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Option 3 requires each side to sacrifice something which is against ideological beliefs. There is also the problem of support base - the Republican support base will never support anything tax hikes while the Democrats' support base will never support any cuts in social spending. If they compromise, their supporters will feel betrayed because they are so deeply and stubbornly locked into beliefs. If they negotiate, no compromise will emerge because neither side will agree to any sacrifice and the whole negotiation will be deadlocked. So what does it take for both sides to give way? To bring both sides together and overcome their ideological hurdles, they have to see disaster or crisis looming to force them to act together to solve the problem. That is what the Fiscal Cliff is - it is designed to be an artificial disaster to force both sides to agree. In Aug 2011, after the acrimonious US debt ceiling talks, they agreed to create this man-made crisis in order to force both sides to come to a compromise:
"On August 2, 2011, Congress passed the Budget Control Act of 2011 as part of an agreement to resolve the debt-ceiling crisis. The Act provided for a Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (the "super committee") to produce legislation by late November that would decrease the deficit by $1.2 trillion over ten years. When the super committee failed to act,[14] another part of the BCA went into effect. This directed automatic across-the-board cuts (known as "sequestrations") split evenly between defense and domestic spending, beginning on January 2, 2013. Also, theAffordable Care Act imposed new taxes on families making more than $250,000 a year ($200,000 for individuals) starting at the same time" - Wikipedia[Link]
For years now, the PAP has pursued pro-business, trickle down economics and allowed the income gap to expand to be the highest (sometimes 2nd highest) among developed countries. Whenever possible, it spend money on tax cuts for the corporations and wealthy - these included corporate tax cuts and elimination of inheritance tax - rather than social spending even as income inequality expanded and poverty rose.
Despite a very pro-business and clearly lopsided policy to import foreign labor to the highest level per capita in the developed world, minor changes implemented in 2012 by the PAP govt were greeted by resistance by corporations that have become dependent on foreign labor. Even small changes are resisted as certain groups feel they are entitled to hire workers from where-ever they want, hire and fire as they please sometimes paying wages that is insufficient for workers to live on. Today 400,000 Singaporean workers are put on Workfare[Link] just to keep them afloat and taxpayers are made to pay for the outcomes of these policies as corporate profits rise to record levels relative our GDP.
When PM Lee spoke to his own activists, he felt that he needed to remind them about the middle ground because for many of the PAP supporters their perspectives have been shaped by the benefits the derived from the system. They feel the system is good because they have done well. Many benefited from generous scholarships, employment in GLCs or civil service still able to dish out various benefits not enjoyed by the ordinary Singaporean. Those who are part of the system (the PAs, SAF, NTUC etc) who enjoy good medical benefits and rising wages cannot see that the system that has worked well for them is not working well for a growing number of ordinary Singaporeans. It is always easier to argue that someone else should sacrifice and be the losing end of any policy trade-off...especially those without any power or voice.
The PAP govt- unchecked, un-moderated, dominant and armed with propaganda - evolved unbalanced policies but change is not going to be easy even as the problems pop up one by one and become painfully obvious to ordinary Singaporeans . Those who have benefited and want to continue to benefit from PAP policies now form their support base making change difficult....even as the middle ground shifts and voters swing away from the PAP.
Right now solving the main problems in housing, transport and healthcare has turned into almost intractable puzzles for the PAP govt. Another year has gone by and these problems have only worsened exacerbating the effects of the income gap. A home is less affordable now that it was at the beginning of the year. A car is now less affordable for the middle class family some of whom now have to take the public transport and service quality for public transport hasn't improved.... but Minister Liu is now talking about fare hikes next year citing rising costs. It will be a bigger challenge now compared with the past to get people to accept a fare hike because real wages for a large segment of the population has remained stagnant and the public transport companies are still highly profitable. Healthcare costs keep rising at a rate above median income increase and the lack of universal healthcare to ensure good affordable healthcare means there is rising financial risk for those who are under-insured, those who are uninsured due to pre-existing conditions or facing financial difficulties - the PAP govt's approach to shift as much financial burden to the sick and their families has led to ordinary Singaporeans having the highest %out of pocket payment and the highest % share of healthcare expenditure (vs govt healthcare expenditure) [Link]. The middle ground shrinks as the middle class shrinks due to relentless rise in housing, transport and healthcare costs.
We saw some sense of urgency to effect change shortly after the 2011 GE when the loss of votes provided a wake up call for the govt...however as time passes, the memories of the large angry crowds at opposition rallies start to fade, the PAP govt slowly falls back to its pattern of 'business as usual'. The motivation for change fades and the PAP convinces itself their system works fine and all it needs to make some "adjustments" and tweaks and the system can again deliver the goods. It now conducts the National Conversation which seems to be going nowhere - a new Gallup poll has found Singaporeans to be least positive people in the world out of 148 countries. What we need is leadership not conversation to break out of our current trajectory. But in the absence crisis, real change is hard as thick ideological lenses obscures rationality.
For the US Republicans, they feel that taxes for the rich is too high even it is at the lowest when it is the lowest since World War 2. They refuse any cuts in defense spending even though the US spends more on defense that the rest of the world combined. Their plans, vision and actions are checked and balanced by the existence of a strong political opponent and a president from the other side. The PAP has turned Singapore into the 2nd most militarized state in the world[Link] with its high defense spending that exceeds the combined defense expenditure of our 2 closest neighbors. Under the PAP, Singapore has the lowest tax rates in the developed world and more elderly workers than you will seeany other developed country and sometimes people from developed countries are shocked by the number of elderly workers they see in Singapore. While this, along with inequality and financially burdening the sick are intolerable for many of us, the PAP operates on another set of values and principles. Solving our public transport problem so the it would broadly benefit Singaporeans would require the PAP to put service quality and affordability above the need for public transport companies to generate profits but this is not something that the PAP can or will do easily.
In GE2011, Singaporeans sent a clear signal that they want change. If that signal wasn't clear enough another was sent during the PE when the majority of the people voted against the PAP endorsed candidate. In a BE (by election) scenario where people are not afraid of an abrupt destabilizing change of govt, they won't be afraid to vote to signal a desire for change hence it is likely that another clear signal will be sent in Ponggol East SMC BE when it held.... that is if the opposition avoids a 3 corner fight. Unfortunately, all these signals will not be sufficient to move the PAP to make fundamental changes. Just like the National Conversation that started ambitiously with "no sacred cows" slowly become constrained and shackled by what the PAP cannot accept ideologically and started going in circles. In Japan, LDP seriously reformed itself after its election defeat to engineer a comeback, in Malaysia, heavy losses in the 2008 election and the threat of a defeat in 2012 pushed the UMNO govt to make progress in areas of human rights and democracy. There are 10 more days to the US Fiscal Cliff and both parties are still holding out refusing compromises that is against their ideology. President Obama reminds them the middle ground lies neither with the Republicans or the Democrats both sides needs to give up something that is fundamentally against their values and principles to reach this middle ground...and is only possible when both parties meet halfway neither side getting 100% of what they want.
In Singapore we have a dominant govt and a one party system. We have been under this system for more than 4 decades resulting in extremes not seen anywhere else in the developed world. In the past, with propaganda and control of the media, the PAP govt has been able to persuade ordinary citizens to accept its approach. However, in recent years, as a result of the Internet and increasing number of ordinary Singaporeans now understand how unbalanced PAP policies are and the middle ground is shifting steadily away from the PAP. However, with its ideology entrenched among so many of its supporters, change is not easy without a crisis. Without demonstrating the ability to make fundamental changes, the PAP tells us there is no need for a 2-party system or a multiparty system..the PAP can find the middle ground without a strong opposition presence. Listening to the National Conversation, listening to what the PAP and its supporters are saying and looking at the changes the PAP govt has been willing to make...I think they are very very far from the middle ground and the growing frustration will lead to more support for the opposition until a sense of crisis if felt by the PAP and its supporters....only then will you see real changes that will significantly benefit ordinary Singaporeans and their families.


