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Poll: Politics is for losers, according to the nation's youth
Young people increasingly look down on politics as useless and think only losers choose a life of government work, a pessimistic new poll found.
The study, which was conducted by USA Today, concluded that only 39 percent of the under-29 crowd thought government service was a worthwhile life commitment. In contrast, 53 percent of people 30 and older said participating in the political process was important.
Still, 66 percent of all respondents agreed that the best way to make a positive change in the world was to eschew government and work for a non-profit charity.
Illinois Rep. Aaron Shock, a Republican and the U.S.'s youngest congressman, said he thinks young people are more jaded than ever about government.
"There's a skepticism of government," said Shock in a statement to USA Today. "Young people say, if I want to feed the hungry or make a difference for cancer patients, it's easier to do that through a non-profit and see the tangible results up close than, say, trying to push for federal funding to do the same."
Paul Light, a professor of public service at New York University, said the results were unsurprising given that so many of his students take an extremely negative view of government.
"[There is] a general sense that politics is for losers, for ne'er-do-wells, for the corrupt and for the under-motivated and greedy," he said.


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How Active Sports Are Helping Vets Heal and Readjust to Civilian Life
When you see Kevin Pannell hitting the slopes at Mount Hood Meadows, just outside of Portland, Oregon, you'd have no idea the seasoned snowboarder, who was awarded a Purple Heart in Iraq, is a double amputee.
On June 13, 2004, Halfway through his second tour of duty in what he says had been a "pretty uneventful Army career," the sergeant from Arkansas was working security on a routine mission in Baghdad when it all changed.
Pannell knew immediately that something was wrong when his unit turned down an alleyway and he heard the distinct and familiar sound of grenades. "I heard 3 pops and knew the sound well," he says. After seeing one fly over his shoulder, Pannell turned to warn the rest of his patrol, but milliseconds later, two grenades rolled under his feet and exploded.
The Veteran's Administration, along with city and regional nonprofits across the country are using adaptive sports to help veterans heal. Pannell, a triathlete who participates in a number of adaptive sports, is one of a growing number of wounded veterans who are returning home and using sports as a tool to recover from their injuries and reintegrate after being deployed overseas.
Patty Prather, a recreation therapist who works in Adaptive Recreation at the City of Eugene got involved with disabled veterans after helping lead a snowshoeing trip to Crater Lake two years ago. "It was pretty life changing," she says, "to be able to work with a group of folks who really don't have the opportunities to get outdoors and know how to do things in an adaptive way or recreate with their families the way they used to."
She says that while the veterans she works with in Southern Oregon come from different branches of military service, they all share a common bond from their experiences and often feel safer around each other rather than the general public.
"We encourage each other and have a camaraderie. These guys have experienced the same thing I have," says Ree McSween, a Desert Storm US Coastguard veteran, explaining the importance of adaptive sports with other vets. "If I'm experiencing a PTSD moment, they understand it—they get it," she says.
Read The Full Article On The Daily Beast
More articles from The Daily Beast:
- Why National Democrats Rolled Over for Chris Christie
- The Virginia Gubernatorial Race Proves the GOP Is Suicidal
- Lebanon's Kidnapped Teen Bride
© 2013 Newsweek/Daily Beast Company LLC

subset: commoncrawl


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Afrojack to debut new song in Bud Light 'Cool Twist' Super Bowl ad
Listen to Afrojack on iHeartRadio
Afrojack will debut his new song "Ten Feet Tall" featuring Wrabel this weekend during the Big Game.
Bud Light's ad for their new 'Cool Twist' aluminum bottle will feature the song for its world premiere. There's no better way to debut a new song than during the Super Bowl!
"Ten Feet Tall" will be released nationally on Monday, February 3rd, but fans will have the chance to download it for free during the song's premiere by using Shazam. During the commercial, 500,000 (fans 21+) will be able to Shazam the ad and download the new track.
In a press release, Afrojack says, "The Super Bowl is one the biggest events of the year and its awesome my new single will be premiered here alongside Bud Light. I'm super pumped."
Meanwhile, this new song is only the beginning of Afrojack unveiling new music. His debut album is expected to be released in May on Island Records.
Don't forget to Shazam it up this weekend!
Photo Credit Getty Images


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Cory Monteith remembered in Lea Michele 'Marie Claire' issue
Lea Michele's seemingly perfect relationship with boyfriend and late "Glee" co-star Cory Monteith is touched upon in the upcoming issue of "Marie Claire" Mexico.
The magazine's editor-in-chief Ariadne Grant is sharing with readers the details of Lea's photo shoot, which took place in Los Angeles on June 7th, just five weeks before Cory's death on July 13th.
According to "E! News," Grant says Cory visited the set that day and was "in great spirits" and "very nice to everybody there." The editor adds that he and Lea were "obviously happy and in love" and that the actress lit up when he showed up to support her.
Lea spoke about Cory for the cover story, calling him "the best person" she knows. She also said she was "so thankful for him."
Since his death, Lea's reps have released a statement saying she's "deeply grateful" for the support of her family, friends and fans.
Photo Credit Getty Images & Marie Claire


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WOW!! MALE Dancers Work the Heels to Beyonce Mix!!
Listen to Beyonce on iHeartRadio
Your thought process while watching these 3 dancers in heeled booties KILL IT to a Beyonce medley will probably go a little something like this:
"DANG. They are so in sync."
"Wait - they're in platformed heels??"
"WHY can't I dance like this!? So. Jealous."
Hear the best of Beyonce and 18 million more songs on the iHeartRadio App. Upgrade today.


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The Office for Compliance, Audit and Advisory Services provides independent, objective assurance and consulting services. By evaluating and improving the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes, we help you to comply with policies and procedures and to uphold the highest standards of business conduct.
What We Do
Audit Services helps ensure that the wide range of University processes operate in an accurate, timely, and reliable fashion.
Information Technology Audit Services works to identify areas of technical risk including application, infrastructure, systems, and process risks.
Compliance Services helps the University community adhere to federal, state, and local laws and regulations as well as University policies.
Risk and Control Services provides advisory support for the University's governance and risk processes, including assistance with oversight and evaluation of internal controls, security, process methodology, and policies.


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Arcadia, CA, April 3, 2014 -- For second consecutive weekend, HRTV (R), the Network for Horse Sports, will offer racing fans another great weekend of action, with an on-site presence at both Santa Anita and Aqueduct for two important Grade 1, $1 million Triple Crown preps on Saturday -- the Santa Anita Derby and the Wood Memorial.
HRTV will continue its meet-long on-site coverage for "the Great Race Place's" biggest day of the meeting. Aaron Vercruysse, Jeff Siegel, Laffit Pincay III, Kurt Hoover, Scott Hazelton and Christina Blacker will be part of the network's announcing team for blanket coverage of the busy day which, in addition to the Santa Anita Derby, includes four other stakes, including the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks and the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes.
The Santa Anita Derby has unveiled an outstanding eight-horse field, topped by the highly-regarded trio of California Chrome, Candy Boy, and Hoppertunity.
Across the country at Aqueduct, the Wood Memorial has always served as a major Triple Crown prep. HRTV's Richard Migliore will join NYRA's Maggie Wolfendale and be stationed trackside to report on the latest developments for the Wood, along with an undercard that features three graded stakes events -- the Grade 1 Carter, the Grade 2 Gazelle and the Grade 3 Bay Shore.
The Wood has drawn a contentious 11-horse field with top-ranked 3-year-olds Samraat, Uncle Sigh, and Social Inclusion headlining the field.
About HRTV
HRTV, The Network for Horse Sports, is a television-based multimedia network dedicated to equine sports. HRTV's programming features horse racing from top U.S. and international racetracks, as well as a wide range of world-class English horse riding and Western horse riding competitions, news, original programming and award-winning documentaries covering the world of horse sports. The live stream of HRTV is available on a subscription basis to high-speed Internet users worldwide at www.tvg2.com. In the U.S., the HRTV television network is available via telco, cable and satellite in over 19 million homes.
Contact: Scott Cooper, HRTV, 609-391-8166
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An interview with the co-discoverer of one of the biggest breakthroughs in cancer research
Dim the lights and break out the…eggs? These 10 foods will kick your sex drive into high gear.
15 signs that it's more than just the blues
From your diet to your medication to your mindset, here are 13 culprits of low libido.
Eating healthier doesn't mean tossing your favorite recipes in the trash. Here are 10 easy ingredient substitutions for healthier cooking and baking.
Banish belly rolls for good with these easy moves to sculpt strong, sexy abs


