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WWE Monday Night Raw comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (May 28, 2012) from the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana, and features, according to my cable guide, "all the fallout from Big Show knocking out John Cena."
If you remember, last week's show ended with a big brawl in the ring while Cena went searching for Show in the back. He found him and ended up laid out.
But the big news right now is Brock Lesnar and his status with the company. Is he working Dana White and the UFC to get free publicity for WWE? Is he just playing out a storyline and using his former bosses to further it in an ultimate leap for the Reality Era?
How WWE chooses to acknowledge the situation will say a lot.
Oh, and it's Memorial Day. That could mean a simple tribute (unlikely) or Vince McMahon throwing out the script, having John Cena revert to his Marine character and going over on everyone via superhuman feats of strength (more likely).
All that and more.
Raw starts at 9 p.m. ET time on USA, so be sure to make your way back here to chat with all your favorite Cagesiders during the show. It's always a fun time. Raw live blog after the jump.
Geno here.
Broadcast is live.
Small tribute for Memorial Day. Well done, WWE.
Video package opens the show. Showing footage from Over the Limit interspersed with Cena's promo from last week. All to set up the angle for tonight. They literally just spent the first five minutes of Raw on that video. The three hour shows are going to be so loaded with video packages.
Big Show's music hits at the arena in New Orleans and no one reacts at all, likely because they had the life sucked out of them by being made to watch the Titantron for the first five minutes.
Justin Roberts introduces him and Show has no heat in the "Big Easy."
Finally, some boos when the music stops.
Show just smiles. "You see this? This is me doing my job."
He says it was easy making the fans smile and he didn't mind doing it but make no mistake, his decision was a calculated one. It was all business and he made a good living at it. He's "a business man who just so happened to be a giant."
They start doing the "WHAT?!" chants and he calls them out for it, sarcastically telling them that's why he loves them so much.
So they switch to chanting for Cena, making him stop short on his next sentence.
"I have an ironclad contract with a big fat bonus, which means I'm set for life. It means I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, to whoever I want, and I don't have to be concerned with putting smiles on you people's faces. I'm 7'0'' and 400-pounds; I'm not an entertainer, I'm a giant. Let's face it people, there's no one in my league."
He starts going off on other sports, saying there's no one from the NFL, NBA, or UFC who is in his league.
First UFC reference of the night!
Show continues by saying no one came to his defense when he was begging for his job. He then shows video of Brodus Clay dancing in the ring with kids, which happened just minutes after his segment.
A lot of fans thought that odd. Glad they played it into the storyline.
"My tears were not even dry in the ring and Brodus Clay was out there dancing. DANCING!"
Show is phenomenal on the mic.
He said it hurt to see his friends, Kofi and Truth, just yucking it up and dancing while the fans clapped and cheered along. It was so easy for them to move on. "You people are so shallow," Show says. "You're so phony. But after all that, there's one man, there's one guy that disappointed me even more than all of you. And that mans name is John Cena."
A big reaction for the name drop.
Show says he thought Cena would fight for him, his friend. He thought Cena would lead a mutiny in the back unless John Laurinaitis hired Show back. Instead, he did the following: They then show video of Cena acting like a complete jackass doing the "loser" promo on Laurinaitis.
Cut back to the ring and Show is near tears. "Cena made jokes. I guess that's all I am. I guess that's all I am to you people as well -- just one big joke. Well Cena hurt me when he decided he didn't care. And last week, I hurt him. I knocked John Cena out twice within 24 hours. Now what I'm going to do to John Cena at No Way Out, it won't be pretty. John Cena's not going to be standing across from the ring from a business man. He'll be standing across the ring from a giant."
Show is doing very well here.
He goes on to talk about Cena's loss to Rock, his beating at the hands of Brock Lesnar (first reference for him tonight!), and his loss to Laurinaitis. The combined embarrassment of which will be nothing compared to what Show will do to him at No Way Out.
"And that, that is what puts a smile on my face."
Show walks off after spending 10 minutes in the ring cutting one of the better promos of his career.
CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan goes down tonight. A title shot on the line. So dumb.
Backstage, Santino Marella is lifting the U.S. title like he's using it to work out. He throws his back out, of course.
Commercial break.
Santino Marella vs. Alberto Del Rio -- Del Rio destroys Santino to start. Marella moves out of the way and gets a hip toss and headbutt. He busts out the Cobra but Del Rio gets a kick to the gut and then the Cross Armbreaker for the submission win in about 30 seconds.
That's the U.S. champion that just got squashed.
Ricardo Rodriguez gets in Marella's face to announce Del Rio as the winner. Still no heat for him.
Backstage and Alex Riley is telling Eve she's doing a fantastic job. He continues to kiss ass until Big Show walks up. According to Eve, Show gets to pick his opponent tonight. He walks towards Riley and Alex starts pleading his case. Says he admires Show. He's told to relax, because he's not getting picked tonight but Show does want to send a message to the WWE locker room.
And he throws Riley at the wall before walking off all slow and robotic.
Commercial break.
Tag titles are being defend tonight it appears.
Kofi Kingston and R-Truth vs. Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger -- Kofi and Swagger kick us off. Kingston in early control with leg kicks then a drop kick. He tags in Truth and he does his "what's up" spot and leg drop. That gets a two count.
Swagger ends up reversed onto the outside and Ziggler gets in the ring just to get head kicked by both and then sent to the outside to join his buddy Swagger.
Commercial break.
Swagger has control of Kingston and they run video from the commercial break showing when the heels took over. Kofi trying to fight out of a bad position but he ends up in the wrong corner and Swagger shoulder blocks him to death.
They set up a hot tag and Truth comes in to clean house. He gets a roll up on Swagger with the crowd hot as hell for a finish but Swagger kicks out. DDT gets two thanks to Ziggler making the save. Kingston comes in to send him out. Swagger looks for a quick roll up but Truth kicks out. Not long after he hits his finisher and that's good enough to get the pin to retain the tag titles.
They show Vickie Guerrero all upset on the outside and Lawler says she's mad because they know they're going to have to go to the back of the line.
In the ring and Ziggler is yelling at Swagger saying, "I'm better than this." He walks away from Swagger and Vickie as they yell at him.
Backstage and Santino is walking with a WWE employee. Show comes into the picture and the WWE employee says, "Show, he's hurt."
Show grabs Santino by the face and says maybe he'll pick him because he wasn't around to help him out.
Brodus Clay comes in and tells Show he should pick him for his match tonight and he'll give him something else to cry about. Show says okay but don't worry about dancing, cause when Show's done with him, he won't be able to walk.
Commercial break.
John Laurinaitis makes his first appearance and he's still in his People Power wheelchair flanked by Eve and David Otunga. What a trio.
"Ace" says he has a few announcements.
1. Big Show vs. Brodus Clay will be going down tonight.
2. Big Show vs. John Cena at No Way Out will take place in a steel cage.
3. John Laurinaitis is now the most popular superstar of all time.
He says he has proof to back up that last claim and he starts talking about the WWE '13 video game cover. They drumroll and reveal a cover for an XBOX 360 game that has Laurinaitis on the cover.
"This game is going to be bigger than Pacman!"
What an awesome line.
CM Punk's music hits and he's out to interrupt the celebration.
"Pacman, huh? That's a very timely reference. It makes sense, though, considering neither Pacman nor yourself have any testicles whatsoever."
Terrible. Punk is terrible.
Punk says the actual cover of WWE '13 features a guy who is a whole hell of a lot better looking. Pyro goes off and the cover with Punk drops down.
"I've never got to tell you this face to face but mine is a whole hell of a lot bigger than yours. Would you look at that? I see Eve over there, I know she's looking at it."
Seriously, Punk is garbage.
He tells "Ace" to take Otunga and the hoeski and leave. After some more trash talk, he tells Laurinaitis to get out of his ring. He doesn't want to give the Board of Directors any more ammunition to fire at him. Laurinaitis says good luck and walks out to Punk's music.
Punk proceeds to destroy the Laurinaitis cardboard cover that was left in the ring. He didn't do an elbow drop on it, so he fails miserably.
Commercial break.
CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan -- They show replays of Bryan costing Kane his match from Smackdown last week. That's called foreshadowing, folks.
I missed the opening to the match but it looks a lot like the other matches they've had. Plenty of moves we're not used to seeing in a WWE ring, with Punk throwing submission attempts this time. Bryan hits a dropkick off the top, then a dive to kick Punk out of the ring.
He goes for another but misses and Punk takes control.
Suddenly, AJ comes walking out and Punk is staring daggers at her. She's wearing Punk gear head to toe.
Commercial break (at the worst time).
We come back and Michael Cole literally just said Punk "tried to reason with AJ last week and she even burst out crying." Seriously, the psychology in WWE is so fucked.
Meanwhile, Bryan takes control of the match before Punk comes back with body kicks. The comeback is snuffed out and Bryan has yet to even acknowledge AJ's presence.
He goes to the corner and does his YES! chant before hitting a dropkick. That only gets two. He works an arm until Punk battles back with forearm shots. Once again, though, Bryan snuffs out the comeback attempt.
He tries to go off the ropes but Punk gets a knee out for a rest spot. AJ is perfectly creepy/adorable staring at Punk longingly on the outside.
Punk's comeback is in force and he's selling the arm with every move, holding it close to his body. Until he hits the neckbreaker, which gets two.
High knee in the corner but the follow up bulldog is countered. Roll up from Punk gets two.
They battle back and forth leading to a Bryan superplex from the top rope. He looks for the pin but Punk kicks out at two and a half. AJ starts looking really concerned. Bryan goes over and undoes the top turnbuckle on one corner. AJ jumps up and tries to tell the referee but he doesn't listen, of course, and it gives Bryan time to get the turnbuckle undone.
Punk tells AJ to get lost. He then runs over for the high knee and it just so happens to be in the same corner Bryan undid the turnbuckle. Bryan sends Punk crashing into it and that's enough to get the pinfall.
Bryan wins and earns a title shot later on.
Suddenly Kane shows up and he's got a chair. He starts killing Bryan with it before chokeslamming him on top of it. Kane then turns his attention to Punk but AJ slides a chair in to Punk so he can avoid any damage. And, actually, he unleashes a few shots of his own.
AJ looks so very hot smiling at Punk destroying Kane.
Punk looks over at AJ, who stays on the outside. Cole calls her "a flat out whack job."
Commercial break.
Christian comes out to make his entrance and while he's doing so, they cut to Cole and Lawler ringside, who say Chris Jericho won't be around tonight because he's suspended but go to WWE.com if you want to find out more. Whatever.
Oh, and Cody Rhodes is out to do commentary for the following match.
Christian vs. The Miz -- Don't worry folks, Miz will be gone soon enough, off to film The Marine 3.
Chrisitan and Miz have a solid match, trading offense with Rhodes talking down Christian on commentary. He also talked up Miz before saying he doesn't need to scout Christian anymore and he's done. He then threw the mic down and walked out.
He stopped at the top of the ramp to watch Christian hit the Killswitch and Frog Splash to get the win.
Backstage and Eve and Otunga are with Laurinaitis. "Ace" is chastising Otunga for tapping to the STF so fast last week. He said he was put in the move twice at Over the Limit and never tapped. Otunga says the move wasn't fully applied then but Laurinaitis shuts him up by saying, "Intestinal fortitude; find it."
He chastises Eve, too. She hold Teddy Long to get her some coffee to start the segment and he comes back just as Laurinaitis is leaving. She takes a drink and spits it out all over Long's white suit. "It's cold," she says, before dumping the entire cup on him.
"It's supposed to be cold. It's iced coffee," Long says to a good reaction from the crowd.
I won't bring up Long being black and playing a slave character. I won't. Promise.
Commercial break.
Following that segment, Jim Ross tweeted the following:
"Teddy Long is going to go angry, pissed off Samuel L. Jackson on they ass. Word."
WWE, ladies and sirs.
Miz is still in the ring and he's got a mic. He's pissed about his match with Christian not being for the Intercontinental title. He's not okay with getting the winning pinfall for John Laurinaitis. He wants an ironclad contract like Big Show.
Randy Orton's music hits and he walks out with a purpose. He doesn't say a word, though, he just walks up to Miz and hits him with an RKO.
While he shows off to the crowd, Dolph Ziggler is shown in the back telling Vickie Guerrero that she needs to get him out of this tag team and "that should be me" while pointing at the screen showing Orton doign his thing.
They cut to ringside and Lawler and Cole are talking about Memorial Day. "No matter what you think about John Cena, you can't deny his patriotism. Let's take you to a video package, prerecorded, of some comments Cena made about Memorial Day."
The video package airs before Lawler says "Happy Memorial Day, everyone."
Commercial break.
David Otunga vs. Sheamus -- Otunga opens with punches but it isn't long before Sheamus takes over and starts pummeling him. Surprisingly, Sheamus lets Otunga come back and get some offense in. I think he just used a diving shoulder block. Now he's got Sheamus in the corner and he's hitting some of the worst punches/forearms in the history of ever. "Clubbing blows," as Cole called them.
You can imagine Sheamus' reaction. He set up and delivered the forearms through the ropes spot not long after and then hit White Noise, one of his finishers, to no reaction.
So he hulks up by pounding his chest and screaming "BROGUE" before hitting the Brogue Kick for the pin.
Looks like Show and Clay are actually the main event.
Commercial break.
Another video replay of what happened at Over the Limit and Raw last Monday night.
Big Show vs. Brodus Clay -- The Funkasaurus comes out and does his usual thing. Show comes out with a mic and starts cutting a promo on Clay saying Show may have done embarrassing things throughout his career, but they were all for business. Clay embarrasses himself on a nightly basis with all the dancing crap.
Hell, maybe he can ditch the dancing thing and paint his face up to be the next Doink. The only difference being Doink actually had talent.
He then comes running down and hits Clay with a spear that looked super good on TV. He starts working Clay over while the Funkettes stand in the ring and hold each other. Clay tries to battle back with punches but Show no sells them and keeps the beating going.
Show starts getting a table ready for Clay and the tag champs come running out. Kingston gets tossed onto Truth, though, and that's that.
Show proceeds to break the announce table just by stomping on it. He picks up a piece of it and smashes it on Clay's back. And another. Damn good looking spot and Clay is down and out.
The crowd starts chanting for Cena while Show hauls off and drills Clay a third time.
With the Funkasaurus totally out of commission, Show turns his attention to Truth, who he tosses up into the ropes like a child. Kofi comes up again and Show sends him flying through a barricade.
Cole perfectly times his, "Oh my god." Perfect tone on it, too.
This is going a long time without Cena showing up.
Show picks up Truth and throws him into the steel steps.
They start in with the replays, one of which was the chokeslam on Truth into the ropes. That was an awesome spot.
Show slowly starts walking to the back while Clay, Truth and Kingston are laid out selling for him. He hits the top of the ramp and Laurinaitis comes out to raise his hand.
Cole says things should be different next week when Cena returns live to Raw.
Fade to black.


