Inside the NFL's broadcast boot camp: players tackle new field

Roland Williams stands near the corner of a green room at the NFL Films headquarters in Mount Laurel, NJ.

Players listened to tips and instruction and drilled the country's top network executives and producers with questions on how to control emotions when on-air, how to criticize a player (a hot issue because often the player is a friend or former teammate), and how to get a foot in the door without having a "household" name.RecoveryBy Melody K. HoffmanWilliams and 19 other football players, current and recently retired, took part in the NFL's first-ever Broadcast Boot Camp. During the three-day "training camp," players who want to become sports broadcasters after their playing career were exposed to extensive training in radio and television, including reporting, hosting, studio work and game analysis."People are talking football now 12 months a year, so I think there's a lot of opportunities in the media. It's about players taking advantage of those opportunities and making sure they're prepared when those opportunities arise," Katz stresses.The 6-foot-5 tight end comfortably dressed in a suit and tie whispers into a ballpoint pen, stammers, and then shakes his head. Williams is not learning a new play for the upcoming season, but instead, a 30-second script he wrote for a mock studio session.On Day Two of camp, the players viewed the segments they taped the previous day. Producers critiqued their tapes and provided feedback. This session wasn't easy for San Diego Chargers' Roman Oben.First DownPre-Game HuddleVaughn Bryant, the manager of the NFL's Player Development, conceived the idea and curriculum for the Boot Camp in December, 2005. The camp was advertised at the Super Bowl this year in Miami and more than 30 players applied for the crash course by sending a resume and a personal essay. "The point of an application for us in player development is to make sure we simulate what a real-life experience is going to be," says Bryant, a former player and CNN intern."I've been a fan of broadcasting ever since I've watched Howard Cosell," says Williams, who is making his transition to a second career after eight years in the NFL. "It's just something that I've always wanted to do, so this is a tremendous opportunity to learn about the inner workings of the best networks in the world. It's exciting, it's fun, I'm learning so much."Brown, known as "JB," encouraged the men and assured them to work through their mistakes.Giants' Bob Whitfield, who concluded he wants to be behind the scenes as a TV producer or in radio-("let somebody else be pretty on the camera") -said he wouldn't mind putting in the long hours needed to get the job done. "When we're playing football, we spend nine, 10 hours a day at work. We go in early in the morning, whether it's lifting weights or watching film, and practicing and treatment, we're there 10 hours a day ... I'm used to having just one day off a week. So going to a new job and not putting in the hours, I never gave it that thought."X's and O'sWith the growing trend of ex-football players joining the ranks of sports journalism-most recently NY Giants' Tiki Barber working as a correspondent for NBC's "Today" and receiver Keyshawn Johnson as an analyst for ESPN-the NFL sought to prepare players who want to get into this field. "It's about trends. If you look at the number of former players who are working in media, it's grown exponentially. I think this [Boot Camp] is a response to that," notes Howard Katz, the NFL Senior VP of Broadcasting & Media Operations and COO of NFL Films."They've got to be mindful that they're going to make those mistakes in a new environment, but display the same drive, passion, determination, work ethic that has defined their success on the football field and apply the same assets in the broadcast environment."He and many of the other players look up to Brown as a role model and hope to have a "fraction of his talent." Brown, who confessed that he's not an expert at the game, encouraged the guys to pursue jobs in this industry.The Boot Camp was hosted by TV veteran James Brown of "CBS Sports," with several other well-known producers, anchors and reporters. Divided into four groups and rotated through four 45-minute sessions during Day One, the players learned how to prepare for a show, how to articulate thoughts and interpret game film for fans, study tape and breakdown plays, the basics of radio and the importance of editing plays in illustrating a viewpoint.Many analysts and producers watch hours and hours of game tape or film, an aspect many of the campers admitted that they did not know.JET MAGAZINE"It was a humbling experience," said Buffalo Bills' Mario Haggan. "We think it's easy; we look at the guys on TV and think they just walked into the studio and do it, but everything is under such a structure and time management that you have to prepare for and be excellent at what you do. I take my hat off to those guys; it is definitely something you have to work at.""I was impressed with these guys. They are so accustomed to being leaders and fearless and the intimidator and the whole nine yards that they didn't want to show their nerves, but I know they were feeling it on the inside," he says."I've been exposed to so many guys who are doing such good things that I'm not really surprised to see the cream rising to the top in terms of what these guys are doing," says Brown. "The same requisite skills and determination that they brought to the table to be successful in football will absolutely be the same, if not more so, to determine how successful they are in this post-career pursuit."Ray Smaltz, a panelist at one of the workshops who has produced football games at FOX for 10 years, has seen the rocky transition players make into television and believes the Boot Camp will help make it smoother."I'm glad the NFL did it because I think a lot of these guys need it. It's very difficult just to go in cold and say, 'Hire me because I used to play,'" Smaltz says."I think it was hard. Imagine listening to yourself on an answering machine; everyone hates to hear his voice, so it's 10 times as bad watching yourself on television. You take in all the stuff that they say and you try to dwell on it and practice honing in on your skills, because you want to get better, you want to take this business seriously," Oben says.

JET MAGAZINE

'British successes like The Queen are freaks'

For somebody so revered in Hollywood, there is something rather deliciously, grottily British about Stephen Frears. A remarkably prolific director for both television and cinema, in the last four years alone he has managed to produce three films that have all scooped major prizes: Dirty Pretty Things, Mrs Henderson Presents and The Queen.

