music video klip mp3 trends youtube - you tube - youtobe -

Poveglia Island

2008-04-09T03:42:00.000-07:00

Poveglia Island - Most Haunted Place. Poveglia is a small island in Italy. This island has a very dark and sad history. Poveglia island was used as a dumping ground for plague victims when black plague spread throughout Europe.

Victoria Lindsay Beating Video

2008-04-09T03:40:00.002-07:00

Victoria Lindsay is the victim of a vicious attack by her classmates, who took turns beating her and filmed the entire incident for YouTube. The 16-year-old cheerleader at Mulberry High in Lakeland, Florida, was targeted because of "trash talking" on MySpace and text messages.

Cheerleader Beating
The video, intended for posting on MySpace and YouTube, (scroll down to see the graphic video footage) shows the aftermath of a 30 minute ambush and beat down. As it starts, Victoria is being punched in the face by April Cooper, the 14-year-old leader of the group of 8 teens (6 girls and 2 boys) who attacked her. Why so vicious? April explains, "That's what you get, mother******!"

Victoria tries to get off the sofa and escape through the door, but April blocks her exit after another girl lands a couple hits in. The cameragirl provides running commentary on each hit, "Oh yeah, baby! Oh yeah!"

As April resumes her beat down, another girl (you can't make this up) says, "Don't hit the shelf!" Worried about furniture damage, April backs off a little and gets into a short discussion on fairness with Victoria. During the entire attack, Victoria never fights back.

Blame MySpace
According to the Polk County Sheriff's affadavit, the six girls involved were April Cooper (14-years-old), Britney Mayes (17), Cara Murphy (16), Brittini Hardcastle, Kayla Hassell (15) and Mercades Nichols. Two boys, Zachary Ashley (17) and Stephen Schumaker (18), provided cover while the girls delivered the beat down. Do they feel any remorse for what they did?

Following their arrests the girls joked in a holding cell. One asked if she would be able to make it to cheerleading practice the next day, while several others joked that they wouldn't be making it back to the beach anytime soon, he said.

"They seemed to have absolutely no remorse at all," Judd said. "They were just going to beat her. And beat her they did."

According to her father, Patrick Lindsay, Victoria, the victim, had a "history of anger problems" and was even put on probation after a fight with her mother. Of course, he blames MySpace for the beating: "As fair as I am concerned, MySpace is the anti-Christ for children."

Bad Girls Club's Cordella 'Nikki Carlisle' Reveals she did porn

2008-04-09T03:40:00.001-07:00

Cordella reveal in an episode that she did porn, this prompted some cast members to google her to view how ‘she gets down’. This wasn’t really a surprise to me, I don’t know, maybe I had a feeling that she had some bones in her closet. Here's a link to View

Raised in an affluent Connecticut community and never part of the ‘in-crowd,’ Cordelia rebelled with partying and guys. She says she wasn’t very popular in high school and after her parents divorced, she got involved with a fast crowd that led her to a wild lifestyle. Cordelia is stripping to pay for school, and she aspires to be a lawyer. She’s engaged to a nice guy named Taylor, but questions whether she is ready to get married and commit to him.

The Bad Girls Club Season 2 brings seven self-proclaimed ‘bad girls’ together in a beautiful Los Angeles mansion. The cast, who range in age from 21 to 26, recognize that their outrageous behavior has hindered their relationships, careers and lives. These women have issues with anger, trust and control, and claim they want to change. Will living together help them move forward and turn their lives around

Bill Buckner Throws Out First Pitch at Red Sox Opening Day

2008-04-09T03:38:00.000-07:00

Now that Boston has won two World Series in the last four years, Red Sox Nation was finally ready to forgive Bill Buckner.

That's at least the way it seemed this afternoon, when the former first baseman who infamously let Mookie Wilson's ground ball slip under his glove allowing the game winning run to score for Mets, forcing a Game 7 that New York would eventually win. Buckner was brought in after the Red Sox had paid tribute to all the Boston sports legends.

Either way, it was a nice gesture and Buckner sure was appreciative.

"[It was] probably about as emotional as it could get," Buckner said. "A lot of thoughts [were] going through my mind. I wish I didn't have to walk all the way from left field, too many things. But just good thoughts, which is a nice thing."

His long walk seemed a big awkward at the time, almost as if he was ashamed to have been brought with actual sports legends from Boston, but perhaps he was just soaking the moment in as best he could.

So let's see, is Steve Bartman going to throw out the first pitch after the Cubs win it all?

(and no, I wasn't able to write that with a straight face)

Buckner receives warm reception from Fenway faithful [MLB.com]

Georgia's Humphrey Prepares For WNBA Draft

2008-04-09T03:37:00.000-07:00

ATHENS, Ga. --- Georgia's Tasha Humphrey is one of 20 top collegiate players who will be on hand for the WNBA Draft, which will be held in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. The draft will be televised live on ESPN2.
Humphrey wrapped up her collegiate career with the Lady Bulldogs ranked No. 2 and No. 4 on the school's career leaders ledgers for points and rebounds, respectively. She holds the Georgia records for career free throws attempted and made and also ranks among the Lady Dogs' top-10 career leaders in games started, field goals made, field goals attempted and blocked shots.

Humphrey, a 6-3, forward from Gainesville, Ga., was named All-America each of her four seasons at Georgia. She also was tabbed first-team All-SEC four times by both league coaches and the Associated Press, one of only three players in SEC history to accomplish that feat.

Humphrey took part in the WNBA combine last Friday and Saturday in Tampa and is expected to be a first-round pick.

Humphrey will become the latest in a long line of Georgia stars to go one to play in the WNBA. All told, 18 former Lady Bulldogs have played in the league, including eight during the 2007 campaign. Georgia has produced seven first-round draft picks in the last seven years alone. Headlining that group are Deanna Nolan, a perennial All-Star and MVP of the 2006 WNBA Finals for the Detroit Shock, and Kelly Miller, starting point guard for the 2007 WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury.

Second straight title is perfect end to Parker's college career

2008-04-09T03:35:00.000-07:00

TAMPA, Fla. -- Tennessee's Candace Parker sat down at her locker in a cramped but happy Tennessee dressing room Tuesday night and winced when the ice was headed her way.

On the knees and on the shoulder, trainer Jenny Moshak ordered.

Parker pleaded, "Please, not now. Or … could it be just on the knees?"

Moshak shook her head, grinning, "Nope, on both. Shoulder, too. This is why you love me."

So the bag of ice was taped to Parker's left shoulder, the one that had dislocated twice in the Elite Eight just a week previously when Tennessee beat Texas A&M. Parker had come back and played in that game. She played in Tampa, Fla. She was the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player again.

And she's part of another championship team. In a 64-48 victory over Stanford, Parker had 17 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Oh, and there was that effortless-looking behind-the-back dribble after one of her steals. Not a show-off play at all, but rather the exact right move to keep possession while pushing the ball back down the court. Not a move a whole lot of players could make, let alone as gracefully as Parker did it.

Now, her next move is to the pro ranks. And you can expect she will make that look just as easy -- even if it's anything but. Tuesday was the perfect farewell for her college career.

"It's been a great feeling," Parker said. "To have all my family here watching me play for the first time, all of them here, for my last game. Just walking off the court, looking down at Tennessee on my chest -- you know, it's very emotional. But my years here at Tennessee have been great, and all good things must come to an end eventually."

Three years ago, Parker sat in another locker room in Indianapolis after seeing her team lose a 16-point lead in the national semifinals to Michigan State. She had to watch then. She was the superstar recruit, the freshman everyone couldn't wait to see … but we had to wait. A knee injury put her college debut on hold for a year.

[+] EnlargeDavid Butler II/US Presswire

Candace Parker had 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting, as well as nine rebounds and four steals Tuesday en route to Final Four most outstanding player honors for the second straight year.

Parker has played three college seasons and won NCAA titles in two of them. Her first year, 2006, Tennessee fell in the regional final. Basically, ultimate success is what Parker had gotten used to expecting from herself.

And even with an aching shoulder, she was not going to slow down. Or even consider it.

"My shoulder is … you know, it's sore," she acknowledged. "I always said I was just going to get to [the championship game] and deal with it after that. But obviously it's really sore, and I'm going to have to get it looked at after this and go from there. But I mean, a national championship -- it heals it up."

Parker's situation is a lot like that of Connecticut's Diana Taurasi four years ago. In 2004, Taurasi celebrated a national championship, was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, started her professional career and then played in the Olympics. There was barely time for her to take a breath.

It will be the same thing for Parker. Although since the draft is now the day after the championship game, Parker has mere hours to revel in the championship before holding up her new WNBA jersey for the cameras. Even so, she is determined to not let this "moment" be fleeting.

"One day at a time, that's how I operate," she said. "Obviously, I'm going to enjoy this championship. I'm not going to rush through this because it's something you may not experience ever again in life. I'm just really excited to be here and to have won, and have to deal with the crazy schedule."

Sometimes, Tennessee players can make everything seem so business-like that you can slip into thinking that they don't have as much emotion wrapped up in this as perhaps some other teams. But that's not it. It's just that they seem able to process those emotions differently. The program is run like a business, in a good way. Tennessee has the best of everything it needs to contend annually -- from its facilities to its administration to its coaching to its support staff.

[+] EnlargeDavid Butler II/US Presswire

Candace Parker and Pat Summitt combined to produce two titles in as many years for Tennessee.

The attitude is, "We are here to win it all. Expect to do it."

Parker said, "We always joke about Ricky Bobby and 'Talladega Nights' -- that if you ain't first, you're last.

"We're like, 'We don't want to come out here and have a national championship slip out of our hands.' We watched the Memphis-Kansas [men's NCAA title] game, and we realized it's not over until it says zero-zero-zero."

Well … in a lot of ways, this women's championship game was over before the clock ran out. Tennessee controlled the tempo, seemed a step quicker all evening, put the clamps on Stanford's offense. And Tennessee had Parker.

She has a season of eligibility left … but she has been at Tennessee for four years. She will graduate this spring. She's ready for the next step, even if it's hard to say good-bye.

"I've cried with Candace before. On senior night, I could hardly look at her," Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said. "The one thing that keeps going through my mind is how special it has been, and how much I appreciate the fact that she chose Tennessee."

Russell Brand shares past with drugs, brothels

2008-04-09T03:34:00.001-07:00

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Only in Hollywood
Russell Brand shares past with drugs, brothels

By Ruben V. Nepales
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:08:00 04/04/2008

LOS ANGELES, California—We continue our piece on Russell Brand, who is virtually an unknown outside England, but we predict that the comedian, controversial radio and TV host, columnist and book author will soon be enjoying international stardom.

Thanks to his scene-stealing performance as a lustful British rocker in the bawdy comedy, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” Russell makes his first big step toward fame beyond Britain’s shores.

The multi-talented performer is also busy preparing the film adaptation of his best-selling autobiographical book, “My Booky Wook,” about his early life of drugs and brothels.

Trademark

Russell arrived at the press con with his trademark teased-up long hair. Soon after, he had the reporters in stitches with his outlandish wit. He parried questions with humor and intelligence—including one from our French colleague, who openly admired the British actor’s unabashed sexuality in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” Excerpts:

From the journalist from France: “As a Frenchman, I was jealous to see the kind of sexuality coming from you in the movie. Where does it come from? I asked you this because it’s rare to see a Briton so comfortable with his sexuality.”

It certainly isn’t from my native England, where sexuality is repressed at birth. I had to nurture my sexuality as a young man on London’s cruel streets, lit only by gaslight, fearing the Ripper’s knife at every turn, but I stayed steadfast and developed what I think is one of the most delightful sexualities on earth.

Yes, it may be ambiguous, but it’s definitely heterosexual. It must be baffling for you as a Frenchman to see an Englishman so comfortable with his own genitals. I’m a one-off. The rest of England is still very much about repression and cups of tea.

Initial intention

How did you start in show business?

My initial intention was to become a serious Method actor, very much in the vein of James Dean or Robert De Niro. When I trained at the Drama Centre London, one of the finest institutions for acting, which has produced such wonderful performers as Colin Firth, Paul Bettany and Pierce Brosnan, I had intentions of becoming a serious dramatic actor. However, people incessantly chuckled at me regardless of how serious I was. When I played Macbeth, people scoffed throughout. Eventually, I had to become a comedian, simply because my life is a joke.

Stand-up comedy grants you autonomy. You’re not waiting for the phone to ring. In England, there’s good machinery for processing stand-up comedic talent. You can perform in front of 30 people in pubs.

Why is your life a joke?

I feel imprisoned by self-obsession and relentless embarrassment. I thought the embarrassment might abate when I became famous and wealthy in my own country, but this has not occurred. I misjudge people and myself, and I misjudge the timber of a conversation.

Ricky Gervais called me up once to befriend me. I inadvertently told him about a brothel in his hometown of Reading. He didn’t call again for several months.

Consumerist obsessions

What do you take seriously?

Love, spiritual unity, and the acceptance that life is transient and meaningless but for love, and that we’re all one. We must no longer be enslaved by the material world, convoluted and misdirected into consumerist obsessions. These things I take seriously. But, the most serious thing of all is comedy.

Yet, you’re wearing all this jewelry…

I feel that I’ve not yet reached enlightenment. To dress in robes would be disingenuous. So, for now, I decorate myself in baubles and trinkets like a living magpie or jackdaw forever robbing balls from windowsills.

Day will come when I can put aside these material things. Only love is important, but you can only exist within the context that you find yourself in. I’m a comedian. My dream is to become as ubiquitous in the US as I am in the United Kingdom.

How did Judd Apatow cast you in this movie?

Adam Sandler, the great American comic actor, guested on a chat show that I did in the UK. We got on very well. After the interview, Adam asked, “Would you be interested to appear in films?” I said I would love that very much. It sounded like an exciting way to pass time until your inevitable death—not Adam Sandler’s inevitable death, but my own, although I believe that Adam is mortal too.

English author

So, Adam and his agent took my manager and me to the United States. We met heads of studios, and Judd was one of the people we met. They happened to be casting for the part of an English author in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” They were kind enough to rewrite the part to suit my aesthetics and abilities.

It’s unusual for such a young man like you to write an autobiography.

It would have been presumptuous had I not been offered an enormous advance. Once the advance had been offered, it seemed financially necessary to write the book. This doesn’t mean that I see my life as being over. It has just begun, but it was also a lovely opportunity. I’ve had a difficult past which, in many ways, I’m not proud of. I was a drug addict. I had a difficult early life wrapped in petty crime. Writing this book was a good way to draw a line under that difficult period.

The book also afforded me the opportunity to make a film about it with Michael Winterbottom, the English filmmaker who won the Golden Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival. I’ve already written the first draft, and I will be playing myself. They said, “Do you want someone else to play you?” I answered, “No, I actually lived this life. Then, it becomes a film—and someone else gets to do it?” That doesn’t sound right. I’m in it for the glamour, which I recognize is transient.

Which character are you playing in the new Disney film, “Bedtime Stories”?

I have scenes with Adam Sandler as his sidekick. His character tells stories to his nephews, and those fantastic realms of his imagination spill over into the quotidian. I’m grimier in it than I am in real life, not nearly so well-groomed and probably not such a sexual opportunist, because it’s a family film. That family is not the Mansons.

Obscurity

Is fame exactly what you hoped it would be?

I have deep love for the art of comedy, and if I knew that for the rest of my life I would be performing in pubs, in front of 30 people for 50 quid a night, I would happily spend the rest of my life doing that! But, I would also spend 50 pounds on heroin to anesthetize me through a terrifying life of obscurity.

Fame was initially attractive to me for self-validation and for my self-esteem—and perhaps, in our early lives, we feel that we don’t get enough attention. We seek it externally and, while it’s ultimately vapid and vacuous, to be famous is quite good fun! People ask, “Are you sure you want to be famous? You won’t be able to go to the supermarket.” But, I don’t want to go to the supermarket—it’s horrible and cold. I can stay indoors with my fame!

E-mail rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com, and read his blog, “The Nepales Report,” on http://blogs.inquirer.net/nepalesreport.

Copyright 2008 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Russell Brand shares past with drugs, brothels

2008-04-09T03:34:00.000-07:00

Oxygen's Bad Girls Club latest dramz

2008-04-09T03:29:00.000-07:00

Bad Girls rule on Oxygen.

The latest dramz has Tanisha not happy with Naveen’s behavior and Cordelia wants nothing to do with Jennavecia, since she may have been the culprit behind the demise between Cordelia and Scott.

Just to hear someone be called "Jennavecia", you must catch the show on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on the Oxygen Network.

Bad is back on Oxygen with the second season of the hit reality series from the producers of The Real World. This season takes ‘bad behavior’ to the next level with a cast of young women who are the kind you don't bring home to mother.

The Bad Girls Club brings seven self-proclaimed ‘bad girls’ together in a Los Angeles mansion. The cast, who range in age from 21 to 26, recognize that their outrageous behavior has hindered their relationships, careers and lives. These women have issues with choices, anger, trust and control, and claim they want to change. Will living together help them move forward and turn their lives around – or will chaos rule?

The Bad Girls Club – Tanisha Isn’t Taking It Anymore
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During the writers' strike, I forgot just how much I like ABC's "Samantha Who?," the quirky comedy starring Christina Applegate. Samantha is just so awkward and quirky, we forgive her for all of her past mistakes and really want to see her succeed.

Last night, we had our fingers crossed that maybe, just maybe, Todd would take her back. Instead, he asked if his new girlfriend Chloe could move in with him -- in Samantha's apartment. The problem is, her lease forbids subletting, meaning either she moves in or they move out. So, she moves in and as a threesome, things don't quite work out.

Chloe is jealous of Todd's past with Sam, so she sabotages her, pretending Sam said mean things to her and that she ripped apart her stuffed animal. Todd does learn the truth and then turns to Chloe and professes his love for her. Sam leaves the apartment at the end of the episode, heading back to her parents' house.

Although Sam's fiasco was pretty funny, the best part was the interaction between Dena, Sam's not so perfect friend, and Sam's mom Regina. After Sam ditches her mom, Dena shows up and she and Regina "bond." They get drunk together and profess their deepest secrets. Regina is mad about a beauty pageant where she placed runner-up and Dena is mad that an art school -- the one in the back of the magazine where you have to draw a turtle to get in -- rejected her.

When they wake up the next morning, there is a turtle drawn on the wall, makeup all over both of their faces and a giant fake rabbit sitting next to Regina. Turns out they toilet papered the winner of the pageant's house and stole the rabbit from her lawn.

Another great part of the show, although small, is Frank the doorman. He adds a subtle funniness to the show that I love. His mocking of Sam -- while at the same time, we really do think he likes her -- makes him a worthwhile character even for his few lines.

I really hope this show continues to do well and that people didn't forget about it during the strike. It has a lot of qualities that make for a great comedy, plus who doesn't love a bad girl reforming her ways (with amnesia)? In a way, Sam makes us wonder, what would happen if we forgot everything? Hopefully, we'll never know, but we can laugh at her as she remembers.

'DANCING' THE NIGHT AWAY
Good versus evil or lust versus love. That's the best way to describe the two extremes of dancing which took place last night. On one hand you had Cristian and Cheryl in their Matrix-like black costumes doing the paso doble and on the other you had Priscilla in a Rennaisancesque gown with Louis gliding on air in a romantic Viennese waltz.

Five of the couples performed the paso doble, while the other four did the waltz, each holding true the the technical choreography, except for Adam Corolla -- of course. During his macho dance, he came out in a Zorro cape riding a unicycle and, as Carrie Ann put it, he had grace and great turns, until he stepped off the bike. Oh well, these judges just don't like him and gave him the lowest score.

On the high end of the macho scale was Cristian, who puffed his bare chest like a bull and grunted a few times like one too.

Somewhere in the middle were Jason and Edyta whose waltz was graceful "sexy" and "erotic," and gave the impression of two swans mating -- that's if you listened to judge Bruno Tonioli.

It was also a night for high scores, despite the technically diffiult dances, which can mean these guys and gals are out to make an impression. Chritie still reigned supreme, but right on her back are Jason and Edyta who also scored a 29.

Back from last week's "boring" dance, Marissa and Tony raised their scores with a passionate paso doble, making them the third couple with a 24. Tonight's the deal-breaker, so stay tuned.

IN 40 WORDS OR LESS
Miss your favorite show last night? No problem. Check out our super-condensed recaps.

Jon & Kate Plus 8 -- Jon and Kate take Alexis to a reptile museum because she's obsessed with alligators. The rest of the kids stay with Aunt Jodi, where Mady misbehaves. Jon takes Collin to the Strasburg Railroad, where he blows the train whistle.

Paradise Hotel 2 -- Krista is called "troll doll" during Pandora's Box, and sulks. At elimination, Myrna chooses Mike, forcing Tanya to pick someone else. Even though Ryan is free, she picks Chris, whom Stephanie already chose. Chris goes with Stephanie, sending Tanya home.

The Bachelor: London Calling -- Matt plays tennis with Ashley, Shayne, Noelle, Robin, Kelly and Chelsea, who gets the rose. Amanda gets a rose on her date. Holly gets sent home after her date with Matt and Marshana. At the ceremony, Ashley and Kelly go.

Flavor of Love 3 -- The nine remaining girls are divided into three groups for mock weddings: Each team has a bride, bridesmaid and maid of honor. Afterward, the girls attend Flav's fake funeral. Sinceer wins and Hotlanta is sent packing.

Greek -- Cappie tells Casey about him and Rebecca. Casey goes on a date to show them she doesn't care and he turns out to be 16. Meanwhile, Rusty and his pledge brothers bond while Dale tries to "un-gay" Calvin.

Medium -- Allison dreams that an author is killing younger men based on a book she wrote. Turns out, the serial killer is a man -- the publisher of the woman's books. Devalos brings Allison to a fund-raiser for his DA campaign.

WHAT 2 WATCH 2NITE
The writers' strike is over -- hooray! -- but, unfortunately, some of your favorite shows may not return this season -- boo! Fear not! There's still plenty to watch on TV. Here, we offer our best bets in primetime tonight (all times are Eastern).

NCIS, 8 p.m. on CBS -- RETURNS! -- While on a stakeout at a warehouse from which naval radar equipment disappeared, the team witnesses a murder. Meanwhile, Ducky has a secret that he keeps from the other agents.

The Biggest Loser, 8 p.m. on NBC -- NEW! -- The final four are left to train themselves during the last week on campus. Then it's up to the viewers to whittle the pool from four to three via an online vote. The results will be revealed in the season finale.

American Idol, 8 p.m. on Fox -- NEW! -- The eight remaining finalists perform inspirational songs.

Beauty and the Geek, 8 p.m. on The CW -- NEW! -- The men get makeovers; and the teams go to the set of the soap "The Young and the Restless," where actors Michelle Stafford and Joshua Morrow judge them in an acting competition.

Big Brother 9: 'Til Death Do You Part, 9 p.m. on CBS -- NEW! -- The Power of Veto competition is held. Will Sharon or Sheila be able to save themselves?

Hell's Kitchen, 9 p.m. on Fox -- NEW! -- In the first challenge, the contestants -- including Staten Island's own Rosann Fama -- must slice halibut into 6-ounce fillets. At the dinner service, one member of each team serves as maitre d'. Later, a contestant is eliminated.

Dancing With the Stars, 9 p.m. on ABC -- NEW! -- The third results show of the season. Also: Sheryl Crow sings "All I Wanna Do" and "Out of Our Heads"; ballroom-dancing champions Delyan Terziev and Boriana Deltcheva perform; two teams of kids age 9 and under compete.

Secret Talents of the Stars, 10 p.m. on CBS -- DEBUT! -- Sixteen celebrities showcase hidden talents and compete for viewers' votes to determine who possesses the best secret ability. In the opener, Clint Black performs comedy, Sasha Cohen becomes a contortionist, Mya tap-dances and George Takei sings a country song.

Real Housewives of New York City, 10 p.m. on Bravo -- NEW! -- LuAnn's son objects to her busy social schedule when she and Bethenny go to dinner after having drinks at the house. Elsewhere, Alex brings Simon to a girls-only night, a move that irks Ramona.

The Bad Girls Club, 10 p.m. on Oxygen -- NEW! -- The gals exploit Cordelia's drunken admission that she has an "ugly girl" complex. Elsewhere, Andrea writes a blog entry that could have unexpected consequences.

Boston Legal, 10:02 p.m. on ABC -- RETURNS! -- Alan and Jerry go after a tabloid talk show when a women is murdered for turning down a marriage proposal on the air. Meanwhile, Denny hopes a dinner invitation from Shirley will rekindle their long-ago romance.

Gene Simmons Family Jewels, 10:30 p.m. on A&E -- NEW! -- Gene has to go to SeaWorld on business and decides to take the whole family, including Tracy's twin 4-year old sons, but the trip turns out badly for Shannon and Tracy, who get food poisoning.

THE BRAIN GAME
Test your knowledge of all things trivial by answering this question, taken from one of last night's game shows. (Check back tomorrow for the answer.)

From "Jeopardy!": Assassinations: For a short time, Diego Rivera was a suspect in the 1940 murder of this man.

Yesterday's answer: What is the Emmy?
(From "Jeopardy!": Show Business: The wings on this, created in 1948, represent the "muse of art"; the atom represents the "electron of science.")

Secret Talents of the Stars premieres on CBS tonight at 10p

2008-04-09T03:26:00.000-07:00

We will boldly go where we've never gone before," were the words of several generations of TV captains on the various incarnations of Gene Roddenberry's cult Star Trek. Actually, they come from the mouth of the original series' former Mr. Sulu himself, George Takei.

"If I survive this, who knows what doors could open," the former Trek hero told the New York Daily News about his stint on the new reality competition, Secret Talents of the Stars, which premieres tonight. Your Take
Petunia2 said: Being bendy takes certain physical attributes and a lot of work, but tap dancing like that takes a life-tim... see all » burgoonster said: I Really Thought Mya Was Way Better Then Sasha But Those Moves Sasha Did Were Really Neat see all » burgoonster said: Sasha And Clint Made It To The Semi Finals see all »

"I could go on tour, have a whole new career; we shall see,” Takei continued. He is one of the 16 celebrities set to unveil previously hidden skills beginning in tonight's first installment of CBS' Secret Talents of the Stars. Takei will channel the country artist in him as he tries to impress the viewers with some honky-tonk crooning.

In contrast, the genuine country singing article, Clint Black, will temporarily set aside his CMT, CMA and Grammy Award-winning ways to try his hand at the more unforgiving field of stand-up comedy.

“My manager, who laughs at me a lot, was the one who decided that I had to do stand-up,” Black told CMT. “I remember that feeling in my chest that someone's standing on it. ... I slowly warmed up to the idea. And from that point on, once I agreed to it, it was that I would go through - what do they call them - night terrors? I would go through moments of anxiety during the day whenever I'd picture the scene.”

Black and Takei are actually grouped together along with Grammy Award-winning artist Mya and Olympic figure skating silver medalist Sasha Cohen. In the other groups, another country singer, Jo Dee Messina is up against boxer Roy Jones Jr., soap star Joshua Morrow and The Girls Next Door's Bridget Marquardt. Meanwhile, percussionist/performer Sheila E is pitted against boxing legend Joe Frazier, model and former Mrs. Donald Trump, Marla Maples, and actor/writer/lawyer Ben Stein. The final bracket includes actor/host Danny Bonaduce, model/actress and internet babe Cindy Margolis, The Cosby Show's Malcom-Jamal Warner and WCW and WWE wrestling great Ric Flair.

Secret Talents of the Stars starts at 10 tonight on CBS.

-Rosario Santiago, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: New York Daily News, CBS, CMT
(Image Courtesy of CBS)
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A hard act to follow

2008-04-09T03:24:00.000-07:00

I once interviewed Italian porn star Rocco Siffredi, when he appeared in the second of his two films for Catherine Breillat, Anatomy of Hell. With his hand, rather disconcertingly, on my knee, Siffredi recalled how his formidable ability to "keep wood" for hours on end was pushed to the limit - perhaps deliberately - by Breillat's endless takes, while his female co-stars balked at his innocent attempts to seek stimulation.

As a porn star crossing over to the arthouse (albeit Breillat's particularly fruity brand of arthouse), Siffredi demanded respect for at least trying to act. Arguably, though, he had an easier task than that faced by a growing number of serious actors willing to bare all - and seek that elusive on-camera erection - for their art.

Gone are the days when Marlon Brando could be considered risqué, in Last Tango in Paris, for doing little more than talk dirty (while his female co-star, as always, did all the disrobing). Nowadays, if a film aspires to explicitness, the women aren't expected to go it alone.

The latest thesp to put his manhood under scrutiny is the wonderful French actor Mathieu Amalric. In his recent review of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, in which Amalric excelled as the paralyzed French journalist Jean-Dominique Bauby, Peter Bradshaw commended "one of the most beguiling screen faces". I would agree. But in The Story of Richard O, for possibly the first time ever, you take your eyes off it.

The film is being screened as part of the French Film Festival, which opens across the country today. Directed by Damien Odoul, it's a rum affair - a male fantasy made a little less puerile by its charmingly daft, chain-smoking Gallic pretension. In it Amalric plays a chap who, confronted with the perennial male "crisis" (his girlfriend wants a baby), responds by going on a sex spree around Paris - with 13 mostly anonymous women, none of whom is allowed to beguile as much as the ever-present Mathieu.

Perhaps, after playing Bauby, Amalric was keen to assert that there was life beyond his left eyelid. He proves to be a trooper, and at least reveals an engaging talent for physical comedy, along with, well, the rest of it.

He follows, in no order of size, consistency or skill, the acclaimed Shakespearean actor Mark Rylance in Intimacy, the appropriately narcissistic Vincent Gallo, in the actor-director's own Brown Bunny, and Kieran O'Brien in 9 Songs. Of course there were actresses involved in their scenes (respectively Kerry Fox, Chloe Sevigny and Margo Stilley), but it's the fact that the guys are rising to the occasion that allows these films to attain the effect they're after.

And what's the point? Breillat opened the floodgates to both greater permissiveness and endless debate on that question. I would merely suggest that there is no point, beyond realism for the sake of it; and that of all the men listed here, the only one to "reveal all" in any profound way was, in fact, Brando. We may not have glimpsed the great man's wiener, but he laid bare his soul; and that was infinitely more shocking.

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Whee! The show kicked off with the Boo Hoo Brothers and before and afters with the other contestants. Then Rocco DiSpirito came by and showed 'em how

2008-04-09T03:23:00.000-07:00

David Archuleta is next and he says he had a tough time picking an inspirational song this week because there were a few he was thinking about and he wasn't sure which one to sing, so he went through them and when he came to "Angels," by Robbie Williams, there was just something about that song was so different, that he felt it so strongly - the message and the lyrics - that despite what you're going through, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel.

He plays the piano tonight and I almost feel like the song could have been better if it had just been him and the piano... also there are parts of this song that are just too low for his voice - he may have picked the wrong key to sing in because some notes are so low for him that his voice actually gives out a bit. But once he gets to the chorus, he seems OK. I don't know - it's definitely not his best performance, but Syesha and Carly were still way worse, so I feel like it was OK and America is so in love with him, anyway, that even if it had been horrible, I'm sure he'd still be safe.

Randy tells him that was his hottest moment all season (WHAT?), that it was crazy hot and he loved it. Paula says fantastic and Simon says best song choice of the night, but not his best vocal. He thought it was a bit nasally and that the end part was better than the beginning. He then tells him that he's nitpicking because he's going to sail through to the next round.

Brook White is last tonight and she's singing "You've Got a Friend." She says a lot of people know it by James Taylor, but that Carole King actually wrote the song, that it was on her "Tapestry" album. She says that whole album inspired her to want to do music. She says she sang this song with two of her best friend in a talent show and that it has a lot of meaning to her and that it's just one of those feel-good songs that makes people feel happy.

Her dress has a kind of 60s flavor, a little bit hippy-ish, and I have to admit, I kind of like it. What I don't really like is her choice of song - it's boring and I'm totally tuning her out right now. She sounds OK, bit it's not her best. I think this performance cements the bottom three for me - I think it will be Syesha, Carly and Brooke.

Randy says it was just OK for him, that it wasn't her best performance, that it was just all right. Paula says it was one of her favorite songs growing up and that it was the perfect song to close the evening and that she's definitive. Simon says it was like a pleasant walk in the park - that it was nice. He says it wasn't original, but it was pleasant.

So, time for guessing. As I just mentioned, I think the bottom three will be Syesha, Brooke and Carly. I think Brooke will make it another week, just because she's had such strong performances in the past. I think Syesha and Carly share the same problem - they're both dull. But I think Carly picks songs that are just a touch more interesting that Syesha does, so my guess is Syesha goes home Thursday night. Now if all goes as planned, I will be blogging live (at least it will start out live) tomorrow night for "Idol Gives Back." Telethons are usually so boring and since I was on vacation last year, I don't really know what to expect, but I'm hoping it will be enjoyable and not just a show filled with video clips of stars doing good deeds.

Biggest Loser discussion group: Girls rule, boys drool

2008-04-09T03:22:00.000-07:00

Whee! The show kicked off with the Boo Hoo Brothers and before and afters with the other contestants. Then Rocco DiSpirito came by and showed 'em how to make healthier versions of their fave foods. (The recipes are HERE.) The pepper steak looked great, but as much as I LOVE Fage nonfat Greek yogurt, I don't know how you could turn that into mint-chocolate chip frozen yogurt.

