billy graham scion fr s elf on a shelf elf on a shelf carrier iq carrier iq linda perry
Friday, April 27, 2012
Hi, My Name Is Molly and I'm Addicted to Browser Tabs [Just Me?]
Thursday, April 26, 2012
UFC VP says Strikeforce champ Ronda Rousey helped bolster MMA?s hopes in New York
If, as it should be, mixed martial arts is ever legalized in New York, don't forget to give Strikeforce bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey her share of credit.
On April 18 in Albany, N.Y., the New York state senate voted 43-14 to approve a bill that would legalize and regulate MMA in the state. It still needs to pass the assembly and then be signed by Gov. Cuomo in order to become law.
The bill has passed the state senate before, but this time around, said Marc Ratner, the UFC's vice president for governmental and regulatory affairs, the job was made much easier with Rousey's testimony.
"She got up there and she really made a great presentation and I think she had a significant impact," Ratner said. "We [as executives] can talk all we want to them about the positives of MMA, but to hear it from someone like her, a fighter, someone who is very articulate [and] who made her points very passionately, it definitely made a huge impact."
Rousey, who defeated Miesha Tate by, what else, an arm bar submission to win the title on March 3 in Columbus, was particularly effective when she spoke about what MMA has done for her. She won a bronze medal in judo in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, but said she would be struggling financially had she remained in that sport. She said she'd be losing money if she were a professional judoka.
Several senators approached her, she said, and told her her presentation changed their minds and caused them to vote in favor of the bill.
"MMA has a bad rap among some people," Rousey told Cagewriter. "It's marketed sometimes in a way that is not what the sport is. You hear the marketing, 'Two men enter. One man leaves,' but that's ridiculous. It's not what this sport is. They just do it to sound dramatic. It's like a movie preview. The whole movie isn't just running around and screaming and explosions, but they make it seem like that [in the trailer] so people go to the movie. There's a lot of quiet time and dialogue and there is a plot. What they're doing is like they're comparing a commercial for 'The Bourne Identity' to actually sitting there and watching it for two hours."
She spent time explaining the nuances of her specialty, the arm bar. She pointed out that she'd been arm barred "more times than I can count," and pointed out that she wasn't out snapping bones. She said she doesn't think she's ever broken an opponent's arm.
That, too, worked.
"I explained everything behind it and after I did, they were like, 'OK, that's no problem, it's not barbaric,' " Rousey said.
Her best point, though, may have been when she told the senators that there was actually already MMA going on in the state. She made them aware that there is a robust amateur scene there, but it isn't as safe for the fighters and the fighters aren't able to make a living, like they do when they're professionals and compete where the sport is regulated.
That point struck home with many of the lawmakers.
"In New York, you could fight and have people do MMA," she said. "But they have to do it without the proper medical checks. They have to do it without getting paid. They have to do it without any kind of regulation or oversight. [Amateur MMA in New York] is unsafe the way it is now, because they're missing all the things we have in pro MMA.
"We're not asking them to bring in a bunch of people and tell them to kill each other. That's not what's going on. That's how it was being presented. I wanted to point out that amateur MMA is here already, but we want to get it regulated so it's safe and there is regulation and it is safe and everyone gets paid for what they do. I want to be able to work in any state in my own country. Can you imagine, we're in 2012 and I still legally can't do my job anywhere I want in my country?"
The tens of millions of dollars poured into the legalization effort by UFC owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta and president Dana White will be primarily responsible for MMA's passage in New York, if and when it occurs.
But Rousey's day on the hill shouldn't be forgotten. On that day, the lady was a champ when it came to wooing the legislators.
mexico city first day of spring mexico earthquake aziz ansari aziz ansari norfolk island katherine jenkins
The Real Housewives of Orange County Recap: Viva Las Vegas!
First they got down and dirty running through the mud. Then they went glamping. This week the Real Housewives of Orange County are stepping out on the town and heading toward the bright lights of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Read on to find out more in THG's +/- recap of their most recent escapade!
Alexis gets a visit from Gretchen while she’s in the middle of cleaning up her own kitchen. Plus 5 right off the bat. Gretchen’s here to give feedback on Alexis’ stints on Fox 5, except she drops the bomb that Fox 5 called her first. Alexis gets her feelings hurt.
Gretchen tells Alexis it’s obvious that Alexis is nervous and says Alexis could benefit from trying to connect more with the audience. Gretchen’s advice was pretty tactfully delivered and spot-on. Plus 10.
