Unemployed people with disabilities are having increasing trouble finding a job.

CNN affiliates report on where job seekers are finding work across the country and how those looking for employment are coping with the situation.

The unemployment rate for disabled people is rising faster than the rate for the nondisabled.

(CNN) -- Unemployed people with disabilities are having increasing trouble finding a job.

The unemployment rate for people with disabilities was at 14 percent in February, compared with 8.7 for people without a disability. The rate for disabled people increased 0.8 percentage points over the previous month, twice the increase for people without disabilities.

Preferred Alternatives works with the disabled -- people who are deaf, blind or have some other physical impairment -- to train them on how to find a job.

"I think 95 percent probably are too afraid to go out and approach someone because they're afraid of the problems with the communication they might have or they're afraid people are going to look at them funny," Jordan Wright, a coordinator for Preferred Alternatives, told News 14 Carolina.

Jeff Harkey of Harkey Tile and Stone was helping a woman named Cynthia practice for a job interview. Cynthia is deaf and visually impaired. She relies on an interpreter.

Cynthia can be assured that a coach with Preferred Alternatives will go with her to interviews, the group said.

Wright said the group has helped 20 people land jobs. Watch as Cynthia gets help with her interviewing skills

Midwest: Company stays in business, keeps 200 workers

A Lafayette, Indiana-based telemarketing company has reversed its decision to close.

Two months ago, Steve Lair, the chief administrative officer of TeleServices Direct, said the company was laying off all its workers. With this week's decision, 200 people are keeping their jobs.

Lair said the company found ways to reduce expenses.

"We had to tighten our belts," Lair told WLFI in West Lafayette.

The news came just one week before employees thought they would be out of work.

"We had thunderous applause throughout the center," said Linda Forham. Lair said the decision to stay open is permanent.

Read about employees reactions to the good news

Midwest: Site has people bid on job opportunities

Several college students have created a Web site for employers to take bids from prospective employees. The site is called www.jobaphiles.com.

The site was originally created for college students in the Boston, Massachusetts, area who needed some part-time work or recent graduates looking for a first job. The site has since expanded to include more job seekers.

"It's basically just an auction site," co-founder Adam Blakeway told KSHB. "It's for anybody who needs a job and thinks their set of skills can be used."

Employers post job listings and then candidates list the wage they will work for and their qualifications. To outbid another person, you have to lower your salary demand.

Read what the operators had to say about the bidding process

South: Hundreds line up for interviews at New Orleans job fair

Unemployment in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been lower than the national average, but several hundred people showed up for the first of two job fairs scheduled for April.

"I've been looking for a job. I've been looking and searching," Carie Edwardsteed told WDSU, which was one of the job fair's co-sponsors. "I've been to four or five career fairs and it's getting darker and darker, but I'm going to keep trying."

According to the station, unemployment in the area is 4.7 percent -- less than the national average -- thanks to rebuilding efforts in the post-Hurricane Katrina recovery.

Chris Hazelwood of Targeted Job Fairs said there are more job options if someone is interested in working for a government agency like the U.S. Border Control or the Army Corps of Engineers.

Another fair is scheduled for April 22.

Read what one job seeker had to say about looking for a job

South: Arkansas town gets new manufacturing plant

About a year after one of the town's major employers suffered major fire damage to a plant, Booneville, Arkansas, is getting a new business.

Last Easter the Cargill meat processing plant caught fire and the company decided not to reopen the facility.

Perry Productions will be building an American Spirit Wear plant that makes jackets in Booneville. The company says it will employ 30 people.

"We provide a service these importers can't," company president George Perry told KHBS/KHOG. "They can't turn it [product] around in three days like we can."

Northeast: French firm bringing jobs to Vermont

French firm ASK will lease space at the IBM manufacturing facility in Essex Junction, Vermont, according to WPTZ.

The station reported that the deal would be announced by Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas.

It was unclear how many people the French company, which makes access cards, would employ.

READ MORE - Unemployed people with disabilities are having increasing trouble finding a job.

Hundreds interested in getting business tips

The Dublin Entrepreneurial Center is hosting an open house on Thursday, March 19, but some people don't want to wait.

According to Dublin development director Dana McDaniel, several entrepreneurs have called to get appointments before the open house. More than 300 people have reserved a spot at the open house, where the DEC will showcase the services it offers to small businesses.

"The office has been receiving phone calls from small business people who are anxious that if they wait until the open house, they'll get closed out of the space," said Colleen Gilger, Dublin's economic development administrator.

McDaniel said excitement is building about the DEC, 7003 Post Road.

"We've been working on it for over a year, trying to build relationships to support it," he said.

"The fact is the physical building has been located there for many, many years," Gilger added. "The facility is not new, but what we're putting in the facility is new."

The facility includes businesses such as TechColumbus, which can help startup businesses get off the ground, and also offers space for the new businesses to locate.

"What we're focused on is building relationships with other agencies and organizations that can help build support for other companies," McDaniel said. "In partnership with the owners of the building, they're allowing short-term leases and leases by office to support new fledgling companies to get up and running."

TechColumbus, Columbus State Community College's center for work force development, the Small Business Development Council, Platform Lab and Center for Innovative Food Technology are located in the DEC.

"We have a TechColumbus staff person who is located here and is providing support. Rick Coplin is in the building and is helping us find companies. By virtue of having him here we are receiving TechColumbus services like entrepreneurial coaching, mentoring and access to capital," McDaniel said. "The couple of other services are the Small Business Development Council who intends to do training there. They can help companies with business plan writing and getting access to loans."

McDaniel said wireless Internet will be provided as well as many networking opportunities.

"There's also a virtual presence," he said. "There's social networking going on with the technology startup. People are meeting virtually and physically and are tying themselves into the entrepreneurial center."

While the open house will offer small businesses and entrepreneurs a look into the services available at the DEC, McDaniel said the facility is open for business any time.

