tilly dereliction: December 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Fantasy Football Week 17 Running Back Rankings

by MikeGallagher on Dec 30, 2011 7:42 PM EST in 2011 Fantasy Football Weekly Rankings

Don't expect C.J. Spiller to drop the ball for you in the last week of the season as he takes on the soft Patriots defense. He should get plenty of touches on the ground and through the air as a must-start RB this week.

It's the last week of the season and we're a little bit late due to some waiting for some of these situations to develop with which guys will get rest and which backups could prove to be valuable in Week 17. I'm doing all of the rankings this week and if you have any questions about why I have a guy a bit higher than you might expect, don't be bashful and put post a question in the comment section or you can send them to me on Twitter @MikeSGallagher.

I'd also encourage you to check out Kenny's Preview that covers every game. I covered several scenarios in Waiver Wire Scoops as well. Plus don't forget that I'll be posting the superfluously informative Active/Inactive Update early Sunday.

Links to the ranks: QB RB WR TE D/ST IDP

Running Back Rankings after the jump:

Thanks for reading!

Do you like this story?

Read More: Thomas Jones (RB - KAN), John Kuhn (FB - GBP), Willis McGahee (RB - DEN), Frank Gore (RB - SFX), DeAngelo Williams (RB - CAR), Brandon Jacobs (RB - NYG), Derrick Ward (RB - HOU), Maurice Morris (RB - DET), Maurice Jones-Drew (RB - JAC), Sammy Morris (RB - DAL), Darren Sproles (RB - NOS), LaDainian Tomlinson (RB - NYJ), Michael Turner (RB - ATL), Cedric Benson (RB - CIN), Jonathan Stewart (RB - CAR), Marshawn Lynch (RB - SEA), Ahmad Bradshaw (RB - NYG), Ryan Grant (RB - GBP), Michael Bush (RB - OAK), Pierre Thomas (RB - NOS), Kevin Smith (RB - DET), Rashard Mendenhall (RB - PIT), Felix Jones (RB - DAL), BenJarvus Green-Ellis (RB - NEP), Ray Rice (RB - BAL), Mike Tolbert (FB - SDC), Peyton Hillis (RB - CLE), Shonn Greene (RB - NYJ), Beanie Wells (RB - ARI), Donald Brown (RB - IND), LeSean McCoy (RB - PHI), Arian Foster (RB - HOU), Isaac Redman (RB - PIT), Kahlil Bell (RB - CHI), LeGarrette Blount (RB - TAM), Ryan Mathews (RB - SDC), C.J. Spiller (RB - BUF), Dexter McCluster (WR - KAN), Ben Tate (RB - HOU), Chris Ivory (RB - NOS), Toby Gerhart (RB - MIN), Jamie Harper (RB - TEN), Roy Helu (RB - WAS), Kendall Hunter (RB - SFX), Jacquizz Rodgers (RB - ATL), Evan Royster (RB - WAS), Brandon Saine (RB - GBP), Daniel Thomas (RB - MIA)

Source: http://www.faketeams.com/2011/12/30/2671534/fantasy-football-week-17-running-back-rankings

kourtney kardashian pregnant wormwood bcs bowl games jose reyes capital one bowl college football bowl schedule college football bowl schedule

Friday, December 30, 2011

openinnovation3: Insync: A Google Docs-Loving Dropbox Rival: http://t.co/PQBkJotg

Passer la navigation
Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
Passer cette ?tape
Connexion

Insync: A Google Docs-Loving Dropbox Rival: tnw.co/tRYOr9 Il y a environ 2 heures via twitterfeed

openinnovation3

openinnovation

Pied de page

Source: http://twitter.com/openinnovation3/statuses/152819365711052801

xfactor frankincense cloudy with a chance of meatballs the hobbit movie orcl 2012 nfl mock draft hanukkah

sluathletics: WOMEN'S HOOPS: Southeastern Closes Non-Conference Road Schedule at Ole Miss http://t.co/5HjkK7Jt #NCAA

Passer la navigation
Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
Passer cette ?tape
Connexion

WOMEN'S HOOPS: Southeastern Closes Non-Conference Road Schedule at Ole Miss dlvr.it/12ZbxY #NCAA Il y a environ 10 heures via dlvr.it Retweeted by 1 person

sluathletics

Southeastern Lions

Pied de page

Source: http://twitter.com/sluathletics/statuses/152185571681370112

tashard choice amityville horror puss in boots the rum diary trailer the rum diary trailer nor easter nor easter

Thursday, December 29, 2011

How to Dig Yourself Out of Debt in the New Year

Story Published: Dec 28, 2011 at 7:08 PM MST

Story Updated: Dec 28, 2011 at 7:26 PM MST

BILLINGS - There's no shortage of household debt for the average family. But whether you have a little or a lot of it, there's plenty you can do to help set yourself on a healthier financial path for the new year.

Experts say you can start by getting control of those credit cards. "People will go out and run up numerous credit cards and run them up to the maximum limit, which can have a negative effect on their credit score," said Stacey Trotter, a senior loan approver with Valley Federal Credit Union.

If the temptation to spend is just too much, experts like Debt Reduction Service's branch manager Sharon Welborn say don't bring the cards with you. "Leave the plastic at home. Don't carry credit cards," she advised.

Also, consider just how much you spend eating out or filling up on coffee on a daily basis. It can very quickly eat into your budget. "Those little expenses like that cup of coffee you get everyday or that energy drink. And realize just how fast that adds up," said Welborn.

The simplest solution is just figuring out what's essential. "Is this something you really need or something you really want," is what Trotter said you should ask yourself before you make a purchase.

Managing finances for you and your family is certainly a challenge, but not impossible, and there are plenty of resources available to help you come up with a plan. "We offer all of our financial educational workshops free of charge to the public and to anyone that wants one-on-one counseling," said Welborn of her company's operation.

So with time and discipline, experts say 2012 can be the year you get your financial house in order.

Source: http://www.kulr8.com/news/local/How-to-Dig-Yourself-Out-of-Debt-in-the-New-Year-136349618.html

alaska weather alaska weather election results gop debate live gop debate live nome alaska nome alaska

Cold Chain Logistics Industry in China Examined in New Topical Now Available at MarketPublishers.com

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--By the end of 2010, China's total cold storage capacity reached 62 million m3. In 2010, the top three enterprises by cold storage capacity were Henan Zhongpin Fresh Food Logistics Co., Ltd. (770,000 m3), Wuhan Wandun Cold Storage Logistics Co., Ltd. (760,000 m3) and Shandong Gaishi Agricultural Trade Co., Ltd. (750,000 m3). It is notable that Chinese provinces and municipalities have successively introduced their respective Five-Year (2011-2015) plans for cold chain logistics. Thus Beijing plans to increase the cold chain circulation rates of fruits & vegetables, aquatic products, and meat products from the current 10%, 30% and 50% to 20%, 45% and 70% respectively during 2011-2015.

?China Cold Chain Logistics Industry Report, 2011-2012?

New market research study ?China Cold Chain Logistics Industry Report, 2011-2012? worked out by ResearchInChina offers an insightful review of the market and features detailed market data on various subsegments of the industry, provides information on the key developments and new trends and covers future forecasts for the market dynamics.

