text:
Why is the button click using an event...
Why doesn't it just invoke a delegate instead...
As we can see from #3 a delegate is instantiated when we are using an event. As seen in #4 this delegate instance is then "added" to an event. At line #5 we see how the event is fired; looking again at #3 and #4 I think that the event invokes the delegate which calls the onstartEvent method.
Looking again at #3 and #4 and then at #6 after running this code we see that we get get the exact same behaviour from invoking the delegate instance as from fireing the event.
1) Why are there events?
2) Furthermore looking at #0 things start to look a bit strange. An event is some type that is actually a delegate type. What ARE events, RELLY?
3) Why can't we just settle for delegates (Invoking delegates instead of firing events)
and be done with the events?
4) At #2 the delegate (?) EventHandler is added to an event. Where IS the event (where is it declared and instansiated)?
5) How is the event above called/invoked/fired
using System; using System.Windows.Forms; namespace WindowsFormsApplication3 { public partial class Form1 : Form { // custom delegate public delegate void StartDelegate(); // custom event public event StartDelegate StartEvent; //#0 public Form1() { // Creating a button from code, otherwise the EventHandler delegate // assignment is done automatically for us in the Form1.Designer.cs Button clickMe = new Button(); clickMe.Text = "Click Me"; clickMe.Parent = this; // An EventHandler delegate is assigned // to the button's Click event //clickMe.Click += new EventHandler(onclickMeClicked); // // We can just as well do it this way in order // to make the similarities between events and delegates // more obvious. EventHandler eHandler = onclickMeClicked; //#1 clickMe.Click += eHandler; //#2 // our custom "StartDelegate" delegate is assigned // to our custom "StartEvent" event. //StartEvent += new StartDelegate(onstartEvent); // // We can just as well do it this way in order // to make the similarities between events and delegates // more obvious. StartDelegate sDelegate = onstartEvent; //#3 StartEvent += sDelegate; //#4 // fire our custom event StartEvent(); //#5 // Invokation of the delegate. sDelegate(); //#6 // Replacing the method in the delegate. sDelegate = AMethod; // Invokation of the delegate. sDelegate(); } // this method is called when the "clickMe" button is pressed public void onclickMeClicked(object sender, EventArgs ea) { MessageBox.Show("You Clicked."); } // this method is called when the "StartEvent" Event is fired public void onstartEvent() { MessageBox.Show("Started event."); } // This method called when the "sDelegate" sd is invoked the second time. public void AMethod() { MessageBox.Show("Delegate invokation."); } } }
This post has been edited by jens: 22 January 2012 - 02:08 PM


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By Steve Aschburner, NBA.com
VIDEO: Pacers-Wizards: Game 4 Preview
WASHINGTON – John Wall's breakthrough this season for the Washington Wizards, beyond staying healthy, has been his ability to take the team's pulse, on the fly, and more often than not provide precisely the right mix of scoring, playmaking, defense, leadership and pace.
It's a tricky formula, crafted from feel rather than from recipe, tweaked from night to night, subject to the competition, swings in momentum and assorted circumstances. And at the moment, it's off. Way off. "New Coke" off.
Wall's growing maturity in reading a game hasn't averted Washington's 2-1 hole in the best-of-seven series with the Indiana Pacers. Even when he reverted to some me-first tactics in the ugly Game 3 Pacers victory, his teammates didn't prosper, the payoff wasn't there and the fourth-year point guard never could find the right gear.
"John was trying to push it," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said after the 85-63 loss. "I didn't think we had [four other] guys running with him the way we are capable of doing,"
Springtime is for graduations, but this is a school with few shortcuts to a degree. As eager as Wall and the Wizards are to startle the NBA again (having already beaten Chicago) by advancing to the Eastern Conference finals, class still is in session for the playoff newbies.
Playoff games come rapidly. Series, even those that go long, begin and end in a fortnight. Guys like Wall and Bradley Beal can learn as they go, but a lot of what they're uploading now won't fully get processed until they're done. The Wizards will be better for this – whatever this is, all the way up to The Finals – in the coming years. But it's coming at them now.
"I can't even process it or even think about it," Wall said after practice Saturday at the Verizon Center. "Basically you're trying to prepare yourself and think about each game, and look forward to the next one. We've put [Game 3] behind us. Watched film today of what we need to do and what we're capable of doing."
The video from Friday's game revealed plenty of the former, in all its conspicuous absence, but not much of the latter. There wasn't a Wizard among them who played well; forward Trevor Ariza was the best of the bunch with 12 points and 15 rebounds, but Washington needed something more like Ariza's Game 1 output offensively (22 points).
The rest of them missed shots, missed free throws or turned over the ball, and Wall did all three, with the additional culpability of not dictating the pace better for their offense. Forty-eight hours after bemoaning their inability to run – they had just a lone fast-break point in Game 2 – the Wizards knew they had failed again in merely tying Indiana, 8-8, in that stat in Game 3.
Wall knew, too, that "pace" is bigger than a few quick, breakout baskets.
"It ain't just about pushing and trying to get fast breaks," the point guard said. "It's about putting pace into the game and getting a lot of possessions. That's when we're at our best."
"Just after misses or makes, I think we still have to push the ball. Sometimes when they make it, we try to walk the ball up the court. Then you're getting into your offense at like 10 or 11 seconds – then you're basically going to stay on one side of the court the whole time. We're a better team when we get it up there at 18, 19 seconds and go side-to-side to make those guys move."
Spotty ball movement contributed to Washington's 32.9 percent shooting (24 of 73). That led to Wall forcing a few things, which led to his seven turnovers. In this series so far, he is averaging 11.3 points, 7.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals. In the two losses, Wall has missed 18 of his 26 shots and owns a minus-25 in the Wizards' 26-point scoring deficit.
While Beal, the 20-year-old shooting guard, has boosted his performance in the postseason – from 17.1 points per game to 19.6, from a 14.3 PER to 17.7 – Wall has not. He is shooting 34.2 percent (15.8 percent on 3-pointers), his offensive/defensive ratings have flipped (106/104 in the regular season, 98/102 now) and his own PER has fallen from 19.5 to 14.5.
Wall, 23, continues to work and learn daily from Wizards assistant coach Sam Cassell, who was a master of mid-range shots and pace (without nearly Wall's foot speed). The point guard and Wittman talk 1-on-1 almost daily, and especially after games. "We'll sit down again [Sunday] morning and go over some things that I think he'll be able to take advantage of," Wittman said. "But we've always done that."
The Pacers don't expect that chat to get too intricate. "I think our guys are just running back and praying because it's obviously a very tough assignment to stop him in the open court," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. "Our guys made some spectacular plays in those open-court situations, but you can just hope to limit him as much as possible, he's so electric."
Paul George said his team remembers all too well the 37 points Wall hung on them in April 2013 when he shot 16-for-25. "We understand that at some point, he's going to have a good game," said George, an East All-Star teammate of Wall in February. "He can single-handedly beat us."
Wall claimed the Wizards' loss in Game 2 was his responsibility, though it seemed more like a leadership move than an accurate assessment. He was back to exuding confidence Saturday in spite of the second defeat.
"I think I'm going a good job. Nobody on our team's really shot the ball well this series, to be honest," Wall said.
"The Game 2 loss was definitely mine. But other than that, I just run my team as much as possible. Try to get those guys going. I know my team feeds off how I get into the paint, how I get guys open shots, and also create for myself. So unless I'm doing that job, then I'm not doing my job."

subset: commoncrawl


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Every club operator and fitness equipment manufacturer lives with the threat of liability lawsuits. Club operators in most states can protect their businesses with member waiver forms. But manufacturers are a bit more vulnerable.
Last year's Barnhard v. Cybex International product liability case has pointed out those vulnerabilities. In that case, equipment manufacturer Cybex International, Medway, MA, was found 75 percent liable for a $66 million award to Natalie Barnhard, who was left a quadriplegic in 2004 after she leaned on a Cybex leg extension machine to stretch her shoulder and it came down on her. The incident occurred at Amherst Orthopedic Physical Therapy, Buffalo, NY, where Barnhard then was employed as a physical therapy assistant.
Barnhard admitted using the equipment improperly, but she filed a suit claiming the machine, which had been manufactured in 1983, was not properly designed and was not bolted to the floor. Cybex is appealing the case. Amherst Orthopedic Physical Therapy was found 20 percent liable, and Barnhard herself was found 5 percent liable.
A signed waiver would not have protected the defendants in this case because Barnhard was an employee of the facility, not a member or patient. But the sheer size of the $66 million jury verdict has prompted many people to pay closer attention to club waiver forms in general.
"Fitness equipment results in a lot of litigation," says David Herbert, an attorney in Canton, OH, who has represented both club operators and equipment manufacturers. "The litigation usually is either because of alleged manufacturing or design deficiencies; improper warnings, such as signs and how they're posted; placement of the machine, for example, too close to other equipment or to walls; and failure to maintain the equipment as directed."
James Moss, a Golden, CO-based attorney who specializes in recreation law, says that club member waiver forms should explicitly hold harmless equipment makers, thus shielding them in cases where a member is injured while using the equipment.
"The benefit to a club operator in any suit that's avoided is dollars saved," Moss says. "Clubs pay attorneys as well as employees during depositions, and they incur documentation costs. And all of those things aren't covered by insurance. So anything club operators can do to stop litigation at the club level is a good thing."
Avoiding lawsuits also keeps equipment costs from rising since manufacturers build insurance costs into the price of equipment, Moss says.
Including manufacturers in waiver forms could discourage member lawsuits, but it will not make them obsolete.
"If a club operator's actions voided a release, the club member could still sue," Moss says.
Reasons for possible suits include injuries alleged due to not maintaining equipment as specified, failure to instruct a member on the proper use of a machine, or modifying equipment, such as replacing a treadmill's belt with a belt not recommended by the manufacturer.
In most jurisdictions, club owners do not need to name specific manufacturers in their member waiver forms but just note that the waiver covers all equipment in the facility, Moss says. However, a few jurisdictions, such as the state of Ohio, require that manufacturers be named explicitly, Herbert says.
Further complicating the issue is that waivers themselves are not valid in some places. Virginia courts, for example, do not recognize them, and in New York state, they are prohibited by state statute, Herbert says.
Robert Bovarnick, a Philadelphia-based attorney who has represented several Gold's Gym franchisees and independent fitness facilities, says that Wisconsin courts have ruled against the enforceability of liability waivers in six cases because they do not allow for individual negotiations before a member signs it.
"It's absurd," Bovarnick says. "A club operator would do little else all day except negotiating individual waivers."
The lawyers advise club operators to consult with their attorneys to determine what waiver language is appropriate, valid and required within the jurisdiction(s) in which they operate. Moss advises that operators require members to sign new waiver forms each year upon membership renewal and that the waiver language be updated by an attorney because laws constantly evolve.
Proper equipment maintenance—keeping equipment lubricated and replacing parts after a certain number of operating hours—is always an issue in liability cases, Herbert says. That is why Moss says that club owners should have the latest information about cleaning and maintaining equipment, and they should ensure their staff members know where that information is kept. Operators should train staff to report equipment that needs maintenance so that repairs are done quickly.
"The more diligent you are about maintaining equipment—not just dusting it off, but checking cables, bearings, etc.—the better off you'll be," Moss says.
When equipment is out of service or broken, club operators must immediately cover it up or take it off the gym floor, Herbert says.
"I've seen people try to re-plug in treadmills that previously were smoking," Herbert says. "That is very dangerous."
If it is proven that equipment broke due to improper maintenance by the club operator, then 100 percent of the liability is the club's, Moss says. Some manufacturers even have club operators sign off on documentation stating that the operator has received the maintenance schedule for the equipment and is now responsible for its maintenance.
Potential legal problems include staff failing to adequately train members on how to use equipment, stop its operation, and mount and dismount it, Herbert says. Moss suggests posting instructions for equipment use on the equipment and ensuring staff has access to copies of those instructions. Other times, gym managers put equipment too close to one another or do not properly bolt it to the floor.
Both facility managers and manufacturers should train staff on these issues, Moss says.
"Risk management does not mean sticking your head in the sand and relying on your insurance company when disaster strikes," he says.


