Tea is recognized worldwide as one of the most popular and healthy drinks. Prepared by brewing leaves of the tea plant in hot water, people from all walks of life love it for different reasons. Not only do they find it delicious and refreshing, but it is also nutritious and health-giving. But when it comes to devotion to tea, only a few countries out there can actually contend with China. In fact, drinking tea is actually considered as a pastime on that side of the world. And one element intrinsically tied with drinking of tea in China is the Yixing teapot.
It is because of tea why the making of pots is big in China. Made of ceramic, they have the ideal combination of insulation and heat retention to keep their favorite drink at its optimal state. But the Yixing teapot takes this functionality to a completely different and higher level.
What makes the Yixing teapot such a precious commodity when it comes to drinking tea in China? The answer lies in its intrinsic qualities. Let's start first with the clay used in making them. The clay used in making these pots is derived from a specific geographic location found in the Jiangsu Province. There's something about this clay that gives it its charmed properties. When used to prepare tea, it absorbs and retains a small amount of the tea into the pot, creating a distinctive taste that tea experts love. This flavor is actually strengthened further with prolonged use. However, this same property is the reason why you steep only a particular type of tea in a given pot, as it interferes with the accumulated taste.
Another characteristic that makes these pots such a big part in China's tea-drinking culture is its size. Chinese people like to bring around a cup or two of their favorite tea wherever they go, and the Yixing is constructed to do exactly that. It's more compact than your usual teacup. On the average, a Yixing pot can carry about a cupful of tea. But this endows these teapots unparalleled portability, a must for any traveler. Combining a spill-proof spout with a good-sized handle, these pots are made for traveling, and the Chinese love it for that.
The last factor that makes Yixing teapots special is that they are considered to be works of art. Each pot is constructed uniquely by craftsmen who spent literally years to perfect the skills needed to make them. In fact, Yixing artists even have an apprenticeship system that develops more skilled craftsmen. Because of this, Yixing teapots have incredibly high quality. It's unsurprising to see pots made by the best Yixing craftsmen to sell for thousands of dollars. And with the quality of these works of art, it's definitely worth every cent.
Yixing teapots are probably the only one of its kind in the world. Not only are they stylish, but they are also functional. In a way, these teapots best encapsulate China's love affair with drinking tea.
Karen Davis is an Yixing Teapot enthusiast and collected her first pot back in the 1980's. She is the founder of Brownstoneshopper, an online webstore that sells Yixing teapots. Our unique pots are showcased in our online gallery. If you enjoyed this article on yixing teapots, contact us now online and sign up for your FREE Report!
At a certain point of time everybody feels the of sexual satisfaction. But , there are many people in this world that suffer from your inability of fulfilling the complete satisfaction of their partner. Sex-related problem is quite a common problem and it also prevents you from having the complete satisfaction during the time of sexual activity or even masturbation. Impotence not only leads to physical discontentment, but it also causes psychological problems. But timely medicine and a healthy way of life can surely help you overcome the issue and you may also guide a normal life like others.
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? You can also apply penile extenders that helps in order to stretch the penis and allowing it to repair. This stretching allows to unlock the spaces that are one of the cells and with the continue utilize you can boost the number of the number of new tissue in that particular spot. But , you need to discover the most effective gadget.
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At a certain point of time everybody feels the of sexual satisfaction. But , there are many people in this world that suffer from your inability of fulfilling the complete satisfaction of their partner. Sex-related problem is quite a common problem and it also prevents you from having the complete satisfaction during the time of sexual activity or even masturbation. Impotence not only leads to physical discontentment, but it also causes psychological problems. But timely medicine and a healthy way of life can surely help you overcome the issue and you may also guide a normal life like others.
There are different techniques that you could adopt in case of penile enhancement. Surgeries, pills and extenders are a few of the ways that you could implement to be able to experience the large size of the penile. Learn more about ? Sex-related enhancement.
Folks, I've been separated for nearly two months and I'm now working on self-improvement.
One area I identified that I need to work on is managing my anger.
My husband would bring out the monster in me. No, I would never throw things or hurt anyone in the process, but I'd drop a few F-bombs here and there and I'd certainly get LOUD.
Thing is, I generally don't have a temper. Most of my friends, even childhood friends, would be surprised if they were told that I have a temper. But I do.
People who know me too well and know how to push my buttons unleash that ugly side of me. My dad, my mom sometimes, and now my husband. I thought my temper problems were done with. That I was just an angry teen. That I'd overcome it. Apparently not.
