With 2013 half over, is anyone still waiting for Motorola?
I was talking with Ben, a good friend and fellow Android nerd, the other night, and we the topic shifted to Motorola. Specifically, how we haven't seen or heard anything from them yet this year, and we're already halfway through. And that has to be making fans of Motorola and their incredible phone hardware a little antsy.
As Ben rightfully pointed out, it doesn't mean the same thing to us here at AC as it does to most folks. We go through phones pretty quickly around these parts, and we'll have a chance to use them all. But, if that weren't the case, I think I would have held off and waited to see what Motorola has to show us.
Don't get me wrong. I think HTC and Samsung, as well as folks like Sony and Huawei have pushed out some very nice gear. Maybe even far better than anything we'll see from Motorola. But part of me has this gut-feeling that Google and Moto have something big in store, and it would be worthwhile to see what it is if I were only planning on one smartphone purchase. Maybe it's spectacular hardware. Or spectacular pricing. Or both -- or neither. I just think it's something worth waiting for.
So what about you folks? Any of you guys hanging in there waiting to see what Motorola brings to the dance in 2013? Hit the break, or the sidebar to the right, and answer in the poll. Be sure to use the comments to tell us why you voted the way you did.
British/Irish boy band The Wanted dropped by the TODAY plaza Thursday morning to chat with the show's hosts -- and thoroughly charmed everyone present. But for those older than, say, 18, who might be wondering just who the handsome lads are and why they're so, well, wanted these days -- here's 5 things we learned about them during their visit:
1. The band is made up of Max George, Nathan Sykes, Tom Parker, Siva Kaneswaran and Jay McGuiness -- but youngest member Sykes couldn't be on the Plaza, due to throat surgery. "He's doing all right," Parker told Matt Lauer. "Probably won't know for a month or two what the outcome is, but he's in good spirits."
2. Their new show on E!, "The Wanted Life," is an inside look at what it's like for the five of them to live the bachelor life in a shared household. "There is a bit of nudity," noted George -- something that Savannah Guthrie noted may be a "selling point" for many of their millions of fans.
3. Ryan Seacrest, who executive produces the TV show, tweeted about them: "when I walked into @thewanted's living room, there was women's underwear hanging from the chandelier, no joke #wantedlife" -- and the boys confirmed that indeed, things have gotten a little wild in the house (even with girlfriends around).
4. Around since 2009, they're aware that they're part of a long tradition of boy bands wowing the masses with sweet pop tunes; McGuiness waved to the camera and said that bands like Boyz II Men, 98 Degrees and New Kids on the Block -- who will play on TODAY Friday -- are "inspirational and wondrous fellows."
5. Despite all the hinting at wild behavior, however, there's nothing they wouldn't let their mums watch. "They've seen it all before," said McGuiness.
"The Wanted Life" premieres on Sunday at 10 p.m. on E!
SEATTLE (AP) ? The Army staff sergeant charged with slaughtering 16 villagers in one of the worst atrocities of the Afghanistan war will plead guilty to avoid the death penalty in a deal that requires him to recount the horrific attack for the first time, his attorney told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Staff Sgt. Robert Bales was "crazed" and "broken" when he slipped away from his remote southern Afghanistan outpost and attacked mud-walled compounds in two slumbering villages nearby, lawyer John Henry Browne said.
But his client's mental state didn't rise to the level of a legal insanity defense, Browne said, and Bales will plead guilty next week.
The outcome of the case carries high stakes. The Army had been trying to have Bales executed, and Afghan villagers have demanded it. In interviews with the AP in Kandahar last month, relatives of the victims became outraged at the notion Bales might escape the death penalty.
"For this one thing, we would kill 100 American soldiers," vowed Mohammed Wazir, who had 11 family members killed that night, including his mother and 2-year-old daughter.
"A prison sentence doesn't mean anything," said Said Jan, whose wife and three other relatives died. "I know we have no power now. But I will become stronger, and if he does not hang, I will have my revenge."
Any plea deal must be approved by the judge as well as the commanding general at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where Bales is being held. A plea hearing is set for June 5, said Lt. Col. Gary Dangerfield, an Army spokesman. He said he could not immediately provide other details.
