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Today's appearance by General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker before the Senate Armed Services Committee has generated a number of interesting exchanges. Joe Lieberman's observations and questions struck me as particularly apt:
LIEBERMAN: General and Ambassador, thank you for your extraordinary service in the cause of freedom in Iraq. I must say that, as I listen to your testimony, which is encouraging and yet quite realistic, and in my opinion, not overstated — you've told us that the strategy associated with the surge is working, progress has been made, but it's entirely reversible. You've been very frank about some of the problems that we still face.
What I'm about to say, with respect to my colleagues who have consistently opposed our presence in Iraq, as I hear the questions and the statements today, it seems to me that there's a kind of hear no progress in Iraq, see no progress in Iraq, and most of all, speak of no progress in Iraq.
The fact is, there has been progress in Iraq, thanks to extraordinary effort by the two of you and all those who serve under you on our behalf. I wish we could come to a point where we could have an agreement on the facts that you are presenting to us, the charts you've shown, the military progress, the extraordinary drop in ethno-sectarian violence, the drop in civilian deaths, the drop in American deaths, and the very impressive political progress in Iraq since last September.
Hey, let's be honest about this: The Iraqi political leadership has achieved a lot more political reconciliation and progress since September than the American political leadership has. So we've got to give credit for that.
I repeat, I wish we could have an agreement on the facts which you presented. You work for us. I don't distrust those facts. And I wish we could go from an agreement on those facts to figure out how we can move to more success so we can bring more of our troops home. That's apparently not going to happen in the near future.
I want to ask you a question about Iran, because both of you have spoken with great seriousness about the continuing Iranian threat. Senator Kennedy asked a question about the Iraqi government initiative in southern Iraq and said there was no Al Qaida there.
As you said, General Petraeus, there is no Al Qaida there, but there are Iranian-backed special forces that, from what you've told us today, continue to threaten what's our real goal in Iraq, which is not just to defeat Al Qaida, it's to help stand up a self-governing, self- defending Iraqi government. So talk to us about — let me ask you first: Are the Iranians still training and equipping Iraqi extremists who are going back into Iraq and killing American soldiers?
PETRAEUS: That is correct, Senator.
In fact, we have detained individuals. Four of the 16 so-called master trainers, for example, are in our detention facility. You may recall that last year we detained the head of the special groups and also the deputy commander of the Lebanese Hezbollah Department 2,800, which is working with the Iranian Quds Force to train, equip, fund and also direct these special groups.
The special groups' activities have, in fact, come out in greater relief during the violence of recent weeks. It is they who have the expertise to shoot rockets more accurately, shoot mortars more accurately, and to employ some of the more advanced materiel, the explosively formed projectiles and the like, that have not just killed our soldiers and Iraqi soldiers, but also have been used to assassinate two southern governors in past months and two southern police chiefs.
So they are a serious concern. I believe that this has brought out in greater relief for the Iraqi government as well, because they have conveyed directly to their Iranian interlocutors their concerns about the activities of the Quds Force with the special groups and recognize the very clear threat that they present to security in Iraq.
LIEBERMAN: Is it fair to say that the Iranian-backed special groups in Iraq are responsible for the murder of hundreds of thousands — excuse me — hundreds of American soldiers and thousands of Iraqi soldiers and civilians?
PETRAEUS: It certainly is. I do believe that is correct.
Again, some of that also is militia elements who have been — subsequently have been trained by these individuals. But there is no question about the threat that they pose, and, again, about the way that has been revealed more fully in recent weeks.
LIEBERMAN: Ambassador Crocker, picking up on something General Petraeus just said, though we all have questions about the recent Iraqi government initiative under Prime Minister Maliki's leadership in the south, in Basra, is it not possible that there's something very encouraging about that initiative, which is that it represents a decision by the Maliki government in Baghdad to not tolerate the Iranian-backed militias essentially running wild and trying to control the south of his country?
CROCKER: Senator, that's an excellent question. As I look at the Basra operation, I look at it through a political lens, obviously, more than I can a military.
General Petraeus has described some of the military's perspectives of that. The political ramifications, I think, are distinctly more positive. Because that is exactly the signal that the operation has sent within Iraq and, one would hope, in the region: that this Iraqi government is prepared to go after extremist militia elements, criminal elements of whatever sectarian identity they may be.
I note, for example, that Iraqi security forces are simultaneously engaged now in Basra against Iranian-backed Shia extremists and they're engaged in Mosul against Al Qaida and its Iraqi supporters. And I think that is important. The reflection of that has been seen in the level of political unity behind the prime minister. It's as — or more extensive than anything I've seen during my year there.
LIEBERMAN: Right.
CROCKER: The meeting of the political council of national security on Saturday — and this brings together the president, the two vice presidents, the speaker, the two deputy speakers of Parliament, the prime minister, the deputy prime minister, and the heads of all major parliamentary blocks; unanimously developed a statement, a 15-point statement that included support for the prime minister in these efforts. It called for the disarming and elimination of all militias elements, and it had a strong message warning of outside interference in Iraq's affairs.
So I think these are highly positive elements that the government can continue to build on as it moves ahead with the other elements of the reconciliation agenda.


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U.N. Calls for Political Transition in Syria
Revised Resolution Passes After Toning Down Support for Rebels; Russia Calls Measure a Threat to Planned Peace Talks
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for a transitional government in Syria, rejecting Russia's plea that the measure could undermine a planned peace conference on the Syrian crisis.
The measure passed on Wednesday with 107 countries voting in favor, 12 against and 59 abstaining. Russia, China and Iran, Syria's three main foreign backers, voted against the measure, along with several Latin American countries. General Assembly resolutions aren't legally binding but express the political will of the...

