Tortorella was furious after the game, which included a knee-on-knee hit by Pens defenseman Brooks Orpik on New York forward Derek Stepan. "It's a cheap, dirty hit," Tortorella said. "I wonder what would happen if we did it to their two whining stars over there.

 I wonder what would happen. So I'm anxious to see what happens with the league with this. Just not respect amongst players. None. It's sickening." Orpik, who was assessed five-minute major penalty on the play, was not disciplined by the league. "(The Penguins) whine about this stuff all of the time, and look what happens?" Tortorella said. "It's ridiculous.

But they'll whine about something else over there, won't they?" Tortorella also attacked Penguins' management, calling them "one of the most arrogant organizations in the league." The fine money goes to the NHL Foundation.

Raven Symone Reveals Her Weight Loss Secret

Raven Symone Reveals

“I find it funny that people now come up to me and say, ‘Wow, you are absolutely gorgeous. I’m like, ‘I was beautiful before I lost weight. Egotistically speaking, I thought I was amazing.’” When talk show host Wendy Williams asked Symone for her figure slimming secret, the former That’s So Raven star replied “less stress.” “I stopped stressing. You have to realize at 15, there was a whole entire show I had on my shoulders. It was a very big cast and crew and if you’re sick for a day, people lose money and that’s a problem,” she said at the time. “[It wasn't] just over eating because I’ve actually been eating the same. I keep a little bit more smaller portions because I learned that your body has to get rid of that stress some way. Some people break-out, some people lose their hair, some lose weight, some people gain weight, my body just reacted a certain kind of way.” Raven-Symoné, the 25 year old singer and actress who played Oliva in The Cosby Show, recently opened up to Vibe Magazine about her dramatic weight loss as well as the fact that it didn’t boost her confidence a bit. Symoné, who also goes by just Raven, also admitted that the amount of attention and praise that her new slender figure attracts is quite humorous. Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/113872/raven-symone-weight-loss-secret/#ZT4QISsIfzhIMV8g.99

Thomas Kinkade Dead

Thomas Kinkade

Thomas Kinkade, the renowned “Painter of Light” whose paintings are amongst the most popular in the United States, died from what appear to have been natural causes. The celebrated artist was 54-years-old. Ken Raasch, an old friend and co-founder of Kinkade’s Media Arts Group, was quoted by the Mercury News conveying his recently passed away friend’s unique perspective of the world:

“I’d see a tree as being green, and he would see it as 47 different shades of green. He just saw the world in a much more detailed way than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

Kinkade leaves behind his wife, Nanette, and four daughters. Kinkade's sentimental paintings — with their scenes of cottages, country gardens and churches in dewy morning light — were beloved by many in middle-class America but generally dismissed by the art establishment. The paintings typically depict tranquil scenes with lush landscaping and streams running nearby. Many contain images from Bible passages. Kinkade labeled himself the nation's most collected living artist. His paintings and spin-off products bring in about $100 million a year in sales, and are said to be in 10 million homes in the United States. He grew up in a trailer in the Northern California city of Placerville, which he often rendered in his art as an idyllic community of friendly citizens. After hitting upon the formula for inspirational landscapes and village scenes, he and his wife put their modest savings into publishing the first reproductions of his paintings in 1984. They sold 1,000 copies for $35 each and never looked back. Kinkade's Media Arts Group took in $32 million per quarter from 4,500 dealers across the country 10 years ago, according to the Mercury News. The company has since gone private. The costs of his paintings range from hundreds of dollars to more than $10,000. Services were pending.

Good Friday

Good Friday

          There are five nationwide holidays in this country: Canada Day (July 1), Labour Day (1st Monday in September), Christmas Day (December 25), New Year's Day (January 1)—and Good Friday, today (which is two days prior to Easter, which in turn falls, roughly speaking, on the first Sunday after the first full moon, after the 21st of March). There will likely be no new entries on Slaw today. See you all on Monday—which is not a statutory holiday in any province or territory and not a holiday within the Canada Labour Code . . . though many federal government offices will be closed even so. Ah Canada. Good Friday (from the senses pious, holy of the word "good"),[1][2] is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of Passover. It is also known as Black Friday, Holy Friday, Great Friday, or Easter Friday,[3] though the latter normally refers to the Friday in Easter week. Based on the details of the Canonical gospels, the Crucifixion of Jesus was most likely to have been on a Friday (John 19:42).[4] The estimated year of the Crucifixion is AD 33, by two different groups, and originally as AD 34 by Isaac Newton via the differences between the Biblical and Julian calendars and the crescent of the moon.[5][6][7][8][9][10] A third method, using a completely different astronomical approach based on a lunar Crucifixion darkness and eclipse model (consistent with Apostle Peter's reference to a "moon of blood" in Acts 2:20), points to Friday, 3 April AD 33.[11][12]        

