NEWS HEADLINES

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World Digest: Feb. 15, 2014 http://wapo.st/1dVad4p

The Top 9 States People Are Fleeing In 2014 http://onforb.es/1kvMOyx

Drought-stricken California gets millions in aid -- is it enough? http://wapo.st/1b6r897

Venezuelan Protests Continue http://nbcnews.to/1jpC6GC

Fla. man convicted of attempted murder in loud music shooting http://ti.me/1cMlZOV

Job Difficulties http://www.businessinsider.com/whats-holding-you-back-at-work-2014-2

How cold can a living body get? http://theatln.tc/1cpfr8I

Inmate breaks out of jail to go on Valentine's Day date http://nyp.st/MZKbqB

This Week in Her and History

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This Week in History, Feb 16 - Feb 22

Feb 16, 1923
Archaeologist opens tomb of King Tut. On this day in 1923, in Thebes, Egypt, English archaeologist Howard Carter enters the sealed burial chamber of the ancient Egyptian ruler King Tutankhamen. Because the ancient Egyptians saw their pharaohs as gods, they carefully preserved their bodies after death, burying them in elaborate tombs containing rich treasures to accompany the rulers into the afterlife. In the 19th century, archeologists from all over the world flocked to Egypt, where they uncovered a number of these tombs. Many had long ago been broken into by robbers and stripped of their riches.

Feb 17, 1904
Madame Butterfly premieres. On this day in 1904, Giacomo Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly premieres at the La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy. The young Puccini decided to dedicate his life to opera after seeing a performance of Giuseppe Verdi's Aida in 1876. In his later life, he would write some of the best-loved operas of all time: La Boheme (1896), Tosca (1900), Madame Butterfly (1904) and Turandot (left unfinished when he died in 1906). Not one of these, however, was an immediate success when it opened. La Boheme, the now-classic story of a group of poor artists living in a Paris garret, earned mixed reviews, while Tosca was downright panned by critics.

Feb 18, 1885
Twain publishes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. On this day in 1885, Mark Twain publishes his famous--and famously controversial--novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain (the pen name of Samuel Clemens) first introduced Huck Finn as the best friend of Tom Sawyer, hero of his tremendously successful novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876). Though Twain saw Huck's story as a kind of sequel to his earlier book, the new novel was far more serious, focusing on the institution of slavery and other aspects of life in the antebellum South.

Feb 19, 1847
Donner Party rescued. On this day in 1847, the first rescuers reach surviving members of the Donner Party, a group of California-bound emigrants stranded by snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In the summer of 1846, in the midst of a Western-bound fever sweeping the United States, 89 people--including 31 members of the Donner and Reed families--set out in a wagon train from Springfield, Illinois. After arriving at Fort Bridger, Wyoming, the emigrants decided to avoid the usual route and try a new trail recently blazed by California promoter Lansford Hastings, the so-called "Hastings Cutoff." After electing George Donner as their captain, the party departed Fort Bridger in mid-July. The shortcut was nothing of the sort: It set the Donner Party back nearly three weeks and cost them much-needed supplies. After suffering great hardships in the Wasatch Mountains, the Great Salt Lake Desert and along the Humboldt River, they finally reached the Sierra Nevada Mountains in early October. Despite the lateness of the season, the emigrants continued to press on, and on October 28 they camped at Truckee Lake, located in the high mountains 21 kilometers northwest of Lake Tahoe. Overnight, an early winter storm blanketed the ground with snow, blocking the mountain pass and trapping the Donner Party.

Feb 20, 1985
Ireland allows sale of contraceptives. In a highly controversial vote on February 20, 1985, the Irish government defies the powerful Catholic Church and approves the sale of contraceptives. Up until 1979, Irish law prohibited the importation and sale of contraceptives. In a 1973 case, McGee v. The Attorney General, the Irish Supreme Court found that a constitutional right to marital privacy covered the use of contraceptives. Pressured by strong conservative forces in Irish society, particularly the Roman Catholic Church, the government was slow to change the law to reflect the court's decision, and a number of proposed bills failed before reaching the books.

