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The films of Woody Allen
Woody Allen filming the futuristic comedy "Sleeper."
Born in 1935 in New York, the TV comedy writer, standup comedian, film director and clarinet player is one of the most prolific filmmakers ever, creating more than 40 feature films over the past four-and-a-half decades. While his slapstick comedy has earned comparisons to Keaton and Chaplin, his comedies and dramas (many portraying the trials and tribulations of neurotic intellectuals in the city he loves most) have made him one of the most respected of filmmakers, with actors of every stripe eager to appear in his movies. (The 18 Oscar nominations earned by actors in Allen's films hasn't hurt, either.)
With the 2013 "Blue Jasmine," Allen has earned more Academy Award nominations (23, plus one for Best Actor) than any other writer-director.
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan
"What's New, Pussycat?"
Woody Allen made his first film appearance co-starring with Peter O'Toole and Peter Sellers in "What's New, Pussycat?" It was also Allen's first screenplay.
O'Toole played a womanizer who just can't help but attract the attention of beautiful women - and when the beautiful women include Ursula Andress, Paula Prentiss, Romy Schneider and Capucine, it IS hard to resist.
"What's Up, Tiger Lily?"
In 1966 Allen was asked by a film distributor to write a comic script for a Japanese spy film, from the "International Secret Police" series, to be dubbed for an American TV audience. Released theatrically as "What's Up, Tiger Lily?" it turned what may have already been a ridiculous plot featuring plenty of scantily-clad females into one involving a stolen recipe for egg salad.
AIP padded the film without Allen's permission (including footage of The Lovin' Spoonful), expanding what was to have been an hour-long TV film into a movie release.
Trivia: The original film featured Akiko Wakabayashi (whose character is here called Suki Yaki), who would appear the following year in the James Bond film, "You Only Live Twice."
"Take the Money and Run"
Allen's first film as a director was "Take the Money and Run" (1969), an early form of "mockumentary" that traces the life of petty criminal Virgil Starkwell. The character's continuous bad luck extends from his extremely poor choice of instrument in a marching band (left), to passing unreadable notes to bank tellers. The film co-starred Janet Margolin.
Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote the film is "the cinematic equivalent to one of Allen's best nightclub monologues, a kind of cowardly epic peopled with shy FBI agents, cons who are wanted for dancing with mailmen, over-analyzing parents and one lady blackmailer who has the soul of a Jewish mother - she likes to feed her victim good, hot meals."
"Play It Again, Sam"
"Play It Again, Sam" (1972), directed by Herbert Ross and based on Woody Allen's 1970 play, starred Allen as a divorced writer and film buff who receives dating advice from the ghost of Humphrey Bogart (Jerry Lacy).
It was Allen's first film teaming with Diane Keaton and Tony Roberts, who repeated their roles from the Broadway production.
In 1971's "Bananas," Fielding Mellish (Woody Allen) becomes mixed up in a coup in a Latin American "banana republic." Why? To impress a girl, of course. Allen co-starred with his ex-wife, Louise Lasser.
Also among the cast was an uncredited Sylvester Stallone, who played a thug in a New York subway car.
"Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex*"
Unlike most bestselling books, "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*but were afraid to ask)" did not necessarily lend itself to movie adaptation. Woody Allen's 1972 film became a series of vignettes about the physical and emotional turmoils of love and procreation, including Allen's turn as a court jester seeking the favors of a Queen (left).
Also featured: Lou Jacobi as a cross-dresser; Gene Wilder as a man in love with a sheep; John Carradine as a mad scientist who creates a giant female breast; a game show in which contestants are quizzed on their perversions; and Allen as a spermatozoon readying for launch.
Waking up 200 years in the future, Woody Allen finds himself at the center of a revolutionary plot against the government, in a world in which cigarettes and red meat are considered healthy, in the 1973 comedy, "Sleeper."
An old joke - slipping on a banana peel - takes on new resonance as Woody Allen ventures into a garden of giant fruit in the futuristic comedy "Sleeper" (1973).
"Love and Death"
With music from Prokofiev by turns joyous and somber, Woody Allen romps through Napoleonic-era Russia in the comedy "Love and Death" (1975), featuring parodies of films by Bergman and Eisenstein.
It was Allen's second time directing Diane Keaton, as Sonja:
Boris: "Nothingness . . . non-existence . . . black emptiness . . ."
Sonja: "What did you say?"
Boris: "Oh, I was just planning my future."
"Annie Hall"
Allen's most resonant film was his greatest critical and popular film to date: "Annie Hall" (1977) told of the on-again, off-again romance between comedian Alvy Singer (Allen) and nightclub singer Annie Hall (Diane Keaton).
Allen played with movie conventions, using subtitles, split screens, flashbacks, even animation to depict the tribulations of love among New York neurotics, as Singer recalls his relationships with women, and the one that hurt the most.
"Annie Hall"
Few actors can get away with "breaking frame" - addressing the audience directly - but in "Annie Hall" (1977), Woody Allen (as Alvy Singer) memorably shuts up a man pontificating in the movie line about the work of media theorist Marshall McLuhan by pulling the real McLuhan out from off-camera.
McLuhan (to Columbia professor): "I heard what you were saying. You know nothing of my work. . . . How you ever got to teach a course in anything is totally amazing."
Alvy (to camera): "Boy, if life were only like this!"
"Annie Hall"
"Annie Hall" not only became Allen's biggest box office success to date; it also became that rare comedy to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. Allen also won for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay (with Marshall Brickman), and Diane Keaton won for Best Actress.
Allen switched gears with his follow-up film, taking as his inspiration the works of Ingmar Bergman. "Interiors" (1978) starred Diane Keaton, Kristin Griffith and Mary Beth Hurt as sisters who witness the dissolution of their parents' marriage.
Diane Keaton and Woody Allen observe the 59th Street Bridge at dawn in "Manhattan" (1979). Filmed in glorious widescreen black-and-white by cinematographer Gordon Willis, it was as much a love story to New York City, set to the music of George Gershwin, as it was a tale of mis-matched lovers.
Ike: "I got a divorce because my ex-wife left me for another woman, okay?"
Mary: "God, that must have been really demoralizing."
Ike: "Well, I don't know, I thought I took it rather well under the circumstances. I tried to run them both over with a car."
Woody Allen played a middle-aged writer who has a romance with a 17-year old girl (Mariel Hemingway) in "Manhattan" ("I'm dating a girl who does homework!").
"Stardust Memories"
In "Stardust Memories" (1980) - like "Manhattan," shot in black and white by Gordon Willis - Woody Allen played a filmmaker who attends a retrospective of his work (where fans express adoration of his "earlier, funnier movies" compared to his current, more serious films).
"Stardust Memories"
Film director Sandy Bates (Woody Allen), who wants to move away from comedies to dramas with social import, encounters an alien, Og:
Sandy: "If nothing lasts, why am I bothering to make films, or do anything, for that matter?"
Og: "We enjoy your films. Particularly the early funny ones."
Sandy: "But shouldn't I stop making movies and do something that counts, like helping blind people or becoming a missionary or something?"
Og: "Let me tell you, you're not the missionary type. You'd never last. And incidentally, you're also not Superman, you're a comedian. You want to do mankind a real service? Tell funnier jokes!"
"A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy"
Inspired by Bergman's "Smiles of a Summer Night," "A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy" (1982) features Woody Allen as an inventor invited by his wife's cousin to spend a weekend in the country, where the host and assembled guests engage in a roundelay of elicit romances.
The film starred Mary Steenburgen, Jose Ferrer, Julie Hagerty, Tony Roberts and, for the first time, Mia Farrow (Diane Keaton was unavailable).
It would be the first of 13 films Farrow made with the director, with whom she would share a long, semi-domestic relationship.
One of the absurdist comic's most winning films, "Zelig" (1983) was a fake documentary about an early 20th century curiosity: Leonard Zelig, a "human chameleon" who is able to change his appearance and behavior to mimic whomever he is near, from presidents (left) to baseball players to Harlem jazz musicians to psychiatrists.
New footage of Allen was expertly matched with newsreels, and the actor -- before digital FX of the "Forrest Gump" variety -- was cleverly cut into vintage footage of such figures as Babe Ruth and Adolf Hitler.
"Broadway Danny Rose"
Woody Allen played an agent of sub-par variety acts (a one-legged tap-dancer, a blind xylophonist) who becomes embroiled with the mob in the comedy "Broadway Danny Rose" (1984). It was his third film with Mia Farrow, who played Tina, a mobster's ex-mistress whose own marriage had fallen apart.
Danny: "What'd you do, you divorced him, or got a separation, or what?"
Tina: "Nah, some guy shot him in the eyes."
Danny: "Really? He's blind?"
Tina: "Dead."
Danny: "Dead. Of course, 'cause the bullets go right through."
"The Purple Rose of Cairo"
In "The Purple Rose of Cairo" (1985), Mia Farrow plays a Depression-era woman in a loveless marriage who seeks escape from her drab life at the movies. Her continued fascination with a B-movie confection, "The Purple Rose of Cairo," prompts one of the film's characters to step off the screen and into her life.
Panic fills the movie-within-a-movie in which other characters have been left behind, without their pith helmet-clad compatriot (played by Jeff Daniels) - as well as Hollywood star Gil Shepherd (also Daniels), who fears the "escape" of his screen persona will jeopardize his career.
"Hannah and Her Sisters"
Woody Allen won his third Oscar for his screenplay of "Hannah and Her Sisters" (1986), about three sisters (Mia Farrow, Barbara Hershey and Dianne Wiest) whose romantic entanglements blur the lines of propriety. Also featured were Michael Caine, Max Von Sydow, Carrie Fisher, Lloyd Nolan, Maureen O'Sullivan (Farrow's real-life mother), and Allen as a hypochondriac who considers changing his faith.
Both Caine and Wiest won Oscars as Best Supporting Actor and Actress.
"Radio Days"
"Radio Days" (1987) was Allen's evocative tribute to the Golden Age of Radio, when a young boy grows up in a pre-WWII New York City filled with the music, serials, quiz shows and news that marked a time of innocence and imagination.
Among the cast were Allen regulars Tony Roberts and Dianne Wiest (left), Mia Farrow, Julie Kavner, Danny Aiello, and, in a cameo, Diane Keaton.
In Woody Allen's "September" (1987), a drama colored by the work of Anton Chekhov, Sam Waterston plays a writer who is pulled between two women - Dianne Wiest (left), and her suicidal friend, played by Mia Farrow.
The return to drama by Allen was actually recast and reshot, after he'd originally filmed it with Sam Shepard in Waterson's role.
"Another Woman"
Sandy Dennis and Ian Holm in Woody Allen's "Another Woman" (1988), in which Gena Rowlands (playing Holm's wife) begins to reassess her life, her relationships, and the choices she's made, including staying in her stifling marriage.
"Oedipus Wrecks"
For the 1989 trilogy "New York Stories" (which also featured short films by Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola), Woody Allen directed "Oedipus Wrecks," in which a Jewish man's domineering mother (played by Mae Questel, who was the voice for Bettie Boop and Olive Oyl), disappears from inside a magician's trick box, only to reappear in the skies above Manhattan.
"Crimes and Misdemeanors"
One of Allen's most nuanced dramas, "Crimes and Misdemeanors" (1989) stars Martin Landau (left) as a successful doctor tries to extricate himself from a romantic affair that jeopardizes his marriage and public standing. Allen co-starred as a TV producer who is questioned by the doctor about a "hypothetical" moral quandary.
"Crimes and Misdemeanors"
Angelica Huston as the "other woman" in "Crimes and Misdemeanors" (1989).
In "Alice" (1990) Mia Farrow plays a married New Yorker who, seeking help in her relationships, visits an Oriental herbalist (Keye Luke). His "prescription" turns Alice invisible.
"Shadows and Fog"
Based on his one-act play, "Death," "Shadows and Fog" (1991) stars Woody Allen as a man caught in a Kafka-esque world in which a cowardly bookkeeper is coerced into hunting down a suspected murderer.
The style of the film is a tribute to German Expressionism.
"Husbands and Wives"
The struggles of married life coursed through the narrative of "Husbands and Wives" (1992), in which Woody Allen and Mia Farrow play a couple reacting to the breakup of their friends' marriage (played by Oscar nominee Judy Davis and Sydney Pollack). Their friends' failed relationship opens wounds in their own marriage, leading to infidelity, mistrust and dissolution.
The film's positive critical reception was overshadowed by the public breakup of Allen and Farrow over the director's affair with Farrow's adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn.
"Manhattan Murder Mystery"
Woody Allen reteamed with Diane Keaton in the comedy "Manhattan Murder Mystery" (1993), as a bickering couple who suspect their next-door neighbor is a killer.
Allen and Keaton's husband-and-wife posed an interesting idea: If Annie Hall and Alvy Singer hadn't parted ways, would they have ended up like this?
"Bullets Over Broadway"
Dianne Wiest won her second Best Supporting Actress Oscar for a Woody Allen film, playing the alcoholic leading lady of a Broadway production written by a starstruck young writer (Jon Cusack) whose best lines come from the real-life gangster backing his play, in "Bullets Over Broadway" (1994).
The film also received six more Academy Award nominations, for Best Supporting Actor (Chazz Palminteri), Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Tilly), Best Director, Best Original Screenplay (Allen and Douglas McGrath), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration and Best Costume Design.
"Mighty Aphrodite"
In a tip to Allen's one-act play, "God," in which a Greek chorus taunts the protagonist, "Mighty Aphrodite" (1995) features a Greek chorus narrating what is surely an age-old story -- a man tries to raise a woman above the station of prostitute. Allen's co-star, Mira Sorvino, won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
Greek Chorus Leader: "Don't go any further. I know what you're thinking, Lenny, and forget it!"
Lenny: "I can't forget it; the thought's been put in my head."
Chorus: "Oh, cursed fate! Certain thoughts are better left unthunk."
"Everyone Says I Love You"
Woody Allen's ode to musicals, "Everyone Says I Love You" (1996), is a romantic comedy set in New York, Venice and Paris, featuring Allen, Julia Roberts, Alan Alda, Ed Norton, Drew Barrymore, Tim Roth, Goldie Hawn and Natalie Portman.
Among the standards belted out by a cast not used to singing are Cole Porter's "Looking at You," "Makin' Whoopee," "All My Life," "My Baby Just Cares For Me," and "Enjoy Yourself (It's Later than You Think)," which is sung by ghosts in a funeral parlor.
"Deconstructing Harry"
In "Deconstructing Harry" (1997), an obsessed writer (is there any other kind?) uses the people in his life as inspiration for his stories, some of which are charmingly absurdist. In one piece, Robin Williams pays a man who becomes out of focus to those around him.
Kenneth Branagh (far right) plays a writer who immerses himself in the world of celebrity journalism in Woody Allen's 1998 bitter comedy, "Celebrity." Featured are Leonardo DiCaprio (just off the success of "Titanic") in a bit of self-parody as teen idol Brandon Darrow, and Sam Rockwell.
Also in the game cast are Judy Davis, Hank Azaria, Winona Ryder, Melanie Griffith, Famke Janssen, Michael Lerner, Joe Mantegna, Bebe Neuwirth, and a cameo by Donald Trump.
Charlize Theron in "Celebrity" (1998).
Woody Allen on the set of "Celebrity."
"Wild Man Blues"
The films directed by Allen following his very public breakup with Mia Farrow and marriage to Soon-Yi Previn were a mix of lush romanticism and bitter cynicism. But another, unique look at the filmmaker's artistry and life came by way of Barbara Koppel's 1997 documentary, "Wild Man Blues," which followed the clarinetist and his ragtime band on a European tour.
"Wild Man Blues"
"Wild Man Blues" not only cast a light on Allen's passion for music, but also opened a window onto his relationship with his wife, Soon-Yi, who in the film is seen as a strong, take-charge figure in his life.
"Sweet and Lowdown"
Sean Penn played a peripatetic, jive-talking blues man -- the "second-greatest jazz guitarist" -- in "Sweet and Lowdown" (1999).
Both Penn and Samantha Morton, who played his love interest -- and who was mute throughout the entire film -- received Academy Award nominations for their performances.
"Small Time Crooks"
The best-laid plans rarely go as planned in an Allen film. When a gang of crooks rents a restaurant into order to tunnel into a neighboring bank's vault, their digging comes to naught -- but their cover operation -- selling cookies -- makes them rich. "Small Time Crooks" (2000) featured a cast that included Allen, Tracey Ullman, Elaine May, Elaine Stritch, Hugh Grant, Michael Rapaport, Tony Darrow, Jon Lovitz and Larry Pine.
"The Curse of the Jade Scorpion"
A stage hypnotist places a curious spell upon Woody Allen and Helen Hunt - to become jewel thieves - in the screwball comedy "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion" (2001). The cast also included David Ogden Stiers, Dan Aykroyd and Charlize Theron.
"Sounds From a Town I Love"
In a short film produced for "The Concert for NYC" in the wake of the September 11 attacks, Woody Allen's "Sounds From a Town I Love" listens in to cell phone conversations that convey the hysteria, paranoia, and assorted neuroses that make New Yorkers New Yorkers. Examples:
Man: "I got mugged! I was coming home from the opera, they took my gas mask, my flash light ... "
Woman: "Well, we're SO wrong for each other. But that's not the only attraction ... "
Woman: "She didn't get into the right preschool, which means she won't get into a good private school, which means she'll never get into Ivy League college, she won't get a good job. I mean, She's three years old, her life is finished!"
Man: "When all this is over and there's a new government in Afghanistan, we come in with Starbucks."
Academy Awards
At the Oscars broadcast on March 24, 2002, Woody Allen - who has pointedly stayed away from the annual awards ceremony, despite having been nominated more frequently than any other writer-director - made a surprise appearance to introduce a film tribute to post-9/11 New York City.
"Thank you very much," he said after receiving a standing ovation. "That makes up for the strip search.
"About four weeks ago I was sitting home in my apartment in New York and the phone rang and a voice on the other end said, 'This is the Motion Picture Academy of Arts & Sciences.' And I panicked immediately, because I thought that they wanted their Oscars back . . . because the pawn shop has been out of business for ages."
"Hollywood Ending"
In "Hollywood Ending" (2002), Woody Allen plays a director on the downward spiral in need of a hit, who accepts the task of directing a film starring his ex-wife (Tea Leoni), produced by the man who "stole" her from him (Treat Williams).
"Anything Else"
In "Anything Else" (2003), Jason Briggs plays a young man who seeks advice from an aging oracle of wisdom (Woody Allen) on winning the girl of his dreams (played by Christina Ricci).
Dobel (Allen): "We live in perilous times. You got to keep alert for these things. You don't want your life to wind up as black-and-white newsreel footage scored by a cello in a minor key."
"Melinda and Melinda"
When comparing tragedy and comedy, Mel Brooks once said, "Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die."
In 2005's Melinda and Melinda," Woody Allen retells a story twice, each time featuring a young woman (Radha Mitchell) whose experience is related both as comedy and as tragedy. Among the cast are Will Ferrell and Steve Carrel (left), Amanda Peet, Chloe Sevigny and Wallace Shawn.
"Match Point"
The first of what would be a string of films shot in Europe, "Match Point" (2005) was a distinct change of pace for Woody Allen - a thriller involving a striving tennis instructor (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) whose marriage to a woman of means (Emily Mortimer) is jeopardized by his passionate affair with another woman (Scarlett Johansson).
The film's location was easily transferred to London from the Hamptons when Allen obtained U.K. financing.
Woody Allen teamed up with Scarlett Johansson again in "Scoop" (2006), a lighter mystery also filmed in London, in which an investigative reporter is joined by a stage magician to track down the mysterious Tarot Card Killer.
"Cassandra's Dream"
In the thriller "Cassandra's Dream," (2007), shot in the U.K., Colin Farrell plays a man whose gambling debts will be forgiven if in return he helps carry out a murder. Ewan McGregor, Tom Wilkinson and Sally Hawkins co-star.
"Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
In the 2008 romantic comedy "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," a pair of young American women visiting Spain (Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall) become entangled with a sensual Spanish artist and his equally sensual and fiery ex-wife (played by Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz, left).
The movie was one of Allen's biggest box office hits, and Cruz won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
"Whatever Works"
In 2009, as an actors' strike was looming, Woody Allen pulled out a script he'd written in the early 1970s for Zero Mostel about a misanthropic chess teacher, called "Whatever Works," and roped in Larry David ("Curb Your Enthusiasm") to play the role.
"You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger"
Gemma Jones, whose decades-long marriage has ended in divorce, begins meeting with a fortune teller whose rosy forecasts give Jones hope to cling to, despite the belief by her daughter (played by Naomi Watts) that the tarot reader is a quack, in "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" (2010), directed by Woody Allen.
"Midnight in Paris"
Allen's biggest box office success was the 2011 film "Midnight in Paris," a romantic fantasy in which a young writer (Owen Wilson) steeped in nostalgia for the Paris of the 1920s suddenly finds himself making nightly sojourns to that very place. He crosses paths with Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, and other denizens of the Left Bank, including Picasso's mistress, Adriana (Marion Cotillard).
Gil: "I get in a car and I slide through time."
Man Ray: "Exactly correct. You inhabit two worlds. So far I see nothing strange."
Gil: "Yeah, you're surrealists. But I'm just a normal guy."
Allen won his fourth Oscar for his screenplay; the movie also earned three other Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Art Direction.
"Midnight in Paris"
From left: Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Lea Seydoux, Woody Allen, Frederic Mitterrand and Rachel McAdams attend the "Midnight in Paris" premiere at the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 11, 2011, in Cannes, France.
Allen called the critical and popular reception of "Midnight in Paris" a "happy accident."
"I had no idea why everyone embraced the picture so enthusiastically," he said in 2012. "You make a movie, and some pictures they like a little bit, some they like a lot, some they don't like at all. It's very capricious, a complete mystery to me. To me ['Midnight in Paris'] is no more an appealing picture than 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' or 'Match Point' or 'Annie Hall' or 'Husbands and Wives.' "
"To Rome With Love"
For the seventh time in seven years Allen directed a movie in a European city: the 2012 omnibus, "To Rome With Love." One of the film's disconnected tales features Alec Baldwin as a successful architect dispensing advice (usually ignored) to a young architecture student (Jesse Eisenberg) caught in a romantic triangle with Greta Gerwig and Ellen Page.
"I could have done that in New York," Allen admitted, but he found the element of strangers visiting another city intriguing.
Two stories in particular capture the director's absurdist humor: One involves a gifted amateur singer of opera, who is incapable of producing a beautiful voice unless he is singing in the shower. Another stars Roberto Benigni ("Life Is Beautiful") as a boring, middle-class office worker who wakes up one morning to discover he's famous - prey for paparazzi and voluptuous women.
"The Front"
Allen has rarely taken acting assignments, but there are a few standout films among his resume of acting in other directors' films. Among them is Martin Ritt's 1976 comedy-drama of the McCarthy Era, "The Front."
Allen plays a restaurant worker who agrees to be the name for a blacklisted writer (Zero Mostel).
"Casino Royale"
The zany madcap standup comic played a zany, madcap James Bond - one of several "Bonds" meant to draw attention away from the REAL James Bond, played by David Niven - in the 1967 satire, "Casino Royale."
"Fading Gigolo"
Woody Allen takes another rare acting role in a film written and directed by John Turturro, "Fading Gigolo" (2013). Allen plays a failing bookseller who convinces Turturro to take up the world's oldest profession as a way to revive their fortunes, with Allen embarking on a new career as his pimp.
"Blue Jasmine"
Peter Sarsgaard and Cate Blanchett in "Blue Jasmine" (2013), written and directed by Woody Allen.
Blanchett plays the socialite-wife of a Bernie Madoff-like financial whiz (Alec Baldwin), whose crash-and-burn leads to Jasmine returning to her declasse family to put her life back together.
The film costars Bobby Cannavale, Louis C.K., Andrew Dice Clay, Sally Hawkins and Michael Stuhlbarg.
"Blue Jasmine"
Left: Director Woody Allen on the set of "Blue Jasmine," with Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin.
Blanchett told CBSNews.com's Ken Lombardi that she accepted the role before even reading the script, based on his track record. She had nothing to worry about. "Apart from being an extraordinary, legendary filmmaker, he's an amazing dramatist. And so the screenplay was beautifully structured," she said. "[Jasmine is] a complex character, and a really unreliable narrator. She's a serial liar and you can't really believe what she says. And that's a really fun, interesting thing to play."
Allen received his 16th Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. In addition to Sally Hawkins' Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, Blanchett received the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.
"Magic In the Moonlight"
In the romantic comedy "Magic In the Moonlight" (2014), Emma Stone plays a clairvoyant who brings intrigue to the 1920s French Riviera - and stirs the skepticism of a stage illusionist played by Colin Firth.
"Irrational Man"
A blend of romance and crime, the comedy-drama "Irrational Man" (2015) stars Joaquin Phoenix as a philosophy professor at a New England college who undergoes an existential crisis - one be believes can only be resolved by committing an act of murder. Costarring Emma Stone and Parker Posey.
In 2010 Woody Allen said that work "keeps me from sitting home and obsessing morbidly. If I just got up in the morning and had no place to go and was retired or something, I would sit there and I would be thinking . . . Gee, what is the purpose of life? Why are we all finite? Why do we get old and die? Is there nothing out there? It's so tragic, why do our loved ones perish? Why do we degenerate?
"Who wants to think about that stuff?"
Instead, he worries about solving the problems of moviemaking, like picking the right actors. "And if you don't solve them," he said, "what's the worst that happens? You have a bad movie - but you don't die!
That, Allen said, "is why I keep making movies."
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan


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China's government has recently jailed officials and issued a slew of new rules to curb corruption, but it's apparently not an effort that independent citizens groups are welcome to join.
On Sunday, a Chinese court sentenced Xu Zhiyong, a leading proponent of civil society, to four years in jail. Police have also arrested around a dozen other members of his group, called the New Citizens' Movement.
The court found 40-year-old Xu Zhiyong guilty of assembling a crowd to disturb public order during protests he organized outside the Ministry of Education in 2012, pressing for migrants' equal access to education. Prosecutors say the protesters obstructed police and made a racket.
Xu's lawyer, Zhang Qingfang, says that's not true.
"The protests were perfectly orderly," he says. "The police couldn't find a single citizen who said the protests disturbed their lives."
Xu is a soft-spoken legal scholar and activist, who has campaigned for families of children sickened by tainted milk. He's spoken out for citizens caught in extra-legal detention centers. Most recently, he's called for officials to publicize their assets.
In 2010, Xu told NPR that he avoids forming any group that might look like an opposition party, and he tries not to let his opponents lose face.
"We're already very moderate, very reasonable and constructive," he said then. "But beyond that, we try to consider how people whose points of view are different from ours see the issues."
But in court last week, Xu read a closing statement that sounded like a political manifesto. He called on Chinese citizens to act like citizens, not like docile subjects. He said his bogus trial shows that authorities are afraid of the free society he's sure will come.
Zhang says that the government just won't tolerate public displays of dissent.
"This is about street politics," he says. "Maybe the police can tolerate some critical points of view. It is when you go beyond mere speech, and take to the streets to express your political opinions — that's something the government just can't accept."
Zhang adds that Xu's sentencing was scheduled before his trial had even begun. He says he'll ask his client whether he wants to appeal today's verdict.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text:
spppcontrol - display or set parameters for an sppp interface
spppcontrol [-v] ifname [parameter[=value]] [...]
The sppp(4) driver might require a number of additional arguments or optional parameters besides the settings that can be adjusted with ifconfig(8). These are things like authentication protocol parameters, but also other tunable configuration variables. The spppcontrol utility can be used to display the current settings, or adjust these parameters as required. For whatever intent spppcontrol is being called, at least the parameter ifname needs to be specified, naming the interface for which the settings are to be performed or displayed. Use ifconfig(8) or netstat(1) to see which interfaces are available. If no other parameter is given, spppcontrol will just list the current settings for ifname and exit. The reported settings include the current PPP phase the interface is in, which can be one of the names dead, establish, authenticate, network, or terminate. If an authentication protocol is configured for the interface, the name of the protocol to be used, as well as the system name to be used or expected will be displayed, plus any possible options to the authentication protocol if applicable. Note that the authentication secrets (sometimes called keys) are not being returned by the underlying system call, and are thus not displayed. If any additional parameter is supplied, superuser privileges are required, and the command works in `set' mode. This is normally done quietly, unless the option -v is also enabled, which will cause a final printout of the settings as described above once all other actions have been taken. Use of this mode will be rejected if the interface is currently in any other phase than dead. Note that you can force an interface into dead phase by calling ifconfig(8) with the parameter `down'. The currently supported parameters include: authproto=protoname Set both, his and my authentication protocol to protoname. The protocol name can be one of `chap', `pap', or `none'. In the latter case, the use of an authentication protocol will be turned off for the named interface. This has the side effect of clearing the other authentication-related parameters for this interface as well (i.e., system name and authentication secret will be forgotten). myauthproto=protoname Same as above, but only for my end of the link. I.e., this is the protocol when remote is authenticator, and I am the peer required to authenticate. hisauthproto=protoname Same as above, but only for his end of the link. myauthname=name Set my system name for the authentication protocol. hisauthname=name Set his system name for the authentication protocol. For CHAP, this will only be used as a hint, causing a warning message if remote did supply a different name. For PAP, it's the name remote must use to authenticate himself (in connection with his secret). myauthsecret=secret Set my secret (key, password) for use in the authentication phase. For CHAP, this will be used to compute the response hash value, based on remote's challenge. For PAP, it will be transmitted as plain text together with the system name. Don't forget to quote the secrets from the shell if they contain shell metacharacters (or whitespace). myauthkey=secret Same as above. hisauthsecret=secret Same as above, to be used if we are authenticator and the remote peer needs to authenticate. hisauthkey=secret Same as above. callin Require remote to authenticate himself only when he's calling in, but not when we are caller. This is required for some peers that do not implement the authentication protocols symmetrically (like Ascend routers, for example). always The opposite of callin. Require remote to always authenticate, regardless of which side is placing the call. This is the default, and will not be explicitly displayed in `list' mode. norechallenge Only meaningful with CHAP. Do not re-challenge peer once the initial CHAP handshake was successful. Used to work around broken peer implementations that can't grok being re-challenged once the connection is up. rechallenge With CHAP, send re-challenges at random intervals while the connection is in network phase. (The intervals are currently in the range of 300 through approximately 800 seconds.) This is the default, and will not be explicitly displayed in `list' mode.
# spppcontrol bppp0 bppp0: phase=dead myauthproto=chap myauthname="uriah" hisauthproto=chap hisauthname="ifb-gw" norechallenge Display the settings for bppp0. The interface is currently in dead phase, i.e., the LCP layer is down, and no traffic is possible. Both ends of the connection use the CHAP protocol, my end tells remote the system name `uriah', and remote is expected to authenticate by the name `ifb-gw'. Once the initial CHAP handshake was successful, no further CHAP challenges will be transmitted. There are supposedly some known CHAP secrets for both ends of the link which are not being shown. # spppcontrol bppp0 authproto=chap myauthname=uriah myauthsecret='some secret' hisauthname=ifb-gw hisauthsecret='another' norechallenge A possible call to spppcontrol that could have been used to bring the interface into the state shown by the previous example.
netstat(1), sppp(4), ifconfig(8) B. Lloyd and W. Simpson, PPP Authentication Protocols, RFC 1334. W. Simpson, Editor, The Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), RFC 1661. W. Simpson, PPP Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP), RFC 1994.
The spppcontrol utility appeared in FreeBSD 3.0.
The program was written by Joerg Wunsch, Dresden. OpenBSD 3.6 October 11, 1997