"The judge will be asking questions of Sgt. Bales about what he did, what he remembers and his state of mind," said Browne, who told the AP the commanding general has already approved the deal. "The deal that has been worked out ... is they take the death penalty off the table, and he pleads as charged, pretty much."
A sentencing-phase trial set for September will determine whether Bales is sentenced to life in prison with or without the possibility of parole.
Browne previously indicated Bales remembered little from the night of the massacre, and he said that was true in the early days after the attack. But as further details and records emerged, Bales began to remember what he did, the lawyer said, and he will admit to "very specific facts" about the shootings.
Browne would not elaborate on what his client will tell the judge.
Bales, an Ohio native and father of two from Lake Tapps, Wash., had been drinking contraband alcohol, snorting Valium that was provided to him by another soldier, and had been taking steroids before the attack. He slipped away from his remote southern Afghanistan outpost at Camp Belambay early on March 11, 2012, and attacked compounds.
Testimony at a hearing last fall established that Bales returned to his base between attacking the villages, woke up a fellow soldier and confessed. The soldier didn't believe him and went back to sleep, and Bales left again to continue the slaughter.
Most of the victims were women and children, and some of the bodies were piled and burned. The slayings drew such angry protests that the U.S. temporarily halted combat operations in Afghanistan. It was three weeks before American investigators could reach the crime scenes.
Browne said his client, who was on his fourth combat deployment, was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury. He continued to blame the Army for sending him back to war in the first place.
"He's broken, and we broke him," Browne said.
The massacre raised questions about the toll multiple deployments were taking on American troops. For that reason, many legal experts believed it that it was unlikely that he would receive the death penalty, as Army prosecutors were seeking. The military justice system hasn't executed anyone since 1961.
The defense team, including military lawyers assigned to Bales as well as Browne's co-counsel, Emma Scanlan, eventually determined after having Bales examined by psychiatrists that he would not be able to prove any claim of insanity or diminished capacity at the time of the attack, Browne said.
"His mental state does not rise to the level of a legal insanity defense," Browne said. "But his state of mind will be very important at the trial in September. We'll talk about his mental capacities or lack thereof, and other factors that were important to his state of mind."
Browne acknowledged the plea deal could inflame tensions in Afghanistan and said he was disappointed the case has not done more to focus public opinion on the war.
"It's a very delicate situation. I am concerned there could be a backlash," he said. "My personal goal is to save Bob from the death penalty. Getting the public to pay more attention to the war is secondary to what I have to do."
___
Johnson can be reached at https://twitter.com/GeneAPseattle
___
AP's special regional correspondent for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Kathy Gannon, contributed from Kandahar.
All Critics (100) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (101) | Rotten (8) | DVD (39)
The enthralling man-vs.-nature parable based on the late Michael Crichton's best-selling novel hasn't aged one bit.
The 3-D process adds not just dimension but depth - a technological extension of cinematographer Gregg Toland's deep-focus innovations in The Grapes of Wrath and Citizen Kane. The change in perspective creates greater intensity.
I'm a fan of this movie. It is thrilling, and the 3-D treatment is a nice enhancement.
This movie doesn't just stand the test of time, it transcends it.
"Jurassic Park" remains an absolute thrill from a Spielberg in top form: Funny, scary, fast-moving and full of just-right details.
"Jurassic Park" was impressive in 1993. Twenty years later, it's flawless.
Some things have dated - Sam Jackson wouldn't be allowed to smoke in the office; everyone would have mobiles; Google Earth would have kept the island from being kept a secret - but the power of the film's pioneering CGI remain strangely undiminished.
Steven Spielberg's summer adventure is still one of the ultimate movie roller coaster rides.
Jurassic Park is a how-to guide for structuring a multi-character disaster film.
Still proves as thrilling as ever.
A classic gets even better.
Steven Spielbeg's 1993 tale of an island plagued dinosaurs running amok holds up surprisingly well in the special effects category.
The film is a classic and the chance to see it on the big screen again (or for the first time) should not be missed
Sentiment is explained by science as the family impulse that motivates so many Steven Spielberg stories is revealed to be an evolutionary imperative in this near-perfect action-adventure.
[Looks] better not only than effects-driven movies of the same period, but better, frankly, than half of what gets released nowadays.
