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|2008-06-07, 15:40
|Link #281
In this sense I would argue that she is responding in a more cliched manner then what I feel she should be as if her character potential is not being realized. When the plot calls up a cliche, rather then respond as Sheryl, at times she has responded as the cliche would expect her to for the sake of a gag or furthering of a plot line they want to force along. In these cases she just reacts and interacts however the writers want to at any given time, wheras as recently as episode 07 she was behaving more in lines with her established character and showing some complexity. Her characterization just seems inconsistant and too flexible from time to time. Both rigidity in behaviour and over flexibility can lead to weaker characterization just the same.
To me episode 03, 06, 08 have been low points for her characterization where she has been all over the place (and I don't just mean the whole on-stage versus off-stage thing that I think has been handled well enough and provided an interesting dynamic, but I mean just in general within said personas) and acting less like a unique character and more like a tool of the plot as Wesley84 has suggested. And still believe, me, I gain no pleasure in agreeing with Wesley84 on this matter, but I've been finding this to be the case for a while longer now then I think he even has.
And don't go thinking it's a case of me being some sort of Sheryl hater or something silly like that. I don't really think that way. Really I just find some aspects of her characterization to be loose, undefined and weak and hope things sort themselves out in this regard eventually.
|2008-06-07, 15:58
|Link #282
Lovestruck Fool?
Join Date: Jan 2006
You're being a bit too vague for me. For starters, what would you say is her "established character"? Also, what would you consider to be a "consistant" action for Sheryl to have taken, in place of what she actually did? Can you point to some specific examples of contradictions in her character? If you can flesh out your ideas somewhat, then perhaps we can discuss this more effectively. I see your opinion, but not the why, yet.
Just for clarification, your stance towards the cast, whatever it may be, doesn't matter to me in the slightest. I'm mainly interested in seeing how you think.
|2008-06-07, 18:38
|Link #283
Lets be reality
Join Date: May 2007
It would be a nice touch if Sheryl's blog entry for the 12th would say something like her fav tv show is not being shown because of some sport being shown instead.
|2008-06-07, 18:52
|Link #284
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: MURICA!!
Besides, this Sunday, its the Fatherland vs. Potatoes! I can't wait, its gonna be a riot.
- Tak
|2008-06-07, 23:11
|Link #285
From the first few episodes I get that she is essentially a character that likes to portray a glamorous and confident persona on stage (though occasionally events have overwhelmed her like in episode 07 where the mask fell briefly), while having a playful and more straight up persona off stage while secretely holding feelings of loneliness and an empty void in her lifestyle, which the earring was supposed to symbolize. I gathered that all by the time we had the episode where she talked about Macross Galaxy.
Now from time to time she has had almost polar opposite and different personalities or reactions to events while off stage that seem to go more with the themes of the episode rather then the normal straight up, somewhat witty and flirtatious personality she normally shows (end of episode 4, during the date in episode 05 etc). In episode 03 however she was portrayed as some sort of ultra wise and learned type when she was locked in the hatch with Ranka and Alto and during the scene where she talked with Ranka after getting in her car about pursuing her talent (though she didn't seem to hold herself to the same standards as the advice she dispensed), and in episode 08 it's the exact opposite, she is instead portrayed in her offstage persona as somewhat of an arrogant bimbo who doesn't know her up from her down when trying to catch the panty thieving Carbuncle thing and is so brash as to run off the top of a building before realizing what she's done.
I guess I should say my problem with some parts of her characterization don't have to do with lack of defination so much as her character occasionally being one of unwitting hypocrisy in that at times she's at times portrayed as the pinnacle of wisdom in the life advice that she dispenses to Alto and Sheryl with impunity (Episode 5 during the writing of the lyrics, parts of episode 03 while in the hatch), but then turns around and doesn't seem to follow her it herself, getting into fits of brash arrogance and lack of focus on what is important. This only comes across though when the episode sees fit to portray her in that light (episode 08, parts of episode 3 again [this episode has her more all over the place then any other episode in the series] while in the hatch and fretting about the situation and just having to get out of there despite it being unsafe [but holy smokes, don't you go getting upset because you're afraid Ranka] and 4, while talking with Alto after tripping him). Essentially what I think is going on is they are trying to make Sheryl look as cool as they possibly can within whatever context they are dealing with, but don't realize that it mucks up her character.
To summarize, why does she come across in her offstage persona as world-wise and "A woman who knows what she wants and needs" as she often tries to tell people how to think about things, but quite often (but not always, which makes it even more awkward) fails to show this stance in a lot of her actions and reactions? That question I need answered before I can feel her as more strongly defined and her potential as a character realized. Really I think they should have just picked one or the other. Either gone with the cool and smooth flirtatious "knows what she wants type", the life experienced type who can show Ranka and Alto the way, or the brash, arrogant and impulsive type as these traits all at the same time (but not really since only one set comes up when required) just seem poorly meshed from time to time when I stop to think about it.
|2008-06-08, 05:13
|Link #286
I disagree with you all.
Join Date: Dec 2005
I don't see any incompatibility. She's rash and impulsive, but she does follow her own advice: "You want it? Go get it." In fact, the problem is that she takes it too far, but I don't remember her ever advising moderation.
Sure, she's not out of control all the time, but who would be? If she doesn't have anything to be excited about (like a panty thief, or being stuck in a shelter with failing life support), then she's calm. What's weird about it?
|2008-06-08, 05:25
|Link #287
Lets be reality
Join Date: May 2007
Last edited by Westlo; 2008-06-08 at 07:29.
|2008-06-08, 07:42
|Link #288
Lovestruck Fool?
Join Date: Jan 2006
In the viewpoint that you've presented, there are three crystalline modes of behavior that Sheryl has demonstrated, each representing your overall impressions of her at given points in time. So any contradiction in your overall impressions of her character will necessarily appear as contradictions in her character.
In episode three, you percieved Sheryl to be wise. In order to reach that conclusion, you might have noted something like the relative calm with which she approached the situation, and the suggestions that she handed out to the other two characters. This is just an initial guess, of course, but if you'd based your conclusions on different observations then you'll no doubt tell me.
But there are other elements to that scene as well, too. You could have determined that the way in which she decided to force her way out of the hatch without knowing the situation outside was impulsive, or that the manner in which she teased Alto after getting into her car was playful and flirtatious. Had you decided to lend more weight to these points, you may have reached a different overall conclusion about her character.
While Sheryl behaves rashly while chasing after her panties in episode eight, that is not the only side of her that we see. She still takes the time to advise Ranka on her career while in the showers, and she makes some rather insightful assessments of both Nanase and Michael. In addition, when Sheryl is with Alto, we see more playful teasing. So here too, your impressions will vary based on what you chose to extract from these scenes.
Let's see if there's a way of intergrating all these different facets of Sheryl's character. We know that Sheryl grew up without a family and rose to stardom relatively early on. It makes sense, then, that she comes across as having grown up rather quickly.
She's often quite observant, which is what often allows her to see to the heart of a problem and give the appropriate advice. Giving that her career is built off of reading the feelings of the crowd and inspiring them, this shouldn't come as a surprise. Likewise, in order to reach the level of success that she enjoys, it's understandable that she'd be dead serious as far as her work is concerned.
With Alto, she has a means of really enjoying herself for the very first time. Having missed out on many things in her childhood such as a normal school life and the sights and sounds of Frontier, it's understandable that she discovers these new things with a childlike wonder and playfulness.
At least part of her success as a singer comes from the fact that she puts her heart into it (which, as Ranka points out in episode two, is part of what charmed her - even when Sheryl goes overboard during an interview). While Sheryl's career has trained her to try to exercise restraint, her emotions frequently bubble to the surface. When she gets too caught up in something, her sheer enthusiasm tends to make her kick reason to the curb, as it were. The confidence that she exudes is also a means for Sheryl to cope with difficult circumstances; while she might not always feel strong inside, she always tries her hardest, for the sake of both herself and others.
The reason that we have consistancy here is because we have different responses for different circumstances, not different responses to the same circumstance.
While this may not be the only approach to understanding Sheryl's character, it does show that there exists at least one interpretation of her behavior that integrates all of her qualities in a consistant fashion. While the viewer is free to construct an interpretation of Sheryl in which she behaves inconsistantly, that's an issue for the viewer to resolve, not the writer.
As an aside, though, Alto was the one who was irritated by Ranka getting upset in episode three. Sheryl's response was "You could at least say 'I can protect a scared girl or two!'" which implies not only that it's understandable for Ranka to be afraid, but that Sheryl herself is afraid. But there's nothing bizarre about trying to make the best out of a bad situation, even in the face of fear.
Can you think of an instance when you've said something wise? Can you think of an instance when you've done something impulsively? Even if you answer yes to both, you're not inconsistant. Different circumstances necessitate different responses.
As an aside: do you find any of the other characters inconsistant? Alto, for example, seems to be really good at handing out wise words to Ranka with regards to her career, but has shown himself to be quite reckless on many other occasions. He can be withdrawn and tries to avoid the limelight at times, but yet doesn't mind trying to pull off a flashy corkscrew in episode one.
