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In July of last year, I reported on rumblings in the UK over the possibility that new governmental policies over filtering obscene adult content on the Internet would affect non-obscene sites, including occult-oriented pages. Now, these parental controls are indeed being shown to over-block sites that having nothing to do with porn, including a news site that deals with the world of torrenting and piracy. Quote: "What happened? The broader context is that the UK government's launched a war on internet porn, with ISPs blocking porn sites unless users specifically opt-in to access them. but TorrentFreak says that lots of other sites are getting caught in the censorship net – 'hate sites,' gore, dating sites, and TorrentFreak itself." TorrentFreak was officially un-blocked by the ISP, though that hasn't stopped the site from calling these filters a "blunt instrument that is prone to causing collateral damage and known for failing to achieve its stated aims." So far, from what I can tell, it doesn't seem like Pagan or occult sites are being filtered (though this should be monitored by folks in the UK who use various ISPs), but these stories do point to the fact that initial concerns were not unfounded. We'll keep an eye out for further developments.
Back in December I wrote about the release of several incarcerated victims accused of "Satanic" ritual abuse, and the ongoing, ugly, legacy of the Satanic Panics. Now, Slate has published an excellent, in-depth article about Fran and Dan Keller, recently freed after 20 years in prison, and moral panics that ruined hundreds of lives. Quote: "The seeds of the panic were planted with the 1980 publication of Michelle Remembers, the best-selling account of a Canadian psychotherapist's work with a woman named Michelle Smith, who, under his care, began recalling forgotten memories of horrific childhood sexual abuse at the hands of her mother and others who were part of a devil-worshipping cult. The book, though riddled with fantastical claims (for example, Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and the Archangel Michael healed Smith's physical scars), launched a cottage industry in recovering memories of satanic ritual abuse. (The psychotherapist and Smith later married.)" As the article mentions, the problem with panics is that most never realize they were in one until after the fact. Let's hope that this particular panic has finally run its course in our society. You can read many of my thoughts, and reporting, on this topic, here.
I've recently highlighted, on a couple different occasions, that the famous tomb of Vodou/Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau in New Orelans was painted pink by an unknown person (though there are theories). Now, preservationists are unhappy with the restoration work being undertaken by the Archdiocese of New Orleans, alleging that the pressure washing techniques are causing damage. Quote: "Angie Green, executive director of Save Our Cemeteries, a nonprofit group that works to preserve historic cemeteries throughout the city, saw someone blasting Laveau's tomb with a high-pressure water gun she said she immediately called the Archdiocese. 'Pressure washing is terrible for any old building,' Green said. […] Green is also concerned that once the pink paint is removed, the Archdiocese will cover Laveau's tomb in Portland cement, the most common kind of cement used around the world. The most effect technique used to repair tombs and preserve their historic look is by using lime-based mortar and plaster and then coating the tomb in a lime wash, Green said." Laveau's tomb is a tourist icon and place of religious pilgrimage in New Orleans, and that is making this process, no doubt, a more sensitive ordeal than a normal restoration job. As for the press attention, no doubt Marie Laveau's recent pop-culture resurgence has made press outside of New Orleans take notice.
I just want to quickly mention that January 7th finally saw the U.S. blu-ray release of the restored "Final Cut" of 1973 cult cinema masterpiece "The Wicker Man." This new, restored, version was announced back in July of 2013, and a special 3-disc edition was released at the end of 2013 in the U.K. (the lucky beggars). I've written about this film so often, that you could spend a good day going through the Wicker Man tag here at The Wild Hunt, so I'll be brief. The new blu-ray is essentially the "middle" length version that played in art houses during the late 1970s and 1980s in America, it lacks the extended mainland sequence at the beginning, but does have scenes the "extended" version doesn't have. The picture quality is superb (for a film of this era), and you'll not get anything better in HD so long as the original masters remain lost to legend and rumor. I'm hoping that we Americans will see a multi-disc set eventually, so we can have a "branching" version that incorporates the lesser quality extended cut sequences, as the UK set includes. For now, however, this is well worth any fan of this film picking up and re-enjoying. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an appointment to keep…
That's all I have for now, have a great day!


