Ticking News

We invite all nations to celebrate with Americans online this Fourth of July. [1]

Fireworks explode over New York City’s Hudson River, a popular Fourth of July travel destination. [2]

Independence Day honors the birthday of the United States of America and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. [3]

Included is information on Independence Day historic celebrations in hundreds of towns and cities across the country. [4]

Show off your patriotic spirit with these celebratory Independence Day Crafts! [5]

It’s a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks, and a reason to fly the American flag. [3]

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. [6]

Mary Song, founder of travel site Yuupon.com, advises travelers to look for specific pages on travel web sites dedicated to the Fourth of July or to even conduct a search on Google for “Fourth of July travel deals” to find the best offerings. [2]

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. [6]

American University, Washington, D.C. All Rights Reserved. [4]

Playlists may contain up to 100 songs. [7]

Although the average daily rate, or ADR, at hotels is $144, up 9% from 2010, Brown said that many hotels are offering special deals and packages that will help cut costs significantly. [2]

In Mesa, Arizona, where the Sertoma Club has staged an annual fireworks show for the last 35 years, they moved the event to Saturday causing hundreds of complaints. [...] The selections represent both major cities and small rural towns throughout the United States, as well as some foreign countries, and are arranged by year and alphabetically by location. [4]

Through the Internet we are learning about and communicating with people of different nations, with different languages and different races throughout the world. [1]

Sources:
[1] 4th of July - Independence Day - Welcome to USACitylink.com your …
[2] Got Fourth of July travel plans? Better book now
[3] Fourth of July is Independence Day: USA.gov
[4] Fourth of July Celebrations Database
[5] 4th of July, Independence Day Crafts: Kids Projects for the Fourth …
[6] Independence Day (United States) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[7] Fourth Of July | Free Music, Tour Dates, Photos, Videos

But now the agency finds itself the target of a very public joke by television comedian and provocateur Stephen Colbert, who is set to testify Thursday on his tongue-in-cheek bid to form an eponymous “super PAC” for the 2012 election season. [1]

Stephen Colbert’s bid to launch a super PAC is no laughing matter, especially now that the comedian has won approval to raise unlimited campaign cash to influence the 2012 elections. [2]

A group of prominent Mitt Romney backers has quietly started a “super PAC ” to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money in support of his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, according to organizers and others involved in the effort. [3]

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) looks set to approve Stephen Colbert’s request for a press exemption that would allow him to promote his “super PAC” on-air without Viacom having to report it as an in-kind contribution. [4]

One opinion answers questions from the Democratic groups Majority PAC and House Majority PAC that pertain to whether super PACs may use federal candidates and party officials to raise unlimited money from corporations, unions and individuals in light of recent judicial rulings and agency opinions. [5]

To be sure, that pales in comparison to the $3.8 million raised in the first six months of the year by the leading Republican super PAC, American Crossroads, which also was active in the New York special election and reported its finances this week. [6]

The six-figure campaign by House Majority PAC, a Super PAC which can take in unlimited amounts from donors thanks to the Citizens United ruling, launches Monday with ads taking on eight Republican members of Congress across the country. [7]

Post Forum members consistently offer thought provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs. [1]

It gives him a shot at doing what political types such as Bush strategist Karl Rove and former Obama aide Bill Burton are already doing to finance TV ads — even if they are parodies on The Colbert Report — ahead of next year’s elections. [2]

In all, House Majority PAC - a so-called super PAC that can raise unlimited money from individuals, corporations and unions - this week reported raising $800,000 in the two months leading up to the election, which was won by Democrat Kathy Hochul. [6]

At issue is how corporations use their money for politics, stemming from a Supreme Court ruling last year that opened the floodgates to unlimited campaign funding by corporations, unions and wealthy individuals. [2]

Facebook helps you connect and share with the people in your life. [6]

As president of the Campaign Legal Center, Potter recused himself from the group’s dealings on the Colbert case. [2]

“There can be no greater priority than protecting the Democratic majority in the Senate,” Reid wrote in a fundraising e-mail, which was first reported by the Center for Responsive Politics. [3]