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Write Brent Bozell
This column was reprinted by permission of L. Brent Bozell and Creators
Syndicate. To reprint this or any of his twice weekly syndicated columns, please contact Creators Syndicate at (310) 337-7003 ext. 110
The Media's Secular Orthodox Church
The Easter celebration of the redemptive death and miraculous resurrection of Christ is a suitable occasion to remember that the religious believer in America has to recognize the difference between finding a way to God and finding a way through the news of the world.
It's a stunning disconnect. The creators and salesmen of news are the least likely people to see the world through what might be called an eternal perspective. Rarely do they offer reverent silence on the sacred, while happily profiting from the profane. The media's tone on religious questions is predictably wary of demanding ancient dogmas, preferring a comfortably modernist rethinking of religion, one that acknowledges that primitive men once had primitive creeds, but now - Thank God? - we've built up enough of a deposit of worldly wisdom to see through them. They have the arrogance to form God in their own image.
They think of themselves as the manufacturers of the latest trend, the publicists of the latest passion, the keepers of the most sophisticated daily zeitgeist. You won't find framed and posted on their walls the C. S. Lewis adage "All that is not eternal is eternally out of date."
In 2004, the media were shocked to discover that President Bush was re-elected by a flock of people they clinically identified as "values voters," people who marched to the polls in resistance to liberal agenda items like unlimited partial-birth abortion and the "marriage" of two men or two women, or perhaps trios and quartets as the progressive future unfolds. These journalists had every right to be surprised. After all, they'd worked so very hard to ignore opponents to this agenda, or dismiss them as an unhealthy threat to the Jeffersonian notion of the separation of church and state.
Since every poll taken of reporters finds them measurably less religious than the average American, it's not surprising that they miss what traditionally religious Americans perceive as the real and growing threat to church-state separation: the state dictating to the church what its creed can and cannot include, and the media presuming that they will direct the faithful by using the unfaithful.
The Media Research Center has published its annual survey of religion news on the Big Three broadcast networks, and while the number of religion stories was in decline, what never seems to diminish is the media's secularizing impulses. Take the dispute over some Catholic bishops stating that John Kerry was made unsuitable for the sacrament of the Eucharist by his long public career of voting for, and hailing the women's "liberation" of, abortion on demand. In a January 2003 speech before NARAL Pro-Choice America, Kerry had hailed retiring leader Kate Michelman as having "saved more women's lives and liberated more women than almost anyone."
The networks barely touched this issue, but when they did, they knew who they were going to "watchdog." The Catholic Church, not Kerry. CBS released a poll touting how "78 percent" of Catholics disapproved of the bishops disapproving of Kerry. But as with so many surveys of this nature, it was disingenuous. CBS was acting like....well, CBS. CBS did not poll practicing Catholics, but simply asked anyone who claimed to be Catholic, even if he hadn't seen the inside of a church since he was 12.
See how the media presumed to direct the creeds of the faithful (bishops trying to uphold church teachings) by using the opinions of the unfaithful (who were more likely to be Kerry voters). But the real poll came in November, and even the Kerry-friendly network exit polls showed Bush beating Kerry among all the self-proclaimed Catholics, 52 to 47 percent. Those courageous bishops who spoke out for the Church and the unborn didn't win every Catholic at the polls, but they called on the faithful to make their faith known in the world. And many did.
The Old Media should launch their own organized religion called the Secular Orthodox Church. Their reporting carries with it an arrogant insistence that all wisdom comes from saying that God has to be compartmentalized into Someone we only consult at meals or at bedtime - under our breath, of course, lest anyone be offended. The dogma of their orthodoxy insists God should not be allowed to have any influence in our legislatures, in our schools, in our music and movies, or in our voluntary associations like the Boy Scouts. We have a duty not only to separate church and state, but to separate church from education, church from entertainment, church from everything we share with each other in public.
How sad for them that so many Americans continue to find their God in ancient creeds and dusty books, leaving these secularists puzzled that their urgently up-to-date wisdom has been so mysteriously rejected.
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|2012-10-12, 15:45
|Link #41
Annie Leonhart
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Indiana
You know those pacifists they used two years ago were torn apart two years later. Luffy took one on by himself without even trying and Zoro and Sanji argued over the other one. Two Sentomaru could not even stop them like he did last time. It is amazing what haki and training from the world class fighters can do. To compare Luffy's past with the present only makes my argument stronger. After seeing Law fight in this arch who could blame him for making an alliance with Luffy. Brains he has but muscles he does not have. Finally taking the New World lightly. If Luffy did that he would have ignored Rayleigh's advice to train for two years.
|2012-10-12, 20:48
|Link #42
Secondly, 2 years is a long time. It is probable that they have improved significantly since then (significant enough to challenge the top tiers of OP world).
|2012-10-13, 12:08
|Link #44
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
^You got that backwards. The point of the alliance was to topple an emperor (though we still don't know WHICH one it is yet). But part of my argument was that Luffy would ally himself with other pirates to take down ALL of the New World's major forces (not just emperors but warlords, admirals, etc.).
But moving on now, I see I'm being double-teamed:
I know that. It's grey_1960 who's arguing that they're capable of taking on the NW's top forces by themselves. Honestly, I think fighting an emperor's crew on their own is flat-out suicidal, no matter how much they improved on their own. Besides, if toppling the rulers of the NW were so simple, how come none of the other supernovas introduced before the timeskip are emperors themselves? In fact, they're also negotiating alliances amongst themselves. So why does Luffy's crew have to be the exception? THAT'S my argument.
As for your second argument, grey brought up the same thing in his last post so I'll address it there.
You're still somewhat missing the point of my argument. Yeah, I know quite well that the monster trio wrecked those Kumabots soon after the skip (and it's pointless to bring up Sentoumaru since he didn't actually fight them. Luffy was too busy catching up with his crew to engage him anyhow). My point was that those bots were still fodder machines, even before the skip (at least when compared to the original Kuma). While it certainly does say a lot about the crew's growth that they can take them out so easily now, it still doesn't guarantee that they're now capable of going toe-to-toe with world-class opponents. Besides, those Kumabots were prototypes, anyway (Sentoumaru even pointed that out). Who knows how much stronger the newer models will be.....
[QUOTE=grey_1960;4393329]After seeing Law fight in this arch who could blame him for making an alliance with Luffy. Brains he has but muscles he does not have.
So I guess you already forget Law's earlier fight with Smoker then (where he swiped the guy's heart with relatively little trouble)? By no stretch of the imagination is Law weak (though I'd agree that the monster trio probably has him beat in physical strength). I do believe that he's inferior to Vergo, though. I mean, putting aside that whole heart-squeezing business, the guy still kicked Law's ass fairly quickly (and even withstood that counter-shock). But in the end, I wouldn't let that discredit our doctor friend. If anything, he supports my argument that no matter how strong the supernovas got during those two years, they still wouldn't be able to touch those world-class opponents on their own....
True. However, my point was that those two years of training doesn't guarantee that Luffy's currently at the same level as a yonkou or admiral. Basically, read my response to paradox13's post above.
I know, that's even why I brought it up again. I still think it would be badass to see haki being used in those ways, though.
|2012-10-13, 18:36
|Link #45
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: cali
Gotta hand it to Coribou for following jinbe all the way and taking on the G5 marines head on. Can't believe the crew survived at all. The mini-story is pretty captivating its so close to where the strawhats just where. Have a feeling that the Caribou pirates will get re-introduced into the main story a little faster. Will it be the first time a mini-story intersects directly like this? There could be a chapter where the mini-story is actually a continued within that chapter..
|2012-10-14, 04:33
|Link #47
Annie Leonhart
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Indiana
With the power ups Luffy and his crew got, what makes you think the 2.0 Kuma will not be fodder too? The top have no options but to defend the mountain. They have reached the peak of there powers. If they have any room for improvements it will be small. Luffy has no were else to go but up because he is on the bottom. Look at Shanks, he was one of Rogers men. Rogers fought White Beard for the title of Pirate King. What was the power gap between Shanks and White Beard then? Important note, White Beard in his prime was strong then the White Beard at Marine ford. Shanks is a generation younger then White Beard. Later Shanks would claim the title has Yonkou and stand with White Beard has one of the four. Why is it so hard to see Luffy fighting with the top?
You know there is a huge parallel between the two fight. CC and Law both were unknown variables a the time. Both Luffy and Smoker lost because of little trick. Both Law and CC were weaker then there opponent in the fighting skills and strength. If you look at the second round with Luffy Vs. CC, CC could not even touch Luffy and gas trick with the air did not even work. Monet had to save him. Do you think Smoker would lose in his second round with Law? I doubt it personally because now Smoker knows Law and he is familiar with his power from first hand experience. Unless law has another trick up his sleeve any advantage he had in the first fight has evaporated. Has for the Alliances the question is would Luffy have ever come to Law for an Alliance? Remember Law came to Luffy and Alliances don't always mean they are beneficial to both parties. To me Law looks like he was using the alliance with Luffy to one keep them out of his hair, two they could help him take on any challengers that would get in his way, three he has no crew of his own on the Island so he is at a number disadvantage. I will say it again who needs who?
Guarantees work both ways. Now that the Straw hats have haki, Kizaru will no longer has the luxury of logia invincibility. With the experience at Sabaody, Marine Ford, and the two years of training it is not like the Straw hats are clueless of the tops capabilities. Also Luffy made war with Big Mamma and if this alliance is going after a different Yonkou that will be total of two. Pretty ambitious(or flat out suicidal) for just getting to the New World. Has for Luffy and the crew being the exception, besides him being the main character Luffy does come from a pretty accomplished family, his family line gives him already a strong affinity to the haki, he has awaken King Haki(how many supernovas have done that already?), he does have a D. in his initials (How many other Supernovas have that?), Luffy and the crew both got training from experts, Luffy can hear the voice of the Sea Kings, and the list goes on. No one character is created equal each has their flaws, strengths, different backgrounds, and etc. The supernovas varied in strength before the two years skip, why would they be equal after? Finally just because everyone else is doing it does not mean the Straw Hats have to do it. This alliance to me does not seem to be benefiting the Straw hat right now. Because to me Luffy's crew seems do be doing more of the heavy lifting and getting less if not nothing in return. Does Luffy know what he stands to gain from this? Even Smoker is carrying more weight then Law and he is not even part of the alliance.
Last edited by grey_1960; 2012-10-14 at 05:14.
|2012-10-14, 05:16
|Link #48
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Nowhere, because I don't exist
Age: 26
I don't understand where all this debating comes from. What's the point of the strawhats being top tier from the very beginning of the manga's second half? Shounen 101 does not allow that, unless Oda breaks the rules (he has no reason to do that though) It makes no sense meh, ignore me, keep debating
|2012-10-14, 07:04
|Link #49
|2012-10-14, 13:50
|Link #50
Kamen Rider Muppeteer
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Unknown
Age: 34
There's also this thing that pure strength isn't all. More often than not, allies and enemies alike have been rather terrifying through inventive use of their resources. Especially Paramecia users seem to be able to come out on top if they're just creative enough.
|2012-10-15, 17:09
|Link #51
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Grey, I don't have enough time to respond to everything of yours now (my computer's still in the shop so internet access is still limited on my end), but I'll at least respond to this particular nugget of your post:
You know, reading this (especially the parts in bold), I can't help but get the impression that you don't think very highly of fighters who rely more on brains than brawn. I mean, don't you think that cleverness is what got guys like Law, Moria and Crocodile the warlord position in the first place? Being smart is equally as important as having monstrous strength (it's how people like Usopp and Nami survived so far, after all ). So basically, my response to you is that it is NOT guaranteed that Luffy or Law would win a second time against their respective opponents, even if they're more familiar with their tricks.....
|2012-10-15, 23:20
|Link #52
Annie Leonhart
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Indiana
^"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting." ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Brains to me is very important. Look at Sengoku he orchestrated the Marineford War and he played dirty. He almost broke the pirate alliance by just attacking the New World Pirates and left the White Beard Pirates unscathed. Akainu at the same time fooled Squard into stabbing his captain over the same illusion. White Beard broke the illusion by giving the pirates a way out and letting them decide for themselves what to believe. Sengoku also suppressed the full might of White Beard's quake fruit by using Ace has a shield. Towards the end of the Marine Ford War Akainu could have killed Ace with brute force but he went after Luffy knowing Ace would take the blow. Another example is Vergo, he used the heart on Law the first time they met in this arch without hesitation. The second time he showed Law that he was capable of taking him on easily even if he did not have the heart. People like Law and CC live by manipulations and tricks, that is all they have. For People like Akainu, Sengoku, and Vergo manipulations and tricks are an option. But If they have too fight for their appointed goals they can carry themselves. Looking at this arch none of them are guaranteed wins but by looking at facts and patterns the odds are increasingly growing against Law and CC with every chapter that passes.
Looking at Croc, Moria, and Law, I think Croc from what I have seen is the only one of the three who deserves the title. Hopefully Moria comes back stronger, before he was a bitter pirate haunted by his past. So was Croc but his performance at Marine Ford was impressive and it seems that Luffy has renewed his passion. I hope he is doing well after the two years timeskip, I like Croc. Has for Law in the beginning I was impressed that he got the shichibukai title but has time passes in this arch he doesn't really seem to be representing the title really well.
Last edited by grey_1960; 2012-10-15 at 23:44.
|2012-10-16, 12:28
|Link #53
Custom User Title
^Well, Law is currently severely handicapped, as we all know. Plus, the enemy he was facing twice now, namely Vergo, is not really a push over either. We know that he's a vice admiral, which is in itself the third highest rank among the marines. And judging by what we've seen so far, I think it is pretty save to assume that he is among the strongest of the vice admrials.
On the other hand, I have the feeling that many people overestimate the power of the seven warlords. While the title of Shichibukai has always had this sense of danger and power attached to it prior to the timeskip, you have to put things into perspective. Shichibukais like Croc were a big danger for the Strawhats when they were new on the Grand Line, but aside from Mihawk and maybe Doflamingo, the warlords haven't really shown any kind of strength that would seriously endanger the Strawhats at this point - not to the extent they did previously, at least. I'm pretty sure both Sanji and Zoro could give any Shichibukai a good fight themselves by now, again, except for the two that are arguably the strongest. This is just natural progression, though. The focus lies on the emperors now, which are the biggest threats among the pirate forces, as well as on the admirals after that, probably. Shichibukai are largely a thing of the past. They were huge in part 1 of the series, but now after the timeskip, the strongest straw hat members are already starting out on a power level equal or similar to the warlords. With all that being said, Law not representing the title of Shichibukai well is sort of the wrong thing to say. Instead, it is to be expected that Shichibukai will have to face serious opponents in the new world. And that's exactly why Law is representing his status rather well in this arc.
|2012-10-16, 14:25
|Link #54
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: cali
Shichibukai were very strong before and still are, at least I would hope that they remain that way. They are considered one of the "Three Great Powers". Pre timeskip:
Who there is not a threat to Strawhats today? Half are extremely strong: Mihawk, Donflamingo, Kuma (obviously not anymore), Teach.
Remaining have different histories. Jinbe was selected to appease the rift between humans and fish people so his selection is slightly special. Moria is actually pretty powerful, it took a massive risk and power-up from Luffy to defeat Moria. With crocodile it took 3 tries and ultimately a victory; nothing to be scoffed at. Hancock is a little weaker, but a prolonged fight at a high level involving her has not been seen. Many of the warlords without as much individual strength to their peers are able to surround themselves with powerful allies.
I do agree that the focus is the Yonko in the new world. At this point you tend to make alliances or mutual agreements with Shichibukai and focus on emperors since you are in emperor land. It will be interesting to learn who the new Shichibukai are; there are still 3 yet to be named.
All of this talk really highlights the power that admirals have. I'm really interested to know whom replaced Aokiji and Akainu.
Last edited by golgo13; 2012-10-16 at 14:26. Reason: grammar
|2012-10-16, 20:49
|Link #58
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: East Cupcake
|2012-10-17, 00:34
|Link #59
Annie Leonhart
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Indiana
Serious opponent or not that is not how the WG will see it. Law's failing to represent it won't be any different from Croc and Moria's situation. Shichibukai are to be feared and recognized not beaten to the ground. WG went to great lengths to cover Crocs incident has well has Moria's. Someone even higher then Sengoku ordered a hit on Moria for bad performance. I think he is representing the title poorly. This will be the third Shichibukai from the WG view that has been beaten by Straw Hats if it ends bad for him in this arch. Also since he was in the same Supernova class has Luffy it may make things look worse for him in the WG eyes. What good is the title if no one respects it? If anything Law being beaten only encourages others to step up and challenge the title.
Last edited by grey_1960; 2012-10-17 at 01:43.
|2012-10-17, 03:12
|Link #60
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: cali
Last edited by golgo13; 2012-10-17 at 03:14. Reason: grammar
|weekly spoiler discussion
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text:
Notre Dame Bits: Charlie Weis on the halfway-home Irish, clock management, more
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Charlie Weis' biggest, most satisfied smile Tuesday came as he reminisced about his Sunday -- not entertaining the cavalcade of recruits visiting Notre Dame, mind you, but watching his former players and quarterback on the New England Patriots clinically eviscerate the Tennessee Titans for 59 points.
"Want to know what my text was?" Weis asked, referring to the missive he dispatched to former protege Tom Brady. "'Wow.' His response was, 'Thanks, Charlie.'"
The rest of the session was spent a little more introspectively, rehashing the disappointment of the USC loss last weekend and evaluating where the team stands now halfway through 2009 and staring down the specter of letdown Saturday against Boston College. What is clear is this: Weis loves his team's fight, he just wishes it didn't have to use it all the time.
"It's pretty evident this is a fighting group of guys," Weis said. "They're a bunch of guys that have shown intestinal fortitude. They're tough.
"On the negative side we've put ourselves in some precarious positions by being in these (close) games five games in a row. When you are living like that, where you are coming down to the last minute of the game every game, you know, odds are that sooner or later it's going even out and you are not going to win all five. So had the opportunity to win all five but had an opportunity to lose all five."
Those five weekends won't define the Irish's season as much as the next six, though.
"We got six opportunities to make a statement, and the first step is Boston College," Weis said.
Here were more Weis words on pertinent topics Tuesday...
On clock management at the end of the USC game:"The one thing we were kind of torn in between whether or not to go ahead and burn the time-out or not. I had a good feeling for the number of plays that we were going to have at our disposal. We almost cut it little too close . Because they had to put the one second back on the clock. But we knew how much time -- we were well aware of the time and the time-out situation. Robby (Parris) got up, considering how beat up he was, he got up a little too fast. Normally the old Patriot way is they would have been on the field a little bit longer than we were right there. But we were well aware what the time was, and we knew the number of plays that we anticipated getting if we needed them. Like I said, we cut it a little close, but I think it worked out. Didn't work out score-wise, the way we planned, but time-wise it worked out fine."
Continue reading "Notre Dame Bits: Charlie Weis on the halfway-home Irish, clock management, more" »