"The DEC is open for business and operational," he said. "We have meetings scheduled already."

The open house will run from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. March 19. To reserve a spot at the event, RSVP by March 12 on Dublin's Web site, www.dublin.oh.us.

A class taught by the Small Business Development Council on marketing, financing, sales and growth will be available during the March 19 open house, with registration on the city's Web site.

For more information on the DEC or to schedule a visit, contact the city's economic development department at (614) 410-4618.

READ MORE - Hundreds interested in getting business tips

Drywall suspicions complete family's perfect storm of misery

ESTERO, Florida (CNN) -- Alana and Joe Consolo should have had the excitement of a young couple enjoying their first house, but the South Florida pair was walking through it recently with a healthy dose of fear.

Alana and Joe Consolo tour their Florida house after it was gutted because of concerns about the drywall.

They've been caught in a maelstrom of headline news events that would make your head spin. Both were laid off as the economy soured. The nation's housing crisis cut their Florida house's value in half.

And now their home's interior is being rebuilt because it contained Chinese-made drywall that they say has made them sick.

The Consolos are among homeowners in several states who allege Chinese drywall has emitted corrosive gases they believe have given them headaches and upper respiratory problems and caused household systems such as air-conditioning units to fail.

"I'm holding back tears," Alana Consolo said as she walked through the house, which is in the middle of the reconstruction project. "I have chills and I'm angry -- really, really angry -- and really sad, too."

The Consolos moved into the home in Estero, near Fort Myers, less than three years ago. But they moved out six weeks ago, and even though it's being rebuilt, they doubt they'll return there to live because they've yet to be convinced they'd be healthy.

"The last time that we saw the house in this condition," Alana said, looking at the gutted interior, "we came in excited, holding our hands, planning on where we were going to put our [baby] room for our new family." Watch the Consolos tour the gutted home »

Concerns about Chinese-made drywall emerged in Florida last year but by now have spread to other states. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said it's investigating complaints in Florida, Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana, Washington and North Carolina. And class-action lawsuits are lining up against Chinese manufacturers as well as suppliers and builders.

The Florida Department of Health said complaints it received -- more than 180 as of Thursday -- generally involve homes built between 2004 and 2007, around the time that a building boom and post-hurricane reconstruction caused a U.S. drywall shortage and spurred imports from China.

A study done for the Florida department by private laboratory Unified Engineering Inc. found that samples of certain Chinese drywall gave off a sulfurous odor from "volatile sulfur compounds" when exposed to extreme heat and moisture. It also found that vapors "in the residential atmosphere created a corrosive environment in the presence of moisture," according to Unified's report.

But state and federal officials said they're still testing to determine whether the drywall poses health risks.

The Consolos, who now have a 4-month-old daughter, said they first noticed a problem in December when their smoke detectors kept going off inexplicably. An inspection revealed that copper wiring inside the house had turned black. Soon afterward, their air-conditioning unit went bad, and an inspection found that a coil in the unit was corroded.

And the couple said they suffered from headaches and upper respiratory problems while living in the house. So they moved out.

Now the house, which had Chinese-made drywall, has been stripped. The builder, Lennar Homes, is footing the bill for the reconstruction and a nearby rental house for the Consolos.

Moving out came at a trying time for the family.

Both were laid off about a year ago by Countrywide Bank, where they were mortgage loan originators. Joe Consolo is now a restaurant manager.

Also, the nation's housing crisis hit their home. Purchased for $528,000, it has recently been appraised for $280,000. Trying to get out from under a bad investment, they went to their bank to do a short sale.

"The value had decreased so much, we were throwing money out the window," Alana Consolo said.

Two offers for $250,000 and $255,000 were rejected. So, they made a business decision: They stopped paying their mortgage and declared bankruptcy.

The Consolos are now three months behind in their payments. They're not sure yet if foreclosure is in their future, but they don't think it will be easy to sell a house that's had drywall issues.

The Gypsum Association said that enough drywall was imported from China since 2006 to build 30,000 complete homes. Most of the Chinese drywall, it said, ended up in southwest Florida during the housing boom.

As for the Consolos' health problems, Alana said her headaches stopped after they moved out of the house. Joe said he's been hospitalized twice for pneumonia, and he's been diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease of the blood. The Consolos said they believe drywall was the cause.

Lennar Homes, the Consolos' builder, said it has identified at least 80 homes it built with Chinese drywall. It is offering to gut and rebuild those homes for free.

"They're doing what's responsible, we believe," Alana Consolo said.

The cost to the homebuilder is about $100,000 each, Lennar said.

"We're repairing the homes by removing every piece of drywall from the home and replacing all affected copper," said Chris Marlin, a vice president for Lennar Homes.

Lennar also is suing Chinese manufacturers and their U.S. suppliers.

But while the Consolos' home is being rebuilt, their lives still are filled with stress and unanswered questions. They said they think foreclosure may be the best way to get away from a house that they think has made them sick and that they don't believe they could sell because of the housing crisis and drywall issues.

"There's the fear, 'Are they taking everything out?' " Alana Consolo said. "We want to have more children, and Joe has an autoimmune disorder. [Going back is] just a risk I'm not willing to take."

She added, "The economy started it. The Chinese drywall cemented it for us."

READ MORE - Drywall suspicions complete family's perfect storm of misery

Obama: Europe faces greater terror threat than U.S.

(CNN) -- Europe is more vulnerable to terrorist attack than the United States, U.S. President Barack Obama said Friday as he arrived in France for a two-day NATO Summit marking the military alliance's 60th anniversary.

U.S. President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy take part in Friday's ceremonies.

Obama was addressing an audience in Strasbourg, which is co-hosting the summit with Kehl in Germany on opposite banks of the River Rhine, afterr earlier holding talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Afghanistan tops the agenda at the summit with Obama calling on other NATO members to take on a greater role in thee fight against Taliban and Islamist insurgents.

