ConnieTalk: The Hottest News Blog

Alicia Keys, Melissa Etheridge to headline Nobel Peace Prize Concert
Friday, October 19th, 2007

Alicia Keys, Melissa Etheridge, Annie Lenox, Juanes, KT Tunstall, Junoon, and Earth, Wind & Fire are among the performers that will be celebrating peace through music at the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Concert, in Oslo, Norway on December 11th. The concert will honor Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Clijate Change (IPCC) for their efforts to spread knowledge about climate change.

The Nobel Peace Prize Committee announce the performing lineup for the upcoming concert yesterday, and will be releasing the names of additional artists and concert hosts in the coming weeks. We will so keep you updated!

The event is presented annually by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and will be broadcast to over 100 countries. Nine-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys will be performing her third studio album, As I Am, which is coming out November 13th. Melissa Etheridge won an Academy Award in 2007 for her song "I Need to Wake Up," which was featured in the Al Gore documentary, "An Inconvienient Truth," this year's Nobel Peace Prize award winner. She'll be performing songs from her ninth studio album, The Awakening.

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Guest bloggers: The clean, the mean, and the in between
Friday, October 19th, 2007

Ever wanted to be a blogger? Or are you already a blogger but looking to get more exposure?

We are currently looking for guest bloggers, who would like to participate in ConnieTalk with news and opinion articles. Our website is indexed by Google News and shows up regularly in the major search engines. If you'd like your voice to be heard on political opinion, current events, civil rights, animal rights, entertainment, or whatever your forte is, send us your entry!

If we like your blog entry, we'll post it on our site, with a link back to your website, MySpace profile, FaceBook, or wherever you'd like. If your blog is especially good, we may invite you to become a regular guest blogger!

We will review and respond to all submissions.

Happy blogging!

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The highest priced eBay item to ever go to charity
Friday, October 19th, 2007

I will leave my opinion of Rush Limbaugh out of this, for the sake of the cause.

When Rush Limbaugh referred to Iraq war veterans that are critical of the war as "phony soldiers," he got a letter of complaint from 41 Democratic Senators. Despite calling the letter a "glittering jewel of colossal ignorance," he put the letter up for charity on eBay, pledging to match the price dollar for dollar.

Among others, the letter was signed by Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Patrick Leahy, and Barack Obama. It was addressed to Mr. Mark P. Mays, CEO of Clear Channel Communications. Here's what the letter, dated October 2nd, said:

"Dear Mr. Mays,

At the time we sign this letter, 3,808 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq, and another 28,009 have been wounded. 160,000 others awoke this morning on foreign sand, far from home, to face the danger and uncertainty of another day at war.

Although Americans of goodwill debate the merits of this war, we can all agree that those who serve with such great courage deserve our deepest respect and gratitude. That is why Rush Limbaugh's recent characterization of troops who oppose the war as 'phony soldiers' is such an outrage.

Our troops are fighting and dying to bring to others the freedoms that many take for granted. It is unconscionable that Mr. Limbaugh would criticize them for exercising the fundamentally American right to free speech. Mr. Limbaugh has made outrageous remarks before, but this affront to our soldiers is beyond the pale.

The military, like any community within the United States, includes members both for and against the war. Senior generals, such as General John Batiste and Paul Eaton, have come out against the war while others have publicly supported it. A December 2006 poll conducted by the Military Times found just 35 percent of service members approved of President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq, compared to 42 percent who disapproved. From this figure alone, it is clear that Mr. Limbaugh's insult is directed at thousands of American service members.

Active and retired members of our armed forces have a unique perspective on the war and offer a valuable contribution to our national debate. In August, seven soldiers wrote an op-ed expressing their concern with the current strategy in Iraq. Tragically, since then, two of those seven soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq [despite their beliefs].

Thousands of active troops and veterans were subjected to Mr. Limbaugh's unpatriotic and indefensible comments on your broadcast. We trust that you will agree that not a single one of our sons, daughters, neighbors and friends serving overseas is a 'phony soldier.' We call on you to publicly repudiate these comments that call into question their service and sacrifice and to ask Mr. Limbaugh to apologize for his comments."

To the bitter end, Limbaugh defended his comments: although he put the letter up for auction, the auction has a bitter tone to it, and reiterates that said "phony soldiers" falisified their service.

The eBay auction closed today, with the winning bid at $2.1 million dollars, the largest amount every paid for an item sold on eBay for the benefit of charity. The money is going to the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation Inc., a nonprofit New Jersey-based organzation that provides scholarships and income assistance to families of Marines and federal law enforcement officials who die or are wounded in the line of duty.

