Highest Speed Limits – Find out what some of the highest speed limits are across the country. Highways that are built by the federal government are still reduced to 55 mph. However, state roads are very different.

We will review the highest speed limits around the country. Some of the rural states have anywhere from 65 mph to 80 mph. Here’s a list on how fast you can go in some of the states.

Texas – While it’s not throughout the entire state, there are a few stretches of highway in Texas where the speed limit is an impressive 80 mph.

Utah – Similar to Texas, Utah also has a few stretches of highway where drivers can accelerate to 80 mph.

The rest of the states with the highest speed limits come in at allowing drivers to go up to 75 mph on selected freeways. These states are: Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Arizona, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Wyoming.

The National Maximum Speed Law (NMSL) in the United States was a provision of the 1974 Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act that prohibited speed limits higher than 55 mph (90 km/h).

It was drafted in response to oil price spikes and supply disruptions during the 1973 oil crisis. While gasoline consumption was expected to fall by 2.2%, the United States Department of Transportation calculated actual savings at 1%. Independent studies suggest savings as low as a half percent.

The law was widely disregarded by motorists and most states subversively opposed the law. Actions ranged from proposing deals for exemption to minimizing speed limit enforcement.

The NMSL was modified in 1987 and 1988 to allow up to 65 mph (105 km/h) limits on certain roads. Congress repealed the NMSL in 1995, fully restoring authority to determine the the maximum speed limits for each state to the U.S. States.

I have some “street cred” when it comes to Mother’s Day: I am a mother, I’m expecting, and I work for an organization called mothers2mothers.

I’m sure some of you have a special mom in your life and have forgotten that Mother’s Day is on Sunday. I’m here to help. The following are some suggestions for last-minute Mother’s Day gifts:

1. An Experiential Gift

I like to spend time with my son doing new things. Since he’s one, everything’s new. But it’s great to do something we both would enjoy and to see his face light up at the discovery of something he’s never seen, heard, or done before. Even a swing is special. So figure out something for your special mom to do with her brood that is fun for both.

2. Something With My Child’s Name On It

Not big. That’s so pre-recession. But I’m enchanted by the thought of having a little token I can look at with my son’s name on it, and adding another when the baby’s born. Could be cheesy if done incorrectly, but it could be a winner.

3. A Thank You

Most mothers like to hear thank you every once in a while and to feel like they are part of a community of mothers. A good way to say thank you this year is to put a note honoring the special mother in your life on the mothers2mothers Tree of Hope: http://www.m2m.org/get-involved/dedicate.html . It only takes a minute, costs nothing, and let’s a mother in your life know you care. Also, the tree represents the love that exists for all mothers, particularly those living with HIV that mothers2mothers serves, so the bigger the Tree the better.

Have a great Mother’s Day.

Lindsay is telling friends, "[Paris] is mean. You don’t have to make fun of serious matters in people's lives to be funny."

We posted the clip this morning from Hilton's new reality show "The World According to Paris" -- in which Paris gives a homeless woman her earrings ... and the woman mistakes Paris for Lindsay.
Paris responds -- "If I were Lindsay, I would be stealing earrings ... not giving them away."

This feud is so 2006.
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April’s job gains were widespread. Retailers, factories, financial companies, education and health care and even construction companies all added new workers. Federal, state and local governments cut jobs.

The data suggest businesses are confident in the economy despite weak growth earlier this year. Payrolls growth increased sharply in February and March, marking the fastest two-month pace of job creation since before the recession began and heralding a decisive shift in the labor market.

“The trend now is definitely up,” former Federal Reserve governor Larry Meyer told CNBC Friday. “The economy is regaining momentum and we are on the path for above-trend growth. This [number] is much stronger than expected.”

However, the jobs report showed the nation’s unemployment rate rose to 9 percent in April from a two-year low of 8.8 percent seen in the prior month. The increase was the first since November, but was due in part to the fact that more Americans have resumed looking for work.

Reacting to Friday’s jobs numbers, Austan Goolsbee, the chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, told CNBC he expected the nation’s unemployment rate to fall if job creation continues at its current pace.

A string of downbeat economic data this week — including a sharp slowdown in the vast services sector, a decrease in hiring by private companies in April and an eight-month high for jobless aid applications — had some worried that April’s jobs report could be weaker than expected.

With gas prices spiking, consumers are spending more to fill the tanks, leaving them with less to spend elsewhere. As a result, consumer spending has weakened and many companies are feeling less certain about the economy's health.

"High gas prices are a big headwind for the economy. It's sucking money out of people's wallets," said Bill Cheney, chief economist at John Hancock Financial Services.

Most analysts agree that the economy has strengthened enough to keep growing this year. And many say the factors that held back growth at the start of the year were most likely temporary. They predict growth will pick up over the rest of the year.

There have been some positive signs. Retailers reported strong April sales, helped by a late Easter. Auto companies reported brisk sales. And factories have expanded production this year at the fastest pace in a quarter-century.

Economists' prediction for a pickup in overall growth is based, however, on gasoline prices stabilizing in the months ahead and then dropping to around $3.50 a gallon or lower near the end of the year.

The national average was $3.99 a gallon on Thursday, according to the AAA.