U.S. forces have borne the brunt of the conflict since leading the invasion that overthrew the Taliban in 2001, following the al Qaeda terror attacks against New York and Washington.

Obama said Friday he had asked other NATO states to provide more military and civilian support and warned that al Qaeda was still plotting terror attacks in the border regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"Al Qaeda is still a threat and we cannot pretend somehow that because Barack Hussain Obama got elected as president everything is suddenly going to be ok," Obama said.

"If there is another al Qaeda attack it is just as likely, if not more, that it will be here in Europe, in a European city."

At an earlier joint press conference with Sarkozy, Obama reiterated the United States' commitment to NATO, describing it as the "most successful alliance in modern history."

"The basic premise of NATO was that Europe's security was the United States' security and vice versa," Obama told reporters. "That is a pillar of American foreign policy that has been unchanging over the past 60 years. It is something that I am here to affirm."

Obama said the U.S. wanted strong allies and was looking to be a partner with European countries. "The more capable they are defensively, the more we can act in concert on the shared challenges that we face," he said.

"One of my messages to our NATO allies is going to be the more capability we see here in Europe, the happier the United States will be, the more effective we will be in coordinating our activities."

The French president indicated he wanted his country to be strong enough to "stand up to the challenges" that it faced and have defense at the fore.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's office said the UK was prepared to consider an increase in troop numbers in Afghanistan on a temporary basis to provide additional security during the forthcoming presidential election -- but said an agreement would be "subject to burden-sharing agreements at the NATO summit." A source familiar with the proposal said the troop increase would be in the "mid-high 100s."

But summit co-host France, which is rejoining NATO's high command this weekend after more than 40 years, has rarely seen eye-to-eye with the U.S. on military matters.

Sarkozy pledged a relatively small group of 150 gendarmes this week to help train Afghan police and observers wonder if Obama will face an uphill battle in bringing other allies on board.

De Hoop Scheffer told CNN that was "too gloomy a conclusion" and said European allies are already starting to contribute more.

"That doesn't happen in one big bang at the summit, but they are beefing up their forces," de Hoop Scheffer told CNN. "Afghanistan should not become President Obama's conflict but should become a collective, coordinated operation of all of us."

De Hoop Scheffer said NATO was also trying to "re-engage" with Russia after relations between the former Cold War military rivals reached a "low ebb" during Russian forces' military invasion of Georgia last year.

Obama made clear at the G-20 summit in London this week that he wants to restart relations with Russia. He said Friday he had a "terrific" meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

"I think that it is important for NATO allies to engage Russia and to recognize that they have legitimate interests in some cases, we've got common interests, but we also have some core disagreements," Obama said.

"I think we should be in dialogue with them as to how we can maintain stability while protecting the autonomy of all countries in Europe."

Calling Obama's plan "excellent news," Sarkozy responded, "The last thing we need is a new Cold War."

But some NATO members are reluctant to agree with him, particularly eastern European countries like Poland and the Czech Republic that used to fall under Russian influence as members of the Soviet bloc.

Pierre Lellouche, an author and NATO watcher, said he believes those countries will come around to Obama's plans. "Russia has to be part of this, simply because we have the same strategic interest," he told CNN. "Now, it also means that the Russians have to stop thinking of tomorrow with the eyes of yesterday."

Saturday's agenda will also see Albania and Croatia welcomed to the alliance as they finalize their accession process at the summit.

Some 300 NATO protesters were jailed Thursday in Strasbourg, Germany, just across the border from the French side of the city, police said, and 105 of them were still held Friday.

Thursday's protest was violent, with demonstrators breaking property and throwing stones. All was quiet Thursday night and Friday morning.

READ MORE - Obama: Europe faces greater terror threat than U.S.

Obama: Leaders agree to trillions to save global economy

President Barack Obama gestures during a press conference Thursday at the end of the G-20 Summit at the Excel centre ...

World leaders will invest more than $2 trillion in an unprecedented effort to revive the global economy and will meet again in the fall to extend the framework they developed in London, President Obama said Thursday at the end of the G-20 summit.

"So many have lost so much," Mr. Obama said in a closing press conference. "We needed to act quickly. … and this alone is not enough."

The president also said the world leaders developed a two-fold plan that focuses on economic growth and reform of financial markets, including the largely unregulated hedge funds.

Mr. Obama said world leaders will use the money to rid banks of toxic debt, which will free credit markets and result in more loans to everybody from corporations to students needing money for their education.

Mr. Obama also said leaders agreed to increase by three-fold the International Monetary Fund's lending capacity and to "reform and expand" the agency so that it can help Third World countries survive and eventually contribute to the global economy. The group is expected to receive about $500 billion.

Mr. Obama said he was successful "outside the G-20" context in improving relations with Russia, China, South Korea and India.

Beyond saying leaders agreed to help stabilize Afghanistan, Mr. Obama made no mention of his talk earlier in the day with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in which they vowed the international community would make a "stern, united" response if North Korea proceeds with a planned, long-range rocket launch.

The United States and its allies say the planned launch is a cover for testing long-range missile technology.

On financial reform, the president said leaders will seek to end the "bubble and bust" cycles that are now crippling national economies, which are increasingly connected.

The president repeatedly emphasized the plans were a joint effort, not the will of the United States alone.

"I came here to forge a consensus rather than dictating," he said.

Still, Mr. Obama said, the U.S. economy is still the largest in the world and the country is still a world leader.

Mr. Obama also called the meeting historic and unprecedented.

President Obama concluded his first international summit by declaring the gathering of G-20 leaders "historic" and "a turning point" in the global economic recovery.

But when asked whether he could say with confidence that the steps taken by the industrialized nations today would prevent a further global economic slide, Obama took a wait-and-see approach.

"I think the steps in the communique were necessary. Whether they're sufficient, we've got to wait and see," Obama said.

He said the steps agreed upon by the world leaders were critical but "not a panacea."