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Update - Tol Barad Bridge Exploit Fixed
Update - Meta Gems Changes
- Meta gems with the Chaotic and Relentless prefixes now have a requirement of 3 red gems.
- Added new meta gems: Agile Shadowspirit Diamond (Agility/3% critical damage), Reverberating Shadowspirit Diamond (Strength/3% critical damage), and Burning Shadowspirit Diamond (Intellect/3% critical damage). These new recipes are unbound and can drop from any Cataclysm creature. The new meta gems have a requirement of 3 red gems equipped.
Patch 4.0.6 Patch Notes (PTR)
Official patch notes have been released and seems to be from a build older than the one on PTR. Also, official changes are always better than datamined changes so there you go!
- Many tooltips have been updated to reflect any changes made via recent hotfixes.
- The guild reward Armadillo Pup now requires revered faction instead of exalted.
- Bloodlust, Heroism, Time Warp and Ancient Hysteria can no longer be cast while in Arenas.
The Battle for Gilneas
- The time it takes to capture a flag has been reduced to 5 seconds, down from 8.
Strand of the Ancients
- The damage done by Antipersonnel Cannons has been doubled.
- The missile speed of Rocket Blast (Antipersonnel Cannons) has been increased by roughly 50%.
- Some Antipersonnel Cannons could shoot the platform they were spawned on. These spawn locations have been fixed.
- The Battleground Demolisher no longer has two additional seats and now only has room for the driver.
- A PvP duration flag has been added to Battleground Demolishers. This should make it so crowd control effects cast on unmanned demolishers does not last an extended amount of time.
- There should no longer be a discrepancy in time when the Battleground Demolishers spawn at the start of each round.
- The Battleground Demolishers spawned on the docks no longer despawn when the north graveyard is taken by the offense.
- Massive Seaforium Charges should now be useable in rated Battleground matches.
- The duration of the Teleport debuff has been lowered to 10 seconds, down from 20.
- The radius of the Seaforium Blast has been lowered to 10 yards, down from 20.
- The draenei racial trait Gift of the Naaru now heals 20% of the target's health over 15 seconds, rather than a scaling value.
- The dwarven racial trait Stoneform now reduces all damage taken by 10%, rather than increasing armor by 10%. It also increases the dwarf's size when used.
- The gnomish racial trait Escape Artist now has a 1.5-minute cooldown, down from 1.75.
- The human racial trait Every Man for Himself has been reverted back to a 2-minute cooldown, down from 3 minutes.
- The night elf racial trait Shadowmeld can now be used while shapeshifted.
- The tauren racial trait War Stomp can now be used while shapeshifted.
- The worgen racial trait Darkflight now has a 2-minute cooldown, down from 3, and is no longer on the global cooldown. In addition, the movement speed bonus now stacks with existing bonuses, but cannot be activated while Sprint or Dash is active (and they cannot be activated while Darkflight is active).
Death Knight (Forums / Cataclysm Talent Calculator / Beta Skills/Talents)
- Icebound Fortitude now breaks stuns when used, in addition to providing immunity to them.
- Necrotic Strike's absorption effect is now reduced by the target's resilience.
Talent Specializations
- Crimson Scourge has been redesigned slightly. Instead of a 50/100% chance to make the next Blood Boil free when Plague Strike is used on a target with Blood Plague, the talent now gives a 5/10% chance to provide a free Blood Boil when the death knight lands any melee attack on a Blood Plagued target.
- Will of the Necropolis no longer refunds a Blood Rune when it resets Rune Tap's cooldown. Instead it makes the next Rune Tap free while Will of the Necropolis is active.
- Howling Blast now deals 40% less damage to all targets other than the primary target of the spell.
- Might of the Frozen Wastes now also increases all melee damage by 4/8/12% while wielding a two-handed weapon.
- Desecration is now also triggered by Necrotic Strike.
- Runic Corruption procs while the aura is already active now add 3 seconds to the existing aura duration, instead of simply refreshing/overwriting the existing aura.
- Unholy Might (passive) has been reduced to a 5% Strength increase, down from 10%.
- Glyph of Death's Embrace no longer refunds Runic Power when self-healing via Lichborne.
Druid (Forums / Cataclysm Talent Calculator / Beta Skills/Talents)
- Barkskin is no longer dispellable.
- Healing Touch is now trained at level 78, up from level 3.
- Lacerate damage has been reduced by approximately 20%.
- Mangle (Bear Form) weapon damage (at level 80+) has been reduced to 235%, down from 300%.
- Mangle (Cat Form) weapon damage percent (at level 80+) has been increased to 460%, up from 360%.
- Maul damage has been reduced by approximately 20%.
- Mount Up: This guild perk now applies to Flight Form and Swift Flight Form as well.
- Nourish is now trained at level 8, down from level 78.
- Omen of Clarity can no longer trigger from helpful spells (aka heals), unless the Restoration talent Malfurion's Gift is chosen.
- Rake damage has been reduced by 10%.
- Rejuvenation is now trained at level 3, down from level 8. In addition, its mana cost has been reduced from 26% to 16%.
- Rip damage has been reduced by 10%.
- Shred weapon damage percent (at level 80+) has been increased to 450%, up from 350%.
Talent Specializations
- The Shooting Stars buff duration has been increased to 12 seconds, up from 8 seconds.
- Wild Mushroom is now instant cast, down from 0.5 seconds. In addition, the radius of detonation has been increased to 6 yards, up from 3, and damage done increased by 15%.
- Berserk (instant Mangle proc) now has a new Spell Alert identifier. In addition, Berserk no longer breaks Fear or makes the druid immune to Fear.
- Pulverize weapon damage percent has been reduced to 80%, down from 100%.
- Empowered Touch now also affects Regrowth.
- Nature's Bounty no longer affects Swiftmend, but now has a new effect. When the druid has Rejuvenation on 3 or more targets, the cast time of Nourish is reduced by 10/20/30%.
- Glyph of Regrowth now causes the heal-over-time effect to refresh itself on targets at or below 50% health, up from 25%.
- Glyph of Wrath now increases damage done by Wrath by 10% and no longer requires Insect Swarm on the target.
Hunter (Forums / Cataclysm Talent Calculator / Beta Skills/Talents)
- Aimed Shot! weapon damage has been increased to 200%.
- Aspect of the Wild, Aspect of the Hawk, and Aspect of the Fox can now be cast while mounted.
- Deterrence now provides 100% chance for melee attacks to miss instead of 100% parry chance. This means that attacks that cannot be parried, notably some rogue abilities, can now be prevented by Deterrence, and the hunter will gain the benefit of Deterrence even if disarmed.
- Dust Cloud's cooldown and duration have been modified to make it closer aligned with Tailspin (same effect, different pet).
- Kill Command's damage has been increased by 20%.
- Kill Shot's attack power scaling has been increased by 50%.
- Master's Call now has a 35-second cooldown, down from 1 minute. In addition, the visual effect is more obvious.
Talent Specializations
- Chimera Shot's attack power scaling has been increased by 20%.
- Into the Wilderness (passive) has been reduced to a 10% Agility increase, down from 15%.
- Pets now have 70% of the master's armor, rather than a different value based on which type of pet they are.
- Shale Spiders now correctly have a special ability (Web Wrap).
- Bad Manner (monkey) now properly breaks from damage.
Mage (Forums / Cataclysm Talent Calculator / Beta Skills/Talents)
- Flame Orb now ignores critters.
- The mana costs of Arcane Brilliance and Dalaran Brilliance have been reduced by approximately 16%, making them roughly equal to the cost of Mark of the Wild.
- Ring of Frost: Radius shrunk to 8 yards, and inner "safe" radius is now 4.7 yards (exactly matching graphic). Dispelling the effect of Ring of Frost will now make the target immune to being refrozen for 3 seconds. If a second Ring of Frost is cast by the same mage while the first is still active (via Cold Snap), the first will now disappear and cease functioning.
Bug Fixes
- Ring of Frost can now be cast, and works properly, on transports (this includes elevators, trapdoors, etc.).
Paladin (Forums / Cataclysm Talent Calculator / Beta Skills/Talents)
- The mana costs of Blessing of Might and Blessing of Kings have been increased by approximately 217%, making them roughly equal to the cost of Mark of the Wild.
- Crusader Strike weapon damage percent has been increased to 135%, up from 115%.
- Divine Plea now lasts for 9 seconds, down from 15. It grants 4% mana per tick, instead of 2%, for a total of 12% mana, up from 10%.
Talent Specializations
- Divine Purpose: The chance for applicable abilities to generate Holy Power has been reduced to 7/15%, down from 20/40%, but instead of generating 1 Holy Power, the next applicable ability used consumes no Holy Power and acts as if the paladin has 3 Holy Power.
- Hand of Light (Mastery): A percentage of the damage done by Templar's Verdict, Crusader Strike, and Divine Storm is done as additional Holy damage.
- Repentance is no longer broken from damage done by Censure (Seal of Truth).
- Glyph of Divine Plea now adds 6% mana, for a total of 18% over 9 seconds.
Priest (Forums / Cataclysm Talent Calculator / Beta Skills/Talents)
- The duration of Levitate has been increased to 10 minutes, up from 2.
- The mana cost of Power Word: Fortitude has been reduced by approximately 68%, making it roughly equal to the cost of Mark of the Wild.
- The mana cost of Power Word: Shield has been increased by approximately 31%, but its effect has been increased by 208%.
- The mana cost of Renew has been reduced by 24%.
- The mana cost of Shadow Protection has been reduced by approximately 65%, making it roughly equal to the cost of Mark of the Wild.
Talent Specializations
- Focused Will now procs when the priest is critically hit, in addition to its current effect.
- Improved Power Word: Shield now also increases the amount absorbed by an additional 15/30% when cast on oneself.
- Pain Suppression is no longer dispellable.
- Blessed Resilience will now proc when the priest is critically hit, in addition to its current effect.
- Chakra states now last 1 minute, up from 30 seconds.
- Desperate Prayer now heals the priest for 30% of their total health, up from a very subpar value.
- Holy Concentration now increases the amount of mana regeneration from Spirit while in combat by an additional 15/30%, down from 20/40%.
- Holy Word: Chastise now has a 30-second cooldown, up from 25. In addition, it properly breaks from damage.
- Lightwell's health has been increased by 50% (for PvP purposes).
- Serendipity now has Spell Alert and Floating Combat Text feedback support.
- Surge of Light can now also proc from Flash Heal and Greater Heal, and can now also critically hit.
- Glyph of Mind Flay no longer requires Shadow Word: Pain to be on the target.
- Glyph of Pain Suppression has been renamed Glyph of Desperation and now allows Guardian Spirit to be cast while stunned, in addition to Pain Suppression.
- Glyph of Psychic Horror now reduces the cooldown of Psychic Horror by 30 seconds, down from 60.
- Glyph of Spirit of Redemption has been converted into Glyph of Prayer of Mending, which increases the healing done by the first charge of Prayer of Mending by 60%.
Rogue (Forums / Cataclysm Talent Calculator / Beta Skills/Talents)
- Combat Readiness now lasts for 20 seconds, down from 30 seconds, but the Combat Insight stacking buff lasts 10 seconds, up from 6 seconds.
- Smoke Bomb now lasts for 5 seconds, down from 10 seconds.
Talent Specializations
- Main Gauche (Mastery) now provides a chance to deal an attack for 75% of main-hand damage. This attack can trigger Combat Potency.
- Revealing Strike now increases finisher effectiveness by 35% (45% glyphed), up from 20% (30% glyphed).
Warlock (Forums / Cataclysm Talent Calculator / Beta Skills/Talents)
- Curse of Exhaustion now reduces movement speed by 30%, down from 50%.
- Drain Mana has been removed from the game.
Talent Specializations
- Unstable Affliction's silence effect has been reduced to 3 seconds, down from 5.
- Demonic Rebirth now highlights summoning spells when active.
- Inferno no longer increases the radius of Hellfire.
- Shadow and Flame can now proc from Incinerate in addition to Shadow Bolt.
- Glyph of Soul Swap cooldown has been increased to 15 seconds, up from 10 seconds.
Warrior (Forums / Cataclysm Talent Calculator / Beta Skills/Talents)
- Charge now shares diminishing returns with stun effects.
- Cleave damage has been reduced by 20%.
- Heroic Strike damage has been reduced by 20%.
Talent Specializations
- Juggernaut no longer increases the cooldown on Charge, but instead increases the duration of the Charge stun by 2 seconds. In addition, Charge is usable in all stances, however, the talent now causes Charge and Intercept to share a cooldown.
- Lambs to the Slaughter: Instead of granting 10/20/30% damage to the next Mortal Strike, Overpower, or Execute, it now grants a 10% buff to any Mortal Strike, Overpower, Slam, or Execute that stacks 1/2/3 times.
- War Academy no longer buffs Heroic Strike or Cleave. It now buffs Mortal Strike, Raging Blow, Devastate, Victory Rush and Slam.
- Unshackled Fury (Mastery) now grants 5.6% benefit per mastery point, up from 4.7%.
- Glyph of Rapid Charge has been changed from a 7% reduction to Charge's cooldown, to 1 second off of the cooldown. This change is primarily to clarify the exact cooldown reduction this glyph provides.
- Multiple spawn locations now exist for the Confectioner's Sugar (daily quest item) in Stormwind.
- Bell of Enraging Resonance can now trigger from any damage spell instead of only critical strike.
- The Fury of Angerforge internal cooldown has been drastically reduced so this trinket will build up charges much faster.
- Mandala of Stirring Patterns now grants Intellect instead of Mastery.
- The PvP Priest 4-piece set bonus has been redesigned. When Power Word: Shield is cast on the priest, movement speed reduction effects are temporally suppressed for 4 seconds.
User Interface
- For opening cinematics there is now a streaming option interface in the login screen for play-on-demand.
- The Character Info window (C) now saves for each specialization how stat categories are ordered by players, as well as whether categories are expanded/collapsed.
- Character movement speed is now displayed on the Character Info window (C) with all other stats.
- There are now number displays on the summary page and dropdown menu.
- Ready Flash has been added to the race icons.
Guild Interface
- A View All button has been added to the profession display regardless of whether Show Offline Members is checked.
- Online members can now be sorted to the top of the View Crafters list.
- The guild reputation cap is now displayed in the tooltip.
Real ID & Chat
- Real ID login notifications now include character and game icons.
- Players can now right-click close a chat window tab even if it's not the current tab.
- There is now an option to auto-pop whispers into a new tab.
- Popped out whisper windows now show online/offline status messages.
Bug Fixes
- Many bugs... handled them!
Quests & Creatures
Tol Barad Peninsula
- A new achievement, Just Another Day in Tol Barad, has been added for completing all of the Tol Barad daily quests.
- Crazed Guards now drop Rusty Rifles.
- The spawn rate of Alliance and Horde Infantry for the quest "The Leftovers" has been increased.
- The Magnetized Scrap Collector for the quest "Magnets, How Do They Work?" will now be correctly removed from players' bags upon completing the quest.
- Both the Baradin's Wardens and Hellscream's Reach Commendations are now Bound to Account items.
Bug Fixes
- Worgen now work properly in the Barbershop.


