text:
New York • The Los Angeles Dodgers are on track to become only the second major league team with a $200 million payroll and could end the New York Yankees' streak of 14 years as baseball's biggest spender.
The Dodgers are at $214.8 million for 21 signed players next season, according to a study of their contracts by The Associated Press. That follows last weekend's additions of free agent pitcher Zack Greinke for a $147 million, six-year contract and South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin for a $36 million, six-year deal.
"Creating a lot of buzz, that's for sure," Greinke said. "And you do wonder when things are going to stop."
Crediting the $3.9 million Boston is paying Los Angeles next year as part of last August's trade and not counting the portions of signing bonuses for players obtained from the Red Sox, the Dodgers' 2013 payroll currently is at $207.9 million.
The Yankees have led each year since the Baltimore Orioles edged them by $200,000 in 1998, and New York has been at $200 million-plus every season since 2005. The record opening-day payroll of $209.1 million was set by the Yankees in 2008.
"I don't that there's anybody that can keep up with what the Dodgers are doing," Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers said.
Los Angeles, almost certain to pay the luxury tax next year, has joined the high rollers since the Dodgers were bought in May by Mark Walter's group, which also includes Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten.
"When we took over the team, we said we were going to spend money, and I guess you guys are seeing that we're trying to do that," Johnson said. "We're not messing around. We're not talking about it, we're doing it."
Under outgoing owner Frank McCourt, they started the season with the 12th-highest payroll at $94.7 million. They boosted spending with the midseason acquisitions of Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Brandon League.
The Dodgers finished 86-76 last season, eight games behind the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants in the NL West. The Dodgers haven't reached the World Series since winning the title in 1988.
Around the league
Angels • With three-fifths of their starting rotation gone, the Los Angeles Angels have been busy plugging holes and upgrading a bullpen that routinely surrendered leads last season. They introduced new pitchers Joe Blanton and Tommy Hanson on Wednesday, along with relievers Sean Burnett and Ryan Madson both of whom are coming off surgery.
Mets • David Wright will have to wait until 2025 to receive all the money from his $138 million, eight-year contract with the New York Mets. The deal includes $15.5 million in salary that is being deferred without interest. The money is to be paid in equal installments of $3.1 million each June 30 from 2021-25.
Dodgers projected payroll for 2013
Adrian Gonzalez $21.9M
Zack Greinke 21M
Carl Crawford 20.9M
Matt Kemp 20.3M
Josh Beckett 17M
Hanley Ramirez 15.5M
Andre Ethier 13.5M
Ted Lilly 13.2M
Clayton Kershaw 11.8M
Chad Billingsley 11M
Juan Uribe 7.3M
Chris Capuano 6.4M
Aaron Harang 6M
Brandon League 5.5M
Mark Ellis 5.3M
Matt Guerrier 4.7M
Jerry Hairston Jr. 3.8M
Yasiel Puig 3.7M
Hyun-Jin Ryu 3.3M
Nick Punto 1.5M
Skip Schumaker 1,5M
Ronald Belisario Arb*
A.J. Ellis Arb*
Total 214.8M
Boston trade 6.9M
Adjusted total 207.9M


text:
YouTube is closing down, Gina Rinehart is the new boss of Channel 10, and the Australian Financial Review is bucking the compact trend and upsizing to a broadsheet.
It's April 1st, and pranksters are doing their darndest to dupe readers - or at least give them a laugh.
From media and marketing news site Mumbrella, we learn Fairfax's Australian Financial Review will relaunch in a broadsheet format after 60 years in compact format, just weeks after The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age did precisely the opposite. It would appeal to those buying broadsheets as a ''status symbol''. Mumbrella quoted the newspaper's CEO Brett Clegg as saying:
"Particularly for those regularly flying between Sydney and Melbourne, people like to buy broadsheets because it sends a subtle signal to fellow travellers that they will be travelling business class and will have room to stretch their arms.''
In other media efforts, television blog TV Tonight reported the new CEO of Network Ten, Hamish McLennan, had been sacked after just two weeks in the job for failing to lift ratings. He was also spending too much time at the Grand Prix in Melbourne and meeting pollies at parties in Canberra.
The board appointed Gina Rinehart, who would introduce new programs including The Miner Wants a Wife, Who Wants to be a Billionaire? and Prospecting with the Stars.
Meanwhile, internet giants YouTube and Google had major announcements of their own.
YouTube announced that eight years after its launch, it was set to close down.
In a clip posted on its own site, YouTube announced the site had actually been an eight-year contest to find the best video in the world, and 30,000 technicians would now review every single video posted on the site before announcing the winner in 10 years' time.
"Thanks for all your great entries," the video said.
"YouTube finally has enough videos to begin selecting a winner."
In another announcement via a YouTube clip, Google revealed a new ''treasure map'' mode for Google Maps.
The video announced the Google Maps street view team were diving off the coast of Madagascar last year when they discovered a treasure map belonging to the infamous pirate William "Captain" Kidd. The map contains a variety of encrypted symbols which readers were tasked with deciphering.
Google also revealed its latest innovation, Google Nose, a service that allowed Googlers to search for smells which would be transmitted through the screen.
In London, The Guardian poked fun at its competitors - and itself - by telling readers it was launching "augmented reality" Guardian Goggles, complete with optional anti-bigotry technology, to offer "immersive liberal insight".
"It is not yet understood how glasses-based immersive journalism will be handled by the emerging new regulatory framework for the UK media. But Hugh Grant said he would issue an authoritative ruling on the question within the next two weeks," the Guardian said.
Closer to home, The Biggest Loser Australia was forced to tweet a denial of claims that filming had shut down on the latest series after one of the contestants suffered a heart attack.
The source of the joke was journalist Amanda Meade, who later tweeted: "Confirming my Biggest Loser tweet was an April Fool - and also a comment on the dangers associated with the show. #aprilfool."
Sports stars were also getting in on the fun, with Canberra Raider Sandor Earl tweeting photos of himself getting a tattoo of club sponsor Huawei's logo on his right thigh.
Huawei joined in, tweeting a photo of Earl in a tattoo parlour with his thigh clearly showing the Huawei logo.
It said Earl's latest tatt was part of an "individual sponsorship contract with Huawei for an undisclosed sum" – and the statements were retweeted by Earl just minutes later.
At one minute past midday, the club put out a press release confirming the prank was just a "bit of fun".
Also in the Raiders camp - but this time on Facebook - was this well-timed prank, and even The Canberra Times has been sent a few emails from seemingly concerned sports fans.
The page claims the ACT Brumbies and the Canberra Raiders were merging their executives and boards after significant financial hardship.
To be called the Canberra Super Club, the page had attracted attention this morning, but punters were quick to comment on the timing of the announcement, which came complete with a slick jumper design for the newly formed club.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Page: [1] [2]
Inside, the H2 gets a new instrument panel, more-comfortable seats, a full third row of seating, and other refinements.
"The 2008 Hummer H2 represents a major step in the evolution of this iconic vehicle," Hummer General Manager Martin Walsh said when he introduced the vehicle in April at the New York auto show.
"From performance to comfort to safety and overall refinement, the new H2 lineup delivers more of what customers expect from Hummer. They will be especially impressed with the new, more refined interior."
The same interior is used in both the wagon and the pickup, which is known as the H2 SUT (sport utility truck). The only difference is that in the SUT, there is a small cargo bed in place of the third row of seats and enclosed cargo area of the wagon.
Other interior changes include new door panels, controls, a rear-seat climate control system, an overhead rear DVD entertainment system, and a variety of audio system offerings.
The company said the major complaint current or previous H2 owners had about the vehicle was that the interior was not as refined as it should be for the price - which begins at just under $55,000 for the 2007 model.
"The new interior delivers a refined, premium feel while maintaining Hummer's trademark ruggedness," interior designer Dennis Burke said in connection with the New York unveiling. "Everything from the flushness of the controls to the feel of the materials exudes craftsmanship in the H2's new interior, while the fine details, like leather seat piping, create a consistent, premium interior design across the entire Hummer family." Emphasis was put on increasing passenger comfort. One key change was to move the mounting of the front seat shoulder belts from the back of the seats to the sides of the vehicle. Also new are front safety belt pretensioners, designed to lock up more efficiently in an emergency.
The new instrument panel includes a six-gauge cluster that "features a more-refined appearance," GM said. "Soft-touch materials and new, more tactile controls enhance the feeling of craftsmanship."
Also redesigned was the center instrument stack that includes the controls for the climate-control and audio systems. Standard is a premium Bose audio system, and a surround-sound system is optional.
New air-conditioning and heating vents in the instrument panel were designed to move the air more efficiently to the second and third rows.
Other amenities include a rear-view camera system and heated windshield washer fluid. Also standard are GM's OnStar and XM satellite radio.
Besides the engine and transmission, improvements in the drivetrain included a larger-capacity cooling system. Standard is a 3.73 rear axle ratio.
The transfer case for the four-wheel-drive system was upgraded, too, GM said. A new traction-control system is standard, and steering has been improved with a quicker turning ratio.
The engine also is quieter, thanks in part to new tuned air intake and exhaust systems, the automaker said.
For safety, there are roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for all three rows of seats, activated by a new rollover sensing system. A tire-pressure monitoring system is standard as well.
Also new is electronic brake assist, the first time this has been used in a full-size GM truck or SUV. This system is designed to detect an emergency braking situation and apply maximum brake pressure to help stop the vehicle quickly and with more control, GM said. This is standard on all 2008 H2 models.
Always a nice feature is OnStar, which for 2008 offers optional turn-by-turn navigation.
The H2 retains its signature seven-slot grille, but the lower part of the grille has been enlarged to allow for more air to cool the bigger engine, GM said. The bumpers are now painted silver; they were black before.
No prices have been announced yet. The new model goes on sale in September.
Hummer's biggest competitors are the Land Rover LR3 and Toyota Land Cruiser/Lexus LX 470 models.
Page: [1] [2]


