Trouble Losing Weight? Here Are Some Great Ideas

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Larry M. Shimla</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Almost everyone wants to lose some weight. It's an instinctive desire to improve your self image while making yourself more attractive. It's a great goal that anyone can reach. It is possible to lose weight, and if you implement the following advice, you will be taking the first step.<br /> <br /> Reduce your daily intake of calories gradually. This will lead to long-term weight loss success. A good rule of thumb is to reduce your daily calorie intake by five hundred calories. <br /> <br /> One good way to lose excess weight is by joining an organization such as Jenny Craig. There are people in these organizations that can help give you support, and they also have lots of resources that can help you, such as sending meals to your home. If you have enough money, joining these types of organizations can really help with your weight loss goals. <br /> <br /> If you are most interested in losing fat you need to focus on doing mostly cardio exercises. Cardiovascular exercises lead to faster fat burning and an elevated heart rate. Anytime your heart rate is increased and stays increased for a period of time is considered cardio exercise. This is beneficial because any activity that you enjoy can be considered exercise as long as your heart rate is increased. <br /> <br /> If you want to quickly lose weight, drinks lots of water. When you drink more water, you will remain fuller longer, and it helps you have less trouble with water bloat. Drink a minimum of eight glasses of water per day. You won't lose fat this way, but your scale will show a quick loss of a few pounds which can motivate you to stay on your weight loss plan. <br /> <br /> Try sucking on an ice cube when you feel as if you want to have a snack or some junk food. Sucking on ice chips are a beneficial way of dealing with food cravings because a lot of the time it's all about just having things in your mouth. <br /> <br /> Spread your meals out during the course of your day. Eating 5 or 6 small meals is far better than having 3 large meals. Your body is better able to maintain a higher metabolism this way. <br /> <br /> You can see your progress more clearly by taking both before and after photographs of yourself. This gives you a visual indication of how much weight you've lost, which can sometimes be more motivating than just a number. You also have something to show your friends so that they can see your progress. <br /> <br /> Never drink soda pop. Not only will soda increase your sweet cravings, it is extremely high in calories and carbohydrates from sugar. Go with a bottled water instead so that you don't wind up taking in extra calories. <br /> <br /> Skipping meals causes your body to hold on to fat, making it more difficult to burn calories. Even a small, healthy snack is a better substitute for skipping a meal. It's better to eat just a few nuts than nothing. <br /> <br /> As you can see, there are many options for losing weight, so it is important that you understand them before setting out on your weight loss journey. Now that you have read the above article, you should know the proper plan that will fit your needs. The tips you have read in this article will get you started.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>For more information about this topic, <a href="http://kampusagi.com/index.php?p=blogs/viewstory/325062">More</a> to go to Larry M. Shimla's <a href="http://guupy.com/blogs/viewstory/574159">site</a> right now for extensive information about her profile.</div><br /> </div><br />

Trouble Losing Weight? Here Are Some Great Ideas

By Larry M. Shimla Almost everyone wants to lose some weight. It's an instinctive desire to improve your self image while making you...

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A Personal Trainer Menlo Park Explains The 4 Benefits Associated With Walking

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By James T. Swanson</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Menlo Park is among the busiest cities in California. In fact, the city suffers from traffic congestion especially during the peak hours. This could be attributed to the close proximity of Stanford University, one of the largest universities through out California.<br /> <br /> If you are a resident of Menlo Park, then why not choose to walk going to your office or to your school? Aside from avoiding the traffic congestion, you will also be able to reap lots of benefits from walking. A personal trainer Menlo Park has revealed the 4 main benefits of walking.<br /> <br /> Prevents Diabetes<br /> <br /> Medical researchers have shown that constant brisk walking can help to lessen the risk of Type 2 Diabetes. Resistance to insulin is the predictor of the disease, even those who have normal glucose level. Furthermore, studies show that even people who have history of diabetes in their family could help to lessen their risk if they take time to walk on a daily basis.<br /> <br /> Improves Sex Life<br /> <br /> The personal trainer Menlo Park has revealed that those people who exercise regularly, especially those that do brisk walking, are living a healthy and satisfying sex life. This also applies to those who are aged 50 and above. So if you want a better sexual relationship with your partner, then you should encourage each other take on a long hike each day.<br /> <br /> Saves You On Gym Costs<br /> <br /> Walking regularly helps a person to stay healthy, that is a fact and a lot of medical experts can prove that. Sweating regularly can help to prevent you from getting those deadly diseases, such as cancer, heart diseases, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis and other illnesses. Therefore, you will not have to worry about having to go to your doctor and spending for those expensive medication and health check-ups. So follow what the personal trainer Menlo Park has advised - take time to walk on a daily basis, even for a few hours only.<br /> <br /> Saves You On Gym Costs<br /> <br /> Saves You From Expensive Medication<br /> <br /> But they didn't know that avoiding exercises can actually lead to more expenses in the future. So if you do not have the money to spend for a gym membership, the personal trainer Menlo Park advises that you go on a hike in the nearby park instead.<br /> <br /> It may be a bit too exhausting to walk daily and it's definitely not easy to motivate yourself to adhere to a daily brisk walking schedule. But if you just consider the benefits previously mentioned, the sacrifices that you're going to make will certainly be worth it. So as early as now, encourage yourself and your loved ones to go on a long walk everyday. Eventually, you will find yourself thanking the personal trainer Menlo Park for giving you such a worthy advice.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Getting in great shape by using the help of <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com/personal-trainer-menlo-park/">Personal Trainer Atherton</a> not just improves your own entire body but also your health too. The huge benefits that one can get from <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com/personal-trainer-atherton/">Personal Trainer Menlo Park</a> are countless.</div><br /> </div><br />

A Personal Trainer Menlo Park Explains The 4 Benefits Associated With Walking

By James T. Swanson Menlo Park is among the busiest cities in California. In fact, the city suffers from traffic congestion especially d...

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Enjoy The Outdoors: Employ A Personal Trainer Irvine To Help You Get Fit Through Sports Activities

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Jackie Johnson</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Irvine, California is blessed with a pleasant weather all year round. It is located at Southern California where temperature doesn't go below zero degrees. It's usually warm to cool at day time, and gets colder at night time.<br /> <br /> The pleasant temperature is very inviting for people to engage in sports activities in order to get healthy and fit. A lot more people are now realizing the harmful effects of living a sedentary life together with unhealthy dietary habits.<br /> <br /> You can change your life the fun and easy way. You can enroll in a gym class or you can go outdoors and enjoy the cool weather while getting in shape. If you have nobody to play with or if you are a beginner or you want to improve your skills further on a sport activity, employ a personal trainer Irvine.<br /> <br /> Cycling<br /> <br /> Cycling is a good cardiovascular activity. It pushes your heart to pump harder especially on uphill rides. Plus, you get to enjoy the sceneries while exercising. You can become a stronger cyclist with the help of a personal trainer Irvine because he can design various bike training days for you.<br /> <br /> Cycling is not just about the number of miles you cover, but the difficulties of uphill and downhill rides, as well. A trainer can go biking with you and assess your fitness level. From there, he can provide you with a cycling program, which includes intervals of difficult riding days with more uphill and downhill slopes and days with just straight and flat roads. In that way, you do not over exert your body since a personal trainer adjusts your bike routine according to what is appropriate to your fitness level.<br /> <br /> Hiking<br /> <br /> Another way of enjoying the outdoor is to go hiking with a personal trainer Irvine. He can design a program that would increase your stamina so you can cover more difficult terrain hikes with ascending and descending slopes.<br /> <br /> Tennis<br /> <br /> Tennis is a good cardiovascular exercise for men and women. It should be done regularly to improve on your strokes and become better at hitting the ball on time. You can hire a personal trainer Irvine so he can help you move better on the court and improve your skills on tennis.<br /> <br /> There are various tennis drills to be done and a personal trainer can feed the tennis balls to you on either sides of the court. The idea is to make you run for the balls and at the same time practice the proper placement of balls.<br /> <br /> By hiring a personal trainer, you get the opportunity to better your skills on a particular sport. A personal trainer Irvine is well-versed on the various drills needed to increase your stamina, avoid injuries, and elevate the level of your game. In all types of sports, the challenge or the goal is to go to the next level, and you can reach that through the assistance of a fitness instructor.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Getting in top shape with the aid of <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com/personal-trainer-irvine/"> Personal Trainer Irvine </a> not just enhances your physique but likewise your overall health as well. The benefits that one could get from <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com"> The Perfect Workout </a> are endless.</div><br /> </div><br />

Enjoy The Outdoors: Employ A Personal Trainer Irvine To Help You Get Fit Through Sports Activities

By Jackie Johnson Irvine, California is blessed with a pleasant weather all year round. It is located at Southern California where tempe...

