It's SotU Time, Let's Party!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hola y’all! It’s time for the State of the Union again and I know you are as excited as I am. Don’t worry about the actual state of the union (Spoiler Alert: It’s shitty) or even if Obama thinks unemployment near 8% for the remainder of his presidency is just fine (Spoiler Alert: He does.).  That’s not what the SotU is about. It’s about getting together with friends and family and having a good time! What? You aren’t planning a SotU Soiree? Well you should be. And I’m here to help!<br /><br />Anyway, here are some ideas to help you enjoy State of the Union …<br /><br /><b>Take one drink every time …</b><br /><br />1. Obama gets a standing ovation from the democrats, but the republicans just sit there. <br />2. They show John McCain and he looks all pissed off.<br />3. John Boehner tears up.<br />4. Joe Biden appears to be nodding off. <br />5. They show Michelle Obama<br />6. Obama mentions jobs<br />7. Someone yells “YOU LIE” at Obama<br />8. They show Justice Scalia looking incredibly bored.<br />9. Obama uses some fake person in a small Midwestern town’s ordeal as an example of how we can do better.<br />10. Obama points out that the most challenging and important job he has is that of “Commander in Chief.”<br />11. He references God or Jesus.<br />12. Obama makes some vague reference to climate change<br />13. Affordable Care Act!<br />14. They show a celebrity sitting in the balcony<br />15. They show someone in uniform<br /><br /><b>Chug an entire beer if …</b><br /><br />1. Any of the Republicans or Supreme Court members flip Obama off.<br />2. Obama points at a black guy and calls him “Mah Nigga!”<br />3. Obama actually makes a specific proposal that might work!<br />4. The camera catching Joe Biden scratching his balls.<br /><br />Best snack food options for the SotU are gonna be a bit different from what you’d get at a Super Bowl party mostly because it starts a lot later. Just stick with some chips, cookies, candy of some kind, cupcakes, pie and maybe even ice cream. Be sure that it’s something that you can throw at the TV or spike on the floor in a fit of anger without doing any real damage though.<br /><br />If they happen to show American’s first OPENLY bi-sexual and atheist congresswoman Krysten Sinema of Arizona, say “how YOU doin’?” and then take a bite of both your burrito AND fish taco at the same time.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaO9lkM7lH0MQvN3B1pJ5TV1nGUJ9qgCO0AoQCmqhoGSgTrKmEAa8kuvNzDCTfxwMY_3Jaar7IerWAPZNRTFz3Ne0KanAZ0khiXnwhBotIXYAF6JVYXo1yVEQGIg9IgRjuNn6G-rHrLzk/s1600/Krysten-Sinema-Boobs-Hot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaO9lkM7lH0MQvN3B1pJ5TV1nGUJ9qgCO0AoQCmqhoGSgTrKmEAa8kuvNzDCTfxwMY_3Jaar7IerWAPZNRTFz3Ne0KanAZ0khiXnwhBotIXYAF6JVYXo1yVEQGIg9IgRjuNn6G-rHrLzk/s1600/Krysten-Sinema-Boobs-Hot.jpg" /></a></div><br />If <strike>you’re a RACIST</strike> you don’t really care about the SotU you can always watch a movie!<br /><br />How ‘bout “The Untouchables” set in Obama’s Chicago? (Editor’s note: Now that there are 8,491 murders being committed every single day in Chicago, the city’s correct full name is “Obama’s Chicago.”<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvobZAsiPz2vLq4sTRY4fMEfumkDTgRDHaOfOBnb-nIzRU0oTgdY2sNU23UDK8xwD8Gm238BiyEsEQYt-yEN7OJeel1_0pYkFlGSL9CCf5nu1OKUuRjuIIoH5ErDY9L2HBIvXBoMZEAhQ/s1600/The+Untouchables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvobZAsiPz2vLq4sTRY4fMEfumkDTgRDHaOfOBnb-nIzRU0oTgdY2sNU23UDK8xwD8Gm238BiyEsEQYt-yEN7OJeel1_0pYkFlGSL9CCf5nu1OKUuRjuIIoH5ErDY9L2HBIvXBoMZEAhQ/s320/The+Untouchables.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><br />Or maybe “The Cincinnati Kid” for Speaker John Boehner’s hometown.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhGM7aiKSkOT6-LkiylxJ9S6qxXUtFzzcFD1e-kejrlDwKlYnTLeqf0iE4ouzSzoGnsxUdWrFrCANDbdlDZ8mkXyA9qyVHUpUSbcwTMlef9rnK5wUQKujsMG7nMbuq-bxQWC_kmRo_g0/s1600/The-Cincinnati-Kid.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhGM7aiKSkOT6-LkiylxJ9S6qxXUtFzzcFD1e-kejrlDwKlYnTLeqf0iE4ouzSzoGnsxUdWrFrCANDbdlDZ8mkXyA9qyVHUpUSbcwTMlef9rnK5wUQKujsMG7nMbuq-bxQWC_kmRo_g0/s320/The-Cincinnati-Kid.jpeg" width="229" /></a></div><br />If you prefer TV you can watch “The Bob Newhart Show” set in Obama’s Chicago<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherHWO6eJ4wim82I9LU5vIzVxYVRgIbkFB_UztbaPMH0ovTcgAXN5NDsMlLh_p_FM1J6zYTzknkxjOt78iFYYG1UQOKjCUJnYehvl9gobJJUK9D1ylSnoctPDngnN0BS9VnIJB2ko1ClA/s1600/the_bob_newhart_show-show.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherHWO6eJ4wim82I9LU5vIzVxYVRgIbkFB_UztbaPMH0ovTcgAXN5NDsMlLh_p_FM1J6zYTzknkxjOt78iFYYG1UQOKjCUJnYehvl9gobJJUK9D1ylSnoctPDngnN0BS9VnIJB2ko1ClA/s320/the_bob_newhart_show-show.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Or of course, “WKRP in Cincinnati” for the Speaker who is a big Les Nessman fan.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid988vhJJjc8cKFQYp8Ru9kHa1S_6_hZ_XrOvq0vzaAl6UX0xNaSZt1inS2aKz4aOFWb8fO11vdFxLZWILaM9FSQsBC5ENNQWbI65yiwpPPX3s6Zh9_y2diIHg3J3H68dfE47fD0l3Iik/s1600/wkrp_in_cincinnati.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid988vhJJjc8cKFQYp8Ru9kHa1S_6_hZ_XrOvq0vzaAl6UX0xNaSZt1inS2aKz4aOFWb8fO11vdFxLZWILaM9FSQsBC5ENNQWbI65yiwpPPX3s6Zh9_y2diIHg3J3H68dfE47fD0l3Iik/s1600/wkrp_in_cincinnati.jpg" /></a></div><br />Or, crazy as it sounds you could just entertain yourself listening to Matt-Man and me talk about writing on I’m With Stupid! Hells yeah! We talk about our writing process, inspirations, tips and all kinds of funny and other charming stuff. You should totally check it out.<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.adobe.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="105" id="143577" name="143577" width="210"><param name="movie" value="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf?file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2Fplaylist.aspx%3Fshow_id%3D4387595&autostart=false&bufferlength=5&volume=80&corner=rounded&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/flashplayercallback.aspx" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf" flashvars="file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2Fplaylist.aspx%3Fshow_id%3D4387595&autostart=false&shuffle=false&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashPlayerCallback.aspx&width=210&height=105&volume=80&corner=rounded" width="210" height="105" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" wmode="transparent" menu="false" name="143577" id="143577" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><br /><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 220px;">Listen to <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/">internet radio</a> with <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid">Im With Stupid</a> on Blog Talk Radio </div><div></div><br /><br />Jayman<br /><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayman_iws" target="_blank">@Jayman_IWS</a><br /><br /><br /></div>

It's SotU Time, Let's Party!

