Holy Week pilgrims head to 'El Santuario de Chimayo' in NM amid first pope from the Americas

CHIMAYO, N.M. - Tens of thousands of people are expected to visit one of the most popular Catholic shrines in the Americas this weekend for Easter, which comes just weeks after the first pope from the Americas was elected.

Around 50,000 people are expected to descend on El Santuario de Chimayo (CHEE'-mah-YOH') in New Mexico, and officials say even more may make the trip due this year to the excitement over Pope Francis.

The adobe chapel in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, sometimes called the "Lourdes of America," attracts its biggest crowd around Holy Week.

Some pilgrims will make the 90-mile, three-day walk from Albuquerque to the shrine that houses "el pocito," a small pit of holy adobe-colored soil that some believe possesses curing powers.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Robert Garcia says traffic patrols will increase from Thursday to Sunday for safety.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/holy-week-pilgrims-head-el-santuario-chimayo-nm-162924991.html

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'Blade Runner' Oscar Pistorius challenges bail restrictions in murder case

AP, file

Olympian Oscar Pistorius stands following his bail hearing in Pretoria, South Africa, on Feb. 19.

By Rohit Kachroo and F. Brinley Bruton, NBC News

PRETORIA, South Africa -- A South African court eased bail restrictions on Olympian Oscar Pistorius, who is?charged with murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, with the judge saying he should be allowed to travel abroad.

"I find no reason why Pistorius should be forbidden from leaving (South Africa) if he's invited to compete in athletic events in other countries,"?Judge Bert Bam told the court on Thursday.?

Pistorius, a?double-amputee who is also a Paralympic star, and?must provide authorities with an itinerary before he leaves the country, Bam said. He must also return his passport to the court within 24 hours of returning to South Africa, The Associated Press reported.

Pistorius' lawyers said the athlete had no immediate plans to travel or compete abroad, but may need to in order to make money.

Olympian Oscar Pistorius has not been seen since he left a South Africa courtroom in February, holed up in his uncle's mansion. His defense is now asking the judge to allow him to travel outside the country. NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.

His legal team had objected to him not being allowed to travel outside of South Africa even though a magistrate said he was not a flight risk?when granting him 1 million rand ($108,000) bail.

The court also reversed the ban on Pistorius visiting the gated housing estate where he shot Steenkamp dead early on Valentine's Day.

The sprinter denies murdering Steenkamp and says he shot her by mistake, fearing an intruder was in his home. Prosecutors say he killed her intentionally following an argument.

There was no sign of Pistorius or his family in Pretoria High Court on Thursday. Pistorius was not obliged to appear.?

On Wednesday, the sprinter's brother also appeared in court on trial for the death of a woman in a road collision in 2008.

Carl Pistorius arrived Wednesday at the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court in Johannesburg to face a charge of culpable homicide, or unlawful, negligent killing.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

As Olympian Oscar Pistorius remains at his uncle's home since being released on bail last week, his brother Carl prepares for his own trial next month, after being charged with "culpable homicide" for a car accident six years ago. NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.

Related:

Slain model's father: Pistorius will 'suffer' if he's lying about her death

Oscar Pistorius' father accused of racism over gun comments

Oscar Pistorius murder case detective quits South African police

This story was originally published on Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:30 AM EDT

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653387/s/2a155f37/l/0Lworldnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A30C280C174970A230Eblade0Erunner0Eoscar0Epistorius0Echallenges0Ebail0Erestrictions0Ein0Emurder0Ecase0Dlite/story01.htm

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Closing Bell | KC Southern, O'Reilly Automotive, Ferrellgas, Garmin ...

Most regional stocks dipped lower Wednesday in an otherwise slow day on Wall Street.

Among the local losers were Kansas City Southern, down 1.6 percent, Garmin, down 1 percent, Ferrellgas, down 3.8 percent, O?Reilly Automotive, down .8 percent, and Cerner, down .6 percent.

Sprint, the region?s biggest public company, fell 1 cent, or .2 percent.

The short winners list included YRC, up 4.5 percent, H&R Block, .9 percent, and Compass Minerals, up .8 percent.

The BATS 1000 rose 9.50 points, or 0.05 percent, to close at 17,685.29.

Regional stocks

Capitol Federal Financial rose 3 cents, or 0.25%, to close at $12.08.

Cerner Corp. fell 54 cents, or 0.58%, to close at $92.68.

Commerce Bancshares Inc. rose 20 cents, or 0.49%, to close at $40.72.

Compass Minerals rose 63 cents, or 0.81%, to close at $78.45.

DST Systems Inc. rose 7 cents, or 0.10%, to close at $70.63.

Ferrellgas Partners L.P. fell 76 cents, or 3.84%, to close at $19.03.

Garmin Ltd. fell 32 cents, or 0.96%, to close at $32.97.

Great Plains Energy rose 13 cents, or 0.57%, to close at $22.90.

H&R Block Inc. rose 25 cents, or 0.86%, to close at $29.16.

