Monday, October 12, 2009

Looking back at TV's one-episode wonders

A few weeks into the fall TV season, and already one show is down for the count.
The cast from "Quarterlife" played young, artsy 20-somethings on the incredibly short-lived show.
The cast from "Quarterlife" played young, artsy 20-somethings on the incredibly short-lived show.
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But let's look on the bright side. "The Beautiful Life" got at least two episodes in before the CW gave it the ax, spared from that TV-land rarity: the single episode show.
Although the jury's still out on which series will last to see this year's November sweeps, none of them (as their developers are certainly thankful about) can be lumped in with the truly cringe-worthy and sadly uninteresting one-episode wonders.
Here are some of the shows that saw the light of your television screen for just a single episode.
1. Known as the show that started the idea of the quick hook, CBS's 1961 live celebrity game show "You're in the Picture" was hosted by Jackie Gleason. The grand idea was to invite celebrities on and ask them to stick their heads into a painted scene and guess which one it is. It was so dismal, Gleason spent a half-hour the following week apologizing for letting the show air, and it was then replaced with "The Jackie Gleason Show."
2. There were a few shows pushing buttons in the tumultuous time of the 1960s, but the producers of the late-'60s sketch comedy show "Laugh In" thought the envelope hadn't been pushed quite enough."Turn On," a similar comedy show, hit ABC's airwaves in February 1969 and was so controversial, it was turned off after just one episode.
3. Networks have capitalized on popular movie trends for decades (looking at you, "Vampire Diaries"), and 1979's "Co-ed Fever" was no different. Attempting to ride the popularity of "Animal House," this half-hour show asked the question, "What happens when all-female Baxter College goes co-ed?" Answer? CBS cancels it.
4. Americans are finicky about their cop shows, as Steven Bochco, the man who brought us "NYPD Blue" and "L.A. Law," knows all too well. Some of them spark enough spinoffs to keep a show alive throughout generations, and others, like 1996's "Public Morals," a sitcom about the humorous antics of the NYPD, just spark hate. One-hit wonders: 3; CBS: 0.
5. In 1997, Fox unveiled "Lawless," an action series featuring NFL star Brian Bosworth as a detective. After the pilot episode, "Lawless" was outlawed, although Bosworth did go on to act again.
6. Right in the middle of the dot-com bubble, ABC tried to stake its claim with "Dot Comedy" in 2000, a sort of online version of "America's Funniest Home Videos." "Dot Comedy" was also like a premonition for the Internet bubble that was about to burst: it went belly-up after the pilot.
7. Not to be confused with a "Maury" episode, 2005's "Who's Your Daddy?" was a Fox reality series-turned-reality "special" about a woman who was adopted at birth, trying to pick out her birth father from a set of eight men, with $100,000 riding on the line. Needless to say, that gem of a concept angered viewers and adoption advocates alike.
8. It's true that there isn't much reality television fans won't watch, but CBS's 2005 series "The Will" was one of them. It featured a cast of 10 fame-seekers all angling to get in a wealthy 73-year-old man's will. The show died before the money-grubbers could craft a eulogy.
9. Heather Graham may be known for a few things, but pulling off a "Sex and the City"-esque series isn't one of them. "Emily's Reasons Why Not," 2006's show about a book publishing career woman with the requisite gay guy sidekick, was just no replacement for HBO's Manolo-ed foursome. That doesn't mean ABC stopped trying, though: "Cashmere Mafia" rolled out in 2008, only to meet a similar fate as Graham's bomb of a sitcom.
10. Next on the "so bad it shouldn't have aired" reality show train is "Anchorwoman," a 2007 show about model Lauren Jones becoming an anchor for a small-town Texas station. If you don't remember it, it's because you were among the millions and millions of viewers Fox was hoping would tune in, and didn't.
11. Who knows what did in CBS's 2008 "Secret Talents of the Stars." Maybe it was the thought of watching not one but two boxers perform musical acts? (Joe Frazier was slated to sing R&B, and Roy Jones Jr. would have wooed the audience with his rapping.) We watch them dance awkwardly and duke it out in isolated jungles but, apparently, we don't care what "secret talents" celebrities are holding close to the vest.
12. As if being 25 isn't depressing enough. "Quarterlife," NBC's 2008 attempt to take a Web-based show and turn it into a small-screen drama, failed miserably despite its online popularity. The show, focused on a group of 20-somethings trying to make their way through life and the digital age, earned some of the worst ratings NBC had seen in years. The rest of the season's episodes were exiled to Bravo.

Suspect in 1968 hijacking at JFK is captured

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A man accused of playing a role in the 1968 hijacking of a Pan Am flight from New York to Puerto Rico was captured Sunday, federal officials said.
Luis Armando Pena Soltren surrendered to federal authorities at New York's JFK International Airport.
Luis Armando Pena Soltren surrendered to federal authorities at New York's JFK International Airport.
Luis Armando Pena Soltren, 66, surrendered to federal authorities at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport after exiting a flight from Havana, Cuba, officials said. It's the same airport from which Pan Am Flight 281 took off more than 40 years ago.
He flew to New York under the custody of State Department diplomatic security personnel, said a law enforcement source and a senior State Department official.
Authorities did not offer additional details about Soltren's arrest.
Soltren "will finally face the American justice system that he has been evading for more than four decades," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said.
According to a December 1968 indictment, Soltren and three others -- Jose Rafael Rios Cruz, Miguel Castro and Alejandro Figueroa -- conspired to hijack Flight 281 on November 24 of that year.
They were accused of bringing concealed guns and knives aboard and using them to take over the flight. Crew members told authorities at the time that the armed suspects forced their way into the plane's cabin and ordered the crew to fly to Havana, according to court documents.
Cruz and Castro were sentenced in the 1970s after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court in New York. They received 15-year and 12-year sentences, respectively. Their current whereabouts were not immediately known.

DEXTER "Blinded By the Light" Season 4 Episode 3

Watch a sneak peek of DEXTER "Blinded By the Light" Season 4 Episode 3 airing on Sunday October 11 2009 at 9pm on Showtime.
Episode Synopsis: DEXTER "Blinded By the Light" Season 4 Episode 3 - It's hard enough for Dexter to fake one-on-one relationships. Now he finds himself at the center of a bustling suburban community. When a local vandal begins stirring up trouble, the neighborhood becomes vigilant and wary, two things Dexter certainly doesn't need. His mobility is also hampered by Rita, who insists on driving him around after his incident. Dexter's not the only one feeling trapped - Debra is less than thrilled when Anton announces he's taken a local job to spend more time with her. Meanwhile, the Trinity Killer dispatches his next victim. Debra becomes drawn to Lundy's theories about Trinity, while Dexter finds himself in awe of Trinity's masterful killing technique. Despite their enthusiasm, LaGuerta threatens to shut down the investigation, instead focused on bringing the Vacation Murderers to justice.