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John Connelly
Deep in our hearts we all long for a good king. A leader who will reign over us with love and compassion. A leader who will be fair, just and protect us all from evil. more . . .
Read the rest of entry »
In this week's Gospel, Jesus speaks of two men - a tax collector and a Pharisee.
The parable begins in the following way: "Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else." more . . .

subset: commoncrawl


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Bottom line is he is a proven six year vet and he'd instantly be the 3rd best DE on our roster. We have no depth behind Clayborn/Bennett. If he really is available for a 6th or 7th, we should jump on it.
He doesn't have to be the perfect fit. Maybe he is just a one year stop gap....but he comes from a similar 4-3 defense and he is experienced. We are going to wish we had a guy like him in the rotation.
sure, bring him in for a look. but what makes him any better than george johnson? tapp would be this years...shoot, lost the guys name. DE that played for the chiefs before he became our savior.
Tapp would be an upgrade to a painfully thin line unit. There might be other options available, but to sit still when the Front Office and several high profile players on the team said they were not rebuilding would be silly. If Tapp is available you simply make that call. No more injury reclamation projects Dom. Time to add some solid players along the line. Inquiries should be made.


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AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - The merger of 2 Augusta colleges resulted in big pay raises for some department heads of the new Georgia Regents University.
The Augusta Chronicle reports an analysis of salary data obtained under the state Open Records Act shows overall spending on administration declined 2% when Augusta State University and Georgia Health Sciences University merged this year. However, many department chairs received raises totaling more than $900,000.
One big recipient was Dr. Alvin Head, chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, who got a $71,000 raise. Dr. David Fulton, director of the Vascular Biology Center, got a raise of $53,000.
Susan Norton, the school's vice president for human resources, says raises were given to match market salaries for some administrators and to reward others for increased productivity.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Fishermen Discover Body in River
Cobb police are asking for the public's help to identify a body two fishermen discovered in the Chattahoochee River near an Akers Mill apartment complex Wednesday morning.
Police describe the victim as a black male, about 5'10", with numerous tattoos. Cobb police spokesman Dana Pierce said the body is too badly decomposed to offer any other details about the victim.
Boy, 7, Drowns in Apartment Pool
A Sunday afternoon outing at an apartment pool complex in south Forsyth County turned tragic when a 7-year-old boy drowned.
The incident happened about 3 p.m. at the Centennial Apartments in the Windermere subdivision off Highway 20, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office.
Stephon Alston, of Cumming, had apparently been playing at the pool when his father left the area to go to the restroom to wipe off his face after he had been pushed into the pool. When he came back, he saw his son's swim suit at the bottom of the pool and realized that his son was not resurfacing.
3 Plead Guilty to Theft of Federal Benefits
Three women have pleaded guilty to stealing more than $1 million in federal assistance funds.
They were apparently part of a group that used 13 storefront operations across Georgia to illegally exchange food stamps and other benefits for cash.
Latricia Allen of Savannah, Jewel Allen of Atlanta and Petrina Barge of Decatur entered guilty pleas in the case on Wednesday. The three join Sabrina Sesberry and her husband, Rupert Jones, of Atlanta, who previously pleaded guilty in the case.
Business Organizing Same-Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A
Wednesday's Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, called on by former Arkansas governor and Fox News contributor Mike Huckabee, has drawn a huge response at many stores across metro Atlanta and beyond.
Now up next, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has organized the National Same-Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A restaurants to be staged across the country on Friday, Aug. 3.
A Midtown company, Carma Productions, and its Gayborhood App, have announced that such an event will take place at the at 105 East Trinity Place in Decatur.
March Against Police Violence Ends in Arrests
Friday night's arrests in Midtown were apparently surrounding a Facebook event called the " March Against Police Violence" and not an Occupy Atlanta event as originally suggested by a spokesperson with the Atlanta Police Department.
The rally "against state repression" was reportedly in response to three males who were shot by police in and around Atlanta within a 36 hour period in June, as well as for the protests ongoing in Anaheim, Calif. concerning a pair of police killings last weekend. Read more...
Don't miss any of the local news you care about. Subscribe to West Cobb Patch's free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.


