Instant

Chris Bosh return in Game

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:37:00 +0000

"In situations like this you can only focus on one game at a time, obviously," Bosh said. "We know what we have to do. It's pretty simple. No reason to really dwell on it and think about it a lot. We have to go to Boston and win, and we have to do whatever it takes to get that done."

James finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds for Miami, though he went 8 minutes without scoring in the final quarter. Dwyane Wade scored 27 for the Heat, who got no more than nine from anyone else.

Bosh played just over 14 minutes in his return after missing nine games with a lower abdominal strain. He scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds, six of them offensive, on 3 for 8 shooting.

"I didn't see a great deal of rust," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "I think his energy, everything, was good."

Bosh checked in with 5:06 remaining in the opening quarter, the first minutes for the All-Star forward since he got hurt in Game 1 of Miami's second-round series against Indiana.

The Heat decided before the game that Bosh would play off the bench, something he had done only 12 times in his career, all those during his rookie season with the Toronto Raptors. Bosh got a loud ovation when his face was shown on the overhead scoreboard during the national anthem, and the crowd stood and roared when he walked to the scorer's table to check into the game.

Bosh began light on-court workouts about a week ago and participated with teammates in Miami's shootaround on Tuesday morning. It took one more workout, about 90 minutes before the game, to convince Spoelstra and the Heat training staff that Bosh was ready.

Spoelstra said he wasn't worried about the notion that weaving Bosh back into the rotation would be problematic, even with the stakes so high. And Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he didn't think Miami would struggle with that, either.

Rivers said if the Celtics had a situation where some of his key players, like Pierce, Garnett, Ray Allen or Rajon Rondo, had missed time but could play in a Game 5 of a tied-up playoff series, it'd be an easy call.

"I would do it. I think I would always do it," Rivers said. "I mean, listen, if Kevin, Paul, Ray, Rondo were out and they could play tonight and they hadn't played, I'd play 'em. I wouldn't even hesitate. I don't think really coaches hesitate on that. And number one, Bosh hasn't been out that long. It's not like he's been out two months and he's just coming back. He's missed, what, seven, eight games, nine games? That's not that long."

Bosh's return came on a difficult day for his family. Miami Beach police said a masseuse collapsed at Bosh's home and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital on Monday night. Police did not find any signs of foul play, and Bosh and his wife Adrienne Bosh released a statement through the team expressing sadness for the masseuse's family.

"Last evening, a massage therapist that we have used for some time, arrived at our home to provide massage therapy," read the statement. "Shortly after she arrived, she fainted and lost consciousness. We called 911 and emergency personnel arrived at our home shortly thereafter. They took her to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she passed away. Our hearts go out to her family. We are very sorry for their loss."

When the Boston Celtics last left Miami

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:32:00 +0000

When the Boston Celtics last left Miami, they were on the ropes. Down 2-0 in the Eastern Conference finals. Unable to solve LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. On the cusp of being ousted by the Heat for a second straight season.

Three games and three wins later, the plot could not be more different as they sauntered out of Miami this time.

And for one of sports' most storied franchises, yet another trip to the NBA finals might be looming.

Kevin Garnett finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds, Paul Pierce scored 19 — including a huge 3-pointer over James' outstretched arm with 52.9 seconds left — and the Celtics beat the Heat 94-90 on Tuesday night, stealing home-court advantage and taking a 3-2 lead in the East finals that now shift to Boston for Game 6 on Thursday night.

"This is like a heavyweight bout," Garnett said.

If so, it's the Celtics who have fought their way off the ropes.

They trailed by 13 in the second quarter, by nine in the third, by six with 6 minutes left to play. And every time, they answered — a 22-11 run to close the half, a 15-1 run to end the third and a 22-12 run to end the game. A trio of comebacks, a trio of wins, and a chance to oust Miami's Big Three one round earlier than the Heat ever imagined.

"We've done nothing," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "We're playing a heck of a basketball team. So just because we're going to Boston, I told them, we have to play. They're not going to give it to us. We have to go get it."

Miami have been Failed

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:29:00 +0000

And judging by the voice, this was a kid (or an adult with a very child-like voice) displaying his continued belief that Miami’s superstars and supporting cast can still rally past the surging Boston Celtics to reach a second straight NBA Finals. But perhaps the fan should have chosen his words a bit more carefully.

“Good job, good effort!” were the repeated words of encouragement.

But on a night in which the Heat shot just 39 percent, committed 15 turnovers and were man-handled over the middle two quarters, Miami failed to get the job done and the effort wasn’t where it needed to be.

Even more troubling was Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra’s awkward plea during the post-game press conference.