Army Wives season 4 and Army Wives Season Finale

New Delhi, October 12: Army Wives season 4 and Army Wives Season Finale. Lifetime is set to launch Army Wives season four very soon. The broadcasters are pinning their hope on the popularity of Season 3.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Bill Bellamy returns this week on Who’s Got Jokes?

Comedian Bill Bellamy is back on television this week, with the new season of the TV One series Bill Bellamy’s Who’s Got Jokes? The original comedy-competition, starting Oct. 10, series will feature celebrity guest judges each episode including Ray J, Evander Holyfield and comedian George Wallace.
“Season 4 is by far our best effort,” said Bellamy, who serves as the show’s host and executive producer. “Amazing impromptu moments, celebrity judges, and Vegas.”
Each episode’s contest features two rounds. In Round One, comics perform their best three minutes of stand-up to earn the top score from the judges. Round Two features unpredictable challenges to the comics’ improv skills – for example, one segment forces comics to create a three-minute routine on the spot, based on randomly-chosen subjects. The comic who perseveres to win the Who’s Got Jokes? championship is awarded with their own TV One stand-up special.
The fourth season of “Bill Bellamy’s Who’s Got Jokes?” premieres on Saturday at 10pm on TV One. Check out a clip from the show below.

Sons of Anarchy Season 2 Episode 5 / Watch Sons of Anarchy Smite

Watch Sons of Anarchy Season 2 Episode 5. The drama on Sons of Anarchy continues to heat up with another upcoming episode. The upcoming Sons of Anarchy Season 2 Episode 5 is set to air on October 06, 2009 at 10:00 PM only on FX Network. There would not be anybody who started catching the show must have disliked it. So we have “Smite” as the title of Sons of Anarchy Season 2 Episode 5 and make sure to catch up if you follow the show.
Sons of Anarchy Season 2 Episode 5 – Synopsis
In Sons of Anarchy Season 2 Episode 5 “Smite” we would see while Jax and Clay lock horns over how to get along with Zobelle, Tara finds herself fascinated in Gemma’s emotional struggle in the consequences of her attack. Further, SAMCRO will get help from an unlikely source. Isn’t that interesting? Of course, imaging the synopsis is so interesting how the actual show would be, so ensure you don’t forget on this.

Getting to know Alan Colmes’ wife

An Associate Professor of Public Policy, Alan Colmes’ wife is no other than Jocelyn Elise Crowley. She’s a member of the Graduate Faculty in the Department of Political Science. She has authored the book The Politics of Child Support in America in 2003.
She’s known for her contributions in the field of political science and marriage and family through her various articles. Her husband Alan Colmes became popular through his TV political show Hannity and Colmes which ended in January 2009.

ESPN Body Issue pictures nude and almost nude athletes

New Delhi, October 7: ESPN Body Issue pictures nude and almost nude athletes. It seems it is proving hard for ESPN to win readers. It may the reason that it has started publishing naked and semi naked pictures of athletes in its “Body issue”.
I am not sure if it is taking the word literally by showing more of the body than cloth or the sporting prowess of these athletes to win back readers.

Many top newsmagazines, newspapers and sports magazines are facing problem in attracting readers. People seem to find online sources very handy without having the trouble to buy the magazines and newspapers.

The next issue of ESPN’s Body Issues is set to hit the news stands on 9th October.

Netflix Down, So Is Tom Delay And Dancing With The Stars

Tuesday nights are typically the slowest of the week - at least, they are after the two little tornadoes go down for the evening; somebody please tell me that it gets easier, because two days ago one of the boys put his diaper in the refrigerator again and I'm not sure how much more of that type of ridiculous thing I can take - but there is a Netflix outage or something so I'm combing through the emails I received today. Here's the best, courtesy of reader Terry P.:
"Tom Delay = Tom Delame"
That's it. That is literally all it said. A quick google search revealed that the lameness of Tom Delay that Terry is referring to is some stress fractures in his feet or something that are forcing him off of reality show Dancing With The Stars.
So now that the Texas Hammer is off the show, who's the favorite to win?

Annette Kellerman,Million Dollar Mermaid

Annette Kellerman,Million Dollar Mermaid:Long before Kylie or Elle, our first female superstar scandalised the world. Athlete, dancer, diver, fitness expert, model and movie star, the daring woman known as the “Australian Mermaid” was ahead of her time in every way. By Kerrie Davies
It was a hot summer’s Sunday in 1908 and Revere Beach, in Boston, USA, was packed with the usual crowd making the most of the weather. Young ladies were promenading up and down the sand in their fashionable bathing dresses – complete with sailor collars and bloomers – throwing aside their sense of modesty and showing their calves to the appreciative men. Suddenly, there was a commotion. People began pointing, women started screaming and parents hurried to cover their children’s eyes. “Shame on you!” they cried.
There on the shore stood a confident young woman, resplendent in a man’s bathing costume – a skin-tight one-piece black suit with legs that ended well above her knees. She was about to wade in to the waves when a policeman strode across the beach and charged her with indecency. Annette Kellerman had arrived in America.
The 21-year-old Australian couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about. Later, pleading her case in the courtroom, she argued that she was being practical rather than provocative in choosing such revealing attire. After all, she explained, if she were to swim in the customary garb of her day, she “may as well be swimming in chains”.
So who was this woman who dared to bare her body in public in an era of prudishness; this freethinker who held such radical opinions about what women were capable of? A modern-day Venus worshipped around the world for her beautiful body and boldness, Annette Kellerman was a distance swimmer, diver, theatrical performer, mermaid, feminist, fitness advocate and soon to be internationally acclaimed silent-movie star.
Born in Darlinghurst, Sydney, on July 6, 1886, the woman who would later be dubbed “perfect” had an inauspicious start to life, unable to stand upright on her bowed legs. At the age of two, she was diagnosed with rickets and wore heavy iron braces to correct the condition. To escape the physical pain of the braces and the social isolation resulting from her disability, young Annette frequently found solace in her imagination. Her natural theatricality was fostered by her French-American mother, Alice, a bohemian socialite and talented pianist who turned their home into a conservatoire with Annette’s father, Frederick, a violinist.
When she was seven, a forward-thinking doctor suggested taking off her braces and encouraging the girl to swim as a treatment. It was a decision that would change the course of Kellerman’s life. With grim determination, she joined her brothers, Maurice and Fred, and sister, Marcelle, in the water, and was thrilled with the progress she made. “Only a cripple can understand the intense joy that I experienced when, little by little, I found that my legs were growing stronger and taking on the normal shape,” she later wrote in her memoirs. “After I learnt, I’d go swimming anywhere, any time, at the drop of a hat

Agent: Former Raven Tony Fein dead

Tony Fein, who was a member of the Ravens during the preseason and was an Iraqi War veteran, died Tuesday morning in Port Orchard, Wash., according to his agent.

