Slideshow on The Huffington Post

High-Tech Hotels: AMAZING Rooms From The Future (PHOTOS)

2009-11-25T17:56:03Z

Most hotels take you outside of your element, but these incredible, high-tech hotels go a step further -- bringing you to space, the ocean floor, the moon, and the furthest reaches of your imagination.

Harnessing creativity and modern technology, these designers, architects, and entrepreneurs, have built and imagined some incredible spaces, many of them far too exciting to sleep in.

Check out the 12 most incredible high-tech hotels in the slideshow below. Vote for your favorite, or send us your own!

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Naeem Khan: Michelle Obama's State Dinner Dress Designer And The Celebrities He's Outfitted (PHOTOS, POLL)

2009-11-25T13:43:17Z

Naeem Khan: yesterday, that name might not have rung a bell for most Americans, but how quickly things change under the Obama administration! When Michelle Obama wore the designer's strapless metallic gown to Tuesday night's state dinner, she introduced another talented dressmaker to her adoring fashion audience. So, uh, who is Naeem Khan?

According to his website, Khan was born in India and grew up "under the watchful eyes of his father and grandfather, both well known throughout the country for designing intricate and luxurious clothing worn by the royal families and other social notables." He moved to the US as a teenager and worked for Halston and Riazee before launching his own label in 2003. He's dressed everyone from Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce to Queen Noor of Jordan and now Michelle Obama.

In an interview with People.com, Khan expressed his excitement over clothing the FLOTUS on such an apt occasion:

"I feel so happy to be a part of this historical event between the two countries where my heart lies. I am relieved to have a job well done and am so honored to have been chosen. This is a Thanksgiving in its truest form for me and one that I will never forget--an American dream coming true."

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Read more: Naeem Khan Michelle Obama, Naeem Khan, Slideshow, Michelle Obama State Dinner, State Dinner, Michelle Obama State Dinner Dress, Michelle Obama, Style News

Nikil Saval: The Honduran Coup: A Graphic History

2009-11-25T12:40:24Z
On November 29, national elections will take place in Honduras. Five months earlier, on June 28th, Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was arrested in the middle of the night by the armed forces and forcibly exiled to Costa Rica -- on the day he had proposed to hold a non-binding public poll on a popular assembly. Why? For his supposed intention of subverting the Honduran constitution to extend his time in office. Zelaya still remains under effective house arrest in the Brazlian embassy -- which is surrounded by coup leader Roberto Micheletti's troops -- after being smuggled back into the country. Read the first part of The Honduran Coup: A Graphic History here.

After a considerable delay, the US finally intervened to broker a deal on Oct 30, which has since been rejected outright by Zelaya and decried by the International community. Despite its previous solidarity with the deposed President, the US has now agreed to recognize the new elections that are scheduled for November 29, with or without Zelaya's restitution. Why the change of heart for the Obama administration?

In our follow-up to The Honduran Coup: A Graphic History, which was published online at Alternet.org in October, we look at the situation on the ground in Honduras, examining the details of the proposed accord and the background realpolitik that led to the sudden change of heart in the US's stance. See the links below each page for their sources and corroborating evidence.

Read more: Honduras Coup, Roberto Micheletti, Honduras Zelaya, Honduras, Slideshow, Roberto Micheletti Honduras, Graphic Novels, World News

Rains Soak Pilgrims At Islam's Hajj (PHOTOS)

2009-11-25T12:30:16Z
(AP) JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia -- The heaviest rain to hit Islam's annual hajj pilgrimage in years soaked the faithful and flooded the road to Mecca, snarling traffic as millions of Muslims headed for the holy sites. The downpours add an extra hazard on top of intense concerns about the spread of swine flu.

Pilgrims in white robes holding umbrellas, some wearing face masks for fear of the flu, circled the black cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca, the opening rite for the hajj.

But the shrine -- Islam's holiest site -- and the nearby, rain-soaked streets did not see the usual massive, pushing crowds, because many tried to stay inside nearby hotels or were caught in the traffic jams heading into the city.

Mecca and the nearby Red Sea coastal city of Jiddah often see heavy rains during the winter months, and Wednesday's were unusually strong, swamping Jiddah with 2.76 inches of rain, more than it gets in a year on average, according to weather officials.

They were the heaviest in years to coincide with the four-day hajj. Already jammed traffic was worsened -- with a jam of cars as long as 20 miles (35 kilometers) on the partially closed road from Jiddah to Mecca, and some pilgrims and journalists were trapped in Jiddah.

The rains could also exacerbate the hajj's perennial dangers. The rites -- a lifetime dream for Muslims, who come to cleanse their sins -- are always a logistical nightmare, as a population the size of a small city moves between Mecca and holy sites in the nearby desert over the course of four days.

In the past, the rites have been plagued by deadly crushes caused by congestion as the unimaginable crowds perform the rituals. In 2006, all it took was a piece of luggage dropped by one person to trip up others and cause a pile-up that killed more than 360 people.

A slippery, rain-slicked street could be equally deadly -- and with the main rites due to begin outside Mecca on Thursday, Saudi authorities urged those arriving at the holy sites to move cautiously and not to rush.

This year has brought the added worry that the massing of more than 3 million people from around the world could bring a swine flu outbreak. In the past months, the Saudi government has been working with the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to set up clinics and precautionary measures to stem any outbreak.

Shahul Ebrahim, a consultant from the Atlanta, Georgia-based CDC at the hajj, said it was too early to tell if the rains could exacerbate the spread of H1N1, which is transmitted in the air, not by water.

"Rain can lead to other waterborne diseases ... But we still don't know how it will effect H1N1. We can't predict," he told The Associated Press.

Hassan El Bushra, an epidemiologist in the Cairo office of the World Health Organization, said "there is no evidence that this will cause any kind of spread, including the spread of swine flu." It could even be beneficial if it means crowds are smaller, he said.

So far, four pilgrims have died from the H1N1 virus since arriving in Saudi Arabia in recent days, and 67 others have been diagnosed with the virus, Saudi Health Minister Abdullah al-Rabeeah told the Arab news network Al-Jazeera English.

Signs at the airport and around the holy sites urge the faithful to cover their faces when they cough, wash their hands often and wear a mask. The swine flu vaccine is given free at the airport for those who want it. More than 100 clinics have been set up at holy sites, and large supplies of Tamiflu and other anti-flu medications are on hand.

The crowds provide a perfect environment for swine flu's spread, said Ebrahim. "We are expecting there to be seven people standing in one square meter (square yard) at any given time during prayers, and this is very dangerous for airborne diseases like swine flu," he said.