Inergy L.P. rose 1 cents, or 0.05%, to close at $20.55.

Kansas City Life Insurance Co. fell 75 cents, or 1.88%, to close at $39.18.

Kansas City Southern fell $1.77, or 1.62%, to close at $107.74.

Layne Christensen Co. rose 9 cents, or 0.41%, to close at $21.95.

O'Reilly Automotive Inc. fell 84 cents, or 0.81%, to close at $102.75.

Sprint Nextel Corp. fell 1 cents, or 0.17%, to close at $6.04.

UMB Financial Corp. fell 20 cents, or 0.41%, to close at $48.97.

Waddell & Reed Financial Corp. rose 6 cents, or 0.14%, to close at $43.41.

YRC Worldwide Inc. rose 33 cents, or 4.46%, to close at $7.73.

Source: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/03/27/4147469/closing-bell-kc-southern-oreilly.html

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National Digest: Former Florida GOP chairman sentenced to prison (Washington Post)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/295060804?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Movie review - The Salt Lake Tribune

Teen girl Lore (Saskia Rosendahl, center) guides her siblings (Nele Trebs, Mika Seidel, Andr? Frid, from left) across wartorn Germany, with the help of a Jewish survivior, Thomas (Kai Malina, background), in the drama "Lore."

Movie review: Teen confronts Nazi lies in tough-minded ?Lore?

By Sean P. Means

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Mar 21 2013 02:38 pm ? Last Updated Mar 21 2013 02:56 pm

Australian director Cate Shortland?s absorbing German drama "Lore" probes the waning days of World War II from a seldom-seen angle: the families of Nazis who believed Hitler?s lies.

Teenage Lore (Saskia Rosendahl) is the oldest of five siblings who must go it alone across Germany when their Nazi officer father (Hans-Jochen Wagner) disappears and their mother (Ursina Lardi) faces arrest. Lore must beg for food on the road as she learns about Hitler?s death, the Allies? division of Germany ? and the reports of concentration camps where Jews were murdered systematically. As she tries to reconcile these truths with what her parents taught her, she discovers that her siblings? hope for survival is a stranger, Thomas (Kai Malina), who carries a yellow Star of David with his papers.

?

HHH

?Lore?

Opens Friday, March 22, at the Broadway Centre Cinemas; not rated, but probably R for sexuality, war violence and language; in German with subtitles; 109 minutes.

Shortland (who directed the coming-of-age drama "Somersault") and co-writer Robin Mukherjee adapted a story from Rachel Seiffert?s novel The Dark Room. They weave an emotionally complex tale of a teen girl?s beliefs crashing into reality. Rosendahl?s performance is raw and compelling, as Lore fights for her siblings? survival and grows up in a hurry.

movies@sltrib.com; www.sltrib.com/entertainment

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment2/56024718-223/lore-siblings-drama-german.html.csp

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Defense Department says it will delay furloughs

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Defense Department will delay furlough notices for its civilian employees for about two weeks while officials analyze the impact of a new spending bill on planned budget cuts, the Pentagon said Thursday.

The delay comes as defense officials continue to wrangle over how many civilians should be exempt from the unpaid leave requirement, including how much of the U.S. intelligence community should be excluded. A senior defense official said Thursday that as much as 10 percent of the department's 800,000 civilian workers overall could be exempt from the furloughs. The official said the exact numbers were still being worked out.

The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the furlough exemption number and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Under the current planning, about 24 percent of the Army's 330,000 civilians would not face furloughs, and roughly 5 percent of the 200,000 Navy and Marine Corps' civilians would be exempt. Of the exempt Army civilians, nearly 2,600 are deployed to combat zones and more than 28,800 are in jobs paid from non-appropriated funds. The Air Force refused to reveal how many of its civilians would be subject to furloughs.

Some of those workers include civilians in the war zone and in critical public safety jobs, as well as people whose jobs are not paid for through congressional funding. As an example, some employees may be contractors or people working in facilities that pay for operations out of their earnings ? such as some recreation jobs or foreign military sales.

Another example would be civilian mariners who are working for the Navy on ships at sea.

Intelligence officials are arguing that a certain number of workers are needed in order to adequately monitor and protect the U.S. from national security threats. Officials will not say, however, how many intelligence workers across the Defense Department or government-wide will be exempt.

The U.S. intelligence community is made up of 16 different organizations, ranging from the CIA and the Defense Intelligence Agency to the highly secretive National Security Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office. Altogether the agencies have about 100,000 workers.

Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper has warned that the across-the-board budget cuts would shave about $4 billion from intelligence budgets and would affect operations. He said that collecting intelligence through personal contacts as well as by technical spying would be reduced.

The Pentagon had planned to begin issuing the furlough notices on Friday, but Congress on Thursday approved legislation to keep the government open through the end of September, moving more than $10 billion into Pentagon operations and maintenance accounts. That shift could reduce the number of unpaid furlough days employees would be required to take.

Officials said the extra money is not likely to widen the pool of employees eligible to avoid the furloughs.