The challenge: Run around in a fat suit weighted down with the amount of weight they lost. The prize? $10,000 and (product placement time) delivery of the new Biggest Loser meal-delivery plan. (BTW, it's $20 a day.) And, of course, Mark won.

Then the trainers came back and immediately Mark starts boo-hooing to Bob. Get a grip, man! The final four then got to watch videos of their journey. Then it was Mark's turn (... and cue the waterworks!). The conversations Ali had with her mom were great and her video was truly inspiring.

Weigh-in: Hate to say this because I have the same kind of hair as Kelly's, but she needs to hit the blow dryer more often. Her hair looked great last night. Good gawd, how did Roger lose 15 pounds? That means he broke Neil's record to lose the most weight of any contestant ever. Then Mark dropped 12 pounds! Then Ali lost 11 pounds! Teeny, tiny Ali! She lost the most weight of any woman on the show. And Kelly lost 13 pounds! That means Ali and Kelly are finalists. Ali then told them that it would be up to us to vote in the third contestant (You can vote HERE.) Then they did the cardboard cutout thing, where the final four saw their former selves. Roger was the most impressive in that.

But could a woman finally become the Biggest Loser? And one more question:

Volcanicast Week Ending 2008/04/04

2008-04-09T03:17:00.000-07:00

SHOW NOTES
Explicit Warning
Introduction
Phone number 216-YAK-GAMES or 216-925-4263
Email volcanicast@gmail.com
What Are We Drinking?

Mar 29, 2008 (SAT)

5.dance on sunset (SAM)
-Well, what a way to start the week off.
- But with a new reality show!!!
- This is a show where tweens get to dance with Nicelodeon stars.
- And taught dance steps by their choreographer…who is all of 21 yrs old.
- I see a law suit coming with that one.
- But anyways…This show is likened to American Bandstand and Soul Train.
- Neither of which I have seen.
- Why now?
- It premiared tonight, and is moving to it’s new night Sunday 8:30pm.
4.www.nick.com/kca (WES SKIP)
- Website for the television network Nickelodeon
- The page in question is for the Kid’s Choice Awards.
- Someone won, or lost, or they were announced.
- I don’t care because I’m skipping it.

6.augusta state
3.winona state (SAM)
- University Campus built in 1858.
- Home to about 8000 students.
- Near the Wisconsin/Minnesota border.
- have a basketball team called the Warriors.
- Why Now?
- Isn’t March Madness over by now?
- They beat Augusta State to win Division 11 Title.
- What ever that means.
2.snarky (WES)
- FOTS from 2008/01/27
- According to some random website that forwarded me to the Wall Street Journal page but gave me the definition in Google:
- - A colloquialism meaning short-tempered or snappish.
- According to Urban Dictionary:
- - A word that should be googled to find the definition as per direction from Dane Cook. It means short tempered or irritable.
- - - Dane Cook is a comedian. People like him.
- I have nothing else to add, except that they reaired the show.

1.the grocery game (BOB)
- FOTS from the week ending June 30, 2007
- Here are the notes; I think they were Wesley’s:
- Website for saving money on groceries
- Costs $5/month
- Claims to save 50% on your grocery spend by maximizing sales and coupons
- Why then?
- - Saw a news link that google says was dated 6-26 KVBC, NBC Las Vegas, but the article itself claims to be dated Nov 17, 2005.
- - Saw another, less likely article dated 6-27.
- - Has been mentioned on Oprah, but not on this date that I can tell.
- - In other words, I have no idea.
- Why now?
- - I still don’t know
- - Peak at 7pm Google, 10pm Eastern. Looks like local evening news, maybe?
- - - Although there’s also a smaller peak at 10pm Google, so maybe not.
- - - - What’s on network TV on Saturday evenings?

Mar 30, 2008 (SUN)

3.wrestlemania results (WES SKIP)
- Skip traded with Bob
- I gave him Prometheus, he gave me Wrestlemania.
- - Who loves whom more, I ask?
- - - You do, answers Bobs
- Oops, I forgot to talk about the topic.

2.green river killer (SAM)
- Green Riverin Kent, Washington, Just outside Seattle.
- Had a spree of killings and body dumpings in “clusters” from 1982-1985.
- However there are thoughts the first killings went back to 1975 but the killer didn’t fess up to those victiums.
- Dubbed the Green River Killer when 5 bodies were found in the Green River.
- Most of the rest were on dry land, consealed but not buried.
- Most in dumping sites.
- Most had ties to prostutition.
- Gary Ridgeway was convicted to live without paroll.
- He confessed to 48 killings but wouldn’t take the credit for another 7 more.
- A few of which were found in his “clusters”.
- Many think more than one killer was at work, and that this group is responsible for up to 100 killings.
- A few remain suspects, but noone else has been convicted.
- He was married at the time of the arrest and had a steady job at the same place for 32 years.
- It’s always the quiet ones.
- Why Now?
- The channel lifetime had their first TV series.
- The Capture of the Green River Killer ired on Sunday and Monday last week.
1.matt maupin (WES SKIP)
- American soldier
- Executed in Iraq on television in 2004
- His body was finally recovered this month.
- On this day, the body was confirmed to be his.
- I am skipping this out of sadness and disgust. This should not have happened.

Mar 31, 2008 (MON)

9.satya jewelry (SAM Skip #1)
- Can’t find much and none of the websites will open.
- Including www.satyajewelry.com.
- So gonna skip it.
8.teri garr (BOB)
- (F)FOWP
- American actress and former hottie
- - Born in Lakewood, Ohio, the town where I’m employed in 1944
- - - She had small roles in Elvis and The Monkees films in the 60s
- - - And rose to stardom in the 70s and 80s, appearing in films such as:
- - - - Young Frankenstein
- - - - Tootsie
- - - - Close Encounters of the Third Kind
- - - - Mr. Mom
- - She suffers from Multiple Sclerosis
- - - And had a brain aneurysm in 2006
- - - - She made a full recovery after surgery
- Why now?
- - There was an article about her on CNN.com
- - - She recounted an incident in which she was involved in an altercation with her boyfriend
- - - - Over his apparent infidelity
- - - - - She might have smashed the windows of his home to return his belongings
- - - - - - Apparently, the police thought she was the victim and allowed her to leave after making sure she was okay

7.gsn.com/bingo (WES SKIP)
- Website for the Game Show Netwok.
- They’re apparently doing a bingo thing online.
- Or something. I don’t care.
- Because I skipped it.

6.gmail custom time (WES)
- You can send email from Gmail (Google’s mail service) with a timestamp in the past.
- - This is not amazing technology. You can do this yourself by changing the clock on your computer and sending the email from your personal client, such as Outlook or Thunderbird.
- Why now?
- - It was their April Fool’s Day joke.
- - I’m sure it was very funny.
5.brooklyn decker (BOB)
- American model and hottie
- - Born in 1987 (sob) in Kettering, Ohio
- - Main claim to fame thus far: appearing in the SI swimsuit issue
- Why now?
- - She became engaged to marry American tennis star Andy Roddick
- - - And I use the word “star” only because Wikipedia did
- - - - I ain’t never heard of him

4.shawn levert
2.sean levert (SAM)
- 1/3 of the 80’s R&B group LeVert.
- Reciently fined and sentenced to jail for failure to pay child support.
- Um Don’t we have better useage of courts and jails?
- Just get the IRS to collect. The are like pitbulls.
- WHy Now?
- Well, he fell ill in the Cleveland OH jail.
- Was rushed to hospital and less then an hour later was dead.
- Cause unknown.
- He was suffering from high blood pressure and hullinations while in jail.
- Apparently the guards were watching over him because he was sick.
3.people s revolution
1.kelly cutrone (WES)
- The founder of People’s Revolution.
- - No, this is not a Chinese dissident group. It’s a fashion clothing line.
- - - See, when I drafted this I thought it was more the former and less the latter.
- - - But I’m burning up skips so let’s power through.
- She runs this fashion empire thingymadoodle.
- - I have never ever heard of it, which doesn’t mean much, but it does imply it’s not quite so imperious.
- Why now?
- - She was on The Hills, some reality show about becoming a model.
- - - I bet she was great.

Apr 1, 2008 (Fool’s TUE)

12.samsung instinct (BOB)
- New mobile phone for Sprint from Samsung
- - Has many features of the Apple iPhone, which of course is locked to AT&T
- Why now?
- - Introduced to the public
- - - On April Fool’s Day?
- - - - That doesn’t seem like a good idea

11.nikki carlisle (BOB)
- Nikki Carlisle is the stage name of an adult entertainer
- - Which of course is a euphemism for porn “star”
- - She is also known as Sarah “Cordelia” Gitter on the Oxygen TV network reality show Bad Girls Club
- - - Which puts 7 women with “various psychological and personality issues” in a house together
- - - - And films the inevitable trainwreck for your viewing pleasure
- Why now?
- - The news of her alter ego broke

10.updown.com (SAM)
- A stock trading company that offers a virtual practice without having to loose money first.
- You get $1M in fun money to go blow on stocks and watch how they do.
- Why Now?
- Was on the CNBC news at Noon.
9.tom crean (BOB SKIP 1)
- College basketball Coach
- - Took a job at Indiana University
- - And I skip before my eyes glaze over

8.sidd finch (WES)
- On this day in 1985, Sports Illustrated did a story on this promising rookie baseball pitcher.
- - He had never played baseball before, but the New York Mets signed him on anyway because of his excessively fast fastball pitch of 168 miles per hour.
- - - See guys, you already lost me.
- - - I was totally cool going along with the joke. I was hoping to play it up and then drop the hammer but no.
- - - You couldn’t say 105 or 107. You had to say 168.
- - - - Needless to say, it was a poor joke, but everybody fell for it anyway.
- Why now?
- - I don’t know. The obvious connection with the date is there, but I see no where that it was posted or talked about, except people hoping for hits from Google putting it on their page.

7.dolly parton (SAM) FUNNY 23:54 - 27:35 (islands in the stream)
- 60 Something Country singer/songwriter and Actress.
- Mostly known for her Islands….without the stream.
- Has had many many hits and just put out a new album.
- Why Now?
- It was the Dolly Parton week on Idol.
- so 9 people sang their versions of her songs.
- She met with them all personally to get the one on one of her songs before they went on stage.
- She polietly put some of those people down….in a way they won’t mind. 6.cory hardrict (WES)
- American actor, mostly TV
- - Has been in many shows, including Heroes where he is only credited as “Gang Leader”
- - - Yes, he’s black.
- Why now?
- - He is marrying Tia Mowry (Image Right)
- - - Also American, also an actor.
- - - - Currently in The Game, a TV show about footballer’s wives.
- - - - - And I don’t mean the TV show Footballer’s Wives, which is about the same thing.
- - - - - - But it’s from Britain and therefore talking about a totally different type of football.
- - - I wish Tia and Cory the best.

5.jesse ventura (SAM Skip #3)
- Former Wrestler turned Actor turned Mayor of Brooklyn Park Minnesota.
- Apparently has alot to say about the current presidental hopefuls.
- I think I figured out why the make you vote twice and have a Primary and then the real race.
- So people who have been completly forgotten about have 1 year to try to book an interview or face time somewhere to give their vote.
- Like Jesse did on Larry King Live.
- Opps. that was the why Now.
13.the dirty
4.matt leinart (WES)
- American Football Quarterback
- - Starting QB for the Arizona Cardinals.
- Why now?
- - He had a big party with girls and hot tubs and beer.
- - - And people took pictures of what they did at the party with girls and hot tubs and beer.
- - - - See, he’s a professional football player, and the season just ended, so HE’S ON VACATION YOU MORONS.
- - - - - Seriously, leave the dude alone when he’s trying to score.
- - One thing, he does have a child but is not in a relationship. The child was not there. Nobody has said the child was left under a band saw or anything so I’m going to assume Matt was a good parent and left his child with his parents or a capable babysitter.

3.true faith jewelry (SAM)
- A website for christian jewlery and T-shirts.
- Most have ” I DIED 4 U” On them.
- I guess that is incase you forgot.
- Why Now?
- Can’t find any real new articles on it. Peaked at 9pm.
- However they have Romona and her Daughter from The Real Housewives of NY modeling their line.
- And Romona seems to have every different type of cross there is and wears them all the time.
- If you wanna see it, check out Bravo.
2.beckwith wiedemann (BOB)
- Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a rare genetic or epigenetic overgrowth syndrome
- - Epigenetics describe DNA modifications that are stable over rounds of cell division, but don’t affect the underlying DNA
- - It affects about 1 in 15,000 children, and children conceived by in vitro fertilization are 3-4 times more likely than the general population to have it
- - Results in a lot of scientific bad sounding things, like:
- - - omphalocele
- - - macroglossia
- - - macrosomia
- - - organomegaly
- - - adrenocortical cytomegaly
- - - hemihypertrophy
- - - neonatal hypoglycemia
- - I didn’t even bother to look up most of those
- - - One of ‘em means the organs develop outside
- - - And another one means you’ve got a big tongue
- - There’s also an increased risk of various tumors
- Why now?
- - A contestant on The Biggest Loser was organizing a charity run to raise money for research/treatment of the syndrome

1.pat sajak bald (WES)
- He’s not.
- Wheel of Fortune, that bastion of comedy on weeknights at 7, pulled a funny.
- - Vanna White, herself bald for these past 14 years, pulled Pat’s “Toupee” off at the end of the show.
- - - I bet it was a hoot.

===================
Break
Voice Mail (216-925-4263)
EMail (volcanicast@gmail.com)
Announcement: New cast member (if we can hurdle the technical issues)
Contest Update
- Nothing on the image, but how’s this for the back?
- Or even the front?
- Or on a baseball cap?

What Are We Drinking Now?
===================

Apr 2, 2008 (WED)

6. charlotte filbert (SAM)
- 27 yr old painter and hottie.
- Lives in Connecticut.
- Why now?
- All the gossip rags have announced she is dating Robin Williams.
- The ink isn’t even dry on the divorce papers filed on March 21st by his wife.
- But apparently they have been living apart for about a year.
- I wonder if this fling has anything to do with money.
- After all Robin is 57.
5. what what in the butt (WES)Google Trends’ first swear word. Well, okay. Maybe it’s not a SWEAR word… -Wesley 4/3/08 3:12 AM
- It’s a song.
- - A very disturbing song, and a very disturbing Youtube video.
- - - I’m not going to link to it. Because I love you all.
- - From “artist” Samwell.
- - It is about homosexual anal sex.
- - - I would repeat some of the words, but it’s disturbingly catchy and I don’t really want someone to hear me singing it as I’m walking through the grocery store.
- Why now?
- - It was on South Park, along with FOTS Chocolate Rain.
- - - The boys, lead by Butters, recreated the video and posted it to youtube.

4. dolly parton age (From previous day) 3. tron guy (WES)
- Actual name Jay Maynard.
- In 2004, Jay did something stupid.
- He posted pictures of himself making, and then wearing, an as-authentic-as-you-can-get outfit from the movie Tron.
- - The outfit was perfectly designed, with the exception that any two people from the movie could fit in it.
- - - If I could make a suggestion, I’d like those two people to be Cindy Morgan as Yori (Tron’s girlfriend) and Cindy Morgan as Lora (Yori’s programmer).
- Why now?
- - Same episode of South Park as above, there was a fight (to the death) between the Tron Guy, the Chocolate Rain guy, the Star Wars Kid, the Sneezing Panda, and others.
- - - I don’t know who won and don’t want to spoil it anyway.

2. the clark brothers (BOB SKIP 2)
- American bluegrass band
- - Won The Next Great American Band
- - - A music voting reality show thing
- - - - Sound familiar?
- - - - - It leads me to:
- Why now?
- - American Idol
- - - They appeared on the vastly more watched sister show

1. apples and oranges (BOB)
- Usually refers to the idiom “comparing apples and oranges”
- - Which refers to comparing two things which can’t be validly compared
- Also the title of a Pink Floyd song
- - Written by Syd Barrett, it was their 3rd UK single
- - - And the first not to chart
- - - - Arguably, this contributed to Syd’s deteriorating mental state
- Why now?
- - Well, I don’t really know
- - - Related search terms include fruit up my ass and fruitupmyass.com
- - - - fruitupmyass.com displays the Comedy Central site
- - - - - Could it be a South Park thing?
- - - - - - I couldn’t confirm it, but it certainly sounds like it

Apr 3, 2008 (THU) (12 4 4 4; 44 16 14 14)

14. where was christopher columbus born (SAM)
- Born in 1451, oldest of 5 children to a wool weaver.
- Oh born in Genoa, Italy.
- Didn’t attend much school but always wanted to see the sea.
- Taught himself Latin since all the geography books were still in Latin.
- Learnt Spanish in his travels.
- THought to have wanted to prove the world was round, but that was a believed romour at the time.
- He wanted to find a faster way to the Indies.
- He missed.
- Why Now?
- True/False question on 5th grader.
- Jimmy Phan elected for False. to get to $100,000
- They showed Mckenzie’s answer of True and went to break.
- For once, Mckenzie was wrong.
12. ata airlines (BOB) TOPICAL 1:05:39 - 1:12:31
- Formerly American Trans Air
- - Low cost scheduled service and charter airline based in Indianapolis
- Why now?
- - They went bankrupt
- - - I got a really good deal on my flight back from Hawaii
- - - - Is it my fault?
- - They just plain (plane?) shut down at 4am (Eastern) this day
- - - Stranding travelers
- - - - I’m surprised it didn’t happen while I was waiting in Honolulu
- - - - Flights that were airborne made it to their destinations
- - - - Flight 4586 from Honolulu to Phoenix was the last flight, it landed at 8:46am MDT, nearly 8 hours after the shutdown
- - - Fuel costs, and the loss of FedEx and military charter contracts were blamed
- - - The airline never had a fatal passenger accident in its 27 years of operation
- - - Three other airlines went bankrupt this week: Aloha Airlines, Skybus Airlines, and Champion Air
- - - - Aloha also helped me get home

11. camden diocese (WES SKIP)
- It’s a Diocese.
- In Camden.
- They’re cutting back services, I can only hope because religion is failing in America.
- And I’m cutting back as well, by skipping the topic.

10. helping verb (WES)
- Yaaay! It’s another installment of Wesley’s Grammar Corner! Where we all learn something new, or at least Wesley does!
- Let’s start with the Why now:
- - It was on 5th Grader!
- - Q: What word is the helping verb in the following sentence? “Nathan is searching for buried treasure in Mr. Foxworthy’s backyard.”
- - Lauren, the contestant who wants to be smarter than children, peeked at the child’s paper and saw that:
- - A: ‘is’
- A Helping Verb is a verb that, well, helps.
- More snootily called an Auxiliary Verb.
- - They give more information to the main verb of a sentence.
- - For example:
- - - “I wrote this” has no helping verb.
- - - “I have written this” has one helping verb, the word “have”
- - - “I have been writing this for a while now” has two helping verbs, “have” and “been”
- - Helping verbs make passive voice so passive.
- - - “Mistakes were made” doesn’t sound at all right without the helping verb “were”, and if you don’t make it passive, someone could (correctly) infer that you were the one who made the mistake.
9. mary cassatt (BOB)
- American painter and printmaker
- - Lived much of her adult life in France
- - - Where she befriended Edgar Degas and exhibited among the Impressionists
- - - In her later life, she moved away from impressionism and developed a simpler style
- - - She focused a great deal on the mother-child relationship
- - - - Although she never had children herself
- - - She became blind and had to give up painting, but took up the cause of women’s suffrage
- - - France awarded her with the Legion d’honneur in recognition of her contribution to the arts
- - - As of 2005, her paintings had sold for as much as $2.87 million
- - - Self-portrait in the show notes
- Why now?
- - On Fifth Grader Zooventure
- - - Q: (4th Grade Art) Mary Cassatt was one of the most famous female painters during the Impressionist movement of the late 1800s. What country was she born in?
- - - - Contestant drops out with $100,000
- - - - - She would have said France, but it is the United States
8. 1967 fiat btm (BOB)
- There is no such thing
- - They’re probably talking about the 1967 Fiat Dino
- - - A Front engine/rear drive sports car, it was produced to homologate the Ferrari V6 engine for Formula 2 racing
- Why now?
- - Associated Press ran an article about Jerry Seinfeld driving a “1967 Fiat BTM” when the brakes failed
- - - He was able to avoid other traffic, but rolled the car to a stop
- - - - He was uninjured in the process
- - - - - Nice save, Jerry

7. little house on the prairie (BOB)
- A series of books, and the long running TV show based on them
- - Follows the story of a fictionalized version of the author, Laura Ingalls Wilder
- - - As she grows up in the American frontier
- Why now?
- - On What Would Fifth Graders Do?
- - - Q: (4th Grade Literature): Who wrote the book “Little House on the Prairie”?
- - - - Contestant guessed “Alcott” but is incorrect
- - - - - He is saved by student Mackenzie
- - - - - - The answer is, of course, Laura Ingalls Wilder

6. randi rhodes (WES)
- American radio personality on Air America, a liberal radio network.
- - Erm, former of the above.
- - She called Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton whores. She also stated that Geraldine Ferraro was “David Duke in Drag”
- - - She said all of this in public, while giving a speech at an Air America event.
- - - David Duke was a Republican Representative and Grand Wizard in the Ku Klux Klan.
- - - Geraldine Ferraro was a vice-presidential hopeful who lost her bid for the whitehouse because she was running against the Gipper himself, Ronald Reagan.
- - - I will not detail who Hillary Clinton is.
- - - - Or Ronald Reagan for that matter.
- - Anyway, you call someone a whore, people get mad. Go figure.
- - Of course, this is all Obama’s fault.
- - But he’ll probably have to give a 45 minute speech about whore relations in America and it’ll be all better.

5. prometheus (BOB)
- Ancient titan in Greek mythology
- - Stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans
- - - Pissing Zeus right the fuck off
- - It is this symbolism that caused me to name my first, and latest computer after him
- - - And, as a result, it also became my gaming tag
- - - - Fortunately, this worked out better for me than for Prometheus
- - - - - Zeus had him chained to a rock and had his liver daily plucked out by a vulture (or eagle, depending on where you get your myth) only to regenerate
- Why now?
- - On The $64,000 Fifth Grader
- - - Q: According to Greek myth, what did Prometheus steal from the Gods and give to mankind?
- - - - Contestant didn’t know and so drops out with $175,000
- - - - - The answer, of course, is fire

4. capital of mexico (SAM Skip #2)
- Funny enough, It’s Mexico City.
- Actually built on Aztec Ruins.
- Why Now?
- It was the 4th questions on 5th Grader for Jimmy.
- He peaked at Mckenzie’s paper and she got it right.
2. nathan robinson (SAM)
- a 15 yr old Newton High School student.
- That is Newton MA.
- he died March 14th from complications from the flu.
- I’m thinking next time I have the flu for more than 2 weeks, I’m going to the DR.
- Why Now?
- He loved “The Office” and a friend has a clip of him playing the theme song on a piano.
- The show played this clip at the end of the show and dedicated the show to him.
13. my fico.com
3. my fico
1. myfico.com (SAM)
- This is a website you can get your combined score of your credit and see your credit worthyness.
- Takes scores from all three credit companies, gets all your credit history, payment history, income and card useage.
- Also calculated how much of your cards you have maxed out.
- Scores range from 300-850. 750 is considered healthy.
- Many cards/banks use this score to decide if you can have stuff. Like a house/car/credit card/loan.
- Why Now?
- CBS did a special on myfico.
- I am surprised that enough people didn’t know about it that it was googled that heavily.
- More comprehenive than the free credit scores each year from the main companies.
- You also have to pay for the research.
- like 15 bucks ish.

Apr 4, 2008 (FRI)

9. b 1 bomber (BOB)
- Supersonic strategic bomber
- - Officially designated Lancer
- - - It’s often called the Bone by its crews, taken from spelling out the “1″ after the “B”
- - Features variable-sweep wings
- - - Like the smaller, famed F-14 Tomcat
- - Encountered budgetary and political difficulties during its development from the 1960s to the 1980s
- - - But ultimately went into production
- - Its usefulness is a subject of much debate
- - - It doesn’t have the payload or range of the B-52
- - - And isn’t fast enough to out run enemy fighters
- - - Is more expensive and complicated than a swarm of ICBMs
- Why now?
- - Upon landing, a hydraulic failure caused one to veer off the runway
- - - It caught fire
- - - - The crew evacuated safely

11. live ops
8. liveops.com (WES)
- A virtual call center.
- So when you call a company, you don’t get that company, you get some random guy who has no idea what you’re talking about.
- - I’ll take the guy in Bombay who at least knows the name of the company you’re talking about, please.
- Why now?
- - They were on Good Morning America.
- - - Good Morning! Your call is very important to us, please stay on the line and we’ll connect you to some random person!

5. breguet (WES)
- Manufacturer of fine watches.
- - Member of the Swatch Group.
- - - Yes, that Swatch
- - Started in 1775 when Abraham Breguet in Paris, France.
- - One of the oldest surviving watch-making companies.
- - Pioneer in several watch technologies, including the tourbillon
- - - Special type of escapement.
- - - - An Escapement is the doohickey that converts continuous rotational motion into discrete actions.
- - - - - Like, for example, the gears in a clock that, when the pendulum swings, turn slowly to make the clock go.
- - - - - Watches don’t have classic pendulums, but the inner workings of watches are getting a bit off topic.
- - - The torubillon allowed the watch’s escapement to work exactly the same throughout most rotations.
- - - - At the time, there was a tendency for a pocket-watch to run differently if it was upright or upside-down.
- Why now?
- - Breguet’s Moscow store, which closed its doors nearly 2 centuries ago, reopened.
- - - If I can think of a joke, it will go here.Will it involve charcoal? -Sean 4/6/08 2:51 PM

10. main line animal rescue
4. lange foundation (BOB SKIP 3)
2. gulf of aden (SAM)
- samll gulf located between Yemen and Somalia.
- Go look at an atlas…or go to wikipedia!
- Connected to the Red Sea through the strait that I can’t pronounce.
- Why Now?
- Apparently modern day Pirates like to hover around this strait.
- Especially since it is a highly trafficed area due to oil.
- This morning (Friday) a three masted French sailing ship was hyjacked by the pirates.
- No holiday makers onboard, just crew. Mostly from France and the Ukraine.
- THe French are trying to win freedom for the hostages.
- In the mean time, since so many of the worlds military forces are just right there….
- There are a few battle cruisers now searching for the yacht.
- I hope the pirates can swim….cas a battle cruiser coming alongside would scare the crap outta me.
7. www.missingmoney.com
6. missing money.com
3. missingmoney.com
1. missing money (SAM)
- A website that you can enter your name and find out if there is money sitting somewhere out there for you.
- I don’t have any.
- Neither does Bob or the dis-embodied voice.
- There is possibly something for Wes.
- NOT all states have signed up for this site as yet.
- If you find your name…you can print out a claim form and with proof of who you are, you can get the money.
- Why Now?
- Peaked at 8am EST.
- I can’t find the source, but I am guessing a Morning show like Good Morning America etc.

Dancer Jock Soto Looks Back on a Life in Tights (and Fishnets)

2008-04-09T03:15:00.000-07:00

When Jock Soto retired from the New York City Ballet three years ago, he'd spent a quarter-century becoming one of the most celebrated male dancers in the company's history. Half Navajo and half Puerto Rican, stocky and athletic, Soto didn't fit the danseur noble mold, but his grace and strength as a soloist and fame as the surest of partners (famously to iconic ballerinas Heather Watts, Lourdes Lopez, and Wendy Whelan) cemented his reputation as one of the most universally beloved dancers in New York. PBS's Independent Lens today airs Water Flowing Together, a documentary about Soto's career and rediscovery of his heritage. Vulture caught up with Soto, who now spends his days running a catering business with his partner, and talked to him about the dances in his past and the cooking show in his future.
Now that you're retired, is it strange to see all this footage from your career?
I first saw it in San Francisco at the gay and lesbian film festival there, and it was kind of shocking! I felt like I was watching somebody else. It was quite emotional.

There's a funny story in the film about your dad taking you to your first ballet class…
My dad, he didn't know what to do. My mother told him he had to buy me ballet slippers and tights, and I had a little T-shirt or something. I took them out of the little bag, I was changing in the backseat, and he had bought me blue fishnets! He sort of didn't look at the package. I was like, Oh, God, what am I going to do with these? But I had to wear something! I think I probably put shorts over them.

When you first came to the city, what were your first impressions?
We lived on a reservation outside of Phoenix, so we didn't have big buildings, and all that is here. It was such a bigger scale of everything, I was just in awe. You think back on a situation like that. It's like you walked into Alice in Wonderland. I just remember the doors at School of American Ballet were huge; the studios were huge. I’d been dancing in a strip mall outside Phoenix. I didn't know what I was getting myself into.

In the film, we see how you appeared on Sesame Street, in People … it seems like another era, in which dancers really were stars.
Well, I never considered myself a star, I was just someone who worked and worked and worked and did my job every day. And there were times we were slammed by the press too. I would think of Suzanne Farrell and Peter Martins, when I was sneaking into the theater, starting at the top fifth ring and sneaking down. By the time Chaconne was being performed and I saw those two, they were stars.

You're also one of the most choreographed-on dancers in the company's history. Did that make you feel like you were abandoning the company in any way when you retired?
You know, it was time for me to leave. I felt it was a good time. I was 40. Everything started to hurt in the last few years. I wanted to be able to leave the stage, put on a pair of shoes, and go out and have a nice dinner, you know? Without sitting there and having my knee hurting or my back throbbing. And of course it's a big loss. But it's not brain surgery; anyone can do it.

Well, you've mentioned a dream of having a cooking show. Any chance of that soon?
Still workin' on it. If anyone has any ideas, they can contact me! The dancing chef. I'll do anything.
–Rebecca Milzoff

NBC Announces New Chapters of Webisodes For NBC.com

2008-04-09T03:14:00.000-07:00

NBC DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT ON WEDNESDAY announced its full slate of content for the summer and fall seasons, including original webisodes for "Heroes," "Chuck," and "The Office," as well as "30 Rock 360," a new original digital production--"Fears, Secrets & Lies"--and digital features for each new show.

New chapters of webisodes for "Heroes," "Chuck" and "The Office" will debut on NBC.com beginning in July. Additional chapters of webisodes for each show will roll out throughout the season. Each chapter of webisodes will continue to weave online with on-air creative to give fans a deeper entertainment experience.

NBC.com will also debut its second season of original productions with "Fears, Secrets & Desires." This series will be available exclusively on NBC.com.

"Robbie Williams" Music

2008-04-09T03:11:00.000-07:00

Something you should know about Angels Lyrics

Title: Robbie Williams - Angels lyrics

Artist: Robbie Williams

Visitors: 64902 visitors have hited Angels Lyrics since Dec 28, 2007.

Print: Robbie Williams - Angels Lyrics print version

What a beautiful song and perfect for tonight ’s “inspirational song” theme. This cutie continues to rule with his awesome voice and I just love how shy he is!

>> Download "Robbie Williams" Music <<

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I sit and wait
does an angel contemplate my fate
and do they know
the places where we go
when we?re grey and old
?cos I?ve been told
that salvation lets their wings unfold
so when I?m lying in my bed
thoughts running through my head
and I feel that love is dead
I?m loving angels instead

and through it all she offers me protection
a lot of love and affection
whether I?m right or wrong
and down the waterfall
wherever it may take me
I know that life wont break me
when I come to call she wont forsake me
I?m loving angels instead

when I?m feeling weak
and my pain walks down a one way street
I look above
and I know ill always be blessed with love
and as the feeling grows
she breathes flesh to my bones
and when love is dead
I?m loving angels instead

and through it all she offers me protection
a lot of love and affection
whether I?m right or wrong
and down the waterfall
wherever it may take me
I know that life wont break me
when I come to call she wont forsake me
I?m loving angels instead

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Tips to look for free audio clips
(Don't use those tips to download illegally. To buy music is always the best way to support your idols)

Use Google, Yahoo and MSN to find some auido clip sites. Sometimes search engines can direct you to right sites. Now that a lot of auido clip sites are banned by search engines, remember to make good use of exchange links in those sites.

Use auido clip search engines outside the United Stats. I used to use Chinese sites such as Baidu, Sogou, Yahoo China to search audio clips. Your browser maybe ask you to install simplified Chinese character, just ingore it. I always can find tons of English audio clips in those music search engines.

Use P2P software. It works well for full album audio clips specially. In fact, you almost can find everything with P2P software.

Visit artist's offical website. Some artists' sites provide mp3 files for fans to download.

Halloween! It's fright night and Xander's a soldier, Buffy is helpless and Willow is sexy!

2008-04-09T03:03:00.000-07:00

Who doesn’t love Halloween? The costumes, the free candy. The scary movies. Only Christmas has a bigger place in my heart than All Hallows Eve. And when you’re dealing with a show called ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, you can expect to see your fair share of pumpkins every now and then!

I mean, would there be any better place to spend a Halloween than Sunnydale? Ethan Rayne doesn’t think so...

With more on that shady character and the rest of this episode, here’s J.D. Dunn with a recap!

