer: Thailand | question: who was in vietnam, answer: Daniel and Clinton Rowling | question: where Daniel and Clinton Rowling in Vietnam when the country wins ASEAN Cup?, answer: were in | question: what sport was played, answer: football | question: when Vietnam defeated Thailand in Hanoi to claim the trophy for the first time?, answer: December | question: who was defending the cup, answer: Thailand
|
NIAGARA FALLS, New York (CNN) -- Thirty years ago this summer, America learned the name Love Canal. The working-class Niagara Falls neighborhood built atop tons of chemical waste became a synonym for environmental disaster.
Lois Gibbs, who runs an environmental justice group, shows a photo of children from Love Canal protesting.
Troubles at the local elementary school -- and health problems among its students, such as seizure disorders -- were among the first signs of a much larger problem that made news around the world and prompted federal Superfund legislation to clean up the most polluted sites in the United States.
Despite the outcry over Love Canal, little has been done to make schoolchildren safer from hazardous or toxic waste, says Lois Gibbs, who headed the Love Canal Homeowners Association and now runs the Center for Health, Environment & Justice.
"We should be farther along today than we are," said Gibbs, who started the nonprofit a year after her evacuation from Love Canal. The organization is dedicated to helping communities facing environmental threats.
A 2005 study by the Center for Health, Environment & Justice looking at just four states -- Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Michigan -- found half a million children attending schools within half a mile of known toxic dumps.
Gibbs points to New Bedford High School in Massachusetts as an example of children at risk.
New Bedford High opened in 1972 on top of a former burn dump for PCBs, an industrial chemical linked to cancer and brain damage. PCB levels in the body build over time, raising health risks.
"Like a lot of teachers there now, I figured, how bad could it be? I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005," said former New Bedford teacher Susan Dias, who is now cancer-free. She is returning to the classroom this fall but will not go back to New Bedford High.
Former teacher Maria Quann also says New Bedford High made her ill.
"I became very, very sick. My immune system shut down. I collapsed and was bedridden for several months," Quann said. Her health improved after she left the high school, she says, and she has now retired.
Maureen Woolley, who worked in the cafeteria, says she compiled a list of 25 school employees who died of cancer.
Three classrooms were closed last year because of high PCB levels, but the school has been scrubbed and a new ventilation system added. The rooms are expected to be open this fall.
There have been no reports of students at the high school becoming sick as a result of the toxic waste.
"I wouldn't have kids in the school if I didn't think it was safe. I would close the school," said Mayor Scott Lang, whose two sons attended New Bedford High.
PCB levels inside the school now fall within federal guidelines, he says.
Despite results of ongoing air-quality testing, teacher David Greene remains skeptical.
"I do think there are areas of that school that continue to be dangerous," he said.
Only seven states have laws preventing cities and towns from building schools on or near toxic waste, according to the Center for Health Environment and Justice. They are Massachusetts, Rhode Island, California, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi and Utah.
"You can go most anyplace and build [a school] on top of a Superfund site," Gibbs said. "They can build a school anywhere they want, really. And that's the sad truth. I think at schools, very little has changed, and that's unfortunate."
Even in states with laws, many are weak or poorly enforced, she says. In Massachusetts, state law prevents schools only from being built close to active waste dumps, which would not have prevented New Bedford High's construction three decades ago on a former dump site.
In Niagara Falls, Gibbs' home was built three blocks from 20,000 tons of industrial waste placed in barrels and buried in a mile-long ditch by a plastics and chemical maker. The 99th Street Elementary was
|
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] |
question: Where is the Love Canal?, answer: Niagara Falls | question: What is the name of the canal built on top of chemical waste?, answer: Love | question: Which neighborhood is built atop tons of chemical waste?, answer: Love Canal. | question: Can you build a school near toxic waste?, answer: Only seven states have laws preventing cities and towns from building | question: What laws do few states have?, answer: preventing cities and towns from building schools on or near toxic waste, | question: Where is Love Canal?, answer: Niagara Falls neighborhood | question: What is the neighborhood build on top of?, answer: tons of chemical waste | question: Where is Love Canal located?, answer: Niagara Falls neighborhood
|
NORCROSS, Georgia (CNN) -- Beneath seven flat-screen TVs and one large pulldown screen, members of the Racquet Club of the South gathered Monday to watch and celebrate one of their own.
Members of the Racquet Club of the South erupt when Melanie Oudin beats Nadia Petrova.
Melanie Oudin, 17, of Marietta, Georgia, has taken the tennis world by storm at the U.S. Open.
The 70th-ranked female has upset some of the sport's biggest female stars, including Russian aces Elena Dementieva (No. 4 seed) and Maria Sharapova (No. 29 seed, who has been ranked No. 1 worldwide in the past). And on Monday, she beat 13th seed Nadia Petrova in three sets.