text:
The Trinamul Congress leader from Barasat against whom a college student had lodged a molestation complaint on Sunday was arrested late on Monday, apparently after senior party leaders gave the green light.
The girls two brothers, who had allegedly been assaulted while trying to protect her, had been arrested early on Monday on the basis of an FIR lodged an hour after the girls complaint.
According to Trinamul sources, there are many allegations of crime against Nikhil Das, the leader, and the party was trying to distance itself from him ahead of the panchayat polls.
Nikhils brother Tarak, who had also been named by the student in her FIR, was admitted to hospital after Sunday nights incident at Bamangachhi. He would be arrested once he was released, police sources indicated.
The molestation complaint lodged against the students brothers by a woman on Sunday night named three others. All five were arrested.
The girls brothers were picked up around 2am on Monday by a team of officers from Barasat police station, who later arrested three of their friends.
This is how our police work: they find it difficult to arrest someone we have named in our FIR but readily find reasons to pick up my sons, who had gone out to save my daughter, said the college students mother.
The student had named six in the FIR. The police arrested six: four of those named in the FIR, including Nikhil, and two others. The leader was picked up from his home around 11pm on Monday.
It is not mandatory to arrest anyone named in an FIR. Our probe is still on and we need to find out who were really involved in the incident before making further arrests, said a senior officer of Barasat police station.
According to residents of Bamangachhi, a shalishi (arbitration) meeting convened by Nikhil on Sunday evening led to the two complaints. The objective was to persuade residents of the area not to help the police build a case against Somnath Sardar, a relative of the Das brothers who had been arrested in connection with a robbery. The Das brothers believe that one of students brothers had helped the cops arrest Sardar.
The meeting was held on the ground adjoining Young Star Club, said a youth from the locality.
Sardar, who had been out on bail for 11 days, was also present at the meeting.
The police denied that there was a meeting. Two groups abused each other and fought after an argument turned violent, said an officer.
Following the incident, the student lodged the molestation complaint in which she also named Sardar, who has since been arrested.
On Monday, the student said those who had beaten up her brothers were wearing steel punchers on their fingers. One of her brothers sustained deep cuts on his back. They attacked with rods and knives and slit the hand of one of my brother with blades, she said. The girl, a second-year student, said she was felling insecure since some of the accused were at large.


text:
You have no items in your shopping cart.
Open Box Merchandise
Got your eye on that perfect machine, but it's just outside your budget? The Open Box section of our site features gently-used equipment available at a lower price.
What does Open Box mean? Here's the breakdown:
- Most often, the equipment was out at a customer's house, used lightly and returned within the 30-day return period that applies to new equipment.
- The return may have been driven by 'buyer's remorse' and not necessarily because the machine was defective; all Open Box gear is in perfect working order.
- It will include the original box, manual and all non-consumable accessories, where applicable. Items such as water filters or hardness testing strips will likely not be included, unless they were unused by the original customer.
- We thoroughly inspect, test and clean the equipment before re-packaging for resale.
- The original manufacturer's warranty still applies.
- Unless noted elsewhere, Open Box merchandise is limited to a 15-day return period.
Behmor Connected 8 Cup Coffee Maker - Open BoxHow do you balance control and convenience? With the Behmor Connected Coffeemaker! The Behmor's Android or iOS app puts you at the helm with full coffee control. Program everything from automatic pre-heat time to pre-infusion, temperature and volume—all from your phone! And, the machine offers access to custom profiles and recipes from other Behmor owners. Learn More
Regular Price: $299.00


text:
Payday Loan Now Online
Financial hardship is definitely an difficult thing to go through, so if you're facing these circumstances, you will need fast cash. For some consumers, a quick payday loan can be the approach to take. Keep reading for some helpful insights into payday advances, what you ought to look out for and ways to make the best choice.
When attempting to attain a quick payday loan as with any purchase, it is advisable to take your time and effort to shop around. Different places have plans that vary on interest levels, and acceptable kinds of collateral.Try to find a loan that works beneficial for you.
Before taking out a loan, it is wise to check the lenders reputation with the BBB. There are many sketchy companies that scam individuals who need help. It is worthy of your time to check out the company and verify they are reputable.
These days, Payday Loan Now Online are everywhere; you'll find new offices opening on a regular basis. Payday Loan Now Online are temporary loans, normally a small amount, that do not require that the credit be checked. This loan is good for a temporary. Since these loans in many cases are short term as the name indicated, they have really high interest levels. Still, those in an emergency may require them.
Check with the BBB to ensure the payday lender you are looking for has a good rating. Check their BBB ratings for virtually any complaints before you sign for a payday loan with any organization. If you discover any complaints, then you certainly should probably hunt for another company. If you find none, it's probably dependable them.
Payday Loan Now Online can be the solution to your issues. Advances against your paycheck can really be handy, however you could also end up in more trouble than whenever you started should you be ignorant of the ramifications. The following article can help you learn the ins and outs of applying for a quick payday loan.
It is important to be sure you can pay back the borrowed funds when it is due. The interest rate associated with a payday loan is high which may result in significant costs or else paid back promptly.
You must have an existing work history simply uses qualify to secure a payday loan. Many lenders will have to see evidence of a minimum of 3 months worth of employment before granting a loan. The lender will most likely require you to submit pay stubs for many years as proof your valid work history.
The most important tip when applying for a payday loan would be to only borrow what you could pay back. Interest rates with Payday Loan Now Online are crazy high, and if you take out more than you can re-pay by the due date, you will pay a great deal in interest fees.
Before you sign up to get a payday loan, consider the amount of money that you will need. You should borrow only the money that will be necessary for the short term, so you will be able to pay back at the end of the phrase of the loan.


text:
The 2015 small forward from Jefferson City (Mo.) played in front of NU coaches already during his high school season, an early sign of the Wildcats' interest. He likely flashed something special, because they've stayed in contact.
"They text me a lot," Anunoby said, "and they've been coming to my games. They want me to visit."
NU pulled in a commit from 2014 point guard Johnnie Vassar on Friday, continuing their momentum and their focus. The Wildcats are looking for quick athletes who can push the tempo — certainly a departure from the strengths of their current personnel.
Anunoby would probably be someone to help the cause. He's smartly interested in a school that will best fit his game: They need to get up and down the court while playing high-pressure defense.
Self-described as an "athletic three" who can "shoot and defend," Anunoby fits the requirements for guys NU might look toward for its 2014 class. Even with the Vic Law signing, the Cats could still use some wing depth and athleticism up and down the roster.
As his NU recruitment currently led by Patrick Baldwin heats up – and it certainly will – Anunoby can focus on two familiar things about the program. He noted Coach Collins' pedigree and then mentioned another important connection.
"My friend committed there, Scottie [Lindsey]," he said. "I went on a visit to Iowa and got to know him, and he liked Northwestern a lot."
With five commits locked in for the 2014 class (and all of the transfer talk on the backburner until the end of the season), the attention slowly shifts toward the staff's second group of recruits.
For now, watch the highlights, and watch the player. They'll keep an eye on O.G. Anunoby.


text:
In brief: Letta appointed premier-designate
Thu., April 25, 2013
Rome – Italy's president appointed Enrico Letta as premier-designate Wednesday, asking him to form a coalition government representing Italy's main parties to end two months of political paralysis and put the country back on the path of reform and growth.
Letta, a 46-year-old center-left lawmaker and No. 2 Democratic Party leader, said he accepted the job knowing it's an enormous responsibility and that Italy's political class "has lost all credibility."
President Giorgio Napolitano charged Letta with putting together a coalition government of the Democratic Party and the center-right party of Premier Silvio Berlusconi, the two biggest blocks in Parliament.
Letta also represents something of a new generation in Italian politics, after the traditional guard has been discredited by scandals, infighting and inertia. In a perhaps scripted but nevertheless significant gesture, Letta drove himself to the presidential palace to accept the job as premier in his own Fiat. Normally politicians are driven around town with an accompanying motorcade.
These "auto blu," as the chauffeured cars are known, have become the despised emblems of the privileges of Italy's political elite.
Violent clashes in China kill 21 people
Beijing – Violent clashes in China's far-west province of Xinjiang, home to the Turkic-speaking Uighur minority, reportedly left 21 people dead in what official media described Wednesday as fighting between "suspected terrorists and authorities."
The state Xinhua news wire said that among the dead were 15 field staff and police officers, in addition to six "suspects."
That story and an account carried by a government-run website in Xinjiang said the confrontation was sparked Tuesday after three official "community workers" reported the presence of knives and suspicious people in a house in Bachu County, which is about 750 miles southwest of the provincial capital of Urumqi.
A Uighur exile activist group gave a different version.
Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the German-based World Uyghur Congress, which uses an alternate spelling for the minority group, wrote in an email that the conflict Tuesday was fueled by the police shooting and killing a young Uighur man.


text:
"It was never about waving around the brand like a flag. It was always about the people." As the last frame fades on the latest "SINCE 66″ film from Vans, the concise, yet powerful quote from the brand's founder, Paul Van Doren graces the screen. For many corporate companies, the progression from the "early days" to a successful and profitable business operation are often riddled with losses of integrity, authenticity compromises and decisions that jeopardize the relevance of the creative direction. Tapping director, Eliot Rausch, Vans releases an aptly titled brand video that encompasses the core ethos that has guided it for the past 46 years. The film highlighting the insight and thoughts of many members of the Vans family including the likes of Steve Van Doren, Ray Barbee, Steve Caballero, Leila Hurst, Keith Morris, Stephen Murray, Tony Alva, Russ Pope and Christian Hosoi. Fast forward to 2012 and a retrospective look on the Vans vision is still the same today. A vision that is characterized less by sponsored faces in favor of a growing family. It is a vision that is geared more by what they can give than by what they can get.
- Fashion
- Footwear
- Music
- Arts
- Design
- Editorials
- All Sections
HYPEBEAST 100: The innovators from all realms of creativity in the spotlight.
With in-depth interviews, focused features and fashion-forward editorials, our print publication features long-form coverage of the topics valued by readers.
Explore and be inspired by the latest women's fashion news and trends.
- Videos
- Radio
- Store


