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@@5091841 <p> I 've been married for16 years and I feel unwanted from my husband and its been like this for about 10years ca n't deal with it anymore . When I came up to him and told him he said if I wanted a divorce . Please help me out with some advise . <h> First make an appointment with <p> one of the better hair salons or beauty shop ask around for a good stylist . Get a new hair cut/curl and or color . <p> you owe it to your self . Then on to the Elizabeth Arden counter at a dept store , ( or a free make over if they have one going. ) and have them test you for base , lip color . You do not have to buy now just ask for a little to test on your skin . you may then go on line on e/b and fine EA products at big savings . I like Estee Lauder . Now if you can afford it , hop on over to a coldwater creek store if you have one and have them help you with a good fitting pair of jeans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , fix face , put on new clothes . fix " Him " mack &; cheese ( add Tsp. butter ) and do n't say a word ! should he ask Tell him you thought it was time for a change and you ENJOYED the company of all the people who helped you get a new look . <p> Now this may not solve your problem I can guarantee you will feel better . He will notice ! and you have earned it . A little prayer wo n't hurt . <h> Wow . Time to think about your marriage and make some plans . <p> Vero , <p> If I were in your situation , I 'd think about a few things like , do you have kids ? How are they doing ? I want love from my husband , but am I giving him what he wants in return ? Is he showing his love for me in a different way than I need him to show it ? Think back to when you were dating . What attracted you to him ? What did he like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both of you change over time . Change is n't necessarily bad , but can be scary . Do the two of you take time for a date night every week ? Do you try to discuss things that come up where you disagree , or do you just take for granted that it 's going to end a certain way ? <p> Only the two of you know how your marriage is really going . Think about how he treats you , how you treat him . Are you working as a team , or drifting apart , or fighting to keep the family on track ? What would you like to see changed ? What 's causing the tension ? <p> Marriage works best when both parties have the same values , when both put about the same priority on problems that come up . No marriage is smooth and happy all the time . Feeling unwanted is usually a pretty good sign that you are n't getting what you need to be happy . But , there are ways to explore getting your needs met . You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you are n't putting up with abuse . If he 's not abusive , you can probably turn your marriage around and enjoy the rest of your lives together . If he is , consider getting professional help . <p> Problems that have been going on for ten years wo n't get solved overnight . It will take both of you working together to build the trust again , and feel more loved , and it will take time and patience . Think about little things you could do to show your love for him . Sometimes , if you are extra nice , it 's easier for him to be extra nice . What did you used to do that made the time fly by ? What did you love about him , back when you felt all gushy and romantic , if you did ? Or , if you just started out being friends , what did you used to talk about ? To do together ? See if he wants to do some of those things again . Or , if he has new interests that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them with you , if they do n't go against your moral principles . If they do , you have a bigger problem , what I call a values problem . Sometimes a little compromise can go a long way , and sometimes one member of the couple is always the one to compromise , and the relationship is uneven . Communication is the key to keeping your marriage fresh and alive . <p> If you love him , tell him how much you love him and what he means to you . Be honest with your feelings , and with him . Men tend to hide their feelings . There 's not much you can do to encourage him to talk about them except to listen and give him a chance to express it . That 's the hard part , to wait for him to express his feelings . Some men just wo n't , and the more you try to draw them out , the harder they close up . It 's better , in my opinion , to just express love and see what happens . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or not . But , you ca n't control what he does . You can control what you do , what you say . If you express love in words , actions , and maybe , little presents or notes , maybe he will be touched and follow suit . <p> After 16 years , it 's hard to let go . Sometimes a marriage can just turn into parallel roads instead of pulling as a team , because maybe life has been such a struggle . Therapy can help , but therapy is a process where your therapist suggests things to try that may improve communication and help revive the love . If you or he are n't willing to try things to save the marriage , it wo n't work . Both of you have to believe that it 's possible to feel close to one another again . You need to be sure neither of you is abusing the other . Abuse is always a red flag , and you should consider a therapist . But , if it 's just a sense of drifting apart , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enjoy being married again . Just try to remind each other of the happier times . <p> When the kids get older , sometimes life slows down a bit , and the urgency to get along for the sake of the kids is n't as powerful . You do n't feel as needed because the kids do n't need as much from you and may prefer their peers . It 's easy for a marriage to stall then , because the roles have changed some . What used to be true , is n't , or does n't apply because expectations have changed . Teens get ready for college , or rebel , or both . Their friends become more important . These changes multiply any problems already in the marriage . Maybe both of you do n't feel as needed because the kids are older . Or , if you do n't have kids , maybe you 've gotten into too much of a routine . <p> Try to get a perspective from a therapist , or a friend who 's not too close to the action . An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Give it time . Look at things from different angles than you usually watch them . Do n't be too quick to say things are n't working . But , listen to your feelings . Try to find outlets that are healthy for stress . Set some new goals , with baby steps so you do n't get discouraged . Try different things . You might find some useful advice in this article : <p> http : **35;2488;TOOLONG ... ovinggridlock.aspx ? <p> Most of all , be kind to yourself , and be kind to him and all the other members of your family . Love brought you together , and love can help get you both through this difficult time . Hope I 've given you some ideas . <h> He ca n't show you love because he does n't have it himself . <p> I 'm working on the premise that neither one of you are born again Christians so please correct me right away if I 'm wrong . <p> Do n't know if you 've ever seen the movie Fireproof but it is about a marriage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband tells his son " You ca n't love her because you do n't have love yourself " . He is talking about God 's love . So how do we get God 's love ? Until you understand that you are a wretched sinner because you 've broken God 's 10 commandments i.e. lying , stealing , hatred which is murder to God , lust which is adultery to God , blaspheming God 's name etc and therefore justly deserve God 's justice which is His wrath in a place called hell but that God made a way to save you through His Son Jesus Christ by Him ( who is God Himself ) came to earth to live a perfect life we could n't live , and die a death as a perfect sacrifice that was required on our behalf to take the wrath of God we deserve on Himself so that if you will repent and trust in Jesus Christ then He will save you and you 'll hate the sin you once loved and love godly things you once hated and you 'll go to heaven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bad person saved by a very good God . ( Sorry about the run-on sentence ) THEN you will know God 's love because God demonstrated His love to you when He died for you while you were sinning against Him and realize you are saved for eternity and you 'll then love your spouse with a godly love that without God - obviously - ca n't have . But it 's very important that you do n't turn to God with the motivation to save your marriage because you have to come to God on HIS terms - not yours . And His terms are repentance from your sins - a turning away from them because you realize how offensive they are to God and how angry He is because of your sinning and turning towards Jesus Christ because of His love , mercy , kindness and forgiveness He extends to you . <p> I 'm sure this response will be swarmed with people who hate what I just said to you because they hate God but please do n't let that sway you . Awaken your conscience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then look to the cross and see Jesus Christ , God Himself , dying for you if you will respond to Him in repentance and faith . <p> Thanks for listening . I 'll be praying for you . Besides reading the Bible - John chapter 3 would be a good place to start and thinking and doing what I already described - the other thing I would suggest is to get the movie Fireproof and the corresponding book The Love Dare . Watch the movie with your husband if he is willing to do that . If not , watch it yourself . I am praying for you . <h> Actualloy , " do you want a divorce ? " is a question , and I guess it 's a valid one . If you 're miserable , or unhappy , do <p> you want out of the marriage ? If so , then get a divorce . If not , see f your husband will attend couple counselling to work out the issues . If he wo n't go , get some counselling on your own - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and help you make decisions for your own life while understanding the possible consequences . <p> Many older marriages go through a phase where each takes the other for granted ; sometimes this happens after the lust expires and the reality of living together sets in . There are many ways to get past ths and get to real loving , but most couples need external assistance with that . <h> His response sounds like the response of the frustrated . <p> He appears to not have any idea what he should do about this whole marriage thingie that he 's found himself stuck in . So he 's on autopilot until he does get an idea . Your demand--in his mind--amounted to an ultimatum of " Wife : lover her or leave her . " And like the hippies of old , he thought he DID love his wife . But , okay , if not , fine , I 'll leave if you want . <p> You are , therefore , required to be the one to present to him what this whole marriage thingie involves , slowly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And start with the fun

@@5091941 free trial , your membership will automatically upgrade to a full year for $79 . <h> Amazon 's Frank Sinatra Store <h> Music <h> Photos <h> Videos <h> Biography <p> Only Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson can rival Frank Sinatra for biggest-selling solo artist of all time . His jazz-influenced singing remained internationally renowned whatever whims , fashions or innovations were introduced by new generations . In a solo career that included over 70 albums and hundreds of singles , from the late-30s until the mid-90s , Sinatra remained universally loved even as item " , " Pre-order both items " , " Pre-order all three items " <h> Editorial Reviews <p> Expanded two CD edition includes a bonus CD containing an additional 19 tracks . 2011 collection from the greatest and most famous vocalist of the last century . For the first time , Frank Sinatra 's greatest recordings for Capitol Records and his own Reprise Records have been gathered for one stellar collection . The booklet contains insightful track notes written by Frank Sinatra Jr . Features ' New York , New York ' , ' Young At Heart ' , ' Strangers In The Night ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> I 'm reviewing the superb DELUXE 2-CD box edition with all the trimmings . <p> Until now , you had to buy from either the Capitol or the Reprise catalog . Sinatra collections were one or the other . If you wanted to introduce his music to someone , you had to get one of each or skip an era . You want " New New , York , " " My Way , " or " That 's Life " ? You 're going to have to lose " Come Fly with Me , " " Witchcraft , " and " One for My Baby . " Two different labels ; two different catalogs . FINALLY , they got together so here you have Sinatra from 1953 ( " I 've got the World on a String " ) to " New York , New York . " <p> So , we finally have a definitive Sinatra 101 compilation. 23 tracks . Icing on the cake : an entire live concert from the Capitol era . I might be wrong about this but this June 9th 1957 concert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live with Nelson Riddle ; yes , they went on tour . To Seattle . <p> The first CD is as described : classic Sinatra and well chosen . " Night and Day , " for instance . The obvious choice would be the Capitol swinging version . Here , the choice was the later , slower , Don Costa arrangement from the 1961 " Sinatra and Strings " album ( Reprise ) . <p> The liner notes are by Frank Sinatra Jr . They 're sharp , insightful , and written by a musician who knows this music . Example : " ' Fly Me to the Moon ' : A complete misnomer ! The correct title of this popular standard is ' In Other Words . " But nobody refers to it by that name . " That 's sort of important . Sinatra Jr . has a lot to say about this music . Lots of perspective . <p> The packaging in the Deluxe Edition is exemplary , tasteful , retrained , and appropriate . Someone is making sure Sinatra 's music is presented decently . The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blue foil lettering and the layout of this release is a thrill . It 's like they 're serving up class . The box feels and looks suave . The box lid pulls up and was a minor nightmare to pry up - a little too tight . ( Right - like that 's why I bought this . ) CDs are in separate cardboard sleeves , like mini-LPs . There 's no plastic here , at all . This is the real stuff - paper and cardboard . First class design . Bravo , somebody . <p> Five square photos of Sinatra that cover the years the music recorded during are a nice addition - but this is an extra ; I 'm not sure what to do with them . <p> I have to apologise for another reviewer who did n't see the point of a live concert performance by Sinatra . That reviewer actually wrote he did n't like live recordings and so opted for the 1-CD release of " The Best of the Best . " <p> That reviewer has my sympathy because the live 1957 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prime . The sound quality is wonderful - this does n't sound like a crappy " historic " bootleg . Sinatra is SO relaxed . He just flows through the quieter material and digs into the livelier stuff . Nelson Riddle and Sinatra 's pianist , Bill Miller , are there with him . Live . This is a good as it gets - this is as good he HE gets . These are n't studio recordings . The same arrangements and musicians but now they 've settled into the music . The live performance , a full hour long , is reason alone to justify this release . I was n't about to buy the same recordings again . Even if it 's in the latest **37;619;TOOLONG format , there 's no reason for ME to grab everything that says " Frank Sinatra " on the cover . <p> But this , this is wonderful . If you 're just getting into Sinatra , sure , buy the single CD release . If you 're already a resident of Sinatraville , then buy the Deluxe Edition - they made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Concert on my Amazon wish list for two years , but never got it because it was out of print , and never went below $50 . Needless to say , when I found out it was on this deluxe edition , I was ecstatic . I resisted buying the regular edition locally , and made myself wait until the mailman brought it , and was I glad I did . There are many concerts available from Vegas in the 60 's , and from many places in the 80 's ( when charm assisted the instrument ) but very few legit recordings from Sinatra 's vocal prime of the late 50 's . And of course , he did n't haul Nelson Riddle around too much either , as he lugged Nelson and his recording musicians up the coast to Seattle . At times , the Voice seems a little weak ( " One For My Baby " is mostly whispered ) but is that the Crown Royal talking they got that week from Canada , or is it because he was just so darn good in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it 's a heck of a ride . It 's especially nice to hear songs that were n't always standard fare , like the Dorsey era " Oh ! Look at Me Now " " The Tender Trap " and a trilogy from Songs For Young Lovers . <p> As for " Best of the Best " it 's a fine Beginning Sinatra 101 course , with both the Capitol and Reprise in historical order . I drove 90 miles in an ice storm to hear Frank Jr . tell the stories that are in these liner notes . Frank-o-philes could stand here all day debating what is truly " best of the best " especially in the Capitol section ( c'mon , no " Moonlight In Vermont ? " ) but it 's a hoot having Witchcraft and My Way on the same CD for once . <p> My only gripe is the Fort Knox packaging on the deluxe edition . Very hard to grip the two cardboard sleeves in the tight CD-sized box . But otherwise , a first-class collection " all the way . " <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and prolific recording career the numbers are simply staggering . Frank had his first big hit as lead vocalist of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in 1940 with " I 'll Never Smile Again " . Sinatra would go solo just a couple of years later . Over the next four decades Frank would amass an astonishing total of 145 hit singles including such memorable hits as " The Lady Is A Tramp " , " Come Fly With Me " , " Strangers In the Night " and of course his signature tune " My Way " . Now for the very first time Frank 's most popular sides from his salad days at Capitol have been combined with all of those great 1960 's hits at Reprise . " Frank Sinatra : Best of the Best ( Deluxe Edition ) " offers up an impressive 23 track disc featuring the greatest hits from the prime of Frank 's fabulous career . And for just a few dollars more than the basic edition the folks at Capitol have thrown in a lot of extra goodies that will delight collectors and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to be a very popular holiday and birthday gift for quite some time to come . <p> After a decade at Columbia Records Frank Sinatra made the move to Capitol in the spring of 1953 . Most Sinatra afficianados will argue that he did his finest work while at Capitol . " Frank Sinatra : Best of the Best ( Deluxe Edition ) " offers up more than a dozen of these memorable tunes many of which were among the biggest hits of the 1950 's . Enjoy once again great hits like " Young-At-Heart " , " All The Way " and " Love and Marriage " from 1955 which younger listeners will recognize as the theme from the popular FOX TV series " Married ... With Children " . While at Capitol Frank made a number of unforgettable recordings with the legendary arranger , composer , bandleader and orchestrator Nelson Riddle . You can sample at least a half dozen of these songs right here including his big 1958 hit " Witchcraft " , " All the Way " , " You Make Me Feel So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's finest performances ever " I 've Got You Under My Skin " . Trust me folks it simply does not get any better than that one ! <p> Frank Sinatra would leave the cozy confines of Capitol Records in 1960 and launched his very own record label . He called it Reprise . One of the label 's founding principles under Sinatra 's leadership was that each artist would have full creative freedom , and at some point complete ownership of their work including publishing rights . It was a noble idea but unfortunately things did not pan out the way Frank had hoped . In 1963 Frank sold the label to Warner Brothers but remained on board as an artist . Sinatra continued to churn out successful LP 's but it had been awhile since he had a hit single . That all changed in early 1966 when he teamed up once again with Nelson Riddle and recorded the album " Strangers In the Night " . Not only did the album soar to the top of the Billboard album charts but the single did as well ! @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a whole new generation or record-buyers . Frank had a number of other hit singles in the 1960 's including " Summer Wind " , " It Was A Very Good Year " and one of my all-time favorites " That 's Life " from 1966 . You will find them all on " Best of the Best " . Add to that the aforementioned Grammy Award winning " My Way " and Frank 's final hit single " Theme from New York , New York " from 1980 and what you have is an extraordinarily entertaining collection by the man many consider to be the greatest entertainer of the 20th century . <p> As I mentioned earlier this is the first time that Frank Sinatra 's Capitol and Reprise hits have been included on the same CD . Rest assured that these are all the original recordings that have been lovingly remastered for your enjoyment . As an added bonus " Frank Sinatra : Best of the Best ( Deluxe Edition ) " includes a bonus disc featuring Frank 's long out-of print " Live in ' 57 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure that lots of Sinatra afficianados will appreciate the opportunity to own this rare recording . Personally I am not a big fan of " live " recordings so I opted for the less expensive basic 23 track single disc collection which was released on the very same day . Either way you simply ca n't go wrong with this one . " Frank Sinatra : Best of the Best ( Deluxe Edition ) " would be a splendid gift for that senior on your list or perhaps for a younger person who may have never even heard of Frank Sinatra . Perhaps they will discover why " Ol ' Blue Eyes " was so popular for

@@5092041 <p> In what is most likely a positive development , the Supreme Court has granted certiorari in Fisher v. University of Texas , a lawsuit filed by Abigail Fisher , whose application to UT Austin was rejected in 2008 . <p> As I explained in an article at National Review , Fisher would almost certainly have been accepted if she were black or Hispanic because of the racial discrimination policies of the University of Texas . Hundreds of colleges use the same type of " preferences " that UT Austin implemented , in which admissions officers consider an applicant 's skin color and ethnicity -- an immoral and unjustified practice that was unfortunately sanctioned by the Supreme Court in 2003 in Grutter v. Bollinger . <p> The Grutter decision written by former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was indefensible , but fortunately , O'Connor has been replaced by Justice Samuel Alito . Also , Justice Elena Kagan is recused , because she approved the filing of an amicus brief in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in this case that supported the university 's discriminatory admissions policy when she was still the Solicitor General at the Justice Department . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a federal appeals court in 1996 , Texas implemented its " top 10 percent " rule for admissions to the state college system . That rule led to diverse enrollment at UT Austin and minority students with higher grade point averages and better retention rates . Despite that success , UT Austin re-implemented race-based admissions the day the Grutter decision was announced . <p> The Supreme Court 's acceptance of the Fisher case , in which lower courts upheld the race discrimination practiced by UT Austin against Fisher and other students , gives the Court the opportunity to overturn or significantly narrow the wrongly decided Grutter decision . It can finally put an end to the pernicious " preferences " ( blatant racial discrimination ) practiced by colleges and universities that violate fundamental principles of equal protection . <p> As Chief Justice John Roberts said in a 2007 basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race . " Here 's hoping that is exactly what the Supreme Court forces Texas to do . <h> 10 Responses to The Way to Stop Discrimination Is to Stop Discriminating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That is , THEY LIE and they do it most effectively by redefining words . Orwell called it Newspeak but I 'm more blunt and call it BALD-FACED LIES . <p> Regarding racism -- one synonym of which is discrimination -- the radical left LIARS have changed the definition to mean that ion order to NOT BE a racist , one must actually discriminate PREFERENTIALLY .. It is no longer ( according to the left 's redefinition WHICH HAS TO STOP ) acceptable to judge a person on the content of their character on no on the color of their skin to not be called a racist . Pathetic . The war of words has to be won by us conservatives . <p> We can expect nothing but retrograde action from this Bush-appointed court . They have severely damaged the electoral process with their outrageous Citizens United finding . That they have even accepted this case is a sure sign that the Roberts Court will strike a blow against civil rights in a steady Tea Party-pleasing backward march . This court is a disastrous living legacy from the worst president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> Only 2 of the Justices were appointed by GW Bush . 2 were appointed by Clinton and 2 by Obama . Of the remaining Justices , 2 were Reagan appointments and 1 was George W. H. Bush 's . And do you have any actual citations for " the worst president in US history , as acknowledged by many historians . " or is that only your opinion ? <p> Yes , Sandra Day O'Connor 's decision stating that racial preferences were ok in order to promote intellectual diversity ( blather presented by u of m which she accepted at face value with no proof ) was breathlessly stupid . Hopefully wiser heads will prevail . We will see . <p> There have been a number of SOTUS decisons that reversed college admissions discrimination cases when White men or women were denied admission of colleges . It started with the Barken decison at the University of Washington , when he was denied admission to law school . This law suit should be ruled in Fisher 's favor . Over the last few years , even some liberals have admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giving opportunity to those who were not lucky enough to be born into privilege is a gift unique to countries who retain high moral ground and higher intellectual capacity . I do not agree with you Bobbie the level of mental capacity has decreased significantly

@@5092141 <p> As the Republican National Convention in Tampa draws near , city police are seeing hints the convention protests could turn violent . Earlier this week , pipes , bricks , and other " suspicious " items were found on a rooftop downtown along with anti-convention graffiti . <p> But a source told Whispers the police are quietly getting " very worried " about the possibility of violence . <p> " No one wants Chicago 1968 all over again , " said one protester , referencing the violence and police force used against protesters at the 1968 Democratic convention . <p> Tampa police 's finding also comes on the heels of a troubling protest video , posted online by a person claiming to be from the hacktivist group Anonymous . Images of a burning car and riot police are accompanied by the message : " You have an opportunity to fight back at the Republican National Convention . How you fight back is up to you ... but it is a fact that flowers and holding up signs stopped working long ago . " <p> Andrea Davis , a spokeswoman for the Tampa police , told Whispers they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anonymous video . " It 's all Secret Squirrel , " she said , referencing a cartoon that satirizes spy films and the covert actions of its characters . <p> ResistRNC , a protest group criticized for hosting violent videos on its website , insists its message is one of nonviolence . The group later removed the videos . Tampa resident Amos Meiers , who is organizing ResistRNC , says he is not aware of anyone " other than the police " planning for violence at the convention . <p> Tampa officials used $50 million from Congress to ramp up security for the convention , including the addition of more police , more cameras , and even a $296,496 armored SWAT truck . Below , see a map of Tampa 's new high-definition CCTV cameras , installed for surveillance during the convention . <p> The incredibly extensive list of prohibited items during the convention suggests the city wants to be fully prepared . Prohibited items include switchblades , slingshots and inflatable devices filled with urine . <p> But the city has also instituted measures to placate the protesters . Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ khaki , intended to be the less intimidating . City officials have abandoned attempts to evict a protest camp called " Romneyville , " despite its location in a restricted area near the convention center . <p> And protest permits have been issued to a number of organized groups , including Planned Parenthood , Doctors for America , and the Service Employees International

@@5092241 <h> Storyline <p> Inventor Carl kerblom is a rosy-cheeked 54 year-old admirer of Franz Schubert - and a patient in the psychiatric ward of Akademiska Hospital in Uppsala , after having attempted to beat to death his fiance , Pauline Thibault . Together with another patient , Professor Osvald Vogler , they set up a film project : the living talkie . Before long , they set off on a frantic tour with their film , " The Joy of the

@@5092341 <h> I Wanted To Say Lyrics <h> Tiffany Alvord <p> It 's a beautiful day My cellphone just rang I pick it up to find that it 's you And your calling to say I love you and I want you to know When I 'm with you I never want to go When I 'm with you I love you more each day And that is all , I wanted to say You make me smile We talk for a while I think to myself and I know how you feel Cause I feel the same way So I say , I say I love you and I want you to know When I 'm with you I never want to go When I 'm with you I love you more each day And that is all , I wanted to say Ladada da From : http : **35;4026;TOOLONG ... La da da La da da Da da There 's been something on my mind , oh ooh I 've been searching so long for something I could n't find And there is something that I , need to confess This is that I love you more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I love you and I want you to know When I 'm with you I never want to go When I 'm with you I love you more each day And that is all , I wanted to say I love you and I want you to know When I 'm with you I never want to go When I 'm with you I love you more each day And that is all , I wanted to say

@@5092441 <h> The Tip Jar <h> November 16 , 2012 <p> The government affairs arm of McGuireWoods has launched a new practice , the firm announced this week . <p> McGuireWoods Consulting has established a strategic advisory services practice in an effort to help businesses " better align their public affairs capabilities with sales , legal , accounting and other operational areas , ultimately lowering risk and increasing returns " and " get in front of issues , while also driving sales and accomplishing business development goals , " according to the firm . Brad Alexander , an Atlanta-based senior vice president of McGuireWoods Consulting , is leading the practice , which has eight core members . <p> Strategic advisory services are " relevant for people who have a very important issue , which they need to get right , " said former Representative L.F. Payne ( D-Va. ) , president of McGuireWoods Consulting . <p> A former project attorney at Eckert Seamans Cherin &; Mellott who unsuccessfully sued the firm for wrongful termination lost her appeal yesterday before the District of Columbia Court of Appeals . <p> A three-judge panel found ( PDF ) that Katherine Wallace failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fired for refusing to produce shoddy work in the name of higher productivity . Wallace had alleged that the firm 's demands would have caused her to not only break the law , but also violate the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct . <p> Wallace , now a local solo practitioner , declined to comment , saying she had n't had a chance yet to review the opinion . The firm , through lead counsel John May of Washington 's Jordan Coyne &; Savits , declined to comment . <p> An upscale New York City steakhouse has agreed to pay $600,000 to settle charges by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that managers sexually harassed 22 male waiters over an almost eight-year period . <p> The EEOC 's case against Sparks Steak House highlights a growing EEOC trend - going after instances of male-on-male sexual harassment . <p> According to the EEOC complaint against Sparks , which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in 2009 , misconduct by managers included " regularly grabbing or pinching male employees ' buttocks and/or pushing their penises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas of male employees . " According to the EEOC , many of the waiters complained , but the behavior did not stop . <p> Justice Samuel Alito defended the 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission on Thursday night , jabbing at critics of the U.S. Supreme Court 's majority opinion but also admitting the success of their public relations campaign . <p> Alito said arguments can be made for overturning Citizens United , but not the popular one that boils down to one line : Corporations should n't get free speech rights like a person . <p> " It is pithy , it fits on a bumper sticker , and in fact a variety of bumper stickers are available , " Alito told a crowd of about 1,400 at The Federalist Society 's annual dinner . He cited two : " End Corporate Personhood , " and " Life does not begin at incorporation . " <p> And that 's just what happened yesterday . U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler dismissed Shea 's second suit , saying it closely resembled the first case . <p> Shea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , alleged the company bilked the government for reimbursement of certain prohibited surcharges . DOJ joined the suit in 2007 , and the case later settled for $93.5 million . Verizon did n't admit wrongdoing . The case involved telecommunications contracts with the General Services Administration . <p> Lanny Breuer is taking the government 's new anti-corruption resource guide on a roadshow today , speaking at legal events in the Washington area just days after the publication of a much-anticipated memo that clarifies the scope of enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . <p> This morning Breuer was in National Harbor , Md. , to address the American Conference Institute 's annual conference on corruption . Breuer this afternoon is scheduled to participate in a panel discussion at the Federalist Society convention in Washington . <p> Breuer was supposed to address the American Conference Institute yesterday . But the announcement of BP 's guilty pleas in the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill trumped his speech . Breuer did n't mention BP 's fines and penalty today in his prepared remarks . F. Joseph Warin of Gibson , Dunn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , introduced Breuer today at the conference . <p> But back to the FCPA . Breuer dedicated the start of his remarks to a description of DOJ 's overall anti-corruption fight . Breuer , the assistant attorney general in charge of the Criminal Division , said the department has more than doubled the number of prosecutors working to enforce foreign bribery laws . <h> November 15 , 2012 <p> The Federal Trade Commission today announced it approved the $2.3 billion merger of Hertz Global Holdings , Inc. and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group , Inc. , but will require the divestiture of Hertz 's Advantage Rent A Car plus the rights to operate 29 Dollar-Thrifty airport locations . <p> The pending merger , which was widely followed by the antitrust bar amidst reports that the FTC was gearing up to fight the deal in court , was announced in August . The FTC alleged that the deal as originally proposed would have harmed competition at 72 airports around the United States and reduced the number of major competitors from four to three . <p> " Today 's bipartisan action by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay higher prices for rental cars when they travel , " said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz in a news release . <p> The former assistant inspector general for investigations at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued the agency today for defamation , alleging SEC officials smeared him in the press after he disclosed misconduct by employees including his ex-boss H. David Kotz . <p> David Weber , who was fired on Oct. 31 , filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia , alleging that " SEC officers and employees tried to ' cover up ' and ' whitewash ' these public relations disasters by discrediting Mr. Weber , defaming him in the public media with baseless and malicious accusations , unlawfully placing him on administrative leave status , and , later , wrongfully terminating his employment . " <p> The SEC brought in the inspector general of the U.S. Postal Service to investigate Weber 's claims against Kotz as well as allegations that Weber created a hostile work environment . The Postal Service IG in a September 17 final report said interviews with SEC employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work environment or displayed threatening behavior within the workplace , " according to the report . <p> However , the report did find Kotz may have had conflicts of interest in some investigations and had a personal relationship with a woman who represented victims of Allen Stanford 's Ponzi scheme . <p> Mayer Brown announced today that it had promoted 21 lawyers in its offices worldwide to partner , including two lawyers in its Washington office . <p> The new partners in Washington are Ann Marie Duffy , who has an intellectual property practice , and Adam Hudes , who handles litigation and dispute resolution . <p> " In addition to outstanding legal skills , these lawyers have demonstrated leadership , business acumen , excellence in client service and commitment to teamwork across practice areas and geographic boundaries , and we are delighted to welcome them as Mayer Brown partners , " firm Chairman Paul Theiss said in a statement . <p> PepsiCo Inc. has turned to a top White House aide to lead its lobbying efforts , the food and beverage company announced on Wednesday . <p> Alan Hoffman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Vice President Joe Biden and deputy assistant to President Barack Obama , will become PepsiCo 's senior vice president of global public policy and government affairs on November 26 . He succeeds Dan Bryant , who left the post to head Covington &; Burling 's lobby shop . <p> Hoffman , who will be based at PepsiCo 's Purchase , N.Y. , headquarters , was n't available for comment . <p> The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday announced that it filed charges in courts across the country against the operators of seven schemes that allegedly lured hundreds of consumers into spending millions of dollars on fraudulent business opportunities . <p> Dubbed " Operation Lost Opportunity , " the DOJ 's investigation into companies that it claims misled individuals about large profits they would receive from paying for business opportunities netted Houston-based Mark Five Inc. ; Atascocita , Texas-based The Lauren Jewelry Collection ; Colorado-based American Vending Systems ; New York-based Multivend LLC ; Thousand Oaks , Calif. -based The Zaken Corp. ; Tualatin , Ore. -based Smart Tools LLC ; and Christopher Sterling , who did business in California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Workers . <p> The charges against Mark Five , The Lauren Jewelry Collection , American Vending Systems and Multivend are criminal . Their cases stem from allegations that they placed ads that claimed individuals could earn significant profits from purchasing vending machines or display racks for use in stores . <p> BP PLC reached a settlement today with the Justice Department in which the company will pay $4.5 billion and plead guilty to criminal misconduct charges related to the Deepwater Horizon explosion . <p> According to a release from the company , BP will pay $4 billion to the Justice Department over the course of five years and $525 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission over the course of three years . The penalty far exceeds the $1.3 billion fine Pfizer forked over in 2009 for the false marketing of Bextra pain medication . <p> As part of the pending settlement , BP plead guilty to 11 felony counts of misconduct or neglect of ships officers . The explosion on the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig killed 11 workers and pumped oil into the Gulf of Mexico for three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The FBI agent who took the initial complaint from Jill Kelley has been identified as Frederick W. Humphries II . The New York Times has the scoop on " hard-charging veteran " whose investigation led to the resignation of David Petraeus . <p> Settlement : BP is expected to plea guilty to criminal misconduct and pay a record penalty in connection with the Deepwater Horizon , Reuters reports . An anonymous source told Reuters that the penalty could surpass the previous record of $1.3 billion . <p> Guidance : The DOJ and the SEC released long-anticipated guidance on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Wednesday . Our sibling publication , Corporate Counsel , has the details on the new 130-page tome . <p> Approval : The FTC is ready to approve the $2.6 billion acquisition of Dollar Thrifty by Hertz , Bloomberg reports . As part of the proposed deal , the rental car company will divest 15 airport locations . <h> November 14 , 2012 <p> President Barack Obama announced seven nominations for federal district courts on Wednesday , asking the Senate to promptly consider all his judicial nominees because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> The nominations , coming just one day after the Senate returned to session after the presidential election , was cheered by liberal groups that have long decried the political stalemate that has stalled judicial confirmations and left bench seats open . <p> " We are so glad to see President Obama take such decisive and needed action today to help end the vacancy crisis , " American Constitution Society President Caroline Fredrickson said in a written statement . " By nominating these judges so quickly after his re-election , he has made it clear that our courts are a priority . " <p> The National Fair Housing Alliance and Paralyzed Veterans of America settled a housing discrimination lawsuit against HHHunt Corporation on Wednesday . <p> The lawsuit was initially filed on the grounds that HHHunt , a Virginia-based real estate development company , discriminated against people with disabilities since 2002 by constructing multifamily homes and public areas without the required accessibility features . <p> The HHHunt Corporation was found in violation of the Fair Housing Act , which makes it illegal to discriminate on the basis of race , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or familial status . <p> Lawyer up -- that 's what two of the central characters embroiled in the David Petraeus scandal have done . But what are the best practices for attorneys and public relations officials when representing clients in high-profile matters like this ? <p> Robert Bennett , the Hogan Lovells partner who represented President Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal , said in an interview that in situations like this , it 's best to put all the facts out at once rather than drag on the story for multiple days . <p> " The primary rule is to get it out and get it all out , " Bennett said . He likened the media frenzy that often surrounds scandals like this to Count Dracula . " He needs blood every day , " Bennett said . <p> As the D.C. Council on Thursday holds its first legislative meeting since the election , a leading nonpartisan advocate for government transparency has a proposal for the body to consider . <p> The Sunlight Foundation on Tuesday posted on its blog language the Council could use in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D.C. law , lobbyists must file with the D.C. Office of Campaign Finance semiannual reports that publicly disclose their efforts to influence members of the city 's legislative and executive branches . But Sunlight 's proposal would require lobbyists to reveal to the Office of Campaign Finance within 72 hours contacts they made with D.C. officials and to submit to the agency monthly reports on their government advocacy efforts . <p> Matthew Rumsey , Sunlight 's policy associate , wrote in the blog post that the current frequency of lobbying disclosure is " inadequate , " making it difficult for the public to monitor how lobbyists are influencing the D.C. government . More than a dozen states mandate that lobbyists file monthly reports and New Mexico requires them to disclose their contacts within 48 hours when the state 's legislature is in session , he notes . ( The federal government requires quarterly updates from lobbyists . ) <p> Federal prosecutors and securities regulators today unveiled the government 's much-anticipated guidance for foreign-bribery enforcement , intending to provide companies and individuals a clearer picture of the conduct the government wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Securities and Exchange Commission officials prepared the 120-page Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ( FCPA ) guide , addressing , among other things , the definition of a foreign official , proper and improper gifts and the " hallmarks " of effective corporate compliance . <p> " Corruption is a global problem , " the guide says in an opening passage . " In the three decades since Congress enacted the FCPA , the extent of corporate bribery has become clearer and its ramifications in a transnational economy starker . " Click here for a copy of the guidance . <p> That 's Classified : The FBI is making a new push to determine how a woman who had an affair with retired Gen. David H. Petraeus when he was CIA director obtained classified files - a surprise move that follows assertions by U.S. officials that the investigation had turned up no evidence of a security breach , t he Washington Post reports . <p> Edge of the Cliff : Corporate America is raising the volume of its plea that the U.S. government avert a year-end " fiscal cliff " that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executives are n't pushing the panic button just yet , Reuters reports . <p> Collective Bargaining : A Wisconsin law enforcement union sued the state Tuesday over the state 's collective bargaining law , alleging that the portions of the law pertaining to teachers and municipal workers that were found unconstitutional by a Dane County judge are also unconstitutional for state workers , t he Wisconsin State Journal reports . <h> November 13 , 2012 <p> Raj Date , the number two official at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau , is leaving the agency at the end of January . <p> Agency spokeswoman Jennifer Howard confirmed Date 's departure , but said he has not announced his future plans , " other than to spend more time with his family . " His departure is timed to coincide with the completion of the agency 's pending rules on mortgages . <p> Originally hired by Elizabeth Warren as a senior advisor in February of 2011 to help establish the new agency , Date previously worked for Deutsche Bank Securities and Capital One Financial . After Warren departed , he took over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Treasury on CFPB , leading the agency until Richard Cordray became CFPB director . <p> Federal Trade Commission general counsel Willard Tom has stepped down to rejoin the private sector , and David Shonka , the FTC 's principal deputy general counsel , will serve as acting general counsel , the agency announced today . In addition , FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said that Peter Miller will serve as the FTC 's chief privacy officer . <p> Tom , a former partner at Morgan , Lewis &; Bockius , has not announced what his next job will be , according to an FTC spokesman . He served as FTC general counsel for three years , and during prior stints at the FTC was deputy director of the Bureau of Competition and led the bureau 's policy office . Shonka , who joined the FTC as a staff attorney in 1977 , has been principal deputy counsel since April 2008 . <p> " Will served this agency with great distinction , " Leibowitz said in a news release . " His leadership helped bring significant antitrust and consumer protection victories on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his thoughtfulness , wise counsel , and extraordinary writing skills . We are fortunate that Dave Shonka will serve as acting general counsel , as he did very admirably before Will became General Counsel . " <p> Between October 2006 and July of this year , judges in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on average sentenced 147 defendants in criminal cases . According to a new study , the city 's federal court had the smallest average criminal caseload of any federal court nationwide during that time . <p> The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse , or TRAC , released the results yesterday of a new analysis of sentencing data from the federal courts . TRAC , which is based at Syracuse University , measured criminal caseloads by the number of defendants sentenced per judge ; TRAC Co-Director Susan Long said they thought sentencings would be a useful measuring tool because most criminal cases in the federal courts end in a guilty plea or conviction . <p> But U.S. District Chief Judge Royce Lamberth of the D.C.-based court said he did n't think the study was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since it put all criminal cases on an even playing field , regardless of their complexity or how long they took to resolve . <p> McKenna Long &; Aldridge has appointed a new managing partner of its Washington office . <p> Joanne Zimolzak succeeds Thomas Papson , who served in the role since 2003 . Papson continues to serve as a partner in the litigation and government contracts practices . <p> Zimolzak joined the firm in 1994 and focuses her practice on business litigation involving commercial and government contracts . She has represented insurance companies in coverage disputes and also provides counseling on emerging liability risks , new product development and regulatory compliance . She is the leader of the Washington-based arm of the firm 's insurance practice . <p> Federal prosecutors had asked for six days in jail , served on weekends , as punishment for a once rising-star in the Washington political community . In the end , Kwame Brown , a former chairman of the District of Columbia Council , will spend the afternoon in federal custody -- about six hours in all . <p> Rejecting probation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Brown , who pleaded guilty to a bank fraud charge , he will remain in custody until 5:30 p.m . Leon also ordered Brown to serve six months of home detention and to spend two years on supervised release . Brown must complete 480 hours of community service . <p> Brown was sentenced this morning in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in downtown Washington . He will be transported this afternoon across the street to D.C. Superior Court , where he has a pending campaign finance violation . The case against Brown was the latest in a series of recent prosecutions against local officials brought by the office of U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen Jr . <p> Today in federal court , in a crowded courtroom , Brown spoke briefly about his fall from grace -- about his personal disappointment , the embarrassment in the community , the lost opportunities . Brown admitted falsifying information on bank loans . In one instance , he overstated his income to buy a luxury boat . <p> Cleary Gottlieb Steen &; Hamilton has added James Freis , Jr. , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Enforcement Network , or FinCen , as counsel to its Washington office . <p> As head of FinCen , Freis , 42 , led the development and enforcement of regulations combating money laundering , terrorist financing , fraud , and other financial crimes . He also previously served as deputy assistant general counsel for enforcement and intelligence at Treasury . <p> In May , Thomson Reuters reported that Fries was dismissed by Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen after refusing to resign . A banking industry source told Reuters that " Treasury Department leadership had expressed concerns that FinCEN moved too slowly when issuing vital regulations . " <p> In This Corner : Robert Muse of at Washington law firm Stein , Mitchell , Muse &; Cipollone is representing Paula Broadwell , the biographer and mistress of Gen. David Petraeus who is caught up in the former CIA chief 's scandal , ABC News reports . The firm also had Monica Lewinsky as a client . <p> And In The Other Corner : Abbe Lowell of Chadbourne &; Park is representing Jill Kelley , the woman who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harassing emails that eventually led the FBI to uncover Patreaeus ' affair , USA Today reports . <p> Bad Touch ? : The man who voices Sesame Street 's Elmo has taken a leave of absence from the show after an allegation he had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy , and he is being represented by Andreozzi and Associates , the Pennsylvania law firm who represented Jerry Sanduski , CBS 21 reports . <h> November 12 , 2012 <p> The conservative group Judicial Watch today urged a judge in Washington to force the public disclosure of the names of five intelligence and military officials who participated in the planning of the raid that ended in the death of Osama bin Laden . <p> The U.S. Justice Department has said the government did n't waive keeping the names of the officers confidential after the information was provided to director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal for a film about the hunt for bin Laden . <p> Judicial Watch lawyers said in their court filing today that " the government can not have it both ways in this case . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been shared with the filmmakers . " <p> " The public has a high interest in any information which could shed more light on the possibility of wrongdoing in the government 's decisions to disclose allegedly sensitive information about the raid that killed bin Laden , " Judicial Watch 's Chris Fedeli wrote in the papers filed this afternoon in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia . <p> A leading American Jewish community group is slated to pay tribute to Washington-based Patton Boggs partner Stuart Pape this week . <p> During a luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown on Wednesday , the American Jewish Committee 's Washington office is scheduled to honor Pape with its 2012 Judge Learned Hand Award , AJC 's top accolade for lawyers . <p> " It 's obviously an honor , " said Pape , who was Patton 's managing partner from 1996 to 2010 . He has focused his career on matters related to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other health and safety agencies around the world . He held various posts in the FDA chief counsel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> A death row inmate is suing the U.S. Justice Department with the hope of acquiring documents that he claims will help prove his innocence in a shooting that left a police officer and two others dead in 1995 in New Orleans . <p> Lawyers for the inmate , Rogers Lacaze , contend in the lawsuit the federal government has background information about the actual accomplice in the shooting . The Justice Department , according to the suit in Washington federal district court , will neither confirm nor deny the existence of any FBI records . <p> A team from the law firm Miller &; Chevalier , on behalf of the lawyer who represents Lacaze , filed suit under the Freedom of Information Act on November 8 . The complaint alleges the public value of the documents -- which Lacaze 's attorneys said could help exonerate him -- outweigh any privacy interest in the information . <p> Lacaze was convicted on three counts of first-degree murder in a shooting at a restaurant that killed New Orleans police officer Ronald Williams . Lacaze , who was 18 at the time of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . He maintains his innocence . <p> Reed Smith has added a partner to its real estate practice in its Falls Church , Va . office . <p> David Houston , formerly a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman 's Tysons Corner office , joins as a partner in the real estate practice . <p> Houston focuses his practice on real estate development , land use and retail leasing . He represents land developers , owner and lenders in Fairfax and Arlington County . Before joining Pillsbury in 2000 , Houston was a partner in McGuire Woods ' Tysons Corner office . <p> District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Kimberley Knowles , the newest member of the city 's trial court , was sworn in on Friday . A former prosecutor in the local U.S. attorney 's office , Knowles was praised by former colleagues for her meticulous preparation as a lawyer and commitment to public service . <p> Knowles was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 2 and has served as a judge since then , but Friday 's ceremony marked her formal ascension to the bench . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Knowles had been as a magistrate judge in Superior Court since 2010 . <p> Superior Court Chief Judge Lee Satterfield said during the ceremony that Knowles would be serving in Family Court . " A lot of good things will happen to the young people in her courtroom , " he said . <p> In steady pursuit : There 's been no slowdown in corruption cases coming out of the U.S. Justice Department 's Public Integrity Section , where more than two dozen lawyers investigate and prosecute allegations of government official malfeasance across the country . Mike Scarcella reports that Public Integrity last year charged 53 officials and private citizens , up from 39 in the previous year , according to the section 's annual report to Congress . <p> Courts peer over the precipice : With the elections over , Todd Ruger reports that the federal courts are warning Congress and the public that major spending cuts triggered by the impending " fiscal cliff " would imperil the justice system by forcing layoffs of one court staffer in three , decimating court security and ending juror pay . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top 25 highest-grossing D.C. firms , Matthew Huisman reports that top Washington law office revenues are on the rise , a reversal from two years earlier when the gross revenue of Washington-area law offices fell for the first time in more than a decade . <p> Petraeus : Threatening emails from a woman with whom CIA Director David Petraeus was having an affair led to the collapse of his career , The Washington Post reports . Paula Broadwell , a former military officer and a Petraeus biographer , sent the emails to Jill Kelley , who knew him socially . <p> Patent Wars : Apple Inc. and HTC Corp . have settled one of the first major global patent disputes over smartphone technology , Reuters reports . Apple in 2010 accused the Taiwanese handset company of infringing on patents for its iPhone technology . <p> Joining Forces : New York 's court employees are banding together to create a special fund to assist victims of Hurricane Sandy , the New York Law Journal reports . " In the wake of a disaster , the court family comes together , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state court system . " It is what we do after a disaster . We do what we can to assist members of our family . " <h> Supreme Court Insider <p> Sign up for our e-newsletter all about the U.S. Supreme Court . It 's delivered every week to your mailbox and features exclusive news and analysis of the high court from The

@@5092541 <p> a paraphrase is a restatement or rewording of a text or passage for the purpose of clarification ; a summary is a brief statement that presents the main points in a concise form ; a summation is a summary or

@@5092641 <p> When we heard about Pinterest Co-Founder Paul Sciarra stepping down last week , we were pretty surprised . That was major for a co-founder to step down when his company was still on fire . It had us asking , why would Paul step down ? Seems we were n't the only ones asking that question . <p> Whatever reasons Paul had for stepping down , it got us thinking again about what it takes to keep going , day in and day out , even when your business has n't taken off , when there are absolutely no rewards in it besides turning your idea into reality . It 's hard work , chipping away at something , investing yourself into your business , your craft . After all , entrepreneurship is n't about fame or money , it 's about problem solving . <p> Maybe what 's needed is for entrepreneurs to have a kid-like entrepreneurial spirit , a sense of wonder about their ventures , enjoying it for the sake of doing it . Maybe they can take a page from a little boy in LA , who kept plugging away at his game arcade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a single customer . Take a look at this video and notice how this nine-year old boy has all the right ingredients of a true entrepreneur : <p> Notice how Caine does n't get discourage by his lack of customers . He does n't even let his peers ' disbelief sway him from his passion . Let 's take a look closer at the three things that truly make Caine an entrepreneur . <p> Problem Solver -- Caine was a tinkerer . He loves to figure out how to make things better . More than that , he 's a problem solver . When his dad suggests he build a claw of his own for a game , Caine MacGyvers something out of string and a hook . Not too different from a young Steve Jobs , who spent countless hours fiddling with electronics and building kits when he was a kid . <p> Passion -- By passion , we do n't mean desire , which are two different things . Turning a desire into a real passion can kill that desire . Say you had the desire to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you could n't stand to play another game , or fix a broken machine . Not Caine . He found passion and appreciation in the challenges of running his own arcade , building his own games out of nothing but cardboard and spare parts . <p> Stay the Course -- Caine does n't easily give up on his arcade . He is n't even willing to close up shop when he does n't have any customers . When his dad asks him to call it an early day , Caine says , " No can do . " He 's in it for the long run . <p> For Caine , it was never about the fame , fortune or glory . It was about the sheer pleasure of doing it , for solving problems and building something that people would be able to use . But is n't that what true entrepreneurialism

@@5092741 <h> Rick Perry Has Three Strikes Against Him <p> Rick Perry 's already lackluster presidential bid went on a deathwatch after his debate debacle . In talking to the many who have known Perry over the years , fellow Texan Bryan Burrough discovers the surprising reasons behind the campaign 's train wreck and how Perry , with an unbroken string of nine political victories , might yet stage a comeback -- despite his shocking backroom dealings with big campaign donors , the rumors about gay affairs and painkiller use , and the nasty bullying tactics he has used to implement a truly radical agenda . <p> I n the history of modern presidential debates , it may go down as the single most humiliating moment since Senator Lloyd Bentsen informed Senator Dan Quayle that he was " no Jack Kennedy . " Except this time the damage was self-inflicted . <p> Rick Perry , the impossibly handsome three-time governor of Texas , the man who three months before had seemed on the verge of being anointed the likely Republican presidential nominee , had already seen his poll numbers plummet from as high as 38 percent to lows in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempted to avoid them during his campaigns in Texas -- in fact , he managed to win his last term without agreeing to a single one . And now it was easy to see why : Perry had done so poorly in a string of G.O.P. debates all through September and October , stumbling and bumbling and unsure , that his people had actually suggested he might bow out of future contests . <p> But he could n't do that , not with his campaign on life support , and so there he was , on a mid-November Wednesday night in Rochester , Michigan , launching into yet another diatribe against the Washington bureaucracies he promised to eliminate as president . " I will tell you , it 's three agencies of government , when I get there , that are gone , " Perry told the panel of moderators and a national television audience . He turned to his left , where Ron Paul , the former congressman , was listening politely , and began to tick the agencies off with his fingers . <p> " Commerce , " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . . . " <p> Suddenly a look of confusion crossed the governor 's face . A smile of mild embarrassment immediately replaced it . He pointed his finger to his temple . <p> " What 's the third one there ? Let 's see . " <p> Laughter erupted from the audience . Perry turned to Ron Paul , as if seeking help . Paul raised five bony fingers . <p> " Seriously ? " one of the moderators , the journalist John Harwood , asked . " Is E.P.A . the one you were talking about ? " <p> Again Perry appeared confused . " No , sir ; no , sir , " he said . " We were talking about the agencies of government -- E.P.A . needs to be rebuilt . There 's no doubt about that . " <p> " But you ca n't ? " Harwood began . " You ca n't name the third one ? " <p> " The third agency of government , " Perry said . <p> " Yes , " Harwood said . <p> " I would do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the , ah , Commerce , and , let 's see . . . I ca n't . The third one . I ca n't . Sorry . " His smile finally disappeared . In its place came a sheepish look . <p> The last word Rick Perry spoke was " Oops . " <p> " Oops , " in fact , would be an adequate summary of the Texas governor 's entire campaign . The morning after Perry 's epic brain freeze , the pundits were all but declaring his candidacy dead . In The New York Times , the consultant Mark McKinnon called it " the human equivalent of the shuttle Challenger . " <p> " I knew people who just could n't watch , " says Cragg Hines , a former Washington- bureau chief of the Houston Chronicle . " It was just such a creepy moment . Your heart said , There he goes . It 's over . He 's dead . It had a car wreck aspect to it . " <p> " It was agonizing to watch , whether you liked him or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Austin and a longtime Perry observer . " Is he dead ? Never say never , but it would have to be one of the greatest comebacks in history . " <p> W hat on earth happened to Rick Perry ? When he an-nounced his candi-dacy , in mid-August , he vaulted overnight to the top of the Republican field , turning the race into what many assumed would be a two-man contest with Mitt Romney , the onetime Massachusetts governor . Buoyed by a strong Texas economy , a darling of Tea Party activists , and never having lost a single race during his 27-year career , Perry , for a moment at least , appeared unstoppable . His honeymoon , however , proved brutally brief . First came his suggestion that the Federal Reserve chairman , Ben Bernanke , was somehow " treasonous . " Then came his charge that those who disagreed with his decision to grant educational aid to illegal immigrants had no heart . And then , worst of all , those debates , where he looked for all the world as if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came when The Washington Post disclosed that a deer lease where Perry and his father hunted with friends 30 years ago went by the name " Niggerhead " ; the name , it was said , had been painted on a rock at the entrance . By mid-October Perry 's poll numbers had plunged to as low as 6 percent . <p> " Perry is a classic instance of the candidate who is almost literally perfect on paper -- he had the perfect rsum , the perfect story line , the perfect reputation , for Republican insurgents , " muses John Podho-retz , the conservative columnist . " All he had to do was make a respectable showing and he would have been anointed . All he had to do was walk and talk and chew gum and he would have won it . This race was Perry 's to lose . " Podhoretz draws a comparison to Sarah Pa-lin 's performance in 2008 : " Perry is a lot like Palin . Palin was ill-prepared ; she did n't look like she knew what she was talking about , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a long time , people on the right are in no mood to do it again . " <h> The Harder They Fall <p> I n Austin , where Perry has emerged as the longest-serving -- and probably the most powerful -- governor in Texas history , everyone has a different theory about why he has fared so poorly in the early rounds of the presidential campaign . His team , most of whom have been at Perry 's side for a decade or more , is considered very tight , very skillful , and very controlling ; they do n't leak , and , in Texas elections at least , they do n't make many mistakes . Their zeal for control , however , means that Perry has given fewer press interviews over the years than many governors . He has thus never been forced to develop the conversational polish that televised debates and interviews demand . <p> Another explanation , typically voiced only in whispers , is that for all Perry 's obvious political strengths -- his popularity with conservatives , excellent political instincts and timing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hair -- he simply may not be the sharpest tool in the shed . After watching him march up the political ladder the last 20 years , few in Austin believe Perry possesses any genuine intellectual curiosity ; at Texas A &M,; his academic record was littered with C 's . " A &M; was full of these guys like Rick from tiny towns who wanted to be vets -- none of them had a chance , " recalls Don Mauro , an Austin attorney who was a member of Perry 's class . " It was n't that Rick was stupid . It was that he came from a high school class of 13 people . He had no education . I mean , Rick is not dumb . He is just not educated . " <p> But " candidates who are n't that smart can be really good , " points out one Democratic consultant in Austin , " because they stay on message . A guy like Rick , you tell him there are three things you have to say , and it 's all you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If he can remember them , that is . <p> The most intriguing explanation for Perry 's collapse has been quietly circulating in Austin for weeks . This theory suggests that the governor is suffering from the after-effects of his low-back surgery in July , six weeks before he announced his candidacy ; his surgeon , a friend who operates a Houston " medical day spa " specializing in liposuction and laser hair removal , fused two of Perry 's vertebrae and then injected the governor -- for the first time in the surgeon 's career -- with two teaspoonfuls of stem cells that had previously been cultured from fatty tissue taken from Perry 's hip . <p> " Ever since , and you saw this at the very first debate , he just seemed to be very uncomfortable , you know , twisting his torso , " observes the dean of Texas political writers , Paul Burka of Texas Monthly . " I think he 's got back pain and may be taking medication for it . He is not on his game . He stopped wearing his trademark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back brace . Of course , the campaign denies there is any problem . But he does n't seem to have any energy . He just does not look like the same man to me . It 's shocking . " <p> How does Perry explain his stumbles to date ? Lord knows . A young woman in his campaign office politely accepted Vanity Fair ' s request for an interview , saying it would be " put in the file . " After that , not a single e-mail or telephone call was ever returned . <p> Joe Burbank/ Orlando Sentinel /MCT/Getty Images <p> T o many outsiders , especially those who live on the coasts , Perry is just another scary Texas right-winger who talks too much about the Lord Jesus Christ and all the things he learned reading the Bible , who publicly questions evolution and even the validity of Barack Obama 's birth certificate ( an issue he has lately backtracked on ) . The pens of eastern columnists fairly drip with condescension when they stoop to writing about him -- not that they understand much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nowhere and was a hotshot yell leader ( the male cheerleaders who lead boisterous crowds at bonfires and athletic contests ) at Texas A &M.; If Perry was known outside Texas before the last year , it was as the candidate Karl Rove groomed -- and dropped -- to take on George W. Bush . <p> And while all that may be true , it took more than an evangelical bent and zealous conservatism for Perry to rise in Texas politics . Watching his alternately pugnacious and eerily invisible performances during the fall 's Republican debates , it was easy to forget that , as even his detractors acknowledge , he has always been extraordinarily well liked , ready with a big smile , a firm handshake , excellent manners , and a strong clap on the back -- social niceties many Texans value highly . As a Texan myself , I 've always thought that Perry was so popular because he embodies an idealized version of Lone Star manhood . It 's the boots ( one set is emblazoned with the word " liberty " ) . The dropped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smokin ' . It 's that until he entered politics he was an authentic West Texas rancher , a vocation many Texans still find enormously appealing . Above all , though , it 's that craggy western face ; Perry is forever being compared to the Marlboro Man . <p> During his first statewide campaign , for agriculture commissioner , in 1990 , " there was a poster of Perry they put out , wearing chaps , feet up on a bale of hay , his crotch front and center , " remembers the lobbyist Bill Miller . " I saw that poster everywhere , in every office I went into , and I thought , This guy is hot . In every sense of the word . " Mil-ler laughs . " I remember having lunch with a liberal lady friend of mine , and she leans over to me and says , ' Bill , do you think Rick Perry puts socks down the front of his pants ? ' That 's when I realized he was really getting under some people 's skins . " <p> O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perry scores pretty close to a 10 out of 10 . " Weather , football , hunting , fishing , all that -- he 's expert at Texas bullshit , " Miller says . " He works hard at being liked , and that 's a big part of his appeal . " Another lobbyist , who has vacationed with Perry aides , says , " He can be the most crass guy you 've ever met . I mean , in public , he 's smooth . But when he 's with the guys ? Oh , God , it 's a different program . He tells dirty jokes in a whisper . He 's a whisperer , especially in groups . It 's the old mentality here in Austin , you know , with the old lobbyists . A guy they do n't like comes in the place and they lean over and whisper , ' He 's gay . ' Perry 's got a real locker-room side . " <p> " Perry once said something in my presence that just appalled me , " says Paul Burka @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the popular Democratic Speaker of the Texas House , Pete Laney . " A friend 's daughter was in a softball game , " Burka continues . " Perry asked me to come out with him . To see him with the guys . Perry was late getting there -- he had a doctor 's appointment . So he finally shows up . You know , everyone goes , ' Oh , how 'd it go ? ' He goes , ' It was awful . He gave me a Laney , ' meaning an enema . How could he do that ? Comparing Pete Laney to an enema ? Laney was loved . " <p> That Perry can overplay the machismo card was evident in the skepticism that greeted his story of shooting a coyote . As he told it , the incident occurred last year , when he was jogging with his dog in a rural area of southwest Austin . He claimed -- and has since repeated -- that when the coyote menaced his dog he shot and killed it with a laser-sighted .380 Ruger pistol containing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he feared rattlesnakes , but even in Texas , many could n't imagine doing such a thing -- never mind the question of how and where one carries a pistol in sweatpants . <p> " We were at a Boy Scout function , and I said to him , ' Rick , man , I have to ask you : Did you really kill that coyote ? ' " says Don Mauro . <p> " And he goes , ' Yeah , I did . ' <p> " ' With a pistol ? ' <p> " ' Yeah . ' <p> " ' While you were jogging ? ' <p> " ' Yeah . ' <p> " ' And it had a laser sight on it ? ' <p> " ' Yeah . ' <p> " And then he showed me a picture of the gun , on his phone . I did find that kind of strange , but you know what ? He did n't . At all . " <h> Grand Old Party School <p> T his kind of behavior can indeed seem strange , at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came from . He is a product of extreme rural Texas in the 1950s and early 1960s , raised on a prairie farm , where he rose early , put on underwear his mother had made by hand , and fed the livestock . He is a fifth-generation Texan , the descendant of a long line of small-time politicians ; a great-great-grandfather moved to the state after fighting for the Confederacy and served in the legislature before settling in Haskell County , 55 miles north of the nearest city , Abilene . Ever since , the Perrys have been ranchers and farmers , prying cotton from the thin soil . Rick 's father , Ray , married his wife , Amelia , in 1947 and , starting out as a tenant farmer on 312 acres , eventually built it into a sprawling farm of 10,000 acres . A county commissioner for 28 years , Ray Perry raised Rick and his sister , Milla , in a 1920s-style bungalow so rickety that Rick has told of dust clouds billowing through the wallboards during windstorms . Paint Creek itself is more an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a church , and a community center . <p> In interviews over the years , Perry has characterized his boyhood as idyllic , given over to farm chores , 4-H fairs , and Boy Scout troop meetings . On a Scout trip to Texas A &M,; he fell in love with the campus , a haven for generations of rural-Texas teenagers , which began accepting women as full-time students only in 1963 , five years before Perry 's arrival . Then , as now , student life was dominated by the Corps of Cadets , the gung-ho source of " Aggie " pride , which divided incoming students into an array of military outfits affiliated with the four service branches . Freshmen , known as " fish , " endured boot-camp-style exercise and discipline so harsh that one of Perry 's classmates dropped dead . <p> " My first recollection of Rick was that first day , late August ' 68 . Our heads had just been shaved , and they had us in blue jeans and tennis shoes and white T-shirts , teaching us how to stand in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fish , who is now a veterinarian in Jourdanton , Texas . " I look down and he had a rattlesnake belt on , and I said , ' O.K. , he 's probably from West Texas . ' Afterward I remember Rick 's father , Ray , walked over to our outfit commander , George Schriever , standing under a little oak tree by the dorm , and said , ' Make a man out of him . ' George shook his hand and said , ' Thank you , sir , we will . ' " <p> " Fish " Perry , as he was known , drew a spartan room , called a " hole , " in Dorm 8 , home of Squadron 6 , the " Flying Tigers , " which was affiliated with the air force . His hole was adjacent to that of Schriever and his executive officer . When the older cadets banged on the wall , Perry and his roommate had 10 seconds to hustle into their room and do " whatever they wanted : ' Make my bed , ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Take off my boots ' -- whatever they say , you do , " Clader recalls . <p> Perry 's closest chum at A &M,; John Sharp , was a student leader who would go on to a long career of his own in Texas politics . Sharp 's favorite tale of their A &M; days , told repeatedly over the years , is of the time he and Perry realized that they could flush an M-80 firecracker down an upstairs toilet in their dormitory , to explode in a downstairs toilet -- a trick for which the two cadets received two weeks of extra duties as punishment . <p> Perry hoped to become a veterinarian , but by his own admission he struggled in his classes , especially organic chemistry . His grade transcripts were lined with C 's and D 's . Vet school began junior year , but near the end of his sophomore year Perry returned to his dorm downcast after meeting with the dean . As Clader recalls , " Rick told me , ' Well , looks like I 'm going to go flying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What 's the deal ? ' He said , ' Let me tell you what the dean told me . He put his arm around my shoulder and told me , ' Son , you are destined for great things . But they 're not in veterinary science . ' " <p> A &M; was then in the process of wrenching change . There were still only around 1,500 women on a campus of almost 15,000 -- and membership in the Corps was no longer mandatory . Student leaders fell into two camps : those in favor of further modernization and those resisting change , many of them in the Corps , whose shrinking membership found itself on the defensive . Relations between the two sides all but collapsed in Perry 's sophomore year , when a new Corps commander ordained that fish could no long-er speak with either women or civilian students , known as " non-regs . " " There was a tremendous amount of tension between the Corps and the non-regs , " recalls Clader . " This was at a time of long hair and psychedelics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corps with shaved heads . It was us against the world . At least that 's how we felt . " <p> " Rick fell in with the Old Guard , " remembers Garry Mauro , a yell leader two years ahead of Perry . " The Corps of Cadets was one of those places where the more extreme you were the , quote , ' better ' you were . That was Rick . You had a hard-core group of people that were really nasty . You 're supposed to speak to everyone on campus . They would n't allow their freshmen to speak to the non-regs , and they did nasty things to women -- not talking to them , ignoring them . Rick was really , really tough about that . " <p> Other student leaders , however , do n't remember Perry as being so combative . Elected his junior and senior years as one of five yell leaders , Perry was prominent on campus but only peripherally involved in student politics . " Rick was one of the traditionalists , it 's true , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mac Spears , an Indian-apolis businessman who as a student favored modernization . " He was well liked , not controversial , just a really good guy , " says Kent Caperton , a classmate of Perry 's , who later became a Democratic state representative . " I will say , I do n't think you 'll find any of his classmates that would have predicted he would be a presidential candidate . " Adds Glenn Honaker , who roomed with Perry , " He did n't stand out as a world leader by any means . " <p> U pon his graduation , in 1972 , Perry joined the air force , where he was trained as a pilot and was eventually assigned to fly C-130 transport planes . He has since asserted that his travels while in the air force , which took him to South America , Europe , and the Middle East , taught him much about the rest of the world and its governments . In fact , several of those who served with him downplay the amount of time they spent engaging with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. military bases . Perry mingled mostly with friends from A &M; when he was a co-pilot , one of his first pilots had been his superior officer in the Corps of Cadets . " The air force was really more of an extension of A &M; than anything else , " says one old friend . Perry left the air force after five years , returning home to Haskell County in 1977 . <p> The next stage of his life , from 1977 to 1983 , when Perry turned 33 , amounts to his personal dark ages , a time when by his own admission he struggled to determine his life 's direction . In one way it was the classic case of " How you gon na keep ' em down on the farm ? " For Perry , who had spent the previous seven years leading crowds of screaming Aggies and flying airplanes around the world , Haskell County seemed insufferably small . He moved back into his childhood bedroom . " Dad still thought I was there to do chores , " he wrote in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him that I had just finished commanding a multi-million--dollar piece of government equipment and a number of grown men . He reminded me that the chores still needed tending to . " <p> Within a year , Perry decided to give up ranching to become a pilot for Southwest Airlines . In August 1978 , he was poised to join Southwest 's training program when the ranch was inundated by more than two feet of rain in a day . " But we got real busy for one thing . That much rain in a 24-hour period of time does amazing damage to farming and ranchland . So I just made the decision that this is where I need to be , " Perry told the Austin American-Statesman last year . <p> For the next five years Perry worked alongside his father . He married his longtime girlfriend , a nurse named Anita Thigpen , and they moved into a 600-square-foot house outside Haskell . Perry , however , was still not content . As he tells the story , it was after a second bout of severe weather , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerged to learn that Haskell 's state representative had decided not to run for re-election . Ray Perry had been involved in county politics for years , but his son 's friends suggest a more likely influence on Rick 's decision to seek the vacant seat was the sheer number of his old A &M; friends who had grown active in Texas politics . <p> ' T he period when Rick was at A &M; was a real breeding ground for state government and public service , " says Roger Miller , an Austin lobbyist and Aggie . " On other campuses there was a dropout mentality in the early 70s , but A &M; was so conservative public service was still seen as a good thing . Especially in that period afterward , in the mid-70s , you had so many A &M; people who served in the House and the Senate . There was this whole Aggie mafia . " At least a half-dozen of Perry 's Corps pals , including his closest friend , John Sharp , were already in the legislature , along with Garry Mauro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ray and Amelia , were great supporters of mine when I ran in 1978 , " recalls Charlie Stenholm , the former Democratic congressman who then represented the area . " I had never really known Rick . He contacted my district people , and they encouraged him to run . They then said it would be good for me to meet with him . We met in the parking lot at the Iredell Co-op gym , in one of our pickups , either his or mine . We had about a two-hour talk , and I encouraged him to run . We said we would back him in every way , lend him our mailing lists , ask our supporters to support him . And we did , he did , he won . " <h> Right Place , Right Time <p> H is family -- he and Anita have a son , Griffin , and a daughter , Sydney , both now in their 20s -- remained behind in Haskell when Perry attended his first legislative session in Austin , in 1985 . He soon attracted notice with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ... um ... adjusting himself , for which he earned the nickname " Crotch . " In the Texas house , a freshman 's influence is determined by two things , his friendships and his committee assignments . Perry chose his buddies well . Much as he had befriended John Sharp at A &M,; Perry found his two closest Austin friends in a savvy pair of freshmen , Cliff Johnson , of Palestine , and Ric Williamson , of Weatherford ; both would go on to distinguished legislative careers . The three rented an apartment together and found a mentor in Bob Johnson , who tutored them on the fastest ways to rise in the legislature . <p> " I remember my first impression of Rick very clearly , " says Mike Millsap , who served alongside Perry in the House . " What I was struck by was here is a very handsome guy , married to a beautiful woman , who was very popular in the House and just seemed he had it all . He was tremendously well liked . " Millsap pauses for a moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- they 're people that go back home and sell insurance or work at the pharmacy or practice law . We were all amateurs . But not Rick Perry . From the beginning , Rick was a professional . When I look back on that era , I realize now he was so much better than the rest of us . He had the intensity and the commitment and the drive to carry on . " <p> Perry attracted enough notice during his first term that , after an uncontested re-election in 1986 , he earned a spot on the prestigious House Appropriations Committee . There he joined his roommates , Cliff Johnson and Ric Williamson , and a third new friend , Mike Toomey -- later his chief of staff -- to form a group of budget cutters so zealous they were known as " the pit bulls . " ( The nickname initially derived from the junior legislators ' seats in the lower level , or pit , of the House room where they regularly met . ) <p> S till , by 1989 , during Perry 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . Thanks to Ronald Reagan 's popularity , Republicans , until the 1960s an afterthought in the state , were gaining ground in the legislature . A number of prominent conservative Democrats , most notably Senator Phil Gramm , had changed parties . Working with national G.O.P. leaders , Gramm spearheaded a crusade to lure even more , peppering state representatives like Perry with telephone calls at all hours urging them to switch parties . The Texas Democrats ' conservative wing , meanwhile , was dying . Perry and Ric Williamson lost a climactic budget-cutting battle that year ; more often than not , they found themselves voting with the Republicans . Both began talking about switching parties . At a Dallas gathering , a young George W. Bush urged Perry to do it . The turning point , most believed , came when the House Speaker , Gib Lewis , passed Perry over for a committee chairmanship . <p> " He already had the equivalent of his own committee , Appropriations , and I had put him on the Calendars Committee too , " Lewis recalls . " I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' What more could he possibly want ? ' " After the Calendars Committee chairman resigned and Lewis chose someone else , Perry was convinced that a conservative Democrat had no future in Texas politics . <p> Perry considered quitting and going home to Haskell County , or becoming another Austin lobbyist . But Phil Gramm promised him he had a shining future in the Texas G.O.P. Finally , Perry , like several of his friends , succumbed , becoming a Republican . " Phil Gramm was all over us like flies on , well , you know , " says Millsap , then Gib Lewis 's chief of staff . " When Rick switched , I remember it quite clearly . I was walking out to my car outside the capitol , and he and Gramm and a bunch of people were setting up their press conference on the steps . I remember feeling a sense of sadness but also a sense of ' What else is new ? ' We all sort of shrugged . I do n't think Gib said a word about it . There was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> W hat no one understood at the time was that Perry 's decision to switch parties was part of a larger plan orchestrated by the man who would later oversee George W. Bush 's rise to the White House : Karl Rove . Then a Republican campaign consultant based in Austin -- Gramm was one of his most important clients -- Rove had spent the previous decade shepherding Republican candidates , who methodically demolished one Texas Democrat after another . He would suffer a setback in the 1990 elections , however . <p> " Remember , Karl Rove was not Karl Rove then , " says Bill Miller . " He would lose the 1990 governor 's race . He was vulnerable . And Rick was going nowhere in the Democratic Party , I do n't think . He had gone as far as he could go as a Democrat . He was fucked . Just fucked . Karl and Rick , they kind of needed each other at that point . " <p> Rove , in fact , was less interested in Rick Perry 's career than in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loudest -- liberal Democrat , Jim Hightower . From the unlikely platform of Texas agriculture commissioner , Hightower had grown into a national media darling , a pithy populist who loved ridiculing conservatives . He had won elections in 1982 and 1986 by enormous margins , and until Rove targeted him , there was every sense he would do so again . When Perry announced he would challenge Hightower in the 1990 election , most politicians scoffed . Few outside Austin had ever heard of Perry . <p> During the campaign , Perry and friends like Cliff Johnson crisscrossed Texas , reaching many stops in a battered Cessna that Perry piloted . Back in Austin , Rove crafted a series of negative advertisements that slowly undercut Hightower . The most controversial showed Hightower smiling and posing with Jesse Jackson , whom he supported during Jackson 's 1988 presidential campaign ; underneath were the words " Does Hightower share your values ? " The commercial caused a furor in the African-American community , and Hightower later claimed it was racist . But Rove raised enough money to run that and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hightower campaign ran low on funds , they were the only ads on the airwaves . <p> To widespread amazement , Perry won . In 1990 he moved his family to Austin and took over the Agriculture Department , where he busied himself promoting Texas farm products and retooling pesticide regulations . " Agriculture is not a hard job and he did n't really do anything , " says Paul Burka . " He was most notable for surrounding himself with Aggies . He draws that inner circle tight around him . " <p> P erry easily won re-election in 1994 and then , in 1998 , told friends he was considering a run for what is arguably the most powerful job in Texas politics , lieutenant governor , which entails supervising the legislative process . ( Rove , busy with George W. Bush , brought in a New Hampshire consultant named Dave Carney to run Perry 's campaign ; Carney remains at Perry 's side to this day . ) The problem was that Perry 's opponent would be his close friend , John Sharp , then the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be deterred . " I got calls from my clients saying , ' Tell Rick we do n't want him to run for lieutenant governor ; tell him to run for comptroller , ' " recalls Bill Miller . " So I called Rick and said , ' I 'm just the messenger . My people say you should run for comptroller . ' His response was ' Fuck that , and fuck them if they do n't want to help me . ' " <p> " The race against Sharp , that was the decisive race in his career , " says Paul Burka . " The story of the race is that Sharp had this killer ad , a retired Texas Ranger saying Rick Perry is soft on crime . At the very end Sharp decided he would pull that ad and go positive . That was the critical moment . " Remembers a Sharp staffer , " Yeah , there was a huge fight over that , but John would n't budge . I do n't think he felt good about attacking Rick . I do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you . That 's why he won the race . " <p> Perry became the state 's first Republican lieutenant governor since Reconstruction but served only two years , ascending to the governorship when Bush resigned to become president , in December 2000 . Despite 16 years in state politics , Perry was " still a mystery to most Texans , " as Texas Monthly noted in a cover story titled , " Can Rick Perry Stand on His Own ? " Among Austin political veterans , the article noted , the " standard view " was that Perry was basically a male bimbo : " Does n't know much , has n't done much , does n't articulate much , does n't care about much , would n't have achieved much except for a God-given attribute other than his brain ... his looks . " <p> Then , as now , Perry was inevitably compared to his predecessor , George W. Bush , though the two are very different men . Perry and Bush have detested each other for at least a decade ; if anything , a friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than her husband is . In Austin just about everyone has a different explanation for the Perry-Bush rift . Some trace it to Rove 's heavy-handed insistence that Perry hold off on attack ads in his 1998 race against John Sharp at a time when Bush , then running for governor , wanted to avoid negative campaigning . Others cite Bush 's 1995 refusal to name Perry 's brother-in-law , Joseph Thigpen , to the Texas appeals-court bench . <p> O nce in power , Perry proved an unremarkable administrator . For all his conservative credentials , his single most ambitious project was a conservative 's nightmare ( because it would have required that a half-million acres of private land be acquired by eminent domain ) : a $175 billion plan to privatize and expand Texas highways , laying commuter rail and telecom pipelines up and down 4,000 miles of roadways ; other than a few highway expansions around Houston and Dallas , most of it died in the legislature . Elsewhere , Perry pushed a hard-core conservative agenda , appointing three consecutive creationists to head the state Board of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the executions of more death-row inmates than any governor in modern history . His main claim to broader fame has been the extraordinary Texas economy , which during his tenure has , as Perry repeatedly contends , created more jobs than almost all the other states combined . Wonderful luck has been a dominant theme of Perry 's career , however , and his critics argue -- convincingly , in some cases -- that Perry did little to create all those new jobs . He was simply lucky enough to govern Texas at a time when the oil-and-gas industry was going through a prolonged expansion . Which is true . But you would be hard-pressed to find a governor anywhere who looks more kindly on big business . <p> Perry got little respect , even after he decisively won the 2002 gubernatorial election . In the legislature especially , the Democratic speaker , Pete Laney , and his top aides all but sneered at the mention of Perry 's name . Perry , in perhaps the most important move of his political career , declared war . " He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Paul Burka . " So that first year Perry vetoed 82 bills . Eighty-two bills . No governor in Texas history came even close . He just vetoed everything . It was just one big ' Fuck you . ' After that , well , Perry got pretty much everything he wanted . " <p> Texas Democrats , stunned to be dominated by a politician they thought so little of , scrambled to find dirt on Perry . They found little of use . For years reporters combed through a series of real-estate deals in which Perry reportedly made almost $1.5 million by flipping a series of parcels in the Austin area ; the deals , some assisted by Austin developers , seemed to serve no purpose other than to make Perry wealthy . " You can look at it round or flat , but that real-estate dirt ? It 's not sticking , " says Bill Miller . <p> The most lurid gossip about Perry , however , has always revolved around sex . The Internet came alive last August after an Austin gadfly swore he had debriefed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the governor ; no one much believed any of it . By far the most threatening set of rumors Perry has endured all but overwhelmed Austin in early 2004 . The stories were remarkably widespread and remarkably specific : Perry 's wife , it was said , was divorcing him after discovering Perry in bed with an aide , an openly gay man . <p> " Everyone in Austin believed it ; I swear , people were watching for moving vans to pull up outside the governor 's mansion , " recalls Jason Stanford , a Democratic consultant who is writing a book about Perry . The stories climaxed on February 24 , when a gay-rights group picketed the mansion carrying signs with such slogans as it 's okay to be gay , guv . At a Democratic gathering in Houston , the then chairman of the Texas Democratic Party , Charles Soechting , publicly called attention to the rumors : " For those of you that know , there 's a lot of stuff happening at the state capitol . And you 're going to be excited when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I could tell you more , but I think if you 've got someone sitting next to you who knows what 's going on , just get them to whisper it to you . " <p> Forced to confront the rumors , Perry and his wife gave an unprecedented interview to the Austin American-Statesman in which they swore their love and bitterly criticized the rumor--mongers . For the most part the story died then and there . " People say they saw Rick Perry and his aide going to parties together , " says Jason Stanford . " Well , shit , I 've gone to parties with my gay friends and I 'm not gay . Good God . Yet every gay guy in Austin knew someone , always a friend of a friend , who definitely slept with the governor . At one party , I had one gay guy swear Perry was a top and one gay guy swear he was a bottom . It was just bullshit . Look , this is still basically a small town . It would be very hard to conceal an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't be out in public with the guy . I mean , come on . " <p> So little did many Texas journalists think of Perry that it took years for them to realize how thoroughly he had consolidated power . Until Perry , Texas was known as a " weak governor " state , meaning the governor has little control over state agencies such as Transportation and Agriculture . " Texas agencies are all run by boards and commissions , all appointed , " says Paul Burka . " Even our two strongest modern governors , John Connally and George W. Bush , appointed people and told them , ' Just go do your job and stay out of the papers . ' That 's what Bush told people . Until Perry , the governor never ran the agencies . The governor was not considered a chief executive officer . What Perry did was he told people if you wanted to be on a board he would appoint you , but only on the grounds that you had to do what he told you to . Perry determined policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . " <h> Quid Pro Quota <p> D emanding that kind of loyalty has not only given Perry unprecedented control over every lever of Texas power , it has transformed the state government into something like a true political machine -- every ounce of it arming Perry with jobs and money . According to Texans for Public Justice , 921 of Perry 's appointees to government posts donated money to his campaigns or had their spouses do so , amounting to more than $17 million , a whopping 21 percent of all the money he raised while governor . On the rare occasion when a board or commission member has stepped out of line , as with a Texas Tech University regent who supported Perry 's opponent in the 2010 governor 's race , he or she is " allowed ' ' to resign . <p> " Perry 's guys are tough . They play real hardball , ' ' says a Dallas businessman who has given generously to Perry 's campaigns . " Tell you what they did to me : In the last election , I got pressured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a favor . So one of Perry 's top guys is playing golf with my son , who 's active too , and he tells him , ' Your dad gets a pass on the 35K he gave , but we do n't want to see any more of that shit . Or else . ' That 's the kind of game they play , man . ' ' <p> Indeed , under Perry , Austin has undergone an old-style revision to " pay for play ' ' government ; there is a widespread perception that anyone who wants something from government must contribute to Perry . " Early on , in the lobbying business , we were told in no uncertain terms that it did n't matter how Rick feels about you -- if you want time with Rick it 's going to depend on how much your clients give him , ' ' says one Austin lobbyist . " They were absolutely clear about that . ' ' The most commonly cited example of this is the controversy that erupted in 2007 when Perry attempted to introduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- for sixth-grade girls . The vaccine was made by Merck , whose Austin lobbyist was Perry 's former chief of staff and close friend , Mike Toomey . " Toomey got rich off it . And he 's not the only one , ' ' says another Austin lobbyist . Toomey , in return , started a pac , Make Us Great Again , with a proposed $55 million budget that has so far given more than $5 million to Perry and plans to spend the remainder on him by June . <p> Perry 's critics , in fact , can reel off literally dozens of multi-million-dollar favors the governor has done for his biggest donors : the bill mandating meningitis shots for every college freshman in the state , using a vaccine made by Novartis , which donated $700,000 to the Republican Governors Association , from which Perry ( a former chairman ) has received $4 million ; Perry 's petitioning of the E.P.A . to waive federal ethanol mandates , a boon to the chicken-farming magnate Lonnie Pilgrim , who has donated $600,000 ; the executive order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 11 of which would be built by the TXU utility ( now called Energy Future Holdings ) , which has given more than $1 million . <p> The list goes on and on . Perry 's chumminess with corporate donors accounts for the staggering $17 million his presidential campaign raised in its first six weeks , the single thing that has kept it afloat ; without that money , he would have had little staying power . But it 's not just money Perry receives in return . As a presidential candidate , he has taken scores of flights on his donors ' private jets . When The New York Times snooped into this , its reporters discovered that Perry 's cash reimbursements for these flights fell a quarter-million dollars short of what was required by law . <p> P erry 's poll numbers were already in single digits on the November night he suffered that epic brain freeze . Overnight he became a national punch line . " What 's the difference between Lindsay Lohan and Rick Perry ? ' ' asked Jay Leno . " It only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentence . ' ' Jimmy Fallon : " Big news from last night 's Republican debate , you guys . It turns out George Bush was actually the smart Texas governor . ' ' Even Craig Ferguson got his licks in : " Personally , I hope he does n't get out of the campaign . I need Rick Perry . I do n't want to spend the next year trying to do jokes about Mitt Romney . ' ' <p> Immediately after the disastrous debate performance , the campaign went into damage--control overdrive , pushing their candidate into the post-debate " spin room ' ' to joke with reporters . The next night he appeared on Late Night with David Letterman , to read a list of " Top Ten Rick Perry Excuses . ' ' At the same time , the campaign bought nearly $1 million of air time on the Fox News Network . At a foreign-policy debate the following Saturday night , Perry smiled and joked once more about his forgetfulness , drawing appreciative applause from the audience . <p> " Their response to the gaffe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Matt Mackowiak , an Austin political consultant . " I thought they actually handled things brilliantly . ' ' The question remains , however : Once a presidential candidate becomes a laughingstock , can he ever truly be taken seriously again ? Despite Perry 's good-humored recovery , much of the political community has all but written him off as a dead man walking . " When you become the object of laughter and pity , ' ' says Mark McKinnon , " you 're done . ' ' <p> " The first thing I saw was that Rick Perry came face to face with the fact that running for president is unlike running for anything else in the world , ' ' muses Cragg Hines . " In any other kind of setting , you could have passed this off . But this is beyond white-hot glare . His glibness and irksome spontaneity just failed him . The catch-up was better than the screwup , I have to say . You saw some structure , the Letterman appearance , all that . You know , he has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you put him out there without a script ? It 's pretty rough . Is he not the sharpest knife in the drawer ? After all this , how can you not think that ? ' ' <p> Others , pointing to the volatility of the G.O.P. field , still refuse to count Perry out . " There are so many times candidates have been pronounced as dead in this race , ' ' says Mackowiak . " Newt Gingrich was dead last spring . Look at him now . At one point Rush Limbaugh said Mitt Romney was dead . All the old rules are out the window this year . Herman Cain went through all this **26;5069;TOOLONG stuff and he stayed in first place in Iowa . It 's been the most volatile Republican field in my lifetime . Conservatives still have n't united behind one candidate , and there 's really only three candidates who can become the anti-Romney : Cain , Newt , and Perry . And Perry , even after all this , has the fewest weaknesses and the most money . ' ' <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long shot , however . His supporters point out that Romney 's national poll numbers have rarely risen above 26 percent , meaning 74 percent of Republican voters may vote for someone else . And Cain 's numbers have remained strangely high , but no one seriously believes they can endure with all the background noise of sexual harassment . Worse , Cain , unlike Perry , has almost no actual organization to get out the vote in any primary state . If Cain evaporates , and it 's widely assumed he eventually will , his supporters have to go somewhere . <p> His partisans argue that Perry has as good a shot at securing Cain supporters and other conservatives as anyone at this point . His best chance at winning the nomination , most agree , is to somehow clear the table of the " minor ' ' conservative candidates and force Romney into a one-on-one contest , even though it 's far from clear Perry could best him . The math is daunting . Of the three early-primary states , it 's assumed that Perry will surrender New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That means Perry needs a win , or at least a strong showing , in South Carolina and especially in the very first contest next month , in Iowa , where Romney is weak . Already Perry is pouring money into television commercials there . The state has a large evangelical population , and Perry , as a former agriculture commissioner in Texas , " knows how to speak the language , ' ' as one Austin consultant puts it . <p> " I s he dead ? ' ' asks Hines . " I think he is . But voters have such a short memory . You know , stranger things have happened . ' ' <p> " I was surprised to see him stumble like he did , ' ' says Kent Caperton , the Austin Democrat . " I 've never seen him stumble like that in a performance that was so important . Having said that , as remarkable as the stumble was , just as remarkable was the way he handled it . That says a lot about his resiliency . I still would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the imagination believe he is dead . I think Herman Cain will fade . If he does , it 'll be a Rick Perry -- Mitt Romney contest . I honestly believe that . And Mitt should not underestimate Rick . That 's when Rick is