Thing is, I'd been to individual counseling for an extended period of time before I got married. So I'm not sure that that's the route to go.
Does anyone recommend any self-help books or techniques to calm me down when I sense getting frustrated to the point of losing my cool?
Thanks in advance<3
?
Yesterday, 12:16 AM
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Quote:
Folks, I've been separated for nearly two months and I'm now working on self-improvement.
One area I identified that I need to work on is managing my anger.
My husband would bring out the monster in me. No, I would never throw things or hurt anyone in the process, but I'd drop a few F-bombs here and there and I'd certainly get LOUD.
Thing is, I generally don't have a temper. Most of my friends, even childhood friends, would be surprised if they were told that I have a temper. But I do.
People who know me too well and know how to push my buttons unleash that ugly side of me. My dad, my mom sometimes, and now my husband. I thought my temper problems were done with. That I was just an angry teen. That I'd overcome it. Apparently not.
Thing is, I'd been to individual counseling for an extended period of time before I got married. So I'm not sure that that's the route to go.
Does anyone recommend any self-help books or techniques to calm me down when I sense getting frustrated to the point of losing my cool?
Thanks in advance<3
Keep a record. Ask yourself at the end of each day "Did I remain centered today?" If you can answer 100% yes, mark that day a success. See for how many days you can maintain the streak, then aim to make the next streak longer.
__________________
Judge: Sledge Hammer, how do you plead?
Sledge Hammer: I never plead, I usually don't even ask.
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Yesterday, 02:40 PM
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Location: At the local coffee shop
Posts: 1,234
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Coffee Amore, thanks for the link.
I read it, but I also dont understand what the alternative is if you're the one being the food police for example.
My husband's weight got out of control and he continued making really unhealthy food choices even though we had discussed the need for both of us to eat better. I noticed when I stopped commenting, I got resentful as I watched him eat burgers/icecream/ oreos, because he didn't care. What's a better way of relaying frustrations, especially when it seems the other person isn't listening?
We both did this to each other, him with how I spent my money, and me, with how he ate/spent his time.
I don't have a lot of experience in this area to be honest. My husband likes to watch what he eats and he's about 10 pounds more than he was in college. I have a sibling though who could lose a lot of weight. The spouse of that sibling has tried everything from talking to getting their kids to talk about weight loss, but so far nothing has happened. The weight just seems to keep piling. You know that old saying "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink" ? Same thing applies. You can stock the house with healthy foods, model a healthy lifestyle, talk about clean eating and exercising until you're blue in the face, but you can't ever make someone who does not want to change, change. My sibling with the weight problem says it's not a bother and they're ok with it. I don't think so. I think it's just a facade, but there's nothing more any of us can do other than hope there's an epiphany or crisis (nothing too serious) that will snap them out of it.
The other thing you could do, if willing, is to draw a hard boundary. "I love you but your weight is making me lose attraction for you. If this continues..I will (insert consequence that you intend to follow through on, not just threaten)." There have been countless threads in the General Forum as well as the Men's Forum and Sex Forum on that topic alone so do a search.
New York City police officers escort 31-year-old Erika Menendez to a waiting car as she screams in Queens, New York City, on Saturday.
By NBC News staff and wire services
Updated, 10:42 a.m.?Sunday --?NEW YORK?? A 31-year-old Bronx woman?charged with pushing an immigrant to his death from a New York City subway platform has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Erika Menendez was arraigned Saturday night on a charge of murder as a hate crime, the Associated Press reported. Judge Gia Morris ordered that she be held without bail and be given a mental health exam, it said?
Menendez is charged in the death of Sunando Sen, who was crushed by a train in Queens on Thursday night
Menendez, who was seen muttering to herself before shoving a man onto subway tracks in front of a speeding train, said she did so because, "I hate Hindus and Muslims," prosecutors said on Saturday.
Menendez admitted to investigators that she pushed Sunando Sen, a 46-year-old Queens resident, on Thursday because of her hatred of Hindus and Muslims, a feeling that stems from Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Sen was born in India and ran a printing shop. He died Thursday night after being knocked onto the tracks. Police released security camera video showing a woman running from the station.
Police said that Menendez was recognized on the street in Brooklyn by a passer-by who called 911. Patrol officers found and arrested her.