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If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return your order to the warehouse for a full refund (Bottles must be unopened, in the state you received them, and in the original packaging). We believe that in order to have the best possible online shopping experience, our customers should not have to pay for domestic return shipping. So if you're not happy with your purchase, just contact us right away and we will provide you with details for returning the unopened bottles - your domestic shipping costs are prepaid by us.
With the WineChateau.com 365 day return policy, there are no special catches or exceptions. All we ask is that you send the items back to us in the original packaging, unopened, and in the same condition you received them.
Have questions? Prefer to order by Phone? The Wine Chateau Customer Loyalty Team (WCCLT) is happy to help!
Call WCCLT Monday - Friday 10am - 7pm EST:
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Email Wine Chateau Customer Loyalty Team
At Wine Chateau, our selection of white wines ranges in the thousands and features the top brands and varieties you love. With no restrictions on shelf space like you get with stores, our collection offers a wide range of prices, growing regions and varieties. Browse varieties such as Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Bordeaux blends and more. Extra search options make it easy for you to narrow down the possibilities without having to wander around a store.
White wine is known as the gateway wine, but there is much more to these wines than the tame color would have you believe. Of course we have subtle, easy-to-drink whites that don't require a refined palate, but we also have more complex whites that deserve a slow sip and savoring. For those with dietary restrictions, our collection of white wines includes kosher and organic labels.
Whether you are just getting into the wine world with or you're a connoisseur who appreciates the petrol notes in a Riesling, we make it easy for you to find something you'll love. Buy a bottle to dip your toes into a new variety, or buy it by the case to make sure you have enough on hand for dinner parties and unexpected gift giving. Shop white wines online for less at Wine Chateau where we feature fine wines, gift baskets and deal on free shipping on your favorites.


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Espresso Machine & Grinder Packages
Like Hall & Oates, some things just go great together and the sum of the whole is more spectacular than the parts. Enter into the mix your new espresso machine. You spent hours watching our product videos. Don't let an espresso grinder be an afterthought! Here we have included popular espresso machine and espresso grinder combinations for your consideration. A proper pairing will make your espresso dreams come true, woo-woo, woo-woo.
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Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine and Baratza Grinder PackageThe Rancilio Silvia performs the best when it's paired with a high quality burr grinder. You need one that goes fine enough for espresso and also provides you with an even coffee particle size so you can pull consistently great shots. Learn More$999.00


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Rihanna references Palestine during Tel Aviv concert
Listen to Rihanna on iHeartRadio
Rihanna's recent concert in Israel is making some fans wonder if the pop star is keeping up with her current events and geography.
The singer's "Diamonds" world tour stopped in Tel Aviv on Tuesday night and, according to local reports, she decided to give a shoutout to Palestine while performing her new single "Pour It Up."
A review on Haaretz.com claims Rihanna changed some of the song's lyrics, switching the words "All I see is dollar signs" to "All I see is Palestine." The site also notes that Rihanna "never once" used the word Israel on stage, only referring to the audience as "Tel Aviv."
It's unclear whether this was intentional on the part of the singer, or if she was simply unaware of the ongoing tensions in the region.
Rihanna's "Diamonds" tour continues in Punta Cana, San Juan and Bridgetown in the coming weeks.
Photo Credit Getty Images


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LISTEN: Britney Spears debuts new single 'Perfume'
Listen to Britney Spears on iHeartRadio
Britney Spears has debuted her new single, "Perfume."
Britney shared a link to the audio for "Perfume" on Sunday, and the single became available for download starting midnight. It's the second cut off her upcoming Britney Jean album, revealing a more vulnerable side of the pop star than her previous "Work Bitch."
In it, Britney croons about marking her man with the scent of her perfume out of fear that he is unfaithful to her. The singer wrote on Twitter:
Post by Britney Spears.
The track is her second shot at getting a boost on the Billboard charts. "Work" peaked at number twelve on the Hot 100 and has been down since, even after her eye-catching music video.
Britney Jean is out on December 3rd, and the star's two-year residency at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas kicks off later that month.


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And how.
The writing world is abuzz about Amanda Hocking, the 26-year-old self-published author who sold over 450,000 copies of her e-books in January alone, mostly priced between 99 cents and $2.99. She's now a millionaire. The writing world has been abuzz for a while about J.A. Konrath, who has very publicly blogged about the significant amount of money he has made selling inexpensive e-books.
Many people in the last week have sent me links about these authors, wondering...
What exactly is going on here? How in the heck are these self-published authors making so much money? Is this the future? And does this mean the end of the publishing industry as we know it?
The News That's Fit to Print
Before we delve into what this means for the world of books, I feel like it's important to take a deep breath and splash some cold water on our faces.
The reality: This is still a print world and probably will be for at least the next several years. Even as some publishers report e-book sales jumping to between 25% and 35% in January, the significant majority of sales are still in print. As I wrote in my recent post about record stores, over a decade after the rise of the mp3 the majority of revenue in music is still in CDs.
So let's not get out of hand (yet) about the scale of this e-book self-publishing revolution, if it is indeed one. Yes, this is real money we're talking about. Yes, these authors deserve all the credit in the world. And yes, these authors are also making money in print as well.
But we're still a ways away from self-published Kindle bestsellers making Dan Brown, James Patterson, Stephenie Meyer, J.K. Rowling kind of money, the old-fashioned way, through paper books in bookstores. It's not as exciting a story to remember that traditionally published franchise James Patterson made $70 million between June '09 and June '10, but it's still worth keeping in perspective.
Let's also not forget that Hocking, Konrath and a couple of others are the tip of a very large iceberg of self-published authors, the overwhelming majority of whom are selling the merest handful of copies. As Hocking herself writes:
I guess what I'm saying is that just because I sell a million books self-publishing, it doesn't mean everybody will. In fact, more people will sell less than 100 copies of their books self-publishing than will sell 10,000 books. I don't mean that to be mean, and just because a book doesn't sell well doesn't mean it's a bad book. It's just the nature of the business.Yes, it's new, it's a big deal, it's seriously awesome for Hocking, who seems like a super nice and humble person. But let's not also lose our perspective about the scale of the shift taking place. The book world is changing in a big way, but it still ain't done changed just yet.
The War Between the Worlds
So. Now that we are all sober and erudite, let me shock us back to life with this statement: Hocking and Konrath and others like them represent an existential threat to traditional publishers.
To understand why, we're going to need to take a look at how much it costs to make a print book vs. an e-book.
There is a perception out there, repeated endlessly around the Internet, that e-books should cost almost nothing. Electrons are (basically) free, so why should an e-book cost $11.99?
The reality, which I shall bold, italicize, and underline for some emphasis: Paper doesn't really cost very much.
Let's start with your basic $24.99 hardcover, the most profitable format. Of that cost, only approximately $1.50 goes toward the paper, printing, and distribution and all the stuff that publishers save with e-books. Repeat: $1.50 out of $24.99. E-books just don't save publishers gobs of money.
Let's look at a back-of-a-napkin breakdown of a print book vs. an e-book (all numbers approximate):
$24.99 hardcover:
$12.50 to the bookstore (roughly 50% retail price)
$2.50 to $3.75 to the author (between 10-15% of the retail price)
$1.50 for paper, shipping, distribution (again, approximately. UPDATE this would be for a high-print-run book, HarperStudio cited $2.00 as average)
Around $8.00 to the publisher, which is split between overhead (rent, paying editors, copyeditors, etc.), marketing, other costs, and hopefully some profit assuming enough copies are sold.
$9.99 e-book (agency model):
$3.00 to the bookseller (30% of the retail price)
$1.75 to the author (25% of the publisher's share)
Around $5.24 to the publisher, split between overhead, other costs, and hopefully some profit
You can see why publishers aren't exactly leaping onto the cheap e-book bandwagon when there are hardcover sales to be had. They make a lot less money per copy sold. They're worried about cheap e-books eroding their more profitable print sales. Electrons aren't saving them much money.
Print is still where it's at for them, and they're not crazy to behave accordingly.
For now.
Here Come the Insurgents
That $8.00 vs. $5.24 per-unit print vs. e-book consideration? Overhead? "Other" costs?
Hocking and Konrath don't care.
They don't have overhead, unless you count rent, an Internet connection, the services they contract out, and a laptop. They're not paying for an army of editors, assistants, lawyers, marketing teams, sales teams, and executives. They're not beholden to shareholders.
They write books, they figure out the editing and cover design on their own, they blog to try and spread some buzz, and word of mouth does the rest. They can afford to sell their books at a low price.
And because they cut out the middle man (and because publishers' e-book royalties are low), self-published authors make more from self-publishing a $2.99 e-book (70%, or $2.10) than a traditionally published author makes from a $9.99 e-book (25% of the publisher's share, or $1.75).
You read that right. More money to the author per copy at $2.99 than a traditionally published e-book at $9.99. Many self-published authors are laughing their way to the bank on that one.
If you aren't going to be published in print in a big way and you have an entrepreneurial spirit, what's the point of going with a traditional publisher? Why not undercut the competition and make more money?
The Perception of Value Problem
And yet...
Despite the glaring e-book royalty situation and some notable authors opting for self-publishing (such as Seth Godin), there has not yet been a mass exodus to self-publishing. Most of the biggest bestselling authors are sticking with traditional publishers. Not only is print still where the bulk of the audience is, publishers still provide an indispensable array of services that many authors (such as yours truly) simply don't have time to handle on their own.
But there's a problem that publishers are up against as we move inexorably into the e-book era: Perception of value.
Publishers can explain their costs and how e-books don't save them much money until they're blue in the face, but on a gut level many people simply don't believe an e-book should cost $12.99. It feels too expensive. A lot of people will simply not buy one or even go and pirate a copy because they feel like they're being ripped off.
Why could that be? Yes, you can't put your hands on an e-book or resell it, but people willingly plop down $12.99 to go to a movie and you can't put your hands on that or resell it either. Why have books suddenly become exorbitant at $12.99? Why is that too much to pay?
Well, it's partly because $12.99 is competing against the upstart $2.99 Kindle bestsellers and some other lunatics named Charles Dickens and Herman Melville and Jane Austen, who are giving away their books for free!! (Which, ahem, may be because they're long dead and in the public domain).
And therein lies a big challenge for publishers.
The Price of "Good Enough"
On the one hand you have publishers who are clinging onto the print world as long as possible and literally can't afford for prices to erode. They're counting on their quality control, their marketing, and their curation of what they feel are the top books in order to charge consumers a premium and hopefully instill a perception of value that new e-books "should" cost between $10.99-$14.99.
And on the other hand you have the self-published upstarts, who are willing and able to undercut publishers' e-book prices all the way down to 99 cents or even free.
Will publishers be able to maintain their prices or will they have to come down? And if they have to come down, how far will they have to go?
As always, the answer will be determined by consumers and their individual choices.
Stephenie Meyer's Twilight for $8.99 or Amanda Hocking's Switched for $0.99?
Harlan Coben's Live Wire for $14.99 or J.A Konrath's Shaken for $2.99?
Different people will make different choices, and I don't presume to know how that will play out (and for the record, I haven't read any of the prominent self-published authors).
Some consumers are more than willing to pay a premium for their favorite authors. I'm reading Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer right now, and it's so unbelievably incredible that no matter what I paid for the e-book it wasn't enough.
For other consumers, no book is ten times better than the other and they aren't willing to pay a premium. Many consumers just aren't that worried about the writing quality (as perceived/judged by the publishing industry), don't need the publishing industry deciding what to read for them, and just want a good story.
When the world moves toward e-books and print distribution is no longer where it's at, publishers are going to have a fight on their hands justifying the cost of their services to authors at their current e-book royalty rates.
They'll have a second fight on their hands as they try to adapt to a world where there are good books for sale for just 99 cents or less.
What do you think about the new Kindle millionaires, and what do you think it means for the future of books?