"There is no personal space," he said. "Ideally you should be one meter (yard) away from someone to avoid catching the disease."

So far, traffic jams were the worst result from the rains, as pilgrims in convoys and on foot struggled to get to some of the sites, which are miles apart. In Mecca, they rushed around puddles for shelter under concrete overhangs.

During the rainy months of November through January, heavy downpours often swamp neighborhoods in Mecca and Jiddah because of poor drainage.

Moreover, Mecca is deep in a mountainous desert valley, so even a short, intense rain can cause dangerous flash flooding. Over the centuries, the Kaaba has had to be repaired several times because of damage from flooding.

The hajj occurs according to Islam's lunar calendar, so it rotates through the year. Since 2004, when it has taken place during the rainy winter months, it hasn't been hit by storms heavy enough to hamper the rites.

For about two decades before that, it took place in blazing summer months in which no rains fall. One Saudi in his 30s on Wednesday said he couldn't remember such hajj rains in his lifetime.

Civil Defense spokesman Maj. Abdullah al-Harthi said his organization has plans ready to deal with flooding, including 300 buses to evacuate people if necessary. He said no casualties have been reported from the rains, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

One lane of the main road into Mecca was closed by flooding, reducing it to one lane, said Amer al-Amer, an Interior Ministry spokesman. "It cannot handle the pressure of all the people coming from outside Mecca," he said, adding that it would cause delays of several hours for people trying to reach the sites.

The crowds are expected to exceed last year, when some 3 million attended, al-Amer told AP.

Streets were flooded in Jiddah, the entry point for many coming for the rites. They were making their way to Mecca to perform the circling of the Kaaba and to the nearby desert valley of Mina, where a sprawling tent city has been set up for them to live in.

Water covered the floors in many of the tents, said Suleiman Hamad, a 29-year-old pilgrim in Mina. He said the scene was "muddy, but manageable," with many throwing blankets over their heads when they walked outside.

Rain fell sporadically throughout the day, and stopped by late afternoon in many sites -- though it continued to fall in Mecca. Al-Amer and other authorities were optimistic that flooded areas would dry by evening.

On Thursday, the mass will flock to Mount Arafat, a plateau outside Mecca where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his farewell sermon. They then proceed to Mina, where over the next three days they perform a rite stoning three stone walls in a symbolic rejection of the devil.

Read more: Hajj Rain, Islam, Hajj Photos, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Hajj, Hajj Pilgrimage, Slideshow, World News

Microsoft's Holiday Window Taken Over By Mac Lovers (PHOTOS)

2009-11-25T12:09:21Z
In an effort to promote its new software, Microsoft teamed up with New York's Saks Fifth Avenue store to help build Windows 7-powered holiday windows and to create a PC-themed lounge for shoppers.

Unfortunately for Microsoft, Mac lovers have usurped part of the Saks Fifth Avenue window display and are using it to promote Apple, and put-down Windows.

Here's how:

The Saks windows, which were inspired by scenes from the kids' book "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Flake," also feature a live Twitter feed that displays a stream of real-time Tweets tagged with the hashtag "#holidaywindows."

The Twitter feed was intended for customers to share their holiday wishes on the Microsoft-sponsored 50th street window.

Mac-loving Twitterers, however, have been using the hashtag to Tweet out how much they adore Apple products, to criticize Microsoft, and to point out Windows' flaws.

These posts are all displayed, very publicly, on the Windows 7 holiday Windows right off of Manhattan's Fifth Avenue.

See the screenshot below for an example of what's been said about "#holidaywindows", and follow the Twitter feed below for more real-time updates.

And from Gizmodo:

See photos of Microsoft's Windows 7 holiday display at Saks below.

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Read more: Saks Fifth Avenue Window, Slidepoll, Mac, Microsoft, Apple, Microsoft Windows Holiday, Windows 7 Saks, Mac Microsoft, Windows 7, Microsoft Saks, Microsoft Saks Holiday, #Holidaywindows, Mac Saks Window, Saks Holiday Window, Saks Holiday, Technology News

Obama Administration Resignations: 10 People Who Quit

2009-11-25T11:20:39Z
Phil Carter, Obama's top detainee affairs policy appointee at the Pentagon, announced his resignation on Tuesday. He's not the first person to abruptly quit the new White House. Check out our slideshow -- and vote for who you wish had stayed and who you're happy to see gone.

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Read more: Slidepoll, Obama Resignations, White House Reisgnations, Obama White House Resignations, Obama Administration Resignations, Politics News

10 Non-Dysfunctional Family Books

2009-11-25T10:36:00Z
Last week, we looked ahead to Thanksgiving with the family by showing you that yours is not the only crazy family out there. Sooner or later, we had to become a little more earnest, so today, as we're on the eve of turkey dinners, we asked for suggestions that give us, well, a little more love for the holidays. With a few exceptions, most of the books with a happy family theme are aimed at children. Life just gets more complicated as we get older.

We'd love to hear the titles you come up with as well. Send them in using the Participate button below!

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Read more: Oprah Book Club, Dysfunctional Families, Little House on the Prairie, Books, Thanksgiving, Slidepoll, Bestsellers, Thanksgiving Books, Berenstein Bears, Children's Books, Middlesex, Family Books, Kids' Books, To Kill a Mockingbird, Family, Books News

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons: Which Is Your Favorite? (PHOTOS)

2009-11-25T09:01:54Z
Turkey, sweet potatoes, football and... Snoopy?

That's right, nothing says "Thanksgiving" quite like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Americans all across the country will spend Thursday morning watching Big Bird, SpongeBob Squarepants, Shrek, and many more of their favorite characters float through the streets of New York in celebration of the holiday.

Which beloved behemoth balloon is your favorite?

Read more: Thanksgiving Floats, Macy's, Slidepoll, Holidays, Best Floats, Macy's Parade, Holiday Season, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thanksgiving Parade New York, Photos, Pictures, New York News

New Deep Sea Species Discovered (PHOTOS)

2009-11-25T08:51:06Z
A see-through sea cucumber, a "big eared" octopus-like animal, a "gold treasure" crustacean, and more are among the many new deep-dwellers collected during an ongoing marine census.

Check out these amazing images courtesy of the Census of Marine Life -- Captions by our friends The National Geographic News Editors.

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Read more: Slideshow, Fish, Animals, Oceans, Acquatic-Life, Slidehuge, Slidepoll, Grimpoteuthis Discoveryi, Sea Cucumber, New Marine Animals, Copepod, Enypniastes, Neocyema, Green News

State Dinner Arrivals PHOTOS: Who Was Best-Dressed? (PICTURES, POLL, VIDEO)

2009-11-25T08:46:57Z
The red carpet was rolled out in Washington on Tuesday night as President and First Lady Obama welcomed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur for their first official White House state dinner. Check out photos of state dinner guests as they arrived, and vote for who you thought was best-dressed! And read more about Michelle Obama's dress.