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Oct. 12, 2008
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The MIT water polo team split the two games they played Saturday on a trip to New York City, holding off Fordham, 7-6, before dropping a 14-8 decision at Iona.
The Engineers held off a late rally by the Rams to secure a dramatic one-goal victory on Saturday morning. Tech took a 6-4 lead into the fourth quarter, only to see Fordham come within one goal twice in the final frame. Trailing 7-6 in the final 2:30 minutes, the Rams were awarded a penalty throw but freshman goalkeeper Columbus Leonard turned away the shot to clinch the victory. Leonard had seven saves in the game. Devin Lewis scored four times, Mike Smith-Bronstein had a pair of goals and Brian Gardiner rounded out the scoring for the Cardinal and Gray. Fordham was only able to score on one of their nine man-up opportunities in the game.
MIT traveled to Iona for their second game of the day. The Gaels opened up a 7-4 halftime advantage, before going on to the 14-8 win. Smith-Bronstein and Lewis led the attack with a pair of goals each. Gardiner, Andres Simauchi, Matt Chapa and John Preis all had goals. Leonard made eight saves in the losing effort.
The Engineers return to action next weekend with a three game homestand. They host Connecticut College Friday, October 17 at 8:30 p.m. Queens College comes to the Zesiger Pool on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. Tech then welcomes St. Francis for the final game of the weekend on Sunday at 12:00 p.m.


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The symmetries of a graph form a group. This means, that if g and h are symmetries, then so are g*h, and g^-1. So a group is a set of permutations which is closed under multiplication and inverses.
We can use permutation groups to study all sorts of things besides graph symmetries. As an example, this week I'm going to look at Rubik's cube.
First, we need to work out a way to represent cube moves as permutations. That's easy - we just number the little squares as follows:
Then a clockwise rotation of the front face (the blue face, with an F in the centre), can be represented as the following permutation:
f = [[1,3,9,7],[2,6,8,4],[17,41,33,29],[18,44,32,26],[19,47,31,23]]
This says, that f sends the 1 square to the 3 position, 3 to 9, 9 to 7, 7 to 1 (the corners of the blue face); 2 to 6, 6 to 8, 8 to 4, 4 to 2 (the edges of the blue face); together with three other cycles (the corners and edges adjacent to the blue face).
It's then an easy matter to write down permutations corresponding to the clockwise rotations of the other faces:
b = p [[51,53,59,57],[52,56,58,54],[11,27,39,43],[12,24,38,46],[13,21,37,49]]
l = p [[21,23,29,27],[22,26,28,24],[ 1,31,59,11],[ 4,34,56,14],[ 7,37,53,17]]
r = p [[41,43,49,47],[42,46,48,44],[ 3,13,57,33],[ 6,16,54,36],[ 9,19,51,39]]
u = p [[11,13,19,17],[12,16,18,14],[ 1,21,51,41],[ 2,22,52,42],[ 3,23,53,43]]
d = p [[31,33,39,37],[32,36,38,34],[ 7,47,57,27],[ 8,48,58,28],[ 9,49,59,29]]
Note that I didn't bother to number the centre square in each face, or write down any permutations that move a middle slice. For example, we could have written down:
x = [[4,44,54,24],[5,45,55,25],[6,46,56,26]]
However, doing x is the same as doing u^-1 * d^-1 and then turning the whole cube round. What we're interested in is the possible positions of the 54 squares relative to one another, so we don't really want to count rotations of the whole cube. For this reason, we leave out rotations of the middle slices.
Okay, so we have written down six permutations, corresponding to clockwise rotations of the six faces. Hopefully it's clear that these six elements generate the Rubik's cube group. So we are now in a position to perform calculations within the Rubik's cube group.
Within a group, the order of an element g is defined as the least n>0 such that g^n = 1. In other words, the order of g is the number of times you have to do g to get back where you started. (Recall that the order of a group is the number of elements it contains. The order of an element is equal to the order of the group generated by the element, since this is {g, g^2, ... , g^n-1, g^n = 1}, having n elements.)
For permutations written in cycle notation, it is easy to see the order by inspection. For example:
- The order of g = [[1,2]] is 2 - you have to do g twice to get back where you started.
- The order of h = [[1,2,3]] is 3 - you have to do h three times to get back where you started.
- The order of k = [[1,2,3],[4,5]] is 6. At k^2, we have [[1,3,2]] - the 4 and 5 are in the correct positions, but the 1, 2, 3 are not. At k^3 we have [[4,5]] - now the 1, 2, 3 are in the correct positions, but the 4 and 5 are not. Only at k^6 does everything get back to the starting position.
orderElt g = foldl lcm 1 $ map length $ toCycles g
For example, in the Rubik's cube group we have:
> f*l
> orderElt it
That is, if you do a front turn followed by a left turn, you will have to repeat 105 times before you get back to the starting position.
When we were looking at graph symmetries, we found that it was particularly useful to have our generators in the form of a strong generating set, since it was then straightforward, for example, to calculate the order of the group.
Rubik's cube isn't a graph. Luckily, the HaskellForMaths library has a function to calculate a strong generating set from any set of generators:
> mapM_ print $ sgs [f,b,l,r,u,d]
Okay, so strong generating sets aren't all that interesting in themselves - although the last few entries in this one are a little bit interesting, as they show that there are moves which just rotate a pair of corners, or a pair of edges.
Remember though, that SGS allow us to easily calculate the order of a group. In this case:
> orderSGS $ sgs [f,b,l,r,u,d]
That's about 4 * 10^19 different positions.
The sgs function, to calculate a strong generating set, uses the Schreier-Sims algorithm. I'll probably explain how it works some time, but not just yet.


text:
Crisis Overshadows U.S. Election in Brussels
Interest in the U.S. presidential election has been dampened compared to four years ago because of the euro-zone crisis reports Dow Jones's Vanessa Mock.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... souls is juicy recognizable from for easy isn't it ... when the European Union took a toll was as elsewhere in your it ... creates undefeated excitement of the president's record on his election victory ... for his own ... Brussels has turned into the ante Sentra vu raising state Crysis ... this ETF tasting countrys an agency meetings between the EU heads of state ... to keep the single currency updates ... under the crisis fall from results ... this is a wonder that this time around the U S elections on generating less of a buzz ... as if they didn't in Brussels that President Obama hasn't met the Hony hops unrealistic expectations the Europeans have of him ... antisubsidy hasn't put the relationship of the old continent on a pedestal ... still according to recent poll by the Gemin Marshall Fund ... seventy five percent of Europeans said they would ask a Obama ... with this and one in ten supporting Romney ... remember the day when a bomb I was elected ... so nice that people in the office is that if I don't ... have the news sent that happy ... about that ... and I think they still continued to support him ... because they see him ... as them ... to try and hold this love ... well ... hard to speak on the Hoff of thousands of ... the forest ... um ... my feeling is that ... and for me a bomb us through the end I realize this is some of the last years are more consistent ... with the knowledge the shared values in Europe ... and I get that candidate ... Europe has become the support from their innocence I mean Obama said ... when he said that Allah that he is the first Pacific American president ... I think that showed as well not mean Europe does not reveal the public agenda in Washington anymore ... it saw me she's like one one AC include global warming to the elections do you not to the URL ... TTT uses the effective on the would reply that stole talks on climate change ... during his second term ... that day to day ... the well oiled transatlantic machine runs smoothly ... no matter who comes into office ... the savvy enough to ... loosen the White House I mean ... whether it's a Republican and Democrat they will still the Stoxx Europe get back together ... and that we regard this as a Republican or Democrat ... so I think again Europe is very much in with them now and will be next we a certain way ... this is Vanessa Mock in Brussels the fourteenth of The will Street gentle ...


text:
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text:
You have chosen the 'Black History Month' premade word list.
You can choose a different premade match-up worksheet list or continue below to make your worksheet.
Quick Instructions:
If you have comments or suggestions about our Match-up Maker, we would love to hear them! Please use the comments box at the bottom of this page. We are constantly updating our worksheet makers and the comments made by our users help us to make the best worksheet makers available.


text:
In 1962's Strange Tales #94, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby teamed up to create the short comic "SAVE ME FROM THE WEED!" In this tale, a weed is bombarded with radioactive dust and immediately conspires to take over the world.
It's absolutely brilliant in its simplicity. A weed becomes irradiated + bushy eyebrows that evince a diabolical intent + left-field psychic powers + a mildly idiotic twist ending = totally priceless.
It's definitely not the craziest project Jack Kirby's ever done. That honor would go to the never-built theme park he designed for the canned film version of Roger Zelzany's Lord of Light.
You can read "SAVE ME FROM THE WEED!" at Grantbridge Street.