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We carry dozens of Native American jigsaw puzzles for all ages. Beautiful landscapes, unique culture, indians and animals with a variety of piece counts. Native American artwork transfers beautifully to jigsaw puzzles and is a great way to enjoy portraits of native people and scenes as well as nature images with eagles and wolves.
Use the filters to the left or simply scroll down to begin viewing all pages.
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Puzzle Warehouse recycles everything it can to save the environment and to keep costs and prices low.
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Aero 52-985010GRN 52 Series 15x8 Inch Wheel, 5 on 5 BP, 1 Inch BS IMCA
Click image to enlarge
Please note the following about this product:
- Ground Shipping Only - Can't Ship Air.
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What's in the Box
Aero Race Wheels 52 Series steel wheels are designed for asphalt or dirt oval track use. The roll-formed 52 Series wheels are Aero's most popular 15x8 on the market. They have more accurate bead seats with lower run-out and knife-edged bead humps. They feature a 7-hole D-window center disc made of HSLA material for strength and durability.
- Can be used for both dirt and asphalt
- Designed for vehicles up to 3500 lbs.
- Must use 1" O.D. lug nuts with 45 degree taper
- All 52 Series have safety bead humps
Note: Available with an IMCA sanctioning sticker.
Learn more about determining the proper wheel offset, torque sequence, and bolt pattern for your application by reading our tech article, Racing Wheel Principles.


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Freshmen Rep. says some GOP members want Americans to feel Obamacare pain for electoral reasons
(Christopher Santarelli) Disciples of Machiavellianism may be alive in the House Republican Caucus.
Freshman House Republican Thomas Massie told TheBlaze Monday that he has seen colleagues in private meetings argue against measures to defund Obamacare in order to have what they consider to be the law's doomed policy go into effect for the electoral benefit of the GOP.
"In other words, they want Obamacare to be enacted so that the American public will feel the pain?" TheBlaze contributor Mallory Factor asked the congressman in video interview (below).
"To feel the pain," Massie responded.
The Kentucky Republican won't name names, but says in his short time in Congress he seen individuals step up during behind-closed-doors meetings with 10 or 12 Republicans to argue against ideas like attaching the funding of Obamacare to the next debt limit deal, based on the notion that 'if we delay Obamacare after the elections, than we won't win as many seats in the House and we wont win the Senate.'
"Just like they're throwing the conservatives in the House of Representatives under the bus, some people are ready to throw everybody in the United States under the bus–under the Obamacare bus–for an electoral advantage," Massie said. "Frankly, it's disgusting."
"Once we socialize all of our healthcare you're not going to turn that back until something big happens."
The MIT grad has developed a reputation to be brash and not a team player according to some other Republicans in Congress, Factor noted in the interview.


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Cops: On-duty bus driver ferried $3M in drugs
(NEWSER) – Passengers aboard a Bronx city bus last week might have been surprised to learn that a major drug deal was taking place in front of them. And as the Daily News reports, it was the driver himself who ended up in handcuffs. The tale of the unusual bust involving 8 pounds of heroin worth $3 million began the morning of April 17, when customs officials at JFK busted a traveler from Africa with the drugs in his Samsonite. He agreed to proceed with his deal under the watch of federal agents and called the cell number he had been provided, reports the Smoking Gun.
Read the full story on Newser.com


