Cold Beats

SOPA and PIPA 'Indefinitely Postponed'

2012-01-20T22:39:00.000-08:00

Huffington Post:
In a significant victory for open Internet advocates, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) both indefinitely postponed votes on controversial anti-piracy legislation.

"In light of recent events, I have decided to postpone Tuesday’s vote on the Protect IP Act," Reid said in a written statement.

The move followed a frantic week of political jockeying on Capitol Hill amid intense online activism, in which Wikipedia and other major websites voluntarily blocked access to their content in protest of the bills. The Stop Online Piracy Act and its Senate companion, Protect IP, would have given the government broad powers to shut down entire websites accused of violating copyright laws -- without a trial or a traditional court hearing. Hollywood movie studios and other content creators would also get new powers to sue companies like banks and advertisers that do business with websites accused of piracy.

In the House, Smith had been planning to hold a committee vote on SOPA in February, which lobbyists on Capitol Hill expected to closely mirror whatever legislative language passed the Senate. While the delayed Senate vote does not necessarily mark a final failure for the anti-piracy legislation, it almost certainly delays any vote for months. During an election year in which lawmakers are particularly cautious about bringing up controversial legislation, the bill's supporters now face a steep uphill battle to pass anything on piracy at all.

Hollywood had been pushing the bills hard for months, and had secured broad bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. But free speech advocates warned that the power to shut down whole sites, rather than current powers to remove infringing content, created the prospect of widespread First Amendment violations, while tech experts noted that the anti-piracy tools envisioned by the legislation would threaten the basic functionality of the web.

Reid's decision to pull the bill was an unusually abrupt changing of the political tide in the nation's capital. As recently as Thursday afternoon, Protect IP opponents did not believe they had the votes to block the legislation on the Senate floor, and had almost no power to revise the bill's language ahead of a vote. On Saturday, January 14, the Obama administration issued a statement opposing the bill. Nevertheless, Reid refused to delay a vote on the bill, instead diving into a set of backdoor negotiations with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. John Kyl (R-Ariz.). All three Senators supported the original bill. No Senator opposed to the bill was included in the negotiations about how to revise the legislation before bringing it to the floor for a vote, while tech lobbyists and experts were excluded from the talks, as well.

More information:
» Huffington Post: Thousands of Websites Blackout in SOPA Protest
» FBI, DOJ, RIAA Sites Downed After Megaupload Crackdown

The Definitely Not Coordinating With Stephen Colbert Super PAC

2012-01-16T10:10:00.000-08:00

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

Eagle-Eye Cherry - "Save Tonight" (1997)

2012-01-15T21:07:00.000-08:00

Wikipedia:
"Save Tonight" is a song by Swedish rock musician Eagle-Eye Cherry and the lead single from his 1997 debut album, Desireless. It is the album's opening track and gained substantial radio success, reaching #3 in Ireland, #5 in the US, #6 in the UK, and #2 in Cherry's native Sweden.

Eagle-Eye Lanoo Cherry was born in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of African American jazz artist Don Cherry and Swedish painter/textile artist Monika "Moki" Cherry (née Karlsson). He is half-brother of singer Neneh Cherry, his mother's daughter, and stepbrother to singer Titiyo. He was named Eagle-Eye because the first time he looked at his father, he did so with only one eye open.

His father died in 1995. In 1996 Cherry moved back to Stockholm to focus on his music over the acting career that had taken precedence in his professional life. He began writing and recording his debut album, Desireless in his bedroom studio on an acoustic guitar. The album became a commercial success throughout the world during 1998 and 1999. Desireless went platinum in the United States, selling a total of four million copies worldwide.

NFL Playoffs: NFC Round 2

2012-01-15T20:19:00.000-08:00

New York 37 : 20 Green Bay

San Francisco 36 : 32 New Orleans

NFL Playoffs: AFC Round 2

2012-01-15T19:59:00.000-08:00

New England 45 : 10 Denver

Baltimore 20 : 13 Houston

NFL Playoffs: NFC Round 1

2012-01-08T19:37:00.000-08:00

New Orleans 45 : 28 Detroit

New York 24 : 2 Atlanta

NFL Playoffs: AFC Round 1

2012-01-08T18:53:00.000-08:00

Houston 31 : 10 Cincinnati

Denver 29 : 23 Pittsburgh

"The 2011 Festival of Sleaze"

2012-01-07T17:00:00.000-08:00

Washington Post:
It was the kind of year that made a person look back fondly on the gulf oil spill.

Granted, the oil spill was bad. But it did not result in a high-decibel, weeks-long national conversation about a bulge in a congressman’s underpants. Which is exactly what we had in the Festival of Sleaze that was 2011. Remember? There were days when you could not escape The Bulge. At dinnertime, parents of young children had to be constantly ready to hurl themselves in front of their TV screens, for fear that it would suddenly appear on the news in high definition. For a brief (Har!) period, The Bulge was more famous than Justin Bieber.

And when, at last, we were done with The Bulge, and we were able to turn our attention to the presidential election, and the important issues facing us, as a nation, in these troubled times, it turned out that the main issue, to judge by quantity of press coverage, was: groping.

So finally, repelled by the drainage ditch that our political system has become, we turned for escape to an institution that represents all that is pure and wholesome and decent in America today: college football.

That was when we started to have fond memories of the oil spill.

I’m not saying that the entire year was ruined by sleaze. It was also ruined by other bad things. This was a year in which journalism was pretty much completely replaced by tweeting. It was a year in which a significant earthquake struck Washington, yet failed to destroy a single federal agency. It was a year in which the nation was subjected to a seemingly endless barrage of highly publicized pronouncements from Charlie Sheen, a man who, where you have a central nervous system, has a Magic 8-Ball. This was a year in which the cast members of “Jersey Shore” went to Italy and then — in an inexcusable lapse of border security — were allowed to return.

But all of these developments, unfortunate as they were, would not by themselves have made 2011 truly awful. What made it truly awful was the economy, which, for what felt like the 17th straight year, continued to stagger around like a zombie on crack. Nothing seemed to help. President Obama, whose instinctive reaction to pretty much everything that happens, including sunrise, is to deliver a nationally televised address, delivered numerous nationally televised addresses on the economy, but somehow these did not do the trick. Neither did the approximately 37 million words emitted by the approximately 249 Republican-presidential-contender televised debates, out of which the single most memorable statement made was, quote: “Oops.”

As the year wore on, frustration finally boiled over in the form of the Occupy Various Random Spaces movement, wherein people who were sick and tired of a lot of stuff finally got off their butts and started working for meaningful change via direct action in the form of sitting around and forming multiple committees and drumming and not directly issuing any specific demands but definitely having a lot of strongly held views for and against a wide variety of things. Incredibly, even this did not bring about meaningful change. The economy remained wretched, especially unemployment, which got so bad that many Americans gave up even trying to work. Congress, for example.

Were there any positive developments in 2011? Yes:

• Osama bin Laden, Moammar Gaddafi and the New York Yankees all suffered major setbacks.

• Kim Kardashian finally found her lifetime soul mate for nearly 21 / 2 months.

• Despite a prophecy by revered Christian radio lunatic Harold Camping, the world did not end on May 21.

More information:
» The Official Dave Barry Blog
» Dave's Miami Herald Articles
» Dave Barry's Year in Review: Why 2010 Made Us Sick

"Dear Leader": The Great Kim Jong-il

2012-01-06T18:08:00.000-08:00

CNN:
Kim Jong Il was a source of misery for North Korea's impoverished people and of fear for a world wary of his belligerent rhetoric -- but as an enduringly bizarre presence on the global stage, he was also an unexpected source of entertainment.

While the reputedly ruthless leader was revered by a population weaned on propaganda, outside the hermetic Asian country what were seen as grandiose attempts at myth-making were seized on by popular culture.

Online, Kim's death generated Twitter trends that referenced the movies or shows that caricatured him as a villainous clown trapped in the bathos of his own cruel isolation.

Kim did little to help his own international image. His eccentric appearances sporting bouffant hair, over-sized sunglasses and a succession of drab boiler suits were frequently viewed as comical counterpoints to the rights abuses of his regime.

Meanwhile, as his country's nuclear activities sparked diplomatic tensions, his media mouthpieces -- such as the Korean Central News Agency -- created their own unintentional humor as they swung wildly between angry invective and surreal flatteries of their "Dear Leader."

Kim's defining moment in recent popular culture appears to have been his portrayal in the 2004 film "Team America: World Police," a satire on U.S. President George W. Bush's foreign policy.

In an appearance on media satire "30 Rock," comedian Margaret Cho played Kim as a North Korean weatherman, delivering the disingenuously upbeat forecast: "North Korea, everything sunny all the time always, good time, beach party."

Fellow comic Bobby Lee plays the dictator as host of the "Kim Jong Il Show" on MADtv, shooting dead audience members who fail to cheer and delivering punchlines such as: "Don't cry because I kill your wife and enslave your children."

Post-death, there was renewed interest in websites that have sought to highlight the strange picture of North Korea created by its propaganda machine.

"Kim Jong-Il Looking at Things," is an online gallery of photographs showing the dictator staring at banal objects. The images draw unintentional bleak humor from their repeated and blatant misrepresentation of life under a dictatorship.

Among recent entries, Kim can be seen looking at a pink sweater, pointing at a persimmon tree in full fruit, glumly inspecting a statuette of knights on horseback and grinning at a supermarket shelf packed with sausages.

Another website has trawled news bulletins on the official Korean Central News Agency to create a "random insult generator" that neatly encapsulates the peculiar version of the English language favored by Kim's regime.

More information:
» CNN: Key Moments from North Korea History
» TodayIFoundOut: Korean Propaganda and Bonus Factoids
» Sabotage Times: Kim Jong-il In Numbers
» Google Earth: Kim Jong-il's Swimming Pool
» Tumblr: Kim Jong-il Looking At Things

Hokies Reflect on Disappointing End to Season

2012-01-05T18:07:00.000-08:00

Washington Post:
NEW ORLEANS — Virginia Tech senior wide receiver Danny Coale stood in the cramped locker room at the Superdome as Tuesday turned to Wednesday, still coming to grips with how the Hokies had lost to Michigan, 23-20, in the Sugar Bowl just minutes earlier.

Playing his final game in a Hokies uniform, Coale appeared to make a spectacular one-handed grab in the end zone on Virginia Tech’s first possession of overtime. The Pacific-12 Conference officiating crew originally ruled the play a touchdown. But following a review, the play was overturned because a replay official deemed Coale never had possession before the nose of the ball hit the ground.

“They had called it a touchdown on the field, so I thought it would’ve been hard to overturn,” Coale said. “But they saw some things and overturned it and it was in the ref’s hands. What can you do?”

The call forced the Hokies to attempt a 37-yard field goal, which place kicker Justin Myer pushed wide right. And so, after Michigan’s Brendan Gibbons made his 37-yard game-winning kick on the Wolverines’ ensuing possession, all the talk among Hokies fans has centered around the exact explanation for why the replay official decided to overturn the call on the field.

Turns out they’re not alone. The ACC’s head of officials, Doug Rhoads, said Wednesday night he contacted the Pac-12’s coordinator of officiating, Tony Corrente, on behalf of ACC Commissioner John Swofford and was told the replay official had one shot that showed indisputable video evidence that the ball was not controlled.

“In review of it, I did not see indisputable video evidence to the level to overturn that play,” Rhoads said. “I just don’t see it.”

A Pac-12 spokesman said Corrente spoke with the replay crew Wednesday and confirmed their ruling that “the player did not have complete control of the ball while in bounds.”

Virginia Tech dominated much of the game, doubling Michigan in yardage (377-188) and holding dynamic quarterback Denard Robinson to a career-low 13 yards rushing. But the Hokies scored just one touchdown despite moving the ball inside Michigan’s 20-yard line six times. Instead, they were forced to settle for four Myer field goals.

“I felt like we deserved it. We were the better team,” safety Antone Exum said. “We feel like we did everything that we could do. But we’ve had our adversity before in this program.”

But the spotlight on Coach Frank Beamer’s inability to win big games will shine even brighter in the coming weeks after he made several head-scratching moves.

With the Hokies leading 6-0 and dominating play in the second quarter, Beamer chose to go for it on fourth and one on the Wolverines 4-yard line instead of kicking a field goal. But quarterback Logan Thomas was stopped for no gain, and Michigan took over.

Then, with just more than seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the score tied at 17, Beamer gave Coale, who is also the team’s punter, the option to run the ball or kick it on fourth and one at the Michigan 48. But Coale lost seven yards on the carry, and the Wolverines needed just a 23-yard drive to retake the lead on Gibbons’s 39-yard field goal.

“If you could go back, I’d take a couple of decisions back," said Beamer, who fell to 1-5 in BCS games and 8-11 in bowl games. "I think everybody in Virginia Tech football put a lot into this ballgame. ...And we wanted to get a win for the ACC and wanted to get a win for Virginia Tech. We haven’t done as well as we want to in these BCS games.”

Whether the Hokies will get a third consecutive berth in a BCS bowl next year will largely depend on Thomas’s progress. In his first year as a starter, the redshirt sophomore broke Tyrod Taylor’s single-season program record for total offense.

Virginia Tech could need him more than ever next year, with four senior offensive linemen and the two most prolific receivers in school history (Coale and Jarrett Boykin) graduating.

In addition, ACC player of the year David Wilson is pondering an early jump to the NFL. Wilson, who has one year of eligibility remaining, said he will have an announcement about his decision shortly. Junior cornerback Jayron Hosley said after Tuesday’s game that he has already decided to declare for the NFL draft, but the Hokies’ defense likely will return nine starters from this year’s unit.

More information:
» David Wilson Declares for the NFL Draft
» Logan Thomas Had a Historic Season

Best of CollegeHumor 2011

2012-01-01T11:15:00.000-08:00

Def Poetry (2002-2007)

2011-12-30T22:11:00.000-08:00

Wikipedia:
Def Poetry, which was co-founded by Bruce George, Danny Simmons and Deborah Pointer, is an HBO television series produced by hip-hop music entrepreneur Russell Simmons. The series presents performances by established spoken word poets, as well as up-and-coming ones. Well-known actors and musicians will often surprise the audience by showing up to recite their own original poems. The show is hosted by Mos Def.

In November 2002, a live stage production, Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam opened on Broadway. The show featured poets Beau Sia, Suheir Hammad, Staceyann Chin, Lemon, Mayda del Valle, Georgia Me, Black Ice, Poetri and Steve Coleman. The show ran on Broadway until May 2003, and won a 2003 Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event. The show subsequently toured both nationally and internationally.

Shit People Say

2011-12-29T12:32:00.000-08:00

Video Roundup

2011-12-28T22:02:00.000-08:00

So Long, 2011

2011-12-28T20:26:00.000-08:00

Das Racist

2011-12-27T20:48:00.001-08:00

A Different Take On Rudolph

2011-12-24T16:52:00.000-08:00

Hokies Bowl Victories

2011-12-19T21:12:00.000-08:00

Catch the article at the Bleacher Report.

Just remembering the good ol' days...

The Golden Voice (Video)

2011-12-14T19:20:00.000-08:00

Kina Grannis - "In Your Arms" (2011)

2011-12-13T19:44:00.000-08:00

On November 14, 2007, Kina Grannis began posting videos of her self-released songs on YouTube. Her first video, "Message From Your Heart," was entered into Doritios Crash the Super Bowl contest. The contest, which she won, landed her a contract with Interscope Records.

Stairwells was released on February 23, 2010 and debuted at No. 139 on the Billboard 200, No. 5 on the Billboard Top Internet Albums chart, No. 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, and No. 18 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart.

On November 3, 2011, Grannis released a stop-motion music video for the single "In Your Arms", using 288,000 jelly beans. It took about 2 years to complete the project. The video accumulated over 1 million views within the first three days.

Davis, Williams Suspended for Failed Drug Tests

2011-12-07T19:56:00.000-08:00

Washington Post:
Washington Redskins left tackle Trent Williams and tight end Fred Davis were officially suspended without pay for four games by the NFL on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by the league. Suspensions begin immediately for the pair, who had failed multiple drug tests.

Williams reluctantly accepted the penalty earlier Tuesday, according to a person familiar with his situation. Davis’s response was less clear; he had been exploring whether he had other options than accepting the suspension, which was hammered out in a deal between the NFL and the NFL Players Association, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

Williams and Davis were among 11 NFL players who failed drug tests at the start of training camp, immediately after the NFL lockout was lifted. But as part of the settlement between the NFL and the players’ union, those players received no punishment under a 30-day grace period granted players. During the four-month league shutdown, players were neither tested nor counseled about drug use.