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President Shonrock's Buzz — June 24, 2013June 24, 2013
The Kansas City area chapter of the Alumni Association raised over $9,000 for scholarships at their recent golf tournament and silent auction.
Emporia State, for the 11th straight year, was among nine MIAA schools in top 100 NCAA Division II members (out of 315) in the Learfield Sports Director¹s Cup standings; ESU ranked #79 (244 points).
Michael Shonrock is now serving as an ex-officio member of the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC); attended first board of directors meeting at Union Station (June 12th).
Thirty-five (35) junior high school students participated in the annual Kansas Future Teacher's Academy; Michael Shonrock served as the closing speaker (June 13th) and focused comments on Random Acts and Kindness (http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/).
The Alumni Association selected Will Ramsey, Leawood, to serve as the new association president; special thanks to out-going association president, Jason Fanning, Olathe.
Persistence pays off – prior to the KBOR meeting last week, met with Legislative Research to better 'understand' how the salary cap and longevity calculations were literally calculated. Found a $99,798 error in favor of Emporia State; Legislative Research will report the error to the Governor's office.
The Teachers College was recently recognized as one of the top 50 education graduate programs for 2013-2014; http://www.mastersdegreeonline.org/the-best-education-graduate-schools/.
Dual-reporting; the Executive Director of the Alumni Association, Tyler Curtis and the Executive Director of the department of Marketing & Media Relations, Umair Abbasi will now report to both ESU Foundation President DenaSue Potestio and ESU President Michael Shonrock.
START/TAP (Students Through Alumni Recruitment Teams/Teacher Appreciation Program), during 2012-2013, served lunch to over 2,100 educators from 35 different Kansas schools; kudos to our Alumni Association!
The MIAA recognized 155 ESU Student-Athletes for outstanding academic achievements for 2012-13; 19 were named MIAA Scholar-Athletes, earning a 3.5 GPA or higher while also achieving All-MIAA athletic recognition (19 ESU Student-Athletes were the most by a Kansas MIAA school, and second most in our 15-member conference).
Andy Tompkins and Michael Shonrock presented awards and certificates to the five (5) new inductees to the National Teachers Hall of Fame (June 14th); the day before, the NTHF held of groundbreaking for a new Fallen Teachers Memorial adjacent to the one-room school house ($40k of the $200k project cost raised to date).
The Now and Forever campaign has raised over $12M over the past year; the goal is to raised (cash, planned gifts, etc.) a total of $45M over the next 5-7 years.
Check out our students' achievements and accomplishments on Emporia State's meritpages.com site