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|This article uses material from the Konohagakure article on the Naruto wiki at Wikia and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License.
Konohagakure no Sato
|Location Statistics
|Located In
|Controlled By
Tsunade (Fifth Hokage)
|Previously Controlled By
Hashirama Senju (First Hokage)
Konohagakure (木ノ葉隠れの里, Konohagakure no Sato; Literally meaning "Village Hidden by Tree Leaves"; also known as "Village Hidden in the Leaves" or "Hidden Leaf Village") is the hidden village of the Land of Fire. As the village of one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, Konohagakure has a Kage as its leader known as the Hokage. There have been five official Hokage, the most recent being Tsunade. On a mountain overlooking the village from the north exists the Hokage Monument which has the faces of all those who have taken the office of Hokage engraved on it. Although Konoha which is known as the most powerful village possessing an elite shinobi army corps,[1] much like the country in which it resides, has been relatively peaceful since the end of the Third Shinobi World War, it remains one of the most powerful villages in existence, and has great military power and influence, though this has waned in the past three years following the attacks by Orochimaru and Pain. The shinobi of this village wear blue or black shirts which may or may not have swirl patterns on the shoulders, along with matching coloured pants over a green flak jacket which also has a red swirl on the back, and pockets on the chest area. They also tend to wrap bandages around their legs.
Before the ninja villages came into being, ninja were organised into small mercenary clans that knew nothing but battle. But after countless bloodshed, the two strongest ninja clans, the Senju clan and the Uchiha clan entered a truce despite reluctance from the latter's leader Madara Uchiha. Afterwards, the two clans would form the first shinobi village: Konohagakure. Hashirama Senju, the leader of the Senju, used his Wood Release abilities to produce much of the villages' infrastructure.[2] This ability was one of the reasons he was chosen to become the village's leader.
However, not being named Hokage and fearing that the Senju would oppress his clan, Madara attempted to gather support to overthrow Hashirama. But after his kin ostracised him, Madara resolves to deal with Hashirama himself by enslaving Kurama the Nine-Tails to do his bidding. The epic battle that ensued, causing the formation of the Valley of the End while Madara was presumed dead, resulted with Nine-Tails sealed within Mito Uzumaki, a member of the Uzumaki clan who were known for their unique chakra which was able to contain the Nine-Tails. As such, Mito became the Nine-Tails first known jinchūriki, a tradition which would hold due to the close ties between the Senju and Uzumaki clans. At some point, Hashirama came to bind the other tailed beast, which he gave to the other newly formed ninja villages to promote peace. However this peace was short lived.
The Three World Wars
Konoha took part in the first three Shinobi World Wars. Hashirama died during the First Shinobi World War, necessitating his brother Tobirama Senju replace him as Second Hokage. Tobirama would also die during the war, appointing his pupil Hiruzen Sarutobi as his successor before sacrificing himself to ensure his pupils' escape from Kumogakure's ninja. Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, later led Konoha's forces during the Second Shinobi World War where his three students Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru became known as the Legendary Sannin. Other than fighting across Amegakure with numerous clashes with its leader Hanzō, little is known of Konoha's actions during the war. Decades later Konoha became involved in the Third Shinobi World War; Konoha fought Iwagakure, using Kusagakure as their battleground. Konoha was almost defeated, but Minato Namikaze helped turn the war back in their favour.
Nine-Tails' Attack
Main article: Nine-Tails' Attack on Konoha After the end of the Third Shinobi World War, Minato was chosen as the Fourth Hokage. Soon after taking office, Tobi snuck into the village and, after removing Kurama from its current host, Minato's wife, Kushina Uzumaki, used it to attack Konoha. Minato was able to defeat Tobi, but he and Kushina later sacrificed their lives to seal the Nine-Tails into their son, Naruto Uzumaki. Many ninja died defending the village that day and blame for the events were projected on both Naruto and the Uchiha clan, the former unaware that he became the Nine-Tails's Jinchūriki and latter secretly accused of orchestrating the attack. In the aftermath, becoming Konoha's leader again, Hiruzen learns that Orochimaru had been kidnapping children in an experiment to reproduce Hashirama's power. However, though knowing he had to kill Orochimaru, Hiruzen did nothing and allowed his former apprentice to leave Konoha as a missing-nin who founded his own village to continue his human experimentation: Otogakure.
Hyūga Affair
Main article: Hyūga Affair {{#section:Hyūga Affair|summary}}
Uchiha Clan Massacre
Main article: Uchiha Clan Massacre Decades after Madara's presumed death, the Uchiha Clan was removed from decisions regarding Konoha's development and future. It was only after Konoha also began to suspect an Uchiha was behind Kurama's attack, now realising the truth behind Madara's warnings, many of the Uchiha members began plotting a coup d'état that would wrest control of Konoha. However, there were few members of the Uchiha who saw the dangers from such a venture. One such figure being Itachi Uchiha, who became a spy for Konoha's leadership. After peace talks failed, his part in the death of Shisui Uchiha playing a factor in it, Danzō Shimura orders Itachi to wipe out his clan. Assisted by Tobi, Itachi killed all but one of kin: his younger brother, Sasuke Uchiha. Honouring Itachi's request as he leaves the village, Hiruzen promises to protect Sasuke from Danzō. From there, the higher ups cover up the slaughter as cold-blooded murder with Itachi joining the Akatsuki to protect Konoha while living as a fugitive for the rest of his life. However, wishing to be punished for his crime, Itachi told Sasuke to live a life of vengeance so he would die by his brother's hand and restore their clan's honour.
Joint Otogakure-Sunagakure Invasion
Main article: Invasion of Konoha
Around five years after the Uchiha clan massacre, Konoha was invaded by Otogakure and Sunagakure ninja during the final stage of the Chūnin Exams, in an attempt to end the peace and prosperity that Konoha alone had enjoyed since the Third Ninja War. The invaders were repelled, but Konoha suffered heavy casualties, amongst them was Hiruzen who attempted to redeem himself by taking Orochimaru down with him. Although he was quickly replaced by Tsunade, recovery for the rest of Konoha's military forces was slow. The village became temporarily understaffed, leaving it unable to properly respond to events occurring in the interim, such as Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki sneaking into Konoha in search of Naruto and Sasuke's defection weeks later.
Pain's Invasion
Main article: Invasion of Pain Three years after the failed Sand and Sound invasion, the Akastuki's leader Pain attacked the village in an effort to capture Naruto. Konoha's forces had some success while fighting the Six Paths of Pain individually, but could do nothing to stop the village's destruction by Pain's Shinra Tensei. Naruto returned to Konoha shortly afterwards (having been delayed by Danzō's actions) and defeated Pain before confronting Nagato, the man behind Pain, about his actions in the death of both their mentor Jiraiya and Konoha's citizens. After Naruto convinced him that his actions were wrong, Nagato gave his life to revive everyone that died during the invasion. Naruto has since then been celebrated as a hero of the village.
Because of the attack, Konoha lost much of its economic and military capabilities, falling behind Iwagakure. Konoha's status as the most powerful village also passed onto Kumogakure. Tsunade was left in a coma from exhausting herself in protecting Konoha from Pain, causing Danzō Shimura to temporarily take office as her replacement. Danzō oversaw the start of the village's lengthy rebuilding process and dealt with the immediate aftermath of Pain's attack. Also, Sasuke's international crimes are now known to Konoha, which led the village to sever ties with him to prevent him from becoming a burden any longer, and officially brand him as a criminal to be killed.
Fourth Shinobi World War
Main article: Fourth Shinobi World War
Following Pain's attack on Konoha, along with the Akatsuki's other actions against the other ninja villages, the five Kage hold a Kage Summit to decide how to proceed with the organisation. After learning of his true goals for the tailed beasts, the ninja villages join forces to combat the Akatsuki's true leader Tobi who declared the Fourth Shinobi World War. Danzō is killed shortly after war is declared, but Tsunade wakes up from her coma in time to resume her position as Hokage and plan the village's actions during the war. Despite being under construction, the village is being used as a haven of sorts for refugees from countries predicted to become battlefields such as Land of Hot Water and the Land of Frost.[3]
- Academy
- Amaguriama
- Dango Shop
- Forty-Fourth Training Ground
- Hokage Monument
- Hokage Residence
- Ramen Ichiraku
- Jōnin Standby Station
- Kikyō Castle
- Konoha Archive Library
- Konoha Aviary
- Konoha Cemetery
- Konoha Hospital
- Konoha Hot Springs
- Konohagakure Intelligence Division
- Konoha Military Police Force
- Konoha Orphanage
- Memorial Stone
- Mission Assignment Desk
- Naka River
- Naka Shrine
- Shushuya
- Third Training Ground
- Uchiha Senbei
- Yakiniku Q
- Yamanaka Flowers
- Akagahara (anime only)
- Konoha Ninja Tool Research Facility: Detached Office (anime only)
- Konoha Strict Correctional Facility (anime only)
- Zeroth Training Ground (anime only)
Within the village there are many powerful and well respected clans. Of these there are four clans which are regarded as noble clans. These are the: Aburame, Akimichi, Hyūga and Uchiha clans — the latter of which was regarded as the most powerful clan in the village.[4][5] All known clans in the village are:
- Aburame Clan
- Akimichi Clan
- Hyūga Clan
- Inuzuka Clan
- Kohaku Clan
- Kurama Clan
- Nara Clan
- Sarutobi Clan
- Senju Clan
- Uchiha Clan
- Yamanaka Clan
- The second fanbook gives Konohagakure a population size of five out of five stars, a military strength of three out of five stars, and an economic strength of two out of five stars. It has the greatest population of all the five main shinobi villages.
- The hiragana あん (an) is painted on the four entrance gates of the village (one hiragana on each door).[6] This means "hermitage" or "retreat". In kanji, the character is "庵". There are also torii built all around the perimeter wall of the village.[7]
- Masashi Kishimoto stated that Konohagakure was modelled after his own hometown.
- In the first Naruto volume, page 87, there's a sketch of downtown Konoha. If you look closely, you may also see a billboard with a cartoon version of Masashi Kishimoto with a paintbrush.


