Many entertainers can tell you the best restaurants around the world. But Natalie Cole might be the only one who can steer you toward the best dialysis clinics.
The Grammy Award-winning singer spent eight months on dialysis after both her kidneys failed following aggressive chemotherapy to fight hepatitis C, which she says she developed after years of drug abuse and addictions.

Once doctors stabilized her condition through dialysis and put her on a transplant list, she was back on the road singing her classic mix of R&B, pop and jazz.

The only difference now was that wherever she played, she had to first make sure a dialysis clinic was available.

"I couldn’t believe that I was relegated to [dialysis] three times a week, 3 1/2 hours a day," she said with a sigh during a call from a Mississippi casino, where she was performing recently. "I didn’t want to sit around and feel sorry for myself. That wasn’t an option."

Based on her travels through Europe and Asia, Cole says virtually every dialysis clinic she visited measured up to American standards.

"There was an amazing [clinic] in Istanbul," she says, "and then I found out that there were 20 just like it. Some of their techniques may be different than ours, but in the end they get the job done, and that’s the most important thing."

For Cole, who rings out 2009 tonight on the stage of the Tropicana and then performs the first show of 2010 Friday night, the clock can’t strike midnight fast enough.

"I’ll be glad to see [2009] go," she says.

The year was an emotional rollercoaster for the 59-year-old daughter of the late and legendary crooner Nat "King" Cole. Last May, while sitting at the hospital bedside of her sister Cookie, who was dying of cancer, Cole was told a donor kidney was available. She then spent hours wrestling with the decision of whether to have the transplant, knowing if she did she probably would never see her sister again.

Cole’s family prevailed upon her to choose life, and the transplant went off without a hitch. During the surgery, Cookie Cole died.

Four months later, Cole went back to work Sept. 9 with a concert at the fabled Hollywood Bowl.

"It’s everywhere," she says of kidney disease. "There are people in dialysis all over the world. And there’s so much we don’t know about the kidney."

She’s joined the board of directors of UKRO — the University Kidney Research Organization — in an effort to raise awareness about the need for more research.

Throughout her illness, Cole says music helped her through the more difficult spots, which was primarily why she refused to stop working.

"As soon as I would start singing, I would feel happy. I would be like, ‘God, at least I have my voice.’ And that meant a lot to me."

Many entertainers can tell you the best restaurants around the world. But Natalie Cole might be the only one who can steer you toward the best dialysis clinics.
The Grammy Award-winning singer spent eight months on dialysis after both her kidneys failed following aggressive chemotherapy to fight hepatitis C, which she says she developed after years of drug abuse and addictions.

Once doctors stabilized her condition through dialysis and put her on a transplant list, she was back on the road singing her classic mix of R&B, pop and jazz.

The only difference now was that wherever she played, she had to first make sure a dialysis clinic was available.

"I couldn’t believe that I was relegated to [dialysis] three times a week, 3 1/2 hours a day," she said with a sigh during a call from a Mississippi casino, where she was performing recently. "I didn’t want to sit around and feel sorry for myself. That wasn’t an option."

Based on her travels through Europe and Asia, Cole says virtually every dialysis clinic she visited measured up to American standards.

"There was an amazing [clinic] in Istanbul," she says, "and then I found out that there were 20 just like it. Some of their techniques may be different than ours, but in the end they get the job done, and that’s the most important thing."

For Cole, who rings out 2009 tonight on the stage of the Tropicana and then performs the first show of 2010 Friday night, the clock can’t strike midnight fast enough.

"I’ll be glad to see [2009] go," she says.

The year was an emotional rollercoaster for the 59-year-old daughter of the late and legendary crooner Nat "King" Cole. Last May, while sitting at the hospital bedside of her sister Cookie, who was dying of cancer, Cole was told a donor kidney was available. She then spent hours wrestling with the decision of whether to have the transplant, knowing if she did she probably would never see her sister again.

Cole’s family prevailed upon her to choose life, and the transplant went off without a hitch. During the surgery, Cookie Cole died.

Four months later, Cole went back to work Sept. 9 with a concert at the fabled Hollywood Bowl.

"It’s everywhere," she says of kidney disease. "There are people in dialysis all over the world. And there’s so much we don’t know about the kidney."

She’s joined the board of directors of UKRO — the University Kidney Research Organization — in an effort to raise awareness about the need for more research.

Throughout her illness, Cole says music helped her through the more difficult spots, which was primarily why she refused to stop working.

"As soon as I would start singing, I would feel happy. I would be like, ‘God, at least I have my voice.’ And that meant a lot to me."

The celebrity death rumors are back once again. Previously, we saw rumored deaths of Eminem, Will Smith, Taylor Swift, Lil' Wayne, Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears, among others. Today, Sunday, January 24, 2010, we've got new rumors claiming that actor Johnny Depp is dead, with speculation that Johnny Depp car crash occurred. The "Johnny Depp dead" searches have heated up on the internet. So is this news true, and did Johnny Depp die in a car crash?