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Weight Problems Rates Rising

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Linda Rushing</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>There is no question that obesity rates around the globe are on the increase. While there has been certain attention on the United States, in among the current surveys it was discovered that Mexico in fact leads the way in with regards to the percentage of people who are overweight. Today, more than one third of adults in the US are considered obese. In fact almost 36 % of adults meet the meaning of obese. There are a variety of factors that have added to the rise of excessive weight in the US and around the globe. This makes the issue of tackling the issues of excessive weight more difficult since it considers a number of various factors.<br /> <br /> Previous studies have revealed that excessive weight rates started to soar starting in the late 1980s and these rates continue to rise today. In 2008, the medical costs associated with excessive weight was estimated to be almost $150 billion. Plus, these rates have increased significantly over the past 20 years too. In the United States, the rate of obesity is usually more prevalent in southeastern states, particularly Alabama, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana to name a few. Weight problems rates are the most affordable nevertheless in the southwestern US states such as Arizona, Utah, Nevada and California. This disparity is due in huge part to diet plan and levels of income which help dictate the sort of food that is normally bought.<br /> <br /> Youth Excessive weight Rates<br /> <br /> In the past 30 years, the variety of overweight kids has more than increased and has actually tripled in teenagers. Findings carried out in 2010 showed that more than one third of children and teenagers were either overweight or obese. Such trends of excessive weight are disturbing due to the fact that it suggests an extension of this trend for the direct future.<br /> <br /> The Causes of Weight problems<br /> <br /> The source of obesity in the US are diverse and will take diligence to conquer because lots of people might be consuming more calories than they think.<br /> <br /> Too Many Calories Per Meal: This is among the most apparent trends in fast food recently, enhancing the portions that are readily available. Plus, people are generally eating more for each meal and thus increasing the number of calories also.<br /> <br /> Late Night Meals: Eating after-dinner treats utilized to be limited mainly to popcorn, fruits and vegetables. Today, many individuals consume a square meal well after dinner meanings that the body has less time to burn away the calories that are eaten. This leads to the body storing more fat.<br /> <br /> Too Many Carbohydrates and Sugars: Among the reasons that more individuals are becoming obese is the usage of high carbohydrate meals. This is due to the fact that people are consuming less fruits and vegetables while supplementing their diet plan with more items that contain carbs and sugars.<br /> <br /> All these elements have actually played an important duty in why more people are obese. In taking care of the issues of being obese, celebrateding these factors and resolving them is essential to losing the excess fat and restoring regular weight conditions.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>The writer of this brief article has lots of years of writing articles related to <a href="http://buy375phen.tumblr.com">fat burning supplements</a>. For those who are looking into getting good info about <a href="http://www.zimbio.com/Weight+Loss/articles/qNH6IjQ6d-_/Buy+phen375+online+get+rid+unwanted+fat">buy Phen375</a> then you're welcomed to look at our website today.</div><br /> </div><br />

Weight Problems Rates Rising

By Linda Rushing There is no question that obesity rates around the globe are on the increase. While there has been certain attention on...

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Book Review: Vintage Magazine's Quatrième Issue

<a href="http://vintagezine.com/issues/issue-4"><b><i>Vintage Magazine: Quatrième Issue</i></b></a><br />Vintage Magazine, 2013<br />Paperback, 104 pages<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fDttVymDNlviHwyvqf5KuZSgl2vr1U8xK8dIu-IcxdNKcLJBRQ0annjRRZogtbzBQlQZRfP378WLB11jkd5r2EbinHo9STH1XaIHhI-oxbeUeRzvXTLrEOd4hxPaPZppjjBowKCUtwWm/s1600/z62AD0Y.jpg" /><br />[All photos courtesy of Vintage Magazine]<br /><br />Even before opening the fourth ("Quatrieme") issue of the biannual <a href="http://vintagezine.com/">Vintage Magazine</a>, it's obvious that something special is inside. The cover, designed by <a href="http://chipkidd.com/">Chip Kidd</a>, is a tile-like layering of progressively larger covers meant to recall linoleum, an intention aided by the smooth yet sticky coating on the paper. Inside, the magazine is a roller coaster of textures, colors, and formats that goes so far beyond the confines of the word "magazine" that if Vintage didn't call itself such the reader would assume it is a one-of-a-kind publication: a curio lovingly, and artistically, stitched (and glued and folded and pocketed) together. How many magazines, after all, come with a pop-up, much less one mounted on a removable chip-board booklet that can become a display object in the reader's home?<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEWVdLh-GtbKO2qav_iqEsX2cPRNzYcxLZ9VShvLa2cdliY4UIsBoWWsd1p86QSNgDqT7l1R7ET9qC0rQq_zj9cFPJ9mc60-hfyu32xmCsLibxLsyl_rYztX3hXTpGNp0hE7V7sNdLi4E/s1600/0E0LOb8.jpg" /><br />[Novogratz house and pop-up]<br /><br />Vintage Magazine calls its fourth issue an "homage to architecture and home décor." This theme is filtered through Ivy Baer Sherman's overarching intention to "<span id="http://www.mediabistro.com/unbeige/seven-questions-for-ivy-baer-sherman-editor-and-founder-of-vintage-magazine_b31278">bring aspects of the past to the fore</span>" (from <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/unbeige/seven-questions-for-ivy-baer-sherman-editor-and-founder-of-vintage-magazine_b31278">an interview at UnBeige</a>). The tour of Robert and Cortney Novogratz's pop-up townhouse at 400 West Street (a half-block from Richard Meier's tower at 165 Charles Street) is a good case in point. The modern (if unexceptional in that regard) building is transformed by the <a href="http://www.thenovogratz.com/">famous owners</a> through the collision of old and new; most overtly, the facade is collaged with salvaged wood to subtly transform its street presence.<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSClHayoTzSu9ZjHWHpAdVmhjU8SoUkh6x5f43X9ib9mSXqFRbCWQzNS8dEE5pHHO39t52Q1aLVpCaZpt4xaK9RysrLGfzIV87JR3tUPHSRJJaIx2wUMuUUz-YbRV7ORIMlMpljsBwqaa/s1600/E17bPHE.jpg" /><br />[Joseph Cornell spread]<br /><br />Other highlights that insert the past into the present include <a href="http://lisabirnbach.tumblr.com/">Lisa Birnbach</a>'s argument for "living with books" in the age of the eReader, Joe Haddad's peek into Joseph Cornell's basement, <a href="http://www.kristeninlondon.com/">Kristen Frederickson</a>'s love letter to the AGA stove, and <a href="http://www.historictable.com/">Cathy Kaufman</a>'s investigation into "the vanishing dining room." Reading these and other gems in the Quatrième Issue is like a voyage of discovery, hardly the straightforward front-to-back experience of a traditional magazine. Surprises await on each flip through the issue (I didn't see the careful colored stitching, most noticeable between pages 88 and 89, until the third or fourth time), making it a reward to open, look at, touch, and occasionally read.

Book Review: Vintage Magazine's Quatrième Issue

Vintage Magazine: Quatrième Issue Vintage Magazine, 2013 Paperback, 104 pages [All photos courtesy of Vintage Magazine] Even before opening ...