Obama's remarks came as the leaders of the world's wealthy nations agreed today to inject $1 trillion into the global economy in an effort to pull it out of the spreading recession.

READ MORE - Obama: Leaders agree to trillions to save global economy

Watch Sarah Palin Bikini Video!

Sarah Palin is still on the minds of a lot of American’s; usually the losing ticket sort of fades away into obscurity, but not if you’re one Sarah Heath Palin who just happened to model in a bikini back in 1984 in a beauty pageant. Read more, see photos and bikini video below.

Governor Sarah Palin

Bikini or not, Sarah Palin is still a favorite of conservatives, and still a favorite target of the left. Like I stated earlier, how many of you thought Lloyd Benson was a viable threat after he and Dukakis were defeated back in ’88? How many conservative hit pieces were there on Geraldine Ferraro after the 1984 election? Not many if any at all.

For some reason though, the left wing media and the democratic party are still gunning for Sarah Palin. Conservatives disagree on whether or not she is the right person to lead the Republicans back from the wilderness; my guess is if she puts on that bikini again, she would have more than just conservatives following her anywhere.

The very reason that this bikini, beauty pageant video is still making the rounds like it is, is the fact that the left wing media is still trying to discredit Sarah Palin. The only possible reason is that they saw just what a potential danger she is to their current stranglehold on power. Sarah Palin is a natural leader, whether she’s wearing a skirt, bikini, or blue jeans she has a natural ability to lead people.

Unfortunately for Sarah Palin, many Americans today still put a lot of stock into what the media has to say. The media should have lost credibility on the subject of Sarah Palin after they went after her daughter, publically ridiculing and making a mockery of her failed relationship. If the truth were known, the media probably has a bit of blame in that as well. How many teenage kids could put up with that kind of scrutiny and pressure?

Readers here at Right Pundits are free to make their own choices; make their own decisions. Do you like Sarah Palin? Do you respect her? Does the fact that she competed in a beauty pageant 24 years ago and you can see a woman who is governor of a state and was very close to being Vice-President in her bikini make her have less credibility with you?

Before you answer the last question; think about your life now, then think about it 24 years ago. How much of what you did 24 years ago do you want the world to know? Bikini video not withstanding.

More photos and a video of Sarah Palin Bikini are below.

Sarah Palin Photos

Sarah Palin Bikini Video

Photos: WENN.com

I don’t really care if she took part in a beauty pagent in an effort to get a scholarship or not. Many young women who don’t have rich parents to pay their way through school do this type of thing. That’s life. Sarah Palin’s background of hard work, and determination are much are significant, or at least should be. She worked her way up from city counsil to the governor of her state without the benefit of a wealthy family, political connections, or riding her husbands coattails. She has performed remarkable well, and is a quite shrewed natural leader. After looking at all the potential candidates for a run in 2012, Romney, Huckabee, Sanford, Jindal, Perry, Crist, Palin beats them all, hands down. I cannot see thousands and even tens of thousands of enthusastic voters standing in line, and waiting for hours to see anyone but Palin. When Romney campaigned for Chambliss in Georgia in December, he had two rallies, one drew 100 people and the other about 200. Palin held 4 rallies, 2 of which drew over 2,000, one drew over 3,000 and the last one drew close to 6,000. Huckabee likewise campaigned in Georgia, and had to piggyback on a Fair Tax rally to get 2,000. Within 3 days after Palin selection as VP was announced, $10 million in contributions was received, and thousands of volunteers flooded McCain offices across the country. I don’t see that happening with any of the other potential candidates, only Palin.

READ MORE - Watch Sarah Palin Bikini Video!

Bruce Pearl has emerged as the leading candidate to replace John Calipari

DETROIT - Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com is reporting that Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl has emerged as the leading candidate to replace John Calipari at Memphis.

Memphis AD R.C. Johnson “is expected to ask for permission” to speak with Pearl on Thursday and will offer him a deal worth $3 million a year, Goodman wrote.

Now that John Calipari has up and gone to Kentucky, Memphis must find a new head coach. The Tigers understandably want a big name who can continue the winning tradition established by Calipari (four straight 30-win seasons, four straight Conference USA championships, a national championship game appearance).

And so, according to Memphis television station WMC, the Tigers have extended a rather mammoth offer to Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl. The television station also is reporting that former Indiana and Texas Tech coach Bob Knight interviewed for the job on Wednesday, a report that was disputed by the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

Memphis has offered Pearl a seven-year deal worth $21 million, according to the WMC report, which also said that Pearl will interview for the job either today or tomorrow. Pearl made $1.6 million this past season. By the 2014-15 season, the final year of a contract extension agreed upon in July, his contract escalates to $2.5 million. Pearl also received a $250,000 signing bonus and a $1.5 million retention bonus in July. His buyout is reported to be $2.5 million.

But besides salary considerations, would Pearl consider the Memphis job a step up? The Tigers play in Conference USA, which in most seasons offers decidedly little competition compared with the Southeastern Conference. And it's not like Tennessee's less-than-storied basketball history is hurting Pearl's recruiting: His recruting class this past season was ranked No. 7 by Rivals.com.

And then there's this, from Memphis Commercial Appeal columnist Geoff Calkins: "Calipari genuinely hates Pearl." Calkins also writes that Pearl's hiring "would drive Calipari nuts."

As for Knight, his hiring after a season away from the court would certainly make a splash. Yes, Knight brings with him 902 career wins, the most in Division I men's history, but he also brings with him a certain amount of baggage. Would the school want to put up with that? Would Knight, at age 68, want to deal with immense expectations to win and win now, even if Calipari's recruits join him at Kentucky or leave Memphis for other programs?

What do you think? Should Memphis continue to pursue Bruce Pearl? Would moving to Memphis be as good for Pearl's coaching career as it would be for his wallet? Is Bob Knight the answer? Is there another coach who should be considered? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

READ MORE - Bruce Pearl has emerged as the leading candidate to replace John Calipari

Kelly Monaco and Peepshow Cast at Privé

Kelly Monaco and Peepshow cast members Ali Lexner, Josh Strickland and Michelle Martinez were spotted at the Ice Cube party at Privé this week (Photo: © Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com).