If the news were true, you'd definitely be hearing about it as a major news story on networks like CNN, CNN Headline News, the Today Show and Fox News. None of these channels, or their associated websites have news of Johnny Depp's demise. You can rest assured that the Pirates of the Carribean and Alice in Wonderland actor is alive and well.

So the answer to "did Johnny Depp die?" is a resounding NO. Some people enjoy starting up fake celebrity death news just to amuse themselves because they have nothing better to do than start internet rumors. The Johnny Depp dead rumors are part of many other celebrity death hoaxes that have been put together, many of which use the common car crash as the means of demise.

The celebrity death rumors are back once again. Previously, we saw rumored deaths of Eminem, Will Smith, Taylor Swift, Lil' Wayne, Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears, among others. Today, Sunday, January 24, 2010, we've got new rumors claiming that actor Johnny Depp is dead, with speculation that Johnny Depp car crash occurred. The "Johnny Depp dead" searches have heated up on the internet. So is this news true, and did Johnny Depp die in a car crash?

If the news were true, you'd definitely be hearing about it as a major news story on networks like CNN, CNN Headline News, the Today Show and Fox News. None of these channels, or their associated websites have news of Johnny Depp's demise. You can rest assured that the Pirates of the Carribean and Alice in Wonderland actor is alive and well.

So the answer to "did Johnny Depp die?" is a resounding NO. Some people enjoy starting up fake celebrity death news just to amuse themselves because they have nothing better to do than start internet rumors. The Johnny Depp dead rumors are part of many other celebrity death hoaxes that have been put together, many of which use the common car crash as the means of demise.

The Pirates of Caribbean actor Johnny Depp got involved this morning on a car accident. Rumors are spreading that johnny Depp is now dead but this is not true! Johnny is in good condition but this car was just been crushed up because of the car accident.
The rumors are also spreading that Johnny Depp was drunk when a tourist spotted the car at the Bordeaux, France. As of now Johnny Depp haven’t answered this issue since he is busy let us wait for more updates about this issue and let’s see if Captain Jack is still alive or no. But we hope i is not really true.

The Pirates of Caribbean actor Johnny Depp got involved this morning on a car accident. Rumors are spreading that johnny Depp is now dead but this is not true! Johnny is in good condition but this car was just been crushed up because of the car accident.
The rumors are also spreading that Johnny Depp was drunk when a tourist spotted the car at the Bordeaux, France. As of now Johnny Depp haven’t answered this issue since he is busy let us wait for more updates about this issue and let’s see if Captain Jack is still alive or no. But we hope i is not really true.

At nearly 2 years old, Frances Quinn Hunter isn't "new," of course. But for the first time, former presidential candidate John Edwards has admitted he fathered the child during an affair with videographer Rielle Hunter.

According to the Associated Press story, it appears that Frances -- known as "Quinn" -- was conceived "during the middle of 2007." That would be close to July 2007, when Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, renewed their wedding vows in honor of their 30th anniversary.

But the most interesting thing about today's story, to me at least, was this quote from Elizabeth Edwards, who reportedly urged her husband to acknowledge his paternity of the child. She has said that whether or not he fathered the child didn't matter to her..."that would be a part of John's life, but not a part of mine."

At nearly 2 years old, Frances Quinn Hunter isn't "new," of course. But for the first time, former presidential candidate John Edwards has admitted he fathered the child during an affair with videographer Rielle Hunter.

According to the Associated Press story, it appears that Frances -- known as "Quinn" -- was conceived "during the middle of 2007." That would be close to July 2007, when Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, renewed their wedding vows in honor of their 30th anniversary.

But the most interesting thing about today's story, to me at least, was this quote from Elizabeth Edwards, who reportedly urged her husband to acknowledge his paternity of the child. She has said that whether or not he fathered the child didn't matter to her..."that would be a part of John's life, but not a part of mine."

When Michigan was looking to add a high-profile nonconference opponent before last season, coach John Beilein figured he should go with what he knows.
He knew Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun well since both were from the Northeast and coached against each other in the Big East for five years.

So scheduling a home-and-home series worked well, even in the middle of the conference season as it will be for Sunday's game at Crisler Arena.

"He mentored me when I first got in the (Big East) league a little bit, telling me how to approach coaching at this level, and it was good," Beilein said Friday. "The basic message was coach one team at a time. He told me an old story about (former St. John's coach) Lou Carnesecca. Coach one team at a time, don't worry about what other people are doing, worry what you're doing. It stuck with me a long time."

That's easier said when Connecticut is the opponent. While there might be potential for Beilein's knowledge of Calhoun to help the Wolverines -- it appeared to make a difference when U-M played the Huskies close in Storrs, Conn., last year -- it might not be significant.

"I don't think it's an advantage either way," said Beilein, 1-3 against Connecticut during his time at West Virginia. "We're not going to surprise each other, let's say that."

When Michigan was looking to add a high-profile nonconference opponent before last season, coach John Beilein figured he should go with what he knows.
He knew Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun well since both were from the Northeast and coached against each other in the Big East for five years.

So scheduling a home-and-home series worked well, even in the middle of the conference season as it will be for Sunday's game at Crisler Arena.