In a statement, Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown?said that while in custody Menendez made incriminating statements, saying that she "pushed a Muslim" onto the tracks. Brown also said:
"The defendant is accused of committing what is every subway?commuter's worst nightmare - being suddenly and senselessly pushed into the path of an oncoming train.?The victim was allegedly shoved from behind and had no chance to defend himself. Beyond that, the?hateful remarks allegedly made by the defendant and which precipitated the defendant's actions can never?be tolerated by a civilized society."
The attack was the second time this month that someone was pushed to their death in a New York City subway station. A homeless man was arrested in early December and accused of shoving a man in front of a train in Times Square. He is awaiting trial, and claimed he acted in self-defense.
Further details on how police managed to identify Menendez were not immediately available.
A woman is reportedly in custody in connection with the death of a man who was struck by an oncoming NYC subway.
Investigators had been following up on tips from people who had seen the security video and were checking homeless shelters and psychiatric units in an attempt to identify the woman.
It was unclear whether Menendez had any connection to Sen. Witnesses told police the two hadn't interacted on the platform as they both waited for the train.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press and Reuters.
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NEW YORK (AP) ? Autonomy, the British business software company now owned by Hewlett-Packard Co., is facing a Justice Department investigation over improper accounting under previous management, according to HP.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission late Thursday, HP said Justice officials had informed the company on Nov. 21 that they were opening an investigation into the allegations, which HP said in November that it had uncovered after a senior Autonomy executive came forward.
HP also reiterated that it provided information to the SEC and the U.K. Serious Fraud Office related to "accounting improprieties, disclosure failures and misrepresentations at Autonomy." HP said it was cooperating with all three government agencies.
Justice officials had no comment.
HP, which bought Autonomy for $10 billion in 2011, took an $8.8 billion charge to reflect that the U.K. company isn't worth what it paid. HP says about $5 billion of that charge stemmed from improper accounting. HP also faces shareholders lawsuits related to the troubles at Autonomy.
Autonomy founder and former CEO Mike Lynch has said the allegations are false. He responded in a statement Thursday that HP had yet to provide a detailed calculation of that $5 billion or provide any explanation of the allegations. The statement was posted online at Forbes magazine's website.
The Autonomy mess has deepened a steep decline in HP's stock price, which has cut the Palo Alto, Calif., company's market value by nearly half this year. HP had already been struggling because its personal computer and printer businesses have been faltering as more people buy smartphones and tablet computers.
As a result of its alleged accounting practices, Autonomy appeared to be more profitable than it was and seemed to be growing its core software business faster than was actually the case. HP has said the moves were apparently designed to groom the company for an acquisition.
Once HP bought the company, Autonomy's reported revenue growth and profit margin quickly declined. Lynch continued to run the company as part of HP, but HP CEO Meg Whitman forced him out on May 23 because it was not living up to expectations. With Lynch gone, according to Whitman, a senior Autonomy executive volunteered information about the alleged accounting irregularities, prompting an internal investigation.
Among other things, Autonomy makes search engines that help companies find vital information stored across computer networks. Acquiring it was part of an attempt by HP to strengthen its portfolio of high-value products and services for corporations and government agencies.
HP's stock fell 27 cents, or 1.9 percent, to $13.77 in midday trading Friday.
NEW YORK --?An unknown illness, suspected of being a norovirus, has sickened 194 passengers and 11 crew members aboard the luxury cruise ship Queen Mary 2, causing vomiting and diarrhea, federal health officials said on Friday.
Earlier in the week, 189 passengers and 31 crew members on the Emerald Princess came down with the same symptoms.
The symptoms are those of norovirus, a contagious microorganism that can be acquired from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Norovirus causes an inflammation of the stomach or intestines called acute gastroenteritis, producing stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea, and is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States.
Each year, norovirus causes some 21 million illnesses, of which 70,000 require hospitalization. It kills about 800 people a year, the CDC says.
The Queen Mary 2, with 2,613 passengers and 1,255 crew members, is now docked in Saint Lucia in the Caribbean, according to ship owner Cunard Line, which is owned by Carnival Corp. The cruise left Brooklyn, New York, last Saturday and is due to return there next Thursday.
The CDC learned of the illnesses on the QM2 on Christmas Day on Tuesday, and of those on the Emerald Princess last Saturday. Vessels are required to notify the agency when 2 percent of those on board develop a gastrointestinal illness.
Although the microbial culprit remains unclear In both cases, another reason to suspect norovirus is that the pathogen "has affected a number of schools, hospitals, nursing homes and children's day care centers this winter" in the United Kingdom, Cunard said in a statement.