(Again, this is an issue of 'different circumstances necessitating different responses', but in many ways this seems similar to the issues that you raised with Sheryl.)
|2008-06-08, 14:13
|Link #290
Anyway, I always have problems with the way characters are portrayed in any given series, but Sheryl is one that they seem to be dragging all over the place in early episodes and in some cases 8. I thank you for your response, but I still think they are trying to make her look as cool as they possibly can at all times and it's making her character inconsistant and undefined as the 3 different archetypes jocky for the position of Sheryl's personality rather then combining together to create one definitive Sheryl. For all that excellent talk about different circumstances require different responses, it still seems like entirely different personalites altogether replying at different times, the reason being that normally I would imagine one would at least see traces of her other personality traits in how she comes up with those responses.
This doesn't mean I think she's a horribly flawed character in how she is written, just that I don't think for a second she's the godly written character that others do.
|2008-06-08, 19:40
|Link #291
Kohaku Law Firm
Join Date: Dec 2003
I don't see any inconsistency in Sheryls character, at core she was always portrayed as someone who went after what she want while at the same time bearing alot of pride for her accomplishments. The advice she gave in ep 3 both in the shelter and when she gets in the car adhere to that. Ep 5 same thing, she knows from her own desire of wanting to sing and merely relayed that to Alto. Episode 8 was just her under stress of embarassment and thus got careless, it doesnt change her personality of chasing after what she wanted .
From time to time yes she does show weakness which is different from the strength we usually see in her, but keep in mind that while she might be insightful she is far from omniscient while she might be more experienced than her peers she is still just 17 and prone to her emotions. It's natural that characters may make mistakes, act irrational, depending on the circumstance, to expect them to behave the same all the time is probably unrealistic.... Sheryl might have similar pink hair but she is no Lacus Clyne.
|2008-06-08, 21:08
|Link #292
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: MURICA!!
Look, there is really no inconsistency with Sheryl. She is the kind of woman who will not take a beating lying down. Yes, she isn't perfect, and she has feelings too, but her arrogance and pride would demand her not admitting any of them unless she was sure she had someone she can trust (Alto, who knows its 'healthy' to keep Sheryl's secrets).
She makes the best out of the worst situations, we've seen that. She adapts quickly and responds quickly, thats her and there is nothing wrong with it. As a comparison, Alto is a more straight forward person, but both of them share one same quality, they both have a clear idea of what they want and sought to attain them (despite exercising slightly different methods in the process).
Sheryl isn't omnipotent, and she is no Lacus Clyne.
But she doesn't make irrational choices like Lacus Clyne, where in the events of Destiny she was saved by pure luck many times! Nor does Sheryl overly-rely on Alto to attain her goal.
Ranka on the other hand, requires a catalyst. Such is her character, which, needless to say, is different from both Alto and Sheryl.
- Tak
|2008-06-09, 00:49
|Link #293
|2008-06-09, 07:10
|Link #295
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: MURICA!!
Not that I have a problem with Lacus, because I do like Lacus as a character, but Lacus is Lacus, Sheryl is Sheryl. Sure, they share some similarities, but those similarities are few and they are really, really different characters! Moreover, Lacus emphasis on gambling her way through, and while they seemed to work in Destiny, she still got lucky nonetheless. Sheryl tend to improvise, and rely less on luck as well as recklessness. I just don't see Sheryl ever put into Lacus' position.
Besides, don't forget, Lacus was inspired by a certain Macross character, and you had better know who she is!
- Tak (Personally, for female characters, I'd pull a KOS-MOS as my last resort, because violence works, and whoever says it doesn't obviously isn't using enough!)
Last edited by Tak; 2008-06-09 at 16:46.
|2008-06-11, 21:54
|Link #296
Join Date: Feb 2007
Well, I kinda like Sheryl cus I know she's a Tsundere, and I'm a die-hard Tsundere-kei. She hasn't really shown her dere dere side yet but you know it's there. I think that the culture of Macross Frontier is a distinct mix of Western and Japanese culture (I mean, downtown SF is right next to Shibuya I think), and while Ranka-chan is the prototypical cute Japanese teen, Sheryl is more of a what the Japanese imagine as the ideal Westernized girl (independent, sexy, a little crazy, etc.). Although she isn't a typical tsundere, I think we'll see her blush soon enough. I still think the primary pair is still Alto x Ranka, so I'm not sure who Sheryl will end up with yet... What I do know is that she will continue to sing and rack up decent Oricon numbers.
|2008-06-11, 22:52
|Link #298
I much prefer the 2d
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Frontier
Age: 26
I don't see Alto x Ranka the maturity level seems to be way off, her shyness may cause him to feel a little something for her. But how he acts with Sheryl they're pretty much already mutual they've kissed once (mostly Sheryl did it but how Alto acted after the kiss) and at the Zenteradi mall she kissed him and he was like awe struck and didn't freak on her which seems like something he would do. Sheryl plays the boy with Alto she teases him and he trys to tease her on some level and well fails they definantly have something going on, and Sheryl hits on him alot obviously hes aware (hopefully) and he dosn't stop it.
I realize I suck with words and grammar and shit but yea if you didn't understand one fckin word I just said or how I said it. Mainly saying Sheryl x Alto seems more normal and agreeing with Tak
|2008-06-12, 01:19
|Link #299
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Age: 33
|2008-06-12, 02:23
|Link #300
Oldskool Otaku
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: New York City
As much as we speculate about who ends up with who.. there's no sure bets.. in Macross 7, Basara+Mylene is not a sure bet.
Heck, even Max and Miria ended up in divorce so anything could happen..
I think Alto eventually will end up with Ranka, she needs him more than Sheryl does.
Eventually Ranka will get popular and possibly give Sheryl some competition, she will miss Alto more and eventually the two will get together.
Sheryl seems to like her work more seriously and Altoh would just end up being her slave.
I'm pretty sure Ozama Lee would approve if Alto takes Ranka.
Maybe the end of Macross F, Sheryl would be by herself, she still has a long way to go before settling down with someone.
|Thread Tools


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50 Greatest Foreign NBA Players Ever
In 1996, the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History were selected in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the National Basketball Association. That roster included the greatest players who ever touched the orange ball – old-school legends such as Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Jerry West (whose silhouette serves as the NBA logo), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julius Erving, and modern-day legends like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Karl Malone, John Stockton and Michael "Air" Jordan.
In the 20th century, American basketball taught this sport to the rest of the world, and single-handedly took the game to another level. But during the past twenty years, the once gigantic gap between the US and the rest of the world has closed significantly. Starting with the 1992 Olympics – after the Soviet Union took the gold at the 1988 Olympics and Yugoslavia dominated the World Championships of 1990 – US Basketball retired the college teams that once dominated world competitions and replaced them with professionals.
In the 1992 Olympics, the original Dream Team faced no serious competition. The two other traditional powers of the sport – the USSR and Yugoslavia – didn't even exist due the collapse of Communism. US dominance continued at the World Championships of 1994 and the 1996 Olympics – but that was when the first signs of change appeared. The talent differential was becoming more evenly distributed around the world.
Due to the lockout, the US sent a secondary team to the 1998 World Championships, and Yugoslavia won the tournament. At the Olympics of 2000 the NBAers returned, but they struggled more than ever before to take the gold. In the semifinal against Lithuania they won by only the narrowest of spreads, and if the last 3-point shot by Lithuania had found its target, that Olympics might have had a different outcome.
At the World Championships of 2002 and 2006, and the 2004 Olympics, Team USA – with players such as Allen Iverson, Reggie Miller, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Chris Paul – didn't manage to win gold in any competition. They were defeated by Argentina, Spain, Serbia, Lithuania, Italy, and Greece. Kobe Bryant was on the court in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, but again Team USA struggled in two dramatic finals against Spain, which could have pulled the upset, especially in 2008.
For three years in a row, non-native-born players captured the most prestigious individual title in the NBA. A Canadian, Steve Nash, was voted the NBA's MVP for two consecutive seasons in 2005 and 2006, while Dirk Nowitzki, a native of Germany, followed in 2007. Foreign players such as Tony Parker (France) and Manu Ginobili (Argentina) were key factors in the empire built during the 2000s by the San Antonio Spurs. Dirk Nowitzki completed his personal triumph by becoming the first non-American to lead a team to the NBA championship – and Dallas's first title – when, in 2011, he beat Lebron James's Miami Heat to become only the second foreign-born player (after Tony Parker in 2007) to win the Finals' MVP.
Pioneers like Kiki Vandeweghe, Vlade Divac, Drajen Petrovic and Sarunas Marciulionis abandoned soccer, Europe's favorite sport, for basketball, and now players like Pau Gasol and his brother Marc, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Steve Nash are first-class superstars in the NBA.
Entering the 2013-14 season, there were a record 92 foreign-born players on NBA rosters. So, today we are showcasing the 50 greatest foreign-born players who ever played in the NBA. See if you can recognize your favorites from over the years…

subset: commoncrawl


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Gillette Castle State Park
The 184-acre park is situated on a hill overlooking the Connecticut River in East Haddam, and has several hiking trails and picnic areas. The 24-room mansion was built by actor/playwright William Gillette between 1914 and 1919, using local fieldstone over a steel framework. Admission to the park is free. The Interior of Gillette Castle is open for tours from Memorial Day Weekend to Columbus Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fee is $6 for adults (13 and over) and $2 for children ages 6-12. Admission is free for children 5 and under.
