Jay Leno An Emotional Jay Leno Bids Goodbye to ‘Tonight’

Johnny Carson’s departure from the “Tonight” show was an abdication. Jay Leno’s last show, on Thursday, was closer to a retirement party -- a bittersweet send-off for a loyal executive pushed out after 22 years.

“It’s fun to kind of be the old guy and sit back here and see where the next generation takes this great institution,” Mr. Leno said about his successor, Jimmy Fallon. More gamely than convincingly, he added, “But it really is time to go and hand it off to the next guy, it really is.”

Ratings in the last week soared, but it wasn’t that audiences were anticipating a train wreck or a cultural milestone. Many viewers weren’t feeling loss so much as pinpricks of projected anxiety: Mr. Leno’s emotional last bow was poignant not because he is a legendary figure who can never be replaced, but because he is the nice guy who worked really hard, did a great job and will barely be missed come Monday morning.

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Jay Leno, who will leave the “Tonight” show on Thursday after 22 years, with Jimmy Fallon, who will take over his desk.Subdued Send-Off, but Jay Leno Is Exiting on TopFEB. 5, 2014
Newer viewers were like the younger employees down the hall who barely know the retiree, but are still drawn to the drama of a forced exit, and also the free champagne and cake. For his older, longtime fans — his audience’s median age is 57.8 — there was a there-but-for-the-grace-of God frisson: Mr. Leno, 63, is such a familiar fixture of network television that his last hurrah became a dreaded rite of passage, an acting out of people’s deepest fears about their own obsolescence. (That could be the reason David Letterman, 66, of CBS put aside his longstanding grudge against Mr. Leno and congratulated his rival on “a wonderful run.”)

It happens to almost everyone. Thursday night, it was Mr. Leno’s turn. He tapped Billy Crystal, his very first guest in 1992, to be his last, and asked his favorite singer, country star Garth Brooks, to perform. And he smiled through skits and cameos by the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Carol Burnett and Kim Kardashian about his departure. (President Obama paid his respects in a taped message.) Mr. Crystal led what he called the Shut Your Von Trapp Family Singers in a parody of a “Sound of Music “song reworded in his honor.

“There a sad sort of clanging

From the clock in the hall

And the bells in the steeple too

And all the executives that run NBC

Are popping in to say you’re through.”

Mr. Leno let his feelings flow only at the very end, and this time, he didn’t make any of the kinds of jokes about NBC that dotted his last week at the network. “I didn’t know anybody over there,” he said, explaining why he never went to Fox or ABC. Choking up, he added, “These are the only people I’ve ever known.”

Onstage, Mr. Leno was the most accessible talk show host, the kind of comedian who will always do another set or pose for one more snapshot with fans. He started his show every night by wading into a crowd of audience members and shaking hands – or rather pulling hands like a Swiss bell ringer. His jokes weren’t cutting edge, and his references were sometimes dated: in his last days he made cracks about O.J. Simpson and Kathie Lee Gifford in her Carnival cruise days.

He was unfailingly gracious to Mr. Fallon, who was his guest on Monday night and and made a cameo again on Thursday, inviting Mr. Leno to come back to “Tonight” anytime. (Mr. Fallon takes over Feb. 17.) But in the run-up to Mr. Leno’s last show, he didn’t let up on NBC, which replaced him with Conan O’Brien in 2009, and had to reinstate him a year later after Mr. O’Brien flopped. “I read today that NBC said they would like me to be just like Bob Hope: dead,” he joked earlier this week.

Some in the studio audience, taken aback, moaned. “I don’t care, I like that joke,” Mr. Leno replied.

Throughout his tenure, Mr. Leno was both friendly and oddly impersonal: he was a skilled joke teller who didn’t let down his guard or his hair. He wore dark suits and delivered his monologue framed by somber wood paneling and potted plants, a décor better suited to a personal injury law firm.

So when that veneer of blithe professional bonhomie finally dissolved, it was touching and disconcerting to see him shakily say, “This has been the greatest 22 years of my life.” Mr. Crystal noted, “More than anyone I know, you love being a comedian.” And certainly, few have pursued the career so single-mindedly. Mr. Crystal reminded his host than when he was an aspiring comedian in the 1970s, the only decorative touch in his apartment was a poster of comedian Robert Klein over Mr. Leno’s bed.

A farewell tribute on television has its advantages: the honoree gets to listen in on eulogies and witness a preview of the funeral. But there is also a cost: Mr. Leno will be around the next day to see how quickly the mourners mop their tears and the cortege moves on.

That’s perhaps why he chose to quote his predecessor Johnny Carson, who left his audience with the words, “I bid you all a heartfelt goodnight.” It’s not as unnervingly final as goodbye.

Olympic charter Rainbow Google doodle links to Olympic charter as Sochi kicks off

Google has nailed its colours to the mast over Russia's gay rights record in a new Google doodle, which is dedicated to the Olympic charter.

