Is Iraq About To Buy Weapons From Iran?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cHDNqBFfiozzRzeqY6simb2FUCwAllSc-k_GWmVMw-uAiNq23hRKNwYahk7esYUL5-aBDJi3vm0ceRNh7YciljnPJc0bkRdroEec0MM_RjBWBDrB5ejV9uNi-e8jAXWs69KQBDJIQinl/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cHDNqBFfiozzRzeqY6simb2FUCwAllSc-k_GWmVMw-uAiNq23hRKNwYahk7esYUL5-aBDJi3vm0ceRNh7YciljnPJc0bkRdroEec0MM_RjBWBDrB5ejV9uNi-e8jAXWs69KQBDJIQinl/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (L) and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari attend a joint news conference, Baghdad, Jan. 14, 2014. (photo by REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani)</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Controversy Surrounds Alleged Iraq-Iran Arms Deal -- Al-Monitor</b></span></div><br />In a Feb. 4 interview with the semi-official Iranian Tasnim News Agency, Mohammed Majid al-Sheikh, Iraq’s ambassador to Iran, was reported to have revealed his country’s intention to strike a deal to buy weapons from Iran. The agency quoted Sheikh as saying, “Some well-informed sources said that the Iranian-Iraqi talks came in light of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense’s vision of the need to supply the Iraqi army with Iranian-made military equipment, given their efficiency and importance.”<br /><br />This style of statement is inconsistent with the ambassador’s official role, which is to present the official position of the Iraqi government, from official Iraqi sources, not from “well-informed sources.” This calls into question the validity of this supposed news, especially since it has not been confirmed by Iranian authorities or the Iraqi officials typically involved in such deals.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/02/iran-iraq-alleged-arms-deal-controversy.html#">Read more </a></b>....<br /><br /><b>My Comment: </b>Why buy weapons from Iran when you can buy the same weapons (with better quality) from the U.S. and Russia. There is more to this story than what is being told.

Is Iraq About To Buy Weapons From Iran?

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (L) and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari attend a joint news conference, Baghdad, Jan. 14...

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Parcel Bombs Sent To U.K. Military Recruiting Centers

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Ev0-MHkanwY" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Parcel Bombs Sent To Army Recruitment Offices ‘Part Of Dissident Campaign’ -- Belfast Telegraph</b></span></div><br />Military units are on heightened alert after suspected explosive devices were found at armed forces recruitment offices across south-east England on Thursday.<br /><br />It is thought the series of bomb alerts is an attempt by republican dissidents to mount a letter bombing campaign, something not seen on the British mainland since the early 1990s, security experts warned.<br /><br />Army bomb disposal teams were called out to Oxford, Slough, Kent and Brighton.<br /><br />This came after a suspicious package was sent to an army office in Aldershot on Wednesday, and “basic but viable explosive devices” were found in Chatham and Reading on Tuesday, according to police officers from the South East Counter Terrorism Unit (Sectu).<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/parcel-bombs-sent-to-army-recruitment-offices-part-of-dissident-campaign-30008311.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More News On Parcel Bombs Being Sent To U.K. Military Recruiting Centers</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/feb/13/suspicious-packages-found-army-career-offices">Crude explosive devices sent to UK army careers offices </a>-- The Guardian<br /><a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/letter-bombs-sent-to-uk-army-offices-bear-hallmarks-of-dissident-groups-1.1690989">Letter bombs sent to UK army offices ‘bear hallmarks’ of dissident groups</a> -- Irish Times<br /><a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/irish-dissidents-thought-behind-first-3143148">Irish dissidents thought to be behind first mainland bomb attack for 13 years</a> -- Mirror<br /><a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/suspect-uk-parcels-bear-hallmarks-of-north-terrorism-1.1690803">Suspect UK parcels bear ‘hallmarks’ of North terrorism</a> -- Irish Times<br /><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-k-suspicious-packages-linked-northern-ireland-terrorism-n29496">U.K. Suspicious Packages Linked to 'Northern Ireland Terrorism' </a>-- NBC<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/13/world/europe/uk-army-suspect-packages/">Suspicious packages spark security alert at UK army recruitment offices</a> -- CNN<br /><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/02/13/suspicious-packages-found-at-uk-army-offices/">Suspicious packages found at British Army offices </a>-- FOX News<br /><a href="http://rt.com/news/army-bomb-scare-uk-908/">Bomb scares at several UK army career offices</a> -- RT

Parcel Bombs Sent To U.K. Military Recruiting Centers

Parcel Bombs Sent To Army Recruitment Offices ‘Part Of Dissident Campaign’ -- Belfast Telegraph Military units are on heightened alert after...

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Picture Of The Day

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.defense.gov/imgHandler.ashx?h=350&w=0&img=/dodcmsshare/photoessay/2014-02/hires_140207-F-CU844-044a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.defense.gov/imgHandler.ashx?h=350&w=0&img=/dodcmsshare/photoessay/2014-02/hires_140207-F-CU844-044a.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">U.S. airmen prepare to load an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter into a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft on the flightline on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Feb. 7, 2014. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Gross </span></div>

Picture Of The Day

U.S. airmen prepare to load an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter into a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft on the flightline on Camp Lemonnier, Djibout...

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China Wants To Become The World's Most Dominant Power

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7EpCNE5oYWw" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Gertz: U.S. Will Not Tell The ‘Truth About China’ -- Washington Free Beacon</b></span></div><br />WFB Senior Editor: Chinese on mission to become world's most dominant power<br /><br />Senior editor for the Washington Free Beacon Bill Gertz said the United States needs to tell the “truth about about China” to counter the quasi-communist country’s goal of becoming the world’s most dominant power Monday evening on Coast to Coast AM with George Noory.<br /><br />Gertz warned China’s inherently unstable combination of capitalist, socialist, and communist aspects with a corresponding lack of fundamental unifying values puts the country at risk for collapse.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://freebeacon.com/gertz-u-s-will-not-tell-the-truth-about-china/">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> Being someone who has been traveling to China regularly since the mid-1980s .... and living there for one year (1988) .... I have a certain perspective. Bill Gertz is right about the rampant commercialization and the desire to make money that is now sweeping China .... everyone in China now wants to have what we take for granted in the West (home, a country home, TV, car, good food, clothes, the freedom to travel, health plan, etc.). .... and they want it yesterday. But China is also a one party state with a constitution that is steeped in Communist ideology. They are also fiercely nationalistic .... and they want to be Asia's super power and one of the dominant powers in the world. But in this arena they are in competition with other powers .... Japan, India, the U.S., etc.... and it is not going to be an easy path if this is the route that they eventually choose to take.

