text:
The bright light appeal of pulltabs? (5×8- 11/2/11)

Will bright lights increase gambling, pick a motto for the U.S., Fargo as the bean-bag capital, the war at home, and Fergus Fallsywood.

Young people, what’s stopping you from buying pull tabs? With Gov. Dayton acknowledging that there’s no political stomach for a sales tax increase to pay for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium, attention is turning to electronic pull tabs, MPR’s Tim Nelson reports.

In its story today, the Star Tribune portrays a state dying to gamble, but is put off by icky paper…

“Bingo and pulltabs would likely be played on different devices, but the move to electronic displays is expected to bring more people, especially younger patrons, flocking to charitable gambling in bars,” the paper said.

“Flocking?” Really? Based on what research? The newspaper offers no other details about this pent-up demand by young people to head for the bar and gamble, nor what’s stopping them from doing so now. So we’re left to assume that the assumption is based on the fact the electronic pulltabs are played on “iPad-like devices” instead of paper and, well, you know kids today. “Bright lights, animated screens, keypads…. let’s gamble!”

But casinos have bright lights, keypads, and animated screens too and the majority of patrons at most of them can tell you all about the Eisenhower administration firsthand.

The assertion seems to come from a Pioneer Press article in which King Wilson, the head of the Allied Charities of Minnesota, claimed electronic pulltabs would appeal to young people. In the same article, he revealed that the amount of money generated from pulltabs has plummeted in recent years.

But in the same article, Rep. Sen. Tom Bakk said electronic pull tabs could bring in another $40 million, half of which would go to the Vikings’ stadium. That’s a lot of money coming from — apparently — mostly young people. But what if it doesn’t? Does the money get diverted from charities who benefit from pulltabs now?

MPR’s Tom Scheck reported last week where much of Bakk’s math comes from

House researcher Pat McCormack said an analysis of the change could generate up to $42 million a year. He said estimates depend on the tax break given to the charities.

If true, part of this “new” money coming in to the charities and Vikings is “old” money that’s now going into the state’s General Fund. That money is currently spoken for, which means Minnesota would stop doing something in order to build a stadium for the Vikings, and there we are back at an old — still unanswered — question: What is it we’re going to stop doing so that the Vikings can have their stadium?

Are pulltabs the answer?

A 2008 House Research study documented a pulltab industry in decline, noting:

— Since fiscal year 2004, gross receipts from lawful gambling have declined by over 20 percent

— For fiscal year 2008, the industry reported its biggest drop in state gambling taxes paid–a 12.8 percent decrease from the previous year due to the drop in gross receipts

— Total receipts have gone from $1.500 billion in 2000 to $1.032 billion in 2009, a decrease of about 31 percent

It said the smoking ban may have had something to do with those numbers, but pulltab revenue was tanking even before the state smoking ban went in effect. It also notes that the industry has been trying to get electronic pulltabs approved for years, back to when an iPad-like device would attract significant attention. Now? Who drops what they’re doing to see the person with the iPad?

Maybe proponents are right. Maybe the lure of bright iPad-like devices are enough to not only turn around a dying industry , continue funding charitable groups at present levels, and build a new stadium for the Vikings, and get young people to part with their loot, but it’s not too early to see the math.

Related: Political Footballs: L.A.’s Misguided Plans For A Downtown Stadium (Forbes)

The U.S. House of Representatives is taking a strong stand against efforts to the strip the country of its “In God We Trust” motto, even though there are no particularly effective efforts underway. The House fast-tracked a bill reaffirming the motto.

“As our nation faces challenging times, it is appropriate for Members of Congress and our nation — like our predecessors — to firmly declare our trust in God, believing that it will sustain us for generations to come,” Rep. Randy Forbes of Virginia said.

The measure puts opponents of the measure in the unenviable position of voting against God. Or country. Or one of the two, if not both.

The U.S. had a motto — e pluribus unum — for many years until Dwight Eisenhower changed it. But it was (a) Latin and (b) doesn’t really describe the country. “From many, one.” If that’s not Socialism, what is?

Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, writing on the FoxNews website, asks a good question: Why don’t we trust each other?

So while Republicans will introduce the legislation supporting the use of “In God We Trust”, and Democrats will rail against it, neither will do anything to address the real question we have in this country – do we trust each other to come together and fix what’s broken? Do we trust in our capacity as a nation to give out children a better country than the one which we inherited? Those are the real trust issues we need to address in this nation, and it’s high time to we start doing so.

Hirschfield hosted a chat on the issue last night on the Washington Post’s site:

Coincidentally, or perhaps not, several smaller cities in the country last week hurriedly pushed through ordinances to allow “In God We Trust” to be displayed in their City Council chambers.

Question: If we were to come up with a wholly accurate motto for the country, what would it be? Reminder: “You can pay me now or you can pay me later” is already taken.

A Fargo man has set the unofficial record for a beanbag toss. From 109 feet away, Jason Vadnie hit nothing but whatever you hit nothing but in beanbag tossing, the Fargo Forum reports. It was a moment to remember.

His arms went up, the bag went in, and the world record for the longest successful beanbag toss went down – unofficially, at least.

The feat took two days and produced plenty of soreness. In the first outing, “we threw for probably two or three hours and didn’t make a shot,” Vadnie said.

But in the end, the Fargo 25-year-old says he beat the record, set last October, by 3 feet. His throw would shatter the mark for an underhand toss by 24 feet.

Because he didn’t go through the process for making a claim through Guinness World Records, the keeper of the official mark, his throw won’t go down in the books. But the video of the throw, taken this August on Fargo North High School’s football field and posted on YouTube a few weeks

How do you train for this sort of thing? Like this:

NPR this week is providing a multi-part series on the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment deployed to Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. By the time the tour ended in April 2011, the Marines suffered the highest casualty rate of any Marine unit during the past 10 years of war.

This installment is particularly compelling — the story of learning that your kid or spouse is dead in a war…

Is this building Fergus Falls’ ticket to fame?

It’s the former Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center, which included 37 buildings on about 180 acres (See a 2004 MPR profile). The city has been trying to market the site, but various development proposals, including houses, have fallen through.

Now, there’s another idea: a movie set. The Fergus Falls Daily Journal says the Minnesota Film and TV Board will be in town this week to shoot a promotional video to market the site to Hollywood et al.

A board official says it would be perfect for horror movies, psychological thrillers or just movies set in a mental institution or hospital, like 1992’s Ray Liotta, Kiefer Sutherland and Forest Whitaker vehicle “Article 99,” the newspaper says.

Chris Grap, director of production services with the board, said once somebody makes a movie with the site, others will surely follow. But it’s a race as city officials have debated just tearing it down.

Herman Cain’s presidential campaign has been dogged this week by allegations that he sexually harassed two women while head of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s. The controversy comes 20 years after Senate hearings into sexual harassment charges against Clarence Thomas, then a nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. Today’s Question: How has your understanding of sexual harassment changed over the years?

With a proposed local sales tax increase for a new Vikings stadium off the table, The Big Story Blog will look at the remaining financing options, what’s politically viable and how the push for a stadium is likely to play out now.

Midmorning (9-11 a.m.) – First hour: How attitudes towards sexual harassment in the political arena have changed.

Second hour: On the 130th anniversary of his death, a best-selling author tells the story of President James Garfield.

Midday (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.) – First hour: The latest on the Vikings’ stadium negotiations.

Second hour: National Review editor Ramesh Ponnuru on the future of conservatism.

Talk of the Nation (1-3 p.m.) – First hour: Political talk with NPR political editor Ken Rudin.

Second hour: Is Western civilization losing its advantage?


Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Type: response

text:
I personally think this is unacceptable.

Dear Microsoft.  I am having to go into the SBS forum, find my old blog post about a known issue/problem with one of your BPA rules for SBS 2011 and re “sticky” the post.  See this issue first cropped up in June and I had set the post to expire as a sticky post in December of 2012 thinking that by golly by now it would be fixed

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/smallbusinessserver/thread/e52de717-6cd4-435e-9933-3adafaa5e3b9  I just had to find that post and resticky it to be at the top of the forum.

This known issue has been in the BPA since June and is still unfixed.

I personally think that’s unacceptable.

Comments are closed.

Post Navigation

warcinfo:
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-171-96-226.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2015-35
operator: CommonCrawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web for August 2015
publisher: CommonCrawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf


WARC-Truncated: length

text:
RB-needy Giants encouraged by Bradshaw jogging

The Giants’ running game has been most effective when using a multiple-back rotation, in which someone can spell bruising Brandon Jacobs. But whether or not the team will have such a luxury come Sunday for its big game against the Cowboys remains in question.

Ahmad Bradshaw, who missed the Thanksgiving Day loss to the Broncos with left ankle and foot problems, sat out a second consecutive day of practice Thursday, leaving his status for the Cowboys game up in the air. Bradshaw did, however, participate in the jog-thru and sprinted a bit, which coach Tom Coughlin said was “encouraging.”

“Tomorrow will be a big day for (him),” Coughlin said.

That basically means it will be a big day for the Giants. They already know they won’t have third-stringer Danny Ware because of a concussion he suffered while filling in for Bradshaw last week. The only other running back on the Giants’ roster is rookie Gartrell Johnson, who has 11 carries for 39 yards. Johnson was picked up on waivers from the Chargers, and he mostly has played on special teams in the six games he has been active.

Depending on Bradshaw’s availability and how they approach the situation, the Giants might have to lean heavily on Jacobs. Problem is, Jacobs has struggled and failed to reach 100 rushing yards in a game this season.

Guidelines: Fan feedback should be within the guidelines for the NFL community. These guidelines will be used to identify those comments that will be removed from display on the site. Please keep your comments relevant to the topic, not abusive or combatant towards other fans, and don’t share any personal details. Use the “Report” link to help keep the community at its best.

Comments may be no longer than 2000 characters and will post to the site shortly after submitting.

Powered by WordPress.com VIP | Subscribe (RSS)

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 8,963 other followers


text:
Master chef Besh links NFL stars to culinary delights

INDIANAPOLIS — Celebrated chef John Besh already is doing advance work for next year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, which has the makings of an epic doozy.