Then, in a one-one-one, Alexis says it was killing Gretchen to be happy for her and it’s all Tamra’s fault. Minus 10, Alexis. You’re such a whiner.
Heather’s headed to an audition. She’s been an actress for “many years.” She hasn’t been working much lately because of her four children, but now that three of them are in school? She’s seeking balance between her career self and her mother self. Plus 5, but good luck with that.
Heather feels really unsettled because she’s auditioning again and she’s opening a restaurant and she’s got kids and she’s got Terry. And an assistant to make sure everything gets done. Let’s not forget that.
Gretchen and Slade are hanging out at home folding laundry like normal people. Plus 10. Gretchen calls Alexis to invite her to the Pussycat Dolls performance on Saturday. Then she calls Tamra to complain about folding laundry.
Tamra says “If you don’t have a ring, you don’t fold a thing!” Plus 5! She invites Tamra to the performance and says she’s going to call Vicki to invite her, too. She doesn’t want Vicki to feel left out. Plus 5 for being the bigger person, Gretchen.
Minus 10, however, to Slade, for being upset that Gretchen plans to invite Vicki. Let’s keep in mind that this is partially his fault for Improv-ageddon.
Back at Casa de Heather, Terry’s having a pre-dinner pool game with their older son. It’s nice to see them just be sort of normal. Terry asks Heather how the audition went and she says it went well.
The part is a small role, but the show shoots in Canada. Heather says that everything they’ve done has been to further his career. Terry, playing Devil’s Advocate, says “Isn’t this life enough?”
Terry says, first and foremost, he wants Heather to do what makes Heather happy. If she takes a job working 15 hours a day, he’ll get two nannies and send the kids on set with her. If that’s what she wants. Plus 20.
But Heather’s not sure that’s what she wants. Dilemma, dilemma.
Alexis, meanwhile, isn’t finding quite the same level of support from Jim. She tells Jim she thinks she wants to get a coach to help her with the Fox 5 segments. He says “I don’t know where that fits into being a wife and mother. Where do you think you’re going to take this?” Minus 25.
Alexis thinks this could be a great move for her, but Jim thinks this is just another thing that affects the family. This could be a stepping stone back to needing a nanny! Jim thinks she needs to look at whether being away from the kids is worth some more money that he says they don’t even need. He’s losing more points for being such a douche. Minus 10.
Vicki’s decided to go to Las Vegas for Gretchen’s Pussycat Dolls performance. She’s using Brianna’s cancer-free diagnosis (again) as her reasoning for going. She’s putting things behind her. She realizes that she and Gretchen both owe each other apologies and she’s willing to give hers when the time is right. Plus 5.
Gretchen and Slade are in Vegas for the Pussycat Dolls performance. Her voice still isn’t 100 percent and she’s nervous.
Tamra, Vicki, Heather, and their men arrive in Vegas and spend their time in the stretch limo bashing Alexis and trying to figure out what Jim does for a living. “He says he’s an entrepreneur,” someone says. “Aren’t we all?” someone else replies. “I’m a doctor,” deadpans Terry. Plus 5.
Gretchen only has one rehearsal before the live show. It seems she’s got the choreography down but the tone and melody escape her. They run screaming away from her, in fact. Slade knows she’s going to be really, really good when it’s go-time. But right now, she’s struggling. And the Pussycat Dolls know it.
The Housewives and their men are hanging out like VIPs and Vicki throws Gretchen for a loop by being nice to her. To calm herself, Gretchen talks about Tamra’s small boobs. Then Gretchen works out her nerves by practically hyperventilating to the other women about how hard performing is and how nervous she is.
And then Vicki wishes Slade a happy birthday and says in a one-on-one that her motto is “Be nice to people. It confuses them.” Which is weird because I could’ve sworn Vicki wasn’t on board with this when Tamra said that’s what her plan was now that she and Gretchen are friends again. Side-eye to you, Vicki.
Alexis and Jim arrive in Vegas and Alexis has hired a make-up artist to cover up the bruises from her “sinus surgery.” Minus 5.
Jim comes into the bathroom while the make-up artist is working and says, multiple times, that the make-up is too dark. And it is. It’s at least four layers thick. She washes it off and saves the day. Except she kind of does look like a drag queen like Tamra says in a one-on-one.
Brooks creeps the whole table out by talking about the daily affirmations he sends to Vicki. I’m not even sure what he said even means. Something about man loves woman and woman loves man and I love you and Minus 10 for being weird.