Report Details:

Title: China Cold Chain Logistics Industry Report, 2011-2012

Published: November, 2011

Pages: 105

Price: US$ 2,200

http://marketpublishers.com/report/services/transport_logistics/china_cold_chain_logistics_industry_report_2011_2012.html

Report Contents:

1. INTRODUCTION TO COLD CHAIN LOGISTICS INDUSTRY IN CHINA

1.1 Definition

1.2 Features

2. DEVELOPMENT OF COLD CHAIN LOGISTICS INDUSTRY IN CHINA

2.1 Policy Environment

2.2 Development Overview

2.3 Third-party Cold Chain Logistics

2.3.1 Enterprises

2.3.2 Features

2.3.3 Policy Support

2.4 Development of Foreign-funded Enterprises in China

2.5 Issues

3. DEVELOPMENT OF COLD CHAIN LOGISTICS IN CHINA BY REGION

3.1 Beijing

3.2 Shanghai

3.3 Guangdong

3.4 Chongqing

3.5 Henan

3.6 Jiangsu

3.7 Zhejiang

3.8 Shandong

3.9 Tianjin

3.10 Other Regions

4. DEMAND FOR COLD CAIN LOGISTICS IN CHINA

4.1 Meat Products

4.1.1 Industry Status Quo

4.1.2 Features of Cold Chain Logistics

4.1.3 Demand for Cold Chain Logistics

4.2 Aquatic Products

4.2.1 Industry Status Quo

4.2.2 Features of Cold Chain Logistics

4. 2.3 DEMAND FOR COLD CHAIN LOGISTICS

4.3 Quick-frozen Flour Food

4.3.1 Industry Status Quo

4.3.2 Features of Cold Chain Logistics

More new market research reports by ResearchInChina be found at http://marketpublishers.com/members/researchinchina/info.html

Source: http://feeds.businesswire.com/click.phdo?i=122991bc376482040330fb15015c7c73

cain velasquez vs dos santos oregon stanford oregon stanford jon huntsman darrell hammond darrell hammond boxer rebellion

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Ben Nelson's planned retirement: A big blow to Dems? (The Week)

New York ? The Nebraska senator won't seek a third term, raising questions about the Left's chances of holding onto its slim Senate majority

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid may have trouble hanging onto his majority title in the 113th Congress. On Tuesday, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) became the latest moderate Democrat (following Kent Conrad and Jim Webb, among others) to announce that he won't seek another term in the 2012 election. Nelson, who faced an uphill battle for a third term, is the sole Democrat in Nebraska's five-member congressional delegation, and many political analysts believe his red-state seat could now be a relatively easy Republican pickup. The GOP is working hard to wrest control of the Senate from the Dems in 2012, and only has to net four seats to flip the Dems' 53-47 majority in the 100-member Senate. Is Nelson's retirement a "significant blow" to Dems, or no biggie since he would have likely lost his re-election bid anyway?

This is a big loss for Dems:?Nelson's retirement "puts Republicans one seat closer to a majority," Cook Political Report's Jennifer Duffy?tells Bloomberg. I simply "don't see a path to victory for Democrats in Nebraska." Nelson is hardly perfect, Rothenberg Political Report's Nathan Gonzales tells Bloomberg, but he was the Dems' best bet in the Cornhusker State. And remember, Democrats are already "defending eight out of the 10 most competitive seats in the country." This is a "significant blow" in the Left's quest to keep the Senate.
"Nelson's retirement hurts Senate Dems' in 2012"

But Nelson would have lost anyway: This isn't such a big deal, says Ed Morrissey at Hot Air. Though I'm reluctant "to underestimate the power of incumbency," you can bet Nelson wouldn't have been re-elected in this "very red state." "The man couldn't even eat a pizza in peace after casting a decisive vote for ObamaCare and tossing his pro-life credentials into the wastebasket by doing so." He would have surely been replaced by "a credible Republican candidate." This development doesn't change "the calculus in Nebraska."
"Breaking: Nelson to retire"

This might even be good for Dems:?Of course, this looks "like a very tough break for Team Blue,"?says David Nir at the?Daily Kos. But?there could be "a silver lining."?If "Nelson really had no hope of winning another term, then a ton of resources would have been wasted on a futile attempt to save him." Now, if losing his seat is a foregone conclusion, Democrats can focus on defending seats they actually have a chance of keeping, not to mention helping new candidates, like Shelley Berkley in Nevada and Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts, who stand a chance of picking up new seats.
"NE-Sen: Democrat Ben Nelson reportedly will announce retirement"

View this article on TheWeek.com
Get 4 Free Issues of The Week

European Shares Halt Rally as Debt Fears Resurface

European stocks dipped in thin holiday trade on Wednesday, halting their year-end rally, hurt by fresh worries over the eurozone debt crisis and Iran's threat to stop the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

At 9:15 a.m. (British time), the FTSEurofirst 300 FTEU3 index of top European shares was down 0.05 percent at 989.90 points in anaemic volumes.

The eurozone's blue chip Euro STOXX 50 STOXX50E index was down 0.1 percent at 2,287.50 points, testing a key support level, its 50-day moving average.

Heavyweight mining stocks featured among the top losers, with Rio Tinto (RIO.L) down 0.8 percent, while oil producers also lost ground, with BP (BP.L) down 1.2 percent and Total (TOTF.PA) down 0.4 percent, hit by fears of output disruption.

Iran's first vice-president warned that the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz would be stopped if foreign sanctions were imposed on Iran's crude exports over its nuclear ambitions.

Like us on Facebook

Banking stocks also retreated, with Credit Agricole (CAGR.PA) down 1.9 percent and UniCredit (CRDI.MI) down 0.7 percent.

Yields on Italy's debt gained ground on Wednesday ahead of the country's short-term debt sales and with higher-risk auctions of long-term paper due later in the week.

"Italy has been the epicentre of the debt crisis in the last part of the year. The faith of this equity rally will depend on the results of Italy's raft of debt auctions this week and in the first quarter. All eyes are on the Italian yields," a Paris-based trader said.

The country plans to sell up to 11.5 billion euros (9.6 billion pounds) of short term bills and zero coupon bonds on Wednesday, with demand from domestic banks expected to provide a smooth auction, albeit at a high cost.

The country will face a more difficult task of selling long-term debt on Thursday when there will be a greater reliance on international investors to buy 8.5 billion euros of debt with maturities of up to 10 years.

Despite the recent massive liquidity injection by the European Central Bank, banks still appear to distrust each other and prefer to deposit their money at the ECB's overnight facility than lend to each other.

Latest figures show banks deposited 452 billion euros at the central bank. Emergency overnight borrowing also remained high at above 6 billion euros.

"This really highlights the reluctance banks have to lend to each other and they would rather take a small loss than go to the inter-bank market," IG Markets dealer Chris Weston said.

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/273488/20111228/european-shares-halt-rally-debt-fears-resurface.htm

frank lucas lego man lego man cheryl hines john lackey john lackey ed lee

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

China dairy producer says it destroys tainted milk (AP)

BEIJING ? China's biggest milk producer destroyed a batch found to have excessive levels of a cancer-causing toxin, in another safety scare for the country's dairy industry.

Mengniu Dairy Group said in a statement seen on its website Monday that the problem was discovered before the milk containing high levels of aflatoxin was sold to the public.

"Mengniu would like to express our sincere apologies to consumers," the company said, adding none of the tainted products had made their way into the market.

"We will draw a big lesson from this incident and will work harder to meet all national and corporate standards on quality in the future," it said.

Aflatoxin is produced by a fungus that commonly grows in grain and legume crops such as peanuts, soybeans, corn and wheat. It can be found in the milk of animals that eat tainted crops.

High levels are toxic and carcinogenic, but aflatoxin is not considered harmful at low levels.

Mengniu's statement said the tainted milk was from one of its plants in Sichuan province in southwestern China. It did not say how much milk was destroyed or how high the aflatoxin levels were.

China's food chain, and especially the diary industry, has come under increased scrutiny in recent years because of a series of safety problems.

In 2008, at least six babies died and 300,000 became sick after being feed milk powder tainted with melamine. The industrial chemical is illegally added to dairy products to make them appear higher in protein.

A dairy farmer and a milk salesman were executed and 19 other people were jailed for their role in selling the tainted milk products.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/china/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111226/ap_on_re_as/as_china_tainted_milk

sandusky barbados raiders chargers latin grammys latin grammys ogopogo walmart black friday

Cuba makes more reforms to retail sector (Reuters)

HAVANA (Reuters) ? Cuba will open up more of the country's retail services to the private sector next year, allowing Cubans to operate various services such as appliance and watch repair, and locksmith and carpentry shops, official media reported on Monday.

The measures are the latest by President Raul Castro in his attempt to reinvigorate Cuba's struggling Soviet-style economy by reducing the role of the state and encouraging more private initiative.