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Marcus Doidge's Top Ten 2008
Our reviewer Marcus Doidge lists his favourite movies of the year gone by...
I've opted for a top ten list of movies I've enjoyed this year as opposed to a list of the best releases. This is mostly down to the fact that I don't think there's been enough stand out all-rounders this year and whilst there've been a few that have stood out over the rest, it's seemed to be only for one element, whether it be picture, sound or a few good features.
As for 2008's movie year, we've had a pretty great year overall, with plenty to go see and lots to enjoy. Countering that though, despite there being a lot of great movies on offer in 2008 and a great deal that I had a lot of fun with, I have to say there hasn't been a lot that I truly fell for. In fact, I'd say that it was probably only my top five that I one hundred percent connected to and had a mini love affair with but hey, that's just me.
So without further ado, let's commence with the first entry in my top ten of 2008.
I was hooked on this one from that very first preview on Superbad. Then with the first proper trailer featuring the MIA 'Paper Planes' track, Pineapple Express escalated to one of my most anticipated comedies of the year. As you can see with its appearance in my top ten, I wasn't disappointed (the same can't be said of a certain other porno related Seth Rogan film this year—but that's for another time).
Pineapple Express fits into the age old comedy formula of a couple of hapless guys who get involved with some crime lords by no fault of their own. As with the formula, the hapless guys freak out with some comic hi-jinks and the bad guys mistakenly assume that they are dealing with some 'real pros'. This is a tried and tested set up which I've always adored in films like Dumb and Dumber and See No Evil, Hear No Evil.
Pineapple Express brings its own slant via writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. These two, with a little help from Judd Apatow (who just owns the comedy scene at the moment) and the gold just carries on. At the forefront of this caper movie is one of the funniest and most lovable double acts of the year: Seth Rogan's Dale Denton and James Franco's Saul Silver; a fantastic duo whose relationship evolves beautifully over the course of the movie. Highlights for me are their long sleep in the car, Dale's wrist-watch stopping and the borrowing of Dale's jacket but there are a vast amount more laughs on offer here and I can't tell you how much I giggled at Dale's girlfriends dad threatening to 'fuck you in the street'.
The Disc:Not actually out until January 2009, but by the looks of it, Pineapple Express's release seems to follow the Apatow checklist. Gag Reels, Line-o-ramas, on set laughs... I'm hoping for great things from this release.
Yes, another comedy and yes another Apatow produced movie, but this time it's one that hardly anyone saw and those who did, didn't like it. The negative reaction totally puzzles me. I loved Walk Hard when it came out at the beginning of 2008 and have since seen it over and over on Blu-ray and it grows on me more with every viewing.
Generally, I'm not a fan of the spoof. I usually find they go for the simple laughs at the expense of any sort of story or believability. Walk Hard goes way beyond the confines of the simple laughs. Dewey Cox (John C Reiley) is a fully developed character despite taking all of his life story elements from classic music history icons. The journey Cox goes on from rising star to lifetime achievement award winner is incredibly enjoyable and all of the supporting cast are just as memorable. The songs, that are as funny as they are well written, fill out Cox's career with a sense of a genuine alternative music history and the actual look of the film is way beyond what you'd expect.
As well as thoroughly enjoying Dewey Cox's life story, I also love what else Walk Hard achieves. It fires a lethal blow at the biopic genre that has become so generic of late. Walk the Line and Ray are the two biggies it takes down (as well as a handful that are yet to be made) by highlighting some of the more lazy story telling clichés these films rely on so heavily. The evils of success and drugs, rehab and womanising are all played on with such comedy genius that it almost feels as if no future biographies should even attempt to take the same trodden in avenues without feeling comedic. So, frankly not only is Walk Hard a movie I can laugh at but does its best to ensure that future biopics might actually be interesting. Good Job!
The Disc:The region free two disc US Blu-ray is a fantastic little package. It comes with great picture and sound, some hilarious extra features as well as an extended version of the film. There's a fake documentary about how Dewy Cox influenced artists like Jewel, Sheryl Crow and a handful of others, loads of 'original' recordings of Cox's songs and the awesomely funny advertisement for Cox Sausages ('It doesn't say Cox, unless I say it tastes like Cox'). In fact, this is probably one of the best Blu-ray packages I've seen this year.
I can hardly believe that this came out in 2008 (I know, in the US it was 2007). No Country For Old Men just feels like a movie that's been around for ages, with that beautifully timeless Coen Brothers feel. The use of landscape and Tommy Lee Jones's voiceover all making this feel like a modern classic.
To much critical acclaim, Javier Bardem's Anton Chigurh instantly became one of the greatest movie villains of all time. Every moment that he's on screen makes you feel uneasy; his accent, his tone, his haircut. It all adds a weight to his presence and all this before he even pulls out his bolt pistol which is the cherry on this killer's cake. After watching this performance (and partly fuelled by my wife falling in love with him after his Oscar acceptance speech and demanding we see more of his movies) I've taken great delight in catching up with nearly all of Javier's film catalogue this year and he really is one hell of an actor that 2008 opened my eyes up to. The Coen's also had a pretty great year in 2008, what with this and Burn After Reading.
The Disc:
This was one of my early Blu-ray purchases and the picture quality is fantastic. Natural lighting, detailed images and great colours all make for a highly satisfactory viewing experience for this great movie. The special features are a little thin, but then the Coens' movies have never been too strong in that department anyway. So at least they're consistent.
While I wouldn't say 2008 was the strongest of years for movies that I've fallen in love with, there have been an awful lot of great ones, here a few that deserve a mention despite not being included in the top ten list.
Well first off, what would a 2008 review be without mentioning Wall-E? Despite Wall-E not being in my overall top ten, there's no denying the greatness of it. Pixar once again produced one hell of a movie and a character that is an all time classic, but for me the movie didn't quite live up to the greatness of Wall-E as a character. I adore about seventy-five percent% of the movie (basically all that is Wall-E-centric) but the human element left me cold and a little underwhelmed. .
Aside from Wall-E, some other movies I really dug in 2008, were Dedication, which provided yet another fantastic Billy Crudup performance and In Bruges, which was probably Colin Farrell at his best since Tigerland, probably even better actually. Dan is Real Life was an under-loved gem which had some of 2008's most heartfelt moments. Speed Racer was a family driven delight which looked amazing, the action scenes in The Incredible Hulk were some of the year's best for me, but then Hulk has to do very little to impress me, just smash a few army trucks and cause a lot of devastation and I'm in! HULK SMASH!
Now back to the top ten...
Okay, I'll admit that on my first viewing I wasn't sure if I actually liked this new Indiana Jones instalment or if it had gone a little too far with its Fifties sci-fi subject matter, but now after multiple viewings I just love hanging out with Indy as much as I always have.
The new adventure is a solid one and while it's by no means perfect, or indeed as slick as it might have been, there's just so much fun to be had from the tried and trusted Indy formula. It's refreshing to see some old school adventure storytelling without the lacklustre modern twists and goofiness that are offered up with the likes of The Mummy franchise and as I mentioned in my recent review here it all just comes down to Indiana Jones as a character and with Harrison Ford being this spot on in, everything else just gravitates around the legendary movie icon, making for feel good Spielberg/Lucas adventure greatness.
The Disc:
With the Blu-ray offering some pretty damn great video and audio, this Indiana Jones adventure is made all the more fun to revisit. From the opening Elvis track to the 'you better not put that damn hat on Shia' ending there is very little to complain about with this HD transfer. As for features, I personally found the main documentary a little too formulaic and failed to grasp the excitement of having the man with the hat and whip back on our screens but it's still very detailed and watchable. As for the smaller featurettes, there's enough to enjoy but this is Spielberg and Lucas so you know there's still plenty to milk out of this release in future editions and unsurprisingly you might find yourself craving a little bit more.
As mentioned just before Christmas in the Gift Guide Article here I was torn between the this here Kung Fu Panda and Disney's Wall-E. Having got to watch these again on Blu-ray, I've got to go with the Panda as my animated movie of the year. Judging by most of the other 'Best of the Year' articles in the media, I'm feeling that I'm very much in the minority on this one, but there's just something about Kung Fu Panda that stuck with me a little more.
This is Dreamwork's biggest fluke since the first Shrek. Maybe it's because this project doesn't feel like a riff on a Disney idea or it could be that it's not clogged up with weak gags and references to current fads. Maybe it's just that 'there is no secret ingredient'. Whatever Panda has, it has it in spades. There's something infectious about Po the Panda's geek love of his Kung Fu; his admiration of the Furious Five or his ability to take the pain because he just loves being there so much. I love Dustin Hoffman's Shifu and the journey this character goes on, I totally dig the Turtle Master and every single thing he says and how he moves saying it and it's refreshing to see a villain like Tai Lung in an animated movie. Seriously that final showdown is bad ass—'Skadoosh!'
The Disc:
Dreamworks know how to put together some beautiful looking HD transfers and Kung Fu Panda is one of the most colourful I've seen to date. There are so many wow moments in this transfer I think I lost count. The selection of the Dragon Master, with its bright blue skies, colourful buildings, multiple characters and ticker tape falling everywhere is astonishing and the bold use of colour is striking throughout.
Features wise, typically a bit fluffy, with its music video and learn the dance steps stuff for the kids all present and correct but hey, maybe I'm not exactly its audience (or maybe I just sucked trying to learn the dance moves). Oh and Dreamworks, next time, include all the features form the DVD editions on the Blu-ray. Some of us completists might want to find out 'The Secrets of the Furious Five' as well.
The journey towards the release date of 01-18-08 might not have been quite as exciting in the UK, considering we didn't get it till February, but that didn't stop the excitement for this J.J Abrams produced project building up pretty damn high in the Doidge household. I, like many, was hooked on this one from the first trailer. From not knowing anything about it, through getting the confirmation it was a monster movie, right up to release and for me an early 'region free' purchase on my new Blu-ray player. This is one of those movies that wasn't only great, but was made even more so by being a title I couldn't wait to get hold of on home release.
Basically Godzilla told with a home movie style mixed with a lot of 9/11 imagery, Cloverfield had just the right amount of smarts to win me over. Yes, Hud should have put the camera down multiple times and yes, everyone is a little too pretty to be believable, but frankly I don't care. I actually dig the simple draw of a guy going out on a limb to save the one he loves and how the struggle is made harder with a giant sea beast kicking New York's ass over the drip fed info on the monster element itself. Back that up with the background easter eggs that may just give us a few more hints about the monster's origins and you've got yourself an awesome event-driven monster movie.
The Disc:
Hand-held camera footage has never looked this good and it has certainly never sounded this good either. Seriously, the sound on this release could blow a window out and it's awesome. Also there's a nice set of features, a good commentary and some great insight into just how clever the CGI work was here which is astonishing considering the budget.
As another little side order there were a good deal of Blu-rays this year that deserve an honourable mention for various reasons.
For starters Speed Racer is absolutely stunning in the picture department. Seriously, the colours and sheer amounts of stuff going on in this Wachowski come-back movie is enough to make a TV set beg for mercy through being overworked and the audio on The Incredible Hulk is just about enough to blow out some double glazed windows, especially in the final smack down with Abomination.
Wall-E is pretty much a stand out disc across the board for picture, audio and features and The Nightmare Before Christmas had a transfer that really showed off how an HD transfer can make a viewing experience even more of a delight by showing off all of the detail in its model work. Risky Business has a Tom Cruise video commentary which was a blast to watch and the catalogue release of JFK was a hell of a revisit to a much loved classic.
As for stand out features, Dark City probably takes the prize for most enjoyable documentary of the year and despite being let down by Batman: Gotham Knight as a project, there's no denying the features were more than enough to warrant the purchase of the disc. Oh and TV wise, as always the latest season of LOST (season 4) was well worth the upgrade to HD with some cracking features.
Now onto the top four...
Because of the lack of Blu-ray release for this, I've only actually seen Lars and the Real Girl once, but that once was more than enough for me to fall in love with the movie. Ryan Gosling's performance as Lars is fantastic, every mannerism packed with genuine feeling and there's so much going on under the surface here you can't help but be sucked into the story.
What really makes this one of the best movies of 2008 for me is how the community around Lars go along with pretty bizarre situation of a man and his life-like doll as if they are a genuine couple. How this affects Lars as a person and how he grows over the course of the movie is a pleasure to watch and just writing down these few paragraphs makes me want to watch it again right now.
The Disc:
I never actually picked this up due to the lack of Blu-ray release, but by the looks of the things it seems like there isn't that much on the DVD anyway. Saying that, if this came out bare bones on Blu-ray tomorrow, I'd snap it up in a heartbeat. Damn I need to see this movie again!
This is another movie that feels a hell of a lot older than it is, but the UK didn't get this until February, so 2008 it is. Juno is just one of those movies that I'm genetically built to like I think. I love a little indie drama with smart dialogue and great characters and Juno comes with both. Once you get through the clunky opening scene in the store, the film just becomes a delight. Ellen Page proves she's a great lead who has a knack for making ultra cool dialogue sound natural, Jason Bateman provides a performance that skims the line of being a dude and being a douche and Jennifer Garner just melts your heart.
Supporting all this and adding yet another layer to the greatness of the movie is one of J.K Simmons' finest performances to date, Allison Janney plays the step mum that dreams are made of and of course another star turn by the fantastic Michael Cera, whose act is always guaranteed to make me chuckle. Juno is just crammed full of heart without being too mushy and is genuinely a movie I could watch over and over.
The Disc:
I love being stunned by a good a low budget movies can look in HD and the Juno Blu-ray was pretty stunning to behold and with the great soundtrack sounding good too. Features wise there was also a lot to enjoy here. The fun and funky costume test is an interesting watch as well as some decent little featurettes and a solid commentary too.
The Mist is a movie that, in the handful of times I've watched it, works as well as it did the first time. Frank Darabont grabs you pretty much immediately and doesn't let you go until that punch to the stomach ending (and what an ending it is).
Tom Jane once again proves to be one of my favourite actors, despite doing very little in regards to quality movies. His presence fits this character perfectly and he plays one of those characters you are just immediately behind with every decision he makes, no matter how dangerous they may be. The Mist also comes loaded with one of the best villains of the year, that being Marcia Gay Harden's venomous Mrs Carmody, rather than the many mist-living beasties. She demands an audience reaction and my blood boils more as her influence grows over the store's prisoners.
For me, The Mist is a modern classic to add to Frank Darabont's ever growing filmography of classic movies and deserves a far wider audience that it seems to have received at this point in time. Read my full review here.
The Disc:
One of my favourite all-rounders of the year. Packed with some luscious visuals (especially in the black and white version), some effective audio and a nice batch of extras, including a Frank Darabont and Stephen King sit down chat and a great making of, this one really was one of the highlights to grace my TV screen in 2008.
Now seems a good time to acknowledge the ones that really didn't do anything for me.
By far the two worst movies of the year for me were St Trinians, which even Russell Brand couldn't save, and more so (on sheer disappointment) was AVP 2: Requiem, which single handily killed my last thread of hope for two of my most beloved franchises. I actually felt pretty ill after watching that one.
The Happening wasn't just terrible, it left me feeling abused. Being a massive Shyamalan supporter over the years and defending him against many of my friends meant dealing with the unquestionable badness of The Happening was just an all round bad experience. Also the likes of Deception deserve a mention in this section as it felt like a movie someone had discovered unreleased in the Fox vaults from the mid-nineties and Eagle Eye, which was just crud, repetitive and some sort of joke, considering the twist was as age-old as VHS, goes to show that even the big stars can easily make turkeys.
There are a few more I could mention ( Slipstream, Mutant Chronicles, 27 Dresses) but I won't. Why bother with the yawn-fests when we can get to the main event.
(Drumroll please) My favourite movie of 2008 is...
Finally a blockbuster event movie that not only lived up to the hype but blew a massive bat-sized flaming hole through the other side of it. I've already written way to much about The Dark Knight See my review here but The Dark Knight is a movie that totally worked for me. As a long time Bat-fan it was a joy to see Batman and the Joker back on our screens and handled with this much attention to detail.
There has been much hype over Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker and hopefully this will continue through awards season as the praise is totally justified. The more I watch The Dark Knight the more he just shines as the main element of what makes this movie so much more than it would have been without him. It helps that he's playing the Joker, who in all honesty would demand this sort of presence anyway but the fact that Heath managed to capture the Joker almost exactly as he deserved to be portrayed on film is one hell of an achievement and it's a shame that his untimely death will prevent that lightning striking twice.
The Dark Knight sits snugly at the top of my 2008 list mainly because it's something I could enjoy again and again and more than likely will do over the coming years but also because it comes with one of my favourite scenes of the year (the Batman and Joker conversation in the interrogation room). Plus, as an extra special personal delight, I'm loving the fact that not only an event movie, but a superhero event movie managed to be the movie that hit my top spot—this just doesn't happen much for me nowadays. Batman once again owns the superhero genre and frankly that's exactly how it should be. Bring on another sequel...
The Disc:
Despite a few 'issues' with the video and audio that are fairly forgivable and easily ignored while viewing, this Blu-ray experience was generally a great one with the IMAX shots working wonders despite the odds stacked against them. The features are fifty-fifty with a great first disc and a very fluffy second. It's a bit of a shame that one of the biggest movies of the year wasn't as rewarding on home release as I'd have liked but as I said in my review, this won't be the last edition we see of The Dark Knight.
So, with 2008 behind us, 2009 is already looking like a hell of a year. For starters and not too far off (hopefully) Watchmen finally makes it to our screens. This one has been a long time coming and judging from the trailers, is already shaping up to be movie of the year, for me at least. On top of that, we already know we're getting multiple editions on home release, with the theatrical cut, the extended edition and a special 'Black Freighter' animated feature. This one has me hyped beyond belief right now.
Beyond that, there's the Wolverine movie that might work, but Gambit and Deadpool have a way to go to convince me. Transformers 2 better have at least one straight hour or more of robots fighting. JJ Abrams has done the impossible and made me want to see a Star Trek movie on the big screen (well, him and seeing Diora Baird as a green skinned Orion slave girl).
But that's not all. We get a new Terminator movie that will hopefully win us all back over after T3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button looks to be quite the movie, though once again the UK get that way later than the US. The Road and The Time Travellers Wife might finally get released, Pixar's, Up will no doubt capture all of our imaginations and probably most exciting James Cameron is back with Avatar.
Now Jimmy C's return hasn't quite got me ga-ga just yet, mainly due to it being quite a way off, but let's face it, when the first trailer hits this could very well be the event of the year. James Cameron... Sci-Fi... Ten or so years of build up... who am I kidding? it's gonna be a huge movie event. 2009 could really be quite special and I'll see you there. Happy New Year!
Editorial by Marcus Doidge
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Impeachment trial for President Andrew Johnson begins
March 5, 1868
Impeachment trial for President Andrew Johnson begins
In the years following Lincoln's assassination, the conflict between President Andrew Johnson and Congress was great. In a political move to get rid of Johnson, the US House of Representatives brought charges against the President and asked for impeachment. The US Senate agreed and, according to the Constitution, acted as the jury. The Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court served as judge.
The trial began on March 5, 1868. President Johnson was acquitted on May 16.