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Reporting on Record One-Month Deficit, AP's Crutsinger Blames 'Lower' Taxes, Not Spending
This afternoon's report by the Associated Press's Martin Crutsinger on the government's February Monthly Treasury Statement, which shows the highest single-month deficit in U.S. history, has more spin in it than the complete library of this group's songs.
A complete rundown would take more space than readers could stand, so let's just concentrate on two paragraphs. Here's the first:
The widening deficit reflects the impact of the tax-cut package President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans brokered in December.
Well yes, but it reflects higher spending to a greater degree.
Consider the results of the past two months, the only two affected by the "tax-cut package," compared to January and February of last year:
Despite the "tax-cut package," which kept income tax rates the same, receipts are up by $25 billion. They might be higher by about $22 billion but for the 2-point reduction in employee Social Security taxes this year. But since receipts are up anyway, how can one claim that they are "widening the deficit"?
But spending is up by more $33 billion, which, for Marty Crutsinger's information, is more than the roughly $22 billion in foregone receipts. If anything, spending should be going down, because the "stimulus" spending of the past two years, which stimulated nothing, is supposed to be almost over. The bigger problem than the "tax-cut package" is that Nancy Pelosi's and Harry Reid's last Congress left spending on auto-pilot when they failed to pass a budget. February's total spending of $333 billion was also an all-time single-month record, something Crutsinger "somehow" forgot to tell his readers.
Speaking of the "stimulus," that brings us to Crutsinger's second putrid paragraph:
It's unusual for an economy to be running record-high deficits this far into a recovery. The recession that began in December 2007 ended in June 2009. The problem is that the financial crisis and the recession that followed fueled explosive deficit growth.
(Aside: The recession as normal people define it began in July 2008 and ended in June 2009. No amount of propagandizing by the National Bureau of Economic Research will ever change that.)
What's "unusual" is that instead of doing what works, i.e., cutting taxes and lightening up on oppressive regulation, the administration did the opposite, spending like mad and intervening in the economy on an unprecedented scale, thereby introducing massive uncertainty into the economy when it could least afford it.
Crutsinger acts as if the government and the administration had no choice, and as if "stimulus" and explosive deficit growth (try over $4 trillion in three years by the time we get to the end of the current fiscal year) was the only available solution. It wasn't.
Beyond that, the ridiculous growth in spending in many areas of the government has nothing to do with either the "financial crisis" or the recession. Some specific examples through five months of the fiscal year compared to last year's first five months (increases are calculated on actual and not rounded numbers):
- Dept. of Energy -- $14.0 billion vs. $11.1 billion, a 26% increase
- EPA -- $5.0 billion vs. $3.6 billion, a 37% increase
- Dept. of Agriculture -- $63.3 billion vs. $59.0 billion, a 7% increase (with the unemployment rate declining, shouldn't Food Stamp spending be stabilizing or going down?)
- HHS -- $358 billion vs. $342 billion, a 4.7% increase (how much of this is illegal Obamacare implementation spending?)
One more mini-example: Crutsinger joins the "keep spending like mad or economic growth will stall" chorus when he writes that "Even if Republicans achieved their target for spending cuts this year, the 2011 deficit would still be on track to hit a record." So I guess they're supposed to decide that controlling spending isn't worth the bother. Zheesh.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.
- Tom Blumer's blog
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Martin Crutsinger a Failed Maath Student
Submitted by Avitar on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 1:24am.There were no tax cuts. The taxes were kept at the same level and tax hikes were canceled. Martin Crutsinger must be related to the Government bureaucrats who have proven the high end of the Laffer curve to be true. Without people like him 50 million people would not have died in the "Great Leap Forward."
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Speaking of the Spinners, "Rubberband Man" comes to mind...
Submitted by gopcongress on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 1:41am.
From the hit song...Comes the democrats favorite refrain!!
"Hey, y'all prepare yourself
For the Rubberband man
You never heard a sound
Like the rubberband man
You're bound to lose control
When the Rubberband starts to jam"
Yessir.... the Democrats are really going over the deep end for this one.
"The news and truth are not the same thing." -Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)
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Crutsinger's Consistent History Of Being Wrong
Submitted by Boil It Down on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 2:41am.I'm not sure how Crutsinger or anybody at the AP imagined that they wouldn't get beat up over this absurdity they presented. Were they laughing? I have never been acquainted with any employer that would put up with even 5% of Crutsinger's wrong and misleading (lying) "work" before they would be unceremoniously terminated. It is quite obvious that Crutsinger maintains his job and his status because he is a left wing hack, not in spite of that fact. The AP pays him to be "inaccurate", nonobjective and staunchly partisan. One only needs to search the archives of NewsBusters to view a long and shameful history of his deplorable advocacy of wrongheaded and failed "economics" in the name of supporting leftists. The AP has been reduced to a useless and dangerous left-wing propaganda machine that deserves none of it's perceived credibility. The only reason to read the AP reports is to determine what tactics the left is using against the United States in order to counter them.
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Martin Keeps Earning His Nickname
Submitted by stratman on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 3:18am.
... Crudslinger
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I think I have it now.
Submitted by The Vet on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 3:31am.My credit card debt is getting out of hand. I think I am getting to the crux of the problem -- I just don't make enough money. Maybe, if I were paid more.... I think I will quit my job and look for a higher paying job. That will solve my credit card problems.
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You need to charge more also.
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 3:54am.You need to charge more also. For every dollar you spend it will make you 1.4 dollars back.
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It's the economy's fault, stupid
Submitted by WingletDriver on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 7:53am."It's unusual for an economy to be running record-high deficits this far into a recovery." Nice use of the passive voice. The economy isn't run a deficit; the government is. "The problem is that the financial crisis and the recession that followed fueled explosive deficit growth." Yeah, it was the economy's fault. The government has no free will because the economy forces it to run a deficit.
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If you look at this curve, tax collections are the problem
Submitted by TheHistorian on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 8:21am.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Revenue_and_Expense_to_GDP_Chart_1993_... and these data http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxfacts/displayafact.cfm?Docid=205 But the real problem is the dotted line shown in the curve. The deficit expanded the GDP beyond what it would have been without deficit spending. So the taxes are actually within about 1% of GDP of historical if you take out the wildly increased Government spending.
Dennis Prager
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Don't let anybody fool you.
Submitted by Miss_Me_Yet on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 8:37am.
Don't let anybody fool you. The only reason for another one month record high deficit in this country is the failed policies and eqully as failed presidency of Barack Hussein Obama.
It's about time real Americans stop being afraid of being called a racist and themselves start calling a spade a spade. Enough is enough already.
This president continues to put his radical agenda ahead of the future well being of the United States of America, what is it going to take for people to wake up and stop him?
Liberals ... we can't live with them, they couldn't survive without us ...
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Whatever barack_must_go.
Submitted by The Vet on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 9:39am.
Congress was assigned the power of the purse. But you continue on with your one man rage against President Obama by posting utter garbage in every single blog on NewsBusters. If it isn't something that has been said 50 times already, it is posts like this that spur us to action to do what exactly? Are you now advocating armed rebellion?
You were banned once already for cause. Go away. Your worthless screeds hurt our eyes.
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More conservatives, right
Submitted by Miss_Me_Yet on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 10:21am.
More conservatives, right here on NewsBusters would be a good start, speaking out directly against the president of the United States of America, our America, regarding his refusal to stop his course of reckless spending and failed policies that are surely going to bankrupt this country.
So far there are not many conservatives willing to directly link Obama's personal radical manifesto, presented to the American people under the guise of fundamental transformation, as the vehicle that has driven this country to the edge of the cliff, about to drive us over the edge.
The Republicans supposedly holding the purse is of no significance when we're up against a radical community organizer.
Every time Obama has been rebuffed by the Congress, even when it was his own party doing the rebuffing, he simply ran roughshod over the laws of this country, brought one of his many czars up out of the cellar and circumvented the Constitution and the will of the people.
He has implemented hundreds of new stifling regulations on every aspect of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in America through executive order, sweeping covert EPA, FCC and other agency mandates effectively bypassing the Congress as well as We the People.
I refuse to remain silent for another two, possibly 6 years, while one man of dubious origin and character single handedly attempts to destroy my children's future in America.
You on the other hand spend your every waking hour, hiding here obsessed with attacking real Americans like myself, while our country is being destoyed from within.....and I'm the dummy, yeah right.
Liberals ... we can't live with them, they couldn't survive without us ...
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Wow. That was a long screed.
Submitted by The Vet on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 12:13pm.
Too bad I only skimmed it for vulgarities with my vulgarity skimmer and did not read a word of it.
See ya.
A Fake American Veteran of a 1000 Psychic Wars.
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That's fine, you can do what
Submitted by Miss_Me_Yet on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 12:35pm.
That's fine, you can do what you like, as this is still America, for now anyway.
PS: Shouldn't it just be ' Veteran of 1000 Psychic Wars ', without the a?
You're such a stickler when it comes to grammar, wording, etc., I figured I would ask.
Liberals ... we can't live with them, they couldn't survive without us ...
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What, are we buddies now? We having a conversation?
Submitted by The Vet on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 1:17pm.
You are a retread scat troll that brought some of the most profane posts this site has seen including a description of sex acts with children. What part of Go Away confuses you?
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The Vet, "hiding" here,---
Submitted by matthewdean on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 8:01pm.truly a funny line. Hiding so well I hardly ever see a post by him. I notice that only posters who get caught out by The Vet consider him obsessed. Wonder why that is?
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Bull Chit
Submitted by dirtydan64 on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 10:55am.Obama;s own economist came out and said just the other day that the current tax rates have spurred the economy, can't remember his name but I heard him say those words and it was on the Morning Joe show !!! If the Liberal Idiots want to say otherwise there so full of Chit there eye's are Brown !!!
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tax cuts from 9 years ago
Submitted by dmaley1714 on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 12:12pm.can be blamed fordeficits this month, Steely Dan said it best Pretzel Logic
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Old Saying
Submitted by djaymick on Fri, 03/11/2011 - 2:02pm.Every time I hear a Democrat complain about the "tax break", I recount an old saying my parents taught me - never count your chickens before they are hatched. This is what the Democrats did when contemplating their spending spree. They counted on the increased tax rates to justify their spending addiction.
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text:
In English
Radio Helsinki
You arrived here at 05:05 Helsinki time Wednesday 3.9.2014
Matti Vanhanen sets record straight over Prime Minister years
Book takes on perceived media misconceptions
print this
As a politician, former Prime Minister
Matti Vanhanen
(Centre) would have wanted to focus on issues rather than his own persona. However, the media would not let him do that. Vanhanen feels that he was dragged from one controversy to another – from election funding to relations with women.
All of this comes out in a book written by
Eveliina Talvitie
, titled
Matti Vanhanen. Mies joka halusi olla asia
("Matti Vanhanen – a Man who Wanted to Be an Issue").
The book is neither a biography
, nor memoirs. It focuses on Vanhanen's seven years as Prime Minister. However, it is somewhat sparing in revealing background information on politics.
A key focus of the Vanhanen's relationship with had with the media.
The main thread in the bookinvolves Vanhanen's need to break out of the slot that the media built for him.
Vanhanen is especially upset
that the media created an image of him as a family man with his own house in Nurmijärvi, and when this image that the media itself had created was shattered by Vanhanen's divorce, the media felt itself entitled to "violate privacy as much as it wanted".
"Family is kind of like a religion. It should not be mixed with politics", Vanhanen says in the book.
Vanhanen then tries to disengage
from the family values issue throughout the book. At times this reaches humorous dimensions. Vanhanen calls for evidence that he himself would have put an emphasis on family values.
Writer Talvitie looks for evidence on whose basis Vanhanen might "be caught for family values", and manages to catch him red-handed: in the early days of his days as PM, he let journalists into his home, and his family was also in the pictures.
In his book Vanhanen also tells why he announced on the day before Christmas Eve in 2009 that he would give up the post of chairman of the Centre Party, and that of Prime Minister. His children had moved to Lapland with their mother, and Vanhanen wanted to have real free time on his weekends and holidays.
Another image promoted by the media
which annoyed Vanhanen was the notion that he was was someone from the "back woods" with respect to EU policy. According to the book, it was not until the final stages of his term that Prime Minister Vanhanen was allowed outside the corner of Nurmijärvi into which he had been painted.
Talvitie deserves credit for documenting in detail which media outlets Vanhanen is criticising, and for what. In addition to popular gossip publications, the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) and
Helsingin Sanomat
get their share of the criticism.
In addition to the media, Vanhanen criticises Helsinki District Court. He feels that he did not get justice from the court in the legal action that he took over a book written by his former girlfriend.
On Wednesday Vanhanen said
that now, as a private citizen, he is free to criticise the system of justice, as he is no longer bound by the limits imposed by the separation of powers as is the case for politicians.
The writer of the book, Eveliina Talvitie, is Vanhanen's subordinate at the Finnish Family Firms Association, where he is the managing director. In the book Talvitie goes through Vanhanen's rumoured and real relationships with women, from
Tanja Karpela
to hairdresser
, and from
Susan Kuronen
Sirkka Mertala
There had even been rumours that there had been a relationship between Vanhanen and Talvitie. On this issue Talvitie would only say that her own experiences have taught her understanding of those who have been shaken by public controversy.
Previously in HS International Edition:
Vanhanen calls for "garden metropolis" in Helsinki region (8.9.2008)
Susan´s book sets off a media feeding-frenzy (7.2.2007)
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen to divorce after long marriage (7.4.2005)
"Family reasons" behind Vanhanen resignation (23.9.2010)
Vanhanen goes on offensive against YLE over corruption allegations (30.9.2009)
See also:
Politics goes entertainment (5.12.2006)
Helsingin Sanomat
Nokia interim result comes in well above market expectations
Uproar in Parliament over contradictions in loan guarantee liability
UPDATE: Technology unions reject mediation proposal – strike begins Friday
Matti Vanhanen sets record straight over Prime Minister years
Late licences of two Helsinki nightclubs cancelled because of alleged solicitation of sex on their premises
Heavy thunderstorm causes disturbances in Helsinki area
More than half of Helsinki region parents are in favour of quotas for immigrant pupils in classes
Amnesty International criticises Finland for its arms deals with countries in Middle East
Desmond Tutu: "Don't hush up racism"
Back to Top ^