A resolution published in the official gazette on Monday said the new reforms would take effect on January 1.

Earlier this year, the Cuban government turned over some 1,500 state barbershops and beauty parlors to employees.

Former state employees now pay a monthly fee for the shop, purchase supplies, pay taxes and charge what the market will bear.

Shortly after Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution, all businesses in Cuba were taken over by the state. But since the former leader handed power to his brother in 2008, the policy has been openly criticized as a mistake.

Ordinary Cubans have long complained about dismal state services, including small retail services, which they say have deteriorated because of a theft of resources and a shortage of sufficient supplies from the government.

Cuba has been moving over the last year to liberalize regulations over private economic activity. Since then, tens of thousands of Cubans have taken out licenses "to work for themselves," a euphemism used by the government to describe operating mom-and-pop businesses.

Cuba plans to have 35 percent to 40 percent of the labor force working in the "non-state" sector by 2016, compared with 15 percent at the close of 2010.

Raul Castro, faced with stagnating production and mounting foreign debt, has made clear the economy must be overhauled if the socialist system he and his ailing brother Fidel installed is to survive.

Moving most retail services to the "non-state" sector is one of more than 300 reforms approved by the ruling Communist Party earlier this year to "update" the economy.

The measures aim to introduce market forces in the agriculture and retail services sectors, cut subsidies and lift restrictions on individual activity that once prohibited the sale and purchase of homes and cars.

On Monday, the Communist Party daily Granma said the moving of thousands of state retail services to a leasing arrangement would be done gradually throughout 2012.

Economy Minister Adel Yzquierdo Rodriguez told a year-end session of the National Assembly last week the number of state jobs would be reduced by 170,000 next year, with 240,000 new jobs likely to be added to the "non-state" sector.

Thousands of state taxi drivers are expected to move to leasing arrangements next year. Some state food services are also expected to be allowed to form cooperatives.

(Editing by Kevin Gray and Eric Beech)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111226/wl_nm/us_cuba_reform

2012 grammy nominations stephen sondheim los angeles news grammys 2011 mike leach mike leach billy graham

Monday, December 26, 2011

Justin_D_Martin: #iPad, #Kindle force newspapers further away from print http://t.co/jdrxVIBh via

Passer la navigation
Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
Passer cette ?tape
Connexion

#iPad, #Kindle force newspapers further away from print gu.com/p/34aq9/tw via Il y a environ 3 heures via Tweet Button

Justin_D_Martin

Justin D. Martin

Pied de page

Source: http://twitter.com/Justin_D_Martin/statuses/151352961027670016

bears vs packers after christmas sales 2011 knicks drew peterson tyson chandler tyson chandler best ipad apps

famegamenews: [Gothamist] Newt Gingrich Fails To Get On Virginia GOP Primary Ballot Due To Sloth: Mentions Newt Gingrich and M... http://t.co/uciCZbqF

Passer la navigation
Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
Passer cette ?tape
Connexion

[Gothamist] Newt Gingrich Fails To Get On Virginia GOP Primary Ballot Due To Sloth: Mentions Newt Gingrich and M... fga.me/tVIvdY Il y a environ 7 heures via twitterfeed

famegamenews

fame game

Pied de page

Source: http://twitter.com/famegamenews/statuses/150737033558634496

pumpkin seed recipe mark madoff disturbia ufc results nick diaz michael myers power outage

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Paraguay, stuck in siesta mode, awaits Lugo's exit (AP)

ASUNCION, Paraguay ? Paraguay's congress closed its doors last week for more than two months of paid vacation, showing no interest in giving President Fernando Lugo anything on his wish list, even after lawmakers return to work next March.

Lugo's allies are also giving him the silent treatment. It's as if the entire political system has agreed to take a siesta until his five-year term is over.

Long legislative breaks are common in South America, where most governments shut down for the summer. But Paraguay sets the standard for collective stupor. Most businesses and public offices close at midday, even during relatively cooler months. Students attend classes in four-hour shifts in schools that lack air conditioning. Streets empty each afternoon as people seek refuge indoors.

Even the clocks seem to run more slowly from December through February, when the humidity thickens and temperatures soar to 109 degrees F (43 C) in the shade and 122 F (50 C) in the sun.

Still, the indifference Paraguay's lawmakers have shown to Lugo's proposals is striking. His 2008 election disrupted 61 years of right-wing Colorado Party rule, but he has hardly any reliable votes in Congress and his opponents dominate most government functions. Increasingly, they seem determined to prevent the left-leaning former Roman Catholic bishop from keeping any more of the promises that swept him into office.

Lugo pleaded with lawmakers last week to implement a 10 percent tax on personal income, first approved in 2004. He noted that booming soy and cattle exports boosted Paraguay's gross domestic product to 14.5 percent last year, one of the highest in the world. The windfall profits went almost entirely to a tiny elite, however, the president said, while the government remains starved of revenues.

"We won't defeat extreme poverty if we don't change the economic matrix," Lugo said. "In Paraguay the tax burden is only 13 percent, and it's the only country without a personal income tax. We need more resources to bring forward plans to eliminate social inequality."

The International Monetary Fund agrees with the liberation theologist on this point, insisting in its annual report on Paraguay that the country must collect more revenue. Economists generally recommend 30 percent or more overall taxation to provide for a country's people. In Europe's leading economies, the tax burden is more than 40 percent.

"We're concerned because the tax reforms aren't advancing," IMF representative Lisandro Abrego concluded during a visit to the capital, Asuncion, this year. "This country needs to raise its revenues to finance its economic development."

But Lugo's opponents stood firm before closing congress on Thursday: Incomes won't be taxed until January 2013, just four months before the end of his presidency.

Poverty has declined from 38 percent to 35 percent during Lugo's term as the economy has expanded, but 20 percent still live in extreme poverty, aptly described here as "misery," just as they have for the past 50 years.

Lugo has handed out $50 a month each to poor families in a small program known as Tekopora ("beautiful people," in the native Guarani spoken by Paraguay's poor). It's modeled on the welfare policies that keep kids in school and vaccinated across much of Latin America. But the payments reach just 93,000 of the nation's 6.8 million people.

Lawmakers said expanding the program would be a waste of money.

"Not a single family receiving this money has abandoned in 36 months its condition of poverty," said House budget commission president Olga Ferreira of the opposition Patria Querida party, who called the anti-poverty fight "a complete failure."

"Lugo gives them money but he doesn't teach them how to go out and earn their daily bread with their own sweat," she said.

Sen. Juan Manuel Boveda, an ally of retired general and convicted coup-plotter Lino Cesar Oviedo, said the welfare payments only serve to strengthen leftist parties. And Hector Cristaldo, president of a coalition of soy-producing landowners, said "the program should really be called 'Tekorei pora' ('beautiful but lazy')."

Lugo plans to work from Monday through Thursday during the summer weeks, but he too seems weary, distracted by his treatments for lymphatic cancer, isolated politically and frustrated by criticism in the news media. The leftist coalition he led three years ago has fallen apart. He hardly speaks with his vice president, Federico Franco, and has gone 18 months without formally talking to reporters.

He did push through the right to vote for Paraguayan citizens living outside of the country, and persuaded Brazil to nearly triple the amount it pays for electricity from their shared Itaipu dam, but that money, too, has remained tightly under congressional control.

In seeming desperation, he proposed some form of power-sharing agreement last week, a "governability pact" between political parties that could jointly run the country until the end of his term.

Not a single group among his political friends or foes reacted to his offer.

Instead, congress cut $1 billion from Lugo's proposed $12 billion budget for 2012. The money would have gone to raises for doctors, nurses and teachers; land reforms; and programs to house the homeless and improve schools, along with an expansion of welfare.

Workers had campaigned for weeks for their promised raises, occupying the plaza outside congress. Five hundred homeless people set up shelters inside Asuncion's zoo, suggesting that even monkeys get better housing. Riot police, themselves getting just a fraction of their promised raises, used water cannons, tear gas and clubs to remove them.

