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Built on the picturesque adi-chunchanagiri hills, 110 kilometers from Bangalore, the us$21 million Lord Kalabhairava temple is an impressive granite structure 14 years in the making, with over a hundred sculptors and thousands of laborers involved. The equal of many great temples of India, though not quite complete, it was consecrated in mid-February, 2008.
The temple was built by Sri Balagangadharanatha Swami, revered spiritual guru of Karnataka, for his favorite Deity, Kalabhairava, a form of Lord Siva. It is located at the ancient Adichunchanagiri monastery, an ancient matha of the Natha Sampradaya. Situated deep in the arid hills of Karnataka State, the monastery's many buildings cling to the massive rock outcropping that overlooks the plains below. Established 1,500 years ago, the huge edifice, with its rock caves, meandering corridors, Sanskrit college and first-rate guest facilities, has become the region's spiritual hub, and a powerful social force as well. Swamiji is the monastery's 71st pontiff.
Bhairava literally means "terrifying." As Kalabhairava, "Terrifying Lord of Time," He oversees the march of time. Adi Shankaracharya wrote that Kalabhairava indicates kalakalam, "death to death" and bhuktimuktidayakam, one who gives worldly happiness as well as liberation. This is the form of Siva as the fiery protector. He carries and is represented by the trident, an implement often enshrined as guardian at the entrance to Siva temples. Lord Bhairava's mount is a dog. The new temple is unique in being the first major sanctuary at which Kalabhairava is enshrined as the main Deity.
The dedication ceremony
When I arrived on the evening of February 16, the day before the consecration of the temple towers and the Deity, the whole area was engulfed in festivities. Competing with the fanfare of human chatter, vehicles horns and police whistles was the loud and resonant chanting of Vedic hymns by 50 pundits. Homas and yajnas with Ganesha, Shanmukha, Siva and Parvati invoked into 1,008 kalasas, decorated water pots, were underway at the yagasala, a temporary ceremonial area erected outside the new temple. These fire rituals, called yajna, were to stretch through the day into the evening and late night, concurrent with other consecration rites.
That morning, the priests had all paraded from the yagasala to the temple, carrying their ritual implements for blessings. Then they walked back to conduct the day's chanting. The forty-by-forty foot yagasala held the usual complement of homa pits, some round, some square, some triangular or eight-sided. At each such offering place, designed to mimic the form of the cosmos, a team of five or eight priests presided, offering their chants into the sacred fire to build the spiritual edifice that would inhabit the physical temple nearby. Nearby, forty swamis, mostly of the Natha Sampradaya, sat in silent conclave, gathered around Sri Balagangadharanatha Swami. Natha sannyasins are known for their massive earrings, and these orange-robed monks were adorned with a two- to four-inch ring of bone or metal pierced through the cartilage of both ears.
Later, musicians and dancers ushered the swamis to the homa platform, surrounded by the surging crowd of guests, locals, villagers, streams of sadhus and attention-seeking politicians--it was chaotic! The purnahuti, the final ritual pouring of ghee into the sacred fire, was performed in the presence of Balagangadharanatha Swami late in the evening.
Now it is past midnight and all is quiet. I venture into the new temple, knowing that tomorrow it will be impossibly crowded. Four majestic Chola-style gopurams, entrance towers, beckon us. Three are 57 feet tall; the main east entrance looms 100 feet into the sky.
The grandly impressive 172 granite pillars display superb craftsmanship. Into their faces are carved the 64 forms of Bhairava, each 4.5 feet in height. Twelve hundred skilled artisans from all over India have labored over the past 14 years to produce this traditional marvel, under the able stewardship of Muthiah Sthapati, a traditional temple architect from Tamil Nadu.
Sthapati flew in to personally guide the final days' events. On February 16, two dozen priests joined him in installing a four-foot Shakti murti in a side shrine, and in enlivening Kalabhairava's vahana, a graceful dog that looks down a gauntlet of eight eight-foot-tall black granite murtis that guard the entrance to the sanctum of their Lord. Nearby, workers were frantically completing the floor and preparing to install the flagpole, or dvajasthambam. They worked all night to complete these preparations, finishing just in time for the dawn ceremonies.
Devotees stream into the area even at this late hour. They come from all over Karnataka, neighboring Andhra, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Kalabhairava is the family Deity to millions. There's a feeling of pride and joy among the devotees as they step into this grand new temple for their Lord.
The administration has a daunting task to provide the visitors with accommodation, food and information. The celebrations, which began on February 11 and continued for 22 days, were packed with pujas, homas and cultural activities. Each day more than 100,000 people congregated here.
"Sahasrachandi Homa is being performed every day for one month," explains Shekarswamy, spokesperson and chief administrator of the Matha and BGS Group of Institutions. "Athirudra Mahayaga, which is rare and elaborate, is also being performed. This yajna needs about four hundred ritviks (Vedic Pundits), and they have been brought from all over India," Besides rituals, cultural and literary activities were scheduled at a marathon pace. Hundreds of performers of classical arts presented a variety of cultural programs, including a day of poetry. A Dharma Sammelan brought together over 40 religious heads for three days to discuss key religious issues.
On February 17, Swamiji's 64th birthday, various homas as prescribed by the Agamas commenced at 5:30am and concluded at eight with the purnahuti ghee offering. At 9:10pm, the chosen auspicious moment, Mahakumbhabhisekam (ritual ablution)of the Rajagopuram, entrance tower, and Vimanagopuram, central tower, were performed (photos, page 28-29). amidst Vedic chanting, temple drums and horns, and the clamor of the thousands of devotees witnessing the historic blessing.