@@5092841 <h> Are you going to have a crop insurance audit ? <p> When we hear the word AUDIT , it just scares the heck out of most of us . I look at an audit as an opportunity to prove that my farm/ranch records are accurate and a chance to show my partners the same . You may ask , who are my partners ? They are anyone that you do business with , which would make your crop insurance agent , one of your partners in your business . We do n't specialize in crop insurance audits , but we do help our farm and ranch families gather the supporting data to help the audit go more smoothly . <p> Let 's go back to the starting point of a crop insurance audit . What will qualify you for a crop insurance audit ? You may have been audited in previous years and have not known about it , because they did n't find any errors . In the 2012 crop year , the southern part of South Dakota has been under extreme drought and the production of corn per acre is from 0 bushels to 150 bushels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greater than $200,000 per crop per county , you are in line for an automatic crop insurance audit . You may say to yourself that I will never be affected , but if you have 600 acres of 5 bushel corn all in the same county , you may qualify for an audit . The auditors have the right to go back 3 more years and audit your crop production records , crop sales receipts , and crop feed to livestock records . This may sound like a migraine headache . What we need to do is determine all of the bushels available minus the bushels used and compare our ending inventory to what the bin measurements show us.The following may help you get prepared for a crop insurance audit . So let 's get started and make this a simple exercise in proving our records are accurate and we will use the corn crop in our illustration . <p> 1 . Start with your Jan. 1 , 2009 , balance sheet to determine how many bushels of corn you had on inventory . <p> 2 . You can add @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2010 , 2011 , 2012 years . <p> 3 . You then can add the bushels of corn you purchased . <p> 4 . That should give you your total bushels that were available for the 2009-2012 years . <p> 5 . Then you can subtract the number of bushels sold for those years . <p> 6 . You then need to determine how many bushels were fed during those years and subtract that number from the total available . <p> 7 . You will then need to have FSA measure your bins to determine how many bushels you have on inventory . <p> 8 . You then will need to subtract your total bushels available from total bushels disappeared and compare that number of bushels to the FSA measured inventory and make adjustments . The adjustments maybe for test weight and moisture content of the corn . This may seem like a long process , but with good accurate records , a bit of common sense , and your patience , it is not that long of a process . Gather all of the pieces of the puzzle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ copies to verified records from anindependent third party to verify your records . Some of the records you will need as proof for your audit are : bank balance sheets , assembly sheets from who you sold your grain to , crop insurance records to prove production , feed fed records , FSA bin measurements . Your crop insurance audit will go much easier if you spend the time to gather your information and prepare for your audit . The farm/ranch families enrolled in the South Dakota Center for Farm/Ranch Management have keep most of these records as they are preparing their records for their annual yearend Finpack analysis of their operation . If you would like to enroll in the Center you may contact us at www.mitchelltech.edu and click on

@@5092941 <h> What Are You Holding On To ? <p> Tell me what actual benefit you receive from living the " normal " lifestyle ? a 2 hour commute to work each day , spending 8 hours in a corporate cubicle that removes your individuality and creativity , to receive a paycheck from which the government has taken its huge and undeserved bite leaving almost enough to cover your bills and expenses ? just so that you can live in the kind of house and drive the kind of car that your friends and relatives think you should live in and be driving . <p> We all must admit that for some strange reason that we do n't really understand , we feel a profound sense of accomplishment when we get approved for a mortgage , get a new credit card , or get the " big promotion " at work . There is a scene in the movie Brazil , ( a version of 1984 ) , in which Michael Palin lifts his mask as he is about to begin torturing Jonathan Pryce and says glibly , " Confess quick ? you do n't want to ruin your credit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family , and well-being for the opportunity to be a better slave . <p> The undisputed truth is that you have been conditioned to need your pain . But when you come right down to it , all the aforementioned conditions involve your humble , pleading , acquiescent and compliant servitude . Huxley said that the ideal circumstance would be for the slave to be contented with his slavery ( paraphrased ) ? and here you are . <p> I understand that there are those of you who truly love the system and would hate to see it go . It 's not my intention to say you are wrong in your pursuit of happiness . But if you find that you are not fulfilled by spending money you make from being employed by working in a cubicle ( or any job you hate ) , then , really , what are you hanging onto ? and why ? <p> The system to which you are clinging is about to betray you . One legal precedent the federal government uses to impose income taxes upon an individual is the concept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that even though you may have never used any of the plethora of benefits the local , state and federal governments offer you , they are there for you should you need it . And whether you use them or not , there is the implied benefit that you could do so . That concept is about to come crashing down on your head . You need only look at hurricane Sandy ( not to mention Katrina ) to see what chaos it caused . How many thousands of people are still suffering without power ( because non-union workers are being turned away ) and still without shelter , food or water ( because the FEMA office is " closed due to weather " ) . Where 's your implied benefit now ? ? ? <p> Many people have chosen to leave the system behind and try to achieve the self-sufficient lifestyle . Even amongst them , there are " varying levels of commitment " . It seems that those called " preppers " anticipate the need to be prepared for unforeseen catastrophes ? war , earthquakes , bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , et al ? in the belief that somehow at the end of the tunnel everything will return to the way it was back in the 1950s , in an idyllic , red-white-and-blue America . <p> Personally , we are getting ready to shut everything down very soon , so I wo n't mince words ? in our opinion , there is virtually no hope for civilization as we know it today to recover from a total collapse in the span of a few years . A few generations would be more like it . <p> A survivalist is preparing now to be self-sufficient as a permanent lifestyle , whereas a preppper tries to buy enough supplies to carry him or her over the hump , most of whom we have spoken with assuming 6 to 24 months will do it . We do n't have to go back as far as Egypt and Typhon 3500 years ago to see how long it takes to recover from a collapse . There is plenty of history to show us , including a thousand year period after the fall of the Roman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Renaissance came along and people were ready to learn new habits ( like hygiene , reading and science ) . Look up the collapse of the Argentine Peso in 1999 ? still in chaos 13 years later with no real relief in sight . So , in our view , if in the recent past we can document what a complete collapse looks like , then the belief that any American collapse scenario would involve getting back to " normal " any time soon after it , is not based on solid ground . <p> We strongly suggest , whether you are considering being a prepper , a survivalist or not sure what you want at this point , that at an absolute minimum you begin as a dedicated prepper . Good preppers always have storage foods , supplies , a bug out bag and such . That is a good place for anyone to start . But look beyond that for your survival . Social Security payments , welfare , food stamps , disability entitlements , pensions , etc. , etc. , can be swept out from under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will find that you have been holding on to thin air , like that from which our current monetary system itself is created . <p> The only things you can truly hang on to are your own abilities , your own intuition , your own physical labor and enough self-love to know that you deserve to live a fulfilling , comfortable and secure life of your own choosing without harm to anyone else . If you think that not everyone can do that , you 're right . Only those who choose to do so , can . <p> Dan and Sheila send them mail are the authors of Surviving Survivalism ? How to Avoid Survivalism Culture Shock and hosts of the free podcast , ? Still Surviving with

@@5093041 <h> Stuck in the Past Office Hours <h> E-Mail This Link <p> " I like books . " This is one answer to the introductory question I ask when meeting a class for the first time : " What brings you to librarianship ? " The answers vary just as LIS students do , whether they 're recent college graduates or those returning to school for a second career in libraries . The " books " answer begs the question , " Do you mean the content or the container ? " Students starting graduate school who want to work in libraries with stacks filled with books may be aiming for the wrong -profession . <p> Archives and rare books collections will always need librarians to curate and preserve , but the shift within public and academic libraries of late may mean a very different set of duties not revolving entirely around the containers so many of us love . <p> At a recent dinner with three academic library directors , all detailed plans to move more and more of their book and print journal collections to storage facilities to make additional space for students to study and collaborate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wannabe librarians ; it 's the public 's view , as well . OCLC 's recent study Perceptions of Libraries , 2010 reports that the number of people who associate the word library with books has risen to 75 percent -- up from 69 percent in 2005 . As Borders stores close around the country and ereader popularity soars , we need to focus on what comes next in the evolution of our services . <p> Finding things Another answer I get to my question is , " I like to find things , " implying this future librarian sees herself at a reference desk pointing people toward the very best information for their needs . While some of us focus on authority or the " best information , " OCLC has reported in 2005 and 2010 that people turn to search engines first , not the anxious reference librarian standing by in the library . The most recent report states that zero percent of people surveyed began their information search at a library -website . <p> The researchers also found that " ask an expert " sites have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respondents said they used such sites ; in 2010 , 43 percent . Meanwhile , " ask a librarian " services have remained flat . This is another one of those difficult truths : people do not think of the library first when they need information no matter how much we may enjoy the thrill of the hunt for the best , most complete answer . However , the new report notes that 83 percent of people who have used a librarian for search assistance perceive added value . The number jumps to 88 percent among those identifying as economically impacted . <p> Doing things Instead of finding things , how about doing things ? How about creating localized collections of our most unique stuff and , more importantly , helping our library users to do the same ? Watching the Harper-Collins/Overdrive ebook license limitation kerfuffle leads me to imagine a future where libraries gather , produce , and curate content in ways only beginning to be explored that bypass the traditional author to publisher to library to reader model we 've worked with for -decades . <p> Reflecting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first when seeking information means we need to get reference librarians out of libraries and into the places where they might best help people -- both in physical space and virtually . Who 's to say we ca n't embed ourselves in the expert sites too ? Check out the " Slam the Boards " initiatives by Arlington Heights Memorial Library 's Bill Pardue ( a 2011 LJ Mover &; Shaker ) and other librarians to see this in play at answer sites . <p> It 's not out of the question to imagine these service models based on community enrichment and building connections . We need a course in library school devoted to teaching people to build spaces both physical and virtual for constituents to come together . We need to prioritize marketing and branding these spaces and services consistently . Doing so will help us in creating , maintaining , and evaluating the Information Commons . The Commons , a vital part of what our spaces can be , is strengthened by each person who makes use of it . The Digital Media Lab at Skokie Public Library @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to content creation for users . Take a look at " My Family 's History " to see what 's possible ( bit.ly/h0PyLw ) . <p> There 's a cadre of LIS students coming up who would jump at the chance for jobs in digital media labs or the Information Commons . Before that can happen , however , library leadership must move beyond the lending/reference model to a broader view of what 's possible in a community-based space focused on helping people . <p> What 's one of the best answers I 've ever gotten to my question ? " I want to change people 's lives . " <p> Author Information <p> Michael Stephens ( mstephens7@mac.com ) is Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science , Dominican University , River Forest , IL <h> Reader Comments ( 11 ) <p> " There 's a cadre of LIS students coming up who would jump at the chance for jobs in digital media labs or the Information Commons . Before that can happen , however , library leadership must move beyond the lending/reference model to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focused on helping people . " Michael--it is one thing to post an opinion piece . It is another to back it up with some hard data . <p> Posted by Shawne Miksa on April 22 , 2011 12:22:13AM <p> It 's easy to trash old practices . <p> Posted by Jeffrey Beall on April 22 , 2011 12:34:07PM <p> To be honest , " I like books " and " I like to find things " are far better answers than " I want to change people 's lives . " At least the first two focus on specific , concrete things that you can identify clear goals to help you work towards . Changing lives is abstract , and would perhaps be better suited to a career in politics or rock music . In libraries , at least from what I 've seen so far , you 're far more likely to never be recognized for what you 've done for people . Instead , you 'll be ignored , devalued , questioned as to why you 're even necessary , and in the extreme cases , laid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay your salary . The problem is n't in LIS students ' expectations of their future careers , it is in being able to SHOW our value to others . It 's in needing to increase that 83% of people who perceived added value in a librarian 's search , and making sure that they tell others that it was easier and more helpful than the uncurated web . It 's in needing to prove that all that information out there is great , but it 's a lot easier to use if it 's organized . But you are right about one thing . Rare books libraries and archives will always need librarians to curate and preserve . That is what brought ME to librarianship , and until I get a job in one of those rare books libraries , I 'll work at anything else that 's relevant ( like cataloging , or preservation ) and will steer me towards my rather concrete goal . <p> Posted by Carrie on April 22 , 2011 04:06:46PM <p> I do n't understand the leap from " libraries are n't the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must change or we 're doomed . " We were n't EVER the first place people turned to . So why are books and websites useless all of a sudden ? <p> Posted by Barbara Fister on April 23 , 2011 08:57:56PM <p> Some of my former co-workers ( who were also hiring managers ) nixed applicants that responded " Because I love books " to the question " Why do you want to work in a library ? " While such a black and white approach to hiring makes me a bit squeamish , I do strongly encourage job applicants to be a bit more creative in their response . Apparently " Because I like books " is such a common response ( among the entry-level crowd , at least ) , that giving a different ( thoughtful and honest ) answer is a quick way to nail the question in an interview . <p> Posted by B on April 25 , 2011 12:39:40PM <p> The response " I want to change people 's lives " shows me that student actually may have done some research or visited a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 years ago . It also indicates to me the Professor has spent too much time in the classroom and not much in a public library . Our materials circulation has continually increased . Database and e-material use is growing slowly . I personally think library services will stay viable for some time but struggle with their image because of attitudes of politicians and authors like the one above . We will continue serving the " have nots " and based on our economy that group is going to grow ! <p> Posted by A Public Librarian on April 26 , 2011 06:21:19PM <p> I think you are correct that libraries need to focus on being information providers beyond the book . Many do this very well already and schools need to prepare new grads for the reality that their service goes well beyond lending physical objects . I do take issue , however , with your statement " Archives ... will always need librarians to curate and preserve ... " Archives and libraries are different , if allied , professions . Archivists have specialized knowledge and skills that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ context of records , for example , separates archivists from librarians . It is archivists are needed to " curate and preserve " archives . <p> Posted by Rodney Carter on April 28 , 2011 09:04:28AM <p> Congratulations : your rather shallow view of archives and special collections has just unleashed the ire of archivists and special collections librarians on Twitter . The offending bits ? Here : " Archives and rare books collections will always need librarians to curate and preserve , but the shift within public and academic libraries of late may mean a very different set of duties not revolving entirely around the containers so many of us love . " First of all , to lump these two together ( " Archives and rare books collections " ) may seem convenient to raise your hit count but it does a vast injustice and great disservice to those of us who work in those two discretely different yet related areas . Archives do not NEED librarians at all and have functioned quite well without them . Are librarians of use to archives ? Of course they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workings of such institutions . And the training and skills needed to work with rare books and special collections are not gained in the usual training path that most librarians take . While amongst archivists there is a divide between those trained in public history-oriented/based programs and library-based ones , they are both training for the same goal : to run or work in and with , archives . Show me a library program that , in the process of specifically training " librarians " , prepares said graduates to run an archive and I 'll go back and get a second degree from them . To go further : you suggest that librarians are at the forefront of the preservation of collections . Again , are the programs really emphasizing that ? I think not ... my own library school has a course in the " Preservation of Information " TAUGHT BY AN ARCHIVIST , not a librarian ( DISCLAIMER : I know her personally ) . The positive side is that , being trained as an archivist and increasingly involved in non-book and digital information , she is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manner of information conveyances . Still more : " At a recent dinner with three academic library directors , all detailed plans to move more and more of their book and print journal collections to storage facilities to make additional space for students to study and collaborate . " Really ? Three directors ... that 's quite a sample . While I 'm not denying that this is happening ( it is ... it definitely is ) , to use this to paint the picture that being drawn to books as a reason for going to library school is to somehow enter the wrong profession is , at best , missing the point of all three professions of archivists , special collections/rare book librarians , and general librarians . Our mutual professions are about the acquisition , organization , provisioning of access , and the long-term custodial stewardship of information , no matter what the media , conveyance or container of that information . And the wonderful thing about these professions is that it allows a profound level of specialization . We do not all do the same jobs . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it comes to deciding to go to library school is to show an incredible blindness to the adaptability of a profession that has doing nothing but evolve over the past 5,000 years and will continue to do so . I 'd best stop now ... <p> Posted by Dennis Moser on April 28 , 2011 09:24:02AM <p> Dennis and All - My apologies for not being as clear as I should have been . For the sake of the 750 word piece , I sacrificed clarity in the intro . I certainly should have included a bit more about various specialties , curating professionals and job types than I did . I was trying NOT to slight the archivists , etc and get to the focus of the piece - what can public and academic librarians do in a digital future that might not include as many print materials as we are used to . <p> Posted by Michael Stephens on April 28 , 2011 01:07:39PM <p> Perhaps a follow up article explaining the utter importance of the diversity of specialization is called for ? Apology accepted ; we all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Posted by Dennis Moser on April 28 , 2011 12:14:26PM <p> Hello Michael , From my point of view , it was not clarity that was lacking in the statement . I understand the pressure to quickly dispense with the introduction to get to the heart of the short article , which I think contains a sound argument . The issue is that your statement implies that archival work is a specialty within librarianship . Archivists are not a subset of librarians but are professionals in their own right . Your statement undermines the work archivists have done over the last twenty or so years to be recognized as the profession that it is -- a struggle for recognition that librarians have fought for and continue to fight for . While I have no doubt that you did not intend to slight archivists , you statement in the article and your comment afterward perpetuate stereotypes about archival work . Just as being a librarian entails so much more than shelving books , archivists do more than put dusty old records in boxes . Archivists have their own history and theory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and numerous sub-specialties within our own field . Our concern with provenance , authenticity , reliability , and context of creation and use in records regardless of their format or medium differentiate archivists from librarians and from " curating professionals " such as museum professionals . What I believe your were intending to suggest in your statement is that while librarians must adjust to the reality that more and more information is being published electronically , there will still be physical collections ( of books ? ) that will remain in libraries and that will need be taken care of and made available to users . My question is , why bring archives into it at all ? If you were talking about physical collections of books why not just say so ? You seem to be equating old or antiquated material with archives , a notion which my colleagues , particularly those dealing with digital records , will quickly and happily refute . I know that the statement made in your introduction was far from central to your piece . Nevertheless , you should not casually throw out sentences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ librarians to curate and preserve ... " without any consideration to the implications of such a statement . <p> Comments that include profanity , personal attacks , or antisocial behavior such as " spamming " , " trolling " , or any other inappropriate will be removed from the site . We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of use . You are fully responsible for the content you post . All comments must comply with the Terms and Conditions of this site and by submitting comments you confirm your agreement to these Terms and Conditions . <p> Your name : * <p> Your email address : * ( We wo n't publish this . ) <p> * = Required information <h> Welcome the LJ Archives . <p> This archive site is the home

@@5093141 <p> " Please tell me which candidate you would be most likely to support for the Republican nomination for president : former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich , Texas Congressman Ron Paul , or former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney ? " Options rotated Prior to 12/11 : " I 'm going to read a list of people who may be running in the Republican primary for president in 2012 . After I read all the names , please tell me which candidate you would be most likely to support for the Republican nomination for president in the year 2012 , or if you would support someone else . ... " 9/11 : Sarah Palin supporters allocated based on 2nd choice . <p> " As I name some Republican candidates for president , please tell me which one , if any , you would most like to see nominated as the Republican Party 's candidate . See below . " If unsure : " As of today , who would you say you LEAN toward ? " Options rotated 4/10-15/12 ( after Santorum announced the end of his campaign ) : " Thinking about the Republican presidential primary , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most like to see nominated . ... " 2/12 &; earlier : " As I name some possible Republican candidates for president in 2012 . ... " <p> " I 'm going to read a list of the candidates for the 2012 Republican nomination . Please tell me which one you would like to see as the Republican presidential nominee . See below . " Options rotated <p> 4/9-11/12 <p> 3/10-12/12 <p> 2/6-9/12 <p> % <p> % <p> % <p> Mitt Romney <p> 46 <p> 38 <p> 33 <p> Ron Paul <p> 16 <p> 12 <p> 15 <p> Rick Santorum <p> 15 <p> 32 <p> 23 <p> Newt Gingrich <p> 13 <p> 13 <p> 22 <p> Someone else ( vol . ) <p> 2 <p> 3 <p> 1 <p> Too soon to say ( vol . ) <p> 4 <p> 2 <p> 3 <p> Unsure <p> 4 <p> 1 <p> 4 <p> Gallup Daily tracking poll . Based on a rolling average of at least 1,000 Republicans and Republican-leaning independents nationwide who are registered to vote . <p> " I 'm going to read a list of people who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I read the names , please tell me which candidate you are most likely to support for the nomination , or if you would support someone else : Newt Gingrich ; Ron Paul ; Mitt Romney ; Rick Santorum . " Options rotated . Note : Herman Cain included in Dec. 1-3 interviewing . Cain supporters ' second choice substituted for their vote choice . <p> " Who would you like to see win the Republican nomination for president this year : Newt Gingrich , Ron Paul , Mitt Romney , or Rick Santorum ? " If unsure : " Which candidate are you leaning toward ? " Options rotated <p> " If this year 's Republican presidential primary or caucus in your state were held today , whom would you support if the candidates are see below ? " 9/11 : " If the 2012 Republican presidential primary were held today , whom would you support if the candidates are see below ? " <p> " Let me read you a list of people who might seek the 2012 Republican nomination for president . If you were voting today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the following candidates would you favor : see below ? " If unsure : " Well , which way do you lean ? " Options rotated <p> 2/29 - 3/3/12 <p> 1/22-24/12 <p> % <p> % <p> Mitt Romney <p> 38 <p> 28 <p> Rick Santorum <p> 32 <p> 18 <p> Newt Gingrich <p> 13 <p> 37 <p> Ron Paul <p> 13 <p> 12 <p> Other ( vol . ) <p> - <p> 1 <p> None ( vol . ) <p> 2 <p> 1 <p> Unsure <p> 2 <p> 3 <p> <p> 11/2-5/11 <p> 10/6-10/11 <p> 8/27-31/11 <p> 7/14-17/11 <p> % <p> % <p> % <p> % <p> % <p> Newt Gingrich <p> 40 <p> 13 <p> 8 <p> 5 <p> 8 <p> Mitt Romney <p> 23 <p> 28 <p> 23 <p> 23 <p> 30 <p> Ron Paul <p> 9 <p> 10 <p> 11 <p> 9 <p> 9 <p> Michele Bachmann <p> 8 <p> 4 <p> 5 <p> 8 <p> 16 <p> Rick Perry <p> 6 <p> 10 <p> 16 <p> 38 <p> 11 <p> Jon Huntsman <p> 5 <p> - <p> 3 <p> 2 <p> 2 <p> Rick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 <p> Other ( vol . ) <p> - <p> - <p> - <p> - <p> 2 <p> None ( vol . ) <p> 1 <p> 1 <p> 1 <p> 2 <p> 2 <p> Unsure <p> 5 <p> 4 <p> 5 <p> 5 <p> 10 <p> Herman Cain <p> n/a <p> 27 <p> 27 <p> 5 <p> 5 <p> Tim Pawlenty <p> n/a <p> n/a <p> n/a <p> n/a <p> 2 <p> " Now , if you were voting today in the 2012 Republican primary for president , and the candidates were Mitt Romney and see below , which one would you favor ? " If unsure : " Well , which way do you lean ? " Options rotated <p> " Suppose the choice for the Republican presidential nomination narrows down to Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney . Which one would you prefer the Republican Party nominate for president : Rick Santorum or Mitt Romney ? " Options rotated <p> " If the Republican presidential primary or caucus in your state were being held today , and the candidates were see below , for whom would you vote ? @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward ? " Options rotated <p> " Of the candidates now running for president , which ONE would you most like to see win the Republican presidential nomination : Mitt Romney , Newt Gingrich , Ron Paul , Rick Perry , or Rick Santorum ? " Options rotated <p> % <p> Mitt Romney <p> 30 <p> Newt Gingrich <p> 19 <p> Rick Santorum <p> 15 <p> Ron Paul <p> 12 <p> Rick Perry <p> 6 <p> None/Other ( vol . ) <p> 4 <p> Unsure <p> 14 <p> " If there were only two candidates in the race for the Republican presidential nomination , would you most likely vote for Mitt Romney or see below ? " Options rotated <p> " Which one of these candidates would you like to see the Republican Party nominate for president in 2012 : Newt Gingrich , Jon Huntsman , Ron Paul , Rick Perry , Mitt Romney , Rick Santorum , or would you like to see someone else nominated ? " If someone else or unsure : " If you had to choose , which one of these candidates would you like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> " I 'm going to read a list of the announced candidates for the 2012 Republican nomination . Please tell me which one you would like to see as the Republican presidential nominee . See below . " Options rotated <p> " I 'd like you to think about the Republican nomination for president in the 2012 election . Please tell me if you would find see below to be an acceptable nominee for president from the Republican Party , or not . " <p> " Which one of these candidates would you like to see the Republican Party nominate for president in 2012 : Newt Gingrich , Jon Huntsman , Ron Paul , Rick Perry , Mitt Romney , Rick Santorum , or would you like to see someone else nominated ? " <p> 1/4-8/12 <p> % <p> Mitt Romney <p> 19 <p> Newt Gingrich <p> 15 <p> Rick Santorum <p> 14 <p> Ron Paul <p> 10 <p> Rick Perry <p> 6 <p> Jon Huntsman <p> 4 <p> Someone else ( vol . ) <p> 19 <p> Unsure <p> 13 <p> 12/14-18/11 <p> <p> 10/19-24/11 <p> 9/28 - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % <p> % <p> Newt Gingrich <p> 20 <p> 15 <p> 10 <p> 8 <p> 7 <p> Mitt Romney <p> 20 <p> 15 <p> 21 <p> 17 <p> 16 <p> Ron Paul <p> 10 <p> 5 <p> 8 <p> 7 <p> 5 <p> Rick Perry <p> 6 <p> 8 <p> 6 <p> 12 <p> 23 <p> Michele Bachmann <p> 4 <p> 4 <p> 2 <p> 4 <p> 7 <p> Rick Santorum <p> 3 <p> 2 <p> 1 <p> 3 <p> 1 <p> Jon Huntsman <p> 1 <p> 1 <p> 1 <p> 2 <p> 1 <p> Someone else ( vol . ) <p> 19 <p> 14 <p> 12 <p> 10 <p> 11 <p> No one ( vol . ) <p> 0 <p> 1 <p> - <p> 2 <p> 2 <p> Unsure <p> 17 <p> 17 <p> 14 <p> 18 <p> 22 <p> Herman Cain <p> n/a <p> 18 <p> 25 <p> 17 <p> 5 <p> " If you had to choose , which one of these candidates would you like to see the Republican Party nominate for president in 2012 : Newt Gingrich , Jon Huntsman , Ron Paul , Rick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> " I 'd like you to think about the Republican nomination for president in the 2012 election . Please tell me if you would find see below to be an acceptable nominee for president from the Republican Party , or not . " <p> " I 'm going to read a list of people who are running for the 2012 Republican nomination for president . After I read the names , please tell me which candidate you are most likely to support for the nomination , or if you would support someone else : Michele Bachmann ; Herman Cain ; Newt Gingrich ; Jon Huntsman ; Ron Paul ; Rick Perry ; Mitt Romney ; Rick Santorum . " Options rotated <p> " I 'm going to read a list of the announced candidates for the 2012 Republican nomination . Please tell me which one you would like to see as the Republican presidential nominee . See below . " Options rotated <p> " Now , if you were voting today in the 2012 Republican primary for president , and the candidates were Mitt Romney and Rick Perry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " Well , which way do you lean ? <p> Perry <p> Neither ( vol . ) <p> Unsure <p> % <p> % <p> % <p> % <p> 11/2-5/11 <p> 62 <p> 33 <p> 3 <p> 2 <p> 10/6-10/11 <p> 54 <p> 39 <p> 3 <p> 4 <p> " Now , if you were voting today in the 2012 Republican primary for president , and the candidates were Mitt Romney and Herman Cain , which one would you favor ? " If unsure : " Well , which way do you lean ? " Options rotated <p> " I 'm going to read a list of people who may be running in the Republican primaries for president in the 2012 election . After I read all the names , please tell me which of those candidates you would be most likely to support for the Republican nomination for president in 2012 , or if you would support someone else . Minnesota Congresswoman , Michele Bachmann ; Businessman , Herman Cain ; Former speaker of the House , Newt Gingrich ; former Utah governor , Jon Huntsman ; Texas Congressman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Massachusetts governor , Mitt Romney ; former Pennsylvania senator , Rick Santorum . " Options rotated <p> " If the 2012 Republican presidential primary or caucus in your state were being held today , and the candidates were see below , for whom would you vote ? " If unsure : " Which candidate would you lean toward ? " Options rotated <p> " Next , I 'm going to read a list of people who may be running in the Republican primary for president in 2012 . After I read all the names , please tell me which candidate you would be most likely to support for the Republican nomination for president in the year 2012 , or if you would support someone else . Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann , businessman Herman Cain , former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich , former Utah governor Jon Huntsman , former Alaska governor Sarah Palin , Texas Congressman Ron Paul , Texas Governor Rick Perry , former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney , or former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum . " Options rotated <p> " I 'm going to read a list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run in the Republican primaries for president . After I read all the names , please tell me which one you would be most likely to support for the Republican nomination for president in 2012 , or if you would support someone else . Minnesota Congresswoman , Michele Bachmann ; Businessman , Herman Cain ; Former Speaker of the House , Newt Gingrich ; Former Utah governor , Jon Huntsman ; Texas Congressman , Ron Paul ; Texas governor , Rick Perry ; Former Massachusetts governor , Mitt Romney ; Former Pennsylvania senator , Rick Santorum . " Options rotated <p> 9/15-18/11 <p> 8/4-7/11 <p> % <p> % <p> Rick Perry <p> 31 <p> 17 <p> Mitt Romney <p> 24 <p> 24 <p> Ron Paul <p> 13 <p> 14 <p> Michele Bachmann <p> 5 <p> 13 <p> Newt Gingrich <p> 5 <p> 7 <p> Herman Cain <p> 5 <p> 4 <p> Rick Santorum <p> 2 <p> 1 <p> Jon Huntsman <p> 1 <p> 2 <p> Other <p> 4 <p> 4 <p> None/Any/Unsure <p> 10 <p> 10 <p> Tim Pawlenty <p> n/a <p> 3 <p> " Suppose the choice for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Romney . Which one would you prefer the Republican Party nominate for president :

@@5093241 <h> The Most Important Song in the World <p> WHY : LA based group fronted by two brothers , Family of the Year seems to be riding the wave of folk based indie rock . They sing in high pitched voices , they strum their guitars gently and their lyrics are whimsical and nostalagic . <p> The record label meeting that got them signed went like this : " Get me the next Lumineers !

@@5093341 <h> MANNA apple harvest a part of Henderson County Day of Caring <p> About 370 volunteers from various organizations and walks of life gathered Friday morning in bright orange tie-dyed shirts , ready for the United Way of Henderson County 's 59th Day of Caring . <p> Nearly 100 more volunteers than last year , shouting the mantra " We are United ! , " scattered to the far corners and inner countryside of Henderson County to tackle 27 service projects . <p> They constructed ramps to help residents in and out of their homes . They built homes for people who did not have any , and picked apples for the hungry . They tutored the young and spruced up the lawns of local nonprofits . <p> " Growing up in the mountains , everybody helped everybody . Neighbors pitched in to help neighbors , " said Ernie Wilson , who has been volunteering with Housing Assistance Corporation since 1991 . With days like United Way 's Day of Caring , he said , " we 're getting back to how it used to be . " <p> United Way volunteers , staff and community officials kicked off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Technology Education and Development Center at Blue Ridge Community College . The breakfast event celebrated the 372 volunteers who were scheduled to help all or part of the day with projects . Money raised during the campaign will support United Way 's work to advance education , income and health in the community . <p> United Way 's 2012 Campaign Chair Greg Burnette , area executive at First Citizens Bank , officially kicked off the campaign by announcing UWHC ' s three goals . <p> " We want to create a community where everyone has access to a first-rate education and children and adults are prepared for success in work and life ; where everyone has the opportunities and resources necessary to achieve and maintain economic self-sufficiency ; and where wellness is embraced and everyone has access to comprehensive , affordable , high-quality health care , " Burnette said . <p> He accepted a check for $26,000 from Mike Mayer of Mountain 1st Bank , this year 's campaign Pacesetter . " Mountain 1st has set an example for every company in Henderson County this year , " he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year , and 98 percent of their employees chose to invest in Henderson County through United Way . What an amazing accomplishment . " <p> More than 29 local companies supported the annual Day of Caring by giving their employees time to volunteer . <p> " We are so thrilled to have such an incredible increase in the number of volunteers serving this year , " said Molly Parkhill , president of Blue Ridge Community College . " People who volunteer know that they are not only improving our community through their service , but often enriching their own lives as well . " <p> For his service project , Wilson worked side-by-side with other volunteers building a ramp and a back deck for a family on Hoke Road . <p> I enjoy doing this , " he said . " It 's great that businesses let their people out for a day to help the community . " <p> Nearly 100 volunteers from several companies and service agencies gathered to pick apples at Alan King 's orchard on Hyder Road Friday morning . The juicy fruit was transferred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bank " for distribution to those facing hunger in Western North Carolina . <p> " We did this last year and we had a grand time , " said Bridget Barron , nursing director of psychiatric and detox services at Pardee Hospital . She worked with other nursing directors to harvest a tree of its fruit . <p> " This is our first time picking apples for Manna Food Bank , " said Cindy Owen of PSNC Energy . " We 're all privileged that we have a job so we can go out and help others in the community . " <p> At Sugarloaf Elementary , Certified Credit and Housing Counselor Linda Youngblood prepared to teach first-graders about money and needs vs. wants with the help of the jolly , green Dime-asaurus . Assisting them were volunteers from Pardee Hospital and the Community Foundation of Henderson County . <p> On Ida Rogers Road in the Shuey Knolls community of Edneyville , volunteers worked to put the finishing touches on some of the neighborhood 's Habitat for Humanity homes . <p> " The last house we finish here will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , " said Habitat Director Ron Laughter , who dropped by to thank the volunteers . <p> Henderson County Engineer Marcus Jones had just finished laying sod with other volunteers , including several from Pardee Hospital . It was a dirty job , but the smiles on their faces hinted they were glad to do it . <p> Pardee Hospital has been the sole sponsor of the Campaign Kickoff Celebration and Day of Caring for five consecutive years . <p> " Every year , Pardee Hospital shows us again and again how committed they are to this event and to our community , " said UWHC Executive Director Ruth Birge . " We are proud to partner with this excellent organization , and we know that they share our goal of improving life for everyone in Henderson County . " <p> The biggest surprise of the day was a 2013 Dodge Dart , which rolled into the Kickoff event to announce an added incentive to donors to the 2012 Campaign . Egolf Motors was set to donate the brand new Dart to one lucky United Way donor who increases their @ @ @ @ @ @

@@5093441 <h> Falling Off The Face Of The Earth lyrics <h> Matt Wertz Falling Off The Face Of The Earth lyrics <p> Stay away from me I 'll be gone soon It 's just so hard to let go once we 've grabbed hold It 's nothing that you 've done You 're not the only one I 'm just learning to be in twenty-three places Cause ' I 'm falling off the face of the earth Crashing into bridges I burn And I 'm falling off the face of the earth I 'll be home soon Is this how the story goes When rubber meets the road Waving goodbye is so hard without hello Cause ' I 'm falling off the face of the earth Crashing into bridges I burn And I 'm falling off the face of the earth But I 'll be home soon I keep forgetting to Keep you an arms length away And I 'm falling off the face of the earth Crashing into bridges I burn I 'm falling off the face of the earth But I 'll be home soon I 'll be home soon I 'll

@@5093541 <h> U.S. Embassy in Beijing Has Been a Sanctuary Before <p> HONG KONG -- The saga of the late-night escape of Chen Guangcheng has been thoroughly engrossing -- the blind human rights lawyer scaling a wall at his rural farmhouse , eluding dozens of guards , stumbling through the countryside , being bundled into a getaway car and now , it seems , seeking refuge in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing . <p> Getty Images-AFP A photo taken from Chinese state TV on June 12 , 1989 , showed the arrest warrant for Fang Lizhi and his wife , Li Shuxian , a week after the couple took refuge in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing . <p> The negotiations now under way about Mr. Chen 's status are undoubtedly just as compelling , although there has so far been no leakage by officials in Beijing or Washington . The diplomatic silence is deafening . <p> Ever since the news of his daring escapade was revealed last week , China scholars , journalists , activists and tweeters have been furiously debating the case . Will Washington grant him asylum , or turn him over to Beijing ? Will China allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rodham Clinton say when she comes to China this week ? Will Mr. Chen 's family and close accomplices be part of an asylum package ? Does he even want to leave China ? <p> " Both countries appear eager to avoid a standoff that threatens to mar relations and , most immediately , to eclipse annual talks scheduled to begin in Beijing on Thursday , " my colleagues Steven Lee Myers and Andrew Jacobs write . " But Mr. Chen 's professed desire to remain in China could result in a prolonged stalemate that undercuts cooperation on other global security issues . " <p> They quote a Chinese academic at a government research institute in Beijing who says , " Chinese leaders face a huge headache right now . I do n't see any easy way out of this mess . " <p> There 's something of a precedent for Mr. Chen 's situation : the defection in 1989 of two renowned physicists , Fang Lizhi and his wife Li Shuxian . Said to be Nos. 1 and 2 on the government 's most-wanted list at the time because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Embassy on June 5 , the day after the Tiananmen massacre . <p> The scholar and linguist Perry Link was the initial go-between for the scientists and the Americans , and he has written a fascinating account of the hide-and-seek . <p> " Today , for Chen Guangcheng , the two governments might agree that exile is the least awkward solution from their points of view , but Chen may not accept it , " Mr. Link writes in The New York Review of Books . " Chinese dissidents have learned over the past two decades that exile leads to a sharp decline in a person 's ability to make a difference inside China . <p> " Liu Xiaobo , the Nobel Peace Prize winner who is now in his third year of an eleven-year prison sentence for ' subversion , ' made it clear after his arrest that he would not accept exile as an alternative to prison . From what friends of Chen in Beijing have been saying in recent days , it seems that Chen is taking a similar position . " <p> Mr. Fang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but was less well-known by everyday Chinese . Mr. Chen , on the other hand , has achieved something of a national reputation as a plucky battler against official corruption and as a campaigner for the rights of women and the disabled . <p> " Chen is seen not as an elite intellectual but as an ' ordinary person ' who taught himself law to help other ordinary people , and then was imprisoned and persecuted -- and is blind to boot , " Mr. Link said . " For the Chinese authorities to accuse him of treason or to blame meddling foreigners for helping him will be a hard sell . " <p> Mr. Fang 's lectures and speeches against the government and the Chinese Communist Party got him fired from his teaching post in 1987 . <p> " Students were charmed ; the authorities were not , " Mr. Link wrote in a remembrance of Mr. Fang , who died last month in Tucson , Arizona , at age 76 . The Times obituary by Michael Wines is here . <p> " He became the spirit behind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Mr. Link , who was living in Beijing at the time . <p> He said the couple 's son initially approached him about helping his parents . Security officials were becoming ever more threatening , and Mr. Fang and Ms. Li wanted to know if Mr. Link would sound out U.S. diplomats about possibly sheltering them . <p> " Around noon on June 4 , the day of the massacre , I went to Fang 's and Li 's apartment , " Mr. Link writes . " Their doorbell , as always , played the tune ' Happy Birthday to You . ' " <p> Later that afternoon , they telephoned Mr. Link and invited his children to tea -- their pre-arranged code for help . He spirited them to a hotel room that he had rented and then got them into the embassy compound the next morning . <p> After several hours of discussion with U.S. diplomats , Mr. Fang and Ms. Li , uncertain about how to proceed , decided to leave the embassy . Mr. Link took them to another hotel , the Jianguo , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Washington Post correspondent who was in Shanghai at the time . Mr. Link left them around 7 p.m . <p> When he repeatedly called the hotel room the next morning , there was no answer : U.S. diplomats had come in the night to invite the dissident scientists back to the embassy " as the guests of President George Bush . " <p> " Washington apparently had realized that if something bad happened to Fang and Li , and if it were known that they had entered the embassy and been sidled away , the U.S. administration would have been in for some fierce criticism , " Mr. Link said . <p> Mr. Fang and Ms. Li spent the next 13 months at the embassy , living in a windowless basement apartment . <p> " Mr. Fang is said to have remarked that he is an astrophysicist but could not even see the sky , " Nicholas Kristof wrote in The Times upon the couple 's release in June 1990 . They spent the next two decades in exile . <p> Mr. Fang , a friend and collaborator of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona

@@5093641 <h> For more than 50 years , local animal shelter has been anything but ordinary <p> By Claire Harlin <p> When animal lover Maria K. Lloyd bought a little house on 5 acres and started the Rancho Coastal Humane Society in 1960 , there was a little dirt road behind the rural property that provided access to it . <p> Now , that dirt road is better known as Interstate 5 and the desolate gap between the property and Del Mar has been filled with the coastal communities of Solana Beach and Leucadia . <p> Rancho Coastal Humane Society <p> The sleepy little animal shelter , still visible from Interstate 5 , is still today in the same quaint yellow house and , although several rooms have been added on over the years to accommodate the growth , it possesses a unique , cottage-like look in comparison to other shelter buildings . <p> The shelter , located at 389 Requeza St. in Encinitas , does n't just stand out because of its appearance and visibility from the highway . <p> It 's home to the only military working dog memorial west of the Mississippi , it 's one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's got a thriving community education program that benefits more than 20,000 kids a year and , on Nov. 3 , it will open one of the county 's first pet food banks . Not to mention , the Rancho Coastal Humane Society is like a second home to the many locals who frequent the " Cricket 's Corner " dog park there , and the facility is also home to permanent residents Smoky , the llama , and Scooter , the miniature horse . <p> " People think of us as that little local shelter that they drive by on the 5 , but we 're just trying to get people to get off the freeway and come in , " said John Van Zante , a spokesman for the Humane Society . <p> He said the shelter has some programs that were once " sleepers , " but have been revived and are growing rapidly . <p> In its early days , Interstate 5 was nothing but a dirt road that ran behind the Rancho Coastal Humane Society , located at 389 Requeza St. in Encinitas . Courtesy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grove to Orange County , " he said . One program the shelter is proud to offer is the Animal Safehouse Program , which was the third of its kind in the nation when it began in 1997 . <p> In cases of domestic abuse , victims generally ca n't take animals when they are removed from the home or seek refuge at a shelter , and in those cases , the abuser often turns violent against the pet , Van Zante said . <p> " Sometimes the fear of leaving the animal keeps people in the abusive situation longer than they should , " he said . " We are able to take in the animals here so humans can escape rather than let the pets become the victim . " <p> The shelter has another program called Pets For Patriots that lets members of the military community adopt homeless pets at a discounted rate . Another program , Shelter to Soldier , just launched at the Humane Society , and it rescues dogs to train them to become service companions for veterans . The program is run by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Rancho Coastal Humane Society in 2006 , as well as a number of other training programs . More information on the program can be found at **28;6947;TOOLONG . <p> Knowing that animals are a huge source of fascination for kids , and also that kids will be the next generation of animal owners , the Humane Society 's board has put strong effort into making the facility a go-to source of education for kids . While it may be fun for a child to go to the center and help pick out an animal when the family is looking to adopt , it 's not every day that parents can bring new pets into the home . But there 's still good reason to bring kids to this shelter , whether for a camp , community service or even a birthday party . <p> The shelter conducts parties specially adapted for kids in each age group . Not only do they get to interact with the animals , they can learn about them and how to take care of them . <p> " The kids who come out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a kitten in front of them or in their arms , it 's just so real , " said Van Zante . " It 's life . It 's so fragile and it 's relying on us for its life . If you can teach that at a young age it carries throughout life . <p> " It teaches kids about humanity and the importance of life and others ' feelings . And that 's important because these are the kids who will be our leaders one day . " <p> Van Zante said the shelter 's pet assisted therapy program is one of the fastest growing . It allowed volunteers and their dogs to get free training that will condition them to visit public places such as convalescent homes , schools and libraries to provide therapy to others . This therapy may come in the form of companionship , uplifting those who have gone through hard times or acting as an audience for kids learning how to read . <p> " It involves training the dog , but much of it has to do with training the people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zante said . <p> After winning a city grant last summer the shelter will be able to open its doors two Saturdays per month to those in need of pet food and supplies , such as cat litter and food bowls . In addition , The Drake Center for Veterinary Care will be providing free medical care , such as exams and vaccines , once a quarter . <p> Van Zante said he hopes the food bank will help the many homeless people who have sought companionship by owning animals and he hopes it will also help those who have suffered hard financial times . <p> " The thought is that instead of abandoning the animal , we hope people will come to us for help , " said Van Zante . " The working poor are realizing that the companionship of a pet outweighs the financial struggle of affording to keep a pet . " <p> For more information on the shelter and its many services , visit www.rchumanesociety.org . <p> Just over a week after the election , Brian Bilbray conceded the 52nd District Congressional race , declaring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 120,000 votes have yet to be counted , though members of Peters campaign stated he

@@5093741 <h> NHTSA Alerting Consumers to Dangers of Counterfeit Air Bags <p> October 10 : Problem involves sale of counterfeit air bags for use as replacement parts in vehicles that have been involved in a crash . While these air bags look nearly identical to certified , original equipment parts -- including bearing the insignia and branding of major automakers -- NHTSA testing showed consistent malfunctioning ranging from non-deployment of the air bag to the expulsion of metal shrapnel during deployment . Read More <h> DOT and Safe Kids Kick Off Child Passenger Safety Week <p> September 17 : Event reminds parents and caregivers to make sure that they are properly using and installing their child safety seats . A new NHTSA survey shows that parents are making five significant mistakes when using car seats and booster seats . It also found that one in five parents do not read any instructions when installing seats . Read More <h> NHTSA Issues Final CAFE Standards for Model Years 2017 and Beyond <p> August 28 : When combined with previous standards set by this Administration , this move will nearly double the fuel efficiency of those vehicles compared to new vehicles currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lowering price of gasoline by $1 per gallon by 2025 . Read More <h> Recent Research &; Data <p> NCSA Research Note : Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes as a Leading Cause of Death in the United States , 2008 &; 2009 , For the first time since 1981 ( when data was first available ) , motor vehicle traffic crashes were not among the top 10 causes of death in the United States . Motor vehicle crashes were the 11th leading cause of death in 2009 . In 2008 , motor vehicle traffic crashes were the 9th leading cause of death overall . Fatalities in motor vehicle crashes have declined by about 25 percent since 2005 , influenced largely by a significant drop in crashes and fatalities involving the younger population . <p> NCSA Research Note : Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2011 -- Overall Results , The use of DOT-compliant motorcycle helmets increased significantly to 66 percent in 2011 , up from 54 percent in 2010 . This percentage is based on the National Occupant Protection Use Survey ( NOPUS ) the only survey that provides nationwide probability-based observed data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fact Sheet 2010 " Alcohol-Impaired Driving " , The fact sheet presents detailed data about 2010 fatal alcohol-impaired driving crashes in which there were 10,228 persons killed . A total of 9,695 drivers ( 85% ) who were involved in fatal crashes had a BAC level at or above .08 . The most frequently reported BAC was 0.18 . The rate of alcohol impairment among fatally

@@5093841 <h> Meyer the center of attention as LA begin Cup defense <p> CARSON , Calif. -- The LA Galaxy seem to be getting healthy just in time for the Major League Soccer playoffs , with Landon Donovan , David Beckham and Todd Dunivant back from injury and Edson Buddle in the best shape he 's enjoyed all season . <p> That 's not the case on the backline -- three center backs remain out , including starter A.J. DeLaGarza -- but Tommy Meyer 's growing comfort and confidence in the middle is alleviating doubts about LA 's defense , especially after a shutout victory Sunday over Seattle . <p> The Galaxy has been strong at the back since Omar Gonzalez returned in July from a knee injury , but ailing bodies around the field -- including Dunivant at left back -- contributed to a subpar spell that followed five straight shutouts , all competitions , from late August to mid-September . <p> LA had conceded seven goals in a four-game MLS spell before Sunday 's clean sheet , winning just once in the span -- over Toronto FC , who netted a pair -- so the performance against Seattle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game against Vancouver ( 10:30 pm ET ; NBCSN , TSN/RDS2 in Canada ) . <p> " It was a huge point of emphasis for us to get that shutout , and we did it , " Dunivant said of the season finale . " It was n't perfect . They had some opportunities , and we 've already looked at video of that and are trying to correct that going forward . We know in the playoffs you need to win with shutouts . You ca n't rely on winning , 4-3 or 3-2 . That 's not the best recipe in the playoffs . " <p> Goalkeeper Josh Saunders came up huge on several occasions to keep Seattle out , but LA are buoyed by the partnership Gonzalez and Meyer are building in DeLaGarza 's absence . <p> Meyer , a rookie out of Indiana , had made just four league appearances before he was thrust into the middle when DeLaGarza sustained a sprained MCL in a Sept. 30 game at Colorado . He 's grown with each appearance since . <p> " He 's doing very well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media conference call previewing the Vancouver game . " He started the year where it was a little difficult for him being a young player coming into the league , and he more than any player we 've seen over the year has improved a lot . He 's absorbed a lot of information and done a great job over the last couple of months . <p> " We saw Tommy 's improvement and knew that if he were to get on the field for us we 'll be fine , " Arena added . " For the last month or so he 's moving along well , and he 's a good center back . " <p> Dunivant says Meyer is " a completely different player now than he was five months ago . He 's grown by leaps and bounds ... started to feel comfortable in his own skin , and that makes a big difference on the field . " <p> DeLaGarza said Tuesday there was no timetable for his return and that " maybe " he 'd be back in time if the Galaxy reached MLS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for LA through the playoffs , however long they survive . <p> He says he 's ready . <p> " I 'm a lot more aware in the games and realize I have to make plays and not just play it safe , " Meyer said . " The first couple of games I played , I was definitely trying to not make mistakes , trying to play it safe , and as a center back you have to make plays , you have to step in and win tackles . Those are the little things

@@5093941 <p> Joseph Nassralla of Way TV and Media for Christ has contacted me to issue a statement about his role in producing the film " Innocence of Muslims . " The last time I saw Nassralla , he had come to our Summer Night for Civil Rights in June in California , and before that I saw him at our September 11 , 2011 rally . But now he is being hunted like an animal because of the media 's relentless campaign to destroy and target innocent civilians whom they believe have been critical of Islam . Nassralla is currently in hiding after multiple death threats from Muslims , because of his purported role in producing this video . Now , for the first time , Nassralla has revealed to me the inside story of

@@5094041 <p> The 2012 Election Day is upon us , and here are some Web and mobile apps to help you make your voting decision , keep track of results , and show off your freedom of speech . <p> Yoohoo , it 's election day . Do you still feel unprepared to tackle the voting booth today ? No worries , that 's what these helpful apps and widgets are here for . You still have some time to get extra insight on your political candidates this year , ranging from apps that focus on particular issues or ones to help you track poll results . <p> Remember how people flipped out about a rumor that retailer Urban Outfitters CEO Richard Hayne may have been donating money to support Republican presidential nominee Rick Santorum ? ( PolitiFact confirmed Hayne did contribute some money , but not for the current presidential election ) . That vice versa mentality might be just as important to you when it comes to political candidates . Where are they getting their funding from ? Who 's supporting them , and do you support those companies and institutions as well ? <p> If these things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Politicians ? app . You can search for politicians by name or state , and each has a list of total contributions received and a top 10 list of major benefactors so you know who has invested in your candidate . The financial figures come straight from the Federal Election Commisison , so the information is always up-to-date . <p> Social media plays a big role in this year 's election as Twitter becomes a more prominent networking tool than ever . With the Political Engagement Map , you can check how each presidential candidate 's tweets are received in particular parts of the United States . The top tweets are presented in vertical bar graphs that display the most popular tweet , and you can search for tweets with keyboards of specific issues . <p> Some of the results in well-known liberal and conservative states obviously show predictable skews , but in a toss-up state like Ohio , these tweets could show major turning points for voters active on Twitter . <h> If you 're always considering the possibilies ... use The New York Times ' 512 Paths to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the electoral college in battleground states effect the outcome of the polls ? The New York Times 's 512 Paths to the White House widget tells you exactly how by offering you the opportunity to design your own path for Barack Obama or Mitt Romney 's road to winning the election . Instead of doing your own math , the app provides graphs that tell you how many ways a presidential candidate could win by narrowing down states that are still up for grabs . If you reside in one of these states , the app is a truly visual display of how you could be the game changer of the whole election . <h> If you want to show off your vote ... use Foursquare 's I Voted app <p> Foursquare is n't just useful for finding local coffeeshops and bars , it 's also helpful for those searching for their local voting booths . The I Voted app provides information on what you need to vote on in your state , where you can go to cast your ballot , and gives you a Foursquare badge after you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've taken part in American democracy . You can also check back to the app after you 've voted to see how your local state is doing in comparison to the rest of America on a visual map , crowdsourced by Foursquare voters . <p> Technology policies are clearly important to you if you 're reading this , so use CrunchGov 's Policy Leaderboard to see which candidate 's previous actions have been beneficial to voters like yourself . With the Leaderboard , each candidate is ranked from a grade of A to F on how their votes in the White House have aligned with the consensus interests of the tech world . Completely against Stop Online Piracy Act ( SOPA ) , you say ? The leaderboard will tell you whether a candidate has backed that policy so you can stay far , far away from voting for him or her , or vice versa . <h> If you 're a political history junkie ... use Electionary <p> If you 're looking for every kind of data possible on vote counts , history , and percentages down to each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for iPad . You can use the app to search for particular cities and find out voting data for past elections to see how the county or state has changed ( or not changed ) overtime . For those who 've voted and are just waiting eagerly for the results , Electionary will be a good go-to source to track the polls without hearing

@@5094141 <p> G'day Everyone ... so the title says it all . Episode 1 of Creating a Game Store ... " I Have A Dream " . I hope you follow along as I release each episode talking about my journey and my opinions on whats involved in setting up a game store . I 'm far from being a business guru , and there will be many things I do not mention or glaze over ... but by documenting my thoughts , and actions I may be able to offer some small pieces of advice to those interested in doing something similar in the future . <p> G'day everyone ! We 'll its taken a few more days then I wanted , but here is your link to register your suggestion for what I should call my game store ! It 's going to be an amazing place , 400sqm of gaming goodness ! I 'm looking forward to checking ... <p> Okay , so my wife says I should n't upload this ... using the rules of marriage , it means that I must upload this ! This is what happens when my wife goes out with her @ @ @ @

@@5094241 <h> Steve Jobs was receptive to the idea of a 7-inch iPad <p> By Gene Ryan Briones on 08/06/2012 14:00 PST <p> One particular email used in the Apple versus Samsung trial revealed that co-founder Steve Jobs was not totally against the idea of building a 7-inch iPad tablet . The said email came from Eddie Cue , Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services at Apple . Cue , after getting his hands on a 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab , sent an email to Apple CEO Tim Cook , iOS software chief Scott Forstall , and marketing chief Phil Schiller in January this year . In the email , Cue felt compelled that there is a market for a 7-inch iPad . <p> He also wrote that he previously expressed the idea to Steve Jobs several times since Thanksgiving . The interesting part though is that Steve Jobs reportedly seemed very receptive to the idea of a 7-inch iPad . Sadly , Jobs left too soon before he could confirm Cue 's email . Apart from the interesting fact that the email is now being used by Samsung as an evidence that Apple does take cues from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presumption that an iPad mini is now under way -- assuming of course that the idea was approved by Tim Cook in the first place . <p> iPad the iPad is Apple 's tablet computer . While not " invented " by Apple ( the newton was arguably a PDA ) , the iPad has re-ignited the tablet format as it appeared at the right time , with the right hardware and apps . the first iPad was launched on April 2010 . It was followed by the iPad 2 in March 2011 and a new iPad ( gen 3 ) in 2012 . <p> Steve Jobs Steve Jobs ( 1955-2011 ) was the co-founder of Apple Inc , which he created with Steve Wozniak on April 1 1976 . The pair introduced personal computing with the Apple IIe . Steve jobs has also created Pixar , which he sold to Disney in 2006 and Next , a computer company that eventually merged back with Apple . Today 's OS X is largely based on the work done at Next . After leaving Apple in 1985 , Steve Jobs came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO again in 2000 . Under his watch , Apple will execute

@@5094341 <p> I have remembered how to seem . ---King George III in " The Madness of King George . " <p> This is a tale of two stories . The first story was an article your humble correspondent read in today 's Miami Herald . The news could n't be better for Mitt Romney because it reported that the Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald poll of likely voters showed the former Massachusetts governor leading Barack Obama in Florida by a comfortable 51 to 45 margin . However in the same edition of the Miami Herald there is also an Associated Press story stating that Obama " seems " to be leading in early polls in key states . Based on what ? Apparently based on pixie dust since virtually no real proof is offered . <p> First the Miami Herald report chock full of facts which shows Romney with a solid lead : <p> Mitt Romney has maintained a solid lead over President Barack Obama in the latest Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald poll of likely voters who favor the Republican by six percentage points . <p> Romney 's strengths : independent voters and more crossover support from Democrats relative to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling &; Research . <p> And now to the AP report in which Obama " seems " to be leading the early voting in key states including Florida . <p> Florida <p> About 3.9 million people have voted , and 43 percent were Democrats and 40 percent were Republicans . For years ago at this time , Democratic early voters had a 9 percentage point lead over Republicans . <p> Obama won Florida 's early vote by 10 percentage points in 2008 , getting 400,000 more early votes than McCain , enough to offset McCain 's advantage on Election Day . <p> Is n't the real story here the big drop in Democrat early votes this year in Florida compared to 2012 ? The AP 's Stephen Ohlemacher becomes even more absurd when he somehow includes Colorado in the claim that Obama " seems " to be leading in early voting : <p> Colorado <p> About 1.6 million people have voted , and Republicans outnumber Democrats 37 percent to 35 percent . Those numbers are a reversal from four years ago at this time . Inevitably , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2008 , giving him a big enough cushion to win the state , despite narrowly losing the Election Day vote . <p> The case could also be made here that Romney is leading the early vote in Colorado yet Mr. Ohlemacher somehow thinks that Obama " seems " to be leading in that state . <p> The poll that dare not speak its name in this AP fantasy is the Gallup poll which reported at the end of October that Romney is leading early voting by a solid margin : <p> Romney currently leads Obama 52% to 46% among voters who say they have already cast their ballots . However , that is comparable to Romney 's 51% to 46% lead among all likely voters in Gallup 's Oct. 22-28 tracking polling . <p> Bottom line is that Obama is apparently way behind his early vote percentages of 2008 which is really the big story here but AP emphasizes that Obama "

@@5094441 <h> Take My Hand For A While lyrics <h> Francoise Hardy Take My Hand For A While lyrics <p> Take my hand for a while , explain it to me once again Just for the sake of my broken heart , look into my eyes And maybe I will understand how love I 'd counted on Was never there , you see , I thought that you might love me So you caught me it seems off-balance with a heart that 's full Of love and pretty dreams that two should share <p> And so I know , but please before you go Take my hand for a while , explain it to me once again Just for the sake of my

@@5094541 <h> share this story <p> ( Note : I teach creative writing to undergraduates and am often approached by students who want to know whether they should get an MFA and how they should go about it if they decide to take the plunge . This is my advice . ) <p> For proof that the Master of Fine Arts in writing is a degree that has been hotly debated for decades , we need look no further than Iowa Writer 's Workshop alum Flannery O'Connor 's famous remark " Everywhere I go , I 'm asked if I think the universities stifle writers . My opinion is that they do n't stifle enough of them . " After over a decade studying what has been written about the degree , I 've concluded that there will always be those who say that creative writing ca n't or should n't be taught , that the programs are rife with teachers who promote generic McStories and McPoems and who lack an understanding of the publishing world , and that the classes themselves are filled with mawkish students interested only in the therapeutic value of self-expression . It 's simply too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs are often too busy teaching and writing to defend themselves . I do think there 's room for improvement , that 's what my book is about , but I also think that we 're starting to see programs evolve beyond a curriculum that revolves completely around the workshop . In other words , to quote Sam Cooke , " It 's been a long , a long time coming/But I know a change gon na come . " <p> But back to the MFA itself . Here 's what I tell my students : <p> An MFA program can : <p> Give you time and support to focus on your craft and thus accelerate your development as a writer . <p> Provide you with advice and teaching from published writers ( and visiting writers ) who , if you 've selected your program well , are successful in the kind of writing you want to do . <p> Surround you with peers and teachers and visiting writers who care as passionately about the written word as you do . <p> Ideally , give you contacts in the publishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courses and consciously pursue the right opportunities in a program that best fits your interests , help you break into an editorial career in literary publishing , new media or another writing-related career that has n't been invented yet ( publishing is changing that quickly ) . <p> Ideally , if you take the right courses ( in pedagogy ) , publish significantly , or consider further degrees ( Ph.D. ) , help you pursue a job in teaching writing ( if that 's what you 're passionate about ) . <p> An MFA Program Can not : <p> Lead directly to a cushy job teaching creative writing or to a wildly successful publishing career a la Stephen King or Chuck Palahniuk ( neither of whom attended one , anyway ) . <p> If you want to apply : <p> Read widely in contemporary literature ( you should , of course , be doing this anyway , as well as reading literature in general ) . When you find a writer who feels like a kindred spirit , search the web and see if this person is teaching anywhere . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . In its second edition , this is the go-to guide on MFA programs . It will help you to find the right program for you and , even more importantly , help you get the most out of the experience . Tom Kealey runs The MFA Blog . I can not recommend this book strongly enough ; in fact , I recommend it so much Kealey ought to be giving me kickbacks . <p> Also check out the AWP Official Guide to Writing Programs and the Poets and Writers annual special fall issue on MFA programs as well as their helpful online guide . There has been a lot of controversy about the fact that Poets and Writers ranks the programs in a way that many consider dubious : asking prospective students to rank the programs they 're planning to apply to and explain why , which some have compared to asking someone who 's never eaten at a restaurant to evaluate the food based only on the menu . Rankings aside , Poets and Writers provides a great deal of information about the programs themselves , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so forth . In the quest to find the MFA program for you , information is your best ally . For that reason , check out the data on New Pages as well . <p> Once you have narrowed your choices down to a few programs , thoroughly research the faculty and the programs via their websites . Find out what the faculty have been writing and publishing lately . Read a sample . Consider : Is this someone I want to work with ? <p> Try to get a fellowship or an assistantship . Failing that , consider strong state programs with lower tuition . Some will disagree with me on this point , because there are a number of private schools with good programs , a few of which are located in cities with a thriving publishing culture , such as New York and Boston . But if you can avoid it , you do n't want to go too deeply in debt for this degree . <p> Remember : <p> You do not have to get an M.F.A. in order to be a writer . You do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting feedback on your writing via an online or face-to-face critique group . You should also consider attending writers ' conferences both regionally and nationally , as well as writing seminars and readings . Do n't rule out the possibility of a low residency M.F.A. program either , especially if you have another career you enjoy but want to continue your writing avocation . <p> Oh yes , did I mention reading ? Read . Read some more . Read even more . If you 've begun to despair that you 'll never be able to read everything that you need to read in order to nourish your writing and your soul but that it 's worth a try , then congratulations . You 're on the right track . <p> An argument for MFA programs composed by a MFA instructor fails on myriad levels . Three of six selling points are ideals . Not inconsequentially , two are goals ambitious student writers hope to gain by a MFA . Achievement is self-motivated , with or without the financial and time investments required for a MFA . <p> Most revelatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gets ' . The ' thats . ' ' An ' qualifying MFA , thus reading an Master 's of Fine Arts ? The overall passive construction laden with adjectives and adverbs . A second-person POV does n't convey active persuasion , as advertising industry professionals would attest , and make no mistake , this is a degree-specific advertisement . My editorial experience demonstrates the key area MFA grads must unlearn is the passive voice and construction drummed into them during coursework . <p> There is a reason the majority of publishing writers are not MFAs , and a majority of MFA instructors are not actively publishing , nor have published credentials beyond small press publications , primarily in the how-to-write category . A fiction instructor lacking upper-tier published novels may be at heart a teacher , but one of limited scope and expertise . <p> A student searching for a MFA program must vet and assess the faculty 's bona fide publishing credentials , including publishers . Teachers can inspire , encourage , develop skills and talents . A desired pathway to publication requires road-building experience , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideals . <p> MrsMissouri : An argument for MFA programs composed by a MFA instructor <p> It is true , Mrs. Missouri , that publication requires road-building experience , which is why I end my letter ( which is not an ad but in fact an actual letter , addressed to them ) by reminding my students that there are other paths to becoming a writer . The letter itself , including the deliberate use of the word " ideally " more than once , is meant to make them consider thoughtfully and seriously whether this degree is for them . It is also intended to convey their responsibilities in getting the most out of the degree , if they choose to pursue it . Finally , as Mark McGurl demonstrates exhaustively in The Program Era : Postwar Fiction and the Rise of Creative Writing , most of the major American literary figures of the last fifty years are ( and have been ) MFAs whose work is published by major presses . <h> Loading comments ... <p> From The Chicago Manual of Style : " ' A ' or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follows an indefinite article , the choice of a or an is determined by the way the abbreviation would be read aloud . " Hence , " an MFA " is correct . Or at the very least , it 's not grammatically incorrect but a matter of the publication 's or writer 's adherence to a particular style guide . And where exactly is all the passive voice in this piece ? Adjectives do n't have anything to do with passive voice ( a grammatical issue involving subjects and verbs ) . <p> As for the substance of Stephanie Vanderslice 's post , I hope most educational opportunities include ideals . A high bar that I could n't already meet has been important to my education . Cookie-cutter creative writing programs are not the reality , nor should they be . And I 'm glad this post asserts , in stating some things as ideals , that the field is varied and can continue to get better . <h> Loading comments ... <p> cont. take the suggestion seriously . So we can only assume that AWP wishes for current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course they 're likely to know much less about than applicants , having not recently done the necessary research to investigate a broad range of programs ' quantifiable and unquantifiable features . So given that you 've repeated the AWP complaint about the P &W; ranking methodology without noting that AWP 's proposed methodology has never been used in the history of U.S. higher education , or that ( if we interpret AWP 's suggestion charitably ) it would nevertheless survey a self-interested population with no basis of knowledge of even the most cursory kind -- rather than an unbiased , high-knowledge ( i.e. well-researched ) population -- I think a clarification is in order . Of course , the reality is that AWP has had an institutional prohibition against ranking its member institutions for nearly a half century now ( since 1967 ) , so us even speaking of AWP as being " pro- " any kind of ranking methodology whatsoever is farcical and potentially misleading . Best , --Seth <p> SethAbramson : cont. take the suggestion seriously . So we can only assume <p> You make great points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorse the restaurant analogy , I was just presenting the other side . Several directors talked about this at AWP , clearly the Poet 's and Writer 's information is filling a need on behalf of students by providing far more information on the programs than has previously been available and I believe that kind of information ABSOLUTELY needs to be available . Also , there is a need for ranking , perhaps not by AWP but by an organization because rankings speak the language of administrators , like it or not . <h> Loading comments ... <p> Stephanie , I know you 're not endorsing the analogy AWP has proposed between restaurant consumers and MFA students , but I thought I 'd briefly address it anyway , as you mentioned it . MFA students spend between two and four years of their lives , and in some cases up to $100,000 of their own money , to attend an MFA ; they earn a terminal graduate degree that follows them their entire lives , as do the friendships and mentorships and artistic techniques they cultivate while in-program . If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's not just because many of them believe ( rightly or wrongly ) that their degree will help determine their professional future in some unidentified way , but because they have a tremendous personal , artistic , and financial investment in both their program , its future , and the quality of their " pedigree " ( however defined ) . By contrast , a McDonald 's consumer whisks in and out in five minutes and finishes their French fries in the car . No credible educational ranking system ever devised asks current students of any type of degree program to self-report on their alma maters , because the danger of self-serving survey responses would be staggering , as would the danger of inordinate pressure being placed on students by faculty , administrators , and alumni to beef up the program 's " score " ; that would be unfair to programs , unfair to faculties , unfair to students , and unfair to applicants . And again , this is why no one who coordinates rankings of any kind would ever cont . <p> SethAbramson : Stephanie ,

@@5094741 <h> Rep. Weiner admits tweeting lewd photo of himself <p> In an extraordinary reversal at an extraordinary news conference , Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York admitted Monday afternoon that he had repeatedly lied to his constituents and the country in denying that he had sent a lewd picture of himself to a college-age woman on Twitter . <p> In a tearful admission , he said that he had in fact sent multiple inappropriate messages to multiple women but that he had done nothing illegal and would not resign . <p> The Washington Post 's Anqoinette Crosby sits down with Post Politics managing editor Chris Cillizza to talk about the press conference in which Rep. Anthony Weiner ( D-N.Y. ) admitted that he lied about sending lewd photos of himself over Twitter . <p> " The picture was of me , and I sent it , " said Weiner ( D ) , who called it " a very dumb thing to do , " " a hugely regrettable mistake " and " destructive . " <p> " I am deeply ashamed , " said Weiner , his jaw clenched . <p> Soon after he finished speaking , House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said had urged him to tell the whole truth , called on the House ethics committee to investigate the case . <p> For Weiner , a seven-term congressman who was seen as a leading candidate to become the next mayor of New York , the collapse is all the more stunning in light of the heights he had reached in his party and as a spokesman for its liberal wing . In the aftermath of his mea culpa , Republican leaders mostly stood back and watched the public self-immolation of one of their sharpest antagonists . <p> His closest allies limited themselves to offering moral support . <p> " I am deeply pained and saddened by today 's news , " Weiner 's onetime mentor , Sen. Charles E. Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) , said in a statement . " By fully explaining himself , apologizing to all he hurt and taking full responsibility for his wrongful actions , Anthony did the right thing . He remains a talented and committed public servant , and I pray he and his family can get through these difficult times . " <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , known for his swagger and barbed quips , choked up as he expressed regret to his wife of less than a year , Huma Abedin , a close aide of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton 's . He then apologized to the media that had transformed the Brooklyn firebrand into a national star . <p> That humbled self-assessment was in contrast to the bombast that Weiner demonstrated last week , when he sought -- to disastrous effect -- to shame reporters for asking questions about a photo sent from his Twitter account . He repeatedly said his account had been " hacked , " but he failed to answer basic questions -- such as whether the photo was of him and why he had n't called on authorities to investigate the matter . All that defiance appeared drained from the lanky congressman Monday as he stood for more than a half an hour taking fire from reporters , who asked whether he had used any government computers to send the messages , whether he knew any of the recipients to be underage , whether he had engaged in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and whether he thought he could be reelected . <p> " I do n't believe I did anything that violates any law or any rule , " said Weiner , who also said he did n't think he had used any government resources to send the messages , specifying that he used his personal BlackBerry for the interactions . " I do n't see anything I did that violated any rules of the House . I do n't see anything that my oath of office