text:
And What I Think About It... A Small Detour from The Cheerful Ramble, but We'll Soon Be Back On Track...
As I drove Isaac to school this morning, the guys on the "Daybreak USA" show were interviewing a doctor. She has written a book about engaging children in family outings by taking away their electronic toys.
The doctor discussed how to plan a family trip around full days of activity and how to psych up the kids for gadget-free family fun. One of the guys suggested that the parents look for ways to "incentivize" the kids, and she agreed that was definitely the thing to do.
The interview irritated me. Well, maybe I was already cranky because I hadn't had enough coffee. Anyway, I had to change the station because they were giving me a pain.
Probably the doctor doesn't load her children in the car and drive for 500 miles (and more) in a day as we have done many times when traveling to Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska to visit family and friends on our vacations.
In my real-life experience, Game-Boys, CD players, books on tape, and the like can be a real help on the road. Family time in a car for hours on end with no means of escape gets a little tiring, even for parents. A few amusements for the kids can make the difference between a long miserable ride and a long bearable ride.
I don't think the low-class road-trips we've taken are the kind of family vacation the doctor has in mind, but I don't regret a single one of them. In fact as I look back, I remember those long drives as happy family times even though we had the back seat loaded with every possible toy (electronic and otherwise).
Even the kids remember fondly those marathon drives to visit Grandpa and Grandma Hill, and Sammie and Rick, and Grandma Netz, despite the long hours in the car. It seems that, even though we brought the evil electronics with us, we somehow created some shared memories of family fun.
(Application of the doctor's book to my life analyzed and dismissed. Now, on to the radio announcer's word: "incentivize.")
I felt an instant distaste for the word "incentivize" and to the suggestion that "incentivizing" can be done to people. I thought the announcer might have invented the word this morning, but that's not the case. "Incentivize" is in online dictionaries and apparently has been in use for several decades in the business world.
I'm pleased that The American Heritage Dictionary's usage panel doesn't like the word. And I think that Paul Brians of the Department of English at Washington State University sums it up very well:
Business folks sometimes use "incent" to mean "create an incentive," but it's not standard English. "Incentivize" is even more widely used, but strikes many people as an ugly substitute for "encourage." (Source)
Now that I have aired my ire, I'm not incentivized to write more on this topic. (What an ugly, ugly, awkward word.)
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January 18. 2013 7:46AM
Owner accused of attempting to burn down Milford oval building
By NANCY BEAN FOSTER
Union Leader Correspondent
Colleen Carr, 50, is charged with conspiracy to commit arson and witness tampering. (Courtesy)
MILFORD - Investigators thwarted an elaborate plan to burn down a building on the Milford Oval, and the owner of that building has been arrested, police said.
According to a statement by Milford Police, on Tuesday they learned Colleen Carr, owner of the building at 139 Union Square, had an alleged plan to burn the building to collect the insurance money.
The building is home to two businesses including the Tasty Tobacco Shop and PC Carr Realty, along with two apartments.
Carr, 50, was arrested on Thursday and charged with one count of conspiracy to commit arson, a class A felony, and one count of witness tampering, a class B felony.
She is being held on $75,000 cash bail at Valley Street jail in Manchester and will be arraigned at the 9th Circuit Court, Milford District Division, on Friday at 11 a.m.
Milford detectives are continuing to investigate and ask anyone with information about the incident to call (603) 249-0630.