The internet company's logo was presented in the colours of the rainbow flag and also featured images of Winter Games events. The build-up to the Sochi Games, the opening ceremony of which takes place on Friday, has been disrupted by a debate over the apparent conflict between the central principles of the Games and anti-gay laws in Russia.

The doodle linked to search results for "Olympic charter" and quoted from it: "The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play."

There have been widespread protests over the decision to hold the Games in Russia, which bans providing information on homosexuality to under-18s by law. Gay rights activists in 19 cities across the world spoke out earlier this week.

And, in a speech to the International Olympic Committee on Thursday, the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, spoke out against attacks on the LGBT community. He said that "many professional athletes, gay and straight, are speaking out against prejudice".

Dakota Johnson on "Fifty Shades of Grey": "The secret is I have no shame"

Dakota Johnson, who plays Anastasia Steele in the upcoming film adaptation of "Fifty Shades of Grey," will be heating up the big screen alongside Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey when the film comes out next year.

Now, the 24-year-old daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson has posed for a sultry shoot for the March issue of Elle magazine, and is opening up about taking on the role.

"Reading the book, I found myself more interested in the ways they were breaking each other down emotionally than the sex scenes. I think there's a part of a woman that wants to be the thing that breaks a man down," she told the magazine of reading "Fifty Shades."

And she doesn't plan on holding back when it comes to playing Ana.

"I don't have any problem doing anything," she said. "The secret is I have no shame."

The March issue of Elle, with Johnson's full interview and fashion shoot, hits newsstands Feb. 18. Check out an additional photo below:

Amber Alert Pa. children reported taken from Pa. home found

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — Two young children were found safe Friday after they were taken from a central Pennsylvania home by two suspects who were taken into custody, police said.

State police said the 3-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy were taken by two men at gunpoint after an altercation at a Lancaster home at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday, triggering an Amber Alert.

Police said the abductors fled in a black vehicle and could be traveling to Massachusetts but said later that the vehicle was believed to be returning to the commonwealth from New Jersey.

Authorities said the vehicle being sought was stopped at about 7:30 a.m. Friday on Interstate 76 in Philadelphia and two men, ages 23 and 47, were arrested without incident.

‘‘The two children were asleep in the back seat in good health,’’ police said in a statement.

© Copyright 2014 Globe Newspaper Company.

Financial Motivation For Two Year Education

When it comes to college, you are considering an costly proposition any way you see at it. There are however, ways in which you can greatly reduce your overall expenses when it comes to getting your college degree. The first method, which in many cases is the most preferred, is by attending a community college for the first two years of your college educational experience. Believe it or not you can literally save thousands of dollars over the course of spending two years on the community college level.

You will hear all kinds of arguments on why it is better to attend all four years at a university. The universities almost always make these arguments. Unfortunately, their opinions are a little bit biased in these matters. Most universities offer equivalent courses with community colleges meaning that the first two years of study should transfer with no problems or snags along the rocky road to your degree. 

The universities make money each semester you begin class as a student. It is in their best interest financially to have you from the beginning rather than as a transfer. In fact, many universities offer lower level classes as auditorium classes. They pack more students into classes and have fewer professors or graduate students teaching the courses and maximize their money off the first and second year students rather than those in upper level courses. Yet another reason to consider a community college for the first two years of you education.

Getting back to the expenses of a community college, most community colleges are largely commuter campuses. This means you wont face the high housing costs that are associated with universities, particularly if you are attending college close to house. Community colleges also offer far less distractions that cost additional money than most major universities. This doesnt mean that there arent ample social opportunities; it simply means that there are fewer of them. This also leaves fewer distractions than universities gift when it comes to studying.

Community colleges simply cost less every around. While it would be friendly if you could get a full four year education at this level, they are able, for the most part, to save expenses down by not requiring the level of qualification that universities require of their professors for upper level courses. You will have excellent, if not superior quality of education at lower levels than you would have on the university level, but you will also eventually need to move upon to the university level in order to complete your education. 

For this reason, you would do well to save half of your savings over university costs for each of the two years you are attending community college and apply it to your university education. This will ease the burden of the additional costs of the university and feel as though you are paying the similar amount for tuition throughout your education regardless of the fact that you are literally saving thousands of dollars upon your educational expenses.

Some states have educational savings plans that permit parents to save for tuition at current costs by enrolling. These plans lid two years of community college education and two years of university education. By locking in todays prices you are eliminating the inflation. When you consider the fact that college tuition is increasing at an alarming rate this is by far an excellent way to go. You should check with your state and see if they offer a similar plan to parents of younger children and what the requirements are in order to enroll your child today.

If you are looking for a real value in education whether or not you only go for your two year degree of move upon to a university in order to finish your four-year degree you should find that a community college education offers a significant value for the money. Most people find that every penny they spent in a community college was a penny well spent.