@@5094841 <p> It was to be the rousing finale of their musical show at the June 20 commencement . The kids , dressed up for their big day , would wave tiny American flags -- which , as the lyrics proclaim , " still stand for freedom . " <p> But Hawkins marched in on a recent rehearsal and ordered a CD playing the anthem to be shut off , staffers said . <p> She told the teachers to drop the song from the program . <p> " We do n't want to offend other cultures , " they quoted her as explaining . <p> The curt edict stunned both staff and parents . <p> " A lot of people fought to move to America to live freely , so that song should be sung with a whole lot of pride , " said mom Luz Lozada , whose son , Daniel , is in kindergarten . <p> The song has been sung at previous school events . Last year 's fifth-graders , including another Lozada child , performed it at graduation . <p> " Everybody applauded and whistled , " the mom said . " They gave it a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It makes them a little goosebumpy and teary-eyed . I 've never come across anyone who felt it insulted their culture . " <p> Department of Education spokeswoman Jessica Scaperotti gave The Post an explanation staffers said they never heard -- that Hawkins found the lyrics " too grown up " for 5-year-olds . <p> The song starts : " If tomorrow all the things were gone , I 'd worked for all my life . And I had to start again , with just my children and my wife , I 'd thank my lucky stars , to be livin ' here today . " <p> Scaperotti said the department supports the principal 's decision . " The lyrics are not age-appropriate , " she said . <p> But Justin Bieber 's flirty song about teen romance , " Baby , " was deemed a fine selection for the show . Hawkins had no problem with 5-year-olds singing lines such as , " Are we an item ? Girl , quit playing . " <p> The other songs : " We 're All Together Again , " popular at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " which celebrates diversity ; " Shake Your Sillies Out " by Raffi ; and " You 've Got a Friend in Me " from " Toy Story . " <p> Scaperotti noted PS 90 kids recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing " America the Beautiful " each morning . Insiders say Hawkins tried to end that tradition a couple years ago but staff objected . <p> The principal , a Jehovah 's Witness , does not recite the pledge because her religion forbids followers to salute any nation 's flag . Staffers gripe she does n't stand in respect during the school-wide ritual . <p> The song uproar comes amid tensions . Hawkins has been called a tyrant and bully by some staffers . <p> The DOE reprimanded her in 2010 after teachers complained she called the school " racist " and declared : " I 'm black . Your previous principal was white and Jewish . More of us are coming . " <p> Scaperotti said Hawkins is being targeted by the teachers union and has received hate

@@5094941 <h> America 's Necessary Response to Moscow 's Airport Attack : Nothing <p> As Russia reels in the aftermath of a brutal terror attack yielding an estimated 35 casualties at Domodedovo Airport -- Moscow 's busiest -- much of the awe and reaction toward this specific incident is focused on the location : not just an airport , but a restaurant at an airport , outside of the baggage claim , before anyone reaches a security checkpoint . Especially as the terrorists in question are initially being reported as Arab , governments ( and specifically : ours ) beginning to react on their own turfs outside of Russia is a given . Yet , while responses by Western Governments to terror attacks anywhere are subject to variables generally extending to who 's been attacked , who has done the attacking , and whether continuity within the attack is a possibility , they all typically have a common link : the intensifying of security at corresponding locations . Is that going to happen here ? Will you now have to be checked just to get into baggage claims ? Does this attack foretell any changes in the way Americans go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bruce Schneier , a security guru with a day job as Chief Security Technology Officer of BT , when he 's not authoring one of his several books , donating a fair share of congressional testimonies , and writing a monthly newsletter on security technologies , Crypto-Gram , which enjoys a following of over 150,000 regular readers . We reached Schneier over the phone this morning , as he spoke to us from his hotel room in Guatemala . <p> ESQUIRE : What kind of response by those responsible for American security from terror does an attack like this produce ? What 's considered overly reactionary , here ? <p> BRUCE SCHNEIER : This is the sort of thing that yes , people are likely to overreact to , and do all sorts of things that 'll do nothing to solve the problem but make people feel better . <p> What kind overreactions are we talking about ? <p> Anything . Could be anything . Doing anything would be an overreaction . As long as you have crowded people , bombers can blow themselves up in those crowds . It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do with anything . Restaurants , movie theaters , stadiums . We could list , without even trying , 100,000 potential targets . <p> Allow us to be nave : What 's the harm in overreacting to a potential security threat ? <p> It 'll cost you money . It 's money that could be better spent making you safer . You waste money , you waste civil liberties , time , freedoms . You end up with governments that break the law . There 's a lot of harm to be had . In the U.S. certainly , we 've had at least one political party campaign on ' You 're scared and we 'll make you feel better . ' You go to other countries and that kind of thing is even more severe . Fear-based politics . <p> Is there no reasonable route for recourse in the aftermath of a terror attack ? <p> There 's a lot of stuff we 're doing very badly . We just spend money crappily on security . We spend on things like taking away liquids at airports , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scanners , which is even worse than dumb . We 're now starting to do random bag searches in subways in Washington D.C. Imagine how stupid that is . We 're forcing the bad guy to walk seven blocks to the next station . Do you feel safer ? Look at the numbers . We have 42,000 people die each year in car crashes . That 's really , really appalling . Terrorism is pretty much close to zero , here , so we 're certainly sufficient against the threat . Investigation , intelligence , and emergency response . The stuff in the beginning -- which gets the bad guys regardless of their plot -- and the stuff afterwards , it cleans up and helps people survive after the inevitable thing happens , no matter what it is . <p> Schneier later e-mailed after our conversation to emphasize a point : <p> " The bomb could just as easily have been in any other crowded area of the city . There 's simply no way to secure them all . Increasing security in the arrivals area would do little more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , psychology will kick in and we 'll over react . ' Something must be done . This

@@5095041 <p> Former NFL player Jerramy Stevens found himself in trouble with the law again this week , this time because of an accusation that he assaulted his fiancee , soccer star Hope Solo . <p> But after Stevens was arrested he had a brief court appearance at which a judge said there was insufficient evidence to charge Stevens with assaulting Solo , and Stevens was released . Solo was in court but did not speak . <p> The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that Stevens was arrested on Monday for fourth-degree assault . Court documents in the case show that police responded to a call about a domestic disturbance that included Stevens , Solo and Solo 's younger brother , Marcus . Few details in the incident have been made available about what exactly Stevens did that led to his arrest . <p> According to Chris Daniels of KING-TV , the police report in the incident says Stevens and Solo were set to get married today , but they got into an argument yesterday over whether they would live in Florida or Washington State . <p> Stevens has a long history of legal issues , with arrests for sexual assault , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drunk driving , among other issues . A first-round draft pick of the Seahawks in 2002 , Stevens played five seasons in Seattle and four in Tampa Bay . <p> It 's got ta suck when your broad is the more popular &; talented professional athlete ; just ask Matt Traynor . <p> daroc88 says : Nov 13 , 2012 8:03 PM <p> I had much higher hopes for this world-class and beautiful athlete ( pun intended ) . They 've only been dating since she returned from the Olympics this year . Please think this one through a little more Hope . <p> I remember when Stevens was drafted out of Washington by the Seahawks one of the draft analysts mentioned he will be playing in a state where the police know him by name . Still one of my favorite draft day quotes . <p> emperorzero says : Nov 13 , 2012 8:40 PM <p> I had serious respect for Hope Solo until

@@5095141 <p> PJ Media has learned that a team of career lawyers , expert analysts , and supervisors in the Justice Department Voting Section recommended that South Carolina 's photo voter identification law be precleared under the Voting Rights Act as non-discriminatory . Presidential appointees in the Justice Department then disregarded the career recommendation and an objection followed , blocking South Carolina 's voter ID law . <p> South Carolina filed suit in federal court , and a trial concluded a few weeks ago . The parties are briefing the case and a decision is expected shortly . ( See " DOJ Lawyers Waste Your Money Over Fonts " at PJ Media . ) <p> This information directly contradicts a central theme of Attorney General Eric Holder 's civil rights enforcement -- that career civil servants have been placed back in charge of Voting Rights Act enforcement . It also raises questions about political interference during an election year that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs from a federal court lawsuit to defend the decision by political appointees to overrule the career recommendation . Had voter ID been precleared , South Carolina would not have needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats have pushed the narrative that Bush political appointees overruled the recommendation of career lawyers inside the Voting Section and precleared Georgia voter ID in 2005 . This story is false because the career civil servant in charge of the Voting Section recommended that Georgia voter ID should be precleared , and the political appointees followed his recommendation . <p> That did n't stop Senator Patrick Leahy ( D-VT ) from saying " the Washington Post ran two front page articles detailing how President Bush 's political appointees within the Division were overriding career litigators ' recommendations on crucial voting rights cases . . . . There are disturbing reports that career lawyers have been shut out of the Division 's decision-making process . " <p> Even then-Senator Barack Obama joined in , attacking now-PJ Media contributor Hans von Spakovsky 's role in approving Georgia voter ID : " Reports indicate that Mr. von Spakovsky joined other senior officials in overruling the recommendations of several career staff lawyers who had reviewed the Georgia voter ID law and determined that it would unduly hinder the ability of black voters to cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Section became a central campaign theme of candidate Obama , as I document in my book Injustice . <p> Once upon a time , the opinion of career staff at the Voting Section about a voter ID submission was the lodestar to Leahy and Obama . <p> The South Carolina voter ID law was reviewed by civil rights analysts , a veteran attorney reviewer , the deputy chief in charge of Section 5 enforcement , and ultimately the section chief . Extensive and detailed memos were prepared by career staff recommending that South Carolina voter ID be precleared . There was a very small difference in voter ID possession between blacks and whites -- only a 1.6% difference . South Carolina made photo ID free and allowed anyone with a reasonable impediment in obtaining one to vote anyhow after completing an affidavit . Based on these facts , career staff recommended preclearance . <p> But according to DOJ staff familiar with subsequent events , Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Matthew Colangelo then overruled the career staff and ordered that the Department of Justice object to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behavior that Leahy and Obama had falsely accused the Bush Justice Department of conducting . <p> Tom Perez <p> This revelation is also damning because it means there is extensive DOJ documentation supporting South Carolina 's lawsuit . DOJ lawyers did not reveal to the three-judge federal panel the internal preclearance recommendation stating that the law did not discriminate . Nor did the Justice posted immediately . If you feel your comment was filtered inappropriately , please email us at story@pjmedia.com . <p> Racialists of the HIGHEST magnitude are now in control of the most important law enforcement agency in the U.S. It is as if rapists are in charge of victim rights centers , and adjudicating against rape victims ! <p> It is a travesty of injustice created by a Radical-in-Chief , hell bent on remaking the U.S. into a third world nation . <p> Not that it makes Americans feel any better , but the AG office in Israel is Arabist/leftist in the extreme , and adjudicates to the detriment of all Jews in Israel . I kid you not . This has been the case since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jews have died due to their ( politically charged/prejudiced ) decisions . And , I have the statistics to back up my assertion . <p> Thanks Clarice . Let 's sit back and watch the writers and critics who in 2006 were in a frenzy to see if their outrage has partisan bias or not . Signs point to yes . One leftist election blog already is already running interference for the government , rather than asking tough questions . <p> This kind of rank hypocrisy from the Obama/Holder Department of Justice has come to be expected now and , sadly , is not altogether surprising . What is tragic , though , is that it does not get more widely reported due to the highly complicit mainstream media , which is so closely ideologically aligned with the partisan liberals running DOJ . Kudos to Christian and PJ Media for exposing these knd of incidents . <p> No . Even as shaky as Obama 's record was before the election , there 's no way any reasonable person could anticipate the shameless , blatant corruption of this administration . The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm reading you correctly , the court currently adjudicating this case does not have access to those internal DoJ documents , nor any of this evidence pointing to the blatantly political decision to block SC 's voter ID law . So they 'll make their decision based on incomplete information . <p> Is there any legal complaint that can be made , either before the decision is made , or after a decision against the state , to charge the DOJ with violating the discovery rules that can reverse the decision in time for the election ? Or is the only alternative to appeal the ruling on this new information , which would no doubt happen after the election , which is exactly what Holder is trying to accomplish ? Once the election is over , he will care less if he gets overturned . <p> And has anyone noticed how all these cases are being decided too close to the election to be appealed in time ? On one of them reported here recently , the court sat on it for a year , only to rule for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do with Texas ' redistricting ) . <p> Coincidence ? Right . <p> And Christian , do you know if the DOJ is pulling the same trick on the military votes as they did in 2010 , granting waivers to all the election boards controlled by Democrats to allow them to send ballots to the troops too late to have them back in time to be counted ? This practice is despicable and disgusting , but that 's nothing unusual for this administration . <p> All of the non-lawyers speculating are making incorrect assumptions . The DOJ 's administrative decision-making process , like it or not , has absolutely zero relevance to the court 's judgment on the matter . The court reviews the law de novo . What the DOJ did during its administrative review of the law is not relevant to the court 's review of the law . The court will review the law entirely independently from the DOJ 's decision . Christian knows this . So when he says , " There is nothing in the court record , " he 's being an artful lawyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not telling the whole story . <p> JNM is being an artful lawyer too . ( You should at least disclose where you work ! ) If you read the Texas voter ID opinion , you 'll know that the court indeed spent a good deal of ink on the administrative process . JNM is right , it is supposed to be de novo . But in reality , in Texas at least , the court seemed to be paying close attention to the administrative review process . Of course we all know that federal courts are totally immune to outside influences which were not admitted into evidence , so we can probably assume the court will pay no attention to conclusions in the administrative process by the career professionals that the law should have been precleared . <p> Somehow I 'm thinking that the defenders of the ID statute might want to be tugging on the judges ' sleeves . Were documents of this nature not requested in discovery ? If so , would witholding them be ... problematic ? Why , yes . Yes it would . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but man has studied conflict resolution for centuries . Surely there are rules of conduct in the legal profession , which appears to be violated . Congress , not DoJ makes the law . In 2012 , I have serious concerns why the states of the old Confederacy are treated any differently that Chicago in voter requirements based on race . And , from my expertise , engineering , I can say that the power of the government to detect all human behavior is in its infancy . The cost of detectors , transmission , and data processing and storage has plummeted in the last generation . This will continue . Voter ID cards may give way to retina scans . Ergo , should voters be required to bring their eyeballs to a voting location ? <p> As a former manager , I accept that higher officials may over rule their subordinates . In the private sector , this can lead to termination of the subordinate ( which should be extremely rare , in my experience due to almost psychotic arrogance&lt; " I am right all others are wrong " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this intramural divide should be exposed . Was South Carolina dumb ? Was the rules of discovery too narrow ? Was DoJ crooked ( violate the law ? ) Was the judge asleep , allowing extraneous questioning ? <p> We have a right to competent , honest lawyers in government . ( I know several and they are very intelligent , decent people ; I can not judge their expertise . ) We also have a right to pay for only one legal position from our government . Currently we often pay for both plaintiff and defendant . Thus my solution would be to cut the DoJ budget in half , every year , compounded , until the top echelons got their act together . In the private sector this is common , and effective . When Mr. Perez is terminated , loses his house in foreclosure ; it will flavor his legal theories . <p> Calling this bunch of liars and absolute racists and political hacks the " Department of Justice " is just as great a misnomer as calling Obamacare the " Affordable " patient care act . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exact opposite of what they are . -- -- And there 's the " Most Transparent Government " that 's about as transparent as a black tombstone . <p> Isnt it about time for the Federal Government to leave the South alone ? The Civil War was 150 years ago . Jim Crowe laws are dead and gone . In my travels I have seen more discrimination outside the South than down here . <p> Today we had elections in the Netherlands and though not agreeing with the outcome each and every eligible citizen needs to show his ID before being handed a ballot form . Any other way seems a bit ' undemocratic ' ! <p> I totally agree with Rogerola . Unless you can show ID , what is going to stop non-citizens from voting ? Surprisingly , even in America , illegals have Driver Licenses and ID Cards ... States have the right to stop voter fraud ! <p> This fact about the DOJ internal deliberation suggests that the Section 5 preclearance obligation induces a political agenda by DOJ civil rights lawyers who advance this provision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ von Spakovsky authored a legal memorandum titled The Bailout Bait and Switch : DOJ 's Last-Ditch Attempt to Rescue Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act . The Section 5 preclearance obligation should be rendered unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in TX v. Holder , Shelby County v. Holder , or FL v. Holder for exceeding congressional authority to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment to the Federal Constitutional for incongruity and disproportionality , which is forbidden by the City of Boerne v. Flores for congressional enforcement clause authority limits and Mulloch v. Maryland for the necessary and power clause . If Section 5 preclearance exceeds congressionality authority under Section 2 of the Fifteenth Amendment , then it violates the Fifth , Tenth , Fourteenth , and Fifteenth Amendments in addition to Article IV of the Constitution as contended by Shelby County , Alabama . The covered jurisdictions should no longer be obligated to submit proposed electoral regulations to the three-judge district court in Washington , DC or the Department of Justice . The National Black Chamber of Commerce and Project 21 agree that Section 5 preclearance is unconstitutional . Justice Clarence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is rendered invalid since intentional discrimination on account of race , color , or membership in a langugage minority does not exist . Former MI Attorney General Mike Cox , Former AL Attorney General Troy King , and Former SC Attorney General Henry McMaster would be appropriate candidates qualified for the position of Attorney General of the United States . <p> I intended to reply to something offensive , but my " Do n't be a fool ... " comment is n't now attached to anything , and I do n't see any particularly offensive comments .

@@5095241 <h> Privacy Policy <p> First Place 4 Health believes that privacy is important to the success and use of the Internet . This statement sets forth First Place 4 Health 's Privacy Statement for FirstPlace4Health.com and describes the practices that First Place 4 Health will follow with respect to the privacy of users of this site . From time to time , we may change this Privacy Statement . For example , as we update and improve our service , new features may require modifications to the Privacy Statement . Accordingly , please check back periodically . <h> What is personally identifiable information ? <h> How is information collected , used , and disclosed ? <p> We do not collect personal information including your e-mail address unless we first ask you for it . We may request that you voluntarily supply us with information including your e-mail address , street address , telephone number or other information so that we may enhance your site visit or follow up with you after your visit . Whether you provide any information is entirely up to you . <p> If you have voluntarily provided information , you consented to the collection and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Privacy Statement . We do not sell or rent personal information collected through this site to anyone . Also , First Place 4 Health may provide aggregate statistics about visitors to our sites , such as volume , traffic patterns , and related site information to reputable third-party vendors , but these statistics will include no personally identifiable information . First Place 4 Health may also disclose information in special cases when we have a good faith belief that such action is necessary to : ( a ) conform to legal requirements or comply with legal process ; ( b ) protect and defend our rights or property ; ( c ) enforce the Web site Terms and Conditions of Use ; or ( d ) act to protect the interests of our users or others . <h> What are cookies and how are they used ? <p> Like many other commercial web sites we utilize a standard technology called " cookies " to collect information about how our site is used . Cookies were designed to help a web site operator determine that a particular user had visited the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have been set while the user was browsing the site . Cookies are small strings of text that web sites can send to your browser . Cookies can not retrieve any other data from your hard drive or obtain your e-mail address . If you are simply browsing the First Place 4 Health informational site , a cookie may be used to identify your browser as one that has visited the site before . Although you have the ability to modify your browser to either accept all cookies , notify you when a cookie is sent , or reject all cookies , it may not be possible to utilize First Place 4 Health services which require registration if you reject cookies . <p> If you have voluntarily provided information , you consented to the collection and use of your personally identifiable information as described in this Privacy Statement . If , in connection with your use of a particular service , we ask to use your data in a way not described in this Privacy Statement and you do not wish to permit that use , you can choose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have voluntarily provided personally identifiable information , we may , from time to time , send you mail or e-mail regarding products and services . <h> How do we protect your information ? <p> We exercise great care to protect your personally identifiable information . This includes , among other things , using industry standard techniques such as firewalls , encryption intrusion detection and site monitoring . Unfortunately , no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure . As a result , while we personally identifiable information , we can not ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us or receive from us . This is especially true for information you transmit to us via e-mail . We have no way of protecting that information until it reaches us . Once we receive your transmission , we make our best effort to ensure its security on our servers . <p> Internally , we will restrict access to your personally identifiable information to employees who need access to the information in order to do their jobs . These employees are limited in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> We will review our security arrangements from time to time as we deem appropriate . <h> How can you help protect your information ? <p> If you are using the First Place 4 Health web site and chose a password , we recommend that you do not divulge your password to anyone . We will never ask you for your password in an unsolicited phone call or in an unsolicited e-mail . Also remember to sign out of the registered site and close your browser window when you have finished your work . This is to ensure that others can not access your

@@5095341 " Pre-order both items " , " Pre-order all three items " <p> This little book has fun with words . From digging a hole to standing on top of someone 's thumb , we follow along as the dog learns a lot of words and concepts . We learn opposites : dark/light , day/night , here/there ; we learn colors ; we learn actions : wash your ears , scratch your head , blow your nose ; we learn silliness : kiss the goose , clean the zoo . <p> The pictures lend themselves well to pointing out objects and asking children questions . Yet they are simple enough not to be distracting . <p> Our one year old requests this book quite often , as did his brother well into his 2 's . It 's the perfect size for little hands . It travels well , too . Our oldest was able to describe the illustrations just enough that we could use the book to spur conversations while in the car , making car rides more fun . <p> ISBN 0375800999 - While this is an abridged version of the original , and those who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's well worth picking up because it serves as a nice bridge for the littlest readers to those originals . <p> The narrator , setting out to teach his dog a lot of words , introduces the reader to those words , too ! In rhyme , his dog learns actions and opposites , colors and more . <p> The book is small , easily held by small hands , but the boards are a little flimsier than many other board books , so expect a few bent corners . The glossy pages are easy to wipe clean of sticky fingerprints , which is a nice little plus . The illustrations flawlessly illustrate the text and , best of all , your young reader will be on his/her way to I 'll Teach My Dog 100 Words ( Bright &; Early Books ) in no time ! <p> I have both the board book and the original with 100 words and I can tell you that the board book is way better for the under 2 crowd . Not only are the pages rip-proof , but it also includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , etc. ) which children will love . This has been one of my son 's favorites ever since he started looking at books and he is now almost 2 . Are you kidding -- a dog doing all sorts of fun things like begging for ice cream , blowing his nose , mowing the lawn and taking a bath ? What more could a toddler want from a book ? This book has also held its appeal for the longest time of all our books , and as he gets older he notices other items which did n't interest him before . I never read the books to him because he did n't like me reading the words to books anyway ( go figure ! ) , but we do talk about the items in the book so he still learns all the words . Easily a

@@5095441 <h> Primary Navigation <h> Politico Predicts Softballs at Today 's Presidential News Conference <h> Always ones to try and set The Narrarive , today Politico leads with a story laughably titled , " Hard questions await Obama at news conference . " And just to be extra helpful , Politico includes questions it thinks should predicts will be asked . <p> Hang on , Mr. President ... Things are about to get rough : <p> 1 . Do you believe the FBI should have told you and Congress sooner about the investigation that led Gen. Petraeus to resign ? <p> This question is intentionally premised on a matter-of-fact assumption that no one in the Administration knew about the probe prior to Wednesday , when we all know Attorney General Eric Holder knew and claims he did n't tell the president . So why not ask Obama if he believes Holder should 've informed him immediately ? The question also makes Obama out to be the victim of those nasty agencies . <p> No one 's arguing that today 's questions should be premised in a way that assumes Obama did something wrong , but let 's get the President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he nor anyone in the Executive Branch knew about the Petraeus affair prior to the election . <p> 2 . Do you worry about a culture in which trusted officials behave badly ? Does this administration consider anyone who 's having an extramarital affair , or has had one in the past , to be unfit for public office ? <p> This question is not only dumb , it 's premised in a way that intentionally allows Obama to assume some high-ground and then lecture the rest of us . That 's not a " hard question , " it 's a " softball opportunity . " And since when did the media get all high and mighty about extramarital affairs having anything to do with whether or not someone is fit to hold office ? Was n't it just two presidents ago we were told by this very same press corps that adultery in the Oval Office and presidential perjury were " just about sex . " <p> Why , yes -- yes , it was . <p> 3 . On the fiscal cliff , is your bottom line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loopholes and deductions on the wealthy , or must tax rates also go up in order for you to sign a deal ? <p> Over the last couple of days , and in no uncertain terms , Obama 's already answered this question . What the media 's looking for here is a soundbite to play over and over again that allows Obama to pitch his tax hike endlessly as it 's re-broadcast endlessly . The media is desperate for Obama to bring Congressional Republicans to their knees on this issue and an effective soundbite Obama 's undoubtedly prepared for will help move that ball . <p> Asking a question already answered at the first presidential news conference in eight months is a wasted opportunity . A savvy press corps eager to do its job will be much less predictable . Why not ask about the study that says this tax hike will cost jobs ? Why not ask why the Administration is so wedded to a largely symbolic tax hike we all know will never put a dent in the deficit ? <p> Maybe Obama will be asked that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out how ridiculous Politico is . <p> 4 . Some in your party , including a Senate Democratic leader , say the country should go over the cliff if Republicans do n't relent on taxes . Can you say right now the cliff will not be breached ? <p> Note the wording : " if Republicans do n't relent on taxes . " You see , it 's all going to be the Republicans ' fault ; that 's the set-up going in . It 's not about Obama 's leadership or lack thereof , and it 's certainly not about how it might be time for this president to show some bipartisanship and meet the other side somewhere in the middle . It 's the Republicans who must " relent " -- not Obama , not Democrats , and not the media . <p> 5 . You said during the last presidential debate with Mitt Romney that the defense sequester " will not happen . " Was that a misstatement or are you really that confident ? <p> Translation : You seemed to throw away a major bargaining position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we would like to give you an opportunity to take it back . You 're welcome . <p> 6 . Why was the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi so lightly guarded , despite complaints about deteriorating security conditions in Libya ? <p> Oh , so NOW you want to know this . This is a fairly safe way for the media to pretend its doing its job on Libya -- you know , get on the record . But we all know Obama 's going to defer to the investigation and make commander-in-chiefy pronouncements about how this can never happen again . <p> The media is well aware that the only way to get Obama to answer questions and come out from behind this " investigation " is to start a Narrative Nightmare like the one currently swamping David Petraeus . But because the media 's terrified of a truth that only starts with these fatal security decisions , we 're headed right back into Petraeusville till spring . <p> But why not ask Obama why , in the days and weeks after the attack , members of his Administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was " no evidence " of a pre-planned attack ? Why not ask why Obama told " 60 Minutes " one thing the day after the attack ( that was never broadcast ) but told the American people something completely different for a full two weeks after ? <p> 7 . So , about those new pot laws . Does the federal government plan to intervene in Washington and Colorado , which both voted to legalize marijuana last week ? <p> Fine . Whatever . <p> You have to keep in mind that Politico is n't just guessing at the questions Obama will be asked at today 's news conference , they 're hoping to shape the questions in advance . And as you can see , the questions cover all the important issues of the day but are intentionally presented in a manner that wo n't leave a mark . <p> Again , no one is asking for Obama to be treated with disrespect or barraged with " gotcha " questions . He 's the president of the United States and should be treated as such . But @ @ @ @ @ @

@@5095541 <h> You are here : <h> Everything in This Country Must : A Novella <h> Review <p> Colum McCann , author of the novels SONGDOGS and THIS SIDE OF BRIGHTNESS and a brilliant short story collection , FISHING THE SLOE-BLACK RIVER , deftly turns his pen to a novella and two stories in his newest offering . <p> EVERYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY MUST focuses on Northern Ireland and its long-standing conflicts . However , instead of immersing these tales in political rhetoric or bloody confrontations , McCann takes a more personal approach that is even more devastating because of its subtle intensity . <p> In the title story , a summer flood provides the backdrop for personal loss tainted by political convolutions when a beloved horse trapped in the rising waters is rescued by the enemy . <p> " Father sat down on the riverbank and said , Sitdown Katie , and I could hear in Father 's voice more sadness than when he was over Mammy 's and Fiachra 's coffins , more sadness than the day after they were hit by the army truck down near the Glen , more sadness than the day when the judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more sadness than even that day and all the other days that follow . " <p> In " Wood , " a mother and son surreptitiously mill logs for a political rally , needing the money as the family 's wage earner lies in bed recovering from a stroke . The quiet desperation of the pair as they try to split and round and drag the wood without attracting the notice of a father who would surely disapprove of their activities is where McCann shows his genius at minimalism . He pulls us into the conspiracy , only hinting at the politics behind the woman 's determination , and our hearts beat faster as she valiantly transforms wood into pride . <p> The novella , " Hunger Strike , " is the most outwardly political of the pieces in this collection . An adolescent is drawn into a world from which his mother has long tried to protect him when his imprisoned uncle starves himself in protest . As the hunger strike progresses , the boy 's relationship with his mother runs a tandem course of deterioration . " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporarily smothered by a mother 's love . <p> In crisp , unparalleled prose , Colum McCann illustrates the true tragedies that the Troubles in Northern Ireland have wrought by focusing on the personal and intense minutiae that make up human

@@5095641 <h> Astrophysics &gt; Solar and Stellar Astrophysics <h> Title : The role of radiative losses in the late evolution of pulse-heated coronal loops/strands <p> Abstract : Radiative losses from optically thin plasma are an important ingredient for modeling plasma confined in the solar corona . Spectral models are continuously updated to include the emission from more spectral lines , with significant effects on radiative losses , especially around 1 MK . We investigate the effect of changing the radiative losses temperature dependence due to upgrading of spectral codes on predictions obtained from modeling plasma confined in the solar corona . The hydrodynamic simulation of a pulse-heated loop strand is revisited comparing results using an old and a recent radiative losses function . We find significant changes in the plasma evolution during the late phases of plasma cooling : when the recent radiative loss curve is used , the plasma cooling rate increases significantly when temperatures reach 1-2 MK . Such more rapid cooling occurs when the plasma density is larger than a threshold value , and therefore in impulsive heating models that cause the loop plasma to become overdense . The fast cooling has the effect of steepening the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperature at temperatures lower than 2 MK . The effects of changes in the radiative losses curves can be important for modeling the late phases of the evolution of pulse-heated coronal loops , and , more

@@5095741 <h> Poirot : Cards on the Table ( 2005 ) <p> SYNOPSIS An enjoyable evening of bridge turns into a murder investigation . Can the four invited investigators -- Hercule Poirot , Superintendent Battle , Colonel Race and Ariadne Oliver -- discover which of the other four guests is the killer ? All four had the opportunity -- and all four have something to hide . After all , their host seemed certain that each of them had already got away with murder . <p> Cards on the Table is scheduled to air in the US on A &E; Sunday , December 11 @ 1PM Eastern . It is currently scheduled to appear in " early 2006 ? on ITV in the UK . Stay tuned for specific airdates . <p> SID 'S TAKE Shortly after securing the role of Mr. Shaitana , Sid shared a little bit about the project : <p> " It 's part of a series of films in fact called " Poirot " with David Suchet , who stars as an unflappable detective confounding the criminal masterminds of the 1930s . Should be a lot of fun . The script is certainly very good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal roles and I look forward to the performance . " <p> NOTES AND REVIEWS Considered one of the best of Christie 's closed-door murders . This novel also marks the first appearance of Mrs. Ariadne Oliver in a novel . Poirot revealed the plot for this novel in Chapter 3 of ' The ABC Murders ' , when he describes his idea of the ideal crime for Hastings ; " A crime with no complications . A crime

@@5095841 <p> The break up story continues for Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber . TMZ thinks they know why the break up occurred and what Selena is doing about it . Plus Honey Boo Boo gets a letter from PETA about her new pet . <p> During November men are usually growing out their beards and mustaches for No Shave November to bring awareness to Prostate Cancer , but one of the Colts cheerleaders is doing the opposite

@@5095941 <h> Top 5 Apps Restaurants Need To Be On -- Guest Post <p> Let 's take New York City as an example . In the old , pre-smartphone days , it did n't matter if you were a Brooklyn hipster or a tourist visiting from St. Paul , London or Johannesburg , finding the hottest , trendiest restaurant was no small feat . It took a Herculean effort to find someone in the know , and an even greater determination to actually get a reservation at that rooftop bistro or Cambodian joint you 'd heard so much about . Good restaurants , and dives , have always come with a side dish of tribalism , so good luck finding your way inside ( or to that table on the street ) . However , smart-phones and apps have changed all that . <p> Today , even if you wanted your Indian restaurant to be the best kept secret in town , information spreads fast and nobody is keeping secrets . In the end , to stay viable , restaurants have embraced this new technology . When potential customers hear about a new restaurant , they turn to their smart-phones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tourist in a foreign city , smart-phones and apps have become the go-to-guides for Michelin Star restaurants and greasy spoons . If you want to generate positive reviews , feedback and fill those tables on a traditionally slow Monday night , your restaurant needs an app connection , and that does n't mean potato skins , popcorn shrimp or P.E.I mussels , either . Here is a look at the top five apps restaurants need to be on . Bon Apptit . <p> 1 . Urbanspoon . Well-designed and user-friendly , Urbanspoon encompasses everything from Best Fine Dining and Talk of the Town lists to a host of different review platforms . On Urbanspoon , food critics and patrons alike can have their say about a particular eating establishment , thus creating a well-rounded opinion of the restaurant . Urbanspoon links to neighborhoods as well as types of cuisine . <p> 2 . Yelp . As equally as user-friendly as Urbanspoon , Yelp is one of the most popular restaurant apps . It has a huge database and good search filters . Yelp uses a simple five star rating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lobster shacks to upscale farm-to-table restaurants . The ratings of the smaller restaurants are user-generated , while the larger places feature reviews from popular publications . Restaurants can be searched by cost , proximity or availability . Yelp even has an " Open Now " feature , which ensures you do n't trek across town only to find the restaurant closes early on Tuesdays . <p> 3 . LocalEats . This app works differently than Urbanspoon or Yelp . When you use this app , all it gives you is the Top 100 Restaurants in a given city . These recommendations are critic based and not user generated . This might be a good thing , however , LocalEats does not provide you with any criteria on how these top restaurants were chosen . Was it the ambiance , food or service that made these locations special ? LocalEats seems specifically geared towards the business class . If you want to wine and dine a potential partner , you simply take them to one of the top three restaurants on the LocalEats list . <p> 4 . Zagat To Go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then you know that Zagat is a well-respected restaurant guide . The app , like the guide , is geared towards higher-end restaurants . If you 're looking for a cheap place to get a stack of pancakes , you wo n't find it here . When rating food , dcor and service , Zagat uses a numerical grade . One of the best features on the app is its Neighborhood Section ; with this feature you can filter restaurants by their characteristics . For example , you will see phrases like warm welcome , cozy , teen appeal and urban chic . <p> 5 . Local Picks . TripAdvisor is a travel website that covers everything from hotel reviews to vacation advice , and Local Picks is their foray into the world of restaurant apps . Local Picks is streamlined and easy-to-use ; you find a restaurant based on either the price or the type of cuisine . Local Picks uses Google Maps for directions . <p> The days of finding restaurants in Frommer 's and Lonely Planet guidebooks are over . As a restaurateur , whether you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business , if a potential patron can find you on an app , then there is a better chance that they 're going to find their way through the door . <p> Hannah N. is a 22-year-old food lover , technology writer , and adventure enthusiast

@@5096041 <p> Think you pay a lot for gas ? Perhaps you 'd prefer to live in Venezuela . <p> NEW YORK ( CNN/Money ) ? Gasoline prices in the United States , which have recently hit record highs , are actually much lower than in many countries . Drivers in some European cities , like Amsterdam and Oslo , are paying nearly 3 times more than those in the U.S. <p> The main factor in price disparities between countries is government policy , according to AirInc , a company that tracks the cost of living in various places around the world . Many European nations tax gasoline heavily , with taxes making up as much as 75 percent of the cost of a gallon of gasoline , said a spokesperson for AirInc . <p> In a few Latin America and Middle-East nations , such as Venezuela and Saudi Arabia , oil is produced by a government-owned company and local gasoline prices are kept low as a benefit to the nation 's

@@5096141 <p> Ashdod , Israel ( CNN ) -- The Israeli military displayed mortar shells , ammunition and surface-to-sea missiles in Ashdod on Wednesday , ordnance that officials said was seized from a ship bound for Gaza . <p> Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the weapons " originated in Iran , went through Syria , and they were en route to terror organizations in Gaza , but their ultimate target was the Israeli civilian population . " <p> " Every day , new attempts are made by Iran and by Syria to smuggle weapons into Lebanon to Hezbollah , to Gaza to Hamas and to other terror organizations , " he said . <p> Accompanying Netanyahu for the display were Defense Minister Ehud Barak and army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gans , among other officials . <p> Israeli commandos intercepted a ship 200 miles off the coast Tuesday . The " Victoria " is German-owned and Liberian-flagged , with an international crew . <p> The ship had 1,000 containers aboard , the army said , and three were found to be carrying the weapons . Israeli officials say the containers were loaded in the Syrian port of Latakia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lentils.The ship made a stop in Turkey before heading for the Egyptian port of Alexandria , where the containers were to be unloaded . <p> Lt. Col. Avital Leibowitz , spokeswoman for the Israel Defense Forces , said the military believes that these weapons were intended to be smuggled into Gaza through the numerous tunnels between the Egyptian Sinai desert and the coastal strip , which is governed by Hamas . <p> Among the weapons were six C-704 surface-to-sea missiles with two launchers , along with a British-manufactured radar command and control system . According to Israeli military analyst Ron Ben Ishai , the introduction of this weapon would have added strategic significance to those battling Israel . <p> " Had this shipment gone through to Alexandria and then to one of the Palestinian organizations in Gaza , it would have given them the capability that does not exist today , that is , to hit

@@5096241 <p> Hello Hello Hello again The memories drift out of time The face I used to kiss a million ways The love I truly thought was mine I guess we just forgot to talk about it And so we took the exit sign - but ... <p> Just when we thought it was goodbye <p> Hello Hello Hello my love again We make it seem like our first time I want to stay inside your life again To fall apart just seems a crime And when we thought we 'd closed the shutters

@@5096341 <p> If you 're like most kids , you probably hunt for most of your food in the aisles of your local grocery store . If you 're hungry for some crunchy green vegetables , you can head over to the produce aisle and stalk some wild celery . Or if pizza sounds good , you can hide out in the frozen food aisle until just the right moment to snatch that frozen pizza from the freezer ! <p> In many places around the world -- and for wild animals -- finding food to sustain life is not nearly as easy as a trip to the supermarket . In the wild , it often comes down to a simple question : are you predator or prey ? And the answer is sometimes both ! <p> All living things need energy . Energy comes from the foods we eat . A food chain is a simple way of explaining how each living thing gets its food . For example , a simple African food chain might consist of three parts : ( 1 ) trees and bushes ; ( 2 ) giraffes ; and ( 3 ) lions . Giraffes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giraffes . <p> Each link in a food chain is food for the next link . Food chains always start with plants and end with animals . <p> Plants are at the bottom of the food chain . Scientists call them producers , because they use light energy from the sun to produce food from carbon dioxide and water through photosynthesis . <p> Animals , unlike plants , ca n't produce their own food . Instead , they must eat plants or other animals . This is why scientists call them consumers . <p> Consumer animals fall into three categories . Herbivores eat only plants . Carnivores eat only other animals . Omnivores eat both plants and animals . What kind of consumer are you ? <p> In addition to producers and consumers , there are also decomposers . These organisms , such as bacteria and fungi , feed on decaying matter . They help the food chain by speeding up the decaying process that releases minerals back into the soil to be absorbed by plants as nutrients . <p> Most food chains have only four or five links in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the amount of energy at each level decreases , because some of the energy is lost in the form of waste or is used up by the organism at that level . That is why it takes many plants , for example , to feed a few giraffes who in turn feed one lion . <p> Most animals are part of many different food chains , because they must eat more than one type of food to satisfy their energy needs . All of these interconnected food chains form a more complex structure called a food web . <p> Humans , for example , are at the center of a very complex food web , because we tend to eat many different types of plants and animals . And unlike what you may have read in fairy tales , there are n't many animals that look at humans as food . <p> The only creatures who might snack on a human are large predators , such as sharks . However , it 's very rare for humans to be eaten by predators . Most predators have more to fear from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Try it out ! <p> Ready to put what you learned into action ? Grab a friend or family member and head online to play The Food Chain Game ! If you correctly assemble the food chain , it will come to life and you can watch it in action ! <p> You can also visit National Geographic Explorer ! to watch an animated movie about food chains and then take a quiz to see how much you learned . If you 're curious about where a particular animal falls in the food chain , visit What Eats ? online and type the name of an animal in the search box to see where it falls in the food chain ! <p> Wonder words to know and use : <p> predator <p> prey <p> aisle <p> grocery <p> supermarket <p> produce <p> sustain <p> producer <p> consumer <p> decomposer <p> herbivore <p> carnivore <p> omnivore <p> decaying <p> nutrients <p> interconnected <p> complex <p> structure <p> Still Wondering ? <p> In National Geographic Xpeditions ' The Antarctic Food Chain lesson , children are introduced to the animals of Antarctica and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I thought that the lions do n't eat the giraffe because of the legs ? And , what kind of animal can eat a ostrich , it has a deadly kicking leg ? And also , what also eats or attacks people ? <p> Wonderopolis <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 8:56 pm <p> Great job WONDERing about the food chain Wonder , Carlos ! ! We bet there is a great deal of research available online that will help you Wonder about your giraffe , lions and ostrich questions ! ! Keep up the great work , Carlos ! <p> Pickle Boy MC <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 10:34 am <p> I think that today 's wonder was cool . The video was funny too , but I didi n't get the part at the end . I think that tomorrow 's wonder is going to be about practical jokes . <p> Wonderopolis <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 8:59 pm <p> Thanks for your comment , Pickle Boy ! We are glad to hear you liked our video and had a good time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- we will see you very soon ! ! <p> Stemmet 's class <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 11:11 am <p> This web site is the coolest thing ever . We learned so many new things today . We ca n't wait to learn again tomorrow . <p> Wonderopolis <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 9:16 pm <p> A big hello to all the WONDERful students in Stemmet 's class ! We could n't be happier that you have joined us here at Wonderopolis ! We ca n't wait for you to Wonder with us tomorrow ! ! <p> mookie the cat MC <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 11:24 am <p> Hi ! I 'm in Mrs. Caplin 's class . The video was really cool to watch ! I think that tomorrow 's wonder will be about magic tricks or April Fools Tricks . <p> Wonderopolis <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 9:19 pm <p> SUPER guessing , Mookie the Cat ! Thanks for joining us today as we Wondered about the food chain -- we are glad you liked watching the video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ca n't wait to see you tomorrow ! <p> Emily <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 12:51 pm <p> Wow . I did n't know that humans were the center of a food chain either . I think tomorrow 's WONDER will be about pulling pranks . Just like Fred and George Weasley from Harry Potter . <p> Emily <p> Wonderopolis <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 9:02 pm <p> We love that you learned something new with us , Emily ! ! We think you 've been doing a great job WONDERing on your own -- and we ca n't wait to uncover tomorrow 's Wonder -- it will make you smile ! Just like those Weasley twins ! ! <p> JOLEEN <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 1:36 pm <p> I think tomorrow 's wonder will be about optical illusions . The wonder of the dayr was great i did n't know that we where 19th in the middle I thought that we where like the 3rd or something like that . <p> Wonderopolis <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 9:06 pm <p> YIPPEEE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us , Joleen ! ! You have learned something new and that makes us smile from ear to ear ! Thanks for sharing your AWESOME Wonder guess with us tomorrow -- we ca n't wait to begin another adventure together ! <p> ayush7 ( MC ) <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 3:53 pm <p> I think today 's video was funny . I thought a carnivore would be in the center of the food chain but I was wrong so I learned something new from this wonder today . <p> Wonderopolis <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 9:07 pm <p> CONGRATS , Ayush7 , we both learned something new together ! Today 's Wonder really taught us a lot , and we are so glad you enjoyed WONDERing with us about the food chain ! We 're sending you a virtual high five ! ! <p> Anna <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 4:22 pm <p> Haha that video was quite funny ! I really liked the wonder of the dayr today wonderopolis ! Even though humans are at the top of the food chain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own the world when we only really own about 1/8 because the earth 3/4 covered , that leaves 1/4 , then there are animals so half that = 1/8 Some people need to realize that the earth does n't revolve around them ! IT REVOLVES AROUND THE SUN ! ! ! But I guess that just my opinion ! I think tomorrow 's wonder will be about MAGIC OR MAGICIANS ! ! See you tomorrow ! Anna . <p> Wonderopolis <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 9:10 pm <p> Hey there , Anna , thanks for sharing your thoughts with all of us at Wonderopolis ! You have done some WONDERful research on your own about the food chain and the earth -- way to go ! ! We really value your comments and are so happy that today 's Wonder sparked your interest in learning more about the relationships between humans and food ! <p> Thanks for guessing and WONDERing with us , Anna ! See you soon ! <p> Maya <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 5:44 pm <p> I wonder how many food chains there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all together into one chain . <p> Wonderopolis <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 9:29 pm <p> Great WONDERing , Maya ! We are so happy that you 've been doing some research of your own about our food chain Wonder ! Although it may sound like an actual chain , the idea of a food chain provides a visual for us in order to understand it ! <p> Keep up the great WONDERing and thinking on a global level ! We are so proud of you ! <p> Jamez MC <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 6:43 pm <p> I LOVED today 's video . I 'm pretty sure the food chain in the video is sun , plant , mouse , bird , alligator , human . I think tomorrow 's wonder will be about jokes or someone who tells jokes . <p> Wonderopolis <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 9:56 pm <p> You 've made some great observations , Jamez ! ! You did a WONDERful job pointing out the different links in the food chain video ! NICE WORK ! We ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chains and food webs are a huge part of 5th grade science so I am excited to see so many MC students reading about the chain . It is neat that some are learning new facts , others are making predictions for tomorrow 's wonder and even if you 're a little confused that is ok also . That is how we all learn . Ca n't wait to check in with all the MC students tomorrow at school . <p> Wonderopolis <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 9:21 pm <p> How right you are , Mrs. Caplin -- thanks for sharing your WONDERful comment today ! There is so much to learn , and we all learn in different ways . We are so happy when our Wonder Friends ask questions , think outside the box and have a great time using their imaginations ! We are so happy to have all of these WONDERful Friends here ! <p> Siddman MC <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 7:32 pm <p> I 'm with with Ayush on this one . The video WAS hilarious ! ! ! ! @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food chain . I think tomorrow 's wonder of the day will be about jokes . <p> Julianab123 ( MC ) <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 8:42 pm <p> I really thought this wonder was really cool . I really like wonderoolis . <p> Tiauna <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 9:03 pm <p> I was wrong about today 's wonder . <p> I think tomorrow 's is about April Fool 's Day . <p> Wonderopolis <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 9:51 pm <p> Not to worry , Tiauna -- as long as you 're using your imagination at Wonderopolis it 's all for fun ! You have been doing a great job guessing and we hope you have been having a great time WONDERing , too ! <p> Alex the minecrafter ( MC ) <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 10:32 pm <p> Hi Wonderopolis , today 's wonder was really cool . I never knew some of this stuff . <p> Wonderopolis <p> 4 . Sep , 2012 at 7:11 am <p> Thank you for posting your AWESOME comment , Alex the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liked WONDERing about the food chain with us -- it 's so much FUN to learn something new with great friends like you ! <p> Hockey2399(MC) <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 10:35 pm <p> Hi wonderopolis I really liked this wonder too , because it told about other animals ' prey . <p> Wonderopolis <p> 4 . Sep , 2012 at 7:13 am <p> WOHOO , Hockey2399 , we are so EXCITED that you liked learning about the prey in our food chain Wonder ! We are smiling from ear to ear -- thanks for leaving your WONDERful comment ! <p> Anna <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 11:14 pm <p> Hey wonderopolis I 'm back again today ! I just wanted to say , that I did n't actually do research it all came out of my brain ! General knowlege is one of my strong points ! Just wanted to let you know ! ! Anna <p> Wonderopolis <p> 4 . Sep , 2012 at 7:18 am <p> WOW , thanks for sharing your comment , Anna ! You must have what some people call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retain AWESOME amounts of information ! Great job on being great at general knowledge -- we think it 's so cool that you have shared that information with all of us here at Wonderopolis ! We are so lucky to have a great Wonder Friend like you ! Welcome back ! <p> Aimee <p> 3 . Sep , 2012 at 11:17 pm <p> Hey wonderopolis , thanks for the wonder ! I reckon the wonder of the dayr tomorrow will be about when April fools started ! <p> Wonderopolis <p> 4 . Sep , 2012 at 7:26 am <p> Hey there Aimee , thanks for your WONDERful comment ! We love to learn that you enjoyed our food chain Wonder and your guess is SUPER , too ! We hope you like the next Wonder -- have a GREAT day ! <p> Erin <p> 6 . Sep , 2012 at 2:08 pm <p> Wow I never knew that flies can kill men ! ! ! ! I love all these videos ! ! ! ! <p> Wonderopolis <p> 6 . Sep , 2012 at 9:23 pm <p> Hey there Erin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food chain ! We think the video was funny , but also made us think about every human , creature and insect 's importance in the food chain ! We are so glad to hear you 're WONDERing with us today ! <p> eric <p> 13 . Sep , 2012 at 1:05 am <p> Wow quite a food chain . <p> Wonderopolis <p> 13 . Sep , 2012 at 10:49 am <p> Thanks for sharing your comment with us , Eric ! We

@@5096441 <h> " I have a boyfriend . Guy I have a pet goldfish . Girl What ? Guy I thought we were talking about things that did n't matter . " <h> Comebacks : <p> ..... **slap** By : no one cares about names here on 05 Mar 2012 <h> Variations &; Alternatives : <p> Heres another good one ... " ( guy ) hey do u wan na go out ? ( girl ) I have a boyfriend . ( guy ) I have a math test tomorrow . ( girl ) what does that have to do with anything ? ( guy ) I thought we were both listing things we could cheat on . By : Blondiegirl on 20 Jan 2012 <h> Comments : <p> Boy : you should be a model Girl:arwh thanks babs Boy : for rspca cuz your dog By : swagzinie on 27 May 2012 <p> Boy : I got arrested the other day Girl:why ? Boy : ( Tense arm ) for having guns like these By : @joeljohnson321 on 27 May 2012 <p> Are you a spanner ? Cuz when I see you my nuts keep tightening By : @joeljohnson321 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the stars in the world you would be the brightest one that stands out By : 23 on 02 Apr 2012 <p> boy ( hey excuse me miss do you see something shiny ) girl ( no y do u ask ) boy ( oh just asking cuz i can see that sparkle in your eye and i love it ) By : 23 on 02 Apr 2012 <p> Dumb asses a thumb is num a finger ! ! ! By : blanca on 17 Mar 2012 <p> Heidi your last name would n't happen to be cramer would it ? : P By : Sterling on 14 Mar 2012 <p> Sorry did n't mean to post that much By : Heidi on 30 Jan 2012 <p> Lol here 's on guy : roses are red violets are blue Sugar is sweet but not as sweet as you ( i think ) Girl : roses r red violets r blue I have 5 fingers the middle Ones for u By : Heidi on 30 Jan 2012 <p> Lol here 's on guy : roses are red violets are blue Sugar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think ) Girl : roses r red violets r blue I have 5 fingers the middle Ones for u By : Heidi on 30 Jan 2012 <p> Lol here 's on guy : roses are red violets are blue Sugar is sweet but not as sweet as you ( i think ) Girl : roses r red violets r blue I have 5 fingers the middle Ones for u By : Heidi on 30 Jan 2012 <p> Heres another good one ... " ( guy ) hey do u wan na go out ? ( girl ) I have a boyfriend . ( guy ) I have a math test tomorrow . ( girl ) what does that have to do with anything ? ( guy ) I thought we were both listing things we could