'I don't know anything, ' Roberto wails at one stage, frustrated by a particular scene.I can't explain how. His direction has been subtle, almost imperceptible, but it has definitely been there. Mendez agrees that it is 'difficult to explain in words' the impact Frears's presence in the editing room is having. 'Perhaps, ' he wonders, simply, 'I am learning what I need to learn.' For all that I am impressed by Mendez -- who is clearly gifted -- I can't help feeling just the tiniest bit aggrieved on behalf of Britain's own young directorial talent. Surely there were local film-makers Frears could have bestowed his eagle eye and golden advice upon? 'I was offered a list of possible protégés, a couple of them English', he later explains over another street-corner cigarette. 'But I didn't think there was any point in choosing someone who wouldn't be likely to actually get a film made over the next couple of years.' Ah -- so that ruled out the English lot, then. On the woeful state of the British film industry, where it is becoming nighimpossible for films to get financed except by a very few people, Stephen Frears, our shining light, our toast of Tinseltown, is grimly realistic.'Yes. The government certainly haven't got the balance right. Last year was a good year for British film, but successes like The Queen, they're freaks. Given the lack of support, for everyone, they're just flukes.' With a last drag on his cigarette before he heads upstairs to sprinkle a little more fairy dust on one lucky Peruvian, Frears, possibly our greatest and least fluky director, shrugs again. 'At the end of the day, it's hard to build an industry on a series of accidents.''Now, the system doesn't create those opportunities for young people. It creates different opportunities, there are more of them, somehow, but they're less valuable.Today, then, he is giving back. Before Mendez even started filming Gods, a strikingly shot probe into the life of Lima's idle rich and their spoilt, beautiful children, Frears was on a plane out to Peru to discuss various aspects of the script with the young director, flagging up potential beartraps he might fall into. 'Of course, he still had to make those mistakes, ' he smiles. 'You have to learn the hard way.' Back in the booth, Mendez and his editor Roberto are discovering the hard way that the editing process is about control of information; about the million tiny decisions you can make about how you feed the audience; about how you change infinitesimally what you want it to know, to see, to understand -- or indeed, not understand.The two directors, so many miles apart both geographically and professionally, were brought together as part of the Rolex Mentor-Protégé initiative, which seeks to pair up six blessed young creative artists with a luminary from the same field every two years. It's not hard to see what Mendez gets out of this extraordinary opportunity -- he describes it, almost breathless with his good fortune, as 'a once-in-a-lifetime dream!' -- but I wonder why Frears himself deigned to take part in the scheme, especially as he has just told me that you only learn to make films by making films.'That's what they said at Belsen, ' Frears deadpans. 'You've taken ten minutes to make this point, ' he goes on. 'Is there a quicker way?' By the end of the session, the rough cut that I watch is markedly better than the one I saw first thing in the morning.Although he himself 'learnt on the job', becoming an apprentice at the BBC after taking a law degree at Cambridge, he also admits that he would not be the director he is now without the 'wonderful teachers' he had in the likes of Lindsay Anderson.It's erratic and tough. The government cut funding for the third year of film school, which is basically when students were making films and learning how to do it.' In any case, I point out, if there's no hope of getting their films made once they're out, they're essentially being trained for unemployment. He snorts.He has directed six women to Best Actress Oscars, himself been nominated for Best Director twice, and has won or been nominated for a further 65 international awards. But here he is, standing on a street corner in Soho dressed in a scruffy T-shirt and trousers, puffing on a roll-up and grumbling about the UK's newly imposed smoking ban.'This is where you can really teach something, ' Frears tells me, apparently relishing their anguish. 'Here in the edit. This is where there are so many possibilities, this precise moment; this is where the decisions are to be made, where the patterns you're not even aware of emerge. It can be maddening, but this is where the film is to become what it is.' True to his philosophy, the 66-year-old veteran is not here to give the youngsters any easy answers. When all the information is there in front of them, he reminds them, when every angle, every sequence is there as a seductive possibility, the next stage -- how to balance that information -- is ultimately up to them. He will suggest, he will drop hints, he will show where their thinking has been good or bad, but he certainly will not dictate.Does he see an inherent value in such a collaboration? 'I suppose so, ' he shrugs.'We both learn something. I'm just not quite sure what it is.' I suspect Frears, with his grudging charm, is being disingenuous. He holds the David Lean chair in fiction direction at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield and has said elsewhere that he loves to watch young film-makers in action.'There's a strong case for the argument that we actually have no industry here, ' he says. 'It's a very different world from the one I grew up in. When we were at the BBC, me, Ken, Mike' -- I assume he means Loach and Leigh -- 'you know, we made two or three films a year. They weren't big budgets of course, but we had stability and continuity, which is what you need in this business.And yet -- upstairs. Frears is back in the editing suite today not to work on a film of his own, but to oversee the completion of Gods, the second feature by a 31-year-old Peruvian film-maker called Josué Mendez.

'Yes. The government certainly haven't got the balance right. Last year was a good year for British film, but successes like The Queen, they're freaks. Given the lack of support, for everyone, they're just flukes.' With a last drag on his cigarette before he heads upstairs to sprinkle a little more fairy dust on one lucky Peruvian, Frears, possibly our greatest and least fluky director, shrugs again. 'At the end of the day, it's hard to build an industry on a series of accidents.'

BJ's Restaurants, Inc. Opens in McAllen, Texas

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. -- BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ:BJRI) today announced the opening of its 63rd restaurant in McAllen, Texas, on August 13, 2007. The new BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse is located on a free standing pad at the corner of Highway 83 and Ware Road in the front of the new Palms Crossing Shopping Center. The restaurant is approximately 8,500 square feet, contains seating for 270 guests and features BJ's extensive menu that includes BJ's signature deep-dish pizza, award winning handcrafted beer and our famous Pizookie[R] dessert. BJ's highly detailed, contemporary decor and unique video statement, including several high definition flat panel televisions, creates a high energy, fun and family-friendly dining environment for everyone to enjoy. Hours of operation are from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Certain statements in the preceding paragraphs and all other statements that are not purely historical constitute "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results to be materially different from those projected or anticipated. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) our ability to manage an increasing number of new restaurant openings, (ii) construction delays, (iii) labor shortages, (iv) minimum wage increases, (v) food quality and health concerns, (vi) factors that impact California, where 36 of our current 63 restaurants are located, (vii) restaurant and brewery industry competition, (viii) impact of certain brewery business considerations, including without limitation, dependence upon suppliers and related hazards, (ix) consumer trends, (x) potential uninsured losses and liabilities, (xi) fluctuating commodity costs including food and energy, (xii) trademark and servicemark risks, (xiii) government regulations, (xiv) licensing costs, (xv) beer and liquor regulations, (xvi) loss of key personnel, (xvii) inability to secure acceptable sites, (xviii) limitations on insurance coverage, (xix) legal proceedings, (xx) other general economic and regulatory conditions and requirements and (xxi) numerous other matters discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. BJ's Restaurants, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.For further information, please contact Greg Levin of BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (714) 500-2400.BJ's Restaurants, Inc. currently owns and operates 63 casual dining restaurants under the BJ's Restaurant & Brewery, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse or BJ's Pizza & Grill brand names. BJ's restaurants offer an innovative and broad menu featuring award winning, signature deep-dish pizza complemented with generously portioned salads, sandwiches, soups, pastas, entrees and desserts. Quality, flavor, value, moderate prices and sincere service and hospitality remain distinct attributes of the BJ's experience. The Company operates several microbreweries which produce and distribute BJ's critically acclaimed, handcrafted beers throughout the chain. The Company's restaurants are located in California (36), Texas (9), Arizona (4), Colorado (3), Oregon (3), Nevada (2), Florida (3), Ohio (1) and Oklahoma (2). The Company also has a licensing interest in a BJ's restaurant in Lahaina, Maui. Visit BJ's Restaurants, Inc. on the web at www.bjsrestaurants.com.

For further information, please contact Greg Levin of BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (714) 500-2400.

Stoping at 'Nightmare on 13th' might be lucky

Standing in line, waiting to get into Nightmare on 13th Street, you can while away the time watching two big-screen TVs. Each is showing a different video, taped inside the Nightmare haunted house in previous years.

Sometimes the crowd starts laughing even before the light goes on or the knife-wielder appears. They laugh because the girls in the videos begin to cower from the moment they walk into view. They cower before there is anything to be afraid of. Most of the girls in the videos hide under each other's arms or behind a boyfriend's back.E-MAIL: susan@desnews.comWhen Rocky Point Haunted House closed last year, Nightmare on 13th became the undisputed most-visited haunted house in the state, Barber said. He expects at least 50,000 visitors this season.Web: www.nightmareon13th.comIf you go ...She seemed to think watching someone else get scared was one of the reasons he came to the haunted house.Phone: 467-8100Sometimes one boy can be seen trying to shelter two or three girls under his arms as they make their way through the haunted house. These boys tend to look exceptionally calm. They seem proud to be surrounded by a bevy of fearful females.As you stand in line watching the videos, you can also eavesdrop on the conversations of those who are about to be scared. Most people act brave, even as the televisions prove to them that their boldness might be hard to maintain for much longer.This year, Barber says, Nightmare on 13th was able to expand its operations because he has more space. Barber has hired about 10 additional employees, for a total of 75 or 80 ghouls and weirdos who work each night.What: Nightmare on 13th StreetHis proof that people enjoy scaring each other? Every year, Barber says, he has about twice as many job applicants as he can hire.On one television, patrons are shown as they walk around a corner and are frightened by a sudden noise and blinding light. On the other, the camera was set high in the wall of a bedroom. As various groups walk through the bedroom, a demented-looking woman in a bathrobe plunges out of the closet waving a knife.The people standing in line laugh uproariously as they watch last year's patrons -- mostly teens like themselves -- jumping and squealing and running in terror.As for the videos of last year's scariness, well, they are not a new attraction. Last year the big screens were stationed at the exit. This year they are at the entrance.Where: 300 W. 1300 SouthOne recent night a mom held the hands of some small boys and said to the older kids who were also with her, "Do you guys want to go ahead without us?" And one of the older boys said, "No, I want to go with the little kids."Troy Barber, the owner of Nightmare on 13th, says there is something fun about watching people get scared. He thinks the folks standing in line experience some of the same emotions his employees do.Nightmare on 13th boasts a new ticketing area, complete with a castle. There's a new automated headless horseman riding over the outdoor entryway. And at least half of the scary scenes inside the house are also new.How much: $15-$25Then the mom realized why he wanted to stick with his siblings and she forbade it, saying, "I know you are just going to try to scare them to death."