Peepshow is a modern burlesque show created specifically for the dynamic, glamorous audience that exists only in the adult playground of Las Vegas. The production combines sexy striptease and celebrity with high-level production values and a dash of passion.

The show which stars pop superstar and television personality Mel B., will open for preview performances on March 30, 2009, with an opening night gala planned for April 18 of 2009. For more information, visit http://www.lasvegaspeepshow.com/ .

Peepshow cast members: Michelle Martinez, Kelly Monaco and Ali Lexner

Photo: © Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com

Ali Lexner, Josh Strickland, Kelly Monaco and Michelle Martinez

Photo: © Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com

Tickets are on sale for preview and regular performances of PEEPSHOW, the sexy new production set to open at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. PEEPSHOW, starring pop superstar and television personality Mel B., will open for preview performances on March 30, 2009, with an opening night gala planned for April 18 of 2009.

In addition to pop sensation Mel B. who will originate the role as the mistress of ceremonies, the “Peep Diva,” sultry television siren Kelly Monaco will take the stage as “Bo Peep,” a timid girl who the Diva guides in her transformation into a confident, sensual woman.

PEEPSHOW is a modern burlesque show created specifically for the dynamic, glamorous audience that exists only in the adult playground of Las Vegas. A highly stylized, full-throttle production show that combines sexy striptease and celebrity with high-level production values and a dash of passion, PEEPSHOW is a collaboration between Tony award-winning director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell and Las Vegas entertainment pacesetter BASE Entertainment.

“PEEPSHOW has been a dream of mine for a long time and now that dream is coming true,” said Mitchell. “We have gathered 20 of the sexiest dancers from film, video, and Broadway to bring a truly American form of entertainment back to the strip. The art of the tease, mixed with humor, razzle-dazzle, and today’s sexy music, with PEEPSHOW these stunning dancers will use their bodies to tell a story.”

With a plan to feature celebrities that will play multiple month engagements, PEEPSHOW will open in March 2009 with TV personality and chart-topping musical artist Mel B., a member of the world sensation Spice Girls as the show’s mistress of ceremonies, the “Peep Diva,” a bold, sexy icon of female empowerment with all the answers, who guides the timid “Bo Peep,” portrayed by “Dancing With the Stars” first season champion and “General Hospital” star Kelly Monaco, on her search for love.

Mel B. and Jerry Mitchell have had a long-standing relationship and worked closely together in perfecting her role as “Diva.” “I’m thrilled to partner with Jerry Mitchell and BASE Entertainment, a team known for creating some of the most spectacular shows in Las Vegas,” said Mel B. “Because I’m coming out as a solo artist next year, I feel this show is putting me back in an arena that I’m most comfortable in and love doing most, which is performing and entertaining on stage.”

“I started doing theater in high school and continued through college,” said Monaco. “To have the opportunity to revisit this experience again on a higher level, words can’t express how excited I am to be a part of PEEPSHOW. I can’t think of a better place to do it than Las Vegas.”

READ MORE - Kelly Monaco and Peepshow Cast at Privé

Katherine Olson's Murderer, the 'Craigslist Killer,' Sentenced to Life Without Parole

Michael Anderson — who became known as the Craigslist killer after he lured a 24-year-old woman to her death by posting an ad for a babysitter — will spend the rest of his life behind bars. And, no, the 20-year-old will not be receiving parole.

Katherine Olson’s heartsick family was in tears when the judge sentenced the young man — who killed Olson and disposed of her body in the trunk of her own car. The tragedy happened 17 months ago in Minneapolis, but her death made a long-lasting impact globally by raising awareness of the often-anonymous Internet’s dangers.

According to reports, Olson arrived at Anderson’s home in response to an ad she found on the website Craigslist.org, which operates largely on classifieds. When she tried to leave, he pulled out his father’s gun and shot her.

The victim’s father, a Lutheran pastor, and mother, Nancy Olson, were in tears in the courtroom. Her father, Rev. Rolf Olson, told ABC News in 2007 that Katherine was "larger than life" and, "unfortunately, too trusting."

"She had found benefits on Craigslist," he said, "but in her trusting nature, she fell into this trap."

On Thursday morning, Katherine decided to meet someone in Savage, MN about a babysitting job. She'd found the ad for the job on Craigslist. The people posting the position were supposedly a married couple who'd relocated to the Twin Cities area. Katherine Olson, a well-educated and experienced nanny, headed out to 12649 Kipling Avenue in downtown Savage.

Katherine Olson Craigslist Killer Guilty - The Craigslist Killer, Michael John Anderson, was found guilty of murdering Katherine Olson in Minneapolis. Katherine Olson had responded to a job on Craigslist for babysitting. Only to find out that Michael Anderson had set up a trap and then murdered Olson.

She wasn't seen again until late Friday night. That was when Katherine's car was found in a park in Burnsville, MN. Her body was in the trunk.

READ MORE - Katherine Olson's Murderer, the 'Craigslist Killer,' Sentenced to Life Without Parole

Obama told a joke and Brown laughed...

Oh Gordon, your smile! The Prime Minister, appearing alongside Barack Obama after breakfast today, stared at his American visitor and almost shattered the TV camera lenses with his moony grin.

You could have played Jewish harp with his lower lip, it was stretched so twangy tight.

Messrs Mills and Boon, when next looking for a book cover for one of their romantic novellas, when next seeking an illustration of doggy devotion, could do worse than use a photograph of the Prime Minister at the meeting.

Mr Obama uttered a sentence. Mr Brown nodded. Mr Obama paused. Mr Brown froze, frowning. Mr Obama made a very slight joke.

Mr Brown gassed himself, laughing for a good 30 seconds, eyelids fluttering like the wings of a soft-flapping Cabbage White.