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Afghanistan, capabilities and partnerships top busy Chicago Summit agenda
Afghanistan, future capabilities and strengthening partnerships will top the agenda of next week's Chicago Summit, said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on 11 May 2012.
The Secretary General said that the 20-21 May Summit will be an important meeting for the Alliance.
"This will be a summit of commitment. Commitment to complete transition in Afghanistan and to support Afghans achieve a stable future. Commitment to keep NATO capable to deal with the challenges of the 21st century. Commitment to strengthen even further the connections with our partners across the globe," he told reporters at a press conference in Brussels.
The 20-21 May Summit will be the biggest meeting NATO has ever organised, with around 60 countries and organisations represented, the Secretary General said, adding that preparations for the meeting were on track. The Secretary General has met with several Alliance leaders including US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and David Cameron, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in the run up to the Summit.
On Afghanistan, the Summit is expected to set the course for the Alliance's future engagement there. "We will complete our ISAF mission by the end of 2014 – but we will remain committed to a long-term partnership with the Afghan people," the Secretary General said.
He said the mission was on track to complete transition to Afghan security by the end of 2014, as NATO nations agreed to do with Afghan President Hamid Karzai two years ago at their Lisbon Summit. The Secretary General said that at Chicago the Allies will make clear what NATO's mission will be after 2014. "I expect NATO will train, advise and assist Afghan security forces," he said. "That will be a new mission with a new role for NATO."
"In Chicago, we will also start to spell out our commitment to help finance the Afghan security forces of the future -as part of an international community effort, and together with the Afghans themselves", he said.
The Summit will also raise the issue of building future capabilities in a period of tough economic times. "In Chicago, we will launch between 20 and 30 other multinational projects, including for better protection, better surveillance, and better maintenance," said Mr. Fogh Rasmussen. "Our goal is NATO Forces 2020 – an Alliance that is fit for the next decade and beyond. And the way to get there is Smart Defence – a renewed culture of cooperation that allows all Allies to provide more security for our citizens even in an age of austerity."
The Secretary General announced that at Chicago, Allies will strengthen their network of partnerships around the world. NATO will hold an expanded ISAF meeting including 22 non-NATO partners and a separate meeting with a group of 13 partner nations to recognise their important contributions to current and recent NATO missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Libya.
NATO foreign ministers will also hold talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia¹ and Georgia to discuss the Summit agenda.
"NATO is and will remain a transatlantic Alliance, but when it comes to security, the Chicago Summit will show that NATO is also partner of choice for world peace and security," the Secretary General said.
- Turkey recognizes the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.