@@5096541 <p> John Aravosis @aravosis Facebook Google+ . Editor of AMERICAblog , joint JD/MSFS from Georgetown , worked in the US Senate , World Bank , Children 's Defense Fund , and as a stringer for the Economist . A frequent TV pundit , he has been on The O'Reilly Factor , Hardball , World News Tonight , Nightline &; Reliable Sources . Full bio here . <p> Using all capital letters is a form of online yelling . It 's considered being very rude . If you feel this strongly about something , use all bold letters . <p> Alan <p> They wanted to leave because it was extremely cold . They did not want to leave because they disliked Romney . They were obviously there for Romney , then when it got cold and late , they wanted to leave . However , they were not allowed , for whatever reason . <p> Moderator3 <p> Should I have posted my reply in some other language than English ? I was writing about capital letters , not cold or Romney . <p> yestradamous <p> I suspect the real story , because there 's ALWAYS more to the story , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave from a specific gate , because it was too close to the entrance to the stage , but there were 6 other ways out of the place they were free to take . <p> So sick of the lying . Republicans are so mean they want frost bitten children . So stupid . <p> MimiReed1234 <p> Except that the real story was posted later -- the staffers immediately led the people who wanted to leave out through unsecured exits . And no , there was n't any danger of frostbite . <p> KZ <p> We can not let you leave the line for the Gas Chambers . Because were Nazis . <p> bearclawws <p> I was there with a friend and we had a great time . Did n't have any problems or see anyone have any problems . Weird . @jfkucinich is a reporter covering politics for USA Today , that might explain it . But in her defense I studied her tweets . She said this , " People are literally sneaking out gates now bring told they ca n't leave way pic.twitter.com/uvlPBys5 but if you look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took with a negative tweet for evidence , does n't really show anyone doing anything but people standing . <p> michaelj72 <p> sounds like PA is going to go for mittomney big time after something like this . not . <p> http : **29;2804;TOOLONG karmanot <p> 500 + comments . Looks like Kolob trolls are on the roll . <p> http : //twitter.com/dandi56 James Darley <p> I love how this story has been debunked six-ways-to-sunday yet libs are still posting about it as if it 's the Gospel . Tomorrow they 'll be asking , " ZOMG , why is n't Eric Holder investigating this ? ? ! ? ? ! ? ! ! " <p> LOL <p> tobyspeeks <p> Like all you fox news parrots and the George Soros story ? And btw , this story has n't been debunked except by you paid for commentators who post your hate filled lies all over the internet to force what you believe on to others . Get your head out of the sand you self righteous moron . <p> http : **28;2835;TOOLONG Dianne Smith <p> Seems to be posted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in the background of the video taken inside of what looks like a city office , there is a Sherrod Brown poster . Nice tryAnd I am sure Mothers would dress their kids for the weather duh <p> Dhickman20 <p> Why is anyone surprised at the arrogance ( what cold ? ) or the desperation ( stay until you freeze to death ) on the part of republicans especially when Romney is in charge ? <p> Blueclearsky <p> so let me get this straight ... Romney has an unbelievably successful rally in PA -- then the Jackie ( daughter of the kooky Dennis Kucinich ) tweets that people are being held against their will at the rally and we are supposed to believe it ? Really ? Dems are losing it srsly ! <p> r3verend <p> Well its Romney . It fits in the bigger picture of how he is acting so why should people really question it ? <p> Blueclearsky <p> so let me get this straight ... Romney has an unbelievably successful rally in PA -- then the Jackie ( daughter of the kooky Dennis Kucinich ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rally and we are supposed to believe it ? Really ? Dems are losing it srsly ! <p> Let them eat cake -- or freeze to death . If they ca n't take it then they are inferior and deserve the frostbite . <p> Williard <p> http : **25;2865;TOOLONG George McGinnis <p> I wonder how many Romney supporters at this rally will now vote for Obama tomorrow after a taste of how Romney will be treating them if elected ; left for dead out in the cold . <p> http : **29;2892;TOOLONG Heather Perkins <p> well , I hope they did n't vote early <p> Jake <p> Wrong . I was at the event . My friends were at the event . Yeah , it was cold , but low 40s is not considered " frostbite " weather . Moreover , the spot at which my friends and were they gladly let out anyone who asked . Either the writer experienced what was the anomaly or the writer ca n't come to terms with the fact that Romney just might win tomorrow . Probably both . <p> Jake , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And it seems to me that people would only be at this rally if they supported Romney . So your explanations are specious , at best . But I would n't expect anything else from a Romney-bot . <p> Kelsy <p> Even if it WAS N'T that cold , it is still wrong to hold people -- especially children , in like that and refuse to let them leave when they are asking to leave . And you , I 'm assuming , are either a teenager or an adult and therefore will not experience hypothermia or frostbite as quickly as small children will . Do some research . <p> bornagaindem <p> sadly even those with frostbitten children will probably still vote for Romney <p> Lyssi4 <p> Thats Mitt Romney for you , total ass <p> LanceThruster <p> I 'm Mitt Romney ... and I approve this indefinite detention . <p> Confus <p> The GOP 's notion of " freedom " -- <p> - caging citizens and children to make a Republican candidate look more popular . <p> Contemptible creatures those Republicans be . <p> big pun ! <p> im @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what they did ! but it back fired and thats what ya get when you go to a rally for romney republicans just suck ! <p> Heywood Djablomi <p> AH HA HA HA HA HA ! ! ! ! ! A hugely positive and historic rally happens for a Republican candidate and you immediately see a Gulag ! AH HA HA HA HAAAA ! ! ! Is to detract from the 95% drop in Obama 's crowds ? Even the Boss could n't get the same crowds he gets in Chicago for Obama . Pathetic . <p> http : **30;2923;TOOLONG ? id=1 ... Rachael Lin <p> I was at this rally . This ' news ' story is complete garbage . People were leaving early all around me . Yes , it was cold . Frostbite ? Not a chance . Everyone was allowed to leave whenever they wanted . Stop the lying . <p> Confus <p> Rachel Lin - <p> Is it possible that in a stadium different gates were being handled differently and you just did not see the events described ? <p> Or are you going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> Confus -- <p> Is it possible that people were exagerating the entire event ? <p> Or are you going to spread a lie about how much these reports personally witnessed ? <p> ErrorTime <p> You know that kids do get colder faster and easier than you right ? Why else would you see a five year old with a heavy winter coat while the parent wore something much lighter . And I 'm sure after standing outside for hours on end will take it 's toll on you . Being frostbitten at 42 degrees is highly unlikely but spend enough time outside , and yes it will happen . How about you stop pointing the finger at the " liars " and get educated about the human body ? <p> ErrorTime=idiot <p> wow you are telling rachael to " get educated " .... Frost bite only occurs in temperatures below freezing ( take into account the wind as well ) and this was not nearly the case in PA lol , this whole thing is a joke ... <p> the mother may have indeed said " my daughter is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> I will respond the same way you did to rachel 's response ... " how do you know what happened , you couldnt have seen everything " , <p> Fleur <p> With that kind of attitude , you practically refuse to acknowledge ANY news they shove to your face , because , hey , " I did n't see it myself , that could be untrue ! " <p> Snarki , child of Loki <p> Kindly apply that same standard to religion . <p> ajcarpy2005 <p> Frostnip , the first stage of frostbite ( not permanent damage ) will occur before more serious damage . It is still uncomfortable feeling . Frostbite/Frostnip can start occuring after long periods of time in higher temperatures but if it 's really cold will happen faster depending on the starting core temperature , how much fat mass you have , how large you are , how many layers you have on , the wind chill , etc . <p> GrumpyDave <p> Of course , mom may have actually meant " hypothermic " , which does not require sub-freezing temperatures . I 've done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past 59 years , and I 've seen cases of hypothermia in what I would consider rather mild conditions . One can become hypothermic and not realize it , and it can be very dangerous . A parent concerned over their child 's well-being may not always choose the right words . <p> I was n't at the event , so I do n't know whether people were actually retained or not . I did hear that Governor Romney was very late to his own rally -- although it was due to weather-related flight scheduling problems . <p> Kelsy <p> When the mother asked to leave , she should have been allowed to leave . Whether or not she was " lying " about her daughter being frostbitten . It has more to do with the fact that people were not allowed to leave , and I think people are trying to ignore that by calling others liars . Stop for a second and actually use your brain , guys . No matter what the weather situation was , NO ONE should have been told they could not leave if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body temperature are different from adults ' body temperature . PEACE ! <p> ... <p> NO SHIT ... but it would still have had to been below 32 degrees for frostbite to have taken place for any humanbheing .... PEACE ! <p> Cold is not the question here ... since when ca n't you leave a ralley when ever the hell you want to ... <p> Jaye Powell <p> Temperature was 42 when Romney arrived . Hardly weather to have been frostbitten . Dems lying as usual . <p> http : **27;2955;TOOLONG Chris Bowen <p> Temp does not matter , all that matters is if you are in the cold long enough for your core temp to drop low enough . You may not get frostbitten , but parents have a history of overreacting when it comes to their kids , but it is very possible for a kid in 42 degree temp to get hypothermia . <p> Kyle <p> But hypothermia is very very possible and since when is is ok to force people to say at a rally ? If i want to leave a political rally for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so and no one has the right to tell me I ca n't . <p> Confus <p> What was the wind-chill factor ? How long were the children exposed ? What were the children wearing ? When did the children last consume something ? <p> Do n't know the answers do you ? That 's because you Republicans are inveterate liars . <p> http : //www.dregstudios.com Brandt Hardin <p> You wo n't be able to get out of the nightmare of a Romney presidency either if you have been duped into voting for him . Is there any doubt a Romney administration would favor the rich and increase the income gap in our country ? Mitt is a pariah in Mormon Clothing and will stop at nothing to expand an empire of greed for the rich in this country by expanding tax cuts for the 1% of the wealthiest Americans . He 's out to gut the Middle Class for every red cent he can get . Will his sacred Mormon underwear grant him the protection and money to buy this election ? See for yourself as Mitt dons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ http : **35;2984;TOOLONG ... <p> X2Reload <p> This is DemoCRAP , Dennis Kucinich 's daughter reporting this . She has absolutely NO BIAS in reproting here or for USA Today . YOU PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE THIS , I have ocean front property for sale in Oklahoma ... <p> serves em right , maybe this will show them who mittens really cares about , you do n't hear this shit from obies crowds ... <p> PhineusJTruthy <p> This is what happens when you go see Mittens without em . <p> PhineusJTruthy <p> This is what happens when you go see Mittens without em . <p> Butch1 <p> They can not hold people against their will . Is n't that kidnapping ? Someone should call the police , that will stop it instantly . ; - ) <p> Nora <p> The police are probably barring the gates . They protect Republicans . It is Democrats and liberals who get arrested , or have n't you noticed ? <p> Butch1 <p> I 'd love to be able to reply but Disqus has been acting up for the past five days and right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments when I sign in . <p> Butch <p> Butch1 <p> Finally , they are visible for a moment . What is going on with Disqus ? <p> big pun <p> totally agree with you nora ! it probably was police stopping peeps from leaving ! republicans are liars hopefully this will wake these republicans up to the fact that republicans are evil ! <p> Butch1 <p> " Have n't you noticed ? " No need to be snotty about it . I am very aware of the way the republicans are treated differently by the police as well as the way democrats or better yet , liberals are treated . I think many of the police ARE republicans . <p> Confus <p> It is called " false imprisonment . " <p> The people held against their will have a civil cause of action against the stadium , the organization(s) that ran the event , and the operatives , but if no one was harmed , they probably wo n't recover enough to pay their lawyer . <p> Butch1 <p> Thanks , I could n't think of the correct term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> I do nt even like Romney , but I have a hard time believeing that if my kid was getting frostbite , or becoming hyperthemic ... that anyone or a fence would have stopped me form exiting ... IJS . <p> Confus <p> Republicans voters , especially the Christian fundamentalists , tend to be extremely deferential to authority . <p> One of the most important reasons Republicans attend dogmatic churches and vote Republican is a compelling need to have authority figures tell them how to live their lives . <p> jessekanner <p> ... while at the same time believing they are ' free ' . It 's perfect . <p> http : **30;3053;TOOLONG ? id=1 ... Dana Stepp <p> I do nt even like Romney , but I have a hard time believeing that if my kid was getting frostbite , or becoming hyperthemic ... that anyone or a fence would have stopped me form exiting ... IJS . <p> KMAN <p> This article is cdddrap , cdddrap , I tell yoo ! All the people there were cheering and almost jumping out of their skins with excitement . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the barry rally , after clinton spoke , people all started leaving about 1/3 through barry 's hate speech . <p> Celebrant <p> Keep in mind the people trying to leave were Repuglicans . No Democrat worth his weight in salt would attend a Romney rally . <p> KMAN <p> You 're wrong , most of the people I work with are lifelong democrats ( chicago ) ; they 're voting for Romney . If my coworkers voted for barry last time , they are n't admitting to it . <p> Do you think that Romney 's prospects will be improved If you and the people you work with in Chicago vote for Romney ? <p> Unfortunately , for Chicago , you live there . Fortunately for America , you are not voting in Colorado . <p> Has it occurred to you , " Kman , " that your co-workers have not told you they voted for Obama because they are afraid you will go 2nd Amendment postal when Romney loses ? <p> tommo <p> Wow , you said " Barry 's only drawing about 3% the crowd that Romney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of your Murdoch propaganda / hate radio bubble now and then for air . Obama 's rallys are much bigger than Mitt / Lyin ' . <p> birdmechanical <p> Some people being excited does n't mean that there were n't other people wanting to get out and not allowed to . <p> Whatever you think of NYTimes , USA Today is not really a liberal paper . <p> Just let some facts be facts . Just go , hey , do n't do that staffers , and move on . You do n't have to be politically defensive about this . <p> Confus <p> Kman , you said : <p> " all " and " 3% " <p> Evidently , you are a novice Republican troll . Skilled liars do not quote quantities that are patently impossible . <p> big pun <p> you idiot they where jumping out of their skins because they were probably freezing to death ! you republicans are in such denial about how stupid and ignorant you are ... you just suck ! <p> Deborahlchamberlain <p> That would not happen at an Obama rally : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People NOT SEE the posts made by People that were actually there ? ? ? ? They said this is a TOTAL Lie , they were there at this event and anyone and everyone that wanted out could get out any time they wanted to . Listen I am not voting for Romney but You People would believe just about anything , My Lord , what Boobs you all are . If you read the sky was pink because Obama said it was ; would you believe it ? I am Voting for Neither Liars , nor Cheats and am Voting for Gary Johnson . Both Romney and Obama are both Idiots . You Liberal mindless automatons think Obama is great , but Obama Started an Illegal War with Libya , Obama is killing lots and lots of Innocent people in Pakistan with his Drone Bombs . Romney is just a Plain Plutocrats intent on burying the Poor and Middle class . But you are all laughable if you believe this story about not being allowed to leave a Rally ... LMAO ... at least 5 people have posted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , no wonder we keep getting Idiots elected to the Presidency ! <p> Proud Gay American <p> This is my opinion . Obama has helped many purple andI was one of them ( Not talking about the Northeast problems ) When he did the stimulus package , i got a big tax break and will a good income tax check . When i lousy my job i got unemployment , Obama gave me stimulus checks so I 'm very thankful ! <p> Now as far as the Northeast is concerned . If you were strictly told to evacuate and you did n't , that 's your own fault and in my opinion the last to be helped especially on the coast of all these states ! Now with you saying you do n't want no ones help except your community , Goodluck trying to build without the governments money . If you talked so much about the Presidents and you do n't get help then that 's your fault . Karma is teaching you a lesson . Most of you do n't like him because he 's black . The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is with these stupid Americans who have there heads up there butt , who is filled with hate and a , lot of them are religious freaks . Btw I 'm an American so as an American this country disgust me , the people do . You want so much but if it 's not the change as you want it , you bitch ! If you 're so unhappy then leave this Country . Just one less piece of shit person we do n't need . Thank you : ) <p> Nope <p> lern ta spel gooder . <p> http : **31;3085;TOOLONG Wia Beshar <p> these people are really just spoiled children -- they think and act exactly the same . wasnt surprised to find out that a majority of white men without a college degree support romney as well as that its people who vote republican compose a majority of those benefitting from food stamps <p> Powerofblues <p> This is the only country where the poor will vote to make the rich richer ..... just do n't get it . <p> Dt Sabo <p> you mean taxpayer money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his compasssion and caring for others ... total nonsense . <p> K Fig <p> Humor ! ! ! I love it . <p> tsuki <p> I think you misspelt oblivious . <p> http : **25;3118;TOOLONG Robin Lionheart <p> Perhaps your words got a little jumbled . ( shuffle , shuffle ) <p> " This compassion in Romney is nonsense , and his caring for others is obvious total nonsense . " <p> Snowy <p> I need context . I 'm not Romney fan , but this could very easily be hyperbole . Were they trying to leave through a non-exit area ? Was there a security issue that required the guards to block anyone 's exit ? Was this widespread and/or prolonged , or was it for just a few people and/or in a short period of time ? <p> Mathematicaster <p> Or security concerns . Badly handled , though . <p> http : **31;3145;TOOLONG Wia Beshar <p> i think if it was a matter of just finding an appropriate exit or something , this wouldnt be an issue . i think the more pertinent thing is that these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to leave in the same manner <p> Zzzzzzz <p> Aravosis acting like it 's the Apocalypse based on five tweets by two journalists . This kind of laughable hyperbole might be good enough for professional progs but it 's not good enough for people with functioning brains . <p> Jen L <p> People with functioning brains wait to form an opinion until they see more facts . You , on the other hand , decided that this is hyperbole before more facts are in , then attacked a group as gullible and stupid . <p> Oh and by the way , " acting like it 's the Apocalypse based on five tweets by two journalists ? " Nice hyperbole . <p> You might want to look up " projection . " <p> mc squared <p> because NO one immediately formed the opinion that this is complete and utter truth ... <p> tsuki <p> No , I goggled , and it is . Romneybots are making up excuses already . <p> Jen is silly <p> " People with functioning brains wait to form an opinion until they see more facts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else here is doing . Oh wait . You might a dictionary yourself , friend . <p> MyrddinWilt <p> I suspect that most of the people posting in this thread to blame the parents are not parents themselves and have no idea what is involved . Kids have absolutely no common sense and trying to look out for all their wants is a full time occupation . Modern kids have to be fed snacks and given water , they demand sys-admin help for their electronics , they insist on wearing the pink dress or they throw a tantrum . <p> Oh and you are not allowed to hit or slap them any more , use of a taser is right out . <p> If I took my kids to a rally I would expect to be able to take them home any time I choose . ANY TIME . If someone tried to stop me I would call the police right then and there . Call 911 , say that you are being held against your will and I guarantee that there is going to be a reaction . Talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the entrances and exits . <p> Shore Thing <p> I was there ..... and I have four children and no one was stopped from leaving .... haha .... people were fighting to get in much to the dismay of loony liberals .... <p> ShutupShoreThing <p> You really should stop talking . <p> Shore Thing <p> " shutupshorething " You are the reason this country is lousy these days ... this is AMERICA and I will say what I want and the beautiful part is you ca n't stop me ( unless the commi obama has his way ) .... and if you would like to try and stop come on down to Barnegat , NJ and I 'll show what it 's like to get your ass kicked by someone Jersey Strong ! <p> Captain Panic <p> Yup , you can say what you want . Romney is an excellent example of this , too . He stands up for the right of free speech ! Why , one day he 's against abortion , which is his right to say , and the next day , he 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> #AMERICA ! <p> Nope nobama is still a dope ! <p> and I am suppose to want people to support the murder of innocent babies .... I have NEVER seen a fetus that was pro abortion . I do not believe Romney has ever supported the forcible expulsion of babies from their momma 's womb .... here is a concept : use a condom ..... and stop killing innocent babies . Liberal logic kill baby 's in momma 's womb and keep child molester 's and child killers free to rape and kill more kids .... liberals are really scary <p> Snooznlooz <p> To " Nope nobama still a dope " " I do not believe Romney has ever supported the forcible expulsion of babies from their momma 's womb " Then you need to check out SteriCycle , a company Romney had controlling interest in and made millions from that provided services to abortion clinics . They cremate aborted fetuses and Mitt rakes in the profits . Could be why he wo n't release his tax returns ! <p> Nope obama is still a dope <p> Yes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release his college transcripts because they prove he was kenyian born and muslim ... and got scholarships based upon both of those facts DUH <p> MeowMix <p> Ok , so on one hand you 're complaining about how devastating the storm damage in your area is and that you have not received any help so far . So , how exactly did you make it all the way out to this rally in Pennsylvania with your four kids ? Did you use the fuel that the Obama administration sent to hard-hit areas ( like mine , btw , I live in NY and yea , we got some fuel trucks out here ) or did Romney personally send out his caravan to bring you and your kids out there to freeze in the cold and pose as props at HIS rally instead of freezing in your house with no heat ? C'm on , pick one story already ! <p> Shore Thing <p> stock piles of gasoline .... in my shed ..... lol ... and lol it was not freezing . and btw I have heat it is called a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in my community . I am certain you have at least a high school education and you can comprehend that ... right ? <p> Amused <p> This is coming from someone who 's name tag is the title of Snooki 's book ... <p> MyrddinWilt <p> So you now claim to be hoarding fuel that your neighbors could have used and posing a fire hazard to your neighbors . <p> Romney really needs to raise his game and start hiring more intelligent comment trolls . <p> Shore Thing <p> Yvonne , we are not complaining that he has n't done anything to help . We are complaining because he used our state 's devastation for a photo-op and he continues to LIE . He never wanted to help the shore because we are a conservative community and he could care less ..... what he should not have done was lie to the country and say he was gon na help and then not do it . NEWSFLASH .... WE ARE JERSEY STRONG AND WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN ! ! ! ! Church 's are helping , people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other states have come in to help ... the federal government MIA ! ! ! <p> http : **29;3178;TOOLONG Lauren Rankin <p> I live on the Jersey Shore and I must say , in this case , no : we ca n't take care of our own . Communities have been decimated . Whole blocks are gone . Houses are destroyed . PEOPLE HAVE DIED . To assert that we do n't need the help of the federal government because we " take care of our own " is nothing short of offensive . To my friends who lost their house , they 're not relying on a church . THEY NEED FEMA . THEY NEED GASOLINE . THEY NEED HELP . The morale boost from President Obama being here was huge . My community cheered that a president is putting his money where his mouth is and is dedicated to helping us . <p> This Jersey Strong mentality is fine , but when a climate-change disaster of this proportion devastates an entire state , the federal government is not only needed , but desperately wanted . Wake up . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too . The truth is obama used helping us as a photo-op and has not come through with any help . The only help so far is people , churches etc .... try to get FEMA to help you ... haha what a joke . Get a grip because just wait and see what he does n't do .... look at staten island .... those poor folks are not being helped either . WE as a community at shore have lost and there is no help from FEMA for us ! ! no credit cards for food we do n't have , no help with gas , NOTHING ! ! WAKE UP ! ! ! ! ! ! ! <p> http : **29;3209;TOOLONG Lauren Rankin <p> Look , you obviously have a lot of hatred for our president , so no matter what he does , you 're going to hate him . At this point in time , we need to come together not just as a community , but as a country . We need federal support and anyone who says otherwise is kidding themselves . <p> First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and thousands of gallons of gas . That , along with the gas rationing , are why the lines are significantly shorter . Secondly , FEMA is providing temporary apartments and hotel rooms , FREE OF CHARGE , for those who lost their homes . This is not just talk . A friend of mine actually received this help . Thirdly , even our Romney surrogate Governor Chris Christie has applauded and praised the President 's response to Sandy . What do you make of that ? These are called facts , Shore Thing . Facts . I 'm curious what you would have thought if Romney had come and taken a " photo-op " tour of the devastation , rather than holding a " relief rally " in Ohio . I 'd rather have a leader who comes here , sees what the damage is , talks to people . Call me crazy , but that 's leadership . <p> Shore Thing <p> Romney is not President yet ... one more day . No help has come through that is a LIE . You spew all the lies you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help coming through so far has been from the local community and say whatever the hell you want .... I live here and I have seen , watched and heard . I do n't like liars so obviously I do n't like obama , case closed . <p> Abcd <p> Ignore Shore Thing , his job as a political shill ends tomorrow . He 's just sad about it . <p> SillyMe <p> You seem to have a pretty decent internet connection there Shore Thing . You sure you 're in Jersey ? Oh wait , maybe you 're still at that rally for Romney . <p> Jen L <p> Wait , you do n't like liars so you like Romney ? <p> BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA that man gets busted lying several times per day and has stated that he wo n't let his campaign be dictated by something as silly as " fact checkers . " <p> With all of the conflicting information that you 've given in the last few posts , as well as all of the misinformation in your last few posts , you 're either : blinded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do mean terrible as in low quality ) completely delusional <p> http : **29;3240;TOOLONG Lauren Rankin <p> I 'll be sure to let my friend whose house in Belmar was destroyed that the hotel room FEMA paid for her to stay in is a lie . <p> I 'm a college student and my mom is battling cancer . Without the help of government programs like pell grants and the protection that " obamacare " gives ( Both to be cut by Romney by the by ) my mother would n't be on the road to recovery and I would n't have the opportunity to pursue higher education . <p> So please , turn off Fox News and go find a more neutral news source sometime before the elections tomorrow . <p> tsuki <p> You are a liar . No wonder you are a Romney/Ryan supporter . <p> Geraldwalsch <p> I do n't believe Romney would have any place in a disaster area unless he were there to volunteer time and sweat to the recovery efforts . The President has a responsibility to tour the site and see first hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he needs to send in . Whether people like it or not ( and I 'm sure the President does n't no matter who the President is at the time ) the press ( with cameras ) follow him everywhere he goes . I ca n't say whether he treats this tour as a " photo op " or not because I 'm nowhere near the inside . All I can say for sure is that I expect a President to work , and touring disaster sites that require his attention is part of that . I know that when he is doing his job that the press will be there snapping photos , asking questions , and probably getting in the way during the process . Do n't get me wrong , I 'm not telling anybody how to feel about President Obama or trying to tell you that your opinion of the man is wrong . I do n't have that right . I just hope that you look at the world , and the people in it ( The President included ) with an open mind and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the President touring New Jersey because he thought it would be great for his bid for re-election , or are there photos of him touring New Jersey because the press thinks they need to be attached to his hip ( again , no matter who the President is at the time ) every time he takes a step ? For my part , I think it 's because the press is obnoxiously obtrusive , but I accept that I could be wrong . <p> Extreme Moderate <p> No , they did n't ship in thousands and thousands of gallons of gas . They shipped in over 30 MILLION gallons . <p> My girlfriend 's family lives in NJ , and a tree went through the house next to theirs . Yesterday a crew removed it . Estimated it at 75,000 pounds . And they got power back yesterday . That 's pretty damn good response , considering the extend of damage . Some people get help earlier than others . That 's ALWAYS the case , unless you have sufficient disaster crews to immediately deploy to ever street in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be early winners and late losers . <p> tsuki <p> That is a GREAT response . After Elena , Mother was without electricity for two weeks , but , that was in 1975 and the responses were slower . <p> MeowMix <p> Right , and Paul Ryan was actually " cleaning " those pots and pans . ( look it up ) <p> Geraldwalsch <p> I hope that you do n't misconstrue the intention of this reply as a way of supporting the President or defending his impotence . I 'm posting strictly to give factual analysis of WHY FEMA is slow to react during natural disaster events . FEMA was it 's own agency with a cabinet level administrator ( meaning direct access to the President ) before the creation of the Department of Homeland Security , and it was good at what it did . When DHS was formed many of our agencies were rolled into DHS and became departments of DHS . FEMA is one of those agencies . FEMA lost it 's direct access to the president to the DHS Director . FEMA also lost much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparing for terrorist disasters ( these are more commonly known as technological disasters ) such as the events of 9/11/2001 . FEMA is really a department of DHS now . DHS is who is failing the Sandy victims right now by not allowing FEMA to operate the best way it knows how and by not budgeting resources for the priorities that FEMA is responsible for . I know this information does n't help you keep warm or feed your families , but understanding why something is the way it is and how it happened ( President Bush started the DHS and rolled all those agencies into it as well as prioritizing terrorism preparation over everything else ) can make you more enlightened as you decide who to blame for not receiving aid you need ( Hurricane Katrina victims are familiar with this ) and questions to ask about what the candidates will do to fix this in the future . Again , I 'm not trying to be biased at all or promote one candidate over another . Yes , President Bush is responsible for taking away FEMA 's autonomy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt during his first term to separate FEMA and fund its purpose of responding to disasters . The most that has happened is to give some responsibility to Housing and Urban Development ( HUD ) to design temporary housing for disaster victims . This is another agency you should be trying to contact if you are without adequate housing as a result of Sandy . <p> babygirl963 <p> But yet and still you are able to post ! ! ! ! ! Someone help me understand . Food is needed more so than internet , how in the heck are you on here posting , if you do not have something ? <p> tsuki <p> What are you worried about ? You have things stacked to the ceiling . Why do n't you share ? Then your community would n't need help . <p> we have n't turn it down because we have n't gotten ANY aid .... hard to turn down NOTHING <p> Dankjk <p> " take responsibility for your own lives , thats not the governments job , its yours " Romney <p> Captain Panic <p> So ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn down aid that Romney wants to dismantle utterly ? Or are you saying that when it 's in your governor 's hands , it will be done better . You know , because somehow your governor will get the military to bring in over 30 million gallons of fuel , equipment and personnel from other states to help repair the power infrastructure , etc. ? <p> I know that 's what you really mean . Because you understand this so well . <p> Bored <p> According to you , you 're doing just fine . <p> babygirl963 <p> Thank you Lauren , restore the wise words from a woman . <p> tsuki <p> Been there , Lauren . It does get better . Sometimes , it does seem like it is taking forever , but when you look back on it , you 'll see a lot was done in a relatively short time . Basics first . <p> One thing we still talk about since Ivan , is the mile long convoy of hugh trucks full of workers from PECO Electric heading this way on I-10 . They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal . The Red Cross was set up the next day , and county emergency management had shipments from FEMA . No one checked for political correctness . <p> Of course , we had little in the way of communication other than word of mouth . Things were happening that we did not know about . <p> I can not do much for you except send money to the RC , and hope for the best for you . <p> silas1898 <p> And just how did he trick Christie into joining him ? <p> And then magically got Christie to thank him . <p> I want those powers ! <p> MyrddinWilt <p> Oh thats not a secret . Obama stopped off at a McDonalds on his way from the airport . <p> silas1898 <p> D'oh ! <p> FoodForThought <p> You 're against Obama . Fine . We get it . But to say that he does n't care about NJ because you " are a conservative community " is , forgive me , a bit dumb . Even on the most basic level candidates care about all the communities because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than just a " photo op " , the president went to see the devastation for himself . The government is sending aid , and yes , it is a slow process . It is much slower than I would prefer as well . But the thing that many , and it seems that you , Shore Thing , are one of them by what you 've said , do not seem to realize is our country is not ruled by one man . The president is an important part of our government , yes . But he is not the sole decider about everything that goes on . That being said , no matter what ANY candidate WANTS to do if he/she is elected/stays in office , do you think realistically everything is going to turn around and everything will be fixed ? This economy has been headed steadily downward since 2000 . It is not one man 's fault . And no man nor woman is going to be able to magically fix everything in four years . Whether it is Obama or Romney who is elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . <p> Shore Thing <p> Food for Thought , I am well aware how things work . I also know in his little photo-op he demanded FEMA do everything without delay or hassles .... not true . You say one man does not control the country , of course not , and I thank God he does n't . I find it amusing at best people saying it is not obama 's fault when they were quick to blame bush . At the very least maybe Romney will put Americans back to work ! <p> K Fig <p> RMoney , who says as an Elected Official member of the Government he will " CREATE 12 MILLION JOBS " , also reminds us that " GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CREATE JOBS " . Your Flavor Aid is ready . <p> small business man <p> k fig you are partially correct . Government does not create jobs .... businesses create jobs . Again if you had the intelligence of my 5 year old you might be able to understand that business 's are against obama because he does not want them to earn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . Romney wants to help us small business owners and helping small business 's help to create jobs . Got news for you , if obamacare does not go I have to fire more people who I will simply no longer be able to afford . <p> Get Educated , Friend . <p> Obama wants to tax people who live in absolute luxury , who make hand over fist , who do n't need , by any stretch , the ludicrous amounts of money that is being made -- made off the backs of hard workers who are paid minimum wage ; From Businesses , like Walmart , who 's corporate practice can literally level a small towns finances and screw with local economies . <p> Small businesses are safe , ya hulkin ' doof . <p> cjm69 <p> Thankfully , most voters have *more* intelligence than a five-year-old , and understand that it 's frankly delusional to say Obama " does not want businesses to make money . " We 're also smart enough not to imagine that a complex modern economy operates in such a way that any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether businesses either A make money or B decide to hire . <p> babygirl963 <p> Sweety , it was always said , it is better to keep your mouth shut , than to open your mouth and remove all doubt . How are you able to be on the internet . Silly woman . <p> Shore Thing <p> Actually , babygirl963 , I am not a girl . We are up and running on the Internet because we had electric crews coming in volunteering services from all the red states in this country : texas , south carolina , tennessee . I am actually smart though have a generator .... lots of gas , and fire wood . <p> Stupid where do you think the State of NJ is getting the money to help you and other residents . FEMA is a federal agency that falls under the President 's jurisdiction . <p> Yvonne <p> Funny how the people who do n't want government to interfere in their lives are complaining that President Obama " Has n't done anything to help them " <p> http : **35;3271;TOOLONG ... Sundiata Bradshaw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters like this . It 's the ones who still have n't " made up their mind " which is absolute bs . I really think these people are going to walk in to vote and flip a coin . I do feel that everyone should vote or do n't complain but these group of people should just not vote on the Prez if you have n't decided yet <p> Starderup <p> Similar to how Romney had to bus in supporters because the Univision interview simply held no interest for the students on campus . He also threatened to cancel that day unless they re-taped the introduction , because he did n't want them saying Obama gave them an hour , and Wrongme a half hour .. The mean spiritedness alone of this guy should be a big clue as to why he is totally unfit to lead this country . Obama/Biden 2012 -- Romney/Ryan 1040 <p> Shore Thing <p> Hmmm ... obama=vote for revenge ( lol ) Romney=vote for love of country . obama=campaigns in 08 on " hope and change " .... changes nothing , makes things worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and scare tactics . Obama ' 08 " people who have to use fear tactics to campaign do NOT have a record to run on .... obama is RUNNING FROM HIS RECORD because the economy has NOT improved , housing has DECLINED , he has doubled the deficit , and college students are graduating college not being able to find jobs but are in a hell of a lot of debt ........ <p> 2 leaves <p> Sounds like a Romney script , nice copy job . <p> Don Johnson <p> Someone needs an economics class ... <p> Jen L <p> And so the solution , according to the Shore Thing , is to vote for the guy who is worse in the areas that he complains about . Romney is refusing to state anything for the record because anything that he says will be used against him by voters . <p> You 're projecting again . <p> babygirl963 <p> Shore Thing , Romney did nothing during your disaster . He sent can food that you could not open . He did not have enough compassion to come see you . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a right to your opinion , but do n't lie when the Governor who supports Romney calls you a liar . <p> http : **34;3308;TOOLONG ... drzoon <p> as usual Shore Thing ... you fell for a Romney lie ( i see now that lying is not called " mitting " ) . That " revenge " statement was so out of context it might be as big of a lie as Mitt 's " jeep moving to china " and Ryan 's " three hour and something marathon . <p> Anonymous <p> I find it slightly disturbing that I ca n't find a single comment that is n't filled with hate toward one party or another . <p> Lincoln , a Republican , frees the slaves , the south is Democratic for a century . <p> LBJ , a Democrat , frees the slaves again , the south is Republican for 50 years . <p> Notice the pattern ? <p> Shore Thing <p> I find it amusing that concerned " parents " took there children out to a rally in the cold without properly dressing them for the event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for doing ) . People were fighting to get into the rally , they were not fighting to leave ... in fact people were outside the fences watching the rally because they could not get in . This just shows liberals are liars just like their liar in chief ..... benghazi obama lied people died . obama left our men behind to try to save his political career . we lost american lives because obama bends over to terrorists . <p> Derpaderp <p> Are you fucking retarded ? <p> Nebel722 <p> Yes , yes he is . <p> Goosemarion <p> forgot about the 40 or so american diplomats that died overseas when bush was in office.nevermind the thousands of american troops in the irac that died for nothing.how convenient you shallow minded forgetfull turd . tell me , why isint mittins seeking gw bushes endorsement ? please do tell ill be waiting right here . <p> Shore Thing <p> Bush was n't trying to cover up like obama. he said this attack was over a video ... he is a liar ..... it was and is terrorism .... wait obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a muslin and a sympathizer .... obama has bailed on Israel our strongest ally ..... obama is a lying piece of garbage ... he was all there for a photo-op in Jersey but it was an empty promise just like everything else obama does <p> MUSLIN ? ! <p> quoting " Shore Thing " : " obama ... is a muslin and a sympathizer " <p> OBAMA IS A MUSLIN ? NO WONDER I LOVE HIM SO MUCH . <p> FOUR MORE YEARS ! FOUR MORE YEARS ! <p> MUSLIN ? ! <p> Dear Shore Thing , <p> To call the President a muslin is a very big deal , especially since he refrains from publicly discussing his fabric preferences . What does this mean ? Are you a muslin scholar ? Can you tell us about other presidents or elected officials who might also be muslin or -- GOD FORBID -- surely the gayest of fabrics ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? <p> Sincerely , A concerned citizen <p> FoodForThought <p> Now , Shore Thing , do n't you think you 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments above you stated " ... this is AMERICA and I will say what I want and the beautiful part is that you ca n't stop me " , which I wholeheartedly agree with . But tell me , do you know , I mean , truly know , anything about Islam ? Have you read the Quran ? Do you know the story of Muhammad ? Do you associate with Muslims ? Do you have any devout Muslim friends ? The reasons I ask are simple . 1 ) You are being hypocritical by claiming that you can state whatever you want because this is America and we have certain freedoms . One of which is the freedom to practice any religion we choose without persecution . So even if Obama is a Muslim , what does that matter ? How , exactly , is he sympathizing with terrorists ? And why , exactly , does being Muslim automatically associate with terrorism ? I suggest you read up on the subject before you talk about something like that unless you want to be seen as an uneducated fanatic . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you would realize that the vast majority of the religion practice in complete peace with absolutely no intention of harming anyone . Muhammad taught tolerance , taught kindness because " Allah is surely merciful " . <p> I know you are going to say that you have nothing against Muslims , that you were just saying that Obama bends over backwards with terrorists because he ( supposedly ) is a Muslim and sympathizes with Muslim extremists . But please , I beg of you , show me the proof of all these fanatic ramblings of yours . Show me proof of what you are saying is more than what you 've gathered from your own opinions or watching Fox News . Give me concrete evidence so that I can believe you . Prove it to me . Otherwise , all you are is just a pinhead with an inflated sense of ego . And that 's unfortunate . <p> HAHA , you people are so ignorant and so blind , you would n't see a door if it splits your heads wide open .... your comments keep me entertained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commenting .... <p> http : **35;3344;TOOLONG ... Robert Tulloch <p> Flash ! ! ! Obama cornholes Colin Bowel backstage . <p> Shore Thing <p> We are from Jersey and we went to the rally last night because obama came to Jersey for a photo-op with the Governor and he has FAILED to send the help we in NJ need . Obama is a liar and he could care less about the people at the Jersey shore ! ! ! ! ! ! ! <p> Acer <p> Wheras you , by taking this moment to complain about politics instead of going outside and helping with the disaster , well , clearly you despise Obama for being SO DIFFERENT from you , because HE is the political opportunist . Right ? <p> Derigo1957 <p> No , I 'm thinking , " because he is the President " . Not much that " Shore Thing " can do . The President , however , has the world 's resources at his command . Jus ' sayin ' . <p> frank <p> read the enumerated powers of the president under the Constitution .. seriously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ king or dictator with absolute control ? <p> really ? <p> I disagree with you . my father works for FEMA and they have a crap ton of people out there helping . call it a " photo op " if youd like but the disaster cant be fixed in a day , or even a week for that matter . sorry you werent the first to be in line , but youll get youre help , just like everyone else , just like the President said . <p> http : **27;3381;TOOLONG Chris Bowen <p> Shore thing is obviously someone that the GOP targets . If you look at his posts he has tons of poor grammar and spelling , but is apparently well off enough to have a personal generator and plenty of fuel to power his house and cars . My only thought is that he is in an area of under-educated wealthy people . <p> john h Jersey Strong <p> There is nothing worse than ignorant UNIFORMED voters . Four years of nobama=no damn jobs . four years of nobama=benghazi , four years of nobama=FAST AND FURIOUS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uniformed voter .... lacking education ! <p> zapata86303 <p> Whereas , your educated self has such a strong command of English syntax and grammar ! <p> Well asshole obviously you do not know much more about reality than the other folks who think like you . Obama has done great things for america and it is a pity that the lies you promote has blinded you to the facts in which are all around you . Colin Powell who is one of your own obviously can see the facts better than all of us and since he can not justify voting for a hate mongering liar than why should I. <p> ChelsieSutherland <p> When Romney was governor of my state , MA , we dropped to 47th out of 50 for job creation , with a job growth rate of around 1.5% ( compared to the national average of 5.3% ) . The states we beat out were Ohio ( lost most of it 's manufacturing at the time ) , Michigan ( decline of auto ) and Louisiana ( Hurrican Katrina ) . Unemployment only started to get better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had more to do with high numbers of working-age adults exiting the state 's workforce , as MA had one of the highest levels of net out-migration of any state . <p> He made severe austerity cuts to local cities and towns in 2004 , some by as much as 20% , and would have been more severe if the legislature did n't override his veto . His " cuts " included : caps in payments to medical providers ( limiting payments to hospital stays to 20 days , no matter how sick the patient ) , rationing access of higher-priced meds to Medicaid patients , and cutting Medicaid eligibility to 36,000 people . Police forces had been cut so badly in the early years of his governorship , that crime rates in multiple cities continued to rise , to the point where Romney offered to have the state police sent out to towns worst affected . The cuts also decimated MA 's mental healthcare system : closing hospitals and health centers , raising the patient-to-counselor ratio to unsafe levels , cutting mental health services to children , employment services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beds at DMH-run hospitals in MA at half the level they had been at earlier in 2004 . <p> When Peabody asked for an emergency funding of $5mil in 2004 for a project to stop it 's chronic flooding , as part of the funding package to help repair the city from the massive floods it had already suffered , Romney vetoed it . <p> Because Romney had run on not cutting taxes , he attempted to close the budget deficit by severe cuts and raising fees . When local gov had to raise property taxes to make up for cut in funding , and residents complained , Romney signed into law legislation that allowed communities to shift the burden of property taxes from residential property owners to businesses . <p> He tried to veto raising the minimum wage to $8/hr in 2006 , after claiming he wanted to index the minimum wage to inflation , but the legislation overrode him . <p> He tried to bring back the Death penalty to MA . <p> Not to mention that he was terrible at connecting or making any relationships with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ managed to make himself unliked and unwelcome everywhere he has been in power , and left office in 2006 with a disapproval rating of 60% . Upon the end of his term , Romney 's staffers purchased the hard drives of their state-issued computers , and all emails were deleted from the server -- even though all emails are supposed to be preserved under the Massachusetts Public Records Law . <p> You bet , Limbaugh , Beck , Hannity and the entire Fox News Corp are nothing but a bunch of lefty lackies .... Recent job reports of 100,000 plus per month are much , much worse than Bush 's stellar -800,000 jobs per month ....... Come on , try looking at facts .... <p> http : **35;3410;TOOLONG ... Patrick Howe <p> me tink your facts are bit off , during Bush 's terms unemployment avg. aroumnd 5%. in the last two months we lost " 800,000 ? jobs . How many were seasonal losses ? Now for the last 4 years we had U2 unemployment around 8% to 9% , Last month they say they created 171,000 jobs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of over 100,000 in the US , that equals about 600 jobs per city . Now thats the facts if you please <p> MeowMix <p> Patrick Howe , your " facts " are actually way off as well . The unemployment rate that Bush started with in his first term , according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics was 4.2% At the end of his first term , it was 5.3% , an increase of 1.1% . At the end of his second term , the unemployment rate was 7.8% , an increase of 2.1% in his second term and an increase of 3.2% during his entire presidency . So , Obama took office with this 7.8% unemployment rate and as of statistics from October , the unemployment rate was 7.9% , and increase of 0.1% in the course of one term . What these statistics say to me is that Bush started the ball rolling in a really bad direction and the current administration has been doing whatever it can to keep things from getting way out of control and to bring things back to a place of stability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense to me . So far , I have n't heard anything from the right wing that makes sense ( unless of course you go to the land of make-believe , that is ) . Oh , btw , here is the website for the Bureau of Labor Statistics in case you feel like doing your own research : http : **35;3447;TOOLONG ... <p> MeowMix <p> You 'll notice that this is being posted on non-mainstream media , if you choose to pay attention to reality and not propaganda . So far , I have n't seen this or heard about it on NPR , the NY Times , or even Yahoo . Nobody is talking about it . So perhaps it 's true and the media is really run by conservatives with way too much influence . Btw , I work for some of these filthy rich conservatives who invested heavily in republican campaigns this year . Guess what they do ? They run and invest in a bunch of media outlets . <p> Nursehenri <p> I can not believe this . Just think what Romey will do if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut . No one will get any incentives , he will hold on to them too . Saying bread and water is enough We need to pray for him and his staff . <p> This has to be absolutely factual , I mean look at those tweets , totally cant be photo shopped I mean whatever you do , do n't use that phone to call for help , to film what is going on or in the very least to beat the person that is endangering your child so that you can get to a safe place . <p> Miles Taylor <p> You do realise those are reporters at the event that are tweeting , do n't you ? As I 'd hate to think you were reinforcing stereotypes held in the wider world that Americans were stupid . <p> Billy Bob McCheeseburger <p> Stupid American here , who gives a shit what a moron embracing a stereotype thinks ? Having trouble accumulating wealth in your shit country ? : D <p> olandp <p> All they have to do is start chanting Obama , Obama , or start using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prot <p> Wat ... try to understand american voters : Failed . <p> How can people consider voting Romney ? He 's one piece of shit and the whole world knows about it . I do nt know if that stuff here is true or not , and i do nt care . His speeches are true though . That should be enough to make him lose the Vote by about 99% ... How can the " style " of a person , the hype and the advertisment be affecting enough , that it does nt matter what candidates stand for ? <p> Thats simply not imaginable in nearly every other country . <p> USAGuest <p> We are silly americans wearing overalls and buying the white hype ... im white btw and wear overalls , just not buying the slop anymore ... Look at the state divides for party support- civil war like much ? <p> Saljen <p> Now you know how it feels to be a democrat in America . <p> Just passing by <p> Hey there pal , <p> do n't worry , you 're cetainly not alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverage on the american presidental elections here , as it will greatly influence many countries . Not just the average person is afraid Ronmey might win , our politicians are very worried as well , because in terms of forgein afairs Romney is as blanc as a sheet of paper and nobody really knows what to expect , because he keeps saying different things on a daily basis . <p> Yours Truly , from a country where 5% would vote for Romney and 92% would vote for Obama , if they were allowed to . I 'm not making this up . <p> DOmega <p> Serves them right for supporting that lunatic . <p> Randan333 <p> You want to support a candidate that vows to dictate what actions you will be allowed perform , this is how it 's done . Enjoy it , you want it , for all of us . <p> Ondra Gssel <p> That is disgusting . What the hell is going on there ? <p> samiinh <p> Sounds like Germany in the 1930s . <p> Deknyc <p> sounds more like Jonestown . They cant leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best advice I can give them is if they are being held against their will and feel their children are in danger is to use their phone that they are tweeting on to call 911 its drastic but it will get them and their child out of there they can be charged with child endangerment if anything were to happen to your child . <p> silverphoenix <p> Go ahead America . Give this guy an axe so he can personally cut your head off and shit down your neck . <p> Sage on the Hudson <p> The weather 's not nearly as cold as Romney , himself . <p> Tfire <p> I 'm sure his arrival caused the temperature to drop considerably . <p> ExiledinKansas <p> Well , that should cost them a few votes . Got to love these ' compassionate conservatives " <p> Foxygrimreapess <p> I actually want to know why people are being denied their right to leave the rally when the STATE LAW is suppose to allow the parents to take their children to the ER if any adult suspects that the childs health is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endanger the life of a child , and the cost of an election ? Yes , actions like this do wave AGAINST the political party in an electorial race . <p> Liona Rowan <p> is n't that false imprisonment ? <p> Papa Bear <p> Yes . Commonly called kidnapping . <p> Knowitalldouche <p> False imprisonment and kidnapping are legally two different things . Kidnapping involves moving a person without his or her consent . This situation is false imprisonment because they are not being moved , but rather their freedom of movement is being violated . <p> Kvandizzle <p> Regardless of the political views of people if it is 42 degrees out and you are ignorant enough to put your children at risk taking them into cold temperatures knowing how long a rally usually lasts I can not feel sorry for you . I do however feel sorry for your children but whining on twitter or facebook because of a choice YOU made makes you look ignorant . I did not read all of the previous comments but a few caught my eye like a person who stated they was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year old children . What the heck were you thinking ? Your children should matter more than going to a political rally that you could find information about online . Seriously . I am not going to apologize for being harsh because of people getting their panties in a twist due to how " politically correct " this country has become . I just can not believe that this is a story at all . Grow up , use common sense , be a better parent by not taking your children out when it is potentially too cold for them , and take responsibility for your own actions rather than blaming someone else . Nobody made you go to the rally ! <p> http : **30;3484;TOOLONG ? id=1 ... Akira Bear <p> Are you freaking kidding me ? <p> Anacoluthia <p> Wow , you 're really stupid . It is your right to leave an event you chose to attend at any time , regardless of whether that event is over . I actually ca n't wrap my head around how stupid you are . " Common sense " is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you choose based on the fact that the USA is a free country . <p> dantes44 <p> Do n't know your political leanings , but LOVE your comment . <p> http : **25;3516;TOOLONG Tatiana Povoroznyuk <p> I get what you 're saying , but people should have the right to get their frostbitten children back home without pushing through a security guard . When you attend a rally you are n't signing a contract preventing you to leave before it 's over . <p> Kvandizzle <p> I agree that if the parents did go against better judgement by taking their children out into potentially cold conditions ( If you live in PA you already know that it gets cold quickly . People are acting so naive ) they should have been able to leave . I am not disagreeing about that part . <p> You 're an idiot <p> So children should never go out if the temperatures are too cold , on the off chance that some random " security personnel " are going to keep them out in the cold for much longer than they should be ? @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is a small chance a stranger could kidnap my child , I will never let them leave the house . " The parents are in no way in the wrong here , and saying they are is just plain old ignorant . When I was a kid , I went to an outdoor event in the dead of winter at Willow Grove Naval Air Base ( PA ) . Maybe 4 years old . You know what my parents were allowed to do when I got too cold ? TAKE ME AWAY FROM THE COLD . Romney and his staff are completely in the wrong , and the parents are in no way in the wrong , and to say otherwise indicates your extreme bias . <p> They should be allowed to leave regardless of whether they had ill children or not . You can not keep people from leaving for whatever reason they are free to go as they please from a public event or private for that matter . <p> You'rewrong <p> I 'm sure it was n't freezing when they first got to the rally . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know about people with their freedom . You probably just know the ' Freedom of Speech ' and that 's it . People are suppose to be free to attend and leave a POLITICAL RALLY . And while these people were free to attend , they are being denied their freedom to LEAVE . And that denied freedom is not only having everyon in false imprisonment , but is actually risking the lives of many children and possibly adults . These tweets above are from the Media . And people who are in the rally WANTING to get their now health endangered children to the ER should make a call to the Police so that the security officers , AKA Romney 's Staff , can give them their freedom again . You do n't seem to know much about common sense since you 're bitching about how people are trying to get their children more involved with politics , and are clearly being punished for such actions . The common sense here is that the people in the audiance should be calling for the Police , instead of using their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . <p> http : **32;3543;TOOLONG John Seitz <p> Maybe you should pay attention to what you are reading before making ignorant biased comments Kvandizzle . <p> The " tweets " above , were made by a reporter for the New York Times , and a reporter for USA Today , not by people whining on twitter or facebook . <p> Furthermore , the rally started more than an hour late because the Romney campaign had air travel delays . The people who went the rally were prepared had it started on time . Once it got to be too late and too cold for them , they decided to leave , only to be told they could not . <p> Foxygrimreapess <p> Do you know why the people at the rally are being denied their rights to leave ? <p> Stan Johnson <p> How was Kvandizzle being biased ? <p> Mulberrygirl <p> Not sure about biased , but their argument is ridiculous . Since when are we required to stay at a public event against our will ? What in the world is wrong with people wanting to leave ? @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> usa <p> and yet they 're being stopped from leaving when they choose to . <p> Mulberrygirl <p> Ummm ... are you kidding me ? Who says you have to stay for the whole rally ? They should be free to do as they please . You are ridiculous and not too bright . The people do n't even have to state a reason for leaving , why would you thik it was ok for them to be kept captive and not be allowed to leave ? What is wrong with you ? <p> Deano <p> Yes , you do n't need to have ANY reason , much less a " good " one , to leave a public or private event . In America , you have the right to leave an event without having to give a reason . So , it 's completely irrelevant to make points about the health and welfare of the children , or the legal right for parents to take children to ER 's if there is a health concern because the point is : you do not need any reason to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : **31;3577;TOOLONG Glenn Olson <p> Yes , I 'll grant that it was shortsighted to bring one 's children out there in the first place . Does n't speak well of Republican supporters in the first place , but let 's set that aside for now for a more important question : How in the hell does that even come close to excusing the refusal to let them out after the fact ? <p> Marcus2012 <p> I do n't care if it was negative , and their parents took them out there naked , it 's taking hostages and this is SERIOUSLY fucked up , holy shit , could he possibly expect to actually win ? He 's been a joke for months now , but this takes the whole fucking cake . <p> http : **35;3610;TOOLONG ... Steve Cox <p> You are an idiot . Also these people were Republicans , you can not expect them to think or use common sense . <p> Butmantaylor <p> I love you and ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ... <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How so ? For stating an opinion as you just did . Are you also a troll ? <p> http : **30;3647;TOOLONG ? id=5 ... Nick Makhmaltchi <p> Well . This , like most political comments , show how most of the american public are stupid assholes . Do you people really think of everything as " right wingers " and " left wingers " ? You ca n't fit people into 2 tightly knit categories , it does n't work . Having our whole government based on only 2 parties basically being able to achieve any political success is detrimental to democracy . And anyone who thinks in pure " left " or " right " are fucking morons . <p> http : **25;3679;TOOLONG Debra <p> Some of his rally photos are photoshopped with more crowds than were really there . Geez . <p> dantes44 <p> Keep believing that . <p> And please have no sharp objects within reach on Nov. 7th . <p> Vandigo <p> Even a child can spot where there were " clones of the crowd " in a lot o the pictures . I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she saw anything in a picture , and she pointed out three spots that were cloned from other spots int he crowd . That particular one was a Nevada rally . <p> Mgm5606 <p> I 'm afraid they are correct about the photoshopping . I saw one photo of a rally and clearing a third of the " crowd " was photoshopped . Either that or about 50 pairs of identical twins attended and sat in the same rows across the rally . <p> Fireblazes <p> I love the smell of desperate Romney supporters in the morning , <p> dantes44 <p> LOL . Desperation is when you try to float a story that EVIL ROMNEY is holding kids against their will . You lefties really need some psychiatric help . <p> Have you even seen the events ? Romney 20k plus while Barry is struggling to get 2K . <p> Arvol <p> Do n't forget that Romney advocates photoshop all his rally pictures to make them appear bigger than they really are ! <p> No , desperation is democrats showing up at a Romney rally , tweeting complete bogus stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do believe your claim of loving things that smell . <p> Marcus2012 <p> He was a writer for the New York Times , and he seems pretty Pro-Rmoney . <p> olandp <p> LOL <p> Fireblazes <p> It does not matter now the story is out there . I just find it interesting that this is one of the few stories on Ablog that attracted swarms of Romney trolls . Me thinks that you doth protest too much ! <p> http : **30;3706;TOOLONG Vinny Aboud <p> Daddyvice , that is a joke , Romney 's staff wo n't even allow wide camera angles , because there were so few people at most of his rally . The man is an ageing ken doll , and just as stiff . <p> colleen2 <p> They smell like losers <p> Chipenguin <p> The fact remains that the temperature was 42 degrees , which is cold , and cause enough for some people who want to leave after spending lots of time outside , and no security protocol exists that forces people to stay at a certain place against their will . You simply can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " or that " there were security measures in place " . <p> dannyvice <p> Then tell that to the secret service . They do it at Obama rallies as well . It 's a safety measure that I 'm sure they do n't intend to change . But while we 're on the subject of cold , how about those folks in New Jersey that have been without power , blankets and food for a week now . Obama flew in for his photo opp with Christie , then flew right back out . A week later , new jersey residents are scraping food out of dumpsters to survive . It is below freezing in New Jersey tonight . I note you did n't spend one moment considering their well being since it does n't fit into your stupid political narrative . <p> Jaiyetaylor <p> At least he showed up on time .... <p> http : **32;3738;TOOLONG John Seitz <p> dannyvice : ...... and everyone ( except multiple marriage Giulianni ) involved in New Jersey and New York has said that President Obama continues to be involved and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is an invention called a " cell phone . " President Obama has spent hours on his while campaigning ......... or as his campaign has told the press , the President of the United States is capable of doing two things at once . <p> Visco Santium <p> Ummm , did you want the President to pitch a tent in Jersey and spend the month there until the recovery is complete ? do n't you think it would serve the president better to get back to DC so he can , you know , run the country ... make decisions ... sign some orders ? <p> Bobbert <p> It 's called FEMA . <p> skabbo <p> Just gon na assume you do n't live here , but posting from Brooklyn , I can assure you that Obama did as much for the NY/NJ area after the storm as a president could possibly be expected to do . The ' photo op ' you mention was their first face-to-face meeting after Obama had gotten on the phone with him repeatedly during and after the storm to see if the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Feel free to hate him all you want to , but do n't use us up here in NY/NJ as pawns for your political spin ; *everyone* I 've talked to up here appreciates his response . <p> FritoLaid <p> You forget the little bit of time he took away from the campaign to assist Christie , Republicans said he was disorganized and knew he was going to lose . You ca n't win with you guys . <p> Concerned College Student <p> Besides the fact I ca n't even handle some of the comments below , I would like to know a lot more about this . Like a video or some facts from somewhere . It makes me so sad that people can say such hurtful things to other people that they categorize as ' left ' and ' right ' just because they believe in something different . People can believe what they want , no matter what . If the rally was n't letting people leave , that is bad . But if it was for a security reason , I entirely get it . Regardless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important for a candidate even if you do n't believe in their beliefs , they should n't be subject to vulnerabilities because of that . Sorry for having a little rant , Just wanted to make myself heard is all <p> Rusty Parker <p> Right . And if there was an actual security reason and not some excuse like security saying " It 's not cold , " I would be all for it . Sadly , it was n't the case . Do you really think LEAVING is a security risk for a rally No , not at all . In fact , staying is since more people are likely still coming in . There was no security risk , just simple entrapment from misguided security that was trained improperly intentionally . <p> cole3244 <p> if you belong to the gop you support fascism plain and simple , simple enough for even a goper to understand . <p> Laurengolis <p> I was at the rally tonight , with a 1 yr old and a 3 yr old . 30,000 people were excited to be supporting Romney and his campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hear very well and when my kids were ready to leave we left- no one was holding anyone back . There were at least 25+ bathrooms ( one paper said there were none ) and everyone I saw was enduring the cold with a smile . It was a memorable night for all of us . Obamedia is upset that Romney received such an enormous turnout in PA and is trying to create lies to take away the positive momentum of the night . We the people are smarter than that ! * Proud to be American and Proud to VOTE Romney Ryan on Tuesday ! * <p> dannyvice <p> That 's why they are doing this Lauren . Romney crowds are swelling far past capacity -- while they are having to bus in union members to fill the stands at Obama rallies . Notice only Democrat surrogates tweeted this nonsense . You do n't see a single person on the news complaining to a camera anywhere -- that 's because there were n't any complaints . We show up because we want to show up , not because some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parker <p> You mean , proud to try and support he who ca n't even keep his ideals straight for even a year ? Right , and Obama 's support is full of lies . Voting for someone who will rip rights away from half the people in this country just to keep taxes off the rich will not fix anything in this country . We do n't need another Bush , and that is exactly what Romney is . <p> Tanzigirl <p> We need neither one ... Obama has done the country no good what so ever .. if he gets into office we will have further devastation to our economy , Obama-care is a nightmare and foreign policy issues .. not to mention he is lies .. With Romney we would also have issues with the economy .. No one but the rich would be able to go to college and get an education .. so I guess that only people with money matter .. he flip flops on obama-care .. again a nightmare .. can not make up his mind on gun control , feels gay people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the government is worried about with the countries issues right now ! ) .. OH YEA AND FEELS A WOMAN HAS NO RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT TO DO WITH HER OWN BODY ! We have dumb and dumber .. go check out these guys do some research , do not just go vote for the lesser of two evils .. he is STILL evil ... http : **35;3772;TOOLONG ... <p> http : //twitter.com/Cascadia Sherry Reynolds <p> thanks for the info -- without taking a position on who I support the media has a responsibility to accurately report events . <p> dannyvice <p> This was n't a media report . Jackie Kucinich is the daughter of Democrat Dennis Kucinich . Now what do you suppose she was hoping to accomplish at a Romney Rally ? Bingo . <p> Cactuar <p> Er , do her job ? As a /politics/ reporter ? At USA Today , where she works ? Maybe ? <p> Moonshadow2378 <p> And just because her father is a democrat does n't necessarily mean that she is too . Also she was there to do her job as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed to be accurate here , I had to Philli Friends who were there tell me this whole story is a cooked up crock of lies .... just because the Dems print it does n't make it true . <p> http : **32;3809;TOOLONG John Seitz <p> Laurengolis : <p> The only reason he was in Pennsylvania is because he is desperate to pick up electoral votes now that Ohio is no longer a possibility . They thought they would have a lot of money to flood the airwaves in Ohio the final few days , but when they went to buy more air time in Ohio , they found out that there was no air time left to sell . LMAO at their stupidity . <p> If he thought he had a chance in Ohio , he would n't have even gone to Pennsylvania . He does n't have a chance in Pennsylvania either . : ) <p> dantes44 <p> Lol . The left is desperate for ANYTHING . <p> http : **30;3843;TOOLONG ? id=6 ... Bill Kelly <p> Ashley Parker ? @AshleyRParker To be clear , the people asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bc of a Romney staff decision . Retweeted by Michael Barbaro <p> dannyvice <p> Okay idiot leftists ... Here 's a news flash for you . Every single campaign rally holds at least one gate -- and usually it 's all the gates -- until the candidate and his/her staff leaves the area . It 's a safety measure that is set up -- not by campaign staffers -- but the secret service . This story is a load of bs. from top to bottom . Temperatures were nowhere near freezing . <p> Conhater <p> How the F%$K would you know Vice were you there ? ? <p> dannyvice <p> Actually yes , I 've been to three of them ... And yes , this is standard procedure at rallies idiot . And several people who attended that rally have already come to this blog to refute what was said ..... and if that 's not enough for you , the author of this idiotic story sent a retweet , stating himself that the secret service was the group holding the gate until Romney and his staff left . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends there and they said the temp was around 41 degrees F .... a jacket and mittens on any kid would prevent a chill and nevermind " FROST BITE " ! This crock of lies is obviously a lefty whirl of the dervish <p> dannyvice <p> The twitter hoe above is no other than the daughter of Democrat Dennis Kucinich . Now what would she be doing at a Romney rally except to try to cause trouble 2 days before an election . Oh , and I looked it up . The temperatures were nowhere near freezing . Believe a democrat at your own peril <p> Dottie <p> Dottie Smith I 'm going to go back with the whole colored , niggas , negros , black , African American . I 'm full of a little this that family of every color shade and free . I would have gone to jail if they had done this to me much less my babies people know how crazy I am over my kids . The wrong people their . I would have done whatever it took to let him know this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> dannyvice <p> spoken like a true sheep who will believe anything her Democrat plantation owners tell her . <p> http : **32;3875;TOOLONG John Seitz <p> dannyvice : <p> Do you know why big oil has donated so much money to Romney 's campaign ? It 's not because they believe he will fix the economy . It 's because they are afraid President Obama will . <p> They make more money on a bad economy than on a working economy . There was a bill passed that states the EPA can not pass any more regulations that would negatively effect their profits , until unemployment gets below 6.0% . <p> They need Romney to win because they know unemployment will not get anywhere near as low as 6.0 if he is elected . <p> Wake up ! <p> dannyvice <p> Oh yes ... The old faithful Dem argument about big oil . Missing from your blather is the fact that big oil has gas prices that are twice what they were when Obama was elected . But you go ahead with your conspiracy theories . The EPA is about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late November . They are working on policies right now , so they will be locked in regardless of who is elected . <p> Obama directly lied to the American people about that during the debates . I have a friend that works for the EPA , and Obama wants coal production shut down , and they 'll do it by regulating it to death . <p> It 's really too bad you are stinking up the state of Missouri . But I 'm glad very few Missourians share your leftist views . <p> Heffethx <p> Man you sure are one nasty ahole <p> Shanghai14 <p> You know you are telling the truth when you get called a " nasty ahole " by a lefty ! HAHAHA ! Keep telling the truth Danny ! They cant take it so they start being the follower children they are and call pitiful names . what a shame . <p> Tony <p> If people are standing around for hours and there 's wind there is a windchill factor ever heard of frostnip very easy to get frostbite especially in children . You also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , clothing . you 're a moron . <p> The campaign did not hold anyone for hours and hours . Go to an Obama rally . The secret service holds the gate at all rallies until Obama has left the parking lot . It 's a safety measure to protect the candidate bonehead . There are enough issues to talk about , trying to turn something idiotic like this into some kind of an attack on Romney is weak . <p> And I do n't trust a word of it , since the only one 's tweating about it are democrats who unceremoniously show up at a Romney rally . Jackie Cucinich is an Obama surrogate and the daughter of Democrat congressman Dennis Cucinich . <p> Tony <p> It was n't an attack on Romney it was a response to the person who thinks that 45 is not cold enough to get hypothermia or frostbite. if you 're standing around and people did wait around for hours , a young child standing around for two hours in that kind of temperature can turn into a dangerous situation . If people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to panic , well panic can increase heart rate and blood flow , that 's reducing blood flow in the extremities sending it to the core to keep vital organs safe . When you are cold you 're cold you want to get the bleep out of wherever you are . <p> dannyvice <p> Fine , Tony , then why do n't you have a word with the secret service about it . They do this at Obama rallies as well for the President 's safety . And while you 're at it , why do n't you ask Obama why there are people in New Jersey who have been out in the cold for a week now without power or even the FEMA support they were promised ? Obama flew in for his photo opp and then left them behind to scrape for food out of dumpsters . <p> http : **26;3909;TOOLONG Chris <p> What is this I hear ? ? ? People are supposed to rely on government to rescue them ? What happened to taking responsibility and pulling yourself up by your own boot straps ? Sandy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wait for some government agency to rescue you ? <p> Tony <p> Did I say I support Obama or Romney I never said any of that I was responding to a fallacious argument about temperature and frostbite this is not a politically motivated post . <p> jess <p> the temperatures do n't have to be freezing for a person to be uncomfortably cold . A person can become hypothermic at 60 F if they are not dressed for the weather . <p> Shanghai14 <p> Only an idiot would take there kids to a rally without cold weather gear in the Penn State in November ... no more to be said . <p> Billyrouth2000 <p> desperate liberals making things up , all because herds of people have been walking out on Obummer . <p> zach <p> This is not true ..... They would n't hold people against their will .... Bunch of liberals trying to lie to make mitt look bad before Tuesday <p> I agree ... and it will be a sad day in American History if Romney and his child side kick win . <p> Shanghai14 <p> And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hollywoodstein <p> i guess there is just no more air time to purchase so they unleashed a troll army . Got ta get the commissions from the billion dollar rubes . <p> hollywoodstein <p> Who let the Trolls out , woof woof . <p> Derrick Mains <p> 45 degrees in Philly and people are frost bitten not only is Romney a monster but he can work miracles by shattering the laws of science and causing people to get frostbite at temperatures far greater than any know case of frostbite in human history this man is a god and evil god ! ! <p> straightnotnarrow <p> Well , let 's look at the comment here . " Shattering the laws of science . " I 'm a scientist , a physician in fact . And while one is unlikely to suffer from true frost bite ( frozen devitalized tissue ) , one is perfectly capable of suffering from chillblains at temps well above the freezing point . This causes a painful inflammatory lesion and I think a lay person would be fair to fear frostbite not knowing the difference . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about science or facts of any kind . <p> Spouting science at them only confuses their tiny minds . <p> Missi <p> I 'm not on either side of this argument when it comes to politics , but I just wanted to point out that frostbite is possible in temperatures even up to 45 degrees with hypothermia occurring even at 60 degrees . It does not need to be freezing to still feel the health effects of cold . <p> Shanghai14 <p> Are you people truly suggesting that anyone would be dumb enough to go out in PA in November and expect anything other than cold ? Come on people ! those parents did not take there kids out in the cold unprepared , this is a bull crap story and that 's the truth ! <p> Tony <p> Laws of science ? Read my post above smart guy . <p> Vandigo <p> I got frostbite on one of my feet when it was 40 degrees outside a couple years back . It DOES happen . I 'm living proof . All it takes is being prepared for slightly warmer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate during a season where anything above 30 is too warm for a coat anymore . . . . Definitely my stupidity on that one , but after a deep freeze 40 felt like a heat wave . <p> Axelrod <p> this is actually quite funny <p> Dottie <p> Dottie Smith I 'm going to go back with the whole colored , niggas , negros , black , African American . I 'm full of a little this that family of every color shade and free . I would have gone to jail if they had done this to me much less my babies people know how crazy I am over my kids . The wrong people their . I would have done whatever it took to let him know this is free country . about an hour ago Edited Like <p> Some of the people had been at this rally since 2PM and were more than ready to leave by 6PM ... Does n't matter how parents had their kids dressed nor even how long they had been there if ANYONE wanted to leave they should have been allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> Probably a little over the top . It 's gon na be below freezing tonight in that part of PA , but not much , and probably not by then . Yeah , she probably was cold and should have been allowed to leave . But frostbitten ? I doubt it . <p> Tman79 <p> Why were n't the children properly dressed for the cold ? Why were they out in the cold temperatures to begin with ? At a presidential rally they likely did n't care about ? I 'm no fan of Romney but parents have to take some responsibility . <p> Nonopenever <p> Yes ? I guess ? At the same time , having people corralled and not being allowed to leave is ... um ... completely unacceptable . <p> Mrbolt <p> They WERE , they were trying to LEAVE . <p> Nopenotgonna <p> It really does n't matter how many layers you put on , the cold inevitably creeps through . <p> 666 <p> Are you really trying to justify them not being able to leave with " they should have been properly dressed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out at all " ? Are you kidding me ? <p> http : **35;3937;TOOLONG ... Firstname Lastname <p> Did you see how they were dressed ? They probably deserved it . <p> Now where have I heard that before ... ? <p> adchristian1977 <p> No they do n't . If they wanted to leave they should have been allowed to leave . Bottom line . <p> DrunkenOrangetree <p> Why is it that you inevitably cut slack for the guy at the top . You know , I 've got no problem with kinky dominance play , but I do n't pretend that I 've got to run my world that way . <p> sickoftheright <p> Well if your there you most like him if you like him and he get elected get ready for more If you vote for that moron you are just plan stupid <p> Smeed <p> I was at an obama rally and obama ate all of the children and said they tasted like dog . <p> .... <p> are you sure about that ? because i was at the obama rally and he ate retards like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great , obama said he bowls like he was in the special olympics and now he eats his fellow competitors . Nice , you convinced me to vote for obama . <p> Justembers <p> People who use the word " retard " need to be bitch slapped then kicked in the nuts with steel toe boots . Ignorant jerk . <p> NotFan <p> Retard ... retard ... retard ... REEEEETAAAAARD ! <p> A very concerned 15 yr old <p> please do nt vote for him <p> http : //twitter.com/DebD451 DebD <p> I was at Obama 's event in Concord and his staffers were stealing candy from babies . I have twitter comments too ... ugh as soon as I make them up from my fake twitter accounts . <p> I do n't know what is more insulting , the fact that you even attempted to do this or the fact that you think we are dumb enough to believe you . <p> Nelsonfoul <p> your a nutjob , do the world a favour and drink a big glass of draino <p> Bcandland <p> I agree with the sentiment DebD . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unsubstantiated story is sad . Would n't any rational person try to do a slight amount of due diligence to see if there was any actual evidence of this beyond a few tweets ? <p> Dottie <p> Dottie Smith I 'm going to go back with the whole colored , niggas , negros , black , African American . I 'm full of a little this that family of every color shade and free . I would have gone to jail if they had done this to me much less my babies people know how crazy I am over my kids . The wrong people their . I would have done whatever it took to let him know this is free country . about an hour ago Edited Like <p> KarenJ <p> The Romney campaign is trying to whitewash this by saying it was n't a " hostage " situation forcing people to stay at the rally , but it was a " security issue " -- they 're blaming it on the Secret Service . Read the last paragraph of this report for what seems to be the true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reason staffers were n't letting people leave was because of a security issue , something to due with a fire somewhere . But I was n't there , that 's just what I heard , and I did n't hear anything that would count as cold hard fact . <p> Smeed <p> Please be easy on these on these libs , this is all they have left . <p> dannyvice <p> Oh yes , I 'm really going to believe the daughter of loonie left Dennis Kucinich . That 's who issued these idiotic tweets . What else do you expect her to be doing at a Romney rally ? I 'm sure someone in her group brought a video camera to catch the action . But there 's no video . What a shock . <p> Lisa <p> We do n't need video for proof he is a liar ! Bold face liar at that ! I honestly do n't believe this bullshit story . <p> http : **35;4011;TOOLONG ... Steve Steven <p> Get ready for prison life under a Willard presidency . <p> Oolonghustle <p> We literally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us . ( I did n't do so well on the traffic thing . ) <p> Ghdarnell <p> For the record , I was there tonight ... This is totally not true . <p> Oolonghustle <p> Bull fucking shit , I just got home from the rally . It 's 40 degrees out , you scumbags , and I left fifteen minutes early to beat traffic , no hassle . <p> this ca n't be real ... I mean I was already planning to vote for obama , but I still ca n't believe that any human beimg would do something like this ... this has to be something made up , at least I really hope so . <p> Billyrouth2000 <p> Of course its made up , its what the left does best . <p> Anna <p> The funny thing is that if America really does let Romney win , the rest of the ACTUAL free world will laugh at you . <p> Wilder125 <p> Considering this is something that CNN would lick and slobber all over within 2 seconds , I do n't view it as fact . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down a rally and hurting people , that will be different . <p> Hcann90 <p> Do any of you know where I can fact-check this ? I am also concerned that this is fake . Stating things like this is very extreme and this site seems to be completely democratic , which is very wrong for a news site . Let 's also keep in mind how generally valid blogs can be , meaning typically not at all . <p> Smeed <p> Jackie , tell the truth , you were n't there , were you ? Unbelievable ! <p> Wilder125 <p> This .. is why I do n't do rallies period . There are probably a few democrat ones doing that too . Why limit to one side . <p> misszee4 <p> Obama has spent less than Bush did . And the reason the deficit is so high is because Bush started 2 wars and put them on credit cards . Obama got the bill for both wars ! Fact check that ! <p> You really have a lot to learn ! Check the God Damn vote count for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including that senile piece of crap Biden . I served proudly under Bush and I am praying Obama loses so I can retire and NOT have his name on my retirement papers . He has been an embarrassment to our country <p> http : **32;4048;TOOLONG John Seitz <p> Bzal <p> They voted to go to war . Because the war lasted longer than was anticipated , they had to appropriate more money to continue paying for it . Neither Biden nor Obama voted to finance the war on credit . They opposed it . <p> By the way ........... the reason we initially went to war was to defeat Al-Qaeda and kill Bin Laden . Strange that you would be embarrassed by the man who gave the order to actually complete the mission . <p> Wmitch125 <p> Oh , that people fall for this ... Fools . Can I spin you a tale too ? <p> Kush61 <p> Fuck you . <p> hollywoodstein <p> Now that 's a reasoned argument . <p> Dgeoc <p> This sounds like complete Bull .... ! ! ! Unbelievable . <p> Kushs61 <p> Fuck you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one . <p> Griff <p> Breaking : Four Americans were tortured and killed in Benghazi while President Obama was counting sheep . <p> Carson <p> Hmm , you appear to be trying to enrage people . Too bad , I have a high tolerance for dumb people . Think of all the people President Obama has saved . He missed 4 of them , but he tried , but those 4 people , even with him trying , still died . I do n't know if this is true , or if what you said is true . But honestly , I do n't care . I 'm fine with politics until it begins to hurt more than it helps . This is one of those sad cases , along with people being attacked for voting for someone . <p> Ancelyn ap Gwalchmai <p> Breaking : We could have four more tortured and killed right there in Pennsylvania if Romney staffers do n't shape up . Stop being a dolt . <p> http : //www.ryanstake.net RyansTake <p> Breaking : There 's some really crappy news coming from the candidate I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment . <p> Paine <p> 3000 innocent Americans were killed while George Bush was reading " My Pet Goat . " <p> http : //twitter.com/DebD451 DebD <p> What the hell was he supposed to do ? Jump up and give the terrorists the pleasure of seeing that they flustered the President ? Or perhaps he should have appologized to the terrorists . At least he did n't party at Vegas after they died . <p> SFAW <p> What was Bush supposed to do ? Not act like a deer in the headlights , for starters . Well , actually , for starters , he could have paid attention to the August 6 , 2001 , PDB , instead of telling the guy delivering " OK , now you 've covered your ass . " And he partied plenty of other times . Strumming that gee-tar and having a piece of birthday cake while Heckuva-Job-Brownie was screwing up the " response " to Hurricane Katrina , for one . <p> Paulrocks <p> 18 Vacations in 4 years ( President Obama ) = more partying in a time of economic despair than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> Billyrouth2000 <p> Do n't forget the 100 rounds of golf played for 4 hours each time , while Americans are out of work . <p> Naja pallida <p> Except Bush Jr. , who had more than twice as many vacation days at the same point in his Presidency ... but granted , it is a lot easier to tank an economy than bring one back . It is n't like he had any major issues to deal with during his time that could have benefited from him paying more attention to his job . <p> **27;4082;TOOLONG <p> Bush took 1020 complete vacation days , which already debunks your stupid comment . Now even Bush 's flights to Texas were 5 times the price that Obama spent on his vacations . <p> Under GW Bush there were 12 US embassy and consulate attacks while he was in office with a total of 58 dead . <p> Kushs61 <p> How many were blamed on a video ... ? For 9 days ... ? <p> Lov446 <p> how long did it take to find out the what-where and why for 9-11 ? @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Trade Center , Saramis - 3,000 dead . <p> Billyrouth20000 <p> Bush did n't lie and blame a video , Bush also did n't pull security during the anniversary of 9-11 <p> Saramis <p> So he should just stay awake all the time unless literally every American in the world is safe . You know people ca n't stay up for so long or they 'll become clinically incompetent , not quite a state for the president to be in . <p> crystal <p> Bush had over 11 embassies attacked under his watchful eye .. with over 50 people killed and nobody even noticed ! ! <p> Translation : This thing coming from the party I support sounds really bad and makes me feel really uncomfortable , so I 'm going to wear a tin foil hat and insist all these reporters are committing a mass conspiracy , and somehow suggest all of this is a reason to vote for the party I do n't like . All of that makes me feel so much better . Yay , cognitive dissonance ! <p> Dana <p> Betty , you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you are so fucking stupid I do n't understand how you 're even still alive . Love , the entire Europe . <p> Billyrouth2000 <p> Dana , You are a woman , yes ? If you vote Democrat you are so fucking stupid I do n't understand how youre still alive , because the liberals would of aborted you . <p> Your right . The man sat in the sit room and watched those men fight for their life . Never sending help . Just knowing that this so called President let those beautiful people die is a sin/ He s no good . What he did to all of us in the last four years , is disgusting . He should just go back to Kenya where he was born , Comes here as an exchange student . gets a false SS card from the state of Mass . Yea . right he was born in Hawaii Smartin up folks he is nothing but joke that fooled everyone who voted for him <p> misszee4 <p> Wow ! And they want to vote for him ? If this do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> As much as I 'd like to believe this , the fact that the only evidence is some screenshots of Twitter feeds leaves too much room for doubt in my mind . Some more concrete evidence , supportive or not , would be helpful . <p> If Romney treats the people trying to support him this way ... I fear for the rest of us . I was really hoping to vote for a Republican this year , being that I 'm an independent and like to keep my mind open ( I also hate voting repetitively ) , but ... Every Republican campaigning this year has just made it so hard to support them . Hell , half my family are well-off White people , and they 're not even voting for Romney any more . Just one big mistake after another , turning his race in to a train wreck ... <p> Tomleland <p> Believe me , if you were hoping to vote for a republican any time in the last 60 years , your mind sure ai n't " open " . <p> An Anonymous Soldier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these men are willing to work for a Soldier 's salary . I 'll tell you when that 'll happen . Right . Never . <p> An Anonymous Soldier . <p> Oh , hell . Here comes the opinion of someone in the military . You know , the opinions none of you want to hear ? As of now , I can not speak badly of Obama . He is my Commander-in-Chief , and I will always respect that POSITION . However , the man , I do not respect . Say everything and anything you want about how Obama is a loving and caring person . I 'll believe it when he comes out here and hangs with us soldiers , marines , sailors and airmen . Talks to us as if we 're people , instead of blissfully ignoring our existence/releasing the names of men on covert operations thereby putting my brothers and sisters in uniform in danger . That man is a disaster on its way to destroying the country . That being said , Mitt Romney ai n't much better . I voted this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do with , yaknow , putting on the uniform and serving this country every day ) , and I 'll keep my vote to myself . I 'll give you a hint -- it was n't either of them . I 'm not going to vote for someone who has no respect for the military and knows nothing about the military that they are at the top of the Chain of Command for . And , as far as this article goes , I am following the Twitter accounts of each of these journalists , and they 're trying to clarify that the crazy-ass leftists are running with a story that does n't exist . My family lives in PA . Some were at that rally . Trust me , people went there of their own volition , and they were not allowed to leave for a short period of time because of a security issue . Guess what . They got to leave as soon as it was resolved . Get over it . Learn the facts before you call someone an evil human being or claim unlawful imprisonment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect the rights of the citizens of the United States of America . <p> MontanaSid <p> Real brave " soldier " when you sign anonymous . What a fake . <p> PLUMBOB6 <p> His first name i bet is Tagg <p> An Anonymous Soldier . <p> Actually my first name is Kirsten . I 'm a female . But , like ... Oh my god thanks for totally thinking I 'm a dude . Like seriously . Did n't you know females can be in the military ? Or does " Soldier " just automatically make you assume " This person has a penis . " <p> An Anonymous Person <p> But if he guessed your name as Sarah , you would have been offended that he was calling you " girly " ... derp . <p> hollywoodstein <p> I bet her first name is Tagg . <p> Pathetic Anonymous " soldier " <p> actually , anyone who could think that republicans could ever be better for this country SHOULD be a man . Women who support repugnicans are morons with stockholm syndrome <p> Robinson Crudite <p> " I ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for complaining about the Commander in Chief . By the way , my name is Kirsten . " <p> I work at a VA hospital , and I 've seen dozens of veterans like you , condescending assholes complaining that they defended the freedoms of people who do n't " deserve " freedom , when what they really mean is that they want to force people to believe EXACTLY as they do . They have a sad entitlement mentality that makes them believe they are owed respect while they are hateful , violent , racist , and actively work to take citizens ' rights away . <p> Anyway , good luck being the only person in the world who knows the real news , since TV and internet and print media are all lying . You however have the secret to real news and the actual truth , which you do n't get from TV or internet or print media , apparently . Little voices in your head , perhaps ? Morse code messages from Mars ? Whatever it is , I 'm sure it 's completely accurate . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about my Commander-in-Chief . Silly bananas . NCOs who may stumble upon this ca n't bitch at me if they do n't know who I am . And I am not into being bitched at by dipfuck NCOs who enforce regulations that they do n't follow . <p> Moderator3 <p> A bit of advice -- we can see your IP address . DISQUS also has access to it . I do n't know how DISQUS would react if a government agency were to request the IP address . <p> If you are ashamed you need to get the hell out your not worth the honor of putting on the uniform if that is the way you feel <p> An Anonymous Soldier . <p> I defend the constitution . And the rights of those around here so that perhaps we can progress . But I 'm ashamed of a lot of the people in this country , including fellow soldiers , marines , sailors , etc . Allowing politics to brainwash them . Maybe everyone should learn facts instead of just blindly believing words the politicians say . Do n't read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out and find out for yourself what 's going on . Do n't lie to me and tell me you all spend all this time going out into the world and finding out what 's going on . For the most part everyone just knows what they read on the internet and in newspapers , and what they can watch on television . It 's not an accurate source of information.I can tell you that I have seen reporters out here literally bullshitting . There would be nothing going on , and we 'd just be sitting on the FOB smoking cigarettes and shooting the shit about our day and a reporter would say something on camera about some bullshit IED explosion that did n't exist because it got better ratings for the station . Seriously . News is all fake now . Everyone 's just looking for a story . And even though the people in this country make me angry ... Infuriated actually , and even though I am fucking ashamed of how misinformed everyone allows themselves to be , I will still put on this uniform and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what this country is about . The rights we have deserve to be protected , whether people use them intelligently or not . The job is n't about liking all the people we defend . It 's about believing that we should . So thanks for saying I 'm not worthy of the uniform I worked my ass off to earn . But I 'm pretty sure I am . <p> ShinjisSecret <p> Maybe you will get lucky and meet a man to marry in some other country so you do n't have to come back to the " pathetic " people of the US . Again , this is n't WWII . You are not defending anyone 's right to be anything . <p> Naja pallida <p> An honest question : What part of our Constitution is defended by our current wars ? Which part is defended by having our military deployed all over the world , draining our treasury and sticking our nose where it has no business being , while millions of people right here in our country go homeless , go hungry , and suffer on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in natural disasters and the economic cesspool we 're drowning in -- this was the case before Bush tanked the economy . While I 'm glad you did n't vote for either war monger , none of our current Presidential candidates , of any party , have any real military experience . They 're all career politicians and/or lawyers . Minor party candidates tend to have a more sane stance on the military than either major party ... but the chances of them being able to make a serious impact are slim , if not entirely impossible . This election third party candidates have been entirely ignored , and not even part of the discussion , even by sources that generally try to be more inclusive . <p> Jim Olson <p> Careful Naja . Asking questions like that is likely to get you disappeared . <p> Naja pallida <p> Being disappeared would probably be better than another four years of Republicans intentionally making everyone in this country suffer , while they 're cheered on by people too ignorant to know any better . <p> hollywoodstein <p> Anonymouse Personae , You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misguided adventure war can be . Fifty Thousand casualties and 3 Trillion dollars and to what end ? Fifty thousand casualties so no Americans will be killed by the bad guys . Making more terrrrrists by killing civilians and woman and children ? Spending Trillions over there so we do n't have to spend them over here . <p> GF plz , war is a racket . You are defending Halliburton 's profits , not the Consitution or anyones freedom . Make certain your war is a just war before you pick up a gun . <p> An Anonymous Citizen <p> I tip my hat to you ma'am . A lot of people on this site are attacking you for your opinions . I agree with you on your stance that neither one of the choices are optimal and would like to congratulate you on voting " independent . " I totally understand what you are trying to say , and I wish people would try and understand what you are saying . Especially , since the Left always bill themselves as the more caring and understanding . I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rally . I see them trying to turn this into a statistic they can spin . I wish they would n't because it reminds me so much of the Right . A couple of people at the rally complained , because it was probably a long , cold , and tiring day . They are now apologizing for making people worry about them . When , it was n't that bad of a situation . Unfortunately , those people are now forgotten about in the righteous fervor to get revenge . I wish more people would not just believe everything someone says to them , because they share a political party . <p> PLUMBOB6 <p> Your the one that said your ashamed not me.There is no dought that you did work your ass off like all service members do to wear the uniform.But like anyone that does their job i would n't want the person next to me do be ashamed of what they are doing whether it is in a fox hole or painting a house <p> PLUMBOB6 <p> And that was n't a like it was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ badly of Obama , however the man I do not respect . <p> hollywoodstein <p> Hey Genius An Anonymouse Soldier , Keep voting for the ones who want to waste your lives on unnecessary wars , and want to keep cutting your benefits . <p> hollywoodstein <p> Dear Anymouse Soldier , <p> Did you really say , Idiots make me ashamed of the fact that I protect the rights of the citizens of the USA . <p> You are not a super citizen for being in the military . Idiots who pick up guns to fight illegal , unjust wars based on lies are not protecting the rights of citizens any more than someone with the courage to protest those same wars . We are all Americans , even the Idiots . <p> hollywoodstein <p> I should know . <p> Bystander <p> I 'd like to see how long this country stays " our country " -- The United States of America -- if we had no military or defense . How long do you really think that would last , hmm ? <p> No one forced you to join @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't drafted . <p> If you 're so ashamed to be protecting our rights of people just because they disagree with you , then maybe you should n't be in the military . I do n't feel sorry for you , and quite frankly I do n't respect you . <p> ShinjisSecret <p> I am a US veteran . I do not agree with all of the President 's policies , but he has been looking out for the troops a lot more than the republican party does . I do n't understand why so many in the military are meatheads who vote for people who want to send them to more wars , reduce VA benefits , and lower the standards to enter service . You are not protecting anyone 's rights here , so get real . You probably signed up to kill people and get the GI Bill . If you are so ashamed of your service , then get the dishonorable discharge you deserve Good luck getting a job in the real world that does n't involve serving fries with that . <p> Naja pallida <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troops are the ones that do not want to create any new war veterans . <p> HEIDI <p> Dear Anonymous Soldier , thank goodness the majority of our men and women who serve see what a wonderful President Obama is and will vote for out POTUS . My husband served in the Persian Gulf War " 82nd Airborne " under Bush Senior when you were wearing diapers . Do not try and make Benghazi and issue , no matter how you Republicants try and make it one ... it will never be an issue . Under Republican President Bush , 3,000 of our American citizens were murdered on American soil and lets not forget how awful Hurricane Katrina was handled and how our people were left to suffer without help for days upon days ... WHERE WAS YOUR OUTCRY THEN ? ? ? ? ? Like I said , Benghazi is not and never will be an issue . You also need to quit lying , our President has been very supportive and has visited with the troops many times and you are a LIAR ! ! ! ! ANONYMOUS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BECAUSE WE THE PEOPLE WILL NOT CONTINUE SUPPORTING UNNECESSARY WARS JUST SO YOU CAN HAVE A JOB , NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ! ! ! ! MY HUSBAND A PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERAN AND MYSELF ARE VOTING FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA ! ! ! ! <p> Heidi <p> Dear Anonymous Soldier , thank goodness the majority of our men and women who serve see what a wonderful President Obama is and will vote for our POTUS . My husband served in the Persian Gulf War " 82nd Airborne " under Bush Senior when you were wearing diapers . Do not try and make Benghazi and issue , no matter how you Republicants try and make it one ... it will never be an issue . Under Republican President Bush , 3,000 of our American citizens were murdered on American soil and lets not forget how awful Hurricane Katrina was handled and how our people were left to suffer without help for days upon days ... WHERE WAS YOUR OUTCRY THEN ? ? ? ? ? Like I said , Benghazi is not and never will be an issue . You also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supportive and has visited with the troops many times and you are a LIAR ! ! ! ! ANONYMOUS SOLDIER , I WOULD SUGGEST YOU GO BACK TO SCHOOL BECAUSE WE THE PEOPLE WILL NOT CONTINUE SUPPORTING UNNECESSARY WARS JUST SO YOU CAN HAVE A JOB , NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ! ! ! ! MY HUSBAND A PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERAN AND MYSELF ARE VOTING FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA ! ! ! ! <p> Griff <p> I was there . This is total bullshit and if you were dumb enough to bring your young kids to this event you 're probably a democrat . <p> Jaden <p> ARE YOU REALLY THAT STUPID WHY WOULD A DEMOCRAT EVEN GO OH MY GOd <p> Skertso <p> That 's a idiot statement ! <p> Robinson Crudite <p> The logic of a Romney supporter in a nutshell , ladies and gentlemen . <p> http : //twitter.com/DarthWyatt Darth Wyatt <p> Um , it was 44 degrees in Bucks County at the time of the event . Hardly hypothermia conditions . Also this : <p> ? @JFKucinich <p> @ashleyrparker notes that people were not being let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Waterman <p> What idiocy ! Why would security concerns keep people from being able to leave ? You prevent additional attendees from coming IN for security concerns , not from leaving . <p> Ng <p> When ghe bus came in folks leaving that direction toward farm had to wait for a few minutes . <p> They were not told why but was on fence and reason was obvious . <p> The entire rear of farm was an exit if needed some mile or more of orange temp fencing . <p> It was good fun and not cold <p> Li <p> Wow . People can definitely develop hypothermia at 44 degrees . <p> Hypothermia is a serious drop in core body temperature . 44 degrees can easily be cold enough for someone to have hypothermia . <p> Billyrouth2000 <p> As A doctor , nope not cold enough . <p> Asa <p> Same thing/tactic if you open your door and two mormons are staring back at you with " Great news ! " <p> liberallyfreex3 <p> Mitt Romney is a fucking animal . Do not vote this man into office . He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democrat and that kind of language is not appropriate . Makes you sound like the other side . <p> Independent of the idiocy <p> Oh shut up , you all sound the same . <p> Byrdman <p> But obama is better . What has he done for the USA . I will tell you what he has done . Nothing but put us much more in debt . So that 's for y'alls great president <p> OMFG DEBT <p> After 8 years of shit , seems like he 's starting to get things accomplished . Our debt is actually lower now than it was 4 years ago , but that 's okay , keep watching Fox News . <p> EdM01 <p> If this is how Mitt Romney treats his supporters , imagine how he 'll treat the rest of this country . Worse than Hitler and Stalin , I fear . <p> Theocrats , if you 're reading this , you better write in JESUS . Because Mittens does n't serve your Jesus , nor that of the Mormon Church . All he serves is himself , and mammon to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that IT serves HIM . <p> And ask yourselves this , theocrats : what is he likely to do if elected ? Certainly not impose the theocracy of your dreams , or that of your nightmares ( besides the islamic one ) . More likely , he 'll go the Bain Capital strategy . Load the nation up even more with debt , engineer a financial crisis , take the country bankrupt , and privatize the US government and the US military ( to the Chinese and other creditor nations ) . <p> As much as I hate Romney , as much as a horrid person I think he is ... not really worse than murdering 9 million people . Unless he plans to murder the US population by concentration camps and gas chambers .. <p> EdM01 <p> You think he 's going to stop at 9 million ! ? FYI , his debacle of a foreign debutante tour this summer ( remember his cock-ups in London ? ) included an endorsing or a near-endorsing of an Israeli strike on Iran . This will inevitably bring on World War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will perish in the nuclear holocaust that will ensue . <p> VAGINA <p> Normally I 'd feel bad for these people , but , well ... they DID go to a Romney rally voluntarily . They did it to themselves . And people , THIS is exactly how Romney will rule America if he 's allowed to steal this election . Do n't let him . <p> NCitizen <p> Wait a minute .. does n't anyone have a cell phone ? Call the cops . Holding people against their will is kidnapping . <p> PLUMBOB6 <p> They should have taken their kids closer to the front of the stage , with all the hot air coming from mitt they would be down to their underware <p> http : **35;4146;TOOLONG ... Craig Allen <p> How , exactly , can they force you to stay ? It 's a free country ... at least until after Tuesday . If Rmoney wins , and you 're part of the 47% , they 'll likely send you to a poor house or maybe a ... a ... camp for re-education or something . Somebody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think this actually would/could constitute a crime in most states . I think that 's true in PA also ... holding someone against their will . <p> misszee4 <p> This is a charge known as false imprisonment and it is a felony . It is the same as kidnapping in some states . <p> Dtoyzmom <p> I 'd love to see this on the news tomorrow morning ! <p> Ercobb <p> I want to see how FOX spins it ! ! LOL <p> Billyrouth2000 <p> You wo n't because its not true , just more fear mongering before the election . Its the only thing they have left , after even their liberal News papers started endorsing Romney today <p> Tumblr <p> Checked those folks twitter , apparently it was the secret service 's decision b/c of a security concern . <p> AnotherTumblrUser <p> Secret Service would be the correct term if Romney were president . He 's not . If his security people were holding people back from leaving instead of redirecting them to a different exit , then that 's just as bad . Any event of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handle people who want to leave and still keep Governor Romney safe . <p> Guest <p> The Secret Service protects major presidential and vice presidential candidates and their spouses within 120 days of a general presidential election . <p> I stand corrected . But I still stand by my statement that any type of security should help to redirect people who wish to leave if they ( the security ) has decided that one exit ca n't be used , assuming that 's the case in this particular instance . <p> asdf <p> Presidential hopefuls receive Secret Service Protection as well , Romney has had it since January or February . <p> Sigrid1 <p> Children 's bodies do n't regulate temperature at the same rate as adults . Do you not feel the slightest compassion for the children of your own political tribe ? You would also throw them under the bus of political ambition . Wow ! I am so glad I am a Dem . tonight . <p> Bystander <p> Children are warmer than adults because they have less body mass to heat up . <p> journalist <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make the statement you just did . That shows America where it 's headed if Romney wins . The children are cold and want to leave and you 're going to tell them they ca n't ? I 'm sorry but fuck that and fuck you and I hope you do not have children . This is unbelievable . <p> Jim Olson <p> Again , proving that Republicans care so very much for children while they are still in utero , but the minute they 're born they simply do not care . <p> Billyrouth2000 <p> You wo n't have children because you 'll just murder them first . <p> Surly <p> No , children gain or lose heat faster than adults do because they have a higher surface area to volume ratio . <p> Marbry8 <p> Welcome to Mitt Romney 's world . You are there to serve his purposes regardless of your own needs . <p> Nomail <p> Why did n't anyone call the police to let them know they were being held ? <p> Arikado <p> Police would make the situation worse and would probably end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . <p> I was there . This rally was well run and full of people who willingly attended . Police all over the place , which is why I do n't believe any part of the story . I had the sense to leave around 6 before it got too cold for my kids . Other people are n't as smart . She was probably trying to exit right when the secret service was coming through with Romney and they had to hold her off a few minutes . It was absolutely not cold enough for frost bite either . So your headline is completely ridiculous . <p> pacificferret <p> It 's you versus many other news outlets running with the same story . It is what it is . Do n't even try to lie about this . The sources are already confirmed and the story is spreading fast . <p> And I suppose when my boss threatened to FIRE anyone who did not go to Romney 's rally on Friday ( West Allis , WI ) , that was n't actually being forced ? <p> EdM01 <p> At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coalminers in Ohio who were REQUIRED to attend an Rmoney campaign rally without pay or get fired . <p> MontanaSid <p> Your proof is where ? Unions built this country and made it what it is ! You are just envious because you are stuck in your $8 an hour job . <p> Heneedham <p> I was at that rally ... it 's NOT freezing and you ca n't get hypothermia UNLESS you WERE N'T DRESSED APPROPRIATELY . Whos fault is that ? Should n't parents be dressing their children for the weather ? If you made the decision to attend this event , you knew how long you were going to be outside in cold temperatures . DO N'T BLAME OTHER PEOPLE FOR A SELECT FEW PEOPLE 'S MISTAKES . <p> Katkenwilson <p> Your reply is so Republican . " I dressed correctly for the event . I ca n't help it if others were n't as smart as me ! " You 've got yours , do n't worry about anyone else . Such selfish , naval-gazing , self-righteous cartoons parading around as human beings . You are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not scorn , for others . Are you a " good christian " too ? <p> hollywoodstein <p> Little kids have more surface area to body mass , and can get hypothermic even when dressed in winter clothes . <p> hollywoodstein <p> Because children make all the decisions . <p> Jim Olson <p> Irrelevant . If people want to leave , they should be allowed to do so . Especially if the children were cold . More evidence that you are all so , so concerned for children from conception to birth , but you do not care one bit for their welfare once they 're born . And , for the record , children can become hypothermic even in moderate temperatures . <p> Keira <p> When you 're a child you can ! <p> Bystander <p> Children are naturally warmer than adults because they have less body mass to heat up . So , nice try . <p> http : **27;4183;TOOLONG Jayelle <p> Forget the frostbite/hypothermia thing . It does n't matter if you 're just leaving because the kids are bored and whiny or you 're feeling bored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You should be allowed to leave . If not , they are galloping hypocrites when they talk of " freedom . " <p> Anaan <p> Typing in caps does n't make you any less wrong . <p> Bystander <p> Says the person who was n't even there and believes everything the lefties on the internet tells them . <p> http : **29;4212;TOOLONG karmanot <p> Well yes , by golly , Mitty also handed out free canned goods for the poor'uns . <p> An Anonymous Peeerson <p> Go stand outside for two hours in 40 degree weather and see how you feel . No walking , jogging , or any other method of heightening your heart rate allowed . <p> http : **26;4243;TOOLONG Wolfie Rankin <p> No sympathy , they went to a right wing rally , silly people . <p> Katkenwilson <p> True , but my bleeding liberal heart still feels sorry for people who are that stupid . At least they are n't losing a day 's pay because their boss made them attend ! <p> Anaan <p> You should have let them borrow your fursuit . <p> Johnlincolnhawk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lies from the negro in office . ROMNEY 2012 <p> nicho <p> Romney supporters -- racists and traitors -- or both . Looks like you fit both categories . <p> Johnlincolnhawk , please revel in your gross stupidity for another two days . Keep your mouth open spewing racist garbage ( though I doubt you have the balls to do it without the protection of anonymity ) , your fingers in your ears and a band over your eyes . You see , rMoney is LOSING . His own campaign knows it and are sending out signals right and left , but you refuse to see it . I hope your head explodes Tuesday night . Of course , if you chose to pull your head out of your butt and read some polls and some literature other than right-wing twaddle , ie. reality , you wo n't be so surprised when it happens . <p> Heidi <p> Katkenwilson , yes ... johnlincolnhawk feels brave when spewing his racist ignorace while hiding behind a computer screen and yes .. with the protection of anonymity ! <p> A Hoo <p> We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer even attempt to hide their racism . Honesty -- makes for a change . <p> I 'm ashamed to call you fellow " Americans " . <p> Johnlincolnhawk <p> haha <p> pacificferret <p> Why you heartless fuck . Those are the children of members of YOUR Party ! Why the hell are YOU laughing . Kill yourself . Immediately . <p> I can imagine the look on your face when President Obama wins a second term on Tuesday and that makes ME say " haha . " <p> EdM01 <p> Laughing at members of your OWN PARTY . Just goes to show your Party 's elites think its conservative white working-class base is expendable , utterly . <p> UncleBucky <p> And the same* for Romney in front of the unpaid coal miners at that rally . <p> The same* meaning , people being forced to add to the numbers at Rmoney 's rally . <p> ComradeRutherford <p> Who cares how many children have to die for Rmoney to get the perfect photo op ! And Rmoney 's staff is just as heartless and cruel as Rmoney is . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted Rmoney , then you are a sociopath . <p> Naja pallida <p> Just a taste of the new Romney America , where unlawful imprisonment is n't . <p> cmcc <p> Obama has been unlawfully imprisoning people his whole term . Are n't you paying attention ? How about blaming Libya attacks on that stupid internet video , knowing the whole time it was a lie ? He put that man in prison for making a movie and posting it on the internet . Since when is that legal ? Obama is giving weapons to terrorists who will use them to come after us . Wake up ! ! Obama is dangerous ! Vote him out ! He has already told Putin that he will be able to talk to him more freely about disarmament after the election , when it does n't matter what the American people think about his policies . HE IS A BAD MAN <p> Naja pallida <p> And the alternative is to vote in someone who has promised to be even more belligerent , ignorant , and dangerous . Genius ! <p> hollywoodstein <p> Oh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides to every story and it looks like you are only watching the Faux News version . As for this story ... it 's on the internet so it MUST be real , do n't you know that ? SMH <p> http : **35;4271;TOOLONG ... Hope Novak <p> Hello . The man was put in jail because he violated his parole . He was not supposed to have anything to do with filming or doing anything on the internet . It had NOTHING to do with the movies content . <p> http : **26;4308;TOOLONG Pritty.Brains <p> Wow , the GOP has really done a job on you . Brainwashed drivel . <p> shell517nj <p> You 've been PUNKED ! <p> An Anfgfdgfg <p> I think you really want to say " he 's a black man " and that is n't okay by you . Nice job . <p> Jim Olson <p> Seriously . Just call 911 and get the police there . There are already lots of cameras . <p> http : **26;4336;TOOLONG BeccaM <p> And this is how Mitt Romney treats his supporters ? <p> Words fail me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 400 foot wide exit well lit . <p> You definitely got stopped if you tried to cut behind the Romney bus exit route which was well guarded . <p> You would have to be disoriented not to find an exit . People were leaving all night with kids as it got quite cold <p> Quilla <p> Someone should call 911 . From this planet it looks like , say , child endangerment or unlawful imprisonment ... film at 11 . <p> anon <p> While I would agree under other circumstances , like someone pointed out the cops may do more harm then good . A lot of the times in big groups cops may pepper spray ralliers who are getting angry and belligerent and may accidently hurt a child in the process . It 's said to this but I do n't trust the cops to handle the situation without pepper spraying innocent people who are