But before he departed Indianapolis and this year’s Super Bowl, Besh shared a story about a killer meal he had at St. Elmo Steak House, where he dined in the same room with Drew Brees, Archie Manning and a host of Big Easy luminaries. That led us to play a little word-association game involving the Patriots, the Giants and some of the NFL’s biggest stars. dropped a name. Chef Besh fired back with the first morsel that came to mind.

Peyton Manning: Po’boy

Eli Manning: Steak sandwich

Tom Brady: Filet mignon

Brees: Anything with seafood

Rich Eisen: Steak and potatoes

Roger Goodell: A very refined meal, three courses or more

— Marc Sessler

Guidelines: Fan feedback should be within the guidelines for the NFL community. These guidelines will be used to identify those comments that will be removed from display on the site. Please keep your comments relevant to the topic, not abusive or combatant towards other fans, and don’t share any personal details. To report inappropriate comments, click the “X” that appears in the top right corner when your mouse is hovered over the chosen comment.

Comments may be no longer than 2000 characters and will post to the site shortly after submitting.

Powered by VIP | Subscribe (RSS)

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 8,963 other followers

%d bloggers like this:


text:
Three and out: Looking at the Browns’ possibilities

Happy Tuesday, everybody! Many of you might not realize this, but the Tim Tebow press conference ended just six minutes ago. Tebow and the Jets beat the record for longest press conference by a backup quarterback, breaking Vince Ferragamo‘s previous mark from 1980.

But enough about that. On Tuesday, our Marc Sessler wrote a story for Around the League where he laid out four scenarios for the Cleveland Browns at the No. 4 spot in next month’s NFL draft. Today, I’ll break down the fantasy impact of the first three scenarios.

Savvy? Let’s get started, then.

The Browns draft Richardson: This would obviously be a nice boost with Trent Richardson as the feature back in Cleveland, but it would also have a ripple effect on teams like Tampa Bay and Cincinnati. The Bucs are reportedly very high on Richardson, and if the Browns land him, Tampa Bay will stick with LeGarrette Blount. Richardson has been rumored to fall down to the Bengals at No. 17, which would crush the value of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who is currently a solid RB2 option in most fantasy leagues. Richardson to Cleveland leaves us with the potential for another true featured running back, which is something fantasy owners are starving for.

The Browns draft Blackmon: Ask Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton how much of an impact a big-bodied receiver can have on a passing attack. As a result, Justin Blackmon will have instant fantasy appeal regardless of the team that drafts him. He would benefit Colt McCoy on the gridiron, but the quarterback’s fantasy value would still languish as a low-end No. 2 QB. However, Greg Little could become a sleeper next season with Blackmon drawing the opposing team’s No. 1 cornerback. I’m not sure Blackmon could help Little catch the ball, though. Seriously, Little did have a case of the dropsies last year.

The Browns draft Tannehill: Hard to imagine this scenario playing out, especially since Brandon Weeden should be available for the Browns later in the draft. Ryan Tannehill would have little to no value with the Browns, as he would hardly be an upgrade over McCoy at this point. Don’t expect this to happen. Let the Dolphins panic and draft this guy. (And for the record, Tannehill would have no value with the Dolphins, either.)

My guess is that the Browns will try to put pressure on the Bucs and St. Louis FC to move up for Richardson and Blackmon, in order to move down to take CB Morris Claiborne. The team would then address their offensive needs with the No. 22 and No. 36 picks.

For the record, you can submit your fantasy questions to NFL Fantasy Live, Michael Fabiano or me on Twitter. But realize, NFL Fantasy Live has 40,000 followers, and Fabiano has 50,000. Me? Just 13. See, the odds are better that I will answer your question, so hit me up both via Twitter or via Facebook. Also be sure to catch the latest “Dave Dameshek Football Program.”

Guidelines: Fan feedback should be within the guidelines for the NFL community. These guidelines will be used to identify those comments that will be removed from display on the site. Please keep your comments relevant to the topic, not abusive or combatant towards other fans, and don’t share any personal details. To report inappropriate comments, click the “X” that appears in the top right corner when your mouse is hovered over the chosen comment.

Comments may be no longer than 2000 characters and will post to the site shortly after submitting.

Powered by VIP | Subscribe (RSS)

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 8,963 other followers


text: Actions from Ur77 Movable Type Pro 4.38 2012-11-05T09:20:43Z Commented on Truth about in BookingEmployee,2012:/users/bookingemployee//1236.2902#228365 2012-11-05T09:20:43Z Ur77 To me it seems like a horrible place to work at. That is if you are somebody who also enjoys programming and good technology. I am working hard to avoid such companies. Unfortunately I have submitted an application to Booking and quickly realized that this is not the sort of company I would like to do business with. For starters their advertising that they are looking for 30+ more developers of Perl which is completely untrue. I don't know why they say that. Secondly they have some automatic system with which one can submit his CV/Cover letter, but this system is really bad. As far as their reply concerns it is very un-personal and just reflects some ugly corporate attitude of the lowest level and no respect to human beings. After having read the comments in this blog I am 100% I will not go to work at this company. To the person who said he cannot work anywhere else, keep convincing yourself, that becomes your reality.


text:
Fed doves strike back

October 4, 2013

Now that Washington’s circus-like government shutdown has put a damper on hopes for stronger U.S. economic growth going into next year, dovish Federal Reserve officials again appear to have the upper hand in the way of policy commentary.

Take Eric Rosengren, the Boston Fed President who had been unusually quiet as the tapering debate gathered steam. In a speech in Vermont on Thursday, he returned to a familiar theme – the central bank still has plenty of firepower and should not be afraid to use it.

Unfortunately, most of the risks to the outlook remain on the downside. Concerns over untimely fiscal austerity here and abroad, and the possibility of problems once again emerging in parts of Europe, could cause the Federal Reserve to miss on both elements of its dual mandate – employment and inflation – through 2016.

In my view, the asset-purchase program should remain dependent on incoming economic data, and we should seek to get the economy on a path to achieve both elements of the Fed’s dual mandate – employment and inflation – as soon as possible, hopefully by 2016. Should the economy speed up more rapidly than is sustainable, we can remove accommodation more quickly.

Should the economy unexpectedly slowdown, we can and should provide more accommodation than is currently anticipated. If the economy evolves as expected, policy should in my view include only a very slow removal of accommodation over the next several years – and that should only occur when the data ratify our forecast for an improvement in real GDP and employment.

Of particular concern to Rosengren is the continuous and poorly understood decline in the size of the labor force.

Unfortunately, what sounds like a temporary decline in the labor force participation rate could turn into a permanent one. A significant concern is that the longer we have such an elevated unemployment rate, the more likely it is that some of those who have left the labor force due to the lack of jobs will simply never return. In this way the decline in labor force participation could become permanent, implying an ongoing loss of employment and income for those workers – a very serious matter for our fellow citizens and for our economy.

San Francisco Fed President John Williams remained a bit skeptical of taking bond buys too far:

Despite all that we’ve learned, the effects of asset purchases are much less well understood and are much more uncertain and harder to predict than for conventional monetary policy.  Indeed, the recent outsize movements in bond rates in response to Fed communications about our current asset purchase program illustrate the difficulty in gauging the effects of asset purchases.  Moreover, given our limited experience, we can’t be sure of all their consequences, which may play out over many years.

Still, even Williams appeared to lean in a more aggressively pro-stimulus direction.

Before the financial crisis and recession, unconventional monetary policies were still mostly theoretical concepts on the drawing board, untested on the battlefield.  In practice, they have given central banks such as the Federal Reserve much-needed tools when the traditional policy interest rate is near zero.  We have learned a great deal over the past few years about their effectiveness, but also about some of their limitations.  As I have discussed, in normal times, certain types of unconventional policies are best mothballed and kept in reserve in case needed.  But, more importantly, the experience with these policies means that if another situation arises where we need to call on these tools, we are ready and prepared to do so.

Dennis Lockhart, the Atlanta Fed’s policy centrist who was open to tapering in September, said he believes the Fed made the right call in holding off.

I do think that the decision to in all likelihood delay a decision to taper that we took at the last meeting now is vindicated by the developments, specifically the development of the shutdown of the federal government and the potential impact that might have on the economy. So I think we avoided a potentially very awkward situation of reducing stimulus just on the eve of what now has developed, that strikes me as quite a wise decision.

No comments so far

We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/


text:
Petr's Feed
Aug 19, 2013
via Photographers' Blog

Vinyl’s not dead, long live vinyl

Lodenice, Czech Republic

By Petr Josek

The good old times are probably, definitely, gone and the world and all its information will soon fit into mobile phones. You read papers on your mobile phone, you pay in stores by mobile phone, watch movies, chat with friends, take photographs, play games and, alongside many other applications offered in modern times, you also listen to music from your mobile phone.

The time when you sat at home, lit a candle, opened a bottle of wine and pulled out a nice black vinyl record of your choice to relax is history. But there is still a hope.

Jun 5, 2013

Germans, Czechs on alert as floods spread north

DRESDEN, Germany/LITOMERICE, Czech Republic (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Germans, Hungarians and Czechs were evacuated from their homes on Wednesday as soldiers raced to pile up sandbags to hold back rising waters in the region’s worst floods in a decade.

The deluge has killed at least 12 people in central Europe since the weekend. Water started subsiding in Prague and Passau, but fears grew for Bratislava, Budapest and parts of Germany which forecasters say will be hit in the next few days.

Dec 14, 2012

Homeless tours show visitors “dark side” of Prague

PRAGUE (Reuters) – With his gravelly voice, bushy hair, an old suitcase in one hand and a pinched cigarette butt in the other, Honza Badalec is not your typical tour guide.

On his walks through Prague, Badalec steers clear of the picturesque ancient castle. Nor does he stop on the centuries-old Charles Bridge, a bustling attraction for the average visitor.