Kids who love dinosaurs will love it. And who doesn't?
confirms both Spielberg's mastery of cinematic thrills and the comparatively empty bombast of today's summer tentpole movies, even the better ones.
Jurassic Park shows us a director in transition, and the film captures his transformation in its own kind of cinematic amber.
[The] 3D [conversion] provides the definitive version of this classic film. Jurassic Park has been transformed with with artistry, nuance and sophistication, and it's an absolute must-see during this brief run.
The 3D effects had me nearly jumping out of my seat. Some say Hollywood is converting too many old films to 3D. But, "Jurassic Park" was the perfect choice. There's nothing more fun than sharing a seat with a snapping dinosaur.
Spielberg treats us as he does his characters, leading us into a strange land and expecting us to make it out with all our faculties intact; it's a tall order, given the heart-stopping, bloodcurdling, limbs-numbing excitement packed into the second hour.
It is as if time has passed the movie by. "Jurassic Park" remains solid entertainment, but the awe and wonder have faded.
The thrill of seeing live dinosaurs on screen is not as acute today as it was 20 years ago admittedly, but there is still some 3D awe left in the creations that roared 65 billion years ago...
The 3D isn't pushed on the audience, but it does reveal the amount of depth that Spielberg actually put into the film 20 years ago.
While it's not the most profound of Spielberg's works or the most entertaining from a popcorn perspective, it's one of the most technically flawless movies he's ever produced.
Jurassic Park 3D is like being reunited with an old friend; an old friend that wants to eat you and maul you to death, but still. A classic is reborn in glorious IMAX with a vibrantly stunning use of 3D.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? Iran's culture minister is seeking to tighten rules to supervise visiting foreign journalists.
A Wednesday report by the semi-official Mehr news agency quotes Mohammad Hosseini as saying tighter measures are being sought after an Israeli journalist reported from Tehran about the 2009 presidential election for a European news outlet.
Postelection turmoil in 2009 led the government to restrict access for visiting foreign journalists, many of whom left the country ahead of schedule.
Hosseini did not elaborate. He said 200 foreign journalists have applied to cover June's presidential elections.
The ministry has a final say on issuing credentials for foreign journalists seeking coverage of Iran.
Some 120 foreign media outlets maintain offices in Iran.
Study looks at sports-related facial fractures in kids, reports Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryPublic release date: 29-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Connie Hughes connie.hughes@wolterskluwer.com 646-674-6348 Wolters Kluwer Health
Data on fracture causes and patterns may help to inform preventive measures
Philadelphia, Pa. (May 29, 2013) Facial fractures are relatively common, and potentially serious, sports-related injuries among children participating in a wide range of sports, according to a study in the June issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
The five-year study provides insights into the characteristics of sports-related facial fractures in young athletesincluding the causes and patterns of fractures in specific sports. "These data may allow targeted or sport-specific craniofacial fracture injury prevention strategies," write Dr. Lorelei Grunwaldt and colleagues of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Sports-Related Facial Fractures in Kids: Patient and Injury Characteristics
The researchers analyzed 167 children and adolescents with sports-related fractures seen at their hospital's emergency department from 2000 to 2005. Of all facial fractures in children treated during that time, 10.6 percent were sports-related.
About 80 percent of the injured patients were boys; nearly two-thirds were between 12- and 15-years-old. Nasal fractures accounted for about 40 percent of the injuries, 34 percent were fractures around the eye, and skull fractures accounted for 31 percent.
Although the injuries were not critical, many were quite serious. Approximately 45 percent of the patients were hospitalized, including 15 percent admitted to the intensive care unit. About 10 percent lost consciousness. Four percent of the children had more severe "level I" traumaunstable airway or vital signs, or spinal cord injury.
Approximately 45 percent of fractures occurred when the child was hit by a ballmost often when attempting to catch it. Collisions with another player were the second most common cause at 24.5 percent, followed by falls, about 19 percent.
Sport-Specific Fractures Have Lessons for Prevention
Forty-four percent of the facial fractures were sustained from baseball or softball activities. Basketball and football were less common, only accounting for 10 percent of the cases. Analysis of various sports found some important differences in causes and fracture patterns:
Baseball/softballMost injuries occurred in fielders trying to catch the ball, most often a line drive.