E-MAIL: susan@desnews.com

Late strike Ast to stand, claims a furious Collins

Byline: By JAMES HUNTER

DANNY COLLINS is convinced referee Steve Bennett got it wrong at the weekend - and cost Sunderland two vital points as a result.Collins said: "I am very angry. I don't get too many goals - I think my last was against Villa two seasons ago and I thought I had done it again."Danny Higginbotham was with me, but I don't think anyone was too near the goalkeeper.Collins got up to head home Grant Leadbitter's corner in the dying seconds.Next up for Sunderland is a trip to Reading this weekend, and Collins hopes the Black Cats can complete their first league double of the season."Derby might drop away a bit, but there are six or seven teams who are going to be getting out of it and then coming back down again like we have.""To see it chalked off in the last minute is very disappointing, to say the least. I cannot see why he has disallowed it."It was a good ball in by Grant and I got a good run in.Bennett provoked a storm of controversy when he disallowed Collins' injury-time winner against Aston Villa, meaning the Black Cats had to settle for a 1-1 draw.DAN AN ANGRY MAN: Danny CollinsFellow strugglers Wigan and Middlesbrough both won, however - and Collins predicts the battle for survival will be tight.He added: "We have moved up a place, but another two points on top of that would have catapulted us up a few more places. to be tight throughout the season down there."It is a big one for us and we are looking forward to it."Orpington official Bennett, however, claimed the defender had fouled Villa's England keeper Scott Carson - although TV replays showed there little contact between the pair and Carson was never favourite to win the ball.As it was, the draw saw them leapfrog Fulham to climb out of the bottom three, and Newcastle's win at Craven Cottage two hours later meant the Wearsiders remain a point clear of the drop zone."He was perhaps thinking he was going to get a comfortable catch, but I got in front of him and nudged it in.He said: "We beat them here 2-1 the other week, but they will be looking to get one back over us down there."We have been robbed of two points, and goalkeepers are too protected in situations like that."CAPTION(S):Sunderland were furious at being denied victory, which could have lifted them two points and two places clear of the drop zone.

DAN AN ANGRY MAN: Danny Collins

ARTISTS TO WATCH

OUR PICKS FOR TODAY'S RISING STARS

KARIN JURICKA former student of watercolor artist Carlton Plummer, Oriet is also a signature member of the Montana Watercolor Society. Her paintings have been included in the CM. Russell Art Auction in Great Falls, MT; the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale in Cody, WY; and the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale in Denver, CO. Oriet is represented by Simpson Gallagher Gallery, Cody, WY; J Moore Gallery, Bigfork, MT; and PinonHer figures stare at paintings, stand in line for coffee, and settle into comfortable corners to read the newspaper. If you ask Georgia-based painter Karin Jurick where her inspiration comes from for such imagery, it's no surprise when she replies, "everyday life."Inspired by the West and television heroes from his childhood like the Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers, Texas artist Chuck Middlekauff has painted cowboys and their boots since 1992. But Middlekauff also has a long-standing romance with the open road and has added nostalgic Americana icons such as diners, neon motel signs, Coke machines, and beat-up pickup trucks to his creations.Middlekauff's works are on view March 20-23 at Legacy Contemporary Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ. He is also represented by Montana Trails Gallery, Bozeman, MT; Romicks Home Collection, Steamboat Springs, CO; and Stanfield Fine Art, Aspen, CO, and Park City, UT.CHUCK MIDDLEKAUFFFor the artist, the main concern is to cause viewers to smile. "I want people to see the old things anew, in a fresh and different way," he says. "I want to entertain and offer cheerfulness, because there are enough serious things in the world."Oriet is the first to admit, however, that she is drawn to a wide variety of subjects and terrain beyond Wyoming. She relishes traveling for inspiration, whether she journeys to Africa and Europe or closer to home to Texas, where she visits her good friend, sculptor T.D. Kelsey, and captures the colors of the West Texas landscape.When Julie Oriet was growing up in Montana, she enjoyed riding, fishing, and backpacking in Yellowstone National Park. Today she remains fascinated with life in the wild, only these days she lives in Wyoming and her artistic vision turns heavenward. "We have beautiful skies here and I can't help but look at them," Oriet says. "The clouds are constantly changing. And change is what catches my eye."Jurick is fond of shooting hundreds of photographs as reference materialimages she pores over on a regular basis for inspiration. "I'm comfortable exploring the world and painting what I want," she says. "Every day I wake up in the morning and I have no plans about what I am going to paint."Using a trompe l'oeil technique, he paints in surfboards, candy wrappers, and toys.A self-taught artist, she attributes her talent and exposure to art to her mother, Lee, who sold her works at traveling art shows. Several years ago Jurick began studying and painting seriouslyobserving works, she says, by favorite artists such as Wayne Thiebaud, Lucian Freud, Burton Silverman, and Ken Auster. "I am an avid fan of realism, but I strive to paint with loose, expressive brush strokes and use daring, vivid colors to achieve paintings with life and spontaneity."Jurick is represented by Howard/ Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA; 16 Patton Gallery, Asheville, NC; and Cohen Rese Gallery, San Francisco, CA.Or he might include an actual vinyl record by the Beach Boys or the Beatles into the composition. "As with my cowboys and Coke machines, you wouldn't necessarily see these objects together in the real world, but I like to think of them together," Middlekauff says.Fine Art, Littleton, CO. "The clouds are constantly changing. And change is what catches my eye." - JULIE ORIET

Fine Art, Littleton, CO. "The clouds are constantly changing. And change is what catches my eye." - JULIE ORIET

Today on TV

The Closer (7 p.m., TNT): A financier who is under investigation for ripping off investors is kidnapped.

Dateline (9 p.m., Ch. 5): Remember when this used to be a newsmagazine? Now it's just a tabloid crime show. Tonight's installment patrols dark corners of Las Vegas.Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (11 p.m., Bravo): All of Kathy's campaigning pays off -- her comedy album is nominated for a Grammy! And she travels to Canada to meet Lily Tomlin.Jon & Kate Plus 8 (10 p.m., TLC): The guys from Orange County Chopper come by and plan the design for Jon's custom chopper.Greek (9 p.m., ABC Family): Dale and Calvin each make a "purity pledge."Raising the Bar (8 and 10 p.m., TNT): Michelle falls for a cop who may have lied on the stand.Nurse Jackie (11:30 p.m., Showtime): The hospital administrator drinks Jackie's spiked coffee.Here Come the Newlyweds (9:02 p.m., Ch. 4): Utahns Jed and Sarin Hinkins are still in the running on this goofy reality/game show. Tonight, the couples have to create a carnival game for the neighborhood kids to play.

Nurse Jackie (11:30 p.m., Showtime): The hospital administrator drinks Jackie's spiked coffee.

Raw Is Curtis For 03/30/09

Lets Get Tricks Started!