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Or how about the Rosy wolfsnail – introduced to control another invasive species (the giant African snail – which was meant to provide a new source of food, but went rampant). The Rosy wolfsnail was so good at its job that it went to on to "control" all the other species of snails as well. The impacts have been profound with Rosy wolfsnail chalking up several extinctions to its name.
Or the Nile perch. Introduced to Lake Victoria in Africa in 1954 to counteract the drastic drop in native fish stocks caused by over-fishing (there we go with that over-fishing again…). Yet the Perch's introduction contributed to the extinction of more than 200 local fish species through predation and competition for food.
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Mike Carpfree agent
First Baseman | Ht: | Wt: 210
Access our Fantasy Baseball coverage for more!
|Nationals | Mike Carp signs
Tue, 13 Jan 2015 06:49:13 -0800
Free-agent 1B Mike Carp (Rangers) signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals Tuesday, Jan. 13, according to his agency O'Connell Sports. The deal includes an invitation to spring training.
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|Rangers | Mike Carp outrighted
Thu, 04 Sep 2014 23:50:58 -0700
The Texas Rangers outrighted 1B Mike Carp to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, Sept. 4.
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|Rangers | Mike Carp cut
Sat, 30 Aug 2014 12:44:40 -0700
Texas Rangers 1B/OF Mike Carp has been designated for assignment.
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|| Source: The Dallas Morning News - Gerry Fraley
|Rangers | Alex Rios exits
Sun, 10 Aug 2014 13:27:55 -0700
Texas Rangers OF Alex Rios (ankle) left the game Sunday, Aug. 10, after aggravating his right ankle sprain. He'll be re-evaluated Monday, Aug. 11.
Fantasy Tip: This could cost him a visit to the disabled list. If so, Mike Carp and Daniel Robertson could fill in. Both would be AL-only pickups.
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|| Source: Houston Chronicle - Jose de Jesus Ortiz
|Rangers | Mike Carp day-to-day
Sun, 10 Aug 2014 11:46:17 -0700
Texas Rangers 1B/OF Mike Carp (groin) left the game against the Houston Astros Saturday, Aug. 9, in the middle of the third inning, because of tightness in his left groin. He is listed a day-to-day.
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|| Source: The Associated Press
|Rangers | Mike Carp open to any role
Mon, 04 Aug 2014 20:01:22 -0700
Texas Rangers 1B/OF Mike Carp said Monday, Aug. 4, that he is open to any role with his new team. He was in the lineup at first base and batting fifth against the Chicago White Sox, and he can also play left field or help out as the designated hitter. "I'm comfortable with whatever opportunity comes my way. It will be better than what I had in Boston. I've got two months to figure it out and get back on track," Carp said.
Fantasy Tip: Carp has a little bit of pop, but only fantasy owners in AL-only play and the deepest of mixed formats should bother with him.
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|| Source: MLB.com - T.R. Sullivan
|Rangers | Alexi Ogando to 60-day DL
Mon, 04 Aug 2014 00:29:17 -0700
Texas Rangers RP Alexi Ogando (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to make room for 1B Mike Carp on the active roster.
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|Rangers | Claim Mike Carp
Sun, 03 Aug 2014 13:57:08 -0700
The Texas Rangers claimed 1B Mike Carp (Red Sox) off waivers Sunday, Aug. 3.
Fantasy Tip: Carp is a good add in AL-only games and potentially in deep mixed leagues.
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|| Source: ESPNBoston.com - Gordon Edes
|Red Sox | Mike Carp designated for assignment.
Fri, 01 Aug 2014 12:49:10 -0700
Boston Red Sox 1B Mike Carp was designated for assignment Friday, August 1.
Fantasy Tip: Carp owners might want to be patient in AL-only formats. He could join another organization and maintain some fantasy value.
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|| Source: WEEI.com - Alex Speier
|Red Sox | Other pieces could be traded
Wed, 30 Jul 2014 09:31:05 -0700
Boston Red Sox RP Burke Badenhop could have some trade appeal for a team seeking relief help, and the Red Sox are also open to trading RPs Felix Doubront, Craig Breslow and Edward Mujica and 1B Mike Carp.
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Organizing the Hip-Hop Generation
Each generation must out of relative obscurity discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it.
–Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth
I have stood in a meeting with hundreds of youngsters and joined in while they sang, "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around." It's not just a song; it is resolve. A few minutes later, I have seen those same youngsters refuse to turn around before a pugnacious Bull Connor in command of men armed with power hoses. These songs bind us together, give us courage together, help us march together.
–Martin Luther King Jr., Why We Can't Wait
"You'll turn around if they put you in jail," a young black man quips to a peer as counselor LaTosha Brown belts out the classic freedom song.
It's the kickoff of the 21st Century Youth Leadership Movement's annual winter summit, held last December at Tuskegee University in Alabama. In 1985 former SNCC activists and their children founded 21st Century on the anniversary of the Selma marches, which ushered in the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Three times a year the group convenes camps to teach movement history to a generation with little appreciation of its accomplishments. They've heard of sit-ins but little of SNCC. Media soundbites provide piecemeal knowledge of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, but who was Ella Baker? 21st Century seeks to fill in the gaps before this generation slips through. Yet the paradoxical pull of preparing for the future by building a bridge to the past reveals just how wide the chasm has grown.
"When spirits got low, the people would sing," Brown explains: "The one thing we did right/Was the day we started to fight/Keep your eyes on the prize/Oh, Lord." Her rich contralto, all by itself, sounds like the blended harmonies of Sweet Honey in the Rock, but it's not stirring this crowd of 150 Southern youth. Two fresh-faced assistants bound on stage to join in like cheerleaders at a pep rally. Most of the others, however, take their cues from the older teens, slouched in their seats in an exaggerated posture of cool repose. Brown hits closer to their sensibilities when she resorts to funk. "Say it loud," she calls. "I'm black and I'm proud," they respond. But a brash cry from the back of the room speaks more to their hearts. "Can we sing some Tupac?" Another cracks, "Y'all wanna hear some Busta Rhymes?"


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LONDON (AP) — Scotland's leader took his call for independence to the heart of opposition territory in London on Tuesday, arguing that a separate Scotland would not be a foreign country to England.
First Minister Alex Salmond told an audience in London's political district that U.K. Treasury chief George Osborne had made a "monumental error" when he said an independent Scotland could not keep the pound as its currency.
Scots will vote in an independence referendum on Sept. 18. Salmond says a "yes" will mean a country with its own passports, taxes and policies - including an end to unpopular welfare cuts.
But he wants to retain Britain's currency and its queen, as well as European Union membership.
"Scotland will not be a foreign country after independence, any more than Ireland, Northern Ireland, England or Wales can ever be foreign countries to Scotland," said Salmond, who argued an independent Scotland would be a counterbalance to London's economic dominance.
He said Osborne's "sermon on the pound" would come to be seen as a big mistake, and ejecting Scotland from the currency would leave the remainder of Britain holding the country's entire debt of more than 1 trilion pounds ($1.67 trillion).
Most polls suggest a majority of Scottish voters oppose independence, but Salmond said the gap was narrowing.
"If you've got a positive message up against a negative message, then you will win," he told an enthusiastic audience at the event, sponsored by the left-leaning New Statesman magazine.
But not everyone was convinced.
University researcher Anne Laybourne wondered what Salmond would do for her home region of Caithness in the far north of Scotland, which has a rickety railway and a hospital threatened with closure.
"If I had a vote, I would probably vote no," said Laybourne, who can't vote because she lives in England. "Maybe I'm just scared. I think there is fear there - but I like being part of the U.K."


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360 HD-DVD Player w/ assorted movies
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Batman: Arkham City Comic (Preorder Bonus)
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Strategy Guide
Super Mario Galaxy Commemorative Launch Coin (with the reservation of Super Mario Galaxy)
Zelda Feather Pen Stylus
Edited by somahead33, 13 November 2011 - 06:02 PM.


text:
The most extensive recount in modern Virginia political history will involve tens of thousands of people statewide to determine the state's next attorney general.
The recount begins Monday in Fairfax County and the cities of Alexandria and Chesapeake before moving to every jurisdiction in the state on Tuesday and Wednesday. Those three localities get a head start because of the extensive hand counting of ballots entailed in their recount or simply the sheer number of ballots and machines to be checked, which is the case in Fairfax County.
A three-judge recount court will convene on Thursday in Richmond to rule on challenged ballots that emerge from the re-tabulation.
Democrat Mark Herring should know by Friday if his 165-vote edge holds or if Republican Mark Obenshain has picked up enough votes to surpass his fellow state senator or closed it sufficiently to take it one step further.
Obenshain's camp has signaled the recount might not be the candidate's last gasp. They could play a rare, little-used card, taking the race to the General Assembly as a contested election and letting the Republican-majority body decide the race or call for a new election.