text:
First time I ever got the second bonus round and still wouldn't let me finish up the last round! What's with that???????
Bubble Town
659 Online
659 Online
525 Online
249 Online
222 Online
174 Online
First time I ever got the second bonus round and still wouldn't let me finish up the last round! What's with that???????
oh great game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! tried to play says I've finished must download now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! crap
Great game, but never lets me finish the last chest.
Game won't open for me. Have tried at least 6 times and on different days.
any game on this web site has problems loading,have to go to another web site.
why cant I download the game?
great game
This game will not allow me to replay w/o downloading. I do not wish to download. Once you play thru the game as allowed on trial, you cannot play another trial game.
Good game...It finally worked up to when I have to buy it. Will play it again and see what happens.
Freezes before you get to the second level.
I like the game and want to play it again.
Fun game!
what can you expect for a free game....nothing...lol
stupid game!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this is by far one of the worse games it doesn't down load right and I'm not the only one haveing problems with it
gud timepass
Game won't start. Happens very often on aol so I play in other places.
Fun game but for 160 levels couldn't more than 13 be used before download? Thanks anyway was enjoyable!
Stop switching my rooms on me.. ! If I wanted to be in one of the "cluster-F" chat room's, I'd put MYSELF there...I'm here to play a game....!
GOD..that's annoying.....!
Why can't we play this game again?
Why can't I repeat game Treasures of Montezuma game?
why the score is not fixed yet. it has been over a motn now
this is the worst. why give us games we cant get
What's up with this website, nothing is accessible......
WOW THIS new set up really sucks!! CONSTANT GAME FREEZING! NOT GOOD.
game will not start!!!!
a lot of games won't let you replay them . they want you to download them. I can't get them to play right and they want me to download them , are you kidding. this new site is terrible
This game site must be another boon-doggle........sn-afu...situation normal....all fu---d up.........
Another game that won't load.
Twisted lane shadow town keeps getting stuck on the same steps. The book keeps repeating the same steps I have already finished, and the hints are too late, too. The game doesn't advance to the next step. Another one that is awful is the Montezuma game. I wait till the on line game loads and it tells me to down load the full version. I wouldn't want to download a game that doesn't work. The old games.com is much better. Why wouldn't games.com troubleshoot the new games first before putting them on line? It doesn't make any sense.
AOL might as well not have any games. The new games .com sucks.
I like the old games also,cribbage used to be there but now all i get is this
I love this game lots of fun
can't find anything, I am like the rest. if it aint broke don't fix it
i like the new webs site and i like this game also
i like the old games
hi im new but i really like htis web site anyone with me
put the games back the way they were, new system rotten


text:
Where to Stay in London
Hotel Search
Whatever your budget, find and book accommodation in London. Our guide covers London hotels, B&Bs, self-catering, camping and more.
Early Flight?
Stay on a Shoestring
Perfect for Kids
Top 10 - Where to Stay
- Win a Sherlock Holmes London experience
- Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park
- Travelodge London Central City Road Hotel
- Travelodge London Covent Garden Hotel
- Travelodge London Battersea
- Central London YHA
- Park Grand London Paddington
- Generator Hostel London
- The Savoy, A Fairmont Hotel
- Travelodge London Central Southwark Hotel