James led the Heat yet again with 30 points and 13 rebounds, but he scored only two of those in the final eight minutes of the game. Wade scored 14 of his 29 points in the final frame, but he also committed a pair of key turnovers down the stretch.

Now the Heat head back up to Boston with one more loss separating them from another offseason full of soul-searching and likely a coaching search, too. If the team James famously said would pile up at least seven championships can’t beat the aging Celtics in a seven-game series, what’s the solution for the NBA’s perennial underachievers?

Amanda Bynes Desire Obama to get her Out for.......

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:26:00 +0000

Because he doesn't have enough to do as leader of the free world, actress Amanda Bynes would like President Obama to step in and rescue her from DUI charges.

The actress was arrested in Los Angeles in the early morning hours of April 6 on suspicion of misdemeanor driving under the influence after reportedly getting into a minor accident with a Los Angeles Police Department officer.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department report indicates that Bynes,

who was last featured (quite wonderfully, it's worth noting) in Emma Stone's hit 2010 comedy "Easy A," was attempting to pass a police car as it prepared to make a right turn at around 3 a.m. in West Hollywood when her black BMW collided with the right rear panel of the police cruiser, causing minor damage to both vehicles.

On May 27 she tweeted, "I can't help but laugh at all of you writing fake stories about me. I was not in any hit and runs. I don't drink so the DUI is false."

Victory for Worker Freedom

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:22:00 +0000

Victor: Gov Scott Walker celebrates his recall win during a victory party after he defeated Democratic challenger Tom Barrett in the special recall election

Loss: Walker defeated Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and the union leaders who rallied for months against his agenda

Campaign: Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker greets supporters

The next transit is after 105 years that is running..........still

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:18:00 +0000

Filtering the sun’s light to a minuscule fraction of its true power allowed sky-gazers around the world to watch a silhouetted Venus travel across Earth’s closest star, an extremely rare spectacle that served as a reminder of how tiny our planet really is.

After all, the next transit is 105 years away — likely beyond all of our lifetimes but just another dinky speck in the timeline of the universe.

“I’m sad to see Venus go,” electrical engineer Andrew Cooper of the W.M. Keck Observatory told viewers watching a webcast of the transit’s final moments as seen from the nearly 14,000-foot summit of Mauna Kea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island.

From Maui to Mumbai, Mexico to Norway, much of the world watched the 6-hour, 40-minute celestial showcase through special telescopes, live streams on the Internet or with the naked eye through cheap cardboard glasses.

“If you can see the mole on Cindy Crawford’s face, you can see Venus,” Van Webster, a member of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, told those who stopped by his telescope for a peek on Mount Hollywood.

For astronomers, the transit wasn’t just a rare planetary spectacle. It was also one of those events they hoped would spark curiosity about the universe and our place in it.

That Was Our Best Said "paul pierce"

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:14:00 +0000

With the Boston Celtics holding on a to a 1-point lead late in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals last night, Paul Pierce pulled up for a gutsy (if questionable) three-pointer with LeBron James closing in on him. It splashed through the hoop, and catapulted the Celtics into the series lead.

Pierce said afterward that he never had any doubts. Per the Boston Herald: “Was Pierce thinking 3 the whole time? ‘It’s kind of hard to say in those situations,’ he said. ‘Things are going so fast.

You kind of play on instincts.’ But … ‘I saw him back up,’ Pierce said, referring to LeBron’s Welcome Wagon.

‘He gave me a step. I knew it was within my range. The shot clock was winding down …’ So he took the shot. Up went LeBron’s arm. Down went the ball, into the basket. ‘That’s just being in those moments so many times,’ Pierce said. ‘And understanding what your team needs, and being able to concentrate and get the best shot for us. I thought that was our best shot. Once I saw him back up, then I was able to knock it down.

The Boy on the Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:10:00 +0000

Despite the book’s near-universal praise for its candor and humor, Friedenberg does not enjoy recounting his war stories.
“He still gets nightmares, and he think back to the men he couldn’t save,” Friedenberg’s wife, Phyllis, told FoxNews.com.

“I have scars on my body, and scars in my head as well,” he said. “They will never heal.”
Other soldiers interviewed by FoxNews.com who took part in the D-Day invasion, including Rufus Broadaway, a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, recall the day in a much different light.
“I had forgotten that [today] is D-Day,” Broadaway told FoxNews.com when reached in Gainesville, Fla. “We don’t have any plans but to have our flag on our lawn.”

Sixty-eight years ago today, Broadaway leaped from his "hit" plane from the lowest altitude he had ever jumped -- maybe 300 feet, he said -- and landed on an apple tree.