In a statement, the Pentagon said no final decisions have been made on whether changes can be made to the number of furlough days. Initially, officials had said civilians would face one furlough day per work week for 22 weeks.

The legislation did not add money but instead shifted funds from investment and acquisition accounts to operations accounts, so that savings would have to be found elsewhere.

The furloughs are the result of automatic spending cuts agreed to in a 2011 budget pact.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/defense-department-says-delay-furloughs-181533079--politics.html

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EXCLUSIVE: Mobb Deep Ready To Reunite And Forget Feud

'The music is the most important thing and our love for each other,' Prodigy tells MTV News.
By Rob Markman

Mobb Deep
Photo: MTV News

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1704218/mobb-deep-reunite-post-feud.jhtml

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Insider Guide: Best of Chicago | CNN Travel

Ask anyone on the street what he or she likes most about Chicago, and you?ll mostly likely get ?the friendly people.?

But what makes Chicagoans so gosh darn friendly?

Perhaps it?s the camaraderie they form during the city?s harsh winters and blessed summers.

Or maybe it?s because this Midwestern mecca has some of the best museums, restaurants and architecture in the world -- and it?s all actually affordable.

Whatever the reason, there?s nothing ?second? about the Second City in the hearts of its citizens -- as well as most anyone else who?s explored this paradoxically folksy metropolis.

Print and go -- Our traveler-friendly one-page guide here:?Best of?Chicago

Hotels

Luxury

Dislike him or hate him, Donald Trump knows hotels. Trump Hotel

Donald Trump might be a walking caricature, but there are still some things that the billionaire real estate magnate does right, like constructing the second tallest building in Chicago (and the country, after the Willis Tower) with the best views of the city.

Even Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic Blair Kamin admitted the River North vistas from Trump?s four-star restaurant Sixteen -- when compared to the Signature Room on the 95th floor of the Hancock Center -- are ?more intimate, practically putting you eyeball-to-eyeball with the Wrigley Building's clock tower and the flying buttresses of Tribune Tower.?

If you head down to the sleek 6,000-square-foot spa, expect a monster bill. A 90-minute facial, for example, will set you back $420 including tip, but that?s the price you pay when you want to live like the Donald.

401 N. Wabash Ave.; +1 312 588 8000; from US$395 per night; www.trumphotelcollection.com/chicago

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The King, or standard, Room. Waldorf Astoria

Last year Travel + Leisure ranked the Waldorf Astoria (formerly the Elysian) the top large-city hotel in the United States, and it?s easy to see why: the lobby?s glistening marble and starburst chandeliers rival the grandest beaux-arts hotels in Paris.

The 34-seat Bernard?s Bar on the second floor serves an excellent $14 champagne cocktail, and the classic Coco Chanel vibe is worth the price tag.

If you forgot to pack your Chanel or Savile Row suits for the occasion, you can pick up appropriate attire at one of the spendy shops on Oak Street, just around the corner.

11 E. Walton St.; +1 312 646 1300; from US$369 per night; www.waldorfastoria3.hilton.com

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The Grand Deluxe Suite, overlooking Michigan Avenue. The Peninsula

Another top-ranked U.S. hotel, the Peninsula offers the amenities that one expects from a five-star spot, including an indoor pool worthy of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, afternoon tea service that surpasses the high tea at London?s Savoy Hotel and a prime location in the center of the Magnificent Mile shopping district.

The spa services here are worth the price. In 2012, Chicago magazine ranked it one of the top day spas in the city, where the massages (around $165 per hour) blew away the competition.

108 E. Superior St.; +1 312 337 2888; from US$395 per night; www.peninsula.com/Chicago

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Mid-range

Public's concept is sophisticated accommodations and service at an affordable price. The Public

Unlike New York and Los Angeles, luxury hotels in downtown Chicago are generally cheaper (if not cheap), which means that mid-range rooms are even more of a bargain.

Built in 1926, the Ambassador East Hotel and its legendary Pump Room entertained the likes of Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland until it faded from the limelight. Then in 2010, hotel developer (and Studio 54 cofounder) Ian Schrager bought the building and poured $35 million into its renovation.

Renamed the Public, the Gold Coast hotel has quickly reclaimed its throne as the home away from home for the rich and beautiful -- many of whom like to cluster around the white couches of the Library bar before heading to the revamped Pump Room.

1302 N. State Pkwy.; +1 312 787 3700; from US$180 per night; www.publichotels.com/chicago

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One of the few buildings to survive the Great Fire ... was demolished to make way for this building in 1895. Burnham Hotel

Recognize the name Burnham? That?s Daniel Burnham, the legendary architect, city planner and protagonist in Erik Larson?s bestseller Devil in the White City. Burnham?s firm also had a hand in designing the historic Reliance Building, which houses the Hotel Burnham in the Loop.

Completed in 1895, the Reliance Building is noteworthy for its floor-to-ceiling plate glass windows, a groundbreaking concept at the time. The interiors are a time warp, too, with elaborate metal elevator grilles, restored mosaic tile floors and tasteful touches of art nouveau splendor.

