Praise and skepticism greet Obama Nobel award

Afghanistan's Taliban mocked the choice, saying it was absurd to give it to Obama when he had ordered 21,000 extra troops to Afghanistan this year.

"The Nobel prize for peace? Obama should have won the 'Nobel Prize for escalating violence and killing civilians'," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location.

Japanese President Yukio Hatoyama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel both said the prize should encourage everyone to help Obama rid the world of nuclear weapons.

"I think the peace prize was given with such a hope," Hatoyama told reporters on a visit to Beijing.

A surprised world greeted the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to U.S. President Barack Obama with a mixture of praise and skepticism on Friday.

In its announcement, the Norwegian Nobel Committee hailed Obama's "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg made clear the award carried big expectations, saying: "This is a surprising, an exciting prize. It remains to be seen if he will succeed with reconciliation, peace and nuclear disarmament."

Merkel said Obama had shifted the tone toward dialogue in a very short time. "There is still much left to do, but a window of possibility has been opened," she said in Leipzig.

In the Middle East, chief Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erekat said the award could be a good omen for the region.

"We hope that he will be able to achieve peace in the Middle East and achieve Israeli withdrawal to 1967 borders and establish an independent Palestinian state on 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital," he told Reuters.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told army radio the prize should enhance Obama's ability "to contribute to establishing regional peace in the Middle East and a settlement between us and the Palestinians that will bring security, prosperity and growth to all the peoples of the region."

Saleh al-Mutlaq, a senior Iraqi Sunni Muslim lawmaker, told Reuters: "I think he deserves this prize. Obama succeeded in making a real change in the policy of the United States -- a change from a policy that was exporting evil to the world to a policy exporting peace and stability to the world."

In Indonesia, Masdar Mas'udi, deputy head of the largest Muslim organization Nahdatul Ulama, said: "I think it's appropriate because he is the only American president who has reached out to us in peace. On the issues of race, religion, skin color, he has an open attitude."

teacup piglets for sale, teacup pigs, teacup pigs for sale, teacup pig, teacup pigs as pets

Some contend pigs are smarter than dogs and they don't bark. They just oink politely. About 14 inches and 65 pounds at full growth, the pink-nosed cuties sell for about $1,100, the price of a prize spaniel and roughly the same size.

Following her appearance on the "Today" show this morning, UK piglet breeder Jane Croft, had already received 500 emails within hours. So why not line up to have your own teacup piglet?

Look out! Here come the teacup piglets! You can bet the latest craze in the UK for pet piglets will catch on here in an American minute.

It's no joke that pigs are very smart and clean, despite their reputation for wading gleefully in mud. My first husband was raised on a farm and had a pet peg that was intelligent and friendly. (Unfortunately, said husband had neither of those attributes).

This is no pet to buy on a whim. A lot of homework is required first. Bringing Miss Piggy home could be hazardous to her health if your Labrador smacks his lips thinking she'd be tastier than plain old Purina.

It also concerns me that people will buy piggies instead of adopting perfectly nice dogs or cats sitting in shelters. After seeing the adorable creatures on TV, I'm never going to eat another pork chop.

Heidi Strobel, Cole Hamel's Wife, Could Give Birth While He Pitches in the NL Division Series

The very pregnant former Survivor: The Amazon contestant is due any day, and at a crucial point in her 2008 MVP husband's pitching career. The whole scenario will make for a great childhood story for their child, someday, but for now we bet the potential double-booking of birth and baseball playoffs is pretty stressful.

Cole Hamel's wife Heidi Strobel might not be watching the Philidelphia Phillie's starting pitcher in the second game of the National Leage Division Series this afternoon -- instead, she might be giving birth.

Heidi finished in fifth on the reality show, and even landed a steamy Playboy photoshoot with another contestant after the ladies were booted off the program. She's been married to Cole since 2006.

Will Jennifer Hudson's Baby Really Take After David Otunga?

The singer's fiancé, a Harvard Law graduate, first came to prominence when he appeared as "Punk" on VH1's "I Love New York 2," where he vied for the affections of "Flavor of Love" reject Tiffany "New York" Pollard. After ending up as one of the finalists on the show in early 2008, he signed on with Florida Championship Wrestling — a development league for World Wrestling Entertainment. He made his wrestling debut this May under the name Dawson Alexander Esq. and won his first match. In keeping with his legal background, his signature finishing move is called the "Verdict."

The world will get its first glimpse of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson's nearly 2-month-old son, David Jr., in an upcoming issue of People magazine. After keeping her pregnancy a virtual secret over the past year, the R&B opens up for the cover story, discussing her joy at being a mom and revealing that the little one is already taking after his dad.

