CRANBURY, N.J. — With sweat pouring down his face, a 42-year-old courier from Moonachie methodically gobbled 22 hot dogs in 12 minutes Friday to win a regional hot-eating competition and a slot at Nathan's Famous Fourth of July eating contest in Coney Island, N.Y.

Pat Philbin, known in the competitive eating circuit as "Pat from Moonachie," beat 12 veterans and newcomers to competitive eating to be crowned the New Jersey Turnpike Regional Hot-Dog Eating Champion at a highway rest area.

"Eating is a natural thing," said Philbin, who stands 6-feet-2 and weighs 310 pounds. "People want to see how fast you can run, how high you can jump, how much you can eat. It's the evolution of sport."

Sleep tight America. There is no starvation, fighting, crying, sorrow, and no war. Yeah Right... Sleep tight in those warm lies, that the government provides you. Stay drugged up and asleep, for the world will just pass you by.

Perhaps that was a bit much. Since I have returned, I can't help but notice the drowsiness of America, while everyone I met in Ireland and Northern Ireland was filled to the brim with life. I know I've been in a depressing mood since I got back to America, but I can't help it, I miss the culture and the vibrant people. People that yearn to learn about life, in all of its instances. My heart is troubled, for everything I see is a disgrace to past generations, that worked so hard to make America a great country.

I hope this bloke had a grand time eating all of those hot dogs...

Always turning an open-ear,
for those that are near.
All the years of hearing your disasters,
so that you could become life’s master.

How many times have you cried on my shoulder,
so that you could become bolder.
All the tears I’ve dried,
so that you could be of good cheer.

Now, I have troubles,
and you turn a cold shoulder.
A should that is cold as ice,
that eats at me like lice.

Meek I may be,
but weak I will never be.
I empowered you,
so that you may be showered in success.

All I want is an open-ear,
from those that I hold dear.
All I needed was a minute,
for you to refute my actions

Actions that I will never retract,
for that would not be abstract.

Yes, even I’m confused from this poem. I’ll work on it tomorrow evening, and repost it.

ANTIGO, WIS. — Years after casting a bottled-up note into a lake for a class project and just one year after his death, a man's childhood message has been found and returned to his mother.

Eleven years ago, a then 10-year-old Joshua Baker wrote the message nestled in an empty vanilla container, his mother, Maggie Holbrook said. He died last February following a motor vehicle accident in California. He had recently returned home after serving in the Middle East as a U.S. Marine.

"I think he was just letting us know he was OK and to keep doing what we are doing," Holbrook said.

The message surfaced in White Lake in late April, just days after the 11th anniversary of its casting. It was found by one of Baker's closest friends, Steve Lieder, of Antigo, she said. Lieder and two friends were chatting near the lake when they looked down and saw the bottle. They broke it open and found the note inside:

"My name is Josh Baker. I am 10. If you find this put it on the news. The date is 4/16/95."

They immediately took it to Holbrook, who said she is now having the note preserved and will display it in her home.

She can remember when her son wrote the message for the school project. She said she always wondered why they didn't put it in the nearby Wolf River, which has a much stronger current.

"I still remember the day he wrote it," Holbrook said. "I couldn't understand why they threw it in the lake. No one would ever see it again. Now I know."

Reluctantly, I am going to start investing outside the United States. Yes, that's right, I invest in stocks, as well as own several pieces of property. What's a matter, you don't think this Southern boy is smart enough to invest? I may work for a large Retail company, and I may also be an IT consultant, but I'm still a smart son of a gun.

Assumption is the mother of all screw ups, yet people assume that I'm too stupid to talk, much less do anything else. Never assume anything about anybody, for that is a dangerous proposition. My investments, and family investment ties are the only reason I have not studied in Europe yet. Allthough, I am trying to work out something with the family, so I can study at Queen's or Reading University this fall.

I think there should be one universal rule, when it comes down to Internet use. Each family should have their "family" computer in a central location, where mom and dad can keep an eye on what is going on. I know people that have a computer for each one of their children, and they are in the children's rooms. Who knows what they are doing on ye old Internet, after mom and pop have gone to bed. Computers are a necessity, but not that necessary. When I was a lad, computers took up whole rooms, well to be honest they were about the size of a washing machine, but still, nobody had one. I didn't get a computer, until I was in middle school (The last year of Primary School). Ah, the glory days of the Commodore 64...

North Korea and Iran wouldn't be laughing at our warnings, if our troops were not already spread thin. America has no respect in the world anymore. Largely because of Bush, but they know that our military is already spread so thin, that we couldn't take on another country. They are using it to their advantage...