1 W. Washington St.; +1 312 782 1111; from US$159 per night; www.burnhamhotel.com

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Budget

Room 13 (of six). Don't ask. Inn at Longman & Eagle

In the past five years, the Logan Square neighborhood in Northwest Chicago has exploded as a hot bed for affluent hipsters -- Longman & Eagle is the epicenter.

The inn has only six rooms, all outfitted with classy-but-kitchy design elements ripped from the pages of Wallpaper magazine (or perhaps inspired by the Portland chic of the Ace Hotel chain).

The best part of staying at the inn is a guaranteed spot at the restaurant downstairs. The Michelin-rated gastropub doesn?t take reservations otherwise, and the wait can be up to two hours at peak times.?

2657 N. Kedzie Ave.; +1 773 276 7110; from US$85 per night; www.longmanandeagle.com/sleep

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Dining

Hot Potato Cold Potato, one of Alinea's beloved forays into molecular gastronomy. Alinea

Until last year Alinea was the top American restaurant on the World?s 50 Best Restaurants list. Although it now ranks just below New York?s Per Se, no critic will argue chef Grant Achatz?s culinary inventiveness and striking presentation.

The always-evolving multi-course tasting menu comes out of the kitchen in a series of deconstructed bites served on everything from driftwood to lavender-scented pillows.

For his classic chocolate finale, Achatz or one of his crew serves the dessert right on the table, brushing and flicking ingredients with Jackson Pollock fervor.

The only downside is that Alinea has switched to a ticketed system for reservations. If you want a day-of table, keep tabs on Alinea?s Facebook page or Twitter feed for last-minute openings.

1723 N. Halsted St.; +1 312 867 0110; Wednesday-Sunday: 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.-9:30 p.m; expensive; www.alinearestaurant.com

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Jackets required for gentlemen. Spiaggia

When the Obamas are home in Chicago, there?s a chance you?ll see them dining at Chicago?s only four-star Italian restaurant. For nearly 30 years, the President?s favorite chef, Tony Mantuano, has served handmade pastas and wood-roasted proteins.

The scallops are another Obama favorite.

If the $175 truffle tasting menu at Spiaggia is beyond reach, Caf? Spiaggia next door offers an excellent introduction to Mantuano?s talents without breaking the bank.

Pastas, pizzas, and main dishes range from $14 to $58.

980 N. Michigan Ave., 2/F; +1 312 280 2750;?open daily:?11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Sunday-Thursday: 6-10 p.m. and Friday-Saturday: 5:30-11 p.m.; expensive; www.spiaggiarestaurant.com?

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Flavorful flautas from Frontera. Frontera Grill

Although the d?cor at Rick Bayless?s flagship restaurant is a bit dated, the food isn?t.

His modern twists on fresh Mexican cuisine -- crisp and bright ceviches, smoky salads, seasonal margaritas -- continue to please the guests who flood Frontera?s doors.

When the wait at Frontera Grill or Topolobampo (his more upscale restaurant next door) becomes unbearable, try Bayless?s casual spot, Xoco, on the corner. The service there is quicker and the famous tortas can be wrapped up to go.

445 N. Clark St.; +1 312 661 1434; Tuesday-Friday: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Saturday: 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. (brunch), Tuesday: 5:30-10 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday: 5-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday: 5-11 p.m.; moderate; www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/grill.html

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Modern Asian barbecue. BellyQ

If New York has Momofuku and David Chang, then Chicago has Bill Kim and his trio of modern Asian restaurants. Kim?s newest addition is BellyQ, a more upscale interpretation of his street fare made possible through a partnership with none other than Michael Jordan.

Here, the standouts are the tabletop barbecue (banana leaf-wrapped salmon, Korean short rib) and savory Asian pancakes (smoked bacon and kimchi).

And no Korean barbeque would be complete without a karaoke den where, thankfully, there?s a two-song minimum.

1400 W. Randolph St.; +1 312 563 1010; Monday-Friday: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Sunday-Wednesday: 5-10 p.m. (bar open until 11 p.m.); Thursday-Saturday: 5-11 p.m. (bar open until midnight); moderate; www.bellyqchicago.com

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Mr. Beef's base take on the classic Chicago sandwich consists of beef dipped in broth and layered on a roll, then topped with sweet or hot peppers. Mr. Beef

If you?re serious about visiting Chicago, then you can?t leave until you have an Italian beef sandwich.

There?s much debate as to which is the best (Mr. Beef or Al?s), but Food Wars on the Travel Channel declared Mr. Beef the clear winner in 2010. And unlike Al?s, Mr. Beef isn?t a franchise. A favorite order is the signature dish, extra juicy, topped with spicy giardiniera.?

666 N. Orleans St.; +1 312 337 8500; Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.-4 a.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.-5 a.m.; budget; www.mrbeeforleans.com

Hot Doug?s

Many souls make the pilgrimage to Hot Doug?s in Avondale, even though the trip requires a car (or a train and a bus) to get there from downtown.