Allegedly the most charismatic politician in the world, Mr Obama was a disappointment. It sounded as though he had a blocked nose and so his lack of energy may have been a symptom of a cold. Jet lag, too. He probably wished he could have stayed in bed.

Then there were the bodyguards. The US of A guys have buttons in their lapels and scowl at the world in a quite unnecessary fashion. One is tempted to go up to them and tickle their armpits, just to see if they might smile.

Mr Obama fiddled with the cuff of one sleeve, Prince Charles-style, while Mr Brown hosed him down with treacle. The Prime Minister, fluffing with nerves in a couple of places, spoke of the president's 'leadership, vision, courage, dynamism, energy, achievements...'

He spoke slowly, in a meandering manner. Some might say that he was thoughtful and professorial. Others might call his manner circuitous, even yarny.

Am I saying that he was a bore? Oh dear. I find that I possibly am.

But in a good way, arguably. He came across as a president who would consult and think thrice before bombing the smithereens out of a foreign capital.

This, comrades, can be counted progress.

The usual goons were in attendance. What a kerfuffle an American presidential creates.

Outside, in the road off Whitehall and in the great court of the Foreign Office, I counted 24 Range Rovers, all of them pretty brand spanking new.

Before Messrs Brown and Obama entered the room where we had been cooped up for two hours, flunkeys and bit-part players came slinking in, David Miliband and Hillary Clinton among them.

What an odd duo Mrs Clinton and the boy Milipede make. She looks like a mother taking her teenage son round a university campus on Open Day.
'Cool mum, free drinks!'

On and on it went. Stop, man! But he would not. 'A partnership of purpose, resilient, constant.' We were in total love mode. For his part, Mr Obama stared at Mr Brown with two weary, slightly glazed eyes, his mouth agape.

When Mr Brown let him get a word in, it was 'Gordon' this and 'Gordon' that.

Mr Brown had by now turned his profile to us and it meant we could see the silhouette of his pouchy-cheeked, greedy grin.

His lips puckered, forming the shape of a robin's beak, and he nodded slowly, repeatedly, at times even swallowing, so much was he salivating.

When he turned back to face us his eyes were narrow with creamy pleasure and he pushed forth his chin, stretching his lower neck.

Now he placed his hands behind his back and bounced a half inch or so on the balls of his feet, relishing the sound of Solomon Obama's replies to a few questions from the Press.

Those replies were, as I say, on the chewy side and came out at the speed of an action replay on Match of the Day.

So slow, in fact, that at one point a man from the Guardian dropped his tape recorder on the floor. Mr Obama's best moment was when he was charming about the Queen.

Our old donkey Gordon, by comparison to this American visitor, was for once Mr Eloquent, Mr Quick-Off-The-Mark.

Mr Obama had managed to make Mr Brown look good. Another amazing achievement.

They left with Mr Obama snaking an arm round his host's shoulder and ushering him from the room. Very much an 'I'm in charge' gesture.

Obama's trip has taken him through the Middle East and Europe, starting with Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Israel and the West Bank and finishing with Germany, France and Britain.

Though Obama joked with the British press that London was the highlight for him, his trip has included several other moments that have garnered positive international headlines, most recently a Friday news conference in Paris with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and a speech in Berlin on Thursday to about 200,000 people.

READ MORE - Obama told a joke and Brown laughed...

Free Advertising for Charity and Social Organizations

With more than 200,000 visitors to its Web site each day, DVDVideoSoft has become a one-stop site for free multimedia software and user-friendly tutorials on video and audio needs. Now, charitable organizations can reach those worldwide visitors with DVDVideoSoft’s announcement that they are offering free advertising to non-profit organizations.

There are literally thousands of wonderful charitable organizations who do outstanding work, but may need new avenues to get their message across. DVDVideoSoft is offering free advertising to these companies as a thank you for their wonderful work.

(PRWEB) March 30, 2009 -- DVDVideoSoft, a leading developer of free multimedia software and helpful tutorials, announces it is offering free advertising space for charity and non-profit organizations on its popular Web site.

Since its inception in 2006, DVDVideoSoft has become synonymous with offering detailed and helpful guides and tutorials relating to a variety of video and audio tasks. But as their popularity grew, so did their services. DVDVideoSoft is now considered a leader in developing free multimedia software for video and audio processing.

Today, www.dvdvideosoft.com has approximately 200,000 visitors per day, which can mean remarkable visibility for social institutions such as educational organizations, environmental defense funds, social safety net funds, welfare funds and other charitable groups that are out to make the world a better place.

A spokesperson for DVDVideoSoft said the company has an undivided belief that: “There are literally thousands of wonderful charitable organizations who do outstanding work, but may need new avenues to get their message across. DVDVideoSoft is offering free advertising to these companies as a thank you for their wonderful work.”

While DVDVideoSoft salutes everyone that get involved in philanthropy causes, DVDVideoSoft can only accepts inquiries for advertising only from social organizations and not from private individuals without exceptions.

All the inquiries are accepted for consideration at support(at)dvdvideosoft.com

News

Free Disc Burner and Free YouTube Uploader are updated

March 30th, 2009

Today we have released new versions of these programs. From now on Free Disc Burner can verify results after burning and Free YouTube Uploader synchronizes recent video categories with YouTube and detects if it is necessary to install Java or not.

Posted in News | No Comments »

YouTube programs update announcement

March 30th, 2009

Within several days we will update our YouTube download programs.
Programs interfaces are improved according to your requests and wishes.
Output presets are optimized. Now it will be easier to choose the one you need.
The programs will resume downloads in case of problems with internet connection.

Keep watching our site.

Posted in Announces | No Comments »

READ MORE - Free Advertising for Charity and Social Organizations

Obama hits e-campaign trail

Who’s going to ignore an e-mail from “President Barack Obama”?