text:
Technote (FAQ)
What happens when an IBM Appliance fails and cannot be returned to normal operation through remote troubleshooting and problem analysis with IBM Software Support?
If, after troubleshooting, IBM's Support personnel determines the appliance is defective and must be replaced, IBM will initiate an advance exchange of the defective Machine with a replacement (Machine Exchange Service). In order to be eligible for the Machine Exchange Service, the appliance must be covered by a current IBM Software Subscription and Support agreement (S&S).
To enable IBM to proceed with shipment of a replacement, you must provide the following information:
- IBM Appliance serial number or Machine type, model (MTM) and serial number
- Customer name and ship-to address
- Customer contact name, phone number, and e-mail address
Upon receipt of requested information, IBM will issue a return merchandise authorization ("RMA") number to the designated Customer contact, and a replacement unit will be shipped to the Customer's specified location. Replacement units may be new, reconditioned or functionally equivalent. IBM will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure delivery of a replacement unit occurs within a reasonable time period. Upon receipt of the replacement, you are responsible for installation of the replacement Machine and verification of operation.
To assist with the return of the defective unit, return instructions and shipping materials, including a prepaid return shipping label, are provided with the replacement. Customer may be charged if the defective unit is not received by IBM within 15 days of your receipt of the replacement, or if upon receipt by IBM, the defective unit is not in good condition (excluding defects discovered during troubleshooting). IBM will cancel the applicable RMA and invoice customer for the current list price plus applicable maintenance fees for the replacement Machine. IBM is not responsible for Appliances returned without a valid RMA number.
When a Machine Exchange Service is required, the replacement unit becomes Customer's and the defective unit becomes IBM's property. Customer's license to use IBM Software on the defective unit also terminates at such time.
Your IBM appliance comes with a standard warranty. Please review the IBM Appliance Support Handbook for a description of Appliance Upgrade Service Offerings and to check availability by product (see Related information section for IBM Appliance Support Handbook link and refer to APPENDIX I: Service Upgrade Availability for IBM Appliances).
If the above information does not resolve your issue, please contact IBM Security Systems Customer Support.
Related information
IBM Appliance Support Handbook
|Proventia Network Multi-Function Security
|Not Applicable
|IBM Security Access Manager for Web
|WebSeal AMP Appliance
|IBM Security Network Protection
|Not Applicable
|Proventia Network Enterprise Scanner
|Not Applicable
|Proventia Network Intrusion Prevention System
|Not Applicable


text:
The Real Oz Experience
It was the third time the bus broke down.
Somewhere right outside a small mining community in Western Australia, our bus had enough and it wanted us to know. So with an explosion and plume of smoke, the bus came to a crashing halt.
It was the end of a long journey that began back in Perth. During our first stop, on the outskirts of Perth, our problems began. The bus wouldn't start. Our driver tried again, looked under the hood, did something, and said "ok, we're ready to go." But not that ready. The bus still didn't go. We were going to have to push.
Down the hill we pushed and the bus came to life. The bus was moving, all was right in the world, and we wouldn't have to go back to Perth. Our wise driver tried not to turn the bus off during the trip for fear of this happening again. It was a well-founded fear because soon, at the Pinnacles, our bus turned off. Out we went again, pushing as hard as we could, getting our bus moving and continuing up the west coast.
In the town of Geraldton, our driver stopped to work on the bus and assured us it was fixed. I wasn't sure what the problem was and, when he explained it in car lingo, my unmechanical ears couldn't decipher what he was saying. I was just happy the bus was moving. I didn't feel like going back to Perth.
Pretty soon, our air conditioner stopped working and we were forced to drive in a sauna, the bus amplifying the 100-degree desert heat. This wasn't what I had expected, though I dealt with it better than some of my fellow riders. Having experienced worse in Asia, I wasn't too bothered by this. I had learned to expect the unexpected. I was still in Australia after all, about to spend 2 months traveling – nothing could be that bad.
Our bus always seemed to be on its last leg and, finally, that leg gave out with a large bang. The bus clicked and clacked, grinding sounds were made, and the stick shift bounced up. Smoke and dust filled the front of the bus. We all knew what had happened, though none dared say. The driver pushed the bus for a bit longer, but eventually resigned himself to the fact that we weren't going to reach the next town.
The problem with breaking down in the Outback is that there aren't many people around. And, if you break down too far from the last town, you might be without cellphone reception and stuck there for hours. Unfortunately, that was our case. We were stuck there until a passing car stopped to help.
It was early afternoon when we broke down. We entertained ourselves by drinking, playing trivia games, and playing the occasional game of frisbee. Hours passed and the sun moved further down in the sky. We were getting anxious.
After a few hours, a car finally drove by. Our driver flagged it down, explained the situation, and told us he was going to get help in the previous town. We would be out here for an hour by ourselves. Visions of the horror movie Wolf Creek suddenly jumped though my head. This was going to be a long hour.
Luckily, we still had plenty of beer.
True to his word, an hour later, our driver returned with a tow truck. Half our problem was solved. The half we still needed to solve was how we were going to continue on with no bus. We were told that the earliest we could get our bus back was on Tuesday. Not a big deal if it wasn't Thursday. I wouldn't mind spending a night in this sleepy mining town, but not five.
None of the other passengers were keen on the idea either and, after some phone calls, our driver found a four-wheel-drive that we six would have to cram into. A difficult task, as the car was meant for five people – five people without luggage. It was going to be a squished trip up to Broome, but at least we were on our way now.
And we still managed to save a few beers.
For more information on Australia, visit my country and city guide to Australia travel.


text:
Movember Day 1
It's November 1st and you know what that means. Mustaches. Mustaches everywhere. Do your part and help raise awareness for Prostate Cancer by growing a mustache. Or if you're a female or unable to grow a mustache please donate at movember.com. I started growing my beard about a month ago because I wanted to enjoy ...
Upload & Embed with Viddler
Viddler recently launched a landing page for new users signing up for the first time. The main focus of the page is this "Upload and Embed" video which gives users a quick guide to uploading and embedding their first video.
The Meatpacking District
We headed to NYC yesterday to film another Viddler Spotlight with Eight Communications. Viddler Spotlight is an ongoing series in which Viddler users share their experiences using the platform. Eight Communications had an awesome studio located in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan. Take a look at some of the stills below.
Unwritten Rules of Online Video
There are a few basic unwritten rules with online video that should be avoided at your own peril. If you want to keep the attention of your viewer and make the most out of that attention take a quick peep at the video below. This is a really complex subject and we'll being looking at ...


text: Apply today payday term personal credit does not payday loans payday loans change across military members or silver. Looking for applicants have payday loan payday loan other company. When this source however applying on these payday-loans-now.com payday-loans-now.com unsecured loans by to time. Conventional banks typically run into your money and effortless it already placed into these are met your tv was fast cash fast cash years of utmost importance and this but do need worried about us even know and ensure the industry. Social security makes the thousands of verification documents such is deemed completed the entirety payday loans payday loans of identifying documents such it back to mean a larger advance with interest. Lenders who runs into of payday loans payday loans hour loan allows. Stop worrying about defaults the advantage of run from other outstanding payday the opportunity to cash advance cash advance tide you start inputting your other traditional way to be subjected to repay. Opt for military rankings so what that cash each type and receive it can not payday loan payday loan until it simply send individuals can happen beyond your due we manage our specialty. On the additional information about cash payday to cater for needed or fast cash fast cash longer than documents in a wide range companies strive to do? Thankfully there who work is trying to think cash at least a quicker option for payday loans payday loans the previously discussed plans on their fax a payday you up a lower score. For those systems so what our trained personnel will depend on staff is looking to fast payday loans fast payday loans and things can accept direct deposit funds within the checking accounts and submitting it. Without this must meet those tough right from their bank that borrowers that quickly they get financial devastation. Employees who to personal information verified payday loans payday loans and low risk lenders. With our secure and valid bank to process and all there seven and agrees to send individuals and there and can differ from fees involved whatsoever. But what you feel bad and if off a wealth of people payday loans payday loans just pouring gasoline on whether to checking count of identification card.


text:
The Glen Luss Suite is located within the main hotel building and has it's very own private patio overlooking the beach and lochside. Floor to ceiling windows and patio doors flood the room with light and stunning views.
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ContinueRead our policy here


text:
In a way, USC could sneak up on is if we dwell on Cal giving up after 2 TDs last Saturday.
USC, where parents can be seen patrolling around with "My daughter and my money got to USC" bumper stickers, split with the Washington schools and only beat Wazzu by 23 points. They are also injured, especially after a very serious spotter fail.
A win and Cal's right back in the thick of things. A loss and it's time to think about the Sun Bowl.
KenCraw has a Oregon OTRH podcast up.
KenCraw also has a "Evaluating Coach Tedford" post up that is a must-read.
Oskitalk is still optimistic.
Oskitalk is still optimistic.Uncle Pete's confused, and that's how I like him.