If gas prices keep rising, consumers are likely to spend less on other goods and services. That could prompt companies to hire fewer workers.
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UN human rights investigators calls on US to disclose whether there had been any plan to capture terror chief
One of Osama bin Laden's wives has claimed she lived in the al-Qaida chief's final hideout for six years without leaving the upper floors of the house, a Pakistani intelligence official said Friday.

The Yemeni-born woman is one of three wives of bin Laden currently being interrogated in Pakistan.

Authorities are also holding eight or nine children found at the compound after the U.S. raid.

Their accounts will show how bin Laden spent his time and could offer glimpses into the inner workings of al-Qaida.

Speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, the official did not say on Friday whether the Yemeni wife has said that bin Laden was also living there since 2006.
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While many Americans are anxious to meet and commend the team of Navy SEALs who raided the compound in Abottabad, Pakistan, and killed Usama bin Laden, one team member would be happy just to receive a doggie treat.

Among the commandos was a heroic canine – a bomb-sniffing dog who was attached to a team member as the SEALs were lowered from a Black Hawk helicopter into bin Laden’s hideout, The Sun reports.

The four-legged soldier has not yet been identified, but some speculate the breed was either a Belgian Malinois or German shepherd, a breed used frequently in raids in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The dogs are well-protected in these dangerous situations, armed with ballistic body armor, protective gear to shield against bullets and shrapnel, and infrared night-sight cameras that provide crucial feedback to troops and warn of potential ambushes, The Sun reports.

There are currently 600 dogs serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, Ensign Brynn Olsen of U.S. Central Command told the New York Times. In 2008, Gen. David Petraeus, current U.S. commander in charge of Afghanistan and soon to be CIA director, called for an increase in the number of dogs used by the military.
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“The capability they bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine,” Petraeus said. “By all measures of performance, their yield outperforms any asset we have in our industry.”

War dogs are trained to seek out enemies who may be hiding inside buildings using their keen sense of smell. They also learn to attack anyone carrying a weapon, and how to detain suspects who try to flee.

Military working dogs have played a pivotal role in the U.S. military since they were first sent to Vietnam as part of the "Top Dog" program. After their service is done, most dogs are available for adoption through The United States War Dog Association.
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Best Mother’s Day Gift Ideas – Here’s a list of ideas to help everyone to choose the best gift for Mother’s Day. It’s that time of year to pay homage to that magnificent woman in your life. According to a latest survery, one of the best Mother’s Day gift ideas is eating at a resturant.

A day at the spa only does a person good. According to a Toluna and Buy survey of over 1,000 adults. More than 23% of survey respondents, pegged spa day as a winner, followed by cards at 20% of the votes.

And, surprisingly, for those that thought the best Mother’s Day gift ideas were flowers, it ranked as the “least desired” at 22%. Flowers, however, tend to be more affordable. But when looking at the data relating to moms who were 55 or older, gift cards captured top ranking with 38% and a new computer second with 25% for most desired present.

According to the National Restaurant Association survey, which took the pulse of 1,000 adults, 58% preferred to go out to a restaurant for dinner on the special day. And 32% preferred lunch, 24% brunch and 10% for breakfast. And why do these moms prefer going out? Apparently it’s a move designed to get some relief from cooking and doing the dishes.

“Our new research shows that more than 75 million Americans will visit restaurants this Mother’s Day, making dining out one of mom’s favorite activities that day,” Annika Stensson, a National Restaurant Association spokeswoman, said in a statement. “Because it is the most popular holiday to dine out, many restaurants offer special promotions and deals for moms and their families.”

Stensson suggested price fixed menus as one of the best Mother’s Day gift ideas. Look for deals on multi-course meals, as well as budget-friendly buffets. Don’t overlook those early bird specials and other off-peak hours and times.

Bar Refaeli  is an Israeli model and occasional actress, most known for her modelling work and for her relationship with American actor Leonardo DiCaprio. She was the cover model of the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Bar Refaeli was born into an Israeli Jewish family in Hod HaSharon, Israel. Her parents, Rafael and Tzipi, own a horse ranch. Her mother was a successful Israeli model in the 1970s under ... More

Bar Refaeli (Hebrew: בר רפאלי‎, born 4 June 1985) is an Israeli model and occasional actress, most known for her modelling work and for her relationship with American actor Leonardo DiCaprio. She was the cover model of the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Bar Refaeli was born into an Israeli Jewish family in Hod HaSharon, Israel. Her parents, Rafael and Tzipi, own a horse ranch. Her mother was a successful Israeli model in the 1970s under her maiden name, Tzipi Levine. Refaeli has three brothers. She began a modeling career at the age of eight months, appearing in commercials. Refaeli had to wear braces in her early years, interrupting her modeling until age 15, when she returned to modeling with the representation of Irene Marie Models. Refaeli began her modeling career before the age of 8 months for a baby commercial. By age 15, she was featured in campaigns for the fashion brands Castro and Pilpel, also starring in a commercial for Milky. Refaeli won the title "Model of The...
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Date of birth:

* Jun 4, 1985 (age 25 years)

Place of birth:

* Hod HaSharon, Israel

Height:

* 1.74 m (5.71 ft )

Religion:

* Jewish

Also known as:

* Bar Refaeli,
* bar_refaeli

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People