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Great for hauling people and cargo.
Sport Utility Vehicles
Editor: New Car Test Drive
$29,224 Base Price MSRP
$42,630 As Tested MSRP
Model Lineup: "Chevrolet Traverse LS ($29,224), AWD ($31,224); LT ($31,865), AWD ($33,865); LTZ FWD ($37,975), AWD ($39,975)"
Standard Engine: 3.6-liter dohc 24v V6
Engine Options: 281-hp 3.6-liter V6; 288-hp 3.6-liter V6
Standard Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Transmission Options: 6-speed automatic
Basic Warranty: "3 years/36,000 miles"
Assembled In: "Lansing Delta Township, Michigan"
Model Tested MSRP: "Chevrolet Traverse LT AWD ($33,865)"
Standard Equipment: "AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, eight-way power adjustable driver's seat with lumbar adjustment, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, heated power mirrors with turn signals, trip computer, three-passenger split-folding third-row seat, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, outside-temperature indicator, automatic headlights, six months of OnStar Directions & Connections, rear park assist, P255/65R18 tires on alloy wheels"
Options As Tested: "leather upholstery ($1,775); 2LT Package ($2,580) includes tri-zone climate control w rear controls, Bose 10-speaker audio with USB port, power liftgate, auto-dimming rearview mirror, rearview camera, second-row captain's chairs for 7-passenger seating; rear-seat DVD entertainment system ($1,445) includes XM NavTraffic and 115-volt outlet, trailering package ($525); dual SkyScape sunroof ($1,400); remote engine starting ($265)"
Standard Safety Equipment: "dual front airbags, front side airbags, side-curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, tire-pressure monitor, traction control, electronic stability control with rollover mitigation"
Optional Safety Equipment: "rear park assist, rearview camera, all-wheel drive"Destination Charge: $775
We found the steering direct and responsive, if light, and the brakes easy to modulate for nice smooth stops. The ride is comfortable and much more stable than that of truck-based SUVs, which tend to lean in corners and bound over undulations. Though no lightweight, the Traverse is significantly lighter than a Chevrolet Tahoe, allowing the Traverse to deliver superior fuel economy and handling.
Traverse comes with a 3.6-liter V6 that moves it ably from a stop and provides decent passing punch. The V6 makes 281 horsepower, or 288 with the available dual exhaust system, and it comes with a smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is available for improved stability in wintry conditions.
Fuel economy numbers are better than those of most truck-type SUVs, but they're less than for the average family car. Fuel economy is an EPA-estimated 16/23 mpg City/Highway with all-wheel drive or 17/24 mpg with front-wheel drive. Given the spacious interior and eight-passenger capacity, the fuel economy is quite good.
Inside, the Traverse offers best-in-class space. The second- and third-row seats fold flat to open up a generous cargo area. Even with all the seats up, there is enough room behind the third row for a week's worth of groceries, and an available power liftgate makes it easy to access those groceries.
Cloth or leather, the front seats are comfortable and supportive. Room in the first and second rows is plentiful, and the third row is bigger than most and is even useful for adults. The dashboard is attractive, but there's more obvious plastic inside than we'd like at this price point. The controls are easy to reach and operate. An optional rearview camera makes backing this big vehicle up easier and safer.
Chevrolet Traverse shares its powertrain and platform with the more upscale Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia, so take a look at them if you want fancier furnishings. Benefiting from a strong unit-body structure similar in concept to that of a car, these big crossover SUVs make truck-based SUVs obsolete in terms of simply moving people and cargo. More stylish than minivans and far more fuel and space efficient than truck-based SUVs, crossovers like the Traverse are excellent family vehicles.
The Traverse is large, though, so it can be bulky in parking lot and parallel parking maneuvers. Conversely, if you're towing anything bigger than a bass boat, you'll want the Tahoe. Otherwise, if you're coming out of a truck-based SUV, you'll be quite pleased with the superior ride and handling of the Traverse. Plus, it gets better mileage and is more space efficient.
In short, we think the Chevrolet Traverse is an excellent family vehicle.
For 2011, changes are minimal. Aside from some new colors, the optional USB port has been relocated to the storage bin in the upper instrument panel. It connects portable music devices to the vehicle�s audio system and charges batteries of some hand-held items. Heated cloth seats are offered on the 2011 Traverse LT."
"The 2011 Chevrolet Traverse is offered in LS, LT, and LTZ trim levels, each with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). LS and LT models have a 281-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Dual exhaust boosts power in LTZ models to 288 horsepower.
Traverse LS FWD ($29,224) and AWD ($31,224) come with cloth upholstery, air conditioning, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, four-way manually adjustable driver's seat with lumbar adjustment, three-passenger split-folding second-row seat, three-passenger split-folding third-row seat, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo with six speakers, XM satellite radio, automatic headlights, six months of OnStar Directions and Connections, and P245/70R17 tires on steel wheels. Traverse 1LT FWD ($31,865) and 1LT AWD ($33,865) models add an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, heated power mirrors with turn signals, a trip computer, rear park assist, and P255/65R18 tires on alloy wheels. Traverse 2LT FWD ($34,445) and 2LT AWD ($36,445) models get three-zone automatic climate control with rear controls, second-row captain's chairs for seven-passenger seating, (a second-row bench for eight-passenger seating is available), Bose 10-speaker audio system with subwoofer and USB port, rearview camera, auto-dimming rearview mirror, power rear liftgate and other features.
Traverse LTZ FWD ($37,975) and LTZ AWD ($39,975) have leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, four-way power front passenger seat, memory for the driver's seat and mirrors, universal garage door opener, P255/55R20 tires on alloy wheels and numerous additional features.
Options include the navigation system ($1,890), which comes with the Bose sound system and a rearview camera; leather upholstery ($1,775); remote engine starting ($265). Other options include a Cargo Convenience package ($130) with a rear cargo cover and cargo net; Trailering package ($525) with a heavy-duty engine cooler and a trailer hitch; two-panel sunroof ($1,400) with a fixed rear panel; a DVD rear entertainment system ($2,430) that includes the Bose sound system, rear audio controls, and a 115-volt outlet; a dual-screen rear DVD entertainment system ($2,010); chrome side steps ($635).
Safety features include dual front airbags, torso-protecting front side airbags, head-protecting side-curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, tire-pressure monitor, traction control and electronic stability control with rollover mitigation. Rear park assist and a rearview camera are optional."
Walk Around
"Chevrolet Traverse shares its architecture with the Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia. It's built using unit-body construction similar to that of a car rather than bolting the body to a heavy truck frame. Also, it's a front-wheel-drive platform. Traverse is longer but narrower than the Chevrolet Tahoe full-size SUV.
Though large, the Traverse has a soft, sleek, modern appearance.
Up front, the Traverse features an attractive version of Chevrolet's split grille. The headlights start next to the grille and wrap around the front fenders. Horizontal fog lights mirror the headlights about six inches lower. A black air dam below the grille gives the front end a dark lower face. A peak at the center of the hood continues down through the grille and fascia, adding a touch of character.
From the side, the Traverse appears to have short overhangs for an SUV. The window line rises to the rear and that angle increases at the rear windows. A character line is located about a third of the way up each door, and the black front fascia is picked up along the sides by black plastic over the rocker panels. Large wheels and tires keep everything in proportion. Up top, the Traverse has optional black roof rails and an available two-panel sunroof with a fixed rear panel and an opening front panel.
At the rear, the Traverse features dark tailgate glass that dips down toward the center. The tailgate lifts up and does not have a separate opening glass. The center peak from the front is repeated here, as is the black lower fascia treatment. The total design is well thought out, smooth and stylish."
"Inside, the Chevy Traverse makes great use of its best-in-class space. It's both a superb people hauler and a terrific cargo hauler.
The front seats are comfortable and supportive, whether trimmed in cloth or leather, with lots of head room and leg room.
The second-row bench seat fits three adults easily and there is plenty of head and leg room. For greater comfort, buyers can opt for second-row captain's chairs; and a second-row center console is available in the LTZ model.
The third row is easy to access because the second row tilts and slides forward. With the second-row captain's chairs, there is a handy walkthrough to the third row. Three children can ride comfortably in the third row, and there is also enough head and leg room for two adults to fit back there. Adults won't be comfortable during long trips, though, because of the low height of the seat cushions.
Cargo space is aplenty. Traverse has more cargo space behind the third-row seat (24.4 cubic feet) than any midsize SUV. Underneath the floor is a handy, though shallow storage bin. With the second and third rows folded down, cargo volume is an impressive 116.4 cubic feet, near the top of the class and almost eight cubic feet more than what's available in the full-size Tahoe. Those two rear rows fold easily, each with the flick of a lever, creating a nearly flat load floor. A strap on each section of the split third-row bench makes it easy to pull the seatbacks upright from the tailgate area. An available power rear liftgate also eases access to the cargo area.
Getting in and out is easy because the Traverse sits lower than traditional truck-based SUVs. Still, the driver is perched higher than in a car and therefore has a clear view of the road ahead. Visibility to the front is generally good, but the Traverse is bigger than it feels, so it can be tough to see over the driver's right shoulder and objects immediately behind might be hidden from view. With this in mind, it makes sense to get the rearview camera. Not only does it add an element of safety, helping avoid the tragic mistake of backing over a child, it also proves to be highly useful in everyday parking situations, making maneuvering in tight quarters easier and quicker.
Up front, the driver is surrounded by an attractively designed dashboard that has nice graining but uses more hard plastics than customers might expect for a vehicle in this price range. The instrument cluster has two deep-set pods with electroluminescent gauges on a black background. It's easy to read and never washes out in bright sunlight.
The center stack features a navigation screen or the radio, plus the climate controls. All of the controls are clearly marked and easy to reach. The standard radio has an audio input jack but no iPod interface. Models equipped with the navigation system and rearview camera show the camera's image on the navigation screen. The rearview camera is available without the navigation screen, in which case a smaller image is shown on the rearview mirror. We've found this type of setup of limited value. In a messy Chicago winter, the camera lens became speckled with dirt and salt, making the image hard to see in the rearview mirror. A larger image on the navigation screen would have been easier to see and more helpful. We recommend the full navigation screen with the rearview camera system.
There is plenty of storage for small items throughout the cabin. The front center console has a deep bin on the bottom and another shallow bin on top. The top section slides forward and back to act as an adjustable armrest. There are cup and bottle holders galore, including two on the center console, one in each front door, and two in each rear door."
Driving Impressions
"Chevrolet Traverse is larger than the midsize SUVs, more closely matching the full-size SUVs, such as the Chevrolet Tahoe, in overall size. Traverse rides on a 119-inch wheelbase and measures about 205 inches in overall length. Traverse weighs more than the midsize SUVs but nearly 600 pounds less than a Tahoe. That's a big difference, and less weight means better fuel economy, handling and braking.
Despite its two-and-a-half ton curb weight, the Traverse is surprisingly nimble. It handles more like a family sedan than like a Tahoe. While the steering is somewhat light, it is direct and responsive, not flaccid and slow like in the Tahoe, Yukon and Suburban.
The ride is comfortable and stable. The Traverse lacks the floppiness and bounding common in truck-based SUVs. It does not pound over bumps, even with the available 20-inch wheels. The brakes are easy to modulate and provide worry-free emergency stops.
Still, the Traverse sits fairly high and weighs a lot, so occupants notice some head toss in turns and the highway ride is less stable than in a family sedan or a smaller, sportier crossover. The overall size also makes it somewhat bulky in parking lot and parallel parking maneuvers.
Power comes from GM's dual-overhead cam 3.6-liter V6, which makes 281 horsepower. In the LTZ, the engine has dual exhausts, which raises output to 288 horsepower. Coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the V6 motivates the Traverse quite ably. Throttle response is predictable and smooth. Shifts are also smooth, but the transmission is sometimes too willing to shift to the next gear, leaving you wanting more power when you need it for passing or hills.
The 3.6-liter V6 also provides better fuel economy than you'll get in most truck-based SUVs. EPA fuel economy ratings for front-drive models are 17 mpg City and 24 Highway. With all-wheel drive, those numbers drop to 16/23 mpg.
Towing capacity is 5,200 pounds, which means light boats, personal watercraft. Truck-based SUVs such as the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada, or Toyota Sequoia can tow 7,000 to 9,000 pounds, making them better for towing bigger boats, heavier car trailers and enclosed trailers. Given the Traverse's pleasant road manners and efficient use of interior space, the extra towing capacity is the main reason to buy one of those larger truck-based alternatives."
"The Chevrolet Traverse is an excellent family vehicle and is reasonably priced. If you're buying a family mover, these vehicles are more stylish than a minivan and more practical and efficient than a truck-based SUV. In fact, they make truck-based SUVs practically unnecessary for anyone who doesn't need the extra towing capacity.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Kirk Bell filed this report from Chicago."
Top Cars

subset: commoncrawl


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Betfred are making a fourth (and hopefully final) attempt to turn Deptford's old
Nationwide Halifax Building Society into a betting shop. They've been turned down twice by Lewisham Council, and once by the Planning Inspectorate, but they only need to succeed once to permanently install yet another betting shop into their high street.
Over on The Deptford Dame, you can find out more info.
But you can stop it! Adding your comments isn't hard:
Go to this link, scroll to the bottom and click "Comment on this case". Fill in some details, and add some comments… Here are the objections from the Dame's post:
I am objecting to this application because I feel we already have more than enough betting shops; not only does it reduce the diversity of the businesses on the high street, but this clustering encourages anti-social behaviour, street drinking and fights in a small, concentrated area, putting people off using the street at night and making them fear for their personal safety.
The deadline for objections is 17 February 2012. Please pass this on.