China Wants To Become The World's Most Dominant Power

Gertz: U.S. Will Not Tell The ‘Truth About China’ -- Washington Free Beacon WFB Senior Editor: Chinese on mission to become world's most...

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China's Ascent To Space Superpower

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPa_mIgevZJeb3gFJI1SzNVYwYCQwBDGd2XqnE58cOKzAVpblmRYWhSPgoPEzsPXDRtEecBxGKPwR83wa1tIJBlgsU-WdKcXNs5g3iPkwd1l4s9hWnxzGMpVdkO6TTX9c2BXc5p0xK_Fq/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPa_mIgevZJeb3gFJI1SzNVYwYCQwBDGd2XqnE58cOKzAVpblmRYWhSPgoPEzsPXDRtEecBxGKPwR83wa1tIJBlgsU-WdKcXNs5g3iPkwd1l4s9hWnxzGMpVdkO6TTX9c2BXc5p0xK_Fq/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The first taikonauts return to Earth after 15 days in space. They won't be the last (Image: ChinaFotoPress)</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Red Star Rising: China's Ascent To Space Superpower -- Phil McKenna, New Scientist</b></span></div><br /><i>China's new-found footing off-world is changing the rules of today's space race – find out how the rest of the world is rethinking its strategies</i><br /><br />ON 14 December 2013, the top trending topics on China's biggest social networks were a popular TV show and a football match. If it hadn't been for a concerted push from China's state-controlled media, the casual observer might never have noticed that China had just become the third country in the world to land on the moon.<br /><br />The news was not greeted with sweeping enthusiasm. After all, landing the Yutu robotic rover, aka Jade Rabbit, on Earth's closest neighbour was a feat human explorers had bagged many decades before. "We're now only 50 years behind Russia and USA," quipped one commenter on Weibo, China's version of Twitter. "Our country's designers have some catching up to do," wrote another, before worrying that the joke would lead to police detention.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22129560.500-red-star-rising-chinas-ascent-to-space-superpower.html?full=true#.Uv2WTIW0ykP">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> This is a comprehensive look at China's space program .... a must read for those who are interested in space programs. As to what is my read .... the Chinese have the means, resources, and the political/public will to become the world's dominant space power in the next decade or two .... and at their present rate of growth my expectation is that they will succeed.

China's Ascent To Space Superpower

The first taikonauts return to Earth after 15 days in space. They won't be the last (Image: ChinaFotoPress) Red Star Rising: China's...

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China's Growing Dependence On Foreign Oil

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmX831hRHSRMH6dMeqKSRzFm_ZhTxiFNaWV7ksS-jNZWKziXa5bGO4WyW6RBu7St1Ory5Y74n3CsrxClcLnAU273ewSexSXfpT0PG9s6X-6KDdYQeZpACbztc9sdrntzU8jTWoQaBknElH/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmX831hRHSRMH6dMeqKSRzFm_ZhTxiFNaWV7ksS-jNZWKziXa5bGO4WyW6RBu7St1Ory5Y74n3CsrxClcLnAU273ewSexSXfpT0PG9s6X-6KDdYQeZpACbztc9sdrntzU8jTWoQaBknElH/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As U.S. Aims For Energy Independence, China Heads the Opposite Way -- Michael Forsythe, New York Times</b></span></div><br />President Barack Obama told Americans in his State of the Union address last month that thanks to increased natural gas production and conservation, the country was closer to energy independence than it had been ”in decades.” That’s not something you’ll be hearing from Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart, anytime soon: China’s reliance on imported oil is rising fast, according to a new study by a government research institute.<br /><br />If nothing is done to curb consumption, by 2030 China will import about 75 percent of its oil, Li Wei, the director of the State Council’s Development Research Center, wrote in a report published on Wednesday. By then China will consume about 800 million tons of oil a year. That’s about 60 percent more than the country used last year. China is set to surpass the United States this year as the biggest oil importer and already imports more than half the oil it consumes, according to figures from the United States Energy Information Agency.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/13/as-u-s-aims-for-energy-independence-china-heads-the-opposite-way/?_php=true&_type=blogs&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&utm_content=bufferd9392&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer&_r=0">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> Energy is China's Achilles heel .... and everyone knows that. Using coal .... which China has an abundance of .... is no longer a viable alternative. Smog and acid rain has poisoned much of the countryside, and continued use (and growth) of these energy supplies will only worsen the situation. Nuclear energy carries risk .... Fukishima and Chernobyl are reminders of what can happen when things go wrong. Using oil and gas while developing more friendly alternative energy/green technologies are the best options .... but it entails becoming dependent on other countries as well as being in competition with other customers .... a position that China has never liked.

China's Growing Dependence On Foreign Oil

As U.S. Aims For Energy Independence, China Heads the Opposite Way -- Michael Forsythe, New York Times President Barack Obama told Americans...

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Top U.S. Naval Operations Commander: The U.S. Will Aid The Philippines In The Event Of A Conflict With China

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjswd6gud11KrbEo60WcG-Ec4i09RNU1jIIqpWRBkuy5XKPb-wjVTZmZXAHuiqf1rRc-2Dxl4-GPFKJgHYRfgbcAMyS1W9BdVSxj9Xq5BVltfo-srpIurFaehhCMckwrfBCtlnj1RzKBSw/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjswd6gud11KrbEo60WcG-Ec4i09RNU1jIIqpWRBkuy5XKPb-wjVTZmZXAHuiqf1rRc-2Dxl4-GPFKJgHYRfgbcAMyS1W9BdVSxj9Xq5BVltfo-srpIurFaehhCMckwrfBCtlnj1RzKBSw/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the impact of sequestration on the national defense, on Capitol Hill in Washington, November 7, 2013. Credit: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>U.S. Admiral Assures Philippines Of Help In Disputed Sea -- Reuters</b></span></div><br />(Reuters) - The United States will come to the aid of the Philippines in the event of conflict with China over disputed waters in the South China Sea, the commander of the U.S. Navy said on Thursday.<br /><br />The comments by Admiral Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations of the U.S. Navy, were the most explicit statement of U.S. support for the ill-equipped Philippine military which is facing a more assertive China in disputed waters.<br /><br />"Of course, we would help you," Greenert told students of the National Defense College of the Philippines in response to a question about a hypothetical Chinese occupation of one of the disputed Spratly Islands.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/13/us-philippines-usa-southchinasea-idUSBREA1C0LV20140213">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> Granted .... U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert is an important person .... but if I was from the Philippines, I would have preferred to hear this commitment from the White House or from the U.S. Secretary of State.

Top U.S. Naval Operations Commander: The U.S. Will Aid The Philippines In The Event Of A Conflict With China

U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the impact of sequest...