Bob MacDonnell/Hartford Courant
Copyright © 2018, Hartford Courant


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Shark Tank, and Chairman, O'Shares ETF Investments
Types: Author, Celebrity, Entrepreneur, Male, NEW Speaker
Bio Info
With his signature brand of candor and humor that has entertained millions of TV viewers worldwide who may know him better as "Mr. Wonderful" on ABC's Shark Tank, Kevin O'Leary provides live audiences with practical insight into how to build a business and make investments that deliver.
Topics: Achievement - Business, Achievement - Personal, Business Growth/Strategy/Trends, Change: Managing/Leading It, Consumer Trends, Economic Forecast, Entertainment, Financial Markets, Global Economy, Investing/Personal Finance, Overcoming Obstacles and Challenges, Personal Growth, Risk Management
Governor of Maryland (2007-2015); Mayor, City of Baltimore (1999-2007)
Bio Info
Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley shares his thoughts on leadership and innovation and examines the nation's most crucial issues, including health care reform, the environment, entrepreneurship, the future of education and leadership and governing in the information age.
Topics: Achievement - Business, American Politics, Big Data, Change: Managing/Leading It, Current Events, Cyber Security, Education, Environmental Issues, Ethics, Fiscal Policy, Government Regulation, Health Care Economics and News, Health Care Policy, Infrastructure, Innovation, Leadership, National Security, Negotiation, Overcoming Obstacles and Challenges, Patriotism, Sustainability, Terrorism , Transportation, Workforce Issues
Former FBI Operative & Subject of the Film Breach
Bio Info
Eric O'Neill is an attorney, security consultant and professional public speaker. In 2001, Eric helped capture the most notorious spy in United States history: Robert Hanssen, a 25-year veteran of the FBI. The remarkable true events of his life are the inspiration behind the critically acclaimed dramatic thriller Breach, starring Ryan Philippe as O'Neill. The film is the story of the greatest security breach in U.S. history.
Topics: American Politics, Big Data, Business Growth/Strategy/Trends, Change: Living with It, Change: Managing/Leading It, Corporate Culture, Corporate Governance, Courage, Creativity, Crisis Management, Current Events, Cyber Security, Financial Markets, Government Regulation, Information Technology, Infrastructure, Innovation, Leadership, Motivation, National Security, Overcoming Obstacles and Challenges, Peak Performance, Personal Growth, Risk Management, Social Media/New Media, Teamwork, Terrorism , Workforce Issues
Chief of Staff, U.S. Army (2011–2015)
Types: Male, Military Service
Bio Info
A distinguished leader with a remarkable track record of success, General Raymond Odierno offers unparalleled insight on leadership in the 21st Century, tactics for mitigating risk and the current geopolitical and global economic landscape.
Topics: Achievement - Business, Africa, Asia, Change: Living with It, Change: Managing/Leading It, China, Communication Skills, Corporate Culture, Corporate Governance, Crisis Management, Cyber Security, Europe, Global Economy, Leadership, Middle East, National Security, Negotiation, Overcoming Obstacles and Challenges, Peak Performance, Risk Management, Teamwork
Director, National Counterterrorism Center (2011- 2014); National Security Analyst for ABC News; and Harvard Law School Lecturer
Bio Info
For more than a decade, Matt Olsen has been at the forefront of our nation's national security efforts and has played a pivotal role in shaping our response to terrorism, cybersecurity and surveillance. He now helps lead a cybersecurity technology firm. With his unique experience and insightful analysis, Olsen provides an engaging and candid look at some of the most important and far-reaching challenges facing the country.
CEO and Founder of Lean Startup Machine and Javelin and Author; The Lean Enterprise: How Corporations Can Innovate Like Startups
Types: Author, Entrepreneur, Male
Bio Info
Opportunities and new markets appear unpredictably, and reacting to them quickly and aggressively is more important than ever for large enterprises.


text:
Pichkaface comes from the Macedonian word Pichka meaning Slut or Whore while adding the association of the english word face meaning her ugly face. Pichkaface refers to most X's who are sluts and will fuck and suck for any reason, mainly money.
hey man, i called Pichkaface last night she is so easy, does anything a guy tells her to, and she is cheap. i bought her a cheeseburger and she was happy.
by *Mad-Maco* August 10, 2009


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"Neighborhoods: East Nashville is the Hippest Part of Town" - The Washington Times04/01/2015
A trip to Nashville wouldn't be complete without a visit to the honky-tonks on Lower Broadway and a pilgrimage to the 'mother church of country music,' the Ryman Auditorium, but once you've hit those, consider a trip across the river to Nashville's hippest neighborhood. Take a look at what Better Homes & Garden recently explored in Music City. Read more.
"A Local's Guide to Eating in Nashville" - Business Insider04/01/2015
Nashville's restaurant scene is hotter than ever, and if you haven't visited yet, you'll want to get a trip on your agenda immediately. Read more.
"The Beat Goes On" - AAA Living: Home & Away03/01/2015
Music lovers, fuel your passion in Nashville, Austin and Detroit - three mile-markers on the map of American jazz, blues, country and rock. Read more.
"Night & Day: Nashville" - Atlanta Magazine03/01/2015
Nashville is hot, white hot, Nashville hot-chicken hot and with so much to see and hear and taste, it's a good thing Nashville is also known as a town that rises early and stays up late, affording visitors plenty of time to take advantage of the round-the-clock fun. Read more.
"What To Do In The Gulch" - Conde Nast Traveler02/01/2015
This pocket of the city is becoming the coolest place in town and even became the first neighborhood in the South to get LEED certification. With new shops, restaurants, and bars opening practically every day, it can feel a bit overwhelming: here are our picks for the very best of The Gulch. Read more.
"America's Top Cities for Music Lovers" - Fox News02/01/2015
Fox News names America's Top Cities for Music Lovers. Read more.
"Music City Magic" - Sports Illustrated02/01/2015
The dynamic Nashville creative scene makes the city the perfect place to host Sports Illustrated Swimville – and to explore all year long. Simply put, it's one of the most authentic destinations in the country for culture, food, sports, fashion and – of course – music. Read more.
"Where to Go in 2015!" - Budget Travel01/16/2015
Here are the 10 best budget destinations for 2015. From high style and world-class shopping to jaw-dropping scenery and unrivaled art, culture, and food, these are the places everyone will be talking about this year—and they are all within the reach of Budget Travelers! Read more.
"On Location: Music City" - Better Homes and Gardens01/01/2015
Take a look at what Better Homes & Garden recently explored in Music City. Read more.
"In Rhythm with Nashville" - Los Angeles Times01/01/2015
Check out why Los Angeles Times stated "no visit is complete without a night at the Grand Ole Opry". Read more.
"Nashville Travel Guide" - Travel + Leisure01/01/2015
Travel to Nashville and see this iconic city's gorgeous classical and neoclassical architecture (earning it the nickname the "Athens of the South", great food scene, rich music culture, and wonderful local sights. Read more.
"Sports Illustrated Plans 2015 Fan Party" - USA Today01/01/2015
Read USA Today's coverage on Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue release party in Nashville. Read more.
"How to Have a Perfect Country Christmas in Nashville" - Travel and Leisure01/01/2015
See the fun you may have in Music City during the winter. Read more.
"Where to Go in 2015" - Afar12/31/2014
Afar has scouted 32 must-visit destinations for travelers - foodies, adventurers, culture mavens - who seek meaningful experiences. Read more.
"30 Places to Visit Before You're 30" - Conde Nast Traveler12/31/2014
Take a look at why Condé Nast Traveler says Nashville is one of the top 30 places to visit before you're 30. Read more.
"Event-O-Rama: 5 Must-Dos in December" - National Geographic12/01/2014
Discover why the Jack Daniel's Bash on Broadway: New Year's Eve in Music City was named one of the top 5 must-dos in December by National Geographic. Read more.
"12 Things Nashville Does Better Than Anywhere Else" - Thrillist09/24/2014
Sure, Nashville may only be the second-largest city in this fair state, but we are not here to give out silver medals -- because there are some things, quite a few in fact, that this town does better than anywhere else... Read more.
"The South's Red Hot Town" - TIME03/07/2014
Nashville and its economy are on fire, sparked by a booming cultural scene, world-class health care, rising universities--and a really good spot on the map. Read more.
"22 Reasons You Should Visit Nashville Now" - Huffington Post01/25/2014
Nashville is, increasingly, the perfect blend of its historic country roots and its hipster and rock & roll present. Read more.
"Nashville's Reality TV Invasion" - Wall Street Journal01/23/2014
Discover which reality TV shows might be coming to Nashville. Read more.
"Best Places to Go in 2014"01/22/2014
Nashville has been named among the best places to visit in 2014 by Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Fodor's, and The New York Times! Read more.
"5 Tremendous January Getaways" - Yahoo Travel01/02/2014
While Music City boasts a year-round schedule of awesome live performances, airfares can be as much as $100 cheaper from East Coast hubs during the winter, and hotel rates are noticeable lower now, too. Read more.
"Nashville, New and Improved" - The New York Times Style Magazine10/17/2013
The amazing culinary is growing in Music City, and giving plenty of reason's to visit this fall. Read more.
"An Insider's Guide to Nashville" - Details10/01/2013
Max and Benjamin Goldberg provide a list of their favorite spots perfect for Music City travelers and fans of the ABC drama Nashville. Read more.
"Insider's Guide to Nashville" - Billboard09/28/2013
Billboards insider's guide to Nashville, they take a look at all sides of the city, both old and new: from the hottest venues and the most influential power players to the most innovative startups. Read more.