Basketball, football and soccerAll fractures in basketball and football, and most in soccer, were caused by colliding with another player.
GolfMost injuries occurred at home, all in patients struck by another player's club.
Skiing/snowboarding and skateboardingAll facial fractures in skiing/snowboarding, and most in skateboarding, occurred in youth who were not wearing helmets.
Horseback ridingFractures were caused by being kicked by a horse.
Although fractures related to horseback riding and skateboarding were less common, the injuries tended to be more severe. Rates of level I trauma were 29 percent in horseback riding and 14 percent in skateboarding.
The study is one of the few to focus on sports-related facial fractures in children. The findings have important implications for plastic surgeons, emergency department personnel and others who evaluate and treat young athletes with facial fractures.
The data on causes and patterns of fractures may also aid in efforts to prevent facial fractures in young patients, the researchers believe. They emphasize that proper supervision and efforts to promote following the rules and "fair play" may reduce the overall risk of injuries in young athletes.
In skateboarding and skiing/snowboarding, wearing helmets has proven effective in reducing fracture risk. Nasal protectors may help prevent some fractures in basketball and soccer. The use of softer, low-impact balls has been recommended in youth baseball and softball. Given the high rate of fractures occurring in fielders trying to catch a ball in these sports, Dr. Grunwaldt and coauthors conclude, "[O]ur strongest recommendation for injury prevention may be further consideration of face protective equipment [face guards] for players fielding in baseball and softball."
###
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health.
About Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
For more than 60 years, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/>) has been the one consistently excellent reference for every specialist who uses plastic surgery techniques or works in conjunction with a plastic surgeon. The official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery brings subscribers up-to-the-minute reports on the latest techniques and follow-up for all areas of plastic and reconstructive surgery, including breast reconstruction, experimental studies, maxillofacial reconstruction, hand and microsurgery, burn repair, and cosmetic surgery, as well as news on medico-legal issues.
About ASPS
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the world's largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons. Representing more than 7,000 Member Surgeons, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. ASPS advances quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery. You can learn more and visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons at http://www.plasticsurgery.org or http://www.facebook.com/PlasticSurgeryASPS and http://www.twitter.com/ASPS_news.
About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes.
LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2012 annual revenues of 3.6 billion ($4.6 billion).
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Study looks at sports-related facial fractures in kids, reports Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryPublic release date: 29-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Connie Hughes connie.hughes@wolterskluwer.com 646-674-6348 Wolters Kluwer Health
Data on fracture causes and patterns may help to inform preventive measures
Philadelphia, Pa. (May 29, 2013) Facial fractures are relatively common, and potentially serious, sports-related injuries among children participating in a wide range of sports, according to a study in the June issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
The five-year study provides insights into the characteristics of sports-related facial fractures in young athletesincluding the causes and patterns of fractures in specific sports. "These data may allow targeted or sport-specific craniofacial fracture injury prevention strategies," write Dr. Lorelei Grunwaldt and colleagues of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Sports-Related Facial Fractures in Kids: Patient and Injury Characteristics
The researchers analyzed 167 children and adolescents with sports-related fractures seen at their hospital's emergency department from 2000 to 2005. Of all facial fractures in children treated during that time, 10.6 percent were sports-related.
About 80 percent of the injured patients were boys; nearly two-thirds were between 12- and 15-years-old. Nasal fractures accounted for about 40 percent of the injuries, 34 percent were fractures around the eye, and skull fractures accounted for 31 percent.
Although the injuries were not critical, many were quite serious. Approximately 45 percent of the patients were hospitalized, including 15 percent admitted to the intensive care unit. About 10 percent lost consciousness. Four percent of the children had more severe "level I" traumaunstable airway or vital signs, or spinal cord injury.
Approximately 45 percent of fractures occurred when the child was hit by a ballmost often when attempting to catch it. Collisions with another player were the second most common cause at 24.5 percent, followed by falls, about 19 percent.
