6 more bodies in Mexican border pits; total at 183

MEXICO CITY – Security forces have unearthed six more bodies in a northeastern Mexican border state where a drug gang is believed to be kidnapping passengers from buses and hiding their victims in secret graves, authorities said Tuesday. A total of 183 bodies have been discovered in a month in 40 graves.


Meanwhile, a different search over the last month in the capital of northwestern Durango state has yielded 96 bodies in two mass graves. State investigators led by federal agents have exhumed 79 bodies in a car repair shop of a working-class neighborhood of Durango city. A number of mass graves have been discovered over the past in areas of Mexico where drug gang turf wars have been the fiercest. Associated Press

At least 11 dead as storms pound South for 2nd day

JEFF BUSBY PARK, Miss. – A wave of thunderstorms with winds blowing near hurricane force strafed the South Wednesday, killing at least 11 people from Arkansas to Alabama, including a father struck by a tree while protecting his daughter at a Mississippi campsite.

The system laced with suspected tornadoes spread destruction Tuesday night and Wednesday from Texas to Georgia. An earlier flare-up of storms this week had already killed 10 people in Arkansas and one in Mississippi. Forecasters warned that even worse weather could be on its way. 

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Play Station Network Down Due to Hacking

A week after it was mysteriously taken offline, Sony announced Tuesday night that PlayStation Network has been hacked into. The company confirmed it had “discovered that between April 17 and April 19, 2011, certain PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account information was compromised in connection with an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into our network.” 


The stolen data includes names, addresses, birth dates, passwords and security questions and answers. The company also said that although there was no evidence that credit card information was taken as well, they were warning people to look out for it “out of an abundance of caution.”

Sony defended the fact that they waited a week to inform users by saying that although they identified an intrusion, it took forensice analysts until Monday to learn that their consumers’ data was compromised. PlayStation Network provides online video gaming services and allows streaming of films and music via the internet. There are 77 million user accounts, and approximately 36 million of those are in the U.S.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy - Episode 3

10 Companies That Make Billions From The U.S. Government

1. Lockheed Martin

Contracted in 2010: $35.9 billion*
Total 2010 revenue: $45.8 billion
Contracted in 2011, so far: $15.74 billion

Lockheed’s biggest contracts in 2010 included a $2.51 billion contract with the Department of Defense for fixed - wing aircraft and a $1.1 billion contract with NASA that included work on the Orion project.  

2. Boeing (BA)

Contracted in 2010: $19.4 billion
Total 2010 revenue: $63.3 billion
Contracted in 2011, so far: $6.01 billion  
Although Boeing’s main sources of revenue are commercial airlines, the Chicago-based company’s Defense, Space & Security segment deals primarily with the U.S. Government. That segment accounts for approximately $32 billion of the company’s $63.3 billion in 2010 revenue. 

3. Northrop Grumman (NOC)

Contracted in 2010: $16.47 billion*
Total 2010 revenue: $34.8 billion
Contracted in 2011, so far: $4.04 billion

As with most of the highest paid contractors, Northrop Grumman’s largest contracts are also with the Department of Defense, including an individual contract for $1.29 billion for work on aircraft carriers. So far in 2011, Northrop Grumman’s biggest individual contract was a $569 million deal with the U.S. Coast Guard for radio navigation equipment.

4. Raytheon (RTN)

Contracted in 2010: $14.9 billion
Total 2010 revenue: $25.18 billion
Contracted in 2011, so far: $4.33 billion 

In 2010, Raytheon’s biggest contract was for $1.06 billion in a deal to supply guided missiles, while so far in 2011, the company’s biggest contract was also for guided missiles in a deal worth $1.39 billion. 

5. General Dynamics (GD)

Contracted in 2010: $14.8 billion
Total 2010 revenue: $32.47 billion
Contracted in 2011, so far: $2.49 billion 

In 2010, General Dynamics of Fairfield, Connecticut engaged in 16,526 transactions with the U.S. Government, totaling approximately $14.8 billion. The largest single award was a $2.48 billion contract for the U.S. Navy on the construction of Virginia-class submarines.

6. L-3 Communications (LLL) Contracted in 2010: $13.07 billion*
Total 2010 revenue: $15.68
Contracted in 2011, so far: $1.84 billion

The company derived 83% of its 2010 revenues from U.S. Government sources, while another 8% was derived from foreign governments. The Department of Defense was L-3’s largest customer, with $11.93 billion in contracts last year.

