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Benghazi fog of politics: Other views
A roundup of opinion online on the terrorist attack in Libya.
Rich Lowry,Politico: "The falsehoods about (the attacks on the U.S. Consulate in) Benghazi weren't a product of the fog of war; they were the product of the fog of politics. Desperate to minimize the attack and deflect responsibility, Team Obama evaded and obfuscated."
OUR VIEW: Blame game hides what matters
Michael Hirsh,National Journal: "There was tragic incompetence, plainly, in the Obama administration's handling of the Benghazi attacks, and even possibly some political calculation. ... It is a record that may well come to haunt Hillary Clinton, the first secretary of State to lose an ambassador in the field in more than three decades, if she runs for president in 2016. But the obvious Republican effort to turn this inquiry into the Democratic (Obama) version of the Iraq intelligence scandal ... is just not going to amount to much."
John R. Guardiano,The American Spectator: "Yes, there are political games being played here, but they're not being played by the GOP. The political games are being played by liberal Democrats committed to protecting Hillary from embarrassment and defeat."
Paul Waldman,The American Prospect: "Conservatives want, so very desperately, for Benghazi to be Barack Obama's undoing. ... A genuine scandal can be pushed for cynical partisan reasons, but in the end its outcome is going to be determined by the facts. After yet another hearing that was supposed to produce the blockbuster revelations but failed to deliver, I suspect you'll see Republicans slowly peeling away from Benghazi promotion."
John Hinderaker,Power Line: "I think everyone knows, whether they admit it or not, that the Benghazi issue is ultimately political. What we already know for sure is devastating: The Obama administration treated the security of our diplomats and others in Libya in a grossly cavalier manner, which led directly to the deaths of our ambassador and three more Americans. Further, it is obvious that Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Susan Rice and others lied about the Benghazi travesty. ... No informed person doubts any of this. Democrats don't want to talk about it, but they don't try to deny it, either."
Kevin Drum,Mother Jones: "Was Benghazi mishandled? Maybe. Are there lessons to be learned? Probably. Is there a scandal or a coverup? There's never been any evidence of it, and there still isn't. This is a show that goes on and on without end, but it never delivers a payoff. ... Enough's enough."
Katie Pavlich, Townhall.com: "Hillary Clinton lied, Susan Rice lied, Barack Obama lied, Jay Carney lied, the Obama administration lied. The men in Libya were left to die as military forces were told to stand down. Bring on the perjury hearings. What difference does it make? A big difference."


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The backstory
Ah, the great winemaking regions of the world: Bordeaux, Napa Valley and...Denver? Yes, they're growing grapes in Colorado and winemaker Ben Parsons is using them to craft some very distinct offerings at Infinite Monkey Theorem, his Denver-based label. The winery's name indeed refers to a popular theorem of probability — namely, that if you give an infinite number of monkeys an infinite amount of time, they can pretty much accomplish anything. But it really speaks to Parsons' quirky sensibility, which is reflected not only in his choice of locale (Colorado does have a wine-growing tradition, but it's hardly California), but also his packaging (some of Infinite Monkey's wines have been released in cans). As for the 100th Monkey, it's a blended red that's somewhat akin to a "reserve" wine (a winemaker's best, in other words). A mix of petit verdot, petit syrah, malbec and cabernet franc, 100th Monkey recently received an 89-point rating from "Wine Spectator" —– the highest score ever given to a Colorado wine.
What we like about it
What a tasty, refined and unexpected bottle — a bit like boysenberry jam in liquid form, but with an added edge of dryness. The label itself touts the wine's "integrated floral notes of violet and lilac" and "a finish that goes on and on" (it does linger nicely on the tongue). The wine would pair well with anything meaty, but it has a little more flexibility than you'd get with a big ol' California cab. We love the funky drawing of the monkey on the bottle, too.

subset: commoncrawl


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Whenever my lovely friend Corina decides to put up a video on her blog, I'm inevitably delighted, and tempted to steal her suggestions. [I've spent the last few weeks trying vainly to liberate myself from the haunting tenor voice of the Scorpions' vocalist.] I think Corina and I share the same sort of appreciation of humor, music and other things. Here's her latest delightful choice:
This video is all the more relevant in that Corina tells me that she's thinking of settling down in this cheese territory.


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|Follow PSU Men's Volleyball:
|Follow @PennStateMVBALL
Jan. 16, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After returning from opening weekend in Hawaii, the No. 12 Penn State men's volleyball team is ready to kick off the home portion of the 2014 slate, hosting No. 14 IPFW and Ball State this weekend. The Nittany Lions will square off against the Mastodons Friday, Jan 17 at 7 p.m., before taking on the Cardinals Saturday, Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. Both matches will take place in the South Gymnasium, located in Rec Hall.
Penn State opened the 2014 season with a 1-2 mark in the Outrigger Invitational. The Nittany Lions dropped a close five-setter against seventh-ranked UCLA before falling in a 3-1 loss to No. 14 Hawaii. PSU rebounded with a 3-0 straight-set victory against No. 12 Ohio State to close out the weekend.
PENN STATE vs. IPFW
The Nittany Lions own a 41-14 advantage in the all-time series against the Mastodons. IPFW claimed a close five-set victory in the most recent meeting between the two teams on March 9, 2013. Within the last 10 years, PSU has compiled an 8-2 record against the Mastodons, having played nine regular-season matches against IPFW within the span.
IPFW is without a loss after recording wins against then-No. 15 Cal Baptist and Sacred Heart in the first two weeks of action. Eddie Rivera earned MIVA Offensive Player of the Week honors after posting 12 kills on .476 hitting in a 3-0 win against Sacred Heart last weekend. Rivera's 22 kills and .400 hitting clip ranks second on the team. Ramon Burgos is at the helm of the Mastodon offense, averaging 4.00 kills per set with a .585 attacking efficiency.
PENN STATE vs. BALL STATE
Penn State is leading the all-time series against Ball State 60-21, despite a 3-1 loss to the Cardinals in 2013. In the last 10 years, the two teams have met nine times, with the Nittany Lions claiming a win in six of the outings. From 2006 to 2010, PSU won five consecutive matches against Ball State.
BSU is 1-1 on the year, having dropped its season opening match against UC Irvine. The Cardinals rebounded with a 3-0 win against Sacred Heart to even the record. Marci Niemczewski and Kevin Owens are at the helm of the Ball State offense as the two have each recorded at least 11 kills this season. Niemczewski's averaging a team-high 4.00 kills per set as well as a squad-best 1.50 digs per set. Defensively, Matt Leske is atop the blocking unit, averaging 1.17 blocks per frame.
PSU moved to No. 12 in the latest AVCA Coaches' Poll after a 1-2 week against some of the nation's top talent. Penn State is the highest ranked EIVA team in the poll, coming in one spot in front of Harvard. The Nittany Lions were originally tabbed ninth in the preseason poll, before moving to No. 11 after the first week of NCAA men's volleyball action.
Redshirt-junior Nick Goodell earned a spot on the 2014 Outrigger Invitational All-Tournament team. The outside hitter recorded three consecutive double-digit kill performances last week, while leading the team in the category twice. Within the three matches, Goodell set a season-high mark with 19 kills on .455 hitting at Hawaii.
Penn State returns to action Friday, Jan. 31st, kicking off a nine-match homestand with a match against Mount Olive at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions will conclude the weekend with a matchup against in-state foe Saint Francis Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.


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Blaming God for our failure in Haiti
It's too bad every bit of religious idiocy that comes out of Pat Robertson's mouth gets a headline, his Haiti remarks being an egregious case in point. And it's worse that every Christian with access to a media outlet doesn't immediately grab the mike and denounce what he says and at least offer another Christian response to it, however unsatisfactory, and there are no easy answers to the suffering of the innocent.
Having faith doesn't mean that God is going to protect us. It only means that we have hope, and that when things like this happen, when poor, oppressed, forgotten people are ground down under yet another heel--even a natural disaster--we see the image of God ground down, we see Jesus crucified again, we see our very selves and our own children crushed.
Catholics sometimes call it solidarity, and it's a hell of a lot more than writing a check. It means recognizing our own hand in the suffering of the poor--and not just blaming God for "allowing" it to happen. It means asking how the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere can be just a few hundred miles from the richest country that has ever existed. Or how 2 billion people live on a dollar or two a day or lack access to clean water or secure food when it is well within our power to provide those basics. If God is mad about anything, I'd look there.
We've allowed Haiti to happen, just as we allowed Katrina to happen, just as we allow poor people all over the world to be left basically defenseless against the onslaught of nature and globalization and environmental destruction. God is just our excuse for doing next to nothing about it.


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Matt Holliday crushed a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning, sparking the Cardinals to a 9-6 victory over the Rockies in the second meeting of a three-game series.
Holliday, one day after homering and driving in four runs in an 11-6 win, smacked two round-trippers and drove in five against his former team on Wednesday.
His efforts allowed Jake Westbrook (10-8) to reach double-digit wins for the second straight season. Westbrook earned the victory despite allowing five runs on nine hits over six innings of work.
Tyler Colvin went 3-for-4 with two triples, two runs scored and an RBI for Colorado, which has dropped five in a row and seven straight at home.
The Rockies went ahead, 5-3, with four runs in the sixth, only to have their bullpen squander the lead in the next half-inning.
Matt Belisle (3-3) took over for fellow reliever Rex Brothers with two on and one out in the seventh, and his second pitch to Holliday was cranked deep into the bleachers in left-center for a three-run homer.
"We had runners in scoring position and I was just trying to get something that I could hit hard. That's really all you can do is just try to hit the ball hard," said Holliday. "It seems to be a good approach."
Rain forced a stoppage of 1:26 after the bottom of the seventh, and when play resumed, the Cardinals added three insurance runs.
Yadier Molina accounted for two of the runs, first scoring on a Matt Reynolds wild pitch in the eighth, then plating Holliday with a fielder's choice grounder in the ninth. Carlos Beltran also scored in the ninth just before Molina was caught in a rundown between first and second for the final out.
Josh Rutledge hit a solo homer off Marc Rzepczynski in the bottom half to cap the scoring.
Holliday's two-run shot in the first inning off Drew Pomeranz went the other way, as he golfed a hanging payoff pitch into the right-field seats.
Tyler Greene nearly had a two-run homer of his own the next frame, but Carlos Gonzalez leapt at the left-field wall and got a glove on it. Gonzalez wasn't able to hold on, and the ball came back into play for a run-scoring double.
"He battled through the four innings that he pitched, but he was a little bit erratic with his command," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said about Pomeranz, who allowed three runs on five hits and walk before being pulled after the fourth.
Colvin tripled and scored on a Ramon Hernandez groundout to get the Rockies on the board in the fourth, then had one of four straight extra-base hits for Colorado in the sixth.
Andrew Brown doubled to lead off the four-run inning and scored on a two- bagger from Jordan Pacheco. Colvin legged out another triple and brought in Pacheco in the process, then crossed home on Hernandez's double.
The inning ended when Eric Young Jr. was thrown out trying to turn his double into a triple, but not before Hernandez scored to make it 5-3.
Game Notes
Holliday is hitting .380 with eight homers and 23 RBI against the Rockies since being traded to Oakland after the 2008 season...Molina had three of St. Louis' 12 hits...Westbrook is 4-0 in his career against the Rockies...Edward Mujica, acquired in a trade with Miami on Tuesday, retired the heart of the Rockies' order in the seventh...Gonzalez went 0-for-4 to snap his 29-game home hitting streak. He was one shy of Larry Walker's franchise record...Hernandez had three hits.