text:
In recent years, green travel is getting the attention that it rightfully deserves. Treading lightly, traveling responsibly and avoid leaving any carbon footprint as we travel can help sustain the environment, or at least prevent further damage to our planet. Unfortunately, traveling often causes a certain degree of destruction to the environment and local communities if we are not careful with our own actions.
To reduce this impact, several eco luxury lodges have made minimizing environmental impact as their aim. For the environmentally-friendly traveler, here are some excellent retreats to indulge and unwind.
1. Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, Costa Rica
The open-air concept of the Playa Nicuesa Lodge fits perfectly to the jungle backdrop, letting you get in touch with nature while you sleep or dine. Overlooking the jungle and sea of the Golfo Dulce/Osa Peninsula, each wooden cabin opens up to a view. Decked out in a rustic jungle theme, the cabins are exquisite.
2. Sanctuary Chief's Camp, Botswana
Setting the golden standards for luxury safaris, this lodge sits amidst the shady foliage of the Okavango Delta, overlooking the plains and lagoon. Setting the golden standards for luxury safaris, the tastefully designed interior of Sanctuary Chief's Camp is rustic yet luxurious in the midst of wilderness.
3. EcoCamp Patagonia, Chile
Besides its stunning setting right in the Torres del Paine National Park, the design and engineering of the EcoCamp truly blows your mind away. The entire lodge is set in geodesic domes made to resemble the local Kawesqar people's huts.
4. Kw'o:kw'e:hala Eco Lodge, Canada
Set along the Coquihalla River in BC, Canada, this wilderness lodge designs specific eco vacation experiences to meet your needs. Sleep in the complete wilderness, with the stunning forest and river as your backdrop.
5. Tiamo Resorts, Bahamas
Tiamo Resorts on South Andros island emphasizes on sustainable tourism and claims to be the Caribbean's most environmentally sensitive operator. Beautiful cottages set among swaying palm trees are built using basic ecological principals, combining nature and chic at once.
6. Avalon Coastal Retreat, Australia
Along Tasmania's Great Oyster Bay, the Avalon blends futuristic architectural style with eco-living. With indigenous landscapes and an edgy design, the resort draws you into a different world where art and environment live as one.
7. Gayana Luxury Eco Resort, Borneo
At the fringe of the lush forest of Borneo, Gayana is a patchwork of water bungalows built near to a coral reef island. With Mount Kinabalu in the distance and the turqoise waters below your feet, you can marvel at the wonders of nature from your bedroom. There is an on-site research center to protect and restore the coral reefs.
*All photos obtained from the resorts' websites.
Related Posts:


text:
The five agents need to get away from Nova Scotia
Category: Delilah and Julius - Rating: PG - Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama - Published: 2006-08-20 - Updated: 2006-08-20 - 767 words
Sign up to review this story.
Site design Copyright 2005, K&D Lynch. All stories contained in this archive are the property of their respective authors, and the owners of this site claim no responsibility for their contents.
Page created in 0.011 seconds


text:
CQC Rating - Good
Individual care adapted to suite everyone's needs.
A general residential and nursing home providing care for a variety of individual needs and specialist conditions, including short stays for respite, holiday and post operative care.
Sefton Hall, which is the largest of the four homes, is an striking Georgian building, reached via an impressive driveway and standing in delightful sunny gardens. It is only a few hundred yards from Dawlish town centre and the seafront.
Sefton Hall retains the atmosphere of an elegant hotel. Many of the rooms are exceptionally light and airy with full height windows looking over the grounds. There are three spacious lounges and a large dining room.
You may expect:
Transport Links
Directions - click for map
For further information and to ask about vacancies:
Tel: 01626 863 125
Funding & Useful Information
CQC Inspection Report
Service User Guide


text:
America has Madonna and Toni Braxton and Britain has Cerys Matthews. Cerys who, you say? Matthews is the ballsy, irreverent singer for Welsh popsters Catatonia and is a bona fide diva, the queen of the U.K. pop world…and she's even good at what she does, a real singer of substance not fluffy image.
Of course, Equally Cursed and Blessed has already been out for awhile in Europe—seemingly always the case with great British pop—and it's a dead-on hit in England for very good reason. Matthew's sassy vocals and the band's way with a tune make them stand at the front of the British pop class, a lot getting crowded with superb artists of late (Travis, Stereophonics, Ooberman).
"Dead from the Waist Down" is the anthemic ballad with an unfortunate chorus "make hay not war"—a trite line out of place in an otherwise stellar song. Like their Welsh compatriots the Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia is cognizant of the phoniness, soulessness and plastic-like quality of many of America's mass cultural products that are shipped out ad naseum around the globe. That would account for the swipe at Hollywood: "But we're dead from the waist down / Like in California."
What makes this sentiment more convincing is that Matthews and crew don't reserve their criticisms just for other countries, as they take aim at the U.K. capital on "Londinium." "Londinium" is hardly a London rah-rah song—rather it speaks to urban angst and weariness—as Matthews sings that it "suck the life" out of her and "sucks the money" out of her pocket. As a former London resident, I can vouch for the latter, but certainly not the former. Though, I have to agree with Matthews that Paddington and Euston train stations can bring on a serious case of world-weariness. Musically, "Londinium" is the up-tempo Britpop standout sure to please even the most die-hard Anglophiles.
Equally Cursed and Blessed is the best album of the band's career. In an effort to introduce their overlooked back catalogue to deprived American audiences, the U.S. version of Equally includes the U.K. smash hit singles "Road Rage" and "Mulder and Scully," a song with somewhat silly X-Files references, but hooks to die for. Now if Americans would only start worshipping Matthews instead of Madonna.
Rudimental "Sun Comes Up" feat. James Arthur (Singles Going Steady) // Music
Amai Kuda Y Josephine "Cave" (video) (premiere) // Music
Jillette Johnson 'All I Ever See in You Is Me' (album stream) (premiere) // Music
Iron & Wine "Call It Dreaming" (Singles Going Steady) // Music
20 Questions: Kasey Chambers
// Sound Affects
"Australia's country great Kasey Chambers embraced her ambition on a new double-album, but still wants to be remembered as "being real in a very fake world."READ the article


text:
Honking into seashells is the highlight of a free event in Key West.
It's free to participate by making music — or other sounds — with seashells.
The Conch Shell Blowing Contest is noon March 1 at the Oldest House, 322 Duval St., Key West, 305-294-9501
Registration is 10 a.m. to noon, or during the event, if slots are open. Participants may use their own shells or buy them at the event.


text:
LARRY PRICE PHOTOGRAPHY Photographer
Lisa MuswagonModel Female Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
My Website: Lisa MuswagonMy MM URL: http://www.modelmayhem.com/lisamuswagon
Mayhem # 95209
About Me
My name is Lisa Muswagon and I am the owner of Native Model Studio Canada. I have 15 years experience as a model in Print, Runway and Fashion. My interest in photography has grown through out the years and my plenty of years experience helps me capture artistry trough my lens. I'm not afraid to take steps in this industry, no matter how long it takes even if I have to grow in it like Jeanne Beker!
My goal is to help provide an experience to the aspiring model and demonstrate a positive role model to my younger generation and community. I receive work to coach and train models and currently accept modeling jobs. My hopes is to expand Native Model Studio to an Agency level, so I will soon be scouting. Please don't be afraid to inquire within.
Have you worked with Lisa Muswagon? Add Credits for Lisa Muswagon! >>
Credit Notes
Various Print and Runway Work
LARRY PRICE PHOTOGRAPHY Photographer
Ian McCausland Photographer
AGENDA Photographer
SARAIN Model
Rochelle Belanger Model
sayisi Model
Loading Content


text:
NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma fans should finally get a definitive answer about Blake Bell's arm.
The Sooners junior quarterback will earn his first start at quarterback against Tulsa at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium today (ESPN2, noon ET) and will have the chance to prove his passing ability amid questions about his ability to run OU's offense. Redshirt freshman Trevor Knight beat out Bell to become the Sooners' starter at the beginning of the season but injured his knee during OU's 16-7 win over West Virginia on Sept. 7 and is expected to miss the game opening the door for Bell to start.
Questions about Bell's ability to throw arose after the Kansas native carved himself a role as the Sooners' short-yardage specialist and was dubbed the "Belldozer" as a redshirt freshman in 2011. He excelled in the role, rushing for 24 touchdowns but completed just 10 of 20 pass attempts in two seasons behind Landry Jones.
Expect the Golden Hurricane to force Bell to beat them. With the Sooners averaging 310.5 rushing yards per game, Tulsa is unlikely to sit back and allow OU to put the game on the shoulders of running backs Brennan Clay, Damien Williams and Roy Finch. TU will probably load the box and dare the Sooners, and Bell, to beat them through the air.
Bell enters the game having completed 3 of 6 pass attempts for 38 yards and with four carries for 31 yards in OU's first two games. He saw mop-up duty in the Sooners' 34-0 win over Louisiana-Monroe before replacing Knight in the fourth quarter of OU's win over WVU. While the Golden Hurricane will come out with an eye on stopping the Sooners' running attack, don't expect OU's offense to change with Bell under center.
"They're pretty much the same," coach Bob Stoops said. "They all can run, they all can throw, and they're all athletic. There isn't much of a difference between them as far as their skill set and what they can do."