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Saturday Morning Men's Bible Study
Every Saturday
7:00am – 8:00am
Location: 530 S. Pantano Rd. (Adult Library), Tucson, Arizona 85710Category: Men's Ministries
Location: (Adult Library)
Saturday Morning 7:00-8:00a.m.
We are currently re-starting a study and discussion using the Westminster Catechism (1648 AD). It covers almost every book of the Bible and is a time for great fellowship and dialogue on issues we face today. Please visit us! You can view the Catechism here.
"I first became a member at CCC in 2001. It was a big place, so I visited a lot of groups, meetings, events and classes. I immediately got plugged into the heart and soul of CCC. I first attended the Saturday Men's Donut Club in 2002. I had a new NIV Life Application required by Grant Brown. We were in 1 Cor for several years and he instilled the spirit of his study process in me. After he left, we were led for a time by the venerable John R for many years. Since then we have remained a merry band seeking The Word." (Lang Price)
CLICK HERE for more information about our Men's Ministry.
For more information please call 520-296-8501 or email Pastor Erwin Klingenberg at


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Xandros Desktop - Professional Released
Xandros, the leading provider of easy-to-use Linux alternatives to Windows, today announced the addition of "Xandros Desktop - Professional," featuring advanced 3D desktop graphics effects, Bluetooth wireless support, desktop search and ISV support. This version 4 desktop for the enterprise provides seamless compatibility with Windows, Linux and UNIX networks including Windows domain authentication, plus support for logon scripts, group policy profiles and Microsoft Exchange. Xandros Desktop - Professional is available for immediate purchase and download from the Xandros Web site for a list price of USD 99.99.
"Adding a Xandros Desktop Pro PC to a Windows or Linux network was a breeze -- we were up and running in the blink of an eye," said Erwin Zijleman, IT specialist with the CPB Netherlands Bureau for Econnomic Policy Analysis. "I tried using Xandros as a thin client with Citrix-servers -- and it works! Even taking over other PCs in the Windows network works. I say, if you want a better looking and better performing network client, forget about Windows Vista, give Xandros Desktop Professional a try."
"As Linux solutions such as Xandros Desktop - Professional continue to make inroads in the enterprise as Windows replacements, organizations face increased complexity of managing disparate systems in mixed Windows and Linux networks," said Xandros CEO Andreas Typaldos. "Today most companies utilize a silo-based approach by managing Windows and various Linux versions separately, each with their own administrators and toolsets. Xandros' vision is to empower organizations to manage their mixed environments holistically by providing tools that deliver seamless integration and simplify the day to day management of the mixed network environment as if it were actually homogeneous. Our new desktop release does just that with its enhanced network integration, Windows application and file compatibility and mass-deployment capabilities using the Xandros Deployment Server."
Full Windows Network Compatibility
Xandros Desktop - Professional is compatible with Windows servers, providing a secure, stable alternative to costly Windows desktop upgrades. Seamless integration into existing Windows-centric networks is provided through support of domain authentication, logon scripts, and group policy profiles. Enterprise-class features include:
-Seamless access to shared Windows folders and printers
-The ability to write to Windows NTFS partitions
-Seamless Microsoft Exchange connectivity
-Support for third-generation HSDPA UMTS (3GSM) and mobile telecommunications
-Xandros Network Connection System for wired, wireless, mobile and VPN network connections and security profiles
-Thin clients and terminal emulation
-Dual-Core, SMP and Hyper-Threading support
-Ready for mass deployment in enterprise settings via xDMS, Xandros Deployment and Management Server
Complete Windows Desktop Replacement
Xandros Desktop - Professional provides a complete Windows desktop alternative at a fraction of the cost, including free Skype calling worldwide and a full featured Microsoft Office compatible productivity suite. The latest version of CrossOver Linux enables users to run Microsoft Office 2003 and many other important Windows programs directly on Xandros. The Xandros Security Suite, home folder encryptions and secure VPN connections build on the already secure Linux platform to ensure enterprise-class protection of critical company and customer information. Usability features such as a familiar interface with an optional 3D desktop, drag-and-drop data DVD burning, and rapid search of documents and other files provide a "zero learning curve" for users transitioning from Windows to Linux.
Compliant with Industry Standards
Xandros Desktop - Professional incorporates the latest industry standards including the Linux Standards Base (LSB) 3.1 and the OASIS OpenDocument format for global file compatibility. Integrated Portland 1.0 tools address the diverse needs of business clients by enabling third party software developers to integrate their applications regardless of the desktop deployed.
Xandros Desktop - Professional is priced at USD 99.99. A German version of the product will be announced shortly. For complete desktop, server, and management tool product and purchase details, please visit www.xandros.com.
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[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/31/ray-lewis-thrilled-to-see-his-son-a-miami-hurricane/[/URL]Ray Lewis thrilled to see his son a Miami Hurricane
Posted by Michael David Smith on May 31, 2012, 2:07 PM EDT
Weve been so besieged recently by parents talking about how they wouldnt want their kids playing football that its refreshing to hear the pride in the voice of Ray Lewis when he discusses his son getting a football scholarship to the University of Miami.
Lewis said in an interview with Michael Irvin on WQAM that he couldnt be prouder of his son, a running back and linebacker named Ray Lewis III who will become a Hurricane in 2013.
Theres no greater reward, as a father, Lewis said, via SportsRadioInterviews.com. To walk into your alma mater and look at your baby my baby who was born on that campus. Thats whats so special about what all happened. That boy was born on that campus my senior year, 1995. And when I walked him back there, [Miami coach Al Golden] looked at him and said, We want you to be a Hurricane.
Lewis views having a son playing football as a blessing.
All my hard work, all my pain, everything Ive ever been through in life, God rewarded me that day, Lewis said. That thing right there, it kept motivating me all over again this offseason.
Those who say they dont want their sons to play cite the risks associated with the game of football. But there are also great rewards. And unlike many of the men who have been rewarded by the game of football and are now saying they wouldnt want their sons to pursue those rewards, Lewis thinks one of the greatest rewards is that he gets to pass his passion for the game on to the next generation.


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SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — The economy of Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to grow by 3.5 percent this year, less than previously forecast, because of uncertainty about the future of the world economy and slower growth in developed nations, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
The region's growth estimate was also lowered from an earlier 3.8 percent view because of "a recovery that has been less dynamic than expected" in Argentina and Brazil, said the UN's Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Growth in the two South American powerhouses is still expected to help the region's expansion, with a projected 3.5 percent for Argentina and 3 percent in Brazil on the back of improved agricultural activity and investment, the report added.
The UN agency known as ECLAC said the regional expansion will be backed by consumer growth as a result of better labor indicators, the rise of banking credit and investment.
"On top of this, there are high prices for commodities. Although they're expected to be lower compared to 2012, they will be kept at high levels," the Santiago-based agency said in a statement.
Brazil is a top producer of soft commodities like orange juice and coffee, the world's biggest beef exporter and the No.2 producer and exporter of soybeans. Argentina is a global top exporter of soy meal and soy oil and the No. 3 exporter of the bean.
"South American countries, which generally are more specialized in the production and export of commodities, will grow on average 3.5 percent in 2013 thanks to the preservation of growth in Asian economies," ECLAC said. "This will bring positive economic outcomes both for the level of income as well as exporting activities."
Growth in the export-dependent region will be led by Paraguay. The world's No. 4 soy exporter is seen expanding by 10 percent, followed by Panama's 8 percent and Peru and Haiti's 6 percent growth this year. Chile, Bolivia and Nicaragua will expand by 5 percent. Colombia will clock 4.5 percent growth and Uruguay will grow by 3.8 percent, ECLAC said.
Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, will benefit from "more dynamism in the United States. A stronger agricultural sector will benefit Cuba, Nicaragua and Dominican Republic, while improvements in construction sector will lift Guatemala, Honduras and Haiti.
"In the Caribbean the acceleration in the growth rhythm will continue with a rise of 2 percent as a result of dynamism in economies specialized in the production and export of raw materials, mainly Guyana and Suriname," ECLAC said. Growth also will be boosted in tourism-dependent Caribbean nations with an improved economic outlook in the United States.
The ECLAC also scaled back its 2012 forecast to 3.0 percent from an earlier view of 3.1 percent due to a slower global expansion hit by a recession in Europe, a slowdown in China and sluggish U.S. growth.
Luis Andres Henao on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LuisAndresHenao