Episode 2.06 — "Halloween"
W: Carl Ellsworth
D: Bruce Seth Green
Original Airdate: October 27, 1997

Synopsis: Despite its reputation, Halloween is normally a slow period for vamps and demons…except in Sunnydale. Buffy is feeling inferior because she's a nineties chick while Angel tended to go for debutantes in his human days. When the owner of a costume shop makes her a deal on a dress, she accepts. Of course, he's evil, so he casts a spell turning everyone into the costume they were wearing. Buffy becomes a flighty debutante. Xander becomes an army ranger. It's up to Willow the Ghost to save the day, since she's the only one who's kept her personality. Well, there's Cordelia, who's dressed in a slinky cat suit and seems not to have changed. That provides Willow with a clue -- Cordy bought her costume from "Party Town" while everyone else bought them from "Ethan's." With Buffy helpless, Spike and his horde move in for the kill. It turns out Giles knew Ethan long ago when Giles was…different. Giles "convinces" Ethan to break the spell, returning everything to normal.

Historic Moment: Giles goes bad ass, and it's not from a costume.

Introduces: Ethan Rayne (Robin Sachs) an old cohort of Giles'.

Thanks J.D.! Mike Gorman is up for the review this week. Take it away Mikey!

The tables turn in this installment of BTVS as it is finally Xander and Willow’s turn to save the day. The “Halloween” episodes of Buffy are fan favorites and they tend to take us out of our usual Buffy box. In this first time out, Giles informs Buffy that on Halloween the vamps and demons tend to take the day off. It is their holiday of sorts. Relaxed and ready for some costume fun the Scooby Gang each adopt a costume that is the opposite of what we have seen of them so far. Buffy dresses as a young maiden from the time of Angel’s youth. Xander is a military man. Willow, at least at first, is a cat-suited hottie. However she quickly retreats into her “norm” and covers herself with a sheet aka your typical lame ghost outfit. They’re all set for their night of normalcy but of course things are not what they seem.

We are introduced to Ethan Rayne, proprietor of a new costume shop in Sunnydale. It turns out that Rayne is actually an old acquaintance of Giles from his youth who has arrived to cause mischief in Sunnydale. Rayne uses magic to turn all the costumed revelers into their outfits physically and mentally. Buffy is rendered a helpless maiden while Xander is a true soldier and Willow becomes an intangible ghost. Along with Angel and Cordelia, who was spared the transformation because she did not buy one of Ethan’s cursed costumes; the Gang is led by Willow to avoid an attack by Spike and his crew. This episode features some great moments of vulnerability by Sarah Michelle Gellar and Xander’s commanding performance is excellent. It was a lot of fun to see Willow calling the shots while Buffy cowered. This flipped adventure could easily stand alone as a fun romp yet it also introduced some very important elements for seasons to come. This includes Xander’s retention of his military expertise when the spell is broken. His talents will be handy come several seasons later. More interestingly we learn that Giles’ old nickname was “Ripper” and that his past might not be as prim and proper as he might want the children to believe. Giles’ dark past will rear its head again soon and it adds a lot of depth to the character.

Everyone is safe for the most part when Halloween comes to an end and Rayne’s magics are defeated. I cannot say that this episode was the most thrilling in terms of plot development but it was a nice look at how useful Buffy’s friends truly are in her war against evil. The great thing about this show is that the creators will give us these little flashes of character in the Scooby Gang and will build upon them as time goes on. Willow is not destined after all to remain the wall flower we first met.

Jeremy Thomas

On first glance, this episode could be viewed as another throwaway one-shot like "Inca Mummy Girl" and "Reptile Boy" were. However, "Halloween" is a step up from the previous two episodes for a few reasons. First off, it sets up some major character-building points that will come into play later, such as Xander's military knowledge and Giles' shady past. It also introduces Ethan Rayne, who will show up a few more times and is a fun, horribly under-explored character who makes a great foil for old Giles. Spike gets to have some fun and spout off lines like "Well. This is just...neat!" in a way that only he can. He even almost gets the Slayer. But what I think is best about this episode is that it's one of those character-building episodes where you get to see the other sides of people through their choices of costumes. We see Buffy's desire to be something other than the Slayer, in a way that isn't done poorly like "Reptile Boy" was. Xander wants to be something more manly and tough, and he gets the opportunity to do that. And Willow's sexy self hiding under a sheet (a symbol which will be reversed later in the opening of Season 5) says a lot about who Willow is, and will reverberate throughout later seasons as she comes into her own.

Ronny Sarnecky

“Throughout my TV watching lifetime, I’ve looked forward to two TV shows each year; the “Roseanne” Halloween episode and the “Buffy” Halloween episode. Both series really seem to pull out all of the stops for their October holiday episodes. This episode was terrific. Once again, Joss Whedon provided foreshadowing for events in future episodes. Oz and Willow crossed paths once again, with Oz asking “Who is that girl?” You can see Cordelia once again looking at Xander as more than a loser who is beneath her. Xander’s role as a soldier would turn out to be useful later in the season when he needs to break into an army barracks. This episode also introduced Ethan, a mysterious man from Giles past. Ethan planted the seeds to let the viewer know that Giles wasn’t always the nice “watcher” that we know. Another cool part of this episode was that we got to see Buffy as a damsel in distress, and not as the always tough, butt kicking vampire slayer.

Jerome Cusson

"Halloween" is one of my favorite episodes of season two. The idea of changing these characters simply by having them wear different costumes. It's quite the brilliant concept, especially turning Xander into a tough guy. He's my favorite character on this show and finally getting to see him man up is a thing of beauty. I would this episode a 9.5 out of 10 simply because of the originality and the change in characters. Even Cordelia and Oz are given interesting things to do as side characters. That's probably the best part of Joss Whedon's shows. Even the characters who aren't the stars are interesting.

J.D. Dunn

The first true Willow episode (not counting "I Robot…You Jane"), and it really gives her a chance to open up. First of all, she gets to skank it up for the first time. Also, she really gets to show her strong side, as opposed to the timid wallflower she usually displays. A nice way to rebound after a few uninspiring outings.

Ron Martin

I love this episode. This was really the first "everything" episode. It had everything you could ever want in an episode. Don't believe me? Check it out. The comedy was there. The originality was there (why has no one ever thought of turning people into their Halloween costumes before?). Storyline advancement with Angel/Buffy, Xander/Cordelia and Willow/Oz, not to mention the main storyline of the season with Buffy vs. Spike. Great use of recurring characters with Principal Snyder and Larry. We even got the added bonus of a new character with Ethan Rayne. Add to that backstory on both Angel and Giles, what else could you want? Okay, let's get some more then. Running themes of the show were turned on their heads with strong men and weak women for once. Running themes of life was mocked when Halloween turns out to be the least supernatural day of the year. This is one of my favourite episodes and dare I say, in my personal Top Ten (I think, but I haven't officially made a list so don't hold me to that). If you need something to throw you over the top for this episode I got one last thought for you -- Cordelia in a cat outfit. Nuff said.

Jason Chamberlain

You knew that a show about vampires and demons had to do a Halloween episode eventually, and thankfully they didn't wait too long to do it. Frankly, I'd of liked them to do one every season. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and this episode as well as the fourth season equivalent 'Fear, Itself' are mandatory viewings for me on All Hallows Eve (I heartily avoid the sixth season Dawn-fest 'All The Way').

This episode is a classic for so many reasons. We get the introduction of a surprisingly under used future villain in Ethan Rayne, and through him the first appearance of the Ripper! To this point Giles had been a total stuffed shirt, but when he cracks open a can of freshly squeezed whup-ass on Ethan at the end of the episode, it's a total shocker and a cool sign of things to come. We also get more Oz action and the next step in his 'ships in the night' crush on Willow, who looks totally hot in her 'ghost of something or other' outfit. And Buffy cleans up pretty well as a noblewoman as well, visually anyway. The "I'm a helpless woman, watch me be helpless" riff gets old fast.

And it's just a fun Halloween adventure! You know a Halloween in Sunnydale has to be a blast, and they'll do it even better two seasons from now.

GRR!!! ARGH!!!

The 411: This episode is a prime example of how this show that seems to be about the creatures of the night is truly more a coming of age story for our high school aged teens. We all love to dress up on Halloween and this year in Sunnydale they took it to the extreme. Have fun watching the costumed adventure and be sure to catch all the moments of character development that are jam packed into this great episode.

Vote for the next Biggest Loser

2008-04-09T03:00:00.000-07:00

what they were in for. Oh sure, I bet they expected to get a serious response from fans. A reality-style TV show, The Biggest Loser has a pretty big following. But once they got an Alabama guy like Roger Schultz, who wants to bet the vote totals went through the roof?

Um, I think this is the "Before" picture.
If there is one thing Alabama people do, it's vote. Online, phone, email, snail mail, etc.

Any Pontiac Game Changing Performance, any (now defunct) Gridiron Bash scholarship contest, or any Birmingham News sports legends bracket, you guys show up in droves.

That brings me to today's topic, about which I'm getting besieged by emails. Schultz is in the Final Four of the Biggest Loser. Disclaimer: I don't watch the show. You can only watch so many reality shows, and I'm having enough trouble keeping up with Brooke White and David Archuleta on American Idol.

Anyway, everyone who emails me thinks you should vote for Roger, who was fired from his day job for the show. Listen to Aimee, an emailer who really wants Roger to win:

"He started at 363 lbs and is now 219 lbs and he looks amazing!" she wrote. "If he makes it to the finals (next Tuesday night), he can win $250,000. We need all Crimson Tide fans to rally around him and vote! Voting runs from 10 pm ET tonight (Tues) until 10 pm Thurs night, so time is of the essence."

Vote right here.

Amber Hagerman - Tha Amber Alert

2008-04-09T02:58:00.000-07:00

Amber Renee Hagerman (November 25, 1986–January 17, 1996) was a young girl who became a victim of an abduction and murder. On January 13, 1996, she was riding her bicycle near her grandparents' home in Arlington, Texas, and was kidnapped soon thereafter.[1]

Contents [hide]
1 Search
2 AMBER Alert
3 See also
4 Notes
5 External links

[edit] Search
A neighbor called police and provided a description of the suspect and his vehicle (the witness described the abductor as a white or Hispanic male, driving a late model black pickup truck), but could not recall many details. Arlington Police and the FBI interviewed other neighbors and searched for the suspect and vehicle. Local radio and TV stations covered the story in their regular newscasts.

Four days later, following an extensive, area-wide search, Amber’s body was found by a resident who was walking his dog. The body was found at the bottom of a creek bed at the Forest Hollow apartment complex in north Arlington. Amber's throat had been slit.

No arrests were made.[1] Her murder remains unsolved, [2] but on July 25, 2007 it was announced that Terapon Adhahn, of Tacoma, Washington, was under investigation for Amber's slaying. Adhahn was arrested July 9, 2007 in connection with another abduction, that of 12-year-old Zina Linnik, whose body was found July 12 in east Pierce County in Washington State. Zina disappeared from a July 4th celebration. Adhahn was charged with aggravated first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree rape in Zina's abduction and death. In addition to Zina's slaying, Adhahn was considered a person of interest in the slaying of Adre'Anna Jackson, 10, of Tillicum, Washington, who was killed in 2005. He has also been charged with raping two other girls.

[edit] AMBER Alert
Main article: AMBER Alert
In October 2000, the United States House of Representatives adopted H.R. 605 which encouraged communities nationwide to implement the AMBER Plan. In April 2003, President Bush signed the AMBER Alert legislation, making it a national program. While the AMBER Alert system is now mandated across the USA, some states are still trying to implement the procedures necessary in bringing the alerts to the public.[citation needed] Hampered by outdated Emergency Broadcast guidelines and different activation criteria in each state, the system is still being developed to provide optimal effectiveness.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children assists in the implementation of AMBER Alerts.

In 2006, a TV movie Amber's Story was broadcast on Lifetime. It stars Elisabeth Röhm and Sophie Hough.

Nike Hyperdunk - Lightest & Strongest Basketball Sneaker Ever

2008-04-09T02:55:00.000-07:00

Here is the article featured on NikeBiz.com:

BEAVERTON, Ore. (7 April, 2008) â€“ Nike and Kobe Bryant today launched the Nike Hyperdunk, Nike’s (NYSE: NKE) lightest and strongest basketball shoe ever and one of the many superior, lightweight performance product innovations the company unveiled to support athletes from over 100 countries who will compete for gold in 32 sports in Beijing this summer.

“Our performance product for Beijing is some of the best work Nike has ever done,” said Nike President and CEO Mark Parker. “The Nike Hyperdunk is a prime example of our commitment to deliver extraordinary innovation and lightweight performance product to the world’s best athletes. Every gram counts in competition. Athletes need superior lightweight footwear and apparel that they can compete in with confidence and that’s exactly what we’ve created for them.”

Parker and Kobe introduced the Nike Hyperdunk to media from around the world who came to the company’s World Headquarters to witness Nike’s innovative assortment of Beijing-related performance product. The product ranges from footwear using lightweight technology fibers stronger than bullet proof vests and Lunarlite foam cushioning to Nike Swift performance apparel using recycled polyester.

At only 13.0 ounces, the Nike Hyperdunk is 18 percent lighter than the average Nike basketball shoe. Kobe runs an average of 2.5 miles a gameâ€”less weight on his feet means more energy on the court. Kobe is expected to play in the Nike Hyperdunk when the Lakers meet the Clippers in April. The Hyperdunk hits US retail in late July.

“The Nike Hyperdunk is extremely lightweight, strong and responsive to give a real advantage on court,” said Kobe.

The competition in Beijing will provide Nike with a global stage to capitalize on the momentum and brand leadership that the company has firmly established in China. The introduction of the Nike Hyperdunk and other Beijing-related innovations are powerful platforms for Nike to reinforce its number one position as the leading sports brand in China. Today China represents Nike’s largest sourcing country and is its largest business outside of the United States with revenues having just surpassed $1 billion for the trailing 12 months.

The Hyperdunk combines two new Nike innovations: Flywire technology and Lunarlite foam. Flywire redefines footwear construction, shaving off weight and adding strength, allowing athletes to be lighter on their feet and faster on the track and on the court. Lunarlite foam features a unique cell structure making it lightweight and ultra responsive as a cushioning system.

For more information on the Nike Hyperdunk and all of Nike’s innovative products for Beijing, visit www.nikemedia.com.

In the City: April 8

2008-04-08T07:36:00.001-07:00

No YMCA

In the week when the Arts Council caused uproar by demanding that board members of arts organisations should declare their sexual tastes, Herbert Smith held a proud reception for its LGBT Network. Fortunately no one had to tick any boxes because in the best traditions of liberality it’s not a requirement at Herbert Smith for you to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (or even unknown) to be granted admission to the group. That was a good thing because the normal attenders — usually about 25 — found itself reeling as many more than 100 guests (some from other firms) made their way to indulge in champagne, great food and all bathed in a frankly camp pink glow.

Many there had decided, I suspect, to be what Vanessa Redgrave called last week “trisexuals” (maybe on the basis of try anything once) but one of the themes of the evening was the trial of coming out. I was so inspired that I nerved up to coming out myself, declaring to a rather attractive young woman that I was heterosexual. It turned out she was heterosexual, too, so that was rather nice.

Meanwhile, the star of the evening was Sir Ian McKellen, a stern critic of the Arts Council’s sexual orientation witch-hunt, who spoke about his own experiences and then absolutely enthralled, gripped, entranced and mesmerised (yes, really, all of those) by acting a scene, probably written by Shakespeare, from the play Sir Thomas More along the theme of “the stranger”. Up close and very personal it was a unique and stunning performance. I suspect the partners’ dining room at Herbert Smith will not see its like again. They should put up a plaque about it.

Woolly enough?

Personally I deplore April fool stories but I did have a sneaking admiration for the suggestion that sheep were going to graze on the roof of Eversheds’ new building — to open in about six weeks — on Cheapside. I had the pleasure of a guided tour by Cornelius Medvei, the London managing partner, who has dedicated himself over the past two years to ensuring that everything comes up to perfection (no Terminal 5 repetition, for sure). Cornelius, it must be said, scampered up the stairs to the top floor like a mountain goat leaving me bleating in his wake. But stepping out on top and strolling across the greensward to the fantastic view of St Paul’s, the City and London at large, a few sheep wandering around did not seem impossible. The new building makes a statement about Eversheds’ place in the world. A mountainous achievement.

Va-va-voom

The big one this Thursday is the International Law Office Awards in conjunction with the Association of Corporate Counsel being held in the Victoria and Albert Museum. With almost 300 present in the stupendous surroundings of the Raphael Gallery it should be a superb event. Winners will be shortlisted for the Golden Counsel Awards in June in New York. Quite an incentive to turn up.

Result

Collyer Bristow got the winner yesterday for Marco Materazzi, the Italian World Cup footballer, when he attended the High Court to hear the Daily Star apologise for alleging that he had used “vile racist abuse” against Zinédine Zidane. Instead, speculation mounted that what he called Zidane was a “trisexual” — but then who isn’t these days?

Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!

2008-04-08T07:19:00.000-07:00

We live in a college town and it is a great place to be raising our family. The university makes our small town have a multicultural feel that I love. In addition, we have the museums, science and arts ususally found in larger metros.

This time of year, however, it is all about March Madness in my hometown. In my house, it is all about bonding over "our" team, the University of Kansas Jayhawks. We watch the games as a family and I suspect it will be one of the things our kids remember fondly about growing up. My son is a trivia king when it comes to his team and he can cite you chapter and verse about scores, final seconds and the players.

I never imagined that it would be this way.

happy clam's diary :: ::
You see, I'm from a family of all girls. My dad was not into sports and we never watched them on tv. The first time I really followed a team was when I was in college and attended games for the first time. After that I followed along, knowing at least something about the team each season.

I don't think I really got into it until my son was 2 years old. That winter he watched with my DH and learned all the names of the players and their numbers. He was so excited that he took shots on his little nerf hoop at half time every game. He was hooked, and seeing his happiness- I got hooked too. I've learned that there are a lot of life lessons in basketball. Winners, losers, good sports, bad calls. It is all in there. For us basketball contains some of those really good teachable moments- all wrapped up in popcorn, cheering and a mythical bird with a big yellow beak.

It's going to be an exciting night of family bonding at our house tonight. We'll be nervous, we'll be happy, we'll be holding our breath...we'll be proud of "our" team no matter what.

Do you watch sports as a family? Will you be watching the game?

Tags: basketball, parenting (all tags)

John And Jenny Deaves: Madly In Love, And Traumatising The Hell Out Of UsYou know, we consider ourselves a fairly easy-going bunch here at Defamer Aus

2008-04-08T07:16:00.000-07:00

You know, we consider ourselves a fairly easy-going bunch here at Defamer Australia, but even we're finding it slightly difficult to continue reading about the romance between John and Jenny Deaves. If you have no idea what we're talking about (where have you been living, sirrah/madam? A cave in the middle of nowhere?), we'll briefly explain the situation.

On Sunday night, John and Jenny Deaves appeared on Sixty Minutes and proudly announced to the world that they're just another loving couple with a beautiful baby daughter - and oh, by the way, they are also father and daughter.

You can read a transcript of the interview (and watch them smooching) over on the 60 Minutes site.

In the interview, Jenny reveals her attraction upon meeting her pa. "I was looking at him, sort of going, oh, he's not too bad," she said. "Like you might look at a man across the bar at a nightclub."

To which we are forced to ask - what kind of bloody nightclubs are you going to, woman, where a man who looks like that is considered a right spunk?

Anyway. The pair are claiming they're an example of GSA (Genetic Sexual Attraction), which kicked into gear after they were finally reunited following a 30 year separation. But John's second wife has come forward to state that the two of them most certainly spent time together before their sexual relationship began in 2000, with a 15 year old Jenny attending their wedding and staying with them for a week back in 1984.

We located their joint profile on a Genetic Sexual Attraction support forum, and in almost every post they've made, there's a reference to Celeste's "healthy" status ("I am in a relationship with my biological father who I also was seperated (sic) from not long after birth. We have been in this wonderful relationship for 8 years now and we have a beautiful healthy daughter who is 9 months old.). Unfortunately, the first child they had together was not so lucky.

The child was conceived in Rockhampton, Queensland, but died a few days after birth because of a congenital heart disease, according to court records.

Look, we don't want to judge.

FOR GOD'S SAKE, IT'S YOUR DAD/DAUGHTER!

The world is a confusing and fucked up place, the heart is a frustratingly uncontrollable thing, etc.

DAD! DAUGHTER! NO NO NO NO NO DO NOT WANT, FAIL! FAIL!

But the more we hear about this couple's story, the worse it seems to get.

And with Jenny giving out advice like this -

If you feel that your daughter is flirting with you then there is a good chance that she also feels for you. Go with your gut feeling and do what you feel is right. As a mature adult I would hope that if she did not feel the same the two of you would at least be able to work it through and become great friends. You need to be at peace with yourself no matter what decision you make. We all need to keep in mind that it is illegal in most places and until we can make changes we do run the risk of charges being placed on us. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

- in forum topics titled "In Love with Daughter", well... needless to say we're a bit disturbed. And by disturbed, we obviously mean inspired to pen a flirty email to our single father.

"YOU ARE GOING TO HELL."

We know.

8:05 AM on Tue Apr 8 2008
by Jess McGuire
comment

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Tags: au family values john and jenny deaves men who are doubly spoiled on fathers day RELATED POSTS:
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Jayhawks Capture National Championship

2008-04-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

Trailing 60-51 with 2:12 left in regulation, the University of Kansas men's basketball team mounted a comeback that will go down as one of the most memorable in KU history to win the 2008 NCAA Division I National Championship Monday in the Alamodome. In overtime, Kansas defeated Memphis 75-68 for its fifth national title in school history.

Rosie Perez signed for Geena Davis pilot

2008-04-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

They've done the right thing at CBS in casting -- at least it seems right. Brooklyn native Rosie Perez will play Lorna, Geena Davis' cop partner on the force in Exit 19. I say it's the right thing, and good casting, because Lorna is supposed to be a Brooklyn girl. You can't get more authentic than Rosie Perez. She's a New Yorker through and through. In Exit 19, with Geena cast as a cop who works in the city while raising two kids in Long Island, the work atmosphere will likely seem a lot more realistic with Perez as her partner. If they can muster up the chemistry of a Cagney & Lacey, they'll be well on their way to a success. Of course, with Rosie all of five feet, one and a half inches and Geena a statuesque six feet, they're going to look like Mutt and Jeff.

Rosie also has the acting credentials to go with the attitude. Recently on TV, she was excellent in HBO's Lackawanna Blues (2005), and on the big screen, she was an Oscar-nominee for Fearless (1994). Her credits also include Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing and the sports comedy, White Man Can't Jump. She played Woody Harrelson fiery paramour in that film, one with a dream to someday hit the jackpot on Jeopardy. The film has one of the funniest TV scenes every put in a movie, when Rosie as Gloria finally makes her dream a reality.

In addition to Rosie Perez, Ramon Rodriguez and Amy Farrington have also been cast in Exit 19. Rodriguez, who was Renaldo in The Wire, has been slated to be a street-wise fellow cop and office flirt who who works with Gloria and Lorna. Amy Farrington, a sitcom regular who's been in many CBS shows -- The King of Queens, Two and a Half Men, Still Standing, Yes, Dear and The Adventures of Old Christine -- will be appearing in the show as Geena's neighbor in the 'burbs.
Tags: Brooklyn, Cagney Lacey, CagneyLacey, CBS, Exit 19, Exit19, Geena Davis, GeenaDavis, HBO, Lackawanna Blues, LackawannaBlues, Mutt and Jeff, MuttAndJeff, New Yorker, NewYorker, Rosie Perez, RosiePerez, The Wire, TheWire, Woody Harrelson, WoodyHarrelson

Wolf populations recovering, but under the gun again

2008-04-08T06:59:00.000-07:00

By Jim doherty
The Washington Post

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 05, 2008 - 12:00 am

One late summer afternoon in Alaska's Brooks Range, my wife and I encountered a pitch-black wolf poking its head above a thicket of willows. Standing awkwardly on its hind legs, it checked us out; then, curiosity apparently satisfied, it dropped down on all fours and loped off, wagging its bushy tail as if it didn't have a care in the world.

That was a few years ago. Today if there's one thing wolves aren't, it's carefree. Across Alaska and the far West to the upper Midwest, a new war on Canis lupus, the North American gray wolf, or timber wolf, is underway.

By the time the wolf became one of the first animals to be covered by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, it had been hunted, trapped and poisoned into extinction everywhere in the contiguous United States except Montana and Minnesota. Its amazing resurgence since then is one of the nation's great environmental success stories. But if the ranchers, hunters and other special interests prosecuting the new campaign against it are victorious, they will undermine not only the law that gave rise to endangered-species recovery but also the integrity of ecosystems in which wolves historically have played a vital role.

When the Bush administration decided recently to terminate federal protection for wolves throughout the northern Rocky Mountains by the end of this month, one Interior Department official said it was because the animals have become so numerous that they no longer need Uncle Sam to watch over them. In fact, the decision had nothing to do with numbers and everything to do with politics. Transferring the responsibility for managing wolves to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming now is a farewell gift from the outgoing president to his staunch supporters in a part of the country where hating wolves is the code of the hills.

Howling out loud

As ranchers see it, the wolf's special status is a symbol of the Washington bureaucrats who exist primarily to shove onerous regulations down their throats. So the wolf handoff can be easily viewed as the settling of an old score. Idaho's Republican governor, C.L. "Butch" Otter, has vowed to "bid for that first ticket to shoot a wolf myself." Wyoming's Gov. Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat, goes Otter one better: "In terms of reducing the packs, that's always been a state objective from the outset."

Together, the three states are determined to whack back the 1,500 wolves currently occupying the Rocky Mountain region by as much as 80 percent, to a barely sustainable minimum of 300, even though dozens of distinguished scientists believe that assuring the future of this still-recovering species would require a population of somewhere between 2,000 and 5,000.

Wyoming has come up with the toughest wolf-management plan. In addition to authorizing an annual trophy hunt in the vicinity of Yellowstone National Park, it gives ranchers carte blanche to shoot wolves on sight everywhere else. Freudenthal says he doubts that "any packs outside Yellowstone . . . . are even necessary."

The Western states lobbied long and hard to get wolves back under their jurisdiction, but it wasn't until former Idaho governor Dirk Kempthorne was appointed secretary of the interior two years ago that they began to make headway.

A coalition of environmental groups has served notice that it will attempt to block what is euphemistically referred to as "lethal control" in a federal court next month - but by then, wolves will already be under the gun. Can each of the three state game and fish departments monitor its ,.wolf packs diligently enough to ensure that they don't disappear altogether?

In Wisconsin, where I live, agitation to "do something" about wolves was on the upswing long before the state took over management of the 600 or so animals that roam here a year ago. Hunters complained about depredations on game and dogs. Livestock owners were upset about assaults on cattle and sheep. Adding fuel to the fire was the usual hyperbole about wolves attacking children, menacing hunters and chasing joggers. The other day, I saw a bumper sticker on a pickup truck outside a local saloon that proclaimed: "Wolves: The original terrorists!"

Polls show that most Wisconsin residents are laissez faire about wolves, but those who loathe them wield far more political clout. On April 14, an influential sportsmen's group will ask its members statewide how they feel about a "public harvest." This is almost certainly a prelude to the initiation of hunting and trapping seasons aimed at bringing wolves - now concentrated in the north, but dispersing southward - more in line with the state's "target population" of 350 animals.

There's a huge disconnect here. Deer populations are out of control, especially in the southern part of the state. If, in the absence of wolves, deer overrun their habitat, the inevitable result will be a ruined environment and starving animals.

Wolves in the timber

This is what I see going on in my neck of the woods, in the southwestern part of the state. Hungry deer are swarming over our evergreens and fruit trees like hooved locusts. Native plants are disappearing, and most of the wild-growing cherry, oak and maple saplings have long since been chewed up. Just as alarming, scientists have discovered a link between overcrowding and the spread of chronic wasting disease, a deadly brain infection that affects deer. And deer aren't the only problem. A number of national parks and forests in the West are contending with the severe environmental consequences of exploding elk populations. One solution some planners are considering involves, wouldn't you know, reintroducing wolves.

Rob Lowe and Wife Sue Former Nanny

2008-04-08T06:57:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rob Lowe and his wife are suing their former nanny, claiming she told secrets and lies about their family.

The complaint filed Monday in a Los Angeles Superior Court asks for at least $1,000,000 in damages and charges Laura Boyce with violating a confidentiality agreement, defamation and infliction of emotional distress on the former "West Wing" star; his wife, Sheryl; and their two sons.

Boyce was hired to take care of their sons for most of 2007 before she quit in November, according to the complaint.

The court papers make no specific reference to what information Boyce passed along, or to whom, only that Boyce had "betrayed their trust and engaged in a scheme to hurt the Lowes by spreading malicious lies" both during and after she served as a nanny.

It wasn't clear whether Boyce had hired an attorney. A message left at a phone number listed in her name wasn't immediately returned.

Lowe, 44, is appearing on ABC's "Brothers and Sisters." His screen credits include "Wayne's World," "St. Elmo's Fire" and "The Outsiders."

Both sides react to teen-beating video

2008-04-08T06:56:00.000-07:00

LAKELAND - You can hear the girls yelling and threatening the 16-year-old as the punches are thrown. Victoria Lindsay endured several beatings, girls hitting her over and over again in the head, knocking her unconscious, then attacking again as she comes to.

"She just didn't deserve to be beat down like a dog," said Patrick Lindsay, the victim's father.

"When you see your daughter, who's not striking back to defend herself, and someone keeps coming at you like that -- it's just, it's a horrible thing," added Talisa Lindsay, the victim's mother.

Deputies say the suspects attacked the teenager in retaliation for comments posted on her MySpace page, then threatened to post video of it on the internet.

But her parents believe she was set up, after someone hacked into her MySpace account.

"For whatever reason, this MySpace, this YouTube, it's gone too far. And what it's doing to our kids, it's just too much," Talisa Lindsay continued.

Eight teenagers are now charged with third-degree felonies for battery and false imprisonment. Stephen Schumaker, 18, was among those arrested.

"I don't see how I'm getting charged as a look out and this and that. It's just, I don't see why I'm even in this situation, you know," he told FOX 13.

Deputies say he was a lookout during the beating, but Schumaker denies it.

"That's messed up, to videotape it and then go and say we beat this girl up, hahahaha. It's a bunch of little girl stuff, really," he added.

But that's not the way the victim's parents see it. Their daughter, who was an honor roll student and a cheerleader, now has scars that won't heal easily.

"She's having nightmares over it. She's emotionally upset still about it because there's a lot of talk," Talisa Lindsay said.

"She's scared. Scared to go back to school, scared to go out in public because she's afraid of repercussions that may happen," Patrick Lindsay added.

New York kids we're looking for you

2008-04-08T06:50:00.000-07:00

Ringmaster Tony Tone (front) and his sidekick Zeke at a recent UniverSoul show.

Step right up ... and then get down. The UniverSoul Circus is coming to town.

Fueled by a hip-hop, R&B and gospel soundtrack, the one-ring show arrives on Wednesday for a five-week stint in Brooklyn's Prospect Park, Roy Wilkins Park in Queens and Orchard Beach in the Bronx.

"It's a party circus," says Nicolle A. Munroe, 40, of Brooklyn, who first attended last year with family and plans to return this spring.

"It's an opportunity to not just see a show, but to have a good time participating in it, getting all hyped and excited. The music they play is part of the daily lives of people who live in Brooklyn. This circus caters to the multitude of cultures with soul."

Incorporating hits by stars such as Rihanna, Soulja Boy, OutKast and Alicia Keys, UniverSoul wins points for being hip, wrangling an audience that may not otherwise be interested in an attraction that dates back to ancient Rome.

"We are the hip-hop generation," says UniverSoul founder Cedric Walker, who got his start staging music and gospel theater shows.

"We [reflect] the music, the fashion, the energy that transcends global culture. The young generation generally entertains itself with video games and various technologies, but the spirit of our show gets their attention."

Once a platform to showcase African-American entertainers, UniverSoul now incorporates international acts from as far away as China (acrobats), Guinea (contortionists) and Russia (swings). Unlike arena-style events packed with nosebleed seats, no audience member is farther than 50 feet away under this tent. (Three lucky New York children can get even closer; visit www.universoulcircus.com for details on how to win a spot performing in the ring.)

Celebrating its 15th anniversary, UniverSoul's theme this year is jabulani, the Zulu word for "joy, happiness and laughter."

"That's what we're bringing under the big top," says Ameera Diamond, who does daring tricks on horses and is married to El Niche, the tiger trainer. But she's quick to note that the five boroughs bring jabulani, too.

"The New York audience has a great vibe, and are very honest. If we're not bringing it, they'll let us know."

We are kicking off a contest in NYC and will be looking for kids to be a part of our 15th Anniversary show while we are in the area starting Wednesday, March 26!

All we need is a clip of their incredible act and they could win a spot in the show and a fun night for their family and friends.

You can find out how to enter here: http://universoulcircus.com/kidsearch/

In the meantime check out two of our amazing UniverSoul kids, Helene and Norbert who are 11 and 12 year old contortionists from Africa.

David Petraeus

2008-04-08T06:46:00.000-07:00

General David Howell Petraeus, USA (born November 7, 1952 in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York) is the Commanding General, Multi-National Force - Iraq (MNF-I). He was confirmed to that position by the Senate in a vote of 81–0 on January 26, 2007, and he assumed command on February 10, 2007, replacing General George Casey, who was subsequently confirmed as Chief of Staff of the United States Army. As Commander of MNF-I, Petraeus oversees all coalition forces in Iraq and carries out the Iraq strategy plan outlined by the Bush administration.[1][2]

Petraeus was the General George C. Marshall Award winner as the top graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College—class of 1983.[3] He subsequently earned a Masters Degree in Public and International Affairs (1985) and a PhD (1987) in International Relations from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. He later served as Assistant Professor of International Relations at the U.S. Military Academy and also completed a fellowship at Georgetown University. He has a BS from the U.S. Military Academy—class of 1974—from which he graduated as a distinguished cadet (top 5% of his class).