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By Paul Cruickshank
A purported new issue of an English-language al Qaeda magazine linked to the Boston terrorist attacks was posted on an al Qaeda web forum earlier this week, but its content beyond its cover page was scrambled, suggesting the possibility the forum was hacked by Western intelligence agencies.
The magazine, produced by al Qaeda's Yemeni affiliate - al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which regularly includes how-to instructions for followers to carry out terrorist attacks in the West - has received significant scrutiny in recent weeks.
Investigators believe that Boston bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev accessed Inspire magazine, and the material had instructions on bomb-making, a law enforcement official told CNN earlier this month.
According to analysts, the explosive devices the Boston bombers built had striking similarities to a bomb recipe in the first issue of the magazine - "How to build a bomb in your Mom's kitchen" - that has been downloaded by militants in multiple Islamist terrorist plots on both sides of the Atlantic.
The purported new issue of Inspire magazine was located by Flashpoint Partners, an American outfit that tracks jihadist websites. Josh Lefkowitz, a senior partner at Flashpoint, said they detected the new posting on the administrator account of the top-tier, password-protected forum Al Fidaa - a website regularly used to disseminate propaganda from al Qaeda and its affiliates - Tuesday evening.
All the links led to the same corrupted PDF file, and within minutes, the posting had been deleted from the web forum completely.
The purported new issue titled "How did it come to this?" was dated "Spring 2013" and contained no mention of the Boston attack on its cover page, which CNN has obtained.
Previous issues of Inspire magazine have seen intervals of weeks to months between production and final publication. According to Flashpoint's analysis, the metadata on the new purported Inspire magazine shows it was last modified on April 8, a week before the Boston bombings. Metadata is electronic data on the creation and modification of files,but it can itself be corrupted.
The cover page included a content caption "Open Source Jihad," which in past issues has been a section featuring do-it-yourself terrorism advice.
Lefkowitz says there are several possible explanations for the scrambled file, ranging from a hoax perpetrated by a sophisticated hacker to intervention from intelligence agencies.
What seems not to be in doubt, he said, is that someone hacked the al Qaeda web forum.
He pointed out that when the first issue of Inspire was released in summer 2010, its content was similarly scrambled. According to the Washington Post, computer experts working for the British government deliberately garbled several sections of the magazine when it was posted online. Two weeks later AQAP released a new, corrected version of the magazine.
Lefkowitz said it is thought Western intelligence often has a window in which to disrupt al Qaeda publications before they are posted on password protected forums because the online mechanics of creating such postings - and connecting the content to multiple web links to ensure it can be downloaded - takes time.
Lefkowitz also noted that Al Shamukh, another top-tier al Qaeda web forum, went down 30 minutes after Inspire magazine was posted on Al Fidaa in what appears to have been a denial of service attack. Late Thursday the site continued to be down, according to Flashpoint partners.
Such is the concern about Inspire magazine that authorities in the UK have adopted a zero-tolerance approach to those accessing Inspire. More than 20 individuals have been arrested and prosecuted in the UK in the past 18 months for downloading the magazine, the London Times reported earlier this month.
The new issues gives a step by step instructions to help the Towel Heads not get kicked when doing a sheep or goat.
Step 1. Put the sheep/goat's hind legs in your boots.
Step 2. Do the sheep/goat.
Step 3. Smoke a cigarette.
Step 4. Share the cigarette with the sheep/goat.
Another mindless joke from another weak minded, atheistic Tea Partier! Just because you don't like someone and their religion, you don't have to belittle and disrespect it, The Koran says! I don't see any blogs here belittling your atheism. You Tea Partiers need to respect others but then again, if you did, you wouldn't be Tea Partiers!!!
Wow kind of bitter there.
So all Tea Partiers fit your definition
I didn't know you were so brilliant
Your postings sure don't show it
May the fleas of a thousand camels infest their nether regions
Only Religion can make people hypersensitive and yet be insensitive and Murder innocent people.
i love taliban
Ayman Al Zawahiri is most famous for suicide bombing Islamic weddings. Is this an example of the "religion of peace and tolerance"? The insanity of violent jihadists will cause them to destroy the very goals that they say they are trying to achieve. They cannot terrorize western nations into the Islamic religion. They can only provoke devastating retribution that wastes the lives of a generation of young Islamic people who become involved in violence.
Perhaps you should crack a book and learn the history of Christianity, there are some startling parallels to the "rag head" religion. Or, just ask a Native American.
Violent Islamic jihadists cannot hope to inflict the same number of casualties on western nations that they suffered in Word War I and World War II. The western nations survived those conflicts and came back to thrive. The cause of violent jihad is hopeless.
Is it really, Phunnie boy? All Al Qaeda has to do now is to survive and cause the U.S. go bankrupt in trying to eliminate it. The right-wing thugs in Washington will do anything as long as it's politically "correct", regardless of how much we need to borrow from China, J apan and a host of other countries!!!
Todays lead story for this commie news outlet is powerball!!! GEEZ, these guys give OWEbama a pass on everything!!!
BBC: al queda NEVER EXISTED! IDIOTS
Al Qaeda doesn't exist as it did a decade ago, but it is still there. Don't believe me? Hang out in North Waziristan, Northern Yemen, or Mali...please.
Scrambling an issue of an online magazine is about as effective as trying to hold back a wave with your fist. The war that needs to be fought should not be done with drones, bombs and rifles. We are facing a clash of cultures, where the weapons are ideas. Al Qaeda offers a path that calls for self-destruction (physically and intellectually) in the name of a religion that sees no value in life in the current world and that was created to provide one individual with the means to unite unruly tribes in the arabian desert for the purpose of earthly power.
FightTheLastWar wrote:
"Al Qaeda offers a path that calls for self-destruction (physically and intellectually) in the name of a religion that sees no value in life in the current world and that was created to provide one individual with the means to unite unruly tribes in the arabian desert for the purpose of earthly power."
OK. Thank you for your ramblings on "?al qaeda, ?Islam"
BBC: al Qaeda never existed
"For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man." (I Corinthians 11:8-9)
"Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works." (Revelation 2:22-23)
"Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." (I Timothy 2:11-14)
Thank you for the cast interpretation of Islam or Al qaeda or ...... not sure?
The proof is there for all to see. There is no enduring creation or contribution to civilization that Al Qaeda promises. It is a nihilistic interpretation of a religious doctrine intended to punish the human sin of pride, and in so doing provide a means toward earthly power for the "leader of the faithful" (the Papacy attempted the same thing for nearly a thousand years, too). Those forced to submit do not build civilizations or move humanity forward; they tear it down. Islamic culture has offered nothing to the world since Algebra.
Keep lying to us; but now, the entire world concluded that Al Kaida is a US company 2 justify invading and destroying weak nations...so all these news is making people laugh at you...Lie Lie and Lie untill u believe urself
Eve McDonald
Thank you! I am glad someone knows what is really happening!
I do not think i still trust People in the Intelligence business. There are a lot of corrupted People in this field but who hold considerable power. I mean all over the world. Remember an Egyptian talk about his secret government file after Mubarak's overthrow, containing lies and nonsenses about him and his family, that he had underwent paramilitary training and ways to subvert state authority. And that his whole family was up to no good. Do you think the Intelligence Officer/s who gathered/provided that information had the real sense that they were dealing with a fellow mankind who's life is just as worthy as theirs and their actions could have lead to his/their(family's) wrongfull and unnecessary death? NO i don't think so! Fortunately for the guy he had fled Egypt on time and came after the fall of Mubarak. So national Leaders should be aware of this cliff edge when acting on intelligence because they will be held resposible for wrongful deaths arising thereoff. Problem there are People who have made the truth, natural love their enemey and instead obssess with World power domination.
Why am I not surprised by this piece of news? Western intelligence has been hacking news and every other kind of agencies for years on end, especially the cursed C.I.A. In fact, speaking of international terrorism, the C.I.A. has killed exponentially more people than Al Qaeda and any other Muslim terrorist organization ever did altogether!!! Moreover, I noticed how the right-wing thugs lately have been crying "wolf" about the Chinese hacking us. How ludicrous!
I did not say this, punnie did. He is trying to make me look dumb like himself.
I think he succeeded.
I did make that statement above, 2Bob. Don't believe my Tea Partying impostor who's just too dumb to post anything of his own or anything intelligent at all! In fact, he never got past the 5th grade i school!!!
NO I didn't make that statement above, 2Bob, tea partier phunni boy did it. I support elimination of al Qaeda terrorists by any means, good job CIA!! good job NATO!! good job US forces!! Keep hammering these Islamist bas tards.
@George Patron2,hey George is watching the teli a form of hacking because that's how they get most of their language and other traits so they can assimilate like these two brothers did in Boston weeks ago..It's not hard anymore with cable tv is it!!
If only the UK government was equally strict on pedophiles as it is on terrorists. how many prominent pedophiles has it protected?
FYI, Islam is a religion invented by Muhammad, the most famous pedophile in history.
But we have all these Christian pedophile priests who have nothing to do with Mohammed.
You know, like many arbitrarily contrived distinctions, pedophilia is only a matter of definition and social conditioning about such. No one, including myself should believe that children are suitable partners, they're not. However, it wasn't all that long ago that a person was declared an adult by and their body prepared for procreation with puberty. Don't even try and apply your "morally conditioned" minds to an argument or the mental side. I've known plenty of 20+ years old women not mentally ready to be a mother and I've seen 14, 15 and 16 years old girls far ahead in this capacity. It's all arbitrary.