Bush, speaking in Vienna after talks with EU leaders, said North Korea must abide by international missile test agreements.

"North Koreans have made agreements with us in the past and we expect them to keep their agreements," Bush said.

"For example agreements on test launches -- we think it would be in the world's interest to know what they're testing, what they intend to do on their test," he told reporters.

Washington says there is evidence North Korea might test-fire its Taepodong-2 long-range missile and has activated a ground-based interceptor missile-defense system in case Pyongyang goes ahead with a launch.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the North wanted talks with the United States over its planned missile test, a sign Pyongyang might be ready to step back from the mounting crisis.

Washington ruled out any special talks over the issue which it, along with South Korea and Japan, says poses a grave danger to a region already worried by North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

I'm the same humble Southern American, but with eyes wide open, instead of shut, like most people. I'm the same courteous, caring, genuine, and loving individual I have always been. Perhaps that is my downfall. What are your thoughts...

Gates, 50, said Thursday he will remain the company's chairman after transferring his daily responsibilities over a two-year period. One of the key people taking on Gates' responsibilities is technology luminary Ray Ozzie, who developed Lotus Notes and came to Microsoft when it acquired his company, Groove Networks Inc., in 2005.

The move will end an era at Microsoft, which Gates founded in 1975 with childhood pal Paul Allen and has been the public face of ever since. Gates said he is stepping back so he can focus more time on his philanthropic foundation, the world's largest.

The Redmond company on Thursday laid out a plan for other high-ranking executives to take on Gates' duties. Gates and Chief Executive Steve Ballmer also noted that recent corporate reorganizations have been designed to move more responsibility to lower-ranking executives, so the company could more quickly make decisions without Gates and Ballmer.

But, in an interview with The Associated Press, Ballmer conceded that there was no way to replace Gates.

"If we think anybody gets to be Bill Gates, I don't think that's a realistic hypothesis," he said.

Gates stressed that, although he was giving up day-to-day responsibilities beginning in July 2008, he would still play a role at the company.

"I'm not leaving Microsoft," he said.

Gates also said he had no plans to give up the distinction of being the company's largest shareholder.

"I'm proud of that," he said.

My name is Abdulla Hassan, A Bahrain national I have been diagnosed with Oesophageal cancer .It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for anyone(not even myself)but my business. Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only focused on my business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I believe when God gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live my life a different way from how I have lived it. Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my property and assets to my immediate and extended family members as well as a few close friends .I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul so, I have decided to give alms to charity organizations, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have Distributed money to some charity organizations in the U.A.E, Somalia and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this myself anymore. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity organization in Bulgaria and Pakistan, they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them. The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of Eighteen Million dollars ($18,000,000,00) that I have with a finance House abroad. I will want you to help me collect this deposit and despatch it to charity organizations. N/B:KINDLY NOTE THAT 20% of this funds must go to the tsunami victims and another 10% for your effort and time.

Regards,
Mr.Abdulla Hassan.
I WOULD WANT YOU TO REACH ME VIA MY PRIVATE EMAIL IF YOU ARE WILLING TO ASSIST ME.

Not all Americans are like this, but the majority sure is. I've noticed that people don't want to even learn new things. They want to be handed everything, including brains, on a platter. Teachers are having to come up with new inventive ways to teach children, because the parents have passed the laziness down to the children, and they can't even crack open a book. Yeeeessshhh

I have been a couch potato in the past, but I finally opened my eye's and realised that there was more to life than The Simpson's. I still watch TV, but only about an hour and a half every night. I'm usually writing or cooking supper during that time, so I probably don't even watch that much TV. I like Rescue Me, CSI, BONES, and Hannity and Combs for the news. I do miss the BBC, and all of those grand commercials I watched, while in the UK.

Get off your tail America, and make this world a better place. A fellow by the name of Baron wrote a great article a while back, about this very subject. Is America lazy in your opinion?

The Tour of the North parade has sparked trouble in the past.

However, the North and West Belfast Parades Forum and the Ardoyne Parades Dialogue Group have reached an accommodation over it.

The marchers have agreed to limitations on a contentious part of the return leg of the parade while residents will stage a smaller protest.

The return parade will proceed down the same route as normal but will consist of only one band, a single banner and representatives only of the constituent lodges.

Music will not be played along the contentious part.

The Parades Commission has said it will not now make a ruling on the parade.

Tommy Cheevers, of the West Belfast Parades Forum, said they hoped this year's resolution would lead to the wider parades issue being settled.

"We've taken risks, the people of Ardoyne have taken risks," he said.