Time named Petraeus 33rd out of the 100 most influential leaders and revolutionaries of 2007 as well as one of its four runners up for Time Person of the Year.[4][5] He was also named the second most influential American conservative by The Daily Telegraph[6] as well as The Daily Telegraph's 2007 Man of the Year[7] and "America's most respected soldier" by Der Spiegel in 2008.[8] Some press accounts have reported Petraeus's alleged "long-term interest in running for the US presidency", which has been cited by critics as motivation for supporting the Republican party's position on the war in Iraq.[9][10][11] Petraeus has categorically denied political ambitions, though, on numerous occasions.[12][13][14]

Early years
David Petraeus was born in 1952 to Dutch American parents. His father, Sixtus, was a sea captain who had emigrated to the United States from the Netherlands during the initial phase of World War II.[15] Sixtus married an American woman and settled in Cornwall on Hudson where David Petraeus was born, grew up and graduated from Cornwall Central High School in 1970. Residents called him 'peaches' in reference to his often-mispronounced last name[16] and his lack of facial hair,[17] the nickname stuck with him as a cadet.[18]

Petraeus then went on to the U.S. Military Academy in nearby West Point. Petraeus was on the intercollegiate soccer and ski teams, was a cadet captain on the brigade staff, and was a "distinguished cadet" academically, graduating in the top 5% of the Class of 1974 (ranked 43rd overall). In the class yearbook, Petraeus was remembered as "always going for it in sports, academics, leadership, and even his social life."[19]

Two months after graduation Petraeus married Holly Knowlton, a graduate from Dickinson College and daughter of retired Army General William A. Knowlton who was superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy (West Point) at the time. They have two grown children.

Army career

Education and academia
Petraeus graduated from West Point in 1974. He returned to the military academy in 1981. He earned the General George C. Marshall Award as the top graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Class of 1983 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He subsequently earned a MPA in 1985 and a Ph.D. in international relations in 1987 from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and later served as an Assistant Professor of International Relations at the U.S. Military Academy. His doctoral dissertation, "The American Military and the Lessons of Vietnam: A Study of Military Influence and the Use of Force in the Post-Vietnam Era," dealt with the influence of the Vietnam War on military thinking regarding the use of force.[20] He also completed a military fellowship at Georgetown's School of Foreign Service in 1994–1995, although he was called away early to serve in Haiti.

From late 2005 through February 2007,[21] Petraeus served as commanding general of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center (CAC) located there. As commander of CAC, Petraeus was responsible for oversight of the Command and General Staff College and seventeen other schools, centers, and training programs as well as for development of the Army’s doctrinal manuals, training the Army’s officers, and supervising the Army’s center for the collection and dissemination of lessons learned. During his time at CAC, Petraeus and Marine Lt. Gen.James N. Mattis jointly oversaw the writing of Field Manual 3-24 (on counter-insurgency), the body of which was written by a variety of field-grade Army officers and other experts.[22]

Military Operations

1970s
Upon his graduation from West Point in 1974, he was commissioned an infantry officer. He began his career with an assignment to a light infantry unit, the 509th Airborne Infantry Battalion at Vicenza, Italy; ever since, light infantry has been at the core of his career, punctuated by assignments to mechanized units, command staffs, and educational institutions. After leaving the 509th as a first lieutenant, Petraeus began a brief association with mechanized units when he became assistant operations officer on the staff of the 2nd Brigade, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Stewart, Georgia, and in 1979, when he was promoted to captain, he was charged with a company in the same division: Company A, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized). In 1978–1979, he also served as operations officer to the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized)'s 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized) and its 1st Brigade.

1980s
In 1981, Petraeus became aide-de-camp to the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized)'s commanding general.[23] He spent much of the 1980s in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and West Point to pursue further military education. After earning his Ph.D. and teaching at West Point, Petraeus continued up the rungs of the command ladder, serving as military assistant to Gen. John Galvin, the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. From there, he moved to the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) and then to a post as aide and assistant executive officer to the U.S. Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Carl Vuono, in Washington, D.C.

1990s
Upon promotion to lieutenant colonel, Petraeus moved from the office of the Chief of Staff to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he commanded the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)'s 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment from 1991–1993. As battalion commander of the Iron Rakkasans, he suffered one of the more dramatic incidents in his career when, in 1991, he was accidentally shot in the chest during a live-fire exercise when a soldier tripped and his rifle discharged. He was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, where he was operated on by future U.S. Senator Bill Frist. The hospital released him early after he did fifty push ups without resting, just a few days after the accident.[24][25]

During 1993–94, Petraeus continued his long association with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) as the division's Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 (plans, operations and training) and installation Director of Plans, Training, and Mobilization (DPTM). In 1995, he was assigned to the United Nations Mission in Haiti Military Staff as its Chief Military Operations Officer during Operation Uphold Democracy. His next command, from 1995–97, was the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, centered on the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. At that post, his brigade's training cycle at Fort Polk's Joint Readiness Training Center for low-intensity warfare was chronicled by novelist and military enthusiast Tom Clancy in his book "Airborne". From 1997-99 Petraeus served in the Pentagon as Executive Assistant to the Director of the Joint Staff and then to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Henry Shelton. In 1999, as a brigadier general, Petraeus returned to the 82nd, serving as the assistant division commander for operations and then, briefly, as acting commanding general. During his time with the 82nd, he deployed to Kuwait as part of Operation Desert Spring, the continuous rotation of combat forces through Kuwait during the decade after the Gulf War.

2000s

Camp New Jersey, Kuwait (March 21, 2003)—Major General David H. Petraeus (right), commanding general, 101st Airborne Division, (Air Assault) looks on as Lieutenant General William S. Wallace, V Corps commanding general speaks to soldiers.From the 82nd, he moved on to serve as Chief of Staff of XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg during 2000–2001. In 2000, Petraeus suffered his second major injury, when, during a civilian skydiving jump, his parachute collapsed at low altitude due to a hook turn, resulting in a hard landing that broke his pelvis. He was promoted to Major General in 2001.[26] During 2001–2002, as a brigadier general, Petraeus served a ten-month tour in Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of Operation Joint Forge. In Bosnia, he was the NATO Stabilization Force Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations as well as the Deputy Commander of the U.S. Joint Interagency Counter-Terrorism Task Force, a command created after the September 11 attacks to add a counterterrorism capability to the U.S. forces attached to the NATO command in Bosnia. In 2004, he was promoted to Lieutenant General.[27] In 2007, he was promoted to General.[28]

Involvement in the Iraq War

101st Airborne Division
In 2003, Petraeus, then a major general, saw his first combat when he commanded the 101st Airborne Division during V Corps's drive to Baghdad. In a campaign chronicled in detail by Rick Atkinson of The Washington Post in the book In the Company of Soldiers, Petraeus led his division through fierce fighting in Karbala, Hilla, and Najaf. Following the fall of Baghdad, the division conducted the longest heliborne assault on record in order to reach Ninawa Province, where it would spend much of 2003. The 1st Brigade was responsible for the area south of Mosul, the 2nd Brigade for the city itself, and the 3rd Brigade for the region stretching toward the Syrian border. An often-repeated story of Petraeus's time with the 101st is his asking of embedded Washington Post reporter Rick Atkinson to "Tell me how this ends,"[29] an anecdote he and other journalists have used to portray Petraeus as an early recognizer of the difficulties that would follow the fall of Baghdad.[30][31][32][33][34][35]

Petraeus oversaw a program of public works and political reinvigoration in Mosul,[36][37] launching 4,500 reconstruction projects.[38] The New York Times has stated that "from the first day they arrived in Mosul, Bravo Company and the rest of the 101st Airborne Division were saddled with dozens of other missions, all of them distinctly nonmilitary, and most of them made necessary by the failure of civilian leaders in Washington and Baghdad to prepare for the occupation of Iraq."[39] Some Iraqis gave Petraeus the nickname 'King David',[40][41] which was later adopted by some of his colleagues.[42][43][44] Newsweek has stated that "It's widely accepted that no force worked harder to win Iraqi hearts and minds than the 101st Air Assault Division led by Petraeus."[45]

One of the General's major public works was the restoration and re-opening of the University of Mosul.[46][47][48] Petraeus strongly supported the use of commanders' discretionary funds for public works, telling Coalition Provisional Authority director L. Paul Bremer "Money is ammunition" during the director's first visit to Mosul.[49][50] Petraeus' often repeated[51][52][53][54] catchphrase[55] was later incorporated into official military briefings[56][57] and was also eventually incorporated into the U.S. Army Counterinsurgency Field Manual coauthored by Petraeus.[58]

Former diplomat Peter Galbraith criticised Petraeus' command of the 101st, saying his achievements have been exaggerated and his reputation is inflated.[59] He wrote for The New York Review of Books that "Petraeus ignored warnings from America's Kurdish allies that he was appointing the wrong people to key positions in Mosul's local government and police. A few months after he left the city, the Petraeus-appointed local police commander defected to the insurgency while the Sunni Arab police handed their weapons and uniforms over en masse to the insurgents."[60] Ahmed S. Hashim wrote in Insurgency and Counter-Insurgency in Iraq that, initially, "The city was also quiet because it acted as a staging ground for attacks elsewhere" and "By late 2003, however, the city had descended into a sprial of violence."[61]

The Guardian quoted an anonymous US diplomat saying "Mosul basically collapsed after he left".[62] The San Francisco Chronicle has stated that "By the end of 2004, insurgents took over most of Mosul, burning down police stations and prompting Americans to evacuate one of their bases".[63] Time magazine blogger Joe Klein argued that the deterioration on the ground was due to changes to the city's administration by then Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.[64]

Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq
In June 2004, less than six months after the 101st returned to the U.S., Petraeus was promoted to lieutenant general and charged with the task of training the new Iraqi Army and security forces as commander of the Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq.

In September 2004, Petraeus wrote an article for The Washington Post in which he lauded the progress he said was being made by Iraqi security forces, stating that "Six battalions of the Iraqi regular army and the Iraqi Intervention Force are now conducting operations ... Within the next 60 days, six more regular army and six additional Intervention Force battalions will become operational. Nine more regular army battalions will complete training in January, in time to help with security missions during the Iraqi elections at the end of that month... By early spring, nine academies in Iraq and one in Jordan will be graduating a total of 5,000 police each month from the eight-week course".[65]

However, according to former Interim Iraq Governing Council member Ali A. Allawi in The Occupation of Iraq: Winning the War, Losing the Peace, "under the very noses of the security transition command, officials both inside and outside the ministry of defense were planning to embezzle most, if not all, of the procurement budget of the army."[66] The Washington Post stated in August 2007 that the Pentagon had lost track of approximately 30% of weapons supplied to the Iraqi security forces. The General Accounting Office said that the weapons distribution was haphazard, rushed, and did not follow established procedures-- particularly from 2004 to 2005 when security training was led by Petraeus.[67][68] Over a hundred thousand AK-47 assault rifles and pistols were misplaced. Some of the missing weapons may have been abducted by Iraqi insurgents.[69][70] Thousands of body armour pieces have also been lost.[71] The Independent has stated that the military believed "the situation on the ground was so urgent, and the agency responsible for recording the transfers of arms so short staffed, that field commanders had little choice in the matter."[72] The Pentagon has started its own investigation.[73]

Multi-National Force - Iraq (Spring 2007)

The commanding general of the 9th Iraqi Army Division, right, speaks with a journalist from the Al-Arabiyah news channel, left, as they walk with General David Petraeus, center, through the Al Shurja market in the Rusafa area of East Baghdad, March 11, 2007.In January 2007, as part of his overhauled Iraq strategy, President George W. Bush announced that Petraeus would succeed Gen. George Casey as commanding general of MNF-I to lead all U.S. troops in Iraq. On January 24, Petraeus testified before the Senate on his ideas for Iraq, particularly the "surge" strategy of increased U.S. presence in Baghdad that he supports as in line with classic counterinsurgency doctrine. The "surge" strategy, as well as the ideas Petraeus included in FM 3-24, have been referred to by some journalists and politicians as the "Petraeus Doctrine," although the surge itself was proposed well before Petraeus took command. Despite the misgivings of most Democratic and a few Republican senators over the proposed implementation of the "Petraeus Doctrine" in Iraq, specifically regarding the troop surge, Petraeus was unanimously confirmed as a four-star general and MNF-I commander on January 27.[74][75]

Before leaving for Iraq Petraeus recruited a number of highly educated military officers, nicknamed "Petraeus guys" or "designated thinkers," to advise him as commander, including Col. Mike Meese, head of the Social Science Department at West Point and Col. H.R. McMaster, famous for his leadership at the Battle of 73 Easting in the Gulf War and in the pacification of Tal Afar more recently, as well as for his doctoral dissertation on Vietnam-era civil-military relations entitled Dereliction of Duty. While most of Petraeus's closest advisers are American military officers, he also hired Lt. Col. David Kilcullen of the Australian Army, who was working for the US State Department.[76]

Since taking command of MNF-I on February 10, 2007, Petraeus has inspected U.S. and Iraqi units all over Iraq, visiting outposts in greater Baghdad, Tikrit, Baquba, Ramadi, and as far west as al-Hit. In April 2007, Petraeus made his first visit to Washington as MNF-I commander, reporting to President Bush and Congress on the progress of the "surge" and the overall situation in Iraq. During this visit he met privately with members of Congress and reportedly argued against setting a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq.[77]

By late May 2007, Congress did not impose any timetables in war funding legislation for troop withdrawal.[78] The enacted legislation did mandate that Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, deliver a report to Congress by September 15, 2007 detailing their assessment of the military, economic and political situation of Iraq. Despite Petraeus’ statement in June 2007 that there were “astonishing signs of normalcy” in Baghdad,[79] which drew criticism from Senate majority leader Harry Reid,[80] Petraeus has warned that he expects that the situation in Iraq will require the continued deployment of the elevated troop level of more than 150,000 beyond September 2007; he also has stated that U.S. involvement in Iraq could last years afterward.[81]

Multi-National Force - Iraq (Summer and Fall 2007)

General Petraeus briefs reporters at the Pentagon April 26, 2007, on his view of the current military situation in Iraq.
A controversial full-page political advertisement by Moveon.org in the September 10, 2007 edition of The New York TimesIn July 2007, Petraeus released his interim report on Iraq, which stated that coalition forces had made satisfactory progress on 6 of 18 benchmarks set by Congress. On September 7, 2007, in a letter addressed to the troops he was commanding, Petraeus wrote that much military progress had been made, but that the political progress that was hoped for had not been achieved.[82] Petraeus' final report on Iraq was delivered to Congress on September 10, 2007.

On August 15, 2007, The Los Angeles Times stated that, according to unnamed administration officials, the report "would actually be written by the White House, with inputs from officials throughout the government."[83] Petraeus declared in his testimony to Congress that "I wrote this testimony myself." He further elaborated that his testimony to Congress, which was not given under oath,[84] "has not been cleared by, nor shared with, anyone in the Pentagon, the White House, or Congress."[85]

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada argued Petraeus' "plan is just more of the same" and "is neither a drawdown or a change in mission that we need." Democratic Representative Robert Wexler of Florida accused Petraeus of “cherry-picking statistics” and “massaging information”.[86] Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Lantos of California called the General and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker "Two of our nation's most capable public servants" and said Democrats feel "esteem for their professionalism." He also said that "We can no longer take their assertions on Iraq at face value"; concluding, "We need to get out of Iraq, for that country's sake as well as our own."[87]

Republican Presidential candidate Duncan Hunter called the report "a candid, independent assessment given with integrity".[88] Republican Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona stated that "I commend General Petraeus for his honest and forthright assessment of the situation in Iraq."[89] Anti-war Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska criticized the report while praising Petraeus, saying "It's not your fault, general... It's not Ambassador Crocker's fault. It's this administration's fault."[90] A USA Today/Gallup poll taken after Petraeus' report to Congress showed virtually no change in public opinion toward the war.[91] A Pew Research Center survey found that most Americans who have heard about the report approve of Petraeus' recommendations.[92]

On September 20, the Senate passed an amendment by Republican John Cornyn III of Texas designed to "strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus". Cornyn drafted the amendment in response to a controversial full-page ad by Moveon.org in the September 10, 2007 edition of The New York Times. All forty-nine Republican Senators and twenty-two Democratic Senators voted in support.[93] The House passed a similar resolution by a 341-79 vote on September 26.[94]

In December 2007, The Washington Post's "Fact Checker" stated that "While some of Petraeus's statistics are open to challenge, his claims about a general reduction in violence have been borne out over subsequent months. It now looks as if Petraeus was broadly right on this issue at least".[95]

In October 2007, Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker created an updated plan for organizing U.S. forces in Iraq. One of the major points will be "shifting the U.S. military effort to focus more on countering Shiite militias".[96]

Multi-National Force - Iraq (Spring 2008)
Petraeus will make another assessment and offer new recommendations on April 2008.[97] USA Today has stated that Petraeus "will be able to tick off a list of undisputed military achievements."[97] On February 18, 2008, USA Today stated that "the U.S. effort has shown more success" and that, after the number of troops reached its peak in fall 2007, "U.S. deaths were at their lowest levels since the 2003 invasion, civilian casualties were down, and street life was resuming in Baghdad."[97]Petraeus told on March 19, 2008 Iran continues to support Iraqi insurgents and Syria is allowing foreign fighters passage into Iraq.[98]

Early years
David Petraeus was born in 1952 to Dutch American parents. His father, Sixtus, was a sea captain who had emigrated to the United States from the Netherlands during the initial phase of World War II.[15] Sixtus married an American woman and settled in Cornwall on Hudson where David Petraeus was born, grew up and graduated from Cornwall Central High School in 1970. Residents called him 'peaches' in reference to his often-mispronounced last name[16] and his lack of facial hair,[17] the nickname stuck with him as a cadet.[18]

Petraeus then went on to the U.S. Military Academy in nearby West Point. Petraeus was on the intercollegiate soccer and ski teams, was a cadet captain on the brigade staff, and was a "distinguished cadet" academically, graduating in the top 5% of the Class of 1974 (ranked 43rd overall). In the class yearbook, Petraeus was remembered as "always going for it in sports, academics, leadership, and even his social life."[19]

Two months after graduation Petraeus married Holly Knowlton, a graduate from Dickinson College and daughter of retired Army General William A. Knowlton who was superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy (West Point) at the time. They have two grown children.

Army career

Education and academia
Petraeus graduated from West Point in 1974. He returned to the military academy in 1981. He earned the General George C. Marshall Award as the top graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Class of 1983 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He subsequently earned a MPA in 1985 and a Ph.D. in international relations in 1987 from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and later served as an Assistant Professor of International Relations at the U.S. Military Academy. His doctoral dissertation, "The American Military and the Lessons of Vietnam: A Study of Military Influence and the Use of Force in the Post-Vietnam Era," dealt with the influence of the Vietnam War on military thinking regarding the use of force.[20] He also completed a military fellowship at Georgetown's School of Foreign Service in 1994–1995, although he was called away early to serve in Haiti.

From late 2005 through February 2007,[21] Petraeus served as commanding general of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center (CAC) located there. As commander of CAC, Petraeus was responsible for oversight of the Command and General Staff College and seventeen other schools, centers, and training programs as well as for development of the Army’s doctrinal manuals, training the Army’s officers, and supervising the Army’s center for the collection and dissemination of lessons learned. During his time at CAC, Petraeus and Marine Lt. Gen.James N. Mattis jointly oversaw the writing of Field Manual 3-24 (on counter-insurgency), the body of which was written by a variety of field-grade Army officers and other experts.[22]

Military Operations

1970s
Upon his graduation from West Point in 1974, he was commissioned an infantry officer. He began his career with an assignment to a light infantry unit, the 509th Airborne Infantry Battalion at Vicenza, Italy; ever since, light infantry has been at the core of his career, punctuated by assignments to mechanized units, command staffs, and educational institutions. After leaving the 509th as a first lieutenant, Petraeus began a brief association with mechanized units when he became assistant operations officer on the staff of the 2nd Brigade, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Stewart, Georgia, and in 1979, when he was promoted to captain, he was charged with a company in the same division: Company A, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized). In 1978–1979, he also served as operations officer to the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized)'s 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized) and its 1st Brigade.

1980s
In 1981, Petraeus became aide-de-camp to the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized)'s commanding general.[23] He spent much of the 1980s in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and West Point to pursue further military education. After earning his Ph.D. and teaching at West Point, Petraeus continued up the rungs of the command ladder, serving as military assistant to Gen. John Galvin, the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. From there, he moved to the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) and then to a post as aide and assistant executive officer to the U.S. Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Carl Vuono, in Washington, D.C.

1990s
Upon promotion to lieutenant colonel, Petraeus moved from the office of the Chief of Staff to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he commanded the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)'s 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment from 1991–1993. As battalion commander of the Iron Rakkasans, he suffered one of the more dramatic incidents in his career when, in 1991, he was accidentally shot in the chest during a live-fire exercise when a soldier tripped and his rifle discharged. He was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, where he was operated on by future U.S. Senator Bill Frist. The hospital released him early after he did fifty push ups without resting, just a few days after the accident.[24][25]

During 1993–94, Petraeus continued his long association with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) as the division's Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 (plans, operations and training) and installation Director of Plans, Training, and Mobilization (DPTM). In 1995, he was assigned to the United Nations Mission in Haiti Military Staff as its Chief Military Operations Officer during Operation Uphold Democracy. His next command, from 1995–97, was the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, centered on the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. At that post, his brigade's training cycle at Fort Polk's Joint Readiness Training Center for low-intensity warfare was chronicled by novelist and military enthusiast Tom Clancy in his book "Airborne". From 1997-99 Petraeus served in the Pentagon as Executive Assistant to the Director of the Joint Staff and then to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Henry Shelton. In 1999, as a brigadier general, Petraeus returned to the 82nd, serving as the assistant division commander for operations and then, briefly, as acting commanding general. During his time with the 82nd, he deployed to Kuwait as part of Operation Desert Spring, the continuous rotation of combat forces through Kuwait during the decade after the Gulf War.

2000s

Camp New Jersey, Kuwait (March 21, 2003)—Major General David H. Petraeus (right), commanding general, 101st Airborne Division, (Air Assault) looks on as Lieutenant General William S. Wallace, V Corps commanding general speaks to soldiers.From the 82nd, he moved on to serve as Chief of Staff of XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg during 2000–2001. In 2000, Petraeus suffered his second major injury, when, during a civilian skydiving jump, his parachute collapsed at low altitude due to a hook turn, resulting in a hard landing that broke his pelvis. He was promoted to Major General in 2001.[26] During 2001–2002, as a brigadier general, Petraeus served a ten-month tour in Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of Operation Joint Forge. In Bosnia, he was the NATO Stabilization Force Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations as well as the Deputy Commander of the U.S. Joint Interagency Counter-Terrorism Task Force, a command created after the September 11 attacks to add a counterterrorism capability to the U.S. forces attached to the NATO command in Bosnia. In 2004, he was promoted to Lieutenant General.[27] In 2007, he was promoted to General.[28]

Involvement in the Iraq War

101st Airborne Division
In 2003, Petraeus, then a major general, saw his first combat when he commanded the 101st Airborne Division during V Corps's drive to Baghdad. In a campaign chronicled in detail by Rick Atkinson of The Washington Post in the book In the Company of Soldiers, Petraeus led his division through fierce fighting in Karbala, Hilla, and Najaf. Following the fall of Baghdad, the division conducted the longest heliborne assault on record in order to reach Ninawa Province, where it would spend much of 2003. The 1st Brigade was responsible for the area south of Mosul, the 2nd Brigade for the city itself, and the 3rd Brigade for the region stretching toward the Syrian border. An often-repeated story of Petraeus's time with the 101st is his asking of embedded Washington Post reporter Rick Atkinson to "Tell me how this ends,"[29] an anecdote he and other journalists have used to portray Petraeus as an early recognizer of the difficulties that would follow the fall of Baghdad.[30][31][32][33][34][35]

Petraeus oversaw a program of public works and political reinvigoration in Mosul,[36][37] launching 4,500 reconstruction projects.[38] The New York Times has stated that "from the first day they arrived in Mosul, Bravo Company and the rest of the 101st Airborne Division were saddled with dozens of other missions, all of them distinctly nonmilitary, and most of them made necessary by the failure of civilian leaders in Washington and Baghdad to prepare for the occupation of Iraq."[39] Some Iraqis gave Petraeus the nickname 'King David',[40][41] which was later adopted by some of his colleagues.[42][43][44] Newsweek has stated that "It's widely accepted that no force worked harder to win Iraqi hearts and minds than the 101st Air Assault Division led by Petraeus."[45]

One of the General's major public works was the restoration and re-opening of the University of Mosul.[46][47][48] Petraeus strongly supported the use of commanders' discretionary funds for public works, telling Coalition Provisional Authority director L. Paul Bremer "Money is ammunition" during the director's first visit to Mosul.[49][50] Petraeus' often repeated[51][52][53][54] catchphrase[55] was later incorporated into official military briefings[56][57] and was also eventually incorporated into the U.S. Army Counterinsurgency Field Manual coauthored by Petraeus.[58]

Former diplomat Peter Galbraith criticised Petraeus' command of the 101st, saying his achievements have been exaggerated and his reputation is inflated.[59] He wrote for The New York Review of Books that "Petraeus ignored warnings from America's Kurdish allies that he was appointing the wrong people to key positions in Mosul's local government and police. A few months after he left the city, the Petraeus-appointed local police commander defected to the insurgency while the Sunni Arab police handed their weapons and uniforms over en masse to the insurgents."[60] Ahmed S. Hashim wrote in Insurgency and Counter-Insurgency in Iraq that, initially, "The city was also quiet because it acted as a staging ground for attacks elsewhere" and "By late 2003, however, the city had descended into a sprial of violence."[61]

The Guardian quoted an anonymous US diplomat saying "Mosul basically collapsed after he left".[62] The San Francisco Chronicle has stated that "By the end of 2004, insurgents took over most of Mosul, burning down police stations and prompting Americans to evacuate one of their bases".[63] Time magazine blogger Joe Klein argued that the deterioration on the ground was due to changes to the city's administration by then Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.[64]

Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq
In June 2004, less than six months after the 101st returned to the U.S., Petraeus was promoted to lieutenant general and charged with the task of training the new Iraqi Army and security forces as commander of the Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq.

In September 2004, Petraeus wrote an article for The Washington Post in which he lauded the progress he said was being made by Iraqi security forces, stating that "Six battalions of the Iraqi regular army and the Iraqi Intervention Force are now conducting operations ... Within the next 60 days, six more regular army and six additional Intervention Force battalions will become operational. Nine more regular army battalions will complete training in January, in time to help with security missions during the Iraqi elections at the end of that month... By early spring, nine academies in Iraq and one in Jordan will be graduating a total of 5,000 police each month from the eight-week course".[65]

However, according to former Interim Iraq Governing Council member Ali A. Allawi in The Occupation of Iraq: Winning the War, Losing the Peace, "under the very noses of the security transition command, officials both inside and outside the ministry of defense were planning to embezzle most, if not all, of the procurement budget of the army."[66] The Washington Post stated in August 2007 that the Pentagon had lost track of approximately 30% of weapons supplied to the Iraqi security forces. The General Accounting Office said that the weapons distribution was haphazard, rushed, and did not follow established procedures-- particularly from 2004 to 2005 when security training was led by Petraeus.[67][68] Over a hundred thousand AK-47 assault rifles and pistols were misplaced. Some of the missing weapons may have been abducted by Iraqi insurgents.[69][70] Thousands of body armour pieces have also been lost.[71] The Independent has stated that the military believed "the situation on the ground was so urgent, and the agency responsible for recording the transfers of arms so short staffed, that field commanders had little choice in the matter."[72] The Pentagon has started its own investigation.[73]

Multi-National Force - Iraq (Spring 2007)

The commanding general of the 9th Iraqi Army Division, right, speaks with a journalist from the Al-Arabiyah news channel, left, as they walk with General David Petraeus, center, through the Al Shurja market in the Rusafa area of East Baghdad, March 11, 2007.In January 2007, as part of his overhauled Iraq strategy, President George W. Bush announced that Petraeus would succeed Gen. George Casey as commanding general of MNF-I to lead all U.S. troops in Iraq. On January 24, Petraeus testified before the Senate on his ideas for Iraq, particularly the "surge" strategy of increased U.S. presence in Baghdad that he supports as in line with classic counterinsurgency doctrine. The "surge" strategy, as well as the ideas Petraeus included in FM 3-24, have been referred to by some journalists and politicians as the "Petraeus Doctrine," although the surge itself was proposed well before Petraeus took command. Despite the misgivings of most Democratic and a few Republican senators over the proposed implementation of the "Petraeus Doctrine" in Iraq, specifically regarding the troop surge, Petraeus was unanimously confirmed as a four-star general and MNF-I commander on January 27.[74][75]

Before leaving for Iraq Petraeus recruited a number of highly educated military officers, nicknamed "Petraeus guys" or "designated thinkers," to advise him as commander, including Col. Mike Meese, head of the Social Science Department at West Point and Col. H.R. McMaster, famous for his leadership at the Battle of 73 Easting in the Gulf War and in the pacification of Tal Afar more recently, as well as for his doctoral dissertation on Vietnam-era civil-military relations entitled Dereliction of Duty. While most of Petraeus's closest advisers are American military officers, he also hired Lt. Col. David Kilcullen of the Australian Army, who was working for the US State Department.[76]

Since taking command of MNF-I on February 10, 2007, Petraeus has inspected U.S. and Iraqi units all over Iraq, visiting outposts in greater Baghdad, Tikrit, Baquba, Ramadi, and as far west as al-Hit. In April 2007, Petraeus made his first visit to Washington as MNF-I commander, reporting to President Bush and Congress on the progress of the "surge" and the overall situation in Iraq. During this visit he met privately with members of Congress and reportedly argued against setting a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq.[77]

By late May 2007, Congress did not impose any timetables in war funding legislation for troop withdrawal.[78] The enacted legislation did mandate that Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, deliver a report to Congress by September 15, 2007 detailing their assessment of the military, economic and political situation of Iraq. Despite Petraeus’ statement in June 2007 that there were “astonishing signs of normalcy” in Baghdad,[79] which drew criticism from Senate majority leader Harry Reid,[80] Petraeus has warned that he expects that the situation in Iraq will require the continued deployment of the elevated troop level of more than 150,000 beyond September 2007; he also has stated that U.S. involvement in Iraq could last years afterward.[81]

Multi-National Force - Iraq (Summer and Fall 2007)

General Petraeus briefs reporters at the Pentagon April 26, 2007, on his view of the current military situation in Iraq.
A controversial full-page political advertisement by Moveon.org in the September 10, 2007 edition of The New York TimesIn July 2007, Petraeus released his interim report on Iraq, which stated that coalition forces had made satisfactory progress on 6 of 18 benchmarks set by Congress. On September 7, 2007, in a letter addressed to the troops he was commanding, Petraeus wrote that much military progress had been made, but that the political progress that was hoped for had not been achieved.[82] Petraeus' final report on Iraq was delivered to Congress on September 10, 2007.