Check out our State Dinner Big News page and follow the state dinner LIVE on Twitter!

WATCH:

Pooler Nia-Malika Henderson of POLITICO offered some style superlatives:

Pooler stood patiently for two hours and saw State Dinner arrivals in booksellers area, and there was too much fabulousness to describe in detail here. So here are the greatest moments and a few broad details.

Lots of saris tonight (and probably one too many pantsuits according to some witnesses who will not be named here), and lots of people who didn't quite get the "stand here and pose" thing down.

Best Sari goes to Semonti Stephens who wore one of the dresses from her Spring wedding. A red number with gold jewelry from Calcutta.

Best Wardrobe malfunction goes to Bob Casey whose cumberband slithered from his waist to the floor.

Best Look goes to Speaker Nancy Pelosi who when Robin Givhan asked her "Is your gown Armani?"...Pelosi shot her a disapproving stare and rolled her eyes a bit--i.e. Pelosi to Givhan: Drop Dead. (No answer to Givhan's follow up question which was "What was that look?!")

Biggest Celebs: Steven Spielberg, Alfre Woodard and Blair Underwood (together but not an item). Also, fyi, some stars are shorter, more wrinkled, not as hot in person. Underwood. Hotter.

Honorable mention for biggest star: Gayle King, sans bff Oprah Winfrey.

Best Dressed Billionaire: Mayor Michael Bloomberg sporting red bow tie.

Best attempt at self-deprecation goes to NBC's Brian Williams who strolled in before movie mogul David Geffen, said "hello press," and then: "I grew up a busboy in New Jersey so I have to resist the urge to clean up."

Best random uttering about a guest: Oh my god, a real housewife! (See Real Housewives of DC for more info)....

Best shout out to colleague: Helene Cooper "Tom Friedman you better stop!"

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Read more: Michelle Obama, Photos From State Dinner, White House State Dinner Pics, State Dinner Photo, Slidepoll, White House State Dinner Photos, White House State Dinner Pictures, State Dinner Pictures, State Dinner Pics, India State Dinner, Photos State Dinner, State Dinner Arrivals Photos, White House State Dinner, Pictures of State Dinner, State Dinner, State Dinner Photos, Photos of State Dinner, State Dinner Arrivals, Pictures State Dinner, State Dinner Red Carpet, Pictures From State Dinner, Michelle Obama Style, Obama State Dinner Arrivals, Style News

Turkey Pardon Photos: Presidents And Turkeys (PHOTOS)

2009-11-25T08:12:43Z
On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the annual Presidential Pardon takes place for one turkey in a ceremony planned for the Rose Garden. Check out these amazing images of presidents pardoning turkeys throughout history, and don't forget to pick your favorite.

From more images from LIFE.com, click here.

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Read more: life.com, Presidential Turkey Pardons, Presidential Turkeys, Presidents and Turkeys, Turkeys, Slidepoll, Green News

The CRAZIEST Black Friday Mob Scenes (VIDEO, POLL)

2009-11-25T08:11:04Z
The spectacle of Black Friday -- the day when consumers anxiously amass in poorly managed crowds outside chain stores to vie for discounted laptops, video game consoles, and toys, all in the spirit the holiday season -- is nearly upon us.

We previously showed you some of the best deals at those unavoidable bigbox retailers. (In case you haven't noticed, you actually can save a ton of money shopping on Black Friday.)

But to prepare you to venture out into the throng of ravenous bargain hunters, we've collected video of some of the most disturbing and hilarious mob scenes in recent Black Friday history.

If you have your own favorite footage of Black Friday madness -- or if you spot any shopping hysteria this week -- send it our way (email: huffposbiz-at-gmail-dot-com) and we'll add it to this list.

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Read more: Black Friday Shopping, Black Friday, Wal-Mart Stampede, Slidepoll, Walmart Death, Black Friday Stampede, Walmart Stampede, Black Friday 2009, Business News

State Dinner PICTURES, Details: Inside The White House Gala (PHOTOS)

2009-11-24T22:10:40Z
Check out our State Dinner Big News page

WASHINGTON - The first state dinner of the Obama White House had it all: Oscar-winning entertainers, Hollywood moguls, a knockout guest chef and even a wardrobe malfunction. Traditional evening gowns vied with saris of vibrant colors Tuesday night at the high-glitz dinner in honor of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. There were turbans and bindis as well as diamonds and brocades.

"Everyone looks great; we're feeling great," White House social secretary Desiree Rogers told a phalanx of cameras as she arrived, betraying no hint of nerves at the biggest social event of the Obama presidency.

First lady Michelle Obama had been a little more forthcoming earlier in the day when she described the trick to pulling off the event as sort of like being a swan: calm and serene above the water but "paddling like mad, going crazy underneath."

The 338-person guest list was a mix of wonky Washington, Hollywood A-listers, prominent figures from the Indian community in the U.S., and Obama friends, family and campaign donors.

Attorney General Eric Holder patted his pocket as he arrived and said his kids had prepped him with all sorts of questions for tablemate Steven Spielberg. U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, asked who she was most looking forward to chatting with, ventured, "I'd have to name four." Then didn't.

Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania had to scramble when his ensemble went rogue at just the wrong moment: His cummerbund dropped to the floor just as he and his wife stopped to pose before a scrum of about 40 reporters and photographers.

Alfre Woodard and Blair Underwood provided the celebrity quotient, but neither could come up with a connection to India. Underwood said he was there because of Woodard. She said she was there because she's on the president's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

Dinner guests were treated to an eye-catching scheme of green and purple, from the green curry surrounding the prawns to the purple floral arrangements paying homage to the peacock, India's national bird.

Pumpkin was on the menu, too, with Tuesday's dinner coming just two days before Thanksgiving.

Hours before guests arrived and in keeping with tradition, Mrs. Obama previewed the glamorous table settings in the State Dining Room. That's often the venue for such dinners, but not this time.

Instead, in an effort to show Singh how much the U.S. values relations with his country, the Obamas decided to serve dinner in a huge white tent on the South Lawn, with views of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial through clear panels.

It wasn't your everyday tent: This one had chandeliers suspended from the ceiling and beige carpet on the floor.

President Barack Obama, in his dinner toast, said the setting conjured images of India, where special events are "often celebrated under the cover of a beautiful tent." Singh, in turn, told the president he was overwhelmed by the Obamas' hospitality and said the president's election last year had been an inspiration to millions of Indians.