@@5096641 <h> Quick Links <h> Elections <h> Voter Information Frequently Asked Questions <h> Voter Registration <p> Do I have to be registered to vote ? <p> Yes , voter registration is required in Nebraska to be eligible to vote . <p> The only exception is at a Presidential election for persons who have recently moved to Nebraska , or moved to another state after that state 's registration deadline . They may vote a Presidential-only ballot by contacting the county election official . <p> What determines my eligibility to vote ? <p> To register to vote in Nebraska you must : <p> Be a United States Citizen ; <p> Be at least 18 years of age on or before the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November ; <p> Live in the State of Nebraska ; <p> Have not been convicted of a felony , or if convicted , at least two years have passed since the completion of your sentence for the felony including any parole term ; <p> Have not been officially found to be mentally incompetent . <p> Do I have to be a resident for a certain amount of time to register ? <p> No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become a resident of the State of Nebraska . <p> You may also register by mail . Voter Registration Applications are available at several locations throughout the state , including banks , post offices and libraries . Additionally , a voter registration application can be printed off this web site for your use . <p> If registering for the first time in Nebraska by mail , please provide a copy of a current and valid photo ID , or a copy of a utility bill , bank statement , government check , paycheck or other government document which is dated within 60 days immediately prior to the date of presentation showing the same name and residence address provided on the voter registration application to avoid delays with your registration . <p> In addition , you may register to vote through the state Department of Motor Vehicles when applying for or renewing your driver 's license or at various other state agencies . <p> You may also register through the state Department of Health and Human Services and State Department of Education at the time of application , review or change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , voters may choose from one of the three statewide parties currently recognized in Nebraska : Democratic , Republican and Libertarian or they may choose to not affiliate with any party by checking the non-partisan box on the application . <p> If you wish to vote in the primary election , where parties choose their nominees for state and county offices , you need to declare your party affiliation . <p> If you register without a political party affiliation , you will receive only the non-partisan ballots at a primary election . <p> Non-partisans may designate a party preference at primary elections and receive partisan ballots for the Senate and House congressional races . <p> Party designation has no bearing when voting a non-partisan ballot or in the general election . <p> Are there situations where I would need to re-register ? <p> You must re-register whenever you change <p> Your name , <p> Your address , or <p> Your political party affiliation . <p> Failure to vote in a previous election does not require re-registration <p> Will I receive notice that my mail-in registration has been accepted and processed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and mailed it by the deadline ( third Friday prior to the election ) , you will receive an acknowledgment from the election official that you are properly registered . <p> If you are a first time registrant in Nebraska using the mail in application and did not provide copies of the ID requirements for 1st time mail in registrants , you will notified of the need to do so . <p> By law , your residence is that place at which you have established a home , where you are habitually present , and to which , when you depart , you intend to return . <p> Leaving for temporary purposes , such as military service , school attendance , hospital stays , or missions work need not result in a change of residence for voting purposes . <p> However , any permanent change in your residence or address will require you to re-register to vote . <h> Early Voting in Nebraska ( Formerly Absentee Voting ) <p> Who may apply for an Early Voting ballot ? <p> Anyone may apply for an Early Voting ballot , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to their work or vacation schedule , or <p> Persons not able to go to the polls due to a medical condition or hospitalization , or <p> Persons temporarily out of the county , state or country <p> Persons not wishing to travel to the polls <p> Persons not wishing to leave their homes <p> Do I need to give the reason why I am voting early when applying for Early Voting ballots ? <p> No , since 1999 Nebraska law has not required a person disclose a reason for their request on the Early Voting application . <p> How do I apply for and vote an Early Voting ballot ? You can apply for an early voting ballot by contacting your County Clerk or Election Commissioner in person at the election office , by personal agent , by mail or by fax . <p> Whenever you register or re-register to vote , your county clerk/election commissioner will inform you of your polling place location . Your voting card informs you not only of your polling place , but also your voting districts . <p> What time will the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Central Time Zone and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Mountain Time Zone . <p> Do I need a voting card or my ID in order to vote ? <p> No , the card is for information only and does not need to be presented to election officials in order to vote . The only time voters are asked for their ID is if they were a first time Nebraska registrant who mailed in their registration application and did n't provide ID at that time . <p> Am I able to vote if I did not re-register ? <p> Registered voters who moved from one residence to another in the same county , or who changed their name and remained in the same county will be allowed to vote at the polling place designated for their new residence . <p> These voters may be asked to cast a Provisional Ballot upon completing a certification and new registration form . <p> Persons casting Provisional ballots may check to see if their ballot was counted starting the second Wednesday after the election by visiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots are counted only if the information the voter provided on their certification forms was verified . <p> Persons moving from one county in Nebraska to another county in Nebraska must re-register in their new county in order to be eligible to vote . <p> How does a person vote ? <p> Registered voters go to their assigned polling place where there will be three or more poll workers at a table checking voters in . Voters will be asked for their name and the residence address they are living at . In primary elections voters will also be asked to name their party . Upon verifying the information , the election workers will provide the voter with ballots assigned to persons living in their district and instructions on how to cast a ballot . <p> In Nebraska all counties use optical scan ballots ; so voters are instructed to darken the oval completely , not to erase or cross out and return to the table if they have spoiled their ballot and need a new one . Ballots are tabulated at the precinct level using M100 's in 1/3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a M650 that can count over 300 ballots a minute . <p> Can voters receive assistance in voting ? <p> Voters who can not read , are blind or have a physical disability may request assistance in marking their ballots . The voter may have a friend or relative assist them or the voter may request the assistance of two election board workers one each of a different party . <p> In addition , an AutoMARK , a ballot marking device , available to assist voters at every polling place allows the voter to have all contests and candidates read to them . Or the voter can choose to enlarge the print making it easier to view . In addition it provides a touch screen voters may use if desired which will then electronically darken the ovals left of the choices the voter has designated on the paper ballot that was issued to them by the Receiving Board . <p> Can I campaign at my polling place ? <p> No one may campaign or hand out political literature within 200 feet of a polling place . Wearing political badges or @ @ @

@@5096741 <p> JPMorgan Chase &; Co . ( JPM ) fell almost 4 percent in European trading after the New York Times ( NYT ) reported the lender 's losses from credit derivatives may total as much as $9 billion , exceeding the firm 's initial estimate . <p> JPMorgan Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon said on May 10 the bank lost more than $2 billion on bets in credit markets taken by its chief investment office in London and that the loss could increase by as much as $1 billion this quarter . Dimon , 56 , has said JPMorgan is in no rush to unwind the trades , even if adverse market moves produce bigger losses in the short term . <p> The firm 's losses have increased in recent weeks as JPMorgan sought to exit its holdings , the New York Times reported today , citing unidentified former traders and executives at the bank . The company has already closed out more than half of its positions , the newspaper said . <p> Clearly , the price of liquidity for JP Morgan in unwinding a highly publicized position was not cheap . That said , so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it over yet ? What were the marks on the position back in early May ? What are the current marks ? How much of this very troubling position has truly been unwound ? Was Mr. Dimon properly representing the size of the loss at that point in time ? Does Dimon still have the balls to call this disaster a " hedge ? " <p> Given the opacity in the derivatives sector of the market , we have no real way of fully knowing how much exposure JP Morgan has unwound . That said , given the quoted levels on the derivatives index in question , the CDX- NA IG 9 , it seems implausible that Dimon was properly representing the size of the loss back in early May . <p> The FT/Alphaville provides fabulous insights into the intrigue surrounding the " thar she blows " of JP Morgan 's " London Whale . " If JP Morgan 's loss quadrupled , then the index likely continued to move sharply against JP Morgan and that reality would be reflected in its valuation . Or maybe not . The chart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the month of April , but has since traded in a relatively narrow range : <p> Again , many reports indicate JP Morgan has now significantly unwound its position . The simple fact is we have no real way of fully knowing . The writer at the FT Alphaville seriously questions the premise that JP Morgan is anywhere close to being out of this fiasco . <p> The amount of risk on the CDX.NA.IG.9 , on the other hand , doubled since the start of the year . As FT Alphaville has demonstrated before , this increase was unprecedented . We now know that this is very likely down to the portfolio of JPMorgan 's CIO and all of those who chased said Whale , taking advantage of price distortions in its wake . <p> But did you notice how the net notional amount did n't drop by a huge amount last week ? It 's been declining steadily over the last month , which implies some unwinding by those on either side of the trade , but it 's nothing like the jump down that we 'd been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with . <p> So many questions . So few real answers . Neither the morning news shows nor the major media outlets seem to want to draw real attention to this reported quadrupled loss . <p> I am compelled to repeat my question posed back in early May : " How do you know if/when Jamie Dimon is not telling the truth ? " Did somebody say , " When his lips move ? " <p> Such is life in a world of " too big to fail " banks and captured regulators . <p> I have no affiliation or business interest with any entity referenced in this commentary . The opinions expressed are my own . I am a proponent of real transparency within our markets so that investor confidence and investor protection can be achieved . <p> This entry was posted on Thursday , June 28th , 2012 at 7:34 AM and is . You can skip to the end and leave a response . Pinging is currently not allowed . <p> Post Glass-Steagall repeal , when the Fed increases the money supply by buying Treasuries ( MBS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary dealers to do with the cash ? <p> Before Glass-Steagall repeal , the options available to primary dealers were essentially limited to making loans or building reserves . Post Glass-Steagall , primary dealers can now invest cash balances in almost anything they want to , given acceptible risk levels . <p> Hedging has now become synonomous with arbitrage and given the level of arbitrage opportunities available utilizing HFT , why would a bank make a loan or build reserves ? ( that is of course , unless it had to ) . <p> The recurring problem to all hedging/arbitrage strategy , investment returns are not always normally distributed so , at times , even perfect arbitrage/hedges can and do blowout . <p> Just ask Long Term Capital , MF Global or now , added to the list , JPM . <p> Two things have to happen : <p> 1 . Primary Dealers should be limited as to how they " invest " Fed Cash . <p> 2 . All financial entities 1 ) with federally insured deposits or 2 ) have been classified by regulators as " too big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Given the fact that money is fungible it is hard to pinpoint what exactly the banks are doing with the funds . <p> The Fed looks at the overall level of money supply in the system and then establishes capital levels which banks need to maintain for different business activities . These capital levels are obviously very important in determining how much capital is allocated to selected businesses . <p> While the Fed obviously has an enormous impact on the overall level of money in the system they are not able to control the velocity of that money . <p> There are a whole host of issues to address . Glass-Steagall has some very compelling and appealing characteristics . Easier said than done though especially at this point in time . Why is that ? There are only a small number of banks ( oligopoly ) and if those are further cordoned off by implementation of G-S , then the limited liquidity in the marketplace may actually decline even further . <p> What is the answer ? IMO , a scaling in of G-S over some defined period of time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> These rydex currency etfs , e. g . FXE , FXC , etc. , carry in addition to the obvious risk of currency movement the risk that JPM will go under , in which case the holders become unsecured creditors of

@@5096841 <h> Facebook Friends <h> Reviews from Your Friends <h> 9 reviews in English <h> Review from Megan F. <p> I just had the pleasure of eating here for the first time . This is an adorable restaurant with absolutely delicious food . Barbara and Holly have created a unique and wonderful experience in Reno for people who love to get together over great food . I ca n't wait to sign up for one of the many cooking classes offered . I will also be singing the praises of this gem to everyone I know . <h> Review from Lisa R. <p> Way cool ! My good friend gave me a gift certificate to their cooking school and I 'm stoked . <p> A click of the website reveals a partial pic of this appealing Victorian Home now converted into a cooking school and restaurant . <p> While waiting for the October cooking class schedule to come out , I noticed B. of T. H. is now open for lunch , from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. , Weds through Friday . <p> Although B. of T. H. keeps the shortest restaurant hours on the planet , I immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thusly : <p> $15 per <p> You choose 1 of 2 entrees <p> and 1 of 2 side salads . These are different each day . <p> Little bite deserts are included . <p> Wanting to try everything , my friend and I ordered opposite items . <p> She had chili and spinach salad I had a pesto turkey sammie and a curry chicken salad <p> The server helped out by bringing me my own chili . It was thoughtful though this is among the worst chili I have tried . Two bites and I was done . My friend thought it was okay ( Yes , this makes me question my friend 's taste , but we do n't always vote the same way either ! ! ) . The home made corn bread served with the chili was quite good . It was a denser , country style and I liked it . <p> The chili was ultra mild . That 's fine , but where are the onions ? It consisted of cooked hamburger chunks slathered in a nondescript sauce . They served it with brown rice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on top . Strange -- and not in a good way . <p> My sandwich was okay , nothing special . <p> My curry chicken salad was a lesson in perfection . The curry and chicken flavors were complimented by cranberries and cashews mixed in , all served over a bed of fresh spinach . The chicken consisted of all white meat ( my fave ! ! ! ) cooked to a turn . <p> Free and fantastic wine Spritzers were included just for mentioning their ad . Their secret ingredient is gingerale . <p> I ordered Ice tea . It was flavorless . I mentioned this and they took it away to the bad ice tea dungeon . <p> Little bite deserts are included . The brownie is to die for with just a hint of thin frosting . The mini vanilla cupcake puts batch cupcakery to shame . Great frosting and great cake both . <p> Note : This place makes speciality cupcakes and 6 layer cakes . The cakes start at about $40 , but if these deserts are any indication , baking is their forte . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street parking , but have since found out -- by reading their website -- that patrons are encourage to " Park across the street in the Walton lot . " <p> Seating is farm table style , so you could end up eating with someone fun , or not . <p> Because the indoor tables were full , we were seated outside the kitchen door on a patio . The server adjusted the table umbrella to screen out the direct sunlight , but we were n't terribly comfortable in the heat . However , since we were alone , I could comment freely on everything and I did . Yes , I know I should be a judge on Top Chef , thank you for noticing ! <p> After the big parties left we were moved inside . <p> B. of T. H. owns a fancy coffee machine that makes your coffee by the cup from little packages containing concentrated syrups . Coffee is only $2.50 and includes a free refill . We both tried the Chai coffee , which was Eh . <p> According to my pallete and what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taste that is only available in fresh ground coffee . <p> However , it 's better than coffee shop coffee and comes in numerous varieties . <p> If you are searching for an upper-crust hostess gift , try their stock of jams , jellies and other yummies . For about $10 each these look marvelous . I want to try the balsamic onion jam and the lemon buttercream ( just in case anyone reading this wants to bring me a gift ! ) . <p> When the food is good , it 's very very good . When it 's bad , well , it 's terrible . <p> They plied us with free coffee , extra chili , and Spritzers . Given all that we got , $15 each was a good price even without the entrees . We appreciated this and tipped $10 . <p> The house is gorgeous -- very French country chic and worth a look . <p> Since the restaurant portion has barely been open a month , I harbor big hope for Back of the House . <p> I hope other Yelpers will try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scene . <p> Since I have a gift card , I 'll be taking a cooking class here soon and will faithfully Yelp it ! <h> Review from Micaela M. <p> Let me tell you , I had so much fun ! ! Barbara , the proprietor and chef , is very exuberant , lovely , and obviously adores her job . <p> The kitchen is very organized , with amazing utensils at every station . The class size is smaller , but that makes for more cooking time , and more one on one supervision by Barbara . The equipment is top of the line , and it shows . <p> The staff is friendly and laid back . There were two girls there to help with clean up and to do the dishes . They were lovely girls and very nice and helpful . <p> Barbara has her own station at the front of the room , all decked out with a camera and a television , so that you can see what she is demonstrating . Barbara is not much on a lot of instruction and much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially when it comes to flipping crepes . <p> Overall , my experience was great . I am going to come back for sure ! My only complaint is that it was supposed to a singles mixer , and there were three couples there ! What was that all about ? <h> Review from Susie K. <p> " Whim " restaurant at Back of the House Cooking School is a wonderful place to lunch ! Barbara Mills , the owner/chef is charming , fun and enthusiastic about her business . I always order the " Whim " special , because it gives me a chance to try a couple of different things AND still have a taste of dessert ( you get this adorable little 3-part tray with samples of three different and always delicious sweets du jour ) . The restaurant/cooking school is housed in a cute little Victorian bungalow on Second Street in Reno and it 's a great place to take a friend to a special lunch . <h> Review from Mandy N. <p> A group of four of us went here for lunch today . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . Very nicely done inside , in a casual style . We all went on a " Whim " , or we all goit the Whim menu , which is a sandwich , soup or salad , the dessert trio and a drink all for $16 . We were given a sample of therir special watermelon salad for the day , and it was delicious . All four of us ordered the French sandwich , with different salads . The French sandwich was simply delish - roasted turkey and carmelized onions with melted brie - yum ! It was the perfect size , also . Some of us had the special broccoli salad , and that was very tasty . I had the spinach salad . It had a fabulous dressing , crumbled feta and candied pecans . It was very tasty . Our dessert trio was a bread pudding square , a little ice cream sundae , and a vanilla parfait . All were scrumptious . The only thing holding me back from giving 5 stars is the servivce . The food was delicious , the atmosphere good - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are n't attentive . One in my group wanted to change her salad to sa different kind right after we ordered , but we could never get the attention of anyone to come over to the table . I sat with an empty iced tea glass until they brought the food , and then they asked if I wanted a refill . They were very nice , they just need to be a little more aware of giving guest service . I would definitely recommend trying

@@5096941 <h> A PIECE OF SKY Lyrics <p> Tell me where Where is it written What is it I meant to be ? That I ca n't dare ... It all began the day I found .. That from my window I could only see A piece of sky . I stepped outside and looked around . I never dreamed it was so wide Or even half as high . The time had come ( Papa , can you hear me ? ) To try my wings ( Papa , are you near me ? ) And even thought it seemed at any moment I could fall , I felt the most , ( Papa , can you see me ? ) Amazing things , ( Can you understand me ? ) The things you ca n't imagine if you 've never flown at all . Though it 's safer to stay on the ground , Sometimes where danger lies There the sweetest of pleasures are found . No matter where I go , There 'll be memories that tug at my sleeve , But there will also be More to question , yet more to believe .. Oh tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and look at me ? And want to share My ev'ry sweet-imagined possibility ? The more I live - the more I learn . The more I learn - the more I realize The less I know . Each step I take - ( Papa , I 've a voice now ! ) Each page I turn - ( Papa , I 've a choice now ! ) Each mile I travel only means The more I have to go . What 's wrong with wanting more ? If you can fly - then soar ! With all there is - why settle for just a piece of sky ? Papa , I can hear you ... Papa , I can see you ... Papa , I

@@5097041 <h> The National Security Agency 's technical director of the Information Assurance Directorate describes IT needs across government . Read the complete interview . <h> National Career Services Conference Information Technology in the Federal Government Virtually every federal agency depends on Information Technology to accomplish its mission . Could the IRS operate without a robust , up-to-date system ? How about the Medicare program ? Social Security ? Air traffic control ? Homeland and national security ? The need for talented young people to build and manage federal systems is critical , as is having skilled professionals to help protect these same systems . Watch video . ( run time 01:06:00 ) <h> Computer Science &; IT Jobs in the Federal Government <h> Computer Science and IT Jobs in the Federal Government <p> There are over 65,000 computer science and information technology employees in the federal government . They work across all federal agencies in locations around the country . <h> Job Profiles <p> Here are examples of recent job openings . Explore more and apply now at USAJOBS . <h> Computer Scientist at the U.S. Department of the Air Force <p> Salary Range : $59,417 - $129,517 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : The Air Force 's only organization wholly dedicated to leading the discovery , development , and integration of warfighting technologies for our air , space and cyberspace forces . AFRL traces its roots back to the vision of early airpower leaders who understood science as the key to air supremacy . The passionate commitment of our people to realize this vision has helped create the world 's best air , space and cyberspace . <p> Major Duties : The primary requirements of the work are professional competence in applying the theoretical foundations of computer science , including computer system architecture and system software organization , the representation and transformation of information structures , and the theoretical models for such representations and transformations ; specialized knowledge of the design characteristics , limitations , and potential applications of systems having the ability to transform information , and of broad areas of applications of computing which have common structures , processes , and techniques ; and knowledge of relevant mathematical and statistical sciences . <h> Information Technology Specialist at the U.S. Attorney 's Office for the District of Columbia <p> Salary Range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington , D.C. Metro Area <p> Summary : This position is located in the Litigation Technology Unit ( LTU ) , Information Technology Section ( ITS ) , Administrative Division ( ADMIN ) of the United States Attorney 's Office for the District of Columbia . Cases handled involve some of the most complex and difficult in the USAODC because they may require organizing , tracking and analyzing thousands or tens of thousands of items of evidence , millions of data elements , or involve untried or especially novel computer or digital imaging applications . <p> Major Duties : Serve as a Litigation Support Specialist and is responsible for providing technical and analytical assistance involving Litigation Support which supports the information management needs of the U.S. Attorney 's Office for the District of Columbia . Perform litigation support tasks associated with the day-to-day operations of the USAODC systems . <h> Internship AND SCHOLARSHIP Examples <p> The Federal Reserve System is the central bank of the United States . It was founded by Congress in 1913 to provide the nation with a safer , more flexible , and more stable monetary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ graduate students in computer science , are available at the Division of Information Technology ( IT ) . **40;601;TOOLONG ... <p> The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA ) designed and implemented a new Undergraduate Student Research Program ( USRP ) to improve the pipeline of undergraduate students majoring in engineering , science , mathematics , and information technology in to the NASA workforce . This stipend program consists of a 10 to 15 week research experience under the supervision of a NASA technical mentor at a NASA Center . www.epo.usra.edu/usrp <p> Scholarship For Service ( SFS ) is a unique program designed to increase and strengthen the cadre of federal information assurance professionals that protect the government 's critical information infrastructure . This program provides scholarships that fully fund the typical costs that students pay for books , tuition , and room and board while attending an approved institution of higher learning . Additionally , participants receive stipends of up to $8,000 for undergraduate and $12,000 for graduate students . The scholarships are funded through grants awarded by the National Science Foundation NSF . www.sfs.opm.gov <h> Federal Jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @

@@5097141 <h> Toilets <h> Why are n't we all using Japanese toilets ? <p> The first time the gentle stream of warm water hits your derrire , it 's quite startling . By the second time the water hits its mark , you 're a convert . Why on earth would you use your hand and paper , when a machine can pleasantly and perfectly wash your bum ? These exquisite toilets are everywhere in Japan and yet can barely be found in the United States . <p> For anyone who has traveled through Japan , one of the greatest cultural experiences is discovering a modern Japanese toilet . These toilets , known as " washlets " , have many amazing features - the most notable of which is they render toilet paper obsolete . After using one of these washlets for a while , you ca n't help but wonder why the American toilet experience is so primitive . Why has technological progress not eviscerated the need for toilet paper in America like it has in Japan ? <h> What is a Japanese Toilet ? <p> The innovation in modern Japanese toilets is actually in the seat . These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or female genital area . The spray of water is initiated by a remote control panel near or attached to the seat . <p> In addition , these toilet seats can come with a lot of bells and whistles : heated seats and spray , pressure sensors to only activate when someone is sitting on it , dryers , motion sensors to open the lid when someone walks in the room , the ability to speak , and brushed steel luxury remote controls - almost any feature you can imagine actually . <p> A pretty standard remote control for a washlet . Image credit : Wikipedia . <p> What if there is a power outage and your electric toilet seat is rendered inert ? You can still use toilet paper and flush it like a regular toilet . In fact , you do n't have to use the bidet functions of the Japanese toilet at all , but you will because they are awesome ! Even still , many users of bidets use some amount of toilet paper , especially for drying purposes . <h> History of the Super Toilet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have bidet-style modern toilets . In 1980 , the Japanese company Toto introduced it 's Washlet G Series and the modern toilet was born . Today the term Washlet , while technically a trademarked term by Toto , is colloquially used to refer to any bidet-style toilet seat . <p> What was most notable to this author when visiting Japan was that these toilets are everywhere . You could be hiking for hours at a mountain outside of Tokyo and at the very summit , discover the toilets in the public bathrooms are nicer than the toilets in the home of the average billionaire in the United States . In fact , the toilets in public facilities in Japan were almost all better than any toilet the author had ever encountered in America . <h> Why so unsuccessful in the US ? <p> And yet , the effort to spread the washlet to the United States has been dismal thus far . Toto , after making a concerted effort to enter the US market , has made almost zero headway . Today , if you want to try a washlet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one restaurant where you can try it out . The Googleplex is said to have washlets , but how many of us have ever encountered a Japanese toilet in America ? <p> In San Francisco , there 's even a toilet startup trying to crack open this market ! Brondell , co-founded by serial entrepreneur , MIT-grad and VC at Freestyle Ventures , David Samuels . Brondell has been slowly making inroads into the US bidet market since its founding in 2003 . We spoke to Steve Scheer , President of Brondell , who informed us that while the USA bidet market was " very , very low -- perhaps at 1% , " the company was still plugging away , growing its sales 20%+ per year . <p> " For Americans here in the US , the biggest issues are personal experience with these products and a major reluctance to discuss bathroom issues or change ingrained habits . You would n't imagine how many people giggle nervously or say " gross " when we try to educate them about the advantages of the bidet seat , yet these are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much inferior way to cleanse oneself . " <p> People that do have Japanese toilets in the US rave about them though . From Amazon reviews for a popular washlet : <p> " Toto has perfected hiney hygiene . " <p> " Believe me , after using one of these for a year you will consider the $600 and some odd dollars it costs as the best bargain of your life . You will also wonder why everyone else is not using one and what took you so long to buy one . You might begin to view your neighbors as bathroom neanderthals . " <p> " Going to the bathroom has become an enjoyable experience . " <p> Beloved product . Huge market . No demand in the United States . <h> How much does it cost to get a Japanese toilet in your house ? <p> The good news is that you can install a washlet in your house fairly easily ! You can buy a Japanese style toilet seat on Amazon from $600-1200 . To set it up , install the seat like you would a normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ input to your toilet ( which is apparently very easy to do ) . The last thing is to plug the seat into a three prong GFCI grounded outlet ( do n't want to get electrocuted ! ) . Getting this outlet installed by an electrician will cost $500 . <p> So , all in , you can expect to pay about $1,100 to $1,700 for your new Japanese style commode . According to one Amazon reviewer , their electric seat costs them in $37 a year in energy expenses . According to Treehugger , the electricity and additional water costs are minimal , but the reduction in toilet paper used is dramatic . <p> If you 'd like to try out the bidet-lifestyle without spending much money or installing a new electrical outlet , you can purchase a mechanical bidet-style toilet seat attachment for under $100 . Just plug it into the water input to your toilet and clean way using cold water ! The reviews for these toilets on Amazon are fairly positive so it might just be worth checking out . <h> Conclusion <p> And so , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the product languished in relative obscurity in the US . Perhaps the product is waiting to find its great marketer that can convince Americans that using toilet paper is antiquated . A Steve Jobs of toilets , if you will . Or at the very least , a Don Draper . <p> Surely many entrepreneurs can sympathize with the plight of bidet manufacturers trying to sell in the United States ; they 've built an amazing product , now how the heck are they supposed get some users ? <p> This post was written by Rohin Dhar . Follow him on Twitter here . In the process writing this post , he realized he 's been misspelling the word toilet his whole life ( "

@@5097241 <p> Posted : Wed Nov 14 , 2012 2:06 am Post subject : I think I just thought of a new trick for verifying numbers <p> Ok , so when getting numbers from chicks ( especially ones you 've just met ) , you 'll often get issues with them giving you a fake number ( Apparently , I hear this only from friends ) . <p> Now , here 's the thing , my phone is one of the very first androids that came out , and it 's starting to get a bit senile I think : It 's really fussy about adding new contacts unless they text me first . So , every time I 've had a girl give me her number , I 've inevitably ended up requesting her to text mine real quick ... <p> ... and this whole time , it was acting as a kind of " real number " filter ! They had no choice but to text me their real number , I was right in front of her ! <p> .... just a thought , maybe you guys might find it useful . Tell them your phone is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to text you first ! <p> I once gave a wrong number to a girl while I was visiting China . She was way too annoying so I did n't want to bother texting with her . <p> Cool trick and all , but whats the point ? If you 're given a wrong number , it means she 's not interested to begin with But unless you 're afraid she has n't seen your " true colors " and what not , then I guess it 's understandable . <p> Look . It 's simple . If a girl really liked you , she would be eager to give you her real number in any case . <p> If a girl is politely giving you a fake number just to get you off her back , it 's a sign that she DOES NOT LIKE YOU in any case . What 's the point of going to such lengths to pressure a girl to give you her number if she does n't even like you ? <p> Forcing her to reveal what her true number is will probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a girl is politely giving you a fake number just to get you off her back , it 's a sign that she DOES NOT LIKE YOU in any case . What 's the point of going to such lengths to pressure a girl to give you her number if she does n't even like you ? <p> To make a fool out of her since she probably lies and plays phony mind-games all the time for no reason . She 'd probably be shocked that she did n't get away with it for once too . <p> I 'd probably just laugh at her for trying to give a fake-number , and not even ask for the real one . <p> By the Gods , if the NT women did n't play them , I would n't even know how to ! <p> Quote : <p> Look . It 's simple . If a girl really liked you , she would be eager to give you her real number in any case . <p> It 's honestly my thoughts on the matter , but people I know have managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out before . I bet a lot of the time they do it simply because they 're unsure and wanted to take the " safe route " . <p> edit With further thought , I bet it could also be used as a way to determine " Yup she definitely did n't like me , time to move on " . <p> Not that I have exchanged numbers in this context , but I thought it was customary for one person to give their number and then get a missed call/text from the other person ( so only one number needs entered into the phone ) . This way the number is verified ( against innocent errors as well as deliberate acts ) . <p> Even if I did get somebodies number I would have great difficulty making the first call . <p> If a girl wants to give me her number , she 'll ask me . I say ok and whip out my phone , then I pretend I type it in - or deliberately delete it afterwards if I was spectated . <p> I never give out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask girls for their number . Heck , I never even approach girls in the first place . Actually , I downright ignore their presence unless it 's unavoidable . When superficiality takes control of your reality , you are already lost in the sea of normality . <p> If a girl is politely giving you a fake number just to get you off her back , it 's a sign that she DOES NOT LIKE YOU in any case . What 's the point of going to such lengths to pressure a girl to give you her number if she does n't even like you ? <p> To make a fool out of her since she probably lies and plays phony mind-games all the time for no reason . She 'd probably be shocked that she did n't get away with it for once too . <p> I 'd probably just laugh at her for trying to give a fake-number , and not even ask for the real one . <p> If she 's giving a fake number , it 's probably because the guy is sending out signals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accept it gracefully if she just says " no , thanks " . It 's unfortunate for those who are sending out the wrong signals inadvertantly , but if it 's a choice between lying and risking your personal safety , which would you choose ? Music Theory 101 : Cadences . Authentic cadence : V-I Plagal cadence : IV-I Deceptive cadence : V- ANYTHING BUT I ! ! ! ! Beethoven cadence : **35;471;TOOLONG

@@5097341 <p> For the second straight week , Nebraska was handed a win by the sad excuse of Foot Locker employees the Big Ten calls its referees . <p> Thankfully , I do n't expect we 'll see too many Penn State players express their frustrations publicly , as did their Spartan counterparts a week ago . They 're better than that , and Penn State is better than that , and Bill O'Brien would n't stand for it . But that 's what fans and bloggers like us are for : to pout and shout , and throw a tantrum , because just like Michigan State a week ago , these Nittany Lions were screwed out of a win they deserved . <p> The reason the NCAA has instituted replay reviews , and why the NFL has joined them in that regard , is to ensure that horrendously bad calls like that do n't prevent teams from winning , so that the balance of the game does n't rest in the whims of the referees . I wo n't blame the officials on the field for getting the call on Matt Lehman 's touchdown catch wrong . It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either way , and live on TV , it looked like a fumble , too . <p> But every single impartial observer of that instant replay--the one that showed Lehman with two hands on the ball , reaching out over the goal line--could tell that the ball crossed the plane . Sean McDonough and Chris Spielman did n't even pretend , as so many announcers tend to do , that it was a call that could have gone either way . They did n't hedge with their consternation . The legion of football writers across the country echoed in agreement . Even all but the most defiant of Nebraska partisans , I 'm sure , ca n't deny that Lehman scored Penn State a go-ahead touchdown before losing the ball . <p> The only possible explanation , then , is that the replay official was clouded by bias . Maybe he grew up a Nebraska fan . Maybe Tom Osborne slipped him a couple hundred bucks before the game . Maybe , like so many indignant reporters around this time a year ago , he wanted to show the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take it out on Penn State . <p> Sound farfetched ? Sure , but what 's the alternative ? That he , objectively , watched the same replay we all watched , studied it as closely as we did , and decided that no , it did n't clearly show , beyond any reasonable doubt , a Penn State touchdown ? Does he not have eyes ? <p> It 's honestly come to this : the call that lost Penn State this game was so bad that conspiracy is more likely than incompetence . And these Nittany Lions have seen enough of one or the other , or maybe both , have had so many calls go against them that broadcasters have brushed aside as " questionable " or " dubious " , have suffered , now , two losses in Big Ten play where stunningly inexplicable officiating was , if not the deciding factor , then certainly a major one in their losses , that we , as fans , have been left increasingly speechless and furious and left asking , " WHAT ? WHY ? HOW ? @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come down to that . Yes , Penn State 's defense , as it has in each of the losses , failed to adjust after halftime . Yes , Matt McGloin struggled , and yes , Bill O'Brien , frustratingly , went away from the bruising Zach Zwinak attack that Nebraska could barely slow down , much less stop . Yes , Penn State left a whole lot of points on the field , and yes , they could 've won this one on their own merits and not let the referees decide it . And yes , even if the replay official does n't decide to screw over Penn State , the Lions still have to hold Nebraska for the rest of the game . <p> But the fact of the matter is this : Penn State played well enough to win , and had victory snatched from them , not by a Cornhusker , but by a zebra . There will be time to analyze the offense and the defense , and Sam Ficken 's rise to mediocrity later . For now , we will stew in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from it . <p> And guys , it could always be worse : just imagine how much more painful this would feel if we were

@@5097441 <h> Explore Rhode Island Beaches <h> Clear ocean waters , cool breezes and bright sunshine <p> The more shielded beaches of Narragansett Bay feature ' breakwater ' barrier protection and may be more suitable for novice swimmers , as well as featuring a more varied , fluctuating surf . Of course , the state has numerous ocean beaches with thundering surf and miles of stunning vistas . Doze off listening to the waves , take time to build an amazing sandcastle , stroll the sun-speckled sand beachcombing for shells , or cast a fishing rod into the open water . Welcome to Rhode Island -- just another day at the beach . <p> Properties listed below are grouped by region , then alphabetical by

@@5097541 <h> Insurance gap needs to be filled <p> Many people who could use additional auto insurance protection may not find that out until it 's too late . They would have a better chance of not facing that gap if the governor approves legislation encouraging , although not requiring , drivers to choose to buy greater liability insurance . <p> The bill , sponsored by the chairmen of the insurance committees , Sen. James L. Seward , R-Oneonta , and Assemblyman Joseph Morelle , D-Rochester , and passed overwhelmingly in both houses is expected to reach Gov . Andrew M. Cuomo 's desk soon . <p> It goes to the heart of what consumers often think they 're getting and the reality that can hit them . <p> New York motorists tend to increase their liability insurance to protect other motorists from their negligence beyond the legal limit of $25,000 per individual and $50,000 per accident . And that 's good because according to the Insurance Research Council , about 5 percent of cars in New York were uninsured in 2009 . That places New York at the very lowest end of states by percentage of uninsured motorists , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what about those people who have already opted to increase their liability insurance ? <p> What they do n't know - and may find out painfully after a serious accident - is that their increase in liability insurance coverage was not matched by an increase in their supplementary uninsured/underinsured motorist ( SUM ) insurance . This is the insurance that provides coverage in the event that they are the victims of an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver . <p> It is n't until the unpaid bills start to show up that many discover they did not , in fact , have the coverage they expected . <p> Consumer advocates point to the case of Staten Island residents Victor and Wilma Rao , who were hit by an uninsured ex-convict who was driving drunk . The local business owners had purchased additional liability insurance but did not have additional SUM coverage . <p> Both were seriously injured . Because the other driver had no insurance , the couple had to take care of hospital and rehabilitation bills that piled up above the $25,000 minimum uninsured/underinsured coverage they had . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for SUM coverage at the amount chosen by the consumer for liability . It is aimed only at consumers choosing liability coverage above the statutory minimums , and should cost less than $100 per year for most policyholders . <p> Again , this is not a requirement . The supplemental insurance , for those who can afford it , is a prudent

@@5097641 <p> The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent Federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident the United

@@5097741 <p> Disgraced Navy SEAL Shane Wolfe is handed a new assignment : Protect the five Plummer kids from enemies of their recently deceased father -- a government scientist whose top-secret experiment remains in the kids ' house . <h> Storyline <p> The film is the story of an undercover agent who , after failing to protect an important government scientist , learns the man 's family is in danger . In an effort to redeem himself , he agrees to take care of the man 's children only to discover that child care is his

@@5097841 upgrade to a full year for $79 . <h> Formats <h> Book Description <p> Publication Date : September 23 , 2008 <p> Many of today 's best ( and best-selling ) fantasists got their start writing shared world fiction supporting roleplaying games . This massive anthology collects more than a dozen thrilling tales from R.A. Salvatore , Michael A. Stackpole , Monte Cook , Ed Greenwood , Elaine Cunningham , and more to give an exciting overview of the original worlds and characters of authors who achieved their greatest fame writing stories they do not own . Edited by James Lowder ( The Book of All Flesh , Prince of Lies ) , Worlds of Their Own presents an unprecedented sampler of fantasy and science fiction adventure tales from some of the best-loved and best-known authors in the genre . <p> Many of today 's best ( and best-selling ) fantasists got their start writing shared world fiction supporting roleplaying games . This massive anthology collects more than a dozen thrilling tales from R.A. Salvatore , Michael A. Stackpole , Monte Cook , Ed Greenwood , Elaine Cunningham , and more to give an exciting overview of the original @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writing stories they do not own . Edited by James Lowder ( The Book of All Flesh , Prince of Lies ) , Worlds of Their Own presents an unprecedented sampler of fantasy and science fiction adventure tales from some of the best-loved and best-known authors in the genre . <p> Worlds of their own is the first short story anthology published by Paizo as part of the Planet Stories line - and its not at all bad . The common thread is the authors involved are ( arguably ) best-known as writers in " shared worlds " - Star Wars , D &D,; World of Darkness and various others . This is their chance to show what they can do when writing in worlds of their own creation . Generally this is fantasy , but at least one story is hard military sci-fi . <p> Michael A Stackpole has written some really good novels outside of Star Wars - his Dragoncrown War cycle is some of the best fantasy I have read . Apart from that though , I was unaware of a lot of the authors involved , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Jeff Grubb 's cloudsailers were a striking concept , which was also well written . <p> Its fun picking which of these stories and settings could support a whole novel . Views on this will differ , but there is no doubt there is some real talent on show . As far

@@5097941 <h> 1-877 ONE-DEBT <p> If a veteran receives an adverse Regional Office ( RO ) decision from the VA Regional Office denying his or her VA claim in whole or in part , the first initial step in the appeal process is to file a Notice of Disagreement ( NOD ) . For any appeal , the filing of a Notice of Disagreement ( NOD ) is mandatory and can not be avoided if the Veteran wants to proceed with appellate review of his claim . <p> As a result , when a claimant is denied his or her VA benefits that he thinks he should get , it is absolutely mandatory and necessary for a claimant to file a Notice of Disagreement ( NOD ) as soon as possible with the Regional Office that issued the adverse decision to him or her . <p> The deadline to file a Notice of Disagreement ( NOD ) is very important ; it is within one year from the date of the mailing of the VA notice to the claimant of the adverse decision . The date on the letter notifying the claimant of the adverse decision is considered the date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is absolutely critical for a claimant who is trying to get his or her VA disability benefits that a Notice of Disagreement ( NOD ) is submitted as soon as possible . If the one year statute of limitations in which to file a Notice of Disagreement ( NOD ) is missed , then the claimant will be unable to pursue that particular claim on appeal . In other words , if the deadline is missed , the Regional Office decision becomes final and unappealable . As a result , it is absolutely critical that anyone who wants to pursue an appeal of a denial by the Regional Office submit his or her Notice of Disagreement ( NOD ) as soon as possible after receiving the initial decision and , in any case , no later than one year after the date of the adverse decision . <p> Preparation and submission of a Notice of Disagreement ( NOD ) is actually a pretty simple process . The following is generally how we advise a Notice of Disagreement ( NOD ) should look . <p> This is a Notice of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the VA letter(s) dated ( insert date ) . I desire appellate review of the decision . I disagree with all of the adjudicative determinations mentioned in the above referenced VA letter(s) and any enclosures thereto , except for those , if any , that I specifically state here that I do not want to appeal . Therefore , my Notice of Disagreement ( NOD ) specifically covers all of the determinations made by the Regional Office unless specifically excluded . I also disagree with the RO 's failure to adjudicate issues and claims it was required to adjudicate . I am specifically referring to issues that I may not have discussed but which were reasonably raised by the evidence in my VA claims file or in the VA 's possession that should have been inferred by the Regional Office . This appeal also includes adjudicative determinations that were mischaracterized by the Regional Office . If this appeal is not resolved favorably , please send me a Statement of the Case so I may appeal this decision to the Board of Veterans Appeals . <p> Thank you very much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NOD ) . I am mailing this to you by certified mail , return receipt requested and I am keeping a copy of this letter for my records . <p> Sincerely , <p> ( Signature of Claimant/Veteran ) <p> ( Printed Name of Claimant/Veteran ) <p> Once the Veteran has prepared the Notice of Disagreement ( NOD ) letter , please make sure it is dated and signed by the Veteran and then make a copy of the letter . Then , make sure to mail the original letter by certified mail , return receipt requested , which the Veteran can get from any U.S. post office . By sending the Notice of Disagreement ( NOD ) in this manner , the Veteran can verify with one hundred percent accuracy that the VA Regional Office did , in fact , receive the notice of disagreement . Keep a copy of the green card that will be returned to the Veteran once the VA receives it and staple it to the copy of the NOD letter so that the Veteran has a complete file of what was sent to the VA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Veteran both sends to the VA and receives from the VA . <p> If you have any questions about this , please feel free to contact attorney Ronald C. Sykstus by email or by phone at ( 256 ) 539-9899 . <p> For more than 20 years , the name Bond &; Botes has been associated with helping people in Alabama , Mississippi and Tennessee deal with credit card debt , home mortgage debt , car and other loan debt -- debts that

@@5098041 <h> // What to Do With Prayerlessness <p> Prayer . Often the word triggers guilt . For some , it sparks warmth , and for others , nothing . No warmth , no guilt . Flat . It 's a vaporous word that appears and vanishes without meaning . <p> Guilty Prayer <p> Prayer is one of the most prominent themes in Scripture ( occurring several hundred times ) , yet it is one of the most neglected practices in the church . Why the chasm between prominence and practice ? <p> Well , if guilt springs to mind when we think of prayer , why should we let prayer come to mind ? Keep the guilt at bay . Fend it off . We respond to guilt in two main ways : Action , to assuage our conscience , or inaction , to deny guilt 's entry into our conscience . Make up for the guilt or try to make off without it . <p> We might guiltily pray , filling journals and prayers with endless words . Or we might try to ignore it . If we 're prone to making up for failure to pray , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like to pray ( not true ) , but I 've got so much to do for the Lord today . " We ignore prayer ( inaction ) , in order to focus on something that does n't produce guilt -- like work or service ( action ) -- in hope that guilt will go away . I 've tried both . <p> I used to feel guilty when I did n't pray . If I did n't make it through my prayer list or spend half an hour in solitary prayer , I 'd feel guilty for not praying more . <p> Guilt is n't from God . Conviction is . Guilt drives us into a corner ; conviction drives us to Christ . Somewhere along the way , I was liberated from prayer-by-guilt . Part of this liberty came when I realized that God does n't relate to me based on guilt but based on grace . Grace reminds me that when I was guilty of deep distrust in God and his promises , Christ died and kept God 's promises to absorb my guilt , so now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that God relates to me based on what Jesus has done , not on what I have not done . <p> Why Did Jesus Pray ? <p> Jesus prayed -- a lot . This is weird when you consider the fact that he is God , until we begin to understand prayer . When prayer becomes more concrete , we become more prayerful . <p> Why did Jesus pray ? Jesus prayed for God to rescue people : disciples , enemies , and sinners . He taught his disciples to do the same ( Luke 6:28 ; 10:2 ) . Jesus also prayed because he was incredibly dependent on the Father : " The Son can do nothing on his own accord " ( John 5:19 ) . " I can do nothing on my own authority , but speak just as the Father taught me " ( John 8:28 ) . In the words of Paul Miller , " Jesus was the most dependent human that ever lived . " Jesus prayed because he knew how dependent he was -- and how dependent we are -- on the grace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because we are incredibly dependent on the Father and because we want God to rescue people . <p> Dependence-driven prayer is n't a sign of weakness , per se , but a sign of love . Jesus prayed because he loved his creation and his Father . When I read Jesus ' prayer recorded in John 17 , I can feel the warmth licking off the page . Jesus did n't address him as " God " but as " Father . " Prayer was n't an exercise in guilt removal ; it was a communication of warmth . If you read John 17 , you can feel Jesus ' longing to be with his Father " in glory " once again . <p> Because Jesus loves the Father , he does God 's will by sharing the words of eternal life with his disciples . Sensing the profound satisfaction that eternal life will bring them , Jesus says : " Holy Father , keep them in your name , which you have given me , that they may be one , even as we are one " ( 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oneness with the Father , that we would know their love and warmth . He elaborates ( was this necessary ? ) : " I in them and you in me , that they may become perfectly one , so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me " ( 23 ) . Jesus prayed because he loved being with the Father , and he prays for us because he wants us to enjoy being with the Father . Prayer is an expression of love for the Father and for one another . <p> Drawing Near to God <p> In the words of James , prayer is " drawing near to God " ( 4:8 ) . Abraham Kuyper clarifies love for God as drawing near to God when he writes : " To have love for God is a different and a much weaker thing than to be able to say : ' I love God . ' " Many of us " have love for God " but have trouble saying , with sincere conviction , " I love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If we love God , we will live with him in prayer . If we love entertainment , we will live with it in prayerlessness . May I be so bold as to say that our mornings and evenings are marked by what we love ? If we lay down to Netflix and rise up to Internet , could it be that we love distraction more than we love God ? Perhaps , in an unconscious way , we drift to entertainment because it distracts us from guilt . Guilt will drive you into a corner , but it will not drive you to Christ . <p> Prayer is about love not about lists . It is about drawing near to God , not about impressing God . It is about enjoying his grace not enduring guilt . In fact , our genuine guilt for loving something altogether more than we love the Father is gone in Christ . God so loved us that he sent his only Son to be cut off in death so that we might be wonderfully united with him in life . Prayer is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a warm reaction to what they have together done for us . Prayer is communion with God , a cementing of souls together in a common delight , in this case , a delight in God and his grace towards us in Christ . It begins and continues with honest words about our loveless lives , our guilt-ridden approaches to prayer , and a shameless embrace of God 's reckless love and grace . <p> Respond to his love , even now . Turn and receive his grace . Do n't let your guilt drive you into a corner but to Christ . As you receive his love and grace , respond by saying : " I love you God . " Then , you have prayed . <p> -- <p> Jonathan Dodson ( M.Div , Th.M ) is happy husband to Robie , and proud father to Owen , Ellie &; Rosamund . He is also the lead pastor of Austin City Life church and directional leader for PlantR and Gospel Centered Discipleship.com . Jonathan is also the author of Gospel-Centered Discipleship ( Crossway , 2012 ) . He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

@@5098141 <h> JOIN OVER 28,000 READERS ! <h> To be good , do leaders need to be a little bad ? <p> Several of the 12 " dark side " traits -- such as those associated with narcissism , being overly dramatic , being critical of others and being extremely focused on complying with rules -- actually had a positive effect on a number of facets of the cadets ' leadership development over time . <p> " By themselves , these subclinical traits had fairly small effects , but when aggregated , they played a substantial role in determining which cadets developed leadership skills , " Harms said . <p> " Assumptions about how these traits affected performance and development were mistaken ... it appears that even negative characteristics

@@5098241 <p> Full House : The room was packed for " Spinning The Turnstiles In New Directions : New Partners &; Strategies in the Live Music Space " ( Photo : Michael Seto ) <p> Sure , EDM is all the rage on the touring and festival circuit right now -- but what about in 2017 ? To a panel of top promoters and investors , the picture was a little cloudy . <p> " They 're clearly able to bring in the talent . The question is what happens beyond that revenue expense line , " said Charles Johnson , managing director of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey 's sports and entertainment specialty group . " If I put my lending hat on , I personally do n't understand if it will be sustainable five or seven years from now without significant change . And that change I believe would have to come on the creative side . You got ta do something to make a DJ in front of a bunch of people more creative . " <p> The relative safety of EDM shows , which are frequented by teenagers 18 and under rampant with various substances , has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has taken on a renewed liability factor for promoters like C3 's Charlie Walker . " Our shows are 18 and up ... the younger they are , the more likely it is they do n't know anything about anything , " Walker said . " That scene has certainly got some risk in it that we do n't in other parts of our business . " Added Todd Boehly , president of Guggenheim Partners ( an owner of Billboard 's parent company Prometheus Global Media ) , " If it 's a problem for the promoter , it 's a problem for the investor . " <p> Having seen various musical trends come and go , Y Entertainment Group CEO Rick Stevens echoed the " tremendous risk " associated with putting " all your eggs in the basket of one category music , particularly as it is highly likely that that will transform itself into the mainstream . I think the really clever festival promoters who have established a brand are guys like the AEGs and the Goldenvoice team who 've opened up to all categories and attracted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genre , live music is of high interest to investors these days -- particularly with No. 2 promoter AEG currently on the block ( whose CEO Randy Phillips was in the front row during the Touring panel ) . Guggenheim 's Boehly confirmed " everything you read about our interest is real " in bidding on the company , but that " it will all come down to , like everything , price . They 've got a lot of interesting aspects to it . I think the extension of the theme that we 've been thinking about is very much real in the context of what they 've built to date ... but so far we have a picture book . Our bid 's not gon na come back with a picture book . We have to get more than just pictures , unless they want us to win pictures . There 's a lot more work to be done , but from the outside looking in they 've built an interesting footprint . " <p> Mark Cuban saw the value in the televised side of live music earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebrand his HDNet cable channel as AXS TV , a 24/7 live-music network . " I 'm a big believer for all the reasons that live events create a unique experience for the people there , television extends it to everybody , " he said . " The one thing the Internet does n't really provide you is zero latency and the thing social media is all about is zero latency . We might have all seen the ' Gangnam Style ' video at different times but did n't share the experience . Television , everybody sees it at the same time . It becomes a communal experience and television has become the only way to reach a big audience and enable that communal experience . We 're looking at AXS TV to in essence be the ESPN of music and pop culture . " <p> And with EDM and festivals still very much a buyer 's market , the conversation eventually turned to Bob Sillerman 's current investment in EDM festivals , promoters , agencies , and the lasting impact of his company SFX ( which was sold to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . " The world today in live entertainment is post-SFX , " said Jordan Zachary , VP at The Raine Group . " We made a bet that festivals have replaced the old amphitheater world and the way people see live music . " <p> Offered Guggenheim 's Boehly , " SFX took down a strategy that was cap-ex intensive and heavy around real estate with one type of theme and it worked really well at the time . The rollup worked really well at the time and the benefit of debt financing was all in place to have a really nice run . The combination of great content and fantastic real estate makes for a very self-fulfilling prophecy . But the dynamic around who 's playing what and where and who can actually play in big amphitheaters is changing dramatically . And as tastes continue to broaden and become more and more diverse , it 's clear the festival model is kicking in nicely . The legacy SFX model is n't that attractive to the eye . " <p> Cuban 's biggest concern is the herd mentality that EDM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of the same DJs going festival to festival to festival . Right now EDM is the platform I look at it and say it 's more about communal experiences . But with big concerts , you can have 100,000 people there , but there 's 300 million people that are n't there .

@@5098341 <h> Jamal Badawi : Enduring Link to ISNA 's Radical Past <p> For an organization that has tried to distance itself from its Muslim Brotherhood roots , the Islamic Society of North America ( ISNA ) continues to rely on a Muslim Brotherhood official as a key speaker at many of its events . <p> Jamal Badawi is scheduled to speak during three sessions at ISNA 's East Regional Conference in Tampa this weekend . Among them , " Understanding Shari'ah : Sacred Principles in Striving for the Human Development . " <p> Badawi , a member at large on ISNA 's governing board , is deeply rooted in the Muslim Brotherhood 's North American infrastructure , records show . He is listed on the first page of a 1992 telephone directory of Brotherhood members . He also was founding member of the Muslim American Society ( MAS ) , identified as the Brotherhood 's U.S. arm in a 2004 Chicago Tribune story . <p> " Everyone knows that MAS is the Muslim Brotherhood , " Abdurrahman Alamoudi testified in a Virginia courtroom last month . Alamoudi , once the nation 's most influential Muslim political figure , acknowledges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ISNA in 1981 as an outgrowth of the Muslim Students ' Association . <p> The Brotherhood , founded in Egypt in 1928 , has surged to power in recent Egyptian elections and has a global Islamic state , or Caliphate , as its ultimate goal . Its American arm cited an educational program Badawi ran in 1991 as a foundation for " dawa , " or proselytizing , in America . That same document described the Brotherhood 's work in America as " a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and ' sabotaging ' its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God 's religion is made victorious over all other religions . " <p> Badawi 's comments over the years show he views Islam as superior to democracy and that he defends violent jihad , including suicide bombings , as a form of martyrdom . Such statements , in addition to his Brotherhood connections , make it difficult for ISNA to claim that it has shed its radical past and MB ties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jihad and Martyrdom , " at the Chebucto Mosque in Halifax , Nova Scotia , Badawi explained that Gaza-based terrorists were fighting a jihad and that those who were killed were martyrs . He railed against those who criticized the terrorists or cooperated with the Israelis , saying that it was an ' excess ' by more moderate Muslims to come out against their brothers fighting the Jewish state . <p> " One of those form of excesses is that noble mujahideen , those who strive in the path of Allah , who are really worthy of the term Shuhadaa -- martyrs -- have been attacked or accused of being terrorists , not only by their enemies , but by those who are amongst the people who are included in the broader description of the Ummah , " he said . <p> " They moderate Muslims made this accusation , but they did not even stop at accusations , they did cooperate with the enemies of humanity , to kill their own brothers and sisters , " he added , stating that those that fought against Muslims were " sub-contracting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , right , and heritage . " <p> Badawi also explained that the Western media was guilty of hypocrisy when it referred to Gaza " martyrs " fighting the Israelis , as terrorists . <p> " In the Western world , however , we find that the media , which is both misled and misleading , and those who are behind that media , they continued also to falsify and distort this noble concept of martyrdom , equating it with what they call terrorism , fanaticism , violence , and so on , " he said . <p> The Western media readily agrees that someone who " or prefers death in defense of some value , of some cause , " that is a good thing . However , " when that choice is that of a Muslim , and he chooses death rather than weakness , rather than accepting aggression and selling their rights , no , no , no , that does n't apply here , " he said . <p> Badawi spoke again in support of Palestinian terror a year later . <p> " But there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-defense against unprovoked aggression or to resist severe oppression , such as people being driven from their homes like the Palestinians and dispossessed , " he said in a March 2010 speech . <p> In June 2006 , he led an Islamonline.net dialogue session called " Martyrdom in Islam : Let 's Discuss it . " In it , he compared suicide bombers fighting oppression to " freedom fighters " fighting the Nazis or the Japanese kamikazes fighting the Americans . At a 1999 Muslim student conference held at the University of Maryland , Badawi said that " resistance " was really an act of heroism . " So when an act of heroism like that is required to save others it is self-sacrifice you can not really call it suicide . What Islam condemns is suicide in the negative sense . That 's my understanding . " <p> He likened Palestinian attacks on Israeli soldiers to the French resistance against the Nazis and urged people not to wilt in the face of criticism of such violence . <p> " But what makes me really surprised is the intimidation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arabs , not Muslims even , who know of this hypocrisy are not speaking up for fear of being branded as oh supporters of terrorism , " he said at the University of Maryland conference . This is childish . This is childish . This we should not support terrorism by victimizing the innocent people but we should support freedom fighters anywhere who have been wronged . " <p> He also has openly questioned whether Islam and democracy are compatible . " The Qur'an and Prophetic tradition are the ultimate constitution , " he wrote in 2004 . <p> Because Islam was given by God , " It 's not something that anyone can update or change or supersede in any way ; it is free from error or else , of course , there would n't be any belief in God . On the other hand , other systems , whether they are democracy , socialism , or otherwise , are man-made ideas or ideologies . " <p> The practical effect of that attitude came during the 2006 controversy surrounding the publication of Danish cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was beyond the limits of free speech . <p> " ' When you depict a great prophet . . . of one-fifth of humankind as a terrorist , that goes beyond satire , that goes beyond insults , that goes beyond offence , " Badawi said in a Canadian Press Wire story . " This is nothing but a hate message . You ca n't hide behind freedom of expression , freedom of the press or academic freedom to preach hate against groups of people . " <p> During a MAS conference in Los Angeles the same year , Badawi preached that democracy falls short of what Islam offers . It is " not only for the problems of any particular society , America or otherwise but the solution for the world .... And we believe that Islam is the only solution not only to the problems of America but to the malaise of the world at large . " <p> ISNA is active in interfaith outreach and has been embraced by government officials as a voice of moderation for Muslim Americans . But the continued prominence of someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Badawi 's history raises legitimate concerns over the organization 's commitments to peace and democracy . <h> Comment on this item <p> Name ( optional ) <p> Email Address <p> Title of Comments <p> Comments : <p> Email me if someone replies to my comment <p> Note : IPT will moderate reader comments . We reserve the right to edit or remove any comment we determine to be inappropriate . This includes , but is not limited to , comments that include swearing , name calling , or offensive language involving race , religion or ethnicity

@@5098441 year for $79 . <h> Formats <h> Book Description <p> Publication Date : October 8 , 2006 <p> The book that Janet Maslin of The New York Times has called " indispensable " and " a transfixing study of American mores and manners that happens to incorporate boundless laughs , too " is finally available in paperback -- fully updated and featuring a brand new introduction by Adam Gopnik . <p> Organized by decade , with commentary by some of the magazine 's finest writers , this landmark collection showcases the work of the hundreds of talented artists who have contributed cartoons over the course of The New Yorker 's eight-two-year history . From the early cartoons of Peter Arno , George Price and Charles Addams to the cutting-edge work of Alex Gregory , Matthew Diffee and Bruce Eric Kaplan ( with stops along the way for the genius of Charles Barsotti , Roz Chast , Jack Ziegler , George Booth , and many others ) , the art collected here forms , as David Remnick puts it in his Foreword , " the longest-running popular comic genre in American life . " <p> Throughout the book , brief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Depression and nudity to technology and the Internet , highlight various genres of cartoons and shed light on our pastimes and preoccupations . Brief profiles and mini-portfolios spotlight the work of key cartoonists , including Arno , Chast , Ziegler , and others . <p> The DVD-ROM included with the book is what really makes the " Complete Cartoons " complete . Compatible with most home computers and easily browsable , the disk contains a mind-boggling 70,363 cartoons , indexed in a variety of ways . Perhaps you 'd like to find all the cartoons by your favorite artist . Or maybe you 'd like to look up the cartoons that ran the week you were born , or all of the cartoons on a particular subject . Of course , you can always begin at the beginning , February 21 , 1925 , and experience the unprecedented pleasure of reading through every single cartoon ever published in The New Yorker . <p> Enjoy this one-of-a-kind protrait of American life over the past eight decades , as captured by the talented pens and singular outlooks of the masters of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of The New York Times has called " indispensable " and " a transfixing study of American mores and manners that happens to incorporate boundless laughs , too " is finally available in paperback -- fully updated and featuring a brand new introduction by Adam Gopnik . <p> Organized by decade , with commentary by some of the magazine 's finest writers , this landmark collection showcases the work of the hundreds of talented artists who have contributed cartoons over the course of The New Yorker 's eight-two-year history . From the early cartoons of Peter Arno , George Price and Charles Addams to the cutting-edge work of Alex Gregory , Matthew Diffee and Bruce Eric Kaplan ( with stops along the way for the genius of Charles Barsotti , Roz Chast , Jack Ziegler , George Booth , and many others ) , the art collected here forms , as David Remnick puts it in his Foreword , " the longest-running popular comic genre in American life . " <p> Throughout the book , brief overviews of each era 's predominant themes -- from the Depression and nudity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shed light on our pastimes and preoccupations . Brief profiles and mini-portfolios spotlight the work of key cartoonists , including Arno , Chast , Ziegler , and others . <p> The DVD-ROM included with the book is what really makes the " Complete Cartoons " complete . Compatible with most home computers and easily browsable , the disk contains a mind-boggling 70,363 cartoons , indexed in a variety of ways . Perhaps you 'd like to find all the cartoons by your favorite artist . Or maybe you 'd like to look up the cartoons that ran the week you were born , or all of the cartoons on a particular subject . Of course , you can always begin at the beginning , February 21 , 1925 , and experience the unprecedented pleasure of reading through every single cartoon ever published in The New Yorker . <p> Enjoy this one-of-a-kind protrait of American life over the past eight decades , as captured by the talented pens and singular outlooks of the masters " , " Pre-order all three items " <h> More About the Author <p> The New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , commentary , fiction , poetry , and renowned single-panel cartoons . It has won more National Magazine Awards , the magazine world 's equivalent of the Oscars , than any other magazine . Its contributors have won numerous awards , including the Nobel Prize and the Pulitzer Prize . Robert Mankoff is the cartoon editor of The New Yorker , and a cartoonist in his own right . He is the editor of many collections of New Yorker cartoons , including The Complete Cartoons of The New Yorker . <p> I should have read more of the reviews here . I wanted this book since the day I spotted it in the bookstore , but held off because of the price . I was particularly anxious to see the 2 CDs . But the cartoons are all LOW RESOLUTION--what a disappointment . I can understand why--they do n't want people to be able to print high-res versions ... to still have to go to their website if they want to do that . But they should have announced that on the cover . Really--it is almost sinful . What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unreadable some of the cartoons are because of the LOW-RESOLUTION . Really disgusting . <p> i have a very advanced , nearly state of the art cpu and monitor . i ca n't read the captions on the most of the cartoons . they 're pertectly legible if i print them out , but that 's hardly a sensible solution . <p> the other part of the low rating is the size of the book . obviously , the book industry has become infatuated with huge tomes lately . i would have preferred two , or even three , volumes of a size that could be read comfortably in a chair or in bed . unless i buy an actual lectern , i have nowhere in my house to put this book where i can read it casually or easily . <p> as most reviewers do , i love the new yorker cartoons . i 'm glad to have the collection , but i wish i could enjoy it more easily . <p> The book is outstanding ( hence one star ) but the New Yorker is engaging in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cartoons ever published . In actual fact the CDs are of such low resolution that MANY of the cartoons can not be interpreted because the caption or even the entire drawing is illegible . If a drawing is too illegible to interpret it is the same as not being included . I love the cartoons of the New Yorker and it was incredibly frustrating browsing the CDs and repeatedly finding cartoons that simply can not be read . Enlarging them does n't help . You WILL get a headache . The publisher should retract their claim and remove the illegible cartoons from the CDs . And shame on them for foisting this on those of us

@@5098541 <h> Red , Black &; Blue <h> Herman Cain paying to investigate reports of his own ' sexual impropriety ' <p> Herman Cain is introduced as the replacement radio host for Neal Boortz during his morning show at News-Talk WSB AM750 in Atlanta on Monday , June 4 , 2012 . Cain will replace Boortz full-time following inauguration day , Jan. 21 , 2013 . ( AP Photo/Paul Abell ) <p> Herman Cain insists that if it had n't for allegations of his " sexual impropriety " he 'd have been accepting the Republican nomination for the presidency last night instead of Mitt Romney . In order to clear his name the eccentric businessman is launching an investigation to find out who was the source of the scandalous stories

@@5098641 <h> Your source for the latest psychological research . <p> Imagine you 're at a party and a new acquaintance comes over to say hello . In a blind moment of panic you realize that you 've just met the person , but you ca n't remember their name . Sound familiar ? Memory is so important in our daily lives , and it can be frustrating ( not to mention embarrassing ) when we have trouble recalling information . But can we improve our memories ? <p> According to researchers Carlos Salas ( University of Illinois at Chicago ) , Katsumi Minakata ( California State University , Long Beach ) , and William Kelemen ( California State University , Long Beach ) , the answer may be as simple as taking a short walk . In their study , participants were instructed to walk at a brisk pace or to sit for 10 minutes before studying a list of 30 nouns . After seeing each noun , participants rated how likely they were to recall the word on a future memory test . The participants then walked or sat for another 10 minutes before completing a recall test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent increase in word recall compared to those who sat . Although the participants who went for a pre-study-session walk had enhanced recall , walking prior to the test had no effect on participants ' test performance . <p> A short walk before learning new information may be all you need to gain that much-needed memory boost . So next time you 're at a party , consider taking a lap around the punch bowl before shaking hands . Someone may give you a weird look

@@5098741 <p> He was the guy who told me on a Sunday morning in July 2008 , " These are big games . I should be playing in all three . " <p> He was wrong that time . At that point in his career , Pudge was a much better player when he was n't playing every day , as Tigers manager Jim Leyland understood . But part of what made Pudge great was that he always believed his team had a better chance to win if he was in the lineup . <p> He always believed that any team he played on could win . <p> Who else wins a World Series , and follows it up by signing as a free agent with a team coming off a 119-loss season ? <p> Pudge did . <p> Sure , he signed with the Tigers late in that winter of 2003-04 because they were the one team willing to meet his four-year , $40 million asking price . But he also signed with the Tigers fully believing that he was going to find a way to make them win . <p> It did n't happen right away , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alan Trammell and bench coach Kirk Gibson . But two years later , Pudge was a big part of the reason the Tigers were in the World Series . <p> He was a player who always knew his own stats , and was n't afraid to admit it . He was a player who always wanted to be a Hall of Famer , and was n't afraid to admit that , either.But he was also complicated , right to the end . <p> Pudge wanted to keep playing , he said . He wanted to get 3,000 hits , he told me many times . As colleague Jon Heyman wrote , he seemed like he wanted to play forever . <p> And yet he 's retiring now , 156 hits shy of 3,000 , after turning down opportunities that could have kept his

@@5098841 <h> College Stars May Have Been Ineligible <p> Court documents filed as part of an agent 's suits against several of the nation 's top college football players contain promissory notes for several thousand dollars signed by the players . If the signatures are valid , the players violated college rules and should have been ineligible to play . <p> The players include such all-Americans as Brent Fullwood , the Auburn running back ; Rod Woodson , a cornerback from Purdue , and Tony Woods , a defensive lineman from the University of Pittsburgh . All were clients of Norby Walters , a New York-based agent . <p> Under National Collegiate Athletic Association rules , a player receiving payments or entering into an agreement with an agent loses any further eligibility in the sport involved . Penalizing the players is impossible now because all have exhausted their college eligibility . Although the schools can be penalized , such penalties are generally not invoked , N.C.A.A. officials said . <p> ' ' Unless the institution had knowledge that there was contact between the student-athlete and the agent , it 's unlikely you can tie the institution into it , ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the N.C.A.A. Schools Investigate <p> Each of the five schools involved -two players from Florida and one from Clemson are also being sued by Walters - have conducted investigations . Most declined to divulge what they had found , saying they had turned the information over to their conferences or to the N.C.A.A. <p> An exception was Pittsburgh , where the athletic director , Dr. Roy Bozik , said that Woods had acknowledged taking money during his playing career . <p> ' ' Tony admitted it to us , ' ' Bozik said . ' ' We played with an ineligible player , without our knowledge , and we 've reported it to the N.C.A.A. ' ' <p> Walters is also the agent at the center of an investigation by the F.B.I . into alleged threats made by him and an associate against players and agents . Walters denied making the threats or having any knowledge of them . Suits Against 6 Players <p> Walters has said that he signed agreements to represent as many as 20 top college players and that ' ' a few ' ' of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remaining . Though Walters would not identify those who took money , he has filed suit against six players , charging that each failed to repay loans and breached representation agreements with him . <p> Each of his lawsuits , filed in New York State Supreme Court in recent weeks , contains contracts dated Jan. 2 , 1987 - the first day that senior players could sign such agreements under N.C.A.A. rules . However , each suit also contains copies of loan agreements for several thousand dollars that were dated at various times before the most recent football season . Each agreement carries the name of a player and a signature , purported to be that of the player . Each of the loan agreements says the money was to be repaid through the player 's earnings in professional football . <p> The promissory notes were fairly uniform . The suit against Fullwood , for example , says he took $4,000 last Aug. 20 , before the football season began . The note bears the signature ' ' Brent Fullwood . ' ' <p> A person close to Fullwood , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledged to Auburn officials and others that he took more than $8,000 from Walters before his college eligibility expired . Attempts to reach Fullwood were unsuccessful , There was no