Her latest win makes her the youngest American to make the quarterfinals since Serena Williams in 1999.
"It's still so surreal," said Anne Keeton, player liaison at the club, before the match started. "She sort of wins no matter what happens. She's there going for it and not giving up."
At this suburban club, co-owned and co-directed by Oudin's longtime coach, Brian de Villiers, articles about the local tennis phenom dot the walls. In the Grill, on a Bud Light message board above drink specials, are the words "Congratulations Melanie!" And a photo of her mixed in with other young players is posted near a downstairs fitness room.
Blending in with others and not retreating to "a Melanie court" is part of what makes her special, Keeton said. When there was a flood on some indoor courts this year, she was down there squeegeeing with everyone else.
"She so lovely and so accessible," Keeton said. "It couldn't happen to a nicer kid."
The restaurant buzzed as tables filled with more than 80 onlookers who were courtside in spirit. They feasted on a spread laid out to mark the special occasion as the match started. Watch friends, family cheer Oudin on »
When Petrova took the upper hand, and the first set, fans erupted into applause with each of Oudin's hard-earned points and offered encouragement like "There we go!" When she pumped her fist in celebration, they did the same. And when a play didn't go her way, they groaned in unison.
Her skills were apparent from an early age, said Turhan Berne of Norcross, a coach and tournament director who's known Oudin since she was 9. He watched her rake in wins, beating older kids and snagging No. 1 junior rankings in the country and world.
"But you know when I knew she was going to be something?" he said. "She would play with anybody her coach had her hit with. ... She always gave back. She's very grounded. Her parents and coach did a great job not letting her fame and success change her into a different person."
As Oudin came back for the second set, the crowd held its collective breath. With every point she earned, they hooted, hollered and exchanged high-fives. They booed when they saw Petrova losing her cool, banging her racquet against the net after losing a big point.
"C'mon, Melanie!" people screamed as the tiebreaker began in the second set. When Oudin took that set, they rose to their feet, screamed, did happy dances and shared hugs.
"It's awesome," said Kathleen Brady of Norcross. "We are so glad her opponent double-faults."
"Bless her heart," Lisa Wells chimed in with a laugh, offering the Southern tagline to downplay any insult.
Earlier in the day, John Sklare joked that the young pro learned something from him. Over the winter, the Alpharetta psychologist often played on the indoor court beside her.
"I knew she was good, but I didn't know she was that good -- and that's what we're all finding out now," he said.
He spoke about what a "great kid" Oudin is but
|
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question: What age is Melanie Oudin?, answer: 17, | question: who did she beat, answer: Nadia Petrova. | question: What did Oudin do to cause "hubbub?", answer: beats Nadia Petrova. | question: who moved into the quater finals, answer: Melanie Oudin, | question: What number 1 player did Oudin beat?, answer: Maria Sharapova | question: Where did Oudin hone her skills?, answer: Norcross, | question: Where does Oudin train?, answer: Marietta, Georgia,
|
NORFOLK, Virginia (CNN) -- Negotiators aboard a U.S. Navy warship are trying to secure the release of an American freighter captain who is being held by pirates on a lifeboat off the coast of Somalia, according to Maersk Line Ltd.
Capt. Richard Phillips of the Maersk Alabama is being held by pirates on a lifeboat off Somalia.
The crew aboard the destroyer USS Bainbridge could see the lifeboat where pirates have been holding Capt. Richard Phillips since Wednesday, the company said in a written statement issued at 5 p.m. ET.
Phillips has not been hurt, the statement said.
Phillips, who has received provisions and batteries for his radio, has been in touch with the crews of the Alabama and the Bainbridge, the statement said.
The pirates are the same four men who hijacked Phillips' vessel, the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama, early Wednesday hundreds of miles off the Horn of Africa.
The Alabama's 20-person crew later regained control of the ship, which is owned and operated by the Norfolk-based Maersk Line Ltd.
In a written statement, Maersk spokesman Kevin Speers noted that "there have been many questions about how the crew re-captured the ship and how the captain came to leave the ship."
But he would not clarify the matter.
"Our immediate focus has been to bring the current situation to a safe resolution," he said. "There will be time for due diligence and retrospective review once we have the safe return of all parties and the opportunity for a full de-briefing."
The U.S. Navy, which is in charge of the situation, requested the help of the FBI. FBI negotiators in the United States are in touch with the crew of the Bainbridge, which arrived on the scene earlier Thursday to assist, a senior U.S. defense official said.
According to Maersk's last communication with the Navy, the 28-foot lifeboat was disabled and "dead in the water," Speers said Thursday morning.
"We are encouraged that most of the crew is safe. They have been resilient and courageous throughout this crisis," Speers said. "But we will remain on watch, staffing our situation room and our family hot line until this situation is resolved and the captain is safely returned."