Davis and Williams both failed an additional test during the season for recreational drugs, believed to be marijuana, according to people familiar with their cases. Under the settlement between the NFL and the union, the third positive test is being treated as a second offense, which carries a four-game suspension.

Both players allegedly failed tests for marijuana use some time earlier in their careers.

News of the suspension first broke Sunday, shortly before the Redskins’ 34-19 loss to the New York Jets at FedEx Field.

Davis, whose contract expires at the end of this season, was working with an attorney before the NFL issued its statement Tuesday afternoon to determine whether he could challenge the penalty. But he seemed to have little recourse. Because the suspension is part of a deal between the league and the union, he would have to challenge both if he went to court.

Williams, according to one person who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, accepted the suspension after he and his representatives concluded they had no other choice except to fight both the NFL and the union. The Williams camp, the person said, was disappointed with the deal struck by the union, believing the final outcome should have been more lenient because of the circumstances of the lockout.

The Redskins confirmed the suspensions Tuesday afternoon, after the NFL issued its statement. Under league policy, neither player will be allowed to visit the team’s Redskins Park facility or take part in any team-related activities until the suspension is lifted immediately following the regular season. They also will be removed from the team’s 53-man roster.

Davis has career highs this season in catches (59) and yards (796). He is in the final year of his rookie contract and is scheduled to be a restricted free agent after this season. He was supposed to make $600,000 this year but will likely lose $141,176 by missing the final four games.

Williams, the fourth pick in the 2010 NFL draft, was set to earn $7.852 million in the second year of his rookie contract. He stands to lose nearly $1.85 million.

"You're talking about accountability," Mike Shanahan said, "people being there through thick and thin. And when you don't do that, there's not really anything you can say except, 'I screwed up.' And they were men enough today to stand in front of the team and say, 'Hey, I did screw up, and we promise it won't happen again.'"

"I didn't need an apology," said wide receiver Santana Moss, an offensive captain. "I feel like what they done to themselves, they (needed to) apologize to themselves before they apologize to me."

New Black Keys

2011-12-03T21:45:00.000-08:00

Spotlight: David Wilson

2011-12-03T13:12:00.000-08:00

Bowl Update: Wilson ends his junior season with 1,709 rushing yards, the third player in ACC history to finish a season with more than 1,700 yards.

David Wilson finished the 2011 season with 1,627 rushing yards, fifth in the nation. He fell short of the ACC’s single-season record for rushing yards, which Virginia's Thomas Jones set with 1,798 in 1999. But the 5'10", 205 lb. junior ran for 100 or more yards in all but two of the Hokies' twelve regular-season games, tying an ACC record last established by Ryan Williams, then a freshman, in 2009. He finished No. 7 in the country and led the ACC in rushing yards per game at 125.15. He had nine touchdowns and was second in the ACC in all-purpose yards with 163.8 per game.

In November, Wilson was named the ACC Offensive and Overall Player of the Year. He immediately follows a former teammate, quarterback Tyrod Taylor, in winning the award. Virginia Tech is the first program to produce consecutive Players of the Year since Florida State quarterback Charlie Ward was honored in 1992 and 1993. It’s the fifth time that different players from the same school have won in consecutive years; that happened most recently with the selections of Virginia QBs Shawn Moore (1990) and Matt Blundin (1991).

Virginia Tech cornerback Jayron Hosley and running back David Wilson both submitted their paperwork for the NFL Draft advisory board to get feedback on where they might be selected if they turn pro.

While Hosley said he’s leaning toward the NFL, Wilson said he’s split right down the middle.

More information:
» Oct 26: "Is David Wilson having a Heisman-worthy season?"
» Nov 14: "Turning Into A Record-Setting Duo"
» Nov 30: David Wilson is ACC Offensive and Overall Player of the Year

TV People: Don't Go Into Music

2011-12-01T14:09:00.000-08:00

From The Office:
Leslie David Baker ft N.U.M. - "2 Be Simple"

From Jersey Shore:
Vinny Guadagnino - "Rack City Bitch"

DJ Pauly D - "Beat Dat Beat"

Spotlight: Howard Zinn

2011-11-29T21:07:00.000-08:00

Wikipedia:
Howard Zinn (August 24, 1922 – January 27, 2010) was an American historian, academic, author, playwright, and social activist. Before and during his tenure as a political science professor at Boston University from 1964-88 he wrote more than 20 books, which included his best-selling and influential A People's History of the United States. He wrote extensively about the Civil Rights and anti-war movements, as well as of the labor history of the United States. His memoir, You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train, was also the title of a 2004 documentary about Zinn's life and work.

World War II
Eager to fight fascism, Zinn joined the Army Air Force during World War II and was assigned as a bombardier in the 490th Bombardment Group, bombing targets in Berlin, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. The anti-war stance Zinn developed later was informed, in part, by his experiences. A U.S. bombardier in April 1945, Zinn dropped napalm bombs on Royan, a seaside resort in southwestern France.

On a post-doctoral research mission nine years later, Zinn visited the resort near Bordeaux where he interviewed residents, reviewed municipal documents, and read wartime newspaper clippings at the local library. In 1966, Zinn returned to Royan after which he gave his fullest account of that research in his book, The Politics of History. On the ground, Zinn learned that the aerial bombing attacks in which he participated had killed more than 1000 French civilians as well as some German soldiers hiding near Royan to await the war's end, events that are described "in all accounts" he found as "une tragique erreur" that leveled a small but ancient city and "its population that was, at least officially, friend, not foe." In The Politics of History, Zinn described how the bombing was ordered—three weeks before the war in Europe ended—by military officials who were, in part, motivated more by the desire for their own career advancement than in legitimate military objectives. He quotes the official history of the U.S. Army Air Forces' brief reference to the Eighth Air Force attack on Royan and also, in the same chapter, to the bombing of Pilsen in what was then Czechoslovakia. The official history stated that the famous Skoda works in Pilsen "received 500 well-placed tons, and that "Because of a warning sent out ahead of time the workers were able to escape, except for five persons."

Zinn wrote, "I recalled flying on that mission, too, as deputy lead bombardier, and that we did not aim specifically at the 'skoda works' (which I would have noted, because it was the one target in Czechoslovakia I had read about) but dropped our bombs, without much precision, on the city of Pilsen. Two Czech citizens who lived in Pilsen at the time told me, recently, that several hundred people were killed in that raid (that is, Czechs)—not five."

Zinn said his experience as a wartime bombardier, combined with his research into the reasons for, and effects of the bombing of Royan and Pilsen, sensitized him to the ethical dilemmas faced by G.I.s during wartime. Zinn questioned the justifications for military operations that inflicted massive civilian casualties during the Allied bombing of cities such as Dresden, Royan, Tokyo, and Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II, Hanoi during the War in Vietnam, and Baghdad during the war in Iraq and the civilian casualties during bombings in Afghanistan during the current and nearly decade old war there. In his pamphlet, Hiroshima: Breaking the Silence written in 1995, he laid out the case against targeting civilians with aerial bombing.

Six years later, he wrote: "Recall that in the midst of the Gulf War, the U.S. military bombed an air raid shelter, killing 400 to 500 men, women, and children who were huddled to escape bombs. The claim was that it was a military target, housing a communications center, but reporters going through the ruins immediately afterward said there was no sign of anything like that. I suggest that the history of bombing—and no one has bombed more than this nation—is a history of endless atrocities, all calmly explained by deceptive and deadly language like 'accident', 'military target', and 'collateral damage.'"

Academic Career
After World War II, Zinn attended New York University on the GI Bill, graduating with a B.A. in 1951 and Columbia University, where he earned an M.A. (1952) and a Ph.D. in history with a minor in political science.

He was Professor of History at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia from 1956 to 1963, and Visiting Professor at both the University of Paris and University of Bologna.

In 1964, Zinn accepted a position at Boston University, after writing two books and participation in the Civil Rights movement in the South. His classes in civil liberties were among the most popular at the university with as many as 400 students subscribing each semester to the non-required class. A Professor of Political Science, he taught at BU for 24 years and retired in 1988 at age 64.

"He had a deep sense of fairness and justice for the underdog. But he always kept his sense of humor. He was a happy warrior," said Caryl Rivers, journalism professor at Boston University. Rivers and Zinn were among a group of faculty members who in 1979 defended the right of the school's clerical workers to strike and were threatened with dismissal after refusing to cross a picket line.

Zinn came to believe that the point of view expressed in traditional history books was often limited. He wrote a history textbook, A People's History of the United States, to provide other perspectives on American history. The textbook depicts the struggles of Native Americans against European and U.S. conquest and expansion, slaves against slavery, unionists and other workers against capitalists, women against patriarchy, and African-Americans for civil rights. The book was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1981.

In the years since the first edition of A People's History was published in 1980, it has been used as an alternative to standard textbooks in many high school and college history courses, and it is one of the most widely known examples of critical pedagogy. The New York Times Book Review stated in 2006 that the book "routinely sells more than 100,000 copies a year".

In 2004, Zinn published Voices of A People's History of the United States with Anthony Arnove. Voices is a sourcebook of speeches, articles, essays, poetry and song lyrics by the people themselves whose stories are told in A People's History.

The People Speak, released in 2010, is a documentary movie inspired by the lives of ordinary people who fought back against oppressive conditions over the course of the history of the United States. The film includes performances by Zinn, Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, Viggo Mortensen, Josh Brolin, Danny Glover, Marisa Tomei, Don Cheadle, and Sandra Oh.

Death
Zinn was swimming in a hotel pool when he died of an apparent heart attack in Santa Monica, California on January 27, 2010. He had been scheduled to speak at the Santa Monica Museum of Art for an event titled "A Collection of Ideas... the People Speak."

In one of his last interviews he said he'd like to be remembered "for introducing a different way of thinking about the world, about war, about human rights, about equality," and "for getting more people to realize that the power which rests so far in the hands of people with wealth and guns, that the power ultimately rests in people themselves and that they can use it. At certain points in history, they have used it. Black people in the South used it. People in the women's movement used it. People in the anti-war movement used it. People in other countries who have overthrown tyrannies have used it."

He said he wanted to be known as "somebody who gave people a feeling of hope and power that they didn't have before."

» A Kinder, Gentler Patriotism
» Howard Zinn on Tumblr
» HowardZinn.Org: His Vital Work and Legacy

NBA Lockout Is Over!

2011-11-28T16:36:00.000-08:00

"Training camps and a frenzied free agency period are expected to start Dec. 9, followed by a limited preseason slate before a nationally televised tripleheader opens the season Dec. 25."

Guardian:
The NBA has outlined plans for the delayed season as the finishing touches are put to the league's new labor deal.

The regular season would run through April 26 and require teams to play at least one set of back-to-back games if a new labor deal is ratified in time to start at Christmas.

The league posted an outline of what the schedule would look like via its Twitter feed. The plan is a 66-game regular season, ending about 10 days later than usual. The last possible day of the NBA finals would be June 26, two weeks later than the championship series ended last season.

Teams would play 48 games within their conference and 18 non-conference games. No team would play on three straight nights more than three times. Back-to-backs might also be played during the second round of the postseason.

Owners and players are still putting the finishing touches to a new labor deal.

A handshake deal was announced in the early hours of Saturday to end a five-month dispute and salvage the 2011-12 season, owners' representatives and players' union officials were hammering out the finer points of an agreement that still has to be ratified by both sides.

Before free-agent signings can begin and training camps open, 15-of-30 owners must approve the new collective bargaining agreement while the union needs a majority vote from its 430-plus members.

The players must also reform their union, which they dissolved on November 14, to pursue an anti-trust remedy to the labor dispute before putting the deal to a vote.

When the tentative agreement was announced on Saturday, details were vague beyond plans for a 66-game regular season that would open on Christmas Day with a triple-header featuring marquee teams like the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers and champion Dallas Mavericks.

Selling the deal may prove difficult for both sides with some players saying they have made too many concessions while hard-line owners believe the opposite.

Saying they lost $300 million last season, owners entered negotiations demanding a hard salary cap system similar to the National Hockey League's, non-guaranteed contracts and a bigger cut of basketball-related income (BRI).

According to reports, owners will get a bigger slice of the BRI pie with the 57 percent players received in the previous agreement trimmed to between 49 and 51 percent depending on various economic factors.

However, instead of an overhaul and a hard cap, owners settled for tweaks to the existing luxury tax cap system hoping they will be enough to bring parity to the league and keep big-spending, big-market teams from scooping up top players as Miami and New York have done.

While players took a cut in revenue, they gained major concession from the owners on complex "systems issues" allowing luxury tax-paying teams to keep some form of the mid-level exceptions and still able to participate in sign-and-trade deals - although both are believed to come with restrictions.

"I think (the deal) will largely prevent the high-spending teams from competing in the free agency market in a way that they have been able to in the past," NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver told reporters.

"It is a compromise and it is not the system we sought out to get in terms of a harder cap but the luxury tax is harsher than it was in the past deal and we hope it's effective. This was not an easy agreement for anyone.

"Owners came in having suffered substantial losses and feeling the system wasn't working fairly across all teams and I certainly know the players had strong views about expectations in terms of what they should be getting from the system so it required a lot of compromise from both parties," said Silver.

While the owners and players have reached agreement in principle on major issues there are numerous other items in the reported 10-year deal that must be negotiated including drug-testing and the minimum age for league eligibility.

"There is a lot of work to be done in a lot of places, with a lot of committees and player groups and alike, but we are optimistic that it will hold and we will have ourselves an NBA season," NBA Commissioner David Stern said upon emerging with the deal.

More information:
» USAToday: Deal Not Perfect But Both Sides Can Go With It
» ESPN: "Did We Learn Anything from the Lockout?"
» The Top 15 Free Agents

The Birth of America's Bastardized Cuisine

2011-11-24T22:13:00.000-08:00

Salon:
America is a country originally settled by scoundrels and religious zealots — thieves, embezzlers, prostitutes, arsonists; English Puritans, French Huguenots, German Amish, Czech Moravians and Russian Mennonites. The screwed-over Scotch-Irish, the shanghaied London street punk, the peace-loving, slave-owning Quaker, the enslaved Gullah. It is also the native land of the Ojibwa, the Zuni, the Makah, the Miwok and the Seneca. This alchemy of sinner and saint, “savage” and sophisticate is the source of our original cuisine: a stolen, borrowed, distorted culinaria that can pique the tongue, clog the arteries, fire the belly, or mellow the soul.

In keeping with American tendencies, Thanksgiving is a bastard holiday, cobbled together from homegrown traditions and the hokey imaginings of 19th century writers, along with actual historical facts. The facts are thus: The “first American Thanksgiving” was probably observed in the South, not at Plymouth, and it would have been a day devoted to prayer, not pie. As for the famous Plymouth pilgrims? The settlers that staggered off the Mayflower to strike up a miserable township on the rocky shore did not call themselves pilgrims. At the time, they were known by cagier names: separatists (religious idealists) and strangers (various dreamy and desperate characters the separatists had recruited in order to swell their meager ranks and coffers). The settlers wore colorful clothing and did not favor buckles, though they did sport the tall broad-brimmed hats, which you may remember from your elementary school days.

The old schoolbook story is true: Tisquantum (or Squanto) taught the Plymouth settlers how to grow corn. The tale is iconic because it illustrates how native plants and Native American traditions were instrumental in the forging of American identity. From Cape Cod to Cape Perpetua, native plants were instrumental not only in the survival and health of the settlers, but in the creation of a uniquely American cuisine that is one of the least revolting results of European conquest.

Tisquantum was a handsome man and a talker; the turn of events in his life had given him many opportunities to hone his silver tongue. Six years before he had been kidnapped by Thomas Hunt, a lieutenant of Captain John Smith (more famous for his dalliance with Pocahontas). Hunt sailed for Spain to sell his captives into slavery. Catholic priests of an anti-slavery bent intervened, and Tisquantum escaped to England, where he learned to speak English. He talked his way onto a fishing boat bound for Newfoundland. The trip was more roundabout than he intended and required a good deal of fast-talking. When Tisquantum finally arrived home, his struggles must have seemed all in vain: He stepped ashore to discover the aftermath of European-borne plague. The bones of his friends lay scattered in the sun, and his home village, Patuxet, overtaken by the creeping detritus of the forest.