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While looking for random cricket shirts that are probably only of interest to me, I found something that I thought would be of interest to everyone. Ok, not everyone, but people who like cricket themed t shirts that aren't variations of "he bats for the other side", "Bowling maidens over" or "I hate short wide ones".
It's now clear to me that I've failed to make cricket replica shirts cool. I gave it a go, but perhaps my love for them, and the one time I looked good in a Pakistani shirt under a sports coat, was a false dawn. As no one else seems to care about them. Not even my Lancashire shirt that was worn by Andrew Crook, or A Crook as it reads on the back, seems to excite people.
However, people love cool t shirts. And I think I've found the t shirts that could mend the fences between traditional crickey nerds and cricket hipsters. Bootleg Pakistan Domestic Faysal Bank T20 tournament t shirts.
Yes, they are as good as you've dreamed of. And I own every single one of these shirts. Because, because.
Dolphins are the second smartest mammals after legspinners. But you've probably been afraid of rogue tuna or looking overly effeminate. Now you can put a dolphin on your chest and not worry about anything. Other than being mugged by someone who wants your cool ass Karachi dolphin t shirt.
I'm not going to lie to you; the Rawalpindi team could have named themselves better. I mean they are synonymous with the word express, and rams are more known for head butting other rams. But I like this ram, he's got a dark side, and while he's not a devil worshipper, he's not averse to dark shit, and why not that have that on a t shirt.
This one's an easy buy for anyone who wants to have a slightly different spelling of the word whore on their chest. Your parents, wife or Rabbi can't tell you off for having this on your chest, it's just a cricket team from Lahore, isn't it?
The silky stallions have still never taken my advice and changed their name, but everything about this t shirt is awesome.
I don't really care for wolves. This team might have been better if they'd called themselves werewolves, and had Jason Bateman on the front, but I'm still skeptical. This one did come with a puff paint, and some people will like that too.
This is the ultimate in cricket t shirts. It's a cricket shirt of a country that are the new coolest worn torn place that no one will want to tour who slog like maniacs and call each other bisexual when things go wrong. But to make it even better, it's not even their country's national shirt. It's a domestic t shirt of a war torn kick ass minnow cricket nation. Wow. Also, it has a cheetah on it. A cheetah. Cheetah.


text:
Jupp Heynckes has left Bayern Munich in a near perfect state for Pep Guardiola as he takes over the club from next season.
Mario Gotze has also moved to the Bavarians from Borussia Dortmund, but missed out on playing in the Champions League final due to injury.
Robert Lewandowski could join Gotze at Bayern from Dortmund as his agent confirmed that the Polish striker's move to Bayern is imminent. Bayern are one of the most well-drilled sides in Europe and could complete a treble this season if they win the German Cup.
Bayern's young defender Holger Badstuber suffered a 10-month injury setback this season and could return to the side midway into next season. Goal.com reported that Bayern made an enquiry for Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal and he could join the Bavarian club. Arjen Robben could leave the club even after scoring the winner in the Champions League final.
Mario Gomez is also likely to leave the club next season as he is looking for regular first-team football and the arrival of Lewandowski will make him go lower down the pecking order. Daniel Van Buyten, Claudio Pizarro and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk are all over 34 years of age and could end their careers in the near future.
Potential Bayern Munich XI for 2013/14:
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer
Right-back: Philipp Lahm
Centre-back: Dante
Centre-back: Laurent Koscielny
Left-back: David Alaba
Centre-midfielder: Bastian Schweinsteiger
Centre-midfielder: Javi Martinez
Right-wing: Thomas Muller
Attacking-midfielder: Mario Gotze
Left-wing: Franck Ribery
Striker: Robert Lewandowski
Substitutes' bench:
Tom Starke
Jerome Boateng
Holger Badstuber
Luis Gustavo
Toni Kroos
Xherdan Shaqiri
Mario Mandzukic
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text:
Oh Look, Viral Video On YouTube Boosting Sales... And Reputation For Chris Brown
from the take-it-down! dept
And what would have happened then?
Well, JohnForDummies notes that the success of this video is having a major impact for Chris Brown (who's reputation is, reasonably, in tatters for assaulting his then girlfriend, the singer Rihanna). Not that we advocate supporting someone who assaulted his girlfriend, but the video is having an impact. The song Forever has jumped into the iTunes top 10, despite having been released over a year ago. Also, the video itself has greatly outpaced an attempt by Brown to create a viral video "apologizing" for his actions.
It's not clear how the record label (in this case, a subsidiary of Sony Music) feels about this (see update below) -- though, I will note that embedding has been disabled on the video (Update: Embedding enabled again, so I'm adding the video below) and there is a link to buy the song on the YouTube page. At the very least, this suggests that Sony (which has a good relationship with YouTube, unlike some others...) worked out a deal to take advantage of the publicity around the video. Though, the disabling of embedding seems rather pointless. Embedding the video would likely guarantee far more views, and with it, more purchases.
Update: Thanks to a bunch of folks sending in the news that Google is now promoting this as a case study of a rights holder taking control over content.
Update: Embedding has been re-enabled, so here you go:


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The only thing tougher than building a successful business from scratch is turning around a big company that has lost its mojo. Research In Motion launched the smartphone market by producing mobile phones that email addicts loved. But when Apple and Google came out with smartphones for consumers, and developers created hundreds of thousands of apps for the devices, they started a "bring your own device" craze that took a big bite out of RIM's sales.
That should have been Research In Motion's cue to reinvent itself. Changing its name to BlackBerry was beside the point. BlackBerry needs to identify the next big opportunity for mobile phones and seize that opportunity by developing innovative solutions.
After all, that's how Apple and Google blew past BlackBerry. The original iPhone was an instant hit thanks to two innovations. First, it was an iPod with a phone and digital camera—all built to Steve Jobs' demanding specifications. Second, it featured the first touchscreen that ordinary humans could actually use. Android did even better because it gave the other phone makers a free operating system that they could use to compete with the iPhone and it leveraged Google's industry-leading Internet technology. And both products were exquisitely timed: iPhone and Android offered multimedia capabilities just as mobile operators began upgrading their networks in earnest to faster 3G wireless technology.
There are three things that BlackBerry can do to reclaim its magic. First, BlackBerry should drive the use of near field communications (NFC) technology to replace traditional credit cards, keys, and tickets. One of the major reasons that people buy smartphones is that smartphones serve multiple functions. We also know that most people carry around too many credit cards, keys, and pieces of paper. There is an obvious problem here that smartphones can solve. And it's a good fit for BlackBerry, too: The Company has supported NFC since 2011 and has learned how to make exchanging data between phones and between phones and tags simple and convenient.
Second, BlackBerry should help enterprises use their mobile devices to conduct business. Up to now, BlackBerry has helped enterprises manage their devices, but this is no longer a growth opportunity. Most enterprises now support devices made by different manufacturers, and few are going to entrust the management of those devices to a single manufacturer. (Imagine Apple offering to help enterprises manage their Android devices!) Plus, the market is about to become more competitive, because many device management functions can now be handled by apps and cloud-based services. BlackBerry can make better use of its enterprise know-how by helping enterprises devise and execute mobile commerce strategies.
Third, BlackBerry must give consumers specific capabilities that they want but can't get from other smartphone makers. Trying to match the sheer volume of content and apps available from Apple, Google, and Microsoft is a futile endeavor. BlackBerry recently announced relationships with music and video content providers including Walt Disney Studios, Sony Pictures, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. While it's easy to establish such relationships when you have tens of millions of users, leveraging them to drive growth is not so easy. BlackBerry is trying to woo consumers at precisely the same time that Microsoft and Nokia are making a big push for Windows 8. Though BlackBerry has done a commendable job attracting developers to its new BB 10 operating system, it is unlikely to finish above fourth place. BlackBerry's top priority should be to empower consumers by moving the functionality of their credit cards and keys into their smartphones.
Apple and Google are vulnerable precisely because they are the market leaders. While both want the market to continue growing, neither wants to jeopardize its current business. Apple and Google act as if they have forever to develop mobile commerce. The iPhone doesn't yet support NFC. That's probably because Apple is concerned about NFC's impact on form factor and cost. And while some Android phones do support NFC, Google is pushing for NFC to be more "open" to ensure there is always a place for Google Wallet. With Apple hesitating and Google mired in politics, now is the time for a hungrier and more nimble player to jump start the mobile commerce market.
BlackBerry has strayed from what made it a success. Trying to resuscitate a fading device management business, hiring music superstar Alicia Keys as Global Creative Director, and adopting a new name—these actions do not address the real problem. BlackBerry needs to revive the spirit that enabled it to design the first truly popular smartphones.