text:
Dray Joseph gets it.
He is a native of Edgard, a small town on the Mississippi River, less than an hour from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
He is a junior at Southern University, now the etched-in-stone starting quarterback after two seasons of flip-flopping roles and inconsistent play.
His dad, Greg, attended Grambling. When Dray Joseph was a kid, they went to the Bayou Classic together.
Sure, the game's not what it used to be. Joseph knows that. He has seen the dwindling crowds and lived through three rotten seasons with the Jaguars, who take a 3-7 record into Saturday's showdown against archrival Grambling (1-9).
Judging by the records, this is the worst Bayou Classic matchup since the game began in 1974.
But Joseph gets it. It's still the Bayou Classic, and Southern hasn't won it since 2007.
"I haven't beat (Grambling) since I've been here," Joseph said. "I think our record's better than theirs, and our record's not that good. So if we lose to those guys, it'd be tough."
Yes, Southern has suffered through another disappointing year. But if Joseph is already thinking about next fall, well, he has done a fine job hiding it.
"With one game left?" he asked. "Not really. ... As far as thinking about next season, I'm not going to lie: I'm not. I'm still trying to get the tough losses we had this year and last year out of (my mind). It's kind of tough. What's it take for us to get over the hump? That's what's really going through my mind."
Saturday's game, which gets under way at 1:30 p.m. with an NBC audience looking in, will give Joseph his best opportunity to shine against Grambling.
For much of his first two seasons at SU, Joseph was spectacular one week, average the next. He flip-flopped roles with other quarterbacks, starting one game, watching the next one from the bench.
Along the way, he was all too prone to the untimely turnover. Throwing pick-sixes in the first half, fumbling on key fourth-quarter scrambles, forcing passes into double coverage — you name it, he probably did it.
This year has been different.
In preseason camp, then-coach Stump Mitchell handed the full-time starting job to Joseph, saying the move was permanent. No more flip-flops.
The junior responded by putting his more mature skills on display.
For example: In the Jaguars' last game — a 31-30 loss to Alabama State, in which Joseph threw for a season-high 349 yards — the coaches called a first-half screen that was quickly sniffed out. Instead of forcing a pass or trying to scramble for a sure loss, Joseph made the smart move: He threw the ball in the dirt.
"I vowed to myself (that) I'll never make the same mistake twice," Joseph said. "Last year, I think I threw nine interceptions, and I only played half the season. This year, I've (thrown) seven, and I've played every game. Things like that just keep me going."
Joseph, in fact, has quietly become one of the most effective quarterbacks in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. He easily leads the league in passing yards (2,227) and touchdowns (20) and has improved his completion percentage to 58.4.
Although he's taken plenty of snaps (and hits) over the past two-plus seasons, Joseph will start against Grambling for the first time Saturday.
If you're a fan who's perplexed by the Jaguars' seemingly constant state of flux — and, for that matter, the program's lack of progress over the past five or so years — consider this: In Joseph, Southern will have a different starting quarterback for the fourth consecutive Bayou Classic.
In 2009, the Jaguars started Bryant Lee, a fifth-year senior who became the school's all-time passing leader (Lee, for all his success, later said his career wasn't complete because "I didn't win a ring").
In 2010 — Stump Mitchell's debut season as Southern's football coach — Jeremiah McGinty took the ball (he completed 2 of 11 passes and had a critical interception in Southern's 38-17 loss).
Last season, freshman J.P. Douglas — who spit time with Joseph for most of the year — started the Bayou Classic. Douglas completed 5 of 14 passes before he left the game with a concussion. Joseph came off the bench to throw for 138 yards, but Southern lost 36-12 before a crowd of 40,715 — the smallest in Bayou Classic history.
McGinty was kicked off the team last year, and Douglas was "suspended from the team indefinitely" this season, though interim coach Dawson Odums has declined to elaborate.
That leaves Joseph. Now it's his team, and his chance to win the game he grew up watching.
"The Bayou Classic is not where it was when I was a little boy," he said. "I just want to win that game and bring our people back."


text:
"I have an obsession with Original Milk Bubble Tea! I have one atleast once a day! For those that don't know what it is, it's the drink with the black balls (aka Tapioca)."
Photos by Tianxiao Zhang
GIRLS OF PASMAG Submissions: Click Here
Name: Erica Li
Location: Toronto, ON. Canada
Date of Birth: May 5
Height: 5'7"
Measurements: 32D-25-31
Ethnicity: Chinese
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ericaali
Where are you from?
Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario!
Does your personality match your Zodiac sign?
My Zodiac sign is a Taurus! What they say about a Taurus matches me perfectly - Im persistent, loyal, patient, sensitive, stubborn and down to earth.
What would you say are your strengths as a model?
My strength as a model is that I can bring out different sides of me - fun, flirty, cute, sexy and wild!
What is your best beauty secret?
Body Lotion! Dry skin makes you crack and wrinkly! I put lotion all over my body - soft like a baby's butt!
GIRLS OF PASMAG Submissions: Click Here
Where can we see you?
You can see me mostly at events, mostly just promo modeling.
What are your future plans?
In the future, I just want to have a big healthy family, get married to the love of my life, make babies and just live happily ever after.
Do you drink?
I only drink one type of drink - Soho and Cranberry. It's a girly drink but if you haven't had it, please do! It's amazing and it tastes like lychee :)
What is the best present you received?
I don't think I can specifically choose a present that I think is the best present I received. All I could ask for is that I spend moments that are important to me with the ones I love.
GIRLS OF PASMAG Submissions: Click Here
Where do you like to eat?
Ouuu I love food! I love going to a Japanese restaurant called GUU! They started out in Vancouver and now in Toronto. I order almost everything - I get salmon sashimi, beef sashimi, shrimp sashimi, kimchi udon, miso soup and their baked oyster with cheese on top (YUM)!
What do you do on your spare time?
On my spare time I just like to lay in bed and watch the Bachelor!
How do you keep in such excellent shape?
To get my body, I drink a lot of Bubble Tea! Haha Im kidding... I honestly don't work out. I've tried going to the gym and bootcamp but I got lazy. I guess I have an excellent metabolism!
Are you big on first impressions?
First impressions are very important! I find that the first thing I notice on a man is his lips and hair. No chapped lips and nice groomed hair. It shows that a man can take care of himself!
What's on your travel itinerary?
I'll be going to the Bahamas next week with my lovely boyfriend. Just to have some time away and relax!
GIRLS OF PASMAG Submissions: Click Here
How would you like your boyfriend to propose to you?
I don't have a specific way I would want my boyfriend to propose, but he's a bit of a joker so he might do something embarrassing!
Marriage song?
Since my future spouse would need to know how to dance, I would most likely play a traditional slow song by Brian McKnight, then when you least expect it, the DJ would scratch in a Reggae/Soca mix! Whine to da side!
Any shout-outs or last words?
Don't take things so seriously - Have fun and do what makes you happy!
GIRLS OF PASMAG Submissions: Click Here


text:
Lindsay Lohan's Hotel Room Coke Party 3-Way: The Movie (VIDEO)
At this very moment, Lindsay Lohan is doing charity work overseas in India. But you'd never think it from this just-released video, in which she stars as herself, frolicking around a hotel room with two wasted model types. We're guessing she went "method" on this one.
The video is apparently the result of Lohan's nipply photoshoot with Muse Magazine, or as she likes to call it, a regular Monday afternoon at the Chateau Marmont.
It's really some of the finest acting Lohan's done in forever. Take a look, then take a bath.


text:
Anthony Kiedis
From Uncyclopedia, the content-free encyclopedia
Anthony "Got any heroin?" Kiedis is the 'sock wearing, hair flapping, shirtless, California obsessed, jackass, hearthrob and lastly the lead moaner of The Red Hot Chili Peppers. He has written the band's lyrics for many years, his inspiration is sex, more sex, even more sex, how many women he bangs per minute, being "Naked in the Rain" with a killer whale, California, his many teenage (They're Only 18 you know) girlfriends and how he wants To Put His Lovin' In Their Ovens, how he Can't Stop as he's addicted to something known as a Shin Dig, California, Catholic School Girls, a mystery woman called Dani and Flying Winds, or whatever the hell a Zephyr is, California, Giving Something Away, First Born Unicorns and hard core soft porn (how you can have both is beyond me) and California. And yes we know what you're thinking, why the hell am I reading about this knobhead... well to be honest, we don't know either. Maybe because Anthony told you a while ago to 'throw away your television', and now all you have is the lousy internet. Ha, your loss dumbasses. He is actually the best singer ever, disregard all of this.
For years the world has been trying to work out what the hell goes on in Anthony's mind. No one has succeeded. It's going to be Stephen Hawking's final achievement in life. He will release a book named Inside the Kiedis... My Story. It will tell of their anal sex scandal.
Anthony was born a long, long, long, long time ago, before the wind, before the snow (Hey Oh), on the sunset strip in Grand Rapids, MI. You would think to Cher & Iggy Pop, but really to John Kiedis aka Blackie Dammett (a drugdealer to the stars and an occasional actor) on November 1st 1962. Although Cher was a family friend. He was also born with 30 meters of hair and an instant 6-pack. People thought he was a Martian, so they outcasted him to La La Land. He became desolate and lived on his own with many, many dogs. He screamed every night that he wanted to Party On Someone's Pussy, this upset the dogs and they tried to kill his ass, but they choked on his hair.
Anthony then moved back to California, because he missed his pillow and his porch, he loved California a lot, so much in fact, he was going to get every single word in the English dictionary ever, to rhyme with it.
Hed Rot Pili CheppersRHCP formed sometime in the 80's, no one really knows when or how, but there was probably a lot of sex involved. Make that definitely. Anthony decided that he knew all about poetry, but couldn't play any instruments that well, so he would be the lead singer. Anthony decided the band needed serious sex appeal, as the rest of RHCP looked like unwanted homeless children with tattoos and really freakishly bug-like eyes.
RHCP recorded many albums, including their most famous Blood Sugar Sex Magik, which included a lot of diabetic love songs about small flowers and candies, which Anthony wrote himself. The song's included such amazing ground breaking lyrics as Doo doo doo doo dingle zing a dong bone, Ba-di ba-da ba-zumba crunga cong gone bad, but Anthony may have well not written any lyrics anyway, as he claims he doesn't ever remember them and makes them up as he goes along, because that way it is never wrong. The band thought he was wrong once, but after close inspection, they realized that he was the target of jealous Guns 'N' Roses fans, whose entire life's purpose was to make him doubt himself, and for the band to doubt him too. Once the band realized their error, and that Anthony was always right, they purchased for him a thousand pencils by way of an apology.
No longer being able to impress the world by wearing nothing but a metal chain skirt round his ass, Anthony decided they needed a new guitarist, so he went and found the campest guitarist of all time, Billie Joe Armstrong. They thought BJ could bring a new image to them, and make them even more camp than normal. So for a few years, RHCP wrote about coffee shops, dancing like Anthony's father, Kurt McHappy Pant's Cobain, being Warped, and how all their friends were depressed. They called the album 'One Hot Monstrosity'. They also kissed and dry humped each other A LOT, as none of them were really getting any women. But in the night someone killed Billie Joe (never found out who or gave a damn why) and they threw his corpse back to Green Day. Anthony found this disturbing and cried for..like ever, until he stopped. The next day John made a return, it was like return of the Jedi, except bigger and much more important. The Drummer, Will Ferrel, claimed that the band was fooked after John left, and at that the world had stopped moving. This was especially important as it was the first time he had spoken. They agreed to take John back as long as he stopped talking like he had barbed wire lining his mouth.
RHCP later got a new sound Gangsta and Anthony bought himself some grills from Puff Daddy Diddy Doo Daa Bop. He made the grill accidentally magnetic as he has eternal failure of common sense , so he would electrocute himself if he closed his mouth. He went around talking like John once had, and never closing his mouth, this fucked the other band members off and Flea tried to chop Anthony's head off with a axe, but failed and missed, and chopped his hair off instead. Anthony lost his L'oreal hair deal to Jon Bon Jovi, and the band just ran out of people to sue.
This marked the change in the Chili Peppers, and the world could breathe once again, without turning on the TV to see Anthony dancing around like a 14 year old gone wrong, singing about how he got turned on and took for a hard ride then took it on the Otherside (reference to him and Stephen Hawkins sex scandal) or By The Way he tried to say he'd be there, where we don't know, but he said he would be there and well frankly he wasn't, or how he was Humping someone's Bump (Fleas.. Maybe?), being especially in Michigan with the mother duck or Dani California and how she died. Anthony went back into hibernation, where he learned he could pull weird-looking women, but got bored, and thought about marrying strange and amazing Jersey girl named Jill after they met at a 'Getting Over Your Sex Addiction' class. He decided she was too conventionally good-looking for him, and he spent the next few years looking for a minger to settle down with. In the meantime, he adopted a litter of ducks, in a Parallel Universe, Especially In Michigan, Under The Bridge in the city, and finally, All Around The World.
He since then has only been spotted 'shop-bag lifting'.If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Anthony Kiedis...Dial 0800-332...Oh! do you know what, don't bother doing anything, just count yourself lucky he doesn't run over try to sell you 'one hot monstrosity'.