@@5098941 <p> Vote for me in the election for the Wikimedia Foundation 's Board of Directors . <p> I first met Jimbo Wales , the face of Wikipedia , when he came to speak at Stanford . Wales told us about Wikipedia 's history , technology , and culture , but one thing he said stands out . " The idea that a lot of people have of Wikipedia , " he noted , " is that it 's some emergent phenomenon -- the wisdom of mobs , swarm intelligence , that sort of thing -- thousands and thousands of individual users each adding a little bit of content and out of this emerges a coherent body of work . " + But , he insisted , the truth was rather different : Wikipedia was actually written by " a community ... a dedicated group of a few hundred volunteers " where " I know all of them and they all know each other " . Really , " it 's much like any traditional organization . " <p> The difference , of course , is crucial . Not just for the public , who wants to know how a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Wales , who wants to know how to run the site . " For me this is really important , because I spend a lot of time listening to those four or five hundred and if ... those people were just a bunch of people talking ... maybe I can just safely ignore them when setting policy " and instead worry about " the million people writing a sentence each " . <p> So did the Gang of 500 actually write Wikipedia ? Wales decided to run a simple study to find out : he counted who made the most edits to the site . " I expected to find something like an 80-20 rule : 80% of the work being done by 20% of the users , just because that seems to come up a lot . But it 's actually much , much tighter than that : it turns out over 50% of all the edits are done by just .7% of the users ... 524 people . ... And in fact the most active 2% , which is 1400 people , have done 73.4% of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said , were from " people who are contributing ... a minor change of a fact or a minor spelling fix ... or something like that . " <p> Stanford was n't the only place he 's made such a claim ; it 's part of the standard talk he gives all over the world . " This is the group of around a thousand people who really matter " , he told us at Stanford . " There is this tight community that is actually doing the bulk of all the editing " , he explained at the Oxford Internet Institute . " It 's a group of around a thousand to two thousand people , " he informed the crowd at GEL 2005 . These are just the three talks I watched , but Wales has given hundreds more like them . <p> At Stanford the students were skeptical . Wales was just counting the number of edits -- the number of times a user changed something and clicked save . Would n't things be different if he counted the amount of text each user contributed ? @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next revision " , but was sure " my results are going to be even stronger " , because he 'd no longer be counting vandalism and other changes that later got removed . <p> Wales presents these claims as comforting . Do n't worry , he tells the world , Wikipedia is n't as shocking as you think . In fact , it 's just like any other project : a small group of colleagues working together toward a common goal . But if you think about it , Wales 's view of things is actually much more shocking : around a thousand people wrote the world 's largest encyclopedia in four years for free ? Could this really be true ? <p> Curious and skeptical , I decided to investigate . I picked an article at random ( " Alan Alda " ) to see how it was written . Today the Alan Alda page is a pretty standard Wikipedia page : it has a couple photos , several pages of facts and background , and a handful of links . But when it was first created , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a male actor most famous for his role of Hawkeye Pierce in the television series MASH . Or recent work , he plays sensitive male characters in drama movies . " How did it get from there to here ? <p> Edit by edit , I watched the page evolve . The changes I saw largely fell into three groups . A tiny handful -- probably around 5 out of nearly 400 -- were " vandalism " : confused or malicious people adding things that simply did n't fit , followed by someone undoing their change . The vast majority , by far , were small changes : people fixing typos , formatting , links , categories , and so on , making the article a little nicer but not adding much in the way of substance . Finally , a much smaller amount were genuine additions : a couple sentences or even paragraphs of new information added to the page . <p> Wales seems to think that the vast majority of users are just doing the first two ( vandalizing or contributing small fixes ) while the core group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But that 's not at all what I found . Almost every time I saw a substantive edit , I found the user who had contributed it was not an active user of the site . They generally had made less than 50 edits ( typically around 10 ) , usually on related pages . Most never even bothered to create an account . <p> To investigate more formally , I purchased some time on a computer cluster and downloaded a copy of the Wikipedia archives . I wrote a little program to go through each edit and count how much of it remained in the latest version . + Instead of counting edits , as Wales did , I counted the number of letters a user actually contributed to the present article . <p> If you just count edits , it appears the biggest contributors to the Alan Alda article ( 7 of the top 10 ) are registered users who ( all but 2 ) have made thousands of edits to the site . Indeed , #4 has made over 7,000 edits while #7 has over 25,000 . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you get Wales 's results : most of the content seems to be written by heavy editors . <p> But when you count letters , the picture dramatically changes : few of the contributors ( 2 out of the top 10 ) are even registered and most ( 6 out of the top 10 ) have made less than 25 edits to the entire site . In fact , #9 has made exactly one edit -- this one ! With the more reasonable metric -- indeed , the one Wales himself said he planned to use in the next revision of his study -- the result completely reverses . <p> I do n't have the resources to run this calculation across all of Wikipedia ( there are over 60 million edits ! ) , but I ran it on several more randomly-selected articles and the results were much the same . For example , the largest portion of the Anaconda article was written by a user who only made 2 edits to it ( and only 100 on the entire site ) . By contrast , the largest number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have contributed no text to the final article ( the edits were all deleting things and moving things around ) . <p> When you put it all together , the story become clear : an outsider makes one edit to add a chunk of information , then insiders make several edits tweaking and reformatting it . In addition , insiders rack up thousands of edits doing things like changing the name of a category across the entire site -- the kind of thing only insiders deeply care about . As a result , insiders account for the vast majority of the edits . But it 's the outsiders who provide nearly all of the content . <p> And when you think about it , this makes perfect sense . Writing an encyclopedia is hard . To do anywhere near a decent job , you have to know a great deal of information about an incredibly wide variety of subjects . Writing so much text is difficult , but doing all the background research seems impossible . <p> On the other hand , everyone has a bunch of obscure things that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know well . So they share them , clicking the edit link and adding a paragraph or two to Wikipedia . At the same time , a small number of people have become particularly involved in Wikipedia itself , learning its policies and special syntax , and spending their time tweaking the contributions of everybody else . <p> Other encyclopedias work similarly , just on a much smaller scale : a large group of people write articles on topics they know well , while a small staff formats them into a single work . This second group is clearly very important -- it 's thanks to them encyclopedias have a consistent look and tone -- but it 's a severe exaggeration to say that they wrote the encyclopedia . One imagines the people running Britannica worry more about their contributors than their formatters . <p> And Wikipedia should too . Even if all the formatters quit the project tomorrow , Wikipedia would still be immensely valuable . For the most part , people read Wikipedia because it has the information they need , not because it has a consistent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one , but the people who ( like me ) care about such things would probably step up to take the place of those who had left . The formatters aid the contributors , not the other way around . <p> Wales is right about one thing , though . This fact does have enormous policy implications . If Wikipedia is written by occasional contributors , then growing it requires making it easier and more rewarding to contribute occasionally . Instead of trying to squeeze more work out of those who spend their life on Wikipedia , we need to broaden the base of those who contribute just a little bit . <p> Unfortunately , precisely because such people are only occasional contributors , their opinions are n't heard by the current Wikipedia process . They do n't get involved in policy debates , they do n't go to meetups , and they do n't hang out with Jimbo Wales . And so things that might help them get pushed on the backburner , assuming they 're even proposed . <p> Out of sight is out of mind , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are n't particularly important . Thus Wales 's belief that 500 people wrote half an encyclopedia . Thus his assumption that outsiders contribute mostly vandalism and nonsense . And thus the comments you sometimes hear that making it hard to edit the site might be a good thing . <p> " I 'm not a wiki person who happened to go into encyclopedias , " Wales told the crowd at Oxford . " I 'm an encyclopedia person who happened to use a wiki . " So perhaps his belief that Wikipedia was written in the traditional way is n't surprising . Unfortunately , it is dangerous . If Wikipedia continues down this path of focusing on the encyclopedia at the expense of the wiki , it might end up not being much of either . <p> Also see here for my further thoughts on the topic : http : **34;9218;TOOLONG ... Regarding the formatting issues that you mention near the end of your article , I agree that ultimately the ocntent is more important . But I imagine the common format is a big part of Wikipedia 's appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of information sources . I suspect that the clean and uniform format is a large part of Wikipedia 's air of authority . <p> An excellent article . I tried to vote , but since I am one of your " occasional contributors " ( I 've edited only one article to make content changes ) , I am not eligible to vote . It appears that the opinions of " occasional contributors " will not be heard . <p> " Do n't worry , he tells the world , Wikipedia is n't as shocking as you think . In fact , it 's just like any other project : ... " <p> And he 's correct , though that cuts both ways . There 's an " editorial staff " which handles the copyediting , versus the occasional freelance contributors , who work on specific topics . That is indeed a standard model . <p> What 's really interesting about Wikipedia is how : <p> 1 ) It manages NOT TO PAY almost anyone , getting people to donate their services , on the basis of " community " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elaborate intellectual defenses against the failings of #1 , whenever the flaws show through . <p> Those are two aspects which are , if not exactly completely novel , definitely innovative implementations of eternal themes . <p> Let 's again recall there 's $4 million of venture capital invested in the associated Wikia venture , and at a rule of thumb of 10x return , the investors want at least $40 million . That 's got to come from somewhere , and figuring out how to get work for free seems like a major part of it . <p> Seth , you seem to think those venture capitalists are being rational in expecting Wikia to succeed to the tune of $40 mill ; I 'd say that that is rather optimistic and reminds me not a little of the first Internet bubble . <p> " Observe : The humorless wikipedia administrator in its natural habitat ! " - me , looking at the ' recent changes ' page of the Encyclopedia Dramatica <p> There are the people who contribute content , and there are the people who maintain it . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wiki 's features . The latter does , and will sometimes leave snippy comments about the lack of this as they make it conform to the spec . <p> The mindset is the same , whatever wikipedia-type place it 's found on . Even in ones dedicated to misinformation and gossip . <p> In fact to think of it , I guess it is this flawed understanding of the nature of the contribution process to Wikipedia which Wales harbors might be behind the recent decision by Wikipedia to ban edits by users who are not logged in . <p> I think this is one of the most regressive moves in the history of Wikipedia - by putting in a login ' barrier ' i would assume a lot of the casual ( but as you pointed out , very critical ) contribution is put off . <p> This type of casual contribution is at the heart of Wikipedia , and no amount of vandalism is reason enough to put barriers around this . It is like killing your goose which lays the golden eggs , just because you cant stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a fantastic observation . If you were n't running in the Board election , I 'd be spreading it far and wide . As is , I feel too far into the guts of Wikimedia politics to be spreading it with propriety and not appearing to push your candidacy per se ... gah . <p> &lt; <p> p&gt;But yes . This has major implications for policy and how Wikipedia works . <p> &lt; <p> p&gt; ( And it 's also a nice big stick for me to hit people over the head with concerning Byzantine overengineered processes . ) <p> Aaron - this page was noted on wikien-l , and I suggested to Gregory Maxwell that you two should talk about how to get good data across the whole database . Greg is very good at running interesting queries on the whole database - if your methodology can be automated , this will give you accurate data . Since if you 're running for the Board because of this , I assume you 'd prefer greater certainty ! <p> but i have felt that my contributions -- on topics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who merely want to " make it sound like an encyclopedia " without having any knowledge of the topic . <p> it seems to me that the experts that wikipedia so desperately needs will be precisely those people who are not making edits to a large number of topics . <p> Interesting article , but I think you 're being overly dismissive of the insiders/formatters . Because the likelihood of casual users making significant contributions is determined not only by how easy it is for casual readers to contribute , but also by how many such readers there are to begin with . And the size of that pool of readers depends to a great extent on how readable , reliable and accessible the information presented is . So a change that imposes a minor impediment to casual edits can still result in a net increase in casual editors if it also helps the " insiders and formatters " improve Wikipedia 's usability , and increase its readership . <p> I second what bowerbird says . I used to be one of the people making small but regular contributions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lived and the London theatre scene/history , both subjects on which I have a lot to contribute , but got fed up of the self-appointed officious jobsworths who would come along minutes later and revert your contribution or substantially modify it ( so that it lost the important detail ) , in order that things would fit " their vision " for the sections they " patrol " and have " made their own " . My time is too valuable to argue with these people , sit monitoring discussion pages , or fight for ages to wrestle control back ( and in doing so become as bad as these people , if I were to end up spending my entire waking hours on Wikipedia as they appear to ) . <p> I 've also become annoyed with the behaviour of this perceived " inner circle " when it comes to current events and the " high and mighty " attitude they have to outsider contributors ( not me in these cases ) . <p> Wikipedia was good up until 12-18 months ago but lately it 's become far too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off , because if we are to invest our valuable time contributing some expert knowledge on some subject , we want to know that our work will remain there for others , and not just keep getting reverted out in seconds by some control freak that knows nothing about the actual subject . <p> Why am I taking the time to make this point here ? Because your article proves the existance of this " inner gang " that I feel are actually holding Wikipedia back . To allow Wikipedia to grow and really pick the brains of the experts around the world , you need to do something to break up this inner gang and the mini empires they are building for themselves . <p> As an " occasional contributer " I 've found largely the same thing . The " super editors " are the ones whom the site benefits , and , unfortunately , they share the same opinion as Wales that they are responsible for the bulk of the content . I 've proposed the addition or deletion of a couple articles , cited Wikipedia policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been told point blank that I am wrong and that " the other editors would agree with " the editor I was arguing with . I may not spend 10 hours a day on the site or have thousands of edits under my belt , but this sort of treatment just left me with a bad taste in my mouth , and it sounds like the founder is all but condoning it . <p> All of the original content before it was switched to PHPWiki was done by an almost entirely different group than the people who are doing it today , so while there may be 500 active supercontributors at any one time , between 2001 and now there has been a constantly changing group of active contributors . This has an effect on both the numbers that are being used here , I think . Early on , there was only about 500 people , total contributing , but everyone was a supercontributor . <p> As a side note , it was much easier to contribute before , when you could discuss with other contributors and know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . It happens way too easily now , primarily I think because of a number of truly unprofessional so-called " moderators " . The power imbalance now is very anti-wiki . <p> As another occasional contributor I 've established 2-3 articles and watched them get a life of their own . <p> When I tried to vote there was a curious response : <p> Sorry , you are not qualified to vote in this election here on the English Wikipedia . You need to have made 400 edits here before 2006-08-01T00:00:00 ; you have made 31 . Also , your first edit on this wiki was at 2005-04-29T05:57:45 ; it needs to be before 2006-05-03T00:00:00 . Curious because in my understanding 2005 is before 2006 . Perhaps I am misunderstanding the rule ? <p> Regardless of how many people contribute to Wikipedia content , I remain concerned about the unchecked biases of contributors . Anyone can can make impressive-sounding citations to create an air of authority when writing/editing a topic . But what percentage of those occasional , unregistered contributors who are subject matter experts on that topic review new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trivial for celebrity bios , it is particularly important for controversial scientific entries , such the standard model for physics , xenoestrogens , and global warming . <p> At least with a traditional encyclopedia publishing process , the compiling company hires people with well-established expertise to check the work of free-lance contributors . And on the most important topics , the compiling company gets top-notch subject matter writers to begin with . None of this is guaranteed in cyberspace . <p> As a test of my theory the problems with the lack of peer review in Wikipedia , I 've augmented a topic ( with citations ) on a controversial medical topic to see if anyone bothers to challenge my assertions . It will be interesting to see the revisions of that article . <p> Your point is well taken , with a caveat : that it 's difficult to actually quantify particular anonymous users ' contributions to Wikipedia . <p> As anonymous users are tracked by IP address , any one real-world user may be broken up into a countless Wikipedia ' users ' if they happen to reside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stable IP address here at home , the Wikipedia user contributions page for my latest anonymous ' identity ' only lists 23 edits to my name . Another one from a month or two back lists only 6 . My IP address at work seems to switch on an almost hourly basis , so multiple casual edits from even a single day from there may show up as isolated edits by random readers passing in the night . <p> The idea that the bulk of Wikipedia 's substance comes from the more heavily specialized , non-community users strikes me as inherently reasonable ( and actually quite reassuring ) . <p> I do n't think , though , that you can establish with any certainty whether these anonymous users return time after time or if they really just make a handful of changes and never hit ' edit ' again . <p> This is fantastic research and very actionable . Unfortunately , as you note , some actions are going the other way ( making it harder for the less frequent but more knowledgeable users ) . <p> The other major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citations . I understand why people think they are of value but I feel like a ) they lead to another false sense of authority and b ) they lead to disjointed articles ( ie. , I 've seen articles that seem like a long list of citations with not a single sentence seeming to flow from the preious one ) . <p> I wrote several wikipedia articles , where I wrote an entire article up out of nothing . In each case , the article was then " edited " -- without any notification to me -- by some super-editors , who removed content , and turned what I thought was gosh-darn good writing into crap . I tried to explain to friends my frustrations , and they told me " Why do you even bother ? Of course it 's just a bunch of self-important snobs . " <p> So I went and looked at the people who " edited " my contributions , and saw that my friends were right . These people , by and large , " edited " thousands of articles . In most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found unsuitable . Indeed , some of the people-history pages contained little " awards " that people gave each other -- for removing content from Wikipedia . <p> Since I heard of your article , I headed on to the voting page , and , alas and alack , I am not eligible to vote , since I have only made 21 article edits . I was also informed that since I did n't have the required number of edits by yesterday , I can not become eligible . <p> HURRAH , I am DISENFRANCHISED . <p> All this leads me to ask , " I wonder if those little " awards " that people give each other count towards the required number of edits ? <p> There 's an old saying , " The lower the pay , the higher the politics . " I 've seen it happen at college student activities , non-profit volunteer community organizations , etc . <p> Perhaps a more useful metric would be : # of letters typed that are still present in the current release . This would weed out those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more useful but difficult metric to measure would be : # of letters typed that are present in the most recent non-garbage release ( as the current version of some pages may be vandalized ) . <p> I think that this is very insightful and reveals the great ' black hole ' that wikipedia could be drawn into . If I had the chance to vote , it would be for you . I fully support your campaign and would be interested to hear the outcome . <p> I find it funny that people are complaining it 's not easy enough to make edits because the big bad super editors revert your writing . Look -- wikipedia ca n't have it both ways , you need to cite your facts , sometimes that means going to the library to cite a fact you already know to be true . Maybe a google book search , a news search , whatever . <p> Has anyone noticed the articles about wikipedia in the news lately ? They are all scare tactics -- wikipedia is a fraud because anyone can make edits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tough about what is added , if they really did allow any old thing to be added wikipedia would be completely useless . <p> So stop complaining , we ca n't have it both ways . Either we are strict on each other or wikipedia is garbage . Take your pick . <p> ( And to the person who claimed anon IP 's cant make edits , you do nt know what you 're talking about ) <p> Interesting , but as you comment , the analysis really needs to be expanded beyond a couple articles . Otherwise , you risk generalizing from too small a base . <p> Speaking of which , I 'll generalize - or at least talk about - myself . The first big thing I did on Wikipedia was editing the Henry James entry up to featured-article status , plus writing a lot of articles on individual works by James . I did much of this work anonymously because I was often too lazy to log in under my account name . <p> You could say I was your narrow-focus " expert " user at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the real content . But then something funny happened . I gradually turned into one of Jimbo 's 0.7% users . Now I make lots of edits to various articles on the encyclopedia , and almost none of them have anything to do with Henry James . <p> Yesterday , for instance , I worked on an article called Human Waste Project ( do n't ask ) . Yes , I chip in some real content to such articles , but I also do a lot of cleaning up , linking , organizing , citing , etc . As a result , my edit count has started to pile up , and my contributions list has become a hodgepodge of edits on wildly different subjects . <p> So your two types of editors are not always distinct . Sometimes , a narrow-focus expert can turn into an all-purpose janitor . God help me , it happened to my little old self . <p> Oh yeah , I 'm aware of the pattern . I think Angela Beesley said something similar in an interview somewhere . One caveat : " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take another example , I recently " janitored " the article on John Podhoretz . I did a lot of reorganization , straightened out the cites , set up a bibliography , etc . <p> But I also added a lot of content about Podhoretz ' views on various issues . So it 's not like janitors do n't make content contributions , as well . We should n't get carried away with the distinction between the two types of editors . They really do blend into each other sometimes . For instance , they 've blended into , well , me . <p> I do n't think there 's anything you can do to attract occasional contributors to the inner circle of Wikipedia - they just do n't care . They 're happy that they can share some knowledge with the world , and I highly doubt that Wikipedia 's policies lie in their area of interest . <p> Your finding pretty much agree with what I 've found from working on Wikipedia for a year or so . I 'm a little surprised that it 's skewed quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start by fixing small problems - then get the confidence in the process to dump their personal knowledge areas into a couple of articles which they proceed to maintain for a while . <p> Then comes the fork in the road - some get drawn inexorably into the community and make more and more ( mostly minor ) edits - where others lose interest and go away . <p> But without doubt , it is impossible for 500 people to have made even the smallest scratch into 1.2 million English language articles . Over the couple of years that Wiki has really taken off , those 500 people would each have had to have written one new article a day in order to have written half of the articles out there . <p> When you consider the increasing amounts of time those people spend arguing about policy , voting on articles to promote and delete and fixing up **31;9254;TOOLONG issues too - that 's just not credible . <p> I can tell you from first hand experience that you are correct . What MADE wikipedia great ( for the casual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cents in " . Yes I think the contributors are far more important.The fact is that the editors try to run a dictatorship and delete most of the articles because of format , I thought that was why they are editors in the first place . Now you have to log in to contribute in which about half as people will get involved . So now you have " run of the mill " encyclopedia not an information machine way to go inovation killers <p> Nope , you do n't have to log in to contribute . I still let a few anon edits slip in occasionally because I forget to log in . <p> Anyway , I 'm pretty exo , which in wikitalk means I concentrate on articles and related content like images , templates and article talk pages . Very interestingly , my edit count profile looks an awful like Aaron 's . ( Run Essjay 's edit counter and you 'll see what I mean . ) <p> I like to follow some of the policy debates , and I occasionally get dragged into an article-for-deletion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Signpost , into my user page and make stupid comments on the stories . <p> So yeah , I 've gone a little past the fork in the road towards the meta side . But not too far . I still throw in lots of content . <p> I was wondering re " random selection " of pages for your tests , ... if you randomly select from the entire corpus , versus from the 1000 most popular ( on some metric , eg. google rank ) , versus the 1000 oldest , etc ... how the results would vary . Hope you can find some resources to dig further into this . <p> It is unfortunate that the qualifications for franchise serve to disenfranchise the most substantive contributors to wikipedia . Since you are attempting to represent them , your campaign is rather handicapped . I wish you the best possible success . <p> Wikipedia is past the first phase of its growth , when the emphasis was on seeding content . It has reached sufficient size that parasitic elements start to become noticeable . The emphasis must now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tend to its growth . This will require creating a hierarchy of editors and creating a system so that this hierarchy can be properly created and regulated . For example , an easy complaint mechanism would allow a casual contributor like one of the commenters above to report his problem with an editor wiping out his content to another editor with wider authority , who can adjudicate . Further , he might be given the ability to create a petition making a case for removing an administrator from control of a particular section . This petition might be enforced if he can get enough registered users to vote for it . Those who believe that anything can be done without some sort of administrator hierarchy and easy ways to collect consensus opinions are hoping for a utopian fantasy . Wikipedia may be a good example of the tragedy of the commons , as most contributors , including me , can not be bothered to look into the administrator selection process . However , Wikipedians must always be aware that someone can fork the content and create their own system with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and servers will ensure that this is not a spontaneous decision ) . I suspect that forks to other sites with better administrator processes is what will happen . <p> No successful forks have happened yet . Fred Bauder , one of the ArbCom members on Wikipedia , tried a fork with Wikinfo , but it never really caught on . <p> Anybody who tries to impose a hierarchy of editors on a Wikipedia fork will find it hard to lure contributors away from more free-wheeling sites , like Wikipedia itself . That 's what happened to Bauder , and I suspect it will happen to anybody attempting a more rigidly policed fork site . <p> Excellent article , and congratulations on your slashdotting . As per your last article I had gone to wikipedia to vote for you and found out that because I had not made more that 400 edits I could n't vote . I was surprised that I did n't meet the criteria as I 've been a member for a long time . I decided I must not be a very good member so I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead of voting . <p> Now reading these points I am all the more motivated to vote for you but have decided that instead of me being a poor wikicitizen wikipedia 's voting system advances an unfair assumption . The same assumption that you unearthed here : that the only people that matter are the large quantity editors . <p> So I ca n't vote for you , but if you do get elected and you do believe what you wrote you should act to change the voting system . <p> You seem to have forgotten considering those users with large numbers of edits and who contribute large amounts to articles . There may be those who are not by your definition " outsiders " . What are the statistics in this instance ? This would have made your analysis a little more complete . <p> Intreguing study , Aaron . From my own personal ( &; incomplete ) experience , I have to agree with your conclusion -- either I can focus on lots of little edits that concern style , formatting , &; so forth , or I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Despite having written a number of essays in college , I still find it a challenge to write even 500 words on any given topic for Wikipedia . <p> So why do some contributors cluster at one extreme or the other in their behavior -- &; some end up becoming entirely involved in another axis of participation , creating &; enforcing policy ? I sense material for a Master 's thesis in psychology or sociology here . <p> A nice article and thx a lot for the insight ! Anyhow i do have some concerns : One interesting thing about the wiki-thing in wikipedia is that different tasks ( like editing , reviewing , formal qa - to name but a few ) are conducted through a single interface and that the complexity of creating an article is therefore driven from the software itself into the flexible organisation of production and publication ( so to say , the human factor ) . Regarding yours and Jimmy Wales research , i think that both approaches show some flaws in terms of this aspect . You both wanted to identify an aspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " essence " ( a hard to operationalize term in anyway ) of the article by quantitative means . I do n't know if this works at all , but in any case there needs to be some sort of categorization : What kind of edit has been conducted here ? Editing , Reviewing , Janitoring ( ? ) etc . Did this edit lead towards the current state of the article or not ? The so called " quality " of an article in wikipedia is not defined by absolute means but is the result of the quality demands of the stakeholders , therefore subject to dynamic change . In the end this approach is a tedious and time-consuming work if you want to conduct it for thousands of articles . And also , by the way , not as shiny and reliable as pure quantitative work . <p> p&gt;Close . I sort of started on both , got way deep into en:wp administration , then into Foundation stuff , and now I spend my time on content ( both copyediting tweaks and writing new short articles ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reading . I often feel that the ' Wikipedia community ' , such as it is , places too much emphasis on users with a large number of edits ( i.e. , themselves ) , and does n't consider what those edits actually are . The current voting system is a perfect example of this . I would be voting for you , Aaron , but apparently I have only 85 edits . What I do n't understand is why this makes me less deserving of a say in how Wikipedia is run than someone with more edits . <p> I 'm also one of the ' hybrid ' users mentioned above . When I first came aboard 2 1/2 years ago , I went crazy adding content on local institutions and issues , plus topics I know about but did n't have significant content . <p> But I only know so much ; after a while I was mainly just maintaining what I 'd contributed and talking about how else to present it , with other editors who were interested . Once in a while I 'll have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or read an article or experienced a unique event - where I can dump a bunch more knowledge . But those are few and far between ; 90% of my edits these days are cleanups , formats or comments , of both my work and of existing work that I have interest in and knowledge of . <p> I think many ' diehards ' are the same ; working to keep things looking good and presentable and encyclopedic to the outside world . <p> I ca n't speak for the ' knowledgeable newbie ' crowd - I do n't know them well - but we should keep them in mind when making policy decisions . We try to assume good faith and not bite them , as the policy pages say ; how realistically they are followed is another matter . That , we will have to leave for the administrators . <p> I 'm still considering my vote . Aaron , you may well be on my final list ; I 'll cosider all the issues when it comes to it . <p> Interesting article , I agree with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expert ) contributors . <p> Mostly they EXPAND the already existing ( small ) article . I think article creation is less common among anonymous contributors ( this would be interesting to find out as well , or maybe there are already statistics on this ? ? ) . <p> The value of CATEGORISATION and creating INTERLINKAGES I think should be stressed more in your article , since these improve the encyclopedia and create new insights . **27;9287;TOOLONG effort are probably more often undertaken by the active community ( does statistical data exist ? ) . <p> Another point I 'd like to make in my concern with DELETION of whole articles on wikipedia by often the active community : after a small week and some votes of this community on a certain article , the article may be voted to be deleted . This is often decided quantitatively , not qualitatively . Often arguments for keeping the article are not debated ; or arguments for deletion are not well founded . Some contributors might be on a wikibreak , come back some time later and find out ( or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old deleted pages are ( sometimes ? ) completely inaccessible . This is a loss of content that should be avoided since it frustrates contributors and decreases the quality of the encyclopedia for its users . <p> This article will have a profound impact on how I approach my own wiki project -- http : //toastmasters.wikia.com . I 'm one of two " super " editors who have made the bulk of edits on the site ; I 'm now " out of content " -- i have , literally , not much more to add . I realise now that I should be approaching so-called Subject Matter Experts and getting them to add content , and letting the rest of us tidy it up for them . Thanks for this insight -- you have altered policy on one wiki at least ! <p> Great proactive analysis . Wales ' statement , prior to his " next version " , probably should n't have been so definite .. <p> Last month Jason Calacanis wrote , about the pitfalls of Wikipedia 's syntax and unintuitive interface . Given your findings and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you feel a leveling of the learning curve of the content production process should be of priority ? After all , if the content producers are empowered to improve their formatting and structure , the " Top 2% " will have less ground to accumulate edits and thus power . <p> Thanks , maybe one of the best articles i ever read about wikipedia . Thank you very much for this result . From my point of view this is confirm to out assumption that there must be a kind of critical mass , after that a wiki system will work . Maybe also from interest our research paper : http : **35;9316;TOOLONG ... <p> I 'll have to agree with you here . I know that I 've only made a few contributions to Wikipedia , mostly on subjects that I know enough about to make meaningful contributions . So occasionally I 'll jump on Wikipedia and make a few edits , usually substantial in content ( in accordance with the " be bold " imperative of Wikipedia ) . <p> Although it has n't always happened , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specific person who end up attempting to erase the edits or substantially change them . Take a look at the Wikipedia page on Jack Thompson , which is basically edited into a hagiography . One of the pages I made a substantial edits to ( roughly doubling the length of the article ) was then edited back to its initial state by a person with a severe conflict of interest ( vice-president of a company who was mentioned in the edits ) . What it often comes down to is that the people who are compulsively looking out for their own interests , rather than the truth , are willing to dedicate more time on the site squashing what they do n't like . Too bad , really . <p> Though my conclusions did not directly contradict those above , I did not find that the majority of major edits were made by less active users of Wikipedia . For the Support Vector Machines article , I found that there were two " major editors " - one of whom was a very active Wikipedia user with an account and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the norms of Wikipedia very well , indicating he/she too was an active Wikipedia user . <p> You purchased time on a cluster to analyse " a few articles " ! The analysis seems basically correct , however look at people like Charles Matthews and Mav - they make both substantial and substantive contributions . <p> I wish there were more of these analytical studies like your or the famous correspondance on Nature . Wikipedia is becoming too much of an important phenomenon for our society to let people speculate on how it works:we need to know as precisely as possible how it actually works , what kind of impact has on people and how can be improved . <p> I am a student of class X and wants to complete the project work on numbers 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 &; 9 discovered by whom in ancient times . In fact a writeup is required to be submitted to the Ryan International School , Faridabad . <p> I think that the regulars play a role that is larger than ' formatting ' . Part of the reason that Wikipedia is not a useless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of information , poorly organized , would be little better than doing a Google search . For many people , in many situations , the current Wikipedia is a more useful way to find certain kinds of information than a Google search is . <p> Your observation that there are different types of users is spot on , but I think that all types ( except vandals ) play an indispensible role . <p> I have been a " original content generator " on Wikipedia for some time , but stopped after I 've become disillusioned with the whole site . I do not see very many users adding original content at all ( at least on the articles I 've worked on ) , other than just the moving , deleting and rewording things here and there . What we have are the some smuggest , know-it-all editors and admins making snide remarks on the work I have done , but they have n't done anything to add anything worthwhile . But that 's my experience . <p> What annoys me about Wikipedia is the people 's penchant for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote original material on " Impression Fraud " on my site ( http : **34;9353;TOOLONG . ... ) . I was shocked to find that wikipedia entry for impression fraud was a summary of my article with nary a credit . Are the authors of wikipedia just trying to " get done " with everything ? <p> Let 's face it . Few people want to strain themselves of doing the hard and winded research ( such as going through books or scouring through newspapers and academic journals , and so on ) and writing . It 's easier just to rephrase someone else 's work or use other Web sites as citable " sources " as accessible through Google . <p> I wonder if all the people who have had trouble with " mean administrators " really provided valuable content . Most of them never name the articles they worked on so that you ca n't check if their claims are true . Just having a point of view does n't necessarily mean that it 's reasonable oder widely recognized . <p> I do n't know . Just what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MySpace , and so on ? <p> Perhaps Wikipedia simply gives people a certain surge of authoritative and administrative power and prestige over others . Those with user names feel entitled to a sense of superiority , compared to a user with a mere IP address and a few original entries . <p> Great article . One time , I intentionally added factually correct info but with some intentional spelling and grammatical mistakes on a not-so-popular article , but it has n't really been touched for nearly 9 months already ( and still has not to this day ! ) . All the article received from one editor was a " Citation needed " notice . So where are the lovely by the book editors ? <p> " But on the other hand , the more people view an article the more it is likely to be corrected and balanced for NPOV . " <p> The more people that view an article the more likely the article is to reflect the views of more people . Sometimes that will tend towards a NPOV and sometimes not . The article will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at all ) . <p> " it is n't perfect , but in the opinion of many the results are fairly acceptable . " <p> Perhaps , but not definitive . How do you justify that claim ? <p> When an article can be objective without threatening the views of people it stands a decent chance of being so . Wikipedia is , by its nature , not an objective resource . It is a useful one , though . <p> I am agree with autors opinion . I think the volunteer authors of Wikipedia articles do n't have to be experts , although some certainly are . They could be anyone ! Further , volunteers do not need any formal training before creating a new article or editing an existing article . Many people have created or edited articles in Wikipedia . They live in different countries of earth , from all ages and backgrounds . The autors are called a " Wikipedian " or " Wiki . " The policy to add to the encyclopedia only statements that are verifiable , and not to add original research . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encourages editors to cite sources . I love WIKI <p> This article is vital ; I 'll be sharing it with everyone I know ... I only wish I 'd found it sooner ! It is so reassuring to find that someone else understands -- someone with the expertise to illustrate the problems of Wikipedia in a way that can not be swept aside by the " insiders . " I often find that my own lack of Wiki-protocol knowledge puts me at a disadvantage when arguing points on the talk pages . Thank goodness for WP:IAR ( my ace in the hole ) ! The atmosphere at Wikipedia has become downright draconian ; thanks for empowering me to exhale .... <p> Very good article Aaron . I had this suspicion for a long time myself . Just could n't pursue it for various reasons . I am not a particularly big fan of Wikipedia or Jimbo Wales due to their very weird policies of editing . To date I have contributed only one big article and that thankfully survived massive editing . I feel those folks should open up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moment . Vandalism is inevitable but the community should grow . Stagnation will not only erode the quality of the site but also lead to its slow and painful death . I hope you read this Jimbo . <p> Very good article Aaron . I had this suspicion for a long time myself . Just could n't pursue it for various reasons . I am not a particularly big fan of Wikipedia or Jimbo Wales due to their very weird policies of editing . To date I have contributed only one big article and that thankfully survived massive editing . I feel those folks should open up a bit more . It seems way too rigid at the moment . Vandalism is inevitable but the community should grow . Stagnation will not only erode the quality of the site but also lead to its slow and painful death . I hope you read this Jimbo . <p> It 's not the first time in the history of mankind that a Great Thing is taken over by " admins " who do n't understand much of the Initial Idea , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . Hierarchies , structures and rules prevent any further progress and the Great Thing converts into a Serious Thing , that uses the Initial Idea only as a marketing tool . <p> In response to the criticism made by " Carbidfischer " , well , if you have something to benefit from Wikipedia I 'm sure you 'll defend them . <p> Anyhow , I hope the author of the original article could do some similar analyses on the Wikipedia articles on Chinatown , Asian supermarket , and Little Saigon . You see , I wrote a bulk of those articles and over the years I have seen many others just delete here , rephrase there , add a link there , make remarks thither but not much else . <p> It is true that the Editors , or the formatters , are more concerned about the tone , style , category of the wikis.While most part of the world does not find any or even minimum adequate representation , ( Even historic monuments and large towns in India do not appear even in the www , what to say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ **26;9389;TOOLONG do so because they felt something about the topic and the feeling will certainly come out.All of them , or even a few of them can not be expected to have the attitude and training of encyclopedia editors.The editors appear to be specialists who know only editing and surely they seem to be knowing nothing else.In India , the office typists have the same attitude.They show all the concern for the format only , not for the content , because they do not realise the relative importance of the content . <p> Dear Aaron , why do you delete my comment ! You wrote in your article : " Thus his assumption that outsiders contribute mostly vandalism and nonsense . And thus the comments you sometimes hear that making it hard to edit the site might be a good thing . " If ? outsiders ? like me give a different viewpoint you think the same way like Jimbo Wales . Many Regards Roland <p> Great post Aaron . I 'm a CS grad student at Stanford and the sad truth is that the investigation you did as part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 99% of the so-called " research " and paper writing that happens in the CS department here . <p> Wow , great article . Im glad to hear your findings , after hearing Wales initial findings . It has far reaching implications in society as a whole , not just Wikipedia . How depressing would that have been , that only some .7% of people were capable of any kind of productive contribution to society , with the rest of us just sitting around bickering about the presentation . Though it may seem like that to those with some kind of deep interest and active role in society , really all they are doing is directing everyone elses major contributions . In spite of their self deception to the contrary , their roles as spit shiners is immensely important , and not at all petty . If they could get off of their imaginary high horses to see that , then they probably would n't need the delusion to keep their self image so well bolstered . <p> Thanks for the provocative and interesting analysis . I do n't agree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formatting and presentation . As mediators between the copyeditor and the contributor , their primary objective is to vet content : to assign articles , assure the reader that the contributors have some grounding in an existing literature to establish the authority of their claims , to check facts , and especially to align articles on various subjects with other articles : to remain true to the encyclopedia 's overarching purpose . The insider-editing you describe in your article is largely basic copyediting , but it is far , far narrower than " traditional " encyclopedia editing , and it 's a significant reason why academics and instructors are wary of Wikipedia as an authoritative source as opposed

@@5099041 <p> The sex scandal that ended CIA Director David Petraeus ' career has widened to include a second top general who reportedly traded up to 30,000 pages of emails and other documents with a Florida socialite . Gen. John Allen , who succeeded Petraeus as commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan , is under investigation for trading potentially inappropriate and " flirtatious " emails with Jill Kelley , the woman who complained of receiving harassing emails from Petraeus ' mistress , Paula Broadwell . The four figures in the four-star scandal appear to be linked by MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa , Fla. , the headquarters of U.S. Central Command , where Petraeus was once the commander and Allen was his deputy , and where Kelley volunteered as a " social liaison . " Allen had been tapped to lead the U.S. European Command and NATO forces in Europe , but that nomination is now on hold as the investigation proceeds . A Pentagon official traveling with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on a visit to Australia said " inappropriate communications " -- an astonishing 20,000 to 30,000 pages of emails and other documents exchanged by Allen and Kelley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was Kelley 's complaints of harassing emails from Broadwell that led to the FBI 's discovery of an affair between Petraeus and Broadwell , which the general admitted Friday when he resigned . Rep. Peter King , R-N.Y. , chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee , called the latest revelations in the case " a Greek tragedy , " saying , " This has the elements in some ways of a Hollywood movie or a trashy novel . " <p> Gen. David Petraeus , second from left , intervened in a child custody case on behalf of Natalie Khawam , left , the twin sister of Jill Kelley , second from right . Also shown in this January 2010 photo are spouses Scott Kelley and Holly Petraeus . ( Amy Scherzer/Tampa Bay Times/AP Photo ) <p> generals David Petraeus and John Allen , in addition to being linked in scandal to socialite Jill Kelley , last September intervened in a messy custody dispute on behalf of Kelley 's twin sister . Both wrote letters in support of Natalie Khawam , who was sharply criticized as dishonest by the judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loving relationship -- a mother working hard to provide her son enjoyable , educational and developmental experiences , " Petraeus said in September , referring to an occasion when he hosted Khawam 's family for Christmas dinner . " It is clear to me that John would benefit from much more time with his mother and from removal of the burdensome restrictions imposed on her when she does get to spend time with him . " But Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz wrote in November 2011 : " Ms. Khawam appears to lack any appreciation or respect for the importance of honesty and integrity in her interactions with her family , employers and others with whom she comes in contact . " He awarded Khawam 's ex-husband custody of their 3-year-old son and ordered her to pay $350,000 worth of his legal bills . She had made repeated claims of abuse , which the judge called " an ever-expanding set of sensational accusations " that were " numerous , " " extraordinary , " and " so distorted that they defy any common-sense view of reality . " <p> Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pursued by reporters as he arrives for a closed-door meeting about the Sept. 11 assault on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi , Libya . ( J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo ) <p> a seven-week election break to a lame-duck session with a lot of unfinished business on the agenda . The most urgent priority is to reach a compromise to keep from going over the " fiscal cliff " of huge mandatory spending cuts and tax increases that will kick in Jan. 1 if not averted . President Barack Obama is meeting with the leaders of the House and Senate from both parties to try to forge a deal . Some Democrats are urging congressional colleagues to let the government go over that cliff , at least temporarily , to gain political leverage over Republicans who adamantly oppose higher tax rates for the wealthy . Hearings are also planned this week on the events surrounding the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi , Libya , that killed four <p> Shena Hardin smokes a cigarette as she holds up a sign to serve a highly public sentence Tuesday in Cleveland for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was unloading children . ( Tony Dejak/AP Photo ) <p> Americans . The Senate on Tuesday was scheduled to take up more mundane business -- whether 41 polar bear carcasses killed before a 2008 ban on polar bear trophy imports can be brought into the U.S. from Canada . And the House was expected to approve legislation that would exclude U.S. airlines from emissions requirements that the European Union has sought to impose on all planes flying to and from Europe . <p> A Cleveland woman who drove on a sidewalk to pass a school bus was forced to stand in the cold for an hour Tuesday holding a sign that read : " Only an idiot would drive on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus . " A Cleveland Municipal Court judge ordered Shena Hardin , 32 , to hold up the sign for one hour Tuesday and Wednesday for the Sept. 11 citation . Lisa Kelley , whose 9-year-old daughter rides the same school bus , said Hardin is a remorseless repeat offender . " She 's an idiot , just like her sign says , " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , her head down and her eyes hidden by dark glasses . " She did this almost every day last year . She wo n't stop laughing . She 's not remorseful , she laughed at every court appearance . She 's still laughing , so she needs to be humiliated like this . " <p> The Wire , a summary of top national and world news stories from the Associated Press and other wire services , moves weekdays . Contact

@@5099141 <h> Identical twins are genetically different , research suggests <p> By Tia Ghose <p> Published November 12 , 2012 <p> LiveScience <p> Identical twins may not be so identical after all . Even though identical twins supposedly share all of their DNA , they acquire hundreds of genetic changes early in development that could set them on different paths , according to new research . <p> The findings , presented Nov. 9 at the American Society of Human Genetics meeting , may partly explain why one twin gets cancer while another stays healthy . The study also suggests that these genetic changes are surprisingly common . <p> " It 's not as rare as people previously expected , " said study presenter Rui Li , an epidemiologist at McGill University . <p> While past studies have looked at genetic changes , or mutations , in sperm and eggs , which can be passed on to offspring , very few studies have looked at somatic mutations . These mutations , also called copy errors , can occur early in fetal development , but because they are n't in the sex cells ( the X or Y chromosomes ) of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other studies have shown that chemical modifications , or epigenetic effects , can change which genes are expressed over the years , one factor that renders twins not completely identical . Still , other work has shown that identical twins can have different gene mutations , but this study did n't determine how often they occur . <p> To find out how often these mutations occur in early development , Li and her colleagues studied the genomes of 92 pairs of identical twins and searched hundreds of thousands of sites in their genomes for differences between twins in base pairs , which are represented by letters that make up DNA . For instance , one twin may carry an A at one point while another carries a C. The researchers could only detect differences that would occur very early in fetal development and would show up in most cells in the body . <p> They then calculated the frequency with which these mutations occurred . Only two sets of twins had such mutations , which translates to a DNA change occurring once for every 10 million to 10 billion bases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that may seem like a high accuracy rate , cells in the body divide trillions of times . So that would mean an average twin pair carries 359 genetic differences that occurred early in development . <p> One limitation of the study is that they could only estimate the mutation rate based on blood cells , but some cells in the body divide much more frequently and so may rack up many more mutations . Other cells , like brain cells , do n't regenerate much and would probably remain stable . <p> " Our DNA samples came from blood samples , " Li told LiveScience . "

@@5099241 <h> By <h> ( National College Football Lead Writer ) on November 11 , 2012 <p> On paper , Week 11 didn ' t look like much . It lacked major matchups , especially involving teams near the top of the BCS standings . Going in , it appeared that we would be given a breather of sorts following Week 10 's wild conclusion . <p> The football gods had other ideas , as they usually do . <p> As is the case with such weekends , this particular Saturday gave us much more than anticipated . Focusing in on college football 's unbeatens , Week 11 was about staying alive . Well , if you were able to . <p> It was not a pretty weekend across the board , and although we place far too much emphasis on " style points " and " passing the eye test , " the teams vying for the top standings in the BCS didn ' t exactly dazzle us on this particular Saturday . <p> In fact , " dazzle " really wasn ' t in the repertoire . <p> The top four teams in the BCS standings were all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they looked flat , although it 's impossible to throw a giant blanket over each one and call it a weekend . <p> Kansas State put together a 23-10 win over TCU , which doesn ' t exactly jump off the page . While he did register two rushing touchdowns , Heisman front-runner Collin Klein threw an interception and passed for only 145 yards against a defense that has given up passing yards in bunches the past few weeks . <p> Give credit to the Kansas State defense for continuing to be impressive ; shutting out a feisty offense through three quarters on the road is an accomplishment . <p> Matt Cashore-US PRESSWIRE <p> Notre Dame was , well , much like the Notre Dame we ' ve grown accustomed to seeing in 2012 . The Irish 's 21-6 win over Boston College was very much on par with other wins in that the defense was superb -- albeit against inferior competition -- and the offense struggled to find consistency . <p> This appears to be their identity , and until they lose , it 's hard to question it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' ve filled up the box score , and they just didn ' t do it . <p> But it wouldn ' t really matter if they did : Notre Dame will still need help to get to the title game , so its hopes are alive and well . <p> Oregon knows plenty about playing tough battles against Cal ; in 2010 , Jeff Tedford 's group nearly derailed the Ducks ' perfect season . This year , at least for a while , Cal gave Oregon a good battle . The first half was ugly , and Oregon racked up injuries to key players . <p> Running back Kenjon Barner and quarterback Marcus Mariota both came out of the game with injuries , though they did return . Despite being up only seven points deep into the third quarter , the Ducks eventually kicked it into gear and blew the Bears out . <p> The 59-17 score was not indicative of how competitive a game it was -- no , really . Oregon can simply start and stop in a flash . <h> Who is the best unbeaten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish <p> And then there 's Alabama , which got new life after sneaking by host LSU last weekend . Playing at home , we assumed that Alabama 's physical style would be too much for Texas A &M; to handle . <p> Aggie quarterback Johnny Manziel had other ideas , and Texas A &M; took down the overwhelming favorite to win the BCS title , 29-24 . Forget about a close call ; Alabama stumbled . <p> This loss creates a very interesting scenario for the teams that were situated below them , and Kansas State will likely benefit the most from it . At least right now . <p> In terms of vying for the BCS National Championship Game , many observers thought K-State would be on the outside looking in , assuming Alabama and Oregon finished unbeaten . That wo n't be the case , and a win against Baylor and Texas should be enough for the Wildcats to book their ticket . <p> Going forward , throw style points out the window . They do n't matter now . There are three unbeaten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fill . <p> As we learned , however , the final outcome is far from a given . Each one of these teams can be beaten , and there are deficiencies that can be exposed in a single game . <p> Week 11 highlighted just that , and although three of the top four contenders will remain contenders , perhaps this was just a This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete <h> Follow B/R on Facebook <h> National College Football Lead Writer <h> Adam Kramer <p> Founder of the popular college football blog Kegs ' n Eggs , Adam Kramer has also been featured on Fox Sports and MSNBC.com . Adam 's football career

@@5099341 <h> You Asked -- Republican Insider Responds <p> Proving more than good on their word , RI took time on their own to review the questions of UlstermanReport readers and emailed me their responses . This certainly has made my job much easier ! Thank you so much to RI for doing so , and of course , thank you to the many great questions posed by readers to Republican Insider . Here now are their responses to some of your questions : <p> <p> CapitalG Wrote : The GOP never fights back against the media smear machine . We are portrayed as racists but there is nothing in the GOP platform about race . It seems like Republicans in general are largely beyond race as an issue -- which is a sign of TRUE equality . <p> RI : You are totally correct there CapitalG . The Republican Party is n't hung up on race . That is a Democratic Party thing . Unfortunately , the Democrats are given a lot of help by the Mainstream Media in helping to create a portrayal of Republicans that simply is not true . Just look at the most recent convention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figures who are governors , members of Congress , or high ranking administration officials . Basically where Democrats view individuals on their race , Republicans long ago viewed them on the merits of their character . That is why this new media and sites like Ulsterman 's are so important . And also the help of intelligent and well informed readers like yourself . Republicans need you to stand up to the false portrayals of racism that the Democrats and the media put out there . Just remember though , you have to remain respectful when you do that . Nothing hurts the party more than people calling themselves Republicans who act in a way that only reinforces the negative stereotype . <p> Connor M.L. Wrote : Long time reader , first time commenter . Quick question for Republican Insider . It was mentioned somewhere that you have libertarian leanings . What do you think of the Ron / Rand Paul wing of the Republican party ? Are some of their positions more likely to find a place in the party platform now that moderate/liberal Republican candidates have lost two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Connor ! I am pretty familiar with the Libertarian movement in America . At least over the last 10 years or so . I do n't want to speak negatively of any of the more prominent Libertarian leaders , candidates , whatever people want to call them . I 'm very pleased with the leadership of Republican Senator Rand Paul . He is doing a really fantastic job of incorporating simple conservative values back into the GOP . I guess in a way , many of the things people call " libertarian " values today are actually mainstream " conservative " values we saw during the Reagan era . A lot of those values are shared by a Americans who call themselves Republican , Democrat , or Independent . So yes , there is a lot to learn from the Libertarian movement . In fact , on a personal level , I 'm very comfortable describing myself as a " libertarian-leaning Republican " . Less government . Period . <p> Penny Wrote : Did Obama steal the election ? Was there voter fraud ? And if there was why do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was pretty sure this question would come up Penny , and I will do my best to answer you as honestly as possible . I know a lot of people are upset about some of the stories out there about voting percentages and other things of that nature . They have every right to be upset too . Let me just say that to start . So do I think Barack Obama stole the election ? I do n't know . I 've read some of what Ulsterman said about it . I noted how his White House Insider pointed to some very specific counties if Florida that are now tied up in a controversy involving Congressman Allen West . ( Who I really admire by the way ) It certainly seems possible and I can tell you that the subject is being discussed by Republicans . It 's just a matter of how to prove it . A lot of these precincts in question are controlled by Democrats , so it 's not an easy task to find real answers . So is it possible ? Yes . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 2012 election ? No . And we may never find out . I wish I could give you a more positive answer but I do n't have the power to force others to tell the truth or admit to a crime . None of us do . If you 're looking for someone to confirm a conspiracy , I 'm not that person . But as for so many people out there who are angry at the possibility there was election fraud , I totally get that . I 'm right there with you . That is why Voter I.D . laws are so important and that is where there are some Republicans and some Democrats saying they are willing to work together to try and come up with a solution . Unfortunately , we have a president right now who wants nothing to do with Voter I.D . laws . Wonder why , huh ? <p> Red923 Wrote : I have voted Republican since I was old enough to vote 20+ years ago . I will not vote Republican again unless there are drastic changes to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the inside and oust the old blood that 's destroying the party ? <p> RI : I think your question Red923 really gets to a big problem the Romney campaign ran into this election cycle . There were a lot of Republican voters who for whatever reason , did n't get out and vote . Now I know some are saying that 's not true , that there was election fraud or whatever . I 've gone over the numbers and while there are areas with some odd voter result numbers , overall , the facts do point to a whole lot of Republicans who just did n't vote this time . As a party , we have to ask ourselves why that happened . I 've already made it clear , or tried to make it clear , that I believe it 's because the party has lost its way ideologically . We have to stand up again for basic and easy to communicate conservative principles . Those principles still appeal to a whole lot of Americans . I am convinced they still appeal to the vast majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The right to keep more of what you earn . The party needs to communicate these things much more effectively . People want to feel like their political party is standing up for their values . Republicans have just not done a good enough job of that for some time . That needs to change and I 'm working to make that change happen , and there are more like me who are doing the same . So do n't give up on us just yet Red923 . <p> Cnservativemama Wrote : Thank you for considering our questions . I 'll comment on the same line that I made my comments about before , because it really struck a nerve with what I 've noticed in the last two elections . The line you said about bringing Reagan 's playbook to the 21st century . <p> This starts with presenting it to the new generations , with giving them a stance they can be proud of , one they can wear with pride . I think before we can sell the message the right way , we need to know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have serious doubts with a lot of the Republicans I see in politics today base their views on true conservative principles . They are not showing themselves to be the party of Ronald Reagan . We need the politicians who ARE . <p> RI : Love the way you put your question Cnservativemama . Your first point is really so important to the future of the party . We must do a better job of appealing to the youth . The next generation of voters . Democrats have done a lot better job of that than we have . Now they have a lot of help in that of course because the media , and pop culture are so biased toward the liberal side . But just like Reagan conservative appealed to so many young people in the 1980 ? s , I think the Republican Party can do that again . And it starts with the candidates we elect to office , just like you said . " True conservative principles " . Those principles do appeal to a lot of young people if they are presented in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this new alternative media thing I keep talking about . Sites like this help to cut through the mainstream media bias , right ? It allows someone like me to talk almost directly to someone like you . That kind of thing is so important . Your opinion matters ! It really does . For example , let me tell you that I took your entire question along with a few others into a committee meeting just hours after I read it . It was really that good . I sat down with a group of strategists and said " Listen to these people ! " And you know what ? More and more of us are really starting to listen . I ca n't promise it will happen overnight . I wish it would . But I can promise things are changing inside the Republican Party for the better . <p> USA4ever Wrote : Why wo n't the GOP play to win , cutthroat style , like the Dems always do ? What are the chances Obama is impeached for Benghazi , et al. ? Does Boehner , McConnell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the least and want them removed ? Is there any Republican in Congress willing to tell Obama and Jarrett to shove it ? <p> RI : I do n't believe Republicans need to lower themselves to the patheticly low standard Democrats have set . We just need to go back to basic conservative principles and that will win elections . If you want the party to cheat , lie , and steal , I 'm not the one to talk to . Now regarding Benghazi , there is a whole lot there that has n't come out yet and I 'm going to leave it at that , ok ? Let 's see what the process uncovers and then decide if we are satisfied with the outcome . I will say that impeachment of a president is very unlikely . If that is not the answer you want I 'm sorry , but as I 've already promised many times , I 'm not here to satisfy people 's hunger for conspiracies . I will tell you the truth though , so hopefully that appeals to the majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " I am not going to get personally negative on a fellow Republican . I will say that I 've already made it clear on my feelings that the Republican leadership in its current form is not representing conservative values nearly as well as it needs to and leave it at that . For now . Finally , I do n't feel any need to tell President Obama or Valerie Jarrett to " shove it " . I do feel the need to make sure their brand of progressive socialism does n't extend beyond another four years . The 2014 midterms are going to be a big help in making sure that does n't happen . <p> Tamminator Wrote : What plan do the Republicans have to stop massive regulations from being implemented under Obama ? Oh , and will you tell the Republicans to stop CAVING on things ? Fight Obama on EVERYTHING . Show the conservative side that you mean business , and we will VOTE FOR YOU . <p> RI : We need a very strong showing in 2014 Tamminator . Imagine if Republicans had not lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? All of Barack Obama 's agenda , or at least a whole lot of it , would not have been implemented like it was . That includes Obamacare of course . So , if you want to stop Barack Obama and his administration from throwing down a whole bunch more regulations then we need the votes to stop it , or repeal it . That means we need conservative Republicans to win in 2014 . That 's what I 'm working very hard now to try and do , but I need the help of people like you . Talk to everyone you know and take just a little time here and there to explain what real conservative values are . Keep it simple , and people will listen . Maybe not all of them but some of them will . When you compare conservatism to liberalism , conservatism wins almost every time . <p> Bunny Wrote : My first question is : Has anyone ... ANYONE ... in the GOP noticed that the issue of abortion or as the liberals like to say ' A woman 's right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every 4 years and then dropped like a hotcake after the national election ? <p> RI : Like the way you think Bunny ! You have the mind of a good political strategist ! I 100% agree with what you are saying here . Just look at the Tea Party movement that was so influential during the 2010 midterms . It was n't social issues that made up the Tea Party nearly as much as it was basic conservative economic principles and the idea none of us want a big centralized government telling us what to do with our own healthcare . It 's about liberty . So topics like abortion or immigration , those are things Democrats use to " muddy the waters " . This time around it was the fake " war on women " . The sad thing is it worked because the Republican Party allowed it to work . There was far too little discipline inside the party and between the candidates and we have to work to prevent that from happening again . Personally , I find the current president 's views on abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a president so willing to kill a life outside the womb as this president is . Republicans had a way to present those facts in a clear way that I think would have been very effective , but they did n't do it . Part of that was we had a national candidate whose own past views on the subject were unfortunately , contradictory and so I think their campaing took it off the table . And notice how the media did not want to raise the issue once the primaries were over . Liberals know that if the subject of abortion is presented truthfully , Democrats suffer . The position that Barack Obama holds on the issue is not about a woman 's right to choose . Barack Obama supports killing a child that is a living breathing human being outside of the mother 's womb . The fact that such a man was not elected once but now twice as President of the United States makes me very worried . <p> bill o'rights Wrote : If we are to assume that the Progressives are Marxists -- Marxists who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not also assume they have done so within the Republican Party ? And , if so , would you characterize the RINOs in D.C. as closet Progressives ? <p> RI : I would characterize Republicans who do n't actually support basic conservative values of liberty , freedom , free markets , and self determination as being better suited to joining the current Democratic Party . Hope that makes my position clear enough to you . <p> <p> Link to all the questions originally posed to Republican Insider found here : <p> The fact that we have a dialogue here is a very positive step . But we need to discuss concretes and forge a meaningful plan , with consensus . We must explore every possible solution and there 's no time left to piss around . <p> I would add that I 've begun dedicating the whole of my life to this cause , at a time when I really ca n't personally afford to throw care to the wind and quit my day job -- which is essentially what I 've now done . <p> As I see it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyway , if we ca n't fundamentally restore our nation . If we are not yet understanding this , then we have n't been reading enough . <p> I have to agree with you L/O . I notice that if RI reviewed all questions submitted , it is quite telling that they opted not to answer any eligibility/criminaltiy questions . Election fraud ? Meh . Whatever . " Finally , I do n't feel any need to tell President Obama or Valerie Jarrett to " shove it " . We just need to change the way they think . Now get out there and vote , vote , vote . <p> In reference to eligibility , RI may not have the legal knowledge to understand and comprehend the eligibility issue . However , Barack Obama is definitely not eligible to be president . That is a fact of law and the law has not changed in recent years . But , these judges are wimps who would rather shy away from this issue ! They will not touch it in an honesty manner because it means a risk to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth through justice , is in decline . <p> @Kay112-He/she does not need any legal knowledge to just answer why congress will not address it . S/he did the exact same thing as SCOTUS and just ignored it . I would like an acknowledgment at least that it is a question . Thanks for your input . <p> I could n't agree more with Luxuryoption and SallyAl . Part of the problems with Republicans is they do not understand who they are facing . They literally think that just because the other side is slashing and burning they just need to come with a dignified argument and no need to get dirty . Sorry , we are so past that point that it 's delusional to really believe such bull crap as rousing the troops , getting out and voting for Republicans is going to save anything . <p> You need to do more than to tell Jarret and Obama to shove it . You need to get those frauds , liars , and lawbreakers out of office . But you see , Republican Insider is a Tiny Man just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men left to lead us and I for one will not continue to be herded by the small men over the cliff making sure not to get dirty . If you are not aware of it , it 's already a civil war and you ca n't stay clean if you want to win . Do I mean you need to cheat ? No , but you need to catch , prosecute and impose justice on the other side which you are unwilling to do . <p> You had better go back and start rethinking things in a big way other wise I will never vote for the Party again and I 'm more than sure others wo n't either . This is all the same bull crap we were told before this election . If you want repeal of obamacare and to stop his agenda vote Republican Rah Rah ! Yeah right . <p> Your comment hits the nail on the head and really speaks to my doubts . The Democratic party is no longer the party of ' if it feels good do it . What people fail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardcore Marxists . <p> If " whoop ass " is too vulgar for yeh , RI , about butt-kicking , heiney-whoopin ' , a little ferocity , er , dare I say manliness ? I mean as a party , mind you , since I do n't know you personally , and do want to say thank you for your insights . <p> I too , am skeptical . Sounds like the same platitudes and empty rhetoric that we 've been spoon-fed over the last two election cycles with the only shift in the electorate being decidedly toward the left ( a result of all those freebies from the government , no doubt ) . I do n't think we need more cheer-leading so much as we need real conservative leadership on those issues that we just continue to " dance " around . We do n't need another candidate who masquerades as a conservative to get through the primaries only to become tongue-tied when attempting to articulate true conservative principles and vision in the general election . What about Fast &; Furious ? What about Solyndra ? What about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What about the Arpaio investigation ? What about Muslim Brotherhood influence in the White House ? And so the list goes . All this ammunition ; none of it used to our advantage . Tell us why not ? And yeah , I 'm bitter and I 'm pissed . Got anything of substance to tell us ? Same ol ' , same ol ' with Boehner , McConnel , Priebus , et al ? C'm on man , throw us a bone and make it juicy ; and then make it happen . <p> And just a bit ago , Grahamnesty was in Vannity and said again he would not support Rice for SoS . But that he usually does support whoever the pres appoints because " they serve at the pleasure of the president " and basically it is his right to have who he wants . Do these people not understand that the reason the appointees need to be confirmed is to make sure ( HA ! ) that the appointee is the appropriate person for the job ( not just " uniquely qualified " ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being so willing and open with your time and thoughts , RI -- enjoyed reading them . <p> It 's clear that the Tea Party did n't have the same enthusiasm to GOTV in 2012 as in 2010 , for a variety of reasons ( disappointing performance of those elected in 2010 , Romney as the candidate in 2012 , etc . ) . <p> Question : Do you see any movement within the Republican Party to embrace the Tea Party , eventually to the point of having Tea Party conservatives in leadership positions in both houses of Congress ? If not , what would you foresee as the necessary conditions to create such a movement ? <p> This was awesome to read ! Thank you RI for taking the time to answer these questions . If more republicans did this kind of thing they would win a whole lot more elections IMO . Loved almost every one of these answers . <p> To RI , I was n't suggesting to win elections by cheating as Dems do . I 'm simply saying that they 're driven to win to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we know this ) . The GOP needs its own brand of " will to win " . Where 's the party 's competitive fire ? You need conservatism AND the passion to win with conservatism to succeed . <p> On Benghazi -- if Obama and his cohorts are n't held accountable in a real way ( resignations , impeachment , what have you ) then what 's the point of going through another D &; P show like Fast and Furious ? Obama is getting away with literally everything he does . If the puss GOP leadership is n't serious about standing for justice and the law , then please do n't bother with the dress rehearsal . Not interested in that . <p> I 'm deeply concerned that you 're in the state of mind that elections swing back and forth , and that you 're banking on " conservatism " magically winning the day again and all will be well . Well , despite Romney 's lack of conservative bona fides , he was still more than a viable candidate against someone like Obama and we still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conservatism is about empowering people to become their best self . Why choose that when Liberalism promises to do everything for them short of a breathing machine ? <p> And one more thing : Obama committed voting fraud and stole this election but looks like the GOP wants to Hear/See/Speak No Evil on that one . <p> " Let 's see what the process uncovers and then decide if we are satisfied with the outcome . I will say that impeachment of a president is very unlikely . If that is not the answer you want I 'm sorry , but as I 've already promised many times , I 'm not here to satisfy people 's hunger for conspiracies . " <p> We ca n't wait for an " outcome " on this matter . We wait , the Dems stonewall and succeed to sweeping it under the carpet . It 's that simple . <p> And with all due respect and appreciation , there is no Benghazi conspiracy . The Obama Administration is running guns to Al-Qaeda , the Muslim Brotherhood , and other jihadists to forment revolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . And now Obama is in the process of covering it up , just like everything else he gets away with . <p> If you and the GOP ( save for maybe Gowdy and Chaffetz ) can't/wo n't see that , then the Republic is already dead and with it the GOP . <p> Amen also . I posted another one but disappeared -- UM -- trouble again . Yes -- and re " conspiracy " -- I am soooooo .... tired of those that always say they do n't believe in them &; connect it to " lies " &; mean rhetoric or something . No -- it 's about TRUTH -- there will always be " conspiracies " -- colluding to deceive others in order to gain wealth , power , control , fame . We are talking about the truth behind what the real agenda is with Obama and his friends .... what are their intentions in connection with their known ideologies , factual policies and connections , etc . All facts . This needs to be exposed &; dealt with in order to save our country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who swore to uphold the Constitution -- remember ? What of the VERY long list of the unconstitutional acts of Obama ? ? ? ? NOTHING is done . Unfortunately , I guess that was asking too much ......... <p> IMO , you are n't going to gain any new voters with the ' smaller government ' argument at this point . The phrase ' going back ' is n't going to work for them . They do n't get it . And it 's too easy for the Left to use that against us . It 's too easy for them to twist the ' going back ' into their stupid Women 's Rights and Racism arguments . The new generations are being brought up on Big Government freebies . They do n't remember Reagan . They do n't know what it was like to make your own choices and deal with consequences . This is going to have to be explained in detail ... what Liberty really means ... and how it will affect their lives . They need to understand that the Federal government should not grant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already have the right to be free , and turning over more power to the government only ends up restricting our choices . They might like the restrictions now because it does n't affect them ( because they are told it only affects some old , rich , white guy they do n't know ) , but I do n't think they truly understand that this power does n't reset after 4 or 8 years . And the next guy in office might not have the same ideology as they do . But by the time they realize that , it 's going to be too late . The power has been granted and it 's near impossible to undo . It seems as though we now have 2 choices . We can choose to live with the parent who makes us follow their rules , BUT gives us stuff ( cell phones , car , etc. ) , or the parent who wants to make us follow their rules , and maybe puts a little in a savings account that the other parent drains every few years . Personally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by my government , and would prefer to have them out of the way so I can provide for myself . <p> If the Republican Party truly wants to ' go back ' to the days of smaller government and more personal freedom , then we need to be showing the new generations what they means and how much better life is when you get to decide what your life will look like , and without the government micromanaging everything . <p> IMO , you are n't going to gain any new voters with the ' smaller government ' argument at this point . The phrase ' going back ' is n't going to work for them . They do n't get it . And it 's too easy for the Left to use that against us . It 's too easy for them to twist the ' going back ' into their stupid Women 's Rights and Racism arguments . The new generations are being brought up on Big Government freebies . They do n't remember Reagan . They do n't know what it was like to make your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have to be explained in detail ... what Liberty really means ... and how it will affect their lives . They need to understand that the Federal government should not grant people the ' right ' to do anything . We already have the right to be free , and turning over more power to the government only ends up restricting our choices . They might like the restrictions now because it does n't affect them ( because they are told it only affects some old , rich , white guy they do n't know ) , but I do n't think they truly understand that this power does n't reset after 4 or 8 years . And the next guy in office might not have the same ideology as they do . But by the time they realize that , it 's going to be too late . The power has been granted and it 's near impossible to undo . It seems as though we now have 2 choices . We can choose to live with the parent who makes us follow their rules , BUT gives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or the parent who wants to make us follow their rules , and maybe puts a little in a savings account that the other parent drains every few years . Personally , I do n't want to be ' parented ' by my government , and would prefer to have them out of the way so I can provide for myself . <p> If the Republican Party truly wants to ' go back ' to the days of smaller government and more personal freedom , then we need to be showing the new generations what they means and how much better life is when you get to decide what your life will look like , and without the government micromanaging everything . <p> Right to the point and polite . I like it . Like it a lot . If the repubs can be saved this is the kind of guy who can do it . I 'll echo what another one said . If this guy were running they would have my vote . Really like how they explain things . Good job ! <p> Tough crowd today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that passing notes along from here will make a difference . Ha ! With all due respect , that 's completely preposterous . It 's like giving crime tips to a corrupt police department . The good people of this country will act from outside both party establishments and save it . Will not be pleasant or easy , but it will work . Just keep smiling and nodding to these politicos , while going above their heads . They have a need to feel important . That 's fine ... satiate it -- it will keep them placated and hopefully inactive as possible . <p> I mean , come one -- here we are in 2012 after a disastrous election and all we 're getting is the same platitudes about Reagan ? I like Reagan as much as the next one , but do you recall Reagan harping on incessantly about Calvin Coolidge ? Me neither . <p> No , the best way to praise Reagan is to act like him . That is , go out and change things . Stem the tide . To put it another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ! ' " <p> As I said in another response , many of the people who profess to want to " go back to Reagan " either do n't know , do n't remember , or do n't care what Reagan actually stood for . <p> They just seem to be impressed by the Reagan charisma , while remaining ignorant of Reagan 's actual policies . Like it or not , one of the closest ( though inferior ) administrations to Reagan 's in terms of real policy was that of Bush 43 . <p> I like the polite approach to a point . But there comes a time when you might just have to stop talking and start punching . Hope this Republican Insider is able to do that . Not that WHI had the balls to do that either . Seems like he ran away when the shit really hit the fan after Romney lost . And count me in as tired of all the conspiracy crap that some people like to throw out there . Grow up people . Lock and load and STFU . Got it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . Racists . Pigs . It might have been a cool place to hang back in the Reagan dayz , but now its just full of losers and slaves to the machine . Dems got everyone else . That why Obama wins even though he sucked ass as prez . He sucked but the GOP sucks more . You all gave some guy who wears magig undies the nomination . Shit . For real ? And look at the comments in this house . People getting all up in the conspiracy this and that . Dumb white racist asshat wearing nutless faggot hating breeders . We are black and brown and male and female and gay and straight and we rule up in this house now yo ! So pack it up and move to Canada where all the cold dumb white faggot hating breeders go to die . Peace . <p> I 'm on the Illinois Libertarian Republican list . The topic of abortion comes up frequently . In this bit I posted to the list I explain to a member of the list why the abortion question ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) is an electoral loser . <p> ========== <p> Ah . But that is your problem with winning elections on the matter . Although abortion is abhorrent to 2/3rds of Americans and fits the definition of premeditated murder , most abortion foes treat it like misdemeanor manslaughter and the woman ( the initiator of the crime ) goes free . <p> Now if you are serious -- " abortion is murder " then you must at minimum give the woman and her accomplice life sentences . For consistency . <p> Odds are you fall into the mainstream of abortion foes and shudder at giving women life sentences for the crime . And if you were to come out in favor of charging it like murder one then you would see Rs lose even bigger on the issue . <p> And then you are up against the Orthodox Jews who consider abortion a REQUIREMENT if competent authorities declare the woman 's mental health in danger . How will you accommodate them ? <p> If I was a Republican candidate I 'd say something like this -- " I abhor abortion . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay out of it . I do support xxx organization which helps women who are considering abortion . " Since the demise of Rockford Pro-Life I know of no organization which supports women considering abortion and which does not also favor making it an issue of law . <p> Now think of it from a woman 's perspective if it is a law . She is then a target of surveillance from the government from ages 10 to 55 . Why would a woman vote for that ? Anyone can look at the results of the Drug War to see where that leads -- regular pregnancy tests ( urine samples ) to make sure the law is n't being violated . What woman would want that ? <p> You ca n't have small government and an anti-abortion regime . <p> So now you have government in control of the vaginas . What if some evil Democrat gets in and declares those vaginas are producing too many babies ? You have the enforcement apparatus already in place . It just needs a small change in focus . You only think of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right " . I 'm an engineer I think , " What can go wrong ? " Basically you have the same problem alcohol foes had in 1920 . They only thought of the matter in the context of " if every one obeys the law our alcohol problems will be a thing of the past . " You can do anything you want with laws except make Americans obey them . <p> And then you have the problem of miscarriage . Every one will have to be dealt with as a potential abortion . Tell me what woman would want to be a target of a murder investigation because of something ( a natural process ) she has no control over . <p> I can see it is not clear in your mind why with 65% to 70% support Americans do n't want a law . I hope I have clarified the issue for you . And if not ? Well keep promoting your favorite candidates and keep losing elections . I can live under socialism and will do well who ever is in power . The rest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for answering our questions , RI . I respect that even if I think we have moved far beyond Republican business-as-usual . The times that we are living in require new , radical tactics . I 'm afraid going to back to the Reagan way is not an option when most on the Left have no respect for Reagan anyway . We have to forge a new way while still remaining true to conservatism . <p> Ah . But the left does like their personal liberty . No need to conjure ghosts . <p> An appeal to personal liberty ( not just economic liberty ) might peel off enough votes to win elections . We have 70% to 80% of the population favoring med pot and over 50% favoring marijuana legalization . <p> The question is : how do you get those votes without making the socons of the party crazy ? I do n't have an answer to that . But leaving those issues up to the states might work . <p> If what you say is so why did the Republicans of December 1914 oppose the Harrison Narcotics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Progressive Republicans of today . For another they were of the opinion that Prohibition was not a power granted to the Federal Government by the Constitution . You are probably a Constitutionalists in name only . <p> And further We know that decrim in Portugal has cut drug use in half . How does that fit your mental model ? I think your mental model is deficient . <p> And how did America survive for over 100 years with legal opiates ? And over a hundred and fifty years with legal cannabis ? <p> Well OK . You do n't want those votes . The Democrats do . What do you think the results of that will be ? Can you do well under socialism ? I hope so . Because the socialists will be courting the votes you do n't want . <p> There are some fundamental flaws in ideology that people are picking up on here , but if we can share knowledge , I 'm certain we can iron them out , if all of us approach this with open minds . <p> The individuals who follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . You offer inside knowledge and experience . We 're all going to have to take a few things on faith . <p> For my part , I can certainly understand any doubts you may have . I get that . But this is not a forum on Area 51 and alien conspiracies . You see a little of that stuff once in a while , but you weigh everything . In other words , it 's O.K. to keep the filter on , but set it on instinct mode , not all-or-none . <p> Perfect example : <p> Many of the agent provacateur and conspiracy websites contain articles about the Department of Homeland Security 's acquisition of 1.8 billion rounds of ammunition since Obama took office . Conspiracy right ? <p> Wrong . I have copies of the contract documents -- from right off the governments servers , as do many others . <p> At any rate , if we battle each other on the granular , we 're spinning our wheels . Frankly , I think it will just divide us more . <p> This was really cool @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly w/o even being asked about it . Really hope they keep it up . The country needs to have a lot more of these discussions . I am a first generation American born . Parents of immigrants . I vote Republican most of the time but there are parts of the party that really need to be improved . Messaging stuff . I like this insiders views a lot . Like reading my mind . Really good stuff . Ready for more ! <p> Dude ! Where 's my posting ? Are we returning to the old days of censorship ? By the way , I was n't exactly positive about the RI answers ... No answer on the establishment/Bush , no answer on immigration . the signs are not good , my friends ... <p> ... It seems that the Republican Party needs to do some more soul searching . First , RI , we need to understand each other 100% . Many Republicans and Leaning Republican people sat out for a variety of reasons , and my experience indicates this is from lack of representation from our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 and 6 consisting of " CapitalG Wrote : The GOP never fights back against the media smear machine . We are portrayed as racists but there is nothing in the GOP platform about race ... " <p> " USA4ever Wrote : ... Does Boehner , McConnell , Cantor know we true conservatives ca n't stand them in the least and want them removed ? <p> RI , your respective answers were summarily were : " Unfortunately , the Democrats are given a lot of help by the Mainstream Media in helping to create a portrayal of Republicans that simply is not true . " " Republicans need you to stand up to the false portrayals of racism that the Democrats and the media put out there . " <p> " Now on " Boehner , McConnell , Cantor " I am not going to get personally negative on a fellow Republican . I will say that I 've already made it clear on my feelings that the Republican leadership in its current form is not representing conservative values nearly as well as it needs to and leave it at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First and foremost , when someone runs for public office , you are rather expected to show how you intend to represent us as a populace to earn our consent of the masses or governed . While your political unity prospective of not putting down fellow Republicans is admirable , you also already contradicted yourself . Republican Defenders look more like Republican Apologists when Republican candidates are attacked by a charge of racism , and our Republican candidate shrugs off the charge leaves Republican Defenders aptly defenseless against ' If it were n't true , why did n't the Party debunk the charge ' . RI , the question was quite simple while the media does indeed aid Democrats in these charges ; Republicans often shy away from the confrontational charge effectively rendering the charge very difficult to dismantle to non-Republican and leaning Republican people . Look at the two questions and answers , was this meant to give such a strong impression of that Republicans like us are forced to defend the nearly indefensible because we 're left hanging by the rest of the party ? <p> Second , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why do n't Republicans do something about it ? " <p> " It certainly seems possible and I can tell you that the subject is being discussed by Republicans . It 's just a matter of how to prove it . A lot of these precincts in question are controlled by Democrats , so it 's not an easy task to find real answers . " <p> So , The issue is under discussion , but it 's not presently provable making it unlikely for Republicans to press the issue . <p> " Unfortunately , we have a president right now who wants nothing to do with Voter I.D . laws . " <p> I note that President Obama did n't win a single state that enforces a strict ID Photo policy to ensure you are who you say you are , and the Brennan Study that is a legality firm who receives much funding from George Soros whose Study 's own footnotes greatly contradict disenfranchises minorities as untrue . This ties into question 1 addressed by RI . <p> " Tamminator Wrote : What plan do the Republicans have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " <p> " RI : We need a very strong showing in 2014 Tamminator . " <p> Why are the Republicans then campaigning for 2014 when there are pressing issues to handle between then and now ? <p> RI , I realize that you probably wo n't respond to these items , but they did strike me compelling to ask at the very least . <p> Got ta admit I am a bit stunned and disappointed with RI 's response . They admit we get labelled as racist -- but hey let 's leave it to the grassroots to fight that fight . Meanwhile Hollywood 's big megaphone shouts ' RACIST ' at the entire lot of us . <p> I am simply not willing to fight for a party that wo n't fight back on it 's own . I 'm ready to support a 3rd party -- not fight for a party that refuses to fight for itself . <p> If they do n't have a plan to attack the Democrats racial division and remind them of their racist past EVERY TIME an accusation is made then they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news conference for the 19th time during the month denouncing some commentators divisive racial commentary and reminding them once again of Democrat looooong history of racial oppression I think the slurs will stop . Eyes might even get opened along the way . <p> Just wanted to say goodbye " Ulsterman " I have enjoyed the drama marketing for the Rebloodlican party but at last I must say ado . You have proven with this new " insider " how this is no less smoke and mirrors that the current administrations explanation on Benghazi . Both gangs want nothing more than to keep THEIR flow of OUR dollars . To modify Forrest Gump . Dispicable is as dispicable does . <p> Another question re Benghazi gate : We asked the question why did Bill go all out to help Obama get reelected ? We all had no answers . I think I have the answer . <p> The Clintons needed Obama 's help to protect Hillary from the fall out of Benghazi . Now Obama has been reelected he could use the power of the presidency , a compliant MSM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out . Hillary has not fronted . Rice maybe dumb or maybe Obama promised her the position of secretary of state ! It all fits together . The GOP is too dumb to figure this out . They are focusing their anger on Obama and Rice . Hillary is getting away with murder . Hillary wants to protect her legacy to run for POTUS in 2016 . <p> The tragedy is they are likely to get away with it . <p> The GOP in the house will screw up the investigation . The senate will protect their guys . Susan Rice will become secretary of state even though there will be much resistance in the senate . Obama will take a bit of heat but so what . Hillary will run for POTUS in 2016 . <p> I agree . Let 's get this ball rolling with RI . Let 's start pasting links here for RI 's benefit . 100+ precincts in Ohio throwing their vote at Obama by 99% or greater ... St. Lucie County 's 100+% voter participation ... same in Colorado ... 14 precincts in Philly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , resulting in 99% vote for Obama in 13 of the 14 . <p> Note to RI : <p> The line between conspiracy theorists and realist is a thin one ... particularly at times like these . <p> .... and let 's not forget Wisconsin which , in early reporting was 55/43 Romney while the networks were calling WI for O and then an hour and a half later , numbers suddenly tilted sharply to O. <p> Might that have been the result of reports received from WI voters who said cars and buses with IL plates were unloading passengers who made no secret of where they came from or that they were there to vote . One Wi voter said the person in front of her complained about the line moving too slowly -- " I got ta get back to Chicago tonight " . <p> RI : " Do I know for certain there was " stealing " of the 2012 election ? No . And we may never find out . " <p> Hardly breaking news . It 's what we 've been getting and actually expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sticking their heads in the sand , they give some consideration to the view they present to the rest of the world . <p> I did n't read anything showing about " sticking head in the sand " . ? ? ? ? I read a good factual answer . Could there have been fraud ? Yes . Can we prove it for sure ? That is a lot tougher thing to do . Especially because the democrats have been doing it for years and have it down to a science . That early voting stuff was fishy . We do need good Voter ID just like the republican insider says . All of this sniping makes me wonder if its Obama operators coming in here and just killing off any

@@5099441 <p> Introduced by Senator James Inhofe ( R-OK ) in February , the resolution was a challenge to the country 's first national protections rule designed to limit the amount of heavy metals like mercury , arsenic , chromium , nickel and other toxic air pollutants released by power plants that burn coal and oil - toxins many suspect cause cancer and other health problems . <p> But Inhofe said the bill was specifically designed to kill the coal industry and the good paying jobs it provides . He led the charge to repeal the protections and vowed to keep fighting what he called the Obama administration 's " damaging regulatory regime . " " Our momentum continues to build , as a growing chorus is rising up against the Obama-EPA 's radical green agenda , " Inhofe said . " Whether it 's EPA regulations hurting farmers , a ' crucify them ' philosophy against American energy producers , or an admission from EPA officials that their rules , designed to kill coal will be ' painful every step of the way , ' this much is clear : EPA is earning a reputation for abuse . During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pain of EPA 's rules , gaining the strong bipartisan support of business groups and labor unions , of Democrats and Republicans from states that will feel the heavy hand of the federal government as it puts them out of business . " <p> " Today 's bipartisan Senate vote is a victory for health , clean air and common sense , " said Walke . " Despite fear mongering by the coal industry , some utilities and their allies , the Senate has rejected an irresponsible effort to repeal mercury and air toxics protections that are backed by science and required by law . The House Republican Leadership should take note and cease its efforts to undermine the Clean Air Act - efforts the public does not support . " <p> According to the EPA , power plants are the biggest source of toxic releases into the air , including 50% of mercury emissions and 77% of acid gas emissions . When that mercury reaches water it changes into a highly toxic form of methylmercury . This builds up in fish , and those eating that contaminated fish are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous for pregnant women , unborn babies and young children . <p> Existing plants will have four years to comply with MATS . The EPA estimates about 1,400 units will be affected - 1,100 coal-fired units and 300 oil fired units at approximately 600 power plants . They say many of these plants already meet some part of the standards . <p> In the House , a vote on a bill that would rewrite smog standards is expected this week . <p> Republicans are really trying to turn back the clock on environmental emission standards ? Really ? How far back in time do they really want to go ? We know they want to go back before a woman 's right to choose . They seem like they 'd be okay with going back to before the Civil Rights Act . Do they want to go back to slavery days ? Do they want to go back to when everyone thought the world was flat ? <p> Seriously , people . What are these Republicans trying to do to our world ? <p> Here we go again Republicans . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analyst , expert , and economist says that Republican ideas do not improve or enhance America 's socio-economic standing in the world . So why do we keep Republicans in our government creating our laws ? <p> Republicans forever think that protecting powerful corporate interests and the wealthy at the expense of everyone else relates to prosperity for everyone . When has that EVER happened in history ? <p> Please , the Republicans have been using that same old line for decades . Show us the facts . And , show us the facts the GOPs are doing anything jobs creations . If the GOP is so interested in jobs , why is your man Romney such a job killer and your man Trump loves to say " You 're Fired . " <p> You speak from darkest ignorance -- probably radio inflicted . Nothng President Obama has done has hurt you in the slightest way ; like so many chronic whiners it 's always about something if not unreal , then is at least , abstract . I consider your post similar to something I post when I get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> Casualties on American Soil due to Islamic terrorism during Bush 1 term approx 5,000 Casualties on American Soil due to Islamic terrorism during Obama 1 term approx 17 <p> I I admit there 's a bit of sophistry in the post , but hey , it 's not every day that one gets the opportunity to engage in some sophistry . Fact is , President PObama is doing a goood job gettting the country through would could be catastropic time . <p> You got that wrong , it 's not the economy that 's stagnant it 's the water and air . Let me guess , you are pro-life , but not for actual living people . You people should just get a bumper sticker that says " Profit before People " . <p> Does n't effect jobs ? Really ? ? ? ? Tell that to the 750 men who lost their jobs the past few days . Does n't effect jobs ? How about the estimated 50,000 coal miners who will be losing their jobs before September . REALLY ? ? ? <p> Inhofe should be tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all this stuff gets put back into the air , because prevailing wind patterns blow it all East , mostly NE , i.e. , those darn liberal blue states he wants to drown in acid rain . <p> It 's pretty clear right ? Who 's for the little guy walking down the street under the smoke stack and who 's trying to protect him ? Why is it that so many people do n't get it ? Inhofe and Romney and the Republicans want everything deregulated so that big business and industries can have their way . <p> Inhofe and Romney and the like should be made to drink an 8 ounce glass of mercury and then have their mouths ducktaped to the exhaust pipe of a running semi-truck for 5 minutes and I bet they 'll change their minds about deregulation of the clean water and clean air acts . I 've got the duck tape if someone can supply the mercury . <p> That 's the GOP for you . They are all about protecting the unborn until it interferes with a power company 's profits . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with one subterfuge after another . You want to burn coal or oil , then pay the WHOLE price and put in the scrubbers to remove these poisons . <p> That 's nice . Can we drill and dig for them both in your backyard , then ? Let 's see your property values plummet , and then ask you if you still love electricity generated with a 19th-century technology , ok ? <p> This speaks more to me about my rights end at your doorstep . No utility has the right to pollute the air or water that we consume . It 's as simple as that . If I wanted to install a smokestack in my backyard that emitted this stuff , could I get a permit ? Should I be allowed to ? No , my right to do what I want to do ends on my property line and anything ; air , water , noise , etc. that intrudes outside of that is not within my right . <p> You bunch of tree hugging , pot smoking liberals are whats killing this country . Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more years of your man in the White House ! ! ! You bunch of wellfare loosers do nt even care what the price of electricity goes to since the government pays your bills anyway while you sleep warm and cozy and the rest of us get out in the cold and work to keep your sorry asses warm ! ! ! ! ! <p> You 're an idiot . I bet you live in a gated community and make your money off of destroying the environment in some way , shape , or form . Or you make your money off of pharmaceutical drugs or cancer treatments . Wonder which it is ? The fact that you think the only people that voted for Obama are on welfare is hilarious . Shows your ignorance . The Dems are nowhere near perfect and yes their are certainly problems with welfare that need fixing but the GOP 's deregulate policies are why we are in this mess to begin with . And if by chance you are middle class and support GOP you are an even bigger idiot cause your screwing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right to pollute the air we breath and water we drink ? Jobs ? Profit ? Think about it , the right to pollute . Today there are all kinds of ways to reduce pollution from these smokestacks , but they cost money to put in place which may cut corporate profits . Reminds me of GM in the 60 's fighting against seat belts because it hurt profits . How many lives could have been saved ? 30 years from now we wo n't believe we had this argument about saving the environment . <p> It 's interesting to see what the liberals do when confronted with someone that disagrees with them . They resort to name calling and character assignation . They see how well it works withing the Obama administration and just repeat the process . At least this kind of talk helps to identify a liberal and shows his character . It 's no wonder they side with the EPA . The EPA is about control and agenda and has little if anything to do with serving the people of America . They fined a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire department that saved his home and then fined him again when he cleaned up the debris left behind as the fire moved through our neighborhood . The mess had to be cleaned up because it was required by the county permit process to rebuild and that had to be started within 1 calendar year to collect on the homeowner 's insurance . He was turned over to collection before the first hearing . The EPA is out of control and must be stopped . <p> One has to be several kinds of dumb to want to deregulate industry and bring back pollution . No one remembers the the river that caught fire ( Cuyahoga ? ) , things like massive dumps of horribly hazardous waste ( love canal ) , fish kills , dies forests

@@5099541 <p> but for EF-S cameras users it makes an interesting alternative to the EF-S 60 f/2.8 USM Macro . <p> I 'm predicting that the macro quality of this 4/24-70 will be way lower than that of the EF-S 2.8/60 ... the only advantage is the IS , for those doing macro work outside in low light without tripod ... <p> I 'm sure you will be proved right , but I 'm equally sure it does n't matter . A feature like this is n't intended for serious macro where a flat field and sharpness right into the corners matter . Being able to focus down to 0.7x while retaining decent image quality is a killer feature and totally unexpected . <p> The close focusing semi-macro ability of my Sigma 18-50 is one of the reasons I still have n't upgraded it , so I 'm fully in tune with why 0.7x magnification is a great feature in a full-frame kit lens