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Who Really Runs The Pentagon?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1N21AO493KGbRPh3ic9JM5wmUiHEgKWyhyphenhyphenNL7d4iWTQEcS2xcttl2CSFNmt-5Rqo-StdF65pWrf2-Ofci0Iwu0rhHyWJhQheuHgIOUb_st4cfcdtMUZjOkpmS7G9inQKTfMOOn5oubaK/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1N21AO493KGbRPh3ic9JM5wmUiHEgKWyhyphenhyphenNL7d4iWTQEcS2xcttl2CSFNmt-5Rqo-StdF65pWrf2-Ofci0Iwu0rhHyWJhQheuHgIOUb_st4cfcdtMUZjOkpmS7G9inQKTfMOOn5oubaK/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Men Who Really Run The Pentagon -- Foreign Policy</b></span></div><br /><i>Bob Gates wrestled the defense budget back from the Joint Chiefs. Chuck Hagel is handing it back. </i><br /><br />Before Chuck Hagel was nominated to be secretary of defense about a year ago, he made a reputation for himself as a independent Republican politician who described Pentagon spending as "bloated." In office, however, the former Nebraska senator has argued that the Pentagon should be rescued from historically minor and appropriate reductions. In doing so, he seeks to reverse one of the few real reforms that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates before him enforced on high spenders inside the Pentagon and in Congress. <br /><br />Hagel and the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Sylvia Mathews Burwell, say they want to revive the old "wish list" process in which the Joint Chiefs of Staff used to connive with each other and Congress, behind the back of secretaries of defense and OMB, to make additions that couldn't cut the mustard in the regular budget review process. <br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/02/13/the_men_who_really_run_the_pentagon_chuck_hagel">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> A sobering analysis on who is "really" running the Pentagon now. My only beef on this post is that there is no mention of what Leon Panetta did when he headed the Pentagon.

Who Really Runs The Pentagon?

The Men Who Really Run The Pentagon -- Foreign Policy Bob Gates wrestled the defense budget back from the Joint Chiefs. Chuck Hagel is handi...

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NSA Leaker Edward Snowden Used His Coworker's Passwords To Access Sensitive Files

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90ObJMRMdfLxWNa1bX5Z9JKY0JvBgrVCXuu4dOUl8W6ptB6TmbdtyLcsO03UuGWHEDiS2rmt_0Bjp3zqfiPevXk841aN-1V-zmoGGJuyXYztxH8D_D3F_oiYYaOOb28OdUjq6SenqO_lZ/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90ObJMRMdfLxWNa1bX5Z9JKY0JvBgrVCXuu4dOUl8W6ptB6TmbdtyLcsO03UuGWHEDiS2rmt_0Bjp3zqfiPevXk841aN-1V-zmoGGJuyXYztxH8D_D3F_oiYYaOOb28OdUjq6SenqO_lZ/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/06/the-nsa-leaks-and-the-pentagon-papers-whats-the-difference-between-edward-snowden-and-daniel-ellsberg/276741/">Reuters</a></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Exclusive: Snowden Swiped Password From NSA Coworker -- Michael Isikoff, NBC</b></span></div><br />A civilian NSA employee recently resigned after being stripped of his security clearance for allowing former agency contractor Edward Snowden to use his personal log-in credentials to access classified information, according to an agency memo obtained by NBC News.<br /><br />In addition, an active duty member of the U.S. military and a contractor have been barred from accessing National Security Agency facilities after they were “implicated” in actions that may have aided Snowden, the memo states. Their status is now being reviewed by their employers, the memo says.<br /><br />The Feb. 10 memo, sent to congressional intelligence and judiciary committees this week, provides the first official account of a sweeping NSA internal inquiry aimed at identifying intelligence officials and contractors who may been responsible for one of the biggest security breaches in U.S. history. The memo is unclassified but labeled “for official use only.”<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/exclusive-snowden-swiped-password-nsa-coworker-n29006">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More News On NSA Leaker Edward Snowden Used His Coworker's Passwords To Access Sensitive Files</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/nsa-to-congress-snowden-copied-co-worker-password/2014/02/13/b92090de-94c9-11e3-9e13-770265cf4962_story.html">NSA to Congress: Snowden copied co-worker password</a> -- Washington Post/AP<br /><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hp3qNv57fXYXYegUcGrR83GlcFBQ?docId=04e57877-2ad8-4dfd-ba50-1fe410eb6cf0">Snowden used password from NSA co-worker: report</a> -- AFP<br /><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/security-it/i-gave-edward-snowden-my-password-nsa-worker-20140213-hvcdd.html">I gave Edward Snowden my password: NSA worker </a>-- Sydney Morning Herald<br /><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/us-says-snowden-copied-security-password-from-coworker/1850971.html">US Says Snowden Copied Security Password from Co-worker</a> -- Voice of America<br /><a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57618837-38/snowden-stole-co-workers-password-nsa-memo-alleges/">Snowden stole co-worker's password, NSA memo alleges</a> -- CNet News<br /><a href="http://boingboing.net/2014/02/13/report-snowden-gained-securit.html">NSA Memo Says Snowden Tricked Colleague to Get Password </a>-- Boing Boing<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsa-employee-implicated-in-snowden-probe-has-resigned/2014/02/13/44f37a3e-94c7-11e3-b46a-5a3d0d2130da_story.html">NSA employee implicated in Snowden probe resigned, memo says</a> -- Washington Post<br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/14/us/politics/nsa-fires-civilian-employee-tied-to-snowden-leaks.html?gwh=47EFAFE00D4C1B38E7C00A8865ABE849&gwt=pay">NSA Ousts Civilian Employee Tied to Snowden Leaks</a> -- New York Times<br /><a href="http://mashable.com/2014/02/13/nsa-snowden-firing/">NSA Fires Employee Who Allegedly Shared Password With Snowden</a> -- Mashable<br /><a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2014/02/at-national-security-agency-disciplined-over-edward-183311.html">3 at National Security Agency disciplined over Edward Snowden</a> -- Politico<br /><a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/02/13/snowden_stole_a_co_worker_s_password_to_access_confidential_files.html?wpisrc=burger_bar">It's Easier to Steal State Secrets if You Take Your Co-Worker's High-Access Password</a> -- Slate

NSA Leaker Edward Snowden Used His Coworker's Passwords To Access Sensitive Files

Reuters Exclusive: Snowden Swiped Password From NSA Coworker -- Michael Isikoff, NBC A civilian NSA employee recently resigned after being s...