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The number of academically unacceptable public schools in Texas increased more than fivefold this year after the state raised standards, leaving parents with a confusing picture of districts' progress.
Schools in the Houston area saw a similar shake-up in their accountability ratings, which the state released Friday. Fewer campuses earned the highest honors, and more landed on the troubled list.
The ratings plunge is largely due to the state no longer using a statistical measure that gave credit for failing test scores if the students were on track to pass in coming years.
"It's very important for parents to remember that the standards substantially increased this year," said Debbie Ratcliffe, spokeswoman for the Texas Education Agency.
In the Houston Independent School District, the "unacceptable" campuses more than tripled to 25 - or 9 percent of its rated schools.
Statewide, about 7 percent of schools netted the lowest rating this year. The unacceptable list grew from 104 schools to 569.
Four of the nine schools in HISD's Apollo reform program were "unacceptable" despite millions of extra dollars spent on improvement. HISD spokesman Jason Spencer said the turnaround effort is a three-year initiative, and Apollo is entering its second year.
Kashmere and Jones high schools and Attucks and Ryan middle schools were the low performers among the Apollo campuses. Kashmere has been rated unacceptable for three straight years. Lee and Sharpstown high schools and Key Middle School came off the state's worst list, moving from unacceptable to acceptable.
Schools and districts with the lowest standing face sanctions from the TEA such as appointed monitors and mandatory staff overhauls.
The ratings, from best to worst, are exemplary, recognized, acceptable and unacceptable.
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, honored last year as the state's largest "recognized" district, dropped to "acceptable." HISD, the biggest district, also was "acceptable."
Among the area's other large districts, Katy, Pasadena, Conroe, Alief, Klein, Clear Creek, Humble, Lamar Consolidated, Galena Park and Pearland earned "recognized" status.
"This is a significant accomplishment for our district considering we achieved it under much stricter and higher accountability standards," said Alief Superintendent H.D. Chambers, who took the helm of the district in April.
The ratings are based mostly on how well students perform on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills exams in reading, writing, math, science and social studies. Schools must hit targets for all students and for different racial and socioeconomic groups. Schools' graduation and dropout rates also count.
Changes to the accountability system, in addition to the end of the so-called Texas Projection Measure, made it harder for districts to meet the standards.
All the test scores of special-education students were counted for the first time. Schools also had to ensure that at least 60 percent of their students with limited English skills passed the state exams to earn the two highest ratings. And the passing standards on the math and science tests - traditionally the hardest for students - increased by five percentage points.
This is the last year for the TAKS testing program, which began in 2003. Schools will get a one-year reprieve from ratings as students take the new exams, expected to be more challenging.
Test scores traditionally rise over the years as teachers and students get used to the format of an exam. Statewide, at least 90 percent of students passed the TAKS in reading, writing and social studies this year. At least 80 percent passed in math and science.
HISD saw its scores remain mostly flat this year. The district's passing rate in math rose two points to 83 percent, while writing dropped two points to 91 percent.
"Schools have a pretty good routine based on the TAKS," said state Rep. Rob Eissler, a Republican from The Woodlands who chairs the House Public Education Committee. "It will change when we get to the (new) end-of-course exams and the STAAR tests."
The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness will replace the TAKS.
Friendswood ISD was the only traditional school district in the greater Houston area to earn the state's highest rating of "exemplary." The charter schools YES Prep, Harmony School of Science, Harmony School of Excellence and Houston Heights Learning Academy also earned the top status.
Statewide, 14.5 percent of charter schools were dubbed "unacceptable," compared with 6 percent of traditional campuses. Charter schools are public schools with certain freedoms from state law.
KIPP, one of Houston's most popular charter school networks, had its first "unacceptable" campus. Three schools earned the highest rating, and the other 14 were split between "recognized" and "acceptable."
Mike Feinberg, KIPP's co-founder, said he was not surprised that KIPP's Sunnyside High School rated low because it opened in 2010 with 120 ninth-graders. He said it takes time to catch up the students.
"If this was a full-sized high school, I would be in the hospital right now having a stroke," he said. "But it's the first year out of the gate."
Three area districts - Hitchcock, La Marque and North Forest - were rated "unacceptable" overall. The TEA is planning to close North Forest ISD in 2012 after its streak of poor academic and financial marks.
Chronicle reporter Jennifer Radcliffe contributed to this report.