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March 17. 2013 10:17PM
Manchester Central students ready for makeovers, a night at opera
Inspirational: Roy Shoults' lessons
MANCHESTER - Twenty-five Manchester High School Central students will start today with makeovers and end it decked out in their finery at a simulcast performance of the Metropolitan Opera's performance of Francesca da Rimini.
It will be the first time any of the high school seniors have been to an opera, even if it is a live broadcast on a movie screen. The showing will culminate a day of makeovers courtesy of cosmetology students from the Manchester School of Technology, including manicures and nail painting for the girls, and dinner at the Great Buffet.
The daylong event is the brainstorm of Roy Shoults, Ward 4 school board member, who is determined that the cultural trip will be expense-free for both students and the school district. He said Superintendent Thomas J. Brennan is personally covering the cost of bus transportation. Ted Herbert's Music and Art Center contributed toward the cost of the tickets.
Tracey Crain and Aidan Connell, both from Hooksett and seniors in the advanced placement English class taught by Selma Naccach-Hoff, said they are grateful and excited for the opportunity. Crain plays the French horn and hopes to one day be an elementary school teacher, after earning a master's degree in music education, but also perform in symphony orchestras.
"It's a great opportunity," she said of attending the opera broadcast in high-definition at the Capital Center for the Arts in Concord.
Connell said he gets to see a lot of plays and musical productions because he is an actor involved in community musical theater, but he relishes the opportunity to see every aspect of musical performance, especially an opera.
The Francesca da Rimini opera was selected for the field trip because the students studied Dante's Inferno, which is about people who committed sins serving out their punishment in hell.
Shoults said the cost of taking students to a live opera performance is prohibitive. A front-and-center seat at the 3,900-seat Metropolitan Opera House at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan can cost $450, although $20 will buy a nose-bleed seat. Then, of course, there would be the added cost of getting there.
The students will be sitting in a 1,304-seat theater about 250 miles away where they will watch and listen as the opera stars take center stage in Manhattan.
"The Met is the best by far," said Naccach-Hoff.
Crain is looking forward to the entire day, especially the pre-opera primping, and has a dress already picked out. "I love to dress up," she said.
Connell is not as enthused about the makeover, which for the guys entails being clean-shaven and properly groomed.
Still, he's pulling out his suit jacket and tie.
"I think all the girls are going to look awesome so I have to try to match that," he laughed.
Donations for the outing may be sent directly to the Manchester Finance Department (Tax ID #02-04-94977), Manchester School Department, 195 McGregor St., Manchester, 03102.
Shoults said he doubts there will be any surplus, but if there is, it will go to future projects. He's looking into a plan to hold a battle of the jazz bands for the city's three high schools.