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The Branding Of Russian President Putin

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Sx35-ObjA4H0l7pyuToXNXr1FFH3HdzWL4rXFwNY4jJIvTdCQmaIx3x81EInGEIIZ14mTm7K0P3YlaXCp5qv8GHDpNbHywXNRm658g-9oDmOfGB_bC5r4OEB1CLPAo3-k6EFPYOku5Ea/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Sx35-ObjA4H0l7pyuToXNXr1FFH3HdzWL4rXFwNY4jJIvTdCQmaIx3x81EInGEIIZ14mTm7K0P3YlaXCp5qv8GHDpNbHywXNRm658g-9oDmOfGB_bC5r4OEB1CLPAo3-k6EFPYOku5Ea/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Russian President Vladimir Putin (<a href="http://rt.com/news/putin-snowden-us-relations-196/">RIA Novosti/Aleksey Nikolskyi</a>)</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Making of Brand Putin -- Kristen Soltis Anderson, Daily Beast</b></span></div><br /><i>All this exposure, even it means ridicule, is part of Putin’s master plan to maintain Russia as a Superpower—and himself as its Superhero.</i><br /><br />Long before there was Obama Girl, there was Putin Girl. Or, rather, Putin Girls.<br /><br />It’s 2002. Two women—part of a Russian pop duo “Singing Together” —come on screen, dancing to a catchy electro-pop beat. “My boyfriend is in trouble again, got in a fight got drunk on something nasty,” they sing in Russian. No, they say, instead of their intoxicated deadbeat boyfriend, they want someone…someone like Putin.<br /><br /><i>One like Putin, full of strength<br /><br />One like Putin, who won’t be a drunk<br /><br />One like Putin, who wouldn’t hurt me<br /><br />One like Putin, who won’t run away!</i><br /><br />In what winds up being a bizarre cross between a pop anthem and a Dos Equis “Most Interesting Man In The World” commercial, the video for “Takogo Kak Putin” (translated as “A Man Like Putin”) features footage of Putin taking out an opponent in judo and standing with the Queen of England, interspersed with a Putin look-alike calling up then-President Bush and presumably engaging in very important diplomatic conversations.<br /><br />Russian songwriter Alexander Yellin, the man behind “Takogo Kak Putin,” told Public Radio International in 2012 that he “may have written "A Man Like Putin" as light satire, but it wasn't taken that way. Vladimir Putin made it his anthem and even played it at rallies.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/13/the-making-of-brand-putin.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment:</b> I am not a fan of Russian President Putin (my nationality is Russian) .... but even I have had to accept the fact that if a Presidential election was held in Russia today .... Putin will easily gather over 50% of the popular vote. His weakness is the economy .... if it "tanks" .... so will he. But the Russian economy .... even with all of it's problems .... is still moving ahead, people are working, they are making money, pensions and salaries are being paid, and there is a sense in Russia that they have a President whose priority is to guarantee the safety of the Russian people .... which (when combined) is exactly what many Russians now want in their President.<br /><br /><b>Update:</b> According to Gallop Americans are <b><a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/167402/americans-views-russia-putin-worst-years.aspx">not buying this "Putin branding"</a></b> .... but this is nothing new in U.S. - Russian relations.

The Branding Of Russian President Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin ( RIA Novosti/Aleksey Nikolskyi ) The Making of Brand Putin -- Kristen Soltis Anderson, Daily Beast All thi...

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Funny Headlines Have Returned Yet Again!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal">Holaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! It’s time for more headlines!!! Yayyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">LeBron James says he belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of the NBA. When asked where it is replies “Damn, I don’t know … Colorado?” <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">CDC says 2,739 American women have injured themselves trying to dace like Beyoncé did at the Grammy’s. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">President Obama laughs uncontrollably as he can’t stop making “short jokes” at Vladimir Putin’s expense. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">NFL prospect Michael Sam clarifies his announcement that he’s gay: “I’m more ‘Rock Hudson’ gay, not ‘Johnny Weir’ gay. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Pope Francis says it’s important to love the homeless. Homeless say that’s nice but “we can’t buy 211’s with love, man.” <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Men’s Doubles Luge outlawed in Kansas. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDkb2DBDj-H__wJMMgv_5XTKTu1qN-k67-uO1KreOp3EphVdI4X6tLC31DuycL-LtwI_FsbWm1XdjM5Yw-76Wg9cLWpx5_eVFyfI50BA2o_lCF6Oa5QyZLZfvPjXSL3LTYiJGA7Ue6g5X/s1600/Men+Doubles+Luge+Sochi+2014+Olympics.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDkb2DBDj-H__wJMMgv_5XTKTu1qN-k67-uO1KreOp3EphVdI4X6tLC31DuycL-LtwI_FsbWm1XdjM5Yw-76Wg9cLWpx5_eVFyfI50BA2o_lCF6Oa5QyZLZfvPjXSL3LTYiJGA7Ue6g5X/s1600/Men+Doubles+Luge+Sochi+2014+Olympics.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ted Cruz demands to know if Obama pronounces it “tomato” or “tomahto” before committing to one side or the other. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In shocking development, talk radio caller remembers to turn down his radio first. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Area woman is sick and tired of men with “scruffy beards.” <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sad, lonely man puts up a good front pretending not to care about Valentine’s Day. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Male prostitute uses hidden shotgun in the headboard trick to rob johns. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/KxCu758.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://i.imgur.com/KxCu758.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Rand Paul missed the debt ceiling vote because we out trying to find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift to give himself. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">President Obama still angry over not winning any southern states in 2012 orders up a series of winter storms as punishment. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Americans intrigued by Olympic Curling say it could become popular here if it can be made more violent. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Arkansas County Quorum Court finds laws to be too confusing so everyone just goes home. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">CNN gets into the scripted show business because nobody gives a shit about the news anyway. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Amanda Knox turns down sweet job offer as tour guide for Perillo Tours of Italy. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacOjzPebXX9Kp1b25VpafexE25ekJdb61tHGexE2IlSJzWY6mKOA7VhY8ThKhpvwMyK8z0BW9CL6j0NhrBnbtmeakP_WlkGiSlHssAORZ2B8U3wofQ1854kGGfDB5Tqoge88tRkPOVzFm/s1600/Amanda+Knox+Hot+Sexy+Legs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacOjzPebXX9Kp1b25VpafexE25ekJdb61tHGexE2IlSJzWY6mKOA7VhY8ThKhpvwMyK8z0BW9CL6j0NhrBnbtmeakP_WlkGiSlHssAORZ2B8U3wofQ1854kGGfDB5Tqoge88tRkPOVzFm/s1600/Amanda+Knox+Hot+Sexy+Legs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Comcast and Time Warner Cable agree to a merger promise half the service and quality with twice the shittiness. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">New Yorkers angry that Mayor de Blasio didn’t order schools closed during snowstorm. De Blasio replies “Who knew Al Roker would be right?” <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Facebook announces users will have 50 gender options. “Other” not one of them. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">2014 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition to be delivered with some pages “pre-stuck together.” <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Area man can’t explain why he finds curling so damn fascinating, he just does. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWRSgTdGVOurLcF8j-IHclQOKO6GWv2Zo76S9ySNuY8Ls-zPBlCnGSqcVHCduubI76VtDyXDrJB9pFFtpvtzpAarPBhwM26erVjMZm6HLPjTTn-B4-y_ReUDOYyehuQSNJ3sg9WMqmHry/s1600/Russian+Women's+Curling+Team+Hot+Sochi+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWRSgTdGVOurLcF8j-IHclQOKO6GWv2Zo76S9ySNuY8Ls-zPBlCnGSqcVHCduubI76VtDyXDrJB9pFFtpvtzpAarPBhwM26erVjMZm6HLPjTTn-B4-y_ReUDOYyehuQSNJ3sg9WMqmHry/s1600/Russian+Women's+Curling+Team+Hot+Sochi+2014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Okay, that’s enough. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/jayman68" target="_blank">My Facebook</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayman_iws" target="_blank">@Jayman_IWS</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