The UK's Health Protection Agency reports that norovirus activity in the country is 83 per cent higher than last year.
The QM2 sails regularly scheduled crossings between New York and Southampton, England, between April and late November, Cunard spokeswoman Jackie Chase said in an email. "In addition, many of our guests come from the UK."
The QM2's captain is advising passengers with gastrointestinal symptoms to report to the medical center, Chase said. Those sickened are asked to "isolate themselves in their cabin until non-contagious. They are also asked not to proceed ashore, and any shore excursion costs will be refunded. Room service is provided to affected passengers and every effort is made to make them as comfortable as possible."
Of the 194 QM2 passengers who had fallen sick, said Chase, all but 12 had recovered as of Friday.
'Norovirus?active on board' In a post on the message board cruisecritic.com on Wednesday, a woman who said her daughter was on the QM2 said she "just received a message from her indicating that the Norovirus is active on board."
On Thursday, someone reporting being on the ship posted that "the restaurants are still full. The Captain last night recommended that people take all of their meals in the full-service restaurants rather than the buffet, but the buffet remains open as of this morning. We've been kept informed daily of the persistent cases."
Another post said: "The crew are working like crazy to service all the guests. At lunch today I noticed the hand rails on the promenade deck were wiped three times in about 1 hour."
In response to the outbreak, the QM2 crew has increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, the CDC said, and is asking passengers and crew to report cases of illness and "encourage hand hygiene."
Medical personnel are also collecting stool specimens from ill passengers and crew, which a CDC lab will analyze to make a definitive diagnosis.
When the QM2 docks in Brooklyn, an officer from the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program and an epidemiologist will board, conduct an environmental health assessment "and evaluate the outbreak and response activities," the CDC said.
Two officers boarded the Emerald Princess, also owned by Carnival, when it arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Thursday and are conducting an environmental assessment.
The Vessel Sanitation Program has authority to inspect cruise ships that carry 13 or more passengers and call at U.S. ports. It gave the Queen Mary 2 a perfect 100 on its most recent inspection this past summer, but found a few minor infractions, including a lack of serving utensils with breakfast pastries at a buffet.
Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.
Attorney General Doug Gansler wants to remind parents that a new law goes into effect on Tuesday to protect children from ID theft.
The law allows parents and legal guardians to place a security freeze on their minor child?s credit records that would prevent identity thieves from opening credit accounts in the child?s name. ?In a statement issued earlier this week, Gansler explains:
A study published in 2011 by Carnegie Mellon University?s CyLab found more than 10 percent of Social Security numbers belonging to minors already have an active credit record, with 76 percent of the credit activity being fraudulent. About one in 10 victims who contact the Maryland Attorney General?s Identity Theft Unit are individuals who discover upon first seeking credit that someone had already opened a credit account using their name or Social Security number.
A child should not have a credit record unless someone has fraudulently opened a credit account in the child?s name. If the child has a credit record, the new law allows a parent to freeze the child?s credit record so that someone seeking to open new credit in the child?s name cannot access the credit report. If the child does not have a credit record, the parent may request that a credit reporting agency create a record that prohibits the agency from releasing information about the child to potential creditors. The new law similarly allows a guardian to place a freeze on the credit record of an individual under their care.
Parents or guardians may contact the three major credit reporting agencies to place a freeze:
Equifax: Submit a freeze request online on behalf of a minor at www.equifax.com, call 1-800-685-1111, or write to Equifax Security Freeze, P.O. Box 105788, Atlanta, GA 30348. The requestor must submit their complete name, address, copy of a Social Security Card, or an official copy of a birth certificate, or a copy of a driver?s license, or any other government-issued identification, or a copy of a utility bill that shows name and home address. The same information is required of the minor on whom the freeze is being requested. Other information may also be required.
Experian: Submit a freeze request online on behalf of a minor athttp://www.experian.com/consumer/help/states/md.html, or write to: Experian, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013
TransUnion: Submit a freeze request online on behalf of a minor athttp://www.transunion.com/personal-credit/credit-disputes/credit-freezes.page, call 888-909-8872 or write to TransUnion LLC, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834
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#1 ? niNja_pWn3d?
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Interests:..:: My kids - Music - Production - Promotion - 8bit - amen - Hax0r ::..