So let's consider this a win for charity, and then pledge never to listen to Limbaugh ever, ever again. Oops, there goes my opinion.

Who Signed?

Harry Reid	Hillary Rodham Clinton	Blanche Lincoln
Richard Durbin	Kent Conrad	Bob Menendez
Charles Schumer	Christopher Dodd	Barbara Mikulski
Patty Murray	Byron Dorgan	Bill Nelson
Daniel Akaka	Dianne Feinstein	Barack Obama
Max Baucus	Tom Harkin	Jack Reed
Joseph Biden	Daniel Inouye	Jay Rockefeller
Barbara Boxer	Edward M. Kennedy	Ken Salazar
Sherrod Brown	John Kerry	Bernie Sanders
Robert Byrd	Amy Klobuchar	Debbie Stabenow
Benjamin Cardin	Mary Landrieu	Jon Tester
Tom Carper	Frank Lautenberg	Jim Webb
Bob Casey	Patrick Leahy	Sheldon Whitehouse
	Carl Levin	Ron Wyden

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Ask ConnieTalk something random: Why am I so tired?
Friday, October 19th, 2007

I have no idea why people send us e-mails about random personal problems - but that's okay, what the hell, I've never been one to not have an opinion.

I am a 45 year old woman that has a HUGE problem with sleeping too much. I can get up and feel alive with lots of energy, and then a couple of hours later feel exhausted and want to go back to bed.

I have been to the doctor several times complaining about this problem. They have tested my blood for everything but find nothing wrong. So they put me on an antidepressant. I AM NOT DEPRESSED, and I still am exhausted all of the time.

What's wrong with me??? Would you please help me? I want to get back to my old self. Oh - and I have gained 30 pounds in the last 2 years. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!

-Twila"

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Speaking of record highs: Oil prices are getting insane
Friday, October 19th, 2007

Cripe! Oil prices rose to over $88 a barrel on Tuesday. Traders are worried about a possible problem between Turkey and Iraq, and escalation in political tensions in the Middle East is said to affect the oil markets. Sure, blame Turkey: as if we haven't done enough to raise tensions in the Middle East by now.

So sayeth CNN:

"Light, sweet crude for November delivery rose $1.94 to $87.07 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange Tuesday after rising as high as $88.20 earlier, a trading record.

"Also Tuesday, November gasoline rose 2.51 cents to $2.1826 a gallon on the Nymex, while heating oil futures rose 2.86 cents to $2.3358 a gallon. Natural gas for November rose 3.7 cents to $7.482 per 1,000 cubic feet."

$88 a barrel? Good grief! A barrel of oil is the equivelant of 31 gallons.

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President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, has divorced his wife Cecilia
Friday, October 19th, 2007

President of France Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Cecilia have officially divorced, after months of public speculation surrounding the status of their marriage. It is the first time a president of France has divorced while in office.

Michele Cahen, their lawyer, sent a statement to the A.P. yesterday that the Sarkozy's were granted a divorce on Monday after over a decade of marriage. Sarkozy's office said the two separated by mutual consent and would not comment further.

Sad. I know how devastating going through a divorce is - hopefully the press will leave them alone about it and give them time to heal. Maybe the separation won't last. The Sarkozy's only began divorce proceedings on October 10th - fast, wasn't that? The couple have a son, Louis, and Nicolas has two sons from a previous marriage.

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Iceland opens geothermal energy company in California
Friday, October 19th, 2007

Coolness! Seeing as how Iceland is the #1 country for freedom in the media, we pretty much love them unconditionally. This month, on October 12th, the Icelandic President, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, joined with officials from the state of California and the city of L.A. to open the new headquarters of the Iceland America Energy company.

The company may become a leader in geothermal energy development in California, as Iceland has used the earth's natural energy for over 70 years.

Cur Robinson, the executive director of Geothermal Resources Council - a nonprofit scientific/educational group in California - thinks they will be key in the U.S.'s development of alternative energy. Geothermal power is energy that is generated by the heat beneath the Earth's surface.

"It's really kind of unusual when you have this small country that's coming in and helping the United States develop this resource," he said. "But they've been using geothermal in applied ways for several decades, very successfully...they have fully developed energy economy, and we don't."

Between now and November 3rd, you can use Step it Up 2007's invite form to Presidential candidates and U.S. Representatives of the House and Senate, asking them to show they are leaders in keeping America green.