On Thursday, the Maersk Alabama resumed its journey to Mombasa, Kenya, with an 18-person armed security detail on board, according to Joseph Murphy, the father of the ship's first officer. Maersk and U.S. military officials confirmed the cargo ship had left the area on Thursday, but would not say where it was heading, citing security concerns. See how pirate attacks have increased »
Gen. David Petraeus, chief of U.S. Central Command, said Thursday that the Bainbridge would be getting backup shortly.
"I can tell you, there are definitely going to be more ships in that area in the next 24 or 48 hours, because there are two more sailing to it right now," he said.
"Needless to say, we want to ensure we have all the capacity that may be needed over the course of the coming days."
Vice Adm. William E. Gortney, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, told CNN's Barbara Starr in Bahrain that, "We have been moving forces in that direction."
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said President Obama had been staying apprised of the situation.
"Obviously, his main concern is for the safety of the captain and the rest of the crew on the ship, and he will continue to receive those updates," he said.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said an international coalition of countries is working to address the piracy threat, but the area in question is immense.
"I think the ocean area we're referring to is three times the size of Texas," she told reporters. iReport.com: 'Stop the pirates, Obama!'
Referring to continuing problems with piracy in those waters, she said instability in Somalia has contributed to the flourishing of "an old scourge."
The Alabama was loaded with food aid when the pirates hijacked it Wednesday, 350 miles
|
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"Horn of Africa.",
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"FBI",
"FBI."
] |
question: What is the name of the ship?, answer: USS Bainbridge | question: Where is Philips being held?, answer: on a lifeboat off Somalia. | question: What are the pirates doing?, answer: holding Capt. Richard Phillips | question: who leaves scene with armed detail?, answer: the Maersk Alabama | question: Who is Petraeus?, answer: chief of U.S. Central Command, | question: What crew member is being held hostage?, answer: Capt. Richard Phillips | question: who assists in negotiations with pirates?, answer: FBI negotiators | question: Who is holding Phillips?, answer: pirates | question: Who is holding Captain Phillips hostage?, answer: pirates | question: What did Gen. David Petraeus say?, answer: that the Bainbridge would be getting backup shortly. | question: Where did Maersk Alabama leave?, answer: Horn of Africa. | question: Who left the scene with armed detail?, answer: the Maersk Alabama | question: Which agency is involved in negotiations with pirates holding Capt.Phillips?, answer: FBI | question: Who assisted in negotiations?, answer: FBI.
|
NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Ron Hassell stares at one really worn-out brown leather loafer.
Ron Hassell has seen his share of heels. And soles. His grandfather taught him the shoe-repair trade.
"This is a shoe I don't want to tackle," he grimaces as his finger traces holes on the bottom. "I tried to talk the guy out of fixing it, believe it or not."
The cobbler grabs a tool to rip off the entire sole. "Some guys get a favorite pair of shoes. ... as you can tell, this guy wore this one to death."
He brings one of the shoes to a grinder that files down the last of the old sole and heel. "It'll look brand new when I'm done," Hassell says.
Hassell's shoe repair business, tucked into the corner of a three-story building in downtown North Attleborough, Massachusetts, is a trade and a tradition.
The shop he now owns, North Shoe Repair, once belonged to his grandfather, who taught him everything he knows about being a cobbler.
"He was one of the best," Ron says, and he knows this because that's what all the salesmen -- the ones who sold products to all the local shoe repair shops -- would tell him.
There are not a lot of cobblers left in the area, but Hassell's business has been steady and has even picked up in the last year. He sees the economy as one reason. It's far more economical to spend $12.50 on a pair of $125 shoes than to buy new ones.
Hassell, however, sees another reason for being busy. With few young people entering the trade, customers seek out cobblers when theirs retire.
"I used to be the youngest that I knew of, because I started when I was twenty. Of course I'm close to fifty now, and I'm still probably one of the youngest around here." Watch the craftsman at work »
He continues to work on the really beat-up pair he didn't want to face. He uses special cutting and sewing machines to attach new leather to the bottom. Glue is pasted onto parts and the grinding machine is visited several times, both to sand off rough edges and later to polish them to a shine. He'll go back and forth to the various shoes that have been brought in and stop to wait on people bringing in his next challenge to repair.
His customers seem satisfied with the results they get, and some have been loyal to his business for years.
"I came when his grandfather was here," says Inez Cavallaro, who had come to the shop to pick up a pair of sandals Hassell had fixed. "I hope he always stays here, because he's great.
"He has done some magical things for me."
The comments don't go unnoticed by Hassell. "You know, what's pretty cool is, customers, they get pretty happy. You get that all the time, and it makes you feel good."