Somehow during a video segment, Jerry magically changed clothes behind the table and rises up to get ready for his match with Chris Jericho. God help us all. Commercials...Back to the show where Big Show is still stepping on Cena a lot. I feel like I just saw this before we went to commercial. He stands on Cena�s chest with the ropes then switches up to the back of his head. His foot is much bigger than his head. Big Show stands on his back some too. Be amazed as the Big Show steps on things. Show signals for the chokeslam as Cena stumbles up and Cena counters into a DDT. Cena goes for an STF but can�t get his arms around him before Big Show throws him off with a hard shot to the face. Cena tries a Big Right but Cena ducks it and tries to scoop him up for the FU. Big Show just pushes him off and delivers a choke slam for the win.Predictions:Back to the show where we get a video package about the rivalry between the Hardy Boyz (Or Hardy Men perhaps?)Jericho stalks over Lawler and slaps him on the head before dragging him up by his handlebar ears. Lawler suddenly levels him with one right and Jericho takes a walk. Lawler invites him back into the ring as Jericho says he already beat him. He says it won�t be how he beats them at Mania, it will be how badly he beats them....Santino comes out to say he went to the top of WWE to a guy who is dead to try and get in the battle royal. He says he has what it takes to be Miss Wrestlemania. He then unleashes the �Mankini� and struts around like a Chippendale dancer. Why. GOD WHY. His music is cut off as Beth decides to give him a piece of his mind and the women all maul him.Alot of talent on show here (it�s not as hot as it sounds) and it starts off with Jillian and Mickie James. Mickie leaps onto her and beats Jillian around with ease, tagging out to Tiffany. Jillian trades out to Beth who runs her over. Actually I don�t know who half of these women are but Tiffany rolls up whoever this dark haired chick is for the three. That was surprisingly fast.Big Show strikes a boxing stance and comes across the ring�to kick Cena in the stomach. HAHA! Big Show tosses Cena around and starts walking on him, literally. Big Show continues to just toss Cena out of all of his moves, punching Cena back down every time he tries to get back up. Cena tries to build momentum but is once again just shrugged off like a mosquito. Cena drops Show and tries for an STF but Show just kicks him off across the ring before sending him to the floor with a big baseball slide as we go to commercial...Winner: Big ShowBack to the show for Wrestlemania 11 recap. John Cena is out next to take on The Big Show. This leads me to believe that once again our main event tonight is just going to be a speech from Orton that probably will break out into a fight....After the match, Edge slips into the ring and just starts beating the holy hell out of Cena after a shared stare with Big Show. We get a replay of Michaels escaping Undertaker. This brings me to rant about how every single feud for Wrestlemania has been built terribly with one person looking way too strong. Uhghh.Winner: JerichoJBL def. Rey ReyShow Grade: C+Back to the show where we replay Jericho crushing Ric�s watch. We cut to Jerry who has presumably been making everyone in the ring listen to his crappy theme this whole time before aspiring Mankini Model Chris Jericho arrives.Glamazon wins the Diva Battle RoyaleWrestlemania here we come. All aboard!Jericho def. Idiot legendsThats That!Kane retrieves a ladder and grabs the briefcase above the ring for dramatic effect. We see Legacy has new shirts but Dibiase is ironically a bit too poor to afford one. They are headed to the ring as we go to commercial.Show opens with a hearse, presumably carrying the remnants of creativity from the writing team. From that short little shot we cut to theme and pyro. We learn that Taker is going to hold a funeral for HBK tonight amidst the cries of him saying �I�m not dead yet!� in an oddly British accent. We then have every Face Diva arrive including Gail Kim who I wasn�t even aware works for WWE again. They are followed by the heel Divas....Back to the show where Orton and company finally arrive.He apparently lost two people along the way since the rest of Legacy is suddenly missing now. If he walked through the back as slow as he is walking now it would actually explain why it took him so damn long. Orton decides we need to feel sorry for him by replaying when Triple H beat his ass for beating NAME DELETED for the World Title years ago. Our rerun hour continues, showing how Orton beat Trips at the Royal Rumble. We get it. You don�t like each other. He goes on to show him beating up McMahons. We get to see yet more footage we have already seen and this is of last week. He reveals that Trips loses his title no matter how he loses the match thanks to Vickie. If he arrives with a hammer, it�s automatic.....Back to the show where they run a video package about Stone Cold Steve Austin. After that we have Kane and CM Punk come to the ring. We learn we�re about to have yet another MitB participant gimmick match as we go back to commercials. Huzzah.Jerry Lawler vs. Chris JerichoIm Curtis Kash and thanks for reading!!Back to the show where we get replays of Edge vs. Cena and Edge vs. Big Show. Edge approaches Cena in the back and convinces him to team up against Big Show at Mania to take him out since he knocked out both of their asses with ease before. Cena says it makes sense but he�d rather lose on his own than get help. We cut from this to Dibiase who says what Orton has to say will change the WWE universe forever. We�ve been stuck with Cole by himself for this whole segment. When is Lawler coming back? He didn�t get his ass kicked that bad. We cut to the coffin in the hearse and Shawn Michaels rises out but apparently the sound guy forgot to turn his microphone on as we go to commercial.MitB Participant Over the Top Battle RoyalChristian wins MITBJerry just starts punching on Jericho which is totally illegal. Jericho finally powers out of the corner and starts running Lawler down, kicking him back down every time he tries to stand. Jericho forgets that Lawler hulks up sometimes and Jerry starts punching him around the ring before just pounding his knuckles into his forehead on the ground while the ref tries to pull him back. Jericho casually locks on the walls after letting him having his courtesy hits.Rey Mysterio vs. Intercontinental Champion JBL (Non-title Match)HBK comes out with his funeral preparations and says the funeral is for Taker, not Michaels. Shawn recounts all the things he�s done to Taker recently, including running around on his fake tombstone and apparently desecrating the Styrofoam. Michaels opens the casket, proving Taker isn�t hiding inside of it. The lights go out and when they come back on Taker is in the ring by himself. He can�t seem to find Michaels despite THE LOUD NOISE OF A CASKET CLOSING AND THAT IT IS NO LONGER OPEN. Taker does a slow take of the casket. Taker opens it but it turns out he was hiding under the casket and he gets the drop with another super kick. Shawn does a DX cross chop.....because he can.Punk and Christian team back up but Christian tricks him and tries to toss Punk out. Punk holds on and delivers the Pepsi One only to be tossed. Punk skins the cat but Kane throws Christian into Punk to eliminate both.Heel Divas vs. Face Divas (18 Diva tag match)Winners: FacesFinlay who accidentally gets called Fit Finlay by King, is press slammed by Henry over the top. Hornswoggle distracts Henry by throwing his coat at him and everyone tosses him. Kane tries to eliminate both Punk and Christian at the same time. Kingston, Christian and Punk team up on Kane but he fights out. MVP lands on the apron when Shelton tries to toss him. MVP tries to suplex Shelton to the floor and Kane just tosses them both out. Kingston, Christian and Punk all attack Kane and try to hoist him out like the tub of lard he is, but Kane fights off as Punk tricks Kingston to eliminate to a chorus of boos. Kane decks Punk and tries to toss Christian but he hands in.Winner: ReyJBL forces Rey to the corner and slams him down on the break, hammering his back with forearms and leveling the midget with a right. Rey comes back with a kick and delivers a head scissors. He tries for the 619 but JBL catches him with a clothesline. Rey comes back hard but a springboard cross body has him leaping into a kick to the gut. JBL begins tossing Rey with a fall away slam. Rey rolls to the floor and takes a breather. JBL follows and kicks him around as the ref finally decides to bother counting for a little bit. JBL tosses Rey back in for a two count. JBL pummels Rey into a corner and puts him up top which is obviously a good idea against a cruiserweight. This ends as well as you thought with a senton. Mysterio hits an exiguities and the 619 whiffs. Rey dropkicks JBL in the ass and finally hit�s the 619 to the splash for the three.Taker def. HBKBack to the show where for some reason the Pussy Cat Dolls are going to be at Wrestlemania, or at least one of them. She asks us if we want to see her there. They replay the segment that was silent before and he said �You were expecting someone else?�. Lawler returns to the ringside but still decides to forego putting on clothes while Cole recounts every horrible thing we�ve seen tonight so far in case we were deluded good things had happened. Rey Mysterio as Skeletor arrives. I�ll head scissors you He-man! JBL arrives to us to say that tonight is psychological to let Mysterio know he won�t stand a chance, because apparently you should give away PPV matches on TV for free.Winner: KaneWe see footage that a car just arrived in the back and Orton calls out Legacy and some random security to protect himself with. The limo is opened outside and no one is inside according to the camera man. Orton demands that Triple H come out and face him�and his security�and his friends�.yeah�The music that plays though is Vince McMahon who looks like he just sniffed something awful. Shane arrives as well. The last is Triple H himself. The McMahon Squad kicks the crap out of security instead of just firing them. The brawl breaks out with Vince taking on Ted and Shane taking Cody. Trips and Orton brawl into the ring and the show goes off the air....The Big Show vs. John CenaHHH def. Orton

Show Grade: C+

Summer has me hot and bothered

THREE hot days and it appears that summer is over.