Colbert is expected to appear with his lawyer - former FEC Chairman Trevor Potter - at Thursday’s FEC’s regular meeting if the item is debated. [5]

Sources:
[1] Stephen Colbert set to testify to FEC on forming …
[2] Stephen Colbert’s super PAC gets approval
[3] Romney backers start ’super PAC’ - The Washington Post
[4] Joke’s On Them? FEC Set To Let Stephen Colbert ‘Report’ On His …
[5] FEC Seeks to Clarify Rules for Super PAC
[6] George Soros gives $75K to House super PAC
[7] Democratic Super PAC Sticks GOPers With Ryan Budget In Ad Blitz …

Show host Chris Hansen emphasizes that these subjects should be labeled as potential sexual predators, and not pedophiles. [1]

Chris Hansen became a reporter for Lansing NBC affiliate WILX in 1981 during his senior year at Michigan State University. [2]

Chris Hansen is a correspondent for NBC News’ “Dateline NBC.” [3]

The National Enquirer reports that Chris Hansen, host of Dateline NBC’s ‘To Catch a Predator,’ was caught having an affair by the same hidden-camera trick he uses to nail perverts. [4]

Oh, the irony… It’s been reported that Chris Hansen, host of ‘To Catch a Predator,’ the controversial ‘Dateline’ show that uses hidden cameras to trap would-be perverts in sting operations, has been caught cheating on his wife… in a sting operation using hidden cameras. [5]

To Catch a Predator is an American reality television series that features hidden camera investigations by the television newsmagazine program Dateline NBC. [1]

He is well known for his work on Dateline NBC, in particular the former segment known as To Catch a Predator, which revolved around catching potential Internet sex predators using a sting operation. [2]

Huffington Post and AOL are now venues for communist propaganda. [5]

Viewers can call 1-866-NBC-TAPE for NBC News transcripts and tapes of selected Dateline segments. [6]

According to ‘The Daily Mail’ Hansen found himself on the receiving end of his own hidden camera tactics after the married NBC anchor was secretly filmed on an illicit date with a blonde television reporter 20 years his junior. [5]

It is devoted to the subject of identifying and detaining those who contact people they believe to be below the age of consent (ages 12′15) over the Internet for sexual liaisons. [1]

Christopher Edward “Chris” Hansen (born March 26, 1959) is a United States television infotainment personality. [2]

Using “Dateline’s” signature hidden camera techniques, the report followed the trails of an international identity theft ring, capturing for the first time on network television how the crime works and some of the people that may be behind the process. [3]

Yes, it’s the National Enquirer, so help yourself to a heaping plate of skepticism. [...] Nobody has reached Hansen or Caddell for comment as of this evening. [4]

Sources:
[1] To Catch a Predator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[2] Chris Hansen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[3] Chris Hansen - Dateline NBC - About Us - msnbc.com
[4] Was Chris Hansen caught cheating on camera? | Hot …
[5] Chris Hansen, ‘To Catch a Predator’ Host, Caught Cheating by …
[6] Dateline NBC - To Catch A Predator With Chris Hansen - Breaking …

Los Angeles Lakers basketball player and NBA players’ union president Derek Fisher holds a press briefing following a meeting with team owners on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 in New York. [1]

NBA commissioner and seemingly all-powerful deity David Stern said Tuesday after the owners meeting that there was still time to avoid an NBA lockout starting Friday. [...] NBA players union executive director Billy Hunter said that if real progress was made during a last-ditch meeting between the owners and players Thursday, the owners might well postpone the start of a lockout. [2]

The last NBA lockout, which began in July 1998, did not end until January 1999, and the season was shortened to 50 games. [3]

An NBA lockout seems almost a certainty as commissioner David Stern, the league’s owners and players simply are nowhere close to finding common ground on financial issues. [4]

And make no mistake; an NBA lockout would be a catastrophe, for it would see the revenue these dolts are arguing over drop precipitously. [5]

Barkley went on to praise David Stern, but commented the NBA commissioner must do some serious dealing for the season to start without some form of a lockout. [6]

Bartender Greg Mickelson said an NBA lockout would indeed hurt their customer base. [7]

The first of many looks at the looming NBA lockout. [8]