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- Employment:
- I run CM Consulting
- Industry:
- Consulting
- How many hours I work:
- 0 to 20 hours a week
- How much I like my job:
- I love it
- How stressful I find my job:
- Not very stressful
- Best thing about my job:
- I can work my job around my family life rather than working my family around my job.
- Worst thing about my job:
- Nothing I can think of!
- My dream job:
- The one I'm doing.
Caitlin Mowbray
From Adelaide, Australia
Joined 25th May 2007
My Day Snapshot
Caitlin Mowbray hasn't written a snapshot yet.
My Life To-Do List
Currently on my Life Wish List:
Get on with the renovation and FINALLY MAKE SOME PROGRESS!!!
Goals I am working on:
Get the business website finished and published. Complete my product for email subscribers.
Projects I am working on:
My website and product.
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Business planning that really works
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Hi, Caitlin,
I am the co-founder of Work It, Mom! and wanted to just stop by and say welcome. It's always great to meet a fellow entrepreneur mom! I look forward to learning more about you and your business!
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Nataly on 15th October 2007


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An open letter to Mr. Bret Baier of Fox News from CDR Kerchner (Ret)Dear Mr. Baier:
I strongly suggest you invite constitutional scholar and attorney Herb Titus and constitutional presidential eligibility attorney Mario Apuzzo on to any debate or discussion panel you put together to debate the true legal and historical meaning of the Natural Law legal term of art "natural born Citizen". Invite anyone else you wish on to the panel who wishes to argue that the natural law "natural born Citizen" legal term of art is 100% synonymous with the man-made positive law, Congressional Statute Title 8 Section 1401, "Citizen at Birth" legal term, which is what you asserted. Our experts will conclusively prove to you and your listeners in any debate form or forum you choose that those two citizenship legal terms/types are not identically the same.
Both Herb Titus and Mario Apuzzo are nationally recognized experts in this field and are known for their in-depth knowledge and wisdom on the founding father's true understanding and meaning when they put the term "natural born Citizen" in as a "strong check" against foreign influence requirement for who can be a future President and Commander in Chief of our military, at the suggestion of John Jay who became the first Chief Justice of the United States, to General George Washington, the president of the constitutional convention. Natural born Citizens are the children born in the USA of two Citizens, second generation Americans via both parents. This is per natural law, not the laws of man or any legal law making body be it Congress or anyone else. Neither Congress or you can redefine the Laws of Nature.
This nation was founded at the federal level as a totally new form of government, a constitutional republic, based on the guiding principles of "the Laws of Nature and Nature's God". Read the Declaration of Independence first paragraph to refresh your memory if uncertain about that. The progressive movement would like to forget that. But the truth can be buried for a time but not hidden forever. And the preeminent writer on Natural Law and that which was used heavily by the founders is the legal treatise by Vattel, The Law of Nations or Principles of Natural Law. Read Vol.I, Chapter 19, Section 212. Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Jay did. "natural born Citizen" is defined therein and the founders and framers knew exactly what it meant when they inserted into our Constitution. It means born in the country to parents who are both Citizens (born or naturalized) of the country — a person born with sole allegiance at the instant of birth to one and only one country.
Bret, a favorite retort is "natural born Citizen" is not defined in the Constitution. What a silly argument. The Constitution does not come with a glossary. The founders and framers knew what the words meant when they wrote them. It was written in plain English. Only for the last 100 years have the progressive academics been steadily trying to twist the meaning of the words to subvert the original intent. Here's another word for you that is in the U.S. Constitution — Piracy. Piracy is not defined in the U.S. Constitution. But the founders and framers knew what it meant! And guess what source they chose to use to prescribe for punishment for said offenses — the Law of Nations. See the U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8.
I also strongly suggest you re-read the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and also the enlightenment period legal treatise the founders and framers were reading in 1775 — Vattel's Law of Nations or Principles of Natural Law — especially Vol.1 on the forming of a new nation.
I look forward to a full and thorough debate by a balanced panel of experts from each side, including the two named above. Such a debate has been needed for over four years now.
CDR Charles Kerchner (Ret)
Lehigh Valley PA


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Liverpool FC defender Jamie Carragher has announced he will hang up his boots at the end of the season, saying: "It has been a privilege and an honour to represent this great club."
"This will be my last season at Liverpool and my last as a professional footballer," said the former England central defender, who turned 35 in late January. Carragher has spent his entire career at Anfield, and has played more than 700 games for the club, winning the 2000/01 UEFA Cup and the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League as well as two FA Cups. He is second only to Ian Callaghan in terms of all-time Liverpool appearances.
"I will be fully committed between now and the end of the season to doing the very best for Liverpool, as I've done since joining aged nine years old," he added. "It has been a privilege and an honour to represent this great club for as long as I have and I am immensely proud to have done so and thankful for all the support I have had. There are many memories I want to share and people to thank, but now is not the time for that."
Liverpool visit FC Zenit St Petersburg in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League round of 32 tie on 14 February. Carragher featured in five of their six group stage games in the autumn.
©UEFA.com 1998-2017. All rights reserved.


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A parasailer, being towed by a ski boat, struck the roof of an anchored pontoon boat in Union Lake, the Oakland County Sheriff's Office reported.
The driver of the ski boat fled the scene, and the parasailer refused treatment by the West Bloomfield Township Fire Department, deputies report. Firefighters treated a passenger in the pontoon boat who was injured in the accident.
The incident occurred around 9:15 p.m. Thursday.
The ski boat driver has not yet been found, and deputies continue to investigate.
– Staff writer Monica Drake


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The Daily Journal's annual "Top 100 Lawyers in California" only comes out once a year. The competition is fierce. The paper considers more than 1,000 attorneys before narrowing the list to 100.
We are honored this year to have eight alumni and our own Chancellor and Dean Frank H. Wu among the honorees. The attorneys and Dean Wu were singled out for their contributions to their clients, the law, and the legal community.
"These attorneys are not only tops in their fields, they are pillars in the legal community," Wu said. "We know we have alumni who daily serve their clients and the community with no recognition. It's nice, then, when the contributions of our alumni are honored."
Wu extended his congratulations to Nanci Clarence '85, Joseph Cotchett '64, Roger Dreyer '80, Lynne C. Hermle '81, Jennifer Keller '78, Kenneth Nissly '77, Francis Scarpulla '67, and Christopher Sullivan '90. The lawyers were honored for their work in fraud, antitrust, employment, IP, and personal injury cases.
Nanci Clarence '85: Clarence, a white-collar criminal defense lawyer in San Francisco, was highlighted for her defense work in a complicated cross-border insider trading case. "These are the type of cases we like to do," she told the Daily Journal. "Complicated issues that are fast moving and the core of the case involves working pretty intimately with our clients."
Joseph Cotchett '64: Cotchett, of Burlingame, specializes in antitrust and securities fraud cases. He was noted for his work for investors who lost funds when Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme fell apart. He also is representing Sen. Dianne Feinstein in her suit against First California Bank, which she alleges overlooked years of fraud on behalf of her campaign treasurer, resulting in the loss of $5.2 million. Cotchett told the paper such fraud "takes a very big chunk out of the fiber of society." He's not discouraged, though. "I was a ballplayer as a young boy," Cotchett said. "It's not how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you got up. That's what it's all about."
Roger Dreyer '80: Sacramento personal injury attorney Dreyer was honored for a difficult personal injury and products liability jury trial that ran 50 days. Despite a challenging fact pattern, Dreyer won $31.5 million for his clients, two Chico State University students injured in an alcohol-related wakeboarding accident on Lake Oroville. Dreyer said he won in part by asking the jury to "take a deep breath and be open-minded about the issues." "We know that people drink on boats, and we were never an apologist for the defendant, but he was put in a position of operating a boat with a defect that was not noticeable to the user or even discussed in the owner's manual."
Lynne C. Hermle '81: Hermle, a Orrick partner, seems to be at the heart of most of the class action employment-related cases in Silicon Valley. She secured what she called "a very major victory" recently when a federal magistrate recommended that class certification be denied in a case involving more than 750 store managers at 80 Sears stores throughout California, a potentially very costly case to her client. "We proved that the circumstances were so different that the plaintiff didn't meet the burden to show commonality," she told the paper. She won the right in a second case to proceed with an appeal of a class certification order in a case involving several hundred computer technicians alleging violations of wage and hour laws.
Jennifer Keller '78: Keller, of Irvine's Keller Rackauckas, is a litigator at the center of the infamous MGA Entertainment/Mattel case over the Bratz dolls. A business litigation specialist, Keller was lead counsel for MGA in the retrial. She's also battled on behalf of MGA with its insurers. "It was fun for me because I had never been exposed to insurance bad-faith litigation," she told the paper. "I really like learning new things and getting involved with something I never have before." Summing up her work in the highly contentious case, she said, "I want a case that is large, complex, interesting, and that has a potentially large-dollar closure. But I also want something intangible; I want a case where I can make a difference."
Kenneth Nissly '77: Nissly, a partner in O'Melveny & Myer's Menlo Park office, led the Hynix team in its lengthly litigation with Ramous. Rambus alleged Hynix and co-defendants Micron Technology conspired to prevent RDRAM memory technology from becoming the standard computer memory technology worldwide. Nissly convinced a jury otherwise. "It's clear now that the verdict was the start of a string of litigation setbacks for Rambus," he told the paper. "The longevity of the case and the scope of the litigation is extraordinary. When people step back and look at what Rambus did and is doing, it contributes to the concern—in both a legal and public policy perspective—is the patent system really working in a way that is economically beneficial?"
Francis Scarpulla '67: Scarpulla, of San Francisco's Zelle Hofmann Voebel & Mason, has made a mini-career of suing electronics companies for antitrust violations over their alleged efforts to fix the price of SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) chips to suppliers and consumers. He won a $571 million settlement on behalf of indirect purchasers over price-fixing of thin-film-transistor liquid crystal displays. When combined with previous settlements in the case, Scarpulla has won $1 billion for his clients. The paper called it the largest all-cash nonreversionary settlement in an antitrust class action for indirect purchasers. "I did that case," he told the paper. "I did the class work. I did the summary judgment work. I took key depositions. It got settled because of the work I did."
Christopher Sullivan '90: Sullivan, a litigator with Trepel Greenfield Sullivan & Draa in San Francisco, has been instrumental in settling the estate of the former law firm Heller Ehrman. Heller sued 49 law firms, alleging they improperly collected proceeds from business Heller originated. Sullivan has helped the estate settle with 45 firms. Only four suits remain. "It was an unusual case in the sense that the estate brought litigation right away," Sullivan told the paper. "We took an approach to get the litigation going very quickly, and it has helped in the long run." Sullivan was also responsible for helping broker a $20 million settlement between Heller and its lenders. He has helped the estate recover more than $30 million since the firm filed for bankruptcy in 2008.
Frank H. Wu, Chancellor and Dean: Wu was noted for his "reboot" of legal education at UC Hastings, including cutting class size by 20 percent. "This is the right thing to do, not only for our students but also for society," Wu told the paper. "We should accept only the number of students that could have reasonable expectations about employment." The paper also noted the college's other changes, including strengthened clinical programs, a focus on hiring new faculty, its new Masters of Studies in Law programs and its partnership with UCSF. "This is revolutionary," Wu told the Daily Journal.