Using an old shoe brush to polish what had started the day as a hopeless pair of old shoes, Hassell puts the final touches on what now look like shoes just bought from a store.
"Better than I thought they were going to come out," he says, looking them over one last time.
Hassell says he enjoys his craft because he knows what he does is appreciated. As one customer leaves his shop and says goodbye, she stops in the door and turns around. She looks back at Hassell and says, "Don't go out of business, now!"
As long as he can, that's something Ron Hassell has no intention of doing.
|
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] |
question: What trade was in the article?, answer: shoe-repair | question: What did one worker say helped his business?, answer: special cutting and sewing machines | question: What is shoe-repair business?, answer: North Shoe Repair, | question: What is far more economical?, answer: to spend $12.50 on a pair of $125 shoes than to buy new ones. | question: What is a tradition?, answer: Hassell's shoe repair business, | question: Who has been coming to shoe-repair shop for years?, answer: Inez Cavallaro,
|
NYON, Switzerland -- Celtic have been fined $50,800 by UEFA and AC Milan's Dida has been banned for two matches after the incident which saw a pitch-invading supporter approach the Brazilian goalkeeper in last week's Champions League match at Celtic Park.
Dida's theatrical over-reaction has resulted in UEFA suspending him for two matches.
The incident occurred when the Scottish side beat Milan 2-1 in Glasgow. A fan ran onto the field in the 90th minute, soon after the home side scored their winning goal, and made what appeared to be minimal contact with Dida.
The Milan goalkeeper turned to chase the supporter before dropping to the ground. He was carried off the field on a stretcher and replaced.
Dida's theatrical over-reaction has cost him severely -- but Celtic may choose not to complain about their own punishment, with half of their fine suspended for two years.
UEFA did have the power to change the result of the match, although that was always unlikely.
UEFA's control and disciplinary body found Celtic guilty of charges of "lack of organisation and improper conduct of supporters", while Dida was found to have breached UEFA's "principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship".
Milan have pledged to appeal against the punishment, which as it stands means he will miss the club's Champions League games against Shakhtar Donetsk.
"It's a suspension that is absolutely excessive," said Milan lawyer Leandro Cantamessa. "It seems to us a very, very unbalanced sentence. It turns Dida into the protagonist of the incident, whereas the protagonist was someone else, and that's not right from a logical point of view."
Celtic acted swiftly to punish the 27-year-old supporter, who turned himself in and has since admitted a breach of the peace in court and will be sentenced next month.
The club banned the fan for life from all their matches, home and away.
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said: "As a club we feel this penalty is proportionate to the incident in question and a fair outcome." E-mail to a friend
|
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question: What teams are playing?, answer: Milan | question: What was the fine Celtic faced and why?, answer: $50,800 | question: Which Team does Dida play for, answer: AC Milan's | question: Who have been fined $50,800 for allowing the fan to run onto the field of play?, answer: Celtic | question: What is Dida's role in the team?, answer: goalkeeper | question: What reason was given for the suspension?, answer: "lack of organisation and improper conduct of supporters", | question: which was the amount of money fined by celtics, answer: $50,800 | question: Who was fined?, answer: Celtic | question: ac milan's brazilian goalkeeper dida is suspended by what?, answer: UEFA | question: What was Dida banned for?, answer: theatrical over-reaction | question: What is suspension for?, answer: pitch-invading supporter approach the Brazilian goalkeeper | question: What is the fine that Celtic must pay?, answer: $50,800 | question: Who is suspended by UEFA for two matches?, answer: AC Milan's Dida | question: Who was banned for over-reacting?, answer: AC Milan's Dida | question: What was the amount of the fine, answer: $50,800 | question: Who is AC Milan's goalkeeper?, answer: Dida | question: who is the goalkeeper suspended?, answer: AC Milan's Dida | question: Who was banned for his over-reacting to being touched by a Celtic supporter?, answer: AC Milan's Dida | question: Who was suspended by UEFA?, answer: AC Milan's Dida | question: celtic have been fine by how many dollars?, answer: $50,800 | question: What were Celtic fined for, answer: pitch-invading supporter approach the Brazilian goalkeeper | question: Who suspended AC Milan's Brazilian goalkeeper Dida?, answer: UEFA
|
Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) -- Al-Shabaab, a hard-line Somali rebel group that is on the U.S. government's terror watch list, has threatened to attack neighboring Kenya, according to an online audio recording.
On an Al-Shabaab Web site, men chant in Kiswahili, the national language of Kenya, saying, "We will reach Nairobi. When we arrive, we will hit until we kill." A taped message in Arabic follows, thought to be by Abu Zubeyr, Al-Shabaab's commander in Somalia. The speaker of the message threatens those he calls infidels, throughout the world.