Jul 26, 2012
via Photographers' Blog

Set free in the Mongolian wild

By Petr Josek

Bulgan airport in the southwest part of Mongolia reminds me of a small train station from the spaghetti western film “Once Upon a Time in the West.” It’s slow, hot and once a week people wait for an airplane with no more then 20 passengers on board to arrive.

The day of July 17, 2012, was different.

The Czech Army plane Casa brought on board four Przewalski mares. They are endangered animals with a sandy brown coat and faintly striped legs, extinct in their homeland since the early 1970s.

Jun 13, 2012
via Photographers' Blog

Shooting practice

By Petr Josek

Yeah, yeah, yeah 4-1 loss for the Czechs against Russia in Wroclaw. The Russian fans left the city for Warsaw after that and ended up fighting Polish supporters. Wroclaw is calm and quiet. Here the fans like each other and the city center is calm and full of friendly faces. The spotlight moves on, but there is still work to be done.

After the next round the Czechs became a decisive opponent for Poland in advancing from Group A. Its a championship and the teams need to keep sharp, away from the headlines, and for photographers there are images to be made that tell the story. Eyes on the prize.

Feb 29, 2012

Czechs restore architect Mies van der Rohe’s masterpiece

BRNO, Czech Republic, Feb 29 (Reuters) – Ludwig Mies
van der Rohe’s Villa Tugendhat in the Czech city of Brno has
been restored to its original splendor ahead of a public
re-opening of the masterpiece of modern architecture, whose
turbulent history mirrors that of 20th century Europe.

One of the pioneers of modern architecture, German-born Mies
van der Rohe completed the three-story house in 1930 for Fritz
and Grete Tugendhat, wealthy Jewish industrialists who gave him
free rein over the design and construction of the villa in Brno,
130 miles (209 kms) from Prague.

Feb 6, 2012
via Photographers' Blog

Celebrating in the cold

By Petr Josek

It is the first week of February and all of Europe is squeezed in a deep cold. Everybody is tired from freezing temperatures and the forecast for upcoming days is not good. The photo wire is full of suffering homeless people, steaming chimneys, frozen water and so on.

Thinking of how to illustrate this winter differently I remembered that the traditional Shrove festival was taking place around this time. That Shrove site I decided to take pictures of is known for its Shrovetide masks and cultural traditions listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Jan 27, 2012
via Photographers' Blog

Race into the cold

By Petr Josek

Mountains, snow, wind, cold, sun, dogs, sleds and mushers. Those are elements you meet in various combinations when you go to cover the Sedivackuv long dog sled race in the Czech Republic’s Orlicke mountains. It’s a beautiful place. I’ve been covering the race since 2005 and I always look forward it. You need to get well dressed for that, we call it double-full-full. I remember temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit) with strong winds.

There is always the obvious problem of how to cover the same event differently every year, especially as we don’t have giant mountains with high summits and there’s not always bright sun. But I think that nice pictures showing the event and describing its atmosphere can’t hurt once a year.


text:
The Sunday List: Top 10 Wolf Pack alums based solely on their pros careers

For every Sunday edition of the newspaper, I'll count down a top-10 list (and post it on the blog Friday morning). This week’s list counts down the top 10 Wolf Pack alums based on their professional careers (because sometimes players are better at the pro level than the college level; I know, it’s weird).

1. Marion Motley (1940-42): The only former Wolf Pack player in the Hall of Fame of one of the four major sports, Motley also is credited with breaking the color barrier in pro football. In nine professional seasons, Motley rushed for 4,720 yards, an amazing 5.7 yards per carry, and scored 31 touchdowns.

2. Patty Sheehan (1977-78): A World Golf Hall of Famer, Sheehan won 35 LPGA Tour events (the 13th most all-time) and six major championships. The Wooster High graduate, who also was a top junior snow skier, was one of eight athletes named Sportsmen of the Year by Sports Illustrated in 1987.

Reno's Patty Sheehan celebrates a birdie putt on the 15th hole during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open Friday, July 11, l997, at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Patty Sheehan celebrates a birdie during the 1997 U.S. Women's Open at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore. (AP)

3. Charles Mann (1979-82): The hulking defensive end made four Pro Bowls (the most of any Nevada alum) and won two Super Bowls (in 1988 and 1992). His 83 sacks are the 49th most in NFL history. In 1993, he was voted “Washingtonian of the Year” for his community service, so bonus points there.

4. Brock Marion (1989-92): The four-year starter at Nevada played 12 NFL seasons as a standout safety and special teams player. He made three Pro Bowls, recorded 31 interceptions, won two Super Bowls and played in 182 NFL games ( the most by a Wolf Pack player). Not bad for a seventh-round draft pick.

5. Lyle Overbay (1996-99): The contact-hitting first baseman has bounced around six organizations during his 13-year career. His 1,466 MLB games played are twice as many as any other ex-Pack player. Overbay, a 2001 World Series champ, has posted a .267 average with 147 homers and 342 doubles.

6. Nate Burleson (2000-02): Burleson has had plenty of injuries during his NFL career (torn ACL, broken leg, broken arm), but he’s overcome them to rack up 437 catches for 5,408 yards and 38 touchdowns in 11 seasons. He’s also the only player in NFL history with three punt returns of at least 90 yards.

7. Derek Kennard (1980-83): The versatile offensive lineman played two seasons in the USFL before moving over to the NFL, where he started for eight of his 11 seasons in the league. He started at center on the Cowboys’ 1996 Super Bowl-winning team. That game was the second-to-last in his career.

8. Colin Kaepernick (2007-10): It’s hard to place Kaepernick since he’s only a few chapters into his pro career. He could end up at the top of this list when it’s all over. For now, he needs a place in the top 10. He’s one of just eight Wolf Pack alums to play in a Super Bowl and the first to quarterback a team there.

Former Wolf Pack point guard Ramon Sessions has made a name for himself in the NBA. (AP file)

Ex-Wolf Pack point guard Ramon Sessions has averaged 11.6 points and 4.8 assists per game during his seven-year NBA career. (AP file)

9. Ramon Sessions (2004-07): Of all the talented players to stream through Lawlor in the past decade, who would have guessed Sessions would have the best pro career? A role player at with the Pack, the team-first point guard has NBA averages of 11.6 ppg, 4.8 apg and 3.0 rpg in his seven-year career.

10. JaVale McGee (2007-09): This one is all about the money. Of all the athletes on this list, McGee will likely bank the most coin off his contract (unless Kaepernick surpasses him). The quirky center has locked in almost $62 million from his rookie deal through the life of his current contract. Not bad.

Next five: Doug Betters (football); Kirk Triplett (golf); Edgar Jones (basketball); Kevin Kouzmanoff (baseball); Michael Allen (golf).

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Delicious
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Add to favorites
  • Email
  • RSS
This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
September 1, 2015

Obama Calls Cantor After Day of Immigration Sparring

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated 6:05 p.m. | President Barack Obama called House Majority Leader Eric Cantor on Wednesday to implore House Republicans to hold a vote on the Senate-passed  immigration overhaul, prompting Cantor to say the president hasn’t learned how to work with Congress.

The Virginia Republican’s retort came in the form of a statement on a day of nasty back and forth between the president, Democrats and House GOP leadership over immigration legislation.

“The President called me hours after he issued a partisan statement which attacked me and my fellow House Republicans and which indicated no sincere desire to work together,” Cantor said in his Wednesday statement. “After five years, President Obama still has not learned how to effectively work with Congress to get things done. You do not attack the very people you hope to engage in a serious dialogue.

“I told the President the same thing I told him the last time we spoke. House Republicans do not support Senate Democrats’ immigration bill and amnesty efforts, and it will not be considered in the House. I also reiterated to the President there are other issues where we can find common ground, build trust and get America working again. I hope the President can stop his partisan messaging, and begin to seriously work with Congress to address the issues facing working middle class Americans that are struggling to make ends meet in this economy.”

The White House did not issue a readout of the call with Cantor, which the president must have made while on the road with Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Obama and other Democrats spent the day marking the one-year anniversary of the introduction of an immigration overhaul in the Senate by slamming House Republicans for failing to take up the issue — and GOP leaders fired right back.

The president began the day by calling for a floor vote in the House on the Senate’s bipartisan comprehensive immigration bill.

“Unfortunately, Republicans in the House of Representatives have repeatedly failed to take action, seemingly preferring the status quo of a broken immigration system over meaningful reform,” Obama said in a statement. “Instead of advancing commonsense reform and working to fix our immigration system, House Republicans have voted in favor of extreme measures like a punitive amendment to strip protections from ‘Dreamers.'”

The statement went on to “urge House Republicans to listen to the will of the American people and bring immigration reform to the House floor for a vote.”

But in statements to CQ Roll Call, the offices for both Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, and Cantor said it was the president’s fault the House hadn’t acted — and they seemed to indicate, in perhaps the strongest language to date, that House Republicans have no intention of acting on immigration this year.

“The speaker has made clear many times that common-sense, step-by-step immigration reform is an important priority,” said Brendan Buck, a spokesman for Boehner. “Unfortunately, by regularly ignoring and manipulating laws like Obamacare, President Obama has created an environment in which too many question whether he can be trusted to follow whatever law is passed. Getting anything done will be difficult until the president changes his approach.”

Rory Cooper, a spokesman for Cantor, had a similar message.

“Leader Cantor has repeatedly said he opposes the Senate immigration bill and their amnesty efforts, and it will not be considered by the House. Partisan statements like this one contribute to the distrust that makes reform difficult.”

House leaders always said the Senate bill was dead-on-arrival in the House, and Boehner said he had no intention of conferencing any House immigration legislation with the Senate-passed bill. But House leaders were aiming to get some component of an immigration overhaul through Congress this year — that is, until Republicans pushed back on the idea.

Democrats issued similar statements throughout the day.

Sens. Charles E. Schumer of New York, Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Michael Bennet of Colorado, the four Democratic members of the Senate “gang of 8″ that wrote the immigration measure, also urged the House Republicans to act.