Sport-Specific Fractures Have Lessons for Prevention
Forty-four percent of the facial fractures were sustained from baseball or softball activities. Basketball and football were less common, only accounting for 10 percent of the cases. Analysis of various sports found some important differences in causes and fracture patterns:
Baseball/softballMost injuries occurred in fielders trying to catch the ball, most often a line drive.
Basketball, football and soccerAll fractures in basketball and football, and most in soccer, were caused by colliding with another player.
GolfMost injuries occurred at home, all in patients struck by another player's club.
Skiing/snowboarding and skateboardingAll facial fractures in skiing/snowboarding, and most in skateboarding, occurred in youth who were not wearing helmets.
Horseback ridingFractures were caused by being kicked by a horse.
Although fractures related to horseback riding and skateboarding were less common, the injuries tended to be more severe. Rates of level I trauma were 29 percent in horseback riding and 14 percent in skateboarding.
The study is one of the few to focus on sports-related facial fractures in children. The findings have important implications for plastic surgeons, emergency department personnel and others who evaluate and treat young athletes with facial fractures.
The data on causes and patterns of fractures may also aid in efforts to prevent facial fractures in young patients, the researchers believe. They emphasize that proper supervision and efforts to promote following the rules and "fair play" may reduce the overall risk of injuries in young athletes.
In skateboarding and skiing/snowboarding, wearing helmets has proven effective in reducing fracture risk. Nasal protectors may help prevent some fractures in basketball and soccer. The use of softer, low-impact balls has been recommended in youth baseball and softball. Given the high rate of fractures occurring in fielders trying to catch a ball in these sports, Dr. Grunwaldt and coauthors conclude, "[O]ur strongest recommendation for injury prevention may be further consideration of face protective equipment [face guards] for players fielding in baseball and softball."
###
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health.
About Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
For more than 60 years, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/>) has been the one consistently excellent reference for every specialist who uses plastic surgery techniques or works in conjunction with a plastic surgeon. The official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery brings subscribers up-to-the-minute reports on the latest techniques and follow-up for all areas of plastic and reconstructive surgery, including breast reconstruction, experimental studies, maxillofacial reconstruction, hand and microsurgery, burn repair, and cosmetic surgery, as well as news on medico-legal issues.
About ASPS
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the world's largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons. Representing more than 7,000 Member Surgeons, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. ASPS advances quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery. You can learn more and visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons at http://www.plasticsurgery.org or http://www.facebook.com/PlasticSurgeryASPS and http://www.twitter.com/ASPS_news.
About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes.
LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2012 annual revenues of 3.6 billion ($4.6 billion).
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Gov. Rick Perry announced Monday that he is appointing a long-time aide to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst as the new state insurance commissioner.
Julia Rathgeber of Austin, deputy chief of staff for the lieutenant governor, will replace Eleanor Kitzman as the state?s chief insurance regulator.
Kitzman?s last day in office was Monday. She was forced to give up the post after failing to win Senate support for her confirmation during the 2013 session.
Rathgeber, a UT-Austin law school graduate, is a past director of research for the Texas General Land Office and a former division head for the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. In her new job, she will oversee the Texas Department of Insurance.
BALTIMORE (AP) ? The first passengers from a Royal Caribbean cruise that was cut short by a fire have arrived back in Baltimore on a charter flight.
Many are praising the crew's handling of the emergency and say they'd be eager to take another Royal Caribbean cruise.
Rebecca Killinger of Carlisle, Pa., says she had no idea how extensive the fire was until the ship got into dock. She says the captain and crew were calm and forthcoming throughout the ordeal, even cracking jokes to lighten the mood. The cruise was her first and she says she'd be happy to take to the seas again.
The 2,200 passengers are being flown into Baltimore on charter planes. The first, carrying more than 100 people, arrived shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Damage on the Royal Caribbean ship Grandeur of the Seas is pictured as the ship is docked in Freeport May 27, 2013. A fire broke out on the ship's aft mooring deck in the early hours of Monday ... more? Damage on the Royal Caribbean ship Grandeur of the Seas is pictured as the ship is docked in Freeport May 27, 2013. A fire broke out on the ship's aft mooring deck in the early hours of Monday morning. The fire was extinguished at 0458 ET, and all 2,224 passengers and 796 crew members were safe and accounted for, according to the company. REUTERS/Vandyke Hepburn (BAHAMAS - Tags: MARITIME DISASTER BUSINESS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) less? ?