"Meet Nashville: Music and Much More" - Boston Herald09/27/2013
There is more than just Music inside Nashville. Discover the culture, history, and natural beauty in this sophisticated city. Read more.
"Three Perfect Days: Nashville" - United Hemispheres09/01/2013
The vibrant, eccentric, doggedly authentic capital of Tennessee is in the midst of a massive makeover; thankfully, the city's many old-time charms remain very much intact. Read more.
"Next Great Neighborhood: Nashville's SoBro" - Southern Living09/01/2013
Celeb chefs, music history, and craft drinkers are turning this once-lonely neighborhood into a must-stop. Read more.
"What's the big deal about Nashville? Everything" - Austin American-Statesman08/24/2013
Nashville's more than music, of course. It's also home to good food (loved my spinach and ricotta crepes at Marche and Mexican caramel artisan ice pop at Las Paletas), college (Vanderbilt, Belmont and more), hiking (Radnor Lake's a good spot), art galleries, Cumberland River cruises and Andrew Jackson's house, the Hermitage. Read more.
"The Best 5 Dive Bars in Nashville" - Esquire08/09/2013
Esquire looks a little deeper inside Music City to see what the locals like to do. Read more.
"Nashville's Best Bets for Families" - Atlanta Parent08/01/2013
"Music City" aka Nashville, Tennessee is full of fun, history and good eats. It's an easy four-hour drive from metro Atlanta. Make sure not to miss these family-friendly places on your visit. Read more.
"Girl's Getaway Weekend in Nashville" - Fodor's07/01/2013
Nashville has long been known as the Country Music Capital, but it's recently gaining ground as one of the South's most happening cities, thanks in part to the TV series Nashville that's filmed here, a thriving culinary scene, and celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Kidman singing its praises. Read more.
"Summer Escapes" - Chicago Magazine06/01/2013
The Country Music Hall of Fame, currently prepping for a massive expansion, it still a must-visit for any first-timer to Nashville. But some would argue that the real cultural treasure is a 15-minute walk southwest: Historic RCA Studio B, where more than 35,000 songs have been recorded (including 200 by Elvis), in the process, defining the quintessential Nashville sound. Read more.
"Song of the Music City" - Expedia05/22/2013
Nashville struck a chord in my soul. It made me want to dance in the streets - tunes play everywhere, even in hotel elevators - and walk around with a karaoke mic to broadcast my spontaneous songs. Read more.
"Nashville to Atlanta" - Travel + Leisure04/01/2013
Get in the rhythm with a self-guided tour of the Ryman Auditorium, original home of the Grand Ole Opry. Check out the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and tour nearby RCA Studio B, where more than 200 Elvis recordings came to life. Read more.
"Country Singer Holly Williams On Nashville Hotspots" - WhoWhatWear03/28/2013
Holly Williams is Nashville royalty. Not only does she call legendary country singers Hank Williams, Sr. and Hank Williams, Jr. grandpa and dad, respectively, she also owns one of Nashville's hippest boutiques, H. Audrey. Read more.
"Five Reasons to Hightail It to Nashville" - A Girls Getaway03/27/2013
Nashville is a top destination for A Girls' Getaway, be it for just a couple of days or more. Read more.
"Nashville Tunes Up for Business and Pleasure" - Global Traveler03/15/2013
Nashville has long been an iconic American city, earning its "Music City" nickname from the long rise of country music and becoming a major recording and industry hub for many genres. Read more.
"Great Urban Weekend Escapes: Nashville, TN" - Forbes02/21/2013
Today we visit Music City, home to some excellent Southern cuisine, surprisingly great hotels and of course, music, music, music. For reasons I will elaborate on, Nashville is an absolutely perfect pick for a weekend getaway. Read more.
"Their Town: 'Nashville's' Callie Khouri" - The Washington Post01/24/2013
We set off down Fourth Avenue North toward Lower Broadway, the Bourbon Street of Tennessee, minus the hurricane cocktails and the harlots draped like curtains in the doorways. Signs trumpeted beer, barbecue and heel-stompin' tunes. Cacophony is Nashville's loud mistress. Read more.
"Nashville's Latest Big Hit Could Be The City Itself" - The New York Times01/08/2013
Portland knows the feeling. Austin had it once, too. So did Dallas. Even Las Vegas enjoyed a brief moment as the nation's "it" city. Now, it's Nashville's turn. Read more.
" 10 Best Budget Destinations for 2013" - Budget Travel11/27/2012
Nashville, TN, home of the Grand Ole Opry, is going heavier on the "grand" these days, but with more than 1,000 new hotel rooms under construction, rates are expected to fall here. Read more.
"Welcome to Nashville, TN" - Traditional Home11/16/2012
Blogger and Interior Designer Rachel Halvorson proves that there's more to Nashville than honky-tonk. Read more.
"Those Darlins' Nashville"11/08/2012
Those Darlins tell us where to go in "Music City". Read more.
"Nashville Strikes New Chords for Visitors" - USA Today Travel11/02/2012
While Music City pays homage to tradition, it's humming with cutting-edge nightspots, restaurants and newly trendy neighborhoods that hit all the right notes with tourists. Read more.
"The city of Nashville shines bright on screen in new ABC show"11/02/2012
Melding a must-experience destination like Nashville and a successful show with the same moniker means viewers looking to visit Music City in person can experience film locations just like a true Nashville star. Read more.
"Nashville's New Flavor" -Southern Living09/28/2012
The common word in Music City goes something like this: It's not just about country anymore. Read more.
"Nashville Now" -Celebrated Living06/01/2012
Known as both the "Athens of the South" and "Music City," Nashville offers incredible culture, shopping, restaurants, and, of course, there's the music. Whether your trip is for business or pleasure, add these hot spots to your itinerary. Read more.
"The Music Lover's Guide to..." -Entertainment Weekly04/06/2012
Entertainment Weekly guides you to music in Music City. Read more.
"Insider's Guide to Nashville, Tennessee" -Ladies' Home Journal04/01/2012
Ever since artists like Elvis and Dolly Parton got their start in Nashville, the city has become a magnet for up-and-coming musicians and throngs of fans. Read more.
"Stroll Nashville: Music, Museums, Art" -Go Magazine01/31/2012
...a stroll through Nashville's museums, galleries and music-centric monuments makes it clear that the epicenter of country music is no one-hit wonder. Read more.


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World Business Chicago (WBC) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel have launched Seed Chicago, a collaboration with Kickstarter that will highlight projects that create jobs and economic growth in Chicago's neighborhoods. Using Kickstarter's online platform, which unites project creators with potential backers, Seed Chicago aggregates attention to local small business and community projects on a curated webpage. The project will begin initially with 11 innovative projects from around Chicago. Seed Chicago is a direct result of the Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs, developed by WBC, a MacArthur grantee, to accelerate Chicago's economic growth.
View press release.


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Atheists are a small minority in the U.S. Advocates of gun control might be a minority in America as well. In light of the recent shootings in Aurora I am curious as to how atheists in this network view the lack of gun restrictions. There are probably divergent views.
I have trouble believing that both presidential candidates are steering away from any call for reform after the horrific mass shooting. In my opinion it is insane to allow citizens access to assault weapons that can kill scores of people in a few minutes. It was even more shocking to hear on a news show that a family had to raise money to pay for the immense hospital bills for one of the victims while they were already crippled with medical bills from the mothers fight with breast cancer.
As a Canadian I came to stand with my U.S brothers for the reason rally and freedom from religion. I would be willing to come down to the capitol and march for two other important causes. Gun control and universal health care.
Views: 13174
Just out of curiosity, should there be a line drawn that states a citizen cannot own a particular type of weapon? And, I'm including everything in here from a slingshot having surgical tubing with a metal ball bearing, up to and including a nuclear device. Where is the line drawn? And, in drawing the line, if there is one, who draws it, or where is it drawn? It's going to be an arbitrary decision by someone. So, who gets to decide? By the way, I'm a gun owner also.
I guess that is the hard question. Some items are certainly not meant for public consumption. A nuclear device is not something that can help you protect your family. if someone breaks into your house you are not likely to use a flame thrower either. BUT, if I want a flame thrower to play with in my yard, then that is my business. If I do nothing to hurt you or your property, then who are you to say otherwise. NOW, when I am being negligent and burn down your house, then I should be punished accordingly. For me, I get the "prevention" aspect of taking away those things, but I prefer the harsh punishment angle instead. Should I have a full auto AR.? Probably not, but if I have one in my gunsafe that never sees the light of day, then how dangerous is it? Taking away rights does not prevent crime. I can kill you with an ax all the same...do we disarm the lumberjacks int he name of all that is good and holy.??
I tend to agree in some respects. My arbitrary line would be narrower than yours; but again, I understand both are arbitrary. As to a flamethrower, I'd say no. And here's why. You may be willing to assume the risk of burning your own house down. However, as your neighbor, I'm not willing to assume your risk for my house. And, it's not just a matter of "Oops, I tripped while spaying it. Sorry about your house, car, and wife." Those things can explode, through negligent use or a manufacturing defect. And, the consequences of a misfire in an fully AR is quite a bit different that a burning and expanding cloud of combustible material. I see those in the same vein as a hand grenade, C4, shoulder filed rockets, Claymore mines, and TOW missiles.