'Sensitive matter'

Mr Cheevers said they were trying to "create a shared space in that area" through dialogue "instead of bickering over contested territory".

"Anyone intending to cause any problems whatsoever should stay well away. They are not welcome," he added.

Last year, eighteen police officers and 11 others were injured during trouble at the Tour of the North parade.

As Bush's top political adviser, Rove is out from under the cloud of possible perjury charges and is now free to concentrate on helping Republicans keep control of Congress in what looks like a hard fought campaign.

"On June 12, 2006, special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald formally advised us that he does not anticipate seeking charges against Karl Rove," Rove's lawyer, Robert Luskin, said in a statement.

Fitzgerald has already secured an indictment from a federal grand jury against another senior White House aide, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

In October, Libby was charged with obstruction of justice and lying to FBI agents and a grand jury during the investigation. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial in January.

That prompted speculation that Rove, too, could face charges since he had also spoken to reporters in the case.

"We believe the special counsel's decision should put an end to the baseless speculation about Mr. Rove's conduct," Luskin said.

If you are a small business, let's say construction, and two options on who to hire, either a legal American that will demand proper benefits and insurance, or you have an illegal immigrant that does not require any benefits, nor do you have to take out taxes on said person. Who are you going to hire? It is very important that the US government fix this issue. I don't blame people for wanting to have a better life, so I'm blaming the companies hiring them. Personally, I do not believe that this would be a good move for the American people. Yes, the wages need to be hiked, but not such a dramatic amount at such crazy future-less time in America. I don't believe it will be passed, for it is a part of a much larger bill, which is funding health-care and educational programs. What is your say?

Seven Appropriations panel Republicans voted with Democrats to approve the wage hike, including John Sweeney and Jim Walsh of New York, Ray LaHood of Illinois, Jo Ann Emerson of Missouri and Don Sherwood of Pennsylvania.

"Now we'll see what they do with it." said Minority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who sponsored the wage hike, based on a bill by Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., to raise the wage in three increments over two years. "We're going to make a very pointed issue out of this."

When adjusted for inflation, the $5.15 per hour wage is the lowest it has been for 50 years, according to a study by Center for Economic and Policy Research, a liberal-leaning think tank.

"The minimum wage is lower than it has been at any time since 1956," said Miller, the top Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee. "Congress' refusal to raise the minimum wage shows an utter disrespect for millions of Americans who work hard every day and still struggle to meet even the most basic needs."

But Republicans counter that raising the wage would provoke inflation and lead to job losses, especially for young people just entering the job market.

At $5.15 per hour, a worker who works 40 hours a week for 52 weeks a year earns $10,712 per year.

I've had a lot on my mind, since returning from the trip. It seems at times that the whole world starts spinning faster and faster, until spiraling out of control, as it is today, but there is always hope. Never give up hope, whether it be love, job, dreams, ambitions or whatever you hope to aspire in life, never give up, because the minute you give up, is the minute you begin dying on the inside. Life is too short to drowned in your own sorrow, for you've got to get out and enjoy life to the fullest. Have a grand Sunday everyone.

I'm working on a new podcast episode, so I may possibly have it up by tomorrow afternoon. Thanks to everyone for all the kind comments, and thanks to all the kind and welcoming people in Belfast, Northern Ireland that I met. I may come back on my Christmas break, if things work out the way I hope.

MUNICH, GERMANY — Germany beat Costa Rica 4-2 Friday in the opening match of the World Cup. Germany captain Michael Ballack missed the game with an injury but striker Miroslav Klose celebrated his 28th birthday by scoring two goals. Paulo Wanchope also had two for Costa Rica.

Defender Philipp Lahm, still wearing a special brace after surgery on his left elbow three weeks ago, curved a shot from the edge of the box in the sixth minute to put Germany ahead.

Lahm cut in from the left and got the space he needed when Luis Marin slipped, leaving Lahm plenty of time to aim his shot into upper corner.

Torsten Frings added the fourth goal for Germany in the 87th.

Earlier, Germany piled on the pressure and Bernd Schneider fired high from close range, but Costa Rica stunned the hosts in the 12th when Wanchope beat the German offside trap and coolly slipped the ball past goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

Germany has well-documented problems in its young and inexperienced defense and its shortcomings were exposed again — while most of Germany's back line was signaling offside with their raised arms, Arne Friedrich was caught behind Wanchope.

It didn't take Germany long to recover.

Schneider broke through on the right in the 17th minute and passed the ball to Bastian Schweinsteiger, who sent a crisp pass to the far post for Klose to knock in.