Posted Today, 07:49 AM
Definitely NOT audio but worth a discussion... Lately i've been into hidden networks. Had a laugh in TOR for a bit... I know it goes deeper in this world and I want to discover. Any experiences in other simmilar quests? What should one be studying and what should one avoid? Anyone up for a discussion on the matter? Public or private dont be afraid
_o0merZ
Youtube! Soundcloud!
"The magnitude of pleasure reaches its limit in the removal of all pain. When such pleasure is present, so long as it is uninterrupted, there is no pain either of body or of mind or of both together." -Epicurus
I'm glad we're finally having a serious discussion about the mental health of people with access to guns.
Let's start with Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke.
The guy who runs as a Democrat at election time but kow-tows to Republicans. Who wears cowboy hats and spurs on his boots, yet reprimands his deputies when they are "out of uniform". The guy who sees himself as a "leader" but uses the language and debate tactics of a nine year old. He declared himself as accountable to no one and files lawsuits because he thinks the rules don't apply to him. He is the "shepherd" to the "sheep" in Milwaukee County. Clarke brags about protecting the public, but arrests fewer people than the local college police department.
I've said it numerous times before, but Sheriff Clarke is not only an embarrassment to the residents of Milwaukee County and the office of Sheriff, he is a bully who's viewpoints on society are so far out on the fringe that his fitness to serve should seriously be questioned. The latest example is this screed on a local Tea Party website:
Shame on liberals for exploiting tragedy once again in our country and try to use tragedy as a reason to take our rights away. ?Liberals are shameful.
We have to resist with the ferociousness of a junk yard dog, any, any attempt by liberals to make us less free by chipping away at our constitutional freedoms.
All the left is interested in is having the government control every aspect of our lives. ?Calling for gun control is just another aspect of furthering their socialist agenda. All of these suggestions about the need for gun control are the mindset of sheep. ?Once the wolf is at the door, you?re helpless. ?Sure, run and hide from a sociopathic killer. ?See how far that gets you. ?You know where that ?ll get you? ?26 dead at Sandy Hook School.
You can read the entirety of his rant here. But the short version is: liberals, liberals, socialist, sheep and uzi's on every corner.
Clarke loves the limelight and part of me has always hoped that his ridiculous statements and positions over the years have been nothing more than a cry for attention.
But when you have a law enforcement officer acting out like this, it causes the same concerns about the mental health of the individual as it would if the writings were from a confused teenager looking to lash out against society for the perceived wrongs against him and exact some sort of sick payback.
While he'll get cheers from the predictable outlets for his rants, it's a serious cause for concern for the average resident of Milwaukee County.
All Critics (49) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (48) | Rotten (0)
A raw history, often cluttered and sometimes repetitive but, when strategies fail along with immune systems, deeply affecting.
Presents a valuable template for how grassroots activism can temper societal prejudice and challenge governmental indifference in the face of a mysterious and remorseless killer.
[A] powerful, messy and tremendously moving documentary ...
"How to Survive a Plague" captures a saddening, maddening era that seems like far too many lifetimes ago.
It can feel inchoate, dropping the viewer in the middle of events without much context, and it exacts an emotional toll. But its raw quality also makes it compelling viewing.
Plague isn't the history of a disease so much as the history of a movement, and a portrait of those who refused to suffer passively.
What making a difference is really all about!
A cinematically sophisticated documentary that actually finds a way to be an intelligent and admirable work of art in addition to its more overt sociological implications.
A brilliant blueprint on how to spark a revolution. The activists who were highlighted in this film are American heroes to us all - gay, straight, black, white, male or female.
Compelling, important and inspiring documentary about the fight against AIDS.
Beautifully inspiring and, obviously, also a great cautionary tale.
A riveting look at LGBT protesters during the AIDS crisis - and an object lesson that if the revolution is going to be televised, it's good to have the revolutionaries holding the cameras.
This is a moving documentary, as hopeful as it is tragic.
A serious, moving and sometimes astonishingly well-organized documentary about the history of AIDS activism.
The title doesn't necessarily convey this, but "How to Survive a Plague" is an inspiring and hopeful documentary.
[An] unflinching look at the activists' mistakes and acheivements, their regrets, their very solemn pride at a victory attained at so high a cost.
Ultimately, the story presented by the former reporter for Boston's defunct Gay Community News is one of hope.
At once a fascinating history and a compelling call to action.