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Surrency dropped out of high school in the ninth grade, he said, to support his family. He served jail time, 90 days, after being charged with various crimes, some felonies. He decided to make something of himself. Earned his diploma. Began playing football. Wound up at a California community college, then at Florida State.
. . .
Before enrolling at Florida State and before enrolling in El Camino Community College, where Surrency played for two seasons, he played with the Florida Kings, a South Florida "minor league" football team that has helped athletes with troubled pasts to earn opportunities to play in college.
Quite the saga. But there's a new twist, and it's the cruelest yet:
A little-known NCAA rule has jeopardized his future.
The rule is No. 126.96.36.199 in the NCAA Division I Manuel. It is titled, "Participation After 21st Birthday," and it mandates the following: If an individual participates in an organized sport after his 21st birthday, but before enrolling in college, that participation "shall count as one year of varsity competition in that sport."
. . .
Surrency played with the [minor league] Kings after he had turned 21. Had he not, he might never have had the chance to go to college. Regardless, though, his time with the Kings has cost him his final year of eligibility — at least for now. Florida State is appealing on Surrency's behalf.
If FSU loses the appeal, Surrency's college football career would be over. It's likely, too, that his pursuit of earning a degree in criminal justice — Surrency would become the first member of his family to earn a college degree — would also be over.
Sad stuff. Dr Saturday rightfully rails against this rule as "tone-deaf bureaucracy par excellence, and I have little to add to that.
But I was curious: does Surrency have a chance on his appeal? Unfortunately, my tentative answer is no. I don't have all the resources and I'm no NCAA expert, but Surrency is behind the eight ball having already been ruled ineligible, and things from here look bleak.
His best shot is on his appeal before the NCAA, being fought for him by Florida State. I tried in vain to locate all the standards for NCAA eligibility appeals, but it looks to me they don't have the power to just cast aside a rule that should otherwise apply. In that case the only way around the rule is for the NCAA, through its rulemaking body, to remove it. But in that case it wouldn't even be clear that the removal could work retroactively in Surrency's favor. The upshot is that unless the NCAA appeals body decides to (and has the power to) act charitably in direct defiance of the rules, Surrency will probably lose.
So what does that leave? Litigation. But litigation on these eligibility questions rarely goes well for the would-be student-athlete. There's not much of a hook to hang it on: you have to find a source of law that allows you to overturn what some NCAA body does -- or, more precisely, tells the University to do: the NCAA doesn't have the power to fire employees or take students off the football teams, they just threaten the University with fines and sanctions if they don't comply. This is relevant when it comes to litigation because, while the University typically supports the student during the appeal to the NCAA, after that the school tells the kid to get lost lest it lose money, wins, or scholarships, so the student often winds up suing both the NCAA and their school that had formerly supported them.
Anyway, there is no constitutionally protected property right to participate in college sports, and further undermining any suits against the NCAA grounded in the constitution is that the Supreme Court has ruled that NCAA is not a "state actor." (Set in stone in the famous NCAA v. Tarkanian case involving former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian.) This is important because only governments and related "state actors" can violate people's constitutional rights; private parties aren't restricted by the various amendments, something many people -- including plenty of public officials -- don't realize.
So what could he say? Well, when Ben Mauk, former Cincinnati quarterback, sued to get his seventy-third year of eligibility, sued he tried to hang it on a theory that the NCAA had deprived him of a a shot at playing professional football by -- and this is important -- making an erroneous factual finding that his redshirt year at Wake Forest was not injury-related. The court didn't buy it, partially because the standard is so high and the supposed harm to Mauk (a ruined shot at an NFL career) was so ephemeral. (I can only imagine a trial where Mel Kiper Jr. is an "expert witness.")
And that's really about it. Any hope for Surrency? I guess he could try for the Mauk "this-is-killing-my-pro-career," but it's not like it worked for him, and I'm not even sure it's a real lawsuit even if you could prove it. The NCAA has been deemed a private body, and their even arbitrary rulings on who gets to play a college sport are, rather understandably, something courts don't want to be in the position of constantly second guessing. (And I leave aside the issue of whether Surrency can afford all this costly litigation as compared with Mauk.)
But that means that just about all of Surrency's eggs are in this NCAA appeal, and it appears that the rule was properly applied to Corey; it's just that the rule itself is stupid.
Good luck to Surrency and FSU, and I'll leave him with the last word.
Surrency said this experience has worn on him. He is beginning to question his love of football. He said, "It's killing me, man. I'm losing my fight for the game right now."


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CRESTVIEW � Old Glory, steadied by Troop 30 Boy Scout Jackson Kiewiet, snapped in the breeze Monday as an estimated 85 residents took 15 minutes at noon to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
CRESTVIEW � Old Glory, steadied by Troop 30 Boy Scout Jackson Kiewiet, snapped in the breeze Monday as an estimated 85 residents took 15 minutes at noon to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
The annual Stand Up and Say the Pledge ceremony � sponsored by the Crestview Exchange Club � allows the community to rededicate itself to ideals embodied in the nation's flag, club president Mayor David Cadle said during his opening remarks.
"We're very afraid that we're losing sight of what these symbols of our country mean to us," he said.
During his invocation, the Rev. Walter Beamon, a retired Air Force chaplain, thanked God "for this beautiful banner, our flag," noting, "It is only a symbol, but let it always be a symbol of freedom and may it always be flown in pride and never in shame."
Crestview High School senior Olivia Dunn, a member of the school chorus, sang "The Star Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful," between which club member Sharlene Cox read, "Do You Know What the Pledge of Allegiance Means," a 2010 essay written by then 16-year-old Kyle Griesinger, a Texas Eagle Scout.
"The Pledge of Allegiance has become little more than a nursery rhyme to children. Why is that?" Cox read. "It is because from the time they enter the school system, they are taught to recite it every morning without ever being told the meaning of the words."
Before the crowd of Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, veterans, retirees, families and others who recited the pledge, Young Marine Michael Warren read Ron Tranmer's poem "Stand Proud, Stand Tall."
At the brief ceremony's conclusion, World War II, Korea and Vietnam War veteran and Crestview resident Sgt. Tom Seagle, proudly wearing his dress uniform, led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attendance more than tripled that of the 2012 ceremony, Cadle said.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.


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Next Thursday, June 25, is Global Beatles Day, an annual online event hosted by Faith Cohen, in which people are encouraged to reflect on the significance and all-around fabness of John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
Art for blog's sake. People who have gone to The Gold Coast Art Fair in recent years have likely seen the eye-popping work of pointillist painter Tim McWilliams. He creates huge, colorful portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, The Beatles and other celebrities. I mentioned my blog to McWilliams a few weeks back when he was one of the few brave souls who was displaying his work in the teeth of inclement weather at The Millennium Art Fair. He generously offered to give a $5.00 discount to anyone who mentions Broken Hearted Toy when they come to his booth this weekend. The Gold Coast Art Fair runs tomorrow and Sunday in Grant Park.
Go Bohemian on Randolph Street. The Dandy Warhols, whose catchy and guitar-fueled "Bohemian Like You" still reigns as the best satiric song about the indie lifestyle, will be performing at the Taste Of Randolph Street festival tomorrow night at 9:00 PM. Cult favorites Dinosaur Jr. (tonight) and the dreamy pop duo Best Coast (Sunday night) are the other headliners, and there are several indie rock acts scheduled from this evening through Sunday. Food vendors include bellyQ, City Winery, La Sardine, and Wishbone. Admission is $10.
Tickets are still available for the Squeeze November 27 and 28 acoustic shows at Park West. So you can spend part of the Thanksgiving weekend being grateful for the opportunity to see Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford—one of pop music's all-time best songwriting-performing duos—in an intimate setting.
If you go to the Custer Street Fair in Evanston this Saturday and Sunday, keep an eye out for Frank Carr from the Famous In The Future comedy group. He's always loved this event, and was even inspired by it to write a skit about an unusual vendor selling a Twilight Zone sort of figure. In addition to providing comic inspiration, the 43rd Annual Custer Street Fair will have an Eco-Village featuring solar and wind energy technology; organic/Fair Trade food; several vendors; crafts, and live entertainment. Admission is free.
The hard-edged power band Go Time! will be performing at Phyllis' Musical Inn tomorrow night on Division in Chicago.
The Secret History Of Chicago Music casts a spotlight on the critically acclaimed power pop band Green this week. Created by the artist/journalist/performer known as Plastic Crimewave, The Secret History Of Chicago Music exists in comic form in the Chicago Reader, and there's a radio version that can be heard on WGN each Saturday morning as part of Mike Stephen's Outside The Loop program. Mr. Crimewave concentrates on "pivotal Chicago musicians that somehow have not gotten their just dues." I have three different Hollies portraits done by Plastic Crimewave from the times he made in-store appearances at the Reckless Records store on Milwaukee Avenue as part of the annual Record Store Day celebration. (For $5, he would draw any band you wanted.)
At the risk of sticking "Chelsea Dagger" in your head (as if it wasn't already there these past few days if you live Chicago) I'll pass along the news that The Fratellis have a gig coming up on September 24 at The Vic. Chances are, fans of the 2015 NHL Champion Chicago Blackhawks will still be in the mood to hear "Chelsea Dagger," which has been the team's unofficial theme song for years now.
U2 arrives in Chicago next Wednesday, June 24 for the first of five gigs (also June 25, 28, 29 and July 2) at the United Center, as part of its iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE tour. The shows will no doubt prove U2 is still one of rock's most potent and emotionally relevant acts. And yes, Songs Of Innocence was a good album, no matter what you may have seen on social media.
With all the major events going on around Chicago this weekend, you might still want to find some time to hang out with a time traveler. As reported in this past Wednesday's edition of Redeye, The Right Brain Project theatre ensemble has created a follow-up its 2013 Doctor Who-inspired show The Timey-Wimey Fantastic Brilliant Extravaganza (Geronimo!). The new production Who Too runs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at The Right Brain Project, 4001 N. Ravenswood .
I can't say that I'm a regular Lucky Brand customer, but as I passed by their location on the ground floor of the Shops At North Bridge mall on Michigan Avenue, I spotted several Rolling Stones t-shirts that would be perfect for fans going to see The Stones next Tuesday, June 23, at this year's SummerFest in Milwaukee.
Other acts scheduled for SummerFest include Stevie Wonder, Neil Young And The Promise Of The Real, Grace Potter, Jane's Addiction, The Kooks, Pat Benatar And Neil Giraldo, The New Pornographers, The Romantics, Sloan, and The Wind.
Finally, my wife Pam is one of the finalists to be the first woman featured on a $20 bill. Even if she doesn't nab that honor, be sure to remember that this Sunday is officially Pam Appreciation Day.