There were no immediate details about his death, agent Milton D. Hobbs said.

"It's a very sad situation," Hobbs told The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday night. "I am still trying to figure out what happened."

Fein, 27, was an undrafted rookie free agent who was released by the Ravens in their final major cutdown on Sept. 5.

Although old for a rookie, Fein, at 6-foot-2, 245 pounds, caught the eyes of scouts at Mississippi's Pro Day, where the school's football players audition for scouts before the NFL draft.

While with the Ravens, Fein was arrested on Aug. 23 and was charged with misdemeanor assault on a police officer stemming from an incident at an Inner Harbor restaurant.

Security officers notified police about a group of men passing around a large, silver object suspected of being a firearm, but which turned out to be a cellular phone, police said.

When officers approached the group of men, who were seated at a counter, they demanded that Fein stand up, but he refused, according to a police report.

When Fein stood up after being asked to do so for a second time, police said he shoved an officer in the chest and was immediately arrested.

Fein was not in possession of a handgun, according to police. The cellular phone that security spotted was large, square and metallic.

Before joining the Ravens, Fein served for a year in Iraq as a 19 Delta recon scout. He has also been shot at and had to deal with roadside bombs, he said.

Fein is a native of Port Orchard, which is nine miles outside of Seattle, and was working out there while awaiting another shot at playing football, his agent said.

Netflix Down, So Is Tom Delay And Dancing With The Stars

Tuesday nights are typically the slowest of the week - at least, they are after the two little tornadoes go down for the evening; somebody please tell me that it gets easier, because two days ago one of the boys put his diaper in the refrigerator again and I'm not sure how much more of that type of ridiculous thing I can take - but there is a Netflix outage or something so I'm combing through the emails I received today. Here's the best, courtesy of reader Terry P.:
"Tom Delay = Tom Delame"
That's it. That is literally all it said. A quick google search revealed that the lameness of Tom Delay that Terry is referring to is some stress fractures in his feet or something that are forcing him off of reality show Dancing With The Stars.
So now that the Texas Hammer is off the show, who's the favorite to win?

Afghan Chances Lost, U.S. Faces Long Odds

(CBS)  The fall of Kabul in 2001 was greeted with jubilation, the momentum then with the U.S.

But reluctant to commit its own troops, the U.S. allowed Osama bin Laden to escape from the Tora Bora mountains, reports CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan.

Then came what many here see as the gravest error of all: Afghans were wary as the U.S. turned its attention to invading Iraq - and they were right. Everything from reconstruction and aid to the fight itself suffered as the U.S. shifted its resources and its focus away from Afghanistan and the commitment it had made to the Afghan people.

Not surprisingly, Afghan support for the war began to fade.

CBS News Special Report: The Road Ahead

Logan asked Afghan President Karzai's main rival Abdullah Abdullah what was lost in Afghanistan with the U.S. focusing on Iraq.

"The greatest opportunity, the best opportunity for the stabilization of Afghanistan," Abdullah said.

That lost opportunity has led the U.S. into a fight that would have been unimaginable eight years ago when the Taliban collapsed in disarray.

Back then valleys in northeastern Afghanistan were peaceful; the U.S., believing their enemy was defeated, put few military assets on the ground.

Another grave mistake.

Now, even the most remote mountains are killing grounds for determined Taliban and al Qaeda fighters - no longer afraid to stand and fight whenever they choose.

Year after year, the U.S. blindly claimed success and failed to adjust its strategy or admit its enemy was getting stronger.

The fighters it faced became proficient in small unit tactics which they learned from studying the U.S.

That can be seen in a Taliban propaganda video, which shows how the Taliban execute an attack on a small U.S. combat outpost.

Loaded with ammunition, Taliban fighters climbed to the highest reaches of the mountains. They began their assault before first light, using the type of overwhelming fire usually used against them by the U.S.

Their commander is so certain of victory that he orders his fighters to open fire on the jets when U.S. air support is called in.

"Taliban stay in your places!" he commands. "If the jet comes down again, shoot the wings!"

With a huge fire raging, the Taliban wait for survivors to stumble out. Twelve Afghan soldiers are captured, three U.S. Marines killed.

The U.S. counter-attacked and three days later the abandoned post was recaptured.

But forcing an American withdrawal was a victory for the Taliban - a sign of how far they have come since the U.S. thought they were defeated.

"Defeat is a very strong word," Col. James Kraft said. "Will you ever defeat an insurgency in total? It's a challenge. I think you've got to get it to a moderate level of chaos, a level that's accepted."

An acceptable level of chaos may not be what the U.S. went to war in Afghanistan hoping to achieve. But it may be how success is measured, if it's enough to stop al Qaeda from threatening the U.S. again.

Vedera Song Lyrics: Satisfy

Vedera Satisfy Lyrics

If There was a way to try and make it back
Back to where we started from
Could I find a way to try and make you stay
I don't wanna deny my heart
It's dense to feel
I don't wanna deny my soul
Something real

Is there anything left in ths world that would satisfy me, ohh...
Is there anything thing left in this world that will satisfy you, tonight..

We were sailing on
I could see the world below
Never thought I've come down
Expectations fail
It seemed as though our will was no match for the trouble found
I don't wanna deny my heart
It's dense to feel
I don't wanna deny my soul
Something real

Is there anything left in this world that would satisy me, ohh...
Is there anything left in this world that will satisfy you, tonight...

So take me hand and I won't look back
Though I've lived times along these ways
I will stay...

Is there anything left in this world that would satisfy me, ohhh...
Is there anything left in this world that would satisfy me, ohh...
Is there anything left in this world that will satisfy you, ohhoo...
Is there anything left in this world that would satisfy me, tonight...

Vedera Lyrics become hot keyword in Google Search today. Let's take a look at Google Blog Search result for "vedera lyrics".

Vedera lyrics - Google Blog Search

Google Blog Search Results: 10,055 results for vedera lyrics . Not a very big number of results, means that there's an inbalance between search rate and information provided.