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Wonder Woman visits Gotham in Gail Simone's 'Sensation Comics' No. 1
Posted in: Comics
A feminist icon in a genre dominated by male characters, Wonder Woman has always been a pioneer in superhero comics, and this week, she boldly ventures into new territory with her first digital comics series, "Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman."
An anthology in the vein of the recent "Adventures of Superman" and "Legends of the Dark Knight" titles, this new series allows creators to tell stories set outside of DC's New 52 continuity, giving them the chance to put their favorite versions of Wonder Woman on the page.
The Superman and Batman anthologies have produced some of those heroes' most captivating stories over the last two years, and based on the creative team for "Sensation Comics" No. 1, it's very likely that Wonder Woman will see the same kind of fortune.
Writer Gail Simone penned an exceptional two-year "Wonder Woman" run in the late '00s, and she returns to the character accompanied by artist Ethan Van Sciver, a die-hard Wonder Woman fan who has been aching to collaborate with Simone on the character.
Transplanting Wonder Woman into Gotham City to face Batman's foes, this two-part story also marks the return of Oracle, the former alter ego of Barbara "Batgirl" Gordon, who was paralyzed from the waist down in pre-New 52 continuity. It's a prime example of the freedom afforded by these digital-first anthologies, and it will be fascinating to see what creative opportunities that presents for Wonder Woman down the line.
(For readers averse to digital comics, "Sensation Comics" will also be released in print each month, with Simone and Van Sciver's story hitting stands next week.)
Hero Complex recently spoke with Simone and Van Sciver by phone to discuss their "classic" versions of Wonder Woman, the benefits of working outside of continuity and their collaborative process.
Hero Complex: How did this project come into existence? Did DC reach out to you?
Gail Simone: DC came to me, and Ethan and I love working together. Writing "Wonder Woman" in the past, Ethan used to talk to me about that all the time. He wasn't the artist at the time, but he was like, "Oh, I would love to draw 'Wonder Woman.'" When this opportunity came up I was like, "Oh my God, this would be great." And we're really excited to be able to do this finally. And I'm telling you, Ethan does an amazing Wonder Woman, an amazing Oracle, and every character that's in here, it's like the best classic version of that character you can think of. It's quite amazing.
HC: What are the benefits of working on these digital-first comics set outside of the New 52 continuity?
GS: The fun part about it was that we could take what we feel is our favorite version of the characters, and that's what you see in the story. So there's a lot of freedom in not having to be in actual continuity. Also, just telling a one-off story where you have that kind of freedom was really an amazing opportunity and it made it so it was really exciting to work on because it's the best version of this character that we could think of for this story. And then when Ethan brought the art to it, that brings that forward even more.
HC: What is that classic version of Wonder Woman for the two of you personally? What are the qualities that attract you to Wonder Woman as a character?
Ethan Van Sciver: For me, the classic version of Wonder Woman was the one that I first saw at age 5: Lynda Carter, who was the most beautiful woman I had seen up to that point. I absolutely loved her costume. I love primary colors on superheroes, I don't know why, I just think they're fantastic. And really, I don't think too much had changed from the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman design to the one Gail Simone was working on four years ago. I just thought Wonder Woman should be statuesque and beautiful, she should be able to stand toe-to-toe with Superman and look extremely powerful.
GS: Yes! For me, not only is it about her look, her stature, and the beautiful, iconic Wonder Woman poses that we see her do, but it's about her attitude as well and the contrast of her compassion with her warrior side. I think that not all artists can capture all that at once, whereas Ethan definitely captures that completely. Some of the panels and the poses and the facial expressions in this issue demonstrate that so perfectly, and to me, that's what says Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman graces the cover of Ms. magazine's first issue in 1972. (Ms. magazine)Link
Ms. magazine brought Wonder Woman back for its 40th anniversary issue. (Ms. magazine)Link
Wonder Woman made her debut in 1941's All Star Comics No. 8. (DC Comics)Link
Soon after her All Star Comics debut, Wonder Woman was featured in Sensation Comics No. 1 in 1942. (DC Comics)Link
Wonder Woman gets her own comic in 1942, with Wonder Woman No. 1 (DC Comics)Link
Wonder Woman in Sensation Comics No. 46. In this 1945 storyline, the baddies give Wonder Woman's boyfriend Steve Trevor special powers to be stronger than her, hoping he'll force her to marry and become a meek housewife. In the end, Wonder Woman sticks to her guns and Steve happily submits to being the weaker of the two. (DC Comics)Link
In this 1957 Wonder Woman No. 90, the Amazon princess has to babysit an elephant, a whale and a dinosaur in order to raise $1 million for charity. (DC Comics)Link
In 1959, Wonder Woman's origin story was revamped. Issue No. 105 reveals that the Queen of the Amazons formed Diana from clay, and that her superpowers are gifts from the gods. (DC Comics)Link
In the late 1960s, Wonder Woman gave up her powers, started a mod boutique and worked with her mentor I Ching to learn martial arts. Here, she is shown in the August 1970 issue Wonder Woman No. 189. Her powers weren't restored until 1973, partly at the urging of Gloria Steinem. (DC Comics)Link
Cathy Lee Crosby played Wonder Woman in a 1974 TV movie "Wonder Woman." In the film, the heroine has no superpowers, but rather is a world-traveling spy, inspired by the I Ching era of the comics. (Warner Bros.)Link
Wonder Woman teamed up with other DC superheroes in "Super Friends," a television series that ran from 1973 to 1977. (Warner Bros.)Link
Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman in "The New Adventures of Wonder Woman," which ran from 1975 to 1979. (CBS / Los Angeles Times archives)Link
Wonder Woman was rebooted once more in 1987. Above is George Perez's Wonder Woman No. 1. cover. (DC Comics)Link
Wonder Woman was a key player in the animated TV series "Justice League" and "Justice League Unlimited," which ran from 2001 to 2006. (Warner Bros.)Link
Wonder Woman was again rebooted in 2006. Gail Simone took over writing duties for the comic beginning with issue No. 14, and was applauded for her portrayal of the heroine. (DC Comics)Link
Wonder Woman got her own animated movie in 2009. Keri Russell voiced Wonder Woman, and Nathan Fillion voiced Steve Trevor. (Warner Bros.)Link
In the 2010 animated series "Young Justice," about younger heroes trying to prove themselves worthy of joining the Justice League, Wonder Woman takes on Cassie Sandsmark (Wonder Girl) as her sidekick. (Warner Bros.)Link
Adrianne Palicki played the title character in the never-aired TV pilot "Wonder Woman" in 2011. The show, from David E. Kelley, was never picked up -- effectively canceled before it even began. (Justin Lubin / NBC / Warner Bros.)Link
Wonder Woman got a makeover when DC relaunched 52 of its most popular titles in 2011. (DC Comics)Link
Wonder Woman in 2012's "Wonder Woman: Odyssey" Vol. 2. (DC Comics)Link
Even though I love her costume, every time they change her costume, I don't get all that worried about it because, to me, that doesn't make Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman is about her sense of justice and compassion and taking care of things that other people may not be able to, but she does have the ability to do it. She's also brave. She doesn't have the fear of stepping in and doing that when she can, and all those attitudes are what make her such an amazing, long-lasting character, besides being gorgeous and all those things. Ethan just got the whole package.
HC: Why did you want to bring Wonder Woman into Gotham City for this story? How does that setting change the visual approach?
GS: When we were first talking about what could be a fun story to do for "Sensation Comics," we had a few ideas that we hit back and forth a little bit, but Ethan was like, "I want to do her in Gotham." And then as soon as he said that, I just imagined Ethan's art doing Wonder Woman in Gotham and I was like, "I think you're right. That's going to be amazing." And then we were off. This will be very cool to contrast that gray and black with Wonder Woman's bright and shiny colors. And she has a different approach than Batman for how things should be resolved.
EVS: I don't think I've ever seen Wonder Woman fight Batman villains before. I guess I've seen her fight the Joker a couple of times, but it just seemed like an interesting place to put her. As we said with what's visually appealing about Wonder Woman, there's a sense of kindness about her. Even though she's powerful and brave and everything, like Superman, there's got to be a sense of kindness and sweetness behind her eyes. And putting her up against Gotham's villains would really test her patience, and I think that's an interesting thing that's happening in Gail's story. It very much did test her patience.
GS: And I thought it would be interesting as well to see if her techniques would work in Gotham.
HC: Ethan, are you making any changes in the art to accommodate the digital format?
EVS: No, not really. There's a specific design layout that you have to do so that a page will fit on someone's iPhone or iPad properly, which doesn't allow for splash pages. It only allows for half-page splashes, which we use quite a few times. But other than that, no. I just draw the way I always do and hope people like it.
GS: They will like it. And also, we've got an amazing colorist, Brian Miller from Hi-Fi, who did a really saturated color scheme for it that I think is amazing because we're so used to seeing Gotham all the way from gray to black [laughs]. It's completely different, and digitally — I just went over it again this morning — it's incredible. It really is.
HC: How has the collaboration process been for the two of you?
EVS: It's been fun. We've worked together quite a bit over the years on a few things — "Firestorm" was a good experience — but I think this was the first time we were able to really completely do what we wanted to do. From the start of this project, I think what was so appealing to us about it was that both of us have a big spot in our hearts for Diana, and to be able to just do whatever we want to do with her, my first reaction was, "Oh, great! Now I get to draw an issue of Gail Simone's fabulous 'Wonder Woman' run." Which is something that I always envied. If there was an extra issue in Gail's "Wonder Woman" run that was available just for me to draw, that would be just an ideal situation. That would be a fantasy. We were able to make that happen, and I think it was very sweet. It was a really good creative collaboration. A good experience. I hope to do it again, I think we should do more.
GS: The sad thing is there's just one Ethan "Wonder Woman," and that's what's killing me because Ethan is one of the artists that — and I suspected this before, but until seeing the first pages come in, I didn't really grasp it like I do now — he is an artist who gets Diana. And he likes Diana. And not all artists do that. Some artists draw her because she's beautiful and she's iconic and that's what they think about her. But Ethan gets the whole package and the dimensions, and you can really see that in the art. As I was writing the last pages of it, and seeing the last of the artwork come in, I was in remorse. Meanwhile, I was happy because we have this one story out there, but remorseful because it's just — oh man, this was so fun and it looks so amazing.
EVS: We'll do it again, Gail.
GS: [Laughs.] I'll take you up on that.
— Oliver Sava | @LATHeroComplex
'Dawn of Justice': Wonder Woman costume revealed
Paolo Rivera talks 'Valiant' return to monthly comics
Hitting the target: David Lapham on 'Stray Bullets,' 'Murder Me Dead'
Batman 75: Marc Tyler Nobleman on 'uncredited co-creator' Bill Finger
Archie's death: CEO Jon Goldwater discusses iconic redhead's sacrifice
'Empire Vol. 2′: Mark Waid on Golgoth's return, Thrillbent future
'Death of Wolverine,' 'She-Hulk' controversy: Charles Soule on Marvel
'Brave New Souls': Brandon Easton on sci-fi, comics and black writers
Return to: Wonder Woman visits Gotham in Gail Simone's 'Sensation Comics' No. 1