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Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Movie Review
Ellie, Diego, John Leguizamo, Manny and the rest are back in Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, but hold the celebration: the movie is the weakest of the franchise, and that's saying something when the franchise has never been very good to begin with.
I've never understood why the Ice Age movies have been so popular; the three films made so far have made nearly two billion dollars worldwide, not counting DVD and merchandise sales. The first one was boring and the second, while better, was still lackluster. The third film, unfortunately, is the weakest of the three.
In Dawn of the Dinosaurs, idiot sloth Sid (John Leguizamo) discovers three dinosaur eggs and begins to raise the little T-Rexes as his own. He also stumbles across a lost world full of big dinosaurs and other dangerous creatures and vegetation, forcing his pals Diego (Denis Leary), Manny (Ray Romano) and Ellie (Queen Latifah) to venture into this world to save him. Allegedly hilarious situations ensue.
The problem is: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs isn't funny. The previous movies, while dull at times, offered up some glimpses of hilarity; in this movie, there are a lot of goofy situations, but few if any evoke any kind of laughter or enthusiasm. The best stuff - involving Scrat, of course - was shown in the previews, leaving a bunch of cluttered scenes for your viewing pleasure.
Though plot has never been all that important to these films, Dawn of the Dinosaurs seems to completely throw any semblance of such to the wind. The movie is just a collection of random situations that the characters have to get themselves out of, which are perfectly fine for five year-olds but painful for everyone else. The movie never lets up, but after a while it gets tiring; as confirmed in the bonus features, the crew basically sat down and attempted to come up with as many zany situations as possible... the screenplay itself is rarely mentioned.
Unfortunately, the visuals are also starting to look extremely subpar to the stuff that DreamWorks and Pixar are pumping out. Not only does Ice Age 3 struggle to entertain, it struggles to even look pretty.
There are few redeeming qualities about Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaur. It certainly has plenty of adventure, but it is bland adventure at best. Little kids should have a blast with all of the random obstacles the characters face, but everyone needing more than a few goofy moments will be pulling their hair out. I wish I could say that this will be the last Ice Age movie, but we all know different: 20th Century Fox has no incentive to change its formula anytime soon.
The two-disc DVD set that I reviewed included a director's commentary, additional movie trailers and lots and lots of relatively uninteresting bonus features surrounding Scrat, including two short films, the creation of Scrat, the creation of Scratte and more. Other bonus features include some behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast and crew, primarily the visual effects people. There's not a lot of meat to bite down on here, and very little stuff for the kids alone.
Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.


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Emmanuelle Riva, Quvenzhané Wallis: Differences Between the Actresses
Riva and Wallis are, respectively, the oldest and youngest Best Actress nominees ever
Amid the excitement over last Thursday's announcement of the Oscar nods, it was widely noted that this year brings the eldest Best Actress nominee in the 85-year history of the Academy Awards – as well as the youngest.
They are French actress Emmanuelle Riva, star of the French-language German-Austrian production Amour, who will turn 86 on Oscar day, Feb. 24, and a 9-year-old newcomer from Houma, Louisiana, Quvenzhané Wallis, star of the $1.8 million independent film Beasts of the Southern Wild.
Wallis is so young, in fact, that she had to wait until school was over on Thursday before she was able release a comment about how it felt to be nominated.
Like their ages, the performances of these two remarkable actresses are a study in stark contrasts.
Riva, a veteran of more than 70 European movies, including director Alain Resnais's 1959 New Wave classic Hiroshima Mon Amour (her breakthrough role), plays the aged Anne, a retired music teacher in decline after a stroke. Because of her infirmity, Anne's personality slowly fades away before the eyes of the audience and her screen husband (Jean-Louis Trintignant, in an equally breathtaking performance).
Wallis plays Hushpuppy, a poor and practically parentless child of the flooded Louisiana bayou. Appearing in nearly every single frame of her movie – and only 6 years old during filming – she becomes more vivid as the survival story unfolds.
Riva's Renaissance
Amour won the top prize at last May's Cannes Film Festival, and its recognition helped bring Riva back into the spotlight. Born Paulette Germaine Rivat in a small village in eastern France, she was a seamstress before defying her father, a painter at construction sites, to become an actress. Her first stage role was in Paris, a 1954 production of George Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man. International recognition from Hiroshima Mon Amour, in which she played a French actress who falls in love with a Japanese architect, came five years later.
"I've never wanted to be a star, never," she recently told The New York Times. "I tried to do things that pleased me, and I needed to do various things. It is dreadful to see actors reproducing the same image constantly."
Besides acting, Riva, who has no children (her companion died in 1999, says The Times), has also published three books of poetry and lives in a book-filled Paris apartment. Reached by phone on Thursday in New York, where she happened to be visiting this week, the actress said of being recognized by the Academy: "How can you not be thrilled about such news? The Oscars are extremely important."
Plucky Kid
Talk about survival: Quvenzhané Wallis lied about her age when she vied with 4,000 others for the role of Hushpuppy. Only 5 at the time, when the required age at the audition was 6, Wallis had never acted before taking on this challenging role.
"She's the most fearless person you'll ever meet," Beasts Oscar-nominated co-screenwriter and director Benh Zeitlin told PEOPLE. "She just comes in a little package."
At her first audition, Zeitlin added, "I tried to get her to throw a stuffed animal at the other actor. She wouldn't do it. I'd tell her to, but she would kind of do this pump fake over and over. Eventually I just had to stop. I asked her, 'Why didn't you throw it at him when I told you to?' She said, 'Well, that is not right. You are not supposed to throw things at people that you don't know.' I loved being defied by a 5-year-old. She clearly was a strong enough person that she could take over the film."
How did she pull off such a difficult role? "I always just believed that I could do it," she told PEOPLE. "I don't know why, because some of it was hard. I guess that comes from my parents."
Pronounced Kwah-VEN-zha-nay, Wallis's first name is taken from said parents – her mother, Qulyndreia, is a teacher, and her dad, Venjie, a truck driver – and the Swahili word "zhané," which means "fairy." They call her Nasi, or NAY-zee.
Asked by USA Today if, in real-life, she is as fearless as Hushpuppy, Wallis, the youngest of four children, replied: "Mm-hmm! Even more fearless." For that she credited her two teenage brothers. "As soon as I was born, they started aggravating me."
Besides fending off siblings, attending school and being nominated, Wallis has busied herself with another film role, in 12 Years a Slave, based on the memoir of Solomon Northup, a free man of color who was kidnapped and sold into slavery shortly before the Civil War. Shot last summer in New Orleans, it is directed by Steve McQueen (Shame) and costars Michael Fassbender, Paul Giamatti, Alfre Woodard and Brad Pitt, who is also producing.
For the record, Riva and Wallis are nominated for Best Actress along with Jessica Chastain, in Zero Dark Thirty; Jennifer Lawrence, in Silver Linings Playbook; and Naomi Watts, in The Impossible. They are 35, 22 and 44, respectively.
The 85th annual Academy Awards will air live on Sunday, Feb. 24, on ABC from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
• With reporting by OLIVER JONES