@@5099641 <p> A 13-year-old Albuquerque , New Mexico boy is recovering after being shot by a neighbor in a case that is reminding many of the Trayvon Martin killing . The boy in this case is an 8th grade basketball player who also plays first chair viola at school . <p> His mom says he 's a good kid , who snuck out of a friend 's house early Saturday morning but was n't up to trouble . " I was at my friend 's home and I was walking my friends home , " said the boy in an exclusive interview with NBC affiliate KOB Eyewitness News 4 . <p> " And on the way there we were just running around just playing and just hiding from each other and I hid under a truck . " The moments that followed could have cost the boy his life . A criminal complaint states the homeowner , Michael Zamora , heard noises and went outside with a gun thinking someone was stealing his truck . <p> It had recently been stolen and recovered . " He told me to get the f ' on the ground so I put my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then he grabbed me by the back of my shirt , " said the boy . The 42-year-old claims the boy punched him in the face . The boy told police Zamora dragged him into his garage and zip-tied his wrists . <p> " My heart just dropped and I did n't know what was going to happen , " said the boy . Zamora then took the 5 ' 2 ? , 90 lbs . boy inside his house until police arrived , according to court documents . When police found the boy they realized he had been shot in the shoulder . <p> When police asked Zamora about it , he first told them that he had the gun it fell and went off . He then clarified his story to police saying he had the gun in his hand the whole time and then it went off by accident . When asked if he meant to shoot the boy , Zamora replied , " no , I did n't It was 3 o'clock in the morning . There 's a kid messing around with my truck , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " I 've never been so scared in my life , " said the boy 's mother , Alysha Colbert . " I could 've lost my son , " she said . " If he would have turned around and took off running would he have shot him in the back , because he was black ? " Zamora allegedly told police , " I saw the guy right there , it was dark , he was black , I did n't know what to expect . " <p> " Trayvon Martin . That 's the first thing that popped into my mind was Trayvon Martin , " said Colbert . <p> To that , Zamora responded : " That 's ridiculous . I was just protecting my property and my family you know . That 's all I can do . I think any other red-blooded American would have done the same thing . " <p> The boy is now in a sling recovering from the gunshot wound . His mom says she 's going to fight for justice . The boy was staying at a friend 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The boy 's mother had no knowledge of this because she was at her house . " I do n't care what time of night he was out , he did n't deserve this . No kid deserves anything like this , " she said . <p> After police heard from both Zamora and the boy , the decided Zamora was in the wrong . He 's now charged with false imprisonment and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon . " I regret everything , " said Zamora . " I wish it had not happened but it did . It 's unfortunate . " <p> The boy 's mom says he 's not charged with anything . " I think that he should be in jail right now , " said the boy . " I do n't see how he thought I was

@@5099741 <h> More than 75,000 computer systems hacked in one of largest cyber attacks , security firm says <h> Network News <p> More than 75,000 computer systems at nearly 2,500 companies in the United States and around the world have been hacked in what appears to be one of the largest and most sophisticated attacks by cyber criminals discovered to date , according to a northern Virginia security firm . <p> The attack , which began in late 2008 and was discovered last month , targeted proprietary corporate data , e-mails , credit-card transaction data and login credentials at companies in the health and technology industries in 196 countries , according to Herndon-based NetWitness . <p> News of the attack follows reports last month that the computer networks at Google and more than 30 other large financial , energy , defense , technology and media firms had been compromised . Google said the attack on its system originated in China . <p> This latest attack does not appear to be linked to the Google intrusion , said Amit Yoran , NetWitness 's chief executive . But it is significant , he said , in its scale and in its apparent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approaching that of nation states such as China and Russia . <p> The attack also highlights the inability of the private sector -- including industries that would be expected to employ the most sophisticated cyber defenses -- to protect itself . <p> " The traditional security approaches of intrusion-detection systems and anti-virus software are by definition inadequate for these types of sophisticated threats , " Yoran said . " The things that we -- industry -- have been doing for the past 20 years are ineffective with attacks like this . That 's the story . " <p> The intrusion , first reported on the Wall Street Journal 's Web site , was detected Jan. 26 by NetWitness engineer Alex Cox . He discovered the intrusion , dubbed the Kneber bot , being run by a ring based in Eastern Europe operating through at least 20 command and control servers worldwide . <p> The hackers lured unsuspecting employees at targeted firms to download infected software from sites controlled by the hackers , or baited them into opening e-mails containing the infected attachments , Yoran said . The malicious software , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ users ' computers , scrape them for log-in credentials and passwords -- including to online banking and social networking sites -- and then exploit that data to hack into the systems of other users , Yoran said . The number of penetrated systems grew exponentially , he said . <p> " Because they 're using multiple bots and very sophisticated command and control methods , once they 're in the system , even if you whack the command and control servers , it 's difficult to rid them of the ability to control the users ' computers , " Yoran said . <p> The malware had the ability to target any information the attackers wanted , including file-sharing sites for sensitive corporate documents , according to NetWitness . <p> Login credentials have monetary value in the criminal underground , experts said . A damage assessment for the firms is underway , Yoran said . NetWitness has been working with firms to help them mitigate the damage . <p> Among the companies hit were Cardinal Health , located in Dublin , Ohio , and Merck , according to the Wall Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the infected computers as soon as the breach was found . <p> Also affected were educational institutions , energy firms , financial companies and Internet service providers . Ten government agencies were penetrated , none in the national security area , NetWitness said . <p> The systems penetrated were mostly in the United States , Saudi Arabia

@@5099841 <h> 10 Reasons You Should Never Own Stocks Again <p> I 'm really bullish on stocks and the economy but I do n't think you should waste your money investing in stocks . You might as well flush it down the toilet . Or throw a big party . Do n't give it to charity either . We already went over that . And please do n't buy a home . Just relax a little bit if you have some extra money . <p> I 've been writing about stocks for almost ten years now . The first time I ever got paid for writing anything was a check for $200 I got from thestreet.com when I wrote in late 2001 about stocks that were trading for less than the cash they had in the bank . I never cashed the check . Here 's the picture of it : <p> 10 Reasons Not to Buy Stocks <p> 1 . You 're not that good at it . Its really hard to buy stocks . Its not just picking stocks and watching it go up 10,000% . Its buying them and watching them go down 80% before they end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . Psychology is at least 80% of the game . I do n't need to go over the statistics . Most people sell at the bottom and buy at the high . <p> I think I 'm pretty good at it but maybe I 'm fooling myself also . Because I can think of at least 3 times when I sold most of my holdings at the low and bought at the high . Even after I had years of experience . SOmetimes its psychology , and sometimes you just have to do it . There 's only so much money you want to lose . So if you hit that point , and you sell your stocks , and then they go up , then guess what -- you just sold at the low . Congrats . You 're a disciplined idiot . Just like me . <p> ( 9 out of 10 people think they are an above average drive . 9 0ut of 10 people think they are an above average investor . Both are impossible ) <p> 2 . Your competition wants to slit your throat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dad got killed ? He 's walking in the street with his beautiful bejeweled wife and his innocent little son , Bruce . Then this guy comes up to them and says , " give me your wallet and your jewels " . So Dr. Wayne ( somehow he made billions being a doctor but thats another story ) hands over his wallet and his wife 's jewels . Bruce , the son , is scared to death . Then you know what happens ? <p> The thief shoots the father and mother in the head and runs away . He ALREADY had the money and he still shot them in the head and killed them when they had nothing left . Little Bruce watches and screams while blood streams out of his both his parents . Hopefully they died instantly . <p> I happen to know who that thief is . Warren Buffett . And you are Bruce Wayne 's dad . Warren Buffett , Stevie Cohen , all the great investors go outside every day and they want to take your wallet , steal your diamonds , maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can get from you , they are going to shoot you in the head in front of your child and run off into the dark of the night . <p> Good luck fighting that kind of competition . <p> 3 . Competition , part II . A broker once told me this about Stevie Cohen . ( see also , " How Stevie Cohen Changed My Life " ) I do n't know if its true . I do n't care . Its just gossip . Maybe it was even a joke but he was a broker and he told me this . I 'm not making any accusation . But the story was this . Cohen would find out where the CFO of a public company was going on vacation . Then he 'd send a guy over there . Suddenly on the beach , the two would just happen to be getting their tans right next to each other , share a few margaritas , the information starts flowing . I 'm not saying inside information . Its all just conversation . And it might not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day there 's one dollar up for sale . Who is going to win that one dollar . You ? Or the guy who sends his private detective to lie down on the beach next to the CFO of the Next Big Thing . <p> 4 . Competition , part III . I know another guy . He has code that scours the FDA databases looking for any microscopic changes in any documents . You know what happens when some of those documents change just a little ? A press release comes out a week later . A stock gets halted . It opens up or down 50% . Who is going to win the dollar ? You , or the guy who wrote 100,000 lines of code scouring the FDA databases . <p> 5 . It 's mostly a scam . I 've been in or involved with senior management on two public companies and , additionally , have known many public CFOs . I would never ever trust any number that comes out on a 10Q , no matter how GAAP compliant it is according to government standards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and everyone either went to jail or mysteriously died . If you were fully loaded in their stocks you might die also . From pills or a noose or from mistreatment in a mental health clinic . Because its not fun what happens to the shareholders . ( see , " Should Insider Trading Be Legal " ? ) <p> 6 . True wealth in the stock market only comes if you make all the wrong decisions and then get lucky . I 'll give you an example : imagine having 100% of your portfolio in one stock , never ever diversifying for 20 or 30 years , and watching it sometimes go down over 50% , maybe even in a day . Guess who makes mistakes like that . Bill Gates ( MSFT stock ) and Warren Buffett ( BRK-A stock ) See , 8 Unusual Things I 've Learned About Warren Buffett . So the guys who make real stock market wealth never diversify and never sell . You know how many guys get rich like that ? Less than 100 . Then there 's the other 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best investors in the world make on average between 10 and 15% . We already know because of the above that you are probably not going to be among the best . So , if you pick some stocks and passively hold them maybe you 'll earn half that : 7% . Are you happy with that ? Then fine . But given the volatility in the market I do n't think thats a good enough return for most people . Look , some people are good . And some people should invest . But most should n't . <p> 8 . Competition , part IV . Some trading firms set up their operations right next to the buildings with the computers that process all the trades on the exchanges . They then pay for high speed cables to go right into these exchanges so their trades get their before yours . These guys make a lot of money in the markets by getting in the middle of every bid-ask faster than anyone else can . Its a race to the bottom but billions are made . So we see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in millionths of a second or to hold huge blocks of your net worth in one stock for years . This is not a good strategy for 99.9% of people . <p> 9 , Well , what about daytrading ? A lot of people seem to do that successfully . Please see my article " 8 Reasons Not to Daytrade " . I got a lot of criticism after that . People wanted to show me their tax returns to show me how good they daytraded . Get lost , punks . Some people make millions playing the violin also . Does n't mean the other six billion people on the planet should perform in Carnegie Hall . In any case , we 're talking about investing in stocks . Not scalping like a little kid with eight terminals in front of him . And guess what , even the best daytraders in the world with twenty year track records go broke sometimes . <p> 10 . Stocks are really boring . Other than Apple , which is a fun stock . I own a stock right now that cures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many hours I had to research all the drugs for irritable bowel syndrome ? And then talk for many more hours with the CEOs of every irritable bowel syndrome company ? And then try to figure out how big the market is ? Not an easy task . Would you admit in a poll that you have irritable bowel syndrome ? And some of the cures for IBS sound worse than the disease . And then how do you value one of these companies ? Oh my god . Its so boring . And so now I own this irritable bowel syndrome stock that I think will do well . But when ? Maybe it goes down for five years before it goes up 1000% . Who knows ? Maybe someone has a bad day at the FDA ( maybe an undiagnosed IBS " incident " ) and a drug that everyone thought was a no-brainer gets rejected . Who knows ? WHo really knows ? No matter how much information you have about a stock we 're all going to be dead in 100 years anyway . BUt hopefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ syndrome . ( Btw , are n't you happy that I did n't include an image about IBS here ? ) <p> So wait , not so fast . You said you were " incredibly bullish on stocks " . And you even write about stocks sometimes . So what are you talking about ? Is it all a big scam ? <p> Yeah , it is . But 200mm ipads are going to sell in the next couple of years . So I happen to like Apple . ( see also , " Apple will be the first trillion dollar company " ) And a trillion dollars in stimulus still has n't hit the economy . So I like stocks in general . Not everything has to make perfect sense . Make your own decisions . Financial media pretends to hold your hand but thats a big scam also . Look at all the data , then make your own decisions . <p> The best way to take advantage of a booming stock market is to start a company . Because everything goes up . If you have an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it into yourself . You 'll make 10,000% on that instead of 5% per year . <p> I 'm sitting in a cafe right outside the Wall Street Journal as I write this . I think lots of stocks are going to go up in the next few years . I think a lot of people are going to be happy if they wait out this economy . There 's a guy who works here who does n't seem to like me because he 's sweeping all around me . I think they want to close up and I 'm clearly in his way right now . He wants to go home early , maybe , and kiss his wife and kids . Hopefully his wife is in a good mood . Maybe they 'll fool around a little tonight . He 's had a hard day here today . I hope to god five years

@@5099941 <h> How To Crack a Combination Lock <p> by Francesca Clarke <p> If you 've ever had a chest in the attic locked for years or even a locker at the gym , chances are you might have used a combination lock to keep prying eyes and thieves away . If it 's a Master Lock brand item ( most of them are ) , you can harmlessly crack it pretty easily . <p> Master Lock Combination Recovery : Crack a Combination Lock Here 's step-by-step approach to Master Lock combination recovery . This little trick does n't require any tools ; not even a pen and paper . In four easy steps you can crack your Master Lock -- meaning you 'll figure out your lost combination . You 'll never have to cut off an old lock because you 've forgotten the combination , just use this trick and you 'll uncover those three secret numbers in about twelve seconds . <p> 1 . Push up on the clamp . Hold it in place . Spin right until you hear a click . <p> 2 . Move two numbers to the right . That 's your first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spin left until it stops . That 's your second number . 4 . Spin right . It will be very choppy , but keep the

@@5100041 <h> Affordable Care Act Tax Provisions <p> The Affordable Care Act was enacted on March 23 , 2010 . It contains some tax provisions that are in effect and more that will be implemented during the next several years . The following is a list of provisions for which the IRS has issued proposed and/or final guidance ; additional information will be added to this page as it becomes available . <h> Minimum Value <p> On April 26 , 2012 , the Department of the Treasury and IRS issued Notice 2012-31 , which provides information and requested public comment on an approach to determining whether an eligible employer-sponsored health plan provides minimum value . Starting in 2014 , whether such a plan provides minimum value will be relevant to eligibility for the premium tax credit and application of the employer shared responsibility payment . <h> Information Reporting on Health Insurance Coverage <p> On April 26 , 2012 , the Department of the Treasury and IRS issued Notices 2012-32 and 2012-33 , which invited comments to help inform the development of guidance on annual information reporting related to health insurance coverage . The information reporting is to be provided by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , government agencies and certain other parties that provide health insurance coverage . <h> Disclosure of Return Information <p> On April 27 , 2012 , the Department of the Treasury and the IRS issued proposed regulations with rules for disclosure of return information to be used to carry out eligibility determinations for advance payments of the premium tax credit , Medicaid and other health insurance affordability programs . The proposed regulations solicit public comments . <h> Small Business Health Care Tax Credit <p> This new credit helps small businesses and small tax-exempt organizations afford the cost of covering their employees and is specifically targeted for those with low- and moderate-income workers . The credit is designed to encourage small employers to offer health insurance coverage for the first time or maintain coverage they already have . In general , the credit is available to small employers that pay at least half the cost of single coverage for their employees . Learn more by browsing our page on the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit for Small Employers and our news release . <h> Health Flexible Spending Arrangements <p> Effective Jan. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or drug can not be reimbursed from Flexible Spending Arrangements ( FSAs ) or health reimbursement arrangements unless a prescription is obtained . The change does not affect insulin , even if purchased without a prescription , or other health care expenses such as medical devices , eye glasses , contact lenses , co-pays and deductibles . This standard applies only to purchases made on or after Jan. 1 , 2011 . A similar rule went into effect on Jan. 1 , 2011 , for Health Savings Accounts ( HSAs ) , and Archer Medical Savings Accounts ( Archer MSAs ) . Employers and employees should take these changes into account as they make health benefit decisions . For more information , see news release IR-2010-95 , Notice 2010-59 , Revenue Ruling 2010-23 and our questions and answers . FSA and HRA participants can continue using debit cards to buy prescribed over-the-counter medicines , if requirements are met . For more information , see news release IR-2010-128 and Notice 2011-5 . <p> In addition , starting in 2013 , there are new rules about the amount that can be contributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules and flexibility for employers applying the new rules and requests comments about other possible administrative changes to the rules on FSA contributions . The Notice provides instructions on how to submit comments . <h> Proposed Regulations Issued on Medical Device Excise Tax <p> On Feb. 3 , 2012 , the IRS and the Treasury Department issued proposed regulations on the new 2.3-percent medical device excise tax ( IRC 4191 ) that manufacturers and importers will pay on their sales of taxable medical devices starting in 2013 . Additional information is available in the Medical Device Excise Tax FAQs . <h> Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit <p> Starting in 2014 , individuals and families can take a new premium tax credit to help them afford health insurance coverage purchased through an Affordable Insurance Exchange . Exchanges will operate in every state and the District of Columbia . The premium tax credit is refundable so taxpayers who have little or no income tax liability can still benefit . The credit also can be paid in advance to a taxpayer 's insurance company to help cover the cost of premiums . On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which provide guidance for individuals who enroll in qualified health plans through Exchanges and claim the premium tax credit , and for Exchanges that make qualified health plans available to individuals and employers . <p> The portion of the law that will allow eligible individuals to use tax credits to purchase health coverage through an Exchange is not effective until 2014 . <p> Exchanges will offer individuals a choice of health plans that meet certain benefit and cost standards . The Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) administers the requirements for the Exchanges and the health plans they offer . Additional information about the Exchange can be found at www.healthcare.gov and in IRS REG-131491-10 issued on Aug. 12 , 2011 . <h> Health Coverage for Older Children <p> Health coverage for an employee 's children under 27 years of age is now generally tax-free to the employee . This expanded health care tax benefit applies to various work place and retiree health plans . These changes immediately allow employers with cafeteria plans -- -- plans that allow employees to choose from a menu of tax-free benefit options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to begin making pre-tax contributions to pay for this expanded benefit . This also applies to self-employed individuals who qualify for the self-employed health insurance deduction on their federal income tax return . Learn more by reading our news release or this notice . <h> Excise Tax on Indoor Tanning Services <p> A 10-percent excise tax on indoor UV tanning services went into effect on July 1 , 2010 . Payments are made along with Form 720 , Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return . The tax does n't apply to phototherapy services performed by a licensed medical professional on his or her premises . There 's also an exception for certain physical fitness facilities that offer tanning as an incidental service to members without a separately identifiable fee . For more information on the tax and how it is administered , see the Indoor Tanning Services Tax Center . <h> Reporting Employer Provided Health Coverage in Form W-2 <p> The Affordable Care Act requires employers to report the cost of coverage under an employer-sponsored group health plan on an employee 's Form W-2 , Wage and Tax Statement , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligible for transition relief for tax-year 2012 and beyond , until the IRS issues final guidance for this reporting requirement . <p> The amount reported does not affect tax liability , as the value of the employer excludible contribution to health coverage continues to be excludible from an employee 's income , and it is not taxable . This reporting is for informational purposes only , to show employees the value of their health care benefits so they can be more informed consumers . <h> Adoption Credit <p> The Affordable Care Act raises the maximum adoption credit to $13,360 per child , up from $13,170 in 2010 and $12,150 in 2009 . The adoption tax credit is refundable for tax year 2011 , meaning that eligible taxpayers can get it even if they owe no tax for that year . In general , the credit is based on the reasonable and necessary expenses related to a legal adoption , including adoption fees , court costs , attorney 's fees and travel expenses . Income limits and other special rules apply . In addition to attaching Form 8839 , Qualified Adoption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with their 2011 paper tax return one or more adoption-related documents to avoid delaying their refund . Taxpayers may also be asked , after filing their returns , to substantiate any qualified adoption expenses they paid . <h> Medicare Shared Savings Program <p> The Affordable Care Act establishes a Medicare shared savings program ( MSSP ) which encourages Accountable Care Organizations ( ACOs ) to facilitate cooperation among providers to improve the quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries and reduce unnecessary costs . More information can be found in Notice 2011-20 , which solicited written comments regarding what additional guidance , if any , is needed for tax-exempt organizations participating in the MSSP through an ACO . This guidance also addresses the participation of tax-exempt organizations in non-MSSP activities through ACOs . Additional information on the MSSP is available on the Department of Health and Human Services website . <p> The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released final regulations describing the rules for the Shared Savings Program and accountable care organizations . Fact Sheet 2011-11 confirms that Notice 2011-20 continues to reflect IRS expectations regarding the Shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charitable organizations that may wish to participate . <h> Qualified Therapeutic Discovery Project Program <p> This program was designed to provide tax credits and grants to small firms that show significant potential to produce new and cost-saving therapies , support U.S. jobs and increase U.S. competitiveness . Applicants were required to have their research projects certified as eligible for the credit or grant . IRS guidance describes the application process . <p> Submission of certification applications began June 21 , 2010 , and applications had to be postmarked no later than July 21 , 2010 , to be considered for the program . Applications that were postmarked by July 21 , 2010 , were reviewed by both the Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) and the IRS . All applicants were notified by letter dated October 29 , 2010 , advising whether or not the application for certification was approved . For those applications that were approved , the letter also provided the amount of the grant to be awarded or the tax credit the applicant was eligible to take . <p> The IRS published the names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law . Listings of results are available by state . <h> Group Health Plan Requirements <p> The Affordable Care Act establishes a number of new requirements for group health plans . Interim guidance on changes to the nondiscrimination requirements for group health plans can be found in Notice 2011-1 , which provides that employers will not be subject to penalties until after additional guidance is issued . Additionally , TD 9575 and REG-4003810 , issued by DOL , HHS and IRS , provide information on the summary of benefits and coverage and the uniform glossary . Notice 2012-59 provides guidance to group health plans on the waiting periods they may apply before coverage starts . Other information on group health plan requirements is available on the websites of the Departments of Health and Human Services and Labor and in additional guidance . <h> Tax-Exempt 501(c) ( 29 ) Qualified Nonprofit Health Insurance Issuers <p> The Affordable Care Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) to establish the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan program ( CO-OP program ) . It also provides for tax exemption for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requirements under section 501(c) ( 29 ) . IRS Notice 2011-23 outlined the requirements for tax exemption under section 501(c) ( 29 ) and solicited written comments regarding these requirements as well as the application process . Revenue Procedure 2012-11 , issued in conjunction with temporary regulations and a notice of proposed rulemaking , sets out the procedures for issuing determination letters and rulings on the exempt status of organizations applying for recognition of exemption under 501(c) ( 29 ) . <h> Medicare Part D Coverage Gap " donut hole " Rebate <p> The Affordable Care Act provides a one-time $250 rebate in 2010 to assist Medicare Part D recipients who have reached their Medicare drug plan 's coverage gap . This payment is not taxable . This payment is not made by the IRS . More information can be found at www.medicare.gov . <h> Additional Requirements for Tax-Exempt Hospitals <p> The Affordable Care Act added new requirements for charitable hospitals . ( See Notice 2010-39 and Notice 2011-52 . ) On June 22 , 2012 , the IRS issued proposed regulations which provide information on the requirements for charitable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , charges for emergency or medically necessary care provided to individuals eligible for financial assistance , and billing and collections . Comments on the proposed regulations are requested by Sept. 24 , 2012 . <p> Form 990 , Schedule H , for tax year 2010 was revised to include a new Part V , Section B , to gather information on hospitals ' compliance with the new requirements and on related policies and practices . To give the hospital community time to familiarize itself with the types of information the IRS is requesting , Part V , Section B of Schedule H was made optional for the 2010 tax year ( see Announcement 2011-37 ) . <p> The IRS considered public input and made revisions to Part V , Section B for tax year 2011 ( see the Form 990 , Schedule H and instructions ) . Hospitals are required to complete all parts and sections of Schedule H for tax year 2011 , with the exception of lines 1-7 of Part V , Section B , which relate to community health needs assessments ( see Notice 2012-4 ) . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to welcome public input on the new requirements for charitable hospitals under the Affordable Care Act . <p> The Affordable Care Act created an annual fee payable beginning in 2011 by certain manufacturers and importers of brand name pharmaceuticals . On Aug. 15 , 2011 , the IRS issued temporary regulations and a notice of proposed rulemaking on the branded prescription drug fee . The temporary regulations describe the rules related to the fee , including how it is computed and how it is paid . <h> Medical Loss Ratio ( MLR ) <p> Beginning in 2011 , insurance companies are required to spend a specified percentage of premium dollars on medical care and quality improvement activities , meeting a medical loss ratio ( MLR ) standard . Insurance companies that are not meeting the MLR standard will be required to provide rebates to their consumers beginning in 2012 . For information on the federal tax consequences to an insurance company that pays a MLR rebate and an individual policyholder who receives a MLR rebate , as well as information on the federal tax consequences to employees if a MLR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our frequently asked questions . <p> The Affordable Care Act amended section 162(m) of the Code to limit the compensation deduction available to certain health insurance providers . The amendment goes into effect for taxable years beginning after Dec. 31 , 2012 , but may affect deferred compensation attributable to services performed in a taxable year beginning after Dec. 31 , 2009 . Initial guidance on the application of this provision can be found in Notice 2011-2 , which also solicited comments on the application of the amended provision . <h> Employer Shared Responsibility Payment <p> Starting in 2014 , certain employers must offer health coverage to their full-time employees or a shared responsibility payment may apply . Information may be found in news releases IR-2011-92 and IR-2011-50 and Notices 2011-73 , 2011-36 and 2012-17 . Additionally , Notice 2012-58 expands upon and modifies previous guidance and describes safe harbors that employers may use to determine whether certain workers are full-time employees and to establish that coverage is affordable at least through the end of 2014 . Notice 2012-59 provides related guidance for group health plans on the waiting periods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research Institute <p> The Affordable Care Act establishes the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute . Funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund , the institute will assist patients , clinicians , purchasers and policy-makers in making informed health decisions by advancing clinical effectiveness research . The trust fund will be funded in part by fees paid by issuers of health insurance policies and sponsors of self-insured health plans . <p> On April 12 , 2012 , the IRS and the Treasury Department issued proposed regulations on this fee . The IRS and Treasury request comment on the proposed regulations by July 16 , 2012 . Comments may be submitted electronically , by mail or hand delivered to the IRS . Additionally , a public hearing is scheduled for August 8 , 2012 . The preamble to the proposed regulations provides instructions on

@@5100141 <p> Many states give the account owner a full or partial state income tax deductions for their contributions to the state 's section 529 plans . So far a total of 34 states and the District of Columbia offer such a deduction . <p> California , Delaware , Hawaii , Kentucky , Massachusetts , Minnesota , New Hampshire , New Jersey and Tennessee currently have state income taxes but do not offer a state income tax deduction or tax credit for contributions to the state 's 529 college savings plan . Alaska , Florida , Nevada , South Dakota , Texas , Washington and Wyoming do not have state income taxes . <p> Contributions to other states ' section 529 plans are generally not deductible in your home state . See the discussion of tax parity below . <p> See also Fastweb 's article Free Money for College Savings for a list of grant programs that provide matching contributions to the college savings plans of low and moderate income families and grant programs that provide one-time college savings plan grants to newborn children . <p> Deductibility of State 529 Plan Contributions <p> The following table shows the limits , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 529 plan contributions . If there is a limit on the amount of the deduction , many states allow

@@5100241 <h> Re-Engineering the Earth <p> As the threat of global warming grows more urgent , a few scientists are considering radical -- and possibly extremely dangerous -- schemes for reengineering the climate by brute force . Their ideas are technologically plausible and quite cheap . So cheap , in fact , that a rich and committed environmentalist could act on them tomorrow . And that 's the scariest part . <p> I f we were transported forward in time , to an Earth ravaged by catastrophic climate change , we might see long , delicate strands of fire hose stretching into the sky , like spaghetti , attached to zeppelins hovering 65,000 feet in the air . Factories on the ground would pump 10 kilos of sulfur dioxide up through those hoses every second . And at the top , the hoses would cough a sulfurous pall into the sky . At sunset on some parts of the planet , these puffs of aerosolized pollutant would glow a dramatic red , like the skies in Blade Runner . During the day , they would shield the planet from the sun 's full force , keeping temperatures cool -- as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could redden the skies and chill the planet is available right now . Within a few years we could cool the Earth to temperatures not regularly seen since James Watt 's steam engine belched its first smoky plume in the late 18th century . And we could do it cheaply : $100 billion could reverse anthropogenic climate change entirely , and some experts suspect that a hundredth of that sum could suffice . To stop global warming the old-fashioned way , by cutting carbon emissions , would cost on the order of $1 trillion yearly . If this idea sounds unlikely , consider that President Obama 's science adviser , John Holdren , said in April that he thought the administration would consider it , " if we get desperate enough . " And if it sounds dystopian or futuristic , consider that Blade Runner was set in 2019 , not long after Obama would complete a second term . <p> Humans have been aggressively transforming the planet for more than 200 years . The Nobel Prize -- winning atmospheric scientist Paul Crutzen -- one of the first cheerleaders for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refer to the past two centuries as the " anthropocene " period . In that time , humans have reshaped about half of the Earth 's surface . We have dictated what plants grow and where . We 've pocked and deformed the Earth 's crust with mines and wells , and we 've commandeered a huge fraction of its freshwater supply for our own purposes . What is new is the idea that we might want to deform the Earth intentionally , as a way to engineer the planet either back into its pre-industrial state , or into some improved third state . Large-scale projects that aim to accomplish this go by the name " geo-engineering , " and they constitute some of the most innovative and dangerous ideas being considered today to combat climate change . Some scientists see geo-engineering as a last-ditch option to prevent us from cooking the planet to death . Others fear that it could have unforeseen -- and possibly catastrophic -- consequences . What many agree on , however , is that the technology necessary to reshape the climate is so powerful , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to govern its use before the wrong nation -- or even the wrong individual -- starts to change the climate all on its own . <p> I f geo-engineers have a natural enemy , it is the sun . Their first impulse is to try to block it out . Stephen Salter , a Scottish engineer , has mocked up a strategy that would cool the planet by painting the skies above the oceans white . Salter 's designs -- based on an idea developed by John Latham at the National Center for Atmospheric Research -- call for a permanent fleet of up to 1,500 ships dragging propellers that churn up seawater and spray it high enough for the wind to carry it into the clouds . The spray would add moisture to the clouds and make them whiter and fluffier , and therefore better at bouncing sunlight back harmlessly into space . Salter , who has investigated the technical feasibility of this idea minutely ( down to the question of whether ship owners would mind affixing spray nozzles to their hulls with magnets ) , estimates the cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back the climatological clock to James Watt 's era -- to be $600 million , plus another $100 million per year to keep the project going . <p> Roger Angel , an astronomy and optics professor at the University of Arizona , would block the sun by building a giant visor in space . He proposes constructing 20 electromagnetic guns , each more than a mile long and positioned at high altitudes , that would shoot Frisbee-size ceramic disks . Each gun would launch 800,000 disks every five minutes -- day and night , weekends and holidays -- for 10 years . The guns would aim at the gravitational midpoint between the Earth and the sun , so that the disks would hang in space , providing a huge array of sunshades that would block and scatter sunlight and put the Earth in a permanent state of annular eclipse . Angel 's scheme relies on launch technology that does n't yet exist ( no one has ever wanted to shoot Frisbees at the sun before ) , and would cost several trillion dollars . " I know it sounds like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have a mad planet . " <p> Of all the ideas circulating for blocking solar heat , however , sulfur-aerosol injection -- the Blade Runner scenario -- may actually be the least mad . And it provides an illustrative example of the trade-offs that all geo-engineering projects of its scale must confront . The approach is already known to work . When Mount Tambora erupted in Indonesia in 1815 and spewed sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere , farmers in New England recorded a summer so chilly that their fields frosted over in July . The Mount Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines in 1991 cooled global temperatures by about half a degree Celsius for the next few years . A sulfur-aerosol project could produce a Pinatubo of sulfur dioxide every four years . <p> The aerosol plan is also cheap -- so cheap that it completely overturns conventional analysis of how to mitigate climate change . Thomas C. Schelling , who won the 2005 Nobel Prize in economics , has pointed out how difficult it is to get vast international agreements -- such as the Kyoto Protocol -- to stick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything , " he says . Suddenly , instead of a situation where any one country can foil efforts to curb global warming , any one country can curb global warming all on its own . Pumping sulfur into the atmosphere is a lot easier than trying to orchestrate the actions of 200 countries -- or , for that matter , 7 billion individuals -- each of whom has strong incentives to cheat . <p> But , as with nearly every geo-engineering plan , there are substantial drawbacks to the gas-the-planet strategy . Opponents say it might produce acid rain and decimate plant and fish life . Perhaps more disturbing , it 's likely to trigger radical shifts in the climate that would hit the globe unevenly . " Plausibly , 6 billion people would benefit and 1 billion would be hurt , " says Martin Bunzl , a Rutgers climate-change policy expert . The billion negatively affected would include many in Africa , who would , perversely , live in a climate even hotter and drier than before . In India , rainfall levels might severely decline ; the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ocean , and sulfur aerosols could diminish those differences substantially . <p> Worst of all is what Raymond Pierrehumbert , a geophysicist at the University of Chicago , calls the " Sword of Damocles " scenario . In Greek legend , Dionysius II , the ruler of Syracuse , used a single hair to suspend a sword over Damocles ' head , ostensibly to show him how precarious the life of a powerful ruler can be . According to Pierrehumbert , sulfur aerosols would cool the planet , but we 'd risk calamity the moment we stopped pumping : the aerosols would rain down and years ' worth of accumulated carbon would make temperatures surge . Everything would be fine , in other words , until the hair snapped , and then the world would experience the full force of postponed warming in just a couple of catastrophic years . Pierrehumbert imagines another possibility in which sun-blocking technology works but has unforeseen consequences , such as rapid ozone destruction . If a future generation discovered that a geo-engineering program had such a disastrous side effect , it could n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like many geo-engineering ideas , would be easy to implement . But if it failed , he says , it would fail horribly . " It 's scary because it actually could be done , " he says . " And it 's like taking aspirin for cancer . " <p> I n 1977 , the physicist Freeman Dyson published the first of a series of articles about how plants affect the planet 's carbon-dioxide concentrations . Every summer , plants absorb about a tenth of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere . In the fall , when they stop growing or shed their leaves , they release most of it back into the air . Dyson proposed creating forests of " carbon-eating trees , " engineered to suck carbon more ravenously from the air , and to keep it tied up in thick roots that would decay into topsoil , trapping the carbon . He now estimates that by annually increasing topsoil by just a tenth of an inch over land that supports vegetation , we could offset all human carbon emissions . <p> Dyson 's early geo-engineering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : neither sulfur-aerosol injection nor an armada of cloud whiteners nor an array of space-shades would do much to reduce carbon-dioxide levels . As long as carbon emissions remain constant , the atmosphere will fill with more and more greenhouse gases . Blocking the sun does nothing to stop the buildup . It is not even like fighting obesity with liposuction : it 's like fighting obesity with a corset , and a diet of lard and doughnuts . Should the corset ever come off , the flab would burst out as if the corset had never been there at all . For this reason , nearly every climate scientist who spoke with me unhesitatingly advocated cutting carbon emissions over geo-engineering . <p> But past international efforts to reduce emissions offer little cause for optimism , and time may be quickly running out . That 's why a few scientists are following Dyson 's lead and attacking global warming at its source . David Keith , an energy-technology expert at the University of Calgary , hopes to capture carbon from the air . He proposes erecting vented building-size structures that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flows through the vents , the solution would bind to the carbon-dioxide molecules and trap them . Capturing carbon in these structures , which might resemble industrial cooling towers , would allow us to manage emissions cheaply from central sites , rather than from the dispersed places from which they were emitted , such as cars , planes , and home furnaces . The grids would have to be scrubbed chemically to separate the carbon . If chemists could engineer ways to wash the carbon out that did n't require too much energy , Keith imagines that these structures could effectively make our carbon-spewing conveniences carbon-neutral . <p> The question then becomes where to put all that carbon once it 's captured . Keith has investigated one elegant solution : put it back underground , where much of it originated as oil . The technology for stashing carbon beneath the earth already exists , and is routinely exploited by oil-well drillers . When oil wells stop producing in large quantities , drillers inject carbon dioxide into the ground to push out the last drops . If they inject it into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below the surface , it stays there . <p> We might also store carbon dioxide in the oceans . Already , on the oceans ' surface , clouds of blooming plankton ingest amounts of carbon dioxide comparable to those taken in by trees . Climos , a geo-engineering start-up based in San Francisco , is trying to cultivate ever-bigger plankton blooms that would suck in huge supplies of carbon . When the plankton died , the carbon would end up on the sea floor . Climos began with the observation that plankton bloom in the ocean only when they have adequate supplies of iron . In the 1980s , the oceanographer John Martin hypothesized that large amounts of oceanic iron may have produced giant plankton blooms in the past , and therefore chilled the atmosphere by removing carbon dioxide . Spread powdered iron over the surface of the ocean , and in very little time a massive bloom of plankton will grow , he predicted . " Give me half a tanker of iron , " Martin said , " and I 'll give you the next Ice Age . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in effect become the world 's gardener by seeding Antarctic waters with iron and creating vast , rapidly growing offshore forests to replace the ones that no longer exist on land . But this solution , too , could have terrible downsides . Alan Robock , an environmental scientist at Rutgers , notes that when the dead algae degrades , it could emit methane -- a greenhouse gas 20 times stronger than carbon dioxide . <p> Just a decade ago , every one of these schemes was considered outlandish . Some still seem that way . But what sounded crankish only 10 years ago is now becoming mainstream thinking . Although using geo-engineering to combat climate change was first considered ( and dismissed ) by President Johnson 's administration , sustained political interest began on the business-friendly right , which remains excited about any solution that does n't get in the way of the oil companies . The American Enterprise Institute , a conservative think tank historically inimical to emission-reduction measures , has sponsored panels on the sulfur-aerosol plan . <p> By now , even staunch environmentalists and eminent scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . Paul Crutzen , who earned his Nobel Prize by figuring out how human activity punched a hole in the ozone layer , has for years urged research on sulfur-aerosol solutions , bringing vast credibility to geo-engineering as a result . <p> With that growing acceptance , however , come some grave dangers . If geo-engineering is publicly considered a " solution " to climate change , governments may reduce their efforts to restrict the carbon emissions that caused global warming in the first place . If you promise that in a future emergency you can chill the Earth in a matter of months , cutting emissions today will seem far less urgent . " Geo-engineering needs some government funding , but the most disastrous thing that could happen would be for Barack Obama to stand up tomorrow and announce the creation of a geo-engineering task force with hundreds of millions in funds , " says David Keith . <p> Ken Caldeira , of the Carnegie Institution for Science , thinks we ought to test the technology gradually . He suggests that we imagine the suite of geo-engineering projects like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn it gently or violently . The more gently it gets turned , the less disruptive the changes will be . Environmentally , the least risky thing to do is to slowly scale up small field experiments , " he says . " But politically that 's the riskiest thing to do . " <p> Such small-scale experimentation , however , could be the first step on a very slippery slope . Raymond Pierrehumbert likens geo-engineering to building strategic nuclear weapons . " It 's like the dilemma faced by scientists in the Manhattan Project , who had to decide whether that work was necessary or reprehensible , " he says . " Geo-engineering makes the problem of ballistic-missile defense look easy . It has to work the first time , and just right . People quite rightly see it as a scary thing . " <p> T he scariest thing about geo-engineering , as it happens , is also the thing that makes it such a game-changer in the global-warming debate : it 's incredibly cheap . Many scientists , in fact , prefer not to mention just how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the worst-case scenario would be the rise of what David Victor , a Stanford law professor , calls a " Greenfinger " -- a rich madman , as obsessed with the environment as James Bond 's nemesis Auric Goldfinger was with gold . There are now 38 people in the world with $10 billion or more in private assets , according to the latest Forbes list ; theoretically , one of these people could reverse climate change all alone . " I do n't think we really want to empower the Richard Bransons of the world to try solutions like this , " says Jay Michaelson , an environmental-law expert , who predicted many of these debates 10 years ago . <p> Even if Richard Branson behaves , a single rogue nation could have the resources to change the climate . Most of Bangladesh 's population lives in low-elevation coastal zones that would wash away if sea levels rose . For a fraction of its GDP , Bangladesh could refreeze the ice caps using sulfur aerosols ( though , in a typical trade-off , this might affect its monsoons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of Bangladeshis , who could blame their government for acting ? Such a scenario is unlikely ; most countries would hesitate to violate international law and become a pariah . But it illustrates the political and regulatory complications that large-scale climate-changing schemes would trigger . <p> Michaelson -- along with many others -- has called for public research on some possible legal responses to geo-engineering . " It would be a classic situation where the problem should be handled in an official capacity , " he says . In practice , that would likely mean industrialized governments ' regulating geo-engineering directly , in a way that lets them monopolize the technology and prevent others from deploying it , through diplomatic and military means , or perhaps by just bribing Bangladesh not to puff out its own aerosols . Such a system might resemble the way the International Atomic Energy Agency now regulates nuclear technology . <p> And since geo-engineering -- like nuclear weapons -- would most likely be deployed during a moment of duress , legal experts like Victor have urged establishing preliminary regulations well in advance . " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of emissions-cutting and geo-engineering in a sudden catastrophe , " Victor says . " How would the rest of us respond ? There 's been no serious research on the topic . It has to be done right now , and not in a crisis situation . " An outright ban on geo-engineering could lead other countries to try out dangerous ideas on their own , just as a ban on cloning in the United States has sent research to Korea and Singapore ; it would constrain all but the least responsible countries . <p> Victor does n't believe geo-engineering will solve anything by itself , but he expects that ultimately we will have a cocktail of solutions . Perhaps we could start with a few puffs of sulfur in the atmosphere to buy time , then forests of plankton in the ocean , and then genetically engineered carbon-hungry trees . What is n't an option , Victor says , is refusing to fund more research , in the hope that geo-engineering wo n't be needed . <p> Thomas Schelling , who won his Nobel Prize for using game theory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arms races , shares Victor 's frustration about the way geo-engineering has been ignored . Multinational agreements to cut emissions amount to a game of chicken that tends to end unhappily in Schelling 's models . The ideal outcome would be a technology that changes the game . " We just have to consider that we may need this kind of project , and might need it in a hurry , " he says . " If the president has to go by boat from the White House to the Capitol , we should be ready scientifically -- but also diplomatically -- to do something about it . " <p> We should keep such images in mind . And they should remind us that , one way or another , a prolonged love affair with carbon dioxide will end disastrously . A pessimist might judge geo-engineering so risky that the cure would be worse than the disease . But a sober optimist might see it as the biggest and most terrifying insurance policy humanity might buy -- one that pays out so meagerly , and in such foul currency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In other words , we should keep investigating geo-engineering solutions , but make quite clear to the public that most of them are so dreadful that they should scare the living daylights out of even a Greenfinger . In this way , the colossal dangers inherent in geo-engineering could become its chief advantage . A premonition of a future that looks like Blade Runner , with skies dominated by a ruddy smog that 's our only defense against mass flooding and famine , with sunshades in space and a frothy bloom of plankton wreathing the Antarctic , could finally horrify the public into greener living . Perhaps a Prius does n't sound

@@5100341 <h> Video : This was not a great speech ? <h> posted at 9:21 am on August 31 , 2012 by Ed Morrissey <p> " This was not a speech designed to move an audience " ? All due respect to Brit Hume , who 's watched more of these kinds of speeches than I ever dread to be afflicted by , but I think he may have gone into Mitt Romney 's speech with some blinders on . Hume calls the speech " good " and " solid , " which it was , but it was also eloquent and moving at times , too . Hume is undoubtedly correct that Romney wanted to contrast Barack Obama 's soaring oratory with some plain speaking , but it 's a mistake to think that 's all that Romney had to offer , either . <p> Let 's look at a couple of passages , which are both prosaic and yet inspirational considering current political circumstances . Romney spoke on the immigrant experience , being only two generations removed from it ( via Common Cents ) : <p> It is what brought us to America . We are a nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great-grandchildren of the ones who wanted a better life , the driven ones , the ones who woke up at night hearing that voice telling them that life in that place called America could be better . <p> They came not just in pursuit of the riches of this world but for the richness of this life . <p> Freedom . <p> Freedom of religion . <p> Freedom to speak their mind . <p> Freedom to build a life . <p> And yes , freedom to build a business . With their own hands . <p> This is the essence of the American experience . <p> And when Romney spoke of the contemporary American experience : <p> And that 's how it is in America . We look to our communities , our faiths , our families for our joy , our support , in good times and bad . It is both how we live our lives and why we live our lives . The strength and power and goodness of America has always been based on the strength and power and goodness of our communities , our families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what makes America , America . In our best days , we can feel the vibrancy of America 's communities , large and small . <p> It 's when we see that new business opening up downtown . It 's when we go to work in the morning and see everybody else on our block doing the same . <p> It 's when our son or daughter calls from college to talk about which job offer they should take .... and you try not to choke up when you hear that the one they like is not far from home . <p> It 's that good feeling when you have more time to volunteer to coach your kid 's soccer team , or help out on school trips . <p> But for too many Americans , these good days are harder to come by . How many days have you woken up feeling that something really special was happening in America ? <p> Romney finished by reminding us of what we were and can be again : <p> Everywhere I go in America , there are monuments that list those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no mention of their race , their party affiliation , or what they did for a living . They lived and died under a single flag , fighting for a single purpose . They pledged allegiance to the UNITED States of America . <p> That America , that united America , can unleash an economy that will put Americans back to work , that will once again lead the world with innovation and productivity , and that will restore every father and mother 's confidence that their children 's future is brighter even than the past . <p> That America , that united America , will preserve a military that is so strong , no nation would ever dare to test it . <p> That America , that united America , will uphold the constellation of rights that were endowed by our Creator , and codified in our Constitution . <p> That united America will care for the poor and the sick , will honor and respect the elderly , and will give a helping hand to those in need . <p> That America is the best within each of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ <p> It 's true that much of Romney 's speech focused on the need for new leadership in the US , which by its nature is a prosaic approach . It 's also true that he followed a truly gifted orator in Marco Rubio , whose own triumph was almost impossible to trump . But I 'd call his speech Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege . <h> Comments <p> I 'd give Mitt a B+ . Not great but it did the job and brought the convention to a successful close . Rubio also was solid -- but neither came close to Ryan in rhetorical power . I thoroughly enjoyed Eastwood . It was a put-down of Obama and a good one . <p> I agree with Brit Hume . It 's not that it was n't a great speech , it 's that it was n't a Conservative speech . Paul Ryan and Marco Rubio talked the conservative talk which made their speeches great . Romney 's speech was " solid " because it made him a guy people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will govern like a moderate and most likely cave to people like Harry Reid . Conservatives want more specifics and have been very patient so far , but still have not heard any . Yes , conservatives can and will vote for him , but we also have our reservations about him being a moderate . There are no reservations about Ryan and Rubio . <p> Getting Romney elected is the first step to stopping the bleeding that Obama started . <p> So sarcasm here . I do n't see anything that will change the trajectory of this race . Obama will " win " the debates because he can yell louder , has the cover of the media and is a better orator . Substance no longer matters in American politics , as it 's all about perception and emotion . <p> Why do you think Mitt went out of his way to say the President is a nice guy ... you think he really believes that or is it because he 's tired of being called a racist ? Maybe it 's both , I do n't know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into his speech says a great deal about how worried Team Romney is perception . <p> I also thought Ryan was better at whipping up the crowd . But when you stop and think about it , we are n't after a President that gives good speeches and can whip up a crowd . We are after a solid , stable President with good ideas and the courage to implement them . One who understands and loves America . Not a president that hopes to change the America we love . <p> Romney was speaking to the people not the press . I think Hume and others were looking for grandiosity . I 'm sick of grandiosity.It is too expensive . Romney knows humility and his place . He works for us not the other way around . I 'm tired of politicians ' big dreams . Just let us live our lives in freedom , keep us safe and get out of the way . We 'll create the jobs . Stop government from wasting our money and destroying the future of our children and grandchildren . Romney 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Americans instead of prancing around like some emperor . <p> Mitt was magnificent ! If I have a criticism , it was that I felt he was a little too defensive . He spent a lot of time expressing his admiration and support for women in a way which felt like he thought he needed to refute the war on women assaults against him . That 's a nit I 'm picking . <p> The speech was , like Ryan 's the night before , respectful to the voters , forceful and at the same time rational and reassuring . Hearing the first few minutes of Rush today confirmed my opinion that he has knitted the party together by his simple , plain , honest decency and generosity of spirit . <p> It was full of optimism . I loved the line about our kinship with the future . He laid out the basics of his agenda in plain terms . I was so pleased to hear him say that we all DESERVE the opportunities of a free society . He does n't promise riches , he promises the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promising to lower the oceans and heal the planet , he is promising to give us in the middle class the opportunity to help our selves and if successful , to help others as well ! <p> I watched Mr. Romney , et al , with a mixed group of people- some of whom had not yet made up their minds . When he was done , they were solidly in his camp . I took a new voter this morning to register , just so they could vote for Mitt . <p> So I would say it may not have been a " great " speech , Mr. Hume . It was exactly what was needed . <p> However , conservatives know that he will govern like a moderate and most likely cave to people like Harry Reid . <p> lea on August 31 , 2012 at 12:21 PM <p> Meanwhile if you ignore the manufactured narratives and look at his actual governing history you would see he is more likely to Veto anything produced by Harry Reed . Does Reed have 67 votes for an override because that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loved his speech . I was expecting to be bored , but I thought he looked very relaxed and confident . Even my teenaged son listened to it . I guess I 'm supposed to pretend that I 'm too sophisticated to be inspired by a politician 's speech . <p> Can someone tell me if NEWTOPIA is playing at being a " Republican disappointed with a less than perfect candidate and is bracing for the inevitable loss .... sigh " . OR the mythical beast ... a " reasonable democrat " just trying to make points to put some pinpricks in the balloon . Either Newtonian is n't that good because the shrill desperation of a paid lefty still oozes through the cracks or the the directions he was given in his assignment to hit the conservative boards just was n't clear enough ....... <p> Axelrod-trained troll alert here . I 've never seen a post from this entity before today , and this is clearly a talking point generated from Organizing for America intended to disspirit voters from going to the polls . But this untrained troll overplayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Romney is not a great speaker , good , but not great ... and he is kind of stiff , and dorky . <p> But , he is accomplished , and I am convinced he will do a great job as President ... I am convinced he will make the right decisions for the right cabinet positions , for the right reasons . <p> I am not voting for the " cool " factor , I want someone in that office that is effective , a good leader , and honest leader , a moral ethical man , that has discernment in his choices ... and Mitt fits that . <p> I do n't care if he is " stiff " or not a great speaker ... when he can put the friendly leaders of countries at ease , and give them hope , and put our " enemy " leaders of countries on edge and create respect , that is who I want in the White House . <p> Obama is a destructive thug and has never been nice . He only loves himself . He does n't even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has created , the myth of Obama , like Mao or Lenin . <p> Get over yourselves . He is a narcissistic power-hungry destroyer , even of his ' friends ' . Only fools fall for anything else . <p> A great thesis on topic will be written for psychology , " Charlatanry like no other " . <p> Schadenfreude on August 31 , 2012 at 12:28 PM <p> You 're speaking to the choir here . We know this . I can safely say " we " in this respect . <p> But . Romney is speaking to the low information and " undecideds " . They do n't know what we know and their under-used brains would explode if they were to get too much information in too short a time . Those are who he is saying this pap to . <p> So sarcasm here . I do n't see anything that will change the trajectory of this race . Obama will " win " the debates because he can yell louder , has the cover of the media and is a better orator . Substance no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about perception and emotion . <p> newtopia on August 31 , 2012 at 12:23 PM <p> Nice try . Want a hanky ? <p> No matter how smart and cute your dog is , you will eventually tire of them running around the house barking , pissing and crapping on the floor , and chewing everything up , much less licking their privates whenever company shows up . <p> Yeah I 'm calling bs on you based on your premise that Obama is the better orator . Anyone who has been subjected to his stuttering air puffs of nothing knows that he can not deliver the same effect he did as a fresh faced freshman senator . As for moderator bias , I would n't count on that this time around . Too many of the in-the-tank types have been pulling away lately , trying to salvage some of their tattered credibility because their gut is telling them Obama is a lost cause . He over promised , under delivered and has been a whiny finger pointing excuse making SCOAMF . <p> Mitt will handle himself well in the debates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't escape it and Mitt will bring his A game . Obama will be lucky to manage a B+ . <p> My mouth fell open when Hume made his statement that the speech was OK but not great . I think he has been around too long and has become jaded to any speech by anyone . The entire Fox panel was a little jaded in my opinion and they do not seem to have the perspective of an out of the beltway voter . They all seemed to be trying to tone it down so that they did not appear to be cheerleaders for Romney/Ryan . I can not figure out why the would feel that way since every other media hack is so in the tank for Obama that it is not even in dispute . There were so many good/great speeches that it is hard to remember them all . <p> Tell ya ' what .... For the first time I 'm actually excited by this ticket . The Ryan speech and now Romney 's ( who nailed it ) . <p> Admittedly I had concerns that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed at this point ..... but this guy actually had the cajones to MOVE RIGHT unabashadly last night .... combine that with the Ryan choice , and we could lock the NEXT three elections . <p> Then you were n't listening ! He is not going to scream and shout , he is talking to us like we are adults ! Too bad some of you are n't and you have to have lies and pointing and shouting and tilting your head up so that everyones knows that you are so smarter then all the rubes below you ! <p> Romney is a man , who has a tender side for his family , his country and his Church ! Women will recognize that and I 'm sure men will too . He is a roll up your sleeve , surround yourself with smart women and men and get the job done ! We do n't need a photo op to tell us what we have to do . We will do it . I 'm so excited to see the people he will surround himself with as his cabinet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Britt -- I loved his speech and all the others who came before . We have a life to look forward to . <p> He won me over back when he released his plan last year . He has n't wavered from it and in fact has built upon and reinforced it . By picking Ryan , he put an indelible stamp on the sincerity of his intentions to carry that plan out . <p> A lot of folks were skeptical over his time as Gov in MA . But that was and is a solid , bluest of blue states . He did the best that anyone could there . <p> We do n't need a great speaker . We need a president who loves this country and will work to put it back on the right track . In 2008 people voted for all the utopian rhetoric and we ended up with an inexperienced , thin-skinned , empty suit hack who hides his past , apologizes for America and is determined to turn America into a divided third-world country . <p> I 'm not a big fan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be fair and balanced . That act gets pretty tiring when Brit 's commenting on the commie in the White House -- never any hard criticism of the fraud , kind of like O'Reilly . <p> Having said all that , Hume basicly said what I was thinking when it came to Romney 's speech . Good , not great . Solid . <p> My wife on the other hand , felt the way many others here feel : who the hell was Hume watching ? The Romney 's have been married about as long as we have , and many of their early experiences hit home with us , big time . They 're very good people ! <p> Bottom line : we both loved the convention , and feel very enthusiastic about the election prospects . I was left with the definite impression that this is a man who has my vote , based on all that was said . Frankly , he had it to begin with , but I believe more importantly that he 's headed in the right direction with the undecideds . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think the nasty Republican primary process that Mitt went through will bode well for him against O'Commie . <p> Personally , I do n't see the debates as being the thing that decides this at all . I think that it is Mitt 's to lose now . As long as he does n't blow it in the debates , and he wo n't , he will win this election handily ! <p> So sarcasm here . I do n't see anything that will change the trajectory of this race . Obama will " win " the debates because he can yell louder , has the cover of the media and is a better orator . Substance no longer matters in American politics , as it 's all about perception and emotion . <p> newtopia on August 31 , 2012 at 12:23 PM Nice try . Want a hanky ? <p> No matter how smart and cute your dog is , you will eventually tire of them running around the house barking , pissing and crapping on the floor , and chewing everything up , much less licking their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will do what has to be done . Tenwheeler on August 31 , 2012 at 1:30 PM <p> SweetThang on August 31 , 2012 at 3:10 PM Personally , I do n't see the debates as being the thing that decides this at all . I think that it is Mitt 's to lose now . As long as he does n't blow it in the debates , and he wo n't , he will win this election handily ! <p> MJBrutus on August 31 , 2012 at 3:14 PM <p> . . . <p> You sound like a longtime friend who was convinced even before the Convention that Romney wins in a landslide . At this point , I 'm happy to settle for " wins this election handily ! " <p> I thought it was a good speech . It was n't overblown and filled with soaring rhetoric like Obama 's speeches were and that was the best part . After four years of hearing about how Obama was going to heal the planet and stick it to the rich and give everyone their " right " to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's giving a speech to America and not the rest of the world . <p> Personally , I do n't see the debates as being the thing that decides this at all . I think that it is Mitt 's to lose now . As long as he does n't blow it in the debates , and he wo n't , he will win this election handily ! <p> MJBrutus on August 31 , 2012 at 3:14 PM <p> I have to disagree in some ways . First , I DO think it is Mitt 's to lose , but its also not as simple as that . First , there 's the DNC . If they can somehow manage to pull away from the hate and smear fest it looks like they are keen to deliver up to the liberal arm of the nation and can somehow swing it to a more " left of center " convention ( as we took it to a " right of center " convention ) ... that could leave a mark against Mitt and for Obama with the electorate . And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not many people tune into campaign stop speeches like we do ... they DO tune into the debates . If Mitt can eviscerate Obama in the debates in the same way he did at the convention ( cool , calm , collected , personable , and direct ) he will score major points . But he can not allow Obama to walk all over him with the assistance of the " moderators " either . <p> One thing a lot of people do n't understand about Romney is he is a very focused problem solver . When he performed poorly in the debates the last cycle , he worked on that skill . This cycle , he was the winner or " not loser " of every debate except two . And after Gingrich 's surge , he got help again , and clearly won the next two and ended the Gingrich challenge . <p> Against Obama , he will do well -- and could do even better if he consults Gingrich , or at least studies his debates this cycle . Challenging the media for idiotic questions is n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bias and hates the " gotcha " attitude , exposing it wins points with the people who count . <p> Obama did n't win many debates last time . He was able to ride his narrative and the hopey-changey crap and skate by not losing too badly . McCain did n't lose any of the debates , but failed to expose Obama as an empty suit in any of them either . <p> This time the bar is set higher for Obama . He ca n't hide behind meaningless rhetoric , he has an abysmal record to defend and just is n't up to doing it . If Romney is calmly aggressive and assertive and rebuking of the panel a time or two -- just as much for softballs to Obama as to objectionable questions to him -- he can easily gain the initiative and put Obama AND the panels on the defensive . <p> Last night , I was pleasantly surprised when Mitt Romney delivered his speech to the RNC . <p> He was gracious at the beginning ; walking through the crowd and shaking hands with delegates and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're all in this together . Then at the end , he wrapped up his speech in what I believe to be the most passionate tone he 's ever demonstrated when saying : <p> " If I am elected President of these United States , I will work with all my energy and soul to restore that America , to lift our eyes to a better future . That future is our destiny . That future is out there . It is waiting for us . Our children deserve it , our nation depends upon it , the peace and freedom of the world require it . And with your help we will deliver it . Let us begin that future together tonight . " <p> Romney 's conviction seemed to come alive . But did he risk its effectiveness for the long term by omitting a few things ? <p> Number One : NO Mention of our Military in Afghanistan <p> What does Governor Palin usually do at the beginning of most speeches and what did she do when talking about her own son and others in her 2008 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women in uniform who carry out our country 's humble mission of peace-through-strength across the world . <p> As Bill Kristol pointed out this morning : <p> The United States has some 68,000 troops fighting in Afghanistan . Over two thousand Americans have died in the more than ten years of that war , a war Mitt Romney has supported . Yet in his speech accepting his party 's nomination to be commander in chief , Mitt Romney said not a word about the war in Afghanistan . Nor did he utter a word of appreciation to the troops fighting there , or to those who have fought there . Nor for that matter were there thanks for those who fought in Iraq , another conflict that went unmentioned . <p> To Romney 's credit , he did mention the SEALS in their killing of Bin Laden . <p> Every American was relieved the day President Obama gave the order , and Seal Team Six took out Osama bin Laden . But on another front , every American is less secure today because he has failed to slow Iran 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , he said we should talk to Iran . We 're still talking , and Iran 's centrifuges are still spinning . <p> But despite the Presidential intervals of George Bush , Barack Obama , and others , it remains a fact that our great men and women who serve in uniform do so longer than the terms served by Washington D.C. politicians . It 's a real commitment to make . That commitment affects families , friends , children , and communities . That 's why it 's an honorable commitment . It 's a lifetime gig and it is no luxury . Our men and women in uniform deserve mention every time a commander-in-chief or one applying for the job stands to address the country -- it 's the epitome of unity . <p> Number Two : NO Mention of the Tea Party <p> In what seemed to be an unfortunate theme of the convention , Mitt Romney was not the only speaker to avoid thanking the Tea Party for all they 've done over the last four years . While nobody sacrifices as much as our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of average Americans who struggled , who suffered hard times and took hits , who got off their couches and took to rallies in 2009 -- those folks had a massive impact on the Healthcare negotiating processes including their appearances at the town halls . These " real people " as celebrated in Sarah Palin 's infamous Tea Party video are n't highly paid political " experts . " They are average Americans -- a lot unemployed or under-employed -- who are tired of the failed social experiments in this country . They also realize for their children to have a better shot at opportunities , we have to get our government under control . <p> Such out-of-control government issues include overspending , crony capitalism , and politics behind closed doors . The Tea Party is a " ground up call to action " and are primarily responsible for many of the speakers who took to the floor over the course of the convention who were more-than-happy to praise the Tea Party when it was their own elections which mattered . But in the course of selecting our next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were basically told to sit back this time . <p> That 's insulting . That 's the truth . And once that " roar of the crowd " fades away , that truth will remain for those same speakers who someday will face election again . They will be dependent on the same Tea Party members they ignored . <p> Number Three : NO Mention of Gov . Sarah Palin <p> In the portion of his speech where he paid homage to his mother , Romney said the following : <p> My mom and dad were true partners , a life lesson that shaped me by everyday example . When my mom ran for the Senate , my dad was there for her every step of the way . I can still hear her saying in her beautiful voice , " Why should women have any less say than men , about the great decisions facing our nation ? " <p> I wish she could have been here at the convention and heard leaders like Governor Mary Fallin , Governor Nikki Haley , Governor Susana Martinez , Senator Kelly Ayotte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most telling part of the GOP Establishment 's chill towards the Tea Party was their refusal to mention the proud achievement their party recognized when it named its first female Vice-Presidential nominee in 2008 . Before many of the women he mentioned became Governors or Senators , the USA already had a female Governor . And while the Republican Party has its impressive list of women , only one got close to the White House . It was a moment of impact and one of history not just for our country and the Republican Party , but for the future of women in politics forever . <p> To prove the point , Gov . Nikki Haley owes Gov . Sarah Palin a great deal of thanks . It was Palin 's endorsement and strong backbone to defend Nikki Haley during periods of ugly rumors which surfaced during the South Carolina gubernatiorial campaign in 2010 . As such Nikki Haley won her election . In addition , both Kelly Ayotte and Susana Martinez were thrilled to receive the endorsements of Gov . Sarah Palin and welcomed her whole-heartedly when she worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respective states to make their dreams of winning these elections become realities . <p> It goes without saying around here how many times Gov . Palin has stuck her neck out for what is right . It also goes without saying that her influence continues to make a massive impact on the House and Senate races this year . Just ask Ted Cruz who won his primary in Texas and talked about the authenticity and effectiveness of Palin 's support just recently . <p> Palin 's strong support and energy is found in the same principles that force her to stay cemented in her convictions -- avoiding the game of D.C. politics and shenanigans . That kind of conviction is Reaganesque , it is Thatcheresque , and there is no Washington expert 's game that can out-live that kind of integrity . <p> To be fair , perhaps Gov . Palin challenged all the primary candidates a little harder than anyone else did . She advocated for a longer and tougher contested primary . Therefore , on a political scale one could imagine why the establishment would avoid the mention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party 's first woman to sit on a national ticket at any level and it 's our party 's current presidential candidate 's task to demonstrate ability to put differences aside and recognize what is universal . It 's not a matter of current-day convenience . It 's a matter of the same given respect Governor Palin showed in 2008 when she mentioned Hillary Clinton and Geraldine Ferraro many times . <p> If it 's truly time to unite , it 's the responsibility of the current players to reach out to Tea Party Patriots and Palin supporters to close that hole for longer-lasting party enthusiasm <p> You have copied and pasted that huge chunk of text in several threads now . What you are doing is spam . You are abusing your commenting privileges here . Please stop filling up these comment sections with your copied and pasted articles . <p> Bluegill is like a " stinking police " of the GOP-E Big Government that always asks for higher tax to pay the remuneration for his " disservice to the people " . Bluegill is like a corrupt police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . <p> Last night a former co-worker called me and went on a rant against Obama . She is 24 , barely surviving with having to pay rent , car payments , etc ... She voted for Obama , " That was the first time I voted in the national election " , and now she is really angry at him . She said she was fed up with paying so much taxes to support welfare queens and people who are too lazy to work , while she is struggling with a low paying job , rising gas prices , rising food prices , and now she has to buy health insurance or pay a fine . She watched Romney 's speech and decided , " I 'm voting for Romney because he knows what he 's doing and he understands the economy " . She repeated things from his speech about how disappointed people must be who voted for Obama and how he failed to live up to their expectations . She said she resented how Obama plays golf so much and how Michelle Obama goes on these expensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vacation because she is struggling not to have to move back in with her parents . <p> She also said that she is pro abortion and pro gay marriage , but right now , that 's not important to her because she is more worried about economic survival than social issues . She said that she is annoyed to stand in the grocery store line and watch someone pay for their food with food stamps ( or whatever that card is called ) while they have a salon manicure and a Coach handbag and she ca n't afford those luxuries yet is paying for their food . <p> Romney 's speech hit the right notes for her : She repeated things he said which made her feel that she 's not the only one who

@@5100441 <p> Many women I work with have a love-hate relationship with Power . They want to be powerful , but the definition of power in their heads leaves a bad taste in their mouths . For many women , power conjures up pictures of a dictatorial , hierarchic , dominating , aggressive , " my way or the highway " person . So , without even realizing this , many women give away their power . <p> Women often try to fulfill what they believe is society 's version of an acceptable type of power for women , which is much nicer , much more accommodating . This leads to what Catalyst calls " The Goldilocks Syndrome . " Women find themselves in situations where they are perceived as either " too hard " or " too soft , " but never just right for that top job . <p> The interesting thing is that power is not just something that is bestowed from the outside . It is something that is developed from within , and when others recognize you as having personal power , the external power comes to you . The good news is that how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . Here are the 10 tips to BE more powerful . <p> Get clear on what YOU want first . So many women are conditioned to pay attention to what others want , they forget to think about what they want . Getting clarity FIRST on what you want is critical . Do n't get me wrong , it 's really important to understand what others want in order to collaborate with them , but put THEIR needs in the context of YOUR objectives . YOU want the promotion , so what are the needs of others in order for you to get the corner office . Many women have a tendency to give without getting clear on what they want to receive . <p> Get Clear on Your Value . So many women do n't take the time to get really clear on the unique value they bring . Get to know yourself really well . Get clear on what your personal brand is and what value you bring to your organization . What are your unique skill sets ? Strengths ? You have to feel your value in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well do you feel and express your value ? <p> Ask and Ye Shall Receive . Women Do n't Ask is a great book , but let 's turn that into an untruth . I was with a very powerful woman the other day . She was positively glowing with power . I asked her for her secret . She said she had found a way to nurture relationships with people and then just get comfortable asking for what she wanted . Early in her career she wanted a 20 hour/week job to take care of family . She knew her value , stuck to her guns , and was able to get the job she wanted in 2 weeks . Saying " No " to what 's not right for you , creates many powerful opportunities for you . <p> Express Your Point of View . Every time you leave something that you feel strongly about unsaid , you take away your own power . You listen to the critical voice inside that says , " that was n't that important anyway , " " maybe that 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say it first . " The more you listen to that voice , the louder it gets . As Hala Moddelmog , President of Arby 's Restaurant Group says " Diversity of thinking adds value " ( see her video here ) . <p> Share Your Power . Sharing power does not make you less powerful . Listening and acknowledging the strengths in others , helping and promoting others , advocating for others you believe in , makes you more powerful . It 's a natural strength in many women who tend to have a more collaborative view of the world . Collaborate with others to increase your power . <p> Listen to Your Intuition . We all have great intuition . Give yourself the quiet time to listen to your intuition . Stop " Doing " for at least 10 minutes each day and start just " Being . " We 're called human beings and not human doings for a reason . Listening to your intuition will tell you what 's really important to YOU . It will lead you to a path of greater authenticity . It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will give you greater confidence . <p> Follow Your Passion . Make sure you carve out time to do what makes you feel joyful and important . Figure out what your passions are and invite them into your life . When you focus on your joy , it makes you feel more powerful . As one of the most powerful women in business says " Passion is energy . Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you . " That would be Oprah . <p> Pay Attention to Your Body . Do you feel powerful in your body ? The mind , body , and your feelings and emotions are all deeply connected . What are you doing to nurture your body to be more powerful ? Eat the foods and get the exercise that makes you feel more powerful . <p> Pay Attention to Your Energy . Make a list of what energizes you and what de-energizes you . This could be related to your work , the foods you eat , the people you are around . Then spend more of your time with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll be surprised at how much more powerful you will feel . <p> Dump the Inner Critic and Hire the Inner Coach . Our thoughts and emotions have an incredible ability to either give us power or take our power away . Every time you compare yourself to others , you give your power away . Start to watch your thoughts and emotions almost like an outsider and then focus on the ones that give you more power . <p> As always , I am curious about what resonated most with you from the above and ask you to pick at least 1 practice that you 've decided to do today and for the next 21 days to give you more power . <p> Henna Inam is a CEO Coach focused helping women become transformational leaders . A Wharton MBA , and former C-Suite executive with Novartis and P &G; , her passion is to engage , empower , and energize women leaders to transform themselves and their businesses . Sign up for her blog at www.transformleaders.tv . <p> Despite having read the book Women Do n't Ask , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , " something I still struggle with . <h> V R Sebasti Jan 20 , 2011 at 11:40 am <p> Everything in the article should be taught to young women . I wish I had learned these lessons decades ago before I made every one of the mistakes above and learned from them . The School of Hard Knocks is expensive . <p> I totally agree that sharing these lessons with young women and empowering them in their lives before they reach adulthood would make a phenomenal , immeasurable positive impact on the future . I am SO , SO , SO glad that I get to be part of the Empowered Girls Alliance ( http : **29;3274;TOOLONG ) where we are trying to do just that . To see the shift in the girls as they move through EGA weekend from living with their inner critic constantly in their head -- to believing in the new truths they claim for themselves is overwhelming . And seeing them continue to step into their own empowerment gives me a lot of hope . Thank you for this post . I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in EGA here in Texas . <h> Alexis Dalmat Jan 20 , 2011 at 2:36 pm <p> As a " young woman " that those above are describing , I do find this very helpful and will try to internalize this information and turn it into practice . In particular , understanding my value , asking , and saying no are my biggest weaknesses from the above list . It 's a great time of year to start working on these -- but I intend to work on it year-round ! Additionally , these are great values to instill in our mentees . I 'll share it with the facilitator of our self-confidence workshop . <p> Great tips , all . What really resonates with me is to listen to your intuition . Mine has never steered me wrong . I believe that you have to nurture your intuition , though . I have two daughters and I am teaching them to learn to listen to and honor their intuition . <p> Great article ! I present workshops to educators and counselors providing them with strategies to recruit more females @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women have an added challenge due to gender stereotypes . I als coach women who work in male-dominated careers . The tips you provided can help them " own " their power . <p> ... confusing the whole idea of networking may be to some women . Today I 'd like to write about how to effectively network as a woman , and as a young professional , especially in industries most likely still dominated by ... <p> ... the whole experience of networking may be to some women . Today I 'd like to write about how to effectively network as a woman , and as a young professional , especially in industries most likely still dominated by ... <h> Jaime V Jan 25 , 2011 at 9:06 pm <p> Great piece , Henna . I love when you said that sharing power does not make you less powerful . Great for growing managers to keep in mind . Following intuition is also important and growing confidence helps nurture this . I need to post this in my office for all to read . Thank you ! <h> The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designed for women executives in financial services , law and business . Visit us daily to discover issues that matter , share experiences , and plan networking , your career

@@5100541 <h> RS <h> MEMBER DIARY <h> Boehner needs to come out of his shellshock or needs to leave <p> Well , you have to give a round of applause to Speaker Boehner for the quick response to President Obama 's victory and Harry Reid 's keeping the Senate . Boehner went to bed Monday night with the Senate in democrat hands , the presidency in democrat hands and the congress in republican control . Wednesday morning he woke up and nothing had changed ........ except him . <p> Seems he did n't get the memo that it was only 3 million people who voted for President Obama over Mitt Romney -- the republican candidate and Boehner looked shell shocked when in fact -- NOTHING had changed . <p> President Obama was president on Monday and he was still president on Wednesday . The nasty and truculent Harry Reid of Nevada was Majority leader with Mitch McConnell as Minority Republican leader in the Senate . Nancy Pelosi was yelling for everyone 's head on a platter if they were Republicans , par for the course and Boehner was still Speaker . <p> Boehner was mentally set to win the presidency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country 's backing -- which could n't be further from the truth . Now he needs to shake this off or he needs to be replaced , because Boehner is the face of the Republican party and if he ca n't articulate republican principles in 2 run-on sentences , which is all the main stream media will allow a republican to have on their nightly news shows , we 're in for trouble . Keep saying " the people voted for lower taxes by voting the Republicans to hold the Congress " will get you some traction but it gets old pretty quick when its said in his comatose tones he 's adopted recently . <p> Is he trying to convince himself or the American people ? I 've got a few remedies I 'd like to suggest to Speaker Boehner : 1 . Get a makeover ! -- Speech wise you 're a drag and I 'm feeling like you 're giving a eulogy for conservatism so either get a marketing makeover to juice it up where half the problem is you 've got to believe what you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ torch who does believe in the new wave of less spending , less taxation , better defense and taking it to the President on Offense every chance you can by getting in front of a microphone or 2 . Just give up . You know you do n't have the fire in your belly and its all for show . The best action you can take is to move aside and let someone in there who has the knowledge to refute Obama every time the President opens his mouth with real facts . You can be the person 's mentor and everyone will love you for stepping aside . <p> Speaker Boehner needs to do the right thing . His shell shock over Romney losing the Presidency is causing him to lose his fighting spirit -- something we doubted he never had to begin with when he botched the

@@5100641 <h> Posts Tagged ' " Back and Forth " Film ' <p> The Duke Screen/Society will present a screening of the documentary film Back and Forth , its second screening in the U.S. after its New York premiere . Filmmaker and producer Uri Rosenwaks will introduce the film and a Q &A; will take place afterwards . Southern Premiere Screening of Back and Forth Wednesday

@@5100741 <h> The State of Iowa <p> Welcome to Iowa , the Hawkeye State . With its fertile , rolling prairies , Iowa is one of the foremost farming states in the United States . One fifth of the nation 's corn harvest is produced in Iowa . Wet springs combined with warm summers create a favorable environment for plantings of corn and soybeans in the state 's top-grade farmland . Although agriculture is the mainstay of the economy , Iowa has also encouraged the growth of manufacturing and service industries . <p> If you are going to have large farms , you might as well ensure that you have the right equipment to work those farms , and in that spirit Iowa produced the first gasoline-powered tractor in 1892 ( John Froelich , Clayton County ) . Today , the state claims the largest tractor manufacturing plant in the U.S. <p> The state of Iowa , originally a territory of Wisconsin west of the Mississippi River , was named after the Iowa River . <p> The Iowa River was named after the Iowa Indians who lived in the territory . The tribal name " Ayuxwa " was spelled by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as " Ioway . " " Ayuxwa " means " one who puts to sleep . " <h> The Hawkeye State <p> This popular nickname for the state of Iowa is said to have come from the scout , Hawkeye , in James Fenimore Cooper 's The Last of the Mohicans published in 1826 . According to the Iowa State web site , " Two Iowa promoters from Burlington are believed to have popularized the name . " The nickname was given approval by " territorial officials " in 1838 , twelve years after the book was published and eight years before Iowa became a state . <p> The two men responsible for the promotion of this nickname are thought to be Judge David Rorer of Burlington and the newspaper publisher , James G. Edwards of Fort Madison and , later , Burlington . Burlington had been established in 1833 after the Black Hawk War of 1832 . Mr. Edwards changed the name of his Burlington newspaper , The Iowa Patriot , to The Hawk-Eye and Iowa Patriot in tribute to his friend Chief Black Hawk . Judge Rorer is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding the name in The Last of the Mohicans while Mr. Edwards proposed the nickname " Hawk-eyes " in 1838 to " ... rescue from oblivian sic a momento sic , at least of the name of the old chief , " Black Hawk . <p> The Iowa quarter is the fourth of 2004 , and the 29th in the 50 State Quarters r Program . On December 28 , 1846 , Iowa became the 29th state to be admitted into the Union . The Iowa quarter design features a one-room schoolhouse with a teacher and students planting a tree , and the inscriptions " Foundation in Education " and " Grant Wood . " The design is based on " Arbor Day , " a painting by Grant Wood , who was born near Anamosa , Iowa . He spent his career as a proponent of small-town values , which he celebrated in the iconic images of small-town plain folk and verdant Midwestern vistas for which he is world-renowned . <p> Iowans have had a commitment to education since the State 's earliest days . When Iowa became a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rural country schools in each of its counties . Iowa established its first high school in the 1850s , although high schools generally did not become widespread in the United States until after 1900 . Private and public colleges also quickly took root in the new State . <p> Although Iowa has long been a leader in agriculture , the State is unique in that it is the only one whose east and west borders are completely formed by rivers - the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers . <p> In May 2002 , Governor Thomas J. Vilsack established the 16-member Iowa Quarter Commission , which worked with libraries , banks and credit unions to solicit ideas and concepts for the state quarter design . The Commission received nearly 2,000 submissions , which were narrowed to five candidate themes , including " American Gothic , " " Foundation in Education , " " Feeding the World , " " Sullivan Brothers , " and " Beautiful Land . " <p> In July 2003 , the United States Mint forwarded five approved candidate designs to Governor Vilsack for final recommendation . Three designs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the other two represented the " Young Corn " and " Foundation in Education " concepts . Governor Vilsack chose the " Foundation in Education " design , which was approved by the Secretary of the Treasury on August 26 , 2003 . <p> Iowa ( World Almanac Library of the States ) , by Michael E. Martin . the most up-to-date information , including the latest Census results . Full-color photos bring to life the story of Iowa . other tools to make this unquestionably the best young adult reference material on the USA available anywhere . <p> Iowa Past to Present : The People and the Prairie , by Dorothy Schwieder , Thomas Morain , and Lynn Nielsen. 99 pages . Publisher : University Of Iowa Press ( January 1 , 2003 ) Reading level : Grade 5 . A textbook for fifth grade students which traces the history of Iowa from its earliest inhabitants to the coming of modern times .. <p> Iowa History Reader , by Marvin Bergman. 470 pages . Publisher : University Of Iowa Press ; 1 edition ( March 15 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was " still seeking to assert its own identity . . . . It has no real center where the elite of either power , wealth , or culture may congregate . Iowa , in short , is middle America . " In this collection of well-written and accessible essays , originally published in 1996 , seventeen of the Hawkeye State 's most accomplished historians reflect upon the dramatic and not-so-dramatic shifts in the middle land 's history in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries .. <p> Iowa : The Middle Land , by Dorothy Schwieder. 398 pages . Publisher : University Of Iowa Press ( September 1 , 2006 ) This history , which focuses on the economic and social history of Iowa , aims to prove that the location of this heartland state has a significant effect on the identity of its inhabitants . It takes the reader from 17th-century Native American habitation , to the sesqui-centennial in 1996 . <p> A Good Day 's Work : An Iowa Farm in the Great Depression , by Dwight W. Hoover . 256 pages . Publisher : Ivan R. Dee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and bountiful harvests , farming is hard work and always has been . The Great Depression in rural America , which began in the 1920s and lasted until World War II , made it still harder . At a time when tractors were replacing horses and the family farm was giving way to the large , single-crop enterprise , the struggle to survive and modernize in a period of economic scarcity was especially sharp . In A Good Day 's Work , Dwight Hoover , who grew up on an Iowa farm in this era , recalls the events of day-to-day life on a single farm , offering detailed descriptions of daily work in each of the year 's four seasons . A Good Day 's Work is a fascinating if grim reminder of what it was like to be a child with adult responsibilities . Mr. Hoover 's unusual memoir recalls the rough edges as well as the happy moments of rural life . It is