Focus now moved to the main shrine inside the temple. There was no restraining the crowds; the event and celebration that belonged to them all. Only a small portion were lucky enough to make it into the temple to witness the Kumbhabhisekham of the finely chiseled 10.5 feet tall main Deity, Kalabhairava, and other accompanying Deities. Even for those inside the temple, it was not easy to see inside the sanctum. As specified in Agamic tradition, nine gems were placed under the Deity as part of the consecration rituals. After worship amidst Vedic chanting, the Deity was bathed with 108 pots of spiritually charged milk. The presence of the holy monks further heightened the spiritual atmosphere.
Back and forth the crowd moved, between the yagasala and the temple. It was an ancient scene--devotees vying for a glimpse of the Lord or the chance to touch the swamis' feet, even for an instant. In the midst of all this, the taciturn founder of the temple reigned with a powerful presence that belied his quietude. A guru to millions, and having built 27 formidable institutions, he yet remains uncannily humble and unassuming. It reminded me of the saying of Yogaswami: "The hen lays one egg and cackles endlessly. The turtle lays 1,000 eggs and remains silent. Be like the turtle, not like the hen."
The day concluded with Swamiji's birthday celebrations, attended by a plethora of dignitaries: sadhus, politicians, academicians and other people of importance. The staff and pundits of the ashram showered the pontiff with bushels of flowers of all kinds.
For centuries, Adichunchanagiri Matha has maintained a small shrine for Kalabhairava. With the construction of this huge temple, Swamiji has ensured that the Deity will be central to each devotee' pilgrim's experience at this ancient monastery. PIpi
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Bay Area residents going to the polls Tuesday face weighty choices from the top-of-the-ticket governor's race to local measures on taxes and development — that is for the few who show up.
Predictions of record-low turnout coupled with the growing number of voters who cast ballots by mail should make for short lines and long lulls for most of the Bay Area's poll workers.
Santa Clara County for instance expects about 80 percent of ballots to be mailed, said Matt Moreles, the county's assistant voter registrar. Contra Costa County Registrar Joe Canciamilla agreed with the 80 percent estimate, and Alameda County Registrar Tim Depuis guessed that no more than 25 to 30 percent of his county's registered voters will cast ballots in this election whether by mail or in person.
But the high ratio of mailed ballots won't affect counties' need to staff polling places.
State law dictates that whether it's a tiny-turnout special election or a huge-turnout presidential election, and no matter how many people vote by mail, "you've got to set up the same number of precincts, the same number of machines, the same number of workers — it's a ridiculously expensive process … but that's what we have to do," said Canciamilla, a former assemblyman. "I guess you'd have to talk to my former colleagues in the Legislature about that."
This is the first time California's statewide elections will be decided using the new top-two primary system, in which all voters can choose from among all candidates regardless of party affiliations. The two candidates with the most votes will advance to November's general election.
At the top of the state races, Republicans Neel Kashkari, a former Treasury Department official, and Tim Donnelly, an assemblyman and tea party favorite, are vying to finish in the top two with Gov. Jerry Brown, and so go one-on-one with him in November. Polls show their primary battle could be a nail-biter, though there's little chance Brown could lose the general election.
With Democrats now holding every statewide office and a healthy majority in both houses of the Legislature, pundits will closely watch the two statewide races in which Republican contenders might have a real chance. One is the state controller election, where Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin is the GOP alternative to either Assembly Speaker John Perez or Board of Equalization member Betty Yee, both Democrats.
The other is the secretary of state race, where Republican Pete Peterson and state Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Van Nuys, are the likely leaders in a field of seven candidates. Suspended state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, appears on the ballot but dropped out of this race after being indicted on charges of taking bribes and brokering an international arms deal.
The Bay Area's hottest races include the 17th Congressional District, in which seven-term Rep. Mike Honda, D-San Jose, is challenged by fellow Democrat Ro Khanna, a former Obama administration official backed by many Silicon Valley executives in a battle that has made national headlines. Republicans Vanila Singh and Joel Van Landingham also are in the race to represent the first House district outside of Hawaii to have an Asian-American majority.
In San Jose, Councilman Sam Liccardo and Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese seem to be leading the pack to succeed termed-out Mayor Chuck Reed. Also in the race are Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen and council members Rose Herrera and Pierluigi Oliverio.
The mudslinging has grown bog-deep in the 10th State Senate District, where Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski, D-Fremont, called attention to Democratic rival Mary Hayashi's 2012 shoplifting conviction while Hayashi accused Wieckowski of "protecting rapists" with a 2012 committee vote. Their blizzard of attack mailers sucked the oxygen from the campaigns of three other candidates: Democrat Roman Reed, Republican Peter Kuo and independent Audie Bock.
Things also grew nasty in the East Bay's 16th Assembly District, where Dublin Mayor Tim Sbranti and Orinda Councilman Steve Glazer — both Democrats — clashed over BART strikes, campaign ethics complaints, ties to unions, tobacco companies, big oil and whatever other faults they could find with each other. Danville Mayor Newell Arnerich is a third Democrat here, but it seems either Sbranti or Glazer will finish in the top two for a November contest with the lone Republican, Dublin attorney Catharine Baker.
Open Assembly seats around the Bay Area include the 15th District in the Oakland-Berkeley area, where five Democrats, a Republican, a Peace and Freedom candidate and an independent are battling; the 25th District in the Fremont-San Jose area, with four Democrats and a Republican; and the 28th District in the Cupertino-Saratoga area, with two Democrats and two Republicans.