“The roadway was covered with debris, a lot of dead bodies, injured soldiers, and soldiers so petrified that they couldn’t even move,” Broadaway said. “The air was full of shots and shells. But my captain had us going along. It was a miracle that we got across that causeway. By that time, the Germans had retreated.
“I wouldn’t take anything back,” Broadaway continued. “I will forever be proud of it and hold that experience close. I’m so thankful that I was a part of it.”

Scout Willis Caught by polish in New York City

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:04:00 +0000

An officer saw Willis, who's made her mark in the city singing with her band, drinking an 8-ounce Pakistani beer just before 7 p.m. Monday, police confirm.

After flashing the officer a New York ID card with the name "Katherine Kelly," according to the Daily News report, the officer continued questioning Willis.

"My name is Scout Willis," she reportedly said when she pulled out her actual California ID, according to the criminal complaint. "The first ID isn't mine. My friend gave it to me. I don't know Katherine Kelly."

This isn't the first time the celebrity daughter has made an edgy impression.

In March, Willis was outed as one of the voices behind a Twitter feed stocked with thoughts about sex, drugs, cigarettes and partying. However, a rep called the Twitter feed an attempt to test a theory and "illustrate how social media is utilized" as part of a college project.

Sheryl Crow has Suffered by Brain Tumor

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:59:00 +0000

Sheryl Crow revealed that she has a benign brain tumor, but her rep says it's nothing to be alarmed about.

The 50-year-old told an audience about her condition at a recent concert, but her representative, Christine Wolff, said it's very common.

The tumor is a meningioma, and it's typically benign and develops from the protective linings of the brain and spinal cord

Wolff said that Crow is doing great and is healthy and happy.

Crow battled breast cancer several years back. She's currently on a nationwide tour.

Airtime update and bunny toast!

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:55:00 +0000

Also, "moot" aka Christopher Poole -- the guy who founded 4chan -- tweets that he's already been banned.

LinkedIn is having a bad couple of days -- right after it was revealed its iOS app collects meeting notes, 6.5 million encrypted passwords were posted to a Russian hacker site.

Apple and Google are known to fight on occasion, so we shouldn't be surprised that the two are having a little tiff over maps right now. But let's review what's going on.

You might want to think twice about that Android app you're about to download. Even if Google's built-in malware scanner gave it a green light, there's still a chance it could be a fake.

The biggest video game show of the year has just barely gotten under way and yet ... so much has already happened. Here are five games getting big buzz straight out of the gate.

An anonymous tipster claims to have hacked into Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's private email account.

Here's how a bunch of Facebook friends rescue 'Miracle' the dog ... who had a plastic container stuck on here head, among other miseries.

UMass panel recommends 4.9 percent tuition hike

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:51:00 +0000

Caret said that after briefing Reville on his tuition plan last week Reville initially “indicated his support.” In a Tuesday night phone interview, Caret said, “I felt comfortable until 11 o’clock this morning when he called back.”

Attempts to reach Reville on Tuesday night were unsuccessful. Patrick’s letter made clear that the governor had “directed” Reville to vote against the proposal.

The increase would raise tuition and fees by 4.9 percent, generating an additional $25 million in revenue that would go toward previously negotiated contract increases. University officials asserted the increase was within national norms. The increase would raise the average in-state cost of attending UMass from $11,901 to $12,481.

In a phone interview, Board of Trustees Chairman James J. Karam asserted that UMass had been efficient while engaged in new statewide construction that will be worth $500 million. The past decade’s construction campaign has cost $2.4 billion. Since 2009, the university’s budget from the state has dropped $147 million from $565 million to $418 million.

According to the recommended vote, the board would hold its tuition and fees to $12,481 through spring of 2015 if the state increased its funding back up to 50 percent of the university’s education costs.

“I think it’s a fair proposition,” said Karam.

The 50-50 split was last achieved in fiscal 2009. Since then, the share of costs paid by students and families has risen to 55 percent. A university spokesman said a $100 million investment would effectuate the even split.

The only other voting student member of the Board of Trustees agreed. Peter Schock, a 23-year-old finance major at UMass Dartmouth, said that the added burden to students was a worthwhile trade to maintain the school’s academic excellence.

“We need that money to provide a top-ranked public research institute,” said Schock, who graduated this year but said he spoke with other students who said they agreed with the need.

Schock, who grew up in Norwood and has a civic engagement minor, said that while attending college he worked at a finance firm in Boston and a bar in Chatham to help pay for college. Schock’s parents, a teacher and an electrician, helped out as well, he said.

Its Too tough to Smoke in California

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:44:00 +0000

It could be days before the race’s final outcome can be determined, the wire service suggested.
The current cigarette tax in the state is 87 cents, below the national average of $1.46, according to ABC. The proposed $1-per-pack tax would raise $735 million per year if implemented, but California has not raised taxes since 2000.