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Report: Global Warming 'Pause' Could Last Another 10 Years
Listen to NRA News Cam & Company on iHeartRadio
The current "pause" in global warming that has baffled climate scientists could last at least another decade because of oceanic cooling cycles, according to a new report.
A new report published in the journal Science found that the global warming "slowdown is mainly caused by heat transported to deeper layers in the Atlantic and the Southern oceans, initiated by a recurrent salinity anomaly in the subpolar North Atlantic."
Heat is trapped more easily because the "waters in the Atlantic current coming up from the tropics are saltier because of evaporation," notes the BBC. "This sinks more quickly and takes the heat down with it."
The report, led by Professor Ka-Kit Tung from the University of Washington, also noted the "[c]ooling periods associated with the latter deeper heat-sequestration mechanism historically lasted 20 to 35 years."
So far, about 30 theories have been put forward about why global temperatures stopped rising in the late 1990s, leading to a near two-decade hiatus in global warming, according to satellite data. Currently, more than half the satellite temperature record — which began in 1979 — shows no warming trend, despite rapidly rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
Read more from The Daily Caller
PHOTO: Getty Images


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то же, что вихревые токи.
"With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Metaphors have a way of holding the most truth in the least space."
Orson Scott Card
"When one burns one's bridges, what a very nice fire it makes."
Dylan Thomas
"Blessed is the man, who having nothing to say, abstains from giving wordy evidence of the fact."
George Eliot


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|Operating System: (32- and 64-bit)
|Windows® XP with Service Pack 3
Windows Server® 2003 with Service Pack 2
Windows Server® 2008 with Service Pack 1 and 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1
Windows® 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate
Windows Vista® with Service Pack 2 Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise
Windows Server® 2012
Windows® 8, Windows® 8 Pro, Windows® Enterprise
|512 MB RAM (1GB Recommended) for Windows® XP and Windows Server® 2003
1GB RAM (1.5 GB Recommended) for Windows Vista®, Windows® 7, and Windows® 8, and Windows Server® 2008, 2008 R2, 2012
| 1.7 GHz processor or better
|Hard Disk
|Minimum free space is approximately 100 MB for the application and up to 500 MB for the Microsoft®.NET framework, if not previously installed.
|Minimum Resolution
| 1024x768
|You must install the application software on the client computer using the administrative account or an account with administrative privileges.
|Internet connection


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Jewel working on new album & book
Listen to Jewel on iHeartRadio
Jewel says for her next album she's not going to do "anything that's smart business." She tells Billboard.com her upcoming disc will be a companion piece to her 1995 debut disc, Pieces of You, and she intends to work on the new record the same way she did back then -- when she "didn't know about" the music industry.
The singer explains that she's doing her best to "forget everything" she knows about music genres and hit singles, and just "make a record that is really pure" and sing what's in her soul. Her reason behind the project is simple. She says she's currently "in a position to do that," so she'd "be an idiot" not to.
Jewel plans to record some tracks for the album at her Every Day Angels fan community later this month in Nashville, and at Nashville's famed RCA A studio.
Jewel is also working on her autobiography. She explains that she's had many fans ask her how she beat the odds and went from being a homeless singer-songwriter to a country and pop star.
Jewel says she'll "write about that and be very specific," and tell her story in a way she never has before. The singer adds that she's hoping to have both the album and the book ready for release by the end of this year or early next year.
Photo Credit Getty Images


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Calendar of Events
Sep 9
NSW: Floor Meeting with your Resident Assistant(s)
7:30 – 8:30 pm / Residence Hall Floor Lounge
It's time to come back together as a floor community. This meeting will cover floor announcements and provide time to get ready for NOlympics! Tonight, your Resident Assistant(s) will accompany you to the Recreation Center for group introductions and fierce "competition," so get ready to show your floor pride as you compete for Carleton's coveted giant cow!
Sponsored by New Students 2016. Contact: Sarah Wojnicki, x4462
Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, Families, Prospective Students, New Students, Faculty Emeriti


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With incumbents to protect, the Tea Party is now playing defense
Adolescence is never easy, especially for awkward outsiders still unsure of their place in the social hierarchy. Take the Tea Party. On the one hand, it's under attack by an openly hostile Republican establishment, which blames the uncouth party crashers for ruining what should have been a glorious 2012 electoral rout. (Never mind that Karl Rove couldn't buy a win for his establishment pets either.) More broadly, the movement's sputtering public approval coupled with some high-profile losses—including key failures in this month's Texas primaries—have much of the political world asking if the conservative insurrection is already over.
At the same time, Tea Partyers have enjoyed enough success (Matt Salmon, Justin Amash, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee…) that they now have concrete territory to defend. "Whereas before you were trying to get your guy elected, now you've got to start protecting them," observes Adam Brandon, executive vice president of the Tea-Party aligned FreedomWorks, which this week endorsed its first batch of incumbents for the midterms.
For a grassroots phenomenon defined by its throw-the-bums-out rage, this keep-some-of-the-bums-in mandate requires strategic adjustments—or at least more expansive thinking. Loyal incumbents must be protected, while disappointing ones are reassessed and even cut loose. (Are you paying attention, Senator Rubio?) With increasingly fierce pushback from the GOP establishment, new sources of funding for Tea Party rebels become critical. And, as the movement seeks to prove its staying power and relevance, the eternal tension between pragmatism and idealism must be periodically revisited.
It used to be so easy, say Tea Party leaders. Back in 2010, expectations were low and simply getting attention was a victory of sorts. "2010 was about grabbing people by the lapels and shaking the living death out of them," says Taylor Budowich, executive director of Tea Party Express. "We were pushing back against Republicans and Democrats, saying, 'Both of you have become complacent about out-of-control spending.'"
For it's part, the GOP was caught flat-footed by the rebellion. "[Former Sen. Bob] Bennett didn't see Mike Lee coming," says Brandon. "[Former Sen. Dick] Lugar may have seen Richard Mourdock coming, but he was slow to react."
Those days are long gone, as Tea Partyers confront a newly mobilized enemy in their efforts to unseat Republican fixtures like Mitch McConnell and Thad Cochran. "They're circling the wagons now," says Brandon. "Tactics are changing. K Street and the establishment guys are fighting back."
More troubling to movement leaders, GOP moneyed interests are taking aim at Tea Party lawmakers deemed disruptive and bad for the brand. Rep. Justin Amash's hard line on the debt ceiling, for instance, outraged key business interests, including the Chamber of Commerce, which have lined up behind hisprimary challenger, Brian Ellis. Tea Party Express is keeping a close eye on the race, and FreedomWorks has vowed to defend Amash "punch-for-punch." "Five years ago, I never would have imagined the Republican Party would be coming after people the Tea Party had gotten elected," says Keli Carender, the national grassroots coordinator for the Tea Party Patriots. "It still shocks me."
Read The Full Article On The Daily Beast
More articles from The Daily Beast:
- Mysterious debris near Australia looks like MH370's wing
- Georgia Is Ground Zero For GOP Civil War
- 'Game of Thrones' Vacation
© 2013 Newsweek/Daily Beast Company LLC


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Fleetwood Mac release four-track digital EP
Listen to Fleetwood Mac on iHeartRadio
Fleetwood Mac is making good on their promise to release a few new songs. The band unveiled the EP Extended Play Tuesday via iTunes. The four-track collection includes the song "Sad Angel."
CLICK HERE to listen to Extended Play on demand
Lindsey Buckingham wrote "Sad Angel," along with the set's two other new tunes -- "It Takes Time" and "Miss Fantasy." Lindsey wrote the fourth track, "Without You," with Stevie Nicks. The song dates back to their pre-Fleetwood Mac days, when they worked together as the duo Buckingham Nicks.
A post on Fleetwood Mac's website says the song had been "lost," but was "happily rediscovered when someone posted an early demo of it on YouTube." Extended Play is the first set of new Fleetwood Mac material since 2003's Say You Will.