Vedera - Satisfy music video premiere, lyrics and code
About to Pop: Vedera | Lyrics, News, Review, Pictures, Wall Papers ...
Filed under: Music News Who: Vedera Album: 'Stages' Video: 'Satisfy' Hails From: Kansas City, The Cranberries and Coldplay Why They're About.

Vedera - Satisfy [LYRICS]
If there was a way to try and make it back Back to where we started from Could I find a way to try and make you stay I don't wanna deny my heart It's dense to feel I don't wanna deny my soul Something real ...

Vedera's Single "Satisfy" Off Album "Stages" EP ...

The answer is yes, and it lies within the lyrics. Vedera has a strong voice which is sure to entertain and it cuts away from those cookie cutter artists. I heard them for the first time, and Kristen has a beautiful voice! ...

Vedera: Stages (the album)

The only other critique I'd level is that some of the metaphors in the lyrics are a little stale, like Vedera is trying too hard to say something creative. There are good ones, like "lived tossed along these waves" in Satisfy. ...

About to Pop Push Play
Vedera Filed under: Music News Who: Vedera Album: 'Stages' Video: 'Satisfy'... About to Pop: The Sunstreak Filed under: Music News Who: The Sunstreak Album: 'Once Upon... Girls on Pop: Fall = Pop Culture Christmas Filed ...

Loving My Illusion – Ric Veda
Only i know i could climb by your side piano and i saw my own shadow find me loving my illusion my life is beating faster than my own head how can i know my heart is still breathing out from innocence oh i know it's fleeting us ...

Through the Eyes of a Townie: Loving Ghosts
I have always loved Vedera and the new album has been a long time coming. "It hurts me to hold you this close, it hurts me, cause I have to let it go." Ok, I'm a nerd, I'm not a 100% positive on those lyrics but are very close trust me! ...

Kuruvi Song Lyrics - Mozha Mozhanu Mola molanu
veda vedanu irukura... koda kodanu kudaiyura.. mozha mozhanu yamma yamma mozha mozhanu yamma yamma ye kuthaalathil kulichikalaam thekkadiyil thuvattikalam kunnoorula olinchikalam kulithalaiyila thedikalam paandi aattam aadikalam ...

The fray, jack's mannequin and vedera: solid show in irvine
“say when,” with its lush textures wrapped around slade's confessional lyrics, fit the fray's burgeoning aims, artful red lights enveloping the stage adding power to its delivery. sparse arrangements of ballads didn't necessarily ..

Vedera's new music album Stages launched

Kansas City: Indie art rock band of Kansas City, Vedera's recet music album Stages was released on October 6, 2009, according to web sources.

Vedera band is a group of four members -- Kristen May, Brian Little, Drew Little and Jason Douglas.

The recording of new album began in October 2007 and it took almost two-year to complete the recording for album Stages.

The Vedera lyrics for new epic recordings seem to be big hit in forthcoming days.

Meanwhile, Vedera is all set to embark on new tour with Mat Kearney

Notehall Wants To Be The eBay For Lecture Notes

If you’ve been a student before, you know how easy it can be to fall behind if you’ve missed a lecture or two. Notehall has a solution for you, with a smart marketplace that allows you to buy and sell lecture notes and study guides.
Founded by four University of Arizona students DJ Stephan, Sadi Chalfoun, Sean Conway, and Justin Miller, Notehall launched earlier this year with an undisclosed seed round from DreamIt Ventures. Starting with their native University of Arizona and Arizona State, the site has continued to add more coverage as it expands to offering services across the vast network of colleges in the United States.
The system is simple enough. Anyone can sell lecture notes or study guides using Notehall, and they earn 75 cents and $1 per download respectively. Buyers can either earn or purchase credits which can be used to obtain the downloads. Credits can be earned through member referrals, rating notes, or if you’re selling you can opt for credits instead of a cash payout.
Credits are offered in packages, with the most popular package of 300 credits for $6.99 delivering the equivalent of three study guides and 12 lecture notes.
Notehall is set to boom following an appearance on the ABC show “Shark Tank” October 6.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Record number of students attending UWGB

A total of 6,549 students are earning credits at UWGB this fall, up 310 from last year’s record-setting 6,239, according to the university.
UWGB also has its largest freshmen class with 1,041 students, 75 more transfer students than last year and 91 more students enrolled in its adult degree program.
The university reports strong retention, especially from last fall’s freshmen class, as well as from students who started in the spring.
Another factor was the decision to keep open the application period for new freshmen and transfer students from the local 11-county area until mid-August. UWGB reports more than 300 students — 81 new freshmen and 227 transfer students — applied to UW-Green Bay during the extended application period.
“The plan to keep our admissions period open longer led to many local students taking advantage of a unique opportunity,” admissions director Pam Harvey-Jacobs said in a statement.

Stephanie Birkitt Pictures, Letterman Lover

Stephanie Birkitt, former assistant to David Letterman, is rumored to be one of the women the late night talk show host had an affair with. Oddly enough, she lived with Robert Halderman, the man who tried to extort Letterman out of $2 million!!! The two dated before breaking up in August. Halderman, the producer of 48 Hour Mystery, found Birkitt's diary, in which he learned about her sexual relationship with Letterman. That has creeper written all over it. Halderman copied pages from her diary and pieced together emails as part of the blackmail package.
Check out a picture of Stephanie Birkitt below. If you know of any other existing photos I can add to the post, just include the link below. But no spammers!!! I know who you are.

Helen Thomas Trains Another Press Secretary (VIDEO)

Suspicious that the White House is backing out of a public health insurance option, Helen Thomas gives Robert Gibbs yet another chance to fess up or deny. Noting that she's asked this many times, Gibbs says, "I apparently don't answer it to your satisfaction." Thomas replies, "That's right." Then she says, "I want your conscience to bother you."

Emerson SmartSet Digital Lamp Control Security Timer - 2 Pack

Look, honey, we don’t have to fight about this. I’ll let you get those Emerson SmartSet Lamp Control Timers if you’ll let me dig that moat.
Personally, I like to go with a proven solution. And the simple, effective moat managed to keep the feudal lords in power for, like, a thousand years. Rampaging Visigoths, invading Moors, peasant uprisings, even – if the legends are to be believed – dragons: none were any match for an expanse of stagnant, pestilential water.
But hey, if you think turning the lights on and off at various intervals will keep burglars at bay, let’s give it a try. I don’t see the harm in it. Just plug the Emerson SmartSet Lamp Control Timer into the outlet in the wall, plug a lamp into the outlet on the timer, set the lamp to “on”, and program the timer to create the illusion that people are at home.
Personally, I don’t see it dissuading a ragtag mob of starving serfs. But the moat will take care of them. Unless they have a catapult or something, I guess. But your Emerson SmartSet Lamp Control Timers don’t offer much in the anti-siege-engine department, either, so it’s a wash.