On August 15, 2007, The Los Angeles Times stated that, according to unnamed administration officials, the report "would actually be written by the White House, with inputs from officials throughout the government."[83] Petraeus declared in his testimony to Congress that "I wrote this testimony myself." He further elaborated that his testimony to Congress, which was not given under oath,[84] "has not been cleared by, nor shared with, anyone in the Pentagon, the White House, or Congress."[85]

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada argued Petraeus' "plan is just more of the same" and "is neither a drawdown or a change in mission that we need." Democratic Representative Robert Wexler of Florida accused Petraeus of “cherry-picking statistics” and “massaging information”.[86] Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Lantos of California called the General and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker "Two of our nation's most capable public servants" and said Democrats feel "esteem for their professionalism." He also said that "We can no longer take their assertions on Iraq at face value"; concluding, "We need to get out of Iraq, for that country's sake as well as our own."[87]

Republican Presidential candidate Duncan Hunter called the report "a candid, independent assessment given with integrity".[88] Republican Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona stated that "I commend General Petraeus for his honest and forthright assessment of the situation in Iraq."[89] Anti-war Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska criticized the report while praising Petraeus, saying "It's not your fault, general... It's not Ambassador Crocker's fault. It's this administration's fault."[90] A USA Today/Gallup poll taken after Petraeus' report to Congress showed virtually no change in public opinion toward the war.[91] A Pew Research Center survey found that most Americans who have heard about the report approve of Petraeus' recommendations.[92]

On September 20, the Senate passed an amendment by Republican John Cornyn III of Texas designed to "strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and integrity of General Petraeus". Cornyn drafted the amendment in response to a controversial full-page ad by Moveon.org in the September 10, 2007 edition of The New York Times. All forty-nine Republican Senators and twenty-two Democratic Senators voted in support.[93] The House passed a similar resolution by a 341-79 vote on September 26.[94]

In December 2007, The Washington Post's "Fact Checker" stated that "While some of Petraeus's statistics are open to challenge, his claims about a general reduction in violence have been borne out over subsequent months. It now looks as if Petraeus was broadly right on this issue at least".[95]

In October 2007, Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker created an updated plan for organizing U.S. forces in Iraq. One of the major points will be "shifting the U.S. military effort to focus more on countering Shiite militias".[96]

Multi-National Force - Iraq (Spring 2008)
Petraeus will make another assessment and offer new recommendations on April 2008.[97] USA Today has stated that Petraeus "will be able to tick off a list of undisputed military achievements."[97] On February 18, 2008, USA Today stated that "the U.S. effort has shown more success" and that, after the number of troops reached its peak in fall 2007, "U.S. deaths were at their lowest levels since the 2003 invasion, civilian casualties were down, and street life was resuming in Baghdad."[97]Petraeus told on March 19, 2008 Iran continues to support Iraqi insurgents and Syria is allowing foreign fighters passage into Iraq.[98]

Talking points: Kansas Jayhawks win NCAA championship, Memphis Tigers never learn edition

2008-04-08T06:44:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the Kansas Jayhawks for pulling out a most lovely OT victory over the Memphis Tigers in the NCAA Championship last night. The BruceBall Blog already has the pithy breakdown from a Volunteer perspective: Memphis could have put the game away down the stretch when Kansas was forced into DESPERATION FOUL HIM, FOUL HIM mode, but didn't. Then, with time running out in regulation, they could have learned from our very own Bruce Pearl and fouled Kansas instead of letting them take the three point shot that tied the game and sent it to overtime where Memphis lost. I have no idea what this means, but Rock Chalk Jayhawk!
In orange basketball news, Pearl just placed third in the AP Coach of the Year voting, and Tyler Smith and Wayne Chism have both filed with the NBA Advisory Committee to see where they might go in the June 26 NBA draft. They'll get the results in about ten days. Six mock draft boards have Smith going anywhere between 16th of the first round to early second round. Pearl thinks Smith ought to run for the money only if he's in the teens.
Pat Summit and the Lady Vols take on Stanford and that freaky looking, history-of-drunk-and-disorderly tree tonight in the women's NCAA Championship. Stanford's on a 23-game win streak and has already beaten Tennessee once this year. Candace Parker's "non-traumatic" (yes, so-called by someone who's never had one) shoulder dislocation is a significant weakness for the Lady Vols, but if Shannon Bobbitt breaks into another impromptu pre-game rap session, then perhaps Stanford will get Hornbuckle'd just like LSU did.
Football talking points coming atcha lunch time-ish. Until then, tractor dance:

Prepaid Calling Cards: Get Connected With Your Dear Ones

2008-04-08T06:42:00.000-07:00

In the age of technology, communication has become easy and simple. By making a phone call we can easily execute a business or get in touch with our dear ones aboard. But the matter of concern is the phone bills, as it comes in lump sum at the end of the month. So, in oppose to the post paid services, the introduction of prepaid services was introduced. The prepaid calling cards facilitate you to make both local and over seas calls. These cards are easily available and good to carry. The buyer can find this card in any store, airports, bus terminals, shops, hotels and train stations. It is a plastic or cardboard card, so thin and flexible that you can put it in your pocket or wallet.

The first time calling prepaid card buyer can get a good phone card by following these steps. First, browse different phone cards through online or in the market. Second, consider the rate. Third, consider the quality of service provided by the prepaid card company. Fourth, be savvy because there might be some hidden charges of prepaid services. If you notice signs like “connection fee”, “rates that are liable to change without prior notice”, “rates are valid for selected cities”, then it is better to seek for other cards that provides wide range of offers. In case of rates, prepaid phone cards are reasonable and budget friendly.

It is very easy to credit the amount into your account. The only thing you need to do is dial the given toll free phone number and a personal identification number printed on each card. If any problem occurs feel free to call the customer care executives to solve the issue.

You can make use of the every penny of the card. But, what if there are unused minutes left. As phone card companies have already sold the minutes so with the view of losing money they just sell the minutes in lower rates instead of facing loss. Thus, this is for this reason from where minutes in prepaid calling cards come and are cheaper then post paid rates.

John Butcher is a senior analyst at Calling Cards Prepaid. For further information about prepaid calling cards, phone cards, cheap prepaid calling cards, cheap calling cards, online calling cards please visit http://www.callingcardsprepaid.net/

prepaid calling cards

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Important: The material on Best Syndication is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be advice. You should always seek professional advice before making financial or medical decisions.
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Rob Lowe Fights Back On Blog & In Court

2008-04-08T06:15:00.000-07:00

Mine is an Industry website which ignores celebrity news unless it's business oriented. So the reason I'm writing about Rob Lowe right now is because he's helping showbiz stars try to protect their personal lives against threats of blackmail. His effort should profoundly impact the commercial trafficking in Hollywood celebrity.

The co-star of ABC's Brothers & Sisters and political supporter of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger blogged on The Huffington Post today to expose what he termed a "household betrayal". But also reps for the actor and his wife Sheryl wanted me to know that the couple also filed individual lawsuits today against three former household employees who'd all signed confidentiality agreements. The legal action came, I'm told, after Lowe had his people spend several days investigating the claims of a nanny who'd worked for his family on and off for 7 years. The actor said on his blog she allegedly demanded payment of $1.5 million by the end of the week or she would accuse the couple of a "vicious laundry list of false terribles". But a Lowe spokesman told me that "the thorough probe of all former nannies and estate managers, as well as employees of Rob's production company, could find no one who had ever seen Rob or Sheryl doing anything inappropriate."

According to the Lowe rep, "Instead of paying off as most celebrities do, he decided that you have to make a stand on this. That's very very rare and unusual. Most people try to sweep these things under the rug because the allegations are so damaging if they get out. But Rob was not going to be blackmailed. So he's fighting it."

The lawsuits consist of two filed in Santa Barbara County and one filed in Los Angeles County. The complaint in Santa Barbara Superior Court accuses the Lowe family's former "long-term" nanny Jessica Gibson of breach of the written contract, defamation, breach of the duty of loyalty, breach of fiduciary duty, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent affliction of emotional distress, intentional misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, trespassing, and abuse of process.

The other Santa Barbara complaint accuses ex-Lowe family chef Peter Clements of breach of the written contract, breach of written release agreement, defamation, breach of the duty of loyalty, breach of fiduciary duty, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent affliction of emotional distress, intentional misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, and trespassing.

And the suit in L.A. Superior Court accuses one-time Lowe family "short-term" nanny Laura Boyce of breach of the written contract, defamation, breach of the duty of loyalty, breach of fiduciary duty, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent affliction of emotional distress, intentional misrepresentation and negligent misrepresentation.

Blogged Lowe: "Everyone knows we live in a time where public figures are targets. But I also know of many people in everyday life who are paying the price of a climate where anyone can accuse anybody of anything, anytime, and hope for a big cash pay-off at the end. 'Hush money' to just go away. Well I won't go away. No one intimidates my family. My wife and I have many former and long term employees, all of whom know this woman, who can and will refute any claims of anything inappropriate in our home, or anywhere else. We will defend ourselves with vigor and without fear."

I won't repeat all the very personal details -- because I'm sure sites like TMZ will.

Posted by Nikki Finke on Monday, Apr 7th, 2008 at 02:33PM | Permalink |

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Sorry, Nikki, usually we agree with you, but not in this case.

Rob Lowe has been given bad advice, i.e. the best defense is a vicious offense.

Nobody is buying it, and he is coming off as a guilty putz, smearing this woman in the press.

Celebs are out of control thinking they are untouchable and can cry “extortion” when they are nailed on wrong doing.

It is really really disturbing that Rob Lowe is conducting a smear-the-victim-campaign.

Also, his comment that sexual harassment should be punished when “proved-up with documentation and witnesses” is absurd. When is sexual harassment conducted with witnesses and documentation?

street view, google maps street view, google street view, Couple Sues!

2008-04-08T06:13:00.000-07:00

How pompous. A Pittsburgh couple has sued Google because photos of their house are now on Google Maps Street View. They allege that ever since the photos have appeared on Street View, the value of their property has plummeted. Property records indicate that the domicile was purchased for a cool $163,000, which, I’m pretty sure, wouldn’t buy a garbage can in any livable city in this country.

They want some $25,000 in damages from The Google.

Charles Nenner Predicts a Tough Market Year in '08

2008-04-08T06:03:00.000-07:00

He's a bit quirky but claims to have a master, virtually infallible set of indicators that are based on a 4 year cycle. The macro result is preordained and not really impacted by the Fed or other governing factors. When pressed he says a fundamental issue next year will be deflation.

Charles Nenner is just another one of those pundits who tell us that they can divine the future. Sometimes they're right of course (the Sun will rise in the East tomorrow) and sometimes they're wrong (economists have predicted 11 of the past 3 recessions). Charles Nenner's luck seems to be in at the moment as some of his recent predictions have turned out to be right on the money.

Charles Nenner's system is based on economic cycles, complex mathematical equations, and determinism, which is to say he believes that he has a system he believes can predict the trends and price points in various markets in advance. This sounds crazy, except he has been remarkably (frighteningly?) accurate in some of his predictions.

So what is Nenner predicting now?

Right now, he is calling for a year end rally, with more to go, roughly to mid-Dec. His price target on the Dow is around 14,300.

- In terms of 2008, he predicts a tough February and March, and a very volatile year overall, with 3 to 4 roughly 15% corrections. He believes 2008 will be a very difficult year to make money in.

It's going to be a difficult year to make money in? Good grief, people are calling Charles Nenner a seer for stating that? Here's the background on Charles Nenner:

Charles Nenner, President and CEO, founded Cycle Forecaster, Inc. He is also a medical doctor, and a former chess champion of Holland. He speaks seven languages. The Company publishes, via the Internet, a research letter regarding various financial markets, stocks, and economic indicators. His daily newsletter is one of the most influential newsletters on Wall Street. His clients include some of the biggest and wealthiest investment firms, hedge funds, re-insurers, capital pools and individuals in the world. The newsletter covers several markets, including the Nikkei, S&P, Nasdaq, Gold, Bonds, Bunds, Oil, etc, as well as individual stocks and economic indicators. His work utilizes a unique algorithm that he developed early in his career. It factors in multiple cycle movements, and includes the Elliot Wave theory as a foundation. He is able, from his historical research, to identify and quantify the cycle turns for all markets. The basic thesis to Cycle Forecaster is that human interpretation of events and trends does not change over time. Therefore, detailed past analyses - going back many decades – in combination with the Elliot Wave analysis, Gann analysis, oscillator analysis, and other analyses, can lead to predictive postures for current and future investment decisions.

Hmm, might all be worthwhile, could indeed be the greatest financial analyst of our time. There's always one niggle I have though with people like this:

Charles Nenner has been the talk of Wall Street in 2006 with his 'triple call' on the market. Market experts have been paying attention to his calls a lot longer though. If you would like more information on his fee-based services, or want to learn more about him generally, please contact us.

So, er, why is he selling his advice? Why isn't he keeping quiet about it and trading on his own account? He'll make vastly more money that way: on the assumption that his forecasts about the future are indeed correct.

He spent several years at Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs. He also created his own Broker-Dealer firm, which traded based on the research he generated.

Ahh....so what happened to that (unnamed) broker dealer then? Did it, trading upon his unique advice, make a fortune? Or did it close because it wasn't making a fortune? Which is why Charles Nenner is selling advice, not following his own investment tips?

Hey, you make up your own mind here.

Pilots: Rosie Perez Will Fight the Power on CBS

2008-04-08T05:57:00.000-07:00

Oscar nominee Rosie Perez is joining Oscar winner Geena Davis in the CBS drama pilot "Exit 19," leading the latest round of network casting buzz.

In addition to Perez, Ramon Rodriguez, Amy Farrington, Lance Barber, Bill English and David Rogers have landed pilot gigs. Mazel tov to all of them.

"Exit 19" stars Davis as a Manhattan homicide detective and single mother and features Matthew Lillard ("Scream") as her live-in brother.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Perez ("Fearless," "White Men Can't Jump") will play the Brooklyn-born partner of Davis' character. Rodriguez ("The Wire") will play another cop on the force, while Farrington ("Back to You") will play Davis' neighbor.

Also on CBS, Barber ("The Comeback") will play the best friend of Fred Savage's love-seeking title character in the comedy pilot "Single White Millionaire."

Over at FOX, Bill English has joined "Outnumbered." The comedy focuses on a couple raising three intelligent children. Assuming ABC doesn't pick-up "Cavemen," English will play the father's younger brother.

And in other casting news, Rogers will appear in The CW's real-time medical drama "Austin Golden Hour" playing a chief resident

Chelsea de Kadıköy’den çıkamadı: 2 - 1

2008-04-08T05:49:00.000-07:00

Fenerbahçe, Şampiyonlar Ligi çeyrek final ilk maçında İngiliz devi Chelsea’yi 2-1 yendi. İlk yarıyı yenik kapayan sarı-lacivertliler Kazım ve Deivid’in golleriyle sahadan galip ayrılarak Londra’daki rövanş için avantaj elde etti.

DİĞER HABERLER
• Markus Merk bırakıyor
• Koller’den milli veda
• ‘Umarım Galatasaray şampiyon olur’
• Zico’nun hayali İngiltere veya İspanya
• Kezman: Daha fazlasını yapmalıyız

SPOR - EN ÇOK OKUNAN HABERLER
• Fenerbahçe tarih yazmak için sahada
• Platini’den Fenerbahçe’ye övgü
• Chelsea’nin Türk karnesi
• Federasyondan sert yanıt
• Avrupalı Zico!

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Güncelleme: 01:04 TSİ 03 Nisan 2008 Perşembe

İSTANBUL - Tarihinde Şampiyonlar Ligi’nde ilk kez çeyrek finale çıkan Fenerbahçe, ilk maçta konuk ettiği Chelsea’yi 2-1 mağlup etti. Son 11 Avrupa kupası maçında sahasında yenilmeyen sarı-lacivertliler, oynadığı son 6 Devler Ligi karşılaşmasında kalesinde gol görmeyen rakibini geçerek, 8 Nisan’da deplasmanda oynanacak rövanş için önemli avantaj yakaladı. İlk yarıyı Deivid’in kendi kalesine attığı golle geride kapayan Fenerbahçe, ikinci yarıda Colin Kazım ve Deivid’in sayılarıyla sonuca gitti.
Haberin devamı

Mücadelenin ilk 10 dakikası ortada geçerken, bu bölümden sonra Chelsea, kalabalık orta sahasıyla Fenerbahçe’ye üstünlüğünü kabul ettirdi. Orta sahada kısa paslarla hücuma çabuk çıkan Chelsea, 13. dakikada öne geçmeyi başardı. Duvar pasıyla ceza sahasına giren Malouda’nın ortasında Deivid’in ters vuruşu topu filelerle buluşturdu.

Chelsea F.C.

2008-04-08T05:41:00.000-07:00

Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously The Pensioners) are an English professional football club based in west London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier in English football. They have had two broad periods of success, one during the 1960s and early 1970s, and the second from the late 1990s to the present day. Chelsea have won three league titles, four FA Cups, four League Cups and two UEFA Cup Winners' Cups.[2]

Chelsea's home is the 42,055 capacity[1] Stamford Bridge football stadium in Fulham, West London, where they have played since their foundation. Despite their name, the club are based just outside the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. In 2003, the club were bought by Russian oil magnate Roman Abramovich.[3]

The club's traditional kit colours are royal blue shirts and shorts with white socks. Their traditional crest is a ceremonial blue lion holding a staff; a modified version of this was adopted in 2005.[

Chelsea were founded on 14 March 1905 at The Rising Sun pub (now The Butcher's Hook), opposite the present-day main entrance to the ground on Fulham Road, and were elected to the Football League shortly afterwards. The club's early years saw little success; the closest they came to winning a major trophy was reaching the FA Cup final in 1915, where they lost to Sheffield United. Chelsea gained a reputation for signing big-name players[5] and for being entertainers, but made little impact on the English game in the inter-war years.

Former England centre-forward Ted Drake became manager in 1952 and proceeded to modernise the club. He removed the club's Chelsea pensioner crest, improved the youth set-up and training regime, rebuilt the side, and led Chelsea to their first major trophy success – the League championship – in 1954–55. The following season saw UEFA create the European Champions' Cup, but after objections from The Football League and the FA Chelsea were persuaded to withdraw from the competition before it started.[6]

The 1960s saw the emergence of a talented young Chelsea side under manager Tommy Docherty. They challenged for honours throughout the decade, and endured several near-misses. They were on course for a treble of League, FA Cup and League Cup going into the final stages of the 1964–65 season, winning the League Cup but faltering late on in the other two.[7] In three seasons the side were beaten in three major semi-finals and were FA Cup runners-up. In 1970 Chelsea were FA Cup winners, beating Leeds United 2–1 in a final replay. Chelsea took their first European honour, a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup triumph, the following year, with another replayed win, this time over Real Madrid in Athens.

The late 1970s and the 1980s were a turbulent period for Chelsea. An ambitious redevelopment of Stamford Bridge threatened the financial stability of the club,[8] star players were sold and the team were relegated. Further problems were caused by a notorious hooligan element among the support, which was to plague the club throughout the decade.[9] Chelsea were, at the nadir of their fortunes, acquired by Ken Bates for the nominal sum of £1, although by now the Stamford Bridge freehold had been sold to property developers, meaning the club faced losing their home.[10] On the pitch, the team had fared little better, coming close to relegation to the Third Division for the first time, but in 1983 manager John Neal put together an impressive new team for minimal outlay. Chelsea won the Second Division title in 1983–84 and established themselves in the top division, before being relegated again in 1988. The club bounced back immediately by winning the Second Division championship in 1988–89.

After a long-running legal battle, Bates reunited the stadium freehold with the club in 1992 by doing a deal with the banks of the property developers, who had been bankrupted by a market crash.[11] Chelsea's form in the new Premier League was unconvincing, although they did reach the FA Cup final in 1994. It was not until the appointment of former European Footballer of the Year Ruud Gullit as player-manager in 1996 that their fortunes changed. He added several top-class international players to the side, particularly Gianfranco Zola, as the club won the FA Cup in 1997 and established themselves as one of England's top sides again. Gullit was replaced by Gianluca Vialli, who led the team to victory in the League Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup in 1998, the FA Cup in 2000 and the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in 2000. Vialli was sacked in favour of another Italian, Claudio Ranieri, who guided Chelsea to the 2002 FA Cup final and Champions League qualification in 2002–03.

In June 2003, Bates sold Chelsea to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich for £140 million, completing what was then the biggest-ever sale of an English football club.[3] Owing to Abramovich's Russian heritage, the club were soon popularly dubbed "Chelski" in the British media.[12] Over £100 million was spent on new players, but Ranieri was unable to deliver any trophies, so he was replaced by successful Portuguese coach José Mourinho, who had just guided FC Porto to victory in the UEFA Champions League.

In 2005, Chelsea's centenary year, the club became Premiership champions in a record-breaking season (most clean sheets, fewest goals conceded, most victories, most points earned),[13] League Cup winners with a 3–2 win over Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium and reached the Champions League semi-finals. The following year, they were again League Champions, equalling their own Premiership record of 29 wins set the previous season. They also became the fifth team to win back-to-back championships since the Second World War and the first London club to do so since Arsenal in 1933–34.[14] In 2007, Chelsea won the FA Cup and League Cup,[15][16] but finished runners-up to Manchester United in the Premier League. On 20 September 2007, manager José Mourinho parted company with Chelsea by mutual consent and was replaced by Director of Football Avram Grant.[17][18]

For more details on this topic, see Stamford Bridge (stadium).
Chelsea have only ever had one home ground, Stamford Bridge, where they have played since foundation. It was officially opened on 28 April 1877. For the first 28 years of its existence it was used almost exclusively by the London Athletics Club as an arena for athletics meetings and not at all for football. In 1904 the ground was acquired by businessman Gus Mears and his brother, J T Mears, who had previously acquired additional land (formerly a large market garden) with the aim of staging football matches on the now 12.5 acre (51,000 m²) site.[19]

Stamford Bridge was designed for the Mears family by the noted football architect Archibald Leitch.[20] They offered the stadium to Fulham Football Club, but the offer was turned down. As a consequence, the owners decided to form their own football club to occupy their new ground. Most football clubs were founded first, and then sought grounds in which to play, but Chelsea were founded for Stamford Bridge. Since there was already a football club named Fulham in the borough, the founders decided to adopt the name of the adjacent borough of Chelsea for the new club, having rejected names such as Kensington FC, Stamford Bridge FC and London FC.[21]

Starting with an open bowl-like design and one covered terrace, Stamford Bridge had an original capacity of around 100,000.[19] The early 1930s saw the construction of a terrace on the southern part of the ground with a roof that covered around one fifth of the stand. It eventually became known as the "Shed End", the home of Chelsea's most loyal and vocal supporters, particularly during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. The exact origins of the name are unclear, but the fact that the roof looked like a corrugated iron shed roof played a part.[19]

The East Stand during a match in 2006. The cost of building this stand caused many of Chelsea's financial problems during the 1970s and 1980s.During the late 1960s and early 70s, the club's owners embarked on a modernisation of Stamford Bridge with plans for a 50,000 all-seater stadium.[19] Work began on the East Stand in the early 1970s but the cost almost brought the club to its knees, and the freehold was sold to property developers. Following a long legal battle, it was not until the mid-1990s that Chelsea's future at the stadium was secured and renovation work resumed.[19] The north, west and southern parts of the ground were converted into all-seater stands and moved closer to the pitch, a process completed by 2001.

The Stamford Bridge pitch, the freehold, the turnstiles and Chelsea's naming rights are now owned by Chelsea Pitch Owners, a non-profit organisation in which fans are the shareholders. The CPO was created to ensure the stadium could never again be sold to developers. It also means that if someone tries to move the football club to a new stadium they could not use the Chelsea FC name.[22]

The club plans to increase its capacity to over 50,000. Owing to its location in a built-up part of London on a main road and next to two railway lines, fans can only enter the stadium through the Fulham Road entrance, which places severe constraints on expansion due to health and safety regulations.[23] As a result, Chelsea have been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge to sites including the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Battersea Power Station and the Chelsea Barracks.[24] However, the club have reiterated their desire to keep Chelsea at their current home.[25]

Since the club's foundation, Chelsea have had four main crests, though all underwent minor variations. In 1905, Chelsea adopted as their first crest the image of a Chelsea pensioner, which obviously contributed to the "pensioner" nickname, and remained for the next half-century, though it never appeared on the shirts. As part of Ted Drake's modernisation of the club from 1952 onwards, he insisted that the pensioner badge be removed from the match day programme in order to change the club's image and that a new crest be adopted.[26] As a stop-gap, a temporary emblem comprising simply the initials C.F.C. was adopted for one year. In 1953, Chelsea's crest was changed to an upright blue lion looking backwards and holding a staff, which was to endure for the next three decades.

Club crest 1986–2005.This crest was based on elements in the coat of arms of the Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea[27] with the "lion rampant regardant" taken from the arms of then club president Viscount Chelsea and the staff from the Abbots of Westminster, former Lords of the Manor of Chelsea. It also featured three red roses, to represent England, and two footballs. This was the first club badge to appear on shirts, since the policy of putting the crest on the shirts was only adopted in the early 1960s.[26]

In 1986, with new owners now at the club, Chelsea's crest was changed again as part of another attempt to modernise and to capitalise on new marketing opportunities.[26] The new badge featured a more naturalistic non-heraldic lion, yellow and not blue, standing over the C.F.C. initials. It lasted for the next 19 years, with some modifications such as the use of different colours. With new ownership, and the club's centenary approaching, combined with demands from fans for the club's traditional badge to be restored, it was decided that the crest should be changed again in 2004. The new crest was officially adopted for the start of the 2005–06 season and marks a return to the older design of the blue heraldic lion holding a staff.[4] As with previous crests, this one has appeared in various colours, including white and gold.

Colours

Chelsea's first home colours, used from 1905 until c.1912.
Chelsea have always worn blue shirts, although they initially adopted a lighter shade than the current version, and unlike today wore white shorts and dark blue socks. The lighter blue was taken from the racing colours of then club president, Earl Cadogan. The light blue shirts were short-lived, however, and replaced by a royal blue version in around 1912.[28] When Tommy Docherty became manager in the early 1960s he changed the kit again, adding blue shorts (which have remained ever since) and white socks, believing it made the club's colours more distinctive, since no other major side used that combination; this kit was first worn during the 1964–65 season.[29]

Chelsea's traditional away colours are all yellow or all white with blue trim, but, as with most teams, they have had some more unusual ones. The first away strip consisted of black and white stripes and for one game in the 1960s the team wore Inter Milan-style blue and black stripes, again at Docherty's behest.[30] Other memorable away kits include a mint green strip in the 1980s, a red and white checked one in the early 90s and a graphite and tangerine addition in the mid-1990s.[31]

Chelsea's third kit for the 07/08 season.
The 2007/2008 Chelsea away strip consists of an 'electric yellow' shirt with thick black lines forming separate panels of the shirt. The adidas three stripes are black, and run down the arms. It is worn with black shorts and black socks, but in the case of further clashes it is worn with "electric yellow" shorts and/or socks. The crest on the shirt is in "electric yellow" and black to go with the rest of the kit, instead of the usual blue, white, red and gold. For the 07/08 season, there is also a third kit, which is all white with blue and black trim.

Chelsea's kit is currently manufactured by Adidas, which is contracted to supply the club's kit from 2006 to 2011. Their previous kit manufacturer was Umbro. Chelsea's first shirt sponsor was Gulf Air, agreed midway through the 1983–84 season. Following that, the club were sponsored by Grange Farms, Bai Lin tea and Italian company Simod before a long-term deal was signed with computer manufacturer Commodore International in 1989; Amiga, an off-shoot of Commodore, also appeared on the shirts. Chelsea were subsequently sponsored by Coors beer (1995–97), Autoglass (1997–2001) and Emirates Airline (2001–05). Chelsea's current shirt sponsor is Samsung Mobile.[32

Chelsea have the fifth highest average all-time attendance in English football[33] and regularly attract over 40,000 fans to Stamford Bridge; they were the fifth best-supported Premiership team in the 2005–06 season, with an average gate of 41,870.[34] Chelsea's traditional fanbase comes from working-class parts of West London, such as Hammersmith and Battersea, from wealthier areas like Chelsea and Kensington, and from the Home Counties. In addition to the standard football chants, Chelsea fans sing songs like "Carefree", "Blue is the Colour", "We all follow the Chelsea" (to the tune of Land of Hope and Glory), "Ten Men Went to Mow", "Zigga Zagga", "Hello! Hello!" and the celebratory "Celery", with the latter often resulting in fans ritually throwing celery.[35]

Chelsea do not have a traditional rivalry, in the manner that Liverpool and Everton, or Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur do. The club's nearest neighbours are Fulham, but they are not seen as big rivals by Chelsea fans, because the clubs have spent most of the last 40 years in separate divisions. A 2004 survey by Planetfootball.com found that Chelsea fans consider their main rivalries to be with (in order): Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.[36] Additionally, a strong rivalry with Leeds United dates back to several heated and controversial matches in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly the FA Cup final in 1970.[37] A more recent rivalry has grown with Liverpool following several clashes in cup competitions.

During the 1970s and 1980s in particular, Chelsea supporters were long associated with football hooliganism. The club's "football firm", originally the Chelsea Shed Boys, now known as the Chelsea Headhunters, were nationally notorious for violent acts against hooligans from other teams, such as West Ham United's Inter City Firm and Millwall's Bushwhackers, both during and after matches.[38] The increase in hooliganism in the 1980s led chairman Ken Bates to propose an electric fence to deter them from invading the pitch; the proposal was rejected by the GLC.[39] Chelsea's hooligan element were revealed to have links with neo-nazi groups such as Combat 18, and other far-right or racist organisations including the British National Party.[40] Since the 1990s there has been a marked decline in crowd trouble at matches, as a result of stricter policing, CCTV in grounds and the advent of all-seater stadia.[41]

For more details on this topic, see Chelsea F.C. statistics.

Among Chelsea's current players, Frank Lampard has made the most appearances and scored the most goals.Chelsea's highest appearance-maker is ex-captain Ron Harris, who played in 795 first-class games for the club between 1961 and 1980.[42] This record is unlikely to be broken in the near future; Chelsea's current highest appearance-maker is Frank Lampard with 353.[43] The record for a Chelsea goalkeeper is held by Harris's contemporary, Peter Bonetti, who made 729 appearances (1959–79). With 116 caps (67 while at the club), Marcel Desailly of France is Chelsea's most capped international player.

Bobby Tambling is Chelsea's all-time top goalscorer, with 202 goals in 370 games (1959–70).[42] Seven other players have also scored over 100 goals for Chelsea: George Hilsdon (1906–12), George Mills (1929–39), Roy Bentley (1948–56), Jimmy Greaves (1957–61), Peter Osgood (1964–74 & 1978–79), Kerry Dixon (1983–92), and Frank Lampard (2001–). With 193 goals, Dixon is the only player in the club's recent history to have come close to matching Tambling's record. Greaves holds the record for the most goals scored in one season (43 in 1960–61). Lampard is the top scorer currently at the club.[43]

Officially, Chelsea's highest home attendance is 82,905 for a First Division match against Arsenal on 12 October 1935. However, an estimated crowd of over 100,000 attended a friendly match against Soviet team Dynamo Moscow on 13 November 1945.[44] The modernisation of Stamford Bridge during the 1990s and the introduction of all-seater stands mean that neither record will be broken for the foreseeable future. The current legal capacity of Stamford Bridge is 42,055.[1]

Chelsea hold numerous records in English and European football. They hold the record for the highest points total for a league season (95), the fewest goals conceded during a league season (15), the most consecutive clean sheets during a league season (10), the highest number of Premier League victories in a season (29), the highest number of clean sheets overall in a Premier League season (25) (all set during the 2004–05 season),[13] and the most consecutive clean sheets from the start of a league season (6) (2005–06).[45]

The club's 21–0 aggregate victory over Jeunesse Hautcharage in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1971 remains a record in European competition.[46] Chelsea may also hold the British transfer record, but the fee for Andriy Shevchenko, estimated at around £30m, remains unconfirmed.[47] Roberto Di Matteo holds the record for fastest goal in an FA Cup final at Wembley, which came 42 seconds into Chelsea's win over Middlesbrough in 1997.[48] Chelsea hold the record for the longest streak of unbeaten matches at home in the English top-flight. They secured the record on 12 August 2007, beating the previous run of 63 matches set by Liverpool between 1978 and 1980.[49] The record is ongoing, and currently stands at 76 matches.[50]

Chelsea have recorded several "firsts" in English football. Along with Arsenal, they were the first club to play with shirt numbers on 25 August 1928 in their match against Swansea Town.[51] Chelsea were the first English side to travel by aeroplane to a domestic away match, when they visited Newcastle United on 19 April 1957,[52] and the first First Division side to play a match on a Sunday, when they faced Stoke City on 27 January 1974. On 26 December 1999, Chelsea became the first British side to field an entirely foreign (non-UK) starting line-up in a Premier League match against Southampton.[53] On 19 May 2007, they became the first team to win the FA Cup at the new Wembley Stadium, having also been the last to win it at the old Wembley.[54]

In 1930, Chelsea featured in one of the earliest football films, The Great Game.[55] One-time Chelsea centre forward, Jack Cock, who by then was playing for Millwall, was the star of the film and several scenes were shot at Stamford Bridge, including the pitch, the boardroom and the dressing rooms. It included guest appearances by then-Chelsea players Andrew Wilson, George Mills and Sam Millington.[56] Owing to the notoriety of the Chelsea Headhunters, a football firm associated with the club, Chelsea have also featured in films about football hooliganism, most recently The Football Factory.[57] Chelsea also appear in the Hindi film, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.[58]

Up until the 1950s, the club had a long-running association with the music halls, with their underachievement often providing material for comedians such as George Robey.[59] It culminated in comedian Norman Long's release of a comic song in 1933, ironically titled "On The Day That Chelsea Went and Won The Cup", the lyrics of which described a series of bizarre and improbable occurrences on the hypothetical day when Chelsea finally won a trophy.[5]

The song "Blue is the Colour" was released as a single in the build-up to the 1972 League Cup Final, with all members of Chelsea's first team squad singing; it reached number five in the UK Singles Chart.[60] The song was later adapted to "White is the Colour" and adopted as an anthem by the Vancouver Whitecaps.[61] In the build-up to the 1997 FA Cup final, the song "Blue Day", performed by Suggs and members of Chelsea's squad, reached number 22 in the UK charts.[62] Bryan Adams, a fan of Chelsea, dedicated the song "We're Gonna Win" from the album 18 Til I Die to the club

Players

Current squad
No. Position Player
1 GK Petr Čech
2 DF Branislav Ivanović
3 DF Ashley Cole
4 MF Claude Makélélé
5 MF Michael Essien
6 DF Ricardo Carvalho
7 FW Andriy Shevchenko
8 MF Frank Lampard (vice-captain)
9 MF Steve Sidwell
10 MF Joe Cole
11 FW Didier Drogba
12 MF John Obi Mikel
13 MF Michael Ballack
No. Position Player
14 FW Claudio Pizarro
15 MF Florent Malouda
18 DF Wayne Bridge
20 DF Paulo Ferreira
21 FW Salomon Kalou
22 DF Tal Ben Haim
23 GK Carlo Cudicini
24 MF Shaun Wright-Phillips
26 DF John Terry (captain)
33 DF Alex
35 DF Juliano Belletti
39 FW Nicolas Anelka
40 GK Henrique Hilário

İngiliz basını: Chelsea, Fenerbahçe karşısında daha şanslı

2008-04-08T05:06:00.000-07:00

LONDRA -AA- Fenerbahçe'nin Avrupa Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde Chelsea ile eşleşmesi İngiliz basınında yankı bulurken, İngiliz gazetelerinin pek çoğu bu eşleşmede Chelsea'nin daha şanslı olduğu yorumunu yaptı.
The Daily Telegraph, Chelsea'nin insaflı bir kura sonucu Fenerbahçe ile eşleşmesinin, kulübün menejeri Avram Grant'ın üzerindeki baskıyı hafiflettiğini öne sürerken, dünü Grant'ın şanslı günü ilan etti.
Çeyrek final eşleşmelerinin kulübe son beş yıl içinde Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde dördüncü kez yarı final oynama şansının yolunu açtığı nı iddia eden gazete, kulüp yönetiminin ise Grant'ın geleceğini açıkça bu kuranın sonucunda oynanacak maçlara bağlamaktan kaçındığını yazdı.
Chelsea kulübü yöneticisi Peter Kenyon'ın Şampiyonlar ligi kupasını mutlaka kazanmak istediklerine dair açıklamasına da yer veren gazete, Avram Grant'ın Fenerbahçe'ye karşı galibiyetin garanti görülmemesi gerektiği yolundaki uyarısına da dikkat çekti.
The Guardian gazetesi de Chelsea'nin diğer İngiliz kulüplerine oranla daha mutlu bir pozisyonda olduğunu yazdı ve Fenerbahçe'nin son 8 yıldır Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde bu aşamaya gelen ilk Türk takımı olduğunu kaydetti.
Daily Mail gazetesi de Chelsea-Fenerbahçe maçının dünyadaki futbol düşkünlerini ekran başına toplayacak kadar önmeli bir tansiyon yaratmayacağını, ancak Chelsea'nin muhtemel bir yenilgisinin Avram Grant'ın kulüp menejeri pozisyonunun sonunu getirebileceğini yazdı.
"Bu nedenle maç önemli" diyen gazete, diğer kura sonuçlarıyla ilgili geniş değerlendirmelere de yer verdi.
The Times ise, Chelsea'nin kura sonucundan hoşnut olduğunu, ancak Avram Grant'ın, "Fenerbahçe grup seviyesinde çok güzel maçlar çıkarttı ve kedi sahasında bütün rakiplerini yendi" diyerek temkinli bir açıklama yapmayı uygun bulduğunu yazdı.
Gazete bir başka haberinde de Chelsea'nin ünlü futbolcu Frank Lampard ile sözleşme yenileme görüşmelerini bir an önce başlatıp, sözkonusu futbolcunun moralini yükseltmeyi ve onu Fenerbahçe'yi dize getirmekte kullanmayı istediğini kaydetti.
Chelsea'nin İstanbul'da oynanacak maçta, futbol seyircisinin yaratacağı yoğun atmosfere yönelik olarak uyarıldığını duyuran Times, kulübün önündeki en büyük güçlüklerden birini Arsenal'in eski bir oyuncusu ve taraftarı olan Kazım Kazım'ın yaratacağını yazdı. İnglitere'de Colin Kazım olarak tanınan futbolcunun Chelsea'yi alt etmek için ekstra hırslı ve arzulu olduğuna dair sözlerine yer verdi.