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Course Details
Course Description
About The Instructor(s)
Session, Dates: 1 (08/24/2009 - 12/12/2009)
Days: M
Time: 08:00 - 10:50 am
Location: Moon Campus
Room: Hale Center 310
Seats Available: 14 Seats
Credits: 3
This course emphasizes quantitative and qualitative Customer Relationship Management (CRM) business techniques as they are applied to the managerial decision-making process. All techniques are grounded in practical applications with emphasis on computer solutions. Topics specific to CRM include an introduction to the discipline as an integrated, multi-function, process starting with sales and marketing initiating new customer relationships through the process of converting prospects into customers. In addition, emphasis is on customer-driven sales and marketing as well as service and support, with the goal to increase the level of purchasing from each customer through a cross-selling process via IT-related support services, profiling, and data management systems.
Yun Chu, Ph.D.
Professor of Marketing
412-397-5462 phone
412-397-2172 fax
Massey Hall 228


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Our wilderness is under an unprecedented attack from Trump and anti-conservationists in Congress. Help us fight back.
What better way to start the New Year than with recreation outdoors? Many outdoor groups offer activities the first day of the year, which is a boost for those whose resolutions include
This past year was ripe with stories about America's wild lands- including the good, the bad and the ugly. This slideshow features the 12 from 2012 that we think are worth retelling:
The high temperatures and dry weather, associated with climate change, have caused all sorts of havoc for farmers, and Christmas tree seedlings are especially vulnerable for it can take over a year for them to establish their roots.
But two of New Mexico's unspoiled wild treasures are unprotected. They are Rio Grande del Norte and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks.
It seems like everyone supports the Tennessee Wilderness Act. Check out this great video and see who supports it, why you should, and how you can you help!
The 112th Congress has been the most anti-wilderness Congress in history.
Think your favorite recreation spot is protected from oil and gas drilling? Not necessarily. In fact, all public lands, including national parks and wildlife refuges, are potentially open to oil and gas leasing, except for areas specially designated as "Wilderness."
What does gas drilling in western Pennsylvania have to do with dead cows? To find out, watch Promised Land, the upcoming Matt Damon movie that explores what can happen to rural communities when fracking comes to town.
This year's election revealed that Americans are largely in support of key environmental issues.
Native American Heritage Month offers all Americans the opportunity to recognize and honor those who have long understood the value of wilderness and who have lived amongst it for numerous generations.


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By Chelsey Kraft
Big 12 Campus Correspondent
Keep pushing. Keep going.
Jasmine Hartman, University of Oklahoma women's basketball redshirt senior guard, hears those words from her grandfather all the time. He always makes sure she knows how proud he is of her - because of her strength in the face of adversity, the education she has pursued and her positive influence as a big sister, just to name a few reasons. He's just so proud.
"One thing [that makes him proud] is her ability to make adjustments in her life," Hartman's grandfather J.C. Hartman explains, referencing two knee injuries - an ACL one last season and a PCL one her junior year of high school. "It hasn't always been easy for her with injuries and stuff like that. Even in spite of that, she has still persevered and become a very nice person and beautiful young lady."
Since Hartman's mother, Jessica Horton, had her when she was 18 years old, her grandparents helped raise her so that her mother could finish college.
"It was a never give-up thing," Hartman says. "They [her grandmother and grandfather] were always the ones pushing us."
On the court, Hartman wants to be there for her teammates, and teammate and fellow fifth-year senior Whitney Hand refers to Hartman as goofy, lighthearted and all about the team.
"She wants to do whatever possible, and whatever her role is, she will do it to the best of her ability," Hand says. "She is one of the hardest workers on our team."
Off the court, Hartman admits she is a television series junkie who loves "Grey's Anatomy" and recently "Scandal," among others.
This summer, Hartman will complete her master's degree in human relations management. Someday, she would like to own a gym, complete with basketball courts for kids and AAU teams to play on, a pool and group fitness classes like Zumba.
In fact, Hartman is following, although not intentionally, in her mother's footsteps. Horton works in a human resources field as the payroll manager for the Houston Astros. Although Hartman did not plan on following a career path similar to her mother's, she says she does appreciate having her mother there for advice on internships and other issues.
"I can say I started early in life with her, but I felt like everything was happening for a reason," Horton says of her relationship with her daughter. "We are close as in mother and daughter, but she can also always come and talk to me about anything."
This support from her mother has been present throughout her life, Hartman explains, especially when she played AAU basketball. Hartman acknowledges the money and time commitments her mother made to her basketball career, but Horton never failed to support her daughter.
"She was always the one freezing my water bottles and Gatorade," Hartman remarks. "I was the only one on the bench with a frozen Gatorade, and my teammates always wanted me to give them some of my Gatorade."
Horton admits pushed Hartman to reach the next level because saw the potential her daughter had, even as early as elementary school when Hartman was often one of a couple of girls playing against male classmates.
"She was always playing outside against the boys, and they were going home mad," Horton recalls. "She was always taking care of her business with the basketball."
Now, Horton says she is still Hartman's No. 1 fan.
Today, Hartman frequently works to help other people, whether it is through going on a mission trip to Haiti or visiting a local elementary class on a consistent basis, her grandfather and mother explain.
This desire to help others is just another of the many qualities that makes Hartman's grandfather so proud.
"To me, she is a perfect young lady," J.C. Hartman says.
According to both her grandfather and mother, Hartman also serves as a positive role model to her younger sister, Tamia. Horton says Hartman always calls or texts Tamia to make sure she is doing her work and to check up on her.
"She's been a wonderful granddaughter and a very fine example for her sister," J.C. Hartman expresses. "She spends time with her sister, and she's at the age that she needs that guidance and needs the help. In years to come, this will be very beneficial to her and her sister."
For Hartman, she says she just wants to be a supporting influence to her little sister, just as her grandparents and mother have been for her.
"I have an 11-year-old sister now, and I basically see myself as leading the way for her," Hartman says. "I'm just doing this because of my family. They did it for me, and they are passing it on to me, so now I must give back. That's how I see it."
It seems is time for Hartman to be the encourager, reminding someone she loves to keep pushing, keep going.