He’s hitting in-boxes Monday night with a reminder to Democrats in New York’s 20th Congressional District to get out and vote Tuesday for businessman Scott Murphy.

The high-level get-out-the-vote reminder is paid for by Organizing for America, the successor to the president’s grassroots organization, now a project of the Democratic National Committee. The return address is at barackobama.com.

Murphy is facing state legislator Jim Tedisco in the race to fill a Republican-leaning seat that came open when Kirsten Gillibrand was named to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The race is being covered as a test of Obama’s political swat because it’s the first major election since his inauguration.

Here’s the e-mail:

From: President Barack Obama
Date: Mon, Mar 30, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Subject: Please vote tomorrow
To:
Tomorrow, Tuesday, is the day to vote in New York's 20th Congressional District special election, and I need you to go vote.

I wrote to you last week to announce my endorsement of Scott Murphy because we need his kind of leadership and experience in Washington. It's going to be a very close race, and your vote could make all the difference.

Our movement for change has come this far because supporters like you stood up and made your voices heard every time it mattered.
Please look up your polling location and stand up once again for the change we need to bring to Washington.


With Scott in Congress, we'll work together to bring about solutions to our economic challenges and create new jobs in Upstate New York and across the country.

Having created over 1,000 jobs by starting successful businesses in clean energy and high-tech industries, Scott understands the potential we have to rebuild our economy and create a new foundation for prosperity.

That's the kind of partner I need in Washington. Please look up your polling place and vote tomorrow:

http://my.barackobama.com/pollingplace

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

READ MORE - Obama hits e-campaign trail

I'm Not Racist Because I Disagree With Obama

Angie Harmon: I'm Not Racist Because I Disagree With Obama | Perez Hilton’s Raunchy Birthday President From Christina Aguilera and Meghan McCain's Surprising Cameo | Pop Tarts Scene & Herd

Angie Harmon: I'm Not Racist Because I Disagree With Obama

Angie Harmon is not afraid to come out and say she doesn’t like how President Obama is handling the job — but she’s sick of having to defend herself from being deemed a racist.

"Here's my problem with this, I'm just going to come out and say it. If I have anything to say against Obama it's not because I'm a racist, it's because I don't like what he's doing as President and anybody should be able to feel that way, but what I find now is that if you say anything against him you're called a racist," Harmon told Tarts at Thursday’s Los Angeles launch of the new eyelash-growing formula, Latisse. "But it has nothing to do with it, I don’t care what color he is. I’m just not crazy about what he's doing and I heard all about this, and he’s gonna do that and change and change, so okay … I'm still dressing for a recession over here buddy and we've got unemployment at an all-time high and that was his number one thing and that's the thing I really don't appreciate. If I'm going to disagree with my President, that doesn't make me a racist. If I was to disagree with W, that doesn't make me racist. It has nothing to do with it, it is ridiculous."

Read More...

READ MORE - I'm Not Racist Because I Disagree With Obama

U.S. arms programs over budget

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Nearly 70 percent of the Pentagon's 96 major weapons-buying programs were over budget in 2008 for combined cost growth of $296 billion above original estimates, congressional auditors said in an annual report released on Monday.

The total estimated development cost for 10 of the largest acquisition programs, commanding about half the overall arms- purchasing dollars in the portfolio, has shot up 32 percent from initial estimates, from about $134 billion to more than $177 billion, the Government Accountability Office said.

The two largest programs -- Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and the Boeing Co-led Future Combat Systems Army modernization -- "still represent significant cost risk moving forward" and will dominate the portfolio for years, the survey said.

Ashton Carter, the Obama administration's choice to become the Pentagon's top arms buyer, told his Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday he would go program by program to crack down on cost overruns if confirmed.

Of those reporting relevant cost data, 69 percent, or 64 programs, chalked up increases in total acquisition costs, the GAO said.

A total of 75 percent, or 69 programs, reported increases in research and development costs and these were 42 percent above their original estimates in 2008, up from 40 percent above the year before.

At the same time, the average delay in delivering weapons' "initial operating capabilities" rose to 22 months from 21 months, the seventh annual survey of its kind showed.

Cumulative cost overruns for major U.S. Defense Department acquisition programs, or $296 billion, were down slightly from 2007 when adjusted for inflation, the auditors said.

GAO said new programs in the portfolio were performing better than older ones.

Last year, GAO reported total acquisition cost growth for the 2007 portfolio was $295 billion in fiscal 2008 dollars. Now expressed in 2009 dollars, this figure was put at $301 billion in the new report.

Since 2003, the Pentagon's portfolio of major acquisition programs has grown from 77 to 96, with investment in them swelling from $1.2 trillion to $1.6 trillion in fiscal 2009 dollars, the GAO said.

The change in the makeup of the 2008 portfolio is one of the reasons for the $5 billion decrease in total acquisition cost growth over the last year.

Three programs left the mix, knocking $15.6 billion off total cost overruns, the GAO said. The three were the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, which involves rockets built by Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing; Northrop Grumman Corp's E-2C Hawkeye battle-management aircraft; and Raytheon Co's Land Warrior infantry modernization project.

The cost of the new and remaining programs in the 2008 portfolio has increased by about $10.7 billion since last year, even though quantities have been cut 25 percent or more for 15 of the programs, GAO said.

"The time for change is now," Gene Dodaro, the acting U.S. Comptroller General said in a cover letter to Congress.

He said it was essential to eliminate underperforming or lower-priority programs by completing or canceling them.

Hard choices involving U.S. fighter aircraft, missile defense, aerial refueling tankers and other costly arms programs await President-elect Barack Obama, amid wartime strains heightened by a yawning budget deficit.

Within two weeks of his Jan. 20 inauguration, Obama's fledgling administration is scheduled to send the new Congress his spending and tax plans for the 2010 to 2015 budget years.

One of Obama's first arms-related headaches is what to do about the Air Force's desire to buy more Lockheed Martin Corp F-22 Raptor fighters than the 183 currently planned, a big bone of contention at President George W. Bush's Pentagon.