Chef and former punk rocker Doug Sohn churns out unique gourmet sausages every week, including favorites such as duck sausage with apple mustard and gyros sausage with tzatziki.

Chicago-style dogs are on the menu, too, and a side order of duck fat fries (available only on Fridays and Saturdays) is a must.

3324 N. California Ave.; +1 773 279 9550; Monday-Saturday: 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; budget; www.hotdougs.com

Pepperoni and green pepper deep dish. Pequod?s Pizza

Chicago -- perhaps even more than New York -- is a serious pizza town. Whether you like it thin, Neapolitan or New Haven-style, there?s a slice for everyone.

But, of course, the local specialty is deep-dish pizza. Consuming a full slice is a challenge. Pounds of meat and cheese (all topped with a bucket of sauce) tend to sit in your belly for hours.

But a slice of sausage with perfectly caramelized crust at Pequod?s is worth the temporary pain.

2207 N. Clybourn Ave.; +1 773 327 1512; Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-midnight; budget; www.pequodspizza.com

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Nightlife

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Warning: the drinks at Aviary might make you feel under-dressed. Aviary

What Alinea is to food, Aviary is to drinks.

The average cocktail at this Grant Achatz lounge is $20, but it?s unlike any cocktail you?ve had. Every bartender here is a trained chef, so flavor rules above all else.

Like Alinea, the attention to presentation verges on the ridiculous. Ask for the Blueberry, and it comes out in a custom-designed clear cylinder that?s expertly packed with fruit, herbs and edible flowers.

There?s also a speakeasy downstairs, but you have to be invited to enter by someone on staff.

955 W. Fulton Market; +1 312 226 0868; Tuesday-Friday: 6 p.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday: 6 p.m.-3 a.m.; expensive; www.theaviary.com

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Three drinks for the price of one. Scofflaw

Although Scofflaw is new on the scene, it?s already grabbed the top spot as the best bar in the city from Chicago magazine.

Head bartender and co-owner Danny Shapiro trained at The Whistler (another beloved cocktail bar in Logan Square) before opening this gin lounge.

The presentation is elegant but simple, many spirits are locally made and the interior is furnished with carefully picked salvage pieces.

Cocktails are only $8 -- yet another reason Scofflaw earns top honors.

3201 W. Armitage Ave.; +1 773 252 9700; Sunday-Friday: 5 p.m.-2 a.m. and Saturday 5 p.m.-3 a.m.; moderate;?www.scofflawchicago.com

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It's great, outdoors. Big Star

Half taco hut, half whiskey joint, Big Star is the place for al fresco meet-ups in Chicago. When the weather is warm, the doors of this former garage in Wicker Park are raised and open tables disappear in a flash.

Paul Kahan, the chef behind Blackbird, Avec and Publican, crafted the food menu; the people behind The Violet Hour, a craft cocktail institution across the street, created the drinks.

1531 N. Damen Ave.; +1 773 235 4039; Sunday-Friday: 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday: 11:30 a.m.-3 a.m.; moderate; www.bigstarchicago.com

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Beer church. Hopleaf

In the past decade Chicago has opened four new breweries (Revolution, Half Acre, 5 Rabbit, Metropolitan), but the city?s love of beer was established long ago, thanks in part to Uptown gastropub Hopleaf and its diverse beer list.

The local hits are all on tap here, as are craft brews from across the country and a vast selection of Belgian ales.

In case that wasn?t enough, Hopleaf also stocks more than 250 bottled beers from North America and Europe.

5148 N. Clark St.; +1 773 334 9851; Sunday-Friday: noon-2 a.m.; Saturday: noon-3 a.m.; moderate; www.hopleaf.com

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Happy Village also hosts competitive table tennis, the world's happiest sport. Happy Village

Chicago is awash in neighborhood dive bars, many of them marked with a dim Schlitz sign and nothing else. ?

Happy Village in Ukrainian Village stands out for its extras: checkered tablecloths, Ping-Pong, $2 PBRs and a homey back patio equipped with plastic chairs, strings of white lights and garden gnomes.

1059 N. Wolcott Ave.; +1 773 486 1512; Monday-Friday: 4 p.m.-2 a.m; Saturday: noon.-3 a.m.; Sunday: noon-2 a.m.; budget; www.happyvillagebar.com
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Purportedly there are escape tunnels below the bar that date back to Prohibition. Perfect for first dates!Green Mill Cocktail Lounge

?

Like pizza and beer, jazz and Chicago are the perfect marriage, and for more than 100 years, the Green Mill has been the perfect place to cherish the union.

During Prohibition, Al Capone had a favorite booth, which still seats patrons. (Legend has it he liked it because he had a clear view of the front and back entrances.)

Today the Uptown club books some of the best jazz artists in the world, and for fans of word jazz, the Green Mill hosts a popular poetry slam every Sunday night.