As to how dangerous a fully auto AK-47 is. Realistically, probably as dangerous as a 3/4 ton truck going the wrong way on an interstate highway with a drunk at the wheel. And no, we're not going to ban cars, trucks, and highways.
Like I said, it's arbitrary. Someone has to draw the line, and whoever does is assured that there will be those that rail against where it is drawn.
It's a little known fact that the DC snipers failed on their first attempts to murder unsuspecting strangers because they simply couldn't throw their axes half a mile. So they switched to an AR-15 and the bodies began dropping. Why should anyone have the ability to blow your head off from 1,000 yards away?
Why should the line be arbitrary? Some things are more dangerous than others. I don't care if you set off a few firecrackers in your back yard on July 4, but I would be very upset if you started lobbing grenades or setting off dynamite.
Let's all just get swords. Oh, and be sure to get that flame thrower rider on your homeowner's policy.
Mr Moose:
I'm suspect your scenario is rare. Here is an actual case (not hearsay) that shows a more common tragedy involving guns
How often are guns used when people know each other?
The societies that have more restrictions on gun ownership have significantly lower death rates due to guns. I'm fine with Porsches that go over 100 mph - not so happy if my whole neighborhood was armed to the teeth with revolvers and AK-47's.
"an armed society is a polite one"..I'm okay with my neighbors having AKs..as long as they are law abiding citizens. Not my right to tell them otherwise...that is where freedom comes in. You cannot pick and choose which freedoms you like, unless you want to have a "Animal Farm" type situation. Same with other freedoms, like freedom of religion. I think we'd all have a problem if someone came to us and said we have to believe their way or be punished for it. I am a non-smoker. I believe smoking is bad for you..But, put it on the ballot and I will vote against banning it.
There was a saying that went something like this..not a direct quote: When they came for the Jews, I said nothing..I am not a jew...etc.etc..When they came for me, there was none left to speak for me...
I understand the point you make..if there were NO guns there could be NO gun violence..there'd just be other violence instead. Evil will find a way to be evil.
Sorry to hear you went through that experience and glad to hear no one was shot when you faced down an armed intruder.
It sounds like a viscous cycle much like the religious wars that carry on with their own momentum. Protestants and Catholics in Ireland are tired of all the killing and want to make peace and then a faction does something stupid and then they can't make peace.
You have to have guns because other people with ill intent have guns.
The anecdotal account always has a lot of influence in discussions. But, the statistics are more important. Should my neighborhood be armed to the teeth? The numbers indicate that societies with gun controls have a lot better control on firearm related deaths.
We could look at the vaccination question with the anecdotal account and stats as well. I may know someone who had a bad reaction and decide not to get vaccinated, but the stats may really point to more safety in getting that shot.
Many people have argued that they need guns to defend themselves. It is too late in the U.S. because the bad guys already have guns. I am curious - do any of you regret how your right to bear arms has turned out? Would you want to have guns if the U.S. always had strict gun control policy and the bad guys did not have as many guns.
If you moved to another country that has their guns under control would you feel upset if they did not let you have a gun. Would you recommend to that society that a lax distribution of guns is a better policy?
There are no bucolic myths - they would be called out for misrepresentation of the data. I live in Ontario and there isn't an under reporting of homicides scandal occurring here.
Here is some hard data:
Canada Murder Average: 600/year
U.S. Murder Average: 14,500/year with 9,146 firearm related deaths
Canada Population: 33.8 million
U.S. Registered Population: 307 million
Canada Murder Percentile: 1.775%
U.S. Murder Percentile: 4.72%
Why is there more than double the murder rate - maybe easy access to guns is playing a part.
Both of our countries should be looking with envy at Australia and Iceland.
I'd be interested to see those breakdowns with an additional column for impoverished people, cultural diversity, etc. I would assume we (U.S.) have more innercity violence due to poverty, education, drugs, and race issues...
Also, how many of those firearm related deaths are due to hunting accidents, idiots hurting themselves, and children having easy access to guns with no training/supervision from parents.
it is a totally different culture here and cannot be compared to other countries accurately.
I often travel overseas and observe armed policemen or security guards. There are many societies where it is very difficult for the general public to possess firearms, other than perhaps hunting-shotguns. Law enforcement officials carry guns, but private citizens do not. Such asymmetry confounds me and bespeaks of a basic injustice. Such societies almost certainly have lower incidence of gun-related crimes, accidents or suicides. But at what price? For me personally, the purpose of firearms isn't self-defense against nefarious evil-doers who aim to commit a potential crime against me, but to ensure an armed citizenry.
In a society with no highways or motor vehicles, traffic deaths would be very low. But at what price?
I do not side with America's conservatives who insist that personal ownership of firearms is crucial for self-defense against intruders, robbers and so forth. Most people lack the athleticism, the poise, the training and instincts to react sufficiently promptly to make a difference, even if a gun is available at hand. Neither do I exalt the hunting-culture as a crucial tradition whose tools must be preserved. Rather, private possession of firearms is an abstract expression of personal freedom, rather than a toolkit for practical aims.
If moving to another country where firearms possession is strictly controlled, I would indeed lobby, to the extent practical, for wholesale revision of the laws and the culture to render firearms more available. And I would much rather live in a neighborhood bristling with firearms, where people carry them like wallets or combs, than one devoid of guns, or with only the occasional gun locked in some basement storage cabinet.
Got to love those analogies... low traffic deaths - but no cars to drive .... comfort of an armed citizenry at the expense of the highest death rate in all civilized nations.
I think it all comes down to your upbringing. Some of us have escaped the ideology of religion and some have not. Some people are brought up Christian, Muslim, or Jewish and can not be budged in their core beliefs. The same thing goes for your take on guns in society. I was brought up in a culture that does not believe we need access to all types of guns to possibly overthrow our government or to defend ourselves from criminals. Who knows, if I was brought up in the U.S maybe my arguments would be as passionate as some of the gun advocates.
But, this stuff about guns all sounds crazy to me and most of my neighborhood.
Are there any pro gun people, people who were brought up with the belief that all types of guns are essential to society who have changed their minds a little? Maybe a ban on assault rifles or tighter controls.
Personally I am very glad that our politicians would not back off of a debate on access to assault weapons because it might lose them the election.
comfort of an armed citizenry at the expense of the highest death rate in all civilized nations
That sums it up for me in a nutshell
I think this discussion shows there is no "atheist' perspective on weaponry. Each has their own opinion. My dad owned rifles. It was just part of his culture as a hunter. He taught me as a boy how to shoot. Small town / farm. He hunted quail and ducks. He went skeet shooting. I am a military veteran and knew how to handle at least the pistols and M16s.
I also deal with a lot of people on a daily basis. I've had had my share of dealing with irrational people or rational people in irrational moments. And plenty of narcissistic people. I am not quick enough or agile enough to defend myself if someone pulls a weapon on me in a small space, suddenly. I've made that comment a couple of times and no response from pro-weaponry writers - because there is no rational answer.
I think weaponry, including guns, should be controlled. Especially weapons designed for mass murder. The difference between those and biol weapons, chemical weaponry, is ?
I also think that if guns are free for people to own, they should be required to go to classes, and pass the exams, about use of guns, ethics of gun use, gun safety, de-escalation of conflict without guns, more. We require that for drivers. If people are going to own lethal weaponry, we should also require it for that.
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Verlander no-hits Texas until 7th, Rangers lose
DETROIT (AP) — Justin Verlander held Texas hitless until the seventh inning, and the Detroit Tigers backed their ace with three home runs in a 5-0 victory over the Rangers on Sunday.
Mitch Moreland's two-out double to right-center broke up Verlander's bid for his third career no-hitter. Verlander (10-6) left the game after the seventh with a tight right quad muscle, having allowed just that one hit and three walks.
Verlander's final start before the All-Star break was an encouraging one for the former American League MVP. He wasn't overpowering, striking out only three.
Torii Hunter, Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta hit solo homers off Texas starter Martin Perez (3-2). The Rangers finished with two hits.
Verlander was picked for the American League All-Star team but was replaced for Tuesday night's event. Under baseball's labor contract, pitchers who start on the Sunday before the All-Star game may opt not to participate.
Although he also took a no-hitter into the seventh at Houston on May 5, Verlander's overpowering aura hasn't been quite the same this season. Sunday's gem lowered his ERA to 3.50.
Verlander no-hit Toronto on May 7, 2011. His other no-hitter came June 12, 2007, against Milwaukee.
Nolan Ryan, Sandy Koufax, Bob Feller and Cy Young are among the five pitchers with at least three no-hitters. Larry Corcoran, an ambidextrous pitcher who won 177 games from 1880-85, is the other one.
Verlander took the mound about 12 hours after San Francisco's Tim Lincecum finished a no-hitter of his own at San Diego.
The drama began building in Detroit the fourth when Tigers left fielder Matt Tuiasosopo got turned around on a line drive by Nelson Cruz. He was able to recover and reach up for the catch.
In the fifth, Hunter ran to the corner in right to catch a flyball by Elvis Andrus. Jurickson Profar, the next hitter, sent a smash toward Martinez, who was playing first base because Prince Fielder was Detroit's designated hitter Sunday. Martinez made the stop and took the ball to first himself for the third out of the inning.
Hunter went deep in the first to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead, and Martinez and Peralta hit back-to-back homers in the fourth.
Detroit added two runs in the sixth on RBI singles by Peralta and Tuiasosopo, although that rally made Verlander wait a while before taking the mound again.