text: Casa de Liberty @ Germantown Avenue 1 2 #Suite E - Casa de Liberty #Suite A - Casa de Liberty 1 2 #Suite E - Casa de Liberty #Suite A - Casa de Liberty Item details The location Germantown Avenue is the old Germantown Pike, and the neighborhood is called Germantown. This colonial is 3 blocks up from the Wayne Junction train stop and on the 23 bus line. Hours Mon–Sat 9:00–17:00 Casa de Liberty Historic home with suites for office/business on the ground floor and residences on the second and third floors. Built in 1742, the Revolutionary War was fought on the street. Quaker families hid runaway slaves here on the Underground Railroad, an... Related desks Add to Favorites Edi View profile Contact 4821 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA 4821 Germantown Avenue , Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Google+


text:
The Favors
If you're envisioning a fun activity for the party day, let the ladies design their own tea cups. Place a basket of different flavors and blends by the door so guests can pick their favorites and take them home.
Ceramic mugs, crateandbarrel.com.
Pebeo porcelain paint pens, dickblick.com.
Favor tags, etsy.com.


text:
2 Recommendations
GadgetGuy's recommendation
If there's one thing I love in a gadget, it is retro-styling and vintage looks. This radio from Genus has both, and it is fully functional as well. Plus, it has an aluminum handle and wood-paneling goodness to boot. Carry this around and pretend you're living in the 1970s.
innit76's recommendation
Its a retro, walnut veneer, touch pad DAB radio - and looks so sophisticated and very much something that can become a collectors item after a good few years. You can plug yu MP3 player into it as well. I'd line up for this.


text:
Police alledge that Jones, who was dancing in the street outside a South Beach nightclub, was told repeatedly to get out of the street and refused. After several attempts to get him to stop, police ended his dance by slapping cuffs on him. Jones, 28, signed an affadavit to appear at an arraignment at a later date and was released.
The official charge was listed as failure to obey a lawful command.
Police say that Jones and a female companion were blocking traffic and that the female got out of the street when police ordered her to do so, but Jones refused. After his arrest, Jones was apologetic, leading police to allow him to sign an affadavit rather than holding him overnight.


text:
Christian Grattan Photographer
Meaghan MonaghanModel Female Woodside, New York, US
My Website: MEAGHAN MONAGHAN'S WEBSITEMy MM URL: http://www.modelmayhem.com/meaghanmonaghan
Mayhem # 2407548
About MeBorn and raised in NYC, Meaghan has been professionally modeling since the age of 15. She has appeared in print, most recently Manhattan Bride. Not only does she have impressive tearsheets, she has rocked the runway for the President of Indonesia at the Waldorf Astoria, NYC for Fashion Week. In addition she is featured on a an electronic billboard for The FurSource located off the prestigious shopping district of 5th Avenue in Manhattan. Meaghan's modeling interest lay in lifestyle and commercial photography.
Have you worked with Meaghan Monaghan? Add Credits for Meaghan Monaghan! >>
Credit NotesRUNWAY:
SBFW for Yoli Rapp Designs
Runway: Kelima K Bridal Fashions
Runway: Sherri Hill Fashion Show at New York Fashion Shows Premiere Event at the Empire Hotel
Runway: Fashion show for the President of Indonesia featuring Designers Denny Wirawan and Tuty Cholid at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, NYC
Runway: S/S Fashion Week for Indonesian Designers Denny Wirawan and Tuty Cholid at the Waldorf Astoria
Runway: "All is Vanity" Fashion Show NYFW, Limelight, NYC for Michael Anthony Collection
Runway: Skyfish Swimwear at the Dream Hotel, NYC,
Runway/Promotional: Curve Expo, Jacob Javitts Center, NYC for Skyfish Swimwear
Runway: South Street Seaport, Beekman Beergarden Swimsuit Runway Show for Skyfish Swimwear, NYC
Runway: 5th Annual Huntington Has Taste Fashion Show featuring Skyfish Swimwear
Runway: Cine' et La Mode, JUST OFF 7TH AVE! Fashion Show
Runway: Fashion Show for The Spring 2013 Presentation of Sarah Jassir
Photo shoot: Josh Sailor
Photo shoot: Edgar Mattey
Photo shoot: Celebrity Photographer Steve Azzara
Photo shoot: Health and Beauty Lingerie Shoot with Photographer Kaz Chiba
Photo Shoot: Designer ZUBAIR , photographer Eric Acquaye
Photo shoot: Bridal Wear Joan Bateman-Cowan in Central Park, New York
Photo shoot: SD Casting for a PSA concerning teen pregnancy
Photo shoot: for Tina Tandon Celeb Stylist
Photo Shoot: Michel from Studio A B (Edgy Models)
Website: The Fur Source Catalog
Print: Whalebone Creatives Catalog (not sure which edition yet)
Print: MANHATTAN BRIDE Fall/Winter Edition 2012 for Sarah Jassir's Bridal Gown
Print: REVENGE FASHION MAGAZINE
Print: IM Photography Image Makers
Print: The Knot for Sarah Jassir Bridal Gowns
Print: Newsday Newspaper for Skyfish Swimwear
Cosmetics Model: Make Up Forever
Hair show Model: for Oribe Hair Care Products (3)
Promotional: The Fur Source Photos all over their Showroom: 3 W. 57th Street, NYC and on two illuminated poster boards.
Promotional: Sarah Jassir Grand Opening of her Bridal Showroom
Promotional: Fashion Night Out at Sephora of 5th Avenue, NYC for Michael Anthony Collection
Promotional: GCB series for ABC Network television
Promotional Television: Tina Tandon Celeb Stylist/Asia TV Program
Christian Grattan Photographer
Casey Webb Photographer
Studio 123 Photographer
Paul Howard Model
Petrusenko Photographer
kuwshkelly... Photographer
Loading Content


text:
Thread Social Ruffle V Neck Dress
The tulip skirt, the ruffled top, the gorgeous pink hue: this dress is girly perfection.
This is adorable. I love the one-shoulder look and this yellow is perfect for spring.Tags: cocktails, fun dresses, shopbop, one-shoulder, intermix, Thread Social, spring 2009Added 9 Years Ago from ShopBop


text:
CEI Experts Available for Comment
Washington, DC, Jan. 6, 2013 – The Senate today is expected to confirm Janet Yellen to head the Federal Reserve, despite unanswered questions concerning Yellen's views and plans. Those unanswered questions include: her policies on inflation, quantitative easing, the Fed's conflicting mandates on inflation and unemployment, the needlessly complicated Basel III standards for how much capital banks should keep in reserve, Dodd-Frank implementation and reforms, and more.
Joint Statement by CEI's Iain Murray, John Berlau, and Ryan Young
Questions about inflationary monetary policy, overregulation from Dodd-Frank, transparency at the Federal Reserve and the interplay of all these issues as they affect growth and freedom. We hope our lawmakers will do what they can to hold the Fed accountable and make sure these questions are answered. > View the full list of questions for Yellen
> See also: Yellen Pick Shows Left Unconcerned With Value of The Dollar, CEI Analysts Say
Director, CEI Center for Economic Freedom
Senior Fellow, Finance & Access to Capital
Fellow in Regulatory Studies
CEI is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy group dedicated to the principles of free enterprise and limited government. For more information about CEI, please visit our website, cei.org, and blogs, Globalwarming.org and OpenMarket.org. Follow CEI on Twitter! Twitter.com/ceidotorg.


text:
Broncs Host Saint Peter's This Weekend
First Place Broncs Host Peacocks
Rider Returns to MAAC Action
LAWRENCEVILLE—The Rider baseball team looks to win its fourth conference series of the season this weekend when the Broncs host Saint Peter's for three Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games, beginning with a 12 noon doubleheader on Saturday.
The games can be heard on your radio at 107.7 FM The Bronc and on your computer at www.GoBroncs.com.
Rider (21-14, 7-2 MAAC) has already won the series with the top two teams in the preseason poll, defending champion Manhattan last weekend and 2012 runner-up Canisius the weekend prior.
The Broncs possess the best pitching corps in the MAAC, with senior Tyler Smith (Westmont/Haddon Twp.), junior Mike Murphy (Hamilton/Peddie) and sophomore Kurt Sowa (Bensalem, PA/Fr. Judge) in the starting rotation and sophomore Zach Mawson (Magnolia, DE/Caesar Rodney) in the bullpen.
Smith (5-3) owns a 1.91 earned run average this year, holding opponents to a .238 batting average, and will pitch the series opener Saturday. He has 43 strike outs and just 10 walks. Smith's next win will be the 20th of his career. There are currently just seven Broncs with 20 career wins. A former Preseason All-American closer, Smith also has 27 career saves.
Murphy (3-4) was the 2012 MAAC Pitcher of the Year and will seek his 14th career win in the second game on Saturday, the seven inning contest.
Sowa (7-1) is eighth in the nation in wins and will pitch the 12 noon game on Sunday. Sowa is 3-0 against MAAC teams this year and owns a career mark of 12-5.
Mawson has already compiled nine saves, the 11th most in Division I this year. The lefty has appeared in 16 games, with 13 of them being scoreless outings. Mawson has saved four of the nine MAAC wins.
The Rider offense is led by junior Jerry Mulderig (Langhorne, PA/Council Rock South), sophomore Eric Strano (Robbinsville), senior Adam Wayman (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) and junior Nick Crescenzo (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton).
Mulderig, an outfielder/designated hitter/pitcher, leads Rider with a .364 batting average, with 39 hits, including seven doubles, and 13 stolen bases. Mulderig recently homered in a MAAC win at Manhattan.
Strano, the Bronc catcher, is batting .306 with 34 hits in 29 games started behind the plate. He has thrown out twelve base runners attempting to steal this season.
Strano and Mulderig are both batting .400 in MAAC games.
Wayman, the Bronc third baseman, recently homered for his 200th career hit, and enters the weekend with 203, ninth most ever at Rider. This season Wayman is batting .291 with 37 hits and a team-high 24 runs scored.
Crescenzo has 94 putouts and a pair of assists without an error in the Bronc outfield this year while collecting 34 hits in 34 games with a team-high 24 RBI.
The Broncs are 10-3 at home this year, including 5-1 in home MAAC play.
Saint Peter's (12-20, 5-4 MAAC) is 6-16 on the road this year. The Broncs won two of three games at Saint Peter's last year. The Broncs had won 11 straight meetings with Saint Peter's before the loss last year. Rider has only lost to the Peacocks five times in 60 games since the series began in 1941.