4802 N. Broadway St.;?+1 773 878 5552; Monday-Friday: noon-4 a.m.; Saturday: noon-5 a.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-4 a.m.; moderate;?www.greenmilljazz.com

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Shopping

The cafe's prices are considered reasonable. Ikram

Ikram Goldman won national attention as Michelle Obama?s stylist, but her eponymous boutique has dressed Chicago?s most fashionable women for more than a decade.

Goldman travels the world for the most cutting-edge designers. Alexander McQueen, Commes des Gar?ons, Prabal Gurung and Rodarte are just a few of the fashion houses she carries in her store, which quadrupled in size in 2011.

15 E. Huron St.; + 1 312 587 1000; Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (and by appointment); expensive; www.ikram.com

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Penelope's stated style is "sophisticated yet fun." Penelope?s

For those unaccustomed to dropping $40,000 on a trip to Ikram, Penelope?s offers a wide selection of affordable clothing by the owners? favorite ?young and under-represented? designers.

Men and women can discover their inner Wicker Park hipster without any pressure or pretense from the store staff, who are always willing to gather a different size or strike up a friendly chat.

1913 W. Division St.; + 1 773 395 2351; Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday: noon-6 p.m.; moderate; www.shoppenelopes.com

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Purchase a lid off the hat rack, or have one custom made for the same price. Optimo Hats

Frank Sinatra, Charlie Chaplin, Lester Young. They all had their trademark hats, and at Optimo on the South Side, there are lids for every tony personality.

Storeowner and master milliner Graham Thompson crafts classic hats using the same techniques employed 50 years ago.

Thompson?s rising popularity (Johnny Depp is a fan, too) allowed him to open a second store in the historic Monadnock Building in the loop in 2012.

10215 S. Western Ave.; +1 773 238 2999; Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; expensive; www.optimohats.com

Merz Apothecary

Since 1875, this family-run drugstore has been a haven for herbal remedies and European goods. The original location in Lincoln Square still fills prescriptions and still uses its original antique pharmacy jars.

Need a bar of soap for your stay? Merz has one of the largest collections of luxury bath products from around the world.

4716 N. Lincoln Ave.; +1 773 989 0900; Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; budget; www.merzapothecary.com

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Attractions

The wing's "flying carpet" roof is a metal grid consisting of blades that block direct sun from the south, yet allow light from the north, conserving the works within. The Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago

Like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, you can spend an entire day at the Art Institute and cover only a fraction of the collection.

If time is limited, you can do a quick Ferris Bueller moment in the main building, before heading to the 264,000-square-foot Modern Wing to admire works by Matisse, Picasso and Mir? under the natural light.

For lunch there?s Tony Mantuano?s elegant Terzo Piano on the third floor, where the spectacular view makes an advance reservation a necessity.

111 S. Michigan Ave.; +1 312 443 3600; open daily: 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (Thursdays until 8 p.m.); www.artic.edu

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The tour covers more than 50 buildings along the Chicago River. Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise

There are a number of boat tours on the Chicago River, but the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise is the one that's most worth your time.

Enthusiastic CAF docents provide an engaging review of the city?s rich architectural history, and the perspective from the water is unlike (and far superior to) anything you?d experience at street level.

Dock located near the corner of North Michigan Avenue and East Wacker Drive; +1 312 922 8687; tours start at 10 a.m. and typically run every half hour or hour depending on season; $37.85; www.architecture.org

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Shhh ... the park still thinks the millennium began in 2004. Millennium Park

Although it opened four years behind schedule in 2004 and many taxpayers grumbled at its half-billion-dollar price tag, Millennium Park has become a critical darling.

Photos in front of the mirrored Cloud Gate sculpture, or ?The Bean? as most people call it, have become a staple for tourists and locals, and on hot summer days, the Crown Fountain is a refuge for barefoot children in bathing suits.

The Jay Pritzer Pavillion, designed by Frank Gehry, hosts a slew of outdoor performances all summer long, and the competition for free lawn space is fierce.

North Michigan Avenue and East Washington Street; +1 312 742 1168; open daily: 6 a.m.-11 p.m.; www.millenniumpark.org?

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Comedy

Chicago's as notorious for wit as it is for wind. You might catch tomorrow's biggest -- in many cases, literally -- comedians at one of Chi-Town's world-famous comedy labs.

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Second City alums include John Candy, Bill Murray, Chris Farley, Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert. The Second City

Name almost any SNL breakout star -- John Belushi, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler -- and chances are he or she served a stint in Chicago at Second City.

Chicago is the best place in the world to experience improv and sketch comedy, and the Second City revue (nightly except Mondays) and Monday night?s Improv All-Stars are safe bets that are always entertaining.

Those brave enough to test their improvisational skills are welcome to attend a drop-in class ($15; no experience required) at the training center on Sundays at 6 p.m.

1616 N. Wells St.; +1 312 337 3992; $16-$28; www.secondcity.com

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The theater is formerly known as Improv Olympic. iO

The iO is the true improv giant in town, and the theater?s signature show, "The Harold," is the definitive improv experience.