Magnolia branches native to both India and the U.S. adorned the tent's inside walls, along with ivy and nandina foliage.

Guests were seated 10 apiece at round tables draped in green apple-colored cloths and napkins, offset by the sparkle of gold-colored flatware and china, including service and dinner plates from the Eisenhower, Clinton and George W. Bush settings.

Floral arrangements of hydrangeas, roses and sweet peas in plum, purple and fuschia evoked India's state bird.

Mrs. Obama brought in award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson of Aquavit, a Scandinavian restaurant in New York City, to help White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford and her staff prepare the largely vegetarian meal. Singh is a vegetarian.

Samuelsson said being chosen to help whip up dinner was both "overwhelming and humbling."

The culinary offerings included potato and eggplant salad, arugula from the White House garden, red lentil soup and roasted potato dumplings or green curry prawns. Pumpkin pie tart and pear tatin were for dessert; the pears were poached in honey from the White House beehive.

The entertainment lineup was stellar.

Singer-actress Jennifer Hudson and jazz vocalist and composer Kurt Elling, both Grammy Award winners from the Obamas' hometown of Chicago, were performing. Hudson also won an Academy Award for her role in "Dreamgirls." Indian musician and singer A.R. Rahman, who won two Academy Awards for the music in "Slumdog Millionaire," also was in the lineup.

Among the other guests: Hollywood moguls David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg. Guests with ties to India included spiritual adviser Deepak Chopra, director M. Night Shyamalan and PepsiCo chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi. Katie Couric of CBS News, Brian Williams of NBC News, Robin Roberts of ABC News and CNN Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta were among the media representatives invited. Oprah Winfrey was not on the list, but her best friend, Gayle King, was among the guests. Also there Obama friends Eric Whitaker and Martin Nesbitt, along with Obama's half sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, and her husband, Konrad; and Marian Robinson, the first lady's mother.

Every aspect of Tuesday's events was fraught with meaning and symbolism, from the flower colors to Mrs. Obama's clothing designers.

For the dinner, Mrs. Obama wore a sleeveless, gold and cream colored sheath dress with an overlay of silver and matching shawl by Indian-born designer Naeem Khan. At the State Dining Room event earlier in the day, the first lady wore a skirt by Rachel Roy, who is Indian.

The dinner also was a debut of sorts for florist Laura Dowling, who's been on the job less than a month.
Read more: Slidepoll, State Dinner, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, White House State Dinner, White House Dinner Pictures, India Dinner Photos, State Dinner Photos, White House Dinner Photos, State Dinner Pictures, India Dinner, Slideshow, Obama State Dinner Pictures, State Dinner Pics, Photos From State Dinner, White House State Dinner Pictures, Pictures From State Dinner, Michelle Obama, Obama State Dinner Photos, Picture of Table Setting for White House Dinner, White House Gala, Bob Casey Photo State Dinner, State Dinner Photos 2009, White House Dinner, White House Pictures, Photos of State Dinner, White House State Dinner Pics, Pictures From the State Dinner, Style News

Michelle Obama's State Dinner Dress By Naeem Khan (PHOTOS, POLL, VIDEO)

2009-11-24T20:50:57Z
Michelle Obama looked dazzling in a sleeveless gold dress and shawl as she and President Obama welcome Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Mrs. Gursharan Kaur for the first official state dinner on Tuesday night.

Mrs. Obama's dress was designed by Indian-American designer Naeem Khan.

Check out our State Dinner Big News page and follow the state dinner LIVE on Twitter!

WATCH:

FROM THE POOL REPORT:

The Obamas and the Indian prime minister and first lady pose for the official photo:

Pool was brought into the Grand Foyer at 7:17 p.m., after Prime Minister Singh and his wife, Gursharan Kaur arrived and were greeted by POTUS and FLOTUS on the North Portico (this was open press).

As pool waited in the Grand Foyer, the Marine Orchestra filled the room with music, including John Rutter's Suite for Strings (the first one) and a number called Fascinatin Rhythm, which sounded it had a touch of New Orleans in it.

Your pooler could hear laughter and chatter coming from at the top of the Grand Staircase - although not enough to make out what anyone said. A fire burned in a fireplace in the Green Room. White House staff and Secret Service were shuttling around in tuxedos and floor-length ball gowns.

Speaking of which, FLOTUS is wearing a strapless, floor-length, champagne-colored gown with silver detail by designer Indian-born designer Naeem Khan. Her hair is swept back and she is also wearing a bunch of churis, traditional sparkly Indian bangle bracelets. Kaur was wearing a black sari with red and gold trim.

At 7:37 p.m., some administration officials made their way down the Grand Staircase. Secretary Clinton was first, accompanied by someone your pooler did not recognize, following behind were Gen. Jim Jones, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden - who is wearing a gown by Lebanese designer Reem Acra - and Ambassador Rice, Ambassador Timothy Roemer. They all two-by-two walked into the Green Room.

Around 7:45 p.m. POTUS, FLOTUS, Singh and Kaur made their way down the red carpet lining Cross Hall. They came from the west side. The four of them stood in front of the doors to the Blue Room - from right to left: POTUS, Singh, FLOTUS, Kaur. POTUS and FLOTUS flashed broad smiles as the cameras rolled and photographers clicked, while Singh and Kaur were more plain-faced. They four of them then turned and entered the Blue Room.

Pool is now holding in the press file, waiting to be taken to the tent for toasts.

Carol Lee

POLITICO

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Read more: Naeem Khan, White House State Dinner, Michelle Obama, State Dinner, State Dinner Photos, White House State Dinner Photos, Slideshow, Poll, India State Dinner, Who Designed Michelle Obama's State Dinner Dress, Michelle Obama Style, Michelle Obama State Dinner Dress, Michelle Obama Pictures, First Lady, Style News

Thanksgiving Volunteering: How To Give Back To Your Colorado Community

2009-11-24T17:25:09Z
In the spirit of giving thanks, many people spend their Thanksgiving Thursdays volunteering or serving meals to the needy, and Colorado residents are no different. We have a plethora of non-profit charities that have opportunities for people to volunteer their time with, especially this time of year.

Below are some ways to volunteer your time, or give back to your community this holiday season in the Denver-metro area. But we also want to know what you're doing to give back this Thanksgiving.