Other notable races include the 15th Congressional District, where Democratic state Senator Ellen Corbett, of Hayward, is trying to oust Democratic first-term Rep. Eric Swalwell, of Dublin, who also has a Republican challenger, Hugh Bussell, of Livermore. In the 11th Congressional District, state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, leads the pack to succeed Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, who is retiring.
Among Bay Area ballot measures, Alameda County voters will decide whether to continue a sales tax that helps fund the county's health care safety net. Measure AA would extend the existing half-cent sales tax — which raises $100 million a year — from its current 2019 expiration to a new sunset date of 2034.
Voters in the West Contra Costa Unified School District will decide on Measure H, to raise $270 million in bonds for school construction — the seventh time the district has sought bond approval in 17 years and potentially driving higher what already are the county's highest property taxes.
Josh Richman covers politics. Contact him at 510-208-6428. Follow him at Twitter.com/josh_richman. Read the Political Blotter at IBAbuzz.com/politics.
election day
What you need to know about voting today
Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday; by law, you can vote if you're in the polling place line polling by 8 p.m.
If you have not yet mailed your vote-by-mail ballot, DON'T — it will arrive too late to be counted. Leave it Tuesday at any polling place in your county. You can authorize a relative or any person living in your home to return your ballot, but follow the instructions for signing the return envelope.
Information on voting and polling places available at: Alameda County, 510-267-8683; Contra Costa County, 925-335-7871; Santa Clara County, 866-430-VOTE; San Mateo County, 650-312-5222.

subset: commoncrawl


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Explore an award-winning collection of diaries written by young people during the Holocaust with the help of this resource collection.
Explore an award-winning collection of diaries written by young people during the Holocaust with the help of this resource collection.
War is only half the story. Use these evocative photographs with your students to explore the human stories that emerge in the aftermath of war and violence.
The online companion to our Nanjing Atrocities book includes maps, images, timelines, and readings for students to gain a deeper understanding of East Asia during World War II.
Explore judgment, justice, and the International Criminal Court with these resources centered on the documentary film The Reckoning.
Use this rich archive of lessons, videos, and primary sources to teach about one of the most tumultuous periods in US history and its legacy today.
Examine the moral dilemmas faced by five diplomats who, at great personal risk, assisted Jews fleeing Nazi persecution during the Holocaust.
Use these lessons on American soul music to teach the history of the the civil rights movement and explore music's role as an agent of social change.
This rich collection of readings, artwork, primary documents, and biographies, documents the creativity and catastrophe of Germany's Weimar Republic (1919-1933). How did individual choices shape the events that led to the rise of the Third Reich and collapse of democracy?
Discover the debates and the dilemmas that surrounded the creation of the UDHR. Consider the legacies of the declaration, one of the most celebrated milestones in the history of human rights.
Use clips from the film BULLY, along with additional classroom resources, to address issues of ostracism, bullying, and encourage upstander behavior in your school and classroom.
Explore definitions of democracy, citizenship, and civic participation through new lessons, readings, audio interviews and more.


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The Sarasota Opera opened its 2010 season this past weekend with the most paired of operas, Mascagni's "Cavalleria rusticana" and Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci." These two have been put on the same program for so long, by so many opera companies, that some people have thought Mascagni and Leoncavallo must have made some kind of deal that they be performed together in perpetuity. Of course, this is not the case.
It happens that they're both reasonably short operas (60 to 75 minutes each); they each take place in Italy on a holiday ("Cavalleria" in a Sicilian village on Easter morning and "Pagliacci" in Calabria on the Feast of the Assumption); they are both in the "Verismo" (realism) style; they were written and premiered within two years of each other ("Cavalleria" in 1890 and "Pagliacci" in 1892); they both contain gorgeous music; and they're both filled with passion, fire and so much Italian sturm und drang, you wonder how the singers can get through the plots without, well, plotzing.
But there's a difference between them, too.
Leoncavallo based "Pagliacci" on the highly believable (true) story of an actor (Canio/Pagliaccio), who killed his actress wife (Nedda) on stage because she fell in love with someone else (Silvio). But Mascagni's "Cavalleria" is, especially in today's culture, a much less believable story, centering around a man (Turiddu) who was once in love with a woman (Lola), but Lola married while Turiddu was away. Heartbroken, Turiddu turns to Santuzza, promises to marry her and, then, cheats on her with Lola, causing Santuzza to lose her honor and become excommunicated from the church. It gets worse. Alfio, Lola's husband, finds out about the affair and kills Turiddu.
Both of these stories are set to heart-wrenching, ear-ringing music, but it's "Pagliacci" that wins, hands down, as the better opera — musically and dramatically.
It also won as the better performance at the Sarasota Opera, which was something of a mystery, because both operas featured many of the same singers.
Things started to go south almost immediately in "Cavalleria rusticana," because, perhaps in their opening-night zeal, everyone on stage was oversinging to the point that nuance (not that there is much in this opera) was thrown to the wind. It started with Kara Shay Thomson's highly charged portrait of Santuzza. This soprano — whom we heard last year in the title role of Sarasota Opera's production of "Tosca" and whom we praised, writing, " … there wasn't a moment in the evening when Thomson came even close to oversinging or pushing" — amped up her ample voice so much this time around, she almost drowned out the orchestra. She's too good a singer to do this.
Gustavo López Manzitti followed suit as a voluble but well-paced Turiddu; studio artists Cathleen Candia's rather pallid Mamma Lucia and Stephanie Lauricella's well-acted Lola both dangerously stretched their vocal limits; and Michael Corvino, as Alfio was so stiff and strident, we didn't recognize this well-known Sarasota Opera presence.