text:
Recognized around the world as " The Voice of Hockey" Foster has been part of Canadas sporting life since the early Twenties. He began on a telephone telling a Toronto radio station what was going on in a hockey game between the home-town team and one in Kitchener, Ontario. And for more than 3000 broadcasts after on radio and television - it has been one "He Shoots He Scores!" after another.
Depending on the person you are talking to, Canadian hockey is one or all of the following: a shaper of youth, an international banner, a religion, a unifying force. But one fact is perfectly clear; the Saturday night hockey broadcast has always been a good deal more than light entertainment.
One man has reported it all- his name is Foster Hewitt. And he has helped millions of us to see and share these events.
Foster was 14 years old in the press box with his father for the 1918 World Series. He sat behind the microphone for the worlds first hockey broadcast in 1923. He was the Master of Ceremonies when Maple Leaf Gardens opened in 1931. He was Mr. " Hockey Night In Canada" through the Depression and through World War ll. Hewitt traveled to Europe for some of Canadas finest hours of international competition.
For many who grew up on farms in the Prairies, remote fishing outposts or anywhere there was a radio, Foster Hewitt symbolized Canadian life and memories of childhood. Pretty big shoes for a small and basically shy and simple man.
"My Father was my whole life" ..From the age of five, young Foster was a constant companion with his father W.A Hewitt, at football and baseball and hockey events. Mingling with an assortment of scullers, yachtsmen, lacrosse players and baseball stars, the youngster was a familiar sight in press boxes across Canada and the United States.
Foster would have loved to be able to play hockey but, "I couldnt skate very well .I had weak ankles." Instead he turned to boxing. By the time he would enter University of Toronto, he had earned an enviable reputation in the boxing community. As far as a career choice he was fascinated with radio. The first live radio broadcast of a major event was on July 21, 1921, when heavyweight Jack Dempsey entered the ring against George Carpentier. This radio broadcast was carried into 200 theatres and halls along the Atlantic coast.
Foster got himself a job at the Toronto Star where his dad was the Sports Editor. He knew they were thinking of moving into radio. When the Toronto Star opened its own radio station CFCA in June 1922 Foster was on staff as announcer/engineer.
Hewitt began this career with news bulletins which he read from page one of the Star. There was no formal programming, he just went on whenever there was something interesting to report.
Foster Hewitt was behind the microphone for the game of March 22, 1923, broadcasting from within an ordinary glass phone booth in Mutual Arena. The game went into overtime and Hewitt talked non-stop for three hours and eight minutes constantly wiping the fog from the glass in order to be able to see clearly. As well as reporting this game he added in between period comments and soothed the telephone operator who kept asking "What number are you calling?"
With this success Hewitt found himself being a roving radio reporter. During his years with CFCA he broadcast events like; The dirigible R100 at Montreal, the Empress of Britains maiden voyage and marathon swims of the Canadian National Exhibition. He worked alongside some important men of the era such as Gordon Sinclair, Morley Callaghan and
Earnest Hemingway.
Maple Leaf Gardens
When Conn Smythe was creating Maple Leaf Gardens he invited Fosters father W.A Hewitt to become attractions manager for the Gardens. Conn Smythe also left it to Foster to create the perfect perch from which to broadcast the hockey play by plays. Foster went up and down from top to bottom of the original Eatons College building till he was satisfied and the Gardens broadcast booth was born. Not at all user friendly. This famous booth later nicknamed the "Gondola" was a rickety box that you had to walk along a narrow steel catwalk 75 feet above the ice to get to. Then you had to swing by a rope like Tarzan to let the small ladder down and then you were in the box. Later a better small stair was added, but it wasnt much.
When the Gardens officially opened on November 12th 1931, Foster Hewitt was both the Master of Ceremonies and play by play announcer. That famous greeting-" Hello Canada and hockey fans in the United States and Newfoundland" was repeated week after week, year after year until Newfoundland joined the Confederation in 1949. Hewitts high-pitched delivery made the dullest of games sound like a Stanley Cup final.
Through the Depression when most Canadians had very little to be cheer about, Hewitt and Hockey Night in Canada filled a big void. And Canadians from every corner let him know just how much he and his broadcasts meant to them. They wrote letters as many as 90,000 a season from remote places such as a lighthouse on the Bay of Fundy, a fishing trawler on the North Atlantic to a Hudsons Bay trading post north of Churchill. Many people sent small gifts of cough remedies, maple syrup rabbits feet and the odd tirade about his grammar.
Even World War ll failed to dampen the growing popularity of NHL hockey. The sport was encouraged by military leaders. As the officer commanding a Royal Regiment of Canada told a war time audience.
"More than anything else, the men in England want hockey broadcasts. More than even cigarettes and even parcels from home." Hewittts broadcasts continued every Saturday night through the early war years. But the demand from Canadian troops for condensed reports of the games was so great that an additional 30-minute summary was prepared each week and shipped around the world. Appreciative mail poured in from troops in China, India, Australia and New Guinea. One soldier wrote, "I have just been listening to the hockey game which was played last night at Maple Leaf Gardens. It was the most enjoyable time I have had since I left home.
The war passed, Foster Hewitt opened his own radio station
C.K F H. 1430 in Toronto in the early 1950s. Gardens technicians began experimenting with something called television. By 1967,the NHL was celebrating its 50th anniversary and television was bigger than radio had ever been. Foster and his own son, Bill Hewitt- had now been sharing the broadcasting duties. Bill mainly doing the television play by play and Foster doing the play by play for radio. Very few people could distinguish between these two voices.
The 1972 Canada-Russia Series
This famous hockey Series of 1972 has been described by many as the finest hockey the world will ever see. The exploits of Team Canada- with Esposito, Henderson and friends live on in the hearts of hockey fans everywhere. Paul Hendersons game winning goal in the dying seconds of the final game will stand as one of the classic moments in sports history. For those who viewed this series, it was exciting hockey. For those who saw it as something else-an ideological and cultural battle played with sticks and skates- it was perhaps Canadas worst and finest hour. For Foster Hewitt, those eight games in Canada and Russia were a welcome return to hockey as he believed it should be played.
with Brian Mac Farlane in the background