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Satire is shaping the next generation of American citizensPublic release date: 19-Dec-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Matthew Swayne mls29@psu.edu 814-865-9481 Penn State
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Satire has always played an important role in democracy, but a current group of television satirists are more influential than ever with American citizens, particularly younger ones, according to a Penn State researcher.
Sophia McClennen, professor of international affairs and comparative literature, said that Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart, like Jonathan Swift and Benjamin Franklin before them, use satire and parody to poke fun at politics and society with the hope that the humor increases awareness and motivates change.
"What satire does is reveal the folly of the human condition and most, but not all, of satire has a political angle to it," said McClennen. "Satire is different from typical political humor because it demands critical reflection on the part of the audience, so the laughter isn't the end of the joke."
McClennen writes in her book, Colbert's America (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012), that Colbert's type of satire is playing an important role in American democracy because, in a media environment with a 24-hour news cycle that increasingly blends news and entertainment to attract viewers, young people are seeking more engaging sources of news and information.
Comedy Central's Colbert Report and Jon Stewart Show are not just popular entertainment shows with the younger generation, according to McClennen, they are also cited by younger viewers as important news sources. She said that the ability of these comedians to entertain, while prompting critical reflection is the key to raising awareness about political and social issues discussed on the shows.
"I think what's happening is, younger views are tuning into the Colbert Report, and then after the show they are going out and actively looking into the issues," said McClennen.
As an example of Colbert's ability to stir activism, she writes that he has instigated campaigns from the silly -- naming a Hungarian bridge after himself -- to the serious -- donating to Japanese tsunami relief -- that were embraced by his fans.
McClennen writes that Colbert's show averages more than a million viewers for each episode, and he has more than 1.9 million Twitter followers. In 2008, when
Colbert briefly ran for president, he had a million Facebook users sign up to back his campaign.
Colbert does a twist on satire by adding parody to his routine, McClennen said. The comedian portrays a conservative television commentator modeled on Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly.
"He has to be the thing he doesn't like, the guy he detests," said McClennen. "Colbert is essentially saying, 'you have been suckered into pundit culture, then I'm going to be the biggest pundit there is.'"
Colbert has been able to not only raise awareness, but change the dialogue at times, too. He coined terms like, "truthiness" to describe when people believe something without facts to support it and "wikiality" to describe the ability to edit out parts of reality that people do not like.
McClennen writes that several factors are increasing the importance of the Colbert Report and other shows that use political satire. The rise of fundamentalist religious groups, the increasing power of corporations in the media and a deep divide between political parties are harming the democratic process in the country, McClennen said.
"These are harming the democracy in a pretty direct way," she said.
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Satire is shaping the next generation of American citizensPublic release date: 19-Dec-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Matthew Swayne mls29@psu.edu 814-865-9481 Penn State
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Satire has always played an important role in democracy, but a current group of television satirists are more influential than ever with American citizens, particularly younger ones, according to a Penn State researcher.
Sophia McClennen, professor of international affairs and comparative literature, said that Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart, like Jonathan Swift and Benjamin Franklin before them, use satire and parody to poke fun at politics and society with the hope that the humor increases awareness and motivates change.
"What satire does is reveal the folly of the human condition and most, but not all, of satire has a political angle to it," said McClennen. "Satire is different from typical political humor because it demands critical reflection on the part of the audience, so the laughter isn't the end of the joke."
McClennen writes in her book, Colbert's America (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012), that Colbert's type of satire is playing an important role in American democracy because, in a media environment with a 24-hour news cycle that increasingly blends news and entertainment to attract viewers, young people are seeking more engaging sources of news and information.
Comedy Central's Colbert Report and Jon Stewart Show are not just popular entertainment shows with the younger generation, according to McClennen, they are also cited by younger viewers as important news sources. She said that the ability of these comedians to entertain, while prompting critical reflection is the key to raising awareness about political and social issues discussed on the shows.
"I think what's happening is, younger views are tuning into the Colbert Report, and then after the show they are going out and actively looking into the issues," said McClennen.
As an example of Colbert's ability to stir activism, she writes that he has instigated campaigns from the silly -- naming a Hungarian bridge after himself -- to the serious -- donating to Japanese tsunami relief -- that were embraced by his fans.
McClennen writes that Colbert's show averages more than a million viewers for each episode, and he has more than 1.9 million Twitter followers. In 2008, when
Colbert briefly ran for president, he had a million Facebook users sign up to back his campaign.
Colbert does a twist on satire by adding parody to his routine, McClennen said. The comedian portrays a conservative television commentator modeled on Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly.