“The success of the Gang of 8 proved that compromise, cooperation, and bipartisanship are not only possible, but also necessary to get the job done,” the senators said in a statement. “We’re forever proud and grateful to have been part of the cohort that hammered out a strong bipartisan immigration reform effort in the Senate. Despite being so close to permanently fixing our broken system once and for all, the path forward continues to be inexcusably stalled in the House of Representatives. It is our sincere hope that House Republicans move away from extremes so that commonsense immigration reform can be finally pushed over the finish line.”

With House Republicans seemingly content to do nothing on immigration until the next election, and Obama signaling that House inaction makes it more likely, not less, that he will issue executive orders to deal with issues including immigration, Republicans and the president appear at loggerheads on the immigration — and that doesn’t seem likely to change any time soon.

Comments (8)

  1. papal

    April 16, 2014
    10:09 p.m.

    Comprehensive Immigration Reform is a dem “wedge issue”.. They all profess to support it but never brought it up while they controlled congress. They could have pass any amnesty bill they wanted and didn’t even bring it up. The dems like using it as an issue and solving the problem would eliminate the issue. So the dems rather it to continue to be an issue with no solution. The dems also created this false narrative about Obama high deportations. Facts are the administration is cooking the books by counting apprehensions as deportations It will continue until the ignorant illegal immigrants figure out they have been used by the dems simply as a issue.

  2. Cheryl Thomas

    April 17, 2014
    1:26 a.m.

    The Republicans who are attacking the very people who have to vote should not be attacked. Perhaps the President is angry that there are some Republicans who do not see how foolish it is to give money to other countries and deny people in their own country to have the money that they need. I know that the extended unemployment issue will not go away because, people at the city level and the state level and our country level will keep writing until this gets fixed. How can you take money out of your house (country), and give it some else, and not want to give money to the people in your house (country) We have not forgotten about money being given to Ukraine. What about unemployed Americans and all of Americans, with needs? I don’t blame all Republicans I just think that they have fear of being seen as siding with Democrats, that’s wrong, you are siding to see that people in this country get the money that they need so they can use it in the pursuit of happiness. Feeding their families, getting some clothes to wear to a job, and the big one, MONEY TO GET TO THE INTERVIEW /JOB BY THEIR OWN CAR OR BUS. We need this money. Follow your heart as a human being, and not your party. Do what you can to help, when you do that, you will find yourself most proud, for you will have considered another person besides yourself. This is meant for all parties in all decisions
    that need the correct answer.

  3. Nicholas DeLuca

    April 17, 2014
    6:19 a.m.

    In the minds of the GOP/TP it is “partisan” to asked them to govern, to take legislative action, to do the people’s business . They will not act because they know it will hurt their election chances. Instead they choose to dissemble , delay and deny.

    • Ray Prescott

      May 10, 2014
      7:55 p.m.

      They should enforce the laws but Barry would rather play games and allow amnesty by exec order.

  4. Santiago Alemedia

    April 17, 2014
    10:56 a.m.

    The Comprehensive Immigration Bill is about immigration reform as much as the Patriot Act was about patriotism, NAFTA about saving American jobs.

    They are talking about a Comprehensive AMNESTY bill and I hope not all in Congress are willing to let this slide on through like they were sold the Iraq War.

    If the president will recall, Congress makes the laws, the President carries them out. If there’s a problem here, it’s that we have a president making his own law and refusing to enforce laws already on the books.

    Perhaps the President will show his sincerity for complete reform by using his executive actions to revive enforcement for employers who hire illegals, restore workplace ICE raids, to advance employee verification, to make sure that only those here legally get the few new jobs that are available. He could also insist that those who commit visa fraud and those who were previously deported but caught in the US again were prosecuted fully instead of issued another citation. That would go a long way to show his sincerity about comprehensive reform.

  5. 10000thVoteOfRepCongress

    April 17, 2014
    3:30 p.m.

    Republican congress should vote 1000 times between now and nov 4 ,2014 barring any democrat and a black form becoming president of USA again. PERIOD. vote vote vote adn vote congress.

  6. Rob Erta

    April 21, 2014
    6:27 p.m.

    Sickness and death: Illegal aliens have imported river blindness, pork tapeworm, and tuberculosis.

  7. Zere Ochs

    April 23, 2014
    5:51 a.m.

    Thirteen-year-old Laura Ayala was abducted by an illegal alien in Houston in March 2002. She has never been found.

Sign In

Forgot password?

Receive daily coverage of the people, politics and personality of Capitol Hill.

Subscription | Free Trial

Logging you in. One moment, please...


text:
49ers Blog and Q&A

News, notes and reader questions about the San Francisco 49ers

September 6, 2010
Robinson was a hot commodity after being cut

Michael Robinson became a hot commodity when the 49ers cut him on Friday. According to multiple sources, there were a number of teams trying to sign Robinson, chief among them the Seahawks, Titans and Steelers. Former 49ers special teams coach Al Everest is now in Pittsburgh, and improving the coverage units has been a point of emphasis for the Steelers.

Robinson, however, ultimately chose to sign a one-year deal in Seattle because there wasn't as much competition at fullback and because of his familiarity with Scot McCloughan, who is a member of the team's front office. Jeff Ulbrich, with whom Robinson once competed to be a special teams tackle leader with the 49ers, is Seattle's assistant special teams coach. The plan now is for Robinson to play on special teams only Sunday when the Seahawks host the 49ers.

-- Matt Barrows

Matt was born in Blacksburg, Va., and attended the University of Virginia. He graduated in 1995, went to Northwestern for a journalism degree a year later, and got his first job at a South Carolina daily in 1997. He joined The Bee as a Metro reporter in 1999 and started covering the 49ers in 2003. His favorite player of all time is Darrell Green.

November 2013

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
          1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Monthly Archives

Ask a question

Please use the form below to submit your question. Because there is a 100-word limit for questions, a word counter is located directly beneath the box where you enter the your question.

49ers Question:

Your letter contains of 100 words allowed.  Count words

Your IP Address has been recorded as and will be included with this submission.


text:
Capitol Alert

The latest on California politics and government

markell.jpgWASHINGTON - Gov. Jerry Brown skipped a meeting with President Barack Obama and boarded a train today for New York, where he will meet with several "thought leaders" before returning to California on Tuesday, his office said.

Brown, who left Washington on Amtrak, is scheduled to meet privately with former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin and economist William Baumol, spokesman Evan Westrup said.

"It's an opportunity to meet with thought leaders on the other side of the country and hear their perspective on the progress our country's made (and) the challenges we still face," he said.

Brown, in Washington for a meeting of the nation's governors, attended social and business functions with other governors throughout the weekend, including dinner with Obama and other governors at the White House on Sunday night.

Brown was likely not crestfallen to avoid the meeting between governors and Obama this morning - or the news conference that followed. He missed Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, among others, answering questions about sequestration.

Last year, Brown stood restlessly at the back of a group of governors as they addressed reporters outside the White House, then left quickly as the news conference disbanded.

Hanging back from the crowd this year was Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who appeared similarly detached.

He said, "There's enough people that want to speak."

PHOTO CREDIT: Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, flanked by other governors, addresses reporters outside the White House on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. David Siders / Sacramento Bee

More Capitol Alert

Capitol Alert on Twitter

Popular Categories

Now on

November 2013

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
          1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Monthly Archives

Latest California Clips


text:
Chicago Sun-Times
Tuning in with Thomas Conner

December 2009 Archives

Club-Hopping: Butch Walker residency at Schubas

| No Comments | No TrackBacks

One of the most diverse talents on the current music scene singer/guitarist Butch Walker is a remarkable roots-rocker in his solo career as well as in-demand producer in the pop realm, working with artists such as Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry and Pink. In short, you never know what you're going to get from him, and he takes the stage at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, for a three-day residency starting at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, continuing at the same time Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 6-7, and featuring a set list chosen by fans via Twitter on that final evening. Tickets are $20 a night, and more information is available at or (773) 525-2508.

Mickey Leigh, a.k.a. Joey Ramone's kid brother, will be joined by co-author Legs McNeil (Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk) as the two sign copies of their new book I Slept with Joey Ramone: A Family Memoir at Barbara's Bookstore, 1218 S. Halsted, at 7:30 p.m. TODAYFriday, Thursday, Dec. 17. They'll also read passages and do a question and answer session. Admission is free; call (312) 413-2665 for more info.

Sally Timms, Jon Langford and their usual group of co-conspirators will present their Fourth Annual Hideout Christmas Panto (as they explain it, panto is short for "pantomime, a traditional British Christmas play"), entitled "Ho Ho Ho the Humanity:
Prior to his career as a purveyor of gifts, Santa Claus was a zeppelin pirate!" at 7 and 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, and again on Friday, Dec. 18. (The early show each night is all-ages and family-friendly; the late show is 21 and over.) Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 children, and "fancy dress is encouraged." Advance tickets and more info can be found at

Fall Out Boy's Joe Trohman will join Bob Nanna (Braid), Mike Kinsella (Owen, The Owls, Joan Of Arc) and Drew Brown in performing a set of covers by the mighty Morrissey on Dec. 26 at Subterranean, 2011 W. North, during a benefit for the worthy cause of Girls Rock! Chicago ( Show time is 9:30 p.m., and tickets are $10; for more info on this one-night-only show, visit

Chicago's musical offerings this New Year's Eve

| 4 Comments | No TrackBacks

Dedicated club-hoppers know that Chicago is one of the best cities for live music in America, and it often rocks harder than ever on New Year's Eve.

Sure, you have to compete for space at the bar with folks who only venture out once every few months. But it can be worth the trouble for the right holiday show.

Here is an overview of the coolest sounds to usher in 2010, starting with my top five picks among the many offerings.

1. The Jesus Lizard at Metro, 3730 N. Clark

Plain and simple, this quartet is one of the best bands Chicago has ever produced, especially onstage. It has delivered at all three of its hometown reunion gigs to date, even when it was a bit rusty at the Pitchfork Music Festival last July, and even when vocalist David Yow injured his ribs at the first of two Metro shows last November and had to play the second while seated on a stool. You know the group will have something special planned for the holiday.