text:
NEWS TRANSCRIPT from the United States Department of Defense
DoD News Briefing
Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of the Army Francis Harvey, and Army Chief of Staff General Peter A. Schoomaker Tuesday, April 5, 2005 - 11:10 a.m. EDT
GEN. SCHOOMAKER: Mr. Secretary and Mrs. Rumsfeld, Secretary Harvey, fellow flag officers, general officers and especially to the family of Sergeant First Class Paul Smith. Birgit, welcome. Jessica, David, Mrs. Janice Pvirre, the mother; Mr. Donald Pvirre; Lisa, Anthony and other members of the family who are here. Distinguished guests. And especially some members of the 3rd Infantry Division, who served with Sergeant First Class Smith in the 3rd Infantry Division in OIF -- Sergeant Burwald, Specialist Seaman and Specialist Malay.
Yesterday the nation watched as the president presented Birgit, Jessica and David with our country's highest award for valor the Medal of Honor -- which he earned two years ago to the day which was earned two years ago to the day by their soldier, Sergeant First Class Paul Smith. Today, we assemble in another special place, where we will memorialize Sergeant First Class Smith by placing him in a formation with ranks filled by our nation's most courageous here in the Hall of Heroes.
As I had the honor of serving with and knowing intimately the last two soldiers who joined this special formation, I am certain that they are very proud to welcome our newest hero, because they are brothers.
To the Smith family, congratulations on a great honor that our country and our commander-in-chief has bestowed on your soldier. A grateful nation thanks you for your own years of service and great sacrifice as an Army family.
All Americans stand taller today with pride and gratitude as they recognize Sergeant First Class Paul Smith for his heroic actions in Iraq. He truly lived and epitomized our warrior ethos.
Now it is my distinct privilege to introduce the Honorable Dr. Francis Harvey, our 19th secretary of the Army.
Mr. Secretary
SEC. HARVEY: Secretary and Mrs. Rumsfeld, Acting Secretary Domingos (sp), General Schoomaker, General Sullivan, Major Rascon, Colonel Barnum.
Two years ago yesterday, Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith performed an extraordinary act of valor under extremely dangerous circumstances. We are gathered here today to commemorate his award of the Medal of Honor, to remember his sacrifice, and most of all, to remember who he was as a man.
Paul Smith was a husband, father, son and brother. He lived to defend those he cared about. And we are honored to have with us today his wife, Birgit; their children, Jessica, David; Sergeant Smith's mother, Janice; stepfather Donald; his brother Anthony and his sister Lisa, and several other members and friends of the Smith family.
I speak for the entire Army when I say we mourn your loss and we celebrate with you the life of this truly extraordinary man.
Sergeant First Class Smith was a soldier, a member of the United States 3rd Infantry Division -- Audie Murphy's old outfit. He lived the Army values and he was the embodiment of the warrior ethos. Paul Smith always placed the mission first. He never accepted defeat, he never quit, and he never left a fallen comrade. Because of his leadership and personal sacrifice, many soldiers are alive today. The nation and free peoples around the world sleep better tonight, because of the willingness of soldiers like Paul Smith to sacrifice everything so that others might live in peace and freedom.
As you know, the Medal of Honor is the nation's highest medal for valor in combat. It is awarded sparingly, and is only bestowed to the bravest of the brave. In fact, so few Medals of Honor are awarded that the only ones that have been awarded for action since the Vietnam War were bestowed to Army Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Army Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart for valor in Somalia in 1993, and now to Sergeant First Class Smith for valor in Iraq.
Today, our keynote speaker is the Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld. As many of you know, Secretary Rumsfeld has the distinction of being both the 13th and 21st secretaries of Defense. He's also a former fighter pilot in the Navy Reserves. We are truly honored to have him participate in today's ceremony recognizing Sergeant First Class Smith.
Mr. Secretary
SEC. RUMSFELD: Good morning. Thank you very much, Secretary Harvey and Pete Schoomaker. DOD officials, members of the Smith and Perlman families, who have all been introduced -- we're so pleased to see you here in the Pentagon.
Soldiers from the 3rd ID returning here to participate in this event, we welcome all of you, and certainly other distinguished guests and officials. We thank you all so much for being with us today.
This is a most important ceremony; indeed, a most unusual one. Interestingly, 32 years ago this week, in lower Manhattan, what was then the -- the world's tallest building, officially opened for business after an impressive ribbon-cutting ceremony. The World Trade Center at that point was a symbol of American enterprise and ingenuity. Its twin towers seemed to reach the sky. They were testaments to the energy of free men and free markets.
The evil that drove extremists to topple those towers and to rip an ugly gash in this building -- killing some total of 3,000 people that day -- it's difficult to comprehend that evil. It's hard to know what motivates men to hate and to murder, and to reject the God-given rights of freedom. But this much we do know. From our earliest days, America has had the great good fortune to be blessed by volunteers, who have stepped forward to defend the American people and to defend our free way of life. They're soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines. They're paramedics and nurses, firefighters and policemen. And they're family members, who often struggle with quiet dignity while those loved ones serve so far away.
A few of them have famous names. Some undertake crucial missions in secret. Others live in gracious anonymity. But each is driven, I believe, by love of country, certainly a devotion to duty, and I would guess -- the hope of leaving their loved ones and future generations a safer and a better world.
One of the bravest among them we honor here today. A decade after Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith first saw combat in Operation Desert Storm, he returned to duty in Iraq -- a proud sergeant, a tested soldier, and certainly an inspired leader. We stand in awe of the heroism described in Sergeant Smith's citation, and which was so eloquently recounted at the White House ceremony yesterday.
Standing here today, one need not look far to understand what motivated his bravery. Certainly we see in the shared pride and the grief of those he loved, in his children, David and Jessica, who daily brought him joy; his wife, Birgit, who, I'm told, Paul in his final words compared to the brightest star in the sky; and his family, who saw the boy from Tampa become a man who crossed deserts to topple a tyrant, to help liberate some 25 million people and to defend our nation.
Paul R. Smith now belongs to that singular pantheon of brave patriots who fought for something even more sacred than their own lives.
Our history is truly blessed with such heroes. In 1861 a Union soldier named Sullivan Ballou wrote a letter to his wife, Sarah, one week before he fought along a quiet creek called Bull Run. This would be the first great battle of the Civil War, and Sullivan's letter would be the last letter he ever wrote. In it, he told his wife he said, "My love for you is deathless. It seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence can break; and yet my love of country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on, with all these chains, to the battlefield." I think that captures well the spirit of men like Paul Smith.
And now Paul joins America's truly most admired fraternity: those awarded the Medal of Honor. It's a fraternity so revered that President Harry S. Truman once confided to a soldier he decorated -- he said, "I'd rather have this medal than be president."
And today we include Sergeant Paul Smith in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes, established as a mark of appreciation to those who have received this highest of distinctions. Including -- here are people you may have heard of, some of them: General Jimmy Doolittle, Sergeant York, Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt. And we're also honored that two members of that fraternity join us today: Major Alfred Rascon and Colonel Barney Barnum. There you are. Good to see you again. And we thank both of you for being here and clearly for your courageous service to our country.
It was Theodore Roosevelt who said, "The one thing I want to leave my children is an honorable name." And Paul Smith has done that, and a great deal more. He has left his family and his country a life of great meaning and entrusted us with his faith in America and its mission. And for that faith, he laid down his life, and for that sacrifice, we are forever in his debt. And in his name, we're called upon to ensure that his trust was well-placed and made to endure. May God grant his dear family comfort, and may God continue to watch over our great country. Thank you.
STAFF: The official party will now take its place for the presentation.
The president of the United States of America, authorized by act of Congress, March 3rd, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty.
Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq, on 4 April 2003. On that day, Sergeant First Class Smith was engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his tank task force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force. Realizing the vulnerability of over 100 fellow soldiers, Sergeant First Class Smith quickly organized a hasty defense consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley fighting vehicle and three armored personnel carriers.
As the fight developed, Sergeant First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket-propelled grenade and a 60-mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy would overrun the defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under withering enemy fire to man a 50-caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored personnel carrier. In total disregard for own life, he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed.
Sergeant First Class Smith's extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 3rd Infantry Division, "Rock of the Marne," and the United States Army.
(Presentation is made.)
STAFF: Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated.
The official party will now move to the unveiling of the plaque.
The plaque being unveiled will be permanently displayed here in the Hall of Heroes, signifying the induction of Sergeant First Class Smith into this heroic group. (Plaque is unveiled.)
Ladies and gentlemen, as the official party takes their seats, it is my honor to introduce Mrs. Birgit Smith.
BIRGIT SMITH (widow of Paul R. Smith): Got to catch my breath first.
First, I would like to say how proud I am to receive this award in honor of Paul. Paul loved his country, he loved the Army, and he loved his soldiers. He loved being a sapper. He died doing what he loved.
I'm grateful the Army gave Paul the opportunity to fulfill his dream of serving his country. He touched so many lives in so many ways and made a lot of people better soldiers and better people by what they learned from him.
I would like to thank all of the soldiers who influenced Paul as he advanced through his military career. Most described him as tough, fair and always putting the mission and his soldiers first. Paul was proud of all of his troops, particularly those in 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 11th Engineer. He was dedicated to duty and unwilling to accept less than the best.
My family and I continue to be overwhelmed by the American people's appreciation of his service, and I'm sure Paul would be proud to know that I have begun the process of becoming an American citizen.
Sixty years ago, American soldiers liberated the German people from tyranny in World War II. Today another generation of American soldiers has given the Iraqis, the Afghani people a birth of freedom. This is an ideal that Paul truly believed in.
I know that Paul is looking down on the ceremony, along with Staff Sergeant Hollingshead and Private First Class Myer and all the other fallen soldiers from Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. May God bless them and their family.
Every soldier has a story. Because of this award, Paul's story of uncommon valor will forever be remembered. As soldiers, I encourage you to tell your stories, because the American people and the world will better understand the sacrifice of Paul and others like him. One soldier's story at a time.
Hoo-ah and God bless you. (Applause.)