The following inning was when Moreland connected for the first Texas hit. Neither Hunter nor center fielder Austin Jackson had much of a shot at Moreland's drive. Still, this was much better than Verlander's outing at Texas on May 16, when he allowed eight runs and didn't get out of the third inning.
Verlander has been overshadowed a bit this year by fellow Detroit right-hander Max Scherzer, who is a strong candidate to start Tuesday night's All-Star game at Citi Field in New York. But Verlander showed Sunday why he too was an All-Star.
He received a nice ovation from the home crowd after the first Texas hit, and another one when he came back to the dugout at the end of the inning.
NOTES: Perez allowed five runs and four hits in 5 2-3 innings. He struck out four and walked three. … Detroit manager Jim Leyland said Anibal Sanchez will start Friday at Kansas City in the first game after the All-Star break, followed by Verlander, Doug Fister, Scherzer and Rick Porcello. … The Rangers managed only two hits total — the other came in the eighth off reliever Drew Smyly.


text: Warning:Creating default object from empty value in /home/darkhors/public_html/product.php on line 17 Dark Horse Observatory - Image Details: 10. Pouring the first pier Search: Dark Horse Observatory Home Images Observatory Construction Images First Step Is Planning Day One Day Two Day Three Day Four Electrical Power Installation New Flooring Installed Letting the wood season Painting and Walkway New Gutters for the observatory Control Room Construction November 2008 Considerations About Building an Observatory M1 OASYS Observatory Control System Imaging Equipment Video Equipment CCD Imaging Equipment New ASTELCO NTM-500 Mount Astrophotography Studies Observation Planning Page Favorite Links Contact Us Dark Horse Observatory Kimberton, PA US Email Image Details: 10. Pouring the first pier You Are Here > Observatory > Construction Images > Day Three Back to List Left Click on the image for a larger size version. (Note:Images can be quite large.) 10. Pouring the first pier © 2008 - 2018 -- Dark Horse Observatory Powered by: Advertising Solutions


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Assisted Feticide
Is abortion like assisted suicide? A reply to Ross Douthat.
In light of recent developments—the death of Jack Kevorkian, the indictment of late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell, and the Republican campaign to defund Planned Parenthood —Ross Douthat has challenged me to consider some parallels between abortion and assisted suicide.
I accept. Let's look at Douthat's arguments.
1. Abortion is a model of unregulated killing. Douthat, responding to my previous comparison of abortion to assisted suicide, writes:
If the right to die really became "a lot like" the right to abortion in America, there would be Swiss-style thanatoriums in most American cities, the Hemlock Society would be a major lobbying group (boasting, no doubt, that most of its resources go to palliative care rather than assisted suicide), and Kermit Gosnell-style thanatists would prey on the elderly while the courts looked the other way.
That can't be true, because the courts didn't look away from Gosnell. He's facing trial on eight counts of murder: one for killing a patient and seven for killing born-alive babies, as alleged in the indictment. Abortion is regulated, starting with the line drawn at viability. Pro-lifers have long protested that cops and courts don't enforce this line. Gosnell's case proves otherwise.
2. Assisted suicide is tightly regulated. Why not abortion? Douthat asks:
If we treated abortion the way, say, Oregon treats assisted suicide, it would only be legally sanctioned in rare cases—involving, say, severe fetal deformity or a threat to the life of the mother—and even then it would have to be approved by two physicians and hedged around by waiting periods. That kind of regime would represent an enormous victory for pro-lifers, and it's obviously not something that Saletan would support. But it's arguably where his analogy points …
Here Douthat has a much stronger case. Assisted suicide laws show how abortion could be regulated much more strictly than it is. From my standpoint, assisted suicide deserves tighter regulation than abortion because a person is more than a fetus. On the other hand, you can argue that abortion deserves tighter regulation than assisted suicide because in assisted suicide, the victim's death is voluntary. But let's not overlook a third distinction: inertia and presumption. If you're 70 or 80 years old, and you ask for lethal drugs, you're proposing to end a life that until now you've chosen to live. You're changing your mind. By imposing a waiting period, we're asking whether you really want to overrule your prior will.
Abortion isn't like that. Generally speaking, a woman who wants an abortion didn't want to be pregnant in the first place. She isn't changing her mind. So there's no presumption of prior will that would justify a waiting period.
That distinction captures my intuitions. But I don't think it's a sufficient answer to Douthat. Maybe, in order to be consistent, I should withdraw my support for Oregon-like restrictions on assisted suicide. I'm uneasy with that step, for reasons Douthat articulated in his column on Kevorkian. But I might have to go there.
3. Assisted suicide has more gray area than abortion. Douthat writes:
Saletan's account of his own father's passing suggests a sense in which abortion is very unlike assisted suicide. It can be hard to tell exactly what counts as assisted suicide and what doesn't, because there are obvious moral gray areas with end-of-life care—places where the line between easing pain and easing passing gets blurry, places where it's unclear where reducing suffering ends and abetting suicide begins. Whereas with rare exceptions (certain versions of the morning-after pill, perhaps), abortion is much more of an either-or: You either kill the fetus/embryo or you don't, and there's rarely any doubt about what just happened.
This is an area in which the assisted-suicide analogy sheds useful light on the abortion debate. In end-of-life care, the gray area is blurry in practice but not in principle. The moral line, as Douthat notes, is clear: It's OK to ease suffering and thereby hasten death, but it's not OK to hasten death deliberately and unnecessarily.
Conceptually, we could draw a similar line in abortion ethics: It's OK to end pregnancy and thereby kill a fetus, but it's not OK to kill a fetus deliberately and unnecessarily. Strictly speaking, the woman has a right to bodily freedom, not a right to terminate life. So, for example, she can have the fetus removed from her body, but once it's removed, she can't have it killed. This is not an idle distinction. It's the line Gosnell crossed.
But the much more common parallel is the one to which Douthat alludes: morning-after pills. My bet is that the practice of preventing unwanted births will continue to shift from surgery at the fetal stage toward chemical interference with fertilization and implantation. In that respect, abortion will become grayer, like assisted suicide. And that, in turn, may persuade more people that it's too subtle to merit prohibition.
4. Legalization is legitimation. Douthat argues:
But it's possible to accept that no government can "stop" assisted suicide or abortion completely (and that no government should create the kind of deeply- invasive mechanisms required to try) without believing that either practice should therefore be legalized and legitimated. Avoiding the police-state scenario doesn't require treating self-slaughter as a protected right, and effectively licensing the Jack Kevorkians of the world to cater to anyone who wants to die badly enough to take the plunge.
To me, this equation of legalization with legitimation is a big mistake with perilous implications. A government that prohibited every illegitimate practice—adultery, greed, cruelty, lying, Anthony Weiner's sexting—would be horrific. A free society needs space in which to sort out our values. It needs to tolerate the legality of practices whose legitimacy we can thereafter debate.
When Douthat uses the phrase "protected right," I think he's suggesting that there are two categories of rights: those that pertain to practices we deem legitimate, and those that pertain to practices we deem illegitimate. He believes, if I understand him correctly, that abortion has wrongly been deemed legitimate, and therefore the right to abortion has become a "protected" right: Abortion isn't just legal; it's protected by courts from various restrictions, such as previability gestational limits. And if I thought abortion were inherently illegitimate, I'd agree with him that it shouldn't be protected in these ways. But I don't. I think the legitimacy of abortion, like the legitimacy of assisted suicide, varies from case to case. And this makes me leery not of public debate, but of presumptive government intervention.
5. Planned Parenthood represents abortion run amok. According to Douthat, one sad result of our treatment of abortion as a "protected right" is the rise of "a kind of abortion industry—in which the country's largest abortion provider doubles as a major Democratic interest group." He's talking, of course, about Planned Parenthood.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: If your definition of pro-life is preventing abortions, Planned Parenthood is the most effective pro-life organization in the history of the world. And the assisted suicide analogy drives home this point. Think of a doctor who devotes her career to promoting health and extending life but, when all else has failed, honors a patient's request for lethal drugs. Is she a killer or a healer? I'd judge her by her goals and her life's work. She does everything possible to forestall decline and death, until her efforts have failed.
That's exactly how Planned Parenthood treats abortion. Family planning is the goal. Abortion is a backup option when family planning fails or is made inaccessible by self-styled pro-lifers. To the extent that Planned Parenthood succeeds in its mission of preventing unplanned pregnancies, the abortion rate goes down. Defunding Planned Parenthood to prevent abortions is like defunding doctors to prevent assisted suicide. It's insane.
Douthat is right: Looking at assisted suicide and how we regulate it can help us rethink our assumptions about abortion. But that challenge cuts both ways.
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6 coal miners killed in fire in Vietnam
January 16, 2014
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Six workers were killed in a fire in an underground coal tunnel in northern Vietnam, an official said Thursday.
One worker escaped with burns after the fire erupted Wednesday night, and the bodies of six others who died of suffocation were pulled out Thursday morning, said Duong Quang Lai, director of the Uong Bi Coal Co. in Quang Ninh province.
Authorities on Thursday were still trying to put out the fire at the tunnel, which is between 30-105 meters (98-345 feet) deep, he said.
An investigation is underway.
The province is Vietnam's main coal-mining region. Dozens of workers have been killed in the past decade in mining accidents there.


text:
Zac Efron didn't 'cash in' on success
Zac Efron feels ''very lucky'' not to have ''cashed in'' on his 'High School Musical' success.