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5 Best Exercises For Weight Loss

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Difficult for a lot of people to find the perfect workout and exercises, and most people avoid the difficult exercises. Wherefore some people believe that Losing weight is arduous. Now I will give you the best five exercises to make sure that you lose weight and keep you feeling full.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kHyiWN3XTdDQGFmKxIgbJ8NygqFjQZlTimE5Dzi1-LpPKqOvY7e3eBvDKTfwMuTKLyhzLpOZIOgn0IZeryqN-IAQCBa8_9QFukYY3FJtY9Bem0aONMq09_HP5ixD-MZkc2AwkwpQYew/s1600/5+Best+Exercises+For+Weight+Loss.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"></h1><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><center><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-5028478688240504"; /* LargeInPost_waysforweightloss_300-600 */ google_ad_slot = "6695176472"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 600; //--></script><script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"></script></center><br /><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Cycling:</b></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cycling helps weight loss as it burns calories, can truly burn up to 1050 calories per hour. And improves health. Bike a comfortable and enjoyable option.. Suitable for everyone, any level of fitness or age, You not need special training most of us can ride a bike. And also Cheap and pollution free.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Rowing:</b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rowing is an excellent way to lose weight. it is a full body exercise. Rowing burns more calories than running, cycling, or swimming. Maybe start with half hour at a pace where carrying on a conversation could be done without too much difficulty.. and finally bring this up to hour.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Hill sprints:</b></span><br /><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nothing more effective than hill sprints for fat loss. Great style to ramp your metabolism quickly, without sacrificing muscle tissue like traditional cardio does. Hill sprints give you a leaner body and even help to optimize your hormones. If you are overweight you can start by brisk walking up hills and as it becomes easier you can patiently switch to jogging up hills. Then when jogging or running becomes easier you will ultimately sprint.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Squats:</b></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">A squat is a basic fundamental human movement and is an essential part of any strength training program. Squats is like the king of exercise. It works on your thighs, abs, the lower back and also the cuffs of your legs. Here more details "<a href="http://waysforweightloss.blogspot.com/2013/03/3-exercises-to-burn-fat-at-home.html" target="_blank">3 Exercises to Burn Fat at Home</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>T Push Up:</b></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Using a workout consisting of squats and the push up derived moves we covered can be a good idea to start your weight loss. T pushup is a mixture of push ups and a popular yoga move. To do this, place your hands shoulder width apart, like you would a normal push up. When you come to the top of the motion, lift one arm and rotate so that your arms are straight out, forming a T shape. Bring that hand back down and switch to the other side. This turns an upper body exercise into a full body endurance test.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><br /><center><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-5028478688240504"; /* inPost_waysforweightloss_336-280 */ google_ad_slot = "6975892477"; google_ad_width = 336; google_ad_height = 280; //--></script><script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"></script></center><br /></div>

Exercises Weight Loss 5 Best Exercises For Weight Loss

Difficult for a lot of people to find the perfect workout and exercises, and most people avoid the difficult exercises. Wherefore some peopl...

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Today's Teamster News 08.31.13

<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130830-709862.html" rel="nofollow">Court Affirms Dismissal of Arkansas Best Complaint Against Union, YRC</a>  Wall Street Journal   ...A federal appeals court has affirmed a lower court's decision to dismiss a complaint from an Arkansas Best Corp. (ABFS) unit against the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union, YRC Worldwide Inc. (YRCW) and other parties for alleged violations of a collective bargaining agreement governing most unionized trucking companies...<br /><a href="http://www.beyondchron.org/articles/A_New_Dawn_for_Labor_Day_11775.html" rel="nofollow">A New Dawn for Labor Day</a>  Beyond Chron   ... <a href="https://west.exch021.serverdata.net/owa/redir.aspx?C=YCKk8sNFBkeoMU8HmEiZ8s7BBYLSd9AIiyb_cZ2BusPs0gdYrCeDaLfW6SRZezh-Z9ElGGrdPiQ.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fprospect.org%2farticle%2falt-labor">a new generation</a> of worker organizing is emerging – including car wash workers, home health aides, domestic workers, dishwashers and waiters, retail sales persons, day laborers and warehouse workers. They signal a growing hunger for representation and voice on the job...<br /><a href="http://www.wral.com/wake-da-offers-deal-to-moral-monday-arrestees/12836949/" rel="nofollow">NAACP opposes deals for 'Moral Monday' protesters</a>  WRAL.com   ... The state chapter of the NAACP said Friday that it plans to fight charges filed against people arrested during a series of protests at the Legislative Building instead of accepting a deal offered by Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby to end the cases...<br /><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/08/30/2555601/living-poverty-effect-brain-constantly-pulling-nighters/" rel="nofollow">Poverty Has Same Effect On The Brain As Constantly Pulling All Nighters</a>  ThinkProgress   ... “Poverty is the equivalent of pulling an all-nighter. Picture yourself after an all-nighter. Being poor is like that every day...”<br /><a href="http://citizen.typepad.com/eyesontrade/2013/08/colombia-uprising-is-this-what-free-trade-looks-like.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+eyesontrade+%28Eyes+on+Trade%29" rel="nofollow">Colombia Uprising: Is This What "Free Trade" Looks Like?</a>  Public Citizen   ...Unfair trade is one of the rallying cries of the underreported protests currently wracking Colombia...<br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/30/low-paid-germans-mini-jobs" rel="nofollow">Low-paid Germans mind rich-poor gap as elections approach</a>  The Guardian   ...With no national minimum wage and a fifth of workers in insecure mini-jobs, critics say German prosperity is being built on exploitation of the downtrodden...<br /><a href="http://www.tradereform.org/2013/08/death-china-film-shows-jobs-gone/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=death-china-film-shows-jobs-gone" rel="nofollow">“Death by China” Film Shows where all the Jobs Have Gone</a>  Trade Reform   ...China’s perverse form of capitalism combines illegal mercantilist and protectionist weapons to pick off American industries, job by job. Meanwhile, America’s executives, politicians, and even academia remain silent about the looming threat...<br /><a href="http://baselinescenario.com/2013/08/28/regulators-repeat-exactly-what-they-did-during-the-last-housing-boom/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BaselineScenario+%28The+Baseline+Scenario%29" rel="nofollow">Regulators Repeat Exactly What They Did During the Last Housing Boom</a>  Baseline Scenario   ... everyone has either forgotten that the financial crisis happened or is pretending that it didn’t happen because, well, maybe it won’t happen again?...<br /><a href="http://wallstreetonparade.com/2013/08/public-banking-institute-calls-largest-wall-street-banks-%E2%80%9Cunsafe%E2%80%9D-and-backs-it-up/" rel="nofollow">Public Banking Institute Calls Largest Wall Street Banks “Unsafe,” and Backs It Up</a>  Wall Street on Parade  ...The Public Banking Institute has <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIVRcYJvjwA&feature=youtu.be">released a new video</a>making serious claims, backed by graphs and government documents, that the largest Wall Street banks are an unsafe choice for the savings of moms, pops and public payrolls...<br /><a href="http://www.epi.org/blog/your-pay/#sthash.zFZtK3Bx.dpuf" rel="nofollow">What Should You Be Earning?</a>  Economic Policy Institute   ...In honor of Labor Day, we made a little tool—based on our project inequality.is—that shows how much you would be making if wages had kept pace with productivity, a key indicator of an economy working for all...<br /><a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130829/METRO01/308290122/1409/METRO/Pet-coke-along-Detroit-River-removed-Bing-says" rel="nofollow">Pet coke along Detroit River removed, Bing says</a>  Detroit News   ...Pet coke is a byproduct of the oil refinery process and can be sold as a fuel source. The piles along the Detroit River were created at the nearby Marathon Oil Refinery and purchased by Koch Minerals LLC...

Today's Teamster News 08.31.13

Court Affirms Dismissal of Arkansas Best Complaint Against Union, YRC  Wall Street Journal   ...A federal appeals court has affirmed a lowe...

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Nice To Know At Least One Thing Has Survived Since This Country Was Founded

It's a pear tree.<br />Not just any pear tree either, this one has been around since <i>before</i> this country was founded.<br /><br />383 years to be exact.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/first-fruit-tree-planted-america-still-alive-and-well-age-383.html"><b> One of the first fruit trees planted in America is still alive and well at age 383</b></a><br /><br /><blockquote>It may be hard to believe, however, but one of America's earliest settlers is still alive today -- and still bearing fruit after 383 years.</blockquote><blockquote>Among the first wave of immigrants to the New World was an English Puritan named John Endicott, who in 1629, arrived to serve as the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Charged with the task of establishing a welcoming setting for new arrivals upon the untamed land, the Pilgrim leader set about making the area around modern-day Salem as homey as possible.<br /><br />In approximately 1630, as his children watched on, Endicott planted one of the first fruit trees to be cultivated in America: a pear sapling imported from across the Atlantic. He is said to have declared at the time: "I hope the tree will love the soil of the old world and no doubt when we have gone the tree will still be alive."<br /><br />The tree did outlive all witnesses to its planting -- as well as generations and generations that followed.</blockquote><br />snip<br /><br /><blockquote>Through the 20th century, Endicott's pear tree endured as the United States -- the nation it predates by 146 years -- continued to grow up around it. Through several more strong hurricanes, and even a vandal attack in the 1960s, the tree never stopped bearing fruit.<br /><br />Although its pears have been described as "medium in size, unattractive, and coarse textured", the tree's shortcomings have been more than made up for by its resilience -- a legacy that will carry on even after the sands of time eventually wither its branches. The USDA's National Clonal Germplasm Repository, a seed bank, successfully produced a clone of Endicott's pear tree.<br /></blockquote><br />There is more at the link about the long history of this old tree, it is one tough old fruit tree.<br /><br />Redwoods live to be thousands of years old but I have never in my life heard of a fruit tree living as long as this one has and it still bears fruit to this day.<br /><br />Amazing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Zce_FIrmOTvHIqC11h18HvHt7mki5gqENA2O9bpFVOGpW3_guZAAl6Sd1ZCddEqILr8_Lq3pZfEEDX59TgIGZP7_EORdI3qo_uhgMYKcUEPQtdjb1JhmdZb5V-dX-ezKgPrQ78lhnOuE/s1600/121.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Zce_FIrmOTvHIqC11h18HvHt7mki5gqENA2O9bpFVOGpW3_guZAAl6Sd1ZCddEqILr8_Lq3pZfEEDX59TgIGZP7_EORdI3qo_uhgMYKcUEPQtdjb1JhmdZb5V-dX-ezKgPrQ78lhnOuE/s400/121.jpg" /></a>

Nice To Know At Least One Thing Has Survived Since This Country Was Founded

It's a pear tree. Not just any pear tree either, this one has been around since before this country was founded. 383 years to be exact....