Far from being a savior, the sandal-wearing priest-turned-president has disappointed many among the poor.

"Lugo is just like all the politicians. He promised work for the whole world and he didn't come through," Tomas Benitez said Friday as he threw empty bottles and cans into the battered cart he pulls through downtown Asuncion. "I, my wife and my three children have to recycle trash to survive, but there are people who live quite well in this country."

Lugo still has 16 months left in office, but the leftists who helped him get there, such as farmworkers' leader Belarmino Balbuena, are already moving on, trying to find a candidate better able to wield power.

"With Lugo a change began toward the strengthening of democracy, but we still need land reform; health and education for the poor; job creation; work for thousands and thousands of young people; the establishment of taxes on grain exports and personal income, and other issues that are key for a functioning state."

___

Associated Press writer Michael Warren in Buenos Aires, Argentina, contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111225/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_paraguay_s_deep_sleep

richard stallman williston north dakota williston north dakota kody brown transylvania terrell owens terrell owens

BlueBirdTail: @Virtualonion it's an epidemic, but it won't stop because the way people think about 'Africa' hasn't changed

Passer la navigation
Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
Passer cette ?tape
Connexion

@Virtualonion it's an epidemic, but it won't stop because the way people think about 'Africa' hasn't changed Il y a environ 9 heures via TweetDeck en r?ponse ? Virtualonion

BlueBirdTail

Nii Ayikwei Parkes

Pied de page

Source: http://twitter.com/BlueBirdTail/statuses/150301468325449728

hocus pocus bj penn roasted pumpkin seeds roasted pumpkin seeds pumpkin seed recipe mark madoff disturbia

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Snowbound Arizona student survived on two candy bars over 9 days

Arizona State University student Lauren Weinberg was found by the US Forest Service. She survived on melted snow and candy bars after her car got stuck on a remote Arizona road.

A college student stranded by heavy snow in her car for nine days on a barren Arizona road has been rescued after living on candy bars and melted snow, authorities said on Thursday.

Skip to next paragraph

Arizona State University student Lauren Weinberg, 23, was found Wednesday by two U.S. Forest Service employees patrolling on snowmobiles, Coconino County Sheriff's Office patrol Lieutenant Jim Coffey said.

Weinberg, who was found about 46 miles from the town of Winslow in northern Arizona, was reported missing after she was last seen in Phoenix on Dec. 11, the sheriff's office said.

IN PICTURES: Going Nowhere: Stranded by weather

Weinberg was driving her sedan on Dec. 12 with no specific destination in mind when her car got stuck in over 18 inches of snow, Coffey said.

She was taken by patrol car to Flagstaff Medical Center to make sure she wasn't suffering from frostbite and dehydration, before being released.

"I am so thankful to be alive and warm," Weinberg said in a statement released by the hospital. "Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers, because they worked. There were times I was afraid but mostly I had faith I would be found," she said.

Weinberg survived on two candy bars and a clear plastic bottle she filled with snow that melted in the sun, the sheriff's office said.

She had a cellphone with her but the battery had died.

(Editing by David Bailey)

IN PICTURES: Going Nowhere: Stranded by weather

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/3k3ZwAanrBM/Snowbound-Arizona-student-survived-on-two-candy-bars-over-9-days

there will be blood there will be blood how to cook a turkey ucla basketball walmart black friday sales walmart black friday sales michelle obama booed at nascar

masnsports: Baseball America names Dylan Bundy top Orioles prospect - School of Roch: Not that you'll be shocked by this new... http://t.co/cHO0q2IY

Passer la navigation
Twitter sur votre mobile ? Cliquez ici m.twitter.com!
Passer cette ?tape
Connexion

Baseball America names Dylan Bundy top Orioles prospect - School of Roch: Not that you'll be shocked by this new... bit.ly/t9RJRB Il y a environ 7 heures via twitterfeed

masnsports

MASN

Pied de page

Source: http://twitter.com/masnsports/statuses/149628934701596672

regis philbin regis and kelly reno fire regis philbin last show regis philbin last show ray lewis crystal cathedral

Friday, December 23, 2011

Analysis: GOP's struggle on taxes gives Dems hope (AP)

WASHINGTON ? For all his problems with the economy, President Barack Obama is getting unexpected help from a Republican Party that seems incapable of capitalizing on its advantages.

Congressional Republicans' fumbling of the payroll tax issue is the latest example of party in-fighting and disarray that gives Democrats hope for the 2012 elections. GOP presidential contenders have tried to distance themselves from the legislative mess. But they might be tarred nonetheless if swing voters decide the party is either inept at governing or too extreme.

The eventual GOP presidential nominee "will be somewhat shackled to the Republican brand," said Democratic strategist Erik Smith, even if congressional Republicans are the ones leading the charge in an unpopular fight over the payroll tax. He said GOP House and Senate candidates will face even more problems.

The Wall Street Journal editorial page ? an important voice among conservatives ? berated Republican lawmakers for their handling of the payroll tax matter. Obama wants to add another year to this year's reduction in the tax, which nearly all workers pay toward Social Security. Senate Republicans, after forcing Democrats to swallow several unrelated concessions, joined in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote to approve only a two-month tax cut extension, with plans to revisit the issue next year.

But House Republicans, who generally disliked the payroll tax cut from the start, refused to concur early this week. Under relentless criticism from conservative bloggers and several GOP senators, House Speaker John Boehner announced Thursday that he expects to pass a new bill by Christmas to renew the break for two months while congressional negotiators work on a longer-term measure.

Unless Congress acts in the next 10 days, the payroll tax rate will return to 6.2 percent on Jan. 1, after one year at 4.2 percent. That would cost a family making $50,000 about $1,000.

Republican congressional leaders' actions "might end up re-electing the president before the 2012 campaign even begins in earnest," the Journal's editorial page said Wednesday.

Democrats point to episodes like the payroll tax fuss and say congressional Republicans are essentially controlled by tea party activists, whose tax and spending agendas are outside the political mainstream.

"Tea Party Republicans blocked a bipartisan bill to extend President Obama's payroll tax cut," the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said in a fundraising email Tuesday, minutes after a key House vote. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi told reporters, "the tea party tail is wagging the elephant."

Democratic strategists hope to remind voters of last summer's near-calamity over raising the limit on the debt ceiling. Then, as now, House Speaker John Boehner struggled to control his GOP caucus and to calculate which bills can and cannot pass. These Democrats want to paint the Republican Party as an out-of-touch institution that would rather stand for rigidly conservative principles than solve the nation's problems.

"I think the tea party-engendered dysfunction has the potential to really get the electorate's attention," said Jared Bernstein, a former Obama administration economist now with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. "At this point, the system is crippled by them."

All of this, of course, may be wishful thinking by Democrats. Republicans crushed them in the 2010 elections, giving the GOP control of the House and many governorships. Unemployment and other economic indicators bode badly for Obama's re-election hopes, and the payroll tax fuss may seem a musty memory by next November.

One other worry looms. If the payroll tax impasse remains unresolved, working Americans' taxes will rise by billions of dollars next year. Economists say that would depress spending and slow job growth, at least somewhat. Even if more voters blame Republicans than Democrats, Obama could end up as a net loser politically, given that the economic climate already is deeply troublesome for him. Also, unemployment benefits will be curbed if the legislative package remains stalled.

Analysts in both parties question whether Republicans will take such a risk.

"I think the likely scenario is some kind of bill passes in January, probably with retroactive benefits," Bernstein said. "It's a real pain for businesses," he said, because they would have to adjust their employees' tax withholding programs yet again.

Such an outcome, however, might help Obama and other Democrats politically. Restoration of the lower payroll tax rate would hold the economy harmless. But independent voters might think Republican lawmakers sought to raise their taxes. And hard-core conservative voters might blame those same lawmakers for surrendering to a tax cut they dislike.

Democrats note that Republicans fought fiercely to prevent Bush-era income tax cuts from expiring on schedule, even for the wealthiest people. GOP leaders say income tax cuts do more to stimulate growth than do payroll tax reductions.