Intel's Kirk Skaugen was relaxed about "me too" thin-and-light devices trailing behind Ultrabooks like Remoras. Perhaps it's because of our lukewarm reception of devices like HP's Envy Sleekbook 6z, which we found to be a little lumpen. While we liked its understated design, the sluggish AMD internals and flaky trackpad meant we weren't feeling particularly fondly on this piece of hardware. This is where you come in. Why not dream up a budget laptop that could hit the same price point but without the flaws -- the more imaginative, the better.
[This is a modified re-post (I'm enroute to the Arctic and offline for a bit).]
I wrote a song in the early 2000?s called ?Arlington,? which partly retells the remarkable history of the nation?s last resting place for its fallen defenders but also notes that the cemetery has been running short of space.
I?m recording my first album and have posted a near-final mix of a new version of the song on Soundcloud in honor of Memorial Day, and to get feedback on the tune:
At the heart of the chorus is a question: ?Where will they go when there?s no more room in Arlington??
I first posted a version of this song here in 2008. It?s worth revisiting periodically as a way of reflecting on the seemingly endless chain of sacrifices, generation by generation, in defense of freedom and nationhood.
Is it possible that a day will come when warfare will be history, instead of news ? when there?ll be a memorial day not only for those who sacrificed, but for war itself?
There?s a long line of argument pointing to an eventual end to war, in part due to the increased connectedness and interdependence of human societies for whom it was once easier to identify someone else on the planet as the ?other? ? and thus a threat. Those making the case include?Steven Pinker, Matt Ridley and, most recently,?John Horgan in ?The End of War.?
To some extent the roots of such thinking extend back at least to Darwin. In a 2008 piece called ?Darwin and Havel?s Unified Planet Theory,? I cited Darwin?s articulation of this notion in ?The Descent of Man,? first published in 1871:
As man advances in civilization, and small tribes are united into larger communities, the simplest reason would tell each individual that he ought to extend his social instincts and sympathies to all the members of the same nation, though personally unknown to him. This point being once reached, there is only an artificial barrier to prevent his sympathies extending to the men of all nations and races.
As I?ve been asserting lately, with the buildout of the ?Knowosphere,? we may be poised to surmount that barrier. Or not.
We now have the tools and capacity to build a connected, informed, empathic, collaborative world ? or to build walls and live in isolated bubbles.
My guess, no surprise, is that we?ll long inhabit a hybrid planet, with the trends largely toward more peaceful coexistence, and with losses in martial clashes ? especially as a percentage of the global population ? continuing to shrink.
But the bugles ? brass or digital ? will continue to play several dozen times a day at Arlington for a very long time to come.
Since World War II, Germany has preferred to stay out of international leadership roles. But the eurocrisis has put the country at Europe's head ? with all the criticism that entails.
By Sara Miller Llana,?Staff writer / May 16, 2013
German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a discussion panel on 'making Europe strong' during the Europe forum conference in Berlin Thursday. Germany has consciously avoided a leadership role in Europe since the end of World War II, but the eurocrisis has put it in the limelight ? with all the criticism that brings.
Gero Breloer/AP
Enlarge
Americans took a leading role in the world in the post-World War II era. And today they are used to being unpopular, yet called upon when needed.
Skip to next paragraph Sara Miller Llana
Europe Bureau Chief
Sara Miller Llana?moved to Paris in April 2013 to become the Monitor's Europe Bureau?Chief. Previously she was the?paper's?Latin America Bureau Chief, based in Mexico City, from 2006 to 2013.
Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of The Christian Science Monitor Weekly Digital Edition
Germans in the postwar era, on the other hand, have preferred to blend into the background.
But amid Europe's sovereign debt crisis, as Germany's healthy economy has put it at the head of the 27-member European Union, that's been proving impossible. And now Germans are dealing with the criticism that accompanies being a regional ? if unwilling ? hegemon.
While a recent Pew poll shows Germany to be considered by many countries to be the most trustworthy nation in Europe, it has also accrued new enemies far and wide, with Greeks burning German flags or picketing with signs of German Chancellor Angela Merkel dressed in Nazi uniform. There have even been?claims from France that Germans are out to rule the Continent.