For fans of reality TV, it might be hard to imagine an infant taking after David Otunga, who's built quite an interesting resume in his 29 years.

Hudson met the Elgin, Illinois, native in 2008, and the two got engaged six months later on her 27th birthday in September, a month before the murders of her mother, brother and nephew. Otunga has yet to make a statement about the child's birth, but Hudson told People that it was easy to keep the baby a secret because she didn't show until she was seven months pregnant. As for what her hopes are for David Jr., she said the couple will, "definitely encourage education. His father is an education fanatic so we definitely want him to get an education and go to school. ... My mom always said, 'Whatever you want to do, I'll support you as long as you're happy.' So I will do the same."

Oct. 8 — HAMELS’ TURN

Manuel has talked about using Ryan Madson in the ninth inning. He insists he hasn’t ruled out using Brad Lidge, although the presence of starters J.A. Happ and Joe Blanton in the ‘pen during Games 1 and 2 likely confirm the suspicion that Manuel has lost all trust in Lidge. Really, though, the Phillies’ best option to close games is their starting pitcher. Lee threw a 94-mph fastball past Garrett Atkins yesterday to finish the Rockies, and you can bet Manuel and Dubee would love to see Hamels go the distance today. Remember the 2005 ALCS, when the White Sox won four straight games with Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia and Jose Contreras pitching four consecutive complete games? As unlikely as it may be, the Phillies would love to get a similar performance in the NLDS from Lee, Hamels and either Blanton or Happ.

Lee did his part. Now, it’s up to Cole.

Assuming his wife, former Survivor contestant Heidi Strobel, doesn’t go into labor first (she’s due any day now), Cole Hamels will take the mound at 2:37 p.m. for Game 2 of the NL Division Series. And while expectations couldn’t be much higher for the 2008 World Series MVP, he’ll have a tough act to follow after co-ace Cliff Lee threw a complete-game, six-hitter yesterday.

By now, you know all about Lee’s postseason debut. He threw 25 of 32 first-pitch strikes, retired 23 of 26 batters after Yorvit Torrealba’s leadoff double in the second inning, and left the field to chants of “Let’s Go, Lee!” from the largest crowd in the 6-year history of the Bank. But Lee’s biggest accomplishment was completing the game in only 113 pitches and, for at least one day, assuring that Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee wouldn’t have to answer the question that threatens to undermine the Phils’ quest to repeat as World Series champs: Who’s the closer?

Now, it’s Hamels’ turn.

How important is a 1-0 lead in a best-of-five Division Series?

According to MLB.com, teams that win Game 1 are 25-3 in the NL Division Series. For whatever reason, AL teams have had a much easier time coming back from 0-1 series deficits, going 14-14. The three NL teams to come back from 0-1 deficits in the Division Series: 1999 Braves, 2000 Mets, 2003 Marlins.

Also convicted of conspiracy and forgery was Francis X. Morrissey, 66, a lawyer who worked for Marshall. Morrissey could face eight years in prison.

Marshall, a Broadway producer and former U.S. diplomat, was accused of coercing his mother to alter her will in the last years of her life to ensure he gained full control of her nearly $200-million estate.

Prosecutors said Astor -- who died in 2007 at age 105 and who suffered from Alzheimer's disease -- was unable to understand the ramifications of her decisions when she altered her will.

Reporting from New York - After nearly two weeks of deliberations, a jury today convicted Brooke Astor's son on charges of grand larceny and conspiracy in a scheme to force the philanthropist and New York socialite to change her will before she died.

Anthony Marshall, 85, showed no emotion as the verdict was read in a packed courtroom. Found guilty on 14 counts, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

The defense countered that Astor suffered only moments of confusion and that she was lucid during her meetings with lawyers to discuss her will. In lengthy closing arguments, defense lawyers exhorted jurors to consider only Astor's demeanor during those brief meetings.

After the verdict, Marshall and his wife, Charlene -- whom prosecutors had portrayed as a money-grubbing daughter-in-law -- walked stone-faced from the courtroom.

"I love my husband!" Charlene Marshall cried out as the pair, he leaning on a cane and clutching his wife's hand, pushed through a crowd of reporters and photographers without further comment. They drove off in a black limousine.

Morrissey followed minutes later, declining to comment.

The jurors did not speak to reporters afterward. However, in recent days they had made clear they were struggling to decide on at least some charges. On Tuesday, the judge turned down a defense request for a mistrial after one juror reported feeling personally threatened during the deliberations.

After the verdict, the jurors were put into a van and driven away from the courthouse .