Founders Del Close and Charna Halpern invented the Harold technique, in which performers take a suggestion from the audience and create scenes and characters on the spot.

3541 N. Clark St.; +1 773 880 0199; performed nightly: $5-14 (free on Wednesdays); www.ioimprov.com

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From "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind." The Neo-Futurists

The Neo-Futurists isn?t improv or sketch; it?s experimental theater mixed with moments of truth and hilarity.

Every weekend since 1988 the troupe has performed "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind," 30 short plays that are carried out in just 60 minutes. Each play is written by the ensemble and the lineup is constantly changing.

No two performances are the same.

The absurdity of the format -- with performers dashing around the stage at breakneck speed -- is worth a million laughs.

5153 N. Ashland Ave.; +1 773 878 4557; Friday-Saturday: 11:30 p.m., Sunday: 7 p.m.; prices vary; www.neofuturists.org

Source: http://travel.cnn.com/insider-guide-chicago-467826

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Independent Publishing and The Care and Feeding of Exotic Pets

An early mentor of mine once said, "Focus on what YOU are doing, and don't worry about the rest of the world." What he was saying was: Look for good manuscripts and publish them. Everything proceeds from that.

He was mostly right, of course. But I don't think we can be good editors/publishers if we're not aware of what's out there, what's selling, what isn't, and so forth. Many of us take this too far: When acquiring books, we're so fixated on what's selling NOW - how do we find the next Harry Potter? the next Hunger Games? - that we are dismissive of new, interesting, different works. At least, that's how it had become when I left corporate publishing a while ago; and the situation hasn't improved over the last decade.

This is where independent publishers come in. Like everyone else who toils in this business, I walk a line between worrying about our future and thinking, "Of course we have a strong future: WE are what publishing is all about. WE don't have to go in front of editorial boards and get a dozen people to sign off on our multi-million-dollar acquisitions. WE are part of a rich intellectual history."

So I am always delighted when I am reminded that other publishers (besides myself!) are doing brave publishing. I was made aware of Diana Wagman's The Care and Feeding of Exotic Pets several months ago, prior to publication, by a Library Journal piece. And I should say right here (and I hope the good people at LJ are reading this) that LJ is a wonderful advocate for independent publishers. They read and review the books of independent publishers, in furtherance of their mission to bring information about great books to libraries. I'd not heard of Wagman's publisher, Ig, which is an independent house based in Brooklyn, New York. After reading Care and Feeding, however, I'm adding Ig to my list of publishers whose personnel I'd love to meet.

Care and Feeding is the type of the book that would have received instantaneous rejection from agents and the big houses. Why? ?I think it might be classified in a category that scares the bejesus out of most publishers: strange. Plot in a nutshell: Deeply disturbed carpet salesman, who grew up in a traveling circus, keeps a 7-foot, 180-pound iguana named Cookie in his house, falls in love via the Internet with a lying girl (shades of Manti T'eo, here), and decides to kidnap her mother to teach her a lesson. As the plot unfolds, Diana Wagman explores the inner lives of the cast, deconstructs Los Angeles, and offers a heroine who isn't willing to just sit back and be kidnapped without fighting back. In that way, this is a feminist book. And it is certainly nice to see a female character who isn't about to let herself get killed without exploiting every chance she gets to escape.

Is it mainstream? No. Is it predictable, with a foregone conclusion that is telegraphed from the first chapter? No. Is it brave, interesting, different, provocative, clever? Yes. And I believe that there are plenty of readers out there who don't want pablum, who like a challenge... The Care and Feeding of Exotic Pets?is for these brave souls, who don't need Hollywood-style action, who appreciate good writing, who like like to be shaken up instead of reading formula. And, as is the case with many off-the-beaten-path books, I suspect that half the people who decide to read it as a result of seeing this post will like or love it, while the other half will want my head on a platter. To me, that is the very essence of good publishing.

Of course, I'm a critic as much as I am a publisher, so I cannot argue that the book is perfect. The biggest problem for me was structural. For much of the book, Wagman is careful with her structure: one chapter, one person's point of view, with POV changing from chapter to chapter as the author explores the different characters. But things get muddy in the second half of the book, with POV shifting within chapters, which makes for a disconcerting read. There's also a tendency to interpolate events from the past that derail the action of the present, but I can live with that.

Ig's done a nice job with the book, from acquisitions through publishing and marketing. They managed to get a New York Times review (perhaps by offering sacrifices at Stonehenge, or tapping deep into that arcane network of connections that lead to NYT reviews and wedding announcements) and have been in the right places at the right times. My one complaint is that the typesetting is a little sloppy, here and there. This is a problem throughout the industry; I'm seeing typos everywhere these days, and the size of the house doesn't matter. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to typesetting, though, and I believe we independents need to be absolutely uncompromising in our standards for setting type and publishing a printed book. There's the old saying that a woman has to be twice as accomplished as a man to be perceived as half as good; I think independent publishers have to create printed works of quality that exceeds that of our corporate cousins. It's the only way we'll get people to take us seriously.?