"He has to be the thing he doesn't like, the guy he detests," said McClennen. "Colbert is essentially saying, 'you have been suckered into pundit culture, then I'm going to be the biggest pundit there is.'"
Colbert has been able to not only raise awareness, but change the dialogue at times, too. He coined terms like, "truthiness" to describe when people believe something without facts to support it and "wikiality" to describe the ability to edit out parts of reality that people do not like.
McClennen writes that several factors are increasing the importance of the Colbert Report and other shows that use political satire. The rise of fundamentalist religious groups, the increasing power of corporations in the media and a deep divide between political parties are harming the democratic process in the country, McClennen said.
"These are harming the democracy in a pretty direct way," she said.
###
[ | 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.
Sprint today put out a nice little recap of its network progress in 2012, the year we finally saw it start to roll out its LTE network (and start to stick a fork in its old Wimax line).
The big strokes: 49 markets are now live, with a total of 150 "in the coming months." Some 70 markets have seen improved 3G service. You should see better signal strength for phone calls and data, and fewer dropped calls. Voice quality has improved. And data speeds are faster. Of course, you have to be in one of those improved markets, but progress comes one step at a time, we suppose.
But the more important part, we suppose, is that Sprint's teasing upcoming LTE roll-outs. We've got that full list after the break.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) ? With his wife, Juli, looking on at the postgame press conference and his young children close by, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim's final remarks were not about his milestone 900th career victory.
Instead, he was thinking about two 6-year-old boys who were buried Monday, victims along with 18 other children and six adults in a shooting massacre last week at an elementary school in Connecticut.
"If we cannot get the people who represent us to do something about firearms, we are a sad, sad society," Boeheim said Monday night. "If one person in this world, the NRA president, anybody, can tell me why we need assault weapons with 30 shots ? this is our fault if we don't go out there and do something about this. If we can't get this thing done, I don't know what kind of country we have."
It was a sobering end to what was a memorable evening for Syracuse basketball. The third-ranked Orange's 72-68 victory over Detroit in the Gotham Classic made Boeheim just the third Division I men's coach to reach 900 wins.
Boeheim, 68 and in his 37th year at his alma mater, is 900-304 and joined an elite fraternity. Mike Krzyzewski (936) and Bob Knight (902) are the only other men's Division I coaches to win that many games.
"To me, it's just a number," said Boeheim, whose first victory was against Harvard in 1976. "If I get 900, have I got to get more? That's why maybe it's just not that important to me because to me it's just a number, and the only number that matters is how this team does."
So far, it's done OK.
James Southerland had 22 points for Syracuse (10-0), which increased its home winning streak to 30 games, longest in the nation. Detroit (6-5), which lost 77-74 at St. John's in the second game of the season and 74-61 at Pitt earlier this month, had its four-game winning streak snapped.
Dave Bing, Boeheim's college roommate, teammate and fellow Hall of Famer, and Roosevelt Bouie, a star on Boeheim's first team in 1976-77, were in the Carrier Dome crowd of 17,902.
Bing was standing tall in the locker room after the game.
"Nobody would have thought when we came here 50 years ago that either one of us would have had the kind of success we've had," said Bing, today the mayor of Detroit. "I'm so pleased and proud of him because he stuck with it. He's proven that he's one of the best coaches ever in college basketball, and he'll be No. 2 shortly."
After a victory that nearly was short-circuited, Boeheim was presented a jersey encased in glass with 900 emblazoned on it.
"I'm happy. I've stayed around long enough. I was a little nervous," Boeheim said at center court. "I'm proud to be here. To win this game is more pressure than I've felt in a long time. I wasn't thinking about losing until the end. That wouldn't have been a good thing to happen, but it very well could have."
Indeed.
Midway through the second half with Syracuse dominating, fans were given placards featuring cardboard cutouts of Boeheim's face with 900 wins printed on the back to wave in celebration. But when the public address announcer in the Carrier Dome invited fans to stick around for the postgame ceremony, the Titans roared back.
Juwan Howard Jr., who finished with 18 points, scored 14 over the last 6 minutes to key a 16-0 run, his two free throws pulling Detroit within 67-63 with 55.1 seconds left after the Titans had trailed by 20 with 6:09 to play.
"You know what, I didn't hear it, but the players probably heard because they sure came alive," Detroit coach Ray McCallum said. "This is a big stage. Guys sitting around the hotel watching television getting ready to play the No. 3 team in the country and they're talking about going for 900 wins, coach Boeheim. That's a lot for a young man to digest."