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This rustic, satisfying spiced soup—a perfect dish to make ahead and reheat on busy weeknights—will help stave off even the fiercest midwinter chill.
- Yield
- Makes 6 (main course) servings
- Active Time
- 45 min
- Total Time
- 1 day (includes chilling)
- 2 1/2 pounds boneless beef chuck, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 medium onions, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons caraway seeds, slightly crushed
- 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 6 cups boiling-hot water
- 1 teaspoon paprika, divided
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- Accompaniment: crusty country bread
- Pat beef dry. Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then cook beef, stirring occasionally, until browned and beginning to exude liquid, 3 to 4 minutes. Add onions, garlic, caraway seeds, and marjoram and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture sticks to bottom of pot and is deep golden, about 10 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, 1 minute, then stir in hot water and 1/2 teaspoon paprika. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, then simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until meat breaks apart when pressed with a spoon, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Chill, uncovered, until cool, then covered overnight (at least 8 hours).
- Remove solidified fat if desired, then bring soup to a simmer and remove from heat. Transfer meat with a slotted spoon to a bowl and coarsely shred with 2 forks. Return meat to soup and stir in ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, cayenne, sea salt, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon paprika and reheat over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Thin soup with water to desired consistency and season with salt and pepper.
Per serving: 386 calories, 17 g fat, (4 g saturated), 111 mg cholesterol, 667 mg sodium, 18 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 39 g protein


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NEW YORK (AP) — A thorough housecleaning can take all day — maybe all weekend. And as satisfying as that can be, sometimes you just don't have the time or the motivation.
But with the holidays just around the corner, we all want our homes to look good for parties, drop-in visitors and relatives. We want our guests to have that "Wow, this place looks nice!" feeling that comes with entering a house where the beds are made, sofa pillows are plumped, clutter is gone, and sinks and stovetop are shiny.
Fortunately, most visitors don't check the broiler for grime or under the radiators for dust. But what should the game plan be when you want to make your home look presentable without going for a deep clean?
Here's some advice on cleaning high-profile spaces in a hurry for maximum visual and psychological impact.
PRIORITIZE: "Concentrate on the public areas: the living/family room, dining room and bathrooms. Prioritize what has to be done — replenishing toilet paper in the bathroom — versus what would be nice to do — dusting the picture frames," said Deanne Marie, creator of "Smart Solutions for Busy People" books and blog. Marie suggests taking a timer with you from room to room (use the one on your cell phone if you don't have a kitchen timer) and setting it for 15 minutes in each room as a way of forcing yourself to "focus on the necessities."
Even if you've only got one hour, you'll be amazed at how much you can get done in four rooms using that technique.
HIDE CLUTTER: Marie calls it the "Hail Mary" pass of housecleaning: Cover up the mess when you can't get rid of it!
The Maids, a national cleaning franchise, advises simply piling your miscellaneous countertop clutter in a laundry basket and sticking it in the closet. No time to do the dishes before company arrives? The Maids' solution is to stack them on a cookie sheet for temporary storage in the oven (cold, of course).
Another tip: Shut the doors to rooms and closets your guests need not see.
LOOK AROUND: Cheryl Najafi of CherylStyle.com, a home entertaining expert, recommends trying to see your house the way your guests will, to make sure you haven't overlooked anything.
Take the "sit test," Najafi says: "If you're hosting a party in the formal living room, make sure you sit down and survey the room. You'll see things from a different vantage point. Like those dust bunnies in the corner!"
She also advises taking a look as you walk in the door. What will your guests see as they stand there waiting for the door to open? Broken umbrella? Garden clogs? Spider webs? Junk mail? Deal with it.
Think about the big picture. What large pieces of furniture will people notice as they enter a room? Plumping sofa pillows and making beds will have a bigger impact on your home's appearance than wiping down the refrigerator shelves.
BATHROOM: If there's one room where bad housekeeping can really gross your guests out, it's the bathroom. Fortunately, the must-dos are relatively easy to accomplish, and may even be best left to last-minute so nobody in your family can make a mess before guests arrive.
Giving the toilet bowl a scrub with a brush, as unpleasant as it is, must be tops on your list. You're also going to have to wipe down the seat and rim. (Disposable Clorox wipes are great for this purpose.)
And while you can always shut the shower door or curtains to hide tub scum, there really is something nice about a gleaming sink and countertop. Fortunately toothpaste and soap residue are easily sponged away.
As with other rooms, clearing bathroom clutter goes a long way to making the place look like something out of a hotel room instead of something out of a bus station. Other quick fixes with a big payoff: Wipe mirrors with a spray glass cleaner, break out a new bottle of liquid soap, stockpile the extra toilet paper in an obvious place and empty the trash. Clear away icky towels (maybe even put away the throw rug) and put out clean hand towels. Or if you're a germaphobe who won't feel guilty about adding to the landfill, invest in a stack of disposable paper guest towels and put the garbage can nearby so it's obvious where to throw them.
OUTERWEAR: Give a thought to where your guests will unload coats, boots, umbrellas and bags. Is your hallway closet big enough? Can you set up a foldable coat rack or do you have a set of hooks on the wall? Most people don't mind leaving jackets on a bed; just make sure the bed is made and the room is easy to find for folks who may not be familiar with your home.
FLOORS: Is there anything worse than having a dust bunny accompany your guest down the hall? Vacuuming is such a drag but it makes such a difference. Remember, though, you don't have to do every room and corner — just the areas your guests will see.
But what about that pesky kitchen floor? Personally, I don't feel like my house is ready for company unless I've at least tried to get the kitchen floor clean, even though I've yet to get it to pass the Swiffer test. The Swiffer, in my experience, never lies, and no matter how much floor-scrubbing I do, whether with rags on hands and knees, or with a brand-new mop, a final wipe with the Swiffer always seems to come up dirty.
There is another way to think about your floors, however, when preparing for the arrival of guests.
"No matter how bad your floors look before a party, they will look worse afterward, so don't sweat it," advised Marie. "You'll have to vacuum or spot clean and mop after the guests leave, so why stress yourself out?"
Company coming? Make your house look good fast
NEW YORK (AP) — A thorough housecleaning can take all day — maybe all weekend. And as satisfying as that can be, sometimes you just don't have the time or the motivation.


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Monday, April 19, 2010
Sigh. Andrew VanWyngarden. Yum. And This Song is Amazing
Lovingly handcrafted by sandi at 08:57
Whatup: MGMT, Sandi journal, video
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Sevens are extroverted, optimistic, versatile, and spontaneous. Playful, high-spirited, and practical, they can also misapply their many talents, becoming over- extended, scattered, and undisciplined. They constantly seek new and exciting experiences, but can become distracted and exhausted by staying on the go. They typically have problems with impatience and impulsiveness. At their Best: they focus their talents on worthwhile goals, becoming appreciative, joyous, and satisfied.
Although Sevens are in the Thinking Center, this is not immediately apparent because they tend to be extremely practical and engaged in a multitude of projects at any given time. Their thinking is anticipatory: they foresee events and generate ideas "on the fly," favoring activities that stimulate their minds—which in turn generate more things to do and think about. Sevens are not necessarily intellectual or studious by any standard definition, although they are often intelligent and can be widely read and highly verbal. Their minds move rapidly from one idea to the next, making Sevens gifted at brainstorming and synthesizing information. Sevens are exhilarated by the rush of ideas and by the pleasure of being spontaneous, preferring broad overviews and the excitement of the initial stages of the creative process to probing a single topic in depth.
Sevens are frequently endowed with quick, agile minds, and can be exceptionally fast learners. This is true both of their ability to absorb information (language, facts, and procedures) and their ability to learn new manual skills—they tend to have excellent mind-body coordination, and manual dexterity (typewriting, piano playing, tennis). All of this can combine to make a Seven into the quintessential "Renaissance person."
Ironically, Sevens' wide-ranging curiosity and ability to learn quickly can also create problems for them. Because they are able to pick up many different skills with relative ease, it becomes more difficult for them to decide what to do with themselves. As a result, they also do not always value their abilities as they would if they had to struggle to gain them. When Sevens are more balanced however, their versatility, curiosity, and ability to learn can lead them to extraordinary achievement.
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Message Board
Jayel Wylie Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Wylie has written!
Author Wylie's Book Reviews
A Falcon's Heart
Sonnet, Jul 2001, 6.50, 448 pp. ISBN: 0743418395 In 1154 England, Lord Mark informs his beloved daughter Alista that he must attend Henry's coronation to insure the monarch does not give away their castle to William Brinlaw, son of a traitor. In front of Henry, Mark and Will argue with the latter stating that the former will have to kill him to regain Brinlaw Castle. That night, Mark dies. Henry informs Will that he will regain Brinlaw onl...
Wicked Charms
Pocket, Aug 2003, 6.99 ISBN: 0743464478 In 1180 twelve years old William Aiden Brinlaw knows he disappoints his father because males don't do magic though he has power. Thus William decides to become a knight. He visits the Spirit of the Cave to tell her of his decision, but she scoffs at his denial insisting the first wizard in a thousand generations should be proud of his magical prowess before imbedding a dragon onto William's skin. Sixte...