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Amy Winehouse and husband Blake arrested in Norway
Friday, October 19th, 2007

Amy Winehouse and her hubby Blake spent the night in a Norway jail cell after being arrested for drug possession. And when we say drug, we mean marijuana, which is in fact not a drug, but a plant. Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil were released this morning and fined for having cannabis in their hotel room.

Police came in at around 7 pm last night at the Radisson SAS Hotel Norge Bergen, after hotel staff - the snitches - alerted police to the smell of marijuana smoke coming from the singer's room. Both were interviewed by police, locked in separate cells, and then released 12 hours later.

Seriously, she has had real drug problems, and it's pretty ludicruous that this is what she's getting busted for. If pot is her way of staying off the hard stuff - leave the woman alone! I love Amy Winehouse, she's such a real talent, she has a natural, God-given, beautiful set of pipes. Dammit, Norway.

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Bush says Iran should worry about preventing World War III
Friday, October 19th, 2007

Shame on me! We missed the most important part of yesterday's press conference! It got posted, but I hadn't had a chance to watch the whole clip...wow. You have to watch this YouTube clip of the news conference Bush held.

1. He talks of World War 3, World War III, World War Three. Whatever you want to call it, let that sink in!

"We've got a leader in Iran who has announced that he wants to distroy Israel. So I've told people, that if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon."

2. Bush admits to the lack of truth available to journalists. A reporter asked Bush a picture of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the front page of the paper, how it seemed they were getting along quite swimmingly.

Bush replies, "What, are they going to fight with each other on the front page of the paper? No, man, come on." That is a direct quote from the President of the United States. "No, man, come on.

"Generally leaders don't like to be photographed scowling at each other or making bad gestures at each other. So I'm not surprised that there was a nice picture of them walking along.

"I try to make sure that when I'm with foreign leaders that there's a pretty picture of us, walking along down, you know, the Colonnades, or something, to send a good message."

Mother of Hades, we don't want "good message" if it's fake, we want the TRUTH! Hello? Echo....echo....

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Vladimir Putin's comments contrast Bush's press conference
Friday, October 19th, 2007

So, is President Bush just bluffing the press and saying that he and Vladimir Putin agree on the Iraq War, or not? It would certainly seem that way, after Bush's contrasting comments in yesterday's press conference.

Bush said that he and Putin agree on the war in Iraq, and that he isn't aware of any comments to the contrary - however, he has not been debriefed by Condi yet, he added.

Well, whether or not he knew yesterday, he'd better know today: during an annual televised question-and-answer session yesterday, Russian leader Vladimir Putin implied that the Iraq War is pointless.

Putin was asked by a mechanic from Novosibirsk of his thoughts on the comments made a few years ago by U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who said that Siberia may have too many natural resources for one country.

"I know that some politicans play with such ideas in their heads," Putin replied. "This is, in my view, the sort of political erotica that might satisfy a person but hardly leads to a positive result."

"The best example of that are the events in Iraq - a small country that can hardly defend itself, and which possesses huge oil reserves. And we see what's going on there. They've learned to shoot there but they are not managing to bring order.

"One can wipe off a political map some tyrannical regime...but it's absolutely pointless to fight with a people. Russia, thank God, isn't Iraq. It has enough strength and power to defend itself and its interests, both on its territory and other parts of the world."

So, does that mean that now that the "tyranny" of Sadam Hussein has been eliminated, as Bush calls it, that we are wasting our time in Iraq? I really wish people would just spit it out: why is he using natural resources to transition into fighting with Iraq? Is he admitting that's why we're there?

In a new Reuters/Zogby poll, only 24% approved of the job President Bush is doing as our Commander in Chief. Yet approval for Congress is even lower, at just 11%. Meaning? We don't like what Bush is doing - but we're dumbfounded that Congress isn't doing anything about it.

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To cater to my superficial side: Red lipstick is so back
Friday, October 19th, 2007

I know, I know, I was just talking about Vladimir Putin, but I am a woman, and I still like to be fashionable. Ah - when we keep snakeskins off the red carpet, fashion can be smashin'. Posing for fans on her way into The Late Show with David Letterman, Rebecca Romijn rocked the red lipstick that everyone is starting to wear this season.

Can you pull it off? I don't think I can.

Romijn is a smarty, too: she is trilingual, fluent also in French and Dutch. She's currently starring in the Golden Globe-winning "Ugly Betty" series. Send Rebecca warm thoughts - a fellow animal-lover, her and new husband Jerry O'Connell lost their rescued German Shepard, Bigger, this month.

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