Tisquantum was later captured by Massasoit, a leader of the Wampanoags, the confederation of tattered tribes that lived in the forests surrounding Plymouth. Massasoit was in need of an interpreter, and once again Tisquantum’s talking skills came in handy. Over shots of separatist moonshine, he negotiated a testy alliance between Massasoit’s people and the separatist settlers. Massasoit, whose village had been decimated by the plague, saw the alliance as a measure against his ancestral enemies, who might otherwise take advantage of the confederation’s weakened state. The settlers, who had lost half their population to scurvy and starvation during that first brutal winter, also saw the alliance as a means of survival. They, at least, were correct.

With Tisquantum’s help, the settlers were able to put in stores for the next winter. That following autumn Edward Wilson would write, “We set last spring some twenty acres of Indian corn, and sowed some six acres of barley and peas; and according to the manner of the Indians, we manured our ground with herrings, or rather shads … Our corn did prove well; and, God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn …” In the same letter he describes the celebratory feast that would become the basis for our modern concept of Thanksgiving: the settlers provided fowl and Massasoit’s people brought five deer.

Despite that feast’s later relevance to American culture, at the time the settlers did not seem to ascribe it much importance. As far as we know, they did not call it Thanksgiving or commemorate the feast in years to come. To the Native Americans, separatists and strangers involved in the feast, it was probably just that: a good meal. Regardless, the three-day festival in 1621 is emblematic of the birth of American cuisine. From cornmeal mush to maple syrup, this cuisine reflects not only the bounty of American plains, prairies and forests, but also the ingenuity of Native cooks, whose culinaria incorporated roasted and stewed meats, steamed or boiled vegetables, baked or fried cakes and breads, and dressings of fat, nuts, oils and seasonings.

Native farming was equally refined. America’s people had been cultivating maize for thousands of years. Kernels were passed from culture to culture, and the plant was revered as the staff of life. The Maya worshiped a maize god, a beautiful young man who grew from the corn foliage; in his honor, Maya nobles performed ritual bloodletting in stone temples decorated with corn. The Seneca goddess of maize delivered ears of corn from her breasts. In Zuni mythology, corn appears as a cadre of seven sexy maidens who each represent a type of corn: blue, red, white, speckled, black, and the youngest sister, sweet corn.

With the pantheon came an equally enticing assortment of food. The Maya steamed tamales and grilled tortillas over blazing comals; the Navajo mixed a pinch of cedar ash with corn meal and pit-baked corn cakes; the Hopi seared blue corn flat bread on griddles slick with sunflower seed oil. Settlers would adopt and adapt these culinary techniques as they forged across America’s grasslands, woods and deserts to settle in her hamlets and hollows. Their corn-based innovations include buttery cornbread, spoon bread, fried cornmeal mush with maple syrup, and bourbon.

In modern Mexico, every facet of culture reflects Native influence. In one version of the story, the Aztecs and the Zapotec and the Hauxtec were thoroughly subjugated, but you still see their folkways and bloodlines reflected in mainstream Mexico: from the color of skin to the tortilla on the table. In the United States, your typical citizen doesn’t look down at his or her own skin and get a reminder of the legacy of European/Native American interaction. We don’t dwell among the tangible ruins of lost civilizations. To most of us, the story of interaction between settlers and natives is a bloody story with a sad ending: the once proud bands vanished like ghosts; survivors stripped of their land and language and funneled into reservation schools where they were taught to forget everything they knew. The blood shed obscures another story: in the beginning, settlers observed and absorbed the survival tactics of the American Indians. Our original culture is more Native than we remember, and our cuisine mirrors this other story.

Native residents of New England taught settlers which beans were well adapted to the land’s climate; colonists copied native recipes for life-sustaining bean and corn stews. As settlers moved west, they learned to gather wild rice like the Ojibwa. They picked up the Ojibwa and Iroquois habit of tapping the maple tree in springtime. They copied the Menomoni practice of sweetening the bitter fruit of another native shrub that grew in bogs and hollows. Settlers called the shrub “craneberry” because its white blossoms looked like tiny cranes. The first American cookbook, “American Cookery,” recommends that cranberry sauce be served with Turkey.

Pumpkin pie didn’t grace the table at the “first Thanksgiving,” but pumpkins were certainly a staple food in the Americas. Native Americans ate pumpkin dried, stewed, baked and roasted. In the Great Lakes area, tribal cooks roasted pumpkins stuffed with wild rice, rendered fat, venison and buffalo. In New England, colonists took a cue from the locals and figured out ways to sneak the hardy squash into every meal of the day: settlers consumed pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin flower blossom sandwiches, pumpkin cornbread, pumpkin soups, and, inevitably, pumpkin beer. A pumpkin pie recipe appears in the 1796 edition of “American Cookery,” though in the early days settlers were more likely to bake a whole pumpkin, hollowed and filled with sweetened milk and spices.

In the South, colonists would rely on the big three of Native cooking: corn, beans and squash, as well as more obscure ingredients: possum grapes, poke and the paw paw. On the big plantations, African cooks fused Native American ingredients and African techniques and ingredients to invent a rich culinaria that, in its greasy and imaginative glory, is a direct result of both the cruelty and the eternal promise of America.

In Lousiana’s bayou country the Choctaw powdered native sassafras leaves to create a flavorful thickening agent, which became the filé powder in the sacred canon of gumbo ingredients. (Hence the Hank Williams song “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)”: “Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and a filé gumbo.”) In addition to appreciating the culinary properties of the plant, natives and settlers used sassafras root as a medicine. As the excellent and largely forgotten J.C. Furnas notes in “The Americans”: “The first homeward-bound cargo out of Jamestown consisted of clapboard riven from American logs … and of the pungent wood or roots of the sassafras tree, then highly valued in medicine on the principle that whatever smells queer (if seldom as pleasantly as sassafras) is probably good for what ails you.” Sassafras would still be a popular home remedy 200 years later; in a 1866 guide to home health, sassafras appears as an ingredient in tonics invented to cure “inward hurts and ulcers,” “dropsy,” “rheumatism in the loins,” “white swelling,” as well as consumption, ague and scrofula.

Sassafras was a common remedy among Appalachians. As an old-timer put it: “That mountain is like a drugstore. You don’t have to have money, you just need a little bit of knowledge.” Peppermint tea was sipped for upset stomachs; goldenseal for sour throats or ulcers; and clover tea “just for enjoyment.” Settlers learned plant lore from the Appalachian natives, who made poultices of poke, and dined on pigweed, spring beauty and fiddleheads. In the spring, families took to the woods to gather ramps; the pungent wild onions offered a welcome change of pace from the winter’s starchy diet. In the sonorous and wild hills, native ingredients and culinary techniques of varied immigrant traditions fused, giving forth regional delicacies such as eggs scrambled with poke weed, cornbread gravy and, of course, moonshine.

When settlers finally reached the immense, rain-drenched forests of the Pacific Northwest, they discovered a culinaria built upon salmon, and supplemented with wild plants such as fiddleheads, salal and camas. Like their Appalachian counterparts, settlers learned the Native sources of springtime vitamin C: salmonberry shoots and the delicate stalks of the thimbleberry bush.

Two hundred years later, many of our essential American food and beverage traditions still stem from American plants, though the manifestation may be twisted beyond recognition. Take, for example, cream of tomato soup, the corn dog, the corn flake, the French fry and the Manhattan. Despite the potential presence of Sara Lee pies and boxed stuffing, our Thanksgiving table still represents the bounty of our once wild land: pumpkin pie by way of Central America, mashed potatoes by way of South America, and of course, those satisfying slices of gelatinous cranberry sauce. Tradition never tasted so sweet.

"Afghanistan", a film by Augustin Pictures

2011-11-21T11:27:00.000-08:00

Afghanistan – touch down in flight from Augustin Pictures on Vimeo.

Space Porn

2011-11-15T12:36:00.000-08:00

Earth | Time Lapse View from Space, Fly Over | NASA, ISS from Michael König on Vimeo.

Time lapse sequences of photographs taken by Ron Garan, Satoshi Furukawa and the crew of expeditions 28 & 29 onboard the International Space Station from August to October, 2011. Music: Jan Jelinek's "Do Dekor (Loop-Finding-Jazz-Records)"

Galaxies in Real and Simulated Universes from Risa Wechsler on Vimeo.

We see galaxies in the sky, but cannot see the dark matter clumps surrounding them. However, we can simulate them as they form in a model Universe. The Bolshoi supercomputers create this simulation of the large-scale structure of the universe by first examining the data from NASA's WMAP explorer, which maps out the cosmic microwave background radiation. The video compares data from the supercomputer with the distribution of galaxies observed in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, or SDSS.

The Doors Perform Reading Rainbow

2011-11-15T11:55:00.000-08:00

Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez Rivalry

2011-11-14T21:07:00.000-08:00

ESPN:
LAS VEGAS -- The wait has been three years for a third helping of the great Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez rivalry, but will it be worth it? And will the outcome provide closure to one of boxing's greatest modern rivalries?

They have met twice before in epic battles that ended in controversial decisions, a draw in their 2004 featherweight championship fight and a Pacquiao split-decision victory in the rematch, a 2008 junior lightweight championship bout.

And now they meet again Saturday night (HBO PPV, 9 ET, $54.95) for Pacquiao's welterweight title at the sold-out MGM Garden Arena, the same site as the first fight. Each has something to prove in one of boxing's all-time trilogies.

"The first two fights were as close as any two fights could be," Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said. "This fight will conclusively demonstrate who the better fighter is and settle a point of contention which has been going on for years."

Said Pacquiao: "This will be an exciting fight because our styles make for exciting fights. He likes to fight toe-to-toe, as I do. We both like action and to engage our opponents. I expect Marquez to be faster and stronger than the last time we fought. He is the ultimate competitor. I am prepared to go another brutal 12 rounds just like the previous two fights.

"There will be a lot of action in this fight. We both have a lot of pride when we enter the ring representing our countries, fighting for the honor of our nations."

Pound-for-pound king Pacquiao, the singing congressman from the Philippines and the only eight-division titlist in boxing history, is a significant favorite. He aims to leave no doubt about his superiority against lightweight champion Marquez, the popular Mexican star and three-division champ who is moving up in weight.

"Marquez has the right to make alibis about not winning our two previous fights," Pacquiao said. "It's because of those alibis that I am so motivated for our upcoming fight. I want to end all the questions he has raised about who won our past fights and who the better fighter is. I have something to prove in this fight."

Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KOs) has every reason to believe he is the better man, even if many believe Marquez was the rightful winner the first two times. It is Pacquiao who is 1-0-1 against Marquez (53-5-1, 39 KOs), having knocked him down a total of four times -- three times in the first round of the first fight and once in the third round of the rematch.

"I just want to clear out the doubts in the minds of some fans," Pacquiao said.

There are three significant differences between then and now, which Pacquiao believes will make a big difference for him.

One is that he is now a seasoned welterweight (although the fight is contracted at 144 pounds, three fewer than the division limit) used to fighting bigger men.

"I'm bigger. I've been fighting bigger guys for a few years now -- [Antonio] Margarito, [Oscar] De La Hoya, [Shane] Mosley, Miguel Cotto," Pacquiao said. "They're all big."

And Pacquiao beat all of them in resounding fashion.

Another attribute that Pacquiao, 32, points to as an advantage is his evolution as a fighter. Back when he and Marquez previously met, Pacquiao was essentially a one-handed fighter. He's a southpaw and his left hand is deadly, but his right hand was not much of a weapon. He and trainer Freddie Roach have worked on it for years, and it has since become very dangerous and a big part of his arsenal.

"It's a big difference. My right hand is well-developed and I know how to fight," Pacquiao said. "I am a more complete fighter than when we fought previously. I am now a two-fisted fighter. My right is as potent, as powerful and as dangerous as my left. I have as much confidence in my right as I do in my left."

There is also the fact that Marquez, 38, who can brawl with the best of them, is a counterpuncher at heart and gave Pacquiao problems.

"I've been studying since the last two fights how to fight a counterpuncher," Pacquiao said. "Before, we didn't study how to fight a counterpuncher. Now we have perfected how to fight a counterpuncher."

There is another factor, although it is an intangible: Pacquiao's desire to make a statement. Although he takes the high road and has shown Marquez immense respect, there is a palpable sense that Pacquiao wants the knockout.

Those around him say he felt disrespected by Marquez, who has cried for years that he was robbed in both fights, who took to wearing a T-shirt at public appearances that proclaimed in bold letters, MARQUEZ BEAT PACQUIAO TWICE.

"He is tremendously invested in this fight, emotionally invested in this fight," Arum said of Pacquiao. "He wants to win and win convincingly."

Roach has been outspoken about the desire for a knockout victory.

"Manny never predicts and will never say anything bad about this guy, but [Marquez] slapped him in the face when he went to the Philippines wearing a shirt that said 'I beat Manny twice,'" Roach said. "Manny doesn't like this guy, I know that. It's been a little extra motivation for him. And I think after [Floyd] Mayweather couldn't knock this guy out, I think we need to knock this guy out, especially after the last fights [decisions against Mosley in May and Margarito last November] where Manny carried both guys. At this stage, we need a good ending. A knockout is always good."

Marquez, a significant underdog at the MGM's sports book, is out to prove that his excellent performances against Pacquiao were no accident and that he can finally get an official win against his greatest rival -- even if it comes in a weight class where, in his only previous fight, he got knocked down and lost a virtual shutout decision to Mayweather in 2009.

"We are going to clear all the doubts from the first two fights, and I feel very good about it," said Marquez, who has added muscle as he has bulked up. He believes the Mayweather fight should be discounted, saying he did not put on the weight properly last time.

"I had problems moving up, but I would rather fight Pacquiao three or four more times than fight Mayweather once," Marquez said. "Mayweather is a defensive fighter -- he doesn't let you fight. But we know Pacquiao comes to fight and he is a spectacular fighter. He is always going to give you a fight, and that's why I know it will be a war between us."

Marquez said he isn't concerned about the fact that he is an older fighter now. He blitzed through Likar Ramos in the first round in a July junior welterweight fight that was a farce, as Ramos basically laid down. In Marquez's most recent real fight, he stopped Michael Katsidis in the ninth round of a lightweight title defense last November -- but he was badly hurt, dropped in the third round and nearly knocked out.

"I don't believe age has anything to do with it," Marquez said. "I prepare myself very well and I'm going to be just as good as I would have been a few years ago. As long as I had the good training camp that I had, I'll be fine."

As sick as Pacquiao is of hearing about it, Marquez doesn't back off his claim that he was the rightful winner of the first two fights.

"Well, if he is upset about what I said about winning the first two fights, I am upset that I didn't get the decision," Marquez said. "I am motivated just as much as he is. We all have opinions and my opinion is that I didn't get the decisions I deserved.

"All the preparation has been done. Now it's just about having the fight of my life to settle everything once and for all."

Herman Cain For President

2011-11-14T12:57:00.000-08:00

Herman Cainâs Campaign Promises with Mike Tyson from Mike Tyson

Herman Cain Sings 'Imagine There's No Pizza' from Mike Tyson

Axe Commercial Banned in South Africa

2011-11-14T12:19:00.000-08:00

DailyMail:
A heavenly ad is turning hellish for Axe.

The deodorant brand has seen its latest campaign banned in South Africa because its depiction of gorgeous angels falling from heaven offends Christians, the Daily Mail reports.

Carrying the tagline "Angels Will Fall," the 60-second commercial sees models sporting wings and halos crashing down from the sky as a man walks down an Italian street.

Following a complaint from a male Christian viewer, who said he was upset by "the suggestion that God's messengers could literally fall for a man on the basis of his shop-bought fragrance," the country's Advertising Standards Authority moved to ban the ad on the presumption that other viewers would also be offended.

"The problem is not so much that angels are used in the commercial, but rather that the angels are seen to forfeit, or perhaps forego their heavenly status for mortal desires," the ASA ruled.

"This is something that would likely offend Christians in the same manner as it offended the complainant."

Best TV Shows

2011-11-13T22:26:00.000-08:00

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

Drinking Made Easy

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

The Colbert Report

South Park

3D Time-Lapse of San Francisco

2011-11-10T22:28:00.000-08:00

Gizmodo:
This video, called "Deus Ex Homine," is a stereoscopic 3D motion-controlled time-lapse by artist Peter H. Chang.