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Flashback: Supercut of Elton John singing 'Your Song' through the years
Listen to Elton John on iHeartRadio
There's something exciting about being among the first few thousand people to watch a YouTube video on the verge of virality. Congrats! You're about to be one of those people (assuming you read this close to the publish date).
Elton John's "Your Song" is such a perfect marriage of singer to song, it's no wonder that it's one of the most popular wedding songs of all time. In a slew of major hits, "Your Song" manages to be John's signature song.
This soon-to-be viral video is a supercut of John singing the song through the years since it was first released in 1970. While his performance is miraculously consistent, his wardrobe is anything but (What exactly was that Donald Duck costume about?). So sit on the rooftop, kick off the moss, and enjoy.
And you can tell everybody…you saw it first.
Photo Credit Getty Images


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First Day of Colo. Pot Sales Stays Mellow
(NEWSER) – America's first legal recreational marijuana went on sale in Colorado yesterday and "Green Wednesday" was, perhaps unsurprisingly, a pretty mellow affair. At least 24 pot stores in eight towns opened for business and police say there were no incidents, apart from one person being issued a summons for public consumption, the AP reports. There were no problems at Denver International Airport, where signs warn travelers about taking marijuana out of the state.


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Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We've got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Fearing autism, many parents aren't vaccinating their kids. Can doctors reverse this dangerous trend?
Here are the pros and cons of the top fad diets and weight loss plans of the year.
The surprising benefits of getting busy


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If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return your order to the warehouse for a full refund (Bottles must be unopened, in the state you received them, and in the original packaging). We believe that in order to have the best possible online shopping experience, our customers should not have to pay for domestic return shipping. So if you're not happy with your purchase, just contact us right away and we will provide you with details for returning the unopened bottles - your domestic shipping costs are prepaid by us.
With the WineChateau.com 365 day return policy, there are no special catches or exceptions. All we ask is that you send the items back to us in the original packaging, unopened, and in the same condition you received them.
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White Bordeaux blends are typically a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle and a few other grapes from the Bordeaux banks. Although the white blends account for so little of the wine coming out of the region, they are quite popular, so we suggest getting your hand on a several bottles. Enjoy discounts, deals and free shipping to add this gem to your collection.
Most white Bordeaux blends are light and fruity with distinct flavors and aromas including grapefruit, lime, grass, honey and gooseberry. These lighter blends tend to be less expensive than the other rich and creamy blends from the same region. These creamier blends feature lemon, apple, pear, ginger, orange peel and caramelized flavors that make this blend a highly sought-after wine. Both variations are balanced and easy to drink seeing as they tend to have a lower acidity and milder fruity flavors than many of their white wine counterparts. Get the best of both banks when you shop for Bordeaux blends at Wine Chateau.
When it comes to hosting your next dinner party, think of fresh and green. Stay away from food pairings with a high acidity. A more toned down meal will allow the Bordeaux blend to stand out rather than be overshadowed. Try a dish with basil, avocado, lime or garlic to give your meal flavors that will complement the wine. A nice pasta dish with basil pesto instead of tomato sauce will pair nicely with this variety. Even a good guacamole would go well with a Bordeaux blend when you are lounging around with friends and flicks.
At Wine Chateau, we pride ourselves in bringing you a wide selection of white wines, including Bordeaux blends to expand your own collection. Shop white Bordeaux blends online for extra savings and a chance to try new varieties.