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Flasteel sig ... QFT. Nothingmore to say!!
Flasteel sig ... QFT. Nothingmore to say!!
We got our "6-PACK" - time to work on a CASE!
Sapp was a great player, doesn't mean I want to see him on NFLN or hear his opinions. On anything really....
go to [URL]http://www.thebreastcancersite.com[/URL] to donate a free mammogram a day to women without health insurance.
[Update: Fired by NFL Network]
12:55 PM PT -- New details in the Warren Sapp arrest ...
Cops say two women told police they were at the hotel "as escorts" and went to Sapp's room, where an argument broke out over money.
The women claim the argument turned physical and spilled out into the hallway.
Cops say the women had injuries consistent with a struggle.
Officials say when cops questioned Sapp,"he was questioned and admitted involvement in the act of prostitution, but denied assaulting the females."
Both women involved in the incident received citations from police -- one for prostitution, the other for a violation of the City's escort permit requirements. Both women were released.
12:49 PM PT -- Sapp has been SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY from the NFL Network without pay pending the outcome of the investigation ... so says NFL Network spokesman Alex Riethmiller.
12:47 PM PT -- Phoenix Police Chief Joseph Yahner says there are TWO female victims ... who both allegedly suffered minor injuries.
Yahner says the women contacted police officers to report the assault.
12:21 PM PT -- The NFL Network has removed Sapp's bio from the official "On-Air Talent" section of the website.
No word if Sapp has been fired from the Network yet ... but as one source puts it, "It's not looking good."
12:06 PM PT -- A rep for the hotel where Warren was arrested tells TMZ Sports, "we were contacted by the Phoenix Police Dept. today in a matter involving a guest."
"We are cooperating with police as they look into the situation since it is an active investigation. We have no further comment."
Warren Sapp was arrested in Phoenix this morning for soliciting a prostitute around 7AM ... TMZ Sports has learned.
Sapp was also arrested for assault. We're told Sapp was taken into custody at a hotel in Downtown Phoenix.
The 42-year-old "Dancing with the Stars" alum was booked just a few minutes ago.
Sapp was in Phoenix covering the Super Bowl for the NFL Network.
It's not Warren's first arrest -- he was busted in 2010 for domestic battery, but those charges were eventually dropped. He was also arrested for an alleged domestic battery in Miami in 2014.
what a dip****. even tho he's dumb, fat and broke, aren't there enough skanks in this world that would do the guy for free just because of his name?
listening to him (and some other analysts as well)
i have no idea how these guys are hired for any jobs where they;re required to speak
the prostitute was quoted as saying that Warren Sapp was "old and slow"...
Couldn't happen to a bigger tool. Hopefully she turns out to be 17 and sold him some crack.
Guys and gals,
If you play fantasy football, go to the FF forum here and read my thread. I'd appreciate some feedback on it.
The NFLN is so hard to watch. I just can't.
Steel City Mafia
So Cal Boss (Ret)
My son's first Kansas Turkey!


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This is going to be a long thank you and apology because of the extra help from our citizens that I can't remember all their names but wanted them to know we greatly appreciate all that everyone did.
This is going to be a long thank you and apology because of the extra help from our citizens that I can't remember all their names but wanted them to know we greatly appreciate all that everyone did. We give special thanks to Bob Raisbuck and Cheri & Randy Heitz for managing our toy room and for packing 620 bags full of toys for the children. To Cathy & Shirl Wise and Bobbi Nicklaus for helping on the days we were giving out buckets. To everyone who took an angel from the tree. To Boy Scout Pack #19, Township clientele, FHS wrestling team, veterans' organization and other people of the community who helped pack 557 Christmas food buckets. To Ms. Fricke's Business Co-op Education class. To the many schools and churches who volunteered. To the volunteers that wish to remain anonymous. The Salvation Army would like to give a generous thanks to everyone that donated all types of food, toys, clothing, household items, monetary amounts and their time in giving a WONDERFUL Christmas to many families that otherwise would have been without. Because of generous people like all of you, we were able to have our annual Christmas basket give-away and our Christmas dinner. There were 40 volunteers on Christmas day cooking and serving. We had 225 dinners delivered and 120 ate in the dining room. We also want to thank the people who volunteered on Thanksgiving who cooked and served 135 guests and delivered 210 dinners. We couldn't have done many things without the help from everyone that helped ring bells, had a Christmas barrel or had a counter kettle. Some even had fundraisers, collecting winter items. Many women spent all year making scarves, hats and gloves. To Carol and staff from the Freeport library who donated their time in collecting children books for our Christmas baskets. It is wonderful to have a full feeling in your heart knowing you helped brighten someone's holiday. It's great to see the outpouring of love from this community when we have a job to do. YOU ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR US!! Thank you all for helping s give everyone a wonderful Christmas 2013!! We wish everyone a wonderful, happy and healthy New Year 2014. — Nickee Bender, Freeport