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England omit Pietersen for New Zealand series
Kevin Pietersen has been omitted from England's one-day squads for their tour of New Zealand next year as England's selectors have accepted that he needs to rest to survive a heavy international schedule.
Formal rest periods have become ever more prevalent in England cricket, but Pietersen's absence from the New Zealand squads as England look to manage his workload is nevertheless a notable concession to the player so soon after his lengthy dispute with the England hierarchy.
Geoff Miller, England's national selector, said: "There are a number of players who we have decided not to select for parts of the competitive programme this winter as we look to manage their workloads effectively while ensuring we remain competitive across all formats. We feel this is the best way of keeping players as physically and mentally fresh as possible during a demanding 2013 and beyond.
"Kevin Pietersen will miss the limited overs tour of New Zealand with Graeme Swann missing the T20 leg of the tour. This approach also provides an opportunity for talented young players to gain more international experience which will be important for their development and the development of England sides in the future."
Pietersen is expected to play in the Test series in March before heading to India for the IPL ahead of the English season.
Since his much-publicised "reintegration" into the England set-up Pietersen has missed two Twenty20 series despite being one of the world's most outstanding players in this format. He was also rested for the two matches against India, but England still drew the series 1-1 after winning in Mumbai and registered their highest winning total in Twenty20 cricket in the process.
England's introduction of a job share in their coaching set-up, with Andy Flower running the Test squad and Ashley Giles taking charge of the the ODI and Twenty20 sides in the New Year, supervised by Flower as overall team director, is another recognition of cricket's demanding calendar.
England have played 44 matches in all formats this year and the ECB has now accepted that for players and management rest periods are essential if they are to maintain hunger, fitness and a stable family life.
England's T20 squad in New Zealand shows two changes from the original India party with Stuart Broad, recovered from a heel injury, returning to captain the side and Steven Finn also called up after back trouble. Jonny Bairstow, who left the T20 series against India early for personal reasons, is also named. England play two warm-up fixtures against a New Zealand XI in preparation for a three-match series starting on February 9 in Auckland.
For the three match ODI series, which begins on February 17 in Hamilton, Swann, James Anderson and Jonathan Trott return to the side after being rested for the ODI tour of India. As well as announcing squads for all three formats in New Zealand, England's selectors also put Joe Root in charge of the England Lions one-day tour of Australia in February, barely a week after his mentor, the former England captain Michael Vaughan, had identified him as a future England captain.
Root, who made his England Test debut earlier this month against India, will captain a Lions side in five one-day matches against Australia A which includes 12 members of the 2012 England Performance who have recently returned from India.
Reece Topley, Essex's left-arm quick bowler, has an opportunity to win his first England Lions cap alongside Gary Ballance, Varun Chopra, Ben Foakes, Toby Roland-Jones and Chris Wright.
Twenty20 squad: Stuart Broad (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, Stuart Meaker, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, James Tredwell, Luke Wright.
ODI squad: Alastair Cook (capt), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Graeme Swann, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott.
Lions squad: Joe Root, Gary Balance, Scott Borthwick, Danny Briggs, Varun Chopra, Matthew Coles, Ben Foakes, Alex Hales, James Harris, Simon Kerrigan, Toby Roland-Jones, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, Reece Topley, James Vince, Chris Wright.
This article was updated on December 23 at 6.25pm after the ECB advised that James Vince had been omitted from the Lions squad because of an administrative error.
David Hopps is the UK editor of ESPNcricinfo


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The Hills' resident feminist hero Heidi Montag seems to be addicted to plastic surgery.
Last year, the 21-year-old fashion designer admitted to rhinoplasty and breast augmentation. Later on in the year, Heidi showed off a new pair of lips.
But she's not done yet, according to Life & Style. Ms. Montag is considering getting a new pair of Hills. She's considering butt implants!
Watch the report about Heidi's asspirations at on E! News.
And for a review of Heidi's new fashion line, check out NYMag.com.
Says the mag, "It's bad. So bad."


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For weeks now, York County resident Virginia Russell said she's seen it as she drives over the reservoir on Oriana Road: a green growth sliming the water's surface.
It spreads out from the rim of the 265-acre reservoir, sludging its banks like thick green scum ringing a bathtub.
"My family rides through there," Russell said Monday, "and there are several of us, and we said, 'Have you seen that green stuff?' "
That "green stuff" concerns her because Harwood's Mill Reservoir is part of Newport News Waterworks, which supplies drinking water to most of the Peninsula. And in some 25 years of living near the reservoir, Russell said she's never...


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A Living History Experience
"Show me the boy at seven, and I will show you the man."
Winner of the 2013 National Trust Award for Conservation and Heritage, the Bradman family home is a step back into early Australian life.
Our award winning state-of-the-art technology will take you back to every-day life in the Bradman household in Bowral. You will vividly experience the daily life of a young Don Bradman and gain insights as to how he achieved so much success both on-and-off the cricket field.
Open: Thursday and Sunday
Tour Times: 10am,12pm,2pm,4pm
Admission by ticket only
For further information please visit our website www.52shepherdstreet.com
Your package includes:
A tour of the National Trust Award-Winning Bradman Family Home at Shepherd Street;
Access to Don Bradman's famous tank stand as well as the house's heritage garden; and
The house's extensive digital archives, which hold over 2,000 photographs, catalogues, periodicals, and documents dating back to the mid-19th century.
A treasure trove of Australian domestic history and everyday life, the house is a window into an almost forgotten world. Period furnishings, household appliances, and photographs tell a vivid story of the young Don Bradman and his family's early life in Bowral.
Please note that bookings are essential.
Each tour is limited to a maximum of six visitors.
For tours and visits outside published hours, please contact us at email@example.com to arrange an alternative time.
Personalised tours can be tailored to meet your individual or group needs. Please contact us at the above email address to arrange either a private, family, or group tour or special event. Catering and transportation options available.


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Despite an economic downturn that negatively impacted state revenues, the Texas Legislature has given most TDCJ employees an average pay raise of about 3.5 percent effective September 1, 2009, and another salary increase of 3.5 percent effective September 1, 2010. Uniformed security personnel, TDCJ employees assigned to units whose primary mission is providing and supporting direct offender operations, and parole officers will receive the salary increases taking effect September 2009 and September 2010. The salary increase in the first year of the biennium may be slightly more or less than 3.5 percent for some positions.
Peace officers employed by the Office of Inspector General are on a separate salary schedule and will receive an annual salary increase effective September 2009. Many TDCJ employees who are ineligible for the targeted pay raises will receive a one-time retention payment of $800 authorized for state employees. Most TDCJ employees ineligible for the targeted salary increases are eligible for the $800 gross retention payment if they were continuously employed by the agency from March 31 through August 1, 2009. Employees receiving the targeted increases are not eligible for the $800 retention payment.
Although the size of the pay raise is less than the agency requested, Executive Director Brad Livingston said TDCJ is one of few state agencies where the majority of employees will receive back-to-back salary increases during the next two years.
"During these difficult economic times, for the governor and the Legislature to approve additional compensation for our workforce, whether in the form of salary increases or retention payments, is very much appreciated," Livingston said. "We have made tremendous progress during the last year and a half in reducing the number of correctional officer vacancies, due in part to the slumping economy. By increasing wages, maintaining benefits and taking action to maintain the fiscal soundness of the employee retirement system, I believe the Legislature has helped put us in a position to retain our talented staff as the economy improves."
The number of correctional officer vacancies peaked at nearly 4,000 in September 2007, but has since fallen to under 1,300 as of May 2009.
While employee contributions to the retirement system will increase under the provisions of newly-enacted law, current employees were exempted from other statutory changes intended to enhance the long term stability of the retirement fund. See related story here.
Although Director Livingston said the legislative session was a success for TDCJ employees, one disappointment was that legislation equalizing the rate of hazardous duty pay among eligible employees failed to pass. According to Livingston, this issue will be considered again in future legislative sessions.
The pay raise effective September 1 will be reflected in employees' October paychecks. Employees receiving the one-time retention payment will receive the funds by the end of September 2009.


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Hey guys been a long time! Wanted to drop by and see what was up! Awesome to see you guys still kickin'!
In case you don't remember, I played a lot with you guys on 2142 (Loaky).
Any case I logged into the TS server but couldn't do anything. Hope to catch an admin sometime so I can come hangout!


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Santa Barbara Land Trust and Citizens for Carpinteria Bluffs celebrate the $3 million down payment to acquire 21 coastal acres to be secured as a nature preserve. (June 14, 2015)
Be succinct, constructive, and relevant to the story. Leaving a comment means you agree to our Discussion Guidelines. We like civilized discourse. We don't like spam, lying, profanity, harassment or personal attacks.


text:
Next Episode of Dalziel and Pascoe is
not planed. TV Show was canceled.
"Dalziel and Pascoe" is a popular British television crime drama based on the novels of the same name, written by Reginald Hill.
James Puddephatt(Dr. James Ashurst (2001-2006))
Jennifer James(WPC Kim 'Posh' Spicer (2006-2007))
Warren Clarke(Det. Supt. Andy Dalziel)
Jo-Anne Stockham(Det. Const. Shirley 'Ivor' Novello (1999-2001))
David Royle(Det. Sgt. Edgar Wield (1996-2002))
Susannah Corbett(Ellie Pascoe (1996-2005))
Wayne Perrey(DC Parvez Lateef (2005-2006))
Colin Buchanan(Det. Insp. Peter Pascoe)
Joe Savino(Dr. Frank Mason (2004-2007))
Looks like something went completely wrong!
But don't worry - it can happen to the best of us,
- and it just happened to you.
Please try again later or contact us.