The 24-year-old actor has turned down several roles after shooting to fame in the Disney franchise because he wants to have a long career, rather than make easy choices and keep his teenage fanbase.
He said: ''There were several avenues I could've gone down after 'High School Musical', but I looked at the long term.
''I want to be doing this for a long time, so I wanted to make this transition slowly. It wasn't so much about keeping the fans but about making sure I was able to focus on my craft and really take a step back, work hard, work with great directors and have a graceful transition.
''It was slow, but I look back at every director I worked with on these films and they are guys I've learnt so much from.
''I didn't cash in or take the easier route but really focused on learning as I grow. I'm still learning. I'm just very lucky.''
Zac can next be seen in 'The Lucky One' and was pleased to work with newcomer Taylor Schilling because he thinks she is destined for great things.
He added to HELLO! magazine: ''Taylor was unbelievable. I can't believe we found her in this film. I think she just shines.
''I'm happy I was in a film with her so early on because she's got such a huge career ahead of her. I'm just blown away. She reminds me of, like, Meryl Streep. I'm so lucky to work with her.''


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[US-Any] 531 Paladin looking for more for Siege and beyond
Looking for Paladin? Looking for guild? Post here.
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[US-Any] 531 Paladin looking for more for Siege and beyond
I am an experienced Protection Paladin, having played WoW for around 3 years or so now (I started the week before Patch 3.3.0 was released and picked things up very quickly). I took a break from the game a month after MoP due to starting a new job and came back about two months into Patch 5.2 to rejoin my old guild from Cataclysm. We had issues in T15 (the guild had been struggling on Horridon) and only managed to down Lei Shen on normal mid-August; didn't even bother to try heroics as 5.4 was a couple of weeks away. We've had a string of attendance and performance problems now and have only managed 2/14 normal in T16, and we don't really care about meta achievements or things like Challenge Modes, so I am looking for something more for the rest of MoP and beyond.
NOTE: Out of courtesy I am giving my current guild around two resets to see if things can improve, so please keep that in mind; while I'm entertaining offers I may not jump ship immediately.
To stress this part: I cannot raid past 11PM EST (that's 10PM Central, 9PM Mountain and 8PM Pacific, depending on server time). There are no exceptions to this, sorry!
Armory Link: In signature
WoL: http://worldoflogs.com/guilds/221107/
BattleTag: Wayniac#1291
NOTE: Out of courtesy I am giving my current guild around two resets to see if things can improve, so please keep that in mind; while I'm entertaining offers I may not jump ship immediately.
To stress this part: I cannot raid past 11PM EST (that's 10PM Central, 9PM Mountain and 8PM Pacific, depending on server time). There are no exceptions to this, sorry!
- I'm a knowledgeable player who enjoys challenges and improving. I spend a lot of time (probably too much ) on WoW-related websites to glean as much information as possible from my peers and to make sure that I'm always performing to the best of my abilities in a raid environment. I'm not looking to get carried or get some loot and then leave; I'm looking for a stable and progressive guild in it for the long haul that I can stay with and grow as a player, have fun while downing bosses and make some new friends while I'm at it.
- I believe that knowledge is power, and I take the time to research fights from as many different perspectives as possible to make sure I know what's going on, even if it doesn't directly affect me. For example on a new boss I'll typically look at a written guide outlining the fight, then watch an overview video, and then try to find a video from my role's perspective (e.g. from a tank PoV) so I know exactly what I have to deal with. Most of the time I'll watch 2+ videos from the same perspective just to make sure that I'm not missing anything. If I'm unsure of a mechanic, I'm not afraid to ask for clarification and I normally learn from my mistakes within a couple of attempts. I can also admit when I screw up and what I can do to fix it for the next time.
- I can take constructive criticism well, since I always feel that I can improve and do better. I'm still new to analysing World of Logs but I know the basics and am not above posting in the relevant class forums (here and elsewhere; I am also a moderator at MMO-Champion) to get detailed analysis and make sure I'm playing as efficiently as possible.
- I'm a friendly and respectful person who gets along well with others. I'm extremely reliable, usually on every day in the evenings (barring emergencies and the like of course) and I don't mind helping out guildmates who need assistance.
- I am currently Alliance but I would prefer to go back Horde.
- 10 or 25-man doesn't matter as I've done both in the past; I somewhat prefer the feel of 25-man, but I don't have a preference. My current guild is strictly 10-man (barring Flex) so I don't necessarily subscribe to the idea that 25-man is the only "real" raiding.
- I am specifically looking to remain a dedicated tank. I do have an effective Retribution offspec but it's mostly for questing/grinding purposes, and I've tanked almost the entire time that I've been playing the game. I might consider a DPS position with a good guild, but I would need some work improving the DPS aspect to the right standard as I've primarily been a tank.
- AVAILABILITY: Mon-Sun 7:30PM - 10:30PM EST, possibly a bit earlier or later for the right guild but no later than 11PM EST. I cannot stress this enough. I work an office job Monday-Friday and don't usually get home until 6PM EST.
- PVP or PVE servers don't matter, but for PVP servers I would prefer the dominant faction for obvious reasons.
Armory Link: In signature
WoL: http://worldoflogs.com/guilds/221107/
BattleTag: Wayniac#1291
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Daddy OH
Affection is a coal
That must be cool'd,
Else suffer'd
It will set the heart on fire.
— Shakespeare, Venus and Adonis, Stanza 65
AFFECTION must be cooled, or else it will burn, consume, devour, sear you until you can't stand it anymore. You will be destroyed. Of course, affection is only the prelude to other delights, and we all know what that is... sex.
Oh yes, it's almost pointless to go through all the motions of affection, the kissing, the petting, the touching and fondling, if it doesn't take you anywhere. The journey may be great yes, but the destination is even more spectacular. Come now ladies, you can't just lead the man through the stages of romance then just as he's about to walk through the gates of Nirvana, you slam the portals shut and say no to sex.
If you lead the horse to water, you must make him drink. Saying no at that point can be a most cruel thing to do, and as Shakespeare said, "That was the most unkindest cut of all."
And yet, there are times when people should say no to sex, and not simply plunge headlong into an experience that may do them more harm than good. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread, they say. Most women will agree, even as the men abhor the idea, saying, "Man, I don't have any brakes, so even if I hear no, I can't stop." Say no to sex is what I'll be indulging in today, right after these responses to 'Women's weapons'.
Hail up Teerob,
Regarding women's weapons, I find this thing about women withholding sex from the men as a form of punishment a real joke on most of the women. In my circle, all that most of my male friends do is, whenever wifey decides to so act, they simply go get it on the outside, and that's the easiest thing to get, especially with so many young women floating around out there. So when women decide to 'lock it up' tell them that the last laugh may well be on them.
They say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Withholding sex is a bad enough weapon, but when the woman withholds food, it's like plunging a knife through the heart. For a woman to resort to such extreme measures, the man must have committed the ultimate sin, and he might as well give up and surrender to her and be prepared to be a prisoner of war for a long time.
The ultimate weapon that a woman has is her indifference. She just does not care whether the man lives or dies, comes or goes, and treats him as if he doesn't exist. She shows no feelings at all, not of love or hate, or dislike, but just does not care. There is nothing worse than feeling the effects of this weapon.
There have been so many campaigns with the word 'no' before them, that the word has taken on a very significant importance. Say no to drugs, say no to racism, say no to abuse, say no to corruption. So why not have a campaign that says no to sex?
Now you're going to say that I've gone daft, taken leave of my senses, or joined some religious cult that promotes celibacy. Far from it. The fact is, sex is perhaps the most powerful and pleasurable act known to mankind, and we certainly indulge in it every chance we get.
Jamaica is a very sexually oriented country, followed only by our naiveté, ignorance and hypocrisy about it. But there are times when we should simply say no. That goes for both men and women, for contrary to popular belief, men do have more than a modicum of pride hidden beneath their rough, tough exterior. So all you wives reading this, don't take it as an endorsement for saying no to your husbands, men can say no too. But when should a man say no? Here's a little story.
This guy was walking through the park when this frog said to him, "Psst, hey Dennis, buy Poochie Loo in the fifth race." So the guy did and the horse won. Afterwards the frog said, "Now buy the numbers 4, 14, 10, 9, 6 in the lotto." Sure enough those numbers came up and the guy won again.
"Now go play golf and use the nine iron on the sixth hole." The guy did that and shot a hole in one. "Now let's go to a hotel room and I'll give you another wish," said the frog. That they did, and the guy's wish was that the frog turn into a beautiful young woman. Lo and behold, the frog turned into a gorgeous 15-year-old girl, and the man did not hesitate to make love to her. And that was the story that he told the cops and the judge in his defence of being caught with a minor.
The point is, even though he was tempted, he should have said no to sex, and save himself from a prison term. So many men have no such will power and cannot say no to female pleasure, regardless of how young she may be. Sadly, the incidence of men having sex with minors is far more than it should be, as neither the young girl nor the man knows the meaning of the word no. The consequences can be dire.
There has actually been a notion that athletes should not indulge in sexual activities the night before a big sporting event. The belief is that sex will sap his energy and make him weak the next day. Maybe that was the genesis of the say no to sex campaign.
Mercifully, there has been no merit given to that belief, and in modern times, one feature of the Olympics is the dissemination of thousands of condoms in the Olympic village. So much for that say no to sex campaign.