Hola y’all! It’s time for the State of the Union again and I know you are as excited as I am. Don’t worry about the actual state of the unio...

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Unexpected Letter From ER Doctor May Make You Tear Up

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-align: left; "><div class="articleBody" itemprop="articleBody" style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; text-indent: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; "><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">True love and compassion aren't easy to ignore.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">This week, a 24-year-old Redditor <a href="http://imgur.com/gallery/pekfXzk" target="_hplink" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; text-decoration: underline; overflow: visible; color: rgb(0, 136, 195) !important; text-indent: 0px !important; outline: none; cursor: pointer; ">shared a letter</a> received just after the death of his mother. The event, despite being difficult, brought an unexpected source of condolence -- a personal note from a physician who had never contacted a patient's family before.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">"The letter was written for my father," he told The Huffington Post on Friday. "He stayed by her side until the very end."</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-variant: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">The letter reads:</span></p><blockquote style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 15px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 15px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); text-indent: 0px !important; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; background-color: rgb(245, 240, 227) !important; position: static; z-index: auto; ">Dear Mr. (removed),<p style="list-style: none; margin: 8px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: none; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">I am the Emergency Medicine physician who treated your wife Mrs (removed) last Sunday in the Emergency Department at (hospital). I learned only yesterday about her passing away and wanted to write to you to express my sadness. <strong style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-indent: 0px !important; ">In my twenty years as a doctor in the Emergency Room, I have never written to a patient</strong> or a family member, as our encounters are typically hurried and do not always allow for more personal interaction.</p><p style="list-style: none; margin: 8px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: none; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">However, in your case, <strong style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-indent: 0px !important; ">I felt a special connection to your wife</strong> (removed), who was so engaging and cheerful in spite of her illness and trouble breathing. I was also touched by the fact that you seemed to be a very loving couple. You were highly supportive of her, asking the right questions with calm, care and concern. From my experience as a physician, I find that the love and support of a spouse or a family member is the most soothing gift, bringing peace and serenity to those critically ill.</p><p style="list-style: none; margin: 8px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: none; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">I am sorry for your loss and I hope you can find comfort in the memory of your wife's great spirit and of your loving bond. My heartfelt condolences go out to you and your family.</p><p style="list-style: none; margin: 8px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; border: none; text-decoration: none; overflow: visible; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">(removed), MD</p></blockquote><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">According to the Redditor, his mother had breast cancer. A month ago, breathing difficulties landed her in the hospital, and 16 hours later, she passed away.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">Surprisingly, the doctor who wrote the letter had never met or treated his mother until that day.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">"If my mother were alive to see this, she would want readers to reflect on the power of showing compassion towards a total stranger," he told HuffPost.</p><p style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-indent: 1.5em; font-size: 15px; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; text-align: justify; line-height: 21px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; ">"The support I got from Reddit was amazing -- doctors, nurses and other Redditors who have lost their mothers to cancer were all shocked and amazed that the doctor took the time to write such a heartfelt, meaningful letter," he added.</p></div><div style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-indent: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div style="list-style-type: none; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: none; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: visible; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-indent: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div></div><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/09/letter-from-er-doctor-sho_n_2649578.html?">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/09/letter-from-er-doctor-sho_n_2649578.html?</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Unexpected Letter From ER Doctor May Make You Tear Up

True love and compassion aren't easy to ignore. This week, a 24-year-old Redditor  shared a letter  received just after the death of his...

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28 in 28 #10: From the Ground Up

<a href="http://www.papress.com/html/book.details.page.tpl?isbn=9781616890926"><b><i>From the Ground Up: Innovative Green Homes </i></b></a> edited by Peggy Tully<br />Princeton Architectural Press, 2012<br />Hardcover, 160 pages<br /><br /><img alt="28-28_ground-up.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/28-28_ground-up.jpg" title="Book cover" /><br /><br />In 2008 the Syracuse University School of Architecture held the <a href="http://soa.syr.edu/events/2008/greenhomes/">From the Ground Up</a> design competition, asking participants to "provide a new model for formerly vital, urban residential neighborhoods throughout the United States through the creation of sustainable, affordable housing." Seven finalists were chosen from the more than 50 entries, and three of them were built—the R-House designed by ARO and Della Valle Bernheimer, COOKFOX's Live/Work/Home, and the TED House designed by Onion Flats. This book primarily serves to present the three houses as completed and now occupied, while also sharing the other four finalists, getting input on the process from then dean Mark Robbins and hearing some big-picture thoughts from Michael Sorkin and architectural historian Susan Henderson.<br /><br />The title is part of the handsomely made New City Books series from Syracuse SOA and Princeton Architectural Press. Each title examines conditions in Syracuse and other cities, seeing how architecture responds to urban areas and can improve them through landscapes, infill, green building, and other means. The bulk of <i>From the Ground Up</i> may be three houses totaling less than 4,000 square feet, but they are part of this larger goal, both in terms of infilling a disinvested part of Syracuse and in the creation of houses that use less energy and offer smaller footprints than the average (oversized) American house. The book is thorough and tracks each project from the competition drawings to snapshots of the house's owners, a fairly uncommon documentation for some uncommon houses.<br /><br /><b>US: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616890924/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1616890924&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.com" border="0" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan.gif" /></a> CA: <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1616890924/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1616890924&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.ca" border="0" height="28" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan-ca.gif" width="90" /></a> UK: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1616890924/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1616890924&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.co.uk" border="0" height="28" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan-uk.gif" width="90" /></a></b>

28 in 28 #10: From the Ground Up

From the Ground Up: Innovative Green Homes edited by Peggy Tully Princeton Architectural Press, 2012 Hardcover, 160 pages In 2008 the Syrac...

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Blizzard 2013

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am back!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Had the power off for a few days because of the huge snow storm we got.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope everyone is doing well!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Missed you all! </span></div>

Blizzard 2013

I am back! Had the power off for a few days because of the huge snow storm we got. Hope everyone is doing well! Missed you all! 

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Bob Marley Birthday: Reggae Singer Would Have Turned 68 Today (PHOTOS)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Huffington Post</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">  |  By </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leigh-blickley" rel="author" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #999999; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Leigh Blickley</a><br />From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com<br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Feb. 6, 2013, would have been Bob Marley's 68th birthday.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/279067/slide_279067_2069320_free.jpg?1360159499325" /></div><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">The beloved Jamaican singer died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36, but <a href="http://www.bobmarley.com/" style="border: none; color: #7c1417; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">his legacy lives on through his music</a>. Marley is credited with helping spread both reggae sounds and the Rastafari movement to a worldwide audience throughout his 18 years in the business.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">According to Urban Islandz, "Legend: The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers," which was released three years after his death, <a href="http://urbanislandz.com/2013/02/06/birthday-dopeness-bob-marley-would-be-68-today/" style="border: none; color: #7c1417; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">is reggae's biggest selling album to date</a>, with more than 10 million copies sold in the United States and an estimated 25 million worldwide. And that's no surprise.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Despite his absence, Marley has continued to garner success, being honored with such awards as <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/yawns-greet-bbc-millennium-lineup-738983.html" style="border: none; color: #7c1417; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">BBC’s song of the millenium</a> for "One Love" and getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Also in 1999, Time Magazine named Bob Marley & The Wailers' "Exodus" as <a href="http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070729/news/news6.html" style="border: none; color: #7c1417; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">the greatest album of the 20th century</a>.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Last year, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/20/ziggy-marley-bob-marley-documentary-extramarital-affairs_n_1440997.html" style="border: none; color: #7c1417; cursor: pointer; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">Ziggy Marley talked to The Huffington Post</a> about the first-ever family authorized documentary, "Marley," chronicling the life and times of his legendary father. Ziggy explained another date that is associated with the global icon, saying, "I think 4/20 is a special day. Of course, with our culture we use herb for so many different things, not just for smoking. I think it’s something that we’re not going to hide from, and I think it’s appropriate because it’s a part of our culture and a part of Bob’s music. If you love Bob’s music, well guess what, herb is a part of Bob’s music."</div><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Marley is survived by Ziggy and his 10 other children, Sharon, Cedella, Stephen, Robbie, Rohan, Karen, Stephanie, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian.</div></div>

Bob Marley Birthday: Reggae Singer Would Have Turned 68 Today (PHOTOS)

The Huffington Post   |  By  Leigh Blickley From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com Feb. 6, 2013, would have been Bob Marley's 68th birthday...