The payroll tax impasse seems to have cost Republicans another political victory. In House-Senate negotiations, they forced Obama to agree to an expedited decision on a proposed transcontinental oil pipeline opposed by environmental groups. But it was included in the Senate-passed package with the two-month tax extension. Republicans who gloated over Obama's concession on the pipeline now have nothing to show for their efforts.

Republicans in Congress don't need more bad publicity. Americans hold Congress in extremely low regard, but they put more blame on Republicans than Democrats.

A recent poll by the Pew Research Center found that a record-high 50 percent of Americans say the current Congress is less effective than most. By nearly 2-to-1, "more blame Republican leaders than Democratic leaders for this," Pew found. "By wide margins, the GOP is seen as the party that is more extreme in its positions, less willing to work with the other side to get things done, and less honest and ethical in the way it governs. And for the first time in over two years, the Democratic Party has gained the edge as the party better able to manage the federal government."

Such findings may add pressure on Boehner and other Republican leaders to find a way out of the payroll tax cut dilemma.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111222/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_gop_troubles_analysis

mike stoops mike stoops end of the world end of the world jerome harrison ryan leaf ryan leaf

Lady Gaga To Leak Unreleased Track On Christmas Day

'Been racking my brain on what to get Little Monsters for Christmas!! I finally figured it out!!' singer tweeted.
By Christina Garibaldi

Lady Gaga in Japan on Tuesday
Photo: TwitPic

It will certainly be a merry Christmas for all of Lady Gaga's Little Monsters. Mother Monster herself will play Santa to all her fans when she presents them with an unreleased song on Christmas Day.

"Been racking my brain on what to get Little Monsters for Christmas!! I finally figured it out!!" Gaga tweeted on Thursday (December 22). "On Christmas Day I will leak to you an unreleased Song off Born This Way! It was recorded live, in one take, on the tour bus. Uncensored."

Gaga is currently in Japan, where she will be spending the holiday. "Well, I'll be in Japan right up until Christmas Day," Gaga told MTV News earlier this month. "So I'll be eating with all my Japanese Little Monsters. I like shabu shabu [a form of Japanese hot pot]."

On Tuesday, Gaga tweeted, "Sipping tea in Japan with Haus. Feeling so grateful. We sold about 1 million albums a month worldwide since the release of BORN THIS WAY."

That's not the only thing Gaga has to celebrate. She revealed via Twitter that she is "so happy" that "Hello, Hello," her duet with Elton John, is one of 39 tracks on the short list for a possible Oscar nomination in the Best Original Song category.

Lady Gaga, who was MTV News' Top Newsmaker of 2011, will be ringing in the new year in her hometown of New York. The "Marry the Night" singer, along with Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, LMFAO and Florence and the Machine, will watch the ball drop at the 40th annual "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve." The event will be hosted by Ryan Seacrest, with appearances by Fergie and Jenny McCarthy.

Are you excited for Lady Gaga's new song? Let us know in the comments.

Related Artists

Lady Gaga

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1676424/lady-gaga-christmas-day-song-xmas.jhtml

discovery channel jersey shore season 5 lea michele michael buble michael buble teddy roosevelt kim richards

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Britney Spears' Engagement Begins 'A New Chapter'

It's a 'good step' toward happiness in her life, Jordan Miller of Britney fan site Breatheheavy.com says.
By Christina Garibaldi

Jason Trawick and Britney Spears in Las Vegas
Photo: Denise Truscello/ WireImage

Britney Spears is "still glowing" after longtime boyfriend Jason Trawick popped the question to the pop star on Friday. The two spent the weekend in Las Vegas, where Spears flashed her Neil Lane engagement ring as they celebrated their upcoming nuptials and Trawick's 40th birthday.

Friends and family have been showing their support and well-wishes for the couple's upcoming wedding, including Spears' ex-husband Kevin Federline, who told TV Week magazine that he was "really happy for her." Yet it seems that no one is as happy for Spears than her die-hard fans.

MTV News spoke with Las Vegas-based webmaster Jordan Miller, who runs Spears' biggest fan site, BreatheHeavy.com, and he told us just how thrilled he is about the news.

"I was pretty excited for Britney when I found out she was engaged," Miller said. "I think it's a good step for her to have some sort of relationship where she can share her feelings and thoughts about her life, so I'm happy for her."

And it seems all of his followers agree. "The overwhelming reaction from fans about the news of Britney's engagement is that they're really happy for her," Miller said. "They think it's such good timing for her, to finish the tour and kind of have a break and be able to start a new chapter in her life. So I think the majority of fans are really happy for Britney and that it's definitely a good step for her."

The news doesn't come as a big shock to Miller, since rumors of Britney's engagement have been swirling for months.

"There were rumors for the last six months pretty much saying he was going to do it in December," Miller said of the couple, who have been dating since 2009. "So it's cool to see that it actually happened and she's going to get married."

Details have not been released as to when Britney will tie the knot, but it seems Miller already has the perfect wedding gift in mind from all of her fans.

"If fans could get Britney a cool present, it would be a vacation to a tropical island where she didn't have to be around anyone but Jason," Miller said.

What do you think of Britney's engagement? Let us know in the comments.

Related Artists

Britney Spears

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1676266/britney-spears-jason-trawick-engagement-reaction.jhtml

election day kawasaki disease joe frazier where do i vote wheel of fortune today show smokin joe

Sunday, December 18, 2011

AP-GfK Poll: More than half say Obama should lose (AP)

WASHINGTON ? A majority of adults say President Barack Obama does not deserve a second term but are evenly divided on whether he will win re-election next year, says a new Associated Press-GfK poll that highlights some of the campaign obstacles he faces.

Although the public would prefer Obama be voted out of office, he fares relatively well in potential matchups with Republicans Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. Another bit of good news for the Democrat: For the first time since spring, more adults said the economy got better in the past month than said it got worse.

The president's approval rating on unemployment shifted upward ? from 40 percent in October to 45 percent in the latest poll ? as the jobless rate fell to 8.6 percent last month, its lowest level since March 2009.

But Obama's approval rating on his handling of the economy overall remains stagnant: 39 percent approve and 60 percent disapprove.

Heading into the 2012 campaign, the poll shows the challenges facing Obama as he tries to win a second term among a public that does not support his steering of the economy, the most dominant issue for Americans, or his reforms to health care, one of his signature accomplishments. Yet voters appear to be grappling with whether to replace him with Romney or Gingrich.

For the first time, the poll found that a majority of adults, 52 percent, said Obama should be voted out of office while 43 percent said he deserves a second term. The numbers represent a clear reversal since last May, when 53 percent said Obama should be re-elected while 43 percent said he didn't deserve four more years.

Separately, 49 percent expected Obama to win re-election while 48 percent think he will be voted out of office.

Obama's overall job approval stands at a new low: 44 percent approve while 54 percent disapprove. The president's standing among independents is worse: 38 percent approve while 59 percent disapprove. Among Democrats, the president holds steady with an approval rating of 78 percent while only 12 percent of Republicans approve of the job he's doing.

"I think he's doing the best he can. The problem is the Congress won't help at all," said Rosario Navarro, a Democrat and a 44-year-old truck driver from Fresno, Calif., who voted for Obama in 2008 and intends to support him again.

Robin Dein, a 54-year-old homemaker from Villanova, Pa., who is an independent, said she supported Republican John McCain in 2008 and has not been impressed with Obama's economic policies. She intends to support Romney if he wins the GOP nomination.

"(Obama) spent the first part of his presidency blaming Bush for everything, not that he was innocent, and now his way of solving anything is by spending more money," Dein said.

Despite the soft level of support, many are uncertain whether a Republican president would be a better choice. Asked whom they would support next November, 47 percent of adults favored Obama compared with 46 percent for Romney, a former Massachusetts governor. Against Gingrich, the president holds a solid advantage, receiving 51 percent compared with 42 percent for the former House speaker.