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The gun auction: NH's police chiefs keep their cool
January 30. 2013 6:18PM
Liberals, who constantly promote unpopular ideas, define bravery as the steadfast adherence to a position regardless of popular opinion. If that is true, then the leadership at the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police is brave indeed.
Last fall the chiefs planned a raffle for this coming May. The items raffled away would be guns - 31 in total, one for each day of the month. Tickets for the Month of NH Made Firearms raffle sold out immediately. Then Adam Lanza opened fire on kindergarteners, and suddenly the raffle was drawing nationwide attention, much of it negative.
In the weeks since, the chiefs could have cancelled the raffle and refunded the money. To their credit, they did not. Earlier this month, Salem Police Chief Paul Donovan, president of the chiefs association, issued the following statement:
"While this raffle falls on the heels of the recent tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police extends their deepest sympathies to the families and first responders. New Hampshire Chiefs of Police feel the issues with these tragic shootings are ones that are contrary to lawful and responsible gun ownership. We believe in and support the Second Amendment, and encourage education in the area of firearms safety."
The chiefs understand what their critics do not: that there is a huge difference between responsible and irresponsible gun ownership, and that the problems caused by irresponsible gun owners and users do not justify ending the dissemination of firearms among responsible citizens. Would that everyone kept such cool heads during times of great emotional distress.


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The Cortez Journal will move to its new publishing schedule this week with the newspaper now hitting the streets on Tuesdays and Fridays.
The other publication change for Montezuma County newspapers affects The Dolores Star, which will move from Friday to Thursday. The Mancos Times will continue to publish on Wednesdays.
The drop in Journal frequency and other operational changes for the three Montezuma County newspapers are based on the corporate goals of their parent company, Ballantine Communications, Inc., and on the expected loss of Saturday mail delivery.
Customer subscriptions were extended to reflect the reduced frequency of the Journal, and the price of renewals and the price of new subscriptions will be lowered.
Employee layoffs at the Montezuma County newspapers, announced in mid-March, took effect on Friday.
One visible change will be the absence of the television listings. They were the subject of many complaints because the national listings service was challenged to keep up with the area's numerous cable, satellite and television translator providers.
Design duties for all BCI publications will be centralized in a design hub at the Durango Herald. Advertising inquiries for the three Montezuma County newspapers will remain the same with representatives available at the Journal office, which will continue to be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Ballantine Communications have made several major decisions since the first of the year.
In late February, Richard Ballantine announced that he would be stepping down as company CEO and Herald publisher, a position he's held for 30 years. The company hopes to have a new CEO in place in May.
Shortly after the first of the year, Ballantine Communications also implemented a price increase for all its publications in Montezuma and LaPlata counties.
Longtime Journal publisher Suzy Meyer said the goal moving forward is to continue to provide readers with quality local content.
The Journal's reputation as a quality newspaper for its editorial and advertising content was again reinforced at the annual Colorado Press Association in February. The Journal was recognized with the general excellence award as well as sweeping all the sweepstakes awards in editorial, advertising, and photo and design. The Journal has won the general excellence award in its circulation category five of the last six years.
Dolores Star editor Shannon Livick will now also be in charge of the Mancos Times.


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Edward "Eddie" Symyneshen
Edward "Eddie" Symyneshen
Peacefully and courageously, surrounded by his family and friends, Eddie passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012 at the age of 70. Loving husband for 37 years to Carol (Smith). Dear father of Rebecca Holmsten (Henry) of Ottawa and step-father to Susan (Farnquist) Maher (Michael) of Pittsburgh, Pa. Grandfather to Christopher Holmsten and Shea and Sadie Maher. Brother of Jim (Mary) and Marion Stobert of Arborg, Man. and Jean Piche. Eddie will be fondly remembered by his many nieces, nephews and friends, especially Mike and Nancy Hill and Bruce and Lucie Hoffman. Eddie was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing.
Friends may call at Northwood Funeral Home Cremation & Reception Centre, 942 Great Northern Road 705-945-7758, on Monday evening from 5-8 p.m. Funeral service in the Chapel on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012 at 10 a.m. with Reverend John Mazarella officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to First Baptist Church Memorial Fund of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., would be appreciated by the family. Special thanks to Health Sciences Cardio Vascular Thoracic ICU nursing staff for their wonderful care of Eddie. www.northwoodfuneral.com
Death Notice
BAILEY, JEANNINE LOUISE, age 60, of Drummond Island, died Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012 at home. She was born May 31, 1952 in Flint, Mich. Funeral arrangements are in the care of Reamer Galer Funeral Home in Pickford. www.reamergalerfuneralhome.com


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Watch The ::God Is Imaginary Videos On YouTube ::
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Seriously, you guys are the meanest people I have ever met. I hope you are happy and feel really good about yourself.
All that being the case, please close my mod account and promote pianodwarf. Thanks.
About time too, it was getting tiring having more than one account.So please close down my Mod_11, AdminA25, Mod_B20 and Ambassador Pony accounts. Thanks.
You believe evolution and there is no evidence for that. Where is the fossil record of a half man half ape. I've only ever heard about it in reading.
The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one
Gnu, do you still want these two accounts?
Now we'd like to know which member is which mod/admin
Now we'd like to know which member is which mod/admin
Quote from: Str82Hell on December 31, 2010, 01:59:44 PMNow we'd like to know which member is which mod/admin Not that it matters much in my case since I was a mod for only about three or four weeks before this change was implemented, but I was Moderator Twenty-Two.
He would rather it that they worship Him, instead of spending their time on family.
That's because I'm twice as smart as Moderator Eleven.
I was always partial to Mod_11 because we got a nice chat going in my intro thread. Thanks, Mod_11
<picks up Mod_11. Shakes it vigorously>