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Villaraigosa backs half-cent hike in sales tax

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="mod-articlesubtitle" id="mod-article-subtitle" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><h2 style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The mayor plans to make a statement next week explaining support for the measure, aimed at preventing cuts at the LAPD and other agencies.</h2></div><div class="mod-latarticlesarticlebyline mod-articlebyline" id="mod-article-byline" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin: 5px 0px 4px; padding: 0px 10px 10px 0px;"><span class="pubdate" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2013/feb/08" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">February 08, 2013</a></span><span class="separator" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 5px;">|</span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">By David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times</span></div><div class="mod-latarticlesarticlebyline mod-articlebyline" id="mod-article-byline" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin: 5px 0px 4px; padding: 0px 10px 10px 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img alt="If%20Proposition%20A%20passes%2C%20Mayor%20Antonio%20Villaraigosa%20will%20conclude%20his%20time%20in%20office%20with%20a%20sales%20tax%20increase%20focused%20on%20public%20safety%20%u2014%20an%20idea%20he%20fiercely%20denounced%20the%20year%20he%20became%20mayor.%20%28Irfan%20Khan%20/%20Los%20Angeles%20Times%29" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-5115d0ec/turbine/la-174333.me.0919.aeg-sale.003.ik.jpg-20130208/600/600x400" /></span></div><div class="mod-latarticlesarticlebyline mod-articlebyline" id="mod-article-byline" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin: 5px 0px 4px; padding: 0px 10px 10px 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 14px;">If Proposition A passes, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will conclude his time in office with a sales tax increase focused on public safety — an idea he fiercely denounced the year he became mayor. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)</span></span></div><div class="mod-latarticlesarticlebyline mod-articlebyline" id="mod-article-byline" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin: 5px 0px 4px; padding: 0px 10px 10px 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="area" id="area-article-first-block" style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 25px 0px 0px; padding: 15px 0px 0px;"><div class="mod-latarticlesarticletext mod-articletext" id="mod-a-body-first-para" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px 280px 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px;"><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Friday backed the half-cent sales tax hike on the March 5 ballot, which is being pushed as a way to shield the Police Department and other public safety agencies from employee cuts.</div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">The increase, which is backed by some key business leaders and labor leaders as a means to preserve public services, would push the city's sales tax rate to 9.5%, among the highest in the state.</div><div><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Villaraigosa did not give his reasons for backing Proposition A, saying through a spokesman that he would make a statement next week. A day earlier, the city's top budget analyst warned that a defeat of the measure, which would generate nearly enough to erase a $216-million budget shortfall, could require cutting at least 500 police officers.</div><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">That would largely undo one of Villaraigosa's signature accomplishments during his two terms in office: adding 800 officers to the LAPD, despite a major recession.</div><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Mayoral candidate Kevin James, who opposes the tax increase, said it would hurt the city's economy. He also questioned Villaraigosa's insistence on keeping LAPD staffing at 10,000 officers.</div><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">"It's not about any magic number. It's about the number of officers out in the community. And when we have so many officers behind the desk because of outdated technology and outdated policies, that's where the failed leadership is," he said.</div><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Villaraigosa spokesman Peter Sanders declined to respond, but noted in an email that the city's crime rates are "at their lowest since the 1950s."</div><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">If Proposition A passes, Villaraigosa will conclude his time in office with a sales tax increase focused on public safety — an idea he fiercely denounced the year he became mayor.</div><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">In 2005, Villaraigosa — then seeking to unseat Mayor James Hahn — blocked Hahn's effort to place a sales tax increase on the ballot to pay for 1,000 more officers. That vote came at a time of intense debate over how to pay for an expansion of the LAPD.</div><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Villaraigosa promised to find another way to pay for 1,000 additional officers and succeed where Hahn failed.</div><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">As mayor, Villaraigosa convinced the City Council to triple the trash fee for homeowners from $11 to $36.32 per month, saying that the proceeds would pay for more police. Once the budget crisis hit, however, the city found that it did not have enough money for both the police buildup and other programs.</div><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Thousands of positions in other departments were reduced as the hiring of additional officers continued.</div><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Villaraigosa previously said he would not support the tax unless the City Council took steps to ensure that the number of police officers would not be reduced. He also demanded that the council eliminate 209 civilian positions, a majority of them in the LAPD.</div><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana said Friday that those positions no longer exist.</div></div></div></div></span></div></div>

Villaraigosa Villaraigosa backs half-cent hike in sales tax

The mayor plans to make a statement next week explaining support for the measure, aimed at preventing cuts at the LAPD and other agencies. F...