Funny Headlines Have Returned Yet Again!

Holaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! It’s time for more headlines!!! Yayyyyyyyyyyyy!!!! LeBron James says he belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of the NBA. When aske...

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Day 7: When Bronze is Gold

<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He made it look </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">easy</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div><b id="docs-internal-guid-6de46a3b-2eb0-83a5-ad33-49811e026c29" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">He did everything as if it was second nature.</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He rocked through the rails, and made me finally say, “So </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that’s</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> what those are for!”</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">He dominated the jumps.</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He did it </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">without ski poles</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">He...won bronze?</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yup - medal favorite Nick Goepper took the bronze on Thursday in ski slopestyle, and I couldn’t believe it. His first run in the finals was </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">phenomenal</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (so much so I can’t stop italicizing </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">everything</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">), and I really thought I was watching the gold medal moves. </span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">But it wasn’t meant to me. Teammates Joss Christensen and Gus Kenworthy placed in front of him, which I consider pure crap. No offense, team USA, for you, but for the judges who only scored him with a 92.4 in his best run. Really, judges? He landed and didn’t land on his butt, hand, legs, or head. He landed on his own two feet in the most perfect landing I’ve probably seen this entire Winter Games. And he did it three times!</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">He also accomplished something that my Dad and I were talking about on Monday. I said that I’d really enjoyed snowboard slopestyle, and he said that he did too. The only thing he didn’t like was the first part - it seemed like the boring part before the exciting jumps. I had to agree with him - most of the snowboarders chose to ride it and get off as quickly as possible to get to the jumps.</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not so with Goepper! He jumped up on one ski, changed to the other, and got off. He leaped up, made contact with a pommel-horse rail, making a large </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">clang</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and got off. He jumped on the highest wall and did a </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">flip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to the ground! He made the rail section look interesting, and I could understand why the rails were there. Other skiers did neat things, too, but Goepper was the best. (What’s wrong with you, snowboarders?)</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I was in love with his run, which is why I can’t be too incredibly ecstatic that the Americans swept the competition. It’s too bad, however, he is only 19, so he can go through the Cycle and still come out in South Korea with that gold that he deserves!</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">(BTW, have you checked out his Twitter? He’s a pretty funny dude.)</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mini Blurbs</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tonight Matt Lauer is reporting from…</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the forest after a freeze-frost. (not my best)</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today’s roundup</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: team luge (live), men’s ski slopestyle, biathlon, men’s figure skating, skeleton, women’s speedskating, women’s and men’s curling, </span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Integration!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The students today were reporters. They had five questions they were supposed to answer: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is competing? </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is happening? </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> does this take place? </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> does this take place? </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is this happening? We covered team luge, which I got to explain to them (and did pretty well, considering I was only going by what I read that morning), and then watched in all its glory. </span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The kiddos did a pretty good job in covering the event. I especially liked their </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> answers, which ranged from “It’s something different” to “It’s more exciting than regular luge” to “It is an interesting and exciting event.”</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">I had to agree with them; instead of waiting forever to find out the results after four (or two) heats, the race was done in about an hour. The three sets of sliders (women’s, men’s, 2-man) go down on their own, and at the end have to slap a paddle that is above the end of the track. If they don’t hit it, the race is over. If they hit it, the gate at the top will open, and it’s time for the next group to go! Touch the gate before it opens, and the race is over. So many factors, but it was awesome to watch. I was very impressed with this - and as I’ve said before, it’s fun to watch men and women compete together.</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Bowser Effect:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I also had a little lesson in inertia today with the kids. As they watched the 2-man luge portion of the team relay, the kids were saying that the 2-man would be slower than the singles luge because the sled was heavier. It was hard for them to understand that the 2-man would actually be </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">faster</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">In the end, I asked, “Who’s played Mario Kart?” About half of the class raised her hand. “Have you ever played Bowser before, and how he starts out so slow because he’s so heavy?” They nodded their heads. “Well, remember, Bowser starts slowly, but he ends up faster than any other racer at his top speed. That’s what happens in 2-man luge!”</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">They might have gotten it after that. When all else fails, I bring in pop culture.</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biathlon, or Just Shooting?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I watched NBC’s coverage of biathlon today, and pretty much they showed the shooting. Four rounds of shooting. No cross-country. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but if an event is called </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bi</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">athlon, then more time could be spent on the second event. </span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Skeleton</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: In spite of team luge being so much fun, I enjoy skeleton a lot more. I don’t know if it’s because it’s more dangerous, or the start is less weird, or what, but it’s a headfirst joyride. Maybe it’s because the Americans are contending, and the Germans aren’t at the top. </span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did you know</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: The Russians only had one men’s figure skating position. Evgeny Plushenko was that guy. So clearly Russia doesn’t have much of a comeback, which means it won’t be a Russian sweep in figure skating. </span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Since he’s out, I can point out that his free skate was simply a mix-up of his best programs. It was clear that this would be it, and there were even rumblings that he wouldn’t skate in the individual program - so this is it for Plushenko! But never fear - there’s always another way-too-good Russian waiting in the wings.</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Jason Brown</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Find your quad over the next four years. You find that thing, you’ll be on the podium in 2018, because you’ve got everything else, kid! </span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">It’s not often that I watch figure skating performances out of sheer enjoyment (I’m usually waiting for a fall), but I did that with Evan Lysacek and I did that with Jason Brown tonight. Plus he’s so happy! </span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">(While I’m at it, Jeremy Abbot always looks like he’s constipated, and Patrick Chan always looks like he’s in a staring contest with the nearest person, IMO!)</span></span></div><span style="color: white;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On a personal note</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: I will not be posting a Blurb tomorrow (Calm down! Calm down! I can hear your cries of injustice and anger from here!) because of personal life stuff - and maybe we all need a break from my random musings now that we’re halfway into the Games. Never fear - I’ll be back sometime over the weekend with another post!</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjLL9yWiuLNja0XpnvFj1cPHHkwimtvaKafzTVaLahQ2-odYFAjPamcsRMnvwH2oXm-qRcNV9BcBC9Y4-DlxFU_pvhtSa1KQXyFP1Bp5Q8DenG4vEvOOoOnr2nUIsiU7hjAT5pDTL_Ko/s1600/olympic_rings_568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjLL9yWiuLNja0XpnvFj1cPHHkwimtvaKafzTVaLahQ2-odYFAjPamcsRMnvwH2oXm-qRcNV9BcBC9Y4-DlxFU_pvhtSa1KQXyFP1Bp5Q8DenG4vEvOOoOnr2nUIsiU7hjAT5pDTL_Ko/s1600/olympic_rings_568.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>