With the NBA now on the verge of entering another lockout - the current collective bargaining agreement expires Thursday - Hill has no regrets about the players’ last extended labor battle. [9]

The NBA is moving inexorably toward a lockout that would begin after the current collective bargaining agreement expires on June 30; and the way things have been going it almost seems like there’s no getting around it. [5]

In an interview with ESPN Radio New York, Charles Barkley said owner opposition to players’ ability to build super teams similar to the Miami Heat will ensure a lockout. [6]

NBA Commissioner David Stern speaks to reporters after the NBA owners meeting in Dallas Tuesday. [3]

But there’s a good chance they’ll get it if NBA players and team owners don’t come to an agreement by Thursday that would prevent a work stoppage just weeks after the league championship. [1]

His national NBA columns run twice each week on FOXSports.com. [8]

Sources:
[1] NBA Lockout Looms Large as Players and Owners Face Off - TIME …
[2] Is there any chance a lockout can be avoided? No …
[3] Lengthy NBA lockout looms, with owners and players …
[4] NBA lockout appears inevitable with owners, players …
[5] NBA lockout dilemma: Confessions of an ignorant fan
[6] Barkley says NBA needs miracle to avoid lockout - NBA - Sporting News
[7] Looming NBA Lockout Could Impact Indy Businesses
[8] Countdown to the NBA lockout, Part I
[9] Hill: Players learned from lockout - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

The term Shia or Shi’ite derives from a shortening of Shiat Ali or partisans of Ali. [1]

Shia Saide LaBeouf was born June 11, 1986, in Los Angeles, California, to Jeffrey LaBeouf and Shayna Saide, and is an only child. [2]

Website - www.MeccaCentric.com MeccaCentric - Producing videos about Islam and Muslims on DVD. [3]

If you are already familiar with standard Sunni beliefs, you will immediately notice the addition to the shahadah regarding Imam Ali (ra), cousin of the Prophet (pbuh), husband of his daughter Fatima, father of Hassan and Hussein and the second person ever to embrace Islam. [1]

To keep you updated on Transformers 3, the release date has been moved up to June 29, so mark your calendars! [4]

In 2007, he starred as the leads in Disturbia and Transformers. [5]

Tensions are simmering between Bahrain’s Sunni rulers and the kingdom’s Shia majority population. [3]

The line of Mohammed (pbuh) through Ali and Hussein became extinct in 873CE when the last Shia Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, who had no brothers disappeared within days of inheriting the title at the age of four. [1]

Jesse Hirsh host of 3D Dialogue speaks with both Imam Hamid Slimi from the International Muslims Organization and Imam Syed Muhammad Rizvi from the Ja’ffari Islamic Centre about the differences and commonalities between Shia and Sunni Muslims as well as the war in Iraq. [3]

Whereas Sunnis believe the Mahdi will appear sometime in the future, Shias believe the Mahdi was already on earth, is currently the “hidden imam” who works through mujtahids to interpret Qur’an; and will return at the end of time. [6]

In 1959 Sheikh Mahmood Shaltoot, Head of the School of Theology at Al Azhar university in Cairo, the most august seat of learning of Sunni Islam and the oldest university in the world, issued a fatwa (ruling) recognizing the legitimacy of the Jafari School of Law to which most Shias belong. [1]

Facebook helps you connect and share with the people in your life. [7]

Shia Muslims further believe that Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, was the first of The Twelve Imams and was the rightful successor to Muhammad and thus reject the legitimacy of the first three caliphs. [...] ?Ashariyyah, commonly referred to in English as the Twelvers, while smaller branches include the Ismaili and Zaidi, who dispute the Twelver lineage of Imams and beliefs. [6]

; born June 11, 1986) is an American actor who became known among younger audiences for his part in the Disney Channel series Even Stevens and made his film debut in Holes (2003). [5]

Sources:
[1] The Origins of the Sunni/Shia split in Islam
[2] Shia LaBeouf - IMDb
[3] Shia
[4] SHIA LABEOUF FAN
[5] Shia LaBeouf - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[6] Shia Islam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[7] Shia LaBeouf Breaking News and Gossip | PerezHilton.com