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I call it first
Early 2011 Apple will sue Nintendo for using 3DS which may confuse punters who can't tell the difference between a 3GS and 3DS, after which Apple patent the term 3?S.
Nintendo is working on a version of its DS handheld console with the ability to display 3D content, the videogames pioneer has said. And it won't need special glasses, the company promised. Nintendo didn't say much more, beyond indicating a launch date before April 2011, the end of Nintendo's next financial year. A release …
Early 2011 Apple will sue Nintendo for using 3DS which may confuse punters who can't tell the difference between a 3GS and 3DS, after which Apple patent the term 3?S.
Have internal storage that we can install games on.
My MP3 player doesn't need different cards for different albums.
My eBook reader doesn't need different cards for different books.
I try to buy PC games that can do a 100% install, no run CD required, because my PC is supposed to be portable.
So give me a games console that lets me carry all my games without some silly pack of cards and I'll think about it. Right now, the only thing that fits the bill is the iPhone/iPod touch, and that has a silly control system.
The market's open if someone wants to jump in....
The PSP Go manages to do most of that as well. And you can buy real games, not some cheap knockoff on popular titles as well!
a PSPGo by the sounds of it
Paris, cos if you look at her too much you may well need glasses after-all!
It would be bonkers to miss Christmas 2010 for the release of this console but to do so wouldn't be unprecedented. The DS released in the UK in March...
...if you'll just insert these contact lenses, sir.....
Paris, because you'll never glasses to study her dimensions.
I think 3DS is quite a clever name, and hopefully they keep it. Then again, the Wii had a cool code name, and look at what they stuck on it!
However, when the big phat grey DS was first introduced, Nintendo stressed it wasn't the next gameboy, which was still coming. They almost suggested the DS was an interesting diversion. How many revisions of the DS (slim, i, xl, 3d) do we need to go through before we're back on track, or is the DS too popular to move away from now...
It's sad because the gameboy was revolutionary and brilliant for so many years, and became synonymous with handheld gaming, like the term playstation for consoles, and that legacy is fading away. I bet a kid these days wouldn't know what a gameboy is!
An episode of Top Gear demonstrated the Volvo dash display that could show navigation to the driver and videos to the passenger, at the same time, from one 7-inch LCD display. At the time, I told anyone that would listen that this was the future of no-glasses 3D. Wanna bet that this Nintendo device is the same tech?
you were happy with a dot matrix screen and a green shaded screen, backlights pah
/desperately waiting for a long straight block
Love to hear how they plan to pull off 3d without glasses or some other special head-mounted kit. If they can really do that and keep it reasonably priced for the target market (yes, I AM thinking of the children), then good for them. Might even buy one for myself.
I had a handheld 3d games machine in the 80s!
..not another Virtual Boy?
Google it, young 'uns.
Steven R
Right - so considering I bought my 3 eldest kids a DSi each for their xmas, and now have them clammering for the DSi XL even thought it's only March, now I'm thinking shit like WTF how many of these things am I going to be buying in a 12 month period?
At 150+ a pop they aint cheap. I think Nintendo need to get to grips with their announcements as this one seems a tad early, all be it to jump on the 3D bandwagon and seem hip and fresh,.
I'm disappointed in Nintendo, no need to be emptying parents pockets like this. Why not just a DSi XL 3D ?????
VirtualBoy 2?
That one could actually do 3D, if you consider an AutoCAD-ish wireframe image a "3D experience".
On other matters, I wonder how many of those "mobile developers" are actually games developers. Namco? SquareEnix? Capcom? id Software? Valve? Irrational? Konami? Somehow I doubt Street Fighter 4 is available for the iBone/iTouch, or Pokemon or <insert best-selling game here>. Real mobile gamers already have a DS or a PSP. N-Gage tried to do this and failed, and that one had fairly proper game controls.
It is rather simple to do a one person 3d display without glasses; came out a couple of laptops ago.
Where was this when I could still see using my right eye?
(I am saving that one for a cyber implant giving me realtime Po . . . information on traffic and weather conditions. Yes, really I am.)
No-glasses 3D is already here and has been for many years. It's been on novelty prints and "special edition" DVD covers for a long time. Also known as "lenticular" stereoscopic 3D, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenticular_printing for more details.
I imagine with a bit of hackery, most/all 3D games for the DS could be engineered to work with it. How they get it to work with the bottom touch screen might be a bit tougher, but if they say they've cracked it.. could be worth a look. Plus, the lenticular system means you could use it for 3D, or for presenting different images depending on the viewing angle. Dunno how well that would translate into games, but fuck it. Is an idea.
shame on you. Fool me 8 times, shame on me...


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ST. PAUL, Minn.—A federal lawsuit has been filed over a new Minnesota law that could lead to unionization of certain in-home day care providers.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday pairs with another federal case also seeking to overturn the law. The measure approved last month gives unions authority to press for a unionization vote covering providers who care for children eligible for state subsidies.
The latest lawsuit was filed on behalf of 12 providers and is being paid for by the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation. They contend the union drive infringes on freedom of association clauses of the Constitution.
Gov. Mark Dayton says the groups behind the lawsuit are "throwing their little fits trying to throw sand in the machinery and delay" a union election, which he insists is legal.


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Main Site - :: Why Won't God Heal Amputees? ::
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Seriously, you guys are the meanest people I have ever met. I hope you are happy and feel really good about yourself.
Religions need books because they don't have gods.
There are 4 primary attribute that describe what God would be. If any of these attributes are found in one force, then we can continue on, to see if God is real.
1) Eternal, not involved with the flow of our time.
2) Omnipresent, found everywhere.
3) Omnipotent, all powerful.
4) Omniscient, having all knowledge.
<snip>In "Signal Travels Father And Faster Than Light", by Malcom W. Browne, a force was found conecting two freed electrons and proven to be eternal, was present within our time, yet was not involved with the flow of our time. This eternal force connects with all freed electrons. Every particle that releases energy connects to this eternal force.
In experiments by Russian scientists, they found at http://www.quantumbalancing.com/news/russian_dna.htm that laser photons knew when a DNA molecule was added into the vacoom. The photons/electrons collected around the DNA strand and began to change the order of the DNA, changing it to what it desired (Evolution?). After the DNA was removed and the laser turned off the excess photons remained in the position resembling the DNA for over 22 minutes.
The easiest way to prove this force is omnipotent<snip>
Visual evidence is seen in the distance of stars and galaxies across the universe. Acording to the first law of thermodinamycs energy cannot be created or destroyed. Then where did all the energy in our universe came from? Does it have anything to do with this same force being timeless?
See the Unified Field theory and Universal Consciousness. The discovery of the 5th Generation computer by Vogelsang in 1982 was evidence to this single intelligent all knowing consciousness. The universe is alive, self aware. All things are a portion of this consciousness which gives life to the universe. The Great Omniscient Designer(GOD). Designer because this consciousness is self aware.
This debate is NOT about the veracity of the content of the bible, but about the existence or non existence of God.
Lucifer: First of all you did not offer a second argument;
neither had you defended your first argument.
Therefore, if I win this argument, or the next one I'm going to post you should, by rule (because it was specified before the debate started), lose.
If this is not the case, and you do have more arguments and/or something to say about my refute to your initial argument you should pay more attention to the rules we should be following.
That includes using an appropriated, civil language, which you also ignored.