Are the H1N1 Vaccine Risks Worth the Reward of Not Getting Swine Flu?

H1N1 vaccine risks are a major concern for many Americans this flu season. With flu season just around the corner, many people are getting not only the flu shot, but the H1N1 shot as well.The H1N1 flu virus, also known as the "swine flu" has claimed the lives of several individuals. According to the CDC, those at high risk for the H1N1 virus are children under 2, individuals over 65, pregnant women, individuals with certain chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and HIV, and children under 19 on aspirin therapy.

For the high risk group, the H1N1 vaccine risks may be worth the reward. The H1N1 virus is more likely to claim the lives of one of the high-risk individuals than it is someone who is completely healthy.

Pregnant women and those caring for infants under 6 months of age are suggested recipients of the H1N1 vaccine. The H1N1 vaccine risks may be worth it for those trying to protect their children from the virus.

CBS's The Early Show discussed one of the most disturbing H1N1 vaccine risks. Someone who takes the H1N1 vaccine could develop GBC - Guillian Bar Syndrome. Dr. Jennifer Ashton estimates that this risk is only 1 in a million vaccines.

Still, that's one of the H1N1 vaccine risks that freaks people out. According to Dr. Jennifer Ashton, GBS is a "rare, neurologic disorder that has elements of an auto-immune condition in that some trigger (usually an infection or rarely a vaccination against an infection) results in a progressive weakening of nerves. GBS starts in the legs and works its way up the body."

80% of GBS patients have a full recovery about a month after their onset of symptoms. 2 to 3 people can die of this disorder.

I will take the risk of getting a bad case of the flu over the risk of getting GBS. The H1N1 vaccine risks are just too high for me.

For Max Cleland, Politics Was A Refuge From War

As a boy growing up in a small town in Georgia, Max Cleland, a former Democratic senator from Georgia, was inspired by the adventures of the Lone Ranger on his TV screen.
Just as the Lone Ranger was motivated by a sense of duty, so was Cleland. As he tells NPR's Renee Montagne, Cleland's parents raised him "to be an eagle, not a sparrow." When he was in college, he joined the ROTC and volunteered to go to war in Vietnam. There, he was brutally maimed by a grenade that a fellow soldier dropped accidentally. The explosion took away both of his legs and his right arm.
In his new memoir, Heart of a Patriot, Cleland recalls that moment, and how he overcame the trauma it caused. The book is subtitled "How I Found The Courage To Survive Vietnam, Walter Reed and Karl Rove."
After his military service, Cleland turned to public service as a way to find meaning in life outside of his own struggles. "It meant survival. It meant a purpose and destiny," he says.
His political career spanned four decades, and ended with a loss to Republican Saxby Chambliss in 2002. Cleland says that his opponent — backed by Karl Rove's political machine — questioned his patriotism by airing attack ads that listed his votes on homeland security bills that opposed President George W. Bush's policies.
In the TV ads, those questions were accompanied by images of Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, followed by photos of Cleland that avoided depicting him in his wheelchair — the visual and physical vestige of his service in Vietnam.
Cleland during his campaign for the Georgia State Senate in 1970.
Courtesy of The Max Cleland Collection, duPont-Ball Library, Stetson UniversityCleland stands on artificial limbs outside of his parents' home during his campaign for the Georgia Senate in 1970.
"There are plenty of reasons to go after me, but my military service is not one of them," Cleland says. "Especially when I was running against a guy that had no service in Vietnam and got out of going to Vietnam with a trick knee and multiple deferments. He somehow became the American patriot, and I became somehow less than that."
Cleland says that losing his political career left him with nothing but those old memories from Vietnam that he had tried to shut out of his mind. And that, he said, led him to identify with the challenges America's young soldiers face when they return from Iraq and Afghanistan.
"They carry that feeling of helplessness, trauma in their minds. It's stuck there," Cleland says. "That is a terrifying place, and they need some help."
Throughout his book, Cleland quotes the fiction of Ernest Hemingway, who had been wounded during service in World War I. In his semi-autobiographical novel A Farewell To Arms, Hemingway wrote: "The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places."
Taking comfort in that, Cleland tells Montagne: "Regardless of what we go through — war, political loss, loss of job, spouse, whatever — it is possible to become strong even at the broken places in our lives."

Doctor's advice - Painless breast lump


  • Q I am 40 and have just noticed a little lump in my left breast. My husband says that I should pay no attention, because it is not hurting me. Is he right? A. No, he certainly isn't! Any lump in the breast must be checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. This is particularly important after the age of about 35, because breast cancer starts becoming commoner at that time of life.
    Please do not be lulled into a false sense of security by the fact that this lump is painless. In fact, cancerous lumps in the breast generally are pain-free in the early stages.
    So please see a doc as soon as you possibly can. It is possible that your lump may turn out to be harmless, but you cannot determine that for yourself. You need medical advice now.
    Q Doc, I am a man who started on Viagra recently. It works really well in giving me a good erection, but one thing worries me. Whenever time I take it, something strange happens to my eyes, Doc. For instance, if I look at the sun, it seems to be green! And if I turn my eyes towards the bedroom light, it seems like it is blue. What is going on, please?
    A Do not fret. Everything is OK. One of the best-known side effects of high doses of Viagra is 'colour distortion' of vision. In other words, things may look green or blue to the man.
    This curious effect passes off after a few hours. And, as far as we know, it does not do the man any harm.
    I must add that very, very rarely, Viagra appears to cause real serious eye problems, but this is so uncommon that I have never seen such a case.
    So please do not worry that after you have taken Viagra, you see things as a little green or blue. I suggest, however, that you ask your doctor to reduce the dose of the drug slightly.