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Review: Soderbergh’s Side Effects Will Make You Question Your Sanity — In a Good Way (Probably)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img src="http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/underwire/2013/02/Side-Effects-Rooney-Mara.jpg" /><br /><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #dddddd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">In </span><em style="color: #dddddd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Side Effects</em><span style="color: #dddddd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">, Rooney Mara plays a young woman who is treated for depression with the fictional drug Ablixa. </span><br style="color: #dddddd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><em style="color: #dddddd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Photo: Barry Wetcher/Open Road Films</em></span><br /><span style="background-color: black;"><em style="color: #dddddd; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></em></span><br /><ul style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 0px;"><li class="author" style="display: inline; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">BY <a href="http://www.wired.com/underwire/author/awatercutter/" style="color: #333333; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">ANGELA WATERCUTTER</a></li><li class="entryDate" style="display: inline; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">02.08.13</li><li class="entryTime" style="display: inline; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">12:30 PM From: </li></ul>http://www.wired.com<br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;">Much like commercials for actual drugs, the ads for director Steven Soderbergh’s <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Side Effects</em> show you something less than the whole picture, leaving out the more nefarious details about exactly what’s going to happen when you consume it.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;">That’s because sharing too much information about <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Side Effects</em>, opening in theaters today, can spoil the entire tale — so this review should be fun. But without revealing too much: The film is a psychological thriller that thrills by making audiences question the sanity of nearly every character, even the psychologists, and ultimately themselves.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;">A non-spoilery synopsis of <a href="http://www.sideeffectsmayvary.com/" style="color: #007ca5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Side Effects</em></a> goes something like this: Emily Taylor (Rooney Mara) is a young woman whose husband Martin (Channing Tatum) was recently released from prison after completing a four-year sentence for insider trading. She’s happy to have him back, but she struggles with depression and anxiety about her future.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;">Enter Dr. Jonathan Banks (Jude Law): A compassionate — perhaps too compassionate — psychiatrist who treats Emily’s condition with a new (fictional) drug called Ablixa that brings her back to life, but has potentially dangerous side effects (dun-dun-DUN!) that could affect her marriage. But the full implication of the drug’s effects don’t become apparent until almost the second act, and the true motivations (and mental states) of everyone involved don’t really come to light until the closing credits.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;">Thank <a href="http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/02/side-effects-soderbergh/" style="color: #007ca5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">writer Scott Z. Burns</a> for this bit of trickery, he’s crafted a script where every character on the screen reveals something new with every beat, but yet never quite enough. And credit Soderbergh for coaxing very nuanced performances out of his cast, particularly Mara, who can turn from sweet ingénue to shades of something much darker on a dime.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;"><span id="more-134963" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">(<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Spoiler alert:</strong> Minor plot points to follow.)</em></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;">At its core, <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Side Effects</em> is a movie about how mental health is treated in the U.S., both by doctors and how it’s dealt with in society. Burns wrote <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Side Effects</em> with the <a href="http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/02/side-effects-soderbergh/" style="color: #007ca5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">medical advice of forensic psychologist Sasha Bardey</a> and it shows: The doctors and patients on screen address real issues of boundaries, ethics, and quandaries of treatment, including what happens when doctors make mistakes and things go wrong.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;">There’s a moment when Dr. Banks’ partners fret about the negative attention brought to their practice after an incident relating to Emily’s medication — psychiatry is, after all, a profession and the appearance of malpractice is bad for business — and he responds that he can’t be responsible for an unforeseen effect of a new drug. ”That may be how rational people see it,” his partner retorts. “But we don’t see a great many rational people here.”</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;">If <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Side Effects</em> falters anywhere, it’s by focusing more deeply on psychology and psychiatry than the story requires. For all of the smart observations and the fascinating questions the film poses about the ethical minefield involved with treating mental health and prescribing happy pills, and ethics, many of those issues are left hanging, or answered in ways that are entertaining — but not necessarily intellectually satisfying.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;">However, these gripes are cerebral, not cinematic, and as a movie <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Side Effects</em> delivers. Weaving marital problems and insider trading into a crime thriller about mental health and the pharmaceutical industry isn’t exactly easy, but nothing in the film feels forced into place. Driven by some smart performances — Bardey, who also co-produced the film, advised the actors as well as the script — the actions of every player feel believable, even if they seem completely, well, crazy.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Side Effects</em> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/10/movies/antidepressants-give-soderbergh-a-thrillers-plot.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0" style="color: #007ca5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">will reportedly be Soderbergh’s last</a> cinematic feature, so long as he doesn’t pull a Jay-Z and change his mind about stepping away from film. That makes <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Side Effects</em> an interesting note for him to end on. In a career that’s spanned fantastic thought-provoking flicks like <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Traffic</em> and <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Erin Brockovich</em> and fun, flashy fare like the <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ocean’s</em> movies and last summer’s <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Magic Mike</em>, it seems as though he wanted to leave audiences with one to grow on. (Though, technically, he’ll be leaving them with his Liberace film <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Behind the Candelabra</em>, which will be airing on HBO after studios reportedly rejected it for being “<a href="http://www.thewrap.com/tv/column-post/steven-soderbergh-every-studio-rejected-liberace-film-too-gay-71506" style="color: #007ca5; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">too gay</a>.”)</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Side Effects</em> mostly fits that bill — it’s intriguing, full of good performances, and rife with the lush shots the director is known for — but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a little lacking. It’s a great psychological thriller that spends a little too much time on psychology and not enough on thrills.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">WIRED</strong> Deft performances by Rooney Mara, Jude Law, and Catherine Zeta-Jones; smart plot twists; Soderbergh’s fantastic eye for detail in any given shot.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">TIRED</strong> A lot of psychology, not enough thriller.</div></div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5jQq6BiT-eI?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe></div>

Side Effects Review: Soderbergh’s Side Effects Will Make You Question Your Sanity — In a Good Way (Probably)

In  Side Effects , Rooney Mara plays a young woman who is treated for depression with the fictional drug Ablixa.  Photo: Barry Wetcher/Open ...

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LA Cops Dismiss Claims in Alleged Killer Chris Dorner's 'Self-Serving' Manifesto

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><iframe height="360" id="kaltura_player_1360536537" src="http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid/0_adcysob8/uiconf_id/3775332/st_cache/40229?referer=http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/christopher-dorner-manhunt-cops-manifesto-posted-online-18438426&autoPlay=false&addThis.playerSize=392x221&freeWheel.siteSectionId=nws_offsite&closedCaptionActive=true&addThis.playerSize=640x360&closedCaptionsOverPlayer.fontsize=18" style="border: 0px solid #ffffff;" width="640">Unfortunately your browser does not support IFrames.</iframe> <br /><div style="font-size: x-small; margin-top: 0; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px;">Christopher Dorner Manifesto Posted Online</span><br /><br /><div id="date_partner" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; height: 32px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 150px; min-height: 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 490px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div id="date_partner" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; height: 32px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 150px; min-height: 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 490px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">By</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"> </span>COLLEEN CURRY <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">Feb. 7, 2013</span></div><div id="date_partner" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; height: 32px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 150px; min-height: 30px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 490px;">The rage-filled "manifesto" written by former police officer Christopher Dorner before he went on an alleged cop killing spree around the Los he ."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">Dorner is believed to have killed one police officer and injured two others early this morning, in addition to killing two civilians, on a spree that he threatened would have a "high action of violence" in an angry missive posted to his Facebook wall earlier this week.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">Police throughout the Los Angeles and Southern California region were working to apprehend Dorner.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">In the letter, Dorner detailed his grievances with his former employer, the Los Angeles Police Department, including his struggles with the department's internal affairs department, which ultimately ended in his getting fired, according to the manifesto. He blamed the problems with the LAPD for inspiring his killing spree.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">Dorner accused the department of being racist and using excessive force.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">"The department has not changed since the Rampart and Rodney King days. It has gotten worse," Dorner wrote. "I know I will be vilified by the LAPD and the media. Unfortunately, this is a necessary evil that I do not enjoy but must partake and complete for substantial change to occur within the LAPD and reclaim my name."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">Dorner named members of the LAPD whom he would target and said they would not be safe at home or at work.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">"I will bring unconventional and asymmetrical warfare to those in LAPD uniform whether on or off duty," he wrote. "You will now live the life of the prey."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">Today, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck curtly dismissed the letter.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">"This is a homicide suspect who has committed atrocious crimes. If you want to give any attribution to his ramblings on the Internet, go ahead, but I do not," he said.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">Much of the letter focused on an episode in which Dorner said he saw a fellow officer use excessive force to kick a suspect who was schizophrenic. He reported the incident to the department's internal affairs department, kicking off a lengthy investigation that ultimately led to his dismissal from the department for making false statements.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">"I had broken their supposed 'Blue Line,'" he wrote, referring to the notion that police officers protect one another. "It is clear as day that the department retaliated toward me for reporting [the officer]. ... The department stated that I had lied and made up the report."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">Dorner said the incident cost him greatly at the department and in his personal life, fueling his killing spree.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">"The LAPD's actions have cost me my law enforcement career," he said. "They cost my naval career. ... I've lost my relationship with my mother and sister because of the LAPD. I've lost a relationship with close friends because of the LAPD. In essence, I've lost everything because the LAPD took my name and new (sic) I was INNOCENT!!!" he wrote.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">"This is my last resort. The LAPD has suppressed the truth and it has now lead to deadly consequences," the letter said.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">Beck, the current LAPD chief, said that the internal affairs case that Dorner spent much of the letter focusing on had been treated fairly through the police department's review board.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">"That case was thoroughly adjudicated. It went through several levels of review up to the point where even a civilian representative listened to the entirety of the case. You will find Dorner's statements to be self-serving and the statements of somebody who was extremely unhappy in his lot in life," Beck said.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">The police chief of nearby Riverside, Calif., also dismissed the writings after Dorner allegedly shot and killed a Riverside police officer in the early hours of Thursday morning. Dorner pulled up across from two Riverside officers stopped at a traffic light in their patrol car and used his rifle to shoot them, killing one and injuring the other, according to Chief Sergio Diaz of the Riverside Police Department.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">"The manifesto speaks for itself in terms of a depraved and cowardly mind and heart, and the way he ambushed your public servants speaks for itself," Diaz said.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">Dorner's letter ended with a violent warning to cops, however, and one that kept police heavily armed and on edge today despite their dismissal of the letter's content. He said he would use all of his tactical knowledge from his police and naval experiences to avoid being caught.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 150px;">"You are aware that I have always been the top shot, highest score, an expert in rifle qualifications in every unit I've been in," he wrote. "I will utilize every bit of small arms training, demolition ordnance, and survival training I've been given."</div></div></div>