Day 7: When Bronze is Gold

He made it look easy . He did everything as if it was second nature. He rocked through the rails, and made me finally say, “So that’s what ...

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Central African Republic Is Bracing For A War Between Christians And Muslims

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNxvojJWyR54oawBSXd1ILxTcIQfvS0PuGVF4fn2t2ULDlCqDZZwWTet-6IhlHVneEOY6-X8l7yfLbmfvAnW7C43Vbc7GK66LmE6-6hiWp1oiafkX1TzHaxI-l89sO5ivDNeF-HI8pivV/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNxvojJWyR54oawBSXd1ILxTcIQfvS0PuGVF4fn2t2ULDlCqDZZwWTet-6IhlHVneEOY6-X8l7yfLbmfvAnW7C43Vbc7GK66LmE6-6hiWp1oiafkX1TzHaxI-l89sO5ivDNeF-HI8pivV/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Town In The Central African Republic Braces For War Between Christians And Muslims -- Washington Post</b></span></div><br />KAGA BANDORO, Central African Republic — Heavily armed Muslim soldiers from the former Seleka rebel movement control this town, patrolling and manning checkpoints. On the outskirts, Christian militias have set up camp, determined to seize power.<br /><br />“We’re worried that the two groups are about to attack each other,” said Daniel Gbele, a U.N. worker.<br /><br />Tensions between the country’s Christian majority and Muslim minority have fueled violence in the capital, Bangui, and other areas in recent months. But here in the north, a parallel conflict over resources, wealth and territory is emerging. U.N. officials and human rights activists are concerned that Kaga Bandoro and other northern towns could soon become frontlines and humanitarian disaster zones, potentially dividing the poor but mineral-rich nation.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/town-in-the-central-african-republic-braces-for-war-between-christians-and-muslims/2014/02/12/2c0eb9d2-9325-11e3-b3f7-f5107432ca45_story.html">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GsIVth8EXtA" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>More News On The Christian - Muslim Conflict In Central African Republic</b></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-eu-force-to-create-safe-haven-in-central-african-republic/1851004.html">EU Force to Create ‘Safe Haven’ in Central African Republic</a> -- Voice of America/Reuters<br /><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/seleka-rebellion-in-car-sparks-cycle-of-violence/1850183.html">Seleka Rebellion in CAR Sparks Cycle of Violence</a> -- Voice of America<br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/13/world/asia/rights-groups-warn-of-ethnic-cleansing-in-central-african-republic.html">Warnings of Ethnic Cleansing in Central African Republic </a>-- New York Times<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/feb/12/muslim-exodus-central-african-republic-ethnic-cleansing-christian">Muslim exodus in Central African Republic revives ethnic cleansing fears</a> -- The Guardian<br /><a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/muslims-under-threat-in-central-african-republic/1850384.html">Muslims Under Threat in CAR</a> -- Voice of America<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/12/world/africa/central-african-republic-muslims/">Rights groups warn of ethnic cleansing of Muslims in Central African Republic</a> -- CNN<br /><a href="http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/02/13/Evidence-of-mass-graves-found-in-Central-African-Republic/UPI-96761392304836/">Evidence of mass graves found in Central African Republic</a> -- UPI<br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/12/us-central-african-idUSBREA1B1PF20140212">Mass grave found in Central African Republic; U.N. warns of 'cleansing'</a> -- Reuters<br /><a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/central-african-republics-barbarity-brutality-and-inhumanity/story-e6frg6so-1226826443582">Central African Republic’s ‘barbarity, brutality and inhumanity’</a> -- The Australian/AFP<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/12/central-african-republic-food-crisis_n_4773766.html?ir=WorldPost">In Central African Republic, Muslim Exodus Threatens Food Crisis</a> -- Huffington Post/Reuters<br /><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/central-african-republic-president-declares-war-christian-mobs-article-1.1613754">New Central African Republic president declares 'war' on Christian militia mobs </a>-- New York Post<br /><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hKtNYCpmqdL1h385jnGeAta8KwaQ?docId=907cdf71-2054-4953-b275-f5abac9d16f7">C.Africa vigilante 'boss' warns president against crackdown</a> -- AFP<br /><a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/02/13/276276857/peacekeepers-fail-to-stop-violence-in-central-african-republic">Neither Christian Nor Muslim Is Safe In Central African Republic </a>-- NPR<br /><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2014/0213/A-Christian-Muslim-crisis-of-faith-in-Africa">A Christian-Muslim crisis of faith in Africa</a> -- Christian Science Monitor editorial

Central African Republic Is Bracing For A War Between Christians And Muslims

Town In The Central African Republic Braces For War Between Christians And Muslims -- Washington Post KAGA BANDORO, Central African Republic...