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Syria: The Most Sought After Chess Piece

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Syria: The Most Sought After Chess Piece

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Matt Said Jay Said Season 4

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal">Matt says, Jay says, You don’t say? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />Matt: What be happening?<br />Jay: Nothing. Not even a new war.<br />Matt: Maybe tomorrow.<br />Jay: Looks like they’re gonna take their time.<br />Matt: They don’t want to be impulsive.<br />Jay: That’s crazy shit right there! <br />Matt: Totally.<br />Jay: So how’s you?<br />Matt: I pulled my hamstring. <br />Jay: Gotta ice it and elevate it. <br />Matt: Or just shred it. <br />Jay: That would hurt a lot. <br />Matt: It already hurts a lot.<br />Jay: Want me to kiss it and make it better.<br />Matt: That would be hot! <br />Jay: And we’d leave the curtains open for the neighbors to see. <br />Matt: Those pervs! <br />Jay: Sickos! <br />Matt: I love ‘em! <br />Jay: Best neighbors ever! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqwvDI6g8gHOKC5QynpYd_qvGQwfcF7hVpillj6SajCDGBiXqdn_nfrZC6oizAKWPmApaAm8C7f4TZIoUZbaSOh0sa_ggKX0n0OwOEIg2hxCY1ujS8PeHXWxpM5mtb7hQyF7AQMLKmZl2/s1600/Emmanuelle+Chriqui+Boobs+Nude+Bikini+Hot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqwvDI6g8gHOKC5QynpYd_qvGQwfcF7hVpillj6SajCDGBiXqdn_nfrZC6oizAKWPmApaAm8C7f4TZIoUZbaSOh0sa_ggKX0n0OwOEIg2hxCY1ujS8PeHXWxpM5mtb7hQyF7AQMLKmZl2/s1600/Emmanuelle+Chriqui+Boobs+Nude+Bikini+Hot.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jay: Where do we stand with <a href="http://www.toplessequality.com/">Topless Equality</a>?<br />Matt: We’re for it!! <br />Jay: I know that! Are they coming on the show. <br />Matt: They say they are.<br />Jay: Then I assume they’ll be there. <br />Matt: Tess is their spokes model.<br />Jay: I’ve liked her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TopfreeTess">page on Facebook</a>.<br />Matt: Good move. <br />Jay: She’s coming on then?<br />Matt: Yup I’m told she’ll be calling in. <br />Jay: I can’t wait! <br />Matt: Me either! <br />Jay: She’s calling from Hawaii? <br />Matt: Yes! It will be EARLY for her. <br />Jay: That’s really nice of her. <br />Matt: IKR? Gonna be cool.<br />Jay: Totally, I love guests. <br />Matt: We need more of ‘em in Season 4. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rxpY-zSFIQA47ZaA2Rvgw-5ocAbw7_JBBFdqHNP0gPPaouANfdPjHpYLaaCXifPqgrulD_RULbw8eV_RWwFDbXH4TLhOmj2jiTlSdEnJPSFDeLrouieXmGVj-iL6hYv-gsMWI3Iu-2wE/s1600/Tricia+Helfer+Side+Boob+Cleavage+Hot+Nude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rxpY-zSFIQA47ZaA2Rvgw-5ocAbw7_JBBFdqHNP0gPPaouANfdPjHpYLaaCXifPqgrulD_RULbw8eV_RWwFDbXH4TLhOmj2jiTlSdEnJPSFDeLrouieXmGVj-iL6hYv-gsMWI3Iu-2wE/s1600/Tricia+Helfer+Side+Boob+Cleavage+Hot+Nude.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jay: Speaking of Season 4 …<br />Matt: It starts THIS SUNDAY! <br />Jay: Woo-Hoo! <br />Matt: Gonna be monster show. <br />Jay: I’ve got some Season 4 ideas. <br />Matt: Excellent! <br />Jay: And there’s so much going on. <br />Matt: Miley, Syria, Football, <br />Jay: First week of college partying.<br />Matt: For everyone but Ryno of course. <br />Jay: Oh of course. <br />Matt: We might check in with Slyder and Guy Ahnyurdyck<br />Jay: And Bobby and Kirk Douglas and a new correspondent. <br />Matt: Who?? Reporting on what? <br />Jay: Rocky Rhodes with “This Week in Stupid!” <br />Matt: Oh I can’t wait! <br />Jay: And who knows what else might happen. <br />Matt: Hopefully some phone calls will happen. <br />Jay: That would be cool too. <br />Matt: Okay we’re ready. <br />Jay: Damn right! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Okay, be sure to catch us LIVE on IWS for our <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/09/01/season-4-premiere-extravaganza">Season 4 Premiere Extravaganza</a> at 12 Noon ET</span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>

Matt Said Jay Said Season 4

Matt says, Jay says, You don’t say? Matt: What be happening? Jay: Nothing. Not even a new war. Matt: Maybe tomorrow. Jay: Looks like they’re...

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The Grandmaster: All the right moves