VIRGINIA BEACH jet crash

VIRGINIA BEACH jet crash

           That was a close one.  A little too close if you ask the residents of Virginia Beach.
As of this morning, all residents of the jet crash site area in Virginia Beach have been accounted for.  Hampton Roads residents and even our out-of-area Checkered Flag fans have been keeping their fingers crossed since yesterday afternoon when a Navy F/A-18D Hornet crashed into an apartment complex in Virginia Beach. 

Here's the up-to-date information on the crash.

Investigation to begin in Navy jet crash in Va. Beach
By Cindy Clayton
Image and article source:[The Virginian-Pilot]

Crews worked through the night sorting through debris, setting up a security zone and beginning hazardous materials assessments at the site off Birdneck Road where a Navy F/A-18D Hornet slammed into an apartment complex on Friday.

As of this morning, everyone is accounted for, although officials can't yet say officially that no one perished in the crash, said Battalion Chief Tim Riley, Virginia Beach Fire Department spokesman.

"We can't say that it's all clear, but we're not actively looking for anyone," Riley said this morning.

There are areas that crews have been unable to search because of the structural damage to the buildings, Riley said. All the residents of the the Mayfair Mews apartment complex who were listed with managers have been accounted for, he said. Officials had 63 people listed as living in the complex. Anyone who has not heard from a loved one who lives there should call the city's 311 number.

"There is catastrophic damage to the apartment complex," Riley said during an early briefing today near the site.

About 50 apartments were damaged, three of the buildings had totally or partially collapsed, he said. Some had their roofs burned away by the fireball that erupted when the plane crashed about 12:05 p.m on Friday. Both pilots ejected safely and were taken to a hospital. One had been released and the other stayed overnight for observation, according to Riley.

Firefighters had been able to keep the flames from spreading to all the buildings, he said.

"They did an excellent job of containing it to the point of origin," Riley said. He added that recent joint drills on crash scenarios held with the Navy were "instrumental in the success of the operation" on Friday.

The burned plane remains inside the complex this morning, while crews work on a plan to deal with the clean-up. He said officials believe the clean-up will take days and could go on as long as a week.

Overnight, crews monitored the air for possible health hazards, and "there is no immediate health threat at this time," Riley added.

Residents and others who come across jet debris should not touch it, according to a city news release. They should call the Virginia Beach Emergency Communications at 757-385-5000 or 911. Touching the debris is a federal offense.

Officials plan to transition to the investigative phase of their operations today, he said.

The Navy on Friday said it was investigating the cause of the crash, citing a "catastrophic mechanical malfunction." The investigation is a joint operation between federal, state and local agencies, Riley said, and includes the Navy, Virginia State Police and Virginia Beach Fire Department.

"We're getting all kinds of witness statements," Riley said. "It's too early to speculate on any kind of cause."

Investigators are asking anyone who has cellphone footage from the moments before the crash to contact them by calling the city's 311 number.

Later today, a Navy official plans to meet with the media to give an update on the progress. Navy officials also plan to meet with the apartment residents this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at the Virginia Beach Law EnfThe city has assigned a liaison to work with the residents. They will help with people who need to get medications, clothing and other personal items. Riley did not know when residents would be allowed back at the site to assess the damage or retrieve their property.

The jet, a two-seater, belongs to VFA (Strike Fighter Squadron) 106, a training squadron for pilots learning how to fly F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets. The squadron, nicknamed the Gladiators, trains about 100 Navy and Marine pilots a year.

For updates on local Hampton Roads news, stay tuned to the home of your favorite Hampton Roads new and used car stores, Checkeredflag.com.

The Holy Shroud of Turin

The Holy Shroud of Turin - One of the most intriguing mysteries connected with Our Lord’s life is what happened to the shroud in which He was buried. Surely the disciples must have taken it and kept it securely. But what happened to it later? Many people believe that the Shroud is still in existence and is kept in a special chapel in Turin in Italy.