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Read more: Slidepoll, Rock Bottom Brewery, Boulder Valley Humane Society, Denver Rescue Mission, Thanksgiving, 16th Street Mall, Food Banks, Denver, Turkey Trot, Denver News

Capture The Recession: Best Of The Best (SLIDESHOW)

2009-11-24T15:10:38Z
Tough times can inspire lasting images, and the HuffPost's Eyes & Ears has compiled the most evocative recession pictures around in our Capture the Recession series. This slideshow offers the best of the best--the most striking photos from all our previous posts.

You can check out the entire collection of recession photos in our Capture the Recession Flickr group pool.

You can also take a look at previous slideshow installments here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

And upload your own recession photos below:

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Read more: Slidepoll, Photos, Capture the Recession, Video, Homelessness, Foreclosure, Recession, Eyes and Ears, Business News

Gadhimai Festival (PHOTOS): Mass Animal Sacrifice Begins In Nepal

2009-11-24T14:37:16Z
(AP) BARIYAPUR, Nepal -- The ceremony began with prayers in a temple by tens of thousands of Hindus before dawn Tuesday. Then it shifted to a nearby corral, where in the cold morning mist, scores of butchers wielding curved swords began slaughtering buffalo calves by hacking off their heads.

Over two days, 200,000 buffaloes, goats, chickens and pigeons will be killed as part of a blood-soaked festival held every five years to honor Gadhimai, a Hindu goddess of power.

While cows are sacred and protected by law in Nepal, animal sacrifice has a long history in this overwhelmingly Hindu country and parts of neighboring India. The Bariyapur festival has become so big, in part, because such ceremonies have been banned in many areas in the neighboring Indian state of Bihar.

And while it is criticized by animal-rights protesters, the festival is defended as a centuries-old tradition.

WARNING: GRAPHIC PHOTOS

Many Nepalis believe that sacrifices in Gadhimai's honor will bring them prosperity. They also believe that by eating the meat, which is taken back to their villages and consumed during feasts, they will be protected from evil.

Taranath Gautam, the top government official in the area, estimated that more than 200,000 people had come for the ceremony in Bariyapur, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Katmandu. Some brought their own animals to sacrifice.

"I am here with my mother who had promised the goddess she would sacrifice a goat. It was her wish and promise and I am glad we were able to fulfill it," said Pramod Das, a farmer from the nearby village of Sarlahi. "I believe now my mother's wishes will come true."

Animal rights groups don't have much power in Nepal, but they have staged repeated protests in recent weeks. Local news reports say some activists set up stands in towns on the way to the Bariyapur temple, offering Hindu pilgrims coconuts and other fruits to sacrifice instead of animals.

There was no sign of them Tuesday.

"We were unable to stop the animal sacrifices this year but we will continue our campaign to stop killings during this festival," said Pramada Shah of the group Animals Nepal.

The ceremony, which goes back for generations, has enormous resonance in a country where per capital income is about $25 a month, illiteracy is widespread and vast social divides have left millions working as tenant farmers for feudal landlords.

Even many educated Nepalis see value in the tradition.

Om Prasad, a banker from the nearby city of Birgunj, brought offerings of fruit and flowers to the festival, but said he believed people should be able to sacrifice animals if they want.

"It is their tradition and it is fine if they continue to follow it. No one should try to tell them they can't follow what their ancestors did," he said.

Experts say it will take many more years before there are changes in these deeply rooted traditions.

"They continue these animal sacrifice rituals because they believe it is a tradition that can't be broken," said Ram Bahadur Chetri, an anthropology professor at Katmandu's Tribhuwan University. "The people who follow these traditions believe that if they discontinue, then the gods will get angry and there could be catastrophe in the country."

Buffaloes, goats, chicken and ducks are sacrificed at most Hindu homes in Nepal during the Dasain festivals, which fell in September this year.

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Michelle Obama Talks History, Protocol Of State Visits; Repeats J. Crew Cardigan (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

2009-11-24T14:09:28Z
On Tuesday afternoon Michelle Obama, White House Curator William Allman and Tanya Turner, Protocol Officer for the Visits Division at the U.S. Department of State spoke about the history and protocol of state and official visits and state dinners from the White House State Dining Room.

Check out our State Dinner Big News page and follow the state dinner LIVE on Twitter!

The first lady wore the same sparkly J. Crew cardigan she wore for her visit to 10 Downing Street in April. She wore a pencil skirt by Rachel Roy.

Mrs. Obama was also hosting young women from the White House Leadership and Mentoring Program. After she spoke, the group sat down to eat.

WATCH:

FULL REMARKS:

REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY

AT INDIAN STATE DINNER PRESS PREVIEW

State Dining Room

2:00 P.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA: Thank you. Welcome, everyone. How are you all doing? It's good to see you.

Well, as Desiree mentioned, this is a very exciting time here at the White House and we are just excited to welcome all of you. We've got a big day going on -- this is our first official state visit of the Obama administration. It's very exciting for us.

And today the President is welcoming and working with India's Prime Minister Singh. And this evening, tonight the President and I are going to be hosting our first state dinner -- and we're hosting for the Prime Minister and his wife, Mrs. Kaur, who we met earlier today.

So one of the things we thought -- and I don't know about all of you -- is whether you wonder, what are these state dinners all about and these state visits? Because when I was your age I didn't know what they were doing. So we thought it would be fun to take a little time to expose you to what's going to happen today and this evening. So that's why you are all here today and we're really excited to have you.

These state visits and dinners are a really important part of our nation's diplomacy. Throughout history, they've given U.S. presidents -- and the American people -- the opportunity to make important milestones in foreign relations. So these dinners and events are really critical to what we do internationally. And they've helped build stronger ties with nations as well as people around the world. That's what President Obama and Prime Minister Singh are doing today.

And I know that all of us on our team here at the West Wing and the East Wing, we wish that we could include many, many more people in today's events and this evening's events because it's not often that you get to do this. But even with a house like the White House, there's only so many people that we can invite. So one of the ways that First Ladies in the past have tried to include the broader public in on what's going on is by holding these types of events where we invite the press to share some of the incredible behind-the-scenes work that goes into planning and pulling off this amazing day.

But today we're also doing something a little different by having you all here. As our mentees know, one of the things we've talked about that the President and I have tried to do is really open up this White House to our neighbors here in Washington, D.C., especially to local students and to children in our community. Because what we know is that even though many of you guys live just a few minutes, maybe a little bit away from here -- but you're close -- these events probably seem like they're miles and miles away, like they're just untouchable.

So that's why we really tried to think about ways to include kids in the community all throughout today's event. At the opening ceremonies today we invited about 50 students from local schools to attend the welcoming event. And that's why we're so happy to have you guys here with us today. And for those of you who don't know, these girls are a part of our young women who participate in the White House Leadership and Mentoring Program. And we're really thrilled to have you guys here, because this is your White House and we want you to be a part of what we do here.