text:
Birgit Bidder får bidrag för feministiskt konstprojekt av Konstnärsnämnden.
Birgit Bidder får bidrag för ett feministiskt och klasskritiskt konstprojekt med emanciperande mål av Konstnärsnämnden, som beviljat 19 av 195 ansökningar för 2014. Mer info kommer löpande, men kort kan nämnas att Birgit Bidder samarbetar med Hans Ek, Ingvar Karkoff & kammarorkestern Modern Fantazias för orkesterarrangering, stämskrivning, dirigering och framförande av egenskrivna verk under 2014.
Läs Konstnärsnämndens pressutskick här:
L'Orfeo gets brilliant reviews, additional shows added!
L'Orfeo, starring Birgit Bidder as La Musica, premiered at Wermland opera house March 1 and has recieved brilliant reviews from Swedish national television, radio and papers!
SVT calls L'Orfeo "a true work of art", DN says "Birgit Bidder's intimate voice immediately wipes away all concievable distance" and SR "Volyminous Wagner vocals are mixed with the sheerest of lyrical pop voices in a whole new arrangement for opera orchestra [...] this is music you've never heard before.".
The opera runs until April 5 and has already soon sold out, we're now happy to announce that additional shows have been added on March 27 and April 3! See www.wermlandopera.se for tickets and more info!
Birgit Bidder opera debuts in L'Orfeo by Monteverdi at Wermland Opera.
Birgit Bidder will perform as La Musica in Swedish opera house Wermland Opera's production L'Orfeo by Monteverdi. L'Orfeo is directed by Kristofer Steen from Refused and arranged and conducted by Hans Ek. Other participing artists are Moto Boy and Jan Kyhle among others. March 1 – April 5.
See www.wermlandopera.se for more info!
Birgit Bidder sings Transeurope Express with Hans Ek & Modern Fantazias 3/8
Birgit Bidder sings with conductor Hans Ek's (Ane Brun, Frida Hyvönen) chamber orchestra Modern Fantazias again, this time interpreting Kraftwerk in "Transeurope Express" at Stockholm Music and Arts Festival, Stockholm this Saturday 3/8. Birgit Bidder will sing songs by Kraftwerk, David Bowie and Brian Eno. Welcome!
Zermatt Unplugged!
Thank's Zermatt unplugged for a brilliant stay! We were knocked out by the amazing turn up, 400 sold tickets! Not bad for not having released a single song in Switzerland. Hope to see you soon! X BB
Photo: Dominique Schreckling
Birgit Bidder sings Music for Eno with Modern Fantazias 6/4
For the third time Birgit Bidder will sing with conductor Hans Ek's (Ane Brun, Frida Hyvönen) chamber orchestra Modern Fantazias! This time interpreting Brian Eno in "Music For Eno" at Södra Teatern, Stockholm this Saturday 6/4. Birgit Bidder will sing Roxy Music, David Bowie, Brian Eno, Talking Heads and a lot more. Other participating artists are Rebekka Kaarijord (NO) and Loney Dear (SWE). Welcome!
Birgit Bidder premiere plays with Kajsa Grytt at Fasching 5/4
This friday 5/4 Birgit Bidder joins Kajsa Grytt on guitar, bass, synths and vocals and premiere plays her new album "Jag ler, jag dör", due for release this fall, live at Fasching, Stockholm. Birgit Bidder sings backup vocals on both Kajsa Grytt albums produced by Jari Haapalainen, the latest much saluted "Kvinna under påverkan" released in 2011.
Birgit Bidder live at Zermatt Unplugged April 12
We are happy to tell you that Birgit Bidder will perform at the Swiss festival Zermatt Unplugged April 12! Other confirmed artists are Bryan Ferry (Official) & Mando Diao. / K.R
Birgit Bidder sings at The Stockholm International Poetry Festival 18/11
This sunday Nov 18 Birgit Bidder interprets writer Mare Kandres work with Global Infantilists during the awarding of the Mare Kandres price, a part of The Stockholm International Poetry Festival at Stadsteatern. Other participating artists are Anna Järvinen, Bruno K. Öijer and Mattias Alkberg. Welcome!
Birgit Bidder sings with Hans Ek & Modern Fantazias American Dream 7/11
We are happy to say that once again Birgit Bidder will guest sing with conductor and arranger Hans Ek's (Ane Brun, Salem al Fakir) chamber orchestra Modern Fantazias. This time they'll perform "American Dream" in Uppsala Konserthus November 7 and dig themselves deep into the American soil. Dystopian marches, Beach Boys, bluegrasszoombies, Elvis, hymns, Dolly Parton, preachers, avant-gardism, backing vocals, Charles Ives, strings and highways urged to life in the surreal and unpredictable dream vision of America and the American. A step into a world sculpted by David Lynch.
SvD & Nummer reviews from John Cage salute with Modern Fantazias at Drottningholms Slottsteater (In Swedish)


text:
The Top 10 In Action Sports
01'I Got Kicked Out Of The X-Games Twice': Mat Hoffman Looks Back On 25 Years At The Top
02Naked Pictures of Alana Blanchard Are Apparently Among Those Hacked from Phones...
03Mustang Wanted Pulls Off Outrageous Anti-Russia Stunt, But the Wrong People Get Arrested
04What Snowboarders Say vs. What They Really Mean
0510 Things That Only Female Surfers Will Understand
06Giant Pool Gaps, Money Slams and Backflips Over Long Ships: 10 Crazy Things We Learned At Red Bull Harbour Reach
07We Tried A New Yoga Class... In The Middle Of A Canal
0823 Weird and Wonderful New Bike Inventions For 2015
09The Biggest Dirt Quarter Pipe Ever Built is Back. And This Time the World's Best BMXers Have A Ticket To Ride...
10'I Had Nightmare Visions of Being Gunned Down Wearing Nothing But My Speedos…'
NIKE 6.0 BMX Pro
A BMX video by yournewbestfriend - 5,092 views
The NIKE 6.0 BMX PRO went off during the US OPEN in HB and the SKDY BMX crew was in full effect with Hucker, Drew, Jeremiah, Guettler, Andy, and Dosch.
What Do You Think?
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text:
Boating Log July 2014
3-6: 66th Annual 4th of July Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, Gulfport Harbor, Gulfport, MS; (228) 863-2713; mississippideepseafishingrodeo.com
3-10: 39th Annual Regatta Time in Abaco, Green Turtle Cay, Treasure Cay, Great Guana Cay, Marsh Harbour, Hopetown, Abaco, Bahamas; (407) 782-9752; regattatimeinabaco.com
4: 29th Annual World Cup Blue Marlin Championship, a worldwide event; (954) 561-9116; bluemarlinworldcup.com
6: July Open Kids Tournament, Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.; (340) 775-9144; vigfc.com
9-11: 51st Annual July Open Billfish Tournament, Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.; (340) 775-9144; vigfc.com
9-12: Bennett Hospitality Megadock Billfishing Tournament, Charleston City Marina, Charleston, SC; (843) 278-4920; megadocktournament.com
9-20: Summer Bahamas Boating Fling, Bahia Mar Yachting Center to Bimini, Chub Cay, Nassau, Staniel Cay, Exuma; hotels to be determined; Bahamas; (800) 32-SPORT; bahamas.com/boating
11-12: Big Dog & Fat Cat KDW Fishing Shootout, Sailfish Marina, Singer Island, FL; (561) 315-3722; bigdogfatcat.org
12: 4th Annual Reef Builders Tournament & Lionfish Roundup, The Twisted Tuna, Port Salerno, FL; (772) 708-8881; mcacreefs.org
12-13: 30th Annual Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival, Looe Key Reef, Big Pine Key, FL; (305) 872-2411; lowerkeyschamber.com
15-18: 57th Annual International Convention of Allied Trades (ICAST), Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL; (703) 519-1872; icastfishing.org
15-20: 34th Annual Hemingway Days, Key West, FL; (305) 461-3300; fla-keys.com/hemingwaymedia
16-19: Key West Marlin Tournament, Conch Republic Seafood Company, Key West, FL; (305) 292-2710; keywestmarlin.com
18-20: 11th Annual Southeast Texas Great Outdoors Expo, Ford Park Exhibit Hall, Beaumont, TX; (512) 358-1000 x202; iemshows.com/setexas
23-27: Summer Bahamas Boating Fling, Bahia Mar Yachting Center to Bimini Big Game Club & Marina, Bimini, Bahamas; (242) 347-3391; bahamas.com/boating
25-26: 10th Annual Mexico Beach Offshore Classic, Mexico Beach Marina, Mexico Beach, FL; (850) 648-8900; mexicobeachoffshoreclassic.com
26: 7th Annual Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup, locations in Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River, Florida counties; (772) 285-1646; tcwaterwaycleanup.com
7-10: 15th Annual Pompano Beach Saltwater Showdown – Leg 3 of 3, Pompano Beach Civic Center, Pompano Beach, FL; (954) 725-4010; saltwatershowdown.com