@@5100841 <h> Community Reviews <p> The main characters in this novel are not the easiest to warm to . Both are torn between love and ambition . So much so that one wonders in the end , do they settle for the one because the other has eluded them ? We learn in the first chapters that Connie 's early ambitions to study medicine have been curtailed by lack of money . She is also involved with the suffragette movement . ( We are now about a century on and it seems crazy that women did n't have the vote then . However , would I have condoned a m ... more The main characters in this novel are not the easiest to warm to . Both are torn between love and ambition . So much so that one wonders in the end , do they settle for the one because the other has eluded them ? We learn in the first chapters that Connie 's early ambitions to study medicine have been curtailed by lack of money . She is also involved with the suffragette movement . ( We are now about a century on and it seems crazy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , would I have condoned a movement which broke the law in order to make a law ? Too much of my sympathy was with the innocent victims . ) Matthew is a first class cricketer who would like to be team captain . ( Even though I do actually enjoy watching a good cricket match I do n't want to read ball-by-ball accounts of fictional games . ) As a couple they spend most of their time mis-understanding each other . Consequently for two people who are supposed to know their own minds their romance is practically non-existent . The story becomes much more interesting when the war intervenes and they have more weighty problems to consider . Overall curate 's egg book which I enjoyed in parts . ( less ) <p> A novel set in an interesting period ( 1910 -- early 1920s ) , against the background of the suffragette movement . Could be enjoyed simply as a light romance , but written with more serious intent and reviewed as literary fiction by most of the broadsheets . The central characters are an independently minded young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strongly attracted to each other but struggle to get beyond their political positions . There are a number of significant peripheral figure ... more A novel set in an interesting period ( 1910 -- early 1920s ) , against the background of the suffragette movement . Could be enjoyed simply as a light romance , but written with more serious intent and reviewed as literary fiction by most of the broadsheets . The central characters are an independently minded young woman and a rather stuffy county cricketer , who are strongly attracted to each other but struggle to get beyond their political positions . There are a number of significant peripheral figures , especially a working class senior cricketer trying to come to terms with impending retirement , and a bohemian artist . This central group of characters are followed over a period of a decade or so , which includes the first world war . <p> The serious theme which is addressed here is how difficult it is to properly know another person and to understand what is going on in their mind . This is hardly an original @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't know anyone intimately , least of all a woman " to quote from elsewhere ) , but it is a worthy theme for a serious writer . This novel is full of instances of one person failing to understand another properly , sometimes explicitly . Indeed , sometimes this is highlighted so explicitly that I felt I was being hit over the head by the author with a metaphorical hammer . However , this is a minor criticism , because overall the book succeeded by making me care about the characters and their fate . The ending was too formulaic , but maybe this is the author 's point -- better accept that we ca n't fully understand each other and grasp what consolation we can get . And if a person is worth getting to know , then do n't give up too easily . Would make a good choice for Richard and Judy 's Book Club , or a very British romantic comedy . <p> The idea sounds interesting : a novel about the the women 's suffrage movement , the first World War , and cricket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the first two . Alas , the work itself is terrible . <p> Imagine a book by a contemporary man attempting to sound like a woman attempting to sound like E. M Forster . This is it . Numerous elements of the story are both psychologically unconvincing and practically implausible , even within the context of the fluid realities of t ... more The idea sounds interesting : a novel about the the women 's suffrage movement , the first World War , and cricket , the last-named presumably emblematic of England before the advent of the first two . Alas , the work itself is terrible . <p> Imagine a book by a contemporary man attempting to sound like a woman attempting to sound like E. M Forster . This is it . Numerous elements of the story are both psychologically unconvincing and practically implausible , even within the context of the fluid realities of the early 20th century . The prose is frequently anachronistic ( e.g. , " too much on our plates " ) and even more frequently purple , verging on bodice-ripper territory . Cliches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form of stock characters such as the mustache-twirling villain . I very seldom fail to finish a book , but I was hard-pressed to get to the end of this one . <p> Apparently , HALF OF THE HUMAN RACE was well-received in England , which I find even more inexplicable than the enthusiastic reception given A.S . Byatt 's THE CHILDREN 'S BOOK a couple of years ago . The two have many faults in common , including substantial disgorgements of undigested research . But even Byatt 's characters are more authentic . <p> OK , I have finished it . I did nt dislike the book as I thought the characters were all brought to life well , overall it was a well told story . But I am afraid I just couldnt warm to it . The story is set Pre and during and post WW1 and includes the movement of the suffragets . The two main characters are a headstrong female desperate to be come a doctor and a cricket playing male of society . I liked the flow of the story , nothing appeared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ histori ... more OK , I have finished it . I did nt dislike the book as I thought the characters were all brought to life well , overall it was a well told story . But I am afraid I just couldnt warm to it . The story is set Pre and during and post WW1 and includes the movement of the suffragets . The two main characters are a headstrong female desperate to be come a doctor and a cricket playing male of society . I liked the flow of the story , nothing appeared to be lost or forgotten in the telling of this major historical time in London . The hint at the professional sports player 's life post sport is poignent , and one that we non-celebs should remember is all too often the case . But overall i feel it was just an " ok " read . Its not one I would rush to recommend reading . And on this basis I am not sure why it has been picked for the @TVBookClub 2012 . Have also just remembered something that really annoyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give it a proper name ! ? ! ? ! ( less ) <p> Really enjoyed this . This is a much much better cover than the one I saw - actually gives you an impression of what the book 's about - from the cover and blurb of the paperback edition I read you 'd hardly know it was about suffragettes . <p> An absorbing read - it would be very very easy to descend into cliches and predictability and this did n't happen ; it was also effectively character-driven , without a trite manufactured ' happy ending ' which would have ruined the character development laid out so c ... more Really enjoyed this . This is a much much better cover than the one I saw - actually gives you an impression of what the book 's about - from the cover and blurb of the paperback edition I read you 'd hardly know it was about suffragettes . <p> An absorbing read - it would be very very easy to descend into cliches and predictability and this did n't happen ; it was also effectively character-driven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have ruined the character development laid out so carefully . <p> That said , I was left a little frustrated by the ending - the author was probably right to end there but I wanted to know if Connie ever did get a chance to be a surgeon ! Sadly it seems unlikely knowing the obstacles she would have faced , especially if she did marry Will , but I was dying to know . ( less ) <p> An enjoyable read - I particularly liked the descriptions of life after the war something I 'm really not familiar with and had n't previously thought about . A lot of books I 've read recently have been crammed with literary quotes just shoe-horned in which I hate - this book had none of that pretentiousness and was all the better for it . Would have liked more detail on how everything turned out especially regarding Connie 's career , but that did n't spoil the book for me . I found this book by search ... more An enjoyable read - I particularly liked the descriptions of life after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had n't previously thought about . A lot of books I 've read recently have been crammed with literary quotes just shoe-horned in which I hate - this book had none of that pretentiousness and was all the better for it . Would have liked more detail on how everything turned out especially regarding Connie 's career , but that did n't spoil the book for me . I found this book by searching for one similar to ' one day ' , and like that book , I enjoyed the story continuing through the passage of time and seeing the characters change and develop . I read this in a few days rather than desperately devouring it in one go as I often do but that 's no bad thing . ( less ) <p> I found this book enjoyable and disappointing in equal measures . Set in the earlier part of the twentieth century , the novel 's backdrops illustrate the tumultuous climate in Britain in a period were women were fighting for the right to vote and the country was fighting ' a war to end all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's world of cricket , I would have loved the author to devote more of the novel to the Suffragette movement . The portrayal of life in the trenches was gritty and vivid , a ... more I found this book enjoyable and disappointing in equal measures . Set in the earlier part of the twentieth century , the novel 's backdrops illustrate the tumultuous climate in Britain in a period were women were fighting for the right to vote and the country was fighting ' a war to end all wars ' . Whilst I had little interest in Will 's world of cricket , I would have loved the author to devote more of the novel to the Suffragette movement . The portrayal of life in the trenches was gritty and vivid , as was Connie 's experience as Sister Callaway . Many interesting subjects were touched on , perhaps too many , and I think this is what contributes to the novel 's downfall . Despite this I found the two main charaters to be likeable and well written . Connie and Will would have had much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the twentieth century , and I could empathise with the frustrations of both . Quite a decent book overall , but the blurb is somewhat misleading ! <p> I found this the perfect book for a long weekend spent at home . This is an unashamed love story without cynicism or any attempt to be too clever . Instead , Quinn ( I am assuming no relation to Zorba the Greek ) allows us to get lost in the relationship between Connie , a dedicated Suffragette and Will , the county cricketer/First World War veteran , along with a gallery of believable characters . As always , that time period in European history provides an inexhaustible backdrop for any story . <p> Feminism and county cricket might seem an un likely combination of themes , but this story succeeds brilliantly in bringing both worlds to life in a romance which covers nine years from 1911 until 1920 . <p> I have n't enjoyed a novel more since reading Linda Grant 's " The Clothes on their Backs " . <p> I suppose any historical novel is bound to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular book is when a player in 1911 describes a century as a " ton " . UGH ! <p> I really enjoyed this novel . It is beautiful written in a simple A to B , past tense , third person narrative . It 's such a relief to read something written in a traditional style which allows the plot and characters come to the fore . <p> This novel features some fascinating topics including suffragettes , cricket , World War 1 . It is engaging and opens a window on life in the 1910 's . The main characters , star-crossed lovers Will and Connie , are fully rounded , flawed but likeable people ; it was a joy to ... more I really enjoyed this novel . It is beautiful written in a simple A to B , past tense , third person narrative . It 's such a relief to read something written in a traditional style which allows the plot and characters come to the fore . <p> This novel features some fascinating topics including suffragettes , cricket , World War 1 . It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's . The main characters , star-crossed lovers Will and Connie , are fully rounded , flawed but likeable people ; it was a joy to spend time in their company . <p> It was lovely to read a book so unashamedly English , I particularly enjoyed reading the scenes at the cricket and I thought that the secondary storyline of retired sportsmen and suicide was very moving and is as relevant now as it was in the early twentieth century . <p> I think it 's an excellent device : cricket and all it 's " fair play " connotations alongside women 's suffrage . I particularly loved the portrayal of the supporting character , the declining old pro . That was so vivid and colourful . The ending was beautiful . <p> Quirky side-effect of reading it is I am dying to settle down to watch a game of cricket ! <p> This was a fairly enjoyable read , but it was just TOO LONG . I think that about half of the book could be cut out without altering the story , and it just jumped about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about cricket and art and human emotion and the suffragette movement and WWI all at the same time , and did n't really convince me in any of them . <p> Who would have thought that a book about the suffragettes , cricket and WWI would work so well ? I 'm not a sport fan , but found the characters in this book engaging and very much enjoyed the look at the suffragette movement . It stayed with me for a long while after I finished it . <p> Who would have thought that a book about the suffragettes , cricket and WWI would work so well ? I 'm not a sport fan , but found the characters in this book engaging and very much enjoyed the look at the suffragette movement . <p> This book had a very slow start and to begin with , I really disliked most of the characters . But it got better and towards the end , I was hooked as to what would happen to the suffragette Connie , the cricketer Will and all their friends and family . <p> I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment of women just less than 100 years ago . I think young women today should know of the sufrage movement so that they do n't take their right for granted . <p> A long read yet so worth it . Character driven and highly descriptive this was such an easy pleasurable book to read which left me in parts frustrated and warmed , just lovely , I 'll definitely be seeing out more of Quinn 's work . <p> A long , slow read , but I gobbled it up , lost in the period ( Edwardian London ) and the intertwined lives of Connie and Will . Their struggles , both personal and societal - dealing with the Suffragete movement , cricket , suicide , social expectations , imprisonment , the Great War , amongst other things - unfold and develop , impacting on their own lives and those around them . I stayed up long past my bedtime to finish this : the sign of a good book ! <p> Just finished this book in a record ( I think ) 4 days and I already miss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detailed descriptions of London streets ... Think cricket , suffragettes and WW1 .... and throw in dash of the ever present English class system , a love story and bingo you have a really good tale . <p> I find myself quite torn on this book ! It is worth a read and in some ways I enjoyed it but I felt slightly disappointed throughout . Interesting concept for a story - WWI , the suffragettes ... And do n't let the cricket aspect put you off , it does n't affect the story to a great degree . I probably would n't read this again , I just did n't warm to it that much . <p> This exceptional novel explores themes of friendship , love , family , and politics , and , set in a fascinating period of British history and with a beautifully charismatic heroine at its heart , this makes for an incredibly compelling and touching read . <p> Anthony Quinn was born in Liverpool in 1964 . Since 1998 he has been the film critic of the Independent . His debut novel , THE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Novel Award . His second novel , HALF OF THE HUMAN RACE , was released in spring 2011 . THE STREETS , Anthony 's newest book , is set be published by Johnathan Cape in October 2012 . <h> Share This Book on Your Website <p> url=http : **30;6586;TOOLONG ... url=http :

@@5100941 <p> Out of the millions of websites on the internet , in5d is ranked in the top 1/2 of 1% of all websites globally with over half a million visitors each month . THANK YOU for being part of our in5d family ! Please visit our sister sites in5d Connection , maya 2012 and HolisticCancerResearch . Click HERE for in5d t shirts , mugs and more ! <h> Astral Travel for Beginners : What 's going to Happen ? <p> By Amanda Rivers <p> Relax and enjoy yourself As you enter into the world of astral travel for beginners , you might look forward to becoming an expert , able to project yourself to any chosen destination at any time . For the time being though , accept that you are a beginner and ensure that you have all that you need in terms of peace and quiet when you try this for the first time . The best times of the day to try astral projection for beginners are either just after you wake up in the morning or just before falling asleep at night . The best place will most probably be your bedroom ; it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Astral Travel for beginners feel like ? Different people will experience different sensations when trying astral projection . You may see things , moving shapes or lights for example , even though your eyes are shut . You should certainly feel relaxed , and if you feel comfortable enough then you are on the way to being released from your physical body . Sometimes though , if you try too hard to relax , it has the opposite effect , so do n't approach it like a job . <p> What to wear or not Astral travel for beginners requires that you prepare yourself thoroughly , and dress appropriately in loose-fitting and comfortable clothes . Alternatively it is perfectly acceptable to wear nothing at all . You should be aware however that when you astral travel , the temperature of your body drops slightly just as your physical body falls to sleep . So get yourself a sheet or even a thin blanket just to drape over yourself and make up for the temperature drop . <p> The beginners guide to floating When you manage to achieve astral projection , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . You have your senses of sight , hearing , smell , touch and taste as you float through the astral plane . This is not dangerous , physically your body is not floating at all and while you are traveling , nothing can enter your physical body except for your astral body . Should you feel fear or sense danger as you travel , your astral body returns immediately . <p> Relax but do n't sleep Relaxation techniques are an important part of the process of astral travel . As a beginner , you may well find it helpful to follow written instructions until the routine becomes ingrained in you . Also , getting comfortable , as you begin to breathe in and out slowly , you need to be careful not to fall asleep . You will have your eyes closed , and as you relax it is natural that your body might want to go to sleep . As you begin your travels , you will start using your astral senses . When you try to open your eyes in your astral body , as a beginner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your eyes in your physical body . <p> The road to mental and spiritual health Astral projection for beginners promises amazing experiences and adventures . Take your time , keep your mind open and you will get there , reaping the benefits of mental strength and spiritual calm . <p> Chat Rules : 1 . Respect everyone , including our guests . 2 . No continuous swearing ( some words are tolerated , like hell , shit and ass , but not often ) No " F " word ! ! ! 3 . NO POSTS IN ALL CAPS , CONTINUOUSLY ! On one line , it 's alright , but not all the time . 4 . No PoStS LiKe ThIs AlL tHe tImE . 5 . Do n't ask to be mod 6 . No racist or homophobic comments 7 . No impersonations of Mods , Admin or other Chatango members 8 . No porn 9 . No pretending to be mod 10 . No sexual harassment 11 . Try to keep the chat focused on metaphysical , spiritual or esoteric topics 12 . No spamming 13 . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an immediate ban . For some people , this will be their first time here . Let 's try to make a nice impression for all of

@@5101041 <p> " Do n't even try to fool me because I 'm watching you ! " So says Jay Driscoll , ATC / CSCS , athletic director at Washington , DC 's St. Albans School , to his student athletes , alluding to the fact that some athletes cover up a mild brain injury so as to stay in the game . With a no-nonsense attitude and a keen sense of humor , Jay talks to BrainLine about his program on injury prevention , care , and rehabilitation services as well as how he helps his athletes meet and exceed demands by enhancing their physical fitness , performance , and health . <p> An expert on sports-related TBI , Bailes encourages kids to play contact sports for a spectrum of reasons -- from being part of a team to learning lessons on winning and losing -- but not if the kid has had three or more concussions . <p> Skier Lesley LeMasurier was going 80 mph down the slopes when she fell . " I do n't want to imagine what would have happened if I had n't been wearing a helmet . " This is an excerpt from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . See full webcast here . <p> Lesley LeMasurier started downhill skiing when she was a little kid . When her concussions started to affect her on and off the slopes , she knew something was significantly wrong . This is an excerpt from BrainLine 's webcast Concussion : Understanding Mild Traumatic Brain Injury . See full webcast here . <p> This is a tale of two teenage boys who lived in the same large city but came from very different backgrounds . Jason was the eldest of two sons and lived with his well- off , white , professional parents in a large house in one of the wealthiest suburbs of Auckland . He attended a private boys ' school and at 16 was already looking forward to university in two years . Howie , also 16 , was the third eldest in a family of eight children and lived in a three-bedroom state house in one of the poorest suburbs of Auckland . His Maori mother worked as a cleaner and his white father was unemployed . Howie attended a large coeducational state school where most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pupils went on to university . <p> Yet these two boys had one very important thing in common . They were both mad about sports , and in particular rugby , New Zealand 's national game . What 's more , as a result of their passion they were both up-and-coming sports stars in their schools . In fact , as I later discovered , Jason and Howie had met each other on quite a few occasions on the rugby field and at parties after school matches . Their schools may have been miles apart in their educational standards and the discretionary funds they had to spend on extras for their pupils , but they were neck and neck when it came to rugby . One year the top team -- the First Fifteen -- in Jason 's school would win the annual secondary school rugby competition , and the next year the honor would go to the First Fifteen in Howie 's school . Of course some years neither school would win , but invariably both would be in the top six . At 16 , Jason and Howie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams ; most of the players were 17 or 18 and in their final school year . Perhaps it was their physiques -- both boys were tall and strong for their age -- that prompted their premature selection for the top team . Certainly their size was one of the factors that made them good " locks , " the rugby position they both held and that exposed them to more risk of head injuries than many other positions on the field . <p> Like every boy in every First Fifteen , Jason and Howie fantasized about a career as a professional rugby player . But in reality they knew that this was a long shot , and Jason had a backup plan , to obtain a master 's degree in sports psychology . Howie 's backup plan was n't quite so ambitious : he thought he 'd try to get an apprenticeship as a mechanic at the local garage . Messing about with vehicles was his other passion . <p> Sadly , for these two boys the chance of being selected for the All Blacks -- New Zealand 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their 17th birthdays they were to discover they had one more thing in common -- brain damage . Of course , nobody in their families thought of it as brain damage . For many months the boys and their parents , and even their teachers and sports coaches , looked upon the mild difficulties Jason and Howie were having as unfortunate but temporary consequences of " just a few knocks on the head . " <p> * * * <p> Jason 's mother , Becky , was a " mature " student in the large undergraduate " Introduction to Clinical Psychology " course I taught at the university . I knew her by sight , as she always sat in the front row of the lecture theater and often came up after the lecture to ask me a question . So when she knocked on my office door I assumed she was there to talk about her upcoming essay assignment . But after a brief exchange when she 'd explained that she had returned to university part- time now that her two boys were in their teens and she had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favorite subject , she came to the real reason for her visit . She was worried about Jason and wondered if I could help . Over the last few months he seemed to have lost his zest for life , and she thought he might be depressed . Her husband , Andrew , even wondered if Jason was experimenting with drugs , although Becky was pretty sure he would n't be so silly . Two weeks earlier , the situation had come to a head when Jason became very drunk at a party after the Saturday rugby game and had been delivered home at 3 a.m. , semicomatose , by two of his friends . And last week the school headmaster had asked Becky and Andrew to come in for a chat , where he told them that Jason 's work standards had plummeted over the past few weeks and he had been missing some of his rugby practices . Becky and Andrew had tried talking to Jason , but with no success ; he was sullen and rude and told them to get off his back before locking himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called in to see the school counselor , and that had caused more upset . Jason refused to go to school the following day , saying he was sick . By this point in her story , Becky was almost in tears , and I could see this would need more than a brief discussion with me . <p> " Do you think Jason 's behavior might just be a case of ' teenage angst ' ? " I asked her . <p> " I wish it were , but he 's so different than he 's ever been before that we think there must be something else going on . I think he 's depressed , and he has always been such an optimistic and balanced person . And he 's always been avidly against drugs because of his sport and keeping fit . " " It does sound as if it would be a good thing for him to see someone . Are you wondering whether he could come to the psychology clinic ? " <p> " Yes , I think he might accept that . Having to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And Andrew told him he had no option : He had to either tell us what was wrong with him or go to see someone who could help him . " <p> " And what was his reaction to that ? " <p> " At first , he said he did n't need to see anyone and went and shut himself in his room again . But in the middle of the night Andrew got up because he could n't sleep for worrying about him -- neither of us could -- and then he heard Jason crying in his room . He never cries , so it was very distressing . But thank goodness Andrew heard him . Anyway , he went in and after a while Jason did talk a bit , and said he was worried about himself . He thought he was going crazy . He said he 'd never touched drugs and did n't get drunk as much as most of his friends and did n't know what was the matter with him . In the end he said he would go to see a psychologist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know . " <p> The psychology clinic is a training clinic for our clinical psychology interns , but on the day of Jason 's first appointment , the intern who was scheduled to see him under my supervision went home sick just an hour before Jason was due to arrive . Jason was already on his way , so rather than postponing his initial session -- at the risk of his deciding never to return -- I decided to see him myself . Becky brought him in and introduced us and then , on my suggestion , went off to the library , saying she would be back to pick him up at the end of the session . <p> Jason was a tall , good- looking young man , mature for his age ; he could easily have passed for 18 or 19 . He looked miserable , and answered my questions politely but with minimal effort . He told me in a monotone that he was in the top class at school but could no longer be bothered with it , and that he was in the First @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was a fairly good snowboarder . I asked him how he thought his best friend would describe him . He looked at me in surprise . <p> " How would I know ? I suppose he thinks I 'm all right . We get on OK most of the time . " <p> " you think he might describe your personality ? " <p> " I do n't know . " <p> " Do you think you 're seen as an outgoing sort of person , or studious , or shy , or pushy ? " <p> " I used to be outgoing , but not anymore . I ca n't be bothered . " <p> " What does that feel like , not being able to be bothered ? " <p> " Like shit . " <p> " And that 's different from how you used to feel most of the time ? " <p> " Yeah . " <p> " Have you any theories about why you 've started to feel like shit ? " <p> " No . " Jason 's head was down and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us spoke . Then Jason 's fists clenched and he burst out : " There 's something wrong with my head . I think I 'm going nuts . " <p> That was the breakthrough , and for the rest of that first session , another session three days later , and then a family meeting with Jason and his parents -- Jason refused to have his younger brother involved -- together we were able to build up a picture of Jason 's life over the past few years and the time sequence of the distressing changes he had been experiencing . Of course , as a neuropsychologist , I always had in mind the possibility of mild traumatic brain injury as a possible factor in any client who played rugby . However , as a clinical psychologist I was also alert to the many other possible causes for Jason 's problems , not least family stresses , drug and alcohol issues , depression or another psychological or even more serious psychiatric problem , a physical illness , or simply being a teenager . <p> Jason 's relevant " @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy ; his parents were caring and had an excellent relationship with their sons ; Jason was popular , extroverted , good with people of all ages -- including his grandparents and his small cousins -- a keen sportsman , and academically high- achieving . He only occasionally got drunk , did not take drugs , had never smoked , and had been as " healthy as a horse " all his life . In short , Jason was -- or had been until recently -- a dream son . Over the past few months he had been feeling terribly tired , found it difficult to concentrate in class , struggled with his homework -- especially where he had to learn facts -- could n't stand being around his brother and his rowdy friends , and was irritable with his own friends , parents , and grandparents . Worst of all , his rugby game had deteriorated to the point where his coach had told him that if he did n't improve his attitude on the field and off , he could say goodbye to the First Fifteen . This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not told them . So I was not surprised by Jason 's answer to my question , " Have you ever been knocked out , or even just dazed , during a rugby match or at any other time ? " I might just as well have asked " How many times have you been knocked out , " but of course that would have been a leading question . <p> " I 've been dazed a few times , I suppose , but I 've only actually had concussions two or three times when I 've had to sit out the rest of the game and was n't allowed to play for three weeks . " <p> It took some careful detective work to discover that Jason had in fact been helped off the field three times over the past two years , twice in the current rugby season , which was by now nearly over . On each occasion he was unconscious for no more than a minute or two , was checked by his GP , and was not allowed to play on the next two Saturdays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last two knocks , as he had seemed confused and muddled for a few hours after each concussion . After a night 's sleep , Jason had no longer felt confused , but had a hellish headache . He said he had headaches quite often now , especially when he was trying to concentrate in class , and that was one of the reasons he could n't be bothered with school anymore . <p> By early evening he felt so tired he fell asleep over his homework . He used to be a sound sleeper , but he often woke two or three times in the night now , and struggled to get back to sleep . When I asked him if that 's when he got to worrying about everything , he admitted it was , and that he knew he was depressed . He could n't be bothered with parties , because the noise got to him and obviously he could n't hold his drink . He hated being drunk ; he liked to be in control . His girlfriend had practically given up on him anyway , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On the positive side , his appetite had n't changed -- he still ate like a horse -- and he was adamant that he did n't have any suicidal thoughts . I felt confident that he was not in danger of self- harm and probably did n't require medication for his depressed mood -- at least not until we had tried therapy . I suspected that just learning that there was a physical explanation for his changed feelings and behaviors would go a long way toward relieving Jason 's worries . <p> All Jason 's symptoms pointed toward a postconcussional syndrome ( PCS ) . So as the next step , I scheduled a **28;5602;TOOLONG to see if he displayed the patternof results typical of PCS . In the meantime I explained whata PCS was , and we discussed some simple strategies hecould use to help him manage his symptoms . First on thelist was the importance of taking a long break from rugbyand all other activities that might lead to another knock onthe head . He also agreed to avoid alcohol completely afterI explained that because of the PCS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to avoid situationswhere there was a lot of noise and sleep as much aspossible . Jason left the clinic armed with some informationbooklets on concussion and the PCS , as well as a bookwritten for the layperson covering all aspects of mildtraumatic brain injury ( TBI ) and its rehabilitation . <p> * * * <p> No universal standard exists for defining mild closed TBI -- an injury to the brain caused by a blow to the head that does n't pierce the skull -- but it is commonly defined as a loss of consciousness for less than 20 minutes with a posttraumatic amnesia ( PTA ) of less than 24 hours . PTA refers to the period of interrupted ability to form new memories following a concussion ; for example , the concussed person may not remember that his parents visited him the previous day , even though he had a perfectly reasonable conversation with them at the time . Many people who sustain a mild TBI may lose consciousness for a few minutes only , or sometimes just feel dazed and confused , and have a PTA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can occasionally develop a PCS . <p> Immediately following a mild TBI , the victim may suffer headaches and feel nauseated , extremely tired , and possibly confused and disoriented for hours to days after the accident . The best treatment at this stage is to sleep and rest . Most people feel fully recovered two weeks later , and many are able to return to work without difficulty , especially if the work is not too taxing mentally or physically . Twenty-five percent or more , however , suffer some symptoms that constitute the PCS for varying lengths of time and in varying degrees of severity . The most common of the cognitive symptoms are a decreased ability to focus on the task at hand , especially in a noisy or distracting environment ; an impairment in processing complex information ; and problems with recent memory . These deficits are usually assessed by performance on standard neuropsychological tests of attention , information processing , and new learning and recall . In day- to- day life , sufferers notice that they have to put much greater effort into learning and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they become irritable in noisy environments ; and if they need to do tasks requiring concentration , memorizing information , or processing new information , that they tire very quickly , develop headaches , and soon find themselves falling behind in their work or schooling . <p> The physical and psychosocial symptoms of mild TBI have a neuropathological basis ( lowered cortical arousal from frontal lobe dysfunction ) but can be exacerbated if the TBI victim and others misunderstand the cognitive and behavioral changes typical of the PCS . Common symptoms include fatigue , nausea , changes in sleep and eating patterns , periods of dizziness , hypersensitivity to noise , lessened tolerance for alcohol , irritability , anxiety , and depression . If the PCS continues for many weeks or months , sufferers may gradually lose confidence in their ability to work and maintain relationships , resulting in frustration , irritability , and a lowering of self- esteem . Family disruption often occurs as family members struggle to cope with the problems of the head-injured person . Some sufferers may even come to believe they are going crazy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they have not obtained information about PCS and do not relate their problems to the mild TBI they sustained weeks ago . <p> Because the symptoms of the PCS are common to many disorders , including depression with a psychological cause , the very existence of a PCS is controversial in some medical circles . Some doctors believe that the symptoms that make up the PCS are purely psychological and have no organic -- physical -- basis . Indeed , for many years the evidence from low- resolution computerized tomography ( CT ) brain scans corroborating the claims of a neuropathological cause for the symptoms of the PCS was rather slight , but this has changed with high- resolution magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ) brain scans . Research studies using MRI have found that shortly after a concussion lasting less than 10 minutes a high proportion of people have small contusions and subcortical hemorrhages , usually located in the temporal lobes and the inferior anterior frontal cortex -- the brain matter just above the eyes . Diffuse axonal injuries caused by stretching and tearing of nerve axons ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a possible consequence of mild TBI , although these injuries are minimal compared with severe head injury . This type of damage can nevertheless result in a transient disruption of the reticular formation -- a diffuse nerve network that connects the brain stem to the prefrontal lobes -- causing lowered cortical arousal and the consequent common problems of fatigue , hypersensitivity to noise , and mood swings . Other research has shown that the effects of mild TBI can be cumulative , with patients who have sustained two or more mild concussions taking longer to recover than those sustaining a single mild concussion . <p> Another aspect of the PCS that fuels controversy over its very existence is that it is idiosyncratic in its choice of victims . Some people seem able to have multiple concussions without developing any of the symptoms of the PCS and others may have the smallest knock on the head and yet suffer a PCS . Why this might be is still unknown , but it is likely that interactions of many organic and psychological factors are responsible for the variable susceptibility of individuals to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . Multiple head injuries , a history of serious emotional or psychiatric problems , alcohol or solvent abuse , a demanding occupation , and the individual 's age -- children , teenagers , and the elderly are more vulnerable -- all increase the potential for a significant PCS . In some cases , malingering can be a factor in apparent PCS , especially where there is monetary compensation for problems related to the head injury . In many such cases , a PCS can be viewed as a psychological construct without an organic basis . In true cases of PCS , where there is an underlying organic cause , there is very often some psychological overlay , and it is as important to prevent these psychological symptoms from developing as it is to manage the rehabilitation of the organically mediated symptoms . Whereas some cases of extended PCS may be primarily the result of neurological damage -- as supported by MRI findings of diffuse lesions following mild TBI -- it is possible that many cases of PCS that continue for months or years have become almost purely psychological . These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but as suffering from a poorly managed PCS . <p> * * * <p> When Jason returned the following week for his neuropsychological assessment -- scheduled on a school day at 9 a.m. to ensure that he was not tired before he even began -- he seemed a little less down , and told me that after reading the information I had given him on the PCS , he figured that this might be what was wrong with him . On the whole it was a relief , he said , because at least it was something that he could do something about . But when I asked him how the past few days had gone , he looked at me glumly . <p> " Dad phoned my rugby coach and explained that I probably had these problems because of my concussions , so he banned me from games or even practices for the rest of the season . " <p> " That 's tough , but it is the only option if you want to get better . And the season is almost over , is n't it ? @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you sure I 'll be cured in time for next season ? " <p> " Until we get the results of your neuropsychology tests we wo n't know for sure if you have a PCS . But if you do , then we 'll need to work out a rehabilitation plan . All going well , I would think you 'd be back to normal within a few months , but recovery from PCS is very variable and it could take longer . I 'm afraid that it 's going to take a lot of patience . " I did n't add that returning to rugby at all might prove to be a very bad idea ; at this point Jason needed to hang onto hope rather than be battered with what would probably seem to him to be the worst possible scenario . <p> " Right . Let 's get on with these tests then , " Jason said , sounding a little less glum . <p> Jason was easy to assess ; he picked up the instructions for each test quickly and refused to stop for breaks . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop for a 15-minute rest and sent him outside with a cup of coffee to sit in the sun . I could see he was tired but determined to stick at it , and I wanted to see how well he did on the tests when he was n't exhausted . We completed the assessment in two-and-a-half hours , and at the end Jason admitted he was " stuffed " and was happy to agree to my suggestion that he take the rest of the day off from school and go home to sleep . He returned with his parents two days later to discuss the results -- he had asked if I could score the tests quickly , as he did n't want to wait for ages before he " knew the worst . " <p> I was able to tell them that Jason 's pattern of results strongly supported my preliminary diagnosis : Jason was suffering from a PCS as a consequence of his multiple mild head injuries and concussions . His performance on the general knowledge , vocabulary , verbal comprehension , and verbal abstraction tests placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was congruent with his schooling history . But on a test where he was given mathematical problems and asked to work them out in his head , he scored in the average range . This was clearly an impairment for him , as math had been one of his best subjects . His difficulty was being unable to hold long problems in memory while he worked them out , and his performance improved when I gave him the written problem and an unlimited time in which to solve it using pen and paper . He also lost points for slowness when asked to perform speeded tests of visuospatial ability , such as copying a pattern by putting blocks together . But he was able to perform the tasks to a high level if given sufficient time . <p> On a test of " information processing capacity " specifically designed for TBI victims , Jason 's performance was below average . This test , which involves listening to a long string of numbers and adding each number to the previous one while not forgetting the number you just heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memory , and performing multiple mental tasks under time pressure . The trials of the test are given at increasingly faster speeds . Performance correlates highly with the symptoms of PCS , and repeated assessments with the test over time can provide a good indication of rate of recovery from the concussion . When performance nears normal levels , the individual is usually ready to return in a graduated way to work or school . Jason found this test very frustrating , and almost gave up on it . At the fastest two speeds he was unable to do it at all . <p> His scores on tests of new learning and memory fell in the average range ; he found these tests very tiring as well . Although he drew an excellent copy of a complex figure , his recall of it from memory 45 minutes later was just average . All these average scores marked a considerable drop for Jason , given his position near the top of the academic ranking in his school . On the positive side , on tests of verbal abstraction and other frontal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insight into his performance , Jason performed very well . <p> After a discussion of his results , Jason and his parents agreed that I should talk with Jason 's school headmaster and explain the situation . Jason had his end-of-year exams coming up in just over two months , and he was concerned that he would fail them , given his difficulty in concentrating in class and staying awake in the evenings long enough to do his homework . I thought the strategy most likely to assist his rehabilitation was for him to reduce his school hours to mornings only and perhaps drop some of the more taxing subjects completely . Jason looked relieved when I suggested this and said he could drop math and physics , because they were the subjects he now struggled with the most . His father expressed concern that it would put him back a year if he did n't take all his exams , but Becky was quick to disagree , pointing out that even if he had to repeat the year -- and this would surely be the worst scenario -- that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that not get better . <p> The school headmaster was receptive to my concerns and said he would discuss with Jason 's teachers the best way they could help him reduce his schoolwork without entirely sacrificing the year 's work so far . The following week Becky and Jason returned to the psychology clinic and showed me his new schedule . Jason would continue to attend English , biology , and chemistry classes , but he would only be expected to do the homework he felt he could manage . At most he was to do no more than one hour 's homework each day . When his classes were in the afternoon or he had a free period between classes , he could go and rest in the " sick bay . " Jason 's teachers had assured him that if he passed the three subjects he was continuing with , the following year he would be able to advance with his peer group to the next class for everything but math and physics . He could either repeat those subjects this year , or if he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , catch- up classes to get him up to speed . When the time came to take his exams , he could take them in a separate quiet room and would be given additional time to complete each exam . <p> This was an excellent start to his rehabilitation program , and Jason seemed reasonably happy with it except for one aspect : He was concerned that he would lose all his fitness , as it had been decided that he should give up all competitive sports for the time being . So together we looked for ways to work some pleasure into his life . This is what we came up with . To keep up some fitness , Jason was permitted to swim in the school pool for 30 minutes each day if he felt like it . He would also begin walking rather than cycling to and from school -- a 30-minute walk -- with the proviso that if he felt tired after school he would phone his mother to come and pick him up in the car . Cycling and driving within the busy city were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times , and to avoid any possibility of another knock on the head ! <p> He should try to get to bed as early as possible each night , and to encourage good sleeping patterns -- he had been having trouble getting to sleep even though he felt exhausted -- he would complete his homework before the evening meal , and after dinner would do something relaxing , like listening to music or reading a novel , followed by a bath and a hot drink . Once in bed he would put the light out rather than reading or doing anything else . The idea here was to establish his bedroom and bed as a place he associated with sleep rather than , for example , messing around on his computer . In fact his computer was to be moved to the family room , which would allow Becky to keep an eye on Jason 's tendency to sit in front of it for hours on end . If he felt like it he could go out with his friends in the weekend to watch sports or go to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any alcohol and the suggestion that he avoid noisy situations or parties where he would be bombarded by too much information -- situations very stressful for PCS victims , who have an impaired ability to filter out background noise . Jason was amenable to these suggestions , as he had no interest in being anywhere noisy ; he could n't even cope with the TV anymore . <p> * * * <p> Within a week of first seeing Jason , I received a referral to assess another 16- year- old schoolboy with suspected PCS . The referral came from the New Zealand Government Accident Compensation Corporation -- the ACC -- which provided national insurance for accident victims , including funding medical treatments , counseling , assessments , rehabilitation , retraining , and financial compensation . Howie was brought into my office by his ACC caseworker , who explained that he had been referred to the ACC by his GP after his school rugby coach had expressed concerns about his slow recovery from a concussion during a match . <p> Howie was a fine-looking and very solid young man who at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and quickly put me at ease . After his caseworker left , we spent the next half- hour talking about Howie 's background and the problems he 'd been having before beginning the neuropsychological assessment . Like Jason , he had sustained multiple mild head injuries over the preceding two years : three during rugby games and one as a result of falling off his motorcycle 12 months before I met him . Although he was in the same school year as Jason , Howie 's school , in an area of low socioeconomic status , had less ambitious educational aims . Howie usually managed to achieve grades in the average range in English and math , although this was often a struggle , but he did better in his favorite subjects of art , Maori language , and practical mechanics . After his most recent concussion eight weeks ago , when he was unconscious for almost fi ve minutes and spent a night in the local hospital before being discharged home , he had suffered from most of the typical symptoms of the PCS . Now , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , losing his temper with his brothers and sisters , and awful headaches . <p> His home environment was much less conducive to rehabilitation than Jason 's . Howie shared a small bedroom with three of his brothers , and the noise levels in the small state house where he lived with his parents , his grandmother , and his seven siblings , ranging from three to 18 years , were extreme and continuous . Howie 's mother worked two jobs , the fi rst cleaning hotel rooms from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. , and the second cleaning offices from 7 p.m. to midnight . When I asked what his father did , Howie grimaced and replied that he had been unemployed for years and spent his time either at home watching sports on the TV or in the local bar getting drunk . His grandmother got the kids off to school and looked after the two preschoolers , and the older kids -- Howie was the third oldest -- were kept pretty busy doing odd jobs to earn a bit of extra cash and making kai ( food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said getting any homework done was pretty impossible in their house , and since his last concussion even the simplest school work was a mission . He 'd planned to leave school and get a job as a mechanic at the end of that year , but was thinking he might as well leave right now . I suggested we complete his assessment and see if we could come up with a more feasible rehabilitation plan first and then look at his options , and he said he 'd go along with that , as he did n't think he could handle a mechanic 's job anyway in his current state . <p> I was aware that Howie might be disadvantaged by being given the standard battery of tests , developed for white people , and that because of his close connections with his mother 's extended Maori whanau ( family ) , Howie strongly identified himself as Maori rather than as pakeha ( white New Zealander ) like his father . However , because he had been in the Western , " white " school system all his life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to give him the same tests I had given Jason , although I did use the Maori- friendly test instructions and more culturally appropriate " Maori " examples where I had these available . Howie 's overall results showed quite a similar pattern to those of Jason , although , on the basis of his school performance over the past four years , the scores that I considered " unimpaired " for Howie fell in the low average to average range , and his " impaired " scores fell in the range lower than this . He was unimpaired on general knowledge , vocabulary , and verbal comprehension . But he had a lot of difficulty with the mental arithmetic test , although he improved marginally when given more time to solve the problems using pen and paper . Like Jason , he lost points for slowness when asked to perform speeded tests of visuospatial ability , such as making patterns with blocks and drawing a complex figure , but given unlimited time he actually scored in the high average range , which was congruent with his performance in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the difficult test of information processing capacity , and early in the very first , slowest trial lost track of the string of numbers he had to hold in his head while adding up others . He flatly refused to attempt any of the faster trials . I did n't contradict him when he excused his poor performance by saying he 'd always been hopeless at sums , but I suspected that he would have performed a good deal better , at least on the slower trials , if he did n't have a PCS . On the tests of new learning and memory his scores fell in the low average range or lower , and his recall of the complex figure 45 minutes after his good copy of it was also below average . Like Jason , he was unimpaired on tests of executive abilities such as verbal abstraction , organization , planning ahead , and insight into his performance . <p> It proved difficult to find a time when Howie and his mother , Rosie , could come in to talk about Howie 's results and the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finally managed to schedule a meeting . Rosie looked tired and harassed , but said she was grateful that Howie was being looked after , as she had been worried about him . It soon became clear that Howie 's father was not interested in participating in his son 's rehabilitation , and that Howie 's tiredness after school and reduced ability to help out increased the burden on Rosie and his grandmother . In spite of this , we did manage to establish some goals that Rosie and Howie thought might be attainable . I would discuss with the school headmaster how to reduce Howie 's school program and see if he could rest at school during the day . Rosie would ask her eldest son if he would give up his trailer in the garden where he slept to Howie for a few months until he was back to normal . Howie shared a bedroom with his other three brothers , and he said it was impossible to sleep or do any schoolwork there , and he was constantly getting into fights with his brothers because he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be asked to help Howie by taking on some of the household tasks he usually did . Rosie said that her kids all loved Howie , and she thought they would help out once they understood he was not well . <p> Over the next six weeks , Howie 's ACC caseworker visited Howie regularly , and every week he came in to see me or we had a phone conversation . His brother did vacate his trailer for Howie , and this according to Howie was a " lifesaver " ; he was able to get away from the noise and disruption of the house , although he still had trouble sleeping through the night . Like Jason , he was able to reduce his schoolwork considerably , and he reluctantly gave up rugby and his motorcycle for the remainder of the year . But when , six weeks after I first saw him , I assessed him again on a small number of the tests he had been impaired on , he showed little improvement . I was also concerned about his low mood . Howie talked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatigue , headaches , and depression -- and how his problems did n't seem very important in their family when compared with his father 's drunkenness , his mother 's constant exhaustion , and the ongoing problems his mother and grandmother had looking after his younger brother who had attention deficit disorder . He rarely saw his mates anymore now that he could n't play rugby or ride his motorcycle , and he admitted that the only way he could cope was to smoke a joint of marijuana every night . He told me in a glum tone that if he was never going to be able to play rugby again he could n't see the point of staying at school , and added that that was the only reason he was there anyway , as he was pretty dumb . Perhaps , he said , he should leave school and try to get some sort of a job to help his mother out . <p> After this session , through his ACC case manager , I referred him to a male Maori clinical psychologist whose practice was close to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young people like Howie . It seemed particularly important to expand Howie 's support networks and explore ways he could reconnect with his friends . I managed to convince him to go to a head- injury support group for teenagers who met once a week to share their experiences and to join in recreational activities such as pool and card games . There , quite by chance , he met up with Jason , whose rehabilitation program was now overseen by the ACC . The two boys recognized each other from their past meetings on the rugby field and quickly discovered they had a lot in common despite their very different backgrounds . <p> One day , out of the blue , Jason and Howie showed up at my office . I had heard from each of them earlier that they had met at the head- injury support group but did n't know they had become close friends , going -- as spectators -- to sports events and to the gymnasium four nights a week . They had come to tell me that Jason 's family was going away to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was joining them . Both boys were going to have a complete break from schoolwork and spend their time fishing , swimming , snorkeling -- the beach house was close to a marine park -- and eating lots of seafood . Howie grinned and added that they had made a pact to keep their alcohol consumption to two beers on Saturdays and that he had given up marijuana to please Jason , who was totally against all drugs . When they returned in time for the next school year , Jason was planning to go on to his fi nal year at school while taking catch-up classes in math and physics , and Howie , encouraged by Jason , was also keen to spend another year at his school . <p> I was delighted . They had come up with the perfect rehabilitation program for a PCS : rest from tasks that tax the damaged systems of the brain , giving those systems time to recover ; a quiet environment with no pressure to " perform " and plenty of time to sleep ; minimal alcohol intake ; enjoyable and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not put them at risk of further head injuries . But best of all , their " program " was sure to work because they would be doing it together . Mild TBI has been dubbed " the unseen injury , " as to outsiders the PCS seems almost unbelievable . Jason and Howie 's relationship had begun because of their common understanding and experience of the debilitating effects that can occur after mild TBI , but had grown into a true and enduring friendship that would far outlast their PCS symptoms . <p> They had promised me they would drop by when they returned to Auckland , and true to their word , they did . They had had a wonderful summer and both boys were now keen amateur marine biologists . They had spent most of the summer snorkeling , and Jason had been told by his doctor that if his neuropsychological assessment demonstrated that he was " cured , " he would be able to take up diving with a tank . Howie figured that the same rule should apply to him ! <p> I reassessed both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faces and renewed energy levels , both were now back to normal . Even Howie managed to perform at an unimpaired level on the challenging information processing task . They had decided they would not persevere with their rugby dreams but stick to noncontact sports , although Howie said he could not give up his motorcycle . <p> Jason did go on to university and became a secondary school teacher of biology and physical education , in his spare time coaching schoolchildren in rugby -- but not playing it . Howie also remained at school another year and then scored a job as a technician in the marine biology department of the university , where he was able to indulge his love and knowledge of engines -- now in boats -- as well as diving , regularly accompanying students on their marine biology field trips . In the summer months , Jason and Howie went diving together most weekends , afterward sharing a beer or two over a barbecue with their partners , and later their children . When I last talked with them they said that they had managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Howie added that the very thought of having to do that bloody number- crunching test again was enough to make sure they kept it that way ! <h> Comments 1 <p> Oh my . I could relate to so much of this because my son has a mild brain injury and we did n't even know it . Parents need to be made aware . After several doctor appointments and many months , it was diagnosed . <h> Footer <p> BrainLine.org is a WETA website funded by the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center through a contract with the Henry M. Jackson Foundation . Government funding support is not an endorsement

@@5101141 <h> First Human Supersonic Space Jump Aborted ( Updated With Video ) <p> Felix Baumgartner is going to jump from the edge of space . If successful , he 's going to become the first man in history to go supersonic without any mechanical propulsion aid whatsoever . He 's now getting ready . <p> Update : the launch was aborted . You can watch the video of the abort and the aftermath here . <p> He will break many records . One of them was set by United States Air Force Captain Joe Kittinger on August 16 , 1960 . Kittinger jumped from the Excelsior III balloon , which at the time was flying at 102,800 feet-that 's 19.47 miles or 31 kilometers up in the sky . Felix will do at least 120,000 feet , 23 miles . <p> More importantly , if everything goes right , he will be the first man to go supersonic without any propulsion aid . That has to hurt . <p> REFRESH YOUR BROWSER FOR UPDATES <p> 6:15PM Here 's a photo of Felix getting out of the capsule : <p> 2:28PM Just added a video of the abort . Closing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you all for reading and watching , and godspeed Felix ! Next time it will be the good one . <p> 2:06PM Mission control has n't told us when the launch will be resumed , but with the weather getting worse over the next couple days , it will have to wait at least until Friday . Stay tuned for updates . <p> 2:04PM Once again , the launch has been aborted because of heavy winds , which started just as they were ready to roll . The problem with heavy winds at launch is that they can make the capsule bounce around . The inherent risks in that for both the capsule and its pilot are obvious . <p> 2:01PM Kittinger looks sad at ground control too . <p> 1:49PM They are taking him out of the capsule . <p> 1:48PM Felix looks pissed off . <p> 1:46PM The weather is going to deteriorate over the next two days , which is why they were pushing for a launch today . <p> 1:43PM The winds have increased just now and mission control says they have to cancel the launch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancelled ! <p> 1:38PM For those who asked , yes , Felix can pee in his suit . He has a special UCD device that will allow him to do this safely . That will avoid any Alan Shepard situation at the launch pad of his Freedom 7 mission . <p> 1:37PM AND IT STARTS ! All systems ready . <p> 1:31PM We have time for the fourth record to be broken today if everything goes as planned : Felix will experience the longest free fall in history , an expected 5 minutes and 35 seconds . The current record also belongs to his mentor Kittinger : 4 minutes and 36 seconds . <p> 1:29PM Official broadcast has been delayed five more minutes . <p> 1:25PM Felix is strapped in the capsule now . His words to ground control : <p> 1:15PM Or maybe he 's calm and concentrated . Remember that he has done preparatory jumps before , apart from his experience jumping from extreme places like the Petronas towers , so he knows what he is doing . Still , the whole supersonic speed and the parachute deployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never been achieved before . <p> 1:14PM This guy is such a badass . He 's probably just thinking : " I may end up smashed or in pieces , but what a ride this is going to be . " <p> 1:07PM Inflation of the balloon has begun . <p> 1:00PM Felix is entering the capsule ! Here 's an image of him approaching the vehicle : <p> 12:56PM They have pushed the broadcast start to 1:30PM EDT . This is killing me . <p> 12:50PM I think Felix is going to have a ride even more exhilarating than an actual rocket flight to space . While it must be amazing to feel the roar of a Soyuz and then live in orbit , the thrill and adrenalin rush of this space jump must be off the charts . What do you think ? Write your thoughts in the comments . <p> 12:41PM Back to the speed record , nobody really knows what 's exactly going to happen when Felix goes supersonic . Some people believe that , being such a small mass and the atmosphere being so thin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The suit will be monitoring him , sending data to the ground and keeping oxygen and pressure levels so he survives the fall . Hopefully , it will all work right and his body will sustain the extreme conditions he is going to go through . <p> Things will get violent up there . Watch this . While this is a dramatization from the movie The Right Stuff , Yeager 's record was quite a ride . <p> 12:35PM Weather still good . South wind is only 0.8mph ( 1.3km/h ) . <p> 12:30PM Reminder : Felix is pre-breathing , getting adjusted to the conditions in the capsule down here on Earth . Look at him , sitting there so calmly . I wonder what 's going through his head . <p> Someone on Twitter : " They are replacing his blood with Red Bull . " <p> 12:24PM If successful , this will be the first time in history that any human reaches the speed of sound without mechanical propulsion . The first human to reach that speed using a plane was the legendary Chuck Yeager : he broke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bell X-1 : <p> 12:23PM The third record will be speed . Felix is expected to reach and surpass Mach 1 , the speed of sound . That 's an amazing 690MPH . The current record belongs to Kittinger , who reached 614MPH , Mach 0.9 . <p> 12:17PM Everything is proceeding as expected . <p> 12:09PM By the way , there 's a contest to guess where Felix will land . You can play it here and get a Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th watch . Not bad . <p> 12:01PM Felix is getting ready now to pre-breathe . <p> 11:59AM Ok , people , this is happening . I 'm starting to freak out now . Felix is now being assisted as he puts his suit on . Everything is going as planned . Here 's a photo of the moment , taken a few seconds ago : <p> 11:54AM Here 's a photo of Kittinger 's jump . This is what Baumgartner is facing today , the most terrifying skydive you can imagine : <p> 11:45AM So while we wait for the crew to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Felix is going to break : the freefall from the highest altitude . The previous record was set by United States Air Force Captain Joe Kittinger on August 16 , 1960 . His jumps were crucial for the space program . That day he jumped from 102,800 feet . The Austrian daredevil will jump from a minimum of 120,000 feet . <p> Kittinger is one of Felix 's advisors . His experience has been crucial for this flight . This is Felix and Joe next to a photo of the latter around the time of the original record space jump . <p> 11:35AM Look at the balloon crew deploying it live now . <p> 11:32AM The balloon that will take the capsule up to 120,000 feet ( or higher ) is really huge : 30 million cubic square feet ! <p> 9:02AM This is a photo of Prather and Ross in the Stratolab-V . Compared to Stratos ' high tech capsule , it looks like a flying latrine laminated with foil . <p> 8:56AM If everything goes right -- and make no mistake , there are plenty of chances of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . The first is the highest manned ballon flight : at least 120,000 feet . It could go higher than that . The current record belongs to Lieutenant Commander Victor A. Prather Jr . and US Navy Reserve Captain Malcolm D. Ross , who climbed up to 113,740 feet in May 4 , 1961 . <p> 8:49AM This illustration shows exactly the process and records that Felix will break , four in total . On the left : one of Felix 's last training sessions in a photo from Sunday , October 7 . Click on the images to expand them to full screen . <p> 8:41AM Here 's the man and his suit : <p> 8:38AM It 's worth noting that this is being done not just for the stunt : Felix 's suit is loaded with sensors that will provide very valuable data to NASA and other space agencies . Nobody has jumped before this high and this fast . <p> 8:36AM I mean , he has done a few preparatory jumps , but this one is going to break the sound barrier . What will happen then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10AM EDT ) . There 's not live sound from the site . I 'm not jumping and I have a knot in my stomach , thinking about what Felix must be going through now . <p> 8:33AM We got sound for a few seconds . Things appear to be moving on . <p> 8:27AM Here 's how it will all happen : The 41-year old Austrian Baumgartner will jump from an altitude of 23 miles ( 120,000 feet or 37 kilometers ) , getting close to the edge of the stratosphere . When he does that , he will fall for an estimated 5 minutes and 30 seconds , breaking the speed of sound in the process . After flying at Mach 1 for a while , he will open his parachute at one mile ( about 1,500 meters ) . If everything goes ok , he will reach the ground 10 minutes later . <p> 8:18AM Felix said yesterday that fear was a good friend of his , as it made him go " not too far . " I hope he 's not drinking a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . Here 's Luke Aikins and the rest of the Stratos team looking at the weather conditions over Roswell . <p> 8:14AM In the meantime , you can watch the dawn in Roswell , New Mexico . Pretty . <p> 8:08AM The mission is now on weather hold , but things are getting ready . Here 's an image of the

@@5101241 <p> Listen to the radio segment , " Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast , " ( WYPR ) featuring Stocks in the Future . Hear observations made during a recent visit to Cross Country Middle School and a live interview with SIF founder , Pat Bernstein . <p> *This press release announces findings from researchers studying the academic achievement of SIF students . Increased attendance and higher scores on standardized tests are some of

@@5101341 <p> Long story short , I am back on a quad again last time I had one I was about 9 . I started on a Eaton Sierra 90 , outgrew it , then got a CRF100 and have been on bikes up until yesterday when I traded my 09 CRF230 for a 2002 400EX . I decided to come back to 4 wheels following a few bad crashes on the bike this summer , and my friend who has a 01 400EX that inspired me the most . Just a tough , no bull trail performer . I love the simplicity of air-cooled engines , and how easy they are to work on . He thinks I am a copycat , but truthfully , I just found a damn good deal that I could n't pass up . Anyway , this is what I ended up with . And this is what I traded in ... Have n't got to spend much time on it , did the trade yesterday , went for about a 20 minute ride , froze my butt off haha . But love the EX so far and hope to get several years out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ i want another sport quad ... but not getting rid of the rancher or the rhino to do it.lol . I feel you on the cold . I 'd rather it be 100 degrees outside than be cold . Luckily ...

@@5101441 <h> The importance of choosing the right bank <p> In general most people do n't really put a lot of thought into the bank they choose , this is a mistake . The right bank can save you a lot of money and hassle over the years so it is definitely worth it to invest the time to make sure that you choose a good one . There are lots of options available so you should have no trouble finding a good bank . <p> The biggest reason that you are going to want to make sure that you choose the right bank is so that you can maximize the value of your money . The big thing here is going to be to look at what the banks fees are . The more you pay in fees the less money you are going to have in your account . Since you will have to pay these fees every month for the length of time that you have your account they can really add up so it pays to make sure that you are keeping the fees as low as possible . <p> The other part of making sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure that you are getting the best return on that money . When it comes to your bank this means that they have the highest interest rates . In reality your checking account will likely earn no interest so this is probably not an issue there . However there is a good chance that you will also have other accounts with the bank . In that case you are going to want to make sure that you are getting the best return possible . <p> One thing to think about when you are choosing a bank is your future needs . For example if down the road you think you might want to buy a house it is a good idea to think about opening an account at the same bank that you want to get the mortgage from . By no means are you required to take a mortgage with the bank that you already have an account with and really you should shop around . However if you already have a relationship with the bank you may find that it is easier to qualify for a mortgage . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you choose a bank that is convenient to use , otherwise you are going to find it to be a major hassle . The big thing here is to make sure that it is located close to where you live or work , the last thing you want is to have to drive across town just to do your banking . You should also pay attention to the hours of operation to make sure that they are going to work with your schedule . Most banks these days offer an online banking option ; most people find this to be very convenient so

@@5101541 <h> Trends in bilateral oophorectomy at the time of hysterectomy for benign disease . <h> Source <p> New York University School of Medicine , Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Division of Gynecologic Oncology , New York University , New York , New York , USA. anovetsky@gmail.com <h> Abstract <h> OBJECTIVE : <p> To identify patient characteristics associated with bilateral oophorectomy or removal of remaining ovary at the time of benign hysterectomy , and to estimate trends in the performance of oophorectomy from 2001 to 2006 . <h> METHODS : <p> This was a cross-sectional analysis using the New York State Department of Health Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System . Women aged 18 years or older undergoing hysterectomies for benign gynecologic conditions were included . We evaluated factors associated with oophorectomy on both univariable and multivariable analyses and assessed for changes in performance of oophorectomy over the course of the study . <h> RESULTS : <p> Forty-seven percent of 144,877 hysterectomies included oophorectomy . Women who underwent oophorectomy were older and were more likely to have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer , a personal history of breast cancer , ovarian cysts , or endometriosis . @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prolapse were less likely to undergo oophorectomy . Both race and insurance status were associated with performance of oophorectomy . From 2001 to 2006 , there was an 8% absolute decrease in the performance of oophorectomy at the time of benign hysterectomy for women of all ages , with a 10.4% decrease in women aged younger than 55 ( P for trend &lt;.001 ) . <h> CONCLUSION : <p> Age , route of hysterectomy , and concomitant gynecologic diagnoses influence oophorectomy rate . From 2001 to 2006 , a significant decrease in the performance of oophorectomy at the time of benign hysterectomy was noted in women aged younger than 55 years . Recent studies of complications of hormone therapy and prophylactic oophorectomy may have influenced patients '

@@5101641 <h> How Do I Get a Link to Share My Galleries ? <p> Last Updated : Jul 03 , 2012 09:49AM PDT <p> Each photo and video at SmugMug has its own Internet address , just as the page you 're now reading has one . If you give a friend the URL for your gallery , they 'll know where to go to see your gorgeous photos and videos . <p> You can even send a link that lets them add items to the shopping cart ! <h> Sweet ! Tell me how . <p> Here 's the easy way to get that URL : <p> Click the Share button , at the top of most ? gallery pages . <p> Choose Get a link from the menu . <p> You 'll see four tabs , each with different types of links that you can get : <p> On the Gallery Links tab , click the Copy button next to the gallery ? , lightbox ? , or slideshow ? URL to copy it . You can then paste it in an email , instant message or Web page . These links will direct your viewers to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding down the Ctrl key , then hitting the v key , or Command-v on the Mac ) . <p> To get links for individual images , you can select the Photo Links tab and preview the image that you want in the box on the right . Click the arrows to advance to the desired photo and copy the URL for the size that you want . Videos will link to the JPG preview . Get the specs on image sizes . <p> If you want to post the images on forums and blogs , you can click the Embeddable Links tab . You 'll see options for posting images that link back to your gallery in HTML ( for most blogs ) and BBCode ( for most forums ) . If you 've selected a video file , grab the embed code to post playable videos in Web and iPod/DVD sizes . <p> For feeds , click the Feed Links tab and you can pick one of the listed formats for gallery feeds . Or you can customize your own feed parameters using the Feed Wizard . For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What about those Buy Links ? <p> If you have printing enabled in your Gallery Settings , you 'll see a Buy Link at the bottom of the Photo Links and Gallery Links tabs : <p> Share that with your friends . When they visit that link we 'll present our lovely shopping cart , ready and

@@5101741 <h> By the Time You 've Seen It , It 's Too Late <p> Our best shot at understanding the foundation of obscenity law is through watching Sam Raimi 's 1981 horror film , The Evil Dead . In it , a group of ( who else ? ) students stay ( where else ? ) at a cabin in the woods . Amidst the jokes and sexual tension , they uncover a book of demonic spells and rites . They also find a reel to reel tape player , and on it , the voice of scientist reciting a string of incantations . The kids , as usual , never had a chance . Simply playing the tape summons the demons ; such was the power of the muffled words . Aside from the normal possessing and flesh-eating demons , there are also demons in the form of the woods themselves , which assault -- physically and sexually -- one of the girls . The demons literally fall apart at the end of the film when the occult book is thrown into the fire . <p> The movie is a cult classic and has spawned sequels as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its Japanese original ) in which the same sort of thing occurs except this time ( perhaps more germane to the topic of pornography ) from a VHS tape . <p> The obscenity trial of Michael Peacock arose from such fears of the supernatural power of the image and word , and even though he was found not guilty and we are told these laws will perhaps undergo a radical reevaluation , the fear will stay with us . <p> *** <p> Peacock , a sex worker , was arrested in 2009 by an undercover policeman from the UK 's Human Exploitation and Organised Crime Command for selling sexually explicit DVDs that featured fisting , piss-play , and BDSM . He was charged under the Obscene Publications Act . Though the acts on the DVD were not illegal , selling depictions of them was . <p> The obscenity laws hinge on something less defined , even , than pornography : " moral corruption/depravity " . A legal definition is , " to deprave means to make morally bad , to debase or to corrupt morally . To corrupt means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moral purity or chastity , to pervert or ruin a good quality ; to debase ; to defile it . " Of course , it does n't matter much what the state 's definition is -- they will choose what depraves and corrupts . <p> The counter to this , often raised by intellectuals and cultural heroes concerned with sexuality , is that sexual morality and ethics are about consent . This is true , and well-said . But this is not , as often thought , a point overlooked by obscenity laws . Indeed , it is a truth all-but conceded by them . The substance of these laws is that when we watch certain sexual acts , we give up our consent . The distribution of and ultimately the encounter with these images corrupts us without us having much say . <p> Like the kids in the woods , by the time the tape is playing , it 's already too late . <p> During a sexual act , consent should generally be easy to establish ( of course there are exceptions and victims of these exceptions ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ " or " stop " expressed outwardly to our partner(s) . This go-and-stop is ongoing throughout the act , though it can become increasingly more difficult to flesh out consent after initial consent is given . <p> An image , however , is one-sided . It can only assume you 've said yes to its effects . <p> When we encounter an image , we are thought to be saying , " go ahead " to the image . To decide to watch or to see at all implies consent . But is it so simple ? What if the recording contains something we do not take seriously , but has serious effects ? What if it unleashes something we 're not ready for ? <p> While some commentators have pondered the newness of these questions in an internet age , the magical quality of the danger in The Evil Dead and The Ring show us that these are not new questions at all , but ancient ones . <p> I agree wholeheartedly with the Michael Peacock 's innocence , but it will be an incomplete victory if we merely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : <p> How do the image , the word , the symbol truly affect us ? <p> *** <p> Another recent item of porn -- and law -- related news : The Los Angeles City Council recently voted that porn performers must wear condoms . This law vote was ushered through under auspices of performer safety . But of course , a cultural element echoes through the decision : Should bareback porn exist ? <p> Gay men , whether porn-performer , producer , or consumer have been arguing this at great length for a long time . Some demand it be legally abolished : It is said to promote and inspire sexual behaviors that could lead to illness . Others revel in it : It is a demonstration of sexual freedom , and it shows that condom-less sex is not dead or wrong . Because pornography is often one of the first affirming depictions of homosexuality a gay man will see , its power to influence is understood . In fact a gay porn performer can even become a sort of cultural icon for his work displaying a sex-positive attitude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women ( or men , for that matter ) in advertising affect how women feel about their bodies and their behaviors ? Many liberals would be fine with pornography , but less willing to give advertisement -- conceived of as being wed to corporate power -- a pass . Progressives with media literacy campaigns are often the most vocal about their concerns about " objectification . " <p> I know firsthand that body image and presentation of the body are wed to corporate interest . Though most porn studios and producers have proved compassionate and kind , one studio owner once assured me that I needed to lose weight if I wanted to continue working , and another gently asked me to do steroids . They had perceptions of what the public wants to see , and pressured me into conforming to that image . <p> Of course " perfect " bodies -- cut abs , huge muscles -- are almost an artifact in porn . Wedged between average-bodied men of 1970s and early 1980s porn , and today 's slew of wildly popular amateur pornography and XTube , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1990s blip . But the idea and effects of image still drove the porn producers to push me to unhealthy acts to meet their imagined standard . <p> In a strange imaginary loop , these two porn producers were creating the images that they thought the public wanted , which reinforced their idea of the sort of porn they should make . Whether they were right or wrong , I struggled with both insistences , and eventually decided to ignore them . But it sure did n't feel good . And it 's not difficult for me to see how the viewer could feel the same if he or she begins to compare himself to the models -- in porn or in advertising . <p> *** <p> Since on the one hand , we say no , media can not affect us , and on the other , we fear its affects we turn to the experts : <p> A popular approach to answering how the image affects us has been through scientific experimentation and social science surveys ; and science is our most occult of philosophies , filled with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have mostly failed . Not because we have n't gathered evidence , but because all the evidence seems to clash . How can there be so many books on sex and violence that reach different conclusions ? <p> In the meantime , a demand is made : Take sides . <p> Will watching fisting make someone want to try fisting ? Yes or no . Do you believe that bareback sex in porn makes the viewer want to have condom-less sex ? Yes or no . Will watching horror movies make you more prone to violent acts ? Yes or no . Do fantasy portrayals of incest in pornography glorify abuse ? What about portrayals of rape ? What about gay or lesbian sex ? What about general corruption and depravity -- can watching a sexual or violent act make you a worse person ? <p> The questions gather and back us into a corner , so it is easy to see why such a callous and ridiculous statement as Andrea Dworkin 's , that , " The Left can not have its whores and its politics too , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's an escape . <p> *** <p> Just give up one or the other -- your values or your sexuality . <p> Yes or no , please . <p> But most importantly , answer quickly , there are monsters at the door . <p> *** <p> Permitting one form of the image on principle or cultural critique alone , but not permitting it in another form proves very difficult , and all arguments seem to undo themselves . <p> For example , one might object to comparisons of pornography and sexualized images of women in advertising because porn is consumed privately and advertising ( sometimes ) is n't . But the logical consequence could easily -- and often has easily -- become : we can not have women depicted sexually in public . To keep the argument logically consistent : in porn , we consent and so it 's okay , in advertisement , we do n't consent , so it 's not . That means banning advertisement with questionable content , back to women showing their ankles off in ads , and wearing full-length dresses otherwise . <p> @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ object , as many did , to gay cruising site Manhunt.com 's billboard campaign prominently displaying two men about to kiss ( and surely , one thing leads to another ) to anyone on the street ? Yes or no . <p> What if they were kissing and you had your kids with you ? <p> Since you 're reading this essay , I suspect your answer would be no , but you can see how the question weaves into others , and evades easy answers . <p> What if they were fucking ? <p> Whether it 's behind closed doors or freely displayed must shrink in importance in our conversation next to the question , " How does the image affect us ? " But to answer , we need to do more than respond with feelings and thoughts . <p> The menace of the image and its affects leads some to talk supernaturally about images , as if stating their names is evidence enough for their power . Because the depiction of the act is what has initially repulsed the critic , one only needs to state what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against pornography are often simply descriptions of the act . " He had a bullwhip up his rectum ! " anti-Maplethorpe censors cried . Or , in Chris Hedges 's essay ( in an otherwise thoughtful book -- Empire of Illusion - from an otherwise thoughtful man , in which he desperately clings to Dworkin 's escapist quote ) , " The Illusion of Love " , he falls under the ( sexual ? ) trance of naming what he sees and believing this naming presents some sort of self-evident truth : " ... oral sex , vaginal sex , double penetration , and double anal . " He quotes a performer who says during a shoot , " Shove it up my fucking ass ... : and " Fuck , motherfucker ... " and " Fucking love it ... " No explanations required for Hedges , who is always more rigorous than this . <p> The supernatural : To say its name is to evoke it . <p> *** <p> Of course , no name , word , image , has the same effect on everyone . And each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and even enters ) naked bodies all the time , but this is not considered sexual . Yet I 've played a doctor in a porn , having sex with my " patient " -- and this , of course , was meant to elicit arousal . Furthermore , some patients may be aroused by their doctors , and vice versa , or else why would the fantasy be portrayed in pornography at all ? <p> *** <p> All of this is another way of saying that -- even in the light of Peacock 's innocence -- the State and its supporters still consider us their children . Why else would they present us with monsters ? How else could an entire law hinge on something as clumsy , as childlike as " to make morally bad " ? <p> We 're expected , not just through obscenity laws , but by so many governmental and corporate actions , to share morality . And this morality will be decided by a group of our leaders . This , in spite of the fact that we all agree they are no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waned . <p> They and their processes are , we all know , corrupted and depraved . <p> Their argument goes that individual morality is impossible . Better to come up with it under a system and a structure , otherwise there would be too many individuals striving for too many different goals , and all those would clash . Especially when it comes to culture , individual morality would collapse all order . We 'd have burning buildings , raped women , busted out shop windows . The environment , the whole world would turn against us . The demons would be unleashed . <p> But if we trained ourselves to be unafraid of individualized morality , we could see easily that everything they 've told us to be afraid of is already here , and that they are the product of collective morality . Destruction , famines , sexual fear . And of course , war is collective morality 's greatest expression . <p> *** <p> " Sexual morality is about consent . " What " consent " really needs to indicate here is context . Contexts arise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ class , but most importantly from the individual . Our duty is to be unafraid of bearing the responsibility of the image , especially the sexual one . We continue to be the children of the State so long as we do not ( or are not allowed to ) develop -- and it 's important to note here that culturally as well as biologically , sexual development is a dividing line between being a child and being an adult . <p> So Michael Peacock 's innocence is not merely a legal triumph , but an invitation to a shift in thinking . The responsibility of sex , pornography , and more broadly , the image is more and more becoming ours . Now is the time to investigate what that means or we 'll still be stuck in the old narrative , and we must be willing to do this as individuals . We must even go so far as to say that it is our right to decide whether we want to be corrupted or depraved . <p> Pornography , the image , and art in general is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something beyond both . It has fantasy effects and real effects and everyone will encounter them differently . <p> We can not understand if it affects us without understanding how and why -- and that is a long and sometimes frightening trip that only freedom can afford . If we leave any aspect of it to the State , we only have the two choices presented in The Evil Dead : Throw it all into the fire or die . <p> Conner Habib is a writer , lecturer , gay porn star , and former college English instructor . He runs a Rudolf Steiner spiritual science discussion group at his home in San Francisco . He recently finished his first play , The Contradiction , which is in rewrites for production . He 's pretty sure he 's the only person who 's ever won awards for teaching , porn performance , and writing . He 's currently working on a podcast series featuring discussions with leading thinkers in science , art , cultural criticism , and spirituality . Contact him for lectures , more information , or just to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ **25;10581;TOOLONG ( his adult site is connerhabib.com - ages 21+ only please ) . Find him on twitter : @ConnerHabib . More from this author ? <p> These are difficult questions to answer.What 's moral to some is immoral to others , and the same goes for obscenity , so that 's easily dealt with ... there is no answer.For example , I 've had a few people following me on Twitter because of my profile , but two people have already ' unfollowed ' me because I follow a couple of porn stars and had a photo of my arse on the page .... so the morality/obscenity question will just go round and round in circles for all time ! <p> As for the question of pornography and other sexualised images as an influence , I can only go by my own experiences.Do I believe that watching a particular sex act will make me want to try it ? ... Well , yes and no .... I have watched fisting scenes and enjoyed a couple of them , but no , it has not made me want to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bondage scenes , but I have no wish to tie anyone up or use whips , straps etc.I 've watched leather and rubber scenes , but that dress code leaves me cold . <p> On the other hand , I have a sadistic and masochistic side to my personality that occasionaly rears up it 's head and i 've watched scenes that have given me *ideas* that I have later played out , so obviously they *have* influenced me . <p> The key word is ' responsibility ' . I 'm lucky enough to have ' buddy ' who fulfills my masochistic side , and another for my sadistic side.I respect and love them both as my friends and it makes all the difference ... whatever we get up to sexually , it always ends up with a kiss and a cuddle on the couch and that 's an important part of the play-acting . <p> i would like more of the porn studios to take a bit more responsibility.There are a couple of sites , Bound Gods for instance , that interview the models before and after the scene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relaxed and talking about ' safe words ' and ' controlled environments ' is important if you 're a ' novice ' , especially in the BDSM scene ... <p> As you stated , porn models can become cultural icons , and for that reason , instead of the usual short ' the following scenes are for fantasy purposes ' and ' use a condom ' screen shots at the start of a porn movie , it would be good if the studios would use one of the models to give a short announcement at the start of the movie .... it might make a difference . <p> So , I think the key words are responsibility and respect .... if you have these , you wo n't go far wrong ... <p> I loved reading this . Good to pose those questions that we usually do n't have the opportunity to contemplate as we 're always on the defense for the basic right to pornography . I 'll definitely be check you out for more ! <p> Excellent article . Your observation that art is neither fantasy or reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea for a while . As far as morality is concerned , it IS a matter of personal responsibility and can not be successful as a democratic process and certainly not as an autocratic one . <p> I 'm not sure an individual can be corrupted . What does that mean , anyway ? One either acts morally ( though I prefer the more agnostic " ethically " ) correct or morally incorrect . It does not make me " good " if I behave well , nor does it make me " bad " if I behave badly . It simply means that in a given situation I acted well or I acted badly . I think the religious concepts of eternal judgement after death effects the way people discuss morality . For example , good people go to heaven , and bad people go to the fun place .... I mean hell . <p> I agree that there is much mental homework to be done on the question : " How does the image effect us ? " and on its logical extension : " How does media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Internet and we can escape the mainstream moral posturing of the network media and can find countless forums , like this one , to express the true voice of our individual morality rather than having to sit silently by and listen to a watered down expression of what it means to be human . <h> Hello <p> Welcome to TheRumpus.net . We do n't say that lightly -- we 're thrilled you 're here . At The Rumpus , we 've got essays , reviews , interviews , advice , music , film and poetry -- along with some kick-ass comics . We know how easy it is to find pop culture on the Internet , so we 're here to give you something more challenging , to show you how beautiful things are when you step off the beaten path . The Rumpus is a place where people come to be themselves through their writing , to tell their stories or speak their minds in the most artful and authentic way they know how , and to invite each of you , as readers , commenters or future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in common is a passion for fantastic writing that 's brave , passionate and

@@5101841 <h> Email Item <p> Address : Multiple emails ? Use commas . <h> Citation <p> Padgett , Pamela E , . ( 2009 ) . Nitrogen deposition : The up and down side for production agriculture . UC Davis : Department of Plant Sciences , UC Davis . Retrieved from : http : **35;367;TOOLONG ... <h> Abstract <p> Deposition of nitrogen-containing air pollutants contributes as much as 80 kg-N yr-1 to rural lands in proximity to large urban centers . Even in areas distant from pollution sources atmospheric deposition in the US , and much of Europe , is 5 to 10 times higher than natural background levels . Wet deposition in rain , snow , and fog is relatively easy to measure and has known fertility and acidification consequences . Dry deposition , on the other hand , is much more difficult to quantify , but the effects may be significantly more deleterious . In the semi-arid regions of the US , dry deposition accounts for 75% to 95% of the total deposition , and although rainfall is heavier in the southeast part of the country , dry deposition may still account for as much as 50% of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributes to increase ecosystem fertility . The effects of increased fertility on natural ecosystems have been studied for over 20 years . By and large , the consequences are negative , with changes in plant community composition , increases in weedy exotic species , and decline in health and sustainability of forests . The consequences for managed ecosystems are understudied . Two areas of concern are : Nitrogen management activities that do not take into account the additions sources from atmospheric deposition and direct foliar