?We have made a lot of commitment to help those people,? says Markus, a musical theater stage producer, in Berlin?s Alexanderplatz, a public square and major transportation hub in Germany?s capital Berlin. ?It?s really unfair.?
It?s also untrue ? at least the part about Germany wanting continental dominion, say German and European observers. Instead, the avoidance of tough positions in foreign policy, so Germany is not led into a moral dilemma, is ingrained in the postwar mentality, they say.
?There is no appetite for domination. Germany has been pushed into this position by default,? says Jan Techau, director of Carnegie Europe in Brussels for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. ?There is no ambition to shape the continent in the image of Germany.?
?Germans want to be liked by the rest of the world,? says Michael Wohlgemuth, director of Open Europe Berlin. ?Germany feels uneasy in its new powerful role. We don?t want to be leaders of Europe.?
Outside the US embassy in Berlin, Erkan Arikan says that Germany is being unfairly maligned in Europe. But he says he can also laugh it off, as a German of Turkish descent in a multicultural Germany that has nothing to do with the 1930s.
He says that he can see some parallels between the hegemonic positions of Germany and the US today, but there is a limit. ?The US is still the world police for everyone; Germany doesn?t want to be the focus,? he says. ?But maybe it?s becoming the economic police of Europe.?
It?s a role that many Germans might feel uncomfortable playing, especially with the bad will that can breed.
If Americans don?t like the term ?ugly American,? Germans like it even less.
Ulrike Gu?rot of the European Council of Foreign Relations says when she travels around the country and talks to everyday Germans, they are starting to ask, ?Are we responsible for this youth unemployment in Spain? There is an uneasiness they they are just starting to feel,? she says. ?They don?t want to be the ?ugly German.??
All Critics (57) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (5)
'Gimme the Loot' is ... meandering and a little shallow. And even at 79 minutes it feels a little too long for what's essentially the film equivalent of a short story.
A thousand-watt jolt of mischief, a spunky, funky, ebullient indie that packs its 81 minutes with cinematic exhilaration.
It may be a slight movie, but it has its sunny charms.
A movie about teenage taggers in the Bronx should be fast and raw, scruffy and loose, and Adam Leon's Gimme the Loot is just that.
As it lopes along, the movie offers a warm but very sharp portrait of New York's have-nots and their uneasy relationship with the haves.
"Gimme the Loot" shouldn't be as appealing and exuberant as it is, it really shouldn't.
First-time feature director Adam Leon's shots are precise and full of detail.
The film's strong suit is its use of locations.
The film is episodic and determinedly offbeat, funny at its best, boring at its worst.
Shot on the streets of New York in a loose, freeform style, this lively comedy-drama feels somewhat underdeveloped, leaving us doubtful about its realism.
It's a great deal of fun, emotionally touching, and even surprisingly old-fashioned.
Some of the movie doesn't exactly convince, and some of the scenes have an actors-improv feel to them, but there's always plenty of humour and energy.
Endlessly entertaining, refreshingly light-hearted and bursting with summer soul, Gimme The Loot joins the pantheon of great New York movies.
It's a shaggy dog story with a certain amount of charm but not nearly enough drama.
The movie is unpolished, and it matters not a jot, because Leon has written super roles for these kids and invests their relationship with such sly feeling.
Hickson walks the line between bravado and vulnerability, while Washington has a charisma, spark and beauty that should ensure this won't be the last we see of her.
Bolstered by a low-key but assured aesthetic and a soundtrack of vintage soul and doo-wop, the film is infectiously enjoyable, with frequently amusing insights and an affable shagginess.
Out of nowhere, Adam Leon might just have delivered the first great New York film of the decade.
Charming and engaging low-budget indie with a witty script, likeable characters, a strong sense of time and place and a pair of terrific performances from its two young leads.
Funny and freewheeling, it's a joy.
A slim, low-budget coming-of-age tale whose richness lies entirely in its interstices. A keenly observed work that celebrates the unfettered joys of youth, and rewards by reminding of the power of a simple tale told well.
Simultaneously real and hopeful, "Loot" has almost no plot, but when the setting is so fresh and the characters feel so raw and alive, who needs one?