Then the sun came out as the curtain rose on "Pagliacci." Here, Corvino turned into a deviously believable Tonio, sounding so much better in the prologue that we thought he'd had a voice transplant. Manzitti, too, underwent a magical transformation, and his "Vesti la giubba" was both heartrending and beautifully performed.
Other members of the cast included Evan Brummel (Silvio) and Heath Huberg (Peppe), both studio artists and both good actors and lovely singers. And Aundi Marie Moore, in the role of Nedda, pretty much stole the show as a believable, beloved actress with a gorgeous voice to match.
The Sarasota Opera Orchestra, under the direction of Victor DeRenzi, played with style and beauty in both operas, and the always excellent chorus, while a little too raucous in "Cavalleria," was perfect in "Pagliacci."
David Gordon deserves extra bows for his stunning sets, especially the sun-streaked skies in both operas; costume designer Howard Tsvi Kaplan's realistic garments were more appreciated in "Pagliacci" than "Cavalleria"; and Ken Yunker's lighting was a shining example of perfection in both sets.
It's a puzzlement how the same person, Stephanie Sundine, the stage director, is responsible for the impressive staging and acting in "Pagliacci" could have made "Cavalleria" so stodgy and static. But we can't heap blame where it doesn't belong. The composer and librettists of that melodrama were the real perpetrators. Sundine simply did the best she could.
The Sarasota Opera opened its 2010 season this past weekend with the most paired of operas, Mascagni's "Cavalleria rusticana" and Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci." These two have been put on the same program for so long, by so many opera companies, that some people have thought Mascagni and Leoncavallo must have made some kind of deal that they be performed together in perpetuity. Of course, this is not the case.


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If you are one (or some) of the few (or many) that have been waiting for the 2013 Tri-State Speedway rules to be published ...
They have now been published!
You can find them by either hovering over the "Rules" tab above and selecting your choice or by clicking on the "Rules" tab and then clicking on your choice. Either way, once you click on a class link, you can then print each class.
If you have any questions, or concerns, please call Tim at 479.806.4101.
Tri-State Speedway will run, on a weekly basis, Factory Stocks, Super Stocks, Smith Chevrolet B Modifieds, Economy Modifieds and USRA Modifieds.


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Washington bids farewell to President George H.W. Bush
Clip: 12/05/2018 | 15m 54s
Family, friends, former presidents and foreign dignitaries gathered Wednesday to honor President George H.W. Bush at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Among those eulogizing the American war hero and political patriarch was his oldest son, President George W. Bush, who said his father believed "that one can serve with integrity and hold true to the important values like faith and family."
Aired: 12/05/18Video has closed captioning.
The full episode is no longer available for online streaming. Why?
Please continue to enjoy extra(s) from this episode.
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Major corporate funding for the PBS NewsHour is provided by BNSF, Consumer Cellular, Leidos, Babbel, and Raymond James. Funding for the PBS NewsHour Weekend is provided by Mutual of America. For a complete list of funders for the PBS NewsHour and PBS NewsHour weekend, click here.


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Those who know Daniel Junge might tell you it was only a matter of time before the Denver-based documentary filmmaker had an Oscar triumph. In fact those who know Junge — Mad Moviegoer among them — may be feeling cocky enough tonight to venture this won't be his only one.
Because Junge is driven. Because he's addicted to old-fashion, human-propelled story. Because he's smart enough to surround himself with talent. For "Saving Face" this meant Pakistan filmmaker, codirector and coproducer Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, local editor Davis Coombe (who helped make recent Sundance winner "Chasing Ice" a more crystalline work), cinematographer Aaron Kopp and up-and-coming producer Alison Greenberg.


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If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It's free!
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2010 Holiday Gift Guide: Toy Story 3 Combo Pack
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Home Entertainment, Hot Deals, Movies, Family, Kids, Under $25,
It's no secret that Toy Story 3 was one of the biggest animated films of all time, and it's certainly good enough to sit in your collection as well. That's why we've added it to our 2010 Holiday Gift Guide. The Blu-ray combo pack offers the best bang for your buck, since it packs in a copy of the film on Blu-ray, a second Blu-ray disc with special features, another copy of the film on a standard DVD, and finally, a digital copy of Toy Story 3. Basically, this means you get the superb copy for your home theater, the DVD for use in computers or in the car, and the digital copy to watch on computers and portable devices. Even better, while this combo pack normally sells for $45.99, Amazon has it for $24.99, a 46% savings, and they also throw in a $4 credit for Amazon Video on Demand as well. This is a great gift for kids and families alike.
Be sure to check out other Amazon Blu-ray specials.
Read More | Toy Story 3
Gallery: 2010 Holiday Gift Guide: Toy Story 3 Combo Pack
Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Kinect for Xbox 360
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Microsoft, Video Games, Family, Kids, Teens, Under $250,
Microsoft's been hyping up Kinect for over a year now, and the motion sensing Xbox peripheral has finally arrived. Our verdict? We love it, and it feels like the future. If you know anyone with an Xbox 360 console who doesn't have Kinect, then we'd recommend putting this one on your gift list. The Kinect sensor costs $149.99, and includes Kinect Adventures, a disc full of mini-games that let you try out a bunch of Kinect's features. You can also do video chat with other Kinect users and Windows Live users as well, and you get voice control over your Xbox 360. Seriously, this is the video game accessory to have this holiday season--especially during your holiday parties with friends and family around.