Gretchen’s getting ready for her performance as the Pussycat Dolls Burlesque Saloon fills up. Alexis goes to find Gretchen to pray with Gretchen before the performance. Gretchen’s dressed like a stripper and Alexis’ boobs are hanging out and there’s something about praying right now that just seems a little weird.
But we’ll have to wait until next week to see if Alexis’ prayers for Gretchen’s performance are answered.
EPISODE TOTAL: EVEN! SEASON TOTAL: -25!
Next week, Gretchen will perform, Vicki will apologize, and Brianna will drop a bombshell on her mom. Stay tuned, and check back for our recap!
marco rubio mothers day wwdc the five year engagement dave matthews ambien heart attack grill
Mase Addresses Maybach Signing Rumors, Preps Comeback
'I think I'm meant to do it,' says rapper, who drops a new verse on Wale's 'Slight Work' remix.
By Rob Markman
Mase
Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/ Getty Images
Mase went from Harlem World to on top of the world to his own world, and now he wants it all back. It was 13 years ago when the charismatic rap star with the boyish smile unexpectedly pulled the plug on his flourishing career so he could dedicate his life to God.
On April 20, 1999, Mase called New York radio DJ Funkmaster Flex to announce his retirement from rap months before his sophomore LP, Double Up, was scheduled to drop. "I gotta do what makes me happy. A lot of people gonna say I'm crazy, I'm leaving money behind and a lot of things, but it's just how I feel in my heart," he said on the radio 13 years ago. "Once God puts something in your heart, you know, God talks to everybody different."
He tried his hand at a comeback with his gold-selling Welcome Back album in 2004 and then again as a member of 50 Cent's G-Unit crew, but it was all short-lived.
Well, M-A-dollar sign-E is back at it. On Tuesday night, Wale dropped his "Slight Work" remix featuring French Montana, Diddy and Mase. Right after that, the former Bad Boy rapper called Flex on Hot 97 to catch up. "Nobody gets as many chances as I got," Mase said over the phone with a chuckle. "I think I'm meant to do it. That's the conclusion I came to."
Last week, after a picture of Rick Ross, Montana, Omarion, producer Rico Love and Mase in the studio was posted online, rumors began to swirl of a Maybach Music signing. Montana suggested to XXL magazine that a deal may be in the works, but Mase wouldn't confirm whether he was planning to sign with Rozay.
"[Rico Love] just called and asked me to take a ride with him — I didn't know who was gonna be in the studio," Mase explained. "I got there and everybody was there, and they just said, 'Take a flick.' The next thing I know I got a Maybach chain, I got 20 beats from Kanye. The stories just keep getting crazier."
If he does return to music full-time, Mase wants to do things on his terms. He feels that his strong religious association has restricted his musical output. "I can only do music if I can do it the way I can do it," he said. "That's what be making me stop. I don't want to do music in a box, like everybody say what I can't do, 'he can't say this.' "
While the slow-flowed MC says that he will always put God first, he is ready to take the gloves off while in the studio. "I'm taking all my limitations off," he promised. "They gonna have to pray for me."
Should Mase return to rap for good? Tell us in the comments!
Related Artistsworld bank kim kardashian flour bomb hunger games box office xavier joan crawford joan crawford john goodman
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
If a Truck Loaded With Sulfuric Acid Crashes, Does It Melt the Road? [Science]
plane crash plane crash kardashian christmas card lori berenson lori berenson the incredibles jon bon jovi dead
James Cameron-backed Planetary Resources to search the universe for Unobtainium
Planetary Resources will reportedly announce later today that it's developing and selling low-cost spacecraft to mine asteroids close to the Earth. The space exploration and natural resources venture is led by X-Prize creator Peter Diamandis, Eric Anderson and NASA's former Mars chief, Chris Lewicki -- with cash backing from James Cameron, Eric Schmidt and Larry Page amongst others. Within a decade, the company hopes to kickstart a 21st century gold rush by selling orbiting observation platforms to prospectors with significant rewards -- a 30-meter long asteroid could hold as much as $50 billion worth of platinum at today's prices. The company's own teaser materials promised that the project would add "trillions of dollars" to the world's GDP, which sounds like a film we saw recently.
James Cameron-backed Planetary Resources to search the universe for Unobtainium originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink |
Reuters | Email this | Comments
bloom box fat tuesday obama sweet home chicago accenture match play george washington carver king cake mardi gras
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)