NEWS HEADLINES

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Best new movies streaming on Netflix - Newsday http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/best-new-movies-streaming-o…

John Henson, son of Muppets creator, dies in NY (from @AP) http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268764/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=LC8hWSA1

Florida jury convicts man of attempted murder in loud music murder trial http://reut.rs/1gN5FjF

POLITICO ‏@politico
Teachers unions face moment of truth http://politi.co/19s7Swy

He is the amazing J. Oshie, who in Sochi has become the # 1 American man for USA fans after his nail biting victorious hockey triumph.
The Remarkable One-Man Show Called T. J. Oshie http://nyti.ms/1dxhdst

Bronx Polar Bears swim in frigid Long Island Sound http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york

NOT MUCH SNOW

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GOT TO LOVE THIS POST VALENTINES DAY SNOW. OUR LIVE 24/7 CAMERA SHOWS IT HAS CLEARLY STOPPED, BUT WINTER JUST KEEPS ON ROLLING ALONG.

Sunday Scattered flurries after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 30. West wind 14 to 17 mph.
Sunday Night Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 15. Northwest wind 13 to 16 mph.
Washington's Birthday Sunny, with a high near 28. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph.

USA Beats RUSSIA - MEN'S HOCKEY

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Team USA beats Russia in men's hockey. USA Hockey bests the Russians in a hockey shootout What an exciting and incredible finish. T. J. Oshie makes his mark in Sochi.

The United States of America has defeated The Russian Federation 3-2 in a nail-biting shootout hockey clash at the Sochi Winter Olympics.

The Russian team initially could have scored the winning point with just under five minutes left in the third period of the preliminary round game, but the referees disallowed the goal because the net was knocked out of place before that shot.

LOVING

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The Loving couple was committed to their interracial relationship. Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving became Mr. and Mrs. LOVING

"I believe all Americans, no matter their race, no matter their sex, no matter their sexual orientation, should have that same freedom to marry. Government has no business imposing some people's religious beliefs over others. Especially if it denies people's civil rights. I am still not a political person, but I am proud that Richard's and my name is on a court case that can help reinforce the love, the commitment, the fairness and the family that so many people, black or white, young or old, gay or straight, seek in life. I support the freedom to marry for all. That's what Loving, and loving, are all about."

--- Mildred Loving, 1939-2008

Mildred and Richard Loving Documentary Part 1/3: http://youtu.be/B4FafoL_euI

Mildred and Richard Loving Documentary Part 2/3: http://youtu.be/c8VsCawzqiE

Mildred and Richard Loving Documentary Part 3/3: http://youtu.be/HG1XWDddTHo

CI BRIDGE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD

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NYCDOT says it is committed to completing this project, while keeping City Islanders informed during all stages. DOT has assigned a community liaison officer to answer any construction related inquires you may have.

The group has named Huáscar Robles of Zetlin Strategic Communications. Zetlin says they will soon begin work on two of NYCDEP's signature projects, so stay tuned for more information as these projects kick off. The group specializes in...

• Public Affairs

• Community Relations

• Corporate Communications

• Information Audits

North American Free Trade Agreement

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It has been more than 20 years since NAFTA was implemented with a massive increase in cross-border economic activity.

By uniting the economies of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, NAFTA created what is today a $19 trillion regional market with some 470 million consumers. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce figures that some six million U.S. jobs depend on trade with Mexico and another eight million on trade with Canada.

POLAR BEARS ALL

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Pelham Bay Park General Manager Marianne Anderson tells City Island Images that if this looks like fun, then come on...

But another possibility of snow and freezing winds will keep us from joining this group, but will not stop these fanatics. In fact, it will bring out the best in Bronx Polar Bears Club this Saturday.

For additional information, please contact the park directly.

http://www.nycgovparks.org/

Here's a flyer and photo of these brave, or nutty souls.