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Counting the homeless in America's poorest city (BLOG, VIDEO)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyevRI1AHlWLRSpKOarYsA78whbU2cFeSQazH6M3mDHqOdPokg-b6F00fcciZd-_KL7UuDE10vNy6YLc4M0JkuT4XQdUFQDcgjgHMuDIrEIkslePxQ2VXOlUmPqgYxpN3W1g0Ab5Mo31M/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyevRI1AHlWLRSpKOarYsA78whbU2cFeSQazH6M3mDHqOdPokg-b6F00fcciZd-_KL7UuDE10vNy6YLc4M0JkuT4XQdUFQDcgjgHMuDIrEIkslePxQ2VXOlUmPqgYxpN3W1g0Ab5Mo31M/s1600/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">As the temperature plunged into the low teens on a January morning in Camden, N.J., seven aid workers set out on a daunting mission: to count the homeless in the nation's poorest city.</h2><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Making rounds to shelters, warming centers, soup kitchens and "tent cities," the workers and volunteers helping out with this year's count were trying to find as many homeless people as they could within 24 hours.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">The federal government requires communities to conduct a homeless count at least every other year to qualify for funding for homeless services like emergency shelter, food and job training.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">In Camden, the need is huge. No city in the country is poorer: The poverty rate is roughly 40% and the median household income is a mere $26,000 -- compared to $51,000 nationally. It's also the most dangerous city in the country; drugs are everywhere and unemployment stands at 13%.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Social services agencies across the country already had their federal funding cut by at least 5% last year.<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </strong>That led many organizations in Camden to run out of money by October,<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </strong>says Shantel Garner, a project specialist at Community Planning & Advocacy Council, the nonprofit<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </strong>in charge of organizing Camden's homeless count.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Advocacy groups like Garner's conduct these Point-in-Time counts, and the results help the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine local and national trends in homelessness and assess need in individual areas.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last year's homeless count found only 589 homeless people in the 513,000-person county of Camden, and homeless advocates say this number is significantly understated.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">CNNMoney joined Garner when she started counting people around 8 p.m. on Tuesday night. Her first stop was Joseph's House, a 75-bed shelter that opened a week earlier.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Where will you spend the night of Tuesday, Jan. 28?" Garner asks Kareim Nurdeen, a 48-year old who struggles with schizophrenia and was evicted from his home a couple months ago after falling behind on rent.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Garner rattles off a list of 18 options from HUD's survey, including emergency shelter, hotel or motel, permanent housing, hospital,<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </strong>or jail. "Emergency shelter," Nurdeen answers.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Next come questions about how long he has been in his "current living situation," whether he has been homeless at least four times in the last three years, and what sources of income and non-cash benefits he receives.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are only about 10 homeless people at Joseph's House before dinner and Garner surveys them all. She leaves a pile of surveys with the<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </strong>director<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </strong>to fill out for the other 65 or so people expected to show up later in the evening.<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Garner then moves<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </strong>on to the next shelter on her list: New Life Ministries, a church that started sheltering the homeless two weeks earlier after a "Code Blue" alert was issued -- allowing police to pick up the homeless and bring them to organizations that open their doors when temperatures drop below freezing.</div><div class="cnnplayer" id="cnnplayer1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="cnnVidplayer" style="background-color: black; border: 0px; height: 348px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;"><a class="summaryImg" href="http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/02/12/n-tent-city-homeless-winter-camden-nj.cnnmoney?iid=EL" id="vid1" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #004276; display: block; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Braving the cold in Camden's tent city" border="0" height="348" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/dam/assets/140212193027-n-tent-city-homeless-winter-camden-nj-00053422-620x348.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="620" /><span class="video_playbtn" style="background-image: url(http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/.element/img/5.0/buttons/bigPlay-videoGallery5.png); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; height: 67px; left: 310px; margin: -33px 0px 0px -33px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 174px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 67px;"> </span></a></div><div class="cnnVidFooter" style="background-color: #ebebeb; border: 0px; height: 28px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 5px 8px 7px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="cnnHeadline" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: -1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Braving the cold in Camden's tent city</div><div class="countdown" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">HUD sets the count for January so the cold weather drives more people into shelters, making it easier to find them. But at New Life, only one person had arrived by 11 p.m., causing Garner to worry that it was so bitterly cold this year that more homeless people were resorting to alternative shelters -- like friends' basements, emergency rooms and abandoned houses.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">At 6 a.m. the next morning, other nonprofit workers and volunteers from Garner's agency and other local aid groups drove around in a van hunting for homeless people who don't live in shelters. Among their stops: "tent cities" scattered just off the highways where dozens of homeless people live, along with a population of stray cats.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Aaron Howe is the unofficial "mayor" of "little tent city" ("big tent city" was disbanded last year after the city deemed it unsanitary).<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </strong>He is responsible for distributing supplies from aid organizations and deciding who gets to stay and who needs to leave. Howe moved into his tent two years ago, after the trucking business he says he ran for 18 years collapsed. When he set up his tent, there were only three people here. Now there are 17 -- all of which Garner says were counted this year.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">But that's not always the case. A big criticism of the homeless counts is that it misses people -- those who are couch surfing or staying in a prison, hospital or motel, for example. Others are in hiding, while many more won't admit that they are homeless.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">"It's set up to be kind of an impossible task," said Maria Foscarinis, founder of the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. She said one way to get more accurate findings would be to extend the count over a longer period of time or to do multiple counts per year.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Several homeless people CNNMoney interviewed in Camden said they had never been counted. Michael Powell lives in a "tent suburb," on the outskirts of one of the tent cities. He wears a key to the padlock on his tent around his neck, and behind the layers of tarps he uses as insulation sits a mattress propped up on crates, a knife<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </strong>and<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </strong>his "lady friend." Despite being homeless for 14 years -- ever since he got out of jail for murder -- he has never been asked to fill out a homeless count survey and had no idea the count existed.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">"How would you possibly do that? There's so many of us and nobody wants to be seen," said Powell.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Howe of tent city agrees. "There's people that live in abandoned houses, there's people that live under bridges, I've met people that sleep in their cars at night ... you'll never get an accurate count," he said. "The organizations that come out here [to count], they don't know where everyone is."</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mark Johnston, acting assistant secretary in the Office of Community Planning and Development at HUD, stresses that the count is just one of 50 to 60 factors it looks at when determining funding -- including how successful agencies are at getting people jobs and housing. He acknowledges that the count isn't perfect, but says it at least provides a rough estimate, which is crucial to have before homelessness can be reduced.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">"[The count] certainly isn't scientific, and I'm sure there are some people we're missing ... but we don't want to let perfection get in the way of solving the problem," said Johnston. <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2014/02/12/pf/homeless-count/index.html?iid=H_E_News#TOP" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #004276; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="To top of page" border="0" height="7" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/money/images/bug.gif" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="7" /></a></div>

Counting the homeless in America's poorest city (BLOG, VIDEO)

As the temperature plunged into the low teens on a January morning in Camden, N.J., seven aid workers set out on a daunting mission: to coun...