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|2010-11-28, 02:41
|Link #10101
books-eater youkai
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Betweem wisdom and insanity
Oregon bomb-plot suspect told agents he wanted 'a spectacular show'
Another young than wanted to kill a bunch of peoples, just this time it wasn't a shot-out but terrorism.
|2010-11-28, 03:27
|Link #10102
Asuki-tan Kairin ↓
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fürth (GER)
Age: 37
When I hear investment bankers (scammers) whine about the young investor's spending habbits and at the same time are trying to convert them back to the scamming system... I feel like punching some sense into them
|2010-11-28, 04:04
|Link #10103
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 29
Seriously speaking, sometimes I find that their idea of "investing" is a little ridiculous, granted though risk is present in all forms of investing, short-selling is nowhere less risky than buying stocks and holding them, trading software have something called "stop loss" and "draw channel lines", and it is only 100% risky when you don't use these stuff at all.
Though right now, I REALLY don't know what is the hype about forex amongst us youngsters as the "best first step" in learning how to invest. Some of those around my age kept going "let's short on anything equated to the USD because it is going to be bearish in the long run" make me want to go facepalm : sure it is going bearish but it doesn't mean it isn't going to grow from time to time - ever heard of inflation and rallies?
One thing I fear though, is that I might get peer-pressured into "leeching the fake guru" - an economic boom is imminent so anything you buy will most likely go up, and I might just buy into what the next thing the Bloomberg newscaster suggests, passed onto me from one of my more popular classmates.
|2010-11-28, 05:00
|Link #10104
Asuki-tan Kairin ↓
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fürth (GER)
Age: 37
The financial system with all the markets (e.g. stock exchange, real estate market, credit market, currency market...) has when you summarize it a lot of loop-holes and hence is misused where-ever possible. Unfortunately a comparison with a lottery cannot be made (since lottery promises high interest returns, but at the same time is honest and easy enough to understand in that only a selected lucky few get those returns... and it is purely based on luck, not on the money you can pump into the system to make it more benficial for you).
Many of the small IB fish are just... uh... jugglers, they think they know what they are doing and believe in a system that they do not fully understand. Its more like a religious cult of money less like serious business when you entrust them with your money. They are simply marionettes.
But there are also people who understand the system, but have not enough influence/money to make it work efficiently for them or simply do not care. Those I would put in another category of people who will happily trade critical thinking for a personal gain:
And than you have the cult leaders...
What I basically wanted to say is, that every IB has at least his/her own little greed-driven function in that system (since I don't want to generalize I will admit that there might be a few exemptions - but they cannot be very succesful IBs... because their investment plans cannot keep pace with the much more promising high risk (begs the question for whom high risk anyway) plans of their colleagues who sell these things like it was virtually foolproof business (again begs the question for whom and what "virtually" means).
Anyway, I'ld still wouldn't call the whole system a scam if it were just that. The line where I call it scam is when the investment strategies are not allowed to fail (because there is a systemic risk) and the people who gained extra ordiniraly while being aware of the forseeable break down are not held accountable and hence make the strategy beneficial for a selected few (the scam masters) and bad for everyone else (including those who never agreed to take part in the whole high risk game - but are unlucky enough to have no choice but to shoulder the bailouts).
|2010-11-28, 07:16
|Link #10105
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 29
Being a student of Finance myself, I do realise that even what the schools teach are incredibly condensed, I don't remember a teacher introducing Keynes and go through his IS/LM in detail. The WORST one I have ever seen said "The whole economy of the world is based on the efficient market hypothesis".
The real estate market is probably one of the most bloated markets in the world, because it is simply assumed in many sectors that land itself will never decrease in value in the long run (and that is because of inflation). The next one up, will be the currency market, as governments continue to value other countries' currencies in their own terms.
The last part of having the "money pumped into the system" with regards to our economy, is actually inevitable as the world "shrinks". To let an economy itself simply crash can be disastrous to the future growth as it might take eons to even recover to the previously rate of growth, leading to civil instability. It is actually a large part, a political issue as the ruling has to protect their position.
Personally speaking, I think the market can be dirty, but I guess it is fair enough as a testament to how greedy all of us are.
On a less serious note, there is one ultimate way for the stupid to trade, the Elliot Wave Principle.
Not wanting to have an investment fail is every fund manager / banker's dream, but it is undoubtedly unrealistic because an investment is a business and shit happens. It has to be taken seriously, updated and watched from time to time to ensure that the source of income doesn't disappear.
Cult leadership is pretty much how most "day traders" surround "professionals" from places like Bloomberg and WSJ. The followers are leeches. What is worse that some people claim to trade by "price action" and put themselves into financial ruin by not wanting to believe that they have lost the trade. The mantra of "cut your losses and let your profits run" is put down by those who didn't know what is enough for them, and what needs to be stopped immediately (namely, don't move the damn stop loss).
A business is a major project undertaken, there has to be some form of damage control. Even modern battleship doctrines include a certain set of parameters to be fulfilled before the crew is to bail, so why many financial institutions simply don't want to admit that their plans of investment failed?
P.S Actually, I was wondering about the British debt to US since WWII, I don't remember seeing it being repaid, and I seriously wonder how much is it now due to inflation.
If that is so, the entire world is now in debt, not even the financial strength of China can save the world economy in the next few crashes.
|2010-11-28, 08:36
|Link #10106
Asuki-tan Kairin ↓
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fürth (GER)
Age: 37
An economy doesn't automatically crash when it doesn't grow for a decade. The real problem is debt, to be able to repay rising debt, economy growth is the driving factor and thus wanting more investment (which creates more debt)....
This is basically a competition who can live best at the cutting edge balancing on a knife's edge (celebrating deregulation). This however makes the whole system terribly chaotic (and you don't need to ask an oracle to predict who is hit worst in such a chaos... certainly not the scam masters).
Last edited by Jinto; 2010-11-28 at 09:45.
|2010-11-28, 14:21
|Link #10107
Sensei, aishite imasu
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Hong Kong Shatterdome
...although it'd certainly be a good idea to assign ROK special forces teams, particularly the counter terrorist ones. I'm thinking that one thing the North Korean infiltrators would try to do is something similar in the Mumbai attacks, with ununiformed attackers raising as much havoc as possible. Although there's likely to be far more of them, and much better coordinated.
Along with artillery and nuclear attack, infiltrators are probably the biggest threat the North Koreans have in their deck.
Though given the Koreans history at COIN ops during Vietnam...being a captured ununiformed North Korean infiltrator is bound to not be pleasant experiance.
|2010-11-28, 14:29
|Link #10108
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 29
The thing is, the debt-system we have used has been in place for close to a century since the start of the British Empire's decline, WWI/WWII and the entire of Cold War itself. WWI has caused plenty of damage to Europe and France that technically speaking, it is technically impossible for Germany at that time to repay the entire reparation according to the Treaty of Versailles, making the entire Europe in debt. Then came WWII which US sold arms and materiel on credit to the frontlines, namely Europe.
Then we have the Cold War, which by then, the whole world is in debt, and the communist countries dropped themselves into it thanks to collectivisation and the focus on output, driving them into losses and losses.
Though the US removed the peg of the dollar to gold in 1970 and giving it virtual control of the entire's world economy, it is already in bad debt. And the subsequent crises are simply worsening it along with inflation : in short, Grisham' Law has already come true and the pieces of paper we have in our hands, on a macroeconomic scale, is worthless and as good as bad money. The reason why it is given a value is because someone else is holding onto our debt, and we are holding onto someone else's.
I do realise that this is how the world works and it is disgusting, but the problem is that we have gotten so deep into this mess that digging our way out would mean to rebuild the entire financial system from scratch; the best we could do right now is to tighten regulations, however the corporations would move to countries with less regulation and deprive our government of corporate tax, which is usually larger than how much an average citizen pays altogether.
It is an irony that the business entities are those who create the pitfalls and the citizens clean up the mess. Though virtual bubbles create short-term benefits for a period of economic boom, and facilitates liquidity of money, the crashes they cause are huge when the time comes to repay the debt : the bank lends but is bogged down by the huge number of bad debts that it has to fold.
Investment companies are so concerned about liquidity (what they bought that can be sold) that they forget that they are helping to forment a bubble. In the context of science, air is the most viscous and fluid out of the three basic states of matter, and when it is all air in the bubble, it simply bursts due to differences in low external pressure (market reality) and high internal pressure (market expectation).
Last edited by SaintessHeart; 2010-11-28 at 15:11.
|2010-11-28, 14:53
|Link #10109
books-eater youkai
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Betweem wisdom and insanity
Opposition cries foul in Egyptian election
Haiti candidates demand cancellation of elections
Did someone really expected it to go in another way ?
|2010-11-28, 15:40
|Link #10110
Sensei, aishite imasu
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Hong Kong Shatterdome
The little amount of stuff I've read about South Korean Marines and Special forces is that you don't want to fuck around with them behind their backs.
|2010-11-28, 15:44
|Link #10111
Asuki-tan Kairin ↓
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fürth (GER)
Age: 37
lets say that I agree, in that I don't know of an ideal solution for the debt/growth problem. Typically I would propose stricter regulation, but it requires only a selected few develop(ed/ing) countries, who risk the stability of the entire system, in order to have an economically sunnier place than others, for a certain amount of time (international competition) to counter any such stabilization efforts. This is where capitalism basically axes itself (sustainable growth is a long term goal, but raising profits is a more important short term goal).
What I want to say is, that I do not disagree with you, but I guess I am more idealistic (not that I have a solution). :P
|2010-11-28, 18:13
|Link #10112
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: classified
Well, the Irish are pretty pissed right now.
Oh, and wikileaks just dropped a "info-bomb" on the world, 250,000 of them anyway.
|2010-11-28, 18:44
|Link #10113
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: at GNR, bringing you the truth, no matter how bad it hurts
Age: 33
good old Wikileaks.
showing us once again, that sufficient amounts of stupidity are indistinguishable from malice.
foolish and dangerous.
this will cause needless damage, and will more then likely get people killed.
or maybe thats the point.
|2010-11-28, 19:17
|Link #10115
books-eater youkai
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Betweem wisdom and insanity
|2010-11-28, 19:35
|Link #10117
Takao Tsundere Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Classified
Wikileaks cables: key issues
Some interesting bits from Wikileaks. No surprise, some of the Arab countries don't like President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the US think PM Silvio Berlusconi is very vain leader.
Last edited by MrTerrorist; 2010-11-28 at 20:50. Reason: Grammar
|2010-11-28, 19:44
|Link #10118
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: at GNR, bringing you the truth, no matter how bad it hurts
Age: 33
many of the leading arab leaders have ASKED the us to ATTACK iran.
there is a difference between the two.
the fact that they don't like each other isn't new (its the middle east, nobody likes anyone)
the fact that its now public information that they made attempts to attack Iran via a third party - is likely to cause problems in the future.
exposing this fact publicly might well lead to an escalation in the future.
especially if Iran does turn nuclear some day.
diplomacy in the middle east requires tact, balance, and double talk.
and these documents fly in the face of all that.
|2010-11-28, 20:51
|Link #10120
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 29
The world shifts accordingly between order and chaos : where there is order, chaos will occur. Where there is chaos, order will arise. It is only a matter of time before an appointment holder in society, known as the "politician" realises that sinking too far to one side is nowhere good for the future. The problem is, who will that guy be?
I am a pragmatist by default btw, so I am actually not far off from the idealist-optimist-pragmatist-pessimist spectrum of perspectives.
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DEAR BRUCE: Next year I will be eligible to begin collecting Social Security. My husband currently collects his benefits, and my disabled daughter has also been collecting.
I am told if I wait a few years to collect my Social Security benefits, I will qualify to receive my husband�s Social Security benefits (upon his demise) in lieu of mine, which is the smaller of the two. However, since my adult daughter currently receives some benefits off my husband�s Social Security, will I still be eligible to receive his benefits in lieu of mine? � Jen
DEAR JEN: I don�t think your question is as simple as you indicate. You can start to collect immediately when you reach age 62, but whether you do depends upon a number of variables, not the least of which is your need for the money.
If you don�t necessarily need the money, the longer you hold off (up until age 70), the more money you will receive when you finally start to collect. That is a consideration that you must take into account. The fact that your daughter is receiving benefits from your husband�s account has no bearing on your ability to collect.
By all means you should visit a Social Security office. Find out exactly what effect it would have if you do not collect immediately. Then you can make the decision about when to start collecting.
DEAR BRUCE: I am 64 years old and have very little income. I rented out one of the bedrooms in my condo. I rented it to a male who paid me a $150 deposit and $425 for the first month�s rent. The following month he paid me $425 toward the next month. That is all he has paid. He now owes me $850 for two more months. Can you advise me on how to get rid of him? � R.B.
DEAR R.B.: You didn�t indicate what state you are living in, and that will impact very materially what your next step will be. In some states, you can get rid of him in a hurry and in others it becomes very difficult. Seek advice from your local authorities as to what previsions are in place for having someone removed for lack of payment.
It is very likely that this will require the services of an attorney. The fact that your renter owes you $850 and has made no effort to pay you does not sit well with your situation.
I would tell him that unless you have the money in five days, you will seek the advice of an attorney on how to collect the money and get rid of him. I know this isn�t the advice you wanted, but unfortunately, that�s the way it has to be.
� Send questions to email@example.com. Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided. The Bruce Williams Radio Show can now be heard 24/7 via iTunes and at www.taeradio.com. It is also available at www.brucewilliams.com.