So, how do we get this stuff done? The President and I are going to host this really neat dinner outside in the tent. But we describe it, it's sort of like a swan, where we're kind of calm and serene above water -- but we're paddling like mad, going crazy underneath, trying to look smooth. But there's a lot of work that goes into making this happen and we have a lot of people who are helping to put it together. And it takes everyone at the White House and the State Department and the Military Office who've worked so hard to put all of the events together today -- the guest list, the invitations, the place settings that you see here, you've got to figure out who sits where -- all that fun stuff.

It takes all the folks in the kitchen -- we have our incredible White House Chef Cris Comerford -- who some of you guy met -- and the rest of our kitchen staff. And tonight, we're going to include a guest chef tonight, a gentleman by the name of Marcus Samuellson -- and he's one of the finest chefs in the country, who is going to cook the dinner this evening. Cris, Marcus and our kitchen staff are working on a wonderful menu tonight that you'll be able to share in a little bit. It's going to showcase the best of American cooking. It's going to include the freshest ingredients from area farmers and purveyors. And because of all of the hard work of some other kids in the community, we've got this wonderful White House kitchen garden out in the South Lawn and we're going to use some of the herbs from that garden in tonight's dinner as well.

But there's also more to the dinner than just the food, even though that's going to be exciting. Dinners like these also need great entertainment. So who do we have tonight? We've got someone you guys probably know a lot about: Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson is going to sing tonight -- yay! But also have A.R. Rahman. He's also an Oscar winner and he helped create some of the music for the film "Slumdog Millionaire." I don't know if you guys got to see that movie -- incredible movie. We're also going to have Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Kurt Elling, who's a Chicago hometown guy and we're pleased to have him. And we're also going to have the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Marvin Hamlisch, who's one of the greatest composers in this country.

So it's going to be an incredible night for a lot of our guests. And in just a few minutes, you're going to hear a little bit more about the whole process of state visits and dinners from White House Historian, Bill Allman. He's going to give you a little bit of the background to how these things have worked in the past. And you're also going to hear about the importance of protocol from Tanya Turner, who is a protocol officer from the State Department. And protocol is critical -- protocol, how you stand, how you sit, who walks where -- all of that is really important. So Tanya is going to share with us how all that works and how we think about it.

But before I turn it over to them, I just want to take a few moments to share with everyone here also why today means so much to me, personally.

As you've seen from this year, I have been on the other side of these visits and dinners -- as a guest in many countries. Since becoming First Lady, I've had the opportunity to visit eight countries with my husband, the President. And in each and every country, during each and every visit, I have been moved by the warmth and gracious hospitality that our hosts and the citizens of the countries that we visited have extended to the President and to me.

It means a great deal when you're visiting and your hosts make you feel like you're at home, like they're excited to see you. It means the world.

Each visit has also been unique and profound in its own way. It's not just the pomp and circumstances and the lights and the cameras and the fancy dresses. But when we've gone to other countries we've done some incredible things. We've seen the Jewish Quarter in Prague; we visited the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican; we've been to the Coliseum in Rome; and the American Cemetery on the beaches of Normandy in France, where the world comes to honor the brave soldiers who died there.

These places are more than just monuments to history, truly. They compel us to see the world through a broader lens -- not just from your own backyard or your school or your neighborhood -- but they teach us to look at the world broadly and to look at our place in it in a different way; to respect and admire each other's culture and traditions in a very different way; and to honor all the values and the interests we have in common across the world.

You see this not in the pomp and circumstances, but in the people that you meet. We've met tons of incredible people over the course of our trips: the children, and the nuns who care for them, at a beautiful orphanage that I visited in Russia; young girls, girls just like many of you, that I got to spend some time with in London at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, it was an amazing day; the nurses in the maternal health clinic in Ghana, in Africa, that we got to see.

See, all these people -- you know, the children, these caretakers, the girls, their teachers, these nurses and mothers that you've seen, that we met -- what you learn is that they all want the same things as you do, as we do. Folks around the world, they want to live in peace; they want to pursue their dreams just like you guys do -- and they have big, huge dreams just like you; and they hope for a brighter future for the next generation, just like we hope for you. Doesn't matter where you're from -- these dreams are the same.

So what we figure out from these visits is that all across the world -- non matter what our religions or races are -- that we are all building that future together. And building that future is not just the job of any one country alone. No one country can do it by themselves. It's the responsibility of all our countries all over the world to work together. And that's why the President has worked so hard to begin what he's called a new era in our relations with the world and other countries. He's worked to strengthen diplomacy. He's worked to renew old alliances, so that we're talking differently with countries and people that we haven't talked to before. He's building new partnerships -- and these partnerships he hopes will be based on mutual trust and respect.

But one of the things that the President has said is that this new era of engagement can't just be between governments -- you know, it's not just about the presidents and prime ministers getting along. This new era of engagement also has to be between the people -- the diplomats, the business leaders, the scientists, the health care workers. And yes, the teachers and the students. Young people just like you are a part of building that future and that engagement, the ability to exchange with one another as young people as you are is critical.

And that's why the President, when he goes to another country he makes it a point to visit and to speak with students all around the world -- whether he was in Europe or Cairo or China -- he always reaches out to young people. And we need to expand that type of educational exchange, so that students like all of you here have the opportunity to experience and learn from other cultures -- and to share your own culture, however unique and different, with other parts of the world.

Deepening these ties is one of the things that the President and the Prime Minister are working on today, one of the reasons for the trip and the state dinner is for these leaders to work together -- whether it's along the lines of working on the economy or climate change or global health -- they know that young people like you, students, our future leaders are among America's greatest ambassadors and India's greatest ambassadors as well. In fact, India sends more students to study in this country than any other country -- this year alone more than 100,000 students from India came here to America to study somewhere.

So by doing that they learn from us, and we learn from them in a very fundamental way. And as a result of those interactions, we're all the richer for it. And after today's visit, we'll hopefully expand these exchanges even more. And who knows, maybe one of you all sitting at this table, one of our little mentees, will be living and studying somewhere in India -- maybe New Delhi or Mumbai or Bangalore. Just imagine that, start thinking about your future in that way. This visit at this table is the beginning of that for all of you. Because, again, governments alone can't build the future that we want for the world. That's the job for each and every one of us.

So that's one of the lessons for today. It's our job -- and that's one of the lessons of the relationship between the United States and India.

Back when the President was a senator, he kept a picture of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of India, in his office. And it was before he was a senator, he was always a big supporter and admirer of Gandhi, because Gandhi inspired so many people -- in India and all around the world -- with his example of dignity and tolerance and peace. And with a simple call, Gandhi would say: To be the change we wish to see in the world -- we are that change. We are that change.