7. United Technologies (UTX)

Contracted in 2010: $7.7 billion
Total 2010 revenue: $54.32 billion
Contracted in 2011, so far: $1.96 billion 

The biggest contract for United Technologies in 2010 was for $2.02 billion to manufacture rotary wing aircraft from its Sikorsky division. Other large projects include the maintenance and repair of gas turbines, jet engines and other aircraft, several of which cost the government over $400 million each.

8. Oshkosh Corp. (OSK)

Contracted in 2010: $7.2 billion
Total 2010 revenue: $9.82 billion*
Contracted in 2011, so far: $1.85 billion 

The biggest contracts for Oshkosh in 2010 were for combat and ground vehicles, three of which eclipsed $1 billion, with the most expensive being $1.13 billion, with all of its $100+ million contracts going to the Department of Defense. 

9. SAIC Inc. (SAI)

Contracted in 2010: $6.9 billion
Total 2010 revenue: $11.12 billion
Contracted in 2011, so far: $1.7 billion 

SAIC’s largest contract in 2010 was with the National Institutes of Health to the tune of $541 million. The contract was for the “operation of government-owned facilities” under both the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute, with the latter under the Recovery Act. 

10. BAE Systems

Contracted in 2010: $6.6 billion
Total 2010 revenue: $36.69 billion
Contracted in 2011, so far: $1.3 billion 

  According to USASpending.gov, the company was awarded $6.6 billion in U.S. Government contracts in 2010 and has already been awarded $1.3 billion so far in 2011.

The Department of Defense is responsible for BAE’s top 10 contracts from 2010, which ranged from $102 million to $321 million. Of the $6.6 billion, $2.8 billion arose from the U.S. Navy and $2.5 million from the U.S. Army, while the largest contract was for the Caiman MTV troop transport. 

Kicks On Court: April 26th

Chris Paul wearing the Jordan CP3.IV

Derrick Rose wearing the adidas adiZero Rose 1.5

Josh Smith and Hedo Turkoglu in the adidas adiZero Crazy Light

Kobe Bryant dunking in the "Del Sol" Nike Zoom Kobe VI and Emeka Okafor in the Nike Air Max Fly By

Quentin Richardson wearing the Jordan Play In These

Ron Artest in the Ball'N Lay Up

Joakim Noah posting up in the Le Coq Sportif Pro Model

Gilbert Arenas shooting in the "Silver Anniversary" Air Jordan 11

Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom in the Nike Hyperdunk 2010 and the Nike Zoom Hyperfuse 2011, respectively

"The LeBrons" - EPISODE 4

Nike Air Max Jr Black/Varsity Red and White/Chlorine Blue

Nike Air Max Jr
Black/Varsity Red
442478-002
$160

Nike Air Max Jr
White/White-Chlorine Blue-Neutral Grey
442478-100
$160

Air Jordan 5 Black/Metallic Silver

Air Jordan 5
Black/Varsity Red-Metallic Silver
August 2011
$150

 
Air Jordan 5 Black/Metallic Silver. While most details appear the same, the translucent sole bares a very blue tint. Black nubuck dresses the upper with grey mesh matching the speckled shark teeth and 3M tongue. Like the last retro, a #23 appears near the heel. NiceKicks.com

The Worst Cars On The Road

When it comes to quality, efficiency, reliability, safety and overall value, these vehicles bring up the rear.

Cadillac Escalade

Listed Among:

Consumer Reports Worst Value
Consumer Reports Highest Costs of Ownership
Consumer Reports Worst Safety Performance

Dodge Nitro SLT

Listed Among:

Consumer Reports Worst Value
Consumer Reports Worst Cars
Consumer Reports Least Reliable
Consumer Reports Worst Fuel Economy

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

Listed Among:

Consumer Reports Worst Value
Consumer Reports Worst Safety Performance
Consumer Reports Least Reliable

 

Mercedes-Benz S550

Listed Among:

Consumer Reports Worst Value
Consumer Reports Highest Costs of Ownership
Consumer Reports Worst Fuel Economy

Mistakes Used Car Buyers Make

Mistake #1 – Not checking the vehicle history reports
This is a no-brainer when buying privately or from a dealer. You want to make sure the vehicle has never been in an accident, a hurricane, or had the odometer rolled back. Was it a rental unit or a lease return? Many buyers don’t like rental cars, but know that lease returns are preferred over even trade-ins at major dealerships.

Mistake #2 – Not checking the vehicle inspection report
If buying from a car dealer, simply ask to see the mechanic’s inspection report on the vehicle you want to purchase. If they won’t show it to you, you’ll need to choose between walking away from the deal and having your own mechanic check the vehicle out. What do you do when buying from a private seller? Always have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection.