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companion pet called the Guardian Cub that you can purchase through the Blizzard store. Unlike previous pets, this companion pet will be a one-time-only use item and will not be Bind on Account. Additionally, this pet will be able to be traded to other players for gold.
Yes, you heard that right.
The pet will cost $10, and you can trade it to other people in game for whatever in-game currency or items you want.
The full Blizzard FAQ after the break.


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The question seems broad: What makes the Patriots offense so special?
In the last 10 years, the Patriots have ranked in the top 10 in the NFL in scoring offense 10 times, including No. 1 rankings in 2007, 2010, and 2012.
And the answer to the question seems obvious.
"It's simple: No. 12, Tom Brady," said former Patriots tight end Jermaine Wiggins. "The reason why they're able to be so dominant year in and year out is obviously the quarterback."
Of course. Brady is an all-time great who will eventually go down in NFL lore with the likes of Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, and John Elway. His arm strength, accuracy, and knowledge of the game give the Patriots a huge advantage over any defense.
Even with a ton of roster turnover this offseason — Rob Gronkowski is injured, and most of last year's top receivers are gone — few expect the Patriots to be anything but stellar on offense again.
"When you look at all the changes, if there's anyone that can make up for that, it's Tom Brady," said former MVP quarterback Rich Gannon.
But it's too simplistic to chalk up this offensive dominance to a freak of a quarterback. Brady wasn't born a football savant — he worked his way, tirelessly, into one.
The Patriots offense has taken on the personality of its chief; Brady's talent and smarts carry the team a long way. But the offense wouldn't be consistently stellar without the tireless preparation and intelligence of the other players and coaching staff, as well.
Here, then, is a look at how three main factors have led to a decade of offensive dominance.
The plays the Patriots run on offense aren't necessarily revolutionary or unique; in fact, it's a lot of the same plays over and over, but run out of endless formations and personnel groupings.
"You're not going to win the conference with flea-flickers and reverse passes and trick plays," Brady said. "That is a bit of a misnomer sometimes. You think it's a new scheme or a new offense, but it comes down to how well you catch and throw and run and block."
But mastering the offense does require a lot of unspoken communication between the quarterback and his receivers, particularly with the team's use of "option routes," which are essential to running the up-tempo, no-huddle offense, according to NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell, who watches coaches' tape on every NFL game.
New England coach Bill Belichick said the playbook doesn't have an "overriding" number of option routes for the receivers, but they are certainly a large element. Brady and his receivers have mere seconds before and after the snap to dissect the coverage and to know which routes to run and where to go with the ball.
"We could change right before the snap, or it could be a post-snap adjustment based on the coverage, where the rotation is, whether the cornerback is pressed on or off, the location of the linebacker, all those kind of things," Belichick said.
The Patriots were devastating with their use of the up-tempo offense last year, averaging 35 points per game. Brady calls out one word, the offense rushes to the line of scrimmage, and the Patriots hit the defense with another play before it even has a chance to set up.
That level of nonverbal communication and execution doesn't happen by chance. Brady doesn't waste a snap on the practice field, and his 7 a.m. meetings with the offensive specialists — before the rest of the team begins its day — have become the stuff of legend. Brady said he has spent even more time teaching and meeting with his receivers this year because there are so many new faces.
"That's always part of the role of the quarterback, to make sure everybody's on the same page," Brady said. "Because really, it's a reflection of you as a player, whether guys are doing the right or wrong thing. And when you're in the huddle looking in their eyes, it's, 'OK, what are they going to do, and what kind of confidence do I have in what they're going to do?' "
Former Patriots receiver Troy Brown said discipline is the only way for receivers to thrive in the offense.
"Discipline in route-running — not rounding out, not coming back to the ball, all the little things you don't always think about," Brown said. "Taking care of your body. Eating right. Being accountable. All those things are part of discipline."
Brady also has the advantage of preparing for games with a legendary defensive coach in Belichick, who analyzes the opposing defense, figures out how that team will attack the Patriots, then devises a game plan with Brady to neutralize those elements.
"Those meetings that Brady has with Bill are so invaluable," Gannon said. "Bill knows defensive schemes, 'so here are the three or four things we have to handle each week.' "
With four new wide receivers and a new tight end, Brady stayed in town this spring and put in extra practice time with his new mates. His work appears to be paying immediate dividends with receivers Danny Amendola and Kenbrell Thompkins and tight end Zach Sudfeld.
"Amendola looked like he had been working with Tom Brady for 10 years," said former Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber after watching one of the joint practices between the teams. "We practiced with them last year, and I was amazed at how he communicates — sometimes nicely, but a lot of times it's in your face. He's that leader that demands respect from his guys."
In this offense, the ability to retain a lot of information and apply it in split-second decisions on the field is more important than physical skill. The meetings and preparation during the week are key, but they ultimately don't mean much if the players don't understand what the heck Brady is talking about.
For example, the Patriots might call a play for a receiver to run a comeback route, but it ultimately depends on what the defender shows immediately before or after the snap.
"If the cornerback keeps his butt to the quarterback, then you might stick with the comeback route," Wiggins said. "But if he opens up his hips, maybe you run a go route.
"Then you have to read, is there a defender outside? Inside? And you have to read all this as you're running your route, and it could change 8 or 9 yards downfield, twice. That's where the complexity comes in."
The receivers who didn't thrive in the Patriots offense — such as Chad Johnson and Joey Galloway — weren't able to diagnose the option routes on the fly, and never earned Brady's trust.
"In Cincinnati, there were many times Carson Palmer threw interceptions because Chad Johnson didn't read the coverage properly," Cosell said. "Especially if you're going to play a lot of up-tempo, you have to be able to read on the move."
It's never easy putting labels on Belichick's schemes — he uses elements from several different offensive and defensive philosophies — but if anything, the Patriots run the Erhardt-Perkins offense, named after former Patriots assistant coaches Ron Erhardt and Ray Perkins.
Essentially, it has a finite number of passing plays, but they are run out of endless formations and personnel groupings. The players running the routes may be different, but Brady often has the same reads on his pass plays.
When the Patriots go up-tempo, all it takes is for Brady to bark out one word, and everyone from the receivers to the tight ends to the offensive linemen knows his assignment.
But when the Patriots slow it down, the terminology expands, and can be complicated. Johnson came from a number-based system in Cincinnati that told him exactly what to do when he heard one number. In New England, there is a lot more terminology and a lot more information to retain.
"They could say, 'Trips right, 56 all go special halfback snow,' and that sets the blocking assignments and tells the halfback to run an option route," Wiggins said. "And this stuff changes week to week."
Yes, no discussion of the Patriots' offensive greatness is complete without talking about No. 12, who is entering his 12th year as the starting quarterback (he barely played in 2000 and 2008).
He has been a Patriot for 14 years overall, and 14 years of film study, and learning how to train his body, and working diligently with his teammates has made him a better quarterback than ever.
Brady's game is so cerebral now that he knows how to diagnose pressure before the snap, and gets the ball out of his hand before it can get to him.
"They run a lot of empty sets, a lot of five-man protection, and it's predicated on the quarterback not holding the ball," Gannon said. "And Brady does a great job of protecting himself. He gets the ball out quickly and doesn't take unnecessary hits."
At this point in his career, Brady has seen just about every scenario, and little fazes him.
"The smarts and intelligence of Brady are special," said a rival AFC front-office executive. "The offensive direction under Brady is so well-versed in regards to situational football, down-and-distance. To beat Tom Brady and his offense, you have to beat them, they won't hand you the game.
"He's not immortal, but he has arm talent and brains, reads defenses very well, understands where pressure is coming from, knows where the matchup advantages and deficiencies are of the defense, and goes about the business of exposing them."
Brady is at the point in his career where he can just toy with opposing defenses.
"There's different levels of quarterback play," Cosell explained. "When guys start out, they just want to run the plays. Then the second part is understanding the shifts and motions. Then the next part is understanding the defense. Then it's trying to read the defenses on the go. Then the highest part is manipulating the defense, where you're actually manipulating the game before the snap.
"That's where Brady is at now, the highest stage. And he'll tell you, he's better at it than he ever has been, because he's more and more experienced every year."Ben Volin can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @BenVolin