Disappears opens at 10 p.m., and tickets are $51 in advance, $61 at the door; call (773) 549-4140 or visit Meanwhile, below the main room at Metro in Smart Bar, the DJ booth with host an all-Chicago lineup including Chris Santiago, the Hood Internet, John Patterson, Sassmouth, Bald E. and Nate Manic. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of show or $75 for reserved seating.

2. Pegboy and Shot Baker at the Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont

Shut out of the Jesus Lizard? A more straightforward but no less rousing night of classic Chicago punk is being served up by the Beat Kitchen, courtesy of the long-running and always entertaining Pegboy, with Shot Baker drawing on that group's influence as well as Naked Raygun and the Effigies. Anxiety High opens at 10, and tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at door; check (773) 281-4444 or

3. Local H and Electric Six at Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee

Scott Lucas is gearing up to release a potent debut album by his new band the Married Men early next year, so this may be the last opportunity for some time to hear him with his vastly underrated melodic grunge combo Local H. Detroit's Electric Six is just as stellar in concert, and White Mystery opens at 9:30 p.m. The cover is $65, including a hosted bar; (773) 489-3160 or

4. The Tossers, Yakuza, Teen Idols and Scott Lucas and the Married Men at Reggie's Rock Club, 2109 S. State

Cudos to Reggie's for a diverse and creative bill strong on local talent. The Tossers make every day St. Patrick's Day, Yakuza stretches the boundaries of metal in ways unmatched by any other group on the scene, Teen Idols are pop-punk at its best and Lucas is just as great with the more rootsy Married Men as he is with Local H--he just won't have time to chat after his set at 8 p.m. since he'll be heading north to Double Door for his second gig of the night. Tickets are $30; (312) 949-0121,

5. The Fiery Furnaces at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln

I respect the wild art-rock ambitions of Oak Park natives Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger more than I love the Fiery Furnaces' music, especially on their eighth album, "I'm Going Away." But the group is much more fun onstage, where its legions of fans can marvel at Matthew's ability to navigate those serpentine arrangements, as well as bask in his sister's captivating presence. The show starts at 9 p.m., Cryptacize shares the bill and tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Call (773) 525-2501 or visit

Since this month marks not only the end of 2009 but the conclusion of the first decade of the new century, more contemplation from the pop music desk seems in order.

Though any such glancing overview is by necessity full of gaping holes and glossed-over details, in the grand scope of things, the nearly 60-year history of rock 'n' roll breaks down pretty cohesively decade by decade in terms of each 10-year span offering a handful of key movements that dramatically changed the music we love.

The '50s gave us the birth of this new sound from its roots in country, R&B, blues, jazz and Tin Pan Alley pop. The '60s witnessed the reinterpretation of those roots via the British Invasion and the Technicolor expansion of the psychedelic era. The '70s saw the emergence of heavy metal and disco, as well as the punk explosion. In the '80s, we had synth-pop/New Wave and the origins of hip-hop, while the '90s found hip-hop becoming the major force in popular music, even as alternative rock exploded at the beginning of the decade and teen-pop surged up at the end of it.

So, what are the key developments that have shifted the ground in popular music during the 2000's? The changes that spring to mind all have been technological or commercial rather than strictly musical.

The Best Live Music of 2009

| 2 Comments | No TrackBacks

In a high-tech world where virtual experiences are becoming ever more popular, you still can't beat the real thing: Sorry, but playing "Rock Band" is vastly inferior to playing in a rock band, or to having a band rock your world onstage.

No digital trip will ever match the intensity of being in a crowd at a great live performance, where the artists absorb the energy of the fans in the crowd, amplify it and reflect it back in an increasingly powerful feedback loop that ultimately creates a unique and transcendent experience.

On the first day of the New Year, here is a look back at my choices for the best live shows from the hundreds I witnessed in 2009. I look forward to seeing many more in 2010, and I hope to run into you in the clubs.

The Best Albums of 2009

| 32 Comments | No TrackBacks

For all of the talk in recent years of the death of the album as digital distribution has become the norm and every listener is now their own DJ and programmer, the album nonetheless remains the dominant way we measure a musician's creativity.

Why? It has little to do with the Luddite tendencies of critics or the robotic buying habits of consumers. In the end, it's the artists who continue striving to create an ideal collection of songs compiled at a particularly inspired time and place in their lives and sequenced with considerable care to present a beginning to end musical journey.

As always, there was no shortage of great albums in 2009--exquisite sets of music that I couldn't stop playing again and again, and which made me think or feel in ways that seemed fresh and exciting as well as addictive. And, once again, rather than critical buzz, commercial success or any other measure of accomplishment, those are the criteria I considered when compiling by year-end Top 10.

Plain and simple, if the apartment caught fire and I had to flee, these are the CDs I would grab from among the thousands in the ponderous stacks of this year's releases. (Of course, if I took the trouble to load them into an iPod, I'd have less to carry... I really ought to get one of those new-fangled gadgets some day!)

It's always time to celebrate when Brigid Murphy, the auteur behind Milly's Orchard Show, takes her act to the stage, and things ought to be even more festive as she presents "Milly's All-Kid Holiday Spectacular" at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave., for two shows at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13. Participants include the Blisters featuring Spencer Tweedy, Mini Midnight Circus, the Chicken Fat Klezmer Band, Holy Cross/IHM Marimba Ensemble and Choir, Wilson Brehmer, Hula Hooping by Annie Warnick, Jane Baxter Miller, Juggler Bruce Bailey, Berger Park Bucket Drummers, Katie Kot, Kai Juhlin, Jake Smith and Aylin Bayramoglu and more. Tickets are $20 ($18 for Old Town members) through or (773) 728-6000.

As holiday charity events go, it's hard to think of one that's more worthy--or more fun--than the annual "Second City That Never Sleeps: Letters to Santa" extravaganza. Starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, and running through 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, this year's all-ages 24-hour entertainment bonanza features musical guests Jeff Tweedy (7 p.m. Tuesday), Robbie Fulks (10 p.m.), Upright Citizen's Brigade's Matt Walsh and Horatio Sanz (midnight), the Flashmob Marching Band ( 3 a.m. Wednesday), Bonnie Prince Billy (6 a.m.), BabyCo (7:30), Nina Nastasia (noon), the Mountain Goats (2 p.m.) and the Blisters (4:30), among many others. Tickets are $15, available only at the door, but good for the entire 24 hours as long as seats are available. More info can be found by searching "The Second City That Never Sleeps: Letters to Santa" on Facebook.

Pelican: Loud is a state of mind

| 2 Comments | No TrackBacks

Pelican Press02Horiz_Marty Watson.jpg

Pelican: Left to right, Bryan Herweg, Laurent Schroeder-Lebec,Trevor de Brauw and Larry Herweg. Photo by Marty Watson.

From its start in 2001, the hard-hitting Chicago quartet Pelican has never fit neatly into any pigeonhole: It's too metal to really be part of the Wicker Park post-rock scene, and too methodical to be part of the raw metal underground.

"I think it's really just drawing a few people from every niche," says Trevor de Brauw, who formed the band with fellow guitarist Laurent Schroeder-Lebec and the sibling rhythm section of bassist Bryan and drummer Larry Herweg. "We never worried about that, because we were never careerists when we got into it. Pelican was just a side project from another hardcore band we were doing, and it just sort of picked up momentum.

"Initially, the goal was just to be loud--not the only goal, but that was the defining characteristic we wanted. Over the years, it's developed from something that's not just feeling loud but seeming loud. It's not so much about the actual volume; in many cases, we're quieter with our stage volume than the bands that we tour with--they'll have three or four guitar amps and all this extra stuff, and Laurent and I are just playing out of [Marshall] half stacks. It doesn't need to be super-loud to convey that feeling of a physical property of sound."

In the end, then, rather than any specific genre description, "loud as a state of mind rather than a decibel reading" is as good a way to characterize Pelican as any other.

Topping the list of multiple nominations for the 52nd annual Grammy Awards, announced Wednesday night in Los Angeles, is dance diva Beyonce Knowles, who garnered 10 nods for her third solo album, "I Am... Sasha Fierce," released in November 2008.

Other multiple honorees include the young country-pop singer Taylor Swift, who got eight nominations, and the Black Eyed Peas, Maxwell and superstar Chicago producer and rapper Kanye West, who got six each.

As is often the case, the Grammys' "big four" categories seem to acknowledge commercial accomplishments--and old-school music industry corporate hype--much more than the awards' stated goal of recognizing musical excellence and innovation.

For the top prize of album of the year, the contenders are Beyonce; the Black Eyed Peas, "The E.N.D."; Lady Gaga, "The Fame"; the Dave Matthews Band, "Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King" and Swift, "Fearless."

Vying for record of the year are Beyonce, "Halo"; the Black Eyed Peas, "I Gotta Feeling"; Lady Gaga, "Pokerface"; Kings of Leon, "Use Somebody" and Swift, "You Belong with Me."

The nods for song of the year, which honors the songwriters, are Lady Gaga, "Pokerface"; Maxwell, "Pretty Wings"; Beyonce, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"; Kings of Leon, "Use Somebody" and Swift, "You Belong with Me."

And for best new artist, the roster is country bumpkins the Zac Brown Band; R&B singer Keri Hilson; mopey synth-pop duo MGMT; grunge throwback Silversun Pickups and the English dance-pop group the Ting Tings.

Hometown hero West's nominations came for best rap performance by a duo or group ("Make Her Say" with fellow Chicagoan Common and Kid Cudi and "Amazing" with Young Jeezy), best rap/sung collaboration ("Ego" with Beyonce, "Knock You Down" with Keri Hilson and Ne-Yo and "Run This Town" with Jay-Z and Rihanna), and best rap song ("Run This Town"). Unfortunately, his incredible fourth album "808s and Heartbreak," released late in 2008, was shut out of all of the key album categories.

For the second year in a row, in a vain attempt to expand the television presence of the Grammy franchise and compete with the "American Idol" ratings juggernaut, awards sponsors the Recording Academy announced the nominations for a handful of the top pop categories during an hour-long live broadcast from L.A., delaying the release of the much longer master list of honorees until after the show finished airing on CBS.