Aside from the sensor itself, here are a few Kinect games that we think are worth picking up as well:
Dance Central
Your Shape Fitness Evolved
Of course, in order to take advantage of Kinect, you'll need an Xbox 360 console. If you don't already have one, Microsoft is selling consoles bundled with Kinect.
Read More | Kinect
Gallery: Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Kinect for Xbox 360
2009 Holiday Gift Guide: Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z280
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cameras, Features, Family, Women, Men, Under $250,
Casio rocks it this year with the Exilim Zoom EX-Z280 digital camera, and we like it enough that we are recommending it in this years gift guide. It sports a dedicated Easy Mode, making it easy enough for pretty much anyone who enjoys pressing buttons to operate, while still maintaining the advanced features for more experienced pros, including ones that you don't typically find on budget-priced digital cameras. One such feature is mechanical (instead of digital) image stabilization, giving you nice clear shots while you stumble around during a holiday party after one-too-many eggnogs, as well as a 4x optical zoom lens. In addition, it shoots video in 720p, so it can even take the place of your Flip-style camcorder. You can grab one now for $173 on Amazon.
Read More | Casio Exilim
Gallery: 2009 Holiday Gift Guide: Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z280
2009 Holiday Gift Guide: LG 47LH50
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Family, Techies,
We wanted to find a nice mid-range HDTV we could recommend this year, and we think the LG 47LH50 is it.This is LG's 47-inch, widget-powered television, and it brings the heat with a 1080p display, and 5.1 surround sound output. Why would you want to output sound from the display? Well, thanks to the Yahoo! widget support, you get things like Netflix, YouTube, and a bunch of other embedded media playback services, including the Vudu streaming movie service. Just connect the LG 47LH50 to your home network, and the content is right at your fingertips. The part, though, is the price. These typically sell for about $1500, but Amazon is selling it for $1,139.
Read More | LG 47LH50 HDV
Gallery: 2009 Holiday Gift Guide: LG 47LH50
2009 Holiday Gift Guide: Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Family, Men, Techies, Under $100,
The Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player allows you to attach any external hard drive or USB flash drive to the device, which lets you watch videos, listen to music, or even create your own slideshows from your photos, right on your television. The WD TV HD Media Player can accept up to two external drives at once, and supports Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 sound, making it ideal to play movies stored on those devices in glorious 1080p. They typically sell for $129, but Amazon has them for $99.
Read More | Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player
Gallery: 2009 Holiday Gift Guide: Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player
2009 Holiday Gift Guide: Mac OS X Snow Leopard
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Software, Family, Techies, Under $25,
If you've got any Mac users in your life who haven't upgraded to OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, we think it's time you give them the nudge this holiday season. Snow Leopard is faster, leaner, and more intuitive. It's also simple to install, and even hits the user back with some freed up hard drive space. The best part, though, is the price. Snow Leopard is just $24.99 at Amazon. Here's the price breakdown:
- Snow Leopard Upgrade: $24.99 (14% off)
- Snow Leopard 5-User Family Pack: $43.99 (10% off)
- Snow Leopard Mac Box Set: $149.99 (11% off)
- Snow Leopard Mac Box Set Family Pack: $199.99 (13% off)
Gallery: 2009 Holiday Gift Guide: Mac OS X Snow Leopard
2009 Holiday Gift Guide: Scene It! The Simpsons Deluxe Edition
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Home Entertainment, Movies, Toys, Video Games, Family, Women, Teens, Under $50,
It's no secret that Scene It? is one of the most popular game series around, and this holiday we are recommending Scene It? The Simpsons Deluxe Edition. It's been getting rave reviews as one of the best Scene It? titles to be released, and hey, it's The Simpsons. The show has been around for 20 years, which means parents can play this with kids and have a good time. The game features material from the show's first 19 seasons on the air, has hundreds of questions, and has four collectable tokens. You can pick up Scene It? The Simpsons Deluxe Edition for $29.99. Best. Scene It. Ever.
Honorable Mentions:
Scene It? Twilight Edition: Yeah, we know a lot of the ladies out there are on a vampire kick thanks to Twilight. Guys, you may want to consider this one.
Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen!: Would you rather play scene it on the Xbox 360 rather than using a DVD player? This is the one you'll want.
Gallery: 2009 Holiday Gift Guide: Scene It! The Simpsons Deluxe Edition
2009 Holiday Gift Guide: HP DreamScreen 100
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Displays, Smart Home, Wireless / WiFi, Family, Women, Men, Techies, Under $250,
Ever since the HP DreamScreen arrived on the scene, generic digital photo frames have seemed so passe. I mean, the DreamScreen is a digital photo frame on crack, essentially. It's available in 10- and 13-inch sizes, and aside from simply displaying your digital photos, it can stream Pandora (or up to 10,000 Internet radio stations,) set alarms, display your calendar, show you a five-day weather forecast, and even give you a look at your Facebook account so you can see what's up with your peeps. Plus, it incorporates touch into the bezel, and we like touch.
The HP DreamScreen typicalls sells for $250, but Amazon currently has it for $205, a full 18% off.
Read More | HP DreamScreen 100 on Amazon
Gallery: 2009 Holiday Gift Guide: HP DreamScreen 100
2008 Holiday gift Guide: Samsung SC-MX20
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cameras, Features, Portable Audio / Video, Family, Men, Under $250,
If you want an inexpensive camcorder that gives you a bit more quality than what you'd find with a Kodak ZI6 or Flip Video camera, we think the Samsung SC-MX20 would be up your alley. This camera offers some nice features that the other low-end cams just don't have, like image stabilization, face detection, and a 24x optical zoom. It accepts SD and MMC cards up to 32GB, and has an internal battery life of 3 hours. The Samsung SC-MX20 retails for $250, but we found it on Amazon for 15% off at $212.