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Happy Birthday Skippy! Looks like you had a delicious birthday cupcake!
Joyce - Proudly owned & loved by
BellaMia (Aug. 30, 2012) My Beautiful Ruby Milo (Jan. 20, 2014) My Handsome Tri
Sydney (April 16, 2000~April 4, 2012) Always and Forever In My Heart
Happy Birthday Skippy!!! Gracie will be 4 soon, too
Lady (1.5 year old tricolour) & Gracie (4 year old blenheim)
"Happiness is a warm puppy" - Charles M. Schulz
Hope you had a wonderful day and were spoilt rotten XX
Mumma to Leonardo (Leo to his friends)
Waiting at the bridge
Happy Birthday Skippy, Save me one of those cup cakes they look delicious!!!!!!! Have a wonderful day Karen,Ruby and Sadie xxx
Happy Birthday
Charlotte & Christian
Molly & Éowyn & Khaleesi


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This is a game associated with activities during Solar Week, a twice-yearly event in March and October during which classrooms are able to interact with scientists studying the Sun. Outside of Solar Week, information, activities, and resources are... (View More) archived and available online at any time. During this game, learners use clues to find out the color, average size, temperature, and location of the Sun. This activity is scheduled to occur during Monday of Solar Week. (View Less)
This is a brief activity about the mathematics of Mars. By playing this matching card game, learners will gain knowledge of Mars mathematical facts and vocabulary. Note: Find the latest information and updates on Mars missions at the NASA Mars... (View More) Exploration website (see Related & Supplemental Resources to the right). (View Less)
Materials Cost: $1 - $5 per group of students


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Understanding the Bible
Mayfield Pub., 1999 - Religion - 610 pages
This is a nonsectarian guide for students undertaking their first systematic study of the Bible, giving information on archaeological data and historical background, and providing material on the date, authorship, and theological content of each book of the Old and New Testaments.
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LibraryThing ReviewUser Review - exinanition - LibraryThing
Actually, a very useful book. It is not exhaustive, however, it was not so intended to be. It does give good introductions to the books of the bible and also gives some good insight into scripture. Read full review
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Delirium (Hardcover)
HarperCollins, 9780061726828, 448pp.
Publication Date: February 1, 2011
Spring 2011 Kids' Next List
— Vicki Erwin, Main Street Books, St.Charles, MO
View the List
Ninety-five days, and then I'll be safe. I wonder whether the procedure will hurt. I want to get it over with. It's hard to be patient. It's hard not to be afraid while I'm still uncured, though so far the deliria hasn't touched me yet. Still, I worry. They say that in the old days, love drove people to madness. The deadliest of all deadly things: It kills you both when you have it and when you don't.
Lauren Oliver astonished readers with her stunning debut, Before I Fall. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly called it "raw, emotional, and, at times, beautiful. An end as brave as it is heartbreaking." Her much-awaited second novel fulfills her promise as an exceptionally talented and versatile writer.
Praise For Delirium…
"Oliver's follow-up to her smash debut, Before I Fall (2010), is another deft blend of realism and fantasy...the book never loses its A Clockwork Orange-style bite regarding safety versus choice."
Praise for Before I Fall:"Oliver's debut novel is raw, emotional, and, at times, beautiful....readers will love Samantha best as she hurtles toward an end as brave as it is heartbreaking."
-Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Praise for Before I Fall:"Before I Fall is smart, complex, and heartbreakingly beautiful. Lauren Oliver has written an extraordinary debut novel about what it means to live—and die."
-Carolyn Mackler, author of Tangled and The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, a Printz Honor book
Praise for Before I Fall:"This story races forward, twisting in a new direction every few pages, its characters spinning my emotions from affection to frustration, anger to compassion. You'll have no choice but to tear through this book!"
-Jay Asher, author of the New York Times bestseller Thirteen Reasons Why
Praise for Before I Fall:"Oliver, in a pitch-perfect teen voice, explores the power we have to affect the people around us in this intensely believable first novel...This is a compelling book with a powerful message and should not be missed."
-ALA Booklist
"In a thick climate of fear, Oliver spins out a suspenseful story of awakening and resistance with true love at its core."
-The Horn Book
"Strong characters, a vivid portrait of the lives of teens in a repressive society, and nagging questions that can be applied to our world today make this book especially compelling and discussable."
-School Library Journal (starred review)
"Oliver's deeply emotional and incredibly well-honed prose commands the readers' attention and captures their hearts. With a pulse-pounding tempo and unforeseen twists and turns, Lauren Oliver has opened the door on a fantastic new series; the second book can't come soon enough."
-New York Journal of Books
"In [Oliver's] dystopian America, love has been outlawed as the life-threatening source of all discord. Lena's gradual awakening is set against a convincing backdrop of totalitarian horror. The abrupt ending leaves enough unanswered questions to set breathless readers up for volume two of this trilogy."
-Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Praise for Before I Fall:"Samantha's attempts to save her life and right the wrongs she has caused are precisely what will draw readers into this complex story and keep them turning pages until Sam succeeds in living her last day the right way."
-Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (Starred Review)


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A parameter we use to tell us something about energy loss is the coefficient of restitution or COR, which is the ratio of the speed just after the bounce to the speed just before the bounce (this assumes the ground does not move). Because those speeds are sometimes hard to measure, we use heights. A simple way to calculate COR for the dropped basketball experiment that I mentioned in the previous paragraph is COR =( hf / hi )1/2, where hi is the initial height off the floor and hf is the rebound height after the bounce. According the NCAA rules (click here for the rule book and go to page 25), a ball dropped from a height of 6 feet (1.83 m) must rebound to a height of "not less than 49 inches" (1.24 m) and "not more than 54 inches" (1.37 m) for a college men's ball. A college women's ball must rebound between 51 inches (1.30 m) and 56 inches (1.42 m). That means that for a college men's ball, 0.825 < COR < 0.866, and for a college women's ball, 0.843 < COR < 0.882. A referee can check a ball before a game by dropping it from the height of his or her head and seeing if the ball bounces to a height roughly 2/3 to 3/4 of the referee's height, which is roughly the height of the referee's mid torso. A ball that does not satisfy the referee will need to have its air pressure changed if there is nothing wrong with the ball itself.
The amount of energy the ball keeps after the collision scales with the square of COR. A college men's ball thus retains between 68% and 75% of its energy after colliding with the floor. For the college women's ball, between 71% and 78% of the ball's energy is retained. A guard dribbling the ball down the floor puts energy into the ball by doing work on it, namely by exerting a downward force on the ball while displacing the ball downward. One must keep pushing the ball downward if one wants it to return to the same height each time because a ball with an initial downward velocity from a height of a player's hip can return to the player's hip height, whereas a ball dropped (i.e. zero initial velocity) from the player's hip height cannot.
Note that COR depends on the properties of the two surfaces involved in the collision. One cannot simply quote a COR for a given sports ball without also specifying the surface the ball hits. For the COR calculations I did here, I used the specifications in the rule book, which describe the ball colliding with the "playing surface." For a ball bouncing off glass, like in the banked three-point shots I saw last night, COR is likely to be different from the value measured by dropping a ball on the playing surface.
A bank shot is even more interesting than a ball dropped onto the floor because the ball banking off the glass not only feels a force from the glass that is perpendicular to the glass surface, the ball feels a frictional force parallel to the glass surface. That frictional force creates a torque on the ball, which changes the ball's rotation. That means that the rebound angle the ball makes with the glass is not the same as the angle the ball made with the glass just before the ball hit the backboard. Basketball players know this -- just watch where they bank the ball off the glass on layups.
As always, enjoy the wonderment of a sporting moment first, and then think about physics later. After both my schools won last night, I was too happy to write about physics!


text: Memorial Hospital at Gulfport has named the recipients of the fourth quarter 2010 Star awards, Memorial's highest honor. STAR (Service, Teamwork, Attitude and Respect) recognizes outstanding customer service. STAR recipients are: Weezie Kennedy, surgery; Cynthia Drouilhet, internal medicine physicians; Olivia Rowe, 3C/D telemetry; Susie Mamaril, 2 A/B obstetrics; Donna May, Memorial Behavioral Health; Dr. Abha Mishra, neurology physicians; Linda Lyon, ...Read More »


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Duke scores 2 TDs for Miami in 41-32 win over BC
BOSTON (AP) -- On the first touchdown run of his college career, Duke Johnson broke a handful of tackles on a 54-yard romp to the end zone.
The second one went even longer and the Miami freshman was untouched all the way, helping the Hurricanes to a 41-23 win over Boston College on Saturday.
"Duke's play obviously boosted the momentum," receiver Phillip Dorsett said after watching Johnson run for 135 yards and two long touchdowns to help the Hurricanes come back to beat BC. "Without him, we don't know what's going to happen."
Johnson scored from 54 and 56 yards out after the Eagles opened a 14-0 lead, and Stephen Morris threw for 207 yards and a touchdown in the season opener for both teams. The Atlantic Coast Conference schools also played each other in the 2011 finale, when BC beat the Hurricanes in Miami for the first time since Doug Flutie's famous desperation heave in 1984.
Chase Rettig completed 32 of 51 passes for two touchdowns and a career-high 441 yards -- the most since for a BC quarterback since Flutie. He led the Eagles to scores on their first two drives, but Miami tied it on Denzel Perryman's 41-yard interception return to end the first quarter.
Johnson's second score made it 31-23. The Eagles fumbled the ball away on consecutive drives to start the fourth quarter to set up a field goal and touchdown that gave Miami a 41-23 lead.
"We played sloppy, made some mistakes that hurt us on offense," BC coach Frank Spaziani said. "But, defensively, we've got to play better. Nobody made plays."
Norwalk resident Kevin Pierre-Louis led the Boston College, making a team-high 14 tackles -- eight solo and six assists. He also had a pass break-up.
Johnson carried the ball just seven times in his debut. He also caught three passes for 10 yards and returned three kickoffs for 69 more -- a total of 214 all-purpose yards.
"I had freshman jitters," said Johnson, who compared his running style to former Hurricanes back Clinton Portis. "I was excited, nervous. I was just ready to play football. When older guys tell you, 'This is what you worked for. You've played,' that's what relaxed me."
BC cut the deficit to 41-30 on Rettig's 17-yard touchdown pass to Tahj Kimble, then got inside the 1 yard-line on a third-down pass to Spiffy Evans with less than 3 minutes left. With the clock running, Rettig lined up and tried to sneak it in but was stopped for no gain; the play was reviewed and upheld.
Miami took an intentional safety with 4 seconds left rather than punt from deep in its own end zone.
"I couldn't be prouder of a group, down 14-0 in the ACC in a terrible environment, rattled a little bit, dropping balls and things like that," Hurricanes coach Al Golden said. "Just to hang in there -- whew. That was a good job just to hang in there."
The 32 points was the most for BC against a Football Bowl Subdivision team since it beat Weber State in 2010, and the 542 total yards were its most since playing North Carolina State in '08. Alex Amidon had 10 catches for 149 yards, and Kimble had eight for 130 and a touchdown to go with 10 rushes for 50 yards.
"We left some plays out on the field. But we came out of it with some positives. The offense can really move the ball," Amidon said. "There were definitely a lot more points that could have been scored. But 32 points from this offense -- I can't remember the last time we scored 32."
The Hurricanes improved to 24-5 all-time against BC, which had won two straight in the series, including the 24-17 victory last season that left Golden with the end to a tumultuous first season and a 6-6 record. The school did not go to a bowl because of a self-imposed ban in response to an improper benefits scandal.
Boston College went 4-8 last season, missing a bowl for the first time since 1998, and Spaziani's job is likely on the line unless the Eagles improve.
It looked good -- at the start.
Rettig led BC on two quick touchdown drives to open the game, scoring on Andre Williams' 4-yard run on the first drive of the game and then a 15-yard pass to Jake Sinkovec. But Miami tied it before the quarter was over, scoring on Eduardo Clements' 1-yard run and then, on the final play of the first, Denzel Perryman's 41-yard interception return.
After Nate Freese kicked a 26-yard field goal to give BC the lead again, Johnson broke loose from 54 yards out and scored to make it 21-17. BC took the lead with two more field goals, but Miami's Jake Wieclaw answered with one and then Johnson broke another long one.