A crucial aspect of the vote’s tight showing is the millions of dollars that the tobacco industry poured into the race. Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds have spent close to $46 million in ads opposing the hike, reports the news network.

On the other hand, the AP reported that a coalition of anti-smoking groups raised about $18 million to advocate on behalf of the tax. Most prominently, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave half a million dollars to the campaign.

Armstrong, the cycling great who is a survivor of testicular cancer, also strongly backed the tax.
California’s smoking rate stands at 12.1 percent.

Amber Portwood gets 5 years jail

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:40:00 +0000

An Indiana woman featured on MTV’s reality show Teen Mom has been sentenced to five years in prison after opting out of a drug-treatment program. Amber Portwood pleaded guilty in February to felony possession of a controlled substance and admitted violating her probation.

The 22-year-old avoided prison by entering a drug rehabilitation program. But on Tuesday, after she quit the program, a Madison County judge sentenced her to the five-year term she originally faced.

Prosecutor Rodney Cummings tells The Indianapolis Star that Portwood said she just couldn’t do it and “wanted out of the program.” Her attorney didn’t return messages seeking comment.

Portwood received probation in 2010, after pleading guilty to domestic battery charges stemming from an incident with her now 3-year-old daughter’s father that appeared on the MTV show.

Who is Scott Walker Defeats Tom Barrett In Wisconsin Recall Election actually

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:37:00 +0000

Despite all the gnashing of teeth over Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s survival of a recall attempt, the broader national message isn’t the death of democracy. On the contrary, it’s that the American people are willing to make tough decisions to get their public finances under control.

Democracy is not at stake because of Tuesday night’s vote, but because of efforts to suppress the vote in states across the country. While Republicans celebrate Scott Walker’s victory, they should be ashamed of and should oppose policies which act to suppress the vote in states across the country.

Wisconsin's Walker makes History

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:32:00 +0000

The election in politically divided Wisconsin has been seen as a barometer of the U.S. political climate going into November's presidential election.

The outcome is the latest evidence of a growing partisan climate in American politics that values confrontation over compromise and has led to gridlock in Washington.

It also suggests that some voters will support a politician who seeks to balance the government budget by cutting spending and reducing pensions and benefits for government workers rather than raising taxes.

Some voters in Wisconsin said it was only fair that union workers pay more pensions and health insurance when most private sector workers have no pensions at all.

Kent Redfield, a political analyst at the University of Illinois at Springfield, said the outcome could demoralize Democrats and labor unions. "That could have an effect on turnout in the fall," he said.

Ahead of the recall election, organized labor and conservatives mounted intense get-out-the-vote drives. Grassroots activists in the conservative Tea Party played a major role in those efforts on the right.

"This is a huge win for the Tea Party," said Matt Batzel, Wisconsin state director of national conservative group American Majority Action, which worked with local activists. "Time after time they have answered the call to defend Scott Walker," he said of the group that seeks deep cuts in U.S. government spending.

Voter turnout was high in the state where families were at odds and neighbors were not speaking to each over Walker's push to curtail collective bargaining by public sector workers.

The recall election led to huge campaign spending in the Midwestern Rust Belt state, with some estimates that more than $60 million was raised. So-called Super PACs, the independent groups that are pouring money into the U.S. presidential campaign, were a major force in Wisconsin.

This was just the third recall election of a governor in U.S. history and it follows weeks of vociferous protests by demonstrators who occupied the state Capitol in Madison as Walker and fellow Republican lawmakers pushed through the union curbs in March 2011.

The law forced most state workers, including teachers, to pay more for health insurance and pensions, limited their pay raises, made payment of union dues voluntary and forced unions to be recertified every year.

Democrats and unions gathered nearly 1 million signatures to force the recall election.

Harley Shaiken, a labor professor at the University of California Berkeley, cautioned that the Wisconsin result did not mean there would be a wholesale assault on unions nationwide.

"This is clearly a victory for Walker, but it's been a very costly and disruptive victory," he said. "Some legislators (in other states) will try to go down the same path but they may find it very expensive to do so."

Despite the victory, Walker has not emerged completely unscathed. He still faces an investigation into alleged corruption during his time as Milwaukee County executive before he became governor.

Walker opponents also forced recall elections for Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and four Republican state senators who had voted for the labor union restrictions.

Kleefisch and three of the four Senate Republicans were victorious. In the fourth race, the Democrat was ahead by about 800 votes with all of the results counted, but the Republican had not conceded.