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><i>The Grandmaster</i> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>(2013) • <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/weinstein/thegrandmaster/" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">View trailer</a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>4.5 stars. Rating: PG-13, for violence, drug use and brief profanity</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>By <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12885694730612878577" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">Derrick Bang</a> • </b></span>Originally published in <i><a href="http://www.davisenterprise.com/" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">The Davis Enterprise</a></i>, 8.30.13</b></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the <i>Dr. Zhivago</i> of martial-arts epics.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MOGCtsoqResnFg3UCdsHqYq8atMm4tv2pxZ3QzeeWap5qq3OMmHnEbpfQUMfdGpeLEcR28H7BlxGf96qK4rC_s4UZW8nqRz5juUI57eenHp9BLvhskAFX47gTGVlvp688q7DugNXB6E/s1600/Grandmaster+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MOGCtsoqResnFg3UCdsHqYq8atMm4tv2pxZ3QzeeWap5qq3OMmHnEbpfQUMfdGpeLEcR28H7BlxGf96qK4rC_s4UZW8nqRz5juUI57eenHp9BLvhskAFX47gTGVlvp688q7DugNXB6E/s400/Grandmaster+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Having agreed to a martial arts duel with the angry Gong Er (Ziyi Zhang), Ip Man (Tony<br />Leung) wagers the match's outcome on the precision of his particular brand of kung fu.<br />The resulting skirmish is a masterpiece of graceful choreography and tighty edited<br />camerawork.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The parallels are so striking that I’m convinced Chinese director Wong Kar-Wai must have studied David Lean’s 1965 film intimately. It’s not merely a matter of the factual elements in Kar-Wai’s biographical drama hewing closely to key plot points in Boris Pasternak’s novel; the luxurious work by Kar-Wai’s cinematographer, Philippe Le Sourd, evokes strong memories of Freddie Young’s Academy Award-winning camerawork, in <i>Dr. Zhivago</i>, just as Kar-Wai’s composers, Nathaniel Méchaly and Shigeru Umebayashi, deliver a lush (and Western-based) symphonic score very much in the mold of Maurice Jarre’s haunting themes for Lean’s film.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Factor in William Chang’s sumptuous production design for Kar-Wai, with a segment that evokes the “winter palace” chapter from Lean’s film, and the comparisons become too numerous to be accidental.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More to the point, Kar-Wai’s film — which he also scripted, in collaboration with Jingzhi Zou and Haofeng Xu — takes its core characters through similar spirals of triumph and shattering tragedy, against a backdrop of world events that scatter them like helpless leaves in a hurricane. Individual lives are of no consequence within the inexorable march of history, and yet we better grasp such nation-changing events <i>because</i>of such individual lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All this, and<i> The Grandmaster</i> also is an exhilarating parade of ever-more-exciting martial arts bouts, very much like genre classics that range from lowbrow action flicks (<i>Enter the Dragon</i>) to highbrow dramas (<i>Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s an impressive to-do list ... but, then, Kar-Wai is an impressive director: one of very few who understands how best to exploit the medium, blending every element — sound, image, emotion — for maximum impact. Far too many filmmakers create dialogue-heavy works that are little more than radio with pictures; Kar-Wai, first and foremost, puts the “motion” into his motion pictures, unerringly amplifying viewer response with touches as subtle as falling rain, or the graceful slide of a shoe on a slippery surface.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We cannot help being amazed, transfixed, even transported.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><a name='more'></a><br /> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All that said...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...Kar-Wai’s narrative approach is slow and methodical, at times so leisurely as to stop altogether. Mainstream viewers accustomed to the rat-a-tat pacing of contemporary Hollywood fare will find this style challenging, to say the least; I daresay some patrons will be bored beyond words.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, too, <i>The Grandmaster</i> won’t even be on the radar of American viewers who dislike foreign films to begin with, and — if forced to endure them — make a point of avoiding imports with subtitles, in favor of those dubbed into English. I can’t imagine a greater heresy, in this case; <i>so</i> much of this story’s drama depends on the superlative emotion placed into the dialogue delivered by its many characters ... and you lose all that with dubbing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We don’t need to understand individual words, in order to perceive the intensity — or gentleness — with which each syllable is rendered. Acting this fine often transcends the need for precise translations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kar-Wai’s film, close to a decade in the planning and making, is inspired by the life and times of legendary kung fu master Ip Man, whose professional acclaim emerged during the waning days of China’s last dynasty, and was overshadowed by Japan’s invasion in 1937, and — following World War II — the subsequent rise of the People’s Republic of China.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ironically, this period of chaos, division and war also hosted a golden age of Chinese martial arts: an era when once-competitive disciplines were embraced collectively and collaboratively, as highly skilled specialists of each learned to respect and learn from each other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the most part, anyway. In martial arts, as with any other craft, petty emotions sometimes cloud the exercise of wisdom and judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ip Man (Tony Leung), born to a wealthy family in Foshan, in the south of China, is introduced as a happily married man whose social standing has allowed him to focus on a style of martial arts known as <i>wing chun</i>. His skill with this discipline’s three “hands” — spade, pin and sheath — earns the respect of colleagues who choose him to represent them when Grandmaster Gong Baosen (Wang Qingxiang), leader of the martial arts world of Northern China, elects to celebrate his impending retirement during a ceremony in Foshan.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A longstanding rivalry has existed between these two realms, with Northern China’s martial arts “elite” often contemptuous of their so-called “upstart” colleagues in the south. But Gong Baosen recognizes the value of bringing ALL martial artists together at a time when their entire country needs to unite against Japan: an inclusive outlook viewed with scorn by his disciple and successor, Ma San (Zhang Jin).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gong Baosen and Ip Man meet in a most unusual battle; the result infuriates the former’s daughter, Gong Er (Ziyi Zhang), who — as a woman — has not been allowed to carry on her father’s name and training, even though she is the sole inheritor of his lethal <i>bagua</i>-style “64 Hands” technique. She therefore demands her own match against Ip Man, who accepts this challenge with amusement; this skirmish, taking place under equally unconventional rules, also builds to an unexpected outcome.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What briefly follows — as we’re told by an off-camera narrator who sometimes speaks as Ip Man himself, and other times as a third-party observer — becomes the “spring” of Ip Man’s life. It segues, all too swiftly, into a lethal winter that begins with the Japanese invasion of Foshan and surrounding regions of Southern China.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In terms of the broad canvas, Kar-Wai’s film is a study of milestones, many immortalized by photographs taken at key moments, the vibrant tones of Le Sourd’s full-color tableaus freezing into the sepia-hued stillness of a snapshot that we imagine has been preserved, somewhere, in an album. This global view is contrasted by the individual threads of Ip Man’s life, many designated by melees or formal “duels” where he must prove, time and again, that his beloved <i>wing chun</i> is a match for any other martial arts discipline.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But this also is a saga of reckonings: of anger left simmering, sometimes far too long, and of revenge attempted — or taken — under dire circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leung will be recognized from sprawling Chinese epics such as <i>Red Cliff</i>, and gritty cop dramas such as <i>Infernal Affairs</i> — which inspired Martin Scorsese’s <i>The Departed</i> — but he shines equally well in quieter dramas such as 2000’s exquisitely atmospheric <i>In the Mood for Love</i>, which Leung also made with Kar-Wai. Leung’s work here is similarly minimalist, with the actor drawing impressive power — and emotional complexity — from bemused glances and half-smiles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Leung is far from impassive; his every flicker of expression speaks volumes, in the manner of consummate actors such as Anthony Hopkins or Cate Blanchett. Ip Man’s patience, wisdom and forbearance become both heartbreaking and superhuman, as these events unfold, and yet Leung ensures that Ip Man never loses his stature as a skilled but otherwise ordinary man who views his craft as a great art form, and not a flamboyant excuse for vulgar thugs to brawl in the streets.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The quiet dignity of Leung’s performance reassures us that Ip Man can survive any indignity or tragedy; we’re not so sure about Gong Er. Despite this young woman’s balletic grace and warrior expertise, Zhang imbues her with a worrisome vulnerability, her grim determination subtly offset by a stiff porcelain bearing that could shatter without warning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both Ip Man and Gong Er endure pain and loss: their own, along with metaphoric calamities writ larger by the surrounding cultural revolution, and by the accompanying cultural loss. Linguists scramble, these days, to preserve languages in danger of being lost; what price, then, the disappearance of an entire art form?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Qingxiang exudes the wisdom of a long life, as the aging grandmaster; Jin is appropriately petulant and impatient as the treacherous Ma San. Song Hye Kyo is quietly graceful as Ip Man’s devoted wife, while Shang Tielong is memorably colorful as Gong Er’s guardian, never seen without his pet monkey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kar-Wai and action choreographer Yuen Wo Ping orchestrate the various fight scenes both cleverly and delightfully. Action fans will love the sequence wherein Ip Man must prove himself worthy to face Grandmaster Gong Baosen, by first defeating a series of Southern masters: the sort of elimination skirmishes that Bruce Lee endured in <i>Enter the Dragon</i>. Alternatively, the superbly choreographed battle between Ip Man and Gong Er has the astonishing athletic grace of <i>Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can’t say enough about Le Sourd’s cinematography, with its slow-motion raindrops and sparkling crystals of falling snow, and of the way he conveys emotional depth via shadow. Kar-Wai, happily, does <i>not</i> overuse tight close-ups, recognizing that Le Sourd’s scenic compositions render them unnecessary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Production designer William Chang lends poetic grace to the story’s various locations, whether the frozen, snow-swept vistas of Northeast China, or the grim, explosive destruction of thuggish soldiers invading the balmy, subtropical south. We feel both the cold and the oppressive humidity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Full disclosure demands that I mention we’re dealing, here in the United States, with a compromised product. Kar-Wai’s original cut runs 130 minutes, but this American release is an abbreviated 108 minutes. Much as there is to admire about this gorgeous, hypnotic cinematic dream, then, I cannot grant top marks without having experienced it the way Kar-Wai intended.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A treat that must wait for video afterlife, I guess.</span></span><!--EndFragment-->

2013 Foreign films Four Star Films martial arts Shang Tielong Tony Leung Wang Qingxiang Wong Kar Wai Zhang Jin Ziyi Zhang The Grandmaster: All the right moves

The Grandmaster   (2013) •  View trailer   4.5 stars. Rating: PG-13, for violence, drug use and brief profanity By  Derrick Bang  •  Origina...

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Disappointed

Ok so I posted that whole rant while I was boohoo'ing about not getting my way.  That's not what I want on here so it's gone, but I know it's not gone so it's still here lol.<br /><br />So to sum it up --- Hubby lied to me about tailgating plans tomorrow.  I've been looking forward to tomorrow for a very long time.  He thought he'd have time to make arrangements for the plans he said were in place.  Had he not lied, I could have made plans to make tomorrow loads of fun.  All of our friends planning to tailgate tomorrow have already made other plans with other people.  We've got nothing but each other tomorrow.  I don't know why he chose to lie about it.  I am extremely hurt by this.  He doesn't see it as a big deal.   It's just a game, I know.  I'm too sensitive, I know.  I just really thought honesty was something important to him.  Fuck... you're caught in a lie, you should at least apologize for lying.  Not tell me you're sorry that I'm choosing to be upset.