  • Q Doc, what is that 'G-spot' thing? I am a married man, aged 32; my wife is 31. We have a pretty good sex life and she says she is fairly happy with my lovemaking. However, she has expressed a desire for me to explore her G-spot. And I am very willing to do so, if it would help our marriage.So, what must I do? s it true that I would need some special instrument or vibrator, as a friend has told me?
    A. No, you don't need any special 'equipment'.
    Look: a lot of foolishness is talked about the female G-spot. If you check out 'G-spot' on the Net, you will find people telling you that it is 'the key to female sexual pleasure', which is not true.
    You will also find that on the Internet there are lots of commercial outfits who are trying to sell you 'G-spot vibrators' and similar devices. But there is really no point in spending your money on these, unless you are rich!
    So, what are the real facts about the G-spot? Well, the truth is that quite a few women do have a 'sensitive spot' located a couple of inches inside the vagina, and situated in the front wall of it.
    Many of them like having this area pressed or rubbed, but others definitely do not !
    So G-spot stimulation does not work for everyone. However, if a man manages to stimulate this intimate region, that may help his partner to reach an orgasm.
    This climax may well be unusually intense and sometimes it is accompanied by a release of some female sex fluid.
    Now, how can you stimulate your wife's G-spot?
    Well, you cannot do it during sexual intercourse. A lot of men think that it is a good idea to get the penis to somehow rub against the G-spot while having intercourse, but that is almost impossible.
    Nor can you do it during any kind of oral sex, because it is too far inside.
    So the only easy way to reach the G-spot is with the fingers. Standard medical advice on how to do that is as follows:

  • The woman should be flat on her back, feeling relaxed and romantic

  • Everything must be well-lubricated

  • With his palm facing upwards, the man should gently slip a finger inside

  • He should then bend the finger, as though beckoning.The result of this will be that his fingertip presses against her G-spot area. If he has followed the instructions above, his wife will immediately experience an unusual and pleasant erotic sensation.
    There may also be a slight desire to urinate.
    In many cases, continued stroking with the fingertip will make the woman feel agreeably aroused. However, I must stress that some women do not like the unusual sensation which is produced. So, if your wife says 'Stop it! I don't like it', then please follow her wishes and stop.

  • Q. I get a lot of funny feelings in the breasts, doc. I think there is a little tenderness. Could it be cancer?A. That is real unlikely. However, I would like you to have the breasts checked out by a doc, just in case.
    In general, unusual feelings in the breasts and nipples are NOT a symptom of cancer. Tenderness and soreness are more likely to indicate hormone changes, such as those which occur during the menstrual cycle, or in the 'run up' to the menopause.
    Tenderness can even sometimes be linked to being in love, especially if the lady is very sexually excited.
    As for cancer of the breast, that is real common, and the most frequent symptom is a LUMP, as I have mentioned above.. But ANY change in the breasts could perhaps indicate serious trouble, particularly in the over-35s. That is why I would like you to have a good check-up.

  • Q. A week ago, I injured a finger while trying to catch a ball. It still hurts me a lot. My brother says that it cannot be broken, because I can still move it. Is that true, Doc?A. No. That is a common misconception. Although you can move your finger, it is perfectly possible that you have broken it.
    So you need to let a doctor have a look at it. Depending on what he finds, an X-ray may be needed.

  • Q I am only 37 but my menses stopped suddenly last year and never returned. Could this have been the menopause? Surely, I am too young?A. Yes, it could have been what is termed a premature menopause.
    Unfortunately, that does happen to women sometimes, so that they experience the 'change of life' some 10 or 15 years too early.
    The reason that should happen is not usually clear. But if you can afford blood tests, you could get a doc to check out your female hormone levels, in order to try to find out what has been going on inside you

  • Holly Hester Pictures: Revealed!

    Photos of Holly Hester - the second woman who acknowledged she had a sexual relationship with David Letterman in the 1990s - have been obtained.
    The photos were obtained when she was an intern for Letterman.
    Here's Holly Hester with segment producer Frank Gannon (top) and writer Joe Furey (bottom) at Dave's offices back when he was still at NBC ...
    Holly Hester PictureHolly Hester Photo
    Holly Hester with former Late Night co-workers. [Photos: TMZ]
    Prior to the Late Show with David Letterman's CBS debut in August 1993, the host starred on Late Night on NBC (he was replaced by Conan O'Brien).
    His relationship with Hester took place prior to his move to CBS and lasted a year. Holly said she was "madly in love with him" but he broke it off.
    He had a relationship with Stephanie Birkitt later in the '90s.
    Letterman confessed that his affairs with staff members (how many, he did not elaborate) recently made him the target of a $2 million extortion plot.

    Green Bay Must Yield Redacted Legal Invoices to Newspaper

    A Wisconsin judge ordered the city of Green Bay to turn over redacted legal invoices to the Green Bay Press-Gazette in response to an open records request by the paper. The newspaper had requested legal invoices paid by the city for all outside legal counsel worked in 2007 and 2008.

    The city had initially provided only a summary of the work preformed by the city by outside law firms and the amounts paid to them and objected to producing the invoices saying they contained attorney-client privileged information.

    Brown County Circuit Court Judge J.D. McKay ordered the city to produce the bills by October 2 with the confidential or attorney-client privileged information redacted.

    Florida unemployment remains steady for August

    Florida’s unemployment rate for August was 10.7 percent, generally unchanged from the revised July rate of 10.8 percent, but up 4.2 percent from a year ago. It is also 1 percentage point higher than the national average of 9.7 percent.
    The rate represents 984,000 jobless out of a labor force of 9.1 million.
    “The relative stability of Florida’s unemployment rate over the past few months is encouraging,” Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation Director Cynthia R. Lorenzo said in a news release. “We anticipate improvement in Florida’s job market in the second quarter of next year, and are already seeing glimmers of hope to that effect.”
    Based on the Florida Economic Estimating Conference held in July, the state’s job market is expected to start improving in the second quarter of 2010 as the job growth rate turns positive.
    However, Florida’s unemployment rate is expected to hit 11 percent before it starts to fall.
    In the Tampa Bay area, Hernando County had the highest unemployment rate in August 2009, increasing from 13.2 percent to 13.3 percent. It also had the sixth highest unemployment rate of all counties statewide. Hillsborough stayed steady at 11.1 percent, and Pinellas dropped slightly to 10.9 percent, the lowest in the seven-county Tampa Bay area.
    Pasco and Polk each fell 0.1 percentage points to 12.1 percent and 12.2 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, Sarasota and Manatee saw the inverse happen, with slight increases to 11.6 percent and 12.3 percent, respectively.
    Of the three metropolitan statistical areas comprising Tampa Bay, Lakeland-Winter Haven had the highest unemployment rate at 12.2 percent, followed by Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice with 11.9 percent and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater with 11.3 percent.

    fluidnow Florida Claim Your Weeks online at fluidnow.com

    www.fluidnow.com is a official website of the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation’s Unemployment Compensation (UC) program. You can check out this website to apply for your unemployment benefits online and claim your weeks. This system is available Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 9 PM Eastern Time.
    The Florida Unemployment Weekly Claim Certification of Claim Your Weeks Official Link is https://www2.myflorida.com/flccid. Unemployment Compensation and Insurance provides temporary wage replacement benefits to qualified individuals who are out of work through no fault of their own.