The potential matchups paint a better picture for the president among independents. Obama receives 45 percent of non-aligned adults compared with 41 percent for Romney. Against Gingrich, Obama holds a wide lead among independents, with 54 percent supporting the president and 31 percent backing the former Georgia congressman.

Another piece of good news for Obama: people generally like him personally. His personal favorability rating held steady at 53 percent, with 46 percent viewing him unfavorably. About three-quarters called him likable.

The economy remains a source of pessimism, though the poll suggests the first positive movement in public opinion on the economy in months. One in five said the economy improved in the last month, double the share saying so in October. Still most expect it to stay the same or get worse.

"I suppose you could make some sort of argument that it's getting better, but I'm not sure I even see that," said independent voter John Bailey, a 61-year-old education consultant from East Jordan, Mich. "I think it's bad and it's gotten worse under (Obama's) policies. At best, it's going to stay bad."

Despite the high rate of joblessness, the poll found some optimism on the economy. Although 80 percent described the economy as "poor," respondents describing it as "very poor" fell from 43 percent in October to 34 percent in the latest poll, the lowest since May. Twenty percent said the economy got better in the past month while 37 percent said they expected the economy to improve next year.

Yet plenty of warning signs remain for Obama. Only 26 percent said the United States is headed in the right direction while 70 percent said it was moving in the wrong direction.

The president won a substantial number of women voters in 2008 yet there does not appear to be a significant tilt toward him among women now. The poll found 44 percent of women say Obama deserves a second term, down from 51 percent in October, while 43 percent of men say the president should be re-elected.

About two-thirds of white voters without college degrees say Obama should be a one-term president, while 33 percent of those voters say he should get another term. Among white voters with a college degree, 57 percent said Obama should be voted out of office.

The poll found unpopularity for last year's health care reform bill, one of Obama's major accomplishments. About half of the respondents oppose the health care law and support for it dipped to 29 percent from 36 percent in June. Just 15 percent said the federal government should have the power to require all Americans to buy health insurance.

Even among Democrats, the health care law has tepid support. Fifty percent of Democrats supported the health care law, compared with 59 percent of Democrats last June. Only about a quarter of independents back the law.

The president has taken a more populist tone in his handling of the economy, arguing that the wealthy should pay more in taxes to help pay to extend a payroll tax cut that is worth about an additional $1,000 to a family earning about $50,000 a year. Among those with annual household incomes of $50,000 or less, Obama's approval rating on unemployment climbed to 53 percent, from 43 percent in October.

The Associated Press-GfK Poll was conducted Dec. 8-12 by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. It involved landline and cellphone interviews with 1,000 adults nationwide and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

___

Associated Press writer Stacy A. Anderson and News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius contributed to this report.

___

Online: http://www.ap-gfkpoll.com

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111216/ap_on_el_pr/us_obama_poll

humpback whale humpback whale barrel roll anagram 180 degrees askew cory smoot

SEC charges ex-Fannie, Freddie CEOs with fraud (AP)

WASHINGTON ? The Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday brought civil fraud charges against six former top executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, saying they misled investors about risky subprime loans the mortgage giants held when the housing bubble burst.

Those charged include the agencies' two former CEOs, Fannie's Daniel Mudd and Freddie's Richard Syron. They are the highest-profile individuals to be charged in connection with the 2008 financial crisis.

The federal government has faced criticism for not bringing charges against top executives who may have contributed to the worst financial meltdown since the Great Depression.

Mudd, 53, and Syron, 68, led the mortgage giants in 2007, when home prices began to collapse. The four other top executives also worked for the companies during that time.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in New York City.

"Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives told the world that their subprime exposure was substantially smaller than it really was," said Robert Khuzami, SEC's enforcement director. "These material misstatements occurred during a time of acute investor interest in financial institutions' exposure to subprime loans, and misled the market about the amount of risk."

Fannie and Freddie both entered into agreements with the government on Friday, accepting responsibility for its conduct without admitting or denying the charges. The government-controlled companies also agreed to cooperate with the SEC on the cases against the former executives.

The Justice Department has opened up probes into Fannie and Freddie but has not charged anyone with a crime.

In a statement released through his attorney, Mudd said the lawsuit "should never have been brought" and said the government reviewed and approved all of the company's financial disclosures.

"Every piece of material data about loans held by Fannie Mae was known to the United States government to the investing public," Mudd said. "The SEC is wrong, and I look forward to a court where fairness and reason ? not politics ? is the standard for justice."

Syron's lawyers said the case was "without merit," and said the term "subprime had no uniform definition in the market" at that time.

"There was no shortage of meaningful disclosures, all of which permitted the reader to assess the degree of risk in Freddie Mac's" portfolio, the lawyers said in a statement. "The SEC's theory and approach are fatally flawed."

According to the lawsuit, Fannie told investors in 2007 that it had roughly $4.8 billion worth of subprime loans on its books, or just 0.2 percent of its portfolio. The SEC says that Fannie actually had about $43 billion worth of products targeted to borrowers with weak credit, or 11 percent of its holdings.

Mudd told a congressional panel in March 2007 that Fannie's subprime business represented less than "2 percent of our book." He also said the company held subprime mortgages "very carefully." A month later, he told a separate congressional panel that subprime loans represented less than 2.5 percent of Fannie's books.

Freddie told investors in 2006 that it held between $2 billion and $6 billion of subprime mortgages on its books. The SEC says its holdings were actually closer to $141 billion, or 10 percent of its portfolio in 2006, and $244 billion, or 14 percent, by 2008.

In a May 2007 speech in New York, Syron said Freddie had "basically no subprime exposure," according to the suit.

Fannie and Freddie buy home loans from banks and other lenders, package them into bonds with a guarantee against default and then sell them to investors around the world. The two own or guarantee about half of U.S. mortgages, or nearly 31 million loans.

During the financial crisis, the two firms verged on collapse. The Bush administration seized control of them in September 2008.

So far, the companies have cost taxpayers almost $150 billion ? the largest bailout of the financial crisis. They could cost up to $259 billion, according to its government regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Administration.

Mudd was fired from Fannie after the government took over. He's now the chief executive of the New York hedge fund Fortress Investment Group.

Syron resigned from Freddie in 2008. He's now an adjunct professor at Boston College.

The other executives charged were Fannie's Enrico Dallavecchia, 50, a former chief risk officer, and Thomas Lund, 53, a former executive vice president; and Freddie's Patricia Cook, 58, a former executive vice president and chief business officer, and Donald Bisenius, 53, a former senior vice president.

Lund's lawyer, Michael Levy, said in a statement that Lund "did not mislead anyone." Lawyers for the other defendants declined to comment Friday morning.

Fannie and Freddie had traditionally purchased a small number of subprime mortgage loans, which involved borrowers with credit problems who could not qualify for cheaper prime loans. But starting in the late 1990s many firms started purchasing subprime loans, and Fannie and Freddie followed suit.

Legal experts say the cases, while unusual, might not yield much in penalties against the former executives.

In July, Citigroup paid just $75 million to settle similar civil charges with the SEC. The company's chief financial officer and head of investor relations were accused of failing to disclose more than $50 billion worth of potential losses from subprime mortgages. The two executives charged paid $100,000 and $80,000 in civil penalties.

A federal judge in the case said she was "baffled" by the low settlement.

Fines against executives charged in SEC civil cases can reach up to $150,000 per violation. SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro has asked Congress to raise the limit to $1 million.

Mudd made nearly $4 million in salary and bonuses in 2007, and Syron made more than $18 million, according to company statements.