Alleged Killer Chris Dorner Christopher Dorner LA Cops Dismiss Claims in Alleged Killer Chris Dorner's 'Self-Serving' Manifesto

Unfortunately your browser does not support IFrames. Christopher Dorner Manifesto Posted Online By   COLLEEN CURRY  Feb. 7, 2013 The rage-f...

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New head of National Weather Service named

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="asset-metabar-wrap" style="clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin: 20px 0px 23px 70px;"><div class="asset-metabar" itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(230, 230, 230); display: table-cell; margin: 20px 0px 0px; width: 888px;"><span class="asset-metabar-author asset-metabar-item" itemprop="name" style="float: left; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 14px; margin: 6px 0px 5px; padding: 2px 10px; position: relative;">Doyle Rice, USA TODAY</span><span class="asset-metabar-time asset-metabar-item " style="border-left-color: rgb(225, 225, 225); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; color: #999999; float: left; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 14px; margin: 6px 0px 5px; padding: 2px 10px; position: relative;">3:05p.m. EST February 7, 2013</span></div></div><div class="asset-double-wide double-wide" itemprop="articleBody" role="main" style="color: #222222; float: left; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 10px; position: relative; width: 600px;"><div class="article-metadata-wrap" style="float: left; height: auto; margin: 0px 30px 0px 60px; position: relative;"><aside class="single-photo expandable-collapsed" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 20px; position: relative; width: 180px; z-index: 100;"><div class="image-wrap" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-shadow: rgb(200, 200, 200) 1px 1px 5px; cursor: pointer; padding: 3px; position: relative;"><img alt="uccellini" class="expand-img-vertical" itemprop="url" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/02/07/louis2-3_4_r536_c534.jpg?1b79b3da202957124496e3768cfb7b67cdb10c81" style="border: 0px; max-width: 100%; min-height: 232px; vertical-align: middle;" /><span class="toggle" style="background-image: url(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/static/images/sprites/asset-sprite.png); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; bottom: 0px; height: 21px; position: absolute; right: 0px; width: 21px; z-index: 200;"></span></div><div class="image-credit-wrap" style="color: #646464; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 6px; padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px;"><span class="credit" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: 400;">(Photo: National Weather Service)</span></div></aside><div class="article-metadata" style="position: relative;"><aside class="comp story-highlights " style="clear: left; float: left; margin: 0px 0px 20px; min-height: 60px; width: 180px;"><h3 class="hlts" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #999999; font-family: 'Futura Today Bold', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px auto; text-transform: uppercase;">STORY HIGHLIGHTS</h3><ul class="hlt" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; left: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><li class="hlt-item" style="background-image: url(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/static/images/components/story_highlights_bullets.png); background-position: 0px 17px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-color: rgb(212, 212, 212); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #646464; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; padding: 12px 0px 12px 15px;">Uccellini has been with the weather service since 1989</li><li class="hlt-item" style="background-image: url(http://www.gannett-cdn.com/static/images/components/story_highlights_bullets.png); background-position: 0px 17px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #646464; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; padding: 12px 0px 12px 15px;">He has co-written two books on northeastern snowstorms</li></ul></aside></div></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Louis Uccellini will be the new director of the National Weather Service, effective Sunday.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Uccellini, 63, has been with the weather service since 1989, most recently as the director of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction in College Park, Md. He will be the 16th director of the weather service, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">He was the president of the American Meteorological Society and the author of more than 60 journal articles and chapters in books. He literally wrote the book about blizzards as the co-author of the two-volume book <i>Northeast Snowstorms.</i></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Uccellini replaces acting director Laura Furgione, who served since May. She replaced Jack Hayes, who was director from 2007 until last May. Hayes retired after an internal investigation found that agency staff improperly moved money among different accounts without congressional authorization.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Furgione will return to her position as weather service deputy director.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Uccellini becomes director at a challenging time for the agency, dealing with budget issues that could hamper efforts to improve such critical needs as weather satellites and weather prediction models.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">In a telephone interview Wednesday, Uccellini stressed the importance of maintaining transparency in budget issues.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">He agreed with concerns within the meteorological community about the state of the top U.S. weather prediction model (the GFS), saying he will be "moving aggressively" toward its improvement.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"It's an honor to lead such a prestigious agency with the unbeatable mission of protecting lives and livelihoods," Uccellini said. "The past year had its success stories with superior outlooks, forecasts and warnings, including those for Sandy, but difficulties remain.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">"Our eyes remain locked on the future to ensure a National Weather Service that is second to none and supports a weather-ready nation."</div></div></div>

National Weather Service NWS New head of National Weather Service named

Doyle Rice, USA TODAY 3:05p.m. EST February 7, 2013 (Photo: National Weather Service) STORY HIGHLIGHTS Uccellini has been with the weather s...

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Tiger Woods apparently loaned Lindsey Vonn his plane

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">By </span><span class="fn" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;">Jay Busbee, From: </span>http://sports.yahoo.com<br /><img height="400" src="http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/4.1DcritkErjQeoa6G.7uQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NQ--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusgolfexperts/d0209vonn.jpg" width="327" /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #414141; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20.383333206176758px;">Lindsey Vonn boards Tiger Woods' plane. (Via TMZ)</span><br /><br /><div class="first" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.450000762939453px; padding: 0px;">Man, it's tough being a global celebrity. You do a friend a favor by sending them a plane, as friends do, and all of a sudden the press is all over it, making a big deal. Can't a multimillionaire get a little peace?</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.450000762939453px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;">By now you've probably heard that Tiger Woods allegedly sent his plane to help Lindsey Vonn get home following her injury during the world championships in Austria. TMZ snapped Vonn boarding the plane, and other outlets, including the Swiss tabloid-eseque newspaper Blick (as cited by Ski Racing Magazine) also reported that the plane was Woods'. While planes are indeed trackable and identifiable by their tail numbers, Woods' plane is private and therefore does not register its travels, and as you can see above, there's no plane number visible in that photo.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.450000762939453px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;">Woods and Vonn have been the subject of plenty of rumors; Woods' story you know, and Vonn finalized her divorce in January. So there you go. However, Woods has made no public statement on the matter, and Vonn actually released a statement trying to shut down the rumors:</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.450000762939453px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;">"Lindsey is currently in the midst of the World Cup season in Europe," the statement read. "Her focus is solely on competing and on defending her titles and thus she will not participate in any speculation surrounding her personal life at this time."</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.450000762939453px; margin-top: 11px; padding: 0px;">Woods isn't scheduled to play again for several weeks. We're certain that he'll be forthcoming about his private life at his next press conference.</div></div>

Lindsey Vonn Tiger Woods Tiger Woods apparently loaned Lindsey Vonn his plane

By  Jay Busbee, From:  http://sports.yahoo.com Lindsey Vonn boards Tiger Woods' plane. (Via TMZ) Man, it's tough being a global cele...

