The News Tracker

J.D. Salinger, the reclusive author who gave voice to generations of angst-ridden teenagers and Marlon Brando wannabes, died at his home in New Hampshire at age of 91. Salinger, the son of a Jewish cheese importer, brought to life the fictional Holden Caulfield and members of the fanciful Glass family in the 1950s. Disdainful of the public and with few close friends, Salinger lived mostly alone and aloof in the small New England town of Cornish, N.H., marrying twice and leaving behind a son and a daughter. His daugher, Margaret Ann Salinger, published a “Dream Catcher” in 2009 in which she described her father as an angry man who disparaged his children and seemed to prefer the company of his fictional characters over his own offspring. Salinger successfully sued on several occasions to keep letters he wrote and other writings out of print. The last thing he had printed was a short story in the New York in 1965, according to the Washington Post. He specifically ordered that none of his writings were to appear in print until after he had died. One has to wonder if there are several manuscripts that will be rushed into print soon, however. Continue reading “Reclusive author of “Catcher in the Rye” dies alone at age 91” »

Former Florida Gator quarterback and NFL wanna be Tim Tebow may have stirred up an unintended and unwelcome hornet’s nest with his proposed anti-abortion ad that is expected to be aired on CBS during the Super Bowl Feb. 7 in Miami. The anti-abortion ad featuring Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam Tebow, will talk about their their faith and opposition to abortion. In the anti-abortion ad, Tim Tebow will tell how his mother was advised by doctors to get an abortion when she was pregnant with Tim because she had developed an infection that could have harmed the fetus. The anti-abortion ad has drawn the ire of abortion proponents and groups like the National Organization for Women (NOW), which has asked that the ad not be run on CBS. No word yet from CBS on whether they are likely to censor the ad, but the firestorm that has resulted from the anti-abortion ad by Tim Tebow can’t looked up on favorably by the NFL. The last thing Tim Tebow needs is a controversy that will take away from the focus on his potential as an NFL quarterback. With his draft status already shaky because of some of the mechanical failures in his passing rhythm, Tim Tebow doesn’t need any more distractions. Tim Tebow does have the right to express his opinions; he just should not do so with an anti-abortion ad on national television during the Super Bowl. Continue reading “What can Tim Tebow be thinking with his anti-abortion ad?” »

More than $25 million was reportedly raised for Haiti relief between two giant telethons in the United States and Canada Friday night (Jan. 22) as stars flocked to entertain, encourage donations and man the telephones. The two-hour telethon, broadcast simultaneously on 25 stations in the United States, featured mega stars like George Clooney, Leonardo Dicaprio pleading for funds for Haiti as performers ranging from Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Sting, Mary J. Blige and Bono sang while such luminaries as movie producer Steven Spielberg and actors Julia Roberts and Mel Gibson manned phone banks for the two hours of the telethon. Continue reading “More than $25 million raised for Haiti relief during two-hour telethon” »

It would appear that Simon Cowell and Kobie Bryant can trump even the president of the United States when it comes to a stunning election upset in Massachusetts. Republican Scott Brown, aided in part probably by his daughter Ayla’s voter appeal, shocked the highly pro-Democratic state by soundly defeating Martha Coakley, who was bidding to hang onto the seat for the president’s party, which had been in Democratic hands for more than half a century under the late Ted Kennedy’s watchful eye. Brown’s unlikely victory in the Senate race throws the president’s health-care bill into chaos as it reduces his margin in the upper house to 59-41, leaving the Republicans in position to block legislation through filibuster. Ayla Brown is a former American Idol contest and college basketball player. Continue reading “Brown’s full court press a stumbling block to Obama’s health-care bill in Senate” »

As U.S. troops began to organize sites for food distribution, residents of the island nation of Haiti were sent scurrying into the streets again Wednesday (1-20-2010) after a strong 6.1 aftershock hit the raved country. Reports classified it as one of the biggest aftershocks since the 7.0 quake reduced capital city Port-au-Prince to shambles eight days ago. With many residents around Port-au-Prince living in make-sift tents and other flimsy structures, the aftershock produced another sense of uncertainty in a populace still trying to recover from last week’s devastation, which may eventually claim more than 100,000 lives, officials estimate. Meanwhile, U.S. troops were rolling out massive relief efforts that would provide food, water and perhaps medicine to areas that were not getting any help. Also, the U.N. Security Council gave approve for another 3,500 peacekeeping troops to help in the disaster relief effort. Continue reading “Aftershock sends Haitians running into streets this morning” »