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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ugh, MightyClub: [QB] "Thank You" - Dido Or the Eminem'ed version, "Stan" Apparently someone at Apple agrees with me on the Dido song -- it shows up in an iTunes Essentials list called... wait for it... Rainy Day Songs. (The direct link is http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewMix?id=306609112, but I think there is a JoT iTunes link around here somewhere that you should use if you buy anything.) [/QB][/QUOTE]
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Member # 4924
posted April 21, 2009 08:41
so it's a rainy day here and I am trying to think of some good dark rainy music, all genre.
I have:
Riders on the Storm, Doors
Kentucky Rain, Elvis
Ain't no Sunshine
Member # 955
posted April 21, 2009 09:15
Pinch Me - The Barenaked Ladies
Loser - 3 Doors Down
One Hand In My Pocket - Alanis Morrisette
Mr. Bojangles - BJ Thomas
Norwegian Wood - The Beatles
*Fixing A Hole - The Beatles
*No Rain - Blind Mellon
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 - Bob Dylan ... hehe
Long December - Counting Crows
Waiting For the Sun - The Doors
Misery - Green Day
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - Iron Butterfly
California Dreamin - The Mamas and the Papas
*3 AM - Matchbox 20
The Last Kiss - Pearl Jam
Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Bridge Over Troubled Waters - Simon & Garfunkel
*Kathy's Song - Simon & Garfunkel
*denotes a song that specifically mentions rain
Member # 1089
posted April 21, 2009 10:09
Rain* -- The Beatles
(* Basic template for just about every Oasis song -- you almost can hear Liam singing "in the sun-shee-yine..." )
Richard Wolf VI
Member # 4993
posted April 21, 2009 13:09
Hold Back The Rain - Duran Duran
Here Comes The Rain Again - Eurythmics
I love synths
Member # 780
posted April 21, 2009 14:20
REM - I'll Take the Rain
Member # 123
posted April 21, 2009 14:56
while trying to remember Rain by the Cult, I came across this..
In the Early Morning Rain (by Gordon Lightfood)
ha ha. That should be Lightfoot!
Member # 2071
posted April 21, 2009 15:37
There's Buddy Holly's "Raining in My Heart" of course, but in a similar vein, I also like
The Cascades "The Rhythm of the Rain"
Or maybe if it's damp dull and grey, why not pour yourself a glass of
100% pure musical sunshine
. Play it loud and dance about looking foolish. Your cats won't mind.... much.
The Famous Druid
Member # 1769
posted April 21, 2009 18:41
"Singing in the rain" from the soundtrack to 'A Clockwork Orange'.
Member # 15702
posted April 21, 2009 18:45
Hmmm, when I think of rainy days, I think of cuddling all day long with somebody special, and never leaving the bedroom, except for refreshments...and the music I like to hear is some good ole James Morrison..."Please don't stop the Rain"...one of my favs....sorry did not mean to thread jack...just thinking is all:)
Ugh, MightyClub
Member # 3112
posted April 21, 2009 21:26
"Have You Ever Seen Rain" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
"Who Will Stop The Rain" - Asia
Edit: My iTunes library also has...
"A Gentle Rain" - Amy Hayashi-Jones
"Red Rain" - Peter Gabriel
"Rhythm of the Rain" - The Cascades <-- Double-edit. Looks like Calli already mentioned this one.
"A Day Without Rain" - Enya
"Fool in the Rain" - Led Zeppelin
"Heavy Cloud No Rain" - Sting
"Watercolours in the Rain" - Roxette
"Coloured Rain" - Traffic
I'm too tired to keep going.
Member # 1959
posted April 21, 2009 22:43
Out Of The Rain - Clan Of Xymox
(No One) Not Even The Rain - The Charlatans
Southern Rain - Cowboy Junkies
The Sun & The Rainfall - Depeche Mode
It Can't Rain All the Time - Jane Siberry
The Rain Within Her Hands - Bella Morte
Happy When It Rains - The Jesus & Mary Chain
Nine Million Rainy Days - The Jesus & Mary Chain
Prayers For Rain - The Cure
Shadows In The Rain - The Police
So. Central Rain - R.E.M.
Rain - Tones On Tail
Mulu The Rain Forest - Thomas Dolby
Only Happy When It Rains - Garbage
Rain From Heaven - The Sisterhood
Don't Always Look At The Rain - Howard Jones
Drops, Rain, And Sea - Love Spirals Downwards
Ocean Rain - Echo & the Bunnymen
Raining Tears Of Blood - Chris & Cosey
Rainfall - Hungry Lucy
I'll stop there, I have even more!
Member # 955
posted April 22, 2009 08:24
I can't believe everybody (including me) forgot
Chocolate Rain
by Tay Zonday (a.k.a. "the Chocolate Rain Kid").
Member # 748
posted April 22, 2009 08:39
Two by Vangelis: "Tears in rain" (from Blade Runner) and "Metallic rain" (a nice tune found on his "Direct" CD)
Member # 4289
posted April 22, 2009 11:24
Come on people.......
what about
It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls
But I suppose that the original brief was "dark rainy music" so I will also suggest Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath.
....and also Black Rain by Mostly Autumn.
Ugh, MightyClub
Member # 3112
posted April 23, 2009 09:41
Oh yeah, how about "Love Reign O'er Me" by The Who?
Member # 966
posted April 24, 2009 14:28
Famous blue raincoat - Leonard Cohen
I can't stand the rain - Janis Joplin
Ugh, MightyClub
Member # 3112
posted April 24, 2009 20:07
"Thank You" - Dido
Or the Eminem'ed version, "Stan"
Apparently someone at Apple agrees with me on the Dido song -- it shows up in an iTunes Essentials list called... wait for it... Rainy Day Songs. (The direct link is
but I think there is a JoT iTunes link around here somewhere that you should use if you buy anything.)
Member # 450
posted April 24, 2009 20:43
For dark music on a rainy day, nothing tops one of the first choices. "Riders on the Storm". When you look up "way out there" in the dictionary, you get Jim Morrison's picture next to the article.
Member # 780
posted April 24, 2009 21:21
Oooh...iTunes is reminding of another one, sort of:
Paranoid Android !!
(With heavy chorus of 'rain down, rain down, come on rain down on me...')
Member # 6177
posted April 28, 2009 14:58
"It's Raining Again" by Supertramp!
Ugh, MightyClub
Member # 3112
posted April 28, 2009 17:32
"Dreaming While You Sleep" by Genesis has a fleeting mention of rain
Member # 736
posted April 28, 2009 18:21
I have no idea why I associate some of these with rainy days. Probably the mood of the song.
From My Own True Love (Lost at Sea) - The Decemberists
The Bagman's Gambit - The Decemberists
Put Your Lights On - Santana and Everlast
Bad Moon Rising - Credence Clearwater Revival
Blood Roses - Tori Amos
Only Happy When it Rains - Garbage
Riders on the Storm - The Doors
Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
Shimmer - Fuel
Everybody Hurts - REM
Drive - REM
Shanty for the Arethusea - The Decemberists
Member # 4289
posted April 28, 2009 23:15
Three Decemberists tracks on a list of only twelve!
Member # 736
posted April 29, 2009 14:23
/me takes a bow
My general crap-weather list is longer - those were just the ones that cover rain. I have others for snow and full conditions. Most of my weather-related selections are based on mood rather than the actual lyrics - the second song in The Tain (Decemberists again) perfectly conveys what it's like to wait out a storm on a big mountain, even though the lyrics have absolutely jackshit to do with weather. Even after I threw out everything not rainy, I had to put another squeeze on the selection because just about anything I associate with HS I also associate with rain, so I just picked songs that, on a balance, were more rainy than nostalgic (if that makes any sense). Growing up in Seattle does that to you.
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text:
I'm normally not a MikexSandy person, but I kinda like this drawing regardless
Skittz 8 years ago.
Its cute and appears to be done with...crayons?
Fayt 8 years ago.
I made it on paint with the crayon brush.
you are very skilled on paint i can't draw crap on paint, that's why I scan my drawings
Anonymous #1 8 years ago.