Read the first chapter on Amazon and see if it's the right book for you. Keep in mind, though, that the first couple of chapters don't quite exhibit the strength of the overall writing, which is overall very strong but takes a few chapters to kick into gear.

Source: http://mysteriousmatters.typepad.com/mysterious_matters_myster/2013/03/independent-publishing-and-the-care-and-feeding-of-exotic-pets.html

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Now Powering Finance Data For 300 Startups, Yodlee Peels Back The Curtain On New Accelerator & 4 New Incubations

Compared to the glut of young tech startups that have popped up in the financial services space over the last several years, Yodlee is a veteran. Founded in 1999, the company got its start by developing technology to make the back-end aggregation of banking data more efficient and secure, leading to the birth of companies like Mint.com, which went on to be acquired by Intuit. Now, with more than 40 million users and $100 million in funding, the financial apps and management solutions provider has turned its focus back to the startup ecosystem.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/Yb5hlXf6KbA/

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YouTube counts more than a billion unique users each month

What's ten times more popular than the Super Bowl? YouTube, apparently. According to the YouTube blog, more than a billion folks visit the streaming site every month -- and not just views, but unique users. The announcement didn't touch on specifics, but it did provide some fun numbers to put the terrifyingly huge total into context, noting that it would take ten Super Bowl audiences to match its monthly viewership. Almost half of all internet users visit YouTube each month, the team writes, and the numbers would peg the site as the third largest country in the world if traffic numbers could be given statehood. Suddenly, PSY's billion view milestone makes a bit more sense.

Filed under: Internet

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/20/youtube-counts-more-than-a-billion-unique-users-each-month/

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My reoccurring headaches are finally healed

Neck pain or upper back pain can cause reoccurring headaches. I have felt headaches since I can remember, but I never really tried to find the source of them. The biggest mistake I have ever made is to accept my headaches. If I hadn't done that, I might have found the answer sooner. I don?t really know how I came across this link www.uppercervicalhealthcentersboise.comneck-pain. But there, I found the answer I desperately needed. This health center had the answer for my headaches. My neck pain and the headaches were caused from the spinal problems I didn?t know I had. I am glad that this clinic had the right answers. They were able to restore my health.?

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Source: http://www.knupnet.com/latest-health-news/my-reoccurring-headaches-are-finally-healed/

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HTC One launch delayed, suppliers no longer see HTC as a 'tier-one' manufacturer

The uphill battle for HTC continues. The proposed savior for the struggling company, the HTC One, now faces delays due to problems with component suppliers. The problem lies with one of the main selling points of the upcoming flagship phone - the "ultrapixel" camera. With the significant loss of profits and decrease in shipments HTC has had, an unnamed executive tells the WSJ that they are no longer considered a "tier-one" customer. This means they don't have the priority they once did with their parts suppliers, and are currently running short on components for the HTC One's camera and metal case.

It's worth noting that suppliers have not mentioned anything of the sort, and it's possible that frustrations have company executives a little emotional. This certainly seems the case with CEO Peter Chou, who The Verge tells us has stated he would step down if the HTC One "fails to become a hit with consumers". It's also hard to determine what a "hit with consumers" is. Focus Taiwan reports that pre-orders for the HTC One have exceeded the companies target, which sounds fairly successful to us. In short, we're not going to read too much into this one.

While there are still no concrete dates, HTC promises to start fulfilling pre-orders at the end of March in select markets, with a wider rollout scheduled for sometime in April. The HTC One's release is inching ever closer towards a confirmed release date of its strongest competitor, which could take away a much needed edge it would have with an earlier release.

Will fans wait it out through expected delays, or will we see potential buyers jumping ship for something else? Read the review and discuss in the forums.

Source: WSJ

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/YTqcy-qfiBg/story01.htm

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AccuWeather update brings a new look, customizable forecasts

AccuWeather for iPhone has received a major update to version 6.0, bringing with it several improvements, including new, user-defined forecasts, as well as a new interface. The new look takes cues from AccuWeather for iPad and presents the user with a cleaner, more efficient interface than previous versions.

Users can now create customized forecasts with My AccuWeather, tailored to different activities. You can set your ideal conditions for temperature, wind speed, wind gusts, if it should be sunny, should there be rain or not, etc., and give that list a name like ?Fishing? or ?Running?. Going to MyAccuWeather in the app and going to that forecast will show you how the actual weather measures up to your ideal conditions, saying things like ?It?s colder than you?d like? and ?It?s just the right amount of wind?, and forecasting how conditions look for that activity for the rest of the day.

Other changes include forecasts that now refresh every five minutes, improved stability, and bug fixes. Forecasts now also contain percipitation probability, along with options for more or less weather detail in the forecast. To change the amount of detail you see, simply drag the conditions panel up to reveal details like humidity, cloud cover, visibility, and the UV index.

AccuWeather is free, with a $1.99 option if you want to remove the ads.

• Free - Download Now

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/N4T3Qx8wbq0/story01.htm

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