Michael Carter-Williams hit three of four free throws in the final seconds to secure the win.
"Michael made big-time free throws you've got to make. If he misses a couple, it's a new game. That was the difference," Boeheim said. "We have not been in that situation. Hopefully, we'll learn from that."
Carter-Williams finished with 10 assists and 12 points, his sixth straight double-double.
"It was great to be part of this," Carter-Williams said. "It's a part of history."
Doug Anderson scored 18 points and Nick Minnerath had 13 for Detroit. Ray McCallum Jr., the coach's son and Detroit's leading scorer at 19.4 points per game, finished with nine, while Jason Calliste had seven.
Southerland scored a career-high 35 points, matching a school record with nine 3-pointers, in a win at Arkansas in late November and, after an 0-for-10 slump over three games, found his range again Saturday night with three 3s in a win over Canisius. He finished 5 of 8 from behind the arc against the Titans.
One of the keys to breaking Syracuse's 2-3 zone is hitting the long ball, and Detroit struck out in the first half. The Titans were 0 for 10 and the lone 3 they did make ? by McCallum with just over 6 minutes left ? was negated by a shot-clock violation.
Detroit could only lament what might have been if a couple had gone in.
"We never gave up. That's a tribute to our team," Howard said. "We had the right attitude. We played a tough opponent. You usually don't want a moral victory, but we can take some positives from this game."
Syracuse plays again Saturday against Temple in Madison Square Garden, and the Orange faithful are likely to be out in numbers as they usually are when the team plays there.
Boeheim was effusive in praise of the support the team has received during his long tenure. Syracuse has had 71 crowds of over 30,000 since the Carrier Dome opened in 1980 and holds the NCAA on-campus record of 34,616, set nearly three years ago against Villanova.
"The support of fans cannot be overestimated," he said. "You have to have that kind of support in your building to bring recruits in, to help you play better. We've had a tremendous loyal fan base. That's why I always felt this was a great place to coach and why I never really thought about going anywhere else. The support from the fans is the No. 1 thing you have to have."
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran plans to hold military drills in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas shipping route, by next March, Iranian media quoted a commander from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as saying on Monday.
IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi told reporters on Monday that the drill would be held by the end of the current Iranian year, which ends on March 20, but gave no details on timing or what the exercise would involve.
"By the end of the (Iranian) year we will hold an exercise in the Strait of Hormuz and will announce the exact time soon," Fadavi said, according to Iranian student news agency ISNA.
Iranian officials have often said that Iran could block the strait - through which 40 percent of the world's sea-borne oil exports pass - if it comes under military attack over its disputed nuclear program.
A heavy Western naval presence in the Gulf is a big impediment to any attempt to block the waterway but both sides have staged maneuvers in the area this year to demonstrate their military capabilities.
Iranian threats to block Hormuz helped put upward pressure on oil prices in early 2012, softening the blow to Iranian government revenues dealt by a severe reduction in crude export volumes caused by punitive Western sanctions.
No other countries have threatened to bar the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, but Iranian military leaders say their presence helps ensure the safe passage of millions of barrels a day of oil out of the Gulf.
"The presence of the Islamic Republic in the Strait of Hormuz as the Persian Gulf's number one power guarantees the security of oil exports to the world," Brigadier General Yahya Rahim-Safavi was quoted by Iran's Press TV as saying.
"We guarantee the oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz on the condition that no military threat is issued against our country because Asia's southeastern countries direly need the region's oil."
Israel has threatened military action against Iran, and the United States has not ruled it out, unless their arch-adversary abandons nuclear activities which the West suspects are intended to develop atomic bomb know-how.
The Islamic Republic says it is enriching uranium for peaceful energy purposes only.
(Reporting by Daniel Fineren and Yeganeh Torbati; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
Yesterday, 12:12 AM
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The guy who runs as a Democrat at election time but kow-tows to Republicans. Who wears cowboy hats and spurs on his boots, yet reprimands his deputies when they are "out of uniform". The guy who sees himself as a "leader" but uses the language and debate tactics of a nine year old. He declared himself as accountable to no one and files lawsuits because he thinks the rules don't apply to him. He is the "shepherd" to the "sheep" in Milwaukee County. Clarke brags about protecting the public, but arrests fewer people than the local college police department.
12-20-12, 07:30 AM
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Public release date: 19-Dec-2012
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