text:
Whether you are a member of the National Genealogical Society (NGS) or not, you need to watch their new video, "Paths to Your Past." It takes close to twelve minutes, but it is worth every minute. This well done video gives you some insight into how other genealogists think about research, along the way telling about NGS and the benefits of membership.
So, what are those benefits? Check out the NGS web page. Their mission is to serve and grow the genealogical community. In doing this they provide education and training and foster increased quality and standards. They also promote access to and the preservation of genealogical records. They have been doing it for many years as NGS was organized in Washington, DC in 1903.
They sponsor an annual conference along with other events throughout the year. The next annual conference will be "Follow Your Ancestral Trail" to be held 28 April - 1 May 2010 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Membership brings the National Genealogical Society Quarterly and NGS Magazine to your mailbox. Both are excellent. In addition, they have book discounts for members. With membership you receive a free online course, Family History Skills. You can also pay and take their NGS American Genealogy: Home Study Course.
This is a great support group for genealogists. It is worth every penny you pay for membership. Watch the video and enjoy!


text:
FORMER Somerset cricket captain Brian Langford has died aged 76.
Off-spinner Langford was unlucky never to play for England and once bowled eight maidens in a one-day game.
Born in Birmingham, he grew up in Bridgwater, where he attended Dr Morgan's School, before making his county debut at the 1953 Bath Festival.
He took 1-18 in his first championship appearance against Lancashire, which Somerset lost inside one day.
In the other two festival games he claimed match figures of 14-156 and 11-134.
He went on to play 504 first class matches, scoring 7,513 runs at an average of 13.56 and taking 1,390 wickets at 24.89.
Langford claimed 100 championship wickets in a season five times, with his best year 1958, when he captured 116 victims, including a career best 9-26 against Lancashire at Weston.
He captained Somerset between 1969 and 1971, and holds the record for the most first class appearances for the county, while only Jack White and Arthur Wellard have taken more wickets.
He holds the record for the most economic bowling in 40-overs cricket, sending down eight consecutive overs without conceding a run against Essex at Yeovil in 1969, a record unlikely to be equalled.
After retiring in 1974, he remained involved with Somerset and was chairman of the cricket committee during the controversial sackings of Viv Richards and Joel Garner in 1986, which led to Ian Botham quitting the club.
Former teammate Peter Robinson, said: "Langy was a very fine off spin bowler and for a number of seasons was the almost the county's lone bowler.
"At the time he was in his prime there were a number of good off spinners on the scene, but if he had played in another era he could well have played for England."


text:
Well by now you'll know that in Vienna you simply *must* drink lots of the excellent coffee, and eat copious amounts of cake and sausages. But what to do in between meal times?
We had such an amazing holiday in Vienna, and although a LOT of it was spent at the amazing Christmas Markets (half the reason for us going in honesty!) I think we did pretty well at soaking up what this gorgeous city has to offer….and here is what I'd recommend you do too….
You can't really get away from Mozart in Vienna, although it's not quite as Mozart-crazy as Salzburg! The beautiful statue of the composer in the Burrgarten is well worth a look, although you may have to fight through hoards of school trippers to get your photo!
I love the way you can see Vienna's Gothic masterpiece, the Stephansdom cathedral from so far away, yet it sort of creeps up on you as you discover it up close. One side of the roof is decorated with a rather on-trend chevron tile design, whilst the other bears the Austrian eagle. Inside though is the real surprise, as we found it lit up in a rather crazy tie-dye effect!
The guide books said that if you only go to see one palace in Vienna, make it the Schloss Shonbrunn. And it is certainly worth the short U-bahn trip out of the city. The audio guided tour will take you through the palace's tumultuous history and gives you an insight into the lives of its many occupants, including the famous Habsburgs.
The palace also boasts incredible grounds, including various themed gardens, fountains, a labyrinth and maze, and a stunning gloriette….the climb up to which is well worth the effort when you turn around to see the whole of Vienna before you.
And as if that's not enough, your combined ticket will also let you into the palace's own zoo, the fascinating Wustenhaus (desert house) and the breathtaking Palmenhaus (Palm house) which is actually a replica of the one in our very own Kew Gardens!
Vienna is home to the world's first Lomography shop, and so a pilgrimage to its vast photo wall was a must for this analogue-lover. It also has a great little gift shop and the rest of the Museum Quarter in which it resides is worth a visit too.
We found out about the Globe museum by chance, and hadn't planned it into our schedule at all, but as soon as we knew it existed we couldn't miss it! The museum far exceeded our expectations, and not only houses some of the most visually impressive and historically important globes in the world (including an entire room featuring globes from private collections) but also teaches you the history of globe manufacture using clever interactive exhibits….I had no idea it would be so interesting! A combined ticket also lets you into the Papyrus museum and the fascinating Esperanto museum!
Vienna is so famed for its musical history that it would be rude to visit without experiencing some live music. We opted for a rather touristy package at the Kursalon in the Stadtpark…..a sort of a variety show featuring chamber music, ballet and opera, this was the perfect taster and had everyone toe tapping along to the familiar tunes of some of Vienna's greatest inhabitants.
And whilst we're on music…..Vienna's answer to the Hollywood walk of fame is great fun, with golden stars featuring famous composers' names stretching from the Staatsoper, all the way under the U-Bahn station tunnels.
And whilst you're there, take a look at the charmingly funny Opera loos! In London we have cockney cash machines, but in Vienna there is a public toilet where you can listen to opera! Love it!
I could also argue that no trip to Vienna would be complete without a good fix of Klimt either, and the Secession museum is a great place to get a feel for the artist. Home to his masterpiece the Beethoven Frieze, the building itself is just as impressive, with its owl motifs and Medusa heads over the door!
And just over the road is the colourful Naschmarkt, the city's largest and most popular farmers' market.
I personally couldn't let the opportunity to visit an iconic Bond film scene pass me by, and so we took a bit of a walk over to the Wurstelprater Amusement Park (actually the world's oldest amuseument park!) to see the Riesenrad…..those of you who are as fond of Bond as I will recognise the Ferris wheel and the sliding glass doors below from The Living Daylights. The 65m wheel also featured in the film The Third Man, as well as cult classic Sunrise.
Vienna really is one of those cities though that you can just amble around all day, and although we crammed in lots, I'd happily return again (in the summer perhaps) to simply soak up some of the lovely atmosphere there.
Ems x


text: The Pentagon formally referred charges on April 5th against five Guantánamo detainees accused of masterminding the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington. A retired admiral in charge of the military commissions recommended that Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four co-defendants face the death penalty if convicted by a military commission. NACDL issued a statement in response reiterating its position that these prosecutions should be returned to federal court for proper trials. The military commissions system falls far short of bedrock American principles of fairness and due process, the statement said. Evidence presented in any death penalty proceeding must be of the highest reliability. The present commissions system still permits the government to introduce hearsay and derivative evidence obtained through the coercive and extreme interrogation methods of years past. In March, Attorney General Eric Holder restated his long-held belief that the federal court system has prove