Disappointed

Ok so I posted that whole rant while I was boohoo'ing about not getting my way.  That's not what I want on here so it's gone, bu...

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Applications Development Engineer ( # 109970)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Position:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Applications Development Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Location:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Austin, TX<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Duration:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Full time<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Job Description:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The Global Service Support Organization (GSS) team headquartered in Milpitas, CA is our service organization that consists of Service Sales and Marketing, Spares Supply Chain management, Field Operations, Product Training, and Technical Support. The GSS organization partners with our field teams and customers in all business sectors to maintain the high performance and productivity of our products through a flexible portfolio of services. Our comprehensive services include: proactive management of tools to identify and improve performance; expertise in optics, image processing and motion control with worldwide service engineers, 24/7 technical support teams and knowledge management systems; and an extensive parts network to ensure worldwide availability of parts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Responsibilities:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1) KT Certified division is responsible for sales/marketing of fully refurbished pre-owned systems, mature tools upgrades, buybacks, re-marketing and flexible trade-in programs for surplus tools. Marketing organization is responsible for strategic planning process in KTC, market analysis, tracking KTC MS% & SAM, coordination of customer demos, STRs, RFQ and spec responses, maintenance of sales collateral for internal and external websites, benchmarking and technical engagements to drive customer adoption and strategic penetrations. Additionally Marketing owns product portfolio configuration management and PLC for the ongoing additions to KTC offerings from M&As and EOM.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2) Own all BF applications contracts/acceptances and technical engagements at the customer sites. Support BF applications execution in the demo process (understanding DRF, taking to account team RPM, apps to define demo success criteria), delivering final reports to the customer. Technical function and maintenance of knowledge database for BF, apps review of specs and STRs. Define and arrange for chargeable STRs – KTC apps contracts. Support developing tools and sales collateral enabling field and internal sales to sell KTC's Inspection (BF) range of product offerings.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">3) Team player. Forthright. Respects deadlines.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">4) 75% success hit rate for demos and 90% for technical engagements (resulting in bookings). Target/demonstrate incremental increase in bookings after 4 working quarters (minimum of $4M).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">5)  Working with diverse KTC organization and global field organization. Leading BF demo team to success resulting in bookings.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">6) Opportunities to grow into a demo manager or/and Marketing professional. Willing to get cross-trained on various inspection platforms.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">7) Responsible for KT Certified TM delivery of apps related to the sold BF tools (23xx, 28xx), coordination/planning/communication and applications execution, technical function and maintenance of knowledge database, apps review of specs and STRs. Assist in developing tools and sales collateral enabling field & internal sales to sell KTC’s broad range of product offerings. Work closely with diverse KTC organization including operations and internal sales; account teams field sales, Tech directors, RPMs, and apps. This role reports to the Director of Marketing in KT Certified TM division responsible for fully refurbished pre-owned systems, mature tools upgrades, buybacks, re-marketing and flexible trade-in programs for surplus tools.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">8) Ability to travel worldwide (on average 50%) is required to support customer visits and possible execution of demos and/or technical engagements in the field. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Preferred Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">• Candidate must have min of BS/MS in Engineering, Physics, Material Science or related fields. MBA is a plus. Required knowledge of operation/applications of KLA-Tencor B and DF tools, preferably certified to run 28xx, 23xx, 21xx, PUMA, AIT XP and higher.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">• Required knowledge of operation/applications of KLA-Tencor’s BF and DF tools, preferably certified to run 28xx, 23xx, PUMA, AIT XP and higher. Ideal candidate will have demo lab experience on these systems. Must have 5+ years of experience in IC processing/semiconductor industry or related field.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">• Hands on KT tools knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">• Excellent communication/presentation, organizational, analytical, leadership, and interpersonal skills. Candidate must be self-driven, independent, yet a strong team player<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Basic Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Candidate must have min of BS/MS in Engineering, Physics, Material Science or related fields<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Certified to run 28xx, 23xx, Hands on KT tools knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kindly send your resume to <b><a href="mailto:raju.balaji@kla-tencor.com">raju.balaji@kla-tencor.com</a><o:p></o:p></b></span></div></div></div>

Applications Development Engineer ( # 109970)

Position: Applications Development Engineer Location: Austin, TX Duration: Full time Job Description: The Global Service Support Organiza...

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Today's archidose #700

Here are some photos of Stade Jean-Bouin (2013) in Paris, France, by <a href="http://www.rudyricciotti.com/%E2%80%8E">Rudy Ricciotti</a>, photographed by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32151025@N02/">JP2H</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32151025@N02/9617611576/" title="Stade Jean Bouin Paris by JP2H, on Flickr"><img alt="Stade Jean Bouin Paris" height="800" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5495/9617611576_c10b437063_c.jpg" width="534" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32151025@N02/9617617052/" title="Stade Jean Bouin Paris by JP2H, on Flickr"><img alt="Stade Jean Bouin Paris" height="800" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7283/9617617052_7321ff8337_c.jpg" width="526" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32151025@N02/9617606152/" title="Stade Jean Bouin Paris by JP2H, on Flickr"><img alt="Stade Jean Bouin Paris" height="800" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7320/9617606152_2ed86ca646_c.jpg" width="525" /></a><br /><br />To contribute your Flickr images for consideration, just:<br /><blockquote>:: Join and add photos to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/archi-dose/">archidose pool</a>, and/or<br />:: Tag your photos <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/archidose/">archidose</a></span></blockquote>

Today's archidose #700

Here are some photos of Stade Jean-Bouin (2013) in Paris, France, by Rudy Ricciotti , photographed by JP2H . To contribute your Flickr image...

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Five American Idols in the BillBoard Top 200.. For One Week At Least

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbp5_yLdEj1SFJ0CR5Iuga2HRgtNH-rCkuHZ1MtayySjka_clxaDO3OjE7MNd0Fh62tn8hGo81_zVnT9-3HuLHvn3huy0DoA9culqyv33mkj60qNkridwgKKs0YuwpuWTQBkhpk31AE2fn/s1600/bb200-20130830.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbp5_yLdEj1SFJ0CR5Iuga2HRgtNH-rCkuHZ1MtayySjka_clxaDO3OjE7MNd0Fh62tn8hGo81_zVnT9-3HuLHvn3huy0DoA9culqyv33mkj60qNkridwgKKs0YuwpuWTQBkhpk31AE2fn/s400/bb200-20130830.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">maroon = Phillip, lt blue = Carrie, dk green = Kelly, green dot= Lee, orange = Fantasia</td></tr></tbody></table>I was curious how well Lee DeWyze's "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Frames-Deluxe-Lee-Dewyze/dp/B00DUGPDDA">Frames</a>" album would sell, and it seems ironic it landed only 3 positions away from another Idol. Unfortunately that was 3 positions behind a greatest hits collection that has been out for 40 weeks now, although it was from the original American Idol herself, Kelly Clarkson. Lee's "Frames" landed at #116 and Kelly's "Greatest Hits" album was at #113. Since the <a href="http://www.roughstock.com/blog/country-album-chart-news-the-week-of-august-28-2013-luke-bryan-crash-my-party-still-tops-all-genre-chart-the-lacs-charlie-worsham-tracy-lawrence-debut">Roughstock blog notes</a> that the #112 and #118 albums both sold around 3,000 units we can presume that both Lee and Kelly sold that many albums this week too. For Season 9 fans keeping track, Crystal Bowersox's sophomore release, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-That-This-Crystal-Bowersox/dp/B00B89WZYG/">All That For This</a>", <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/idolchatter/2013/04/03/american-idol-sales-albums-downloads-colton-dixon/2049301/">debuted with 8,000 in sales</a> in its first week to place at #71 and stayed on the chart for 2 weeks back in April.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfpzMC3amr5nIGlCM6GAQ5rXPjI12gbEJZA8vk3bznOsRFfbxDED8NGzF-Qq2azOMHZPKN7kuf-WFojRAwe4BIFFXUtGBfPPLfe1npB15IbkbzrFs6fBTj_4_l6U_Nj8n1vLC0ek1suiw/s1600/cb-atft-bb200.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfpzMC3amr5nIGlCM6GAQ5rXPjI12gbEJZA8vk3bznOsRFfbxDED8NGzF-Qq2azOMHZPKN7kuf-WFojRAwe4BIFFXUtGBfPPLfe1npB15IbkbzrFs6fBTj_4_l6U_Nj8n1vLC0ek1suiw/s1600/cb-atft-bb200.png" /></a></div>The other three Idols on the <a href="http://www.mjsbigblog.com/billboard-chart-date-090713.htm">BillBoard 200</a> this week are the same ones as before, with the top two again switching positions. Carrie Underwood had a nice increase to #44 last week when her live DVD came out, but now she falls back in line at #81, whereas Phillip Phillip's "The World from the Side of the Moon" improved yet again (his fifth time in the last nine weeks) to land at #53 and lead the pack. Fantasia's "Side Effects of You" slides down to #155 from #125 next week so she might slip out of the Top 200 next week, or she may not. It will also be interesting to see if Lee will remain in the Top 200 for two weeks or not.<br /><br />This weekend is the end of the Season 12 Live Tour so now they can all concentrate on releasing some music. Candice Glover's "Music Speaks" has disappeared off of HitsDailyDouble's "<a href="http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/sales/sales_ur.cgi">Upcoming Releases</a>" for October 8, so it will be interesting to see if it is still released then or not.<br /><br />As for next week, numbers for Mandisa's "Overcomer" should be released and I am hoping she does well. Her album is currently the #1 selling Christian album on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Overcomer-Mandisa/dp/B00DRIMVK4/ref=zg_bs_468418_1">amazon.com</a> so that is a good sign.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-57eGi6ojAL8-jK7DM8atH7cYOvzI6Zm2qiFtoWJtFvQYOGbKfZY3V0dSgLSJfLF_ZFsHjux3KJogPWxbn0m1JMIU8RLq2ygDFYexlaPv__JUyKJoWhpvfhakNkl413FW_R2OmLoAxfvx/s1600/amazon-topccm-20130830.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-57eGi6ojAL8-jK7DM8atH7cYOvzI6Zm2qiFtoWJtFvQYOGbKfZY3V0dSgLSJfLF_ZFsHjux3KJogPWxbn0m1JMIU8RLq2ygDFYexlaPv__JUyKJoWhpvfhakNkl413FW_R2OmLoAxfvx/s400/amazon-topccm-20130830.png" width="400" /></a></div>