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Kate Upton lands back-to-back Sports Illustrated swimsuit covers

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="byline" style="background-color: white; color: #292727; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px;">By Chuck Schilken, From: http://www.latimes.com</span><br /><div class="date" style="background-color: white; color: #930000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; margin-top: 3px; padding: 0px;"><span class="dateString" style="display: inline;">February 10, 2013</span><span class="dateTimeSeparator" style="border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; color: white; display: inline; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-left: 6px;">, </span><span class="timeString" style="display: inline; text-transform: lowercase;">4:00 a.m.</span></div><div class="date" style="background-color: white; color: #930000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; margin-top: 3px; padding: 0px;"><span class="timeString" style="display: inline; text-transform: lowercase;"><img alt="Kate Upton" height="640" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-51172059/turbine/lat-upton-wre0008189916-20130208/400/300x400" width="480" /></span></div><div class="date" style="background-color: white; color: #930000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; margin-top: 3px; padding: 0px;"><span class="timeString" style="display: inline; text-transform: lowercase;"><span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: black; font-style: normal; text-transform: none;">Kate Upton graces the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue for the second consecutive year.</span><span class="credit" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: black; font-style: normal; text-transform: none;">(<span class="photographer">Derek Kettela / Sports Illustrated / Associated Press</span>/ <span class="dateMonth">February </span><span class="dateDay">8</span><span class="dateYear">, 2013</span>)</span></span></div><div class="date" style="background-color: white; color: #930000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; margin-top: 3px; padding: 0px;"><span class="timeString" style="display: inline; text-transform: lowercase;"><span class="credit" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: black; font-style: normal; text-transform: none;"></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">Kate Upton looks [blank] on the cover of the 2013 <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/sports-illustrated-01026001767.topic" id="01026001767" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="Sports Illustrated">Sports Illustrated</a> swimsuit issue.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">While many adjectives might spring to mind, Upton filled in the blank herself Friday after the image used on the front of the annual issue was released to the public.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">"I look...Cold lol," Upton tweeted.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">No doubt that's how the model was feeling at the time of the photo shoot, which took place in Antarctica. "Took us 2 months to thaw out," she said in another tweet. </div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">Upton and nine other SI swimsuit models will appear on "Late Night with David Letterman" on Monday night. The issue will hit the stands the next day.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">After winning rookie of the year honors in her first SI appearance in 2011, Upton graced the front of the 2012 edition, which now makes her the first back-to-back swimsuit cover model since <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/entertainment/television/tyra-banks-PECLB005432.topic" id="PECLB005432" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="Tyra Banks">Tyra Banks</a> in 1996-97.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"><br /></div><br /></div>

hot Kate Upton pix sex Kate Upton lands back-to-back Sports Illustrated swimsuit covers

By Chuck Schilken, From: http://www.latimes.com February 10, 2013 ,  4:00 a.m. Kate Upton graces the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsui...

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MBTA resumes limited service

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 12px;">February 10, 2013 From: </span>http://bostonherald.com<br /><span class="views-label views-label-field-byline" style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 13px;"> </span><br /><div class="field-content" style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://bostonherald.com/users/laurel_j_sweet" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Laurel J. Sweet</a> / Boston Herald</div><br /><br /><div class="field-content" style="background-color: #fafafa; border: 0px; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="248" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://widget.newsinc.com/single.html?WID=1&VID=24356674&freewheel=69016&sitesection=bostonherald&w=440&h=248" width="440"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The MBTA is starting limited service this afternoon and plans to have public transportation service fully restored in time for tomorrow morning’s anticipated post-blizzard, rain-soaked commuter crush, but General Manager Beverly A. Scott cautioned “it will be challenging” through at least Wednesday, and riders need to plan ahead.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“This is an ‘oh my God’ situation,” said Scott, who is advising anyone with a regularly scheduled bus, subway or commuter rail train to catch to show up at least a half-hour early.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We’re going to take it a day at a time,” Scott said. “Plan for the worst and hope for the best. You have to be very, very nimble. It’s not going to be perfect. We’re going to be doing it our way, using good common sense judgement. You can either sit down and roll over and just let things happen to you, or you can have the attitude that this is the deck we’ve got, now let’s deal it.”</div><div id="oas_body_ad_wrapper" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="panel-pane pane-block pane-oas-middle" style="border: 0px; float: left; font: inherit; margin: 0px 16px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="pane-content clearfix" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="250" hspace="0" id="ad_Middle" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="ad_Middle" scrolling="no" src="http://bostonherald.com/sites/default/files/oascache/bh.heraldinteractive.com/news/regional/article/Top_Bottom_Middle_Middle1_Middle2_Middle3_Position1_Position2_Position3_Right_x01_x05_x14_x15_x16/Middle.html" style="border-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" vspace="0" width="300"></iframe></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The T shut down at 4 p.m. on Friday ahead of the blizzard, and T officials say a disabled communications facility in Quincy thwarted an earlier re-opening.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Limited bus and subway service will be back on line as of 2 p.m. today, Scott said.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">All subway trains on the Orange and Red Lines will be operational as of this afternoon. The Blue Line will run between Government Center and Orient Heights only. There will be no continuing service to stations in Revere.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Green Line, the hardest hit of T services, will only run between Kenmore and Lechmere stations, she said.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Also at 2 p.m., the T will restore its 1, 23, 28 and 39 bus routes, which service Boston College, most hospitals and the Massachusetts Avenue corridor from Cambridge to Dudley Square in Roxbury. Scott said returning all bus service is dependent in part on what streets are clear enough for passengers to safely wait and board, and where buses are able to turn around.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Silver Line will operate a 40-foot bus on Washington Street only.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We know folks have to knit their lives around what we say we can and cannot do,” Scott said. She praised the vast number of T employees who have fought their own battles to get into work, but cautioned, “They’re not the Jetsons. They have to be able to get in, too.”</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Furthering hampering efforts yesterday was that a radio tower in Quincy that Scott described as the T’s “central brain” was knocked out for most of the day by the same power outages plaguing everyone else.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Besides the obvious problems created by blizzard conditions on surface roads, Scott said one reason the T has been proceeding with caution is because she didn’t want to jeopardize tomorrow’s commute service.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“People in this community and this region, they depend on us,” Scott said. “We serve with pride - that’s the bottom line. This commonwealth won’t work if we don’t work. It makes you suck it up from inside.”</div></div>

MBTA MBTA resumes limited service

February 10, 2013 From:  http://bostonherald.com By   Laurel J. Sweet  / Boston Herald The MBTA is starting limited service this afternoon a...