"He mentored me when I first got in the (Big East) league a little bit, telling me how to approach coaching at this level, and it was good," Beilein said Friday. "The basic message was coach one team at a time. He told me an old story about (former St. John's coach) Lou Carnesecca. Coach one team at a time, don't worry about what other people are doing, worry what you're doing. It stuck with me a long time."

That's easier said when Connecticut is the opponent. While there might be potential for Beilein's knowledge of Calhoun to help the Wolverines -- it appeared to make a difference when U-M played the Huskies close in Storrs, Conn., last year -- it might not be significant.

"I don't think it's an advantage either way," said Beilein, 1-3 against Connecticut during his time at West Virginia. "We're not going to surprise each other, let's say that."

On Sunday’s Today show on NBC – during which correspondent Savannah Guthrie filed a report which seemed to credit President Obama for "managing to avoid a depression," while also acknowledging that "the President's once sky-high approval rating slumped as unemployment stubbornly stayed in double digits" – after Guthrie’s report, anchor Jenna Wolfe wondered if Republicans were partly to blame for Obama’s plunging poll numbers.

Hosting former Bush Chief of Staff Andy Card and former Clinton White House Spokesperson Joe Lockhart, Wolfe at one point asked Card: "Andy, you mentioned earlier about the President's popularity. Yes, it's down. Recent polls show his approval rating at 47 percent. Yes, the economy accounts for much of that drop. How much of it can be linked to unified opposition from Republicans for initiatives like health care?"

Below is a transcript of Savannah Guthrie’s report, followed by the interview with Andy Card and Joe Lockhart from the Sunday, January 17, Today show on NBC

On Sunday’s Today show on NBC – during which correspondent Savannah Guthrie filed a report which seemed to credit President Obama for "managing to avoid a depression," while also acknowledging that "the President's once sky-high approval rating slumped as unemployment stubbornly stayed in double digits" – after Guthrie’s report, anchor Jenna Wolfe wondered if Republicans were partly to blame for Obama’s plunging poll numbers.

Hosting former Bush Chief of Staff Andy Card and former Clinton White House Spokesperson Joe Lockhart, Wolfe at one point asked Card: "Andy, you mentioned earlier about the President's popularity. Yes, it's down. Recent polls show his approval rating at 47 percent. Yes, the economy accounts for much of that drop. How much of it can be linked to unified opposition from Republicans for initiatives like health care?"

Below is a transcript of Savannah Guthrie’s report, followed by the interview with Andy Card and Joe Lockhart from the Sunday, January 17, Today show on NBC

DENVER -- The Denver Broncos and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan have agreed to part ways.
Nolan becomes the third member of coach Josh McDaniels' inaugural staff to depart following a disappointing 8-8 finish. Offensive line coach Rick Dennison left for Houston's staff and longtime running backs coach Bobby Turner was reunited with Mike Shanahan in Washington. Both Dennison and Turner were holdovers from the Shanahan era.

"I can't say anything other than Josh and I mutually agreed to part ways," Nolan said on Monday, according to The Denver Post.

Before the split, Miami sent in a request for permission to interview Nolan, sources close to the situation told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Nolan now will talk to the Dolphins about becoming their defensive coordinator.

Nolan, who engineered the Broncos' switch to a 3-4 defensive alignment, was McDaniels' first hire. McDaniels lined up Nolan to help revamp what had been a deplorable defense.

McDaniels said in a statement released Monday by the team: "I have great respect for Mike and wish him success in the future."

As a potential replacement, the Broncos already are discussing former Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who worked with McDaniels in New England, sources told Schefter.

DENVER -- The Denver Broncos and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan have agreed to part ways.
Nolan becomes the third member of coach Josh McDaniels' inaugural staff to depart following a disappointing 8-8 finish. Offensive line coach Rick Dennison left for Houston's staff and longtime running backs coach Bobby Turner was reunited with Mike Shanahan in Washington. Both Dennison and Turner were holdovers from the Shanahan era.

"I can't say anything other than Josh and I mutually agreed to part ways," Nolan said on Monday, according to The Denver Post.

Before the split, Miami sent in a request for permission to interview Nolan, sources close to the situation told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Nolan now will talk to the Dolphins about becoming their defensive coordinator.

Nolan, who engineered the Broncos' switch to a 3-4 defensive alignment, was McDaniels' first hire. McDaniels lined up Nolan to help revamp what had been a deplorable defense.

McDaniels said in a statement released Monday by the team: "I have great respect for Mike and wish him success in the future."

As a potential replacement, the Broncos already are discussing former Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who worked with McDaniels in New England, sources told Schefter.

After his rivals had faltered, Jeremy Abbott turned what was expected to be a close competition into a rout, winning his second straight national men's figure skating title with a tour de force in today's free skate at the U.S. Championships in Spokane, Wash.

Abbott opened with a quadruple jump and followed it with more than four minutes of technical mastery and poised presentation to win the title by 25.03 points over reigning world champion Evan Lysacek.

Lysacek, whose performance was described as "labored" by his coach, Frank Carroll, and third finisher Johnny Weir probably will earn the three men's spots on the U.S. Olympic team. That decision was to be announced today.