It would not be the first threat by Al-Shabaab toward Kenya. Many analysts say Kenya is vulnerable to attack by the Islamic group, which is trying to overthrow the weak transitional government.
The threat follows heightened tensions between the Kenyan government and Somalis living in Kenya over the past month. Kenya recently rounded up and arrested several hundred Somali immigrants and refugees living in a mostly Somali neighborhood. And earlier this month, Muslim protesters clashed with police after Friday prayers, leading to one death and extensive property damage.
Muslim human-rights groups in Kenya have called for protests in support of cleric Abdulah Ibrahim el-Faisal, whom Kenya declared an unwanted person and deported earlier this month. The Jamaican-born Muslim cleric was previously jailed in Britain for inciting murder and racial hatred. But Kenya's efforts to deport him failed. He was then arrested on return to Kenya, further outraging some Muslim leaders.
Alfred Mutua, Kenya's government spokesman, has since said that el-Faisal has successfully been deported. However, the government has given mixed signals as to whether he has actually left.
|
[
"what groups are involved",
"who is threatening them",
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"between who are tensions?"
] |
[
"Muslim human-rights",
"Al-Shabaab,",
"to attack by the Islamic group,",
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] |
question: what groups are involved, answer: Muslim human-rights | question: who is threatening them, answer: Al-Shabaab, | question: what is kenya vulnerable to?, answer: to attack by the Islamic group, | question: between who are tensions?, answer: Kenyan government and Somalis living in Kenya
|
Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) -- An English tourist kidnapped from a remote Kenyan resort is being held by Somali pirates in a remote corner of the lawless country, according to experts and security analysts in Nairobi.
"Gangs from Southern Somalia took her up the coast and then moved her several times," said Andrew Mwangura, a piracy expert and maritime editor of Somalia Report, an independent online publication.
Judith Tebbutt was abducted by armed men from a remote safari lodge near to the Somali border earlier this month.
Her husband, David Tebbutt, was killed in the attack when he resisted, according to Kenyan police.
Details of the incident are still sketchy and the British government has asked journalists not to reveal the exact location of Tebbutt to avoid abduction attempts from rival gangs.
Initially, it was feared that al-Shabaab, the al Qaeda-linked militant group, had conducted the operation as a revenge attack against the British nationals.
But a security analyst based in Nairobi, who tracks piracy operations but is not authorized to speak to the media, also believes this is the work of pirates.
"This is not the work of al-Shabaab," he said, "this is the work of Southern armed gangs and pirates."
No ransom demands have been made yet, says Mwangura.
But if Somali pirates carried out the operation, it represents a marked departure in tactics.
For years, pirates have attacked commercial ships in the busy shipping lanes between Europe and Asia. A cargo ship has insurance, and after months of negotiations pirates can often clear several million U.S. dollars.
Some analysts believe that Somali pirates are now moving onto land because it's getting harder out at sea.
"Their inability to operate freely in the their waters is forcing them onto land," says Andrews Atta-Asamoah, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies. "It's significant if you place it in the context of the struggle against piracy. Since the whole push against piracy by international navies, the pirates have been looking for new territory and new frontiers."
Atta-Asamoah says that Kenya is a natural target because if its porous border with Somalia and a high number of foreign visitors and workers.
The Kenyan government, prompted by their reliance on tourism for foreign exchange, says they are making every effort to secure the border with Somalia.
Others say that, rather than a trend, this is a one-time attack caused by a more prosaic fact: the weather.
Monsoon rains off the coast of Somalia at this time of year makes operating offshore difficult.
"This incident is a special case," says Mwangura.
|
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question: Where do officals believe she is?, answer: remote corner of the lawless country, | question: Analysts believe who is in volved?, answer: pirates. | question: In what country could she be in?, answer: Somalia | question: Whose work is suspected, answer: Southern armed gangs and pirates." | question: Where were they taken from, answer: a remote safari lodge near to the Somali border | question: Where do they think Judith is being held?, answer: in a remote corner of the lawless country, | question: Who was taken earlier this month, answer: Judith Tebbutt | question: Where was Tebbutt taken from?, answer: a remote safari lodge near to the Somali border | question: Who was taken from a Kenyan lodge?, answer: Judith Tebbutt
|
Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) -- An English tourist kidnapped from a remote Kenyan resort is being held by pirates in a remote corner of Somalia, according to experts and security analysts in Nairobi.
"Gangs from Southern Somalia took her up the coast and then moved her several times," said Andrew Mwangura, a piracy expert and maritime editor of Somalia Report, an independent online publication.
Judith Tebbutt was abducted by armed men from a remote safari lodge near to the Somali border earlier this month.
Her husband, David Tebbutt, was killed in the attack when he resisted, according to Kenyan police.
A Kenyan man has been charged in connection with the attack, a lawyer familiar with the case told CNN Monday.