Oh, and for those of you who just have to have the high definition version, the Samsung SC-MX20C can be had for 30% off on Amazon, for $592.60.
Read More | Samsung SC-MX20
Gallery: 2008 Holiday gift Guide: Samsung SC-MX20
2008 Holiday Gift Guide: Lost seasons 1-3 DVD sale alert
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Home Entertainment, Hot Deals, Movies, Family, Women, Men, Under $100,
We typically reserve the Holiday Gift Guide for items that you should be able to get your hands on throughout the shopping season, but we felt that this Lost Season 1-3 DVD deal on Amazon was way too good to pass up. For today only, you can get the first three seasons of Lost on DVD for just $58.99. That is a savings of 67%, or $120.98 off the regular price of $179.97. That is ridiculous. Ridiculously delicious, that is. If you Lost as much as we do, you'll know that this is a true bargain.
Read More | Lost Season 1-3 Amazon Sale
Gallery: 2008 Holiday Gift Guide: Lost seasons 1-3 DVD sale alert
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The name Extreme Rules conjures up mental images of a pay-per-view show full of hardcore violence and intense bell-to-bell action. With WWE's family-friendly direction, it's not surprising that the show was much tamer than what one might expect. Despite that, the PPV was a pretty solid offering that offered a few really good matches, including a trio of Wrestlemania rematches that really delivered.
One of those rematches was the main event, which saw John Cena defend his WWE Championship against his nemesis Batista in a Last Man Standing match. Early on, Cena was able to counter Batista's size advantage with some clever moves, but soon Batista's power game had Cena in jeopardy. Then, in a sloppy production moment, the cameras and mics clearly caught Cena telling Batista what his next move should be. Cena's advice helped, and soon Batista had Cena down after a series of power moves. Things picked up here, and soon, the two started pulling out the stops to keep the other one down for the 10-count. An Attitude Adjustment had Batista down, but he got to his feet to break the count. A pair of spears by Batista nearly had Cena down for the 10, but he popped up at nine. Looking to end the match, Batista went to the weapons well, and picked up a table, which he immediately sent Cena through. Cena got to his feet by rolling out to the floor, but didn't fare much better there, getting rammed into the ring post, and then whipped through the barricade. Still, the champ had enough to break the 10-count. Frustrated, Batista set his sights on the broadcast announce table, but it was he who ended up getting put through it, courtesy of another Attitude Adjustment. Though it looked like Batista didn't get up in time, the referee said that he had. Cena tried to hit the groggy Batista with another one, this time in the ring, but Batista caught him in a spinebuster, driving Cena through a table before he barely got up at nine. A Batista Bomb similarly saw Cena down for the nine count. An angry Animal then threw the ring steps into the ring, and was going for another, but Cena locked on the STF instead. Though Batista tapped, it meant nothing, given the match stipulation, and when he got up at nine, the match continued. After that, Cena pulled a schoolyard trick, sliding out of the ring, and crotching Batista on the ring post. He then took out some duct tape and tied Batista's ankles around the post, so that Batista wouldn't be able to stand up. It was academic at that point, and with Batista trapped, the referee reached the 10-count, giving Cena the win.
WWE Extreme Rules 2010 – Detailed Results
Sheamus vs Triple H was supposed to start the show. Though Triple H's music hit, he didn't immediately come out to the ring. They showed that backstage, he was being attacked by Sheamus, who knocked him out with a lead pipe.
With that match delayed, this gave the Unified Tag Team Champions, ShowMiz, the chance to come out for some words. Miz reminded the crowd that Bret Hart still had to admit that ShoMiz are the greatest tag team in WWE history. They then challenged any team to come out and face them. Teddy Long came out to accept the challenge. No, actually, he said that he would pick a team to face them to earn a title shot. Miz started to disrespect Teddy, so Long made it a Gauntlet match, ShoMiz versus three teams in succession. If any team beat ShoMiz, that team gets a title shot tomorrow on RAW. Hmm ... an unannounced PPV match that builds into TV ... what is this, TNA?
Gauntlet Match 1: ShowMiz vs R-Truth and John Morrison
R-Mo did all right when facing Miz, but didn't fare too well against the Big Show. They fired up, and finally Morrison clamped on submission on Show, hanging off of Show's head and arms, and pulling Show across the top rope. Show tapped, but since Morrison hadn't let go of the hold while Show was in the ropes, his team was disqualified.
Gauntlet Match 2: ShowMiz vs MVP and Mark Henry
This was really short. Show was on the floor, still groggy from the last match. He was aware enough to get a sneaky knockout punch on MVP to allow Miz to get the pinfall.
Gauntlet Match 3: ShowMiz vs the Hart Dynasty
This was a blink-and-you-miss-it match. In seconds, they hit the super Hart Attack, and got the pin, earning a title shot tomorrow.
Winner: Hart Dynasty
Backstage, Sheamus questioned Triple H's manhood, pretty much daring him to still face him tonight.
Match 2: CM Punk vs Rey Misterio
The commentary team of Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, and Matt Striker doesn't really work for me. But there was one really strange moment here where Lawler was asked if he would like hair like Serena, and he answered that he does, just not on his head. Ex-squeeze me? This Mania rematch was very good, much better than their Mania match, since they were given more time this time around. The Straight Edge Society got involved from the outside, allowing Punk to control much of the match. Punk used a series of moves to stretch Rey's back, to try to slow down Misterio's offense. Rey fired up, and went for the 619, but Serena got caught in a trip attempt, and the referee sent her and Luke Gallows to the back. This threw Punk off his game, and Rey capitalized with a beautiful Asai moonsault to the floor, nearly earning him the win. There was a really nice spot as Rey countered a GTS attempt with a great hurancarana into rollup for a near fall. Shortly after a 619, a mystery man in a mask rolled out from under the ring, and put a chair in the ring. As the ref threw out the chair, the mystery attacker assaulted Rey on the floor, knocking him silly, and leaving him prone for the GTS.