Notorious for its odd definition of the calendar year, the Grammy eligibility period for 2009 is even shorter and stranger than usual--covering only 11 months, from Oct. 1, 2008, to Aug. 31, 2009--because the Recording Academy will air its televised awards presentation earlier than usual, on Jan. 31. These dates eliminate from consideration some of the most successful and acclaimed releases of the year, including albums from Jay-Z, Mariah Carey and Pearl Jam.

Also a real head-scratcher among this year's nominees was a nod for best pop performance by duo or group with vocals to Hall & Oates for "Sara Smile," a song originally released in 1976, but surfacing again in November 2008 on the almost universally ignored "Daryl Hall & John Oates Live at the Troubadour" album.

In addition to West and Common, who also was nominated for best rap album with "Universal Mind Control," the worst album of his career, other Chicago nominees include Ministry (best metal performance, "Senor Peligro"); Kurt Elling (best jazz vocal album, "Dedicated To You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman"); Ann Nesby (the Joliet artist got nods for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals and best traditional R&B performance); the Chicago Symphony Chorus (best classical album); Donald Lawrence & Company (best traditional gospel album) and Kathy Griffin (the Oak Park native was acknowledged for best comedy album).

Also: Lalah Hathaway (best female R&B vocal performance); Larry Skoller (best traditional blues album); Lawrence Hobgood (best instrumental arrangement); Smokie Norful (best gospel performance and best contemporary R&B gospel album); Neko Case (best contemporary folk album and best recording package, "Middle Cyclone"); Wilco (best Americana album, "Wilco: The Album") and the incomparable Mavis Staples (best contemporary blues album, "Live: Hope at the Hideout").

UPDATE: Overlooked in my first pass attempting to chart all the local honorees: Liz Carroll was nominated for best traditional world music album for her disc with John Doyle, "Double Play"; Mavis Staples got a second nod for her contribution of 'Waiting for My Child to Come Home' with Patty Griffin on the album "O Happy Day," nominated for best traditional gospel album, and Kathleen Judge received a nomination for her work with Neko Case in designing the artwork for "Middle Cyclone," nominated for best recording package.

Among the visually glitzy but musically bland performances on Wednesday's TV special were a rapped medley by host LL Cool J, who did his thing in front of a scantily clad dancer rubbing cake frosting all over herself; a heavily auto-tuned Black Eyed Peas; a bit of holiday schmaltz from Sugarland and a flat tribute to Michael Jackson by Maxwell via a lite-jazz version of "The Lady in My Life."

The absolute nadir, however, came courtesy of the Administration, the new side project by Nick Jonas. What could be worse than the sugary sweet teen-pop of his other group, the Jonas Brothers, you ask? Try Nick getting funky with backing from veterans of Prince's New Power Generation. And yes, it was even worse than you might imagine.

Anyone starting a new independent record label these days has to be driven by passion, because the business prospects are anything but promising. Chicagoan Michael Paeth clearly is a fan and a believer, and he's celebrating a new compilation, "Analog Highway," trumpeting the Americana, roots- and garage-rock artists on his Mile Long Records label ( with a record release show Saturday, Dec. 5, at 9 p.m. at Martyr's, 3855 N. Lincoln. The performers include Dive Bar, Penthouse Sweets, Twilight Revival, Scattergun, Nashville Wreckers, Medicine Hat and Sawbuck, and the cover is $8. More information can be found at, (773) 404-9494.

It's a busy evening Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, starting with a free screening at 7 p.m. of "Wesley Willis's Joyrides," a new documentary by Chris Bagley and Kim Shively "celebrating the life and phenomenon of the legendary Wesley Willis, cult rock-and-roll icon." Then, starting at 9, the club hosts a strong triple bill with a $3 cover (a buck a band!) featuring Magical Beautiful, Above/Below Sea Level and Implodes. Finally, beginning at 11, DJs Bruce Lamont and Mark Solotroff spin what they're billing as a "Death Musick Ritual" (admission is free). For more info, call (773) 276-3600 or visit

Chris Brown, "Graffiti" (Jive) [1 STAR out of 4]

| 65 Comments | No TrackBacks

Sometimes, great art is made by reprehensible human beings--or at least by people who've done reprehensible things. This is a dilemma every critic faces at some point: Can you separate the art from the artist and his misdeeds? And should you?

For this critic, a key factor is whether the artist is attempting to make art from the acts for which he's been vilified. If the artist is talking about them, it's beholden upon the critic to address them, too. So Chris Brown is the only one to blame for reviews of his third studio album noting that he pleaded guilty last August to felony assault of his former girlfriend Rihanna--a crime for which he was sentenced to five years' probation, six months of community labor and a year of domestic violence counseling.

Before that now-infamous incident, Brown was the hottest rising star in R&B, splitting the difference between the musical approaches of Usher and R. Kelly, and exuding a vulnerable sweetness that made him seem huggable even during his lustiest moments. Setting aside the recent scandal for a moment, "Graffiti" is a troublesome effort solely on its musical merits: Attempting to expand his reach beyond the core R&B fan base, Brown and a top-dollar team of producers including Swizz Beatz and Polow Da Don veer wildly from the singer's strengths to dabble in half-hearted, contrived and autotune-drenched experiments with mechanical dancehall ("I Can Transform Ya"), electronic dance-pop ("So Cold," "I.Y.A.") and overwrought, Muse-style pomp-rock ("I'll Go").

But there are even bigger problems with the lyrics.

Self-serving references to the "difficulties" the 20-year-old singer has endured since the much-publicized end of his relationship with Rihanna flit through several tracks on "Graffiti." But the key song is "Famous Girl," which claims a prominent position right in the middle of the 13-track disc, and which should become infamous as one of the most offensive excuses for domestic violence ever recorded.

The song argues that Rihanna is famous for breaking hearts and that she cheated on Brown, even as the singer proudly boasts that he's a heartbreaker, too, and that he cheated on her as well. "I thought I found the right woman/There were other guys who thought the same thing/Like them, you let me down," Brown sings to his ex. "Sorry I bust[ed] the windows out [of] your car/I might have cheated in the beginning/I was wrong for writing 'Disturbia.'" (Brown was credited as a co-writer of that Rihanna hit.)

When this is the best that Brown can do to explain his actions, it's harder than ever to understand or forgive them--or listen to the other themes that dominate the album, that we should all admire him because he's so darn rich and so darn sexy. If Rihanna's new disc "Rated R" displayed deep reservoirs previously untapped in her earlier discs, "Graffiti" shows a shallow and soulless Brown well hidden until now.

Sometimes, great art is made by reprehensible human beings, and squaring the two is enormously difficult. Thankfully, that problem isn't nearly as thorny when reprehensible human beings make art that is thoroughly mediocre and at times just garbage.

About this Archive

This page is an archive of entries from December 2009 listed from newest to oldest.

November 2009 is the previous archive.

January 2010 is the next archive.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.


text:
Scottish independence: voters deserve a clear choice, not political shenanigans – Telegraph Blogs

Tuesday 1 September 2015 | Blog Feed | All feeds

Neil O'Brien

Neil O'Brien is Director of Policy Exchange, an independent think tank working for better public services, a stronger society and a more dynamic economy. He writes in a personal capacity.

Scottish independence: voters deserve a clear choice, not political shenanigans

Alex Salmond meets Michael Moore in Edinburgh today

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore and First Minister Alex Salmond are meeting in Edinburgh to discuss the independence referendum.

Issues still to be decided include: when to hold it, what question to ask, whether "devo-max" should be included as a third option, and who will be allowed to vote.

Other than that, its all completely clear.

Well, other than the fact that the very meaning of "independence" seems to change depending on who's speaking.

Ho hum. For those trying to grope their way through this swirling fug of unclarity, two papers by Nigel Smith provide some illumination about how to run the referendum properly.

Smith is a sage guy and well worth listening to. After running a successful manufacturing business Smith chaired the Yes campaign for the Scottish Parliament in 1997, and also advised the Yes campaign in Northern Ireland in the run up to the 1998 referendum Good Friday Agreement. Since then he has become an international referendums expert. And chaired the no campaign against Britain joining the euro (I said he was a sage guy).

He's just published a great paper on why Scotland should have a clear yes-or-no vote on Independence, rather than a complicated multi-option referendum.

How many questions?

He makes the point that 98% of the 12,000 recorded referendums held around the world have been yes-or-no affairs. Multi-option referendums have almost never been used, and never for serious issues like the break-up of a major nation state.

Why so rare? Smith notes that is is hard enough to give voters clear information in a two-way debate: "Having served in several campaigns and observed many more, I know it is difficult to fulfil the democratic ideal even in a binary referendum. A challenge widely underrated by partisans, academics, regulators and media alike."

He notes that amongst other things an independence referendum will be characterised by:

Sheer size and complexity. In terms of referendums, the issues don’t come bigger or more complex than peacefully seceding from a 300 year old Union in which Scotland despite its distinctiveness is far more integrated than Ireland was in 1922. To the central debate about the viability and character of the new State and its sovereign rights and responsibilities must be added new cross-border arrangements and shared services and the unpicking of much practical detail at least some of which will prove controversial.

No prior agreement. The lack of a pre-negotiated document is a major disadvantage. The SNP White paper, however comprehensive, simply marks the start of negotiations that will not be completed till long after the referendum. Elsewhere the outcome of negotiations would require a further ratification vote and should here too. The lack of an agreement greatly increases the scope for misinformation from both sides and confusion for voters.

No prior process. The 1998 referendum in Northern Ireland was preceded by the MultiParty talks and the one in Scotland in 1997 by the Scottish Convention. Both helped prepare the media and opinion formers for the debates to come. There is no similar process here as Inter-Governmental talks will be after the referendum.

I think this is all really important.

The implications of Scottish independence are radically unclear. Matters are made worse because the SNP wants voters to be asked to vote blind on the principle, rather than see the practicalities set out in a deal beforehand. To make this bad situation worse, the SNP would now like to include another even less well worked up idea ("Devo Max") and turn the whole thing into a triangular row, with at least three positions in every TV and radio debate. Its a recipe for confusion and bickering, not good democratic decision making.