Ali Babitu Kololo, who worked at the luxury resort in Kiwayu where the attack took place, was charged with robbery with violence and abducting with the intention to murder, according to a lawyer present at the hearing at the Lamu law courts.
Kololo pleaded not guilty to both counts.
A second man, Issa Sheck Saadi, is expected to appear in court at a later date.
Details of the incident are still sketchy and the British government has asked journalists not to reveal the exact location of Tebbutt to avoid abduction attempts from rival gangs.
Initially, it was feared that al-Shabaab, the al Qaeda-linked militant group, had conducted the operation as a revenge attack against the British nationals.
But a security analyst based in Nairobi, who tracks piracy operations but is not authorized to speak to the media, also believes this is the work of pirates.
"This is not the work of al-Shabaab," he said, "this is the work of southern armed gangs and pirates."
No ransom demands have been made yet, says Mwangura.
But if Somali pirates carried out the operation, it represents a marked departure in tactics.
For years, pirates have attacked commercial ships in the busy shipping lanes between Europe and Asia. A cargo ship has insurance, and after months of negotiations pirates can often clear several million U.S. dollars.
Some analysts believe that Somali pirates are now moving onto land because it's getting harder out at sea.
"Their inability to operate freely in the waters is forcing them onto land," says Andrews Atta-Asamoah, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies. "It's significant if you place it in the context of the struggle against piracy. Since the whole push against piracy by international navies, the pirates have been looking for new territory and new frontiers."
Atta-Asamoah says that Kenya is a natural target because if its porous border with Somalia and a high number of foreign visitors and workers.
The Kenyan government, prompted by their reliance on tourism for foreign exchange, says they are making every effort to secure the border with Somalia.
Others say that, rather than a trend, this is a one-time attack caused by a more prosaic fact: the weather.
Monsoon rains off the coast of Somalia at this time of year makes operating offshore difficult.
"This incident is a special case," says Mwangura.
|
[
"Where was she taken from ?",
"who is charged in connection with the attacks",
"Who are probably behind the kidnapping?",
"Who was taken from a Kenyan lodge?",
"Where do officials believe Tebbutt is being held?",
"Where is she being held?",
"what was the believes of the analyst",
"Whats the name of the woman kidnapped?"
] |
[
"a remote Kenyan resort",
"pirates",
"pirates.",
"English tourist",
"Somalia,",
"Somalia,",
"this is the work of pirates.",
"Judith Tebbutt"
] |
question: Where was she taken from ?, answer: a remote Kenyan resort | question: who is charged in connection with the attacks, answer: pirates | question: Who are probably behind the kidnapping?, answer: pirates. | question: Who was taken from a Kenyan lodge?, answer: English tourist | question: Where do officials believe Tebbutt is being held?, answer: Somalia, | question: Where is she being held?, answer: Somalia, | question: what was the believes of the analyst, answer: this is the work of pirates. | question: Whats the name of the woman kidnapped?, answer: Judith Tebbutt
|
Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) -- Conflicting accounts emerged Thursday over whether the extremist group Al-Shabaab has signaled a desire to negotiate with Kenya amid a Kenyan military offensive targeting the group.
"They want to talk," said a Kenyan official who did not want to be named because he is not authorized to talk to the media.
A spokesman for the Kenyan government, however, disputed that account and said Kenya wouldn't talk with Al-Shabaab even if the group did want to negotiate.
"Al-Shabaab has not contacted Kenya in any way," said the spokesman, Alfred Mutua. "There are no plans whatsoever for Kenya to negotiate with Al-Shabaab. Kenya does not negotiate with outlawed groups."
He said Kenyan troops have enjoyed success since crossing the border into Somalia to pursue Al-Shabaab, which the United States and several Western nations view as a terrorist organization.
"They are running scared. I think they are busy running for their lives," Mutua said. "They don't have time to talk."
Kenyan troops struck several Al-Shabaab training sites in Somalia early Thursday, a military spokesman said. The militant group, which includes many rival factions with different leaders, operates from Somalia.
The group's leaders were said to be reaching out for possible negotiations two weeks after Kenyan troops stormed into Somalia to hunt for Al-Shabaab, which Kenya blames for recent kidnappings of foreigners in the nation.
But Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Ali, Al-Shabaab's second-in-command who is also known as Abu Mansur, told supporters protesting in Mogadishu against the Kenyan incursion that if Kenya struck targets in Somalia, the militant group would strike back.
Kenya has said its forces aim to take the Somali port city of Kismayo, described by the United Nations as a key stronghold and source of cash for Al-Shabaab. The United Nations estimates the group collects up to $50 million a year from businesses in Kismayo, about half of its annual income.
Robow urged what he said were Al-Shabaab-trained fighters in Kenya to take action in return, with the Kenyan port of Mombasa a target.