Here's a little insight into Peter's creative process:

"Canon 5D Mark II's were used in both parallel and beamsplitter configurations for true, native stereo capture at 5.6K resolution RAW. The camBLOCK and Dynamic Perception were used for motion control. There were some major technical hurdles with both capture and post, but once we saw the results in 3D, it was well worth it."

The 1080p, 2D version is above for the benefit of our readers—and is plenty beautiful in its own right—though if you have some 3D glasses handy, head over to YouTube to see it in three glorious dimensions. Just hover over the 3D button, click "Change Viewing Method..." and switch to your 3D mode of choice. Naturally, 1080p is recommended if your computer can handle it at full-screen.

Edited by Peter Chang
Color correction and grading by Brad Kremer
Produced by Peter Chang and Christopher Frey
Music by Michael McCann "Icarus" from Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip - "Letter From God To Man" (2007)

2011-11-10T09:52:00.000-08:00

Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip are a hip-hop duo, combining electronic beats with sung, spoken, and rapped lyrics. The pair are Daniel Stephens (aka dan le sac; production, programming, keyboards, guitars and backing vocals), and David Peter Meads (1981-) (aka Scroobius Pip; vocals/rapper). The name "Scroobius Pip" is an intentional misspelling of the Edward Lear poem, The Scroobious Pip. dan le sac originally hails from Corringham and Scroobius Pip from neighbouring Stanford-le-Hope in Essex.

On Christmas Eve 2007, whilst still unsigned, the duo released a free download of "Letter From God To Man" which includes a sample of Radiohead's "Planet Telex".

American Sets "Largest Wave Surfed" Record

2011-11-09T18:49:00.000-08:00

Huffington Post:
American professional surfer Garrett McNamara just broke the world record for "Largest Wave Surfed" by successfully navigating this 90-footer off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal. The previous world record (77 feet) was set by Mike Parsons in 2008.

McNamara's amazing feat took place in Praia do Norte, Nazare, Portugal, during the ZON North Canyon Show 2011.

According to the Portuguese Hydrographic Institute, as reported in Drift Magazine, "the proximity of the 'Nazare Canyon' to Praia do Norte creates a situation that greatly increases the swells intensity."

"I feel so blessed and honored to have been invited to explore this canyon and its special town," McNamara told Surfer Today. "The waves here are such a mystery."

The Cataracs - "Top Of The World" ft Dev

2011-11-08T14:04:00.000-08:00

best youtube comment: "This porn has really good music."

The Cataracs are an American hip hop indie-pop duo formed in Berkeley, California, consisting of David “Campa” Benjamin Singer-Vine, a songwriter and vocalist and Niles “Cyrano” Hollowell-Dhar, a songwriter, vocalist, and producer. The duo started out as an independent group, during their years at Berkeley High School. The two were first signed to the label Indie-Pop. They are currently based in Los Angeles, California.

The song "Top Of The World" was released as a single on March 22, 2011 as a digital download in the United States and Canada and currently serves as the first single released from the duo's upcoming fifth studio album, 12.

Flying Lotus - "Zodiac Shit" (2010)

2011-11-02T20:35:00.000-07:00

Flying Lotus (born Steven Ellison) is an experimental multi-genre music producer from Los Angeles, California. His debut album, 1983, was released on Plug Research Records in 2006. He produced much of the bumper music on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block, for which he is uncredited.

His third album, Cosmogramma, was released on May 3, 2010, in the UK and May 4, 2010, in the U.S. The title comes from an incident when he was listening to an Ashram lecture from his great-aunt Alice Coltrane and he misheard the words "cosmic drama" as cosmogramma. The album was awarded the top spot in Exclaim! Magazine's annual ranking of Electronic albums.

Lockout Costs NBA Two More Weeks

2011-10-31T19:37:00.000-07:00

Washington Post:
NBA Commissioner David Stern canceled an additional two weeks of the season on Friday after the league and its players’ union were unable to resolve their labor dispute and come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement.

The league had already eliminated the first two weeks, wiping out 100 games though Nov. 14, and the next round will take away 112 games through Nov. 30.

The Wizards would lose nine more games, bringing their total to 14. They will miss out on the first West Coast trip of the season, which included games against the Los Angeles Lakers (Nov. 15), Sacramento (Nov. 16), Golden State (Nov. 18) and Denver (Nov. 19). They will also lose home games against Boston (Nov. 22), Minnesota (Nov. 26) and Cleveland (Nov. 30) and two other road games, against Detroit (Nov. 25) and New York (Nov. 28).

With the league now wiping out most of the first month of the season, the Wizards would miss two paychecks – or about $7.42 million. All NBA players would miss out on an estimated $400 million.

Players have been locked out since July 1 and no talks have been scheduled since negotiations again broke down when both sides failed to figure out how to divide revenues.

The players’ union received 57 percent of basketball-related income in the previous collective barganing agreement, but has been willing to go down to 52 percent. Owners are seeking a 50-50 split, a number that has resulted in three bargaining breakdowns in the past month.

“I’m just reflecting the calendar,” Stern said. “I mean, there’s just — you need 30 days to play, and so the last two weeks of November are gone. It’s already getting to be November 1. The calendar takes care of our games. These are not punitive announcements, these are calendar-generated announcements.

“We had quite openly discussed with the players that if we could make the deal, we could get the season in,” he said. “And we knew that if we had been able to make a deal, in the first year of the deal, the amount — because we had already agreed with the players that their current contracts would be paid, the amount being paid to them would be far in excess of 50 percent.”

Schedules would likely have to be scrapped and done over, if the two sides are able to reach an agreement that could salvage the season.

More information:
» At least John Wall ripped it up in the Las Vegas "Lockout League":

Fugees - "Rumble in the Jungle" ft ATCQ & Busta

2011-10-30T22:32:00.000-07:00

The Rumble in the Jungle was a historic boxing event that took place on October 30, 1974, in the Mai 20 Stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). It pitted then world Heavyweight champion George Foreman against former world champion and challenger Muhammad Ali. Ali won by knocking out Foreman in the eighth round.

When We Were Kings is a 1996 documentary film directed by Leon Gast about the famous Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight championship match between Ali and Foreman. The film won the 1996 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, and is frequently regarded as one of the best boxing documentaries ever.

A soundtrack album was released in 1997. It features live festival performances in addition to new music by Zelma Davis, the duet "When We Were Kings" performed by Brian McKnight and Diana King, and "Rumble In The Jungle", the final recording done by the Fugees, in a collaboration with A Tribe Called Quest and Busta Rhymes.

How to Build Your Brand at Music Festivals

2011-10-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

The Smoking Section:
1. Make Sure Your Music Is Mixed Properly
This is number one for a reason. Whether it’s a CD or some other form of free, there’s nothing worse than playing an album that’s not mixed properly. More specifically, it’s a sure way for your tunes to be quickly glossed over. Don’t invest so much into cover art and packaging that you forget to make sure your vocals sound crisp and aren’t drowned out by the instrumental.

2. Put Your Best Song First
Sure it’s cliché but you really don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. Grab the listener’s attention early and get them on your side. Don’t make or expect them to suffer through the intro and couple of freestyles before they find something that resonates. Because truthfully, they may not make it to track five.

3. Carry Yourself With Class
One thing we’ve found very humbling while submitting ourselves to events like this is that you never know who you’ll bump in to. Since half our livelihood is consumed online, many times putting faces on Internet acquaintances, artists or personalities is easier said than done. So, before you give someone you don’t know the cold shoulder, keep in mind they might have the skeleton key to your success. Treat everyone like he or she is the most important person in the room.

4. Stand Out With Stage Presence
When there are 101 rappers on the bill, your live performance has to include more than you standing on stage mean-mugging. Let’s face it, you’re probably far from a hometown crowd and not everyone knows your songs. So figuring out a way to stick out is key. If it helps, go watch Tyler The Creator or MGK perform on YouTube and remember where their stage shows took them.

5. Limit Your CD To 5-7 Songs
As mentioned before, your release won’t be the only one someone will have the opportunity to check out. Instead of 19 tracks for the listener to go through, select the strongest tracks and go with those. If your first track is as strong as you believe it is, there’s a good chance they’ll give the rest of your songs a fair shake.

6. Personal Interaction Is Everything
Sure, everyone is passing out CDs. And, while it may seem like overkill to hand them out one by one to each person you see, it’s going to get you way further than simply setting them on tables and expecting people to care enough to put them in their pocket. Since you’re not in demand, briefly introducing yourself to potential fans and asking if they wouldn’t mind listening is your only option. Otherwise, you’re oh-so-important project becomes a coaster for $5 beers.

7. Consider Passing Your Music Out In Another Format Than CD
Despite us living in a digital age, CD’s have managed to hold on as the major distribution for underground music. Outside of our cars, though, CD’s don’t get a lot of burn. Had we not driven to Atlanta this year, going through these CD’s would have been a much more major ordeal. Business cards with a link to your music or a usb drive will allow bloggers and other technologically inclined individuals to digest your music in their preferred format. Plus accumulating these won’t weigh down a backpack quite as bad.

8. Stay Away From Freestyles On Your Sampler
While freestyling over the hottest beats of today and yesteryear may seem like a good idea, it isn’t helping you. Save that for when you have an identity and a fan base. The best way to gain fans and prove your artistic merit is to craft original songs. No will knock you for rocking over another person’s beat, just make it memorable. For the long run, you’ll fare better by establishing your own sound.

9. Have A Gimmick, But Don’t Be Defined By It
Again, with so many competitors in your vicinity during festivals like these, setting yourself apart is a necessity. But, before rocking the Kid ‘N Play fade or jumping into a pharaoh costume, don’t sore thumb yourself. Sometimes standing out so much will make people forget you’re an artist at all: let alone one worth taking seriously.

10. Limit Face-Time With People
Despite everything said about acting buddy-buddy with potential connections, know when to walk away. Just because you’re talented doesn’t mean Gotty™ is going to miss a cig break to listen to you freestyle. Say your piece, exchange daps and keep it movin.’

Behind The Scenes of Deadmau5 Tour

2011-10-29T17:30:00.000-07:00

Deadmau5 Meowingtons Hax Tour Visuals - Behind the Scenes from POSSIBLE on Vimeo.

Beatportal:
Deadmau5 has always been famous for delivering a jaw-dropping stage show, and with his Meowingtons Hax tour, he’s kicked it up yet another notch.

Now POSSIBLE Productions, the designers responsible for his custom visuals, take you behind the scenes with this three-minute clip, capturing highlights from the spectacle as well as a glimpse at the development process.

Build a better mousetrap, as the old adage has it, and the world will beat a path to your door. No wonder POSSIBLE’s clients include Kanye West, Jay-Z, Eminem, The Glitch Mob, and Wolfgang Gartner.

World Series Best Photos

2011-10-29T16:54:00.000-07:00

Game 1

In an expected pitchers' duel, Allen Craig, who had the first go-ahead pinch-hit RBI in a World Series since 1996, helped ace Chris Carpenter and the Cardinals take Game 1 of the Fall Classic against the Rangers.

Game 2

The Rangers were reliving a bad dream after Cards pinch-hitter Allen Craig once again delivered a go-ahead hit off Alexi Ogando. But Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus, both stellar on defense, ignited a two-run ninth-inning rally to even the World Series at 1.

Game 3

Pujols hit three home runs—just the third player in World Series history to do that in one game. He had hit for 14 total bases, the most in World Series history. He had six RBI, again, tying the World Series record. Finally, his five hits tied yet another World Series record.

Game 4

A night after Texas pitchers gave up 16 St. Louis runs, Derek Holland allowed two hits over 8 1/3 shutout innings to pull the Rangers even in the World Series. Mike Napoli's three-run homer paced the offense in support of Holland.

Game 5

Mike Napoli delivered the crushing blow in Game 4 and returned to his wrecking-ball ways in Game 5 vs. the Cardinals, hitting a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth to position the Rangers within one win of their first World Series title.

Game 6

Texas had two chances to clinch its first World Series title, but St. Louis -- down to its last out each time -- rallied in the ninth and 10th. The drama ended when David Freese, who forced extras with his triple, hit a walk-off shot in the 11th to force a Game 7.

Game 7

A postseason run for the ages concluded with the Cards crowned as World Series champs for the 11th time in franchise history. Chris Carpenter pitched on short rest to help dispatch Texas in Game 7, and David Freese earned Fall Classic MVP honors.

Tony La Russa, the third-winningest manager of all time and most assuredly a future Hall of Famer, retired fewer than three days after winning a World Series for the third time, the second time with St. Louis. He amassed 1,408 regular-season victories with them in 16 seasons. The Cardinals skipper is also the only manager in Major League Baseball history to win multiple pennants in both leagues and the second to win a World Series title in each as well.

David Calvo: Rubik's Cube Juggling

2011-10-26T21:50:00.000-07:00

Cooley, Hightower Out For The Season

2011-10-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

WashingtonPost:
A Washington Redskins team in desperate need of more weapons instead has lost another key offensive component. For the second time in three years, tight end Chris Cooley’s season will end early due to injury.

The Redskins announced Tuesday that Cooley, an eight-year veteran, had become Washington’s third offensive starter in two weeks to join the season-ending injured reserve list. The Redskins also have lost guard Kory Lichtensteiger and running back Tim Hightower to ACL tears.

Cooley had surgery on a broken index finger last week and was expected to miss at least four games. But it’s apparently his knee that was the bigger problem. Cooley met with orthopedist James Andrews on Monday afternoon.

“I think he’s gonna probably take a look at an MRI, take a look at some X-rays and give us his opinion,” Coach Mike Shanahan said Monday.

It was not immediately known Tuesday evening whether Cooley would require surgery on his knee.

Cooley has been among the franchise’s most recognizable faces the past several seasons and one of its most consistent performers. He is a two-time Pro Bowler who earlier this season became the Redskins’ all-time leading receiver among tight ends.

Despite his success, Cooley’s long-term future in Washington may not be known for several months. Cooley will be 30 years old before next season begins, and although his contract for next season is not guaranteed, he’s due to earn $3.8 million in 2012.

Slowed by a bad knee all preseason, he took on a diminished role in the team’s first five games and had just eight catches for 65 yards this season. Tight end Fred Davis, meanwhile, became one of the Redskins’ top receiving options. Through six games, Davis leads the team with 28 receptions and 423 yards. He also has two touchdowns.

Cooley broke his finger in Washington’s Week 6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, but his left knee is what has really affected him this season. He had arthroscopic surgery on the joint immediately following the 2010 season, but it still bothered him when the Redskins reported for training camp in July.

He missed all of the preseason, had the knee drained several times and underwent platelet-rich plasma therapy in order to play in Week 1 against the New York Giants.

Each week, he spoke hopefully about the knee’s progress and was excited for the rest of the season. As recently as Friday, Cooley said he expected to return.

“This has been a weird year for me,” he said. “Not practicing in camp, then not playing the way I want to play, now being hurt for another month — I’ve never experienced something like this.”

The Redskins are reeling from other injuries to their offensive personnel, including Santana Moss, who is out five to seven weeks with a broken hand; Trent Williams, who missed Sunday’s game with a high ankle sprain; and backup quarterback Rex Grossman, who was hospitalized with pneumonia. On defense, starting free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe missed Sunday’s game as well.

The Redskins have not announced any additions to the 53-man roster. Second-year tight end Logan Paulsen saw increased action in last Sunday's loss at Carolina, posting two catches for 48 yards.

“Logan Paulsen’s been very consistent since he’s been here,” Shanahan said Monday. “He’s a guy who’s done a good job with the running game, good job in the passing game, he’s really consistent. I thought he handled himself extremely well in that game, making some big plays, big catches, big blocks. He’ll continue to get better.”

Cooley was a third-round draft pick in 2004 by Joe Gibbs and Vinny Cerrato. Though he will have missed a total of 20 games from 2009 to 2011, he didn’t miss a single game in his first five seasons. In fact, he didn’t miss a single practice either.

He was asked last week about the Redskins’ constant rotation at quarterback during his tenure in Washington and how it has affected his career.

“I’ve been happy with my career and you can’t change the way it’s been,” Cooley said. “It could’ve gone any way. I’m happy with the way my career has went. I’d just like to win more football games.”

Caps On Historic Streak

2011-10-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

The Washington Capitals enter the week atop the NHL's standings, starting the season with seven consecutive wins for the first time in franchise history. After tying a franchise mark with a 4-0-0 start, the Capitals picked up three more wins last week, defeating the Florida Panthers, the Philadelphia Flyers and an impressive 7-1 win against the previously undefeated Detroit Red Wings.