text:
Ask Auntie Pinko
March 1, 2006
By Auntie Pinko
Auntie Pinko,
I am a proud Conservative, and I have supported George W. Bush
for a long time, in spite of doubts about the Iraq War. After all,
most leaders make some decisions that seem crazy at the time, but
they have information that others don't have, and the view from
the top can be different.
I have supported him in spite of doubts about his huge expansion
of government size, expense and power, because I really believe
that terrorism in the 21st century is a serious threat that needs
serious responses.
I have supported him in spite of doubts about the giant deficit
and the ballooning national debt, because I think our tax system
is so out of control that only drastic, out-of-the-box solutions
might restore sanity.
Then he "didn't know" that his own government was turning the
management of our ports over to a company owned by the government
of the UAE, a nation that recognized the Taliban regime in Afghanistan
and laundered money for Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. When
he "found out," he announced that he'd veto attempts to curtail
the deal!
I'm not a liberal and I'll never be one. I'll oppose big government
financed by out-of-control taxes, nanny state welfare programs,
and the silly idea that we can make the world a better place by
wringing our hands and preaching earnest homilies at the UN, until
I die. But I'm fed up with Bush! Is there anything I can do, short
of joining the Democratic Party, to stop this madness?
Mike N,
Golden, CO
Dear Mike,
It's very disillusioning to see the leaders you elected to uphold
certain principles systematically trashing those principles. I'm
not surprised that you and many other conservatives are feeling
bitter and betrayed.
Not to add insult to injury, Mike, but just to warn you - please
bear with me, because I will get to some constructive ideas about
"stopping this madness," I promise. But first, I want to discuss
the painful subject of Mr. Bush's government approving the transfer
of port management contracts to DPW. I've been hearing quite a lot
of unhappiness about this from liberals and conservatives, and it's
a good news/bad news situation.
I don't like it either, for a whole array of reasons. Dubai Ports
World is, first and foremost, a business, and they know perfectly
well that they cannot stay in business if there is even the slightest
suspicion that their management would pose a security threat to
the nations whose ports they manage. I doubt that they'll do anything
to jeopardize their business viability, or permit anyone else, even
on the basis of religion, to do so. Nor is logistical management
of a port's business operations equivalent to security, which (as
I understand it) will still be provided by the United States Coast
Guard, Customs, etc.
But as you've pointed out, Mike, while the UAE may technically
be allied with the United States in a variety of commercial and
economic ways, and may be very cooperative with us in foreign policy
goals for their region, they are no shining example of the kind
of "partners" we should be trusting with something that cuts as
close to our sense of national security as port management. In addition
to operating an "anything goes" banking system that makes them money
launderers of choice to the scum of the earth, their record on democracy
in their own nation is appalling, they enable human trafficking
and human rights violations of the most disgusting variety, and
the people they hang out with (other repressive, sleazy, authoritarian
world 'leaders') are hardly the kind of company we want to keep.
At a time when "image" carries such weight in international affairs,
the "image" of the United States, worldwide, is already profoundly
damaged. While I'm not suggesting that we trim our policy decisions
to suit world opinion, I would like to see us making policy decisions
that reflect our values, and standing by those decisions. The "Arab
Street" (a ridiculous concept, to start with, since there are numerous
and contradictory cross-currents of opinion among Middle Eastern
Muslims) will not "respect" us just because we choose to do business
with the Emirs. When we stand clearly for the principles embodied
in our Declaration of Independence and in the Preamble to our Constitution,
and when our actions clearly reflect that stance, we will earn respect,
even among those who differ with us.
If there is an "upside" to the flap over the DPW affair, it may
be in drawing the attention of Americans to the real issues of port
security, issues that are much larger and more complex than logistical
management. Americans seem to be waking up to the vulnerability
of ports, and to how far they are lagging behind airports in having
the resources and support to implement reliable security practices.
Maybe we'll also start to pay attention to the vulnerability of
other installations, too, and make a big enough fuss to get Congress
to require adequate oversight of facilities that create, manipulate,
and store hazardous materials. Water supply, communications, and
key land transport resources, too, are far behind airports in security.
Which brings me by a rather roundabout course back to your question,
Mike. What can you do, short of (heaven forbid!) joining the Democratic
Party? There's actually a lot you can do. It's not easy stuff, but
it shouldn't be outright painful, either. I wouldn't (for example)
encourage you to secretly vote for Democrats or even third-party
candidates in the upcoming elections. In fact, I wouldn't want you
to do anything dissonant with your principles, because they are
your real strength in bringing sanity back to your Party.
First, and perhaps most important and effective, you can SPEAK
UP. Don't be silent among your fellow Republicans when the discussion
gets political. Exactly what you wrote to Auntie Pinko should be
an adequate and powerful expression of your frustration and dissatisfaction,
and I'm guessing it will excite fellow-feeling in many of your conservative
friends. Silence is complicity, and you don't have to be complicit
in what Mr. Bush is doing to your Party.
Tell your Republican elected representatives how you feel, too.
It means much more coming from you than from Auntie Pinko and her
liberal buddies, that's for sure! Demand that they be accountable
to you and other conservatives for abandoning the principles you
care about and embracing massive government expansion, hyperinflating
debt, foreign policy nightmares and the waste of military and security
resources in the pointless Iraq War. Tell them that they can keep
your support only by demonstrating that they understand and value
the things you value.
Finally, get involved with your Party organization. Don't leave
it to the corporate lobbyists and the fanatics who believe that
staying in power is all that matters. You and other conservatives
like you can turn your Party around - it's been done before.
It will be hard, because they have the money and the power and the
bully pulpit, but you have the voice in the streets and the votes.
Take back your Party!
Having given all this advice, I'm having second thoughts now,
Mike, because if you and other conservatives like you succeed in
reclaiming the Republican Party, it will be a formidable opponent.
Restoring Republican credibility and respect will make it that much
harder for us liberals to grab back as much power as the Republicans
have held for the last six years! But I'll stand by it anyway, because
I believe that America is better off with two strong Parties with
integrity and the intelligence to take a larger view, even if I
disagree strongly with one of them. Best of luck to you and your
fellow conservatives, and thanks for asking Auntie Pinko!
View Auntie's Archive
Do you have a question for Auntie Pinko?
Do political discusions discombobulate you? Are you a liberal at
a loss for words when those darned dittoheads babble their talking
points at you? Or a conservative, who just can't understand those
pesky liberals and their silliness? Auntie Pinko has an answer for
Just send e-mail to: email@example.com,
and make sure it says "A question for Auntie Pinko" in
the subject line. Please include your name and hometown.
Advertise on more than 70 progressive blogs!


text:
With a century of history, Aston Martin has developed into an automotive icon, a marque synonymous with luxury, heritage and authentic craftsmanship. There have been racing triumphs, road cars built with passion and skilled craftsmanship, and there have also been times when Aston Martin has stared into the abyss. However, despite the current challenging economic times, Aston Martin strides forward and the old boom-and-bust instability is, thankfully, now in the history books.
Discover the key milestones in our 100 year history using the timeline below.
On 15 January 1913 Robert Bamford (right) and Lionel Martin form Bamford & Martin Ltd, based in Henniker Mews, off the Fulham Road in London.
The first Aston Martin is registered on 16 March. It is christened "Coal Scuttle" and powered by a 1389cc Coventry Climax engine.
Count Louis Zborowski begins to invest in the company and Robert Bamford steps away.
An Aston Martin prototype nicknamed "Bunny" breaks 10 world records when it averages 76mph over 16.5 hours at Brooklands.
Aston Martin fields two cars at the French Grand Prix on 16 July.
The company goes into receivership but is rescued by Lord Charnwood, John Benson, Augustus Cesare Bertelli and William Renwick, renamed Aston Martin Motors and relocated to Feltham, Middlesex.
Aston Martin's first team cars (LM1 and LM2) compete in the Le Mans 24-hour race.
In June, Cesare Bertelli wins the Biennial Cup at the Le Mans 24-hour race with Pat Driscoll. New owner Sir Arthur Sutherland focuses on a fresh road car range.
The Aston Martin Owners' Club is founded at The Grafton Hotel on Tottenham Court Road, London.
The highly advanced Atom prototype takes shape. It has an early type of spaceframe chassis, independent front suspension, with an aerodynamic shape and a four-speed Cotal electric gearbox.
Engineering magnate David Brown answers an ad in The Times seeking an owner for a "high class motor business" and buys Aston Martin for £20,500. Following the subsequent purchase of Lagonda, he forms Aston Martin Lagonda.
A 2-litre Sports wins the Spa-Francorchamps 24-hour race.
Three DB2s tackle the Le Mans 24-hours, including one with a new 2.6-litre in-line six-cylinder engine designed by Willie Watson.
David Brown buys Tickford Motor Bodies in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire. Production of Aston Martins begins to migrate to the new facility.
The DB4 is launched, with a 3.7-litre in-line six-cylinder engine by Tadek Marek. It produces 240bhp and propels the DB4 to 140mph. The body is designed by Carrozzeria Touring of Milan using a Superleggera construction where handmade aluminium panels are fixed to a tubular frame built onto a platform chassis.
The DBR1 wins the World Sports Car Championship with victories in the Nürburgring 1000km and at Goodwood along the way. The crowning glory is winning the Le Mans 24 hour with Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori at the wheel—the marque's only outright victory in the legendary race.
Aston Martin begins its long association with Milan-based coachbuilder Zagato. The DB4 GT Zagato (below) features a 314bhp engine, acrylic windows and a super lightweight body. Only 19 are produced between 1960-1963.
Sean Connery as James Bond drives the new DB5 in Goldfinger and an iconic on-screen relationship is born.
David Brown sells Aston Martin, and Company Developments take control. In a period of uncertainty, Aston Martin changes hands again.
Canadian George Minden and American businessman Peter Sprague rescue the company from administration.
The controversial William Towns-designed Lagonda is launched. It attracts a huge amount of publicity and sales are strong.
The company changes hands again, and is bought by Tim Hearley's CH Industrial and Victor Gauntlett's Pace Petroleum. Gauntlett is chairman and turns the company around.
Automotive Industrial becomes sole owners of Aston Martin but Gauntlett stays as chairman. He becomes a 25% shareholder.
The V8 Vantage Zagato is launched and becomes one of the fastest supercars in the world with a top speed of 186mph. Just 52 Coupes and 37 Volantes are produced.
Ford Motor Company takes a 75% share of Aston Martin and later becomes sole owner. A period of rapid investment begins.
The 550bhp Vantage (below) is launched to great acclaim.
Canadian George Minden and American businessman Peter Sprague rescue the company from administration.
The DB7 is unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and production begins at a new factory near Banbury. It goes on sale in 1994.
The DB7 Vantage Coupe and Volante versions are produced using the first V12 production engine for Aston Martin.
A new era begins under Dr Ulrich Bez, who becomes Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
A new supercar utilising a bonded aluminium chassis and body with carbon-fibre composites is launched. The V12 Vanquish (below) sets a new blueprint for Aston Martin.
The limited-edition DB7 Zagato is launched at the Paris Motor Show. Only 99 are built and they immediately sell out.
Aston Martin's global headquarters is opened in Gaydon, Warwickshire — the first purpose-built facility in the company's history.
Production of the DB9 commences at Gaydon — the first car to use VH architecture and, together with the V8 Vantage, the most significant and successful Aston Martin of all time with sales in excess of 14,000 cars worldwide.
Aston Martin's engine plant in Cologne starts producing all V12 and V8 engines.
The V8 Vantage, the most agile car in the range, is launched, followed two years later by the V12 Vantage.
The DBR9 returns to the racetrack. It secures class victories at Le Mans in 2007 and 2008.
The opening of the new design studio, adjacent to the factory at Gaydon, cements the company's reputation as one of the world's most technologically sophisticated sports car manufacturers.
The DBS launches at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance as the marque's flagship grand tourer.
Aston Martin returns to independence. The Ford Motor Company sells Aston Martin to international investment houses, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment, led by David Richards.
The Nürburgring Test Centre is opened as a base for development and durability testing of Aston Martin prototypes and for customer events.
Development continues as the world's most beautiful four-door sports car, the Rapide, is unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin CEO, describes it as "a car that seals the revival of a truly admired marque". In a busy year for the marque, also launched are the V12 Vantage, which features a new rear diffuser, a rear-wing that can be raised or lowered, and carbon-ceramic brakes, and the DBS Volante, boasting a top speed of 191mph.
Aston Martin unveils the ultimate expression of the marque, the One-77. On its debut, the One-77 wins the Design Award in the Concept Cars and Prototypes Class at the Concorso d'Eleganza, Ville d'Este, Italy.
An historic partnership is rekindled with the launch of the V12 Zagato at the Concorso d'Eleganza, Ville d'Este, Italy. The Coupe wins the Design Award in the Concept Cars and Prototypes Class at the event. Also launched in 2011 are the Virage and the Cygnet, a three-door hatchback designed for city living.
The iconic Vanquish name returns for a new flagship GT combining world-leading design, technology and engineering to create a car that is the best Aston Martin in history.
The Aston Martin DB5 makes its sixth James Bond appearance, helping Skyfall become the UK's most successful film ever.
Aston Martin celebrates its 100th birthday and begins a year of centenary celebrations at its Gaydon headquarters and around the world.