Five American Idols in the BillBoard Top 200.. For One Week At Least

maroon = Phillip, lt blue = Carrie, dk green = Kelly, green dot= Lee, orange = Fantasia I was curious how well Lee DeWyze's " Frame...

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Dedicated To This Auspicious Occasion

Of our sitting President announcing that he is going to unleash weapons of mass destruction upon a country who has not attacked us in any way and in contrivance of the flimsiest legal footing ever proposed to the citizens of this country, I give you our countries most prolific export.<br /><br />Creeping Death.<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/MtaxKNaEAns" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Dedicated To This Auspicious Occasion

Of our sitting President announcing that he is going to unleash weapons of mass destruction upon a country who has not attacked us in any wa...

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Wisconsin rebels against the Walker/ALEC agenda

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JCfS6NBZLfkPwmObK-5O-FuMVBt3nku8rHX89dj4lQoHdGMqgpgT4Rwp9vr1Yr4AOInp77kySGH1cgqq0rTvEv6Wt9DwyT-Jonyy-5-hn7RTOaQyWH8TWr2yA-p3jPyV6x4SpDH4cpz_/s1600/wisco+rally.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JCfS6NBZLfkPwmObK-5O-FuMVBt3nku8rHX89dj4lQoHdGMqgpgT4Rwp9vr1Yr4AOInp77kySGH1cgqq0rTvEv6Wt9DwyT-Jonyy-5-hn7RTOaQyWH8TWr2yA-p3jPyV6x4SpDH4cpz_/s400/wisco+rally.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teamsters at a recent rally at Wisconsin's Capitol. </td></tr></tbody></table>Wisconsin activists are stirring again even as North Carolina's <a href="http://www.wral.com/wake-da-offers-deal-to-moral-monday-arrestees/12836949/" rel="nofollow">Moral Monday movement gathers steam</a>.<br /><br />No one should be surprised. Both states have governors backed by radical billionaires. In Wisconsin,<strike> <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/06/scott-walker-still-kills-jobs-better.html" rel="nofollow">Job-killer</a></strike> Gov. Scott Walker is a stooge for the<a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2012/02/benedict-arnold-koch-brothers-lash-out.html" rel="nofollow"> <strike>Benedict Arnold</strike></a> Koch brothers. North Carolina Gov. <strike>Art Pope</strike> Pat McCrory is a puppet for greedy billionaire <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/02/greedy-nc-billionaire-attacks-nc-jobless.html" rel="nofollow">Art Pope</a>.<br /><br />Both governors are pursuing the same agenda, which was handed to them by <a href="http://alecexposed.org/" rel="nofollow">ALEC</a>, the corporate escort service for state politicians. ALEC's aims are to crush unions, eradicate public education, impoverish government workers, suppress voting rights and marginalize women.<br /><br />On Monday, “Women’s Equality Day,” Wisconsin Teamsters attended a rally in Madison to stand with Wisconsin women who are at the mercy of Walker's agenda.<br /><br />“Equal pay for women and the right to organize and join a Union are just a few of the reasons we are here today,” said Tom Millonzi, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 200 in Milwaukee.<br /><br />Joining Millonzi at the rally were <a href="http://www.teamsterslocal200.com/?zone=/unionactive/view_article.cfm&HomeID=310972" rel="nofollow">Local 200</a> President Tom Bennett and Business Representatives Steve Nelson and Randy Monroe. <br /><br />The rally came in the midst of turmoil caused by Walker's heavy-handed crackdown on a group that comes to the Capitol every weekday to sing songs of protest against his union busting. More than a hundred people have been arrested on dubious charges and are insisting on <a href="http://host.madison.com/news/local/crime_and_courts/arrested-singers-request-jury-trials-in-first-court-appearances/article_f06d6e11-e695-5b50-be93-0785f68f30e3.html" rel="nofollow">jury trial</a>s to demonstrate the absurdity of their arrest.<br /><br />The arrests include people who just watch, according to the <a href="http://wcmcoop.com/2013/08/28/wi-capitol-police-crackdown-on-dissent-what-you-wouldnt-know-from-reading-wisconsins-newspapers/" rel="nofollow">Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative</a>.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">As the arrests at the Solidarity Sing Along continued, the Capitol Police began warning people on the 1st and 2nd floors overlooking the ground floor rotunda that they were subject to arrest if they did not disperse, even when the individuals were not singing or clapping or participating in any way. When news started to spread that simply observing the unlawful assembly was cause for arrest and citation, outrage spread over the Capitol Police assertion that “spectators are considered participants,” many citizen journalists reported on these warnings, with one video of the warning getting over 60,000 views on youtube.</blockquote>The crackdowns are re-energizing dissenters in Wisconsin.<br /><br />Walker, who took away most collective bargaining rights for government workers, now says he'll go after police and firefighters' collective bargaining rights. A firefighter has been arrested at the Capitol and off-duty Madison police have joined the protest, the <a href="http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/steven_elbow/madison-police-chief-says-cops-at-singalong-aren-t-violating/article_9aa7cf66-87ba-561a-9acc-03746a1c17b3.html#ixzz2dMvm8CNM" rel="nofollow">Cap Times</a> reports.<br /><br />Normal Stockwell wrote in <a href="http://host.madison.com/ct/columnist/norman-stockwell-arrests-here-show-king-s-fight-for-worker/article_56ff2d3c-79b7-5812-9398-5ff94afa5728.html" rel="nofollow">The Cap Times</a> that the Wisconsin protesters who are getting arrested in the Capitol are honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, who was assassinated while supporting Memphis sanitation workers striking for the right to join <a href="http://www.afscme.org/" rel="nofollow">AFSCME</a>:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Today there is another struggle to recognize the rights and dignity of labor in the state of Wisconsin. Many of the workers who lost collective bargaining rights under Act 10 in 2011 were AFSCME workers, too. Since March of 2011, a loose group calling itself the Solidarity Sing Along has gathered inside or outside the Capitol to sing in solidarity with those workers who lost rights through the passage of Act 10. In recent weeks, arrests of those singers, their supporters and others simply observing have increased. Notable labor activists arrested have included David Newby, former president of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO.</blockquote>

Moral Monday protest wisconsin Wisconsin rebels against the Walker/ALEC agenda

Teamsters at a recent rally at Wisconsin's Capitol.  Wisconsin activists are stirring again even as North Carolina's Moral Monday mo...

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Where have America's wages gone?