Winner: CM Punk
Match 3: Shad Gaspard vs JTG – Strap Match
To win the match, the wrestler had to hit all four corners in succession. Fortunately, they got rid of the cheesy lighting system that they used to use for JBL's Bullrope matches and that never seemed to work. Crowd was dead for this one, since nothing really exciting happened, until Shad used the rope to violently pull JTG's shoulder hard into the post and then whipped him several times. In the traditional cliché finish for these types of matches, Shad dragged JTG behind him, and as he touched the turnbuckles, JTG did so right afterward, without his knowledge. Before Shad could hit the fourth, JTG hit a Cutter-like move and then dove to hit the fourth turnbuckle to win the match.
Winner: JTG
It was announced that HHH would not likely be in a condition to face Sheamus later on.
Match 4: Randy Orton vs Jack Swagger - Extreme Rules match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Winner and still World Heavyweight Champion: Jack Swagger
After the match, Orton RKO'd the champ on the outside, to the delight of the fans.
Match 5: Sheamus vs Triple H - Street Fight
Despite getting attacked earlier, Triple H agreed to compete, though the earlier attack left him with neck damage that restricted the use of his arm. HHH started off on fire, pounding Sheamus from pillar to post in the opening moments. But when he tried for the Pedigree, his arm gave out. Sheamus capitalized, and in short order, had HHH down and prone for a beating, with several moves targeting the neck and arm. Unable to keep HHH down for the pin, Sheamus went to the weapons. But, just as it did for Swagger earlier, this strategy failed, and soon he was getting smacked in the head and face with a kendo stick. Another Pedigree attempt, this time on the rampway, failed due to HHH's bad arm. Sheamus unleashed a series of push kicks to the head to get the pinfall.
Winner: Sheamus
After the match, HHH tried to make his way back up the rampway, but as he got close to the end, Sheamus came out of nowhere and kicked HHH in the head one more time, prompting the EMTs to come out and load HHH into a stretcher.
Backstage, Edge was interviewed about his cage match against Jericho tonight. He said that he would not allow Jericho to escape the cage tonight, and Edge wouldn't even be trying to escape.
Match 6: Michelle McCool vs Beth Phoenix - Extreme Makeover Match for the Women's Championship
This one wasn't too awful, with the women utilizing an ironing board for some innovative hardcore moves. Unfortunately, the attempts at comedy on the commentary made it hard to take anything seriously. McCool accidentally hairsprayed her friends Vicky Guerrero and Layla, but they were still able to see enough to distract Beth with a broom and mop in the latter stages of the match. It wasn't enough, though, and after a Glam Slam, Beth got the win and the title.
Winner and new Women's Champion: Beth Phoenix
Backstage, Chris Jericho was asked about his loss at NXT this past week to Heath Slater, one of the rookies. Jericho dismissed the loss as insignificant, and said that his biggest priority is to beat Edge and end the "Spear" chants that the Edge-heads have been directing his way.
Match 7: Edge vs Chris Jericho - Steel Cage match
The story in this one was that Jericho kept trying to escape the cage, but Edge kept catching him and delivering punishment. A good match that saw the advantage swing several times, generally after someone made a mistake, allowing his opponent to capitalize, generally using the cage to do so. At one point, Edge was pulling Jericho back into the ring through the door, only to have Y2J slam the door on his head. Instead of leaving, though, Jericho saw Edge had been knocked loopy, and decided to come in and deliver some additional punishment with the chair. It didn't pan out, though, and he was hit with a Spear -- but he kicked out, and the match continued. Later, he hit the CodeBreaker for a near fall of his own. The match then went to the top of the cage, where the two of them slugged it out for a while. Back in the ring, Jericho hit a beautiful springboard CodeBreaker, and with Edge down, Jericho warned him to stay down. Edge avoided a chair shot, and then flung Jericho into the cage several times. Jericho tried yet again to escape, but was caught and thrown down into the ring. As he inched his way to the door, Edge caught him, and slammed his ankle in the door, as payback for Jericho injuring his ankle last week. Jericho begged for mercy, but Edge would have none of it, wrenching Jericho's ankle and stomping on it, making Jericho literally cry in pain. A Spear later, and it was all over. Good match, and better than their Mania battle.
Winner: Edge
Match 8: John Cena vs Batista - Last Man Standing match for the WWE Championship
Winner, and still WWE champion: John Cena
Overall Show Rating: 8/10
Bob Kapur needs sleep. E-mail him at firstname.lastname@example.com when he wakes up.


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Tips for staying the course when confronting workplace fatigue
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How to recognize and overcome the mental obstacles you may be creating for yourself.
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Soybean Association Changes Farm Bill Position
The American Soybean Association (ASA) says it will support a 2013 Farm Bill that includes updating and extending the current Counter-Cyclical Program (CCP). ASA will continue to support the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) included in both House and Senate versions of last year's farm bills as a complement to federal crop insurance. ASA will also support farmers having a choice between "higher options" for these two programs, recognizing that producers in different growing regions have different priorities for protecting their farm income.