Washington's 7-0-0 start is the best in team history and the Capitals five-straight home victories to start the 2011-12 campaign is also a franchise record.

DumpnChase:
Remember when the Caps won the final seven games of the 2007-08 regular season to squeak past the Carolina Hurricanes into the top spot in the Southeast Division? That winning streak earned the Capitals their first Stanley Cup playoff berth in five years. That winning streak was also Washington’s first of five games or more in more than seven years.

Washington’s drought between five-game winning was the longest current drought among all 30 NHL teams at the time, and also the longest in Washington franchise history. The Caps went the first 464 games of their existence without a five-game winning streak, and that streak from March 21-April 5, 2008 ended a 498-game spell between five-game winning sprees.

That seven-game winning streak was the also the first of five or more games with Bruce Boudreau behind the Capitals’ bench. Since then, the Caps have made streaking more of a regular occurrence in these parts.

During the 2008-09 regular season, the Caps enjoyed two winning streaks of five games in length and one that lasted seven games.

In 2009-10, the Capitals had a five-game streak, two six-gamers and of course the franchise record 14-game winning streak that stretched from Jan. 13 to Feb. 7, 2010.

Last season, they had winning streaks of six and nine games. This year, they’ve got the current seven-game run working as they get ready to set out on their first multiple-game road trip of the season.

So after going more than seven years without a winning streak of as many as five games, they’ve now had 11 winning streaks of five or more games in just under four years since Boudreau took over behind the bench.

Tough Mudder Virginia

2011-10-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

I understand that Tough Mudder is not a race but a challenge.
I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time.
I do not whine--kids whine.
I help my fellow Mudders complete the course.
I overcome all fears.

Tough Mudder Virginia

Novel - "Body Down" (2011)

2011-10-21T20:47:00.000-07:00

Novel - Body Down [Official Video] from Novel on Vimeo.

HOME, A Film By Yann Arthus-Bertrand

2011-10-16T20:41:00.000-07:00

"We are living in exceptional times. Scientists tell us that we have 10 years to change the way we live, avert the depletion of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution of the Earth's climate.

The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort, and HOME has been conceived to take a message of mobilization out to every human being.

For this purpose, HOME needs to be free. A patron, the PPR Group, made this possible. EuropaCorp, the distributor, also pledged not to make any profit because Home is a non-profit film.

HOME has been made for you: share it! And act for the planet."

Yann Arthus-Bertrand
President, GoodPlanet Foundation

More information:
» Watch the Film: HOME Youtube Channel
» HOMETheMovie.org: Official Website
» HOME Transcript (English)

Spotlight: Frank Beamer

2011-10-15T18:10:00.000-07:00

"'I feel fortunate to be around 25 years,' Beamer said. 'I really understand how fortunate I am. There have been a lot of good coaches, a lot of good players, and an administration that hung around when most wouldn’t these days after about the first four or five years. Things have turned out good for Virginia Tech."

TechSideline.com:

Frank Beamer was hired to replace outgoing head coach Bill Dooley, who resigned as coach and athletic director in 1986. Dooley coached out that 1986 season, taking the Hokies to a Peach Bowl win over NC State, but he also left the program on probation. Beamer faced major obstacles during his early years as a result.

Virginia Tech went 2-9 in Beamer's first season, losing to Clemson (10-2), UVA (8-4) and Syracuse (11-0-1) in the first three games of the season. Tech also faced South Carolina (8-4) and Miami (12-0) that season, and it was a brutal schedule.

Beamer's second season in 1988 didn't go much better. The Hokies went 3-8 against a schedule that featured Clemson (10-2), Southern Miss (10-2), West Virginia (11-1), South Carolina (8-4), Virginia (7-4), Louisville (8-3) and Florida State (11-1).

Beamer never beat a team with a winning record until 1989, when his Hokies went 6-4-1, with big wins over West Virginia and NC State. His 1990 team went 6-5, with wins over NC State, Southern Miss and UVA, and a narrow 6-3 loss to undefeated and eventual National Champion Georgia Tech.

The program was still on probation however, and the lack of scholarship players would cost Beamer in 1991 (5-6) and 1992 (2-8-1). The 1991 schedule was brutal. After opening with a home win against James Madison, Tech played four consecutive road games against NC State, South Carolina, Oklahoma and West Virginia, followed by a "neutral" site game against Florida State in Orlando.

After nearly being fired following the 1992 season, Beamer finally had a full team of scholarship players in 1993. The results showed on the field, as the Hokies went 9-3 with an Independence Bowl win over Indiana. It was the beginning of a bowl streak that is still ongoing, and showing no signs of ending.

During that streak, Beamer has won seven conference championships in the Big East and ACC.

Conference Championships Under Beamer
Year	Conference	Record
1995	Big East	10-2
1996	Big East	10-2
1999	Big East	11-1
2004	ACC	10-3
2007	ACC	11-3
2008	ACC	10-4
2010	ACC	11-3

That's seven times in 18 years that Virginia Tech has played in a BCS Bowl (or a Bowl Alliance game, as they were previously known). Seven other times in that span (1994, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2009), the Hokies were selected by the #2 bowl in their conference, either the Gator Bowl or the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Only four times (1993, 1997, 2002 and 2003) did the Hokies not go to the #1 or #2 bowl of their conference.

In 1999, he won a number of national coach of the year honors when he led Virginia Tech to an undefeated regular season and an appearance in the Sugar Bowl, where they lost a bid for the national championship to Florida State. Beamer was named the ACC Coach of the Year in 2004, his first year competing in the conference. He repeated as ACC Coach of the Year in 2005 while leading his team to the ACC Coastal Division title and an appearance in the inaugural ACC Championship Game.

Beamer enters his 25th season as Virginia Tech’s head coach this fall, a longevity that has been unrivaled, as no other head football coach in school history had lasted longer than 10 seasons, and only Penn State’s Joe Paterno has been at his current school consecutively longer (45 years). Beamer has won 240 games in his 30 years as a head coach, and only Penn State's Joe Paterno, with 401 victories, has won more games among active Division I coaches. Beamer also is second to Paterno (37) in bowl appearances. But his sustained success at his alma mater has been unparalleled in recent years, as no other program has managed seven straight 10-win seasons.

More information:
» Full Profile on HokieSports.com
» Washington Post: "Coach Frank Beamer Reflects..."
» ESPN: "Hokies Hope to Mark Beamer's 25th Season"

Did You Know? 4.0

2011-10-15T15:07:00.000-07:00

"Fantastic video on the progression of information technology, researched by Karl Fisch, Scott McLeod, and Jeff Brenman."

"Laura Bestler, Scott McLeod’s graduate assistant, did most of the research for this one, and of course XPLANE did all the graphical work."

More information:
» Shift Happens: About the Videos
» TIME Magazine: "What College Students Don't Know"

Mountain Biker Taken Out By Antelope!

2011-10-12T12:39:00.000-07:00

SuperSport:
Evan Van der Spuy, the 2010 South African Youth Cross-country Cup Series champion, has been at the center of global attention since the incident, which was caught on film by his Team Jeep South Africa teammate, Travis Walker, who was riding behind him with a handlebar-mounted video camera.

The clip shows Van der Spuy riding at speed through a flat grassland section of the route. He notices movement to his right, points to the right, eases off the pedalling for a moment and then is knocked off his bike by an adult Red Hartebeest, which appears to try and jump over him.

Van der Spuy is a final year learner at South City Christian College in Ramsgate on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. The incident occurred 6.5km into the 38km race at the Albert Falls Dam Nature Reserve. Van der Spuy was lying in second place overall at the time, around 30 seconds behind the leader.

“There were actually two buck that I saw. The one crossed over the race route ahead of me and this one was obviously following that one,” recalled Van der Spuy. “I was riding at about 35kph and the Hartebeest was running at an angle and so must have been going quicker than that.”

Van der Spuy was concussed and his helmet was shattered by the impact.

“My helmet probably saved my life,” said Van der Spuy, adding. “The footage shows me moving on the ground, but I don’t remember anything at all. I don’t even remember standing in front of the camera afterwards! The irony is that I don’t do any road cycling because our roads are so dangerous.”

Van der Spuy took Wednesday off school to field media interviews. He did five radio interviews on Wednesday morning before 10am and did a Skype interview with CNN on Tuesday night. Most of the world’s TV news networks have covered the unusual incident.

Red Hartebeest stand around 1.25m at the shoulder and weigh around 150kg. They are one of the fastest African animals, capable of reaching speeds of 65kph.

Caps Drop Tampa Bay 6-5 In Shootout

2011-10-11T21:18:00.000-07:00

Capitals:
There were 10 goals scored, but neither team ever led by more than a goal or for more than 8:15 in duration.

The Lightning surrendered 43 shots on goal after permitting a combined total of 75 in its first two games. The Caps continuously carved through the heart of the Lightning defense with little resistance and dominated the attack zone.

Washington poured 85 shots toward Tampa Bay goaltender Dwayne Roloson, who is two days shy of his 42nd birthday. Forty-three of those shots were on goal, 23 were blocked in front and 19 missed their mark altogether.

The Lightning mustered only 54 shot tries of their own, but they were aided by some fortuitous bounces and some mediocre netminding.

Making his debut in a Capitals’ sweater, goaltender Tomas Vokoun was dented for five goals on 28 shots, and some of those “shots” were more like centering passes.

Although Vokoun turned in what he termed his worst game in five years, he also made five saves in the overtime session, four of them while the Lightning was on the power play. Without those stops – and the ones he made in the skills competition – the Caps come away with one point and not two.

After the game, Vokoun was given the hard hat by his teammates, who obviously appreciated the gravity of his strange evening from dismal start to redeeming finish. And then he stood patiently in front of reporters and told them what a bad game he had.

“It was probably my worst game in five years,” laments Vokoun. “It just shows how strong this team is. They literally won tonight without goaltending. What can I say? Guys played hard. I think it was a great game from our side, but it should have been pretty much 5-2 at the worst.

“Right from the start, it didn’t go my way. It started being really choppy. Once you get on your heels, you start misreading the plays. It was just an ugly, ugly, ugly game for me.

“We won the game, certainly no thanks to me. But the team played great and I think it shows a lot of character. Our guys battled; came back four times. I’m going to make a promise. I’m going to [pay] them back sometime when they need me.”

Jason Chimera scored his 100th and 101st career NHL goals and now has a team-leading three goals on the season. With two goals tonight and one in the opener, Jason Chimera has erased his previous fastest start (three goals in five games in 2005-06) to start an NHL season. He also led the team with seven shots on goal.

Also, playing alongside linemates Brooks Laich and Joel Ward, Chimera and his checking line cohorts kept Lightning luminaries Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos off the scoresheet.

“Just three guys working hard,” says Chimera. “We all really take pride in going against their number one line and playing really good defense. And mostly when you play good defense, it leads to good offense.”

In addition to getting his first goal as a Capital, Washington winger Troy Brouwer consistently bounced Bolts bodies all night. For the second game in a row, he paced the Capitals in hits, registering seven.

A healthy scratch for Saturday’s season opener, sophomore Caps center Marcus Johansson came out like a guy who’d been blasted from a cannon right from his first shift of the night.

On his second shift of the game, he scored Washington’s first goal of the contest. He added an assist in the second, and finished up with two points and four shots on goal to show for his 15:41 of work.

“I always try to play my own game and play as hard as I can,” says Johansson. “My legs felt good and the whole team worked hard and it was easier to play and tonight it worked. Hopefully, we’ll keep it going that way.”

Fifteen of the 19 skaters the Capitals have dressed in their first two games this season have contributed on the scoresheet with a goal or an assist. Among Washington's six defensemen, only Roman Hamrlik is without a point, but he led the team in blocked shots (4) for the second straight game.

Nas - "Nasty" (2011)

2011-10-11T15:17:00.000-07:00

Nas - "Nasty" Music Video (NasirJones.com) from Nasir Jones on Vimeo.

Nas will release his upcoming tenth studio album tentively titled Life is Good early 2012 and goes back to his roots in the Jason Goldwatch-directed clip for "Nasty." The Queens-bred MC has confirmed working with Odd Future's Frank Ocean on the new album and will be also be releasing an autobiography next year. Watch as Nasir takes it back to the gutter in his latest clip.

The Avengers Official Trailer

2011-10-10T14:36:00.000-07:00

Joss Whedon brings together the ultimate team of superheroes in the first official trailer for Marvel's The Avengers - out Summer 2012.

When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as SHIELD, finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

The Avengers continues the epic big-screen adventures started in "Iron Man," "The Incredible Hulk," "Iron Man 2," "Thor" and "Captain America: The First Avenger". Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon, "Marvel's The Avengers" is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series "The Avengers," first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since.

Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

2011-10-07T15:22:00.000-07:00

"You don't have to aspire to be the next Steve Jobs to learn some lessons from his one-of-a-kind career. Perhaps that can be his greatest legacy of all — a generation of leaders who think bigger and aim higher because of what he achieved."

Wired.com:
Steven Paul Jobs, 56, died Wednesday at his home with his family. The co-founder and, until last August, CEO of Apple Inc. was the most celebrated person in technology and business on the planet. No one will take issue with the official Apple statement that “The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.”

It had taken a while for the world to realize what an amazing treasure Steve Jobs was. But Jobs knew it all along. That was part of what was so unusual about him. From at least the time he was a teenager, Jobs had a freakish chutzpah. At age 13, he called up the head of HP and cajoled him into giving Jobs free computer chips. It was part of a lifelong pattern of setting and fulfilling astronomical standards. Throughout his career, he was fearless in his demands. He kicked aside the hoops that everyone else had to negotiate and straightforwardly and brazenly pursued what he wanted. When he got what he wanted — something that occurred with astonishing frequency — he accepted it as his birthright.

If Jobs were not so talented, if he were not so visionary, if he were not so canny in determining where others had failed in producing great products and what was necessary to succeed, his pushiness and imperiousness would have made him a figure of mockery.

But Steve Jobs was that talented, visionary and determined. He combined an innate understanding of technology with an almost supernatural sense of what customers would respond to. His conviction that design should be central to his products not only produced successes in the marketplace but elevated design in general, not just in consumer electronics but everything that aspires to the high end.

His accomplishments were unmatched. People who can claim credit for game-changing products — iconic inventions that become embedded in the culture and answers to Jeopardy questions decades later — are few and far between. But Jobs has had not one, not two, but six of these breakthroughs, any one of which would have made for a magnificent career. In order: the Apple II, the Macintosh, the movie studio Pixar, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. (This doesn’t even include the consistent, brilliant improvements to the Macintosh operating system, or the Apple retail store juggernaut.) Had he lived a natural lifespan, there would have almost certainly been more.

He battled pancreatic cancer in 2004 and underwent a liver transplant in 2009 after taking a leave of absence for unspecified health problems. He took another leave of absence in January — his third since his health problems began — and resigned in August, handing the CEO job over to his hand-picked successor, Tim Cook. Jobs would still be involved in product design and strategic direction, but freed of everyday responsibilities.

Jobs came and went to Apple as he was able, driven by a town car to One Infinite Loop in Cupertino, centerpiece of the campus of the company he built, only a few blocks where he had gone to school. He would walk past the receptionist and take the elevator to his fourth-floor suite that included his office, a small staff, and a large boardroom where he had overpowered music executives, raked employees over the coals, and approved products that millions adored. With no daily chores to perform, no crowded appointment book, there could be a strange and tranquil sense of timelessness, even as he helped shape products in progress, and dreamed up new ones.

It seemed Jobs had come to terms with his fate. He would spend time with his family and do what he could at Apple.

In June he gave his last “Stevenote,” talking about iCloud. One could have hoped that he would give many more. But on August 24, he sent a note to Apple’s board that he could not resume the CEO role.

He took the role of executive chair and reported that he would continue to participate in product decisions and strategy. But clearly he was headed towards the end that came today, quietly surrounded by the people who loved him and knowing that many millions of people who never met him would miss him desperately. As he told the Stanford students:

Death is very likely the single best invention of life. It’s life’s change agent; it clears out the old to make way for the new... Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else's life.

The full legacy of Steve Jobs will not be sorted out for a very long time. When employees first talked about Jobs’ “reality distortion field,” it was a pejorative — they were referring to the way that he got you to sign on to a false truth by the force of his conviction and charisma. But at a certain point the view of the world from Steve Jobs’ brain ceased to become distorted. It became an instrument of self-fulfilling prophecy. As product after product emerged from Apple, each one breaking ground and changing our behavior, Steve Job’s reality field actually came into being. And we all live in it.