If the Democrat is certified the winner, Walker would face a Democratic majority in the state Senate, which could frustrate his agenda in the future.

CTIA Wireless trade show kicks off in New Orleans

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:51:00 +0000

CTIA Wireless, the U.S. cellphone phone industry's annual trade show that starts Tuesday, is drawing heavy participation not just from the cellphone industry, but from MasterCard, Visa, and other companies in the business of moving money around.

At a pre-show event Monday in New Orleans, MasterCard unveiled a suite of services to enable "mobile wallets," secure applications that run on phones and can hold virtual payment cards, transit tickets, coupons and other valuable.

The credit-card companies are hoping to stake a claim in what the industry expects to be a world where cellphones take over some of the function of regular wallets. A handful of phones can already be used on payment terminals in drugstores and fast-food restaurants, but wide adoption is probably still years away.

Gary Flood, president of global products and solutions at MasterCard, speaks Tuesday, and is followed by John Partridge, the president of Visa, on Wednesday.

In pre-show news, T-Mobile USA announced Tuesday morning that Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks will supply the network equipment for its new "4G LTE" network, a $4 billion project. On Monday, AT&T Inc. announced a big push into home security and automation. It will sell installation and services nationwide through its stores.

Samsung Electronics Co. will be at the show, likely showing off samples of the Galaxy S III, its new flagship smartphone. It was unveiled last week at an event in London, and hits European shelves at the end of the month. The Galaxy line, which combines big touch screens with light weight has proven to be a rare successful competitor to Apple Inc.'s iPhone.

Giroux suspension reaction

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:48:00 +0000

Patrick Kane makes Deadspin again for being a rich, young athlete that's now in his offseason and allegedly partying with the locals in Wisconsin. Ah, but here's the most interesting part,via 'joeythejuniorreporter' on Tumblr — is it possible Kane is wearing a T-shirt that honors his Vancouver limo adventure while he's partying on Cinco de Mayo? Because if so, then the competition is over, and Patrick Kane is our favorite hockey player of all time ever.

Speaking of partying, Brian Burke defends Ryan Getzlaf after he was accused of getting rowdy at 3 a.m. at a Helsinki bar: "Getzy was not intoxicated and was not with a woman. We had a brief and pleasant conversation and then I headed to the airport. I don't know what happened early that night. I know what happened at 4:30 a.m. or so." Also, we're in need of a No. 1 center …

Travis Hair on a very big day for the Phoenix Coyotes: "There is also talk of the Goldwater Institute having something to say, but if the deal is simply the City paying the management fee there isn't much for them to argue about. The only reason they got involved in the previous deal with Matthew Hulsizer was that they felt the city backing the bonds to pay for the purchase was a violation of the gift clause along the structure of the parking fees and how that money was distributed. In this deal it appears that there is only the management fee which should be easy to document how other cities pay for those services on their own buildings."

Alex Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn are back for the Nashville Predators in Game 5. Now, if they have a monster offensive game, who gets to have the "told ya so" — the players benched or the coach that benched them?

Low ratings for the Kings' clincher, via Lepore: "The Kings' 3-1 victory over the Blues drew a 1.0 overnight rating on Sunday afternoon. While there was no comparable post-season game over the past few years, the number is still the lowest for a Stanley Cup Playoff game on NBC since the opening round in 2009 (WSH/NYR Game 6, 4/26/09). It is tied for the second-lowest playoff overnight ever on NBC. The Blues and Kings had a combined one appearance on NBC since 2007 before yesterday."

Meek Mill Returns

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:45:00 +0000

Mixtape Daily Main Pick
Headliners: Meek Mill And DJ Drama
Representing: Philadelphia, PA
Mixtape: Dream Chasers 2

Real Spit: Hard to imagine that anyone is still sleeping on Meek Mill these days, but don't think for a second that all his rap popularity came overnight. Meek made his name battling on the streets of his native Philadelphia, proved his in-studio worth with an impressive string of mixtapes, then Rick Ross came knocking in 2011, Maybach Music deal in hand. Some would say Meek Mill is living his dream, but if you let the Philly flame-spitter tell it, he's still chasing it.

On Monday (May 7), Meek dropped Dream Chasers 2, the follow-up to last year's critically acclaimed mixtape. "My city lacks dream chasers," Meek Milly told Mixtape Daily. "It's motivational, inspiring, my story, but this time, I'm just more loose with it. I've been seeing more things, been around the world a little bit more."

Though the MMG young gun has grown as an MC, the music on DC2 is just as edgy as its predecessor. On the tape's intro, Meek sets an aggressive tone, spitting, "I got 30 racks in my pocket, I keep 30 shots in my clip/ I get 30 racks for my verses, y'all ain't gettin' paper like this."