''Carry out attacks with heavy losses on Kenya," Robow said. "If Kenya closes the sea port in Kismayo, attack its banks, its port, its foreign guests and wherever there is a high-value target."
Kenyan officials have declared self-defense justifies crossing the border with Somalia, saying a recent spate of abductions threatened its security and constituted an attack. Kidnappers have seized two aid workers and two European tourists in the past month.
"We have looked at what is going on ... and decided that unless we move in now, Al-Shabaab is not diminishing, it is becoming bigger and bigger," Mutua said.
The war on terror cannot be won without dismantling the group's power, he said.
Efforts to flush out the terror group will take a "couple of months, if that," Mutua said, adding that "weeks" would be a more ideal time frame.
Analysts and diplomats have raised concerns over the incursion, saying it gives the terror group a reason to strike Kenya.
"If there is anything we have learned in the last couple of decades is that foreign intervention, especially military intervention, doesn't work in Somalia," said Rashid Abdi, an analyst for International Crisis Group. "I definitely understand Kenya's anxiety about the terror threat emanating from Somalia ... but I think there is more that Kenya could have done inside the country."
While noting Kenya's "right to defend itself," the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi said it was not part of the decision to send troops to Somalia.
"The United States did not encourage the Kenyan government to act nor did Kenya seek our views," said Katya Thomas, the embassy's press officer. "We note that Kenya has a right to defend itself against threats to its security and its citizens."
Somali President Sharif Ahmed thanked Kenya on Wednesday for helping battle the
|
[
"who are kenyan forces pursuing in Somalia",
"Who said its militants will strike Kenyan?",
"Who entered Somalia two weeks ago?",
"when did kenyan forces enter somalia",
"What does a government spokesman deny?",
"Who wants to talk according to a Kenyan offical"
] |
[
"Al-Shabaab",
"Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Ali,",
"Kenyan troops",
"early Thursday,",
"\"Al-Shabaab has not contacted Kenya in any way,\"",
"extremist group Al-Shabaab"
] |
question: who are kenyan forces pursuing in Somalia, answer: Al-Shabaab | question: Who said its militants will strike Kenyan?, answer: Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Ali, | question: Who entered Somalia two weeks ago?, answer: Kenyan troops | question: when did kenyan forces enter somalia, answer: early Thursday, | question: What does a government spokesman deny?, answer: "Al-Shabaab has not contacted Kenya in any way," | question: Who wants to talk according to a Kenyan offical, answer: extremist group Al-Shabaab
|
Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) -- Islamic militants have moved fighters to the Somali border town of Afmado in an effort to combat Kenyan forces who have entered Somalia, the militant group Al-Shabaab said Tuesday.
The group said it viewed the Kenyan forces crossing of the joint border as "an affront to Somalia's territorial sovereignty."
This move of fighters, which started Monday, comes after the militant group had threatened to "come into Kenya" if Kenyan forces did not leave Somalia.
"Kenyan troops have entered 100 kilometers into Somalia, and their planes are bombarding and killing residents," Sheikh Ali Mahmud Ragi, spokesman for Al-Shabaab, said in an online message posted on a jihadist website this week. "We shall come into Kenya if you do not go back."
In response, the Kenyan and Somali governments issued a joint communique declaring Al-Shabaab "a common enemy to both countries." They pledged to work together to stabilize Somalia and cooperate in security and military operations.
Kenyan forces crossed into Somalia to pursue Al-Shabaab fighters after the recent abductions of tourists and aid workers in Kenya heightened tensions in East Africa. Kenya invoked the U.N. charter allowing military action in self-defense against its largely lawless neighbor.
The abductions are part of a "recent spate of blatant attacks" that are part of "a changed strategy by Al-Shabaab calculated to terrorize civilians," the communique said.
"If you are attacked by an enemy, you have to pursue that enemy through hot pursuit and to try (to) hit wherever that enemy is," said Kenyan Defense Minister Yusuf Haji in a news conference that aired Sunday on CNN affiliate NTV.
Al-Shabaab, which is linked to al Qaeda, has been fighting to impose its interpretation of Islamic law, or sharia, on Somalia. The group issued a statement Tuesday, however, denying responsibility for the abductions.
"These are mere suppositions unfounded in any solid evidence," the statement said. "Kenyan authorities have been seeking justification for an aggressive incursion on to Somali territory."
On September 11, armed bandits broke into a beachfront cottage where Britons Judith and David Tebbutt, both in their 50s, were staying. David Tebbutt was shot dead while trying to resist the attack. His wife was grabbed and spirited away on a speedboat, and is believed to have been taken into Somalia.
On October 1, pirates made another cross-border raid, this time snatching a French woman in her 60s from a holiday home on Manda Island where she lived part of the year.