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Investors prompting quick sale of Bushmaster rifle companyBy GREG ROUMELIOTIS and SAKTHI PRASAD
December 18. 2012 1:47PM
The company whose AR-15 type Bushmaster rifle was used in the Newtown school massacre in Connecticut will be immediately put up for sale, its private equity owner Cerberus Capital Management LP said Tuesday in response to investor concerns.
The secretive private equity firm risked the ire of investors, which include some of the largest U.S. public pension funds, after its investment in Freedom Group Inc, owner of Bushmaster Firearms International that makes the rifle, came under public scrutiny.
The pressure on Cerberus to sell the firearms maker comes as it seeks up to $3.5 billion from investors for its latest buyout fund.
Cerberus' board of directors includes former Vice President Dan Quayle and former Treasury Secretary John Snow.
Late Monday, California Treasurer Bill Lockyer asked CalPERS and CalSTRS, the state's public pension funds and the largest in the United States, to account for their investments in gun manufacturers, and proposed that they sell their interest in any company that makes guns that are illegal under California's assault weapons ban.
California's ban includes the Bushmaster rifle.
"The Treasurer's view is that neither fund should be invested in any company that makes guns that are illegal in this state, especially ones that were used to kill 20 innocent children and six innocent adults," Tom Dresslar, a spokesman for Lockyer, said.
CalSTRS, the California State Teachers' Retirement System, said Monday it was reviewing its investment with Cerberus in the wake of Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.
"It's an unusual move by Cerberus but it was a terrible event, so they are responding to some of their investors who are teachers' funds. I'm sure they will be selling it at a low price because now would not be a good time to sell the business," said Steven Kaplan, a University of Chicago finance professor.
Cerberus filed for an initial public offering of Freedom Group in October 2009 but withdrew the registration in April 2011, without offering a reason.
In addition to Cerberus, some gun retailers also took steps.
Dick's Sporting Goods pulled all guns from its store closest to the site of the massacre in Newtown, Conn., and suspended the sale of certain kinds of semi-automatic rifles from its chains nationwide.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. took down an informational website about semi-automatic Bushmaster rifles.
Cabela's Inc continued to advertise AR-15 type Bushmaster rifles on its website, though it said the weapons were not available for sale online or at its Connecticut store location.


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Manchester school board committee votes to limit school birthday parties to once a monthBy TED SIEFER
New Hampshire Union Leader
May 14. 2013 10:35PM
MANCHESTER — Cupcake-filled birthday parties could become a much rarer occurrence in city schools under a new nutrition policy given preliminary approval by school board members Tuesday.
Teachers would be encouraged to have only one group birthday party a month, rather than one for each student, under the revised policy, which was approved by the board's Coordination Committee.
In addition, the policy would limit holiday parties to one per month, "unless nutrition standards for healthy snacks are followed."
The committee also agreed to a rule limiting ice cream and popcorn sales to no more than twice a week.
The changes were proposed as an update to the district's seven-page "wellness and nutrition policy."
Many of the changes are minor modifications. For example, the serving size for juice, flavored milk and drinkable yogurt for elementary school students was lowered from 12 ounces to six to eight ounces.
The policy keeps in place nutritional guidelines that limit fat content and calories in school meals and mandate the use of whole wheat bread, for example.
Healthier menus have been pushed in recent years by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, which reimburses Manchester and other districts for much of the cost of its meals, in order to address obesity and other problems linked to poor nutrition. State authorities have also mandated nutritional standards for schools.
In the changes it approved Tuesday, the Manchester school board took aim at the snacks and treats that students can get outside the cafeteria.
Sue Sheehy, the district's consultant dietitian, said in a class with 30 students, birthday parties could be a regular occurrence.
"If there were three birthdays in a week, a student could have cupcakes three times," she said. "That's why we're encouraging one birthday for kids in a month."
Only school board member Debra Gagnon Langton opposed adopting a policy on birthday parties.
"I don't think we should be the food police," said Langton, a sixth-grade teacher. "I don't want to hear that can't happen. It's a child's special day."
Langton noted that she can't prevent a parent from sending treats to school with a student.
"Sometimes parents try to outdo each other," she said.
Sheehy said that the policy would be adopted to help teachers know how to approach birthdays; she said she did not anticipate that teachers or students would be disciplined if the policy were violated.
City Food Services Director Jim Connors said he wasn't aware of any other districts that have adopted the specific rules around birthday parties.
The policy of limiting ice cream or popcorn sales to twice a week was prompted by their more frequent occurrence at some schools.
Mayor Ted Gatsas backed the change, pointing to what he observed in schools when ice cream was going to be served. "Eighty percent of the kids would throw their food away untouched," he said.
The policy also states that the sale of baked goods and other items cannot be held within 30 minutes of meal times.
To do so, Sheehy said, could violate U.S.D.A. regulations against serving "competitive foods," which could affect school meal sales.
Sheehy was asked what would happen if "competitive foods" were served.
"They can withhold funding and reimbursement, if they found we were serving hot dogs," she said, while adding that she was not aware of any district that has been penalized.
The policy must still go before the full school board for approval.
Education Food Politics Social issues Manchester Top Section Stories


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Exchanged: NH's shrinking insurance choicesEDITORIAL
September 05. 2013 11:19PM
Here in New Hampshire, Obamacare continues to shrink the number of health care options — and it is not fully implemented yet.
This week Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield announced that the insurance plans it offers in New Hampshire's Obamacare "exchange" (the state-run "market" where the uninsured can shop for insurance) will cover treatment at only 14 of New Hampshire's 26 hospitals. Hospitals in Portsmouth, Concord and many other areas will not be included. And there will be no shopping for another carrier. Anthem is the only one approved to offer coverage in the exchange.
How did we come to this? The President and Democratic members of Congress (including 1st District Rep. Carol Shea-Porter) insisted that the exchanges would increase health insurance options. But the exchanges were designed to limit them. To get into an exchange, insurers must offer very specific levels of coverage at rates set by regulators. Last year state officials set the rates and coverage levels. Anthem was the only insurer that made the cut.
To trim costs, Anthem dropped a dozen New Hampshire hospitals from its list of covered providers. Such a measure might not be necessary if insurers were allowed to offer a wider variety of coverage options. But they are forbidden by law from offering high-deductible, limited-benefit plans through the exchanges. They have to offer much more costly low-deductible, high-benefit plans. Costs must be cut elsewhere. Anthem is cutting by limiting access to providers.
And if you want to know more about Anthem's plan, too bad. The state is forbidden from releasing any details. They are to remain secret until next year. So much for accountability, transparency, and "if you like your coverage, you can keep it." Those last words were spoken by Shea-Porter in 2010 in defense of her vote for Obamacare. She was wrong, as Granite Staters are learning.


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knitopediaThursday, March 03, 2011
This book really contains absolutely everything one would need or want to know about knitting. With five years in the making, Vogue Knitting truly left nothing out.
514 comments
Ooooh -- looks wonderful! Thanks for the giveaway :-)ReplyDelete
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This would be so great. I specially miss the information I used to be able to put my fingers on at a moments notice when I worked at my lys. Thanks !ReplyDelete
I would love to win this! The copyright of my go-to knitting book was 1957, so I could use a new book. How lucky; I just discovered your website today! Love it! Thanks for the great giveaway!ReplyDelete
That would be so lovely to knit from! Thanks, and here's hopingReplyDelete
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HaPPy day :)
What a lovely resource. PS - Your banner looks tasty : )ReplyDelete
Wonderful! Just the kind of resource I could use :)ReplyDelete
How fabulous is that! Yes, please. Count me in. Thanks so much. ClaireReplyDelete
a beautiful dictionary for knitters- how wonderful!!ReplyDelete
and how generous!!
I'm always looking for new knitting references for my knitting library. Thanks for another great give away!ReplyDelete
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What a gorgeous book!! It would be an honor to have such a piece of reference material in my library...it would also help answer my students questions!!ReplyDelete
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OH WOW....this sounds like something I MUST HAVE...as a beginning knitter I tend to get a little braver than I probably should with trying patterns...it would be nice to be able to read my way through those patterns...lolReplyDelete
Yes please!!ReplyDelete
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Looks fab! Fingers crossed... LauraxReplyDelete
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knitting is amazing!! thanks for the opportunityReplyDelete
Oooh I could really do with that. I'm still not up on all the knitting terms. xReplyDelete
I just started knitting again - this book would be fabulous!ReplyDelete
I really love Vogue knitting! This book looks like a good resource. :)ReplyDelete
Oh as soon as I found out about this book I added it to my Amazon wish list. I have several Vogue Knitting books and they are all great but this one, wow! Would love to add it to my library.ReplyDelete
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this book looks truly necessary! if i don't win, guess were my next book dollars are going?ReplyDelete
Looks like all a knitter could want and more!ReplyDelete
Thanks for another great giveaway!
It seems like a great book...I'd love to win it :)ReplyDelete
This book looks great, thanks for the chance to win :)ReplyDelete
it looks like a great book and of course, i would love to have it!ReplyDelete
thank you for all of your posts; you're very inspiring...I'm 3/4 through the way through a pair of toast right now. :))
Great book! I would love to spend hours looking at it!ReplyDelete
Oh yes, yes, YES! I've been meaning to pick up a comprehensive knitting book. This would be perfect!ReplyDelete
This book seems like it would be great tool for a beginner, which is definitely what I am. :) I always seem to jump into projects without knowing all the details and fumble my way blindly until I get somewhere. This book would certainly be a guiding light for me. Thanks for the opportunity!ReplyDelete
Pick me!ReplyDelete
Who DOESN'T need this sort of handy reference material around? I'd love to have it!ReplyDelete
I learn knitting with vogue beginner basic..it's helpfull..I love this book tooReplyDelete
thanks for the chance to win!ReplyDelete
I certainly could use it! :)ReplyDelete