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August 17. 2014 7:39PM
Free state garden: Weeding is always good
Pope's call-out Where's the Muslim outrage?
Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, co-authors of the Freakonomics books, have an entertaining chapter in their latest best-seller about "teaching your garden to weed itself."
Example: When King Solomon proposed splitting the disputed baby in two using a sword, he reasoned the fraudulent mom would reveal herself by agreeing to Solomon's proposal, while the true mother of the child would identify herself by quitting claim on the baby to save its life.
Political parties have a responsibility to weed themselves of people who don't represent their views, and primary season is the best time to do that. There are steps both parties can take to encourage their gardens to weed themselves.
Take the free staters. In recent years a growing handful of free staters have managed to get elected to the New Hampshire legislature through, shall we say, false pretenses. Some have masqueraded as a conventional Republican or cross-dressed as a mainstream Democrat, keeping their true views hidden from voters. Mall security guards call this sort of thing willful concealment.
Now, if a member of the free state movement runs openly as a member of the free state movement and gets nominated and elected, so be it. But if he or she gets elected by deceiving voters about his true policy objectives, that's quite another matter.
In many communities with several state representatives and crowded primaries, it can be fairly easy to slip through by blending in with the herd.
New Hampshire Democrats and Republicans face the challenge of weeding their gardens of free staters who pose as members of their parties. Doing our best impression of Jeff Foxworth, here are some things voters should look out for:
If your state rep candidate accepts campaign contributions in Bitcoin, odds increase that he or she might be a free stater.
If your candidate posts pictures on Facebook of himself attending Porc-fest, odds increase that he or she might be a free stater.
If your candidate moved to New Hampshire fewer than five years ago, odds increase that he or she might be a free stater.
If your candidate was endorsed by a group calling itself the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance, odds increase that he or she might be a free stater.
If your candidate still has a Ron Paul Revolution bumper sticker on his or her car, odds increase that he or she might be a free stater.
If, after doing your research, you still want to vote for such candidates, go ahead.
But let's not elect anyone by uninformed accident.
Guest editorial by Fergus Cullen


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The Georgia Southwestern women's soccer team lost 7-1 to the University of North Alabama on Tuesday afternoon at Hurricane Field.
GSW (2-4) struck first at the 32:20 mark when freshman Kalila Lincoln broke free along the back line for a one-on-one opportunity she was able to capitalize on. It was Lincoln's second goal in as many games.
That's when UNA (3-4) forward Tassia Augusto took over. Augusto scored her first goal at 35:33 on a penalty kick after she was taken down in the box. Two minutes later, Augusto struck again when she dribbled through the Lady 'Canes defense and delivered a shot from the left corner of the box past the outstretched arms of GSW junior goalkeeper Christy Drabek. In the 45th minute, Augusto fed freshman Beth Spurr to give the Lions a 3-1 lead heading into the halftime break.
Augusto picked up where she left off in the second half by knocking in her third goal of the game at 55:13 off an assist from Stephanie Bradshaw. Bradshaw then fed Sarah Robins to extend the Lions' lead to 5-1. Late goals from Meghan Brown and Adriene Aragon completed the scoring for UNA.
Drabek finished with four saves. UNA starting goalie Alex McLay saved two and Carly Rhodes came off the bench to save four. UNA outshot the Lady Hurricanes 21-17 and corner kicks were tied at six apiece.
The Lady Canes are back in action on Friday when they travel to Columbus to face West Georgia at 5 p.m. in first game of the Peach Belt vs. Gulf South Invitational.
PICTURED: Kalila Lincoln
PHOTO BY: Chris Fenn


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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
New York residents affected by Hurricane Sandy may now call or go online to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, state and federal officials have announced.
"Registering is an important way to help get you on the path to a variety of recovery programs," said Federal Coordinating Officer Michael F. Byrne. "We're urging people with hurricane-related damages in federally declared disaster areas to apply as soon as possible."
The major federal disaster declaration, signed by President Obama on Oct. 30, offers individual assistance in the counties of Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester.
Disaster survivors have several ways to apply.
•Individuals can call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- and hearing-impaired. If you use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services, call 1-800-621-3362.
•Another option is to register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via Web-enabled phone or tablet at m.fema.gov. For devices with the Android operating system, a FEMA App can be downloaded at market.android.com/details?id=gov.fema.mobile.android.
The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.
When applying for aid, you will receive a nine-digit registration number that can be used for reference when corresponding with FEMA.
It is helpful to have the following information handy:
•Current telephone number;
•Address at the time of the disaster and current address;
•Social Security number, if available;
•A general list of damages and losses;
•If insured, the name of insurance company, agent and policy number; and
•Bank routing number for any direct deposit.
Within a few days after registering, eligible applicants will be telephoned to make an appointment to have their damaged property inspected. The inspectors, who are FEMA contractors and carry identification badges, visit to make a record of damage. They do not make a determination regarding assistance. There is no cost for the inspection.
All applicants will receive a letter from FEMA regarding the status of their requests for federal assistance. Some will also receive an application for a low-interest disaster recovery loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Anyone who has questions about the letter from FEMA should call the helpline (1-800-621-3362, or TTY at 1-800-462-7585).
Those who receive an application packet from the SBA should complete and submit the forms. No one is required to accept a loan, but submitting the application may open the door to additional FEMA grants.
FEMA's mission is to support citizens and first responders to ensure that, as a nation, we work together to build, sustain and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.


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LANCASTER, Pa. - April 8, 2013 --A mechanic has been killed in an accident at a commercial printing plant in Lancaster.
The Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era reports it happened around 6 a.m. Monday at the RR Donnelley & Sons facility. Lancaster County Coroner Stephen Diamantoni says the man died in some sort of accident involving a tow motor.
He says the man was in his 50s, but his name was not released. He was announced dead at the scene.
A spokeswoman says the company is deeply saddened by the loss and is sending thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.
An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.
Information from: Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era , http://lancasteronline.com


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Can We Love the Stranger on Facebook?
"Disarmed the Thunder's Fires" (photo: ZedZaP/Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
As we approach Passover, I am reminded once again about the imperative of embracing the stranger, of diversity, as a foundation not only of a healthy democracy, but of our personal well being. Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, delivered this message when he reminded us that during Passover we remember that we were once strangers in the land of Egypt. As Sacks says, "The sense that we are enlarged by the people who are different than us, that we are not threatened by them, needs cultivating. This would lead us to see that 21st century as full of blessing and not fear."
There is a conundrum buried in this idea. Communication technology has been the driving force of change in the 21st century, the source of much of our contemporary blessings and fears. Thanks to technology, the world has shrunk rapidly. One needs look no further than the events unfolding in the Middle East to understand the power of technology to connect and inspire. At the same time, technology mediates so much of our communication, raising the question, "Can we truly learn to love the stranger if we meet them on Facebook?"
There are those who believe that social media is expanding the diversity of our networks, exposing us to others in new and powerful ways. A recent Pew poll indicates that Internet users have more diverse social networks than non-Internet users and are more likely to join groups, both online and offline.
There is some indication that those who join online groups are also more engaged in their local communities. Keith Hampton at the Annenberg School argues that social media offers new pathways to diversity through what he terms "pervasive awareness." Pervasive awareness offers the continual, asynchronous exposure to many aspects of our online friends' interests and activities, giving us a broader understanding of those we are connected to and uncovering greater diversity in our existing relationships.
There are others who fear that, as we spend increasing amounts of time in tightly constructed worlds of our "friends" and pursue news and information based on our personal interests, we are constricting diversity by living in echo chambers that continually recirculate our existing beliefs. This is what Nicholas Negroponte termed the "Daily Me." It is not just our conscious choices but personalization tools built into technologies that are exacerbating this tendency.
Eli Pariser, the first executive director of MoveOn.org, made a concerted effort to follow people online whose views differed from his own. He noticed that over time those voices started to disappear. Facebook and Google were curating the information he saw based on the "preferences" indicated by his clickstream. Pariser commented that the web "shows us what it thinks we need to see, but not what we should see."
Beyond the debate about whether or not social media is exposing us to a greater diversity of "strangers" is the deeper question about the nature of the self we reveal in this medium. Sherry Turkle, in her recent book Alone Together, shares the story of Brad, a teenager who has chosen to give up Facebook. Turkle writes:
"In a profile, there is no room for error. You are reduced to a series of right and wrong choices. 'Online life,' Brad says, 'is about premeditation.' He sums up his discontents with an old-fashioned word: online life inhibits 'authenticity'. He wants to experience people directly. When he reads what someone says about themselves on Facebook, he feels he is an audience to their performance of cool."
As Rabbi Sacks wisely reminds us, it is only when I am most uniquely myself that I can "contribute something unique to the heritage of humankind." The knowledge and expression of our most unique selves requires a commitment to authenticity, to knowing who we are in the most profound sense. This is hard work, even among friends. But it is when we encounter the other in their unique authenticity that we are enlarged. This is when the power of what Rabbi Sacks calls the "dignity of difference" is unleashed.
Social media and communications technology can offer maps that show the way toward the other, clues about who they are and some of what they experience. But we cannot allow ourselves to be lulled into confusing the maps with the reality. We must remain vigilant in our pursuit of embodied encounters that allow us to look into the eyes of the other and receive them deeply.
May we not, this Passover, forget that slavery can take many forms. One of the most insidious is slavery to the belief that technological progress releases us from the hard work of tikkun olam, of healing the world through our own unique and authentic humanity.
Jennifer Cobb is a business consultant specializing in marketing and strategy for public and private sector organizations. She has a degree in ethics from Union Theological Seminary and is the author of Cybergrace: The Search for God in the Digital World. She lives in Berkeley, California and blogs regularly at The Spruce Blog.
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