The SEC has charged more than 80 people, including 40 CEOs and senior executives, with violations stemming from the 2008 financial crisis.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111216/ap_on_bi_ge/us_fannie_freddie_charges

city of ember virgin diaries kevin smith kevin smith carlos mencia green bay packers giants

Saturday, December 17, 2011

'If I were a poor black kid': 6 counterattacks (The Week)

New York ? A Forbes columnist picks an unpopular way to write about income inequality in America

Inspired by President Obama's speech last week on inequality, Forbes contributor Gene Marks took a break from his business columns Monday to write about the growing "spread between rich and poor." Marks said it's unfair that it's harder for some people to realize the opportunities America offers, because of the color of their skin, or because they're born in an inner city. So far, so good. But then Marks, a "middle aged white guy," went on to say how he would overcome the obstacles if he were "a poor black kid." His recipe for success included getting good grades, taking advantage of free computers and software, learning computer programming, and getting a summer job at "a business owned by the 1 percent" to "show my stuff." The blogosphere was swift to respond, and the reaction was not kind. Here, six biting rebuttals that riff on Marks' original statement:

1. "If I were a rich white man"
Marks' "grand sweeping generalizations" are annoying, says Shaka Griffith at Global Grind. So let me turn the tables. "If I were a rich white man, I would go to downtrodden neighborhoods around the country and tell all the teenage drug dealers, stick-up kids, and hustlers to come hang with me on my yacht." I'd "buy them anything they want" then dump them back in the 'hood. That way they'd see there are luxuries out there, and "dust the ghetto dirt off their shoulders and go fulfill their dreams, because it's that easy for poor black kids." All you need, according to Marks, is a computer and a dream.

SEE ALSO: The 103-year-old woman saved from foreclosure

2. "If I were a rich white man pretending to be a poor black kid"
If I were a rich white man out to express my "ungrammatical, tin-eared, sociological meanderings" by pretending to be a poor black kid, says Jess Zimmerman at XOJane, "I might not be able to afford my own computer, because I would be poor. So I would just have my parents buy it for me," even if that meant waiting for my birthday. Then I would use my technology and awesome study habits to get rich. Then I would lecture my fellow poor black kids about how "only a rich white man knows the secret to being a successful poor black kid: Being a rich white man."

3. "If I were a middle aged white man"
"If I were a middle aged white man, I wouldn't write articles called 'If I Were a Poor Black Kid' for Forbes," says Louis Peitzman in The Huffington Post. After all, "a title like that" would pretty much guarantee that nobody would pay any attention to any legitimate points I might make. I wouldn't say it's crucial to get good grades, because "it's just not as simple as studying hard." And I wouldn't write that technology can help kids who want to be helped. "If solving inequality were as simple as wanting it badly enough, I'd like to think we'd all be equal."

Congress puts spy world on money diet (AP)

WASHINGTON ? Congress is putting the spy world on a diet by trimming back planned growth in staff and high-tech surveillance programs.

Next year's budget stays roughly the same as this year, at just under $80 billion, and the bill doesn't cancel any programs.

But the bill passed Friday nixes many planned new hires and denies extra funding requested to expand some existing big-ticket items like multibillion-dollar spy satellites. Congress left alone plans for more staff for cybersecurity and tracking terrorist finances.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss classified matters.

One change in the new measure: Families of intelligence officers will get the same financial help for burial expenses as those of uniformed military, if officers are killed by terrorists.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111216/ap_on_go_co/us_intelligence_bill

the firm sleep no more cyber monday deals war eagle war eagle pawn stars restrepo

Friday, December 16, 2011

South Carolina football: Gamecocks cut six scholarships, reduce recruiting visits in wake of major NCAA violations

Also will reduce recruiting visits

Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina will eliminate six football scholarships in the next three years as punishment for committing three major NCAA violations, the school announced Wednesday.

In a 111-page response to the NCAA, the school also said it will reduce official recruiting visits in football and track and field.

The NCAA said 10 South Carolina football players and two women?s track athletes received $47,000 in improper benefits for staying at a Columbia hotel for a reduced rate that was about a quarter of what should?ve been charged. The university also agreed it committed a major violation when athletes or prospects received $8,000 in benefits from two executives from a mentoring foundation.

The school also didn?t dispute the NCAA finding it failed to properly monitor its athletes, but it called the hotel violation a ?good faith error in judgment? from its compliance department.

Then-compliance officer director Jennifer Stiles signed off on players paying $450 each to live in a two-bedroom suite at The Whitney Hotel, a rate the NCAA determined was only about a quarter of what should?ve been charged. Stiles was demoted to another job in the office earlier this month.

The second major violation involved the Student Athlete Mentoring Foundation and its president Steve Gordon and treasurer Kevin Lahn. The two are South Carolina graduates and paid for several unofficial visits by Gamecocks freshman receiver Damiere Byrd.

The NCAA ruled that Byrd must miss four games and pay back $2,700.

Lahn also paid for a $3,350 dinner cruise on Lake Murray for several prospects that was also attended by track coach Curtis Frye and 16 members of his program.

The NCAA will consider South Carolina?s self-imposed penalties at a hearing on the violations in February.

Source: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/12/15/1858422/south-carolina-football-gamecocks.html

ogopogo walmart black friday walmart black friday raiders vincent jackson veterans day paterno

PFT: Falcons say Smith 'feels fine'

Getty Images

Well, I?m finally gaining some ground.

Not much, but some.

A stellar 14-2 weekend could have been 15-1, but for that late collapse by the Cowboys.? In that moment, a three-game win over Rosenthal slid to a one-game edge.

I?m nine back with three weeks to go. ?For the season, he?s 142-66.? I?m 133-75.

This week, we disagree on four games.? This is my last chance to make a push.

Hopefully, God likes me better than him.

Jaguars at Falcons

Florio?s take:? If the Falcons can?t beat the Jaguars, the Falcons have no shot at winning at New Orleans on December 26.? And if the Falcons can?t win at New Orleans on December 26, the Falcons won?t have to worry about another one-and-done performance in the playoffs.

Florio?s pick:? Falcons 31, Jaguars 16.

Rosenthal?s take: The Jaguars are back in prime time! Atlanta is a 10-point favorite, which seems crazy until you look at the state of the Jags. An undrafted rookie and journeyman will cover Roddy White and Julio Jones.? At wideout for Jacksonville: Chastin West and Jarrett Dillard. Interim coach Mel Tucker isn?t playing with a stacked deck.

Rosenthal?s pick: Falcons 28, Jaguars 13.

Cowboys at Buccaneers

Florio?s take:? The best way for Dallas to avoid blowing a close game late in the fourth quarter is to never allow it to be close in the fourth quarter.? If this one gets too out of hand, Tampa coach Raheem Morris could be the fourth coach to go before Christmas.

Florio?s pick:? Cowboys 34, Buccaneers 17.

Rosenthal?s take: The Bucs are slump busters. The Panthers defense couldn?t stop anyone, but they could stop the Bucs. Jacksonville?s offense couldn?t score on anyone, but they could score on Tampa. This game is exactly what Jason Garrett and the ?Boys need.

Rosenthal?s pick: Cowboys 40, Buccaneers 27.

Dolphins at Bills

Florio?s take:? Nothing takes the steam out of a team that is playing hard down the stretch to try to save its coach?s job than the coach losing his job.? The Bills end a six-game losing streak with their sixth, and likely last, win of the season.

Florio?s pick:? Bills 28, Dolphins 21.

Rosenthal?s take: It?s weird and a little sad that J.P. Losman?s status decides my pick. If Matt Moore is out, I like Buffalo. Bills fans will happily tell you not to bet on J.P. Losman in Buffalo. (Especially with Jake Long out.) If Matt Moore starts, I like the Dolphins. (Can we make conditional picks, Florio?)

Rosenthal?s pick: Dolphins 20, Bills 17.

Seahawks at Bears

Florio?s take:? If the Bears had Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, they?d be the clear pick to win.? But they don?t, and if they can?t beat the Chiefs at home without these key players, they?ll have a rough time handling an underrated Seahawks team.? The bell continues to toll for the Bears, whose only remaining hope will be to do to the Packers on December 25 what the Dolphins did to the Bears in 1985.

Florio?s pick:? Seahawks 14, Bears 7.

Rosenthal?s take: Bears fans swore Chicago could go 4-2 or 3-3 at worst with Caleb Hanie to close the season. They haven?t won a game yet. Seattle, meanwhile, has won four of five because of a physical defense and running game. After this game, the Seahawks will have a better chance to make the playoffs.