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Dare to Be Different - 1969 Chevrolet El Camino SS 396
Photos by Jerry Heasley
A muscle car/truck is certainly a daring way to be different. The Chevrolet El Camino and Ford Ranchero occupy a unique place in the world of muscle cars. These hybrids share almost everything except a back seat with their hardtop and convertible siblings. One very important thing that they don't currently share is a high price tag.
It's surprising that El Caminos and Rancheros are priced so far below similar cars. Mechanically, the cars and trucks are virtually identical. The greater front-to-rear weight distribution puts El Caminos and Rancheros at a slight disadvantage on the dragstrip, but since few current muscle car owners actively race their cars, it shouldn't account for the price differential.
One big advantage for anyone wanting to make occasional dragstrip forays is that they can haul a set of mounted slicks, a floor jack, and a good-sized toolbox in the bed. There's no need for a separate support vehicle.
Style-wise the Sixties/early-Seventies El Caminos and Rancheros are probably some of the most handsome utility vehicles ever produced. Their solid flanks are far smoother than traditional cab and box pickups. The 1968-1969 El Camino is one of the sleekest of the genre. The pointed front fenders and similarly slanted rear roofline give the El Camino a sense of forward motion.
That motion can be quite swift when there's a 375 horsepower 396ci big-block under the hood, as is the case with Wayne Davis's Dusk Blue Metallic 1969 SS 396. There was a running change that increased bore size from 4.094-inches to 4.125-inches. Displacement was bumped up to 402 cubic inches, but the vehicles were still marketed as SS 396s. Wayne's El Camino has the Muncie 4-speed manual transmission, which enhances the muscle car feel and image. This is a bench seat model, which pretty much negates the utility value of the middle seating position.
El Caminos could be ordered as very Spartan utility vehicles or as fully loaded gentleman's pickups. The most collectible examples tend to fall near the two extremes – a no-frills race truck or a luxury car/pickup hybrid. Either way (or anything in between), El Caminos and Rancheros are a different way to enjoy muscle car ownership at bargain prices.
Dare to Be Different! - Introduction
The Wide, Wide World of Muscle Cars
Dare to Be Different! - 1961 Ford Starliner
An excellent muscle car for any Ford fan looking for something different.
Dare to Be Different - 1961 Pontiac Ventura
A little known and often overlooked precursor to the Pontiac performance timeline.
Dare to Be Different - 1964 Pontiac Grand Prix
Different enough to be unique, but so handsome as to be universally admired.
Dare to Be Different - 1966 Dodge Polara 500
A competitor to the Ford Galaxy 500 and the Chevy Impala that demands a second look.
Dare to Be Different - 1968 Chevy Impala SS 427
A viable alternative that's still daring and different.
Dare to Be Different - 1969 Chevrolet El Camino SS 396
A different way to enjoy muscle car ownership at bargain prices.
Dare to Be Different - 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator
An excellent way to enjoy some of the finest engines Ford Motor Company ever produced.
Dare to Be Different - 1970 Dodge Swinger
Power-to-weight ratio makes this A-body a great choice.
Dare to Be Different - 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360
This a one-year wonder was a daring exercise for AMC.
Dare to Be Different - 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport
Thanks to Clint Eastwood this overlooked muscle car is back in the spotlight.
Dare to Be Different - 1972 Buick GS 455 Stage 1
Is this one of the most underrated muscle cars ever?
Published Dec 7th, 2015