Earlier this month, gunmen abducted two Spanish workers from the medical charity Doctors Without Borders from the Dadaab refugee complex, about 80 kilometers (about 50 miles) from the Somali border.
Kenya announced its new tactics days after African Union forces claimed victory against Al-Shabaab in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. The military said last week it had taken the remaining Al-Shabaab strongholds in the far northeast of the city.
"The challenge is now to protect civilians from the sort of terror attack we saw last week, as they attempt to rebuild their lives," said Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda, spokesman for the African Union Mission in Somalia. He was referring to a suicide truck bombing in Mogadishu this month that left dozens dead. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility. Other Al-Shabaab attacks that week led to the deaths of at least 10 civilians.
Federal and African Union forces have battled Al-Shabaab in the impoverished and chaotic nation for years. Many analysts believe the military push has severely affected Al-Shabaab, along with targeted strikes against organization members and the weakening of al Qaeda.
Al-Shabaab said in August it was withdrawing from Mogadishu, and Somalia's Transitional Federal Government, backed by African Union peacekeepers, now controls most districts of the capital, the U.N. office has said.
However, the group still poses a threat, Ankunda has said.
|
[
"Who is Al-Shabaab linked to?",
"Which governments pledged cooperation",
"Which countries troops were moved",
"What 2 governements are involved?",
"Against who is the fight",
"what are the kenyan and somali governments pledging",
"what does al-shabaab deny"
] |
[
"al Qaeda,",
"Kenyan and Somali",
"Islamic militants",
"Kenyan and Somali",
"Al-Shabaab",
"military",
"responsibility for the abductions."
] |
question: Who is Al-Shabaab linked to?, answer: al Qaeda, | question: Which governments pledged cooperation, answer: Kenyan and Somali | question: Which countries troops were moved, answer: Islamic militants | question: What 2 governements are involved?, answer: Kenyan and Somali | question: Against who is the fight, answer: Al-Shabaab | question: what are the kenyan and somali governments pledging, answer: military | question: what does al-shabaab deny, answer: responsibility for the abductions.
|
Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) -- Sala saunters in the red soil, her wrinkled skin glistening in the sun as she tries to keep up with the rest of the herd.
It is hard to believe the 6-week-old, dwarfed by her human keeper, will grow up to be one of nature's biggest beasts.
Until then, she lives at a Nairobi orphanage that takes in baby elephants struggling to survive. There, she walks around in the lush wilderness with her peers, drinks soy milk and waves her trunk playfully as her keeper applies sunscreen on her delicate skin. A red garment tied around her back keeps it safe from the sun's glare.
Sala is one of scores of animals orphaned by drought, poaching and shrinking habitats, which have decimated wildlife across Kenya. The baby elephant was found wandering, alone and confused, after her mother died of starvation, her caretaker said.
Conservation groups such as the David Sheldrick Foundation, where Sala is, have seen an influx of wildlife. The foundation takes in orphaned elephants and rhinos from across the country, a popular tourist destination because of its animals.
"You know if a human child came in need of care, you wouldn't put a bullet in or turn it away," said Daphne Sheldrick of the foundation. "Elephants are the same. ... Whatever comes in, we have to make space."
The facility has more than 20 elephants in Nairobi and more at another center in Tsavo National Park, where they are also rehabilitated.
Kenya depends on tourism as a main source of income. Sala taps into that to help earn the $900 monthly cost for her upkeep.
She slushes and slides in a mud bath for throngs of tourists and uses her trunk to nudge the only other person she dwarfs -- a squirming toddler.
Sala and the other animals will be released back into the wilderness when they are old enough, which takes years.
Long after they are gone, their caretakers will still worry about the fragile animals they help nurture.
"After working with these elephants, it's no longer just a job," said Edwin Lusichi, the chief keeper. "It is from inside your heart, the love that you have for these animals."
|
[
"What are the causes of orphaned animals?",
"What is the foundation called?",
"Who reported seeing an influx of wildlife?",
"What foundation makes room for all elephants that come its way?",
"What have conservation groups seen?",
"What is orphaning animals?",
"Where can we send elephants?"
] |
[
"drought, poaching",
"David Sheldrick",
"Conservation groups",
"David Sheldrick",
"influx of wildlife.",
"drought, poaching and shrinking habitats,",
"Nairobi orphanage"
] |
question: What are the causes of orphaned animals?, answer: drought, poaching | question: What is the foundation called?, answer: David Sheldrick | question: Who reported seeing an influx of wildlife?, answer: Conservation groups | question: What foundation makes room for all elephants that come its way?, answer: David Sheldrick | question: What have conservation groups seen?, answer: influx of wildlife. | question: What is orphaning animals?, answer: drought, poaching and shrinking habitats, | question: Where can we send elephants?, answer: Nairobi orphanage
|
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