On a personal note, back in the day when I used to compete in karate tournaments, I made a special point to indulge in you know what, the night before the tournament. I would usually win the next day, but on the nights when nothing went on, I would lose the next day. My theory was put to the test on many occasions and I have the trophies to prove it. So the song Vitamin S may have some merit after all. So it's not every time that you should say no to sex.
Sometimes if more men said no, then the women would want them even more, saying, "My, my, what a gentleman of honour and integrity. I will never let him go." See, the word no can be used as a ploy of seduction too, but most men don't know this. It's all about timing, my son, timing.
But women do have a right to say no to sex, a fact that most men fail to grasp. So even if she leads the man by the nose to the bedroom, takes off all her clothes and then his, kisses him all over; she still has the right to say no just at the point of entry. In fact, in the USA and perhaps here too, even if they start the act, she has the right to say stop. If not, it's rape.
I know, it can be cruel, but the law is the law and women do have their rights. Hmm, but I wonder though, what if the man says no after they start, is that a crime also? I'm sure he would be laughed out of court. "Mr Brown, are you saying that you were making love to this beautiful woman and decided to stop? Ten days for gross stupidity."
Now you may call the woman a tease, and maybe she is, but the fact remains, no means no. But why should a woman do that, why would she bring a man to a boil and then throw cold water on his affections? Remember, the above quote did speak of affections being a coal that must be cooled. Some say that the reason may be that some women are just plain cruel, and love to see men suffer. Others may say that women change their minds faster than a chameleon changes its colour. Who knows why they do what they do, but the fact remains, they have the right to do it.
What's ironic is that men do not have the luxury of saying no to sex with a consenting woman of legal age. If he does all the prelude stuff of foreplay, and then when she's good and ready, he stops and says, 'No, no, I must not do this, say no to sex,' that man's reputation would be ruined, for that woman would spread the word that he's gay, worthless, less than a man, impotent and other names not fit for publication. It just isn't fair. Women can draw brakes, but men have no such option.
You may not believe it, but some men do have a conscience, and after seducing his best friend's wife, he may have a shred of decency and honour left in him and say, "No, I cannot go through with this, I must say no." Can you believe that folks? Well if you do, you can believe the story about the talking frog that I mentioned earlier.
The statistics that show the alarming figures of teenage pregnancy are more than frightening. Can you imagine how low those figures would be if the campaign of say no to sex was adopted? It's not as farfetched as you may think, for some countries do use abstinence as a means of not only curtailing population growth, but decreasing the incidences of sexually transmitted diseases. Frankly I doubt if that could happen here, for some young girls just can't say no, and some men will not take no for an answer. But we can still dream, can't we?
Sex, or should I say the pursuit of it, is the leading cause of most of mankind's ills. It's even the leading cause of marital strife too, right behind money worries. But if you're lucky, your wife will never say no, then you'll be a happy man. If not, you'll have to just respect her wishes when she says no to sex. Poor you. That's why I always have a smile on my face, for I'm a very happy man. More time.
Footnote: I represented my wife at traffic court to sort out a ticket recently, and what an experience it was. It was theatre at its best and would be laughable if it wasn't so serious. Well, we did get plenty jokes nevertheless. I could not believe the number of people who were ticketed for driving without having a driver's licence, which also means no insurance, so if they hit your vehicle, your corner is dark. It was frightening.
I saw a man who drove his father's Benz, and a man who was transporting his co-workers in a car that he owned for years. They had no licence. The judge said, "Imagine, you buy the car years ago, yet never went for a driver's licence. It's the wrong way around." The number of those cases boggled the mind, and now I can understand why they flee from the police when asked to stop.
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text:
Spring training at Tiger Town may take on a new look in a few years. Lakeland city officials and the Detroit Tigers are considering another round of multimillion-dollar improvements to the complex that has seen a series of upgrades over the years.
LAKELAND | Spring training at Tiger Town may take on a new look in a few years.
Lakeland city officials and the Detroit Tigers are considering another round of multimillion-dollar improvements to the complex that has seen a series of upgrades over the years.
A 360-degree concourse would allow fans to walk around Joker Marchant Stadium during a game. Additional canopies and reconfigured seating will provide more shade. A new air-conditioned gift shop will allow fans to cool off on a hot March day. Upgraded minor league facilities would provide more up and coming players the opportunity to play year-round.
The new features will be presented to city commissioners at 10 a.m. Friday at a workshop at City Hall. Bill Tinsley, the city's liaison to the Tigers, will brief the commission on a preliminary report from HKS Architects, a Dallas firm hired in June for the renovations.
Tinsley retired as the city's parks and recreation director, and his new position was created in 2012 to retain the Tigers. The Tigers' contract with the city ends in 2016.
Tinsley said this week he did not know how much the new upgrades will cost. However, he told The Ledger last year that the facility will need $20 million to $30 million in upgrades. Tinsley will make a presentation on the renovations and their cost in late February.
Tinsley said he wants to find funding for the renovations this year. Construction could begin in 2014.
"The funding won't be in place until we've agreed on a concept," Tinsley said. "If you don't do it now, you'll end up competing against other cities and states for the Tigers' interest."
Ron Myers, director of Florida operations for the Tigers, did not return phone calls or emails for comment.
The city, county, state and Tigers will each contribute to the upgrades. Currently, the city pays $350,000 a year on its part of the debt for the 2001 renovations.
That money comes from 15 percent of ticket sales at games, parking revenue and concession sales at Joker Marchant Stadium.
The county is paying $2 million over 15 years for the renovations. The county's portion comes from a portion of a bed tax, which is a levy imposed by the county on hotel stays.
Nick Gandy, whose job as director of communications for Florida Sports includes promoting spring training, said the governor is attempting to set up a recurring funding program that uses matching city and county funds.
In the past, state lawmakers have approved the funding for cities.
"When leases come up and communities and teams have needs, we can assist them with that," Gandy said.
Gandy said he hopes that the state will make that method available in the next couple of years when contracts expire for Lakeland and other cities.
The 2001 renovation to the facility built in 1966 included more seats, wider aisles, new restrooms, the addition of the berm (the grassy slope beyond the fence in left field), a new concession courtyard and seating for the handicapped.
A 360-degree concourse would be the biggest change to Tiger Town.
Currently, the berm stops in left/center field and a clubhouse prevents fans from walking behind the wall in right field. Tinsley said the berm could be extended around the outfield with a deck and a bar. The scoreboard would be moved behind the new concourse.
He doesn't expect the capacity of the stadium to increase from about 9,000. The Tigers have been a popular draw. In 2012, Joker Marchant broke a record with nearly 135,000 people coming to the stadium. Tinsley said he expects as many people this year.
"They've got a real product on the field right now," Tinsley said. The Tigers made it to the World Series in 2012.
Other plans include:
Increasing the amount of shaded seating for fans. Currently, only 15 percent of the seats are shaded, Tinsley said.
Building an air-conditioned gift shop. "Right now, when it's 85 degrees on a March afternoon there isn't a place to cool down."
Adding artificial turf to one of the practice fields, making it usable in November, December and January.
Fans who were buying tickets at the stadium Tuesday liked the proposed plans.
Richard Montgomery, 81, of Lakeland, especially liked the idea for more shaded seating. He bought four tickets, but wanted one for a game with the New York Yankees on March 23.
"They sold out of the shade (for the Yankees)," Montgomery said. "I'm all for more shade, especially for us old people."
Margaret Yeager, who spends winter and spring in Lakeland, bought two tickets for two games. Yeager, 70, also will only sit in the shade during games.
She said she'd like to see more shade for people who sit on the berm.
[ John Chambliss can be reached at email@example.com or 863-802-7588. ]


text:
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - The Gamecocks returned to Columbia Thursday, one day after beating the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2014 Capital One Bowl.
The team arrived to Williams-Brice Stadium around 6:15 p.m.
"We had a super crowd of Gamecocks down at the Capital One Bowl and they were a huge difference and us winning the fourth quarter and us winning another ball game so the crowd was wonderful," said Head Coach Steve Spurrier.
Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney also thanked fans who came out to say goodbye.
"I'm just happy to be a Gamecock and I love all my fans, and the Gamecock Nation," Clowney said.
An official celebration will take place on Jan. 18 at Colonial Life Arena during the men's basketball against Ole Miss. The game tips off at 4:30 p.m.
Copyright 2014 WIS. All rights reserved.


text:
CSRT introduces youth FreeRide program
Cooper Spur Ski Team is holding sign-ups for its new FreeRide program for skiers ages 9-14. The program is designed for young freestyle skiers who want to learn basic skills, tricks and techniques for park and pipe skiing. Program options are based on age, ability and time commitment. See www.cooperspurraceteam.org or email email@example.com for more information.
Local Special Olympics fundraiser coming soon
Hood River/The Gorge Special Olympics team is holding its annual bowling fundraiser Nov. 11 at Orchard Lanes. The event helps support the team's 42 athletes who participate in a variety of sports throughout the year. The community can contribute by sponsoring an athlete. Contact Anna Schwebke at 541-806-0719 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Sign up now for youth basketball programs
Sign-ups are open for a variety of youth basketball programs offered through Hood River County Community Education, including the winter baskeball league, holiday skills camps, traveling teams and the Little Ballers program. For details or to register visit www.hrcommunityed.org or call 541-386-2055.
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