Chalmers, Kansas get One Shining Moment

2008-04-08T05:04:00.000-07:00

SAN ANTONIO -- The shot that saved a season took just a moment -- a Shining Moment, you could say.

[+] EnlargeBob Donnan/US Presswire

Mario Chalmers' tying shot was the biggest Final Four basket in 21 years.

The hug lasted for minutes.

After hitting the biggest Final Four jumper since Keith Smart's in 1987, Mario Chalmers summoned his mother, Almarie, down from the Alamodome stands to courtside. The unflappable Kansas Jayhawk wrapped both arms around her, laid his head on her shoulder and bawled like a baby.

She pumped her left arm. He wouldn't let go.

"We did it, Mom," Chalmers said between sobs.

"A dream come true," Almarie said later, her own eyes glistening. "A prayer answered. We've been waiting on this moment since he was 2."

This moment -- this Shining Moment -- was almost preordained four years earlier, when Mario went to the Final Four in this same building with his dad, current Kansas director of basketball operations Ronnie Chalmers. They watched Connecticut beat Georgia Tech for the title, and Ronnie remembers one spectacular play from that game when he jumped to his feet but Mario remained in his chair.

"What's wrong?" Ronnie asked his son.

"I'm thinking," Mario said.

"What are you thinking about?"

"One day," Mario said, "I'm going to be out there winning the national championship."

That goal guided the Chalmers family from Alaska to Kansas three years ago. It guided them to this game and ultimately to this moment -- this Shining Moment -- that rescued Kansas from near-certain defeat and gave the 2008 NCAA tournament its signature.

Chalmers' shot capped the Jayhawks' steely nine-point comeback in the final 2:12 of regulation on their way to a 75-68 overtime triumph. It was the blow that broke an excellent Tigers squad -- a Tigers squad that turned the school's first championship into a stunning championship choke.

"You have a lead like that," coach John Calipari said, "you're supposed to win the game."

The emotional whiplash that followed Chalmers' 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining will be felt for years on both campuses. Memphis will always love a team that finished 38-2 -- but always wince at the way it unraveled at the very end. And giddy Kansas now has another name to add to its list of all-time heroes: Clyde Lovellette, Wilt Chamberlain, Danny Manning …

Mario Chalmers.

I thought it was going in when it left my hands.
--Mario Chalmers
On the 20th anniversary of Danny and the Miracles' winning Kansas' last championship, give a Rock Chalk salute to Miracle Mario.

"It will probably be the biggest shot in Kansas history," coach Bill Self said.

The kid scored 18 on the night, earning Most Outstanding Player honors. But the replay that will live forever in Lawrence will focus on a single shot. For years to come, kids all over Kansas will go into the driveway or the backyard or the gym and pretend to be Mario Chalmers swishing that jumper.

With 10.8 seconds left, Self diagrammed the play. It called for the potential tying shot to be in Chalmers' calm hands -- a pass from penetrating Sherron Collins for a 3.

Of course Chalmers was the choice: He has home-state ice water in his veins. He's been good in the clutch his entire career.

"In YMCA and AAU and high school, he was always the go-to guy," Ronnie Chalmers said.

For the go-to guy's shot to matter, though, Kansas needed at least one more in a nightmarish series of missed free throws from Memphis.

Awful foul shooting was the endlessly discussed weakness of these Tigers, but they had made it a moot point in three straight rampaging NCAA tournament victories over Michigan State, Texas and UCLA. Now, with the title right there for the taking, star junior Chris Douglas-Roberts missed three straight, leaving the door open for Kansas.

Then, with 10.8 seconds on the clock, sensational freshman Derrick Rose stood on the line with Memphis up two, trying to ice it. His first shot hit the rim and fell off. He made the second, but the one miss gave Kansas its opportunity to tie.

Collins dribbled upcourt and veered to his right -- almost losing the ball as Memphis players hacked at him, trying to foul and prevent a 3 from being hoisted. Collins' strength probably prevented a whistle, though, and he shoved a pass to Chalmers as he came curling off the wing.

The ball came up into Chalmers' chest. He took one rushed dribble to his left and elevated. Rose jumped with him, arm outstretched. Chalmers arched the shot over Rose's fingers and into the tension-drenched Texas air.

"I thought it was going in when it left my hands," Chalmers said.

Teammate Brandon Rush, who was directly underneath the basket, concurred.

[+] EnlargeAP Photo/Matt York

Kansas' first title in 20 years was as dramatic as it gets.

"I could see it splash right in there," Rush said. "Pretty cool."

Blessed with a good sight line in the stands behind the play, Almarie Chalmers knew, too.

"I saw it going straight in," she said. "When it hit the bottom of the net, I breathed."

Everyone else screamed. Kansas fans in ecstasy. Memphis fans in agony.

The Tigers had nothing left in overtime. No momentum. No Joey Dorsey, who had fouled out. No legs for tired Douglas-Roberts and cramping Rose. Kansas scored the first six in OT to take command of a game it had come amazingly close to losing.

Earlier in the second half, as the game began slipping away from the Jayhawks, Self was telling his players, "You've got to believe." But the situation was dire enough that when Memphis' Robert Dozier went to the foul line with 2:12 left and the Tigers up seven, Ronnie Chalmers reached into his pocket for some divine guidance.

On a piece of paper, he'd written two verses from Psalms: 46:10 and 46:1. He pulled them out and read them to himself.

"Be still, and know that I am God," reads 46:10.

"God is a refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble," reads 46:1.

"We were in trouble at that time," Ronnie said.

Ya think?

The trouble deepened when Dozier swished both free throws. The lead was 60-51 as the clocked slipped inside two minutes. This was desperate.

But Chalmers and Collins -- two guards who had taken some very bad shots as Memphis asserted itself -- rode to the rescue.

Chalmers passed to Darrell Arthur for a jump shot that made it 60-53. Then, after a timeout, Collins made the two plays that really made it a ballgame -- he stole the ball from Antonio Anderson and, after a couple of quick passes, got it back in the corner for a 3-pointer.

Until then, Kansas was 1-for-9 from 3-point range. Collins swished it.

After a pair of Douglas-Roberts free throws, Chalmers made a pair of his own. That set the stage for Memphis' foul-line debacle, which was augmented by a bad decision to attack the basket with 20 seconds left instead of pulling the ball out and killing clock while clinging to a two-point lead.

But all the Memphis foibles down the stretch could have been survived if Chalmers hadn't hit the shot of a lifetime.

"First, I'm happy for Mario," Ronnie Chalmers said. "Then I'm happy for Coach Self -- he was long overdue for this. Then I'm happy for the team.

"It's great for a parent to see their son's dream come true. … You've got to think about it every day the rest of your life. This is the moment."

One Shining Moment.

Pat Forde is a senior writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at ESPN4D@aol.com.

Google launches App Engine

2008-04-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

Google has just announced the preview release of Google App Engine, which the company is describing as " an application-hosting tool that developers can use to build scalable web apps on top of Google's infrastructure." Think of it like Amazon's web services, but as a fully integrated solution. With Amazon's services, developers can mix and match the various components with each other or with other solutions -- Google App Engine is a one-stop shop of sorts.

Most appealing, Google App Engine is free. During the preview, there are only spots for the first 10,000 developers who sign up, but Google's information page says that free accounts will be available after the initial preview. Of course, the free accounts do have resource limitations (500MB of storage and 5 million page views a month), but free is free!

Let's get into the details:

Applications can be served from the free appspot.com domain or from an external domain via Google Apps
Python is the only language supported right now -- Google says they look forward to supporting other languages in the future, but for right now -- Python is where it is at
Google's service API is built into App Engine -- so Google Accounts can be easily integrated into an application
During the developer preview users are able to register up to 3 applications
The SDK is available for Mac, Windows and Linux
From our perspective, this news is exciting -- if not for what it offers right now -- but for the potential in the future. Only initially supporting Python is a curious choice (though we are big fans of Django), but the ability for developers to execute scalable apps using Google's resources -- for free -- is extremely exciting.

[via TechCrunch]
Tags: app engine, AppEngine, django, google, python, web apps, WebApps

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

14-08-2008 @ 5:05AM

Generic said...
Python is a really good choice. It has many IDEs and compilers that compile to bytecode, hence catching some errors early on. Look at all what AJAX trys to do that it was not initially designed for. Programming without an IDE or a way to systematically test the code without running it all together.

Add to that Python is terribly easy to learn and very high level. It is supposed to be an OOP language but you can write procedural code too. The most important part is that there are many modules with ready made and tested code which will be a plus for servers that want to minimize what code you will want to run. If you had a module that does XML parsing efficiently, then you will save server time by not forcing Google to run your code (no offence) that might be slow.

And I'm biased because I like Python :D

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Asked by neeraj_kholiya

Hi All
I have a basic doubt in app engine program . I have a step in app engine program . Rhich contains two action . One is do select ( its properties are restartable) and then a peoplecode . Sometime it may happen that appengine can go to no success due to peoplecode . after that when I am trying to restart it . It starts from application engine main not from do select statement which ideally should be . Did I miss anything in it ? My State record is a sql table ..

Regards
Neeraj

Mario Chalmers Winning Shot

2008-04-08T04:54:00.000-07:00

“10 seconds to go and we think we’re national champions, and we’re not.” — Memphis coach John Calipari

And so closes the latest chapter of March Madness.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 7th, 2008 at 10:18 pm and is filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Here's the video of Mario Chalmers' big winning 3 point shot in last night's NCAA finals. The Memphis Jayhawks got tooken out by Mario Chalmers and his Kansas crew, when Mario Chalmers hit a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to send the game to overtime...

sporting news breakdown:

... Man of the hour: Sherron Collins, Kansas. His first-half defense on Rose held Memphis' uber-freshman to three points and kept him from finding any rhythm. Boom. With KU trailing by three in the waning seconds of regulation, he went and drove and got the damn ball to Mario Chalmers for the big game-tying 3-pointer. On the Tigers' first possession of overtime, he picked Chris Douglas-Roberts' pocket, then found Brandon for the first two points of overtime.

One shining moment: Mario Chalmers, Kansas. Could there be another? You saw that game-tying 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in regulation. Mario Chalmers FTW

For Memphis, hope was the worst of things Monday night. The Tigers had the game in their grasp, but Mario Chalmers hit a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to force overtime.

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Lost (TV series)

2008-04-07T07:49:00.000-07:00

This article is about the currently produced television series. For the short-lived reality series, see Lost (2001 TV series).
Lost

Lost title screen
Genre Drama
Thriller
Science fiction
Adventure
Mystery
Created by Jeffrey Lieber
J.J. Abrams
Damon Lindelof
Directed by Jack Bender
Stephen Williams
Eric Laneuville
Composer(s) Michael Giacchino
Country of origin United States
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 77 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive
producer(s) Damon Lindelof
Carlton Cuse
Bryan Burk
Jack Bender
J. J. Abrams
Location(s) Oahu, Hawaii
Running time approx. 43 min.
Broadcast
Original channel ABC
Picture format 480i (SDTV), 720p (HDTV) ABC HD, 1080i (HDTV) Sky HD, Premiere HD
Original run September 22, 2004 – present
External links
Official website
Production website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary
Lost is an American serial drama television series that follows the lives of plane crash survivors on a mysterious tropical island, after a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney, Australia and Los Angeles, United States crashes somewhere in the South Pacific. Each episode typically features a primary storyline on the island as well as a secondary storyline from another point in a character's life. The show was created by Damon Lindelof, J. J. Abrams and Jeffrey Lieber, and is filmed primarily on location in Oahu, Hawaii.[1] The pilot episode was first broadcast on September 22, 2004.[2] Since then, three seasons have been aired, with a fourth season currently being aired. The show is produced by ABC Studios, Bad Robot Productions and Grass Skirt Productions and airs on the ABC Network in the United States. Its soundtrack is composed by Michael Giacchino. The current executive producers are Abrams, Lindelof, Bryan Burk, Jack Bender and Carlton Cuse.[3] Because of its large ensemble cast and the cost of filming in Hawaii, the series is one of the most expensive on television.[4]

A critically-acclaimed and popular success, Lost garnered an average of 16 million viewers per episode on ABC during its first year, and won numerous industry awards including the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in 2005,[5] Best American Import at the British Academy Television Awards in 2005, the Golden Globe for Best Drama in 2006 and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series.

Reflecting its devoted fan base, the show has become a part of American popular culture with references to the story and its elements appearing in other television shows,[6] commercials, comic books,[7][8] webcomics, humor magazines, a video game[9][10] and song lyrics. The show's fictional universe has also been explored through tie-in novels, board and video games, and alternative reality games, The Lost Experience and Find 815.[11]

In May 2007, it was announced that Lost would continue for its fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons, concluding with the 117th produced episode in May 2010. These three final seasons were planned to consist of 16 episodes each, running weekly in the spring uninterrupted by repeats, though the recent WGA strike has called this exact episode count into question.[12][13] It has been announced that there will most likely be 13 episodes in Season 4, but the three missing episodes should be made up for in the two following seasons.[14] The fourth season premiered in the United States on January 31, 2008.[15]

Contents [hide]
1 Production
1.1 Conception
1.2 Episode format
1.3 Music
1.4 Filming locations
1.5 Online distribution
1.6 DVD releases
2 Cast and characters
2.1 Casting
3 Season synopses
3.1 Season 1
3.2 Season 2
3.3 Season 3
3.4 Season 4
3.5 Future seasons and end date
4 Mythology
4.1 Discredited theories
5 Recurring elements
6 Impact
6.1 Ratings
6.2 Awards
6.3 Critical reception
6.4 Fandom and popular culture
7 Other media
7.1 Licensed merchandise
8 References
9 External links

[edit] Production

[edit] Conception
The series began development in January 2004, when Lloyd Braun, head of ABC at the time, ordered an initial script from Spelling Television based on his concept of a cross between the novel Lord of the Flies, the movie Cast Away, Gilligan's Island, and the popular reality show Survivor. Gadi Pollack notes that some of "the influences of Lost came from...the game Myst."[16] Jeffrey Lieber was hired and wrote Nowhere, based on his pitch to write the pilot.[17] Unhappy with the result and a subsequent rewrite, Braun contacted J. J. Abrams, who had a deal with Touchstone (now ABC Studios), and was also the creator of the TV series Alias, to write a new pilot script. Although initially hesitant, Abrams warmed up to it on the condition that the show have a supernatural angle to it, and collaborated with Damon Lindelof to create the series' style and characters.[18] Together, Abrams and Lindelof also created a series "bible", and conceived and detailed the major mythological ideas and plot points for an ideal five to six season run for the show.[19][20] The development of the show was constrained by tight deadlines, as it had been commissioned late in the 2004 season's development cycle. Despite the short schedule, the creative team remained flexible enough to modify or create characters to fit actors they wished to cast.[21]

Lost's two-part pilot episode was the most expensive in the network's history, reportedly costing between US $10 and US $14 million,[22] compared to the average cost of an hour-long pilot in 2005 of US $4 million.[23] The show, which debuted on September 22, 2004, became one of the biggest critical and commercial successes of the 2004 television season. Along with fellow new series Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy, Lost helped to reverse the flagging fortunes of ABC.[24] Yet, before it had even been aired, Lloyd Braun was fired by executives at ABC's parent company, Disney, because he had greenlighted such an expensive and risky project.[18]

The world premiere of the pilot episode was on July 24, 2004 at Comic-Con International in San Diego.[25]

[edit] Episode format
Episodes have a distinct structure: following a recap of events relevant to the upcoming narrative, each show begins with a cold open. Often a close up of a character's eye will follow. At a dramatic juncture, the screen cuts to black and the title graphic, slightly out-of-focus, glides towards the viewer accompanied by an ominous, discordant sound. The opening credits generally appear alphabetically by last name over the scenes that immediately follow. While there is a continuous story arc, each episode relates events concurrently with off-island flashbacks and later, flashforwards, centered on a particular character. The majority of episodes end with a suspenseful twist or cliffhanger, revealed just seconds before a smash cut to black and the title graphic. Others, following a plot resolution, will finish with a reflective closing scene that precedes a simple fade to black, and in particularly tragic or heart-felt closing scenes, the booming noise that accompanies the title graphic will be silenced, amplifying the impact of the event.

[edit] Music
Main article: List of music featured on Lost
Lost features incidental music performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony Orchestra and composed by Michael Giacchino, whose score is orchestral, incorporating several recurring themes for events and characters. Giacchino achieved some of the sounds for the score using unusual instruments, such as striking suspended pieces of the plane's fuselage.[26]

On March 21, 2006, the record label Varèse Sarabande released the original television soundtrack for Lost's first season.[27] The soundtrack included select full-length versions of the most popular themes of the season and the main title, which was composed by series creator J.J. Abrams.[27] Varèse Sarabande released a soundtrack featuring music from the second season of Lost on October 3, 2006.[28]

Pop culture songs have been used sparingly in the series, given the mainly orchestral score. When such songs are featured, they usually originate from a diegetic source, meaning that they are usually generated by an action of one of the characters. Examples are the various songs played on Hurley's portable CD player throughout the first season (until its batteries died in the episode "...In Translation"), which featured Joe Purdy's "Washed Away", or the use of the record player in the second season, which included Cass Elliot's "Make Your Own Kind of Music" and Petula Clark's "Downtown" in the second and third season premieres respectively. In two episodes, Charlie is shown on a street corner playing guitar and singing the Oasis song "Wonderwall". In the third season's finale, Jack is driving down the street listening to Nirvana's "Scentless Apprentice," right before he arrives to the Hoffs/Drawlar Funeral Parlor. The third season also utilized Three Dog Night's Shambala on two occasions in the van. The only pop song that has ever been used without a source is Ann-Margret's "Slowly," in the episode "I Do".

In some international broadcasts, alternate music is utilized. For instance, in the Japanese broadcast of Lost, the theme song for season one is "Here I Am" by Chemistry, the theme song for season two is "Losin'" by Yuna Ito, and the theme song for season three is "Fire Walk With Me" by Fantômas.

[edit] Filming locations

The dock where Jack, Kate and Sawyer were held hostage by "the Others."Lost is filmed on Panavision 35 mm cameras almost entirely on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The original island scenes for the pilot were filmed at Mokulē'ia Beach, near the northwest tip of the island. Later beach scenes take place in secluded spots of the famous North Shore. Cave scenes in the first season were filmed on a sound stage built at a Xerox parts warehouse, which had been empty since an employee mass shooting took place there in 1999.[29] The sound-stage and production offices have since moved to the Hawaii Film Office-operated Hawaii Film Studio,[30] where the sets depicting Season 2's "Swan Station" and Season 3's "Hydra Station" interiors were built.[31] Various urban areas in and around Honolulu are used as stand-ins for locations around the world, including California, New York, Iowa, Miami, South Korea, Iraq, Nigeria, United Kingdom, Paris, Thailand, Berlin and Australia. For example, scenes set in a Sydney airport were filmed at the Hawaii Convention Center, while a World War II-era bunker was used as an Iraqi Republican Guard installation.[32] Extensive archives of filming locations are tracked at a repository at the Lost Virtual Tour.

[edit] Online distribution
In addition to traditional terrestrial and satellite broadcasting, Lost has been at the forefront of new television distribution methods. It was one of the first series issued through Apple's iTunes Store service for playback on an iPod or within the iTunes software. Since October 2005, new episodes, without commercials, have been available for download the day after they air on ABC, for American audiences. On August 29, 2007 Lost became one of the first TV programs available for download in the UK store. Since the airing of Season 4 in the UK, episodes of Lost are available the Monday after the Sunday they air on Sky One. .[33]

In April 2006, Disney announced that Lost would be available for free online in streaming format, with advertising, on ABC's website, as part of a two-month experiment of future distribution strategies. The trial, which ran from May to June 2006, caused a stir among network affiliates who were afraid of being cut out of advertising revenue. The streaming of Lost episodes direct from ABC's website was only available to viewers in the United States due to international licensing agreements.[34][35]

The UK's Channel 4 has also allowed access to the series online.[36] Both parts of "Pilot" were available to watch for free, and other episodes cost GB£0.99 each. Season two installments are made available two weeks after their Channel 4 debut, and the episodes expire after several months. Due to licensing agreements, the service is only accessible in the UK. Virgin Media has made the first three seasons of Lost available on demand via their TV Choice On Demand function, allowing viewers to watch Season One, Season Two and Season Three at any time in HD (only available to customers with a V+ box) or Standard Definition. Currently, only Season Two and Three are available on the service as Season One was removed. All episodes available on the service are free to Virgin Media subscribers. They are also available in Standard Definition as part of a subscription to the TV Choice on Demand Service. As of 25 thNovember 2006, Lost episodes were available on Sky's VOD service;Sky Anytime. Users with the correct Sky Subscription can download recent Lost episodes for free, however, much like Channel 4's 4OD application, they expire. Users without a relevant Sky subscription for Lost can exchange prepaid credit for rental of an epsiode.

As of third quarter, 2006, France's TF1 has allowed online access to the French version of Season Two; episodes cost €1.99.[37] Each episode is issued online just after being broadcast.

Since 2007, episodes from all of the seasons were made available through HOT V.O.D. service in Israel. Episodes are available in rental packs of four each and are available to watch for 48 hours after the time of purchase.

Since August 6, 2007, Virgin Media have all of Season 1 available for viewing on its On Demand service, available to all Virgin TV subscribers.[38]

On September 21, 2007, ABC announced that Lost would be available for download on AOL Video along with several other ABC shows.[39]

Since December 2007, Virgin Media have all of Season 2 available for viewing on its On Demand service, available to all Virgin TV subscribers.[38]

As of January 2008, full episodes from Seasons 1–4 are available as a HD Streaming Video on the ABC website for US viewers only. Full episodes of Season 4 are available the day after original primetime airing. Full episodes also became available for download on Microsoft's Xbox Live service in both standard and HD formats.

[edit] DVD releases
Main article: Lost DVD releases
Lost: The Complete First Season was released as a widescreen seven-disc Region 1 DVD box set in the USA on September 6, 2005, two weeks before the premiere of the second season. It was distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

In addition to all the episodes that had been aired, it included several DVD extras such as episode commentaries, behind-the-scenes footage and making-of features as well as deleted scenes, deleted flashback scenarios and a blooper reel.

The same set was released on November 30, 2005 in Region 4, and on January 16, 2006 in Region 2. The latter was titled Lost: The Complete First Series. As has become standard for Region 2, the series was first released split into two parts: the first twelve episodes of series 1 were available as a widescreen four-disc Region 2 DVD box set on October 31, 2005, while the remaining thirteen episodes of series 1 were released on January 16, 2006. The DVD features available on the Region 1 release were likewise split over the two box sets.

The second season was released as a widescreen seven-disc Region 1 DVD box set in the USA on September 5, 2006 and on Region 2 DVD on October 2, 2006, retitled as Lost: The Complete Second Series. Each of these releases also contained DVD extras, including Behind the Scenes Footage, deleted scenes and a "Lost Connections" chart, which shows how all of the characters on the island are inter-connected with each other.[40]

Again, the series was initially delivered in two sets for Region 2: the first twelve episodes were released as a widescreen four-disc DVD box set on July 17, 2006. The remaining episodes of series 2 were released as a four-disc DVD box set on October 2, 2006. The set was released in Region 4 on October 4, 2006.

Both Seasons 1 and 2 of Lost have sold successfully on DVD. The Season 1 boxset entered the DVD sales chart at number two in September 2005,[41] and the Season 2 boxset entered the DVD sales chart at the number one position in its first week of release in September 2006, believed to be the second TV-DVD ever to enter the chart at the top spot.[42] First day DVD sales for Lost Season 2 are thought to have been as high as 500,000 copies sold.[43]

The third season was released in Region 1 on December 11, 2007. A Blu-ray release for Season 3 DVDs was commissioned by Disney in July and cost $96.99.[44] As with Seasons 1 and 2, the third season release will include audio commentaries with the cast and crew, bonus featurettes, deleted scenes, and bloopers. The Season 3 was released on Region 2 DVD on October 22, 2007, though this time only as a complete set and not in two volumes like the previous seasons. This box set includes 7 discs but, unlike the others, has only 4 DVD cases, making it a smaller box set.

[edit] Cast and characters
Main article: Characters of Lost

Current main cast from left to right: Hugo, Claire, Sawyer, Kate, Jack, Jin, Sun, Juliet, Locke, Sayid, Ben and Desmond (Charlotte, Daniel, Michael and Miles not pictured)Out of the 324 people on board, there were 72 initial survivors (71 humans and 1 dog) spread across the three sections of the plane crash. The opening season featured 14 regular speaking roles, making it the second largest cast in American primetime television behind Desperate Housewives. While a large cast makes Lost more expensive to produce, the writers benefit from more flexibility in story decisions. According to series executive producer Bryan Burk, "You can have more interactions between characters and create more diverse characters, more back stories, more love triangles."[45]

The initial season had 14 major roles getting star billing. Naveen Andrews portrayed former Iraqi Republican Guard Sayid Jarrah. Emilie de Ravin played the pregnant Australian Claire Littleton. Matthew Fox acted as the troubled surgeon and protagonist Jack Shephard. Jorge Garcia portrayed Hugo "Hurley" Reyes, an unlucky lottery winner. Maggie Grace played Shannon Rutherford, a former dance teacher. Josh Holloway acted as con man James "Sawyer" Ford. Yunjin Kim played Sun-Hwa Kwon, the daughter of a powerful Korean businessman and mobster, with Daniel Dae Kim as her husband Jin-Soo Kwon. Evangeline Lilly portrayed fugitive Kate Austen. Dominic Monaghan acted as ex-rock star drug addict Charlie Pace. Terry O'Quinn played the mysterious John Locke. Harold Perrineau portrayed construction worker Michael Dawson, while child actor Malcolm David Kelley acted as his young son, Walt Lloyd. Ian Somerhalder played Boone Carlyle, chief operating officer of his mother's wedding business and step brother of Shannon. Boone was one of the first main characters to be killed, dying near the end of season one.

During the first two seasons, some characters were written out to make room for new characters with new stories.[46][47] Boone Carlyle was the first major character to be written out in season one. Walt became a guest star after the events of the first season's finale, making rare appearances throughout season two. Shannon's departure eight episodes into season two made way for newcomers Mr. Eko, a Nigerian Catholic priest and former criminal played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ana Lucia Cortez, an airport security guard and former police officer played by Michelle Rodriguez, Bernard Nadler, a dentist and the husband of Rose, from the front section, and Libby, a purported clinical psychologist portrayed by Cynthia Watros. Ana Lucia and Libby were written out of the series toward the end of season two.

In season three, Henry Ian Cusick received star billing as former Scottish soldier Desmond David Hume, as did Michael Emerson in the role of Ben Linus (formerly known as Henry Gale), a high ranking member of the "Others." In addition, three new actors joined the regular cast: Elizabeth Mitchell, as fertility doctor and "Other" Juliet Burke and Kiele Sanchez and Rodrigo Santoro as background survivor couple Nikki Fernandez and Paulo. Eko was written out early in the season, and Nikki and Paulo were written out mid-season in their first flashback episode. Charlie was written out in the season 3 finale.

In season four, Harold Perrineau rejoins the main cast to reprise the role of Michael Dawson, now suicidal and on a desperate redemptive journey to redeem himself from his previous crimes.[48] Along with Perrineau, additional new actors—Jeremy Davies as Daniel Faraday, a nervous physicist who takes a scientific interest in the island; Ken Leung as Miles Straume, a sarcastic supposed ghost whisperer; Rebecca Mader as Charlotte Staples Lewis, a hard-headed and determined anthropologist and successful academic, and Jeff Fahey as Frank Lapidus, an alcoholic but experienced pilot who was supposed to fly Oceanic Flight 815 and is sceptical of it's cover story - have joined the cast.[49]

Numerous supporting characters have been given expansive and recurring appearances in the progressive storyline. In the second season, married couple Rose Henderson (L. Scott Caldwell) and Bernard Nadler (Sam Anderson), separated on opposite sides of the island (she with the main characters, he with the tail section survivors) were featured in a flashback episode after being reunited. Danielle Rousseau (Mira Furlan), a French member of an earlier scientific expedition to the island first encountered as a voice recording in the pilot episode, appears throughout the series. Some of the "Others," including Tom aka Mr. Friendly (M. C. Gainey), Ethan Rom (William Mapother), Alex Rousseau (Tania Raymonde) and Richard Alpert (Nestor Carbonell) have been shown in both flashbacks and the ongoing story. Similarly, Jack's father Christian Shephard (John Terry) has appeared in multiple flashbacks of various characters.

[edit] Casting
Many of the first season roles were a result of the executive producers' liking of various actors. The main character Jack was originally going to die in the pilot, and was hoped to be played by Michael Keaton, however ABC executives were adamant that Jack live.[50] Before it was decided that Jack would live, Kate was to emerge as the leader of the survivors; she was originally conceived to be more like the character of Rose. Dominic Monaghan auditioned for the role of Sawyer, who at the time was supposed to be a suit-wearing city con man. The producers enjoyed Monaghan's performance and changed the character of Charlie, originally a middle-aged former rock star, to fit him. Jorge Garcia also auditioned for Sawyer, and the part of Hurley was written for him. When Josh Holloway auditioned for Sawyer, the producers liked the edge he brought to the character (he reportedly kicked a chair when he forgot his lines and got angry in the audition) and his southern accent, so they changed Sawyer to fit Holloway's acting. Yunjin Kim auditioned for Kate, but the producers wrote the character of Sun for her and the character of Jin, portrayed by Daniel Dae Kim, to be her husband. Sayid, played by Naveen Andrews, was also not in the original script. Locke and Michael were written with their actors in mind. Emilie de Ravin who plays Claire was originally cast in what was supposed to be a recurring role.[50] In the second season, Michael Emerson was contracted to play Ben ("Henry Gale") for three episodes. His role was extended to eight episodes because of his acting skills, and eventually for the whole of season three and season four.[51]

[edit] Season synopses
Main article: List of Lost episodes

[edit] Season 1
Main article: Lost (season 1)
Season 1 featured 24 episodes [52] which aired on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm in the United States from September 22, 2004. A plane crash strands the surviving passengers of Oceanic Flight 815 on a seemingly deserted tropical island, forcing the group of strangers to work together to stay alive. Their survival is threatened by mysterious entities including polar bears, an unseen creature that roams the jungle, and the island's malevolent inhabitants known as the "Others". They encounter a Frenchwoman named Danielle Rousseau who was shipwrecked on the island over 16 years earlier and find a mysterious metal hatch buried in the ground. An attempt is made to leave the island on a raft.