More information:
» TED.com: Steve Jobs' Stanford University Commencement Speech
» BusinessWeek: "Working with Steve Jobs"
» Birmingham Post: "Designing Transformational Change"
» NY Times: "A Sister’s Eulogy for Steve Jobs"

Echoing the part of Apple’s statement that suggested “the world is immeasurably better because of Steve,” U.S. President Barack Obama described Jobs as having “exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity.” The American President continued, “Steve was among the greatest of American innovators—brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world and talented enough to do it.”

Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program

2011-09-26T08:57:00.000-07:00

George Mason University on Vimeo.

The George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) was established in 2007 for high school and undergraduate students to gain hands on experience in laboratories using cutting edge technology. The student scientists have the opportunity to work in areas of science such as Biochemistry, Biodefense, Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Genomics, Nanotechnology, Neuroscience, and Proteomics.

Wavves - "King Of The Beach" (2010)

2011-09-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

Wavves started in 2008 as the recording project of Nathan Williams. Wavves released several 7"s as well as a cassette leading up to the first two releases Wavves and Wavvves. After gaining recognition Ryan Ulsh was enlisted as a touring drummer and Wavves did the first US and European tours. Wavves released their self-titled debut album in 2008, subsequently drawing the attention of Pitchfork Media. At the time, the band consisted of guitarist Nathan Williams and drummer Ryan Ulsh.

The third Wavves album, entitled King of the Beach, was released on August 3, 2010, by Fat Possum Records, and features the latest lineup of Nathan Williams, Billy Hayes, and Stephen Pope. The album received generally positive reviews from the likes of Paste Magazine, Dusted Magazine, and The Onion's A.V. Club. The album was named the 24th-best album of the year by Spin, and the 50th best album of the year by Pitchfork.

Community Returns

2011-09-20T14:41:00.000-07:00

New Hip-Hop

2011-09-19T10:25:00.000-07:00

UVA Men Of Genius

2011-09-15T16:08:00.001-07:00

The best thing to come outta UVA since TJ.

US Open: Djokovic Defeats Nadal In Four Sets

2011-09-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

USOpen.org:
Last year, Novak Djokovic made his second career run to the US Open final, overcoming a two-set deficit in his first round match, defeating five-time champion Roger Federer in the semifinals in five sets and then played a solid final against Rafael Nadal, despite a loss.

Since then he has not made any major changes to his game, but wins and more experience like those, changed his mental approach to facing other top players. He is hitting shots he did not in the past few years, and with more aggression and confidence, and made a change in his diet in the offseason to being gluten-free.

The result has been one of the greatest years in the history of tennis, which Djokovic made even greater Monday.

Djokovic battled back problems but used his superior return game, defense and speed to play with confidence to defeat the 10-time Grand Slam champion Nadal, 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1, to win his first career US Open crown and fourth Grand Slam title in a match featuring spectacular shot-making and many unbelievable rallies. With the win, he pushed his record on the year to an amazing 64-2 and 6-0 over Nadal. He also had a 43-match win streak stemming from last year's Davis Cup final until his loss to Federer in this year in the French Open semifinals.

With the win he also became just the sixth man in the Open Era to win three Grand Slam titles in the same year, after winning both the Australian Open and Wimbledon (over Nadal) earlier this season.

“It really seems unreal,” Djokovic said of his victory. “I think most of the strokes are the same that they were in last two, three years. I'm going for it, I'm more aggressive, and I have just a different approach to the semifinals and finals of major events, especially when I'm playing two great champions, Rafa and Roger.

“In last couple of years that wasn't the case," he added. "I was always kind of trying to wait for their mistakes or being out there and playing my best tennis and not really having the positive attitude and kind of believing that I can win.”

After losing the Wimbledon final to Djokovic, Nadal had said he needed to play more aggressive and confident against Djokovic in order to beat him.

But on Monday, it was Djokovic who again played more aggressive for most of the match and with most of the confidence, as he was seemingly everywhere around the court, tracking down shot after shot and hitting extremely deep, which forced Nadal to play way behind the baseline at times and then leave balls too short in the court for Djokovic to crush.

The match featured an extraordinary amount of service breaks, as Djokovic had 26 break-point chances and broke Nadal 11 of those times, which was the most times the great Spaniard had been broken in 163 career Grand Slam matches.

Nadal also had 14 break-point chances against the Serb, converting on six of them, but a big problem was his inability to capitalize on most of those leads, as he struggled serving, especially in the first two sets, and for the match won just 52 percent of his first serves, compared to 65 percent for Djokovic, who felt on from the beginning.

The world No. 1 prevailed in a 4-hour, 10-minute display of astonishing shotmaking and crowd-pleasing rallies. The two played one game that lasted more than 17 minutes, and the third set alone took 84 minutes.

Nadal finished with 32 winners and 37 unforced errors. Djokovic had 55 winners and 51 unforced errors.

“Right now I'm all over positive emotions. It's really hard to find the words that can describe the feeling that I had and that I have still. But I know this couldn't come overnight. It's a long process,” he said. “Throughout all my life I've been working, being committed to this sport 100 percent. That's the only the way you can really succeed: the right balance between private life and life on tour, which is very requiring, demanding.

“But this is something that I love to do, and it brings me joy every single time I step on the court and make a win,” he added. “Nothing can replace that feeling.”

Biggest Breakout Star of the US Open:
Donald Young
Prior to this summer, the biggest headline Donald Young made on tour was his expletive-laced Twitter rant towards the USTA. After making amends, the American buckled down and went to work, getting into the best shape of his career and adding some pop to his groundstrokes. The hard work paid off, with Young reaching his first ATP Tour semifinal in Washington, D.C. At the US Open, Young followed up his strong summer by posting one of the biggest wins of his career in the second round, rallying from being down two sets to one against world No. 14 Stanislas Wawrinka and ultimately prevailing in a fifth-set tiebreaker. Although Andy Murray beat him handily in the fourth round, Young has made rapid progress with the rankings. Ranked outside of the top 100 at the beginning of August, he will now reach a career-high ranking of approximately No. 58 after this tournament and has minimal points to defend for the rest of the year.

Best Of MADtv

2011-09-13T15:43:00.000-07:00

Girls - "Vomit" (2011)

2011-09-11T20:42:00.000-07:00

Wikipedia:
Girls is an indie rock band from San Francisco, California. Made up of two key members, Christopher Owens and Chet "JR" White. The band's lead singer, Christopher Owens, is a former member of the Children of God cult. The New York Times compared the band's sound to Elvis Costello, Buddy Holly, and The Beach Boys.

The band released their second full length album Father, Son, Holy Ghost on September 9, 2011 in UK/Europe and on September 13 in the USA. On July 20, 2011, they released "Vomit" from their upcoming album as a free download. This was followed by a video of the same song in August.

The band toured Europe and returned to the U.S. in late 2009 for a national headlining tour. They are known for the use of drugs whilst making their first album, though in a 2009 interview with State magazine lead singer Owens suggested this is now a more occasional indulgence. The group played the ATP New York 2010 music festival in Monticello, New York in September 2010. Girls began touring again on September 3 and will be playing across the USA, Canada, Japan, UK, and Europe.

The Cool Kids - "Summer Jam" (2011)

2011-09-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

Once again, The Cool Kids have teamed up with directors Maxim Bohichick and Alex Bergman of BBGUN Films to deliver a new video for their Green Label Sound single, "Summer Jam (feat. Maxine Ashley)." The video shows what Summer should be: nothing but "bevs, barbecue, and babes," as Mikey and Chuck would say.

Consisting of rappers Antoine "Sir Michael Rocks" Reed (originally from Matteson, Illinois) and Evan "Chuck Inglish" Ingersoll (originally from Mount Clemens, Michigan), the group is based in Chicago, Illinois and Detroit, Michigan.

When Fish Ride Bicycles is the second major record and debut studio album of the American hip hop duo The Cool Kids, released on July 12, 2011 by Green Label Sound Records. The album features the collaborations production, from Chuck Inglish, Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes, and Travis Barker, along with appearances from Bun B, Ghostface Killah, Travis Barker, and Asher Roth. This is the first studio recording of the group after the mixtape Tacklebox, in the beginning of 2010.

VT and the Libyan Revolution

2011-09-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

WSLS:
"To think that some goofball professor and some awesome artist here in Blacksburg, have now had some completely small role in the Libyan revolution that is happening right now,” says John Boyer.

The Gadhafi image was originally created for a textbook called "The Plaid Avenger." A comic book series that talks about factual history and geographical information, but with an interesting story line twist.

Young The Giant - "My Body" (2011)

2011-09-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

Get More: 2011 VMA, Music, Young The Giant

Young the Giant is an American rock band that formed in Irvine, California, in 2004. The band's line-up is Sameer Gadhia (lead vocals), Jacob Tilley (guitar), Eric Cannata (guitar), Payam Doostzadeh (bass guitar), and François Comtois (drums). Formerly known as The Jakes, Young the Giant was signed by Roadrunner Records in 2009 and released its eponymous debut album in 2010.

An underlying theme of the album, according to Gadhia, is the "feeling of isolation and almost surreal happiness with a lover." Much of the album was inspired by the beach, Gadhia said. "It is summery, kind of an Orange County sound. When we first started doing this seriously and living together, Newport was just like eternal summer for us. We did draw from a lot of that."

The band's first single "My Body" was released to U.S. radio in January and went on to peak at #5 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. Sameer Gadhia said the track is an embodiment of the band: "a combination of youthful energy and slightly naive but optimistic determination. It captures a sense of passion, urgency and excitement that we've felt throughout the writing and recording process over the past two years."

Ovechkin Mr. Big Ad

2011-08-31T15:29:00.000-07:00

Mr. Big is the largest sized chocolate bar produced by Cadbury, hence the name. The standard bar is made of a long, layered vanilla wafer, coated in caramel, peanuts and rice crisps, which is then covered in the chocolate coating.

In Canada, they are very common, and are available at all regular retailers, in an increasing number of varieties. They are also available in lesser quantities in a few other countries like Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Australia, South Korea, and in some areas of the United States.

Summer League Highlights

2011-08-24T13:59:00.000-07:00

Javale McGee's insane block at 1:23.
John Wall's top play at 1:56.

Jamie Woon - "Lady Luck" (2011)

2011-08-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

Jamie Woon is a British singer, songwriter and producer who gained widespread acclaim in 2010 for his single "Night Air" which was co-produced by Burial, following his previous independent release, Wayfaring Stranger EP.

The Eurasian son of a Malaysian Chinese father, and Scottish Irish mother (Celtic singer Mae McKenna), he was born and raised in Greater London. He attended the BRIT School, where he graduated the year behind Amy Winehouse, whom he later supported live.

Woon's sound and style is presently described as soul inflected vocals backed by samplers and programming, or a single guitar track. He describes his music as "... R&B, it's groove-based vocal-led music ...".

Woon's debut album is entitled Mirrorwriting and was released on 18 April 2011 via Polydor Records.

Jay-Z & Kanye West - "Otis" (2011)

2011-08-20T10:16:00.000-07:00

The music video, directed by Spike Jonze, was filmed in Los Angeles. It was released on August 11, 2011 on MTV and features a brief cameo by Aziz Ansari. The song, which was produced by West, is built upon a sample of the cover version "Try a Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding.

The Independent remarked "having seen oddball rap collective Odd Future become the talking point of the blogosphere, Eminem and old partner-in-crime Royce da 5'9" start work on their own bruising collaborative effort, and hazy vibe rappers Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y take steps in the same direction, Jay and Ye have recognised the throne is far from unchallenged, and have come together in the most remarkable dual alliance since André 3000 and Big Boi became Outkast." Frontier Psychiatrist said of 'Otis', "The song’s deconstructed beat is something unusual for Kanye, something more naked and raw than his typical production, and it is on this song that the true nature of [Watch the Throne] becomes clear: it is an experimental notebook."

The cover art for "Otis" was designed by Italian fashion designer Riccardo Tisci, who had previously designed the artwork for the "H•A•M" single cover and the Watch the Throne album cover.

X Games 17 Wrap-Up

2011-08-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

Shaun White's full gold medal run:

ESPN:
"I'd be lying to say I wasn't standing up there at the very top like, 'You could blow it right now or you could just win it,'" White said later. "I went with win it."

His final three tricks in the winning run, which he'd spent weeks perfecting on Tony Hawk's private ramp, went like this: 720, body varial frontside 540, heelflip body varial frontside 540 (with a fully extended grab behind his back).

"I was trying a different run and I thought it was better but it wasn't," said White, who scored an 89.33 on a flawless first run in the finals. "I made the good call of switching it out and doing that last one."

Last year, White finished second to Pierre-Luc Gagnon, a five-time Vert gold medalist. White's gold was his 21st career X Games medal (summer and winter combined) and 13th gold.

Bucky Lasek, a four-time gold medalist in Vert, took bronze.

Hall Of Fame 2011

2011-08-10T19:40:00.000-07:00

"Defensive end Richard Dent, running back Marshall Faulk, linebackers Chris Hanburger and Les Richter, contributor Ed Sabol, cornerback Deion Sanders, and tight end Shannon Sharpe make up the Class of 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees."

BleacherReport:
Deion Sanders wasn't the first showman to ever play in the NFL. Nor was he the first true shutdown corner to ever lineup across from opposing receivers. But there is no question his polarizing presence on the gridiron will never be forgotten.

A world-class athlete, Neon Deion showcased his dynamic speed while playing at a high level in both Major League Baseball and the National Football League.

Sanders was a highly-touted prospect coming out of Fort Meyers, Florida, where he earned All-State honors in baseball, basketball and football. His stardom was apparent from his early days at Florida State, where he excelled in football and baseball and also competed for the Seminoles' track team.

Despite his propensity to shy away from physical play and obvious disdain of tackling ball carriers in the open field, Sanders didn't have to come up with big hits to have an impact. Opposing quarterbacks would rarely even throw his direction, making him one of the most valuable defensive players in the NFL.

Sanders didn't just talk a good game. He walked the walked, high-stepping with the ball extended skyward, soaking in the attention all the way to the bank.

All told, Sanders played 14 seasons in the NFL and scored a combined 21 touchdowns. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1994 and captured Super Bowl titles with the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys.

» Deion Sanders' Top 10 Career Moments

Although his career was cut short by injuries, Marshall Faulk enjoyed some of the most productive seasons of any running back in league history.

He burst onto the scene with the Colts, rushing for over 1,200 yards during his rookie season in 1994. But he spent the greater part of three seasons banged up with a variety of ailments before bouncing back in 1998 then promptly asking out of Indy.

Traded to the Rams following that season, Faulk quickly showcased remarkable versatility in Mike Martz's uptempo passing attack. He rushed for at least 1,300 yards in his first three seasons in St. Louis, but his true impact came as Kurt Warner's outlet in the passing game. Faulk helped Warner and the Rams edge the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV.

His talents made St. Louis virtually unstoppable for the better part of two seasons, with Torrey Holt and Isaac Bruce providing two more Hall of Fame caliber weapons for Warner.

Although more injuries thanks to a career spent playing on turf cut his career a bit short, Faulk still ranks seventh in NFL history with 100 rushing touchdowns. He officially retired in 2007 after sitting out all of the 2006 season while recovering from a serious knee injury.

» Marshall Faulk's Top 10 Career Moments

Nas & Damian Marley - "Patience" (2010)

2011-08-09T15:01:00.000-07:00

The music video for "Patience" was directed by Nabil Elderkin. The song contains a sample from "Sabali" by Amadou & Mariam from the album Welcome to Mali.

Distant Relatives is a collaborative studio album by Nas and Damian Marley, released May 18, 2010. Fusing musical elements of hip hop and reggae, it features lyrical themes concerning ancestry, poverty, and the plight of Africa. The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 57,000 copies in its first week.

J. Cole - "Who Dat" (2010)

2011-08-08T19:01:00.000-07:00

J. Cole said he chose "Who Dat" to be his first single "because it’s really about the beat and the raps and not much more. It’s an introduction to those that were unfamiliar and also something for my fans to brag about as opposed to hearing it on the radio and being like ‘Ehhh.’ He also calls the song "raw" and says it reminds him of his older sound.