Ghetto laughs with a sophisticated point of view.
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With $671,400, you could buy roughly 2,040.7 base-model iPad minis before taxes. One unnamed buyer, however, just laid that amount out for a single Apple 1 from 1976. Auctioned through a Germany-based Sotheby's, The New York Times Bits blog notes the price beats out the firm's $640K record from another unit last November. Interestingly, the seller refurbished this latest Apple 1 to working condition, after paying only $40K for it privately. While it doesn't seem to have the original enclosure, we'd be remiss not to mention that the seller also had Steve Wozniak grace the motherboard with his signature. You'll find more info at the source, while we wrap our heads around how this makes last summer's auction price of $374.5K look like a relative steal.
Listen to the voice of God: Morgan Freeman was not actually sleeping during an early-morning interview on Wednesday.
The 75-year-old actor was sitting next to Michael Caine during a chat with Seattle's FOX affiliate Q13, when he appeared to doze off as Caine spoke. The two were promoting their new film, "Now You See Me."
But seeing is not believing, Morgan wrote on his Facebook page late on Thursday.
"I wasn't actually sleeping," said the Oscar-winning actor. "I'm a beta tester for Google Eyelids. I was merely updating my Facebook page."
He added a photo of himself giving the camera the thumbs up.
Over 17,000 fans approved, leaving over 700 comments.
Earlier, he posted a note reminding people to watch him on "The Daily Show" Thursday night -- where he did not fall asleep. But his note hinted sleep could occur at any moment: "You won't want to miss me on 'The Daily Show With Jon Stewart' tonight at 11pm/10 Central, it's going to be a good one. And set your DVR's too...just in case you fall asleep."
Joined: Mar 15, 2013 Age: 19 Posts: 73 Location: Seattle, WA
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treblecake Deinonychus
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TheBraveSirRobin Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
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treblecake Deinonychus
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Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 5:33 am?? ?Post subject:
treblecake wrote:
Do you watch the vlogbrothers videos as well?
Um, now I do? Maybe? Let me watch their videos. It might not be the kind of content I like, I'm picky about that kind of stuff, even if the video is funny. Hank is cool and all, buuuuuut, what I just said may apply to it.
As I was writing this, I watched some of them. It seems to be a channel like VSauce that have cool people and some pretty cool content here and there, too, but seem to be all over the place with what they do. And that's just not to my tastes, at all. : \ _________________ TORGUE! 400% MORE AWESOME!
My shopping spree has always been around clothes, footwear and skincare. I buy whatever I like without blinking my eyes. Makeup is a latest addition to my shopping spree. I was a no makeup person, I indulged in only the must have stuff; never picked up even 2 lippies together ?.
I read somewhere that change is the only permanent thing in life . I went to watch movie with my friend over the last weekend. I saw the Colorbar store in the mall and my adrenaline rush bowled over. I picked up a lippie, gloss, kohl eyeliner and a sharpener in 15 minutes. Thank God, we did not miss any movie scene else I would have been bashed ?.
Take a look at my mini haul , I wish I had more time to shop ? !
The nail polish that you see, is a freebie ? . It is a vibrant turquoise color
I wanted to buy 2 lippes ? Wicked Orange and Pink Hotmail , courtesy ? Shweta ?. Pink hotmail was out of stock, so I picked up Wicked Orange.
Take a look at the Perfect Pout gloss ? Rumor 003. It is a perfect everyday gloss !
I was fed up with my colossal kajal but I had no intention to buy a kohl from Colorbar. The SA insisted and I tried it on. I still thought what if it smudges later . To my surprise, I could not remove it with a wet wipe and I bought it !
I think almost everything here has been reviewed on Wise She. I will bring the remaining reviews if any.
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Public release date: 29-May-2013
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. I went to watch movie with my friend over the last weekend. I saw the Colorbar store in the mall and my adrenaline rush bowled over. I picked up a lippie, gloss, kohl eyeliner and a sharpener in 15 minutes. Thank God, we did not miss any movie scene else I would have been bashed ?
. It is a vibrant turquoise color 
. Pink hotmail was out of stock, so I picked up Wicked Orange.
. To my surprise, I could not remove it with a wet wipe and I bought it !