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Dear Prudence,My boyfriend of three years and I are in our late 20s and we recently moved into a modest house together in the same town as his parents. Prior to that move, I had my own apartment and he lived with his parents. We recently were away for the weekend and I let my boyfriend give our keys to his mother so she could hang a photo for us that she had reframed. When we returned, our entire house had been redecorated. New photos on the walls, new pillows on the couches, new kitchen items and existing kitchen stuff reorganized. Upstairs there were new pictures over the bed and new towels. All my toiletries had either been replaced or rearranged, including my medicine cabinet. My laundry had been done, with my underwear and bras folded in my drawer. My closet was rearranged. She also went through my Facebook profile and printed off some photos I had uploaded and framed and hung them. I know this seems nice, but to me it just felt invasive. I feel completely violated. I am embarrassed at some of the things she came across (she went through my bedside table and all my drawers). My boyfriend doesnt see the problemshes always been like this with him and I guess hes used to itand its causing a lot of tension between us. She spent hours and tons of money, so am I being crazy, ungrateful, oversensitive?Feeling Violated
Change the locks. Get counselling. If he doesn't get it, change the boyfriend. Yikes!!!
WOW.I would be furious. I have real issues with people being in my private spaces when I'm not there as it is.The time and effort spent, and fact that she gave a reason to be entering the house all indicate that this was a completely premeditated thing - this wasn't spotting a stain on the curtains and deciding it'd be a nice gesture to change them so the couple didn't have to deal with it when they got back.The changing of the pictures and other items was the MIL marking her territory. She is trying to take control of the couple's house now that the son is out from under her roof.
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Three of North Tama's finest have been selected by Kubik-Finch Post #142 to attend this year's Iowa Girls State in Ames from June 16-21 on the campus of Iowa State University.
Josie Youel, Ellie Schafer and Katie Townsend are the three young ladies selected for the honor this year, and each will have the opportunity to learn about government up close and personal.
The 300 young women attending have completed their junior year of high school and will study city, county and state government processes. Iowa Girls State citizens set up their own city, county and state governments and administer them according to the laws of Iowa.
Article Photos
Josie Youel
The girls also participate in legislative sessions, campaigning, party rallies, debating and voting along with learning deeper knowledge of parliamentary procedure.
In addition to their political activities, the girls hear several motivational speakers along with local and state government officials.
The culmination of the week is the inauguration of the newly elected state officials. The Inauguration Program will be held at the Stevens Auditorium on the Iowa State campus.
Josie Youel, a junior at North Tama, is the daughter of Josh and Cindy Youel. She has participated in a wealth of activities during her time in Traer, including membership on the volleyball, basketball and track teams. She is also a colorguard and FCCLA member, and a member of the prestigious National Honor Society.
Josie is in Spanish Club and serves on Student Council, and is also active in the arts with chorus, the swing show, plays and muscials. She also helps at many events at her church.
Ellie Schafer, also a junior, is the daughter of Laurie and Chris Schafer. She is involved in Student Council, Spanish Club, National Honor Society, FCCLA, and TAG (Talented & Gifted).
Ellie has also served as both a volleyball and basketball manager, while particpating in band, swing show and backstage in the musicals/plays. She attendeds BASIC and has volunteered her time to many different things over the years, including Traer's Dinner & a Movie, working in the nursery at her church and several group events.
Katie Townsend is the daughter of Tracey Sharman and Shane Townsend. She is a junior and has been involved in cheerleading, Art Club, Spanish Club along with serving as a representative on Student Council.


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Magician shows a realistic looking voodoo doll. It is placed in the spectators hand to look at. It is just a little straw doll. When the magician lays the doll in his palm, it suddenly comes to life rising like a mummy out of a casket and stands up straight! Spectators will believe that an invisible force is making it rise up and down. The doll is completely under your control. No wires or threads, You may have seen Hiawatha perform this effect on a recent magic tv special. For children, we call the doll a scarecrow who rises to scare the crows away.
A magical effect that you will always carry with you.
Do you own this product? Write a review.


text:
Yale Honored Every Year Since 1992
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale volleyball team had a memorable year on the court in 2011-12, winning their second Ivy League title in a row and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs were quite successful in the classroom as well, receiving an American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award for 2011-12. The Bulldogs have now been recognized every year since the award was founded in 1992.
The award honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade point average.
"I'm very proud of my team for excelling in the classroom. It is especially impressive considering the strength of the academic program at Yale," head coach Erin Appleman said. "They are truly getting the most out of their collegiate experience."
Yale finished 18-7 overall and 12-2 in Ivy League play to capture the league title for the third time in the past four years, and fourth time in the last eight. They were defeated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by No. 1-seed USC.
The Bulldogs return five starters from that team this fall, including 2011 Ivy League Player of the Year Kendall Polan and Rookie of the Year Mollie Rogers. Yale opens the season on Aug. 31 against Texas A&M.
The Team Academic Award has become one of the AVCA's fastest growing awards programs, seeing an impressive surge in teams honored over the past several years. Since the 2000-2001 season, the number of recipients has increased every single year but one, while amassing an overall 200% increase over the span of the last decade. Since the award's inception in 1993, the award has risen by an astounding 760%. NCAA Division I recorded their highest-ever total number of recipients, honoring 102 programs.
"Many coaches tell us they take more pride in and hear more positive feedback about winning the AVCA Team Academic Award than anything else they do all year," said AVCA Executive Director Kathy DeBoer. "While it is undeniable that the sport we coach is zero-sum on the scoreboard, it is a tool for empowerment on other fronts. The 533 coaches whose teams won this academic award understand the value of both playing to win and winning through play. A well-deserved congratulations to each team and coach!"


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Lady Monarchs Struggle In 5-2 Loss At Maryland
By ODU Athletics
Feb. 24, 2008
College Park, Md. - The Old Dominion University women's tennis team wrapped up its weekend with a 5-2 loss to the University of Maryland Terrapins at the Tennis Center at College Park. The Lady Monarchs fall to 7-5 on the year, while the Terrapins improved their mark to 2-5.
The Lady Monarchs got things started by winning two of the three doubles matches to secure the point. At No. 1 Charleen Haarhoff and Nadine Fahoum defeated Maryland's Michal Amir and Lisa Miller 8-6, while at No. 2 Barbara Costa and Joanna Dobrowolska topped the Terrapin duo of Maggie MacKeever and Julia Huschke 8-5.
The University of Maryland dominated the singles action by winning five of the six matches. Dobrowolska managed to secure the only win for the Lady Monarchs as she came back from a set down to top Huschke 2-6, 7-5, 6-2. Old Dominion returns to the court on Sunday, March 2 when the Lady Monarchs host St. John's
OLD DOMINION vs. MARYLAND
1. Haarhoff/Fahoum (ODU) def. Amir/Miller (MD) 8-6
2. Costa/Dobrowolska (ODU) def. MacKeever/Huschke (MD) 8-5
3. Lundmark/Matejkova (MD) def. Cohen/Kubicikova (ODU) 8-3
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
1. Michal Amir (MD) def. Charleen Haarhoff (ODU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
2. Karin Lundmark (MD) def. Nadine Fahoum (ODU) 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
3. Joanna Dobrowolska (ODU) def. Julia Huschke (MD) 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
4. Maggie MacKeever (MD) def. Barbara Costa (ODU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Lisa Miller (MD) def. Daniela Cohen (ODU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
6. Oksana Krutiyenko (MD) def. Jana Kubicikova (ODU) 6-3, 6-3
Order of Finish: 4, 1, 3, 2, 6, 5
FINAL SCORE: Maryland 5, Old Dominion University 2


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Letter to Liège University (18 October 1954)
Liège University 18 October 1954 is a letter from J.R.R. Tolkien to the Recteur of the University of Liège, written on October 18th, 1954.
The letter concerns the festivities of Tolkien's reception of an honorary doctorate at the University of Liège on October 2nd, 1954 (he was suggested as a candidate by Simonne d'Ardenne).
- Authenticity: High. The letter is kept at the University Archives in Liège, and is mentioned by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull in The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide: Chronology.
- Publication: The letter was reprinted in full in the article "Tolkien and Belgium" by Johan Vanhecke, published in Lembas Extra: Proceedings of the 5th Unquendor Lustrum.
- "I returned from Belgium to considerate pressure of business, and have been obliged to come to Ireland on academic affairs."
- ― J.R.R. Tolkien (in Lembas Extra: Proceedings of the 5th Unquendor Lustrum, p.57)


text: Items in the museum: Coral Reef: Bones of a whale washed ashore at Manavala kurichy, Kanyakumari Dt. in September 1993: Arms: (From left) Sword of Kattabomman Sivakasi, Tirupachethi Aruval Madurai, and other swords. (Below) Cannon Balls from Udaygiri fort. AD 1741. The cannon balls displayed here were unearthed from Udaygiri fort of Kanyakumari District. Udaygiri … [Read more...]