The Bosch could plough through a dense lawn as if invading Western Europe but the Flymo is a delicate piece of kit by comparison - more a Sopwith Camel than a Tiger tank - and you need to use it frequently to keep the grass down to a reasonable cutting level.I've tried that stuff that you put down to stop it growing and no, I don't mean a roll of lino. It's one of those garden products that you spread that, within three days, is supposed to stunt its ambitions and make it greener.In the meantime, every moment there is a break in the clouds, I'm heaving out the Flymo and making a quick pass over the top lawn.We've actually got a fan but it turns like a radar dish looking for enemy aircraft and makes a noise like a Messerschmitt on each pass. This can be a bit unnerving if you are watching television or trying to get to sleep.Come on summer, make a return. Prove the met men right for once and I'll even buy a barbecue and a garden shower. I'll even play Agadoo. Honest.The other thing I'm not happy about when it comes to the weather is the state of my grass. What with all this rain it's growing.I'm not sure if I put it on right but I have a big dead patch surrounded by sprouting turf that looks like its competing in the free growing section of the garden Olympics.Where is all that barbecue weather that the meteorological experts forecast? On the strength of what they promised, I bought two new pairs of shorts and was tempted by a garden shower, for when the sun gets too fierce, and a new fan. No, not someone who wants my autograph but one of those big things that stands in a corner and throws out a cool breeze.My old lawn mower was a big brute of a Bosch, so you can see why I had a Messerschmitt fetish, but it died on me the other week. No more German technology, I vowed, and opted for a lightweight British Flymo.The garden shower was a neat device I saw in Lidl or Aldi, one of those stores that quite often stocks the unusual, like green chillies stuffed with Greek cheese or pigs ears in aspic. All it consisted of was a sprinkler on the end of a free standing metal frame to which you attached your garden house but the concept was brilliant.A paddling pool in your back garden, play Agadoo by Black Lace on the stereo and one of these and you could close your eyes and think of Benidorm.

Come on summer, make a return. Prove the met men right for once and I'll even buy a barbecue and a garden shower. I'll even play Agadoo. Honest.

Internet and Cable TV Shake Up Democracy

Very rarely are we given the opportunity as citizens to participate in a revolution. The citizens that founded our republic participated in a revolution that has affected every corner of the earth for more than 200 years now. Our grandfathers and fathers participated in a revolution during World War II when we successfully ridded the world of Adolph Hitler and his technology of death that was sweeping civilization.

Copyright (c) 2006 Richard StoyeckGranted there is tremendous noise on the Internet, meaning that there is an abundance of useless information, but in the universe there are many gems, and they are on the Internet as well. Think about what has happened in just a few short years? It wasn't so long ago, that mainstream media had a 100% liberal bias. Clearly, an objective look at ABC, NBC, and CBS would reveal their liberal orientation. From their origins to their story topics, the media always played it to the left of center. Richard Nixon would NEVER have had to resign from office if the either the Senate or the House was Republican and the media was neutral.The Internet is leveling the playing field. If you want to know why John Kerry lost the national election, look to the Internet. The guy was being defined by the Internet before he could define himself. I know Governor Pataki was making a joke when he said that "John Kerry has to Google himself every morning to see where he stands on the issues," but he wasn't so far off the truth in retrospect.Now the reality is that he was right, and the President was wrong, the CIA was wrong, the military was wrong. How was this guy right, and knew he was right, and a 300 billion dollar a year war machine couldn't get it right? I have never seen or heard from this individual again. Has he been hushed up, why no interview, articles, or books? After all, he got it right, and we all got it wrong.Goodbye and Good LuckToday, with the Internet and Cable television, the tide has certainly evened up, and maybe swung to the other side. Dan Rather of CBS broadcast a disparaging story on George Bush and the National Guard which may have been correct, but Rather knew he couldn't prove it. In an attempt to influence the election two weeks before the election, he broadcasted it anyway. The Internet blows up his 40 year career and forced his resignation. The bloggers were relentless in attacking Rather and it resulted in the disgraceful behind the scenes, to date never revealed story of the firing of Dan Rather. Without the Internet and Cable television, Dan Rather would still be representing his liberal bias on prime time television every night.Traditional media and print journalism can't stand what has happened with the Internet and cable revolution we are participating in. When Republican Congressman Foley committed political suicide by writing inappropriate sexual e-mails to young pages, you and I were able to get on the Internet and read the e-mails for ourselves to determine the guilt of innocence of this man. We didn't need anybody with a POLITICAL AGENGA filtering it for us, and therein lies the REVOLUTION.The following will amaze you. A month before we invaded Iraq there was a former weapons inspector on television giving an interview in which he spoke in an explosive voice. He was ranting and raving that "There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and we aren't going to find any." I thought he was crazy, but I also said to myself, this is former weapons inspector who was THERE. He's not a recently released patient from an insane asylum.I submit to you that we are on the eve of a new American Revolution, perhaps as powerful as the birth of our democracy in the 1700's. What has happened is that the power in this country is in the process of being re-distributed to the people themselves who are the voters. We were born as a Republic, remember the words, "And to the Republic, for which it stands," in the Pledge of Allegiance. We are fast becoming a Democracy based on the information dispersion created by the Internet and cable television as a tool in everybody's home.Finally we all participated in a quiet revolution when Communism fell to its knees a little more than a decade ago, and went out with a WHIMPER. It didn't have to be that way. Millions could have died in Eastern Europe and in the USSR itself. Very quietly, this brutal totalitarian dictatorship that sought to enslave the planet quietly disappeared, and more remarkably, they all became capitalists. What a wild world we live in.We are able to filter stories for ourselves. No longer do I have to listen to Dan Rather tell me what's right or wrong. I can listen to Rather, read the NY Times, and go to the Internet and Cable TV to get additional information that the liberals refuse to divulge to me.It is time for the Revolution to continue. By 2012, we will not recognize the political system in the United States as the dispersion of information shifts unfiltered to the people through the Internet's power. We should all welcome it, and thank God for it. What a wonderful thing that we will be alive to see it.Did you know from kindergarten through senior year of high school, our education system ranks 16th in the world? On a college level, we rank number one and there is no one even close. Why you ask? It's because the college system is private, and the public system is not. Even on a college level when you have public colleges like the University of California system or State University of New York system, they are world class only because they have to compete against a private system. Our public school system doesn't compete, and therefore it is allowed to remain mediocre in the face of 15 superior systems throughout the world.