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You searched for: Publisher Monterey County (Calif.). Planning Department Remove constraint Publisher: Monterey County (Calif.). Planning Department Subject Earthquakes Remove constraint Subject: Earthquakes Subject Geoscientific Information Remove constraint Subject: Geoscientific Information Institution Stanford Remove constraint Institution: Stanford Place Bradley (Calif.) Remove constraint Place: Bradley (Calif.) Place Carmel Valley (Calif.) Remove constraint Place: Carmel Valley (Calif.) Year 1974 Remove constraint Year: 1974
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1. Estimated 1997 Soil Profile Types of Monterey County, California
1974. Rosenberg, Lewis I. This polygon shapefile contians classifies bedrock and surficial geologic units into soil profile types delineated in table 16-J of the 1997 Unifor... Monterey County (Calif.). Planning Department.


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All teams were back at it on Friday. Here is a quick recap of each game.
The AZL Cubs lost to the Rangers 7-3 on Friday. Duane Underwood got the start not allowing a run, but walking two in his one inning of work. Brian Smith then came in to pitch two scoreless innings. The next three innings decided the game as the Cubs defense let down Ethan Elias and Daniel Adrian who combined to give up all seven runs, but only two earned. Elias took the loss. Alvido Jimenez pitched the last three innings striking out three and not allowing a baserunner. Shawon Dunston had a nice night going 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs. Albert Almora had a hit and drove in one on the evening. Daniel Lockhart, Justin Marra, and David Bote all had a hit a piece, but it wasn't enough for the Cubs tonight.
Boise scored a bunch early and held on to win 11-8. Daniel Vogelbach was once again the story in this one hitting two more home runs. He now has seven in the last five games and has hit at least one in those five games. He ended the night 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs. Jeimer Candelario also had a really nice night going 4-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Stephen Bruno and Marco Hernandez each added two hits with Bruno knocking in one and Hernandez two. Ian Dickson started and gave up six runs in only three innings. He also walked four, but struck out five. Hunter Ackerman and Rafael Diplan combined to throw the next four innings allowing one run each. Nathan Dorris closed out the game recording his second save giving Diplan his second win of the season.
Peoria lost to Burlington in Jorge Soler's first game with the Chiefs. The story that everyone wants to know is how did Soler do? He went 1-for-4 with two RBIs hitting in fifth spot in the order. Chad Krist had quite a night going 2-for-4, including two doubles and three RBIs. Yaniel Cabezas also had two hits to go along with a run scored. Dustin Geiger, Wes Darvill, and Pin-Chieh Chen each had a hit a piece with Chen scoring two runs. Michael Jensen who has been good most of the year struggled giving up six runs on eight hits in five innings pitched. Justin Berg struggled giving up four runs, one earned in two innings and Bryce Shafer pitched a scoreless ninth. This was not quite the way Peoria planned things to go with Soler in the lineup, but tomorrow is a new day.
Daytona took a 5-1 lead after three, but saw the lead slip away losing to Dunedin 8-5. Just like with Jensen, Matt Loosen had pitched well most of the season, but did not have his best stuff on Friday allowing five runs on seven hits in just 4.1 innings. Eduardo Figueroa pitched well in 2.2 relief innings, but Scott Weismann took the loss allowing the last three runs in his two innings of work. Micah Gibbs and Rafael Lopez each had two hits, with Gibbs driving in two and Lopez one. Elieser Bonne also drove in two runs for Daytona. John Andreoli had a hit and stole a base, bringing his total on the season to an impressive 50. Javier Baez continues to struggle going 0-for-5 and Christian Villanueva contributed with a hit and scored a run. Really looking to see Baez get going here, he is obviously going to have to adjust and I think he will sooner than later.
Tied at two going to the ninth Huntsville scored two off of Kevin Rhoderick and held on to beat the Smokies 4-3. Erick Jokisch got the start and pitched well pitching six strong innings allowing one run on five hits and striking out six. Trey McNutt gave up one unearned run in two innings of relief. Matt Szczur is starting to figure things out at the next level going 2-for-4 with a triple, a run scored, and an RBI. Logan Watkins and Nelson Perez each added two hits of their own with Watkins scoring and driving in a run. Jae-Hoon Ha and Justin Bour each contributed with a hit and Matt Cerda drove in a run.
Greg Rohan delivered a big two run single in the ninth to tie the game, but Jaye Chapman gave up a run in the bottom half as Iowa dropped a tough one to Las Vegas 4-3. Chris Rusin got the start pitching 5.2 innings allowing three runs on eight hits in a no decision. Michael Bowden pitched 1.1 scoreless innings and Chapman took the loss allowing the winning run. Blake Lalli drove in the other Cubs run ending the night 1-for-4 with a double. Tony Campana had two hits, including a double and Matt Tolbert had a hit of his own. Both Campana and Tolbert scored a run as did James Adduci. It was a nice comeback for Iowa, but still took the loss on Friday night in Vegas.
Thanks for Reading,


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Frank Thomas, the 6-5, 275 slugger aptly nicknamed "The Big Hurt," became just the 21st member of the 500 home run club on Thursday. The 500 home run club used to be one of the most glamorous in all of sports--at least until it became apparent that several of its newest members gained admission by chemically enhancing their performances. There has never been a hint of such scandal associated with Thomas and he has long been in the forefront of the players who have called for more stringent drug testing policies. It is most unfortunate if his authentic accomplishment is tainted or diminished in anyone's view simply because Thomas played during baseball's "steroids era." In fact, the timing of his career should actually serve to increase our appreciation for what he has done, for Thomas has put up tremendous numbers while competing not only against juicing sluggers but also, most likely, against power pitchers who juiced, too. Neither Thomas' numbers nor his physique underwent any suspicious changes during the time when other players' heads, bodies and statistics literally ballooned to cartoonish proportions.
The other important thing to note about Thomas is that he has always been much more than just a home run hitter. Thomas won back to back AL MVPs in 1993-94 and finished in the top 10 in AL MVP voting each year from 1991-97. He rebounded from a couple down years to have another great season in 2000, winning the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award and placing second in MVP voting to Jason Giambi, who since has admitted to being a steroids user. Injuries cut short Thomas' 2001, 2004 and 2005 campaigns but he had a great 2006 season, placing fourth in AL MVP voting and second in AL Comeback Player of the Year voting. On Thursday's SportsCenter, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian listed just some of Thomas' remarkable achievements as a hitter:
1) The only players other than Thomas to hit 500 home runs while also boasting a .300 career batting average are Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams and Mel Ott.
2) Thomas is one of just 22 players in Major League Baseball history who has a .300 career batting average, a .400 career on base percentage and a .500 career slugging average.
3) Thomas has the third highest on base percentage ever for a right handed hitter, trailing only Rogers Hornsby and Jimmie Foxx.
4) In Thomas' first three full seasons he never went more than eight consecutive plate appearances without getting on base.
5) Thomas hit .318 with 32 home runs, 109 RBI and 138 walks in his first full season; no player has had that good of an average combined with totals that high in each of those categories in his first full season since Ted Williams.
6) Since 1963, only Jeff Bagwell had more RBI in his first 10 seasons than Thomas did.
Kurkjian added that current White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen once called Thomas the best hitter that he's ever seen. Kurkjian concluded his ESPN piece by saying that Thomas should easily have been considered a first ballot Hall of Famer even before he belted his 500th home run. Perhaps Thomas put it best in his postgame press conference after his milestone home run, firing a not so thinly veiled shot across the bow of several of his contemporaries: "It means a lot to me because I did it the right way."
Friday, June 29, 2007
The Big Hurt Smashes a Powerful Blast For Steroids-Free Slugging
Posted by David Friedman at 7:20 AM
1 comment:
- madnice said...
Its a shame that its not a big deal to the that he hit his 500th. No one even cared about Sosa's 600. I dont care and about it and Ive watched baseball forever. Steroids has really ruined things. Perception is reality.
Thomas is definitely one of the best hitters in the last 20 yrs. He is definitely a HOF, even though I think the baseball and basketball HOF are a joke.
- Friday, June 29, 2007 9:28:00 AM
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