[edit] Season 2
Main article: Lost (season 2)
Season 2 featured 23 episodes [53] that were aired in the United States and Canada on Wednesdays at 9:00 pm starting on September 21, 2005. Most of the story, which continues 45 days after the crash, focuses on the growing conflict between the survivors and the Others, with the continued clash between faith and science being thematic in certain episodes. While some mysteries are resolved, new questions are raised. New characters are introduced, including the tail-section survivors and other island inhabitants. More island mythologies and insights into the survivors' pasts are divulged. The hatch is explored and the existence of The DHARMA Initiative and its benefactor, the Hanso Foundation, are revealed. As the truth about the mysterious Others begins to unfold, one of the crash survivors betrays the other castaways, and the cause of the plane crash is revealed.

[edit] Season 3
Main article: Lost (season 3)
Season 3 featured 22 episodes [54] (one of which was a two-part, double-length episode) that were seen in the United States and Canada beginning on October 4, 2006 and on following Wednesdays at 9:00 pm. The series returned from hiatus on February 7, 2007 and was aired at 10:00 pm. The story continues 67 days after the crash. New crash survivors and Others are introduced, as the crash survivors learn about the Others and their history on the mysterious island. One of the Others and a new island inhabitant join the survivors while a survivor defects to the Others. A war between the Others and the survivors comes to a head, and the survivors make contact with a rescue team.

[edit] Season 4
Main article: Lost (season 4)
Season 4 was planned (prior to the the Writers Guild of America strike) to feature 16 episodes, to be broadcast beginning in the U.S. and Canada on January 31, 2008.[15] Due to the writers' strike, the season will instead last only 13 episodes, consisting of the 8 pre-strike episodes already filmed, and an additional 5 post-strike episodes currently being filmed. This includes a 2-hour finale that will be aired as two separate episodes due to a scheduling conflict with Grey's Anatomy.[citation needed] The show will go on a 5-week hiatus after the conclusion of the 8th episode and return April 24th in its new time slot 10 pm (9 pm central). Although the season will be down by three episodes, executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have announced they will be added and fitted into the remaining fifth and sixth seasons. [55]

[edit] Future seasons and end date
On May 7, 2007, ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson announced that Lost will end during the 2009–2010 season with a "highly anticipated and shocking finale."[56] "We felt that this was the only way to give [Lost] a proper creative conclusion," McPherson said.[56] Beginning with the 2007–2008 television season, the final 48 episodes of Lost would have been aired as three seasons with 16 episodes each, with Lost concluding in its sixth season. Due to the writers strike, the fourth season has only 13 episodes and, according to creators' plans, the final 2 seasons will comprise 35 episodes.[57]

Executive producers Lindelof and Cuse stated that they "always envisioned Lost as a show with a beginning, middle, and end," and that by announcing when the show would end that viewers would "have the security of knowing that the story will play out as we've intended."[56] Lindelof and Cuse stated that securing the 2010 series-end date "was immensely liberating" and helped the series rediscover its focus.[58] Lindelof noted, "We're no longer stalling." [58]

[edit] Mythology
Main article: Mythology of Lost
In parallel to its character development, episodes of Lost include a number of mysterious elements that have been ascribed to science fiction or supernatural phenomena. The creators of the series refer to these elements as composing the mythology of the series, and they form the basis of fan speculation.[59]

Among the show's mythological elements is a "monster" that roams the island; a mysterious group of inhabitants whom the survivors refer to as "The Others;" an organization called the DHARMA Initiative that has placed several research stations on the island; a sequence of numbers that have made frequent appearances in the lives of the characters, in both the past and present; and personal connections or synchronicity between the characters, of which they are often unaware.

[edit] Discredited theories
At the heart of the series is a complex and cryptic storyline that spawns numerous unresolved questions.[60] Encouraged by Lost's writers and stars, who often interact with fans online, viewers and TV critics alike have taken to widespread theorizing in an attempt to unravel the mysteries. Theories mainly concern the nature of the island, the origins of the "monster" and the "Others," the meaning of the numbers, and the reasons for both the crash and the survival of some passengers.

Several of the more common fan theories have been discussed and rejected by the show's creators, the most common being that the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 are dead or in purgatory. This was specifically denied by J.J. Abrams.[61] Furthermore, Lindelof has rejected speculation that spaceships or aliens influence the events on the island, or that everything seen is a fictional reality taking place in someone's mind. Carlton Cuse dismissed the theory that the island is a reality TV show and the castaways unwitting housemates[62] and Lindelof, many times, has refuted the theory that the "monster" is a nanobot cloud similar to the one featured in Michael Crichton's novel Prey.[63][64]

[edit] Recurring elements

John Locke holds up the two opposing colors of backgammon stones in the pilot episode.There are several recurring elements and motifs on Lost, which generally have no direct effect on the story itself, but expand the show's literary and philosophical subtext. These elements include frequent appearances of the colors black and white, which reflect the dualism within characters and situations; as well as rebellion in almost all characters, especially Kate; [65] dysfunctional family situations, as portrayed in the lives of nearly all the main characters;[66] apocalyptic references, including Desmond's pushing the button to forestall the end of the world and the DHARMA Initiative's goal to alter the parameters of the Valenzetti Equation and prevent the end of humanity;[67] coincidence versus fate, revealed most apparently through the juxtaposition of the characters Locke and Mr. Eko; conflict between science and faith, embodied by the leadership tug-of-war between Jack and Locke;[68] and references to numerous works of literature, including mentions and discussions of particular novels.[69] There are also many allusions in characters' names to famous historical thinkers and writers, such as John Locke (after the philosopher), Danielle Rousseau (after philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau), Desmond Hume (after philosopher David Hume), Juliet Burke (after philosopher Edmund Burke), Mikhail Bakunin (after the anarchist), Daniel Faraday (after physicist Michael Faraday), George Minkowski (after mathematician Hermann Minkowski), Richard Alpert (after the spiritual teacher), Henry Gale (after the astrophysicist and author), Kate Austen (after author Jane Austen), and Charlotte Staples Lewis (after author CS Lewis).[70]

[edit] Impact

[edit] Ratings
Seasonal USA rankings (based on a weighted average total viewers per episode including reruns) of Lost on ABC. Note that fourth season ratings are subject to change as the season is yet to be completed.

Season Timeslot (EDT) Premiere Finale TV season Overall Adults 18–49
Rank Viewers
(in millions) Rating/Share Rank
1 Wednesday 8:00 pm 2004-09-22 2005-05-25 2004–2005 #14 16.1[71] 5.8/16 15
2 Wednesday 9:00 pm 2005-09-21 2006-05-24 2005–2006 #14 15.5[72] 6.4/15 8
3 Wednesday 9:00 pm
(episodes 1–6)
Wednesday 10:00 pm
(episodes 7–22)
2006-10-04 2007-05-23 2006–2007 #17 14.6[73] 6.3/16 9
4 Thursday 9:00 pm[15]
(Episodes 1–8)
Thursday 10:00 pm
(Episodes 9–13)[74]
2008-01-31 2008-05-22 2008 #15 14.1[75] TBA TBA

The pilot episode garnered 18.6 million viewers, easily winning its 9/8 central timeslot, and giving ABC its strongest ratings since 2000 when Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? was initially aired—beaten only the following month by the premiere of Desperate Housewives. According to Variety, "ABC sure could use a breakout drama success, as it hasn't had a real hit since The Practice. Lost represents the network's best start for a drama with eighteen to forty-nine year olds since Once and Again in 1999, and in total viewers since Murder One in 1995."[76]

Based on its strong opening, Reuters dubbed it a "hit drama" noting that "the show appeared to have benefited from an all-out marketing blitz that included radio spots, special screenings and ABC's first billboard advertising campaign in five years."[77] After four episodes had been aired, ABC announced that Lost had been picked up for a full season order.[78]

For its first season, Lost averaged 16 million viewers, ranking 14th in viewership among prime-time shows, and 15th among the eighteen to forty-nine year old demographic.[79] Its second season fared equally well: again, Lost ranked 14th in viewership, with an average of 15.5 million viewers. However, it improved its rating with eighteen to forty-nine year olds, ranking 8th.[80] The second season premiere was even more viewed than the first, pulling in over 23 million viewers and setting a series record.[81] The third season premiere brought in 18.8 million viewers. The seventh episode of the series, back from a three-month hiatus, saw a drop to 14.5 million. Over the course of the spring season, ratings would plunge to as low as 11 million viewers before recovering to near 14 million for the season finale. The ratings drop was partially explained when Nielsen released DVR ratings, showing Lost as the most recorded series on television. However, despite overall ratings losses, Lost still won its hour in the crucial 18–49 demographic and put out the highest 18–49 numbers in the 10pm time slot ahead of any show on any network that season. The fourth season premiere of Lost saw an increase from the previous episode to 16.1 million viewers.[82]

A survey of twenty countries by Informa Telecoms and Media in 2006 concluded that Lost was the second most popular TV show in those countries, after CSI: Miami.[83]

[edit] Awards
Main article: List of awards and nominations for Lost
Capping its successful first season, Lost won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series and J. J. Abrams was awarded an Emmy in September 2005 for his work as the director of Pilot. Terry O'Quinn and Naveen Andrews were nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category. Lost swept the guild awards in 2005, winning the Writers Guild of America Awards 2005 for outstanding achievement in writing for a dramatic television series, the 2005 Producers Guild Award for best production, the 2005 Director's Guild Award for best direction of a dramatic television program, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards 2005 for best ensemble cast. It has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for best drama series every year it has been eligible, and won the award in 2006. In 2005, Matthew Fox and Naveen Andrews received Golden Globe nominations for Best Lead Actor and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series respectively, and in 2007, Evangeline Lilly received a nomination in the Best Lead Actress category. Lost did win the 2005 British Academy of Film and Television Award for Best American Import. In 2006, Jorge Garcia and Michelle Rodriguez took home ALMA Awards for best Supporting Actor and Actress, respectively, in a television series. It won the Saturn Award for Best Television Series in both 2005 and 2006. In, 2005 Terry O'Quinn won a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor in a television series, and in 2006, Matthew Fox won for Best Lead Actor. Lost won consecutive Television Critics Association Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Drama, for both its first and second seasons. Consecutively as well, it won in 2005 and 2006 the Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program. Malcolm David Kelley won a Young Artist Award for his performance as Walt in 2006. In 2005, Lost was voted Entertainment Weekly's Entertainer of the Year. The show won a 2005 Prism Award for Charlie's drug storyline in the episodes Pilot, House of the Rising Sun, and The Moth. Further, Lost was nominated for but did not win a Writer's Guild Award and Producer's Guild Award again in 2007. In June 2007, Lost beat out over 20 nominated television shows from countries all over the globe to win the Best Drama award at the Monte Carlo Television Festival. In September 2007 both Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn were nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, the award going to O'Quinn.[84]

[edit] Critical reception
Please help improve this article or section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (March 2008)

Time magazine's James Poniewozik named it one of the Top 10 Returning Series of 2007, ranking it at #2.[85] The series was also ranked number 1 several times in the "Best of 2005 TV Coverage: Critic Top Ten Lists" by Matthew Gilbert of The Boston Globe, Tom Gliatto of People Weekly, Charlie McCollum of the San Jose Mercury News and Robert Bianco of USA Today.[86]

[edit] Fandom and popular culture
As a cult television show, Lost has generated a dedicated and thriving international fan community. Lost fans, sometimes dubbed Lostaways[87] or Losties,[88] have gathered at Comic-Con International and conventions organized by ABC,[89][88] but have also been active in developing a large number of fan websites, including Lostpedia,[90] and forums dedicated to the program and its related incarnations.[91][92][93][94] Because of the show's elaborate mythology, its fansites have focused on speculation and theorizing about the island's mysteries, as well as on more typical fan activities such as producing fan fiction and videos, compiling episode transcripts, shipping characters, and collecting memorabilia.

Anticipating fan interest and trying to keep its audience engrossed, ABC embarked on various cross-media endeavors, often using new media. Fans of Lost have been able to explore ABC-produced tie-in websites, tie-in novels, an official forum sponsored by the creative team behind Lost ("The Fuselage"), "mobisodes," podcasts by the producers, an official magazine, and an alternate reality game (ARG) "The Lost Experience."[93][95] An official fanclub was launched in the summer of 2005 through Creation Entertainment.[88]

Due to the show's popularity, references to the series and elements from its story have appeared in parody and popular culture usage. These include appearances on television, such as on the series Veronica Mars, Will & Grace, Bo Selecta, The Sarah Silverman Program, My Wife And Kids, Chuck, Notes from the Underbelly and The Office; as well as on the cartoons Family Guy, Blood Sisters, American Dad!, South Park, The Simpsons, and Venture Brothers; and even on a commercial for KFC Hawaii. Also, Red vs. Blue, a Machinima Comic science fiction seemed to have poked fun at it in (one of) the ending(s) to the series, episode 100. The makers of Red vs. Blue also poked fun at the Lost intro in an episode of The Strangerhood. Lost was also featured as an easter egg in Valve Corporation's videogame, Half-Life 2: Episode Two. Similarly the Lost numbers 4, 8, 15 and 16 can be seen on the loading screen for the video game Skate.. Comic books such as Catwoman and The Thing, daily strips Monty and Over the Hedge, web comics Piled Higher and Deeper[96] and Penny Arcade[97] and humor magazine Mad have all incorporated Lost references. Similarly, several rock bands have published songs whose themes and titles were derived from the series, such as Moneen ("Don't Ever Tell Locke What He Can't Do"), Senses Fail ("Lost And Found" and "All The Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues"), and Gatsbys American Dream ("You All Everybody" and "Station 5: The Pearl").

After the episode "Numbers" aired on March 2, 2005, numerous people used the eponymous figures (4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42) as lottery entries. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, within three days, the numbers were tried over 500 times by local players.[98] Likewise, in the same period, over 200 people in Michigan alone used the sequence for the Mega Millions lottery[99] and by October, thousands had tried them for the multi-state Powerball lottery.[100][101]

[edit] Other media
The characters and setting of Lost have appeared in several official tie-ins outside of the television broadcast, including in print, on the Internet, and in short videos for mobile phones.

JJ Abram's film "Cloverfield" aired the Dharma logo in its opening credits. For a few frames the logo shows up. [1]

As of March of 2006, three novelizations have been released by Hyperion Books, a publisher owned by ABC's parent company:

Endangered Species (ISBN 0-7868-9090-8) by Cathy Hapka, released on November 1, 2005; Secret Identity (ISBN 0-7868-9091-6) by Cathy Hapka on January 1, 2006; and Signs of Life (ISBN 0-7868-9092-4) by Frank Thompson, on March 1, 2006.

Additionally, Hyperion published a metafictional book titled Bad Twin (ISBN 1-4013-0276-9), written by Laurence Shames,[102] and credited to fictitious author "Gary Troup," who was claimed to be a passenger on Oceanic Flight 815 by ABC's marketing department.

Finding Lost: The Unofficial Guide (ISBN 1-55022-743-2) by Nikki Stafford and published by ECW Press is a book detailing the show for fans and those new to the show.

What Can Be Found in LOST? (ISBN 0-7369-2121-4) by John Ankerberg and Dillon Burrough published by Harvest House was the first book dedicated to an investigation of the spiritual themes of the series from a Christian perspective.

Living Lost: Why We're All Stuck on the Island (ISBN 1891053027) by J. Wood,[103] published by the Garett County Press, is the first work of cultural criticism based on the series. The book explores the show's strange engagement with the contemporary experiences of war, (mis)information, and terrorism, and argues that the audience functions as a character in the narrative. The author also writes a blog column [104] during the second part of the third season for Powell's Books. Each post discusses the previous episode's literary, historical, philosophical and narrative connections.

The show's networks and producers have made extensive use of the Internet in expanding the background of the story. For example, during the first season, a fictional diary by an unseen survivor called "Janelle Granger" was presented on the ABC web site for the series. Likewise, a tie-in website about the fictional Oceanic Airlines appeared during the first season, which included several Easter eggs and clues about the show. Another tie-in website was launched after the airing of "Orientation" about the Hanso Foundation. In the UK, the interactive back-stories of several characters are included in "Lost Untold," a section of Channel 4's Lost website. Similarly, since November 2005, ABC has produced an official podcast, hosted by series writers and executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. The podcast typically features a discussion about the weekly episode, interviews with cast members and questions from viewers.[105] Sky One also hosts a podcast presented by Iain Lee on their website, which analyzes each episode after it airs in the United Kingdom.[106]

The foray into the online realm culminated in the "Lost Experience", an Internet-based alternate reality game produced by Channel 7 (Australia), ABC (America) and Channel Four (UK), which began in early May 2006. The game presents a five-phase parallel storyline, primarily involving the Hanso Foundation.[107]

Jack action figure, by McFarlane ToysShort mini-episodes ("mobisodes") called the Lost Video Diaries were originally scheduled for viewing by Verizon Wireless subscribers via its V-Cast system, but were delayed by contract disputes.[108] [109] Each video diary will run several minutes and cover events not seen in the television episodes. They will run all 13 mobisodes on ABC.com starting November 12, 2007. Every Monday a new mobisode will air.[110]

[edit] Licensed merchandise
In addition to tie-in novels, several other types of products based on the series, such as toys and games, have been licensed for release. A video game, Lost: Via Domus, has been released, developed by Ubisoft, for game consoles and home computers,[111] while Gameloft developed a Lost game for mobile phones and iPods.[112] Cardinal Games released a Lost board game on August 7, 2006.[113] TDC Games created a series of four 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles ("The Hatch," "The Numbers," "The Others" and "Before the Crash") which, when put together, reveal embedded clues to the overall mythology of Lost. Inkworks has published two sets of Lost trading cards, and is slated to release the Lost: Revelations set.[114] In May 2006, McFarlane Toys announced recurring lines of character action figures[115] and released the first series in November 2006, with the second series being released July 2007.

[edit] References
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[edit] External links
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See also: Lost Experience#External links and Find 815#External links
The Hanso Foundation: fictional foundation behind the DHARMA Initiative
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[hide]v • d • eLost
Production: DVD releases • Episode list • Music • Season 1 • Season 2 • Season 3 • Season 4
Main characters: Ana Lucia • Ben • Boone • Charlie • Charlotte • Claire • Daniel • Desmond • Hurley • Jack • Jin • Juliet
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Miscellaneous: Awards • Find 815 • Lost Experience • Lost: Missing Pieces • Lost: Via Domus • Mythology

Agents Describe Epic Drug Dealer Busts

2008-04-07T07:44:00.000-07:00

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Desperate to wiretap their target, federal drug agents early one morning scaled the roof of an auto garage that by day served as a well-protected Harlem headquarters for Mr. Untouchable, Leroy "Nicky" Barnes, a major New York heroin dealer who had eluded prison for a decade. They dropped by rope through a skylight and placed the bug.

It didn't work.

Several nights later, rope in hand, they were back on the roof. They installed another bug.

This time, "all we got was a loud buzz," said Mary Buckley, recalling an investigation three decades ago in which the Drug Enforcement Administration sent her undercover at age 26 to help catch Barnes.

Buckley and another retired DEA agent, Lew Rice, who once headed DEA's New York office, described their role in convicting Barnes and one of his major competitors, Frank Lucas. Their lectures Tuesday at the DEA Museum kicked off a series celebrating the agency's 35th birthday by recalling its biggest triumphs.

Rice and Buckley provided a stiff dose of reality about the 1970s clash between drug dealers and cops in New York City, which has provided rich lore for the movies. Hollywood has transformed this collision into a mythic era through films like "Serpico," "Prince of the City," "The French Connection" and its sequel, and most recently "American Gangster." HBO is planning a series.

"It's hard to defend against that Hollywood machine," said Rice, who spent 18 months prepping Lucas to testify for the government in return for a reduced sentence. Rice said Lucas was nothing like the man portrayed by actor Denzel Washington in "American Gangster."

Born in a 1973 merger of drug agencies, the DEA was devoted to undercover work but inexperienced and ill-adapted to it, Buckley said. Far from glamour and high-tech wizardry, her world in the mid-1970s meant sleepless nights on spike heels in smoke-filed joints with dangerous men, wearing a bulky concealed transmitter that burned her skin, using index card files rather than computer databases and searching for functioning pay phones in a world without cell phones.

One of just five female DEA agents then, Buckley was paired with an informant whose profession was armed robbery of drug stash houses. They were sent to Harlem after-hours bars with orders to buy drugs from Barnes' associates. DEA's rules and inexperience only made it harder.

The informant neglected to tell her the clubs searched patrons for guns. Fearful the bouncers would discover the bulky Kel transmitter strapped to her back, "I got bad," Buckley said, indignantly declaring, 'I'm a woman; you don't search me!'" It worked. She couldn't turn on the transmitter so the surveillance team outside could hear her conversations until she got in and went to the bathroom. Turned on earlier, it would get hot enough to burn her skin before she could take it off.

"In the clubs, everybody was offering me heroin but not the right people," Buckley said, referring to her instructions to buy only from dealers associated with Barnes. Occasionally she did buy from others because "you're ground beef" if you don't go along in some situations.

"You're all alone in there, so you do what you have to do to get out alive," Buckley said.

She regularly worked until 4, 5 or 6 in the morning to contact the right dealers, but DEA's New York office chief insisted every agent arrive for work at 8 a.m. "We didn't get much rest, but we were young," Buckley said.

More worrisome was that at 6 p.m. she and her surveillance team would leave the DEA office and go to a bar until 11 p.m., then drive to Harlem for undercover work. "These were the guys who would be covering me all night, and they'd speed uptown half drunk, running red lights," Buckley said.

Rice said DEA only had one car for every three or four agents. And Buckley said agency cars were no match for the Mercedes and Maserati vehicles Barnes drove.

Barnes leased his vehicles because DEA seized cars owned by dealers and enhanced its fleet with them. But Buckley said agents discovered Barnes owned the leasing company so the government grabbed his entire collection.

Buckley once saw Barnes himself in a club but couldn't get close. "I'm not full bosomed, not his type," she said. "And you didn't go up to him unless you were his girlfriend or had known him for years."

Although sentenced to life in prison in 1977, Barnes testified against other dealers to win release in 1998 and a new identity from the witness protection program. Buckley said he had a second motive for helping prosecutors: His henchmen had promised to take care of his family but he became "furious when his associates started dating his old lady."

Hollywood's portrayal of Frank Lucas' cooperation with authorities in "American Gangster" is a sore point for Rice. The movie shows Lucas helping convict corrupt New York police officers, particularly members of the anti-narcotics Special Investigation Unit, which is the subject of the movie "Prince of the City."

"Never happened!" said Rice. Lucas fingered other dealers and associates. Rice said the only cop he talked about was New York detective Robert Leuci, but only after Leuci was in custody and making cases against co-workers on the Special Investigation Unit.

Lucas also wasn't the family man portrayed by the movie, Rice said. "He was a ruthless drug dealer whose organization killed witnesses and co-workers."

And unlike the movie version, Lucas didn't establish an independent supply of high-grade Asian heroin, Rice said. Lucas did make a trip to Bangkok with that goal but was arrested before the connection was established. He bought his drugs from Mafia sources, Rice said.

"'American Gangster' really turned me off," Rice said. "I was uncomfortable when I saw him glamorized."

Retired DEA agents sued the filmmakers for damages because they ended the movie with an on-screen note saying Lucas' cooperation "led to the conviction of three-quarters of New York City's Drug Enforcement Agency."

There is no such agency and Lucas played no role in convictions of NYPD Special Investigations Unit detectives, they argued. A judge threw the case out because the movie never says a federal drug agent was corrupt.

When a movie says it is "based on reality" and uses that kind of closing notice, Rice said, "I think you've got a responsibility to get it right."

Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen Speaks Out Against Bear Lake Hydroelectric Project

2008-04-07T07:42:00.000-07:00

(KCPW News) Merlin Olsen has accomplished many things in his life. He played professional football. He's been an actor, starring on television shows like "Little House on the Prairie" and "Father Murphy."
Now, Merlin Olsen is playing the role of environmental activist. Olsen serves as President for Bear Lake Watch, an organization working to preserve and protect Bear Lake and its resources. A new proposal by Logan's Symbiotics LLC has the company considering the construction of a hydroelectric plant, called the Hook Canyon Pumped Storage Project, on the shores of Bear Lake. Olsen and Bear Lake Watch are working toward making sure the proposal doesn't become a reality. KCPW's Eric Ray spoke with the Hall of Famer late last week. Olsen talked about how he became interested in environmental issues:

Download this audio file

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is conducting two scoping meetings to gather public and government comment on the project this Wednesday, April 9th:

1) Scoping meeting for government agencies and NGO representatives - Bear Lake West club, Garden City, Utah - 9:00 am until 2:00 pm

2) Public Scoping Meeting - The Oregon Trail Center, Montpelier, Idaho - 7:00 pm until TBA.

Here are links to prior KCPW stories on the Hook Canyon Pumped Storage Project.

Proposed Bear Lake Hydroelectric Plant May Harm Native Fish

Local Environmentalist Speaks Out Against Bear Lake Hydroelectric Proposal

Ms. Cheryl Graham

2008-04-07T07:40:00.000-07:00

Cheryl Graham , R.N. , Named New Manager of Surgery at Mariners Hospital Cheryl Graham , R.N. , Named New Manager of Surgery at Mariners Hospital

Cheryl Graham , R.N. , Named New Manager of Surgery at Mariners Hospital

...
UPPER KEYS - Cheryl Graham , R.N , has been named the manager of Surgical Services at Mariners Hospital. This new position was created to oversee the growing departments of outpatient surgery , inpatient surgery and recovery. Her responsibilities include patient care and scheduling , budgeting , strategic planning and physician relations. Cheryl Graham , R.N. Mariners Hospital Photo. Ms. Graham , a Key Largo resident for the past year , worked at Homestead Hospital in the same position before coming to Mariners. She moved to the Keys from the Tampa Bay area where she was director of Surgical Services at South Bay Hospital in Sun Center City. Ms. Graham has been a certified perioperative nurse since 1984.

Shuster: Penn's Advice 'Disaster,' Firing Too Little Too Late

2008-04-07T07:37:00.001-07:00

Mark J. Penn (born September 10, 1954), is the worldwide CEO of the public relations firm Burson-Marsteller and president of the polling firm Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates.[1] In September 2007, he released a book titled Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow's Big Changes, which examines small trends sweeping the world.[2] He was Hillary Clinton's chief strategist for most of her 2008 presidential campaign, for which his firm received $5 million. He resigned as chief strategist on April 6, 2008.[3]

Contents [hide]
1 Career
2 2008 Hillary Clinton campaign
2.1 Calls for Penn's resignation
3 See also
4 Notes
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Career
Penn is a graduate of the Horace Mann School in New York City (1972) and of Harvard University (1976).

Penn has served as a fellow at the New Politics Institute. He advised British Prime Minister Tony Blair "for his successful run for a third term." Penn is best known for serving as President Bill Clinton's pollster and political adviser for the 1996 re-election campaign and throughout the second term of the administration. He also ran the polling and messaging and was part of the media team for the successful Senate campaign of Hillary Clinton, serving as her chief campaign adviser.

He advises organizations and companies on a wide range of image, branding and competitive marketing assignments. He has been a key adviser to Bill Gates and Microsoft since the late 1990s.[4] His book, Microtrends, published by Hachette Book Group USA, examines how small ideas can catch fire and lead to big changes. For example, Penn shows how a mere one percent of the American public, or 3 million people, can create a “microtrend” capable of launching a major business or even a new cultural movement, changing commercial, political and social landscapes.[5]

Other firms besides Microsoft which have retained Penn's firm include security firm Blackwater and troubled mortgage lender Countrywide.

[edit] 2008 Hillary Clinton campaign
In his role as Clinton's chief strategist, Penn gained minor attention nationally during a controversy about Barack Obama's admission of drug use during Obama's adolescence and questions about whether the Clinton campaign was trying to exploit the issue. Appearing on Hardball with Chris Matthews with the head of the John Edwards and Obama campaigns, Penn stated that the campaign was not making an issue of the drug use, but used the word cocaine (which Obama admitted taking in his memoir "Dreams from My Father"[6]), causing Edwards spokesman Joe Trippi to jump on him and accuse him and the rest of the Clinton campaign of trying to distort the picture.[7] Edwards had formerly compared Penn to Karl Rove,[8] and the day after Penn's comments, Jennifer Donahue of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics appeared on Hardball where she too drew the parallel in reference to voter perception of the general tone of the campaign. After Obama's victory in Iowa and Clinton's subsequent fall in national polls, it was reported on msnbc.com that Clinton was considering firing Penn.[9] However, Penn continued to play an important role in Senator Clinton's campaign.

In mid-2007, the dual role of Mark Penn as the CEO of Burson-Marsteller and chief strategist for Hillary Clinton irked some labor leaders. Labor leaders wrote to Clinton expressing their concern about Burson-Marsteller's anti-labor work.[10]

On April 4, 2008, Penn apologized for working for officials of President Álvaro Uribe (Colombia) for the purposes of lobbying for a free trade agreement that Clinton opposed.[11] Penn admitted to "an error in judgment" after being criticized for meeting with Colombia's ambassador to the United States on the subject of advancing a potential bilateral trade agreement between the two countries. Penn suggested that he had conducted the meeting as part of his role as CEO of Burson-Marsteller. However, the ambassador was unclear in what capacity Penn was conducting the meeting and Penn's advocacy for the trade agreement seemed to undercut his client Hillary Clinton's well known opposition to the deal.[12]

On April 5, 2008 the Colombian government terminated its business with Penn and his Burson-Marstellar firm.[13]

On April 6, 2008 Mark Penn was terminated from his role as a strategic advisor to the Clinton campaign, although he will continue to provide some polling and research services.

A quote from Mark Penn: "Could we possibly have a nominee who hasn't won any of the significant states -- outside of Illinois? That raises some serious questions about Sen. Obama.”[14] has led to questions and jokes about the apparent irrelevancy of much of the country on liberal blogs such as Daily Kos.[15]

[edit] Calls for Penn's resignation
Two large U.S. labor organizations have cited Penn's support for free trade agreements. Service Employees International Union and UNITE HERE have both called for his resignation from the Clinton campaign.[16]

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, a Clinton endorser, on April 6, 2008, hinted that Penn should be fired from the Clinton campaign.[17]

Later that day, campaign manager Maggie Williams announced that Penn had "asked to give up his role as Chief Strategist." Geoff Garin and Howard Wolfson will be in charge of the campaign's strategy. Williams further said, "Mark, and Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, Inc. will continue to provide polling and advice to the campaign."[18][19]

[edit] See also
Triangulation (politics)

[edit] Notes
^ Washington Post, February 19, 2007.
^ PoliticalWire.com, August 20, 2007.
^ Clinton's top strategist quits.
^ Washington Post, June 30, 2006.
^ Microtrends, published by Penguin Press.
^ Washington Post, January 3, 2007.
^ War Room: Political News, Politics News - Salon.
^ ABC News: Edwards Likens Clinton Strategist To Rove.
^ Oh-eight (D): Staff shakeup ahead? - The Body Odd - msnbc.com.
^ Steven Greenhouse. "A Top Clinton Aide Draws Criticism From Unions", New York Times, 2007-06-05. Retrieved on 2008-02-12.
^ John M. Broder, "Clinton Strategist Lobbied for Trade Pact She Opposes," "New York Times," April 5, 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/05/us/politics/05penn.html?scp=1&sq=clinton+strategist+trade+opposes&st=nyt
^ www.politico.com/news/stories/0408/9390.html.
^ John M. Broder, "Colombia to Penn: You’re Fired," "New York Times," April 5, 2008 http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/05/colombia-to-penn-youre-fired/
^ Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall.
^ Daily Kos: I voted for Obama, hence, I don't matter.
^ John M. Broder, "Clinton Strategist Lobbied for Trade Pact She Opposes," "New York Times," April 5, 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/05/us/politics/05penn.html?scp=1&sq=clinton+strategist+trade+opposes&st=nyt
^ politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/06/rendell-criticizes-penn-hints-he-should-be-fired/.
^ blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/04/clinton-chief-s.html.
^ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89422142.

[edit] References
James Carville and Mark J. Penn, "The Power of Hillary," Washington Post, July 2, 2006.
Jeffrey H. Birnbaum, "A Few Degrees of Separation From Hillary Clinton's Top Adviser", Washington Post, February 20, 2007; Page A11.
Anne E. Kornblut, "Clinton's PowerPointer. With Data and Slides, a Pollster Guides Campaign Strategy," Washington Post, April 30, 2007.
Ari Berman "Hillary, Inc." The Nation, May 16, 2007.
Mark Schmitt, "Penn, Inc.," The American Prospect (web only), March 22, 2007.

[edit] External links
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
Mark PennMicrotrending.com
Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates
Burson Marsteller
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Penn"
Categories: Living people | American political consultants | Harvard University alumni

Shuster: Penn's Advice 'Disaster,' Firing Too Little Too Late

2008-04-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

Update 8:20 AM: Why Hillary's Hospital Story Matters. See at foot.