So again, today is a celebration of the great ties between the world's two largest democracies -- that's the United States and that's India. But it's also an opportunity to deepen those ties -- and a reminder to be the change that each of us seeks -- whether that's in your home or in your school or in your community or in your country, you are all the change that we need.

So I'll stop lecturing and I will now turn it over to Bill and to Tanya, who will talk a bit more about the history and protocol. And then we get to test out some of the food.

So again, we are proud to see you, happy to see you. We're going to see you again in December, because we're going to do some more fun stuff. I know we have three new mentees here. Can you guys, the new mentees, raise your hands? I see some new faces. Welcome. It's good to have you. We're going to have a lot of fun. Just ignore them, pretend that they're not here. (Laughter.) And I'll turn it over to Bill. Thank you guys, so much.

END 2:15 P.M. EST

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Read more: Rachel Roy, White House State Dinner, Michelle Obama, State Dinner, Michelle Obama J. Crew, History of State Dinners, White House Leadership and Mentoring Program, Desiree Rogers, J. Crew, Michelle Obama State Dinner, Slideshow, Michelle Obama Rachel Roy, Michelle Obama Style, Style News

Jose Antonio Vargas: Anatomy (and Meaning) of the "Did You Know?" Video Series (VIDEOS, PHOTOS)

2009-11-24T12:00:07Z
Yes, technology is revolutionizing politics, from raising money through online donors to organizing and mobilizing supporters using Facebook and text messaging. Yes, technology is impacting businesses big and small, particularly how they pitch and sell their products in such a fragmented, almost ADD digital marketplace.

But most importantly of all, the onslaught of new technologies -- cell phones, video games, social networking sites, the Wikipediazation of information, the reach of YouTube and Skype, you name it -- have ushered a seismic shift in education: how our kids learn, how our teachers teach, how curriculum is shaped and presented, how individual students, powered by technology, process and experience what they're learning.

It's this shift, an education earthquake of sorts, that prompted Karl Fisch, formerly a math teacher and now the technology coordinator at Arapahoe High School, just outside Denver, to create the slideshow "Did You Know?" That was in August 2006. What happened next, within three years, illustrates the very nature of what I've called our evolving "Clickocracy": one nation under Google, with video and e-mail for all.

First, Fisch posted original slideshow on his own blog. It quickly fired up the education blogosphere of which Fisch, a long-time teacher, is one of the earliest pioneers. A few months later, he got an e-mail from Scott McLeod, then an instructor at the University of Minnesota and now an associate professor of educational administration at Iowa State University -- if you want to be a principal of superintendent, contact McLeod. McLeod loved the slideshow but also wanted to tweak it a bit, shave off about half a minute, jazz it up with photos and do a video, which he then posted on his own blog.

Then the mash-ups, the remixes, the parodies, the re-uploads on video sharing sites like Glumbert.org and Break.com came pouring in. The design company XPLANE contacted Fisch and McLeod and wanted to create a 2.0 version of the video, complete with animation -- for free.

A year later, Sony BMG Music Entertainment got wind of the video and wanted to create their version of it for an annual meeting of their executives in Rome. (This explains, by the way, one of the last frames in the video, highlighting how many songs are illegally downloaded within the 5-minute presentation.)

This fall, The Economist contacted Fisch and McLeod. They, too, created a new version, which they presented at their Media Convergence Forum last month -- "convergence" being one of the biggest and most overused buzz words in media.

Altogether, Fisch and McLeod estimate that the videos -- shown in business and education conferences, still spreading on video sharing sites -- have been viewed about 25 million times. That's probably a conservative estimate. On YouTube alone, there are dozens of "Did You Know"-related videos, with tags such as "shift happens," "education," "workforce," "globalization" and "visual thinking." The versions have changed. From 2006 to 2007, MySpace was the dominant social network; not so in 2009.

The video series "has become one of the more popular anthems on YouTube for the impact that technological progress is having on society," Steve Grove, YouTube's news and politics editor, told HuffPostTech. "This It's makes you simultaneously think, 'Man, how can we keep up with all of this?', and 'Man, I'm excited to be living in a world with this much possibility.' It spurns more versions and more mash-ups and more discussion."

Added David Weinberger, a fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School and co-author of the prescient book The Cluetrain Manifesto, which was published in 2000 and foresaw how the social, networked Web would change human relationships: "In some ways, it's a shock video to tell people who are in denial about all the changes we've been going through. It's using a very tried and true and traditional technique: presenting quantitative facts that are surprising. We are shocked by the quantitative facts, the sheer scale of the changes, that have happened in such a relatively short period of time."

It's been a decade of tremendous technological turmoil -- and for many "turmoil," as defined by Merriam-Webster, has literally meant "confusion," "agitation" and "commotion." But it's also been a decade of creativity and experimentation that will continually define our technological reality. This is the decade that gave us YouTube and Twitter, which is flexing the "me" in "media" in ways that "legacy" organizations (newspapers, magazines, TV networks) are still struggling to understand; the decade that saw the expansion of the Apple and its "i" brand (iMac, iPod, iPhone, soon-to-be iTablet), emphasizing your individual relationship with your gadgets; the decade that saw video games and interactive entertainment ("Grand Theft Auto," "Spore," etc.) push the boundaries of what we deem art; the decade that saw the birth of Friendster (remember that?), the rise and fall and re-branding of MySpace, the staggering growth of Facebook. With more than 300 million users, Facebook is a country of its own. As Mashable reported earlier this month, Facebook grew by 25 million users from Sept. 15 to Nov. 6. If you do the math, as Mashable's Ben Parr did, that's a daily growth rate of 471,698 users. "That's a small city joining Facebook every single day," Parr wrote.

But this is not about Facebook -- only time and the marketplace can dictate how that company moves forward. At bottom this is about living in what Fisch and McLeod have called "exponential times" and what its inevitable impact is inside and outside our classrooms. In six of the most striking slides in the video's Version 3.0 -- the one that Sony BMG showed to its executives and ends with the question "So what does it all mean?" -- Fisch and McLeod wrote: "The top 10 in-demand jobs in 2010. . . did not exist in 2004. . . We are currently preparing students for jobs that don't yet exist. . . using technologies that haven't been invented. . . in order to solve problems we don't even know are problems yet."