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The official word (which pasted a bit awkwardly): The enduringly popular sci-fi favorite STAR TREK:
THE NEXT GENERATION – THE FIRST SEASON makes its Blu-ray debut on July 24 from
CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in
2012, the beloved series continues to enthrall fans with its exciting and socially relevant tales of space
exploration in the 24th century.
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION – THE FIRST SEASON has been retransferred from
original film elements to produce stunning high-definition images, including amazing visual effects that
have been painstakingly recreated from the source material, creating before/after results that fans will
love. The six-disc Blu-ray set also features 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and a wealth of exclusive bonus
material, such as archival footage, a gag reel, and an inside look at taking The Next Generation to the
next level of high-definition. Featuring numerous behind-the-scenes interviews, the new material also
features Star Trek experts Mike and Denise Okuda, consultants throughout this ongoing project, who
offer special insights into the countless man-hours dedicated to the upgrade of The Next Generation.
Featuring one of the most endearing ensemble casts in television history, STAR TREK:
THE NEXT GENERATION took fans on the remarkable continuing voyages of the Starship Enterprise
with Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes),
Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis),
Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), Lieutenant Worf (Michael Dorn), Dr. Beverly Crusher
(Gates McFadden) and Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton).
The STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION – THE FIRST SEASON Blu-ray set will be available in
1080p with English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English Stereo Surround, French Mono, Japanese Mono and
German Mono (with the exception of "Encounter at Farpoint" which is in German Stereo). The discs also
include English SDH, French, German, Castilian, Italian, Japanese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian and
Swedish subtitles. The Blu-ray is not rated in the U.S. and rated PG in Canada. The disc breakdown is as
Disc One:
Encounter at Farpoint
The Naked Now
Code of Honor
Special Features
Episodic Promos
Energized! Taking The Next Generation to the Next Level (HD)
Star Trek: The Next Generation Archives: The Launch
Introduction to the Series (1987)
Promo #1
Promo #2
Promo #3
Season One Promo
Disc Two:
The Last Outpost
Where No One Has Gone Before
Lonely Among Us
The Battle
Special Features
Episodic Promos
Disc Three:
Hide and Q
The Big Goodbye
Angel One
Special Features
Episodic Promos
Disc Four:
Too Short a Season
When the Bough Breaks
Home Soil
Coming of Age
Page 2 of 3
Special Features
Episodic Promos
Disc Five:
Heart of Glory
The Arsenal of Freedom
Skin of Evil
We'll Always Have Paris
Special Features
Episodic Promos
Disc Six:
The Neutral Zone
Special Features
Episodic Promos
Stardate Revisited: The Origin of Star Trek: The Next Generation (HD)
Part 1: Inception
Part 2: Launch
Part 3: The Continuing Mission
Gag Reel
Archival Mission Logs
The Beginning
Selected Crew Analysis
The Making of a Legend
Memorable Missions
This was a cleanup weekend at the House of Heldenfels: routine housecleaning on Saturday and then the big job on Sunday: cleaning the garage. As in taking everything off every shelf, moving the shelves, sweeping, disposing of things and MUCH MUCH MORE. When we were done, the bookshelves looked neater, recycling had received bunches of cardboard, Goodwill had some new items and great honkin' piles of trash were set aside for (gradual) inclusion in the trash pickup.
And we watched some TV, whether it was catching up on stuff from the week ("Missing" and "Scandal," for instance, although I am wondering ever more why I am still watching) and a Sunday load of "The Amazing Race," "The Good Wife" and "Mad Men."To read more or comment...
This covers some of the same ground as my earlier blog post, but there are some differences ...To read more or comment...
Including Malcolm's connecting one performer to a Cleveland steamer...To read more or comment...
"The Five-Year Engagement" is the latest movie starring and co-written by Jason Segel, and it's a good if somewhat overlong effort. The humor is distinctly R-rated, and there's a melancholy that almost overwhelms the movie in its later stages; there were points when it felt as if the whole thing had gone sour. But there are many good things in the movie, including the lead performances by Segel and Emily Blunt, performers who generate so much likablitiy that we are willing to forgive some decidedly bad behavior.
Segel and Blunt play a couple who, as the movie begins, have been together a year and are now ready to get married. But before they can, life keeps getting in the way, especially when Blunt is offered a job in Michigan, far from their San Francisco base. Years drag on, other conflicts arise, and the audience is left to wonder if the engagement is, in fact, as far as these two will ever get.To read more or comment...
The folks at the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby passed along the news that an official Derby racer will be on view in Sunday's episode of "Desperate Housewives." (In exchange for its help, the Derby received autographed memorabilia from the show's current, final season.)
Here's ABC's description of the episode:To read more or comment...
The official word:
FOX has picked up FRINGE for a fifth and final 13-episode season, it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President of Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company.To read more or comment...
The official word: The Ohio Department of Development has approved a $461,771 Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit for the film "Toy's House".
The Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit is administered by the Department's Office of Strategic Business Investments and provides tax credits up to 35 percent to support Ohio's growing film industry. The 26-day shoot is set to begin in late June in Grafton (Lorain County). While on location in Ohio, more than $1.6 million dollars is expected to be spent for the various costs involved in production.To read more or comment...
As I said in a previous post, I keep wanting to write about "Mad Men" but seem always to want to say more than time and energy permit. Fortunately, my friend Alan Sepinwall covers most of the ground I would have in this piece.
I do want to add a few more thoughts as follows: Don and Megan in HoJo felt so much like a reprise of Don and Betty in Europe. In Europe, Don's lack of sophistication was made clear. And the HoJo scene was another reminder; he clearly LOVES HoJo, and Megan sees it as both bad taste and (with the sherbet) bad-tasting.To read more or comment...
The official word: CBS will heat up summer with the return of its hit franchise BIG BROTHER, the new unscripted dating series 3 and the previously announced DOGS IN THE CITY.
BIG BROTHER, hosted Julie Chen, premieres Thursday, July 12 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) with the first of its three weekly broadcasts. BIG BROTHER will be broadcast Wednesdays, (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT, beginning July 18), the live eviction show on Thursday (9:00-10:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT, beginning July 19), and Sundays (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT, beginning July 15).To read more or comment...
The production has also aired on HBO and will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on May 1.
The official word: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is pleased to host a film screening of Martin Scorsese's George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011, 210 minutes) on Wednesday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Foster Theater. This event is free with a reservation. Seating is limited. RSVP information is as follows:To read more or comment...
The official word:
The Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program presents a reading with Sarah Vowell on Tuesday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the Quaker Square Inn. Vowell is the best-selling author of two essay collections and five nonfiction books on American history and culture, including "Assassination Vacation," "The Wordy Shipmates," and her most recent book, "Unfamiliar Fishes." This event is free and open to the public.
Vowell has been a contributing editor for Public Radio International's "This American Life," a columnist for Salon.com, Time and continues to write occasional essays for the opinion page of the New York Times. Vowell has made numerous appearances on the "Late Show with David Letterman," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and has become a regular on "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart. She is also president of the board of 826NYC, a nonprofit tutoring and writing center for students in Brooklyn
Kelly Clarkson is 30 today, and the 10th anniversary of the premiere of "American Idol" is in June. "Idol" is old and tired, but Clarkson remains a refreshing musical presence. As I said on Twitter, I can't say my life would suck without her music, but she has brought joy to my playlists.
Some things just don't get my mojo working. I watched part of the first episode of "Veep," the Julia Louis-Dreyfus comedy that premiered Sunday, and just did not need anymore. Part of that stems from my general lack of interest in Louis-Dreyfus, who is at best an acquired comedic taste, and part from the rambling quality of the show itself. Its debt to "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is evident but compared to "Veep," "Curb" is tightly structured and focused. Bleh.To read more or comment...
The much anticipated deal has been made. The official word:
Lindsay Lohan is set to star as the legendary Elizabeth Taylor in the Lifetime Original Movie Liz & Dick, based on the true story of the screen icon's historic romance with actor Richard Burton. Principal photography on the movie will begin in early June in Los Angeles, it was announced today by Rob Sharenow, Executive Vice President, Programming, of Lifetime Networks.To read more or comment...
Features editor and former dance instructor Lynne Sherwin and pop culture writer Rich Heldenfels say goodbye to Gavin DeGraw on America's favorite dance competition.To read more or comment...
The official word:
Movie and sushi lovers alike are invited to the Capitol Theatre (1390 W. 65th St., Cleveland) for a special Q&A with filmmaker David Gelb following the 7:00 PM showing of his new critically-acclaimed documentary JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI on April 27th.To read more or comment...
The official word: DIRECTV's Audience Network heats up this summer with the season five premiere of the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning, critically acclaimed legal thriller, DAMAGES, starring Emmy Award-winner Glenn Close and Emmy Award-nominee Rose Byrne, on Wednesday, July 11 at 9 p.m.
The fifth and final season of the series centers on the timely and controversial subject of government and corporate transparency, focusing on how the ever-changing digital landscape shapes the way in which information is obtained and shared.To read more or comment...
The official word:
As summer's most beloved brand, USA officially kicks off the season with the most-watched series ROYAL PAINS and last year's rookie hit NECESSARY ROUGHNESS on Wednesday, June 6 at 9/8c and 10/9c. The momentum heats up with returns of BURN NOTICE and the acclaimed drama SUITS on Thursday, June 14 at 9/8c and 10/9c followed by all-new seasons of WHITE COLLAR and COVERT AFFAIRS on Tuesday, July 10 at 9/8c and 10/9c.To read more or comment...
Here's how the judges ranked the dancers on Monday's show: William (29) and Katherine (29), Maria (27) and Donald (27), Roshon (26), Jaleel (24) and Melissa (24), Gladys (22), Gavin (19). William and Katherine received two 10s each while Donald, electrifying and commanding in the final dance of the night, received a single 10 and a decidedly low-balled 8 from Len. (Thanks to Lynne Sherwin for catching a mistake in my earlier version of the scores.)
As usual, I felt different.To read more or comment...
Good looking day so far, and this is one of my favorite play-loud-with-the-car-windows-open songs:
To read more or comment...
Beacon Journal popular culture writer Rich Heldenfels discusses the blood-soaked yet logical horror film The Cabin in the Woods, starring Chris Hemsworth (aka Thor) and produced by Joss Whedon.To read more or comment...
Updated comments on "American Idol" are below.
I wll be out of the loop today for some family business. Over at Ohio.com you can find my review of the movie "Bully" and my review of the new/old Joss Whedon horror film "Cabin in the Woods AND my review of "The Three Stooges." I liked them all, obviously for different reasons. Also, this week's mailbag is here.To read more or comment...
Former dance instructor and features editor Lynne Sherwin and pop culture writer Rich Heldenfels tell us what they think about America's favorite dance show.To read more or comment...
Ready for lots of Fat Albert? Not that there could ever be just a little Fat Albert. Anyway, the announcement:
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The official word: GLAAD, the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, and the Miss Universe Organization are pleased to announce that after more than two weeks of discussions, the Miss Universe Organization is close to finalizing an official policy change that will allow women who are transgender to participate in its beauty competitions.
GLAAD first contacted the Miss Universe Organization on Saturday, March 24 after news broke that Jenna Talackova was disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada competition. GLAAD called on the Miss Universe Organization to review Jenna's case, as well as open the competition to transgender women.
After unsuccessful attempts to reach Jenna Talackova personally, the Miss Universe Organization and its owner Donald J. Trump moved forward and announced last week it would allow Jenna to compete. To further demonstrate its commitment, the organization, in consultation with GLAAD, discussed a policy change that includes transgender women in time for the start of this fall's 2013 pageant season; a time when most of the competitions around the world begin to take place.
"For more than two weeks, the Miss Universe Organization and Mr. Trump made it clear to GLAAD that they were open to making a policy change to include women who are transgender," said GLAAD spokesperson Herndon Graddick. "We appreciate that he and his team responded swiftly and appropriately. The Miss Universe Organization today follows institutions that have taken a stand against discrimination of transgender women including the Olympics, NCAA, the Girl Scouts of America and The CW's America's Next Top Model.
"Jenna and all of the LGBT advocates who have called for this change and spoken out in support of transgender women are to be commended. At a time when transgender people are still routinely denied equal opportunities in housing, employment and medical care, today's decision is in line with the growing levels of public support for transgender people across the country."
Adds Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization: "We want to give credit where credit is due, and the decision to include transgender women in our beauty competitions is a result of our ongoing discussions with GLAAD and not Jenna's legal representation, which if anything delayed the process. We have a long history of supporting equality for all women, and this was something we took very seriously."
As a result of Jenna's case, GLAAD has worked with many national media outlets to profile transgender women. Actress, producer and transgender advocate Laverne Cox spoke out about the decision:
"I am so moved and excited that The Miss Universe Organization has sided with justice and equality by not only allowing Jenna to compete, but by also allowing other trans women to compete in the future. No one should have a glass ceiling on their dreams. It is my hope that this moment can begin to highlight other injustices trans people face so that they too may be eradicated."
Laverne Cox can currently be seen in the film Musical Chairs. She is the first African American trans woman to produce and star in her own television show VH1's TRANSform Me. She is the first African American trans woman to appear on a reality competition show, VH1's I Want to Work for Diddy. She is also a regular contributor to the Huffington Post.
This is a bit of a crazy week, with a lot of movies on my plate including "The Cabin in the Woods," which I saw last night, and "The Three Stooges" and "Bully," both today. Plus I am trying to keep up with some TV and reading: "My Friend Dahmer," for one, and the third "Game of Thrones" novel, for another. So here are bits and pieces for today.
Last night's "How I Met Your Mother" was one of their more enjoyable time-shifting (and fantasy time-shifting) episodes, until the sentimental ending. But tone of he best things may be the way it used newspaper headlines to remind us of what a fickle dilettantte Ted is, his affection shifting from Gore to Howard Dean to Kucinich? Really? And the other best thing was its not falling prey to the later "Star Wars" movies by keeping everyone loyal to the original trilogy. Which is all the "Star Wars" anyone really needs. Especially with Han shooting first.To read more or comment...
Here's the CBS announcement:
CBS News legend Mike Wallace, the 60 MINUTES' pit-bull reporter whose probing, brazen style made his name synonymous with the tough interview – a style he practically invented for television more than half a century ago – died last night. He was 93 and passed peacefully surrounded by family members at Waveny Care Center in New Canaan, Conn., where he spent the past few years. He also had a home in Manhattan.To read more or comment...
Rich Heldenfels, Akron Beacon Journal pop culture writer critiques the new 3D Titanic.To read more or comment...
Pop music writer Malcom X Abram and pop culture writer Rich Heldenfels think they know who'll win America's favorite singing show. What do you think?To read more or comment...
The official word: The Weinstein Company (TWC), aided by the guidance and consultation from attorneys David Boies and Ted Olson, announced today that the MPAA has lowered the R rating, given for some language, for BULLY to a PG-13 in time for the film's April 13th expansion to 55 markets. The scene that has been at the forefront of the battle with the MPAA, the intense scene in the film that shows teen Alex Libby being bullied and harassed on a bus, has been left fully intact and unedited. BULLY director Lee Hirsch felt editing the scene was not an option, and subsequently refused to do so, since it is too important to the truth and integrity behind the film. Also a victory is the exception the MPAA made by allowing the film to be released with the new rating before 90 days, which is the length of time their policy states a film must wait to be in theaters after a rating change to avoid confusion or inconvenience for moviegoers.
To read more or comment...
The latest show from Shonda Rhimes is preposterous. I mean, how-nutty-is-that-plot preposterous. By the end of the second episode, I had lost count of how many times I had muttered "well, that could never happen" or "no one would do that." But that's Rhimes. "Grey's Anatomy" has had plenty of similar no-way moments over the years, as has her "Private Practice." The difference between the two is that "Grey's" still found a way -- well; some of the time -- to make you care about the characters enough that you kept turning the TV pages, or hoping that whatever absurdity had overtaken the show would pass. At its worst, and "PP" and "Off the Map" come to mind all too often, you either stop caring or never start, and the flaws are all the more glariing.
So where does that leave "Scandal"?I don't know. Aside from the main charracter Olivia Pope, I don't have many strong feelings. And I give Kerry Washington mega-credit for making Pope so interesting; another actress might have tried to signal lovability when Washington is more than willing to indicate that this is an unpleasant, even chilly woman, and that's what makes her so good at dampening scandals for her clients. She doesn't care if you like her; that's not her job. She needs you to like or respect or even ignore her client -- whatever it takes to make the problems go away, She is Cristiina Yang with a better understanding of people (aside, perhaps, from herself).To read more or comment...
Teddy Pendergrass, dammit. We will come back to that.
This week's mailbag is here..To read more or comment...
Former dance instructor and features editor Lynne Sherwin and pop culture writer Rich Heldenfels think the scores are too darn high on America's favorite dance show.To read more or comment...
Its "Operation Deep Freeze" report,. embedded above, was honored. Other winners include "Treme," "Game of Thrones," "Homeland" and "Parks and Recreation."
The reporting involved reporter Ron Regan, producer Mel Watson, videographers Dave
You may have seen my earlier post about the recent PBS Harper Lee documentary (which you can still watch online here). Still, if you are going to see "Mocklingbird," I would recommend the DVD or Blu-ray to spare yourself even "limited commercials." That said, here's the Obama announcement:
USA Network, the American Film Institute (AFI) and Universal Pictures proudly announce the exclusive airing of "To Kill A Mockingbird" on Saturday, April 7th at 8PM ET/PT on USA, featuring a special introduction from President Barack Obama.To read more or comment...
I've been doing more reading than usual lately. I am currently working through "Mockingjay," the third of the "Hunger Games" novels, and expect next to tackle the third "Game of Thrones" book. But I have also managed to finish some texts, including Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs, Steven King's Kennedy-assassination novel, and the Winslow book, which has been adapted for an upcoming Oliver Stone film. Reading notes follow.
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No Jamie Foxx listed. Is he part of the "additional cast members" expected? The official word:
TV Land announced today that the cast of the trailblazing FOX series "In Living Color" – Keenen Ivory Wayans, Jim Carrey, David Alan Grier, Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Tommy Davidson, Kelly Coffield Park, Kim Wayans and T'Keyah Crystal Keymah – will be honored with the Groundbreaking Award at the "TV Land Awards" 10th Anniversary celebration, taping Saturday, April 14 at the Lexington Avenue Armory at Gramercy Park in New York City. Additional cast members are expected to join. Previously announced honorees include "Laverne & Shirley," "One Day At A Time," "Pee-wee's Playhouse" and Aretha Franklin. The "TV Land Awards" 10th Anniversary will air on Sunday, April 29 at 9pm ET/PT.To read more or comment...
Monday was a difficult night for people who care about dance, with so many performances wrapped up in emotional memories and crying (by contestants and by Carrie Ann) that the bathos seemed to get judged as much as the footwork. And rhe footwork at times was not that great.
I thought the best performances of the night were by William and Donald, but the show keeps low-balling Donald (and again gave Katherine higher marks than she deserved).To read more or comment...
The harshest thing said about Betty Draper Francis on Sunday's "Mad Men" did not have to do with her weight. It was her being called "middle-aged."
This season of "Mad Men" is all about aging. (I keep thinking they should call it "Mad Men: Generations.") The two-hour season premiere brought that into sharp focus with Don's birthday party, and the divide between his younger acquaintances (including his new wife, about 15 years his junior), and Roger, Don and even Pete, who is after all is a younger but philosophically comparable version of Don, much the way Don follows in Roger's footsteps.To read more or comment...
Another season has begun, and Lynne Sherwin and I have thoughts:
To read more or comment...
Malcolm X Abram and I discuss the most recent developments, with irritation:
To read more or comment...
From today's Beacon Journal and Ohio.com:
Is there a missing pilot for a Drew Carey series? See the story here.To read more or comment...