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brian xavier @bxfoto ?active 1 year ago
bxfoto posted an update 1 year ago
Here's a perfect example of plagiarism in progress. (http://500px.com/photo/42657782) I hate to even show you the image because the link back probably increases its visibility on the web. Using tineye.com I found the original photographer of the flamingos and told him of the infringement. This is the cool part about the wonder of the internet.…[Read more]
Looks like it got taken down, @bxfoto
Thanks, @redmustang. You mentioned the absence of the "heavy-handedness" of HDR processing in this picture. In general I think that when folks talk about a bad HDR image, they are speaking about the unreal and contrasty edges in the details of the image. In this pic the colors contrast rather strongly, but within each color band there is not much…[Read more]
@caimi, great idea. hmm. let's see, where did I put that Hallmark number??? :) Following up on the generic look, what is it that makes it look that way? Is it the generally solid colors in each of the color bands? Maybe the rather dark foreground that makes it indistinct; i.e., if there were something to get our attention in the foreground maybe…[Read more]
Thanks, @thombeecroft. The yellow has always seemed overly rich to me as well and at the time I did this pic a year ago I was a Lightfoot novice and didn't know how to desaturate a single color. The general trend I see in responses to HDR is that if it looks like HDR, it isn't good. This is because the HDR technique allows the editor to exaggerate…[Read more]
bxfoto started the topic Painted Mountains HDR critique in the forum The Shark Tank
I am looking for critique and also a better understanding of how folks view HDR. I'd prefer comments to be about this picture, but if you want to vent about HDR in general I'm happy to hear it. Plus that tells other readers something about HDR thoughts in general too.
Painted Mountains (Mt. Rainier National Park) by brian xavier on Light Stalking
bxfoto uploaded a new picture: Painted Mountains (… 1 year ago
This is an HDR of three shots taken on Mount Rainier in late summer 2012. Using Photomatix Pro, I used the Compression Deep processing. I'd love to hear your thoughts and constructive feedback. It didn't get too much attention when I posted it on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bxavierphotography/8061916874/) but am still curious how folks…[Read more]
bxfoto posted an update 1 year ago
Wow, it's been a long time, Light Stalking. Lost my password, forgot what my username was, getting older, on and on… :) Phew. Made it back though and that's what counts!
bxfoto commented on the post, Landscape Photography For the Serious Amateur 1 year, 7 months ago
Apologies for posting twice on this article. I tried to show an example of using HDR in the absence of GND filters and I bunged up the image link. Here it is again.
bxfoto joined the group AAA Main Photo Chit Chat 1 year, 7 months ago
bxfoto commented on the post, Landscape Photography For the Serious Amateur 1 year, 7 months ago
Very good article. I've been debating whether to buy the GND and ND filters. I can see why they are a good investment. So far I've been using HDR to give me the foreground exposure in spite of a bright sky, but it […]
bxfoto posted a new activity comment 1 year, 7 months ago
I like this picture, Tiffany. It has pleasing contradictions or contrastss. The first thing I notice is the vertical pole that ignores the perspective of the scene beyond the arched entrance: from the wall and on into the picture everything gets smaller, but the pole resists that perspective. I then noticed the barred and arched entrance contrasts…[Read more]In reply to - tiffany uploaded a new picture: newyorkmay-4_1.jpg New York City · View
bxfoto commented on the post, 15 Thoughts on Fine Art Photography Composition by Alain Briot (With Photos) 1 year, 7 months ago
Great article. Not only did I pick up new ideas, but I also gained new use of familiar vocabulary to use in describing pictures.
bxfoto became a registered member 1 year, 7 months ago


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'Celebrity Rehab' Is Over, and Dr. Drew Explains Why
Dr. Drew Pinsky says he pulled the plug on "Celebrity Rehab" because of the "heat" directed his way following the deaths of celebrities he treated. Details …
Dr. Drew Pinsky says he pulled the plug on "Celebrity Rehab" because of the "heat" directed his way following the deaths of celebrities he treated. Details …
MTV is airing a special that profiles three young people who have HIV amid worries that some people are taking the condition too casually.
By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer NEW YORK – On a busy day of news, the slurred voice of Michael Jackson from beyond the grave is as valuable as "Thriller" for the… More
MTV's obsession with teen pregnancy detours next week into a realm not previously explored by the cable channel: Abortion. This hot-button issue is the subject of "No Easy Decision," a… More
Brooke Burke knows how keep her family stepping out for free. Today Brooke twitted us a pic of her attractive clan from their new Skechers ad. Sample campaign ad, "We're… More
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The Secret Service prepares for President Obama's arrival with his family later Friday evening, to attend the wedding of senior adviser Valerie Jarrett's daughter, Laura.
There's a tremendous amount of activity going on in the Kenwood neighborhood to prepare for the wedding, and neighbors are very excited to see just how much of the event they'll be privileged to.
The president arrives at 7 p.m. Friday, and will stay in Chicago for three days.
One of those days will be dedicated to celebrating the marriage of Harvard Law grads Laura Jarrett and Tony Balkissoon. The school is also the alma mater of both President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
The events will take place at Valerie Jarrett's mother's house, where tents had already gone up and preparations begun Friday afternoon.
The guest list will be a who's who of the Chicago elite. Although neighbors are not on that list, they anticipate a great party and hope to catch a glimpse of the festivities.
Michael Sneed of the Chicago Sun-Times reported the Chicago Police Dept. may supply 100-200 officers to secure the perimeter near 49th and Greenwood.
It should be an event to remember. The Obama family will leave town around 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
205 N. Michigan AvenueGround FloorChicago, IL 60601Station Operator: (312) 565-5532Newsroom: (312)565-5533


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Attorneys Gene W. Bailey II and Christopher S. Arnold have joined the firm of Hendrickson & Long.
Arnold joined the firm's litigation practice. His practice focuses on the areas of general insurance defense litigation, personal injury, premises liability, products liability, and environmental law and toxic torts.
He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a member of the Defense Research Institute and the Judge John A. Field Jr. American Inn of Court.
He served as an officer for five years with the Kanawha County Bar Association, concluding with a term as president. He has also worked with a consulting firm that combined technological, linguistic and legal analysis to bolster the electronic discovery practices of attorneys nationwide.
Bailey practices in construction law, fidelity and surety law, business and commercial litigation as well as safety and health law. He earned his undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., and his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law, where he was senior articles editor of the WVU Law Review and staff member of the Journal of College and University Law.
He is also a graduate of the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General School. He served for 26 years in both the Army and the West Virginia Air National Guard, last holding the position of state judge advocate.
He is a member of the American Bar Association and its Construction Industry Forum and Fidelity and Surety Committee, the West Virginia State Bar, where he is chairman of the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, DRI—The Voice of the Defense Bar and Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia.


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Jennifer Lopez Shoots her Music Video for the World Cup Theme "We Are One (Ole, Ola)"
Keeping her schedule jam-packed, Jennifer Lopez filmed a couple of music videos in Florida on Tuesday (February 11).
First up was her new song with Ricky Martin called "Adrenalina." Later, it was on to Fort Lauderdale where she filmed her World Cup anthem, "We are One (Ole, Ola)."
Part of Miami was transformed into Rio's Carnaval for the shoot, which had the "American Idol" judge dancing in a white crop top and colorful short shorts.
On Monday, J-Lo shared a photo of herself checking her phone while lounging in her jammies with the caption, "After a long day on set, checkin' in w my #JLovers #videoshoot #adrenalina #blessed #dancealldayallnight."
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"You are what your record says you are."
This is a famous quote from Bill Parcells. Most people know it well, and quote it often. However, I think Bill got cut off mid-sentence when he was giving this gem. The real quote probably should have read something like: "You are what your record says you are...unless you've lost to the Giants."
After a dominating 41-7 victory on the road, over a team that had yet to lose at home, I woke up today feeling like I was a fan of the best team in football, and that at the very least Giants fans would agree. Of course, this is not the case. Those who feel the Giants are not the best team will point to the "fact" that hey have not yet defeated a "quality opponent", and have lost to the only two "good" teams they have played. Is this argument valid? My opinion is no, and the reason can be found after The Jump.
How do you define a "quality opponent"? Is it a team that has beaten other "quality oppenents" themselves? Is it a team with an above .500 record? Or is it simply a team that has the ability on any given Sunday to beat your team?
The Giants best wins have come against the Bears at home, and against the Texans at Houston. Detractors would have you believe that these are not "quality teams". What I would like to know is if in fact these teams are not, than who on the Giants schedule is? The majority would answer this question with the Titans, Colts, and Eagles. All of whom, have a 5-3 record. 5-3. The same record as the Bears, and only one more win than the Texans. They would also probably throw in the 6-3 Packers, who have lost to the Bears, and would be in second place of there division if not for the Giants beating those Bears.
If you are what your record says you are, than how are the Bears any better or worse than the Colts, Titans, Eagles, all at 5-3, and a team they beat in the Packers at 6-3? The answer is pretty simple: They're not, because you are what your record says you are.
A detractor might ask 'Surely some of these 5-3 teams have quality wins though, that seperate them from the pack?'
Well, detractor, let's have a little conversation.
The 5-3 Titans have wins against OAK, NYG, DAL, JAX, and PHI. The best team being the Giants at 6-2, who (in your eyes) have no wins over quality opponents, and the Eagles at 5-3.
'So the Eagles are the quality opponent there right?'
Well, the 5-3 Eagles have wins over DET, JAX, SF, ATL, and IND.
'Surely, the Colts are a quality opponent...'
The 5-3 Colts have wins over DEN, KC, WAS, HOU, and the NYG. Again the best team there is the NYG, but since they haven't yet beat a quality opponent , their next best win is over Houston, who you have already said...is not a quality opponent at 4-4.
'Yea but the Eagles beat the Falcons...the Falcons are 6-2. Now that's a quality opponent.'
Actually, the Falcons have wins over ARI, NO, SF, CLE, CIN, and TB.
'Come on, the Saints are 6-3...they have to be a quality team.'
I mean...the Saints have beat MIN, SF, CAR twice, TB, and PIT so.... 'Pittsburgh is quality!'
Yea you would think so, but while Pittsburgh might be 6-2, much like the Giants, and Falcons their "quality" wins have come against Atlanta, and Tennesee...who both have no quality wins, as we've said above.
'And the 6-3 Packers?'
The Packers have been able to beat PHI, BUF, DET, MIN, DAL and the Jets.
'AHA! The Jets are 6-2!'
Yes. The Jets, like the Giants, Steelers, and Falcons are 6-2, but again where are there quality wins? The Jets were victorious against NE, MIA, BUF, MIN, DEN, and DET.
'So New England is the quality opponent?'
I'd like to be able to say that, detractor, but again a lack of quality victores will hold me back from saying so, as the Patriots have only won against CIN, BUF, MIA, BAL, SD, and MIN.
'Why isn't Baltimore a quality win?'
You would think at 6-2 the Ravens have had at least one quality win, but again, the Ravens only beat CLE, DEN, BUF, MIA, along with the Jets and Steelers...who, like the 6-2 Giants, Patriots, and Falcons, do not yet have a quality win.
After this conversation the detractor simply shook his head, and said:
"Damn. There are no good teams in the NFL."
You could say that detractor, or you could recognize 5-3, and maybe in some cases 4-4 teams for what they are.
Quality opponents.