    regina lasko picture

    To open your reprehensible intimate relationships publicly can be a difficult task, David Letterman did exactly that due to a possible extortion attempt and now he is going to face his bad days as his wife Regina Lasko is very disappointed and outrageously hurt by his conduct of exposing his life overtly. He apologized to his wife Regina Lasko, on Monday’s “Late Show” for his reprehensible intimate relationships.
    “Late Night Show” host 62-year-old Letterman always tried to keep his personal life veiled from public view, but on Thursday David Letterman unexpectedly claimed that one of CBS News employee tried to extort him for $2 million by exposing his sexual relationships with his female subordinates, and he blasted open the tightly shut door to his personal life.
    He lives in a tony Westchester, N.Y. suburb with 6-year-old son and his wife, Regina Lasko, who never seen as openly and widely. Letterman told viewers about his marriage to Lasko earlier this year after 23-year long relationship with her. Both have a five years old son. He confessed that he was not serious about married life. He said that he furtively felt that men who were married appreciated him in the way as he was the last of the real gunslingers.
    Public was shocked by this extraordinary confession of letterman and viewers thought that he was just joking.He felt sorry for his staff members to put them in this disgraceful position and especially he apologized to his wife for throwing her in instability.
    Halderman, who was accused of threatening letterman,has pleaded not guilty

    Reggie Jackson and Bob Gibson talk baseball in book 'Sixty Feet, Six Inches'

    Friends, I'm reading a book that's framed in such a unique way that when I put it down, I feel that I must be missing something.
    You see, right off the bat, it's two guys talking sports, more directly, baseball. And, you're eavesdropping on their conversation.
    These two guys know what they're talking about, so the urge to pay attention and not miss a word is with you.
    Even a heady baseball fan will learn something from "Sixty Feet, Six Inches."
    I found it great and greater still since I've known the two guys who wrote it, and never before did they enlighten me so much.
    This book is an entertaining "conversation" between Bob Gibson and Reggie Jackson, both Hall of Famers, and they tell you about how the game is really played. All the bits and pieces of the game known only by those who spent a good part of their lives in baseball are here for you to peruse . . . well, to learn, really.
    Here's Gibson talking: "Juan Marichal was the best pitcher in our era. He didn't have the best stuff, but he was the best pitcher. He could put the ball where he wanted."
    Reggie: "Denny McLain always gave you a ball to hit. I think he liked home runs as much as the hitter did. He didn't mind giving them up as long as he won the game."
    Gibson: "Throwing the ball 95 miles an hour is a gift. You can't teach anybody that."
    On getting into shape:
    Reggie: "I always worked out - it was a way of life for me, and still is. My biceps were 17 inches, the same as Sonny Liston's. My legs gave me a great power base - you generate power from the ground up - but they were so tight that they gave me a lot of hamstring trouble. Make sure you stretch."
    Gibson: "I never do any weight training, but I got plenty of work on my legs from pushing off the mound the way I did.
    "The inside of my forearm was always sore. One time it got so hard that I went to see the doctor. He tried to give me a shot to loosen it up and broke the needle."
    On umpires:
    Reggie: "The hitter has to learn the umpires just as he has to learn the pitchers. Every ump has a strike zone - a high one or low."
    Gibson: "Al Barlick was very consistent, but he had a small plate. He never gave me a pitch."
    Reggie on the issue of race and relationships:
    "In my era, particularly early on, camaraderie and relationships weren't even thought of.
    "Had it not been for Joe Rudi, Dave Duncan, Rollie Fingers and others (in Oakland), I would have really struggled socially.
    "Our manager, John McNamara, cared about my feelings. If I couldn't stay in a hotel, he wouldn't let the team stay there.

    Thursday, October 1, 2009

    Victoria's Secret too sexy?

    Has Victoria's Secret become too sexy for itself? The company CEO thinks so

    By The Associated Press

    COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Victoria's Secret, the lingerie company that introduced the Very Sexy bra, the Fantasy Bra, and the Internet server-crashing fashion show, has become "too sexy" for its own good, its top executive said.

    "We've so much gotten off our heritage ... too sexy, and we use the word sexy a lot and really have forgotten the ultra feminine," said Sharen Turney, Victoria's Secret's chief executive, in a call with industry analysts.

    Victoria's Secret was launched with the idea that Victoria was manor-born and lived in London, Turney said.

    "I feel so strongly about us getting back to our heritage and really thinking in terms of ultra feminine and not just the word sexy and becoming much more relevant to our customer," Turney said Thursday.

    Turney said Victoria's Secret has gotten younger with a strong focus on its successful Pink line of lingerie and loungewear created for college-age women, and has tried to chase those customers

    Turney said Victoria's Secret wants to increase its level of sophistication.

    "We will also reinvent the sleepwear business and focus on product quality," she said. "Our assortment will return to an ultra feminine lingerie brand to meet her needs and expectation."

    Sales at Victoria's Secret, like many clothing retailers, have been slipping.

    Victoria Secret's parent, Limited Brands, said Wednesday that its fourth quarter profits fell 12 percent and that its first quarter earnings would come in below Wall Street expectations.

    Same-store sales at Victoria's Secret fell 2 percent in 2007, with sales in the fourth quarter dropping 8 percent.

    The chain was started in San Francisco in 1977 by Roy Raymond, who said he was embarrassed trying to buy lingerie for his wife and hoped to provide a comfortable place for men to shop.

    Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos & Ideas

    Sexy Halloween Costume-less Ideas & Pictures

    You want to a looking sexy for Sexy Halloween Costumes. Halloween is the famous festival when everyone loves to dress up in different types of costumes for the Halloween party. It should be revealing but it should not be vulgar. So, tasteful dressing needs a lot of thought and planning. The costume chosen should be sexy, smart, unique and beautiful.
    Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos & Ideas
    The people are so excited to need a lot of thought and planning for their dresses collection. The all girls love to dress up and party, they will love to dress up in a sexy manner and have a great time at the party or the dance at Halloween festival. Sexy Halloween Costume-less dresses is so sexy and amazing. All these costumes can be made to look sexy. Halloween Costume-less dress is looking show less, just only painted body and show a lot of skin. They are give sexy effect in their body. The dress up as supernatural beings and fright people. You can see more Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos Here.
    Sexy Halloween Costumes ideas:
    Below are given top 10 favorite sexy costumes ideas for women. You can get also sexy Bettie page costumes, failry costumes, fairytale costumes, sexy animal costumes, etc.You can read more idea of Sexy Halloween costume for girls and women Here.
    • Sexy witch
    • Sexy teacher
    • French maid
    • Genie
    • Bar maid
    • Cheerleader
    • Sexy cop
    • Catwoman
    • Playboy Bunny
    • Naughty nurse
    Sexy Women Halloween Costume-less Photos
    Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos & Ideas Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos & Ideas Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos & Ideas Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos & Ideas
    Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos & Ideas
    Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos & Ideas Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos & Ideas Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos & Ideas Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos & Ideas
    Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos & Ideas Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos & Ideas Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos & Ideas Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos & Ideas
    Sexy Halloween Costume-less Photos & Ideas

    Citi Closes Sale Of Nikko Cordial to SMFG

    Citigroup completed the sale of its Japanese brokerage Nikko Cordial Securities to Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, one more step in the U.S. bank’s plans to shed non-core assets.