On the aggressively paced "Flexing," Meek once again links with "I'ma Boss" producer Jahlil Beats, and on "Everyday," he rides with his MMG boss Rick Ross over a menacing sound bed. While hard-granite rap is his strong point, Milly is no one-trick pony; he does venture out of the streets from time to time. For "Ready or Not," producer All Star conjures a beat based off the popular 1996 Fugees song of the same name. The subdued instrumental allows the young MC the space to get introspective. "It's a dark cloud over me, money took control of me/ I'm barely getting time to see my son and that sh-- hurtin' me/ Baby mama trippin', I tell her to work with me/ I'm on probation, still strapped, 'cause n---as wanna murder me."

"Use to Be" shows even more vulnerability. Over what sounds like a muted heartbeat with soft piano keys laid atop, the promising rap product opens up even more about his demons. "When I was young, I started plannin' it out/ My daddy got killed, I was the man of the house/ By the age of 16, man them hammers was out/ So when n---as tried to hit me, I'm just handin' 'em out."

"I'm just giving everybody my view of how I'm living and relating to other people's stories and bringing the part of the game that I need to bring to the game," Meek said of his intentions when recording the tape.

On Dream Chasers 2, Meek Mill surely serves his underground base but proves that he has a knack for making big records as well. It's a safe bet that "Amen" featuring Drake and Jeremih will become a radio mainstay at least until August 28, when he drops his debut album, Dreams and Nightmares. Still, there is no one record that can define Meek's latest work, and even if he's accomplished some of his goals, we're quite confident he'd just dream up a few more.

Amendment One, North Carolina Gay Marriage Ban, Faces Vote

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:42:00 +0000

Raleigh, N.C., May 8 (Reuters) - North Carolina voters could deal a blow to efforts across the country to expand gay marriage rights if they approve a state constitutional amendment on Tuesday to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions.

The state is the only one in the Southeast without such a constitutional prohibition, though same-sex marriage is already outlawed by statute.

The amendment is being decided amid heightened rhetoric about gay marriage from officials in the Obama administration. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Sunday he was "absolutely comfortable" with allowing same-sex couples to wed, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan sai d gay marriage should be legal.

President Barack Obama has said he favors civil unions but has stopped short of supporting gay marriage.

Supporters of the proposed amendment in North Carolina, a swing state in the Nov. 6 presidential election, say it would preserve the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman and make laws forbidding gay marriage harder to repeal.

Opponents say a ban would jeopardize health insurance benefits for unmarried gay and heterosexual couples and signal that the state is unfriendly to a diverse workforce.

Former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, recorded a call just ahead of the vote urging North Carolinians to reject the proposed amendment.

"If it passes, it won't change North Carolina's law on marriage," he said in a message sponsored by the Coalition to Protect North Carolina Families. "What it will change is North Carolina's ability to keep good businesses, attract new jobs and attract and keep talented entrepreneurs."

A survey of 1,026 likely Democratic and Republican primary voters showed North Carolinians look poised to pass the amendment.

Raleigh-based Public Policy Polling found 55 percent of those questioned on May 5-6 supported the amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions while 39 percent opposed it. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

James Beard Awards Screw Latino Workers

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:39:00 +0000

Last night, as many of our loyal readers watched NBC's The Voice, ABC's Dancing with the Stars, and Travel Channel's No Reservations, a bit of virtual battle was taking place on Twitter. Perhaps a few (likely from the culinary industry) tuned into the live webcast of the James Beard Foundation awards ceremony as well. Last night seemed pretty Kosher for a Monday evening, in terms of entertainment.

Since Anthony Bourdain rarely misses an opportunity to make things extra entertaining,he live-tweeted the awards ceremony (which is the Academy Awards-equivalent to the culinary world) from Brazil. Tweet after tweet, he described the lack of recognition for the hard working, often undocumented Latinos who work behind the scenes at successful restaurants.

"Let's play a game. Count the Mexicans at the #jbfawards one.....two.....uh....." read the tweet that opened the floodgates for his outspoken disapproval of the ceremony.

Bourdain, we're with you 100 percent.

As you may have guessed, Bourdain received quite the response from followers -- some expressing their approval, while others expressed utter disagreement.

Austerity Hasn't Failed. It Hasn't Even Been Tried.

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:36:00 +0000

If it doesn’t involve a significant spending cut, how can it be austerity?