ASA President Danny Murphy, a soybean farmer from Canton, Miss., says that because of ARC's higher cost and the need to find additional savings in the farm bill, ASA has "decided to support updating and extending the CCP program included in current law."
Excellent-quality Illinois farmland up 21%
A survey of the state's farm managers and appraisers found the value of Illinois farmland again rose by double-digits in 2012 and values are expected to rise in 2013, according to the 2013 Illinois Land Values and Lease Trends Report.
"The price of excellent productivity farmland was estimated at $10,510 per acre price on Jan. 1, 2012 and $12,670 per acre price on Dec. 31, 2012, an increase of 21% during the year," says Dale Aupperle, AFM, ARA, general chairman for the annual Land Values Report program. "Good quality farmland price was estimated at $8,980 at the beginning of the year and $10,500 at the end of the year, an increase of 17%."
Average farmland price was $7,560 per acre at the beginning of the year and $8,770 at the end of the year, an increase of 16%. Land rated as fair productivity was priced at $5,980 at the beginning of the year and $6,980 at the end of the year, indicating a price increase of 17%. The survey was done late in 2012 and early in 2013 by members and affiliates of the organization.
"Land price increases in 2012 were comparable to 2011 increases, when all land classes has close to a 20% increase. Increases in 2011 and 2012 were above average. Average yearly increases in land prices averaged 7% across all of Illinois between 1970 and 2012," says Gary Schnitkey, University of Illinois economist. Yearly increases averaged 12% from 2006 to 2012.
"Farmland truly is what it earns," Aupperle says. "Net farm income across Illinois was stable-to-increasing this past year due to higher commodity prices and payouts from crop insurance."
No Dairy Title: No Farm Bill
Current Dairy Program Failing. Rep. Collin Peterson (Dem., Minn.) tells AgriTalk Radio's Mike Adams that the current dairy program is not working and a new dairy title must be included in the next farm bill.
In a nutshell, Rep. Collin Peterson (Dem., Minn.) ranking minority member of the House of Agriculture Committee, says the current dairy program is not working. "Dairy will be included, or I don't think there will be a farm bill," Peterson told AgriTalk Radio's Mike Adams (AgriTalk is now part of the Farm Journal Media).
Peterson believes he still has "good support" for the Dairy Security Act, which includes both margin insurance and a dairy stabilization program.
The biggest help in moving the bill forward is to provide a target for both total farm bill budget savings and cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps). If House and Senate leaders could first agree to target numbers for each, Peterson says a farm bill could be fashioned to meet them.
USDA Sets Threshold on Interest Rates
USDA announced in March an interim rule that sets thresholds on the interest rates charged by lenders on guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans.
"By providing clear thresholds on interest rates for federally guaranteed loans, USDA is ensuring greater certainty to producers, making compliance easier for our lenders and ensuring greater benefits for all farmers and ranchers," says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "It is important that American agriculture continue to play a key role in driving economic growth and creating good-paying jobs across the American middle class."
USDA's Farm Service Agency guaranteed loans reduce the risk of loss to lenders by guaranteeing up to 95% of the loss of principal and interest on a loan. By reducing a lender's risk, borrowers benefit from a lower rate.
At this time, FSA is also requests additional comments on the interim policies in the rule, aiming to assure that the benchmark rates required of lenders do not prevent farmers and ranchers from obtaining guaranteed loans. USDA is seeking comments through June 3, 2013. The interim rule is part of USDA's work to expand credit opportunities for American's farmers and ranchers.
Top Events that Mark the Years
1984 Soybean production takes off in Brazil; rural banks continue to close at the rate of one every six days
1986 Farmland values crash, Iowa land hits $787 per acre; Conservation Reserve Program begins
1987 Modems and PCs catch on in rural areas; Black Monday stock markets crash; President Reagan signs the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987
1989 The Berlin Wall falls; California's San Joaquin Valley farmers on "60 Minutes" over use of subsidized U.S. Bureau of Reclamation water
1990 Iraq invades Kuwait and the U.N. imposes a global trade embargo against Iraq. President George H. W. Bush signs the Clean Air Act
1993 NYC World Trade Center is bombed by terrorists; floods are widespread across the Midwest
1994 NAFTA becomes law
1995 The World Trade Organization is created, replacing GATT; The Roslin Institute in Scotland clones the first mammal, a sheep named Dolly.
1996 EPA approves the first Bt corn for sale in the U.S.
1997 The National Cheese Exchange is replaced by a Chicago Mercantile cheddar cheese cash market
1997-1998 GMO crop debate escalates and the EU announces it will enforce labeling of foods made with GMOs
1999 The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 10,000
2000 StarLink, a Bt corn product not approved for human consumption, is found in taco shells
2001 Foot-and-mouth disease is confirmed in Britain; Terrorists strike the World Trade Center, damage the Pentagon
2002 Freedom to Farm is reversed; Farmland Industries declares bankruptcy; Clean Water Act becomes law
2003 BSE confirmed in U.S.
2004 California bans MTBE in gasoline, setting the stage for ethanol; soybean rust is confirmed in the U.S.
2007 Iowa State University's Annual Land Value Survey shows average Iowa farmland value tops $3,000 per acre
2008 Second 500-year flood in 15 years
2009 U.S. dips into an economic recession that affects consumer food purchases
2010 Catastrophic earthquake hits Haiti; BP oil spill damages Gulf Coast; USDA lowers corn crop projections; egg recalls on Iowa farms
2012 Worst drought in 50 years; record high corn and soybean prices and net farm income; Barack Obama elected for a second term as U.S. President
2013 Japan opens beef trade for first time; markets stay volatile; no farm bill decision as of March