Amid complaints of U.S. interference in relief efforts to Haiti and a large tremor in Guatemala, the European Union has pledged approximately $200 million in disaster assistance to help Haiti quake victims. Meeting Jan. 18, European ministers in Brussels said they were making $197 million immediately available for disaster assistance to the the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The ministers also said they were contemplating $300 in longer-term assistance. Meanwhile, the United States, acting largely in the absence of any official Haitian government, is being accused of taking a dominant role in relief efforts at the exclusion of other nations. A French plane containing a field hospital, was reportedly turned away from the Haitian airport by U.S. military, according to the Washington Post. The plane was allowed to land the following day. The Post quoted French Cooperation Minister Bernard Koucher that, “This is about helping Haiti, not occupying Haiti.” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had said the U.S. is not interested in taking power from Haiti. In Guatemala, no damage or injuries were immediately reported after a 6.0 quake hit 60 miles southeast of Guatemala City. Continue reading “Is U.S. interfering in Haitian relief efforts? EU adds to aid guarantee” »

What will it take for Haiti to bounce back from the devastation wrought upon the impoverished island by this week’s earthquake that threatens to leave thousands upon thousands death and countless others diseased, hungry and homeless? For sure Haiti will need millions upon millions of dollars in relief aid from nations all around the world, just to keep the death toll from soaring. Rescue efforts could be stymied by a weak central government that was just installed in November. a crumbling infrastructure only made worse by the earthquake and warring gangs that spread fear and violence throughout the countryside. The rapid delivery of massive amounts of food, water and medicine, as well as temporary living structures, are must items if one of the world’s poorest nations is to keep from sliding into utter chaos over this latest catastrophe to visit the island. Money and prayers are definitely needed for Haiti. Continue reading “What can world do to help Haiti rebound from this catastrophe?” »

Despite media reports that he was in the process of hiring a staff and set to sign a contract with the Southern Cal Trojans, Jack Del Rio is remaining as coach of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. Jack Del Rio met with Jaguars’ owner Wayne Weaver on Tuesday and the result of the meeting is that Del Rio will remain with team, probably through the end of the three years remain on his contract. Weaver didn’t guarantee that Jack Del Rio will remain for three years, however, he outlined some areas of improvement he would like to see the Jaguars achieve. Just last week, Weaver had called the results of Jack Del Rio’s seven years with the Jaguars as “average.” On Tuesday, Weaver said that “average is not acceptable.” Jack Del Rio’s name was bandied about as the next head coach of USC after its head coach, Pete Carroll, resigned to take the head coaching job with Seattle Seahawks in the NFL. Jack Del Rio has compiled a 58-57 record through seven years with the Jaguars while going 1-2 n the playoffs. Continue reading “Jacksonville Jaguars agree to keep Jack Del Rio on as head football coach” »

The doctors in charge of Major Nidal Hasan’s medical progress had major concerns about his alleged Islamic terrorist viewpoint, according to a report by the Associated Press. Despite those concerns, the alleged Islamic terrorist’s supervisors repeatedly afforded him enough positive marks on his evaluations that he advanced through the promotional ranks. The alleged Islamic terrorist is being held in the deaths of 13 people on Nov. 5 deaths at Fort Hood, Tex., the largest reported killing spree on a U.S. military base. In one cited example of the alleged Islamic terrorist’s suspected activities, Hasan is said to have expressed the opinion during a presentation he gave that the battle against terrorism was instead like waging war on Islam. Students in the class said the alleged Islamic terrorist had the opinion that Islamic law superseded the U.S. Constitution. In spite of numerous other such examples of behavior by the alleged Islamic terrorist, these incidents were overlooked by his superiors, according to the AP. Continue reading “Plenty of reason to be suspicious of alleged Islamic terrorist’s activities” »

So, who is the No. 1 college football team in America after the BCS National Championship game? it is hard to tell which team is the BCS National Championship team after watching Alabama and Texas muddle through uninspired play during the game in Pasadena, Cal., Jan. 7. Both teams seemed nervous and edgy from the onset of the game and neither one ever seemed to settle down and stake an undisputed claim as the BCS National Championship team. Fans all over the nation were saying, “Uh, oh!” after Alabama seemed to implode by giving up the ball on its first two series after the kickoff to decide the No. 1 college football team, only to see Texas settle for two field goals on possessions deep in Alabama territory. When QB Colt McCoy suffered a shoulder injury on Texas’ first offensive possession, the Uh, Ohs grew even greater and Alabama fans seized the moment in their quest for the title as the BCS National Championship team. With backup quarterback Garrett Gilbert making mistake after mistake and Texas coach Mack Brown making a terrible decision at the end of the first half, Alabama went into intermission with a 24-6 lead in the battle for the BCS National Championship. To its credit, however, Texas refused to quit for most of the second half, pulled within 3 points at 24-21 and seemed poised to make its own claim to become BCS National Championship team. Alabama, meanwhile, went into a shell in the second half and failed to produce any more points in the BCS National Championship game, only to take advantage of two mistakes by the freshman quarterback and stake its claim to the BCS National Championship with a 37-21 lead that wasn’t as impressive the final score sounds. The game should just give the Boise State’s of the world more reason to stake their claims to compete for the BCS National Championship. Continue reading “Alabama wins BCS National Championship over Texas but leaves room for doubt in uninspired play” »