With a growing chorus of voices pronouncing austerity a failure on both sides of the Atlantic, that’s an important question. Unless we’re agreed that austerity has actually been tried, we’re hardly entitled to announce, as Ezra Klein has done, that austerity is “not, on any level,working”

Where to begin? Take taxes. Do they count as an austerity measure? The Washington Examiner says no:

you’d think European austerity was just about spending cuts. Quite the contrary. Although [Paul] Krugman curiously fails to mention the word “taxes” in his latest column, tax increases have most certainly played a part — and in many cases the largest part — in the European austerity packages he is decrying.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development reports tax hikes made up 47 percent of France’s deficit-reduction package — $21.5 billion out of $46 billion. In Greece, 54 percent of their austerity package came from higher taxes, and in Portugal, the breakdown was 62 percent tax hikes and only 38 percent spending cuts.

“Such reliance on tax increases,” the Examiner continues, “is the exact opposite of what economic history recommends. As a recent OECD report concluded, ‘International experience shows expenditure-based fiscal consolidation tends to be more successful’ than increasing taxes.”

Nevertheless, Slate’s Matt Yglesias is right to warn against redefining austerity so that “tax hikes don’t count” A true austerity package that included, say, across-the-board tax increases wouldn’t be less austere. One key to understanding austerity is that it doesn’t map neatly onto the right-left divide in Western politics. Another key is that some approaches to austerity are better at fostering economic growth than others. Massive tax hikes as part of an austerity package might show better results when it comes to slashing deficits, but at a price in productivity.

The trouble with Europe’s post-crisis budgets, then, isn’t so much that they’ve increased taxes. It’s that they haven’t meaningfully cut spending. “Following years of large spending increases,” Veronique de Rugy explains, “Spain, the United Kingdom, France, and Greece — countries widely cited for adopting austerity measures — haven’t significantly reduced spending since 2008.” De Rugy points to data that shows those countries “still spend more than pre-recession levels,” with France and Britain making no cuts, and Italy increasing spending in 2011 “more than the previous reduction” between 2009 and 2010. Without significant, substantial cuts, tax increases alone don’t amount to austerity. Yglesias is correct that tax hikes can contribute to austerity. What tax hikes cannot do, however, is be austerity. Tax hikes are neither necessary nor sufficient for an austerity program.

Some, however, including de Rugy, go further, suggesting that, in practice, austerity and tax hikes are actually incompatible:

Phoenix Coyotes advance to first conference final

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:33:00 +0000

The Phoenix Coyotes had been waiting so long for a new owner that they barely blinked when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced a tentative deal was in place.

They had become immune to the ownership saga and, besides, had more pressing business in front of them: a spot in the Western Conference finals.

Capping a momentous day, the Coyotes celebrated news of a new owner with a 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Monday night to reach the conference finals for the first time in 33 years as an NHL franchise.

“The organization, obviously there’s been some adversity a lot of teams don’t have to go through,” Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. “It’s very rewarding to know that our players have to put that on the backburner and just move forward and try to do whatever they can to help us win.”

The day started off with news the Coyotes and their fans had been anticipating for three years.

Speaking as players from both teams warmed up in the hallway, Bettman announced the tentative agreement to sell the Coyotes to former San Jose Sharks CEO Greg Jamison.

There’s no official sale agreement yet and Jamison still needs to work out lease details with the city of Glendale, which could be dicey with conservative watchdog group the Goldwater Institute lurking. Still, after three years of waiting, the move toward ownership and staying in the desert took a big step.

The Coyotes paid it no mind. They had spent the previous three seasons with the uncertainty hanging over them and had learned to keep their focus on the ice, not on what happens off it.

Playing its usual counterpunching style, Phoenix withstood an early flurry by Nashville and followed with goals from Derek Morris and Martin Hanzal in the second period.

And, as usual, the Coyotes gave up a late goal to make it interesting, this one by Colin Wilson with just under 6 minutes left.

But Phoenix held on to pull out another victory, nearly getting an empty-net goal by Smith before setting off a raucous celebration on the ice rink surrounded by desert.

Next up for the Coyotes are the Los Angeles Kings, the first No. 8 seed to knock off Nos. 1 and 2 in the same playoffs.

“We’ve learned a lot as a group who we are and every guy has contributed in the series and the playoffs,” said Smith, who stopped 32 shots. “It’s been different guys in different series and it’s been a big part of our success.”

Nashville, as it did all series, had plenty of good chances against Smith. Even with forwards Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn back from two-game suspensions, the Predators couldn’t find a way to capitalize, hitting the post at least three times and managing one goal despite outshooting the Coyotes 33-17.

Rangers Stun Capitals With a Scramble and a Slap Shot

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:31:00 +0000

Madison Square Garden was a morose, deflated place as the seconds ticked down in Game 5 on Monday night. The Rangers were losing to the Washington Capitals and hurtling toward a 3-2 series deficit.