Copyright (c) 2006 Richard Stoyeck

Home Theatre Speakers - What You Need To Know

�Speaker types

�Speaker impedance and selection�Placement: the final frontier�Binding posts are a step-up connection option found on high-quality speakers. There are two types of binding posts: regular and five-way. Regular types accept both banana plug and spade-lug connectors on speaker cables. The connection they provide is very secure, and in some cases the connector is also gold-plated to prevent oxidation - a condition that can potentially degrade performance. And five-way binding posts, which accept bare wire and pin-type connectors in addition to banana plugs and spade lugs, offer even more hookup flexibility than regular types.�Dipolar models radiate sound from both the speaker's back and front, with the opposing driver sets wired out-of-phase with each other. This design offers a more diffuse, spacious sound than a direct-radiating model while retaining some of the latter's focused dispersion characteristics. (Dipolar models are favored for THX-certified designs specifically because of their diffuse sound, which more accurately resembles what you'd hear in a real movie theater.)�What is frequency response, and what should I look for?�Do you really need a center channel?�A spring-clip connector is a plastic, spring-loaded clamp that's usually found on the back of inexpensive speakers. The connection provided by spring clips isn't as secure as other types, and they can only accept bare speaker wire.Most new speakers are designed to be compatible with a wide range of receivers and audio amplifiers, so specifications like impedance-the measure of a speaker's resistance to electrical power flowing through it as specified in Ohms-generally aren't things you need to worry too much about. But what you should know is that an amplifier has to work harder to drive a speaker with a lower impedance rating than one with a higher rating. Say that your receiver is rated to deliver 100 watts into an 8-ohm load. If your speakers have an 8-Ohm impedance spec, then you aren't likely to encounter any problems. But if your speakers' specified impedance is 4 ohms or less, the chances for that same receiver to overheat and shut down will be increased.�In-wall and in-ceiling speaker + and ��Freestanding vs. on-wall�Surround speaker considerations: direct-radiating, dipolar, and bipolar There are several options to consider when choosing surround sound speakers for your system.In the past, home theater speakers were usually installed alongside big-screen TVs - either freestanding or placed on top of speaker stands. But many new models are on-wall designs that come with wall-mounting hardware. One advantage to these kinds of speakers is that they get positioned on walls where they don't take up any room space. A second advantage is that their slim, wall �hugging design nicely complements flat-panel plasma and LCD TVs.�Speaker connections. A variety of connectors can be found on the back of speakers.�Direct-radiating models fire sound directly out from the speaker's front baffle toward the listener's ears. These are a good all-purpose surround sound speaker choice since their clear, focused dispersion pattern can accurately convey the directional sound effect pans in DVD soundtracks.The range of audio frequencies that a speaker can reproduce is known as its frequency response. Human hearing extends from 20 Hz to 20 kHz (20,000 Hz) - a span that few models are able to cover fully. The bass frequencies at the bottom of the range (approximately 20-120 Hz) are the most difficult for a speaker to cover. Satellites don't attempt it at all, but instead pass the task off to a subwoofer - a dedicated bass speaker with drivers large enough to move the massive quantity of air needed to reproduce low frequencies. Since tower speakers usually contain one or more woofers, they generally deliver decent bass. But if you're shopping for tower speakers - especially if you plan to use one in a system where there's no subwoofer - make a point of checking the low end of its frequency response specification. And remember that not all measurements are the same. For example, the bass response of a speaker spec'd at �6 dB at 40 Hz probably won't sound as full as one that measures �3 dB at 40 Hz.Front channel towers or satellite models on stands should ideally be placed equidistant from the TV's sides and about three feet out from the front wall. This setup will heighten imaging and reduce any sound-muddying room reinforcement effects. And your subwoofer should be pushed into a corner of the room to permit the sound-reinforcing effect of adjacent walls to strengthen the bass. While placement guidelines for surround speakers are less strict than those for front speakers, installing them in a high position at the sides and slightly behind the listening area will usually enhance surround sound envelopment.Many people tend to be casual about where they put their speakers; more often than not, they get shoved into any old space where it's convenient. But speaker placement becomes crucial when setting up a home theater system. You'll want the positioning of surround sound effects in your room to correspond to what's happening on screen, and that will only happen if speakers are set up properly.�Bipolar models also radiate sound from the front and back, except that in this case both sets of drivers are wired in-phase with one another. This design allows a bipolar speaker to provide the best of both worlds: a direct-radiator's clarity and focus, and a dipole's spaciousness.There are four basic home theater speaker categories: towers, satellites, subwoofers, and center channels. A tower speaker is a tall, freestanding model capable of reproducing a full range of sound. Satellites, which can be used as both front or rear-channel (surround) speakers, are small, bass-limited models designed to be paired with a subwoofer - a dedicated speaker for reproducing both bass and the low-frequency-effects channel in Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks. And a center channel speaker is a horizontally oriented satellite that's designed to reproduce dialog.For those who prefer to keep their audio/video equipment out of sight, in-wall and in-ceiling speakers make a great alternative to regular models. Although the sound quality of in-wall and in-ceiling models is generally a notch below that of regular speakers, they can be mounted inside of cutout cavities in the walls or ceiling of your room where they won't take up any space. Both types are also designed to contain vibrations within the cabinet, so you won't have to worry about rattling the walls during action movies. Installation of in-wall and in-ceiling speakers involves running wires through the walls and/or ceiling of your home. If you're an experienced DIY type, you might be up to that task, but for most people it's best left to a custom installer.

Front channel towers or satellite models on stands should ideally be placed equidistant from the TV's sides and about three feet out from the front wall. This setup will heighten imaging and reduce any sound-muddying room reinforcement effects. And your subwoofer should be pushed into a corner of the room to permit the sound-reinforcing effect of adjacent walls to strengthen the bass. While placement guidelines for surround speakers are less strict than those for front speakers, installing them in a high position at the sides and slightly behind the listening area will usually enhance surround sound envelopment.

MOAT BROTHER BLASTS POLICE; Offer to talk to wanted man during stand-off rebuffed

Byline: EXAMINER News Correspondent

"He didn't do that but as I looked back, I watched him raise what appeared to me to be a sawn-off shotgun to his head.""Since then I've seen footage of him in his last hours and he was a broken man, he's crying about his lack of family, that he's got no father, that nobody loves him. There were loads of people that loved him," Mr Moat said.ANGUS Moat has criticised the police for refusing to allow him to talk to his younger brother Raoul during a tense six-hour stand-off with police which ended with his apparent suicide.Mr Moat said he watched as his brother was taken by ambulance to Newcastle General Hospital, still hoping he was still alive, but then saw him being carried inside with a blanket covering his face."We reached a point no more than 200 metres from the city centre when we saw Mr Moat standing alone on the river's edge. He did not look at us and his back was to us and we were no more than 40ft away from him when we turned off in a different direction when my partner felt that was indeed the fugitive.He said Northumbria Police rebuffed his offer and were apparently concerned that it might unlock memories which would exacerbate the situation.Mr Moat, who said he had not seen his brother "for a number of years", saw on the television that police had cornered him on Friday after a six-day manhunt."I'm thinking they don't cover a live person with a blanket, especially one who maybe has serious head injuries or something.Northumbria Police admitted that Tasers were used twice during the stand-off.CAPTION(S):Meanwhile, Ken Branson, 64, has told how he came face-to-face with Raoul Moat."I wasn't so certain but as we got a little bit further away two police vehicles pulled up very, very quickly, armed officers emerged and demanded that Mr Moat drop his weapon.Mr Moat said that when he heard a shot he hoped a police sniper had injured his brother and that he would be sedated and taken to hospital for treatment.ANGER: Angus Moat's offers to help were ignored and his brother took his own life. Flowers now mark the spot where he shot himselfMoat's uncle Charlie Alexander also offered to go and reason with his nephew but said police did not get back to him.His older brother said he immediately contacted police and told them: "You've got to get me up there. I've got to go and speak to my brother.""I was just devastated." He also criticised the police for their use of Taser stun guns, which is being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

ANGER: Angus Moat's offers to help were ignored and his brother took his own life. Flowers now mark the spot where he shot himself

New line-up for comedy club; Grinning Idiot has announced a series of shows in the region. Entertainment Editor GORDON BARR has the details