Mistake #3 – Ignoring fuel consumption
As a dealership employee, I was always surprised at how many customers arrived asking for a car that was good on gas, but then drove away in a gas-guzzling SUV they had always wanted. It’s more difficult to ignore a vehicle’s EPA fuel mileage rating when gas prices are at $4 per gallon. The best place to research fuel consumption is a user-friendly, government website: FuelEconomy.gov.

Mistake #4 – Ignoring certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles 

These vehicles not only meet a higher standard—only a few years old with a limited number of miles—but they are put through a comprehensive inspection with deficiencies repaired. Then, the manufacturer—not the dealer—provides an extended warranty and other benefits. You’ll pay a bit more for a certified pre-owned vehicle, but those benefits won’t diminish if you make a great deal on the selling price.

The Car Connection

Athletes Gone Bankrupt

In 2008, the NBA Players' Association claimed that 60% of pro basketball players go broke within five years of retirement. It’s not hard to see why. In the annals of “easy come, easy go,” few people see it come and go like professional athletes. While it’s true that many take their salaries and invest them in sensible and enduring business ventures, many others squander their multimillion-dollar salaries on expensive cars, jewelry and mansions, and when the checks stop coming in, they have little to show for it.

Quarterback Mark Brunell is estimated to have earned over $50 million. However, on June 25, 2010, he filed for bankruptcy, listing over $5 million in assets and nearly $25 million in liabilities.

At issue are multiple lawsuits stemming from failed real estate ventures and business loans from Champion LLC, a company that included fellow Jaguars Todd Fordham and Joel Smeenge. Still, the lawsuit hasn’t hurt his playing career any, and in July 2010, just one month after filing for bankruptcy, Brunell signed a two-year deal to play for the New York Jets. 
 

Basketball player Latrell Sprewell went on to a substantial career, earning almost $100 million. It all came to an end when he turned down a a three-year contract extension from the Minnesota Timberwolves worth $30 million. According to Sprewell, this was simply not enough money. He said, "I have a family to feed".

By the end of the 2005 season, he was unemployed. By 2007, his yacht, “Milwaukee’s Best,” had been repossessed by federal marshals after missed payments and insurance worth over $1 million. In 2008, he defaulted on the mortgage on his Milwaukee home, sending it into foreclosure. His Westchester mansion went into foreclosure two years later. 

 

Kenny Anderson earned an estimated $60 million during his NBA career after playing for nine different teams. He was married three times, and the divorce from his first wife, Tami Akbar, had cost him dearly. She successfully challenged their prenuptial agreement and walked away with half his assets and $8,500 a month in child support. To celebrate her court victory, she had a custom license plate made that read “HISCASH.” 

In addition to monthly child support and alimony payments to Akbar, Anderson was also supporting six other children and two other ex-wives, as well as making monthly payments on his mother’s house. He also owned eight cars and an estate in Beverly Hills, and gave himself a $10,000-a-month allowance that he referred to as “hanging out money”. At the time of his bankruptcy filing, he had $41,000 in monthly expenses to pay.

Mike Tyson, Money shouldn’t have been a problem for Tyson. After all, according to the New York Times, he had earned more than $400 million in his boxing career. However, he had spent almost all of it, frittering it away on extravagances like mansions, luxury cars and pet tigers. He also owed $9 million for his divorce settlement and $13 million to the IRS. When he filed for bankruptcy in 2003, he claimed debts of $27 million.

Scottie Pippen is best remembered for his tenure with the Chicago Bulls. The 2010 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee was there when they won six NBA Championships, and he was there during the 1995-1996 season in which they won 72 games. 


Unfortunately, Pippen’s successes on the court couldn’t stop him from losing career earnings worth $120 million, including over $4 million for a corporate jet that was grounded just months after he bought it. He sued his attorneys for $8 million for failing to monitor the purchase, and he won the lawsuit. However, the jury ruled that Pippen bore plenty of responsibility for the purchase himself, and he was awarded only one quarter of the reward that he sought ( $2 million ).

Johnny Unitas is as legendary a player as there is. Nicknamed “The Golden Arm.” The legendary quarterback had attempted to parlay his earnings into shrewd business moves, such as restaurants, real estate ventures and bowling alleys, but these endeavors never performed in the way that he had hoped. Ultimately, he declared bankruptcy in 1991, and when he died in 2002, Unitas Management Corp was also forced to file for bankruptcy to protect itself from an unresolved lawsuit plaguing the Hall of Famer’s estate.