McLeod, a former 8th grade teacher and a father of three, has shown the video (and its different versions) to various groups. In a phone interview, the 41-year-old McLeod told me: "When you show some version of the video to corporate people, like the folks at Sony, they nod their heads and say, 'yeah, this is the challenge we're dealing with.' When you show it to kids, to students, they nod their nods and say, 'yeah, we've been waiting for you to catch up, we've been living through all of this.' When you show it to educators, as often as not, the predominant reaction is withdrawal. They retreat like a turtle to its shell. Not all of them. But a lot of them. It's too much. It's too overwhelming. They don't know what to do with it. This is our challenge."

And it's the challenge that keeps Fisch, the technology coordinator at Arapahoe High School, on his toes. Like McLeod, he, too, is a father -- to 9-year-old Abby, currently in 4th grade. How will Abby learn in 5 years, in 10, when she's in college? As technology coordinator, his is a multifaceted job. He provides technical support for the campus and also curriculum support, helping teachers understand the inevitable pitfalls and great promise of new technologies. "I began to get ideas of how perhaps these technological changes could help us better meet the individual needs of students, and how it might allow them to take more control over their own learning and pursue their passions," Fisch, 45, told me over the phone.

As I listened to Fisch and typed my notes, I instinctly put these phrases in bold: "individual needs of students"; "take control of their own learning"; and "pursue their passions." In my years attending American public schools in Silicon Valley -- first in Crittenden Middle School, down the street from Google's headquarters, then in Mountain View High School, not too far from the offices of Apple and Facebook -- I felt almost threatened by the rigorous standardized testing, which grew more and more constant as years passed. (I had it good then; I graduated from Mountain View High in 2000.) I was so scared of tests -- and how they determined my aptitude (or lack thereof) -- that while I took courses preparing for the SATs, I was too scared to actually take the real SATs. Thankfully, my GPA was high enough that San Francisco State University, where I chose to go to college, didn't need my SAT scores. And I was fortunate that throughout my years in public schools, numerous teachers and school administrators took the time and energy to get to know me (as an individual) and see beyond tests and numbers (and through my passion for writing).

In restrospect, I wasn't just fortunate -- I was really, really lucky. And I think of the students in classrooms now -- cell phones in their pockets and purses, their Facebook and MySpace pages serving as real-time journals -- and their individual needs and individual passions. Like Fisch, a flood of questions come rushing by, some of which are:

* What does it mean to literate in the 21st century? In an expanding Web fueled by online videos, how important is it for students to be "viderate" -- video literate? It's a term coined by Andrew Rasiej, one of the leading thinkers in technology culture. Is it time that we require students to pass a Media Literacy course before graduating from high school, like Civics, like P.E.? Maybe even start it at middle school?

* Are we teaching students about their digital footprints? The positive and negative effects of what they post on their Facebook pages, what they forward in e-mail chains, the kind of videos and images they pass around on their phones?

* How is the relationship between teachers and students changing? Fisch noted that "our schools are currently designed for a world where information is scarce, not abundant, where kids come to school to get information, from the teacher and the textbook." In classrooms today, Fisch added: "the teacher is no longer the smartest person in the room if there's an Internet connection." But teaching, for the most part, is a one-way street. Students learn, teachers teach, that's that. Should a classroom be more like a collaborative experience, where a teacher is what Fisch calls a "chief learner" who is learning alongside the students? This can't apply to all subjects, of course.

* Can we encourage students to create what Fisch calls "personal learning networks"? Through the Web, Fisch communicates with teachers on six continents, most of whom he has never met, and learns from them every day. How can we help students do this? Say you're a 10th grader who's really into marine biology or industrial design or the Japanese language. There may not be classes in your school about those topics, but you can be connected to other students and teachers are who interested in those subjects.

* How do we address the still lingering -- and under-reported -- issue of digital divide in our classrooms? Technology is not cheap. Neither is Internet connection.

On Tues., Nov. 24, President Obama launched Educate to Innovate, a star-studded campaign drawing the likes of Big Bird, Discovery Communications and Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, focusing on math and science. This is a time for innovation in education, and technology in general and the Internet in particular are central to that. As Obama and Arne Duncan, the Secretary of Education, continues to plan the future of our schools, Fisch and McLeod's videos serve as resources -- and, altogether, a call to action. Shift happens. It's here. Lead.

*** Check out these slides from three Did You Know? video series. For the sake of transparency, Fisch and McLeod created a wiki page for the presentation. This page traces the history of the slideshow. And this page has the source files.

Follow Jose on Twitter: www.twitter.com/joseiswriting

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Read more: Slidepoll, Technology News

25 Recordings Added To Grammy Hall Of Fame (VIDEO)

2009-11-24T12:00:00Z
It might be a Man's World, but there's always room for California Girls.

A list of 25 recordings has been announced for the 2010 Grammy Hall of Fame inductions, ranging from toe-tappers (The Isley Brothers' "Twist and Shout" single) to side-splitters (George Carlin's "Class Clown" album).

The new additions bring the Hall of Fame up to 851 titles, honoring "recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance that are at least 25 years old." Think there's something missing?

Read more: Slidepoll, Bob Marley, Pop Music, Best Recordings, Best Albums, Gene Kelley, Music, Jose Feliciano, Judy Garland, Janis Joplin, Bo Diddley, George Carlin, Isley Brothers, Grammy Hall of Fame, Best Music Ever, Best Songs, Music Industry, Beach Boys, Grammys, James Brown, Entertainment News

Roadrunner, Conch, And Pork Brains: The Craziest Canned Foods Ever (PHOTOS)

2009-11-24T10:41:08Z
Looking for roadrunner in a can? You're in luck. How about liquid bird's nest? Canned. When it comes to canned food, the door is wide open. It seems that anything your heart desires can be found in cans. Especially if your heart desires unbelievably gross things.

Read more: Slidepoll, Food, Canned Food, Weird Canned Food, Gross Food, Comedy News

7 Great Cookbooks For Thanksgiving

2009-11-24T10:20:00Z
Still don't know what exactly you're cooking this Thanksgiving? Luckily, there are many excellent cookbooks out there that can help you plan your feast. We put together some of the best cookbooks for Thanksgiving, from old classics to brand-new tomes that are absolutely beautiful. And, vegetarians, we didn't forget you! There's one in here with some great vegan alternatives to the traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

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Filed by: Jessie Kunhardt
Read more: Slidepoll, Vegan With a Vengeance, French Feasts, Stephane Reynaud, The New Thanksgiving Table, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian Cookbooks, Julia Child Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Thanksgiving Books, Vegetarian Thanksgiving, Williams-Sonoma, Thanksgiving Cookbooks, The Joy of Cooking, Julia Child, Vegan Thanksgiving, Stonewall Kitchen, Books, Cookbooks, Books News