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Ana Cetnik
ITA All-American (Doubles: 2004-05, 2006-07)
2006-07 (SENIOR): Earned All-MWC singles and doubles honors... Posted a dual match singles record of 19-7 playing at the top three positions... Went a perfect 10-0 in MWC singles action... Recorded a doubles mark of 20-5 in dual match play... Earned a bid to the NCAA Division I Individual Championships in both singles and doubles... Awarded a No. 4 national seed with partner Anna Sydorska, automatically qualifying the duo for Doubles All-America status... Tandem posted three victories over teams from Miami, Tennessee and Pepperdine to advance to the semifinals... Defeated No. 15 Riza Zalameda of UCLA in the opening round of the singles portion... Named the MWC Women's Tennis Player of the Week and TCU Athlete of the Week after starting spring season with three wins over top 30 ranked opponents at the National Team Indoors... Also named the TCU Women's Scholar Athlete of the Month for February... Earned highest singles ranking on Feb. 21 of No. 23... Also received a No. 3 ranking with Anna Sydorska, the highest-ever doubles ranking in school history... Reeled off 10 consecutive singles wins from March 19 through April 15... Defeated five ranked singles opponents on the season... Recorded TCU's only win in the NCAA Regional opening round against No. 113 Elze Potgieter of Texas A&M... Broke a 27-year old TCU record with 35 single season doubles victories... Also ended with 96 career doubles wins and 175 career combined victories, ranking third and seventh, respectively, all-time at TCU... Upset No. 1 doubles team in nation at ITA National Indoor Championships alongside Sydorska in first round in the fall... Pair soared into National Indoor championship match with wins over BYU duo and Kentucky, becoming first doubles team in TCU history to advance to National Indoor finals... Named doubles national champion runners-up after falling, 8-3, in finale of ITA National Indoors to pair from William and Mary... Cetnik/Sydorska duo posted heroic come-from-behind win to advance to quarterfinals of Southwest Regional... Pair won five straight games to take the win from fourth-seeded pair from Baylor and claim Wilson/ITA Southwest Regional doubles title... Paired with Sydorska to receive top seed and first round bye of Baylor Invite... Took win over duo from Baylor to advance to semifinals of Gold Draw... Tandem defeated Zuzana Cerna and Lenka Broosova in finals of Baylor Invite to win doubles Gold Draw.
2005-06 (JUNIOR): Compiled 20-4 singles record... Spent most of time at No. 4 singles where she posted 12 wins and only one loss... Named to All-MWC singles and doubles teams... Paired with former Frog Helena Besovic at No. 1 doubles for 12-3 record... Advanced into round of 16 of NCAA doubles championship alongside Besovic with win over No. 29 pair from Oregon... Pair took victories over No. 3 team from Harvard, No. 4 squad from New Mexico and No. 32 tandem from San Diego State... Cetnik/Besovic named to All-MWC doubles team... Began the season ranked at No. 43... Clinched match win over Rice single in first round of NCAA play to help Frogs advance to second round... Named MWC Player of the Week (5/3)... Went 7-0 in singles and paired with Besovic for 10-0 record against MWC opponents... Posted 11 match win streak in singles towards end of season.
2004-05 (SOPHOMORE): Lived overseas during the fall before returning to TCU for the spring semester...Battled a right shoulder injury most of the year that forced her to serve underhanded the majority of her matches...Compiled a 14-8 record in singles playing at three and four...After a slow 3-5 start, Cetnik finished with a strong 11-3 showing...Was an impressive 22-4 in doubles with Story-Tweedie-Yates...The duo was 19-3 at the top slot and finished the season ranked 15th...Earned All-America status in doubles after advancing to the semifinals of the NCAA Championship...The two were only the fifth and sixth Horned Frogs to achieve All-America acclaim...Along the way, Cetnik and Tweedie-Yates knocked off doubles teams that were ranked 16th, sixth and third...It was the first time in school history that TCU had a representative in the semis of either the singles or doubles championships...Was a first-team All-Conference USA member...Picked up C-USA Player of the Week honors once in March...Registered her first singles victory against a ranked opponent when she dropped No. 62 Megan Muth from William & Mary on April 17...Scored two big wins in TCU's final two matches with Tulane over Darya Ivanov...Both matches went three sets.
2003-04 (FRESHMAN): Joined the Horned Frogs for the spring season and became a valuable part of their line-up...Teamed with Saber Pierce to form the Outstanding Doubles Team of the C-USA Championship...Second-team All-C-USA selection...Cetnik and Pierce climbed as high as No. 24 in doubles and ended the season ranked No. 31 in the nation...Also concluded the year as the No. 1 doubles pair in the ITA Southwest Region...Finished the year with a 16-6 singles record playing primarily in the No. 4 spot...Tallied an 18-5 doubles record in the top spot...Opened the singles season 2-6 before winning 14 straight to close out the year...Cetnik and Pierce upset Georgia's Agata Cioroch and Shadisha Robinson, the No. 4 doubles team in the nation, 8-6...The doubles tandem posted seven- and five-match winning streaks over the course of the season.
High School/Junior: Ranked among the world's top 900 in the WTA in singles and the top 400 for her doubles play...Twice competed for the Serbia and Montenegro National Team at the European Championship...Competed in five doubles finals and three semifinals...Attended Fifth Belgrade High School...Chose TCU over a scholarship offer from Arizona.
Personal: Is a business major at TCU...Comes from a tennis background, as her father, brother and sister are all tennis coaches...Father also played sports professionally...Ana Cetnik is the daughter of Nikola and Milica.
Academics @TCUAASO
Baseball @TCU_Baseball
M Basketball @TCUBasketball
W Basketball @TCUWbasketball
Equestrian @TCUWEquestrian
Football @TCUFootball
M Golf @TCUMensGolf
W Golf @TCUWomensGolf
Rifle @TCURifle
Swimming & Diving @TCUswimdive
Soccer @TCUSoccer
M Tennis @TCUMensTennis
W Tennis @TCUWomensTennis
Track & Field @TCUTrackField
Beach Volleyball @TCUBeachVB
Volleyball @TCUvolleyball


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Roundup of the most popular Vita homebrew and utilities
Since the release of the PS Vita nearly a year ago in Japan, we've seen the release of the VHBL, the eCFW but… what about all the apps that have been released? You cannot compare it with the bunch of homebrews available on the PSP, but in this article I'll try to roundup some of the most popular apps out there. I might miss some, but here we go!
- Coldbird's FTP Server (This is a must-have, it really helps you if you want to transfer files to or from your PS Vita without using Open CMA, another must-have. It's quick and very simple to use.)
- Open CMA (Do you prefer the simple way? Then plug-in your USB Cable and start transferring without having to update!)
- PS Vita VHBL Prepare ULTIMATE (There are a lot of VHBL Homebrew preparers but I chose this one for its good graphics.)
- Vita pr0xy (A proxy developed specially for the PS Vita and PSN but I think you can use it with anything.)
- CEF Theme Swapper (Nice app developed by GUIDOBOT which lets you choose the theme you want to use for the eCFW. Note: You must save themes in ms0:/THEMES/ in the PS Vita Emulator)
- multiBoot Menu (It lets you choose the Menu you want, an alternative for GUIDOBOT'S CEF Theme Swapper above)
Well, that's my list for now, let's hope we'll see more cool Vita apps in the near future. Remember that most PSP homebrews will work on either VHBL or CEF for your Vita. You can find a decent selection here.


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mikl390171 wrote:to hack into my schools website and mess with it a bit before i graduate. However they have two ex it pros who made the site. I want to be able to not only take down the site, but also make it so anyone can go onto any site without any block.
fashizzlepop wrote:It's not "illegal" per se
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After only one semester, middle school math teacher Stacey Naughton can't imagine teaching without the iPad.
"It's drastically changed the way I teach my classes," said Naughton, who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade algebra and geometry at Conrad Ball Middle School. "It's created an infinite number of ways students can receive their information and present it."
This school year, the Loveland school issued 676 iPads to the students that will be theirs the entire time they attend the school for classroom and home use. A $250,000, five-year grant from the Erion Foundation is paying for the iPads, as well as cases and Apps for the electronic devices, for a new1:1 Mobile Learning Project at the school.
Through the project, students can use the Apps, access digital learning tools and download books from the public domain to do their in-class and homework assignments. They are working with a learning management system called Edmodo to access to the curriculum, communicate with other students and ask teachers questions about their work.
"It's an opportunity for kids and adults to extend learning beyond 7 to 3," said Scott Elias, principal at Conrad Ball.
Students can connect with their teachers by sending an Edmodo message regarding their schoolwork that also is sent via a text message to the teachers' cellphones. Teachers can opt to respond immediately but are not tethered to their cellphones.
"It certainly expands the help for students to get it when they need it," Elias said.
Teachers and their students are using the iPads in the classroom in a variety of ways, while continuing to use textbooks and do paperwork.
For example, teachers can assess students at the end of a class period with a quiz using Edmodo and receive immediate results to help create the next day's lesson. They can assign research projects or papers without having to sign up for the computer lab, refer students to articles without having to make photocopies and connect an iPad to a projector to demonstrate working out a problem or present new material.
Students use the iPads as a tool for note taking instead of pen and paper, creating multi-media presentations using Apps such as iMovie and keeping their notes and texts in one place.
"We still do read books. We still write," Naughton said. "It's not replaced that, but it's enhanced our instruction."
Additional Uses
The App Notability has eliminated organizational issues for some students, who no longer have the excuse of forgetting their writing supplies or not finding something in this or that folder, Naughton said.
"We don't use a lot of paper. We don't have to keep track of stuff," said eighth-grader Dakota Parker. "It's just all on our iPad."
Every student has a word processor on hand, said Sherri Specht, literacy teacher and language arts curriculum chairwoman at Conrad Ball.
"We can do a lot more writing on the fly," Specht said.
Plus, students have more buy-in because of the immediate results, instead of waiting for feedback, Naughton said.
"I've seen them become more engaged because they can use this tool," she said.
Eighth-grader Alison Peters likes having an iPad to do her school and homework.
"It makes learning more fun and easy because we get to play education games," Peters said. "It's just fun to play with technology."
Shelley Widhalm can be reached at 669-5050, ext. 531, or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter: @ShelleyWidhalm.


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SoffSeal Body To Frame Mounts/Pads
There are many miscellaneous items that are often overlooked but necessary for completing your project. Genuine SoffSeal brand items are vital for finishing your vehicle. They are simple to install and backed with a lifetime warranty against manufacturers defects. Finishing details are what makes the difference!
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TOCOM Rubber
TOCOM Rubber futures trade on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM). They were launched on December 12, 1952[1].
Each TOCOM Rubber futures contract represents 5,000 kilograms of deliverable grade rubber, which is defined as Ribbed Smoked Sheet (RSS) No.3, and its delivery date is set as the last business day of each month except December (the 28th for December). TOCOM Rubber futures contract also has a minimum delivery unit requirement of 10,000 kilograms.
As of July 2008, each TOCOM Rubber futures contract is subject to a margin rate of 112,500 yen for the spot month and 75,000 yen for the other months[2].
In 2007, TOCOM Rubber futures traded 7,062,252 contracts (-26.9 percent YOY), and, in June 2008, traded 662,304 contracts (-4.8 percent YOY).
|TOCOM Rubber futures
|Tokyo Commodity Exchange
|Physically delivered
|Contract Size
|5,000 kg
|Pricing Unit
|5,000 yen
|Tick Value
|500 yen
|Contract Months
|Six consecutive months from the current month
|Last Trading Day
|The fourth business day prior to the Delivery Day
|Note: This contract is electronic ONLY -- no open outcry
|No Open Outcry
|Trading Hours
|9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. , 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
|Ticker Symbol
|Price Limits
|Daily Price Fluctuation Limits are determined based on the largest market price movement within a certain period of time and are set at a level where the probability that they will be reached is very low[3].
Tokyo Commodity Exchange Rubber Futures Contract Specifications
- ↑ Rubber Contract. Tokyo Commodity Exchange.
- ↑ Margin and Price Limit. Tokyo Commodity Exchange.
- ↑ Margin and Price Limit. Tokyo Commodity Exchange.