The issue is urgent because Lockheed's production of the top-of-the-line, radar-evading aircraft must start shutting down in 2009 unless Obama decides to buy another batch.

READ MORE - U.S. arms programs over budget

Obama sets deadline to force GM, Chrysler overhaul

The Associated Press

President Barack Obama, accompanied by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, speaks on the auto industry, Monday, March 30, 2009, in the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington.

DAVID ESPO AP Special Correspondent

Published: Monday, March 30, 2009 at 2:12 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, March 30, 2009 at 2:12 p.m.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama asserted unprecedented government control over the auto industry Monday, rejecting turnaround plans from General Motors and Chrysler and raising the prospect of controlled bankruptcy for either ailing auto giant.

Eager to reassure consumers, Obama also announced the federal government would immediately begin backing the warranties that new car buyers receive — a step designed to signal that it is safe to purchase U.S.-made autos and trucks despite the distress of the industry.

In a statement read at the White House, Obama said he was "absolutely committed" to the survival of a domestic auto industry that can compete internationally. And yet, "our auto industry is not moving in the right direction fast enough," he added.

With his words, Obama underscored the extent to which the government is now dictating terms to two of the country's iconic corporations, much as it has already taken an ownership stake in banks, the insurance giant AIG and housing titans Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

In an extraordinary move, the administration forced the departure of Rick Wagoner as CEO of General Motors Corp. over the weekend, and implicit in Obama's remarks was that the government holds the ability to pull the plug on that company or Chrysler.

Uncertainty about the industry's fate sent stocks tumbling, with the Dow Jones industrial average losing almost 300 points in afternoon trading. General Motors Corp. plunged 76 cents, or 21 percent, to $2.86. Chrysler is not publicly traded.

Ford Motor Co., the third member of the Michigan-based Big 3, has not requested federal bailout funds, and was not included in the president's remarks.

All three automakers employ thousands in Ohio, the No. 2 state for vehicle production after Michigan.

The Bush administration late last year approved $17 billion in federal funds to help GM and Chrysler survive. It also demanded both companies submit restructuring plans that the Obama administration would review.

Even as he pronounced their effort unsatisfactory, the president said the administration will offer General Motors "adequate working capital" over the next 60 days to produce a reorganization plan acceptable to the administration.

He said Chrysler's situation is more perilous, and the government will give the company 30 days to overcome hurdles to a merger with Fiat SpA, the Italian automaker. If they are successful "we will consider lending up to $6 billion to help their plan succeed," Obama said.

He also announced several steps to reassure consumers, and improve the chances that U.S. automakers will be able to sell their cars and trucks.

The president said the government will now stand behind warranties issued by the carmakers, a sweeping new guarantee that some in Congress had sought.

He also noted that the economic stimulus legislation he recently signed allows the purchasers of new domestic cars to deduct the cost of any sales and excise taxes. Obama said this provision could "save families hundreds of dollars and lead to as many as 100,000 new car sales."

He also said funds ticketed for the purchase of new vehicles for government agencies would be spent as quickly as possible. The president was flanked by numerous administration officials as he spoke, including Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner.

Obama spoke at the White House with U.S. automakers at yet another crossroads. As the president noted, the industry has shed more than 400,000 jobs in the past year as the recession took hold. Officials announced last week bailout funds would be made available to companies that supply the automakers, an attempt to keep them afloat.

Obama said he is committed to the survival of an auto industry — on terms that will allow it to compete internationally.

"But we also cannot continue to excuse poor decisions," he said. "And we cannot make the survival of our auto industry dependent on an unending flow of tax dollars."

He also said some of the industry's progress has scarcely been noticed. He mentioned that the North American car of the year in 2008 was produced by GM.

"Let me be clear: The United States government has no interest in running GM; we have no intention in running GM," Obama said.

But that was at the same time he was formally announcing the departure of Wagoner, whom administration officials forced into retirement on Sunday in preparation for the president's remarks.

"This is not meant as a criticism of Mr. Wagoner, who has devoted his life to this company; rather it's a recognition that it will take a new vision and new direction to create the GM of the future," Obama said.

Other changes at GM include new directors on its board. Fritz Henderson, GM's president and chief operating officer, became the new CEO. Board member Kent Kresa, the former chairman and CEO of defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp., was named interim chairman of the GM board.

In a statement, Henderson said the manufacturer would work "to make the fundamental and lasting changes necessary to reinvent GM for the long term."

Chrysler Chairman Bob Nardelli sought to assure customers, dealers, suppliers and employees that the automaker "will operate 'business as usual' over the next 30 days," while working closely with the government and Fiat to secure the support of stakeholders.

The Obama move comes amid public outrage over bonuses paid to business leaders and American International Group executives — set against a severely ailing economy.

GM failed to make good on promises made in exchange for $13.4 billion in government loans. Chrysler, meanwhile, has survived on $4 billion in federal aid during this economic downturn and the worst decline in auto sales in 27 years. In progress reports filed with the government in February, GM asked for $16.6 billion more and Chrysler wanted $5 billion more.

GM owes roughly $28 billion to bondholders. Chrysler owes about $7 billion in first- and second-term debt, mainly to banks. GM owes about $20 billion to its retiree health care trust, while Chrysler owes $10.6 billion.

GM and Chrysler employ about 140,000 workers in the U.S. In February, GM said it intended to cut 47,000 jobs around the globe, or almost 20 percent of its work force, close hundreds of dealerships and focus on four core brands — Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC and Buick.

“I am absolutely committed to working with Congress and the auto companies to meet one goal: The United States of America will lead the world in building the next generation of clean cars,” Obama said in his first extended remarks on the industry since taking office nearly 10 weeks ago. And yet, he added, “our auto industry is not moving in the right direction fast enough to succeed.”

READ MORE - Obama sets deadline to force GM, Chrysler overhaul