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Grammys & Frank Ocean: Breakout Singer Up For Big Awards

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="bold color_1A1A1A" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: rgb(26, 26, 26) !important; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold !important; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">By CHRIS TALBOTT</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"> 02/10/13 04:20 PM ET EST</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">From: </span>http://www.huffingtonpost.com<br /><img alt="Frank Ocean Grammys" height="291" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/983640/thumbs/s-FRANK-OCEAN-GRAMMYS-large.jpg?6" width="400" /><br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px;">Frank Ocean is in the running for big awards.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">LOS ANGELES — Everybody's thinkin' about Frank Ocean.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Ocean is a cause celebre and the man with the momentum as Sunday's Grammy Awards kicked off with pre-telecast wins by Rihanna and Mumford & Sons. One of six top nominees with six nominations apiece, the 25-year-old R&B singer turned cultural talking point will have the music world's attention.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">It remains to be seen if it will be the "Thinkin Bout You" singer's night, but there's no question he's dominated the discussion so far. Already a budding star with a gift for building buzz as well as crafting songs, Ocean was swept up by something more profound when he told fans his first love was a man last fall as he prepared to release his major-label debut, "channel ORANGE."</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">It was a bold move and one that could have submarined his career before it really even got started. Instead, everyone from Beyonce to the often-homophobic R&B and rap communities showed public support. It was a remarkable moment.</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">"It speaks to the advancements of our culture," renowned producer Rick Rubin said. "It feels like the culture's moving forward and he's a representative of the new acceptance in the world for different ideas, which just broadens (our experience), makes the world a better place."</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">A recent altercation in a parking lot with Chris Brown only focused more attention on Ocean. Ocean says Brown was the aggressor; both are competing against each other in one of the Grammy categories.</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Ocean is up for the major awards best new artist, album of the year and record of the year when the show airs live on CBS at 8 p.m. EST from the Staples Center, sharing top-nominee billing with fun., Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, Mumford & Sons, Jay-Z and Kanye West.</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">The Grammy pre-telecast awards show got under way Sunday afternoon at the Nokia Theatre with 70 trophies up for grabs, including rock, pop, rap and country categories. Rihanna's "We Found Love," featuring Calvin Harris, won the day's first award, short form music video. Mumford & Sons took their first Grammy, winning along with Old Crow Medicine Show and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros for their long form video documentary "Big Easy Express."</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Celebrities also began rolling down the red carpet in the early afternoon, but it remained to be seen if any would try to skirt CBS's mandate that stars dress appropriately with butts, breasts and other sensitive areas covered adequately.</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">""I think it's just, you know, we should always stay classy and dress according to the event that's being held," Ashanti said on the red carpet. "So I don't think people should be limited so much and told what you can and cannot do. But, you know, you do have to have a certain class and prestige about yourself."</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Ocean might be riding a wave toward some of the night's biggest honors, but R&B and hip-hop performers have had a spotty history at the Grammys recently when it comes to major awards.</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Only one R&B act has won album of the year this century, and it's hard to even call him just an R&B act given his legend, artistic scope and material: Ray Charles for his "Genius & Friends," an all-star collaboration that was honored posthumously.</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Also limiting Ocean's chances for a clean sweep are his fellow top nominees. Fun. became just the second act to sweep nominations in all four major categories with a debut album, equaling Christopher Cross' 1981 feat. Like Cross' "Sailing," the New York-based pop-rock band has ridden along on the crest of an inescapable song: "We Are Young," featuring Janelle Monae.</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Cross won five Grammys, sweeping the major awards. Fun. likely will have a much harder time piling up that number of victories because of the buzz surrounding the group's competitors. It's not just Ocean who has people talking.</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">London-based folk-rockers Mumford & Sons had one of the top-selling albums of the year with "Babel" and already has a history with The Recording Academy's thousands of voters, having been nominated for major awards the year prior. Also, The Black Keys have a winning track record at the Grammys.</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">And don't count out West and Jay-Z, who were shut out of the major categories but remain very much in voters' minds.</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Jack White's "Blunderbuss" competes with fun.'s "Some Nights," Ocean's "channel ORANGE," Mumford's "Babel" and The Keys' "El Camino" for the night's top award, album of the year.</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know," featuring Kimbra, Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" join the fun., Ocean and Black Keys entries in record of the year.</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Fun. and Clarkson also are nominated for song of the year along with Ed Sheeran's "The A Team," Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" and Miguel's "Adorn."</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">And rounding out the major categories, fun., Ocean, Alabama Shakes, Hunter Hayes and The Lumineers are up for best new artist.</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Those major nominees figure prominently on the 3 1/2-hour telecast, broadcast live on CBS.</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">Swift will kick things off with a show-opening performance. Fun. and Ocean will take the stage. Others scheduled to perform include Justin Timberlake, Carrie Underwood, Clarkson, White and Juanes.</div><div style="border: none; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">There will be no shortage of mashups the Grammys have become famous for, either. Elton John, Mavis Staples, Mumford, Brittany Howard, T Bone Burnett and Zac Brown are saluting the late Levon Helm, who won the Americana Grammy last year a few months before his death. The Keys will join Dr. John and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on stage. Sting, Rihanna and Bruno Mars will perform together. Other team-ups include Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley, and Alicia Keys and Maroon 5.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><script src="http://pshared.5min.com/Scripts/PlayerSeed.js?sid=281&width=560&height=345&playList=517617251" type="text/javascript"></script> </div></div>

Frank Ocean Grammy Grammys & Frank Ocean: Breakout Singer Up For Big Awards

By CHRIS TALBOTT  02/10/13 04:20 PM ET EST From:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com Frank Ocean is in the running for big awards. LOS ANGELES — ...