Directed by acclaimed directing duo BBGun (Maxim Bohichik & Alex Bergman), the music video was shot in the final week of May, 2010. It was shot in J. Cole's hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina with cheerleaders from Fayetteville State University and a local high school marching band from E.E. Smith High School. In addition, the entire music video is one continuous shot with no cuts.

Cole World: The Sideline Story is scheduled to be released September 27, 2011 under Jay-Z's label Roc Nation. The album is his first studio release, following three successful mixtapes. Production is expected to be handled mainly by Cole himself, with possible production from high-profile producers such as No I.D. and Danja.

Manchester United Tops Barcelona In Exhibition

2011-08-01T16:56:00.000-07:00

WashingtonPost:
The clubs were the same, as were many of the players. The setting was another massive stadium near a nation’s capital, stuffed with supporters decorated in Manchester United’s red and FC Barcelona’s claret and blue.

But when this affair between the world’s most popular sports enterprises ended, the trophy was not for winning the European Champions League. Rather, NBA star Kobe Bryant presented a sponsor’s trinket to defender Nemanja Vidic to commemorate United’s 2-1 victory over the Spanish titans in a friendly Saturday night before 81,807 at FedEx Field — a record crowd for a soccer match in the Washington area.

The outcome won’t soften the disappointment of losing to the Catalan club in the prestigious continental final in May at Wembley Stadium, but will provide a dose of gratification heading into the English Premier League season in two weeks.

“We’re happy winning the match and we move on now back home and hopefully we keep our form,” United Coach Alex Ferguson said. “To be honest, both teams made a lot of changes so it’s difficult to gauge the importance of the result.”

Typical of Barcelona’s style, the Spanish side enjoyed 69% of possession but failed to manufacture many quality scoring chances until the final 20 minutes.

“Of course, we want to win, but we played against one of the best teams in the world,” Barcelona Coach Pep Guardiola said. “They used [their] best qualities — the counterattack — but we played a very good second half.”

Falling in the preseason for both sides, the match lacked the intensity and focus of a high-stakes affair. Six Barcelona players who started in the Champions League final were in the lineup; Manchester United called on three. The teams combined to make 13 substitutions.

Barcelona was missing all its South American players who participated in Copa America in July, including the sport’s greatest player, Lionel Messi. United was without Mexican forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez (concussion).

Andres Iniesta, goal-scoring hero of Spain’s World Cup championship last year, was in the lineup, but without Xavi Hernandez, his creative partner in central midfield, Barcelona labored to break down United’s resistance.

United went ahead in the 22nd minute, seizing on Barcelona’s stalled possession and counterattacking with pace and efficiency. With long strides, Danny Welbeck surged through midfield and sent a through ball to Nani.

Unimpeded, Nani infiltrated the box, drew Victor Valdes off his line and slipped an eight-yard shot under the keeper. He celebrated with a backflip along the end line.

Barcelona sputtered throughout the half and failed to test David de Gea, United’s 20-year-old goalkeeper who was acquired this summer from Atletico Madrid.

In the 70th, Thiago provided the equalizer with a stroke of brilliance. Giggs’s failed slide allowed Thiago to seize control and slide into space for a 23-yard drive with the outside of his right foot. As if caught in a sudden gust, the ball drifted away from de Gea and settled into the upper right corner.

Animated on click!

United answered six minutes later when Tom Cleverely intercepted a lazy squared ball in midfield and supplied Michael Owen for a breakaway. When Valdes approached, Owen calmly chipped it over him for a 2-1 advantage.

Notes: The previous attendance record was 72,368 at FedEx for Real Madrid’s 2009 friendly against D.C. United.

Rabach, Daniels Among Redskins' Cuts

2011-07-30T14:02:00.000-07:00

Redskins.com:
The Redskins released 12 players on Thursday, most notably center Casey Rabach and defensive linemen Phillip Daniels and Ma’ake Kemoeatu.

The team also released safeties Macho Harris and Sha'Reff Rashad, running backs Chad Simpson, Andre Brown and Shawnbrey McNeal, wide receivers Roydell Williams, Maurice Price and Taurus Johnson, defensive lineman Rashaad Duncan and punter Josh Bidwell.

Since joining the Redskins in 2005, Rabach has started every game but one at center for the Redskins.

He turns 34 years old in September and it’s evident that the Redskins want to get younger at the position, with Kory Lichtensteiger, Will Montgomery and Erik Cook potential replacements.

Daniels was one of the longest-tenured Redskins, having played for the franchise since 2004. He turned 38 years old last March but stayed in great physical shape through an off-season weightlifting program.

Daniels made his mark in Washington. In a December 2005 contest against Dallas, he logged four sacks, which is tied with four others for the franchise mark.

Kemoeatu played just one season in Washington.

He played through a painful shoulder injury in 2010, earning the Ed Block Courage Award for overcoming injury and inspiring teammates. He played in 14 games, with 12 starts, and logged 40 tackles. His season ended in late December when he was placed on injured reserve.

The Redskins are likely to go with younger defensive linemen in 2011, with draft picks Jarvis Jenkins and Chris Neild expected to get a closer look. The team is expected to address the position in free agency as well.

Harris, a Virginia Tech product, signed with the Redskins midway through last season. He played in three games, with one start, and logged four tackles.

Simpson, Brown and McNeal became expendable when the Redskins drafted Roy Helu, Jr. and Evan Royster last April. Young backs Ryan Torain and Keiland Williams also remain on the roster.

The releases of Williams, Johnson and Price signal that the team intends to give its wide receiver corps a makeover.

Vasco Rossi - "Señorita" (2004)

2011-07-27T17:39:00.000-07:00

Vasco Rossi (born February 7, 1952), also known as Vasco or with the nickname Il Blasco, is an Italian singer-songwriter. During his career, he has published 25 albums (not including unofficial releases) and has written over 150 songs, as well as lyrics for other artists. He calls himself a "provoca(u)tore" (an Italian portmanteau for "provoking author") as throughout his career he has been regularly criticized over his choice of lifestyle and the lyrics in his songs.

Although fairly well known in continental Europe, Vasco Rossi remains a peculiarly Italian rock phenomenon. In 2010 he blamed his lack of success outside Italy on American and British governments who, he claimed, banned foreign artists from becoming successful in their countries.

NFL Lockout Is Over, Redskins Begin Camp

2011-07-27T13:28:00.000-07:00

Fox:
After the 135-day lockout canceled the Redskins' offseason program, John Beck and his teammates finally can get back to work Tuesday at 10 a.m. when players are allowed to report for physicals and voluntary strength and conditioning workouts.

It will be their first access to Redskins Park since an appeals court temporarily put the lockout on hold for a few hours in late April.

"I'm just excited that this is done," Beck said.

Although he was stopped at the front gate to Redskins Park by a security guard who didn't know who he was, Beck could see the practice fields have been transformed for training camp.

"They had the ropes up," he said. "They had the Redskins souvenir truck ready to go. All of a sudden I got that feeling. It's football season, and it's exciting."

It's certainly more appealing than talk of lawyers, revenue and bargaining. That was evident in how quickly the league's focus turned to the on-field product shortly after the vote was announced.

The Redskins will begin training camp Thursday, but the team had not released a schedule of practices by Monday night. The proposed deal that NFL owners ratified Thursday limits the first day of camp to physicals, meetings and conditioning, with pads prohibited until the fourth day.

Players enthusiastically welcomed the news. Veteran defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday, the Redskins' NFLPA representative, said he felt a "sigh of relief, certainly a celebration for a job well-done."

Players chafed when owners opted out of the collective bargaining agreement three years ago and locked players out March 12, but Holliday believes they are better off for it.

Their new 10-year agreement with the owners reduces the number of offseason practices, as well as in-season practices during which players are required to wear pads.

It also provides for a salary floor and retiree benefits of between $900 million and $1 billion over the life of the agreement. Neither side can opt out of the CBA early, according to the NFL Network.

"If they didn't lock us out ... I don't know if we would have been able to achieve the significant gains that we made as players," Holliday said.

Rookies and undrafted free agents may start signing contracts at 10 a.m. Tuesday, the same time at which clubs may start negotiating with - but can't sign - their free agents. Teams can begin to sign any veteran free agent - from their team or another - Friday at 6 p.m.

Redskins first-round pick Ryan Kerrigan planned to pack his things in Indiana on Tuesday night and travel to Northern Virginia in the morning. He had to check whether he could report to headquarters while he is unsigned - an uncertainty indicative of these unprecedented times in the NFL. As it turns out, he is permitted to take part in meetings and strength training but not any on-field practices.

At the very least, he plans to be under contract by the time training camp starts Thursday.

Djokovic Wins First Wimbledon

2011-07-06T17:27:00.000-07:00

NYTimes:
WIMBLEDON, England — It was the final game of an era, and Rafael Nadal punched the strings of his racket as if it were the culprit instead of the faithful companion that had helped him win 2 Wimbledon titles and 20 straight matches here.

What has long defined Nadal is his optimism: his ability to play the point at hand without being weighed down by the baggage from the last. But Novak Djokovic has been simply too much for even Nadal to bear this season.

Djokovic has been better than Nadal on three surfaces and in four countries now, and there were rub-the-eyes moments in this Wimbledon final Sunday when it seemed Djokovic was toying with him, too. Although Nadal, a Spaniard who is a born competitor, managed to wrestle the third set his way, he could not find the form or the solutions — to borrow one of his favorite English words — to keep Djokovic from fulfilling his boyhood quest and winning the men’s Wimbledon final, 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3.

“The most special day of my life,” Djokovic said. “This is my favorite tournament, the tournament I always dreamed of winning, the first tournament I ever watched in my life. I think I’m still sleeping.”

In fact, Djokovic, a 24-year-old Serb, has perhaps never looked more wide awake than he did as he clenched his fists — no, his entire body — and roared with wide eyes and release in the direction of his supersize entourage in the players box.

Despite a significant push by Nadal, including some tremendous play in the third set, and a tight fourth set, the 2008 and 2010 Wimbledon champion could not keep up. Nadal had been plagued by minor injuries earlier in the tournament.

Djokovic's win breaks Nadal's 20-win streak at the grass tournament.

On Friday, by defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semifinals in a match that was more consistently entertaining than the final, Djokovic assured himself of the No. 1 ranking for the first time. If Nadal had successfully defended his title, he would have dropped to No. 2 despite holding three of the four Grand Slam singles titles.

Djokovic is an astonishing 48-1 in 2011, his only loss coming against Roger Federer in the semifinals of the French Open that Nadal eventually won. But Djokovic’s loss in Paris was the big exception to the new rules. Djokovic has beaten Federer and Nadal — the two players who have defined this era — eight times in nine matches this year, and he has been stingiest of all with Nadal: beating him five consecutive times, including twice on American hardcourts, twice on his beloved red clay and now on grass.

“When one player beats you five times is because today my game don’t bother him a lot,” Nadal said in English. “Today, probably against me, he’s playing better than my level. Find solutions, that’s what I have to try and that’s what I’m going to try.”

Sunday’s victory was also Djokovic’s first over Nadal in a best-of-five-set or Grand Slam match after six previous defeats.

The relentless, in-the-moment Nadal of old would have presumably pushed Djokovic to the limit from there, but Nadal could not summon the accuracy or the ability in the fourth set. He made unforced errors with his forehand with time and space available, and struggled to control his backhand drive, relying too often on the one-handed slice.

Coldplay - "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall" (2011)

2011-07-05T19:28:00.001-07:00

The Cud Life Tour

2011-07-04T16:54:00.000-07:00

"You’ve been waiting for me?" Cudi asked the crowd. "That’s good, because I’ve been waiting for you, too."

SoundSavvy:
For almost two hours, the Cleveland native tantalized the crowd with moderate and monstrous hits from his three projects: A Kid Named Cudi, and both Man on the Moon albums. He stalked the stage with bright-eyed abandon, slinking from one side to the other in, well, an undersized t-shirt and skinny jeans.

“Welcome, welcome you, cause I am your big brother,” Cudi groaned over “Revofev,” a sparse loop of piano keys and guitar chords.

By the time the riot-inducing “Mojo So Dope” blared through the speakers — just four songs later — the already raucous crowd had transformed into a live painting of unrest, a sea of white hands waving in unison as wafts of weed smoke pierced the calm night air. Ironically, the next song in the set was the Bone Thugs-induced “Marijuana,” yet another crowd favorite from Man on the Moon II.

“Up Up and Away” came around roughly 30 minutes into the show. After the mixtape sing-along “Maui Wowie”, Cudi shared the stage with fellow Cleveland native Chip Tha Ripper and New Yorker CAGE.

But Cudi shone best when left to roam alone, when his unassuming affability were allowed to illuminate the secluded pavilion without distractions. Once CAGE left, Cudi reemerged with two well-executed covers — Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Joe” and Kanye West’s “All of the Lights” — and a quick three-song mash-up, which included a techno remix of “Day 'n' Nite.”

Then there was time for just one more song: "Pursuit of Happiness," performed under neon green lights. Still, what would be a concert without some fan appreciation?

"Kid Cudi fans are the realest motherfuckers on the planet. Period," Cudi said to the adoring crowd.

Setlist:
Revofev
Scott Mescudi vs. The World
Soundtrack 2 My Life
Ghost!
Mojo So Dope
We Aite (Wake Up Your Mind)
Marijuana
Solo Dolo (Nightmare)
Up Up & Away
Man on the Moon (The Anthem)
Cudi Spazzin' (Acapella)
Maui Wowie
Erase Me
All Talk (with Chip tha Ripper)
Hyyerr (with Chip tha Ripper)
MANIAC (with Cage)
Hey Joe (Jimi Hendrix cover)
All of the Lights (Kanye West)
Mr. Rager
Cudi Zone
Memories (David Guetta)
Day 'n' Night
Pursuit of Happiness (Nightmare)

Russell Peters

2011-06-28T19:44:00.000-07:00

Russell Peters is an Indian-Canadian comedian and actor. He began performing in Toronto in 1989 and has been nominated for four Gemini Awards.

Peters' popularity extends to several countries. In Canada, Peters became the first comedian to sell out Toronto's Air Canada Centre, and ended up selling over 30,000 tickets over the two-day sales period. In Sydney, Peters had a record breaking audience of 13,880, making the event the largest stand-up comedy show in Australian history.

Peters attributes his sudden widespread popularity to a stand-up performance he did on the Canadian TV comedy series Comedy Now! that was uploaded onto YouTube and became viral.

2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup

2011-06-26T19:55:00.000-07:00

The two North American superpowers own the Gold Cup trophy. Except for Canada taking it north in 2000, the Mexicans and Americans have dominated the tournament, with El Tri parading with the hardware five times, the U.S. on four occasions.

Mexico is the only CONCACAF team that has beaten the U.S. in the knockout round of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, beating the U.S. in the 1993, 1998 and 2009 tournaments. Brazil, playing as a guest team, eliminated the U.S. in the semifinals in 1996 and 2003. Colombia eliminated the U.S. in penalties in the quarterfinals of the 2000 event.

Five players on the Gold Cup roster earned their first cap after the World Cup:

Juan Agudelo and Tim Ream earned their first caps in the final match of 2010, a 2-1 win in the Nelson Mandela Challenge on Nov. 17. in South Africa.
Chris Wondolowski is the most recent debutant, appearing for the first time on Jan. 22, 2011, against Chile.
Jermaine Jones made his long-awaited debut on Oct. 9, 2010, against Poland.
Eric Lichaj debuted on Oct. 12, 2010, against Colombia.

NBA Draft 2011

2011-06-23T19:12:00.001-07:00

More information:
» Delaney Working Out with the Wizards on June 9th

"Life In A Day" Documentary

2011-06-23T17:14:00.000-07:00

Explosions In The Sky - "Last Known Surroundings"

2011-06-23T15:21:00.000-07:00

Austin, TX's Explosions in the Sky are known for their instrumental post-rock songs, some of which have been featured movies and TV shows like Friday Night Lights and One Tree Hill. But after 12 years and six albums, they've never had a music video of their own. Until now.

The band just released a clip for "Last Known Surroundings," from their latest album Take Care, Take Care, Take Care, via Wired magazine's blog. It's an eight-minute, computer-generated piece, courtesy of the band's pals at Austin design studio Ptarmak, that matches the song's ethereal, walking-on-the-moon vibe with geometric mapping and natural elements — sea creatures, vegetation, rivers -- flourishing in some deep-space world.