Rosenthal?s pick: Seattle 16, Bears 13.

Panthers at Texans

Florio?s take:? The Texans keep losing key components.? And the Texans just keep winning.? This one won?t be easy without defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, but the Texans simply continue to find a way.

Florio?s pick:? Texans 34, Panthers 24.

Rosenthal?s take: If Cam Newton and T.J. Yates faced off last year, Yates? team would not be favored by a touchdown. Things change quickly. The Texans are a defense tough enough to withstand the loss of their best pass rusher. They can survive losing their playcaller for a week or two.

Rosenthal?s pick: Texans 21, Panthers 17.

Titans at Colts

Florio?s take:? It?s time.? Call it a gut feeling.? Call it a hunch.? Call it clinical insanity.? But it?s time for the Colts to win a game.? Especially since this very well could be their last chance to avoid going 0-16 and getting everyone not named Jim Irsay fired.

Florio?s pick:? Colts 19, Titans 17.

Rosenthal?s take: The Colts look likely to face three straight rookie quarterbacks. Unfortunately, Jake Locker isn?t a huge downgrade from Matt Hasselbeck. The Titans offense is different with Locker, but not necessarily worse. The Titans are just mediocre enough to let the Colts make this interesting.

Rosenthal?s pick: Titans 24, Colts 21.

Packers at Chiefs

Florio?s take:? Interim coach Romeo Crennel could go a long way toward securing the permanent job by winning his first game.? He likely wishes Todd Haley had lasted one more week.

Florio?s pick:? Packers 35, Chiefs 10.

Rosenthal?s take: The Chiefs have enough secondary talent to give the Packers offense some issues. Kansas City certainly upgrades this week at quarterback with Kyle Orton. And that ends the portion of this preview where I try to convince myself this game will stay interesting.

Rosenthal?s pick: Packers 31, Chiefs 14.

Saints at Vikings

Florio?s take:? From epic NFC title game to overhyped season opener to Cornell-Hofstra slaughter.? Les Steckel gets closer and closer to getting off the hook.

Florio?s pick:? Saints 34, Vikings 14.

Rosenthal?s take: Drew Brees is peaking at the right time. The Vikings are peeking at the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.? This is the game where Brees makes sure he wins the yardage crown for the season.

Rosenthal?s pick: Saints 33, Vikings 17.

Redskins at Giants

Florio?s take:? After the Redskins beat the Giants in Week One, safety Antrell Rolle said that Washington would win five out of 100 games between the two teams.? More recently, Rolle dropped that number to one.? Though we?re not ready to agree with a 99-percent success rate, we?re comfortable with 50.

Florio?s pick:? Giants 28, Redskins 14.

Rosenthal?s take: A Giants? loss Sunday could make next week?s Jets-Giants game almost inconsequential. A win against the Redskins would guarantee Big Blue a ?win and in? scenario in Week 17 against Dallas. Washington is feisty, but they are one-win-in-seven-games feisty. Rex Grossman is just good enough to get you beat.

Rosenthal?s pick: Giants 33, Redskins 28.

Bengals at Rams

Florio?s take:? It won?t be easy to keep a young Bengals team focused and motivated after losing a heartbreaker to the Texans.? But the Bengals are playing the Rams.? The Rams.? Yes, the Rams.

Florio?s pick:? Bengals 34, Rams 14.

Rosenthal?s take: Despite winning seven games last year, the Rams are on pace to have the worst five-year run of any team in NFL history. Steve Spagnuolo coached the worst NFL team in 2009 and the second worst team this year. It may not be fair, but it?s hard to imagine any coach surviving that combination.

Rosenthal?s pick: Bengals 23, Rams 13.

Lions at Raiders

Florio?s take:? The Lions have struggled lately, but the Raiders have struggled more.? Neither team may make it to the postseason after promising starts, but the Lions have at least shown a recent ability to find a way to win.? Plus, while he?s not as dominant as he was in 2010, the return of Ndamukong Suh should help.? The ongoing absence of Darren McFadden doesn?t.

Florio?s pick:? Lions 24, Raiders 20.

Rosenthal?s take: These are two desperate teams that peaked too early. At least the Lions are getting players back: Ndamukong Suh, Kevin Smith, and cornerback Chris Houston all look likely to return for Detroit. The Raiders might get Denarius Moore back. The Lions win that trade.

Rosenthal?s pick: Lions 27, Raiders 24.

Browns at Cardinals

Florio?s take:? Though a little too late, the Cardinals have found their groove, regardless of whether Kevin Kolb or John Skelton is playing quarterback.? With a couple more wins, they?ll be one of the teams we?re all picking to make the playoffs in 2012.? The Browns, on the other hand, continue to be the Browns.

Florio?s pick:? Cardinals 30, Browns 17.

Rosenthal?s take: Skeltonmania is sweeping the nation. The Cardinals are 4-1 in the former Fordham quarterback?s games, winning insane, inexplicable games late in the fourth quarter. They are 2-5 without him. Skelton fever could last into the playoffs. I?d bet on a 9-7 team making the playoffs and the Cardinals should be 7-7 after this one.

Rosenthal?s pick: Cardinals 22, Browns 13.

Patriots at Broncos

Florio?s take:? The list of ?thou shalt nots? now includes a line regarding picking against Tim Tebow.? New England?s defense stinks, and Denver?s defense is good enough to keep it close.? If the Broncos keep it close, the guy who says God has spoken to him will overcome the once little-known sixth-round pick who possibly struck a deal with the devil.

Florio?s pick:? Broncos 24, Patriots 23.

Rosenthal?s take: The Patriots defense can barely slow down Grossmania, so Tim Tebow should have a big day. Tom Brady should be even better. There are weak spots in this Broncos? secondary that Brady can exploit, especially at safety. This result will test Florio?s Tebow man-crush.

Rosenthal?s pick: Patriots 31, Broncos 27.

Jets at Eagles

Florio?s take:? The Dream Team is waking up too late, but not late enough to crush the dreams of Team Rex.? And that will make next week?s Giants-Jets game even more intriguing.

Florio?s pick:? Eagles 27, Jets 23.

Rosenthal?s take: The Eagles won last week, but Michael Vick looked very rusty. The offensive line got pushed around. The Jets are not a defense you want to face when your passing game is out of synch and your line is not recognizing blitzes. The Dream should finally die for good, to the delight of many Eagles fans.

Rosenthal?s pick: Jets 22, Eagles 10.

Ravens at Chargers

Florio?s take:? The Ravens finally realize the connection between beating inferior foes and hosting home playoff games.? Chargers fans finally realize that they could have a new coach and G.M. in 2012.? Both could be very happy after Sunday night.

Florio?s pick:? Ravens 24, Chargers 17.

Rosenthal?s take: This is Norv?s last stand, and he has a shot to win. Philip Rivers? pinpoint accuracy returned the last two weeks. So did his pass protection. This is a dangerous game for the Ravens, but it?s hard to imagine Rivers? rag-tag linemen holding up against the Baltimore pass rush.

Rosenthal?s pick: Ravens 27, Chargers 24.

Steelers at 49ers

Florio?s take:? When the Steelers enter the red zone at Heinz Field, giant ketchup bottles unleash their contents onto the scoreboard.? When the 49ers get into the red zone on Monday night, the Steelers will be putting ketchup on Frank Gore?s legs and Alex Smith?s arm.

Florio?s pick:? Steelers 20, 49ers 13.

Rosenthal?s take: The Cowboys? 3-4 defense gave the 49ers problems. Baltimore?s 3-4 defense ate up the 49ers line. Arizona?s defense ? coordinated by former Steelers coach Ray Horton ? allowed two first downs to the 49ers in the second half last week. You see where I?m going with this one.

Rosenthal?s pick: Steelers 13, 49ers 10.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/15/falcons-deny-that-mike-smith-is-still-experiencing-chest-related-discomfort/related/

zack greinke siri san diego news ford evos ford evos ides of march starship troopers