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CUPERTINO (AP) - Apple CEO Tim Cook is calling a shareholder lawsuit against the company a "silly sideshow," even as he said he is open to looking at the shareholder's proposals for sharing more cash with investors.
Investor David Einhorn sued Apple Inc. last week, saying a proposal slated for a vote at the company's annual meeting in two weeks would make it more difficult to enact his plan to reward shareholders by distributing a new class of shares.
Cook said Apple's proposal puts more power in the hands of shareholders, making it difficult to understand why a shareholder would fight it. Calling the fight a waste of time, Cook said Apple won't squander money by mailing letters to shareholders to persuade them to vote for the proposal.
"My preference is that everyone on both sides of this issue would take the money they're spending on this and donating it to a worthy cause," Cook said.
Apple's proposal asks shareholders to vote on a few governance issues in one go. Einhorn's company, Greenlight Capital, said in a statement that if Apple thinks the suit is waste of resources, "it could simply end the matter by complying with existing law" and let shareholders vote on the contested proposal separately from the other issues.
Cook spoke Tuesday morning at a Goldman Sachs investor conference in San Francisco. Repeating previous statements, he said Apple is "seriously" looking at ways to hand out more cash to shareholders.
Investors appeared to be listening for something more substantive out the CEO on the cash issue. Apple's stock fell $12.03, or 2.5 percent, to close at $467.90.
The stock market has hammered Apple's stock since the September launch of the iPhone 5. The company's growth, which has been rapid for nearly a decade, is slowing drastically in the absence of a new groundbreaking product. Wall Street is clamoring for Apple to share more of its cash, which amounted to $137 billion at the end of last year and is still growing fast because of the company's massive profits.
Companies normally don't sit on that much cash, as it's not very productive. They prefer to invest it in their business or give it to shareholders. Einhorn said Apple's cash hoard is a symptom of a defensive, "Depression-era mentality."
Cook rebutted that assertion Tuesday, saying the company invested $10 billion in its business last year, through spending on research and design, equipment and an expansion of its chain of stores. It has also committed to handing out $45 billion to shareholders over three years, through dividends and share buybacks.
Analysts, however, point out that Apple seems to have run out of things to invest in, and the $45 billion commitment is small compared with the company's profits.
Goldman analyst Bill Shope asked Cook about two other hot-button issues: whether Apple would make a cheaper phone and one with a larger screen, both of which rivals have been doing using Google's Android operating system. Cook was as usual evasive about Apple's product plans, preferring to point out that it sells older iPhone models at a reduced price and that there's more to the experience of a screen than its size.


text:
Free returns within 15 days
Taxes and duties are now included worldwide
Shoes Party : up to 40% off a selection from 20 to 26 May inclusive
Loafers n°610
Vintage-inspired, Rivecour presents the numero 610, a new variation of the moccasin mounted on a beveled 65 mm heel. The square toe and slightly low-cut vamp reinforce the retro look and enhance the silhouette. Available in two bold, elegant colors. Sharp, sophisticated and irresistible!
- Slip-on
- Heel height : 65 mm
- Made in Portugal in the respect of the traditional know-how
- Delivered in their recycled box made in collaboration with the artist @zahraholm
- Choose your usual size
- Polish Leather Exterior
- Rubber outsole
- Leather lining
- Handcrafted in Portugal in the Porto region
- Find all our maintenance advice on our Conciergerie page
• Standard (Colissimo) : € 7
Home delivery against signature in 2 to 3 working days.
• Express (Chronopost) : € 15
Home delivery within 24 hours for any order placed before 12 noon from Monday to Friday.
All import duties and taxes will be included in the final purchase price.
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Professor Thomas Kailath
Hitachi America Professor of Engineering, Emeritus
Contact info
Packard Building, Room 276
350 Serra Mall,
Stanford University
Stanford, California 94305-9510
Phone: 1.650.494.9401
e.mail: email@example.com, email@example.com
Short Bio
Thomas Kailath received the B.E. (Telecom) degree from the College of Engineering, Pune, in India, and S.M. (1959) and Sc.D. (1961) degrees in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then worked at the Jet Propulsion Labs in Pasadena, CA, before joining Stanford University as Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering in 1963. He was promoted to Professor in 1968, and was appointed the first holder of the Hitachi America Professorship in 1988. He assumed emeritus status in 2001, but remains active with his research and writing activities.
Kailath's research and teaching at Stanford have ranged over several fields of engineering and mathematics, with a different focus roughly every decade: information theory, communications, linear systems, estimation and control, signal processing, semiconductor manufacturing, probability and statistics, and matrix and operator theory. He has mentored an outstanding array of over a hundred doctoral and postdoctoral scholars. Their joint efforts have led to over 300 journal papers, several of which have received outstanding paper prizes; they have also led to a dozen patents and to several books and monographs, including the major textbooks Linear Systems(1980) and Linear Estimation(2000).
Kailath is a Fellow of the IEEE and received the IEEE Medal of Honor in 2007 for exceptional contributions to the development of powerful algorithms for communications, control, computing and signal processing. Among his other major honors are the Shannon Award of the IEEE Information Theory Society; the IEEE Education Medal and the IEEE Signal Processing Medal; Guggenheim, Churchill and Humboldt Fellowships; honorary degrees from universities in Sweden, Scotland, Spain, France, India and Israel; the Padma Bhushan, a high civilian award of the Government of India; the BBVA Foundation Prize
for information and communication technologies; membership of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; and foreign membership of the Royal Society of London, the Royal Spanish Academy of Engineering, and the major science and engineering academies in India.
Last modified Thursday, 06-Nov-2014 16:05:25 PST9/1/2013 by Nishchal Nadhamuni


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The oppressive heat wave that blanketed much of the nation for nearly two weeks, causing at least 46 deaths, has finally eased.
As The Associated Press writes:
"The cooler air began sweeping southward Sunday in the eastern half of the country, bringing down some temperatures by 15 or more degrees from Saturday's highs, which topped 100 in cities including Philadelphia, Washington, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Louisville, Ky."
Many of those cities are also getting some very welcome rain.
"Instead of widespread highs in the 100s like we saw on Saturday from Kansas and Missouri to the Mid-Atlantic, we'll be talking about highs in the 80s and low 90s this week across the same swath of territory."
But, Weather.com also warns that "the West will not be so lucky. Highs in the low 100s will move as far north as Salt Lake City, Utah, Reno, Nev. and Boise, Idaho this week. Las Vegas, Nev. and Phoenix, Ariz. will be 110+ on both Monday and Tuesday."
Of the 46 heat-related deaths, at least 18 were in Illinois' Cook County, the Chicago Tribune reports.
How hot has it been? Check the maps we posted on Friday.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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If you're lucky, you have in your possession a few crinkly, brown, and splattered scraps of paper detailing tried-and-true recipes passed down from your grandma and your grandma's grandma. This is one such recipe, albeit with an enhancement or two.
The first time I made these bars, I was convinced until the second a bite entered my mouth that the praise bestowed upon this recipe was undeserved. Things were fine and dandy as I mixed up the batter--it came together very easily and quickly and--bonus--in one bowl. However, when I opened the oven to check on the doneness of the bars, my heart sank--I saw what appeared to be rock-hard edges and goopy, raw innards, as jiggly as jello. However, the toothpick test revealed only a few moist crumbs, so I forged onward and pulled the pan out. As the bars cooled, the middle sank completely, leaving towering walls...and me near tears.
It's a hard life, ya know?
Hold the phone! My spirits began to lift as I first sliced into the pan--the sides weren't as hard as cement after all and in fact, they cut up quite nicely. Further, the innards weren't a sloppy mess--they were dense and even a teensy bit elastic, reminiscent of baked caramel. And oh, that first bite--so rich and buttery, so melt-in-your-mouth magnificent. This recipe has rightfully earned every kind word it has ever received.
Throwback Butterscotch Bars
(adapted from this recipe)
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup vanilla chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9-inch pan.
In a large microwaveable bowl, melt butter and whisk in brown sugar until well combined. Set bowl aside and let cool to lukewarm.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
Whisk the eggs into the butter and sugar. Mix in the vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Dump batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle vanilla chips over the top.
Bake until the top is shiny and the edges just begin to pull away from the side of the pan, about 18 to 24 minutes. Do not overbake - a toothpick placed in the center should come out with moist crumbs attached. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before cutting into bars. read more words!