Black Cobain - "4AM" ft Wale (2011)

2011-06-17T16:30:00.001-07:00

Bruins Take Stanley Cup in Game 7

2011-06-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

NHL.com:
The 37-year-old Tim Thomas made 37 saves in the second shutout of his landmark finals performance, Patrice Bergeron and rookie Brad Marchand scored two goals apiece, and the Bruins beat the Canucks 4-0 Wednesday night to win their first NHL championship since 1972.

The Bruins are the first team in NHL history to win a Game 7 three times in the same postseason, and Thomas became the first goalie in NHL history to win Game 7 with a shutout on the road.

The oldest Conn Smythe Trophy winner in NHL history stopped a jaw-dropping 238 of the Canucks' 246 shots in the finals for a .967 save percentage. That's even better than his .940 mark and 1.98 goals-against average for the entire postseason.

Thomas now owns the NHL record for most saves in the postseason (798) and a Stanley Cup Final (238) as well as most shots faced in a postseason (849).

"I think I went even further than I thought," Thomas said. "I was scared, I won't lie. I had nerves yesterday and today, and I faked it as best as I could, and I faked it all the way to the Stanley Cup."

Marchand finished his rookie season with a pair of goals and an assist in Game 7 while Bergeron beat Roberto Luongo twice, including once while Boston was shorthanded late in the second period. Marchand had 7 points in the series to give him 19 in his first NHL postseason. Defenseman Dennis Seidenberg added a pair of assists.

Mark Recchi didn't fake anything after the game. Boston's 43-year-old forward announced his retirement on the ice during the Bruins' celebration.

Recchi went out in style, winning his third Stanley Cup in his home province, just 160 miles from his hometown of Kamloops, B.C. He also went out with an assist in Game 7, giving him 7 points in the Final and 14 in 25 playoff games.

"It's the end for me," said Recchi, who received the Stanley Cup first from Bruins' captain Zdeno Chara. "I'm going out on top and I couldn't happier with this group of guys. Regardless of what happened, this was going to be one of the best groups I have ever played with. We're fortunate to win and we're going to enjoy this."

Boston dropped the first two games in Vancouver, but became just the third team since 1966 to overcome that finals deficit.

On the flip side, Roberto Luongo, who had been spectacular at home in the Final and dreadful on the road, was only average Wednesday after giving up three goals on eight shots in just 8:35 of work in Boston on Monday.

He was beaten by a Bergeron's one-timer in the first period, a Marchand wraparound 12:13 into the second and Bergeron's sliding shorthanded goal a little more than five minutes later.

The Canucks were the best team in the regular season for 82 games, and after a near-monumental collapse in the first round against Chicago, they rolled through Nashville and San Jose to get to their first Stanley Cup Final since 1994.

A Canadian club still hasn't won the Stanley Cup since 1993.
♣

Phish at Merriweather Post Pavilion

2011-06-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

June 11, 2011

BandsThatJam:
COLUMBIA, MD – Saturday night the boys from Vermont braved the sweltering heat to kick off their two night stint at Merriweather Post Pavilion with a cool rendition of fan favorite, and tour rarity “Daniel Saw the Stone”. Quite the launching pad, and quite a high bar to set, but over the next couple of hours, the band played with a seemingly limitless amount of energy and didn’t let up for a second.

Powering through two muscular sets, highlighted by a ripping ACDC Bag, a gorgeous Reba and an absolutely mind warping Sand, this newer/stronger/better Phish (we can rebuild them!) is playing tighter than they have in years. The jams are noticeably shorter this time around but there seems to be more finesse involved. Before, especially in the early 2000′s the band could head off into uncharted musical territory and sometimes just never come back. It still sounded great but it wasn’t as filling as one might have liked. Phish 3.0 on other hand seem to be all meat and no fat. Sure, you can still get lost in the middle of a giant Antelope or an equally monstrous Tweezer, but the band now seems to be just plain better at bringing the audience back down to Earth in time to get ready for their next blastoff into outer space.

This is simply a much smarter Phish we’ve ever seen, and it lights a beacon of hope for what may be coming from them in the future. All in all, the band raged it, and raged it hard Saturday night, and that seems to be the theme of this entire tour so far.

Set I:
Daniel Saw the Stone
AC/DC Bag
Ocelot
Access Me
Vultures
Wilson
Sand
Roses Are Free (Ween cover)
Reba
On Your Way Down (Allen Toussaint cover)
Run Like an Antelope

Set II:
Birds of a Feather
Tweezer
The Horse
Silent in the Morning
Waves
Chalk Dust Torture
Rock and Roll (The Velvet Underground cover)
Albuquerque (Neil Young cover)
Piper
Wading in the Velvet Sea
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Deodato cover)
Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan
Suzy Greenberg

Encore:
Show of Life
Tweezer Reprise

Shaquille "The Big AARP" O'Neal

2011-06-07T13:19:00.000-07:00

ESPN:
Shaquille O'Neal, the man with four rings and scores of nicknames, has finally decided to call it quits after 19 seasons, ending one of the most colorful careers in NBA history that will surely culminate with a Hall of Fame induction.

"I'm going to miss the competition. I'm going to miss, you know, the chase for the ring. You know, I'm actually going to miss everything," O'Neal said on "SportsCenter" on Wednesday.

He added: "Father Time has caught up with Shaquille O'Neal."

O'Neal, 39, retires fifth all-time with 28,596 points, 12th with 13,099 rebounds and second only to Artis Gilmore among players with more than 2,000 baskets with a .582 field goal percentage.

O'Neal will be remembered as one of the most dominant, recognizable and controversial figures in the game, whose body of work included rap records, movies, a lengthy business portfolio and an even lengthier history of philanthropic deeds.

O'Neal embraced social networking, amassing more than 3.8 million followers on his Twitter account and keeping them informed on his "random acts of Shaqness" -- like sitting in Harvard Square, pretending to be a statue, or going out in drag on Halloween.

"I tried to make people happy," O'Neal said, "and I tried to have fun. I think I did both."

O'Neal was a franchise-saver when the Orlando Magic made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 draft. He took them from the lottery to the playoffs in two years, and then led them to the NBA Finals in his third year before they were swept by the Houston Rockets.

O'Neal then signed with the Lakers in 1996 and had his greatest success there, winning three titles alongside Kobe Bryant and coach Phil Jackson. But amid tension between O'Neal and Bryant over credit for the team's success, O'Neal was traded to the Heat in the summer of 2004, fresh off a loss to the Detroit Pistons in the Finals. The Lakers plan to honor O'Neal by raising his No. 34 jersey to the rafters.

After 3½ years in Miami, a tenure that included his fourth NBA championship, O'Neal became a veteran-for-hire, moving to Phoenix and then Cleveland and finally Boston. But he couldn't deliver another title for Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire with the Suns, with James with the Cavaliers or with the Celtics.

He signed a two-year contract with the Boston Celtics last summer but a persistent Achilles injury will prevent him from fulfilling the terms of the deal. O'Neal first injured his right Achilles on Christmas Day and was able to play in only two of the final 35 games of the regular season.

At each stop, he endeared himself to the fans and his new teammates with his effervescent smile and playful attitude, including the habit of adopting a new nickname he felt embodied his role with his new team. In Phoenix he was the "Big Shaqtus"; in Boston, the "Big Shamroq."

Here's a look back at his career:

• 15-time NBA All-Star
• 28,596 career points (5th all-time)
• 2000 NBA MVP
• 3-time NBA Finals MVP (2000-02)
• 1993 NBA Rookie of the Year
• 13 seasons with 20 PPG and 10 RPG (most in NBA)
• 5,250 postseason points (4th all-time in NBA)
• 216 postseason games played (3rd all-time in NBA)
• Notable nicknames: The Diesel, Shaq Fu, Superman, The Big Daddy, The Big Shaqtus, The Big Shamrock

More information:
» Shaq's Press Conference
» Michael Wilbon: "Shaq as Showman; Shaq as Superstar"

Rafa Wins Sixth French Open Title

2011-06-05T22:59:00.000-07:00

By winning his 6th Roland-Garros title (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011), Rafael Nadal became the player with the most French Open wins alongside Bjorn Borg (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981).

RolandGarros:
In one of the great French Open finals, Rafael Nadal called on every ounce of his talent, athleticism and courage to down Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-1 and equal Bjorn Borg's record of six Roland Garros titles.

Rafael Nadal fully deserves to take his place alongside the great Bjorn Borg, and now, with a total of ten majors to his name, can surely look forward to more titles. Just 25, the genial Majorcan has Federer's record of 16 Grand Slam titles in his sights, and should cement his own legend as one of the great tennis players of all time, on all surfaces and not just on clay.

Federer, meanwhile, can have no regrets. Super Roger gave it absolutely everything on a surface that is least suited to his game, and pushed Nadal far harder than he did in four previous encounters at Roland Garros.

In an epic encounter that you could not take your eyes off for a minute, Nadal staged a fabulous first set comeback, held off a storming fight-back in the second, conceded the third to an astounding Swiss turnaround, before sealing victory in the fourth.

2011 French Open

2011-06-04T17:23:00.000-07:00

88-Keys - "The Friends Zone" ft Shitake Monkey (2008)

2011-06-03T08:59:00.001-07:00

88-Keys- "The Friends Zone" ft Shitake Monkey from Decon on Vimeo.

RATM - "Sleep Now In The Fire" (2000)

2011-06-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

"Sleep Now in the Fire" is the fifth track from the 1999 album The Battle of Los Angeles by Rage Against the Machine.

The shoot for the music video on January 26, 2000, caused the doors of the New York Stock Exchange to be closed. In fact the Stock Exchange locked its doors mid-day in response to fears of crowds gathering to watch the filming. This was not recorded as a closure as trading on the exchange floor continued uninterrupted.

"We decided to shoot this video in the belly of the beast", said director Michael Moore, who was detained by police for an hour and threatened with arrest during the shooting of the video, as the band had a permit that allowed them on the premises, but did not have a sound permit. The band was escorted from the site by security, after band members attempted to gain entry into the Exchange.

The video was nominated at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Rock Video but lost to Limp Bizkit's "Break Stuff", causing the infamous incident where bassist Tim Commerford climbed a large piece of the award show set in protest of losing to Limp Bizkit.

Barcelona Wins Champions League Final

2011-05-30T18:40:00.000-07:00

ESPN:
As many had predicted, Barcelona outclassed Manchester United in Saturday's highly anticipated Champions League final, running out to a 3-1 win. And as many had hoped for, it was a game for the ages. Stylistically, technically and tactically, it was perhaps the best title game in recent memory. And perhaps the best game in all the memory that's been lost since then, too.

In spite of heavy speculation that ageless United manager Sir Alex Ferguson would be throwing a tactical wrinkle at his counterpart, boy wonder Pep Guardiola, he fielded his usual 4-4-2 setup with Wayne Rooney playing in the shadow of deep striker Javier Hernandez.

While the tactics didn't surprise, what did was United's thundering opening to the game, when the Red Devils weren't shy about pushing forward. This unsettled Barcelona, which is used to taking control of the game by slowing down the pace. But United started off in a full sprint, playing at a frantic pace and forcing small mistakes from Barca's lauded ball handlers.

Most of all, United forced Barca playmaker Xavi to come back and help out on defense, which he isn't accustomed to doing and which upset his side's offensive rhythm by robbing it of the outlet option. For about a 10-minute spell, Barca teetered on a feeble back foot and looked set for a fall.

But United couldn't keep up its frantic pace, as Barca discovered the bearings they had misplaced and gathered together enough possession to stop having to defend continuously.

By the 27th minute, Barca had slowed down the pace to its liking and advantage. Then Xavi, the genius of passes both long and short, managed to slip behind Carrick and Giggs, receive the ball and, with the outside of his foot, send a masterful ball through an immense amount of traffic into the side of the box, where a grateful Pedro controlled it and slid it past Edwin van der Sar at the near post for the opening goal.

Following the opening goal, though, United did dare to venture out of its half, refusing to pursue only the quick breakaway. On a nice attack, achieved through an overload on the right side of the field in the 34th minute, United got the ball to Rooney. He played a give-and-go with Carrick, then slipped it to Giggs, who was playing off the last man's shoulder. When central defender Gerard Pique stepped out on Giggs, Rooney was free to swipe the back pass from Giggs past Victor Valdes to achieve the gorgeous equalizer.

The second half brought more of the same. Barca settled onto the ball and United had to shrink into its territory to try to avoid more serious damage. But all the while, United, to its eternal credit and running counter to the vast majority of the teams that face Barca, still very much tried to play the game positively, venturing forward when it finally managed to break the Catalans' spell on the ball.

But this occasional venturing into the opposing half left the room for Xavi to play a ball square to Iniesta in the 54th minute. Iniesta played it back into the same direction it had come from, to Messi this time. The Argentine mighty mite then took a touch inside, pivoted past the on-rushing Patrice Evra and discovered that Nemanja Vidic had failed to step out on him and was protecting only his privates, rather than the goal. Needing no reminding of the task at hand, Messi quickly thumped the ball past van der Sar.

It was in another one of those periods in which United ventured out over the wings that Barca created the third chance in a five-minute span. This time though, a great run from Messi was cut short in the box. When the ball eventually caromed to Sergio Busquets, he played it off to David Villa, who found enough room to curl a stunning shot around a charging Rio Ferdinand and past van der Sar's reaching fingertips to settle into the goal's top corner.

And that, with a mere 70 minutes played, put an end to one of the more impressive sights seen in a soccer stadium in quite some time.

United was defeated, physically and emotionally, outwitted and outplayed. A worthy opponent it was, for a worthy final between two giants of the game.

Barcelona is European champion for the second time in three years.

And for their play, we can do no more but doff our caps and be grateful that we got to witness such a display.

The Lonely Island - "3-Way" (2011)

2011-05-27T23:35:00.000-07:00

And all of that was OK, cuz it was in a three way, yeahhhhhh

Murray Head - "One Night In Bangkok (Vinylshakerz Remix)" (2005)

2011-05-26T21:25:00.000-07:00

"One Night in Bangkok" is a song originally sung by Murray Head on the 1984 concept album for the musical Chess. Its music was composed by former ABBA members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, with lyrics written by Tim Rice & Björn Ulvaeus.

The release topped the charts in many countries, including South Africa, West Germany, Switzerland and Australia. It peaked at #3 in both Canada and the United States, and at #12 in the UK.

In 1985, Thailand's Mass Communications Organization banned One Night in Bangkok, saying its lyrics "cause misunderstanding about Thai society and show disrespect towards Buddhism."

In 2005, the track gained new popularity in Europe, thanks to a remix by the dance act Vinylshakerz. The producers sampled the chorus of the song and turned it into a modern dance track. The remix became a success in several European countries, and found its way into clubs throughout the spring of 2005.

Former pro boxer Mike Tyson sang a cover version of the song for the 2011 film The Hangover: Part II.

Spotlight: Adam Reed & Matt Thompson

2011-05-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

Wikipedia:
Adam Reed and Matt Thompson founded 70/30 Productions, an animation production house located on the south side of Atlanta, Georgia. The company's name came from the plan that Thompson would do 70% of the producing and 30% of the writing, with Reed doing the reverse.

The writing-producing team came up with an idea for the show Sealab 2021 in 1995 while they were production assistants for Cartoon Network. They stumbled on a tape of the show Sealab 2020, a short-lived 1970s Hanna-Barbera cartoon, and wrote dialog to match the lips. Cartoon Network originally passed on the show because they did not believe it was funny. Five years after quitting Cartoon Network, the two went back to the original tape, this time making the characters do what they wanted. Cartoon Network bought the show, coincidentally around the same time that Adult Swim was created.

It premiered on December 21, 2000, and after five seasons the final episode aired on April 25, 2005.

They went on to create two seasons of Frisky Dingo, an animated series parodying superhero and action movie clichés. Both main characters, Killface and Xander, are voiced by co-creator Adam Reed. It debuted on October 16, 2006 and ended on March 23, 2008. A third season was in development, but in the absence of a renewal contract from Adult Swim, pre-production ceased.

A spin-off show, The Xtacles, premiered on November 9, 2008, but only two episodes were aired before Adult Swim declined to fund the production of any more episodes.

The production company itself, 70/30 Productions, subsequently went out of business in January 2009.

Adam Reed and Matt Thompson have gone on to produce the critically-acclaimed series Archer with Atlanta's Floyd County Productions, airing on FX Network.

More information:
» Creative Loafing's Cover Story on Archer
» The Ten Most Obscure Archer Jokes Explained