As Smith points out, "Clarity is replaced by various degrees of confusion depending on the number of options and their complexity. There are multiple often overlapping arguments which the media find hard to represent distinctly and which voters understandably have difficulty in separating in their own mind. Those who say leaving ‘devo max’ off the ballot paper disenfranchises voters need to understand that placing it on the ballot may disenfranchise just as many by over complicating the debate. It is no use having a debate that only professors can participate in – a referendum is a device for all the people as everyone must live with the consequences." He notes that "If Independence can be criticised as a partly defined proposal, ‘devo-max’ is no more than a broad principle."

Open to question?

Alex Salmond wants the question on independence to be:

“Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?”

But pollsters think this is a blatant try-on.

Martin Boon, of ICM, one of the country’s largest polling organisations, said the question was simple but added that his company would “refuse” to ask it as it stands. “This is cheeky really – it suggests that ‘we all agree, don't you?’ In short, if this were asked in the context of an opinion poll, I would expect to receive some condemnation for it being deemed as imbalanced, loaded and unfair,” he added.

Such subtle jiggery-pokery can move the results of a vote (at least before people hear the arguments). To show how much, Lord Ashcroft asked three separate groups of Scottish voters slightly different versions of the same question and got radically different results:

“Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?” 41% of Scots answered "yes", and 59% "no".

"Do you agree or disagree that Scotland should be an independent country?" This time, 39% agreed, and 61% disagreed.

"Should Scotland become an independent country, or should it remain part of the United Kingdom?" 33% wanted independence, while 67% wanted to stay in the UK.

Who gets to vote?

So Michael Moore should insist on a simple two option referendum, with an unbiased question. Any vote on "Devo Max" can be held at a later date.

Ideally, voters would be able to vote on a negotiated independence deal rather than being asked to buy a pig in a poke – but it seems the coalition government have already conceded to the SNP on this.

But who should get to vote? The SNP's draft Bill from 2010 suggested it would be current residents, including:

- British citizens resident in Scotland;
- Commonwealth citizens resident in Scotland;
- Citizens of other EU countries resident in Scotland

This raises some odd unfairnesses. Someone who was born and lived their whole life in Scotland, but is spending 2014 living in Carlisle, will not get a vote. Someone who was born and lived their whole life in Bratislava, but who happens to be living there on the day, will.

Labour MSP Elaine Murray has argued that Scots living outside Scotland on the day should get a vote. She highlighted the case of a young lawyer called James Wallace, who has been campaigning for a vote, though he will be working in London on the day. Wallace writes that:

"I, along with 800,000 Scots will not be able to vote in the Scottish Referendum on Independence. I was born in Scotland, I have lived there for my whole existence of 23 years, it will always be home and if Scotland becomes independent I will have to get a Scottish passport. But I have no say on the future of my country. Surely this is unfair? In February I (like so many others) am moving to London for a job. Under the rules recently published that will mean I will be unable to vote."

He also notes that for Parliamentary elections, people living abroad (even outside the UK) still get to vote as long as they register haven't been away for more than 15 years. But in the independence referendum, Scots living a mile over the border will lose out.

Michael Moore should insist on a vote for all Scots, regardless of where happen to be on the day.

Get on with it

The biggest problem of all with the Scottish independence referendum is that the implications of it are so unclear. I've written before about some of the questions.

Who will be lender of last resort to Scotland's banks if things go wrong? Under what terms will Scots still be able to access specialist medical facilities, lots of which are in London hospitals? Who is paying to move our nuclear bases, or would the UK have to unilaterally disarm? What's the plan when India tries to get the UK's seat on the UN security council? How much will it cost – and how many extra managers will we have to employ – to duplicate most UK-wide institutions? Who gets what share of our debts, reserves, armed forces and other assets?

Michael Moore should deal with the process questions as quickly as possible so that we can get on to these big, substantive questions. In the absence of any agreement before the referendum, voters will be faced with a confusion of claim and counter claim about what independence would mean.

On the face of it you might think that this is bad for the SNP's chances of winning the referendum. Voters don't like unclear propositions. I guess the SNP's calculation is that voters won't like it when Alex Salmond promises Scots the moon on a stick (all the good things and none of the bad) and other people – perhaps with English accents – say they can't have it.

All of this is of course, a distraction from the real questions facing the country: how to get jobs and growth. But the coalition government has got to engage closely with the negotiations on the process now. Or in 2014 they will find the pitch has been tilted against them.

comments powered by Disqus


text:
Nigel Benn – Telegraph Blogs

Tuesday 1 September 2015 | Blog Feed | All feeds

Blogs Home » Sport » Archives for Nigel Benn

Posts Tagged ‘Nigel Benn’

July 14th, 2010 19:51

Macklin-Barker middleweight battle stirs memories of Benn-Eubank 20 years on

Matthew Macklin’s middleweight meeting with Darren Barker, the most eagerly-awaited domestic dust-up this year, has stirred memories of the battles between Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank and Michael Watso... Read More


text:
Lions Club RSS

Time to recycle Christmas 2012, but real trees only, please

I haven’t had the chance yet to clear away Christmas from my home. But, when I do get around to it, I’ll be taking my lovely little tree over to the nearest neighbourhood chipping station operated by the Lions Club. There, for a cash or non-perishable food donation, it will be taken off my hands and recycled.  Bargain! According to the City of Vancouver, the stations will operate Saturday, Jan. 5, and Sunday, Jan. 6, ... Read More …
Powered by VIP


text:
Here’s an early installment of our weekly selection of in-depth articles worth spending some of your valuable time with this weekend.

An observation of the marvel of American liberty, penned by legendary Wall Street Journal editor Vermont Royster in 1961, and published on the day before Thanksgiving every year since. Also, a cloak-and-dagger power struggle at IMG and capitalism with a shot of social activism. Read More »


text:
Yoree Koh
    Toyota’s FT-HT Yuejia concept car.

    Japanese auto makers are ailing after a territorial dispute between China and Japan helped crush sales. So the Shanghai auto show is a change for Toyota Motor Corp Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. to show they still have some pop.

    In its attempt to do so, Toyota put on the biggest, brightest show of its Japanese rivals. It stacked its sprawling display with 52 vehicles–the most of any Toyota auto show display ever, it claimed, including two world premiere concept vehicles and two new mass-market bound vehicles. But in case anybody wanted more than cars, they also offered a dozen high-heeled models, a beat boxer and a troop of fluorescent-clad dancers who cut a rug to an ‘80s-inspired tune.

    Nissan just as bluntly aimed its sights at China’s young digerati. It unveiled a new concept car, called Friend-Me, that prides itself on such tech-savvy features as letting riders easily share “cool” discoveries on their smartphones and tablets in the car.

    Toyota debuted two concept  vehicles, which will someday “be sold exclusively in China,” it said. The hybrid Toyota FT-HT Yuejia, a  spacious three-row six-seater with doors that swing out like those that lead out of a grand ballroom, was developed specifically with the young Chinese consumer in mind, Toyota said. To demonstrate the promising good times to be had, six young female dancers piled into the car and were seemingly having the time of their lives before each one popped back out and struck a pose.

    A video touting the concept car showed a blushing bride and groom cruising the streets that segues to an image of a young family with a toddler in the back seat next to mom, grandpa riding shotgun and a young man behind the wheel. It represents “Toyota’s proposal for the new Chinese families of today,” said Toyota Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada at the unveiling  on Saturday.

    Toyota also showed off the production versions of its family-friendly Vios sedan and the Yaris hatchback, both reimagined by Chinese staff members and tailored to local consumers, it said. Toyota said production and sales of both vehicles will begin at the end of 2013.

    But Toyota left one crucial question unanswered: price, a critical factor that had led to lackluster sales in the past as competitors often offered lower price tags on comparable vehicles.

    –Yoree Koh. Follow her on Twitter @yoreekoh

    Sign up for CRT’s daily newsletter to get the latest headlines by email.

    For the latest news and analysis,


text:
WSJ Blogs

Real-time commentary and analysis from The Wall Street Journal
Health Blog
WSJ's blog on health and the business of health.

Paging Dr. Doug Ross: George Clooney Had Malaria

People are a-Twitter about the fact that George Clooney is recovering from a bout with malaria. The star tells CNN’s Piers Morgan in an interview scheduled to be broadcast tonight that he acquired the disease while in Sudan. (Actually, he says this was the second time he’s come down with the parasite.)

As the nonprofit Malaria No More notes, an estimated 781,000 people — most of them kids under age five — died from the disease in 2009. In sub-Saharan Africa, malaria kills a child every 45 seconds, according to the group.

Clooney was in Sudan doing humanitarian work. Malaria is not a particularly common thing for U.S. citizens to pick up while abroad, though. According to the CDC, just about 1,500 cases are diagnosed here every year, almost all of which are traced back to recent travel in a place where the parasite is endemic.

The CDC has a malaria map application to provide a visual idea of where malaria is a risk, and a detailed country-by-country risk assessment table. (Interesting fact: the CDC is actually the direct successor to the Office of Malaria Control in War Areas, and is located in Atlanta because the South was once the country’s biggest source of the disease.)

Malaria was officially eliminated in the U.S. in 1951, though there are rare cases where it’s not clear how a person acquired the disease. In December, a case was diagnosed in a 31-year-old woman from Jacksonville, Fl., who hadn’t been out of the country.

A few years back, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene warned about so-called airport malaria, in which a mosquito carrying the parasite hitches a ride on an international flight and then transmits the disease to people near the destination airport. In 1994, seven such cases occurred near Charles de Gaulle Airport in France.

Photo: Associated Press

Add a Comment

We welcome thoughtful comments from readers. Please comply with our guidelines. Our blogs do not require the use of your real name.

Comments (3 of 3)

View all Comments »
    • George Clooney will be making a surprise appearance tonight (10 PM) at the Cats Meow

    • Why not try and save Detroit......just don't visit there.