text:
How rich will we be when we have converted all our forests, our soil, our water resources, and our minerals into cash? —Jay Norwood Darling, conservationist, artist
In case you haven't heard the latest news from the White House, the president chose to unleash the fossil fuel industry all across America. That's right. They're proudly calling the United States "the new Saudi Arabia." President Obama told his oil friends that "America the Beautiful" is all theirs for the profits.
I don't know what Obama got in exchange for this unconscionable plan to drill, pollute and frack in our farming, ranching, wilderness lands and oceans, including the fragile Arctic, I don't know what kind of filthy oil money they waved in front of him like a bunch of sleazy drug gangsters, or how many multimillion dollar homes they offered him in the package of threats, I can only assume that he wouldn't sell the whole country out to the fossil fuel industry unless there was an enormous retirement payback for the Obama family in return.
In case you missed Obama's enthusiastic oil speech, here it is again: "Over the last three years," boasted Obama in public, "I've directed my administration to open up millions of acres for gas and oil exploration across 23 different states. We're opening up more than 75 percent of our potential oil resources offshore. We've quadrupled the number of operating rigs to a record high. We've added enough new oil and gas pipeline to encircle the Earth, and then some..."
Read more about President Obama's expansion of dirty oil plans in Bill McKibben's latest Rolling Stone article (12-19-2013 issue), including handing over Alaska's pristine Beaufort Sea to Shell where predictably an oil disaster is bound to happen from the tumultuous, icy wind conditions. In fact, even after Shell failed at the first attempt, its rig bopping about like a loose buoy, plagued by problems, the president nevertheless gave Shell the go ahead to drill. Now this is absolutely insane. But maybe you can't be president of this country unless you are certifiably insane? Who knows these days.
Perhaps Obama's worst character flaw is that he's completely oblivious to warning signs, at the cost of America's security, when it comes to oil drilling. It's one thing for Shell to push forward despite the threat of another BP catastrophe in the Beaufort Sea, but it's quite a different matter for the President of the United States to be so carelessly and foolishly immoral. No one in his or her right mind would approve of drilling under such threatening conditions: Kennedy, Carter, Clinton—would have all denied drilling in these stormy waters for the most obvious reasons: too risky! But not Obama. Why? Perhaps St. Augustine can answer that question: "A man is incapable of weighing the consequences of his actions if he is without compassion."
There is no possible way to clean millions of gallons of oil from an ice-covered sea in those conditions. To my knowledge, I've never heard Obama express compassion for animals or mammals whether it's for whales or bears. I don't even think he cares much for his family's dogs. And although he gave an eloquent speech about beginning the "process of healing the earth" before the 2008 election, he seems divorced from nature, not just physically but emotionally. My guess is that he could indifferently watch polar cubs drown in oil if it were a question of getting oil or saving the bears. Not even George W. Bush could get away with drilling in this sacred sanctuary.
Clearly, when it comes to oil profits, nothing is sacred to Obama, as he himself said about Alaska's Beaufort Sea refuge, "Let's see what we can find down there for the economic opportunities it presents." Translation: Let's see how many billions this will make for Shell.
A couple months ago in October when President Obama was defending his Affordable Health Care Plan in Boston, a large group of concerned individuals, family members, young and old, students and ordinary citizens of this country tried to get the message out to the president that coal and oil carbon emissions trapped in our atmosphere are altering our planet in frightening ways, and that we cannot afford to make it worse with the approval of the Keystone Tar Sands Pipeline. (Read how Obama is secretly pushing tar sands through the south of the country.) So they held up their banners and shouted, "Stop Tar Sands Pipeline."
The President smiled and then promptly trivialized their message by saying, "Hey guys, we had the climate change rally back in the summer," as if it were nothing more than a joke.
But it's no joking matter at all. Extracting and producing this dirty, thick tar from shale rock makes ordinary drilling almost appear safe by comparison. Tar sands oil destroys nearly everything it touches starting with the extraction process, through the dangerous threat of transferring it through pipelines, to the end result of refining it and releasing this "carbon bomb" from hell into the atmosphere. Approving it is the most immoral and destructive decision this president could make.
Did the president learn anything from the recent April 2013 Exxon Pegasus ruptured tar sands pipeline disaster? Tons of diluted bitumen, heavy Canadian crude oil covered the streets of suburban Little Rock, turning the entire community of Mayflower, Arkansas, into an uninhabitable toxic zone. What if this had happened on the front lawn of the White House, would the president learn any lessons then? Like I said, this is Obama's hubris, his worst character flaw: he's oblivious to flashing warning signs, oblivious to the consequences of his actions, which puts the security of Americans at risk from toxic pollution exposure.
It's a good thing that I wasn't at that Boston Health Care meeting because I would have shouted to the president:
"Well you better make damn sure that your health care plan covers all the millions of Americans who are going to get severely ill from the oil expansion and pollution plans you've approved of beginning with the chronically ill residents who are suffering from BP's oil disaster and the toxic Corexit that BP and other oil companies keep using down there in the Gulf.
And if you STILL don't get the connection between oil pollution, global warming and people getting sick and dying, Mr. President, from either the toxic chemicals or from cataclysmic hurricanes and tornadoes, then take a good long look at China's smog alert – because if pollution can get that deadly and threatening there, then it can happen anywhere."
Of course, by that time, they would have handcuffed and dragged me off to some dark cell without due process since Mr. constitutional lawyer Obama doesn't like demonstrators and the First Amendment any more than the Bush administration liked activists and the Bill of Rights. But before they'd kick me out of the room, I would shout one last question, "Are you going to allow the oil industry to drill and frack next to your retirement home for economic opportunities?"
Actually, why should oil drilling in our back yards be up to one oblivious man or even an oil-soaked congress in the first place? Shouldn't we, the voters, be the ones to decide? Indeed, voters in three out of four cities in Colorado where a fracking ban was on the ballots chose to say no to extracting oil and gas from the ground by injecting a mix of water, air and chemicals.
There are anti-fracking measures springing up across the U.S. and Europe essentially because hydraulic fracturing is a process involving high-pressure injections of undisclosed chemicals into rocks containing natural gas or oil which contaminates water wells, and other sources of fresh water that the public relies on. Pittsburgh in 2010 became the first U.S. city to outlaw fracking, with city officials citing threats to drinking water and public health. Since then, more than a dozen East Coast cities have followed suit, and efforts to enact a statewide ban are currently underway in California. It's also a losing deal for consumers, as Buzzflash editor, Mark Karlin, pointed out.
As for drilling in the Beaufort Sea in Alaska, to add insult to injury, Mr. Obama has made sure to protect US oil company interests by sending the military to the Arctic. Annihilating the Middle East for oil wasn't enough. Now they're off to the Arctic to destroy life as we know it there, too, for oil profits.
The truth is President Obama didn't learn a damn thing from the BP Gulf catastrophe. He flew in and out for a few photo-ops and that was about it. Oblivious to warnings, he didn't show much interest at the peak of the disaster—and now that he believes that everyone's forgotten, he and his oil friends continue to propagate the lie that "all is well at the Gulf of Mexico."
After opening far more ocean territory than ever before to new oil drilling, Mr. Obama gave a boastful speech declaring that "Oil rigs today generally don't cause spills—they are technologically very advanced." A day after he delivered that speech, BP's deepwater Horizon rig exploded taking 11 men up in flames with it. No lessons learned at the White House.
All is not well at the Gulf of Mexico, as anyone who lives near the Gulf coast will tell you. Gobs of thick tar oil (methane poisoning) continue to pollute the shores. The oil disaster remains a threat to humans and wildlife. In addition to millions of gallons of oil that gushed from the deepwater Macondo well in April 2010 for months, BP has been dropping tons of the toxic dispersant, Corexit, over the sea and over the fragile clam and oyster bays for over three years in the attempt to hide the oil. To say that Corexit disperses the oil is not the same thing as eliminating or dissolving the oil. This was another White House lie that was propagated at the time. To learn more, I've written extensively on the BP Gulf disaster for Buzzflash at Truthout since this horrific tragedy blew up in Obama's face.
A few months after BP's Horizon exploded, Obama looked straight into the camera and shamelessly told the American people that "70% of the oil has been dissolved." Wishful thinking on his part, but it was a dangerous lie that persuaded residents into believing that the Gulf was safe when truth be told it was a toxic hell of chemical poisons, putting their lives at risk.
The consequences have been devastating not only to mammals, whales, dolphins, turtles, pelicans, sea birds, fish and the ecosystems that the Gulf once supported prior to the BP catastrophe, the combination of oil-methane and chemical poisons from Corexit have made thousands of Gulf residents chronically ill: read Dahr Jamail's recent report, Gulf Ecosystem in Crisis, and my follow-up piece on Corexit for Buzzflash-Truthout, BP's Last Nail in the Gulf Coffin: Why the Feds Must Ban Corexit.
In fact, many fishermen who were hired to clean up the toxic, cancerous mess actually died in less than two years after being exposed to the deadly oil and dispersant. There is no corporate media coverage of these reports. Orders from high up were most likely given to keep the real facts out of the news far from the public's eye. After all, such reports would contradict or make a mockery of BP's multimillion dollar, happy-go-lucky Gulf ads.
Contrary to the president's smiley-face interpretation of the Gulf, an ocean that is now officially zoned "dead" according to marine biologists who've been researching the massive fish die off, all is not well at all.
So the next time the president speaks about his Affordable Health Care Plan, he also should explain how important it is to have health insurance when Americans end up with chronic illnesses and cancer from all the pollution and chemical poisoning that will be produced from his expansion of oil and fracking plans. And let's hope that Obamacare will also cover all the severely injured victims from climate change hurricanes and tornadoes and cataclysmic flooding as he helps to increase carbon emissions and other heat-trapping gasses into the atmosphere while the temperatures rise beyond two degrees Celsius which will make the current global warming catastrophes look like child's play.
I'm not happy about criticizing a President I voted for (twice). When the right-wing fanatics attack him, I'm first in line to come to his defense. The fact that he's trying, despite complications, to provide health insurance for millions of people who can't afford it is an admirable goal. Moreover, Obama vowed to veto recent Republican fracking-energy legislation that threatens to charge Americans up to $5,000 dollars for peacefully protesting oil-gas exploration and pipeline construction, which is a clear violation of our First Amendment rights. He also provided billions of dollars of subsidies for wind and solar. But, unfortunately, the bad outweighs the good; in fact it defeats the purpose compared to Obama's fossil fuel and nuclear power plans. As Bill McKibben put it, "It's like eating a pan of Weight Watchers brownies after you've already gobbled a quart of Ben and Jerry's."
I understand why African Americans are proud of President Obama. However, blacks and minorities need to make global warming a priority issue as much as anything else they care about. Why? Think Hurricane Katrina. Think Hurricane Sandy, or the Philippines' catastrophic typhoon, Haiyan, and you'll get the point.
Global warming and pollution wrecks communities, destroys the economy at all levels, rich and poor, while an extremely small group of oil oligarchs make out like bandits. They'll continue to reap billions at the expense of the planet, our health, our water, and our food; no doubt our very future is at stake. Billions of people are going to suffer terribly from global warming; and thousands of beautiful animals and birds are going to be wiped off the face of the earth forever so that a few white old men can live super rich lives: Just 90 companies caused two-thirds of man-made global warming emissions:
The companies range from investor-owned firms, household names such as Chevron, Exxon and BP, to state-owned and government-run firms ... But the decision makers, the CEOs, or the ministers of coal and oil if you narrow it down - they could all fit in a limousine or two.
Future generations will continue to grow angry at Obama's oil expansion plan as these conditions worsen with time. Historians will ask why he turned his back on the Crisis of the Century. Obama's pro fossil fuel administration will in the end define his legacy, over and above his Affordable Health Care Plan. He'll be remembered as the Democrat that fulfilled George W. Bush's oil drilling dreams. On the XL Keystone Pipeline, G.W. Bush said, "It's a no brainer, get it done," which you'd expect from a guy who doesn't have a brain. And yet, Obama must have been inspired by Bush's words because he said the exact same thing to his administration to "cut through the red tape, break through the bureaucratic hurdles and make this project a priority, to go ahead and get it done."
"Despite brave opposition from groups like Tar Sands Blockade," wrote McKibben, "Keystone South is now 95 percent complete, and the administration is in court seeking to beat back the last challenges from landowners along the way. The president went ahead and got it done. If only he'd apply that kind of muscle to stopping climate change."
John F. Kennedy would most likely declare oil drilling (catastrophes) and climate change a clear and present danger to public safety. Sadly, Obama is no Jack Kennedy. He's just another oil salesman who values profits over life.
(Photo: Dr. Oscar Garcia, Florida State University/SkyTruth)
Jacqueline Marcus is the editor of ForPoetry.com and EnvironmentalPress.com. Author of Close to the Shore by Michigan State University Press. Her E-book Man Cannot Live on Oil, Alone: Time to end our dependency on oil before it ends us is available at Amazon.com Kindle Books.