News You Know

Recently, the Nobel Peace Prize committee nominated President Obama as the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Award winner. The decision has sent shockwaves throughout the media and the internet. Democrats and Republicans alike don’t see why Obama deserves the award. At least not yet. Even Obama himself was take aback by the news:

“I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel committee,” Obama told reporters in the White House Rose Garden. “I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.”

The way I see it, this isn’t about him, it is about a change in direction and a new way of thinking that he represents. He changed the way the world viewed the United States simply by being elected.

The Award will push and encourage him to promote peace and compassion in the world and he needs all the support he can get, from everyone.

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Some of you may have noticed that today 10/7/2009 the Google logo on Google’s homepage is a barcode.

On this day in 1952, Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver were issued the first patent for a barcode-like product. However, the barcode was not the normal symbol you would see today. It can only be described as a bulls-eye made up of a series of concentric circles(see below).

The barcode as we know it was not used commercially until 1966. By 1970 the Universal Grocery Products Identification Code or UGPIC was created to standaradize the identifiaction system. June of 1974 marked the beginning of UPC scanners in retail stores. The first scanner was installed in Troy, Ohio at a Marsh’s supermarket. One of the first items to be scanned was a pack of Wrigley’s Gum

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As I write this article, the Twins and Tigers are battling it out in the top of the 12th inning at Mall of America Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The score is currently 5 to 5 with 1 out. Whoever wins this game will be flying to New York tomorrow to take on the Yankees in the first post-season game. The Twins have lost to the Yankees 9 times this season including every game in New York. The Yankees announced that they really don’t care who they have to play, in fact, many of the Yankee players said they would not even be watching tonight’s game. One thing is for sure, this weekend has been a GREAT weekend in the beautiful mid-western city of Minneapolis as the 3-0 Vikings took on the 2-1 Packers last night at Mall of America Field and won the game making Brett Favre the first quarterback in NFL history to beat every single team in the league.

Tonight also marks the last regular season game of Minnesota Baseball at Mall of America Field(HHH Metrodome). Next year the Twins will take the field at the new outdoor stadium, Target Field

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Chicago looks like the most likely choice for the location of the 2016 Olympic summer games. Hosting the Olympics in Chicago would bring in more money from a United States television network than if it were hosted in some of the other locations who have made bids; Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo or Madrid.

Fox has publicly announced that they would only enter the TV bidding if the games are going to be hosted in Chicago. While having the games in Chicago would be a nice domestic background, Rio would be the first South American country to host the games filling the desire to spread the games’ influence to a new continent.

Hosting the games in Chicago will most likely also help lure more sponsorship deals. Although, hosting the games in Rio would be attractive for advertisers who’s reach is global.

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Today I am introducing a new section to the NYK website. Each week about mid-week I will post my picks for the upcoming week’s games. My picks are bordered in green.

Detroit @ Chicago 12pm CST

Cincinnati @ Cleveland 12pm CST

Seattle @ Indianapolis 12pm CST

New York @ Kansas City 12pm CST

Baltimore @ New England 12pm CST

Tampa Bay @ Washington 12pm CST

Tennessee @ Jacksonville 12pm CST

Oakland @ Houston 12pm CST

New York @ New Orleans 3:05pm CST

Buffalo @ Miami 3:05pm CST

Saint Louis @ San Francisco 3:15pm CST

Dallas @ Denver 3:15pm CST

Carolina @ Pittsburgh 7:20pm CST

Green Bay @ Minnesota 7:30pm CST Monday Night

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