    • I am not surprised. From what I know about Sudan its a place that is filled with bacteria and bad hygiene. No wonder you got Malaria. I suggest you stay in Hollywood.

About WSJ's Health Blog

  • The WSJ Health Blog offers news and analysis on personal health, new research and health news.

    It includes contributions from staffers at The Wall Street Journal, and Dow Jones Newswires. Write to us at

    • Health Blog on Twitter
    • Health Blog on Facebook


text:
WSJ Blogs

Real-time commentary and analysis from The Wall Street Journal

Cult of Youth Doesn’t Make Sense in Aging Britain

    • "The TV presenter was kicked off the show “Countryfile” (farming, weather, horses, sheep, wildlife, etc.) and decided to take a stand."

      I think the whole point is that even before its 'prime time' incarnation it really had very little to do with farming, and precious little about the countryside. It was a 'lifestyle' programme talking about leisure pursuits including surfing, which I guess was part of the problem.

      In the same way that 'Coast' isn't really about the seaside or a proper documentary but a science/humanities-lite programme. So it is understandable, if very regrettable, that poor Miriam was booted off and Julia Bradbury put in her place. Nothing wrong with Julia, she is bright and intelligent and a good presenter. But let us not beat around the bush, she is on because she also has the 'f-factor' and she knows it...

      That said, I still think Miriam O'Reilly would be acceptable company for an evening's shagging * - so sue me..

      * - I understand this is a form of dancing which is quite popular in some of the United States of America.

    • And if you've ever wondered why goats needs socks...

      Here is your answer...

      Also, as Anna Ford and I might wonder, doesn't all this aging/ageing stuff make it a bit confusing for you Americans when you are discussing swinging and swingeing ??

    • Surely if Brown was 53 when he became PM, and Blair became PM at 43 ten years earlier, then they are in fact both the same age? Despite the fact that Brown was born in 1951 and Blair in 1953? Also wasn't Churchill aged 65 in 1940, being born in November in 1874?

    • Aged 65 in May 1940, sorry.

    • This morning's Telegraph...Selina Scott...

    • Like a lot of other "goings on" at the BBC it seems to be set on alienating the oldies (I am one) - many of the programmes are aimed at young audiances who I suppose are their future viewers - the current viewers include a large proportion of oldies with different interests - but may be not for much longer!!!!!

Add a Comment

We welcome thoughtful comments from readers. Please comply with our guidelines. Our blogs do not require the use of your real name.


text:
WSJ Blogs

Real-time commentary and analysis from The Wall Street Journal
MarketBeat's inside look at the markets

Ackman, Icahn Silent Amid Herbalife’s Earnings Call

Dueling billionaire investors Carl Icahn and William Ackman, who have gone toe-to-toe in a battle over the legitimacy of Herbalife Ltd., were silent Wednesday as the nutritional-supplements maker held a conference call to discuss its better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings.

Mr. Ackman has bet against the company’s shares, setting up a more than $1 billion short position accompanied by a high-profile campaign questioning Herbalife’s business and calling its distribution model a “pyramid scheme.” Mr. Icahn, meanwhile, has taken a 13% stake in the company and said he intends to discuss potential strategic alternatives with the company, which he insists has significant growth potential.

The battle has played out in the public eye, notably when the two men sparred last month in a televised war of words on business news network CNBC.

Questioned about Mr. Icahn on the conference call, Herbalife Chief Executive Michael Johnson acknowledged the company has had “short discussions” with the activist investor, but had “nothing concrete to report.”

“We continue to believe, obviously, that the stock represents a compelling investment opportunity,” Mr. Johnson said.

Shares, trading flat before the conference call, declined slightly as executives fielded questions and were down 2.6% to $38.65 in early afternoon trade.

Neither Mr. Ackman nor Mr. Icahn spoke on the call. A spokeswoman for Mr. Ackman’s firm, Pershing Square Capital Management, declined to immediately comment on the matter. A spokeswoman for Mr. Icahn said he was unavailable to comment.

The company Wednesday said it is adjusting its disclosures on distributor compensation and plans to “simplify” how it discusses its business, including clarifying the role of certain distributors.

“There is a misperception in the market that people frankly have sought to capitalize on,” said Herbalife President Des Walsh, referring to certain distributors who act more like wholesale buyers of products for their own use.

The company also said it has employed an executive search firm to hire a head of research that will help Herbalife “better understand the motivation behind” purchases of its products.

After Tuesday’s market close, Herbalife reported a fourth-quarter profit of $117.9 million, or $1.05 a share, up from $105.4 million, or 86 cents a share a year earlier. Net sales rose 20% to $1.06 billion.

The company last month said it expected to report a profit of $1.02 to $1.05 a share on a 20% increase in sales, raising earlier company expectations for the quarter.

UPDATE: Pershing was not allowed to ask a question on the call, said Pershing founder William Ackman, whose December disclosure that his firm had taken a massive short position against Herbalife thrust the nutritional supplement maker into the spotlight recently.

Mr. Ackman said that Shane Dinneen, the Pershing analyst who spent a year looking into Herbalife, tried several times to ask a question but was not allowed to.

“Our question for Herbalife is: Why have you not answered any of the questions that we submitted?,” Mr. Ackman wrote in an email Wednesday. “[Herbalife President] Des Walsh on national television committed to answer questions that we asked in the interest of transparency…Wouldn’t answering our  questions help eliminate any confusion that you believe is in the marketplace?”

An Herbalife spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

pulse For more MarketBeat and other streaming markets coverage from The Wall Street Journal, point your mobile browser to

Add a Comment

We welcome thoughtful comments from readers. Please comply with our guidelines. Our blogs do not require the use of your real name.

Comments (4 of 4)

View all Comments »
    • My surmise is that if this company derived 80 percent of its revenue from the US rather than developing nations the regulatory and economic sustainability narrative would be different.

    • When is someone going to ask Ackman the following questions: Did you not offer to donate your profits to charity so that you could argue that you are entitled to full First Amendment protection for your disparaging comments? Is t not true that by keeping the profits your First Amendment rights would fall under "commercial speech" and thus not enjoy full protection? Using the excuse to "help the needy" was just a cover to gain more legal protection for your defamatory comments?

    • How big is Carl Ichan's Basement!!! He may have to part with some of his Ackman Talking Action Voodoo Dolls if he wants to keep this going for another quarter or two...The problem with this company as I see it is, is they have a real tangible product. If you want to suceed in business today you sell something to sombody else with the purchaser financed by somebody else, There is no real product and in the end the tax payer pays the bill and you get to keep all the money and get a huge bonus because you deserve it.

    • A company that doesn't know why people buy their products is a company that needs new management. This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

      "The company also said it has employed an executive search firm to hire a head of research that will help Herbalife “better understand the motivation behind” purchases of its products."

We have moved to MoneyBeat

  • Dear Reader,

    Thanks for reading MarketBeat. We would like to direct you to MoneyBeat, the Wall Street Journal’s brand new global blog. MoneyBeat unites MarketBeat, The Source, Overheard and all the Deal Journal blogs, bringing together all the market, M&A, IPO and hedge-fund news from those blogs into a 24-hour hub for finance news. Check it out and let us know what you think at

About MarketBeat

  • MarketBeat looks under the hood of Wall Street each day, finding market-moving news, analyzing trends and highlighting noteworthy commentary from the best blogs and research. MarketBeat is updated frequently throughout the day, helping investors stay on top of what’s happening in the markets. Lead writers Paul Vigna and Steven Russolillo spearhead the MarketBeat team, with contributions from other Journal reporters and editors. Have a comment? Write to or

    • MarketBeat on Twitter
    • MarketBeat on Facebook


text:
• By
The Associated Press
Ash from a volcano in southern Iceland has stranded passengers traveling to or from Europe.

The unpronounceable Icelandic volcano continues to wreak havoc on our fair metropolis. Not only is it costing the city an estimated $250 million in European traveler spending, it’s marring the city’s cultural scene.

On Saturday, Carnegie Hall canceled its Making Music: Louis Andrieseen performance because pianist Gerard Bouwhuis and the Bang on a Can All-Stars were stuck in Europe. A spokesperson for Carnegie Hall said no other performances were likely to be canceled this week.

At Lincoln Center, organizers still don’t know whether Sergey and Lusine Khachatryan, a brother-sister classical music duo, will be able to perform on Wednesday. They are currently in Frankfurt, Germany and hoping to fly to New York tomorrow.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for The Tribeca Film Festival said attendees such as directors Dev Benegal and Olivier Dahan are still stranded on the continent. Both are trying to fly back on Thursday, before their respective films will be shown. The festival kicks off Wednesday.

Also stranded is the British rock band Bad Lieutenant, which canceled performances in New York (as well as Chicago and San Francisco) through Wednesday, and Los Campesinos!, a Welsh indie pop ground, who canceled a show in Hoboken last Saturday.

Speaking of New Jersey, World Wrestling Entertainment had to call off an event tonight in East Rutherford, as many of its performers, including John Cena, one of the company’s biggest stars, are stuck in the United Kingdom, reports AM New York. Quelle horreur!

We’ll keep you updated on the latest cancellations throughout the week. In the meantime, we’ll try and find some way to entertain ourselves that doesn’t involve Europe or the people who go there.


text:
2:17 pm ET
Jun 4, 2012

For Tech Collectors, Rare Bite at the Original Apple

    • Cool as an Apple I is, I'd rather have bought $666 worth of Berkshire in 1976.

    • cool story 'real app'

Add a Comment

We welcome thoughtful comments from readers. Please comply with our guidelines. Our blogs do not require the use of your real name.

About Metropolis

  •  A blog of reporting and news from New York City, Metropolis is produced by Carrie Melago and Sarah Crichton with contributions from the Wall Street Journal staff. Send tips and comments to metropolis@wsj.com.

    • Metropolis on Facebook


text:
3:53 pm HKT
Nov 29, 2010

Arts & Culture

Chinese Bid on Krug and Art

Be the first to leave a comment on this blog.

Add a Comment

We welcome thoughtful comments from readers. Please comply with our guidelines. Our blogs do not require the use of your real name.

About Scene Asia