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IMF DOCTRINES AND ITS GEOPOLITICAL IMPACT

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font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_Qzqa9pdsHMjo9PIFdu3ngVcCUwmjEXXeVsPNc1ssOpHQns9LW6b_ddEj63F75s3pO3h8jztsPlh_gsxBDt7F38UddPMi2VFYaocDOMyg042RbgQ8kyVkP3PpWMPleIXvEkupm-ocF0s/s1600/imf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_Qzqa9pdsHMjo9PIFdu3ngVcCUwmjEXXeVsPNc1ssOpHQns9LW6b_ddEj63F75s3pO3h8jztsPlh_gsxBDt7F38UddPMi2VFYaocDOMyg042RbgQ8kyVkP3PpWMPleIXvEkupm-ocF0s/s200/imf.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">IMF PLEADS GUILTY BUT INSISTS ON AUSTERITY </span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By Julio Godoy via IDN</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Under different conditions, the recent admission by the head economist of the <a href="http://www.imf.org/">International Monetary Fund</a>, Olivier Blanchard, that the Fund was dead wrong when it prescribed tough austerity measures to countries trapped in a sovereign debt crisis and in recession, would be a reason for satisfaction. But the price paid by the youth in GREECE, ITALY, PORTUGAL, and SPAIN, to name only the EUROPEAN victims of the IMF ill advices, is too high for celebrating being right. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The IMF ‘mea culpa’ has been making the rounds in global economic forums since last October, after the Fund’s 2012 <a href="http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2012/02/pdf/text.pdf">World Economic Outlook</a> (WEO) admitted the miscalculations. IMF said that it had underestimated the multiplier effects of the austerity measures it had been preaching since decades.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XktPydVM_hlcKpyyDpczvnuNWJ2lhWLqWRtgFKlWPRnzTNSBL3yI8FnL7Z3TeU8dTulxBEB66bk2i4_T5muLdzJXJXA_Tl7ecfhuIEl5nZv_JnYFs2qtDX7TDEp7INm4orOlFfjRAUeb/s1600/voting_rts_imf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XktPydVM_hlcKpyyDpczvnuNWJ2lhWLqWRtgFKlWPRnzTNSBL3yI8FnL7Z3TeU8dTulxBEB66bk2i4_T5muLdzJXJXA_Tl7ecfhuIEl5nZv_JnYFs2qtDX7TDEp7INm4orOlFfjRAUeb/s640/voting_rts_imf.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Until October, IMF assumed that, roughly speaking, the multiplier of fiscal cuts was 0.5 percent. In other words, the Fund estimated that cutting government spending by one percent of gross domestic product would lead to a drop of 0.5 percent of economic activity.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Theoretically, small fiscal multipliers allow states to cut public spending without sacrificing economic growth. Conversely, if fiscal multipliers are large, austerity measures attempting at consolidating the fiscal situation of a given country with large deficits are deemed to be self-defeating, leading to an even larger deficit and to an acceleration of economic downturn.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">AUSTERITY THERAPY APPLIED BY IMF SINCE THE 1980S AND UNTIL THE SUMMER OF 2012 WAS BASED ON A WRONG READING OF THE WORLD'S ECONOMIC HISTORY</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In the title of the now famous box 1.1. of the 2012 WEO, IMF authors rhetorically asked: "Are we underestimating short-term fiscal multipliers?" In the subsequent text, they answered right away: Yes, we are! "A number of policy documents, including IMF staff reports, suggest that fiscal multipliers used in the forecasting process are about 0.5," they said. "In line with these assumptions, earlier analysis by the IMF staff suggests that, on average, fiscal multipliers were near 0.5 in advanced economies during the three decades leading up to 2009." But they were wrong, for the 2012 WEO results "indicate that multipliers have actually been in the 0.9 to 1.7 range since the Great Recession."</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To put it bluntly: The austerity therapy IMF applied since the 1980s and until the summer of 2012 was based on a wrong reading of the world's economic history, which, however incorrect, fitted very well into the basic tenets of neoliberalism, that public spending is evil and must be consistently curtailed. Only by October 2012, that is, more than three years since the EUROPEAN sovereign debt crisis broke out, and with youth unemployment reaching 50 percent in the affected countries, the Fund came to realise that the negative multiplication impact of austerity actually was two or three times higher; that is, that a fiscal cut of one percent of GDP would make the economy shrink by up to 1.7 percent.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By so doing, IMF wiped out its own long-cherished anthem, which preaches that cuts in public and social expenditure are sine qua non to fiscal consolidation and sustainable economic growth. Worse still, IMF also found out that during economic downturns, the expenditure multipliers are up to ten times larger than tax multipliers. That means that during a recession, cuts on public spending lead to a dramatic worsening of the fiscal situation of a country in question, instead of helping to consolidate its state accounts.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As if that wouldn't be bad enough, IMF also concluded that the multipliers in the EURO ZONE were actually higher that the above-mentioned estimates: A fiscal squeeze of one per cent of GDP operated in an economic downturn and based on expenditure cuts, leads in the EURO ZONE to a further economic shrinking of 2.5 per cent, thus strengthening a vicious circle of recession, austerity, and impoverishment.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">RECIPE FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CATASTROPHE</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3YUk-rN1bJA?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Under such assumptions, austerity measures imposed by the IMF in complicity with the EUROPEAN UNION and governments in NORTHERN EUROPE, especially that in Berlin, upon the MEDITERRANEAN country members of the EURO ZONE, which demanded fiscal cuts well over one percent of GDP, constituted a recipe for economic and social catastrophe.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Such warnings had been issued by numerous economists and commentators – practically since the beginning of the crisis in late 2009. And these had been proved by factual economic development in GREECE, ITALY, SPAIN, and PORTUGAL.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The undeniable fact is that austerity measures applied during the recession have strengthened the recessionary tendencies of the economy, leading to a skyrocketing unemployment, without bringing forth a positive perspective that fiscal consolidation can be achieved within a sensitive period of time.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But the IMF, the EU, and leading economists and officials in Berlin, did not want to listen, either deafened by their ill-advised neoliberal dogmas, or maybe intentionally, to squeeze the modest prosperity reached during the last two decades out of Southern EUROPE.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">See:  C<span style="font-size: large;">YPRUS UNDER THE CLAWS OF THE IMF</span></span><br /><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/cyprus-under-claws-of-imf.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/cyprus-under-claws-of-imf.html</a></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Earlier this month, IMF again released <a href="http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2013/wp1301.pdf">another working paper</a> on fiscal multipliers and austerity, focused on the EURO ZONE, and co-authored by Olivier Blanchard, the Fund’s top economist. The new paper repeats the admission that the Fund has since decades consistently underestimated the fiscal multipliers – a 'mea maxima culpa', so to speak.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"Forecasters significantly underestimated the increase in unemployment and the decline in domestic demand associated with fiscal consolidation," Blanchard and co-author Daniel Leigh, another IMF fund economist, write in the paper.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Blanchard and Leigh also admit that they could not actually determine what multipliers the IMF economists at the country level were using in their forecasts. As Blanchard and Leigh put it, "Forecasters do not typically use explicit multipliers, but instead use models in which the actual multipliers depend on the type of fiscal adjustment and on other economic conditions. Thus, we can <b><u>only guess</u></b> what the assumed multipliers, and by implication the actual multipliers, have been during the crisis."</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The emphasis is mine. The IMF officials used the low multiplier as given, for it fitted the neoliberal assumptions that cuts in public spending are indispensable for fiscal consolidation and sustainable growth, and not as a variable that needed to be examined and revised and adjusted based on national circumstances.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3hBYAcPPYQM?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">TOO LATE</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Obviously, the IMF's mea culpa comes too late, for at least two reasons. Not only have the policies its wrong reading of economic history inspired, damaged the EUROPEAN economies for years to come, provoking what can be called a lost decade, similar to the one LATIN AMERICA suffered in the 1980s and particularly ARGENTINA, which defaulted in 2001because it followed the ill advice of the IMF. These policies have in fact condemned a whole LATIN AMERICAN and EUROPEAN generation to unemployment, poverty, and emigration.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rpkGhy7BxXw?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Additionally, other centres of economic analysis have long ago confirmed what many assumed since the very beginning of the crisis, and the IMF has been too late in drawing appropriate lessons. For instance, the <a href="http://www.niesr.ac.uk/">National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR)</a>, a London-based research organization, estimated last October that the ratio of debt to gross domestic product will be around 5 percentage points higher in both the UK and the EURO ZONE because of the spending cuts and tax rises pursued from 2011 to 2013.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The NIESR study implicates that the current austerity strategy being pursued by individual member countries, as well as the EU as a whole, is fundamentally flawed and is making matters worse.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"Not only would growth have been higher if such policies had not been pursued, but debt-to-GDP ratios would have been lower," the report, written by economists Dawn Holland and Jonathan Portes, said. "It is ironic that, given that the EU was set up in part to avoid coordination failures in economic policy, it should deliver the exact opposite."</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But, if you expected that the IMF would rethink its position on austerity after learning that the basic assumptions underlining it were false, than you were as wrong as the Fund: Blanchard and Leigh still argue in favour of cuts in spending, regardless of their economic and social consequences:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"Our findings that short-term fiscal multipliers have been larger than expected do not have mechanical implications for the conduct of fiscal policy," they say. "Some commentators interpreted our earlier box as implying that fiscal consolidation should be avoided altogether. This does not follow from our analysis. The short-term effects of fiscal policy on economic activity are only one of the many factors that need to be considered in determining the appropriate pace of fiscal consolidation for any single economy."</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Blanchard and Leigh obviously believe that the long-term unemployed youth in SPAIN, GREECE and PORTUGAL will certainly appreciate IMF's short-term analysis.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="watch-title"><br /></span></div><h1><a href="http://www.youtube.com/show/empire"><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></b></a><span title="The IMF on trial"><span class="watch-title"></span></span></h1>

IMF DOCTRINES AND ITS GEOPOLITICAL IMPACT

IMF PLEADS GUILTY BUT INSISTS ON AUSTERITY By Julio Godoy via IDN Under different conditions, the recent admission by the head economist o...

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