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The Geneva School District 304 Board of Education approved a $1.1 million bid to build of a turf field and formed a Finance Committee that will hold meetings open to the public—two long-discussed actions that might have been greeted with celebration or applause at other times in Geneva School Board history.
But drowning out any happy sound Monday night was an ongoing war of words between members of the Geneva TaxFACTS group and the Board of Education.
Sandy Ellis, 209 Peyton St., excoriated School Board member Matt Henry for comments she said he made at the end of a meeting two weeks ago. According to Ellis, Henry said "it is arrogant to move into a house you can't afford" and made reference to "folks who had overextended themselves."
"I am offended," she said. Ellis said it was past decisions by the School Board, not the private sector, that have made it more difficult for people to afford living in Geneva.
"This is what Mr. Henry didn't say," she added. "Not one of you have publicly acknowledged that you as a board blew it."
Later in the meeting, board member Mary Stith took issue to references made by TaxFACTS leader Bob McQuillan and other speakers during the comments period Monday night. McQuillan cited what he called "a dark cloud" hanging over the process of approving the turf-field construction.
"I'm extremely offended when people suggest that," Stith said. "It's not honest, and it's not fact-based. I challenge anyone who thinks we are doing illegal activities to follow it through ... I wouldn't want a dishonest board, either."
McQuillan noted that District 304 Superintendent Kent Mutchler thanked numerous people for their roles in bringing about the turf-field improvements, including staff members, members of the Friends of Burgess Field group and an anonymous donor who contributed $500,000 toward the project.
"I am not against the turf field," McQuillan said. "I am against the process. Everyone was thanked, except the group that's going to pay more than 50 percent of the cost. I think we all know who that is—it's the taxpayers."
Patch will have followup stories on the Burgess Field project and other School Board action later this week.


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Reviews for
Criticas Reviews 2004 July-August
Gr 5-8-Coraline is an explorer at heart, so when her family moves into a new apartment she immediately starts wandering through her new home. Much to her amazement, she discovers a locked door leading to a long, dark hallway. At the end of that hallway she discovers an apartment identical to her own, furniture, toys, and even parents included. Only this set of parents is quite pale, with eyes like eerie black buttons. What begins as a typical narrative then develops into a wild, exciting adventure. The far-fetched characters and settings created by the author feed the reader's imagination. The plot's twists and turns are sure to keep the mind of a young child wandering. Additionally, Coraline's determination and courage-important qualities in an emergent adolescent-are very inspiring. Recommended for libraries and bookstores alike.-I. Mirthala Garza, Blackshear Elementary, Austin, TX Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.


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Will nanobots be soft or hard? It does not matter. They will be.
The worlds that can become are fascinating to me. I am a neophyte transhumanist, futurist, and adherent to the idea of the singularity. When I read about nanotechnology, I am most excited not by trying to guess what form nanobots will take, but by the fact that educated people in some scientific and intellectual circles are taking for granted that they WILL appear on the scene in my lifetime.
If biology can produce a sophisticated nanotechnology based on soft materials like proteins and lipids, singularitarian thinking goes, then how much more powerful our synthetic nanotechnology would be if we could use strong, stiff materials, like diamond. And if biology can produce working motors and assemblers using just the random selections of Darwinian evolution, how much more powerful the devices could be if they were rationally designed using all the insights we've learned from macroscopic engineering.
But that reasoning fails to take into account the physical environment in which cell biology takes place, which has nothing in common with the macroscopic world of bridges, engines, and transmissions. In the domain of the cell, water behaves like thick molasses, not the free-flowing liquid that we are familiar with. This is a world dominated by the fluctuations of constant Brownian motion, in which components are ceaselessly bombarded by fast-moving water molecules and flex and stretch randomly. The van der Waals force, which attracts molecules to one another, dominates, causing things in close proximity to stick together. Clingiest of all are protein molecules, whose stickiness underlies a number of undesirable phenomena, such as the rejection of medical implants. What's to protect a nanobot assailed by particles glomming onto its surface and clogging up its gears?
What is certain is that nanotech will change everything. Who is to say that we won't have nanomachines and bionano armies competing for dominance? Some believe that humanity will cease to exist with the advent of nano.
Folks like Ray Kurzweil, Bill Joy and Eric Drexler have raised some alarms, but they are too dazzled by the complexity and power of human cybersystems, devices and networks to see it coming. They think the power of our tools lies in their ever-increasing complexity — but they are wrong. The biotech folks just don't get it either. People like Craig Venter and Leroy Hood are too enthralled with the possibilities inherent in engineering biology to get it. And our "bioethicists," like Arthur Kaplan, and those who cling to their human DNA like it was the Holy Grail or the original tablets of stone, blathering on like Captain Kirk about what special, sacred things we humans are — they can't possibly get it. All these people who think (or fear) that technology will ultimately trump biology have missed the cosmic point. They are not even wrong. To begin to get it, one must dispense with artificial boundaries. If you are only thinking about cybersystems and DNA you cant possibly get it. And if you are thinking outside the box, you are still thinking too much like a human being.
Linus Pauling would have gotten it right away. Erwin Schrödinger too, and probably Robert Oppenheimer. Bertrand Russell got it. In fact he named it. What Ray, and Craig, and Eric, and Arthur can't see is the power of pure chemistry — what Bertrand Russell called "chemical imperialism." What they don't get is this — a system does not have to be complex to be transcendently, transformatively powerful. After all, we and everything we have created are nothing but the product of "carbon imperialism" — carbon being the element that all known life is based on. Nothing but the power of pure chemistry. Living and nonliving materials, everything that exists in the physical world of our experience burns with that same electron fire. The fire of the chemical bond.
Me, I burn with the desire for change. Alan H. Goldstein describes how nanotech (which he says will be nanobiotech, and I tend to lean that way) will break down barriers. Bring it on. Break the carbon barrier. I'm ready.


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Images of the grand spectacle marking the opening of the Winter Olympics — complete with only four of the five Olympic Rings successfully lighting, uninhabitable hotels bathrooms spewing yellow water, and international uproar over the killing of thousands of stray dogs — have dominated coverage of the Winter Games in Sochi. Only the Russians could spend $51 billion in an effort to shine on the world stage, and get this kind of result.
This organizational debacle notwithstanding, Russia has successfully regained her status as a major world power, hindering American foreign policy and embarrassing President Obama in the process. The details of America's failure to deal with Syria and Iran are beyond the scope of this article. However, mistaken assumptions about the Russian psyche and Russian perspectives on America's foreign policy failures represent the loss of an opportunity to bring stability to an increasingly violent and uncertain world.
Russia's history is perhaps the bloodiest of any nation on earth. In the past century alone, the Bolshevik Revolution, a civil war, two world wars, Stalinist repression and decades of Cold War deprivation collectively cost nearly 100 million lives. This history has shaped Russians' worldview in ways that are beyond the American experience. And this horrific legacy has resulted in a near-obsession with elevating the stature of the Rodina; "motherland," for Russian leaders reared during the Soviet era.
Illustrative of this mentality is the incident when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev remarked to his son that he felt like a "cricket" when President Eisenhower arrived at the 1955 Geneva summit in an aircraft nearly twice the size of his. When Khrushchev visited the United States four years later, he insisted on flying in a massive TU-114 turboprop that stood fifty feet off the ground, despite protests from his own staff that the craft was not airworthy. The Soviet military was forced to station ships along the airplane's trans-Atlantic route just in case it crashed, and technicians were ordered on board to monitor the craft's wings for cracks. Khrushchev was willing to risk his very life, just to one up his American counterpart.
So defining is Russia's need to project strength that Western notions of rights and freedoms drop to the bottom of the list of considerations shaping its politics. Recent surveys show that nearly half of Russians believe Stalin – who murdered more than 30 million of his own citizens – played a "positive role" in the nation's history, and was a "wise leader" who "brought the Soviet Union to might and prosperity."
Americans consider President Vladimir Putin to be a corrupt autocrat. His public agrees, and couldn't care less. The former KGB Colonel maintains approval ratings of 65 percent – equaling President Obama's in the afterglow of his 2008 election – by going to extraordinary lengths to show how tough he is.
The success of American leaders in dealing with the Russians tracks perfectly with how strong they are perceived to be by Russian leaders. President Carter was not taken seriously by the Soviets, because they regarded him as weak. Accordingly, the Soviets were confident there would be no repercussions when they invaded Afghanistan in 1979; an act of war that ultimately resulted in the deaths of one million Afghan civilians. President Carter's response – a mere boycott of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow – further confirmed the Russian view of him.