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YOU CAN EDIT THIS PAGE! Just click any blue "Edit" link and start writing!
Calendar of events and festivals
This is a calendar of events and festivals. Both recurring events as well as future or ongoing one-off events can be found here.
By its very nature the information in this calendar ages rapidly, so please help us keep it up to date. For events that recur periodically at different dates (eg. religious festivals that follow lunar calendars), please note both the usual range when the festival plus the exact dates if known.
Use the following format for entries.
Specific dates
Wiki syntax:
* Month Xth, Year: '''Mega Super Festival''' [Homepage], [[Town]], [[Country]]
Every year
Fixed dates
Wiki syntax:
* Monthname Yth: '''Ye Olde Partay''' [Homepage], [[Town]], [[Country]]
Movable dates
Wiki syntax:
* Second Thursday after full moon (usually late Month): '''Grooming of the Royal Poodle''' [Homepage], [[Town]], [[Country]]


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I have been cheated on by more than one partner. Ten years ago, when I made the decision to divorce my husband, my dearest friend shunned me because her religious convictions prohibited divorce; she has not spoken to me since. Some time later, another close friend betrayed a confidence to build herself up in the eyes of mutual acquaintances. I have poured my heart and soul into piano students only to have them leave my studio with no explanation. Once, a date abandoned me at a club, leaving me to walk several miles home in the middle of the night. And then there have been guys who said they wanted to be my friend but secretly wanted more; then, when faced with the reality of my feelings, they ditched the relationship altogether.
I could go on and on; occasionally, I consider abandoning trust, period. If you keep people at arm's length, they are far enough away that they can't hurt you, right? Come to think of it, I am not at all convinced that it is really better to have loved and lost.
In the long run, though, I know I would be the person most hurt by being left alone. And then the terrorists would have won.
If I am brutally honest with myself, there were warning signs in each of the above situations that I chose to ignore. So it is important that I learn from the mistakes of the past; moving forward, I must keep my eyes wide open and trust my instincts. During this exciting period of intense personal growth I am experiencing, I must not hesitate to purge toxic people and behaviors from my life; instead, I must focus on relationships and activities that will lead to personal growth and overall health.
How do you deal with betrayal? What is important to your health and growth right now?
On a happier note (pun intended), here is the recording I promised of Natalie and me playing Piazzolla's Libertango for two pianos at her student recital on Saturday. Enjoy!


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Items where Person is "Gerard, Jean-François"
Group by: Item Type | No Grouping
Number of items: 1.
Rhouta, Benaïssa and Kaddami, H. and Elbarqy, J. and Amjoud, M'barek and Daoudi, Lahcen and Maury, Francis and Senocq, François and Maazouz, Abderrahim and Gerard, Jean-François. Elucidating the crystal-chemistry of Jbel Rhassoul stevensite (Morocco) by advanced analytical techniques. (2008) Clay Minerals, vol. 43 (n° 3). pp. 393-404. ISSN 1471-8030


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Throughout human history, civilizations have risen and collapsed as though their fates were written in the wind.
Now it turns out that maybe it wasn't the wind, but rain.
More than 11 centuries ago, the Mayan people of Central America built great cities with magnificent stone temples, developed hieroglyphic writing, and created beautiful works of art. And then their culture disintegrated.
To the north, the Anasazi Indians built multi-storied housing complexes and carefully structured communities in what is now the American Southwest before their civilization folded more than 700 years ago.
From the Middle East to Asia, other cultures rose and fell, and experts who have wondered why are finding a common thread in many of those amazing stories. It appears that drought has repeatedly played a major role in the collapse of societies that had, for a while at least, been at the apex of human civilization.
It's simplistic to say that rain — or the lack of it — has caused the demise of any complex society, because many forces were undoubtedly at work, but a growing body of scientific evidence now suggests that changes in the weather played a bigger role than had been thought.
Doesn't Take Much
The findings are particularly significant during a time of great concern over evidence that the Earth's climate is changing once again, most likely because of human activities. Even subtle changes on a global scale — say a slight rise in temperature — are likely to cause dramatic changes in isolated areas, according to experts who have looked closely at the data.
For example, it may have taken nothing more than an almost immeasurable increase in solar radiation to bring down a sophisticated society, according to geologists at the University of Florida who have spent years studying the collapse of the Maya.
The researchers, led by geology professor David Hodell, found evidence several years ago that the Maya were hit by a prolonged and miserable drought about 750 A.D., just as their culture began to hit the skids. The researchers based that conclusion on core samples taken from the bottom of Lake Chichancanab on the north central Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.
Those samples, which record weather conditions in layers of sediment laid down year after year, indicate the drought lasted for 150 years, according to the scientists, who reported their initial findings in 1995.
More recently, the scientists returned to Chichancanab and collected additional cores to document the amount of gypsum deposited annually on the lake floor over a 2,600-year period.
A reduction in rainfall causes more evaporation in the lake, leaving more gypsum on the bottom. Surprisingly, the scientists found that the region was hit by a drought every 208 years.
That pattern is strikingly similar to a "bicentennial oscillation" in solar activity that occurs about every 206 years. The sun was slightly warmer at the time of the droughts, the scientists report in the May 18 issue of the journal Science.
Mean Leaders Don't Help Either
That sounds really tidy. A warmer sun caused drought in the Yucatan, wiping out the Mayan dynasty. The problem is the sun wasn't much warmer, and solar energy reaching the Earth probably rose by only about one-tenth of one percent — not enough according to most climate models to cause much of a drought.
So some mysterious mechanism that we don't yet understand "amplified" the effect in the Yucatan, the scientists suggest, wreaking havoc on local weather patterns.
Whatever the cause, the droughts appear to have been real, based on the core sediments from the bottom of the lake. But weather was not the only thing ripping at the Mayan culture.
Experts have spent decades deciphering the writings of the Maya, and the story that emerges is not entirely flattering. They tell of local rulers who waged war on other cities; of torture and mutilation and human sacrifice.
Like the Maya, the Anasazi built great edifices with as many as 1,000 rooms, which they abandoned around 1300 following a severe drought that lasted from 1276 to 1299. Those carefully engineered structures and other elaborate monuments were built on the backs of laborers, some of whom must have been unhappy with the process.
So it's hard to say how much of a role the drought had. Like the Mayans, many Anasazi probably found their culture increasingly difficult to bear and just drifted off. But the drought, no doubt, made everybody's life harder. By the time the Spaniards conquered Central America in the 16th century, the relics of the Mayan civilization had been buried beneath centuries of jungle growth.
Most likely, drought contributed to the demise of the Mayan culture by wiping out agricultural resources that had become vital to an urban population that some experts believe numbered 2 million souls. Whether it was the primary cause of the collapse, or just one of many factors, will be debated for decades by experts. But there is a lesson in it for the modern world.
Brace for Fast Change
If the global climate is changing, and many experts believe it is, then we could be in for some real surprises ahead. Donald Kennedy, former president of Stanford University and now editor of the journal Science, has warned that we are making a big mistake if we expect a gradual, steady warming trend because of changing global climatic conditions, like the greenhouse effect that many experts believe is resulting from the burning of fossil fuels. Many changes will be abrupt, Kennedy argues.
"We may be unwise to rest our economic projections on the assumption that the probable climate future is a slow, steady ramp of increasing average global temperature," he told a symposium last year at the State University of New York.
He cited El Niño as one example of just how vulnerable we are to changing climatic conditions. An El Niño is caused by warming of the waters in the southwest Pacific Ocean, yet in recent years El Niños have caused flooding in North America and so much loss in rainfall in Africa that corn yields in Zimbabwe dropped by 10 percent.
"I think our society ought to entertain, now, the prospect that a sudden shift in the climate regime is a highly possible consequence of the warming trend we are experiencing now," Kennedy told the New York symposium.
In other words, hold on to your rain bonnets. We may be in for quite a ride.
Lee Dye's column appears weekly on ABCNEWS.com. A former science writer for the Los Angeles Times, he now lives in Juneau, Alaska.


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By the time you read this, 2013 will have rambled in like a locomotive bound to keep to its schedule — without so much as a toot to recent merrymaking.
Time is on a forward roll. In a week, I'll enjoy the practical expression of the clock's advance as I celebrate another birthday. Never mind which one.
I'm caught in the throes of time because, as I put this together, we are a few days the other side of Christmas and I'm on my annual hunt for spare moments to buy, wrap and deliver gifts to those I love, in as little time as possible. Like the spare change I hope to find under the sofa cushions — enough to pay my holiday Visa bill — it isn't there.
The best we mortals can do is learn to manage our time, though truly, time has the upper hand. That brings me to my topic: pocket watches.
Pocket watches appeared on the scene from Germany about the same time that the waistcoat — fit with appropriately tiny pockets — became fashionable, around 1675. The first watches told only the hour, but by the late 17th century, we began watching our minutes fly by, too. Seconds, anyone?
Pocketed timepieces were the norm until wristwatches began to take hold after World War I. That was when the military decided that a fast peek at the wrist was more expedient on the battlefield.
Pocket watches required a key for winding and setting until 1875, even though the stem winds were invented in the 1850s. If they were multizonal, they would have a pin and lever for changing the additional time zones.
Pocket watches came in two styles: with either a hunter case, an often decorative metal covering for the face, or an open face, with no covering over the crystal. A chain attached to the watch fastened to a lapel or belt loop. The current Steampunk revolution has revived the popularity of the venerable pocket watch.
A fully jeweled watch is one with 17 or more jewels. Makers placed various, low-grade gems to reduce wear on the fragile movement.
The first American-made pocket watches didn't appear until about the 1830s. Waltham and Elgin are two well-known names. Both churned out timepieces for about 100 years from the mid-1800s through the mid-1900s.
In the world of monetary value, gold speaks the loudest, with age and rarity close behind. A sampling of recently attained prices: a Swiss 16S (size), 18-karat gold watch by Brevet with zone movements sold for $1,675; one 23-jewel Hamilton open-face brought $2,200; and a few gold examples brought in the neighborhood of $600. Nongold watches bring $100 to $150.
A pocket watch that had the nerve to stop for four minutes was to blame for a railroad accident in Ohio during the 1800s. In 1893, the governing body mandated the General Railroad Timepiece Standards that set the style and accuracy of watches for conductors. These railroad-regulated pieces are available for about $600.
So when the conductor checks his faithful timepiece and announces, "All aboard," we may as well make the most of the scenery because time and trains wait for no one.
Freelance writer Peggy Dover lives in Eagle Point. Email her at email@example.com.
Pocketful of time
By the time you read this, 2013 will have rambled in like a locomotive bound to keep to its schedule — without so much as a toot to recent merrymaking.