Henrik Lundqvist had left his goal for a sixth attacker and was standing by the Rangers’ bench, glancing at the clock. There were 10 seconds left.

“I looked up and thought, ‘This is going to be tough,’ ” he said.

Moments later, the Garden exploded in joy.

With 6.6 seconds remaining, Brad Richards tied the score, 2-2, with a desperation goal, sending the game into overtime. The teams had barely caught their breath after an intermission when defenseman Marc Staal blasted a slap shot past two diving Capitals and goaltender Braden Holtby 1 minute 35 seconds into the extra session for a 3-2 victory that completed one of the most fantastic finishes in Rangers history.

Both goals came on the same power play, after Joel Ward was banished with a double minor for high-sticking Carl Hagelin with 22 seconds left in regulation.

It was quite a turnaround for the Rangers’ power play, which was an anemic 2 for 13 entering the game. The Rangers failed to produce a single shot on net in three previous man-advantages on Monday.

Now it is the Rangers who are in command, leading by 3-2 as the series shifts to Washington for Game 6 Wednesday.

“The last minute was incredible,” Staal said.

The Capitals were left in disbelief. “Nobody thought that was going to happen,” their captain, Alex Ovechkin, said.

He was not exaggerating.

Lundqvist was pulled with about a minute and a half left in regulation, and while the Rangers buzzed inside the Capitals’ zone and around Holtby’s net, only one shot got through to Holtby.

Ward then nicked Hagelin in the face, drawing blood — and an automatic double minor.

“It was an accident, an accidental high stick,” Capitals Coach Dale Hunter said. “They got a break. That’s what they call the breaks of hockey.”

Now the Rangers had a two-skater advantage for one last push. Michael Del Zotto’s shot from the point deflected wide and went to Ryan Callahan at the side of the net. Callahan took three short whacks at the puck, all of which Holtby stopped with his right pad.

But a fourth try was made by Richards, and it went under Holtby’s pad for the tying goal — his third of the series. Richards leapt into Callahan’s arms as the fans, grim-faced moments earlier, let out an ecstatic roar.

Staal’s winning goal came on the second half of the power play, with Ward still off. John Mitchell won the face-off back to Staal, whose shot nicked two diving Capitals — Matt Hendricks and Brooks Laich in the high slot — and sailed past Holtby.

Bedlam.

“Both guys came out, so I just wanted to get between them and hit it as hard as I can,” Staal said. “It wasn’t a set play or anything off the draw, just a good clean draw and guys went to the net and he couldn’t see it.”

Holtby agreed. “I didn’t see a thing,” he said.

Mitchell did not put a shot on net through the first nine games of the playoffs, but he has improved sharply since then, starting with the Rangers’ three-overtime victory in Game 3. Coach John Tortorella put him on the power play for several shifts, including the decisive one.

“I got the draw from Hendricks, and he kind of got tied up, and then a lane opened up for Staalsy to blast it,” Mitchell said after finishing 4-0 on face-offs. “That was kind of the plan, and it worked out.”

Chris Paul leads Clippers past Grizzlies in OT

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul Narayanan) — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:27:00 +0000

Chris Paul scored eight of his 27 points in overtime and Los Angeles moved to the brink of its second playoff series victory in 36 years by taking a 3-1 series lead.

Blake Griffin had 30 points and seven assists before fouling out with 2:26 left in overtime for the Clippers, who blew a 10-point lead in the final 4½ minutes of regulation.

Mike Conley scored a career playoff-high 25 points and Rudy Gay had 23 on 8-of-25 shooting for the Grizzlies.

Game 5 is Wednesday night in Memphis, with Game 6 back at Staples Center on Friday if necessary.

After Paul hit consecutive jumpers in the final 1:16, Conley's layup with 8.1 seconds left trimmed the Clippers' lead back to two points. But Mo Williams added two free throws with 7.2 seconds left, and Gay missed a meaningless 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Manu Ginobili scored 17 points to lead San Antonio to an 87-81 victory over Utah on Monday night and a sweep of their first-round Western Conference series.

Ginobili was 0 for 8 from beyond the arc in the first three games. After Utah pulled within 61-58 with 3:18 left in the third, he hit consecutive 3-pointers then added another as the Spurs regained control, taking a 76-58 lead early in the fourth.

The Jazz went scoreless for more than 8 minutes during a 15-0 Spurs run and trailed by 21 points in the fourth quarter. Utah made a furious charge late and was within 83-79 on Al Jefferson's putback with 49 seconds left. But Ginobili's layup after a steal by Tony Parker sealed it.

Top-seeded San Antonio advanced to the second round and awaits the winner of the Memphis-Los Angeles Clippers series.