text:
Carolyn Krause gives her perspective on Denise Kiernan's recent talk on her new book, "The Girls of Atomic City," at the American Museum of Science and Energy. I appreciate Carolyn for doing this Historically Speaking column. I was also pleased to see Beverly Major's fine reporting of the event in The Oak Ridger on March 21. I believe we have been blessed by having Denise come our way.
Carolyn Krause gives her perspective on Denise Kiernan's recent talk on her new book, "The Girls of Atomic City," at the American Museum of Science and Energy. I appreciate Carolyn for doing this Historically Speaking column. I was also pleased to see Beverly Major's fine reporting of the event in The Oak Ridger on March 21. I believe we have been blessed by having Denise come our way.
Denise has adopted us and is promoting Oak Ridge across the nation. She is even going on national television talking about her book. Read that to mean that Oak Ridge will get exposure at the national level in a most positive light.
Here is Carolyn Krause's excellent treatment of the talk Denise Kiernan gave to more than 300 people at AMSE:
The people of Oak Ridge kept the secret, but the largest building there gave a broad hint to anyone in an airplane.
It was the mile-long "U" of K-25, completed in March 1945 (and demolished recently). "U" can stand for uranium, generally called "tubealloy" during the Manhattan Project days so enemies would not suspect that uranium was being enriched for use in an atomic bomb.
Denise Kiernan showed the slide of the K-25 "U" from a bird's-eye view as she addressed 300 people on her new book "The Girls of Atomic City." She teased the crowd, asking, "Who came up with that idea? Top secret, eh?" Her observation drew considerable laughter.
She gave the talk on March 19, the 64th anniversary of the opening of the gates to the newly incorporated city of Oak Ridge. She has been promoting her book around the country, including in New York City and Washington, D.C. A week after the book came out, it made the New York Times Best Seller List.
"The country is fascinated by your town, your women and other people," she said. "I told the true story of the Manhattan Project through the eyes and experiences," of the Oak Ridge women and others she interviewed and through her research. Her talk focused on questions people in her audiences ask about the book and Oak Ridge.
How did you find the story? She was working on another project and came across Ed Westcott's famous photo of the calutron girls on stools at control panels. "I wanted to find out more about this place," she said. At the time she lived in Asheville, N.C.
Why did you focus on the women? The story has been told many times through the eyes of Gen. Leslie Groves, Enrico Fermi, Robert Oppenheimer, and Arthur Compton. Most of the focus has been on Los Alamos, N.M.
"I wanted to tell the perspective from women in the Manhattan Project," she said. "Imagine that you are 18 years old and you are being told that you will go to a place somewhere in Tennessee, where there's a job for you, but you're not going to be told what you will be doing."
In the age of Facebook and Twitter, she added, young people cannot fathom how someone would take a job without knowing a lot about it and the location.
"I try to explain to people my age and younger that the women may not have known where they were going, what they would be doing and what role they would play in the larger war effort, but they were told that the work they would do would help end the war and that was enough.
"Everyone was touched by the war," Kiernan said.
The topics she heard most about were mud and dating. "I talked to many people who actually lost shoes in the mud," she added.
he mud was understandable. To build a town whose population grew from zero to 75,000 in three-and-half years, "you have to tear up a lot of stuff." Groups out of state she has addressed "are blown away at the pace at which construction took place here."
How did they keep (the existence of) this town secret? Kiernan said her audiences seem to think that an "invisibility shield came down" over Oak Ridge except for the people who could get through the gates.
"There were reminders to please be careful about what you are saying," she said. "There was voluntary self-censorship throughout the country. Scientists and newspapers were not publishing (certain information) because no one wanted to be responsible for derailing the war. That's fascinating to young people. It's hard for them to understand people's willingness to not know and not talk about things."
People she interviewed in Clinton said they used to see trains coming in with lumber, bricks, and tankers holding chemicals, and then leave empty.
"Everything's going in, nothing's coming out," they told her. "The only thing that went out was a coffee canister with a few teaspoons of uranium that a guy carried in a briefcase chained to his wrist. No wonder they managed to keep it secret."
What jobs did women get? Elizabeth Edwards was brought down from the main branch of the New York Public Library to start the rolling library and public library here. Oak Ridge women worked in administration and transportation, as telephone operators, as technicians, as calutron operators, and as statisticians.
One woman manager told her, "I had men working under me making more than me," Kiernan said, "It was a wonderful time for women, but there were limitations and frustrations."
How did you do your research? "I interviewed people here and went to the Smithsonian Institution, UCLA School of Medicine, and the National Archives in Washington and Atlanta (which has 5,000 boxes of files including the Atomic Energy Commission archives)."
Eric Clark, psychiatrist, was asked to establish a mental health practice here, she learned from her research. "He speaks with such incredible affection and admiration for the true pioneer spirit of the people who came, stayed and banded together to make the best of what was a trying and stressful time when you have to meet a deadline and don't know what the deadline is."
Clark had never been to a town constructed completely from scratch. He found that some people he talked with didn't like Oak Ridge because of the mud. Yet many others loved it because of the camaraderie, shared purpose, and opportunity to do something to help end the war. They hoped to stay as long as possible.
Life was easier for employed single women than for married women with children. "Housewives spent time alone, and it was hard hauling kids around and getting groceries home on wagons in the mud."
Kiernan ended with her favorite question: Is Oak Ridge still there?
"I got this question in New York once and twice in Washington, D.C.," she said. "Oak Ridge is still a Secret City to some."
She told her audiences that Oak Ridge still exists and recommended they attend the Secret City Festival and visit the American Museum of Science and Energy, from which tours begin.
"If you take a town and stick a bunch of single men and women inside a fence and tell them to dance four days a week, the town's not going anywhere. It's going to get bigger pretty quickly. Whether the government intended it or not, a community grew up here."
Thanks to Carolyn for her perspective on Denise's talk and to Denise for her devotion to Oak Ridge. Thanks also to Denise for personally getting to know these Oak Ridge women she interviewed and writing them into her excellent book on Oak Ridge elevating them to celebrity status.