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The U.S. Navy's New 'And Fearsome' War Boat Is Now In The Persian Gulf

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1r4cuhuugyy-ntci-pLKx3AyR27L9CkipO6NR-AIuplSg5uLLbUOe3KuNzTxKhqp91dOedsUtWAQvV7quZLamD3pGYvxLnnW-0Z6MrDBrwFWAdtEBg2K6WSs7DuW0daJdNQNQ41aS1mTR/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1r4cuhuugyy-ntci-pLKx3AyR27L9CkipO6NR-AIuplSg5uLLbUOe3KuNzTxKhqp91dOedsUtWAQvV7quZLamD3pGYvxLnnW-0Z6MrDBrwFWAdtEBg2K6WSs7DuW0daJdNQNQ41aS1mTR/s1600/2013-09-12-BZSSR.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">U.S. Navy sailors assigned to Coastal Riverine Group (CRG) 1 and Coastal Riverine Squadron (CRS) 2 conduct high-speed maneuvers in a coastal command patrol boat during a training exercise off San Diego, California (USA). The 65-foot Coastal Command Boat (CCB) is an early variant of the 85-foot MKVI Patrol Boat of SAFE Boats International. The CCB is powered by twin diesel engines and water jets, allowing of speeds of 35+ knots. Cruise speed can be maintained for up to 24 hours. It can accomodate up to 18 crew members and features integrated working stations along with a separate galley, head, shower facilities and engine room. The CCB is also equipped with remotely operated weapon systems, advanced thermal imaging and a hydraulic crane system. The first CCB was delivered in August 2013. <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_Coastal_Riverine_Group_1_Coastal_Command_Boat_off_San_Diego_2013.JPG">Wikipedia</a></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hello, Iran! U.S. Navy’s Fearsome New War Boat Arrives In The Persian Gulf -- Joe Trevithick, War is Boring</b></span></div><br /><i>Sole Coastal Command Boat joins Persian Gulf maritime security force </i><br /><br />The Navy’s new—and so far only—gun-armed, robot-hauling war boat arrived in Bahrain on Feb. 8. The 65-foot, 50-ton-displacement Coastal Command Boat is assigned to Task Group 56.7, America’s patrol force in the Persian Gulf.<br /><br />The CCB entered Navy service last fall after two years of construction in Bremerton and Tacoma, both in Washington State.<br /><br />The CCB can reach speeds of more than 35 knots and is equipped with remote-controlled and crew-served weapons and gear for launching drones. It’s able to motor into and out of the floodable well decks of large amphibious assault ships, which can haul the boat between oceans and war zones.<br /><br /><b><a href="https://medium.com/war-is-boring/3f4f3cca38dd">Read more</a></b> ....<br /><br /><b>My Comment</b>: The Iranians notice aircraft carriers and leaders who are not shy to use them .... not little PT boats

The U.S. Navy's New 'And Fearsome' War Boat Is Now In The Persian Gulf

U.S. Navy sailors assigned to Coastal Riverine Group (CRG) 1 and Coastal Riverine Squadron (CRS) 2 conduct high-speed maneuvers in a coastal...

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Mike Trout could soon become baseball's first $300 million man (BLOG)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsG2gd0xFXGrJvGlEe7gALWSfQi_1P3BEh70cOpg-EEvR6rSo5Qc80Ic6gcTeR5wUI3JNQh-fgym4HYgrOIKAjI_WbnYWQj200DS3b5wTylFDtWcx_cgy4_3iW324RoIYu2zI6kCNGTH8/s1600/cc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsG2gd0xFXGrJvGlEe7gALWSfQi_1P3BEh70cOpg-EEvR6rSo5Qc80Ic6gcTeR5wUI3JNQh-fgym4HYgrOIKAjI_WbnYWQj200DS3b5wTylFDtWcx_cgy4_3iW324RoIYu2zI6kCNGTH8/s1600/cc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; cursor: text; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">According to the <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Los Angeles Times</em>, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0213-angels-spring-training-20140213,0,7786251,full.story#axzz2tDxKxUrB" style="border: 0px; color: #e82425; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">outfielder Mike Trout is in negotiations for a contract extension</a> with the Angels. Though baseball’s luxury-tax rules mean any deal likely would not be announced until after Opening Day, if and when the day arrives, it could very well give Trout the largest contract of any player in professional sports.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; cursor: text; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The largest deal to date is the 10-year, $275 million one Alex Rodriguez signed with the Yankees before the 2008 season — after A-Rod opted out of the <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">second</em> largest deal to date.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; cursor: text; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Salaries in baseball have inflated since Rodriguez signed his deal, and Trout at age 22 is a way better bet to maintain his excellence for another decade than Rodriguez was at 32. The only reason Trout won’t blow past A-Rod whenever he signs an extension is that the Angels still control him through arbitration through the 2017 seasonl</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; cursor: text; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At Fangraphs, Dave Cameron compares Trout’s situation to those faced by Clayton Kershaw before <a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/01/report-dodgers-sign-clayton-kershaw-to-215-million-extension/" style="border: 0px; color: #e82425; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">his recent $215 million extension</a> and Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman before his $135 million deal and finds some eye-opening facts:</div><blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left-color: rgb(233, 31, 1); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 4px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 1.5em 40px; padding-left: 10px; quotes: '';"><div style="border: 0px; cursor: text; display: inherit; font-family: 'Futura Today Bold', 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">As good and as young as Kershaw is, the reality remains that Trout is significantly better, projecting for roughly +4 WAR per season more than Kershaw going forward. In fact, Trout’s forecasts suggest he is, by himself, as valuable as Kershaw and Freeman put together, and they combined to sell their FA years for pretty close to that $54 million per year mark. While we could put together a reasonable argument that Trout is worth $50M per year for his free agent years, he’s not going to get that; it’s just too far removed from the norms of the day….</div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; border-left-color: rgb(233, 31, 1); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 4px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 1.5em 40px; padding-left: 10px; quotes: '';"><div style="border: 0px; cursor: text; display: inherit; font-family: 'Futura Today Bold', 'Open Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic; line-height: 28px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pricing those free agent years at $40 million apiece, in addition to the $60 million he’d be getting for his remaining years of team control, would bring the total deal to $260 million over nine years. The deal would fall short of being the largest contract in baseball history, but would easily be the largest deal for any player still under team control.</div></blockquote><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; cursor: text; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As Cameron notes, the closer Trout gets to free agency without an extension, the more an extension will likely cost the Angels. And if Trout and the Angels decide to tack on a 10th year, he should surpass A-Rod’s mark and will possibly clear $300 million.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; cursor: text; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That’d be great for Trout, but also great for educating whatever remaining fans that <a href="http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/09/alex-rodriguez-espn-face-of-baseball/" style="border: 0px; color: #e82425; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">don’t yet appreciate how good Trout is</a>: He’s the best all around player in baseball by far, and the first two full seasons of his career were arguably the top rookie and sophomore years in baseball history.</div><div style="background-color: white; 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Mike Trout could soon become baseball's first $300 million man (BLOG)

According to the  Los Angeles Times ,  outfielder Mike Trout is in negotiations for a contract extension  with the Angels. Though baseball’s...

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