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From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Earlier in the week, I alluded to being up to my elbows in bread dough. A double recipe of these burger buns was the culprit. Our neighborhood block party was last weekend and I was asked to make my Ultimate Cheater's Pulled Pork for the occasion. The pork is a crock-pot recipe and requires almost no work to make, so I decided to pair it with homemade burger buns that I had been wanting to test. The rolls contained cornmeal and I thought they would be a perfect foil for the smoky flavor of the pork butt. I have some good news and some bad news to report regarding the buns. On the upside, they are delicious, particularly with barbecue type fillings, however, the downside is that the dough used to make them is an absolute bear to work with. The proportion of liquid to dry ingredients given in the original recipe is way out of whack and produced a sticky mass that is most kindly described as a hot mess. I had to increase the amount of flour I used by almost 2 cups to produce a soft dough that could be kneaded. It was frustrating. If you make a lot of bread, I hope you'll give this recipe a try. If you are a new bread maker, run for the hills. This is not a recipe for beginners. While I loved the flavor of these buns, I'll not be making them again. The next time I need burger buns, I'll throw a half cup of cornmeal into the proven recipe for Moomie buns and see what happens.
2 cups milk
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4-1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
5 to 6-1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I used 6 cups of flour)
3 eggs
1) Combine milk, butter, cornmeal, sugar and salt in a saucepan. Cook and stir until butter is melted. Cool to about 110 to 115 degrees F.
2) In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add 3 cups flour and milk mixture; beat until blended. Add eggs; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be slightly sticky). Turn onto a heavily floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
2) Punch dough down; turn onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into four portions; divide each portion into six pieces. With lightly floured hands, shape into buns. Place on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 40 minutes.
3) Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Yield: 2 dozen buns.
Party Food For Girls was written by Arantxa Zecchini with some help from her mother, Alessandra who has been a good friend to me and One Perfect Bite. The book has just been published and a copy of it will be given away on her mother's blog, Alessandra Zecchini, which you can find here. Stop by and leave a comment for the opportunity to win a copy of this lovely book.
One Year Ago Today: Plum Tart with Streusel Topping
Two Years Ago Today: Margarita Shrimp Salad for Sandwiches and Wraps
You might also enjoy these recipes:
Brioche Hamburger Buns - Lisa is Cooking
Best Hamburger Buns - Anna's Table
Easy Homemade Hamburger Rolls - Cinnamon, Spice and Everything Nice
Chipotle Hambuger Buns - Confections of a Foodie Bride
Hamburger Buns - The Farmer's Wife


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So my weekly CFB guest-post on Deadspin was published yesterday morning, anticipating that the AP or Coaches' pollsters would keep
I have never been happier to be wrong: Both the AP and the coaches booted
Sure, I could quibble: One-third of the coaches had
But, in general, I am unusually at peace with the pollsters -- both the media and coaches showed remarkable and rare common sense.
(It remains to be seen how long the exile will last. If
Now, as to the actual teams that were ranked, a few thoughts:
(1) I'm trying to figure out how Clemson could beat a ranked (if overrated)
(2) Classic voter inertia: USC is still No. 1, despite anything but a performance by a top-ranked team against
(3) I'm a
(4) Nice to see pollsters drop underperforming
Last thought on
They are a team BUILT to pull an upset precisely like the one they did -- opening weekend, no injuries, no "book" on the 2007 team yet, surprise/overlook factor -- but over the course of a season-long slog against BCS-conference teams, they would be worn down by 1-A depth of size and speed. I'm not saying they couldn't make their way to bowl-eligibility; the fact that I'd even CONTEMPLATE 7-8 1-A wins for this particular
Shaq is getting divorced: Forget helping out the fat kids, now "Shaq the Bachelor" is a must-see reality TV show.
US Open: Two less reasons to keep following it. Justine Henin dispatches Serena in straight sets (Justine owns Serena in Slam quarters). And Rafa Nadal is out, too.
Clemens getting a cortisone shot in his elbow: Will presumably be a nice respite from the HGH. (Seriously, though: Is Clemens' career over? Maybe he'll grit through it to pitch again this season -- he owes the Yankees every last drop of gas in the tank -- but can he reasonably think he could come back again next year? I think these final few weeks of the 2007 season will be Rockets' last go-round.)
Carlos Zambrano apologizes to Cubs fans for ripping them for booing him. Zam knows: The customer is always right. "They have the right to boo people," he said. And he's completely right:
Fans absolutely have the right to boo -- at any/all times they want to. Now, there are times when other fans will look at you askew and go, "Really? Booing? Why?" But you, as a fan, still possess the inalienable right to boo. It is one of the most fundamental rights of fandom.
Best MLB division race: How about the NL West? Totally underrated.
Buchholz Watch: If Red Sox rookie sensation Clay Buchholz, who threw a no-hitter in his second MLB game, throws 9 straight hitless innings while coming out of the bullpen, does he get credit for two straight no-hitters?
More Red Sox Pitching: Beckett wins 17th. As long as he continues to lead MLB pitchers in wins, he'll be a front-runner for AL Cy. (No guarantees, but it'll keep him on the very short list.)
Mickelson to skip BMW Championship: One more indication that there's just so much passion for this Playoffs thing among golfers.
Fantasy Football Watch: One week, you think all the good RBs are gone. The next, Selvin Young is the most-added player in the universe.
Meanwhile, anyone else have Larry Johnson and staring at the first 2-3 weeks of the season without their No. 1 player? Craaaaap.
Jimmy Clausen to start at QB for Notre Dame this weekend: Sure, he was the No. 1 prep QB a year ago. My question is: What does Charlie Weis do when
(I had this conversation with someone yesterday: How can a "great" coach in Year 3 manage to run such a crappy team? Basically, Weis won the last two years with Willingham's players. I thought he was supposed to have done a really good job recruiting. Yet with his own recruits, he can't coach his way out of a paper bag.)
Women's pro soccer league is returning: Now, I could be cynical and say, "Over-under on the league folding: One-third the time it took the last one." Instead, I'll say that they won't even make it to the projected league start date of 2009. But I wish them well.
TONIGHT IN NYC! The latest Varsity Letters Reading Series, featuring Frank Deford, Scott Price and Neal Thompson. 8 p.m. at Happy Ending (302 Broome). And it's FREE. Be there!
NFL 2007 Preview: Awards Picks
MVP: Drew Brees
COY: Norv Turner
Coming tomorrow: Playoff picks


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Now you can download up to three free songs a week absolutely free with your Forsyth County Public Library card. Choose from tens of thousands of albums produced by thousands of artists representing almost every musical genre imaginable. All told you can select from about 3 million songs including titles from Sony Music's catalog containing some of the most legendary names in the business.
Freegal is easy to use. From our Online Resourcespage, select the Freegal link, type in your Library card number, hit enter, and then dive into an absolute treasure of songs by your favorite artists of all time.
Best of all, Freegal (Free + legal= Freegal) is absolutely free. The Library picks up the tab for the service so you can enjoy the greatest music ever recorded. The music files are yours to keep, transfer, and play indefinitely!
Here's how it works: You get three free downloads every week beginning Monday morning and ending the following Sunday. You can easily keep track of how many songs you have downloaded for the week by checking the upper right hand corner of the page, where your weekly tally will be displayed. Alert: An overall download limit can be reached during weekly time periods. If you get a message that the Library has reached its limit, try again on Monday!
For the complete story on Freegal, click on the FAQ tab after entering enter the website. Welcome Freegal to the great lineup of online resources offered by your Library!


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WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. manufacturing activity grew at a faster pace in January, driven by an increase in new orders and more hiring at factories.
The Institute for Supply Management said Friday that its index of manufacturing activity jumped to 53.1 in January from 50.2 in December. It was the highest reading since April, when the index hit 54.1.
Any reading above 50 indicates expansion.
The second straight monthly increase in the index showed manufacturing is starting to grow again after struggling through most of 2012. Uncertainty about tax increases and deep government spending cuts led many companies to reduce orders for machinery and equipment earlier this year. And a weaker global economy dampened demand for U.S. exports.
The report was also encouraging because it showed that demand for factory goods increased even as consumers started to pay higher Social Security taxes. That left them with less take-home pay, which could hurt consumer spending.
The survey came hours after the Labor Department reported that the job market held steady at the end of last year even as economic growth stalled. The Labor Department said employers added 157,000 jobs in January and job growth was stronger than previously thought in December and November.
Manufacturers added 4,000 jobs last month, the fourth straight monthly increase.
"There's a fair bit of optimism here to start the year," said Dan Greenhaus, chief global strategist with BTIG LLC, a trading firm based in New York. He said the data show that the economy "is resilient to the debate in Washington" about possible tax increases and spending cuts.
Greenhaus said the solid manufacturing gains, especially in new orders and employment, suggest that "the larger story remains intact, of a moderate, ongoing recovery."
The ISM report showed that 13 of the 18 industries surveyed saw increased activity last month. They included manufacturers of plastics and rubber, textiles, furniture, printing, and apparel. Four industries reporting contraction: minerals, computers and electronics, wood and chemicals.
The survey's new orders index returned to growth, rising to 53.3 in January from 49.7 in December. Companies reported adding to their inventories in January after two months of declines, a sign that factories are preparing to boost production.
Slower growth in stockpiles was a key reason the economy shrank at an annual rate of 0.1 percent in the October-December quarter, the first contraction in 3 ½ years. Deep cuts in defense spending and fewer exports also contributed to the decline.
Most analysts predict that the economy will grow again in the January-March quarter, though likely at a lackluster annual rate of around 1 percent. They expect the economy to expand about 2 percent for the full year.
A big question is how consumers respond to the increase in Social Security taxes. A person earning $50,000 a year will have about $1,000 less to spend in 2013. A household with two high-paid workers will have up to $4,500 less. Taxes rose after a 2 percent cut, in place for two years, expired Jan. 1.
Analysts expect the Social Security tax increase to shave about a half-point off economic growth in 2013, since consumers drive about 70 percent of economic activity.
The ISM is a trade group of supply management professionals. Its index is based on a monthly survey of manufacturing executives.


