Distribution Funds Hancock John Mutual

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A Look Back: The 2007 Reality TV Year In Review

Barba survives Idol's first sixth-season semifinals round, makes the Top 20. Former The Surreal Life housemate Jordan Knight welcomes a second son. More racy photos of Barba surface, Fox remains mum about them. Jennifer Hudson wins the best supporting actress Oscar. Reports that NBC is giving Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham her own reality show emerge. Barba's best friend claims the more explicit photos aren't of her. American Idol's producers announce Barba won't be disqualified over the photos. Ryan Seacrest, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson all voice support for Barba. Former Dancing star Sara Evans claims her husband is stalling their divorce. Paris Hilton learns her traffic stop could result in jail time. Vincent "Big Pussy" Pastore lives up to his The Sopranos character's nickname and quits Dancing with the Stars 4 before the competition even begins.

Restoration brings glow back to BGE and downtown

The Lexington Street construction fences are now down at Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.'s former headquarters. After months of renovation, one of downtown's most dignified office buildings (1916) has been reinvented by being made into apartments. I can't think of a better boost to this downtown Baltimore neighborhood.

I pushed through the big revolving doors yesterday and found the lobby looking the best it's appeared in my memory. This preservation-driven rehab has exposed limestone walls hidden by unfortunate attempts at modernization in the groovy 1960s. Not everything is World War I-era here: The lobby is clean and fresh, with a honey wood tone lobby reception desk and new light fixtures.

Filed under: CollegeBasketball

Look above! I've made my list. I've checked it twice. It doesn't matter who was naughty or nice. Welcome to the fifth edition of PapaBear's Vinyl Flashback. It's the most wonderful time of the year in the PapaBear household and Chirstmas music can be heard around the clock. Unlike some, I never grow tired of a great yuletide tune. So, I present to you a list of 30 Christmas songs that are my all-time favorites. Remember, these are just my personal favorites. If I snubbed a favorite of yours please feel free to mention it in the comment section. As an added bonus I will include a trio of Sing-A-Longs at the bottom of this post. Hope you enjoy! 30. Home for the Holidays - Perry Como 29. Two Step 'Round the Christmas Tree - Suzy Bogguss 28. Christmas All Over Again - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 27.

Bloggers weigh the Iowa caucus results.

I had to watch the Obama speech twice to be sure: But at a moment early in his oration, his crowd responded by shouting, 'USA! USA!'" he writes at the Plank. "I've been slow to fall for Obama. … Still, his emphasis on the 'nation'—one of his most recurrent themes—is also one of his most appealing. I don't think I've ever heard a crowd of Democratic primary voters erupt in a spontaneous display like this. It was a genuinely moving moment, and another leading indicator of his electibility."

Apple stock flirted once again with $200 close

With rumors of a new sub-notebook Mac to be announced there next month, many are speculating that Apple's stock will continue to rise through 2008 as high as $300 per share and beyond.

Helping women start tech firms

Kris Appel stood before investors this week and delivered a seven-minute pitch on the market viability of an exercise device that helps stroke survivors regain their arm movement.

The presentation at a biosciences conference in Baltimore was Appel's latest effort to raise money for her startup company, which grew out of a program that trains and helps women start technology-based businesses.

Called ACTiVATE, the backbone of the program gives women access to technology and research created by the region's laboratories and universities with a goal of commercializing such homegrown innovations. Since its start in 2005, the program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County has produced 12 startups, including Appel's.

Best Answers to Sunday Question ...

I hear, however, that there's strong opposition to changing the area much because residents/biz owners are afraid that higher valuations will drive them out. However, I believe, progress has its cross-hairs on Midtown. And there's nothing that'll stop it. The key is guiding it.

In county of 5,336 lawyers, one made headlines

The ex-American Idol hopeful, pregnant and jailed for violating her probation, got a break when a Tampa judge sent her to drug rehab instead of prison. Fitzgibbons said the treatment will save her life.