      The Shroud of Turin, or the Holy Shroud as it is usually called, is reputed to be the cloth in which the body of Christ was wrapped for his burial. It is undoubtedly the most controversial relic of all time, the object of mystery and fascination for Christians for centuries. No other such object has been subjected to such intense and prolonged scrutiny particularly in this century. From the time it first came to light in the 14^th century, it has repeatedly been proclaimed a fake by historians, by scientists, and even by Church leaders. Shortly after its discovery the Bishop of the diocese where it was being publicly displayed appealed to the Pope to stop the scandal caused by its veneration. He claimed that an artist had confessed to have painted it. In our own century the 1912 edition of the Catholic Encyclopaedia states flatly that it was painted, but the 1967 edition, though more cautious, claims that “its acceptance today is more common than it was in the past.” Yet none of this has discouraged millions of people from venerating it as the Shroud of Christ. Such crowds were anticipated for its public showing in the year 2000, that it was necessary to have a ticket even to get on the line to view it.

      What does the shroud look like? It is an ivory-coloured linen cloth with a small admixture of cotton, but without any wool. Its weave is herring-bone twill. It is a little over 14 ft. in length and 3½ in width, or for our younger readers, 4.36 m x 1.1 m. It is at least 600 years old. As we shall see, these details are important in determining the authenticity of the Shroud. There are many marks on it. On the night of 3/4 December 1532, a fire broke out in the chapel where it was kept in a silver repository. The molten silver scorched the cloth in several places before it was rescued. Later triangular patches were sewn in to repair the worst of the scorch damage. Fortunately those marks are at the sides and do not interfere with the main image.

      But it is the marks down the centre of the cloth which are intriguing. They are a faint representation of a human body, both back and front, a bearded male with long hair, 5’ 11” tall and weighing approximately 175 lbs. Apparently the body was laid on the cloth with its feet at one end, and the cloth doubled back over the head down to the feet again so that the whole body was covered. Consequently there are two life-size images, back and front, lying head to head down the middle of the cloth.

      The man has apparently suffered considerable violence. Careful examination reveals abrasions, bruises and swellings, there are traces of various blood flows, from the head, the wrist, feet, and particularly from the side, from which the blood flows apparently from an incision between the fifth and sixth rib. His back, from the shoulders down to the ankles, is liberally spattered with more than a hundred dumb-bell shaped cuts where the skin has apparently been broken by blows with a leaded whip such as the Romans used. His right cheek is swollen as if from a blow. Contrary to Roman custom, his legs are not broken.

      But there is no trace of actual blood on the cloth, nor has scientific analysis been able to discover traces of any other material which might have been used to imitate blood, or of pigment which might have been used to paint the marks on the cloth. Perhaps the strangest fact of all is that those marks are only on the surface, they have not penetrated the fibres at all as they would have done if they were made by real blood or by any sort of paint. Yet, the representation of the various blood-flows on the cloth is, according to scientists, highly accurate.

      So much for what the shroud actually looks like. Let us take a look at its history. It can be traced back by documentary evidence to the village of Lirey in France where, in 1354, it was in the possession of a knight, Geoffrey de Charny. A century later, in 1453 it came into the possession of the Duke of Savoy and was placed in Chambery, the capital of Savoy, where it sustained the damage mentioned above. The Duke of Savoy later became ruler of part of the north of Italy and moved the Shroud to Turin where he planned to move his capital. A special chapel was built for it and until recently it was kept rolled up around a pole, inside a silvered wooden reliquary behind a grill above the altar. Recently, because of several attempts to destroy it by people breaking in and setting fire to the chapel, it has been removed to a place of greater security. However, an exact replica is on public display at all times in the chapel. The late ex-king of Italy, Umberto II, who lived in Portugal, willed it to the Church, so that it is now the property of the Vatican.

Passover

     
          This is what happens when I wake up too early. I have extra time to post before services and breakfast.
 Barry Rubin on the whitewashing of the Muslim Brotherhood, which he predicted months ago, as I recall. And he notes the reason for America’s decline in the Middle East over the last three years. Take a guess. Go ahead, take one.

Awesome. The Egyptians are eating their own. (This is after the Salafist candidate got disqualified because–hold onto your hats–his mother was an American.)

Amanda Bynes arrested on suspicion of DUI

LOS ANGELES

LOS ANGELES - The 26-year-old actress was arrested around 3 a.m. Friday in West Hollywood. Authorities say actress Amanda Bynes has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after she grazed a sheriff's patrol car. In 2010, the occasional actress, whose film credits include “What a Girl Wants” and “She’s The Man,” announced on Twitter that she was retiring from acting.

         A month after the announcement, the then-24-year-old Bynes had an apparent change of heart when she “unretired” from showbiz.

Bail is set at $5,000. Apparently, the once popular actress isn’t all that anymore, because Bynes has yet to be released from jail.