Byline: GORDON BARR

COMEDY club The Grinning Idiot has announced its February line-up - including a new partnership with The Journal Tyne Theatre in Newcastle.The same night will see Mick Ferry switch venues to tread the boards at Newcastle's Corner House alongside Nathan Caton.Stade will be treading the boards at The Playhouse Whitley Bay on the Friday alongside Viz co-founder Simon Donald and Norman Lovett (Red Dwarf).Alun Cochrane was recently seen on Dave's One Night Stand, when Geordie comic Sarah Millican hosted a televised performance at the Tyne Theatre.The busy month kicks off with a weekend of fun on February 4 when Alun Cochrane and Mick Ferry take to the stage at the Washington Arts Centre.Also that Saturday, Sunderland audiences will be delighted to hear that Mick Ferry and Nathan Caton will be making an appearance at The Barnes Park Toby Carvery.FUNNY MEN Clockwise from far left, Mick Ferry, Alfie Joey, Simon Donald, Tom Stade, Chris Ramsey and Norman LovettHe has also enjoyed appearances on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, 8 Out of 10 Cats and Mock The Week.The laughter continues on February 19 and 19 when Canadian comic, Tom Stade, brings his own brand of humour to the region.To book tickets, visit www.thegrinning idiot.com.Stade will continue his campaign the night after when he heads to Stanley's Lamplight Arts Centre, with Gavin Webster. The Grinning Idiot will round off at South Shields Customs House on February 26, with shows from Simon Donald, Gavin Webster and Chris Ramsey.Having taken inspiration as a child from the likes of Lenny Henry and Eddie Murphy, Caton went on to carve out a successful career that has earned him appearances on World Stands Up, Richard Hammond's 5 O' Clock Show and at renowned venues including The Comedy Store and Jongleurs.Stade built a strong reputation in Canada with his own TV show - Stade and Confused.CAPTION(S):So You Think You're Funny finalist Mick Ferry has appeared as a guest alongside top name comedians including Peter Kay, Al Murray, Sean Lock, Johnny Vegas and Steve Coogan - reinforcing his comedy prowess that has seen his career go from strength-to-strength.Meanwhile award-winning comedian Nathan Caton was described by Chortle as "probably the most exciting young black comic on the scene".Saturday, February 5, marks an important date as the club launches its debut night at The Journal Tyne Theatre in Newcastle.

FUNNY MEN Clockwise from far left, Mick Ferry, Alfie Joey, Simon Donald, Tom Stade, Chris Ramsey and Norman Lovett

Glass Furniture Is Easily For Your Home Decoration

Glass and metal furniture has been becoming an in-demand add on to most homes. This gives a modernistic look that many people are getting pretty fond of and the type of market who is wanting this furniture is really arising. With the growth of the market, more and more people are having additional options than just buying a regular glass tv stand. Glass furniture will not ruin the look of the whole set up of your home and also very affordable.

To compliment a unique glass stand, you must get yourself a set of useful glass shelves. You can utilize these shelves to present an astonishing display of your audio and other multi media devices that you own. Speakers can fit perfectly well in them. They may not stand out that much but they are stunning for those who prefers a furnished appearance with the rest of your furniture. You can also place your collection of cds and dvds to give a complementing look to your nice display.Products offered by Fine Variety International is a wide variety of glass products and furniture designed to embellish the complete range of a living room. FVI is a popular exporter of glass furniture and has been known as a glass processing expert in Taiwan for many years now. They render supplies of a vivid selection of glass furniture that come in various designs and one of a kind styles to meet the expectations of an ideal visual effect. Their glass furniture products include sofa tables, modern tea tables, dining table, computer desks, racks, serving carts, glass tv stand and others. FVI Glass Furniture is regularly trying to obtain new products for the website intended for glass furniture to come up with a wider range of glass furniture to be added in no time. It is a pleasure for FVI to meet and exceed the need of every customer for these amazing glass products.Glass stands that are thin has also been becoming a fantastic choice for those who wants all the complete features of an entire glass stand but does not have enough space around the home. If it irritates you to see your glass tv stand take up so much space, the slim line types of stands is what�s perfect for you. An impressive glass tv stand can surely add up to giving you a pleasant display. Another innovative option is the corner glass tv stand. This can surely have a snugly fit in the room�s corner. If you are into the classical designs, there are also available glass tv stands that can still give that traditional look.With a glass furniture collection, you can decorate easy without worrying about matching colors. And if you are worried about the price, you are free to buy the glass pieces and equipment one at a time, according to the schedule that would fit your budget, that is if you are keeping it tight. Glass furniture is sure to last for a long period of time and still look immensely great in the coming years.

With this, it is FVI�s pleasure to come up with a good combination of your ideals and their manufacturing imaginations to supply you with the perfect glass furniture that you exactly need.

Battle Moves to the States, The

THE PUNDITS WHO LIVE in cable TV-land tell us to keep our eyes on the looming battle royale in Washington, D.C. In one corner, the 242-memberstrong Reagan Republican majority in the House of Representatives, which can pass almost any conservative legislation and defeat any liberal effort. They are assisted by the 47 Republican senators who can (unless the Democrats change the rules) filibuster any truly destructive liberal proposal. And on some issues, Senate Republicans might be able to join forces with any four of 12 vulnerable Democratic senators up for reelection in 2012 to pass legislation through the Senate.

In 2012, based on population migration, 10 states will lose congressional seats, and eight states will gain seats. Personal income tax rates are twice as high in the loser states. Government spending is one-third higher in losers, and four states gaining seats levy no personal income tax at all. Republicancontrolled states such as Arizona, Georgia, and North Dakota could encourage further immigration of talented, productive, and industrious workers to their own voting rolls by eliminating their income taxes. By the same token, if states like Illinois and California continue their "job creator-cleansing" policies, they will create a more solidly government-employed and welfare-dependent Democratic voting bloc.Such large reductions in the growth of spending fall heavily on the key constituents of the modern Democratic Party, namely public sector unions, big city political machines, and the grant recipients who use taxpayer dollars for "community organizing." And the promise for tort reform, which would never escape a Democrat's veto, threatens the power and financial clout of trial lawyers, another key Democratic bloc.PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT task for state-level Republicans will be redisricting. Redistricting for the 2012 election will work to maintain the unified party control of the incumbents, in both Republican and Democratic states. The partisan gap between red and blue states will continue to grow over the next 10 years. In turn, many small businessmen, high-skilled workers, and wealthy retirees will move from D to R states. And that dynamic will confirm and reinforce the partisan trends. For example, Illinois may drive away all of its entrepreneurs. Texas would welcome their talent and their resources...and their Republican votes.In states with GOP majorities in both legislatures, governors are consciously channeling New Jersey's Chris Christie- although Christie, working with a Democratic-controlled assembly and senate, does his high wire act without a net. The governors of Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas have taken the Taxpayer Protection Pledge to oppose any tax increase. What that pledge means in effect is a requirement to reduce future spending by $5 billion in Pennsylvania, $8 billion in Ohio, and $3.6 billion in Florida. Spending will have to be cut by more than $20 billion in Texas, according to its comptroller's office.There is a legislative stalemate in D.C: liberal senators from California can vote to stop conservative senators from Texas from reducing taxes, reforming entitlements, liberalizing labor law, and dismantling regulatory schemes. But at the state level, majorities can have significant effects. Illinois is a good example: the unchallenged Democratic majority there had no one to stop it from raising the personal income tax by 67 percent as its first official act.The question before America is whether, when this process reaches its natural conclusion, the productive, well-governed, job-creating states have more electoral votes than the mini-Greeces being created in states like Illinois and California. Ultimately, control of the presidency, the Senate, and the House will depend on the answer to that question.Yes, out in America voters support the GOP agenda of repealing Obamacare and reducing both spending and taxes, but within the Beltway the two teams each have veto power over the other. Watching this "Mexican standoff" for the next two years will, to mix metaphors, look like watching wellmatched sumo wrestlers push each other around, or two rugby teams contest the same two yards for hours.Labor laws written to force millions of Americans to pay union dues to labor union bosses are another obstacle that Republican governors and legislatures could undo. States like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana could enact right-to-work laws making union membership voluntary, or "paycheck protection" laws that stop unions from taking your union dues and spending them on politics without your express consent.When the dust settled from the 2010 elections, in which Republicans gained six governorships and 715 state legislative seats- including winning control of an additional 21 legislative bodies (taking into account the 25 party switchers from the Democratic side). The GOP now has control of the governor's office and both houses of the legislature in 21 states. The 21 unified Republican states are: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Republicans also possess majorities in both houses of the state legislature, but lack the governorship, in Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, and North Carolina.G rover G. Norquist is president of Americans for Tax Reform.There will be no big victories or losses. Obama's plans for ever bigger government cannot pass the House. Republicans' plans to roll back the damage of the last two (or 20) years can be stopped in the Senate and/or vetoed by Obama. So in D.C. the real action will be each party positioning itself for 2012. Republicans are likely to win a net gain of at least four of the 23 Democratic seats contested in 2012, thereby gaining a majority. It is possible they could win 13 seats for a 60-vote filibuster-proof majority. The big prize, therefore, is the presidential veto pen.In the other corner stand Obama with his veto and Harry Reid's Democratic majority in the Senate. The Senate Democrats have near-total control over the schedule and the determination of which votes will take place. And the Democrat-friendly establishment media will referee the bout.Democrats have complete, unfettered control and the opportunity to create little Greeces in just 11 states: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Illinois, Massachusetts, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia.