Joe Scarborough and David Shuster came not to praise Penn but to bury him . . .

Chatting on today's Morning Joe, the host and the MSNBC political correspondent agreed that the mistake in firing the chief Clinton campaign strategist was that it didn't come nearly soon enough.

JOE SCARBOROUGH: For the Clintons, not a good weekend. Mark Penn, bounced out, my question is why now? They should have done it a long time ago. Good news, bad news?Story Continues Below Ad ↓

DAVID SHUSTER: Well I think it's too little, too late. I mean I think you're absolutely right. The only reason he was hanging in this long was because he had the support of Hillary Clinton [Ed.: pretty big reason]. I mean, a lot of people in the Clinton campaign were infuriated. You remember, Joe and Mika, a month ago, after a couple primary losses, when it was Mark Penn who said "oh, I wasn't in charge of Hillary's campaign," which just infuriated [Ed.: that's two "infuriateds" -- some angry people over there] who were working with the campaign, who knew his crucial role.
I mean it was Mark Penn who made the case and sold it that Hillary Clinton should run as the de facto incumbent, and that proved to be a disaster, because of course that left the territory wide open to Barack Obama to claim the mantle of change in a change election. And of course when you think about all the various slogans, and campaign themes, and constantly changing message, I mean that was Mark Penn's doing, and I think you're absolutely right: this is something that might have helped Hillary Clinton a month ago. I don't think it makes any difference today.

SCARBOROUGH: Too little too late.

I haven't heard anyone in the punditocracy utter a peep in defense of Penn. The consultant's stock is at an absolute bottom, somewhere below Bear Stearns and Bob Shrum's. This could be a buying opportunity for some third-tier candidate somewhere, willing to take a flyer . . .

Oh, and note that, while demoted, Penn will continue to provide polling and other services to the campaign. Guess Hillary would rather have Penn inside the tent micturating out, than outside . . . .

Update 8:20 AM: Why Hillary's Hospital Story Matters

My two cents on the phony Hillary hospital story. It's not just that she's been caught telling another whopper. It's her excuse that really hurts her. She claims that she was passing along a story that had been told her by a deputy sheriff.

Oh, so Hillary made a mistake by relying on . . . false intelligence? Hmm, doesn't that undercut one of the main themes of her campaign? Isn't this The Woman Ready From Day One, who wouldn't make the same mistakes W allegedly did and that hoodwinked her into voting for the Iraq war?

—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.

1996 Olympic Torch Engineers Torch for Salt Lake Olympics

2008-04-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

ATLANTA - For many people, the Olympic Torch is a dazzling vessel that represents the spirit of the Games. But for the engineer who designs it, the torch is a labor of love that embodies months, if not years, of unique engineering challenges.

The Winter Games mark the second time that Sam Shelton, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, has stepped up to the challenge of building an Olympic Torch. In addition to the 2002 Winter Olympic Torch for Salt Lake City, he built the 1996 Summer Olympic Torch for Atlanta.

"I have had many diverse experiences in my life as an engineer and as a human being, and this is certainly one that has brought many of those elements together," said Shelton, a professor of mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. "I feel sometimes more akin to an artist than an engineer."

For 65 days beginning Dec. 4, more than 11,500 people will carry the Olympic Torch on a 13,500-mile journey through the United States to Salt Lake City, where it will light the Olympic Cauldron on Feb. 8 and open the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

As it covers that expansive territory, the durability of the Torch will be put to the test. It must be engineered so that the Olympic flame cannot be easily extinguished under widely varying weather conditions - including wind, rain, heat and extreme cold.

The artistic concept of the torch was created by Axium, a Los Angeles design firm, to look like a fiery icicle. Based on Shelton's experiences in 1996, the Salt Lake Organizing Committee chose him to transform the design concept into a well-functioning instrument.

"The Salt Lake Torch is a freeform type of icon that simulates ice and fire coming out of ice," Shelton said.

The body of the torch is tapered with an antique silver finish and dark-shaded grooves that run from top to bottom. The Salt Lake City Logo, Olympic rings and the text, "Light the fire within," are etched into the front.

The outer shell is made from aluminum and plating to produce a polished chrome finish. For the first time in the history of the Olympics, the Torch is topped with a glass crown from which the Olympic flame emerges from a copper cauldron. The flame is visible from within the crown.

In particular, Shelton noted the unique engineering challenge of the glass crown. The torch was not designed to have the flame burn from the top of the torch, rather the flame emerges from within the torch, through a glass crown, echoing the theme of the Games: "Light the Fire Within."

The design called for a glass crown with an asymmetrical shape and icy texture, which would not easily break if dropped during the relay, but also could stand up to both the heat of the flame and below freezing temperatures at the same time.

Shelton's next challenge was to produce a valve-and-burner system for inside the torch that would prevent the flame from being extinguished under extreme conditions - such as temperatures as low as -40°F and as high as 80°F, gusting winds, heavy rain and high altitudes. The flame also had to remain highly visible in all weather conditions.

"Those are difficult conditions to maintain a lit flame," Shelton said. "Of course it is of utmost importance to keep this sacred flame lit."

The same flame that is lit in Greece must be the same flame that lights the Olympic Cauldron in Salt Lake City. Several safety lanterns are lit during the ceremony in Greece, in case the flame is extinguished along the torch relay.

Another challenge, Shelton said, was to build a torch that could easily be mass produced, but still look artistically hand-crafted. Roughly 12,000 torches were manufactured for the thousands of torchbearers that will participate in the Torch Relay. Each torchbearer has the opportunity to buy the torch after completing their leg of the journey.

Some torchbearers carry the torch for as long as 20 minutes, so weight also was an important consideration. The torch weighs three pounds, which is about the weight of the Atlanta Olympic Torch.

Shelton had considered the chance to build the 1996 Summer Games Torch a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity - until officials from Salt Lake called him in early 2000. Hesitant to commit to the toils and pressure of building an Olympic Torch, Shelton wasn't sure he was up for a repeat performance.

"I had to give it a lot of consideration," he said. "I did not immediately say yes." In 1996, Shelton said he had nearly two years to complete the job. This time around, he had only about eight months. "I never would have agreed to do it if I hadn't been down this path before," he said.

Shelton said the arduous process of building the 1996 Torch culminated in thrilling emotions when he participated as a torchbearer in the Summer Olympics relay and carried the torch down Peachtree Street in Atlanta. He describes the emotion he and others felt as "the magic of the flame."

"I saw the tears that came down people's cheeks when they carried the torch, as well as the people standing on the street side who were watching them go by," he said. "For some mystical reason the emotion that typically comes is one that causes tears to come down your cheek."

In addition to covering an expansive distance, the Salt Lake City Torch will travel in a variety of modes: It will be carried by foot, automobile, airplane, train, boat, dog sled, horse-drawn sleigh and snowmobile.

.

Love story with a change of heart comes to grief in the end

2008-04-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

CHERYL Cottle married two men who shared the same heart, and both ended up committing suicide.

After Terry Cottle killed himself more than 12 years ago, his heart beat on in Sonny Graham.

Grateful for the transplant that saved his life, Mr Graham wrote to thank the Cottle family. Through that correspondence, he met Cheryl Cottle, his donor's widow.

Then the unexpected happened — they fell in love and married.

Last week, the unexpected happened again, when Mr Graham's life ended the same way Terry Cottle's did. On Tuesday, he took his own life at his home in Vidalia, Georgia. He was 69.

He was found with a single gunshot wound to the throat, said Greg Harvey, a special agent working on the case for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

He was found in a shed in his backyard and had used a shotgun, Mr Harvey said. No foul play is suspected.

On Friday, at a memorial service in Lyons, Georgia, the heart that gave two men life was finally laid to rest.

The story began in 1995 when doctors put Mr Graham, who was on the verge of congestive heart failure, on a transplant list.

That same year Terry Cottle shot himself in his home in Summerville, South Carolina.

As Mr Cottle was taken off life support, Mr Graham rushed to Charleston, where doctors transplanted the heart.

In late 1996, Mr Graham made contact with the Cottles through the organ donation agency.

He and Cheryl Cottle, then 28, eventually married in 2004. Cheryl Graham could not be reached for comment.

MCT

Here is a Strange-
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) Terry Cottle and Sonny Graham never met, but the two men shared two very important things: A heart and a wife.

They also died the same way: Cottle, 12 years ago from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the Summerville home he shared with his wife, Cheryl; the 69-year-old Graham died the same way last week outside his Vidalia, Georgia, home that he shared with his wife, Cheryl.

When Cottle died at age 33, his organs were donated. Grateful for his new heart, Graham began writing letters to the donor's family to thank them. In January 1997, Graham and Cheryl Cottle, then 28, met in Charleston. In 2001, Graham bought a home for Cottle and her four children in Vidalia. Three years later, they were married.

Five years later, Graham knew why Cottle had taken his own life.
Steer clear of the widow Cottle-Graham!

Posted by The Localmalcontent at 6:51 AM

Download Telugu Panchangam 2008-2009 for Free

2008-04-07T07:28:00.000-07:00

Sri Sarvajeet Nama Savasra Panchagam, the Telugu Panchangam 2008-2009 published by published by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is now available online. The Panchangam is for April 2008 to April 2009.

The Panchangam is in PDF format and you will need the latest version of Adobe Acrobat to read the Panchangam. You can also save a copy of it using Adobe Acrobat.

If you are using a dial-up connection or other lesser speed connections you will need to be patient.

The free Telugu Panchangam can be accessed online and downloaded from the official Tirupati Tirumala temple website. Follow this link to download – Telugu Panchangam 2008 – 2009.

The Panchangam is also available in Tamil and Kannada but not online.

Posted by abhi on 6.4.08

For more related posts: Hindu Calendar

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Lee Haney Olympia 1987

2008-04-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

I was reading a recent article about comedian Steve Harvey and how he has taken control of his health at the age of 51. Steve is starting a fitness campaign called “50 and Fly” which is geared towards encouraging males 40 years of age and older to stop using age as an excuse not to be in shape. The cool part of his fitness regimen is that he is being trained by 8 time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney. There were a couple of quotes by Lee Haney in the article made a lot of sense:

“Eat for what you’re about to do, not what you’ve done.” (Translation: if you’re about to work out, eat carbs; if you’re about to go to sit on your butt, eat a small meat-and-vegetables-only meal.) And, “Stimulate, Don’t Annihilate.” (Translation: You don’t have to tear up your muscles to see results.)
[Source: MensFitness.com]

Those are two important things to remember. Many times, it is common to eat junk and then workout in order to burn off all the fat and calories you just ate. It is much better to eat healthy meals in order to fuel your body and give it energy for a workout.

Another common misconception is that you have to workout until you’re in pain to make any progress. People of all ages should try to avoid over training when possible. You don’t have to be in pain to make any gains. It’s important to have a good level of intensity in your workouts but not to constantly over do it.

You can read the entire article below:

Funnyman Steve Harvey reclaims his body

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Lee Haney is truly a bodybuilding great. With 8 Mr Olympia titles to his credit, what more do I need to say. Here is Lee’s posing routine from the 1984 Mr Olympia.

Geisha guys” Japanese women’s newest accessory

2008-04-07T07:16:00.000-07:00

TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- At first glance, the man and woman at the nightclub look like any other couple on a date. He flirts and pours champagne. She looks at him and laughs.

Businesswomen in Japan pay up to $50,000 a night for male companionship from "hosts" like Yunosuke.

This isn't a date, though. It's business.

The woman, a successful executive, has joined a growing number of professional women in Japan in forking out from $1,000 to $50,000 a night for male companionship.

They meet their "hosts" in hundreds of clubs that have sprung up around Tokyo - the industry says only compliments are exchanged. The women pay for a man to lavish them with undivided attention.

"There's nothing wrong with a woman paying to be entertained by a man," one female client says. "It's just another step in equality."

It's a dizzying reversal of traditional gender roles in a country long known for geishas pampering male clients with conversation, singing and dancing. Now a new breed of entertainer has cropped up -- think of them as male geishas.

"I give women things that men normally don't do, like complimenting their appearance," says one host, 24-year-old Yunosuke, who only goes by his single host name. "I make women happy."

And they make him happy: Yunosuke says he earned more than $200,000 last year, enough to let him visit a salon once a day to have his hair dyed and blow-dried.

"Women see us as one of their accessories," he says. "They like to wear nice things, so I try to look prettier for them all the time."

What drives the business boom is an increase in the earning power of Japanese women, according to Air Group, a company that owns a chain of "host" clubs.

"Japanese women are now working hard and making more money," says Yuko Takeyama, a woman in her early 30s who manages Air Group. "They see this as a way to de-stress."

Women love being treated well without the pressures that come with dating, she says.

Yunosuke's customer from the nightclub agrees.

"This is a gift for myself," she says. "It's the same as spending money on a trip or buying

Parade banner, Brazos County, Texas, “Stop-Loss”

Two new films set amid the disorder of the United States' military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan transcend politics.

“Stop-Loss,” a major studio production with youthful actors and a celebrated director, and “Fighting for Life,” a graphic documentary on combat medicine, have something in common. Both are troops-centric, troops-supportive.

These films care more about human beings than about exhorting one side or the other or the should-we-be-there debate.

EARNIE GRAFTON / Union-Tribune
Kimberly Peirce screened "Stop-Loss," inspired by her brother's Iraq service, for local members of the military.

In the documentary "Fighting for Life," focusing on combat medicine, a wounded soldier gets personal attention.

FRANK MASI
"Stop-Loss" troops: Channing Tatum (left), Ryan Phillippe, Alex Frost, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rob Brown.
In the wake of such Hollywood missteps as “Rendition,” “Redacted” and “Lions for Lambs,” “Stop-Loss” and “Fighting for Life” play it, if not strictly down the middle, then honest. War is hell, for sure; these are our young people fighting it.

“Stop-Loss” stars Ryan Phillippe, Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as buddies from a small Texas town. After 9/11, they enlist in the Army and are sent to Iraq. It's hot and nasty duty, brutal and bloody.

Phillippe, a squad leader, loses some of his men in an ambush, the consequences of leadership and his country's unclear mission engulfing him. It's not confusing to best pal Tatum, who tells a hometown welcoming crowd, “We're over there killing 'em in Iraq so we don't have to kill 'em in Texas.”

Back in the Lone Star State, tours apparently over, the military suddenly informs them of a redeployment, utilizing a policy called stop-loss, which allows the extension of a soldier's enlistment and duty in Iraq.

Sensitive director Kimberly Peirce gets to the core of friendship and patriotism. She also poignantly finds rural America and the burgs that supply so many naive recruits for the armed forces.

The action in “Fighting for Life” is real; the wounds, physical and emotional, are real; the medical personnel are real.

The movie opens in Iraq with four men carrying a wounded soldier on a stretcher. Then another image: a group of doctors taking the oath at Maryland's Uniformed Services University, the West Point of military medicine.

DETAILS
“Stop-Loss”
Rated: R

Opens today

Running time: 1 hr., 53 min.
“Fighting for Life”

Unrated

Opens today

Running time: 1 hr., 29 min.

The film visits graduates working in M*A*S*H-like battlefield conditions (wearing body armor during surgery). Like the young people in “Stop-Loss,” they experience the carnage of war firsthand.

At the Air Force Theater Hospital in central Iraq, there are more than 10,000 patients a year, from critically burned Iraqi children to a soldier's finger amputation.

Observes a doctor who has seen a lot: “Many of the soldiers who'll be coming back home are 19, 20, 21 years old. They'll have these impairments the rest of their lives.”

Filmmaker Terry Rodgers, who co-produced the 1995 Oscar-winning documentary “Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision,” finds in these doctors, nurses and medics profound dedication, gifted professionals who tell him, like one intensive-care nurse did, “It's a great mission to be on the life-saving end of things.”

And it's the personal side of their work that lingers. A surgery is complete and a doctor happily utters, “I think he'll have full function of his legs.”

A surgeon ponders, “You wonder if they want to have a life like this, two legs and an arm amputated, the other hand mangled.”

AdvertisementA seasoned nurse: “The families are always on our minds. We call them. The wives want to know, 'Can my husband still have a child with me?' ”
The movie follows the travails of Sgt. Crystal Davis, 23, who loses a limb but not her spirit. “The things I miss the most are driving and dancing,” she said. “Whenever there's music, I be-bop.”

When “Fighting for Life” is over, you might just be-bop knowing these persevering men and women take care of our sons and daughters.

“Stop-Loss” director Peirce was settled in a stark room the other week at the Gaslamp's Ivy Hotel, chatty about her first movie in eight years and how it was her soldier brother who inspired her.

In 1999, she directed “Boys Don't Cry,” based on the true story of transgendered Nebraska teenager Brandon Teena. That role won an Oscar for Hilary Swank. It's taken Peirce, 40, all this time to find a second project for which she felt passionate (she was offered and turned down “Memoirs of a Geisha”).

Bright and articulate – she has degrees from the University of Chicago (English and Japanese literature) and Columbia (film) – her material is not traditional Hollywood fodder.

“Stop-Loss,” she explains, is about “the camaraderie of guys fighting together and defending each other.” And it's about the impact of 9/11 on a generation (Peirce watched the towers fall from her residence in New York City's Bowery district).

One person those events keenly affected was her 18-year-old brother, Brett. “After my brother told us he was enlisting, it ushered me deeply into all of this,” said Peirce. “I was scared for him, his emotional well-being.”

From the day he went to Iraq, said Peirce, brother and sister communicated by Instant Message. “He'd come back from a mission,” she said, “and I'd see what they'd experienced in combat. They'd also use their camera phones and add Toby Keith patriotic music.

“It was like letters from home, like journal entries. My brother and his friends were little filmmakers.”

As tonal research, Peirce studied such films as “The Best Years of Our Lives” (1946), “Coming Home” (1978), “Apocalypse Now” (1979) and “Platoon” (1986).

“I wanted the intensity of those films focused on these guys going on missions,” said Peirce, wearing jeans and a Bob Dylan “A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall” T-shirt. “I wanted to tell a story from their point of view.”

There's a devastating opening vignette set at a checkpoint. A car runs it and the American soldiers take off after the vehicle. An explosive device takes out their Humvee. There's an ambush. Through Peirce's lens, this is the reality of combat, not the romance of “An Army of One.”

While in San Diego, Peirce screened the film for an organization called Wounded Warriors, those in the service living with injuries. At the event, said Peirce, “the guys came up to me and said, 'It's accurate' and, 'I'm really glad you didn't disrespect the soldier.' ”

In research, she videotaped returning servicemen and women and took a raucous bar scene in the movie from one of the stories.

Phillippe, whose savvy career has included “Crash” and “Gosford Park,” is a revelation as a former football hero and gung-ho soldier with a bronze star for valor, now on the road, AWOL, contesting what he feels is this unfair stop-loss policy.

In one scene, Phillippe's mom says she'd drive him to Mexico if he didn't want to go back to Iraq. “The truth is, that was my mother,” said Peirce. “She was prepared to take my brother to Mexico. He would just say, 'Leave me alone.' ”

“I'm going to miss blowing (expletive) up.”
– A soldier back from Iraq, “Stop-Loss”

steve harvey morning show

2008-04-07T07:15:00.000-07:00

Halifax County resident Barry Burnside is literally bringing Side Splittin Entertainment to Weldon.

Burnside and his company will present Nephew Tommy and his comedy show April 12 at The Centre at Halifax Community College. Best known from his role as a personality on The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Nephew Tommy will perform twice while in Weldon, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

It's a dream come true for Burnside, who has always wanted to use his job as a promoter to draw talent to the area so people would not have to drive a long way to have a good time.

Burnside came to the area after marrying Shirl, a Halifax County native, and they have a daughter, Shirronda Marrow. He and his partners have run Side Splittin Entertainment for three years, and he is the CEO of Southside Virginia and North Carolina from the Roanoke Valley down to Raleigh.

He grew up with promoters in his family, including his uncle Harold, who used to work as a head promoter for Warner Bros.

Side Splittin' Entertainment, which is based in Hampton, Va., has put on shows with performance artist Mo'Nique, comedians Rick Smiley and Katt Williams, musicians and more. The company has brought these acts to several states, including New York, Florida and Virginia, and now Halifax County will join the list.

“It was a dream of mine to bring entertainment to this area,” Burnside said. “I'm just a people person. My satisfaction is just going to be the response of the people, seeing them laugh - that's my benefit.”

And Nephew Tommy in particular has always been on his radar. “I think people will enjoy Nephew Tommy. He's really funny,” he said. “I'm just very excited. I think it will go very well.”

Burnside describes Nephew Tommy as also being down to earth, and said his style and what he's seen on The Steve Harvey Morning Show caught his eye. He has also caught the interest of others in the area, as Burnside said sections are selling out fast.

To help promote the show, Side Splittin Entertainment is giving away limousine transportation to and from the show. They will hold a drawing to select a seat number, and the ticketholder with that seat will be able to take a limo to and from the show with seven of his or her friends.

His job, Burnside said, is about linking people and growing relationships. If someone wants to sponsor a comedy show, for example, Burnside's company talks with the talent, then goes to the desired venue to meet with its director and sees what dates are available. They look at what is going on in the weeks before and after the show as well, to make sure their event is unique.

They also review the performer's act or style, to make sure it is appropriate for the event. The rest is advertising and promotion, and although Burnside said he only gets to see a few minutes of each show, it's worth it to him to meet the entertainers and get to know them and the communities they work in.

So far, their most successful show has been a performance by stand-up comic Katt Williams in Florida, and Burnside said Williams was also one of the best people to hang out with. He said he also enjoys the comedy of Samorra.

The company wants to be versatile and work with all genres such as comedy, R&B, gospel and jazz music, plays and more.

“Entertainment is endless,” Burnside said, and added that he and his partners, Kip Johnson, Richard Turner and Mike Jones, are always looking for individuals or organizations wishing to sponsor a show.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling Burnside at (252) 532-7945, The Centre box office at (252) 538-4336 or NiKki's Hair Studio in Enfield at (252) 445-1210.

About Nephew Tommy

In addition to The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Thomas Miles tours the country performing at comedy clubs and other venues. For nearly three years, he was the exclusive opening act for the late great Luther Vandross.

Miles enrolled as the first black Theatre Arts major of Texas A&M University, he studied under Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Charles Gordone and trained with the Royal Shakespeare Company of London. His television and film work consist of appearances on Showtime at the Apollo, B.E.T.'s Comic View, Sister-Sister, The Parkers and his feature credits in the independent films Last Call, Thug Life and 4 Deep. He's also performed King Lear, Soldier's Play, Twelfth Nite, Colored Museum, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and What Ever Happened to Black Love?”

You Have To Burn The Rope

2008-04-07T07:12:00.000-07:00

all i get is a black box and some swinging tunes.
posted by empath at 4:46 PM on April 4

I was playing without my headphones on and almost flagged this post. My apologies. It is great.
posted by Gary at 4:47 PM on April 4

The rope is a lie.
posted by maudlin at 4:52 PM on April 4 [1 favorite]

BY DAVE D'ALESSANDRO
Star-Ledger Staff
HOUSTON -- Once again, the sage words of their former captain are an evocative presence, notably his famous observation that the Nets' most persistent talent is mentally letting go of the rope.

There was no truth to the rumor, however, that Jason Kidd lent his old mates a rope Saturday night just so that they could let go of it -- physically, mentally, or any which way they choose -- or hang themselves with it, which is actually its most common usage.

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More than likely, the Nets played the last important game of their season that night in Dallas, a night that actually could have meant something. In the process, they officially fell out of the top eight in the East, and there are no signs that they're ready to use the metaphorical rope to climb back into the playoff picture.

But if they had any ambition to make the games matter again, they'll have to overcome this hideous habit of giving up, giving in, and running away the moment other teams bare their teeth.

"As soon as they delivered a punch, we were done," said forward Boki Nachbar, whose team will try to somehow get its act together tonight against the white-hot Rockets, who have won 18 straight.

"It's something that's been addressed. It's our biggest problem now. We have a four- or five-minute stretch, the other team goes up 15, and that's it. We're done."

To wit:

The Nets outplayed the Spurs for 18 solid minutes, but after the champs hit them with a counterpunch in the last six minutes of the second period, the Nets were never heard from again.

They had two strong quarters at New Orleans, which didn't show much interest in the game until halftime, and when the Hornets started swarming in the third quarter, the Nets turned tail and fled.

And they showed some defensive grit in the first quarter at Dallas, but the moment Brandon Bass and Malik Allen showed they were going to take the aggressiveness to another level, the blue team folded its tent.

I managed to beat the whole damn game.
posted by ColdChef at 4:53 PM on April 4

Apparently this needs the latest Flash client or something. There's also a download for Windows here

Trailer here
Walkthrough parts 1, 2
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:54 PM on April 4 [1 favorite]

That was great.
posted by gwint at 4:55 PM on April 4

If you look real close you'll see a heart in the chandelier.

I didn't know how to use the weapons. I guess I shoulda read the manual first. Not that it mattered.

Now I'm a hero. Yay. What's next? Ooh. They got videos of this game at YouTube, I'll bet.
posted by ZachsMind at 4:55 PM on April 4

I'm in love...
posted by pupdog at 4:55 PM on April 4

4. Also, you can't really die
posted by infinitewindow at 5:00 PM on April 4

I am stuck on level 6. any tips?
posted by aubilenon at 5:00 PM on April 4

Have you tried burning the rope?
posted by mrnutty at 5:01 PM on April 4 [4 favorites]

ProTip: Read the manual before you attempt to fight Grinning Colossus. I didn't even know I had the axe attack the first time I played.
posted by Gary at 5:02 PM on April 4

Crashes my firefox
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:04 PM on April 4

in opera you can add fire to the context menu, makes the game really easy
posted by yath at 5:08 PM on April 4

Riddle me this, Batman! How come if an infinite number of axes can't take out the big bad, that one measley little chandelier does the trick? Huh? HUH!? I know you are, but what am I!? Of course, the truth is the game leaves you trapped inside the building with a broken chandelier and a rank grinning colossus carcass. Forever. Insert maniacal laughter here.

Game over, man! Game over!
posted by ZachsMind at 5:09 PM on April 4

Weirdly, I managed to kill it with the axes. No lie.
posted by boo_radley at 5:09 PM on April 4

It's great how context can turn a mediocre song into something wunderbar. Fuck being that guy, I want to be this guy. He has all the cheat codes and knows how to work a bowler!
posted by bunnytricks at 5:11 PM on April 4

So, its like portal, but with a shorter game, and a funny song at the end.

Its like the reader's digest version of portal really.
posted by mrzarquon at 5:14 PM on April 4

If you leave it open in a tab for a couple hours, Jesus sings to you.
posted by waraw at 5:21 PM on April 4

The MeFi guild Progress Quest raid is at 6:00. I don't want everyone getting distracted by this game and showing up late. Again.
posted by Gary at 5:22 PM on April 4

Don't worry if you can't figure it out. I saved you all...
posted by Naberius at 5:25 PM on April 4

WTB [DWARVEN CHANDELIER OF THE MONKEY] PST
posted by cortex at 5:29 PM on April 4

You have to burn my bacon to get my goat.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 5:38 PM on April 4

The song at the end is awesome!
posted by betterton at 6:01 PM on April 4

Ouch. Rope burn.
posted by The Bellman at 6:03 PM on April 4

Was slightly better than Quest for the Crown though.
posted by sandking at 6:14 PM on April 4

Here's the walkthrough for people who are stuck.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 6:46 PM on April 4 [1 favorite]

THAT WAS GHEY I BEET THE GAME
posted by yhbc at 7:11 PM on April 4

does anyone have a torrent for the ROM of this game?... sorry probably shouldn't ask here but I am DESPERATE.
posted by Frasermoo at 7:45 PM on April 4

Now I'm a hero!!!!
posted by everichon at 9:21 PM on April 4

AERIS DIES!!!11
posted by GoingToShopping at 2:56 AM on April 5 [1 favorite]

Here's my walkthrough, which is a little shorter than that other guy's: Burn The Rope.
posted by taz at 4:04 AM on April 5

That was lovely.
posted by The Monkey at 5:01 AM on April 5

I like how the boss shoots eyeballs from his eyeballs.
posted by Nelson at 9:32 AM on April 5

If anyone's interested, I wrote some rope burning scripts. Might help out a little bit...
posted by betaray at 10:00 AM on April 5

What a great game.
posted by ikkyu2 at 12:23 AM on April 7

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The Grid to Render the Web Obsolete

2008-04-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

The birthplace of the Web, Cern, which is based near Geneva, is now busy working on "the grid" that boasts speeds nearly 10,000 times faster than a typical Broadband connection, and that may soon render the Web obsolete.

The grid computing project was started around seven years ago by researchers at Cern. They claim "the grid" is so fast it is capable of sending the entire Rolling Stones back catalogue from Britain to Japan in less than two seconds.

With that kind of computing power, future generations will be able to collaborate and communicate in ways that older people cannot even imagine, said Professor of Physics at Glasgow University and leading light of the project.

Scientists at Cern intend to activate "the grid" this summer alongside what they term as 'red button day' when they will switch on the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) or the new particle accelerator built to probe the origin of the Universe.

So what is "the grid"? Professor Tony Doyle, technical director of "the grid" project, said they need so much processing power that there would even be an issue as to getting enough electricity to run the computers -- if they were all at Cern. Doyle said the only answer was a new network powerful enough to send the data instantly to research centers in other countries.

Doyle explained that that network, in effect a parallel Internet, is now built, using fibre optic cables that run from Cern to 11 centres in the United States, Canada, the Far East, Europe, and around the world. From each center, further connections radiate out to a host of other research institutions that use existing high-speed academic networks. Which means Britain alone has 8,000 servers on the grid system so that any student or academic will theoretically be able to hook up to the grid rather than the Internet from this autumn.

What does the grid have that Internet doesn't? While the Internet has been built by linking together a mesh of cables and routing equipment most of which lacks the capacity for high-speed data transmission, the grid, by contrast has been built with dedicated fibre optic cables and modern routing centres, ensuring there are no outdated components that manage to slow down the speed of data transmission.

Commenting on the possibilities of the grid, Ian Bird, project leader, said grid technology could make the Internet so fast that people would stop using desktop computers to store information and entrust it all to the internet. Bird said it would lead to what is known as 'cloud computing', where people keep all their information online and access it from anywhere.

Race car driver killed at Thompson speedway

2008-04-07T07:05:00.000-07:00

THOMPSON— Shane Hammond, 27, was killed yesterday when the race car he was driving was involved in a wreck on the season’s first weekend of competition at Thompson International Speedway.

The crash, the second at the track in eight months, happened just after 1 p.m. during the fourth lap of a Northeastern Midget Association feature, part of the season-opening Icebreaker.

Mr. Hammond’s car collided with one driven by Chris Leonard of Pelham, N.H., then went over a concrete wall and through a billboard, according to witnesses. The car also overturned.

Mr. Hammond was pronounced dead at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, according to Connecticut state police.

Mr. Hammond, of 34 Lawrence Road, Halifax, suffered “multiple blunt force trauma,” according to police. State police are working with NASCAR officials to learn more about the crash.

Mr. Hammond and Mr. Leonard collided on lap 4 of the 25-lap race as the two headed into turn 3. It was not apparent whether Mr. Hammond’s car hit metal posts that held up the billboard, but his car was entirely over the wall and caught in the billboard when Thompson rescue personnel got to the scene.

Although rain began falling later in the afternoon, conditions at the 5/8-mile oval track were dry at the time of the crash. About 8,500 spectators were in the stands.

“Everyone at the Thompson speedway is saddened by this tragic loss,” track owner Donald Hoenig said in a statement. “Words cannot express how we at Thompson, and the entire racing community, feel at this time. We extend our deepest sympathies to Shane’s family, friends and to his many fans. Shane Hammond was a very talented young driver who had impressed many with his natural ability.”

Veteran Whelen Modified Tour driver Eddie Flemke Jr., who won yesterday’s Whelen Modified race, said he had seen far too many tragedies in his long racing career.

“It’s just their time,” Flemke said of racetrack fatalities. “That’s the only way I can look at it.”

Still, he was visibly moved when discussing yesterday’s tragedy.

“If you foul off a pitch or fumble a ball, what is the price?” he said, his voice cracking. “(In racing) when you fumble, the price is just too great. I’m just getting tired of it.”

Midget cars are smaller and lighter than typical racing vehicles. They have open wheels and cockpits that are surrounded by roll bars. Mr. Hammond, a 1999 graduate of East Bridgewater High School, who was named NEMA’s most improved driver after an excellent 2006 season, was beginning his fifth year on the circuit.

The Northeastern Midget Association was beginning its 56th season at Thompson. In a press release issued before yesterday’s race, association president Mike Scrivani Jr. described Thompson as the “fastest track NEMA visits.”

In August another racer was killed during a Whelen Modified Tour event at Thompson. John Blewett III, 33, a veteran driver from New Jersey, was killed in a crash that involved his brother Jimmy’s vehicle.

Before that there hadn’t been a fatality at Thompson since 2004.

Introduced to driving by his grandfather and mentored by fellow NEMA driver Randy Cabral, Mr. Hammond was considered among the top drivers on the circuit.

“Just try to be a contender up front and be a front-runner,” Hammond told Boston.com of his goals before his 2007 campaign. “Honestly, as long as I’m having fun, that’s my main thing.”

Racing is scheduled to continue Saturday at the Waterford Speedbowl.

“We’ll go on. We have to, otherwise they died in vain,” Flemke said.