text:
WATCH: Adam Levine Goes Through His Darkest Times In 'Maps' Video
Listen to Maroon 5 Radio on iHeartRadio
Adam Levine flexes his acting skills in his "Maps" music video. Unraveling like a tragic Nicholas Sparks novel, the Maroon 5 frontman lives a nightmare as the love of his life meets an unfortunate end, essentially by his own hands.
The clip begins with Levine barging into the Emergency wing of a local hospital. He's panicked and quickly fumbles his way past the receptionist and various medical personnel. He soon finds a devastating site as his brunette beauty is in surgery, fighting for her life. We don't know the context of the scene, but the video proceeds to work backward in time, slowing piecing together the previous few hours like a Rubik's cube.
Prior to the bloody conclusion, we learn that Levine was caught cheating on her at a party, after several shots of whiskey. She leaves the rave in tears and ultimately fate takes over. It's not pretty–no, seriously, the images are pretty graphic.
"Maps" is the lead-in to the band's forthcoming studio set V, expected Sept. 2.


text:
Autistic kid suspended indefinitely for this terrifying PICTURE of a bomb
Yet another student has landed in trouble for having something that represents a weapon, but isn't actually anything like a real weapon.
This time it's an autistic middle school student in South Carolina who was suspended until further notice after he brought a cartoonish drawing of a bomb he drew to school, reports local NBC affiliate WYFF.
The student, 13-year-old Rhett Parham, showed his drawing to some older students at Hill Crest Middle School in Greenville. They reported it to school officials.
They boy said he got the idea to draw the bomb from a video game called Bomberman Hero. Parham likes to watch YouTube clips of the game on his home computer. The game involves a hero, Bomberman, who seeks to rescue a captured princess.
Parham explained that he used lined paper, a black marker and "pens and stuff" to draw the image. He noted that bombs "explode things."
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