America's wages have gone to greedy CEOs, a lot of whom are incompetent or crooks.<br /><br />The <a href="http://epi.org/" rel="nofollow">Economic Policy Institute</a> has just put out a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/where-have-americas-wages_b_3833375.html?utm_hp_ref=politics" rel="nofollow">study</a> showing that most of the wealth created in this country has gone to the top one percent. As R.J. Eskow notes in the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/where-have-americas-wages_b_3833375.html?utm_hp_ref=politics" rel="nofollow">Huffington Post</a>,<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">We don't have a problem of inadequate wealth. The problem is inadequate wealth distribution. For 99 percent of Americans, wage growth has lagged significantly behind increases in productivity. As the authors note, this is true "regardless of occupation, gender, race/ethnicity, or education level." Since the Great Recession productivity has grown by 7.7 percent, while wages have actually fallen for the bottom 70 percent of earners.</blockquote>It isn't as if those one percenters deserve it. A devastating new <a href="http://www.ips-dc.org/reports/executive-excess-2013" rel="nofollow">report</a> by the Institute for Policy Studies shows that 40 percent of the highest paid CEOs were either fired, bailed out or led companies that had to pay huge fines or settlements for breaking the law.<br /><br />Eskow says it's hopeless to try to convince Republicans to do anything about the inequality destroying our country.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Republicans are a lost cause. The Republican Party platform of 1956 boasted of union growth and Social Security expansion under President Eisenhower. But that party is long gone and there's little likelihood it will ever return. Democrats can be pressured by their base, with its preponderance of working people. Republicans who primarily rely on billionaire and/or Tea Party support are largely insulated from that kind of pressure (although there may be some opportunities for populist grassroots alliances).</blockquote>And he excoriates the so-called "centrist Democrats" who aid and abet billionaire-backed Republicans.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">The word "centrist" is placed in quotation marks because polls show that their economic views are to the right of the American mainstream. On issues such as corporate taxation, Social Security benefits, and free trade, they stand to the right of most Americans -- and sometimes to the right of most registered Republicans. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">"Centrist" Dems actively participated in the deregulation of Wall Street, which led to runaway financialization of profits while putting the global economy at risk. They pushed free trade agreements that decimated American jobs (and failed to provide adequate rights for workers overseas), a practice which President Obama has continued. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">"Centrist" Dems remained silent as corporate leaders paid themselves constantly-inflating salaries and bonus packages, diluted shareholder oversight, and transformed corporations like GE from productive, job-creating entities into financial players fixated on quarterly results -- a fixation which has helped executive pay packages expand exponentially. </blockquote>He concludes: <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">It will take a grassroots uprising to redirect the thinking of the "centrist" Democrats toward economic equality.</blockquote>The good news is that may be happening, given the thousands of workers who walked out on jobs at the <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/08/la-port-strike-ends-with-return-to-work.html" rel="nofollow">ports</a>,<a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/08/fast-food-strikes-shut-down-stores.html" rel="nofollow"> fast food restaurants and retail stores</a>.

CEO Pay wages Where have America's wages gone?

America's wages have gone to greedy CEOs, a lot of whom are incompetent or crooks. The Economic Policy Institute has just put out a stu...

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How to talk about low-wage strikers

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5L2PPv97ZzOjT-oVlaJkuSnWBpppQonoVeuuv1gA0ano_Z8YFNownClSnouIWCwqoiOGsi9riwJ0dmgWcVi4FmFz3lh2ITfcxS9O8LgS_JuQTKPlMR1s5OC75kweMd4g9owmA2HklRttN/s1600/strike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5L2PPv97ZzOjT-oVlaJkuSnWBpppQonoVeuuv1gA0ano_Z8YFNownClSnouIWCwqoiOGsi9riwJ0dmgWcVi4FmFz3lh2ITfcxS9O8LgS_JuQTKPlMR1s5OC75kweMd4g9owmA2HklRttN/s1600/strike.jpg" /></a></div>Are you dreading the prospect of talking to your right-wing uncle over the Labor Day weekend? <br /><br />When the subject of low-wage worker strikes comes up, here are things you can say in response to the predictable anti-worker arguments you'll hear:<br /><ul><li><em>"Those jobs are for high school kids and dropouts working part time. They don't deserve more money."</em>  Actually most people working in low-wage service sectors like retail and fast-food are <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=623664947664226&set=a.591503887546999.1073741828.580610428636345&type=1">middle-age and working full time</a> to support their families. The average age of workers filling low-wage job positions is 35 and more than a third of them are 40 or older. On average, they earn half of their family's income and 28 percent of them have kids.</li></ul><ul><li><em>"Well then they should get different jobs if they want more money. It's their fault for choosing to work crappy jobs that are supposed to be for teenagers."</em> No, it isn't their fault because most of them didn't choose those jobs. They were forced into them by <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/08/our-low-wage-recovery-how-mcjobs-have-replaced-middle-class-jobs/261839/">an economy being dominated by low-wage industries</a>. By a three-to-one margin, high-skilled, good-paying jobs that have been lost due to recession and bad trade deals have been replaced by low-wage jobs in the service industry. Sixty percent of jobs lost in the recession were in middle-class occupations while 21 percent were in low-wage occupations. Since the recession, 58 percent of job growth has been in low-wage occupations while just 22 percent has been in middle-income level jobs. Do the math!</li></ul><ul><li><em>"Still, flipping burgers has always been a minimum wage job and that's the way it should be."</em> Okay, but if we're paying workers based on inflation and productivity, then <a href="http://www.raisetheminimumwage.com/facts/">the minimum wage needs to be increased</a>, too. Right now it stands at just $7.25 an hour and hasn't been increased since 2009. If the minimum wage kept up with inflation over the past 40 years, it would be $10.74. And if it kept up with the rise in productivity it would be $18.67. The annual income for a full-time worker making the federal minimum wage is $15,080 - well below the poverty line for a family of three or four.</li></ul><ul><li><em>"Paying low-wage workers more by increasing the minimum wage or giving them raises will hurt businesses and raise prices."</em> Says who? While the CEOs of Walmart and fast-food corporations would love to pass the cost of higher wages on to consumers, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/robert-reich-wages-mcdonalds-walmart-_n_3837762.html">they can well afford to pay their workers more</a>. The top eight fast-food chains made $7.35 billion in profits last year. Walmart's CEO makes more in one hour than the average Walmart employee makes in a year. If the CEO of McDonald's -- who got a $4.1 million raise last year -- can take home $13.8 million a year, he can afford to pay workers more than poverty wages.</li></ul><ul><li><em>"Well, I'm not a fast-food worker so what they get paid doesn't impact me."</em> Actually it does. The rising number of workers making low wages means more and more people have to turn to public assistance like food stamps and other welfare programs. They can't make ends mean when the only jobs available pay so little. Low wages at <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/31/walmart-taxpayers-house-report_n_3365814.html">a single Walmart store can cost taxpayers up to $900,000 a year</a>. So winning a living wage for workers in retail, fast-food, warehouse and other low-wage industries will save taxpayers tons of money. And let's not forget that higher pay usually means lower employee turnover and higher productivity for business. Plus, higher wages will boost consumer spending and strength local economies.</li></ul>Finally, remind your right-wing relatives that Labor Day is about honoring workers -- ALL workers!

fast food strikes Labor Day low wage workers walmart strikers How to talk about low-wage strikers

Are you dreading the prospect of talking to your right-wing uncle over the Labor Day weekend? When the subject of low-wage worker strikes co...

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Quick, Change The Channel!

Jeeze, a guy can't have any peace.<br />I am sitting here surfing my favorite websites and the wife is watching her fucking Soap Opera's when guess who decides he needs to preempt everything to explain to the Sheeple why we are going to lob a few cruise missiles into Syria.<br /><br />Let me distill this news flash for ya and save you having to listen to him lie to your fucking faces.<br /><br />Two words should sum it up nicely.<br /><br />Petro. Dollars..<br /><br />You're welcome.<br /><br />Now on to the important stuff and the real reason the internet was invented.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1fG7GU4UpHVvsshZLCdRTsW8cVqcIaVi8LvYRGIi1gQefyrfEnID8KcbSiCqYsI22V5uYSJRVy4sG-Umq2vwQs7T-uap8FHxEvW-Qq6F5W9n7B6cGU4dpJ5mg3n-Q9-RVGTogVjULqQ8/s1600/41.gif" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1fG7GU4UpHVvsshZLCdRTsW8cVqcIaVi8LvYRGIi1gQefyrfEnID8KcbSiCqYsI22V5uYSJRVy4sG-Umq2vwQs7T-uap8FHxEvW-Qq6F5W9n7B6cGU4dpJ5mg3n-Q9-RVGTogVjULqQ8/s400/41.gif" /></a><br /><br />

Quick, Change The Channel!

Jeeze, a guy can't have any peace. I am sitting here surfing my favorite websites and the wife is watching her fucking Soap Opera's ...

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