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UFC welterweight James Head aids Oklahoma tornado victims...
The first thing James Head did when he moved to Edmond, Oklahoma five years ago was put a tornado shelter in his house. That's almost like setting up a barbecue or deck in the yard anywhere else – it's part of life in that area of the country.
And though tornadoes are always a clear and present danger, they're not something that stops the residents of the state from carrying on with their daily routines.
"You kind of get numb to it and that's obviously a problem," said Head. "People in Oklahoma are so used to tornado season and it's just something that they live with. I had a guy that I worked with that lost his house. He lived out on a farm, and it was a pretty isolated event, so we helped him clean up his stuff and go through it, but I haven't been around long enough to see anything like this."
"This" was the devastating tornado that hit the state on May 20, leaving 24 people dead and nearly 400 injured while destroying or damaging 12,000 homes. Most of the damage centered on the city of Moore, south of Oklahoma City and around 20-25 miles from where Head lives. The UFC welterweight's gym is even closer, only five miles from the center of the storm, and as the weather reports grew more ominous last week, it became a tense waiting game.
"We had a tornado come through the day before, and it was a small one," he recalled. "It landed in Edmond and did some damage to houses but it wasn't devastating, and then once it got east of the city, it got bigger and bigger."
Meteorologists called it "perfect tornado weather," and as the tornado sirens went off, Head was let out of his engineering job at Chesapeake Energy, allowing him to go home and see the devastation for himself through television.
"Our weathermen in Oklahoma are pretty spectacular with their five or six storm chasers located all over the metro, where you can kind of watch and know exactly where it's going," he said. "So there was plenty of warning, we knew there was going to be a tornado and it was likely to touch down in Moore. We just didn't realize the severity until you are watching it on TV and they have live coverage with helicopters, and you really just can not believe your eyes.
The tornado, which was rated an EF5 (the highest category of a storm) was a mile and a half wide, and the destruction was unyielding. In Edmond, there was only some rain, but it didn't put Head's mind at ease at all, because despite being an Illinois native, he's an Oklahoman now, and a proud one at that. So he, like many others in his home state, decided to help his neighbors.
"After all the devastation there was just instant support from everybody," he said. "The community really rallied together and they are just a really resilient group of people. With such a devastating thing happening they're pulling together, and they rebuilt once and they are going to rebuild again. There's just a moxie about them and it really inspired me to see people doing what they can and giving what they can. I remember going to the grocery store to go grocery shopping and someone was there just to buy stuff for the victims, like bottles of water and toilet paper. The shelves were already cleared out the day after the storm, so people just flooded the Sam's and flooded to Walmart and are really helping where they can. That was an inspirational thing to me."
So inspirational that Head is donating his entire purse from his next fight (to be announced) to the relief efforts in Oklahoma. He's also been making the rounds on Twitter (@thejameshead), pointing people to the Red Cross as well as to CageFighter's website, where they are selling a Pray4OK t-shirt where 100% of the proceeds benefit tornado victims.
"If you drive through Moore right now it looks like a warzone," said Head, who saw a couple of members at his strength and conditioning gym lose their homes. "It's unbelievable the devastation on the people's houses that were just wiped off the map in a matter of minutes. This isn't going to be fixed in a week when the media and the cameras go away; it's going to be a long month after month of it. We are just going to have to pull together and continue to help out in any way we can for the months to come. And every little bit helps."
It does, and despite the specter of another tornado tearing through the state and possibly bearing down on his city, Head isn't going anywhere. To him, this is home, and when something happens close to home, you don't run away; you roll up your sleeves and help those who need it.
For information on relief efforts, visit www.redcross.org or www.salvationarmyusa.org


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Empowering Climate Change Resiliency through Education in an Underserved Community
Understanding climate change and its exacerbating effects on local environmental phenomena (e.g., increase in frequency and/or intensity of drought, ocean acidification, water shortages, degraded fisheries) and how to create resiliency is critical for underserved communities as they are disproportionately impacted by these hazards and yet, have the least capacity to actively respond. To address this issue, Ocean Discovery Institute and its partners will build understanding of climate change and impacts on local hazards, human-nature interactions, and individual and community capacity for resilience through place-based education in the underserved community of City Heights, San Diego, CA. This project, titled "Empowering Climate Change Resiliency through Education in an Underserved Community," will involve a wide range of partners, including California Sea Grant, the California Nevada Climate Applications Program, NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego Canyonlands, RECON Environmental, Inc., and the San Diego Unified Port District. Project activities encompass the design, piloting, and implementation of multi-grade level, integrated curricula that incorporate hands-on student climate science research, innovative solution building, and teacher professional development. This project will serve 1,500 middle school students annually and is expected to increase students' understanding of scientific concepts and processes and human-nature interactions, improve their ability to make science-informed decisions, and contribute to local resilience efforts.


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Make a responsible statement with our anything but capricious Capricorn sea-goat brooch. Hand-assembled from a sensible selection of solid resins and featuring hand-finished details, this is the last of the earth signs and enjoys harmonising with our elemental Emma of Earth brooch.
The Mountain Sea-Goat. Setting a high standard for myself. My self-discipline allows me to prosper.
Original Designer Sally Land
Height 63 mm x Width 69 mm
Each piece is hand assembled, hand painted and released in limited quantities. All designs are made from layered resin. As designs are produced from original illustrations and are hand assembled, hand painted and hand finished, there may be minor differences from piece to piece, making each as unique as the those who wear them. Metal components used in creating this piece include a beautiful and strong silver-plated steel brooch pin. Any earring posts, earring hooks, necklace chains and jump rings used for this piece are made from stainless steel.
Designs come packaged in Erstwilder gift boxes.
Please be aware that resin is akin to ceramic and glass and therefore may be damaged if dropped or knocked. Keep your Erstwilder companion neatly tucked away in this box when not being worn, avoid contact with perfumes, lotions, water and excessive sunlight and you'll have a trusted friend for years to come.


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If you wish to join in the discussions or use the other advanced features available, you will need to register first. Registration is absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to complete so sign up today!
Ellis Amdur is a licensed instructor (shihan) in two koryu: Araki-ryu Torite Kogusoku and Toda-ha Buko-ryu Naginatajutsu. His martial arts career is approximately forty years -- in addition to koryu, he has trained in a number of other combative arts, including muay thai, judo, xingyi and aikido. A recognized expert in classical and modern Japanese martial traditions, he has authored three books and one instructional DVD on this subject. The most recent is his just released Hidden in Plain Sight: Tracing the Roots of Ueshiba Morihei's Power. Information regarding his publications on martial arts, as well as other books on crisis intervention can be accessed at his website: www.edgework.info


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Clayton Kershaw (4-3, 2.90) vs. Jhoulys Chacin (3-2, 3.09).
COMMENTS: Last time Chacin faced the Dodgers, we made fun of his name. He responded with 7 1/3 shutout innings. Touché. At least the Dodgers go into today's rubber match with growing confidence in the young Kershaw, who will have his string of four consecutive quality starts tested in the thin air of Coors Field. Speaking of which, how cool would it be if Kershaw were wiping his brow in the dry Denver heat and a silver train came slamming in from the bullpen? Clayton all over the mound, throw strikes, start a win streak, win streak. Sing it!


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During the middle- and high-school years, homework gets more intense and grades start to matter more.
At the same time, teens face a lot of other big changes. They're adjusting to the physical and emotional effects of puberty, while busy social lives and sports commitments gain importance, and many also take part-time jobs.
Parents can play a crucial role in helping teens handle these challenges and succeed in school by lending a little help, support, and guidance, and by knowing what problems demand their involvement and which ones require them to hang back.
Make sure your teen has a quiet, well-lit, distraction-free place to study. The space should be stocked with paper, pencils, a calculator, dictionary, thesaurus, and any other necessary supplies. It should be away from distractions like TVs, video games, smartphones, and other devices.
Your teen may prefer to retreat to a private space to work rather than study surrounded by parents and siblings. Grant that independence, but check in from time to time to make sure that your teen hasn't gotten distracted.
If your teen needs a computer for assignments, try to set it up in a common space, not in a bedroom, to discourage playing video games, chatting with or emailing friends, or surfing the Internet for fun during study time. Also consider parental controls, available through your Internet service provider (ISP), and software that blocks and filters any inappropriate material.
Find out which sites teachers are recommending and bookmark them for easy access. Teach your teen how to look for reliable sources of information and double-check any that look questionable.
When it comes to homework, be there to offer support and guidance, answer questions, help interpret assignment instructions, and review the completed work. But resist the urge to provide the right answers or complete assignments.
It can be difficult to see your kids stressed out over homework, especially when there's a test or important deadline looming. But you can help by teaching them the problem-solving skills they need to get through their assignments and offering encouragement as they do.
More tips to help make homework easier for your teen:
Especially in the later grades, homework can really start to add up and become harder to manage. These strategies can help:
Don't wait for report cards to find out that there are problems at school. The sooner you intervene, the sooner you can help your teen get back on track.
Make sure your teen knows that you're available if there's a snag, but that it's important to work independently. Encourage effort and determination — not just good grades. Doing so is crucial to motivating your kids to succeed in school and in life.
With a little support from parents, homework can be a positive experience for teens and foster lifelong skills they'll need to succeed in school and beyond.
Reviewed by: KidsHealth Medical Experts
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Microsoft Windows Surface pricing revealed on Swedish retail website - priced to compete?
Swedish website Webhallen.com is listing Microsoft Surface tablet pricing on its site. If these details are correct then pricing would be substantially higher than previously thought. Of particular interest here is the cheapest Arm based WinRT device, a 32GB model, showing up costing around £648.00 or $1000.
It had previously been suggested that WinRT tablets would be priced relatively in line with current ARM based tablets. If we were to rule out Android tablets and aim at the higher end iPads for a price guide then comparatively, the Surface is going to be much more expensive. Currently you can pick up a 32GB Wi-Fi only iPad for about £479.00 or £579.00 for the 3g variant. In either case, that puts the Surface well above the current market leader. Even if the Surface device is to be 3g enabled it would still be £70 more expensive in comparison. It has been rumoured that the Surface is not 3g capable, if that's the case then the price gap leaps to £169.
I am personally looking forward to getting a Surface tablet, but if these prices are indeed correct, even the lowest end device will be as expensive as an ultra-book. That's going to make the purchase a tough call rather than a no-brainer. We would have expected MS to price the ARM version at the same level as the iPad. If they are thinking of joining the competitive tablet fray with devices that are priced way above the iPad then there could be trouble ahead.
The ARM version will not have the flexibility of Pro when it comes to application compatibility so pricing is key. This version is designed to take the iPad head on, if it cannot compete on price from the get go then we have to ask, "What is the point?" WinRT will of course be on every PC sold from the end of this year but we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that Microsoft is betting big on WinRT to finally get them into the tablet game.
Most ordinary folks that buy an iPad probably stump up for a £399 16GB Wi-Fi version, there won't be any such option for Surface. The entry-level price will be highly sensitive for consumers, they are reeled in to look at tablets priced at £399 and then they might decide to stump up for a more expensive model. Apple advertises the iPad as costing FROM £399, which is the price to get people to consider it in the first instance. If Surface WinRT tablets aren't providing a similar low-cost option then consumers may overlook them completely. I wonder is that what Microsoft wishes to achieve?
We would like to know what you think of these prices. Would you still buy the 32GB version without a thought? Do you think these prices will put MS tablets at an immediate disadvantage?
**Update** Paul Paliath from Techie Buzz - He has a statement from Webhallen that the prices are incorrect and merely placeholder for future orders. :-
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I'm more than happy we can put that shocker to rest, we await the real price from Microsoft.
Source: Webhallen