G rover G. Norquist is president of Americans for Tax Reform.

A boy and his dog: Terrence Murphy used to think that dogfighting wasn't a big deal, but he learned otherwise and now works with others to keep dogs safe

Nine-year-old boys typically spend their free time playing video games, shooting baskets, riding bicycles, watching TV, and eating snacks. But when Terrence Murphy was 9, he witnessed his first dogfight. He and a friend went to the backyard of an older neighbor and watched as two dogs bit and attacked each other.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS1. illegal; 2. excited; 3. steroid; 4. previouslysteroidslegalThe fight is the culmination of a cruel process. Training for dogfights includes having dogs run for exhausting amounts of time on a treadmill and also injecting dogs with steroids and other drugs to make them more aggressive.Terrence, who lives in Chicago, Illinois, knew that people bet money on which dog would win, but that's not why he went. "I just thought it was cool," he tells Choices.* According to Terrence, Elmo was afraid of him at first. Why do you think this was the case? What happened to change their relationship for the better?excitedTerrence turned down the offer, but a week later he was at a dogfight where he witnessed a dog owner beating his dog badly--because the dog wouldn't fight. Watching someone beat his own pet didn't sit well with Terrence. "That's when I was like, 'I'm going to change my mind,'" he says. "I decided to check up on those classes Sean was talking about."TEST YOURSELFRESOURCESillegalEmaciated: marked by an abnormal thinness caused by inadequate nutrition or by diseaseBut the cruelty of dogfighting was lost on Terrence. "It used to be fun to watch the dogs fight," he says. "I wanted to see which ones would lose and which ones would win."4 Sean Moore had -- trained dogs to fight before joining the End Dogfighting campaign.Use the words below to complete each statement. Note: You won't use all the words. Answers are in the Teacher's Edition.SUMMARY: THIS ARTICLE EXPLAINS HOW A TEENAGER WENT FROM THINKING DOGFIGHTING WAS COOL--AND ALMOST TURNING HIS OWN PET INTO A FIGHTING DOG--TO BECOMING AN ADVOCATE WORKING TO PROTECT DOGS AND KEEP THEM OUT OF FIGHTING PITS.In a dogfight, two dogs are placed in a pit with each dog's owner standing in opposite corners. The dogs are released and attack each other. The fight can last a few minutes or a few hours. It ends when one dog will not or cannot continue. The dogs are often badly injured and some die. Dogfighting is so awful that it's a crime for people to participate in it.Terrence and Elmo passed the course. Their relationship changed too. "At first, Elmo used to be scared of me," Terrence says. "He would jump away. After a while, we started being friends. He listens to me better."* At the end of the article, Terrence says people should be kind to their dogs. Is he talking just to people who own fighting dogs? Explain your answer.1 When he first saw dogfights, Terrence says he thought they were cool. Why do you think he reacted that way?1 it is to -- hold dogfights in the United States.ANSWERSAnd you won't see Terrence at any more dogfights, either. "Dogfighting is not good, and it's an inhumane act," Terrence says, "so be kind to your dog and be a good dog owner."previouslyalcoholThe classes were part of the Humane Society's Pit Bill Training Team. "The idea is to engage the young men and their dogs," says Jeff Jenkins, lead trainer for the End Dogfighting campaign. "We teach formal obedience in a firm but fair and positive manner. We have many dogs that are remarkably well-trained."ADDITIONAL ACTIVITYAmerican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): www.aspca.org /fight-animal-cruelty/dog-fightingEventually, Terrence decided he wanted to train a dog to fight. When he was 12, he found a stray pit bull in an alley. The dog was about 3 years old and emaciated. Terrence brought the dog home, fed it, and named it Elmo--after the furry red puppet on Sesame Street--because of the dog's red nose.horrifiedScan used to train dogs to fight, but stopped after he had to put down one of his favorite dogs because it was gravely injured during a fight. Scan now spends his time educating young people about the dangers of dogfighting. He told Terrence that dogfighting wasn't the right thing to do, and he invited Terrence and Elmo to join a free training class. There, Terrence would learn how to safely train his dog.* Had you ever heard of dogfights before reading this article? What do you think of the idea of having two dogs fight each other?3 To prepare dogs to fight, their owners often inject them with --.A Boy and His DogOnline Information: The Humane Society's EndNow 14, Terrence has taken in another pit bull, which he named Cookie Monster. He takes Cookie Monster to training classes and also helps other people train their dogs. Terrence's message is simple: "Treat your dog right," he says. "Don't hit it or yell at it. Give it a lot of food and spend time with it. It's all about how you train your dog. If you train it to be a good dog, then that's how it's going to grow up. If you train it to be a bad dog, then that's how it's going to grow up."Family members and friends urged Terrence not to turn Elmo into a fighting dog, but he didn't listen. Fortunately, Terrence was on his way to a dogfight with Elmo when he was stopped by Scan Moore of the End Dogfighting campaign sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States.2 What incident did Terrence witness that changed his mind and made him realize that dogfighting was wrong? Why do you think the incident affected Terrence as it did?neverSAT/ACT WORDDogfighting Campaign: www.humanesociety.org/issues /dogfighting/end_dogfighting.html* Based on the fact that dogfighting was a common occurrence in Terrence's neighborhood, does it surprise you that he grew up thinking it was normal?Teaching point: This activity will help students understand the concept of personal responsibility. Michael Vick is an NFL quarterback who was convicted of running a dogfighting ring. The crimes Vick committed included torturing and killing dogs. Vick served his prison time and is now back playing football in the NFL. Have students research the Vick case in preparation for a debate. The debate question: Should Vick be allowed to resume his career in the NFL after having served his sentence, or does the seriousness of his crimes outweigh any right he has to play in the NFL again? Divide the class in half, and assign each group one side of the argument.Terrible Training2 Terrence was -- after watching dogs fight for the first time.Reformed and Reaching OutTHE MICHAEL VICK DOGSBest Friends Animal Society: www.bestfriends.org

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): www.aspca.org /fight-animal-cruelty/dog-fighting