Should Early Childhood Education?

Should Early Childhood Education? - Early Childhood Education ( ECD ) is often considered to be secondary education , so many parents who prefer to directly send their children to primary school . Actually , should the child be included in early childhood education ? General Director of Early Childhood Education Non-Formal and Informal ( PAUDNI ) Prof . Lydia Freyani Hawadi said , should children 2-6 years of age were included in the early childhood because kids got experience , socialization , as well as teaching at the most important time in their growth and development .

He explained , ECD can deliver tangible benefits to the development of intelligence and moral child . ECD instill honesty , discipline , love of neighbor , love of country , even on nutrition . According to him , the delivery of basic values ​​is more effective if given early age .

" The essence of early childhood stimulation or stimulation is providing appropriate education to the child's growth and development stage and carried through play while learning approach , " said Reni , vocation , in Nutritalk titled " Growing Importance of Passion in Early Nutrition " by Sarihusada Tuesday ( 21 / 5/2013 ) in Jakarta . 

Unfortunately , at this time the number of children included in the ECD reached 34.54 percent of the total early childhood age children in Indonesia. Though targeted to reach 70 percent by 2015 . Professor of Psychology University of Indonesia explained , the lack of interest of parents put their children to early childhood education is an additional charge before reaching their compulsory education . In fact , early childhood education can even be done informally with government support is done in public places such as houses of worship or a neighborhood health center .

" Research shows that children who participate early childhood tend to be achievers and cheerful , brave , and passionate . Monitoring of children participating in early childhood education up to grade 5 elementary demonstrate their achievement better than children who do not , " said Reni .

Select the appropriate When living in an environment that is already available many early childhood , then the selection of appropriate early childhood education also need to be considered by the parent . According to Susan , a good early childhood education is to provide early childhood education in a holistic integrative .

Reni also explained the terms of the right to choose the child's early childhood . The first requirement is, choose a location close to home . " If it's too far away , the child will be tired on the road so it can not follow the focus of early childhood education , " said Reni .

Second , select a competent teacher and understand the proper techniques of early childhood teaching . And third , obviously early childhood curriculum and incorporate positive fundamental values ​​into it .

Character Education Role In Completing Personality

Character Education Role In Completing Personality - In the beginning , man was born just took " personality " or personality . In general, there are four kinds of human personality and there are a lot of theories that use different terms even use color , but the pattern remains the same . In general there are 4 personality , namely :

1 . Choleric 

This type is characterized by personal likes independence , assertive , fiery , like a challenge , the boss himself. 

2 . Sanguine 

This type of love characterized by a practical matter , always happy and cheerful , like surprises , love the social activities and have fun . 

3 . Phlegmatic

This type of love is characterized by collaboration , avoid conflict , do not like the sudden change , a good interlocutor , like a sure thing . 

4 . Melancholy 

This type is characterized by love with the details , save anger , Perfection , like clear instructions , well-liked routines . 

On top of this is the classical theory and the theory is now growing a lot , and is still widely used as an assay to measure human potential . 

Personality is not a character . Everyone has a different personality . Well from 4 to the personality , the personality each has drawbacks and advantages of each . For example, type koleris identical with those who speak " rude " and sometimes it does not matter , which is often difficult personal sanguine invited to serious , often times the hard invited Phlegmatic definite step and impress passive , melancholy stuck with a personal dilemma " yes " mouthfeel and " no " hearts , and tend perfectionis in detail the lives and this is what sometimes makes others quite the rush . 

Every man can not choose his personality , personality is a gift from God as the creator of human beings are born . And every person who has no definite personality weaknesses and strengths in aspects of social life and each individual . Easy yes , this explanation . 

Well , his character where ? When each man learns to overcome his weaknesses and fix bugs and bring new positive habits then this is called the character . For example , a pure koleris but very polite in expression and instructions to others , a sanguine able to bring herself to be in a serious situation that needs peace and attention focus . That is character . Character education is the provision of views on various types of life values ​​, such as honesty , intelligence , and other concerns . And it is the choice of each individual who needs to be developed and needs in community development , from an early age ( ideally ) . 

Character can not be inherited , the character can not be bought and character can not be exchanged . Characters must be consciously built and developed day by day through a PROCESS that is not instant . Character is not something innate that can not be changed anymore like fingerprints . 

I noticed that many people with bad characters tend to blame their circumstances . They often claim that they raised the wrong way , financial difficulties , treatment of others or other conditions that make them like this now . It is true that in life , we have to face a lot of things beyond our control , but your character is not. Your character is always the result of your choice . 

Know that you have the potential to become a person of character , Seek it . Character , more than anything and will make you a person who has added value . Character will protect everything you value in life . 

Each person is responsible for his character . You have full control over your character , meaning you can not blame others for your bad character because you are entirely responsible . Developing character is your personal RESPONSIBILITY .