    Citigroup said on Wednesday the sale to Sumitomo Mitsui, Japan’s third-largest bank, had a total cash value of $8.7 billion, including retained cash and debt payments, Reuters reported.

    Citigroup, the third-largest U.S. bank, said it will book an immaterial after-tax gain during the fourth quarter.

    The bank also said it would form an alliance with SMFG to gain access to its global corporate banking clients.

    For SMFG, the purchase is a key defensive move because it prevents the bank’s bigger rivals from getting stronger, while it would help Citigroup cushion the impact of bad loans and toxic assets, according to analysts.

    Citigroup was forced to sell off assets globally to raise cash after suffering more than $85 billion in credit losses.

    Nikko Cordial was part of Citi Holdings, a division that includes assets the bank is looking to shed or close over time.

    In January, Citigroup decided to separate into Citicorp, housing its key banking business, and Citi Holdings, which included its brokerage, some consumer finance businesses, and other non-core assets.

    The U.S. government injected $45 billion in Citigroup and is the bank’s largest shareholder, with a roughly 34 percent stake.

    Cisco Buys Norwegian Firm Tandberg for $3 Billion

    Cisco Systems continued to show just how serious it is about video conferencing, announcing late Wednesday night the $3 billion acquisition of Tandberg, a Norwegian video communications company, The New York Times’s Ashlee Vance reported.

    Cisco has sold expensive, room-sized video conferencing systems to companies that it calls TelePresence systems. Tandberg has similar technology but also sells smaller-sized, cheaper conferencing units. In addition, Tandberg has specialized software for managing video conferencing systems and for creating connections between conferencing systems that rely on different underlying technology.

    “It really enables us to build out our portfolio,” Ned Hooper, a senior vice president at Cisco, told The Times.

    Cisco’s corporate video conferencing products require the company to outfit a customer’s conference room with multiple, large displays, networking equipment and even special tables, chairs and wall paint. By contrast, Tandberg has a range of gear, including high-definition video systems that can sit on desks or be used with personal computers.

    The all-cash deal has been recommended to Tandberg’s shareholders by that company’s directors and stands as an 11 percent premium over Tandberg’s closing price on Wednesday. Tandberg reported $809 million in revenue last year, and has close to $200 million in cash.

    In recent years, Cisco, based in San Jose, Calif., has been one of the technology industry’s most aggressive companies when it comes to acquisitions. It has bought close to 40 companies over the past five years, including the $6.9 billion purchase of the set-top-box maker Scientific-Atlanta and the $2.9 billion purchase of the Web meeting software maker WebEx. Cisco also bought Pure Digital, which made the popular Flip video recorders for consumers, earlier this year for $590 million.

    The acquisitions have fueled Cisco’s mission of backing products that generate more Internet traffic that in turns drives demand for the networking hardware that has long been the core of its business.

    The deals have also thrust Cisco into new markets like consumer electronics, business collaboration software and computer servers where the company now finds itself in direct competition with its traditional business partners like Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and I.B.M.

    During an interview last week, Cisco’s chief executive John T. Chambers boasted that the company has managed to move into a grand total of 30 new markets through acquisitions and its own internal product development.

    “We are involved in things that may shock you,” Mr. Chambers told The Times, referring to things like smart grid technology for cities’ power systems and the construction of entertainment and networking systems for sports stadiums.

    With $35 billion in cash - the highest total in the technology industry - Cisco appears set to continue with this expansion.

    “You will see us move with a lot of acquisitions over the next year,” Mr. Chambers said.

    Still, companies like Cisco, Dell and EMC must find ways to match the heft of H.P. and I.B.M., which have massive technology services businesses to complement their hardware and software pursuits.

    Rather than acquiring a large services company, Cisco will continue to partner with independent players like Accenture and Wipro, Mr.Chambers said.

    “I think that is a more scalable, faster speed and less confrontational model,” he told The Times.

    As Cisco moves into new areas, it faces the difficult task of trying to find businesses with profits that can match those gained from its networking hardware. Cisco’s routers and switches produce 65 percent gross profit margins.

    Mr. Hooper stressed that Tandberg has gross margins of 66 percent. “It fits squarely into our operating model,” he said.

    Tandberg has had the most success selling video conferencing systems to large companies in North America and Europe. Cisco plans to use Tandberg’s technology to help it go after smaller companies and eventually to target consumers, Mr. Hooper told The Times.

    Desert heat shouldn't be an issue Sunday

    Neither the teams nor a sellout crowd of 65,000 should sweat it. The University of Phoenix Stadium's retractable roof undoubtedly will be closed.

    "I know they don't want to play in the heat just as much as we don't," Colts safety Aaron Francisco said.

    Consider him the voice of experience. Francisco spent his first four years in the NFL with Arizona before signing with the Colts earlier this month as a free agent. The Cardinals don't have access to a covered practice facility, so they practice outdoors no matter how high the temperature spikes.

    "Your body gets used to it," Francisco said. "It's a dry heat."

    Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney spends a portion of each offseason training in the Phoenix area. He hopes the roof remains closed.

    "Yeah," Freeney said with a laugh. "I've actually worked out, out there . . . 118, 110s. They say it's dry heat. An oven's dry heat, too."

    NFL policy for teams with retractable roof stadiums requires a decision be made -- open or closed -- 90 minutes before kickoff. With the heat factor in Glendale, the comfort of fans always is taken into account. However, the team likes to have the roof closed because of the increased noise level.

    Since the University of Phoenix Stadium opened in 2006, the roof has been open for 10 of the Cardinals' 26 regular-season and postseason games. Both of the 2008 home playoff games were played with the roof closed.

    In the 10 open-air games in which the Cardinals are 5-5, the temperature never exceeded 81 degrees at kickoff.